Bingo at BingoFest

-------------------------------------------------

 

 

www.BingoFest.com

 

July 30th 2008

 

 


$15.000 Must Go PJ Won Saturday, July 19th!

I was very, very shocked when this occured Saturday night. I believe that I am still in shock. I'm one of those people that never wins, until now. This is the best bingo site that I have ever been too. I'll continue playing here, as long as, this site is around. Words really can't express how suprised I am. I can't wait to go on vacation because I have money to burn. Thank you so much bingo fest for being the best bingo site on the web. I'll be sure to tell all my friends to come to this website because it is truly the best around.

Primadonna

 

 

 

www.BingoFest.com

 

July 30th 2008

 

Big Benefits
Become a member of BingoFest and get rewarded. As a valued member of the world’s leading online bingo site, you’ll have access to over 300 bingo games daily, free bingo games, huge cash prizes, monster jackpots and amazing online bingo bonuses. See for yourself why we’ve been voted the leading bingo site on the web year after year!

BingoFest is the web's largest online bingo hall incorporating the most up-to-date software technology. We offer a genuine, secure and enjoyable gaming environment with online bingo bonuses and exclusive promotions. Our dedication to customer service is unprecedented and our huge payouts are unmatched.

As a valued member of the #1 online bingo site, enjoy the following signature features:

Bingo Points
Our unique Bingo Points Program is designed to offer our loyal customers a way to earn bingo points and redeem for 2nd chance bingo cash prizes. Points accumulate over time with every card purchased and players can redeem their points when they wish. For more information about the Bingo Points program click here

Online Bingo - Free Cash Draws

Members can also redeem their bingo points in our daily, weekly and monthly cash draws.

Daily Draw - $50 cash
When: Every night at 11:59 p.m. ET

Weekly Draw - $250 cash
When: Every Saturday at 11:59 p.m. ET

Monthly Draw - $1,000 cash!
When: Last day of every month at 11:59 p.m. ET

Multi-part Bingo Games
The only place multi-part bingo games are offered online! Check out these bingo games and exciting tournaments and get three chances to win three great prizes!

24/7 Support Staff
At BingoFest, you can connect with staff 24 hours a day.

No Download Games
All of our games are played online which means absolutely no downloads are required.

Progressive Bingo Jackpots  

BingoFest offers the largest progressive jackpots in online bingo. Watch the payouts grow!

And that’s not all ... also enjoy these great features:
• Pre-Purchase Capability
• Convenient and Easy to Use Deposit Methods
• Excellent funding bonuses
• Interactive Chat Games

-------------------------------------------------

Bingo Grand

 

Game schedule

 

June 2008

 

Free Games Hour: 5pm - 6pm ET. Only Fridays.

  • One whole hour of $10 Free Coverall Games - $0/Card
  • No Pre Order available here





High Rollers Guaranteed: 6pm - 12am ET. Only Fridays.

  • From 6pm till 8pm we have 2 hours of Multi part games where the fist part will have a guaranteed prize of $10, the second part a guaranteed prize of $25 and the last part a guaranteed prize of $100 Games - $1/Card
  • From 8pm till 10pm we have 2 hours of Multi part games where the fist part will have a guaranteed prize of $25, the second part a guaranteed prize of $35 and the last part a guaranteed prize of $150 Games - $1.25/Card
  • From 10pm till 11pm we have 1 hour of Multi part games where the fist part will have a guaranteed prize of $35, the second part a guaranteed prize of $50 and the last part a guaranteed prize of $250 Games - $1.50/Card
  • From 11pm till midnight we have 1 hour of Multi part games where the fist part will have a guaranteed prize of $50, the second part a guaranteed prize of $75 and the last part a guaranteed prize of $500 Games - $2/Card
  • The Last game of the night will have on the first part a guaranteed prize of $100, the second part a guaranteed prize of $250 and the last part a guaranteed prize of $1,000 - $3/Card

 

www.bingofest.com

------------------------------------------------

$15,000.00

Must Go PJ

 

Will be played until won



Hi roomies as you have all noticed the $13,960.00 PJ in the Showbiz room has been removed. This is because we feel its time you need to win this big prize. We have rounded it up to $15,000.00 and will be playing it as follows in the month of July 2008.

As you can all see the number of calls will be right for winning this big prize, but if its not won on the first Saturday in July we will increase the call by 1 for the next Saturday. We will carry on doing this until a lucky player takes the $15,000.00 home.

  • 1st Saturday July 5th $15,000 on 55 calls
  • 2nd Saturday July 12th $15,000 on 56 calls
  • 3rd Saturday July 19th $15,000 on 57 calls
  • 4th Saturday July 26th $15,000 on 58 calls

 


If it is not won on $15,000.00 on the day there will be a minimum guaranteed prize of $1,000 cash for that game


Will be held in the showbiz room at 10pm

Best of luck to all

www.bingofest.com

------------------------------------------------

BingoGrand "High Roller Fridays"

Every Friday in BingoGrand it's a High Rollers affair. Start the evening at 5pm with an hour of free games, then get warmed up from 6-8pm with non-stop $10, $25 and $100 guaranteed games. From 8-10pm the top hats tip as the guaranteed games go up to $25, $35 and $150, and then the bow ties loosen when at 10pm these games go up yet again, to $35, $50 and $250 Guaranteed!

Finally at 11pm for the last High Roller hour, as cigars are down to the nubs and sweat beads on the foreheads, we have a full hour of $50, $75 and $500 Guaranteed games, ending with one breathtaking game that will give away a staggering $100, $250 and $1,000 GUARANREED to the winners.

Don't for get to pre-order if you cannot be there. Good luck roomies ;)

www.bingofest.com

------------------------------------------------

New Slots and Video Poker

The theme is NEW ...Enjoy the New Casino Tourney while playing New Slot and Video Poker machines. Impressive graphics and cool New sound effects make the games all the more exciting. See what it is all about ...login to Fest and check it out.

www.bingofest.com

-------------------------------------------------

Chat Game at www.bingofest.com

DOUBLE SEAHORSE RACING

Give your Seahorse a special loving pep talk this week to win you some double BBs. On Sunday, April 20th, from 9pm-Mid ET in Classic room, we will double all winners in our famous races. Make sure you come join us for an exciting evening.

DATE: Sunday, April 20th
TIME: 9pm-Mid ET
ROOM: Classic

Special bonus payouts for Sunday, April 20th only:

First Place

Winners:

20 BBs
  Second Place

Winners:

10 BBs
  Third Place

Winners: 6 BBs

Rules are as follows:

For the exciting Seahorse Chat Game, players must email their seahorse number 1-15 to chat@bingofest.com and purchase at least six (6) cards per race (game) in the Classic Room to be eligible for chat winnings. All numbers must be emailed by 5pm ET on Sunday. Please include “Races” on the subject line of the email as well as your player name (alias) and seahorse number. Confirmation emails will be sent back to all emails received.

Players do not need to be in chat to collect seahorse wins as long as six (6) cards have been pre-purchased per game.

Bonus Rules Apply.

-------------------------------------------------

Showbiz Room Extended

We are doing it again because a whole lot of the roomies are asking. The showbiz room is adding three(3) hours to the schedule, now opening from 9am. Enjoy a great start to the day with $50 startups and the super special Multi Part Games. Meet up with your friends in chat or pre-order if you won't be around, but don’t miss the new fun hours in the Showbiz room, it's time to win!

More fun at www.bingofest.com

-------------------------------------------------

New Casino Tourny in www.bingofest.com

NEW 10 Hand Poker & New Video Slot Machines

-------------------------------------------------

$3.000 First Fest Frenzy

---------------------------------------------------

NEW 10 Hand Poker & New Video Slot Machines

10 Hand Poker"10s or Better" is taking on a whole new meaning at BingoFest. Along with "10s or Better" EVERY video poker machine now offers 10 hand poker.Talk about having your hands full...with 10 hand video poker, you now have 10 chances at getting that winning hand.

Lucky FarmBingoFest Also introduces our brand new Video Slot Machines; the 9 line "Amazon Quest" and the 15 line "Lucky Farm". Take them for a spin and be blown away by the amazing sound and stellar graphics.

--------------------------------------------------

499% Special Re-load Bonus

---------------------------------------------------

$3,000 FIRST FEST FRENZY

1st $1,000 Cash Most games WON in all 3 rooms.
2nd $1,000 Cash Most tickets bought in all 3 rooms.
3rd $1,000 Cash A random winner chosen from everyone who has deposited at least 5 times in April.
  • Contest is based on the 3 points mentioned above.
  • Held in the Classic room, Showbiz room and Bingo Grand Rooms only.
  • The competition will be held from the 4th April till the 30th April.
  • No updates on this contest shall be given until the final results are published.
  • If any tie is held between any of the first three places, the prize will be divided equally between the winners.
  • Split wins count as one win per player.
  • Must be over 18 years of age to be eligible to participate.
  • Competition winners will be announced and credited on May 1st.
  • BingoFest's general terms and conditions apply.

---------------------------------------------------

250% Special Re-load Bonus

---------------------------------------------------

Spring is Here Contest Winners

1st prize
leiby
$500 cash
2nd prize
bellasbingo
$250 cash
3rd prize
night55
$100 cash
4th prize
susanna (*)
$50 BBs   
5th prize
TheMom1932 (*)
$50 BBs   

---------------------------------------------------

$10,000.00 Winner says;

Hi…My username is sharonbruckner and I was playing Friday night in the Deuces and Jokers video poker room and decided to plan the 5-line and bet the max. Imagine my surprise when I looked and saw that I had won $10,000.00! I hit a natural royal flush if my memory serves me correctly. I have played on this site for a couple of years and have always had great luck. The people on this site is wonderful and I really enjoy the chat on the bingo rooms.  BingoFest is the best online gaming site that I have tried. What a way to start a weekend!

Win with www.bingofest.com

---------------------------------------------------

Another Fest Winner says;

Hi…My username is sharonbruckner and I was playing Friday night in the Deuces and Jokers video poker room and decided to plan  and bet the max. Imagine my surprise when I looked and saw that I had won$ 2500.00! I hit a natural royal flush if my memory serves me correctly. BingoFest is the best online gaming site that I have tried. What a way to start a weekend!

Win with www.bingofest.com

--------------------------------------------------

another Bingofest winner says;

Hi Lillian, thank you for contacting me. Thank you very much. I Love playing
at bingofest. I have been playing on this site for years now, and I
wouldn't go anywhere else. I think the payouts are amazing. I Don't live to
far from a casino, and I would rather play on bingofest then go there. The
staff is so friendly and are always there to answer any questions you may
have. The bonuses are awesome. I was playing video poker and I just couldn't
lose it was unbelievable. I never give up the faith, because I know playing
here on bingofest reeps with the awards. It is definitley worth playing
here on Fest and I am sure other roomies would agree. Good luck everyone
and enjoy the fun.....I am looking foward to playing on the new site, a
great deal of effort was put into, I especially love the frogs, they are a
favorite of mine, I have been collecting them for years. Hopefully they will
bring some luck for all....
Angela
aka (angela1)

win with www.bingofest.com

--------------------------------------------------

Progressive Jackpots

Room
Progressive Jackpot
ShowBiz
$10,755.57
Classic
$1,380.60
Bingohall
$750.00

(As of March 20th, 4:35 PM)

--------------------------------------------------

499% BONUS

--------------------------------------------------

Welcome to BingoFest!

We told you it was coming and it's finally here! We bid a warm goodbye and thank you to Alphie for all the wonderful years and now receive with open arms BingoFest!

Fresh New LookImagine walking into that old family house after some much needed renovation; The paint is fresh and bright, the floorboards are glowing from the polish, that old kitchen now holds such pristine elgance and functionality... you just can't wait to settle back in and enjoy the new setup.

Now step into the livingroom...what a beautiful layout! Those new drapes provide the perfect backdrop for something oh so familiar. Wow, is that your beloved antique sofa re-covered with a stunning new fabric?

That is what we have done for you folks. We have kept all the things you loved about Alpha and done away with all the things you didn't.

explorerTake some time to explore the new and exciting BingoFest site! Use the familiar navigation to check out the fantastic new Game Schedule, Promos, Free Bonuses and Community events that await you.If you have any questions or comments, you can always turn to the same friendly and dedicated support staff that you have come to know and love.

What are you waiting for? A whole new world of fun and exciting games awaits you right now! Click Here!

--------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------

Progressive Jackpot Update
Progressive Jackpots
Room
Progressive Jackpot
ShowBiz
$10,495.02
Classic
$1,031.10
Bingohall
$750.00

(As of March 13th, 7:44 PM)

--------------------------------------------------------------------

500% First Deposit Bonus
500% First Deposit Bonus 

Fest is starting off in grand style and giving it's players more bang for their buck. If you have opened an account with us, but not yet funded, why don't you take advantage of our amazing 1st deposit bonus offer. Make your first deposit today and receive your 500% bonus for the rest of March.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Weekday Casino Tourney Winners
Last Week's Weekday Casino Tourney Winners

Spin or deal your way to riches with our Weekday Casino Tournament from Monday to Thursday every week. Play any of your favorite slots or Video poker games and burst your account with as many wins as you can.

Congratulations to last week's top ten(10) Weekday Casino Winners!

From: 2008/03/03 to 2008/03/06
Place
Alias
Amount
Prize
1st place
jaimegirl
$55,066.00
$50 BBs
2nd place
harm54
$18,393.00
$50 BBs
3rd place
im2lucky
$18,098.00
$50 BBs
4th place
Ellen826
$16,964.65
$50 BBs
5th place
YeeHaw-I1
$11,905.75
$50 BBs
6th place
mmkit53
$11,272.50
$10 BBs
7th place
auntdadat
$9,480.00
$10 BBs
8th place
JEANNE 4
$8,704.35
$10 BBs
9th place
susanna
$8,347.55
$10 BBs
10th place
sun-of-a-gun
$7,950.00
$10 BBs

---------------------------------------------------------------------

2008's "Big 8"

2008's "Big 8" In March

Classic RoomThe 2008 'Big 8' games play in March. T his weekend brings you another two "Big 8" games with some big guaranteed prizes. Two(2) games every Friday in the Classic Room.

-------------------------------------------------------------

Welcome to BingoFest!

----------------------------------------------------------------------

A winner says;

"Ok, apparently I found a horse shoe full of luck!!  Sat down to play some viedo poker and to my amazement I just couldn't lose!!!!  Decided I better cashout at $2500 before my luck changed! This comes on the heels of my $10,000 bingo win last month and my $4000 royal flush a couple weeks ago! Alpha is definately the best bingo site on the net, as a loyal player for years here I can say with confidence that Alpha is a leader in the online gaming community who is true to their players with great CM's, roomies, staff and great games. Thank you Alpha (now BingoFest) for another great win!!!.....im2lucky"

www.bingofest.com

---------------------------------------------------------------------

A winner says;

"Thanks to AlphaBingo's (now BingoFest) generous 499% deposit special this weekend I was able to play some extra video poker. I had a hard day at work and came home to relax to some gaming, playing a bit of bingo and ALOT of poker. To my amazement, while playing Double Joker Poker I was dealt three cards of the royal flush and not thinking much of it, I hit deal and the other 2 came in! A whopping $4000 win!!!!  I am always impressed with the big bingo pots and great payout odds on the casino games here. Thanks Alpha for a GREAT win!!!
ssmit"

--------------------------------------------------------------------

A Winner says;

wow what can i say...in just less than 2 weeks i have won 2 huge jack pots! first i won 13,444.62 and now not even 2 weeks later i won another 5,000.00!!! i am soooo happy, grateful and in shock!!! i have never won so much money in my life!!! i cannot thank alpha (now BingoFest) enough!!! i have said it many times before and i will say it again alpha (now BingoFest) truly is the very best!!! we have the best roomies the best chat hosts and the best management and staff anywhere... hands down!!! u guys at alpha (now BingoFest) have become like my family and i am so thankful that i have u all as friends. you are all so supportive and happy to see me win and other people winning too. it is the kindest, friendliest. best site on the web. the payouts, funding bonuses, chat games and people are second to none!!! i just cannot express how alpha (now BingoFest) has helped change my life. we have been wanting to buy a house and this sure helps alot and the friends i have made here have been through so much with me from getting married to my son getting hurt to my mom being ill and u have all been so supportive and wonderful through the happiest and saddest of times. i thank you all with all of my heart. thank you alpha (now BingoFest)...i love you!!! with a big smile and a warm heart ur roomie and friend, jem1721

www.bingofest.com

---------------------------------------------------------------------

A winner says;

I would just like to thank AlphaBingo (now BingoFest) for this wonderful monthly competition.  I have been playing at AlphaBingo (now BingoFest) for a few years now and I absolutely love this site!  Players and chat hosts are wonderful....always congratulating winners and welcoming new players to the site.  This is one of only a few sites that still allow U.S. players to join and I am very grateful for all the funding options available at AlphaBingo (now BingoFest).  Payouts are quick and painless as well.  Best bingo site on the net.....by far!!!!!  Thanks AlphaBingo (now BingoFest) !!!!

TinaGirl :)

www.bingofest.com

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Play in our weekly Slots and Video Poker tournament and Win BIG!

