Mary Katrantzou’s Teflon egg becomes a guest of the fashionable May Fair Hotel

Posted by on February 22, 2012 No comments

1329930560 24 Mary Katrantzou’s Teflon egg becomes a guest of the fashionable May Fair Hotel

Wednesday, 22 February 2012 14:55

Mary Katrantzou’s Teflon egg becomes a guest of the fashionable May Fair Hotel This Easter, come down to the iconic May Fair Hotel and join the World’s biggest Egg Hunt! As London becomes home to 200 giant and uniquely crafted eggs, the May Fair Hotel will house one of the most decadent and sought-after eggs in the collection, exclusively created by top fashion designer Mary Katrantzou. This Designer Egg has already taken up its residency at the May Fair, and will be on display for 40 days and 40 nights. A flirtatious mix of fashion and art, the capital’s coolest Easter Egg is hiding in the May Fair Hotel – and it’s worth seeking out!

As the Fabergé Big Egg Hunt launches this February, it is set to be the most interactive and exhilarating Easter adventure the world has seen. Locals, visitors and tourists alike will take to the streets of London to hunt these 200 hidden treasures. As the cultural hotel of choice among the good and the great, The May Fair will be the perfect host to one of the Egg Hunt’s most celebrated designs. Adorned with an army of tiny metal flowers, Swarovski crystals, bells and whistles, the May Fair’s vibrant three-colour tiered Egg is described as “Man Meets Machine Meets Mother Earth” and is destined to become a highly collectible work of art. Paying homage to true Flower Power, this Egg is one to watch – just like its creator. Mary Katrantzou has burst onto the scene as fashion’s biggest emerging talent this year, and her profile is going from strength to strength. Having already created her own ranges for Swarovski and Longchamp, Mary Katrantzou has shown at London Fashion Week this February, and has just launched her signature bold graphics at Topshop as part of a limited edition collection. Supporting the latest in fashion, art, music and theatre, The May Fair’s timely collaboration with Mary Katrantzou, the reigning ‘Queen of Prints’, is the perfect addition to its Easter celebrations, and really cements the foundations of creativity and elegance on which the hotel has made its name. The Fabergé Big Egg Hunt is the first event of its kind and aims to raise vital funds and awareness for charities Action for Children and Elephant Family, while also celebrating the most exciting and inspired artistic talent the world has ever seen. In addition, participants of The Fabergé Big Egg Hunt will have the chance of winning the world’s most extraordinary prize: The Fabergé Tribute Egg, a fabulous creation valued at over £100,000.

‘Soul Train’ cruise to set sail in 2013

Posted by on February 22, 2012 No comments

1329929372 35 Soul Train cruise to set sail in 2013

This item was written by Johanna Jainchill, who covers the travel industry for Travel Weekly. Jainchill is serving as Guest Editor of The Cruise Log while USA TODAY Cruise Editor Gene Sloan is away.

Soul Train creator Don Cornelius was memorialized in Los Angeles this month , but the cruise commemorating his landmark show will sail on.

The first-ever Soul Train Cruise embarks Feb. 17, 2013, from Fort Lauderdale on Holland America Line’s 1,848-passenger Westerdam.

The sailing will feature live performances by legendary R&B artists such as Patti LaBelle, The O’Jays, Kool and the Gang, Jeffrey Osborne, The Spinners, War, Harold Melvin’s Blue Notes, Russell Thompkins, Jr. & The New Stylistics, Cuba Gooding, Sr. and the Main Ingredient, Gerald Alston of The Manhattans, George Duke and many more.

RELATED:  Don Cornelius memorial held in L.A.ALSO ONLINE:  Deal watch: Last cabins on Titanic cruise are half-price

Besides concerts, the cruise will include Soul By The Sea beach parties, a Solid Gold Theme Ball with the Soul Train Line and DJs spinning R&B hits. Passengers will be encouraged to dress in the style that was popular when the original TV series launched in 1970.

