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Chapter 7: The Forgotten Lands
Trip Start May 10, 2006
21Trip End Dec 17, 2006
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I left Bulgaria by bus for Skopje, Macedonia [July 19]. Macedonia was part of the former Yugoslavia and had a peaceful split (independence) in 1992. The bus ride took about five hours with border crossings. There's a YHA hostel close by to the bus station so I just walked there (plus there's no other hostel in town). Went for a wander around town - there's a clock stuck at 5:17am from a big earthquake in 1963 that destroyed most of the city, some pedestrian shopping/cafe streets, plenty of mosques, fortified walls up on a hill and a Turkish market area. Somewhere along the way I lost my student id...probably wasn't smart of me to put it in my money pocket as I would be pulling stuff out often (it must have fallen out). Guess I won't get nice discounts 'til I can get a new one. Mother Theresa was apparently from Skopje and there's a statue of her here. And Macedonia is pronounced "Mackedonia" as that's what I heard the locals saying. I went out again in the evening, but the only nightlife was the cafe scene.
Woke up bright and early to catch a 7am bus to Ohrid on the western border. There were several buses packed full of young kids going there. Took a few hours to get there and I was met at the bus station by some room touts (for which I was thankful 'cuz I didn't know where to stay). An older guy got me and said he had a room for €10 so I went along with him. It was a little bit from the town center, but not too bad. I went for a wander through town and along the promenade by the lake. Further out along the lake there are a few sort of beaches with people laying out in the sun (it's really just grass next to the lake). Back at the pension, I met another traveler, Matt, from the UK. Talked with him a bit and he shared some peaches with me. Had one and soon felt an allergic reaction. Damn, I'm allergic to peaches now too. But I like peaches! :( Guess this explains why my sister-in-law's peach cobbler made me feel bad (never could figure that one out). That went away after about an hour and we went out to dinner at an Italian place by one of the monasteries in town. After dinner we went for a couple drinks at cafes along the promenade where we could people watch. Nothing too exciting.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!! Well, my birthday turned out to be just an ordinary [travel] day. I wandered around the old town checking out the fort on the hill and castle walls. There were a few monasteries to see in the area as well.
Went back to the pension, put on my swimmers and wandered out to the lake to lay in the sun. Unfortunately, there weren't any hotties in the area. I know they're around...I've seen them in town...I just couldn't find any of them by the lake. Laid out there for a while and to the pension again. No one was around so I just went out to dinner by myself (no, I didn't splurge). Checked out the cafes but it would be lame to sit at a table alone. So I went to the i-net cafe and spent the evening finishing the previous update (told myself I'd just do one hour, but then it seemed like I was almost done so stayed two. not quite done so stayed longer. turned into three hours). I did stop off for a drink after that.
Albania has an interesting recent history. The area was under Ottoman rule for many centuries. The region was split when Kosovo was given to Serbia in 1913 (which would lead to problems later in the 20th century). During WWI, various armies occupied the land of present-day Albania. They were forced out in the 1920s but the Italians invaded again in 1939. Enver Hoxha founded the Albanian Communist Party and led the resistance against the Italians and Germans during WWII. Albania declared itself a country in 1946 with Hoxha as president (and ruled until 1985). Yugoslavia tried to get Albania to join, but they broke relations in 1948. Albania allied itself with USSR and followed their economic model. Relations were broke with USSR in 1961 because Khrushchev wanted to setup a submarine base there. Then they decided to follow China's model. Albania feared possible Soviet invasion so Hoxha had 750,000 bunkers built for defense (you still see them all around today). Albania's relationship with China broke off after the death of Mao Zedong. During Hoxha's rule, the country was very isolationist and didn't allow in many visitors or outside influence. Ramiz Alia took over after Hoxha died (1985) and tried to change things around. Following demonstations, the communists allowed other parties to run in elections. In 1992 the Democratic Party won elections but economic problems led to the Socialist Party winning elections in 1996. Then in 1999 there was a huge influx of Albanian refugees from Kosovo to deal with. The country still has a lot of economic problems to work out and to recover from all the years of isolationism.
In the morning I caught the bus out around the lake to the border with Albania. Walked across the border (out Macedonia, in Albania) and found a taxi on the other side. The roads were immediately worse on the Albanian side. The town of Predovic on this side of the lake looked kind of nice. I caught a minibus through some pretty winding mountains to Tirana. A woman in the minibus was carsick for most of the ride. I went by Tirana Backpacker's Hostel just after arriving, but they were full so I put my name down for a reservation for Monday. Walked a bit to the bus stop and caught the town bus to the "northern bus station" - a dirt lot with old buses. I found the bus for Durres and got on. The bus ride out of Tirana was slow as the whole area is all torn up for construction. It took about an hour to get to Durres (on the coast) and I missed my bus stop. Since the destination was Durres, I was expecting the bus terminal there to be the last stop but it continued south along the beach where lots of hotels are. Eventually I just got off and figured I'd check prices - €40. Too much so I bussed back to the main part of town. Walked around where Lonely Planet showed were the cheap hotels, but it was very run down and dirty so I didn't feel like staying there. Had a taxi driver take me back to the beach area in search of Green Villa which LP said was ok price. We couldn't find it and no one he asked knew of it. We checked at one of the hotels in that area and the girl said it was €50/night and my shock was obviously evident 'cuz she asked if I thought that was too much. Damn straight it is! She went on to tell me all the amenities they have - tv, refrig, a/c, parking space, private beach. I don't care about any of those things. The taxi driver knew of a cheap place not on the strip and took me there. It was only €15/night and relatively nice. I gave the taxi driver an extra tip for getting me to a cheap place and he was very thankful. It was a bit of an extra walk to get me to the beach area, but not bad. I wandered around and checked it out. There are various hotels and restaurants along the beach and a promenade to walk along. The beach seemed to be filled with unattractive people. Why is it that the largest people like to wear the smallest swimsuits? Everywhere I looked hurt my eyes. Plenty of people playing soccer, volleyball and other things to occupy themselves. People on the beach just throw litter all over so at the end of the day there are guys who come through raking it all up and tossing it into a dumptruck. I walked for a long while along the promenade and eventually settled on a place to have dinner at. Checked it out for nightlife, but mostly just people walking. There's a danceclub in an old boat so I went to check that out - there was a cover so I peered inside and saw just a few people sitting (no one dancing) and there were only guys arriving - so skipped that.
The next day I looked around town. There's an old Roman Amphitheater and some medieval walls. Most of the city is just bland, unattractive buildings (many rundown). I found another seaside promenade on that side of town that was nice until I got to the beach. It was literally a garbage dump to get to the beach area. Nasty.
Went back to my hotel and changed then to the beach nearby to lay in the sun. The beach actually smelled of rubbish even though there wasn't any near me. Gross. In the evening, I found a creperie and had some great crepes for cheap. Wandering along the promenade again the carnival rides were going and one of the kids' rides was playing a lovely song by Ludacris for the youngsters:
"move b**ch, get out of the way
get out of the way b**ch, get out of the way...
...and I been thinkin' of bustin' you
upside ya motherf***in' forehead"
Guess not too many of them understand English or they just don't care. Just another mellow night for me and back to the hotel.
Can't say I was disappointed to be leaving Durres. Bussed back to Tirana and went to the hostel. The people there couldn't find any record of a reservation for me, which didn't really matter as they were kicking everyone out due to the toilet being broken. The guy working there was nice and helped hook me up with another place to stay. It was just a pension and the guy running it came and picked me up in his car. From the outside, the building looked shabby but it was very nice inside. A little pricey at €20 but Albania doesn't seem to have cheap accomodation. Set off to explore Tirana and see if I could find the bus to Kruja, what LP says is a cute town in the mountains nearby. I searched all over where it was supposed to be based on my maps and couldn't find anything, though Tirana's bus stops are kind of non-existent. So I just wandered around town looking at stuff...not really much to see. In the evening I went out in "the block" area, which was cool. Lots of bars and restaurants around there and people out. There were many kids less than ten going around selling cigarettes. It didn't strike me as the least bit odd until I actually thought about it. Guess Eastern Europe is rubbing off on me.
In the morning I had the fun experience of trying to find the bus stop for Shkoder (in the north). According to LP, the bus should leave from the northern bus "station" (that dirt lot), but it didn't and a guy there kind of gestured to me 6 blocks east. So I walked and walked eventually realizing there was no bus stop in that area. I asked someone around there and he pretty much instructed me to go back where I came from. Walked all the way back and talked to a taxi driver who gave me better directions for finding it (just a block east and down the road). Of course I missed the 11:30am bus but there was another at noon that I got on ok. Bussed up north to Shkoder with no a/c sweating bad. I think I should invent a new perfume/cologne called "Eau d'Eastern European" that smells of not washing for a couple days, sweat and b.o. It will sell like wildfire! Arrived in Shkoder just as a thunderstorm started so took shelter in a nearby hotel with a bunch of other people. The information I gathered online said there'd be a bus at 3pm to Montenegro but a taxi driver and the people at the hotel said there wasn't one (at least not today) but there'd be a bus at 5pm. So I just sat there waiting and watching the rain. A guy came up and asked me if I was going to Montenegro. I said "yes" and that I was waiting for the 5pm bus. He came back about 10 minutes later and said he'd give me a ride to Ulcinj for €5. I was very suspicious as this is about the same price as the bus so I double-checked he'd get me across the border to Ulcinj (not just to the border) and really for €5. He verified so I went along with him. He really did get me all the way there for €5, no catch. I was lucky. Kind of nice to be out of Albania. I heard that the beaches in the south are very nice...and the postcards make it look good. There are also some towns in the moutains that could be worth visiting. I didn't feel like dealing with Albanian transportation and high [accomodation] prices to go there though.
As soon as the taxi crossed into Montenegro the roads were immediately better. Montenegro just recently became its own independent country from Serbia & Montenegro (formerly part of Yugoslavia). There's still a good relationship between the governments of the countries (and many Serbians come to Montenegro for the beaches). Got a minibus from Ulcinj to Bar, then another minibus to Budva. Arrived in the early evening and had the long walk to Hippo Hostel. I checked-in there and walked to town. There's a long promenade along the beach filled with restaurants and bars. This town is VERY touristy. A lot of people from Belgrade (and other parts of Serbia) come here for their beach holiday. Hung out at the hostel with other travelers, and a group of us went out to Acapulco bar next to the beach that night. I mostly talked to a nice kiwi couple.
I hadn't made it to the old town in Budva the day before so went there in the morning. It's a cool walled old city with cobblestoned streets and nice buildings. There's a beach on the far side of it that seemed quite popular with the pretty crowd.
Actually, all the beaches were just packed. I took a bus out to Sveti Stefan - a peninsula of buildings that's been made into a hotel. It's pretty and makes for good pictures. Hung out at the hostel again and met a Swedish couple, Penny and Alex, plus an Irishman, Cormac. Penny has a very strong, dominating personality and liked to talk, talk, talk. She seemed to like being in charge, leading the way, ordering for everyone, and was keen to pick fights. She was fun to hang out with that first night. We all went out to bars along the promenade then to a dance club. The dance club was lame though as there were tables all over the dance floor so really nowhere to dance. We all got separated there and I went back to the hostel about 3:30am.
Was up early in the morning for a bus ride to the nearby town of Kotor. It's at the end of a fjord so is quite pretty coming down into town on the bus. Kotor also has a really cool walled old town. Too many good picture opportunities in there (unfortunately my camera seems to have a smudge on it for many of the pictures as you may be able to notice in the pics). I hiked quite a ways up a hill to a fortress for views out over town and the fjord. That was cool too.
The lack of sleep was getting to me and I trudged back down and caught the bus back to Budva for naptime. Wandered around Budva some more then back to the hostel for hanging out. No one was up for another night on the town so we just hung out there.
The next day I got an early afternoon bus to Durmitor National Park to the northeast. It was a long bus ride with some pretty views as we got closer to the park. We arrived in the early evening and first order of business was to get a room. Wasn't hard as there were people waiting at the bus station with rooms for rent. Went off to see the park while it was still a bit light out.
Pretty mountains and a lake. A thunderstorm rolled in and I got caught in that. I stopped in a pub to escape the rain, had a beer, ran through the rain to the next pub, had a beer, on to the next bar... Eventually the rain eased and I made it back to the pension. Just had dinner and an early night.
In the morning I rented a bike and went out the direction I had come in on on the bus 'cuz I'd seen some views I thought would make for good pictures. Got some pictures of small churches and fields with the mountains in the background. Back to town, dropped off the bike and went for a walk along a path to Black Lake. It has the mountains right behind it so is a good picture spot. I walked around the lake - the water is pretty in some parts. Had lunch, napped and wandered around some more. Got dinner and to a bar in town for a beer. The bar was relatively quiet when I arrived. Soon a group of about five pretty girls were next to me. "Guess I'll have another beer." Not long and a large group of girls was on the other side of me dancing (even though the bar was quite small). "Definately having another beer." I felt really short around them though...only about 3 of the 15 girls were my height. Like being surrounded by Miratskys or something. The bar proceeded to get packed and there was little room for moving (or dancing). I asked one of the girls in Serbian if she spoke English but the answer was "no" and she just kind of stared at me for couple minutes, which was very awkward. Wish I knew how to speak all the languages of the various countries I visit. My stomach was feeling a bit dodgy from dinner so I had to skedaddle and get back to the place I was staying.
