Essex Indie Rock Band Missing Andy Releases New EP

Missing Andy, a 5 piece indie rock band from Essex, UK have just released a new digital EP, Embryonic Sonic. After a year of touring, and the release of their second & third studio albums, (Guerrilla Invasion Parts 1 & 2), Missing Andy has announced a new EP to quench a growing thirst for their unique style of music.

Missing Andy's music can be heard on TheIndie.biz.

The EP includes 5 remixed songs from the bands catalogue, which promises to take the fans back to the band's humble beginnings. Missing Andy has adopted their usual do it yourself approach to producing music, as the EP was produced in drummer Elliot Richardson's studio in Essex, United Kingdom.

This contents of this EP may come as a surprise to some, since the the sound and style are completely different to what the band is currently producing. However, Missing Andy's has always created a diverse collection of music that has yielded an eclectic range of songs.

The band have been working tirelessly behind the scenes on preparations for album number 4 and have already completed a few songs. Fans can therefore expect a brand new album and a full UK & European Tour in 2014. The Invasion will continue!

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a vodka enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

Belvedere Vodka Wins Special Award at Spirits Business Vodka Masters

Belvedere Vodka, the world's first super premium vodka, is renowned for its distinctive character and taste and now industry cognoscenti have awarded Belvedere Vodka an outstanding award in recognition of consistency and excellence at this year's Vodka Masters.

Chaired by The Spirits Business and a panel of leading spirits specialists, the Vodka Masters judge over 100 vodkas on their flavor, style and packaging. Judges participated in a blind tasting to find and reward the finest vodka brands in the world. Belvedere Vodka has continued to dominate these awards, picking up over 25 medals since the awards were created in 2007.

"When we launched The Vodka Masters in 2007 we wanted to make it different from all the other international blind tasting competitions out there by really championing the diversity and quality in the vodka category," said Daisy Jones, Associate publisher of The Spirits Business. "Belvedere Vodka has consistently demonstrated incredibly high standards, as well as use innovation in flavor and packaging to excel at the Vodka Masters. It is with great pleasure I can confirm we have awarded Belvedere the most medals overall throughout the history of The Vodka Masters, and we felt that deserved a special recognition and endorsement through this special award."

Belvedere Unfiltered was awarded a coveted MASTER medal in the Super Premium category this year, as well as a GOLD medal for best vodka - Eastern Europe, acknowledged for its naturally creamy and rich taste. Belvedere Vodka's award-winning maceration Citrus, created with fresh lemon and lime peels, was awarded a GOLD medal in the Super Premium category. In addition, Belvedere Vodka won GOLD medals in the Super Premium, Eastern European, and Smooth categories.

Throughout 2013, the world's leading industry professionals and spirit specialists continued to acknowledge the unrivalled quality of Belvedere Vodka and its collection of naturally flavoured vodkas. In a nine-month period alone, Belvedere Vodka accumulated 23 medals and trophies which includes two trophies and two gold medals awarded by the International Spirits Challenge, and five gold medals for Best Vodka from TheFiftyBest.com.

Belvedere Vodka was the first to create a new standard for excellence in the vodka category and is credited with creating the luxury vodka segment. Following the results of the Package Design Audit 2013 by Affinnova Inc, a global marketing technology company, the super premium vodka also adds excellence in bottle design to its number of accolades after being praised for its 'modern, intelligent and approachable' design.

Charles Gibb, President Belvedere says, "To be internationally recognized by the Vodka Masters is a perfect way to cap off the year for Belvedere Vodka. Receiving an accolade of this nature from such a prestigious group for the exceptional quality of our products is a phenomenal achievement. We pride ourselves on the distinct character and taste of each of our vodkas and we are very pleased that the judges have commended Belvedere Vodka with five gold medals and the ultimate 'Master' medal for Belvedere Unfiltered."

Claire Smith, Belvedere Vodka Head of Spirit Creation & Mixology says, "The Vodka Masters recognize spirits who demonstrate unparalleled commitment to product quality and consistency and we are incredibly proud of the medals we have been awarded. It is a fantastic acknowledgement for the incredibly high standards we adhere to."

