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REVIEW: Was This Character Dining Experience Worth $125 in Disneyland?
By Rachel Franko 3 Comments
Character dining has been making a big return around the Disney Parks as of late, even if the experiences look a little (OK, a LOT) different!
Napa Rose
While Disney World has seen quite a few locations bring back modified character dining, now select Disneyland restaurants are finally re-introducing it as well! We've already seen what Mickey's Tales of Adventure Breakfast looks like at Storytellers Cafe, but now we're checking out character dining at another neighboring Disney's Grand Californian Hotel restaurant!
If you're looking for swanky food at Disney's Grand Californian Hotel, Napa Rose is where you'll find it. Right now though, you'll also find the Disney Princess Breakfast Adventures character dining experience as well! And, we're taking you with us to see what it's like!
Princess Time!
It's worth noting this experience is NOT new. It started a few years back, but is now returning. The menu is largely the same, but the experience has changed a bit due to health restrictions. We'll go over the changes below. Spoiler alert though: It's still PRICEY.
Napa Rose is located off the main lobby of the resort. Follow signs and head outside to the back of the lobby to find the entrance.
When guests enter Napa Rose, they are surrounded by decorations inspired by California with a warm color scheme, woodwork, and more. The front area of the restaurant is currently being used as a lounge, where guests are able to wait before greeting the princesses (!!!) and being brought to their tables.
Napa Rose Dining Room
The standard table and chair arrangements are still in the main dining room…
…with gorgeous details to go along with the "rose" theme.
Look How Pretty!
Napa Rose features a lovely open kitchen, giving guests a great opportunity to see the chefs hard at work.
Chefs in the kitchen
But before we get into what we'll be eating, let's see who we'll be MEETING!
Some of the character dining we've seen has allowed guests to interact with their favorite friends from a distance while they're dining. However, Napa Rose was using a more personalized version of modified character interactions, where a few parties are brought into a separate area at a time to talk to the princesses!
A line reminds guests not to get too close to the character performers as a health and safety regulation. But, it still felt like we were able to have more of a one-on-one conversation with the princesses this way!
Guests are able to meet two princesses before they are seated in Napa Rose, as well as two more on their way out of the restaurant.
During our visit, we were able to see Jasmine, Aurora, Belle, and Ariel (and each of them was a joy!).
It's important to note that this system could change, depending on what is best with the number of guests visiting for the Disney Princess Breakfast Adventure. While we saw two princesses at the beginning and two princesses at the end, that may change to better accommodate guest "flow." Previously, before the closures, princesses met you at your table, at the entrance, AND outside and you saw a lot more in total. It might have been our timing, but we left seeing 4.
At the end of our meal we were given an autograph card to take home.
Disney Princess Breakfast Adventure
…with autographs from the princesses you met along with a few others!
All the Princesses!
So here's where it gets weird. The original experience (pre-closure) included a LOT more than we received in the swag department. Children would receive a Disney autograph book and pen as well as a card with access to their Photopass photos from the experience. This seemed to have been lost.
Before the closures, young princesses would get a drawstring bag with the Princess Breakfast Adventures logo complete with a Swarovski crystal crown necklace (OK, justifying that heft cost is getting a biiiiit easier so far). Young princes would get a foam shield and sword (the same kinds found in many gift shops for a prettier penny than you'd imagine foam would cost!). Here was a display of the gifts:
Cute Gifts!
But here's the thing: we had no kids with us, so we were given JUST a drawstring bag and definitely lacking any other goodies. Well, since we visited during World Princess Week, we were given a button to commemorate the occasion too. So there's that?
World Princess Week Button
Adults used to be given a set of princess-themed chocolates as a takeaway (TBH, we might still pick the necklace). We didn't realize until we left we just got the baggie only, but definitely felt like a big component of the hefty price tag was missing in our experience. 🙁 If you're going with kids though, it appears the necklace and shield/sword are still on the table. (We say, sitting here shield and necklace-less!) We called the restaurant to follow up and see if the breakfast still included the chocolates for adults too and the Cast Member at the restaurant was unsure. She said a good deal of the Cast in the restaurant is new and still getting their bearings. It was likely an oversight a Cast Member would have been happy to fix for us had we brought it to their attention.
The Disney Princess Breakfast Adventure is a signature dining experience where each guest will receive 3 courses as part of their meal! Breakfast is served Thursday through Monday from 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM at $125 per person (even kids) with tax and gratuity not included.
When we sat down, we were given a cloth napkin (shaped like a rose in our cup!) with utensils…
How Cute!!
…and a pastry basket with lemon curd spread ahead of our meal. The three pastries included in our basket were a Cinnamon Twist, a Cranberry Scone, and a Strawberry-flavored Muffin. All three were definitely on the sweet side and tasted more like desserts than something to start off your breakfast with (but hey, you're here to truly soak in a luxurious dining experience…so start off with dessert!). Our favorite of the three was the Cinnamon Twist, but all three pastries were so different in flavor, it would really depend on what flavor you like most!
Pastry Basket
Adults have a choice of 1 sparkling wine included with their meal (guests can also request their sparkling wine come with orange juice if they want something similar to a mimosa). Coffee and other non-alcoholic drinks are included with your meal.
Of course, we had to go for some sparkling wine with orange juice to pair with our breakfast, which was light and refreshing to start the day. The coffee we ordered was the typical brew you'd find in the Disney Parks, but it definitely woke us up so we were even MORE ready to conquer our visit to Disneyland. Keep in mind that this was NOT the Still Royal After Midnight Mimosa that is available for purchase on the menu (but that one sounds pretty good too!).
The first course included the Appetizer Tower with a Banana Brulee wrapped in a Nutella Crepe, Open-Face Ham Sandwich, Lobster Roll, Coconut Chia Pudding, and fresh Beignets. The tower comes with enough servings of each item for the number of guests at the table, and all of the above items are included with your first course! This did come on an actual tower brought to the table, but our reporter was so excited to start eating that she forgot to snap a picture! 🙂 On the top of the tower you'll find the Banana Brulee; the second 'level' included the Open-Face Ham Sandwich, and the bottom 'level' had the Lobster Roll, Coconut Chia Pudding, and Beignets!
Appetizer Tower Items
While the presentation itself was LOVELY, each of the items that were a part of the Appetizer Tower was unique and there was a WIDE variety of textures and flavors to start our breakfast. But, if we had to pick our favorites, we had to go with the sweeter side with the incredible Banana Brulee and Beignets. The Brulee was very tasty and had a nice balance of flavor and texture (though it's really just a thick slice of banana with caramelized sugar on top wrapped in a Nutella covered strip of crepe!), and the Beignets were very fresh (we were told that they were prepared by Princess Tiana herself)!
Don't get us wrong, the other items were tasty, too! The Chia Pudding is a great option if you're looking for something on the light side, and the open-faced Ham Sandwich is a crowd-pleaser that kids should enjoy! The Lobster Rolls were big for an appetizer portion, but we felt like there was WAY more bread than there was filling. We also wish it came served warm, but those of you who prefer cold Lobster Rolls will enjoy this dish!
The second course was served buffet-style, where you could pick and choose what you'd like. The options included Chicken and Mickey Waffles, which were your standard mini-Mickey Waffles with one piece of fried chicken as an accompaniment, along with warm syrup! The waffles were fresh and warm, but they were your standard Mickey Waffles you would find anywhere else on property. The fried chicken was a nice touch and was cooked perfectly.
Mickey Waffles
We also tried their "Perfect Scrambled Eggs," which truly were near-perfect! These scrambled eggs were super flavorful and weren't over-cooked which is often a concern when eating buffet scrambled eggs! These were definitely an item we would return to the buffet to get multiple servings!
If you're looking for a unique protein option, there's the Braised Beef Short Rib. These were also quite tasty and tender, and offered guests a very savory meat option if you're looking for a truly hearty breakfast! This was a more unique option that we wish the buffet line had more of, considering the price you're paying!
Braised Beef Short Rib
Other breakfast proteins included Breakfast Meats like Sausage that were presented with cut-up chunks of apple. We enjoyed the Sausage but weren't blown away; after all, you can find Sausage right next door at Storytellers Cafe breakfast for a lower price point or at practically any spot that serves hot breakfast!
There was also plenty of crispy Bacon, which, like the sausage, reminded us of your standard buffet-line bacon you'd find over at Storytellers Cafe for a fraction of the price. Still, it was crispy and flavorful — exactly what you would expect from Bacon.
Now we aren't sure how many of you would consider Mac and Cheese to be a breakfast food, but Napa Rose would prove you wrong! The buffet had Mac and Cheese both with and without panko bread crumbs on top, depending on how you preferred it to be served (we can imagine some kiddos may prefer their mac and cheese sans bread crumbs!). The Mac and Cheese was tasty! It wasn't life-changing Mac and Cheese, but we aren't gonna say no to melted cheese, no matter what time of day it is. We wish it came in a larger portion (but, of course, it's a buffet, so you can always hop up and grab another cup!). The little serving cups were cute though.
For your breakfast starch, we were given a basket of Breakfast Fries, which were tossed in BBQ seasoning and served with a Romesco sauce as well as ketchup. We wish there was something extra added to these fries that screamed "breakfast" just a little bit more; while these were tasty, they were just your garden-variety french fries and we couldn't help but wonder if they realized last-minute guests would be looking for a starch option. That said, the Romesco sauce was unique to see (this is a typically not-spicy roasted tomato, red pepper, garlic, and almond puree).
