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Nitin Gadkari to Inspect Sethu Project Route on November 4
South | Press Trust of India | Monday November 3, 2014
Union Surface Transport and Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari would undertake an aerial inspection of the controversial Sethusamudram Shipping Channel route on November 4, officials said on Sunday.
Cannabis Worth Rs 50 Lakh Seized, Three Arrested in Tamil Nadu
South | Press Trust of India | Wednesday September 24, 2014
Police yesterday arrested three persons in Ramanathapuram in connection with smuggling ganja (cannabis) to Sri Lanka and also recovered Rs 50 lakh worth contraband from them.
Woman Sets Self, Three Daughters on Fire in Tamil Nadu
South | Press Trust of India | Monday September 22, 2014
In a tragic incident, a 38-year-old woman set her self on fire along with her three daughters aged between 10-18 years, which led to the death of the girls near Ilanjambore in Ramanathapuram district.
Five Pilgrims Killed After Their Bus Catches Fire in Tamil Nadu
South | Written by J Sam Daniel Stalin | Sunday August 31, 2014
Five pilgrims were killed early this morning after a bus they were travelling in caught fire in Tamil Nadu's Ramanathapuram district.
T-Shirts Praising ISIS: One More Held in Tirupur
South | Press Trust of India | Wednesday August 6, 2014
One more person was arrested today in connection with publication of a photo showing youth in Ramanathapuram district wearing T shirts praising ISIS, an Iraq based extremist outfit.
Families of Two Young Men Arrested for Alleged Links with ISIS Deny Police Reports
South | Edited by Vishnu Varma | Wednesday August 6, 2014
Families of the two young men arrested in Tamil Nadu's Ramanathapuram district for alleged links with Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) have denied the allegations.
Two Arrested in Tamil Nadu Over Group Photo in ISIS T-shirts
South | Reported by J Sam Daniel Stalin; Edited by Mala Das | Tuesday August 5, 2014
Two young men have been arrested in Ramanthapuram district of Tamil Nadu after a photograph of a group of people posing in T-shirts with the emblem of the Sunni militant group ISIS went viral on social media.
Fishermen Hold Demonstration in Tamil Nadu; Fishing Boycott Enters Fifth Day
South | Press Trust of India | Monday July 28, 2014
Intensifying their five-day old indefinite boycott of fishing pressing for safety and security in traditional areas in the Palk Bay, fishermen of this district today held a demonstration in front of the Collectorate in Ramanathapuram.
Former DMK Minister Held for 'Violating' Model Code
Elections News | Press Trust of India | Sunday May 4, 2014
Former DMK Minister Suba Thangavelan was arrested in Ramanathapuram today under provisions of Motor Vehicles Act for violating the poll code and canvassing for the party candidate in a convoy of over 12 vehicles, police said.
Arrest of Tamil Nadu fishermen by Sri Lanka; Jayalalithaa seeks Centre's intervention
South | Press Trust of India | Tuesday January 21, 2014
Describing as "unfortunate" the latest arrest of 25 Indian fishermen by Sri Lankan navy, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa today sought "decisive" action by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to secure their release.
Boy thrashed by public after allegedly raping six-year old girl
South | Press Trust of India | Wednesday December 25, 2013
A teenaged boy allegedly raped a six-year-old girl and seriously injured her following which he was thrashed by the public near Ramanathapuram in Tamil Nadu today.
Inebriated man allegedly attacks seven members of a family, kills two
South | Press Trust of India | Saturday December 21, 2013
An inebriated man allegedly attacked seven members of a family with a sickle and a crowbar, killing a couple on the spot and seriously injuring the others at AR Mangalam in the district today.
Marine park installing CCTVs, strengthening security on Tamil Nadu coast
South | Press Trust of India | Tuesday October 15, 2013
Concerned over frequent detection of carcasses of various marine species, illegal fishing methods and discharge of effluents, the Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park is installing CCTVs and beefing up security along the coast in a bid to check dwindl...
Tamil Nadu fishermen hold demonstration against use of banned nets
South | Press Trust of India | Friday August 16, 2013
Around 300 fishermen from various coastal hamlets in this district today staged a demonstration demanding action against trawlers and mechanised fishing boatmen for alleged use of banned fishing nets.
Girl dies of LPG leak blast in Tamil Nadu
South | Press Trust of India | Saturday May 11, 2013
A girl was killed and three members of her family were seriously injured in a blaze caused by a leak in LPG cylinder at their house in Ramanathapuram on Saturday, police said.
Two persons held with 71 fake Indian passports
South | Press Trust of India | Thursday May 2, 2013
Two persons who were planning to send several Sri Lankan Tamil refugees to Germany using fake Indian passports were on Tuesday arrested and 71 fake passports seized from them at Naripaiyur in Ramanathapuram district, police said.
Tamil Nadu to set up drinking water projects worth about Rs 800 crore
South | Press Trust of India | Wednesday April 10, 2013
The Tamil Nadu government today proposed drinking water supply projects to the tune of nearly Rs 800 crore, including desalination plants for Ramanathapuram and Tuticorin districts.
13 arrested after clashes in Rameswaram; police fire in air
South | Press Trust of India | Sunday March 31, 2013
The police opened fire in the air today to put an end to a clash between two groups in Tamil Nadu's Ramanathapuram (or Rameswaram) district. The clashes began after one of the groups lost a cricket match.
Petrol bombs thrown at theatres meant to screen Vishwaroopam
South | Edited by Surabhi Malik | Wednesday January 30, 2013
Petrol bombs were hurled this afternoon at two cinemas in Tamil Nadu which were scheduled to screen Vishwaroopam, the controversial film starring Kamal Haasan. Nobody was hurt; glass windows were shattered at the theatres located in the Ramanathapura...
Tug ship stuck dangerously close to 100-year-old rail bridge in Tamil Nadu
South | Written by J Sam Daniel Stalin, edited by Samira Shaikh | Saturday January 12, 2013
A tug ship continues to remain stuck dangerously close to the century-old Pamban Rail bridge that connects Rameswaram and the mainland in the Ramanathapuram district of Tamil Nadu.
Tax officials seize 'US bonds' worth Rs 28,000 cr in raid
Thursday January 3, 2013
The I-T action followed Ramalingam's reported application to the petroleum and chemicals ministries, seeking sanction to set up a Rs 1,000 crore crude oil refinery in Ramanathapuram district of Tamil Nadu.
Tamil Nadu theatres threaten to boycott Kamal Haasan's Vishwaroopam
Chandni | Thursday January 3, 2013
Distributors threatened not to screen Kamal Haasan's Vishwaroopam in Madurai and Ramanathapuram districts, if it was broadcast on DTH platform on January 10.
Six of a family burnt to death
Chennai News | Indo-Asian News Service | Monday October 1, 2012
Six members of a family, including children, were burnt alive in their sleep early on Monday morning in an arson attack on their hut by miscreants in Ramanathapuram district, said police.
Former MLA Kader Basha murdered at home
South | Press Trust of India | Friday August 31, 2012
Former DMK MLA of Tamil Nadu Assembly Kader Basha was hacked to death at his residence in Ramanathapuram today, police said. Basha, 67, was having breakfast when Dhanaseelan entered his house and hacked him to death with a sickle, police said.