The seven-night Caribbean sailing will visit Grand Turk, San Juan, St. Thomas and Half Moon Cay before returning to Fort Lauderdale on Feb. 24.

“We are extending the Soul Train brand from the television tracks to the high seas,” said cruise organizer Kenard Gibbs, CEO of Soul Train Holdings, LLC, in a statement. “The Soul Train brand is about the best in music, dance and fashion – a cruise on the high seas combined with an incredible music lineup, fun people and top-notch accommodations will make for another fun filled entertainment experience for folks who can’t get enough of our beloved brand.”

Soul Train was one of television’s longest running shows when it was finally retired in 2006 after 26 years. Cornelius hosted the show until 1993. He died on Feb. 1 at age 75 from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

By definition, there are days when I wonder if I have any travel at all. Go diving at the Red Sea Egypt is a wonderful mix of contrasting natural wonders. The nation has one of the richest assortments of historic structures and monuments that strongly depict the rich culture, traditions and customs of the people in the country. Inspect the water system and rest rooms to see if they are functioning as they should. App is free and helps drivers see which roads are busiest and provides fastest route advice. Indeed, this does not cause concernt to that many supporters, it is still something to be aware of. All of these deals expire at 11:59 p.m. Among other things, they can arrange for a: wheelchair at the airport, wheelchair accessible hotel room, wheelchair rental, lift-equipped accessible van, full van, minivan, RV, handicap scooter, or any other handicap vehicle.

Tenants move into new homes – Local – Derbyshire Times

Posted by on February 22, 2012 No comments

1329928160 98 Tenants move into new homes Local Derbyshire Times

Published on Friday 10 February 2012 17:01

Twenty local residents have moved into their brand new homes after moving out of their post war bungalows which were demolished.

Bolsover District Council and Derwent Living – in partnership with Kier Partnership – Homes welcomed the residents into their newly constructed bungalows following the demolition of their old, pre-fabricated tarran bungalows on Oxcroft Lane in Bolsover.

The £3.8 million scheme, supported by Homes and Communities’ £2.2 million of funding, ensured the redevelopment with new, modern, energy efficient bungalows with additional general needs houses.

They all have hot water heated by solar panels meaning tenants’ heating bills should be much lower than those experienced in their old pre-fab bungalows.

The Oxcroft Scheme is also the first in the sub-region to achieve the Building for Life Silver Award for design quality.

Gladys Lilley, one of the first tenants to move, said: “We all loved our old pre-fab bungalows but they were post-war “Homes for Heroes” that had way outlived their use.

My new bungalow is beautiful and after eight months in temporary accommodation, I am back with my old neighbours, which is great.”

Bolsover District Council’s Cabinet member for housing management Cllr Keith Bowman said: “We are very grateful to the Oxcroft Lane tenants for their patience and understanding whilst in temporary accommodation.

“All the residents are now in their brand new homes which are first class properties and offer them not only a much more comfortable home but a much more energy efficient and cost effective one.”

Louise Brown, Land Manager at Derwent Living, said: “We are delighted to deliver this much improved and needed housing in Bolsover. We are pleased the residents are so happy with their new homes.”

Chris King, managing director of Kier Partnership Homes. said: “Kier has been extremely happy to work with Bolsover District Council on this scheme which has proved very successful.

“We are now looking to replicate this success across other sites in Langwith Junction, New Houghton and potentially other sites in Derbyshire where defective bungalows still exist.”

The redevelopment includes 33 new affordable homes, 29 for rent and four for part-buy part-rent from Derwent Living.

There will also be 13 homes for open market sale on the former adjacent QMEC site. These homes will be offered through the Firstbuy scheme which provides first-time buyers of new properties a 20per cent repayable deposit towards their new home.

Cllr Bowman added: “This really is regeneration at its highest level. We have used our own assets to provide housing for a range of client groups whilst improving the street scene and some property values at the same time.