Breakfast Fries
And if you really wanted to keep your breakfast on the healthy side, there was a tray of Roasted Tomato and Asparagus to add to your plate. These paired really well with the Braised Beef Short Rib and were warm, savory, and cooked well. Something about tiny tomatoes still on the vine makes they seem EXTRA tasty, right? Just us? 😂
Roasted Tomatoes and Asparagus
Our quasi breakfast-lunch buffet options continue with Sliders, which resembled cheeseburgers you would enjoy around 1PM more than a breakfast sandwich you would enjoy at 9AM! While these were tasty (another good option for kids), we couldn't help but wonder why they were included in a breakfast buffet instead of something like an omelet station.
There was also an assortment of fruit. Aside from fruit skewers we found…
Fruit Assortment
…and strawberries. Basically, all the major berry players were covered. Compared to the hot foods being offered, there was a lot of fruit to fill the buffet. Almost too much really, compared to the limited hot offerings.
Overall, we found that the majority of the items in the second course were your standard buffet fare with flavors that were a bit on the safe side in order to cater to families and kids. Although there were a few exceptions, you can find quite of few of these options at most breakfast spots around Disneyland.
Our favorite when all was said and done was still the Perfect Scrambled Eggs. The eggs were cooked and seasoned wonderfully, making them the perfect side dish to the Short Rib or even the Chicken and Mickey Waffles! And, let's get real — you can't have a breakfast in a Disney Park and skip the Mickey Waffles! 😉
However, for the price tag of the meal, we did expect Napa Rose to have bigger and bolder flavors for their entrées. A third of the buffet line incorporated fruits, which was a bit of a let-down considering how unique the first course had been.
Lots and LOTS of Fruit
Last, but certainly not least, dessert was our final course with a plated assortment of sweets inspired by the Disney Princesses! The spread included the Peanut Butter Mousse (Pocahontas), Firecracker Strawberry Sorbet (Mulan), Mango Macaron (Ariel), Raspberry Tart (Belle), and 2 Brownie Cake Pops (Belle & Aurora) — all sprinkled with fairy dust on top. We were given just one selection of each item, but if you have multiple guests at your table, you will receive enough selections per guest. The table next to us had a party of four and their dessert spread came with four of everything — so there's no fighting over your favorite desserts.
Would it be a surprise to you if we said dessert was our FAVORITE course out of the three? (Probably not.) The desserts had a wide variety of flavors to go along with the Disney Princess theme. There was a Mango Macaron for Ariel, which was a little bit small for our taste but was a unique spin on the many Macarons you'll find around Disneyland. The Mango was just the right amount of flavor and we didn't find it to be overwhelming at all! If you aren't a fan of Mango, however, you may be better off sharing this dessert with a friend.
Ariel Macaron
We also had a richer and more savory option with the Peanut Butter Mousse for Pocahontas! This is DEFINITELY for the Peanut Butter fans out there because that was the predominant flavor we noticed. It wasn't a one-note dessert, but it was awfully darn close. The chocolate layer on the bottom added a nice bit of texture, but the peanut butter flavor definitely overwhelmed the chocolate.
Pocahontas Mousse
Other rich dessert options were the two Brownie Cake Pops for Belle and Aurora. These were both a fudgy brownie flavor and texture that were definitely more on the 'heavy' side for dessert. In contrast, the Raspberry Tart for Belle was a lovely bite-size dessert (look at it! That little raspberry is just as big as the tart!) that won't leave you feeling guilty once you fire it down. (But that said, we could have eaten…oh, a dozen more? They tiny.)
Cake Pops and Tart
The standout dessert that got everyone talking, however, was the Firecracker Strawberry Sorbet for Mulan! The 'firecracker' comes from the fact that there are Pop Rocks sitting on top of the sorbet! If Pop Rocks freak you out, you can just scoop them out and enjoy the refreshing, ice-cold Strawberry Sorbet underneath. It all sits beneath a small serving of Strawberry Cotton Candy. Weird, but really eye-catching and fun (and tasty!).
Careful…there are TONS of pop rocks in this dessert!
At least everyone dining in your party could find at least one dessert they loved. But, honestly, we recommend trying all of them since they're all unique and tasted great!
So, would we recommend this character dining experience? Here are our thoughts!
Nosh or Not
You should dine at Napa Rose if…
You LOVE seeing the Disney Princesses! Napa Rose had a unique spin on modified character dining compared to the other restaurants we have visited recently. Plus, this is the only princess meal 'round these parts.
You're a big fan of multiple course meals. Instead of purchasing separate appetizers, entrées, and desserts, all of them are included in the price tag of the Disney Princess Breakfast Adventure.
You have kids! The menu had enough options that even your picky eaters would find something to enjoy (in fact, it seemed mostly catered to simple eaters). Plus, the opportunity to see their favorite princesses only adds to the themed dining experience!
You should NOT dine at Napa Rose if…
You're looking for unique menu items! The Disney Princess Breakfast Adventure might be one of the few spots to have character dining in Disneyland right now, but the menu is definitely more on the simple side with only a few standout flavors.
You want to head to the parks quickly! Since Napa Rose is offering a three-course breakfast, that means that it will take some time to experience the full spread (not to mention visiting the Disney Princesses)! So, if you're wanting to have a quick meal before heading into the parks for the day, you might want to opt for a bite at the Jolly Holiday Bakery in Disneyland or Fiddler, Fifer & Practical Cafe in Disney California Adventure.
You are dining on a budget! Despite having three courses, the Disney Princess Breakfast Adventure had a HEFTY price tag. If you're looking for a buffet-style character meal on the less expensive side, you might want to visit the neighboring Storytellers Cafe.
When it comes down to the food itself offered during the Disney Princess Breakfast Adventure, the price tag of $125 per person wasn't really justified. Here's the thing: first course? Really nice. Third course? Really nice. Second course? Hmmm… . We would have loved a few elevated breakfast options during the second course since the simple options didn't seem worth the cost. A slider and mac and cheese for breakfast is fun, but when we're shelling out more than the cost of a ticket to Disneyland per person for the experience, we expect a LOT better. And, Storytellers Cafe offers quite a few of the same things right next door for nearly a third of the cost. This was a lovely breakfast that cost about twice what it should.
That said, it's obvious we didn't quite get all the components we paid for with this meal, which is unfortunate. We got a drawstring bag. When the experience debuted in 2019, children got an autograph book, pen, photo sessions with the princesses, and all their Photopass pictures PLUS a crystal necklace or sword and shield. The latter two are all that remain. Did we mention we just got a drawstring bag. 😂 Plus, we had fewer princess encounters than were happening prior to the closure. THIS portion of the experience — the takeaways and princess encounters — were the big selling point of the meal and were definitely being catered to children. Those have been cut almost in half for the same price.
BUT, there were other factors about the Disney Princess Breakfast Adventure that may make the meal worth it for you! The service was stellar, where our server and food runners were incredibly attentive. Each of the items were described in detail, and they also answered any questions that guests may have. We spent over two hours at the restaurant, making it an actual dining experience, rather than a meal. And, for the amount we paid, that was definitely a plus! The character interactions themselves were the closest we've felt to a "normal" meet-and-greet recently, even without the physical contact or autographs. We got more individual time talking to the princesses, which was the best part of our visit! Even though the breakfast was targeted at kids, we still felt that adults could easily enjoy it and not feel out of place too.
While it may be on the pricey side, we would recommend the Disney Princess Breakfast Adventure to anyone looking for a full dining experience in Disneyland. Still, you might want to reconsider visiting Napa Rose for the character dining breakfast if you are on a budget, want to get an early start in the theme park, or you're dining in a large group. Keep in mind that Napa Rose is a signature restaurant in Disneyland, so that means you'll pay a higher price tag for the experience you're having. To break your brain a bit putting this into perspective: to sit at the Chef's Counter at Napa Rose (when available), arguably the best meal you can have in the location, it would cost you about $100 for 6 courses made just for you. We know it's apples to oranges and all but…we'd pick the Chef's Counter.
And if you decide to go — be sure to make sure you got all the takeaways intended for you (you DID pay for them!). 🙂
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Filed Under: Buffet, Character Dining, disney parks, disney resorts, Disneyland, Disneyland Resort, Featured, Grand Californian Resort, Table-Service Tagged With: Buffet, Character Dining, dining, Disney, disney dining, Disney Entertainment, disney news, disney parks, disney princess breakfast adventure, Disney's Grand Californian Hotel, Disneyland, Disneyland Resort, Napa Rose
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GL Josh says
We are planning on going to Disneyland Oct 2022. We went to WDW March 2021, and my daughter really missed getting to meet princesses. Our plan was to travel June 2019 and I had bought a Disney Princess Autograph with special pens…She saw a meal with Princesses.
I find it interesting that on theses reviews, no one mentions the tax and tip (as it does say it on the Disneyland website that the $125 does not include taxes and tip). How much do you tip if it's a large party? Also, if everything is prepaid and let say you don't buy additional items, do they still leave you a bill with the "suggested tip percentage"? And I doubt one would leave cash since that would be a lot of cash, right?
Larry says
I've been trying to make reservations for the Princess breakfast but can't find any available dates. Are they taking reservations for July now???


