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Cork is situated in the southern Ireland province of Munster Ireland's second largest city.. The city has a population of 119,143, so is quite a small city which gives it a lovely quaint feel and also quite friendly. The city's name is derived from an Irish word that means "marshy place". Cork is actually a series of marshy islands that have been built over to make the city. Many of the streets run along waterway paths that have been built over and turned into streets, with the river running beneath. As well as the many waterways Cork is distinguished by a large harbour, the world's second largest after Sydney, Australia. Naturally the harbour is a major seaport and the maritime history of the city is quite evident
How to Get There
You can fly to Cork from Stansted for 1p on Ryanair. Of course once you add the standard taxes and charges a return trip will cost between 40 and 50 pounds, but there are train trips in the UK that will cost you more than that. Cork airport is located about 15-20 minutes from the city centre. There are shuttle passes into the city, many going directly to hotels in the city. Of course you can take a taxi, which will cost around 10 Euros.
Things to Do
Cork is a pretty city, and there is plenty to do just looking around. We took a bus tour around the city which gave a really good overview of the city. The tour is one of those where you buy a day ticket and you can get on and off as often as you want. Highlights include Cork City Gaol, City Library, St. Finbarr's Cathedral, Crawford Municipal Art Gallery, the English Market, Cork Opera House, Custom House, The Courthouse and City Hall. The tour cost about 12 Euros, which is cheaper than getting around in a taxi.
After the tour we were keen to have a look at the old City Goal, and found it very interesting. It was originally a mixed prison and then just for women. It was closed in the early 1920's but today remains as a demonstration of how it used to be. The goal uses lots of wax models and has an audio accompaniment that give you a lot of interesting history and a good idea of what the goal was like.
We also had a look at the butter museum, which was actually more interesting then it sounds, and it is recommended by the Financial Times, or so they claimed. It certainly gave a lot of information showing how butter has been an important export for the area. We actually went in there because Cork weather is just like London weather, and it had changed from just about to rain to actually raining quickly, and we didn't feel like getting wet.
Another highlight was the English Market. It is a covered market that sells fish, fruit, meat and vegetable. The markets origins have been traced as far back as 1610, while the present building dates from 1786. Foods from all over the world as well as traditional Cork foods can be purchased here.
Cork is also located 8 kilometres from Blarney, home of the world famous Blarney Castle where you can kiss the Blarney stone. You can also catch the train to Cobh, a great place if you want to trace a genealogical history of a family member who has emmigrated from Ireland. Of the nearly 6 million people who left Ireland 2.5 million left from Cobh.
Cork is a city I had long fancied visiting without really knowing why and I was lucky enough to visit for a weekend break last December. Booking the flights and the accommodation was the only preparation we did so when we arrived in the city we had little idea of what we wanted to do and see.
Arriving late Friday afternoon and departing again Sunday lunchtime did not leave us with a great deal of time but we managed to cram in plenty of activity and found that there is still plenty left for another visit.
Join in my mini-tour of Cork .
Cork, like Britain, is pretty cold in December and so you will need to wrap up warm and be prepared to make regular stops for hot drinks or a pint whichever you find warms you best.
You will also need a pair of comfortable shoes; Cork has excellent public transport but in the city you may as well walk: although the centre is compact, there are a few hills.
It takes a little while to get your bearings in Cork; the city started life as an island in the swampy River Lee and today the river flows in two channels through the centre of the city. As a result you find that you are constantly crossing bridges and some of the main streets are even built over smaller sub-channels. On the north side, the streets start to climb the hill and if you are in bed and breakfast accommodation, you may find yourself climbing up several times a day as most of these establishments are in Victorian townhouses. The more affluent visitors will be pleased to know that the higher end hotels tend to be in the city centre which is flat.
Two distinctive churches make good reference points if you are struggling to get your bearings and are also worth visiting. St Finn Barres Cathedral is named for the seventh century St Finbarr who started a monastery on the site where the cathedral now stands. This French Gothic style cathedral is very striking with its three spires and its rose window; to see it looking particularly splendid, see it lit up at night a worthy rival to Notre Dame!
The other church is St Annes of Shandon and it stands to the north of the centre halfway up the hill. Its is constructed of two types of stone and the red and gray colours of the church are said to be the inspiration for the colours of Corks rugby strip. While it is a beautiful church, most visitors go there to play the bells; for a small charge you can climb the tower and catch magnificent views across the city but first you must stop at the first floor where the bell ropes are. Each rope is numbered and there are cards for a wide variety of songs and hymns. The easiest way to do it is to get someone else to shout the numbers out as you pull the ropes; I murdered Dont Cry for me Argentina.
Just opposite the pub is one of those traditional little Irish pubs tiny windows and bright paintwork and a chatty publican of course! He asked if we had been into the church and rung the bells and was full of interesting tips about what we should see and do. We made ourselves comfortable in a window seat and enjoyed a pint of Beamish, the delicious stout that is made in Cork.
We spent a short while strolling the streets in this part of town; they are the traditional Irish type with low doorways and narrow alleyways between the houses. Many of them are being restored and it is nice to see that, in spite of being very small, they are still popular.
Back in town we stumbled across the Old English Market, a covered food market of the kind that is missing from most British cities. We are both foodies and could spend hours wandering around food markets but this one in Cork is something else. It has fish, meat, fruit and vegetables as well as speciality shops selling things like imported Polish foods, Caribbean produce and Indian spices. We came away with venison salami, a huge Limoncello cake and another hot pepper sauce for my partners massive collection.
Cork has all the major chain stores you would expect of Irelands second city (that is in all Ireland it is third behind Dublin and Belfast) but ii also has some interesting independent stores. We found a Polish grocery store (we bought dried fish), a dedicated crime-fiction bookshop, a great shop selling the wittiest souvenirs I have ever seen (I couldnt resist a Peoples Republic of Cork t-shirt) and lots of shops selling traditional Irish musical instruments.
To be honest we did a great deal of walking and did not really venture into many places other than shops and pubs. However Cork is the sort of city that can be really enjoyed in this way. Following the river makes an excellent walk and you get to see plenty of interesting buildings on the way. We also saw a seal which is apparently a real rarity in Cork; it caused quite a crowd to assemble on one of the bridges but, alas, it was camera shy and by the time we had got out the camera, it had gone.
If wed had more time we would have found plenty of things to occupy us. We could have visited the Old City Gaol that gives visitors a glimpse into prison life in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries or we could have visited the Crawford Municipal Gallery that has permanent and temporary exhibitions of domestic and international art.
We ventured as far as the Botanic Gardens at the University but there are other parks and wildlife reserves close to the city too. If visiting in winter try to check with tourist information before you make your plans because some attractions do have limited opening hours outside of the peak season.
Corkonians are regarded as the most talkative and friendly of Irish people and we certainly felt very welcome everywhere we went. People wanted to know where we were from and always had something to say about their home city. For a small city Cork certainly has more than its fair share of places to eat and drink and I was amazed at the diversity. Over the two days we ate pizza, had a curry, drank sherry at a pretty authentic tapas bar enjoyed more Guinness than is decent in all kinds of pubs from the traditional to the very modern. Of course, the traditional are the best and we particularly liked the snug in Dan Lowerys, a small pub next to the theatre.
It is easy to find pubs playing live music, both modern and traditional; we enjoyed a U2 tribute band with a very memorable front man we referred to as Oh-no.
The only slightly negative thing I would say about Cork - and Ireland in general - is that eating out is expensive in Ireland, much more so than in the UK.