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a vodka enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

Best Foods for Hair Growth

The new “Foods For Hair Growth” report on the site HealthReviewCenter.com delivers to readers useful tips on how to grow hair safely and rapidly. This article is specifically designed for those people who want to grow their hair fast without using medications or supplements. At the beginning of the article, the writer indicates that a healthy diet can help the hair stay strong and lustrous.

"Just like other parts of the body, the cells and processes that support vibrant, strong hair depend on a well-balanced diet. Just a week with a poor diet could yield dry, sallow skin or acne-flare-up within days. Yet with hair, it might take several months for the effects of a crash diet to show up." says Matt Fugate, a hairstylist at Sally Hershberger Downtown in New York City. After that, the report encourages people to consume salmon because it is rich protein, vitamin D, omega-3 acids, which their body needs to grow hair.

Next, the writer points out that walnuts are also rich in biotin and vitamin E, which can help protect their cells from DNA damage. Too little biotin may lead to hair loss. Readers should also eat eggs as they are full of biotin, a B vitamin that can enhance hair growth and overall scalp health. Other high-biotin sources include almonds, wheat bran, peanuts, low-fat cheese, and avocados.

Furthermore, the report takes readers through an interesting process of discovering natural ways to balance hormones and tips to get rid of dry scalp easily. Moreover, this writing recommends people to eat iron-rich foods in order to stimulate their hair growth dramatically. “Iron is essential for hair growth and could be found in green leafy vegetables, blackstrap molasses, dried fruits, leeks, cashews, figs, and berries. To help your body absorb iron effectively, you will need enough vitamin C.” says Paradi Mirmirani, MD, a dermatologist for Permanente Medical Group in Vallejo, Calif.

In other words, this article also covers many other foods that are beneficial for hair growth, including shrimp, oats, green peas, prunes, carrots, raisins, and spinach. After this “Foods For Hair Growth” post was released, a lot of people can improve their hair growth and get healthy hair naturally.

Mickey Barber from the site Healthreviewcenter.com expresses that: “This is really an informative article that contains a detailed plan on how to eliminate hair loss efficiently. In addition, the tips delivered in this article are easy-to-follow for most people regardless of their age and their gender.”

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a vodka enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

Stores with the Worst and Best Return Policies

According to the National Retail Federation, nearly $60 billion worth of holiday merchandise was returned last January. To help consumers understand popular retailers' return policies, personal finance site GOBankingRates.com investigated the return policies of leading U.S. retailers and created a list of the best and worst stores for handling returns.

"Not everyone is good at gift giving," said Jennifer Calonia, editor of GOBankingRates.com. "If you're worried about finding the perfect gift for a loved one, consider a store with a great return policy. A return policy can truly make or break a purchase; many major retailers carry the same brands."

Preview of the stores with the worst and best return policies:

Stores with the Worst Return Policies

1. Sears
Return time based on a tiered system with 90-day maximum; original packaging, receipt or packaging slip required.

2. Best Buy
Return time frames vary depending on the customer's annual spending; for those who spent $1,500, the time frame is just 30 days.

3. American Apparel
Returns are not accepted at an American Apparel store; they must be mailed in.



Stores with the Best Return Policies

1. Costco
Costco's return policy has no return time limit; full refunds take the form of cash or check.

2. Nordstrom
No formal return policy exists; returns handled on a case-to-case basis as long as Nordstrom carries the product. No specific time limit.

3. Zappos
Returns accepted up to one year after purchase with free shipping.



Click to see the complete ranking of store return policies



The study investigated return policies for the top U.S. retailers based on 2012 retail sales. Factors used in determining rankings were: whether a receipt or invoice is needed at return, whether the retailer permitted in-store return processing for online purchases, available time limit for returning goods, and the refund type.

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a vodka enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

Justin Bieber Gives Aid to Typhoon Haiyan Victims in the Philippines

In a news report on Explore Talent, it was said that the singer went to Tacloban City after his concert in Australia. Tacloban is one of the areas in the Philippines that was gravely affected by Typhoon Haiyan. Bieber gave out T-shirts and toys to the kids in two school shelters in the city, played basketball with some of the boys and sang to them.

