Driving the renovation was Turrett Collaborative Architects; the resulting 9,332 square feet (plus 1,300 square feet of outdoor space) of pristine, high-end modern style would be just as much at home in one of Midtown's eight-figure condos, with six bedrooms, six full baths and four half baths, Siberian white oak floors, yards of luminous white marble and custom millwork, the aforementioned elevator, a wine cellar, seven zone HVAC system, and a security system.
The garden level chef's kitchen was designed by of-the-moment Seattle kitchen outfit Henrybuilt, whose minimalism-and-wood style is instantly recognizable in the custom millwork, which is joined by lots of marble and high-end appliances. The rear of the kitchen is open to the room above, creating an airy, double-height space.
An informal dining area opens through a wall of sliding glass doors into a landscaped garden, which has an outdoor kitchen for easy entertaining.
On the parlor level, the living room features a gas fireplace; adjacent is a more formal dining room, a butler's pantry and wet bar–there's even a dumbwaiter (we wonder if it was the home's original one) to ferry dishes to a chef's pantry on the level below. A finished cellar level contains a media room, a skylit den, a game room, a wine cellar and storage.
The entire third floor is comprised of the master suite, highlighted by a gas fireplace and private balcony that overlooks the garden. Like the kitchen, the master bath spares no expense with finishes and comfort, with a deep soaking tub, a walk-in steam shower and Waterworks fixtures.
There are more bedrooms (two on each floor, though it looks like one is set up as a rather elegantly-appointed office) on the floors above and below the master, and there's another small bedroom on the garden level at the front of the house.
On the fifth floor, a large, sunny penthouse lounge shares the space with a large terrace and stunning views that include the Empire State Building and One World Trade Center. The neighborhood, of course, commands top dollar, it's just a question of which particular dollar that is. The home has been on the market for a year with no takers; on the other hand, all it takes is one–a number every flipper can count to.


You have deemed to have read, understand and accepted the following terms and conditions (collectively called the Service Assurance Policy).For purposes of clarity,shall be referred to as "The Company" in this policy.
We adopt a mindset of quality excellence and innovative so that our level of service to our customer will continually be enhanced.
A deposit of 50% of total tour fare is required upon reservation.
Payment of deposit does not constitute the confirmation of the tour.All group packages are subjected to a minimum group size (as determined by the company) in order for confirmation to take effect and for the departure date to be finalized.
A non-refundable deposit, whose amount, will depend on the type of air ticket purchased and the airline chosen, is required for the reservation of air tickets.This will be made known at the time of purchase and a receipt will be issued for this deposit and the balance indicated to be paid within the stipulated period.
A non-refundable deposit, whose amount, will depend on the type of air ticket purchased and the airline chosen, is required for the reservation of group tickets.This will be made known at the time of purchase and a receipt will be issued for this deposit and the balance indicated to be paid within the stipulated period. The materialized for this group will also be indicated for the agreed price.
* A : Category 1 is limited to time frames in which the intended period of travel, which is between the date of departure and date of return; includes any period gazetted as school holidays,public holidays or peak period as determined by airline/tour operator.
between the date of departure and date of return does not include any period gazetted as school holiday, public holidays or peak period as determined by airline/tour perator.
Please note that the Company is acting as an agent for services rendered. Even after deposit or full payment has been made, all arrangements are still subject to final confirmation. If for some unforeseeable circumstances the arrangement cannot be finalized and the tour reservation has to be cancelled, the Company will endeavour to notify the Customer at least one (1) week before departure date The Company also reserves the right to cancel any tour prior to the date of departure for whatever reason including, but not limited to, insufficient number of participants. Should any of the above happen, the entire payment shall be refunded to the Customer without further obligation on the part of the company. The Company may however, recommend alternative tours to the same or some other destinations. Should the Customer decide not to accept the alternatives, all monies paid shall be refunded in full by the Company without further obligations. The Company shall also not be held liable for any contingent costs incurred by the Customer arising from the cancellation.Customer shall receive the refund not later than 7 working days upon the company notifying the Customer of the tour cancellation.
Any refund will depend on the type of ticket purchased and the airlines' term and conditions. This will be stipulated on the ticket and made known to the customer at the time of purchase.
Please note that all refunds shall be made out in the original form of payment.
Customers may wish to amend specific components, where applicable, within the Tour Itinerary (for example, upgrading of hotels, signing up for optional tour itineraries etc). All requests for amendments must be made in writing not less than 14 days prior to departure date. The Company will revert to the Customer within 5 working days upon receiving written notice of the request for amendment.
The Company reserves the right to charge an amendment fee of S25 per person for each amendment requested for by the Customer. This fee will exclude all other charges imposed by the Airlines/Suppliers.
Extension of stay/deviation from tour itinerary may be permitted at the end of the tour,subject to a minimum validity and restrictions of air ticket seat confirmation,airlines' terms and conditions and availability of hotel prior to commencement of tour. It is the customer's responsibility to hold firm confirmation for the return flight. When extension of stay/deviation from tour from tour itinery cannot be confirmed 3 weeks prior to the group departure date,customer is deemed to be taking the original tour schedule. All extra costs incurred to process the extension/deviation, for example administrative fees,will be borne by the customer.Extension of stay/deviation from tour itinerary will be at Customer's own expense and transfer to airport will not be provided.The air ticket issued is a special ticket, restricted to a specific airline only. It is non-negotiable, non-endorsable, non-reissuable, non-refundable and non-reroutable. Any alternation in routing or dates by the Customer is at his/her own risk. The Company and its associated agent shall not be held responsible for any inconvenience caused and extra expense incurred. No refund will be made for any unused air ticket, accommodation, meals or sightseeing, in part or in full.
It is the Customer's responsibility to ensure that his/her international passport has a validity of at least 6 months from the date of departure. Relevant visas and vaccinations may be required. Cancellation fees apply for any cancellation due to non-approval of visas or other reasons as stated above. Singapore permanent residents are to bring along a valid exit permit when traveling. For foreign passport holders, it is the Customer's responsibility to hold valid re-entry visas.
The Company shall, whenever possible, assist the Customer in obtaining the necessary visas. Service and visa fees will be borne by the Customer.
The Company does not guarantee the approval of the visa application. If for some reason, application for visa or exit permit is rejected, the Customer must notify the Company at least 30 days prior to the departure date. Administrative fees will apply. If notification is less than 30 days, the relevant cancellation charge as stated above will apply.
The Company issues Travel Vouchers from time to time as part of its promotional activities. The voucher is usually designed in a form of a letter. The terms and conditions for the redemption of Travel Vouchers are clearly spelt out in such letters sent out to eligible Customers.
In the event the accommodation booked or requested for is not available, every effort will be made for an alternative in another accommodation of similar standard. This is subject to confirmation and availability.
Children below twelve (12) years as on the date of departure are eligible for child fare. Child fare is based on sharing a room with two (2) adults. There will be an additional cost for a child sharing one room with an adult.
Payments by Customers can be made via Cash, Credit Cards and Cheque. All payments have to be made out in Singapore Dollars. For Cheque payments, we will take steps to effect bookings only after the cheque is cleared by the bank in our favour.
We are committed to the avoidance of over or undercharging. To ensure accuracy of charging, it is our policy to list clearly all prices including Goods and Services Tax where applicable, in our Sales Invoices and Communications Materials.
We will also clearly indicate any additional charges for extra services that may be incurred by the Customer.
The Company provides delivery of documents to Customers upon request. Such services is provided at $5 per delivery.
Telephone communication at 65-62942011 Mondays to Fridays from 9.00 am to 6.00pm and Saturdays from 9.00 am to 3pm.
We will investigate and act to resolve areas of concerns. Our interim response is within 2 working days (or 48 hours). Depending on the complexity of the case, our time taken to resolve the complaint is within 18 working days.If we are unable to solve the complaint amicably, we are prepared to appear in any other mediation channels like Casetrust and Natas for the proper closure of this complaint.
We will safeguard, according to strict standards of security and confidentiality, any information the Customer share with the Company. The Company will limit the collection and use of Customer's personal particulars/information to the minimum and for the sole purpose of completing the transaction as well as facilitating the smooth delivery of services.
Every effort shall be made to ensure that the integrity of the Customer's personal particulars and confidential information entrusted to the Company are not compromised unless required to by law. The Company also undertakes not to divulge the Customer's personal information to any unauthorized third party without his/her prior written consent.
The Company and its associates act only as an agent for the transportation companies, hotels and other principals for the Company's programmes. As such, the Company and its associates accept no responsibilities for injuries, damage,accident,loss,delay,theft,quarantine, customs regulations,strike, changes in itinerary, deportation, or refusal of entry by Immigration Authorities resulting from improper travel documents, possession of unlawful items or irregularities that may be caused to person or property. Any losses and expenses incurred are the responsibility of the Customer. Please note that possession of proper and valid documents is the sole responsibility of the Customer.
The Company reserves the right to require any individual to withdraw from the tour if his/her act of conduct is deemed detrimental to or incompatible with the interest, harmony and welfare of other tour members and the tour as a whole.
The Company shall be under no further liability thereafter to any such individual. No tour leaders/guides or other employee or agents of the Company are authorized to commit the Company to any liability whatsoever and the Company will not be bound by any statement or representation unless in writing and signed by a management executive of the Company.
The Company reserves the right to take photographs and films of Customers while on tour with the Company to be used for brochures advertising or publicity materials.
Written consent will be sought from the Customer for use of such materials in publications and any other form of advertising.
This Service Assurance Policy complements the terms and conditions contained in the relevant documents provided by third party service providers such as airline or cruise tickets, hotel check-ins etc.


