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Chromebooks are amazing little machines. They are a marvel of speed and simplicity. The Acer C720 Chromebook is certainly near the top of the list of Chromebooks to be purchased (next to the Chromebook Pixel, of course). It's speedy and it's inexpensive. But for some, the simplistic nature of the devices doesn't offer enough power or flexibility. For those who need more from this Acer platform, I have the answer – in fact, I have two answers:
Install Ubuntu.
Install Bodhi Linux.
Both solutions will land you with a full-blown Linux set up, ready to do what you need to do. But the process isn't exactly as simple as slapping a USB flash drive in, booting, and installing. There are a few tricks to get this working. In the end, you'll wind up with either a dual booting Chromebook (in the case of ChrUbuntu) or a single boot system (with Bodhi). With the dual boot, you retain the simplicity of ChromeOS, with the addition of the power and flexibility of Ubuntu. The Bodhi installation will give you more space for your Linux needs, at the cost of ChromeOS.
First things first
Before you install Linux, I highly recommend creating a recovery USB flash drive. Chromebook offers a simple solution for this. Just follow these steps:
Boot up your Chromebook and login
Plug in a spare ~2GB+ USB flash drive
Open the Chrome browser
Go to chrome://imageburner
Follow the simple instructions.
When all is said and done, you'll have a recovery drive to use to get your system back where it was (should you not like either Linux install or something goes wrong).
Now, it's time to start the process.
Boot into Developer mode
Make sure the Chromebook is turned off
Hold Escape and Refresh and tap the Power button
When the device reaches the recover screen, press Ctrl+d and then (after releasing Ctrl+d) press Enter
The system will reboot (this will take some time)
When the system finally boots to the set up, select a wireless connection and click continue
Accept the EULA by clicking Accept and continue
Once you reach the Google login screen, do NOT log in
Press Ctrl+alt+ → (not the right cursor key, but the key where the standard F2 key would be)
At the ChromeOS command login (not the usual) GUI login, type chronos and hit Enter (no password is needed) to finally enter Developer mode.
You are now ready to begin the installation process.
Install Ubuntu using ChrUbuntu
You should now be at the command prompt on your Chromebook. Here, type:
curl -L -O http://goo.gl/9sgchs; sudo bash 9sgchs
Make sure you get this command exactly right. Once you've done that, you will be asked to configure a size for the Ubuntu installation. This will obviously depend upon the size of SSD on your Chromebook. The recommended size is 24 GB. After you type the size and hit enter, the device will reboot a couple of times. This process is setting up the Stateful partition to make room for ChrUbuntu. Eventually it will come back to the Chromebook setup screen. Once again, configure your network and then hit Ctrl+alt+ → at the login screen. Log back in as chronos and then type the original command again:
curl -L -O http://goo.gl/9sgchs; sudo bash 9sgchs
This time around, the installation process will begin. Hit Enter (when prompted) and watch the fun begin! During the installation process (it will take quite some time), you may be prompted for:
You will also have to decide where to place GRUB. You must check the box next to /dev/sda, or the boot process will not work. NOTE: During my installation process, this step was skipped. I assume the install script has been updated to automatically set the location of GRUB.
After the Ubuntu files have been downloaded and installed, the script will finally prompt you to reboot. When you reach the developer screen, hit Ctrl+L and ChrUbuntu will start up (or Ctrl+d to boot Chrome).
To log into your Ubuntu system, use the credentials:
username: user
password: user
Your Ubuntu Chromebook should be ready to go, complete with LibreOffice and a number of other tools (Figure 1).
Install Bodhi Linux
If you want to try a different flavor of Linux, Bodhi is perfect for the Chromebook. This installation will be done instead of the ChruBuntu. Why would you opt for Bodhi? This flavor of Linux is a very minimalist take on an already minimalist platform and will give you an incredibly fast and efficient machine.
The first thing you need to do is enable the Legacy Bios Mode – this will allow you to boot from a USB flash drive.
Follow the steps above to boot into recovery mode
Log into your Chromebook as normal
Open a crosh window (the ChromeOS shell) with Ctrl+alt+t
At the crosh prompt, type shell and hit Enter
Become the super user with the command sudo bash
Enter the command crossystem dev_boot_usb=1 dev_boot_legacy_1
Exit out of bash with the exit command and then close the Chrome browser.
Now you can boot your Chromebook from a USB flash drive.
The next step is to create a USB flash drive with the proper Bodhi image. The developers (specifically Jeff Hoogland) have created an Acer 720-specific image that you can download here. Once you've downloaded that file, insert a USB flash drive, open up a terminal window, change to the directory where the Bodhi iso is located (with the command cd ~/Downloads – assuming you downloaded the .iso to your Downloads directory), and issue the command:
dd if=bodhi-c720-chromebook.iso of=/dev/sdX
(Where X is the drive letter of your USB flash drive).
Unmount and remove that flash drive (using the command umount /path/to/drive – Where /path/to/drive is the exact path of the mounted flash drive) and insert it into one of your Chromebook's USB ports. Boot the device and then, at the startup screen, press Ctrl+l to boot from the legacy BIOS. When prompted, hit Esc to enter the boot menu and select 1 for the USB drive. At this point, boot the Live Bodhi instance and then walk through the standard installation process. You can allow Bodhi to take the entire drive, or set it up to dual boot (Figure 2). Should you decide to keep ChromeOS on the device, you'll want to give Bodhi a minimum of 3 GB (16 would be ideal).
You will need to hit Ctrl+l every time you boot – there is no work around for this at the current time.
Should anything go wrong, you have your restore USB drive. To use this, follow these steps:
Boot the machine
When you see Chrome OS is missing or damaged, insert the USB flash drive
Wait for the Chromebook to boot from the flash drive
Follow the instructions for recovery.
If you're looking for a way to supercharge your Acer C720, you now have the means. Whether you want a stripped-down, lightning-fast, Bodhi-based Chromebook, or a full-blown Ubuntu-based Chromebook, you can stretch the limits of that device or even go back to the original set up. If you do opt to stick with either Bodhi or Ubuntu on your Chromebook, you might want to invest in a 64 GB SD card for some extra space.


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There are particularly types of questions that are asked by many interviewers for newly qualified positions. If you think through, and prepare answers to, these common questions this will not only assist you in interviews when they come up but will also stand you in good stead for your interview even if they aren't asked.
When you consider these questions and your answers to them you will be able to develop your own personal pitch about why you are best suited to the job and what sets you apart from the other applicants.
When you get to interview you will find that you can easily draw on these prepared answers (or part thereof) when answering those questions directly but also when answering different questions to the ones you prepared them for.
Your absolute aim in an interview should be to present a positive image of yourself. This will be much easier if you have already thought your answers and presentation through beforehand and built up this positive image in your own mind before the interview. You will then find it is much easier to get this positive image across during the interview.
The questions we would always suggest you prepare for are as follows (remembering that there will be many variations of the questions for which your answers will be more or less the same):
- Tell me a little bit about yourself.
- Why did you choose to be a solicitor?
- What did you enjoy most about being a trainee solicitor?
- What do you know about this firm/organisation?
- Why do you want to work for this firm?
- Why did you decide that you wanted to qualify into this area of law?
- What are your strengths/weaknesses?
- Where would you like to have progressed to in 3/5/10 years?
- Why should we offer you the job?
- What do you do outside of work?
Always remember that being prepared is half the battle! Best of luck!!
Professional One to One Interview Coaching for Newly Qualifieds
Get help with your interview preparation and technique with specialist interview coaching from our resident legal career coach, Matt Oliver LLB (Solicitor).

subset: commoncrawl


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The Lounges dedication to its industry is constantly rewarded with its nominations and awards in all the UK's glamorous awards ceremonies. The Lounge truly offers The Ultimate Experience.
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Liberal Democrats have set out 17 policies designed to tackle inequalities faced by Britain's ethnic minorities.
The proposals formed under five key themes covering social and economic issues are collectively called the Liberal Democrat Race Equality Plan. They are designed to sit alongside the party's existing policies to tackle race inequalities.
Today marks a landmark achievement for Lib Dems in government.
Up to 1m tenants renting energy inefficient leaky homes will be able to benefit from new regulations and so enjoy warmer homes and cheaper energy bills.
Clearly this will particularly help the fuel poor: those living in the leakiest privately-rented homes already need to spend an average £1,000 a year more to keep warm compared to the average home.
Today Danny Alexander and I outlined the Liberal Democrats' plans for taxes, spending and borrowing for the next Parliament.
When the Liberal Democrats joined the Coalition in 2010 we had a clear priority: to rescue, repair and renew the economy. Sometimes this has meant taking difficult and unpalatable decisions. We didn't relish the prospect of austerity, but we knew it would be a means to an end - and the end is now in sight.
Today the House of Lords considers another in a series of proposed laws designed to keep us from terrorism.
We have seen from events last week in Paris the potential danger from terrorists.
More and more impressionable and disaffected young people are being brainwashed into travelling abroad to join groups such as the so-called 'Islamic State' where they are further indoctrinated, radicalised, trained and brutalised by the barbaric activities of such organisations.