Last week we had terrible weather in Boston. It was dark, dreary, and downright depressing. Not even the alliteration in those words could bring a smile to my face. So I finally gave in to the cozy temptation of my soft red couch and curled up with a copy of Emily Franklin's new book Too Many Cooks: Kitchen Adventures with 1 Mom, 4 Kids, and 102 Recipes. I was a little unsure if I would be able to relate to this book prior to beginning it. The closest thing I have to a child is Watson and he pretty much eats whatever I put in front of him (most of it horribly unappealing in both smell and appearance), but I quickly shed my doubts as I delved into the year-in-the-life of Emily's family, friends, and especially food.
We all know picky eaters or perhaps were picky eaters growing up. Some of you probably still can't let go of your dressing on the side, hold the cheese, no carrots please holdovers from childhood. Believe me when I say I can empathize. I was one of those plain pizza, only mustard on my hot dog, I hate onions and peppers, and do-not-get-me-even-started-on-fish children. Thankfully I've gotten over the majority of these table-related outburst and I've thought on occasion how cool it would be if the hypothetical children I have someday would be willing to eat sushi with me. Maybe they'll get excited because I made homemade pasta, or even like to eat green leafy vegetables instead of Kraft Macaroni and Cheese from a box? A girl can dream, but Emily Franklin doesn't have to. Her anxiety-free views on feeding children and introducing them to new foods and dishes are absolutely refreshing.
Don't worry. This isn't a preachy how-to book by any means. It's simply Emily's quest to "create happy, healthy eaters without tricks." While this is a non-fiction book it reads like an effortless dream. I became entirely wrapped up in learning all of the personality quirks her four children possess and found myself laughing out loud at her tales of son Daniel's days of conversing with his imaginary friend that just happened to be the red blender on their kitchen counter. Daughter Julia (and her father for that matter) both dislike cooked fruit. The eldest, Jamie, is incredibly precocious for an eight-year-old and baby Will spends the year looking longingly (at least I know I would) at his siblings' dinner plates while nursing.
Some of my favorite moments in the novel involved trips that the family took together. A vacation in Indiana brings about a summer bounty of local ingredients (sometimes mysterious in nature) from farmer's at the roadside. Fried Green Tomatoes, Barbecued Pike, and "Heather's Weird Beans" all make appearances on the table.
An excursion to Italy offered up the most memorable scenes for me. Emily describes the trip as "one long, prodigious meal punctuated by conversations, walks, and swimming with the kids." The multitude of warm days spent eating gelato, and blackberries picked fresh from the bush to pizza made with dough "thin as a pillowcase" sounded like Heaven-on-Earth to me.
Don't worry. Everything isn't always happy-go-lucky. Emily's children may willingly eat roasted broccoli but they are just as real as your own kids and she doesn't hesitate in detailing their dirty faces, flaws, and swearing phases, but somehow through hissy fits, major shelving malfunctions, delayed ferry rides home, and even personal tragedy Emily consistently gets healthy meals on the table.
Remember how I mentioned being a picky kid before? Well I feel the need to confess that while I love sushi I still don't eat or prepare cooked fish at home. However, Emily's recipes for Asian Marinaded Salmon and Garlicky Panko Flounder had me seriously eying the Whole Foods fish counter this afternoon. Apparently Too Many Cooks: Kitchen Adventures with 1 Mom, 4 Kids, and 102 Recipes isn't just for picky children. I found myself marking dozens of recipes to try later. I'm especially looking forward to Emily's rendition of Sticky Toffee Pudding. Whether you're a regular old Brady Bunch or a single twenty-something the story Emily weaves is timeless. At the end I found myself wanting the book to be longer and I definitely missed "sharing meals" vicariously with her endearing family.
Now Emily's children may not be into cake but I definitely am and this Sublime Coconut Cake isn't even a remotely questionable dish. You must make-it! The crumb is light, the icing is delicately coconut flavored and the two together absolutely do live up to the recipes lofty name. It's also a very quick yet impressive dessert. I finished the entire cake from start to finish in under two hours.
You can make this cake in stages if your timing demands it: Crack open one coconut and grate it into medium-sized shavings. If doing this in advance, put the shavings into the fridge. This can be done 2-3 days in advance. (Erin's Confession: I used store bought coconut).
Preheat the oven to 375º. Cream butter and sugar. Sift flour once and re-measure, then sift together all dry ingredients. Add eggs and yolk one by one to the butter and sugar mixture and beat after each addition. Add dry ingredients a bit at a time, alternating with coconut milk and vanilla.
Spray two round (9 x 2) baking pans and shake into them a bit of flour (tap out the excess). Insert parchment paper circle on the bottom of the pans and spray lightly and dust with flour. Fill evenly with batter.
Bake for 30-45 minutes until a toothpick placed near the center comes out clean (Erin's Note: Mine was done in 30 minutes).
the grated coconut from before (Erin's Note: Or around 7 ounces, half a bag, of coconut from the bakery aisle).
Mix together sugar and butter. Mix in the cream of coconut and vanilla. Sprinkle in flour. Add in milk little by little, only enough so that frosting is light and spreadable but not runny.
After cake has cooled completely, frost the top of bottom layer and sprinkle around a bit of the grated coconut to cover the surface. Place the second round on top and frost the top and sides. Spread the rest of the grated coconut around the top and gently pat coconut to sides so that cake is completely covered.
Note: If you prefer the look and texture of toasted coconut, you may put the grated coconut on a cookie sheet and bake at 300º for about 15 minutes, or until just tanned.
I am adding that book to my list! Sounds good and the cake looks fabulous!
I always feel inspired and depressed when I hear about books like these and children who eat "real food'. I KNOW my kids won't eat strawberry oatmeal for breakfast forever, and books/authors like this prove that it's POSSIBLE… but lemmee tell you. this 'phase' my kids are in better not last TOO long. The book sounds like it is worth the read should opportunity strike. ever.
You know me too well. Actually in the book Emily talks about beating a coconut into submission with a hammer on her hardwood floors so I figured it was best if I stayed away from real coconuts. Watson is beating up my house enough with his claws without me adding to the destruction.
What a fun and useful book. I love that you're actually making the recipes too!
gorgeous gorgeous! love your new look too.
Your description of this book was positively delightful.
I love your cooking site! I hate to bake but you have me wanting to cook this cake and to read that book too.
Sounds like a fun book. I'll keep an eye out for it at the store.
yummm. i love coconut and you just don't see it in a lot of recipes.
Sounds like a great book! Your cake looks fabulous. I was also a super picky eater growing up, and didn't start cooking until after college – my mom is amazed I now have a food blog!
I still don't like the stuff I hated growing up; brussel sprouts, any kind of beans, and whole wheat bread. I like coconut bread and cake. I will definitely be trying this.
I would love a piece of this cake! looks so delicious!
oh coconut cake is my guilty pleasure. Thanks for the book review, I'll definitely go and find it at Borders tomorrow.
I was just looking at this book in the bookstore a few days ago and had the same worry you did: would I be able to relate to it without children of my own? But I'm definitely going to buy a copy now (if the contest entry doesn't work out!). It sounds wonderful. And the cake looks absolutely gorgeous–yum!
Mmmmmm. I love a good coconut cake! This one might make hubby happy too.
A random comment to say I am LOVE LOVE LOVING the look of the blog. I'm sure it's not new, but it's new to me and it's AWESOME!!
Now that it's summer, I'll be able to come around more. Hooray!