Based on a report released by New York Daily, Typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippines on November 8. It led to over 6,000 fatalities and left almost 2,000 missing. The super strong typhoon brought in a storm surge that nearly leveled out villages and towns in the central area of the country.

“It was like were not hit by the typhoon, like Yolanda never came,” was a young girl’s sentiment when she was interviewed by TV 5 Manila about her feelings upon finally seeing the young pop star.

Bieber sang some of his hit songs, as well as several Christmas songs, during his impromptu concert for the kids in one of the school shelters he visited. Before his visit to the Philippines, the singer asked his fans to contribute to the campaign for the Typhoon Haiyan victims. All of his efforts are to go to UNICEF and two other aid agencies. UNICEF is planning to use the funds they get from Bieber for better nutrition, education, sanitation, vaccinations and clean water.

According to the young pop sensation, his surprise visit to the Philippines was the “last stop and the most important one” of his Believe global tour. He even took to Twitter to say that his visit to the country was “the most touching trip” of his life.

Bieber is just one of the many local and international showbiz personalities who are lending a hand in the campaign of rehabilitating the Philippines.

This news report is from Explore Talent, the Internet’s largest resource of auditions and casting calls for actors, models, musicians, dancers, and production crew since its debut in 2003. It has a unique cast match technology, which is the most advanced entertainment-based technology of its kind that matches a talent’s attributes against tens of thousands of job postings every day. This technology sends casting email alerts and posts auditions and jobs directly on talents’ profiles, thus saving members’ hours of tedious searching time. Explore Talent has over 7.9 million members and over 60,000 auditions, castings, and production jobs listed daily, which is 40 times more than any other site.

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a vodka enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

Delightful Childrens Book The Barking Cat to Be Featured at 2014 Frankfurt Book Fair

Janet Killeen, author of “The Moonlight Foxes,” introduces young readers to a playful, streetwise cat with a knack for adventure in “The Barking Cat” (published by AuthorHouse), which will be featured at the 2014 Frankfurt Book Fair.

“The story is written for children between 5–7 years to read with an adult – parent, teacher, older sibling – to enjoy the story and pictures and explore the meaning of Socks’ adventures and experiences,” says Killeen.

Socks is a black and white stray cat who lives with his family in a tough area of London called Barking. Socks spends his days trying to survive along the banks of the Thames and bringing food back to his family, but he dreams of a life of adventure beyond his humble home. When a terrible accident changes his life, how will Socks and his family survive?

An excerpt from “The Barking Cat”:

“Sometimes, in the dreaming times between the last purr and the first deep rumble of sleep, Socks wondered if he had imagined all his adventures. Had he really fought with the sinister Pi-Rats of Gallions Reach? Or rescued his sister Pumpkin and brother Stripes from the horrible jaws of the guard dog behind the used car showroom?”

“The Barking Cat”
By Janet Killeen
Softcover | 8.5 x 11in | 28 pages | ISBN 9781481775557
E-Book | 28 pages | ISBN 9781481775564
Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble

About the Author

Janet Killeen lives in South London. A retired teacher, she has published collections of short stories for adults as well as writing for children. She has previously published “Recognition” and “There Is A Season” for adults and “The Moonlight Foxes” for children.

Aimee Lockwood is an illustrator inspired by animals, by cities, by the sea and by stories. More information can be found at AimeeLockwood.co.uk.

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a vodka enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

5 Extremely Underrated Yet Delicious Cuisines from Around the World

Why these cuisines are underrated we wonder. Yes, everyone knows the delicate French cuisine and the spicy Indian or the yummy Chinese fare. Everyone loves a good Thai curry and who hasn’t had some lip-smacking pizza? But unfortunately there are countries in the world that have a lush fair to offer up at the dinner table, but nobody knows about it.

Well, anyway, we are here to right that wrong and make sure the world knows all the wonders of these yummy cuisines from around the world. If you travel with your stomach too, read ahead to know more about the gastronomic pleasures that totally deserve their moment in the limelight.