There is a real danger that some of these British citizens may be sent back to the UK to carry out the sort of attacks we saw in Paris last week and that we saw in London on 7 July 2005.
Writing in the Independent today, Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg discusses this year's general election and why a vote for the Liberal Democrats is a vote for economic security.
He warns that a vote for either the Conservatives or Labour will put the recovery and achievements of the last five years at risk
Nick writes:
Like all 13 or 14 year olds of my generation in the UK I had my BCG vaccination while I was at High School. I remember that we all compared our scars for months afterwards. We believed at that time that TB - like smallpox - could be eradicated from our society.
TB, or consumption, was supposed to be an illness of poverty of times gone by. In Victorian Britain it was known as 'the silent killer' and as many as one in four deaths was attributable to TB. So high was the TB death rate, in fact, that TB has been estimated to have killed more people than any other infectious disease in human history.
Within hours of the momentous decision by the Scottish people to remain in the UK, Westminster found itself once again bogged down in conventional party political point scoring.
I have seen for myself the way in which the vested interests in the two old parties can conspire to block reform - scuppering elections to the House of Lords and a clean up of party funding in recent years.
Today, Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg unveiled a "manifesto for the next generation" launching the party's pre-manifesto, an 80-page document that will form the backbone of the party's 2015 election platform.
The document includes a host of policies aimed unapologetically at realising the potential of children and young people.
This is your chance to put Deputy Prime Minister and Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg on the spot.
Nick is holding a Q&A session, hosted by the Oxford Mail at a city centre location on Tuesday, May 20. Click here to apply for a free ticket to attend.
Writing in today's Evening Standard, Liberal Democrat Leader and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg warns that leaving the EU would undermine Britain's national interests.
Nick explains how a vote for UKIP would threaten the British economy and why the Liberal Democrats are the only party standing up to UKIP.
He writes:
Nick Clegg has welcomed the Jewish Manifesto for the European Elections published by the Board of Deputies of British Jews.
The manifesto was produced in consultation with various Jewish communal bodies in the UK, and concluded following a discussion of our 300 Deputies at the most recent full Board of Deputies meeting.
Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg launched the Liberal Democrats' 2014 local election campaign, highlighting how Liberal Democrat majority councils have frozen council tax and protected vital services.
He also unveiled a dossier loaded with more than £500m worth of vanity projects and elaborate expense claims amassed by Tory and Labour-run councils.
Liberal Democrat Leader and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has today launched the Liberal Democrats' 2014 European election campaign. The Liberal Democrats are now the only party truly campaigning to keep Britain IN Europe. Back our campaign here.
Today, Liberal Democrat Leader and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg will launch the Liberal Democrats' 2014 European election campaign at a rally in Colchester.
The Liberal Democrats are fighting to keep Britain IN Europe and protect 3 million British jobs. With UKIP trying to pull us out of Europe, and David Cameron and Ed Miliband too scared to mention Europe, it is Nick Clegg and the Liberal Democrats who are standing up for British interests and British jobs.
Today, Nick Clegg spoke at the launch of the Cityfathers, a new forum for working fathers, on the need for radical change to create equal opportunities in our parental leave system.
Nick commented on the importance of change in modern society, where we now have the highest female employment rate on record. More parents choose to both earn and share childcare responsibility, but there is still an assumption that it is the father who works and the mother who cares for the children.
Nick Clegg has today announced an extra £300 million to help growing businesses and create tens of thousands of jobs across England.
The £300 million forms part of the Liberal Democrat's Regional Growth Fund, which is now being delivered in Government. The Fund is designed to unlock billions of pounds of private sector investment and create sustainable employment and growth in a wide range of sectors across the country.
Nick Clegg has spoken out after it was revealed Sheffield's Labour Council Leader has refused to help vulnerable women and children refugees from Syria.
It has emerged that Council Leader Julie Dore has contacted the Home Office to refuse the request for Sheffield to take part in the Coalition Government's Vulnerable Persons Relocation (VPR) scheme. The decision was apparently taken by Labour councillors behind closed doors and without any consultation.
In the first few moments after the House of Lords voted in favour of allowing same-sex couples to marry, finally passing the legislation into law, I joined the celebration outside Parliament. Crowds had gathered, the choir was singing and the mood was jubilant. You could see in people's faces and hear in their voices just how important that moment was, and today, we'll see it again.
Today Nick Clegg has said he is extremely pleased with the Budget as a whole, and in particular that the Liberal Democrats have over-delivered on our promise of a £700 tax cut, which will now rise to £800.
For more information on the 2014 Budget, click here.
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Wokingham Liberal Democrats, 5 Conygree Close, Lower Earley RG6 4XE
The views expressed are those of the publisher, not of the service provider.
Website developed by Prater Raines Ltd / Design by Dane Williams, with modifications by Wokingham Liberal Democrats


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WHAT: St. John's College Art Flea Market
WHO: St. John's College Library & Fine Arts Guild
WHEN: Saturday, November 10, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
WHERE: Art Gallery, Peterson Student Center, 2nd Floor
Do your holiday shopping early!
The college Art Gallery will have an array of treasures for sale on November 10, ranging from posters to oil paintings. Come browse through the pottery, drawings, ethnographic art, paintings, sculpture, photographs and posters to find the perfect gift or that special ARTifact you've always wanted. All proceeds of the sale will benefit the St. John's College Annual Fund.
We are also accepting donations for the Art Flea market. If you have art, pottery, posters or frames that you would like to give to the college, please call 505-984-6199 no later than November 5 to arrange a drop off time.


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This website is a subscription based website,costing just £10 a month, this is on a rolling contract basis which means you get to cancel anytime you wish to, without any claws or cancellation fees.
We at chat-
We hope you all enjoy & make good use of our website, as it grows & expands with our fantastic new ideas & features, which we are already working hard to bring you, we would also like to invite & welcome any feedback & ideas from yourselves as part of our growing into a successful online community.
We wish you all the best in your journey on finding new friends, & possibly even finding new love, if you like the look of our site then please spread the word, if you don't please contact us & let us know where we can improve our service to you.
Many thanks for visiting our site & we hope to welcome you & your friends as members soon.
Yours gratefully
The chat-


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With average speeds of 250 km/h and top speeds of 340km/h, Monza is one of the quickest circuits on the calendar, as well as one of the oldest. Also home to the Tifosi, the track isnt short on atmosphere either. The drivers and team members explain why they love Monza and discuss their prospects for the Italian Grand Prix
Hirohide Hamashima, Bridgestone director of motorsport tyre development
"The layout of Monza means that teams run with low levels of downforce and this naturally affects the tyres. A greater reliance on mechanical grip is one consideration, and the lower levels of downforce are also relevant for braking stability. Before the chicane in Monza is one area where there is heavy braking from high speeds, so causing flat spots on the tyres can be a consequence of this. Teams will pay close attention to their weight distributions to assist their braking here. Monza is famous for its long straights and these have an interesting impact on tyre performance. They can serve to cool the bulk temperature of the tyres, but they can also highlight if the tyre pressures are not perfect. Too low a pressure and additional resistance is encountered and heat is generated in the tyres, too high and the grip is not as good through the corners."
Fernando Alonso, Ferrari
2009 Qualifying - 8th, 2009 Race - 5th
I am here in Maranello getting ready for a special event, my first Italian Grand Prix as a Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro driver. From a technical point of view, Monza is a very different race to all the others: its long straights require a very low level of downforce and, as a consequence, unique aerodynamic elements. But clearly, this is not the only thing that makes Monza special: it is Ferraris home race and even if ours is a team that tackles every Grand Prix in the same way, giving it our best shot, always trying to win, there is no doubt that everyone in Maranello really wants to do well in front of our fans. You can see that on everyones faces, especially as, mixed in with the fans in the grandstands, many of our people will have their family and friends watching.
Felipe Massa, Ferrari
2009 Qualifying - n/a, 2009 Race - n/a
It is obvious that the 14th race of the year will be very important for the Scuderia, not just because of it being the home race, but also because of the current situation in the championship. In Spa, given everything that happened in the race there, finishing fourth having started sixth was a good result, but in terms of the points situation, we needed more. So, looking at the championship, there will be some pressure this weekend, although I have always felt that the spotlight that falls on Ferrari in Monza is a positive thing and I enjoy seeing all the red flags, hats and t-shirts and hearing the noise of the Tifosi cheering, whenever we leave the pits. From a personal point of view, Italy is definitely my second country after Brazil, as my grandfather emigrated from Italy and I even hold an Italian passport.
I have never done very well in the Italian Grand Prix and in fact my best finish is just a sixth place in a wet race in 2008. All the same, I like the track even if I have not had much luck there, like in 2007 when I was in the top three but did not finish the race. I have won in Monza, because I spent much of my early career racing there, with two victories in Formula Renault and one in Formula 3000. The track is now unique on the calendar in requiring very low downforce, so the car is very different to the rest of the year, running with very small wings, which means it needs to have good mechanical grip and work well on the kerbs. I think our car should be competitive here, or at least I hope so, because usually the F10 has gone well this season on tracks that feature hard braking at the end of straights, into slow corners, such as Bahrain and Hockenheim and even in Canada. I am looking forward to the weekend, because it is nice to end the European part of the season at such a great circuit.
