Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Back into the labyrinth: Atlus announces Etrian Odyssey 3

The latest Famitsu reveals a third entry in Atlus's hardcore dungeon RPG series Etrian Odyssey (Sekaiju no Meikyuu). Etrian Odyssey 3 ditches the series' forest setting for the seaside town of Armolode, in which an earthquake has recently uncovered -- surprise! -- a big labyrinth.

According to the 1UP translation, the new game will include new character classes "including prince/princess, phalanx, monk, pirate, and shinobi," and will allow players to explore the ocean by ship when they aren't being killed in the labyrinth. The game will be released March 4 in Japan, and has a pretty good shot at a North American release: not only has Atlus USA translated the previous games in the series, it continues to show willingness to publish first-person DS RPGs like The Dark Spire and the upcoming Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey.

JoystiqBack into the labyrinth: Atlus announces Etrian Odyssey 3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 09 Dec 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Classicist: Cognac and Armagnac from Classic & Vintage

Founded in 1832 under Napoleon III, The House of Castarède is the oldest Armagnac house in the world, and has remained in the hands of the same family for six generations. Jean Grosperrin founded Grosperrin, one of the last independent Cognac houses, 160 years later in 1992. As a broker, Jean had developed an elaborate network of growers who opened their cellar doors for him and allowed him to buy some of their most precious stocks.

Both of the elixirs are now available in the U.S. from Classic & Vintage Artisanal Spirits, a collection of boutique spirits founded by Domaine Select Wine Estates (DSWE) earlier this year (my colleague Alison Wellner wrote about their launch party).

Rich, smooth and mellow, Armagnac Castarède is crafted from the best grapes of the Bas Armagnac region and matured in cellars that are more than 100 years old. Today, Florence Castarède is responsible for this family heritage, combining know-how acquired over 175 years with new initiatives. The distillation and aging process in hand made oak barrels takes place in the Château de Maniban, situated in the heart of the Bas-Armagnac and dating back to the 16th century.

Castarède is also celebrated for its exceptional collection of vintage Armagnacs, with more than 80 authenticated vintages, the oldest dating from 1881. Vintage Armagnacs from 1893 - 1987 are available, with prices on request; the Castarède portfolio in the U.S. also consists of Armagnac Selection (SRP $64), Armagnac Réserve de la Famille, aged for over 20 years (SRP $124) and Armagnac VSOP (right), aged 10 years, (SRP $74). All are in 750 ml bottles.

Grosperrin's philosophy is to maintain small-batch integrity, without blending, leaving all varietals in individual batches in their original barrels or glass demi-johns, producing a wide array of distinctive products from all of the appellations of Cognac. The result is an impressive selection of single vintage, single barrel, and single estate Cognacs, each with a unique personality and history.



Today, the family-owned company is exclusively dedicated to the selection, aging, and distribution of rare, aged Cognac dating from 1991 all the way back to World War II, carrying all of the necessary guarantees of quality and authenticity. Classic & Vintage will import selected products from the expansive Grosperrin Portfolio at various prices; the next shipment is due to arrive in the U.S. in March.

Many people wonder about the differences between Armagnac and Cognac. Armagnac brandy is crafted from white wines produced from white grapes with high acidity and a low alcohol content. Armagnac is distinguished by the region's sunnier climate, sandy and clay soil rich in iron and four grape varieties as opposed to Cognac's two; the main difference is in the distillation process, however: single and continuous distillation for Armagnac that gives more fragrance and flavors. You can read more here.

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The Classicist: Cognac and Armagnac from Classic & Vintage originally appeared on Luxist on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Conservative Christians urge sanctions on Iran - Baltimore Sun (blog)


Conservative Christians urge sanctions on Iran
Baltimore Sun (blog)
A coalition of conservative Christian leaders is lobbying the House of Representatives to pass �tough sanctions� to keep Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons ...

and more »

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Conservative Myth - Liberals want to give it away - Gather.com


Gather.com

Conservative Myth - Liberals want to give it away
Gather.com
Every election cycle I have to hear the same contrived story line from fear-mongering conservatives. "They're (Democrats/Liberals) are going to take our ...


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FYI: WarioWare DIY does it on DS in March

One of Nintendo's most exciting announcements from E3 was the localization of WarioWare DIY, a DS app that lets players create their own WarioWare games, with custom graphics, sound, and gameplay. Nintendo didn't happen to offer a date during the thrilling E3 presentation, and it's said nothing at all about what should be a major part of the publisher's DS lineup -- until today.