1. Brazil: This country is sure to be on the watch list of any avid traveler. Well, here is one more reason to want to go to Brazil; delicious food! They have a variety of fried snacks called Salgados which are sure to keep you coming back for more. Empada, risoles, enrolado, pastel and esfisha are only some of the many varities on offer. If in doubt try the coxinhas which are yummy cheese and chicken balls which are fried. If you have a sweet tooth, this country is your paradise. From coconut flavored bon-bons to yummy cinnamon doughnuts called Bolinho de Chuva, Brazil has an amazing variety of sweets on offer. However, the undoubted king of Brazillian desserts in the Brigadeiro. These yummy chocolate and condensed milk balls sprinkled with more chocolate need no talking up. Add them to your “must try” list at once.

2. Britain: Including Britain here might seem rather strange. But think about it, does anyone ever talk about British food? The cottage pies, the Cornish pasties and the heady meat stews; why have they been forgotten? British food is a lot more than just your regular fish and chips. The famous wellington which is basically lush meat cooked inside a flaky puff pastry deserves a royal mention. The traditional roast dinner with roast meat, veggies and Yorkshire puddings are an absolute treat. The elaborate British breakfast with eggs, toast, fruits and several other yummy dishes is sure to be a great start to your day. And how can we forget the quintessentially British tea? Served with delicious pastries, jammie dodgers and an unhealthy variety of biscuits and cakes, the British afternoon tea should be every foodie’s dream-come-true. In short, when you are in the Queen’s country, don’t lose out on these scrumptious British treats.

3. Norway: When you think of travel, Norway may not usually make it to the top of anyone’s list but there is a reason why it should; the awesome food. Norwegian food is both tasty and healthy, making it the perfect food destination for the health conscious. The fish, being fresh and easy to find, is always the wag to go. The Grilled Salmon will tantalize any palate. Lutefisk, which is a dried fish dish, is a delicacy here. The fish soups and bisques in a variety of spices are sure-fire must-haves. Blotcake is a sweet treat that will also add to your Norwegian food experience. Wholesome deliciousness!

4. The Philippines: the unique thing about Filipino cuisine is that it is an amazing marriage of the east and the west. Meat marinated in soy sauce and served with rice forms a dish called adobo that is absolutely luscious. Every meal is served with a variety of sauces called Sawsawan which are a definite must try. The Spanish influence means that you also have your yummy paellas and delicious meaty stews. If you are into sea food try the Lumpia which are succulent dumplings straight from heaven! The sheer variety makes it worth the try.

5. Russia: Yes, get over the vodka stereotype and you discover an amazing variety of cuisine that Russia has to offer. Shchi a lovely cabbage and meat soup makes for a very interesting try when in Russia. It’s not just this; Russia has an amazing variety of soups to choose from. There is also the “shashlyk” which is like a kebab but is made of sticky gooey awesomeness that calls out to be eaten. Also if you are a teetotaler or have had way too much vodka the night before why not try the Kvass,a brewed drink that has many delicious flavors like ginger, raspberry and what not. Most importantly, you have to try out the khrenovina which goes with almost anything and is a spicy horseradish and tomato sauce from Siberia that is absolutely delectable!

So pack your bags and let your taste buds guide you to the most interesting places in the world. Let those culinary juices flow and take a leap into the amazing world of world cuisines. You will certainly not be disappointed!

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a vodka enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

Purity Vodka Sets New Industry Benchmark with Unprecedented 3rd Consecutive Title of Grand Vodka Master

Purity Vodka, the most awarded ultra-premium vodka in the world, has won the prestigious 2013 Grand Vodka Master Award from The Spirits Business. Purity Vodka is the only brand to receive this extraordinary honor an unparalleled three years in a row.

The Spirits Business hosts several competitions throughout the year where medals are awarded based on blind tastings by a panel of leading spirit experts and trade journalists in multiple categories. Those brands who are awarded Gold and Masters' Awards are then evaluated on a variety of levels and criteria for the year's ultimate prize, the title of Grand Master.

Purity Vodka dominated the vodka category during 2013 with impressive wins at the Vodka Masters including three Masters' Awards in the Super-Premium, Smooth and Micro Distillery categories, and a Gold Medal in the Organic category. Purity Vodka was also named "Best Vodka and Overall Spirit" at the 2013 Asian Spirits Masters in addition to receiving high marks across all categories.

