What Did Guitar Retreats Ever Do For Me?
A personal review of the Guitar Retreats experience by a regular participant.
As I sit down to write an article regarding my Guitar Retreats experience, I can't help but think about that scene from the 'Life of Brian' when the question was asked 'What did the Romans ever do for us' and the answer turned out to be, 'just about everything'!
Well this just about sums up my article and I could end it right here, but I won't as I suspect some readers would like a little further information.
Perhaps I should begin by answering the most popular question posed by people considering attending a retreat for the first time 'Am I good enough? Well the answer is certainly 'yes' enthusiasm is more valued than technical ability on a retreat, if you can manage at least two chords you're there already.
Let me describe my own experiences to explain further, prior to attending my first retreat down in Bude, I had no idea of where I was with my playing, I was a typical bedroom guitarist, learning from the Internet and Guitar magazines and CD's, never played in front of anyone (too shy) and no one to give me feedback as to how I was doing, or where I needed to improve. I turned up for my first retreat that was billed as a 'Beginners' weekend. I had a great time, learned loads and met some really nice people who's company I enjoyed immensely. As it turned out, I had underestimated my technical ability and was probably the best player there.
When it came time for me to 'perform' a song, I was so nervous finding myself in such exalted company, my voice dried up and my fingers turned to rubber. But what happened next was awesome, everyone, starting with Sharon, (Stuart's wife and a driving influence behind Guitar Retreats) joined in with my song, supporting me with enthusiasm and encouragement that lifted me up as never before, giving me my biggest boost of confidence just when I needed it.
This attitude of encouragement is a 'Signature Theme' with Guitar Retreats and has continued on every retreat I have attended since, and quiet often, I receive as much information, help, guidance and playing tips from my fellow retreaters as I do from the designated tutors.
And so it continued, I now play some finger style, sing and accompany myself on Guitar, I write my own songs, I am full of self confidence when performing in front of complete strangers, (though I hope I never lose that nagging nervousness that lasts right up to the moment I play the first chord, as I have come to recognise it as a pre-cursor to performing well for me).
All of this has come about as a direct result of taking the plunge and attending my first retreat, and I've been on a few since!
The course content is always relevant and described in full beforehand, the locations both at home and abroad are simply great, with my all time favourite being at 'La Perdrix' Riberac St, Martin in France that deserves a special mention from me. 'La Perdrix' is a 13th century converted monastery that is definitely not 'The Premier Inn'. According to your taste, or sense of humour it can be described either as rustic or ramshackle, for me it is rural France at it's best and a magical place that sets free your inner muse. I feel totally relaxed the minute I go through the gates!
Johnny and his wife Ingrid and a team of lovely people run the place, and are as much a part of the retreat as the players. Check out the Guitar Retreat website for photographs.
Now some of the more cynical of you reading this may well spot that I haven't mentioned any negative aspects of a Guitar Retreat, well the simple answer is I personally haven't come across anything worth mentioning. I do know, that if you deliberately look for the bad in anyone or anything you will find it, as it is there in all of us and everything. Genuinely, Guitar Retreats are a very positive experience and Stuart and Sharon welcome and are receptive to feedback. They do act to remedy any issues that occur either there or then, or as soon as possible after they are made aware.
It can't be that bad as a good 50% of attendees on a retreat are usually repeat offenders! And that includes me, I think I'm into double figures? (actually its now 20!) Does this make me biased, or am I smart enough to know when I'm onto a good thing? Only one way to find out!
So go for it, any age, any gender, retired or escaping from the kids for a weekend of guitar playing, bring your wife or partner who will be made more than welcome.
PS. I assure you all, no one paid me to write this but I do expect a beer from Stuart on the next retreat!
We have run two guitar retreats since my last post, both in Cornwall – Our Blues weekend in Bude with Eddie Martin was well attended and well received, a masterclass in 12 bars, 3 chords and the truth! Last week myself, fellow tutor and 'left hand man' Paul Nicholas were back in the Scilly Isles on beautiful Tresco Island with a whole bunch of lovely people. The New Inn is a delightful venue and perfect for our needs. The simple unspoilt beauty of the island, it's stunning botanical gardens and luxury spa make it a special place for partners too. Thankfully we just managed to avoid the recent crazy weather and made it there and back without any major issues, which is amazing when you consider we were flying out to an island in the Atlantic in tiny planes! There was a high standard of playing and singing amongst the guests which made the evenings particularly enjoyable and with the addition of the new Guitar Retreats Songbook on hand we had an absolute blast! We are looking forward to more dates there next year.
"With a little help from my friends" I have created a songbook containing 50 well known songs with simple chord progressions. It is a really useful resource in the evening sessions, it means that everyone can join in playing a few songs together no matter what their level. What's more if you come on a retreat this year you get to keep one for free!
While we were on Tresco one of our lovely guests offered to create a short promo video with me talking about the Guitar Retreats experience. Many thanks to Andrea (who travelled all the way from Germany with her friend Simone) for filming and editing this video. If you have not yet been on a retreat I hope it gives you an insight into what we provide. You can view it here on our YouTube site, please like and share it: What happens on a Guitar Retreat?
We have added two more events to the calendar. Freestyle Fun at Glewstone Court, Ross-On-Wye in November and our second Guitar Getaway to the Algarve next January.
Thats all the news for this month. Don't delay book your place today!
Hello folks, we are back in Blighty after a wonderful time on our first retreat of 2018 in the sunsoaked Algarve! I have a strong feeling this event will become a regular feature in our yearly calendar! A post Christmas winter holiday with guitars, fun and sunshine, what's not to like? We had a fantastic trip and played and sang our hearts out including a gig at a local bar and even a few impromptu sets in our hotel to an enthusiastic crowd of new fans! Well done and thank you to everyone who came out to join us and made it such a special trip.
Back in Cornwall we have our next event coming up at the end of Feb 24th-26th with the one and only UK blues legend 'Eddie Martin' at the helm, revealing his "Secrets of the Blues" on our weekend retreat at An Mor Hotel.
March – We return to the beautiful Scilly Isles for more guitar immersion and island exploration, plus evening jamming and open mic sessions! The material covered by myself and fellow tutor Paul Nicholas will be an eclectic mix of songs and styles both old and new.
In April – We welcome back the amazing singer songwriter Alex Roberts with his "Fingerstyle and Open Tunings Weekend". Not to be missed for those of you interested in expanding your knowledge and skills in this wide ranging genre. Alex will be teaching techniques used by the likes of Davey Graham, Bert Jansch, John Martyn, Nick Drake et all.
June – We travel to France once again back at the magical La Perdrix for another "Freestyle fun in France" week of teaching, playing, singing and performing. This event has proved to be extremely popular and is always oversubscribed.
September – We are also at La Perdrix for our "Guitar and Songwriting week " for all you budding songsmiths out there . Come and write your first song or finish that difficult second album! No experience necessary, just bring the desire and a notebook and we will help you with the rest of the process.
October – "The Rockstar Retreat"– Spain. Our latest week long international adventure of "guitar fun in the sun" with a recording studio session thrown in. I'm really happy to say this is selling out like hot tamales! Visit our website for all the details of this amazing music holiday.
Well, that's more than enough information to digest for this month I think! I hope to see you on retreat soon.
I love the start of a new year and the possibilities that lie ahead, it is a time to re-invent yourself if only for a few weeks until old habits kick back in! A time to renew your commitment to a project or a cause or practise, such as learning to play the guitar better! With that in mind I have set myself a few challenges – 1) learn one new song every week, 2) attempt to master the use of a thumpick and 3) learn to perfect a classic rock solo!!………though I havent decided which one yet I can tell you it won't be Stairway To Heaven!
I am also re-reading a great book, 'Zen Guitar' by Philip Toshio Sudo that I discovered years ago and then gave away to another guitarist only to have it given to me as a present recently by a retreat regular (thanks again Brian 🙂 . It's not a standard guitar teaching book in any way; there are no chord charts, scales or exercises. Instead it delves into the many different mental states we take on when playing and practising. It's fascinating to read how famous guitarists think differently about the instrument and the what, why and when behind their playing style. It provides a fresh look at what can be achieved if you put your mind to it. I highly recommend getting hold of a copy.
Of course there is no better way to get advice, inspiration and improve your playing than by attending a Guitar Retreat! So why not make it a new years resoloution to come along on one or two this year? Just making a booking will give you a push to practise more often! Seriously though if you are thinking of coming on an event this year don't leave it too late to put a deposit on a place, we have limited spaces and they are already filling fast for 2018. All of our events were over subscribed last year and there were a few disappointed people. To those of you who missed out all I can say is don't let that put you off – Carpe Diem!
First up for 2018 we are really excited to be travelling to Portugal in two weeks time to start the year as we mean to continue with some fun in the sun with our guitars. Guitar Getaway In The Algarve Feeling spontaneous? Its not too late to join us!
We will report back on all the shennanagins next month and we look forward to meeting up with many old and new faces this year. Until then cheerio and a Very Happy New Guitar Year!
On my way to France for the 1st of our 3 week long retreats there this year. I'm taking this very cool and unique travel guitar. Massive thanks to Felix Byrne at Acoustic Guitar Innovation. His amazing handcrafted guitars not only sound great but are all designed to take on planes as hand luggage – perfect for your next guitar retreat abroad!
R.I.P Chuck Berry. A true guitar legend who influenced almost everybody who picked up an electric guitar in the 50s and 60s right up to the present day. A larger than life character, he left us some great guitar riffs and songs that will last forever. Chuck Berry Retreat anybody!?
We are very much looking forward to our next Acoustic Fingerstyle Weekend Retreat at Glewstone Court, Ross-on-Wye in a couple of weeks' time. Again, sold out but we have another weekend booked there in November. Our Americana Guitar Retreat. Over that weekend we will learn many classic songs that define the term Americana by artists who have influenced so much popular music.We will study the guitar styles that make up this eclectic genre stretching back over 60 years. From Hank Williams to Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan and Paul Simon, from The Eagles, Neil Young and Joni Mitchell to The Doobie Brothers, Springsteen, Tom Petty and R.E.M. We even have a little 'sweet soul music' lined up to get you in the groove!
We do have places available on our second Guitar and Songwriting Retreat in France. This is a week long residential retreat in a magical setting in The Dordogne, France, practicing the art and craft of songwriting for the guitarist. Over the week you will be taught and guided to complete your own compositions in the company of other budding songwriters. There will be heaps of guitar time too including lessons on creating interesting chord progressions and understanding the theory behind them. La Perdrix is a haven of creativity for all kinds of art and music and the perfect place to bring out your inner songwriter! Please have a look at our website for more information.
We are currently looking into running more weekend events at new venues in the U.K. Including one back in Bude, Cornwall for an end of year bash in December. Watch this space.
And finally the BIG NEWS! we mentioned last month …. fancy playing your guitar in the sun?….. in January?!
Well here we go!: GUITAR GETAWAY IN THE ALGARVE available to book NOW!!
Guitar Retreats are delighted to announce a stunning new venue for 2017 – Glewstone Court Country House Hotel near Ross on Wye in Herefordshire close to the Forest of Dean and situated in An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in the Wye Valley.
This breathtaking 18th century country house is on on the English Heritage Register and is set in landscaped grounds on the Wales/Herefordshire border. The comfortable lounges are perfect for relaxed teaching, playing and jamming, there's plenty of private space for one-to-one tuition and in the spring sunshine, the beautiful gardens are an ideal place to practice and relax.
We look forward to welcoming you to join us on a Guitar Retreat here in 2017. Places are sure to go fast so don't delay book today! The first date is set for the 7th of April in time for Spring in the Wye Valley. See the events page for all the details.