One thing you cannot fail to notice is the large number of non-Irish people living and working in Cork; the Polish community, especially, is very large and they have been welcomed warmly by their Irish hosts. I was struck by how cosmopolitan Cork is, very different from my expectations. I have to say that I found Cork to be very European in outlook and style. As someone who is a confirmed Europhile, I felt quite envious of the way the Irish have modernised and become very European without losing their traditional character; if only some of the narrow minded English who fear Europe so much would look at Ireland and see what is possible.
Another thing I really liked about Cork was that, although there were plenty of reminders that Christmas was just ten days away, everything was so tasteful and understated. The shops had simple and stylish window displays and people seemed to be enjoying browsing the small craft market at leisure rather than getting hot under the collar, losing their temper with the kids and hauling around twenty bags of shopping, and there weren't any of the massive queues that so depress me at home in December. It was all so civilised.
Cork is an exciting city with much to offer in terms of history, culture and shopping the perfect place for a short break. For a longer trip the coast and the countryside also have plenty to occupy visitors with nearby Kinsale and its castle and the town of Cobh from whence the Titanic left on its doomed voyage and where a visitor centre tells the story.
Recommended for people of all ages.
In order to see at least a few sights and to enjoy Corks warm hospitality I would suggest even a short visit needs at least three full days. I have only given an overview of Cork here and intend to review some of the attractions in more detail in the future.
I've heard that people have said that Cork is a somewhat similar place to Dublin, being Eire's second city and all that.. so after a particularly enjoyable trip to Dublin in November, myself and the other half decided that we would take ourselves off to Cork as a treat and to see what it had to offer people like us (in our 20's and who found Dublin a little expensive). We arrived early on a Saturday morning, into the tiny Cork Airport (which we later learned is undergoing a complete renovation with a new terminal scheduled to be built), and waited outside for the Bus Eireann service from the airport to the centre. This is a big coach which - at weekends - runs on the hour, and on the half hour in the week. The service was prompt, courteous and cheaper than a taxi into the centre (€5.50 - about £4 - per person for a month-long return). Singles into the centre were available at €3.40 (just over £2). It took about 20 minutes to get into the centre, and dropped us off at the bus station on Parnell Street. The bus also picks up from the same place at the bus station for the return journey. We only spent about 48 hours in Cork in total, so we obviously couldn't get to see and do everything. I'd actually recommend the city as a good base for exploring the beautiful surrounding villages in Southern Ireland - of course there's Blarney (and the castle with the infamous Blarney Stone), Midleton (for the Jameson factory - Irish whiskey production), but really, I think you'd need to hire a car to get out and about. To be honest, the two days we spent there were enough. The city centre of Cork itself is a lot smaller than I thought. There's one main street - St Patricks' Street, which is the main shopping thoroughfare and is a wide street similar to O'Connell Street in Dublin. Off St Patricks Street are many small lanes and streets which are worth exploring as they often contain little pubs, bars, rest
aurants and shops. At the top end of St Patricks Street lies the North Channel of the river Lee and Morrisons Quay (there's a lot of quays in Cork as the river Lee splits in two to form the north and south channel.. and the quays are mostly only one block long..), where there's a small shopping centre which was useful for escaping from the rain!! We downloaded some maps of the city centre before we went, and looking at the maps we wondered how we were going to get anywhere - the streets looked big and a lot of walking was going to be required! Don't let the maps fool you though - the streets really were a lot smaller than we'd anticipated - and in reality Cork was a lot smaller overall than we'd thought. We were staying on Merchants' Quay - on the south channel of the river (separate op to follow on the hotel), in the Comfort Inn hotel there. We found the tourist office - just off the bottom end of St Patricks Street, and this had a few free leaflets with suggestions of things to do. Be warned, however - most of the leaflets that are available there are charged for, although the women behind the desk were extremely helpful and were able to offer advice on transport, things to do and places to see. I was particularly interested in seeing the Beamish brewery, although we were told that it had 'closed for winter to tourists'. It soon became apparent that there were few things for tourists to do at this time of year. Cork seemed to be extremely quiet and although we attempted to walk to the city gaol (one of the main sights we wanted to see), after half an hour of walking we didn't seem to be any closer and a horrible hill loomed to walk up (living in Sheffield you'd think I would be used to hills!); and - defeated - we gave up and trundled back along the quaysides to St Patricks Street. Most of our time in Cork was spent either in the pub or in a restaurant - after all the aim of our visit was
to chill down and treat ourselves, and that we did. There are pubs aplenty over there - some are even next door to each other, and we spent a good deal of time deciding on our favourites out of the ones we'd tested. On Oliver Plunkett Street we tried the Old Oak, and the Traditional Music Inn - both of which were very cosy and dark, just right to relax and chill down in. The Traditional Music Inn could - I imagine - get cramped on an evening as it's a very small pub. We also tried one on the corner of MacCurtain Street whose name escapes me, but was full of locals wanting to watch the Saturday afternoon football. Our favourite though, and the biggest, was The Parnell, which is on Parnell street just down from the bus station - a big old pub with wooden flooring and wooden surrounds and some very comfy seating. Drinks aren't *that* cheap over there, however: we paid around €3.50 (£2.30) on average for a pint of lager or stout, which is about the same as most southern pub prices in the UK. For food, I will endeavour to write separate opinions, as the eateries we found deserve their own, but we ate at Isaac's Restaurant on MacCurtain St, Fellini's on Carey's Lane, and Cafe Mexicana on Carey's Lane. All provided good food, good service, with reasonable prices, and come highly recommended! Cork in January is really a very quiet time of year. If I'd gone to tour the area and find 'things to do', I would've been disappointed. However, for a competely relaxing and chilled-down weekend it was perfect. It's quiet, small, and plenty of places to eat and drink in. As a city centre I'm amazed that it's so tiny - on our last day we had a late flight and actually ran out of things to do and shops to visit in the centre after 4 hours. I found the people there quite polite and willing to help if you needed it. I liked the fact that everything in the centre turned out to be well within walking distance, a
lthough I found that there was scant information really on the 'touristy' areas and places like the gaol were poorly signposted. Also - a word of warning for anyone going in the near future (circa Feb '03): Cork's main drainage system is undergoing a complete overhaul, which meant that there were a lot of roadworks, and at times some funny pongs in the centre. It is anticipated that this will be complete by the summer of 2003. It meant that crossing roads could be difficult, and there were some noisy roadworks ongoing in St Patricks' Street which did get a little irritating. On the subject of crossing roads, another frustration of mine came when trying to cross normal roads at traffic lights. In Cork, there seems to be no logic in the flow of traffic, and this meant that pedestrians - if waiting for the 'green man' to signal it was safe to cross - would be waiting for up to 7 minutes (I kid you not). Also the traffic lights - if you choose to ignore the crossings and try and cross with the lights - do not follow a standard UK pattern. From red they change to green (no red-amber as a warning), so you can get halfway across a road and the traffic will start to move. The pedestrian crossings really were frustrating, although they do have a weird pulsing noise which isn't the same as the ones in Dublin, but which pulse quickly when the green man is on, then randomly slow down as the lights are about to change. You don't get much time to cross a road over there before the green man disappears either - so be quick!! Overall, I think that if I'd picked to go to Cork in the summer, I may have been a little more impressed with the city. Although I didn't go to see any of the 'touristy' things, and in reality it meant that I could explore more of Cork without that glossy touristy sheen, I still returned home thinking "I could've been in any city this weekend". That isn't to say that I didn
't enjoy myself - we made the most of what was there and enjoyed what we did and saw. Cork is definitely the quieter, younger sister of Dublin, and for a little more action I'd sooner return to Dublin. However if you're looking for a base for exploring the country, yet you want the hive of a city with plenty of restaurants and pubs, I would heartily recommend it for that. ~#~ Note: an exchange rate of €1.42=£1 was used when working out the prices in this op. The rate is correct as of 25th Jan 2003.