”We see at first-hand the frustration people have in not being able to afford a deposit for a property.

“That’s why we have worked hard to achieve the highest Firstbuy allocation in the Sub-Region through working with the government and agencies such as Kier.

“I would urge any first-time buyer currently struggling to find a deposit to contact us so we can hopefully help them get on the property ladder.”

For information and advice on where to find out about the part-buy part-rent properties on Oxcroft Lane, please contact Derwent Living at or 01332 346 477 quoting scheme number 555.

For information and advice on where to find out about Firstbuy in the district please phone (01246) 242527 or email uk for details.

And there are more mobile phones in the world than there are computers. Finally, don't forget to make improvements to your travel although this is mind busting. Look around and locate the cheap travel sites this fits your needs best before you make a purchase. That's a quick review and this installment is going to cover key it that you should know. If you are a registered nurse, this career gives you the option of gaining a lot of experience at various hospitals It is a well paying career with top dollars to be earned. Let's see how it goes with travel ideas. That's only going to add fuel to the fire and you have to check out these comments. Is there anywhere else rich people reach peerless travel reviews tutorials? It guide was written with you in mind. People visit family and relatives. Germany is among the top three from Europe, aided by a direct flight between Vietnam and Germany. I don recommend anyone spend thousands on a travel school until he or she knows this is a career that he or she will really want to pursue.

Police assure assault case at B ‘n’ B under investigation

Posted by on February 22, 2012 No comments

1329926962 55 Police assure assault case at B ‘n’ B under investigation20th February, 2012

KOTA KINABALU: City police yesterday stated that it is investigating the assault case against two tourists by an Arab visitor at a Bed and Breakfast centre which occurred on 9 February.

A statement by the Kota Kinabalu police headquarters said a report was made by a receptionist at the North Borneo Cabin in Jalan Gaya.

According to Dewina Wasra Jolilin, a misunderstanding took place between an Arab tenant and two other guests at the Bed and Breakfast.

The incident occurred at 6.26pm on 9 February and police said they arrived at 6.40pm.

The statement also said that police had responded quickly after they were contacted but when they arrived, the suspect had left the scene.

It said that an investigation is ongoing under Section 323 of the Penal Code even though the complainant lodged the report as a formality and action would have been undertaken by the management of the Bed and Breakfast.

Further, police are working to trace the Arab tourist and seeking witnesses to the incident.

When investigations have been completed, the case will be referred to the Deputy Public Prosecutor for further instruction to charge the suspect in court.

Yesterday, a local daily reported that the Sabah Backpacker Operators Association was unhappy with inaction by police in arresting an Arab tourist who assaulted two others at the Bed and Breakfast Centre.

Its President Tommy Chaw said “their failure to do something to protect society is a very bad image for tourists and locals alike.”

The assault apparently occurred after the Arab saw a Canadian tourist kissing his girlfriend on the cheek.

The act angered him saying that what they had done was disrespectful in an Islamic country.

When the couple tried to pacify him, he retaliated and when Dewina intervened, he turned his anger on her instead.

Canadian Daniel Gunn, 30, managed to record the attack on his mobile phone and uploaded it to Youtube.

The assailant left before the police arrived and Gunn saw him getting into a taxi at Wisma Merdeka.

The Stroller: Memories and fatter earlobes

Posted by on February 22, 2012 No comments

1329922169 97 The Stroller: Memories and fatter earlobesPublished: Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 3:15 a.m. Last Modified: Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 8:08 p.m.

Cruising with The Stroller can be enlightening, even shocking, and just as sure as your overweight suitcases including 20 pairs of shoes will sit on the dock until you’ve put a sawbuck into the palm of a porter, you’re gonna learn something new.

