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First impressions of La Fortuna may be somewhat lacking, what with all the tourists and uninspired cinder-block architecture. But, with time, this town's charms are revealed. Horses graze in unimproved lots, spiny iguanas scramble through brush, sloth eyes peer from the riverside canopy and eternal spring mornings carry just a kiss of humidity on their breath. And always, there's that massive volcano lurking behind the clouds or sparkling in the sun.
For most of its history La Fortuna has been a sleepy agricultural town, 6km from the base of Cerro Arenal (Arenal Hill). On the morning of July 29, 1968, Arenal erupted violently after nearly 400 years of dormancy, and buried the small villages of Pueblo Nuevo, San Luís and Tabacón. Soon, like moths to a flame, tourists from around the world started descending on La Fortuna in search of fiery night skies and the inevitable blurry photo of creeping lava. Since then, La Fortuna has served as the principal gateway for visiting Volcán Arenal. It's still one of the top destinations for travelers in Costa Rica, even though the great mountain stopped spewing its molten discharge in 2010.
For your Transportation from San Jose Airport to La Fortuna Arenal please visit the following link: https://bit.ly/2JogJuG
Certainly, the influx of tourism has altered the face, fame and fortunes of this former one-horse town. But the longer you linger, the more you'll appreciate La Fortuna's underlying, small-town sabanero (cowboy) feel. Learn more
Ecocentro Danaus
Tel 2479-7019; www.ecocentrodanaus.com; admission with/without guide US$16/11, guided night tours US$35; h 8am-4pm Mon-Sat, 9am-3:30pm Sun, night tour 5:30pm) This reader recommended center, 2km east of town, has a well-developed trail system that's good for birding, as well as spotting mammals such as sloths, coatis and howler monkeys. The price of admission includes a visit to a butterfly garden, a ranarium featuring poison-dart frogs and a small lake containing caimans and turtles. Reserve in advance for the excellent night tour.
Arenal Natura
Tel 2479-1616; www.arenalnatura.com; day/night/bird tours US$29/35/40; h 8am5:30pm) Located 6km west of La Fortuna, this is a well-manicured nature experience that includes frogs, turtles, snakes and crocs, all in their appointed places. The birdlife is also prodigious here. Excellent naturalist guides ensure that you don't miss anything hiding in the trees.
La Catarata de la Fortuna
admission US$10; h 8am-5pm) You can glimpse the sparkling 70m ribbon of clear water that pours through a sheer canyon of dark volcanic rock covered in bromeliads and ferns with minimal sweat equity. But it's worth the climb down and out to see it from the jungle floor. Though it's dangerous to dive beneath the thundering falls, a series of perfect swimming holes with spectacular views tiles the canyon in aquamarine. This is also the trailhead for the hike to Cerro Chato.
From the turnoff on the road to San Ramón, it's about 4km uphill to the falls. If you decide to walk up, you'll enjoy spectacular views of Cerro Chato as you hike through pastures and past the small Hotel s lining the road.
Bike Arenal
(Tel 2479-7150; www.bikearenal.com; rental per day/ week US$25/150, half-/full-day tour US$67/96; h8am-5pm Mon-Fri) This outfit offers a variety of bike tours for all levels of rider, including a popular ride around the lake and a half-day ride to El Castillo. You can also do versions of these rides on your own. Make advance arrangements for rental and an English-speaking bike mechanic will bring the bicycle to you.
Hot Springs
Beneath La Fortuna the lava is still curdling and heating countless bubbling springs. There are free, natural hot springs in the area that any local can point you toward. If you're after a more comfortable experience, consider one of the area's resorts.
Eco Termales Hot Springs
Tel 2479-8787; www.ecotermalesfortunacr.com; adult/child US$34/29; h10am-9pm; c) S A large, forbidding gate leads to this recommended, reservation-only complex. Everything from the natural circulation systems in the pools to the soft, mushroom lighting is understated yet luxurious. Just 100 visitors per four-hour slot are welcomed at 10am, 1pm and 5pm. Dinner is served in the evening.
Paradise Hot Springs
paradisehotspringscr.com; adult/child US$23/15; h 11am-9pm) A relative newcomer to the spring scene, this low-key place has one lovely, large pool with a waterfall, and several smaller pools, surrounded by lush vegetation and tropical blooms. The pools vary in temperature (up to 40°C), some with hydro massage. Paradise is much simpler than the other larger spring settings, but there are fewer people, and your experience is bound to be more relaxing and more romantic. Lockers, towels and non-alcoholic drinks are included with admission.
There's a nice restaurant if you want to eat or drink something more potent.
Springs Resort & Spa
Tel 2401-3313, in USA 954-727-8333; www.thespringscostarica.com; 2-day admission US$50; h 8am-10pm; c ) If you're looking for a luxurious hot-spring experience, the Springs features 18 free-form pools with various temperatures, volcano views, landscaped gardens, waterfalls and swim-up bars, including a jungle bar with a water slide. The whole scene is human-made, but it's lovely.
Tabacón Hot Springs
Tel 2519-1999; www.tabacon.com; day pass incl lunch or dinner adult/child US$85/30; h 10am-10pm) Some say it's cheesy and some say it's fun. (We say it's both.) Broad-leaf palms, rare orchids and other florid tropical blooms part to reveal a 40°C waterfall pouring over a fake cliff, concealing constructed caves complete with camouflaged cup holders. Lounged across each well-placed stone like substance are overheated tourists of various shapes and sizes, relaxing.
The spa, 14km west of La Fortuna, is on the site of a 1975 volcanic eruption that killed one local. The former village of Tabacón was destroyed in the 1968 eruption, when 78 people were killed. Don't sweat it: the mountain is once again dormant. For now.
Festivals & Events
Fiestas de la Fortuna
(h mid-Feb) The big annual bash features two weeks of Tico-rules bullfights, colorful carnival rides, greasy festival food, craft stands and unusual gambling devices. It's free, except for the beer (which is cheap), and you'll have a blast trying to decide between the reggaetón go-go dancers and the live ranchero and salsa.
Although it's no longer erupting, Volcán Arenal is the big draw here. But you don't need a guide to take a hike into the upper reaches of the national park. It's perfectly feasible to show up at the park and follow the well-marked trail system. Organized Arenal tours are often combined with a dip in the hot springs (US$25 to US$65 per person). Make sure you understand whether or not your tour includes entry fees to the park and hot springs.
It has become common in La Fortuna to sell tourists pricey tours to distant destinations, such as Caño Negro. If you're short of time, this is a fine option, though you'll save yourself a ton of money (and probably have a much better experience) if you actually go to the place and organize a tour upon arrival.
Commissions in La Fortuna amount to big money. Shop around before you book, and treat all unsolicited advice with a degree of skepticism.
Arenal Wilberth Stables
Tel 2479-7522; www.arenalwilberthstable.com; per person US$58; h 7:30am, 11am & 2:30pm) Three-hour horse-riding tours depart from these stables at the foot of Arenal. The ride takes in forest and farmland, as well as lake and volcano views. The stables are opposite the entrance to the national park, but there's an office in town next to Arenal Resort Hostel .
Alberto's Horse Tours
2479-7711, 2479-9043; per person US$65) Alberto and his son lead popular horse-riding trips to the Catarata de la Fortuna. It's a three or four-hour trip, but you'll spend about an hour off your horse, when you hike down to the falls for a swim or a photo op. Beautiful setting, beautiful horses.
Canoa Aventura
(Tel 2479-8200; www.canoa-aventura.com; canoe trip US$67, full-day trip to Caño Negro US$113; h 6:30am-9:30pm) S This long-standing family-run company specializes in canoe and float trips led by bilingual naturalist guides. Most are geared toward wildlife and bird watching. One popular paddle is the full-day trip to Caño Negro.
Wave Expeditions
Tel 2479-7262; www.waveexpeditions.com; cnr Calle 2 & Av Fort; river trips US$70-100, kayaking US$53; h 7am-9pm) Wave Expeditions runs the wild Toro and mellower Balsa rivers. You can also run the smooth Río Arenal on an inflatable kayak. Hiking, horse riding, caving, canyoning, and tortilla making are also available.
Aguas Bravas
(Tel 2479-7645; www.costaricaraftingvacation.com; safari float trip US$80, Class iii/Class iV trips US$80/95; h 7am-7pm) This rafting specialist offers a few options in the area, including a gentle safari float trip on Peñas Blancas, as well as Class III and IV trips. It can also organize hiking, horse riding and kayaking on Lago Arenal.
Pure Trek Canyoning
Tel 1-866-569-5723, 2479-1313; www.puretrekcanyoning.com; 4hr incl transportation & lunch uS$98; h 7am-10pm; c ) S The reputable PureTrek leads guided rappels down four waterfalls, one of which is 50m high. Check in at PureTrek headquarters, located in a tree house 6km west of town.
Arenal Paraíso Canopy Tours
Tel 2479-1100; www.arenalparaiso.com; tours uS$45; h8am-5pm) A dozen cables zip across the canyon of the Río Arenal, giving a unique perspective on two waterfalls, as well as the rainforest canopy.
Tel 2479-7120; www.arenalecoglide.com; adult/student & child uS$55/45; h 7am-4pm; c) Opened in 2008, Ecoglide is the biggest canopy game in town, featuring 13 cables, 15 platforms and a 'Tarzan' swing. The dual cable safety system provides extra security and peace of mind.
Canopy Los Cañones
Tel 2479-1000; www.Hotel loslagos.com; adult/child uS$50/35) S Located at the Hotel Los Lagos, the Canopy Los Cañones has 12 cables over the rainforest, ranging from 50m to 500m long. The price includes admission to a frog farm, butterfly farm, hot springs and natural pools, which are all on the Hotel grounds.
Arenal Oasis
Tel 2479-9526; night walks uS$55; h5:45pm) The Rojas Bonilla family has created this wild frog sanctuary, home to some 28 species of croaking critters. The frogs are just the beginning of the night walk, which continues into the rainforest to see what other nocturnal animals await. If you're more of a morning person, you can do a bird-watching tour. Reservations are recommended.
Arenal Mundo Aventura
Tel 2479-9762; www.arenalmundoaventura.com; adult/child adventure tours uS$70/50, hiking uS$48/33; c ) An all-in-one adventure park, this place offers various guided hikes, rappelling and horse riding, as well as a canopy tour. It also hosts performances of indigenous Maleku dance and song. It is 2km south of La Fortuna, on the road to Chachagua.
Desafio Adventure Company
Tel 2479-0020; www.desafiocostarica.com; Calle 2; tours uS$65-85; h 6:30am-9pm) Desafío has the widest range of river trips in Fortuna, including paddling trips on the Río Balsa, horse-riding treks to Volcán Arenal, adventure tours rappelling down waterfalls, and mountain-bike expeditions. It can also arrange your transfer to Monteverde by horse, boat or bike.
Aventuras Arenal
Tel 2479-9133; www.aventurasarenal.com; Av Central; hiking from uS$51, horse riding from uS$66; h 7am-8pm) Operating for over 15 years, this outfit organizes a variety of local day tours on bike, boat and horseback. It also does trips further afield, including to Caño Negro and Río Celeste.
Jacamar Naturalist Tours
Tel 2479-9767; www.arenaltours.com; Av Central; h 7am-9pm) Recommended for its variety of naturalist hikes, including Arenal and Cerro Chato. It does adventure tours too, including canyoning and ATV riding. It's located on the ground level of Hotel Arenal Carmela.
Sunset Tours
Tel 2479-9800; www.sunsettourcr.com; Calle 2; h 6:30am-9pm) Recommended for high-quality tours with bilingual guides. Offers canyoning, kayaking and trips around the region, including to the Venado Caves.
There are loads of places to stay in town. In the low season room rates plummet by as much as 40Tel . If you have your own transport, consider staying at the Arenal Observatory Lodge Tel lodge 2479-1070; www.arenalobservatorylodge.com; day pass uS$6, museum admission free; p ) or closer to the volcano in the small town of El Castillo, as you'll be rewarded with fewer crowds and a more rustic vibe.
La Fortuna
Sleeping Indian Guesthouse
Arenal Hostel Resort
Tel 2479-9222; www.arenalHostel-resort.com; Av Central; dm/s/d/tr/q US$16/48/58/75/88; paiWs) Offering the best of Hostel and resort, this welcoming place is arranged around a landscaped garden, complete with hammocks, small pool, party-place bar, and volcano view. All rooms are clean, spacious and air-conditioned, with en suite bathrooms. Service is top notch, if a tad impersonal.
Pay attention: Arenal Hostel Resort and Arenal Backpackers Resort do essentially the same thing, but they are not actually the same place.
Hostel Backpackers La Fortuna
Tel 2479-9129; www.Hostel backpackerslafortuna.com; dm/s/d/tr US$14/44/52/69;) This is the most 'grown-up' Hostel in town. The rooms are done in whites and beiges, and the courtyard is lush, lovely and strung with hammocks. Guests are invited to go down the street to the sister property, Arenal Hostel Resort to join the party (swimming pool, bar) and then to return here for quiet, comfort and a good night's sleep.
The Hostel s in this town are not very creative with their names. This place should not be confused with La Fortuna Backpackers, which is a different beast altogether.
Arenal Backpackers Resort
Tel 2479-7000; www.arenalbackpackersresort.com; Av Central; dm US$15-16, tents s/d US$25/35, d with/without bathroom US$56/45;) The original Hostel-Resort in La Fortuna, this self-proclaimed 'five-star Hostel ' with volcano views is pretty cushy. Sleep on orthopedic mattresses and take hot showers in your en suite bathroom (even in the dorms). Somewhere between dormitory and Hotel is the covered tent city: raised tents have air mattress and electricity (but no proper walls, so you'll hear your neighbors loud and clear).