Our first thought as my husband and I arrived in Cork was "Oh my god, we're back in Dublin!" Having slept most of the stretch from Cahir to Cork we were worried for a minute that we'd hopped on the wrong bus - the river running through the town centre complete with periodic bridges, the 'Centra Quick Stop' on every second corner and the slightly crumbly stone houses did seem almost uncannily familiar. But no - we were in the right place after all. As the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland, Cork is quite a buzzing place, full of old buildings, churches, shopping centres, pubs and, of course, tourists. On arrival, we hefted our backpacks and began to follow my hastily scribbled directions for the 'Sheila's of Cork' hostel. Only about 10 minutes walk from the bus stop (depending on quality of directions and size of backpack), it was a bit of a struggle up a hill but still quite convenient to the town centre. At only IR £10/night (UK£8) for a dorm bed Sheila's wasn't bad at all, including a well-stocked kitchen (complete with recycling bins), a video room with fairly recent videos for hire, a pleasant common room and even a sauna (IR£1.50/person). The bedrooms were fairly small - only 4 beds in ours (meaning less snoring roommates). My only gripe is that my mattress was lumpy and the bed above it too low (I lost count of the number of times I bumped my head!). The staff were mostly Australian and generally quite helpful. [Note to any other Aussies out there: Sheila's also stocks Tim-Tams, Cherry Ripes, Milo and Vegemite!] Oh, and if you stay for three nights you also get a free pass to the City Gaol (Jail) and Radio Museum (normally worth IR£3.50). As it was pretty late in the evening, we just dumped our bags in our room and freshened up a little before heading out to find some dinner. McCurtain Street, we were informed, was our best bet. The entire street seemed to consist mainl
y of pubs, restaurants and cheap eateries. Being rather tired we decided to get takeaways: I opted for a Tandoori Special Kebab (less than UK£3 and totally delicious and filling) while Dave had a large pepperoni pizza (around UK£4 for 12 inches). Than back to the hostel to rest up for the next day's sight-seeing?. We woke up bright and early (well? okay around 10am). First we headed across the river into the city centre, stopping to browse at a few shops on the way to the Tourist Office (on the corner of Grand Parade and South Mall). After picking up some info and browsing through souvenirs we couldn't possibly afford, we headed out towards the City Gaol. On the way we passed by the Coal Quay Markets, which weren't really that exciting - just a few stalls with cheap clothing and so on (though it was drizzling a little and there were also road works on that street - perhaps it's usually more interesting). We also stopped at the Cork Vision Centre, which is a smallish gallery that has a different exhibit every month or so. At the time we were there a mixture of surreal and impressionist paintings/collages/sculptures were on display, presumably by local artists. The works weren't exactly outstanding, but there were still quite a few interesting pieces and hey, it was free. Cork City Gaol was a fair walk from the city centre (and across the river again), but worth it when we got there. Included in the admission price (IR£3.50, but as mentioned before we got free passes) was an audio tour of the gaol, which was quite informative. It covers the history of individual inmates of the gaol as well as general history. At the end of the tour there is also an audio-visual presentation which was slightly corny but still entertaining, and worth it just to hear the Irish in the audience join in with the song at the end (though I'm afraid I can't remember what it was called!). We then headed across the river once mo
re to Fitzgerald Park, which houses the Cork Public Museum. Along with a lot of interesting artefacts and information relating to Irish history, what I found most interesting was a selection of personal letters between Michael Collins and his lover, Kate Kearney. (Apparently the entire collection has been divided up and the various selections are periodically rotated around the major museums in Ireland.) The museum is also free, and I definitely recommend a visit. The park is quite nice as a spot to relax for a while (we spent a good twenty minutes or so just sitting and watching the ducks). We continued on, passing the University and the Greyhound Racing Track along the way to St. Fin Barre's Cathedral. Though it perhaps wasn't as grand as I was expecting, the cathedral was still quite attractive and worth a photo or two. From here we went on to the Red Abbey, which turned out to actually be the fairly unimpressive ruins of an old monastery. By this time it was becoming rather late, so we walked on past the City Hall, stopped at a Quick Stop to get some supplies for dinner and headed back to the hostel. After dinner we headed out to check out the Cork nightlife. Unfortunately being a Friday night most places seemed a little too crowded for our tastes. I was hoping for somewhere with traditional or otherwise live music, but by the time we went out most places with bands playing (not counting those with abominable cover charge) seemed to have finished and moved on to playing techno or chart music. We finally settled on a pub on the corner of McCurtain and Bridge streets , which was alright as somewhere to stop for a pint but nothing special. (We left after the music degenerated from Texas to the Jackson Five.) The following day we spent some time browsing about the town centre (Oliver Plunkett Street in particular has some interesting and cheap shops). We then headed for the bus station and took a bus out to Blarney (IR£3 return)
. Only a half hour or so out of Cork, Blarney is quite a pleasant little town, though obviously the main attraction is Blarney Castle. Entrance is IR£3.50, which includes kissing the Blarney Stone. The grounds are massive and include a lot of points of interest such as the Witches Kitchen, a Sacrificial Altar and a Druids Worshipping Ground. The Castle itself is fairly bare of the usual furnishings and so forth but is still interesting. If you can brave the narrow spiral staircases, the Blarney Stone as at the top of the Castle. A man is up there to help you lean back over a somewhat dizzying drop to kiss the stone (well worn by thousands of tourist lips). I'd advise you to get a friend to take a photo of you - though the official photographer occupies the best vantage point, the snaps cost between IR£7-£22 (depending on size). You can also get an 'official' certificate (IR£1) verifying that you have kissed the stone from the gift shop down below (though even we decided that was just too tacky!). I don't know whether we actually gained the elusive 'gift of the gab'... only time will tell! So I'm afraid that more or less concludes our trip to Cork - after a little more time wandering the city and so on we set off for Killarney the next morning. Though perhaps not the most exciting of cities, it was still a pleasant place to visit and contained enough attractions to keep us busy! I would definitely recommend Cork as a stopover for anyone touring the 'Emerald Isle'. For more information on Sheila's Hostel go to www.sheilashostel.ie For bus information and timetables go to www.buseireann.ie For tourist information on Cork go to www.cork-guide.ie or www.ireland.travel.ie Stay tuned for more Ireland ops!
- So you live in Cork, do you? Yes, I do. - Nice place? Yes, it is, although it took me a while to get to like it. Did you know that it's the second largest town in Ireland? - You're joking, right? No, actually, I'm not. It's true. - But it's so small! Compared to the size of towns in England, yes, it is. There are just 150,000 people living here. - That is small. But Cork is growing rapidly. There are so many new housing developments in progress, especially in the adjoining towns and villages, to try to cope with the increasing population. I think that's why the town centre, which is very small, is always so packed on a Saturday. - So what's it like then? What? - Cork. Well, when I first came here in June 1998, I didn't think much of it. I'd moved here straight from the buzz and bustle of London, which I loved, and the culture shock was too much for me. The fact that my husband's boss had given us just two weeks' notice to move there, I had just found out I was pregnant, and we had to live in a hotel room for six months obviously didn't help lift my spirits. - Yeah, yeah, so you had problems, don't we all – tell me what you didn't like about Cork. I didn't like the different pace of life. Things are much slower and quieter here, and I found it hard to adjust. Everyone seems to know everyone else, so we, as newcomers, felt a bit isolated. I didn't like the fact that Cork city centre is so small, either. I love huge shopping complexes with familiar names beckoning me to go in and spend; somehow Patrick Street and Plunkett Street don't quite fulfil the same need. - But you like it now? Now I love it. - So what changed? I suppose I started to see the positive sides. I was used to a fast-paced li