At Grace Prep we our constantly self-reflecting and evaluating the satisfaction level of our students and families. Our goal is to ensure that the students and families who choose Grace Prep continue to choose Grace Prep for years to come. Be it academics, athletics, or finances, we want our families to have the best experience possible.
Financially, this coming year, we sought to increase satisfaction by introducing an all-inclusive tuition structure. Also, with this new structure, we are redefining how we think about and handle generosity. To decrease such things as "donor fatigue" and that feeling of being "nickel and dimed," Grace Prep has decided to eliminate all auxiliary fundraising.
Moving to an all-inclusive tuition structure has allowed us to meet all the basic needs that your child might have while participating in clubs, athletics, and other events. Because of such, we no longer have a need for booster clubs, class fundraisers, cookie sales, etc… Moving forward, if teams, clubs, or classes want to raise money, they have to do so in a non-transactional way. We desire transformation not transaction. This means that all fundraising endeavors will be, 1) generally off campus, and 2) transformative, in the form of service oriented fundraising. This will help our students begin to understand the difference between seeking a transaction and striving for gospel transformation.
Our prayer is that all of our families will "GO" and participate in at least two of these Generosity Opportunities. Your participation in these events will help us sustain our school and provide for our many families.


text:
By Leonard Klie Editor, Speech Technology and CRM magazines
Speech Solutions
Voicemail-to-Text
>>>>> Business Problem: You're in a business meeting or seminar and need to check your phone messages. But that would be inconvenient and impolite.
>>>>> Technology Solution: Voicemail-to-text
>>>>> Pricing: Varies by carrier and monthly plan options.
Product: Yap Voicemail-to-Text
Delivery Method: Service platform.
Functionality: Yap's service converts voicemail messages to text that can be delivered as email or text messages, promising fast turnaround and no message limits. The company's approach allows inexpensive bundling of voicemail-to-text with other services. Voicemail messages can be stored, indexed, and forwarded.
Business Benefits: Users never have to dial into their inboxes again, and because the service is 100 percent automated, it ensures reliable delivery of messages while keeping them private and secure. Urgent messages can be delivered almost immediately, reducing response time to voicemail that would otherwise be trapped in an inbox.
Contact: Yap at 1-704-960-1776; www.yapme.com.
Product: VoiceCloud Voicemail-to-Text
Delivery Method: Hosted service.
Functionality: VoiceCloud converts messages to text and sends them to a user's phone as email or text messages with the original audio file attached. Customers can record their own greetings. The basic plan starts at $9.95 a month for 50 messages; unlimited messaging costs $19.95 a month. The service currently supports only English, but VoiceCloud is working to expand the service to support Spanish, German, French, Russian, and Arabic. VoiceCloud also has a powerful developer API that enables third-party applications and other providers to offer voice-to-text functionality.
Business Benefits: VoiceCloud is compatible with most major U.S. carriers and supports both fixed and mobile networks. It includes unlimited transcription, storage, and retrieval, plus a specially designed interface for the iPhone and 24/7 customer service and support.
Contact: VoiceCloud at 1-619-694-4940; www.voicecloud.com.
Product: Nuance Voicemail-to-Text
Functionality: Nuance Communications combines its Dragon NaturallySpeaking automated speech recognition with human transcriptionists to deliver voicemail as text, email, or visual voicemail messages. The system learns each caller's voice over time, delivering improved accuracy and automation rates with use. The application currently supports U.S., U.K., and Australian English, and American and European Spanish.
Business Benefits: Users spend less time listening to and navigating voicemail messages. In addition, they don't have to write down information contained within messages or worry about recordings being deleted. Users can respond to messages by clicking the
reply icon.
Contact: Nuance Communications at 1-781-565-5000; www.nuance.com.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


This time of year, I'm usually too busy making epic Jell-o shots (edible glitter FTW) to execute anything approaching a "party hairstyle." If you, too, lack the time and skill level to tease, curl and pin your mop into anything presentable — and let's be honest, I'm lucky if my hair is even clean — then a simple add-on is the way to go. A chic accessory is really all you need; anything more would be overkill. Here are eight trimmings to elevate your look and leave plenty of time to make a makeup statement, too.
This is like a more deliberate version of the gift ribbon that we've all festively tied on our heads after a bottle and a half of Prosecco.
When was the last time you saw a famous person with her elastic showing? The only thing that separates a sad ponytail from a fancy ponytail is a clip like this one. Models wore these exact barrettes on Jason Wu's Spring 2014 runway.
This may or may not be the Hanukkah equivalent of an ugly sweater, but I say run with it. Not in the market for a $637 hair accessory (at least it's 30 percent off)? DIY one instead.
According to the New York Times, tiaras are the new power scrunchies. This one is very Magi-chic.
Speaking of scrunchies, this accessory is so "Michelle Tanner on the Full House Christmas episode" that it just might work.
Step one: use one of these bobbies to pin back your hair to one side. There is no step two.
Oh look, someone made a $15 version of Céline's Spring 2015 circle clip.
Obviously I'm wearing this to the Beauty Blitz holiday party.


1986 House Bill 2885. An Act Providing For The Periodic Review Of The Tenure Status Of Government Employees.
Title 1986 House Bill 2885. An Act Providing For The Periodic Review Of The Tenure Status Of Government Employees.


What are the best choreography apps for Android? It's not easy task to find the best choreography software. Here are top and most downloaded choreography applications of all time.
Check out following categories and popular choreography apps or jump to the latest choreography apps.
Which choreography app is best for Android? Download choreography app for Android like Groove Studio - Dance Classes. Try to decide for yourself.
That were all of the choreography apps in our archive. Jump to the best choreography apps or go back to all Free Android Apps. Don't forget that top apps like Groove Studio - Dance Classes are free for download.
Are choreography apps safe? All choreography APKs uploaded to our mirror are scanned for malware and virus free. You can download choreography APK files safe and secure. If there is no APK mirror available go to Google Play and download safe from there.
Browse media content about top choreography software or shop choreography apps. You can also watch videos of choreography apps.


Girolamo Savonarola goes to Bologna where he knocks on the door of the Convent of San Domenico, of the Order of Friars Preachers, and asks to be admitted. As he tells his father in his farewell letter, he wants to become a knight of Christ.
Sunrise in Bologna was at 5:54 AM and sunset was at 6:00 PM.
Girolamo Savonarola's studies are interrupted when he is sent to the Dominican priory of Santa Maria degli Angeli in Ferrara as assistant master of novices.
Instead of returning to Bologna to resume his studies, Girolamo Savonarola is assigned as lector, or teacher, in the Convent of San Marco in Florence.
Girolamo Savonarola delivers apocalyptic sermons in San Gimignano as a Lenten preacher.
After a short, tense occupation of the city, and an intervention by Girolamo Savonarola (as well as the promise of a huge subsidy), the French army resumes its journey southward. Savonarola declares that by answering his call to penitence, the Florentines had begun to build a new Ark of Noah which had saved them from the waters of the divine flood.
The said offering was made. And he preached again in Santa Maria del Fiore, and ordered that a procession should be made, in order to thank God for the benefits received.
16th December (Tuesday). Nothing but the sermons of the said Frate.
21st December (Sunday). He preached again; and still he did not wish any women to come; he went on discoursing about State matters, and great fear was felt lest the citizen should not agree. Chi la volava lesso e chi arrosto (One wished it boiled and another roast): i.e . everyone had a different opinion, one agreed with the Frate, and another was against him; and if it had not been for him there would have been bloodshed.
This evening it was permitted by the Lord, about 2 at night (10 p.m.), in the Via tra' Ferravecchi,(1) near the Volta della Luna,(1) that my son Benedetto was stabbed in the face, across the cheek, by no means slightly; and we cannot think by whom. We believe it must have been a mistake, as he has never offended anyone or suspected anyone of having a grudge against him: it happened in punishment of our other sins. I freely pardon the aggressor, as I hope that the Lord may pardon me, and I pray God to pardon him and not send him to hell for this.
22nd December (Monday). It was said that the king was still at Viterbo; everyone went on talking of the French, of Rome, and Pisa, and how Rome would not give a safe-conduct. The Duke of Calabria had arrived there, to resist the French.
This day many things were voted in the Palagio: Anyone who slew a man could not return to Florence; and a law as follows against the unmentionable vice: the first time the offender to be punished with gogna,(1) the second time, to be fastened to a pillar, and the third time, to be burnt; and many other laws, all recommended by the Frate.
Sunrise in Viterbo was at 5:56 AM and sunset was at 6:03 PM.
Sunrise in Rome was at 5:56 AM and sunset was at 6:03 PM.
28th December (Sunday). Fra Girolamo preached, and again wished no women to be present. There was a great crowd; it was judged that there were always 13 to 14 thousand people at his sermons. Everyone felt very distrustful, fearing some trouble in the beginning of this new government.
1st January. The new Signoria entered into office, and it was a great joy to see the whole Piazza filled with citizens, quite different from other times, as a new thing, thanking God who had given this impartial government to Florence, and delivered us from subjection. And all this had been done at the instigation of the Frate.
6th January (Tuesday). The Epiphany. The "Eight," in searching for money, found in San Marco 1200 florins belonging to Ser Giovanni. Some gave the blame to Fra Girolamo; but in preaching he exonerated himself, saying that he had not known anything of this money, nor had he been applied to with regard to it.
11th January (Sunday). Fra Girolamo preached, and spoke much concerning the reforms in the city; and exculpated himself from various accusations, saying that there were devils who disturbed the life of the commune; and that they wrote forged letters, which made it appear as if the Frate had given Piero de' Medici hopes of returning in order to make the people turn against him. But nevertheless all this was untrue; he was entirely for the people and the common weal. He was calumniated by these foxes; but the truth would always prevail. It is the fact that he always encouraged this community of feeling amongst the people.
Girolamo Savonarola preaches his great Renovation Sermon to a huge audience in the Cathedral of Florence.
17th January (Saturday). Fra Girolamo preached; and concerned himself much about this peace and union of the citizens; and many of them began to grow angry with him, saying, Questo Fraluccio ci fa capitare male (This wretched monk will bring us ill-luck).
p85 8th April. Fra Girolamo preached in the Palagio, confirming everything that he had said before.
Pope Alexander VI excommunicates Girolamo Savonarola and threatens the Florentines with an interdict if they persisted in harbouring him.
After much debate and steady pressure from a worried Florentine government, Girolamo Savonarola withdraws from public preaching.
Fra Girolamo Savonarola, Fra Domenico, and Fra Silvestro Maruffi are led out in the morning into the main square where, before a tribunal of high clerics and government officials, they were condemned as heretics and schismatics, and sentenced to die forthwith. Stripped of their Dominican garments in ritual degradation, they mounted the scaffold in their thin white shirts. Each on a separate gallows, they were hanged, while fires were ignited below them to consume their bodies. To prevent devotees from searching for relics, their ashes were carted away and scattered in the Arno.
Sunrise in Arno was at 5:52 AM and sunset was at 5:59 PM.
In Florence, the Piagnon, a group devoted to the memory of Girolamo Savonarola, drive out the Medici for a second time, re-establishing the Republic of Florence until 1530.