In its Q1 schedule, Nintendo provided a date of March 28. You're not buying anything in March, right? The company also offered a Q1 date for WarioWare DIY Showcase, the WiiWare game through which WarioWare DIY games can be uploaded and played on a big screen.

JoystiqFYI: WarioWare DIY does it on DS in March originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 14 Dec 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Zeno Clash: Ultimate Edition trailer isn't creepy enough

The trailer we've placed below the break for XBLA's Zeno Clash: Ultimate Editiion is a failure. It's not that you won't get a good idea of the first-person-brawler-slash-shooter's gameplay -- you will. It's that the clip doesn't come within a million miles of communicating just how skin-crawlingly creepy the experience of playing Zeno Clash is.

Just for the record, it's kind of like taking a shower in Neil Gaiman's bathwater after its been filtered through David Lynch's birth certificate. Cr-eepy.

Continue reading Zeno Clash: Ultimate Edition trailer isn't creepy enough

Joystiq XboxZeno Clash: Ultimate Edition trailer isn't creepy enough originally appeared on Joystiq Xbox on Mon, 14 Dec 2009 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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More info on Spec Ops The Line revealed

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While the trailer for Spec Ops: The Line that was shown during the Spike TV Video Game Awards got cut off, we now know that a teaser web site for the third person shooter was shown at the very end. That web site finally reveals the development team for the third person military shooter revival from publisher 2K Games.

That developer happens to be German based Yager Development. It's last game was the futuristic flying action game that was also called Yager and was released here in the US way back in 2003. There's still no word on when Spec Ops The Line will be released in the US but the teaser site does reveal it is scheduled for a PC release. You can check out the GameTrailers.com VGA debut trailer, which shows a mix of CGI and gameplay footage, after the jump:

Continue reading More info on Spec Ops The Line revealed

More info on Spec Ops The Line revealed originally appeared on Big Download Blog on Sun, 13 Dec 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CrimeCraft: Kingpin bowls over your iPhone today

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Yes, bowling puns. We know not everyone appreciates a good cheesy joke, but today's a seemingly auspicious day for MMO iPhone and Facebook apps. It's hard to imagine what self respecting game doesn't have a tiny socially-networked counterpart. You can consume details on Kingpin over on its official page, although if you've played any of these "build a gang" type games before you probably know what's in store.

If you're wondering just why you should check out this app -- aside from the fact that it's shiny and new -- then be aware that the first 50 players to hit max level in Kingpin will earn a CrimeCraft AUG that offers an experience and a money bonus. Also in the wings are a limited number of CrimeCraft gold bar packages, the Valley Forge Federalist, an assault rifle with five "slots" and a five slot submachine gun, the R-Sys Smilodon.

MassivelyCrimeCraft: Kingpin bowls over your iPhone today originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 Dec 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The latest batch of health-care ads - msnbc.com


New York Times (blog)

The latest batch of health-care ads
msnbc.com
The conservative 60-Plus Association today announced that it's launching a $1.7 million TV ad campaign (in Nebraska, Virginia, Alaska, and on national ...
GOP Health Care Memo: "Delay, Stall, Slow Down"CBS News (blog)
Healthcare and the quest for majority ruleExaminer.com
Healthcare 'compromise' an insult to seniorsOneNewsNow

all 1,817 news articles »

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Jordan king swears in new <b>conservative</b> government : newses Japan

2 hours ago; [ REUTERS ] � [ worldNews ]; Jordan king swears in new conservative government; AMMAN (Reuters) - Jordan's King Abdullah, a close ally of the United States, swore in a government on Monday headed by the scion of a powerful ...
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The Daily Quest: "Looking for Waldo"


We here at WoW.com are on a Daily Quest to bring you interesting, informative and entertaining WoW-related links from around the blogosphere.

