tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66807002721458197742024-02-18T17:46:51.860-08:00What to Do in Wonderful Pasadena, CaliforniaStephen Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03447613392145288408noreply@blogger.comBlogger93125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6680700272145819774.post-31369062929115842512013-03-22T05:17:00.000-07:002013-03-22T05:34:20.003-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="title" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold;">Old Pasadena Food Tasting Tour</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Experience the history, architecture and folklore of Old Pasadena with Melting Pot Food Tours! Colorful alleys and secret thru-ways spice up the walk as you seek out spectacular ethnic eateries and sweet stuff havens in historic Old Pasadena. Enjoy all the fascinating stories behind the foods when you explore this historic district, once just a sunny haven of colorful orange groves.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Here's what you can expect on the Old Pasadena Food Tour:</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">- Cafes and restaurants specializing in world cuisine (Middle Eastern, Asian, Peruvian, Oaxacan)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">- An authentic Italian gelato counter</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">- A tea bar and emporium</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">- An exquisite chocolatier</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">- An olive oil specialty store</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">- A handmade soap kitchen.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Whenever possible, you'll be met and hosted by these special merchants who proudly share their incredible offerings. The tour concludes back at the original starting point. The food samples along the way are filling enough so that for most people lunch or dinner afterward is not necessary.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Additional Tour on Thursday Evenings starting at 5:30PM</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">(April through October and December Holidays only).</span><br />
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<b style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">METRO DISCOUNT</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">: Save $5 on Adult Tour tickets with your METRO TAP card.</span><br />
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$53 per person; $28 per child 5-12yrs<br />
Stops include nine tastes both savory and sweet<br />
10:30am-2:00pm SAT & SUN<br />
<a href="http://www.meltingpottours.com/" style="color: #224568; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">http://www.meltingpottours.com</a><br />
(800) 979-3370</div>
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Stephen Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03447613392145288408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6680700272145819774.post-64751011414381652882013-03-20T06:19:00.000-07:002013-03-20T06:19:26.159-07:00One Night with Janis Joplin<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<strong style="font-size: 18px;">ONE NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN <span style="color: #dda04f; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></strong><span style="color: #dda04f; font-size: 14px;">Created, Written and Directed by Randy Johnson.</span><br />
<span style="color: #dda04f; font-size: 14px;"><sub>ONE NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN is presented</sub><br /><sub>in further association with The Estate of Janis Joplin<br />and Jeffrey Jampol of JAM, Inc.</sub><strong style="font-size: 18px;"><br /></strong><br />March 15 - April 21, 2013</span><br />
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ONE NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN, created, written and directed by Randy Johnson and starring Mary Bridget Davies, who gives an acclaimed performance as Janis Joplin, is a full-on concert experience and musical journey into the life and inspirations of one of rock ‘n’ roll’s greatest legends. With a voice like whiskey and a laugh like pure joy, Janis Joplin took the music scene by storm. Simultaneously rough and vulnerable, Joplin was dubbed the Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll, proving music wasn’t just a man’s world anymore.<br />
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ONE NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN also shines a spotlight on the great African-American blues artists who influenced Janis’ musical style and career, including Bessie Smith, Etta James and Aretha Franklin. This new musical event includes a live onstage band and features Joplin hits and classic songs such as “Piece of My Heart,” “Mercedes Benz,” “Me and Bobby McGee,” “Ball and Chain” and “Summertime” – creating a compelling portrait of an artist through the words and music of one of America’s greatest Rock ‘n’ Roll icons.<br />
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“Grab your tickets NOW before they sell out… DO NOT MISS THIS SHOW!” –<em> CBS</em></div>
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“Exhilarating … Remarkable … A joyful ruckus.” – <em>The Washington Post</em><br />
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“A feel-good, fist-pumping, must-see concert.” – <em>Cleveland Plain Dealer</em><br />
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“A second chance to experience the power of her live performance” – <em>Portland Monthly</em> </div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> "The </span><a data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/page.php?id=5863113009&extragetparams=%7B%22group_id%22%3A0%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/latimes?group_id=0" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none;">Los Angeles Times</a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> calls ONE NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN "electric" & proclaims it a Critics Choice!"</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">http://www.pasadenaplayhouse.org/box-office/mainstage/one-night-with-janis-joplin.html</span></span></div>
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Stephen Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03447613392145288408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6680700272145819774.post-5883338987509917222013-03-18T06:18:00.001-07:002013-03-18T06:18:15.709-07:00Old Pasadena Walking Tours<span class="title" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold;">Old Pasadena Walking Tours</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Pasadena Heritage members, friends and visitors will have more opportunities to tour Pasadena’s original downtown. New for 2013, the Old Pasadena Walking Tour is being offered monthly on the first Saturday of each month.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Old Pasadena has gone from drab and dingy to a shopping and dining destination but without Pasadena Heritage, it would have been demolished! When founded 35 years ago, saving Old Pasadena was a top priority. Now it is one of the finest examples of downtown revitalizations in the country. As you wander Old Pasadena with one of the trained docents, you will find many beautiful and unusual details. During the research process, it was discovered that the old alleyways had remained virtually unchanged since Pasadena’s earliest days. Some alleyways even retain their historic signs, which are protected today.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><b style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">First Saturdays in 2013:</b><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">February 2, March 2, April 6, May 4, June 1, July 6, August 3, September 7, October 5, November 2, and December 7. </span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">BEAR BUILDING (photos below)</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Located on Colorado Blvd. and Fair Oaks Avenue </span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">• Built in 1902, it once housed a cigar factory </span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">• Façade was updated in 1929 by architect Walter Folland </span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">• Spanish Colonial Revival, with baroque detailing such as medallions, columns, and corner towers & entry </span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">• Use of rounded, enlarged windows to establish the corners </span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">• Awnings were redone using a scrap of original fabric that was found during renovation </span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">• The Mecca Room painted ceiling has been restored (visit Louise's Trattoria to view)</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">About Pasadena Heritage</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Pasadena Heritage is a nonprofit organization dedicated to historic preservation in and around Pasadena, California.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><br />
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$12 members/$15 non-members<br />9:00am - first Saturday of the month<br /><a href="http://www.pasadenaheritage.org/" style="color: #224568; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">http://www.pasadenaheritage.org</a><br />(626) 441-6333</div>
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Stephen Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03447613392145288408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6680700272145819774.post-46188681127554083772013-03-15T06:52:00.000-07:002013-03-15T06:52:47.067-07:0010 Ways to eat out on the cheap.<br />
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You may not have to give up restaurants to stick with your
budget -- a little planning and flexibility can make a big difference in your
bill.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">By <a href="http://www.usnews.com/money" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, tahoma, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Kyle James, U.S. News &
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<strong>The cost of dining out</strong></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Dining out is still considered by many to be one of
life's luxuries: no prep time, no dirty dishes and no menu planning.
Unfortunately, it can also be a vacuum for your monthly food budget. While the
restaurant industry continues to feel the effects of less disposable income
among consumers, this puts you in the driver's seat as restaurants try to gain
new customers via promotions. Here are 10 ways to use their promotional avenues
to save money on your next meal out.</span></div>
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<strong>Dine midweek</strong></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Stay away from dining on weekends if possible. To entice customers to dine on slower nights, many restaurants offer midweek specials that can save you up to 50% off your entrée. Typically, these specials occur on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, considered the two slowest nights of the week for restaurants</span></div>
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<strong>Early-bird specials</strong></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Dine before 6 p.m. and take advantage of early-bird
specials. While these specials are typically associated with the elderly, they
are available to all customers and offered at many dining establishments. These
specials are also a great way for families with young kids to save money and
still be home for bedtime.</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><strong>Dine at the bar</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt;">A number of restaurants offer a special bar menu that is
considerably cheaper than the regular menu. If you are dining alone or "with the
guys," this is an especially useful money-saving tactic. Also, many restaurants
offer a happy hour every afternoon, which includes drink specials and appetizer
deals.</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><strong>Have a snack first</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">
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<span style="font-size: 10pt;">While this tip alone may not save you money, it will
help prevent the condition of your eyes growing bigger than your stomach.
Grabbing a light snack before you head out to dinner can curb the desire to
order a huge meal.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><strong>Share an entree</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">
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<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Take advantage of big portions by splitting one with a
dining companion. Additionally, many restaurants offer a "meal for two" special
of, say, fajitas -- an order guaranteed to save you some money</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><strong>Beware of expensive drinks</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">
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<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Be aware of the high costs of specialty beverages, as
they can easily cancel out the savings you get from strategies like dining
early, using coupons or sharing a plate. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><strong>Dine out for lunch</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">
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<span style="font-size: 10pt;">On average, lunch menus are 25% cheaper than dinner
menus. Oftentimes the lunch menu is similar, with the only difference being
portion size. If you have the flexibility to dine at lunch it can save you some
substantial money.</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></div>
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<strong>Discounted gift cards</strong></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Midpriced restaurants are becoming more and more
promotional in recent years in an attempt to get customers in the door. Some
chain restaurants, for example, are directly discounting their gift cards as a
backdoor way of lowering menu prices. Keep an eye out for offers like a $100
gift card discounted to $80.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt;">
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<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><strong>Get social</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">
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<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Follow the Facebook page or Twitter feed of your
favorite restaurants and eateries. Many post exclusive deals and coupons, so
give these social media outlets a quick glance before heading out the
door.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><strong>Use coupons</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">
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<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Your ability to find a discount or coupon directly
depends on you taking the initiative to search the Internet or your local
newspaper, so take a few minutes to search for a restaurant coupon before dining
out. After all, there's no sense paying full price on your next meal when a
coupon is available for the taking.</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></div>
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Stephen Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03447613392145288408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6680700272145819774.post-71016188890506640942013-03-13T03:52:00.000-07:002013-03-13T03:52:24.426-07:00Bargains at Pasadena Museums<br />
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Pasadena and its surrounding communities are home to a wealth of museums, and even for those on a budget, it’s hard to beat the selection. The following all offer free admission to certain groups or on certain days—and for that, we’re grateful.</div>
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<strong style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Norton Simon Museum</strong>411 W. Colorado Blvd., Old Pasadena<br />626.449.65840, <a href="http://www.nortonsimon.org/" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #0854c7; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">nortonsimon.org</a></div>
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<a href="http://hometown-pasadena.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Picture-12.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #0854c7; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><img alt="Picture 12 300x218 Bargains at Pasadena Museums Pasadena museums free Events art photo" class="size-medium wp-image-33167 " height="196" src="http://hometown-pasadena.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Picture-12-300x218.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); display: block; margin: 0px 0px 5px; outline: 0px; padding: 4px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Picture 12 300x218 Pasadena museums free Events art photo" width="270" /></a><div class="wp-caption-text" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 0.7em; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 10px 10px 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;">
Patrons at the Norton Simon</div>
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For fans of retro architecture, the building itself—a 1969 design by Pasadena-based architectural firm Ladd & Kelsey, is worth checking out. Step inside, and you’ll find works by Degas, Warhol, Gaugin, Picasso, and many other world-renowned artists. Cheaper (and closer) than LACMA, with an amazing collection, it’s a must-visit for art enthusiasts. Free parking in the museum’s lot.<br /><strong style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Free admission for students and children.</strong> $10 for adults. Closed Tuesdays.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial, verdana, tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20.15625px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 10px 10px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Pacific Asia Museum<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border: 0px; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">46 N. Los Robles Ave., Pasadena</span></strong>626.449.2742, <a href="http://www.pacificasiamuseum.org/" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #0854c7; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">pacificasiamuseum.org</a>Built in 1924 as a residence and gallery for pioneering art collector and entrepreneur Grace Nicholson, the Pacific Asia Museum has one of the premier collections of Asian art in Southern California. The building, designed by Pasadena architects Marston, Van Pelt & Maybury, is on the National Register of Historic Places, and houses more than 15,000 objects from Persia to the Pacific Islands spanning over four thousand years. Lectures, performances, workshops, classes, and festivals are frequently offered.<br /><strong style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Free admission the fourth Friday of the month.</strong> Daily admission: $7 for students and seniors; $9 for adults.</div>
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<strong style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Pasadena Museum of History</strong>470 W. Walnut St., Pasadena<br />626.577.1660, <a href="http://www.pasadenahistory.org/" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #0854c7; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">pasadenahistory.org</a>A museum that provides fascinating insights into the history of Pasadena, from the Native American period to the present. It was voted “Best Museum” in the Pasadena Weekly 2011 Reader’s Choice awards. Ongoing events and rotating exhibits are featured. Their <a href="http://www.pasadenahistory.org/research/archiveslibrary.html" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #0854c7; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">archives</a>, located in the basement, and open Thursday-Sunday, are an exceptional resource for historians. (It’s where <a href="http://hometown-pasadena.com/history/" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #0854c7; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">“History Buff”</a>gets most of its photos.) Gardens are free daily.<br /><strong style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Free admission every Wednesday</strong> to anyone who lives Pasadena or surrounding cities. General admission: $5-$8. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.</div>
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<a href="http://hometown-pasadena.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Japanese_Garden_by_slonecker-1.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #0854c7; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><img alt="Japanese Garden by slonecker 1 300x240 Bargains at Pasadena Museums Pasadena museums free Events art photo" class="size-medium wp-image-33196 " height="216" src="http://hometown-pasadena.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Japanese_Garden_by_slonecker-1-300x240.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); display: block; margin: 0px 0px 5px; outline: 0px; padding: 4px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Japanese Garden by slonecker 1 300x240 Pasadena museums free Events art photo" width="270" /></a><div class="wp-caption-text" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 0.7em; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 10px 10px 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;">