fe, but I adjusted surprisingly quickly to the lower stress levels. I think more value is placed on family and quality of life over here. Things are generally cheaper here, too, whereas salary levels are similar to the UK. Maybe this is why people feel they don't need to work such long hours in order to live well, I don't know. - What about the people in Cork? Much as I hate to generalise, I'm going to. People are very friendly here, and in a sincere way. They take a genuine interest in you, and go out of their way to be helpful. I am constantly being surprised by the spontaneous acts of kindness of people, either strangers or acquaintances. They also know how to enjoy themselves – the pubs (the MANY pubs!) are always busy and full of laughter (although that sounds very clichéd, I've found it is true). - What's the centre of Cork like, then? When I told people we were moving to Cork, everyone said, "Oh, Cork, it's beautiful, you'll love it", etc. Maybe due to high expectations, then, I found myself a bit disappointed when I actually saw the town for myself. The road in to Cork takes you past factories, warehouses and the docks, so our first impressions were not very good. Don't get me wrong, though; the town is nice enough, just not as special as I was led to believe. What I do like about Cork is the River Lee that flows through the town. It brightens the place up, especially when the sky is blue, and there are lots of bridges to cross, which adds to the charm. There seem to be churches and chapels everywhere you turn; religion still plays a very strong role in daily life here. Driving in Cork can be very confusing initially. Many of the roads are one-way, meaning you have to make fairly large detours in order to get where you want to go. People are very helpful if you do get lost, thankfully – believe me, I know. - And the shoppin
g? The shopping area of Cork is very small, as I mentioned before. There are two main shopping streets which run parallel to each other: St Patrick Street, where you'll find most of the chain stores, and Oliver Plunkett Street, where most of the shops are small, independent ones. It's always quite busy, especially on a Saturday, and it isn't always easy to manoeuvre a pushchair, especially in Plunkett Street where the pavements are quite narrow. The largest department store is Roches, which is still fairly small compared to stores in the UK. I actually feel that there isn't as much choice here, although prices are generally lower. One of my favourite shops is Penneys, a shop that sells clothes and household goods at rockbottom prices. - Is there much to see of interest for tourists? Yes, there is actually quite a lot to see, although public transport not being very good, you really need a car to make the most of it. In Cork centre, you would not be forgiven for not visiting that fine example of French-Gothic architecture, ST FINBARR'S CATHEDRAL. Not a great fan of cathedrals usually, I actually did enjoy strolling leisurely around this one; I found the atmosphere very restful. If you like stained glass, you'll appreciate the huge rose window, and there are some lovely mosaics and carvings throughout. There is the CORK CITY GAOL in Sunday's Well, which sounds very morbid but actually isn't. You are handed a walkman on arrival, and although this may seem fairly antisocial, it proves an interesting guide and really helps recreate the atmosphere of life in the Gaol in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Other places worth visiting in Cork city centre are the Cork Vision Centre, Shandon Church, the English Market, the Beamish and Crawford Brewery, Bishop Lucie Park and the Crawford Gallery. I recommend that you pay a visit to the Tourist Office on Gr
and Parade, who are extremely helpful. - What about the environs of Cork, anything worth seeing there? Well, twenty minutes outside Cork is BLARNEY, with its famous castle. Oh, it's a lovely place, and I really do recommend you visit this. It's a very small castle, set in some beautiful grounds with a little stream running alongside it and surrounded by woodland. At the top of the castle you can kiss the Blarney Stone, if you want to (although I imagine it's quite unhygienic!). I have been twice, both times in the autumn when it was very quiet, so am unable to say whether it gets crowded during the summer. The village of Blarney is very picturesque and well preserved. COBH is a small fishing village about 15 minutes drive from Cork. There's not all that much to do here, but it's worth taking a drive down just to see the seafront with all its houses painted in bright colours. This was also the Titanic's last port of call before setting off for New York, back in the days when Cobh was called Queenstown. KINSALE is another fishing village that makes a nice day out; this is also where the locals go in the summer, to the "beach"! Children especially will appreciate FOTA WILDLIFE PARK, where they'll be able to see at first hand giraffes, wild cats, monkeys, and many many other wild animals. If you don't enjoy this kind of thing, you can take a relaxing walk through the grounds of Fota House, its arboretum, and on to the Victorian railway station, which is still in use. If you are interested in finding out more about the history of whiskey, the JAMESEON HERITAGE CENTRE in Midleton is well worth a visit. Here you can find out how whiskey was made in the olden days, and then enjoy the whiskey tasting at the end of the tour. You will be given an 'exclusive' whiskey tasting diploma if you really put your all into it! There are lots of old country houses
that you can visit too, such as Dunkettle House (sometimes spelt Dunkathiel) where the owner himself will take you round (he's a bit creepy though), and Riverstown House, which I have to mention because it is almost literally at the bottom of my garden - oh yes, I live in a good neighbourhood ;o). So you see, something for everyone. - Jeez, remind me to ask you to be brief next time. Sorry, but you did ask. - No, that's okay, but I'm late for my violin practice now. Anything else to add, quickly? No, not really. Oh yes, hang on! I'd just like to say, in conclusion, that there is much more to Cork than first appearances show. For the tourist, there are plenty of interesting things to do and see, at least enough to keep you busy for the best part of a week. For the resident of Cork, or of one of its outlying towns or villages (like me), the community spirit and the tranquillity that exist here make it a saner place to live and a healthier place to bring up your children. That's about it. - Wonderful! Thanks, got to run. Bye! Bye then! Thanks for listening … oh, he's gone.
Cork is a laugh. What people don't get is that you need a local to show you the best places to go. The best times to come are during a festival. We have the Cork Film Festival and the Cork Jazz Weekend every year in around October (on different dates) and there are always loads of fun things to do… and plenty of interesting tourists to do them with. If jazz and films aren't your thing then come any time and get ready for some serious drinking. Cork might not have as many amenities as Dublin but what we don't have in terms of museums, etc we make up for by how much we enjoy ourselves. Anyone interested in clubbing should try Henry's on Wednesdays for Freakscene a metal/rock night, Cubins for those over 23, Maas for hard house and garage in classy surroundings and Gorby's if you just want a laugh, cheap drinks and plenty of up for it lads. The Savoy is a recently opened club for those who prefer a more sophisticated experience- be warned it's about twice the admission price (£10) of other Cork clubs. Of course, there's the Blarney Stone just outside of the city and if you feel like being lowered down backwards to kiss a rock in the hopes of getting the gift of the gab then by all means go for it (empty the change out of your pockets first though) In the summer, Kinsale is a really busy town popular with tourists because of its excellent restaurants and (even more) pubs. People often make the mistake of making Cork their 2-day stop over on the way to Dublin but it has much more to offer than that. It's small enough that a car isn't really necessary for shopping in the city centre and although the weather isn't always the best it's a city well worth visiting.
Cork may not be one of the places in Ireland that most people think about for a holdiay, but i found it to be pretty, colourful and friendly. The houses are mostly painted in different pastel colours and the ones along the river look especially attractive. There is not a huge amount of things to do in Cork, apart from shopping and of course drinking in one of the numerous pubs. Since we were only there a couple of days we visited only two attractions - the cork city gaol and nearby blarney castle. Other attractions in cork however include the beamish brewery and murphy's brewery, both of which offer tastings and tours. Cork city gaol was facinating, and has wax models of the more famous prisoners that once inhabited the gaol, along with a taped commentry which you listen to on head phones and which guides you round the prison. There are also two walls inside the prison covered in graffiti left by Republican prisoners in the early 20th century which makes interesting reading. If you are going to Cork then you really have to visit Blarney castle, its about 5 miles from Cork city, with frequent bus services. It really is a beautiful castle and very interactive, with no parts of it cordoned off from visitors who are left to wander around the rooms and nooks and cranny's. While there, you must kiss the blarney stone as its not quite as difficult as it looks! Get someone to take a photo of you though if you want a souviner because although staff take a picture of everyone who kisses it, the photo's are very expensive to buy. The setting of the castle is very picturesque too, and there is a lovely nature walk to go on, with things to see along the way such as stone circles, and models of fairy's. I would recommend visting Cork and definitly Blarney castle, but you probably won't need more than two days to see the city.