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opinionBy Jonathan Moyo
Zimbabwe today is a living hell for all and sundry. If you are in hell, there is no amount of convenience that can make you comfortable. Hell is by definition inconvenient. Period, writes Jonathan Moyo
In Zimbabwe, August is a sacred month in which the heroes of the armed liberation struggle that led to independence in 1980 are commemorated and their achievements celebrated. This year there was a twist to the usual pomp and circumstance when the memory of the many heroes had to give way to a megabucks publicity blitz on the three zeroes which the country's Central Bank, led by its ubiquitous Governor Gideon Gono, removed from the greatly devalued national currency amid anger, controversy and confusion which turned otherwise conservative money matters into a deadly battle ground in President Robert Mugabe's increasingly bitter succession war.
Here is the background. On July 31, 2006 Gono took the nation by surprise when he announced during a much awaited presentation of his midterm monetary review statement that a new family of bearer's cheques would be introduced by midnight that day and further that the new notes would be minus three zeroes.
What this meant in nominal terms is that if one had a trillion Zimbabwe dollars that was immediately reduced to a billion; if you had a billion that became a million; if you had a million it shrunk to a thousand and if you had a thousand dollars they zeroed to just one dollar. Under a multimedia media blitz dubbed, "Project Sunrise", the Central Bank prescribed maximum amounts of the old bearer's cheques that individuals and businesses would be allowed to deposit with banks per day to get the new family of bearer's cheques. The Bank fixed August 1 to August 21 as the prescribed period for the purpose.
Zimbabwe has been using short term bearer's cheques in place of banknotes since 2003 when the country literally and inexplicably ran out of regular banknotes triggering a shortage of local currency that nearly toppled Mugabe's Zanu PF government when people could not access their own money, including salaries, deposited with banks.
Since then there has been endless debate on whether the temporary bearer's cheques are in fact money and the debate got even more animated earlier this year when a rather mischievous junior magistrate who apparently was missing his traditional banknotes ruled that the bearer's cheques were not money at law and his overzealous judgment earned him an embarrassing rebuke from judicial authorities.
Even though the monetary authorities assured Zimbabweans that the removal of the three zeroes was only nominal as the real value of the currency did not change, that assurance did not have many takers, especially because everyone, including the downtrodden, had become a millionaire with farm labourers earning a minimum of 10 million Zimbabwe dollars per month.
The well-to-do had become accustomed to showing off their often ill-gotten wealth by counting it in billions and trillions and so the removal of the three zeroes, just like that, was a psychological blow that left the rich classes crying foul and feeling like victims of an officially sanctioned robbery that was effected through the Central Bank by a stroke of the pen.
More ominous for the governor of the Central Bank, who is being rather maliciously accused in some circles of having embarked on the currency reforms to launch a high profile bid to succeed Mugabe as president, there are strong feelings in the media that the real targets of the currency changeover were Zanu PF barons and bigwigs who had been stashing trillions of old bearer's cheques earned through corrupt deals and used for speculative purposes on the black market.
These feelings gained some credence when the Central Bank governor and some of his officials received death threats soon after the start of the currency changeover.
"zero revolution"
But accountants and others in the banking and financial sector welcomed the Central Bank's removal of three zeroes from the currency because they say the trillions that were popping up everywhere were beginning to ruin their calculators and financial software programmes that were failing to cope as they had been designed to handle data of a modest economy with manageable numbers.
But there are some, especially among the beer drinking brigade and others that are generally active in the social and clubbing scene, who welcomed what they dubbed the "zero revolution" because it relieved them from the indignity of having to use wheelbarrows or even sacks to carry their money around by bringing back the wallets which had become extinct through being just useless.
With the removal of three zeroes from the currency, the highest new bearer's cheque is 100,000 Zimbabwe dollars which is equivalent to one hundred million dollars of the old bearer's cheques. This means it is now possible to conveniently carry in a wallet one million dollars which is equivalent to the former one billion dollars that was impossible to carry without the help of a crane or a weightlifter.
But the return of the wallet in the streets of places like Harare and Bulawayo has also meant the return of pickpockets and handbag snatchers who had become an endangered criminal species. Vendors and other hangers-on have also returned to the now very busy streets, many of them as pickpockets and handbag snatchers, after having been brutally taken off the streets by the Zanu PF government last year in May during a crackdown called Operation Murambatsvina (or Operation Remove Filth) which the United Nations denounced as a humanitarian disaster for destroying the homes and livelihoods of some informal sector dwellers who make up at least 18 percent of the population.
With inflation in Zimbabwe just under 1,000 percent, making it the highest in the world including lethal war zones such as Iraq, many traders made the inflationary situation worse by taking unethical advantage of the currency changeover to hike prices. Other traders off-loaded their billions and trillions of old bearer's cheques by buying up and hoarding commodities such as fuel, maize meal, sugar and cooking oil which are now scarcely available in the shops.
Perhaps the most controversial aspect of Zimbabwe's currency switch after the removal of three zeroes had to do with the limits that the Central Bank put on the amount of cash that individuals and businesses could deposit a day during the changeover period between August 1 and 21. Individuals were allowed 100 million Zimbabwe dollars of the previous bearer's cheque per day while businesses had an allowance of between one and five billion dollars per day depending on whether the business handled high cash volumes.
Anyone with old bearer's cheques above these limits was required to justify the source of the money or risk losing it all. Many lost it. The reason for this was that out of the 45 trillion Zimbabwe dollars that were in circulation in the form of old bearer's cheques, the monetary authorities could only account for a paltry 10 trillion.
The rest was believed to be stashed in bedrooms, garages, offices and even more was thought to be in hideouts outside Zimbabwe's borders in countries like Botswana, Mozambique, Zambia and South Africa where it was being used for parallel and black market currency exchange and commodity trading to the detriment of the formal banking system which had become cash dry. To enforce these limits, Central Bank officials supported by heavily armed Zimbabwean police, army personnel and members of Mugabe's Zanu PF youth league set up roadblocks everywhere, literally everywhere.
People could hide but they could not run. When the process started, anyone caught at these roadblocks with the old bearer's cheques whose value was more than the prescribed limits had to forfeit it there and then and be thankful for not being thrown in jail.
What was ridiculous and caused as much anger in the public as it caused confusion among the bureaucrats in charge at the Central Bank is that the officials manning the roadblocks would seize everything and not just the amount above the prescribed limits.
Even worse, they would not give receipts for the seized loot thereby creating huge opportunities for rent-seeking behaviour. Although this confusion was cleared towards the end of the currency changeover process, a lot of damage was done as many ordinary people lost their hard earned cash at the hands of unscrupulous and corrupt officials many who turned the roadblocks into lucrative money making ventures.
In a country like Zimbabwe where at least 70 percent of the population lives in the rural areas, there is no need to guess that the real victims of the currency changeover were rural folks. Because there was no prior announcement about the new currency to avoid alerting criminals and currency stashers, and because Zimbabwe's newspapers do not circulate in the rural areas while radio and television reach only less than 45 percent of the country due to the poor national broadcasting transmitter network, an overwhelming majority of rural folks simply did not know about the new money and the need to replace their old bearer's cheques by August 21.
So ignorant villagers were caught unawares and they were disadvantaged big time. Many urban criminals flocked into rural areas to beat the daily limits on allowable cash deposits of the old bearer's cheques by offering unusually high and therefore irresistible prices to buy cattle, goats, donkeys, chicken and grain such as maize and wheat from gullible peasants who were left holding useless money that they could not replace within the prescribed period and at the prescribed limits. While in the rural areas, the urban criminals would tell villages fairytales that the removal of three zeroes from the national currency also applied to livestock such that if one had say 3,000 cattle, they were to be reduced to just 3!
Many villagers had to walk long distances - averaging 100 kilometres - to have their old bearer's cheques replaced because of the absence of banking facilities in rural areas. These problems prompted the Central Bank to extend the deadline of replacing old bearer's cheques for the rural folks from August 21 to September 2 under very strict conditions designed to keep away urban criminals and currency stashers.
In the end, the changeover from the old to a new family of bearer's cheques with less three zeroes was accomplished and the monetary authorities have claimed that the exercise was a resounding success given its magnitude and the fact that it was a home-grown and home-driven effort without any assistance from the international community.
The Central Bank has also emphasised that the main reason for the currency changeover was to bring convenience to ordinary people as well as for businesses and the banking community. Also, because the monetary authorities could not account for some 30 trillion dollars of the old bearer's cheques in circulation that are believed to have been used for illicit purposes, the Central Bank felt it necessary to render all of the unaccounted for currency useless by introducing a new family of bearer's cheques which the authorities think will be manageable and controllable.
But critics have not altogether been impressed. The reason is that while it has been much appreciated from a convenience point of view in technical terms, the currency reform still has a very high risk of being undermined by the absence of wider policy reforms to address Zimbabwe's skewed macroeconomic fundamentals that had led to an economic meltdown which in turn now requires political and constitutional reforms.
Zimbabwe today is a living hell for all and sundry. If you are in hell, there is no amount of convenience that can make you comfortable. Hell is by definition inconvenient. Period.
Poverty in Zimbabwe is above 85 percent, unemployment hovers around 90 percent, the informal sector was destroyed by Mugabe's Zanu PF government last year to the detriment of at least 18 percent of the population, inflation is just under 1,000 percent, interest rates are in the upwards of 400 percent, foreign exchange coffers are virtually dry because of a sharp decline in exports due to company closures, low production levels and the collapse of agriculture since the land invasions of 2000.
Zimbabwe not working
Because of these and related factors, the Zimbabwean economy has shrunk by more than 35 percent over the last seven years. In a nutshell, Zimbabwe is simply not working.
Citing these factors some opposition parties in the country, which are rather very weak at the moment due to infiltration by state security agents and leadership failure, have complained that the removal of three zeroes from the national currency by the Central Bank is doomed to ultimately fail. They say this is because the currency was already valueless with one British pound attracting a parallel market rate of almost one million Zimbabwe dollars of the old bearer's cheques, prompting some opposition politicians to observe that if, as part of the "zero revolution", you remove three zeroes from nothing, you still remain with nothing and that is not revolutionary.
To the opposition, the real zero that should be removed first is Robert Mugabe. That, they say, would be revolutionary beyond money matters.
Prof. Moyo is an independent MP and a former minister of information in Zimbabwe

subset: commoncrawl


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Product Information
- Roxx Skullzz Battle Game from Imperial Toy
- Part of the Roxx brand
- We recommend this product for ages 7 and up
What It Is
Roxx is a new collectible head-to-head competitive game. The Roxx game pieces feature unique art in diverse themes, and kids can collect the Roxx, learn tricks with Trixx cards, and battle their friends in a variety of different ways including the Roxx Skullzz Battle Game. This game puts kids' Roxx skills to the test. The first player to get from space one to space nine on the Skullzz Play Mat wins. This involves sliding your Roxx game piece into circular game spots, drawing Trixx Cards and successfully performing those tricks, and flipping or sliding the Roxx into towers. The game also includes instructions for two more ways to play. The game can be played with two to six players.
Each Roxx Skullz Battle Game includes a 36-by-36-inch Skullzz Play Mat, three different colored target cups, six exclusive Skullzz Game Roxx, and 12 unique Trixx Cards featuring tricks with varying degrees of difficulty. Series 1 features 72 game pieces (classic, rare, and ultra rare) and a total of 42 collectible Trixx Cards. The included Collector Series Check List allows kids to keep track of their personal Roxx and Trixx Card collection.
Is It Fun?
The Roxx Skullzz Battle Game is a challenging and fun way to play with Roxx. There may be a slight learning curve to sliding, flipping, and performing tricks with the Roxx pieces, especially for kids who are new to Roxx. But learning how to do all that is part of the fun. We like that there are multiple ways to play the Roxx Skullzz Battle Game.
Who It's For
The Roxx Skullzz Battle Game is for ages 7 and up.
What To Be Aware Of
For ideal playing conditions, use a round or square table allowing for 360-degrees of play and make sure your playing surface is flat.
Additional Roxx game pieces are sold separately.
Top Toss Ladder Ball
from Poof
Magic Shot Shooting Gallery Toy
from Ideal
Memory Mix Up Game
from MindWare
Animal Trivia Challenge Game
from MindWare
Children's Bible Trivia Game
from Ideal
Shopkins Pop 'N' Race Game
from Pressman Toy
Magnetic-Go Backgammon
from Alex Brands


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Cooking and Baking
Healthy Pizza recipe
I'm making pizza tonight and wanted to buy a premade crust from the grocery store. The last one I used was a pre-made, almost flatbread-like creation. Couldn't have been grosser, it tasted like a stale cracker. I heard Pillsbury pizza crust is good, but any other suggestions?
Talk is closed, but that doesn't mean the conversations have to stop!
Check out this post for a more thorough explanation, and jump onto our Facebook page or our Twitter feed to keep the conversations going!


