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Difference between revisions of "Northern Ireland"
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Northern Ireland (often popularly referred to simply as Ulster) is located on the island of Ireland and is one of the four constituent nations of the United Kingdom. Despite its former reputation as being violent and dangerous the political situation has stabilized quite a bit. Although a few extremist paramilitary organizations are still active, the province is much safer to visit than formerly. Northern Ireland has a vast array of attractions which are of interest to tourists, from stunning landscapes and scenery to vibrant cities and interesting remnants of the country's past.
Northern Ireland was created in 1922 when its parliament opted out of the newly-created Irish Free State. It comprises six of the nine counties of Ulster (one of the four ancient Irish provinces), with the remaining three (Monaghan, Cavan and Donegal) staying in what is now the modern day Republic of Ireland. For this reason Ulster is a popular colloquial alternative name for Northern Ireland, even if it is not in the strictest sense geographically accurate.
Northern Ireland is home to numerous cities and towns. Below is a list of nine of the most notable. Other urban areas are listed on their specific county article.
Other Destinations
The weather in Northern Ireland is notoriously unpredictable, and it is not uncommon to experience a full range of meteorological conditions in a single hour. As with the rest of the island of Ireland and Great Britain, the province is particularly susceptible to rain. Similarly to England, the weather is a common topic of conversation.
The population of Northern Ireland is largely made up of two groups. Although there had always been population movements between the west of Scotland and the north-east of Ireland, during the 16th and 17th centuries there was an organised settlement of people from Scotland known as the Ulster Plantation. Most came to work on new plantations which had been established in the area. The indigenous Irish population was predominantly Roman Catholic (at a time when this was the only Western Christian religion), whilst Scottish settlers after the Reformation were predominantly Protestant.
The religious difference turned into a political split: most Protestants are Unionists or (more extreme) Loyalists, supporting continued union with Great Britain, while most Catholics are Nationalists or (more extreme) Republicans. Nationalists and Republicans both want a united Ireland, but Nationalists (politically affiliated with SDLP political party) use peaceful political means; whereas the Republican movement (politically affiliated with Sinn Fein political party) sought violence as a means to a united Ireland up until 2004. Although segregation always existed, the situation reached boiling point in 1969 when the campaign for Civil Rights turned violent when protesters were attacked by Loyalist supporters. That was the start of the period known euphamistically as "The Troubles." In 1972, British Forces fired live rounds rather than plastic bullets at unarmed peaceful civilian protesters. 14 were laid to rest, on a day that has become known worldwide as "Bloody Sunday". The British Government gave reparations to the families of the victims. This was a major turning point in the support for the Republican movement as the civilian population felt they had nowhere left to turn. This also effectively re-polarised segregation along religious lines. Previously inactive paramilitary groups became re-established in the province, which sat precariously on the brink of civil war for many years.
In 1998, after years of sporadic negotiations between the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland and the paramilitary groups and local political parties, The Agreement was signed, signalling the end of violence in the province. This is often referred to as the Belfast Agreement or the Good Friday Agreement after the place or day on which it was signed. Although there was an almost immediate drop in the level of terrorist acts and rioting, it took several years for stability to settle on the region and for agreement to be reached concerning the devolved government.
Most people visiting have heard of the varying allegiances of Northern Ireland's people. However, to a traveller the people of Northern Ireland are friendly and warm towards visitors. You get the feeling that the people know the allegiances of each other, but to a traveller it can be hard to ascertain (at least until after the second pint of Guinness).
Citizens can self-identify as Irish or British solely or Northern Irish. Similar divides exist in referring to places, for example, to Nationalists, Londonderry is Derry, while to Unionists it is Londonderry.
The official languages for Northern Ireland are English, Irish and Ulster Scots. While used in various government and public organisations, Irish and Ulster Scots are rarely seen written and even less spoken. Nearly all education in the country is in English; therefore, there is no need to learn Irish, partly due to the fact that most non-Catholic schools do not teach it. Many Northern Irish people have little knowledge of Irish or Ulster Scots.
Although Northern Ireland is a small country, accents and dialects differ considerably throughout the country and even foreigners fluent in English may find it hard to understand people with certain accents. However most Northern Irish people will slow down and speak more clearly if they think you are having a hard time understanding them.
In schools English is taught as both a literature subject and a language subject. In most Catholic schools and some grammar schools it is normal for students to be taught Irish (although not widely used) and therefore certain schools have bilingual signs etc. French, Spanish and German (sometimes Latin) are taught in most schools or at least a few of these languages will be taught mainly at secondary school level. Unfortunately for native English speakers there is often no desire for them to learn other languages therefore a lot of Northern Irish people won't be able to speak to you in your native language but will try and make their English more understandable for a foreigner.
Get in
Immigration and visa requirements
Northern Ireland is a constituent part of the United Kingdom, meaning it has exactly the same entry requirements as England, Scotland and Wales. Citizens of the UK and Crown Dependencies can travel to Northern Ireland without a passport and have the automatic right to reside and work.
For more information of UK Immigration and visa requirements, see the UK's Home Office website [1].
By air
Northern Ireland has three commercial airports, with the Belfast being the main gateway. A third airport in operates in Derry.
George Best Belfast City Airport [2] (airport code BHD): just 2 miles from Belfast city center, with magnificent views of the city of Belfast or Belfast Lough offered to passengers on approach and departure. The airport principally serves routes to domestic UK and Ireland, however bmi offers interline connections to its flights and those of the Star Alliance through Heathrow. These flights are code-shared with British Airways, therefore offering interline connections to its flights and those of the One World Alliance. Airlines using the airport include:
The terminal is served every twenty to thirty minutes from 06.00 - 22.00 by the 600 Airport bus [7] (£1.30 single, £2.20 return). Depending on traffic, the journey to Belfast's Laganside and Europa Buscentres should take no more than fifteen minutes. Ask at the airport information desk for a free shuttle ride to the near-by Sydenham railway station for trains towards Bangor, Belfast and Portadown. Considering the airport's proximity to the city, taxis cost less than £10 to most parts of the city and are an economical choice for small groups.
The Airporter is an hourly shuttle from Belfast's two airports to Londonderry/Derry. The journey to Belfast City Airport takes roughly a two hours.
Belfast International Airport [8] (airport code BFS) Locally known as Aldergrove (after the Royal Air Force base that has been there up until recently since before the commercial airport was constructed), the International Airport is further away from Belfast than the City Airport (but is close to the town of Antrim) and offers significantly more international destinations.
The terminal is served up to thirty minutes from 05.35 - 23.20 by the 300 Airport bus [17] (£6 single, £9 return) to Belfast Laganside and Europa Buscentres. Depending on traffic, the journey to Belfast's Laganside and Europa Buscentres takes about forty-five minutes. Taxis should cost no more than £25-£30 to Belfast City Centre.
You can also do it a much cheaper way By Taking the 109A (hourly service Monday to Saturday) ULSTERBUS service to Antrim from the stand outside airport ,(Bus/Train Station which costs £2.60 one wayby bus ) then once you get off the bus in Antrim Go up the steps into the ajoining Train station and buy a Ticket to Belfast Great Victoria street station the train stops in Mossley west /Belfast Central/ Botanic /City Hospital then Great Victoria street which is combined with europa Bus centre Great Victoria street is on the same name street in Belfast and is much more "Central" than Central station and is around the corner from city hall which is 10 mins away by foot. Check www.translink.co.uk for timetables for both Bus and rail Journeys by typing in 109A into search or click on Timetables for Ulsterbus and NI railways you will need the Londonderry-Coleraine -Ballymena-Antrim-Belfast Time table trains are usually every other Hour to Belfast so you might have to wait awhile at the station you can Also use the train station at Antrim to travel to Derry/Londonderry and Portrush as well as Ballymena /Cullybackey Coleraine and Castlerock /Bellarena if intending to Travel towards Derry?londonderry /Portrush be sure to board the Train travelling towards Derry /Londonderry this is always indicated on the Digital display on the front of the trains you will need the Belfast-Londonderry timetable for travelling to Derry/Londonderry.
The Airporter is an hourly shuttle from Belfast's two airports to Londonderry/Derry. The journey to Belfast International takes ninety minutes.
City of Derry Airport [18] (airport code LDY) an airport serving Derry, Tyrone, and Donegal in the Republic of Ireland.
Ulsterbus operates various scheduled services to and from the airport to the main Foyle Street bus depot in the City. Services also operate to and from Limavady. For details of Ulsterbus bus services visit www.translink.co.uk. The typical fare to the city centre is £2.70 and the journey takes approximately 20-30 minutes.
Taxis are available from the airport, with the typical fares to the city centre around £12, with the journey taking roughly 15 minutes.
By train
Despite decades of underinvestment and service cutbacks, Northern Ireland Railways [21] (a division of Translink, Northern Ireland's public transport operator) manages to maintain a small but increasingly reliable passenger rail network around the province, with four 'domestic' lines radiating out from Belfast.