Japanese garden at the Huntington</div>
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<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial, verdana, tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20.15625px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 10px 10px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Huntington</strong>1151 Oxford Road, San Marino<br />626.405.2100, <a href="http://huntington.org/" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #0854c7; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">huntington.org</a>The former estate of railroad magnate Henry Huntington, this combination library, art gallery and botanic garden houses a staggering collection of rare literature, including first drafts of Henry David Thoreau’s <em style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Walden</em>, Benjamin Franklin’s autobiography, a Gutenberg bible, and even the collected papers of poet Charles Bukowski. The botanic gardens are some of the most unique in Southern California, with themed areas, such as the Australian garden, desert garden, herb garden, Japanese garden, and rose garden. Ongoing exhibits are offered. For art fans, don’t miss “<a href="http://huntington.org/huntingtonlibrary_02.aspx?id=10028" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #0854c7; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Dreams, Disasters, and Reality: Goya’s Prints from the Huntington’s Collections,”</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-size: 20px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>running through January 9, 2012.<br /><strong style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Free the first Thursday of every month, but</strong> you must <a href="http://www.huntington.org/huntingtonlibrary_02.aspx?id=844" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #0854c7; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">reserve tickets</a> ahead of time (at least two weeks in advance). <span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: brown; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">No more tickets are available for Nov. 3 Free Day. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Tickets for Dec. 1 Free Day will be available on Nov. 1 at 9 a.m.</span> Admission for non-members is $15 on weekdays, $20 on weekends. $6 for children. Closed Tuesdays.</div>
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<strong style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden</strong>301 N. Baldwin Ave., Arcadia<br />626.821.3222, <a href="http://www.arboretum.org/" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #0854c7; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">arboretum.org</a><br />A sprawling 127-acre botanical garden and historical site, the Arboretum is known for its diverse plant collection, which includes many rare and endangered species. Colorful peacocks, brought to the area by Arcadia’s founder, “Lucky” Baldwin, roam the grounds. Films buffs take note—many movies have been shot here over the years, including <em style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The African Queen</em>, and various Tarzan films.<br /><strong style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Free on the third Thursday of every month.</strong> Daily admission: Adults $7, children $2.50.</div>
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<a href="http://hometown-pasadena.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/page_about.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #0854c7; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><img alt="page about Bargains at Pasadena Museums Pasadena museums free Events art photo" class="size-full wp-image-33200 " height="243" src="http://hometown-pasadena.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/page_about.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); display: block; margin: 0px 0px 5px; outline: 0px; padding: 4px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="page about Pasadena museums free Events art photo" width="183" /></a><div class="wp-caption-text" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 0.7em; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 10px 10px 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;">
Pasadena Museum of California Art</div>
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<strong style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Pasadena Museum of California Art</strong>490 E. Union St., Pasadena<strong style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></strong>626.568.3665, <a href="http://www.pmcaonline.org/" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #0854c7; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">pmcaonline.org</a>A relatively new kid on the block, this museum opened in 2002 and showcases California art, design, and architecture, from 1850 to the present. Current exhibitions include “Roland Reiss Personal Politics: Sculpture from the 1970s and 1980s” and “Beneath the Surface: NASA’s Juno Mission to Jupiter.”<br /><strong style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Free the first Friday of every month</strong>. Admission: $5 for seniors and students; $7 for adults. Closed Monday and Tuesday.</div>
Stephen Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03447613392145288408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6680700272145819774.post-41683683375808288172013-03-07T11:48:00.000-08:002013-03-07T11:48:11.166-08:007 Tech Essentials for Any Kind of Travel<br />
<br />
<header class="article-header" style="background-color: white; color: #555555; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><figure class="article-image" style="margin: 0px;"><div class="microcontent-wrapper" data-fragment="lead-image" style="clear: left; margin-left: 40px; position: relative;">
<img alt="Tower-of-power" class="microcontent" data-fragment="lead-image" src="http://rack.1.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzAxLzEzL2E2L3Rvd2Vyb2Zwb3dlLmU0NmVjLmpwZwpwCXRodW1iCTk1MHg1MzQjCmUJanBn/27b56714/058/tower-of-power.jpg" style="border: 0px; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" /></div>
</figure><div class="article-info" style="-webkit-transition: margin 0.2s; margin: 28px auto; max-width: 525px; width: auto;">
<a class="byline" href="http://mashable.com/people/andreasmith/" style="color: black; display: inline; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.3rem; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; text-decoration: none;">Andrea Smith</a><time class="date" datetime="Sun, 13 Jan 2013 20:05:32 +0000" style="color: #8a8c8e; display: inline; font-size: 1.3rem;">Jan 13, 2013</time></div>
</header><section class="article-content" style="-webkit-transition: margin 0.2s; background-color: white; color: #555555; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.5rem; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 1em; max-width: 525px; width: auto;"><div style="margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0.75em;">
I’m what you would call an <a href="http://mashable.com/category/ces-2013/" style="color: #0c74a6; text-decoration: none;">International CES veteran.</a> I’ve been covering the trade show long enough to know what kind of items I need to have on hand to get me through the long days and nights — and I’m not just talking comfy shoes.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0.75em;">
Reporters walk a lot during the course of the day, and we carry plenty of gear. We depend on our laptops and cellphones to communicate with the rest of our team, as well as to file stories. Wi-Fi and cellular signals are also essential, but don’t always work the way they’re supposed to when there’s a lot of network traffic, so bringing backup is key.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0.75em;">
Here are the essentials I take with me when packing for any kind of travel:</div>
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Chargers</h2>
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6680700272145819774" name="m!48c6" style="color: #0c74a6;"></a></div>
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<span class="lightbox-expand for-lightbox" style="cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; position: relative; width: 485px;"><img alt="Innergie Magic Cable Trio" class="" data-width="1741" src="http://rack.2.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzAxLzEzL2Q0L2lubmVyZ2llbWFnLmYxZmNlLmpwZw/04a9a1ef/78e/innergie-magic-trio.jpg" style="border: 0px; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" title="Innergie Magic Cable Trio" /></span></div>
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<em>Graphic courtesy Innergie</em></div>
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One day, we'll live in a perfect world where every device will use a universal charging connector. Until then, we have Innergie's <a href="http://www.myinnergie.com/mct/default.aspx" style="color: #0c74a6; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Magic Trio</a>. It's a charging cable that provides three connectors in one: mini USB, micro USB and a 30-pin connector. This was my best friend throughout the show. I was able to charge almost all my devices with it, using either my laptop or plugged into a USB-to-AC adapter. What's more, "Magic Trio" may soon become "Magic Quartet," as the company will be adding a Lightning connector to the cable after Apple gives its approval.</div>
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Power</h2>
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6680700272145819774" name="m!b9fb" style="color: #0c74a6;"></a></div>
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<span class="lightbox-expand for-lightbox" style="cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; position: relative; width: 485px;"><img alt="Belkin Surge Protector" class="" data-width="2059" src="http://rack.1.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzAxLzEzLzIwL0JlbGtpblN1cmdlLjk4NjlhLmpwZw/03d9bd59/5aa/Belkin-Surge-Protector.jpg" style="border: 0px; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" title="Belkin Surge Protector" /></span></div>
</div>
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<em>Graphic courtesy Belkin</em></div>
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The press room can get pretty packed with reporters trying to work and charge up their devices at the same time. I never travel anywhere without my Belkin mini<a href="http://www.belkin.com/us/BST300-Belkin/p/P-BST300;jsessionid=7E0024C9F6C79DB178EA0277B6E527E8" style="color: #0c74a6; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">surge protector</a>. It provides three extra outlets and two USB ports; this came in handy when there was just one open outlet left where I was sitting; I was able to plug in and add two more devices, as well as two items that charged via USB. Then, someone next to me asked if he could add his brick to mine — we created quite the tower of power (pictured above).</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0.75em;">
<a href="http://mashable.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/tower-of-power.jpg" style="color: #0c74a6; text-decoration: none;"></a><br />
<em>Photo by Mashable</em></div>
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Extra Power</h2>
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6680700272145819774" name="m!234b" style="color: #0c74a6;"></a></div>
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<span class="lightbox-expand for-lightbox" style="cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; position: relative; width: 485px;"><img alt="MyCharge" class="" data-width="1200" src="http://rack.2.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzAxLzEzLzk2L215Y2hhcmdlLjRkYzA3LmpwZw/18a815c8/dc3/mycharge.jpg" style="border: 0px; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" title="MyCharge" /></span></div>
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<em>Graphic courtesy MyCharge</em></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0.75em;">
The only device that lost power more than I could find locations to charge it was my <a href="http://mashable.com/category/iphone-5/" style="color: #0c74a6; text-decoration: none;">iPhone 5</a>. While it provided great, fast coverage and took almost-postworthy pictures, I had issues with running out of battery power halfway through each day. Our team was using <a href="https://groupme.com/" style="color: #0c74a6; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">GroupMe</a> to communicate, and we sent a lot of texts throughout the day. I also checked my calendar frequently to see where my next event or meeting was. I found myself one evening leaving my phone to be charged at the one booth I found that had a Lightning charger. To avoid this from happening again, I started bringing the <a href="http://www.mycharge.com/" style="color: #0c74a6; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">MyCharge</a> with me each day. It provided an extra charge to my phone during the day via a USB-to-Lightning cable that I brought with me. If I had events late into the night, I could always charge up the MyCharge off my laptop, so if I needed it again, it would be available.</div>
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Getting Around</h2>
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6680700272145819774" name="m!b899" style="color: #0c74a6;"></a></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0.75em;">
<span class="lightbox-expand for-lightbox" style="cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; position: relative; width: 485px;"><img alt="Antler Transair " class="" data-width="864" src="http://rack.1.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzAxLzEzLzRlLzA1NzA2NTJicnphLjk2OGFhLmpwZw/39526ed5/538/0570652-brzaa.jpg" style="border: 0px; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" title="Antler Transair " /></span></div>
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<em>Graphic courtesy Antler Luggage</em></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0.75em;">
I’m sure everyone whose toes I ran over hates me, but I’ve learned over the years, I can’t carry it all. I use a wheelie-bag to navigate the packed halls, and while it sometimes makes it difficult to get through the crowds, I don’t know how I would make it if I had to carry everything I bring with me each day — not to mention the things I collect throughout the day. Knowing I have the rolling bag also makes it easier for me to throw in those chargers and extra batteries because I’m not worried about the added weight.</div>
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Connectivity</h2>
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6680700272145819774" name="m!2657" style="color: #0c74a6;"></a></div>
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<span class="lightbox-expand for-lightbox" style="cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; position: relative; width: 485px;"><img alt="MiFi Liberate" class="" data-width="1920" src="http://rack.0.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzAxLzEzL2E0L01pRmlMaWJlcmF0LjZkYTYyLmpwZw/53810390/f36/MiFi-Liberate.jpg" style="border: 0px; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" title="MiFi Liberate" /></span></div>
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<em>Photo by Mashable, Charlie White</em></div>
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Wi-Fi in the press room can either be fabulous or useless. You never know. And companies don't usually provide Wi-Fi during their press conferences, so if you want to tweet out the latest news and send your material in, you need a mobile hotspot. I was using AT&T’s <a data-crackerjax="#post-slider" href="http://mashable.com/2012/12/08/mifi-liberate/" style="color: #0c74a6; text-decoration: none;">MiFi Liberate</a> with speedy LTE, which never failed me once the entire time I was there. I only needed to remember to keep it charged, and it provided access when I needed it, whether in the press room, a crowded conference or on a shuttle bus from the hotel to the Las Vegas Convention Center.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0.75em;">
The other lifesaver was an Ethernet-to-USB adapter for my laptop that doesn’t have a built-in Ethernet port. Others on my team didn't have this, and when the Wi-Fi failed, as it often does, they were out of luck — or signal.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0.75em;">
Another option in that situation would have been the TP Link <a href="http://www.tp-link.com/us/products/details/?categoryid=218&model=TL-MR3020" style="color: #0c74a6; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Portable Router</a>. If you have just one Ethernet line, you plug it into the tiny router which then becomes a hotspot. Up to ten people can then log on to its password-protected signal and share the connectivity.</div>
<h2 style="clear: left; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 24px; line-height: 1.27; margin: 0px 0px 1rem; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
Headphones</h2>
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<span class="lightbox-expand for-lightbox" style="cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; position: relative; width: 485px;"><img alt="Plantronics Crossover USB Headset" class="" data-width="728" src="http://rack.2.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzAxLzEzLzEwL1BsYW50cm9uaWNzLmE4NDM0LmpwZw/c1ff290b/8f6/Plantronics-Crossover-USB-Headset-2.jpg" style="border: 0px; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" title="Plantronics Crossover USB Headset" /></span></div>
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<em>Graphic courtesy Plantronics</em></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0.75em;">
Chatty airplane seatmates and the need to focus on work require a good set of headphones. A solid pair will help drown out the noise around you so you concentrate on getting some writing done. On this trip I took along the Plantronics<a data-crackerjax="#post-slider" href="http://mashable.com/2012/10/22/headset-computer-mobile-plantronics/" style="color: #0c74a6; text-decoration: none;">Blackwire 700 Series</a> USB Headset, because not only can I hear the interview audio I’m transcribing from my computer, they also pair to my cellphone via Bluetooth. That way, if I receive a call or text from someone on my team, I don't miss it because I'm submerged in silence. I can simply hit "answer" and the call will be routed to the headphones.</div>
<h2 style="clear: left; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 24px; line-height: 1.27; margin: 0px 0px 1rem; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
Keeping it Clean</h2>
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6680700272145819774" name="m!50fe" style="color: #0c74a6;"></a></div>
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<span class="lightbox-expand for-lightbox" style="cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; position: relative; width: 485px;"><img alt="" class="" data-width="640" src="http://rack.0.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzAxLzEyLzg4L3RvZGR5d2lwZXM2LjNmN2JlLmpwZw/7de7ea58/62a/toddy-wipes-640x359.jpg" style="border: 0px; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" title="toddy wipes" /></span></div>
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<em>Graphic courtesy Toddy Gear</em></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0.75em;">
I often find myself trying to write a quick post while I'm grabbing lunch or a snack, resulting in sticky keys. Or my cellphone screen gets smudged from being pressed up to my cheek during a call. For those situations, there are <a href="http://www.toddygear.com/" style="color: #0c74a6; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Toddy Wipes</a>. They're funky colored microfiber cloths. They come in a variety of vibrant, designer patterns, and they're washable, reusable, and have an antimicrobial coating to keep germs and bacteria from spreading.</div>
</section>Stephen Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03447613392145288408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6680700272145819774.post-43186698968512818562013-03-06T05:12:00.000-08:002013-03-06T05:13:29.595-08:00 Sham Rock & Roll at The Playhouse<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">SHAMROCK-N-ROLL at The Playhouse - FREE Concert Event March 17, 2013,</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><a href="http://www.pasadenaplayhouse.org/box-office/mainstage/shamrock-n-roll-at-the-playhouse.html" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" target="_blank">http://<wbr></wbr><span class="word_break" style="display: inline-block;"></span>www.pasadenaplayhouse.org/<wbr></wbr><span class="word_break" style="display: inline-block;"></span>box-office/mainstage/<wbr></wbr><span class="word_break" style="display: inline-block;"></span>shamrock-n-roll-at-the-play<wbr></wbr><span class="word_break" style="display: inline-block;"></span>house.html</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdWhOAfKAcJDXQil2yejTTplvZ2MlqjJWA_tJcI8LM53CX1uBiSL5Tymdzxd5OClozpyCxLATelHCngdor4wWS_mEhEM3H-qF0mpXc7nPWHl-o_R7HpZjF2i75H6jPZF1rBxaw5B_3DKE/s1600/Paadena+Playhouse+St+Pats.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdWhOAfKAcJDXQil2yejTTplvZ2MlqjJWA_tJcI8LM53CX1uBiSL5Tymdzxd5OClozpyCxLATelHCngdor4wWS_mEhEM3H-qF0mpXc7nPWHl-o_R7HpZjF2i75H6jPZF1rBxaw5B_3DKE/s640/Paadena+Playhouse+St+Pats.jpg" width="425" /></a></div>
Stephen Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03447613392145288408noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6680700272145819774.post-23550657261287100292013-03-04T10:29:00.000-08:002013-03-04T10:29:48.860-08:00ART NIGHT PASADENA<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3TqqF8H-kUz9eaip3l96g-yOvWPL0wSi8qrPD32AMzrL-xYHq9GPQMlCiIYRHL3NoQg5rIV-JX92YCdKDLzJfiUbejvB319Jzd_IDkIf6aM6oDqp5ib52Ymw9KrBlB2pK5JltKAa7baM/s1600/Picture+53.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3TqqF8H-kUz9eaip3l96g-yOvWPL0wSi8qrPD32AMzrL-xYHq9GPQMlCiIYRHL3NoQg5rIV-JX92YCdKDLzJfiUbejvB319Jzd_IDkIf6aM6oDqp5ib52Ymw9KrBlB2pK5JltKAa7baM/s320/Picture+53.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<tr valign="top"><td width="350">Friday, March 08, 2013<br />