We are very pleased to report that all ADS surveyors are fully certified by the NADC, WRc and the Environment Agency. Our Surveyors carry out CCTV Drain Surveys in London on behalf of RICS building surveyors, home owners and private companies.
All drain surveys are carried out using Wincan survey software and XTi drain cameras for the best quality results.


text:
package org.springframework.test.context.support;

import java.util.HashSet;
import java.util.Set;

import org.junit.Test;

import org.springframework.context.ApplicationContextInitializer;
import org.springframework.context.ConfigurableApplicationContext;
import org.springframework.context.support.GenericApplicationContext;
import org.springframework.test.context.BootstrapTestUtils;
import org.springframework.test.context.ContextConfiguration;
import org.springframework.test.context.MergedContextConfiguration;
import org.springframework.web.context.support.GenericWebApplicationContext;

/**
 * Unit tests for {@link BootstrapTestUtils} involving {@link ApplicationContextInitializer}s.
 *
 * @author Sam Brannen
 * @since 3.1
 */
public class BootstrapTestUtilsContextInitializerTests extends AbstractContextConfigurationUtilsTests {

	@Test
	public void buildMergedConfigWithLocalInitializer() {
		Class<?> testClass = InitializersFoo.class;
		Class<?>[] expectedClasses = new Class<?>[] { FooConfig.class };
		Set<Class<? extends ApplicationContextInitializer<? extends ConfigurableApplicationContext>>> expectedInitializerClasses//
		= new HashSet<Class<? extends ApplicationContextInitializer<? extends ConfigurableApplicationContext>>>();
		expectedInitializerClasses.add(FooInitializer.class);

		MergedContextConfiguration mergedConfig = buildMergedContextConfiguration(testClass);

		assertMergedConfig(mergedConfig, testClass, EMPTY_STRING_ARRAY, expectedClasses, expectedInitializerClasses,
			DelegatingSmartContextLoader.class);
	}

	@Test
	public void buildMergedConfigWithLocalAndInheritedInitializer() {
		Class<?> testClass = InitializersBar.class;
		Class<?>[] expectedClasses = new Class<?>[] { FooConfig.class, BarConfig.class };
		Set<Class<? extends ApplicationContextInitializer<? extends ConfigurableApplicationContext>>> expectedInitializerClasses//
		= new HashSet<Class<? extends ApplicationContextInitializer<? extends ConfigurableApplicationContext>>>();
		expectedInitializerClasses.add(FooInitializer.class);
		expectedInitializerClasses.add(BarInitializer.class);

		MergedContextConfiguration mergedConfig = buildMergedContextConfiguration(testClass);

		assertMergedConfig(mergedConfig, testClass, EMPTY_STRING_ARRAY, expectedClasses, expectedInitializerClasses,
			DelegatingSmartContextLoader.class);
	}

	@Test
	public void buildMergedConfigWithOverriddenInitializers() {
		Class<?> testClass = OverriddenInitializersBar.class;
		Class<?>[] expectedClasses = new Class<?>[] { FooConfig.class, BarConfig.class };
		Set<Class<? extends ApplicationContextInitializer<? extends ConfigurableApplicationContext>>> expectedInitializerClasses//
		= new HashSet<Class<? extends ApplicationContextInitializer<? extends ConfigurableApplicationContext>>>();
		expectedInitializerClasses.add(BarInitializer.class);

		MergedContextConfiguration mergedConfig = buildMergedContextConfiguration(testClass);

		assertMergedConfig(mergedConfig, testClass, EMPTY_STRING_ARRAY, expectedClasses, expectedInitializerClasses,
			DelegatingSmartContextLoader.class);
	}

	@Test
	public void buildMergedConfigWithOverriddenInitializersAndClasses() {
		Class<?> testClass = OverriddenInitializersAndClassesBar.class;
		Class<?>[] expectedClasses = new Class<?>[] { BarConfig.class };
		Set<Class<? extends ApplicationContextInitializer<? extends ConfigurableApplicationContext>>> expectedInitializerClasses//
		= new HashSet<Class<? extends ApplicationContextInitializer<? extends ConfigurableApplicationContext>>>();
		expectedInitializerClasses.add(BarInitializer.class);

		MergedContextConfiguration mergedConfig = buildMergedContextConfiguration(testClass);

		assertMergedConfig(mergedConfig, testClass, EMPTY_STRING_ARRAY, expectedClasses, expectedInitializerClasses,
			DelegatingSmartContextLoader.class);
	}

	private static class FooInitializer implements ApplicationContextInitializer<GenericApplicationContext> {

		@Override
		public void initialize(GenericApplicationContext applicationContext) {
		}
	}

	private static class BarInitializer implements ApplicationContextInitializer<GenericWebApplicationContext> {

		@Override
		public void initialize(GenericWebApplicationContext applicationContext) {
		}
	}

	@ContextConfiguration(classes = FooConfig.class, initializers = FooInitializer.class)
	private static class InitializersFoo {
	}

	@ContextConfiguration(classes = BarConfig.class, initializers = BarInitializer.class)
	private static class InitializersBar extends InitializersFoo {
	}

	@ContextConfiguration(classes = BarConfig.class, initializers = BarInitializer.class, inheritInitializers = false)
	private static class OverriddenInitializersBar extends InitializersFoo {
	}

	@ContextConfiguration(classes = BarConfig.class, inheritLocations = false, initializers = BarInitializer.class, inheritInitializers = false)
	private static class OverriddenInitializersAndClassesBar extends InitializersFoo {
	}

}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


It has been a bit weird the past couple of days. The headlines are all "polls even", "deadlock", "too close to call", "Coalition in danger of losing", The commentary is all "it's over", "Shorten can't win", "Coalition returned to power".
Just the media giving their darlings a helping hand.
We don't know the result yet do we?
So up until 6.00 pm tomorrow night keep fighting.
All of this negativity by the msm is to both depress our volunteers and to hope that there is a bandwagon effect.
You know when you go to a footy game and when you're losing it's because the ref is biased. Generally that's not the case. But the behaviour of the talking heads of the msm is an indication of bias.Keane observed that Sales interrupted Bill 24 times and Turd 4 times.
Whether it's tomorrow or in the not too distant future the ALP will win govt and when they do I want them to absolutely destroy these msm hacks especially those on the ABC . And at the end of the day why not because it's me and you who pay their wages.
I'd buy a ticket to see that!
Hadley has never met Rob Oakeshott, and has refused all offers to debate him. That despite Hadley being very fond of boasting about spending time with his grandparents, as a child,at Eungai Rail, on the NSW mid-north coast, in the electorate of …….. Cowper.
Yep. The political reality is that the ALP has to hold the line but cleaning out Manus, Nauru and XMas Is has to be done as well.
Some canvassing of communities that have found them a positive experience needs to be done.
Focus on those we have marked as 'a security risk here' is needed. We are still somewhat acceptable internationally and some place must be found for them.
Um, I posted Tanya's tweet before I read the current discussion. It is not a reflection on anything that is being said here, I just thought it was a brilliant photo.
Nothing to do with elections, just a fabulous set-up. There should be many more.
Fizza has had a bit of a trainwreck day today, according to Murpharoo.
I care about the blatant lie about the China free trade agreement, which the Abbott/Turnbull government rushed into far too soon, simply so they could pretend they had done the whole thing. Fizza had the hide to call Shorten a liar today.
What the hell is he talking about? There's this fiction going on that, despite polls sitting dead even for weeks and the same narrative from the press going on and on and nothing seismic happening on either side anyway, that the 'chances of winning' are bouncing about wildly of their own accord, independent of people or evidence or anything. 'Things' haven't 'tightened up'. Using the passive voice to describe a vagueness is about as useless a contribution as you can make in journalism.
They're not bouncing about. They're where they've been the whole election, slightly in favour of the ALP by virtue of a better campaign, less panic, and a suite of policies that have a dual virtue; firstly, they exist (which is more than you can say for Turnbull's reputed 'plan') and secondly they make sense.
That ties in quite nicely with my speculation, Aguirre. A big discord between the reporting and what is actually happening. Remain positive friends!
I thought I'd try to draw some comfort from the IPSOS state breakdowns. They're pretty ordinary for Labor on Primary votes but come out well on 2PP. NSW is 51-49, Vic 54-46, and SA is 51-49 (not as good as I thought it'd be but considering their low primary, pretty good).
It's a different story in the two big mining states showing 57-43 Coalition. Not sure how reliable this is because it shows a 6-point turnaround, which seems a bit unrealistic in a few days. May be a problem with the sampling. In the past that has about represented the bias in those states but there's no reason to think that's close to what the situation is now.
Vic 54-46 is also a bit unrealistic unless we assume that all the fuss over the CFA has had no impact. If it is so, then quite a few coalition seats could fall in Vic.
As I said, it's all very bewildering, maybe the mood is fluctuating, but it still seems as if there's a discord between the media reports and how the public is responding to issues.
Leigh Sales whining about copping abuse over her biased interviews.
Maybe if she did her job properly, instead of blatantly favouring her Liberal dinner companions over Labor politicians her viewers might be less abusive.
Yeah, that article is simply saying that there are trolls on Twitter. Well, whoop de doo, knock me down with a feather.
The problem, unstated in that article, is that the ABC has made itself unaccountable. Complaints are now fobbed off with bureaucratic mumbo jumbo, so people don't think they have any say any longer in how the taxpayer funded television station is run. And it's simple equation. If you stop treating your audience with respect, they will sooner or later do the same to you.
It's partly about the Sales/Uhlmann/Jones/Cassidy/Alberici Liberal love-in. But it's even more about things like the defunding and axing of the Fact Checker, and the arrogant replies to queries and complaints submitted.
Sales having a whine might help to deflect it in the short-term, but that's all. The problems remain.
She's not getting half the sh&t Julia Gillard got. And JG was doing her job in a professional manner unlike Sales.
Julie Bishop might escape a fine for using her phone while driving, unless a member of the public makes a formal complaint.
Zed' got himself in trouble today..
Fingers crossed we can boot him out of the senate, 2nd ALP or even a green would be preferable to that lazy abbott loving rwnj.
I would be more than surprised if the bitchop is hauled over the coals for using the phone whilst driving. And her media fans won't make a fuss either, but can you imagine the uproar if Tanya (or anyone Labor) was so caught out?