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The Daily Quest: "Looking for Waldo" originally appeared on WoW.com on Fri, 11 Dec 2009 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Exclusive: first Google Phone / Nexus One photos, Android 2.1 on-board

Well here you have it folks, honest-to-goodness pics of the Google Phone... AKA, the Nexus One. As you can see by the photos, the design of the device is largely similar to those we've seen, but the graphic on back is slightly different, and that piece of tape is covering a QR code (how very Google of them). Just like we've heard before, the updated OS features new 3D elements to the app tray, as well as an extended amount of homescreens, though it looks like the lock screen / mute is the same as in Android 2.0.1. Additionally, there's now a new grid icon at the bottom of the homescreen, which when pressed brings up a webOS card-style preview of all homescreen pages -- which raises some interesting possibilities. Apparently there's been a new software update for the device pushed tonight, and sure enough the phone is identified as the Nexus One on the system info page. Quite clearly this device is running on T-Mobile, and is also using WiFi, so there's two other questions you've got answers to. The phone also appears to come loaded up with Google Navigation (a bit of a no-brainer) and the brand-spanking-new Google Goggles. Hardware wise, the Nexus does look incredibly thin and sleek, and while there's not a slew of buttons (those four up front are clearly touch sensitive), there is a dedicated volume rocker along the side. Oh, and note this... no HTC logo anywhere to be found. We'll update the post as / if we get more info, but for now, feast your eyes on the gallery below!

Update: One item of interest. In the packaging there's a quick start guide which points users to a "questions" page at google.com/phone/support. The page is a dead end right now, but it certainly gets an eyebrow raise from us. If there is a real Google Phone in the offing, that seems a likely landing page for support.

[Thanks, RD]

Exclusive: first Google Phone / Nexus One photos, Android 2.1 on-board originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 Dec 2009 03:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wall Street Journal versus New York Times: It is so on!

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Tensions between The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal are on the rise as the two papers increasingly compete for the same pool of general-interest and local-market readers. A column by Times media critic David Carr accusing the Journal of slanting its news coverage in the conservative direction favored by owner Rupert Murdoch has drawn a sharp response from the Journal's managing editor, Robert Thomson -- who offers a pretty stinging accusation of his own.

Thomson says the article by "a Mr. David Carr" constitutes "yet more evidence that The New York Times is uncomfortable about the rise of an increasingly successful rival while its own circulation and credibility are in retreat." He criticizes Carr for relying on "a succession of anonymous quotes and unsubstantiated assertions" to make his case.

Continue reading Wall Street Journal versus New York Times: It is so on!

Wall Street Journal versus New York Times: It is so on! originally appeared on DailyFinance on Mon, 14 Dec 2009 12:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Top Tech Toys for Tots

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Smart Cycle

Parenting is hard enough without having to come up with the best gift ideas. You're bombarded by TV ads, which don't really tell you enough, and your child deserves a present that's cool, that's tech, and that maybe ISN'T EXACTLY THE SAME gift that all his or her little classmates will be getting this year.

Here at Switched, we asked our inner child -- and an actual tech-lovin' Mom -- to help us compile a list of the best tech toys for tots. Here's what we found...

Smart Cycle


The Smart Cycle (Mattel, $99.99) is a physical arcade game that connects easily to your TV. Just pop in a supported game cartridge and your child will happily pedal away, burning up all types of energy and leaving you free to pay some bills or start dinner. Cartridges focus on areas such as learning, discoveries, games and races -- and, of course, there are multiple levels that wee ones can can move up as they get better. Smart Cycle also teaches upper and lowercase letters, numbers and counting, spelling, problem-solving, shapes, matching and spatial reasoning.

SwitchedTop Tech Toys for Tots originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 23 Dec 2007 16:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota Stays Firm On <b>Conservative</b> Plug-In Plans | The Truth About Cars

Now that Nissan have their Leaf EV in the works, Mitsubishi have the iMiEV in development and GM are rushing out the Chevrolet Volt, Toyota seem to be.
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How to Have a Stress Free Thanksgiving, Dine Out

What is the best way to have a Thanksgiving spread that turns out looking like the glossy photographs in your favorite foodie magazine? I'm sure some readers are expecting a list, organizational techniques or special tips on how to create the perfect meal when you are working full time.

It seems that a better idea is to not slave over the stove, but take you and your family to the nearest upscale restaurant for the special meal. Eat, drink and relax, the turkey will be cooked to perfection. Handing the responsibility for a beautifully cooked Thanksgiving feast over to someone else might even make spending the day with your annoying cousins just that much more bearable.

Another bonus of not preparing your own Thanksgiving meal at home is that often the menu includes items for those at the table who really don't like turkey. It may be considered heresy, but there are many who, out of hunger, force down what is often a dry uninspired main course because that is the only option. There is often at least one vegetarian at every table who sits glumly while the rest of the guests are feasting.