Service is most frequent and reliable on the Portadown - Belfast - Bangor corridor, on which new trains offer frequent and fast suburban service. The line to Londonderry/Derry is exceptionally beautiful as it passes along the north coast after Coleraine, however travellers should note that the railway line is slower (two hours or more) than the equivalent Ulsterbus Goldline express coach (one hour and forty minutes). Contact NIR for information on tourist passes for exploring Northern Ireland by bus and train: with integrated bus and train stations in most major towns, the North is easily explored without a car.
The cross-border service to Dublin (with connections to other destinations in the Republic of Ireland) is offered by the Enterprise, a modern, comfortable and relatively fast train jointly operated by Northern Ireland Railways and Iarnród Éireann (who operate trains in the Republic of Ireland). The journey to Dublin takes around two hours, and there are eight trains a day, offering two classes of service.
By car
Roads link Northern Ireland with the Republic of Ireland. However, pay particular attention to road signs when driving in border areas. In some places the border, being based on county boundaries, runs along the middle of the road while in others it's possible to cross into the South and then back into the North again within several hundred yards. Fortunately both jurisdictions drive on the left though road signs and speed limits in the Republic are now metric (kilometres) while road signs in the North are all imperial (miles).
There are currently no fixed border checks and there is complete freedom of movement between the North and Republic without a passport. Despite this however, non-UK, Irish or EU citizens must have a proper travel documents if they intend to continue further south of the border and vice versa.
By boat
Ferries cross the Irish Sea from Great Britain to Larne or Belfast in Northern Ireland. All the operators listed below offer special promotions throughout the year, and some also offer through ticketing with rail and bus services at each end.
Seat61.com offers informed and independent advice on how to book combined train and ferry tickets from any railway station in Great Britain to Northern Ireland.
It is also possible to get ferries to Dublin and drive to Northern Ireland.
Get around
By car
If you are able to rent a car then driving around Northern Ireland is a very pleasant experience. Most drivers follow the rules of the road (except for speeding) and are quite polite towards other drivers. In some areas it is a pleasant gesture to wave at a passing car even if you do not know the person. Many of the roads on the North Coast are quite twisty but offer some beautiful scenery and there are many places to stop along the way and take in the natural beauty.
Northern Ireland's motorway system connects Belfast to Dungannon, Ballymena and Newtownabbey. All large towns and cities are well connected by road. The speed limits are:
Motorways and Dual Carriageways - 70 miles per hour (c. 112 km/h)
Other roads (outside urban areas) - 60 miles per hour (c. 96 km/h)
Urban areas (towns and cities) - 30 miles per hour (c. 48 km/h) and occasionally 40mph if signposted.
It is worth noting that many drivers constantly speed, usually 10 to 20 miles per hour above the speed limit. It is common for someone to be driving at 60 or 70 miles per hour and be overtaken by many other cars. It is no surprise then that speed traps and cameras are often quite sparse (except for in Belfast and near the border) and many drivers take this to their advantage. There have been many advertising campaigns over the years to combat the problem of speeding and drink driving ran by the Department of Environment which often include graphical adverts of the consequences of speeding and drink driving. A notorious accident blackspot in Northern Ireland is the circuit of main roads around Coleraine, Portstewart and Portrush which host the annual NorthWest 200 motorcycle road race - and as a result aggressive motorcycle riding is commonplace and the roads are heavily patrolled at most times of the year as a result.
Most main A roads are of a very good standard with many having overtaking lanes at certain points to allow you to pass slower traffic. B roads are often small country roads that are very narrow and have little (if any) road markings. Drivers must be careful on B roads when passing other traffic and may have to slow down and pull in when meeting larger traffic.
There is a comparatively high incidence of road accidents in Northern Ireland, and the province employs slightly different driving laws to the rest of the UK. One notable difference is that newly qualified drivers can be identified by 'R' plates which are displayed on the car for the first twelve months after their licence is issued. These plates are mandatory. Drivers displaying these plates are limited to 45 miles per hour (c. 72 kilometres per hour) on ALL roads, including dual carriageways and motorways. As with 'L' plates in the rest of the UK, drivers displaying 'R' plates are often the target of road rage and are not awarded a great deal of patience. Many Northern Irish people feel that R drivers are a hazard on the road when travelling at 45mph as it means other drivers are more likely to overtake in risky situations.
It is worth mentioning that Police security checkpoints are becoming very common once again. When approaching a checkpoint, dip your headlights and stop if indicated to do so. The police may want to check your licence and look in your boot (trunk). Don't worry, its all perfectly routine!
Car rental
Northern Ireland is not as well served by car rental companies as is the Republic. Some Irish car rental companies offer a drop off option in Belfast while others have locations in Belfast City. Check with your car rental company if you are covered to go south of the border - it isn't always included automatically.
By bus and train
See also Rail travel in Ireland
Translink operate the Northern Ireland public transport system.
English is spoken everywhere, although the distinctive Ulster accent can be more difficult to understand than other Irish dialects. Ulster Scots and Irish are used in some small communities. Do be aware though that the Northern Irish tend to speak quite rapidly compared to most English speakers, and have a huge arsenal of local words that are frequently dropped into conversation by speakers of all ages and groups. Expect to become acquainted with words such as 'aye' (yes), 'wee' (little), 'hallion' (person who behaves in a deliberately careless manner), 'we'un (literally 'wee one', meaning child), 'dander' (casual walk) and 'crack' (spelled in Irish Gaelic as "craic", meaning a good time/fun/a laugh, with no connotations of any controlled substances whatsoever).
Giant's Causeway- World Heritage Site and National Nature Reserve. The Giants Causeway is essentially an area of coastline and cliffs with very unusual and distinctive volcanic stone formations. The name comes from the local Legend of Fionn McCool, as it was said that the rocks were once part of a bridge (or causeway) which ended in similar rocks directly across the sea, in Scotland, but the connecting rocks were torn down by Benandonner when Fionn's wife tricked him into believing that Fionn was huge. It is an interesting site to see but come prepared for a long and intense walk. (Best to wear waterproof clothing and strong sneakers). Giant's Causeway is split up into six sections in walking order : 1. The Camel 2. The Granny 3. The Wishing Chair 4. The Chimney Tops 5. The Giant's Boot and 6. The Organ. All six parts of Giant's Causeway are different in shape and form and truly are a sight to be seen.Carrick-A-Rede- The name literally means the rock in the road. Carrick-A-Rede
Ulster American Folk Park- Northern Ireland Visitor Attraction in County Tyrone open air museum explaining story of emigration from Ulster to North America in 18th and 19th centuries. There is an Old World and New World in site. Sites include the Weaver's Cottage, A Blacksmith's forge, Crop Fields, log cabins, smoke houses, and herb gardens. Museum restaurant available, open daily for snacks and full meals.
The official currency of Northern Ireland is the pound sterling. Bank of England notes are used but the four Northern Irish banks print their own versions, which tend to be used more often (Bank of Ireland, Northern Bank, Ulster Bank, and First Trust). Northern Irish notes are not valid in the rest of the UK (although many mainland shopkeepers usually accept them), but must be exchanged for Euro when departing to the Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland does a large amount of trade with the Republic of Ireland (where the Euro is used) and therefore many outlets in border areas and urban centres accept euro.
Virtually all shops and pubs in Derry and Newry will accept the Euro as payment. In addition, many major pubs and shopping outlets in Belfast city centre now accept euro. In particular, the pub company Botanic Inns Ltd and the shopping centre Castle Court can be cited as accepting payments for goods in euro. Many phone kiosks in Northern Ireland also accept euro, but by no means all outside Belfast itself.
A popular dish is the an assortment of fried food, called the "Ulster Fry". It consists of eggs, bacon, tomatoes, sausages, potato bread and soda bread. Some versions include mushrooms or baked beans. Fry's are generally prepared as the name suggests, everything is fried in a pan. Traditionally lard was used, but recently due to health concerns, it has been replaced with oils such as canola and olive. Historically, it was popular with the working class.
Some shops on the north coast close to Ballycastle, sell a local delicacy called dulse. This is a certain type of seaweed, usually collected, washed and Sun-dried from the middle of Summer through to the middle of Autumn. Additionally, in August, the lamas fair is held in Ballycastle, and a traditional sweet, called "yellow man" is sold in huge quantities. As you can tell from the name, it's yellow in colour, it's also very sweet, and can get quite sticky. If you can, try to sample some yellow man, just make sure you have use of a toothbrush shortly after eating it... it'll rot your teeth!
The cuisine in Northern Ireland is similar to that in the United Kingdom as a whole, with dishes such as Fish and Chips a popular fast food choice. Local dishes such as various types of stew and potato-based foods are also very popular.
It should be noted that, with the advent of the peace process and (until recently) the improvements in economic conditions for many people in Northern Ireland, there has been a great increase in the number of very good restaurants, especially in the larger towns such as Belfast and Lisburn. Indeed it would be difficult for a visitor to either of those cities not to find a fine-dining establishment to suit their tastes (and wallet).
