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Blekko: The newest search engine in town

blekkoBlekko is a new search engine that is slashing its way up the ranks of search engine popularity. Though Blekko is new it has the hope to surpass Google with its Slash tag feature and spam countering system. The Slash tags enable the searcher to look more directly at what they want without spam sites interrupting their search.  Using Slash tags you can weed out unwanted sites by creating custom slash tags or by adding a slash symbol to your search.  For example, if you were looking for tech items then you would type  “/tech.”  As a result you will only get websites that have to do with technology.

Blekko also has a feature that allows you to block spam sites from all your searches.  You simply need to click the spam button which is located right under the website’s title, and that site will be, as Blekko says, “Dead to you”. There is another feature, on the same line as the spam button called CEO, which can help web designers see how many pages a website has, how many incoming links the site has, and what the host rank for that site is, as well as a source button that shows the code for the website you are viewing.

So will Blekko take over Google’s place at the spot of search engines?  Only time will tell.  For now the word is quickly spreading about Blekko’s unique tools and capabilities and more and more users are being converted each day.

Wally’s Chowder House: Great Atmosphere, Awesome Seafood

If you’ve driven through Des Moines, Washington chances are you’ve passed by Wally’s Chowder House and Broiler located on the corner of 226 and Marine View Drive.  Wallys Chowder House and BroilerThe restaurant has been a Des Moines seafood institution since 1993 when it took over the building formerly inhabited by another seafood restaurant, Moby Doug’s.

Once you enter the restaurant the interior is immediately homey and inviting.  From wood paneled walls to numerous knick knacks, Wally’s is exactly what I would imagine a NewWallys Chowder House and Broiler England seafood restaurant to look like.  Top that off with wide windows that let in plenty of natural light and offer views of Puget Sound, it leads to a very pleasant dining experience.

Wally’s decor isn’t the only inviting element.  The wait staff is friendly and always attuned to the customers needs.  A basket of bottomless fish and chips is hardly finished before they are ready to fill it up again.  Oftentimes the owners are also present and willing to answer any questions you might have or just chat.  We had a nice conversation about the restaurant’s history with one of the owners, Mike Nordean.   He told us Wallys Chowder House and Broilerabout the owner of Moby Doug’s who had worked for Ivar’s before setting out to start his own restaurant, and how years later he and Wally, who were good family friends, came to take over the former Moby Doug’s building to start the restaurant we now know as Wally’s.

As much as we enjoyed the atmosphere at Wally’s, the food is the main attraction.   Each member of our group ordered a different item including broiled King salmon,  a chicken sandwich,  the scallop platter, clam chowder,  and of course, fish and chips.  Every dish was delicious and we had no complaints.  The fish was breaded perfectly, the fries were thick and the clam chowder didn’t even need the oyster crackers that came with it (in a cute old
Wallys Chowder House and Broilerfashioned milk jar!).  By the time we were finished our stomachs were full and we were completely satisfied.  However, there was still desert.  At first we resisted, but we felt like it was part of our reviewing duties to at least try something, so we ordered the blackberry pie with ice cream.  The portion was huge and was more than enough for the four of us to share, and even though we were full we polished off the bowl, it was too delicious to stop.

So would we recommend Wally’s Chowder House & Broiler?  Absolutely!  With its homey atmosphere, friendly staff and delicious food, Wally’s gets a big thumbs up in our book.

To see their menu, check out specials or learn more about Wally’s you can visit their website at http://wallyschowderhousebroiler.com/

Introducing Amanda Dorough

Amanda DoroughAmanda Dorough joined the Cascade e-Commerce Solutions, Inc. (CeSI) team in September of this year.  A native Washingtonian, she received her bachelors degree in History from Liberty University in 2007.

During college she was able to study abroad with a program called Semester at Sea.  This ignited her love for both the world and travel, and since her time on Semester at Sea she has traveled to more than 21 countries on four continents.  Some of her adventures have included hiking the Everest Trail in Nepal, surfing in Bali, climbing the Great Wall of China, and exploring the Pyramids in Egypt.  Most recently Amanda spent two years teaching second grade at an English school just outside of  Bangkok, Thailand.  There she cultivated her love for Thai food and spent her free time exploring the country and volunteering.

Since moving back to America in April 2010 she has enjoyed being able to reconnect with family and friends, and also has taken up the roll of Junior High youth director at her church.

She has strong interests in writing, photography and graphic design, all of which she brings to her new position working with Cascade e-Commerce Solutions, Inc.

Please join us in welcoming Amanda to the team.

A NW holiday tradition: The Argosy Christmas Ship

The Argosy Christmas Ship has been a Northwest tradition for 61 years.  Every holiday season it brings joy to more than 45 western Washington communities through 20 minute performances by different choirs and singing groups.

Argosy Christmas Ship

Beginning November 27, on Lake Union, the ship will sail nightly to different locations on Lake Washington, Lake Union and around Puget Sound.  Hundreds will watch and listen from shore as they stand around bonfires sipping hot chocolate, while others will get a little closer to the action by cruising on the Christmas ship itself or by decking their personal boat with Christmas lights and joining in the parade.  Whichever location you choose, the 2010 Christmas Ship performances are sure to bring holiday cheer to everyone who listens.

To get  more information on dates, bonfire locations and sailing prices you can visit the Argosy Christmas Ship website.

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