text:
Mali trip
- Submitted by: Arturo M. Hilado
- Submission Date: 04th Feb 2005
I travelled in West Africa for something like three weeks. This was basically a tour of Mali, and I would say that three weeks is fine to take in the highlights of the country, though a month or more would allow you to get to more out-of-the-way places like Hombori (which from all accounts would have been well worth a visit) or a desert expedition out of Timbuktu. However, in my case, I had this irrational obsession to get at least a taste of Burkina Faso, and more specifically Bobo Dioulassou (Id heard a lot of good comments about the place, and who knew when Id be back in West Africa?), and slotted in five days there. Given the travel time involved, this effectively cut my time in Mali to just about two weeks.
Given that time frame, I was able to take in all the highlights Timbuktu, the Dogon country, Djenne, Mopti, and Segou only because I made use of a local tour operator, Mande Adventure Tours. I had been in email contact with them after I found their website on the Net. I had momentarily considered one of their packages a 15-day tour of Mali covering everything (including Hombori!), very reasonably priced but the offered dates did not jibe with my schedule and besides I had decided I wanted a degree of flexibility; also, I didnt know how reliable they would be. I indicated that I might want to use their services to book hotels ahead and also my flight to Timbuktu. They met me at the airport and drove me into Bamako to the hotel of my choice, the Lac Debo; then they brought me to their office and we negotiated which of their services I wanted. I was initially interested only in booking a flight to Timbuktu and a 4-day Dogon country trek (as I wasnt sure I would have the time to find a guide to negotiate with on my own); but these things have a way of luring you to the line of least resistance, and I ended up including Djenne and a pirogue river tour in Mopti in my arrangements. At the airport, the Mande Tours people had also latched on to a woman from California travelling by herself, and she ended up booking the bulk of her arrangements with them as well; we would find ourselves travelling together for about a week.
Would I recommend using the services of a tour operator like Mande Tours? Well, I have always preferred independent travel; and I have to say that, quite aside from the good and bad in my experience with Mande Tours in particular (which Ill get to later), the portion of my travel AFTER my arrangements with them were over in Burkina Faso and in Segou back in Mali gave me the feeling of satisfaction that I always miss in even the best prebooked arrangements, in making my own way and meeting people on my own. That said, I must say that Mali is one place where I could really appreciate the advantages of arranging logistics through an operator. The logistics of transport around the country can be very trying and time-consuming; and often even someone travelling independently will end up having to negotiate private transport and other arrangements anyway at some points. Obviously some people would have more skill, stamina, and patience for this than others; and time is naturally a factor: having a month instead of two weeks at your disposal gives a lot more leeway to look around, find congenial travellers to share costs with, haggle, and compare offers. Comparing my costs with those of a Dutch couple I met in Sevare who were negotiating arrangements as they went along, I would say that doing it that way could bring down your costs by as much as a third or more. (Of course, if you absolutely refuse to engage ANY privately-arranged transport and would rather wait around for a couple of days for cheap public transport to turn up, this would REALLY cut costs at the expense of time.) I would note that, when I told the Dutchman that theirs seemed the right way to do it, he expressed his doubts that the constant hassle of negotiation and not knowing if tentative plans would come off, were really worth it.
I have to admit that having the tour operator around to give me the information about the right bus to take, the departure times, the cancellation of a flight (without your having to find out upon arrival at the airport), as well as to provide my transfers to and from airports and bus stations, was a major easing of my time constraints. I should also say that such arrangements as I took with Mande Tours were very good the guides and vehicle drivers were very well-informed, pleasantly disposed and articulate, and almost too eager to maximize the use of our time (there were moments when wed have preferred to be left alone!). On my last day in Bamako, they went the extra mile in finding a way to get me on a fully-booked flight to Paris. At the same time, I couldnt shake the feeling that, when it came to PRICING, they would charge what they felt you would swallow, and you owed it to yourself to negotiate. This may simply have been due to the fact that, given the uncertainties of travel conditions in Mali, they were never quite sure of their own costs themselves and there was an element of improvisation in their quotes. My major beef with them was their handling of my Dogon arrangements, when my designated guide for my 4-day foot trek suddenly got sick and they pressured me to join instead a 3-day vehicle tour which in fact turned out very well, and perhaps more enjoyable than the foot trek would have been, but that was not the point, to my mind.
The above considerations of course may apply as well when dealing with freelance guides or transport operators as you travel independently, when in fact you may have less recourse to professional standards if things dont work out; so they are not necessarily an argument NOT to deal with tour operators. I would recommend, though, if you decide to use one, to have a couple of days in Bamako (or wherever) to do some comparison shopping and let them know it! Also, when finally settling on a price, you should set down very definitely exactly what is covered by the price and what your recourse is if some eventuality causes a major change in the plans.
Malis capital Bamako is not going to win any prizes as most attractive city in Africa. It is very dusty and had an overall impression of shabbiness. Arriving at the airport is in fact not really a hassle immigration and customs people process arrivals pretty efficiently, though baggage claim took quite a while and the drive from the airport to Bamako was pleasant; the landscape was greener than I expected, with fields of millet. (As I was met by Mande Tours, I cannot comment on the problems of finding transport into the city on your own. I understand that you pretty much have to use a taxi, which would cost at least $8.)
But entering Bamako in early evening, the air was so thick with dust and fumes that vehicles headlights looked like they were going through fog. This unfavorable impression was not helped by my choice of a hotel. I had chosen the Lac Debo as central and inexpensive on the basis of a favorable notice in my Bradt guidebook. (I didnt have the LP West Africa, but the California woman I ended up travelling with, told me this hotel had been well-reviewed there too.) Well, I hate to have to say it as the people running it were so nice but it was a dump. There was no running water the two nights I was there, and water was supplied a bucket a SMALL bucket at a time, and the room and corridors had a very dilapidated feel. (There WAS airconditioning when the city wasnt subject to a power failure.) For CFA 15000 (about $20 at the exchange rate of the franc then), it just wasnt good value.
I may as well comment at this point that, in my experience, Mali hotels, or at least budget hotels, are expensive for the quality they offer especially compared to hotels of a similar price range in Southeast Asia or Latin America. On my return to Bamako at the end of my trip, I chose the Hotel Dakan, at the same price but farther away from the center. While better than the Lac Debo it had running water and a pleasant central garden for open-air meals the room still felt rundown. Outside Bamako, my hotels were better but still no prizewinners. By far the best of my Mali hotels was lAuberge in Segou, but that was in a higher price bracket toward $32.
However, first impressions notwithstanding, I found that a day or two in Bamako was worthwhile. It was pleasant strolling about, primarily because of the people, whom I found remarkably easygoing and good-natured. I had been braced for hassles and hustlers, but the atmosphere was far more relaxed than in, say, Nairobi or Fez. There is a lot of color in the streets, with almost all women, and a good number of men, in vivid long robes and headdresses; and the market is a must experience for the sheer color and variety and the bustle of activity. It sprawls all over the open-air streets of central Bamako, and you can easily get lost in the maze of lanes and stalls and products. (I missed the fetish market, just beyond the main market, but my friend from California told me it is memorably creepy.) This is pretty much the main attraction of Bamako. The National Museum is supposed to be good, but it was closed (though it wasnt supposed to be) when I went there. Your first view of the river Niger, which you cross coming from the airport, is exciting, but the river is more beautiful at other places like Segou or the crossing to Timbuktu.
Bamako, when I was there, was relatively cool, especially compared to other places I visited, deeper into the dry Sahel area. The main problem in wandering about was the dust, as, apart from the main artery roads, the inner streets are all unpaved dirt roads. The food was all right if nothing remarkable; when in doubt, you can always order capitaine, the famous Niger fish (for that matter, this applies all over Mali). I mostly ate at my hotels restaurants.; for a splurge, I tried Le San Toro which was a beautiful place, and not that expensive (about $8). I never got to sample the nightlife, which I regret as Bamako is supposed to have excellent music. (A French guy I spoke to told me it can be difficult to find the right spots for good music unless youre with a local.)
A word on language: It obviously makes a lot of difference if you speak French. I dont and was able to get around on my own; but I did find a phrasebook essential as I found I had to make SOME effort at using basic French words or phrases to get by, particularly in asking directions on the street at random. While usually in most places with tourist traffic hotels, bus stations someone is bound to speak some English, this is not always so, and it makes it easier on yourself to have some standard French lines down pat. I was amazed at how essential French is in Mali (and this applies to Burkina Faso as well): our guide in Timbuktu, who was Tuareg, could speak half a dozen languages, but, when in Bamako, he has to speak French as he cant speak Bambara, the language there!
I didnt really expect much from Timbuktu (I only included it in my itinerary because, well, how can you not want to say Ive been to Timbuktu ?) and only allotted one overnight there, as most tour itineraries do. And in fact, with a good guide or a good guidebook, you can pretty much see all there is to see in one day mainly the fascinating mudbrick Sudanese architecture, especially the mosques and the studded doors. But I was surprised how much I liked the place, and if I were to do it again, Id allow one extra day to just take it easy after seeing the sights, wander about and enjoy the edge-of-desert ambience, perhaps take a longer excursion into the desert. We went out to the dunes toward sunset and that was a lovely moment in the trip, but we were really just on the outskirts of the town. (We didnt feel like a touristy camel ride!) Another nice experience was walking the sandy streets at night to a Tuareg family compound where we had been invited to see the crafts, tourist stuff, that the family makes (needless to say, we ended spending money!). As our acquaintance wasnt home yet, the family none of whom spoke English other than he sat us down on rugs in the open-air courtyard where they slept out of doors, and made tea in the elaborately ceremonial manner that was a joy to watch.
The problem with Timbuktu is getting there. I was booked to fly on Air Mali from Bamako to Timbuktu, and from Timbuktu to Mopti - or, rather, Sevare nearby where I had decided to base myself - where I was to pick up my Dogon trek arrangements. The day before my flight, it was cancelled as apparently the plane had been requisitioned by the government. (This is apparently a regular occurrence; on my return to Bamako, I met a South African journalist team who had counted on flying to Timbuktu but found the scheduled flight cancelled.) Mande Tours suggested that I and the similarly stranded Californian share a 4WD vehicle. To my shock, this turned out more expensive than the flight! (I had to do some serious brinkmanship haggling over this, with some success.) We decided to do it as the only option at that point short of overhauling all our onward plans or cancelling out on Timbuktu, neither of which was palatable. The arrangements involved taking an 8 ½ -hour bus ride from Bamako to Sevare, overnighting there, and getting picked up by the Land Cruiser at 5:30 the next morning for the drive to Timbuktu. The bus ride was not uncomfortable West African buses, and even minibuses, are no chicken buses a la Guatemala but tedious, something I would get used to over the next three weeks in both Mali and Burkina: distances are long and the landscape tends to be monotonously flat and scrubby.
It took us about 7 ½ hours in the 4WD to get from Sevare to the bank of the Niger where we had to transfer to a pinasse for a some half-hour ride on the river, landing at Korioume; here another 4WD was waiting to take us the rest of the way into Timbuktu. (We were told that later in the dry season, it was possible for 4WDs to ford the river and go all the way to Timbuktu.) It was, if nothing else, a memorable trip. Our driver was excellent, an unflappably cheerful Songhai who however spoke only French; fortunately, a Tuareg friend of his hitched a ride to Timbuktu, who spoke English and was invaluable in helping us communicate with locals along the way, particularly in negotiating photos. The first couple of hours, in the cool early morning and along the paved main highway toward Gao, was pleasant and the views of the Sahel interesting. Then we turned off onto the road to Timbuktu, and it was 5 hours of some of the worst roads (or lack of them) that I have experienced; sometimes the road would be so rutted or deep in soft sand that our driver would veer off to detour through the brush. We were pretty much thrown about in the back of the vehicle, and when we crossed paths with other 4WDs crammed with up to 8 people, I began to think the cost of our arrangements well-spent! Our travel to Timbuktu was further held up when, fording a supposedly shallow channel of the river to the pinasse-ferry point, our vehicle bogged down in the middle of the channel, and neither the combined efforts of a dozen men nor that of another 4WD could haul it out; it was beginning to look grim until a monster of an overland truck lumbered up and easily pulled it out.
And yet I have to say that I enjoyed the experience. The very challenge of the country we went through made the ride interesting, and it varied from a scenic escarpment through wasteland and forest to grassy savannah. And where we passed human scenery, the wild and isolated setting often lent it an all-the-more exotic, almost mythic, flavor: camel riders in robes and turbans, herders driving their goats to a well, a thatched village at the foot of the escarpment. Halfway through the drive, we stopped at a Fulani village called (I think) Bambara Maude and our stop there was for me a highlight of my Mali trip a completely untouristy village on the bank of a small lake with the villagers in their colorful garb unselfconsciously going about their daily tasks, drawing water from the well, washing clothes at lakeside, minding the children. The next afternoon on our drive back, we passed the same village in the middle of its Sunday market, and this was a wonderful scene herdsmen in blue cloaks and pointed hats with their cattle, the women vendors a riot of color: to me it was more memorable than the Djenne Monday market! Finally, the pinasse ride on the Niger caused me to fall in love with the river, and it is now my biggest regret that I did not allot the necessary time to travel between Mopti and Timbuktu by river.
From my comments on both Timbuktu itself and our travel there and back, it should be obvious that I think it a destination well worth the time and trouble and in fact more time than I had given it. A couple of final points about my stay there: The Bouctou Hotel where we stayed was quite nice CFA 12,000 ($16) for a room with shared toilet/shower - with a separate terrace overlooking the town where drinks or meals are pleasant, though touts hover about (but are nowhere as aggravating as in East or North Africa). The markets in Timbuktu were the least attractive I visited in West Africa. Dining at one of the spots around them (we ate at Poulet dOr) is guaranteed to treat you to the taste and texture of sand in your meal. Our guide in Timbuktu, incidentally, Mohamed Hamzata, was excellent, very articulate not only about the tourist sights, but his opinions about his town and country.
My visit to Djenne, squeezed in between Timbuktu and the Dogon country, suffered by comparison with these two highlights of the trip. It was also prejudiced by the effect on my schedule of the flight cancellation. I had been supposed to spend a night in Djenne, allowing two days to get to know it. But because getting to Timbuktu and back by road entailed the loss of two days, my Djenne visit had to be limited to a daytrip for the Monday market. This was on a Mande Tours arrangement shared with other people in my Sevare hotel, which was convenient, and probably a necessity for a daytrip. Our guide, who would also be with us on the Dogon trip, was extremely knowledgeable about everything from Malian music (he played an unending series of griot music tapes) to the history of every town we passed; he talked until our eyes began to glaze over!
The ride to Djenne was interesting, passing photogenic Bobo village clusters with their distinctive Sudanese mosques, and the process of jockeying for place on the ferry across the Bani river was lively and colorful. Djenne undoubtedly deserves to be a highlight of Mali: its mosque is by far the most impressive and beautiful structure you will see in Mali, and the color and teeming activity of the Monday market right under its walls are dramatic. (We were able to climb up to a rooftop where the views of the market below were superb.) But it was extremely HOT when we were there (hotter than in Timbuktu!) and a foot tour of the old town left us feeling wilted and drained. I imagine having an overnight there would have allowed us to enjoy the town in cooler hours; the Campement, where we took refuge for coolness and cold drinks, seemed a very nice place to stay and I regretted missing out on that. I also have to say that I found the inner streets of Djenne dismayingly dirty, more so than other Mali towns like Segou or Timbuktu. Also, the great experience of the village Sunday market just the previous day, necessarily reduced the impact on me of the famous Djenne market.
I had mentioned earlier my unhappiness over Mande Tours suddenly shifting me from the 4-day foot trek I had originally signed on for, to joining a 3-day vehicle tour after the guide contracted for me (and who had already been introduced to me) got sick. This was relayed to me an hour before the vehicle tour was to start (my own trek had been scheduled to start the following day). I considered cancelling out, getting a refund, and looking for other arrangements on my own. But it all seemed too much hassle, and as my main objective was to see the Dogon country rather than have a trek per se, I reluctantly opted to agree. In actual fact, it worked out well enough. The tour covered pretty much the same route as the foot trek; what was left out was one night in the village of Kani Kombole. (Mande Tours tried to compensate by paying for one nights stay and meals in Sevare after the tour.) There were three others on the tour the California woman, who had been with me in Timbuktu and was now a good friend, and two Japanese boys whod been on the Djenne tour as well, nice kids though their English was very limited; and we had the same very competent guide as in Djenne, Dicko Hahaboun. It was very congenial company which I suppose I might have missed on a solo foot trek. And of course travelling by vehicle was comfortable; though evenings were cool, by midmorning it was very hot, and the Dutch couple Id spoken with, had told me of difficulty in coping with the heat while trekking. (Apparently, their guide had been recalcitrant about starting early on their treks.) So, while the cavalier way this was handled still rankles, I guess I should look back on its positive side.