Woke up early for the long bus ride back to Budva. The gang at the hostel was happy to see me back. Met a couple new people, Naomi and Adam. Went for lunch with Penny, Alex and Cormac then down to the beach. The water was absolutely freezing so we didn't go in far. Had a nap back at the hostel. Hung around there then went out with a big group to Acapulco for dinner and drinks. We were there a while then went to a bar called Tanga Beach. A boatload of people arrived from the main beach in town just after we got there. Danced a little then just hanging out. I was tired and had to be up early so I snuck away (I told Naomi I was going) - 'cuz I knew the others would try and convince me to stay. Still it was a late night out.
I was up bright and early to catch a 7:30am bus to Dubrovnik that never showed up. At 9am I asked what was going on and the people at the bus station told me to keep waiting. At 10am they made an announcement that the bus had been cancelled so I got my money back. Ergh! Walked back to the hostel and crashed in bed a bit longer. Had lunch with Penny and Alex then back to the bus station for the afternoon bus. This one actually showed up (apparently it didn't make it the day before). At this point you may be noting that this is a little different than my last published schedule. Well, people I met along the way kept telling me Croatia was crowded and expensive during the summer months so I decided to postpone my visit to the majority of that country. I'd just visit Dubrovnik before heading northeast into Bosnia.
The bus ride into Croatia follows along the coast for some pretty views. The view over Dubrovnik's old town is quite stunning. When I arrived at the bus station in Dubrovnik there were many room touts waiting. They seem to have a policy of not stealing someone away from another tout so once I was talking to someone, no one else would talk to me. It made it difficult for comparing prices. I just went with an older guy who had a room available at an ok price (the only hostel in town is crazy expensive at €27/night - that's more than Paris!). We waited at the bus stop for like 20 minutes but no bus seemed to be coming so we hiked up and up a bunch of stairs to get to his place. Poor guy looked like he was about to die once we arrived. His wife cooked dinner for me (stuffed peppers) and then I went to Stari Grad (old town) for night pictures.
It was very beautiful (medieval walls, cobblestone streets, old churches) but packed full of tourists. And most every shop/restaurant in the old town was tourist oriented. There's an English language bookstore so I was able to get a new book that Billy recommended. Kat (from Plovdiv) recommended an ice cream shop there so I tried out their kiwi flavoured ice cream. It was reasonably good but not quite up to the hype she gave it. I wandered around a while before going back to the pension for bed.
Back to Stari Grad in the morning for daytime pictures. I walked all over the place again thoroughly checking it out.
Lovely during the daytime too, though there are even more tourists (the tour groups from the cruise ships come in during the day). I changed at the pension and took a bus to a beach in the western part of town. It was all rocky so I just put my towel on the rocks and endured (oh, how I suffer). Laid around, read and went for a swim. Once the early evening shadows made it to me, I bussed back to the pension for a shower. The old guy was there to make me drink some of his homemade rakia (moonshine) - oy, that stuff burns. Out again to the old town area. I sat in a park next to Pile Gate eating dinner when an older woman sat on the bench next to me. After a while she started talking to me and said she rents rooms from her house. I thought it was a little weird or unperceptive of her to ask if I needed a room as I had none of my bags with me. I told her I'd be back in Dubrovnik at the end of summer though so she showed me on the map where her place is (right in old town). She continued talking to me for a while then gave me some money and asked me to go buy her some cigarettes and I could get myself a beer. I tried to say no thanks, but she was persistent. So I got the stuff and sat a bit longer. She told me a little about during the war when Dubrovnik was bombed by the Serbians. Dubrovnik's old town served no military purpose whatsoever so the bombing of it was purely to hurt/kill civilians and destroy historical buildings. The lady said she had to get back to her husband and I went into old town and wandered around again. The way it's lit up at night is really cool.
I woke up early and caught the morning bus from Dubrovnik to Mostar in Bosnia. Had quite a few border crossings as the bus first has to pass through an area on the coast that's part of Bosnia (Croatia - Bosnia - Croatia then head east into Bosnia). Bosnia -Hercegovina declared independence from Yugoslavia in 1991. War broke out in 1992 when Serbs killed civilians in Sarajevo. The Serbian forces began a campaign of "ethnic cleansing" to join the Serb ethnic areas of Bosnia with Serbia. Muslims and Croats were the target of a much of this "cleansing". The UN came in in 1992 but did little to prevent the Serbs from their mission. In September 1995 after two weeks of NATO air strikes against the Serbs, peace talks were accepted. There was still some ethnic divides post-war, including bitterness between the Muslims and Croats, but that's getting better. When I arrived in Mostar there were touts again. A younger guy said he had rooms close to the station so I followed him. The place looked very nice and modern on the inside. Mostar was heavily damaged during the war with Serbia in the 1990s. A bridge there, Stari Most, was blown up during the war and seemed to be in a lot of photos...kind of symbolizing the war. It's since been rebuilt, probably another symbol of unity and their recovery post-war.
I didn't hear any bad talk against the Serbians from anyone. I'm sure there has to be some lingering bad sentiment. Mostar has many buildings still damaged from the war so I walked around the city seeing many of those (plus bullet holes were in walls all over). There's an old town area with a Turkish market. The Ottomans obviously left their influence. That was a cute area to walk around. I hung around a couple of the cafes there and later had dinner. Took some pictures of Stari Most at night.
"My baby takes the morning train. He works from 9 to 5..." Wait, I don't have a job, but I did take a morning train. The train ride from Mostar to Sarajevo winds along a river valley with some beautiful scenery. At the train station in Sarajevo, I caught a shuttle to the hostel in town. The hostel itself was just ok - the people running it weren't very friendly and the furniture was run-down. Some of the beds had bed bugs and people had bites all over. Luckily, mine did not. I'm thankful for that. The hostel was in a good location right next to the old town so it was convenient for my wanderings. The old town here is also like a Turkish market with many of the shops selling carpets and such.
Lots of mosques in the area too. Actually, there's one part of town with four different religious buildings within a 100 sq meter area (mosque, synagogue, Orthodox church, Catholic church). Not many cities have that kind of religious diversity...and getting along as well. Met some people at the hostel and hung out with them. We went out in the evening to City Pub and saw some live music. The band had a very cute French singer (I got my picture with her). All us guys were smitten. The bar service here is strange as you can't order your drinks from the bartenders, only the waitresses. So there are 3 bartenders standing behind the bar looking bored and 3 or 4 waitresses running around to all the tables really busy. We all thought this was an inefficient way to do things. Stayed at the bar 'til the band was done then back to the hostel for bed.
Took a morning stroll along the river and around town. The city has a good vibe and cool atmosphere to it. Later in the morning I went on the war tour the hostel sponsors. They took us out by the airport to the tunnel that was used to get food and supplies delivered to the airport to the people in the city ('cuz if they tried to take it directly from the airport, they'd be shot). People would walk the 800m (about 1/2 mile) with up to 50kg (100lbs) on their backs! I just couldn't understand how they could possibly get enough food through there to feed an entire city for nearly four years. After the tunnel we bussed to the Jewish cemetery where our guide gave us a talk. He has some personal opinions about the U.N. and their role during the war, some of which doesn't quite jive with what's written in Lonely Planet. The following is based on what the tour guide told me (i.e., it may not be completely accurate). NATO was going to respond when Serbia started bombing Sarajevo but the U.N. intervened and came in. Once there they said Sarajevo was a "safe area". Obviously it was not since snipers were shooting people and the city was being shelled with mortars. The U.N. signed a deal with the Serbians that opened up the airport (which was a good thing for delivering food and supplies), but part of the deal was no weapons could come through and the U.N. could not respond with force. It essentially made them powerless. Another town, Srebrenica, had over 6000 people massacred by the Serbians and the U.N. did nothing to stop it. This town was also a "safe area". Soon after this the U.N. pulled out and NATO bombed the Serbian forces around Sarajevo for several days. Within 5 days the Serbians withdrew and the siege was over. You can kind of understand why the Bosnians may feel a little bitter towards the U.N. During the war people were still trying to keep life normal - there were sporting events, concerts, an annual film festival was started, etc... Our guide told us a couple jokes from that time too. One goes - there's a guy out digging. Another guy comes over and sees he's digging a deep hole. "Why you digging such a deep hole?" "Well, I'm hoping if I dig deep enough I'll hit oil. Maybe then some of the other countries will help us." The people still maintained a bit of sense of humor. The guide also pointed out that the war wasn't so much an ethnic war as it was just a crazy leader (he called Milosovic a fascist) trying to get more land and power. The tour took us to some viewpoints before we headed back to town. Had lunch with the group then I went and took a nap. Walked around a little. The wind was blowing my hair in my face and that was annoying me (bangs actually down to the end of my nose) so I got a haircut then back to the hostel for hanging out. A large group of us went out and we got split up. The few I was with chose a restaurant that turned out to have extremely slow service. About two hours later we were able to leave and go in search of the rest of the group. We found them at a cafe and joined for a beer. Out to City Pub again to see the same band. They only played a couple songs though. A few of us went wandering off trying to find another bar but just ended up back at City Pub. That was a late night...probably to bed like 4am.
Gray, cold and rainy morning in Sarajevo. Joe, one of the people I'd been hanging out with the last couple days, was heading the same direction as me so we went to the bus station and got our tickets for a night bus. We stopped by and saw the Holiday Inn (it was the only functioning hotel during the war and had all the journalists) and the History Museum on the way back. The History Museum had lots of interesting information and pictures from the war. There was even a special display on how they made cigarettes. Aw, how the Eastern Europeans love their cigarettes. Can't live without them even during war. I went souvenir shopping as I had to find a magnet somewhere...the choices weren't too plentiful. Did my best to avoid cevapcici for lunch (it's like sausages in pita bread) as I've grown tired of it. It's the cheap food you can get all over. More chillin' out at the hostel before going back to the bus station for the overnight ride to Belgrade. Sarajevo definately has a good spirit to it and was a great place to spend a few days.
Some of Yugoslavia's history is written in the first paragraph. Milosevic was defeated in elections in 2000, but tried his best to keep the winning party from taking power. Vojislav Kostunica took over and restored relations with Europe and acknowledged war crimes in Kosovo. In April 2002 the federation of Yugoslavia was ended and the republic of Serbia & Montenegro was formed.
The overnight bus wasn't terribly bad. We arrived in Belgrade about 5:30am and took the tram out to the hostel. At the hostel we found the guy running the place drunk as a skunk and still drinking. He was partially coherent and let us know we could get beds after 7am. I took a stroll in the nearby park then back to the hostel to go to bed for a while. Joe and I went out and got some lunch and looked around town a little. I was pretty good about being able to read the cyrillic street names for guiding us. Joe was impressed. Belgrade has quite a western feel to it - shops, restaurants and stuff. It's a nice city, not sure that I would call it special. Had some time on the Internet to upload photos for this entry before going out for dinner. There was a stage setup as if there was going to be a performance and a beer tent next door. We got some food and beer from there and sat around....no entertainment ever started though. Just hung out with a group of people at the hostel in the evening.
The next morning Joe and I went to the store and bought supplies for omelettes. We cooked up omelettes back at the hostel, though it ended up being cooking for half the people staying there. A group of us went wandering the city that afternoon seeing churches, parlament and the blown up Ministry of Defense.
It struck me later that I didn't see any mosques in Belgrade, but then I remembered that Milosevic's regime didn't treat them very favorably. I tried to figure out bus information at the bus station but the people there were less than helpful. One of the guys back at the hostel tried to help me find info online, but there wasn't much for international buses. We watched some Family Guy on one of the computers and just hung around the hostel. Many of the people left on night trains/buses so it was a quiet night.
I heard about a music festival going on in Budapest soon that sounded cool so that meant I needed to quicken my pace a little. I decided to skip Novi Sad as it just sounded ok. In the morning, I caught a train to Subotica with the intentions of just figuring out transport from there to Hungary. The train was a half hour late and I just missed a 12-noon bus to Szeged. There was a cafe at the bus station labelled "snack cafe" but when I asked about food, they don't offer any. ??? They need to change the name! Found another place for lunch and caught the 2:20pm bus up north to Szeged, Hungary.
Wow, I covered a lot of countries in a short amount of time in this entry. Obviously I didn't really get to know any of the countries all that well, but it was a nice introduction to each. The old towns in Budva, Kotor and Dubrovnik were cool (though touristy). Sarajevo was just a great place to experience for a few days. Most places were reasonably priced. Hopefully my stories and the map entries will help you understand the countries a little better and where they're located.
"Ice-age heat wave, can't complain.
If the world's at large, why should I remain?
Walked away to another plan.
Gonna find another place, maybe one I can stand.
I move on to another day, to a whole new town with a whole new way.
Went to the porch to have a thought.
Got to the door and again, I couldn't stop.
You don't know where and you don't know when.
But you still got your words and you got your friends.
Walk along to another day.
Work a little harder, work another way.
Well uh-uh baby I ain't got no plan.
We'll float on maybe would you understand?"
--- "The World at Large", Modest Mouse