Timo Glock, Virgin
2009 Qualifying - 16th, 2009 Race - 11th
It was great to be back racing in Spa after the break and already the pace of the last part of the season has really picked up. Im looking forward to the next six races as there is going to be a real energy as everyone fights hard to achieve their objectives. Were no different and were pushing very hard to end the season as the best of the new teams. I love racing at Monza. Its such a great track and I love the history attached to it. The old part of the circuit with the banking is spectacular. But as for the part we run on today, its very different to most of the circuits we race at. It is very quick and we run in a very low downforce configuration to get the straight-line speed required for the straights. My favourite part of the track is Ascari, which is good fun. The straight at Parabolica is also good in qualifying when youre trying to get the maximum out of the car and leave your braking as late as possible.
Lucas di Grassi, Virgin
2009 Qualifying - n/a, 2009 Race - n/a
I feel the same way about racing at Monza next weekend as I did about racing in Spa last race. They are both fantastic, legendary circuits which I have raced at before but the first time round in an F1 car is always going to be extra special. I have done a lot of work in the simulator to prepare and I think we have a good package for this race, so we need to focus on finding a good balance for our low downforce trim. The objective is the same as ever and everything counts now were on the home straight to the end of the season.
John Booth, Virgin team principal
Its hard to believe there are just six Grands Prix remaining. The 2010 race is really on now for all of the teams, as this is where it can all come good or it can all run away from you. From our point of view we need to do the best job possible in every session of every race weekend to achieve our own objectives for our debut season. It is also hard to believe that this is the final European race of the season and the last time we will have the relative comfort and familiarity of our race trucks and motorhome, which have served us well. There can be no better venue to end this leg of the season than Monza however, as this is a truly fantastic circuit. The last race weekend in Spa was a challenging one given the weather conditions and the build up to race day, but I am very pleased with what we have in terms of a race team operation and for that matter the continual improvements we have made in all areas of late.
Nick Wirth, Virgin technical director
The wonderful Monza circuit really is out on its own now in terms of its requirements for an extremely low-downforce setup in comparison to the other tracks. Mechanically, the ability to ride the Monza kerbs is crucial for lap-time as well as having a great engine. We've done a nice package for this track and with our seasons mechanical developments plus our strong Cosworth engine, we're hoping to put on a good show in front of the Tifosi at our final European race of 2010.
Adrian Sutil, Force India
2009 Qualifying - 2nd, 2009 Race - 4th
Based on the speed and handling of the car in Spa I'm now really looking forward to Monza. We don't have the top speed advantage we had last year so it's going to be another close weekend, but we do know that we are amongst the quickest and that gives us a big chance to be in Q3 and then getting in the points. I got a great finish there last year - fourth, my best finish in F1 so far, and to get that again would be amazing. Of course there's a huge championship battle going on ahead of us so getting towards the front isn't going to be easy, but I'm confident, the team has got its momentum back after the double points finish in Spa and we're all going to Italy very optimistic.
Vitantonio Liuzzi, Force India
2009 Qualifying - 7th, 2009 Race - DNF
Next up I've got my home race in Italy, which is the same race I made my Force India race debut last year. It holds such great memories for me. Going into the race we had just had a fantastic result in Spa so the whole team was on a high, and we knew we had a great car going into Monza. I got the call and of course I was pretty nervous but I tried to build into the weekend and gradually improve. Then in qualifying I got into P7, which was such a fantastic feeling. Unfortunately in the race I had a mechanical problem when I was running in the top six but I really felt that I had done the maximum I could do. Now this year as always we want to perform, especially after last year. But it's also not just that or because it's my home crowd that I want to do well, I also want to get the result we deserve this season. We have narrowly missed out on really good results for a number of reasons this year, so I want to pull it all together. And if it's at Monza, it's true that it will be even more satisfying. The signs so far are good - the aero test we did showed a big improvement, the car is already strong and we've got a good programme for the race weekend in place.
Paul di Resta, Force India test and reserve driver
I'm looking forward to Monza where I'll be out again in free practice, this time replacing Adrian. It's a special track that will require a very different approach to the other tracks I have driven. It's low downforce, high speed and then heavy braking into the chicanes so it's going to be another experience to put in the book. I've done some work in the simulator in preparation for the run and I'm hoping to get as much out of the session as possible. Of course the track has a very special atmosphere and while I'm there I'll want to look into the history of it and see some of the old banking and track. With my little bit of Italian ancestry and some of my family still living in the country, hopefully I will feel very at home there. So it should be an interesting weekend, both professionally and personally. We'll all work together to do as well as we can over the weekend, have the right approach from the start and develop the low downforce package. We showed well in Spa so there's no reason why it shouldn't show again in Monza.
Dr Vijay Mallya, Force India chairman and team principal
Yet again Spa was a good track for us, ultimately yielding a double points finish for Adrian and Tonio. These points were crucial for us in the constructors' championship, moving us 18 points clear of Williams for sixth, but it also showed that we're back in business for the second part of the season. The pace and the handling were both encouraging and, with similar configuration tracks coming up in Monza, Japan and Brazil, we're hoping that this performance can be replicated. Of course we know that the on track fights will intensify and it's not going to be easy to consolidate our position but we feel the momentum is with us now. Adrian and Tonio both raced very well and we've been given a real boost by the double points - we needed it after a couple of frustrating weekends before the summer break. But we're not sitting back based on this performance - we've been doing a lot of work back at the factory on the blown diffuser, and conducted a successful aero test last week to develop further. We will also use a low downforce package to suit the top speeds we reach in Monza, which is a further refinement of the Spa package. We're cautiously optimistic and quietly confident - if it all comes together I would hope we could show a similar level of performance and results to Spa, but there are so many varying factors that you just can't take anything for granted at this stage in the season.
Rubens Barrichello, Williams
2009 Qualifying - 5th, 2009 Race - 1st
Three wins and two podiums wins at the Autodromo Nazionale make it statistically my best rack, but never mind the numbers, it is a circuit I love and I always travel to Italy with affection and excitement. My positive record at the track and the work we have done to prepare for both the downforce and kerb requirements means that I am full of optimism. It was great to celebrate my 300th Grand Prix in Spa, but the race didnt go to plan. We will pick up our momentum again in Monza.
Nico Hulkenberg, Williams
2009 Qualifying - n/a, 2009 Race - n/a
I have only raced once at Monza in last seasons GP2 Championship, but I immediately enjoyed the challenge of its high speed nature and one of the races ended for me in a podium. So I am approaching next weekend with a degree of respect that such a circuit demands, but equally I feel that it is time that both the car performance we are finding and my own work behind the wheel deserves to be reflected in better results more often, so my respect will be balanced with a really determined approach to the race weekend. Spa was frustrating as I worked hard to claim a good grid position and really want to ensure we convert our opportunities in Italy.
Sam Michael, Williams technical director
Monza is the lowest drag level circuit on the F1 calendar, so the cars are running at very different aerodynamic efficiency levels compared to the normal high downforce tracks. This requires a special rear wing for this race only. Another important aspect of the historic Italian circuit is the kerb riding, something the FW32 will be set up to handle. For this track we have low drag front and rear wings.
Mark Webber, Red Bull
2009 Qualifying - 10th, 2009 Race - DNF
There are a lot of things that make Monza unique and special, not least of all the passionate Italian tifosi who help to give the place a great atmosphere. I love the way the track threads its way through the park too and remains one of the classic races on the F1 calendar. Of course its renowned for its many long straights, which means a lot of heavy braking so it can be quite hard on the car. I think we can still do well at Monza. We might have a bit more in the way of opposition - in addition to Ferrari, McLaren and Renault, Force India could also be in the mix for the top places.
Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull
2009 Qualifying - 9th, 2009 Race - 8th
I have got two great memories from Monza, my first F1 first win and first F1 pole position, so its good to be going back. Its a unique circuit with a great history and an unforgettable atmosphere due to the fans. The circuit is one of the most challenging of the season, due to the low downforce levels and high top speeds. Its unique because it includes very long straights where we reach more than 300 km/h and there are the famous corners, Parabolica and Lesmo. They are faster than the first chicanes, but you have to brake heavily on the approach. The key factors are low drag and good braking stability. I think it wont be easy for us, due to the long straights, but Im sure we will do our best and keep fighting until the end.
Cosworth, engine suppliers to Williams, Lotus, Virgin & HRT
The Autodromo Nazionale di Monza is the ultimate test of a Formula One engine. Its place on the calendar so soon after Spa-Francorchamps, the only other circuit of the season to get a five rating on the engine severity scale, makes this part of the season one of the most exciting and challenging for Cosworth. The circuits composition of fast straights and tight chicanes demands the lowest downforce settings of the season, bringing outright engine power to the fore. Drivers will spend over three-quarters of the 5.793 km lap of Monza at full throttle, which represents a total of around 230 km over a full race distance. It is the fastest average speed of the season and sees drivers attain a top speed of over 340 km/h down the 1.2 km long main straight.