Actually, the Dogon tour was the best part of my Mali trip, and I would do it again, though on a different village circuit. It was a fascinating experience of a whole distinctive culture it is quite important to be sure you have a good, knowledgeable guide to fully appreciate the social picture and historical background of the villages. The initial 1 ½ -hour drive from Sevare to Bandiagara was on a graded but very dusty road and was (again) fairly monotonous; but from Bandiagara on (where we stopped for supplies), it was increasingly interesting, with views of Dogon daily life in their fields. (Transport to and from Dogon country is another instance where public transport is theoretically an option, but you may well feel the expense of private-hire 4WD is worth the convenience and reliability of schedule.) Our first stop, and first Dogon village, was the very picturesque Djiguibombo which was still on the plateau. After this, we had our first spectacular views of the dramatic drop-off from the escarpment to the panorama of the plains far below. I hasnt known that you can actually access the villagers on the plains by road (I had assumed a foot trek was required), quite a scenic drive. We bypassed Kani Kombole and went straight on to the village of Teli, spending the day and night there. The next day we moved on to the village of Ende where we had our second night, making our way back to to Sevare on the third day.
Both villages now lie on the plain, but up on the cliff-face looming above are the houses and granaries of their original locations, dramatically wedged in the rock and still in use by the villagers for storage and ceremonial functions; even higher, and more ancient, than the old Dogon structures are the remains of the homes of the Tellem people who had preceded them. Basically, we used the mornings and late afternoons (after 4 pm) to hike up the cliff to explore the old multilevelled clusters and enjoy the panoramic views of the villages below and the plains sweeping to the horizon; or else wandering the villages themselves, observing the activities, the crafts, and the local architecture (the togunas, or meeting centers, were especially striking with their sculptured posts). The hours from noon to about 4 pm were the hottest, and we mainly spent them, after lunch, sprawled on wonderfully relaxing wooden lounges in the shade of the village campements, dozing or reading. Evenings were cool and dark, as the villages have no electric power and light was by kerosene lamps. (Interestingly, though, Teli has a motor-powered refrigerator, which allowed us the bliss of really cold soft drinks!) Bath and toilet facilities were basic enclosed but unroofed cubicles but clean; the buckets of water provided were fabulously refreshing after the hot day. Dinners, cooked by the village, were good in Ende, we had a great couscous meal! (Lunches and breakfasts were simpler, usually from our own supplies.) Rooms were available around the campement yard, but we always opted to sleep up on the roofs; this was a wonderful experience, the night alive with an orchestra of animal noises (some really weird!), and waking up to the sights and sounds of the villages stirring to their early morning activities, was always a magical moment.
Ende had the more interesting cliff-village, where we could observe the system of hauling corpses up to the burial niches high on the cliff-face, and visited the dwelling-place of the Hogan, the chosen elder who was to be incommunicado for the rest of his life. (The site is said to be normally off-limits, but we were able to visit it as a new hogan hadnt been chosen yet, and it was occupied by a caretaker who looked old enough to be a hogan candidate!) The views from the Ende cliff were also the best. But I liked staying in the Teli village best. The atmosphere here was genuinely friendly, the campement spacious and restful, and the crafts were beautiful; their storeroom of carvings, especially the scaled down models of their doors with all the cosmological symbolisms, was guaranteed to make any art fancier run wild. (And of course the actual doors around the village could use up half a roll of film!) In Ende, the craft of choice was cloth making, which was less to my taste. The roof sleeping facilities in Teli, too, were nicer; that night, with a full moon sailing across the sky, is a unforgettable memory. I was the only one in the group whod brought a light sleeping bag, and I found it ideal in Teli. In Ende, the night was so cold that all of us, sleeping bag or not, were practically freezing. A last consideration: we had Teli practically to ourselves, while Ende was swarming with tourists (well, relatively speaking).
One disappointment on my Dogon visit was our failure to witness a mask dance. (The Dutch couple had been lucky to catch one.) Performances for tourists are sometimes on offer, and in Ende we were offered the opportunity. However, the proposed price was steep (CFA100,000) and the group opted against it. One welcome feature of the Dogon villages was the low incidence of children begging for cadeaux (gifts), a regular occurrence elsewhere in Mali wherever tourists stop; apparently, the village elders, especially in Teli, actively discourage this. All in all, the Dogon culture and worldview are so unique and self-contained that it was a real gratification to have experienced it, even to so limited an extent. (We particularly appreciated our guide and the wealth of detail he made available.) I wonder how long this will remain intact as apparently Islam, and to a lesser extent Christianity, are making inroads: there was a prominent mosque in Teli, and a Catholic chapel in Djiguibombo.
I had opted to base myself in Sevare taking the advice of my guidebook about the relative lack of tourist hassles there compared to Mopti, the wider choice of hotels, and the relative accessibility anyway of Mopti and its tourist attractions (only some 15 minutes drive away); and it seems most travellers do the same. My first impression of Sevare was very nondescript, and actually theres no real attraction to the town. But my hotel, Djiguiya, was pleasant (especially after Lac Debo in Bamako) with a beautiful lush garden where we took our meals; and the food was very good, though it could take up to an hour to come after ordering! The brochettes were excellent and a special Malian fonio dinner they served up to all the guests was probably my best Mali meal. The young people on the staff were warm and likeable. (The hotel, though, showed telltale signs of typically low quality of upkeep. Though it is a new hotel the second storey was still unfinished and the rooms felt new, the bathroom fixtures were already wobbly; and there were spells of power failure which would affect some rooms and not others!) It made for a nice home base when we returned from Timbuktu, Djenne, or the Dogon tour. Also, on a free day, when I strolled about the town, though there wasnt anything to see, the people on the street and in the shops were very friendly.
However, I am of two minds whether I should have spent at least a day or two based in Mopti. On my first foray into Mopti, I found it so crowded, chaotic, and brusque (it was the hot noon hour, and I had to find the right bus station to buy a ticket to Burkina Faso), that I felt thankful I had chosen to stay in Sevare. But on a more extensive tour of the town, in the company of my California friend and the same Mande Tours guide as on the Dogon tour, I found the attractions of the town so varied and fascinating that I felt otherwise. (I had only signed on with Mande Tours for a pirogue tour, but got a full Mopti tour, on the other hand, the pirogue ride was less extensive than Id expected!) The contrasts between the gracious treelined French-colonial section, the traditional ambience of the old town around the impressive mosque, and the hurly-burly of the market along the banks of the river, made Mopti seem so vital and multi-dimensional. After the overload of impressions, the pirogue ride on the Bani river was idyllic, though I was disappointed we did not get to the confluence with the Niger (though this was visible in the distance). It was tempting to consider a night or two in the upscale (about $40) riverside Kanaga Hotel to wander Mopti at leisure (and perhaps negotiate passage to Timbuktu by the Niger river). I also did not experience the hustling all the guidebooks warn about, but perhaps this was because we were with a guide.
Should I have done my sidetrip to Burkina Faso? I guess the question is moot since I did do it. As I had mentioned, I had an obsession with Bobo Dioulassou, so its probably just as well that I did it, or missing out on it would have gnawed at me afterward; and I did enjoy my stay both there and in Ouagadougou a good deal. However, for someone who does not have this specific motivation and , like me, has only three weeks, using the extra 5-6 days to avail of more leisure and flexibility for Mali would be the saner option. On the other hand, if someone had a month or more, Burkina Faso would be an ideal complement to Mali: transport from one country to the other is readily available (as long as you dont mind long bus rides!), and the mixture of similarities and differences is interesting. I would not rank Burkina a must as a travel destination in terms of attractions (as I would Mali), but after the rigors of travelling Mali and making it to all its attractions (frankly, I think most travellers would at SOME point find Mali travel rigorous), it can be a welcome change to move into a country which is similar enough - in language, culture, and landscape - not to need much readjustment, but can be experienced at a more casual pace, largely because it not yet as much a tourist must: I saw far fewer tourists there than in Mali. (Interestingly, in contrast to Mali, and most other places Ive travelled to, where my Asian looks bring remarks of Japonais?, in Burkina it was always Chinois?, an indication that Japanese tourists still have to penetrate the country!)
Admittedly, I didnt get beyond the major cities to see Burkinas more exotic attractions, like the Gorom Gorom market or the Banfora areas natural attractions. (My impression though from others whod been there, was that these attractions were of a lower key than those in Mali.) My original plan was to just visit Bobo Dioulassou for a few days and try to make a sidetrip to Banfora. However, for rather complicated reasons having to do with my reentry visa to Mali, I decided to go to Ouagadougou instead. So essentially my Burkina stay was a city experience, with a very different accent from that in Mali. I stayed in nicer (and relatively more expensive) hotels, dined on excellent French meals, indulged in nights out with terrific African music, attended church services in Bobo (the service in the Catholic cathedral was eyeopening for the packed African congregation, after the almost-totally Muslim character of Mali), and watched a massive political demonstration in Ouaga. I had the impression of a more cosmopolitan atmosphere in Burkina; Ouaga looked more like a real capital than Bamako, and its market, while teeming and colorful , was not open-air like those in Bamako and other Mali towns (and in Bobo), but housed in a permanent, sprawling structure like a Middle Eastern bazaar. Travel by bus between the two towns was much like in Mali not uncomfortable (there are airconditioned minibuses if you want to opt for them), but long (about 5 hours) and ultimately tedious. The Bobo villages we passed were my limited view of Burkinabe rural life, and they were so attractive that I really wished Id had a chance to visit one of them: essentially similar to Bobo villages in Mali, they were also subtly different (the shape of the granaries was circular rather than trapezoidal) and looked photogenically like little medieval walled towns.
My day and a half in Ouaga were enjoyable enough. I stayed in Central Hotel (CFA22,000, about $30) which was very central, clean if rather antiseptic and soulless (it was the only hotel room in the trip where I had NO mosquito problem!), and professionally run. I prowled the market, dined at the nun-operated French restaurant LEau Vive on very good food in a garden setting, and listened to two excellent bands at the very nice Zaka club-bar-restaurant-craft center (it also served good inexpensive lunches with local specialties).
But I liked Bobo a lot more a very laid-back place where I could spend half a day just strolling its shady easygoing streets. I stayed at lAuberge, my most expensive hotel (about $35) on the basis of high recommendations from both the Mande Tours people and my travelling companion from California. It was lovely, with rooms (equipped with mosquito nets) overlooking a tree-shaded swimming pool and al fresco dining area where one could sit all afternoon. The food was super, among my best French meals ever (not too expensive about $6 with a drink), and service was gracious. One of the staff took me for a terrific night out at Bambou (walking distance from the hotel), a less sophisticated setting than Zaka in Ouaga and the band was less polished but much more dynamic in drumming showmanship, that had the audience cheering and some breaking into dance. For tourist attractions, there was an impressive grand mosque in the Sudanese style, a small old village with a lot of the traditional animist culture (its best to take on one of the youths who offer guide services for CFA100, though they only speak French), and an open-air market (though by then I was rather marche-d out!).
I must remark on the travel between Mali and Burkina. My overnight trip from Sevare to Bobo has got to be one of my most gruelling bus rides in my travels, taking about 13 ½ hours. In the first place, the bus or minibus, actually whose Mopti office had promised to pass for me at my Sevare hotel sometime between 5 and 6 pm, came at 7:30! (I was just on the point of contracting a hotel room for another night!) It packed the passengers wall-to-wall four abreast (fortunately, they seated me in the front row though I was the last to be boarded - I suspect in deference to my being a tourist!). I was the only non-African on the minibus, and those around didnt speak any English; it was only at one of the later stops that I found someone, a Nigerian, I could speak English with. The most tedious thing about the trip was the exasperating number of stops for a rest or a bite, to allow Muslim passengers to kneel in prayer toward Mecca, to negotiate with the repeated police roadblocks in both Mali and Burkina (apparently, the bus driver shelled out bribes at each checkpoint in the hope that the police would not decide to call for a random baggage inspection which worked most of the time, but not always, in which case we were in for another delay). Then, of course, there was the border, where, in the middle of the night, we stumbled out to blearily queue at Mali immigration, then Burkina immigration and, separately, quarantine, and (strangely, 26 km farther down) Burkina customs, when all baggage had to be taken down, opened for a cursory inspection, then reloaded. (I must say that all along the line the officials were quite nice to me at least.) I think we first got to the Mali post about 3 am, and had our Burkina customs check at 6 am! On my trip from Bobo back to Mali, this went in reverse, with our most aggravating final stop at Mali customs. (The bus was bigger, but this also meant more baggage to inspect!) Thankfully, in this case my ride to Segou was only some 8 hours. One learns the virtue of patience on West African bus trips!
The West African passengers must have a lot of practice, as it was amazing how good-natured they remain all the time. Though communication with me was necessarily very limited, they were unfailingly nice to me not aggressively friendly (like my experience in Iran), but helpful whenever they can be, as helping me stow my pack in a convenient spot even if it cramped their leg room. Whenever a passenger speaks English, he makes a point of talking to me. Often, this was not a Malian or Burkinabe, but a Togolese, a Nigerian, a Ghanaian, a Senegalese: my long bus rides during this trip brought home to me how much of a unit West Africa really is, people from the different countries (despite the differences in language between French- and English-speaking countries) moving among themselves a lot.
Coming back into Mali, I had one last stop (not counting my remaining time on my return to Bamako): Segou. I had almost crossed this off my list; I had felt that after Timbuktu, Djenne, and the Dogon villages, Segou might come as an anticlimax (the Dutch couple, too, had told me they hadnt liked it much), and I had thought of spending my last days in Bamako. But the office of the bus I was taking out of Bobo told me that the bus was expected to get into Bamako at 2 am, and there was no way I was going to do that! So when he told me that it would get to Segou about 9 pm, I made an impromptu decision to stop there after all. In fact, we got into Segou toward 11 pm (I wonder what time they got to Bamako!), and the town looked dark and shut down, and I wondered how I would find my way to a hotel. But as soon as I asked directions from a group of teenaged youths on the street, they all accompanied me all the way to the lAuberge hotel, a good way off through dark and half-torn up streets, trying to chat with me in French.
Stopping at Segou was one of my best decisions. I stayed there less than two days, and there was nothing like the highs of the Dogon tour or of Timbuktu. But I loved the atmosphere of the place the broad and beautiful Niger river flowing alongside the town, the interesting activity along the riverbank (pirogues coming and going, people washing clothes or bathing, vendors selling fetish charms, a small pottery market), the striking colonial-era mansions where the French incorporated Sudanese architectural styles and motiffs. (The easygoing atmosphere along the river was such a contrast to the intense activity in Mopti.) I stayed at the lAuberge, apparently not related to the Bobo lAuberge though it seems both are Lebanese-owned. It was my best hotel in Mali. It was more expensive than I d expected (about $32), though I think there were cheaper fan-cooled rooms (I took an air-con room), but worth it. The rooms are actually in a compound a distance away from the bar-restaurant-office; the rooms, though simple, were the nicest I had in Mali, but it was the restaurant that was outstanding, with a lively indoor bar (presided over by friendly and gregarious Lebanese brothers) and a very pleasant garden patio; behind some bushes was a swimming pool, which, when I had a dip, I had all to myself.
One of the best things about my Segou stay was the excursion to the original town that was the capital of the Bambara empire 200 years ago, now just a village, Segoukoro. (This was the location of the wonderful novel by Maryse Conde, Segou, which, when I read it, was one of my motivations for planning a trip to Mali. I believe its must reading for anyone coming to Mali.) It would have been ideal to go by pirogue on the river, but the locally-based operator Balanzan Tours was charging CFA22,000 per person (WITHOUT guide or village visiting tax) and besides they required a minimum of four persons. But they offered an alternative of getting there by motorcycle for CFA17,500, all in (the motorcycle driver doubled as guide), which I took. It was a great excursion; the mosques and tombs of the Bambara kings were interesting, but best was the village itself with its mudbrick houses, its winding lanes, its riverbank activity, and its friendly people: as an authentic Bambara village, this in a way represented the heartland of Mali. (The motorcycle ride was also pretty exciting!)
And as a fitting end to my Mali trip, I watched an absolutely beautiful sunset on the Niger from the pier of Segou. I was the only tourist there, among the locals also enjoying the end of the day, but no one bothered me (and my photo-taking); on the river and along the banks, the life of the town were the background as the sun sank into the river. Even more than the highpoints of Dogon and Timbuktu, that was the moment when I hoped I would be able to return to Mali and West Africa.