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The other day I was in the woods trying to get some sticks off a newly fallen tree for an upcoming hotdog roast. I stepped on a stick and felt a sudden sting on the inner aspect of my right knee. Then I saw the yellow jacket going for me again. Within 30 seconds I had blisters forming within 2 inches around the sting site. I hightailed it back to the yard where I got some plantain, chewed it, rubbed it on the site, then put a bandaid over the plantain so it could act like a poultice. Within half an hour all stinging was gone, and within one hour I couldn't even tell where I'd been stung. Great stuff, this plantain is!
So I have a question. If I got some plantain and dehydrated it and powdered it,do you think it would be as affective if I just added some spit and used it as a poultice that way? I'm thinking of leaving some in my car, purse or carrying it wherever I go. I have been to some yards--where they chemically treat the yards-and plantain is difficult to find then. Thoughts and suggestions?


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Washington, D.C. Program
The Washington, D.C. Program offers students of any major the opportunity to spend a fall semester in the nation's capital, focusing on the issues, processes, and decisions surrounding government, social advocacy groups, nonprofit organizations, business, economics and trade firms, law and criminal justice agencies, environmental organizations, arts and humanities institutions, education, media and communication organizations. D.C. holds thousands of opportunities for the creative and ambitious Emerson student.
Qualified juniors and seniors may enroll for one semester of study (fall term only) at Emerson's Washington, D.C. Program. Enrollment is limited to 20 students.
Students accepted to the program will take 8 credits of internship at a site chosen for their specific goals or interests and 8 credits of classes.
Using Washington, D.C. as a laboratory for learning, the program supports the theory-practice mission of the Department of Communication Studies. Although Washington, D.C. is the center of politics, the city is also home to entertainment, corporate, governmental, civic, arts, environmental, law, health and science and educational organizations, all of which seek to have their voices heard.