Now, if you’ve cruised at sea before, you know the favorite pastime is grazing. It’s like turning a 5-year-old loose in a candy store. Those pants, dear, don’t fit you anymore. And who would have guessed those extra pounds could stack up as high as … well, Elaine Bentley, upon arriving home after our cruise to Key West, Fla., and the Bahamas last week, is thinking “even my earlobes are fatter.”

There you have it, folks, we’ve learned something new from another Stroller Cruise. It calls for bigger clip-ons next time.

And did you know that ice can improve on a fat lip? It’s true. Noticing the swelling caused by an ugly, hard-to-hide fever blister sported by another cruiser, Pete and Linda Morgan prescribed ice. Whew! The lips, we’re told, went numb after holding ice to them for nearly an hour, but guess what? No more fever blister.

We’re still learning. You may want to take notes.

We mentioned round-the-clock dining, but how do you know just how much to pile onto your plate when the brain has lost contact with your stomach? It’s the $64,000 question perennial Stroller cruiser Donnie Rogers says troubled a “little old lady” in front of him in the food line. “Do I get two prunes or three?” she asked. What’s to learn here? As soon as the brain and stomach are talking again, we’ll have to let you know, but we don’t think it will make the earlobes any fatter. Go ahead and eat all three prunes!

One new lesson Judy Collins says she learned at breakfast is that “if you move, you lose … table, seat, plate, coffee and your mind. Where was I sitting? Are you drinking my coffee? Oh, but we had lots of laughs.”

We’re on a roll, so let’s continue with another lesson on food, which produced a significant learning experience for two-time Stroller cruiser Peggy Moss. “There was food, food, food,” she says, “and I ate the chocolate gooey cake every day … and found all of the restrooms hidden on the ship, however, I continued having trouble finding my room or the front of the ship. I did find on the ship a cousin from Lockhart I had not seen for 50-plus years! I am so glad The Stroller brought us together.” Thanks, Mrs. Moss, but The Stroller just can’t take the credit for all of your discoveries aboard the ship. It’s obvious there are greater powers in that gooey cake!

There was another force at work on the Stroller Cruise, and die-hard Clemson Tigers fans Ken and Lynn Vaughn decided they must have boarded the wrong ship. “We ended up on a Gamecock cruise,” they said. “Maybe we’ll get on the right boat next time.” It was a sea of garnet and black, for sure, but there was a moment when these Tigers managed to turn goat-getters: “We did find some cheap beer in Nassau, thanks to some of those Gamecock people.”

Cheap? Did the bell just ring? Class is over for now, but here are a few noteworthy comments made by Stroller cruisers on their return from an adventure that began in beautiful Savannah, Ga., and continued in warm, sunny Key West., Fla., and Nassau in the Bahamas:

“Great cruise. Thanks for allowing the Gamecocks to go.” — Linda Walker and Becky Taylor.

“When I get back to Spartanburg, I’m going to find a lawyer and sue The Stroller. He turned me into a lazy person.” — Harold Simmons.

“It was great seeing old friends and making new ones. We had a wonderful cruise. Also, lunch at Paula Deen’s Lady & Sons in Savannah was very good.” — Evelene Koon.

“I enjoyed all of it.” — Ruby Taylor.

“We realize how small a part of God’s creation we are when you stand at a railing on a cruise ship and see nothing but beautiful blue sky and a white-capped ocean. It makes you wonder why some say there is no God.” — Donna and Grady Harris.

“It was a wonderful trip. We enjoyed meeting so many new people.” — Bobby and Carolyn Stone.

“We enjoyed the good food and great fellowship with old and new friends. Thanks for another great cruise. We can’t wait for the next one.” — O’Neal and Bobbie Mintz. (By the way, Mr. and Mrs. Mintz were involved in a bicycle taxi accident in Key West. Oh, no, there were no injuries, but Mrs. Mintz was enjoying herself so much, and she liked the teasing that she might have to return to be a witness. “That would be OK with me,” she said. “Maybe at least a week’s stay or longer.”)

