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Age in Home Schooling : An Obstacle?

Age of a child is very important in education system but matters very little when it comes to home schooling. Complete guide is written here.

Read full article on: Home schooling - More resources: Homeschooling online

Almond Milk Soup

Crapaudine provides a large collection of medieval reciies. Discover how Almond milk soup was made some 700 years ago

Read full article in French on: Potage au lait d’amandes - More resources: Histoire médiévale

The controversial caffeine drink: ‘Cocaine’ drink claims to be real thing.

By DAVID KOENIG AP Business Writer
http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory?id=2604199

DALLAS Oct 24, 2006 (AP)— Convenience-store operator 7-Eleven Inc. is telling franchises to pull a high-caffeine drink from its shelves because of the product’s name: Cocaine.

The company acted after getting complaints from parents of teens, who are a big part of the drink’s target audience.

“Our merchandising team believes the product’s name promotes an image which we didn’t want to be associated with,” said Margaret Chabris, a spokeswoman for 7-Eleven.

Cocaine comes in red cans, with the name spelled out in what are meant to resemble lines of white powder.

According to the label, each 8.4-fluid ounce can contains 280 milligrams of caffeine more jolt than a cup of coffee, a can of Coca-Cola or the leading energy drink, Red Bull but no cocaine.

The drink is made by Redux Beverages of Las Vegas, which markets it as “The legal alternative.”

Hannah Kirby, the company’s managing partner, said 7-Eleven stores didn’t account for many sales of the drink. It hit shelves in New York and California in August and is now available in more than a half-dozen states, mostly in mom-and-pop convenience and liquor stores.

This isn’t the first time Cocaine has been yanked. Some stores in the New York area pulled the drink after local politicians complained. It’s all part of the company’s plan to stand out in the fast-growing energy drink market.

“We knew the name was going to be provocative,” said Kirby, whose husband, James, created the drink.

Kirby said the company wasn’t glorifying an illegal drug in the eyes of its young consumers. “Kids understand the difference between a controlled substance and an energy drink,” she said.

Chabris, the 7-Eleven spokeswoman, said the Dallas-based chain is recommending that franchisees not stock the drink.

Chabris said a vendor that isn’t recommended by 7-Eleven “dropped the product off at some stores in Northern California.” She said she didn’t know how many stores carried it.

7-Eleven stores sell other energy drinks, which nutritionists warn can cause caffeine and sugar highs followed by crashing lows among kids who consume them sometimes several in a row.

Researchers in Chicago reported this month that they saw a surprisingly high number of cases of caffeine abuse over the past three years, including 12 percent that required hospital treatment. The average age of the victims was 21.

Viva LasVegas! Planning a trip to Vegas? What you need to know before going.

Viva LasVegas! Planning a trip to Vegas? What you need to know before going to Sin City.

It’s that time, folks. You hop in the car with your buddies and a bottle of Jack Daniels and you’re set for the highway. Yeah, that’s right; don’t worry about the law. They’re always trying to mess things up. This day is all about you and that inevitable trip to the city of lights. I’m talking about the one that never sleeps. It’s loaded with craps tables, liquor, and good old-fashioned fun. Who says hip hip hooray to that concept? Heck, we all do. Oh, and by the way; I was just joking about that bottle of JD. You might want to save the drinking for when you actually arrive in Vegas. Especially if you actually want to make it to Sin City. Have you sorted through the infinite vegas vacation packages? These babies are a dime a dozen. So it’s time to find the best one to suit your budget.

What is it about vegas vacation packages? Do you think it’s the all-inclusive travel, accommodations, and food? Or could it be plain and simply that it’s Vegas? Well, regardless of this city’s popularity, it definitely pays off to do a little recon work with vegas vacation packages online before heading off. The last time I ventured off for a weekend in the desert state I was headed straight for the Las Vegas Classic knife show. For all you cutlery fanatics out there, this show is the bomb. I’m talking about the epitome of knife shows. It’s only once each year so you’d better start planning and saving in advance. The best way to go about this is online. Pop open your favorite search engine and start browsing for vegas vacation packages. This is the age of technology and convenience. They often leave out that second part. From the comfort of your own home you can surf the World-Wide-Web and pinpoint all the great vegas vacation packages. Maybe you’re planning a family trip and want that ideal lodging that’s fun for the kids, but away from the casinos. this is plausible if you get online. Or better yet, maybe it’s time for that infamous bachelor party. We all know what that means. Poker and drinks all around. Ah ha, you thought I was going to say something else. Regardless of your motives, it’s time to get that trip to Vegas in order. So pop open your laptop and take a gander at all vegas vacation packages now.

