text:
Even though some AgProfessional readers don't like global warming or climate change ever mentioned. More and more publicity about the possibility of climate change is being generated and read by the general population. It still seems prudent to provide our business to business readers with the messages that are being written to influence voters, governments and policy makers around the world.
For example, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) issued research that indicates climate change could reduce world food production by 2 percent per decade through 2100. The IPCC was established in the late 1980s by the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
Then there is the report: Feeding the Planet in a Warming World, a report by The London School of Economics and the Information Technology & Innovation Foundation (ITIF).
"The report argues that we must focus on advancing research and development in plant and animal genetics and new agricultural practices to address the global food shortages that will be caused by climate change. The authors recommend policy reforms designed to dramatically increase government investment in agricultural research, development and deployment, while also transforming the regulatory framework for and increasing the use of genetically modified (GM) foods," as noted by William Dube, IFNF communications director for the Washington, D.C., organization.
"Climate change is a fact, and we need to focus public policy on adaptation strategies that can mitigate the impacts on systems such as agriculture," said Matthew Stepp, senior policy analyst with ITIF and co-author of the report.
Those who are proponents of biotechnology should take some pleasure that if weather change is occurring then biotechnology is a solution to keep agricultural production high and increasing. And does talk about climate change actually turn into a good thing for agricultural research funding, too?
To read the ITIF report click here.


text:
Jeremie wrote:Hello,
I intent to go on Vipassaná retreat. I am seeking a place with an environment suitable for meditation and with serious teachers speaking English.
In Burma, due to the fact that this country is to my knowledge the best place for it, and besides I have been learning Burmese for 3 years..
I went last year but I would like to find a better place than the one I was.
Can someone who knows about this recommend me a good meditation centre?
rowyourboat wrote:http://web.ukonline.co.uk/buddhism/mahasi.htm
I think this is the website.
With metta
Goofaholix wrote:I'd recommend Shwe Oo Min http://sayadawutejaniya.org/
Where did you go last time?
What was it about the place you went last time that makes you feel you need to find something better?
bazzaman wrote:rowyourboat wrote:Goofaholix wrote:ote]
Hi Goofaholix
Sayadaw U Tejaniya seems to teach Samatha/samadhi, according to my understanding of the term.
http://sayadawutejaniya.org/wp-content/ ... /8_tej.pdf
with metta
I think that U Tejaniya Sayadaw would probably not agree with your understanding of the term "samatha/samadhi".
The "method" he teaches is referred to as "cittanupassana"; and is one of the four foudations of mindfulness in the Satipatthana Vipassana "method".
rowyourboat wrote:Vipassana can be identified if the method gives rise to vipassana nana (insight knowledges) and not otherwise. Since there is no mention or even a hint of vipassana nana in Sayadaw U Tejaniya's teachings it leads me to the conclusion that he is teaching samatha/cittanupassana as you say (and his descriptions of the fruits of the practice fall squarely in the samatha camp).
rowyourboat wrote:He talks of curiosity- of mind states- but that is pretty mundane. There is no talk of vipassana nana.
I might be mistaken but I would be interested in seeing anything he has said/written about vipasana nana.
rowyourboat wrote:I know many teachers teach right effort and right mindfulness- the point is that these are the foundation practices for both vipassana and samatha. For vipassana to get off the ground there must be sustained, persistant awareness of the impermanence of stimuli arising in the 6 sense bases. Everything else falls into the samatha samadhi camp.
rowyourboat wrote:I dont know if you know this but there is a qualitative difference in what people like Joesph Goldstein talk about. It is the shift in emphasis, their style -something which is difficult to express really... that lead me to my observations. With some people you know instantly that that person has been through the vipassana nanas by what they communicate when they discuss the dhamma. With Samatha teachers it is also distinct in the way they talk about the dhamma. A more concrete way of noting the difference is reading what they have said (if anything at all) about vipassana nana. Sometimes there is a grey area (a superficial one at least) where samatha teachers are simply talking about anicca, dukkha, anatta ..because they have to at some point... There is a lack of depth and it smells of old manuscript rather than personal experience..
In any case I am fairly sure that my observations on the matter are 'on the money'. It is the difference between a teenager talking about the hardships of having to earn a living vs a jobbing dad talking about it.
Interesting what seems to be implied here, but interestingly these comments are suggesting something about you. Do we want to go there?rowyourboat wrote:There is a lack of depth and it smells of old manuscript rather than personal experience..
In any case I am fairly sure that my observations on the matter are 'on the money'. It is the difference between a teenager talking about the hardships of having to earn a living vs a jobbing dad talking about it.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Congress Passes Payroll Tax Cut Extension
This morning, Congress passed and President Obama signed into law the extension of the payroll tax cut, ensuring millions of Americans won't see their taxes go up on the first of the year. Speaking from the White House, President Obama said:
Because of this agreement, every working American will keep their tax cut—about $1,000 for a typical family. And that translates into an extra $40 or so in every paycheck. Vital unemployment insurance will continue for millions of Americans who are looking for work. And when Congress returns, I urge them to keep working, without drama, without delay, to reach an agreement that extends this tax cut as well as unemployment insurance through all of 2012.
Last week, I said that this should be a formality, and that's still the case. So let's make sure that we extend this tax break and unemployment insurance for a full year for our families, but also for our economy. It's the right thing to do because more money spent by more Americans means more businesses hiring more workers. And that's a boost for everybody, and it's a boost that we very much need right now.
Finally, I want to take a moment to thank my fellow Americans for bringing their voices to this debate. I met with several here at the White House yesterday. I really think it takes courage to believe that your voice can make a difference. And I promise you, the American people, your voices made a difference on this debate. Whether you tweeted or called or wrote, you reminded people in this town what this debate and what all of our debates should be about—it's about you. It's about your lives. It's about your families. You didn't send us to this town to play partisan games, and to see who's up and who's down. You sent us here to serve and make your lives a little bit better; to do what's right. And fortunately, that's how this week ended.
So I want to wish everybody a Merry Christmas, happy holidays, a happy New Year to you and your families ... I also want to make sure to send the warmest holiday wishes to all the men and women in uniform who are serving overseas right now and may not have a chance to see their families during this holiday season. We are grateful for everything that you do.


text:
Mail: Southern statues symbolize suppession
Mail: Thanks for helping Aiden
More opinion
Fall: Good time to spray musk thistle in rosette stage
Robertson and Delsing re-elected chair, vice chair of NWB
More Ag News
The North Platte High School volleyball team played its best when it mattered on Thursday by beating Aurora in five sets at the Dawg House.
"This was a big win for us," said Miller. "It's a good confidence booster."
The first two sets went down to the wire. Aurora (6-3) won the first set and North Platte (2-3) got the second.
In the first two sets, NPHS couldn't get on track offensively because setters Allison Sawyer and Alex Neff didn't receive strong passes.
Miller said that passing has been one of the biggest question marks for the Lady Bulldogs so far this season.
"We're pretty good if we can pass," she said. "If we can get good passes, we can get a good set and we can usually get a good hit."
After winning the second set on a kill by Anna Allberry, the Lady Dawgs fell apart in the third set. Aurora took a 13-7 lead after Maggie Grosshans served for three straight points and North Platte couldn't regain their composure. The Huskies led by as much as 21-10 in the third.
"We came out really flat after winning the second set," Miller said. "Our passing broke down again."
But the Bulldogs put it behind them in the fourth set. They got a good start, going up 5-2. Aurora came back to tie at 13 and both teams battled for the next few points.
NPHS was still able to rebuild the lead to 18-15 after a tip by Neff that followed a kill by fellow freshman Olivia Nichelson. Then the Lady Bulldogs finished it off with senior Kylie Wroot coming on strong at the net to bring it to the deciding fifth set.
North Platte won the first two points of the fifth and then the Huskies won the next two plays to tie it up.
Both teams traded points until freshman Allison Kuenle made a kill to give the Dawgs a 7-6 lead. Then Kuenle, another freshman, made the next two kills to give NPHS a 9-6 lead.
The three points scored by Kuenle were followed up by two more with Jessy Hunt making a block and Jackie Paloucek coming up with a kill to make it 11-6.
The Lady Dawgs only allowed one more point before getting matchpoint at 14-7. Aurora fought them off a couple of times. But it was Kuenle who ended the game with another big kill, hitting one across the court from the right side that Aurora knocked out of play.
"They're fighters," said Miller. "They came together and stepped up when they needed to."
North Platte had a good balance in its attack with three players getting double digits in kills. Kuenle led the way with 15 kills. Wroot had 12 and Allberry followed with 10. Nicholson also had six and Paloucek had four coming off the bench.
Flatrock Publishing, Inc.
1300 E 4th St., Suite F
North Platte, NE 69101


text: Here is a old photo of me in 1962 with a Montana buck. My dad would take my brother and me out of school for two or three weeks every fall to hunt starting in 1961. I missed a few years while in college but I still love to get out-of-state every year. Tougher now with the tag situation. Still, the highlight of my year.