The main attraction is the landscaped pool with swim-up bar, where backpackers spend lazy days lounging with a cold beer. You'll be in a traveler's party bubble here. Not that there's anything wrong with that.
La Choza Inn
Tel 2479-9361; www.lachozainnHostel.com; Av Fort btwn Calles 2 & 4; incl breakfast dm US$10, s/d US$35/50, air-con US$10; p i W ) With all the budget 'resorts' in town, it's refreshing to find a charming, old-fashioned, family-run inn, where kids and puppies interact with the guests and where facilities are basic but the staff is always accommodating. Take your pick from the dark, palm-wood dorms or the attractive doubles boasting Arenal views from the balconies.
Hotel Pepito's Place
Tel 2479-9238; pepitoplace.com; Calle 2; d incl breakfast US$50; p a i W ) Lovely blooming flowers deck the 2nd-floor terrace, inviting you into this cute motel -style lodging. Inside, you'll find good value and personable service. Spotless rooms are painted in pastel s, with beds dressed in tasteful quilts and walls hung with tropical paintings. The place is small, however, and once you leave your room you're as good as on the street.
Gringo Pete's
Tel 2479-8521; www.gringopetes.com; Calle 7; dm US$7, r US$20-24; p i W ) The purple place is one of the cheapest in town. The rooms are completely bare save the colorful paint job and some rustic tree-trunk bunk beds. But you'll find everything you need, including a communal kitchen, hammocks hanging in the garden and volcano views. If it's full, they'll send you a few blocks away to Gringo Pete's Too
La Fortuna Suites
Tel 8577-1555; www.lafortunasuites.com; d incl breakfast US$96; p a W ) Here's a chance to luxuriate in some high-end amenities at midrange prices. We're talking high-thread count sheets and memory-foam mattresses, custom-made furniture and flat-screen TVs, gourmet breakfast on the balcony and killer views. Despite all these perks, guests agree that the thing that makes this place special is the hospitality shown by the hosts.
Hotel Monte Real
Tel 2479-9357; www.monterealHotel.com; Av Arenal btwn Calles 3 & 5; incl breakfast standard/premium r US$62/90, ste US$112; p a W s ) A smart modern motel property on the edge of town, next to the Río Burio. This excellent location combines the convenience of town with the nature and rusticity of the forest – meaning lovely gardens and wildlife at your doorstep. Spacious rooms have Spanish-tile floors, stained-wood ceilings and sliding-glass doors; spring for a superior for a private balcony with volcano views.
Hotel Arenal Rabfer
Tel 2479-9187; www.arenalrabfer.com; Calle 1; s/d/tr/q incl breakfast US$62/75/87/101; p a i W s ) Arguably the most architecturally appealing of the downtown options, with a striking shingled 2nd floor. Set up around a pebbled pool area and shady palm garden, the rooms are spacious with high slanted ceilings and fresh coats of paint. The whole place is immaculate. Located on a quiet side street, two blocks from the action.
Hotel Las Colinas
Tel 2479-9305; www.lascolinasarenal.com; Calle 1 btwn Avs Central & Arenal; incl breakfast s/d/tr economy US$49/63/79, standard US$72/82/102; p a i W ) Stay here and you're likely to spend most of your time on the 2nd-story 'terrace garden', with ample sun lounges and spectacular views of the volcano. The rooms are simple but stylish, with tile floors and cherry-stained furnishings. The economy rooms on the 1st floor are dark, so you'll pay more for the sunlit standard units with balconies.
West of Town
The road to the Arenal turnoff is lined with places to stay, ranging from quaint cabinas to luxurious lodges. Most of the area's high-end accommodations are located along this stretch. It's not particularly convenient if you don't have your own transportation.
Roca Negra del Arenal
Tel 2479-9237; www.Hotel rocanegradelarenal.com; d/tr/q US$60/70/80, breakfast US$6; p a W s ) Plenty of feathered and furry friends roam the grounds at this gem of a guesthouse, located 2km west of town. Along with the ever-charming owner, they make for quite a welcome party. There are seven spacious rooms, each with stained-wood accents, huge tile bathrooms and semi-private terraces facing the garden (complete with rockers).
But what makes this place so special? It's the paradisiacal setting. The luscious tiled pool and Jacuzzi are surrounded by tropical gardens that are bursting with blooms and buzzing with bees and birds. If you came for R&R in exotic environs, look no further.
Hotel Campo Verde
Tel 2479-1080; www.Hotel campoverde.com; s/d/tr/q incl breakfast from $75/90/110/130; p i W ) An absolutely y darling family-owned property, located 9km west of town. Canary-yellow wooden bungalows have vaulted beamed ceilings, a two-queen bed, lovely drapes and chandeliers, and a sweet tiled patio blessed with two waiting rockers. Book the wooden bungalows furthest from the road at the foot of the mountain, where the views are unbeatable.
Erupciones Inn B&B
Tel 2479-1400; www.erupcionesinn.com; d incl breakfast US$80-90; p a W ) You can admire Arenal from every single colorful cabina at this riverside property 11km from La Fortuna. Take a seat on your private patio and take it in. Otherwise, the cabinas are a bit tired, but service is sweet and the recent change in ownership means that an overhaul is in the works.
El Silencio del Campo
Tel 2479-7055; www.Hotel silenciodelcampo.com; d/tr/q incl breakfast US$195/220/245; p a s ) This lovely lodge has 24 stand-alone cabins that are luxurious without being showy. The property's pièce de résistance, though, is the hot spring. For guests only, it has half a dozen decadent pools in a range of temperatures. Guests can also experience life on a working farm (try your hand at milking a cow) and feast on fresh eggs for breakfast.
El Silencio del Campo is about 4km west of town.
Nayara Hotel , Spa & Gardens
Tel 2479-1600; www.arenalnayara.com; r/ste incl breakfast US$280/390;) This intimate and indulgent Hotel , 6km west of town, has amassed a slew of awards for its Asian-inspired architecture, minimalist decor and richly romantic setting. The 24 rooms have exquisite furnishings and bedding, rich woods, high-tech gadgetry, an outdoor shower and a private outdoor Jacuzzi where you can soak up views of Volcán Arenal. Exquisite.
South of Town
Just a few kilometers south of town, a partially paved road trundles to the base of Cerro Chato, and Hotel s now dot either side of it. Even further flung is the village of Chachagua, 12km south along the road to San Ramón. Crisscrossed by local rivers, this authentic, agrarian, market pueblo (small town or village) is an antidote to the touristy brouhaha of La Fortuna.
Villas Josipek
www.costaricavillasjosipek.com; per person incl breakfast US$34; p a W s ) Just north of the village of Chachagua, these immaculate, simple, wooden cabins with full kitchens and volcano views are surrounded by private rainforest trails that penetrate the Bosque Eterno de Los Niños. Your hosts, Suhey and Edgar, are delightful, as is the sly sloth that inhabits the guarumo tree near the lobby. On the grounds, you can take an 1100m stroll through the Jardín Botánico Josipek (admission US$10), which includes rose gardens, rainforest and medicinal plants, as well as a contemplative labyrinth.
Hotel Cerro Azul
Tel 2479-9212; www.ranchocerroazul.com; d/tr/q US$72/86/100; p a W ) Five cute, shingled cabins face the parking lot but back up to the forest, with private porches overlooking the trees. A 200m trail leads to the rushing river, with the volcano beyond. The cabins have woody interiors and stylish details. Think simple, natural, beautiful, and comfortable.
Catarata Eco-Lodge
Tel 2479-9522; www.cataratalodge.com; s/d/trinclbreakfastUS$71/77/92;) Set at the base of Cerro Chato and surrounded by forest, this place is ideal if you want to get away from it all (but not too far away, as you're still just 4km from town). The digs are decent little Spanish-tile and wood rooms, with hammocks strung on the terrace. The restaurant is also recommended.
Our only complaint is that we're not sure what makes this an eco-lodge. Sure, they care about the environment and they obviously talk the talk, but do they walk the walk?
Chachagua Rainforest Hotel
Tel 2468-1010; www.chachaguarainforestHotel.com; d/bungalows incl breakfast US$236/290;pnaWs) Situated on a private reserve that abuts the Bosque Eterno de Los Niños, this Hotel is a naturalist's dream. Part of the property is a working orchard, cattle ranch and fish farm, while the rest is humid rainforest. Explore it on hiking trails or on horseback. The rooms are nice but arguably overpriced, while the stylish, spacious bungalows are gorgeous as all get-out.
Drive 11km south of La Fortuna. On the south side of Chachagua, fork right off the main road and follow the signs on a 2km dirt track that may require a 4WD in the rainy season.
Casa Luna Hotel & Spa
Tel 2479-7368; www.casalunaHotel.com; s/d incl breakfast US$135/145; p a i W s ) The snazziest joint on this rustic road, this walled-off complex initially seems like a gated community. But, once inside, you'll see that the landscaped gardens and adobe-style lodgings are lovely. Wooden doors open into 36 elegant, split-level duplexes with tiny private patios. There's a full menu of spa treatments (facial/massage from US$25/50), and guests rave about the attentive service.
Unless you're eating exclusively at sodas (cheap lunch counters) you'll find the restaurants in La Fortuna to be more expensive than in other parts of the country. If you're cooking for yourself, stock up at the Mega Super (Map p249; Av Arenal; h 7am-9pm Mon-Sat, to 8pm Sun) near the bus station or Super Cristian 2 (Map p249; cnr Av Central & Calle 1; h 7am-9pm), west of town.
In Town
Rainforest Café
Tel 2479-7239; Calle 1 btwn Avs Central & Arenal; mains US$4-6; h 7am-8:30pm; W ) We know it's bad form to start with dessert, but the irresistible sweets at this popular spot are beautiful to behold and delicious to devour. The savory menu features burritos, casados (set meals) and other excellent traditional fare. There's also a full menu of hot and cold coffee, including some tempting specialty drinks (Mono Loco = coffee, banana, milk, chocolate and cinnamon).
There's a dash of urban-coffeehouse atmosphere here. Must be the writing in the milk foam.
Soda Viquez
Tel 2479-7133; cnr Calle 1 & Av Arenal; mains US$6-10; h 7am-10pm) Insanely popular among travelers, this friendly spot takes tipica (typical Costa Rican food) and adds something to it. Soda Viquez has a tasty, saucy steam table but also makes chicken, beef and fish six different ways if you choose to order off the menu. Prices are reasonable, portions ample.
Soda la Hormiga
Av Arenal; mains US$3-5; h 6am-8pm) Locally beloved and set conveniently next door to the bus station, this open-air lunch counter is one of the quaintest, cheapest sodas in town. It does all the casados, as well as big breakfasts and burgers.
Anch'io Ristorante & Pizzeria
Tel 2479-7024; Av Central; mains US$1018; h noon-10pm) If you have a hankering for pizza, you can't do better than Anch'io, where it is cooked in a wood-fired oven, the crust is crispy thin and the toppings are plentiful. Start yourself off with a traditional antipasto. Accompany with cold beer or a bottle of red. Add super service and pleasant patio seating, and you've got yourself a winner.
Kappa Sushi
Calle 1 & Ave Fort; sushi & rolls US$7-10; hnoon-10pm) When you're surrounded by mountains and cattle farms, who's thinking of sushi? Well, think of it. The fish is fresh (you're not that far from the ocean) and the preparations are innovative. The ponzu roll (tuna with sriracha, avocado, cucumber and chives) is a favorite. Sit at an outside table and enjoy the view of Arenal while you feast on raw fish.
La Cascada
Tel 2479-9145; cnr Av Fort & Calle 1; mains US$6-26; h11am-late) This landmark has been around so long that its palapa (thatched palm-leaf roof ) is almost as big an institution as the volcano it mimics. It has a small bar and acquires a drinking crowd at night, but tourists consider it a lunch and dinner option too. Look for well-prepared roast and grilled-meat dishes, pastas, sandwiches and a few veggie options.
Lava Lounge
Tel 2479-7365; www.lavaloungecostarica.com; Av Central btwn Calles 4 & 2; mains US$8-12; h 11am-10:30pm; p W v ) This hip, open-air restaurant is a breath of fresh air when you just can't abide another casado. There is pasta, burgers and five kinds of tacos, as well as bigger plates. Both food and service are variable, but the picnic tables and palapa roof create a cool, rustic vibe. Add occasional live music and you find you can't help but go back.
If you prefer breakfast or a light lunch, go across the street to Gecko Gourmet (Map p249; Tel 2479-8905; cnr Calle 2 & Av Central; mains US$4-8; h 8am-6pm wed-Mon; v ), which is under the same management. It serves sandwiches, salads and icy blended-coffee drinks.
Soda La Parada
Tel 2479-9547; www.restauranTel aparada.com; Av Central; mains US$5-19; h 24hr) Facing Parque Central and all the street action, this popular soda does a brisk trade in, well, everything, from decent pizzas to satisfying tipica. Prices are high for a soda – how much are you willing to pay to beat the midnight munchies?
Restaurant Don Rufino
Tel 2479-9997; www.donrufino.com; cnr Av Central & Calle 3; mains US$16-40; h 11am11pm) In almost every way, this indoor-outdoor bar and grill is light years ahead of the competition. The highlight of the menu is the grilled meats, which include rib eye, filet, peppercorn tenderloin medallions, and a porterhouse with gorgonzola sauce. If you're cutting back on red meat, look for crab risotto, ginger-glazed grilled tuna, and chicken in coconut curry.
The vibe is trendy and the place is hopping. Reservations recommended.
Around La Fortuna