text:
2010 Kenworth T660
Gulfport, MS
1995 Chevrolet 3500HD
New Hampton, IA
2013 Chevrolet EXPRESS 3500
Columbia, SC
2007 International 9400i
Lake Butler, FL
2010 Freightliner CA12564DC - CASCADIA
Des Moines , IA
Trailer for 2014 East Hardox Steel Dumps
Voorhees, NJ
2010 Freightliner CA11342SLP - CASCADIA
Healdsburg, CA
1989 Mack R690T
Ocala, FL
2012 Freightliner CASCADIA
Bolingbrook (Chicago), IL
Description: FRONT AXLE: 3970; REAR AXLE: 5360 (4.72R); NICE FLEET VAN VERY WELL MAINTAINED.INSULATED BACK COMPARTMENT WHICH IS 11 ' LONG AND 65'' HIGH WITH DOUBLE SWING OUT DOORS THE FRONT IS OPEN..More Information
Didn't find what you were looking for? Click here to request availability from our dealer network.
Sean Kilcarr comments on trends affecting the many different strata of the trucking industry.. Check back often for Sean's take on the trucking industry, in his award-winning blog, Trucks at Work.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
About StumbleDNA StumbleDNA
Try to imagine a life without timekeeping
Top 10 Overwater Bungalows in the South Pacific
My Collection of Funny Emails. Send funny emails to your...
Subscribe to YesEmails.com and receive funny and interesting emails sent to your email inbox!
Funny test answers
Random, Interesting, Amazing Facts - Fun Quizzes and Trivia...
The 15 Best Miramax Films
We don't come to mourn Miramax, but to bury you in great films to add to your rental queue.
The 52 Most Anticipated Movies of 2013
Swap it Et | Smart-Kit Puzzles and Games
Picture puzzle gear swap game!
Cracked ice on Lake Baikal, Russia
Turquoise Ice, Northern Lake Baikal, Russia
33 Facts From Horror Movies That You Probably Didn't Know...
Full Punch
20 Amazing General Knowledge Facts
Full Punch
"You are unique, so be you!" Always be...
HowStuffWorks "20 Memorable Epitaphs"
A good inscription on a gravestone can provide a bit of humor during a melancholy time. Learn about 20 of the most memorable epitaphs.
DIY Father's Day Gift for Your Superhero
It may seem like a good superhero is hard to come by these days. For Father's Day this year show appreciation for your real-life hero by gathering his favorite treats and put together a box of supplies from your own newly-created Super Hero Supply Co...
Photos from Comic-Con 2012: The Cute, The Crazy and The...
IMDb's section featuring photo coverage of Comic-Con direct from the San Diego Convention Center.
Top 100 Photos of the Year 2012
Note the photographs themselves were not necessarily taken in 2012, they just happened to be featured as a POTD this year. The pictures are also listed in reverse chronological order. There is no ranking amongst the photos :). Enjoy!. 100. CHICAGO FR...
Villa Vals | HUH.
If you're in Switzerland and looking for a nice place to stay, Villa Vals might just be your thing. The holiday house is created by Bjarne Mastenbroek and Christian Müller, respectively of architectural offices SeARCH and CMA. To avoid disturbing nat...
Little boy, 3, to have 2ft-long hair cut off for charity...
Elijah Edney (pictured) from Portsmouth, Hampshire, has decided to have his first ever trip to the barbers in aid of charity. His hair will make a wig for children with cancer.
Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning
Where the Word "Echo" Comes From
##EMBED## Click Here for Sources and to Learn More Interesting Echo Related Facts The word "echo", as we use it, comes from Greek mythology.
Behind The Scenes Shots From Popular Movies
The Things We Say - That moment when you finish a book look...
Pineapple Bread Souffle
Utterly simple, this down-home bread pudding-like of butter, sugar, eggs, white bread cubes, and crushed pineapple is irresistible as either a dessert or side dish. That long-lasting, favorite white bread is recommended as the best bread of choice.
Beautifully Imperfect
Touching Family Advertisement (Beautifully Imperfect) Look at relationships from a different light through the eulogy of a woman who's recently lost her husb...
Photos That Will Hit You In The Right Feels
Canvas Orbital Trails · CodePen
Click and drag to make more!
The 33 Most Beautiful Abandoned Places In The World
No homework in Finland.
Healthy Meals Don't Have to Be Expensive: Eating Right on...
7 People Who Cheated Death (Then Kicked It In The Balls)...
digg_url = 'http://www.cracked.com/article_16497_7-people-who-cheated-death-then-kicked-it-in-balls.html'; digg_title = '7 People Who Cheated Death ...
20 Images You Won't Believe Aren't Photoshopped (Part 11)...
The 12 Most Strangely Satisfying Videos on the Internet
Famous Quotes from famous people
There is no pain greater than this; not the cut of a jagged-edged dagger nor the fire of a dragon's breath. Nothing burns in your heart like the emptiness of losing something, someone, before you truly have learned of its value.
Everyday is a Crafting Day!: A Floating Ghost...
I remember doing this when I was a kid only we used some sugar water concoction. This is simple and the effect is really cute. I would love to make some big ones and hang them from the chandelier in the entry.
Curiosities: Another Side of History
face funny | funny photos and humor
funny photos and humor
27 Ways To Make Your Groceries Last As Long As Possible
If you love cooking but are tortured by the cruel, limited shelf life of fresh foods, these tips are for you.
11 DADS THAT GO THE EXTRA MILE - Giraffe Childcare
The 12 Days of Fitness
The 12 Days of Fitness
Amazing DIY & Crafts Ideas
Rare Historical Photos Pt. 4 [18 Pics]
Interesting daily content worth sharing with your friends!
Can't Help But Share This One - wave avenue
via humormood.com
25 Surprising Facts You Might Not Know About
With up to the minute Newsflash coupon updates, you can be sure to find the newest and hottest coupons both online and in store.
The world's most awesome igloo.
Free Audiobooks and eBooks - Librophile
Free Audiobooks and eBooks - Search, Play, Download
21 Most Beautiful Nature Photos On Stumbleupon
502 Bad Gateway
IMDb: movies you should watch before you die
check out my blog for a daily dose movie reviews & tech news http://yash15.blogspot.in/
10 Sentences that Can Change Your Life
Watch: Billy Joel Duets With College Kid
8 Ordinary Photos Hiding Mind-Blowing Details
Bonneville Salt Flats at Night - 3D Panorama
August Sunset-3D Panorama
Kitchen Cheat Sheet Guide On Basic Cooking Techniques
60 of the world's happiest facts
14 People Who Are Winning The Game Of Life
We tip our hats to these masters of their trade. Think you have what it takes to be a winner? Take on MLB 2K13's Perfect Game Challenge for a chance to win some serious cash.
Plastic Bag Bags are where it's at.
Whatever you call them: plastic bags, shopping bags or bane of your existence. To crochet an elegant beach bag out of garbage bags is pretty damn special. Not to mention 100% green, recycled, and a nifty way to spend time. All you need is a crochet h...
42. Stay motivated to lose stomach fat fast!
42. Stay motivated to lose stomach fat fast! How can any of these best ways to lose stomach fat fast work if you're not motivates? Think about what could help you stay motivated. Keeping a food diary, joining an exercise class or rewarding yourself f...
Quesadillas de Pollo (Chicken Quesadillas)
These Chicken Quesadillas are absolutely delicious and they make a satisfying lunch or weeknight dinner. They are creamy and full of flavor and are a
18 Amazing Facts About the Human Body - Infographic
Bad Analogies by High School Students — Try Not 2 Laugh...
Palette - Phone by Kunihiko Nakata » Yanko Design
11.01.11 Troy Turner
Turning a Thrift Store Glass Plate into Art with Painters...
The Painters Paint Markers from Elmer's are incredibly versatile and can be used on so many different surfaces. Now, they're available as individual colors, instead of 5-packs, too! Check out my thrift store remake that turned a glass plate into a ne...
Modern Fretwork Glass Painting Craft
Enter your email address:
DR SEUSS: You know you're in love
was the pen name of Theodor Seuss Geisel (1904-1991), a children's book author and illustrator famous for , , and many more classics. This is hard to admit, but I don't think I've ever read any of his books. I mean, I can remember reading Spot, Tint...
Historic Photos From the NYC Municipal Archives
101 Most Beautiful Places To Visit Before You Die! (Part...
Here is the gallery of the top places to visit before you die - Part II. Enjoy.
Fabric KeyChains - The Idea Room
Inspiring Mothers, Women and Families
Clientcopia : Coping with stupid clients : Quotes, Comments...
At the gym: who is looking at whom - The Oatmeal
A comic about people who stare at the gym.
6 Mind Blowing Special Effects You Won't Believe Aren't...
Guess what? There are still filmmakers doing special effects the old-fashioned way -- even if the results are so impressive that you'd never know it's not CGI.
15 Heartwarming Photos That Will Make Your Soul Smile
Full Punch
The 9 Types of Crappy Handshakes - The Oatmeal
An illustrated meditation on crappy, uncomfortable handshakes.
16 Heart Touching Photos That Worth Your Smile
Full Punch
Homemade Gift Ideas For Men: Altoid Tin Mini Toolbox
If you're in a bad mood----read this
illegal to be a jerk
Simple Ideas That Are Borderline Genius
Pin ItDigg Digg Click Here For More Genius Ideas
Positively Splendid {Crafts, Sewing, Recipes and Home Decor}:...
I invite you to become a subscriber to receive updates via or my . I would be thrilled to connect with you on and , as well!
Colorful Photography
Celebrity Face Symmetry - YouBeauty.com
Face symmetry of celebrities using the YouBeauty Face Flip tool.
Bargain Bin - Books & Information about Bargain Bin
Looking for Bargain Bin books and information? BetterWorldBooks.com has a complete list of books about Bargain Bin. We offer fast and FREE worldwide shipping.
Comic Remembers Good Old Fashioned eReaders
Crossword puzzle
Crossword puzzle - But without clues
New Nostalgia: Handmade Gifts
I married into a large family (my husband is one of nine) so between the wedding planning and the large number of people, last year I did cookie mix in mason jars. This year I am sewing gifts.
Joe & Melissa's Philadelphia Art Museum Engagement Session...
I can't begin to tell you how much I love this couple. Okay, I will tell you....a lot! Michael and I have never met with Joe and Melissa prior to this shoot (They live in California). We both took a leap of faith in each other. After the shoot,...
Finish the Lyric: Titles Quiz
Can you name the classic rock song titles by the lyrics that precede them?
NEIL ARMSTRONG: A giant among men
(1930-2012) was a aerospace engineer, Navy pilot, test pilot, university professor and did something else I'm not sure of. Oh right, he was an astronaut and was the first human to set foot on the moon! Silly me. I'm sure you've all read many tributes...
The 50 Greatest Geek Movies
Rankings and Reviews of Master's Programs in Information Technology and Computer Science
80's Music Videos
Dear Towel Owner | FOUND Magazine
FOUND by Chloe Heymans in Vermont
Infographic: The 2,000 Most Important Films Of All Time
If you live long enough, you get to appreciate culture's patterns. You see that Menudo is really NSYNC is really One Direction. Eventually, society just craves an old flavor and it's mixed anew. No place is this more true than with film.The History o...
Free Fry Box Favor Download
At your next party, you can fill bags with prizes for party guests, but why not pull out the creative stops and hand out cute "fry box" favors instead? Following are Jaime Ward's easy instructions (as seen on p. 110 of "Tips & Tricks" in the June 200...


