On Tuesday night she played Mozart before the Queen of Soul

She may have made a bigger impression on the former than she did on the latter. The occasion was a gala benefit, raising $582,000 for arts education and the Mann Centre, the summer home of the Philadelphia Orchestra, which is celebrating its 75th birthday. Rice, in her political career, has racked up some notable performances: an appearance with Yo-Yo Ma, or the above-mentioned gig for the Queen, with members of the London Philharmonic, in 2008. The Washington Post reported her playing as a little foursquare, a little obedient, but noted that after Rice joined Aretha Franklin for their one duet, I Say a Little Prayer, Franklin said: "You didn't think she could play it, right?" The report also noted that the onstage interaction between the two women seemed distant. STAY IN TOUCH ... WITH VOICE RECOGNITION DID Plastic Bertrand do a Milli Vanilli before Milli Vanilli (pictured) did? Yes, that question reads like gibberish. However, much like the lyrics attributed to Bertrand, a Belgian punk performer from the late 1970s who yesterday found himself under unwanted scrutiny for miming, it does make its own kind of weird sense. Some background: in 1977 Plastic Bertrand had a hit with the claptrap classic Ca plane pour moi ("All's cool with me"). At the time most English-speaking listeners had no idea the lyrics were claptrap - they were sung in French slang - but here is a representative translation: "Allez-oop! One morning/ a darling came to my home/a cellophane puppet with Chinese hair/a plaster, a hangover/drank my beer in a large rubber glass/Oooo-ooo-ooo-ooo!/like an Indian in his igloo". Anyway, 33 years on The has reported that according to a linguist commissioned by a Belgian judge to examine the original recording of Ca plane pour moi and compare it with a version released in 2006 by Bertrand's former producer, the singer of the 1977 track spoke with a twang that would not have come naturally to the Brussels-born frontman. "The voice can only belong to a Rosetta Stone Korean Ch'ti or a Picard," read the judgment, implying the true singer originated from north-eastern France, the area that produced Lou Deprijck, the track's composer and producer. Roger Jouret - the man behind the Plastic Bertrand persona - has vehemently denied the claims. At least we think it was him. WITH OCTOPUS TIPSTERS THE man may have a point. The belligerent Iranian leader, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, pictured, says Paul the Octopus, the cephalopod that correctly predicted the winners of seven World Cup games in a row, is a symbol of all that is wrong with the West. London's Telegraph noted the Iranian President launched himself on a bit of an anti-octo riff at the weekend, mentioning Paul several times in a speech in Tehran. Ahmadinejad claimed Paul, kept at Germany's Oberhausen Sea Life Centre, was a symbol of decadence. Paul's popularity soared (then faltered in Australia, Serbia, Ghana, England, Argentina and, finally, Germany) after he predicted the match results in South Africa. One would think Paul's supreme disloyalty in backing Spain against Germany in the semi-final was proof enough that he was no man's stooge, but the President accused him of nevertheless spreading "Western propaganda and superstition". He added: "Those who believe in this type of thing cannot be the leaders of the global nations that aspire, like Iran, to human perfection, basing themselves in the love of all sacred values." Had Iran qualified and got Paul's tentacular caress, what might the President have said? WITH MONEY SO AUSTRALIANS are less happy than the recession-ravaged Irish? An income and wealth survey by the National Centre for Social and Economic Modelling and AMP found almost 90 per cent of us are "very satisfied" or "satisfied" with our general lot in life, but even so that placed us only equal third in the rankings - Eire, Norway and Denmark were jointly happiest. Researcher Rebecca Cassells said the data was collected from about 14,000 Australians in 2008.

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But gone are the days of primitive slogans

Geert Wilders in the Netherlands, a motley bunch of neo-Nazis in Austria, the British National Party, the Swiss People's Party or SVP, Umberto Bossi in Italy's Northern League, as well as far-right parties in Finland, Belgium, Hungary, Denmark and Greece, are preaching a furious nationalism and earning the ear of the disillusioned. But gone are the days of primitive slogans, bovver boots, shaved heads and angry rallies. In an era of the internet and increasingly sophisticated campaign techniques, splinter parties have made huge inroads into exploiting national insecurity as Western governments - including Australia's - grapple to administer dwindling resources while balancing the needs of long-time citizens against those of newer arrivals. Twice divorced, openly pro-abortion and a single mother of three - Jehanne, 12 (named after Joan of Arc, symbol of the National Front chosen by Le Pen snr) and 11-year-old twins, Louis and Mathilde - Le Pen has sought to woo women juggling work and family in an increasingly insecure labour market. She may have been brought up in a palatial Parisian home but she has created a credible ''ordinary'' persona. (Significantly, Le Pen also talks about women and Islam using vernacular such as women's rights and ''women victims'', more palatable language for a new generation that may be less sympathetic to overt attacks on the veil.) ''People are aware that I am a real person. I am tangible with the same difficulties I see the decline in schooling standardsthat as parents we suffer this terror of consumerism besetting our children, the culture of individualism, the loss of moral Rosetta Stone Latin America Spanish bearings.'' Her core electorate is the disillusioned French blue-collar worker who traditionally might have also supported the extreme left. In 2007 Nicolas Sarkozy and his centre-right Union for a Popular Movement, or UMP, harnessed this core of the electorate, attacking immigration and talking tough on crime to an increasingly insecure working class. This time Sarkozy has managed to alienate nearly all facets of French society: the workers are disillusioned and increasingly xenophobic as unemployment reaches 10 per cent; the white-collar middle class has taken to the streets, furious at the erosion of working conditions and pensions under necessary austerity plans; the wealthy and business class are wrestling new taxes, nicknaming their President ''Bling Bling'' for his perceived vulgarity, nepotism and lack of statesmanship. For Le Pen this is electoral manna from heaven. The left, increasingly viewed as advocating for the civil service and middle class, is divided and disorganised while Sarkozy's own push to the right has alienated his centrist support. Le Pen has slipped through with promises to ban non-citizens from all social welfare, from hospital care to schooling. Foreign-born, naturalised citizens would be forcibly repatriated if unemployed ''too long''. She says her people are seeing this ''great nation collapse''. ''They see their education system collapse, manufacturing industry is going down the drain, the farming sector is going down the drain, French cultural and diplomatic influence is disappearing. This generatesa great sense of injustice and feeling of unfairness. ''France needs to remain a generous country. But to do so, it must remain France.''

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Students award ceremony

A CEREMONY has been held to mark the achievements of students on personal and community development learning courses. Castle College, Beeston, has worked in partnership with New College Nottingham and South Nottingham College, to provide the courses for those who wish to learn a new skill or improve their confidence without the pressure of exams. More than 80 students were presented with certificates at an awards ceremony held at the Council House on Monday.Head of skills for life, language and work Debbie Brannan said: "The four-year partnership with the other colleges has provided excellent opportunities for those who are returning to learning or wishing to develop their confidence and skills. This was a very special event." She may not have had the Sandalwood breakthrough that her big sister Pooja Gandhi had. And in the four years that she's been in the industry, Radhika Gandhi hasn't had a hit. But that doesn't perturb her one bit. I don't bother about failures. It happens in everyone's career," says Radhika. But the actress says she's made some progress. "I didn't know anything about acting when I started out and I didn't understand Kannada. I'm learning the language to understand scripts better and can speak broken Kannada now," she says. Radhika has three projects that are due for release - Veera, Premapurana and Panchamrutha. "Shooting for each Rosetta Stone Arabic film was a different experience, especially Premapurana when my sister made a guest appearance in the film. We had a gala time shooting for a song sequence in Bangkok," she says. She still consults her sister about her filmi projects. "I take Pooja's suggestions before finalising any project. She's like my godmother. Whatever film offers I get are because of her," says Radhika. Pooja may be the protective elder sister when it comes to Radhika's career, but it's a different story otherwise. "My sister is very sentimental. When she gets upset, I have to console her. She says I'm her big sister off-screen," she laughs. About Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Houghton Mifflin Harcourt is a global education and learning company that is leading the way with innovative solutions and approaches to the challenges facing education today. The world's largest provider of educational products and solutions for pre-K–12 learning, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt develops and delivers interactive, results-driven learning solutions that advance teacher effectiveness and student achievement. Through curricula excellence and technology innovation, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt collaborates with school districts, administrators, teachers, parents and students. Today, HMH education products and services are used by 57 million students throughout all 50 U.S. states and 120 countries. With origins dating back to 1832, the Company also publishes an extensive line of reference works and award-winning literature for adults and young readers.