Breast feeding is the single most important thing you can do to protect your baby and help to promote good health. Best of all, breast feeding is free.
Although not all babies take to pacifiers, pacifiers are generally a great source of comfort for most babies. In any case, if you do choose to get a pacifier for your baby, there are a couple of safety tips that you need to consider.
You may have heard of what SIDS is. Many unfortunate parents have been told that it was SIDS that caused the death of their baby. If you know nothing more about this condition than the fact that it is strongly linked with infant sleep, then you should try to improve your knowledge about it. After all, SIDS is the leading cause of death in infants from 1 month to one year. Knowing about SIDS might help ensure that you can help prevent your baby from having it.
Tips for Toilet Training By : Dr. Noel Swanson.
Let�s begin by removing some misconceptions related to toilet training. Many parents seem to consider potty training as a criterion to judge their child�s brightness and their own smartness. Nothing can be farther than the truth. If you try to potty train your child before he/she is ready for it, you will be a nervous wreck, and you will traumatize your child.
Each baby has a varied temperament, and all families have different lifestyles. Thus it is up to the parents to adjust according to the needs of their family and at the same time not compromise on the sleep of their infant. Below are some facts about infant sleep that will assist you in helping your infant sleep better.
Most newborns sleep 16 to 18 hours a day and they tend to sleep in two- to three-hour increments, even at night. Almost all the babies sleep especially in the early months is typically full of interruptions because a baby's sleep cycle is shorter than an adult's. The sleep cycles are different in babies as they have twice as many light sleep cycles as adults, more light sleep than deep sleep, and their overall sleep cycles are shorter.
If your baby is sleeping well then it is seen that the parents are worried about the health of their child and parents also cannot get a sound sleep. One should be potent enough to create a secure environment that allows sleep to overtake your baby and then one should decide about a long- term goal is to help your baby develop a healthy attitude about sleep.


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Home / Yard And Garden / Flowers / Saving the World One Garden at a Time
Saving the World One Garden at a Time
By Gardener's Supply Company | May 18, 2016
More than fifty people at the UN are participating in the new community garden project.
Gardener's Supply Company provided seed starting success kits with soil and plant markers to allow office workers to grow food and flowers from seeds on their windowsills.
When the United Nations wanted to get gardening this spring, they called Gardener's Supply Company for help. Gardener's Supply is one of only a handful of companies tapped to help grow the first community garden on international territory at the UN in New York.
"Gardener's Supply Company is clearly interested in sustainability, environmentalism and the other values this garden is designed to promote" says spokesperson Catherine Zanev, Coordinator for UN Food Gardens Initiatives.
A UN staffer came up with the idea of an international community garden last year: "We realized that there's so much lawn and so much concrete and so much unused space that could be used so much more sustainably and productively," says Zanev.
The core gardening team of about ten UN staff members are managing and organizing the work but overall there are more than 50 people participating. "And all of them just love this idea of taking a break from their daily work in front of the screen and going out and getting their hands dirty and doing something where they see immediate results. They can smell the flowers and smell the soil and see the earthworms and just be a little bit connected to nature … at least as much as is possible in Manhattan," adds Zanev. "Many of them had never planted a seed or grown anything. And they're from all over the world. We had a Filipino lady who had never gardened — another lady from Indonesia; they all were so excited to start a little garden on their windowsill."
For starters, Gardener's Supply Company provided fifty "GrowEase," seed starting success kits, complete with soil and plant markers, allowing office workers to grow food and flowers from seeds on their workplace windowsills. UN workers have grown a variety of seedlings including kale, okra, quinoa, peppers, tomatoes, purple basil, purple cauliflower, marigolds and nasturtiums. The seedlings have now been transplanted into ten raised beds along with two wildflower beds for pollinators (bees, butterflies and hummingbirds). The garden also features a dogwood tree, composter and even mason bees.
"Gardener's Supply Company also has plans to help expand the garden by providing composting products and mason bee houses," says company spokesperson Claudia Marshall. "We're really proud to be supporting an international community gardening effort focused on sustainability."
About Gardener's Supply Company
Founded in 1983, Gardener's Supply Company is a 100% employee-owned company of avid gardeners providing garden-tested, earth-friendly products combined with practical information. Located in Burlington, Vermont, the company has won many awards for its innovative gardening products, online gardening content and progressive management style. Gardener's Supply is also a Certified B Corporation and donates 8% of its profits to charity.
All About Maidenhair Ferns
A guide on how to take good care of your maidenhair ferns.
Go Wild with Native Roses
Instead of choosing delicate garden roses, grow beautiful, carefree flowers with North America's own flinty natives.
How to Make Seed Balls for the Garden
Learn how to make flower seed balls for your garden.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


The Safescan 2210 is a fast and reliable banknote counter that will help you cash up your till at the end of every day.
Save time and eliminate all chance of error. The Safescan 2210's back-loading hopper can hold up to 300 banknotes and accurately count them, up to 1000 notes per minute. The 2210 automatically checks every banknote for two distinct security traits: UV markings and note size. It will pause and beep to alert you when it encounters a suspicious note; simply remove the offender and press start to resume counting. The spacious backlit LCD screen tells you exactly what you need to know: the number of notes counted and the specific count and detection settings you have selected.
Very good at counting new or nearly new notes but struggles with tatty notes which cause it to jam.
Be careful to not overload machine otherwise notes fly out all over the place. We have been counting in batches and it works fine.
Excellent rapid service, good piece of equipment.
Safescan 2210 - So far so good, counts notes in seconds which is great, not had any dodgy notes yet so cant comment on the uv scan, fingers crossed!


text:
Posts Tagged 'HBO'
HBO cautiously wades in Internet TV waters with new show "Hooking Up"
by Daniel Langendorf
September 8th, 2008 | Posted in Net TV | 1 Comment
We've seen how major television networks such as Fox, NBC, CBS, and ABC and second-tier networks like The CW have been using the Web, but noticeably absent from this activity has been creative powerhouse HBO.
HBO on Monday announced it will be using the Web slightly differently than most, launching its own Web video series called "Hooking Up." It's a part of HBOlab, an experimental offshoot of the cable network's online programming.
Jessica Rose of "lonelygirl15" will star in a 10-part show that begins airing on Oct. 1 on its own site — Hookingupshow.com — and on MySpaceTV and YouTube. Rose is accompanied on the show by video bloggers sxePhil and KevJumba, giving the program three of the Internet's most popular entertainers.
"I think we're going to see a lot more hits than had we cast a bunch of funny people you didn't know," said Fran Shea, head of HBOlab.
HBO offers six shows on iTunes; even with higher prices, savings are considerable
May 13th, 2008 | Posted in Net TV | 1 Comment
A quick update to the iTunes-HBO post from yesterday. Six of HBO's most popular shows are now available for purchase on iTunes, ranging from $1.99 to $2.99 an episode. They are:
"The Wire": $1.99
"Flight of the Conchords": $1.99
"Sex and the City": $1.99
"Deadwood": $2.99
"Rome": $2.99
"The Sopranos": $2.99
(Apple release)
This translates to considerable savings, especially for those who 1) don't subscribe to HBO; 2) are interested in the series but are not sure if they want to spend the money on the boxed sets; 3) would buy the boxed sets if they were a little cheaper.
Something is going on at iTunes: Apple reportedly agrees to variable pricing to get HBO shows
Apple and Home Box Office will be achieving a couple of very important firsts when HBO content comes to iTunes in the next few weeks.
For Apple, it will be the first time the company will allow variable pricing for content on iTunes in the United States. According to Josh Saul of Portfolio.com, sources indicate that Apple has agreed to a separate price structure to bring HBO content to iTunes.
No details were given, but it's expected that HBO shows will sell for more than $1.99 a episode. Apple has held steadfast to its philosophy of fixed pricing — $0.99 cents per song, $1.99 for TV shows, $2.99 to $4.99 for movie rentals and $9.99 to $14.99 for movie purchases.
Apple has been so adamant about fixed pricing that NBC to pull its shows from iTunes at the end of last year after a loud, public dispute over, in part, variable pricing demands.
For HBO, the expected agreement marks the first time the cable station's content will be available online. This content includes current shows such as "John Adams" or "Entourage" as well as old favorites like "Sex in the City," "The Sopranos," and "The Wire."


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The Dutchess Rail Trails have been completed.
The Dutchess Rail Trail is a 12 mile multi-use linear county "park" that runs through the middle of the Dutchess County along the former Maybrook Rail corridor including the towns of Poughkeepsie, LaGrange, Wappinger and East Fishkill.
Our Dutchess Rail Trails have captured the interest of residents from all across Dutchess County and the Hudson Valley area. The development of our Dutchess Rail Trail has already produced award winning results! In 2008, the readers of Hudson Valley Magazine named Phase I of the Dutchess Rail Trail as the "Best New Hiking Trail" in the Hudson Valley.
Hudson Valley Rail Trails
There's an abundance of places to go and things to see in Dutchess County. Our scenic car and bike tours help you traverse the countryside while highlighting the area's history and attractions.
How about spending a day hiking, cycling or cross country skiing over one of our rail trails.
The beautiful Harlem Valley Rail Trail meanders through the northeastern portion of Dutchess County, and the newly completed second phase of the Dutchess Rail Trail that runs from Morgan Lake south to Overocker Road in the Town of Poughkeepsie.
Of course a must-see is the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Home and Museum in Hyde Park, only a short distance from Val-kill, Eleanor's beloved retreat.
Maps Trails Dutchess County
Dutchess County website www.dutchessny.gov connects hikers with information about the nearly 70 trail systems in Dutchess with the new Healthy Communities Trail Map Series.
Map of Dutchess Rail Trails
Breakneck Ridge
Pawling Appalachian Trail
Ferncliff Forest Preserve
Pawling Nature Reserve
10 Rules for Hiking Safety
Dutchess County Campgrounds
Fahnestock State Park
Dutchess County Fair Parking
Snow Sledding Dutchess Parks
ArtEast Open Studio Tour
Dutchess County For Sale By Owner
About Poughkeepsie
FDR Top Cottage
Rhinebeck Antiques Fair
Beacon Open Studios
Brunch & Sunday Dinners
Beacon Barks Dog Parade
Dutcher Golf Course History