text:
Articles Related to Whistler
Showing 51 - 60 of 60 results
Hotels with Internet AccessHotels have been late in joining the Internet age. As they scramble to meet all your technological needs, what can you expect when you check...
Return to the Irish ReelAn Irish-music devotee gets to the roots of his obsession
Scott Joplin's Missouri: Ragtime RevisitedActor, screenwriter, and ragtime junkie Buck Henry leads the way to Sedalia, Missouri, the epicenter of his addiction.
Artbeat: Modern Art at the GuggenheimExhibitions . . . Opera . . . Dance . . . Theater . . . Film . . .
Ask T+L: Snowboarding Camps, Tour ReliabilityNovember 1999
The Glory of SydneyMelbourne's raffish rival doesn't need the President's Cup to serve the world's most avid golfers.
Winter Fun and GamesThere's more to do than ever - on, off, and all over the slopes
A Ski Resort Hits its PeakA once-modest ski hill reinvents itself as a full-fledged resort
Skiing the Canadian RockiesFour ski areas in Banff and Jasper national parks draw downhillers from Europe, Japan, and all over North America.
T+L Reports: Parisian Hotel, NYC Boutique, Good Books, morefrench bliss Hotelier Grace Leo-Andrieu, who transformed Paris's Hotel Montalembert and Le Toiny on St. Barts into stylish enclaves, has once again worked magic—this time...