text:
NetWellness is a global, community service providing quality, unbiased health information from our partner university faculty. NetWellness is commercial-free and does not accept advertising.
Friday, September 22, 2017
Oral Cancer
Mouth cancer and inhaler
Is there a link between taking an asthma inhaler and developing mouth cancer or any form of cancer?
There is not a known defined risk that I am aware of connecting inhaler use with oral cancer.
Amit Agrawal, MD
Associate Professor of Otolaryngology
College of Medicine
The Ohio State University


text:
Submit News
Report: Apple's Steve Jobs Received Liver Transplant and is Recovering
Jason Mick
June 20, 2009 11:45 AM
Recipient E-mail
Sender E-mail
Apple observers noticed that CEO Steve Jobs' health dramatically decreased in 2008. Mr. Jobs reportedly has received a liver transplant and is currently recovering, eagerly awaiting a return to Apple at the month's end.
(Source: WSJ)
Apple's CEO and cofounder hopes to put his health problems behind him
Founding one of tech industry's biggest players -- Apple -- and personally turning the company around in the late nineties was nothing compared to the challenge that Apple CEO Steve Jobs faced in 2004. Battling a rare and deadly form of pancreatic cancer, Mr. Jobs recovered thanks to surgery and reassumed his leadership role at the company, integrally helping to conceive, develop and release hit products such as the iPhone and MacBook Air.
Last year, though, many observers took note that Mr. Jobs looked sickly at public appearances. Sure enough, in January of this year he took
medical leave
, announcing he would be gone from Apple on medical leave until the end of June. In his absence Apple Chief Operating Officer Timothy Cook took over many of the day to day duties.
Now details of Mr. Jobs' medical battle, veiled in secrecy, have at last emerged. According to a
by the
Wall Street Journal
Mr. Jobs received a liver transplant in Tennessee two months ago. Mr. Jobs had earlier this year had relocated from California to Tennessee, a state known for having a shorter waiting list for organ transplants. At the time
had reported that Mr. Jobs was applying for a liver transplant.
Apple spokespeople contacted by the
to seek confirmation of the sourced reports refused to comment, merely reiterating that Apple "continues to look forward to returning at the end of June, and there's nothing further to say." According to the
report, COO Cook may take over additional roles to help Mr. Jobs during his recovery.
Earlier this year it was discovered that Mr. Jobs was receiving hormone therapy. Reportedly he was unable to digest food properly and receive nutrients. The liver is an integral part of hormone production, and also produces bile, needed for digestion. The liver is very sensitive to toxins, and can be damaged by chemotherapy, which Mr. Jobs likely received during his cancer treatment.
Liver transplant recipients have a 58 percent chance of surviving 15 years. Liver transplants have been performed since 1967; the liver was the second organ to be successfully transplanted, with the kidneys being the first.
Mr. Jobs is currently 54. Apple fans are eagerly awaiting
his return
, as he has always pushed the company and given it a
creative spark
. Apple released its latest hot offering -- the iPhone 3G S --
this Friday
. Apple also announced new MacBook Pros, detailed its new OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard), and revealed Quicktime X. Speculation has already begun that the company is preparing a major refresh to its iPod lineup for the fall.
"Can anyone tell me what MobileMe is supposed to do?... So why the f*** doesn't it do that?" -- Steve Jobs
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Kristopher Kubicki


text:
'Though he's pondered retirement in recent years, Jeanneret can't go yet. Whatever happens on the ice, the 64-year-old Jeanneret is signed through the end of next season. Hockey superagent Don Meehan used to negotiate his deals, but he's his own rep now. "Yes, I got a raise," he says. "No, I'm not going to tell you what I make." Jeanneret has had other offers. Specifically, from two American teams who still have the same announcers, Jeanneret says. He said no.'
You are here: Home / SabresBeat / He speaks…he scorrrrres!!!


text:
DARRENERS will be dancing in the streets as organisers put the finishing touches to Darwen Dance Live.
Up to £4,000 of town council cash will be splashed on the event on Friday and Saturday, July 5 and 6.
Town councillor Vicky Rothwell, who runs the Dance Crazy Theatre School at Spring Vale Studios in Watery Lane, has spearheaded the event, which follows a successful first dance festival in the town last year.
Celebrity guests at the event will include Jeffrey Felicimo, a backing dancer for top bands JLS and Little Mix, and Turbo, who was a finalist on Got To Dance on Sky TV hosted by Davina McCall.
And organisers said there would be something for everyone, with activities aimed at all age groups.
Dance workshops will be held throughout the weekend, with styles including zumba, ballet, pole exercise, morris dancing, tap dancing and street dance including house, hip hop and break dancing.
Coun Rothwell said: "The dance festival is really important in bringing the community together.
"It gives children who may not have the same opportunities as others to get involved in all genres of dance and performing arts.
"It will also give the community a chance to see things they do not necessarily know are going on in the town.
"Hopefully, it will bring business to the town and show what we can do as a community. Dancing is really important for fitness as well as general health and wellbeing.
"This is yet another great event for the town made possible by the town council and we hope to grow it even more next year."
The fun gets underway on Friday with an event at Darwen Vale High School from 6.30pm, which will feature performances from local schools and dance troupes, as well as celebrity guests Turbo who will give a workshop and demonstration.
Then on the Saturday venues across the town will host workshops, including Derwent Hall in George Street which will host ballroom classes aimed at the over-50s.
Other venues include Darwen Youth Centre in Knott Street, Darwen Aldridge Community Academy and Spring Vale Studios. Anyone wishing to host workshops in their premises can contact organisers at dancecrazystudios@ outlook.com


text:
My brother and I had an interesting discussion today about what rules could be brought over from the International Basketball Game to make the NBA a more interesting game. I think many who watched came away with the feeling that the Olympic style of basketball is more fun to watch than the NBA and there are several rules differences.
I personally would love to see the rule where you could play the ball in the cylinder after it touches the rim. I was surprised that this was not used more often on the defensive side. This would put emphasis on the defensive side, but it could be fun.
My brother wants to see an elimination of the defensive 3 second rule, calling of the offensive 3 second rule and a trapazoidal lane so that you can play zone and post players have to take a step or two further from the rim. He doesn't like that the game stops on every possession while your biggest player posts up and everyone waits for him to get the ball.
What rule change would your like to see put into the NBA book to make things more interesting?


text:
Fairfax County's DTV Conversion Volunteers Recognized
Contact for News Media:
Grace Lynch, Communications Manager
Adult and Aging Division
November 16, 2009
(First row, L-R) Scott T. Bennyhoff, Len Pfeifer, Herb Wong, Board of Supervisors Chairman Sharon Bulova,
Volunteer Solutions Director Ruth Reagan, Supervisor Pat Herrity, Elliott (Pete) Brown, John Peters,
Randall (Scotty) Scott. (Glenn Willis is not in the photo.) (Back row, L-R) Supervisors Catherine Hudgins,
Michael Frey, John Cook, Penelope Gross, John Foust, and Linda Q. Smith.
Fairfax County DTV Conversion Volunteers Recognized for Helping Older Adults and Adults with Disabilities
Volunteers with Fairfax County's Volunteer Solutions were recognized by the Board of Supervisors for helping older adults and adults with disabilities prepare for the nationwide change to digital formatted television. The volunteers installed TV conversion equipment into nearly 200 homes throughout the county.
The board recognized the volunteers during its November 16 meeting. Randall (Scotty) Scott, John Peters, Herb Wong, Elliott (Pete) Brown, Len Pfeifer, Scott T. Bennyhoff and Glenn Willis provided over 750 hours of volunteer time.
Their efforts helped people, who would not have been able to convert their televisions without assistance, continue to have TV access. During the presentation, Volunteer Solutions Director Ruth Reagan read part of a thank-you letter from one of the recipients:
"Sometimes we are blessed to meet special people. The volunteer who came to my home to attach a box to my 15-year-old TV is just such a person. I am 96 years old and my sister, who lives with me, is 99. We are now enjoying our favorite TV programs."
The Volunteer DTV Conversion project was a joint project of the Department of Family Services' Volunteer Solutions program and the Department of Cable Communications and Consumer Protection. The National Association of Area Agencies on Aging provided partial funding.
Volunteer Solutions is part of the Department of Family Service's Division of Adult and Aging Services. Visit services for older adults, or call 703-324-7948, TTY 703-449-1186.
The Volunteer Solutions program aligns with the Fairfax 50+ Action Plan.
Department of Family Services
Division of Adult and Aging Services
12011 Government Center Parkway, Suite 708
Fairfax, Virginia 22035-1104


text:
Write a letter and get the word out
We've put together a quick and easy tool you can use to write your favorite national newspaper and express your support for the Buffett Rule.
It's vital to speak out whenever and wherever you can—and writing a letter to the editor is a great way to reach thousands of people. Let them know why you support President Obama's efforts to make sure millionaires and billionaires pay their fair share in taxes.
The letter writing tool has all the resources you need—including a sample letter, talking points, and tips on getting your piece into print. If you're new to this kind of thing, it will help you get your point across. If you're an old hand, it's a great way to make your letter even stronger.
Get started now—it's only days until the Buffett Rule goes up for a vote in Congress.