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Originally Posted by AntB
Sapp is a Sapp as far as I'm concerned. They should have given him a scholarship to clown school instead.
Ha Ha this is where Sapp should be inducted.
Originally Posted by BuffyBlueII
The phantom sack being given up early doesnt mean that if it wasnt given up, Stray wouldntve been pushing harder and got it later on in the game anyway.
Not exactly sure how that would have been possible since there was less then 2 minutes left in the game and Packers were just merely running the clock out since they were already comfortably ahead.
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State Library Web site: http://oregon.gov/OSL/


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Turkey peace talks positive; press freedom still in peril
Today, hope for peace between the government of Turkey and Kurdish rebels is closer than ever to becoming reality. A resolution to the conflict, after more than 30 years, could have ramifications for Turkey's standing as the world's worst jailer of journalists. According to CPJ research, three-quarters of the journalists imprisoned in Turkey are from the pro-Kurdish media.


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Heat up oil in a heavy cooking pot. Sauté garlic and onions for 3 minutes. Add rice and sauté another 5 minutes. Add all remaining ingredients, cover and bring to a boil. Simmer over a low flame for 20 minutes or until rice is done.
Per serving - 358 calories, 8 gram fat (20% calories from fat), 8 gram protein, 69 gram carbohydrate, 6 gram fiber, 0 milligram cholesterol, 189 milligram sodium


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Click the links below to find more information:
Consistent with the mission and vision of our parent institution and school, the mission for the Master of Occupational Therapy Program is to serve the residents of Mississippi through the provision of competent occupational therapists who exemplify professionalism. These therapists shall be committed to lifelong learning in order to meet expanding work force demands required in dynamic and diverse practice settings. In addition, the faculty is dedicated to scholarly pursuits, service activities, and clinical practice that enhance teaching effectiveness and promote the profession of occupational therapy to students and in the broader community.
The philosophy for the Master of Occupational Therapy Program at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, as articulated by the faculty, is consistent with philosophical statements and position papers adopted by the American Occupational Therapy Association. In addition, the mission and vision of our parent institution and school also provide core concepts which guide our philosophical foundation. Our philosophy has three major components: beliefs about human beings, beliefs about occupational therapy, and beliefs about learning. Beliefs about Human Beings The faculty embraces the belief that occupations, or meaningful activities, are a central and organizing component at each developmental stage throughout the lifespan.1 Thus, we believe that humans are active beings with an innate desire to satisfy not only their personal needs for self-care, work, play, and rest through occupational performance, but that individuals also satisfy their need to be productive in a broader societal context through occupational performance. We view individuals as occupational beings due to the integral nature of occupations in everyday life. We support the belief that competence in occupation involves a life-long adaptation process guided by internal and external demands; and, at any time, a person may be overwhelmed by impairment, physical or emotional disability, and/or stressful life events. Consequently, the result may be dysfunction or disability that could be lessened or remediated by outside intervention, i.e. occupational therapy. Beliefs about Occupational Therapy Occupational therapy is the profession which adopts a holistic approach when caring for others by celebrating participation in occupations and embracing diversity among individuals, families, and communities. Our expertise is founded in an extensive knowledge of human behavior and function, occupations and occupational performance as applied across diverse service delivery settings. Occupations are our primary intervention tool used to facilitate independence among those we serve. We include physical, cognitive, psychosocial and contextual elements specific to the individual's occupational performance during service provision. We adopt the belief that "occupations may be used for health promotion and wellness, remediation or restoration, health maintenance, disease and injury prevention, and compensation/adaptation."1 In essence, occupational therapy facilitates "health and participation of people, organizations, and populations through engagement in occupation".2 As a renowned historical figure in occupational therapy Mary Reilly summarized, "Man, through the use of his hands, as they are energized by mind and will, can influence the state of his own health."3Beliefs about Learning We ascribe to John Dewey's philosophical underpinnings that successful education should have both a societal purpose and a purpose for the individual student.4 For the individual student, we view the pursuit of an education as a self-directed choice for intellectual and personal growth to master the self and environment. Each learner is regarded as a unique, autonomous, and responsible individual. We assert that learning is best accomplished by guided doing which is consistent with our beliefs of humans as occupational beings5. Cannon and Feinstein explain that there is "an immense gulf between remembering or understanding facts" and the ability to utilize or perform in real world circumstances.6 As a faculty, we believe it is our duty to assist students in navigating this "gulf" between information acquisition and application competence as entry level occupational therapists and lifelong learners. We assert that a successful student learner of occupational therapy may be described as follows: • Is proficient in technical skills unique to the profession • Utilizes sound clinical reasoning for best practice • Is eager to embrace opportunities for lifelong learning and growth • Demonstrates professionalism including leadership and advocacy skills • Values collaboration to facilitate knowledge expansion
In closing, our philosophy embraces the vision set forth by our national organization's Centennial Vision which states "occupational therapy is a powerful, widely-recognized, science-driven and evidence-based profession, with a globally connected and diverse workforce meeting society's occupational needs."6 This is congruent with the our institutional and departmental philosophical stance that society is a beneficiary of successful student learning through the provision of competent health care professionals, the contribution of health sciences research, and the enhancement of economic development. References: 1. American Occupational Therapy Association. (2011). The philosophical base of occupational therapy. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 65 (6 Suppl.) 2. American Occupational Therapy Association. (2008). Occupational therapy practice framework: Domain & process (2nd ed.). American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 62, 625-683. 3. Reilly, M. (1962). Occupational therapy can be one of the great ideas of 20th century medicine. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 16, 300-308. 4. Dewey, J. (1997). Experience & education. (Reprint edition.) New York: Free Press. 5. AOTA, (2007). Philosophy of Occupational Therapy Education, American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 61, 6. 6. Cannon, H. M. & Feinstein, A. H. (2005). Bloom beyond Bloom: Using the revised taxonomy to develop experiential learning strategies. Developments in Business Simulations and Experiential Learning, 32, 348-356. 7. AOTA Centennial Vision (2006). AOTA's centennial vision. Retrieved December 5, 2012 from http://www.aota.org/News/Centennial/Background/36516.aspx?FT=.pdf
2500 North State Street
Jackson, MS 39216
General Information: 601-984-1000
Patient Appointments: 888-815-2005