"We congratulate Purity Vodka and Thomas Kuuttanen for winning the title of 2013 Grand Vodka Master. I am astonished how a small, hand-crafted brand as Purity Vodka is dominating international spirits competitions and for the third consecutive year becoming Vodka-of-the-Year. Purity Vodka has apparently cracked the code, and leads the industry toward a future where vodka no longer is a tasteless and odorless spirit, but equal with artisanal spirits with character and complexity," said Daisy Jones, associate publisher of The Spirits Business and organizer of The Vodka Masters.

Thomas Kuuttanen, Master Blender and creator of Purity Vodka from Sweden continued, "To be crowned the Grand Vodka Master in 2013 is a perfect ending to a remarkable year for Purity Vodka. It is obvious that consumers are steering away from industrial, neutral vodka and moving toward handcrafted spirits like Purity Vodka. Our ambition is to be the leader within the small, ultra-premium segment where quality always beats quantity."

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a vodka enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

Netflix Declares Binge Watching is the New Normal

'Selfies' may be the official new word of 2013, but Binge-Watching was a runner up for a reason. A recent survey conducted online by Harris Interactive on behalf of Netflix among nearly 1,500 TV streamers (online U.S. adults who stream TV shows at least once a week) found that binge watching is a widespread behavior among this group, with 61% binge watching regularly.

If the common perception of binge watching was a weekend-long, pajama-wearing marathon of TV viewing, survey respondents don't see it that way. A majority (73%) defined binge watching as watching between 2-6 episodes of the same TV show in one sitting. And there's no guilt in it. Nearly three quarters of TV streamers (73%) say they have positive feelings towards binge streaming TV.

To better understand why binge watching has become such a cultural phenomenon, Netflix worked with cultural anthropologist, Grant McCracken, to trace the evolution of binge watching and more importantly, to explore how and why binge watching television is resonating with today's viewers. McCracken went into the living rooms of several TV viewers across the United States and Canada to explore their changing TV behaviors.

"I found that binge watching has really taken off due to a perfect storm of better TV, our current economic climate and the digital explosion of the last few years," said Grant McCracken, cultural anthropologist. "But this TV watcher is different, the couch potato has awoken. And now that services like Netflix have given consumers control over their TV viewing, they have declared a new way to watch."

"Our viewing data shows that the majority of streamers would actually prefer to have a whole season of a show available to watch at their own pace," said Ted Sarandos, Chief Content Officer of Netflix. "Netflix has pioneered audience choice in programming and has helped free consumers from the limitations of linear television. Our own original series are created for multi-episodic viewing, lining up the content with new norms of viewer control for the first time."

McCracken believes our digital lifestyle, where storytelling is often reduced to bite-sized, 140 character conversations, leaves us craving the kind of long narrative of storytelling in today's great TV shows. "TV viewers are no longer zoning out as a way to forget about their day, they are tuning in, on their own schedule, to a different world. Getting immersed in multiple episodes or even multiple seasons of a show over a few weeks is a new kind of escapism that is especially welcomed today," he added.

TV streamers overwhelmingly agreed. 76% of TV streamers say watching multiple episodes of a great TV show is a welcome refuge from their busy lives. 79% said watching several episodes of their favorite shows at once actually makes the shows more enjoyable. And three-quarters (76%) also say streaming TV shows on their own schedule is their preferred way to watch them.

McCracken found a new trend emerging he characterizes as "In case of emergency, break glass." TV streamers are deciding to save shows to watch for a later date. While McCracken observed this in his research, the survey confirmed that more than one third (37%) of TV streamers said they prefer to "save" new TV series or seasons to stream at a later date.

Binge watching isn't necessarily a solitary experience

• Among those who ever stream multiple episodes of a TV series in a row, more than one-third (38%) most like to do so solo; however, a combined 51% prefer to watch with at least one other person.
• 39% of TV streamers who prefer to "save" TV shows to watch at a later date choose to stream saved series or seasons when the person they want to watch with is available.

ADDITIONAL SURVEY FINDINGS INCLUDE:

• 76% of TV streamers say watching multiple episodes of a great TV show is a welcome refuge from their busy lives.
• 65% of TV streamers said that if they took a digital time out, they would still want to watch TV.
• 80% of TV streamers say they would rather stream a good TV show than read a friend's social media posts.