text:
Event: Kangana Ranaut showcased traditional yet unconventional jewellery on the ramp at the India International Jewellery Week 2011 (IIJW).
Guest List: Kangna Ranaut, Roshni Chopra, Nethra Raghuraman
Venue: Grand Hyatt, Mumbai
Date: 31-Jul-2011
Bollywood celebs Yami Gautam and Bhumi Pednekar sizzled the ramp at IIJW Day 2.
Bollywood celebs Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Divya Dutta, Sudhir Mishra, Javed Akhtar, Shabana Azmi, Swara Bhaskar among others were snapped at Jagran Film Festival Award Ceremony.
Bollywood actor Aamir Khan celebrated Navratri festival in Vadodra.
Bollywood actress Sridevi's daughter Jahnavi Kapoor was spotted outside dance class.
Bollywood celebs Sidharth Malhotra, Arbaaz Khan and Ileana D'Cruz were spotted at Bandra.


text:
An update on police activities last week included a sliver of good news for Los Altos homeowners – burglaries are down in the early part of the city's current fiscal year.
Police Chief Tuck Younis reported to the Los Altos City Council that 14 burglaries occurred in the city during the first quarter of the 2013-2014 fiscal year, 18 less than the previous year during the same time period. He added that the second quarter of this year is tracking "about the same" as 2012-2013.
Still, Younis told the Town Crier that he's taking a cautious approach to the news. Overall, he noted, crime increased nearly 13 percent in the city in 2012. In the county, 2012 crime bumped up 18 percent.
"Right now it's probably too early to call this a downward trend, but it is encouraging," he said.
According to Younis, the 2012-2013 fiscal year saw 118 burglaries in the city, 73 more than the previous year – a bump he called "a very significant increase for us."
On a calendar-year basis, the city showed a spike of 37 burglary incidents in 2012. Younis, however, noted that the lopsided numbers were partly attributable to a 13-year low in burglary crimes reported in 2011.
Younis' revelation was part of a larger update to the city council about the state of police affairs in the city.
He highlighted the department's overhauled and user-friendly website – which occurred as part of the city's overall website redesign earlier this year and increased social media efforts to better engage residents.
"It's just another opportunity to get feedback from the community and engage in dialogue," he said, adding that residents can also receive neighborhood crime news via mobile apps like crimereports.com.
Younis pointed out that residents could now file online traffic and code enforcement complaints through the redesigned site.
"We feel that our best asset in our crime-fighting efforts is our community," Younis told the council. "An engaged community, a community that knows what's going on in their neighborhoods, is best for us."
Finally, Younis added that a new tri-city computer-aided dispatch and records management system, which includes the cities of Mountain View and Palo Alto, is slated to roll out in February. The department's dispatchers are scheduled to begin training on the shared system this week.


text:
I know for years I've had a lot of trouble with my AT&T connection inside of that building during the game. I also know that until a year or two ago they had Verizon sponsors (the ads that surrounded the speakers in the rafters). I was just curious to know if Verizon phones have an easier time getting signal in that building versus AT&T?
I'm going to be updating to the new iPhone that comes out later this month, so I thought maybe I should consider switching if everything else is equal.


text:
Shia LaBeouf After Breakup From Karolyn Pho | Pictures
Shia Fuels Up on Gas and Caffeine Post-Breakup
Shia LaBeouf was in Hollywood today, gassing up his truck and getting some coffee to go before heading to work at a nearby studio. Shia reportedly split from his girlfriend Karolyn Pho, whom he dated for about two years, recently.
Karolyn joined Shia at the premiere of Lawless in LA in late August, but he was solo in September as he made the rounds in Europe to promote two other projects, The Company You Keep and Nymphomaniac. Shia's role in Nymphomaniac has been a hot topic since he signed on for the film, with both Shia and director Lars von Trier suggesting that the movie's sex scenes will be real rather than simulated. Over the Thanksgiving weekend, Shia was spotted hitting up a Starbucks with his costar in the movie, Mia Goth, adding fuel to the rumors that they've struck up an offscreen romance.


text:
I decided to make time to put a fun Banner Quilt together and 4 days later, I had it almost done!
I was inspired by Rylee's Quilt, although it's a smaller girl version.
The front is a flat sheet from Ikea, the backing is half of a duvet cover also from Ikea... both already in my stash! I didn't spend a single dime on new fabric for this quilt, woohoo!
(oooh tomorrow I hope to post about a bunting tote bag I just finished too!)
Finished Size: 62" x 76"
Uses: rough-housing, tent building, dragging around, wrestling on, cuddling under, and picnicking
Thanks to my little sister, Carla, for allowing me to play with her fancy SLR camera - I want one!!! It shoots like butter, er, slices like butter, or shoots like an NBA player? Its a sweet camera, end of story.


text:
Ceramic Hummingbird Feeder
This item is currently not available.
Additional Information
Colorful Ceramic Feeder Attracts Hummingbirds
- Provide a food source to these colorful garden visitors
- Feeder adds a splash of color to your landscape
- Includes metal hanger; ready to hang and enjoy
Enjoy the energetic antics of hummingbirds up close with this colorful, glazed ceramic feeder. Bright painted flowers direct the birds to the three feeding ports. The wide opening and flat bottom make it easy to fill.
Product Details
- Glazed ceramic
- 5" in diameter x 3-1/2" H
- Includes 6" metal hanger
- Holds 1-1/2 cups of nectar
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®by PowerReviews
Best Uses
- Was this a gift?:
- No (6)
Reviewed by 7 customers
- Colorful
- Original
- Very decorative
- none
Best Uses
- Focal point in the garden
I bought 2 as gifts at Christmas time. Both recipients thought they were lovely & would make
a colorful addition to their garden.
- Was this a gift?:
- Yes
- Different
- Pretty
Best Uses
- New Addition To My Yard
Adding a new area to my yard next Spring and this along with the matching birdbath will be a perfect touch
- Was this a gift?:
- No
- Birds Used It Frequently
- Easy to fill
- Breakable
- Insects Sometimes Get In
Best Uses
- Hang In Sheltered Spot
Our hummingbirds used it all the time. Definitely should hang in sheltered spot away from full sun and rain. Had to re-crimp a wire on the hanger, but it's beautiful, easy to use and worth the sale price. I wish it was made in U.S.A. Raccoons finally broke mine by knocking it off hook, but I plan to buy another.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
- Easy to fill
- Hummers Love It
- Bottom Not Painted
- Fills Up With Rain Water
Best Uses
- Hummingbird Feeder
It's different than the usual feeder. The hummers like it and it's really easy to fill. Looking at it from below (which normally happens) I wish they had continued the paint on the bottom of the feeder. I fixed the filling up with rain water problem by hanging it under an eave on the house.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
- Lid Is Not Secure
Best Uses
The lid has a short ledge that goes into the base. It needs a long one so that if it is windy, even a little windy, it wont fall off.
In addition the wire hanging system is not good. I can only use it as a decorative accessory.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
- Needs Seating Area
- Hummers Like To Sitrest
Best Uses
Have two hummer feeders, hummers go to the old one.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
- Attractive easy to use
- Easy to clean
- Simple
- Rain Water Dilutes Nectar
Best Uses
The humming birds like them.
- Was this a gift?:
- No


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A few years ago, I was having a conversation with the editor at a different financial website, and she asked what I considered a stupendously ridiculous question: "What is your favorite stock?"
I was momentarily shocked by the question, but when I regained my composure, I realized that this is exactly the way many long-term investors have been conditioned to think about their holdings. Exxon Mobil (XOM) gets treated like a family heirloom rather than a vehicle for investing against future liabilities. Apple (AAPL) -- until recently, anyway -- was treated as a magical treasure, something pre-destined to only go up, up, up.
Of course, this is the exact opposite approach of over-trading, something else that too many have gotten caught up in. (Oddly, the same people often maintain a buy-and-hold and "trade, trade, trade" mentality simultaneously.)
So where am I going with this? Just that I was noticing that my scans of large-cap leaders and top-performing recent IPOs hail from a variety of sectors (although medicals and financials are well represented at the moment). I was reflecting on the way that many investors mistakenly focus on a particular sector or industry as being "hot" or having potential, and throw too much money into one small area of the market.
Let's take a look at a relatively boring yet fairly solid sector: consumer discretionary. So far in February, the S&P large-cap sector is up 2.03%, behind only industrials, financials and consumer staples.
An outstanding earnings performer has been TJX (TJX), the parent company of T.J. Maxx, Marshalls and HomeGoods. The stock is not currently in the ranks of those that are outpacing the market in terms of price appreciation, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Buying at or near new highs often means experiencing a pullback right after making your purchase. That type of movement understandably spooks many investors and traders, resulting in a sale -- at a loss -- that comes just before the stock rebounds again.
I'm not as much of a fan of "buy at highs" trading as I once was, partly because the inevitable pullbacks shake out too many traders prematurely. So a stock such as TJX, which is consolidating in a technically healthy manner below a prior high, becomes a viable buy-list or watch-list candidate.
The company reports fourth-quarter results on Feb. 27, before the bell. Analysts expect income of $0.81 per share on revenue of $7.65 billion. Those would mark year-over-year gains.
I started out this column by noting that I have no "favorites" when it comes to stocks or sectors (I still shake my head about that absurd question). With that caveat in mind, I have continued to see potential in the consumer discretionary sector. I know there are plenty of theses going around regarding the payroll tax increase, higher gas prices and other possible hurdles to increased consumer spending.
But I'm optimistic (if that is the right word) about the 30,000-foot thesis: Consumers in the U.S. and in other parts of the developed world love our stuff. We are accustomed to buying the latest and greatest gear. Some of it we'll pay up for, other stuff we expect to get at ever-lower prices. But we love to buy stuff.
There may be some blips along the way, and quarters that disappoint. And there are always companies and manufacturers that fail to execute properly or fail to respond to changing market conditions -- Best Buy (BBY), anyone?
While plenty of companies that can't keep up with the times are quick to blame "the economy" for their own shortcomings, others rise to the occasion.
In my next article, I will take a look at some more consumer discretionary large-caps that continue to show potential.