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If you haven't made a trek out to Puzzle Warehouse in Kirkwood, you should! My son and I were out there recently and are now the proud owners of a Snoopy Christmas puzzle as well as a United States map puzzle. They recently celebrated their grand opening. They've got a host of puzzles for all ages and interest. And thanks to them, I rediscovered a love for puzzles. And since my son and I are working on the Snoopy puzzle together, he's finally discovering a love for puzzles too! (I'd forgotten how great of a stress reliever they are!) For more info on this wonderful, check out this link.
Now the Puzzle Warehouse is giving away a very cool prize pack. And just in time for Christmas! The pack includes two children's puzzles and one Christmas ornament painting kit.
Giveaway guidelines
Simply leave a comment on this post to enter. (US residents only.) Also "Like" us on Facebook. (Here's that link.)
Receive additional entries:
1. For blogging about the contest and let us know in a separate comment.
2. Subscribing to our mailing list/RSS feed and let us know in a separate comment.
3. Twitter this giveaway and let us know in a separate comment.
4. Favorite us on Technorati and let us know in a separate comment.
5. Stumble this post and let us know in a separate comment.
6. Add us to your blogroll or our button to your sidebar and let us know in a separate comment.
This giveaway closes Dec 12, 2010 at 11:59 pm central time. Be sure to include a valid email address. Winner will be randomly chosen via random.org and will be notified via email.
Update: Congrats to Tracy.