What to do while your in Las Vegas?

The Pool at the Mirage Hotel

When you walk into the lobby of the Mirage Hotel, located in the heart of the Strip, you immediately step into an atrium which is akin to a tropical rainforest. Trees, waterfalls, exotic birds — they’re all here. Continue through the casino and head out back to the gorgeous pool area, the Mirage’s outdoor oasis. Trust me, you’ve never seen so many palm trees in the middle of the desert. The pool itself is huge, a meandering ribbon of blue that zigs and zags through the lush foliage.

The Spa at the Treasure Island Hotel

Although this is Las Vegas, the Spa at the Treasure Island is considerably better than the spas at many luxury resorts which are in the spa business. From the minute you enter the reception area, done in soothing beige hues, you know you’re in for a treat. Choose from the extensive array of services (full salon facility, facials, body treatments, massage) and then waltz on through the state-of-the-art exercise room to the inner sanctum of the spa. Here an attendant greets you and sets you up with a fluffy robe and floppy rubber slippers. Slink into a wingback chair, prop your feet up on the large ottoman and wait for your therapist to summon you. While you wait, you can snack on fresh fruit, nibble on pretzels or slurp a smoothie from the juice bar.

The Liberace Museum

I’m not kidding. This is the best $6.50 you will spend in Las Vegas. I’ll have to admit that my recollection of the great pianist was pretty hazy. Well, it all came back to me in a hurry once I walked through the door. Set among three small buildings a short cab ride from the Strip, the Liberace Museum is a Liberace lovefest and a fitting tribute to the pianist and showman. It’s all here: the rhinestone-studded, fur-draped costumes; the mind-boggling jewelry, including a small token of affection from Queen Elizabeth II; the pianos and cars, among them a 1934 Mercedes Excalibur covered in Austrian rhinestones; and oodles of photos, press clippings and memorabilia which tell the story of the man who helped put Las Vegas on the map.

Gaming Classes at the Las Vegas Hilton

I notice in Las Vegas they always refer to gambling classes as “gaming classes.” Is this to make it all sound…nicer? I’m not sure, but I’m glad these classes are available, because I certainly don’t know all the ins and outs of pai gow poker. Even if I only plan on watching, it’s still nice to know what’s going on. Most of the casinos in town offer gaming classes five days a week, a quick thirty-minute primer on roulette, craps, mini-baccarat, pai gow poker or blackjack, and the classes are usually free.

Dinner at Emeril’s

Las Vegas hasn’t often been thought of as a gastronome’s delight. I’m betting that it soon will be, thanks to the likes of Emeril’s. There isn’t a lot of home-grown talent on the local dining scene just yet, but that’s okay, because Las Vegas can afford to import. Chef Emeril Lagasse opened his first restaurant, Emeril’s, in New Orleans’ warehouse district and opened a second, NOLA, in that fabled city’s French Quarter. He’s now brought his very own “new New Orleans” brand of cookery to Las Vegas, and the news couldn’t be better. This restaurant is arguably the best table in Las Vegas, a town which now boasts the likes of Spago and the Coyote Cafe. The sleek and elegant dining room gives way to a meal which is a marriage of traditional cajun and Creole cookery joined with today’s lighter hand and kickier flavors. The result is food which is immensely pleasing to both the eye and the palate.