There's no question that a good wallpaper can transform a space, but you might have put off taking the leap into wallpaper-land for one major reason: the idea of actually hanging it sounds downright agonizing. Glueing oversized sheets of unwieldy paper to a wall and needing to get your measurements right and align a pattern? Waiting in line for a root canal sounds more enticing. It might surprise you, then, that there is a pretty simple way to hang wallpaper—one that the set builders at the west elm photo studio use as their go-to method (they know a thing or two about assembling a room in no time). So go ahead and pick out your favorite wallpaper, because you're going to want to try this!
1. Measure your space to determine how much wallpaper you need. Consult the source of your wallpaper for exact quantity needs.
2. Apply wallpaper adhesive to your wall with a roller. Only apply enough for one panel at a time.
3. Using a ladder or step stool, align your first wallpaper panel with a ceiling corner in your room. Flatten down the paper along the height of the wall to the floor or baseboard.
4. Firmly press a squeegee or smoother along the applied wallpaper to remove any air bubbles.
5. Cut off the hanging excess wallpaper by dragging a utility knife along the edge of your floor or baseboard.
6. Repeat! Be sure to find the place where the wallpaper repeats and line up the pattern accordingly. It's OK for the paper panels to overlap slightly! That's it!


text:
Issue 1, February 2006
Optimizing management of kinship and inbreeding coefficients in dairy cattle selection
Relationships between the conditions of milk production and the contents of nutritional constituents in cheese : study under real conditions of production
Physiology of colostrum production in sows
Conjugated linoleic acid in pig nutrition
ATELAGE : modelling to qualify work organisation in livestock farming systems
 Issue 2, May 2006
(only in French) L'acidose chez les ruminants - Avant-propos du dossier
The control of latent ruminal acidosis
Latent acidosis in the dairy cow
Mechanisms of appearance of ruminal acidosis and consequences on physiopathology and performances
The chicken genome sequence and its utility for breeding
Social recognition in mammals : mechanisms and sensorial bases
 Issue 3, July 2006. Special issue Hormons and growth-promoter use in animal production
Hormones and growth promoters in animal breeding : from physiological end-points to risk assessment considerations
Issue 4, October 2006. Special issue Mitochondria and Muscle biology
Implication of mitochondria in muscular biology : a key role during early development, growth and muscular atrophy.
Relations between mitochondrial function and contractile types of muscle fibre
Mitochondrial activity is a major regulator of myoblast differentiation and of the expression of myosin isoforms
What is the role of mitochondrial uncoupling proteins in mammals and birds ?
Role of mitochondria in the development of oxidative stress in skeletal muscle during aging
Issue 5, December 2006
Muscle lipid content : a complex balance between various metabolic pathways.
Optimised management of genetic variability in selected pig populations : the example of the French Landrace collective population
Alternatives to piglet castration
The specification of the genetic type within the official rules for animal products under Protected Designations of Origin (PDO) : consequences for the breeds.
Consequences of the establishment of cheese-production chains with a PDO denomination : a case study of the northern Alps.
Prospects for a grass meat production of young Charolais steers in Burgundy.
Redaction : P. Béraud
Creation date : 04 July 2011


text:
Ibrahim Berjashi (ur. 1948 w Velikim Ostrosie) – czarnogórsko-kosowski dziennikarz i poeta.

Życiorys
Ukończył naukę podstawową w Uroševacu oraz średnią w Djakowicy. Studiował albanistykę na Wydziale Filozoficznym Uniwersytetu w Prisztinie.

Pracował w wielu albańskojęzycznych gazetach w Titogradzie, Prisztinie, Skopje i Ulcinju, między innymi w gazetach: Jeta e Re, Fjala i Jehona.

W latach 1975–2002 był stałym korespondentem gazety Rilindja, a następnie dziennika Bota Sot. Był również redaktorem naczelnym magazynu Fati oraz redaktorem gazety Shpresa.

W latach 1978–1988 wydawał w Titogradzie magazyn Koha.

Obecnie (2013) pracuje w znajdującej się w Ulcinju Telewizji Teuta.

Poezje
 Lundra e humbur
 Lule prej guri (1980)
 E tej malësi e det (1984)
 Veloret e bardha (1985)
 Dritaren lëre hapur (1996)
 Orët e vetmisë (1996)
 Floçka e liqenit (2006)
 Orët e Rumisë (2009)
 Gati u harruem (2013)

Przypisy

Urodzeni w 1948
Ludzie związani z Uroševacem
Ludzie związani z Djakowicą
Ludzie związani z Podgoricą
Ludzie związani z Prisztiną
Ludzie związani ze Skopje
Ludzie związani z Ulcinjem
Kosowscy dziennikarze
Kosowscy poeci
Czarnogórscy poeci
Jugosłowiańscy dziennikarze
Jugosłowiańscy poeci
Absolwenci Uniwersytetu w Prisztinie
Kosowscy Albańczycy
Kosowscy albaniści
Jugosłowiańscy albaniści
Czarnogórscy naukowcy
Jugosłowiańscy redaktorzy naczelni
Kosowscy redaktorzy naczelni
Poeci XX wieku
Poeci XXI wieku

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


We're back with sewing projects again!
While Sam and I were in Ithaca in March I stopped into a lovely little mom and pop fabric and yarn store called Homespun Boutique. I mean they didn't even take credit cards, that's how low key this store was. Their yarn and fabric selection was lovely, but I kept circling back to this GORGEOUS cotton/hemp tweed twill fabric. I can't find anything like it online but god it's a total dream to feel and work with. It was $20 a yard which is STEEP for a girl like me. But Sam encouraged me to buy some as a way to remember the trip and I knew exactly what I wanted to make with it. It's easily the nicest fabric I've ever worked with, has a beautiful drape and is super fun and swooshy.
The construction of the skirt was a breeze. It's advertised as a beginner pattern and it's very flattering. Big bang for your buck. My only issue with construction was when I went to attach the waistband it was about 3 inches too short. I'm guessing this is user error and I probably just cut the wrong size, but I just recut it with an added three inches and it was fine.
On the back I used a vintage button that Sam's mom gifted me. This skirt is a PERFECT use of those jars of cool vintage buttons where none match. Just one cool button. Sam's mom actually makes stunning jewelry out of vintage and reclaimed buttons and she'll occasionally let me pick through her rejects and take them home with me.
That's it for my Colette Zinnia! This guy is a real staple in the sewing community so i'd love to hear what you made yours out of or if it's on your to-make list!


Whole-grain foods, including wheat bread, are high in fiber.
3 What Nutritional Value Does Cellulose Have?
Fiber is a type of complex carbohydrate that is essential for normal digestion. Even though fiber is a carbohydrate, it does not break down to provide energy in the same manner as starch and sugar carbohydrates. Fiber, which comes solely from plant-based foods, generally fits into either one of two categories: soluble or insoluble. Most high-fiber foods provide both types of fiber, but have higher concentrations of one type over the other. For example, apples are rich in soluble fiber, but if you eat the skin, you also add insoluble fiber to your diet.
Soluble fiber absorbs fluid in your intestines and creates a thick slow-moving sludge. This substance slows down digestion, which gives vitamins and minerals time to absorb through intestinal walls. Without adequate amounts of soluble fiber, these nutrients may pass through your gut and escape through your stool, without being absorbed. Soluble fiber comes from oatmeal, nuts, seeds, beans and the soft inside part of fruits.
In a 2012 study at the Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute, researchers evaluated the benefits of increasing fiber intake and published their findings in the "Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Journal." Research participants consumed a high-fiber, low-calorie fruit bar two times per day. The bar was rich in beta-glucan, a type of soluble fiber. At the end of the two-week study, research participants had an average of 6 percent higher blood concentrations of high-density lipoprotein, or HDL cholesterol. This is the good cholesterol that helps stabilize total cholesterol levels and rids your body of harmful low-density lipoprotein, or LDL cholesterol. Getting more soluble fiber in your diet by eating more fresh fruits may help improve your cholesterol levels.
Insoluble fiber acts differently than soluble fiber by staying intact and speeding up digestion. This type of fiber acts like a broom and sweeps through your intestines creating soft bulky stools. Insoluble fiber is the tough fibrous part of plants that is difficult to chew and passes intact through your body. For example, the skin of corn kernels or strands from celery often come out in large pieces in your stool. Your body lacks the enzymes it needs to break down these tough fibrous compounds. Insoluble fiber comes primarily from vegetables, whole-grain foods, brown rice and barley.
In 1998, researchers at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital looked into health benefits of cellulose, an insoluble fiber. Cellulose is the primary component of cell walls and is the rigid structure that makes plants difficult to chew. Researchers evaluated the effect of insoluble cellulose fiber in healthy men. Their findings, published in "The Journal of Nutrition," determined that a diet high in fiber, particularly insoluble cellulose fiber, lessens your risk of diverticular disease. This condition causes pouches to form in your colon where food gets stuck. Diverticular disease can lead to inflammation and complications in your intestine when you do not have regular bowel movements. Insoluble fiber keeps you regular and relieves constipation, reducing your risk of diverticular disorders by ridding your body of waste.
You need 14 grams of fiber in your diet for every 1,000 calories you consume, according to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010. If you typically consume around 2,000 calories, you need 28 grams of total dietary fiber. Eating fresh fruits and vegetables, and opting for whole grains over refined white grains, helps you get both soluble and insoluble fiber in your diet.
Anne, Melodie. "The Types of Fiber That Your Body Needs." Healthy Eating | SF Gate, http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/types-fiber-body-needs-2340.html. Accessed 24 April 2019.