<span class="by" style="font-size: 11px;">Presented by: Cultural Affairs Division of the City of Pasadena</span><br />
<br />
<span class="title" style="font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold;">ArtNight Pasadena</span><br />
Enjoy a free evening of art, music and entertainment as Pasadena’s most prominent arts and cultural institutions swing open their doors. Last fall, 14,000 people experienced the excitement of ArtNight!<br />
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Venues in or adjacent to Old Pasadena:<br />
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<b>Alliance Française de Pasadena</b><br />
Christophe Deluy was born and learned the colors in Provence. He traded the French hills for the summit of the San Gabriel mountain, eyes in the sky.<br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Armory Center for the Arts</b></div>
Connie Samaras: Tales of Tomorrow, a photographic survey, features the social and economic construction of “future imaginaries” and the variable membrane between fiction and real world.<br />
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<b>Lineage Performance Art Center</b><br />
Lineage Dance joins Chris Pierce to bring the healing power of dance and music together in an exciting, soul-stirring live performance.<br />
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<b>Norton Simon Museum</b><br />
Enjoy the opening night of “monument” on the survival of Mrs. Reppin: An Artwork by Dan Flavin, as well as centuries of masterpieces on permanent view.<br />
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<b>Pasadena City Hall</b><br />
City hall is the hub for all the ArtNight shuttles, as well as a site of lively musical entertainment.<br />
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<b>Pasadena Museum of History</b><br />
I Do! I Do! Pasadena Ties the Knot, spotlights the wedding dress as icon of social customs, featuring 35+ vintage gowns from 1860 to 1950.<br />
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<b>EXPERIENCE ARTNIGHT</b><br />
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<b>Free Shuttles</b><br />
Free shuttles will loop throughout the evening with stops at each venue. Park at any one venue and ride to the others. Click here for the complete Shuttle Map. Click for each route: Central, North, West, and East.<br />
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<b>ARTS Bus</b><br />
Pasadena ARTS Route 10 runs along Colorado and Green St. until 8 PM. Find scheduling information at cityofpasadena.net/artsbus.<br />
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<b>Metro Gold Line</b><br />
Go Metro and receive special offers at various places. For more details, visit www.metro.net. Metro provides both bus and rail transportation to Pasadena till 2AM on Fridays and Saturdays. For your best route or more info, visit the Metro Trip Planner or call (323) Go Metro or (323.466.3876).<br />
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<b>ArtNight Bicycle Tour</b><br />
For more information, visit cicle.org.<br />
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Free and open to the public<br />
Participating arts venues<br />
6:00 - 10:00pm<br />
<a href="http://www.artnightpasadena.org/" style="color: #224568; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">http://www.artnightpasadena.org</a><br />
(626) 744-7887 (Hotline)</div>
</td></tr>
Stephen Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03447613392145288408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6680700272145819774.post-37968592389754246662013-03-01T09:33:00.000-08:002013-03-01T09:33:08.430-08:00Pasadena Animal League Yappy Hour<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Dogs and their owners eat, drink & mingle from 5-8pm . 15% of your tab will be donated to the Pasadena Humane Society. Can't make it to Yappy Hour? Take out or eat-in orders ALL DAY will qualify. All you do is present coupon/flyer to server and 15% will be donated to the Pasadena Humane Society!</div>
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<a class="go_to_article_comments encased_comment_bubble btn with-icon awesome no-headroom" href="http://southpasadena.patch.com/events/pasadena-animal-league-yappy-hour-ae9b214d#comments_list" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: -webkit-gradient(linear, 50% 0, 50% 100%, color-stop(0.5, rgb(255, 255, 255)), to(rgb(222, 222, 222))); background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(222, 222, 222); border-bottom-left-radius: 4px 4px; border-bottom-right-radius: 4px 4px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(222, 222, 222); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(222, 222, 222); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(222, 222, 222); border-top-left-radius: 4px 4px; border-top-right-radius: 4px 4px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; color: #116a16; cursor: pointer; display: block; float: left; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.857em; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.667em; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 6px; margin-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 12px; padding-right: 12px; padding-top: 2px; position: relative; text-decoration: inherit; text-shadow: white 1px 1px 0px; vertical-align: middle;"><span class="icon_small icon-comments_tail" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(http://assets2.patch-assets.com/images/styleguide/v1/sprites/icon_small-s1c5b178abf.png); background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px -236px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; bottom: -4px; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: 4px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 3px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: absolute; right: 8px; text-align: left; text-indent: -119988px; vertical-align: middle; width: 8px;"> </span><span class="count" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span>Comment</a><a class="print_document with-icon NS_2pix0qvmnx" href="http://southpasadena.patch.com/events/pasadena-animal-league-yappy-hour-ae9b214d#" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #0044aa; cursor: pointer; display: block; float: left; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 6px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="icon_small icon-print_green" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(http://assets2.patch-assets.com/images/styleguide/v1/sprites/icon_small-s1c5b178abf.png); background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px -761px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 3px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: -119988px; vertical-align: middle; width: 21px;"> </span></a><div class="facebook_like_wrapper " style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: left; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 6px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
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</span>Stephen Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03447613392145288408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6680700272145819774.post-5046541635014816852013-02-27T14:25:00.001-08:002013-02-27T14:25:33.869-08:00<br />
<h4 style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 1.3em; margin: 5px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<u>Old Pasadena Happy Hour Week 2013</u></h4>
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<h4 style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 1.3em; margin: 5px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<img height="153" src="http://www.oregon.gov/olcc/PublishingImages/happy_hour.jpg" style="background-color: transparent;" width="200" /></h4>
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<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
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<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
Old Pasadena's finest restaurants, bars, and lounges offer extended food and drink specials all week long! <strong style="color: #c65009;">Happy Hour Week runs March 1-15, 2013</strong>. From $1 martinis at Equator, $2 beers at Pita Jungle, and $3 gourmet sushi at Sushi Roku and Kabuki, Old Pasadena Happy Hour Week offers something for everyone.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
<strong style="color: #c65009;">Live Music Schedule</strong></div>
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Enjoy live music with your Happy Hour! No cover charge for concerts, but reservations are recommended.</div>
<ul style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<li style="list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: square; margin: 0px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;">Friday, March 1, Saturday and Saturday, March 9 at 10:00pm – Live DJ at <a href="http://www.oldpasadena.org/gc_merchantListing.asp?merchant_id=831" style="color: #224568; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Crème de la Crepe</a>.</li>
<li style="list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: square; margin: 0px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;">Sunday, March 3, at 7:00pm – Jamila Ford at <a href="http://www.oldpasadena.org/gc_merchantListing.asp?merchant_id=651" style="color: #224568; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Vertical Wine Bistro</a></li>
<li style="list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: square; margin: 0px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;">Friday, March 8, at 8:00pm – Salt Petal at <a href="http://www.oldpasadena.org/gc_merchantListing.asp?merchant_id=831" style="color: #224568; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Crème de la Crepe</a></li>
<li style="list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: square; margin: 0px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;">Friday, March 1; Thursday, March 7; Sunday, March 10; and Thursday, March 14 at 7:00pm – Live music (TBA) at <a href="http://www.oldpasadena.org/gc_merchantListing.asp?merchant_id=781" style="color: #224568; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">POP Champagne & Dessert Bar</a></li>
</ul>
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
<strong style="color: #c65009;">Special Event Schedule</strong></div>
<ul style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<li style="list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: square; margin: 0px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
Friday, March 1, at 7:00-10:00pm – <strong style="color: #c65009;">Wine & Poetry Night</strong> at <a href="http://www.oldpasadena.org/gc_merchantListing.asp?merchant_id=626" style="color: #224568; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">The Majestical Roof</a>with Ricardo Acuna and David Strother on electric violin; complimentary event.</div>
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<li style="list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: square; margin: 0px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
Monday, March 4, at 6:30pm – <strong style="color: #c65009;">Heaven Hill Distilleries Night</strong> at <a href="http://www.oldpasadena.org/gc_merchantListing.asp?merchant_id=1046" style="color: #224568; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">The Blind Donkey</a>: Meet Heaven Hill manager Andie Brokaw, who will be leading a whiskey tasting and demo. $6 whisky <a href="http://www.oldpasadena.org/happyhourweek/#" id="_GPLITA_0" in_rurl="http://i.trkjmp.com/click?v=VVM6MzMwNzE6MTUzMzpmbGlnaHRzOmJkYjg0NjE0Y2JlNzQ5YTgyNDE5YTRiZDc5ODUzNDcxOnotMTM4Mi0xNDg1MzI6d3d3Lm9sZHBhc2FkZW5hLm9yZzozMjUxNzowMzFjYzRjM2I3NjU0NDMxYjZmZmVhZDBkZWU0MGIzMA" style="color: #224568; font-weight: bold;" title="Click to Continue > by Supreme Savings">flights</a> with three Heaven Hill produces: Evan Williams single barrel, Bernheim, and Rittenhouse.</div>
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<table border="0" style="color: black; font-size: 12px; width: 476px;"><tbody>
<tr><th align="center" height="30" scope="col" valign="middle" width="145">Participant<br />Profile Page</th><th align="center" scope="col" valign="middle" width="65"><div align="center">
<strong style="color: #c65009;">Happy Hour Menu</strong></div>
</th><th align="center" height="30" scope="col" valign="middle" width="171">Address</th><th align="center" height="30" scope="col" valign="middle" width="77">Phone</th></tr>
<tr><td align="left" class="by" height="30" valign="middle"><a href="http://www.oldpasadena.org/gc_merchantListing.asp?merchant_id=793" style="color: #224568; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">1810 Argentinean Restaurant</a></td><td align="left" valign="middle"><div align="center">
<a href="http://www.oldpasadena.org/happyhourweek/2013menus/1810Argentinean_HHmenu.pdf" style="color: #224568; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">HH Menu</a></div>
</td><td align="left" class="by" height="30" valign="middle">121 W. Colorado Blvd.</td><td align="center" class="by" height="30" valign="middle">626.795.5658</td></tr>
<tr><td align="left" class="by" height="34" valign="middle"><a href="http://www.oldpasadena.org/gc_merchantListing.asp?merchant_id=793" style="color: #224568; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">The 35er Bar</a></td><td align="left" valign="middle"><div align="center">
<a href="http://www.oldpasadena.org/happyhourweek/2013menus/The35erBar_HHmenu.pdf" style="color: #224568; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">HH Menu</a></div>
</td><td align="left" class="by" height="34" valign="middle">12 E. Colorado Blvd.</td><td align="center" class="by" height="34" valign="middle">626.356.9315</td></tr>
<tr><td align="left" height="30" valign="middle"><a href="http://www.oldpasadena.org/gc_merchantListing.asp?merchant_id=915" style="color: #224568; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">a|k|a Bistro</a></td><td align="left" valign="middle"><div align="center">
<a href="http://www.oldpasadena.org/happyhourweek/2013menus/akaBistro_HHmenu.pdf" style="color: #224568; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">HH Menu</a></div>
</td><td align="left" height="30" valign="middle">41 Hugus Alley</td><td align="center" height="30" valign="middle">626.564.8111</td></tr>
<tr><td align="left" height="30" valign="middle"><a href="http://www.oldpasadena.org/gc_merchantListing.asp?merchant_id=417" style="color: #224568; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Bar Celona</a></td><td align="left" valign="middle"><div align="center">
<a href="http://www.oldpasadena.org/happyhourweek/2013menus/BarCelona_HHmenu.pdf" style="color: #224568; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">HH Menu</a></div>
</td><td align="left" height="30" valign="middle">46 E. Colorado Blvd.</td><td align="center" height="30" valign="middle">626.405.1000</td></tr>
<tr><td align="left" height="30" valign="middle"><a href="http://www.oldpasadena.org/gc_merchantListing.asp?merchant_id=1046" style="color: #224568; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">The Blind Donkey</a></td><td align="left" valign="middle"><div align="center">
<a href="http://www.oldpasadena.org/happyhourweek/2013menus/BlindDonkey_HHmenu.pdf" style="color: #224568; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">HH Menu</a></div>
</td><td align="left" height="30" valign="middle">53 E. Union Street</td><td align="center" height="30" valign="middle">626.792.1833</td></tr>
<tr><td align="left" height="30" valign="middle"><a href="http://www.oldpasadena.org/gc_merchantListing.asp?merchant_id=933" style="color: #224568; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Brothers' Pies n' Fries</a></td><td align="left" valign="middle"><div align="center">
</div>
</td><td align="left" height="30" valign="middle">36 W. Colorado Blvd.</td><td align="center" height="30" valign="middle">626.993.8996</td></tr>
<tr><td align="left" height="30" valign="middle"><a href="http://www.oldpasadena.org/gc_merchantListing.asp?merchant_id=212" style="color: #224568; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Café Santorini</a></td><td align="left" valign="middle"><div align="center">
<a href="http://www.oldpasadena.org/happyhourweek/2013menus/CafeSantorini_HHmenu.pdf" style="color: #224568; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">HH Menu</a></div>
</td><td align="left" height="30" valign="middle">64 W. Union Street</td><td align="center" height="30" valign="middle">626.564.4200</td></tr>
<tr><td align="left" height="30" valign="middle"><a href="http://www.oldpasadena.org/gc_merchantListing.asp?merchant_id=767" style="color: #224568; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Cheval Bistro</a></td><td align="left" valign="middle"><div align="center">
<a href="http://www.oldpasadena.org/happyhourweek/2013menus/ChevalBistro_HHmenu.pdf" style="color: #224568; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">HH Menu</a></div>
</td><td align="left" height="30" valign="middle">41 S. De Lacey Ave.</td><td align="center" height="30" valign="middle">626.577.4141</td></tr>
<tr><td align="left" height="30" valign="middle"><a href="http://www.oldpasadena.org/gc_merchantListing.asp?merchant_id=1038" style="color: #224568; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Cousins Maine Lobster @ Live MIXX</a></td><td align="left" valign="middle"><div align="center">
<a href="http://www.oldpasadena.org/happyhourweek/2013menus/CousinsMaineLobster_HHmenu.pdf" style="color: #224568; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">HH Menu</a></div>
</td><td align="left" height="30" valign="middle">115 E. Colorado Blvd.</td><td align="center" height="30" valign="middle">626.793.6544</td></tr>
<tr><td align="left" height="30" valign="middle"><a href="http://www.oldpasadena.org/gc_merchantListing.asp?merchant_id=831" style="color: #224568; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Crème de la Crepe</a></td><td align="left" valign="middle"><div align="center">
<a href="http://www.oldpasadena.org/happyhourweek/2013menus/CremedelaCrepe_HHmenu.pdf" style="color: #224568; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">HH Menu</a></div>
</td><td align="left" height="30" valign="middle">36 W. Colorado Blvd.<br />(Mills Place)</td><td align="center" height="30" valign="middle">626.844.0007</td></tr>
<tr><td align="left" height="30" valign="middle"><a href="http://www.oldpasadena.org/gc_merchantListing.asp?merchant_id=956" style="color: #224568; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Dog Haus Biergarten</a></td><td align="left" valign="middle"><div align="center">
<a href="http://www.oldpasadena.org/happyhourweek/2013menus/DogHaus_HHmenu.pdf" style="color: #224568; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">HH Menu</a></div>
</td><td align="left" height="30" valign="middle">93 E. Green Street</td><td align="center" height="30" valign="middle">626.683.0808</td></tr>
<tr><td align="left" height="30" valign="middle"><a href="http://www.oldpasadena.org/gc_merchantListing.asp?merchant_id=791" style="color: #224568; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Equator</a></td><td align="left" valign="middle"><div align="center">
<a href="http://www.oldpasadena.org/happyhourweek/2013menus/Equator_HHmenu.pdf" style="color: #224568; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">HH Menu</a></div>
</td><td align="left" height="30" valign="middle">22 Mills Place</td><td align="center" height="30" valign="middle">626.564.8656</td></tr>
<tr><td align="left" height="30" valign="middle"><a href="http://www.oldpasadena.org/gc_merchantListing.asp?merchant_id=849" style="color: #224568; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">IX Tapa Cantina</a></td><td align="left" valign="middle"><div align="center">
<a href="http://www.oldpasadena.org/happyhourweek/2013menus/IXtapaCantina_HHmenu.pdf" style="color: #224568; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">HH Menu</a></div>
</td><td align="left" height="30" valign="middle">119 E. Colorado Blvd.</td><td align="center" height="30" valign="middle">626.304.1000</td></tr>
<tr><td align="left" height="30" valign="middle"><a href="http://www.oldpasadena.org/gc_merchantListing.asp?merchant_id=379" style="color: #224568; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Jake's Cafe & Billiards</a></td><td align="left" valign="middle"><div align="center">
<a href="http://www.oldpasadena.org/happyhourweek/2013menus/Jakes_HHmenu.pdf" style="color: #224568; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">HH Menu</a></div>
</td><td align="left" height="30" valign="middle">38 W. Colorado Blvd.</td><td align="center" height="30" valign="middle">626.568.1602</td></tr>
<tr><td align="left" height="30" valign="middle"><a href="http://www.oldpasadena.org/gc_merchantListing.asp?merchant_id=493" style="color: #224568; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Kabuki Restaurant</a></td><td align="left" valign="middle"><div align="center">
<a href="http://www.oldpasadena.org/happyhourweek/2013menus/Kabuki_HHmenu.pdf" style="color: #224568; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">HH Menu</a></div>
</td><td align="left" height="30" valign="middle">88 W. Colorado Blvd.</td><td align="center" height="30" valign="middle">626.568.9310</td></tr>
<tr><td align="left" height="30" valign="middle"><a href="http://www.oldpasadena.org/gc_merchantListing.asp?merchant_id=743" style="color: #224568; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Kings Row Gastropub</a></td><td align="left" valign="middle"><div align="center">