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Joined: Mar 2012
Location: Germany
Oddometer: 36
One Last Euro Ride. (I think)
This trip starts with the selling of my Triumph. My first bike, a 2005 triumph Speedmaster, blue and black. She was a good bike, but it was time to let go.
I got up on Friday and rode her to Wiesbaden to sell to an Army dude. It was good to say goodbye to her with a proper ride. I took off, up over the Hunsruck by Hahn airport and out to Wiesbaden. I waited around for a few, BSing with folks about bikes, then we took care of the particulars and I took off. I was sad to see her go, she was a good bike. I didn't want to trouble the dude I sold her to and I didn't have any friends who were in the give me a ride mood, so I took the train back home. I hiked off the Army post, I talked with a german girl at the bus stop and I took the bus to the Hauptbahnhof. The train went through the middle Rhein Valley which is a beautiful train ride. After a switch in Koblenz I was on a train in the Mosel valley. The only better way to see each is on a bike!
"If you're going to be crazy, you have to get paid for it or else you're going to be locked up."
Evil-Lucian screwed with this post 09-03-2013 at 01:28 AM
Joined: Mar 2012
Location: Germany
Oddometer: 36
Day Two
The next day was trip day. I woke up and packed... Did a quick run for gas and I was off! The goal today was Garmisch Partnekirchen. When I left it was slightly overcast with the temperature was at about 70º. When I made it to the Mosel valley the weather stated looking dark and on my way up the hill toward the Hunsruck the weather turned for the worse. It started raining, so I stopped to put on my rain gear. Only a few minutes later I had to stop again and wipe the fog out of my visor. I rode for just over an hour when I stopped for cheep gas at Ramstein Air Base. It was at Ramstein when I realized that I was soaked from just an hour on the road. I decided to stick to the Autobahn to save time after I got gas, but the rain was really heavy going toward Manheim, so I called an audible and rode toward the B-10 through Pirmasens and Landau. Just past Pirmasens there was a detour for road work that sent me on the 427 through Dahn. This road would've been great on a dry day, but today in the rain and following the slowest drivers on earth, the road sucked. After a bit I was back on the Autobahn and I was through Karlsruhe.
I was wet, this much was certain. My hands, my feet and my legs were soaked. Until then the one piece of riding gear I could count on was my €20 rain pants and jacket because they never let me down. Today, the pants leaked like no body's business. I stopped just after Stuttgart and I wanted to quit. However I threw on a thermal top and I pressed on. Just before Ulm I stopped to get gas. I went in the bathroom of a rest area, stripped down and put on my running tights and wool socks. Then I got two plastic bags from the girls working the register and put them over my socks in my boots. I ditched my soaked gloves and switched over to my summer gloves with rain covers and I continued on. Past the rest area the rain cleared up and the sun came out for a bit. I cranked the bike up to 100mph and made for Füssen Germany. Once I got to Füssen the rain came back, but I only had a little bit of riding to go before I got to Garmisch. While Riding through the mountains toward Garmisch the cold was getting to me. My coordination was suffering and I wasn't to trusting of the bike in the rain. (the tires had spooked me a few times over the course of the day.)
I made it to my hotel, The Olympiahaus, about dark. The clerk at the reception asked if I was hungry because the kitchen was about to close in 10 minutes. I asked for a schnitzel and they had it waiting for me after I unloaded the bike and got changed. Great Place! It is also worth noting, that I stayed in the Olympic ski stadium from the 1936 games. My room was on the 2nd floor where the Chancellor of Germany at the time had watched the winter games from that very balcony.
Inside my right (Big) pannier after riding through the worst rain we have had all summer. (It has been the best summer ever in Germany.)
The balcony where the Chancellor watched the winter games in 1936. I slipped in here while the maids were cleaning and snapped a few pictures. This spot gave me an uneasy creepy feeling.
The plan for my day in Garmisch was to hike to the top of the Zugspitze, but when I woke up at 6:00am it was Raining Cats and Dogs! So I did what any good American would do, I went back to sleep. I woke up later on, I had a good breakfast and around noon the rain had let up enough for a hike. I set out from the Olympic Ski Stadium and hiked up the Partnach Gorge. The gorge was amazing, a cross between caves, tunnels and a water ride at an amusement park.
The Partnach Gorge
Me in the Gorge.
After the gorge I decided to hike to the Bockhütte, the first hütte on the trip to the Zugspitze. The lady at the gorge said the Bockütte was 2 to 2.5 hours from the gorge. Me being cocky about my hiking skills, I thought I could make it 1.5. It actually took me about 1:45, but I stopped to take a lot of pictures. The hike was awesome. Once I got to the Hütte, I stopped for pea soup with wurst and coffee. They were delicious!
I asked the girls working at the Bockhütte how they got supplies to the Hütte and they said "Motorrad" and sure enough, after a bit a few dudes showed up on bikes loaded down with supplies.
After the Hütte I kept on hiking toward the Zugspitze and I found the best toilet in the world. There was a small cabin in the woods and on a rocky point down the valley from the cabin was an outhouse with no door and the throne was situated so you could see down the valley while you do your morning business. I assure you, that was the greatest view you could ever have from a toilet.
The view from the toilet.
After a great hike I headed back. I had a great dinner of pork medallions with mushroom gravy and cheese spätzle. The food was amazing! After dinner I decided to hike to the top of the ski jumps to work off that Spätzle! Tomorrow I ride into Austria!
"If you're going to be crazy, you have to get paid for it or else you're going to be locked up."
Evil-Lucian screwed with this post 09-02-2013 at 01:23 PM
Joined: Mar 2012
Location: Germany
Oddometer: 36
Innsbrück and on to Switzerland
I left Garmisch early, and decided to ride a huge U-turn on my way to Innsbruck. I set a course for Namlos Pass to the west and then back East to Innsbrück. It started raining on me near Namlos pass so I pulled over and suited up. The pass wasn't that spectacular, but the over-all ride was a good, especially on the back-side. At the bottom of the Namlos pass I rode up the Lechtal. Which was an awesome ride. At the top of the Lechtal, in the town of Warth, I turned toward the Flexenpass. The Flexenpass wasn't that big of a deal either, construction and tunnels, but now I know where that road goes after Alberg-pass.
Namlos Pass.
After Flexenpass I rode down toward Bregenz and my goal to come back up the Silvretta High Alpine road. The Switchbacks on the Silvretta-Hochalpenstraßewere were nice but it was wet and cloudy on top. However, it was a good ride none the less.
When I got to the Silvretta turn off I smelled imbis food and it was about lunch time. I looked back over my left shoulder and I saw this place. I stopped for Currywurst! Got me through the rest of the day.
The Silvretta High Alpine road.
The top of the Silretta High Alpine Road.
I always wanted to get a picture of this castle perched above the Inn Valley.
Once off the high road, I found myself in Landeck where I filled up the tank. I had remembered a valley I had ridden up on a previous trip to Innsbruck and after a brief battle with my nemesis, the GPS, I found a route to this mysterious valley. Turns out that valley was the Kühtai. I rode up the Ortz valley a bit and then I started a switchback climb up the mountain to my left. The switchbacks were dry and it was fun sweeping back and forth on them. (I rode up leading a gang of bikes, but I lost them when I stopped in a panic to take pictures of the cows standing int the road.) Once I made it to the main valley things got really cool. There were cows everywhere! Standing in the road! I don't know how other people feel, but I thought it was cool! After the Kühltai I rode into Innsbruck and checked into my evening digs.
Cows on the Kühtai.
The top pf the Kühtai.
The Next day I knew I needed to address the issue of my riding gear failure. I went into a local motorrad shop and looked to remedy my leaking rain pants, soaked gloves and leaking boots. I found a pair of riding boots for €100. A new pair of rain pants and a decent spare set of gloves. (All of which preformed admirably) I tossed my old boots in the trash and headed out. I rode the Kühtai again because I wanted to take a picture of the cows in the road with my GOPRO camera.
More Cows and rain today on the Kühtai.
After a talk with my Austrian friend Simone last night, I had to promise not to ride the Flüelapass today, because it was on that pass that her father was killed in a motorcycle crash the year before. I promised her with a pinky swear and I plotted another course into Switzerland that gave me maximum passes for my buck.
The first new pass of the day was Reschenpass going into Italy. It was a nice, dry-ish climb up out of the Inn Valley. Nothing out of the ordinary, but it was a good ride. At the top I stopped at the Motorrad Cafe for a snack and Coffee. I talked with a couple of German Bikers who had ridden from a place not very far from where I live. I also met an Irish biker on the new BMW R1200GS. I talked to him about his BMW riding suit. I figure you get what you pay for and he said he has had his riding suit for 3 years and no water ever gets in.
Anyway, the next pass on my list was the Umbrailpass from the Valmüstair. I started up the pass twisting on the staircase switchbacks in the rain. The cool thing about Umbrailpass is a good portion of it isn't paved, which is great on the F800GS! The temperature dropped into the 40s just up to the pass and it only got colder the higher I went. I think it was 40º at the top. I stopped and took some pictures and waved at the top of Stelvio and then I turned toward Bormio. The way down Stelvio pass to Bormio was wild! Descending from the clouds into the sunny valley looked awesome. I almost dumped the bike when I pulled onto a small rocky ledge to take some pictures, but the pictures were worth it.
Riding up Umbrail pass in the mud and the rain.
The West side of Stelvio pass.
The precarious rocky edge where I stopped to get some pictures.
The West side of Stelvio going toward Bormio.
In Bormio I realized that I had forgotten how big of a S#!t Storm Italy is compared to the rest of Europe. Road signs mean nothing so I had to break out the GPS for the first time to navigate to Livigno. The Paso di Fascagno was pretty cool, perhaps the neatest part was entering the tax-free region with the false border control. Livigno looked like a nice town and part of me wanted to look for a place to hang out for the night. The other part of me wanted to get out of Italy, so I decided to press-on for the Dual-Pass crossing
The temperature in Livigno never got above 47º and the dual passes were cold! And Wet! Very wet. Forcoladi Livigno and Berninapass were both wet and cold! But the ride out of Livigno was very beautiful. The temperature was about 37º and on the backside of the Berninapass it was raining very hard. I was starting to worry about myself when I got down to St Moritz. I was cold and starting to feel a bit sloppy. I bypassed St Moritz for the next town down. I figured in Samaden I might get a better deal on a hotel. I met some bikers from the UAE at the train station in town. We had all pulled under a loading dock to get dry for a minute. These guys where all riding tricked out BMW, Victory and Yamaha bikes shipped from the UAE. One guy was wearing fingerless gloves and it was 45º in the valley! I joked with them about how I was finished for the day and then I went to find a hotel.
After striking out at the first hotel, the price was too high, I pulled into another hotel. The girl gave me the same quote and I was ready to leave but the girl said she could cut me a deal if I wanted. I talked with her and she came down 50 CHF on the room so I said it was a deal. So this is where I am at for the night. Today was pretty darn good
"If you're going to be crazy, you have to get paid for it or else you're going to be locked up."
Evil-Lucian screwed with this post 09-06-2013 at 02:02 PM
Beastly Adventurer
Joined: Jun 2006
Location: northern Arkansas
Oddometer: 2,494
Always ready for a rr from the Alps. Awaiting more.
Another view of the ski jump; it looks a bit odd as you approach (especially if you don't know exactly where you are)
R1200GS Ural Patrol KLR650 DRz400 XL185
Austria '08 http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=352082
Back to the Alps in '11 http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=744205
Gnarly Adventurer
Joined: Jun 2012
Location: Ciudad Catedral
Oddometer: 131
Looks like a great (albeit wet) ride so far. I experienced similar weather on the one Germany/Austria/Italy ride I did around the same time of year. Didn't dampen my enthusiasm for the area a bit, though. Looking forward to more...
Los Tres Chaquetas Ride Baja 2013 - http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=878416
A KLR RIDES (to) THE BAJA 500 (to spectate)! - http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=893347
Joined: Mar 2012
Location: Germany
Oddometer: 36
St Moritz to Innerkirchen
The day started out great. A fancy Hotel, a great breakfast and good conversation. I loaded up the bike just after 10am and I was on the road at 11am. The weather was looking promising, sunny with just a few clouds.
Cows, I love cows.
The first way-point was Albulapass. This pass was just down the road from where I slept and I figured, "Why Not?" I rode out with my rubber ducky in tow. (The Hotel I stayed in had a rubber ducky in the shower, it doesn't have a rubber ducky anymore.) The approach to the Albulapass was the typical stair case switchbacks. Once I got to up the switchbacks into an alpine valley I caught up to the clouds. I paused just before the hard-core fog to take pictures of the high alpine valley and the cows. (I'm loving these cows.) Once I got on the Pass proper it was Foggy! Very Foggy! The backside of the pass was very scenic for the railroad that criss-crossed the road. I think I saw the same train 4 different times on the desent from the pass. The train would cross the road on a bridge, disappear in a tunnel and reemerge out of another tunnel just down the mountain to do it all again.
The top of Albulapass. Foggy!
The railroad trestles on the backside of Albulapass.
On my way down the pass I saw this place. It was a train car filled with Alpine products. Cheeses, meats and so on. I bought some alpine tea. The cool thing about this place is there was no one there to sell anything. It was a pay as you go honor system. Just write down what you take and drop the money in the box.
The ride down from there was through a nice scenic valley toward a place called Tiefencastel. I thought this meant Devil's Castle, if it does mean that, I did not see Satan's castle or I would have surely taken a picture. From Satan's Castle, I rode down toward Chur toward the Rhein Valley. At first I skirted the side roads through villages with ruined castles along the mountain, but after a bit I knew I needed to expedite my progress so I jumped on the Autobahn. I got turned around in Chur for a minute. Turns out I wasn't supposed to go there after all. (and I despise navigating with a GPS.) After a bit I was on the right path heading toward Andermatt!
After crossing a minor pass at Flims and the ski town of Laax I started the ride up the Rhein valley toward the Oberalapass. On my way up the Rhein valley I teamed up with a BMW rider from Italy and we rode the bulk of the valley together, but we got separated just before the pass. Most of this day I spent without my rain gear, but I decided to suit up before this pass. I had been rained on here and there over the course of the day, but nothing major. I was in some steady rain just before the pass and I figured I should add the extra layer to keep warm if anything. The temperature was in the 40s most of the day. Oberalapass was foggy and the real highlight was going down into Andermatt. Big-Snaky-Curves. But, alas there were no good spots to take pictures.
I stopped in Andermatt for my ritual coffee and snack and then I set out for Furkapass. Finally the weather was cooperating.! The initial climb was the staircase switchbacks which dropped me off into a huge open valley with the sun fighting through the clouds. I stopped and took some pictures and rode on. There were plenty of Cows in this valley too. All with their bells clanging around their neck in a nonstop rhythm. (I love those cows) As I remember there was a little fog at the top but then there was a spot to pull off and I could see the way down from the Firkapass and in the distance I could see the Grimselpass zigzagging up its mountain. I believe this high mountain valley may be the motorcycle Mecca.
Firkapass and the climb up to Grimsel.
Rubber Ducky, you're the one.
The Glacier.
On down the mountain I was surprised to see a Glacier right by the road. Of course I pulled up and went to check it out! At the small rest stop you could pay 7 francs and walk into an Ice cave inside the Rhone Glacier. (I did that too.) It is also worth mentioning that the Firkapass was featured in the Bond Film "Goldfinger."
Inside the Glacier.
The Hotel from Goldfinger.
I spent at least an hour taking pictures and taking in the sights on the Firkapass. Finally, I got going on my way up the Grimselpass. Half way up the pass was OK for viewing pleasure, but just before the top I entered the clouds. It was foggy up there like pea soup! So I switched on the high-beam and eased along. On top of the pass there is a rusty sculpture of a motorcyclist and his woman. They are riding a rusted out bike and both of the characters are made of rusted spare parts. It looks like the rider is wearing a WWII helmet with bullet holes in it. The funny thing about this sculpture is that it is chained down. I thought that it would make a great trophy if someone was in the thieving mood.
The fog persisted most of the way down the pass. There were wet roads and an occasional glimpse of sun. I realized that I was pretty tired riding down from the Grimselpass. It was almost 7pm and noticed that I wasn't in tune with the road as much as I should be. At one point I rode below a dam with a large painting of weird womanly figures. I found myself fixating on them and not looking at the road and I had to correct because I was drifting toward the edge. I think the painting is of the Sirens of Grimselpass. Hahahahaha.
I pulled into Innerkirchen and decided to call it a night. I found a camping spot for 18 francs and I pitched my tent. Sleep was good, I don't have an air mattress on this trip, so I slept on my riding jacket and pants and I feel rested. I think I'm going to do these other passes here before I move on today. I would hate to say I missed out on some of these mountains
Camp Interkirchen.
"If you're going to be crazy, you have to get paid for it or else you're going to be locked up."
Evil-Lucian screwed with this post 09-02-2013 at 01:15 PM
Beastly Adventurer
Joined: Jul 2012
Oddometer: 1,193
Great report! Looking forward to the next chapter!
Joined: Mar 2012
Location: Germany
Oddometer: 36
I called an Audible at the Line of Scrimmage.
I woke up this morning, don't believe what I saw. 100 million bottles washed upon the shore... Wait, that's a Police song. I got up today and broke camp "Slow." I did a load of laundry, because I was in dire need of some clean sox and underwear. Other than that, I took my time packing up and leaving. I soaked up all the sun I could while loading up the bike.
I looked on the map from http://www.alpentourer.com/alpine_pa...tthard_region/ and there was another loop of passes that I could ride in the immediate area. I was in Innerkirchen and I realized that I could take Sustenpass, then St Gotthardpass and then Nufenenpass and I could make another big loop. Since I might not ever make it back this way I figured it would be a shame not to ride all those passes. I took off out of Innerkirchen and rode straight up the Sustenpass. The scenery was beautiful. Some switchbacks and some open valley riding through pine forrest. On the way up I passed a big yellow trike with a smaller bike trailing behind. When I stopped to take my first batch of pictures they caught up with me and we talked for a bit. Turns out, the folks on the trike were the parents and the girl on the motorcycle was their 16 year old daughter, riding a 125 on a "Big Mountain!" I think that's pretty awesome for a family vacation.
Riding up Sustenpass.
Sustenpass Friends
On my way up to the pass I was passed by a Swiss Army motorrad unit. I didn't know there was such a thing, but I saw it with my own eyes. I saw these dudes behind me in camouflage riding black BMWs. I let them ride by and sure enough they were a military unit. Later on, I stopped on the top of the pass to take pictures and buy a sticker. I'm trying to cover my panniers with stickers from all the places that I ride. I've also added patches to my mementos on this trip.
The top of Sustenpass.
Any way, I made it over the pass to Wassen and then I headed back toward Andermatt. On the way to Andermatt I linked up with 3 bikers. One on a Ducati, one on a Transalp and the other on a BMW R1200. There was quite a bit of twisting and turing on the way up to Andermatt and the road wasn't a bad ride. I lost the other riders when we got to Andermatt because I had to pull off and fill up.
I left out of Andermatt and headed up a to the next town and the St. Gotthard Pass. The initial climb out up the pass was twisty but then the pass turned into a big straight highway. I made it to the top and I was a bit disappointed. I stopped at the top for lunch and coffee. It was about that time that I was becoming very aware that I was really tired, but a break and some coffee got me going again. I noticed a cobblestone road going down off the pass on the Italian side and I had remembered something about an old pass road in the reading I did prior to the trip. I followed the cobblestones and I was rewarded handsomely. This was the old road still in its original state. Cobblestone switchbacks all the way down the mountain. All of a sudden Gotthard pass was one of my favorites. (And it was a long way down!)
Bikers a top Gotthardpass.
The entrance to the old road at the top of St Gotthard pass.
Here you can see the old and new roads for St Gotthard Pass.
Taking a pause for the cause before we tackle the Cobblestone!
The Twisty Cobblestones!
The next pass to get me back into Switzerland proper was Nufenenpass. The climb up this beast was awesome as well! Really twisty climb to the top and the view from the top was spectacular. I stopped up there for another coffee, a sicker and a pastry. You know, keeping it fancy. I rode down from the mountain snapping probably 100 GORPO pictures. (Those will be uploaded once I get home.)
The top of Nufenenpass.
I made it to Ulrichen and I decided to ride back up to Grimselpass to get to Interlaken. The road from Ulrichen to Gletsch is almost like a pass itself. Lots of twisting and turning and the frequent whiff of burning brakes from the vehicles coming down. There was one hairpin-left-hand-turn where I got blasted by a gust of wind and I had to correct to stay on the road and out from under a truck.
On the way to Gletsch I made a few stops looking for a steam train that is supposed to run through this valley, but I couldn't find it. I've always liked trains and perhaps this is a reason to come back?
The Ride back over Grimsel was like yesterday but better. Today I had dry roads and I could see! It is also worth noting that I did not put my rain gear on once today. I am in Interlaken now. We will see what tomorrow holds.
Riding down Grimselpass.
The Grimsel Sirens
"If you're going to be crazy, you have to get paid for it or else you're going to be locked up."
Evil-Lucian screwed with this post 09-03-2013 at 01:55 AM
Joined: Mar 2012
Location: Germany
Oddometer: 36
Interlaken and on.
I stayed at a campground up on the hill in Interlaken a little too far off the beaten path for my tastes. Call me a softy, but I like to park the bike, pitch the tent and sit down for a hardy meal. I was a little too far out to hike, so I stripped down, put on some jeans and rode into town for provisions. I was also beyond too tired to be riding a bike. I picked up a Döner Kebab and something to drink from a small shop by the river and I returned to the camp. I sat on my panniers by my tent chowing down and then I relaxed. In the campground I met some English gentlemen who were on a rock climbing trip. I asked if they had climbed the Eiger North face, and they said they had climbed the Eiger, just not that route. I told them that climbing the Eiger is good enough for me.
The camp in Interlaken. The stuff in the sky is actually para-gliders.
Good morning from Interlaken.
The next morning I woke up early and broke camp. I got a cup of coffee off the campground staff and then I headed to see the Eiger and Jungfrau for myself. I rode up the valley toward Lauterbrunnen. Once there I started looking got a place to sit down and eat. I spotted a cool looking spot, I parked and went up to ask about food. There was a guy and a girl sitting out front and they told me that the food wasn't that good there. Go figure. I asked them where I could see the Eiger from and they told me to take the cable car up the mountain and I could see it. I debated the cable car ride and decided against it. I rode up on the valley until I could ride no more and then I turned around and set a course for Grindelwald.
The cliffs above Lauterbrunnen.
Riding around Lauterbrunnen.
Lunch under the Eiger.
The Raclette.
The ride through both of these valleys was amazing with massive cliffs and waterfalls. I made it up to Grindelwald and there was the Eiger. I rode around for a minute to find a place to eat and I settled on the pizza place over the train station in Grund. There in the parking lot I met a couple from Israel who said they came to Switzerland for the Air Conditioning. I ordered Raclette at the pizzeria and it was great! I also ordered chicken wings, because I thought the raclette was too small a portion. I was wrong.
So, I got to sit under the Eiger and eat lunch and that was pretty cool. Again, I debated riding the train up the mountain to see the infamous north wall, but I was running out of time so I rode down from the mountains, jumped on the Autobahn and started working my way home. On the way back into Germany the temperature got up to about 80º. Thats a long way form those 40º mountain crossings. I found myself burning up so I decided to stop and cool off with some ice-cream.
"If you're going to be crazy, you have to get paid for it or else you're going to be locked up."
Evil-Lucian screwed with this post 09-03-2013 at 02:05 AM
Joined: Mar 2012
Location: Germany
Oddometer: 36
After one week on the bike I still wasn't finished. There was still one more stop to make. I was scheduled to rendezvous with my coworkers at the Middle Mosel Wine Fest in Bernkastel Germany. While Bernkastel isn't the biggest festival. You'll be hard pressed to find a better festival in Europe. Last year my coworkers and I had camped there and it was a good old time. So this year it was up to me to reserve a spot for us all to meet again this year. I showed up early on Saturday morning and reserved us all a spot.
Bernkastel, the swans like to party.
What makes Bernkastel so awesome is the firework display on the last Saturday of the festival. Bernkastel is a small picturesque village on the Mosel river in Midwestern Germany. There is a small ruined castle on the hill over looking the village. During wine fest there is a mock battle between an attacking force on the river and defenders at the castle. This battle is played out with fireworks and thousands of people come out to watch. After the fireworks people go across the river to sample wines from vendors from the Mosel wine region. This year did not disappoint.
"If you're going to be crazy, you have to get paid for it or else you're going to be locked up."
Evil-Lucian screwed with this post 09-03-2013 at 02:04 AM
Joined: Mar 2012
Location: Germany
Oddometer: 36
The journey complete
"I climbed the highest of the heights. Atop that mountain I watched the day turn into night. Oh I tell you I was a wretched sight, But I stood long and hard until the light. Rubbing needles in my eyes, eating dirt.
I stood up, and everything was all-right." Quote from the song 7 Jam, by the band Clutch.
On balance, the total trip was 8 days and 1,413 miles. I rolled solo, but I met lots of interesting people along the way. No matter what I have read or seen, I think the only true way to understand a place is to go put my boots on the ground and take a look around. I think I accomplished that on this trip.
Nothing was totally ideal on this trip, there was terrible and beautiful weather. I was really discouraged on the first day of the trip, but looking back that was the worst rain we have had all summer and any sensible person would not have ridden a motorcycle in it. But whoever said I was sensible??
It is funny about the ups and the downs. I think ups and downs are what make the trip great. I like to say that no story worth telling ever goes exactly as you plan. A good story needs to have some tragedy and a little danger to make it interesting. The weather definitely was a factor on this trip, that's for sure. I think I'm better for tackling the alps in bad wether. It only cost me a pair of riding boots and my rain suit.
Back on the home turf, the Mosel valley.
My advise for anyone wanting to ride in the alps is this, "Bring three pairs of gloves!" Bring your summer gloves and two pairs of wet/cold gloves. Every trip I have been on all three pairs have come into play. I even carry waterproof glove covers as a last resort and those were crucial riding through Stuttgart on that first day. (The reason was I forgot my backup winter gloves, I bought a spare pair in Innsbrück.) It is one thing to be wet, it is another to be cold, but when you are wet and cold things get crappy fast.
But after taking everything into account, this last week was the best motorcycle trip I have ever been on, hands down.
"If you're going to be crazy, you have to get paid for it or else you're going to be locked up."
Evil-Lucian screwed with this post 09-02-2013 at 01:34 PM
Beastly Adventurer
Joined: Jun 2005
Location: Pagosa Springs, CO.
Oddometer: 1,621
Great pics, great script, just an awesome RR. Thanks for the ride.
That outhouse with a view reminded me of the one on top/near the top of Mt Whitney in Calif. I was impressed with that view also.
I hiked/backpacked the John Muir trail from Lone Pine to Devil's Post Pile in '02 to see all that valley I could , beautiful but not like your ride. Thanks !
Keep it coming
Gale B.T. screwed with this post 09-02-2013 at 01:01 PM
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See other Nara properties
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These are trusted reviews from guests who have actually stayed here. We hope you find them helpful.
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text:
Liberal Media Attacks and Marginalizes Pope Over Condoms
Media Reports on Condoms Seen as Superficial
President of Catholic Medical Federation Offers Clarification
BARCELONA, Spain,(Zenit.org).- The president of the World Federation of the Catholic Medical Associations is asserting that the media got it wrong when reporting on Benedict XVI's latest statement about condoms.
Dr. José María Simón Castellví observed that many recent newspaper articles are portraying the Church as saying that, if a person is to have relations with a prostitute, he must not use a condom.
He noted the superficiality with which some media sources have reported Benedict XVI's press conference Tuesday on the plane en route to Cameroon, when the Pope said that condoms are not the solution for AIDS.
"The Church defends faithfulness, abstinence and monogamy as the best weapons," the president told ZENIT.
However, he said, the media and even some political representatives have accused the Church of promoting AIDS in Africa. Obviously, the Church is not saying that one can have all sorts of promiscuous sexual relations, as long as one does not use a condom, he clarified.
Love without barriers
The doctor explained that, to understand what the Church says about condoms, it is necessary to understand what love is. He noted that the Pope himself explained this to journalists, although that passage of his conversation was censured by most of the media.
Simón added: "A condom is a barrier, but a barrier with limits that many times is crossed. It can be counterproductive, especially in the case of young people, from the point of view of viral transmission.
"We, Catholic doctors, are in favor of scientific knowledge. We do not say things only because of ideological obligations.
"In the same way that we say that adultery in one's thoughts does not transmit a virus but is something evil, we must say that condoms have their dangers, limited barriers."
He illustrated the Church's position by recalling a historical case that was reported by the media.
In 1993 in Yaoundé, Cameroon, he said, the 7th International AIDS Meeting was held with expert doctors and health agents. It was a meeting that brought together some 300 participants. At the end, a questionnaire was handed out asking the participants if, during the three days of the meeting, they had sexual relations outside of a stable relationship.
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Tunis — The Tunisian economy has gradually started recovering after the breakthrough in the political crisis, completion of the constitution and the formation of a new government.
The stock market rebounded over the first weeks of February, and the dinar exchange rate also improved, reaching 3.8 for the euro and 2.7 for the US dollar in the last days of the month.
Central Bank of Tunisia Governor Chedly Ayari confirmed in press statements that the political reform opened the closed doors for the country's economy. Ayari expects growth to reach 3.5% this year if the political and security stability continued.
Meanwhile, the European parliament on February 13th approved a 300 million euro loan for Tunisia, it will be used to support structural reforms in the national economy.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) also released the second tranche of a 1.25 billion euro loan in January, worth about 374 million euros.
The World Bank plans to give Tunisia a $500 million (362 million euro) loan this year, including $250 million to be disbursed next month, Ayari said, adding that the EU promised a loan of 250 million euros.
For its part, the African Development Bank (AfDB) issued a communiqué on February 7th confirming it would continue to provide firm support at this critical time in Tunisia's history.
These loans give a moral boost to the Tunisian economy, economics professor Abdejalil Badri said. He added they could reflect positively on social conditions, especially if used to build development projects and create jobs for unemployed youths.
However, continued foreign support, especially from financers and investors, would require security, an end to strikes, and the introduction of reforms, especially to the banking and taxation sectors, as well as a revision of the investment law to stimulate businessmen to create projects, Badri noted.
Prime Minister Mehdi Jomaa promised after being sworn in last month to bolster security, stop the deteriorating economic condition, revive public finances and create jobs.
The Central Bank of Tunisia also vowed in a statement last month to introduce fiscal and economic reforms as soon as possible to restore the national economy to growth.
Hafedh Kammoun, 55, a retiree, said this economic improvement must be reflected in the living conditions of Tunisians.
"This government must make job creation a top priority because it's the main issue here," he said. "I think that creating more jobs for people, especially youths, will reflect positively on all fields."
In his turn, Adel Tbini, 31, a computer shop owner, said, "There are positive initiatives from overseas and many projects that we hope to see implemented on the ground so everyone can benefit."
"However, the state mustn't be extravagant and shouldn't depend on foreign loans to avoid finding itself unable to repay its debts one day," he added.