Every weekend, starting on Friday at 12:01 a.m. EST until Sunday 11:59 p.m. EST, every time you win a spin on any slot machine or a hand in any of your favorite video poker games, the dollar amount won increases your odds at winning a share of the additional $1,075 tournament.

Enter our Bingo Tourney or Las Vegas Slot Tournament and Win BIG!


Friday, March 7th - Sunday, March 9th
Alias
Total Winnings ($)
Prize
ROPINAWIN
$19,571.00
$250
snow**bunny
$16,728.50
$150
rave14
$13,898.45
$100
harm54
$12,635.00
$50
angela1
$11,997.65
$50

www.bingofest.com

---------------------------------------------------------------------

What is the minimum age to play?
You should always check with your own local laws before playing on any online gaming site, however we do not allow anyone to play at BingoFestTM who is under the age of 18.

www.bingofest.com

----------------------------------------------------------------------

As a player, are there responsibilities I should know about?
Absolutely, these are detailed on our Rules & Regulations page, which all players are required to review and agree to prior to playing any of our games.

www.bingofest.com

---------------------------------------------------------------------

NEW see our Bingo Game and Chat game schedule here;

http://www.bingofest.com/?url=php/promo/calendar.php

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Is more than one account permitted in the same household?
If the below regulations are met, yes. If you have any uncertainties you may contact manager@bingofest.com to clarify our policy.

  • Each player can have only one account.
  • If you have your own player's account you cannot play with another family member's account.
  • If you have a joint account with your spouse then you are not permitted to have your own account; unless you choose to open your own account and no longer play with the joint account.
  • Players within the same household will have to request payouts to unique bank accounts or unique alternate payout options (Ewalletexpress, Neteller, etc). Only members with joint bingo accounts can request to have a payout sent to the same bank account or alternate payout option. Absolutely no exceptions will be made.
  • Management has the right to disable any and all accounts if the above regulations are not adhered to. Management also reserves the right to disallow more than one account in the same household. A deposit acceptance form accompanied by supporting documentation can be requested at will by management.

    http://www.bingofest.com/?url=php/info/rulesgame.php&id_zona=7

    www.bingofest.com

    ----------------------------------------------------------------------

    Big Benefits
    Become a member of BingoFest and get rewarded. As a valued member of the world’s leading online bingo site, you’ll have access to over 300 bingo games daily, free bingo games, huge cash prizes, monster jackpots and amazing online bingo bonuses. See for yourself why we’ve been voted the leading bingo site on the web year after year!

    BingoFest is the web's largest online bingo hall incorporating the most up-to-date software technology. We offer a genuine, secure and enjoyable gaming environment with online bingo bonuses and exclusive promotions. Our dedication to customer service is unprecedented and our huge payouts are unmatched.

    As a valued member of the #1 online bingo site, enjoy the following signature features:


    Bingo Points
    Our unique Bingo Points Program is designed to offer our loyal customers a way to earn bingo points and redeem for 2nd chance bingo cash prizes. Points accumulate over time with every card purchased and players can redeem their points when they wish. For more information about the Bingo Points program click here

    Online Bingo - Free Cash Draws

    Members can also redeem their bingo points in our daily, weekly and monthly cash draws.

    Multi-part Bingo Games
    The only place multi-part bingo games are offered online! Check out these bingo games and exciting tournaments and get three chances to win three great prizes!

    24/7 Support Staff
    At BingoFest, you can connect with staff 24 hours a day.

    No Download Games
    All of our games are played online which means absolutely no downloads are required.

    Progressive Bingo Jackpots

    BingoFest offers the largest progressive jackpots in online bingo. Watch the payouts grow!

    And that’s not all ... also enjoy these great features:
    • Pre-Purchase Capability
    • Convenient and Easy to Use Deposit Methods
    • Excellent funding bonuses
    • Interactive Chat Games

    www.bingofest.com

    ---------------------------------------------------------------------

    Our unique Bingo Loyalty Program is designed to offer our loyal customers a means to earn extra dollars or prizes as a reward for playing consistently at BingoFest. The reward is accumulated over time and online bingo players can redeem their points when they wish. The concept is similar to an Airline points program.

    The Loyalty program means that even if a customer has a poor string of luck, the deposited funds have a value over time and a customer can redeem accumulated points for a bonus. Our Loyalty Program is unique to the 'bingo world' and yet another innovation from BingoFest.

    Loyalty points are earned on deposits, the more you fund, the more points you accumulate. Each customer will automatically earn 15 points for every dollar deposited. Each customer will have the ability to log in to a secure page with their player ID and password to view their loyalty points. From there, members can redeem accrued points whenever they wish for cash bonuses by clicking on the 'Loyalty' button in the member's area.

    1. No transferring of prizes and or points amongst players;
    2. Deposits are based on funding via e-payment platforms only (i.e. Visa/MasterCard, eWalletExpress, iPoint, Instadebit, UseMyBank, NETeller, etc.) NOTE: redemption flowbacks are not admissible.
    3. BingoFest reserves the right to withhold players' points if a member is inactive on the site for more than 60 days. Under special circumstances manager@bingofest.com MUST be contacted.
    4. Players can redeem up to three prizes per month (applies to prizes and not cash)
    5. Players can only redeem up to $400 in comp money per month. Comp. will be applied to a player's account within 24 hours of the request.
    6. Allow up to 24 hours for your loyalty points to be credited to your account. The system will automatically calculate any points earned during that 24 hour period.
    7. BingoFest reserves the right to cancel all points or cancel a player's access to loyalty if the account is under investigation.
    8. BingoFest reserves the right to adjust conditions or abrogate this program entirely with sufficient notice to the players.
    9. Any chargeback or fraudulent activity will result in all the Loyalty points accrued to be void.
    10. Any player who is a member of BingoFest agrees to abide by these Rules and Regulations.

    www.bingofest.com

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------

    BingoFest is giving new customers an instant $20 free trial bonus upon registration.

    Try our bingo games for free before making an initial deposit.

    The following Terms and conditions apply:

    • Winnings derived from the $20 trial bonus cannot be cashed out.
    • An initial deposit is required to cash out winnings and gain access in to the pay bingo rooms.
    • Offer applies to new customers only. Unless otherwise stated, customers reopening their BingoFest Account cannot claim this bonus.
    • Only one offer can be claimed per customer.
    • The $20 Free bonus does not have a cash value and is non-transferable in to the pay bingo rooms.
    • The bonus can only be used in the "Classic Free Trial" bingo room (not in the pay bingo rooms, slots or video poker games).
    • Free winnings from the "Classic Free Trial" room are not transferable to the pay bingo rooms.
    • The chat feature is only available in the pay bingo rooms.
    • www.bingofest.com

    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    How can I be sure that the games are fair?
    You can be confident that all of BingoFestTM's games have been audited by a third party to guarantee complete fairness to all of our players. Our software utilizes a true random number generator for all numbers created whether for bingo cards or calls making our games as fair as any other game of chance. In addition, our fairness has been in place since 1996! BingoFestTM has maintained a proper reputation for fairness over the years.

    www.bingofest.com 

    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    If I win, how do I get paid?
    BingoFestTM processes payoutrequests every TUESDAY and FRIDAY. You can request a payout for any amount you wish that does not exceed your available balance. Since the amount of your winnings is entered into your account immediately following a confirmed bingo, you can make a payout request whenever you wish. Your requests will subsequently be confirmed, approved, and processed and then sent to you by whichever method you select as quickly as possible

    Any payouts that amount to more than $2,000 must be accompanied by a picture and quote from the player.

    www.bingofest.com 

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Is there a limit to how much I can play, deposit, or payout?
    Play as much or as little as you want for however long you want, BingoFestTM is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The minimum amount for deposits is $20.00 and new players will be limited to $500.00 maximum per day. A higher daily deposit maximum can be requested through our support team. Payouts can be requested at any time for any amount not exceeding the available account balance.

    All wins exceeding $5,000 must be accompanied by a picture, quotation and a valid photo identification. By accepting a 'cash-out' members agree that their pictures and quotes may be used for internal and external advertising purposes.

    www.bingofest.com 

    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Do I receive a Birthday Bonus at BingoFest?
    Happy birthday! All active players* will receive 2000 loyalty points + 5000 bingo points on their birthday. Please email support@bingofest.com and you will be credited your birthday gift within minutes.

    * The birthday present is only awarded to active funding players who have made a deposit within 30 days prior to their birthday. If you have not made a deposit within 30 days, you will receive your birthday present upon making your next deposit.

    www.bingofest.com 

    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Do I have the ability to view all of my account information such as transactions, wagers, deposits, and payouts?
    Absolutely, when logged into your account (Lobby) you will have full access to your account information that will allow you to fully view and track specifics to all the activity that occurs in your account in a convenient and user-friendly manner.

    www.bingofest.com 

    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Every Friday in "BingoGrand" you will enjoy an evening of guaranteed games. The room opens at 5pm ET with an hour of Free Games followed by 6 solid hours for the High Rollers. Always keep an eye out for future specials, and don't forget to Pre-order Roomies.

    www.bingofest.com 

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    What software technology does BingoFestTM use and what do I need to play?
    BingoFestTM's games are newly developed utilizing the latest Macromedia Flash technology. To play, all you need is an Internet connection of 56K or better and the minimum Microsoft Internet Explorer 5 or better. If you wish to upgrade to the latest version of Microsoft IE and/or to
    download Flash 9 go here.

    www.bingofest.com 

    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Is bingo the only game I can play?
    No way, BingoFestTM has a wide variety of popular games available to play including Video Poker and Slot Machines.

    www.bingofest.com 

    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    What are my options for depositing money into my account?
    For your convenience, BingoFestTM provides several different methods for you to choose from to fund your account including VISA/MasterCard payment options, Neteller and more.
    Simply find the one that best suits your needs. Go to our deposit page for more details.

    www.bingofest.com 

    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    How secure is BingoFestTM?
    BingoFestTM incorporates the latest 256-bit encryption technology designed to keep your personal and credit card information private and confidential. At no time will BingoFestTM make available any of the information you provide us to any third party without your expressed permission. BingoFestTM is also protected behind a secure firewall to ensure our games and your information is secure from hackers. Note that your credit card information is not stored in our database.

    www.bingofest.com 

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    How much does it cost to play at BingoFestTM?
    BingoFestTM's bingo cards can be purchased for as little as $0.10 to $1.00 each (or as otherwise offered). Players can purchase as little as 1 (one) card to participate in a game. Players can purchase up to 120 cards to participate in a game. In average the amount of cards offered is between 30 cards and 48 cards.

    www.bingofest.com 

    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    How much can I win at BingoFestTM?
    The sky's the limit. There is no set limitation to how much you can win. Jackpots vary depending on which room you are playing in and how many cards have been purchased by you and other players. We also have many promotions every week. Some jackpots are guaranteed at $10,000! So we make someone $10,000 richer all the time!

    www.bingofest.com 

    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Daily Draw - $50 cash
    When: Every night at 11:59 p.m. ET

    Weekly Draw - $250 cash
    When: Every Saturday at 11:59 p.m. ET

    Monthly Draw - $1,000 cash!
    When: Last day of every month at 11:59 p.m. ET



    Welcome to BingoFest!

    We told you it was coming and it's finally here! We bid a warm goodbye and thank you to Alphie for all the wonderful years and now receive with open arms BingoFest!

    Fresh New LookImagine walking into that old family house after some much needed renovation; The paint is fresh and bright, the floorboards are glowing from the polish, that old kitchen now holds such pristine elgance and functionality... you just can't wait to settle back in and enjoy the new setup.

    Now step into the livingroom...what a beautiful layout! Those new drapes provide the perfect backdrop for something oh so familiar. Wow, is that your beloved antique sofa re-covered with a stunning new fabric?

    That is what we have done for you folks. We have kept all the things you loved about Alpha and done away with all the things you didn't.

    explorerTake some time to explore the new and exciting BingoFest site! Use the familiar navigation to check out the fantastic new Game Schedule, Promos, Free Bonuses and Community events that await you.If you have any questions or comments, you can always turn to the same friendly and dedicated support staff that you have come to know and love.

    What are you waiting for? A whole new world of fun and exciting games awaits you right now! Click Here!

    www.bingofest.com

    March 19, 2008

    News around the World

    -------------------------------------------------

    PEOPLE with www.BingoFest.com

    Christian Bale, Amy Winehouse, Mark Whitaker

    July 29, 2008

     

    NBC has named Mark Whitaker as its next

    Washington

    bureau chief, succeeding the late Tim Russert . Whitaker, the former editor of Newsweek, has been a senior vice president of NBC News since 2007. The appointment has been widely expected because of Whitaker's extensive journalism credentials. He will fulfill the off-camera duties that had been handled by Russert, including overall management of the bureau and oversight of political coverage as well as the "Meet the Press" Sunday discussion program. He said he recognized that he had "big shoes to fill." In a telephone interview Whitaker said: "I'm honored to get the chance. We're in the middle of a historic election, the economy is going through its worst time in a generation and there are big changes on the world scene."

    Amy Winehouse was released Tuesday from a

    London

    hospital after she suffered a reaction to medication the day before, a hospital spokesman said. An ambulance had taken Winehouse from her north

    London

    home to

    University

    College

    Hospital

    , a spokesman said. It was the second time in as many months that Winehouse had been in the hospital. She was admitted to a

    London

    clinic in June after collapsing, and her father, Mitch Winehouse , said at the time that she had developed early stage emphysema from smoking cigarettes and crack cocaine. Winehouse got out in time to perform at the 90th birthday of the former president of

    South Africa

    , Nelson Mandela .

    (AP)

    Christian Bale skirted questions about the assault allegations against him at the

    Tokyo

    premiere of "The Dark Night." British media have reported that Bale's mother and sister told the police that he had assaulted them at the hotel a day before the film's European premiere. But the Batman star managed to make it through the hugely successful movie's premiere in

    Japan

    with virtually no comment on his personal problems. "It's a private matter," he told a crowded news conference. Bale, 34, has said through his lawyers that the assault allegations are false. The Welsh actor's personal drama hasn't hurt the movie. It crossed the $300 million mark in just 10 days in the

    United States

    and is expected to do well in Europe and

    Asia

    .

    (AP)

    Just months before he died, George Carlin was looking into the face of death - and making it the butt of his jokes. "You know what I've been doing? Going through my address book and crossing out the dead people. It gives you a feeling of power, of superiority, to have outlasted another old friend," Carlin says on what turned out to be his final comedy album. The recording, "It's Bad For Ya," was to be released Tuesday on Eardrum Records. Carlin died June 22 of a heart attack at 71. In an interview four months before his death, he said he was particularly pleased with the material he was working up for the album and an HBO show that aired last March. "Definitely some people who are close to me who have seen this show, and have seen a lot of the others, feel this is my best stuff yet," he said.

    (AP)

    "Glory Days" are here again for Bruce Springsteen , whose upcoming tour could make him the biggest touring artist of the year in

    North America

    . Springsteen and his E Street Band , who kick off the second leg of their North American tour in

    New Jersey

    on Sunday, will vie for the crown with the group Bon Jovi and the country singer Kenny Chesney , according to Pollstar magazine.

    (Reuters)

    The British singer Chris de Burgh will stage a concert in

    Tehran

    with an Iranian band in late November, the first such concert in the country in nearly 30 years, an Iranian satellite news channel reported on its Web site. De Burgh, who has a loyal following in

    Iran

    , visited for the first time in May, and said he hoped that the authorities would give him permission to perform.

    (Reuters)

    Mario Lopez has been chosen as the new solo host of "Extra." Lopez, 34, who's served as a correspondent for the syndicated entertainment newsmagazine and co-hosted its weekend edition since January 2007, will take over from the co-hosts Mark McGrath and Dayna Devon , the producers of "Extra" said.

    (AP)

     

    -------------------------------------------------

     

    PORSCHE SEES THE GREEN LIGHT

     

    Motoring with www.bingofest.com

     

    Sunday July 13,2008

     

     

    If you were making a list of what not to do in the middle of a fuel crisis, launching a sports car would surely be somewhere near the top.

    If you were being uncharitable, you might even compare it to Gerald Ratner’s classic joke about his lacklustre products.

    Don’t be too hasty – the new 911 might look like its predecessor but this is the first Porsche to emphasise its green credentials.

    Hiding beneath the retractable rear wing is a choice of two new engines.

    A technical tour de force, it promises lower fuel consumption and emissions and a few more horsepower, too.

    Available as a 3.6-litre in the standard Carrera and a 3.8 in the Carrera S, it’s joined by a new double-clutch, semi-automatic gearbox that aims to inject fresh life into Porsche’s image leader.

    Some manufacturers might have been tempted to announce these techno delights with a bold new look, but you’d have to be a serious Porsche anorak to notice the new LED rear lights, wing mirrors and front air intakes.

    Don’t expect a new look inside either.

    There’s a revised and marginally less confusing entertainment system and that’s about it.

    You still sit upright in an intimate cabin and view the world through a steeply raked windscreen.

    Compared with such rivals as Audi’s R8 it feels rather old school but this has always been part of the 911’s charm.

    The cockpit of the world’s most iconic sports car is still an emotive place to be.