<a href="http://www.oldpasadena.org/happyhourweek/2013menus/KingsRowGastropub_HHmenu.pdf" style="color: #224568; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">HH Menu</a></div>
</td><td align="left" height="30" valign="middle">20 E. Colorado Blvd.</td><td align="center" height="30" valign="middle">626.793.3010</td></tr>
<tr><td align="left" height="30" valign="middle"><a href="http://www.oldpasadena.org/gc_merchantListing.asp?merchant_id=376" style="color: #224568; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Mezbaan Indian Cuisine</a></td><td align="left" valign="middle"><div align="center">
</div>
</td><td align="left" height="30" valign="middle">80 N. Fair Oaks Ave.</td><td align="center" height="30" valign="middle">626.405.9060</td></tr>
<tr><td align="left" height="30" valign="middle"><a href="http://www.oldpasadena.org/gc_merchantListing.asp?merchant_id=737" style="color: #224568; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Otis Bar at La Grande Orange Cafe</a></td><td align="left" valign="middle"><div align="center">
<a href="http://www.oldpasadena.org/happyhourweek/2013menus/OtisBar_HHmenu.pdf" style="color: #224568; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">HH Menu</a></div>
</td><td align="left" height="30" valign="middle">260 S. Raymond Ave.</td><td align="center" height="30" valign="middle">626.356.4444</td></tr>
<tr><td align="left" height="30" valign="middle"><a href="http://www.oldpasadena.org/gc_merchantListing.asp?merchant_id=831" style="color: #224568; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Paris 36 at Crème de la Crepe</a></td><td align="left" valign="middle"><div align="center">
<a href="http://www.oldpasadena.org/happyhourweek/2013menus/Paris36_CremedelaCrepe_HHmenu.pdf" style="color: #224568; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">HH Menu</a></div>
</td><td align="left" height="30" valign="middle">36 W. Colorado Blvd.<br />(Mills Place)</td><td align="center" height="30" valign="middle">626.844.0007</td></tr>
<tr><td align="left" height="30" valign="middle"><a href="http://www.oldpasadena.org/gc_merchantListing.asp?merchant_id=922" style="color: #224568; font-weight: bold;">Pita Jungle</a></td><td align="left" valign="middle"><div align="center">
<a href="http://www.oldpasadena.org/happyhourweek/2013menus/PitaJungle_HHmenu.pdf" style="color: #224568; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">HH Menu</a></div>
</td><td align="left" height="30" valign="middle">43 E. Colorado Blvd.</td><td align="center" height="30" valign="middle">626.432.7482</td></tr>
<tr><td align="left" height="30" valign="middle"><a href="http://www.oldpasadena.org/gc_merchantListing.asp?merchant_id=781" style="color: #224568; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">POP Champagne & Dessert Bar</a></td><td align="left" valign="middle"><div align="center">
<a href="http://www.oldpasadena.org/happyhourweek/2013menus/POPChampagne_HHmenu.pdf" style="color: #224568; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">HH Menu</a></div>
</td><td align="left" height="30" valign="middle">33 E. Union Street</td><td align="center" height="30" valign="middle">626.795.1295</td></tr>
<tr><td align="left" height="30" valign="middle"><a href="http://www.oldpasadena.org/gc_merchantListing.asp?merchant_id=1050" style="color: #224568; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Slater's 50/50</a></td><td align="left" valign="middle"><div align="center">
<a href="http://www.oldpasadena.org/happyhourweek/2013menus/Slaters5050_HHmenu.pdf" style="color: #224568; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">HH Menu</a></div>
</td><td align="left" height="30" valign="middle">61 N. Raymond Ave.</td><td align="center" height="30" valign="middle">626.765.9700</td></tr>
<tr><td align="left" height="30" valign="middle"><a href="http://www.oldpasadena.org/gc_merchantListing.asp?merchant_id=115" style="color: #224568; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Sushi Roku</a></td><td align="left" valign="middle"><div align="center">
<a href="http://www.oldpasadena.org/happyhourweek/2013menus/SushiRoku_HHmenu.pdf" style="color: #224568; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">HH Menu</a></div>
</td><td align="left" height="30" valign="middle">33 Miller Alley</td><td align="center" height="30" valign="middle">626.683.3000</td></tr>
<tr><td align="left" height="30" valign="middle"><a href="http://www.oldpasadena.org/gc_merchantListing.asp?merchant_id=63" style="color: #224568; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Tibet Nepal House</a></td><td align="left" valign="middle"><div align="center">
<a href="http://www.oldpasadena.org/happyhourweek/2013menus/TibetNepal_HHmenu.pdf" style="color: #224568; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">HH Menu</a></div>
</td><td align="left" height="30" valign="middle">36 E. Holly Street</td><td align="center" height="30" valign="middle">626.585.0955</td></tr>
<tr><td align="left" height="30" valign="middle"><a href="http://www.oldpasadena.org/gc_merchantListing.asp?merchant_id=651" style="color: #224568; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Vertical Wine Bistro</a></td><td align="left" valign="middle"><div align="center">
<a href="http://www.oldpasadena.org/happyhourweek/2013menus/VerticalWineBistro_HHmenu.pdf" style="color: #224568; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">HH Menu</a></div>
</td><td align="left" height="30" valign="middle">70 N. Raymond Ave.</td><td align="center" height="30" valign="middle">626.795.3999</td></tr>
<tr><td align="left" height="30" valign="middle"><a href="http://www.oldpasadena.org/gc_merchantListing.asp?merchant_id=150" style="color: #224568; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Villa SORRISO</a></td><td align="left" valign="middle"><div align="center">
<a href="http://www.oldpasadena.org/happyhourweek/2013menus/VillaSORRISO_HHmenu.pdf" style="color: #224568; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">HH Menu</a></div>
</td><td align="left" height="30" valign="middle">168 W. Colorado Blvd.</td><td align="center" height="30" valign="middle">626.793.2233</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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</ul>
Stephen Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03447613392145288408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6680700272145819774.post-57680137629819968582013-02-26T08:57:00.000-08:002013-02-26T08:57:52.401-08:00<br />
<img alt="2014 CHEVROLET CORVETTE STINGRAY TO MAKE WEST COAST DEBUT AT THE PETERSEN AUTOMOTIVE MUSEUM" src="http://www.petersen.org/uploads/about_us/news-press/2014-Chevrolet-Corvette-054-620px.jpg" /><br />
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<div align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #252525; border: 0px currentColor; color: #cbcbcb; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 13px/20px "Interstate Light", sans-serif; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px 0px 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<strong style="font-family: "Interstate Bold", sans-serif;">2014 CHEVROLET CORVETTE STINGRAY TO MAKE WEST COAST DEBUT AT THE PETERSEN AUTOMOTIVE MUSEUM</strong></div>
<div align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #252525; border: 0px currentColor; color: #cbcbcb; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 13px/20px "Interstate Light", sans-serif; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px 0px 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<strong style="font-family: "Interstate Bold", sans-serif;"><em style="border: 0px currentColor; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">The newest Corvette will be introduced to the west coast at the 60th Anniversary Corvette Celebration, which is open to the public. The Stingray will be on display at the gala dinner, which will also feature a presentation and Q&A session by Corvette’s lead exterior designer.</em></strong></div>
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The Petersen Automotive Museum will celebrate the 60th anniversary of “America’s Sports Car,” the Chevrolet Corvette, with an unforgettable tribute March 1-2, 2013. The most anticipated and significant event of the weekend is the 60th Anniversary Gala featuring speaker Kirk Bennion, the Exterior Design Manager of the Corvette C7 Stingray and the west coast unveiling of the vehicle. Bennion will discuss how the Stingray breaks from tradition, allowing industry experts and enthusiasts alike the rare opportunity to gain insight into the design process and ask questions about one of the most anticipated new vehicle debuts in recent memory. The Stingray will be unveiled at the gala dinner with Bennion, and will also be on display for Saturday’s festivities.<br /><br />Other highlights include the Corvette Car Day Show, an exhibit inside the museum featuring the rarest examples of each generation including the very first Corvette “EX-122” which debuted at the GM Motorama in 1953 and a series of educational panels featuring Corvette legends and industry experts.</div>
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In<strong style="font-family: "Interstate Bold", sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>addition to the events, a special Corvette exhibit</strong><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>showcasing Corvettes from every generation, along with significant vehicles from history will be on display from February 27 through March 31. Notable Corvettes include:</div>
<ul style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #252525; border: 0px currentColor; color: #cbcbcb; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 11px/normal Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing: normal; list-style: none url("http://www.petersen.org/img/item-details-li.png"); margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 10px 30px; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<li style="border: 0px currentColor; color: #cbcbcb; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 5px;">1953 EX-122: the first Corvette shown to the public</li>
<li style="border: 0px currentColor; color: #cbcbcb; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 5px;">956 SR2: an experimental race car</li>
<li style="border: 0px currentColor; color: #cbcbcb; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 5px;">1959 Corvette Italia by Scaglietti: an Italian bodied masterpiece rendered in aluminum</li>
<li style="border: 0px currentColor; color: #cbcbcb; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 5px;">1960 CERV I: the first mid-engine prototype</li>
<li style="border: 0px currentColor; color: #cbcbcb; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 5px;">1964 “World’s Fair” Corvette: customized by GM for the New York World’s Fair</li>
<li style="border: 0px currentColor; color: #cbcbcb; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 5px;">1963 Grand Sport and a 1968 “Sundowner” Bonneville Racer: driven by many famous racers including Dick Doane, John Mecom, Alan Sevadjian, Auggie Pabst, Jim Hall, A.J. Foyt and John Cannon</li>
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Event sponsors include Mid America Motorworks, Hagerty Collector Car Insurance, Corvette Mike, Intercity Lines and Fender Guitar. Proceeds from the Corvette Anniversary activities will go toward supporting the Petersen Automotive Museum’s educational programming. Register your Corvette or buy tickets online at<a href="http://www.corvetteday.org/" style="border: 0px currentColor; color: #ed1b24; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 13px/20px "Interstate Light", sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"></a><a href="http://www.corvetteday.org/" style="border: 0px currentColor; color: #ed1b24; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 13px/20px "Interstate Light", sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">http://www.CorvetteDay.org</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>or call 323-964-6325. Some events have limited availability and will sell out.</div>
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<strong style="font-family: "Interstate Bold", sans-serif;">The Petersen Automotive Museum Foundation</strong><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational institution. The Museum is located at 6060 Wilshire Boulevard (at Fairfax) in Los Angeles, California 90036. Admission prices are $12 for general admission adults, $8 for seniors, $5 for students with ID, $3 for children ages 5 to 12. Museum members, active military with ID and children under five are admitted free. Vault tours are available for an additional $25, and are offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Parking is free for the first 30 minutes and $2.00 each additional 30 minutes. One hour validation with purchase of $20 or more in the Museum Store or Johnny Rockets located in the museum lobby. Museum hours are Tuesday through Sunday from 10am to 6pm. For general Museum information, call 323/930-CARS or visit the Museum’s Web site at:<a href="http://www.petersen.org/" style="border: 0px currentColor; color: #ed1b24; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 13px/20px "Interstate Light", sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">www.petersen.org</a>.</div>
Stephen Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03447613392145288408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6680700272145819774.post-51986112813672958512013-02-15T10:18:00.006-08:002013-02-15T10:18:50.736-08:00Rock N' Roll Half Marathon- Pasadena<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtPFZjNJf01QJvMO_-pog6zUayBfBqxRITFdLAruaRqsKgdxR33ByOkjfRth2X2dZpo1roNvsa3YudPzZcYCjqoMJYaq8fxiDWCC_DwVLmCbt24dFsphfHe_vx5I-Pk1PpWo0fJRc-Gno/s1600/thCAO5W9CZ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtPFZjNJf01QJvMO_-pog6zUayBfBqxRITFdLAruaRqsKgdxR33ByOkjfRth2X2dZpo1roNvsa3YudPzZcYCjqoMJYaq8fxiDWCC_DwVLmCbt24dFsphfHe_vx5I-Pk1PpWo0fJRc-Gno/s1600/thCAO5W9CZ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtPFZjNJf01QJvMO_-pog6zUayBfBqxRITFdLAruaRqsKgdxR33ByOkjfRth2X2dZpo1roNvsa3YudPzZcYCjqoMJYaq8fxiDWCC_DwVLmCbt24dFsphfHe_vx5I-Pk1PpWo0fJRc-Gno/s1600/thCAO5W9CZ.jpg" /></a><br />
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Come out to Pasadena to enjoy the annual <strong>Rock N' Roll Half Marathon!</strong> Runners will get to experience a scenic course ending at the iconic Rose Bowl in addition to live bands and cheerleaders along the route. Start and finish lines can be found at N. Arroyo Blvd. & Seco Street. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To keep you motivated throughout the run, you will even get a <strong>free 8oz Jamba Juice</strong> at the end of your run! If free Jamba Juice does not motivate you, this will! For all your hard work and comitment in to training and participating in this run, there will be many businesses throughout the city who are offering <strong>special deals</strong> for race participants! For those list and deals, please </span><a href="http://runrocknroll.competitor.com/2013/02/pasadena/experience-pasadena-reward-yourself_43554"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">click here</span></a><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Earlier we mentioned a band being present, can you guess what band will be there? <strong>FAR EAST MOVEMENT</strong>, they are said to be preforming their hit songs like "Like a G6" and "Rocketeer". </span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At the Pasadena Convention Center, there will the the Health and Fitness Expo which is <strong>FREE</strong> and open to the public! There are said to have over 60 exhibitors offering free samples. showcasing many new products, health and nutrition infomation and much more! </span><br />
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<li><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dates: February 15-16, 2013</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Location: Pasadena Convention Center • Halls A & B [</span><a href="https://maps.google.com/maps?oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&ie=UTF-8&q=pasadena+ca+convention+center&fb=1&gl=us&hq=convention+center&hnear=0x80c2c2dc38330b51:0x52b41161ad18f4a,Pasadena,+CA&cid=0,0,16242279362213836990&ei=_vXRULDoGan0iwKc0oCgDw&ved=0CL4BEPwSMAE"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">map</span></a><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">]</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Expo Hours: Friday, February 15, 1pm – 6pm & Saturday, February 16, 9am – 5pm </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Free Admission: Open to the public</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>We hope you are able to join and run for a great cause!</strong> We have some of our very own particpating in the run one being, our Corporate Sales Manager, <strong>Kira Wang</strong>! Good Luck Runners! Stay hydrated!</span> Stephen Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03447613392145288408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6680700272145819774.post-85852926238229231252011-10-24T08:21:00.000-07:002011-10-24T08:21:59.389-07:00JetBlue to go Wireless<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5mjZFLCjkMd9QWV1YpsJU6L-xYgUZu61zKRYOjiFIux1PhgFyW8uAVJ_o1xdO0JFGFjQdRSnM_33q8THlxw9bFZE2EAai0_18SbfHdPJ_sXYSuIxoPq5y7EPhWsVcaXthaUqDamPze4g/s1600/jetblue-wi-fi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5mjZFLCjkMd9QWV1YpsJU6L-xYgUZu61zKRYOjiFIux1PhgFyW8uAVJ_o1xdO0JFGFjQdRSnM_33q8THlxw9bFZE2EAai0_18SbfHdPJ_sXYSuIxoPq5y7EPhWsVcaXthaUqDamPze4g/s320/jetblue-wi-fi.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Wifi is pretty scarce in the skies right now.<br />
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There are only seven airlines that offer wifi in the U.S., and even then, it's not available on every flight.<br />
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We found an easy way to check if your flight offers wifi with a website called HasWifi. The site is simple to use. Just select your airline and flight number and HasWifi will let you know if wifi is available.<br />
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You can also help improve the site's results by voting yes or no if you had wifi on that particular flight. Eventually, an API will be open to developers, so expect to see smartphone apps soon.<br />
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We’ve been hot on the trail of JetBlue’s plans for fleetwide WiFi access in the coming years, and it looks like tray table connectivity has just gotten a step closer to actually happening. <br />
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Just don’t get too excited if you have a trip booked for later in 2011, as in-flight WiFi on JetBlue won’t be happening until 2012 at the earliest.<br />
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JetBlue has been working with ViaSat on all the satellite technology to get the newfangled connectivity options off the ground.<br />
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Now the airline has reached an agreement to use ViaSat-1, which is the world’s highest capacity Ka-band satellite. Hmm—sounds speedy. Seriously though, it should be rapid fast for passengers—although they’re not giving specifics—as well as having increased bandwidth for whenever passengers hit YouTube all at once.<br />
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The price tag for the technology is going to cost at least $30 million, as JetBlue is planning to utilize the new technology on both its Airbus A320 and Embraer E190 jets.<br />
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One of the next steps is certification through the Federal Aviation Administration to ensure that things work just as well up in the air as they do on paper. After that we’re thinking that it’s going to be a lot of late nights for those JetBlue employees working in the maintenance hangars.<br />
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Again, 2012 seems to be roundabout date you can expect to test things out for yourself, but we don’t know exactly which month—obviously we’re hoping for January. Once JetBlue, LiveTV, and ViaSat get all the kinks worked out with the new service, their attention will move over to Continental Airlines, as they’ll also be scoring some satellite technology within the next couple of years.<br />
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This post originally appeared in Jaunted<br />