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All they see is an ugly cash cow for a developer

We should remember that when voters opted for change in 1965, after 24 years of Labor governments, they finished up with the 10-year premiership of Robert Askin. James Moore Kingsgrove Barry. An awful lot of us are really looking forward to the Big Love-In on March 26. We just didn't expect to have to cuddle up with that mad bloke from Canberra. We know he's somehow related, but could you ask him to stay at home for the next five weeks? David Luckie Moss Vale What gives Tony Abbott the right to comment on Barry O'Farrell's appearance (''He ain't pretty'')? Abbott's no oil painting. Margaret Hamilton Blackheath The last time NSW switched from a Labour to a Liberal government, Elton John was married to a woman. Just wanted to put that out there for all those who, like me, are feeling as though this election run-up has a faintly surreal ''and-then-I-woke-up-and-it-was-all-a-dream'' quality. Linda Hutchinson Naremburn Sixteen years in opposition and what have they come up with? A new train timetable (if you live on the right line). Mark Pearce Richmond The Liberal Party media release on express trains says one of the new services will stop at "Katoomba-Springfield-Penrith". Homer and his family will be pleased. Doug Walker Baulkham Hills Skewed views over the value of Barangaroo If there was any doubt the Tourism and Transport Forum is incapable of providing rational insight into the future of NSW, John Lee (Letters, February 21) has dispelled it once and for all. Mr Lee says ''the economy of Sydney and NSW is relying on the 6000 permanent new jobs'' generated by Barangaroo (a woolly predicted number at best). Really? Can we seriously believe 6000 new jobs are all that stand between a robust NSW economy and potential ruin? What about the other several million of us who will never have anything to do with Barangaroo? Don't we count when it comes to the economy of NSW? Please, drop the hyperbole and face the fact that many Sydneysiders see no benefit from the proposal. All they see is an ugly cash cow for a developer. Phil Jacombs Seaforth What is deeply worrying about the Lend Lease proposal in general and the hotel in particular is that it seems to set a potential legal precedent. Anyone Rosetta Stone Chinese (Mandarin) who has visited Hong Kong in the past 20 years has seen how its harbour has shrunk. Once the hotel is built on our harbour, other developers will no doubt follow, and in a few years we won't have to worry about traffic jams on the harbour bridges and tunnels - we will be able to drive or walk across. Katharine Stevenson PyrmontCoalition's new threat to fish stocks Duncan Gay says limits to fishing in marine parks are ''voodoo environmentalism" and there is a lack of scientific rigour around many of the assessments ("Marine parks up for review and promise of cash to cut fishing fleet", February 21). Our fish stocks are under enormous pressure, with some species in crisis. The science and the experience on the Great Barrier Reef demonstrates that ''no-take'' areas covering representative ecosystems are essential to maintain and rehabilitate fish stocks. Buying licences from fishers is nothing new and should be applauded. But with the evidence in about the success of marine parks in allowing fish stocks to build up (refer to NSW Fishing Monthly for glowing stories about the great fishing in the Batemans Marine Park, for example), it is extremely worrying to think that a Coalition government would act to reverse the great gains that have been made. Catherine Moore (former federal Greens candidate), BraidwoodSingle culture is still a foreign idea Paul Sheehan argues for "one language, one law, one culture. Everything else comes under the heading of individual freedom '' (''Loose lips on sunken ships expose cultural disharmony'', February 21). It is nonsense to suggest we have ever had one culture in this country.

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BBC to close five foreign language service

AP The BBC says it plans to close five foreign language services as part of efforts to cut costs by 16 per cent, a move unions warn will lead to hundreds more job losses at the state-sponsored broadcaster. The move to stop its Albanian, Macedonian, Serbian, Portuguese for Africa and English for the Caribbean regional services is a response to a cut in grants from the UK Foreign Office, the BBC World Service said. The company would not confirm any other details ahead of a staff briefing and press conference on Wednesday, where global news director Peter Horrocks will give "significant details" of the World Service's response to the cuts. Advertisement: Story continues below Union officials claim that Horrocks will Rosetta Stone Germanannounce hundreds of job cuts at the meeting, dealing a second blow this week to journalists in the company's ranks after the BBC said on Monday it plans to eliminate 360 jobs over the next two years and trim spending by 25 per cent by 2013-2014. The National Union of Journalists said it will stage a demonstration outside of the BBC World Service office in London on Wednesday. It has also written to the chairman of the House of Commons Foreign Affairs committee, Richard Ottaway, and the chairman of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee, John Whittingdale, urging them to review the BBC's plans for "drastic cuts" in the service. "If the details we have obtained are accurate, we believe Mr Horrocks' plan will severely damage the national interest of the UK," the journalists said. Horrocks stressed that closing the five services was not a reflection on their performance, saying "they are all extremely important to their audiences and to the BBC." The BBC World Service, which started broadcasting in 1932, costs STG272 million ($A435 million) a year and boasts an audience of 241 million people worldwide across radio, television and online.

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How can you say that, Murray?

Loveable or tongue-tied, no matter what you think of Formula One commentator Murray Walker you'd have to agree he is passionate about the subject. Loveable or tongue-tied, no matter what you think of Formula One commentator Murray Walker you'd have to agree he is passionate about the subject. Dubbed Muddly Talker by many F1 fans who tune in to the English language F1 broadcasts from around the globe, Murray has announced he will retire at the end of next year. Murray was in fine form for the announcement, saying: "In order to do what I want to do I have to be healthy - there's a lot of young shavers trying to climb up on the plinth and I have to keep my feet sharp to stamp on their fingers." Advertisement: Story continues below No prizes for counting the mixed metaphors there. But Drive couldn't let Murray's not-so-imminent departure from F1 go without ackowledging his gift to the English language ... oxymorons, tautologies and, well, just plain Murray-speak. Many thanks to Geoff Harris and the Melbourne Grand Prix office for this vintage dozen. And now excuse me while I interrupt myself. Either the car is stationary or it's on the move. Tambay's hopes, which were previously nil, are now absolutely zero. I've just stopped my startwatch. That was exactly the same place where Senna overtook Nannini that hedidn't overtake Alain Prost.A mediocre season for Nelson Rosetta Stone Japanese Piquet, as he is now known, and always hasbeen. Martin Schanche's car is absolutely unique except for the one behind,which is identical. Two laps to go, then the action will begin. Unless this is the action,which it is.There's only a second between them. One.That's how long a second is. The young Ralf Schumacher has been upstaged by the teenager, JensonButton, who is . It's a sad ending albeit a happy one here at Montreal for today's GrandPrix.The first four cars are both on the same tyres. Jose Montilla, the socialist president of the Catalan regional government who voted against the bullfighting ban, said he hoped the issue would not trigger a conflict between Catalonia and the rest of Spain.The main opposition Popular Party, which sees itself as the champion of a centralised Spain, said it would present a motion in Spain's national parliament to annul the prohibition against bullfighting in Catalonia.Bullfighting retains a passionate following in Spain and leading matadors are treated as celebrities.But the practice's mass appeal has faded, with polls showing a rising disinterest throughout Spain, especially among the young. A Gallup survey showed that almost three-quarters of Spaniards have no interest in it.Catalonia, whose capital Barcelona is Spain's second-largest city, has now followed the lead of the Canary Islands which made the practice illegal in 1991.Animal rights activists hope other regions will now also ban bull runs.