Tel 2479-7038; mains US$6-8; h 7am9pm)Take a break from the hustle and bustle of La Fortuna to have lunch at this friendly place, 2km west of town. It's essentially a soda, with big breakfasts and excellent casados, as well as burritos, burgers and some very tempting desserts. Portions are big, prices are small.
Benedictus Steakhouse
Tel 2479-1912; mains US$14-30; hnoon-10pm) Turn off the highway and drive about 1km up a steep, rough dirt road to arrive at this spectacularly situated steak house (tricky in the dark, so arrive before the sun goes down). You'll be rewarded with a gorgeous view, followed by an amazing meal. In addition to the meats, there is heavenly homemade bread, fantastic ceviche and tantalizing desserts.
The steaks come from free-range cattle that graze on grass in the pastures below the restaurant. They also raise lambs, chickens and pigs. Veggies come from the organic greenhouse.
Drinking & Nightlife
One Love Lounge
You can't miss this place, west of town, with its magic-bus facade. La Fortuna's favorite bar has a new roots-reggae theme. Sometimes there's live music and sometimes there's DJ Tio Matteo, but there are always good vibes and lots of love. On Friday and Saturday nights you can catch a free lift from the church at 9:45pm, 10:45pm or 11:40pm.
Volcán Look
Tel 2479-9690; men's cover charge US$4; h8pm-3am wed-Sat) This club is reportedly Costa Rica's biggest discotheque outside of San José. It's about 5km west of town, though it's virtually abandoned except on weekends: don't bother showing up until after 11pm unless you want to dance to the cumbia alone.
El Establo
Calle2;h5pm-2amwed-Sat)La Fortuna's raucous bar with an attached disco fronts the bullring and attracts an ever enthusiastic local following. The age demographic here ranges from 18 to 88. That's almost always a good thing.
Calle1btwnAvsCentral&Arenal;US$23 .50; h 10am-9pm) A branch of Costa Rica's favorite juice bar is tucked in across the street from Hotel Las Colinas, and it does wonderful alchemy with fruits and veggies, including a mango-strawberry-pineapple smoothie, a watermelon-passion fruit milkshake, and the delicious watermelon-strawberry-lemon combo.
Local artisans converge on the Lava Lounge in the evening to display exquisite beaded, silver and braided bracelets, earrings and necklaces. They'll be lined up and waiting by the front door almost every night.
Neptune's House of Hammocks
(Tel 2479-8269; hammocks US$50-170; h 8am6pm) On the road to La Catarata de la Fortuna, it sells soft drinks and hammocks. Take a breather and try one out.
Handmade Art Shop
Tel 8611-0018; Calle 1; h 10am-6pm) There's no shortage of souvenirs for sale in La Fortuna. But this unique shop is something special, carrying an excellent selection of arts and crafts by local and national artists. You'll find representative pieces from Costa Rica's many subcultures, including Boruca masks, Rasta handicrafts, lots of macramé and some lovely handmade jewelry.
Arenal Rocks Internet (Tel 8854-2892; Av Central; per hr US$1 .20; h 8am-11pm) Located under the Hotel Arenal Carmella .
Expediciones Internet (Tel 2479-9101; cnr Av Central&Calle1;per30/60minUS$0 .80/1 .20; h 7am-9pm Mon-Sat) Most tour operators in town also provide internet access, but if you're not interested in hearing a sales pitch, there are no hassles here .
Centro Médico Arenal Vital (Tel 2479-7027; www.secmesa.com;Calle1;h24hr)Located in the Hotel Las Colinas building, this private clinic is open 24/7 and has English-speaking staff .
Clínica Fortuna (Tel 2479-9142, 2479-9501; Calle 3 btwn Avs Volcán & Fort; h8am-8pm Mon, 8am-10pm Tue-Thu, 24hr Fri-Sun) For minor injuries and illnesses .
BAC San José (cnr Av Fort & Calle 3)
Banco de Costa Rica (Av Central)
Banco Nacional (cnr Calle 1 & Av Fort)
Banco Popular (cnr Av Central & Calle 5)
Correos de Costa Rica (Map p249; Av Fort; h8am-5:30pm Mon-Fri, 7:30am-noon Sat)
Getting There & Away
Most domestic buses stop at the Centro Comercial Adifort (Map p249; Av Arenal) . Keep an eye on your bags, particularly on the weekend San José run .
Ciudad Quesada (Auto-Transportes San José– San Carlos) US$1 .60, one hour, 14 departures per day from 4:30am to 7pm . San José (Auto-Transportes San José–San Carlos) US$4 .25, 41⁄2 hours, departs 12:45pm and 2:45pm . Alternatively, take a bus to Ciudad Quesada and change to frequent buses to the capital .
Tilarán, with connection to Monteverde
(Auto-Transportes Tilarán, departs from the Parque Central) US$2 .60, 31⁄2 hours, departs 8am and 4:30pm . To reach Monteverde (US$3 .60, six to eight hours), take the early bus to Tilarán, where you'll have to wait a few hours for the onward bus to Santa Elena .
Several tour companies offer horse-riding trips between La Fortuna and Monteverde . The trip (which also involves a boat ride) takes five to seven hours and costs about US$85, including separate transport of your luggage . Desafio Adventure Company can make these arrangements, as can any of the Monteverde horse-riding companies (see p199) .
The fastest route between Monteverde–Santa Elena and La Fortuna is the jeep-boat-jeep combo (US$25 to US$40, three hours) . The 'jeep' is actually a minivan with the requisite yellow 'turismo' tattoo . it's still a terrific transportation option and can be arranged through almost any Hotel or tour operator in either town . The minivan from La Fortuna takes you to Laguna de Arenal and meets a boat that crosses the lake, where a 4wd taxi on the other side continues to Monteverde . This is increasingly becoming the primary transportation between La Fortuna and Monteverde as it's incredibly scenic and reasonably priced and it'll save you half a day of travel over rocky roads .
Getting Around
Biking is a reasonable option to get around town and reach some of the top tourist attractions . The challenging 7km ride from town to La Catarata is a classic . Make advance arrangement to rent a bike from Bike Arenal and they'll drop it off at your Hotel .
La Fortuna is easy to access by public transportation, but nearby attractions such as the hot springs, Parque Nacional Volcán Arenal and Laguna de Arenal demand lots of waiting, cursing and walking . Luckily, you can rent cars in town . Adobe Rent a Car (Tel 2479-7202; www.adobecar.com; Calle 1; h 7am-7pm)
Alamo (Tel 2479-9090; www.alamocostarica.com; cnr Av Central & Calle 2; h7:30am5:30pm)
Often simply referred to as La Fortuna, the town of La Fortuna de San Carlos is the gateway to the magnificent Arenal Volcano. Not to be confused with a town of the same name 70 km northwest of here, La Fortuna de San Carlos is located in Alajuela province, and connects the Arenal Volcano area with the cloud forests of Monteverde and Santa Elena and the northern lowlands of the country.
One of the Most Active Volcanoes
A charming and quiet town, La Fortuna is easily accessible from the capital city San Jose (about a 3 hour drive), and offers some panoramic views of the spectacular Arenal Volcano, until December 2010 it was Costa's Rica's most active volcano. The volcano is about 10 kilometers away from town making it a beautiful sight from the town square. The volcano has not had any lava eruptions since December 2010 but it is still considered active. It is now the #3 most active volcano in Costa Rica, behind Rincon de la Vieja Volcano and Turrialba Volcano. The main reason that Arenal Volcano has stopped erupting is that the chimney that the lava escaped from has been plugged up with volcanic matter. It is very possible that pressure build up will re-open this chimney or a new chimney will be formed. Not to worry though Arenal Volcano is widely monitored for the safety of the surrounding area.
Best Spas in Costa Rica
Over the last few years in particular, La Fortuna has become quite a bustling town. However, there are plenty of accommodations, hotels and resorts here to suit every budget. A must try when in La Fortuna are the amazing resort spas surrounding the volcano. When in town try and stay in the main plaza area, as the hotel rooms here offer some of the best views of the Volcan Arenal in the distance. On a clear day you can watch the volcano erupt and if you wait for nightfall, the Arenal puts on a brilliant show with bright red rocks tumbling down its sides.
Other Attractions
Beside the volcano, this town has other great tourist attractions like the La Catarata de la Fortuna, a breathtakingly beautiful waterfall that falls from a dizzying height of 70 meters. A stunning sight to see and a lovely short trek away, this beautiful waterfall makes for a picture perfect moment.
Another key attraction nearby are the Tabacon Hot Springs in the area, where one can go to relax and unwind after a long tiring vacation. Set amidst stunning lush greenery, rare orchids and superb waterfalls, the Tabacon Hot Springs is among the many here that offer the ultimate indulgence for those who just want some peace and quiet.
For the more outdoorsy person, this region of the country has plenty to offer. White water rafting, hiking excursions, kayaking, canoeing, fishing, horseback riding, canopy tours and Caño Negro Boat Tours are just some of the many activities that
Add us to your WhatsApp and contact us any time you need!!!:
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Durant stellar as Thunder edge Trail Blazers
- Kevin Durant gets 36 points in narrow Oklahoma City victory
- Portland has dropped five of their last seven
- The Trail Blazers led by as many as 13 points and had a 55-45 advantage at the half
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Kevin Durant said the mutual admiration between the Thunder and the Trail Blazers only goes so far.
"We respect this team and they respect us, but we don't like them and they don't like us," Durant said after Oklahoma City's hard-fought 98-95 victory over Portland on Tuesday night. "Point blank."
Durant had 36 points and 10 rebounds as the Thunder evened the series against the Blazers 2-2 in their final regular-season meeting this year.
Jeremy Lamb had 19 points, including a key 3-pointer with 1:38 left for the Western Conference-leading Thunder, who have won 14 of their last 16 games.Nicolas Batum had 18 points for slumping Portland, which has lost five of seven but still ranks third in the conference behind San Antonio. Robin Lopez finished with 17 points and 14 rebounds for his 19th double-double of the season.
LaMarcus Aldridge, who missed a mid-range jumper in the final seconds that could have salvaged the win for Portland, was asked what he thought of Durant's comment.
"We're not trying to make friends out there," he said. "We're trying to win games."
Portland led by as many as 13 points in the first half and held a 55-45 advantage at the break, but the Thunder kept chipping away and the teams went into the fourth quarter tied at 80.
Derek Fisher hit a 3-pointer and Lamb made a layup to put the Thunder up 85-84. Portland reclaimed the lead on rookie CJ McCollum's running shot, but Durant re-tied it at 91 with a long hook.
The teams wrestled for the lead until Lamb's 3-pointer gave the Thunder a 96-95 advantage. Damian Lillard missed a 3-pointer for Portland with 45.9 seconds left.
Portland got the ball with 12.3 seconds left after officials reviewed an out-of-bounds call, but LaMarcus Aldridge's mid-range jumper with 2 seconds left was off and Reggie Jackson hit free throws for the final margin.
"We fought hard," Durant said. "We're a resilient team. We've kept our heads up through adversity and tough times. I'm proud of our team."
Portland won two of the first three meetings between the two teams, but the Thunder won the last 105-97 in Oklahoma City last month. Durant paced the Thunder with 42 points in that one.
Aldridge was a game-time decision because of soreness, but he started and finished with 12 points and 12 rebounds. The Blazers are the only team that has started the same five players in all of their games this season.
Aldridge was disappointed with the loss — and especially his final missed shot.
"I couldn't throw a rock in a lake tonight," Aldridge said.
Portland jumped out to a quick 18-6 lead, but the Blazers were hurt late in the opening quarter when reserve forward Joel Freeland's right knee buckled underneath him and he had to be helped off the court. The extent of the injury was not immediately known, but the Blazers depend on the 6-foot-11 Brit to spell starting center Lopez.
The Thunder closed to 25-21 on Lamb's 12-foot jumper early in the second quarter. Portland held them off, but Lamb's dunk narrowed it to 34-32 and the Thunder finally pulled ahead 41-39 on Lamb's 3-pointer.
The Blazers answered with a 16-4 run to take a 55-45 lead into halftime.
The Thunder again threatened when Kendrick Perkins' jumper got them within 66-63. Serge Ibaka's jumper with 2:18 left in the third finally gave Oklahoma City a 76-75 lead, their first of the second half.
Jackson led the rally with 13 points after going 0-for-6 in the first half. The teams went into the fourth quarter tied at 80.
"It was a physical game, but I like the fact that we kept competing and didn't let anything bother us," Thunder coach Scott Brooks said. "We just competed, possession by possession. And that's what good teams do."
The Blazers were coming off a 2-2 road trip, including 117-110 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday. Following the loss to the Thunder, they were headed to Los Angeles for a game against the Clippers on Wednesday night before the All-Star break.
The Thunder were coming off a 112-100 victory over the New York Knicks, with Durant's 41 points leading the way.
NOTES: Portland was without guard Mo Williams, who had just returned from attending to a family matter. It was hoped that Williams could travel with the team to face the Clippers on Wednesday night. ... Aldridge and Lillard were presented with their All-Star jerseys before the game. ... Thunder guard Thabo Sefolosha appeared to injure his right hand in the first half, but he returned to start the second half with his hand taped. ... Freeland was scheduled for an MRI on his knee. ... The Thunder had three technical in the game, and the Blazers had one.