Teams often develop a Monza-specification aerodynamics package to minimise drag down the straights in order to optimise lap time. Brakes will also be tested rigorously, particularly with the aggressive deceleration required to navigate the slow first gear chicane at Turns One and Two. A good exit from the quick Curva Parabolica, the final corner of the lap, is important to give a smooth run down the Rettifilio main straight and a possibility of overtaking under braking into the first chicane. Cosworth has already demonstrated the strength of its engines this season and is looking forward to stretching the legs of the CA2010 properly around Monza, one of Formula Ones most iconic tracks. Monzas heritage in Formula One makes it a fitting end to Formula Ones European season with five overseas events making up the culmination of the 2010 championship.
Robert Kubica, Renault
2009 Qualifying - 13th, 2009 Race - DNF
Poland is my home country but in go-karts, Formula Renault and Formula Three, I always raced for Italian teams and spent over a year living close to Monza, so this whole area holds good memories for me. Looking at my F1 career, this was also the track where I scored my first podium finish in 2006, so its certainly a very special circuit and weekend.
You have a lot of high-speed sections, like Ascari and Parabolica, plus the low-speed chicanes and its difficult to balance these sectors so the car performs well in all of them. Its the quickest circuit on the calendar, which means we use a very low-downforce, low-drag configuration. In previous years, we tested at Monza the week before the race so we could get used to the feeling of the car, which is much lighter than normal. Now, we dont have that test, so it becomes a bit of a tricky weekend. The other important factor is good mechanical grip for braking stability into the chicanes, and good traction on the exit.
The feeling is so unusual - its like being at the wheel of a completely different car. At the start of the weekend, you think that the rear end is very unstable, but in fact thats how it stays all the time, and you never quite find the grip and stability youre used to at other circuits. That makes it a bigger challenge for the drivers, and I also enjoy the fact that theres a lot of heavy braking, where you approach the braking points at very high speed and need to be extremely precise. Its not easy to pick them up or to hit the apex of the corners.
I think this will be a very interesting weekend to judge the performance of the cars. Spa was a good example of how powerful the F-duct can be and we were immediately more competitive and closer to the front when we fitted it. The effect will be less powerful in Monza because the cars run with less drag, but there will be still be an advantage, so we need to see which teams use it and if we are able to as well. This circuit can sometimes throw up some surprises, so I prefer to stay cautious when it comes to predictions. But if the car feels as good as it did in Spa, then theres no reason why we wont be competitive in Monza.
Vitaly Petrov, Renault
2009 Qualifying - n/a, 2009 Race - n/a
I was on pole position for GP2 in Monza last year. I was leading for the majority of the race, but finished second because I had to slow down when there was an accident in front of me and I lost the lead. Despite this, it remains a good memory for me, although now in Formula One I will need to learn it again and adapt my driving style. Monza is a great track with some famous corners like Parabolica and the Lesmos. What is important is not to make any mistakes, because even if you lose a few tenths, it could cost five places or even more. It will be interesting to race there and I look forward to it. My target again is to be in the top 10.
James Allison, Renault technical director
Monza is very different from all the other circuits and so we have had to prepare a bespoke package that we will not use anywhere else. Monza has such long straights and so few corners that it requires much smaller wings than any other track. To add further complication, the F-duct is a potential alternative option for Monza. Like several other teams, we too are evaluating whether we can make the device work in the particular, low-downforce environment of Monza
Monza is very different from the mainstream bunch of tracks that make up the calendar, but generally speaking the cars that are good at one track tend to be good everywhere, regardless of the downforce levels. The performance of the R30 in Spa therefore gives me confidence that we can compete for similarly good results at all the remaining tracks, including Monza. We will be aiming to get both cars well inside the top ten both in qualifying and the race this weekend.
Bruno Senna, HRT
2009 Qualifying - n/a, 2009 Race - n/a
The track in Monza is full of history and the atmosphere there is very nice. Since 2005, I have been racing in Monza every year except in 2009 and I am always looking forward to racing there. It is a very high speed circuit with slow chicanes and medium speed corners interrupting the straight lines. So the car is configured with low downforce for maximum speed. The brakes and tyres are used very hard due to the high speed nature with low speed corners. I hope to have another competitive weekend against the new teams and still look forward to achieving our best results.
Sakon Yamamoto, HRT
2009 Qualifying - n/a, 2009 Race - n/a
I was driving a Formula 1 car two times in Monza: in 2006 with Super Aguri F1 and in 2007 with Spyker F1. The circuit is very traditional and I am always looking forward to race there. The car has the lowest downforce setting of the whole season and the maximum speed is around 340 km/h. With this set-up, braking into the first corner is hard and difficult. We need to be prepared for good straight line speed and I am really looking forward to be in the car again.
Dr Colin Kolles, HRT team principal
After the exciting race in Belgium, we are looking forward to coming to another historical Grand Prix in Monza. The Autodromo di Monza is an ultimate power circuit with a top speed rate of 70 per cent. We have to find a very low downforce set-up for the car to achieve maximum speed. With top speeds of up to 340 km/h, the cars are difficult to control and the drivers have to be attentive and concentrated. We want to show a good performance and to finish the race with both of our cars again.
Jenson Button, McLaren
2009 Qualifying - 6th, 2009 Race - 2nd
Obviously, my non-finish in Spa wasnt ideal for my championship aspirations, so I head to Monza next weekend determined to put myself back in the hunt for the title. Our pace over the whole weekend in Belgium was extremely encouraging - were developing the car at a very rapid rate, and were learning more about it all the time, so Im optimistic that well be able to maintain that form in Italy next weekend. We still have some work to do to make sure the package we bring to Italy is perfectly suited to the track, but Im confident that our engineers have made some good steps forward with their understanding of our car, so we should be in good shape. I love racing at Monza - its a totally unique experience; running minimal downforce at incredible speeds along the straights, and then coping with the lack of grip, and an extremely skittish car, through the low-speed stuff. Given the competitiveness at the front of the field, this could be an intense, thrilling Grand Prix.
Lewis Hamilton, McLaren
2009 Qualifying - 1st, 2009 Race - 12th
Our victory in Belgium showed that, as a team, we never give up, and that well always bounce back from adversity feeling stronger and more determined than before. This team has such an incredible fighting spirit - we strive to win, and I hope that Spa is only the start of a run of stronger form for us as we head into the final races of the championship. Ive made no secret of my wish to win this race. Monza is an incredible circuit - full of history and stories from the past. It has a special feeling in the air that you dont find anywhere else in the world. Its a circuit that inspires you to race at your limit, and Ill be pushing hard all weekend. Finally, Im looking forward to meeting the Italian fans this weekend. I pretty much grew up racing karts in Italy, so Ive always appreciated and understood the passion and support of the fans for Formula One, and motorsport in general. Even if its not always obvious, I know that Vodafone McLaren Mercedes does have a deep pocket of support in Italy. So I hope the whole team can have another great race at one of the classic tracks in Formula One.
Martin Whitmarsh, McLaren team principal
Even though, on paper, the Monza circuits characteristics appear to suit our package, developing a car that performs well on one of the most unique venues on the Formula One calendar is no easy job. The low-downforce, extreme high-speed nature of Monza demands its own bespoke aero package - and getting that downforce level correct is not as straightforward as it seems. We require a complex number of mechanical and aerodynamic variables to work harmoniously if we are to provide both Jenson and Lewis with front-running machinery this weekend. Obviously, Lewiss victory at Spa was perfectly timed, and has substantially motivated the entire workforce ahead of these closing races. After Jensons unfortunate failure to finish in Belgium, we are determined to reignite his championship push next weekend to get him back into the hunt for the drivers title. Its no secret that theres a tremendous amount of fight in this team - and Im proud of every single persons efforts to provide us with a winning edge. We know how to win races and world championships, and, clearly, we will once again be pushing for victory this weekend.
Pedro de la Rosa, BMW Sauber
2009 Qualifying - n/a, 2009 Race - n/a
The last time I raced in Monza was in 2006. This track is a classic, it has a lot of personality and is different to any other we race on. This is what I like a lot about Monza, because with all the modern circuits nowadays it is exceptional to find one that is unique. You also have to drive it differently to any other race track. Obviously the speeds are very high, you run low downforce, have very hard braking and need to cut the chicanes. This all together makes it very demanding, especially for the engines, brakes and suspension. It is definitely not going to be an easy weekend for us, as it is not somewhere that should suit our car too well. But we have proven, for example in Budapest, that we can also do well at places which theoretically should be difficult for us. I always like going to Italy and Im looking forward to the race.
Kamui Kobayashi, BMW Sauber
2009 Qualifying - n/a, 2009 Race - n/a
I have very good memories of Monza because it was there where I won the championship in the Formula Renault Eurocup back in 2005, and I also raced there in GP2. It is a very high-speed circuit with a lot of hard braking. I quite like it, although I think it will be difficult for our car. We will have to find the best solutions and make sure we get everything right over the weekend, make no mistakes and so optimise our chances. Without doubt my goal is to score some more points before we go to Asia.