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Al Gore's head
|Secondary character
|Albert Arnold Gore, Jr.
|1067 years old
|Date of birth
|31 March, 1948
|Planet of origin
|Former US Vice President
First Emperor of the Moon
Portrays Captain Lance Starman on Futurama
|Kristin Gore, daughter
|First appearance
|"Anthology of Interest I" (2ACV16)
|Voiced by
|Al Gore
- This article is about the character. For the voice actor, see Al Gore.
Albert Arnold "Al" Gore, Jr. was the Vice President of the United States serving next to Bill Clinton during the end of 20th century, and leader of the secret Vice Presidential Action Rangers. In the 31st century, he has become a head in a jar, the first Emperor of the Moon and the inventor of the environment.
In the 20th Century[edit]
Al Gore was leader of the Vice Presidential Action Rangers . Other members included Stephen Hawking, Nichelle Nichols, Gary Gygax, and Deep Blue. It was their duty to protect the fabric of the universe against destructions. Since there is a space-time nexus at the point where Fry is frozen, Fry not getting frozen could start a reaction that could destroy the universe. Thus, in a What-If scenario, Al Gore and his Action Rangers ensured that Fry is indeed frozen and sent to the future. Fry, however, not wanting to go to the future (after having seen "monsters" in a Fry-hole), destroyed the freezer tube, and the universe disappeared shortly thereafter.
In the 21st Century[edit]
Al Gore won the presidential election of the year 2000, however Bender entered the vote-counting room and blew up the basket with Gore's thousands of votes in it, making George W. Bush the winner of the election. Later on in the century as a part of his campaign to protect Earth from global warming he opened his own Hybraxi service (Hybrid taxis). One of his customers was Bender who paid him $100 to catch Fry in another taxi, however Bender made Gore crash the Hybraxi.
In the 31st Century[edit]
Al Gore survives in the 31st century as a head in a jar. He is emperor of the moon (and claims to have ridden the mighty moon worm), and has written at least two books (Harry Potter and the Balance of Earth). As a prominent environmentalist, he is asked to speak at a symposium, which is meant to solve the problem of global warming.
Additional Info[edit]
- Al Gore has written a sequel to his 1992 book Earth in the Balance entitled Harry Potter and the Balance of Earth, which was much more popular.
- In the 31st century, Al Gore is on the $500 bill, in place of William McKinley.
- The claim that Gore invented the environment is a play on Gore's claim that he created the Internet. [1]
- In The Beast with a Billion Backs, Al Gore's head and body can be seen at the Deathball match.
Al Gore: The universe would be destroyed! And as an environmentalist, I'm against that.
Al Gore: I have ridden the mighty moon worm!
Fry: Good for him.
Al Gore: Finally, I get to save the Earth with deadly lasers instead of deadly slide shows.
Farnsworth: Good news! All these pine trees are fighting global warming by producing oxygen. Happy now, Gore?
Al Gore: Yeah. But I'd be happier if I had a set of lungs.
Al Gore: Damn, that hundred dollars could've bought me... one gallon of gas.
Al Gore: One unit of free, limitless solar energy, please. [gas station clerk stands out of the way, casting sunlight on Al Gore's head and charging his batteries]