In a brief but contentious District Court hearing yesterday, a Baltimore County assistant state's attorney declined to prosecute eight anti-war protesters arrested last year at Towson Town Center on trespassing charges.
The protesters asked to read a short statement about their demonstration March 1 at the mall, where they distributed 500 pamphlets about the then-looming war with Iraq. But Judge Bruce S. Lamdin denied the request, angrily telling the group that if they spoke without answering a question put to them, they would be arrested.
"What should have been a simple proceeding unfortunately turned into a test of wills. It was a totally unnecessary assertion of judicial authority," said C. William Michaels, a Baltimore attorney representing five of the protesters. "There was no indication there would be an interruption."
Neither the judge nor the prosecutor returned calls yesterday seeking comment.
The criminal charges against the men and women, who call themselves the "Towson Town 8," were placed on an inactive court docket for a year. The state's attorney's office could petition the court to try the cases within three years if the protesters are arrested again or if they violate laws on mall property.
The protesters, members of the Baltimore chapter of Iraq Pledge of Resistance, intend to test what they call their First Amendment right to speak in areas such as malls.
It's been several years since a peace activist has been tried in the county for civil disobedience, said Max Obuszewski, one of the protesters. "It may be time again," he added.
The group, which held an anti-war rally outside the courthouse yesterday, was banned for life from Towson Town Center by the Rouse Co., the mall's owner. The ban was rescinded.


text:
import React, { Component } from "react";
import PropTypes from "prop-types";
import { withFormsy } from "formsy-react";
import RequiredAbbreviation from "./RequiredAbbreviation";

class TextAreaInput extends Component {
  static propTypes = {
    name: PropTypes.string.isRequired,
    label: PropTypes.string.isRequired,
    required: PropTypes.bool.isRequired,
    maxLength: PropTypes.number,
    ...this.propTypes,
  };

  handleOnChange(event) {
    this.props.setValue(event.currentTarget.value);
  }

  render() {
    const { name, label, maxLength, required } = this.props;

    return (

          {label}
          {required && <RequiredAbbreviation />}

        <input
          id={name}
          name={name}
          type="text"
          value={this.props.getValue() || ""}
          onChange={e => this.handleOnChange(e)}
          aria-required={required}
          maxLength={maxLength}
          disabled={this.props.isFormDisabled()}
        />
        {this.props.getErrorMessage()}

          {maxLength - (this.props.getValue() || "").length} characters left

    );
  }
}

export default withFormsy(TextAreaInput);


37 Signals creates Draft for iPad. New tools is highly focused like the rest of the company's signature applications.
The folks behind the phenomenal Web 2.0 application hits Basecamp and Backpack are at it again, this time with a nifty new application called Draft for iPad. Draft is 37signals' first application for the iPad or iPhone OS (iOS 4.0 as it is now known). As usual the company has developed this application with laser-like focus on what it is suppose to do.
Draft is a basic sketch application for the iPad only. It has email and Campfire sharing. Campfire is a 37signals web application. One of the great things about Draft for iPad is how focused this application is on being a conceptual sketch tool and nothing more.
Draft features a low-resolution, thick-point sharpie like pen which forces the user to draw at the "big picture" level. It's about ideas! Draft makes it very easy to develop concepts for a host of situations, from charts, idea-grams, bubble diagrams, parti sketches and user-interface design concepts.
01 - Draft for iPad by 37 Signals.com. Great first application from the folks who know how to keep applications focused.
Draft features just one pen size, designed to emulate a sharpie pen on paper. 37 Signals says that Draft is a "just draw and share the damn thing quickly" tool. It is not for fine art!
Draft is also not for playing with colors or making anything pretty whatsoever. Draft features just one pen thickness in two colors: red and white, over a black background. The integration with Campfire is a way for users to integrate conceptual drawings into that Web application's collaboration features.
Draft is available on the App Store for your iPad now. It cost 9.99.USD. To learn more go here.
Go to the Apple store and speak to a Genius. That's my recommendation.


The Toowoomba Showgrounds will host the region's largest outdoor adventure event showcasing Australia's best caravans, camper trailers, vehicles, 4x4 accessories and more all in the one convenient location. Bring the whole family for a day full on fun including the All4FMX stunt show, 4x4 demo, bush cooking, kid's rides and more! Discover a world of adventure at the 2019 Queensland Outdoor Adventure & Motoring Expo. 2 – 4 August 2019, Toowoomba Showgrounds.
The 2019 Queensland Outdoor Adventure & Motoring Expo Event Guide will be distributed within the region prior to the event. More copies will also be distributed at the event entrances during the event.
WIN PASSES TO THE 2019 EXPO!
Would you like to win a pass to the 2019 Queensland Outdoor Adventure & Motoring Expo? All you need to do is join the Queensland Outdoor Adventure & Motoring Expo Email Newsletter Club by filling in the form on the right. We promise not to spam you and you can leave at any time as unsubscribe links are in every email!
Congratulations! You are now in the draw to win a DOUBLE PASS !
Would you like to win a pass to the 2019 Queensland Outdoor Adventure & Motoring Expo? All you need to do is join the Queensland Outdoor Adventure & Motoring Expo Email Newsletter Club by filling in the form. We promise not to spam you and you can leave at any time as unsubscribe links are in every email!
The Queensland Outdoor Adventure and Motoring Expo is one of Queensland's largest Outdoor Adventure Events. The 2019 event will be held from the 2nd – 4th of August at the Toowoomba Showgrounds, with sites in the Founders Pavilion, Centre Ring and the grounds between. The event will showcase a wide variety of local and national caravan, camper trailer, 4x4 and vehicle companies. The event will also feature dozens of complementary companies, including holiday and tourism bodies, 4x4 and vehicle accessory companies.
The 2019 event is expected to attract over 17,000 outdoor adventure enthusiasts. Don't miss your chance to place your business in front of this targeted audience! Register your interest to exhibit today by clicking here.