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Popular property highlights
Located in Princeville - Hanalei, The Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas is within a mile (2 km) of sights such as Princeville Golf Course and Princeville Center. This 346-room, 4-star resort welcomes guests with 4 outdoor pools, a restaurant, and a 24-hour fitness center. Hanalei Bay and Hanalei Valley Lookout are also close to this Princeville resort.
Sit down for a leisurely bite to eat at the onsite restaurant, or enjoy a drink at the bar/lounge. Savor a meal from the comfort of your room with room service, or get a quick energy boost at the coffee shop/café. Start each morning with buffet breakfast, available for a fee from 7 AM to 10:30 AM.
The 346 air-conditioned rooms feature kitchens and lanais. Flat-screen TVs come with satellite channels and DVD players, and guests can stay connected with free WiFi. Pillowtop beds sport premium bedding and bathrooms offer jetted tubs, hair dryers, and designer toiletries. Washers/dryers, sofa beds, and coffee makers are other standard amenities.
Guests of The Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas enjoy 4 outdoor pools, a children's pool, and a 24-hour fitness center. Parking is available for USD 13 per night (USD 13 per night for valet parking), and there's also a free area shuttle. Multilingual staff at the 24-hour front desk can assist with dry cleaning/laundry, concierge services, and luggage storage. Other amenities at this golf resort include a spa tub, a sauna, and free WiFi in public areas.
Property features
- Close to Princeville Golf Course
- Free WiFi in rooms and public areas
- Onsite dining
- 4 outdoor pools
The Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas
Hotel Amenities
Hotel Amenities
The Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas features 4 outdoor swimming pools, a spa tub, a sauna, and a 24-hour fitness center. Dining options at the resort include a restaurant, a coffee shop/café, and a snack bar/deli. Guests can unwind with a drink at one of the resort's bars, which include a poolside bar and a bar/lounge. Wireless Internet access is complimentary.
Business-related amenities at this 4-star property consist of a business center and meeting rooms. This family-friendly resort also offers a children's pool, spa services, and tour/ticket assistance. A complimentary area shuttle within 2.5 mi is available for guests. Onsite parking is available (surcharge).
The Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas has designated areas for smoking.
- 24-hour front desk
- Babysitting or childcare (surcharge)
- Children's club (surcharge)
- Supervised childcare/activities (surcharge)
- ATM/banking
- Number of floors - 3
- Valet parking (surcharge)
- Barbecue grill(s)
- Breakfast available (surcharge)
- Business center
- Coffee shop or café
- 24-hour fitness facilities
- Elevator/lift
- Express check-out
- Gift shops or newsstand
- Designated smoking areas
- Pool umbrellas
- Grocery/convenience store
- Express check-in
- Luggage storage
- Dry cleaning/laundry service
- Bar/lounge
- Garden
- Laundry facilities
- Meeting rooms
- Total number of rooms - 346
- Poolside bar
- Porter/bellhop
- Restaurant
- Safe-deposit box at front desk
- Self parking (surcharge)
- Beach umbrellas
- Pool cabanas (surcharge)
- Beach towels
- Sauna
- Shopping on site
- Spa services on site
- Spa tub
- Steam room
- Children's pool
- Concierge services
- Tours/ticket assistance
- Free WiFi
- Number of outdoor pools - 4
- Multilingual staff
- Free area shuttle
- Snack bar/deli
- Number of buildings/towers - 7
- Wedding services
Family Friendly Amenities
- Family Hotel
- Outdoor pools
- Children's pool
- Free Wi-Fi
- Kitchen
- Area shuttle (complimentary)
- Grocery/convenience store
- Snack bar/deli
- Laundry facilities
- Babysitting or childcare (surcharge)
- Sofa bed
- Washer/dryer
- Full-sized refrigerator/freezer
- Microwave
- Cribs/infant beds (complimentary)
- DVD player
Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
Available in some public areas: Free WiFi
Self parking (surcharge), Valet parking (surcharge)
Room Amenities
The Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas offers 346 air-conditioned accommodations with washers/dryers and DVD players. Rooms open to lanais. Pillowtop beds feature premium bedding. Flat-screen televisions come with satellite channels. Accommodations at this 4-star resort have kitchens with full-sized refrigerators/freezers, stovetops, microwaves, and cookware/dishes/utensils. Bathrooms include separate bathtubs and showers with jetted bathtubs, bathrobes, slippers, and designer toiletries.
This Princeville resort provides complimentary wireless Internet access. Business-friendly amenities include safes and phones. Additionally, rooms include coffee/tea makers and hair dryers. In-room massages and hypo-allergenic bedding can be requested. Housekeeping is provided daily.
- Hypo-allergenic bedding available
- Air conditioning
- Phone
- Bathrobes
- Coffee/tea maker
- Private bathroom
- In-room safe
- Blackout drapes/curtains
- Satellite TV service
- Pillowtop mattress
- Ceiling fan
- Cookware, dishware, and utensils
- Designer toiletries
- DVD player
- Hair dryer
- Daily housekeeping
- Iron/ironing board
- Jetted bathtub
- Kitchen
- Lanai
- Dishwasher
- Microwave
- In-room massage available
- Premium bedding
- Separate bathtub and shower
- Slippers
- Sofa bed
- Room service (limited hours)
- Free cribs/infant beds
- Connecting/adjoining rooms available
- Rollaway/extra beds (surcharge)
- Full-sized refrigerator/freezer
- Stovetop
- Flat-panel TV
- Free WiFi
- Washer/dryer
Where to Eat
Room service (during limited hours) is available.
Nanea Restaurant and Bar - Overlooking the pool, this restaurant serves breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner. Guests can order drinks at the bar and enjoy alfresco dining (weather permitting). Open daily.
Buffet breakfasts are available for a surcharge and are served each morning between 7 AM and 10:30 AM.
Nearby Things to Do
4 outdoor swimming pools are on site along with a children's pool. Other recreational amenities include a spa tub, a sauna, and a 24-hour fitness center.
The recreational activities listed below are available either on site or nearby; fees may apply.
- Golfing nearby
- Snorkeling nearby
- Surfing/boogie boarding nearby
- Kayaking nearby
- Sailing nearby
- Scuba diving nearby
- Mountain biking nearby
- Bicycle rentals nearby
- Scooter/moped rentals nearby
- Hiking/biking trails nearby
- Parasailing nearby
- Ecotours nearby
- Segway rental/tour nearby
- Fitness classes on site
- Yoga classes/instruction on site
If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please note them at check-out when you book your room.
- Accessible bathroom
- In-room accessibility
- Roll-in shower
Hotel Policies
Check-in time starts at 4 PM
Minimum check-in age is 18
Check-out time is 10 AM
Payment types
Children and extra beds
- Children are welcome.
- Kids stay free! Children 17 years old and younger stay free when using existing bedding.
- Rollaway/extra beds are available for USD 20.00 per day.
- Free cribs (infant beds)!
- Pets not allowed
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy.
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card or cash deposit are required at check-in for incidental charges.
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges. Special requests cannot be guaranteed.
Optional extras
Hotel Name
- Ocean Resort Villas
- Princeville Ocean Resort
- Princeville Resort Westin
- Westin Ocean Resort Villas Princeville
- Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas
- Westin Princeville Ocean Villas
- Westin Princeville Resort
- Westin Princeville Resort Villas
- Westin Princeville Villas
- Westin Princeville Ocean Hotel
- Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas Hotel Princeville
- Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas Kauai
We should mention
Reservations are required for massage services and spa treatments. Reservations can be made by contacting the resort prior to arrival, using the contact information on the booking confirmation. Children 17 years old and younger stay free when occupying the parent or guardian's room, using existing bedding. The property has connecting/adjoining rooms, which are subject to availability and can be requested by contacting the property using the number on the booking confirmation.


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Discussion in 'Performance & Fuel' started by 71Stage1Conv, Jan 3, 2014.
Do any of these actually work? I see more HP and torque, yet better fuel economy... Really?
I guess they don't...
The more you add to the truck the more youll see from a custom tuner. Theres a fine line between better performance and gas economy and youll get to a point were your mpg's will sacrifice with performance so you have to decide what you really want. But with just basic bolt on (intake, exhaust ect.) you should see some money going back into your pocket at the pump but dont expect 40 mpg.
Do performance upgrades for performance not better mpg. Buying a couple hundred dollar intake/exhaust system to get 1mpg better is not sound advice IMHO. You will only see the better mpg from the performance if you dont care to hear the new sounds the intake/exhaust will make.
As far as chips....leave that to Lay's. Get a custom tune. Also, it would help if you gave us some info on what you drive.
I just bought a 09 Silverado with 4.8L, 4 speed auto so I'm not sure of anything yet... I guess I was ebay (not sure), but they were saying up to 4 mpg increase and 35hp or something like that by just installing their chip in place of the factory!
Sounds great, I'd be a fool not to purchase, right? So joined and posted here because I figured tens of thousands of guys own similar drive train, and could verify their claims...
Thanks, Dan
Dan, post a link to this "magic" chip. If you are looking to do some perfromance mods we can point you in the right direction, but I am thinking this chip is not a good start.
New trucks don't take "chips" as such. You can flash a program to the ECU from a tuner, but there is no chip that you replace. The "chips" are for OBD-i and very early OBD-II vehicles.
And I guarantee you it's not going to give you 4 MPG or 35 HP increase. What they advertise is "up to" those amounts. Most of the time they will just richen the fuel mix, which will generally give you less MPG, and might give you 1-2 HP at the crank. Mostly, you just lose $60 or whatever it is they're charging for the magic chips.
Dan, you are about to spend 60 bucks you will later wish you had not spent.
Dan, as mentioned by ajarman and dobey....the Gains of Increasing your Silverado's Fuel Mileage by 4 MPG and receiving Gains of 35 More H.P. from just Installing this Device"Chip".....sorry to say, but this is Not going to Happen,
Keep in mind, when looking at a Performance Part, in which a Company Expresses that by installing their Part on your Vehicle.....your Vehicle will Receive the Big Gains in H.P. and MPG, like this one has, and It Just Sounds To Good To Be True.....In Most Cases It Is!!
Take a look at Black Bear Tunes, going with a Custom Tune will yield you the Best Return on your Investment,
Black Bear,
Tuning Services
like stated a mail order tune or live tune will be your best bang for your buck and also net you the best results. idk about you but when i spend 30k on a truck i want a name brand/respected and tested product under my hood.
Separate names with a comma.


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House for 6 guests with pool
Size0 m²
Floor No.0
- Towels
- Family/child friendly
- Baby cot
- Dishwasher
- Sauna
- Pool
- Washer/dryer
Accommodation summary
|4511 HR Breskens, Sluis, Zeeland, Netherlands
|Property type
|Holiday home
|Property ID
|Acceptance rate
|Response time
|A few hours
|Calendar updated
House rules
|Check-in After
|On arrangement
|Check-in before
|On arrangement
|Check-out Before
|On arrangement
|Cancellation Policy
|View Details
Reviews of this property
Unsere Unterkunft übertraf unseren Erwartungen. Wir fanden im Droompark eine große, geräumige Ferienunterkunft vor. Die Lage der Unterkunft und die herrliche Ruhe in der Anlage haben dazu beigetragen, dass der Erholungseffekt schon am ersten Tag eintraf. Lediglich die Sauberkeit der Unterkunft bei Übernahme ist verbesserungswürdig.
Reviews for this host's other properties
The holydays in Club Vista serena, was very nice and confortable. A value quality and price appartments, nice service. Highly recoment
nice little house in suburb of sorrento.
well equipped kitchen and cosy living room.
couldn't stay in the huge garden because of too many moskitos.
garden wasn't very clean at all.
the linen package, we extra paid for, was a joke.
The people were very friendly, the studio offered everything you needed, the bed was comfy and the location was good, just 350 m to the beach. You had your own terrace and parking lot, which was great. It is a very quiet location, good to calm down and relax. For two persons it is very big, I was scared, but of course most of people would enjoy that luxury of lots of space. The accommodation definitely is a great choice for that price!
The location of the apartment was great and the size was excellant plus with a private parking space in France unbelievable. Downside was cleaning fee per person when the floors were SO dirty that you wouldn'd want to walk on them without shoes on.
Danielle was very helpful. The house, next to her family's home was very clean and comfortable. The view of the mountains was wonderful. we highly recommend Landhaus Wegscheider to anyone interested in traveling to the Innsbruck area.
Fab apartment, fab views. All amenities on our doorstep, would highly recommend this apartment, will definitely be booking again. (unfortunately there are no English TV channels so bring a book)
Beautiful view of the Zugspitz from a private patio. Pleanty of room for two couples with 2 bedrooms. Beds very comfortable. Clean with friendly service.
A group of five girls stayed here and it was fantastic! The views were spectacular the location was spot on couldn't fault the apartment it was spotless and the finishing touch of the towels made up as swans on each bed with small toiletries was a lovely touch. We picked up the keys early from the interhome office the lady was extremely helpful. Would highly recommend we will be using this apartment again on our next visit to benidorm. Thank you
perfect!! the host were so accomodating...nice flat with a private pool...100% coming back!
- Quality assured accommodation
- Every host is verified by telephone
- Secure payment via SSL encryption