<br />Stephen Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03447613392145288408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6680700272145819774.post-29063577516770710142011-10-24T08:14:00.000-07:002011-10-24T08:14:11.710-07:00The 10 Most Downloaded Free iPad Apps Of All Time<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">iPads are the way to travel now. No longer do you have to pull the device out of your bag as you go through security in the airport and for portable or short-term use you just can’t beat their convenience. Add all those reasons in with the fact that you can still get more apps from apple than any other provider and why wouldn’t you use one for travel?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Apple recently released a list of the top ten free iPad apps downloaded from the App Store. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Just because you spent serious cash on an iPad doesn't mean you need to spend even more to take advantage of various games and utilities for it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Have a look and see if anything suits your needs.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">1. Solitaire is the definitive one-player card game. Play it anywhere you go.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">2. The Bible app is exactly what you'd expect it to be. Choose different translations, search words and phrases, or just read from it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">3. iBooks is Apple's exclusive online bookstore and eBook reader. Start reading differently.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">4. Use Remote to control your iTunes library over wifi. Adjust volume and change songs effortlessly.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">5. With Fandango, you can read reviews and buy movie tickets before you ever get to the theater. Stop waiting in line!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">6. Yelp finds establishments near you and provides you with user reviews. Make an informed decision for your next impromptu dinner date.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">7. Use Google Earth to help you arrive at your destination, or simply browse interesting satellite photos of the entire surface of the world.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">8. Movies by Flixster sets you up with trailers, showtimes, and critic reviews of new movies. Know what you're getting yourself into the next time you head to the theater.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">9. Search Google by voice, check your email, access your calendar, and more with the Google Mobile app from everyone's favorite search engine.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">10. Pandora builds a radio station customized to your liking and streams it to you for free.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />Stephen Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03447613392145288408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6680700272145819774.post-35975823151376633982011-10-21T11:48:00.000-07:002011-10-21T11:48:12.048-07:00On the Go Diet Tips<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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From fast food to room service, business travelers face a lot of unhealthy temptations on the road. That doesn't mean, however, that you have to abandon your diet when you're traveling for work. Learn how to make healthier choices with these easy tips.<br />
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1. Pack Your Own In-Flight Snacks<br />
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Unless you are in first class, you aren't getting anything to eat or drink without shelling out some moola. Not only that, but the snack boxes aren't exactly healthy (though we love pretzels and peanuts as much as the next person). Instead, stash a few healthy granola or protein bars in your carry-on, or pack some unsalted, heavy-on-the-fruit trail mix (hint: the ones with M&M's aren't the best pick here, sadly).<br />
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2. Eat Breakfast<br />
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Whether at home or in the hotel, try to make time for breakfast every day. You'll be less inclined to hit the office muffin cart or overeat at that lunch is you've started your day out with a healthy meal. If you are dining at the hotel, try to eat fruit and non-sugared cereal with a boiled egg. Carb-laden breakfast treats, while tasty, aren't your friend.<br />
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3. Do Your Own Cooking<br />
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If you are in an extended stay hotel, you'll most likely have a small cooktop and microwave. Avoid eating out and hit the local grocery store for some fresh fruit, oatmeal packets and healthy, microwaveable dinners (pay attention to the sodium levels!)<br />
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4. Drive-Through with Caution<br />
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It's hard to avoid the drive-thru on the road, but you can find healthy options amid the burgers and fried nuggets. Look for words like "grilled" and order all sandwiches without mayo, cheese or spcial sauces. Eliminating a bun can shave off extra calories, as well. Order salads with vinaigrette dressings on the side, and avoid fatty toppings like cheese, croutons and those tasty fried noodles. FitnessMagazine.com has compiled a handy cheat-sheet of the healthiest eats at fast food eateries and popular chain restaurants to make sticking to your diet even easier on the go.<br />
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5. Order Wisely<br />
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If you can choose where to eat, steer your dinner party toward Japanese over Chinese, Pizza instead of Mexican. Salads might seem like an obvious choice, but fad-laden dressings and toppings can pack on the calories, so be sure to choose light dressings (on the side!), grilled chicken or fish protein and filling ingredients like beans and avocado. Opt for the plainest chicken or fish dish on the menu, avoid buttery sauces, and ask for extra broccoli or veggie medley instead of fries or a potato.<br />
<br />Stephen Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03447613392145288408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6680700272145819774.post-3971294776127379952011-10-21T11:44:00.001-07:002011-10-21T11:44:50.288-07:00Packing Tips<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Knowing how to pack a suitcase is essential to being a good traveler. Ever wonder how to pack light and still stay in style, my suggestion is to pick a basic color that you enjoy wearing and then add two other accessory colors and when you do this it will look and feel like you have several different outfits, for the males it is easy just a different shirt or tie and they are set.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The first think you want to do is start making a list of all the different items you will need for your trip, mentally take a note of all the activities and places you will be visiting and what you will be doing there so that you can gather all the items you will need for them. Pack a couple of plastic coat hangers in your bag, it seems like they never have enough hangers in the hotel rooms, if you pack plastic ones they weight almost nothing and are very handy to have.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">When packing liquids remember they can expand under pressure, so never fill to the top and/or take some out if it is a new container. Toiletries should be as small as possible, and packed in sealable plastic bags for protection against spillage.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Pack each outfit in its own large re-sealable plastic bag, the rolling method works well for this packing style. If you have bulky items like for skiing use space bags that suck out all the air, you can fit so much more in your suitcase. The only word of caution here is that you want your suitcase to be packed firm so the contents won't shift and also you want to keep in mind to pack so your clothes will unpack wrinkle free.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Guard against lost luggage woes by packing your plastic bag(s) of toiletries in your carry-on bag, along with your most valuable items, and one change of clothes. Put all of your camera and computer items together in one carry-on bag, it will be easier during inspection, and then easier to put it all back together again after inspection.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Be vigilant in removing metal and in packing your carry-on. You also need to be aware of metal and batteries etc in you checked luggage, as that sometimes sets off an inspection alarm and may delay your luggage, it is easier to carry these items in your carry on so they can inspect them during your personal check in, rather than delay your checked in luggage.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">No matter what type of bag you are packing, you will want to avoid spilling any liquids on your clothes or equipment and when you arrive at your destination unpack your bags as soon as possible after you get into your hotel room.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />Stephen Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03447613392145288408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6680700272145819774.post-44670741769510149182011-10-10T12:00:00.000-07:002011-10-10T12:01:08.497-07:00Haunted Hotels<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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You don’t have to worry about stray ectoplasma in our hotel but if you go to some of these Haunted Hotels you may want to put the Ghost-Busters on speed dial!<br />
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Hotel Provincial's elegance evoke the charm of old New Orleans and it modern ' Haunted' appeal.<br />
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For a good case of haunted chills and a great touch Southern haunted hospitality, head to the Hotel Provincial in New Orleans. You will be haunted not only by Haunted New Orleans it's great beauty but by one of the many ghost that haunt this Haunted New Orleans hotel. <br />
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Many a haunted New Orleans Honeymoon couple have told of their ghostly occurrences in the Big Easy over the years. And others or rather skeptical. But more stories of this spook filled Haunted Hotel keep occurring. <br />
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A Couple from Haunted Washington State related to us their recent ghost filled tale Convention stay. Their room is said to be haunted by a soldier with a deep love and penchant for country music. This was told to them as they entered the room by a staff member. He said that once a hotel employee opened the door to show guest into their room and they say they saw a man dressed in a 1930's Khaki military uniform, Complete with hat and many medals, the Ghost looked them in the face then disappeared. The couple reported to us that the entire stay was filled with a feeling of being watched. And many a cold chill, they say that they captured his spirit on film.<br />
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The very haunted Hotel Coronado, located just outside haunted San Diego, has a ghostly tale of unrequited love. Employee's, workers and guests have been puzzled by odd noises, spirited breezes, strange faces and the ghostly figure of a young lady wearing a black lace dress.<br />
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Rising from water's edge on the quaint island of Coronado in San Diego , the Hotel del Coronado is considered one of America 's most beautiful beach resorts. A classic historic hotel, The Del was built in 1888 and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1977. Today, The Del offers travelers contemporary luxury in an enchanting Victorian atmosphere. Add to this, the resort's beachfront location, and it's no wonder USA Today calls The Del "one of the top ten resorts in the world." <br />
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The most well-known legend and ghost story told is that of it's ghost Kate Morgan, who checked into the hotel in 1892 to meet her estranged husband. <br />
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He never showed up, and days later she was found dead on the beach from a gunshot wound. Some believe her lost lonely spirit still haunts the hotel, and there have been ghostly cold spots, numerous reports of noises, odd breezes in closed rooms and sightings of more then one ghosts.<br />
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This haunted hotel inspired Steven King to write "The Shining" while he stayed in room 217, but it is room 418 that reports the most ghostly activity. <br />
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There is no "red rum" in the haunted Stanley Hotel and Conference Center in the Rockies, but it is the place where Stephen King wrote half of "The Shining". The made-for-TV version of the film was shot at the Stanley, and King fans should book Room 217, which is where he stayed. It seems that strange haunted paranormal things were happening at the Stanley long before King came. <br />
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The hotel, which opened in 1909, is supposedly haunted by Flora Stanley, the wife of the owner, who likes to play the piano late at night. Her ghost is said to be very visible and a high profile haunting.<br />
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People who have stayed in Room 408 reported hearing children playing and laughing loudly outside their door, when getting up to investigate there weren't any. They also say they have left the room for a few seconds only to return and find the entire room in a dismay. And hand prints of small children on the mirrors.<br />
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Often called by many locals "The Belle of New Orleans." The Le Pavilion hotel offers guest turn-of-the-century charm in the heart of downtown Haunted New Orleans.<br />
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Twenty foot Italian statues representing "Peace and Prosperity" greet you at the Poydras Street Lobby front door. Inside t his spectacular grand reportedly the most Haunted New Orleans hotel, you'll find crystal chandeliers, historic antiques and several lively ghost to haunt you. <br />
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This New Orleans hotel makes all guests feel right at home by providing homelike touches, like complimentary evening peanut butter finger sandwiches.<br />
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At one point a few years ago the hotel management was said to have hired several local well known paranormal investigator, who identified several ghosts in the hotel. One group found four and recorded EVP"s saying "Please, get out." and " Hold On I see You Now.", another Investigative team say they documented over 100 individual Ghost and haunted hotspots in the hotel. And still another Ghost group said it was actually a portal to the other side.<br />
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Strange noises in the night, vaporous apparitions of figures standing at the foot of your bed. Coverlets and bed sheets being tugged into the air, from early morning to after midnight. Anytime is the right time to find a ghost here in this Haunted Hotel.<br />
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An elegant masterpiece in the heart of downtown Portland Oregon, the Heathman Hotel is a timeless classic that has all the comforts of somewhere other than home.<br />
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This is the only famous haunted hotel is in Haunted Portland, Oregon. and related is one of the most haunted tales of any hotel to be told.<br />
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Guests staying in one of the column of rooms that end in "03" (presumably room 703) have reported odd events. Moving objects, rapping's and tapings and cold spots. Ghost photos in this room show a dark cloud over the entire room. And sometimes a distorted face peering at you from a dark corner. Odd shadows on videos and many EVP's.<br />
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One guest related to me, that they stayed in the room only an hour or two this tale was stated by the guest, and an Ex-front desk clerk. In late April of 2004, The front desk clerk got more then wall call that many the guest felt a presence in the bed with them. One particular guest related that he could hear heavy breathing and he felt the sheets wrap around him so tight that he could not move.<br />
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When in this point of panic The guest told, that he tried to get out of the bed, but was trapped and the breathing got louder and closer. By the hand of God he said, he managed to break loose of the ever tightening sheets and turned on the light to see both of his large heavy suitcase fly across the room towards him.<br />
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A dark image of a man then ran into the closet. When upon help was called to from the front desk, for he thought someone had broken into his room. Security arrived, and upon investigation of the closet, proved he was quite alone in the room.<br />
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I myself don’t believe in ghosts but if you have any good ghost stories please share!<br />
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Stephen Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03447613392145288408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6680700272145819774.post-16160709784725323732011-09-28T11:35:00.000-07:002011-09-28T11:35:56.204-07:005 On-the-Go Breakfast Recipes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzLKBBdu8rTdefeEb7AHKBlGsalaMZVZ0cLBGuRxiHto7etmrwyIgLFT9aGiw6zvjk8g0G2nYGm63ltZVPrOM0zRcn3_E0R0oY0g80lzrr3CrI_PZyU5VJj2KyVWkesKoP5SwA5yTwIN0/s1600/Courtyard+Breakfast+to+go.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzLKBBdu8rTdefeEb7AHKBlGsalaMZVZ0cLBGuRxiHto7etmrwyIgLFT9aGiw6zvjk8g0G2nYGm63ltZVPrOM0zRcn3_E0R0oY0g80lzrr3CrI_PZyU5VJj2KyVWkesKoP5SwA5yTwIN0/s320/Courtyard+Breakfast+to+go.jpg" width="231" /></a></div>
Breakfast is brain food, but it can be a challenge to feed the kids healthfully and get out the door in time for school. These 5 simple on-the-go breakfasts will give your kids the energy to get through the morning -- without sucking up your time, too.<br />
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<strong>Dressed-up Yogurt</strong><br />
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This is a quick way to add sweetness and crunch to plain yogurt. You'll get the nutritious benefits of yogurt without the excess sugar so often found in flavored yogurts.<br />
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Dressed-up Yogurt<br />
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What you need:<br />
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7 oz container plain yogurt (I recommend Greek yogurt)<br />
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1 Tbsp. raspberry jam (or any other favorite - raspberry just happens to be mine)<br />
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1 tsp. honey<br />
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2 Tbsp. toasted almonds, roughly chopped<br />
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Combine all ingredients in the yogurt container. Grab a spoon and go!<br />
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Extra: Any jam or nut combination can be added. Pair strawberry jam with pistachios for a colorful alternative.<br />
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<strong>Kicked-Up Quesadilla</strong><br />
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These healthy quesadillas get a bright, fresh kick from the addition of tangy Granny Smith apples. Prepped and ready in less than 5 minutes, it's the perfect meal to munch as you head out to the car.<br />
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Kicked-Up Quesadilla<br />
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What you need:<br />
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2 flour tortillas (regular or whole-wheat)<br />
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1/2 cup grated sharp cheddar<br />
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several thin slices of a Granny Smith apple<br />
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Sprinkle an even layer of cheese over one tortilla. Scatter the apple slices on top of the cheese and top with the remaining tortilla. Microwave for 30 seconds or until the cheese melts. For a crisper tortilla, use a large skillet and crisp for 1-2 minutes on both sides, until the cheese is melted. Cut into 6-8 wedges.<br />
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<strong>Breakfast Pizza Margherita</strong><br />
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Now you can let the kids have pizza for breakfast with this healthy English muffin-version. The tang of the tomatoes, the creaminess from the cheese and the fresh burst of basil are just as delicious in the morning.<br />
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Breakfast Pizza Margherita<br />
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What you need:<br />
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1 whole wheat english muffin<br />
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1 large slice of tomato<br />
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1/4 cup shredded mozzarella<br />
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*optional fried egg<br />
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1 tsp fresh basil, finely chopped<br />
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Turn on your broiler.<br />
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Top one half of the English muffin with the sliced tomato and then shredded mozzarella. Place it on a baking sheet, along with the other half of the English muffin. Slide under the broiler. Broil until the cheese is melted and browned in places. Remove from the oven and add the fried egg, if desired, and the fresh basil. Top with the other half of the English muffin.<br />
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<strong>Crepes On-the-Run</strong><br />
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While crepes may not seem like a quick go-to breakfast, with a little planning you can enjoy homemade crepes any day of the week. Simply make a large batch of crepes, refrigerate or freeze, then enjoy all week long.<br />
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Crepes On-the-Run<br />
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Makes about 15 crepes<br />
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What you need:<br />
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2 large eggs<br />
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3/4 cup milk<br />
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1/2 cup water<br />
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1 cup flour<br />