subset: commoncrawl


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I-Search Process Reflection Chart
Because the written I-Search paper addresses the research process as much as the product or results of the research, students need time and space to reflect on and record their day-to-day progress. This chart asks students to consider their challenges and successes across the span of the research process, from question formulation to the final write-up.
- At the beginning of the I-Search process, model some possible responses in the area of Formulating Questions. After doing so, invite students to share some of their responses verbally before asking students to being recording some of their thinking in writing.
- Offer additional modeling as students move to each new step in the research process. Doing so not only reinforces the kinds of reflective thinking they will need for their papers, but it also gives you a chance to discuss how the process is actually not linear. A challenge in finding sources, for example, naturally takes the researcher back into the question formulation stage.
- Check students reflections frequently, both to offer feedback on how thorough and thoughtful they are being and to respond to some of the challenges they are facing.
- At certain points in the process, encourage students to being translating the daily notes into paragraphs of connected reflective writing.
- This chart merely represents a model for recording daily reflections, and might be used early on in the process to demonstrate for students. After students understand the goals of the chart, they may wish to record reflections in a notebook, on a folder containing some of their printed research, on sticky notes, or on a research process blog.
Grades 6 – 8 | Lesson Plan | Unit
Scaffolding Methods for Research Paper Writing
In this lesson, students use a scaffold to help them compile information to write a solid research paper.
Grades 9 – 12 | Lesson Plan | Standard Lesson
Hoax or No Hoax? Strategies for Online Comprehension and Evaluation
Are your students easily fooled? You'll find out in this lesson in which students carefully and critically examine hoax websites to determine their validity.
Grades 6 – 8 | Lesson Plan | Standard Lesson
Exploring Careers Using the Internet
Doctors, astrophysicists, and daycare providers are only some of the careers that will be explored in this lesson in which students research careers and publish occupational summaries about them.