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By Joe Brewin
Olof Mellberg has warned his team-mates that Robin van Persie is just one of the men who could pose a threat to Olympiacos.
The Greek champions are at Emirates Stadium for their second Group F encounter, having lost their opening fixture against Marseille.
Mellberg knows the Gunners well from his seven-year spell with Aston Villa – he even scored the first Premier League goal at Emirates Stadium in 2006. On Wednesday the defender is more concerned about keeping Van Persie and company at bay.
"I have played against him a few times, but maybe not in that position," the Swede said. "He plays mostly as a striker now from what I have seen. He was more of a wing player when I played Arsenal with Aston Villa.
"He is a good player and they have a few more. We will focus on our own game more obviously but we will look at them tomorrow and hopefully will be prepared for him and everybody else they have."
Mellberg admitted that his team have not yet had the opportunity to watch much of the Gunners but he knows Olympiacos face a stern test in north London.
"We will have a better look at them tomorrow [Wednesday]," he revealed. "It has been a bigger focus on the other games we have had. We had a league game on Saturday and I haven't really seen them play so far this season.
"I have obviously heard about some problems they have had and they haven't had the best of starts in the league but it is always a really difficult game, especially here at Emirates Stadium."Copyright 2017 The Arsenal Football Club plc. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit being given to www.arsenal.com as the source


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Central Oregonians line up for flu shots
Many young children vaccinated at Bend clinic
BEND, Ore. - The nationwide flu epidemic had people lining up in Bend Friday, rolling up their sleeves to get their flu shots. The Deschutes County Health Department expanded the hours of its flu shot clinic to help more people get vaccinated.
St. Charles shared its supply of the vaccine with the health department for several people getting pricked in the arm or sprayed up the nose.
Two-year-old Malayo and his father, Emanuel Meza, came in together as a team, hoping not to get sick this flu season.
"It was pretty hard to find some place that had any shots left," Meza said. "They (kids) tend to get sick easier and then spread it to everyone else in the family."
Kids of all ages, from toddlers to teens were there. Many parents in the room said seeing their child sick is a helpless feeling and they'll try to do anything to prevent it.
"It's pretty hard, because you have to take them to the doctor, and then give them medicine, and you don't want to see your kid suffer, and see them sick," Meza said.
Each shot started at $15, a price many said wass worth the trouble. The clinic was scheduled for three hours, but extended to five so more people could fit it into their day.
'I spoke with someone who was able to get their child out of school, because it was close to the lunch hour," health coordinator Tom Kuhn said. "So we're hoping that we can really hit various populations and people who have to work, and school kids, and really try to get as many types of people vaccinated."
Kuhn said he doesn't expect the county to run out of the vaccine, but that doesn't mean people should wait any longer to get their shots.
"This is really giving us some time to be proactive and really trying to protect our population here in Oregon, before we have the same kind of thing going on that's happening in the east coast," said Kuhn.
Malayo stayed strong and didn't even cry when he got the shot. He showed off his prize: a sticker for a job well done.
"It's definitely a piece of mind now, that he's not going to get sick, or less chance anyway," said Meza.
Those who could not attend Friday's clinic have another chance to get a flu shot. Mosaic Medical will have a walk-in clinic from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday.


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As Vo Dilunduhs with the slightest sense of our state's history know, we have just finished Gaspee Days, a celebration of what was one of the first (and most dramatic) blows for freedom in the years leading up to the Revolution.
The capsule history: the HMS Gaspee, a ship that had been enforcing reviled trade regulations, ran aground on June 9, 1772 in the waters near the village of Pawtuxet. A bunch of colonists led by Abraham Whipple and John Brown descended on the ship, looted it, and set it aflame.
It was a mixture of patriotism and ruthless selfishness — "we're keeping this money, King George, and you and the horse you rode in on can kiss our swinging buttocks" — that is classically American.
For the past three decades, the folks in Warwick and Cranston (Pawtuxet Village is in both cities) have made a big deal about this event, as well they should. The Boston Tea Party occurred 18 months after the torching of the Gaspee and the Boston colonists were nowhere near as wild and crazy as their Vo Dilun counterparts. In rock 'n' roll terms, they were Air Supply compared to the Ramones.
So it was with a true sense of patriotism that yours truly meandered down Broad Street a mile down from my house in the Edgewood section of Cranston to take in the parade last Saturday. I actually prefer this parade to Bristol's Independence Day extravaganza, which is more celebrated statewide and nationally. The Gaspee Days parade has the virtue of retaining its small-town roots.
My preference for the Gaspee Days event might also be colored by my Bristol experiences. I was in the parade on a radio station float a couple of times and it was very hot and I got sunburned.
The last time I did this, I rode with my radio talk show partner, the late John Hackett, who was astounded at all the people who would run up to us and say hello but seemed to know me primarily from my music career and not from the radio or from my columns here at the Phoenix. I think that John didn't want to believe that the masses weren't reading newspapers like they once did.
As for this year's Gaspee Days Parade, it was disappointing that a perennial force, the Cranston East Thunderbolts marching band, did not participate. Apparently Cranston East graduation exercises were taking place at the same time as the parade and, despite the pleas from many Cranstonians, the School Committee was unable or unwilling to change the date of graduation. This also meant that Mayor Allan Fung did not march, as he was busy passing out diplomas.
The rain only drizzled and shpritzed — no big downpours. But the best part of the day was being invited to the terrific annual Gaspee Days family barbecue held by the extended Clifton family, Vo Dilun's first family of attorneys and jurists. Ed and Audrey live on my street (well, maybe it's their street) and Bill and Rogeriee Thompson live a block away. We've been friends for years and neighbors for more than a decade. And right off the parade route (site of the barbecue) lives Audrey's sister Susan and husband Ken (who was truly heroic, cooking all day long). Even Rogeriee's sister LaVonn came up from St. Croix where she (surprise!) practices law.
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Discussion in 'Chevy S10 Forum (GMC Sonoma)' started by 96sonoma, Mar 29, 2013.
will i or someone near the tank be able to hear the spinning of the pump?
just found in book youre vehicle has the disabling feature,so no it wont spin on cranking if there is no spark,go to coil power wire and test for 12v
- - - Updated - - -
haynes book for youre ride has all the testing procedures of dist. and coil,im a one finger typer so it would take a year for me to give info,one thing,did you disturb the electric connector to dist.?check everything in vicinity of dist.
all i know is i mixed up 2 wires on the distributer while changing fuel line started drove it back firing crazy for about like 3 mins tops but while doing all that fuel did spray up by the distibuter and stuff.... but by chance if you know the 4 relays im talking bout do you happen to know witch on is witch?
idk how much you read but distibutor does spin i did change the coil and no help
also im working on getting a multi meter i dont have one
relays are strong,and they have a fuse infront of them for protection,mixing 2 spark plug wires up seems coincedental,but fuel spraying,maybe?how is the button in dist.cap,the one that touches the rotor in center,is there spring pressure?
is it on the cap or on the rotor.. and idk ill check on that tomorrow though but just in case lets say no pressure what would that mean?
in the cap center,it rides on the rotor for timed spark for coil,im hoping for you that something just got tweaked,do check for the 12v at coil connector,that will rule out any fuse or relay,there are two items in dist.,module and pick up coil,with book in hand and multimeter,both cheap,should help diagnose no spark,hey stuff happens
ok so ill come back here tomorrow.. after i check the cap button thing... so i lift the cap up and its under there in the cent on the bottom of the cap correct?
yes,that and 12v at coil,good luck
ok not to sure bout how to test 12v exactly but but ill figure it
any news yet?
Separate names with a comma.


text: "anal wash" is where you get a bottle of water either with a straw or a just the normal end of the bottle and insert into the anal hole, slowly squeze to insert water into anal hole. once finished, push the water out of your ass either for the pleasure or to swill the inside of your ass clean. this is usually a really pleasurable experience. this is a good thing to do to both partners.