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Chairman Leahy and Ranking Member Graham, Members of the Subcommittee, thank you for having me here today. Let me first take a moment to express my appreciation for your ongoing and steadfast support for foreign assistance and in support of children throughout the world.
In his State of the Union address, President Barack Obama reaffirmed America's commitment to global development. In an inspiring challenge, he said:
"We also know that progress in the most impoverished parts of our world enriches us all. In many places, people live on little more than a dollar a day. So the United States will join with our allies to eradicate such extreme poverty in the next two decades: by connecting more people to the global economy and empowering women; by giving our young and brightest minds new opportunities to serve and helping communities to feed, power, and educate themselves; by saving the world's children from preventable deaths; and by realizing the promise of an AIDS-free generation."
If we are to achieve this objective, we know that healthy mothers and children are the key.
USAID makes critical contributions to the U.S. Government's work to aid children in adversity. Our work to help children to first survive, then thrive, is an important piece of the efforts being coordinated under the recently-released U.S. Government Action Plan for Children in Adversity. The action plan represents the work of more than seven different agencies across the government—and is one of finest examples of interagency collaboration and coordination in recent years.
USAID's Global Health programs focus on ensuring child survival and basic health. USAID's foreign disaster assistance program works to protect the health and welfare of children in disaster situations, an especially acute form of adversity. USAID's Displaced Children and Orphans Fund program prevents family separation, promotes family-based alternatives to institutional care for children, and reduces other protection risks for children through strengthening the capacities of families, communities and governments to care for children.
Together, our global health, humanitarian and disaster assistance programs, along with our broader development efforts, directly contribute to achieving the principal objectives of the Action Plan for Children in Adversity: building strong beginnings, putting families first, and protecting children from violence, exploitation, and neglect.
Strong Beginnings
The effort to strengthen our support for children in adversity begins by ensuring that all children live to celebrate their 5th birthday.
Nearly 30 years ago, USAID and UNICEF, with the support of the U.S. Congress, launched a "child survival revolution" aimed at reducing the number of deaths among young children in developing countries. Back then, every year, almost 15 million children under age 5 died from common preventable diseases. Without action, that number today would be about 17 million. Instead, by 2011 it had dropped to 6.9 million – still a shocking figure, but arguably the lowest level in my lifetime.
Almost a year ago in June, the Governments of the United States, Ethiopia and India, in close cooperation with UNICEF, held a Child Survival Call to Action in Washington D.C. World leaders embraced the strategic shifts necessary to speed up progress in reducing preventable child deaths, including: increasing efforts in the countries where most deaths occur; focusing on vulnerable populations; investing in high impact solutions to address the main causes of mortality; and supporting a strong enabling environment for women, including education and empowerment.
Since the Call to Action event, 172 countries have signed the A Promise Renewed pledge to accelerate declines in child deaths, with a goal of all countries having fewer than 20 deaths per 1000 live births by 2035. More than 400 civil society and faith-based organizations and more than 2,000 individuals also pledged support. Each signature represents a renewed commitment to give every child the best possible start in life.
Healthy children need healthy mothers. Global health programs are working to combat the majority of these preventable maternal deaths. We help women have children when her body is healthiest for pregnancy. We provide pregnant mothers with quality antenatal care and nutrition and with cost-effective interventions that target the preventable complications of pregnancy and birth.
USAID has contributed to better care for childbearing women by training midwives as primary health care providers and introducing a results-based financing scheme to increase coverage of assisted deliveries throughout countries such as Afghanistan, and we are seeing much success. This is one reason why the average life expectancy for women has increased by 15 years in Afghanistan over the past decade. Ten years ago, Afghanistan's maternal mortality was estimated to be among the highest in the world. Despite years of conflict and insecurity, today 60 percent of women receive prenatal care (compared to 16 percent in 2003), one third of women deliver with a skilled birth attendant, and the level of maternal mortality is approaching other countries in the region.
Roughly 40 percent of all child deaths occur in the first month of life. Up to two-thirds of these deaths can be prevented through existing effective interventions delivered during pregnancy, childbirth and in the first hours, days and week after birth. USAID is developing and testing simple, low-cost approaches to prevent death and treat severe illness in newborns in low-resource settings with limited access to quality facility-based care.
USAID's newborn health programs provide training and improve policies for delivering high-impact interventions like immediate and exclusive breastfeeding, warmth, clean cord care, resuscitation, and antibiotics. In Bangladesh, Nepal, Rwanda, and Malawi, USAID supports successful community-based newborn health programs that are linked to strengthened health facilities.
USAID invests in vaccine research directed at major killers of children and research to develop innovative vaccine delivery models. To help end preventable child deaths from pneumonia and diarrhea, USAID is supporting the introduction of pneumococcal and rotavirus vaccines, to children most in need.
Thanks to support from USAID and partners, more than 100 million children receive a set of basic immunizations each year, and tens of millions more receive supplemental immunizations against polio, measles, and other killer diseases.
In the early 2000s in Kenya, a partnership between USAID and the Kenyan Ministry of Health addressed the needs of each district and focused on systems issues. Our support helped to increase immunization coverage from 76 percent in 2005 to nearly 88 percent in 2011.
Investments in nutrition are some of the most powerful and cost-effective in global development. Good nutrition during the critical 1,000-day window from pregnancy to a child's second birthday is crucial to developing a child's cognitive capacity and physical growth.
In some countries half of all children are chronically undernourished or "stunted." I recently traveled to Guatemala and to Bangladesh, where such stunting levels for children under five are 48 and 43 percent respectively.
Undernutrition is an underlying killer of more than 2.6 million children and more than 100,000 mothers every year. Sustained poor nutrition weakens immune systems, making children and adults more likely to die of diarrhea or pneumonia. Ensuring a child receives adequate nutrition during this window can yield dividends for a lifetime. A well-nourished child will perform better in school, more effectively fight off disease and earn more as an adult.
In 2012, USAID reached more than 12 million children under five through nutrition programs such as micronutrient supplementation and food fortification, anemia reduction, and the treatment of acute malnutrition.
The financial and technical contributions of the President's Malaria Initiative (PMI) are the major catalyst in the remarkable progress that has been achieved over the last seven years. Of the twelve PMI focus countries (Angola, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia), where baseline and follow up health surveys with data on childhood mortality have been conducted, all-cause mortality rates among children under five have dropped by 16 percent (in Malawi) to 50 percent (in Rwanda).
Early childhood health and development links health and survival with the young child's cognitive, social/emotional, language, and motor development. The mix of effective, proven health interventions and stable and supportive caregiving helps break cycles of poverty and inequality. Over the last year, USAID, together with UNICEF, CDC, and NIH has been undertaking an evidence review process on effective social and behavior change interventions to achieve child survival and development. We are hosting an evidence summit next month to report the findings on how best to promote child survival and development through population-level behavior change. These findings will inform an evidence-to-action strategy.
Putting Families First
USAID supports programs to identify children who are separated from their families in crisis situations and care for them while their families are traced and until children can be reunited with their caregivers. USAID supports efforts like these in Mali, DRC, and other crises situations.
In the aftermath of the devastating earthquake in Haiti, we implemented emergency family tracing programs to reunite children with their parents. And this past year in the Horn of Africa, when the worst drought in 60 years sent tens of thousands of families fleeing, we helped establish a single database that multiple partners across different refugee camps could use to identify and reunite separated and unaccompanied children.
To preserve families, USAID sets up safe, child-friendly spaces in IDP camps, where children can receive on-site food and water and join classes and activities, and changes community attitudes about the stigma of rape through door-to-door outreach.
The impacts of illness, conflict, poverty, and lack of access to basic services seriously undermine families' abilities to care for their children. For some children the result is family separation and their living outside of family care, whether on the streets or in institutions or in exploitive labor situations away from the protective care of families. These children face increased risks of violence, abuse, exploitation and insufficient access to the emotional and developmental support they need.
USAID's Displaced Children and Orphans Fund (DCOF) provides financial and technical assistance to programs benefiting children in vulnerable households and outside of family care, including children living on the streets and in residential care, in more than forty-five countries.
DCOF programs prevent family separation, promote family-based alternatives to institutional care for children, facilitate de-institutionalization, and reduce other protection risks for children through strengthening the capacities of families, communities and governments to care for children. DCOF supports innovative programs that promote household economic strengthening with caregiving support, including education on child protection risks and prevention strategies. DCOF leverages its resources through a learning agenda aimed at influencing and improving the state of the art in programming for children in adversity who lack adequate family care.
Last year, DCOF support resulted in over 3,000 children directly moved from institutional or orphanage settings into family-based care alternatives. To strengthen child protection systems DCOF worked to help governments and civil society partners develop and apply relevant national child protection legislation and policies, strengthen coordination among key actors, develop information systems to identify and monitor children at risk, build social service workforce capacities, strengthen community capacities to identify vulnerable children and increase their access to protective interventions. In FY12 over 550 social workers or government child welfare staff was formally trained and thousands of parents received coaching and mentoring. In Belarus alone, 1,208 foster/adoptive parents from 45 local communities were trained in parenting skills and 216 children were placed within these families.
For USAID, strengthening families is a top priority—whether that means providing cash transfers in times of hardship or linking families to support networks.
Nyepue Bondo is a widow and a mother of five children in Bong Country, Liberia and a participant in the DCOF-funded "Agriculture for Children's Empowerment" (ACE) project. Before joining the project, Nyepue grew vegetables on a small scale. With inadequate farming skills the results of her work did not yield sufficient vegetables for her to sell and adequately support her family. The project trained her how to do nursery preparation, planting in line, weeding on time and how to keep farm records. After one year in the project, Nyepue generated $371 from vegetable sales. Part of her income was used to pay for her children's school expenses and to start a small dry goods business.
In Burundi, we've developed a three-year randomized impact evaluation to explore how village savings and loans associations and family counseling could reduce poverty and nurture families. Results from the mid-term evaluation are in—and it is already clear that these combined interventions led to a 20 percent increase in the amount the household spends—a key indicator of welfare. And cases of harsh discipline—like hitting a child with a stick—fell by 64 percent.
Protecting Children
A 2011 report on global funding for child protection in humanitarian crises found that in 2009 the US Government was the single largest donor for humanitarian child protection programming.
In FY 2012, USAID funded 26 humanitarian assistance programs to address child protection for especially vulnerable children in 10 countries affected by disasters and conflicts. USAID invests in innovative technologies and capacity building initiatives to facilitate rapid, high quality responses for separated children, and other highly vulnerable girls and boys in the wake of conflict and disaster.
USAID works with children remaining within family care in crises to support them, their families, and their communities with holistic assistance. For example, to rapidly restart education in crisis-affected communities by providing school supplies and repairs to school buildings. We support safe recreational activities for children - places where they can play with their peers and be watched over by trained, caring adults or older children.
To ensure children's survival when faced with life-threatening crises, USAID also supports maternal and child health care, nutrition supplements for malnourished children, clean water, sanitation, hygiene materials, shelter, food, and blankets.
USAID supports the roll-out of the newly developed Minimum Standards for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action. These standards provide guidance for all types of humanitarian interventions on how to ensure that children's unique needs are met, and that they are protected from harm, exploitation, and abuse.
Across the world today, 5.5 million children are engaged in forced labor. Roughly 300,000 children serve as soldiers for rebel and government forces. And disturbingly large numbers of children—150 million girls and 73 million boys—have experienced rape or other forms of sexual violence.
USAID is harnessing the power of science and technology and the creativity of problem-solvers everywhere to end the enduring outrage of human trafficking and prevent and respond to atrocities—whether it is a new mobile app to help locate children and reunite them with their family in a crisis or a new monitoring tool that helps governments remain accountable to their citizens.
In closing, for USAID, support to children in adversity starts with making sure they are planned and spaced, their mothers well-nourished, and they grow and flourish in the womb.
It continues with saving their lives at birth, along with that of their mothers. And it goes on, making sure they are fed, kept warm, and protected from vaccine-preventable diseases through vaccines, rehydrated from diarrhea, kept safe from mosquitos, and given the right care at the right time when they are sick.
Finally, our support preserves families and protects children in crisis situations and ultimately contributes to the economic growth and development needed to create a future with many positive possibilities.
This is the vision our programs strive for.
I appreciate the opportunity to testify today and look forward to your questions.
Last updated: May 23, 2013