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ELO deck:
Rise of Junkz
Vote, and enjoy!
Shanks Guru Event team E X C A L I B U R
Saturday 24/11/2012, 21:38
Id take fuzz out for eebiza and run jiro over sentogan. thats just me
But I have Eebiza already . And I like Fuzz. Maybe I'll put Veenyle Cr instead of Sentogan, because I know he's not the strongest card in this deck xP. On the odther hand - he isn't so bad... .
Shanks Guru Event team E X C A L I B U R
Sunday 25/11/2012, 01:49
DR cards never hurt either and veenyle can sneak a damage if you play her right which will also stop 100% of opp damage that round. but always play with what you are comfortable with in ELO imo.
Clint City, day.

subset: commoncrawl


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Tickets for the Sober Grad Take Home Tri-tip Dinner are now on sale. The annual event benefits June's Sober Grad Party.
The "Dinner for 4" includes a whole, marinated and barbecued tri-tip; four baked potatoes with sour cream and butter; four dinner rolls made by Tam Adams of Emandal; salad for four with dressing from Trillium Delights; four cookies; and a flower from Flowers by Annette.
Cost for the drive-through meal is $50.
Meals may be picked up next Friday, April 26, at the Frontier Day's rodeo grounds between 4 and 6 p.m. Tickets are limited, and the dinner is by pre-sale only.
Tickets may be purchased from Trillium/Cat's Meow, Holli or Rose in the Willits High School office, and at the Willits Charter School and Sanhedrin High School offices.
Tickets are also available at the Baechtel Grove Middle School, Blosser Lane and Brookside elementary schools offices and the Willits Unified School District office.
Information: Linda Matz, 459-6201; Joyce Waters, 489-8377; or email firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Ogando is no stranger to biceps tendinitis
ARLINGTON -- Alexi Ogando, who was placed on the disabled list on Thursday because of biceps tendinitis, said he has had this problem before. Ogando said the recent flareup occurred during his six-inning outing on Wednesday against the Athletics.
"It's nothing major," Ogando said. "It's something I've felt off and on before. I should be back to normal soon. I would have been able to pitch, but we don't want it to get worse. We want it to get better. It's just one-two starts."
Ogando had an MRI and the results showed nothing more than inflammation. Josh Lindblom is expected to pitch for the Rangers on Monday against Oakland. Ogando is eligible to come off the disabled list on May 31, although the likely target date for his next start is June 2 against the Royals at Rangers Ballpark.
T.R. Sullivan is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Postcards from Elysian Fields, and follow him on Twitter @Sullivan_Ranger. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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There's a quiet synergy that exists between Brooklyn and Hotel Le Bleu. Brooklyn is unique and vibrant, a place where individual style is praised and where fitting in means being different. Hotel Le Bleu mirrors the Brooklyn mindset and echoes its sense of originality and authenticity.
From inside out, nothing about Hotel Le Bleu is ordinary or standard. Striking and powerful with its own distinct New York flavor, Hotel Le Bleu is the premiere hotel in the Brooklyn borough. Welcome to Brooklyn. Welcome to Hotel Le Bleu.
You're on the go and there's no slowing you down. At Hotel Le Bleu, a boutique Brooklyn hotel, we provide our guests free parking in the heart of Park Slope, and a refined space where oil burners and creative spirits can thrive.
The New York CityPASS program offers the top must-see Broadway plays, musicals, shows, as well as must-do New York City attractions all at a discount rate. Save close to 50% through CityPASS.
Just like the city that never sleeps, our 24-hour front desk team is up at all hours to tend to your needs. Hotel Le Bleu is dedicated to providing you warm personal service, modern amenities and luxurious comfort ensuring your well rested for your time in the concrete jungle.
Hotel Le Bleu is a Park Slope hotel near some of the area's most popular attractions. Catch a show at nearby Barclays Center, tour the Brooklyn Museum, or take a stroll through the historic Central Brooklyn Library - all just minutes from Hotel Le Bleu.
If you're looking for hotels near Barclays Center, keep Hotel Le Bleu at the forefront of your mind in order to maintain a classy and sophisticated stay in Brooklyn. All the excitement and world-class entertainment at the Barclays Center.
Draped in vibrant blue hues, which convey a sense of muted warmth, the Hotel Le Bleu's sense of style is unmistakable. Although we're a boutique Brooklyn hotel, our vibe is relaxed and casual, putting all our guests at ease. Located near all of the areas most popular attractions like the Barlclays Center, the Bridge Brooklyn, Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn Cruise Terminal. Hotel features all of the amenities you'd expect from a major hotel, like complimentary WiFi, flat-screen HDTV with 150+ premium cable, mini bar, and a private balcony.
Excellent customer service at the front desk if you get a chance ask for Amanda , Travis or Rachel they will take great care of you. Very knowledgeable of Brooklyn & all NYC. The location is perfect you can get to anywhere in Manhattan or Brooklyn in less than 20 minutes!
Then you enter your room and what a surprise! It's elegant, beautiful and full of amenities from complimentary snacks to white bathrobes, a HUGE shower, bed and TV screen with a high end sound system. The wifi is free and complimentary breakfast is delivered to your room warm and right when you have scheduled it!
Spent 2 nights at Hotel Le Bleu while in the area for business. From the moment I arrived I felt very welcomed thanks to the night manager. Check in was hassle free. I had a room on the 7th floor facing Manhattan and it was a beautiful view from the balcony outside.


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A CARNIVAL which has been running for more than half a century is on the verge of collapse because of a volunteer shortage.
Wallingford Carnival, which attracts about 5,000 people every year, is in danger of folding because of a lack of organisers.
In the past, the organising committee had about a dozen members, but now only Theresa Jordan and Rose Sutton are left.
Ms Jordan and Mrs Sutton say they urgently need help to organise this year's event, which is due to take place on Saturday, June 15.
Ms Jordan, who lives in the town and is a supply teacher at Wallingford School, said: "The carnival has always been very popular but we do need more volunteers to keep the event going.
"It is not an understatement to say that if we do not succeed in getting new membership the event will collapse.
"I have been on the organising committee for about 13 years and we are now in the position where there are only two people left on the committee, and that is simply not enough.
"We don't want the event to fold, but that's a possibility because it's too much for the two of us on our own and we need the expertise of others to organise the road closures, the marshalls, and arrange the carnival procession.
"There is too much work for the two of us. We need more manpower."
Several carnival committee members have retired, including Lindon Shepherd, who worked for the committee for 31 years.
Ms Jordan said this year, organisers intended to use The Kinecroft for more carnival events, with the procession starting and finishing on the open space near the town centre.
After a three-decade gap, organisers revived the tradition of having a carnival queen last year to mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.
Casie Marshall, 18, from Wallingford, was chosen by the organisers to be the first carnival queen since 1984.
The carnival raises money for a chosen charity and last year visitors donated £1,200 for Macmillan Cancer Support.
Mrs Sutton, 57, from Brightwell-cum-Sotwell, said: "The carnival costs about £8,000 a year to stage and we rely on sponsorship from local businesses and selling stall spaces to cover our costs.
"The town is heaving on the day itself and there must be about 5,000 people attending.
"If we don't get any help we might have to cancel and we don't want to do that because it's one of Wallingford's great traditions.
"It's a fantastic day – especially for the children – I remember feeling elated when I was a child in the carnival."
Town and county councillor Lynda Atkins said: "We lost the raft race a few years back, so we don't want to lose another key event.
"The carnival is a good opportunity for people to come together and celebrate the town."
lIf you can help the committee, telephone Ms Jordan on 01491 836240 or email roytheresa email@example.com


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This is what I been talking about …young blacks kids…being seriously injured or killed for a pair of expensive sneakers. Parents need to teach their kids differently. Those sneakers can't feed u…help your health..get u a good education. They feel pressured to have the latest sneakers..all the " hip kids" got the latest sneakers.
it's not just sneakers it's disrespect. I don't care what it was he had no right to cut that line. During the hurricane some years ago in Florida we were in gas lines and people were trying to cut the line. People pulled out their guns because this was serious then came the national guard with M-16 guns. What this kid did was dead a** wrong and he got what he deserved as far as I'm concerned.
I hear you and agree but, I'm more inclined to believe he deserved a beatdown. Pulling out firearms isn't the answer. That could have gone horribly wrong. Other people could have been accidentally hit. The young shooter could have murdered instead of just wounded that fool. Then, his life would be over too.
Everyone on that line should have been shot (not literally) for caring more about a hood 'status symbol' than probably your own seed!
Wonder how many crying broke, not paying their utilities or rent on time and maybe even getting food stamps but, found money to put into Kanye and Nike's pockets. SMH
Why are you so interested about a group of people buying basketball shoes??
It's not interest. This was a response to another post.
There not just sold in the hood…or america…weird that you veiw shoes as a status symbol…
Shooting folks over shoes.. wow smh!!!! Damn i hope those shoes were worth it
B itch made fools!
And in other news, the sky is still blue.
Just last week a bushnig speared another bushnig, for his brand new nose bone
This is why we last in everything. We just dumb, antiquated farm implements.
Typical nìggèr nonsense. Nothing to see here. Move along people.
Somebody got shot and died in atl two years ago. ..ppl better watch that cutting in line sh it sneaker heads will shoot you
What tha what?