“I had as much fun on the bus going to the ship as I did on the cruise. Good food and great people.” — Beverly Cody.

“We had a great time visiting two of our favorite places, Key West and Savannah. We were glad to experience the trip with some old friends and made many new friends.” — Larry and Donna Brown.

“We liked the split travel by land and sea.” — Larry and Vergie Brooks.

“The third trip’s a charm. We had a fabulous time.” — Mary and Henry Jolly.

“We had a great time seeing old friends and making new ones.” — Kare Kragas and Ruth McHam.

“I enjoyed amateur night on the ship when the 91-year-old man told jokes. He used 25 names of popular people and made a joke about them. Gaffney Mayor Henry Jolly said he needed to use those jokes because they had never been told in Gaffney. At supper on the ship, our wait staff line danced for us, but I had to help them. We line dance at my nursing home.” — Randy Tucker.

“Loved that chocolate melting cake.” — Opal Sauve. “P.S.: Better than the baked Alaska.” — Jack Sauve.

“Highlights of the trip include the bus ride to Savannah and the homemade cookies and cheese straws (shared by other cruisers); the conch burgers and key lime pie; best tour, the Hemingway House and the interesting stories about the famous author, and the six-toed cats were everywhere. One even manned the ticket booth. Most of all, we enjoyed the hilarious stories and being with some wonderfully nice people.” — Mike and Cathy Bonner.

“Stroller cruises are great. The best part is getting to see and spend time with all these great people we cruise with once or twice a year.” — Janice Harmon.

“It’s great seeing everyone on the Stroller cruises, and Savannah is a great city, but the cobblestone streets are a killer.” — Susan Gibson.

“Great trip. First cruise for us. Highly recommend.” — Jon and Kiki Couchell.

“We really enjoyed our trip. We had a lot of fun and learned a new (casino) game. See you in October.” — Joan and Burley Flynn.

“The food was delicious. Wish I could cook like that. Looking forward to the cruise in October. It will be our third with The Stroller.” — Carolyn and Ulrich Pierson.

“This was our first cruise. It will not be our last. We enjoyed the food, and the service was great. Everyone was so friendly. The programs were great, and we had a really great time. We are ready to sail again.” — David and Nina Shults.

“Another fun trip. Met more new people. Looking forward to the next one.” — Lula Nesbitt and Gloria Butler.

“First cruise. Lots of wonderful people to guide me along and keep me out of mischief.” — Judy Collins.

“I met some wonderful folks. Had a great trip. Hope to see all again.” — Reba Lowe.

“Had a great time on our first Stroller Cruise. We’ll look forward to doing it again.” — Michael and Ethel Collins.

“We had a great time in Savannah and on the cruise. The tours were especially enjoyable.” — Janet and Wayne Powell.

“We enjoyed the trip very much. We met lots of nice people.” — John and Peggy Sanders.

“We had a wonderful time. We met lots of interesting people and had some exciting times. We are bringing back good memories and a few extra pounds.” — Shirley Kerr and Elaine Bentley.

“It was our second cruise with The Stroller, and we were thrilled to see our great-grandson in Savannah. The tour was great, and we would never stand in line at Paula Deen’s Lady & Sons restaurant, so dining as a group with a reservation was a treat!” — Ray and Laura Homesley.

“We had a great time, as we do every time we take a cruise with The Stroller.” — Gwen Cash and Joy Higgins.

“We had a great time. It’s always nice to meet new people. Hope to go again.” — Mildred George and Susan Morris.

“This was my first time traveling with The Stroller. I had a great time. Hope to do it again.” — Lynda Hester.

“What a memorable and fun trip with my daughters.” — Tamara Blattner.

“Savannah. The Florida Keys. Nassau. I can’t decide which visit was the best. I had a great time in each location. This was my fourth cruise, and it ranks at the top. Can’t wait for the next cruise.” — Carolyn Harrison.