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I have visited Morecambe many time, I usually enjoy such visits, but especially when the weather is sunny.
The Eric Morecambe statue, now once again fully restored, is the main focal point of a town which once thrived and possibly put it's near neighbour, Blackpool, in the shade.
It has to be admitted that the 'inland' areas where the main shopping centre and market are located, leave something to be desired. They are in fact, quite tacky and could do with some much needed refurbishment, but I have in fact heard that this is indeed likely to actually happen in the near future.
My favourite places to visit are the King's Arms' - where you can sit and have a value meal while looking out over the bay.I also love having a malted coffee in one of the seafront cafes, same can be said of the wonderful ice creams.
It is definitely worth having a camera handy, as Morecambe usually offers splendid views across the bay, and sometimes when you look closely you can sea a variety of seabirds inc. oystercatchers etc.
There are lots of hotels, and also a few campsites if you fancy a break. There are arcades for the children, and one of the great highlights for myself was a visit to Happymount park, which, admittedly, is some distance away from the promenade in the centre of Morecambe if you happen to be on foot. But it's worth the walk, and is a great place to take your family.
When we had a few days staying in Carnforth recently we popped in Morecambe a couple of times as it is only about 10 minutes away by car.
Morecambe is on Morecambe bay on the western side of the UK and is quite a popular seaside resort for those living in the north of England. The bay is huge and is well known for its erratic tides which sadly caught the cockle collectors unaware and twenty one were drowned in 2004. If you are looking over the bay while walking along the promenade it is a splendid sight and seems to go on for miles. On a clear day you can see right across the bay and also out to sea but sadly on this visit we had rain and drizzle and could not see very far at all. Previously we visited in summer and then the views are quite different with blue skies and sunshine everywhere looks better.
Morecambe has a long curved seafront and as you enter the town if you stop fairly soon after you arrive and park the car you can walk all along the promenade and on the way you will come across Morecambe's most loved comedian in the form of a statue . The statue of Eric Morecambe is just perfect as he is standing in a typical Eric pose with his left hand on his hip and his right holds his hat. One leg is jauntily raised in a sort of Eric style dance; if you knew his performances you would recognise this statue instantly as it is him to perfection. This rather fun statue was created by sculptor Graham Ibbeson.
If you visit in summer you will no doubt have to join a queue to have your photo taken next to the statue but when we went this time there was no-one around. It was a VERY windy drizzly day and so few people were 'taking the air', in fact we didn't take a lot of the air and kept moving the car up the town as we went as it was not pleasant out in the weather. The statue looks great as Eric is looking out over the bay so you get the backdrop of Morecambe Bay and the Lake District hills. At night the statue is lit so it looks good then too but obviously you get the lights in the bay only as a backdrop rather than the view.
If you walk the full length of the sea front then you will pass small playground areas, green park areas and of course the whole time you will have Morecambe bay on one side of you. If you choose to move inwards a little and walk alongside the shops then don't expect high class stuff. There are the usual seaside tat shops, some very average cafes and a rather nice second hand book shop but certainly nothing that would bring me to Morecambe for the shopping.
Leaping down to the other end of Morecambe to near the railway station as that is where you will find a fairly poor tourist information office which didn't inspire us much at all. The Platform which is Morecambe's only live entertainment venue is also in this converted Victorian-styled building which was the old Railway Station. The day we visited there was a fairly pathetic craft market inside which didn't inspire me at all but I did use the toilets which were fine, clean and they worked.
This is also where you will find the art deco hotel 'The Midland' where we enjoyed our afternoon tea which I reviewed recently and where Coco Chanel stayed in the past. I can't say this is the prettiest hotel I have ever seen but inside it is interesting and you do get a splendid view over the bay on a clear day.
If you walk from the hotel out along the stone jetty into the bay you will come to the old ferry terminus and all along the jetty you will see statues of terns and other sea birds. These are on rocks and posts and until you get up close they look like the real thing. It makes the jetty a place that is pleasant and interesting to walk along. They are made of metal but look very impressive and add a bit of interest to a walk along the front.
Morecambe was once a thriving seaside holiday town but since many people have started to go overseas for their holidays combined with the fact that there is really little to actually attract families here apart from the fact that it has the sea and the promenade. Both Morecambe's piers have been destroyed, West End Pier was washed away in a storm in 1978 and Central Pier had a fire in 1933 but did manage to survive until1992. Several 'attractions' of the sort families might use have closed over the years and really there is nothing like other seaside places have to attract people with children. In my personal opinion that makes Morecambe slightly more attractive but I do realise that those with families might want some entertainment besides the seafront and a few dull shops.
When we came with our children a few years ago we walked up and down and then went off elsewhere but we did come back for the Radio 1 Road show which was held on the front and they enjoyed that.
Is it worth a visit, well yes it is quaintly English and rather dated but none the less worth a visit? I am not sure I'd want a holiday here though as there really isn't a lot to do in the town itself. It is one of a few places that is worth popping in to see on a day visit. Is it a memorable place to see before you die, well no, I think I would not put it in that class but if in the area pop in to have a walk along the sea front and while you are there try some of the famous potted shrimps that the Queen has given her seal of approval to.
Thanks for reading. This review may be posted on other sites under my same user name.
Morecambe is a seaside town located on the West coast of Lancashire. The town has a population of around forty five thousand although during the summer months this town gets very busy as tourists come into the area. Morecambe has been a popular holiday destination for many years and will no doubt continue to attract visitors into the future.
If you are looking to spend a while staying in Morecambe then there are plenty of excellent hotels to choose from. The Midland hotel is one of the bigger hotels and is located right on the seafront, this hotel has an excellent reputation for good quality service and excellent rooms. There are lots of other choices from luxury hotels right down to simple bed and breakfast. Morecambe really does have a hotel that will suit everyone. Another option in the area is staying on a caravan site. This provides a cheaper alternative and can often be an experience in itself.
Morecambe has a very large bay. This is not really the kind of beach you think of when you think of the seaside, this is a huge expanse of sand and mud. The beach can be a very dangerous place if you go to far out onto the sands when the tide is out, the sea comes in very fast and it's easy to get cut off, or there is the danger of quick sand. Many people have drowned in this area so it's a good idea not to venture out into the bay. There are guided walks you can do though, if you have a guide there really should be no problem.
Morecambe has lots of interesting things to do on the seafront. There are arcades with games and things that children tend to enjoy. The little theme park known as 'Happy Mount Park' is a great place for children, it has rides and lots of other things that will keep both young and old entertained for hours. There are also lots of shops offering souvenirs and other locals gifts.
Morecambe is also a good place to stay while you explore other places in the area. Blackpool is only a short drive down the coast and here there are plenty of things to see and do. Lancaster is a historical city with an interesting castle to look around, this again is only a short drive inland. Then you have the option of going to the Lake District, you can often see the mountains across the bay and it's only a short drive to get this area of outstanding beauty.
Overall Morecambe really does have something for everyone. There is plenty to keep people entertained in the town itself and also plenty of nearby attractions to visit. Morecombe really is a fantastic little resort and a place that everyone should give a visit.
Morecambe is somewhere I have been going since I was a little girl, it was always somewhere that I loved to go, when I was a kid, there was a great amusement Park called Frontier Land, which I would go to sometimes, normally for special occasions! And also an indoor "water park", called Bubbles, which was great while it lasted, from what I remember it had a couple of water slides, and a wave pool, and an outdoor pool for those summer days of old!
There was also Morecambe beach...you may think now...MORECAMBE....BEACH!?!?!?!?!?! Butttt, 20 years ago, the beach was lovely, donkeys and ice cream all round! I used to adore it!!!
There was also the popular Midlands hotel, the Winter Gardens, the Platform and Dome where there were shows and acts, Happy Mount Park which is just up from Morceambe town centre which had a special season of "lights" (like Blackpool but not so big!!!) and all sorts!!!
But when I got to my teens the place started to go downhill, Bubbles closed down first, it wasn't making nearly enough money for the big bosses. This was quite a big loss for Morecambe, but not so bad it lost all of its tourists.
But then Frontierland began to lose its business and eventually, after a couple of years of falling apart and closure of rides, the place closed completely, the Midlands hotel had been closed for a while already, the Winter Gardens had been closed for years, the lights season came to an end, the beach became a bit of a tip, and even Happy Mount Park turned into a crap hole.
The tourists went elsewhere, Blackpool mainly, and the place went a bit rough, the people who lived there changed too, the hotels became cheap flats, and thats when the chavs took over. The little parks that were left ended up burned down and the buildings that had been kept for restoration were bricked. It was a sad time for a girl to see when she had pretty much grown up there.
BUT, over the last few years Morecambe has been coming back up to the top!!
Happy Mount Park for a start: This was the first place to be re-done, they got rid of all the rubbish that had been there, the empty shells of shops were pulled down and turned into a seating area, the old playarea was turned into a nice new play area, everywhere got a nice new painting, and best of all the old paddling pool was filled in and turned into the "splash park", a variety of machines which spurt water out at different angles and in different way, which kids (and adults!!) can run through, splash in etc when its nice and sunny! The whole place was re-done and the gardens spruced up and its really quite good a wonderful place to take kids and a nice place to go for a nice walk or relax, or even a game of golf, or bowls! :-)
The front is looking a little better now, Morecambe council are trying to get it looking nice, its not too bad at the moment!!! The shop fronts still look a bit "skanky", the old fair is still there empty and rotting away, and I'm still not sure what they're planning on doing with the place!!!
The Midlands though, has been getting re-vamped over the last two years and is now open and looking beautiful!!!!!!!!!!
There are a couple of new little parks which have been put up for the kiddies, and the place just looks on the whole "nicer" and cleaner than it did last year!