Can we talk? In the wake of Joan Rivers' untimely death this past September, loyal Fashion Police fans have been wondering who could possibly fill the big (but oh-so-chic) shoes she left behind on her trademark snarky style show. One contender: the always-feisty Kathy Griffin.
"They did offer it to me," the comedienne told Access Hollywood of Rivers' former gig on Tuesday, Nov. 4, Griffin's 54th birthday. She noted, however, that she had reservations about accepting. "I don't know if the situation is correct at this time for me, or right for me at this time," she admitted.
She would like to see Rivers' legacy live on, though — regardless of whether she's the late icon's successor. "I really hope they continue in the spirit of Joan's work. She brought a fearlessness and a brand of humor into our homes that we really need," Griffin told Access of her mentor and friend. "Somebody's gotta be out there poking fun at the ridiculousness of all this!"
Rivers' Fashion Police co-hosts, including Giuliana Rancic, Kelly Osbourne, and George Kotsiopoulos intend to do just that — beginning with the 2015 awards season. Producers announced two weeks after the star's death that the show would go on, despite earlier reports about its uncertain future.
"We decided, with Melissa Rivers' blessing, that Joan would have wanted the franchise to continue," E! News announced on Sept. 19. "Fashion Police will return in 2015 commencing with Golden Globes coverage on Monday, January 12. No further details will be announced at this time."
The network then honored Rivers with a day-long Fashion Police marathon, culminating in a special Fashion Police tribute episode for what they called "Joan Day."


The audit committee's role is mainly to monitor the BONESUPPORT's financial position, to monitor the effectiveness of the company's internal control, internal audit and risk management, to be informed about the audit of the annual report and consolidated financial statements, and to review and monitor the auditor's impartiality and independence. The audit committee shall also assist the nomination committee in proposals for decisions on the election and remuneration of the auditor. After the annual general meeting on 22 May 2018, the audit committee is comprised of Tone Kvåle (chairman) and Lennart Johansson.


Has anyone any new information on when the ability to add waypoints to our navigation routes, or just to choose an alternate route from the one 'suggested' might be available?
I don't want to drive on I-95. I'd prefer I-77 to the same destination.
I haven't seen anything other than wishlists for this, but if you run google in parallel on your phone, the car's nav should update once you get on the alternate route. Not ideal, but it may work as a workaround for the moment.
It is definitely on my wish list.


text:
Latest National taxes News
US, EU agree to intensify talks on 'green subsidies' dispute
WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States and European Union agreed Monday to intensify talks to resolve EU concerns over major subsidies for American companies contained in a U.S. clean energy law. Although no deal was reached at a meeting of the bilateral bilateral Trade and...
Argentina eyes $100 billion as US will share banking data
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — The U.S. and Argentina agreed on Monday to have their tax agencies automatically share data about citizens' banking and investments in each other's countries. The government in Buenos Aires hopes this will lead to an estimated $100 billion that Argentines have tried...
Liz Weston: Make the most of new rules for charitable giving
Dec. 05, 2022 11:01 AM EST
Most people no longer get a tax deduction when they donate to charity. That shouldn't keep you from making donations, but you may want to change your approach. Typically, only taxpayers who itemize deductions can write off charitable contributions. The vast majority of taxpayers...
Orban says Hungary will stick to veto of EU-Ukraine aid plan
BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Hungary's prime minister said Friday that he will continue to oppose a European Union plan to provide an 18-billion-euro ($19-billion) aid package to Ukraine in 2023, a position that promises sustained tensions as the bloc and the nationalist Hungarian government wrangle...
EXPLAINER: US-European differences on climate law persist
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Thursday tried to allay concerns raised by French President Emmanuel Macron about a clean energy law that benefits electric vehicles and other products made in North America. But the U.S. and Europe remain divided over the landmark law. ...
Editorial Roundup: South Carolina
The Times and Democrat. November 30, 2022. Editorial: S.C. makes itself more attractive to the military South Carolina continues to grow as a military-friendly state. South Carolina is home to eight major military installations and more than 417,000...
Editorial Roundup: Georgia
Valdosta Daily Times. November 29, 2022. Editorial: Not too late for flu shot It is not too late to get a flu shot. The stress on the health care system by a very active flu season, persistent COVID-19 and an increase in RSV patients is palpable but the...
IG: Tax audits in years of Comey, McCabe reviews were random
WASHINGTON (AP) — A watchdog investigation initiated after the tax returns of two former FBI directors were subjected to intensive audits during the Trump administration has concluded that the reviews from those years were conducted at random. The Treasury Inspector General for Tax...
Treasury making Trump taxes available to House committee
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Treasury Department said Wednesday it has complied with a court order to make former President Donald Trump's tax returns available to a congressional committee. The Supreme Court last week rejected Trump's request for an order that would have prevented the...
Iraqi PM: Probe recovers part of $2.5B embezzled from taxes
BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraq's government said on Sunday it will recover part of nearly $2.5 billion in funds embezzled from the country's tax authority in a massive scheme involving a network of businesses and officials. Approximately 182 billion Iraqi dinars, or $125 million, of the...
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text:
Best Way To Play Rising Rates With ETFs [Select Sector Financial Slct Str SPDR Fd, iShares Dow Jones US Insurance Index ETF, SPDR KBW Regional Banking (ETF)]
With the Federal Reserve signaling interest rate hike sooner and faster than expected, investors have started looking for some profitable avenues in the rising interest rate environment.
Fed's Latest Comments
In the latest FOMC meeting, the Fed stated that it would continue tapering and made another $10 billion reduction in the bond-buying stimulus to $55 billion. The Fed chairperson –Janet Yellen – also said that the timing of increase in interest rates would no longer depend on the unemployment rate threshold of 6.5%, but instead be a combination of employment and inflation indicators.
Interest rate could remain low for "a considerable time", about six months after shuttering the monthly bond purchases, which most analysts expect by the year-end. As such, short-term interest rates are expected to move up by the middle of 2015.
This change in the timing of possible interest rate hike roiled the global stock and bond markets, resulting in higher yields. However, the financials sector, especially banks and insurance, are seeing strong inflows and is the main beneficiary of a rising interest rates environment (see: all the Financial ETFs here).
ETFs to Consider
Investors could definitely tap this space by investing in the following ETFs and could avoid the single stock risk as well.
Bank ETFs
A rising interest rate scenario would be highly profitable for the banking sector. This is because banks seek to borrow money and pays out short-term rates, and lends back the capital at long-term rates. Though the current ultra-low rates have reduced borrowing costs for banks, it has also has taken a toll on the lending rates, which the bank receives, thereby affecting their net margins.
When interest rates rise, banks would be able to earn more on lending and pay less on deposits. This would expand net margins and boost banks' profits. Further, U.S. banks now have much stronger balance sheets and their earnings picture continues to improve with economic revival.
Given improving fundamentals, the best way to ride out the surge in this corner of the broad financial market is with SPDR S&P Regional Banking ETF (NYSEARCA:KRE). This is one of largest and the most popular ETFs in the banking space with AUM of nearly $2.6 billion and average daily volume of more than 3 million shares.
The product follows the S&P Regional Banks Select Industry Index, charging investors 35 basis points a year in fees. Holding 81 securities in its basket, the fund is widely spread out across each security, which minimizes the company specific risk thanks to an equal-weigh approach. However, small cap dominates the fund's return at 65%, followed by mid caps (24%) and large caps (11%).
The fund added about 4% in the past five trading sessions and currently has a Zacks ETF Rank of 2 or 'Buy' with 'High' risk outlook.
NYSE:IAK, NYSE:KRE, NYSE:XLF
3 ETFs Crushing Eurozone Competition [Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF, iShares S&P Europe 350 Index (ETF), GLOBALXFTSEPORTUGAL20ETF]
ETFs To Watch On The Candy Crush IPO [Facebook Inc, Zynga Inc, Twitter Inc, Google Inc, Coupons.Com Inc]


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Q: How can I prove if 2 datasets are separable or not? I want to create a classification model, derived from real spectral measurements. My data is in the form of samples x features. The number of features is 424 and the number of samples is in the order of tens of thousands for each specimen. By using e.g. a non linear SVM classifier, I can see that some specimens are differentiated very well and some others are confused one with each other. By looking at the raw data, the misclassified ones are indeed very similar.
Is there any official metric that can tell if two datasets are separable or not? I would like to know this to see if there is any point in trying furtherly to improve the classification results or not.
Thank you a lot in advance!