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The big bang

How much can happen in years? A lot. Graeme Philipson looks at how technology has changed our lives. Ten years ago there were 6655 bank branches in Australia. Today there are just 4888. Over the same time the number of bank tellers has declined by half, according to the Reserve Bank. There are no figures on visits to banks, but most likely they have fallen by an even greater margin. Today every PC is a bank branch, and we are all tellers. Advertisement: Story continues below Online banking is just one way technology, and in particular the internet, is changing our lives. Consider what the world was like in 1995, just a decade ago. In that year, Microsoft released Windows 95, the first version that worked as advertised. Labor was in power in Canberra, and out of power in Britain. O.J. Simpson's trial in the US redefined the meaning of justice. Best picture Oscar was won by Mel Gibson's Braveheart. Carlton won the AFL premiership (maybe it really was a long time ago), and the Bulldogs stormed into the rugby league premiership from sixth spot. In 1995 Amazon was a small firm struggling to survive and email was a novelty. Digital cameras and iPods didn't exist. Analog mobile phones were clunky, expensive and unreliable. PDA still stood for "public display of affection". The Java programming language was announced that year, as was the first Sony PlayStation. Since then a whole range of new technologies and services have come into being that have totally changed our behaviour and habits, at work and at play. We are surrounded by electronic digital devices. We buy our cars, do our banking and read our news online. Newspaper circulations and cinema attendances are declining. Most dating services, job ads, and encyclopedias are now online. We can send and receive SMS messages from fixed phones, watch Rosetta Stone Greek TV on our computers, and surf the net and take pictures with our mobile phones. Wireless communication is widespread, for voice and for data, and the day of seamless integration of wired and wireless networks is almost upon us. The internet, only a baby years ago, has matured. We rely on it and we trust it. The key has been the movement of information from analog to digital. Analog signals represent information as waves. All analog signals are different, and storage or retransmission means an inevitable loss of quality. With digital, all information is expressed as zeros and ones, which means we use the same technology for storing and transmitting all media and all computer-based information. TV, CDs (and now MP3 players), DVDs and telephony all employ a string of binary digits, called bits. Digital signals can be stored, copied and retransmitted an infinite number of times with no loss of quality and at virtually zero marginal cost. The internet has been around since 1969, when the United States Defence Department started connecting its research computers to each other. But initial growth was slow and in the early '90s still largely restricted to government and academic users. It was hard to use, text based, had poor search capabilities and required arcane commands to navigate it. But in the late '80s Englishman Tim Berners-Lee worked out a way to make the internet easy to use, by introducing a new naming convention and the concept of hypertext. He called it the World Wide Web. Suddenly, it became possible to search the internet, and people began to build web pages for other people to look at. Then in 1993 the US Congress changed the law to allow the internet to be used for commercial purposes. That year also saw the introduction of Mosaic, the first easy-to-use web browser. At about the same time, PCs became commonplace in business and the home, and data communications improved to the point where dial-up internet connections were good enough to handle simple graphics - as found on web pages - as well as text.

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Boks and dice: Deans takes a gamble

Photo: Getty Images The Wallabies tonight are set to dramatically change their gameplan, introducing several new patterns of play in a desperate bidto break a long Tri Nations drought. Due to concerns that the ''play what's in front of you'' edicthas recently failed to work for the Wallabies, who have lost theirpast five Tri Nations matches, the players this week appeared tohave learnt a number of different, more structured attackingstrategies to use on the Springboks at Subiaco Oval. There have been indications at recent training sessions that newstrategies are being employed. Whether they inspire the attack ofthe Wallabies, who in recent matches have struggled to play to anypattern or initiate consistent incisive back-line moves, or justconfuses them further remains to be seen. It is just as imperativethat the Wallabies ensure consistent possession so that they canactually implement the moves. Advertisement: Story continues below It is understandable that a coaching staff that is suddenlyunder extreme pressure would attempt something different, but thebig question is whether the players have been able to soak it allup in just a few days. What is also worrying for the back line is that there appears tobe communication problems among some of its members, with workundertaken this week to iron the problem out. Although the Wallabies state publicly that morale is high, theyare nowhere near their most buoyant, with the three recentsuccessive Test losses playing on the minds of leading players. Itis known that the confidence of several key players is down, as isteam belief. The only way that will improve Canada Goose Danmark is through victory. The Wallabies have also deliberately attempted to transformtheir lineout after it fell apart in Newlands. Believing that theSpringboks may have some knowledge of what the Wallabies calls are,they will use a different system tonight with a new caller, MarkChisholm. Earlier this week, the Wallabies' coaching staff laughed thatthe lineout forwards may converse in French as a way of counteringthe Springbok master Victor Matfield, who is a genius in workingout exactly what the opposition are up to on their own throws. Theyargue that Matfield understands where opponents are going to throwthrough observing the players' body language. To counter that the Wallabies are expected to throw the ballinto their lineout far quicker than they did in Cape Town, in thehope that it gives Matfield and Bakkies Botha less time to counterthem. Matfield yesterday even conceded that he was expecting theWallabies to change their game plan, including at the lineouts. ''Ithink they will come up with something different,'' Matfield said.''We did really well against them at Newlands. It was probably thebest we've ever done against an Australian lineout. So there mightbe one or two different things. And the more time they take[throwing the lineout ball in], the more time it gives us toorganise. ''It will be tough if they do it quicker. We just have to adaptand be ready for everything. And you don't analyse players. Youanalyse team structures. Hopefully we know what is coming and thatis why we've got a lot of experienced players that can adapt towhat happens on the field.'' The newcomer under most pressure is the Wallabies tighthead propBen Alexander. How he performs against Tendai [Beast] Mtawariracould easily effect the sway of the Test and determine whether anAustralian scrummaging changing of the guard involving himself andAl Baxter occurs. ''I hadn't played much tighthead before this year, but I'mreally enjoying the role and the challenge,'' Alexander saidyesterday.

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People travel along the Cami no every day of the year

Privately operated rooms are more expensive but don'thave the monastic conditions (lights out at 10pm, everyone out by7.30am) of the official accommodation. There are two types ofalbergues on the Camino. The first, more-common style has betweeneight and 30 people crammed in a room, typically a roof cavity.There is usually one window, but the Spanish seem to consider 25degrees at night to be chilly and have jammed it closed with abed. The second type is war-hospital style, with up to 150 or 0people sleeping in a converted basketball court or monastichall. It is not so much accommodation as a stadium for the worldsnoring championships. Earplugs and eye-masks are necessities, asis a few nights in private accommodation at the end. The Camino crosses five Spanish states and passes through hundreds of towns: from large centres such as Pamplona, Burgos and Leon, to crumbling ghost towns. The walking is divided into threemain sections: the lush foothills of the Pyrenees, with valleysfull of livestock and crops; through the desert flatness of theMeseta region; and finally limps into the mist of Galicia. Thetemperature fell below degrees and topped out at 47 during thesix weeks we walked, beginning in June. There is a 0-kilometre stretch in the desert where you riseonly 50 metres in elevation - and there are sections where fourkilometres means a 1600-metre climb. The longest distance betweenaccommodation is 19 kilometres, but most people walk between and30 kilometres a day, ending with tidy tans and rock-hardcalves. When you apply for a credencial, you must give a reason for yourpilgrimage - religious, spiritual, cultural, sporting or "other".The final option may be left for those choosing the Camino as achurch-blessed diet plan. Because no matter how much of the localpig you put away, downed with a six-pack Rosetta Stone German of beer and a bottle ofthe finest rioja, hiking long distances combined with sleeplessnessmeans that the "pork and walk" diet creates light pilgrims, comeSantiago. The Meseta section of the Camino is 0 kilometres betweenBurgos and Leon. Most pilgrims take the bus. All should. In the interests of balance, Shamus wrote it was "a trulybreathtaking environment which reminded me of my upbringing inrural northern Victoria, laid in the middle of this great walk toallow time for contemplation of the greater questions of life". Reality check. It was hot and flat, with the only verticalelements on the horizon being the frequent memorials to deadpilgrims. Much of the walk was parallel to a highway, making itfeel like a pedestrian tour of the Great Trucking Routes ofEurope. We walked 40 kilometres in a straight line, in the heat of theday, often without water. Then we would repeat it the next day. Myfriend thought that it was, "free from the distractions of beauty,towns, people and shade". My ancestors were right. The desert iscrap. At the end of the desert, we found what we have probably alwaysbeen looking for: an English copy of Shirley Mac Laine's The Camino.The actress, who walked the Camino in 00, makes some interestingobservations about journalists who hide behind their professionalveneer of objectivity to cynically mock the unknown world ofspirituality. Good point, Shirley. Then again, she manifests a spirit whotells her to walk the Camino without a bra; on her first daywalking she receives a blister and a visit from the angel Ariel;and John of Scots appears at the end of her bed to give advice. Every pilgrimage involves pain and at times every step was aconscious decision, weighed and considered for maximum benefit andminimum impact. Alone, with his friend taking taxis between towns, Shamus spenta night on a remote hilltop in a small lodging built from rubble bya man who may be the last of the Knights Templar, the famed groupwho secured the safe passage of Christian pilgrims.