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The blizzard of order activity at this year's Paris Air Show might have obscured a highly significant signing in the regional jet arena for one of the stars of the salon's flying display.
For years Superjet International struggled to sign a legitimate customer from its home country–until last week, when Italy's Blue Panorama Airlines agreed to become the Western European launch operator for the Sukhoi Superjet 100. Based in Fiumicino, Italy, Blue Panorama signed a memorandum of understanding covering 12 SSJ100-95s worth a potential $370 million. Plans call for deliveries to start at the end of next year.
Venice, Italy-based Superjet International expects to support the Blue Panorama SSJ100 fleet, as it does for launch customer Armavia under a new program unveiled at Paris called SuperCare. Under the terms of that $4 million deal, SuperJet International will provide the Armenian carrier with spares support and maintenance/repair of on-board equipment for an initial period of six years.
The first Sukhoi Superjet 100 entered into revenue services with Armavia on April 21, just two days after delivery. On June 16, the SSJ100 flew its first revenue flight with Aeroflot from Moscow to St. Petersburg.
During the first two months of operation, the SSJ100 flew 268 hours during 119 flights, logging a dispatch reliability rate of 98 percent.
Plans call for the Superjet 100 to welcome a new larger sibling, possibly one as large as 130 seats in capacity, but not until the original SSJ100-95 loses some weight for Aeroflot and gains some range for Latin American launch customer Interjet of Mexico. Specifically, it needs to shed some 1,750 pounds, a United Aircraft Corp. (UAC) official said following a roundtable luncheon hosted by UAC president Mikhail Pogosyan. Meanwhile, Interjet's planned hot-and-high operations will require somewhat more than the standard range of 1,645 nm the airplane now offers.
Directly from the show, the SSJ100 flew to Toulouse for EASA trials, then it's bound for Dubai for hot-weather testing, followed by Mexico for high-altitude work. The company hopes to gain EASA certification by the end of the year and deliver Interjet's first of 15 airplanes on firm order some time next year.


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THE M5 northbound near Gloucester will be reduced to one lane overnight for bridgeworks.
Road users are advised that lanes one and two of the northbound M5 between Junction 12 and junction 11a will be closed overnight tonight (Friday 18 July) as part of ongoing bridge repair work.
Lane three of the northbound M5 will remain open to traffic.
The work, which is part of a comprehensive package of bridge safety improvements and maintenance to benefit road users on the M5 near Gloucester, will take place between 10pm and 6am.
An overnight closure of the B4073 underneath the bridge between Corncroft Lane and Birchall Lane will also be needed to ensure the safety of road users.
Clearly signed diversions will be in place.
Project sponsor Dave Frampton said: "The closure of lanes one and two northbound represents Phase Three of this work, which involves the removal of the bridge beams.
"The whole scheme is proceeding well and we are on schedule to complete the works on time."
Full details and regular updates on the works, including videos and photos, can be found on our dedicated M5 Gloucestershire Bridge Works Facebook page here.
Members of the public should contact the Highways Agency Information Line on 0300 123 5000.


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This trade would be dependent on how much Philly would like to shed salary, how much Orlando is willing to take on, and how much we are willing to use our cap space to make a splash now.
Indiana gets: Andre Iguodala
Jason Richardson
Daniel Orton
Orlando gets: Jeff Foster
Elton Brand
Philly gets: TJ Ford
Mike Dunleavy
Chris Duhon
Top 3 Protected 1st Rd pick
Indiana gets both defense and scoring in the back court and a very young PF with potential plus frees up time for AJ Price
Orlando gets two big bodies to compete with the Celtics and Lakers of the league but do have to take on a lot of salary with Brand. It's basically an all in deal for Orlando
Philly unloads around $130 in salary and will be stuck with the $12 owed Duhon but get a mid range 1st rounder. It could be sweetened by giving either Paul George or Lance Stephenson to Philly. I would give Lance, but I would not give up George, Philly is getting to shed too much salary the way it is.


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Autumn Flourishes Binder Spine Insert for 2 inch binders
Avery Pre-Designed Templates Microsoft Word
Add flair to your binders with this customizable template
Compatible Products:
89106, 89107
Reviewed by 1 customer
This review is from AVERY Autumn Flourishes Binder Spine Insert for 2 inch binders:
These binder spine inserts are very easy to make. They come in a variety of widths and have a very simple, yet elegant design. Well worth using for both work and home purposes.


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JON Guthrie says his confidence is sky-high after he made his 'surprise' full League One debut for Crewe Alexandra last weekend.
The 20-year-old defender, from Milton Lilbourne, played the full 90 minutes in the heart of the Railwaymen's defence at AFC Bournemouth on Saturday but could not prevent the hosts' Brett Pitman from netting a hat-trick as Crewe went down 3-1.
Guthrie made a sensational switch from Sydenhams League Pewsey Vale to Crewe almost a year ago and is craving more minutes in the league after his Bournemouth bow.
"It was a complete surprise because I hadn't even been getting on the bench recently – I'd just been playing for the U21s," said the Alex rookie, whose first appearance came as a late substitute against Swindon Town in October last year.
"I got told last Thursday that there was a possibility of me playing because we had some injuries, so I told people back home about it.
"My family, friends and my old Pewsey lot were there and it was great to see them in the crowd when I was warming up.
"I loved every minute of it and I just want more now. You never know if you'll be good enough to play in the league and I know that I could have done better for the second goal but the manager Steve (Davis) said I had a decent debut.
"It's a massive confidence boost for me."
Crewe boss Davis said: "I thought Jon showed he can handle the level. He had a steady game and I was pleased with him."


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Photo gallery:
2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid XLE
As a driving enthusiast, it's easy to hate on hybrids and hybrid owners. They're always in the way when I'm trying to hustle through traffic, and the schmoes in the driver's seats seem to be drowning in their own smugness.
"Blech, hybrids!" I spout at my car-guy buddies. "They're the worst!"
But then something interesting happens whenever I find myself sliding behind the wheel of one of Toyota's or Ford's hybrid vehicles: I start to enjoy myself. This week, I found myself behind the wheel of the 2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid XLE. While it may not be the newest Toyota to wear the little blue Hybrid Synergy Drive badge (that honor belongs to the diminutive Prius C), it is probably the most fully loaded vehicle in the automaker's stable--this side of Lexus, at least.
Performance: Zen and the art of driving slowly
So, how did I--a speed freak and driving enthusiast--find myself enjoying a week with a Camry Hybrid? Toyota Camrys have been, at best, driving appliances for the last few generations and slapping a hybrid badge seems to imply that even more soul has been sucked out of the drive. If I'm honest, even I'm not sure. Perhaps it was the mental shift from measuring performance in mph to mpg. Perhaps it was the thrill of challenging myself to keep the car in EV mode for as long as possible. Maybe I subconsciously believed that the perfect storm of Camry practicality and hybrid eco-consciousness would make me irresistible to San Francisco ladies.
Most likely, it's because the Camry Hybrid doesn't suck as badly as I thought it would.
Powered by a combination of a 2.5-liter Atkinson-cycle, direct-injected gasoline engine and an electric motor, the Camry Hybrid sends a combined 200-horsepower through its planetary electronically controlled continuously variable transmission (CVT) and to the front wheels. Like all hybrid synergy drive (HSD) equipped vehicles, the Camry Hybrid is capable of propelling itself with pure electric power from its nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH) battery pack, with only its gasoline engine's 178 horsepower and 170 pound-feet of torque, or a combination of both. Usually the electric motor operates at low speeds and the gasoline engine takes over at highway speeds where it's most efficient, but that all depends on how you work the pedals.
The HSD system features special buttons for EV and Eco modes. The former forces the car to operate under full electric power for short ranges and at low-speeds and the later adjusts the throttle response and rates to help smooth out inputs and artificially lighten your lead foot. Here's where things get interesting, because even in its Eco mode, the 2012 Camry Hybrid never felt gutless.
The Eco and EV modes help the driver to maximize fuel economy.
Of course, it didn't feel fast either. The word that springs to mind is "subdued." Even with the Eco mode's dulling of my already light throttle inputs as I eased the hybrid through the commuter traffic clogging the San Francisco's Marina district approaching the Golden Gate Bridge bottleneck, the Camry never felt sluggish. Electric acceleration was good enough that I never felt like I was frustrating the drivers around me with my electric hyper-miling and a whole second motor's worth of power was always just a quick stab of the accelerator away when I needed it. While electric creeping, the hybrid impressed me with its trademark silent cabin, but even with the gasoline engine running and 70 mph worth of road and wind noise whipping around outside, the Camry Hybrid XLE is a remarkably quiet and very relaxing ride.
Interestingly, that's not the case outside of the car. From outside of the vehicle, the direct-injected gasoline engine sounded it was full of loose change when it fired up to, for example, prime the climate control system or warm the catalytic converter after a cold night. Likewise, I was occasionally able to hear the artificial pedestrian safety noise, a light whirring that sounded a bit like a UFO, when EV creeping near a wall with the windows down.
With the Eco mode deactivated, the Camry's power train is remarkable responsive despite the CVT's rubbery performance when asked to downshift for a pass. Acceleration comes on strong thanks to the electric motor's contribution to the available torque. However, things get a bit loud in the Camry's cabin when it's pushed--and not the good kind of loud either. Taking it slower and easier in the Camry seems to be the way to go.
The Camry loses most of its rear seat pass-through in the hybrid conversion. Only a small opening remains.
Fuel economy is probably the most important spec for a vehicle like the Camry Hybrid XLE. The EPA estimates 38 highway mpg, 40 city mpg, and a combined 40 mpg for the hybrid. Try as I might, I was unable to get the trip computer to rise above a tank average of 35 mpg. (Although I was able to get readings for a few individual trips across the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge and back to venture into the high 40s.) On the bright side, when the Eco mode was shut off for the last few days of my testing, I was also unable to get the Camry to drop much further below that number either and we ended our testing at a reported 34.2 mpg, which is not too bad for a sedan as large in footprint as the Camry is.
Cabin tech: Getting in tune with Entune
The Camry's quiet cabin means that even the basic six-speaker audio system wouldn't need to work very hard to sound pretty good. However, our optional JBL GreenEdge premium audio system (part of the $2,600 Premium HDD Navigation with Entune and JBL package) brings 10 speakers, including a powered subwoofer, to the party and sounds rather good. Available audio sources include Bluetooth streamed audio (A2DP/AVRCP), hands-free calling, iPod/USB connectivity, SiriusXM satellite radio, an analog audio connection, a single CD slot, and an HD Radio tuner.
Thanks to a quiet cabin and quiet power train, the JBL premium audio stereo doesn't have to work very hard.
The Camry is one of the first vehicles to feature integration with the automaker's Entune apps service. After registering with the service online and downloading the Entune app to a smartphone, users will locate the individual Entune services under the touch-screen interface's Info menu. In the case of Android smartphones you'll need to make sure that you also Bluetooth pair with the infotainment systems, iOS devices just need to be connected via their 30-pin dock connector. While we had connectivity issues during our last test of this system, this time it was mostly smooth sailing.


