JRH

My boss recently traveled with a delegation to Iraq (northern Iraq) and whenever they served coffee they would put a seed (or perhaps spice or herb) into the coffee for flavoring. My boss can not remember what that seed was and we have been trying to figure it out, with no luck. Anyone know what is customarily put in coffee in Iraq?

When you and your fiance toured possible wedding ceremony and reception sites, what did you wear?

My guy and are love a particular venue for our ceremony/reception. It is a private estate and has 12 suites for overnight accommodation and you rent the entire estate. Sadly, it is rather expensive and if I can't get creative, we will not be able to have our wedding there. Thinking we might be able to do something with the 12 suites. We don't want to have to pick and choice between our guests/friends/family as to who gets to stay on-site either and we don't want to hit up our bridal party for anything else. Just wondering what people think about offering the rooms as another accommodation option for guests to reserve and offering them on a first come (pay) first serve basis?

If you think this is an ok idea, do we ask them to mail us a check? How do we handle that? Do we have to price it the same as the block of hotel rooms or can we charge a little more (they are private suites)?

Thanks for your help!

My boyfriend and I are trapped between practicality and tradition. We want to get married in April 2009, but we are not officially engaged yet and are trying to keep traditional elements of getting engaged. I am starting to worry that we don't have enough time to plan a wedding for April 2009, especially with half the guests being international. Thoughts? From others' experiences, at what point will it be not enough time?

He wants to pick a ring and deliver a surprise proposal, but is still saving $. He is telling his parents this weekend but hasn't asked mine yet. Mine realize it will be withing the next 2 years. He wants to move forward for next April but I feel a little weird planning without being engaged. (Tacky? Thoughts?) Timing is extra important because we are currently living in two different countries and want to marry before he finishes his phd and job hunts in a different country, and a particular date next April is very important to us.

Advice?

I am looking for an image of the ring Aidan gave Carrie when he proposed to her on Sex and the City. (his second ring, the emerald cut platinum) I have found descriptions of the ring and cut online, but i am looking for an actual picture of the ring. I found a few links online, but they were out-dated. Can someone please post an active link to the ring? thank you!

What are the big issues? Is it historically conservative? Which party holds the most seats in this region? Thanks!

Could someone please tell me which way the different major UK newspapers lean? Which ones are more liberal and which more conservative? Which generally support one party over another?

To enter the UK under the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP) you need 75 points. They say that a Phd gets 35 and a Masters degree gets 30. In the US, a law degree is a three-year postgraduate doctrate degree. Will that count as a 30 point masters degree or a 35 doctrate degree under the HSMP?

I stumbled across the The Politix Group while conducting a job search. They advertise a job bulletin with political-related jobs in both the US and UK, however they charge a $10 fee to access the bulletin. I am rather reluctant to pay for a job site when there are so many free ones out there. Can anyone tell me if their job bulletin is worth paying for? What kinds of jobs/employers advertise on it? Are there really both US and UK jobs listed? Any information would be very helpful.