     

     -------------------------------------------------

     

     

    News with www.bingofest.com in the United Kingdom

     

     

    NOW BURGLARS WILL NOT BE JAILED

     

     

    BRITAIN

    ’S soft justice system hit a new low yesterday with plans to scrap prison sentences for burglars.

    Hundreds of thousands of crooks could escape jail every year under the proposals by advisers to the Lord Chief Justice.



    Those sentenced to short, sharp shock jail terms of less than 12 months for “less serious offences” – including burglary – should be handed community penalties instead, they said.



    Even those who are likely to reoffend could walk free from court if it is believed they will go on to commit “non-serious offences”.



    And in a further blow, while courts must not be swayed by victims demanding harsher punishments for offenders, the advisers said that judges should listen if they call for leniency.



    Critics said the proposals would do nothing to calm the fears of law-abiding members of the public who have lost their faith in the criminal justice system, and would not deter those intent on crime.



    Shadow Justice Secretary Nick Herbert said burglary is “deeply upsetting for its victims and should not be dealt with lightly”. He added: “People rightly expect that offenders who invade their home will be dealt with severely, and they have little confidence in weak community sentences which too often aren’t even properly enforced.”

     

     

    Retired judge Keith Matthewman QC called the proposals “an absolute disgrace”. He said: “Criminals laugh at community sentences. The only thing they are frightened of is prison. Many years ago when I was defending people they would say, ‘Can you get me off with a community sentence?’.



    “It is entirely the wrong way to go and I hope judges take no notice of it. The law-abiding public has lost all faith in the criminal justice system and so have I.”



    More than 292,000 burglaries were reported to police last year. Burglars are locked up for an average of six months – but the Sentencing Advisory Panel said unpaid work or a curfew could be a better way of punishing them.



    The panel – which advises the Sentencing Guidelines Council, chaired by the Lord Chief Justice – said short custodial sentences are not as effective at rehabilitating offenders.



    But it stressed that, rather than suggesting longer jail terms, it was saying that “there may be better alternatives to short custodial sentences”.



    The panel’s review said: “A presumption in favour of a community order is most likely to be appropriate in relation to the less serious offences of theft and dishonesty, burglary and motoring offences, where there may be clear advantages in a sentence in the community.”



    It added: “The risk that an offender may commit further offences of a non-serious nature should not automatically indicate that custody is necessary.”



    And after saying victims’ views should only affect a judge if they are calling for leniency rather than harsher sentencing, it admitted the move would “create a certain level of inconsistency”.



    Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne said the advice looked like a way of avoiding further prison overcrowding. “Punishments should fit the crime and not the availability of prison places,” he said.



    Mr Matthewman added: “Panels like this think more about the criminals than the victims – and yet it is the victims who spend the rest of their lives suffering.”



    The panel also suggested  cases where criminals could get lesser sentences. They include pregnant women and carers.



    It also said those in gainful employment should get community orders so they can keep their jobs – but then said this would “work against those disadvantaged by being unemployed”.



    SAP chairman Andrew Ashworth said: “In what circumstances should an offender be given a custodial sentence? We need to make sure we have an up-to-date understanding of public opinion.”

     

    ------------------------------------------------

    Fashion king Yves Saint Laurent dies

    By Crispian Balmer, PARIS (Reuters)  2/06/2008  04:06

    French fashion king Yves Saint Laurent has died at the age of 71, hailed as a 20th century cultural icon who revolutionised the way women dressed.

    The reclusive

    Saint Laurent

    's couture creations won global fine art status and he was widely considered to be one of an elite club of designers including Christian Dior and Coco Chanel who made

    Paris

    the fashion capital of the world.

    From Princess Grace of

    Monaco

    to the actress Catherine Deneuve,

    Saint Laurent

    's creations adorned many famous women but he was also the first designer to make luxury labels accessible to a wider audience through innovative read-to-wear collections.

    He exploded on to the world stage at just 21 and built up a clothes, perfumes and accessories empire that resulted in a 1989 stock market flotation -- the first by a fashion house.

    Advertisement

    Click here to find out more!mputwo Advertisement

    But

    Saint Laurent

    , whose death on Sunday was announced without any details of the cause, was plagued by health problems -- he suffered from severe depression and underwent treatment for alcohol abuse.

    French President Nicolas Sarkozy praised

    Saint Laurent

    as a creative genius. "He was convinced that beauty was a luxury that every man and woman needed," Sarkozy said in a statement.

    "(

    Coco

    ) Chanel gave women freedom. Yves Saint Laurent gave them power,"

    Saint Laurent

    's long-time friend and business partner Pierre Berge told France Info radio.

    "(But) he was someone who was very shy and introverted, who had only very few friends and hid himself from the world."

    Saint Laurent

    , who retired in 2002, was widely credited with changing forever what women wore, making the trouser suit a daytime staple and the tuxedo an elegant option.

    He also popularised safari jackets and thigh-high boots, and his transparent blouses made near-nudity acceptable in high society. His square-shouldered suits became classics and he simplified evening-wear, moving from shocking satins to flowing white crepe of Hellenic purity.

    "He completely revamped a woman's wardrobe," luxury underwear designer Chantal Thomass told French radio. "His fashion was full of colour and inspired by art."

    EARLY TALENT

    The eldest child of a wealthy French industrialist,

    Saint Laurent

    was born and grew up in the then French colony of

    Algeria

    and showed a talent for design, making clothes for his younger sisters' dolls.

    At 17 he entered a

    Paris

    fashion school, and his sketch for a cocktail dress won first prize in an annual contest.

    Introduced to Christian Dior, the gangly

    Saint Laurent

    was hired on the spot by the creator of the "New Look" and became his chief assistant. On Dior's death in 1957,

    Saint Laurent

    became chief designer and swiftly outshone his mentor.

    After his first collection introduced the widely copied "trapeze" silhouette with narrow shoulders and flared skirt, the shy 21-year-old was pushed out on to the Dior building balcony and crowds in the avenue below hailed him like royalty.

    Saint Laurent

    directed Dior for three years, until drafted for military service during the Algerian war.

    For a sensitive person whose homosexuality had made his school years a torture, army life was an ordeal. He had a nervous breakdown and spent nearly three months in hospital.

    Berge got a businessman to provide backing for the young designer to establish his own fashion house, and

    Saint Laurent

    presented his first collection under his own name in 1962.

    The "YSL" empire grew steadily and

    Saint Laurent

    showed an instinctive ability to sense what the mood on the streets was and turn it into high fashion.

    But by the late 1980s his health problems were an issue.

    Insiders said

    Saint Laurent

    , who never read newspapers or listened to the radio, became increasingly cut off from reality and lost touch with all but a tiny group of friends.

    "Fame has destroyed him," Berge once said.

    "All designers have a bit of the megalomaniac in them -- the only difference is that the fake designers, the bad ones, are happy megalomaniacs while the real ones are unhappy megalomaniacs.

    Saint Laurent

    is an unhappy megalomaniac."

    Despite the personal demons, his business empire thrived. The 1989 flotation was a runaway success.

    But when the Gulf War erupted and the world economy slumped in the early 1990s, Berge and

    Saint Laurent

    sank into debt.

    In 1992, YSL was absorbed by cosmetics and drugs company Sanofi, with

    Saint Laurent

    retaining creative control. Then in 1999 it was bought by the Gucci group, itself controlled by French luxury giant PPR.

    Saint Laurent

    , rarely seen in public after his retirement, was awarded one of

    France

    's top honours in 2007.

    News with www.bingofest.com

     

    -------------------------------------------------

    Remembering Charlton Heston, the nicest man 'that ever lived in movies'

     

    Published: April 11, 2008

     

    'What does it matter what you say about people?" Marlene Dietrich asks at the end of that 1958 American masterpiece "Touch of Evil." She's talking about the dead cop Hank Quinlan, a mound of stilled flesh and lasting corruption given frightening life by the film's director, Orson Welles. The man who brings him down is Vargas, the upright Dudley Do-Right Mexican detective with a paint-on tan. Lantern jaw set like a vise, this is of course Charlton Heston.

    Dietrich's character probably had it right that it doesn't really matter what we say about people, but in the wake of Heston's death on Saturday, I would like to offer a few words about one of the last American movie stars. This seems particularly worthwhile because in the final decades of his life he had all but disappeared from the screen, making one of his only on-camera appearances in "Bowling for Columbine," Michael Moore's 2002 anti-gun feature.

    Moore

    shows up at Heston's home and tries to shame this stooped and visibly frail old man for his stance on guns. The old man doesn't engage

    Moore

    , just walks away, unfailingly polite to the end.

    Welles called Heston "the nicest man to work with that ever lived in movies." These two seemingly unlikely collaborators were brought together to star in a pulpy Universal Pictures project originally titled "Badge of Evil." Heston thought that his co-star had been hired as the director ("any picture that Welles directs, I'll make"), which prompted the studio quickly to sign Welles up for what would be his last

    Hollywood

    studio gig. Welles rewrote the screenplay and shot much of the film in the

    Venice

    Beach

    area of

    Los   Angeles

    . History, alas, repeated itself, and he lost control of the film as he had on "The Magnificent Ambersons," which is a different story from the one I want to tell. (A beautifully re-edited version was released in 1998 and is available on DVD.)

    It was Welles who decided that Heston should play the role as a Mexican, partly as a way of building up what he considered to be an uninteresting character. (At first glance it may seem as if Welles failed.) Shortly after the film opens, Vargas and his delectable new American bride, Susan (Janet Leigh), kiss at the Mexican-American border, a passionate embrace that leads to a cataclysmic explosion and soon plunges the newlyweds into a phantasmagoria of sleaze, violence and very low camera angles. Vargas, a celebrity cop who has brought a case against a drug ring that's about to go to trial in

    Mexico City

    , spends much of the story separated from Susan and circling Quinlan, a dirty American lawman.

    In long shot and choking close-up, Welles directs Heston brilliantly, making particularly memorable use of the actor's physicality, his big, rangy body and the hard, clean right angles of his face.

    The ramrod straight, straight as an arrow Vargas, with his impossibly long and loping stride, could not look or register more different from Quinlan, an amorphous blob who all but rolls across the screen. Welles exploits Heston's rigidity as a performer (and his American movie-star presence) for the character, using what in other films sometimes seemed like a limitation of craft and technique to the great advantage of the story's texture and meaning. He turns Heston's jutting jaw into the wagging finger of righteousness, deepening the film's complex morality.

    Heston starred in other notable films, of course, including Sam Peckinpah's vicious 1965 western, "Major Dundee," another story about border crossing and yet another ill-fated production taken away from its director. Heston plays the title character, a fanatical cavalry officer who, along with a motley posse, chases marauding Apaches into

    Mexico

    .

    Heston has his moments as

    Dundee

    - there's something about his intensity that lends itself to obsessive characterizations - but he remains elusive, never becoming the Ahab that Peckinpah was after. As he had with Welles, Heston showed great loyalty to his troubled director and threatened to walk if the studio fired Peckinpah, who was drinking heavily throughout the production. Heston forfeited his salary in the bargain.

    As much as I admire "Major Dundee," my fondness for Heston can be traced back to the films I saw growing up, most important his great dystopian trilogy: "Planet of the Apes" (1968), "The Omega Man" (1971) and "Soylent Green" (1973).

    This was the Charlton Heston I first met and loved and the one I still love, the last man on Earth, the raging consciousness, the horrified hero. Few films thrilled me - or scared me - as much as "Soylent Green," in which his character realizes that the stuff keeping the human race alive is made from other human beings: "Soylent Green is people!" By then, he had played Moses and saved an entire people from destruction.

    Things didn't look good in "Soylent Green," but somehow, I thought, surely Charlton Heston could save us.

    More news with www.bingofest.com

    -------------------------------------------------

    People: Mathieu Amalric, Beyoncé, Snoop Dogg

     

    The Associated Press, The New York Times

    Published: April 7, 2008

     

    It appears that Jay-Z, 38, and Beyoncé, 26, have finally wed. There was a swirl of activity at the rap star's

    Manhattan

    apartment over the weekend. A white tent was set up on the roof, and stars including Beyoncé's former Destiny's Child bandmates, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams, along with Gwyneth Paltrow, were spotted arriving. The Web sites of People magazine and Us Weekly reported that the couple married and threw a lavish but small party at the apartment. The two have collaborated on the songs "03 Bonnie and

    Clyde

    " and "Crazy In Love." It's been a big season for Jay-Z. The concert promoter Live Nation said it was in talks with the singer over a business deal that would land him a potential windfall of more than $100 million.

    Nicolas Cage has accepted a public apology from Kathleen Turner over claims made in her autobiography that he was arrested twice for drunken driving while they were making the 1986 film "Peggy Sue Got Married." In the book, "Send Yourself Roses: My Life, Love and Leading Roles," Turner also wrote that Cage was arrested for stealing a

    Chihuahua

    . The actress and the British publisher Headline and Associated Newspapers, which provided extracts of the book to The Daily Mail, have also made a substantial donation to charity. Cage's attorney in

    Britain

    said that the Oscar-winning actor was "extremely pleased" with the outcome of the case "since he has never been arrested for drink driving, dog theft or anything else."

    A woman who claims that Michael Jordan fathered her child wants the former NBA star to submit to a third paternity test. Lisa Miceli also is asking a judge to lift a temporary restraining order imposed after

    Jordan

    filed a harassment suit against her. Miceli, 35, of

    Meadville

    ,

    Pennsylvania

    , claims

    Jordan

    fathered her 4-year-old son, but

    Jordan

    's lawsuit says a pair of paternity tests in 2005 rule him out as the boy's father.

    A company in a court fight with the Beatles has agreed not to release recordings supposedly made during an early Ringo Starr performance with the group until the case is resolved. A federal judge has approved the agreement between Apple Corps, the group formed by the Beatles that helps guard their legacy, and Fuego Entertainment, based in

    Florida

    . The dispute stems from recordings the four apparently made in 1962 during a performance in

    Hamburg

    . Eight unreleased tracks are said to be among the recordings, including Paul McCartney singing Hank Williams's "Lovesick Blues" and McCartney and John Lennon singing "Ask Me Why." Apple Corps claims that the songs were taped without the band's consent and that Fuego and its sister companies have no right to distribute them.

    The British Border Agency plans to challenge a court ruling that would admit the hip-hop star Snoop Dogg into the country, The Associated Press reported. He was barred from

    Britain

    after his arrest with five others in 2006 at

    Heathrow

    Airport

    near

    London

    on charges of violent disorder in an incident that injured seven officers. But Snoop Dogg, whose real name is Calvin Broadus, appealed, and in January an asylum and immigration tribunal granted him clearance to enter.

    After getting the bad end of his own ax in a fight, a bloodied villain limps alone in a stark desert. Mathieu Amalric stumbles to the red, rocky ground. "Cut!" rings loudly from the set of the 22nd James Bond film. Picking up an hour after "Casino Royale" left off, "Quantum of Solace" is the spy franchise's first direct sequel. Filming began in January and has taken the crew from

    Britain

    to northern

    Chile

    . It's a place that the director, Marc Forster, said evokes Bond's "isolation and loneliness." Indeed, the big news on the set is that one of the two Bond girls, Olga Kurylenko, doesn't get in even a single kiss with the star Daniel Craig. The question is: Do audiences want an emotional Bond? Craig says not to worry too much. "What Marc wanted and the producers and what I wanted is to bring back a visual flair to the movie." Still, Forster, 39, was hired on by the producers, Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, because of his emotionally intense films like "Monster's Ball" and "The Kite Runner."

    more news with www.bingofest.com

    -------------------------------------------------

    'Run, Fat Boy, Run': A goofy, but inspirational fantasy

     

    The beleaguered man-boy Dennis Doyle (Simon Pegg) is always running, running, running, an activity befitting the hero of the British comedy titled "Run, Fat Boy, Run." In the film's prologue he runs away from his pregnant fiancée, Libby (Thandie Newton, charming in a largely reactive role), minutes before their scheduled wedding.

    When we catch up with him years later, he's a chubby security guard sprinting after a shoplifter. Soon after, Dennis decides to enter the same marathon as Libby's rich American boyfriend, Whit, to show Libby and his now elementary school-age son, Jake, that he can make plans and see them through. "You can't even finish a sentence," Libby says.

    "Fat Boy" will never be mistaken for art. It's "Rocky" by way of "There's Something About Mary," an inspirational fantasy with guy's-guy banter and gross-out humor (including a blister-popping scene that seems to be this film's answer to the hair gel bit in "Mary"). Yet it's effective and affecting; much of its impact comes from its images of Dennis running and its conviction that there's a difference between running toward something and running away. (The film, which had a limited release last year, is being released worldwide this spring.)

    Pegg - the star and co-writer of "Shaun of the Dead," "Hot Fuzz" and "Fat Boy," which is derived from a script by Michael Ian Black that was originally set in America - never shies away from Dennis's pathetic essence. Even when training for a marathon he can't seem to stop smoking and eating junk food. But Pegg also gives us enough of a sense of Dennis's capacity for self-transformation that his mission seems both plausible and inspiring.