James Key, BMW Sauber technical director
Monza is one of the special tracks of the year with a wonderful atmosphere and all the support from the tifosi the teams receive there. It is unique, as its the only very high-speed circuit of the season. All the teams run the minimum drag levels, because the very long straights and few corners make it beneficial to run far less drag. We will run an aero package on our car which is designed specifically for there. It consists of different rear wing options, as well as front wing versions to match them. The important part of the set-up of the car will be to tune the downforce levels correctly to find a good compromise for some of the more tricky areas like the Lesmo corners, the Ascari chicane and the Parabolica, but at the same time also giving high braking stability, which has significant influence on the lap time. Also important is the performance over the kerbs, particularly in the first two chicanes with probably the biggest kerbs of the year. You can find a good lap time there if the car is working well. For us its difficult to pin expectations because its such a unique event. Its possibly not a circuit best suited to our car, so we will work hard to make sure we can do the best possible job.
Nico Rosberg, Mercedes GP
2009 Qualifying - 18th, 2009 Race - 16th
"Monza is absolutely one of the top race tracks in the world. Not only for the speed and the challenge but also for the passion and enthusiasm of the Italian fans who really love their racing. There is always a special feeling about the Monza weekend and I love racing there. We made a good recovery from a difficult start to the weekend in Spa and it was nice to come away with some points. Monza is a completely different type of track but we will hope for an equally good weekend there."
Michael Schumacher, Mercedes GP
2009 Qualifying - n/a, 2009 Race - n/a
"Spa was quite an entertaining race weekend which I like to look back on as we achieved a reasonable result considering the circumstances. The next race in Monza might well be entertaining in a very different way as I expect it to be a real challenge for our team. We have seen already several times this year that circuits with characteristics like those of Monza do not really play in our hands. Of course, we will go there prepared to try hard to achieve the maximum we can from our package and we will see to what extent we can achieve that and fight our way through. On a personal level, I am very much looking forward to returning to Monza where I have been supported so warmly over so many years."
Ross Brawn, Mercedes GP team principal
"The double points finish in Spa was a boost for the team and it would be rewarding to repeat the achievement at the final European race of the season in Monza next weekend. Monza is simply a fantastic racing venue and one of the highlights of the calendar. The grandstands are always packed and the fans create a wonderful atmosphere over the weekend. From an engineering perspective, aerodynamic efficiency with a low downforce package is fundamental to minimise drag, along with good brakes and traction plus a powerful engine to achieve the necessary high top speeds on the long straights. We are all looking forward to the weekend."
Norbert Haug, vice-president, Mercedes-Benz Motorsport
"Monza is definitely a 'one of a kind' circuit on the calendar. The unique high-speed nature of this classic track differentiates Monza from any other circuit and of course it is very special as the home race for our highly valued competitors Ferrari who have competed in the world championship for longer than any other team. As always, we will run with a special aerodynamic configuration in Monza to suit the requirements of this high-speed circuit and hope to achieve a respectable result next weekend in Italy."
Heikki Kovalainen, Lotus
2009 Qualifying - 4th, 2009 Race - 6th
After Spa Im feeling really good physically and mentally. Before we got to Belgium, I had a proper rest for a week, and then got back into training for the second couple of weeks of the summer break to prepare myself for the end of the season. It paid off because I felt great all weekend in Spa and now Im looking forward to Monza and then the remaining races. Monza is one of the real highlights of the year and itll be good to be back in Italy. Its a very different type of circuit and it has a great atmosphere. Obviously Ferrari have huge support out in the stands, but so do the other teams as the fans just love F1. I think itll be a pretty cool weekend - for us drivers its a high speed track and with the low downforce configuration it makes it very interesting to race there. For the fans its cool as well as the cars are pushed to the limit, and they look and sound pretty awesome on track.
Jarno Trulli, Lotus
2009 Qualifying - 11th, 2009 Race - 14th
Monza is a very special Grand Prix. We Italian drivers have fantastic support out there, and the fans are really fired up for the race. Its such a warm atmosphere, you cant help but enjoy it. The track is challenging, but its not as technical as some of them. You obviously need good top speed, low downforce, good traction good braking stability. Everyone talks about the low downforce, but the brakes play a really crucial role. You need to have the confidence to brake as late as possible and as hard as possible at the chicanes, and then you need to have really good traction to get yourself out of them as quickly as possible. I think we saw in Spa that our car is pretty good at the quicker tracks, so I think well be able to repeat our performance in Belgium - as long as we come out ahead of our nearest rivals well be happy, and then well be back in the air for the remaining races of 2010.
Tony Fernandes, Lotus team principal
Ive had to watch the last few races on TV as other commitments have kept me away from the races, so itll be good to be back on track in Italy. The last couple of weeks have been very exciting for the whole team - weve seen Nabil Jeffri, a Malaysian superstar in the making, become the youngest ever driver to test an F1 car at the aero test we ran on Wednesday, and it was a very proud moment for me to see him put in a great days work for us in what must have been a pretty stressful environment for such a young guy. He proves what Ive always believed - work hard to achieve your dreams and they will come true. Thats the same for everyone in Lotus Racing - exactly one year ago on September 12th our Formula One dream came true, and now well be competing at one of the worlds great race tracks, bringing the green and yellow cars back to where they belong, and I cant wait to see the reaction of the crowds when we take to the track. Mike has already said what it means to him to see our cars racing hard just 12 months since we started work on this amazing team, and I echo his thoughts entirely. It has been an amazing journey already, but after Monza well be heading back to Asia, and its going to keep getting more exciting with every step we take.
Mike Gascoyne, Lotus chief technical officer
Looking back to last weekend, Spa was in many ways one of our best performance of the year so far. We have had better positions at the end of a number of races, but in terms of reliability, Spa was our strongest performance to date. Now we go to Monza and thats always a special place to race - the Tifosi create an incredible atmosphere, and while its obviously focused on Ferrari, I think seeing Jarno and Heikki in our green and yellow cars will be pretty special for some of the most passionate motorsport fans in the world.
Monza will also be very special for me, Tony, Din, Nasa, Riad and the whole team on a personal level. Race day is the 12th September, which is exactly one year to the day since we heard that our entry into the 2010 Formula One World Championship had been accepted. Its hard to put into words just what that means to all of us, but its already been an incredible 365 days, and we have many more exciting times to come. Ive been asked a number of times if I really thought wed be able to do what looked to many like an impossible task - creating a team from literally just words on a piece of paper to now sitting 10th in the championship, best of the new teams and with a very bright future ahead of us.
Onto the track itself: Monza is unique as its now the lowest downforce circuit on the modern Formula One calendar. For the race weekend, well have a revised low downforce package with new front and rear wings, plus a few other smaller modifications to the cars.


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SUMMARY: Next-generation sequencing has become a powerful tool in personalized medicine. Exomes or even whole genomes of patients suffering from rare diseases are screened for sequence variants. After filtering out common polymorphisms, the assessment and interpretation of detected personal variants in the clinical context is an often time-consuming effort. We have developed GeneTalk, a web-based platform that serves as an expert exchange network for the assessment of personal and potentially disease-relevant sequence variants. GeneTalk assists a clinical geneticist who is searching for information about specific sequence variants and connects this user to other users with expertise for the same sequence variant. AVAILABILITY: GeneTalk is available at www.gene-talk.de. Users can login without registering in a demo account. CONTACT: email@example.com.
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text: The men's and women's soccer teams will be hosting Grassroot Soccer's 4th annual 3v3 Soccer Tournament at Bowdoin on May 4th. The event includes free food, music, prizes and lots of soccer! Sign up a team of 3-5 participants for $5 per player and have an afternoon filled with fun while giving to a great cause! Grassroot Soccer is a non-profit organization that educates youth in Africa about HIV/AIDS through soccer.


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This dramatic, thick, freight wheel chandelier is proudly and safely produced in America and full of rustic, Western charm and personality. Alpha Omega Western Furnishings (since 1983) creates hand-crafted treasures with solid reclaimed hardwood and real rebuilt wagon wheels. (Never Thailand, Mexico, Chinese… resin, plastic…)
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Hi All. Newbie from the great state of South Carolina. Enjoying reading the forums here, lots of good information and opinions.
I recently applied for a CCW in South Carolina. I've been getting really jealous of you that have been getting your CCW permits so quickly. I recently applied for a CCW in South Carolina. The instructor said that SLED has been taking the full 90 days to issue the permit. Has anyone from South Carolina gotten their permit in less than 90 days?


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Hello i am kavin, its my fist occasion to commenting anywhere, when i read this
post i thought i could also make comment due to this sensible post.
A burden lifted – procrastination
Today when I finished a project that I had been working on for more than a week and should have completed a few months ago, I felt like a burden was lifted from my shoulder. Finally I could cross it off from my mental to-do list.
The project was not difficult to do. It just required time, attention and detailed work. But I was not very motivated to do it.
"I'll do it later." I kept thinking. Days turned into weeks, weeks turned into months. I would rather do something else than working on the project, knowing well that I had to do it sooner or later.