Tesco NI hold a free event, 'Taste NI Food and Drink Festival', every year. The event celebrates the best of Northern Irish produce and invites the public to to take a culinary tour of the region, browsing food and drink stalls, meeting the people behind the local brands, sampling delicious produce and watching live cookery demonstrations from Northern Ireland's top chefs.
This year's event is to be held in Belfast's Custom House Square on the 10th and 11th September, 2011.
The legal drinking age in Northern Ireland is 18. People at and above the age of 16 will be served beer and wine with meals as long as there is a consenting adult present. In general, restaurateurs are strict about this rule, while the operators of small local pubs and bars tend to be more relaxed. Depending on their license, most bars stop serving alcohol at either 11PM or 1AM. Some clubs serve until later, and some bars have (illegal, but widely overlooked) "lock-ins" where the doors are locked at closing time, but people can stay and drink for longer. This only takes place at the discretion of the bar owner, and such events operate on an invitation-only basis.
Stay safe
Northern Ireland is a very safe place to visit. It is not the 1970s anymore, despite what the news footage often shown on TV would like to have you believe. Stories of terrorism and riots in the media are grossly sensationalised and it shouldn't put you off from visiting (Would you avoid London because of 7/7?) There is a risk of terrorist related incidents in Northern Ireland but not much more than the general risk found elsewhere (in fact you may be safer in NI than other parts of Britain due to the ongoing threat of Islamic terrorism)
As with most places, avoid being alone at night in urban areas. In addition, avoid wearing clothes that could identify you (correctly or not) as being from one community or the other (for example Celtic or Rangers football kits). Do not express a political viewpoint (pro-Nationalist or pro-Unionist) unless you are absolutely sure you are in company that will not become hostile towards you for doing so. Even then, you should be sure that you know what you're talking about. It would even be better if you acted that either you don't know about the conflict or don't care. Avoid political gatherings where possible. Many pubs have a largely cultural and political atmosphere (such as on the Falls Road, the mostly Nationalist main road in West Belfast, and the Newtownards Roads in predominantly Unionist East Belfast), but expressing an opinion among good company, especially if you share the same view, will usually not lead to any negative consequences. People are generally more leniant on tourists if they happen to say something controversial, and most will not expect you to know much about the situation.
Traffic through many towns and cities in Northern Ireland tends to become difficult at times for at least a few days surrounding the 12th July due to the Orange Parades and some shops may close for the day or for a few hours. The parades have been known to get a bit rowdy in certain areas but have vastly improved in recent years. Additionnaly, the last Saturday in August is known as "Black Saturday" which is the end of the marching season. There can be trouble at this time too, just stay away from anywhere that appears to be obviously sectarian towards either community, the trouble now usually happens between locals who know each other.
Pickpockets and violent crime are rare so you can generally walk around the main streets of Belfast or any other city or town without fear during the day.
If you are dialling from one telephone in Northern Ireland to another, you do not need to add any area code. If dialling from the rest of the UK use the code (028). If dialling from elsewhere you can dial a Northern Ireland number by using the UK country code 44, followed by the Northern Ireland area code 28. If dialling from the Republic of Ireland, you can use the code (048), or you can dial internationally using the UK country code.
International phone cards are widely available in large towns and cities within Northern Ireland, and phone boxes accept payment in GBP£ and Euro. Buying a cheap pay as you go phone is also an option which can be purchased from any of the five main phone networks, O2-UK, Orange, Vodafone, T-Mobile and Three. O2 will have the best nationwide coverage and is the most popular network choice for many people. It's worth noting that any phone that is bought in Northern Ireland uses the United Kingdoms cell network and therefore when entering the Republic of Ireland you will be subjected to the usual EU roaming charges. It's quite common for phones in Northern Ireland to switch over to Irish networks when near border areas such as in the North West near Donegal etc. This is also true the other way around, as you can travel some distance into the Republic of Ireland while still maintaining a UK phone signal. The networks available in the Republic of Ireland are O2-IE, Meteor,Three and Vodafone IE so ensure not to get confused between the UK and Irish versions of O2,Three and Vodafone.
Free WiFi is available at various hotels and restaurants across the country. WiFi may also be available in various locations from unsecured networks from local businesses or pubs/clubs etc. Internet cafe's are less common in Northern Ireland but there are computers for use at the libraries which you may use after registering with the library service. Broadband speeds in Northern Ireland vary from fast to non existent. In towns and cities expect the Internet to be quite speedy but the further you get out from the towns the slower the Internet may become.
Generally speaking, people from NI are welcoming, friendly and well-humored people, however that does not mean that, on occasion, there are no taboos. It is sometimes apparent in some of the more geographically 'politicised' areas of Northern Ireland, that an insistence on a politicised conversation, especially concerning religious affiliation, may cause offence. Further on that issue, avoid bringing up issues like the IRA, UVF, UDA, INLA etc., or political parties, as it will fare similarly as the above taboo. Other than that, there are no real dangers to causing tension among the Northern Irish people. As with virtually all cultures, don't do anything you wouldn't do at home. Also, Northern Irish people have a habit of gently refusing gifts or gestures you may offer them, do not be offended, because they really mean that they like the gesture, also you are expected to do the same, so as not to appear slightly greedy, it is a confusing system but is not likely to get you in trouble.
Tours of Belfast often include a visit to the Peace Lines, the steel barriers that separate housing estates along sectarian lines. These are particularly visible in West Belfast. It is common for private or taxi tours to stop here and some tourists take the opportunity to write messages on the wall. It is important to remember that there is a real reason why these barriers have not been removed, and that they provide security for those living on either side of them. Messages questioning the need for these security measures, or those encouraging the residents to 'embrace peace' etc, are not appreciated by members of the community who live with the barriers on a day-to-day basis and such behaviour is generally regarded as arrogant and patronising as it is commonly perceived that visitors from outside the UK and Ireland have a limited knowledge of the political situation.
The terms which refer to the two communities in Northern Ireland have changed. During the Troubles, the terms 'Republican' and 'Loyalist' were commonplace. These are seen as slightly 'extreme', probably due to the fact that they were terms used by the paramilitaries. It is more common to use the terms 'Nationalist' and 'Unionist' today; these terms are more politically neutral. 'Loyalist' and 'Republican' still refer to particular political viewpoints.
A number of politically-charged names for Northern Ireland are used by some residents, the most contentious being "The Six Counties" (used by Nationalists) and "Ulster" (used by Unionists to refer only to NI). Visitors are not expected to know, or use, these or any other politically-sensitive terms, which will only be encountered if you choose to engage in political discussions.
Should it be necessary to refer to Northern Ireland as either a geographical or political entity, the term "Northern Ireland" (at least, when used by people from outside Ireland) is accepted by the vast majority of people.
If you need to refer to Ireland as a geographical whole, a reference to "the island of Ireland" has no political connotations, and will always be understood.
Visitors might be more aware of the fact that the second city of Northern Ireland has two English-language names, "Londonderry" (official) and "Derry" (unofficial but widely used). Nationalists, and everyone in the Republic, will invariably use the name "Derry", whereas Unionists strongly prefer "Londonderry". It is wise not to question anyone's use of either name over the other, and if you are asked "Did you mean Derry" or "Did you mean Londonderry?" you should politely say yes.
Social Issues
The people in Northern Ireland are generally warm and open - always ready with good conversation. Of course, being such a small, isolated Province has also led to a decidedly noticeable lack in social diversity.
Gay and lesbian travellers should be aware that some citizens of Northern Ireland are not the most accepting when it comes to homosexuality. This is not necessarily due to the people being averse to it, but rather the fact that there are virtually no examples of any Gay and Lesbian communities outside Belfast. It should be noted, however, that parts of the capital (for example the University Quarter) are perfectly safe and accepting of Gay and Lesbian people, with both of Belfast's universities incorporating active LGBT societies.
It is also worth noting that the majority of people you will encounter will be white. It isn't unusual to go a few days without encountering any multiculturalism, apart from other visitors. Racism is not generally an issue. However, due to the openness and rather frank humour in Northern Ireland, small, sarcastic comments may be made about the issue, in jest, if a local encounters someone outside of his or her own nationality. It is best not to react to this, as it is most likely just a joke, and should be treated as such.
However, there have been issues of more severe racism in parts of the province in recent years. Belfast is the most ethnically diverse area, but even so the city is over 99% white. Typically, incidents of overt or violent racism have been confined to South Belfast, which has a higher mix of non-white ethnicities due to its location near Queen's University. The local rumour is that a recent spate of violence directed at people with a Chinese or South-East Asian appearance was the result of a Chinese Restaurant's refusal to pay protection money to the UDA (Ulster Defence Association) paramilitary group. Whether this is true or not, the fact is that non-white travellers should exercise a greater degree of caution in certain parts of Belfast. Visitors should remember that there are places to avoid in all cities and as Belfast is smaller than most, those areas may come to view more than in others.