Gardens, cuisine, and an open air bath. A relaxing stay for each individual guest. Many have come back to stay at this hot spring inn.
Our most standard rooms facing out onto the central courtyard. With an area of 13 square meters the room can hold up to 4 guests. Comes with its own full bathroom, including bidet.
Guest room is complete with an open-air bath for the guests' own private use. Unlike the public open-air baths in the town and the inn's large public bath, here you can enjoy your own private bath at your own leisure. The room's 13 sq.m. of space can hold up to 4 guests. Room has it's own bidet restroom.
The room's 13sq.m can hold up to 4 guests。The rooms spacious area, almost twice of the regular rooms, gives a villa feeling in this special room.
This calm and spacious room is about 25 sq.m. including two conjoining rooms and a massage chair.


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Q: how to use both And and Or condition in robot framework Run Keyword
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A: In the below examples the different combinations are tested against a keyword that validates the combinations using the and/or validations. Please keep in mind that this kind of and/or check can also be separate ELSE IF statements.
*** Test Cases ***
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*** Keywords ***
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text:
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INNSUITES HOSPITALITY TRUST (IHT) FISCAL FIRST QUARTER AND 12-MONTH TRAILING PERFORMANCE
INNSUITES HOSPITALITY TRUST (IHT) – FIRST FISCAL QUARTER EARNINGS FLAT. TWELVE MONTH TRAILING EARNINGS TOPS $13.1 MILLION; UP 101% OVER PRIOR TWELVE MONTH PERIOD
Phoenix, AZ, July 24, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- InnSuites Hospitality Trust (NYSE American: IHT) IHT reported fiscal first quarter revenues of approximately $2.09 million for the three months February 1, 2019 to April 30, 2019 compared to revenues of approximately $3.48 million for the same prior year period. Basic earnings per share for the three months ended April 30, 2019 was ($0.03) compared with ($0.03) for the three months ended April 30, 2018.
For the 12-month trailing periods May 1, 2018 to April 30, 2019, and May 1, 2017 to April; 30, 2018, total revenue was $5.8 million and $10.1 million, respectively. Total reported earnings was $13.1 million and $6.5 million, respectively up 101%. For the same two 12-month trailing periods, non-cash depreciation and amortization was $0.7 million and $1.6 million, respectively. Earnings before non-cash depreciation and amortization was $13.8 million and $8.1 million for the same 12-month trailing periods, while basic earnings per share was $1.20 and $0.70 for the same 12-month trailing periods.
Said James Wirth, President, CEO, and Board Chairman:
"The sense of the Board is that the IHT stock at less than 2x earnings is trading woefully below its true underlying value based on the stock being closely held, the company capitalization being small, and recent substantial profits coming from asset sales. The company continues to hold assets promising further substantial future profits, and the company strategy of pursuing a larger reverse merger partner seeking a NYSE listing is progressing, and if successful will alleviate these concerns. In the meantime, the Board has sharply increased its stock and convertible unit buyback program, by authorizing an additional 750,000 shares and/or convertible partnership units".
As approved by the IHT board, IHT will be paying its semi-annual dividend of $0.01 on July 31, 2019 to shareholders of record on July 19, 2019. This extends IHT's uninterrupted, continuous 49 years of annual dividends.
For more information, visit www.innsuitestrust.com.
With the exception of historical information, the matters discussed in this news release may include "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws. All statements regarding IHT's review and exploration of potential strategic, operational and structural alternatives and expected associated costs and benefits are forward-looking. Actual developments and business decisions may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Important factors, among others, that could cause IHT's actual results and future actions to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements include the uncertain outcome, impact, effects and results of IHT's review of strategic, operational and structural alternatives, IHT's success in finding potential qualified purchasers for its hospitality real estate, or a reverse merger partner, and other risks discussed in IHT's SEC filings. IHT expressly disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement contained in this news release to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date hereof, all of which are expressly qualified by the foregoing, other than as required by applicable law.
Marc Berg, Executive Vice President
email: mberg@innsuites.com
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text:
Current Church Status
Chalice Ministry Has Resumed
Staff & History
Cemetery Rules & Regulations
Online Giving / DSF / IGNITE Campaign
2022 Diocesan Services Fund
IGNITE Capital Campaign
LIVE STREAM MASSES AVAILABLE
2022-2023 EFF Calendar
Confirmation II Class Pictures
First Holy Communion Class
Knights of Columbus Council #7067
KC #7067 Newsletters
Catholic Daughters of the Americas Court #2340
Annual July Raffle Winners
Committees & Chairpersons
CDA Newsletter
Our Lady of Guadalupe Ministry
2022 BAZAAR -- Sts. Cyril & Methodius
2022 BAZAAR -- St. Michael the Archangel
& Sts. Cyril & Methodius
Catholic Churches
The History of Needville
Needville was established in 1892 by Mr. and Mrs. August Schendel. Together they built their home and a general store on their 160 acre tract of prairie land. Since this was the era of "free range", many cow trails served as roads to the early settlers.
Schendelville, then Needmore, and finally Needville were names given to this thriving community. Mail was received from several towns including Damon and merchandise came by mule-drawn wagons from Richmond.
The Schendel's supported many area churches by donating land and money. They also donated land for the first public school.
Since its conception, Needville has grown from one family to approximately 6,000 families. Needville, Brown, Forester, Seiler, Modena, Williams and Concord Schools were merged to form Needville Independent School District in 1946 and 1947. The school district was the first to merge in Fort Bend County. Today the district has over 2,500 students enrolled.
Needville continues to thrive and has embraced many Christian Churches with various denominations including our very own, St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church.
The History of the Catholic Church
A new century was born when Catholics of Czech decent began to arrive in the Needville area between 1901 and 1903. The "virgin land" was ready to give up, in abundance, her riches for the life of the people whom tilled her. So, with faith, the early settlers began to carve out an existence from the good earth. Ever dependent on God's Divine Providence, they looked to building a better future.
The nearest Catholic Church, at that time, was forty miles away in Sealy. Father William Skocek came several times a year to celebrate Mass in the home of John Sitta at Old Guy.
Then, in 1910, Father Vaclav Demel was made pastor of Wallis and began coming once a month to celebrate Mass in the Foster School until 1912 when the old school burned down. The Church now owns the property.
The first funeral was held on December 9, 1906 for Frank Kulcak, whom was killed in a hunting accident. He was the son of Paul and Pauline Kulcak. The Kulcak family donated one acre of land near the Foster School, which became the first Catholic Cemetery of the new settlement.
From the time of Father William Skocek, the people began to talk about building a church. Since the people were scattered in different areas, it became almost impossible for them to agree on where it should be built. Of course, each group wanted the church to be built nearest to them – an age old problem. So, Fr. Vaclav Demel, the pastor, stepped in and helped to make the decision – an age old solution to parish problems. Needville was chosen as the site to build the new church. Frank Horak donated one acre of land for the church, and later sold two more acres for a cemetery.
The first church was 30 ft. wide and 50 ft. long. It was paid for by about 30 Catholic Families and many non-Catholic friends who made generous contributions once a year. St. John's parish of Ammansville gave the main altar. St. Veronica's parish of Cameron gave the two side altars. On May 22, 1912, Bishop Nicholas A. Gallagher came and blessed the new church. At the same time, he confirmed 48 members of the parish.
In June of 1914, Father James Kveton became assistant to Father Vaclav Demel. He served the faithful of St. Michael until June of 1915.
In the meantime St. Michael became a mission to the Rosenberg parish, Holy Rosary. Father E. J. Hajek was the pastor, and he said Mass twice a month in Needville, until he was replaced by Father I.J. Valenta, who served the people until 1922.
In 1922, Father Kveton, who had served this area before, was made pastor and he continued to serve the people of St. Michael until 1926. At that time there were about 100 Catholic families in this area.
Now we get down to the reason for this celebration: St. Michael ceased to be a mission and became a parish. On January 17, 1926, Bishop Christopher E. Byrnes sent Father Innocent Raska to be St. Michael's first pastor. Almost immediately, a rectory was built. And, Sts. Cyril & Methodius of Damon became a mission to Needville.
Father John E. Kalas replaced Father Raska, June 17, 1927. He and the people began plans for a new church. The architect was S. N. Nelson, of Houston, and the builder was A. Anders, of the parish. The cornerstone was put in place and blessed on November 7, 1927.
In these days of high prices, it might be interesting to note that the new church, as it appears above, together with 3 new altars, pews, and all artifacts cost only $25,000.00. Can you believe this?
The new church being completed, was blessed by Bishop C. E. Byrnes, June 25, 1928. Everyone rejoiced that day, but they mourned later when Father Kalas died suddenly in March of 1933. He is the only priest buried in the St. Michael's Cemetery.
Bishop Byrnes sent a replacement in May of 1933, Father J.F. Hanak. He served the people until June of 1937.
The nest pastor served the parish the longest, Father Joseph Klobouk. He rendered spiritual service to the people, and during his tenure many improvements were made.
While Father Klobouk was pastor, the above shrine was built and dedicated to our parishioners who served in World War II and Vietnam. Those who gave their lives in active duty are: World War II: Albert E. Jurca, Ignac W. Cernosek, Vit J. Barta, Edwin V. Janicek, Arnold Stavinoha, and Peter Pekar; Vietnam: Antonio Flores, Jr., and Manuel DeLuna, Jr. Father Klobouk served from June 1937 until January 1954.
In January of 1954, Bishop Wendelin J. Nold appointed Father Gilbert F. Pekar as pastor of St. Michael. A remodeling program was initiated. The rectory was completely redecorated with additions of utility rooms and a two car garage. In 1956 the church was redecorated, and more rooms and restrooms were added to the parish hall. Father Pekar served the parish until September of 1960. At that time the parish had grown to 280 families.
The next three pastors served a short time, but what they accomplished is not to be measured in dollars and cents. Father T.W. Kappe followed Father Pekar. He was replaced by Father W.J. Bosworth in June of 1964. And Father C.F. Quinn followed Father Bosworth in February of 1965. He served until August of 1966. (The Annex above, through Father Bosworth's efforts, was purchased from the Alfred Demel family.)
Father Kenneth Mikulik came and stayed a little longer, from August 1966 until February of 1971. Like all the other priests before him, he took of the spiritual needs of the people and the material needs of the parish. A new roof was installed on the church during his stay.
Father Ludon Angelle was next – he's still here! Bishop John L. Morkovsky sent him here in February of 1971. And, everything went on as usual until one evening, November 16, 1973, the church caught fire. Through the quick and efficient action of our fire department, together with the help of Rosenberg and Damon and West Columbia departments, the fire was put under control and the building was saved. However the smoke, heat, soot and water damage was extensive.
The pastor and the majority of the parishioners agreed to restore the church as it was before the fire with a few exceptions: carpeting was to be installed under the pews; a new altar of celebration and a pulpit was to be designed and built to match the main altar of reposition: the vestibule was to serve also as a cry-room; the baptistery was to be made into a vesting sacristy; and a new organ was to be purchased. The insurance would pay for 100% of the restoration – for all the fire damage.
The Te-Ko Contractors, Inc., of Houston, Texas, had the lowest bid, and the contract was let on January 21, 1974. Even though Holy Week was celebrated in the church, it was not until May 9, 1974 that the work was completed and the contract finalized.