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What the Casting Calls are all about for me is attitude - a big dollop of it! We need to be able to see from your pic that you love fashion, you love posing and you'd love to be in Company magazine (not easy to achieve just standing in front of a brick wall!)
But seriously, if you have it, we'll find it! Think about surprising us with your outfit (and ladies less in this case is NOT more - you're not applying to be in Nuts magazine!)
Make us see that you'll be fun to spend a day with, have a sense of humour and are confident about the way you look. You DO NOT have to be a size 8 or 10 - I promise! This is not a model search, its a search for a Company Girl who will look gorgeous in the pages of our magazine no matter what her size."
Vic's Tips:
- Find a well lit place to pose - outside is always better than inside
- Check out my Editor Style Blog for outdoor background ideas - we like to use brick walls or industrial doors. Or a nice bright front door is good
- Get a good mate to take the photo who you know won't laugh at you when you do your 'pick me' face
- Pick your fave outfit that you feel confident in
Arieta Mujay is the UK PR Manager at River Island and has been with the company for 3 years. A tomboy to the core, Arieta isnt obsessed with trends or fads, her style mantra is "its not what you wear, its how you wear it." She loves coming up with innovate ways to encourage people to shop on the high street.
Arieta's Tip:
- Im looking for girls who stand out from the crowd and totally own every outfit they wear!
"For me, this casting call is about finding girls with that special something - and by that I don't mean a size 8 and 5ft 9" - I mean oodles of quiet confidence, a feeling that you are totally relaxed in your own skin and happy with who you are.
Please don't hide behind a thick layer of makeup or overly glamorous clothes - we want to see the real you! We want to see your own unique style and how you work the high street. Show us that you'll really enjoy the whole experience - it will make us want to style you up for a fashion or beauty story in our real reader issue. I can't wait to see your pictures!"
Oonagh's Tips:
- Be natural; we want to see the real day-to-day you, not your Saturday night look
- Photos taken outside always look better as the light is more natural and they give your photo a more 'street style' vibe
- Confidence always shines through, so get your fave outfit on and just go for it!
Lauren Rodgers writes and co-edits Style Insider magazine alongside Dennis and also blogs, tweets and updates Facebook for River Island. She loves Scandinavian bloggers, anything monochrome and owns too many pairs of ankle boots.
Lauren's Tip:
- Personality is key for me. Im hoping to find girls who really come to life in front of the camera.
Theresa is the editor of Company.co.uk. She has a fairly dangerous addiction to shopping and doesn't feel complete unless she knows what's new on the high street every week. Gilets, leather jackets and denim make up the majority of her wardrobe, and you can see all her latest fashion finds and style ideas at Company.co.uk
Theresa's Tips:
- "Choose an outfit that you love and that makes you feel yourself - confidence always shines through."
- "Wear heels as they make you stand better, flatter and lengthen your legs and get you in the mood for posing!"
- "Remember to have fun - we want to see your personality!"
Dennis Lye designs and co-edits River Islands Style Insider magazine and blog. He has a penchant for a crisp white tee, a man clutch and a bit of African print. In his spare time, Dennis edits his own online mens magazine WWIT.
Dennis' Tip:
- Im looking for style chameleons - girls who are versatile enough to carry off all this seasons biggest trends.
WIN £100 of ASOS vouchers with Colgate MaxWhite ONE Optic! find out more >>


