Days after the US and 30 other nations began naval exercises in the Persian Gulf; Tehran has announced it is sending a Russian submarine to bolster its forces in the area.

The Taregh-1, one of three Russian built Kilo class submarines, was sent to the southern port of Bandar Abbas, after completing a refit earlier this year.

The deployment comes as Iran strengthens its naval forces in the region. A destroyer, the Sahand, has also been launched after an overhaul and is expected to be ready for operations in the near future.

The country’s Supreme leader, Ayatollah Khameni, who has command of all military affairs, said that Iran has no intention of attacking another nation.

“The armed forces should be upgraded in such a way that no one will be able to violate the reinforced fortress of Iran,” Khameni said Tuesday whilst visiting a naval base in the northern Iranian port of Noshar.

The Iranian deployment comes two days after US led anti-mine sweeping exercises got underway in the Persian Gulf.

30 countries are participating in the maneuvers and today three British warships joined the armada. Other countries taking part include Saudi Arabia and France.

They are being interpreted as a show of force, warning Tehran not to disrupt vital oil routes in the Strait of Hormuz. 18 million barrels a day, some 35 percent of the world’s oil shipments, pass through the 21 mile wide channel every day.

Read the whole story…

Posted with Blogsy

Palm Springs, CA – ENCORE Supper Club is back for the Palm Springs Fall Season with a new expanded dinner menu that includes more New Orleans favorites, plus Vegan and Gluten-free menu options. “We wanted to continue our tradition of offering great Southern style recipes,” said ENCORE Supper Club partner Pam Genevrino, “but we wanted to keep things fresh, and add our own twist to the recipes.”

New this season are the Lake Pontchartrain Surf & Turf (an 8 oz. Certified Angus Beef Filet, topped with a Crab Cake and Bearnaise Sauce, and served with smoked Gouda Mashed Potatoes),  the Pan Sauteed Louisiana Catfish (served with pineapple Jalapeno Chutney), and the Bayou Vegetable Stew (Spicy Sauteed vegetables steeped in a vegetable stock with lime and cilantro and served over gluten-free rice). These join existing favorites, the Sweet Tea Marinated Pork Chop and Crawfish Etoufee.  Plus, what would down home cooking be without Southern Fried Chicken with Spinach stuffed Waffles or Low Country Shrimp and Grits. And if that’s not enough, there’s more! If you plan to come for dinner, make sure you come hungry! Options are plentiful and servings are generous.

The ENCORE Supper Club Happy Hour Bar Menu is also back this season with great options like Black-N-Blue Sliders, Mac & Cheese Balls, Spicy Chicken Wings, Crab Cake Sliders, Muffuletta Chiabatta and more – all for under $6! Add great Happy Hour Drink Specials and live entertainment, and you’ve got the perfect spot to relax and unwind after work.

ENCORE Supper Club is also bringing back it’s “Soon to be Famous” $1 Bloody Mary Brunch. Brunch at ENCORE Supper Club kicked off this Summer to rave reviews, and now it’s back – bigger than ever, and with expanded hours – 10am until 2pm. In addition to the super popular $1 Bloody Marys, Brunch at ENCORE Supper Club includes a variety of scrumptious food choices, including the ENCORE Scramble, Kentucky Derby Cobb, Jambalaya Omelet, Stuffed French Toast, and Ham and Cheese Flapjacks! And don’t forget to try our Bourbon Street Specialties – Traditional New Orleans Beignets, and, new this Fall – Bayou Gazpacho (served tableside, with a healthy shot of Pepper Vodka)!

Inspired by the American South, and perfected in the Southern California Desert, ENCORE Supper Club takes comfort food to an all-new level! Think Cajun Fried Green Tomatoes, Deep Fried Deviled Eggs, Shrimp Remoulade and Louisiana Crab Cakes. Want more? There is more! But you’ll have to come by and see the rest of these great menu options for yourself!
ENCORE Supper Club
is Palm Springs’ only Cajun fusion restaurant
Conveniently located at 340 N. Palm Canyon Drive (between Alejo and Amado)
www.encorepalmsprings.com

Reservations:
By Phone: 760.318-7979
Online: reservations@encorepalmsprings.com

Fifth Anniversary Edition Runs from Thursday, Sept. 20th through Sunday, Sept. 23rd

September 17, 2012,  Palm Springs, CA – LGBT Short Films, 38 of them to be exact, are more than just the opening act for the feature films at the fifth anniversary edition of Cinema Diverse: The Palm Springs Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, which opens on Thursday, September 20th and runs through Sunday, September 23rd. “The short films we’ve selected run the gambit,” said Michael C. Green, Managing Director of The Palm Springs Cultural Center. “They are as short as 2 minutes and as long as 37 minutes. Many of them are paired with feature length films, but we also have four screening times that are devoted exclusively to groups of loosely themed short films.”

Short films, which sometimes struggle to find a broad audience commercially, are considered by many industry insiders to be succinct, yet pure forms of artistic expression for filmmakers. They are also very often the first films for young filmmakers working on graduate programs or hoping to get noticed for their work.

“We received far more short film entries this year than feature films,” Green said. “Some of our selections, like FAGS AFTER DARK and THE BURIED, are powerful – even brutal in their portrayal of gay bashing and gay panic violence. Others, like SISTERHOOD OF THE SASH: INTERNATIONAL MS LEATHER AT 25, POWERFUL OUT WOMEN, AMERICA’S MOST UNWANTED and ENTRY DENIED, are great narrow-focus documentaries. And then there are some that are more light-hearted – HALF-SHARE, a story about Summer on Fire Island (starring Alec Mapa), THE ALTERED LIVES OF LAVONNE SALLEE (the story of an altered Barbie artist) and TROY: NAKED BOYS BEHIND BARS, SING! – an animated satire of gaysploitation entertainment. There’s really something for everyone, and a little bit of everything in our line-up of shorts.”

Green is particularly excited about a program that was proposed to him by his friend, Comedian Shann Carr. “Shann was telling me about all these new lesbian web series that have been popping up on the internet. She wanted to find a way to share them with local women, so she and two of her favorite local editors created a Montage-Mash-Up featuring a bunch of the best lesbian web series making waves on the net.” “It’s just a sneak peek,” Carr said. “But it’s enough to give film festival audiences an idea of not only what’s out there, but also how the newest indie producers are reaching audiences outside of theaters.” The Montage-Mash-Up will screen as part of the “Chick Flicks Screening on Saturday, September 22nd at 11:30am.
For more information, and to see the complete schedule,

visit: www.cinemadiverse.org

TICKET INFORMATION:
NOTE: All CINEMA DIVERSE screenings will be held at Camelot Theatres

PASSES:
All Access Pass: $149.00
(includes all special events and all festival screenings)
Dozen Pass: $129.00 ($10.75 ea.)
Half Dozen Pass: $69.00 ($11.50 ea.)

TICKETS:
Festival Screenings = $13.00 (on sale after September 1st)

To purchase your tickets in-person, visit:
Camelot Theatres Box Office
(Daily 11:30 AM – 8:00 PM)
2300 E. Baristo Road,
Palm Springs, CA, 92262,
Box Office: 760-325-6565

Telephone Orders: 888-718-4253

Order online: Camelottickets.com

NOTE: Cinema Diverse: The Palm Springs Gay & Lesbian Film Festival is presented by the Palm Springs Cultural Center, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.