Other than the above which I have mentioned, there is also a Ten Pin Bowling alley which is great family fun whatever the weather!!! Also there is a cinema opposite the bowling alley which shows all the latest films!
Morecambe isn't the "Hippest" place to go, there is no funfair, theres no big clubs or funky bars, but its a nice little day out, there are some lovely little cafe's and fish and chip shops, the front looks pretty and there is a great view over the Lakes!
All it needs now is for the beach to be spruced up a little more, maybe even some boat trips when the tide is in, clear up the front a bit!!! It is an up and coming town, and I'm glad to hear it!!! I just hope that in the next couple of years it is restored to its former glory, its just a shame it went downhill so quickly!!!!!
Morecambe is a seaside town in Lancashire on the Northwest coast line.
It has taken some criticism over the last fifteen years or so for being tatty and run down.
When I was a child it was a lovely place to go and I have fond memories of playing on the beach and visits to Frontier land amusement park.
Alas it has changed drastically since those happy days and yes it has lost its appeal for a lot of people but I feel that the town is not being given a chance, so my review is going to be about the good things to be found there.
Originally there were three villages Poulton, Torrisholme and Bare, a railway line was built in 1848 linking them to Yorkshire and this made the area far more accessible to people eventually they merged to become a popular holiday town called Morecambe.
By the mid 1980's The town had started to go down hill people wanted the overseas holidays and due to the loss in tourism the whole place seemed to grind to a halt.
But now things seem to be picking up in this seaside haven a lot of work has been put into the seafront and larger shops have opened up in the last couple of years.
The Promenade:
The sea front is five miles long believe it or not and Morecambe bay is the largest sea estuary in the UK. Over the years the sea walls have taken a hammering from gales and storms so the local council had to make a decision about protecting the sea front. With a government grant 'The Tern Project' was born and after rebuilding the seafront Morecambe can be proud of its attractive Promenade with sculptures of Terns placed all along the front.
Happy Mount Park:
This is a large very well kept park on the Eastern end of the promenade; it opened in 1921 and is a popular place for families in the summer months.
The children can enjoy the water play area and pirate world indoor play area as well as a round of crazy golf.
There is a café that has a varied menu, and for adults you can enjoy a game of tennis or have a dabble on the Bowling Green.
I was impressed with this park and I thought the flower beds were exquisite and so well kept, I take my hat off to Morecambe they have got a fantastic park for everyone to enjoy.
The Winter gardens:
These are on the front of the promenade and are better known for being called The Victoria Pavillion Theatre.
The building itself is very regal looking and the outside was lovingly restored to its former glory in the 1990's.
At the moment the inside is being renovated by a Charity called 'Friends of the Victoria Pavillion'it is a big task that they have taken on and they rely on donations and fund raising to achieve their final goal of turning it into an entertainments centre and theatrical school, they intend to re name it after Thora Hird the actress.
I did go into the main foyer to see just how much work had been done; a table top sale was on at the time. It is a remarkable building but it is clearly a large task to complete but how wonderful it will look when it is finished.
The Midland Hotel:
This is a large hotel built right on the sea front and for years it was empty and an eye sore for the town but now it has been renovated and open for business.
There is a large car park and when you first step into the place you are taken back in awe.
The reception area is huge, every thing looks bright and shiny and the whole place has that Art Deco style.
You don't have to stay here to enjoy this hotel it is a lovely place to just call into for a meal or coffee, the terrace lounge at the back looks out onto the bay and the whole atmosphere of the place is stunning.
Eric Morecambe Statue:
This bronze life size statue stands on the promenade and Eric is posing with his arm up and leg cocked, the ornate steps leading up to it has 'Bring Me Sunshine' carved into them, I was actually surprised just how short he was, but it is a lovely site and the people of Morecambe were over the moon when the Queen herself actually unveiled it in 1999.
Leisure facilities:
There is a large bowling alley with twenty lanes and a four screened cinema just off the front with a bar and restaurant so something for everyone to enjoy.
The main shopping area is the Arndale Centre in the actual town, it is not a huge place but I believe there are plans to build this up but there is a great indoor market behind the Promenade and opposite a retail park with Morrissons, Next, and a large Home improvement store.
Places of Interest nearby to Visit.
Heysham is only a stones throw away and has wonderful sand dunes and of course Half Moon bay, this is a lovely little beach and not too overcrowded.
Above this bay on the cliff tops is the ruins of St Patrick's Chapel, it is one of the oldest religious buildings in Lancashire dating back to the 8th century so worth a quick visit you can see the stone coffins minus the occupants now of course but very interesting non the less.
The Lake District is on the door step and one of my favourite places Carnforth. This town is a delightful place to visit with its book and antique shops and quaint little cafes and bistros. There is certainly enough to entertain you for a few hours and then a walk along the canal tow path can be a relaxing experience.
Overall View:
Morecambe has a long way to go I admit, but it certainly is not a dump as so many people think.
A lot of work has been put into it over the last few years and it desperately needs the tourists to come again, so if you are in the area why not stop by and take a look, it is striving to regain its popularity and the improvements up to now are a credit to the town.
There is one thing that the town has changed that I think is a mistake and that is the railway station. It was a wonderful old building with character and as a child I used to be mesmerised with the birds flying around in the roof, it has now been renovated and turned into a family fun pub and a new open air modern railway station has been built away from the promenade itself. I realize that the station had to be moved to make way for the facelift but the old building has lost its heart.
How to get there:
By Road take junction 33 off the M6 and just follow the sign posts and if you are travelling by train the connections from Main line Lancaster are every half an hour during the Summer Months.
I visited Morecambe as a child and remember going to Frontierland theme park and it being a real seaside town; not on the same scale as Blackpool but still a good day out....
18 years later I returned as an adult as my boyfriend's family lived in the area and what a surprise driving along the Morecambe seafront. The place is derelict !!! Boarded up shops, the Frontierland theme park is long gone, and it's a sad reminder of what was once a thriving seaside town!!
In recent years there has been some money spent on redeveloping the local area. The "iconic" Midland Hotel has been renovated... it looks great but being honest I'm not sure why anyone would stay here except for nostalgia as there is nothing to do in the surrounding area!!!
The prom along the sea front has also had some development, new children's play areas, new pavements. This area is clean but is overshadowed by the run down town centre.
Morecambe town centre is very run down. The shops on the seafront are mainly charity or discount stores. The Arndale Centre is the indoor shopping area.... It has a Boots, a Superdrug, a Tesco Express, a small New Look and generally lots of other smaller shops. Nothing to attract people here.
The pubs are not the nicest and have a certain reputation. Even during the day there is a slightly hostile atmosphere. I quote my boyfriends family telling me "If you want a night out go to Lancaster and Morecambe is just rough"
I'm not a fan of Blackpool but if I had to have a comparison between the seaside towns... I would have to say it's a down market Blackpool.
Morecambe used to be a nice town twelve years ago they had frontier land theme park for the children, ok it wasn't as good as Blackpool Pleasure Beach but it had enough to keep the family entertained. Now that has all been closed down and tatty wooden boards that were erected a good few years back line all the front of the old park. The polo tower is still standing but looks an eye sore. To be quite honest the whole area that end of the front looks tatty and not very welcoming.
To be fair to the town there has been a lot of cleaning up and changes further along the front, the beach has been cleaned up and a nice walk way along the centre of the front has now been finished.
A bronze statue of Eric Morcambe stands proudly on this new frontage, I must admit I was surprised how short he was I always imagined him to be a tall man.
There is a bowling alley that is clean and bright and you can get reasonable priced food and drinks there too. A large Morrisons store is next to the bowling alley and a brand new Home improvement store has just opened.
Work has been going on for a few years with the Imperial Hotel on the front I believe that is due to be complete this Summer, I am glad that they have restored this lovely building, but who will stay in it?
There is a modern market under cover with quite a few stalls but I did find that all the stalls are the same as they were ten years ago the stock never seems to change.
A Sunday market is on every week in the car park behind Hitchens it is ok I suppose for buying a cheap T shirt or for having a browse around the tool stall, but to be fair it does seem to attract quite a few people.
The Winter Gardens is having a big renovation. It really was a beautiful building in its prime so if and when it is finished it will be the jewel in the crown for this run down town. A row of new shops have actually opened on the front of the Winter Gardens and they look nice and clean and tidy compared to the rest of the shops on the front, one particular one sells old fashioned sweets like sherbert dips and black jacks, who remembers them? Next door is a very chic jewellery and ornament shop.
Woolworths and Hitchens are still there but the rest of the front shops are just tatty discount places not worth looking into.
It is a shame that this town has gone so far down the nick but it does seem to be trying to change its image, may be I will visit again in five years and see if they have improved the place.
Ok - A little different, I know... but I am going to tell you the positives about Morecambe. It appear to have had quite a bit of negative wrote about it on here and I just thought I'd tell the other side.
Why do I like morecambe?
Easy really - the view across Morecambe bay is like no other - across the magnificent sweep of Morecambe Bay to the Lakeland Fells - Spectacular.
The walks are fantastic, and it is quiet and very beautiful in places. Yes I will admit that like any other town it has its less pleasant areas, but where doesn't!
Walk across Morecambe promenade and you find award-winning public art, golden sandy beaches and the long-awaited restoration of our world-famous Midland Hotel (due to be completed in June 2008).
There is plenty to do and see there, I am going to describe some of my favourite places:
1) Morecambe Promenade
Morecambe Beach holds some very fond memories for me and following the recent investment we are now proud that our sand glistens again. Along the beach you can see a range of public artwork and bird sculptures - a Sunday afternoon walk along the prom is a great way to round off the weekend.
The Stone Jetty on Morecambe prom is an excellent detour along your walk. Since it was revamped, it has won over the locals and visitors alike.
2) Happy Mount Park
I love the weekend jazz festival that they hold in Happy Mount Park each summer, I can be found there with my chair and dog throughout the entire weekend.