Join CKBC as we honour our athletes, coaches, officials and volunteers for their achievements from the 2017 season. Celebrate paddling in B.C. with dinner, awards, a silent auction and more!
Time: Dinner begins at 6 p.m.
Buy your tickets early – the banquet sold out last year!
Since 2008, Canoe Kayak BC has awarded $9,000 in scholarships to 18 student-athletes.
Part of this investment in these remarkable young adults come from the silent auction held in conjunction with the CKBC Awards and Scholarship Banquet.
The silent auction features numerous items donated with 100 percent of the proceeds going to scholarships.
Time: 5 p.m. – 6 p.m.


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BREAKING NEWS: The new Marine Guard will wear uniforms designed by the President's daughter, Ivanka Trump.
January 19th, 2017 - 12:49 pm § in Donald Trump, Misc.
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If you have any questions or suggestions you are welcome to join our forum discussion about Choosing the Best Broker.
As you know, trading on the financial markets is becoming increasingly popular, and it is completely normal for products, involved in this business, to evolve. Every day new virtual markets are being created and that is why it is hard to keep track on the reliability and sustainability of those products. One of these markets are binary options, whose explosive popularity growth actually resembles the Forex phenomenon.
It goes without saying that all the new binary options traders who join the market on a daily basis will cause many new brokerage firms to enter the industry in order to tap the expanding customer base. This will make choosing the right broker to suit your needs even harder. Within the following paragraphs you will find some of the most significant aspects to take into consideration, while choosing your broker.
Capitalization is an important factor every future trader looking for a broker should take under consideration. You should make sure the broker you are going to choose is well capitalized simply because this will decrease the risk of bankruptcy. The easiest way to find out whether a company is well capitalized is to check if it is regulated. Regulated brokers cover a set of requirements that to a large extent ensure their financial stability. Also, regulated brokers are generally deemed more trustworthy and are less likely to delay payouts etc. Thus, you should consider depositing your money with a regulated broker, even though an unregulated one might be offering better trading conditions (higher payouts etc).
Payout percentages vary between brokers. Return ratios are brokers' main means to compete with each other. However, that does not mean that the market leaders will always offer the highest payout percentage on a given option. Often you will see newcomers offer considerably higher percentages as part of their aggressive strategy to gain market share. However, it is exactly the market leaders who are regulated, offer the best personal data security and will not delay your money withdrawals. Speaking in numbers, we recommend payout ratios of at least 70%, whereas you can receive a return of up to 90% on some instruments.
There are also payouts offered for "out-of-the-money" situations, which means that you can be compensated, even if you lose. So, apart from looking at returns it is always a good idea to also look at the payout rate when the trades are not successful. Some brokers might give you back up to 15% of the sum originally invested.
Different brokers offer binary options based on varying assets – currency pairs, commodities, stocks and indices. Each trader has unique interests and view over the markets and thus will want to trade different binary options, thus the greater the variety of instruments offered – the better.
As with every other service you receive, customer support is a key factor when choosing a binary broker as well. For starters, you need to check the number of languages a broker supports. Next, you need to look for available ways to contact a customer service representative are find out how quick their response time is. The quicker the response time, the lower the chance is for you to lose money, if your connection goes down, or some other force majeure event occurs. You can understand a lot about a broker judging by the quality of its customer support.
Most brokers, especially the most reputable ones, offer flexible conditions in terms of deposit and withdrawal methods, covering most of the major payment systems. As for the specific conditions tied to depositing and withdrawing funds, they are listed on the respective broker's website.
Often, brokers will compete with each other not only by offering a better payout ratio, but also by generously giving you a sign-up bonus, which can amount to 100% of your initially deposited money, in most cases under certain conditions. There might also be some trading promotions. In order to find out more relevant information on this topic, you might want to contact customer support once again. However, as we said earlier, better payout ratios, deposit bonuses and promotions, should not be the sole reason to deposit a considerable amount of funds (recheck the paragraphs above).
There are several types of trading platforms on the market. Most of them are web-based, which is handy because you don't have to install any software on your computer. Reliable Internet connection and a browser is all you need.
Binary options brokers offer different types of tools on their platforms and the user interface might vary a lot. Getting used to a new platform may require some time and practice and is best done on a demo account. The same goes for testing new trading strategies and tools.


Give your little girl the best this winter season with the Columbia® Girls' Youth Fast Trek Gloves. These fleece-lined gloves include elastic at the wrist to keep cold air out while the PU palm makes gripping easy. The security clip helps to keep mittens secure when she's on the go so she'll never forget to stay warm. Give her the most satisfying snow days with the Fast Trek Gloves.


An adaptable, flexible system that matches to multiple climatic and territorial realities. From the single unit to the complexity of the system. An innovative platform strategically set to distribute renewable energy, oxygen, urban food and soft mobility: a mixed integrated functionalities for a sustainable development. Connecting with the local biodiversity system, Energy Road supports the city's development processes, investing in areas of high urban density and reconnecting natural green spaces into an urban mechanic aimed towards the construction of a unique territorial unit.
The Mountains landscape, an inspiration source for a natural architectural shape. The horizon, the colors of seasons, the winds dancing in the mountains with their music, more than any other lesson, they unveil the future of an endless architecture, a message for new urban development.
Energy road expects internal displacements to be carried out solely by zero-emissions or electric transportation vehicles, shared or personal, to be powered only by sustainable and renewable energy produced by the system. A series of underground and street level car parks, are available for fossil fueled vehicles from nearby areas.
The system manages water cycle, production of compost and fertilizers for the green system and urban farming, both bio waste and waste cycles, the buildings' energy efficiency, biodiversity and the environmental carbon footprint.
The system equally distributes both energy (Just in Time) and resources improving life quality, increasing oxygen production and the shared urban cultivable surface, reducing urban pollution, promoting urban biodiversity.
An innovative platform strategically set to distribute renewable energy, oxygen, urban food and soft mobility: a mixed integrated functionalities for a sustainable development. Connecting with the local biodiversity system, Energy Road supports the city's development processes, investing in areas of high urban density and reconnecting natural green spaces into an urban mechanic aimed towards the construction of a unique territorial unit.


Hello again and thanks for tuning into The Celebrant Talk Show! This episode we chat about: - wedding planners - receiving identity documents electronically - Celebrant software: which package is better? - the importance of paying your registration fee as soon as you receive the invoice - what happens when a party isn't consenting? Let us know any thoughts!
Hello again and thank you for having us in your ears! In this episode we chat about the importance of exchanging value and not simply expecting things for free, we give a rundown of what we've written about for the Celebrant Institute over the past month, and we talk a bit about Vic BDM's new online system (spoiler alert, it's coming "soon"). Let us know your thoughts or questions at hello@celebrant.fm!
"Gay weddings" are not a thing, they're just "weddings"
This is a really important conversation for celebrants to have, because the words, the conversations, communications, inside a wedding are our responsibility. Lara is one of the heads behind Dancing With Her, a publication for LGBTQ+ women in love. Se's a guest on today's Celebrant Talk Show to help us use more inclusive, and friendly, language as celebrants and wedding professionals.
As always, thanks for tuning in! In the episode recorded on 22 March 2018, we talked about: https://expressioncoffins.com.auhttp://www.coalitionofcelebrantassociations.org.au/issues/119-raised-with-the-ag-department/608-terminology-for-marriages-post-9th-december-2017www.marriedbyjosh.com/servicecontractAs always, let us know any questions!
The only podcast banned by the AFCC!