For example, at Ken Aretsky's Patroon in New York City, pictured above, executive chef Bill Peet presents a family-style menu in the warm dining room of this midtown restaurant. In addition to the traditional free range turkey with all the old fashioned fixings (mashed potatoes, stuffing, roasted Brussel sprouts and giblet gravy) you will find chateaubriand as well as Scottish salmon for the vegetarians in your group. The restaurant will charge $85 per adult and $45 per child for the meal. Whether you live in the tri-sate region, are in the area visiting family or to see the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade I can't think of a better way to make you meal truly stress free.

For those of you who live around the country and are watching the parade or the games on t.v., there are great Thanksgiving menu options at the Craft and Craftsteak restaurants, run by the award winning chef Tom Colicchio, located in Atlanta, Dallas, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas. (New York too!) The restaurants offer holiday prix fixe menus - everything is served family style, except the choice of main course.

Leave the turkey in the freezer, save it for a random winter weekend, and eat out!



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How to Have a Stress Free Thanksgiving, Dine Out originally appeared on Luxist on Sun, 15 Nov 2009 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Monday, December 14, 2009

Blizzard announces Rise and Fall of the Lich King screenshot contest

Blizzard's community team is working like crazy before the holidays -- just a few days after the dessert contest kicked off, they've now announced a screenshot contest, this one centering on "The Rise and Fall of the Lich King." Basically, they want you to take a screenshot of your character somehow fighting the Scourge, and in return, they're giving away 11 steins. Ten lucky winners will pick up Rise of the Lich King steins from Taverncraft, and one lucky grand prize winner will win the #1 of 750 out of the limited quantity of signed Legendary Collection Rise of the Lich King steins released. That's actually pretty awesome -- I haven't been enticed to buy a stein yet, but I will definitely submit a screenshot to win one.

And we can even help you win -- check out our recent post on how to screenshot for tips and tricks on how to do it exactly right. Keep your photographer's eye open as you play against the Scourge this month (the contest ends on midnight January 1st, 2010), and one of your captures might pick up some real-life loot.

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Blizzard announces Rise and Fall of the Lich King screenshot contest originally appeared on WoW.com on Fri, 11 Dec 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Arcane Brilliance: How to be a good PUG mage

Welcome to another installment of Arcane Brilliance, the weekly mage column that is incredibly proud of mages. We are, after all, the only class in the game that can conjure our own 5-man group, as evidenced by the picture above. And though our mirror images may not be too bright, I'd still take them over about 3/4ths of the folks I PuGed with last night.

Holy crap. I'm not even kidding. It was like some kind of idiot convention, and I was the keynote speaker. I came in with some prepared remarks, like "Don't stand in the green stuff that looks like poison, because it is poison," "when he begins spinning his giant sword around like a whirlwind, it's because he's doing Whirlwind and you should get out of the way," and "Warlocks drink their own pee," but ended up just sighing and shaking my head a lot.

This whole Dungeon Finder tool is incredible, right? My head has been spinning since the patch dropped, marveling at the ways it has already changed the game, both for good and ill. Suddenly, PuGs are the norm, not the exception. Each instance is a complete unknown, and not just because you don't know which one you're going to get. Is that rogue going to inexplicably decide to eschew his formerly stealthy ways and take up tanking? Who knows? Is the pally healer who just joined specced ret? It's not as unlikely as you think. Did that warlock really just go afk during the boss fight, then return only to need the Frozen Orb and drop group? Yep, he did. Outstanding.

It works the other way, too. There I was, minding my own business, happily spamming Arcane Blast on some kind of giant disgusting undead guy, only to see him turn and begin lumbering over in my direction. OK, I thought, I'll just stop casting, let the tank snatch him back up. Only that doesn't work. I look over at the threat meter to see that I have like three times more threat on that mob than anybody else. In fact, the only two other names on the threat list were the tank and the healer. That's right, I had been pew pewing the wrong giant disgusting undead guy. The fight ends with me reduced to a stain on the floor, and nobody to blame but my own stupid self. Sometimes, when you can't spot the nub in the room, it's because the nub is you.

Continue reading Arcane Brilliance: How to be a good PUG mage

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Arcane Brilliance: How to be a good PUG mage originally appeared on WoW.com on Sat, 12 Dec 2009 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Stocks gain ground as energy stocks rally on Exxon Mobil's $31 billion deal

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Easing concerns over global credit problems and more signs of corporate dealmaking are giving stocks a moderate boost. Major stock indexes rose less than 1% in late afternoon trading Monday following news that Abu Dhabi had extended $10 billion to Dubai to help the Middle Eastern city-state stay afloat. Markets had been worried in recent weeks that debt problems in the struggling former boomtown could send ripples through global credit markets.