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Laboratory activities typically involve either highly repetitive movements (ex. pipetting) or prolonged static postures (ex. Using a microscope, cell counting), sometimes both. These types of activities pose ergonomic risk because there is little variety in the muscles being used and long task durations. There is also often limited storage space in laboratories, as table tops and workstations need to remain uncluttered, many frequently used items are stored on overhead shelves or cabinets. This typical laboratory environment results in awkward lift postures and frequent reaches. Pinch grips are also often used with tweezers, eye eyedroppers or small pipettes.
Biosafety Cabinet
Cell Counter

subset: commoncrawl


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Perfect to use alone or in layers, these scalloped borders come in a pack of thirteen 3' x 2.25" strips for a total length of 39 feet!
The strips are great for framing your bulletin boards and windows or for complementing charts and class creations. Borders are available in a variety of colors, styles, sizes, and prints to suit any classroom theme!
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Theoretical studies of rolled-up and wrinkled nanomembranes
Additional materials available (3)
Licensed according to this deed.
Published on
The thesis is devoted to three similar topics from the field of rolled-up and wrinkled nanomembranes. We start by recalling classical theory of thin plates, which will be used to describe deformation of nanomembranes. In the first topic, relaxation of internal strain is studied when a flat film is partially released from the substrate by etching the sacrificial layer underneath. Energetic competition of the tube and wrinkle shape is quantitatively investigated. Similar model is used to investigate the limiting maximum value of tube rotations. In the second topic, roll-up of initially wrinkled film is shown to favor tubes forming on the flat edge of rectangular wrinkled pattern, enabling precise control of tube position. Experiment is provided to justify our theoretical predictions. In the third topic, quantum well is assumed inside a wrinkled nanomembrane. Shift of transition energy induced by lateral modulation due to bending strain is quantified, being of interest for strain-sensitive optical detectors and emitters. In addition, lateral localization of electron and hole due to strain is also studied.
Additional movie files:
NMP1_5x_flat - Rolling of flat film, Fig. 3.16, left column
NMP1_5x - Rolling of wrinkled 'step' film, Fig. 3.16, right column
Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
1. Cendula, P., S. Kiravittaya, Y. F. Mei, Ch. Deneke, and O. G. Schmidt. "Bending and Wrinkling as Competing Relaxation Pathways for Strained Free-hanging Films." Physical Review B 79, 085429 (2009).
2. Cendula P., Kiravittaya S., Monch I., Schumann J., and Schmidt O. G., "Directional Roll-up of Nanomembranes Mediated by Wrinkling", Nano Lett. 11, 236 (2011).
3. Cendula P., Kiravittaya S. and Schmidt O. G., to appear in Journal of Applied Physics (2012), http://arxiv.org/abs/1107.1043.
Cite this work
Researchers should cite this work as follows:


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Realty firm founder Shavell dies suddenly
The founder of a prominent Westport real estate firm died Wednesday at his Palm Beach, Fla., home.
Wade Shavell, 51, who sold homes to several celebrities, including Keith Richards, Robert Redford and Martha Stewart, and numerous business executives around the Gold Coast, slipped and struck his head, causing a brain hemorrhage, his family said Thursday in a news release.
"Wade had an uncanny ability to connect with all types of people and he always had a story to put people at ease," said David Fite, his current business partner. "His work life and personal life overlapped, as clients always became friends. I will greatly miss his friendship."
Shavell's prodigious career as an agent was briefly derailed in 2006 when he pleaded guilty to federal tax evasion charges after conspiring with his mother to hide money he made from the sale of his firm. After his conviction, he returned to success, co-founding a firm in Florida with Fite. His firm recently opened an office in Westport.
Shavell started his real estate career at 19 and founded his own agency, Riverside/Shavell in Westport when he was 25.
After 11 years running his firm, Shavell sold the agency to NRT in 1999. In 2003, he moved to Palm Beach to run NRT's Corcoran Group.
In 2006, Shavell left the Corcoran Group following his guilty plea, and was sentenced in 2007 to three months in prison, followed by three years of probation.
Federal authorities in Connecticut said Shavell and his mother, Patricia, worked together in the tax evasion scheme.
Patricia Shavell paid the owner of a Hollywood, Fla. thrift shop to create three fraudulent appraisals for the 1999 and 2000 tax years -- right after her son gained a significant amount of money for the sale of his agency -- for personal property Wade Shavell claimed to have donated to the store.
Prosecutors said Wade Shavell claimed $322,610 in fraudulent, non-cash charitable donations on his 1999 U.S. tax return and $301,785 in fraudulent donations the next year. The tax loss to the government was $181,461.
Shavell, who faced up to five years in prison, paid the government $429,371 as part of a plea deal. His mother pleaded guilty to one count of attempting to defraud the IRS and was sentenced to probation, house arrest and community service.
After his run-in with the law, Shavell returned to the real estate business with Fite in 2008.
With Fite, Shavell quickly grew the firm, which has sold over $1 billion in real estate since it opened.
Steve Simpson, an employee of Shavell, told the Palm Beach Daily News that Shavell handled his conviction with grace, and took responsibility to protect his mother. Simpson said the way Shavell handled the situation was one of the reasons he joined Fite Shavell in 2008.
A funeral service for Shavell will be held at 10:00 a.m. Monday at the Temple Emanu-El of Palm Beach, 190 North County Road. The interment will follow at Eternal Light Memorial Gardens, Boynton Beach, Fla.


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Compassionate Communication
- Library Hall
Curiosity Cured the Cat: The pathway from conflict to connection
A free talk with guest teacher Kathy Ziola
Join Kathy Ziola for an introduction to Compassionate Communication. Also known as Nonviolent Communication (NVC), Compassionate Communication is the work of Marshall B. Rosenburg, PhD who authored over a dozen books on the topic. NVC is endorsed by Marianne Williamson, Deepak Chopra, John Gray, Jack Canfield, Anthony Robbins and many others.
- Is your tail frequently out of joint ?
- Have you become nocturnal, kept awake by relationship issues?
- Do you curl up in a corner and hope conflict will just go away?
- Do you approach conflict with your claws and fangs out, ready to fight?
- Are you burying your feelings like a cat in the box?
- When it comes to conflict, do you feel like you are stuck in a tree unable to find your way safely back to peace?
- Do you knead love and appreciation?
- Are you hungry and waiting for the food of compassion to nurture you?
- Do your misunderstandings resemble a cat fight?
If you are not smiling like the Cheshire Cat, relaxed and confident in conversation, then this talk is for you.
- Give up your reactive hissing and start responding with heart.
- Let the cat out of the bag and speak your truth honestly.
- Let your natural curiosity come alive to create understanding and peace.
Go from fighting to purring in a matter of minutes using this powerful model for communication that connects. Compassionate Communication offers effective, heart-connecting communication skills and principles for understanding one's self and relating to others.
About the speaker
Kathy Ziola, MA is a Certified Trainer within the Center for Nonviolent Communication. Kathy has presented workshops and retreats in communication, personal growth, relationships and stress management over the past 25 years. She provides training, coaching and therapy to individuals, couples, families and businesses. It is her passion to support others in having the quality of relationships they truly desire. Kathy is a co-owner of Yoga West Collective, a vibrant wellness studio in Grand Junction, CO where she teaches Compassionate Communication, The Yoga of Communication, and Love Works, an in-depth personal growth program. Learn more about NVC and Kathy at her website, or contact her at 970-216-8597 or via email.
This talk is free and open to the entire community, however our speaker requests that you RSVP via email to her so she can plan accordingly.
Kathy will also be teaching an all-day Compassionate Communication Basics workshop on Saturday, May 4 at the Yoga Center of Steamboat.
Thank you to the Yoga Center of Steamboat for sponsoring this community talk!


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Thank you Kate for the idea of a quick project, I have already put this into action and I have to admit, it is awesome seeing a project completed in just an hour or two.
Lena I never even realized that was supposed to be a wine rack! I'll have to keep my eyes open now that I know I won't have to buy a specialty towel rack. And yes, Pinterest is both ruining and improving my life. So many projects...so little time.
Natalia thank you for letting me know I'm not the only one that suffers with lack of inspiration when it comes to projects for myself! It's just way more fun to imagine my friends and family receiving stuff I made especially for them.
Winkieflash I am definitely going to have to look into that tutorial. I've been in a funk in more than my crafts and I'm ready to move on! I also like changing gears, I will have to do that.
Anyway my readers rock.
I also get to accept a blogging award today! Lisa of teaandcraft.blogspot.com has generously awarded me the Versatile Blogger award!
- Thank the person who gave you this award. That's common courtesy
- Include a link to their blog. That's also common courtesy — if you can figure out how to do it
- Next, select 5 blogs/bloggers that you've recently discovered or follow regularly. ( I would add, pick blogs or bloggers that are excellent!)
- Nominate those 5 bloggers for the Versatile Blogger Award
- Finally, tell the person who nominated you 7 things about yourself
It's Geek to Me http://lottloft.blogspot.com/ I love her. She's my imaginary internet friend. Don't ask how that works...it just does. Anyway, amazing work.
Happy Home Baking http://happyhomebaking.blogspot.com/ careful, this place will make you drool. I'm also really fond of the Asian inspired sweets. (Yes yes, I realize this blog isn't "crafty" like the others, but baking is SO an art. Plus I can award whomever I wish. Hehehe.)
Finally a new blog that I stumbled across http://craftdisasters.blogspot.com/ which so far has great patterns and fun projects.
As for the final "rule" eek. Seven things?
1. My husband is in the Air Force. We are currently stationed in Los Angeles.
2. My husband deploys in two months. Possible reason for funk? Probably.
3. I've recently become addicted to yoga, though class today kicked my butt.
4. When I make cakes for other people I purposely make extra icing so I can eat it straight out of the bowl when I'm done.
5. I'm a hoarder my nurture (thanks mom) and an organizer, not-quite-minimalist by nature. It makes me cry inside. A lot.
6. I enjoy calligraphy...but I kind of suck at it. I'm trying to get better.
7. Uh... (10 minutes later) ...I drink extremely sour lemonade? I skip sweetener entirely.
Alright now that the fun blog awards are done with I promised yesterday that I would post pictures of the shirt I attacked with a bleach pen. It was hard to find the right pressure so that I didn't squeeze out too much. You can tell where I did though since it bled out a tad.
In the awkward event that you can't tell what everything is there's the Cheshire Cat, a key, a heart, spade, diamond, and clover. Taadaa!