“This was our eighth cruise, and we hope to make a ninth. Great fun with The Stroller.” — Ruth and James Roof.

“First-time Stroller cruisers, we thoroughly enjoyed the experience. We hope to be repeat offenders.” — Jeanette Keepers and Bernie Kakuske.

“Great trip. Thanks for all the fun memories.” — Kristan Gehrman.

Gloucestershire householders targeted in telephone loan scam

Posted by on February 22, 2012 No comments

1329920949 49 Gloucestershire householders targeted in telephone loan scam

INTERNATIONAL fraudsters are targeting Gloucestershire householders with a telephone scam.

Police say they know of two people who have so far fallen foul of the loan scam in which callers offer loans over the phone.

  1. ​

    Gloucestershire Constabulary

A 42-year-old Coleford woman was phoned at home by people claiming to be from a loan company and offering to lend her £5000 if she paid some upfront fees for “solicitors and paperwork”.

The victim withdrew over £1700 in Ukash vouchers and when the offenders rang back she read them the voucher codes, which meant they could redeem the money.

She never heard back from the callers and did not receive any loan.

The incident follows another phone scam in which a Coleford man was targeted in October.

In that case, a 48-year-old man, considered vulnerable, was defrauded of £9000 when he was called by men claiming to be from London Magistrates’ Court and telling him if he didn’t pay the money he would have to go to court and possibly prison. He then started paying the money in instalments.

When police investigated the origin of the calls they found that the fraudsters had rung from countries including China, India, Russia, Romania and Croatia. The bank account was traced to Switzerland.

Crime Reduction Officer for the force Paul Francis said: “These people often target the vulnerable and can be very manipulative.

“Our advice if you get any call like these is to hang up immediately.”

Alexander the Great at The Louvre Museum…

Posted by on February 22, 2012 No comments

1329919759 99 Alexander the Great at The Louvre Museum…

One of Paris’ most magnificent architectural wonders has to be the Louvre Palace.  Once housing the King of France himself, built and rearranged over two centuries and situated on an old medieval site which used to host a fortress back in the 12th century, enclosing the Cour Carrée and its colonnade, featuring the stunning Tuilerie Gardens and regrouping not less than 8 pavilions, the Louvre Palace is an impressive complex mixing both Gothic and Renaissance styles.

In 1793, the building opened its doors for the first time for its very first exhibition – a gathering of 537 paintings. Nowadays, the Palace hosts the world famous Louvre Museum and welcomes more than 8 millions visitors each year. Over more than 60600 square metres, the Louvre Museum houses a tremendous collection of 38000 objects and 35000 pieces of art, including Leonardo Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, Milo’s Venus and many other legendary masterpieces.

Organized in 8 galleries, the museum has its permanent collections, but also hosts many temporary exhibitions. To retrace the life of Emperor Alexander the Great, King of Macedon and ancient conqueror, the Louvre Museum has gathered over 500 objects drawing the portrait of ancient Macedon, with objects dating from the 15th century BC till the Roman Imperial era.

Amongst these historical marvels, you will discover sculptures, jewellery, war artefacts and other wonders testifying of the wealth of the Macedon Empire. Also take advantage of this unique occasion to visit the whole Louvre Museum, and discover a collection showing the genius and creativity of humanity from Ancient Egypt right up until modern times…

After a long day strolling along the museum’s alleys and galleries, return to the Hotel Bassano, and sip on a cocktail in the comfort of your 4 star bedroom.