There are WAY too many ESO players posting suboptimal builds on forums that they haven't extensively tested and optimized.
They think their build is good just because they picked some good stats and items that they hear are good.
If you're serious about maximizing your characters full potential, you will need to spend hours testing and tweaking your build until you prefect it.
Stamina DPS: The best choice at the moment is Redguard for PvE DPS. Since the Khajiit critical passive was fixed they have become a top contender for maximum Stam DPS.
Tank: Nord is the best race for tanking because of their reduction to incoming damage and increase to stamina and health.
Balanced: If you want a more well-rounded race so you can switch between multiple roles, you can pick Imperial.
Healer: Breton, the reduced spell cost and high magicka pool is essential for efficient healing. Second best choice will be High Elf.
Stats For Stamina Builds: To do end game content you will want around 18k HP (for non-tanks) so you don't get one shot. After you make sure you have 18k HP you should dump all your extra stats from attribute points and enchants into stamina. If you are still leveling up just make sure you keep putting some points into health, if you start getting one or two shot that means you are putting to many points into stamina.
Stats For Magicka Builds: You will also want about 18k HP for magicka builds if you are planning to do end game content and if you are still leveling just make sure you are putting enough points into health so you don't get one or two shot by packs of mobs.
Maximum DPS: Most characters should run the Thief mundus stone for maximum DPS but Khajiit Templars with a high critical strike chance should run Shadow.
Optimal Tanking: The Lord is the best stone for tanking unless you have almost 30k HP fully buffed without it, then you should switch to the Tower for the extra stamina.
Maximum DPS: The Thief is defiantly the way to go for magicka DPS builds, the Thief increases your critical chance which boosts your damage more than any other stone and allows you to use your ultimate more often.
Optimal Healing: For healing builds you should swap mundus stones to the Atronach, the ability to consistently heal is way more important than your damage output.
Your Champion points are going to vary based on your exact build, game content you are doing, whether you are going for single target or AoE damage, and group setup. Below we have put together some basic templates for you to start with and modify based on your needs.
For Tanking & Healing champion point templates download our Templar Builds mini guide by clicking the link below, we didn't include them in this post because it would be too long but we did add them to the guide you can get below.
Your gear traits and enchants are going to change slightly based on what game content you want to do, who's in your group, and various other factors. If you Get Our ESO Mastery Builds Guide we will show you what you need to change based on your situation. It covers group content, raids, and solo gameplay.
**Note** We didn't include item builds for tanking and healing in this post because it would be way too long, however we did include them in the downloadable Templar guide you can get by clicking the link above.
If you would rather skip all the work and just get a huge list of perfect build templates for all roles and playstyles, you should get our Character Builds Guide where we walk you through step-by-step how to copy the best builds within minutes and you can become one of the top Templars in The Elder Scrolls Online.
The builds we offer in our guides are constantly updated and proven to maximize your characters performance in any role or playstyle. We have builds for PvE, PvP, Tanking, Healing, DPS, and builds for characters still leveling up.


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Gates Foundation's Annual Goalkeepers Report Shows COVID-19 Has Stalled 20 Years of Progress, Calls for Global Response to End the Pandemic
dinsdag 15 september 2020 05:01 Economie
Report shows how economic damage has reinforced inequities and derailed achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals; spotlights countries innovating to meet challenges
SEATTLE, Sept. 15, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation today launched its fourth annual Goalkeepers Report, featuring new data showing how the ripple effects of COVID-19 have stopped 20 years of progress toward the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals [https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=2913716-1&h=4236419583&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.un.org%2Fsustainabledevelopment%2Fsustainable-development-goals%2F&a=United+Nations+Sustainable+Development+Goals] (Global Goals).
The report provides the most current global dataset for how the pandemic is affecting progress toward the Global Goals. It shows that by nearly every indicator, the world has regressed. Because of COVID-19, extreme poverty has increased by 7%. Vaccine coverage, a good proxy measure for how health systems are functioning, is dropping to levels last seen in the 1990s, setting the world back about 25 years in 25 weeks.
Economic damage from COVID-19 is reinforcing inequalities. The pandemic has had a disproportionate impact on women, racial and ethnic minority communities, and people living in extreme poverty. Around the world, women are facing an increased burden from rising demands in total unpaid care work and experiencing the majority of job losses. In the United States, the percentage of Black and Latinx people who say they cannot pay their rent is twice the percentage of white people.
Despite the bleak projections, Bill and Melinda Gates describe a path to ending the pandemic and resuming progress toward the Global Goals. In the report, which they co-author every year, they call on the world to collaborate on the development of diagnostics, vaccines, and treatment; manufacture tests and doses as quickly as possible; and deliver these tools equitably based on need rather than the ability to pay. There are currently several viable strategies to help achieve an equitable outcome, including the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator [https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=2913716-1&h=2927096588&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.who.int%2Finitiatives%2Fact-accelerator&a=Access+to+COVID-19+Tools+(ACT)+Accelerator], the most serious collaborative effort to end the pandemic, which brings together proven organizations like Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
"The response to the COVID-19 pandemic has shown us some of the best of humanity: pathbreaking innovation, heroic acts by frontline workers, and ordinary people doing the best they can for their families, neighbors, and communities," Bill and Melinda Gates write. "This is a shared global crisis that demands a shared global response."
The International Monetary Fund projects that, despite the US$18 trillion already spent to stimulate economies around the world, the global economy will lose US$12 trillion or more by the end of 2021--the biggest global GDP loss since the end of World War II. In some countries, spending on emergency stimulus and social protection has prevented worse outcomes. But there are inherent limits to what low- and middle-income countries can do to safeguard their economies, regardless of how effectively those economies have been managed.
Despite these constraints, countries are innovating to meet the challenges. More candidates for vaccines and therapeutics are being developed faster than ever. Pandemic-focused innovations include contact tracing in Vietnam and pooled testing in Ghana, while new or improved digital cash transfer programs are reaching 1.1 billion people in 138 countries. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention and dozens of partners launched the African Medical Supplies Platform in June to ensure that countries on the continent have access to affordable, high-quality, lifesaving equipment and supplies, many of which are manufactured in Africa.
Bill and Melinda Gates believe COVID-19 is a true test for the global community.
"One of the most troubling things about this pandemic is that by disrupting health systems and the global economy, it's starting to erase the progress people have made toward living healthier, more productive lives," said Melinda Gates. "Our report highlights actions the world can take to turn things around. Researchers are very close to developing safe, effective coronavirus vaccines, but breakthrough science must be met by breakthrough generosity. We need leaders in government and the pharmaceutical industry to ensure that everyone, regardless of where they live, can access these vaccines. And we're hopeful that will happen."
Bill and Melinda Gates began learning about and donating money to public health more than 20 years ago, after reading a story about how hundreds of thousands of kids living in poverty were dying of diarrhea, something that was easily treatable in the United States. Today, because of global coordination and commitment, 4.5 million fewer children are dying each year from preventable diseases compared to 2000.
About the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives. In developing countries, it focuses on improving people's health and giving them the chance to lift themselves out of hunger and extreme poverty. In the United States, it seeks to ensure that all people--especially those with the fewest resources--have access to the opportunities they need to succeed in school and life. Based in Seattle, Washington, the foundation is led by CEO Mark Suzman and Co-chair William H. Gates Sr., under the direction of Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett.
About Goalkeepers
Goalkeepers is the foundation's campaign to accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (Global Goals). By sharing stories and data behind the Global Goals through an annual report, we hope to inspire a new generation of leaders--Goalkeepers who raise awareness of progress, hold their leaders accountable, and drive action to achieve the Global Goals.
About the Global Goals
On September 25, 2015, at the United Nations headquarters in New York, 193 world leaders committed to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (Global Goals). These are a series of ambitious objectives and targets to achieve three extraordinary things by 2030: end poverty, fight inequality and injustice, and fix climate change.
Media Contact: media@gatesfoundation.org [mailto:media@gatesfoundation.org] Report Link: www.gatesfoundation.org/goalkeepers/report/2020-report [https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=2913716-1&h=1508746342&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gatesfoundation.org%2Fgoalkeepers%2Freport%2F2020-report&a=www.gatesfoundation.org%2Fgoalkeepers%2Freport%2F2020-report] Report Visual Assets: http://isbx.it/067f1 [https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=2913716-1&h=3175557523&u=http%3A%2F%2Fisbx.it%2F067f1&a=http%3A%2F%2Fisbx.it%2F067f1]