text:
Detectives Search Home Of Contractor Connected To Building Collapse
A handful of investigators from the police central detectives division went to the north Philadelphia home of contractor Griffin Campbell on Monday.
3 On Your Side: Hurricane Sandy Scams
A spokesperson for Brigantine police department tells Eyewitness News they've received at least a dozen complaints from homeowners who say they've been approached by potentially unlicensed contractors.
3 On Your Side: Hiring Contractors After Sandy
As the clean-up from Hurricane Sandy is underway, many homeowners will have to hire help to get the job done. If you're among them, 3 On Your Side Consumer Reporter Jim Donovan has important information that you need to know.
Contractor Or Employee? The Difference On Your Taxes Could Cost You
Bala Cynwyd-based lawyer Christopher Ezold expects 2012 to be a year of scrutiny by the IRS and other agencies looking at revenues due for workers mis-classified as contractors.


text:
Tag: curation
Coauthored by Meredith Turk At the Missouri School of Journalism, students are guinea pigs for new innovations, products and processes that are breaking ground in the news and digital spheres. Ten students in Jim Flink's Emerging Technologies class had firsthand experience using a curation news application during a live event, the Donald W. Reynolds Journalism […] more »
Reported by Reuben Stern and Olga Kyle. This week we see how one newspaper hopes to compete with local television with breaking news video, and we learn more about the role of news curation apps. PART 1: Video at the Austin American-Statesman The Austin American-Statesman has a long history as a newspaper, but the staff is now […] more »
Social networks are a powerful way to spread the word and spark conversations about great content, but they can present a double-edged sword. "Our best communities, reviews, and highlights about us are on these networks," RebelMouse founder and CEO Paul Berry told me in a recent phone interview. Yet, "when the people who care about […] more »
At the National Conference on Media Reform earlier this month, a topic I heard repeated in panel after panel was the diversity of voices. Media consolidation, industry cutbacks, and political repression are among the threats to reporting on and by independent and diverse perspectives around the world. The videos we see on a regular basis […] more »
Remember that classic Super Bowl ad showing cowboys herding cats? Well, the challenge may feel much the same for social media users, even adept ones like journalists and journalism educators who revel in the technology's transformative power but who can find themselves drowning in the torrent that pours non-stop from social platforms like Twitter, Facebook […] more »
Welcome to the 62nd episode of the Mediatwits podcast, with Mark Glaser and Rafat Ali as co-hosts. This week is a special edition of the podcast, with a focus on the coming election and the role of digital and social media leading up to it. But just as the political campaigns had to adjust to […] more »
The best stories across the web on media and technology, curated by Lily Leung 1. What Yahoo is and isn't (New York Times) 2. Would Twitter and other apps be better if you paid for them? (GigaOm) 3. Video stats at The New York Times and Wall Street Journal (Digiday) 4. The dos and donts […] more »
The best stories across the web on media and technology, curated by Lily Leung 1. U.S. State Department could enter into e-reader contract with Amazon (AppNewser) 2. Times-Picayune, Alabama papers go through mass layoffs (Poynter) 3. Amazon, Google among bidders of new Web names like .news and .lol (PaidContent) 4. Is the DOJ looking out […] more »
Last July, a high-speed train crashed in the Wenzhou suburbs of China's Zhejiang Province, killing 38 people and injuring 192. The Chinese government's media apparatus quickly swung into gear, working overtime to quell growing rumors of an engineering flaw that may have caused the crash. But despite the Chinese Communist Party's attempt at full control […] more »
The best stories across the web on media and technology, curated by Lily Leung. 1. Apple, Microsoft and others agree to new privacy protections for app users (The Next Web) 2. Gannett plans to put up paywalls at all of its papers except USA Today (Forbes) 3. Be wary of what's considered 'source' or 'confirmed' […] more »


text:
Dallas Cowboys and the NFL
Latest news on the Cowboys
Cowboys could pad lead with win
GREEN BAY, Wis. – It's scoreless here at Lambeau Field, but that's not the case in San Diego. The Chargers lead the Eagles 14-3, meaning the Cowboys could take a two-game lead in the NFC East if that score holds up and they manage to beat the desperate Packers. [Read More]
Packers guard injured
GREEN BAY, Wis. – An ankle injury has sent Packers LG Daryn Colledge to the sideline. HIs return is questionable. Colledge is second in the league in sacks surrendered with 7.25. [Read More]
Colombo could be done for the season
GREEN BAY, Wis. – Cowboys LT Marc Colombo could be lost for the season after suffering a broken left fibulla in the first quarter, a Cowboys spoksman announced. Colombo hasn't missed a game since becoming a starter in 2006. The Cowboys have had some bumps and bruises that forced players to miss games here and […] [Read More]
Spencer getting closer
GREEN BAY, Wis. – Cowboys OLB Anthony Spencer has come close twice today to getting his first sack. Other than that, he's playing a terrific game. Considering Green Bay's Aaron Rodger entered the game with a league-high 37 sacks, it seems a safe bet Spencer will eventually get his first one today. [Read More]
Colombo update
GREEN BAY, Wis. – Cowboys LT Marc Colombo's lower left leg is being X-rayed in the locker room. His return is uncertain. Look for the Packers to load up on Colombo's replacement, Doug Free. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said a few weeks ago that his biggest concern was a lack of depth along the offensive […] [Read More]
Cowboys tackle injured
GREEN BAY, Wis. – Cowboys left tackle Marc Colombo is in the locker room after suffering an apparent knee injury suffered during a 5-yard run by Marion Barber. Colombo got on a cart on the sideline after being helped off the field by two athletic trainers. Doug Free replaced Colombo at left tackle. [Read More]
Spencer showed up to play
GREEN BAY, Wis. – Green Bay's Mason Crosby was wide left on a 52-yard field goal try after Anthony Spencer and Stephen Bowen stopped a scrambling Aaron Rodgers on second-and-12 and the secondary forced Rodgers to throw incomplete on third down. Spencer also dropped Ryan Grant for a 2-yard loss during Green Bay's second possession […] [Read More]
Cowboys botch red-zone opportunity
GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Cowboys had no problem getting into the red zone early. Scoring, though, was another matter all together. After reaching the Green Bay 19 on their first possession, the drive fizzled thanks to a sack of Tony Romo and Nick Folk missing wide left from 38 yards out. Folk entered the […] [Read More]