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Home / Cruise Lines / Cunard Cruises / Queen Elizabeth
Western Mediterranean And Singapore Cruise - Q132H
Ship: Queen Elizabeth
Departure: Monday, October 11, 2021
Nights: 30 nights
Returns: Singapore
Prices are twin share per person in AUD, include all taxes and are subject to change.
$159/day
way trip
Sea Days
To find out more about the itinerary for this cruise, select the itinerary items below.
1 Monday, October 11, 2021 Barcelona, Spain Embark 11:00 PM
Barcelona, located in Catalonia Spain, is Europe's largest metropolis on the Mediterranean coast, and one of the world's major global cities. Today, Barcelona balances itself on the cutting edge of architecture, intellectual life, and style. Indeed Barcelona won the 1999 RIBA Royal Gold Medal for its architecture, the first time that the winner has been a city, and not an individual architect. The 'Gothic Quarter' is the centre of the old city of Barcelona, where many of the buildings date as far back as the Roman settlement. Read more about Barcelona, Spain
2 Tuesday, October 12, 2021 At Sea
3 Wednesday, October 13, 2021 Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy 7:00 AM 7:00 PM
Rome, the capital, and largest city of Italy, is full of unending possibilities. It can be reached from the port of Civitavecchia in approximately ninety minutes either by train or coach. Rome greets visitors with a multitude of faces, such as the Ancient City with ruins like: the Colosseum; the seven hills; the Roman Forum; and the Sacred Way, the path used for triumphal processions. There is Renaissance Rome, full of winding streets and sun-dappled piazzas, and the Vatican, home to the Pope. Read more about Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy
4 Thursday, October 14, 2021 Salerno, Italy 7:00 AM 7:00 PM
The city of Salerno, Italy, is situated on a gulf of the Tyrrhenian Sea. The city is within an easy distance of the dazzling Amalfi Coast. It is best known for being the home of the first University of Medicine in the world! It is a lively sociable place with a busy seafront boulevard and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Read more about Salerno, Italy
5 Friday, October 15, 2021 Messina, Italy 8:00 AM 6:00 PM
Messina is a harbour on the eastern coast of Sicily, a short ferry crossing to mainland Italy lying to the east. Due to the several earthquakes that have struck the area on several occasions, the city is almost completely modern. Mostly viewed as the starting point for tours and trips to Taormina and Mount Etna, both of which are truly unforgettable, it also has much to offer in the way of history and beauty. Read more about Messina, Italy
6 Saturday, October 16, 2021 At Sea
7 Sunday, October 17, 2021 Palma de Mallorca, Spain 8:00 AM 6:00 PM
Palma de Mallorca is the major city and port on the Mediterranean island of Majorca, and capital city of the autonomous community of the Balearic Islands in Spain. It is situated on the south coast of the island on the Bay of Palma, and almost half of the total population of Majorca live there. Visitors are spellbound by its blue waters, white beaches, lush foliage (almost 40 percent of the island is protected countryside), and 300 days of sunshine each year. Palma is a city of modern hotel chains and flashy shops, yet is dated and still retains much of its old architecture. Read more about Palma de Mallorca, Spain
8 Monday, October 18, 2021 Barcelona, Spain 7:00 AM 6:00 PM
10 Wednesday, October 20, 2021 Valletta, Malta 8:00 AM 6:00 PM
Valletta (aka Belt Valletta, Città Umilissima) - traditionally reserved for the historic walled citadel that serves as Malta's principal administrative district - is the capital city of Malta, located in the central-eastern portion of the island. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is essentially Baroque in style, with elements of Mannerist, Neo-Classical and Modern architecture. Don't miss the the majestic St John's Co-Cathedral, with its imposing bastions and a treasure of priceless paintings. The site is nothing short of an open-air museum, yes, living history. Read more about Valletta, Malta
11 Thursday, October 21, 2021 At Sea
12 Friday, October 22, 2021 Souda Bay, Crete, Greece 8:00 AM 6:00 PM
Souda Bay is a natural harbour on the NW coast of the Greek Island of Crete. The bay is overlooked on both sides by hills, and near the mouth of the bay is a set of small islands with Venetian fortifications. Now home to a strategic NATO base, there are no real public beaches, and yet it is now a popular tourist destination. Villages such as Megala, Chorafia, and Kalives, offer fine views of the bay and provide a great opportunity to get an appreciation of the local life. Read more about Souda Bay, Crete, Greece
13 Saturday, October 23, 2021 At Sea
14 Sunday, October 24, 2021 Suez Canal - Transit, Egypt 5:00 AM 3:00 PM
Located in Egypt to the west of the Sinai Peninsula, the Suez Canal, measuring 163 km in length and 300 metres width at its narrowest point, serves as a two-way water transportation route between Europe and Asia. Almost 8 per cent of the total world's shipping is controlled by the Suez Canal. It essentially comprises two parts, north and south of the Great Bitter Lake that acts as a buffer to the canal, protecting it from the effects of tidal currents. A second parallel canal is planned for 2017/2019, at a cost of US$4 billion. Read more about Suez Canal - Transit, Egypt
15 Monday, October 25, 2021 Aqaba, Jordan 8:00 AM 10:00 PM
Aqaba, in the far south of Jordan, is the country's only port city and, due to the rich coral reefs in the Gulf, is one of the top scuba diving destinations in the world. Cooled by a steady northerly breeze, and ringed by mountains that change in colour with the change of hours, many visitors simply just relax on the sandy beaches. Aqaba is the port for the 3800 year-old 'hidden city' of Petra, 100 km to the north. Expect 20 tour coaches to meet your ship for a Petra tour! Read more about Aqaba, Jordan
16 Tuesday, October 26, 2021 At Sea
17 Wednesday, October 27, 2021 At Sea
19 Friday, October 29, 2021 At Sea
20 Saturday, October 30, 2021 Salalah, Oman 7:00 AM 6:00 PM
Salalah, which lies in the southern Dhofar region, is the second largest city in Oman, and is known for its glorious history, heritage, rich culture, traditions and wonders of nature. The beautiful beaches are also very popular, with scuba diving and bird watching favourite tourist activities. Not surprisingly, it is known as the 'Stunning Jewel' of Oman. Don't miss Wadi Darbat, a natural park with majestic views of waterfalls, lakes, mountains, wildlife, and lush green vegetation. Read more about Salalah, Oman
21 Sunday, October 31, 2021 At Sea
22 Monday, November 1, 2021 At Sea
23 Tuesday, November 2, 2021 At Sea
24 Wednesday, November 3, 2021 At Sea
25 Thursday, November 4, 2021 Colombo, Sri Lanka 7:00 AM 10:00 PM
Colombo is the largest city, and the commercial, industrial and cultural capital of Sri Lanka. Despite its frenetic traffic and the general hustle and bustle of being where you can see some of the tallest buildings in Asia, it does offer some interesting attractions. In the northern part of the city you can find the British fort, dating from the 19th C, as well as the gracious old buildings of previous colonial eras. Visit the national museum, and the Pettah bazaar district where the streets are crammed with shops and stalls selling everything from vegetables to gemstones. Read more about Colombo, Sri Lanka
26 Friday, November 5, 2021 At Sea
27 Saturday, November 6, 2021 At Sea
28 Sunday, November 7, 2021 At Sea
29 Monday, November 8, 2021 Kuala Lumpur (Kelang), Malaysia 7:00 AM 6:00 PM
Kuala Lumpur - or KL as it is known - is situated midway along the west coast of the Malaysian Peninsula, and as the nation's capital city it is the focal point of the new Malaysia. The city truly brings together Malaysia's past and present and its varied cultures. Visitors can appreciate the evocative British buildings as well as the unbounded spirit of progress that symbolises Malaysia's unhesitating leap into the future. Indeed it is home to the Petronas Twin Towers, among the tallest twin towers in the world. Read more about Kuala Lumpur (Kelang), Malaysia
30 Tuesday, November 9, 2021 Singapore, Singapore 7:00 AM 12:00 AM
Singapore is an island nation located at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula. It lies 137 km N of the Equator, just south of the Malaysian state of Johor. One of the few remaining city-states in the world, Singapore is a thriving cosmopolitan city that is brimming with diversity and has a multiplicity of culture, language, arts and architecture and a world famous variety of cuisine. You'll find historic sites like the Thian Hock Keng temple, superlative shopping, including gargantuan malls, and numerous beaches. Read more about Singapore, Singapore
31 Wednesday, November 10, 2021 Singapore, Singapore 7:00 AM Disembark
Queen Elizabeth Overview
(from 132 verified customers)
One of the three Queens making up the entirety of the Cunard fleet, Queen Elizabeth is a tribute to her predecessors, the original Queen Elizabeth and the much-loved Queen Elizabeth 2. Launched in 2010 and last refurbished in 2018, the ship has many art-deco interior features, marble and rich timber detailing, including the wooden marquetry of the ship itself, a centrepiece for the Grand Lobby's main staircase. She is often affectionately known as the 'QE'. The ship carries just over 2000 passengers and you will rarely find yourself in a crowd, except perhaps at prime dinner time or a popular theatre show. Highlights of the ship include the Garden Lounge - a light and airy atrium inspired by the conservatories Kew Gardens in London - laze here with a book and grab a speciality beverage. The Queens Room is truly the heart of the ship and is often a hive of activity thanks to the action-packed enrichment program aboard - from dancing classes, to live music, to speciality afternoon tea - this grand ballroom will draw you in. Croquet up on the Games Deck on a sunny day or a cosy night of spectacular entertainment in the Royal Court Theatre will ensure your days at sea are fulfilled. Like Queen Victoria and Queen Mary 2, these ships also contain exclusive areas for guests in Princess and Queens Grill Suites.
Queen Elizabeth Cabins
Cabin Types
GA, GB, GC, ID, IE, IF, IA, LC
Average Cabin Size – 15.4 m2
Average Balcony Size – 0.0 m2
The Standard staterooms are anything but ordinary. The smallest is more like a "deluxe" guestroom on other cruise ships. And they're beautifully decorated with fine prints on the walls, soft colours on the sofas and coverlets and turndown service when it's time to retire. Guests dine in the Britannia Restaurant with a choice of an early or late sitting. At any time of the day your luxury stateroom provides a welcome enclave of comfort and good taste. Wrap yourself in the soft bathrobe, ease into your slippers, then settle down to a film on your TV. Interactive TV with multi language film and music channels. Refrigerator, safe and hair dryer. Size: 152-243 sq. ft.
EB, EC, EF, FB, FC, KC
At any time of the day your luxury stateroom provides a welcome enclave of comfort and good taste. Wrap yourself in the soft bathrobe, ease into your slippers, then settle down to a film on your TV. The turndown service sets the tone for a comfortable night's sleep. Guests dine at a reserved table for either early or late dining in the Britannia Restaurant. Interactive TV with multi language film and music channels. Refrigerator, safe and hair dryer. Size: 180-201 sq. ft.
A2, A1, BA, BB, BC, BD, BE, BF, CA, CB
Club Balcony stateroom is approx. 242-248 sq.ft. and give you an option to dine whenever you like between 6:30 pm and 9pm in the Britannia Club restaurant. Club balcony staterooms features a pillow concierge menu and a private balcony so you can sit back and watch the world go by. Stateroom also includes: 24-hour room service, Single-seating dining in the Britannia Club restaurant, Bathrobe and slippers, Nightly turndown service with pillow chocolate, Satellite TV with multi-language film and music channels, Refrigerator, safe, hair dryer, Daily shipboard newspaper, Bon Voyage bottle of wine, Pillow concierge menu (a selection of pillows and duvets to suit your preference), Direct-dial telephone, Fruit basket (on request), 220V British 3-pin and 110V 2-pin sockets.
Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4, Q5, Q6, P1, P2
Average Balcony Size – 14.3 m2
Relax in Queen Elizabeth's most spacious and luxurious accommodation, culminating in the six Master and Grand Suites named in honour of those past Cunard Commodores who have received knighthoods. Light woods and luxurious upholstery add elegance to your sublime retreat, occupying 508 to 1,493 square feet and featuring a full bathroom, as you would expect. Summon champagne to your own private veranda, dine in-suite from the Queens Grill menu, and let your concierge arrange an excursion ashore. To ensure the privilege extends to every moment, you'll appreciate the services of a butler, plus priority embarkation and disembarkation. Queens Grill takes everything that is so wonderfully indulgent about our Grills Experience and raises it to exalted new heights. Luxuriate in your own secluded haven featuring marble bathrooms and whirlpool baths. An expansive private balcony commands impressive sea views, perfect for sipping champagne or curling up with one of the books on offer. Refrigerators are stocked to your preferences; your concierge or butler will gladly attend to your every whim. Guests dine at a reserved table in the single seating Queens Grill Restaurant. At approximately 1,375 - 2,131 square feet, these luxury Grand Suites feature a spacious living and dining area, bath with shower and balcony.
Deck Plans for Queen Elizabeth
Explore the decks
2 lower beds, 1 single sofa bed and 1 upper berth
2 lower beds, 1 upper berth
On QM2 indictaes 3rd & 4th Berth is Double Sofa Bed. On QE and QV indicates metal-fronted balconies
On QM2, 3rd & 4th Berths Are 2 Upper Beds. On QE and QV, indicates staterooms with views obstructed by lifeboats
Stateroom has additional single sofa
Staterooms 7.001 & 7.002 on QV are shaded by bridge wings
Staterooms have forward facing ocean views
Wheelchair accessible staterooms on QM2
Wheelchair accessible staterooms on QV & QE
Current promotions for Queen Elizabeth
Cunard - The Cunard Fare
The Cunard Fare is available on all cruises at all times.
Includes:• Choice of cabin number (subject to availability)
• Britannia guests have choice of early or late sitting dining (subject to availability).
• Eligible for upgrades (where and if available).
• Pay a 10% deposit with finals due 90 days prior to sailing.
• No fees apply if cancelling outside of 180 days prior departure, then a sliding scale of fees is imposed.
• Complimentary shuttle bus service in selected ports.
• Sail on voyages 7 nights or longer and receive onboard spending money (guests 1&2 only).
Explore Home and Beyond Sale
Book a selected 2021 or 2022 voyage and receive:
• Up to $1,200/cabin onboard spending money
• Complimentary gratuities
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• Grill Suite guests receive free drinks
• Past guests receive up to $200/cabin spending money
Christmas/New Year Cruises
Why not celebrate Christmas in style? Imagine a magical Christmas Cruise to the South Pacific, Caribbean, or many other destinations around the world!
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Experience Christmas Day onboard with all the fun-filled festive activities, with no stress and all the time in the world to just sit back, relax & enjoy the day.
Book early as Christmas cruises are a popular getaway and you don't want to miss out!
Cabin Availability
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Speak to our team about your travel plans or book over the phone today!
Cruiseline: Cunard Cruises Ship: Queen Elizabeth Departure: Monday, October 11, 2021 Nights: 30 nights Departs: Barcelona Returns: Singapore
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text:
Books, Reading
Special Feature and Excerpt: The Bookseller's Secret by Michelle Gable
August 12, 2021 September 20, 2021 by The Lit Bitch
I have read and enjoyed a few of Michelle Gable's books so when I saw that she was coming out with another book but set in England, I was eager to check it out. Gable generally writes great books and her historical detail is top shelf. This book sounds like it would be perfect for fans of Kate Quinn, so if you have read and enjoyed Quinn's books then I think you would like this latest novel by Gable.
Today I also have an excerpt so if you are on the fence about this book or maybe just want to try it on for size and see if it sounds interesting then keep reading to check out the first chapter and of course get all the other details in this post. I read the excerpt and thought it sounded wonderful and I have added it to my TBR list for the fall/winter.
Sadly my review calendar for the summer was totally full but this one will be up on my blog a little later this year for review so be sure to watch for it. I love WWII book and even if the genre is full of great WWII historical fiction, I can never pass up just one more! I know that a lot of other fans of the genre would agree—there is no such thing as too much war time fiction!
From New York Times bestselling author Michelle Gable comes a dual-narrative set at the famed Heywood Hill Bookshop in London about a struggling American writer on the hunt for a rumored lost manuscript written by the iconic Nancy Mitford—bookseller, spy, author, and aristocrat—during World War II.
In 1942, London, Nancy Mitford is worried about more than air raids and German spies. Still recovering from a devastating loss, the once sparkling Bright Young Thing is estranged from her husband, her allowance has been cut, and she's given up her writing career. On top of this, her five beautiful but infamous sisters continue making headlines with their controversial politics.
Eager for distraction and desperate for income, Nancy jumps at the chance to manage the Heywood Hill bookshop while the owner is away at war. Between the shop's brisk business and the literary salons she hosts for her eccentric friends, Nancy's life seems on the upswing. But when a mysterious French officer insists that she has a story to tell, Nancy must decide if picking up the pen again and revealing all is worth the price she might be forced to pay.
Eighty years later, Heywood Hill is abuzz with the hunt for a lost wartime manuscript written by Nancy Mitford. For one woman desperately in need of a change, the search will reveal not only a new side to Nancy, but an even more surprising link between the past and present…
Hotel de Bourgogne, Paris VII
There they are, held like flies in the amber of that moment—click goes the camera and on goes life; the minutes, the days, the years, the decades, taking them further and further from that happiness and promise of youth, from the hopes…and from the dreams they dreamed for themselves.
—Nancy Mitford,The Pursuit of Love
"Alors, racontez!" the Colonel said, and spun her beneath his arm.
Nancy had to duck, of course. The man was frightfully short.
"Racontez! Racontez!"
She laughed, thinking of all the times the Colonel made this demand. Racontez! Tell me!
"Allô—allô," he'd say across some crackling line. "Were you asleep?"
He might be in Paris, or Algiers, or another place he could not name. Weeks or months would pass and then a phone rang in London and set Nancy Mitford's world straight again.
"Alors, racontez! Tell me everything!"
And she did.
The Colonel found Nancy's stories comical, outrageous, unlike anything he'd ever known, his delight beginning first and foremost with the six Mitford girls, and their secret society. Nancy also had a brother, but he hardly counted at all.
"C'est pas vrai!" the Colonel would cry, with each new tale. "That cannot be true!"
"It all happened," Nancy told him. "Every word. What do you expect with a Nazi, a Communist, and several Fascists, in one family tree?"
"C'est incroyable!"
But the Hon Society was the past, and this gilded Parisian hotel room was now, likewise Nancy's beloved Colonel, presently reaching into the bucket of champagne. How had she gotten to this place? It was the impossible dream.
"Promise we can stay here forever," Nancy said.
"Here or somewhere like it," he answered with a grin.
Nancy's heart bounced. Heavens, he was ever-so-ugly with his pock-marked face and receding hairline, the precise opposite of her strapping husband, a man so wholesome he might've leapt from the pages of a seedsman catalogue. But Nancy loved her Colonel with every part of herself, in particular the female, which represented another chief difference between the two men.
"You know, my friends are desperate to take a French lover," Nancy said, and she tossed her gloves onto the bed. "All thanks to a fictional character from a book. Everyone is positively in love with Fabrice!"
"Bien sûr, as in real life," the Colonel said as he popped the cork.
The champagne bubbled up the bottle's neck, and dribbled onto his stubby hands.
"You're such a wolf!" Nancy said. She heaved open the shutters and scanned the square below. "At last! A hotel with a view."
Their room overlooked Le Palais Bourbon, home to l'Assemblée nationale, the two-hundred-year seat of the French government, minus the interlude during which it was occupied by the Luftwaffe. Mere months ago German propaganda hung from the building: DEUTSCHLAND SIEGT AN ALLEN FRONTEN. Germany is victorious on all fronts. But the banners were gone now, and France had been freed. Nancy was in Paris, just as she'd planned.
"This is heaven!" Nancy said. She peered over her shoulder and coquettishly kicked up a heel. "A luncheon party tomorrow? What do you think?"
"Okay, chéri, quoi que tu en dises," the Colonel said, as she sauntered toward him.
"Whatever I want?" Nancy said. "I've been dying to hear those words! What about snails, chicken, and port salut? No more eating from tins for you. On that note, darling, you mustn't worry about your job prospects. I know you'll miss governing France but, goodness, we'll have so much more free time!"
Nancy was proud of the work the Colonel had done as General de Gaulle's chef du cabinet, but his resignation made life far more convenient. No longer would she have to wait around, or brook his maddeningly specific requests. I've got a heavy political day LET ME SEE—can you come at 2 minutes to 6?
"It's really one of the best things that could've happened to us," Nancy said. "Oh, darling, life will be pure bliss!"
Nancy leaned forward and planted a kiss on the Colonel's nose.
"On trinque?" he said, and lifted a glass.
Nancy raised hers to meet it.
"Santé!" he cheered.
Nancy rolled her eyes. "The French are so dull with their toasts. Who cares about my health? It's wretched, most of the time. Cheers to novels, I'd say! Cheers to readers the world over!"
"À la femme auteur, Nancy Mitford!" The Colonel clinked her glass. "Vive la littérature!"
Excerpted from The Bookseller's Secret by Michelle Gable, Copyright © 2021 by Michelle Gable Bilski. Published by Graydon House Books.
MICHELLE GABLE is the New York Times bestselling author of A Paris Apartment, I'll See You in Paris, The Book of Summer, and The Summer I Met Jack. She attended The College of William & Mary, where she majored in accounting, and spent twenty years working in finance before becoming a full-time writer. She grew up in San Diego and lives in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, California, with her husband and two daughters. Find her at michellegable.com or on Instagram, Twitter, or Pinterest, @MGableWriter.
Author website: https://michellegable.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MGableWriter
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mgablewriter/
Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/books/the-bookseller-s-secret-a-novel-of-nancy-mitford-and-wwii-9781525811555/9781525811555
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-booksellers-secret-michelle-gable/1138272507
Google Books: https://books.google.com/books/about/The_Bookseller_s_Secret.html?id=eyX3DwAAQBAJ
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Booksellers-Secret-Novel-Nancy-Mitford/dp/1525806467
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/the-bookseller-s-secret-1
Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-booksellers-secret/id1527558782
Review: At Summer's End by Courtney Ellis
Review: It Takes Heart (Heart Resort #1) by Tif Marcelo