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It's a historic thing that they have done

It's helping to push the boundaries of what we can do with a game. It takes having somebody who is labelled as a bizarre creator in order to push not only the market expectations but also to push the publishers to say let's take a chance on this person who historically does things that are a little outside the box. How difficult is it to get that balance between mainstream accessibility and your own personal, distinctive style which is perhaps more alternative? (American McGee) I think it's a challenge no matter who is making the game. Game designers want to be innovators, they want to reinvent the wheel if they are given the chance. And I think that sometimes happens to the detriment of the audience. You have to keep in mind that there are people who are coming into the gaming experience that are playing perhaps for the first time in their life and they might not have the vocabulary of understanding how to navigate a three-dimensional space or how to interact with objects in that space. So whole you're constantly having to reinvent the wheel you've having to repeat the lessons of the first wheel that everything is kind of built on top of. The innovator's problem is wanting to push outside, but not wanting to go too far. We always have to keep in mind that we are building a commercial product and we want it to succeed in the retail space. So a lot of times where we tend to focus our innovation is in the art, Ken's department, or in the storytelling or the nature of the story, those are places where there is still a lot of room to innovate without threatening to alienate. As a designer do you think you have a Rosetta Stone Outlet certain trademark, something that you stand for? (American McGee) I like experimentation. I like pushing the boundaries. I think that if anything I hope that if people see something that I have been involved with that they have an expectation that there might be something a little unexpected in there. And what is it like for you both to be making games in China? Is it a different experience? (Ken Wong) Yeah, absolutely. We first came to Hong Kong almost seven years ago not knowing much about Hong Kong or China and not speaking the language. We quickly found we had to adapt just to get the work done. Communication is different, work culture is different, and the way that people are creative is different. The past few years that American and I have worked together in both Hong Kong and Shanghai has been a real trip, a real journey. Not just making these edgy, boundary-pushing games, but also pushing our own boundaries and immersing ourselves in this foreign culture. And getting to work with really fantastic local talent. We've been super pleased working with everyone we have met along the way. And I imagine work on the game is nearly complete now? (Ken Wong) Yeah, we're finished. (American McGee) We just went gold on the final console platform today. Congratulations. What are you most satisfied with now that it's all done? (American McGee) For me, I'm actually quite proud of the team. It's a historic thing that they have done. This is the first time that a Chinese team has built from beginning to end a AAA console title. There have been games that have been produced here, from Ubisoft, EA, THQ, these guys all have studios out here, but often they are outsource resources or teams that are being directed by off-shore creative leads.

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When he left you could see that there was more hope in his heart

By the time he married Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon in 1923, the Duke of York had visited many doctors to no avail. But the new duchess was determined to see him conquer the affliction, especially after Bertie's excruciating closing speech at the British Empire Exhibition at Wembley in October 1925 proved such an ordeal for him and the nation. How would he be able to deliver the speech at the opening of Australia's new Parliament in Canberra in 19? Help was at hand. In 1924 Logue, his wife and their two children had moved to London. Logue did not have a single patient yet he opened a practice in Harley Street - the world's most expensive medical address - specialising in voice production and remedial speech training. A close friend, John Gordon, claimed in a article for the Sunday Express (headlined ''He Came To London Unknown - And Gave The King The Power To Speak'') to be the only person Logue vaguely knew in London when he arrived. Gordon said the Duke of York had already seen nine speech-defect experts by the time a royal equerry heard about Logue's particular success with stammerers. ''Next day the equerry saw Logue at Harley Street,'' Gordon wrote. ''Logue was asked if he would see the duke and decide whether he could do anything to help him. 'Yes,' replied Logue. 'But he must come to me here. That imposes an effort on him which is essential for success. If I see him at home we lose the value of that.' ''Two days later, on October 19, 1926, the duke went to Harley Street. They talked for an hour and a half. Conversation was very difficult. But at the end, Logue Rosetta Stone Portuguese said, 'I can cure you, but it will need a tremendous effort by you. Without that effort it can't be done.' ''As Logue said later, 'He came into my room a slim, quiet man with tired eyes and all the outward symptoms of a man upon whom a habitual speech defect had begun to set the sign. When he left you could see that there was more hope in his heart.''' Edgar provides the most detailed account of Logue's diagnosis and treatment: ''The therapist diagnosed poor co-ordination between larynx and diaphragm, and asked him to spend an hour each day practising rigorous exercises. The duke stood by an open window and loudly intoned each vowel for 15 seconds. Logue restored his confidence by relaxing the tension which caused muscle spasms. ''The duke's stammer diminished Resonantly and without stuttering, he opened the Australian Parliament in Canberra in 19.'' Gordon's version has the duke and Logue sometimes conducting daily sessions at Logue's South Kensington home. ''A snobbish neighbour one day sent a curt note to Logue directing him to instruct his visitor not to park his car outside the neighbour's house. ''When Logue replied politely that he would tell the Duke of York that he must put his car elsewhere, the neighbour almost collapsed.'' A decade later, the duke's public speaking ability faced its harshest test in the abdication crisis, when Edward renounced the throne to marry the twice-divorced American socialite Wallis Simpson. The duke's speeches were usually carefully composed to avoid problem words and phrases, but the coronation speech of 19 could not be tampered with. And, thanks to radio, it would have a global audience. Mark Logue says his grandfather was called in for emergency consultations, also encouraging the reluctant king-to-be to take secret singing lessons with another of his patients, the West End musical star Evelyn ''Boo'' Laye, to improve his breathing.

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Let me say, we've done a lot: Rudd faces voter disdain

KEVIN RUDD has admitted that he needs to communicate more effectively with the electorate, in an acknowledgement that the Government has failed to tell people what it has done so far. The Prime Minister, renowned for his sometimes impenetrable language, made the pledge yesterday after a poll showed the gap between the Government and Coalition had closed considerably. Mr Rudd is finding himself under sustained attack from the opposition leader, Tony Abbott, for being all talk and no action and has been criticised for failing to sell to the public his emissions trading scheme. Advertisement: Story continues below Mr Rudd told reporters that the government had ''done a lot'' but was to blame for the fact that this was not widely accepted. ''I think our challenge … is to communicate more effectively that which we have done, to communicate our record of achievement more effectively than we have done,'' he said. ''I think we Rosetta Stone Italian all share some responsibility for that, including myself.'' Mr Rudd's humility followed the publication of a Newspoll yesterday, which showed the Coalition's primary vote at 41 per cent, marginally ahead of the government on 40 per cent. Mr Rudd told caucus on Monday that Labor could lose the next election and he repeated the warning yesterday. ''If two or three people in a hundred change their vote then Mr Abbott is prime minister,'' he said. ''That is just a fact and it is very important we recognise this.'' None of the previous six first-term governments elected since the war have lost their second election but all were returned with a reduced majority. Mr Rudd suggested the government had failed to get across the job it did keeping the nation out of recession. ''We have done a lot on the economy. You're familiar with the umpteen debates we had last year on the stimulus strategy and the elements of that and the controversy associated with the implementation of it. ''The easiest thing in the world to do is to complain about everything and to offer practical solutions on nothing and so far, so far in Mr Abbott's tenure as leader of the opposition that is what I see a lot of.''

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Cycling Tours In Vietnam

What better way to truly get to know a country, than to mix with its people and its landscape? It is one thing to observe a country through the windows of a tour coach or train, but for the real experience you have to use all your senses and cycle tours allow you to do this.By getting out there on two wheels, seeing and hearing the countryside and villages and by meeting the people, stopping at a roadside snack shop for a bowl of noodles or a cold fruit drink, by smelling the scents of the countryside (good and not so good), and by sleeping in simple but comfortable accommodation you can get a real impression of the country.These are just a few suggestions of the many options to the traveller on two wheels. You can visit Indochina Odyssey Tours to get more information about this. Visit our website often to find out the latest bids on travel packages, Travel Deals India,honeymoon packages, weekend packages and tour packages of India. Holiday Deals India has the best prices all the time for hotels, air travel or car rental, because the price is what you bid. Just remember you wont be the only one bidding for that India vacation package, honeymoon package, air flight in India but if you are there right before bidding ends you may just have that cheap travel deal you are looking for. Who knows maybe you will travel India every weekend for the next 6 months because Rosetta Stone V3 the travel is so cheap! Imagine being able to book a flight to Mumbai from Delhi and get an excellent hotel in Mumbai and a car rented for a fraction of the price of the flight alone. Surprise your family with a holy package tour; it wont be too costly since you decide what to bid. Do you have a sick family member? We have health package tours ready and waiting for you to name your price. Just want to rent an apartment in Mumbai or a beach house in Goa for the week, we have those too! Simply search our website at Holiday Deals India for the latest and greatest in travel deals. Philippines Private Investigators recommend the following:1.Only deal with companies that are actually located in the Philippines. Don't hire someone whose office is in the US, you'll only be paying extra for a middleman that cannot control the quality of their subcontractor's work.2.Be especially wary of any companies from Florida. According to Consumer Fraud Reporting (municate properly in English, Filipino and other native dialects such as Tagalog.4.Check if they can provide redacted samples of their work.5.Don't deal with companies that only accept bank transfers or Western Union. Make sure they provide standard universally accepted payment methods that provide consumer protection such as PayPal, Xoom, MoneyGram or with most credit cards.6.Make sure your information is confidential and secure. Check to see that their websites have proper security and privacy technology. Philippines Private Investigators offer discreet private investigative and detective services at affordable local rates. Our team of highly experienced and trained local and expat agents cover all of the Philippines and work with local police, NSO, embassies, as well as other government agencies.