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o Shop and cook ahead: Plan what you are going to eat ahead of time; it's the key to healthy meals and snacks. It saves time since you don't have to run to the store constantly. Prepare things the night before; have them by the door in the morning. Don't be intimidated: Healthy eating does not necessarily require cooking. Sometimes knowing what to buy and how to put it together is half the battle.
o Try one ingredient, multiple meals: Buy a fully cooked rotisserie chicken, for example, and use it in more than one recipe throughout the week. Make a chicken salad, a chicken taco, and even some chicken soup with vegetables.
o Avoid processed foods: Processed foods full of preservatives make your body work harder to function at optimum levels. Your liver works overtime to filter the toxins. You feel sluggish and you gain weight. Natural, whole foods make your body run more efficiently. You will think more clearly. You lose weight and improve your cardiovascular function.
o Water: Drink three glasses during the day to keep your body and brain hydrated. It keeps your skin looking clear, too.
o Take vitamin D daily: Among other benefits, vitamin D ¬¬prevents chronic diseases including many forms of cancer, osteoporosis, diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension; protects and lubricates bones, teeth and hair; and reduces the occurrence of prostate cancer, especially in African American men.
By Sherry Posnick-Goodwin
Chef Paul McCullough
Word to the wise: Grownup food is much more flavorful and healthier.
Educators have a lot on their plates these days. If you look around the staff lounge, you'll find doughnuts and cupcakes, frozen meals (loaded with sodium) zapped in the microwave, vending machine snacks, and sodas. Processed foods, an exercise regime that consists of walking around a classroom, and high stress can be a recipe for poor health.
As you set goals for 2013, we thought we'd provide you some fodder. To get started, we've got healthy recipes, nutrition tips and a week's shopping list provided by Chef Paul McCullough, whose catering business, Paul's Kitchen, is located in Los Angeles. (Aficionados may remember McCullough as a finalist on the "Food Network Star" reality show.) A chef for celebrities, McCullough brings home-cooked meals to film and TV crews; he made his culinary debut in Hollywood catering for the stars of "Sex and the City." He is currently executive chef at City of Hope National Medical Center, catering exclusive VIP donor events. He has also served as honorary chair for CTA's Read Across America. McCullough will be traveling this holiday season on a national media TV tour promoting his new book, Roma-Therapy, about cooking with tomatoes, available on www.amazon.com.
Q and A with Paul McCullough
Why are you worried about school employees?
Teachers and other professionals who work with students are responsible for educating the future of our country - and we need you. Educators are nurturers taking care of others, but you also need to take time to take care of yourself. If you are taking care of yourself from the inside out, feeding yourself a balanced diet, taking the stairs and fitting in a walk on your break, you will be a more effective educator. You will be more focused. I've heard people say, "Eating healthy is expensive." My answer: So are high blood pressure, heart disease and obesity.
What were your considerations in developing these healthy lunches and snacks?
First I considered adaptable recipes that could easily transform into different dishes. I wanted them to be tasty as well as provide balanced nutritional value. They can be made in 20 minutes or less. Healthy eating does not necessarily require cooking. It's knowing what to buy and how to put it together that's half the battle. Time is something we all need more of, so I thought about taking a Sunday trip to the market where you could get everything you need for your lunches in a one-stop shop.
What principles from these recipes can be applied to future lunches and snacks for a week?
It is well known that five smaller meals during the day helps boost your metabolism and regulate blood sugar, and helps you stay focused. Think about a mid-morning snack, healthy lunch with complex carbs and lean protein, then an afternoon snack as well. And water! Lots of water.
What makes these meals and snacks healthy?
Because they are filled with vitamins and minerals. They are not processed foods that are leached of their natural goodness and filled with preservatives. Most of the menu items are low in fat where it counts: turkey sausage, low-fat cheese, lean chicken and tofu. I pay attention to the good fats we all need, such as the fat in avocados, nuts and olive oil, which actually help absorb nutrients. Fiber is an important factor in keeping blood sugar levels stable. So, rather than drinking a glass of apple or orange juice, eat the whole fruit as one of your snacks. You get all the health benefits without the "sugar spike and crash" that can happen after drinking a glass of juice.
What about the "I'm the only one in the school eating healthy" complex?
The good news is everything you need is right there for you. Your school is full of experts. Everyone you need to live your best life is just down the hall from you. Rally together and start a break room task force. Get a team of teachers to work together to improve your lunchroom experience. Toss out the Sweet'N Low and Equal (may cause cancer in lab rats… hello, what about you?). Bring on the stevia, which is a natural plant extract. Stock up on raw agave nectar to put into your tea or over your yogurt. Raw is important, because once it is processed (heated to temperatures that will prolong shelf life), it loses nutritional value because it essentially turns into corn syrup. Chuck the soft drinks. Drink more tea. Pitch in to buy healthy snacks like almonds, dried fruit and Balance bars.
How might this impact our students?
Leading by example is a great way to effect change in the lives of our students and in California schools. Apples on a teacher's desk are iconic for a reason. People view apples as symbol of variety, change, growth and strength. Also, without love and care the fruit cannot flourish, much like your students. Teachers play a vital role in the emotional, mental and physical development in a student's life. So keeping an apple on your desk will not only set a good example for your students, it's also a quick snack when you need it.
What about my family's lunches?
Since you have made the decision to start treating yourself to a healthy lunch, why not treat your family, too? Encourage your family to participate in making lunches. Discuss the advantages to smarter choices. Point out people you see eating healthfully. Simply multiply your shopping list to accommodate your family's needs.
Should exercise also play a role?
Want to feel better, have more energy and perhaps even live longer? Look no further than exercise. The health benefits of regular exercise and physical activity are hard to ignore. And the benefits of exercise are yours for the taking, regardless of your age, sex or physical ability. Check out these seven ways exercise can improve your life.
• Exercise controls weight.
• Exercise combats health conditions and diseases.
• Exercise improves mood.
• Exercise boosts energy.
• Exercise promotes better sleep.
• Exercise can be fun.
Did someone say recess? Exercise controls weight, combats health conditions and diseases, improves mood, boosts energy, promotes better sleep, and can be fun to do with your family. Remember to check with your doctor before starting a new exercise program, especially if you have any health concerns.
For more information, visit www.PaulsKitchen.com or McCullough's Facebook page www.facebook.com/PaulsKitchen. You can read a blog about the making of Paul's book Roma-Therapy.
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Every child deserves a chance to learn and no child succeeds alone.
© 1999-