A: Given your definition of "separable", any data set is separable. E.g., if you have 10000 observations you can add a qualitative predictor to your model, an observation id, that has 10000 distinct levels. Then it won't be a problem to obtain perfect classification.
In other words, the "separability" you are referring to very much depends on the available predictors. It is possible that, apart from the trivial solution above, there are some meaningful predictors that result in perfect classification, but you don't know what they are.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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Category Archives: Eating out
Eating Out: Proper Gander, High Street, Tywyn
On the last day of his visit, on 12th September, my father and I went into Tywyn to eat at a restaurant called Proper Gander. A quirky name. I had picked up a leaflet for it in Dai's Shed and checked out the website and the menu looked splendid, emphasizing that most of the produce used is sourced locally. The Welsh lamb, beef and pork come from the Aberdovey butcher in Chapel Square. The sea bass, lobster and crab are from Dai's Shed in Aberdovey or from an alternative source in Tywyn, and the Menai scallops and oysters are from Pwllheli. There is also a wine bar downstairs selling Welsh ales, ciders, whiskey, gin and vodka. I am amazed that Proper Gander has been there for five seasons and I have only just noticed it. It has taken me a few days to write it up because I've been busy, but it was a great evening.
Proper Gander is a beautifully presented restaurant with a lovely warm atmosphere, recently redecorated, and can sit up to 45 covers. It was by no means full when we pitched up at 6.30 at the end of the season, but by the time we left five other tables were occupied.
Lam Adobo. Photograph from the Proper Gander website at http://propergandertywyn.com/about/
There were two menus, the standard menu, which includes an imaginative selection of vegetarian options, and a steak menu, and two wine menus from two different suppliers, one of which is based on Dolgellau. I was seriously tempted by the steak menu, but in the end went for a more adventurous choice. The food was divine. I chose grilled halloumi and za'tar with harissa-infused yogurt on a bed of tiny salad leaves with pomegranate to start, followed by lamb adobo, described on the menu as pancetta-wrapped lamb stuffed with a filling of Porcini mushrooms, fresh oregano, mint, parsley, garlic and shallots, and served with with peppers, courgettes, tiny diced red onion, creamed mash and a wonderfully fresh chimichurri sauce. My father chose pear and stilton pate with a pear chutney followed by squid ink risotto and hake with asparagus, sugarsnaps and samphire. It was all cooked to perfection. My father waxed particularly lyrical about the cooking of the hake, but it was all gorgeous, and beautifully presented. The wine was excellent and didn't bankrupt us. Other meals that were going past also looked stunning, and next time I go I will be torn between some of their wonderful seafood choices or diving headlong into the steak menu.
The Boer War memorial showing Proper Gander at far right. Photograph by Arthur C. Harris, licensed under Creative Commons CC BY-SA 2.0
We were welcomed warmly and were served with friendly professionalism. We had lots of questions to ask about the restaurant and how long it had been there, and it was great to be able to chat. When we left, we said goodbye to the chef and returned home feeling very pleased with a great, celebratory evening.
If you are looking for the restaurant on a first visit, it is at the opposite end of the High Street from the railway station, immediately opposite Neptune Road and the memorial to the Boer War. There is plenty of parking at this time of year. Enjoy!
Proper Gander can be found at:
www.propergandertywyn.com
This entry was posted in Eating out, Living, Local Produce, Tywyn on September 22, 2018 by Andie.
Eating Out – The Britannia Inn, Seaview Terrace, Aberdovey
The Britannia Inn has had ups and downs on the food front over the last two decades, as one would expect. After a disappointing meal several years ago we hadn't been back. But things change, so I had a look at the sample menu on their website. It looked good so I suggested to my father, who is visiting at the moment, that we give it a whirl. I phoned and booked in for 6.30pm the Saturday night. A friendly voice on the other end of the phone confirmed the booking and we looked forward to it.
The Britannia Inn, Seaview Terrace, Aberdovey
It was a nice, truly convivial evening. The Britannia is a building with history, about which I hope to be talking in a future post. Inside there was nothing visible of its past as a coaching inn, but the exterior retains much of its original personality. The staircase up to the restaurant is endearingly scuffed, while the restaurant itself is neat, polished to within an inch of its life and well-ordered, with pale paintwork in pastel shades, and a surprisingly modern central black brickwork feature, which must have been an open fire in its past, which had recesses holding candles. In the summer it is possible to sit outside on the balcony and enjoy the view, but at this time of year it is certainly an indoors job.
When we arrived there was only one other couple in the restaurant, apart from a small group in the annexed part of the restaurant. I was really surprised that we were directed to a table immediately next to the other occupied table, particularly given that there were three other tables for two unoccupied, and the last was only occupied an hour after we arrived. We were seated on the cushioned settle, at Table 2, which is a corner table, meaning that we were sitting adjacent to each other, rather than opposite one another. I was sitting with my back to the boring window that overlooks a plain wall, and had views over my father's shoulder out to the sea. But my father, with his back to the view, was faced with the two nice but noisy people at the next door table consuming their meals. It would have been much nicer, given that the restaurant was empty, to be allocated a table where we could have chatted rather more peacefully.
The menu treads a pragmatic line between pub food and restaurant style dishes. For example, for the main courses there was battered haddock and chips, scampi and chips, a burger, two types of steak with tomatoes and mushrooms and similar familiar pub meals, but there was also dressed crab, fried goats cheese with salad, and plaice in lemon and caper sauce, amongst others.
We ordered a bottle of sparkling water, and were presented with a small jug, with ice. That was fine. Having decided what we were going to eat, we then ordered some wine. There were three classic French wines on the menu and we ordered the Sancerre. The waiter went away, only to return a couple of minutes later to say that it was out of stock and what would we like instead? The Pouilly Fuissé. A couple of moments later he returned to say that actually they only had the Chablis in stock. Hey ho, we ordered that instead, and when it arrived it was perfectly acceptable.
I always think that it's rather antisocial to photograph meals in restaurants, so please take my word for it that when both starters and main courses turned up, they were attractively presented. My father selected the haddock goujons with tartar sauce to start, and it arrived with a mixed side salad – a very colourful and pleasing plate, and he said that the battered goujons were very good. My tiger prawns in garlic and chilli butter, accompanied by a warm bread roll were excellent, although the chilli was incredibly mild. I asked for a chunk of lemon to squeeze over it, and it was produced with great good will and a big smile.
We both had the plaice fillet in a lemon and caper sauce. It could be served with chips, vegetables or salad, but we both ordered chips. I am guessing that the plaice was poached, because the texture was quite soft and the flavour was very delicate. It was a generously large piece of fish, with the best skin (the black side) still attached. The lemon and caper sauce was generous and full of flavour. I prefer my chips crisper on the outside and fluffier on the inside, but that's a matter of personal preference. We were offered a selection of condiments and again asked for more lemon slices, which were produced instantly.
The service throughout was helpful, prompt and friendly. Our early 6.30 booking was strategic for a late booking on a Saturday night, and as the restaurant began to fill up it was good to see that right at the end of the season they were doing good trade. There were all age groups present, everyone chatting in low voices, and the music on the speakers was audible without being intrusive.
I can't remember the exact bill but it was something over £70.00 and with the 10% tip that I chose to add, rounded up for ease of computation, it came to £80.00, of which around £30.00 was the Chablis.
In all it was a nice, undemanding evening out and we enjoyed it.
The Britannia Inn – address, phone number and website address:
The Britannia Inn,
Seaview Terrace,
Aberdovey, Gwynedd,
LL35 0EF
https://www.britannia-aberdovey.co.uk
This entry was posted in Aberdovey, Aberdyfi, Eating out, Living on September 8, 2018 by Andie.