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Barcoding, Ecommerce, Warehouse Management

Microsoft Dynamics GP consulting in California has specifics. Port of Los Angeles faces huge volume of USA high tech and general merchandise export from China and South East Asia where these goods are unloaded and distributed USA and Canada nationwide. Mid-size businesses in LA, Orange County, San Diego expect Great Plains Consultant to be familiar with such technologies as Supply Chain Management, Warehouse Management, Assembly on Order, Picking and Packing, EDI and B2B e-commerce. It is normal practice when high tech items, such as computer parts, cellular phones, barcode scanners are received in Los Angeles and then shipped to Mexico, Central and South America Dynamics GP consulting firm should have Spanish, Chinese and probably Brazilian Portuguese speaking consultants. Lets review Dynamics GP features and components, important for California customers in our opinion:1.Generic Barcoding. This technology is a backbone of such fields as Supply Chain Management, Logistics and Distribution, light Manufacturing or Assembly on Order, Consignment, Warehouse Management System. There are various products to enable Great Plains modules for barcode scanning, and should also know the tools to open barcoding for virtually every Great Plains screen, master record or transaction/document. These tools are Dynamics GP Dexterity, eConnect, VBA/Modifier, Visual Studio SDK for GP, Extender. Microsoft Dexterity is still in very dominant position, as even if you are preferring Visual Studio extensions, you may still need custom tables created in Rosetta Stone Outlet Dex to accomplish your programming project2.Generic eCommerce. When you are larger participant in Business-to-Business or Business-to-Customer ecommerce, you may have a policy to implement all the components of your ecommerce web application (including Shopping Cart, gateway to EDI, Customer Credit or Debit card processing) in-house (or by your IT department programmers, or coders directly employed by your organization in India or Philippines). We offer such ecommerce enabling technologies as Order Connector (where you surpass eConnect performance, as OC is coded in SQL Server Stored procedures with simplified business logic of Sales Order Processing and Receivable Management modules in GP)3.Standard eCommerce Shopping Cart integration: Magento, ASP.Net Storefront. For smaller and mid-market businesses we are offering our Dynamics GP eCommerce extension module. Our goal is to enable ecommerce deployment in the matter of several hours, assuming that your business processes are pretty standard and you are familiar with such Great Plains concepts, as SOP Settings, Inventory Site, Inventory Item, Pricelist Catalogue and some others4.Warehouse Management System. WMS typically covers three functionalities, where there is often the case that these functionalities are also available in standard Corporate ERP business logic. We are talking about Sales Order Fulfillment (on the warehouse floor via barcode scanning), Merchandise replenishment (inventory restocking) and Inventory Adjustments and Transfers (including Monthly or Quarterly Inventory Physical Count routine). Our WMS module works as extension and sends transactions directly to Dynamics GP SOP, POP and Inventory modules tables. We are also happy to help you with WMS implementation recovery or second opinion, as our WMS doesnt require such consulting budgets as WMS integration (it works directly out of GP database by its nature)5.Light Manufacturing or Assembly on Order. Here we offer you the help in choosing between Dynamics GP Manufacturing Suite of modules or budget option Distribution Bill of Materials.

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The Best Way To Win Online Freestyle Battles

If you want to locate out the best way to win on the internet freestyle battles, then check this out. You'll discover how to dominate hip hop freestyle battles.Tip 1 - Decide How Long You might be Going To TrainShould you set a specific length of time to exercise? You can train for a half hour or even an hour or longer. Just whatever length of time that you choose to rhyme, make sure that you do that consistently. Of course the more which you freestyle, the far better chance you've of winning your hip hop freestyle battles.Tip 2 - Strategy Your TrainingWhat I mean here is that if you are going to freestyle rap for 2 hours every day, then you require to do those specific expertise within those two hours. Your finest bet is to program your process out. For example, the first 50 percent hour you can process your rhyming. Your second 50 percent hour it is possible to practice flowing. The third 50 percent hour it is possible to practice learning new words by studying your rhyming dictionary. The fourth 50 percent hour it is possible to process your listening skills by listening to various rap battles or practice battling yourself.Tip 3 - Stick To The ProgramYou want to make a point of practicing each and every day. If you want to give it some variety, transform the order that you exercise your various abilities. It is possible to alter it around by doing an hour of one skill and then about the next Rosetta Stone day practice the skill that you didn't work on the previous day.If you want to increase your battle raps, follow this program for 21-30 days. See how your battles increase and how your winning margin will change. By the end of the 30 days, these practice periods will be a habit.If you would like a lot more hip hop battling tips, continue to read below. I am doing and so can you!" Studying at home usually substance distractions, such as televisions, telephones, or relatives have to be taken into account, which can suppose a restructuring of thy home organization.Lastly, achieving an online college degree demands one important thing, that thou art comfortable with a computerized environment, as well as being able to type, manipulate software and know your way around the virtual planet. them comfortable with technical knowledge wilt have nay issues at all with online learning and will probably complete their tasks efficiently, but those what aren't familiar with computers or what hath a fear of pressing the wrong button will certainly get taking online courses a daunting task. Having access to education is one thing, but in a virtual world, being able to understand your way around a computerized environment will suppose the difference between obtaining thy online college degree and floundering badly.

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How To Make The Most Money Online Know Your Customer

When looking at a career as an internet marketer, youve probably wondered how to make the most money online. There are many ways and methods to make money online and if you work and stay focused there is quite a bit of money to be made.Those that are making a significant living online have learned that the menial day to day tasks are best farmed out to service providers. This frees up a lot of their time to brain storm, perform keyword research and research their niche. These marketers have learned how to make the most money online by spending this time studying their customer and identifying their needs.This customer focus is often lost in the technical aspects of making money such as setting up websites, mailing lists, auto-responders, shopping carts and other components to their web page. This is all for naught if they are not speaking to their customers issue directly. If you want to know how to make the most money online, simply build a relationship with your customer and the rest will fall into place. Most customers will forgive technical difficulties, however, they wont tolerate a marketer that is out of touch with what they want and need.So how do you build this relationship? First you have to establish yourself as an authority in a particular niche by being active in the community. By posting in forums and on bulletin boards, you are making connections Rosetta Stone Spanish (Latin) with those people that would buy your product. If you want to learn how to make the most money online you have to understand the people you are trying to sell to. Establishing trust is a key component of any business relationship. The more a customer trusts you, the more likely he or she is going to buy from you. You can gain this trust by offering something of value for free. This good faith offering will give the customer a sample of what you have to offer and will establish legitimacy in the customers mind. The answer to the question of how to make the most money online becomes quite simple this way. Find out what they want and give it to them. Promise less and deliver more and these customers will be beating down your door to buy from you.Now that you know what turns people into buying customers, you can focus on learning the physical marketing aspects to making money online. There are many coaching programs that offer training in affiliate marketing. Weve all seen the coaching programs that claim that you will be making thousands in one week. These claims are not only outrageous but border on fraudulent. Is it possible to make $40,00 in one week? Yes, it is possible but not very likely. If you really want to learn how to make the most money online, you must know that you will have to put forth effort.Know your customer and find yourself a good coaching program that offers a step by step plan of action and provides ongoing support. With these two things in mind, youll no longer have to wonder how to make the most money online.

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Is An Online Event Planning Course A Suitable Option?

There are different ways in which you can become a qualified professional in event management and the online event planning course is one among these. Several people, especially working people would find an online event planning course highly suitable.As mentioned above, regular colleges are not the only option available for people looking for a course in the field of event handling. An online event planning course would be highly suitable for those who are unable to adjust with the timings of a regular course. Nowadays, an online event planning course is also given importance by the recruiters. What attracts most people towards such a course is the ability to study at the most convenient time.In other words, these online courses enable you adjust the study hours as per your convenience. When it comes to study materials also, these types of courses are very helpful. Reputed online courses ensure that their students are provided with all the study materials according to the requirement. Lack of study materials cannot be a problem if you join reputed courses that are available online.There are several candidates who work while studying so that they can fund Rosetta Stone Chinese their studies. An online event planning is really helpful for them since they would be able to find all the study materials and manage their work with studies. There will be opportunities for clarifying your doubts related to studies. In short, it can be said that you would be able to study from the comfort of your home and with your own speed.Besides, a student would also be provided with access to online forums, student groups etc so that he or she can engage in conversation with others studying the same courses. Although lack of direct access to tutors and other materials can be considered as drawbacks of online courses, these are the perfect for those who lack enough time to attend regular classes in colleges.However, there is a need to ensure that the organization offering the online course is a reputed one and there are adequate resources available for your studies. It would be better to consult with others before deciding on a particular course offered through online. Also, not all of these online courses would be suitable for you since there is a need to do a course that matches all of your requirements.