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This is some ah-maze-ing dresses by Amato Haute Couture . I have never heard of this designer until I saw this on Haute Macabre. Turns out they are out of Dubai and only do couture gowns, but really they need to move their ass to Paris and sign up (it's like signing up for a badminton team, right?) to be part of Couture week there. I see some Gaultier and Givenchy in the dresses, but it's still uniquely gorgeous. And nude is my new favorite color- It's like only you're lady parts are covered in jewels and the lace. I also like how the dangling baby makes for a sprinkle of madness. Anyway, I am totally going to keep Amato on my radar.
Photography by Tina Patni for Amato Haute Couture
photos: Haute Macabre
** Teacups and Couture is not a kid anymore- We just moved to our own server! Please update your bookmarks tohttp://teacupsandcouture.com ~ Same debauchery, different address!~**


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The closing price for DIS has fallen below its 10-day moving average, indicating a short-term downward trend.
Trend for DIS as of Monday April 7th, 2014
Long-term: Up
Intermediate: Up
Short-Term: Down
Chart for DIS
This post was generated by our Market Trends tool. The trends are simply based on the 10, 50, and 200-day moving averages. View the current market trends or analyze your own stocks.


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Various Artists | 12/12/12
As Christmas approaches we all look back on the things that helped through the previous year, so here at Domino we've compiled our lists of the things we happened to like the most, be it songs, food, gigs, basically whatever made us happy. Enjoy.
Dan Papps - Maximum Dryness
The Makers – 'Don't Challenge Me'
High on Fire – 'Serums of Liao'
Beak> - 'Mono'
Tame Impala – 'Why Won't They Talk To Me?'
Flying Lotus – 'Getting There'
Actress – 'Jardin'
The Equatics – 'Merry Go Round'
Dirty Projectors – 'Maybe That Was It'
Joey Bada$$ - Waves
Love Apple – 'Guess I Always Knew'
Ryan McCann
Carter Tutti Void - Carter Tutti Void
Love Apple EP (Numero compilation)
Loving On The Flip Side (Now Again compilation)
Ariel Pink - Mature Themes
Matthew E White - Big Inner
Burial - Kindred EP
Roberto Cacciapaglia - Sei Note In Logica (Reissue)
Laurel Halo - Quarantine
Actress - RIP
Ruff Sqwad - White Label Classics
Stephen Newell
London 2012
Kendrick Lamar – Good Kid, mAAd City
Jessica Pratt (self titled)
Polica – Give You The Ghost
Ryder Cup Medinah
Tame Impala - Lonerism
Actress - RIP
The Muppets (film)
Jumping on the Tour de France bandwagon
Julia Holter - Ekstasis
Some songs I quite like from 2012 in no particular order
1. Get Free - Major Lazer (swoon)
2. Two Different Ways (Richard H. Kirk) remix - Factory Floor (fond moments at Simple Things festie)
3. Le Goudron [Bobby Birdman Remix] - YACHT (French and funky!)
4. Grimes - Oblivion (despite it reminding me of the Brookside theme tune it makes me go a bit mad in the head and want to swish about like an idiot - am I supposed to backlash on Grimes now? Ah well... who cares)
5. Pure Bathing Culture - Ivory Coast (it's as if I'm an angry dog and Mick Dundee is waving his forefinger and pinky at me - pacified)
6. Killing Time - Veronica Falls (unadulterated indie indulgence)
7. Young Magic - Sparkly ('wooh')
8. Lower Dens - Brains (strummy strummy jump jump)
9. Solange - Losing You (written and produced by Dev Hynes (Blood Orange) - please everyone check out Coastal Grooves from last year and listen to it 3 times a day before meals.)
10. French Films - Convict (I only heard this at a live show last week - was good fun or was that the free Cuba Libres, eh...)
Jack Shankly
1. Julia Holter - Ekstasis
2. Daughn Gibson - All Hell
3. Angel Olsen - Half Way Home
4. Matthew E White - Big Inner
5. John Talabot - Fin
6. Laurel Halo - Quarantine
7. DIIV - Oshin
8. Woods - Bend Beyond
9. Dean Blunt and Inga Copeland - Black Is Beautiful
10. Jessica Pratt - Jessica Pratt
Pat Riley
1. Turing Machine "What's the Meaning of What" (album)
2. OM "Advaitic Songs" (album)
3. Pupukea, Hawaii (place)
4. Worst Gig Ever (podcast)
5. Hot Chip "In Our Heads" (album)
6. Victoria Haven: Proposed Land Use Action (exhibition at the Seattle Art Museum)
7. Lower Dens "Nootropics" (album)
8. Exchange Alley (restaurant)
9. Flop reunion show August 18th, 2012 at Whiting's house (performance)
10. Brothers of the Sonic Cloth "Fire Burns Dim in the Shadow of the Mountain" (single)
Runners up: Dan Deacon "America" (album), Dina Martina "Ample Wattage" (performance), Oleana (restaurant), Soundtrack to The Man WIth The Iron Fists (Instrumentals) by the RZA (album), Lonnie Holley "Just Before Music"
Kris Grillespie
10. Fennesz - Aun (Touch)
9. Royal Headache - s/t (What's Yr Rupture)
8. The Babies - Our House On The Hill (Woodsist)
7. Tycho - Dive (Ghostly International)
6. The Two Bears - Be Strong (Southern Fried)
5. Dirty Projectors - Swing Lo Magellan (Domino)
4. Todd Terje - It's The Arps EP (Smalltown Supersound)
3. Matthew E. White - Big Inner (Hometapes)
2. Sam Flax - Age Waves (Burger Records)
1. Four Tet - Pink (Text)
honorable mention songs of the year:
Tomas Barfod - "November Skies" (Sepalcure Remix)
Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti - "Only In My Dreams"
Swearin' - "Here To Hear"
Tanlines - "All Of Me"
Kindness - "Gee Up" (Cosmic Kids Edit)
Sam Flynn
1. Sleep - Dopesmoker (Reissue on Southern Lord)
2. Tame Impala – Lonerism
3. Bill Fay – Life Is People
4. Lower Dens - Nootropics
5. The Cure @ Reading Festival
6. Discovering Optimo - Sleepwalk
7. Working with the lovely people of Domino
8. Shy Kids – Field Trips
9. Breton – Other People's Problems
10. Sainburys festive sandwich range ('Boxing Day Sandwich' in particular)
Marcel Legane
- Chairlift - Something
- Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti - Mature Themes
- Rustie's closing set at The Warehouse Project
- Dirty Projectors - Swing Lo Magellan
- This Town Needs Guns - Cat Fantastic
- Japandroids - The House That Heaven Built
- Frank Ocean - Pyramids
- The Hundred Reasons & Hell Is For Heroes reunion show @ The Forum
- Everything Everything - Kemosabe
- The fried chicken starter @ Bone Daddies Ramen
Laura Calnan
- The Olympic Games
- Tame Impala – Lonerism
- Francois & the Atlas Mountains gig at St. Mary's Church in Ashford
- Winning Trivial Pursuit for the first time ever.
- Dirty Projectors – Swing Lo Magellan
- Hot Chip – In Our Heads
- Radio Head, up and down the dial of British radio {book}
- Bombay Bicycle Club at Bournemouth Academy
- Melody's Echo Chamber {album}
- Working at Domino Records, it's been emotional, and genuinely life changing, thank you from the depths of my tiny little heart.
Louis Lloyd
1) Coldplay @ Emirates with Bart (and so many other memories...)
2) Geordie Shore: Chaos In Cancun
3) Watch The Throne tour
4) Calvin Harris - 18 Months
5) Field Day and the afterparty and the after-afterparty
6) iTunes Festival (Usher, Lana, JLS and Muse)
7) Not missing a Haim London show
8) The Valleys
9) Rammstein @ The O2
10) Bruno Mars - Locked Out of Heaven
Jeff Pachman
Anais Mitchell – 'Young Man in America'
Dayna Kurtz - 'Secret Canon Vol. 1'
Lost Bayou Ramblers – "Mammoth Waltz
Thee Oh Sees – Putrifier II
Ty Segall – Twins
Mount Carmel – Real Women
Beth Orton – Sugaring Season
The Babies – Our House on the Hill
Leonard Cohen – Old Ideas
Dirty Projectors – Swing Low Magellan
Chromatics – Kill for Love
Mark Austin
Album Shields, Grizzly Bear
Album Old Idea, Leonard Cohen
Thing that Happened Discovering America, New Orleans, New York and Nashville
Album Tramp, Sharon Van Etten
Album Locked Down, Dr. John
Thing That Happened Froome and Wiggo taking The Stage and the Yellow Jersey on La Planche des Belle Filles (and taking it all the way to Paris)
Album Big Inner, Matthew E. White (very excited about this in 2013)
Track Ramada Inn, Neil Young + Crazy Horse
Show Springsteen at SXSW
Festival End of The Road (Bella Union's 15th Anniversary)
Paula Williams
The Skints - Part & Parcel – Album of the year!!
Anti Vigilante - Tempest
Jeramiah Ferrari - The Dubby Rock EP
Jaya The Cat - The New International Sound of Hedonism
Roughneck Riot - This is Our Day
The Skints - sold out gig at The Scala, London
Jaya The Cat, Anti Vigilante, Random Hand, Tyrannosaurus Alan, Claypigeon & Faintest Idea at The Underworld, London
Skindred at Brixton Academy
Incubus at Brixton Academy
The Walking Dead - Season 3 (TV Series)
Duncan Spiers
Karin Park – Restless
Nas – Loco-motive (feat. Large Professor)
Michael Penn – On Your Way
Drake – Crew Love (feat. The Weeknd)
Marina And The Diamonds – Fear And Loathing
Lana Del Rey – Off To The Races
Smash Cast – Never Give All The Heart
Labrinth – Treatment
Kitty Pryde – Okay Cupid
Karin Park – Bending Albert's Law
Alex Rose
1. Parquet Courts - Light Up Gold (Dull Tools)
2. The Babies - Our House On The Hill (Woodsist)
3. Thee Oh Sees - Putrifiers II (In The Red)
4. Dan Deacon - America (Domino)
5. Various Artists: Long Time Gone (Little Axe/Mississippi)
6. Ty Segall - Twins (Drag City)
7. Various Artists: The Nablus Project (http://nablusproject.bandcamp.com/)
8. OBN IIIs - OBN IIIs (Tic Tac Totally)
9. Tronics: Love Backed By Force (What's Yr Rupture?)
10. Django Django (Ribbon)
Hot Chip live at Heaven
Death Grips 'The Money Store'
Breaking Bad
Manic Street Preachers 'Generation Terrorists' 20th anniversary reissue
John Maus live at the Scala
Perfecting the breakfast burrito
Hunx & his Punx live at The Smell
Acquiring a painting by Gidget Gein
The Magic Castle Hotel in Hollywood
The Daily Show during the US election
Matt Sweeney
1 Tigerskin – This Place Is Empty Without You
2 Todd Terje – Inspector Norse
3 Luke Abbott – Modern Driveway
4 Machinedrum – DDD
5 letherette – Warstones
6 Four Tet – Pyramid
7 Nathan Fake – Paean
8 Lone – Lying in the Reeds
9 Essay – Morning Mountain (feat. Rhian Sheehan)
10 Errors – Pleasure Palaces
11 Blondes – Lover (Dungeon Acid Remix)
12 Hot Chip – How Do You Do? - Todd Terje remix
13 Daphni – Ahora
Henry Thomas
Bat For Lashes, The Haunted Man
Daphni, Jialong
Death Grips, The Money Store
Deftones, Koi No Yokan
Fushitsusha (live at St. John-at-Hackney)
Grizzly Bear, Shields
Hanne Hukkelberg, Featherbrain
Lorn, Ask The Dust
Melody's Echo Chamber, Melody's Echo Chamber
Sharon Van Etten, Tramp
Steph Seager
Sharon Van Etten. Sharon at the Scala. Sharon at Shepherds Bush Empire. Just Sharon for being Sharon generally. I LOVE YOU SHARON.
The Gaslight Anthem 'Handwritten' and KOKO gig.
Refused at The Forum.
Nas at the 100 Club. Life is Good.
Kendrick Lamar - Good Kid, m.A.A.d City
Bear In Heaven, I Love You It's Cool.
At The Drive In at Brixton Academy.
Dan Deacon at The Scala.
Paris, Reading Festival, New York.
I'm probably not grasping the concept of a top ten but honorary mentions for favourite songs of the year include.... Foals 'Inhaler', Bruno mars 'Locked Out Of Heaven', The Blackout 'Start The Party', Villagers 'The Waves', Carly Rae Jepsen 'Call Me Maybe', Taylor Swift 'the title is too long but you know the one I mean…' Deftones 'Tempest', Joey Bada$$ 'Hardknock', Frightened Rabbit 'The Woodpile'.