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1 Tbsp. brown sugar<br />
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3 Tbsp. melted butter<br />
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1/4 tsp. salt<br />
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additional butter, for coating the pan<br />
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Blend all of the ingredients until completely incorporated (an immersion or regular blender works well for this). Let batter chill in the fridge for at least one hour. (This allows the bubbles to subside, making your batter nice and smooth.) Your batter can be made up to 48 hours in advance.<br />
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Heat an 8"-10" non-stick pan over medium-high. Add butter to coat. Pour a scant 1/4 cup of batter into the center of the pan and swirl to spread evenly (you want a very thin even layer of batter -- adjust amount of batter according to the size of pan you are using). Cook for 45 seconds and flip. Cook for another 20 seconds.<br />
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Refrigerate any leftover crepes in a resealable plastic bag with a sheet of wax paper between each crepe to prevent sticking. Well-sealed, they can be frozen for up to one month.<br />
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When you are ready for breakfast, kids can help fill their crepes with ham and cheese, fresh fruit and cream cheese, Nutella and bananas, peanut butter and jam or any combination that appeals.<br />
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Roll up crepes like a burrito or fold in quarters to make a simple, portable meal.<br />
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<strong>Frozen Fruit Smoothie</strong><br />
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These fruity, creamy shakes are refreshing on a hot day. They come together in minutes, use ingredients that you most likely have on hand, and pack nutrition and energy in every satisfying sip.<br />
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Frozen Fruit Smoothie<br />
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What you need:<br />
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2 cups frozen berries or fruit<br />
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2 Tbsp. orange juice concentrate (or 1/2 cup orange juice)<br />
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1/2 cup water<br />
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1/2 cup yogurt<br />
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1 frozen banana<br />
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1 Tbsp. honey<br />
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Add all ingredients to your blender and blend until completely smooth.<br />
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*Optional: Add 1-2 Tbsp. of flax seeds to the blender for even more nutrition.<br />
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Stephen Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03447613392145288408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6680700272145819774.post-63899717788700809422011-09-28T10:49:00.000-07:002011-09-28T10:49:16.601-07:00How not to loose something<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We’ve have items forgotten at the hotel all the time. I hope by putting together these brain exercises maybe it can help just one person keep their items. A fair number of people I know have a great deal of trouble keeping track of small personal effects: wallets, sunglasses, keys, and the like. When they encounter someone who does not have this problem, they assume it’s because of some inherent superiority of memory. In my experience, this is not the case. What differs between those who lose things and those who do not is the degree to which they are systematic.<br />
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Be systematic<br />
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The first vital aspect of being systematic is to maintain consistency in where things are placed. One’s keys should always be in the same pocket when out or at work, and always on the same table of shelf when at home. One’s gloves should likewise always be kept in the same place, at least during seasons when they are required, and moved to a consistent but less accessible place during the summer. All this is made dramatically easier by choosing clothes with a similar array of pockets. Having a single jacket with lots of pockets is an enormous boon: I always know that my wallet is in the right-side breast pocket, while my camera is in the left. The small sub-pocket under that holds a four-color pen. The inside left pocket has a pair of liner gloves, while the inside right pocket has an iPod Shuffle and space for valuable things carried rarely. Having a consistently used bag with lots of pockets is similarly useful.<br />
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Trust, but verify<br />
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The second vital aspect is frequent auditing. If you have followed the advice of using the same pockets at all times, this will soon become automatic and second nature. You learn to be intuitively aware of the presence or absence of objects from their designated spaces. If they are not there, you know to seek them out immediately and return them to their designated position.<br />
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Never trust yourself to remember a deviation from the system. Moving something into the wrong place – perhaps to make it more convenient to carry something else – will only produce anxiety while you are tying to remember the deviation and frustration when it leads to things being misplaced or not immediately accessible.<br />
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Fashion is your enemy<br />
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The real trouble begins when you have a wardrobe that has dramatically different elements: trousers with no pockets, multiple jackets, purses with differing internal compositions. For those who insist on such variety, I can offer no aid. Unless your memory is much better than mine, you are probably doomed to lose things relatively often.<br />
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Some level of variety must certainly be dealt with by anyone, and this can be accomplished by having a number of set collections of gear with defined associated positions. One might have a ‘no jacket because it is sunny out, still carrying photographic gear’ option, as well as an ‘out biking in the countryside, repair tools required’ configuration. In my experience, it is feasible to maintain a good number, provided they are as similar as possible (wallet always on the same side, non-included items left in defined positions at home) and they are always identically configured. Objects only carried rarely are by far the easiest to lose. I virtually never carry an umbrella (preferring to rely on waterproof clothing), so I constantly forget them when I have been carrying one for whatever reason.<br />
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Naturally, there are plenty of people for whom the above is too much work for too little value. The point is less to convince people that they should or should not adopt such a system and more to argue that losing or not losing objects is a reflection of planning and habit, rather than inherent cognitive characteristics. That said, a certain fascination with gear and a somewhat compulsive nature certainly help in the initial development and constant refinement of such an order.<br />
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One option is to keep related items together by having several pre-packed bags for different activities – for instance I keep all gear needed for snowboarding in the snowboard bag, all gear needed for a day cragging in my climbing backpack, all gear needed for mtbing in my mtb backpack, all my waterproofs together etc. This might mean duplicating some items (sunscreen, energy bars, sunglasses) but it saves considerable time & effort. My problems arises over the items that can’t be easily duplicated like a wallet, cellphone or ipod – I need to transfer those from bag to bag as required and don’t leave the house without checking that I have them all.<br />
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Of course, a major reason people lose things is simply because they keep their belongings in a god-almighty mess. Systematic behavior doesn’t help if it means that you put everything ‘important’ on the top drawer but then have to search the whole chaotic, overflowing drawer several times a day. Similarly, my brother’s strategy of keeping everything he owns on the bedroom floor means that he is certain of its approximate location, but it still takes a long time to locate things. Tidiness has many benefits ;0).<br />
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Misplacing items is the most common non-event of humans. Have you ever hid something so no one could find it. Your subconscious immediately erases it from your mind so that you can’t find it later. An event or link must be made each time so you can retrieve it later from your mind.<br />
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Purposely create an event when you place something somewhere. If you do lose something don’t panic. That emotion will block your mind from logically trying to retrieve the information you need.<br />
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Stephen Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03447613392145288408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6680700272145819774.post-1391642189412106012011-09-21T12:16:00.000-07:002011-09-21T12:16:27.501-07:00Seven myths about caffeine<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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For many of us, a morning without coffee or tea is a like the proverbial day without sunshine. For me, much of it is about the ritual. OK, who am I kidding? It’s about the caffeine. Mmm, I love caffeine -- that naturally occurring alkaloid found in the leaves, seeds, and fruits of more than 63 plant species worldwide. But at what risk do I indulge in my morning coffee and afternoon espresso?<br />
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Caffeine is most famous for its role as a stimulant and its ability to delay fatigue. I clearly get a boost of energy and clarity, as had been scientifically proven. But caffeine has also acquired a bad-boy reputation -- an unfair one, perhaps? Extensive studies into its safety show that there are still many misconceptions about caffeine. Allow me to tackle some of the myths surrounding my beloved alkaloid.<br />
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Myth No. 1: Caffeine is addictive<br />
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Reality: Well, this depends on what you consider “addictive.” Caffeine is a stimulant to the central nervous system, and regular use of caffeine might cause mild physical dependence–but caffeine doesn’t affect your life the way addictive drugs do, and thus most experts don’t consider caffeine dependence an addiction, per se. When regular caffeine consumption is quickly halted, some of us experience symptoms that last from one to several days–this can be avoided if caffeine consumption is reduced slowly.<br />
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If you’ve tried to stop cold turkey, you may have experienced one of these symptoms:<br />
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•Headache<br />
•Fatigue<br />
•Anxiety<br />
•Irritability<br />
•Depressed mood<br />
•Difficulty concentrating<br />
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Myth No. 2: Caffeine causes insomnia<br />
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Reality: It depends. The human body absorbs caffeine quickly, but it also flushes it quickly. Processed mainly through the liver, caffeine has a relatively short half-life. On average, it takes four to five hours to rid half of the consumed caffeine from your body -- after another five hours 75 percent of it is eliminated. Unless you are very sensitive, a morning cup or two shouldn’t affect your sleep.<br />
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But if you have a quick latte at the 3:00 p.m. slump or an espresso after dinner, you may be counting sheep for a lot longer than you’re comfortable with. Your sleep shouldn’t be affected if you steer clear of caffeine for at least six hours before bedtime. Your sensitivity may vary, though, depending on your metabolism and the amount of caffeine you regularly consume.<br />
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Myth No. 3: Caffeine increases risk for osteoporosis, heart disease, and cancer<br />
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Reality: Moderate amounts of caffeine -- about 300 milligrams, roughly three cups of coffee -- apparently cause no harm in most healthy adults. Although some people are more sensitive to its effects, including older people and those with high blood pressure. Here are the facts by condition.<br />
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Osteoporosis: At high levels (more than 744 milligrams per day, around seven or eight cups of coffee), caffeine may increase calcium and magnesium loss in urine. But recent studies suggest it does not increase your risk for bone loss, especially if you get enough calcium. You can offset the calcium lost from drinking one cup of coffee by adding just two tablespoons of milk. However, research does show some links between caffeine and hip fracture risk in older adults. Older adults may be more sensitive to the effects of caffeine on calcium metabolism. If you’re an older woman, discuss with your doctor whether you should limit your daily caffeine intake to 300 milligrams or less.<br />
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Heart disease: According to the Harvard Nurses’ Health Study, caffeine consumption does not increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and does not raise cholesterol levels or cause irregular heartbeat. A slight, temporary rise in heart rate and blood pressure is common in those who are sensitive to caffeine -- but the rise is minimal and comparative to normal activity like walking up stairs. That said, if you have high blood pressure, talk to your doctor about caffeine intake as some people may be more sensitive to its effects. Also, more research is needed to tell whether caffeine increases the risk for stroke in people with high blood pressure.<br />
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Cancer: According to The New York Times, scientists conducting an international review of 66 studies found coffee drinking had "little if any effect on the risk of developing pancreatic or kidney cancer. In fact, another review suggested that compared with people who do not drink coffee, those who do have half the risk of developing liver cancer." And a study of 59,000 women in Sweden (the country with the highest coffee consumption per capita in the world) found no connection between caffeine consumption and breast cancer.<br />
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Myth No. 4: Pregnant women or those trying to get pregnant should avoid caffeine<br />
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Reality: I don’t know -- it seemed natural for me to avoid caffeine both times I was pregnant, but a study conducted at State University of New York and another study published in the journal Epidemiology looked at the effects of caffeine-containing beverages on reproductive factors, and the results suggests that moderate caffeine consumption is safe. However, one study found that women who consumed the caffeine equivalent of five or more cups of coffee per day were more than twice as likely to miscarry as those who consumed less caffeine or no caffeine at all, suggesting that “drinking very large amounts of coffee or other caffeine-containing beverages may increase a pregnant woman’s miscarriage risk,” said Mark Klebanoff, M.D., Director of NICHD’s Division of Epidemiology, Statistics, and Prevention Research. “However, serum levels of paraxanthine that are usually seen among women consuming only about two or three cups of coffee a day do not appear to increase this risk.”<br />
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Questions remain about the effects of high doses of caffeine and it is wise for pregnant women to practice moderation (less than 200mg per day). The Food and Drug Administration’s advice? “Pregnant women should avoid caffeine-containing foods and drugs, if possible, or consume them only sparingly.”<br />
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Myth No. 5: Caffeine is bad for kids<br />
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Reality: Ack -- The Journal of Pediatrics published a survey showing that in the U.S., 5- to 7-year-old children drank approximately 52 mg of caffeine daily and 8- to 12-year-old children drank 109 mg daily. In general, kids have the same ability to process caffeine that adults do. A study by A. Leviton published in Clinical Pediatrics suggests that caffeine-containing drinks and foods -- consumed in moderation -- have no detectable effects on hyperactivity or attention span of children. However, in sensitive children, higher doses of caffeine, may cause temporary effects such as excitability, irritability, reduced sleep, or anxiety.<br />
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But really, in my opinion, kids have their entire lives to be (non-) addicted to caffeine. Even if studies do suggest that up to 300mg of caffeine daily is safe for kids, the vehicles by which they are consuming it (sodas and energy drinks) are undeniably unhealthy.<br />
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Myth No. 6: Caffeine can knock out the alcohol<br />
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Reality: Such a cliche -- a cup of coffee will erase the martini before, wine with, and the cognac after dinner. What research actually suggests is that people only think caffeine will help them sober up. Alcohol can be very clever that way. People who drink caffeine along with alcohol think they’re fine behind the wheel, when actually reaction time and judgment are still impaired. In fact, college kids who drink both alcohol and caffeine are actually more likely to have car accidents. According to Thomas Gould, PhD, of Temple University, ”The myth about coffee’s sobering powers is particularly important to debunk because the co-use of caffeine and alcohol could actually lead to poor decisions with disastrous outcomes.”<br />
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Myth No. 7: Caffeine has no health benefits<br />
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Reality: I can tell you right now, based on personal experience, that caffeine improves alertness, concentration, energy, clear-headedness, and feelings of sociability. Brain-fog be gone! Scientific research at John Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore and Harvard support these subjective experiences -- and have shown that caffeine may also improve memory and logical reasoning. A French study showed a slower decline in cognitive ability among women who consumed caffeine: “Caffeine is a psychostimulant which appears to reduce cognitive decline in women,” said study author Karen Ritchie, PhD, of INSERM, the French National Institute for Health and Medical Research, in Montpellier, France.<br />
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Caffeine-containing beverages have been in the headlines lately for their high level of antioxidants, which appear to promote heart health and cancer prevention. Other recent reports suggest (although not yet conclusively) that caffeine may be useful in treating allergic reactions due to its ability to reduce the concentration of histamines, the substances that cause the body to respond to an allergy-causing substance. More research is need in this area before conclusions can be drawn however. Limited evidence suggests caffeine may also reduce the risk of the following: Parkinson’s disease, liver disease, colorectal cancer, and type 2 diabetes.<br />
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Moderation and caffeine levels<br />
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As with everything, moderation is the key. But what is a moderate intake of caffeine for an adult? About 300 mg a day.<br />
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Instant coffee: 75mg per per 6-ounce cup<br />
Brewed coffee: 80mg-135mg, per 7-ounce cup<br />
Espresso: 100mg per 2 ounces<br />
Brewed tea: 50mg per 6-ounce cup<br />
Energy drinks: 28-87mg per 8-ounce glass<br />
Cola drinks: 8-53 mg per 8-ounce glass<br />
Other soft drinks: 24mg per 8-ounce glass<br />
Chocolate: 5.5-35.5mg per 1.7 ounces<br />
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Stephen Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03447613392145288408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6680700272145819774.post-3260050583392362852011-09-21T12:00:00.000-07:002011-09-21T12:00:35.173-07:00Save a Wet Cell Phone<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I’ve been guilty of doing this twice. I’ve had a cell phone in my pocket and jumped in the pool. I had insurance on the phone in that case and had the phone replaced that time but the time before when I wore my phone on a hip holster and was in the airport and had it fall in the toilet… that one hurt. I mean first I had to grab it… ewww! Then it was a company phone and I had to explain it to my boss. Great. <br />
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In discussing this I found out that this is fairly common. It happens more often than we want to admit. Some of the more common ways to soak a phone: dropping your cell phone in the sink, or the toilet; leave it in your pocket and run it through the washer; swim with your cell phone in your pocket. Ever have it fall into the pet's water bowl? <br />