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Online Tutoring Online Interactive Help

This online learning is a type of distance learning which uses the virtual learning environment and here the online tutors often determine the tone of their teaching. Since the beginning of the concept of online tutoring, the researchers had discovered that there is an important role of the tutors to play in this type of learning system which includes an educational, managerial, a social support and a development role apart from the technical support role. A tutor in an Online tutors are categorized in two types first type belongs to the tactical tutors who respond to the queries by the students in a tactical manner and at the critical moments so that if something goes wrong the tutor has the skills to display sensitivity and recover during the interaction. The second types of online tutors are strategic tutors who plan in advance including the determination the tutee group size. The smaller the student size the greater the trust but the smaller size students offer less variety and the cultural mix which is also important in the area of online tutoring.The online tutors need to know the different stages a student reaches while studying. Online Tutoring gives a great scope to the people wanting to share the knowledge and expertise they possess to a larger group of people and make a good earning in this process. What should be the characteristics of top online colleges. A top online college will never entertain Rosetta Stone Italian any activity that will undermine its accreditation status and push its students future into dark. When searching for top online educational institutions dig their history and see if they had been punished with cancellation of their accreditation. If yes then dig further to unearth the reasons behind such incident. Also search why and under which circumstances they are again recognized by the authorities.Top online colleges offer almost every course that is offered by the traditional colleges. There is business management, accounts and finance, arts and humanities, health and medical, engineering and science, computer and IT, education and teaching, trades and careers and much more. You can choose to pursue a certificate program or an associate degree whichever is allowed by the online college. Also there are bachelors and masters degree programs. Learned students can even apply for doctorate degree and become a professor in an an online university. Prior to applying for enrollment in an online course, its better to go through the coursework so that you have a better understanding.

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Sri Selvam Siddhar's Music Theraphy

Music therapy is a scientific method of effective cures of disease through the power of music. It restores, maintains and improves emotional, physiological and psychological well being. The articulation, pitch, tone and specific arrangement of swars (notes) in a particular raga stimulates, alleviates and cures various ailments inducing electro magnetic change in the body.Music therapy has a long history dating back to ancient Orphic school in Greece. Pythagorus, Plato and Aristotle, all were aware of the prophylactic and therapeutic powers of music. Even the old testament mentions music therapy where King David is said to have cured an illness by playing on the harp. Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, used music to cure human diseases. In ancient Egypt music was used to lessen the pain of women during childbirth. Ibn Sina, a famous Arabic writer, has written in detail on this subject. In India legend has it that Thyagaraja, the famous musician of South India, brought a dead person back to life by singing the composition Naa Jeevan Dhara in raga Bihari. In 1729 Richard Browne, a physician wrote the famous text Medicina Musica which describes the use of music as medicine. Dr Burnell has mentioned a manuscript named Raga Chikistsa in the collections of Saraswati Mahal Library in Tanjore which deals with the various ragas that can be used for curing various ailments. What is music? "Music is a kind of inarticulate, unfathomable speech which leads us to the edge of the infinite and lets us for a moment gaze in that" observed Carlyle. Music is basically a sound or nada generating particular vibrations which moves through the medium of ether present in the atmosphere and effects the human body. Sarangdev mentions in his Sangeet Ratnakar that ahata nada or music is always produced by Rosetta Stone Arabic striking or aghata by a living being on an instrument of any kind. So music is a power or universal energy in the form of ragas.Matanga (9-10th century AD) was the earliest writer to define raga. According to him "raga is that kind of sound composition consisting of melodic movements which has the effect of colouring the hearts of men". "There are four sources of raga: folk songs, poetry, devotional songs of mystics and compositions of classical musicians. While harmony is the characteristic of Western music, Indian music is pure melody. The general term for melody in India is raga or ragini". (Kangra Ragmala -- M.S. Randhawa).Symphonies of raga have a definite soothing effect on the mind as well as on the body. Repeated listening to the particular raga being chosen for a particular disease produces a network of sound vibration. The muscles, nerves and the chakras of the affected part are contracted when one impulse is given and relaxed during the interval between two impulses. Thus, during contraction of the tissue, musical notes make the blood flow out from that particular area and in the interval there is relaxation and a state of reduced pressure is produced in these areas. Thus the blood from the adjacent area will flow there.

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Wedding Favor Bags : A Favor Of Containment

The wedding favor bags are again one of the most demanding things in the modern wedding party. The wedding favor bags are of varied types, sizes and materials with the contemporary stylish look.This includes the small envelopes of different types - starting from the elegant glassine envelopes and blossom vellum envelopes to the wedding organza favor with the tassels and silk chords to fasten it up and other lucrative bridal pouches.The list also includes the great assortment of the wedding favor bags of larger version that are enjoying equally awesome demand. These wedding favor bags are stylized bags that are perfect to hold the couples favor fillings such as candies collected from the wedding favor candy assortment or may be miniature models of dancing couples crafted out of the stoneware clays or may also be any other fashionable item the couple wants to give to their dearest guests and friends. In this perfectly competitive market, where there are huge numbers of sellers and innumerable buyers, the maker of the wedding favor bags are introducing newer and newer concept to attract customers. The unique frosted favor bags, Vellum CD envelops, stardust favor bags, palm leaf pouches, palm leaf shoulder bags and eyelets, braided paper bags, burlap bags, jute bags and pouches, canvas bags, drawstrings of wondrous range of fashion and style are among the latest and the best introductions in the market.The palm leaf range of assortment are highly attractive and harmonizes the typically raw aspect of the nature with the precious wedding Rosetta Stone Chinese favor from the new couple, extended to their special people as a token of adorable thanks. The palm leaves are carefully interwoven in various designs to form a bag. This requires really exhaustible labor and hence are bit costlier as compared to the other categories of bags of papers and vellum and frosted fibers. Another unique concept is the wedding favor bags made up of jute. Uniquely woven, these bags of bliss really have a pretty look. The very texture is so transcendental and so stylized that any one would fall in love with these bags with gorgeous colors at the first sight. In order to make these bags more attractive to some people the manufacturers apply safe, durable and vibrant dyes such varied shades of mauve, yellow, red, green and some other uncommon color, while another huge section prefer the natural thing without dyeing.Organza wedding favor bags have the highest range of demand. The organza comes in great varieties with sheering colors, designs, style and look. Starting from the wedding favor exotic candies to the perfumed potpourris and dried rose buds and premium grade lavender these bags can perfectly hold any wedding favors. The organza comes with satin drawstrings and silk tassels not only to secure the contained favors but also to give the perfect finishing touch to the overall look. Different makers of bags adorn the organza in different way. Some use floral beads, while the others use the small shells to decorate. Howbeit, the most significant thing is that, whatever the types of bags you prefer, there should be a maintained harmony between the mode of celebration and the wedding favor bags you are extending to your guest in the special day.

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You’ve Just Got Engaged.Now What?Helpful Tips for the Groom to Be

You've just got engaged and are now looking forward to your wedding excitedly. Of course, what you will quickly realize is that planning for a wedding is much more complicated than you originally realized. Here are a few things to get you started:The first thing you need to do before you start off on the wedding planning process is to tell both sets of parents. Traditionally the bride's parents know before the groom's do, but nowadays the order doesn't really matter. Once you have told your parents, go ahead and tell you close friends and relatives. You will also need to consider how to announce your engagement. One way to announce your engagement is through your local newspaper. Alternatively, mail, call or write to your family and friends in order to share with them the good news.The next important step that you will need to take while planning your wedding is setting the date. If your budget is likely to be a constraint, look at factors like the time of day, the day of the week and the time of year before you set the date as each of these factors can impact your overall budget. At the same time, if you are expecting a lot of guests from out of town, consider their convenience as well. Finally, check out the availability of the venues.It is important to decide on the tone of your wedding during the early stages of the wedding planning process. Decide if you're having a formal wedding, a semi formal wedding or a casual wedding. Also decide if you want a religious wedding ceremony or a secular one. Also, think about whether you want to have a wedding Rosetta Stone Language theme and if yes, finalize on one. Once you know what you want your wedding to feel like, you will find that it becomes much easier to get the other elements of your wedding plan in place.The next important step of wedding planning is deciding on your budget. Look at how much the two of you can contribute from your personal savings. Also take into account any contributions from your parents. Finally, think about whether you want to take on any debt. Unless you absolutely have to take on debt to finance your wedding, it's a good idea to keep debt to a minimum.Once you have decided on these key aspects of a wedding plan, it is time to fill in the details. You will need to apply for your wedding license, scout out and finalize venues for the ceremony and reception, finalize your guest list, choose your officiant, finalize your wedding attendants and arrange for the vendors, including your caterer, the florist and the musicians or the DJ. You will also need to finalize your wedding outfits and those of your attendants. You will also need to decide on your wedding program and send out the invitations to all your guests. In the middle of all of this, there will also be numerous parties and other events to attend such as your bachelor and bachelorette parties and the wedding showers.Through it all keep your sense of perspective and your sense of humor about you. Whenever you face the danger of feeling too overwhelmed, take a deep breath. The good news is that things usually work out at the end and there will come a time when you will look back at these hectic and often crazy days of wedding planning and preparation with a lot of affection. Meanwhile, enjoy these days as much as you can because they only come once.