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- Fragrance description
- About the brand
- Review
Fragrance description Adidas UEFA Champions League Champions EditionIngredients
The Adidas UEFA Champions League Champions Edition men's aftershave is a perfect complement to the fragrance from the same range. It refreshes skin which is irritated and red from shaving, makes it smell great, and gives it a new burst of energy.
- Consistency
- water
About the brand Adidas
Adidas is best known for its sports apparel, footwear, and other accessories. Now a huge corporation, Adidas was founded back in 1925 by Adolf Dassler. Nowadays it is probably one of the best-selling manufacturers of sports products of all time.
In recent years, it has also ventured into perfumes. Adidas began selling fresh and sporty fragrances presented under the auspices of Coty. The sophisticated series of perfumes and ranges of unique products by Adidas boast highly original, light, and gentle fragrances which correspond to a certain degree with the brand's overall sporty character.


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Blackhawks say Shaw, Kruger good to go for Game 6by Staff Writer / Chicago Blackhawks
CHICAGO -- Forward Andrew Shaw's right leg hit the boards awkwardly late in the third period of Game 5 in the Western Conference Final, but he is expected to be in the lineup for the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday in Game 6 at Staples Center.
Shaw was trying to take Los Angeles Kings defenseman Jake Muzzin into the boards in the offensive zone, but his right skate smacked into the kickboard at the bottom of the half wall and his right knee appeared to buckle slightly. After gingerly skating back to the bench following his hit on Muzzin, Shaw stayed in the game and finished the Blackhawks' 5-4 victory in double overtime.
Shaw missed seven games after an upper-body injury sustained in Game 1 of the second round against the Minnesota Wild.
"He's good to go," coach Joel Quenneville said Thursday at O'Hare Airport before the Blackhawks flew to Los Angeles. "He was real good for us all game. He came back."
Shaw finished the game with two assists and a plus-3 rating in 24:17. He also led the Blackhawks with eight hits and centered their most effective line with left wing Brandon Saad (one goal, two assists) and right wing Patrick Kane (four assists) flanking him.
The Kings lead the best-of-7 series 3-2 and get their second chance to close it out Friday (9 p.m. ET, NBCSN, CBC, RDS).
Quenneville also said center Marcus Kruger was fine after a big hit from Muzzin right in front of the Chicago bench late in the third period.
"It was a good hit," Quenneville said. "He wasn't going at full speed. Saw [Kruger] at the end. Probably looked worse than it was. He takes some tough hits. Last night, it looked like he probably got crushed or killed, but it wasn't that bad. It was right in front of us. I got to see it. Sometimes you're making contact with the boards. Sometimes you can get hit pretty hard. He's pretty good about absorbing it, rolling off it, but he's pretty tough, too."
Blackhawks forward Kris Versteeg isn't banged up, but he might not be in the lineup Friday. Versteeg didn't see another shift after playing a role in Kings forward Dustin Brown's goal at 11:08 of the second period that made it 3-3. Versteeg couldn't handle the puck along the boards after Brent Seabrook's pass while being pushed to the ice by Muzzin. Brown scored seconds later, and Versteeg spent the rest of the game on the bench.
Quenneville didn't say Versteeg would sit for Game 6, but he did say some lineup tweaks might be in the offing.
Versteeg has one goal, three points and is minus-5 in 14 games in the postseason; he does not have a point in this series. Quenneville was asked if Versteeg's struggles are more mental or physical.
"It was a tough night, the one shift particularly," Quenneville said. "[He's] just got to battle through it. It's a competitive game. Not a lot of time, not a lot of space. You got to do whatever you can to advance the puck and contribute."


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WINCHESTER Solid Oak TV Cabinet was £2895 now £1950 Ex-Show model.
Charlotte 'TV Ottoman' with Blue LED Lighting kit. Was £2794 now £1850.
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Photo Credit: Photographic illustrations of Kirk Cameron are copyright © by their respective holders. The images are published with permission or as allowed by the copyright law's fair use or quotation provisions. If any copyright holder objects to an image being included, please notify us and it will be removed immediately.
Disclaimer: This information about Kirk Cameron is derived from astrological interpretation of Kirk Cameron's date, time, and place of birth.


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I just got Chris Ware's new sketchbook in the mail today -- wow. If you want to feel inferior as an artist, this is the book to buy. Sheesh. The stuff in here is crazy beautiful. Sigh.
Anyway, if you're a fan, you'll want a copy.
The Acme Novelty Date Book vol. 2
Recommend books, comics, graphic novels, etc.
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Have you read http://www.amazon.com/Acme-Novelty-Libr ... 268&sr=1-1? It's my favorite of his. There's this one page where he's explaining the history of the house the main character lives in that is a masterpiece of information design. haha. I LOVE his stuff! So beautiful and simplistic. His stuff seriously makes me all teary-eyed about being an artist. lol.
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Barry Beach Surrenders To Authorities In Billings
From the Montana Department of Justice:
At 11am today, Barry Beach surrendered himself to the custody of the Yellowstone County Sheriff.
The Department of Corrections is working with the Yellowstone County Sheriff's Office to arrange secure transportation to the Montana State Prison in Deer Lodge.
There he will continue serving his 100-year sentence for the 1979 murder of Kimberly Nees, a Poplar High School honors student.
Three decades ago, a jury convicted Beach of deliberate homicide after confessing to the murder of Kimberly Nees. Beach's confession provided details that law enforcement had not shared with the general public and which only the killer would have known.
Beach, who had been drinking alcohol, was upset that the victim resisted his sexual advances.
He described bludgeoning the victim with a tire iron and crescent wrench and then standing over the body in disbelief at what he had done. Though Beach has never contended that he did not confess, he has asserted over the years that his confession was coerced.
His challenges to his confession have been inconsistent and contradictory, ranging from his claiming that he was threatened with the death penalty, to asserting that sworn law enforcement officers made sexual advances on him, to claiming he was deprived of food, to claiming that officers drugged him with a milkshake.
Until 2011, every state and federal court to consider Beach's challenges to his confession rejected his claims.
In 2011, District Court Judge E. Wayne Phillips granted Beach a new trial and ordered that he be released from prison pending that trial. The State of Montana appealed the District Court's decision to the State Supreme Court.
Yesterday afternoon, the Supreme Court issued its decision that the District Court erred in ruling that Beach should receive a new trial.
A majority of Supreme Court justices found that the District Court applied the wrong legal standards to Beach's claim of actual innocence, failed to conduct a proper review of the evidence of the crime adduced at trial, including Beach's detailed confession, and erred in its consideration of that evidence.
The Supreme Court thoroughly reviewed both the old and new evidence in Beach's case and concluded that he failed to provide reliable, new evidence of his actual innocence that displaced the trial evidence and thus his conviction. Beach's conviction is valid. Therefore, like every other person convicted of murder, Beach is required to serve his prison sentence.
There are some, however, who think that Beach is not guilty of the crime.