For more information about the exhibition, click here

Share and Enjoy:

Nonetheless, there are many tips on saving money on travel insurance and it is good you know them when searching for cheap travel insurance quote. The opportunity was here. When I'm in a foreign city or an airport lounge, I could be anywhere. Newly married couples go on honeymoons. Tivoli is also a place you should go. The city will look new to you in many different ways. Show a good many spine! Then there are other types of family policies that charge you a premium at a flat rate without taking into consideration the number of children or other factors. The winters run from 22nd June to 22nd September. The Philippines is known for all sorts of reasons, but they are mainly known for its active volcanoes, wonderful beaches, and amazing hospitality. They also use computers and have internet. The winter season paves way for the spring season, which is a transition from the extreme cold to the hot season. Purchasing this insurance policy will ensure the coverage worth $10,000 in emergency medical coverage for an individual and $20,000 for a family including parents and dependent children.

Positively Glorious Algarve Holiday villas For Rental

Posted by on February 22, 2012 No comments

1329918561 62 Positively Glorious Algarve Holiday villas For Rental

There is a website on the net that enables you the opportunity to book some fabulous villas in Algarve, just about all of these villa rentals possess quality assurance since they were thoroughly scrutinized before they were placed on the website. Most of the holiday villas are checked to make sure they are up to the required standard and this particular site known as RentIn-Algarve.com takes delight in the villas and without a doubt apartments in Algarve they list on their site.

They only list attractive superior lodging and even though the lodging is top quality they always make an effort to give the customer good value too.

At this moment let me talk to you regarding some gorgeous Algarve Portugal accommodation readily available via this popular website. Well first off you have the stunning choice of villa rentals readily available through this site. One particular villa is located in Portimao and is extremely close to the beach front. This villa has a really big infinity pool which enjoys gorgeous ocean views out to the horizon.

This specific villa has air-con and may sleep up to 12 individuals, which means that this particular property is excellent for large groups looking to sample this section of Portugal the first time. There is actually absolutely no need for a car in this villa as it is near to all local amenities and is also close to dining places stores not to mention the attractive beaches this region of Portugal is famous for.

The beaches of this particular area are truly something to observe and they’ve a number of superb colours within them. For example the coves in this region are usually a red colour and then obviously you have the gorgeous azure ocean and the golden yellow sand of the beach front. Which means when you sunbath on this beach you really do appreciate the scenery as well as the strong sun that often shines the whole day in this specific region.

Next we have some totally stunning Algarve apartments that are also found on this effectively presented website. One specific apartment is positioned in Albufeira and has a public swimming pool. It may sleep up to 6 people and is set within an ideal spot within Albufeira.

The town of Albufeira is extremely popular in terms of vacations because it has everything you would want from your holiday including a beautiful beach and some fantastic nightlife pretty much throughout the year. Therefore exactly what are you holding out for come and check out this wonderful website today.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Declares Dividend

Posted by on February 22, 2012 No comments

1329917368 64 Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Declares Dividend

What You Should Know About Comments on Sacbee.com

Sacbee.com is happy to provide a forum for reader interaction, discussion, feedback and reaction to our stories. However, we reserve the right to delete inappropriate comments or ban users who can’t play nice. (See our full terms of service here.)

Here are some rules of the road:

• Keep your comments civil. Don’t insult one another or the subjects of our articles. If you think a comment violates our guidelines click the “Report Abuse” link to notify the moderators. Responding to the comment will only encourage bad behavior.

• Don’t use profanities, vulgarities or hate speech. This is a general interest news site. Sometimes, there are children present. Don’t say anything in a way you wouldn’t want your own child to hear.

• Do not attack other users; focus your comments on issues, not individuals.

• Stay on topic. Only post comments relevant to the article at hand.

• Do not copy and paste outside material into the comment box.

• Don’t repeat the same comment over and over. We heard you the first time.

• Do not use the commenting system for advertising. That’s spam and it isn’t allowed.

• Don’t use all capital letters. That’s akin to yelling and not appreciated by the audience.

• Don’t flag other users’ comments just because you don’t agree with their point of view. Please only flag comments that violate these guidelines.

You should also know that The Sacramento Bee does not screen comments before they are posted. You are more likely to see inappropriate comments before our staff does, so we ask that you click the “Report Abuse” link to submit those comments for moderator review. You also may notify us via email at . Note the headline on which the comment is made and tell us the profile name of the user who made the comment. Remember, comment moderation is subjective. You may find some material objectionable that we won’t and vice versa.