text:
Staff Profile
Shelly Freyn
Shelly Freyn brings 20 years of industry experience working for Fortune 100 companies along with some private organizations.
Her career began in research and development, but later branched into management, market research and technical sales. She has a track record of many new products with some of the top brands in the marketplace and holds a patent that sparked a new market category in the food industry.
Currently, Freyn is a doctoral student focusing on marketing strategy at Anderson University. In addition, she holds doctoral credits in marketing from Cleveland State University, where she conducted research at CSU's strategic business unit, working on projects ranging from alternative energy sources for fuel cells to competitive analysis of the automotive parts industry.
Freyn is a member of various groups, among them the scientific committee for the Institute for Competitive Intelligence, the board of directors for Southern Tier Environments for Living, and the governing board for Athena Power Link.
She is an assistant professor of business working for both the Department of Intelligence Studies and the Walker School of Business at Mercyhurst University. She teaches competitive intelligence, marketing research and various other marketing courses at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. She is co-adviser of the student CI club and is also program director of the Business & Competitive Intelligence major in the business school, an interdisciplinary major with course requirements from both departments.
- B.S., Cornell University
- Post baccalaureate certificate, Mercyhurst University
- M.B.A., Saint Bonaventure University
- Doctoral credit hours, Cleveland State University
Courses Taught
- INTEL 540 Competitive Intelligence
- RIAP 365 Advanced Competitive Intelligence
- MKTG 357 Marketing Research
- MKTG 347 Advertising, Promotion and Marketing Communications
- MKTG 317 Sales Management
- RIAP 300 Competitive Intelligence
- MKGT 200 International Marketing
- MGMT 120 Principles of Management
- IDST 110 Ethics and Images in the Global Market Place
Research Interests and Presentations
- Research interests: The synergistic effect of integrating traditional business models with national security and law enforcement intelligence models and its impact on strategy development.
- Competitive Advantage of Transforming Data into Intelligence (American Marketing Association, Marketing Research Conference, Cleveland, OH April 2012)
- Link Analysis: Visual Projection of Common Methodologies, Freyn and Langan (Strategic and Competitive Intelligence Professionals Conference, Philadelphia, PA May 2012)
- Improving the Objectivity of Indicator & Warning Analysis, Freyn and Paul (SCIP May 2012)
Selected Publications and Projects
- Freyn, Shelly and Sreedhar Madhavaram (2007), "Functional Food Products: Issues and Implications for Society and Firms," American Marketing Association 2008 Winter Educators Conference Proceedings, Austin, TX: American Marketing Association.
- Granot, Elad, Shelly Freyn, Thomas G. Brashear-Alejandro and Moty Avisar (2007), "Animated At-Retail Marketing Displays: Technological Advances, a Conceptual Model, and Research Propositions," Society for Marketing Advances 2007 Special Topics in Retailing Seminar, San Antonio, TX: American Collegiate Retailing Association.
- Using Structured Methods to Improve Indicator & Warning Analysis, Freyn and Paul
- The Effect of China's Entry into the US Food Market: A Trust-Value Dilemma, Freyn, et. al.
- Faculty advisor for CIRAT on numerous projects for Fortune 100 companies and private organizations. These include, but are not limited to: General Electric, Southern California Edison, Siemen's Industry, Parker-Hannifin, Mine Safety Appliance, Plastek.


text:
Osama bin Laden's son-in-law, the voice of fiery al-Qaida propaganda videotapes after the Sept. 11 attacks, was convicted Wednesday of conspiring to kill Americans for his role as the terror group's spokesman.
NEW YORK — Jurors at the Manhattan trial of Osama bin Laden's son-in-law watched video of Al-Qaeda's leaders threaten America before and after the Sept. 11 attacks as the government launched its case against the terror group's one-time spokesman, a presentation dismissed by a defence lawyer as movie-like theatrics. Prosecutors made heavy use Wednesday of […]
When Osama bin Laden was killed in 2011, Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi pledged to revenge his death with 100 terror attacks. Today, he is well past that target
In more than 100 receipts left in a building occupied by Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb in Timbuktu earlier this year, the extremists assiduously tracked their cash flow, recording purchases as small as a single light bulb.
The Federal Court determined the evidence constituted 'reasonable grounds to believe' Mohamed Mahjoub was a member of two groups engaged in terrorism
Now, with the deadly Nairobi mall massacre, in Kenya, Abdi Ahmed Godane is sending the world and his supporters a message: This is what my leadership will look like
Sixteen spy agencies worked in coordination on everything from tracking al-Qaeda operatives' cellphone calls to quickly identifying bin Laden's body, documents show
Zouhair El Maghraoui, who used a fake passport to fly to Montreal in 1995, was linked to al-Qaeda members involved in recruiting for Osama bin Laden's training camps
Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) is growing and security experts believe it now poses the greatest danger to the West. Based in Yemen, the terrorist group is believed to number about 1,000 members
Nasir al-Wuhayshi is now the No. 2 in al-Qaeda, and it was a phone call between him and the leader that sparked the U.S. clampdown on embassies in the Middle East


text:
One more step to get low fare alertsPrivacy Policy
Thanks for signing up!
You'll hear from our Dealhounds as soon as we find new low fares from:
Flight from Lafayette to Chicago (LFT-ORD)
Sorry, there are no longer active fares for this route that meet our Dealhounds' standards.
Send Me a Low Fare Alert from Lafayette to Chicago
Our Dealhounds find some pretty amazing fares – but they sell out fast! Sign up now and we'll send you an alert whenever we find a great fare.
Are Your Travel Dates Set? Check Fares Now:
Reviews for Lafayette to Chicago (LFT-ORD)
Flight from Lafayette to Chicago
- Airline:
- Delta
- Round Trip
- Number of Stops:
- 1 stop in Memphis, Tennessee
- Date of Flight:
- July 2010
- Seat Class:
- economy
very poor the worst of the situation, a person too large for the seat was next to me, and spilled over into my space, no room for my arms since i was wedged between him and the window. experienced claustrophobia for the first time in my life. BIG TIME
"No offense but I'll avoid flights through Memphis"
Flight from Lafayette to Chicago
- Airline:
- Delta
- Round Trip
- Number of Stops:
- 1 stop in Memphis, Tennessee
- Date of Flight:
- April 2010
- Seat Class:
- economy
Flights were pretty average in every way. There's no way to fly direct from Lafayette, La. to anywhere except Houston, Dallas, Atlanta or Memphis. For the trip to Chicago, I wanted to avoid Dallas (bad experience at Christmas) and there were no convenient flights through Houston. So I booked through Memphis -- early in the day without a chance to eat first. I know this is an airline review, but since you can't eat on the plane anymore, airport factors in. Guess what? There are no national chain fast food restaurants at the Memphis airport, except for Popeye's Chicken. Thirteen different BBQ joints, and Popeye's. Would anyone really want that at 10 a.m.? I think not. I headed back to Chicago later this month -- through Dallas.


text:
Pharm Exec's Brand of the Year selections from the last few years are still alive and kicking, although some have aged more gracefully than others.
The US drug pricing wars may be coming, but these products already made their mint. We checked back in with them to see how things are going, and to look for indicators about their future prospects. Click here for more.


text:
More hints on the Jags' No. 2 pick
April, 4, 2013
By Tim Kavanagh | ESPN Insider
With three weeks to go before the start of the 2012 NFL Draft, the amount of chatter on who will be selecting whom has ramped up, especially since much of the free agent class has been picked clean to this point. Though there is a lack of clarity in regard to who the Kansas City Chiefs will take at No. 1, there's an equal amount of speculation on the No. 2 pick, currently possessed by the Jacksonville Jaguars.


text:
Lumber Bridge, North Carolina
For population 25 years and over in Lumber Bridge:
For population 15 years and over in Lumber Bridge town:
Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with mortgages in 2012: $986 (0.6%)
Nearest city with pop. 50,000+: Fayetteville, NC (15.0 miles , pop. 121,015).
Nearest city with pop. 200,000+: Raleigh, NC (68.6 miles , pop. 276,093).
Nearest city with pop. 1,000,000+: Philadelphia, PA (413.8 miles , pop. 1,517,550).
Nearest cities: Rex, NC (1.8 miles) , Parkton, NC (1.9 miles ), Shannon, NC (2.2 miles) , Rennert, NC (2.3 miles ), Dundarrach, NC (2.3 miles) , Rockfish, NC (2.6 miles ), St. Pauls, NC (2.8 miles ), Red Springs, NC (2.9 miles ).
Latitude: 34.89 N, Longitude: 79.07 W
Area code commonly used in this area: 910
Property values in Lumber Bridge, NC
Unemployment by year (%)
Population change in the 1990s: +18 (+18.0%).
Average climate in Lumber Bridge, North Carolina
Based on data reported by over 4,000 weather stations
Tornado activity:
Lumber Bridge-area historical tornado activity is above North Carolina state average. It is 68% greater than the overall U.S. average.
On 3/28/1984, a category F4 (max. wind speeds 207-260 mph) tornado 11.2 miles away from the Lumber Bridge town center killed 4 people and injured 395 people and caused between $5,000,000 and $50,000,000 in damages.
On 4/8/1957, a category F4 tornado 16.3 miles away from the town center injured 21 people and caused between $50,000 and $500,000 in damages.
Earthquake activity:Lumber Bridge-area historical earthquake activity is slightly below North Carolina state average. It is 95% smaller than the overall U.S. average.
On 4/13/1998 at 09:56:11, a magnitude 3.9 (3.5 MB, 3.9 LG, Depth: 3.1 mi, Class: Light, Intensity: II - III) earthquake occurred 81.6 miles away from the city center
On 9/25/2006 at 05:44:25, a magnitude 3.7 (3.7 MB, Depth: 3.1 mi) earthquake occurred 46.8 miles away from Lumber Bridge center
On 9/22/2006 at 11:22:00, a magnitude 3.4 (3.4 LG, Depth: 3.1 mi) earthquake occurred 37.4 miles away from the city center
Magnitude types: regional Lg-wave magnitude (LG), body-wave magnitude (MB)
Natural disasters:The number of natural disasters in Robeson County (10) is near the US average (12).
Major Disasters (Presidential) Declared: 8
Emergencies Declared: 2
Causes of natural disasters: Hurricanes: 6, Tornadoes: 2, Storms: 2, Flood: 1, Flood: 1, Tropical Storm: 1 (Note: Some incidents may be assigned to more than one category).
Hospitals/medical centers near Lumber Bridge:
Political contributions by individuals in Lumber Bridge, NC
Amtrak station near Lumber Bridge:
Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Lumber Bridge:
See full list of schools located in Lumber Bridge
Public elementary/middle school in Lumber Bridge:
(lower is better)
Air Quality Index (AQI)
Particulate Matter (PM10) [µ/m3] level in 2010 was 14.1. This is significantly better than average. Closest monitor was 12.4 miles away from the city center.
Particulate Matter (PM2.5) [µ/m3] level in 2010 was 9.60. This is about average. Closest monitor was 12.4 miles away from the city center.
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) [ppb] level in 2009 was 1.11. This is significantly better than average. Closest monitor was 8.2 miles away from the city center.
Percentage of residents living in poverty in 2012: 18.9%
(14.1% for White Non-Hispanic residents, 42.1% for Black residents, 0.0% for Hispanic or Latino residents, 0.0% for American Indian residents, 0.0% for two or more races residents)
Average household size:
Percentage of family households:
Percentage of households with unmarried partners:
Likely homosexual households (counted as self-reported same-sex unmarried-partner households)
Detailed information about poverty and poor residents in Lumber Bridge, NC
7 people in other noninstitutional group quarters in 2000
Lumber Bridge compared to North Carolina state average:
Educational Attainment (%) in 2012
School Enrollment by Level of School (%) in 2012
Most commonly used house heating fuel:
Presidential Elections Results
1996 2000 2004 2008 2012
1996 Presidential Elections Results
2000 Presidential Elections Results
2004 Presidential Elections Results
2008 Presidential Elections Results
2012 Presidential Elections Results
Graphs represent county-level data. Detailed 2008 Election Results
Religion statistics for Lumber Bridge town (based on Robeson County data)Percentage of population affiliated with a religious congregations: 42.43%
Breakdown of population affiliated with a religious congregations
Tables represent county-level data.
Food Environment Statistics:
Number of grocery stores: 26
Number of supercenters and club stores: 2
Number of convenience stores (no gas): 16
Number of convenience stores (with gas): 76
Number of full-service restaurants: 54
Adult diabetes rate:
Adult obesity rate:
Low-income preschool obesity rate:
Lumber Bridge government finances - Expenditure in 2002 (per resident):
Lumber Bridge government finances - Revenue in 2002 (per resident):
Lumber Bridge government finances - Cash and Securities in 2002 (per resident):
4.28% of this county's 2006 resident taxpayers lived in other counties in 2005 ($25,268 average adjusted gross income)
0.08% of residents moved from foreign countries ($277 average AGI)
Top counties from which taxpayers relocated into this county between 2005 and 2006:
4.58% of this county's 2005 resident taxpayers moved to other counties in 2006 ($27,142 average adjusted gross income)
0.08% of residents moved to foreign countries ($457 average AGI)
Top counties to which taxpayers relocated from this county between 2005 and 2006:
Strongest AM radio stations in Lumber Bridge:
Strongest FM radio stations in Lumber Bridge:
TV broadcast stations around Lumber Bridge:
Lumber Bridge fatal accident list:
Sep 30, 2007 11:30 PM, Sr-20, Rp-1706, Lat: 34.870708, Lon: -79.054542, Vehicles: 3, Fatalities: 3
Nov 29, 2003 11:01 PM, Sr-71, Vehicles: 1, Persons: 2, Fatalities: 1, Drunken drivers: 1
May 16, 1997 04:55 PM, Nc71, Vehicles: 2, Persons: 5, Fatalities: 1
Dec 16, 1993 09:40 PM, Nc71, Vehicles: 1, Persons: 3, Fatalities: 1
Apr 23, 1976 05:10 PM, Vehicles: 2, Persons: 3, Fatalities: 2
FCC Registered Antenna Towers:26 (See the full list of FCC Registered Antenna Towers in Lumber Bridge)
FCC Registered Private Land Mobile Towers:1
FCC Registered Microwave Towers:3
FCC Registered Amateur Radio Licenses:5
FAA Registered Aircraft:3
2006 National Fire Incident Reporting System Incidents:
Incident types - Lumber Bridge
See full 2006 National Fire Incident Reporting System statistics for Lumber Bridge, NC
Back to Lumber Bridge, NC housing info, Robeson County, North Carolina, NC smaller cities, NC small cities, All Cities.