    Pegg is abetted by a strong supporting cast that includes Hank Azaria as the laid-back yet ferociously competitive Whit; Matthew Fenton as the sweet but never-cloying Jake; and Dylan Moran as Dennis's best friend, Gordon, a degenerate gambler.

    The film's mix of droll banter, lowbrow slapstick and melancholy song montages suggests that its director, the former "Friends" star David Schwimmer, has seen "The Graduate" more than once. The movie is formulaic, and there are times when Schwimmer and his writers overdo things, particularly in the finale, which finds Whit, previously a human-scaled jerk, indulging in cartoon villainy.

    But its assembly line aspects are countered by touches that translate drama into metaphor, like the scene in which Dennis and Whit walk with Jake, each would-be daddy tugging at one of the boy's hands, wishbone style, and an earlier scene in which Whit warns Dennis that every marathoner hits a wall - an admonition that pays off in the marathon sequence when Dennis encounters a chillingly effective visualization of that wall.

    "Run, Fat Boy, Run" is the kind of movie that's apt to be dismissed a goofy lark. It is that. But it's also a rare comedy that believes in its own message, and that could inspire the depressed and the demoralized to grit their teeth and keep running.

    21 Directed by Robert Luketic (

    U.S.

    )

    Greed is good and comes without a hint of conscience in "21," a feature-length bore about some smarty-pants who take Vegas for a ride.

    Loosely based on the nonfiction book "Bringing Down the House" by Ben Mezrich, and adapted for the screen by Peter Steinfeld and Allan Loeb, this bankrupt enterprise asks you to care about a whiny MIT moppet, Ben Campbell (Jim Sturgess, serviceable), who because he can't afford Harvard Medical School (boo hoo), starts counting cards to rake in some serious cash.

    The conduit to Ben's journey of counterfeit self-discovery is a racially, ethnically, sexually balanced gang of other greedy bright things (the most appealing being Aaron Yoo, wasted as the kooky, sexless Asian guy), run by an equally avaricious math professor, Micky Rosa (Kevin Spacey on autopilot). Using a system of mnemonic devices, goofy hand signals and a talent for numbers, the team has devised a way to beat the bank. Because Ben doesn't want to use his poor widowed mother's savings to go to Harvard, he decides to ditch his qualms if not his sense (because he really has none) and signs on.

    And so it's off to Vegas they go, where they count the cards, take the money and run. Amid the din and glare of various casinos, the director Robert Luketic, whose credits include "Legally Blonde," engages in other dodgy business: He cribs from Wong Kar Wai's "Chungking Express" period (Ben sits motionless as the world races by); borrows from the David Fincher of "Fight Club" (camera tricks for kicks); lifts from Martin Scorsese's "Casino" (throw the money in the air like you just don't care); and pays homage to universal whoredom by restaging the "Pretty Woman" shopping montage. He also tosses in some gleaming rides, a couple of PG-13 pole dancers and a Rolling Stones remix that both Dad and the kids can enjoy. (The film is being released worldwide this spring.)

     

    news with www.bingofest.com

    --------------------------------------------------

     

    Speak out on Tibet

     

    China

    has cracked down on

    Tibet

    and neighboring provinces. It sent more troops into restive regions and made scores of arrests in

    Lhasa

    . It acknowledged firing on demonstrators in

    Sichuan

    . Yet, the response of the international community - and of the International Olympic Committee - has been tepid.

    Beijing

    must be called to account, especially since it will be the host to the 2008 Games.

    China

    has blocked most news coverage despite a pledge to give freer access to journalists in the run-up to the Olympics. Tibetan exile groups say as many as 100 people died in violence that followed a week of peaceful protests.

    Beijing

    puts the toll at about 20.

    The U.S. State Department says

    Tibet

    - taken by force by

    China

    in 1951 - is "one of

    China

    's poorest regions." Authorities have increased controls over the practice of Buddhism and committed serious human rights abuses.

    The Dalai Lama,

    Tibet

    's exiled spiritual leader, has shown remarkable restraint against what he calls "cultural genocide." Despite the bloodshed, he reaffirmed a commitment to nonviolence and greater autonomy - rather than independence - for

    Tibet

    . In return,

    Beijing

    called him a "devil."

    But

    China

    's authoritarianism is backfiring, fueling resentment that exploded in

    Lhasa

    and radicalizing Tibetans, who increasingly demand independence.

    The

    United   States

    and other major countries must go beyond anemic statements urging Chinese restraint. They must make it clear that such repression violates the promise

    Beijing

    made to improve its human rights record when it won the Olympics bid. It mocks the Olympic Charter, which extols "human dignity." It mocks the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which recognizes "equal and inalienable rights of all."

    The West should keep pressing

    Beijing

    to begin serious talks with the Dalai Lama and instruct the UN Human Rights Council to begin a probe in

    Tibet

    . The White House says President George W. Bush is trying to influence

    Beijing

    . So far, we see no positive results.

    Inexcusably, the International Olympic Committee has done little to defend its values and has stuck with plans to have the Olympic torch pass through

    Lhasa

    .

    Boycotting the Games doesn't work; we know that from experience. But the idea of Bernard Kouchner,

    France

    's foreign minister, about not attending the opening ceremony is worth considering. What message does it send if dignitaries lend their prestige to

    China

    's coming out party as if nothing happened in

    Tibet

    ?

    News with www.bingofest.com

     

    -------------------------------------------------


     

    Rice apologizes to Obama for passport breach

     

    The Associated Press, The New York Times

    Published: March 21, 2008

     

     

    WASHINGTON: Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice apologized Friday to Senator Barack Obama for an incident in which three State Department contract workers unnecessarily reviewed the Democratic presidential candidate's passport file.

    "I told him that I was sorry, and I told him that I myself would be very disturbed," Rice said. "None of us wants to have a circumstance where any American's passport files are looked at in an unauthorized way," she added.

    The episode raised questions as to whether the scrutiny was politically motivated. Two of the workers were fired and a third was reprimanded for improperly opening electronic information from the passport file of Obama, State Department officials said.

    Rice, who spoke with Obama by telephone, said she was particularly disappointed that senior officials at the State Department had not been immediately notified.

    The State Department's inspector general is investigating the breach. On Friday, the State Department announced that the Justice Department would be monitoring the inquiry.

    A spokesman for the Obama campaign, Bill Burton, said, "This is an outrageous breach of security and privacy, even from an administration that has shown little regard for either over the last eight years."

    A State Department spokesman, Sean McCormack, said Friday that all of the results of the investigation would be made available to congressional oversight committees and to Obama's office. The department said it would not release the names of those who had been fired and disciplined or the names of the two companies for which they worked.

    McCormack said the breaches occurred on Jan. 9, Feb. 21 and March 14 and had been detected by internal computer checks.

     

    News with www.bingofest.com

     

    --------------------------------------------------

    Whitney museum to receive $131 million gift

     

    Leonard Lauder, the cosmetics executive and chairman of the Whitney Museum of American Art, said on Tuesday that his art foundation would give the museum $131 million, the biggest donation in the Whitney's 77-year history.

    The bulk of the money — $125 million — will go toward the Whitney's endowment, boosting it to $195 million from $70 million, Lauder said in a telephone interview.

    The Whitney called the gift one of the largest donations ever to a

    New York

    museum's endowment. Lauder said that the money required the museum not to sell its Marcel Breuer building on Madison Avenue at
    75th Street
    for an extended period, although he declined to specify how long.

    The Whitney announced last year that it planned to open a satellite museum downtown in the meatpacking district of Manhattan, which stirred speculation that it might sell its Breuer building.

    But Lauder said he was determined that the Whitney keep its hulking 1966 building. "Like so many architecture lovers, I believe the Whitney and the Breuer building are one," he said.

    Given the precarious state of the economy, Lauder, who turns 75 on Wednesday, emphasized that he could be depended on for the donation, which he said he had long planned.

    "Being old enough to have lived through several recessions, when I made the decision years ago, I asked my financial advisers to move the money into T-bills," he said. "So it is sitting there and is very secure."

    Lauder is chairman of the Estée Lauder Companies and, according to Forbes magazine, had a net worth of $3.2 billion in 2007.

    The gift includes $6 million to cover expenses until the donation is complete, which is expected to be by June 30, 2009. The money is a major infusion for the Whitney, which has been historically under-endowed. Its new endowment total of $195 million will still pale in comparison with those of institutions like the

    Museum

    of

    Modern Art

    , with an $850 million endowment. (Ronald Lauder, Leonard Lauder's brother, is a trustee and former board chairman at MoMA.)

    Adam Weinberg, the Whitney's director, said the gift would help the Whitney sustain its "risk-taking" tradition. "It will now be the first time our endowment will be large enough so that the Whitney can maintain its commitment to living artists and to adventurous programming," he said.

    Although Lauder's donation is likely to quiet rumors that the Whitney might decamp from the Breuer building, the museum's plans remain an open question. Since the Whitney set its sights on the meatpacking district, the city's arts world has fretted that the institution might not be able to afford two locations.

    The gift was timed to encourage other Whitney trustees to donate generously to the downtown project. "It has already generated tremendous support on the part of the trustees," Weinberg said.

    Although he declined to say how much money had been raised for the new building or how much the Whitney still needed, he said that the initial, or so-called silent, phase of the capital campaign was "going forward."

    In November the Whitney announced that it had reached a conditional agreement with the city's Economic Development Corporation to buy a city-owned site at

    Washington

    and West Streets, the same place where the Dia Art Foundation had planned to build a museum. (In October 2006 Dia said it had scrapped that idea and would seek a different site in the city.) The Whitney satellite is to be designed by the Italian architect Renzo Piano.

    Piano was also the architect for a proposed nine-story addition to the Breuer building that was abandoned in 2006.

    The Piano scheme was the third time in more than a decade that the museum had commissioned a celebrity architect to design a major expansion, only to pull out.

    To realize its new project in the meatpacking district, the museum needs to go through the zoning process, conclude the land purchase and determine the cost of designing and building the satellite and operating museums both uptown and downtown, Weinberg said.

    "We are studying the idea of a comprehensive Whitney, trying to see how the two programs would work," he said.

    In the world of museum fund-raising, endowment money is always the most difficult to solicit. Unlike donations for building projects, an endowment gift does not give a donor the opportunity to finance a namesake building, a promise extended to the Wall Street financier Stephen Schwarzman last week when he gave the

    New York

    Public Library $100 million to jump-start its $1 billion expansion. In return, the library's main branch on
    Fifth Avenue
    at
    42nd Street
    is being renamed the

    Stephen

    Schwarzman

    Building

    .

     

    Lauder's gift surpasses that of Schwarzman as well as a $100 million endowment gift pledged to MoMA by David Rockefeller, a chairman emeritus of the Modern, in 2005. But unlike Lauder's gift, Rockefeller's donation will not be completed until after his death. In the meantime Rockefeller is giving $5 million a year, as if the money were already invested in the endowment.

    Lauder's gift is not the first major donation he has made to the Whitney. Since becoming its chairman in 1994, he has led the campaign for the new fifth-floor galleries in the Breuer building, which are devoted entirely to the permanent collection.

    Six years ago he led a three-year initiative to acquire about $200 million worth of art by masters like Jasper Johns, Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol, Ellsworth Kelly, Barnett Newman and Jackson Pollock.

    Lauder's American Contemporary Art Foundation was responsible for the largest single group of art in that gift, including major works by Mark Rothko, Franz Kline, Warhol and Pollock.

    News with www.bingofest.com 

    --------------------------------------------------

    March 10, 2008

    Interesting things

    -----------------------------------------------------

     

     

    Health with www.bingofest.com

     

    In sleep, we are birds of a feather

     

    By Henry Fountain (HT)

    Published: July 1, 2008

    Did you sleep like a baby last night? You might think so, but actually you slept like a bird.

    Or rather, a bird slept like you. One bird, in particular — the zebra finch, which researchers say has a sleep structure very much like that of people and other mammals.

    Philip Steven Low of the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in

    San Diego

    ,

    California

    , and colleagues report in The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences that electroencephalograms of the songbirds show they have episodes of rapid-eye-movement sleep and slow-wave sleep as well as transition stages and quick spikes, all reminiscent of mammalian sleep patterns.

    It's the first time that this complete group of sleep characteristics has been found outside of mammals — a surprising finding, Low said, because birds lack a neocortex, the part of the mammalian brain thought necessary for such patterns.

    Indeed, although scientists have wanted to study sleep in songbirds because of evidence that sleep played a role in song learning, the lack of a neocortex has hampered efforts to do so; it has been difficult to pick up the proper electrical signals from bird brains. Low experimented with moving the EEG electrodes around the brain until he found a suitable spot. "The key to this is not unlike

    California

    real estate," he said. "Location, location, location."

    He also devised an algorithm to analyze the signals. "It's pointless to look at this data second by second," Low said. "I had to come up with a mathematical way to understand the brain activity."

    The algorithm produces multidimensional grids that reveal the structure, he said. One goal is to use similar algorithms to be able to detect structural changes in the sleep of people with neurological disorders — "to use sleep as a microscope for brain activity," Low said.

    As for the zebra finch results, he said, they show that a cortex isn't required to have such structured sleep, and they also raise evolutionary issues. "The question now becomes whether evolution has gone through the trouble of selecting for these particular patterns more than once," he said.

     

    ----------------------------------------------------

     

     

    History of Cleveland, Ohio

    With  www.bingofest.com

    Cleveland obtained its name on July 22, 1796 when surveyors of the Connecticut Land Company laid out Connecticut's Western Reserve into townships and a capital city they named "Cleaveland" after their leader, General Moses Cleaveland. Cleaveland oversaw the plan for the modern downtown area, centered on the Public Square, before returning home, never again to visit

    Ohio

    . The first settler in Cleaveland was Lorenzo Carter, who built a cabin on the banks of the

    Cuyahoga

    River

    . The

    Village

    of

    Cleaveland

    was incorporated on December 23, 1814. The spelling of the city's name was later changed to "

    Cleveland

    " when, in 1831, an "a" was dropped so the name could fit a newspaper's masthead.

    In spite of the nearby swampy lowlands and harsh winters, its waterfront location proved providential. The area began rapid growth after the 1832 completion of the Ohio and Erie Canal. This key link between the Ohio River and the Great Lakes connected the city to the Atlantic Ocean via the St. Lawrence Seaway and the Gulf of Mexico via the Mississippi River. Growth continued with added railroad links.

    Cleveland

    incorporated as a city in 1836.

    In 1836, the city, then located only on the eastern banks of the Cuyahoga River, nearly erupted into open warfare with neighboring Ohio City over a bridge connecting the two.

    Ohio

    City

    remained an independent municipality until it was annexed by

    Cleveland

    in 1854. The site flourished as a halfway point for iron ore from Minnesota shipped across the

    Great Lakes

    and other raw materials (coal) carried by rail from the south. Cleveland emerged as a major American manufacturing center, home to numerous major steel producers, as well as a number of carmakers, including gasoline cars Peerless, People's, Jordan, Winton (first car driven across the U.S.), steam car builders White and Gaeth, and electric car company Baker. By 1920, Standard Oil founder John D. Rockefeller had made his fortune and

    Cleveland

    had become the fifth largest city in the country. The city was a center for the national progressive movement, headed locally by Mayor Tom L. Johnson. Many Clevelanders of this era are buried in the historic Lake View Cemetery, along with James A. Garfield, the twentieth U.S. President.

    The Cuyahoga River winds through the Flats in a December 1937 aerial view of downtown Cleveland.

    In commemoration of the centennial of

    Cleveland

    's incorporation as a city, the Great Lakes Exposition debuted in June 1936 along the Lake Erie shore north of downtown. Conceived as a way to energize a city hit hard by the Great Depression, it drew 4 million visitors in its first season, and 7 million by the end of its second and final season in September 1937. The exposition was housed on grounds that are now used by the Great Lakes Science Center, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Burke Lakefront Airport, among others.

    Immediately after World War II, the city experienced a brief boom. In sports, the Indians won the 1948 World Series and the Browns dominated professional football in the 1950s. Businesses proclaimed that

    Cleveland

    was the "best location in the nation". The city's population reached its peak of 914,808, and in 1949

    Cleveland

    was named an All-America City for the first time. By the 1960s, however, heavy industries began to slump, and residents sought new housing in the suburbs, reflecting the national trends of white flight and urban sprawl. Like other major American cities, Cleveland also began witnessing racial unrest, culminating in the Hough Riots from July 18, 1966July 23, 1966 and the Glenville Shootout on July 23, 1968July 25, 1968. The city's nadir is often considered to be its default on its loans on December 15, 1978, when under Mayor Dennis Kucinich it became the first major American city to enter default since the Great Depression. National media began referring to Cleveland as "the mistake on the lake" around this time, in reference to the city's financial difficulties, a notorious 1969 fire on the Cuyahoga River (where industrial waste on the river's surface caught on fire), and its struggling professional sports teams. The city has worked to shed this nickname ever since, though in recent times the national media have been much kinder to the city, using it as an exemplar for public-private partnerships, downtown revitalization, and urban renaissance.