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Getting your cell phone wet usually means you have to replace it, but sometimes if you're fast enough, you might be able to save the phone! Follow the steps outlined in this article to try and save your wet cell phone.<br />
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1) Take the phone out of the water as soon as possible. The plastic covers on cell phones are fairly tight, but water can enter the phone in a short period of time, perhaps only 20 seconds or less. Grab your phone quickly. Don't switch the phone on, or shut it down immediately, as being powered on can cause it to short circuit – if it has been in water, assume it needs drying immediately whether or not it is working.<br />
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2) Don't panic. Your phone will probably not be too damaged if you take it out of the water right away. A longer period of immersion, such as being in the washing machine cycle, will be cause for more alarm but it is still worth trying the following steps before giving up completely.<br />
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3) Remove the battery. This is one of the most important steps. Don't take time to think about it; electricity and water do not mix. Cutting power to your phone is a crucial first step in saving it. Many circuits inside the phone will survive immersion in water provided they are not attached to a power source when wet. <br />
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4) Remove the SIM card if you have a GSM carrier. Some or all of your valuable contacts (along with other data) could be stored on your SIM. For many people, this could be more worth saving than the phone itself. SIM cards survive water damage well, but some of the following steps might damage it, so getting it out immediately makes good sense. Just pat it dry and leave it aside until you need to connect your phone to your cellular network. (This step does not apply to CDMA carriers such as Verizon, Alltel, US Cellular, Sprint, etc.)<br />
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5) Remove all other peripherals and covers that can be removed. Remove any covers and external connectors to open up as many gaps, slots, and crevices in the phone as possible.<br />
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6) Dry your phone. If there is even one drop of water left inside, it can ruin your phone by corroding it and making the wrong contact. Obviously you need to remove as much of the water as soon as possible, to prevent it from easing its way into the phone: <br />
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Note: Gently wipe off as much water as possible without dropping the phone. Avoid shaking or moving the phone excessively, so as to avoid moving water through it.<br />
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Note: Wipe down using a towel or paper towel. Ideally, try not to clog the wet paper in the gaps and grooves of the phone. Keep wiping, to gently remove as much of the remaining water as possible.<br />
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Note:(Optional): If you pulled the battery out in time, cleaning the inside of your phone with cleaning alcohol (alcohol will displace the water) or distilled water to remove extra corrosives such as salt from the ocean, sugar from soda or juice or soap from the washing machine. Contact spray might work for just water.<br />
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7) Use a vacuum cleaner if possible. If you want to try and suck the liquid out of the inner parts of the phone, try using a vacuum cleaner. Remove all residual moisture by drawing it away with a vacuum cleaner held over the affected areas for up to 20 minutes, in each accessible area (take it in turns with a friend). This is the fastest method and can completely dry out your phone and get it working in thirty minutes. However, unless the exposure to water was extremely short, it's not recommended to attempt to turn your phone on this soon. Be careful not to hold the vacuum too close to the phone, as a vacuum can create static electricity, which is even worse for the phone.<br />
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Note: Do NOT use a hairdryer! This can push the water into other areas of the phone and the heat could do additional damage.<br />
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8) Use a substance with a high affinity for water to help draw out moisture. Leave the phone in a bowl or bag of uncooked rice overnight. The rice would absorb any remaining moisture<br />
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Note: If available, it is preferable to use desiccant instead. Desiccant will absorb moisture better than rice. If you use this method, slip the cell phone inside a plastic bag that can be sealed or a plastic container (airtight). Add the desiccant packet (often found with shoes, noodle packets, etc.) in with the cell phone. Leave as long as possible (overnight) to absorb the moisture.<br />
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9) Let the phone sit on absorbent towels, napkin, or other paper. After removing the phone from the rice or desiccant (or if you were not able to use either method), place the phone on absorbent material. Remember that the goal is to evacuate all of the moisture and humidity, not to trap it or add even more.<br />
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10) Test your phone. After you have waited at least 24 hours, or longer if possible, check to see that everything on and in your cell phone is clean and looks dry. Re-attach the battery to the phone. Try turning it on.<br />
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Note: If your phone still does not work, try plugging it into its charger without the battery. If this works, you need a new battery.<br />
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Note: If not, try taking your cell phone to an authorized dealer. Sometimes they can fix it. Don't try to hide the fact that it has been wet – there are internal indicators that prove moisture and they're more likely to be able to help you if you explain exactly what has happened.<br />
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11) LAST RESORT: Take the phone apart if your phone doesn't turn on at all. If you feel comfortable doing this, try taking it apart. First, make sure that you have all of the right parts and know exactly where they go. Be sure to put everything back in its proper place once finished. As you're disassembling it, pat each individual part dry with a small towel and use the vacuum cleaner once more on the crevices (but be careful not to accidentally suck up any loose parts – keep them well to one side, or stretch a length of old pantyhose over the nozzle). If this doesn't work, or you're too unsure about undoing your phone, get help from cell phone professionals.<br />
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Stephen Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03447613392145288408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6680700272145819774.post-77234545370672718522011-09-21T11:51:00.000-07:002011-09-21T11:51:59.288-07:00Car Duds or Soon-to-be Collectors?When writing about Nissan's Murano CrossCabriolet recently, I was reminded how difficult it is to create a new automotive concept -- and how harshly the market treats original ideas. The CrossCabrio is the ambitious -- or perhaps foolhardy -- attempt to create a crossover with a convertible top.<br />
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Bright ideas are hard to pull off. For every Chrysler minivan or Ford Explorer four-door SUV, there are dozens of one-hit wonders and new concepts that failed to catch on. The Pontiac Aztek, an unholy combination of minivan and SUV, is the classic example, but there have been many others through the years. <br />
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Willys Jeepster 1946-1950<br />
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A brave attempt by Willys to broaden the Jeep's utilitarian image beyond agriculture and forestry uses, the Jeepster featured a convertible canvas top, flat-topped fenders, and a 62-horsepower engine. But no four-wheel drive was offered, advertising was sparse, and fashion-seeking post-war shoppers with many more choices looked elsewhere. Fewer than 20,000 Jeepsters were built. <br />
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AMC Pacer 1975-1980<br />
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AMC billed it as the "first wide small car" because the two-door compact Pacer was more than six feet across. Car and Driver called it "the Flying Fishbowl." The Pacer had so much glass that backseat passengers got sunburned. Despite sparkling early-adopter sales, AMC's financial limitations and multiple engineering compromises doomed this original concept as it did earlier ones like the sawed-off Gremlin. <br />
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General Motors EV-1 1996-1999<br />
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The first modern mass-produced electric vehicle, EV-1 lost its reason for existence shortly after introduction when California loosened its requirements for zero-emission vehicles. Only 800 of the range-limited cars with outdated technology found customers. Losing thousands of dollars on each vehicle produced, GM discontinued the EV-1 and recalled them, suffering a huge public relations embarrassment in the process. <br />
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Suzuki X-90 1996-1998<br />
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A two-seat SUV with a T-top and four-wheel-drive, the X-90 was known as the "shoe car" to some because of its extreme rounded styling. Its ungainly proportions and limited functionality (it was equipped with a tiny 95 horsepower engine) consigned it to the dustbin of history after three years of production, during which just 7,205 made their way to the U.S. <br />
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Plymouth Prowler 1997-2002<br />
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A modern interpretation of the classic hot rod, the Prowler was built to capitalize on the success of another retro car, the Dodger Viper. It was undone by a series of engineering compromises deemed "inauthentic," such as a V-6 engine and automatic transmission. Wickedly unstable because of the light front end, only 1,426 cars, priced at $44,625 apiece, were built during its last year of production. <br />
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Ford Excursion 2000-2005<br />
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All but obsolete upon introduction, the 8,500-lb., three-and-a-half-ton Excursion tested the outer limits of SUV size with its jumbo proportions. The longest and heaviest SUV ever built, it had only three rows of seats but carried quantities of luggage. Capable of just 14-16 miles per gallon in city driving, it received an Exxon Valdez award from the Sierra Club because of its poor fuel economy and sank without a successor five years after launch. <br />
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Chevrolet SSR 2003-2006<br />
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The world's first hardtop convertible pickup truck -- and, so far, the only one -- the SSR (for Super Sport Roadster) was one of the less-good product ideas General Motors tried before the ascendancy of Bob Lutz. The SSR tried to piggyback on the pickup truck boom with a topless version whose roof folded into the bed when retracted. Built on the Chevy TrailBlazer platform, the SSR was badly overweight and overpriced at $42,000. What seemed cool on an auto show turntable became an overpriced novelty when it went into production, which customers quickly figured out. <br />
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Subaru Baja 2003-2006<br />
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Combining four-passenger seating and a car-like ride with all-wheel-drive and an open pickup bed, Subaru tried to create the all-purpose utility vehicle, using components from the Legacy and Outback wagons. But in an attempt to liven up the Baja, it ladled on plastic body cladding and painted early models a garish silver and yellow. The 41-inch bed wasn't very useful either, and Subaru sold only one-quarter as many Bajas as planned before ending production. <br />
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GMC Envoy XUV 2004-2005<br />
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A weird combination of pickup truck and SUV, the Envoy XUV was distinguished by a retractable rear roof section, creating an open-topped load area that could accommodate tall objects. Customers didn't know what to make of the homely, expensive creation, and the market for people carrying small trees and tall case clocks proved small. GM expected to sell 90,000 annually but managed only 12,000 in 2004 and put the XUV out of its misery early in 2005. <br />
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Acura ZDX 2010-<br />
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Combine the looks of a coupe with the functionality of a sedan and the utility of an SUV, and what do you get? Edmunds.com calls it a head-scratcher -- "a hefty crossover SUV that's about as practical as a compact hatchback with a cramped backseat and compromised cargo capacity." Buyers are staying away in droves; Acura sells only about 150 a month.<br />
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Stephen Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03447613392145288408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6680700272145819774.post-2134672541729266952011-09-21T11:26:00.000-07:002011-09-21T11:26:40.798-07:00Best Travel Books<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Whether you're looking for a birthday gift for your favorite traveler or a great read for your next trans-Atlantic flight, we've got you covered! The staff of IndependentTraveler.com has gathered 10 of our favorite travel titles -- including both timeless classics and fresh new releases -- that are sure to please any traveler who loves to escape into the pages of a great book.<br />
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Miss New York Has Everything<br />
By Lori Jakiela<br />
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A small-town girl wants to get out and leave the suburbs of Pittsburgh, and her family, behind. What's a girl to do? Lori Jakiela became a flight attendant and got ready to see the world. The trouble is, short layovers, even if they are in Paris, do not a world traveler make. Instead of the glamorous life she imagined in New York, she finds herself broke and living in a decidedly unglamorous neighborhood in Queens filled with roommates and roaches. As we follow Ms. Jakiela through her stumbles and struggles, we begin to understand just how strong the ties that bind her to her small-town life are -- particularly to her father, with whom she has a complicated but deeply loving relationship.<br />
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This memoir is a sometimes humorous and sometimes painful look back at one young woman's struggle to create a new life and to escape the people and the places that define her -- until she realizes that back in suburban Pittsburgh is exactly where she belongs.<br />
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Excerpt:<br />
Not only was I not glamorous. I was also not a German speaker.<br />
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This is what I told Sheldon in Scheduling, when he called, for the third time in one month, to give me another twenty-four-hour layover in the industrial wasteland of Frankfurt, Germany.<br />
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Lost and Found<br />
Carolyn Parkhurst<br />
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"You've lost the game, but what have you found?" That's the question posed by the host of a ficticious "Amazing Race"-type reality show that serves as the backdrop for this new novel, in which teams are eliminated from a worldwide scavenger hunt. Chapters are devoted to individual players and even the show's host as we learn their secrets -- what's behind the mother/daughter team with the strained relationship? What's with the newly married couple who, until just recently, were both leading lives as homosexuals? Why are the two former child actors really on the show?<br />
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Fans of "The Amazing Race" will love the moments when we get a glimpse of the show's production team trying to "out" a participant or the contestants' struggle to complete the tasks needed to get ahead. However, the book is much less about the contest than it is about the people who are playing the game -- and in the end, they are all able to answer the question, "What have you found?"<br />
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Excerpt:<br />
"I'm just going to the bathroom," I say to him. "You can stay with Abby."<br />
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"Sorry," [the cameraman] says. "I've gotten instructions to follow you."<br />
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I was going to go around the far side of the column, out of Abby's sight, but I change course and head towards the public restrooms near the steps of the terrace. I hope Ken will follow; I don't know how I am going to manage a private conversation with him, but he clearly has something to say to me, and I can't have him following me and Abby.<br />
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Robert and I reach the door of the men's room, and I step inside alone. ... After a moment, Ken walks in. It embarrasses me to look at him directly. I turn on the water and hold my hands under the cold spray. Ken walks over and stands at the sink next to mine.<br />
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"Hi there," he says. "Romantic little spot you've chosen."<br />
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Traveling While Married<br />
By Mary-Lou Weisman<br />
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Though not necessarily a how-to guide on traveling better with your spouse, "Traveling While Married" does provide insights, many of them hilarious, into what it is like to travel with your husband or wife. It's largely an account of the travels of Mary-Lou Weisman and her husband Larry, but any married couple will see themselves in the pages of this book. Weisman touches on topics like traveling with other couples, doing things you hate because the one you love wants to, and "fantasy real estate" -- the compulsion to own property in every wonderful place you visit.<br />
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For couples who love each other and love to travel, this is a touching and insightful read. We can all relate to the opening page of the book when the author professes, "I, Mary-Lou, take you Larry, to be my constant traveling companion, to Hong and to Kong, in Cyclades and in Delft, for deck class or deluxe, so long as we both can move."<br />
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Excerpt:<br />
Travel can put an extra strain on a marriage. Being the same old couple in a new and different place is a disorienting experience. All too often, when people don't know where they are, have jet lag, don't speak the language and can't figure out the money or maintain intestinal regularity, they get hostile. And since they don't know anyone else in Kyoto to take it out on, they take it out on each other.<br />
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Some marriages are saved by going on vacation. While the marriage is at home, the partners may be contemplating divorce, but send the marriage on vacation and they're on a second honeymoon. On the other hand, a marriage that gets along swimmingly at home can be a fish out of water on vacation.<br />
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The Singular Pilgrim: Travels on Sacred Ground<br />
By Rosemary Mahoney<br />
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Trudging on weary feet along Spain's road to Santiago de Compostela, visiting the holy shrine at Lourdes and rowing down the waters of the Ganges, Rosemary Mahoney is a modern-day pilgrim, traveling to some of the world's holiest sites in search of answers to her own spiritual questions. As a self-described rational person who is predisposed to doubt rather than to believe, she views the passion of true believers with mingled fascination, envy and bemusement. Can she find her own faith by following in the footsteps of the faithful before her?<br />
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I was drawn in immediately by Mahoney's compelling, ruminative account of her own pilgrim's path. She describes each stop on her journey with insight and compassion, but the chapter that lingered in my mind was the one about her stay in Varanasi, India. There she meets Jaga, a remarkable 16-year-old boy who is not only her guide to the city but also a kindred spirit: "His faith, I knew, was similar in nature to mine -- faded, worn, resentful, and stubbornly evasive. And yet it was there." By the book's end, Mahoney's faith is not drastically changed; there are no easy answers to the difficult questions she poses here. But her journey leaves both her -- and the reader -- with a measure of peace.<br />
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Excerpt:<br />