text:
Whitley Chain-Lapel Jacket
ORIGINAL: $348.00 NOW: $174.00 This item is Final Sale
*All Final Cut items are Final Sale. No refunds or exchanges are accepted.
Additional Information
Chain trim adds tough-luxe edge to this wear-everywhere jacket.
- Collarless. Long sleeves.
- Silver-toned chain trim at lapels. Flap-closure welt pockets. Back vent. Shoulder pads.
- Center front hook-and-eye closures.
- Crepe: Polyester, Rayon, Spandex. Ponte: Rayon, Nylon, Spandex. Lining: Polyester.
- Dry Clean.
- Imported.
- Measures approximately 27.25" from shoulder to hem.
- Classic fit.


text:
By: dat-ass
Video Details
Date: 4 years ago
Runtime: 2:14
Views: 54,325
2 Comments
All Comments
2 years ago
Love to feel my stiff cock deep in your luscious hot ass while you wiggle your lovely ass like that while you wear your sexy dress. Love your glorious ass.
0 likesThank you for voting!
4 years ago
I'd love to have that fat ass riding my dick. I'd wear your pussy the fuck out.
0 likesThank you for voting!
By dat-ass
Added: 4 years ago
You cannot send yourself a gift.
You have not added any videos to your playlist. Click on the "+" in the video thumbnails to add videos.


text:
Resource Types
Filter by article type:
Filter by post date:
Filter by product categories:
- (-) Housecleaning
- Accessories (16) Apply Accessories filter
- Kitchenware (4) Apply Kitchenware filter
- Appliances (2) Apply Appliances filter
- Art (2) Apply Art filter
- Apparel (1) Apply Apparel filter
- Bedding (1) Apply Bedding filter
- Clocks (1) Apply Clocks filter
- Decorations (1) Apply Decorations filter
- Electronics (1) Apply Electronics filter
- Gardening (1) Apply Gardening filter
- Pets (1) Apply Pets filter
- Technology (1) Apply Technology filter
- Wallcoverings (1) Apply Wallcoverings filter
Filter by topics:
Filter by section:
All Latest
5 Canister Vacuums
Is kitty leaving too much for you to remember him by? Are your wellies tracking dirt? Whatever the mess, these vacuums will help you suck it up.written by: Amber Bravo05.28.09
5 Stylish Modern Trash Cans
Everyone's got trash, but how they decide to hide it varies. Here, five waste bins that will have you storing your garbage in style.written by: Claire Andreas08.17.13
6 Great Appliances for Small Kitchens
The world is shrinking, dear readers, and it doesn't show any signs of stopping. With the latest micro-apartments going up in San Francisco as we speak, the need for space-saving product design...written by: Megan Hamaker02.05.13
6 Must-Have Bath Accessories
Update your bathroom with these six accessories; no remodeling or heavy spending required.written by: Olivia Martin06.26.13
8 Modern Vacuum Cleaners
Sweeping up is a crummy job, but someone's got to do it. Luckily, these eight vacuum cleaners are here to help you eliminate even the biggest of messes.written by: Miyoko Ohtake10.04.10
A Note on Our Expert: Laura Guido-Clark
After designing for other companies for a few years, Guido-Clark started a firm 16 years ago with a friend. Working for companies as diverse as Mattel, Toyota, and InterfaceFLOR, she has learned...01.01.09
Alessi Birillo Collection- Bathroom Waste Bin
Designed by Italian-based designer and architect Piero Lissari for Alessi, the Birillo Bathroom Waste Bin's sculpted, minimal form adds modern cool to any interior space. Crafted from lightweight,...
Alessi Birillo Collection- Cotton Pad Dispenser
Part of the Birillo family of products created for Alessi by Italian designer Piero Lissoni, the Cotton Pad Dispenser is an innovative interpretation of an everyday essential. Made from shatter...
Alessi Birillo Collection- Soap Dish
Sleek lines and rounded corners give the Birillo Soap Dish a minimal yet modern appearance. Designed by Piero Lissoni as part of the Birillo collection of bathroom accessories, the Soap Dish is...
Alessi Birillo Collection- Tissue Box
Envisioned by Piero Lissoni, the Birillo Tissue Box is a sleek take on an everyday essential. Crafted from shatter-proof, opaque white PMMA, the cleverly designed bathroom accessory smartly stows a...
Alessi Birillo Collection- Toilet Brush
The Birillo Toilet Brush lends a touch of elegance to an otherwise dolesome household chore. Created by Italian-based designer Piero Lissoni, the Birillo Toilet Brush is made from shatter-proof...
Artala Can
Joshua Davis brings his signature color-by-numbers aesthetic to the world of trash-can design with this three-gallon beaut from Umbra. You'll be looking for more things to throw away just to spend...
Ballo Toilet Brush
Tis the season for having guests—and thus a clean house, as well. And while you'll want a toilet brush on hand, you may not want your current one out on display. Danish manufacturer Normann...written by: Miyoko Ohtake12.13.10
Bosch Formula Electro Duo Plus HEPA
Not to throw the c-bomb around too much, but this machine is dang cute. The design is simple and straightforward; there aren't too many buttons or settings to overwhelm, and the performance...
Dear Dwell: I'm tired of my old generic broom. Are there any specialized products on the market that are both hip and functional? —Edward Charles, Austin, Texaswritten by: Christopher Bright01.26.09
Butterfly Recycler
Intended for squeezing into narrower spaces, the Butterfly takes a different approach than the rest of the pack. The cleverly designed lid opens in halves when you press on the foot pedal, and can...
Chuck Waste Paper Basket
The Chuck Waste Paper Basket, by studio CRANK, is constructed of 100% recycled cardboard, printed with low VOC based inks, and is totally recyclable. It's assembled by simply folding and tucking,...
Classic Pedal Bin
Holger Nielsen, the inventor of the pedal bin, once said, "Good design never goes out of fashion." And he's right—there have been minimal changes since its creation back in...
Crate and Barrel Launches New Utility Brand, Clean Slate
Crate and Barrel introduces Clean Slate, their new line of well-designed cleaning and organizing products for the modern home.04.30.13
DC65 vacuum
Dyson has earned a reputation for its ultra-high-performance machines. With the DC65, the company engineered a cleaning head that pivots on a tight radius and self-adjusts to effectively suction...
Dustpan and Broom
Dustpans are often relegated to the kitchen's darkest corners, but not without good reason; The old, rusty-and-crusty metal versions can get caked with crud pretty quickly. Ole Jensen's bight...
Dyson DC23 Turbinehead
Though Dyson's product range is quickly expanding, its vacuums are some of the few certified as asthma- and allergy-friendly by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. The DC23 Turbinehead...
Dyson Wireless Handheld Vacuum for Small Jobs
James Dyson made his name making high-end, beautifully structured, and functionally impressive vacuum cleaners. An offshoot from the typical canister and upright vacuums Dyson makes is its wireless...written by: Alexander George07.28.14
Electrolux Oxygen3 Ultra
Like the Bosch, the Electrolux is an agile and effective machine. The difference is that the Electrolux seems more thought out in both material and functionality. The attention to detail, finish,...
Electrolux Versatility EL8502
When selecting Electrolux's Versaility upright vacuum cleaner, you can pick your color in amethyst, tangerine, or vivid green but all will come with a HEPA filter and quick-release wand to help you...