     

    The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on

    Cleveland

    's North Coast Harbor

    The metropolitan area began recovery thereafter under Mayors George Voinovich and Michael R. White. Redevelopment within the city limits has been strongest in the downtown area near the Gateway complex—consisting of Progressive Field and Quicken Loans Arena, and near North Coast Harbor—including the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Cleveland Browns Stadium, and the Great Lakes Science Center. Although

    Cleveland

    was hailed by the media as the "

    Comeback

    City

    ," many of the inner-city residential neighborhoods remain troubled, and the public school system continues to experience serious problems. Economic development, retention of young professionals, and capitalizing upon its waterfront are current municipal priorities. In 1999,

    Cleveland

    was identified as an emerging global city.

     

    ----------------------------------------------------

     

    Bali

     

    Bali

    , a magical island known for its spiritual and cultural wealth, natural splendor and hospitable folk, lends a true meaning to paradise. Here, traditional performances enthrall, radiant beaches beckon, watersports abound and the festivities never end.

     

    Bali

    holds true to its reputation as a paradise on earth, affording a wondrous tropical retreat resplendent with natural attractions, theme parks, nightspots, shopping opportunities, inland adventure and water sports. The fascinating indigenous culture and warm, gracious folk make a holiday here all the more interesting and pleasant. As unique as every individual is, the island promises a little something for everyone.

    Island Highlights

    Most shoppers consider the Kuta-Legian area the ultimate hunting ground for summer apparel, ethnic arts and crafts, jewelry and bric-a-brac. The main thoroughfares of

    Jalan

    Kartika

    Plaza

    and Jalan Legian teem with street-side stores and art markets, where prices generally inflate to profit from affluent tourists. To escape haggling, make a beeline for Western-style complexes, such as Plaza Bali, The Legian Arcade and Kuta Center, or department stores Matahari and Ramayana. Farther north, Jalan Raya Seminyak provides even more shopping pleasure, with places like Bintang Toserba, a one-stop convenience mall. Other modern arcades include Diponegoro Shopping Center, Bali Mall in Denpasar and Galeria Nusa Dua, the largest in Nusa Dua.

    Several theme parks also highlight many a trip to

    Bali

    . Educational excursions to Bali Bird Park, Rimba Reptile Park and the Bali Butterfly Park prove particularly popular with families, as do the Bali Botanical Gardens, which make for a picture-perfect picnic. Kids particularly adore a day of splashing fun at Waterbom Park & Spa—a compound of slides, pools and other sport facilities.

    Ubud Tourist Information and other tourist centers distribute useful travel information and organize excursions. Most tours cover some of

    Bali

    ’s major temples, such as Pura Besakih, Pura Ulun Danu Bratan and Pura Luhur Uluwatu. It pays to employ guides when visiting places of worship, as even tourists must dress appropriately and adhere to certain etiquette.

    Some companies customize sightseeing trips to your preference. Dhyana Putri Adventures makes an ideal option for culture enthusiasts. Contact Akasia Tours and Money Exchange for your transportation needs, including cars and bicycles for free-and-easy exploration, or Mulia Tour for day trips around the island and beyond.

    Marine Adventures

    Bali

    ’s high mountains create superb conditions for kayaking, river-rafting and other white-water adventures. Generally rated class II and III, the rapids speed past

    Bali

    ’s tropical rain forests, eye-popping waterfalls and beautifully terraced rice paddies. Sobek and Bali Adventure Tours take eager rafters and kayakers on day trips down the

    Ayung

    River

    , while Bali Safari Rafting creates similar splash action down Telaga Waja.

    Out on the open sea, one can indulge in every imaginable water sport. The Indian Ocean lends

    Bali

    and the surrounding islands some of the world’s best surf breaks, especially from April to September when the swells are bigger. Learn to surf with Bali Surf Experience or let the masters direct you to the spots that suit your skill level. Uluwatu provides good waves all year round, while those off Sanur Beach yield some outstanding barrels, particularly over Sanur Reef. Most local surfers, however, prefer to take their marks near Kuta Beach and Legian Beach. During the wet season (October to March), the eastern coast at Nusa Dua affords some of the most powerful reef breaks.

    Captain Zodiac Raft Expeditions organizes electrifying ocean rides on 12-person inflatable rafts, with snorkeling thrown in. Bali Hai Cruises runs similar ocean rafting on larger vessels, in addition to diving, snorkeling, banana boat rides and coral-watching from a mini-submarine. Waterworld also specializes in numerous marine activities.

    The copious marine life and coral reefs make

    Bali

    a natural haven for marine exploration, particularly during the dry season. Sanur Dive College and Pro Dive Bali take care of snorkelers, amateur divers and seasoned divers alike. Bali Pesona Bahari, the island’s premier dive center, conducts a full range of courses and rents out quality equipment. Other reputable dive outfits include

    Barrakuda

    Diving

    Center

    and Spice Dive.

    Marine Cruises

    If the topsy-turvy white-water madness doesn't sound appealing, book a cruise to Nusa Lembongan or Nusa Penida with SailSensations or a longer journey to

    Lombok

    and the Gili islands with Bounty Cruises. Island Explorer Cruises schedules day and overnight trips to Nusa Lembongan on a yacht or speedboat, while Waka Louka Land Cruise, Sea Trek and SongLine Cruises let you sail away on a luxury catamaran or traditional schooner. For an unforgettable dining experience, take a romantic Starlight Dinner Cruise by the Waka Experience round

    Benoa

    Harbor

    and soak in the gorgeous sunset.

    Aerial Adventures

    Few may think of

    Bali

    as a destination for aerial sports, but many vacationers actually muster enough guts to engage in the numerous possibilities available. Thrill-seekers consult the experts at Bali Adventure Tours for parasailing (also provided by Waterworld), paragliding and skydiving, while the slightly less intrepid opt for helicopter rides. Bungee jumping by Bali Bungy Company and A.J. Hackett requires no training whatsoever and remains very popular. Also not for the faint-hearted, Bali Sling Shot offers nerve-racking mid-air excitement by catapulting riders 52 meters into the air.

    Inland Adventures

    Some companies combine morning sports such as hiking and cycling with afternoon rafting. A trek up Mount Batur takes about three hours and rewards climbers with a panoramic vista of

    hot springs

    , lava rocks, farms and Lake Bratan within the caldera. Lying at the rim of this volcano, Kintamani village serves as an excellent vantage point for viewing the crater lake; you can also book nature hikes here. Mount Agung,

    Bali

    ’s highest peak, challenges serious trekkers and cyclists with more arduous routes.

    For better safety, scale the mountains with a guide between July and October. Waka Tangga offers mountain climbing through the countryside—a challenging journey of quiet reflection and eco-adventure. Alternatively, hire a guide from Bali Nature Land Tours, Bali Adventure Tours or Sobek for mountain biking or treks through rice paddies and jungles.

    Other tour operators take sightseers off the beaten path in a jeep. Waka Louka Land Cruise ventures into centuries-old rice fields, rainforests, traditional houses and hot mineral springs. Consult Usana 4WD for a similar escape to eastern

    Bali

    , through mountains, ancient villages, rivers and long-forgotten valleys.

     

    Traveling the world with www.bingofest.com

     

    ----------------------------------------------------------------------

     

    CANNES

    FESTIVAL NOTEBOOK

    Cannes

    : Where reality intrudes, like a goat, on fantasy

     

    CANNES: Toward the end of Brillante Mendoza's "Serbis," the patrons of a dilapidated

    Manila

    adult-movie palace are surprised to discover that a goat has wandered in from the street, partly obstructing their view of the naked bodies on screen.

    The animal's sudden appearance - which sets off one of several chaotic, hilarious chases in this rambunctious, noisy film - might be taken as a symbol. The cinema can be a place of fantasy and sometimes disreputable pleasure, but reality, as stubborn and hard to corral as that goat, has a way of intruding whether we like it or not.

    At the Cannes Film Festival, however, the metaphor often works in reverse. The metaphorical goats, as it were, can be found in the screening rooms, where audiences gather, sheeplike, to witness the frustration, misery and disorder of real life in various parts of the world. The main competition (which this year includes Mendoza's film) and the adventuresome Un Certain Regard side program share a tendency to exalt seriousness and suffering, and some of the strongest entries this year plunge viewers into worlds of private pain, family dysfunction, economic deprivation and social cruelty.

    Already, as the festival approaches its midpoint, a rich sampling of modern cinematic realism has been on display. Something approaching the 19th-century literary understanding of the term informs "Un Conte de Noël," Arnaud Desplechin's busy, unpredictable variation on the venerable home-for-the-holidays genre. With a cast that includes Catherine Deneuve, Chiara Mastroianni and Mathieu Amalric, "A Christmas Story" is one of the more lighthearted selections. It begins with the death of a child and includes a vicious sibling feud, mental illness and cancer.

    On the more somber side, Walter Salles' and Daniela Thomas' "Linha de Passe," from Brazil, looks back to the models of postwar Italian cinema and sideways to the sentimental formulas of Sundance as it tells the story of four brothers and their pregnant mother struggling to rise above the mean streets of São Paulo. An equally well shot, far more unsparing and analytically disciplined look at the predatory logic of urban life (and lawless capitalism) can be found in "

    Gomorrah

    ," Matteo Garrone's ferocious adaptation of Roberto Soriano's best-selling semifictional exposé of organized crime in

    Naples

    .

     

     If you want escapism it is sometimes necessary to flee the screening rooms altogether. You might hop a cab to the Hôtel du Cap down the coast and the scene, late Saturday night, of the Vanity Fair party.

    What a lark! (What a mistake.) Clutching your hard-won, holograph-embossed invitation, you descend from your taxi into the care of solicitous security personnel, who, if they were a bit friendlier and less neatly dressed, might be mistaken for some of the Neapolitan hit men in "

    Gomorrah

    ." Fortified with a glass of Veuve Clicquot and a paper cone of tiny fried fish, you swirl through the crowd, telepathically air-kissing celebrities - Harrison! Calista! Bono! Mr. Murdoch! - before settling into conversation with the two or three people who will actually talk to you. After a brief stroll around the grounds you're ready to go home.

    But here comes that goat. By taking that stroll around the grounds, it seems you forfeited your right to re-enter what's left of the party, even to use the men's room. No means of escape is forthcoming. A line of cars snakes up the drive, but none is here for you, and your friends have all vanished. At that moment, you would give anything to be back in the Palais, staring at a wide-screen projection of someone else's far more interesting unhappiness.

    (A.O. Scott)

    Box-office Beasties

    Each year a Big Hollywood movie clomps into the Cannes Film Festival like Godzilla, stirring up an orchestrated panic among media members frantic to get a piece of the action for the folks (and editors) back home. Two years ago the beastie was called "The Da Vinci Code," which withstood mass attacks to conquer the world box office. This year it goes by the name of "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull," which was shown on Sunday afternoon to a pumped-up crowd that cheered more enthusiastically during the opening credits than it did at the end.

    Whether the audience was disappointed or just wrung out by the two hours of chase sequences and noise is probably less relevant than that so many of us dutifully filled the theater, which of course is the scenario that Paramount Pictures hopes to replicate worldwide when the movie opens across the globe on Thursday. I'll have more to say on the movie then, by which point it will already have been thoroughly masticated, spit out and chewed all over again in the media that has already sunk its little teeth into Indy's tired body with early negative notices. I was bored out of my mind while watching the movie, which makes me think that Steven Spielberg was terribly bored while directing it. But that's a germ of an idea that I would like to actually contemplate for a few days.

    Movies with www.bingofest.com

    ------------------------------------------------------------------------

    PEOPLE

    People: Sarah Jessica Parker, Neil Young, David Byrne

    Published: May 13, 2008

    Neil Young, already a singer and songwriter, is now spider man. No, not Peter Parker of comic book fame, but the man whose name has been bestowed on a new species of spider. The tribute was rendered to the 62-year-old musician by Jason Bond, a biologist at

    East

    Carolina

    University

    in

    Greenville

    ,

    North Carolina

    , who discovered a new trapdoor spider that's indigenous to

    Alabama

    and chose to call it Myrmekiaphila neilyoungi. In a statement Bond, 40, said: "There are rather strict rules about how you name new species. As long as these rules are followed, you can give a new species just about any name you please. With regards to Neil Young, I really enjoy his music and have a great appreciation of him as an activist for peace and justice."

    The "Sex and the City" stars lit up London's Leicester Square for the world premiere of the cinematic sequel to their New York adventures, dressed in the glamorous - and sometimes quirky - outfits that helped make the show an international hit. Sarah Jessica Parker, who plays the columnist Carrie Bradshaw, stole the show with a soaring Philip Treacy hat complemented by a pale green dress by Alexander McQueen. She was joined by her co-stars Kim Cattrall, Cynthia Nixon and Kristin Davis, known on screen as Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte. Cattrall wore a red Vivienne Westwood dress and Nixon was in a floor-length black pleated Calvin Klein gown.

    Davis

    wore a more modest vintage fuschia dress. The film begins opening worldwide on May 28.

    David Byrne, the former frontman for the Talking Heads, is planning to transform a landmark

    Manhattan

    building into a huge musical instrument, The Associated Press reported, quoting state officials in

    New York

    . The officials said Byrne's "Playing the Building" installation, at the

    Battery

    Maritime

    Building

    , a 1909 Beaux Arts structure, would use devices attached to ceiling beams, plumbing, electrical conduits and other structural elements to produce sound through vibration. The temporary installation is to open this month.

    Four artists have been nominated for this year's Turner Prize, with film and sculpture dominating the shortlist. They are: Mark Leckey for his solo exhibition Industrial Light & Magic, which mixed sculpture, film and performance; Cathy Wilkes for her approach to figurative sculpture; Runa Islam for her use of classic cinematic techniques in her works; and Goshka Macuga for works that establish her as a "cultural archaeologist." The winner of the £25,000 (about $49,000) prize, founded in 1984 and awarded annually to a British-based artist, will be announced in

    London

    on Dec. 1.

    Sometimes love isn't all you need. A judge in

    London

    has granted a preliminary divorce to Paul McCartney and Heather Mills. If no one objects, the divorce will be final in six weeks. Mills, 40, will emerge from the rancorous divorce with a settlement of $47.5 million but a reputation damaged by her televised outbursts, which included emptying a pitcher of water on the head of McCartney's lawyer, Fiona Shackleton. Mills will also retain custody of the couple's 4-year-old daughter, Beatrice. McCartney will retain the bulk of his fortune, estimated by the court at $880 million. At age 65, he is the last of The Beatles to get a divorce: John Lennon left his first wife, Cynthia, for Yoko Ono; Ringo Starr and his first wife, Maureen, divorced after 10 years; and George Harrison's marriage to Patti Boyd ended after 11 years.

    Dwight Yoakam will make his 24th appearance on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" this week, breaking the record for most musical performances by any artist. Yoakam is to perform Thursday on the NBC late-night program's outdoor concert series, a spokeswoman said. Yoakam, 51, is currently tied with Lyle Lovett for the show's most musical performances with 23.

    A musical based on the songs of the Bee Gees is being written for

    London

    's

    West End

    and Broadway. Robin Gibb said the project could be on the stage in the next year or so. Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb were one of the biggest acts of the 1970s and won multiple Grammy Awards during their career.

     

    news with www.bingofest.com

    ------------------------------------------------------------------------

     

    Travel with  www.bingofest.com

     

    Kingston

    -

    Jamaica

     

    Few Caribbean islands can offer up the diversity of our island country —where there's so much more than "rum, sun & reggae"—especially in the often overlooked capital city of Kingston, the heartbeat of Jamaica and the second largest English-speaking city south of Miami, Florida.

    Kingston

    overlooks what is the seventh largest natural harbour in the world. Like a fan, the city spreads north from the harbor as far as the foothills of the famous Blue Mountains—impressive peaks that form a glorious backdrop to the whole.

    What better way to combine business with leisure than to take in all that

    Kingston

    has to offer? With an eye on satisfying the most demanding visitor, this cosmopolitan city extends excellence in upscale high-rise accommodations, fine international dining, pulsating nightlife, business and financial services, shopping and culture. Just like any major metropolitan city, we have our share of street vendors, beggars and unappealing, less desirable areas, but north of the harbor and uptown, New Kingston sparkles!

    Most people think of

    Kingston

    as being divided into two parts. It's not unlike a vibrant modern American city in that there's a downtown sector—stretching north from the waterfront to the busy traffic junction at Cross Roads—and also an uptown sector, which extends to the smart suburbs located at the base of the mountains. It will probably take you at least half a day to check out the downtown sights —maybe a bit more to encompass all the must-dos in the uptown area.

    DOWNTOWN

    KINGSTON



    A great place to sample the essential atmosphere of this noisy and vigorous metropolis. Finding your way about on foot is pretty easy, since

    Kingston

    uses the grid system. If you get tired, flag down a taxi (fix the price beforehand) as rates are fairly reasonable and it's more straightforward than trying to tackle the chaos of the city's bus system.

    The waterfront is a pleasant place to begin your tour of the area. Mixing alongside industrial-looking ships and warehouses, you get fishermen and pelicans, vendors flogging root snacks, and people dozing under the shade of a palm tree.