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An Element of Surprise for Weddings and Bridal Gowns

Celebrity pop singer Avril Lavigne famously said she’d considered a black wedding dress and very nearly opted for one. When it came down to it Avril married in a white dress, something she had dreamed of doing since she was a little girl. Mind you, it wasn’t what fans or friends expected of the singer, and she admitted that the black dress would probably have been the predictable Goth choice for her.So are you thinking of creating a stir in a dress that no one would expect you to wear? If you are there are certain things to know if you are to carry it off.Your future husband is traditionally kept in the dark about the wedding dress you will choose. But very often close friends and family will know details. Most of the time brides choose a dress that reflects their known style and personality. Sometimes though a bride wants to add a little mystery to the occasion, a touch of wow factor, by choosing a dress that is far removed from what everyone would expect of her.To carry this off the bride-to-be needs to consider a few points, the most important of which is comfort, both physical and emotional. It’s all very well imagining getting married in a trouser suit instead of a dress, and it may well have a huge impact if you are known as a woman who never wears pants, but would you be comfortable? Rosetta Stone Software Wearing clothes right is often all about confidence and the ability to carry off different outfits with flair.If you’re shopping for wedding dresses in New York City you’ll be able to confide in your consultant at the boutique that you want to break with tradition. They’ll be best qualified to help you choose a gown or ensemble that will give you the element of surprise you seek while still ensuring that you are comfortable with your new look.If you always wear black in your day-to-day life then the full on white wedding dress is going to be a massive statement. And the opposite applies. If you’ve always been known as a traditionalist then a black or midnight blue gown will bowl the guests and the groom over. If you never wear vibrant colours and are known for being a sedate dresser then a crimson gown will really turn heads.Shopping for wedding dresses in New York should be an inspiration, and finding a gown that lets the world know you are on the brink of a major new chapter in your life shouldn’t be a problem. If it's important to you that the photos turn out absolutely perfect, go for someone very experienced. If saving money is of primary importance, perhaps experience will matter less to you. As a general rule though, the best advice is that photography is one area where you shouldn't intentionally skimp. Remember, 20 years from now, those photos will be all you have to connect you back to this one amazing moment in time - your wedding day.6.Not Telling The Photographer What You Expect - Sit down with your photographer before the wedding and discuss the types of pictures he will be taking, and roughly how many of each. Don't be shy in letting the photographer know specifically and exactly what you want. Present them with a "wish list". For example, you may want to request a close-up shot of the wedding cake, photos of you with certain guests, etc. Make sure that you request multiple shots of any important moments - the cake cutting, the first dance, etc. - just in case a particular shot does not turn out.Avoid making these six mistakes and you will find the hiring of the photographer of your wedding a much more easy and simplified part of your Wedding To-Do list.

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Corporate Events Caterers and How to choose One

This earliest time that you simply are seeking to employ corporate situations caterers you'll be able to experience slightly overwhelmed from the course of action of getting the ideal just one in the greatest value. The pursuing are some suggestions which could enable you to make your way as a result of this endeavor.An effective position to start is by asking folks you already know if they've got any encounter with corporate event catering services. Call for which they provide you with equally their good and unfavorable experiences so they are able to permit you already know some elements to steer clear of. They will need to have the ability to offer you the name of the firm or two.The following stage is always to bring a appearance on the net and see what facts is in existence for your personal unique place. As an example, in case you have been trying to find a caterer from the Washington D.C. spot, you'd begin by performing a try to find one thing like celebration rentals Washington DC. Then, bring a examine some web sites that price these providers. It is continually an excellent strategy to study about what other customers like you've got knowledgeable.When you've pinned it down to some handful of firms, call them and get an estimate. You might have for being mindful of how many individuals you be expecting to feed along with the form of foods you may need. There are many techniques to negotiate with all the catering functions . One particular way should be to permit them know particularly simply how much cash you could have offered and locate out what you can acquire for your personal dollars. Ensure they know that you are contemplating diverse firms. Yet another way should be to just make it possible for them discover how numerous guests you invited and allow them offer Rosetta Stone Hindi you tips.One more factor for being selected to try to remember would be to ask for a lower price for huge orders. You would possibly think about how the low cost will likely be provided for your requirements instantly over a bulk purchase such as this, however , you usually do have got to request. In any scenario it won't ever be undesirable for you personally to ask for details about any offers or promotions which they have. This can enable you to conserve income, or possibly get additional out from the dollars that you simply are going to be shelling out.The base line is the fact that when you are arranging for an occasion such as this you must actually be shopping specially into corporate functions caterers who specialize from the sort of buy your placing. Test to discover somebody with plenty of optimistic testimonials on distinct purchaser web-sites and make sure you get every thing in writing prior to hand.If you are searching for a caterer inside Washington D.C. place, you should begin by undertaking a try to find event catering services, like celebration rentals Washington DC Then, carry a examine some internet sites that fee these organizations. Opt for at the least 3 reputable caterers to canvas; create a list that involves the variety of individuals you happen to be expecting to serve; what meals you'll need geared up and the amount you must spend per human being. The base line is this: when you're preparing an circumstance for instance this, you will need to be shopping incredibly specially into corporate occasions caterers who specialize from the sort of buy you might be placing.

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Attractions of Luton Part 1

Among the most popular attractions Luton has to offer tourists and business travellers are the following:1. Dunstable DownsWith an elevation of 243 meters (797 feet), Dunstable Downs are nestled in the Chiltern Hills in southern Bedforshire and are actually the highest point of Bedforshire county. The Downs is a chalk escarpment that forms the Chilterns' north-eastern reaches. They are managed by the National Trust and serve as the home to many types of wildlife, including beautiful butterfly species such as the Marbled White and the Chalkhill Blue and rare wild flowers like the Bee Orchid,The elevation of Dunstable Downs makes it a favourite destination of kite fliers, gliders, hang gliders and paragliders. For this reason, the London Gliding Club has set up their base at the foot of the Downs.Another popular attraction here is the huge lion shape that was cut by Whipsnade Zoo at the side of one of the hills. This lion is visible from the Aylesbury to Dunstable road (the B489).The height of the Dunstable Downs is also the main reason why it was an ideal venue for a shutter telegraph station from 1808 to 1814 whose key function was to connect the Admiralty in London to naval ships at the Great Yarmouth port.2. Chiltern HillsAside from the Dunstable Downs, the Chiltern Hills as a whole is a popular attraction for tourists. As a chalk escarpment, the Chiltern Hills are part of the Southern England Chalk Formation along with the South Downs, Isle of Wight, Cranborne Chase and Salisbury Plain.Haddington Hill in Wendover Woods is the highest point of the Chiltern Hills, with an elevation of 267 meters (876 feet). Nearby is another prominent hill, Ivinghoe Beacon, which is 249 meters (817 feet) above sea level. On the East is Dunstable Downs. There is also the 260-meter (853 feet) Coombe Hill near Wendover.On the southeast side of the Chiltern scarp you will find beech woodland and several attractive villages. The quality hardwood in the area once formed the backbone of a flourishing chair-making industry in Chesham and High Wycombe Cheap Rosetta Stone towns.Several rivers drain from the Chiltern Hills and form an impressive sight. These include River Gade, River Wye, River Ver, River Lee, River Chess, River Mimram, River Bulbourne and River Misbourne. All these rivers are referred to as chalk streams.3. Leighton Buzzard Light RailwayKnown as LBLR, this light railway is located in Leighton Buzzard town in Bedfordshire, England. Now operated as a heritage railway, the LBLR features a narrow two-foot (610 mm) gauge that is nearly three miles (4.8 km) long. The railway line was constructed following World War I as an vital transport link to the sand quarries north of the town. During the 1960s, the railway shifted focus from quarrying sand to road transport.One of the railway's key attractions is the wide variety of steam and internal combustion locomotives that still run on the line. In addition, Stonehenge Works on the northern end of the line features an impressive array of historic industrial railway locomotives.4. Luton Museum & Art Gallery Located within a large Victorian mansion in Wardown Park, the Luton Museum & Art Gallery boasts of popular collections of Befordshire's traditional crafts, specifically, lace-making and hat-making. Some of the lace samples go back as far as the 17th century. Meanwhile, the hat collection has more than 600 hats representing the Woman's Hat Industry collection. Several pieces of decorative art, including Saxon jewellery, are also on display. Other popular collections include costumes, fine arts, straw-plaiting, medieval guild books and several Victorian room settings.In February 2003, the first floor was refurbished and re-opened as Luton Life displays and feature several prominent Luton personalities from the past century and a half. Listening posts are available and allow visitors to listen to some of the locals as they describe key events. Several interactive displays are also on hand.