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Xbox Runaways Found in Eureka, Ill.
Iowa teenagers met playing Xbox, and ran away together.
Oct. 16., 2012, 2012 -- Four Iowa teens who ran away from home after meeting on Xbox were arrested today and charged with trespassing at an abandoned home in Eureka, Ill., nearly 360 miles away from home.
The two boys and two girls who ranged in age from 13 to 16 disappeared together Saturday. Before that day, the boys had never met the girls in person, their families told ABCNews.com.
The families haven't spoken directly with their children since they left, but got word today that the teens were being held at the Woodford County Correctional Facility. When the phone call came that the kids were safe, their parents were ecstatic.
"I hysterically started crying, just overwhelmed with joy. All floods of emotions. Overjoyed, relief, you name it. I couldn't believe it," said Judy Hamilton, the mother of Jazlyn Visek, 15, one of the two girls.
Visek ran off with Corey Sunderman, 16, whom she began "dating" after meeting on Xbox.
"This was her first serious boyfriend. He gave her a lot of attention she's never got from any guys," Hamilton said.
Their romance may have led to legal trouble, Hamilton said.
"They were cuffed and they are getting charges of trespass, so they will be spending the night in jail," she said.
Crystal Sunderman, Corey's mother, told ABCNews.com she was concerned about what will come after the teens return home.
"I'm starting to worry about what am I going to do to keep Corey, to keep him safe... We've got to fix whatever it was that made him leave. He's had some problems at school with bullying but honestly, I don't know," she said.
When Visek and Corey Sunderman left town, they were accompanied by Visek's friend Skie Floyd, 15, and Sunderman's pal Austin Boggs, 13.
The boys are from Atlantic while the girls are from Shellsburg, Iowa towns that are three and a half hours apart.
The teens were arrested by Illinois police, six hours from Atlantic.
"We had a long conversation with the officers who were involved," Sheriff Randall Forsyth of Iowa's Benton County told ABCNews.com. "They told us they located the kids and they were responding to the complaint of trespassing at a residence."
After facing an Illinois judge Wednesday, the teens will be allowed to return home, Crystal Sunderman said.
"We'll probably leave tomorrow morning (for Illinois) in hopes that maybe we can see the kids before they go to court because we haven't had a chance to talk to them at all," she said.
The boys vanished Saturday after police brought them to the Sunderman home Friday night for violating the town's curfew. When Corey's father Tony woke for work Saturday morning, he realized not only were the boys missing, but so were Crystal Sunderman's laptop and $400 from the father's recently cashed paycheck, Crystal Sunderman said.
Also missing was the 1997 gold Jeep Cherokee Tony Sunderman had brought home from his iron and metal recycling job, the mom said. The vehicle, which didn't have a license, was spotted nearly four hours away in Benton County at around 10 a.m. Saturday, the same county the missing Iowa girls call home.
By the time it was located in Illinois, it had acquired stolen license plates from Atlantic, Forsyth said.
Hamilton said she thinks the teens plotted the escape in advance.
"[Visek] had been planning for a couple weeks at least, and I had no idea," Hamilton said.
"I've learned a valuable lesson on media devices and what you allow your children to do on Xbox or Facebook," she said. "I admit I was pretty free with Jazlyn and I trusted her, and I think I gave her too much freedom."
Crystal Sunderman said she tried to be cautious about what her son did online.
"I don't let him have a Facebook account because I don't want him meeting people online," Crystal Sunderman said. "I didn't realize they could do so much on Xbox."


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On Thursday night someone broke in to our house. They took our car, our computers and all my camera equipment. I actually still don't think I quite believe it. It has been the most surreal few days and when it first happened I honestly was just happy that our hard drives were still here and our cat was ok... I didn't care about anything else. But now it's slowly hitting home...
When it happened we were out.. me and Pete had had such an amazing week. On the Monday it had been my Birthday and our first wedding anniversary and on that Thursday we'd had the nicest walk around the park, had some good news about work, got dressed up, went out for a meal and then met up with a bunch of wedding peeps at a pub. I even specifically thought at one point how I felt really happy, the business was going really well and I felt on top of everything..
At the end of the night we got out of the taxi and the first thing Pete said was "Where's the car?".. we stopped for a second wondering whether we'd parked it on another road (parking at our house is a nightmare).. but we both definitely knew that we'd parked it there... we then had a slightly confused few steps.. which then turned in to a run as we began to realise the car keys were in the house. The house looked normal from the outside and when we entered the living room everything looked fine.. until I spotted a drawer to our little sideboard was open. That's when I knew. We both ran through the dining room (where more drawers were open) and that few seconds up to my office was horrendous. The first thing I noticed was the computer gone and then my camera bag.. but the total relief when I saw all my hard drives is indescribable. We had had back ups of everything stored at a parent's house but we were about to move in to an office space so they had been brought back to put in the new office.. so the thought of them all being stolen.. well, we all know that it's actually not even worth thinking about.
We called the police, gave a statement and then the following day was spent calling insurance companies and finding receipts. We now have claims waiting to be authorised so that we can start hopefully replacing things.
I find it actually quite weird how I've reacted to all of this. When it happened I felt oddly calm and just kept saying "No way.." in a kind of surprised way.. I just could not believe that there was a space where the car should be, where my computer was. I even asked the police should I not be reacting more to this.. one then said that we'd probably not sleep that night as someone had been inside our house, been through our stuff etc.. and actually quite a few people have said that that would be the worst feeling, but again, my weird reactions.. I'm totally ok with it. I feel normal in the house, Pete had to go out on Friday night so I was on my own in the house and I felt fine. I actually joked about how the burglars would be having a field day as they have a boot full of photo booth props including wigs and silly hats.. but today we've been going through just how much they've taken and looking at, realistically what will be covered. For our insurance we get compensated for how much the item is worth now (depreciation etc) so it looks like we're going to lose out and it will cost us money.
This is where I struggle. When we started this business we had no money. Nothing. I borrowed the bare minimum and we bought basic equipment (a couple of D90's and some basic lenses) and the first 18 months was incredible work wise but a complete struggle financially. Over the past two and a half years we've worked our ass's off climbing that ladder. Every single purchase felt like such an accomplishment... I remember getting my 5D and just feeling incredible.. even starting with a couple of memory cards to now having about ten still makes me feel so proud. My kit still isn't extravagant.. I use a few lenses and that's it but we were about to maybe invest in a few more lenses, maybe another desktop.. and it felt that in the next few months we were finally going to be able to stretch our wings a bit.. all the hard work was finally paying off... and then this happens. We take one step forward and then once again we have to take two steps back. It really sucks.
BUT...really.. we're ok. No-one was hurt, my cat is safe, the business will carry on as normal and we're going to remain positive about the whole thing. When it happened (again, quite a weird reaction for me) I tweeted it. I'm not usually like that but the response has been overwhelming. We've had so much support and offers 100 times over to lend kit, laptops (I'm actually typing on Rock My Wedding's laptop right now), lifts to places.. everyone has been incredible. I think we all need to remember that although Twitter can get a bit bitchy and annoying sometimes.. when the shit actually hits the fan we're all there for each other 110%.. and that's pretty special.
This is quite a rambling post but if one good thing could come out of this I'd really like it if everyone made an effort to look at their own situation... their security, their back ups, their insurance, record serial numbers and if there's anything that could be slightly better then DO IT. I also want to say a huge thank you for all the kind messages and offers of help.. you really are the best family and have easily made this whole situation so much easier..
I'm not sure if this is going to help at all but a few people have mentioned posting serial numbers of equipment just in case things turn up on places like ebay etc so below is all the information about stuff that was taken. If you could pass it on and make as many people aware of it as possible I would be extremely grateful...
iMac Desktop - Serial no: VM817K99ZE2
Macbook Pro - Serial no: W8016RDXATN
Canon 5D Mark II Body - Serial no: 2031200165
Canon 5D Mark II Body - Serial no: 2831516721
Canon 85mm f1.2 lens - Serial no: 155579
Canon 35mm f1.4 lens - Serial no: 109527
(also has a filter attached that is actually stuck to the lens)
These are a few instagram photos from our lovely night out taken pretty much at the same time they must have been in our house...
sinead and dan {wedding}
Oh my oh my oh my... Sinead and Dan got married and oh my goodness.. this car bootin' photographer was in her thrift lovin' element. It was back in September when we suddenly experienced a mini heatwave and I arrived in Whitstable to find myself in mini heaven... meeting Sinead and her bridesmaids at a gorgeous house 2 mins from the beach.. watching Sinead get in to her beautiful Candy Anthony dress and Irregular choice shoes and making her way down to the gorgeous beach house in a beautiful sky blue camper... it couldn't have been more perfect. Guests were relaxing on the deck with gorgeous vintage babycham glasses (all thrifted by Sinead of course) and a dapper Dan waited for his Bride...The ceremony was perfect.. on the decking in glorious sunshine and as canapes were nibbled I snuck Sinead and Dan off to Whitstable town to say hello to all their vendors (the flower lady and the cheese shop) and to have some piccies...As we travelled to Dan's parents house for the reception Sinead seemed ridiculously excited for me to see the marquee... and OH MY GOD I soon realised exactly why. It was INCREDIBLE. Sinead and her friend had spent months and months car bootin', on ebay, in charity shops and finally it had all come together! The theme was pretty much 'retro seaside' and from the gorgeous deck chair striped walls to the smallest seaside postcard.. everything was styled to perfection.. so much colour and so much fun... I literally could've taken pictures for a week.I absolutely friggin' loved this wedding and I absolutely friggin' love Sinead and Dan.
Labels: 50's dress, seaside, vintage, wedding, whitstable