The Park has activities for all ages including play areas, swingboats, miniature railway, bowling green, miniature golf, putting green, crazy golf, paddling pool, trampolines, roundabout, multi-purpose sports surface, Japanese garden, cafe, ice cream kiosk and picnic area.
3) Eric Morecambe Stage & Statue
Of course no list is complete without including the Eric Morecambe Statue - unveiled by the Queen in 1999, the life-sized statue depicts Eric Morecambe in one of his more famous poses.
4) Winter Gardens
The Winter Gardens theatre was built in 1896 and used to be one of the largest variety theatre between Manchester and Glasgow. The theatre is currently being refurbished as part of Morecambe's regeneration scheme. It is often open to the public to have a look around although the refurbishment is not complete yet.
5) Regent Park
Regent park has recently had a face-lift and now has a new bowling green and kids play area. In the summer festivals are occassionally held here, or at other times of the year it is just a nice park to go for a walk in.
6) Heysham Village
Heysham Village is an unbelievably beautiful place, with heysham Barrows, and Half Moon Bay I love going here on a summers evening and just sitting on the rocks.
While Morecambe is still working on regenerating itself - at least we are doing something, it can only get better. And Personally I like the place!
Years ago I used to think Morecambe was something of "an elderly people's resort". Perhaps this was because some elderly neighbours of ours retired there and my uncle always said he would do the same.
I remember going to Morecambe on day trips and it always seemed much quieter and a bit more upmarket than neighbouring Blackpool, which was rowdier and a bit tacky. It must be at least twenty years since I had last been to Morecambe, so when I found myself in Lancashire recently I decided to take another look and see if the resort had changed.
My goodness, they say you should never go back to a place - how I wish I hadn't! The Morecambe I remembered now seems to be full of derelict hotels, barricaded seafronts where building work is taking place, shops selling cheap and nasty goods and the streets not very clean. Even the people looked scruffy and poverty stricken. What happened to all those genteel retirees? Have they all flown off to Spain perhaps!
I drove into Morecambe from the Heysham side of the town - I remember Heysham as being a pleasant place, but even this had changed beyond recognition. But as I approached Morecambe I was so disappointed at how rundown it appeared to be. Even Eric Morecambe would be disgusted with the state it is in at the moment.
To make sure I was not too disillusioned I continued along the seafront. Thankfully as I drove further along it did seem as though Lancashire council are trying to make improvements. Hotels were undergoing major refurbishment, a childrens' play area looked to have new equipment and the further we drove the better it became.
Approaching Happy Mount Park, the area was much as I remembered it, with nice hotels along the seafront and it all looked clean and tidy. Although I did not go into the park itself this visit, I was pleased to see that it still looked as well kept as I remember it.
The beach at Morecambe was always clean and fairly safe in the main area, it was pleasing to see that on this warm sunny afternoon, children were playing on the sands the same as I had done as a child. Perhaps in their eyes Morecambe is still a wonderful place to be. Maybe the council has decided to make it more child friendly instead of being a place for old folk to spend their retirement.
My vision of Morecambe was improving! I then decided to venture back along the seafront towards Heysham. Not such a good idea, but I wanted to make sure I had not imagined how shabby it was. Alas, it still looked very uninviting driving past all the construction sites and boarded up buildings. I am hoping the council are going to smarten up the town and get things ready for the start of the tourist season. I certainly would not want to spend a holiday there with the resort looking as neglected as it does at the moment in the main tourist section.
Leaving Heysham we drove towards another place I remember going to years ago, a few miles outside of Morecambe itself. This is a hamlet which is approached along a road which is cut off by the sea at high tide. I always remember it as being exciting to get over there and back again before the tide came in. My other memories were of an area of sandbanks where boats were stranded until the tide refloated them, and a row of cottages right on the beach.
How wonderful it was to revisit somewhere and find it almost as I remembered it! The stranded boats were still there, the rows of cottages looked the same and nothing seemed to have changed. There was nothing there for tourists to do, except perhaps bird watch or pick their way through the pebbles and go for a stroll. Not an ice cream van or cafe in site, just us and a handful of other people - and what a friendly lot they were too, everyone greeted us as we wandered around. It was wonderful to stroll at our leisure, breathing in the sea air, feeling the breeze on our faces and being away from it all.
You are all probably wondering why I have not mentioned the name of the hamlet, that is because it would not be fair to have it "discovered" by the hordes who would moan "there is nothing to do" and before you know it the cottages would be replaced with bingo halls and pubs. No, let this little part of Morecambe remain unchanged and unspoilt.
To summarise, if you are hoping for a lively holiday in a smart resort then do contact Morecambe tourist board to make sure you are not going to a building site! Even the main shopping area looked like it was undergoing improvements. Hopefully the image I have just had of Morecambe central area is not typical and it will have improved by the time holidaymakers descend in their hoards.
Perhaps if they advertise Morecambe as being a "shabby chic" resort it might do more to restore its image!!!
I would certainly not recommend anyone to spend a holiday in this resort. It is okay to visit for a few hours if you are in the area. Easily accessible via Lancaster and the M6, it is possible to pass through Morecambe on the way to the Lake District perhaps. Or maybe you want to tour the resorts on the west coast, taking in Blackpool and Southport as well as Morecambe.
After my nostalgic return to Morecambe I intend to revisit these other resorts too to see if they have changed and if for the better.
Shortly I am having overseas visitors as guests, one of my reasons for wanting to see Morecambe was because I had thought of taking them there. No chance! I would be thoroughly ashamed to say to them that this is an English seaside holiday resort.
No wonder Brits go abroad for their holidays if this is all we can offer in our home country!
Have never been to Morecombe before but while on Holiday in Blackpool decided to go and have a look. A lot of money has been spent on the promenade which is really really nice but for a peak holiday week on a Saturday afternoon there were hardly any people about!!! Walked along the promenade and had my photo taken with the Eric Morecombe statue. The shops leave a lot to be desired - the once famous Frontierland is a pile of rubble but it was the shops by the Bowling Alley that were a bafflement - they all still had fixture and fittings in them but notices on the doors - "Closed until further notice" and "The landlord has secured theses premises". There is an old hotel on the seafront which had big notices about an exciting Future Development into a luxury hotel with health club and inviting you to go and look at the visitor centre accross the road - that too "Closed Until Further Notice". It looked like everyone from all these buildings had decided that morning to up and go like as if an asteroid was about to hit Morecombe or something and they have all had to evacuate. Seems to me like Morecombe was a nice holiday in the past and could be again perhaps one day but these goings on re just plain wierd!
Morecambe used to be a fun little town with plenty to entertain young children but it started to go down hill about twenty years ago. Although it is a place I used to like going to I stopped because it was getting so seedy and unpleasant. Infact it appeared dirty and run down. In recent years there has been a change in Morecambe. The beach has been cleaned up and that is still in the process. There's a nice open air swimming pool on the promenade which also has a decent restaurant/coffee bar. A little further down the prom is a childrens boating pool and play area with coffee/snack bar whic is sheltered from the wind and quite pleasant if you want to allow your children to play but still be able to watch them. The bowling alley is clean and bright and you can get reasonable priced food and drinks there too. Accross the road from the bowling alley is a family pub with childrens play facilities. This is bright and new but I'm afraid the name of it escapes me at present! Frontierland is a theme park but don't expect it to be the same as Blackpool amusements or Alton Towers. Its small and compact but there are rides and other things for all ages.(I find that most things at Blackpool are not suitable for little children.) The old market was a real eyesore but it has been closed down and a new purpose built market building now occupies part of the carpark behind Hitchins store. I didn't find the markey particularly worth visiting although several coach firms in the area run trips to Morecambe market. There are lots of little shops and cafes just off the front which are very cheap if you are feeding a family. There isn't really a lot to do if the weather is bad in Morecambe but on a bright and sunny day its a great place for younger children.
To put it bluntly Morecambe is a dump. It's dead, it's as dead as a parrot - it has ceased to be. I've just moved north and someone suggested looking at the local sights. Well I jumped at the chance......well sort of hopped at the cha....well perhaps walked interestingly towards the possibility of the chance. When I got there I was just in time for the switching on of the illuminations- it was a string of fairy lights hung along the street lamps. And one of the bulbs must have gone because half of the lights didn't work. OK so this isn't Blackpool, so what. As long as it has a beach then it's fine, I mean what sort of seaside resort doesn't have a beach - this sort of seaside resort that's what. Instead of beach there are huge bays of rocks, and not the naturally occurring type either- building site lumps of rock. Apparently the sea has washed the beach away, so in order to stop this from happening the council think that these rocks will keep the sand in. Sand in, everything else out. The council have also been spending money on the promenade along the "beach". Now that looked quite nice, but the shops and stalls along the promenade are all based on what I thought to be a very peculiar theme, and that theme is spaghetti westerns. I mean, the wild north-west just doesn't have the same ring to it does it! After all that I was hungry so I decided to have the traditional seaside fish 'n' chips. But there were only two places open, and one of them seemed to charge a pound a chip. Then I went home. To be fair to Morecambe it was just after peak time and in the evening too. But apparently even the locals think it's a dump and only go for the bowling.
Although I wouldn't recomend a stay in Morecambe for much longer than a weekend, unless you have a car, Morecambe is still a good place to visit. Morecambe has sadly seen a recent decline, after the opening of the new market, stores and a new cinema, it has once again slumped. Frontierland, the once popular amusemnt park has been bulldozed, bubbles the open air swimming pool has been closed for months, but appart from that it is still a nice place. Close by is the city of Lancaster with its Historic Castle and Other attractions and further North is the Lake District. Both are accesable by car and by rail and would make great day trips, just as morecambe would from these places. Morecambe's newest crowd puller after the death of the illuminations is the statue of Eric Morecambe, who lived in and took his name from the town. Other famous residents, present and former include Dame Thora Hird, Gail from Correnation Street and Italian Fascist Benito Mussolini (a local rumour) Harts Cafe is a popular sea front cafe and was a major set for the film 'the entertainer' Morecambe is sadly now a downmarket Blackpool but don't write it off just yet.