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Playboy.com's Picks 2012: Big Ideas
2012 was a year of big ideas, not all of them realized. We recap some of the best one's with hopes one day they will be.
Every year about this time, lists recapping the year's best whatever start to surface, and we're telling you right now they're all bogus, save ours.
Over the next few weeks, Playboy.com's Picks 2012 will provide you with the year in review, from movies to music to viral trends, political and celebrity scandals and even ideas. We're showcasing the year's best across the board and on tap this week: Ideas.
Check out Playboy.com's Picks for Movies, Music, Top Viral Trends, Celebrity Scandals, and Tirades.
Sell the Pill Over the Counter
In a society so seemingly bound and determined to keep its head stuck in the sand regarding matters of S-E-X, it's not surprising to discover that access to birth control is hopelessly inhibited. Doctors require women to undergo full pelvic exams once a year before re-upping prescriptions, and many insurers only see fit to distribute the pill in one-month quantities at a time. What emerges is a paradigm that encourages inconsistency in procuring prescriptions and in taking them, which anyone who's had any experience with this knows is not something that is particularly suited to inconsistency.
Solution: Sell the pill over the counter. The majority of oral contraceptives available today have long been FDA approved for over-the-counter sale, while annual pap smears have not only been shown to be superfluous but detrimental in terms of producing false-positives that can lead to expensive follow-up testing. As for it being a step forward for a society feigning equality, well, women would no longer need that literal and metaphorical doctor's note to make a basic civil rights–type decision.
Vertical Farming
Scientists, or whatever, people who study this sort of thing, have estimated that by the year 2050, the world's population will have increased by almost 45 percent, and the majority of that population (roughly 80 percent) will live in urban centers. The problem? Those urban centers will have to expand into the countryside to accommodate the rise in population, consuming farmland (which will most likely have already been abandoned due to changing weather patterns, rising costs, tighter industry regulations, etc.) and leaving everyone in the lurch when it comes to acquiring their legumes.
Solution: Vertical farming. This is not a new concept, but the first commercial vertical farm opened in Singapore this year, signaling the turning of a theoretical solution into a practical one. Not only would vertical farms eliminate the necessity for vast amounts of land for crops (proponents suggest a 30-story building with a 5-acre base would produce the equivalent of 2,400 acres of traditional farmland), but they reduce transportation costs involved with shipping crops; are protected from inclement weather (floods, droughts) and global warming and can be farmed year round; reduce use of and exposure to harmful chemicals like pesticides; and, by converting the methane released naturally from the crops, vertical farms could supply their own energy.
Right to Be Forgotten Laws
There is little doubt that technology is evolving faster than our court systems; after all, the codification of laws is a bogged-down bureaucracy, tempered by precedent and probable cause, while the internet is an entrepreneurial Elysium, only bound by the limits of our own imagination (and coding abilities). But our legal systems will have to start learning quickly; with the rapid dissemination of personal information getting easier (online banking) and more expansive (interlinked social networks) by the day, technology and the law are on a collision course, with privacy and protection being the driving forces behind the crash.
Solution: Right to Be Forgotten Laws. They're already being enacted in Europe, much to the displeasure of information traffickers like Google and Facebook. Basically these laws would allow citizens to request the removal of any information about them online (whether they put it there themselves or not), and these corporations would have to comply unless they can prove that said information is both true and used for either legitimate journalistic, artistic or literary purposes. That includes de-indexing (in Google's case) any websites that have reposted said information, right down to the mention of one's name. Naturally, these companies contend that they're merely platforms, not censors, and that imposing that responsibility on them would require an astronomical increase in costs, not to mention threaten the kind of freewheeling, free-speech ideologies the internet was built on, and they're right on both counts; turning Google and Facebook into the internet police would require totally new infrastructure and regulators, but more importantly, it would be cause for a dramatic shift in how we use and disseminate information on the Hyperwebs.


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When any object (airplane or bullet) approaches transonic speed it passes through it's own "Precursor" wave, (think the bow wave from a boat only in air) and experiences buffeting from the shockwave as it passes through. Subsonic rounds never experience this buffeting and are usually more accurate because of it.
I rinse mine out with sprayable Hoppe's and stand on end on some newspapers, after about a half an hour turn it over. Or get some CCI Mini mags and let it rip.
Sorry guys----- I love my AWC's
Sealed suppressors are commonly cleaned by making a "tank" out of a capped off length of plastic sewer pipe and filling with a solvent. Depending on solvent and paint used, it might strip the paint off. Serial numbers are engraved in the metal, paint coverage would not affect the number.


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Beautiful View Room
מספר אנשים מקסימלי4
חדרי שינה1
גודל16 מטר רבוע
Floor No.
- מטבח
- טלויזיה
- ארוחת בוקר
- חדר הניתן לנעילה
- אינטרנט/ אינטרנט אלחוטי
Accommodation summary
|East 81 Street, 11236 Brooklyn, ארצות הברית
|סוג נכס
|חדר פרטי
|פרטי הזיהוי של מקום הלינה
|Acceptance rate
|Response time
|A few hours
|Calendar updated
|5 days ago
Stay for one week or more and get a FREE 7 DAYS UNLIMITED METRO CARD. A 7 days unlimited metro card is used on the trains and buses. Ask for more information.
Perfectly located in a quiet and safe neighborhood and only minutes to shopping mall, restaurants and bars. Minutes to the L and 2 subway train. You can take the number 2 train directly to Manhattan Time Square in 35 minutes. The apartment is accessible by train or taxi from the airport. Only 20 minutes away from airport by taxi.
Get FREE unlimited transportation for 7 days travel, if you book one week or more. Ask for more info.
Taste the Caribbean, American and Chinese Cuisine just a few blocks away. Visit the famous Prospect Park and zoo, only 25 minutes away. Take a scenic cool walk over the Brooklyn bridge and enjoy the beautiful Manhattan Sky Line.
Visit the Coney Island Amusement Park and enjoy the rides and take a walk on the beach. Visit the Coney Island Aquarium and Enjoy the Marine life. Coney Island Amusement Park is about 35 minutes away.
If you feel lucky and want to try your luck, then Visit the Resort World Casino New York. New York City is beautiful, there is much to see and do. Come and stay in Brooklyn and enjoy in Manhattan.
כללי הביתSmoking isn't allowed in the apartment, but you can smoke outside.
No pets allowed.
No loud music.
Please take care of the apartment.
Check out on time. Let me know if you will need a late check-out and I will help.
Thank you!
|Weekly rate for up to 2 guests
|Monthly rate for up to 2 guests
|מחיר ליותר מ-2 אורחים
|Check-in before
|עזיבה לפני
|מדיניות ביטולים
Quiet Place, there are 4 rooms in the house, 2 with balcony and one very big with window, unfortunately our was small and without an openable Window. The owner is very nice and The house in Clean.
It takes 1h to go to manhattan with bus and metro.
Larry is very kind. The room is in Brooklyn. The price is good for this room in this flat. I would take it again.
Larry was really polite and the key delivery was uncomplicated. The room was small and dark because there wasn't a window. I think the other rooms had a window. Moreover it was hot and there was stuffy air. The bedroom was clean but the bathroom and the kitchen weren't.
The area around the hous is good. You need just 2-5 minutes to the next subway station (you can take the 3 or 4). We felt save walking to the house in the evening. You need around 40 minutes to Manhatten Downtown. There is also a small supermarket next to the house.
My stay at Larrys apartment was really nice. Larry is a friendly and nice guy who's always there for the questions i had. The room was quiet big, the bed was good. Wi-fi and TV was included and running also the heating (wintertime). Only one day the wi-fi was not running, so i called Larry and the same day he fixed it.
The full-equipped kitchen and bath was clean and good. All you need is there. Larrys house is just one block away from the subway station Kingston Ave. From there you arrive at Times Square Station in just 30 minutes. a 1 week metrocard was also included!
An advice from me: You have to were earplugs when you are sleeping, because in the house you can hear your roommates and the windows to the street are not that noise-proofed, like we have it in germany (you can hear the cars, when the windows are closed). But that is always so, when you go to New York City. I had a stay in the pennsylvania hotel in manhatten in 2012. That stay was noisy too and not better than here at Larrys apartment. When you don't want that, you have to pay like 200 $ per night.
Thanks for beeing my host, Larry!
We really enjoyed staying at this place. The room was quite big and comfortable, there is a kitchen with cooking gear and free cookies! The neighbourhood is quiet and there´s a good access to the city (subway station just around the corner). Larry is a nice and helpful host. We had a really good time there!
First we got offered a total different room,
which was quite bad, then he came up with another room, which was ok, but not very close to the subway
If you want a great value but basic place to stay while in NYC then this is the place for you. Clean room and house very convienent to the subway with trains running both to Manhattan and JFK airport. Situated in the Jewish area of Brooklyn. There are four double rooms in the house, sharing one bathroom so be prepared for that and the kitchen is minimal. But considering the low rent, good location, cleanliness and wireless internet its a real winner. Larry is also a very helpful guy and very pleasant.
- הבטחת איכות מקומות הלינה
- כל מארח מאושר טלפונית
- תשלום מאובטח


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Details - Sun care
If you're lounging in the sun, your skin needs a lot more protection than you'll get from a casual schmear of SPF. Now there's The Art of Shaving peppermint facial scrub to slough off dead skin; Clinique eye cream with UV protection to fend off wrinkles; and Malin + Goetz moisturizer loaded with shea butter to soothe the most intense lobster shade of sunburn. And in case you're stuck surfing the Net instead of the waves, you can always go bronze Hollywood-style: Forgo the rays altogether and lather on Estee Lauder sunless super-tan lotion.