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Home Uncategorized Priests in Congo 'flee to the forest' amid wave of violence against...
Priests in Congo 'flee to the forest' amid wave of violence against the Church
Congo (Friday, April 7, 2017, Gaudium Press) Congolese bishops say that 'each passing day sees new killings and burning of religious buildings'
Congo's bishops have said Catholics are facing a new wave of violence following the collapse of a Church mediation plan, and in some places Church leaders have fled to the forest.
In late March, the bishops abandoned attempts to arrange a government-opposition power-sharing settlement and, within days, violence erupted in eastern Congo.
"The militias are continuing their macabre operations – each passing day sees new killings and burning of religious buildings," said a statement on the bishops' conference website.
"The worst affected is the Diocese of Luebo, where the bishop's house, library, sisters' convent and vehicles have been burned, and priests and religious have fled to the forest with other inhabitants. The situation is harsh and unbearable."
The statement followed attacks on church personnel and property in Congo's Kasai and Kivu regions.
Bishop Sebastien Muyengo Mulombe of Uvira said the situation in Kivu had been exacerbated by the arrival of 15,000 refugees from neighbouring Burundi, adding that he had been forced to suspend wages to teachers at local church schools after a delivery driver was killed in a robbery.
"The militias are arming young people who can't continue studies and have no work; in these conditions, for $20, you can manipulate whomever you wish," the bishop told France's Catholic La Croix daily April 3. "We are in a state of permanent insecurity, of car-hijacking, pillaging and killing. These are reported to us each day."
Source Catholic Herald
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Oil – to deep fry.
1. Soak dhal in water for 2 hours.
2. Cook drumsticks and scoop out the pulp.
3. Grind dhal and roased gram together to coarse paste.
4. When it is half of done add chilles, small onions, crushed garlic and drumsticks pulp and salt.
5. Grind again for few seconds.
6. Add aniseeds, chopped onions and mix well.
7. Soak dhal in water for 15 minutes.
8. Drain water completely and grind to coarse paste preferably in stone grinder using minimum water possible.
9. Add salt, cumin seeds and 3 tbsp of hot oil along with the above mixture to the dough.
10. Make small balls and pat on a wet cloth to make thin vadai.
11. Make a hole in the centre and deep fry in hot oil.
Remove yellow stigma from the banana flower and chop finely. Steam it in cooker till one whistle sound withsalt. Instead of drumstick use this cooked flower in the above recipe.
Feel free to comment or share your thoughts on this Drumstick Vadai (Murungaikai Vadai) Recipe from Awesome Cuisine.


Harvard's global ambitions to study and know more about the world, and to send more students out into it, were triply boosted at the end of the spring term with the creation of a new post—vice provost for international affairs—and the announcement of two major gifts to foster that work in Latin America and Asia.
Dillon professor of international affairs Jorge I. Domínguez, director of the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs from 1996 through this June, will fill the new position. "His appointment will address an important need at Harvard for leadership, coordination, and oversight," said Provost Steven E. Hyman. Domínguez's brief includes developing University-wide programs and policies for international research and education, working with deans and faculty members to create research collaborations and facilities, and maintaining information about Harvard activities outside the United States. He chaired a task force that reported to the provost on these matters in 2004.
On May 12, David Rockefeller '36, LL.D. '69, pledged an additional $10 million to support the Center for Latin American Studies (DRCLAS), which he helped found in 1994 and which bears his name. The gift helps to endow the center's work as a new director takes its helm and as its network of field offices expands, accommodating a large number of visiting students and faculty members.
On June 7, Harvard announced that the family foundation of Victor Fung, Ph.D. '71, and William Fung, M.B.A. '72, had made a $15-million gift to enhance Asia studies throughout the University. The three-part gift supports the regional- and international-studies libraries newly consolidated in the Center for Government and International Studies complex and named for the brothers' father, H.C. Fung. It also endows the directorship of the Asia Center, home to conference and publication series, fellowship programs, and undergraduate education and research (www.fas.harvard.edu/~asiactr). And it will enable undergraduates to travel to Asia for research, study, and internships, and will bring Chinese students to Harvard to pursue degrees in fields such as architecture, business, education, government, or public health.
In the most recent 12 months, that number has grown to about 1,100, according to Jane Edwards, director of the three-year-old Office of International Programs—strategically and symbolically located in the center of Harvard Yard, directly below the FAS dean's office in University Hall. The office informs undergraduates about the array of experiences available (there are 15 Harvard Summer School programs abroad, for example), and works with faculty members to create more opportunities.
Edwards (who in August becomes associate dean of international affairs at Yale College) spoke at a symposium on international education, sponsored by her office and DRCLAS, on the afternoon of May 12. Gutman professor of Latin American affairs John Coatsworth, DRCLAS director and chair of the FAS committee on education abroad, reviewed the growth in financial aid for summer study, and the use of funds to prompt professors to develop courses incorporating international experiences. Reischauer Institute of Japanese Studies associate director Theodore J. Gilman seconded that point, noting that faculty members no longer simply urged students to "go away," but now offered, "Let's do this together" in field-based classes.
David Rockefeller, who has seen more than six decades of prosperity and progress, struggle and conflict in Latin America, said great changes are under way there, of a direction "quite unclear." DRCLAS participants, he hoped, would make a difference in how the hemisphere evolves. Citing the "pleasure and satisfaction" the center's work had brought him, he earmarked $1 million of his gift for doctoral fellowships in Latin American history, in Coatsworth's honor. The torch then passed to the Kennedy School of Government's Merilee Grindle, Mason professor of international development, who succeeds Coatsworth as DRCLAS's second director. A political scientist who has written seven books on rural development, democratic governance, and education reform, she has been associated with the center since its founding.


meaning ashley only has to spend 9 million of the carrol sale.
Bendtner and larsson to Newcastle! Tiote to spurs, him and Barton hate each other. Tiote was off in January until we sold Carroll and Newcastle pulled the plug incase of a backlash from fans. Possible that palacios may be included in deal.
Whilst it appears to make some level of sense does anyone know if the Smith to Leeds rumour is true?! I know you want shot of him that much is pretty damn obvious!
Rumour is we are only bringing ONE striker in Bloody ONE. Well i hope its Ronaldo or Messi cos the strikers there now are absolute s***e! !
Pardew will make probs 2 big signings and then replenish the squad with players from the championship and league 1. Ashley has done us time and again so don't expect him to change and spend serious money. Money too on the Mackems going down next season when agent Bruce wastes the next 20m or so on rubbish.
IF Newcastle decide to sell Jonas in the transfer window they'll enquire about purchasing Andreas Guardado from Deportivo after their relegation from BBVA.
Two midfield deals are due to go through in the next two weeks. The midfielder is, as previously guessed by several others, Deigo. The deal has been rushed through in the past four days after Liverpool pulled out due to a switch in targets. Diego has been touted by much bigger teams than Newcastle, several of whom are in Europe next season, but the player is keen on the EPL, and has supposedly chosen Newcastle over Aston Villa and Fulham.
The more suprising news is that Newcastle are in the late stages of wrapping up a deal for Swedish international Rasmus Elm, who ply's his trade for AZ in Holland. The player is expected to fetch a fee of around £4million.
Also, NUFC have, along with several other EPL and european teams, made initial enquiries into the availabilty of Owen Hargraeves on a deal similar to Michael Owen's current deal at Manchester United. However, the former England international is either expected to seek a move back to North America with a MLS side for one last season, or call it quits on his career.
The mystery midfielder has been named as Owen Hargreaves on a pay as you play deal! ! !
why the hell would they go through 5 hours of negotiatons to bring that injury prone plonk.
the mystery midfielder will be matudi or menez for a fee of about 7-9m. newcastle will also sign sturridge for 10m and nzobia for 10m. expect a few up and coming players as well for 2-3m and a few free agents. if enrique will leave it will be for no less than 10m and mbengue will be looked at for around 6m.
Ive heard the DM is Blaise Matuidi, the french international who plays for st etienne.
he is contracted to St Etienne until the end of season 2012/2013, and he is valued at 7.5M-10M.
on the main site someoen has posted that Defoe is at SJP. When does the window actually open? Has anyone else seen him or got any more info on this?
some of the proposed signings are very tasty! I wish !
"I can say that because he's an international player not someone who belongs to one of the bottom four battling relegation"
100% Owen Hargreaves on a free.
Didier Drogba spotted in Newcastle supporters shop with Derek Lambias.
News just in that newcastle will sign 7 top players from around the world.
I have heard that we are due to sign Mehdi Abeid in the coming weeks. However, I don't think that this is who Pardew has been hinting at. I think it could be Diego to be honest.
Yeah I've heard this a few times but don't know much about him so I couldn't make a judgement.
Enrique is already away in his head, his performances latterly have dropped so we should just get as much as we can for him. I have a sneaky feeling he may be on his way to Barcelona as they lack a quality attacking left back to complement Alves.
I'd replace him with Gibbs or Van Arnhoult.
Hopefully we can re-sign N'Zogbia and pick up Sturridge and partner him with Defoe or Osvaldo but we also need a new right back as Simpson is not good enough. Not sure who though Hutton/Corluka/Bosingwa????
Cant be, because hes not a full international.
In Pardews interview he said nothing is going to be happening transfer wise until a couple of weeks the midfielder deal could be off.
Newcastle United are interested in Standard Liege centre back Eliaquim Mangala and Victor Wanyama who plays for Germinal Beerschot's.