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Trip Ideas: Farms & Fiberarts
The Kennebec Moose River Valley region offers visitors a wonderful combination of outdoor adventure, scenic splendor, history and culture. Famous for its whitewater rafting and snowmobiling, the region also boasts nationally known museums, Shakespearean theater, Maine's capital city, and an international heritage corridor.
Hallowell and Gardiner
Drink coffee and indulge in delicious baked goods at Slates Bakery, Yum!
Visit the company showroom and schedule a tour of the looms! Found at Brahms Mount, Hallowell. Brahms Mount Designer Video
Have lunch in Historic Downtown Gardiner, try the A1 Diner.
Maine has a long and rich tradition of fine craft. Visit the Center for Maine Craft, in Gardiner where many Maine fiber artists are represented.
Take a walk on the Kennebec River Rail Trail.


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Congress, BJP being run by mafia: Arvind Kejriwal
By PTI | Published: 25th August 2013 07:59 PM |
Last Updated: 25th August 2013 08:07 PM | A+A A- |
Leaders and politicians sitting in Parliament and state Assemblies, with a few exceptions, were no less than terrorists while the biggest national parties were being "run by the mafia", Aam Aadmi Party founder Arvind Kejriwal charged Sunday.
"They (politicians) have looted iron ore; there is the 2G scam, the coal scam, whose files are now missing, there is the Adarsh scam, the files related to which have been burnt.
"These people (politicians) have connived with power companies and increased tariffs. Now, the common man is burdened by inflation. Are our politicians any less than terrorists... Both Congress and BJP are controlled by mafia," Kejriwal said.
Accusing Congress and BJP of being hand in glove in Delhi, Kejriwal said that before AAP was formed, the two parties were having a good time, "just like husband and wife".
"BJP has been fielding weak candidates against (Delhi CM Sheila Dixit) for the last 15 years, but when I announced my candidature, the party said it would be fielding actress Kirron Kher or Kiran Bedi against me... what does it suggest," he questioned.
Kejriwal, however, rubbished reports of former IPS officer Bedi contesting against him, saying she has clarified that she doesn't want to join politics.
Kejriwal is contesting against Dikshit for the New Delhi Assembly seat.
"(Kiran Bedi) is like my elder sister. Last year, I had repeatedly asked her to join AAP, but she refused saying she doesn't want to join politics.
"She wants to fight from the outside, like Annaji (Anna Hazare). With our open hearts, we would like to call her to contest from AAP and become our Chief Minister," Kejriwal said.
Kejriwal rejected talk of any rift between him and anti- corruption activist Hazare, saying there was no more than a mere difference of opinion between them.
He said the aim of his party was to create a positive and honest image of a politician as the perception was that politics was the work of 'goondas' and "duplicitous people".
He cautioned voters against backing Congress or BJP candidates saying that the situation would become worse for the common man if either of the two parties came to power.
"We (AAP) are providing an option to the people of Delhi.
We are not contesting for ourselves but for them. They will have to think... if BJP or Congress wins, then the situation is going to be worse," Kejriwal said.
Questioning BJP's intent on reducing power tariffs, he alleged that the party had kept quiet when the ruling Congress had rejected the 2010 order by the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission to reduce tariff by 27 per cent.
He also gave an assurance that if AAP were to be voted to power, then his government would provide 20,000 litres of free water every month to the poor and middle class people.
He asked voters to not be taken in by Gujarat CM Narendra Modi's face on BJP posters, saying, "BJP in Delhi is leaderless and they are using Modi's face for the election. If they vote for BJP then people should remember they will be governed by Vijay Goel and not Modi."
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Corruption at the root of high inflation: Hazare
Sheila Dikshit mocks Kejriwal on power bills
Congress slams AAP for politicising rapes in Delhi