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| Offering language classes and services in Central Iowa. Whether you're interested in growing your personal language skills or needing professional services for your business, such as translation or interpretation, we can help. |
 Get Ready to Learn Arabic
Our small-group Arabic class meets Wednesday evenings for 90 minutes, 6:00pm - 7:30pm. Classes are in process now and are on-going. The sessions combine grammar, reading, writing and conversation.For more information on class fees, text, or location download the flyer below or contact LANGUAGEtech, Inc. Click here for more details. 
CARMRADERIE
Our one lifetime magazine subscription is to The Atlantic. The articles are timely and the reporting is fair and reasoned. It's a good place to learn new words. In the October 2007 issue, the Word Fugitives section solicited ideas for putting a name to "that happy feeling of kinship once feels for the driver of a car of the same make and model as one's own." Carmraderie was just one of the many suggestions... and, although not the winner, one of my favorites. |
Diocese Spanish Classes
Sign up now for our next session of classes focused on Spanish conversation for beginners. The session will run from January 21 - March 10. Classes meet each Monday from 7:00pm - 8:30pm at the Diocese Pastoral Center (601 Grand Avenue) in downtown Des Moines. See the attached flyer for details or contact Forrest Corson.
 Some time back I ran across, then set aside, a ragtag copy of Six Days of the Condor by James Grady. I remember liking the 1975 Sydney Pollack film (released as Three Days of the Condor) with Robert Redford and Faye Dunaway but had never read the book. A week ago I found the book and spent a fine afternoon with it and a tall gin and tonic. Then, of course, I had to re-watch the film. Redford and Dunaway are great, but the book is better. Perfect reading during the next blizzard.
~ Forrest Search for books on Amazon.com.
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 Chávez Ravine by Ry Cooder A year ago I finally bought my first Ry Cooder CD, Chávez Ravine, after having never hear of him and then, all of the sudden, having lots of friends bring up his name. A year later the CD still works for me and I'll be buying more Ry Cooder soon. ~ Forrest Wikipedia says, "His 2005 album Chávez Ravine was touted by his record label as being 'a post-World War II era American narrative of cool cats, radios, UFO sightings, J. Edgar Hoover, red scares, and baseball' — the record is a tribute to the long gone Los Angeles Latino enclave known as Chávez Ravine." Listen to an NPR segment on Chávez Ravine at and buy the CD on Amazon.com.
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Cafe Central - Noble Square, 1437 W Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL - 312.243.6776
We were in Chicago last November and looking for a Cuban breakfast on a Sunday morning. Our first choice would have been La Única in Rogers Park but we needed something closer to downtown and so headed to Habana Libre on West Chicago Avenue. It was closed when we got there at 11:00 however and with time an issue that morning we trudged across the street to the non-descript Cafe Central. We didn't know what the place was—it looked like a bacon-eggs-and-toast diner—but it turned out to be a great Puerto Rican restaurant. The waitress took care of us in Spanish and along with asopao de pollo we ordered almost all of the plátano dishes on the menu, including maduro frito, tostones and, ohmygod, mofongo. It's drop-dead garlicky and we'll be back for more. If you can't make it to Chicago, visit LaGasse's Island Flavors for online recipes. |
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