    Ocean Boulevard

    is the waterfront's breezy main strip, and its focal point is the emotionally charged Negro Aroused statue depicting a crouched man breaking free from bondage. This is a replica of the original, now in the National Gallery of Jamaica, by Edna Manley, wife of former prime minister and National Hero Norman Manley and mother of another former prime minister, Michael. The highlight of the waterfront is the National Gallery, a repository of Jamaican art, with important works by John Dunkley, Carl Abrahams, David Pottinger and Barrington Watson. (See recommended tours for more information).

    The Kingston Crafts Market at the western end of Ocean Boulevard (open daily except Sunday) houses myriad little stores where you can pick up jewelry, T-shirts, carvings and richly embroidered baskets, though don't expect to be able to barter prices down. The area just north of the grassy waterfront forms the historic city center, though many grand 18th century buildings were flattened in an earthquake in 1907. In colonial days,

    King Street

    was the main thoroughfare, and despite the earthquake, it still retains a number of beautiful old buildings with columned verandahs and decorative carvings. Half way up is the Parade, a large square used as a parade ground by British troops in the 18th century as well the site for grisly public floggings and hangings. The center of the parade is the shady, statue-filled area, William Grant Park. Today, following a massive facelift in the 1980s, the Parade is one of the most vibrant spots in town—music blares from ghetto blasters, traffic screeches, vendors hawk their baubles and queues for taxis and buses spill onto the road.

    North of the park is the elegant sky-blue wedding cake building of the Ward Theatre, a magnet for thespians since the 18th century and home to the annual panto as well as seasonal spectacles; feel free to nose around the inside.

    To the west, stretching three blocks from the Parade, is the crowded, colorful and cacophonous Jubilee Market (M-F)—also known as Solas Market. It inspired a famous Jamaican folksong: "Come we go down a Solas Market; come we go buy banana." Further west are the ghetto areas known as the yards, where hard hitting wall murals act as territorial markers. The region is a no go for tourists - even Jamaicans from neighboring areas think twice before entering the opposition's turf.

    Duke Street & Around

    Kingston has many handsome old churches, but one of the most impressive is the octagonal St Andrew Scots Kirk, built in the Georgian manner by a group of prominent Scottish merchants, and surrounded by a gallery supported by Corinthian pillars. Upon completion, it was dubbed the handsomest building in

    Kingston

    .

    Headquarters House & Gordon House

    Two blocks west of

    East Street

    is Headquarters House, a trim little townhouse once known as Hibbert House, but now home to the National Heritage Trust, which has its offices in the former bedrooms. You can explore the rest of the building; the debating chamber is on the ground floor, still furnished with original furniture and impressive portraits of Jamaican heroes, and the basement has some offbeat relics and a mish-mash of art collections.

    Gordon House is where

    Jamaica

    's parliament resides. The House of Representatives meets here most Tuesdays at 2pm, and the Senate sits in chamber on Fridays at 11am. Entrance to the public galleries, for a glimpse of how

    Jamaica

    conducts business, is free.

    Other downtown sites:

    Walk along

    North Street

    and you reach the imposing domed Holy Trinity Cathedral, the island's center of Catholicism.

    Gleaner

    Building

    , at the junction of North and East streets, is home to

    Jamaica

    's premier newspapers, the Daily and Sunday Gleaner.

    UPTOWN KINGSTON

    The district north of Cross Roads—is where the
    commercial sprawl of hotels, banks, embassies and offices meets the
    residential areas of Hope, Mona, and Beverly Hills.

    Centuries ago, uptown was mostly rural, save the odd sugar estate or
    livestock farm. But

    Kingston

    's wealthy merchants soon bought up the land—seeing in it a chance to escape the noise and bustle of the waterfront area. The process continues, and you will be able to spot newer, more fashionable residential quarters as far north as the foothills of the

    Blue Mountains

    .

    New Kingston

    The heart of uptown—a pulsating urban centerpiece dominated by
    high rise financial buildings bounded by Trafalgar Road, Half Way Tree Road and Old Hope Road. It is likely that your hotel will be located here and it's a good area too, for restaurants and bars (see Dining & Drinking section). You can also easily walk to all the most interesting sights from here.

    Half Way Tree

    This busy quarter about a mile west of New Kingston used to be a tiny
    village, dominated by the parish church of St Andrew (always open; free). It's one of the oldest churches on the island, a tranquil,17th century redbrick building with delicate stained glass, and marble wall tablets commemorating Jamaican civil servants and English soldiers. Half Way Tree's central plaza (now a busy shopping area), was where farmers would rest as they traveled towards the city's main markets. The eponymous cotton tree under which they rested has long since gone—but a clock tower now stands in its place, erected in the early 19th century as a memorial to the British King, Edward VII.

    Carry on walking east of Half Way Tree, and you hit Devon House on

    Hope Road

    . This impressive edifice was built in 1881 by

    Jamaica

    's first black millionaire- it has fine landscaped grounds where you can stop for a snack or a drink - and the tour of the house is well worth considering (see Recommended Tours section).

    Half a mile up

    Hope Road

    brings you to Jamaica House (closed to visitors),used as the Prime Minister's office, and King's House—the official home of the governor-general. You can get a tour of the staterooms in this impressively restored 19th century house; more interestingly - the governess occasionally holds afternoon teas, as part of the island's successful 'Meet the People' program. Contact the Jamaican Tourist Board on +1 876 929 9200 for more information, or reservations.

    Hope Road

    is also home to the much-vaunted Bob Marley Museum. It then forks up towards the Hope Botanical Gardens and

    Coconut

    Park

    —the latter, a haven for kids, with great rides and a small zoo housing lions, mongoose and monkeys.

    If you have wheels, consider driving into the Blue Mountains from here —or at least going up onto

    Skyline Drive

    —a road noted for its stunning views over the city and across the harbor to Port Royal. You can get there by following Barbican Road to its northernmost edges—then join Jack's Hill Road and then onto Skyline Drive.

     

    ----------------------------------------------------------------------

    News with BingoFest

    Tampa

    sued to collect on 147-year-old promissory note worth millions

     

     

    "Tampa

    issued a promissory note for $299.58 to pioneer storekeeper Thomas Pugh Kennedy on June 21, 1861. And his great granddaughter Joan Kennedy Biddle, 77, who has known about the note since she was a little girl, wants to collect with interest."

    TAMPA

    — In the early months of the Civil War, the city of

    Tampa

    needed ammunition and other supplies to defend against attack but apparently was short on cash.

    So it issued a promissory note for $299.58 to storekeeper Thomas Pugh Kennedy on June 21, 1861.

    Kennedy's great-granddaughter says the city never made good on its loan. Now, Joan Kennedy Biddle and her family are suing to collect the payment plus 8 percent annual interest.

    The total bill: $22.7-million.

    "Obviously we came at a bad time because the city seems like they're trying to cut their budget," she said. "On the other hand, they're building the Riverwalk."

    Attorney James Purdy filed the suit in the Hillsborough Circuit Court last week. He did not return calls for comment.

    Biddle wouldn't give specifics on why she decided to sue now, using as evidence a piece of paper that has been handed down as an heirloom for generations.

    "This thing has been in the family since the date on the note, and it has never been repaid," said Biddle, 77. "My daddy told me, and I certainly believe him."

    Tampa City Attorney David Smith said he doesn't consider the claim valid.

    In legal documents, Biddle's attorney argues that the statute of limitations doesn't apply in the case because at the time the note was issued, the state had no such statute on such documents.

    And Biddle pointed out that in the 1990s the federal government agreed to pay the Seminole tribe for land illegally taken in the 1820s.

    But attorney John Grandoff said the city can defend against the case using the "doctrine of laches," which prevents claims from being made after an extraordinary passage of time.

    "It's kind of how the court feels about whether it's been too long or not," Grandoff said. "It's total discretion on the judge's part."

    Rodney Kite-Powell, curator at the

    Tampa

    Bay

    History

    Center

    , noted that the

    Tampa

    of 1861 is not the same city that exists today — literally.

    Tampa

    was originally incorporated in 1855, but was abolished in 1869 in part because residents had no money to pay taxes, and the city had no money to pay its bills, Kite-Powell said. It was reincorporated in 1887.

    At the time the note was issued,

    Tampa

    was a tiny town with about 800 residents, city limits that included just a portion of downtown. It also was home to

    Fort

    Brooke

    , where local Confederate soldiers were stationed.

    Biddle's great-grandfather, Thomas Pugh Kennedy, was one of the city's most significant pioneers, Kite-Powell said.

    He operated a store with business partner John Darling.

    "Merchants are always important because they're the way people get stuff — from cannons to clothing and food," he said. "People really relied on these early merchants to supply people with what they needed."

    Joan Kennedy Biddle grew up on

    Davis

    Islands

    and attended

    Plant

    High School

    . She moved to east Hillsborough in the 1960s and ran a lumber business with her late husband. She now owns a three-bedroom home in

    Brandon

    .

    Biddle said she's known about the note since she was a little girl. "I showed it to the attorney, and he said it looked very interesting," she said. "It's strange that the thing has never been collected."

    www.bingofest.com

     

    --------------------------------------------------------------

     

    Judge awards Heather Mills £24.3 million in divorce from Paul McCartney

     

     

    LONDON: Heather Mills won a final settlement of 24.3 million pounds (€31 million; US$48.6 million) on Monday in her divorce from former Beatle Paul McCartney, and said the ruling had secured the future for herself and her daughter.

    A Family Court judge awarded Mills a lump sum of 16.5 million pounds (€21.5 million; US$33 million) plus the assets she currently holds worth 7.8 million pounds (€10 million; US$15.6 million), according to a court-released document.

    "I'm so, so happy with this," Mills said at an impromptu news conference on the steps of Royal Courts of Justice after the closed hearing. "I'm so glad it's over."

    "It was an incredible result in the end to secure mine and my daughter's future and that of all the charities that I obviously plan on helping and making a difference with — because you know it has been my life for 20 years."

    While pleased with the financial settlement, Mills intends to appeal the decision to publish the full judgment, including details concerning the couple's 4-year-old daughter, Beatrice. Only a summary of the judgment was released Monday.

    McCartney, 65, and Mills, 40, went to court last month to decide on Mills' share of his fortune, which had been estimated at as much as 825 million pounds (US$1.6 billion; €1 billion).

    Judge Hugh Bennett, however, found that the total value of McCartney's assets, including his business assets, was about 400 million (€523 million US $800 million). He said there was no evidence to support the widely published figure that was more than twice as high.

    Mills said the settlement vindicated her decision to fire her lawyers. The legal fees, she said, instead "could easily go to charity."

    "Obviously the court do not want a litigant in person to do well, it's against everything that they ever wish, so when they write the judgment up they're never going to make it look in favor," she said.

    The settlement was higher than what McCartney had said his estranged wife should receive — 15.8 million pounds (around US$31.6 million or €20.3 million) including her own assets.

    Mills, however, had sought almost 125 million pounds (around US$250 million; €160 million).

    "Paul was offering a lot less" than what was awarded, Mills said.

    She had harsh words for McCartney's lawyer, Fiona Shackleton, who was well known for representing Prince Charles in his divorce from Princess Diana.

    "She has called me many, many names before even meeting me when I was in a wheelchair," said Mills, a former model whose left leg was amputated below the knee after a 1993 motorcycle accident.

    The court ruled that the couple's daughter should receive a "periodical payments order" of 35,000 pounds (around US$70,000 or €45,000) a year. On top of that, McCartney will pay for the child's nanny and school fees.

    The settlement has been a long time coming for the couple, who separated two years ago, after four years of marriage. At the time they said the parting was "amicable" and insisted "both of us still care about each other very much."

    But the split has grown fractious since McCartney filed for divorce alleging his wife's "unreasonable behavior."

    Mills claimed McCartney failed to protect her and their daughter from slander, death threats and other abuse, and accused the media of persecuting her. In November, Mills said she had been "treated worse than a murderer or a pedophile," despite years of work for land mine victims and animal welfare charities.

    When the couple and their lawyers appeared for a six-day hearing last month, photographers craned to catch a glimpse of them entering the grand, neo-Gothic court building. Reporters huddled outside the courtroom door, but few details emerged.

    Legal experts said the fact that the couple had a child would have been taken into account — but so would the relative brevity of the marriage and the fact that most of McCartney's wealth was generated beforehand.

    McCartney met Mills in 1999, the year after the death from breast cancer of his first wife, Linda. That marriage was one of rock's most enduring unions, and produced three children, including fashion designer Stella McCartney.

    Mills and McCartney married at an Irish castle in June 2002, amid rumors the former Beatle's children disapproved of their new stepmother. The couple's daughter was born the following year.

     

    --------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Bingo (

    U.S.

    ) By Bingofest www.bingofest.com

     

    This article is about the American version of Bingo.

     

    Bingo

    Bingo is a game of chance in which randomly selected numbers are drawn and players match those numbers to those appearing on 5x5 matrices which are printed or electronically represented and are known as "cards." The first person to have a card where the drawn numbers form a specified pattern is the winner and calls out the word "Bingo!" to alert others and inform the caller of the win. The card must first be properly checked for accuracy before the "win" is officially confirmed at which time the prize is secured and a new game is begun.

    The version of the game described in this article is played in the United States and Canada. A very similar game is played in the United Kingdom and in

    Australia

    (where it is called housie). These games differ only in ticket layout and calling.

    Description of the game

    Each bingo player is given a card marked with a grid containing a unique combination of numbers. The winning pattern to be formed on the card is announced. On each turn, a non-player known as the caller randomly selects a numbered ball from a container and announces the number to all the players. The ball is then set aside so that it cannot be chosen again. Each player searches his card for the called number, and if he finds it, marks it. The element of skill in the game is the ability to search one's card for the called number in the short time before the next number is called.

    The caller continues to select and announce numbers until the first player forms the agreed pattern (one line, two lines, full house) on their card and shouts out the name of the pattern or bingo. One of the most common patterns, called full card, blackout and cover-all simply consists of marking all the numbers on the card. Other common patterns are single line, two lines, the four corners, centre cross, L, T, Y, postage stamp (2x2 and in a corner) inner square (4 × 4), roving square (3 × 3), and roving kite (a 3 × 3 diamond). Lines can be made horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. Inner and roving squares and kites must be completely filled; roving squares and kites may be made anywhere on the card.

    Bingo cards

    A typical American bingo card

    Bingo cards are flat pieces of cardboard or non-reusable paper which contain 25 squares arranged in five vertical and five horizontal rows; Dual dab, or "double-action" cards have two numbers in each square. Each space in the grid contains a number, except for the center square, which is considered filled. The highest number used is 75. The letters B, I, N, G, O are pre-printed above the five vertical columns, with one letter appearing above each column. The center space is marked "free." The printed numbers on the card correspond to the following arrangement: 1 to 15 in the B column; 16 to 30 in the I column; 31 to 45 in the N column; 46 to 60 in the G column and 61 to 75 in the O column.

    There are about 5.52*1026, (exactly 155 × 145 × 135 × 125 × 114) possible arrangements of the numbers on a bingo card.

    The most chips one can place on a Bingo board without having a Bingo is 19, not counting the free space. In order for this to happen, only one empty cell can reside in each row and each column, and at least one empty cell must be in each diagonal, for instance:

    O O _ O O
    O _ O O O
    O O F O _
    O O O _ O
    _ O O O O

    Note: in addition to a straight line, many bingo halls consider other patterns as a valid "bingo." For example, in the illustration above, the 2x2 square of marked squares in the upper right-hand corner would be considered a "postage stamp."

    Equipment

    Most bingo halls have 1-2 bingo blowers and 1-2 flashboards. The blowers all have four features, a chamber to blow the balls from, a tube to permit 1 ball at a time, a master board, and a way to return the balls from the board to the chamber. Most modern blowers have a simple computer, that can be programmed to display certain games, in a certain order, called a session. Some new blowers run off standard household computers, and have their own GUI or Graphical User Interface, to operate the blower.

    Culture

     

    A typical bingo dauber, which is also used for housie tickets

    Games often have multiple bingos — for example, the players may first play for a single line, then after that is called continue playing for a full card, then for a consolation full card.

    Players often play multiple cards for each game; thirty is not an unusual number. Because of the large numbers of cards played by each player, most halls have the players sit at tables to which they often fasten their cards with adhesive tape. To mark cards faster the players usually use special markers called daubers. At commercial halls, after calling the number the caller then displays the next number on a television monitor; bingo cannot be called until that number is called aloud, however.

    Bingo is often used as an instructional tool in American primary schools and in teaching English as a foreign language in many countries. Typically, the numbers are replaced with beginning reader words (such as those drawn from the Dolch word lists), pictures, or unsolved math problems. Recently many teachers have taken to using software to automate the creation of bingo cards, as it is slow and laborious to do it by hand for large numbers of cards.

    Terminology: Being Ready – When someone only needs one number in order to complete the Bingo pattern, he/she is considered to “be ready”.

    Breaking the Bubble – The bubble is the minimum number of balls required to complete the Bingo pattern. This is the earliest point anyone could have a valid bingo. Example: Winning pattern is 1 hard way bingo, a straight line without the free space. The minimum number of called numbers is 5 although it is not considered “Breaking the Bubble” until 1 number in each column or 5 numbers in a single column have been called.