Dessert at the Coyote Cafe

It may seem like a bit of a stretch to have dessert at the Coyote Cafe after you’ve had dinner at Emeril’s, but trust me, it can be done. The answer is timing. Fortunately, the Coyote Cafe stays open late (well past midnight), which gives you ample time to work off your dinner at the MGM’s casino and then return for a late-night treat. The Coyote Cafe is the baby of chef Mark Miller, who opened his first location in Santa Fe. Numerous cookbooks later, he’s brought his unique brand of southwestern fare to Las Vegas. The food is good, indeed. The desserts, however, are irresistible. You can feast on a canela cheesecake with bourbon caramel sauce and candied pecans or a silky-smooth lemon tart with fresh seasonal berries.

Flip It

No, this isn’t tiddly winks. It’s tiddly’s slick and mischievous evil twin. And aren’t evil twins always irresistible? You’ll find Flip It in many Las Vegas casinos. It’s a big machine, kind of an oversized slot machine. There’s a large piece of glass in front, and behind the glass are trays filled with gold-colored dollar coins. The trays are bursting with coins, and the coins appear as if they’re ready to spill over at any moment.

Stratosphere Tower

Why do the words “only in Las Vegas” come to mind when I think of the Stratosphere Tower? I’ll tell you why. This newest addition to the Las Vegas Strip is the tallest free-standing observation tower in the U.S.A. The view from the top is spectacular — you’ll see all the hotels on the Strip, the suburban sprawl which is the new Las Vegas and even Mt. Charleston in the distance, a snow-covered peak which is over 11,000 feet high. But that wasn’t enough for the Stratosphere folks.

The Strip

It’s officially known as Las Vegas Boulevard, but in reality it’s a strip of glitz and glam of unrivaled proportions. To say it’s over the top might be an understatement. The Strip is the main drag of gambling U.S.A. and home to most of the top hotels and casinos. A stroll down the Strip at night is a blaze of blinking lights and a sea of humanity making its way to that winning slot machine. Nighttime is also the most comfortable time of day to be outdoors in the Las Vegas heat zone, so take your stroll under the stars and bask in the glow. A couple of choice stops are at the Mirage for its signature volcano, which erupts every fifteen minutes in good weather, and at the Treasure Island for the epic pirate battle.

Casinos

You didn’t think I’d forget, did you? There are a lot of good new reasons to come to Las Vegas, but there’s still a pretty good old reason. The opportunity to gamble is at every turn, and what reasonable person could resist? There truly is something for everyone in the casinos of Las Vegas. Slot machines start as low as a nickel, and big hitters can always try their luck at craps or pai gow poker. While it’s fun to win (certainly not to lose), it’s also fun to watch. The casino crowd these days is a cross-section of America, maybe the world, and everyone seems to be having a good time. My favorite casinos, probably because they’re newer, brighter and less intimidating, are at the MGM Grand, Monte Carlo, Treasure Island and the Mirage. Bring your quarters, a sense of humor and get ready to have some fun. Oh, and good luck!

Bellagio Hotel

The Bellagio Hotel & Resort, Mirage-Treasure Island owner-impresario Steve Wynn’s Italian-flavored resort-casino is at 3600 Las Vegas Blvd South (888-987-6667), on the infamous Strip. Dining is accelerated to a crescendo at Bellagio’s thirteen restaurants, which run the gamut from gourmet dining to easy informal meals. For gourmet dining you can experience haute cuisine at Le Cirque, or at its sister restaurant, Osteria Del Circo. Chef Julian Serrano left his perch at the four-star Masa’s restaurant in San Francisco to open Picasso in Bellagio, probably the most beautiful restaurant in Las Vegas. Aqua is a clone of one of San Francisco’s best restaurants, and is a French-flavored high style seafood venue.

New York Style Hotel

January, 1997 saw the opening of New York-New York Hotel & Casino at 3790 Las Vegas Blvd. South. This 2,035 room “lodgertainment” was developed on 20 acres at a cost of about $460 million by MGM Grand, Inc. and Primadonna Resorts Inc. The hotel recreates the feeling of the Big Apple’s skyline using 12 hotel towers designed as one-third-scale models of well-known structures in Manhattan, including the CBS, Chrysler, Empire State and Seagrams buildings. Standing the tallest is the Empire State Building tower, at 47 stories.