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A Guide To Locating Cheap Flights With Ease

So, it is virtually vacation time and you are ready to hop on to to some cheap flights and go away. You find yourself informally checking out the deals on sun screen in the chemistand looking thoughtfully at vacation destination ads on the TV. If this is you every summer then you might already be conscious that bookinga cheap flights are not at all times as straightforward as it would seem.In reality, a couple of wrong turns could possiblylead to a massive rain cloud floating over your excitement in the sun. For this reason it is obligatory, no, essential, that a couple of home truths about the troubles that can take place when arranging attractively cheap flights are laid down, in addition to a guide on how to dodge them.How to Buy Cheap Flights the Wise WayProtect Your MoneySadly, too many holiday makers have found out the hard method in regards to to finding how crucial it is to remember to order your cheap flight with an company that is completely protected in case of losses. If your agentis not insured and ATOL protected you may possibly end up trapped overseas or lacking a holiday you have paid for if your operator were to go bust. Trustworthy agents like Flights Direct are completely protected for all flights as well as bookings for cheap flights. Don’t get conned by cheap flight rates, do your research and find out if your selected company can be trusted. There are still many offers for cheap flights to be had with highly regarded sellers.Look at the Facts When Buying Cheap FlightsKeep in mind to always delay for additional charges when arranging cheap flights - some offers look fantastic until you take taxes, luggage, card charges and train links. Flights are not cheap flights until you observe the bottom line. Ensure you confirm that the agent doesn’t add anything on automatically and Rosetta Stone Japanese read over the terms and conditions. Companies like Flights Direct will continually strive to make the price of your cheap flights unambiguous.Investigate the AirportSometimes the costof cheap flights can seem so appealing that we make reservations without thinking twice. However, many agents may promote places that they supposedly fly to but in actual fact it turns out that your departure and arrival airport will be miles away from the place you actually want to be. This can add on pricey transfers that you have not budget for upon booking your cheap flights. To guarantee your cheap flights take you where you want to be keep in mind to check that the company uses major airports, both in britain and internationally.Choosing a company for cheap flightsYou are now aware that you will want to find an agency that is insured, will be up straight with you with reference to any added expenses included in your cheap flight reservation and flies to leading airports, the subsequent query is where to start? To ensure that your cheap flights result in an enjoyable journey it is vital to investigate and recover a dealer that meets all of these requirements. A retailer that supplies the current prices of plenty of different operators e.g. Flights Direct is a good place to start as you know there is zero bias in favour of a certain airline. The straightforward reservation methodand offers for cheap flights on the Flights Direct internet site make it incredibly easy to comprehend. All you are required to do is book, pack and set off! So look around, ask your friends, browse a few opinions online and remember that trustworthy operators ought to always be direct|truthful} with you in their bid to bring you the best value deals on your cheap flights.

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Outer Banks, NC - A Dream Vacation

Winter, spring, summer or fall- over 100 miles of shoreline that makes up the Outer Banks offers national parks, festivals and attractions, and a landscape created by Mother Nature that's sure to impress even the most discerning traveler. The vacation rentals of the Outer Banks are everywhere you turn, so you can enjoy the vacation of your dreams. Beachfront vacation rentals with breathtaking views of the ocean, hotels in the middle of the action, small cottages and house vacation rentals are scattered throughout Outer Banks, North Carolina. Although the Outer Banks is actually made up of several geographical areas, including the mainland, Nags Head, Roanoke Island, and Portsmouth Island, many people simply refer to all of the Outer Banks as "Nags Head". Nags Head is an interesting vacation destination. On either side of the land is ocean, with high sand dunes flanking the land that can be seen from miles out in the ocean. It is not certain where Nags Head got its name from, but one possible explanation was that during the 18th century, land pirates would walk horses along the shore at night, each with lights on their heads. From the sea, they would look like boats to other seamen. When the boats would come towards the shore, getting stuck in the high sand dunes, the land pirates would steal their cargoes. Sometime in 1830, Nags Head became a resort community, as it is now- with Jockey's Ridge on the northern part of Nags Head the only remaining remnant of moving sand dunes. Jockey's Ridge is a tourist community with thousands of vacation rentals for the Outer Banks vacationers looking for a relaxing destination.Roanoke Island, as well as most other regions, offer non-stop activity for the adventure-seeking traveler. If camping in tents is your idea of vacation rentals to die for, you can stay Rosetta Stone Spanish Spain at one of the many campgrounds in the area. Whatever your choice for vacation rentals during your Outer Banks vacation, you'll be able to participate in water activities, enjoy eating in high quality restaurants, or learning about the heritage and history of the Outer Banks at one of the many museums and historical centers.Popular activities for the vacationer include paddling, either in canoes or kayaks, in order to glimpse some of the many sea creatures and wildlife that inhabit the area. You can go hang gliding in Kitty Hawk. Hiking in various areas of the Outer Banks, and within walking distance from some of the vacation rentals. The Outer Banks caters to any vacationer's idea of "good eats"! They've got the typical beachfront resort community offerings of seafood restaurants, pubs and grills, but they've also got a wide variety of bistro's, cafe's, and ethnic eateries. If you prefer to cook your own meals, just be sure to select from vacation rentals with kitchens, and have access to the local supermarkets to get your favorite ingredients.Regardless of the season, whether you stay in Nags Head or another area, you'll find there are many festivals and events happening all over the community. Museums offer a wide variety of exhibits, there is a strong art community within the Outer Banks with art shows open to the public, while the theatre remains a large attraction for both natives and tourists.Selecting vacation rentals for your stay in the Outer Banks should not be a difficult task, as you can stay in the Northern Outer Banks or the Southern Outer Banks and be guaranteed an enjoyable vacation.

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Lightload Towels Are Perfect For Adventure Travel

Packing for adventure travel is not a simple task and involves, as it should, a certain amount of thought and planning that you can do without while packing for a normal vacation. Thought and second thought are necessary if you want to pack a bag that does not contain anything extra but at the same time does not miss out on something essential. While a number of sports and adventure stores do carry stuff that is specially made for adventure travel like clothing, sleeping bags, rucksacks and other accessories, nobody has paid much attention till date to the humble towel which is a necessary part of an adventure traveler’s backpack. Till date, campers, bikers and other adventure travelers had to make do with small towels to save on space, but due to their small sizes, these towels could hardly serve any other purpose. The latest offering in the adventure travel market, Lightload Towels are a definite boon for adventure travelers. Let us see how these light load towels provide utility, comfort and convenience to adventurers.Motorcycling: When you go on motorcycling trips, you generally have to carry a number of clothing items that you cannot do without like jackets and wind cheaters etcetera. If you are planning to hitch tents and camp out, then your luggage increases to double automatically. Most motor bikers do not want to carry their luggage on their backs while traveling because this is not only tiring, it is also pretty tedious. Riding along for long distances with a forty pound backpack is no one’s idea of fun, and therefore most bikers try to fit in Rosetta Stone Chinese their luggage into their bike’s original and added luggage compartments and satchels. In such a situation, Lightload Towels are a great help not just because they are lightweight and easy to carry, but because they can serve multiple purposes. Instead of carrying along a coffee strainer, you can use a lightload towel for this purpose. These towels are a considerable defense against the shining sun, cold winds and the bugs that you encounter while biking and camping. In case you need some first aid, then these towels are more absorbent and smaller to pack than gauze. Mountaineering: When you pack for mountaineering, each and every item that you pack needs to justify its purpose through serving multiple uses. Carrying a heavy load or unnecessary items can mean the difference between life and death in tough mountaineering situations. Lightweight towels are better than any other towels available in the market today for mountaineers because they weigh only half an ounce and take up space equal to that of a hockey puck. Not just this, these towels are extremely versatile and can act as a wind scarf, a fire starter and a first aid supplement. Since these towels take up such a small space, you can carry around a number of them in both sizes—12x 24 inches and 36x60 inches. Biking: Another adventure sport that involves the packing of multi purpose gear that can endure tough conditions!

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