I finally did it after I was asked about it. "What's the status of the project? When will it be done?"
I understand there are two main causes of procrastination – a lack of desire or a fear of something.
As I mentioned in a previous post on procrastination, I tend to procrastinate when I don't feel like doing something, when I am not excited about what I need to do, such as filing tax return.
I know procrastination causes anxiety and burden. Whenever I put off something because I don't feel like doing it but I know I have to do it, it feels like something is hanging over my head and it is constantly on my mind reminding me.
Understanding the drawbacks and the root causes of procrastination only solves half of the problem. The other half is to do something about it.
There are some ways to overcome procrastination – clarify and align yourself with your goals and values, prioritize, break big tasks into smaller tasks, delegate, have a buddy for accountability, etc.
In the end, the most practical advice is probably "Just Do It!"
I really need to move from "Know how" to "Do now."
Here is a 6-part series on How to Overcome Procrastination by Celestine Chua.
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Everything you wanted to know about alfalfaYour Farm BusinessJune 24, 2011Good quality alfalfa is the cornerstone of any dairy farm forage ration. With the challenging planting season we have just experienced, corn and soybean planting took priority.... No comments posted for this article.
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Gov. Nixon announced Crane received a $475,404 grant for water system improvements
For more information: 573-751-1010
Volume 37-112 For Immediate Release: April 30, 2009
JEFFERSON CITY, MO, -- Gov. Jay Nixon announced the Missouri Department of Natural Resources has awarded the city of Crane in Stone County a $475,404 grant. During tough economic times, this infusion of grant funding will help Crane protect its citizens and the environment by making necessary drinking water improvements.
The city will use the grant for water system improvements including a new well, a water storage tank and water distribution system improvements. The city will use the grant funds in conjunction with a Missouri Department of Economic Development Community Development Block Grant, U. S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Development Grant and Loan and city funds. The project is estimated to cost $2,985,020 and is expected to be completed in March 2010.
The Department sold $50 million in bonds in November 2007. The sale of the bonds allows the department to provide cities and municipalities with grant funds to support the Clean Water Initiative for water and wastewater improvements.
The Department of Natural Resources' Water Protection Program will administer the grant funds. The Department is committed to working closely with communities to assist with funding efforts that support water and wastewater infrastructure improvement projects as well as provide a financial savings.
For more information, contact the Missouri Department of Natural Resources' Water Protection Program, P.O. Box 176, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0176 or 800-361-4827 or 573-751-1192.


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All good things come in three and our Treasure of Indochina takes you to three World Heritage Sites in Indochina including Halong Bay of Vietnam, Luang Prabang of Laos and Angkor Wat of Cambodia. Crossing three country borders from Vietnam to Laos, and then Cambodia you get to witness different languages, cultures and cuisine. Inspired by different cultures this tour provides a fascinating window into Indochina for a once in a life time experience. TOUR PRICES CLASSIC US$ 1,877.00 per person DELUXE US$ 2,495.00 per person For further information, please email us at email@example.com or: DISCOVER MEKONG Address: 99 Ba Trieu str., Hai Ba Trung dist., Hanoi, Vietnam Tel: +84-4 3943 9211 Fax: +84-4 3943 9209 Email: email@example.com or firstname.lastname@example.com Website: http://www.discovermekong.com Discover Mekong is managed by HG TRAVEL
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Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
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Formerly the "Museum of American War Crimes," the place is now euphemistically titled the "War Remnants Museum." Though the name change was intended to avoid giving offense to Western visitors, the displays are unabashedly anti-American, giving you a chance to see the Vietnam War through the eyes of the Vietnamese. The deliberately disturbing exhibits include machinery, weapons, and gory photographs related to the French and American wars (with emphasis on the latter). You can also see a chilling deformed fetus in a bottle, supposedly damaged by Agent Orange, a powerful herbicide used during the Vietnam War to destroy jungle terrain.
See + Do
The Mekong Delta, Vietnam
Two hours' drive south of Saigon, Vietnam melts into a waterland of rivers, rice paddies, and canals. The fertile Delta region, formed by the silt-rich Mekong River, is the nation's breadbasket. Outside Vinh Long, a maze of river islands supports countless fruit orchards. Farther south, the alluvial plains have been cut into a patchwork of rice fields and shrimp farms, while scattered sanctuaries attract numerous bird species, including the rare redheaded saurus crane. The main city, Can Tho, on the south bank of the Bassac River, hums with waterborne trade. Four miles to the east is Cai Rang floating market, the Delta's largest, where scores of sampans and barges display their wares atop boat masts. Cruise along one of the waterways and you'll see locals trading from boat to boat, tending vegetable gardens, or working their abundant paddies. Delta denizens often live on houseboats or in huts on stilts that double as fish farms: Inhabitants feed the fish beneath the floors of their homes then haul them out when it's time to eat or sell them. The best way to see the Delta is to use a tour agent. Ho Chi Minh Citybased upmarket operator Trails of Indochina will organize boat or cycling trips to untouristed villages; clients even have the option of donating a sampan to a needy local family (10/8 Phan Dinh Giot St.; 84-8-844-1005; www.trailsofindochina.com).
See + Do
Ben Thanh Market, Vietnam
At the intersection of Le Loi, Ham Nghi, Tran Hung Dao, and Le Lai streets
Frenetic, eclectic Ben Thanh is the polar opposite of a sterile American supermarket. This market has been around since the French occupation, albeit in different locations: It has occupied its present spot since 1899. Crab, scorpion wine, Calvin Klein knockoffs, pickled vegetables, ducks, silk, watches, frogs, flip-flops, curry powder, and rice are only a fraction of what's on offer. And prices are far less than at the more touristy shops on Dong Khoi Street. Don't be afraid to haggleit's expectedand keep an eye out for pickpockets.
Editor's Pick
Hotel Saigon Morin, Vietnam
Hue, Vietnam
Tel: 84 54 823 526
Email: email@example.com
Website: www.morinhotel.com.vn
The landmark Hotel Saigon Morin has stood since 1901 on the banks of the Perfume River through war, flood, and typhoon. Remodeled a decade ago and expanded last year, the practical-minded 184-room hotel offers easy access to the Citadel from Truong Tien Bridge, which is just across Le Loi Street. Supersized second-floor rooms in the original wing have 13-foot ceilings and Continental-style furnishings such as cabriole chairs, beds with padded headboards, and thick drapes (though they unfortunately don't quite muffle the traffic noise outside). The quietest quarters, rooms 140168, are in the rear of the hotel. A peaceful inner courtyard holds a kidney-shaped swimming pool and a tree-shaded café with Parisian-style wrought iron furniture. Hotel service is attentive, from the rose-petal-strewing housekeepers to maintenance workers who arrive moments after a glitch is reported. The four-star amenities also include a tour service, currency exchange, beauty salon, and free lobby Wi-Fi. And breakfast might be the longest buffet in Vietnam: Platters of mango and pomelo, croissants and cheese, and banh khoai (steamed rice paper pancakes) stretch at least 30 yards.
See + Do
My Son Sanctuary, Vietnam
Website: www.vietnamtourism.com/e_pages/heritage/myson.asp
This UNESCO collection of ancient Cham tower-temples is a more mellow alternative to tourist favorites like Hue and Hoi An. Set in a valley a scenic 30-mile drive west of Hoi An, My Son was the hub of the Champa Kingdom for almost 1,000 yearsthe longest continuous occupation of any major monument in Southeast Asia. However, the Viet Cong hid out in the ruins during the Vietnam War, leading to American air strikes that badly damaged many of the brick and sandstone structures. Restoration is under way, albeit slowly, and it's a pleasant one-mile walk from the parking lot through second-growth forest to the crumbling temples beneath Hon Quap (Cat's Tooth Mountain). An excellent visitors center explains the history of the seafaring Cham people, whose culture was influenced by trade networks that extended as far as India and Java. While every hotel or travel agency in Hoi An offers a My Son coach tour, it's better to indulge in a private car and driver (about $20 to $25 from Hoi An) to beat the mobs. Go early, and you'll have the archeological park practically to yourself, just as sunrise burnishes the brickworks and the jungle comes alive with birdsong. Private English-speaking guides at the site can be hired for 70,000 Vietnamese dong (about $4.50).
Open daily 6:30 am to 5 pm.
See + Do
Still off the standard itinerary for many foreign visitors, Hue served as the capital of unified Vietnam from 1802 until 1945. In addition to being the seat of the Nguyen dynasty throne, the imperial city held sway over the nation's cultural and religious life, making it a natural for UNESCO World Heritage status. Even today, this medium-size town straddling the Perfume River remains a center of education.
Surrounded by a thick, six-mile-long wall, the massive Citadel on the north bank dominates the cityscape. Inside is the fortified and moated Imperial City, a city-within-a-city containing the ornate wooden Thai Hoa Palace, Halls of the Mandarins, a tranquil pond, and the "pleasure pavilion" of Dien Tho, the Queen Mother's residence. Everything in the innermost Forbidden Purple City, aside from the Emperor's Reading Room, was obliterated during the nightmarish urban combat of the 1968 Tet Offensive. The streets inside the fortress are laid out in a grid pattern and are perfect for exploring on a bicycle, which can be rented from Mandarin Café for $1 a day. It's impossible to get lost; just use the 120-foot-tall Flag Tower on the southern rampart as a beacon.