    Etiquette – It is considered rude to carry on conversations with others or on cell phones during an active game. Making excess noises with daubers or allowing your cell phone to ring is also considered rude.

    Jumping the Gun – One who calls bingo before having a valid bingo. The most common situation is someone calling bingo using the next number in the screen before it has been called.

    Wild numbers – Many bingo halls will have certain games with a wild number. Wild numbers allow bingo players to start with multiple called numbers. Typically the first ball drawn is the determining factor. Standard – All numbers ending with the second digit of the first number. Example: First ball is 22. All numbers ending in a 2 including B2 is considered a called number. Forwards/backwards – All numbers beginning or ending with the wild number. Example: First ball is 22. All numbers beginning or ending with a 2 is considered a called number. If the first ball ends with an 8, 9 or 0, another number may be drawn as there are no numbers starting with a 8 or 9 and only 9 numbers starting with a zero. Some halls will also redraw a number ending with a 7 as there are only 5 numbers beginning with a 7.

    History

    Bingo can be traced back to a lottery game called "Lo Giuoco Code Loto" played in Italy in 1530. By the eighteenth century, the game had matured, and in

    France

    , playing cards, tokens, the reading out of numbers had been added to the game. In the nineteenth century, Bingo was widely used in

    Germany

    for educational purposes to teach children spelling, animal names, and multiplication tables.

    At a travelling carnival near

    Atlanta

    in 1929, Beano was being played with dried beans, a rubber stamp and cardboard sheets. Edwin Lowe, was watching this game and noticed how engaged the players were. The Carnival worker had to kick the players out at 3 am. Lowe, took the idea with him to

    New York

    where he introduced the game to his friends. He conducted bingo games similar to the ones he had witnessed, using dried beans, a rubber numbering stamp and card board. His friends loved the game. It is said that one of his players made bingo history when he was so excited to have won that he yelled out “Bingo” instead of “Beano." The Lowe Bingo Game had two versions; the first a 12-card set for $1.00, the second a $2.00 set with 24 cards. Bingo was a wild success. By the 1940s Bingo games were all over the country. Lowe had many competitors and all he asked was that they pay $1.00 a year to conduct the games and of course to use the name Bingo.

    [edit] The business of Bingo

    In the

    US

    , the game is primarily staged by churches or charity organizations. Their legality and stakes vary by state regulation. In some states, bingo halls are rented out to sponsoring organizations, and such halls often run games almost every day. Church-run games, however, are normally weekly affairs held on the church premises. These games are usually played for modest stakes, although the final game of a session is frequently a coverall game that offers a larger jackpot prize for winning within a certain quantity of numbers called; a progressive jackpot may increase per session until it is won.

    Commercial bingo games in the

    US

    are primarily offered by casinos (and then only in the state of Nevada), and by Native American bingo halls, which are often housed in the same location as Indian run casinos. In

    Nevada

    , bingo is usually offered only by casinos that cater to local gamblers, and not the famous tourist resorts. They will usually offer several two-hour sessions daily, with relatively modest stakes except for coverall jackpots.
    Station Casinos, a chain of locals-oriented casinos in Las Vegas, offers a special game each session that ties all of its properties together with a large progressive jackpot. Native American games are typically offered for only one or two sessions a day, and are often played for higher stakes than charity games in order to draw players from distant places. Some also offer a special progressive jackpot game that may tie together players from multiple bingo halls.

    As well as bingo played "in house", the larger commercial operators play some games linked by telephone across several, perhaps dozens, of their clubs. This increases the prize money, but greatly reduces the chance of winning due to the much greater number of players.

    Bingo halls are sometimes linked together (as by Loto Quebec in

    Canada

    ) in a network to provide alternative winning structures and bigger prizes.

    Bingo is also the basis for online games sold through licensed lotteries. Tickets are sold as for Lotto, and the players get receipts with their numbers arranged as on a bingo card. The daily or weekly draw is normally broadcast on TV. These games offers higher prizes and it is typically more difficult to win.

    The Bingo logic is frequently used on scratch card games. The numbers are pre-drawn for each card and hidden until the card is scratched. In lotteries with online networks the price is electronically confirmed to avoid fraud based on physical fixing.

    More interesting stuff by www.bingofest.com

    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

    TYPEWRITER, is the longest word that can be made using the letters on only one row of the keyboard.

    found by BingoFest www.bingofest.com 

    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia is the fear of long words.

    found by BingoFest www.bingofest.com 

    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The vignette on the reverse of the five-dollar note depicts a likeness of the front of the Lincoln Memorial as it appeared in 1922 when it was first dedicated.  At that time, there were only 48 states that made up the United States of America.  The names of 26 states were engraved on the front of the Memorial.  This is why only the names of 26 states appear in the vignette on the reverse of the five-dollar note.  In the upper frieze of the façade in the vignette the states are from left to right: Arkansas, Michigan, Florida, Texas, Iowa, Wisconsin, California, Minnesota, Oregon, Kansas, West Virginia, Nevada, Nebraska, Colorado, and North Dakota.  In the lower frieze from left to right the names of the states are: Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, Carolina, Hampshire, Virginia and New York.

    Found by BingoFest www.bingofest.com 

    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    People and dogs

    Dogs are highly social animals. This can account for their trainability, playfulness, and ability to fit into human households and social situations. These attributes have earned dogs a unique position in the realm of interspecies relationships despite being one of the most effective, voracious, and potentially dangerous predators. Dogs and humans at times co-operate in some of the most effective hunting in the animal world; in that context, dogs are superpredators.

    The loyalty and devotion that dogs demonstrate as part of their natural instincts as pack animals closely mimics the human idea of love and friendship, leading many dog owners to view their pets as full-fledged family members. Conversely, dogs seem to view their human companions as members of their pack, and make few, if any, distinctions between their owners and fellow dogs. Dogs fill a variety of roles in human society and are often trained as working dogs. For dogs that do not have traditional jobs, a wide range of dog sports provide the opportunity to exhibit their natural skills. In many countries, the most common and perhaps most important role of dogs is as companions.

    Dogs have lived and worked with humans in so many roles that their loyalty has earned them the unique sobriquet "man's best friend". However, some cultures consider dogs to be unclean. In some parts of the world, dogs are raised as livestock to produce dog meat for human consumption. In many places, consumption of dog meat is discouraged by social convention or cultural taboo.

    More interesting stuff found by BingoFest, enjoy.  www.bingofest.com 

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    .......

    Food and Recipies

    ---------------------------------------------------

    Peach-Mustard Pork Chops

     

    Recipe Summary
    Difficulty: Easy
    Prep Time: 25 minutes
    Inactive Prep Time: 25 minutes
    Cook Time: 23 minutes
    Yield: 4 servings

     

    4 (1 1/2-inch thick) pork chops
    Safflower or corn oil, for brushing
    Kosher salt
    Freshly ground black pepper
    Peach-Mustard BBQ Sauce, recipe follows

    Prepare an outdoor grill with a high heat for both direct and indirect grilling. Position a drip pan under the grate on the cooler side of the grill.

    Brush the pork chops on both sides with oil and season with salt and black pepper to taste. Set aside for 15 minutes.

    Grill the chops over the heat until brown on both sides, about 4 minutes per side. Move them to the cool side of the grill and brush with some of the Peach-Mustard BBQ Sauce. Cook the chops, covered, turning and basting with sauce every 5 minutes, until an instant-read thermometer inserted crosswise into the chops registers 140 degrees F, about 15 minutes more. Let rest for 10 minutes.

    To serve: Drizzle the chops with more sauce and serve.

    Peach-Mustard BBQ Sauce
    3 tablespoons unsalted butter
    2 tablespoons minced onion
    2 cloves garlic, minced
    3 tablespoons cider vinegar
    1/2 cup whole-grain mustard
    1/4 cup Dijon mustard
    3/4 cup peach jam or preserves
    1 tablespoon bourbon
    1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

    Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook until translucent, about 3 minutes. Add the vinegar and boil until almost completely reduced and the mixture looks like wet sand, about 4 minutes. Whisk in both mustards and the jam or preserves. Simmer, whisking, until jam melts, about 1 minute. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the bourbon and salt.

    Cook's Note: The bourbon is stirred in at the end--uncooked--to give a genuine jolt to the sauce. This Southern blend goes great with pork but is also a good finisher for chicken, duck, or veal.

    Yield: about 1 1/4 cups

    Good eating with www.bingofest.com

     

    --------------------------------------------------

    Champagne

    prawns with cocktail sauce

    Preparation time 30 mins to 1 hour

    Cooking time less than 10 mins

    Ingredients
    16 large raw prawns, shelled, with tails attached
    150-175ml/5-6fl oz chilled champagne or sparkling wine
    oil, for deep frying
    100g/4oz self-raising flour, plus 2 tbsp for dusting
    salt and freshly ground black pepper
    lemon wedges, to serve
    For the cocktail sauce:
    3 heaped tbsp mayonnaise
    1 tablespoon tomato ketchup
    1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
    few drops of Tabasco sauce
    few drops of soy sauce
    squeeze of lemon juice
    celery salt and freshly ground black pepper

    Method
    1. First of all, make the cocktail sauce. This is best done with your partner - although it may take twice as long! One of you drops the mayonnaise, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce,

    Tabasco

    , soy and lemon juice into a bowl while the other mixes to a smooth consistency. Season with celery salt and pepper. Have a taste and add any extras if you both agree on it, then transfer to a small bowl and put to one side while you prepare the prawns.
    2. If you've bought the prawns with the head and shell attached, prepare them between you - this is real teamwork, and although it may not be sensual, it will take half the time. Place the prepared prawns with about 2-3 tbsp of the champagne or sparkling wine in a non-metallic bowl to marinate for about 30 minutes.
    3. Place enough oil in a wok, large saucepan or deep-fat fryer to come halfway up the pan. Place over a medium heat. If you're using a deep-fat fryer or have a thermometer, heat the oil to 180C/350F. If not, check the oil is at the right temperature by dropping a 2-3cm/¾-1¼in cube of bread into it. It should become golden and crispy in 1 minute.
    4. Sift the flour and a generous pinch of salt into a large bowl. Whisk in enough of the champagne or sparkling wine to give a thick batter. Add the remaining liquid if it seems too gluey. The best way to do this is if one of you pours while the other whisks.
    5. Remove the prawns from the marinade and pat dry with kitchen paper. Season with salt and pepper and lightly toss in the 2 tbsp of flour. Holding the tail, dip each prawn into the batter to coat and place into the hot oil. Keep hold of the tail for a couple of seconds before letting go. This will stop them sticking to each other or the base of the pan. Continue with the remaining prawns. Allow them to cook for about 6-7 minutes until golden and crispy, turning in the oil halfway through to ensure even cooking.
    6. Once they are cooked, carefully remove the battered prawns from the oil and sit on kitchen paper to allow any excess oil to drain away. Sprinkle with salt and serve on one plate to share with the cocktail sauce and lemon wedges.

    Super foods with www.bingofest.com

    --------------------------------------------------

    Melt-In-Your-Mouth Barbecued Ribs

    Difficulty: Easy
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 3 minutes
    Yield: 4 servings

    2 sides pork spareribs (about 6 pounds), separated
    1 (28-ounce) can chunky tomato sauce
    1/3 cup brown sugar
    2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
    1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
    1 tablespoon reduced-sodium soy sauce
    1 tablespoon chili powder
    2 teaspoons ground cumin
    1 teaspoon paprika
    1 teaspoon garlic powder
    1/2 teaspoon salt
    1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

    Place the spareribs in the bottom of a slow cooker. In a medium bowl, whisk together the remaining ingredients. Reserve 6 tablespoons for BBQ Pizza.

    Pour the mixture over the spareribs. Cover and cook on LOW for 6 to 8 hours or on HIGH for 3 to 4 hours.

    Reserve 1/2 of the ribs and pull the meat from the bones for the BBQ Pizza recipe.

    good eating with www.bingofest.com

    ---------------------------------------------------


    Chocolate Covered Strawberries

    Chocolate Covered Strawberries

    Recipe Summary
    Difficulty: Intermediate
    Prep Time: 20 minutes
    Inactive Prep Time: 30 minutes
    Yield: 1 pound chocolate covered strawberries

    6 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
    3 ounces white chocolate, chopped
    1 pound strawberries with stems (about 20), washed and dried very well

    Put the semisweet and white chocolates into 2 separate heatproof medium bowls. Fill 2 medium saucepans with a couple inches of water and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Turn off the heat; set the bowls of chocolate over the water to melt. Stir until smooth. (Alternatively, melt the chocolates in a microwave at half power, for 1 minute, stir and then heat for another minute or until melted.)

    Once the chocolates are melted and smooth, remove from the heat. Line a sheet pan with parchment or waxed paper. Holding the strawberry by the stem, dip the fruit into the dark chocolate, lift and twist slightly, letting any excess chocolate fall back into the bowl. Set strawberries on the parchment paper. Repeat with the rest of the strawberries. Dip a fork in the white chocolate and drizzle the white chocolate over the dipped strawberries.

    Set the strawberries aside until the chocolate sets, about 30 minutes.

    Eating with www.bingofest.com

    ---------------------------------------------------

    cocktail with bingofest


    Burning Bush

    Burning Bush Cocktail - Bushmills Irish Whiskey

    The Burning Bush is a spin off of the ever-so-popular Hot Toddy. The hot drink was created by Jim Meehan, a

    New York City

    mixologist at PDT and the Pegu Club. While the recipe calls for Bushmills Original Irish Whiskey, I preferred it with their smoother blends, Black Bush and (for a luxurious toddy-esque drink) the 1608 anniversary bottling.

    INGREDIENTS:

    • 1 1/2 oz      Bushmills Original Irish Whiskey
    • 1 oz honey
    • 3 oz hot      water
    • Garnish with      lemon wedge

    PREPARATION:

    1. Place lemon wedge in Toddy Glass or Irish coffee glass.

    2. Pour whiskey and honey over lemon.

    3. Fill with water.

    www.bingofest.com

    ----------------------------------------------------------

    cocktail with bingofest

    The Screaming Orgasm

    3/4 oz Kahlua
    3/4 oz Irish Cream
    3/4 oz Amaretto
    3/4 oz Vodka
    ice

    Shake extremely well!

    www.bingofest.com

    --------------------------------------------------------------------

    Simply Shrimp

    Coriander Lime Shrimp

    Recipe Summary
    Prep Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes
    Yield: 12 hors d?oeuvres

    1/2 cup fresh lime juice
    1/4 orange marmalade
    3 large garlic cloves, minced and mashed to a paste with 1 teaspoon salt
    1/2 cup fresh coriander sprigs, washed well, spun dry, and chopped fine
    4 tablespoons olive oil
    1 tablespoon soy sauce
    1/2 teaspoon dried hot red pepper flakes
    Salt and pepper, to taste
    1/2 pound large (21 to 24 per pound) shrimp, shelled, leaving tail and first shell section intact, and if desired deveined
    2 oranges
    2 heads endive
    Fresh coriander sprigs, for garnish

    In a measuring cup whisk together lime juice, marmalade, garlic paste, coriander, 3 tablespoons oil, soy sauce, red pepper flakes, and salt and pepper to taste and reserve 1/2 cup mixture in a small bowl or ramekin for dipping. In a large sealable plastic bag combine shrimp with remaining mixture and marinate, chilled, tossing occasionally to coat shrimp, 45 minutes. Peel oranges and slice horizontally. Wash endive leaves. Arrange orange slices and endive on a plate. Drain shrimp, discarding marinade and lightly pat dry between paper towels. In a large non-stick skillet heat 1 1/2 teaspoons oil over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking and saute 1/2 of the shrimp until golden brown and cooked through, about 1 1/2 minutes on each side. Saute remaining shrimp in remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons oil in same manner. Place shrimp atop orange and endive salad. Garnish with coriander sprigs and drizzle with reserved dipping sauce.

    www.bingofest.com

    --------------------------------------------------------

     

    Coffee

     

    Coffee is a widely consumed stimulant beverage prepared from roasted seeds, commonly called coffee beans, of the coffee plant. Coffee was first consumed in the 9th century, when it was discovered in the highlands of Ethiopia. From there, it spread to Egypt and Yemen, and by the 15th century had reached Persia, Turkey, and northern Africa. From the Muslim world, coffee spread to Italy, then to the rest of Europe and the

    Americas

    . Today, coffee is one of the most popular beverages worldwide.

    Coffee berries, which contain the coffee bean, are produced by several species of small evergreen bush of the genus Coffea. The two most commonly grown species are Coffea canephora (also known as Coffea robusta) and Coffea arabica. These are cultivated in Latin America, southeast Asia, and Africa. Once ripe, coffee berries are picked, processed, and dried. The seeds are then roasted, undergoing several physical and chemical changes. They are roasted to various degrees, depending on the desired flavor. They are then ground and brewed to create coffee. Coffee can be prepared and presented by a variety of methods.

    Coffee has played an important role in many societies throughout modern history. In Africa and

    Yemen

    , it was used in religious ceremonies. As a result, the Ethiopian Church banned its consumption until the reign of Emperor Menelik II of Ethiopia. It was banned in Ottoman Turkey in the 17th century for political reasons, and was associated with rebellious political activities in

    Europe

    . Coffee is an important export commodity: in 2004, coffee was the top agricultural export for 12 countries, and in 2005, it was the world's seventh largest legal agricultural export by value. Some controversy is associated with coffee cultivation and its impact on the environment. Many studies have examined the relationship between coffee consumption and certain medical conditions; whether the effects of coffee are positive or negative is still disputed.