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About Ennar Surgicals Private Limited
Ennar Surgicals Private Limited came into existence in the year 2011 at Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh (India). Our company is involved in manufacturing and supplying a comprehensive range of Proximal Femoral Nail, Orthopedic Nailing System, Locking Plate, Buttress Plate, Orthopedic Instrument, Spinal System Product, Locking Screw, Bone Plate, Orthopedic Surgical Screw, Wire and Pin, Orthopedic Plate And Screw and Femur Locking Plate. Available in different specifications, our products are praised by medical experts for their dimensional accuracy, rust resistant finish, application-specific designs, superior quality and durability. Moreover, our products stringently conform to standards set by concerned regulatory bodies of the country.
Under the visionary guidance and supervision of Mr. Boda Murali, we have found a strong foothold in the industry. His dedication towards work is simply commendable and it is due to hard work that we have earned a respectable position. Mr. Boda Murali takes keen interest in day-to-day business matters and suggests appropriate ways to handle tough and challenging situations. We look up to him for advice and his support is available to us all through the year.
The company has a strong and advanced manufacturing unit, equipped with sophisticated machinery and tools. As or products are employed or incorporated in surgical operations, we make sure that they are at par with highest quality standards. We source finest raw materials to develop our range of products. Additionally, our manufacturing technologies have been approved by industrial experts, which help us manufacture precision guaranteed products.
Our team is a close-knit family of talented and enthusiastic professionals. Our professionals have vast experience in the surgical tools and instruments industry. Owing to their insightful knowledge and full focus, we are able to handle daily business challenges effectively and efficiently. We have appointed team members with due consideration to their skillfulness and years of experience in the industry.
We have associated ourselves with dealers of all major cities of the country. This helps us deliver products to various clients' destinations within the stipulated time frame. Our strong logistics system enables us to manage all activities pertaining to packaging and transportation of consignments in a smooth manner. Furthermore, our delivery boys are trustworthy and efficient in delivering ordered products at clients' destinations.
Our Team
We are supported by a team of dedicated, skilled and diligent professionals that helps us accomplish goals within the predetermined time frame. These professionals assist us in meeting the precise requirements of clients in the best possible manner. Our department heads have immense industry experience and ensure that complete accountability is maintained in their respective department. We send our professionals for training programs as and when the need arises.
To,Ennar Surgicals Private Limited


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I constantly run into mistakes in English here and elsewhere that you'd think people would have got right eventually simply by listening or reading. Following are some examples. Got some examples that drive you nuts?
I use to drink too much.
In this sentence, "use" needs a final "d." This mistake is most likely made by people who learn their English from tweets or chats, not from reading actual literature, much less paying attention in class.
I would of helped, but I was pressed for time.
It should be "have" not "of." Otherwise, same speculation as before.
My intervention had the desired affect.
His unplaceable accent and hesitant way of walking gave him a strange effect.
They are somewhat confusing in that both "effect" and "affect" can be used as verbs as well as nouns, but the difference isn't all that hard to learn.
The city gave Mary many kudos for her efforts.
The Greek word "kudos" is singular, not plural. "The city gave Mary kudos for her efforts" is correct. Maybe it's simply best to use words that are familiar rather than going beyond your everyday vocabulary into the dark territory of foreign words, and Greek is much further into that dark territory than, say, Spanish or German.
If you want a price, ask the manager or myself.
Only use "myself" when you've already used "I." Otherwise, plain old "me" will do.
Me and Jeff are going to the concert together.
I typically remember that "me" needs a preposition: with me, for me, to me. In the example sentence, "me" should have been "I." "I and Jeff are going to the concert together " sounds wrong, you say. Well, it is, but only because of poor sentence construction. "Jeff and I are going to the concert together" or, better yet, "I am going to the concert with Jeff" are both correct in every way and won't have literate people wishing they could unhear what you just said.
Sign at cash register: Ten items or less.
When talking about a count or enumeration of things, it should be "fewer" not "less." "Less" is for a gross quantity not an enumeration. "Less sugar in my coffee next time" is an example of how to use "less."
Purple is different than/to violet.
We talked about this here recently. If "Purple is different from violet" sounds wrong to you, you need to go back to school and take English over again.
He returned to the scene continually.
The term "continually" refers to something done without interruption. When expressing that something happens repeatedly, "continuously" is the word to use.
Views: 1682
(No, wait... did I already use that material back about a year or so ago?)
RE: "I'm notorious for joking a little TOO MUCH." - for what it's worth, I can verify that --!
What gets me disheartened is when an individual's comments make it sound like the only barrier is their attitude of apathy or indifference.
I used to skype a lot with a group one of whom couldn't be bothered to enunciate, he'd mumble all the time. (He was capable of it when pressed, so it's not a disability.) Which was a shame because when I could read what he had to say he was very articulate.
This thread isn't devoted just to chat room or discussion board posts, though some mistakes even in an informal setting are still stomach-turning. It's more general than that.
I hear misuses of English by supposedly educated people on TV very frequently. And their misuse is made against a background of having probably heard correct usage many a time. It makes me wonder why.
Yeah, I care too. Maybe it's more of a personal thing for me. I find it very distracting because the errors stick out like a sore thumb as I'm trying to read and follow along with someone's train of thought. I also generally take poorly written comments less seriously and have a lower opinion of the author. Is that fair? Not always, but I definitely think there's a loose correlation between the quality of a person's analysis and how comfortable they are as a writer, even in casual settings. I don't even think it's a question of effort; the reason I don't misspell things or make a lot of grammar errors is not that I'm trying harder, it's simply that I know correct spelling and grammar and use it naturally in all situations. I bothered to learn it in school, and I read a lot, so I don't exactly find it difficult.
Obviously, the disclaimer is that I'm not referring to people with disabilities or non-native speakers. That said, when people do find spelling/grammar difficult, it indicates to me that they didn't bother to learn it very well, probably don't read much, and maybe are lazy and apathetic about other, more important things, too.
So the real question is, in the context of an online forum, what serves the greater good of interaction and conversation - overlooking grammatical error and focusing on the actual content of the message or getting sidetracked with mundane issues of syntax?
And please don't reply with corrections to my statement. I could care less. When dealing with myself (or is it -me?) and other 'good ole' boys' the mantra of "keep it simple stupid" is very effective and appreciated.
A philosophy of "keep it stupid, stupid" doesn't help much, though.
One gets to content through the medium of a language that is as universally well-understood as possible, and that is promoted by accepting standardization. Standard English, in other words. Inventive uses, mistakes, blunders, and jargon only understood by a portion of the audience all conspire to impeded understanding rather than increasing it.
all conspire to impeded understanding rather than increasing it.
Wait... is this grammatically inconsistent, or am I just analyzing it too much? I keep wanting to see "increased understanding". Or maybe "...impede rather than increase understanding.".
I'm sorry, these things just, you know, get to me, sometimes.
I think 'impeding' would do the trick.
Given Unseen's general level of erudition, I would guess that "impeded" was a typo and that he intended "impede." Being a typo, it's not an example of what he is griping about.
True. I should hire a proofreader one of these days. LOL
This thread is about ignorance not simple mistakes.
This thread is about ignorance not simple mistakes.
I understand this, but I'd clarify it as "intentional" ignorance that bothers me. As I've mentioned before, in your favor (I think), I won't even bother reading posts from people who continually lower the levels of positive communication. When in doubt, try to add humor instead of invective to an emotional response. (I'm not saying I'm perfect at this, either.)


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It is the year 2356 AD, 189 years after a shockwave from a distant supernova decimated the Earth. Since that fateful day, humanity has begun training for a final mission to protect the planet from the inevitable oncoming 2nd shockwave - a mission whose failure means the annihilation of mankind. For Katase and her friends, their training at the foundation Stellvia is just the beginning of an adventure that could lead to saving the world, or seeing its end...
7 votes
5 votes
5 votes
5 votes
On the foundation Stellvia, young people train for the most important mission of mankind: protect the solar system from a devastating shockwave. Close to two hundred years ago, a supernova sent an initial shockwave that destroyed the Earth, prompting the survivors to design the Great Mission that will save humanity from being utterly annihilated. The story of Stellvia follows a bright-eyed and... read more
Two hundred years after a nearby supernova devastated Earth, orbital space stations known as "foundations" are built. Students who pass the Space Academy entrance exams are given the opportunity to study and live in space. Katase Shima is one such student, and it is her hope to work towards the prevention of another such disaster. This was a fantastic tale, with scifi action... read more
Character Design


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- Information
- Admissions
- Academics
- Financial Planning
- Student Life
- Library
- Athletics
- Alumni
- Support GWU
The Art of Medicine
"I have thought many times that the physical bodies of all my patients will sometimes die regardless of my best efforts as a physician. I hope I can in some way help others to know that Christ is the only way to everlasting life." – Dr. Gene Washburn '52, as quoted in Daring, Dreaming, Doing: The Story of Gardner-Webb University by Lansford Jolley.
A lot has changed since Dr. Gene Washburn, the longtime Boiling Springs physician and Gardner-Webb trustee known affectionately as "Dr. Gene," began practicing medicine half a century ago. "Most of the changes are for the good," he said, citing advances in pharmaceuticals and medical technology. "Some are not so good."
Besides soaring costs—he remembers charging $3 for an office visit—Washburn says healthcare providers are beginning to overlook the art of medicine.
"The science of medicine is about treating conditions. You find the problem, and you send something for the problem." But the art of medicine, Washburn says, is about developing real relationships with patients, knowing their names, knowing their families, and treating the person instead of the problem.
"We used to treat people person-to-person," said Washburn. "Doctors used to be their patients' friends. I think that's the way it should be."
Washburn earned his associate's degree from Gardner-Webb in 1952, his bachelor's from Wake Forest, and his M.D. from Wake's Bowman Gray School of Medicine. He then proudly served as a Captain and M.D. in the United States Army, where he was stationed mostly in Germany.
While in Germany, Washburn received just one phone call. It was from Dr. W. Wyan Washburn, Dr. Gene's older brother by 20 years, who was also a longtime physician in Boiling Springs.
"He called to offer me a job in his practice, and I was grateful. In fact, that's why I'm called 'Dr. Gene,' because Wyan was always 'Dr. Washburn.' I certainly enjoyed working with him. He taught me a lot, not just about medicine but about people."
Over the next several decades, Dr. Gene earned a reputation for quiet, humble service in the Boiling Springs and Gardner-Webb community. He served as team physician for numerous Runnin' Bulldog sports, and was named Bulldog Club Member of the Year in 1974. He has also served multiple terms on the Board of Trustees, including several as Chair.
His family connection to Gardner-Webb dates back to the very birth of the institution. His grandfather, W.W. Washburn, was the first person to sign the Boiling Springs High School (predecessor of Gardner-Webb) certificate of incorporation, and served on the Board of Trustees from 1904-1933. He's also had other family members serve the University as faculty, staff, board members, volunteers and students.
As a small town physician, he also enjoyed numerous opportunities through the years to "get to know patients in a deeper sense. I think people will tell their doctors more than they'll tell their preachers," he jokes.
He's made house calls to the same house to treat individuals, and then their kids, and then their kids' kids. He's even seen a kid of his own, Dr. Rusty Washburn, follow in his footsteps as a family physician in Rutherford County. "Rusty works very hard to make a real difference in his patients' lives," Dr. Gene said, smiling. "He's even made a few house calls of his own."
His daughter Sherry also works in the medical profession, serving as a nurse.
Ultimately, Washburn says he was thrilled to hear of Gardner-Webb's plans to pursue a College of Health Sciences complete with Physician Assistant (PA) and Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) programs, remarking on the outstanding growth in medical education he's seen since his days at Gardner-Webb Junior College.
"I just hope the students will come to understand the importance of building relationships, of treating people person-toperson, and of practicing the art of medicine," said Washburn. "I believe they will."