Investors were also encouraged by Exxon Mobil's (XOM) $31 billion purchase of XTO Energy (XTO), which sent energy stocks sharply higher. The deal will help Exxon tap into the growing supply of natural gas in the U.S. and could signal more consolidation in the energy industry.

Continue reading Stocks gain ground as energy stocks rally on Exxon Mobil's $31 billion deal


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EVE Evolved: Research: Tech 1 blueprints

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While it's most often lauded for its PvP, not everything in EVE Online is about shooting people. Research and manufacturing are two of EVE's most popular PvE professions because of the small time commitments they require. A lot of things in EVE are built from blueprints and through research, you can be one of the people supplying those blueprints. Whether you want to improve your own blueprints to increase manufacturing profit margins or make blueprint copies for sale, it's worth looking into doing your own research. Jobs can be set up to run for days on end, taking you as little as a few minutes per week to manage. This can augment your income from active sources like mining, trading or mission-running.

In this article, I look at the basics of tech 1 blueprint research, the skills required to make the most of your time and how you could run your own research labs in the relative safety of high security space.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Research: Tech 1 blueprints

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Research: Tech 1 blueprints originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 13 Dec 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BBC's iPlayer streams to Cello iViewer HDTVs, those iElsewhere get iNothing

BBC's iPlayer streams to Cello iViewer HDTVs, those iElsewhere get iNothingHopefully you haven't exceeded your daily allowance of the letter 'i' yet this morning; this post could push you into CamelCase overload. British electronics maker Cello has announced iViewer, a line of LCD HTDVs available in £399 ($650) 26- and £499 ($815) 32-inch models that will directly stream BBC's iPlayer, no silly gaming console or set-top box required. They'll also stream a variety of other digital channels, including YouTube and American CNN -- so why is it that Americans still can't stream content from the Beeb? Sets will be selling soon exclusively at Marks and Spencer stores, and would have been available months ago if not for a delay thanks to an unidentified but apparently American chip maker. Sure, blame the US. Everything's our fault.

BBC's iPlayer streams to Cello iViewer HDTVs, those iElsewhere get iNothing originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Dec 2009 09:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Classicist: The Equinox, Updating An American Icon in Vermont


Presiding over the picturesque Vermont village of Manchester, The Equinox has played host to the well-heeled and well-traveled for nearly 250 years. Established in 1769, the archetypal grand old New England hotel has served as a meeting place for the fathers of the American Revolution and hosted American presidents including Taft, Grant, Harrison and Teddy Roosevelt. Now part of the Luxury Collection, the iconic 195-room resort recently underwent a $20 million restoration, adding luxury amenities, luxe accommodations, and a new restaurant and bar to update an American icon and uphold its legacy going forward.

Designer Geoffrey Bradfield was put in charge of the redecoration, and fitted out the new guestrooms with a muted palette of slate blue, dark brown and beige accented with hand-carved furniture. One wall of each guest room features a large black and white photograph of The Equinox from the early 1900's. Custom-made beds, marble vanities, dramatic floor length curtains and plush leather armchairs add the finishing touches. The lobby seating areas and library, both with fireplaces, have also been spruced up.

The Falcon Bar and Chop House are the new additions to the drinking and dining scene. The Falcon Bar features French doors opening onto a terrace with incredible mountain vistas and an open-air fire pit. Inside there's dark wood paneling and plush leather chairs, as well as an extensive collection of single malt Scotch and a comprehensive wine list. There's also a menu of locally sourced cheeses and gourmet chocolates. The Chop House, located at the original site of The Equinox House Hotel built by Franklin Orvis in 1853, features the original stone hearth and is designed in the manner of a refined hunter's lodge complementing the gourmet steak house fare. Leather banquettes and rugged palette are accented by old hardwood floors.



The adjacent Marsh Tavern, which has been the favorite watering hole of presidents since 1769, has been given a new menu of sophisticated, New England-style cuisine full of nostalgic flavors and simple, farm fresh ingredients. The bar specializes in an extensive selection of beers and ales and features snacks such as pretzels served with Raye's Mustard from Maine, the last stone ground mustard mill in the country. And of course there's lots to do besides eating and drinking: the indoor pool and spa, for starters.