The wooded hills south of town are dotted with the mausoleums of the Nguyen kings, including the frangipani-scented Tomb of Emperor Tu Duc, who reigned 184383. Café on Thu Wheels offers a rollicking half-day tour by motorcycle of the tombs and countryside. The route also stops at riverside Thien Mu Pagoda, whose seven-story octagonal tower is a national icon. A more unusual talisman is the classic British-built Austin sedan housed beyond the main sanctuary. In 1963 a Buddhist monk from the temple, Thich Quang Duc, drove the car to Saigon, where he doused himself with gasoline and burned to death to protest religious discrimination by the Catholic-dominated South Vietnamese regime. The photograph of Thich's self-immolation, with the Austin in the background, is one of the Vietnam War's most enduring images.
See + Do
Hoi An
Website: www.vietnamtourism.com/e_pages/heritage/hoian.asp
How exceptional is Hoi An? So special that by tacit agreement among all combatants, it wasn't attacked during the Vietnam War. That neutrality left the town, a trading port dating from the 15th century, in a state of preservation worthy enough to gain it UNESCO World Heritage status. The gracious buildings and streets show a variety of architectural influences, especially from China and Japan; the town prospered in the 17th and 18th centuries, when merchants from as far afield as India and Holland set up emporiums. But business literally dried up in the 19th century, when silting clogged the Thu Bon River. The port shifted to Da Nang, 20 miles up the coast, and Hoi An became a near-forgotten backwater. With a medieval cityscape untouched by Vietnam's go-go economy, it easily doubled for 1950s Cholon, Saigon's Chinese quarter, in the film adaptation of Graham Greene's classic novel, The Quiet American.
Also famed for its custom tailors, the tourist-oriented old quarter is laid-back and pedestrian-friendly, with a ban on cars, touts, and street peddlers. For many of the sites you'll need to buy a 70,000 Vietnamese dong entrance ticket (about $4.50), which entitles visitors to a selection of museums, historic houses like the Tran Family Chapel (built in 1802 and still privately owned), and pagodalike community halls erected by ancient expats from Fujian, Canton, and other Chinese provinces. Take time also to just wander the streets and admire the rows of "yin and yang" (concave and convex) roof tiles, fishermen along the colorful waterfront, and quirky local enterprises like the Hoi An Department of Managing and Gathering Swallow's Nests (53 Nguyen Thai Hoc St.), which heads to the Cham Islands twice a year to gather the main ingredient for bird's nest soup.
See + Do
Beaches of Central Vietnam
Vietnam's coastline exceeds 2,000 miles, but its finest beaches are almost all found in the 400-mile stretch from Hue to Nha Trang. Alongside a lagoon ten miles northeast of Hue, undeveloped Thuan An Beach attracts Vietnamese from May through August, when the water's generally calm enough for swimming. Forty miles south of Hue, white-sand Lang Co Beach unfolds for six miles between a lagoon and the South China Sea. Its undeniable beauty and stunning views of Bach Ma Mountain National Park have finally seduced developers: Banyan Tree has announced plans for a massive, $270 million luxury resort that will include four hotels, an 18-hole golf course, and residential villas. Da Nang's famed China Beach, once an R and R spot for American soldiers, now attracts a swelling civilian following. The busy northernmost section is characterized by gated developments. More welcoming is Non Nuoc, a section near the Marble Mountains six miles south of Da Nang, where the coastal dunes still hold stands of casuarina trees and family tombs. Fifty yards wide and gently graded, the quiet beach is excellent for swimming. Six miles farther south, fishermen launch circular thung chai, or "basket boats,'' from Cua Dai Beach with the Cham Islands as a beautiful backdrop. But deeper water and rip currents present problems for swimmers. Hoi Anbased Cham Island Diving makes half-day excursions to the archipelago's marine park from February through September, when seas are calm and water visibility approaches 100 feet. Long and tan My Khe Beach is a good place to reflect after a visit to My Lai, just one mile to the west. Beach-hoppers will have a field day farther south, especially at Dai Lanh and six-mile-long Doc Let, where white-sand dunes are tufted with pine trees. Three-mile-long Nha Trang Beach is Vietnam's best urban sandbox, with clean parks and promenades, waterfront bars, and boutique hotels. Water-sports outfitter Mana Mana Beach Club operates from La Louisiane Brewhouse and rents wake- and windsurfing boards, water skis, and sea kayaks. Vietnam's most experienced dive shop, Rainbow Divers, runs half-day trips to an offshore archipelago, where a marine park holds healthy corals and 350 species of fish.
Editor's Pick
Melia Hanoi, Vietnam
Hanoi, Vietnam
Tel: 84 4 934 3343
Email: email@example.com
Website: www.meliahanoi.com
The likes of Princess Anne of the United Kingdom and members of the Brunei royal family have rested their crowned heads in this slick, 22-story hotel. There's a heliport on its roof, so guests can arrive in style, and the hotel has the largest ballroom in Vietnam (with a capacity of 1,200). The Art Deco rooms are large and pleasant, with luxurious bathrooms, minibars, and satellite TV. The high-rise hotel may be something of an eyesore on the Hanoi skyline, but its height guarantees guests a glorious view. There are two restaurants: El Patio, serving international cuisine, and Lotus, offering Thai and Chinese food. Melia is centrally located in the heart of Hanoi's business district, within walking distance of Hoan Kiem.
See + Do
Temple of Literature, Vietnam
Hanoi, Vietnam
Tel: 84 4 845 2917
Many travelers to Asia come down with a case of pagoda overload during their visit. So be sure to make time early on for Hanoi's most beautiful and historic monument. Founded in 1070 by Emperor Ly Thanh Tong, this campus of tile-roofed sanctuaries and walled courtyards located one mile west of Hoan Kiem Lake held Vietnam's first national university. Promising Confucian scholars and court mandarins selected from across the country took three years of rigorous study in literature, poetry, and penmanship. The names of hundreds of graduates are inscribed on 82 stone stelae that rest on the backs of stone tortoises, a symbol of wisdom. The heads of some of these rock reptiles were worn smooth by students who rubbed them for good luck before exams. Outside the south wall, another monolith commands visitors to first dismount from their horses. These scooter-mad days, it's not a problem. While the Thai Hoc Courtyard is rimmed with tacky souvenir stalls, free enterprise is redeemed by the temple's enormous shade trees and placid, lotus-filled ponds.
Open daily 8 am to 5 pm.
See + Do
The Old Quarter, Vietnam
Hanoi is the only city in Vietnam to retain its ancient merchants' quarter, and its narrow streets, packed with fruit and vegetable markets, have housed the city's artisans and tradesmen for five centuries. Each street was named after the craft guild that it formerly housedHang Be was the place for rafts, Hang Hong for incense, Losu for coffinsand even today these lanes and alleys tend to specialize in one item, such as silver, silk, or, in the case of Pho Hang Ma ("Counterfeit Street"), the votive papers incinerated by devout Buddhists to bring good luck and prosperity. The heart of the area is Lo Ren and Thuoc Bac streets, where blacksmiths and tinsmiths thrash, knock, cut, and weld metal into everything from mirror frames to cooking pots. Take a few minutes to pop into 87 Ma May Street, a 19th-century "tube house" (so-called for its long, narrow design, which features a pair of atria for ventilation) that was once a private home and has been restored as a small museum.
See + Do
Halong Bay
The limestone pillars of Thailand's Phang Nga Bay may have gotten the screen time in The Man With the Golden Gun, but for sheer spectacle, nothing compares to the sublime pinnacles of Halong Bay, 100 miles east of Hanoi. Many of the bay's 1,600 limestone islands and isletsthe world's most extensive karst seascapeare part of a protected 580-square-mile UNESCO World Heritage Site. Cruises are the best way to appreciate the bay and the fantastically shaped formations that erupt from the South China Sea. Dozens of companies offer daylong tours from Halong City; splurge for a longer trip and spend two or three days exploring. There are numerous sea caves and grottoes as well as the primeval Cat Ba Island, where a national park protects habitat for one of the world's rarest primates, the golden-headed langur. The most comfortable way to cruise the seas is on the 38-cabin floating palace operated by Emeraude Classic Cruises (59A Ly Thai To St., Hanoi; 84-4-934-0888; www.emeraude-cruises.com). Although the design replicates that of a French paddle steamer that sailed these very waters a century earlier, you'll get the full round of modern conveniences, from sunrise tai chi classes to sea kayaks to evening movie screenings on the open-air "star deck.'' With working sails to augment its engines, the junk-style Halong Ginger offers more rustic luxury (84-4-984-2807; www.cruisehalong.com).
Cool, misty weather swathes Halong from February to April; depending on your taste, this can make the bay a bust, or even more magical. Check your boat company's cancellation policy; in the summer and fall, storms and typhoons can prompt authorities to temporarily close the bay.