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Explora Journeys unveils Inaugural Journeys Collection
Explora Journeys, the new luxury lifestyle travel brand of the MSC Group, has unveiled its first year of journeys. From May 2023, EXPLORA I will take guests to a harmonious mix of both well-known and off the beaten path destinations.
New luxury lifestyle brand Explora Journeys has shared details of its inaugural season. The Inaugural Journeys Collection features a collection of journeys that offer the perfect blend of celebrated destinations and lesser travelled ports. The Inaugural Journeys Collection covers the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, the UK, Iceland, Greenland, Canada, the U.S. East Coast, Caribbean, South America and Hawaii.
In its inaugural year EXPLORA I will visit 132 ports in 40 different countries, including two destinations – Kastellorizo, Greece and Saint Pierre, Martinique – that have not been visited by cruise ships before. Sailings start from 6-night journeys and culminate in a 44-night Grand Journey
Seamless and efficient booking process
Explora Journeys provides a seamless and efficient booking process for guests who can choose their preferred way to book either via their preferred travel advisor, contacting an Ambassador at the Explora Journeys` Experience Centre or reserving their dream journey now also online through Explora Journeys' website.
Michael Ungerer, the CEO of Explora Journeys, commented "This is one more step forward in our development of a truly defining and highly desired, luxury lifestyle brand. It's another step completed in our go-to-market approach. Having launched initially exclusively to travel advisors, we are now delighted to give our guests the option to book their journeys online, should they wish to do so.
Mr Ungerer added, "EXPLORA I and our subsequent three ships will allow guests to enjoy a more immersive, authentic experience and a slower pace of travel. They are designed to offer refined yet effortless luxury with the opportunity for exploration and transformation, offering our guests the chance to experience what we call an 'Ocean State of Mind' – a mindset that can be achieved when we escape to the ocean, relax, create memories and reconnect with what matters most in our lives."
Explora Journeys aims to transform ocean luxury travel through a synergy of beautiful ships and immersive, remarkable itineraries to provide its guests with the opportunity to discover further, travel deeper and linger a little longer at each destination.
Whether that's treading the cobbled streets of Europe's hallowed capitals and exploring the ancient Acropolis; navigating the crystalline cool of the Norwegian fjords sailing to the Svartisen Glacier. Or, savouring French chic in Saint Barth's, lolling beneath Hawaiian waterfalls and soaking up the sun kissed shores of Brazil's buzzing Rio de Janeiro, Explora Journeys plans to offer exclusive access far beyond the classic luxury ocean experience.
Explora Journeys' inaugural destinations
MEDITERRANEAN – May – June 2023
A Maiden Journey into Mare Nostrum
Barcelona, St Tropez, Calvi (Corsica), Rome, Fiskardo (Kefalonia), Istanbul, Athens
Mediterranean Grand Journey
Barcelona, St Tropez, Calvi (Corsica), Rome, Fiskardo (Kefalonia), Istanbul, Athens, Patmos, Bodrum, Kastellorizo, Santorini, Athens, Mykonos, Gozo, Ibiza, Barcelona
Mediterranean and Western Europe destinations
Barcelona, St Tropez, Calvi (Corsica), Rome, Fiskardo (Kefalonia), Istanbul, Athens, Patmos, Bodrum, Kastellorizo, Santorini, Mykonos, Gozo, Ibiza, Malaga, Cadiz, Portimão, Lisbon, Porto, St. Jean-de-Luz, Bordeaux, S aint-Malo, Honfleur
NORTHERN EUROPE – July – August 2023
Epic Fjords and Arctic Circle
Southampton, Kristiansand, Hellesylt/Geiranger, Ålesund, Molde, Trondheim, Svartisen Glacier and Arctic Circle, Narvik, Honningsvåg, Tromsø
Northern Europe Grand Journey
Southampton, Kristiansand, Hellesylt/Geiranger, Ålesund, Molde, Trondheim, Svartisen Glacier and Arctic Circle, Narvik, Honningsvåg, Tromsø Leknes – Lofoten Islands, Brønnøysund, Flåm, Bergen, Stavanger, Skagen, Copenhagen, Rønne, Helsinki, St. Petersburg, Stockholm, Visby, Riga, Klaipeda, Gdansk, Copenhagen, Göteborg, Oslo, Stavanger, Hamburg, Rotterdam, Bruges, Southampton.
UNITED KINGDOM – August 2023
Scottish Lochs and the Military Tattoo
Southampton, Edinburgh, Newcastle, Invergordon, Stornoway, Oban, Liverpool, Glasgow
Extended United Kingdom Journey
Southampton, Edinburgh, Newcastle, Invergordon, Stornoway, Oban, Liverpool, Glasgow, Fort William, Portree, Kirkwall, Lerwick – Shetland Islands, Thorshavn – Faroe Islands, Reykjavik
ICELAND & GREENLAND – September 2023
rctic Geysers, Calving Glaciers and Fiery Lands of Ice
Reykjavik, Akureyri, Isafjordur, Prins Christian Sund Waterway, Paamiut, Nuuk, Qaqortoq, Strait of Belle Island, Sydney, Saint John, New York City
Extended Iceland to North America Journey
Reykjavik, Akureyri, Isafjordur, Prins Christian Sund Waterway, Paamiut, Nuuk, Qaqortoq, Strait of Belle Island, Sydney, Saint John, New York City, Newport, Boston, Saint John, Gulf of St. Lawrence, Quebec City
USA EAST COAST & CANADA – September – October 2023
Atlantic Provinces and Canadian Maritimes
New York City, Newport, Boston, Saint John, Gulf of St. Lawrence, Quebec City
Extended North American East Coast Journey
New York City, Newport, Boston, Saint John, Gulf of St. Lawrence, Quebec City, La Baie, Baie-Comeau, Havre-Saint-Pierre, Charlottetown, Halifax, New York City
CARIBBEAN – November 2023 – March 2024
A Yachtsmans Paradise
Miami, Key West, Spanish Town, Deshaies, Falmouth Harbour, San Juan
British Isles, Creole Idylls & Miami Magic
San Juan, Gustavia, Basseterre, Samana, Ocean Cay, Miami
Panama Canal Passage
Bridgetown, Kralendijk, Willemstad, Oranjestad, Cartagena, Puerto Limon, Crossing the Panama Canal, Panama City
Caribbean Destinations
Miami, Key West, Spanish Town, Deshaies, Falmouth Harbour, San Juan, Gustavia, Basseterre, Samana, Ocean Cay, St. John`s (Antigua and Barbuda), Castries, Bridgetown, Roseau, Kralendijk, Willemstad, Saint-Pierre, Kingstown, Grand Turk (Turks and Caicos), Santa Marta, Cartagena, Colón, Soufriere, Bequia (Saint Vincent an the Grenadines), Oranjestad
SOUTH AMERICA, PACIFIC COAST AND HAWAII
Celebrating two Carnivals in Brazil – January – February 2024
Bridgetown, Devil`s Island, Fortaleza, Salvador De Bahia, Rio de Janeiro, Pôrto Belo, São Paulo
Pacific Coast destinations – March – April 2024
Quepos, San Juan del Sur, Puerto Quetzal, Puerto Vallarta, Ca bo San Lucas, San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Astoria, Victoria, Vancouver
Inaugural Hawaiian Journeys – April – May 2024
Hawaiis Volcanos & the Magic of Kai
Vancouver, Hilo, Honolulu
"NO KA 'OI" of Hawaii
Honolulu, Lahaina, Nawiliwili, Victoria, Vancouver
Extended Hawaiin Journey
Vancouver, Hilo, Honolulu, Lahaina, Nawiliwili, Victoria, Vancouv
For more details and bookings visit Explora Journeys.
Also read: 5 reasons why MSC Seascape is the ultimate wellness escape at sea
Tags: explora I, explora journeys, luxury travel
Poll: Should cruise lines cancel their visits to Russia?
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Visiting Asia»
Southeastern Asia
Vientiane: The City of Sandalwood
Updated on January 11, 2018
Mary Norton
Mary has been working in Southeast Asia since the 70s and when assigned in Vietnam, she learned how to do lacquerware.
Special Name of Vientiane
Sandalwood. Wiang-jun. This special name of Vientiane, Laos' capital city comes from Pali, the liturgical language of Theravada Buddhism and truly means sandalwood, a flower from India treasured for its fragrance.
What a wonderful, hopeful name for a city. What a vision it calls up of a lost history or misplaced hopes, of languid gardens and southern birds. As the French had difficulty pronouncing the hard "j" in Wiang-jun, they just called the place Vientiane. Well, at least they didn't call it Lyon or Nouveau Marseille.
Patuxai: lanes Independence Monument | Source
Vientiane: Laos' Capital City
It is believed that Vientiane was a Khmer (remember Cambodia?) settlement, scattered around a Hindu temple. But around the 11th and 12th centuries, the Lao and Thai came from Southern China and overtook the area in one of the endless tumblings of history that mark this much fought over land.
Records show that by 1354, the kingdom of Lan Xang was founded with Vientiane as its administrative city. The sandalwood image began to fade and when the French took over the area in 1893, Vientiane was in ruins, looted and almost empty, but nicely situated. So with the Mekong on their front door step as a highway to Vietnam and Cambodia they rebuilt old sandalwood to its next iteration and made it the capital of the protectorate, of French Indo-China.
Then came the Japanese in WWII in the 1940s, followed by the French exit from Indochina after Dien Bien Phu in 1954 and then a civil war ending with the Pathet Lao in power. Remember the Ho Chi Minh Trail? Lao may be the most bombed country in the world, but not Vientiane thank goodness. What a mess. At least sandalwood came back in the ruins to cover some of the evils of the times.
Attractions in Vientiane
Pha That Luang Temple in Vientiane | Source
1. Visit the Temples in Vientiane
There are a few sites to occupy tourists in Vientiane. It is a small city and pretty laid back still. This is so much a part of its charm. This is why tourists like to visit, to experience the rural atmosphere of a capital city.
Its most famous monument is the Buddhist Stupa, Pha That Luang. Originally built in 1566 by King Setthathirath, this golden stupa is believed to contain a relic of the Lord Buddha. Mind you, if all the bits and pieces scattered over Asia that are attributed to Buddha really were part of him, he must have been hydra headed and eight armed!
Built on the ruins of the ancient Khmer Hindu shrine, Wat Si Muang is a temple to see. In front of the temple is the statue of King Sisavang Vong. Behind the ordination hall which was built in 1563, the remains of the Khmer temple can still be seen. Legend has it that this temple is guarded by Si, the spirit of a local woman Nang Si who, as a sacrifice, leapt to her death as the pillar was lowered in the hole. Who knows? A quick tour of Italian cathedrals will offer up stranger tales than this!
Visit Wat Si Muang, an Old Temple
Used with permission. | Source
Laos Still A Laidback Destination
Laos is still a very laid back destination. But this is exactly what gives it its attraction. People come to experience the way people lived in the past, the simplicity of life that we long ago lost in many of our cities. It is the image of simplicity.
First, explore the capital city and then, get your guide book and reach out to the other places in Laos. You will not regret it. You can easily rent a car or take the bus. Before you go and plan your itinerary and information you need if you're travelling by bus. Not all places have frequent transport. Get suggestions on where to stay in the places you'll visit. Start your adventure.
Patuxai | Source
2. See Patuxai
Completed in 1968 to celebrate Laos independence, Patuxai is the most prominent landmark in the city. It looks like the arc de Triomphe in Paris except for some Lao symbols such as the kinnari, a mythical bird woman.
Given that the French sort of snuck away without much noise, the Patuxai is sort of laid back too.
3. Go to the Buddha Park
There is the Buddha Park built in 1958 along the edge of the Mekong River set around gardens and trees. It has a collection of Buddhist and Hindu sculptures and as a record of the ebb and flow of these two religions throughout Southeast Asia, it is quite a site.
Visit the Market
4. Shop in Talat Sao- Morning Market
For those of you who are aggressive souvenir hunters, go to Talat Sao - Morning Market. You will find real authentic local crafts and remember there are some unusual weaves and straws done by the indigenous folks such as the Hmong. Visit some of the stores in the main streets run by NGOs. Hand woven silk and other items are good buys here. But best of all, it will put you close to a brace of wonderful French-tradition restaurants that really are worthwhile.
In the evening, you can wander along the Mekong. It's a good walk and the expected stalls are best to try out your bargaining skills. Have fun but don't take the fun out of the Laotians trying to earn a few dollars from you. Beer Lao is praised by many as the best beer in the world. If only for that, Vientiane is worth a dekko.
Vientiane Visit
Have you visited Vientiane?
Yes, I have
Not yet but I am planning to
No, I don't think I'll ever have a chance
5. Cross the First Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge
Go across to Thailand
Built in the 1990s, it connects Vientiane to Nong Khai, a Thai city. About 18 kms long, this is a major through way between Laos and Thailand. If you are into bridges and causeways, this is a winner.
Sample Exotic Lao Food
Lao Food | Source
6. Try Laap in Vientiane
The French certainly left some of their culinary skills especially in their baguettes. There are a few restaurants still run by French expats. Typical Lao dishes are similar to its neighbours, the Thais, the Cambodians and Vietnamese. It is a rice based cuisine and uses fish sauce.
Try Laap, a dish of minced fish or meat with vegetables tossed with lime juice, garlic, pounded rice, green onions, mint leaves and lots of chillies. Most restaurants serve this dish. If you have tried Som Tam in Thailand, the Laos call it Tum Som, green papaya salad, a refreshing accompaniment to the other dishes especially fish and rice. The street food is fantastic. Two of us once ate to excess for less than a Euro.
Watch Lao cooking videos - Very interesting
7. Peek at the Laos Stock Exchange
A Step towards Capitalism?
The recently opened stock market in Laos has certainly highlighted the potential of its economy and has propelled state owned enterprises to go public. It has engaged the locals with grandfathers lining up on opening day to buy stocks as souvenirs for their grandchildren.
So far, two state run firms have been listed: Electricite du Laos Generation Company and the Banque Pour Le Commerce Exterieur Lao. Thai companies are seeking to enlist in the exchange and Cambodian companies are watching on the sidelines so they, too, can take the necessary moves.
Airport Pick Up of Settah Palace
Car Airport Pick Up | Source
Where to Stay in Vientiane
There are good choices of places to stay in Vientiane, but my favourite is the Settah Palace. Built in 1932, the same family still owns it and with the recent retro refurbishment, you sit at the bar waiting for Humphrey and Lauren or Sidney Greenstreet or maybe Catherine Deneuve to swing past the door. It has the whiff of intrigue and even some working fans to summon up the past. It is small enough that I am not underwhelmed by dozens of cookie cutter rooms.
Airport pick-up is in an old London cab, so you start ramping down to history from the get-go. And then the wonderful, colonial hotel (with all modern amenities). The place is an elegant symbol of the 30s. Yes, there is even some sandalwood and the gardens alone are worth the stay.
Settah Palace is right in the city center so it's an easy walk to most places. And when you get tired walking the dusty roads of Vientiane, you can come home to your hotel and chill in the garden. This typical Asian home garden with its trees and flowers in bloom is a relaxing place to hang out, meet your colleagues or business partners or relax there yourself and write your travel journal especially in the middle of the day when the sun just makes walking a test to one's comfort.
You still can walk the streets of Laos without seeing the stores you often see in most cities you visit. The other "Brands" will all get there soon, but for now, this is sleepy hollow without a burger or burrito in sight. This is different, rural and laid back.
There are, of course other options for those who do not prefer this kind of a hotel. The links below will lead you to many alternatives, all appealing in different ways. The small guest houses close to the Mekong would be great places to stay as well and are usually a bargain.
Go to Luang Prabang from Vientianne
Don't just stay in Vientiane when visiting Laos. Go to Luang Prabang. Some of the most colourful pictures I have of Laos was of the night market in Luang Prabang with the Hmong minorities. The Hmong helped many Americans during the war in Vietnam.
How to get to Vientiane
Visas Available Upon Arrival
Bus services are available daily to Vientiane from Nong Khai, Udon Thani and Khon Kaen in Thailand.
There are direct flights from other Asian cities like Bangkok, Phnom Penh, Hanoi and it's easy to plan a circle route covering Lao, Vietnam and Cambodia.
© 2010 Mary Norton
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Have I missed anything on Vientiane? Please add other interesting things to do in Vientiane.
Leah J. Hileman
6 years ago from East Berlin, PA, USA
Looks wonderful. I had a conversation recently with a Christian missionary to Laos who just fell in love with the people and culture and said when she retires she would love to go for an extended stay there and revisit her favorite places.
crstnblue
Excellent lens, informative and sooo tempting!
Wish to have the chance to visit Laos someday...
Blessed!
7 years ago from Ontario, Canada
@anonymous: Thank you so much.
@Redneck Lady Luck: Happy you enjoyed your visit.
@Ram Ramakrishnan: It has gone a long way with even a new stock exchange.
Ram Ramakrishnan
The last time that I read anything substantive about Laos was during the Vietnam war when as a school boy I would pore over war reports in newspapers and magazines with my dad and mark the movements of adversaries on a large map of the Indo-China region. From the pictures in your lens, Laos appears to have come a long way in the almost five decades since then. Great lens!
Lorelei Cohen
8 years ago from Canada
I feel like I travel around the world as I visit the articles on Squidoo. What a wonderful journey and thank you for allowing me to visit Sandlewood Vientiane today.
Interesting, informative, lovely, great pictures and all together another delightful visit!
nort43
Each of the mekong countries seems to move at a different pace. Lao exudes peace and a sense of totally laid back.