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[quote user="andyeyebrows"][quote user="Crush'em Giants"]
You are right my friend. If you want to investigate any difference in a website sending it to you and me sending it to you myself, I'll help you out if that helps at all.

i'll do that, thank you!! i guess i'll have to go check the internet for what i want first though!
No danger, let me know whats up


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Forensic Health - "It's Just Not about Dead People" Topic of Forum
BINGHAMTON, NY - Mary Muscari, an associate professor in the Decker School of Nursing, will discuss "Forensic Health – It's Not Just about Dead People" at the Binghamton University Forum's annual faculty spotlight luncheon on January 14. Lunch will begin at 11:30 a.m. and the program will start at noon, in the Old Union Hall of the University Union.
According to Muscari, forensics is more than death investigations or emergency and correctional health settings. Muscari argues that a considerable amount of forensic medicine takes place within primary-care settings. Today, trends in hospital and community health care have broadened this specialty to include identification of previously unidentified trauma and the collection of evidence from living patients.
Muscari's research interests include youth violence, sexual offenses, and parent and companion animals. She has more than 30 years of experience working with children and teens. She has written and co-authored more than 100 publications including Not My Kid: 21 Steps to Raising a Nonviolent Child, Not My Kid 2: Protecting Your Children from the 21 Threats of the 21st Century, and Let Kids Be Kids: Rescuing Childhood. In addition, Muscari has two books on forensics forthcoming in March 2010 titled Quick Reference Guide to Child & Adolescent Forensics and Quick Reference Guide to Adult & Older Adult Forensics.
Muscari's research and works have been well publicized. She has been interviewed by such publications as Parents Magazine, Family Circle, Better Homes & Garden and USA Today, in addition to national and Canadian radio programs, including NPR and Ask Heloise.
The Binghamton University Forum serves business, professional and community leaders by bringing nationally known authorities to speak at functions throughout the year. For more information, call the Forum office at (607) 777-4390.


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Patriotic Taco Salad RecipeRead Reviews Be the first to add a review
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1-1/2 cups water
- 1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste
- 1 envelope taco seasoning
- 6 cups tortilla or corn chips
- 4 to 5 cups shredded lettuce
- 9 to 10 pitted large olives, sliced lengthwise
- 2 cups (8 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
- In a large skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Stir in the water, tomato paste and taco seasoning. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 20 minutes.
- Place chips in an ungreased 13-in. x 9-in. dish. Spread beef mixture evenly over the top. Cover with lettuce. For each star, arrange five olive slices together in the upper left corner. To form stripes, add cheese and tomatoes in alternating rows. Serve immediately. Yield: 8 servings.
Light-Bodied White Wine
Enjoy this recipe with a light-bodied white wine such as Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio.
Reviews for Patriotic Taco Salad
"I added a can of refried beans on top of the beef mixture. It was very good. I also used gluten free tortilla chips as I am trying to cut down on my gluten. My guests really enjoyed it. I served it as a light dinner on July 4th as we had already eaten a big amount of food that day."
"Cslowcookjw - you could use black beans instead of the olives. As Kristens198 suggested add a can to the meat mixture, reserving a few to sprinkle in the corner."
"Have not made this yet. Would like to know what I can use rather than olives."
"This was a great idea but I customized it for my cooking style. I added a can of black beans to add more protein and make it a meal. I also put chips on the side instead of the bottom layer. I used taco sauce and salsa instead of taco seasoning and tomato paste. Lastly, I used shredded mozzarella cheese for more red/white effect. It was a crowd favorite!"
"I use a White Cheddar Cheese instead of yellow, also can of slice olives. Serve the chips on the side=^..^= Yummmmmmm"
"This Is SOOOO GOOOD. I will Make This Over and Over Again..."
"see my blog post at http://steaknpotatoeskindagurl.blogspot.com/2011/07/patriotic-taco-salad.html"
"nice and easy and budget friendly, great for a big crowd.."


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Skip to Content
If you are seeking a world-class educational experience within a vibrant, Christ-centered learning community, Cedarville is the place for you. Step up to the challenge of our arts, sciences, professional and graduate programs, and achieve more than you ever imagined. Be challenged and transformed by professors who are experts in their fields and invest their lives at Cedarville to mentor and guide students like you.
Mr. Simon worked as a video editor, animator, and motion graphics artist at Answers in Genesis before joining the faculty at Cedarville. He enjoys following the trends of media and communication technology and working on personal computer graphics projects to enhance his personal knowledge and ability to guide his students. He also continues to freelance in video and multimedia projects. He considers watching students hone their creative and thinking skills as the best part of his job.


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"Core Identity" Two corporate offices in downtown Toronto reassert their respective identities through newly redesigned interior spaces.
PROJECT Torys LLP Law Offices, Toronto, OntarioARCHITECT Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg Architects
In recent years, there has been an increasing level of sophistication apparent in the creation of a public image that positively reflects the values and interests of businesses in the corporate and commercial sector. Integral to this exercise in corporate identity and branding is the physical design of a company's office space, and the message it delivers to its employees, clients, and the population at large. Here, two businesses--an international mining company and a large corporate law firm--have undertaken major redesigns of their office spaces to accommodate current functions but also to communicate and clarify not only who they are, but what they do and how they do it.
The Toronto-Dominion Centre has long been established as the financial heart of the country and one of Canada's architectural icons. Comprised of six office towers and a low-rise banking pavilion, the TD complex is best known for its Mies van der Rohe design, the commission of which we are forever indebted to Phyllis Lambert. Though Mies (along with Bregman + Hamann and John B. Parkin Associates) was responsible only for the design of the plaza, the banking pavilion, the original TD Bank Tower (1967) and the Royal Trust Tower (1969), over the next two decades, the remaining four buildings were designed to be harmoniously consistent with their older siblings.
Within this prestigious complex, Torys LLP occupies 10 floors in the 36-storey TD Waterhouse Tower (1985) on the south side of Wellington Street across the road from Mies' original TD Bank Tower. Torys is a massive business and commercial law firm with offices in Toronto and New York, and with an impending lease expiration, debated on whether to move entirely or to conduct a substantial renovation to its existing space to better meet the firm's spatial requirements--and, more importantly, to refresh its identity and reputation for contemporary leadership and innovative spirit. After an extensive study was conducted with selected firm Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg Architects (KPMB), the choice was ultimately made to stay put and renovate. The scope of the project was more or less confined to a complete overhaul of the 32nd and 33rd floors, each ringing in at 30,000 square feet.
Revealing the characteristically understated good taste of KPMB, the redesign is in keeping with the generally staid conservatism of a law firm and also the gorgeously ascetic restraint of Mies' original vision. A neutral colour and material palette of dark walnut floors and millwork, fumed oak, marble slab, bronze accents, glass, and matte white walls provides the perfect backdrop for an impressive art collection, and to better accept magnificent views of the lake and the city along with abundant natural daylight.
By consolidating all client functions on the 33rd floor and one-third of the 32nd floor, the firm was able to eliminate redundancies and "demonstrate its commitment to providing a high level of client service." Two impressively scaled conference spaces occupy prime real estate on the 33rd floor. A north-facing multi-conference "room" can be divided into as many as five separate spaces through articulated partition walls that fold up into the ceiling. Moreover, this space enjoys views of Mies' darkly austere TD Tower across the street. Divisible into four separate spaces, the opposite conference suite occupies the southwest corner of the 33rd floor, capturing glorious views of Lake Ontario.
The conventional image of a law firm as an old boys' club of tufted leather sofas, stinky cigars, 16-hour workdays and an insatiable appetite for billable hours is blown away here, for one could mistake the 33rd floor for a cool, contemporary art gallery. Torys has a long history of collecting art which began in the 1970s, but which really accelerated in the mid-'90s when they retained the services of art consultant Fela Grunwald. The firm communicates its progressive culture and creatively innovative approach to the practice of law through the acquisition and display of art and through its support of artists.
Consequently, the firm now owns over 400 pieces of cutting-edge contemporary Canadian art, much of which hangs on the walls of the lengthy corridors which form deliberately continuous loops of circulation. These white-walled corridors were designed extra-wide to provide the requisite distance from which to view the art, which further amplifies the gallery feel. Comprising all scales and types, the pieces hang at continuous intervals down the corridors, forming a pleasing rhythm as one moves through the space.
Capitalizing upon the role of art in the firm's identity, the renovation project presented an opportunity to commission fresh contemporary Canadian artwork to help define and embellish the folding partition walls in the aforementioned conference spaces. From submissions by five invited artists, pieces by Montreal-based Pascal Grandmaison and Toronto resident Robert Fones were selected. Grandmaison's massively scaled close-up photographs of an androgynous face are utterly captivating in the north conference area, and one doesn't know where to look: the photos or the fabulous view of the Mies tower to the north? In the south-facing conference zone, Fones adapts text from Miguel de Cervantes' Don Quixote and renders it in barely legible script, superimposing it over photographic images of a blue, blue Lake Ontario, echoing the exhilarating views of the same lake at the city's edge below.
Clearly, it is no longer sufficient to hire an architect to just design a nice office. The demands being made on design firms require a clear understanding and articulation of what the client represents and what that client chooses to communicate. The design for Agnico-Eagle Mines is very clear about tangibly referencing what the company's business is all about. In the Torys office, while the design is less literal, it does an excellent job of conveying the ideology of the firm, its process, and its identity. CA
To view the full article please visit http://www.cdnarchitect.com/issues/ISarticle.asp?aid=1000331714&PC