I was only halfway to Santiago. I folded the map up and threw it across the room so that I couldn't touch it. I fumed a while longer, then went quiet, because I knew that what was really upsetting me was that love was failing in my life. At its core, love, like faith, was not a product of reason. ... Real love required a risk, an act of daring. In my relationship there was not enough trust and too little daring. Walking to Santiago I had tried not to think too much about it, but it was the most important thing in my life at that time, and it kept cropping up in front of me and blocking my path.<br />
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Honeymoon with My Brother<br />
By Franz Wisner<br />
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What happens when the worst thing that's ever happened to you turns into the best thing? Franz Wisner learns the hard way when his fiancee, whom he'd loved for the better part of a decade, breaks up with him only five days before their wedding. Devastated and confused, he decides to go on his honeymoon anyway -- with his younger brother. The two-week honeymoon proves only a taste of what was to come. Soon after they return home, the brothers do what many of us have only dreamt of: quit their jobs, sell their houses and take a much longer honeymoon, this time around the world.<br />
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In this memoir, Wisner captures their two-year, four-continent journey with a keen eye and an appreciation for the little ironies they encounter in their travels -- like the time they show up at a restaurant recommended in their guidebook and find "ten tables, Anglo faces at each one ... Mass at the Church of the Lonely Planet." (It's then that they decide to ditch the guidebooks and rely on the kindness and wisdom of locals, a decision they never regret.) The brothers gradually fall into the rhythm of the road, leaving their past lives and loves behind and developing a deep friendship with each other. Wisner's straightforward, concise writing style isn't always effective; I found myself wanting more detail in some parts of the book and grimacing at a few cute but clunky rhymes ("the tired, hired, and mired trying to replace the fired"). But for the most part I found "Honeymoon with My Brother" a moving, funny account of the best kind of travel: the kind that not only takes you around the world but also changes your life.<br />
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Excerpt:<br />
Vietnam today is the young Buddhist monk, draped in orange robes, taking pains to prune a bonsai tree on the grounds of an ancient and decaying temple. ... It's the women in their pencil tip bamboo hats, crouched on the sidewalks, hawking delicious noodle soups piled high with bean sprouts and fresh basil. ... It's the dragon face long boats on brown rivers that shuttle tourists during the day and sleep families of ten at night. It's warm Cokes and bad karaoke (is that redundant?), a new house for every thousand old steel-roof shanties, bicycle rickshaws carrying dead cows, and bootleg everything. It's fishing nets, war trinkets, and warm baguettes.<br />
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The Poisonwood Bible<br />
By Barbara Kingsolver<br />
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The setting is the Belgian Congo in the 1950's. Fresh off the plane is a fundamentalist Christian preacher from the American South named Nathan Price, who has brought his wife and four daughters with him to spread the Word to what he considers a godless continent. But as Reverend Price aggressively pursues his missionary agenda in the face of increasingly fierce local resistance, it is his family who must suffer the consequences.<br />
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"The Poisonwood Bible" is a haunting novel about what happens when cultures collide -- specifically, when an outsider blunders up against the customs and beliefs of a society he doesn't even try to understand. Kingsolver effectively captures that prickly feeling of being outside one's comfort zone, one many will recognize from their own travels. She also writes beautifully about the landscape of Africa, its colors and smells and sounds, in the voices of four very different young women attempting to adapt to their alien surroundings. The novel builds steadily to a devastating climax, but then inexplicably continues for another several hundred pages -- making the last quarter of the book feel a bit directionless. But that's a forgivable flaw in a novel as lush and powerful as this one.<br />
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Excerpt:<br />
Imagine a ruin so strange it must never have happened. First, picture the forest. I want you to be its conscience, the eyes in the trees. The trees are columns of slick, brindled bark like muscular animals overgrown beyond all reason. Every space is filled with life: delicate, poisonous frogs war-painted like skeletons, clutched in copulation, secreting their precious eggs onto dripping vines. Vines strangling their own kin in the everlasting wrestle for sunlight. The breathing of monkeys. A glide of snake belly on branch. A single-file army of ants biting a mammoth tree into uniform grains and hauling it down to the dark for their ravenous queen. And, in reply, a choir of seedlings arching their necks out of rotted tree stumps, sucking life out of death. This forest eats itself and lives forever.<br />
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Dave Barry Does Japan<br />
By Dave Barry<br />
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If you've read too many deep, nuanced, "I went around the world and found myself" travel books, here's your remedy: "Dave Barry Does Japan." The syndicated columnist known for his sophisticated sense of humor (booger jokes, anyone?) hits the road with his wife and 10-year-old son, leaving political correctness and cultural sensitivity back in the U.S. The family spends three weeks bumbling around "in a disoriented, uncomprehending manner" in search of their next train, their next meal (preferably food that isn't still alive) and the secrets of Japanese success in the auto industry (hint: robots). Along the way Barry presents indispensable travel tips such as how to eat with chopsticks: raise them in the air to call your waiter and ask him for a fork.<br />
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I found myself laughing helplessly throughout the book, but my favorite part was Barry's description of the Kabuki play he went to see in Tokyo. Here's part of the plot as he understands it: "Everybody is upset and whining. Meanwhile some assassins are lurking around." If you're looking for an in-depth analysis of Japanese culture, look elsewhere. Aside from a chapter on Hiroshima, which not even Barry can joke about, this book unapologetically aims no further than drawing a few laughs -- and he succeeds, effectively skewering not only Japanese culture but also our own.<br />
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Excerpt:<br />
One night in Tokyo we watched two Japanese businessmen saying good-night to each other after what had clearly been a long night of drinking, a major participant sport in Japan. These men were totally snockered, having reached the stage of inebriation wherein every air molecule that struck caused them to wobble slightly, but they still managed to behave more formally than Americans do at funerals. They faced each other and bowed deeply, which caused both of them to momentarily lose their balance and start to pitch face-first to the sidewalk. Trying to recover their balance, they both stepped forward, almost banging heads. They managed to get themselves upright again and, with great dignity, weaved off in opposite directions.<br />
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"Around the World in 80 Days": A Companion to the BBC Mini-Series of the Same Name<br />
By Michael Palin<br />
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In 1989, Michael Palin succeeded in getting someone to cover the necessary expenses to travel around the world. His premise involved following the route -- as precisely as possible -- taken by Phileas Fogg in Jules Verne's "Around the World in 80 Days." Palin would restrict himself to the means of travel available to Fogg -- so boats, trains, horse-drawn coaches, children and camels would all be allowed.<br />
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In an effort to squeeze every penny out of Palin, the BBC decided to publish the journals he kept during his trip. And although the book was intended as a companion to the 1989 BBC mini-series of the same name, the journals really do stand alone. The feel of the book is fully informed by a man who took every occasion to dress up in women's clothes for a laugh (stirring conclusion to "The Meaning of Life" for instance). He doesn't take himself very seriously, and yet his intelligence and self-awareness allow him to convey the ridiculous circumstances in which he finds himself. At the Pyramids, a camel renter insists that the camel is named "Michael" and that Palin don a traditional Arab headdress. He dines on salted squid innards -- a dish his guide tells him is literally unpalatable to Europeans -- in Tokyo, before giving a rousing rendition of "You are My Sunshine" at a local karaoke bar. Aboard an L.A.-bound container ship, he takes part in a bizarre ritual involving copious amounts of fake blood (ketchup), break-dancing and King Neptune's blessing as he crosses the International Date Line. But you don't have to take my word for it. Read it yourself.<br />
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Excerpt:<br />
I venture into the streets of Bombay in search of someone to remove eight days' growth of beard ... Sandwiched in between a professional letter writer and a man who organizes mongoose and snake fights, I find a barber who shaves me then and there on the grubby pavement with a cut-throat razor. Not something I shall tell my mother about, especially as I'm convinced from the way his fingers rather than his eyes seek out my face that he is blind. By the time he's finished shaving me, a crowd has gathered that would not disgrace a third division football club.<br />
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The Monk and the Philosopher: A Father and Son Discuss the Meaning of Life<br />
By Jean-Francois Revel and Matthieu Ricard<br />
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Instead of detailing an actual road trip, "The Monk and the Philosopher" is a book about the "spiritual journey." Jean-Francois Revel, a prominent French intellectual entrenched in Western science and thought, meets his son Matthieu Ricard, a Buddhist monk, in Katmandu to discuss both why Ricard decided for a clean break from the West and the difference between Eastern and Western thought in general. Ricard was once a promising young scientist in France, but after successfully defending his doctoral thesis, he shocked his family and friends by moving to Bhutan and becoming a monk. What drew him to the East? What are the points of contention between father and son? How have the ways each has chosen to live affected their relationship? These concerns drive the dialogue.<br />
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The book begins with a conversation about how Ricard has evolved from aspiring scientist to ordained Buddhist monk. But after clarifying how and when Ricard abandoned his research career, the men begin to engage in a dialogue informed by pride, bitterness and sincerity. Much of the book is an elucidation of the Buddhist approach to life, and Ricard's insistence that Buddhism is not unflinching dogma, but a living, breathing framework, from which one can arrive at a spiritual destination. Revel seems incapable or unwilling of understanding this key point, and this tension speaks volumes about the differences between East and West, father and son. Even for a Buddhist monk, the very embodiment of serenity, Ricard's patience is repeatedly tried. Both are trying to come to some understanding of what the other holds dear, while also resolutely defending their methods for tackling philosophy's primary quests -- eliminating the fear of death, while living the "good life." Their unique experiences traveling through life are certainly food for thought -- perhaps inspiring enough to start the reader on his or her own quest.<br />
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Excerpt:<br />
No dialogue, however enlightening it might be, could ever be a substitute for the silence of personal experience, so indispensable for an understanding of how things really are. Experience, indeed, is the path. And as the Buddha often said, "it is up to you to follow it," so that one day the messenger might become the message.<br />
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Travels with Charley in Search of America<br />
By John Steinbeck<br />
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As one of the great American authors, Steinbeck has little to prove in terms of writing. But there came a time in his life where he began to get the sense that the America he had written of in his seminal works had morphed into something wholly unfamiliar. To reacquaint himself with a clearer picture of his motherland, he decided to set out on a three-month journey with his friend Charley the standard poodle. The natural beauty he encounters along the way in places like Montana and the redwood forests of California are juxtaposed against the ugly bigotry and closed-mindedness of many Americans he meets. This hatred is certainly very painful for Steinbeck, and the sad realization that his ideal vision of America -- an America where the loss of innocence may open the door for positive growth -- may never materialize makes for a melancholy experience.<br />
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Steinbeck is a natural reporter, able to convey scenes, such as his route through the changing New England foliage, with great accuracy. But he also injects his writing with experience and passion, and this is what makes "Travels with Charley" so engaging.<br />
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Excerpt:<br />
For many years I have traveled in many parts of the world. In America, I live in New York, or dip into Chicago or San Francisco. But New York is no more America than Paris is France or London is England. Thus, I discovered I did not know my own country.<br />
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Stephen Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03447613392145288408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6680700272145819774.post-58286185102144418592011-09-21T10:45:00.000-07:002011-09-21T10:45:14.990-07:00Beat the post-travel blues<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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What's wrong with you? You've just had a fabulous holiday and you should be feeling all serene and enriched, right? Instead you're sluggish, cranky, maybe even a little weepy, and everything seems washed-out and no-account. Looks like you've got a case of the post-travel blues. Don't panic! Experienced travelers learn to recognize the symptoms and apply the remedies. Here are a few of our favorite ways to get out of the post-travel doldrums. <br />
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Dream big! <br />
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Turn your post-holiday depression into pre-holiday anticipation. It may be a little way off, but that only gives you permission to dream it up a storm. Now's the time to be getting all misty-eyed about cruising to Antarctica, basking in the Maldives, eating your way around Paris and other fancypants pleasures. As you get closer to the actual planning stage you might have to bargain yourself down to equally rewarding but more pocket-friendly destinations. In the meantime, let your imagination off the leash!<br />
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Start a piggy bank <br />
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Every traveler knows the gloom of coming home broke. Perhaps you even have to go through the slog of setting yourself up with a new house and a new job — and all without the spare cash to treat yourself to a mood-lifting splurge. Now's the time to start saving for your next trip. Even if it's just a few coins in a jar each week, at least you'll feel like you're doing something tangible to get back on the road. And if you start thinking laterally about money and possessions, you could be you'll be winging off in less time than you think.<br />
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Be a tourist in your own town <br />
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The wonderful thing about going to new places is the way it opens your eyes, makes you curious and observant, surprises you, freshens your senses. But there's no reason why your own town can't do exactly the same thing for you. All you have to do is get out of your rut. Take turns you've never taken before, follow the tourists to places you've never been, take photographs, talk to strangers — experiment. Feel better already?<br />
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Share the love <br />
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You're full of knowledge about, and passion for, the places you've just been — so share it. No, not with your friends — most of them don't care. Find a community of people who are mad about your favorite places and talk them up, learn more about the destinations that thrilled you and come through with some advice for aspiring novices.<br />
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Make art <br />
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Instead of boring your friends with your travel stories, do something creative with your memories. Make photo books and playlists, turn your journal scribbles into travel writing ... or bore your friends spectacularly, ironically, fantastically by making an old-fashioned slide show, complete with music and snacks that match the destination. <br />
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This story, 5 ways to beat the post-travel blues, originally appeared on LonelyPlanet.com.<br />
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Stephen Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03447613392145288408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6680700272145819774.post-40029176480704525102011-09-20T14:05:00.000-07:002011-09-20T14:05:55.259-07:00Shocking Mom Secrets<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Moms share all in a new survey from TODAY.com, the online home of America's No. 1 morning program, and Parenting.com, the website of Parenting and Babytalk magazines, who today released the results of a joint "Mom Confessions" study which asked moms to divulge the secrets they definitely wouldn't share on the playground. From why they judge each other to what they would change if they could have a "do-over" and how they really keep their kids in line, more than 26,000 moms got real with their responses. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">According to TODAY Moms senior editor Rebecca Dube, "The revelations we uncovered in our survey should put a stake through the heart of the myth of the perfect mother. Moms everywhere are overwhelmed and they often feel like they're the only ones – but our findings show that they're not; everyone shares the same challenges. Whatever your mom confession is, someone out there is in the same boat – and talking about it makes moms feel a lot better!" </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">NEARLY 3 OUT OF 4 MOMS WANT A DO-OVER: </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">• If given the chance, 23% of moms would choose a different spouse/partner and 21% would have more children.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">• Out of the moms who ever wished their child was the opposite sex, nearly two-thirds are moms of boys. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">WOULD YOU RATHER? THE MOMMY VERSION </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">• Weight versus smarts: 45% of moms would choose to weigh 15 pounds less rather than add 15 points to their child's IQ.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">• Money versus time: 42% would prefer to get a 50% raise at work than have 50% more time to spend with their kids. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">• Sex versus sleep: 53% would choose a night of uninterrupted sleep over a night of mind-blowing sex.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">DESPERATE MOM MEASURES: </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">• Nearly 1 in 5 moms confessed to medicating their child to calm him/her down before a big trip – and nearly 1 in 12 do so on a regular night just for some peace and quiet.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">• 49% have knowingly sent a sick child to daycare or school.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">EVERYONE'S A CRITIC: 87% OF MOMS JUDGE EACH OTHER</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">• More than 1 in 3 admits to judging moms of overweight kids.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">• 43% judge moms who still breastfeed their toddlers. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">"Moms are so often idealized as superwomen, a role that comes with a tremendous amount of pressure and feelings of 'everyone is getting it right but me,'" said Rachel Fishman Feddersen, director, digital content, strategy, and design for Parenting.com. "The survey provided moms with a private, anonymous forum to tackle these issues, allowing them to dish on what it's really like to raise a family today." </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Methodology</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This survey was hosted on TODAY Moms and Parenting.com between June 13 and 20, 2011. A total of 26,138 mothers participated in the study. </span><br />
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Stephen Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03447613392145288408noreply@blogger.com0