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VIP Blogs
You may have noticed there have been some new high-profile neighbors around here such as Anousheh Ansari and Web Worker Daily.
These blogs are part of the VIP blog program, which we've now made details about public.
The idea is that many successful blogs outgrow what they can technically or monetarily support. The seeds of VIP got started when our friend Robert Scoble was in a blog bind and we wanted to help out, but it required some custom work. We can do that for one or two people, but not three hundred and fifty thousand. However the trade off is usually worth it if the blog is prominent enough to bring new exposure to WordPress.com.
By making this program public we're hoping to reward some people who we might not know personally (including current WordPress.com blogs) with the same sort of opportunities and benefits that our friends had. Our main focus is still new features and customization for everyone, but we've lowered the handholding it takes to run a VIP site to where we can make room for a handful more.
If you're a fan of a blog struggling with growth, consider pointing them to VIP hosting and your favorite blogger can get back to worrying about content and not servers. We can't accept everyone, but you folks have shown you have good taste in the past.
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- Home
- Government
- Departments
- Land Use
- Land Use Services
- Code Enforcement
- Property Maintenance Violations
Property Maintenance Violations
Inspecting for Code Violations
New Castle County's code inspectors respond to complaints regarding potential code violations by inspecting the property. Violations that constitute a significant safety hazard - such as an old refrigerator without the doors removed that is sitting out of doors - are followed by a directive to correct immediately. Please view our "Top 10 Least Wanted List" of the most common code violations.
A Violation Could Mean a Ticket
Property maintenance violations could mean a $50 ticket for each violation. Upon receiving a complaint, Code Enforcement will perform an inspection. Code Enforcement will send a letter to the property owner listing violations found and give them several days (generally 12) to correct the violations. If the violation still exists when the property is again inspected, a ticket will be issued. If the violation is still not corrected, additional tickets may be issued until it is fixed.
Report a Concern
Should you wish to report a concern regarding a property located within unincorporated New Castle County, please use one of the following methods:
- Online property maintenance complaint system
- Telephone at (302) 395-5555
- Email at firstname.lastname@example.com
- In person at the New Castle County Government Center, 87 Read's Way, New Castle
Most Common Violations in Residential Areas
- Overgrown grass and weeds: Grass and weeds must be maintained at a height of eight inches or less.
- Structures in disrepair: Doors, windows, roofing, as well as accessory structures such as sheds and fences, must be maintained in good repair.
- Vehicles: Motor vehicles and trailers on your property must be operable and have up-to-date registration. Vehicles, including boats and boat trailers, must be on a hardened surface.
- Debris and junk: The yard should be free of debris, miscellaneous junk, branches, etc. Appliances and bulk items such as stoves, refrigerators, furniture and tires, are considered debris and must not be left out on the property.
- Trash: Trash and garbage awaiting pick up should be stored in lidded containers at all times.
- Animal feces: Should not be allowed to accumulate. Droppings should be cleaned up daily. Enforced through the police, pet owners are responsible for cleaning up feces deposited by their pets on others' properties within one hour.
- Swimming pools: All pools capable of holding more than two feet of water (including above-ground pools) require a building permit. All pools must meet strict requirements including fencing, self-latching gate and, if applicable, electrical standards.
- Encroachment on sidewalk: Bushes, hedges, fences, or tree limbs must not encroach on the sidewalk. No branch should be lower than seven feet over the sidewalk.
- Vacant homes: Any home that is vacant must be maintained as if it were occupied. The grass and shrubs must be trimmed, the exterior in good repair, and doors and windows secured.
- Home based businesses: There are many restrictions on home-based businesses to protect the residential nature of the community. Before beginning a home-based business, check with Land Use regarding the regulations and restrictions. Also, be certain to check your community's deed restrictions.


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Night Sweats Treatment (Rating: 3) , Votes:Watch a testimonial and see what an actual Elestrin patient has to say about their treatment experience. Please see full Prescribing Information, including Boxed Warning and Patient Information Sheet.http://www.elestrin.com/patient-benefits.phpCategory: Directory/Health & Fitness/Women
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Rest Assured Beds - Luxury Beds, Mattresses, & Pocket Spring Beds (Rating: 1) , Votes:Rest Assured, makers of luxury beds and mattresses. Rest Assured has been making beautiful beds since 1898. That's over 100 years' experience and insight into the perfect night's sleep. For your complete ease and comfort our mattresses contain hundreds of pocket springs placed closely together under layers of sumptuous fillings.http://www.rest-assured.co.uk/Category: Directory/Home & Garden/Home Improvement
Sexy Lingerie Dresses & Club wear (Rating: 199) , Votes:Sexy lingerie for every occasion, dresses for romantic evenings or clubbing, club wear for your favourite night club, fancy dress costumes for the party you must be seen at, bikinis for the beach wear fashion parade. With over 2000 products from Leg Avenue and Dreamgirl, Hustler and Pleaser boots and shoes including Skinny dip and many more all at wholesale prices, you have no excuse to look last years cast off.http://www.prettyinpinkclubwear.co.uk
Airport Hotels (Rating: 0) , Votes:Compare prices and book online instantly for all UK Airport hotels including Gatwick Airport, Heathrow Airport and Stansted. Choose accommodation only or up to 15 days airport parking too. Over 200 airport hotels to choose from including luxury 5 star hotels to budget hotels for those on a shoestring.http://www.airport-hotels.co.uk
Find My Prom Dress - Sexy Designer Prom Dresses (Rating: 18) , Votes:Find today's hottest formal dresses available on the net for the lowest prices guaranteed. Prom, homecoming, and quinceanera dresses by top designers. Many colors and styles available.http://www.findmypromdress.com
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text: hi all and thanks for all the help!! i have a vps hosted using a solusVM which is running ispconfig 3 and debian 6. When i first got it i just set the HOSTNAME as mydomain.com but now ive purchased a small 128mb server which im using as a ns2.mydomain.com which i setup with that hostname and have got it connected successfully to the first server. What im wanting to know is, what do i need to change so the mydomain.com hostname is ns1.mydomain.com and ensure that postfix ispconfig dns etc still works and the other server can still connect (dont mind reinstalling the ns2 as its just a nameserver if needed) I followed the setup tutorial here (debian 6 perfect server) initially then this(roll ya own dns) when adding my seccond server


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Training >> Browse Articles >> Vehicle Extrication
Is It Time to Change Our Training Yet? Part 1: Airbag Explosions
Lee Junkins, Midsouth Rescue Technologies
This is a question that I ask myself, while preparing a vehicle fire class for our local department. In Oct. 2003, as a training officer for our department, I was putting a two hour class together on the dangers of vehicle fires. In a previous airbag class, I had used some pictures that I thought would be helpful in this class. In looking at these pictures, I realized that we are in more danger of airbag systems involved in fire, than we are in extrication. I started studying this and soon came to realize; that if firefighters do exactly what we teach them, they are sure to be injured. The reason being, the new technologies of today's vehicles have been added in the exact locations, that we have taught them for years that a firefighter should be in to safely attack a vehicle fire. Today we are still teaching the same attack that was developed in the early 1970s, to avoid the dangers of bumper strut explosions, and ironically, 95% of the vehicles on the road today do not use bumper struts.
Related Video: Airbag's reaction to fire
Vehicle Extrication
As I began my studies, I gathered reports of incidents and vehicle fire investigations from all over the US and Canada. The number and types of reported incidents was unbelievable. One video showed a four inch diameter hole in the roof of a vehicle, where the driver's airbag inflator had gone through (Fig 1). Farther into the same investigation, large pieces of metal shrapnel were found over a hundred feet behind the vehicle (Fig 2).
Another incident was actually caught on video, a vehicle fire inside a garage. As the crew began to deploy their hose, the airbag and inflator blow out through the sun roof, shattering glass all over the firefighters; it hit the second story roof and fell behind the vehicle (see the white spot inside the circle) (Fig 3).
Though it happens so fast that we do not realize what the explosion is at the time, most all firefighters have seen the results of a normal airbag deployment after a fire. The bag will normally deploy and simply melt away, leaving the burnt inflator housing, as seen in (Fig 4).


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1995-1998 Nissan 240SX Duraflex Vader Wing Spoiler. Will Fit Years: 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998.
Duraflex aerodynamics are the next step in providing style, performance and durability for standard and custom aerodynamics.
Duraflex is a combination of fiberglass, plastic and flexible resins that allow for greater control over the design fitment and a thinner profile that doesn\'t sacrifice durability or flexibility.