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The Sapient Arlington office has received the 2013 Design Awards' prestigious Gold Award, sponsored by the International Interior Design Association's (IIDA) Mid-Atlantic Chapter.
In its office redesign lead by Fox Architects, Sapient sought an open and modern office space design to reflect the company's collaborative culture and cutting-edge work. The new space in the Arlington Office features open work spaces, streamlined collaborative areas with blackboards and lounge furniture, as well as numerous meeting areas with whiteboards to support team brainstorming.
More here: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fox-architects-wins-big-at-iida-design-awards-203276391.html.


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Higher Learning Commission names two UALR employees to corps
A faculty and staff member at UALR have been selected to serve on the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association.
Dr. Jim Vander Putten, an associate professor in the Department of Educational Leadership, and Dr. Brad Patterson, director of UALR Testing Services and Student Life Research, have both been selected as peer reviewers for the commission.
As such, Vander Putten and Patterson will be involved in all stages of the accreditation process for institutions in a 19-state region of the North Central U.S., including participating in site visits.
The commission maintains a Peer Review Corps of approximately 1,300 faculty and administrators from institutions within the region.
Peer reviewers are responsible for assuring that an institution is complying with the accreditation criteria as well as for helping an institution advance within the context of its own mission.
As Peer Corps members, they will have a unique opportunity to gain new ideas from the institutions they visit, while adding significant value in the process of assuring and improving quality in higher education.
Vander Putten and Patterson will each serve a two-year term. Thereafter, they will each be reviewed for another four-year term.


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This December marks Jones Snowboard's third annual Avalanche Awareness Month. Jones Snowboard's hopes to use the month of December to remind riders of the dangers of the mountain and refresh their emergency first aid skills. To kick things off they have a video by the High Fives Foundation, called B.A.S.I.C.S. – Avalanche Awareness. This 15 minute video features Jeremy Jones and other professional skiers and shredders talking about the importance of avalanche education and how to be armed with both the equipment and knowledge necessary for safe back-country travel.
TAGS: avalanche awareness month, avalanche safety, high fives foundation, jeremy jones, jones snowboards


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I usually stay focused in games but in practice i always get distracted. How can i stop this?
What distracts you?
My coach is very strict, so I need to stay focused, or suicides the rest of the practice. :/ So what distracts you. I always find my motovation from good sports books, and videos/websites online. It makes me be more focues because it motivates me to be the best. One of my favorite books is "The Wisdom of Wooden: My Century On and Off the Court"


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By Karen ParrishAmerican Forces Press Service
AMMAN, Jordan, Aug. 19, 2013 Troops call it the pointy end of the spear. Where the rubber meets the road. The place where some say, half-jokingly, no plan survives first contact with the enemy.
American service members deployed in scores of places around the world serve as a strong deterrent against potential threats. Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, stood in one such place Aug. 15 and talked to service members -- U.S. and partnered -- and civilians manning the tactical operations center. Their mission is to partner with Jordanian forces that are grappling with security and refugee challenges caused by the civil conflict in Syria.
Picture field-expedient, theater-style seating packed with scores of military support planners at computers, backed by a maze of plywood partitions marking off office cubicles, all baking under a metal warehouse roof while the few air conditioning units generate noise but little relief.
The chairman stood there, and he answered a military readiness question asked by an American soldier holding private first class rank. The soldier said he didn't feel he'd had enough training to be prepared for combat, and he commented that equipment was "constantly breaking down."
The chairman said budget challenges are affecting maintenance -- keeping equipment combat-ready -- and pre-deployment training.
"What we're trying to do is to shield the deploying units from that challenge -- so I don't care what branch of service you're in; if you're not scheduled for deployment in the next year, your training is affected and your readiness is affected in terms of maintenance," Dempsey said.
He explained that leaders "are moving the money" so U.S. military units coming up on deployment get priority in training dollars.
"I hope that's a problem that's unique to this year -- but it may not be," Dempsey added. "It might be that we suffer one more year of this."
The chairman referenced a previous question, when someone had asked him about the likely pace of future deployments.
"We talk about predictability in deployments," he noted. "I wish my budget was predictable."
The chairman told troops he doesn't have the option of throwing up his hands and telling the nation's leaders, "We don't have enough predictability, so we're going to 'squat and hold.'"
Dempsey added, "What you're doing here is serving our nation's interests, and ensuring the security of your family members and your fellow citizens. And we're going to do that.
"And sometimes -- and this is the part that bothers me a lot, and bothers all of us who call ourselves leaders -- we don't want to send you someplace unless you're absolutely ready to go," he continued. "And I think that probably [there were] a couple of occasions this year where we had to do that, and you may be one of them."
Dempsey told the private first class, "Here's my commitment to you. You need to let us know where you felt there were gaps … in your preparedness, and we'll address them."
The chairman said troops who are deployed around the world performing the nation's missions "shouldn't feel any pressure of readiness. And if you do, let us know where and we'll straighten it out."
Dempsey cautioned his audience that everyone else across the services "will be feeling it."
"And we've got to fight our way through that," he said.
Related Sites:Travels With DempseyPHOTO ESSAY: Dempsey Visits U.S., Jordanian Troops in Jordan


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|Days Inn Coral Gables hotels are listed below. Search for cheap and discount Days Inn hotel rooms in Coral Gables, FL for your group or personal travels. We list the best Days Inn Coral Gables hotels + motels so you can review the Coral Gables Days Inn hotel list below to find the perfect place.
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ELIZABETHTON — A sheriff is usually too well known to get involved in undercover work. However, Sheriff Chris Mathes said he took advantage of faceless electronic communication Friday to pose as a teenage girl and lure a man suspected of having intimate relations with a real 14-year-old girl.
John Russell Welsch, 33, 132 Fox Road, Johnson City, was arrested Friday on six counts of aggravated statutory rape. He is scheduled to answer the charges in Sessions Court on Sept. 20.
"This was such a disturbing case," Mathes said. He said he decided to personally get involved in the case after reviewing the history of the conversations between Welsch and the girl.
"This was a case of a 33-year-old man taking advantage of a child," Mathes said.
Mathes said his office received a complaint about the relationship on Friday. The girl was interviewed by investigators and gave a detailed description of the various encounters she had with the man she described as the father of one of her friends.
Armed with the information provided by the girl and the history of the conversations, Mathes began to correspond with the suspect, posing as the victim. Their texting took place for much of Friday afternoon. The sheriff said the conversations led up to Welsch's agreement to pick the girl up at Chick-fil-A and ended in what Mathes called an "explicit conversation" of what they were going to do.
When the man arrived at the restaurant, deputies were waiting for him. He was taken to the sheriff's department, where he was mirandized and interviewed. Sgt. Todd Hamm and Chief Deputy Ron Street conducted the interview.
Hamm said Welsch confessed that he had engaged in a sexual relationship with the 14-year-old on six occasions. He said the first time was on his birthday, July 29. The last time was on Aug. 7 or 8. He said five of the incidents took place at his residence. The other took place in his vehicle on Greenlee Road. Mathes said Welsch's account matched the account given by the girl.
Welsch was released on $60,000 bond.


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Excelsior Parco (Small Boutique Hotels) Capri
Via Provinciale Marina Grande, 179 - Capri Tel. +39 081 8379671 , Fax +39 081 8376973
Liberty style luxury... on the island of Capri!
Three reasons why you'll love it here
- A Liberty style villa facing the Bay of Naples
- The free shuttle service to and from the Piazzetta
- The outdoor Jacuzzi with view of Vesuvius
Situated halfway between the port of Marina Grande and the Piazzetta, Hotel Excelsior Parco occupies an impressive, Liberty style villa built to provide an elegant island residence for those artists and intellectuals who, in the early 20th century, came to Capri seeking both inspiration and pleasure.
When less is more
The recent subject of an extensive restoration project, today's boutique hotel provides luxurious accommodation in just 11 bedrooms, each of which characterized by a sophisticated combination of old world charm and contemporary comfort.
Details which make the difference
Hotel Excelsor Parco offers impeccable service, showering guests with the kind of attention you would normally expect to receive only in the very finest of 5 star hotels.
On their arrival at the port, guests are accompanied by chauffeur driven car to the hotel, where a welcome drink of their choice awaits them.
Book a room at Excelsior Parco and not only do you get to use the hotel's complimentary shuttle service for the duration of your stay - you'll have places reserved for you on Capri's beautiful Lido lo Smeraldo beach too!
Beautiful, inside and out
Almost all of the hotel's Liberty style bedrooms open out on to a sea view terrace, furnished so as to provide guests with their very own outdoor dining area, in which to enjoy a leisurely breakfast or a romantic candlelit dinner.
Tailor-made Capri
Excelsior Parco's bespoke concierge services have been designed to ensure holidaymakers experience the very best of Capri: from the albeit obligatory trip to the Grotta Azzurra to hands-on cooking classes with a local family.
Those unwilling to leave the comfort and tranquility of the hotel, will no doubt while away the hours on the solarium terrace or in the garden, both of which have a Jacuzzi tub.
Excelsior Parco facilities
Outdoor facilities
- Garden
- Park
- Internet connection
- Free Wi-fi
- Air Conditioning
- Room service
- Minibar
- Safety deposit box
- Satellite TV
- Hair dryer
- Bathroom with hydromassage bath
- Room with private terrace
- Hydromassage
- Wellness treatments
- Massages
Food and drink
- Restaurant
- Snack bar
- Reception 24h
- Pets allowed