SURVEY METHODOLOGY

This survey was conducted online within the United States between November 25 and 27, 2013 among 3,078 adults aged 18 and older, of whom 1,496 stream TV shows at least once a week, by Harris Interactive on behalf of Netflix via its Quick Query omnibus product. Figures for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, region and household income were weighted where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population. Propensity score weighting was used to adjust for respondents' propensity to be online.

About Netflix, Inc.

Netflix is the world's leading Internet television network with over 40 million members in more than 40 countries enjoying more than one billion hours of TV shows and movies per month, including original series. For one low monthly price, Netflix members can watch as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, on nearly any Internet-connected screen. Members can play, pause and resume watching, all without commercials or commitments.

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a vodka enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

Vixen Vodka Celebrates A Year Of Spirited Growth

Launched in November 2012, Vixen Vodka has taken the spirits industry by storm. Its strong sales, award-winning vodka and nationally recognized marketing efforts have earned the brand a respected reputation among industry influencers and consumers.

As the team approaches its one-year anniversary, Vixen Vodka has successfully launched in Georgia, Minnesota and Mississippi, with West Virginia, South Carolina and Tennessee set to introduce the brand in January 2014.

Since its launch, Vixen Vodka has come to be featured in more than 300 locations across Georgia. The brand continues to expand throughout the state, most recently to five Tin Lizzy's Cantina locations and 14 concepts from Here to Serve Restaurants. Additionally, Vixen Vodka has seen much success in major retail locations, including Tower Beer, Wine & Spirits and Total Wine, which features Vixen Vodka as part of its Spirits Direct Program.

"Much of our success is due to over 300 events in which we have participated. – allowing us to reach women one-on-one," said Carrie King, partner. "We took a grassroots approach because women like to support women, and they are looking for a story to share with their friends," King said.

"Our goal was to have Vixen in one additional state by our first anniversary, and we are thrilled to have three with Vixen Vodka on the shelves – and three ready to hit the streets in January," said LeeAnn Maxwell, partner and CEO. "Distributors, sales teams and consumers alike embrace the brand because there is not another doing what we are. We are a female-owned spirit actually marketing to women. We are unique in the space, and our success highlights that as we expand."

Vixen Vodka is eager to continue its expansion and plans to add another 10 states in 2014.

About Vixen Vodka

Initially conceived on a girls' beach trip, Vixen Vodka was founded by three women, and offers a refreshing alternative to the male-dominated industry. Touting the tagline "lust in liquid form," Vixen Vodka is gluten free, GMO free and elegantly crafted from corn and pure spring water, then distilled five times, to create the smoothest vodka on the market.

Vixen Vodka is available in select retail stores, restaurants and bars throughout Georgia, Minnesota and Mississippi and will shortly be appearing in new markets across the country. For more information, visit VixenVodka.com.

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a vodka enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

MIR Corporation Unveils First-time Culinary Tours in Georgia and Russia

MIR Corporation is thrilled to announce two unprecedented culinary tours to Russia and the Republic of Georgia. "A Chronicle of Russian Cuisine & Culture,” led by a passionate local foodie, allows guests to eat their way through Moscow and St. Petersburg, visiting definitive cultural sites and meeting famous chefs for hands-on cooking classes. “A Taste of Georgia: Wine, Cuisine & Culture” traverses a country of lush valleys and heart-stopping mountain vistas alongside an organic winemaker and a Georgian ethnologist. For more information on these culinary tours, call MIR Corp at call 800-424-7289.

“We believe these to be the first-ever culinary tours of Georgia and Russia offered by an American travel company,” said MIR Corporation founder Douglas Grimes. “Our clients will discover the history and living traditions of each country through interactions with chefs, winemakers, artisans and musicians.”

On the 10-day culinary tour of Russia, guests will discover that Russian cuisine goes far beyond borscht and blini as they explore enduring open-air markets and the new trend of czarist/nouvelle cuisine restaurants, retro-Soviet cafés and vodka bars of modern Russia. They’ll join famous chefs for hands-on cooking classes and dine in a smorgasbord of restaurants, family homes, and a country dacha, where home-cooked cuisine and traditional Russian culture come together.