Editor's Pick
Maison Souvannaphoum, Laos
Luang Prabang, Laos
Tel: 856 71 254 609
Email: email@example.com
Website: www.coloursofangsana.com/souvannaphoum
This property has it all: Location, history, and style. A five-minute stroll south of the old town, the former compound of Prince Souvannaphouma now holds a sumptuous 24-room boutique hotel. Four large, bathtub-equipped suites occupy the old royal residence; rooms in the 20-unit Garden Wing bear Indo-chic touches such as silk pillows and hand-loomed fabrics, but the pebble-paved rain showers are a bit cramped. The quietest chambers, rooms 101105, are at the end of the Garden Wing and look out onto serene grounds. There is a swimming pool and Angsana Spa's four outdoor tents to work out the kinks, though traffic on nearby Chao Fa Ngum Road can be a buzzkill. The in-house restaurant, Elephant Blanc, offers Western and Lao dishes, including several old royal recipes resurrected by executive chef Vanhxay Picknock.
Editor's Pick
Lao Plaza Hotel, Laos
Vientiane, Laos
Tel: 856 21 218 800
Email: email@example.com
Website: www.laoplazahotel.com
One of the country's newest and largest hotels, the Lao Plaza offers 142 rooms, including executive and presidential suites. If you've been backpacking in the jungle and are desperate for some Western-style luxury, this is the place. Rooms have all modern conveniences, including satellite TV and Wi-Fi, and with food, shopping, and entertainment on hand, you scarcely need to leave this air-conditioned haven. Dine at either of the two restaurants (one is a 24-hour deli-bakery serving superlative pastries), purchase silk or antiques in the hotel's shops, and then take a stroll down to the nearby Mekong River.
Editor's Pick
3 Nagas, Laos
Luang Prabang, Laos
Tel: 856 71 253 888
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Website: www.3nagas.com
The restored 1957 Mercedes sedan that picks you up at the airport only hints at the colonial grandeur awaiting you at 3 Nagas. Expect four-poster beds draped in mosquito netting in the hotel's 15 rooms, which occupy a pair of century-old mansions just a few minutes' walk south of Wat Xieng Thong. Once home to a royal courtier, the newer (1903) building holding rooms 8–15 is quieter, and has views of the auberge's private garden and the Nam Khan River, a Mekong tributary. All of the Wi-Fi–equipped quarters average at least 450 square feet, with vaulted ceilings and Indochine flair. Handmade soaps and shampoos are another nice touch, but the bathrooms need a good renovation.
Editor's Pick
Villa Santi, Laos
Luang Prabang, Laos
Tel: 856 71 212 267
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Website: www.villasantihotel.com
Five minutes from the Mekong River in the heart of Luang Prabang's World Heritage site, the 120-year-old residence of Princess Manilai is decorated in simple French colonial style, with rosewood furniture, Lao silks, and antiques. The 25 rooms are clean and large, with fresh fruit delivered daily, and the hotel's popular Princess Restaurant serves outstanding Lao food. In 2002, the owners added the 52-room Villa Santi Resort & Spa amid rice fields four miles south of the old quarter. The on-site spa and pool complement the more rural setting, but a shuttle van relieves isolation with frequent runs into town. The staff at both places speak at least a few words of English, and are skilled at arranging tours for guests.
See + Do
Luang Prabang, Laos
The former royal capital of Laos, lovely Luang Prabang has an air of faded grandeur, with French colonial buildings jostling ancient red-roofed Theravada Buddhist temples and stupas with gold spires beneath Mount Phousi. A narrow, mile-long peninsula between the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers holds the historic district, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Considered the best preserved city in Southeast Asia, it's packed with gracious homes, shophouses, and temples, including gorgeous 16th-century Wat Xiang Thong. Inside the temple, gold-stenciled wooden pillars support a ceiling decorated with dharma wheels. Outside, the layered roofs swoop almost to ground level, while the rear wall gleams with a masterful Tree of Life mosaic. Every dawn, hundreds of monks gather at Wat Xiang Thong and other temples for tak bat, a 6 am walk through the misted streets to gather alms.
Another highlight is the former Royal Palace. Built in 1904 and now a national museum, it displays antique howdahs, lacquered manuscript boxes—and a bit of moon rock collected by Apollo 17 (a gift from President Nixon). The museum's prized possession is the Pra Bang, the town's eponymous standing Buddha image, reckoned to be 90 percent gold and revered as a source of spiritual protection for Laos. Exhibits at a new cultural museum, the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre, document the country's rich ethnic mosaic (856-71-253-364; www.taeclaos.org).
The Sothea, Cambodia
Siem Reap, Cambodia
Tel: 85 56 396 6788
Website: www.preferredboutique.com/preferred_boutique/hotels/index.aspx?id=69522
Editor's Pick
Shinta Mani, Cambodia
Siem Reap, Cambodia
Tel: 855 63 761 998
Email: email@example.com
Website: www.shintamani.com
Sister property of the sparkling Hôtel de la Paix, the Shinta Mani may be older, but it remains one of the best values in Siem Reap. The place has its own very quiet charmthe name, derived from Sanskrit, means "the gem that provides everything that one desires"and the service is excellent. Rip a shirt pocket, for instance, and a maid quickly performs seamstress surgery. The rooms are on the small side (unless you spring for the "deluxe") and could use some updated furniture and plumbing. Staying here, however, is still a pleasure, as you're helping the communitydirectly. At Shinta Mani, about 20 percent of your bill goes to fund the hotel's admirable on-site Institute of Hospitality, which helps train low-income locals for positions in the industry.
Editor's Pick
FCC Angkor, Cambodia
Siem Reap, Cambodia
Tel: 855 63 760 280
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Website: www.fcccambodia.com/angkor
The FCCwhich stands for Foreign Correspondents Clubis probably the best deal in town. Set in the grounds of a former French ambassador's vacation home along the west bank of the Siem Reap River, it's a very pleasant mix of colonial and contemporary styles. The main building is a breezy two-story structure that houses the very popular restaurant and several boutique shops. The 31 modern rooms are simple but elegant, with polished concrete floors, modernist furniture, and open airy bathrooms.
See + Do
Champasak and Wat Phou, Champasak, Laos
Champasak province contains Wat Phou, one of the grandest Khmer ruins outside Cambodia. Though this site doesn't measure up to Angkor Wat, the tumble-down pavilions beneath sacred Phou Kao Mountain are impressive and picturesque. The mile-long temple complex ascends a series of frangipani-lined stone staircases to a sanctuary with panoramic views of the Mekong and the Bolaven Plateau. Wat Phou rests a few miles south of the charming riverside town of Champasak, the former royal seat of a long-vanished Lao kingdom of the same name. Visit during the Wat Phou Festival, on the full moon of the third lunar month (usually early February) to enjoy elephant races and traditional music and dance.
See + Do
Beng Melea
As Cambodia's infrastructure slowly improves, formerly off-limits sites such as Beng Melea, a one-square-kilometer temple 40 miles northeast of Siem Reap, have begun to attract visitors. Completed in the early 11th century by the same king who would later erect Angkor Wat, unrestored and overgrown Beng Melea has an even wilder feel than Ta Prohm. Motos charge about $20 for a round-trip to the ruin, which requires a separate $5 admission.
See + Do
Ta Prohm
With its stonework strangled by vaulting silk-cotton trees, jungle-choked Ta Prohm will make any visitor feel like Indiana Jones. Even though it has been looted in recent years, Ta Prohm still looks like it must have when French explorer Henri Mouhot "discovered" it in 1860. (Tomb Raider fans should look out for the tree where Angelina Jolie picked some jasmine, the earth opened up, and she was dropped into a studio thousands of miles away for another ass-kicking scene.) Since most visitors enter from the west, avoid the throngs by having your driver drop you at the rarely visited eastern gates, the ceremonial entrance to most temples, and then walk through. The crowds at this popular attraction are thinnest in the early morning and late afternoon, when flocks of chatty red-breasted parakeets return to roost.
See + Do
The most exquisite carvings cover the Bayon. Like Angkor Wat, this masterpiece was constructed in the 12th century; it's topped by 54 stone towers, each bearing four smiling, enigmatic faces and clad with intricately carved bas-relief panels. The Bayon stands at the exact center of the walled city of Angkor Thom, the final capital of the Khmer Empire. To avoid the crowds, visit Bayon in the early morning or afternoon. For a total Lost City experience, proceed for one mile on the unpaved paths heading due east or west from the Bayon. They both lead through forest to massive, rarely visited gates crowned with the same happy faces. Well worth the brief detour.
See + Do
Angkor Wat
The apotheosis of Khmer civilization, 12th-century Angkor Wat remains the national symbol of Cambodia. It's well worth spending at least half a day here. Make sure to see the Churning of the Ocean of Milk along the East Gallery, an epic bas-relief describing a tug-of-war between gods and demons to turn the ocean into an elixir of immortality. Like Ta Prohm and Bayon, Angkor Wat is on the heavily traveled tourist circuit. Ask your driver to take you to the eastern gates instead of the busier western gates.