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Miguel Silva Vazquez-Cactus Glass Alcohol Glass
At Design Interviews
Interview with Miguel Silva Vazquez : Frank Scott: What is the main principle, idea and inspiration behind your design?. Miguel Silva Vazquez : Aside of the prickly pear cactus, I wanted to create a special moment when drinking mezcal and tequila with friends with a ludic approach, and linking the prickly pear textures and colors along with the experience of drinking alcohol created a perfect match. .Frank Scott: What has been your main focus in designing this work? Especially what did you want to achieve?. Miguel Silva Vazquez : I wanted to connect people from a sensorial experience standpoint. When people drink they start by looking what kind of beverage the will choose and the role of the glass is to maximize the experience by adding an emotional value. .Frank Scott: What are your future plans for this award winning design?. Miguel Silva Vazquez : I want to add a value proposal to Cactus glass and increase the overall quality of its design. .Frank Scott: How long did it take you to design this particular concept?. Miguel Silva Vazquez : The concept took one month and regards the production of the first pieces five months. .Frank Scott: Why did you design this particular concept? Was this design commissioned or did you decide to pursuit an inspiration?. Miguel Silva Vazquez : It started as an inspiration thanks because I visited el Charco del Ingenio, a botanical garden in San Miguel de Allende. Later on I found a national competition called Materializa by La Tora, Mexico where I won the 3rd place and the chance of producing it for Abierto Mexicano. .Frank Scott: Is your design being produced or used by another company, or do you plan to sell or lease the production rights or do you intent to produce your work yourself?. Miguel Silva Vazquez : My intention is to sell Cactus glass by the name of Miguel Silva Design, however I am open to explore new business opportunities. .Frank Scott: What made you design this particular type of work?. Miguel Silva Vazquez : I want to make people's life happier. .Frank Scott: Where there any other designs and/or designers that helped the influence the design of your work?. Miguel Silva Vazquez : The hole influence I got when studying in Domus Academy helped me to mature my Designs ideas and it was definitely a big player to consolidate with excellence this project in particular. .Frank Scott: Who is the target customer for his design?. Miguel Silva Vazquez : People who enjoy drinking alcoholic beverages, especially Tequila and Mezcal. .Frank Scott: What sets this design apart from other similar or resembling concepts?. Miguel Silva Vazquez : The project besides its ludic appearance and sensorial characteristics was made by the use of modern technology 3d printing, taking care detail production aspects, pushing the local industry in Mexico. .Frank Scott: How did you come up with the name for this design? What does it mean?. Miguel Silva Vazquez : The name means Cactus, because the texture of the glass resemble thorns. .Frank Scott: Which design tools did you use when you were working on this project?. Miguel Silva Vazquez : I started with hand sketching, 3d software, rapid prototyping such as 3d printing and handcraft to produce de plaster molds. .Frank Scott: What is the most unique aspect of your design?. Miguel Silva Vazquez : The emotion it gives to people when used. .Frank Scott: Who did you collaborate with for this design? Did you work with people with technical / specialized skills?. Miguel Silva Vazquez : I worked with La Torre, Mexico which is a creative lab specializes in ceramic solutions for designers. .Frank Scott: What is the role of technology in this particular design?. Miguel Silva Vazquez : Technology helped to keep the idea as it was originally conceived and it was a great support to short production time frames. .Frank Scott: Is your design influenced by data or analytical research in any way? What kind of research did you conduct for making this design?. Miguel Silva Vazquez : It was mainly about ceramic materials. .Frank Scott: What are some of the challenges you faced during the design/realization of your concept?. Miguel Silva Vazquez : The integration of the big picture that surround Cactus glass. .Frank Scott: How did you decide to submit your design to an international design competition?. Miguel Silva Vazquez : First of all, I wanted to add more value to my design, plus giving it more advertisement and increase the chance to contact businessmen and designers to increase my working network for some future collaboration on the road. .Frank Scott: What did you learn or how did you improve yourself during the designing of this work?. Miguel Silva Vazquez : I improved on learning new design ideas that I will use for future projects. .Frank Scott: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?. Miguel Silva Vazquez : My intention with Cactus glass in the A'Design Award & Competition is to sell it and contacting new designers, investors and clientes. .
Miguel Silva Vazquez-Cactus Glass Alcohol Glass Images:
End of the article, click here to go back to previous page, or alternatively go back to Design Insider Magazine homepage.
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This week, Facebook earned a lot of good press when they decided to finally adjust their community standards. Previously, photos of breastfeeding women would get deleted after one or two people reported them as inappropriate, while entire Facebook pages promoting violence against women and rape went unchallenged, no matter how many people reported them. When Women's Media Center confronted Facebook on this hypocritical interpretation of their terms of service and organized an advertiser boycott of the company, many were shocked to see Facebook actually respond! And announce a major change in how the site deals with problematic content! Facebook revealed that they would no longer censor photos of breastfeeding mothers, and they would be more active in deleting content that promotes or makes light of violence against women.
Is this new policy actually working, though? Does Facebook have a system in place that allows site users to report problematic content and see it deleted?
Unfortunately, it became clear yesterday that Facebook has not figured out how to respond to content that violates its community standards. It also became clear that the only real way to get Facebook to remove violent sexual content is to make the masses aware of that violent sexual content.
On Tuesday, Liz Boltz Ranfeld, a writer and English professor, stumbled across a now-deleted page for the red light district of Sonagachi in Kolkata, India, while working on a series of posts about her recent volunteer work there. Shocked to find a "community" page that openly promoted prostitution, had graphic photographs of prostitutes engaged in sexual acts, and included some photos of women that appeared to be underaged, she sent a message to a small group of friends in order to ask them to report the site. Slay Belle, who is an editor and author for Persephone Magazine (where Liz is also a contributor) and a contributor for Jezebel's Powder Room, suggested bringing the page to the attention of a larger group of mutual friends and acquaintances.
Within a few hours, everyone who had reported the Facebook page received the same message from a Facebook staffer or robot called Viki. The message explained that Facebook could not verify that the Sonagachi community page violated the site's community standards. No one who received this message could believe what they were reading. If pictures that showed a prostitute performing a blow job didn't violate Facebook's TOS, what did?
Disheartened, Liz and Slay both turned to their respective social media outlets to tell others about Facebook's inaction. Liz posted an article to her personal blog, and Slay posted to the Powder Room blog at Jezebel.com. They encouraged their friends and readers to spread the word that Facebook was ignoring blatant pornographic material and sex trafficking right there on its own site. In addition, Slay, Liz, and many others reached out through Twitter to Women's Media Center, Feministing, Jezebel, and individuals such as Jessica Valenti and Hugo Schwyzer, asking them to promote the response that Facebook had been sending out to people who reported the page.
This is where the story takes a turn. Most people, when reporting a Facebook page they find problematic, don't get to spread the word much farther than their immediate circle of Facebook friends. Most people aren't plugged into a network of feminist social media junkies who immediately take up the cause.
Persephone Magazine reran Liz's blog post and sent the story out to their followers on social media. Several Tumblr posts appeared to complain about the "Viki" emails. The story was picked up by a number of feminist bloggers. Hugo Schwyzer re-tweeted to his followers, as did WAM. And still the page remained up, and FB users who were reporting the page or the individual images were getting flagged as 'spam' reporters. A Change.Org petition was started. Liz's post was picked up by several Christian anti-sex trafficking blogs and Oral Roberts University students. All the while, the hundreds of people who were reporting the page continued to get the same message from Viki: the Sonagachi community page is not in violation of the community standards.
It didn't matter that hundreds of Facebook users were providing feedback that linked directly to photos of women performing oral sex on men, women being advertised with prices for a night of sex, a photo series of a teenager losing her virginity, a toddler-aged child in a sex pose with a young girl, or fans posting questions about what kind of women they could pay to have sex with.
So when did Facebook decide to finally take down the page?
Only when Jezebel published Slay Belle's article to its main page and when the Daily Dot ran its own article about Facebook's lack of response.
Within minutes of the coverage hitting these two large media outlets, the FB page — which hadn't violated any community standards! — disappeared, with nary a comment from Facebook or Viki about it.
Clearly, the individuals or algorithm responsible for responding to Facebook reports didn't care one bit about naked women, children engaged in sexual behavior, or human sex trafficking until some big names in social media got involved.
In that sense, the media campaign was a success. Facebook did what Slay, Liz, and their friends wanted — they removed a site that openly engaged in sex trafficking. While the removal of the Sonagachi community page from Facebook is a small victory, the story of how it came to be removed is a disheartening one.
Although there is no way for us to know how many people reported the Sonagachi page to Facebook, we estimate several hundred or more, based on blog traffic, links, Twitter, and Facebook conversations.
None of that made a difference. Only when Facebook faced bad PR and backlash from real names in social media did they follow their own terms of service and remove the Sonagachi Facebook page.
By the time Liz stumbled across the page, the site had been live for more than a year, and pimps advertising prostitutes had been active just a day before. And unfortunately, there are countless more pages in that one's place. As readers and commenters began tracking down and reporting other violation-ridden Sonagachi Facebook pages (NSFW!), the story began to repeat itself. More messages from Facebook's Viki were sent to every person who reported any of the sites, all of which have similar violations as the original. Vicki's message remained the same — these pages could not be determined to violate their own terms of service.
Does Facebook need every single problematic image or site to be broadcast by major social media players for them to take action?
Must their reputation be at stake for them to remove pages that anyone can see are in clear violation of the community standards?
Have they no protocols in place to have a human being check a page that had been reported hundreds of times within a few hours? If their bots can identify photos of breast cancer survivors or breast feeding mothers as potential pornography, why can't they identify actual pornography?
In a tweet, the Women's Media Center expressed that yes, it will take time for Facebook to right the wrongs in its reporting system. The Sonagachi Facebook page debacle, though, demonstrates that there is still a very, very long way to go.
Update 6/6/13: We've received an email from Facebook's Public Policy Communications team. They state:
To be clear, this [page] was not removed as a result of the blog post, the content absolutely violated our polices however initial reports were not actioned correctly because of a technical error that has been fixed.
This post was co-written by Slay Belle and Liz Boltz Ranfeld. It is being cross-posted to Jezebel's Powder Room blog and Liz's personal blog.


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I don't think Randy is the odd man out.. i still think he's a decent judge.. just that he needs to interact more with JLo and Steven Tyler.
I missed it! Who's got the vids??
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- Fakro Balcony WindowWindow design company Fakro has developed an innovative skylight that can transform a window into a balcony! With the flip of the window sashes, the panes open out to form a guard rail, creating a small open-air terrace. Met with a slide rail inside, Fakro's design can transform a room's architecture without expensive renovations.1
- Fakro Balcony WindowDesigned for skylight woof windows, the system works by installing two upward and downward opening windows instead of just one skylight.2
- Fakro Balcony WindowThe bottom window sash opens forward, creating a sturdy vertical wall for the balcony. The built in slide rails move forward, creating a gated guard for either side of the balcony. The top window then opens upward at a 45 degree angle, making headroom to step out onto the new balcony space.3
- Fakro Balcony WindowOne set of windows creates a breezy outlook for one, but paired with another set, the matching balconies are perfect for outdoor dining for two, or a place to unwind after work and breathe in fresh air of the outdoors.4
- Fakro Balcony WindowEach of the balcony window panes is glazed to block solar gain and ensure insulation inside.5
- Fakro Balcony WindowWhen closed, the balcony rails recess into the sides, making it look like any ordinary skylight. Fakro's balcony windows can be installed to infuse a room with ample natural lighting. But users can also enjoy additional energy savings, as the automatic air inlets allow for maximum fresh air circulation, which will cut down tremendously on artificial climate control.6
- Fakro Balcony WindowFakro's innovative balcony windows not only give users a breath of fresh air, but also open up the room and create new space.7


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Sleigh bells are ringing in Burke. Starting this week, the Burke Volunteer Fire Department will be riding through the Burke community with Santa. To find out if your neighborhood is on Santa's "nice" list, visit the Burke Volunteer Fire Department's website at www.bvfrd.org.
Supervisor John Cook (R-Braddock) will be helping Santa again this year along with the Fairfax County Fire Department and the Bonnie Brae Civic Association. On Dec. 23 at 2 p.m., they will be riding through the Bonnie Brae community to spread holiday cheer and also to pass out candy to children. If you live in the Bonnie Brae community, be on the lookout for Santa and the Fire Department in your neighborhood.


text: Léna Sheridan is an artist and musician who lives in Melbourne, Australia. She works in a range of mediums, including drawing, photography, oil painting, and sculpture - but she is continually pulled back to drawing as a central interest. Léna completed her visual arts study at RMIT in Melbourne. Having previously studied linguistics and philosophy at Melbourne University, she continues to investigate the workings of the psyche, loneliness versus connectedness, and the general strangeness of being alive. She is interested in understanding the human form through synaesthesia and visual empathy. Her creative process comes about through unconscious and meditative ideas, often resulting in images that are poetic and surreal.Léna has held exhibitions around Melbourne and continues to take on a variety of commissions, both for Australian and international clients. Her work is featured in private collections across Germany, Australia and New Zealand.All of her works on Artpal are available as prints.