“In Moscow you’ll attend a master cooking class at the Taste of Russia cooking school, where expert chef/instructors lead a hands-on lesson in purchasing and preparing classic Russian dishes,” said Grimes. “A private tour and tasting at the Cristall Vodka Museum and a visit to Perlov's Tea House to learn about the history of tea-drinking in Russia are also highlights of our time in Moscow.”

In St. Petersburg, travelers will meet a celebrity chef, take a class on traditional Russian cuisine, and indulge in Soviet nostalgia by exploring local vodka bars. Additionally, they’ll venture to an organic farm that supplies LavkaLavka, a modern whole-foods collective, with some of its products and enjoy a festive home-cooked dinner at a dacha.

The 14-day culinary tour of Georgia navigates a mountainous country peppered with cave monasteries dug out of the living rock. Georgia overflows with wine and abounds in hospitality. Guests will learn how artisans make qvevri, the huge earthenware vessels used in traditional Georgian wine-making; prepare a memorable meal with the chef at the organic Pheasant's Tears winery; sample natural wines made by monks according to traditional Georgian methods; and witness an electrifying polyphonic performance by dynamic Svaneti singers.

“Georgia is a wine lover’s paradise,” said Grimes. “You’ll sample wines from across the country and learn about the heritage Mtsvane grape and the rare amber-colored wines it produces.”

Guests will indulge in the full spectrum of Georgian cuisine, from the mouthwatering cheese-stuffed bread called katchapouri to the classic “Georgian Table” feast, and savor home-cooked meals sourced from local gardens, fields and rivers.

The August 1-10, 2014 “A Chronicle of Russian Cuisine & Culture” tour starts at $5,995 and the October 5-18, 2014 “A Taste of Georgia: Wine, Cuisine & Culture” tour starts at $5,495. To speak with a MIR Corporation travel specialist, call 800-424-7289.

About MIR Corporation:

MIR Corporation, whose name means "peace" and "world" in Russian, has specialized in Russia (and neighboring countries) since 1986. Offering scheduled and custom journeys to Russia, along the Trans-Siberian and across the Silk Route, MIR's Seattle-based experts design imaginative trips that take travelers far from the familiar, and work closely with local affiliates in Western Russia, Siberia, Ukraine and Uzbekistan to carry them out. MIR has twice been named one of National Geographic Adventure's "Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth," and is a preferred operator for museum, alumni and special interest organizations across the country.

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a vodka enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

Skrillex Tour Dates Announced for Shows in San Francisco and New York

Electronic musician, Sonny John Moore, who is better known by his stage name of Skrillex, has recently announced his Takeover tour dates for 2014. The dubstep musician and singer will be hitting two American and two European cities for a week each next year. In February, Skrillex, joined by A$ap Rocky, Just Blaze, and TOKiMONSTA, will be visiting both San Francisco and Brooklyn to perform for his fans. This short tour will begin on February 3rd in California and end on February 14th in New York.

Skrillex is a popular performer, due to his extreme concerts that feature moving stages, extreme costumes and dancing, along with different surprise guests each time. The following are some of the dates and venues that he will be performing at:

San Francisco:
February 3rd – The Independent
February 5th - Mezzanine
February 7th – Fox Theater

Brooklyn:
February 10th – Brooklyn Bowl
February 13th – Output
February 14th – Secret Warehouse

Electronic music fans can find Skrillex tickets at TicketMonster.com. Ticket Monster has concert tickets to all the best and favorite bands and singers. Visit the site today for the lowest prices on the web!

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a vodka enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

Skiing, Art and Fashion at Bomber's Ski Gallery in Manhattan

If you are passionate about skiing, art and fashion, a must-see experience is Madison Avenue's new Bomber Ski Gallery in Manhattan which just opened, in time to usher in the winter ski season. Unlike any ski store, Bomber's skis are displayed as works of art, similar to New York's Museum of Modern Art's (MOMA) masterpieces — just a five-minute walk from Bomber's Madison Avenue Gallery. In fact, you will find Jean-Michel Basquiat's and Keith Haring's imagery beautifully displayed and ready to be raced down the pistes of the world's leading ski resorts, as quickly as they are flying out the door of Bomber's store. Moreover, on Bomber skis your ski equipment will be identical to that skied by Olympic athletes.