text:
Top generic injectable-drug maker Hospira HSP 3.6348547717842323% Hospira Inc. U.S.: NYSE USD62.44 2.19 3.6348547717842323% /Date(1418940098808-0600)/ Volume (Delayed 15m) : 1031047 AFTER HOURS USD62.44 % Volume (Delayed 15m) : 19834 P/E Ratio 31.695431472081218 Market Cap 10194420249.939 Dividend Yield N/A Rev. per Employee 260094 More quote details and news » is almost ready to throw off the IVs and get back to work.
Nearly three years after the Food and Drug Administration mandated that it improve quality control at one of its top drug-manufacturing plants, Hospira (ticker: HSP) is getting ready for an inspection of the Rocky Mount, N.C., facility, possibly in the first half of this year. A clean bill of health from the FDA could clear a path to boost the plant's production, which has been scaled back amid the remediation efforts. It also would enable Hospira to focus more resources on promising markets, including generic substitutes for biotech treatments whose patents are expiring. These new products could help unlock the substantial value in the shares, which some investors and analysts believe are worth at least 30% more than last week's $34.50.
CEO Michael Ball is cleaning up the problems in Hospira's manufacturing plants and expanding its global reach in injectable drugs and systems. James Schnepf/Hospira
Overseeing the plant's cleanup and the company's revamped strategy is Chief Executive Michael Ball, a veteran of the health-care industry brought onboard in March 2011 from Allergan AGN 1.9949045810700379% Allergan Inc. U.S.: NYSE USD212.18 4.15 1.9949045810700379% /Date(1418940378884-0600)/ Volume (Delayed 15m) : 2824283 AFTER HOURS USD212.18 % Volume (Delayed 15m) : 24689 P/E Ratio 48.467266663621 Market Cap 61971925863.7708 Dividend Yield 0.09425959091337544% Rev. per Employee 615070 More quote details and news » (AGN), where he had worked for 16 years, the last five as president, and was responsible for building a substantial international business. Ball plans to expand the global reach of Hospira, which makes generic injectable drugs including morphine and antibiotics. He wants to increase its presence in France, Germany, and Japan as well as the emerging markets of China and Brazil. In cleaning up Hospira's plants, he has already made sweeping changes at the company, replacing all five plant managers in the U.S. and about 65% of the senior staff at those operations. There's a brand new head of global regulatory affairs and a new chief medical officer.
CEO Ball declined to be interviewed by Barron's.
After spending what's estimated to be more than $375 million on remediation since the third quarter of 2011—the bulk of it at Rocky Mount for consultants, a state-of-the-art quality-control laboratory, new automated visual-inspection equipment, and new managers—Hospira hopes to meet the FDA's standards. (On Feb. 6, Barrons.com reported on the company's progress in a Stock Alert column, "Give Hospira a Shot").
Hospira also hopes to work out a timeline for operating the North Carolina plant full-tilt, from about 60% currently. That would give a powerful lift to the Lake Forest, Ill.-based company's revenue and profit. Gross profit margins, now about 30%, will probably rise as the costs of upgrading its facilities decline, plant efficiencies improve, drug shipments increase, and prices rise. The Rocky Mount facility hasn't been the only focus of regulatory attention for Hospira, but it has the highest profile because it accounts for 25% of the company's $4 billion in sales.
Running the plant at capacity would also help alleviate a critical shortage of drugs considered vital to treating everything from cardiac arrest and seizures to pain management. Indeed, five other major manufacturers of sterile injectable drugs have also had to scale back production in the past three years after the FDA determined their processes also violated quality-control standards and procedures, leading in some cases to contaminated solutions.
The uncertainty surrounding Hospira's inspection weighs on the stock. At their current quote, the shares are down about 43% from their November 2010 high. Despite what has been a giddy time for many stocks, Hospira shares aren't far above their 52-week low of $28.62.
That has created an opportunity to invest in a company with the world's No. 1 market share—37%—in the generic injectable-drug market, a highly specialized class of drugs that require advanced handling techniques. The complexity of making these drugs creates a high barrier to entry. Hospira enjoys limited competition and higher margins as a result.
Despite its travails, the company has suffered only slight market-share losses. In all, about 63% revenue comes from these drugs. Hospira also ranks No. 2 in the market for intravenous-delivery systems and pumps used to supply and manage medications, boasting a 17% share. The systems and pumps kick in about 24% of revenue; other products like IV solutions comprise the rest.
Matt Sauer, a portfolio manager at Lateef Investment Management, which oversees $4.5 billion in assets, is confident that the company is on the right track. Hospira ranks among the firm's top 10 holdings. (For more on Lateef's strategy, see "Rumblings of the 'Great Rotation'.")
By 2014, Sauer expects Hospira to be operating at historic production levels. He sees the potential for the company to earn $3 to $3.25 a share. That's up from an estimated $2 a share the company expects for 2012 and the $2.31 Wall Street projects in 2013.
Sauer sees the shares hitting the high $40s or low $50s as revenue and profit increase and the earnings multiple expands, an appreciation of 30% or more. Hospira shares now trade at 15 times 2013 earnings estimates.
AS BULLISH AS THESE projections are, they don't include the growth potential from a new drug group known as biosimilars, or generic versions of expensive biotech drugs. Hospira is the leading U.S.-based producer of these drugs and among the world's top three, along with Israel's Teva Pharmaceutical TEVA 1.6143497757847534% Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. ADS U.S.: NYSE USD56.65 0.9 1.6143497757847534% /Date(1418940178247-0600)/ Volume (Delayed 15m) : 4224282 AFTER HOURS USD56.65 % Volume (Delayed 15m) : 5208 P/E Ratio 17.384232976340257 Market Cap 52809249241.1531 Dividend Yield 2.418252427184466% Rev. per Employee 462710 More quote details and news » (TEVA) and Sandoz, a division of Switzerland's Novartis NVS 2.470473507422256% Novartis AG ADS U.S.: NYSE USD94.57 2.28 2.470473507422256% /Date(1418940230503-0600)/ Volume (Delayed 15m) : 1262873 AFTER HOURS USD94.53 -0.039999999999992 -0.042296711430686265% Volume (Delayed 15m) : 12449 P/E Ratio 21.14761063530043 Market Cap 248442398643.933 Dividend Yield 2.9182499735645555% Rev. per Employee 414733 More quote details and news » (NVS). The existing biotech drugs, also known as biologics, are costly in part because they have highly complex molecular structures and are made with live organisms.
The Bottom Line
Hospira's stock could rise 30% or more once the company can spend more time and money on its products and less on regula-tory issues. A new generic offering could add even more.
An estimated $40 billion of the biologics are scheduled to lose their patent protection through 2020, providing lots of new opportunity for Hospira and its rivals. Datamonitor, a London-based business-research group, has forecast that the biosimilar market will reach nearly $4 billion by 2015 from $243 million in 2010.
Hospira's biosimilar for Amgen's Epogen, an erythropoietin (EPO) treatment for anemia in patients with renal failure, is in Phase III clinical trials with the U.S. FDA. The last patent on Epogen is scheduled to expire in 2015, which is when the U.S. market for a biosimilar version is set to begin. Hospira has been selling another EPO biosimilar, Retacrit, in Europe since 2008. It's also selling Nivestim, a version of Amgen's Neupogen, which boosts infection-fighting white-blood cells in cancer patients, in Europe and Australia.
Biotech companies, including Amgen and Genentech, a division of Swiss health-care giant Roche Holding ROg.VX -4.745410460685833% Roche Holding AG Part. Cert. Switzerland: SWX Europe CHF275 -13.7 -4.745410460685833% /Date(1419005318000-0600)/ Volume (Delayed 15m) : 3066381 P/E Ratio 22.07027708006059 Market Cap 240014989812.5 Dividend Yield 2.8363636363636364% Rev. per Employee 546063 More quote details and news » (ROG.Switzerland), have been lobbying hard to limit generic versions of their treatments, questioning the safety of drugs that are similar but not identical to the originals. At the same time, pharmacy-benefit managers such as Express Scripts esrx 0.6755066299724793% Express Scripts Holding Co. U.S.: Nasdaq USD80.48 0.54 0.6755066299724793% /Date(1418940000203-0600)/ Volume (Delayed 15m) : 4364207 AFTER HOURS USD80.48 % Volume (Delayed 15m) : 175245 P/E Ratio 31.884632146111485 Market Cap 58668765044.9462 Dividend Yield N/A Rev. per Employee 3347990 More quote details and news » (ESRX) are working to make biosimilars available because of the tremendous cost savings they represent for their customers.
Hospira's small size—its market value is about $6 billion—makes it a potential acquisition target for big-pharma companies such as Merck MRK 2.342529932326913% Merck & Co. Inc. U.S.: NYSE USD58.98 1.35 2.342529932326913% /Date(1418940152803-0600)/ Volume (Delayed 15m) : 11501822 AFTER HOURS USD58.98 % Volume (Delayed 15m) : 1857617 P/E Ratio 31.88108108108108 Market Cap 164295816736.467 Dividend Yield 3.051881993896236% Rev. per Employee 566408 More quote details and news » (MRK) and Pfizer PFE 2.7313624678663238% Pfizer Inc. U.S.: NYSE USD31.97 0.85 2.7313624678663238% /Date(1418940205886-0600)/ Volume (Delayed 15m) : 34136373 AFTER HOURS USD31.99 0.0199999999999996 0.06255864873318737% Volume (Delayed 15m) : 1790588 P/E Ratio 19.53201368523949 Market Cap 196076458178.347 Dividend Yield 3.5032843290584923% Rev. per Employee 644080 More quote details and news » (PFE). Investors were reminded of the takeover possibility when Hospira revealed in a recent government filing that new change-in-control agreements for its top management went into effect on Jan. 1.
HOWEVER THE VALUE IN Hospira's shares is realized, Ball is confident the company is rejuvenated. During a Jan. 8 presentation for investors at a JPMorgan conference, he said, "We're in great, growing markets. We've got great market-share position. We've got a great pipeline. We've got great new people. And that to me…indicates a great future."
E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com


text:
My high beams work when I use the multifunction device, but I cannot get my low beams on at all. Is this definitely the multifunction switch or is there anything else that could be causing this? Most sources I have came across point towards it being a default wiring in the multifunction lever. Just wanna make sure I buy the correct part. Thanks!
View questions for:All Buick
2002 Buick Century
Buick Q&AAsk Your Question
2002 Buick Century Question: Headlights do not work.
Bisonrollin, 3.1L V6, Fargo, ND, March 21, 2013, 09:23
2 Answers
Answer #1Miles Auto Services (884 Answers) , Richmond, VA - (804) 885-4176milesauto March 21, 2013, 10:13Master
Don't rule out the by chance that both low beam headlights could be burnt out.
ReplyBisonrollin, March 21, 2013, 10:17Rookie
I don't think that's the problem, I just replaced the bulbs not two months ago.
Replymilesauto, March 21, 2013, 11:17Master
Well you probaly will need to have the mulitifuntion switch replaced....so there again it might be worth your trouble to double check the bulbs. We have recently had some comeback failures of new bulbs we have installed.
Answer #2Greg's Orange Auto (14224 Answers) , Orange, CA - (714) 361-9386globalhelper March 21, 2013, 13:05Master
ck pwr at both bulbs to start with if you have pwr repl both bulbs
Answer Ranks
This week's top 10
|1 pushrod
|6 Hal...
|2 CharlesAutomotive
|7 IamSteve
|3 ziptie12
|8 lordwoton
|4 globalhelper
|9 stasho
|5 csubak30
|10 ProfessorG


text:
ESP Custom Shop
Discussions related to all ESP Custom Shop made instruments.
Talk about anything related to the ESP Original Series line of guitars and basses.
ESP Standard
Talk about anything related to the ESP Standard line of guitars.
Signature Series
Discussions related to all ESP & LTD Signature Series instruments.
Technical Support
Discussions on Technical Information/Issues concerning all ESP & LTD instruments.
General Discussions
Talk about anything you'd like!