    Etymology

    The English word coffee first came to be used in the early- to mid-1600s, but early forms of the word date to the last decade of the 1500s. It comes from the Italian caffè. This, in turn, was borrowed from the Ottoman Turkish kahveh, and the Arabic qahwa (قهوة) collectively. The origin of the Arabic term is uncertain; it is either derived from the name of the Kaffa region in western Ethiopia, where coffee was cultivated, or by a truncation of qahwat al-būnn, meaning "wine of the bean" in Arabic. In Eritrea, "būnn" (also meaning "wine of the bean" in Tigrinya) is used. The Amharic and Afan Oromo name for coffee is bunna.

     

     

    History

     

    Coffee use can be traced at least to as early as the 9th century, when it appeared in the highlands of Ethiopia. According to legend, Ethiopian shepherds were the first to observe the influence of the caffeine in coffee beans when the goats appeared to "dance" and to have an increased level of energy after consuming wild coffee berries. The legend names the shepherd "Kaldi." From

    Ethiopia

    , coffee spread to Egypt and Yemen., It was in

    Arabia

    that coffee beans were first roasted and brewed similarly as they are today. By the 15th century, it had reached the rest of the Middle East,
    Persia, Turkey, and northern Africa.

    In 1583, Leonhard Rauwolf, a German physician, gave this description of coffee after returning from a ten year trip to the Near East:

    “A beverage as black as ink, useful against numerous illnesses, particularly those of the stomach. Its consumers take it in the morning, quite frankly, in a porcelain cup that is passed around and from which each one drinks a cupful. It is composed of water and the fruit from a bush called bunnu”

    From the Muslim world, coffee spread to

    Italy

    . The thriving trade between Venice and

    North Africa, Egypt, and the Middle East brought many goods, including coffee, to the Venetian port. From

    Venice

    , it was introduced to the rest of

    Europe

    . Coffee became more widely accepted after it was deemed a Christian beverage by Pope Clement VIII in 1600, despite appeals to ban the "Muslim drink". The first European coffee house opened in

    Italy

    in 1645. The Dutch were the first to import coffee on a large scale, and they were among the first to defy the Arab prohibition on the exportation of plants or unroasted seeds when Pieter van den Broeck smuggled seedlings from Aden into Europe in 1616. The Dutch later grew the crop in Java and Ceylon. Through the efforts of the British East India Company, coffee became popular in

    England

    as well. It was introduced in France in 1657, and in Austria and Poland after the 1683 Battle of Vienna, when coffee was captured from supplies of the defeated Turks.

    When coffee reached North America during the colonial period, it was initially not as successful as it had been in

    Europe

    . During the Revolutionary War, however, the demand for coffee increased so much that dealers had to hoard their scarce supplies and raise prices dramatically; this was partly due to the reduced availability of tea from British merchants. After the War of 1812, during which Britain temporarily cut off access to tea imports, the Americans' taste for coffee grew, and high demand during the American Civil War together with advances in brewing technology secured the position of coffee as an everyday commodity in the United States.

    Noted as one of the world’s largest, most lawfully valuable traded commodity after oil, has become a vital “cash crop” for many

    Third World

    countries. Over one hundred million people in developing countries have become dependent on coffee as the primary source of income. Coffee has become the primary export and backbone for African countries like

    Uganda

    ,

    Burundi

    ,

    Rwanda

    , and

    Ethiopia

    as well as other Central American countries

    Coffee price deregulations had a negative effect on oversupply in the coffee industry. The failure to renew regulatory agreements brought extreme and unstable changes in coffee pricing, which impacted negatively farm-workers. Some countries went into financial crisis and/or debt and their citizens were forced into poverty. After studying coffee price deregulation, one can easily conclude that it has been disastrous for many national economies. The simple comparison between the price of a pound of coffee sold in a store and the actual cost for a farmer to produce the pound of coffee is an appropriate topic of introduction. “If a store is selling a 1lb bag of coffee for $4.99lb. - when approx. actual cost for 1lb should be $1.68 to the farmer; $1.82 for sorting, packaging, equipment cost, overhead; $1.05 mark-up; $1.40 for shipping = $5.95 - this is the what the wholesale cost to retailers for 1lb of coffee should be under Fair Trade principles” then by having retailers mark up their prices would require the to sell the pound of coffee for $11.90 instead of $4.99 The numbers show that coffee is undervalued which results in the underpayment of farmers. This comparison is important for understanding fair pricing of coffee.

    Biology

    A flowering Coffea arabica tree in a Brazilian plantation

    The Coffea plant is native to subtropical Africa and southern Asia. It belongs to a genus of 10 species of flowering plants of the family Rubiaceae. It is an evergreen shrub or small tree that may grow 5 meters (16 ft) tall when unpruned. The leaves are dark green and glossy, usually 10–15 centimeters (3.9–5.9 in) long and 6.0 centimeters (2.4 in) wide. It produces clusters of fragrant, white flowers that bloom simultaneously. The fruit berry is oval, about 1.5 centimeters (0.6 in) long, and green when immature, but ripens to yellow, then crimson, becoming black on drying. Each berry usually contains two seeds, but from 5 to 10 percent of the berries have only one; these are called peaberries. Berries ripen in seven to nine months.

    Cultivation

    Coffee is usually propagated by seed. The traditional method of planting coffee is to put 20 seeds in each hole at the beginning of the rainy season; half are eliminated naturally. Coffee is often intercropped with food crops, such as corn, beans, or rice, during the first few years of cultivation.

    The two main cultivated species of the coffee plant are Coffea canephora and Coffea arabica. Arabica coffee (from C. arabica) is considered more suitable for drinking than robusta coffee (from C. canephora); robusta tends to be bitter and have less flavor than arabica. For this reason, about three-fourths of coffee cultivated worldwide is C. arabica. However, C. canephora is less susceptible to disease than C. arabica and can be cultivated in environments where C. arabica will not thrive. Robusta coffee also contains about 40–50 percent more caffeine than arabica. For this reason, it is used as an inexpensive substitute for arabica in many commercial coffee blends. Good quality robustas are used in some espresso blends to provide a better foam head and to lower the ingredient cost. Other cultivated species include Coffea liberica and Coffea esliaca, believed to be indigenous to Liberia and southern Sudan, respectively.

    Most arabica coffee beans originate from either Latin America, eastern Africa, Arabia, or

    Asia

    . Robusta coffee beans are grown in western and central Africa, throughout southeast Asia, and to some extent in

    Brazil

    . Beans from different countries or regions usually have distinctive characteristics such as flavor, aroma,
    body, and acidity. These taste characteristics are dependent not only on the coffee's growing region, but also on genetic subspecies (varietals) and processing. Varietals are generally known by the region in which they are grown, such as Colombian, Java, or Kona.

    Ecological effects

    Originally, coffee farming was done in the shade of trees, which provided habitat for many animals and insects. This method is commonly referred to as the traditional shaded method. Many farmers (but not all) have decided to modernize their production methods and switch to a method where farmers would now use sun cultivation, in which coffee is grown in rows under full sun with little or no forest canopy. This causes berries to ripen more rapidly and bushes to produce higher yields but requires the clearing of trees and increased use of fertilizer and pesticides. Traditional coffee production, in the other hand, caused berries to ripen more slowly and it produced lower yields compared to the modernized method but the quality of the coffee is superior. In addition, the traditional shaded method is environmentally friendly and serves as a habitat for many species.Opponents of sun cultivation say environmental problems such as deforestation, pesticide pollution, habitat destruction, and soil and water degradation are the side effects of these practices. The American Birding Association has led a campaign for "shade-grown" and organic coffees, which it says are sustainably harvested. While certain types of shaded coffee cultivation systems show greater biodiversity than full-sun systems, they still compare poorly to native forest in terms of habitat value, and while this may be true they are still the next best thing, considering how in many places native forests no longer exist.

    Economics

    Brazil remains the largest coffee exporting nation, but in recent years Vietnam has become a major producer of robusta beans. Colombia is the third exporter and the largest producer of washed arabica coffee. Robusta coffees, traded in

    London

    at much lower prices than

    New York

    's arabica, are preferred by large industrial clients, such as multinational roasters and instant coffee producers, because of the lower cost. Four single roaster companies buy more than 50 percent of all of the annual production: Kraft, Nestlé, Procter & Gamble, and Sara Lee. The preference of the "Big Four" coffee companies for cheap robusta is believed by many to have been a major contributing factor to the crash in coffee prices, and the demand for high-quality arabica beans is only slowly recovering. Many experts believe the giant influx of cheap green coffee after the collapse of the International Coffee Agreement of 1975–1989 led to the prolonged price crisis from 1989 to 2004. In 1997 the price of coffee in

    New York

    broke
    US$3.00/lb, but by late 2001 it had fallen to US$0.43/lb. In 2007, wholesale coffee was about US$1/lb (e.g. 69 cents in

    London

    in March to 134 cents in

    New York

    in October), with robusta being about 70% of the price of arabica. Retail prices varied from an average of $3 in

    Poland

    to $3.50 in the

    US

    to $17 in the

    UK

    .

    The concept of fair trade labeling, which guarantees coffee growers a negotiated pre-harvest price, began with the Max Havelaar Foundation's labelling program in the

    Netherlands

    . In 2004, 24,222 metric tons out of 7,050,000 produced worldwide were fair trade; in 2005, 33,991 metric tons out of 6,685,000 were fair trade, an increase from 0.34 percent to 0.51 percent. A number of studies have shown that fair trade coffee has a positive impact on the communities that grow it. A study in 2002 found that fair trade strengthened producer organizations, improved returns to small producers, and positively affected their quality of life. A 2003 study concluded that fair trade has "greatly improved the well-being of small-scale coffee farmers and their families" by providing access to credit and external development funding and greater access to training, giving them the ability to improve the quality of their coffee. The families of fair trade producers were also more stable than those who were not involved in fair trade, and their children had better access to education. A 2005 study of Bolivian coffee producers concluded that Fairtrade certification has had a positive impact on local coffee prices, economically benefiting all coffee producers, Fairtrade certified or not.

    The production and consumption of "Fair Trade Coffee" has grown in recent years as some local and national coffee chains have started to offer fair trade alternatives.

    Preparation

    Espresso brewing, with dark reddish-brown crema

    Coffee beans must be ground and brewed in order to create a beverage. Grinding the roasted coffee beans is done at a roastery, in a grocery store, or in the home. They are most commonly ground at a roastery then packaged and sold to the consumer, though "whole bean" coffee can be ground at home. Coffee beans may be ground in several ways. A burr mill uses revolving elements to crush or tear the bean, an electric grinder chops the beans with blades moving at high speeds, and a mortar and pestle grinds the beans to a powder. The type of grind is often named after the brewing method for which it is generally used. Turkish grind is the finest grind, while coffee percolator or French press are the coarsest grind. The most common grinds are between the extremes; a medium grind is used in most common home coffee brewing machines.

    Coffee may be brewed by several methods: boiled, steeped, or pressured. Brewing coffee by boiling was the earliest method, and Turkish coffee is an example of this method. It is prepared by powdering the beans with a mortar and pestle, then adding the powder to water and bringing it to a boil in a pot called a cezve or, in Greek, a briki. This produces a strong coffee with a layer of foam on the surface.

    Machines such as percolators or automatic coffeemakers brew coffee by gravity. In an automatic coffeemaker, hot water drips onto coffee grounds held in a coffee filter made of paper or perforated metal, allowing the water to seep through the ground coffee while absorbing its oils and essences. Gravity causes the liquid to pass into a carafe or pot while the used coffee grounds are retained in the filter. In a percolator, boiling water is forced into a chamber above a filter by pressure created by boiling. The water then passes downwards through the grounds due to gravity, repeating the process until shut off by an internal timer.

    Coffee may also be brewed by steeping in a device such as a French press (also known as a cafetière). Ground coffee and hot water are combined in a coffee press and left to brew for a few minutes. A plunger is then depressed to separate the coffee grounds, which remain at the bottom of the container. Because the coffee grounds are in direct contact with the water, all the coffee oils remain in the beverage, making it stronger and leaving more sediment than in coffee made by an automatic coffee machine.

    The espresso method forces hot, but not boiling, pressurized water through ground coffee. As a result of brewing under high pressure (ideally between 9-10 atm) the espresso beverage is more concentrated (as much as 10 to 15 times the amount of coffee to water as gravity brewing methods can produce) and has a more complex physical and chemical constitution. A well prepared espresso has a reddish-brown foam called crema that floats on the surface. The drink "Americano" is popularly thought to have been named after American soldiers in WW II who found the European way of drinking espresso too strong. Baristas would cut the espresso with hot water for them.

    Presentation

    Once brewed, coffee may be presented in a variety of ways. Drip brewed, percolated, or French-pressed/cafetière coffee may be served with no additives (colloquially known as black) or with either sugar, milk or cream, or both. When served cold, it is called iced coffee.

    Espresso-based coffee has a wide variety of possible presentations. In its most basic form, it is served alone as a "shot" or in the more watered down style café américano—a shot or two of espresso with hot water.[57] The Americano should be served with the espresso shots on top of the hot water to preserve the crema. Milk can be added in various forms to espresso: steamed milk makes a cafè latte, equal parts espresso and milk froth make a cappuccino, and a dollop of hot, foamed milk on top creates a caffè macchiato.

    A number of products are sold for the convenience of consumers who do not want to prepare their own coffee. Instant coffee is dried into soluble powder or freeze dried into granules that can be quickly dissolved in hot water. Canned coffee has been popular in Asian countries for many years, particularly in Japan and South Korea. Vending machines typically sell varieties of flavored canned coffee, much like brewed or percolated coffee, available both hot and cold. Japanese convenience stores and groceries also have a wide availability of bottled coffee drinks, which are typically lightly sweetened and pre-blended with milk. Bottled coffee drinks are also consumed in the United States. Liquid coffee concentrates are sometimes used in large institutional situations where coffee needs to be produced for thousands of people at the same time. It is described as having a flavor about as good as low-grade robusta coffee and costs about 10 cents a cup to produce. The machines used can process up to 500 cups an hour, or 1,000 if the water is preheated.

    Social aspects

    A coffeehouse in Palestine (1900)

    Coffee was initially used for spiritual reasons. At least 1,000 years ago, traders brought coffee across the Red Sea into Arabia (modern day

    Yemen

    ), where Muslim monks began cultivating the shrub in their gardens. At first, the Arabians made wine from the pulp of the fermented coffee berries. This beverage was known as qishr (kisher in modern usage) and was used during religious ceremonies.[citation needed]

    Coffee became the substitute beverage in place of wine in spiritual practices where wine was forbidden. Coffee drinking was briefly prohibited to Muslims as haraam in the early years of the 16th century, but this was quickly overturned. Use in religious rites among the Sufi branch of Islam led to coffee's being put on trial in

    Mecca

    , accused of being a heretic substance, and its production and consumption was briefly repressed. It was later prohibited in Ottoman Turkey under an edict by the Sultan Murad IV. Coffee, regarded as a Muslim drink, was prohibited to Ethiopian Orthodox Christians until as late as 1889; it is now considered a national drink of

    Ethiopia

    for people of all faiths. Its early association in Europe with rebellious political activities led to its banning in

    England

    , among other places.

    A contemporary example of coffee prohibition can be found in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a religion with over 13 million followers worldwide, which calls for coffee abstinence. The organization claims that it is both physically and spiritually unhealthy to consume coffee. This comes from the Mormon doctrine of health, given in 1833 by Mormon founder Joseph Smith, in a revelation called the Word of Wisdom. It does not identify coffee by name, but includes the statement that "hot drinks are not for the belly", which has been interpreted to forbid both coffee and tea.

     

    More interesting stuff found by BingoFest enjoy. www.bingofest.com

    ---------------------------------------------------------------

    Sweet, Sticky and Spicy Chicken

    "This chicken dish uses skinless boneless chicken breasts and tastes delicious. It's great as an appetizer or as a main dish served with rice and a veggie."

    INGREDIENTS

    • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
    • 2 tablespoons honey
    • 1/4 cup soy sauce
    • 2 teaspoons chopped fresh ginger root
    • 2 teaspoons chopped garlic
    • 2 tablespoons hot sauce
    • salt and pepper to taste
    • 4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cut into 1/2 inch strips
    • 1 tablespoon vegetable oi

    DIRECTIONS

    1. Mix together brown sugar, honey, soy sauce, ginger, garlic and hot sauce in a small bowl.
    2. Lightly salt and pepper the chicken strips.
    3. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chicken strips and brown on both sides, about 1 minute per side. Pour the sauce over the chicken. Simmer uncovered until the sauce thickens, 8 to 10 minutes.

    good eating with www.BingoFest.com

    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Blog powered by TypePad

    Views of our World and its People

    • sunset in paradise
      Photographs taken by ordinary people as they move though life. The world through the eyes of a traveler.