The quality and beauty of Bomber Skis are unparalleled, equaled only by the exquisite gallery they are displayed in. All Bomber skis are handcrafted in a small race lab in Italy. "The skis are built by a master craftsman with decades of ski production experience and every pair is exactly the quality skied by Bomber's US Team Athletes. After skiing Bombers for two years, I found their quality so superior that we purchased a majority interest in Bomber," said Robert Siegel, a Principal of RKR Ski LLC which invested in Bomber and CEO of Metropole Realty Advisors, Inc. He added, "No expense is spared to create Bomber Skis, as the company's sole focus is creating the best skis that man, modern technology and the best materials are capable of building."

Bomber is an Official Supplier to both the US and Canadian Ski Teams, and at least two US team members are likely to be competing in the 2014 Sochi Olympics on Bomber Skis, K.C. Oakley and Jeremy Cota. "I feel confident that my Bomber skis will carry me to the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, Russia. In over 12 years of competitive skiing, I have never seen a ski company devote so much energy into every single pair of skis produced. Beginners and pros alike, on Bomber, you know you'll be making turns on the highest-quality ski out there," said K.C. Oakley, U.S. Ski Team Athlete.

Women's Wear Daily's July 17, 2013 article crowned Bomber the "couturier" of ski masters. Bomber has now taken its already beautiful skis, such as its classic "Woody", "Red-Baron", "Pure-White", "Stealth-Black" and "Glacier-Blue Skis" to the next level by adorning their skis with imagery of Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring.

Bomber designs touch your soul. "Multiple design options enable skiers to select the look that speaks to their personality and style. Whether you are a racer, hard-core athlete, artist, fashionista, powder hound, mogul hunter or just fun-loving skier you will find a design that expresses your sensibility," said KT Stallings Bren one of Bomber's Principals through RKR Ski. KT added, "Our first-ever Basquiat and Haring skis were designed just in time for our 2013-2014 store opening."

And if you let your actions speak for you… Bomber's matte black "Stealth" ski is for you… its understated elegance says it all. Children's skis include Basquiat's famous dinosaur and Haring's snake.

The interior of Bomber's Ski Gallery is all white, with a midnight-blue ceiling, and the walls are flooded with light to highlight the unique design of each ski. Each pair of skis are mounted as if they are floating three inches off the wall, with only one pair displayed every five feet. Additional pairs are stored in hidden wall-panels between the displays to permit shoppers to feel and flex the skis.

The Gallery windows display four pair of Bomber skis in front of SONY's latest television technology – two of SONY's 65" Ultra HD XBR 4K TV's – providing a backdrop of beautiful snow-covered peaks, with breathtaking detail, depicted with pinpoint accuracy and the highest resolution TV experience possible.

Bomber is changing the world's perception of skis, and for a three-year-old startup whose skis are built in the most modern factory in the world, brand awareness has spread virally, with Bomber skiers now in New Zealand to Europe, the US, China, Japan and Canada.

Bomber's opening event ushered in the winter season, celebrating 99 days to the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics and co-hosted by Helen Yarmak furs, one of the world's leading international luxury brands in the world today. Helen Yarmak's luxurious fur collection, spectacular jewels and fabulous croc accessories have dressed the fashion elite for the last ten years.

Bomber will produce only 100 pairs of "custom designed" skis worldwide in 2013 for those first customers to order them – which make the perfect holiday gift.

Bomber skis are as beautiful as they are Best-in-Class and can be found at Bomber's Ski Gallery store at 538 Madison Avenue, between 54th & 55th Streets in Manhattan, as well as at the Olympics in Sochi, Russia. In addition, Bomber's Keith Haring Skis can be purchased at 12 Nordstrom stores throughout the US, including Nordstrom's Hawaii store, and online at Bomber's website (BomberSki.com). They will soon be found in the leading specialty ski stores throughout the US, Europe, Russia, China and Japan.

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a vodka enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.