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Conopias albovittatus (white-ringed flycatcher)
June 12, 1998
Fortuna Falls, near La Fortuna (Costa Rica)
A white-ringed flycatcher (Conopias albovittatus) calls in the early evening. This bird always looks to me like a "mini-Kiskadee".
Douglas Von Gausig (recordist; copyright holder), Naturesongs.com
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License.
The Animal Diversity Web team is excited to announce ADW Pocket Guides!
Help us improve the site by taking our survey.
To cite this page: Myers, P., R. Espinosa, C. S. Parr, T. Jones, G. S. Hammond, and T. A. Dewey. 2019. The Animal Diversity Web (online). Accessed at https://animaldiversity.org.
Disclaimer: The Animal Diversity Web is an educational resource written largely by and for college students. ADW doesn't cover all species in the world, nor does it include all the latest scientific information about organisms we describe. Though we edit our accounts for accuracy, we cannot guarantee all information in those accounts. While ADW staff and contributors provide references to books and websites that we believe are reputable, we cannot necessarily endorse the contents of references beyond our control.
This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation Grants DRL 0089283, DRL 0628151, DUE 0633095, DRL 0918590, and DUE 1122742. Additional support has come from the Marisla Foundation, UM College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, Museum of Zoology, and Information and Technology Services.
The ADW Team gratefully acknowledges their support.


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Students in this program will be trained to be group
exercise leaders and personal trainers. Students
will learn the principles of exercise and physical
conditioning, techniques of leading individual and
group exercise classes, appropriate methods to
establishing healthy behavior and the designing of
personalized exercise prescriptions. They will be able
to develop safe, effective exercise plans for a variety
of clients.
The Fitness Specialist certificate program trains
students for positions, entry-level or higher, in the
growing fitness industry.
Graduates will be qualified to be exercise testing
technicians, fitness instructors, strength training
instructors, aerobic instructors, and personal fitness
The fitness industry continued to experience growth
and has an ongoing need for trained instructors and
trainers in health clubs, fitness centers, and sports
medicine clinics.
Please note that students enrolled in an occupational
program must earn a grade of "C" or better in courses
required for the major.
Upon successful completion the student/athlete will be able to:
Upon successful completion the student will be able to:
Upon successful completion the student will improve in one or more of the following fitness components:


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Supercar Development focused on light material on the Lamborghini upgrade this step is very fast with more power under the hood but from now on Italian supercar maker has decided to change their focus from more power to weight less at the same power with more fuel consumption and emissions.
They decided around 700 HP is enough and they will make their new car more quickly by reducing the weight of the car with lightweight materials. This step will encourage the acceleration towards a faster and will involve the use of composite materials in the right place.
Aluminum will probably be used as a substitute for heavy steel and with improved aerodynamics and start / stop technology next Lambos may actually fuel efficient and have low carbon emissions. Lamborghini also can make cars with hybrid powertrain management but who are more likely to come at the tail end of the decade.


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Weather this spring has left a mixed bag of good and ill fortune for South Texas growers. From the lower Rio Grande Valley to Victoria in the north, coastal Texas has seen substantial and much needed rainfall across much of the region that nurtured most crops, but hail storms delayed watermelon harvest in the Valley and destroyed hundreds of acres of cotton in the Coastal Bend.
"Whether the weather has been a good or bad thing for crops just depends on where your farm is located," reports Dr. Juan Anciso, associate professor for Texas AgriLife Extension Research Center in Weslaco. "The Valley received beneficial rains in the first three months of the year, which provided a good start to many crops. But May and now June so far has been dry. Most of our rain happened in a short period of time and it would have been better if it were spread out. But we are in better shape at this stage of the game than we were last year."
Jeffrey Stapper, county extension agent in Nueces County, says promising rains in March and April have given way to dry, hot conditions in the field and dryland crops are showing extreme signs of stress as a result.
"If we don't get showers in the next few days, we will see dire conditions in both grain sorghum and cotton, which was hit hard by recent hail storms," he said.
Stephen Biles, Texas AgriLife Extension integrated pest management agent in Victoria, says early season rains provided enough moisture to sustain grain sorghum crops in both Victoria and Refugio counties.
"We're looking pretty good so far. Early planted sorghum is looking fairly good but the sorghum planted after those early rains requires more moisture to complete the cycle. Cotton is showing 10 to 12 nodes at this stage and looks pretty good, but again, we could use more rain in the days ahead," Biles said.
He says corn around Victoria received good rains before silking and tasseling, but expectations have been lowered on yields and quality as soils continue to dry.
Major hail damage in Coastal Bend and Valley
Along with beneficial rains, thunderstorms brought hail to both the Rio Grande Valley and the Coastal Bend. The RGV watermelon crop received extensive damage during an early-season hail storm.
"Some growers replanted and others waited to see if the plants would come back. Both strategies worked to some degree, but yields are going to be down and harvest delayed as a result," added Anciso.
Ray Prewett, President of Valley Citrus Mutual and executive vice president of the Texas Vegetable Association in Mission, says one hail event in the Valley actually damaged a number of citrus trees that had to be cut back. He says it represents the first time in memory hail actually damaged the tree and not just the fruit.
"But overall, vegetables and citrus has had a good year and weather damages were spotty," he says.
In the Coastal Bend near Chapman Ranch, almost all cotton was completely destroyed by a hail storm in Mid May. Stapper says even the stalks were beat down.
"It's hard to say what each grower will do, but from what I hear, many are thinking it is going to be a year for insurance," Stapper says.
Other Valley crops
Spring rains helped Valley onion producers early in the season, but heavy rains and wet fields slowed harvest and is blamed for disease that ruined most of the yellow onion crop. Anciso says red and white onions have fared much better, but disease and low market prices for yellow onions are making for a bad season.
Most RGV cotton is in bloom stage. Many fields planted by the middle of March had a lot of small to large bolls and many blooms. Pest insect activity was reported very low in most areas of the Valley the first week of June as fleahoppers and whitefly infestations were lower in most fields. However, whitefly infestations are still growing in some cotton fields and scouting remains a high priority.
John Norman, editor of the weekly Pest Cast Newsletter reports more beneficial insects in the Valley were observed the last week of May. He says this is probably one of the reasons why pest populations are lower. But syrphid fly numbers were reported higher this week. An average of more than one adult syrphid fly per foot of row was spotted recently in many fields.