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How Packaging Supports Formulations and the Consumer Experience
Jeb Gleason-Allured
Making the right packaging decisions can enable personal care and beauty formulators to bring new creations to market, boost efficacy, avoid issues such as product degradation and provide consumers with an optimal experience.
"Ideally, the packaging choice will be made with product characteristics and end-user considerations in mind," says Mark White (pictured), senior principal packaging engineer, Amway Corp., who will present "Packaging as an Extension of Formulation" as part of the Cosmetics & Toiletries Summit, taking place June 22–23 at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. (Registration is now open.)
He adds, "Based on characteristics of products, you can steer marketing to a more applicable package."
Getting Started: Refining the Package and Product Profile
Product development teams are well-served by beginning any project with a kick-off meeting comprising the formulator, the packaging engineer, the marketer, the process engineer and manufacturing. This dialogue will allow the parties to identify the must-haves and nice-to-haves for formulas and packaging, as well as what product claims are desired.
This in turn can lead to a discussion of what, if any, actives might be included, while procurement can begin to factor in packaging cost structures based on product specifications.
"You have that discussion to start refining the package and product profile," says White.
Benchmarks Don't Tell the Whole Story
"Everyone likes to be a little different," says White. "Sometimes there are good reasons that [products] are in certain packaging types, sometimes not."
To avoid problems, White explains, product aspects such as viscosity and rheology should be top-of-mind when making packaging decisions.
In many cases, the development team is given benchmark samples that allow them to understand the types of packaging, forms and products found within the competitive landscape. Creative teams may like one benchmark for texture, another for after-feel and yet another for packaging. Because these attributes may have little in common, choosing the right packaging can be a complex process. White says, "It's good to examine each product/package combination and ask 'what are you really trying to accomplish?'"
White offers the example of a formulation that may be too thick for a dip tube to perform ideally. While the pump may technically work, the product viscosity could create product cavitation around the dip tube, leading to inconsistent dosing or "spitting" of product.
The result? An annoyed consumer.
White notes, "If [packaging and formulators] were on the same page at the beginning and had a coordinated meeting where all interested parties could ask some questions … they could find something more suited to high-viscosity products."
Elongation, or "stringiness," of the product should also be considered in packaging decisions.
"For any product out there, if you pour it and then try to stop it, [ask] 'does the product break or does it string on continuously?'" says White. "If the product contains a lot of surfactants, it has a higher probability of stringing."
He continues, "If the plan is to put [the product] into a tube, immediately I'm worried about how the equipment's going to cut that off. More than likely I'm going to have a string that goes directly across the tube seal area, and when I try to seal it I'm going to contaminate the seal and have a leaker."
Knowing that a formulator wants to achieve a certain after-feel is good. Knowing which ingredients will be used to achieve this effect is even better. White notes that packaging teams should be highly aware of any formulations' ingredients to avoid performance or degradation problems down the road.
The best place to start is with high-level ingredients such as water, sunscreens or volatile silicones, or ingredients that require special consideration, such as oxygen-sensitive materials.
In the case of fragrance, White explains, packaging must preserve the scent for the life of the product, but must also be constructed to ensure the perfume materials do not "attack" elements such as closures or liners.
Conversely, if a formulation is rather mild, or low-maintenance, packaging teams seek to avoid over-packaging to avoid unnecessary costs.
Focus on the End-user
Ideally, packaging contains, protects and delivers formulations, but White notes that it is just as important to ask: "What is the end user looking for? How can I make their experience better?" The answers to these questions can often drive packaging choices or add-ons.
For instance, says White, consumers like to know where their fill level is so they can keep track of when they need to repurchase a product. To accommodate this, packaging engineers may opt to include a view strip, window or, in the case of a dip-tube package, a vignette spray on the top 80% of the product, with the bottom 20% rendered transparent to alert users to low fill levels.
Consumers also want to get every bit of the product out of the package, making product evacuation a crucial facet. Dispensing options are therefore paramount.
Convenience and ease of use must also be considered. As a result, says White, designing packaging that allows for easy application of product can play a key role in the consumer experience.
This can include application aids built into packages, including spot applications and sensory applicators.
For more insights into these and other packaging-formulating considerations, register for the Cosmetics & Toiletries Summit.
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Located just east of the Anacostia River in Ward 7 and adjacent to the Neval Thomas Elementary School, the 32,100 square-foot Educare facility currently provides quality early learning opportunities for approximately 157 infants, toddlers, preschoolers and their families.
Private and public funding help to create an effective, sustainable early education program for children and families who need it most.
Provides full-day, full-year, research-based programming.
Is 32,100 sq. ft. and is located in a ward with the 2nd highest poverty rate in the U.S.
Provides space for community gatherings.
Children of low-wage-earning families are eligible to apply.
Children from birth to 5 years receive individualized instruction by highly educated teachers in small classroom settings.
Social, emotional and educational skills are taught so that children can enter elementary school on the same level as children from higher income families.
Families learn how to support their children's education and development.
The community is offered educational opportunities and school events throughout the year.