Tee Away offers a great 9-hole course in Ladysmith, which features views of the beautiful Flambeau River. This establishment has a supper club with nightly dining, as well as on-site banquet and event space, a great place to hold a gathering! Not only are they known for their delightful golf course, but also their tasty fish fry on Friday nights. After a long day of golf, come in and relax and enjoy a delicious meal with a drink or two. Don't forget to take a look at their golf leagues and tournaments!
Address: 1401 East 11th St. N.


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Nexus Policy
last modified March 24, 2015 by tomlowenhaupt
The Nexus Policy for the .nyc TLD will determine which people and organizations qualify to use a .nyc domain name. Connecting.nyc Inc. proposes that a strong connection to New York City be required as a prerequisite to acquire a .nyc domain name as this promotes accountability and the long term sustainability of the TLD.
Welcome. Stop!
Papers Please
Commons photo courtesy of mag3737
The Third Level
- Creating a TLD for All New Yorkers -
While nexus policies that restrict access help create a quality TLD, they also exclude.
Third level domain-names and certifying organizations are one way to provide access to all. Here are a few examples of "name zones" created using third level names.
your-civic-organization.civic.nyc
your-Project.art.nyc
your-club.club.nyc
your-cause.cause.nyc
These third level names provide both identity and community, with access and oversight based on usufruct. See TLD Architecture for more on the Third Level.
Latin 101 for TLD Oversight
Nexus - Nexus comes from the Latin "nectere" as in fruit nectar and its sticky state when dry. In the context of the .nyc TLD, nexus is used to explain the degree of connectedness required to own a .nyc domain name.
Usufruct - The right of enjoying all the advantages derivable from the use of something that belongs to another, as far as is compatible with the substance of the thing not being destroyed or injured.
Nexus Comments
In 6.(b)(ii)(B) of the NeuStar Agreement it identifies a qualified applicant for a domain name as one who has a bona fide presence in the City, with this determined by the fact that it "maintains an office or other facility in the City for a lawful business, noncommercial, educational or governmental purpose, and not solely or primarily to permit it to register for a .NYC domain name;
Does this mean that someone that maintains a server facility in the city for the purpose of discussing and or promoting a city resource, for example, a street, building, or other place or object, qualifies for a domain name?
Section 6.(b)(ii)(C) of the contract identifies a qualified applicant as one who "regularly performs lawful activities outside of the City; provided that such activities relate to, or are primarily directed towards residents, tourists, businesses and organizations within the City (e.g., online content related to the City).
Does this mean any entity selling tickets to a NYC event or publishing tourist information qualifies for a .nyc domain name?
Section 6.(h) requires that "Neustar will establish contacts by which it will (i) accept complaints from the City and (ii) accept complaints from third parties, claiming the owner of a .NYC domain name does not satisfy the applicable Nexus Category.
How are these 3rd parties identified?
Perhaps the biggest hole in Nexus lies in its enforcement, or lack thereof. Where the agreement says in 6.(g)
"On at least a weekly basis, Neustar will conduct random spot checks of at least fifty (50) .NYC domain names to determine whether their owners satisfy the applicable Nexus Category. Domains will be manually reviewed for accuracy, and any domain found to contain patently inaccurate information or where there is a high likelihood of a nexus violation will be flagged for further investigation."
During the first days of Phase 2 and landrush, there are likely to be thousands of domain names registered. The stipulation that "at least 50" of these be examined could provide thousands of domain names to those lacking nexus. With a minor financial involvement and little civic pride, this will potentially enable thousands of foxes into the barnyard and reduce the potential for creating a city of trust.
NYS Nexus Proof
New York city's answer to Question 29 of the ICANN application stated that phase 2 of the registration process was to be "reserved for businesses, organizations and legal entities that have a physical address in the City and have paid City taxes within its most recent fiscal year." This was dropped for a reason that remains unknown.
What do others require?
New York State requires of those applying for a NYS Arts grant to prove residency.
"Two documents per individual from the list below. All documentation must contain the individual's name and address. Documentation must be dated no earlier than 2013.
"We must have two different documents for each person listed in the project title. For example: Smith/Jones: Suburban Landscapes requires a total of 4 forms of proof of residency while Thompson: Green Design requires 2 forms of proof.
Telephone Bill.
Credit card and/or bank statement (name and address page only; financial and account information should be blocked).
NYS or Federal Tax Form (first page only; social security and financial information should be blocked).
Current lease or mortgage agreement for a home residence listing the individual's name and showing a NYS address.
NYS Driver's license or NYS ID card.
Voter's Registration card.
Nexus Strengthening Steps
The nexus policy can be strengthened by implementing the following:
Require that applications for domain names be delivered by hand for the first 90 days.
Provide the opportunity for existing entities to apply for their parallel domain names during a priority period, like that run under the London Priority Rules.
Limit purchasers to one name per day.
Require that the credit card is registered in New York City.
TLDs such as .com, .org, and .net, do not have a nexus requirement: anyone, anywhere can own one. One need only go to the website of one of several hundred registrars that retail domain names, e.g., godaddy.com, and if a desired name is available, purchase it.
Top level domains such as .edu, .gov, or .museum are referred to as sponsored or community TLDs and have strong nexus requirements. (See nexus definition in sidebar.) To qualify for a domain name one must demonstrate membership or other connection to the sponsor. For example, to qualify today for a .edu domain, one must be a post-secondary institution recognized by an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. If an institution violates the terms of the contract under which an .edu name is issued, the right to use the .edu name can be rescinded.
The .nyc TLD nexus requirement is a pivotal policy decision. Nexus will determines who has access and who is excluded. It will bare on the local and global image of the .nyc TLD, the city's dynamic of development, and the economic viability of the domain, and perhaps of the city itself.
Nexus Policy - April 1, 2014
The following Nexus policy was posted on the city's nic.nyc site on April 1, 2014.
The City of New York desires to have only those individuals or entities having a substantive and lawful connection to the City be permitted to register for .NYC domain names ("Nexus Policy").
Registrants in .NYC must be either:
a natural person whose primary place of domicile is a valid physical address in the City of New York ("Nexus Category 1"); or
an entity or organization that has a physical street address in the City of New York ("Nexus Category 2").
The existence of a P.O. Box address in the City of New York shall not qualify for purposes of meeting the Nexus Policy.
Registrants must agree in their Agreement with their Registrar and/or Reseller, whichever applicable, that they are in compliance with all relevant Federal, New York State and New York City laws, including the tax requirements for conducting business via the Internet. Registrants may find more information about compliance with the City tax laws at the City of New York Department of Finance's website (currently at www.nyc.gov/finance).
Registrants must remain in compliance with the applicable Nexus Category for the entire period of such domain name's registration by the registrant.
Registrants may not license, sub-delegate or otherwise transfer .NYC domain names to third parties that otherwise fail to meet the requirements of this Nexus Policy.
We have two concerns with this policy.
Verification - The agreement with the contractor called for 50 registrants to be manually checked per week. With the .berlin TLD having registered 40,000+ names the first week, this seems a bit faint-hearted.
P.O. Boxes - While the Nexus agreement states that "The existence of a P.O. Box address in the City of New York shall not qualify for purposes of meeting the Nexus Policy." there seems to be a loophole created by narrowly defining the P.O.Box, which we presume to be boxes rented by the United States Postal Service, and not to include "virtual offices," "remailers," "private mail boxes," and other entities that provides those outside the city with the address bone fides to establish a local presence. At a May 12, 2014 .NYC Advisory Board meeting the contractor requested that those more local than the Virginia-based Neustar assist with identifying such entities. We created a Nexus Support Program in response, seeking to identify entities providing these possible "evasion" addresses. Language needs to be inserted into the extant domain name nexus policy that forbids use of these P.O. Box circumvention techniques.
Nexus Policy in 2012 contract between city and NeuStar
The following is the nexus policy as contained in the AGREEMENT By and Between THE CITY OF NEW YORK and NEUSTAR.
6. Nexus to The City of New York.
(a) The City desires to have only those individuals or entities having a substantive and lawful connection to the City be permitted to register for .NYC domain names ("Nexus Policy").
(b) Registrants in .NYC must be either:
(i) a natural person whose primary place of domicile is in the City of New York ("Nexus Category 1"); or
(ii) an entity or organization that has a bona fide presence in the City of New York ("Nexus Category 2"). Factors that should be considered in determining whether an entity or organization has a bona fide presence in the City shall include, without limitation, whether such prospective registrant:
(A) regularly performs lawful activities within the City related to the purposes for which the entity or organization is constituted (e.g., selling goods or providing services to customers, conducting regular training activities, attending conferences), provided such activities are not conducted solely or primarily to permit it to register for a .NYC domain name; and
(B) maintains an office or other facility in the City for a lawful business, noncommercial, educational or governmental purpose, and not solely or primarily to permit it to register for a .NYC domain name; and
(C) regularly performs lawful activities outside of the City; provided that such activities relate to, or are primarily directed towards residents, tourists, businesses and organizations within the City (e.g., online content related to the City).
(c) Registrants will be able to register for .NYC domain names during one or more (if applicable) Phases (as described in Section 4(h) of the SOW).
(d) Registrants must remain in compliance with the applicable Nexus Category for the duration of the domain name's life cycle.
(e) Neustar shall require Registrars in the RRA to have registrants provide the registration information required by ICANN for the WHOIS standard for .NYC.
(f) To the extent permitted by ICANN, Neustar will require that Registrars certify that they enforce the Nexus Policy upon their registrants, and that Registrars require registrants to certify that they satisfy the Nexus Policy.
(g) On at least a weekly basis, Neustar will conduct random spot checks of at least fifty (50) .NYC domain names to determine whether their owners satisfy the applicable Nexus Category. Domains will be manually reviewed for accuracy, and any domain found to contain patently inaccurate information or where there is a high likelihood of a nexus violation will be flagged for further investigation. The sponsoring Registrars for these domain names will be notified of the investigation and the registrants will be required to provide additional evidence that they meet the Nexus requirements.
(h) Neustar will establish contacts by which it will (i) accept complaints from the City and (ii) accept complaints from third parties, claiming the owner of a .NYC domain name does not satisfy the applicable Nexus Category.
(i) If a domain name owner does not satisfy the Nexus Category because it lacks the requisite nexus as described in Section 6(b) above, Neustar will place the name on a 30- 5 day hold, during which time the Registrar will be notified and given the opportunity to have the registrant comply with the applicable Nexus Category and provide proof of such compliance. If no action is taken by the Registrar within the 30-day period, the registration will be cancelled and the name will be returned to "available" status.
(j) If a domain name owner does not satisfy the applicable Nexus Category because it has not submitted all the information required under Section 6(b) above, then the registration will be cancelled and released to the general pool of available names.
A Cautionary Note
Those knowledgeable about the law see a slippery slope in city TLD nexus requirements that can lead to domains as open as the .com TLD.
Strong Nexus
A strong nexus requirement for a .nyc domain name must be built upon documentation and contract. Documentation might include:
being a tax payer
NYS drivers license and a city address
Alternately, some argue that strong nexus can be achieved by the contract under which the TLD is issued, perhaps thought of a "contractual-nexus" as is the case with .us domain names. In this instance an assertion of nexus in violation of the contract would be cause for revocation of the domain name, as is the case with .edu names.
A strong nexus advances a more focused and secure Net experience. With a focus on a limited and fixed geographic area, for example, a requirement for a property, residency, or business interest in the city, and working in close cooperation with the extant institutions, a .nyc TLD can approximate the expectation and trust found in such TLDs as .gov and .edu. This infrastructure view would have the advantage of making businesses using .nyc domains more trusted and transform .nyc into a strong economic development tool.
Strong Nexus - Impacts
Revenue - If one's primary short term goal is raising revenue through domain name sales, one must oppose strong nexus. But long term, steady growth in name sales and economic development will more than cover the short term loss.
Exclusion - The key disadvantage that arises with a strong nexus policy is that it might exclude those without suitable documentation. Public policy needs to assure that procedures are implemented to assure that all tax paying residents have suitable access. The New York State Department of Motor Vehicle's identification "license" might provide one approach. Or perhaps we'll see non-citizen voting rights.
Education Impacts - In the short term, the reduced revenue of a strong nexus might provide less funds for Internet education (Connecting.nyc Inc.'s mission) at a critical time when awareness, access, and training are vital.
Nexus Q&A
The following questions provide some insight into the difficulty of answering the nexus question.The questions have been raised to Connecting.nyc Inc. over the years, with provisional answers indicated.
Q. I live Ulster County near New York City's Ashoakan Reservoir. To keep the waters clean, the City has imposed / negotiated many restrictions on the use of our land. Frequently we curse the city, but if there's an opportunity to have access to a .nyc name, perhaps I'll change my tune? Do I qualify?
A. Possibly, especially if there's something in the land covenant with the city. But it might be a subject for negotiation with city officials. Arguments might be made that property owners within the city's watershed qualify for domain names.
Q. I'm a student at Columbia University. Can I get a .nyc name?
A. Business plans and art projects might benefit from access to domain names and provide long term benefit to the city's residents. Perhaps students provide an instance where contract-nexus might be the controlling factor.
Q. How about if I have a city mailbox, like they do in Singapore?
A. Perhaps, if it's an official U.S. Post office box and its acquisition requires a local nexus, as we're told is required in Singapore.
Q. I'm an undocumented laborer, can I get a .nyc domain name?
A. Perhaps a contract and/or special "localizing" documents (such as the drivers identity card issued by the NYS Motor Vehicles Department) might be issued. But this needs to be decided by the TLD's oversight body.
Nexus Research
Nexus requirements vary for different TLDs with Singapore for example, requiring at minimum access to a postal box. Examples of nexus requirements can be found at these locations:
Singapore's .sg requirements - Domain Name Registration Agreement
The .us nexus requirement - http://www.neustar.us/the-ustld-nexus-requirements/
The .asia nexus - http://www.dotasia.org/draft/DotAsia-Charter-Eligibility--FINALDRAFT-v-1-5.pdf
Catalonia's .cat nexus - http://www.domini.cat/media/upload/arxius/charter.pdf
Related Policy Pages
Supportive of the nexus policy formulation are our Dispute Resolution Policy and Procedures, Sustainable TLD, Pricing Policy, and Governance Ecology pages.
Nexus Support Program
Domain Name Allocation Plan
City of Trust
Sustainable City TLDs
The Operating Environment
The Development Environment
Connecting.nyc Inc.'s Home Page
Nexus.JPG 4.9 kB


More reasons why I will be broke by October 2010. When are they going to make a Rei version?!
They are trying to steal my money! By making me buy figures by Alter and Kotobukiya!!!
Seriously this one looks sweet!
Decisions, decisions, which one should I get?!
This entry was posted in figurines, rants. Bookmark the permalink.
I think the top one looks better.