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2016 Chevy Volt Gets a New Powertrain and a Longer EV Range
Design Automotive Electric Vehicles
under Automotive, Electric Vehicles, News, Transportation
by Marc Carter
General Motors is set to officially unveil the all-new 2016 Chevy Volt at the 2015 Detroit Auto Show in January, but GM has decided to give the world a few teasers now. In addition to a few photos of the exterior, GM has also revealed that the Volt will be powered by a new, larger four-cylinder engine and an all-new electric drive system.
We will have to wait until we get closer to the kick off the Detroit Auto Show to see all of the improvements in store for the 2016 Volt, but GM has announced that the Volt's current four-cylinder engine will be replaced. The 2016 Volt is getting an all-new 1.5L four-cylinder range extender engine with a direct injection fuel system, a high-compression ratio of 12.5:1, cooled exhaust gas recirculation and a variable displacement oil pump.
Related: Chevrolet Expected to Launch Cheaper Chevy Volt Plug-In Hybrid Next Year
"Using the 1.5L engine as the range extender assures owners they can go anywhere, anytime without having to worry about whether they have enough power to go through the Rocky Mountains or on a spontaneous weekend getaway," said Larry Nitz, executive director of GM's powertrain electrification engineering team. "It's all about keeping the promise that the Volt is a no-compromise electric vehicle."
Even though the 2016 Volt will have a new four-cylinder engine, drivers will be less reliant on gas thanks to a new, more efficient electric drive system. GM says that the new system will be more efficient and offer greater EV range and fuel economy compared to the current generation. The battery features revised cell chemistry that increases storage capacity by 20 percent, while the overall battery pack is now 30 pounds lighter. GM also says that the two-motor drive unit operates approximately 5 to 12 percent more efficiently and weighs 100 pounds less than the current system. GM says that EV range estimates will be revealed in January at the Detroit Auto Show.
"Our Volt owners truly love the EV driving experience, with more than 80 percent of all trips being completed without using any gasoline. We've used their real-world experiences to define the next generation Chevrolet Volt," said Alan Batey, head of global Chevrolet. "By putting our Volt owners at the center of what we do and leveraging our electrification engineering leadership, we've been able to raise the bar and will exceed their expectations with the new Volt."
+ General Motors
4 thoughts on "2016 Chevy Volt Gets a New Powertrain and a Longer EV Range"
Some people buy a Volt because they are fascinated by the technology. This is a popular car with geeks. Some people buy a Volt as it is a way for them to lessen their carbon foot print. Some people buy a Volt because it is basically a car made here in the USA. I bought a Volt because of the above criteria and the fact that I once served as a volunteer soldier in Vietnam, and now that I\'m a senior citizen, I am repulsed at the fact that too many of our young American service members have been killed and maimed and harmed because of our addiction to foreign oil. When gas prices went through the roof around 2007/08 - T. Boone Pickens (love him or hate him) came on the scene and shocked many of us by enlightening all by advising that America was exporting $700 BILLION in American wealth to OPEC. It was crystal clear that we helped Saudi Arabia\'s Osama Bin Ladin (and many others) become filthy rich. In fact, do a Google search on your own for \"State Sponsored Terrorism\" and see what you find in the way of Saudia Arabia tossing money to scoundrels who hate the United States. I can\'t wear a uniform again but I chose to serve again by driving a car that runs entirely on an American made fuel, electrons that are made by many thousands and thousands of wind turbines here in Texas. My first Volt \"Dusty\" (Google \"Dusty Voltstats\") took me almost 27,000 miles and used only 42 gallons of gas. My second Volt, a 2015 model that I ordered, \"Dusty Too\" (also on Voltstats) has almost accumulated 5,000 miles since I first drove it off the dealer lot on August 6, 2014 - I\'ve used .5 gallons of gas so far. The terror group ISIS (or ISIL) is selling $2 MILLION worth of black market crude oil per day and they are using that money to fund their various wars. They have beheaded Christians and Muslims and anyone outside their own vicious \"brand\" of \"religion\" and I\'m so proud of my two Volts that they run basically 100% on an American energy source. As i sit here on my ranch in Central Texas, I wonder \"what part of this can extreme right-wingers NOT figure out?\" I\'ve been a Republican all my life and I refuse to allow Fox News and especially Neil Cavuto (he is on YouTube saying the Volt is a piece of $hit) and the same is true of Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh... all Volt haters. (By the way Rush, when you were rejected from the draft because of a boil on your rump, I joined the Army at age 18 and then asked to serve in Vietnam... and has Glenn Beck served? Has Neil Cavuto and the other \"journalists\" who bash the Volt ever served in our military?) I would ask any and all who say they are patriotic American\'s \"Do you drive a KIA, or a Lexus, or a Hyundai? And if you drive a Prius or a Leaf, good for you, however some of that money you spent on the Leaf or Prius has gone overseas to the corporations who own these auto companies (some, not all) and yes, a very tiny fraction of my Volt originated overseas, but this car was made in Detroit by an American car company that not too long ago celebrated their 100th birthday. And I agree with \"williamwill\" that few sales people undersigned the Volt and sadly, most Americans can\'t figure it out either because of all the damage that was done to this brand by Fox News (who is partly owned by Prince Alwaleed bin Tala, a billionaire from Saudi Arabia. Oil (to me) stinks to high Heaven.
As a Chevy Salesperson in Franklin Tenn. I can tell you that few salespeople fully understand the technological advantages that this electric car has over most of the other Electrics available on the market. It truly is a fine car and it drives like a car not a roller skate. Pick when you want the electric to kick in and not to plan your commute to run without using any fuel. One of the problems with these dual engine vehicles is that if you don't use the fuel in the tank, it can actually go bad without some replacement because you can go months without ever putting fuel in the tank. But that's a nice place to be at because that means you aren't burning up gasoline, and that means you are basically paying for the car with payments made up of the cost that other cars use to just stay on the road and dump fuel at cost in the tank. And now they just keep getting better. Believe me that "a few refinements" is a huge understatement on what GM engineers have done to upgrade the new 2016 unit. It will be much better at doing what it does now, and it does just fine now with pre-new model release. Yep I would buy and run one in a heart beat. As a former Ford and Toyota salesperson, I can tell you that THIS ONE is the one to get. All of them work okay, but this one is done right.
Yawn...The Volt is a GREAT car and the minor refinements listed to date for 2016 make it sound like it will stay marginal at best until Chevrolet truly goes back to the drawing board and use Voltec powertrain on a 5 passenger hatchback with some decent cargo room and a Pickup Truck and SUV...All the salespeople in the dealership should have access to a Volt for two weeks so they can see what is like to live and commute with a Plug in Hybrid Electric Vehicle...My salesperson was weak at best and he was referred to as the dealership\'s EV expert http://www.dailytech.com/Chevy Volt MPV5 Concept Gets Official Seats 5 and Travels 32 Miles on Battery Power/article18202.htm http://www.treehugger.com/cars/bob-lutz-chevy-volt-shouldve-been-electric-truck.html
fcfcfc November 5, 2014 at 5:17 pm
Hi: Lets see the numbers... .....Bill
GM is going to unveil the all-new 2016 Chevy Volt at the upcoming 2015 Detroit Auto Show in January, but GM has decided to give the world a few teasers now.
2016-Chevrolet-Volt-Teaser
2016-Chevrolet-Volt-003
2016-Chevrolet-Volt-Teaser_0003


text:
Q: How to widen "Window List Item" boxes in (Cinnamon) Gnome Desktop to fit? I was able to increase the size of GNOME panels that hold the Window List Item boxes by modifying the "width" property of the ".window-list-item-box" CSS class of cinnamon.css (in the Cinnamon desktop), but now the label width has not expanded to fit this.  I tried tweaking the width and paddings of the same class and the window-list-item-label class to no avail... Anyone have any suggestions?  See the picture below for more details.
.window-list-item-box {
    color: rgba(255,255,255,1.0);
        background-gradient-direction: vertical;
        background-gradient-start: rgba(100,100,100,0.5);
        background-gradient-end: rgba(50,50,50,0.5);
        box-shadow: inset 0px 0px 0px 1px rgba(80,80,80,0.5);
    border-radius: 4px 4px 0px 0px;
    padding: 1px;
    padding-left: 5px;
    padding-right: 5px;
    transition-duration: 100;
    width: 400px;
}

A: I was able to hack this functionality into the code of cinnamon 2.2 running on debian 8. This should also work on Ubuntu, maybe the path is a bit different.

*

*open this file in an editor /usr/share/cinnamon/applets/window-list@cinnamon.org/applet.js

*find function _getContentPreferredWidth: function(actor, forHeight, alloc)

*change alloc.natural_size = 150 * global.ui_scale; to alloc.natural_size = 350 * global.ui_scale; where 350 is your desired width.

Good luck!