If you submit a comment, the user name of your account will appear along with it. Users cannot remove their own comments once they have submitted them.

Reds Caravan vies for Columbus' allegiance

Posted by on February 22, 2012 No comments

1329916165 95 Reds Caravan vies for Columbus' allegiance

COLUMBUS, Ohio — When it comes to its baseball allegiances, Columbus is a city that sits on the proverbial fence. Fixed in the center of the Buckeye State, its citizens are pulled in two directions — north to Cleveland for the Indians, and south towards Cincinnati for the Reds. The latter were the ones the Reds wanted to thank on Saturday during the northern leg of the 2012 Reds Caravan. As for the former, the Cincinnati club wouldn’t mind convincing them to switch sides, too. “It’s a swing city, really,” Reds chief operating officer Phil Castellini said during a stop at Polaris Fashion Place mall in Columbus. “It has historically been Reds country. You have to give them reasons to come south. Most of those reasons, hopefully, will be winning.” The Indians established an additional foothold in the area a few years ago when they added the Columbus Clippers as their Triple-A affiliate. But the Reds aren’t limiting their pursuit of Columbus fans to only a winter visit. As they have in past regular seasons, they are also holding a Columbus/Franklin County Night at Great American Ball Park on May 26, when Cincinnati hosts the Rockies. On the northern leg with Castellini were Reds catcher Devin Mesoraco, general manager Walt Jocketty, former Reds pitcher Tom Browning, Minor League outfielder Ryan LaMarre and broadcaster Thom Brennaman. Reds CEO Bob Castellini also dropped in to attend the Saturday stop in Columbus. “It’s always nice to get to see the fans and how many people come out for us and support us,” Mesoraco said. “It’s been a very good trip so far.” Approximately 500 fans descended to the section of the mall where the Reds held a question-and-answer session followed by autograph signings and pictures. Square in the heart of Ohio State territory was LaMarre, a former star baseball player for the University of Michigan. Awkward… “They might boo me once they announce that. It could be tough,” LaMarre joked before stepping on stage. Apparently a Wolverine could make friends (temporarily) with Buckeyes. There was no ill will shown, as all of the Reds in the contingent were warmly welcomed. Like at other stops along the caravan, there was considerable buzz about the rash of roster improvements made in the past month. Jocketty has traded for a new starting pitcher in Mat Latos, a reliever in Sean Marshall and brought in free agents like new closer Ryan Madson and outfielder Ryan Ludwick. The GM got to hear the feedback about the moves directly from the fans. “It’s a lot better when it’s positive,” Jocketty joked. “It’s been good. I enjoy listening to people. You have fans that are real avid fans. You can tell they’ve been fans since they were little kids. They’re excited about our organization. People were so dismayed for a while.” For Mesoraco, the Reds’ No. 1 prospect as ranked by MLB.com — who could catch regularly in the Majors this season — it’s the first time he’s been one of the main attractions on a caravan after being on the trip the past couple of years. “I get more questions now, it seems like,” Mesoraco said. “In the past when I was with Brandon [Phillips], he’d get all the questions. More people know who I am, I guess. A few years ago, some people would ask, ‘Who are you?’ There are some very knowledgeable fans out there that know stuff you wouldn’t think that they would. It’s fun to see some of those people.” The northern leg made stops in Athens, Ohio, on Thursday, Marietta, Ohio, and Parkersburg, W.Va., on Friday and was headed towards western Ohio for stops in Findlay and Lima later on Saturday. The group wraps up its tour on Sunday in Dayton. “We were blown away with Redsfest this year and how many folks turned out for that. We continue to be pleased with these stops,” Phil Castellini said. “They’re great so far. The other routes have had huge crowds as well.”