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Red Sox surprise story of a memorable 2013
It was a year in which baseball gave us so much. So let's count the blessings of 2013 one final time.
This was the season that saw the Dodgers reborn and the Pirates and Indians back in the playoffs. And the season the Yankees, decimated by injuries, fought like champions, doing themselves proud despite not making the playoffs.
It was a year in which baseball gave us so much. So let's count the blessings of 2013 one final time.
This was the season that saw the Dodgers reborn and the Pirates and Indians back in the playoffs. And the season the Yankees, decimated by injuries, fought like champions, doing themselves proud despite not making the playoffs.
Mike Trout established himself as the best player on earth. Paul Goldschmidt is in that conversation as well. This was the season a lot of baseball fans got a long look at Andrew McCutchen for the first time.
They found out what the good people of Pittsburgh already knew. That he's an electrifying player and as much fun to watch as any player in any sport.
Here's a shout out to Chris Davis, one of the good guys, for an incredible year. Miguel Cabrera had one, too, another one, not his first. Chris Sale was astonishingly good, and James Shields was everything the Royals hoped he'd be.
The Cardinals reminded us they're a model franchise. The Rays and A's again showed off their smarts.
This also was the season we were introduced to new stars. Jose Fernandez and Yasiel Puig and Shelby Miller. Evan Gattis and Matt Adams and Chris Archer.
Has baseball ever had this much dazzling young talent? Teams seem less reluctant to fast-track their best players, and as Trout, Manny Machado and Starling Marte handled the challenges, other players got similar opportunities.
Two of the best managers ever, Jim Leyland and Davey Johnson, said their goodbyes to the game they've represented with dignity and excellence. Their replacements, Brad Ausmus in Detroit and Matt Williams in Washington, reflect a generational change.
Mike Matheny showed us that actual managerial experience isn't necessary. Rather, general managers look for smart men with knowledge, ambition, people skills and a relentless work ethic.
They surround them with competent people and support them completely. Accordingly, hiring managers is no longer about recycling familiar names.
And so it was a year that gave us a little bit of everything. The Rays were virtually unbeatable for a month. The Dodgers were nearly perfect for almost two. At various times, the Cardinals, Braves, Tigers, A's and Rangers all looked like the best team in the game.
In the end, though, it was the Red Sox who hoisted the World Series trophy to put the finishing touch on a season that had a magical, inevitable quality about it.
Here's the best part.
No one saw it coming. Absolutely no one. Even the people in charge of the Red Sox weren't sure how competitive their team would be.
Inside the industry, there was nearly a consensus that the Red Sox would finish at or near the bottom of the American League East.
After all, they'd lost 93 games in 2012, their worst season in 47 years. Management had unloaded some big contracts during the season and spent the offseason filling the roster with low-budget signings.
General manager Ben Cherington wanted a certain kind of player as much as he wanted a certain kind of talent. He wanted players who would embrace the Red Sox experience. He also wanted players with reputations for being solid clubhouse guys and putting the bottom line before individual accomplishments.
Jonny Gomes was one of those guys. Mike Napoli another. And David Ross, Ryan Dempster, Shane Victorino and Stephen Drew.
Maybe Cherington's most important decision was bringing his former pitching coach, John Farrell, back to manage the club. Farrell brought toughness, organizational skills, competence and honesty to a job that can be as difficult as any in the game.
It was clear fairly early in Spring Training that the atmosphere around the Red Sox had changed dramatically. This would be Dustin Pedroia's team and David Ortiz's. And this team would follow Farrell's lead.
There would be no drama. There would be no 25-players, 25-cabs Red Sox. But there was still doubt.
The Red Sox needed more than a new attitude to compete. They needed big years from Jon Lester and John Lackey. They needed a big year from Ortiz. And they needed to keep their main parts, especially Ellsbury, on the field.
If all those things happened, the Red Sox would have a chance to contend. No one told them that because no one doubts Pedroia unless they're ready to take it outside with him.
Pedroia believed from Day 1, and because he believed so loudly and so passionately, it was easier for every other player to believe, too.
And it all worked. Just like Cherington and his guys drew it up. Those role players contributed across the board in ways large and small.
Lackey and Lester were tremendous, winning 25 games and pitching 402 innings. Ortiz hit 30 homers, Napoli 23. Ellsbury stole 52 bases. Pedroia hit .301. And the Red Sox led the Majors in runs.
The Sox lost two closers, Andrew Bailey and Joel Hanrahan, only to see newly signed setup man Koji Uehara morph into the American League's best closer, allowing one earned run in the final three months of the season.
Now for the tricky part of this story. The 2013 Red Sox will be forever linked to the Boston Marathon bombing. In its aftermath, players and coaches visited hospitals, brought victims to games and did all the things that prominent citizens of a community are supposed to do.
Because of their connection to the tragedy, the Red Sox came to represent Boston -- its spirit and toughness -- in a way teams often don't.
Did they make a difference? Absolutely. Victims saw that the Red Sox cared and that they attempted to understand the pain and suffering.
To some, this World Series had an inevitable conclusion, and that's probably unfair to all those people trying to get their lives back on track. And it's unfair to the Red Sox on some level because this is their championship apart from anything else that happened in Boston.
They won because they were a tremendous team, a team that understood that the bottom line was all that counted. To watch all these unheralded and sometimes overlooked players -- Ross, Napoli, Gomes and others -- win a championship was a proud day for all of Major League Baseball.
There were so many lessons in how the Red Sox went about their business and how Cherington constructed the roster and all the rest. They were the appropriate finishing touch for a season that delivered on almost every level.
So here's a farewell to 2013, a spectacular and special season. It won't be forgotten.
Richard Justice is a columnist for MLB.com. Read his blog, Justice4U.


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Should I assume here you are talking about the anti-belief in Santa, Easter Bunny, Loch Ness Monster, Alien Visitations, Leprechauns, the Greek gods, Fairies, the Cthulhu pantheon, Unicorns, Vampires, etc? Oh, you meant God, didn't you? But if we don't believe in all those other things, won't we still be leading empty, unfulfilled lives? Won't our sad little lives based on an anti-belief in those things?Good point Noisician; I think many don't seem to realize that most atheists lump deities in with all those other fairy tales; but them have to 'defend' their anti-belief in particular deities differently than the rest - precisely because of believers. And many would forgo the anti-belief stance for just plain non-belief, if it weren't for the way believers use their belief to assault others.
I would rather live the "inauthentic life" of a believer than in the stark, naked atheistic reality that we are all "food for worms" and that the universe cares not for my existence. That makes me an "unhappy atheist." And I assert that most atheists are unhappy with their creedless belief system.I'm a little flabbergasted at this. Oddly enough, I met a guy this last weekend with the same kind of contradictory thinking; a conundrum that nearly blew my mind. This guy was an atheist in-that he said he did not believe in any deities or any of the magic in the bible; but yet considered himself Christian in-that he thought the bible had excellent moral allegory and understanding of human nature, that Christian morals and way-of-life were the best line to follow, and the teachings of Christ were too insightful to ignore. He also felt that most atheists are far too loose with their 'moral compass' by not drawing them from a knowledged, experienced, ancient source. It was one of the most alien viewpoints I've ever encountered; and it sounds somewhat similar to some of Sheiman's views.


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Apr 27, 2012
NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark.—The Birmingham-Southern women's tennis team dropped its SCAC Championship match today to Millsaps, 7-2. Paced by victories in all three doubles matches, the fourth-seeded Millsaps Majors defeated the fifth-seeded Panthers.
Birmingham-Southern is now 10-8 on the season, while Millsaps improves to 16-4.
In singles competition, juniors Raeann Lamere and Payton Gartman won at singles two and six respectively to put the two Panther points on the board. Lamere won her match 6-2, 6-0, and Gartman brought home a victory with set scores of 6-4, 7-6 (7-4).
Conference tournament play continues for the Panthers tomorrow at the Burns Park Tennis Center as they face ninth-seeded Oglethorpe at 8 a.m.


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CMERCH needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 551 designs submitted by 154 freelance designers.
Caviar & Caviar
Caviar & Caviar is an importer, exporter and distributor of Caviar & Fine Foods. We work currently under the brand of "Caviar Merchant" (http://www.caviarmerchant.com). Our current goal is for a classy, classic, upscale, clear, unique, attractive, bold yet simple design to present this brand on all our packaging and marketing material.
Our audience are the elite, middle-upper age consumers. We would also like to appeal more to the younger consumers by adding a chic characteristic in our approach.
The logo must entail the term: "Caviar & Caviar". In general, we seek a Aggressive, clear and simple design focusing on the company name, balanced for letter heads, biz cards..... We've had one slightly presented that was simple and impressive, but seek enhancement and ideas.
A nice simple crescent/logo design is desired. Also a design of 'C&C' would be good.
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.