The Equinox also offers the ultimate outdoor Vermont adventure experience with a variety of activities such as golf, falconry, archery, fly-fishing, shooting and Land Rover off-road driving. You can spend your morning maneuvering a Land Rover on rough terrain, midday practice your aim with recurve bows on the archery field, play golf on the lush course, and in the afternoon try field hunting alongside a majestic hawk, with some of the country's most scenic vistas as a backdrop.

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The Classicist: The Equinox, Updating An American Icon in Vermont originally appeared on Luxist on Mon, 30 Nov 2009 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Glorious Chandeliers of the Escher Museum


On my recent visit to Holland, sponsored by the Netherlands Board of Tourism, we ventured up to The Hague (Den Haag) for the Dutch Fashion Awards and some museums. Though it wasn't originally on the itinerary, everyone on the trip was dying to see the Escher Museum (Escher in het Paleis).

The museum is located in the royal Lange Voorhout Palace, and features well kept original fixtures as well as several rooms dedicated to showing what the winter palace of Queen Mother Emma used to look like. Since then, the legendary Dutch graphic artist who's still blowing our minds almost 40 years after his death has been moved in, and the juxtaposition of decadence and mind-bending art is surprisingly harmonious.

If you're taking a trip to Amsterdam, a 45-minute trek up to The Hague is worth it just to see the museum, which not only has a far more extensive Escher collection than any of us believed was possible, but which also features a stunning array of crystal chandeliers in almost every room.

The chandeliers, like the enormous "Rain Cloud" in the foyer (above), are all works by Hans van Bentem (1965), a ceramics and glass artist from Rotterdam who happens to have a penchant for designing elaborate and unusual chandeliers. How unusual are they? Check out the gallery for a crystallized firefly, shark, trophy, umbrella, seahorse and more. The Hans van Bentem chandeliers are an exhibit all their own, and have appeared in the museum's formerly royal rooms since 2003. This is the full collection:


This trip was paid for by the Netherlands Board of Tourism, but the ideas and opinions expressed in the article above are 100% my own.

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The Glorious Chandeliers of the Escher Museum originally appeared on Luxist on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Amazon's Disc+ program tosses in a free VOD with your Blu-ray or DVD

In a move that could help counter the instant gratification valley that currently separates online shopping from heading to the local retailer, Amazon is pushing a "limited time offer" called Disc+ On Demand that pairs 300 or so of its movies with a free Amazon VOD copy. That digital version pops into the buyer's Video Library instantly after purchase and still has to play by all the usual video on-demand rules of 24 hr / 30 day windows, U.S. address, and is currently only available in standard-definition. Still, this combination of the digital and physical purchase worlds means the online giant has beaten Best Buy's similar plans to the punch and approaches the convenience of Netflix's Watch Instantly. Just its usually lower prices has already driven many of you to be come online only disc buyers, we'll see if this helps Amazon grab the rest.

Amazon's Disc+ program tosses in a free VOD with your Blu-ray or DVD originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Dec 2009 05:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II announced [Update]

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The Spike TV Video Game Awards has revealed that LucasArts is working on Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II, the sequel to their best selling 2008 console action game that finally made its way to the PC last October (that's the game pictured above). A URL (www.unleashed2010.com) hints strongly that the game is due for released sometime next year.

The CGI trailer showed the lead character of the first game, Starkiller, fighting a massive creature in an arena-like setting. It also looks like Starkiller is going to have to deal with the voices of Darth Vader and Yoda in his head. Hopefully PC gamers won't have to wait a year to get the sequel.

Update: The Unleashed2010.com teaser site has launched with the above image

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II announced [Update] originally appeared on Big Download Blog on Sat, 12 Dec 2009 20:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Around Azeroth: Deep-seated issues

In spite of his many years of study and apprenticeship, deep down, Kathanor of Arthas never really wanted to be a blood elf mage. He wanted to be ... a lumberjack gnome pirate! Leaping from ship to ship throughout the mighty seas of Azeroth! The Defias! The Southsea! The Bloodsail! The plucky little Blackwater! The smell of freshly oiled cannons! The clink of gold coins! Kathanor has long suppressed these urges, but doing The Cleansing and fighting his inner turmoil has brought it all back to the surface. How soon until he starts attacking Booty Bay Bruisers?

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Around Azeroth: Deep-seated issues originally appeared on WoW.com on Mon, 14 Dec 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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