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ALI DAVIES
HOME ABOUT BLOG CONTACT Login
Ali Davies helps people make changes in their lives, work, and businesses to achieve specific results. For the last twenty years, she has specialised in the human side of change and results.
She is the Creator of Change in Action, a practical, step-by-step process that teaches people how to create change to achieve what matters most to them successfully.
In addition, she is the Founder of Outside of the Circle, a global organization and community dedicated to helping successful high-level professionals redefine success to design their next chapter in life, work, or business at midlife and beyond.
Prior to this, she enjoyed a 14 year corporate career in organisations like Coca-Cola and Pepsi UK distributors managing large complex change projects and leading teams to improve performance, achieve goals, and transform results.
Ali has lived and worked in three countries. She is from England, lived in Ireland for seven years, and now lives in Canada.
Why I do what I do
What people want most is often just on the other side of change. But many people find creating and navigating change hard. Often, people don't have an effective process or the right tools to create and navigate change successfully. Change can bring with it significant challenges and obstacles that can feel like a mountain to climb. It can also trigger feelings like discomfort, uncertainty, fear, and self-doubt.
All too often, it is the human side of change that keeps people stuck. But it doesn't have to be this way.
My mission is to help you create and navigate change easier, faster, and for it to feel less of a struggle so that you achieve what matters most to you. That is why I created my Change in Action programme. It includes practical strategies and tools from my 34 years experience in personal, professional, and organisational change, to help you navigate both the logistical and human side of change successfully.
Over the last 20 years, I have created many changes in my personal and professional life, so I can relate to exactly what it really takes to create lasting change successfully at a personal level.
I had a great 14 year career in the corporate world but in 2000 I decided that living and working by the conventional definition of success didn't feel that fulfilling or meaningful to me anymore. So I decided to create my own definition of success, design the next chapter of my life and work around that, and to create and navigate the changes necessary to turn it into reality.
In 2001 I left the corporate world to run my own business (a long held dream). I have continued to take a design approach to all areas of my life and work for the last 20 years. I have made significant changes numerous times. For example, I left the UK to live in Ireland for seven years. I then moved to Canada in 2013 and eventually became a Canadian Citizen. There have been many other personal and professional changes over the years too.
I now live on an island near Vancouver on the West Coast of Canada. Island life allows me to live and work on my own terms, by my own definition of success.
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Q: Facebook ad having the app links not opening in app I have added meta tags as specified in docs
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<meta property="al:android:package" content="com.sample.com">
<meta property="al:android:app_name" content="ShareSample">
<meta property="og:title" content="example page title" />
<meta property="og:type" content="website" />

to handle deep links in-app
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When I click on the link I am not getting the deep link in the intent of the main activity getIntent .


Listen to it! We will stair-step quickly into more complex versions of this very popular beat pattern. I've heard it called so many different street names that I too am confused. I welcome the feedback of all professional Latino drummers on this one. What is the most common classic name for this beat? I've heard it called Lambada, Calypso and several other names.
Listen to the sound file repeatedly until you can imagine the sound without hearing it!
Listen again! Now, move that second snare note up to the high mounted tom. Practice until you can repeat the pattern at least as fast as the sound file. Even faster tempos are possible. I've set this sound file somewhere in the mid-tempo range.
WHAT ABOUT FILLS? It may be easiest to play all your early fills off the first bass. You may use nearly any of the routine classic fills you would attach to any rock beat at similar tempos. After all . . . this really is a glorified, syncopated 8th 4/4 (rock) pattern. Latin drummers tend to incorporate a lot of 'Timbali' type (power) rimshots into their fills. You will get the hang of this quicker by listening and playing along with various Latin recordings.
Video: For almost all other handheld devices and other browsers.
Copyright Bill Powelson 1996-2008-2014 all rights reserved.


On his resume, Tony describes himself as a "good-natured outdoor type." Amen to that. No one is as easy going, gracious, and gentlemanly as Tony. Living on Maui since 1981 has instilled him with the aloha spirit, and his studies of the Islands have given him a profound sense of Hawai'is history, culture, and natural world. He hikes, bikes, snorkels, dives, and kayaks, and needs an outdoor job to continue pursuing his passion for nature. "I also wanted to be associated with the most reputable company on the island," he says.
In addition, Tony has a full-time indoor job—fine dining waiter for the evening shift at one of Upcountry's best restaurants. He has been involved in restaurant work since 1979 and, as a result, is a very good cook. Tony claims to make the best banana bread on the island. We're here to tell you it's true.
Guest Quote: We went on a tour with Tony during our honeymoon. It was a fun, easy hike, and Tony was an excellent guide. He went above and beyond to ensure that everyone had a good time while learning about Hawai'i's agriculture. We took a lot of photographs, saw some beautiful sights, and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. We were very impressed with Tony's knowledge, passion, and enthusiasm. Thanks for the great experience, Tony!


The Tokelau is a series of four atolls which lie within the territory of New Zealand. A number of silver coins have been produced under the authority of the Tokelau via the Pobjoy Mint, one of the newest of which is the Tokelau Collection. Three popular coins from this collection include the Year of the Monkey, Colorized Snowflake Bear and Silver Hakula-Sailfish.
Released in 2016, these coins commemorate the Year of the Monkey. In Chinese culture the monkey is believe to be a clever and highly intelligent animal, and these 1 oz coins feature two monkeys, a large monkey and a smaller one.
This Tokelau series coin features a colorized image of a resting Brown Bear with a snowflake above.
Each of these coins features .999 silver and depicts an image of the Indo-Pacific Sailfish. It jumps from the water displaying its bill and dorsal fin. This species is regarded as one of the fastest swimmers on Earth.
Those who take coin collection or precious metals investment seriously will appreciate what we bring to the table. LPM is based in Hong Kong and has been in the precious metals business for more than seven years. During this time, we've emerged as the largest dealer in Asia and this is due to our industry-leading customer service, extensive inventory and excellent prices. We also do not charge hidden fees and we insure all our shipments. Shop for Tokelau collectibles at LPM today!