The annual Burning Man will take place August 26 - September 2, 2013. Burning Man is held each year in Black Rock City (BRC), Nevada. BRC is a temporary city in the Black Rock Desert, a National Conservation Area controlled by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
The BLM recently issued Burning Man a four-year permit to continue holding the event. The permit allows for a peak population of 68,000, though the highest attendance so far has been 56,000.
Some of the problems with Burning Man are the lack of permanent facilities for power, bathrooms, sewage, trash collection, and public safety. Participants and the desert would be at risk without some oversight by BLM. Therefore, organizers will have to comply with more than 60 conditions with this latest permit.
Taking the bus is the environmentally friendly way to get to "the burn". One of the permit conditions is for the event to arrange bus service to reduce traffic. The Burner Express will now be available to transport people from San Francisco and Reno to the event and back.
The alkali flat or playa (geologic sink) that BRC sits on is usually hot and dusty. Cars, bicycles, and people get coated in a white chalky dust. The dust is just part of the experience I guess.
I finally managed to get Burning Man tickets this year and I am so. HYPED. I can't wait! I have no idea what to expect but just looking at the pictures I can tell it's going to be a crazy time.


text:
'Commodity superstore' feeding global demand
To find the front lines of the global commodities boom, drive an hour east from Saskatoon on the Yellowhead Highway to the world's largest potash mine in Lanigan, Sask.
Two huge, dome-covered warehouses, each about the size of a football field, stand on the mine site, eerily empty except for a few dusty sweepings of potash on the floors.
"A decade ago there would have been a mountain of potash in here," says Will Brandsema, the general manager of AMEC engineering, whose firm recently completed a $400-million expansion of the mine for the Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan.
Today, worldwide demand for the pinkish, chalk-like mineral is so great that the Potash Corp. can't keep its warehouses full.
In the past four years, the price of potash — the basic ingredient of fertilizer — has soared to nearly $1,000 per tonne from roughly $100, largely because of rising populations in China and India and their sudden appetite for high-value, fertilizer-grown food.
Thanks to a quirk of geologic good fortune, Saskatchewan is filled with potash and now produces more than a quarter of the world's supply. What was for years an unremarkable export has suddenly become one of the most treasured commodities on Earth that alongside surging sales of oil, uranium and even grain is suddenly making Saskatchewan the economic envy of the nation.
Three thousand kilometres away, another once-poor province accustomed to life on the economic fringes of Canada is also reaping a windfall from its natural resources. Skyrocketing oil prices are fuelling an extraordinary economic turnaround in Newfoundland and Labrador, where a fourth offshore oil project will soon be in development. Petrodollars are transforming St. John's from a down-at-the-heels provincial capital into a bustling energy city brimming with stylish restaurants, affluent condo developments, and a sense of euphoria not seen there since cod were first discovered on the Grand Banks.
"The Newfoundland and Saskatchewan economies have gone from stagnant to stellar," declared Statistics Canada in its May Economic Observer. "These two provinces have moved beyond old stereotypes and stepped into a new era of prosperity."
Both provinces led the country last year in the growth of provincial exports, in the rate of housing starts, and in GDP growth — the only provinces along with Alberta whose per capita GDP was above the national average.
In June, a report by the TD Bank Financial Group called Saskatchewan "Canada's commodity superstore," and said if the province was a country it would rank fifth in the world among OECD nations in terms of GDP per capita, trailing only Luxembourg, Norway, the United States and Ireland (Alberta would come second if ranked on the same list).
As for Newfoundland and Labrador, over the past decade its per capita GDP has gone from $10,000 below the national average to $10,000 above: the fastest, 10-year turnaround of any province in Canadian history.
Both provinces also reaped a bonanza last year off commodity royalties. Newfoundland posted a record $1.4-billion budget surplus; Saskatchewan announced a $641-million surplus plus a $1-billion infrastructure spending spree.
While Saskatchewan and Newfoundland enjoy their economic renaissance, recession stalks other regions of Canada, in particular the industrial heartland of Ontario, where many manufacturers are struggling with high energy costs and a high dollar, and the North American auto makers — once Canada's economic engine — are shedding jobs and shutting factories. John Pollock, the chairman of Electrohome Ltd. in Kitchener — who is winding up the affairs of a once-proud consumer electronics maker forced to the sidelines by overseas competition — predicts Ontario is entering a period of perhaps a decade or more, in which it will no longer drive the country's economy.
"There's going to be a period of transition that's going to be tough," he says. "Ontario has supported the rest of the country, provinces like Saskatchewan and Newfoundland, for years. Maybe it's time for a shift."
Saskatchewan left the ranks of equalization receiving provinces in 2007 and Newfoundland and Labrador is expected to become a "have" province this year or next, a startling change considering that the cod fishery — once the foundation of the province's economy — has not substantially reopened since its devastating closure by Ottawa in 1992.
What do such economic shifts mean for the country as a whole, and how will the rise of two weaker provinces, coupled with the manufacturing malaise in Ontario, affect the workings of Confederation?
First, many economists say it's a mistake to underestimate the resilience and strength of the huge Ontario economy. They also say the surging energy economies of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Newfoundland and Labrador face their own challenges, including cyclical commodity prices, the social costs of rapid development, and serious labour shortages.
Canada is already facing a labour crunch that's only going to worsen with time. In six years, says economist Brian Lee Crowley, president of the Atlantic Institute for Market Studies, there will be more people leaving Canada's labour force than entering it. The new demand for workers in Saskatchewan and Newfoundland, especially in construction and engineering, can only exacerbate the problem.
The rampant growth of Canada's resource-rich economies is also expected to force changes to the federal equalization program.
Changes to equalization, not to mention a realignment of "have" and "have-not" provinces, could also prompt a new wave of regional beefs and resentments — the bane of Confederation.
Premier Dalton McGuinty is already complaining about how much Ontario taxpayers contribute to national transfer programs, a system Ontario governments once supported in better economic times.
Oil itself could become a flashpoint that divides the country. Public demands in Ontario or British Columbia for a national carbon tax would now raise the ire of more than just one oil-producing province.
Meanwhile, Saskatchewan and Newfoundland, which typically wield little weight in national discussions, could use their new economic clout to campaign for a truly effective Senate, with real power to represent regional interests.
"There is some realignment of economic power occurring which will influence the national political debate," says former Newfoundland premier Brian Peckford, who now works as a business consultant in British Columbia. "Premiers' meetings, for example, won't be dominated by only a few big provinces. Smaller provinces like Saskatchewan and Newfoundland won't have to shout and demand to be heard. We'll get noticed simply by being there."
By Atlantic Institute for Market Studies| 2008-07-21T00:00:00+00:00	July 21st, 2008|In the Media|Comments Off on 'Commodity superstore' feeding global demand


Healthcare shouldn't cost more than housing.
Healthcare is being thrown around the political arena like a buzzword hot potato. When all of the challenges facing the health of Americans are lumped together into one single debate topic, Healthcare with a capital H, it can be easy to lose sight of the millions of real people behind the issue facing financial and medical distress.
NPR's recent Politics in Real Life article, Rising Health Care Costs Weigh on Voters, struck a chord with us because it brings the focus back to individual patient stories like the ones that inspired us to create MDsave.
Renee Powell is an Oklahoma epidemiologist who, even though her family is insured through the state insurance exchange, has to pay a deductible of more than $13,000 out-of-pocket before insurance picks up any medical expenses besides basic preventive care. This year, Renee reports that her insurance has paid a few dollars for antibiotics prescribed to one of her sons, while her family has paid out $4,400 in premiums.
Melody Simon is a Detroit biomedical research project manager with insurance through her employer, which offers a low $1,000 deductible in-network and reasonably priced co-pays. But after a move, Melody found that most of her in-network providers were over an hour away, and it was hard to find local providers who accepted her insurance and could handle her condition. In the end, she found herself faced with surprise costs and out on disability after a poor recovery from surgery in December. Melody and her partner have decided to get married so Melody will be covered by her partner's insurance.
Cases of Americans spending more than they should – or more than they can – on health care are sadly becoming more and more common, and the American people are shouldering the burden of greater out-of-pocket costs whether or not they have insurance. In 2012, the year we created MDsave, we saw a huge need in the market for a solution that helped healthcare consumers like Renee and Melody shop for better value on cash-pay procedures without any surprise costs showing up later.
We realized patients wanted transparent prices and comprehensive products, rather than the piecemeal, after-the-fact billing traditionally used in health care. Our solution would need to offer up-front pricing on fully bundled procedures that included all costs and fees. We also recognized an opportunity to work directly with providers, which would ensure timely reimbursement, ease their administrative burden and reduce collection fees in their practices. Helping doctors helps patients – by reducing the amount of legwork it takes to get doctors paid, we were able to pre-negotiate savings that we can pass on to the consumer.
Enter the MDsave online marketplace. Patients can search local providers in their area, see the procedure cost up-front, and pay for the entire episode of care through the secure marketplace – much like booking a flight online. In many cases we can offer significant savings compared to national averages, but in all cases we provide straightforward pricing that includes every aspect of a procedure, from labs to facility fees, with trusted local providers.
At MDsave, we believe price transparency is vital to enabling a value-based system to thrive. When prices are honest, open, and bundled to prevent surprise bills, patients can make informed decisions about where to purchase their care, and that encourages providers to keep quality high and prices competitive. The MDsave marketplace gives patients the information they need to be informed healthcare consumers.
We all use healthcare, and everyone is a patient at some point. When we built MDsave, we built the healthcare marketplace that we would want to use, too.