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Arrieta closing in on return to Cubs' rotation
CHICAGO -- As of now, Carlos Villanueva stays in the Cubs' rotation, but Jake Arrieta is getting close to returning to the big league team.
Arrieta, who was slowed this spring with tightness in his right shoulder, made his fourth Minor League rehab start on Monday, pitching for Class A Daytona, and gave up five runs -- three earned -- on five hits, including three homers, over 5 2/3 innings. Arrieta struck out seven, including the last two batters he faced in the sixth. He has made three starts for Double-A Tennessee, but the Cubs wanted Arrieta pitching in warm weather and to go about 100 pitches on Monday.
Will a start at Class A be enough to prep Arrieta for the big leagues?
"I think the intensity level that everybody has when they're down on rehabs, everybody's different," Cubs manager Rick Renteria said. "Some guys don't think about it too much and just focus on what they're doing. Some guys see it as kind of being lax because it's a different arena.
"In his case, he's a guy who goes out there and knows he has to command and stay clean in his delivery and hit his spots," Renteria said. "It might be a little different for pitchers than position players."
Renteria said they won't know if Arrieta will need another rehab start after Monday until they see how he responds from the outing.
Villanueva is 1-2 with a 10.66 ERA in three starts, and will go to the bullpen when Arrieta returns.
Carrie Muskat is a reporter for MLB.com. She writes a blog, Muskat Ramblings, and you can follow her on Twitter @CarrieMuskat. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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The Creative Process
From ideation to execution, every creative has a specific process. In a recent article by The 99 Percent, well-known musicians, comedians and writers shared their personal creative processes and success strategies.
One of our favorite quotes came from Jack White, "Force yourself. Deadlines make you creative." In this video, check out how Jack uses constriction to spur creativity for his band, The White Stripes:
How do you create? Check out The 99 Percent article for more inspiration.


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Muscle Treatment for Management of Pain & Disability in Tension-type Headache
This study has been completed.
University of Colorado, Denver
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)
Information provided by (Responsible Party):
University of Colorado, Denver
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
First received: November 18, 2010
Last updated: November 30, 2015
Last verified: November 2015
- Full Text View
- Tabular View
- No Study Results Posted
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
Detailed Description:
The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of treatments (massage therapy or ultrasound) directed at skeletal muscle for alleviating pain associated wtih tension headache.
|Tension-type Headache
|Other: ultrasound Other: massage
|Phase 2
|Study Type:
|Study Design:
|Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single (Outcomes Assessor)
Primary Purpose: Treatment
|Official Title:
|Muscle Treatment for Management of Pain & Disability in Tension-type Headache
Resource links provided by NLM:
MedlinePlus related topics: HeadacheU.S. FDA Resources
Further study details as provided by University of Colorado, Denver:
Primary Outcome Measures:
- Headache frequency [ Time Frame: Measure is assessed daily for 14 weeks ]
Secondary Outcome Measures:
- Headache Disability Index [ Time Frame: Assessed at 4 time points over 14 weeks ]
|Study Start Date:
|April 2010
|Study Completion Date:
|December 2013
|Primary Completion Date:
|July 2012 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)
|Assigned Interventions
|Experimental: Massage treatment
Other: massage
Twice weekly massage sessions for 6 weeks
Other Name: myofsacial trigger point therapy
|Experimental: Ultrasound
Other: ultrasound
Twice weekly ultrasound sessions for 6 weeks
|No Intervention: Wait-list
Detailed Description:
Chronic or episodic forms of tension-type headache affect a high percentage of the population. Pain from tension-type headache (TTH) not only impacts personal well-being, but also poses a significant socioeconomic burden in terms of workdays lost and decreased worker productivity. Although TTH is the most prevalent of the headache disorders, there is a distinct lack of research with regards to specific treatments for this ailment in comparison to all other headache classifications, such as migraine. A muscular involvement is associated with TTH and is reported in the research literature as elevation in skeletal muscle tenderness, increased presence of active myofascial trigger point's, and physical abnormalities in cervical and cranial muscles. Thus, a treatment approach that addresses the skeletal musculature could be an important component in the management of TTH. The purpose of this randomized trial is to determine the effectiveness of two muscle oriented treatments on reducing pain and disability associated with TTH: massage therapy and ultrasound.
|Ages Eligible for Study:
|18 Years to 59 Years (Adult)
|Sexes Eligible for Study:
|Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
Inclusion Criteria:
- 2 or more tension-type headache episodes per week
- Headache episodes of 2 hours or longer
- Experiencing tension-type headache for 6 months or longer
Exclusion Criteria:
- Migraine >1/month
- Presence of alternate forms of headache (e.g. cluster headache, medication-induced headache, headache caused by injury)
- The diagnosis of fibromyalgia, major depression, other neurological or cardiovascular disease
- Pregnancy
- Prior massage or ultrasound treatment for headaches
Contacts and Locations
Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study. To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below. For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01244555
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01244555
|United States, Colorado
|University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
|Aurora, Colorado, United States, 80045
Sponsors and Collaborators
University of Colorado, Denver
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)
|Principal Investigator:
|Albert Moraska, PhD
|University of Colorado - Anschutz Medical Campus
More Information
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on September 25, 2017
|Responsible Party:
|University of Colorado, Denver
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
|NCT01244555 History of Changes
|Other Study ID Numbers:
1R21AT004469-01A2 ( U.S. NIH Grant/Contract )
|Study First Received:
|November 18, 2010
|Last Updated:
|November 30, 2015
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Tension-Type Headache
Neurologic Manifestations
Nervous System Diseases
Signs and Symptoms
Headache Disorders, Primary
Headache Disorders
Brain Diseases
Central Nervous System Diseases
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on September 25, 2017


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The Advertiser's coverage of the '44 invasion was extensive, but most people knew someone taking part anyway, as BARRIE HUDSON reports...
SWINDON didn't really need the Adver to tell it that D-Day had dawned on Tuesday, June 6, 1944.
Having had their sleep disturbed by the thrum of aircraft engines overhead, all heading in the same direction, they knew something big was happening.
Many of the aircraft were carrying personnel and supplies for what is still the biggest invasion of its kind, while others were bombers tasked with pulverising the defences the Germans had built during four years of occupation.
Airborne troops were parachuted into the Normandy countryside hours ahead of the seaborne landing, which began at 6.30am.
The paratroopers' mission was to sabotage enemy artillery, cause mayhem among the defenders and secure routes. Landing craft brought more than 150,000 British, Canadian and American men ashore in five zones spread over some 50 miles of coastline.
The names of those five zones – Utah, Sword, Juno, Gold and Omaha – were immortal world history by sundown.
"SLASHING INTO FRANCE," ran the Evening Advertiser's headline a few hours later.
We wrote: "'Commun-ique No 1' set the world agog today.
"It was issued from Supreme GQ Allied Expeditionary Force (SHAEF for short) at 9.33am.
"It stated: "Under the command of General Eisenhower, Allied naval forces, supported by strong air forces, began landing Allied Armies this morning on the Northern Coast of France."
That first report revealed that more than 640 naval guns were bombarding coastal defences.
An unnamed correspondent sent back a report from the scene: "The Allied Troops landed in Europe under a blanket of cloud, 5,000 feet thick.
"In a flight up and down the French Coast we could see nothing except clouds, the flash of heavy flak exploding and a pale pinkish glow in the clouds in the area of the heavy bombardment.
"The airborne troops who appeared over Tactical Bomber bases just before the bombers took off dropped to the ground through cloud.
"Over the Channel close to the British coast, the cloud broke and we could see escorted landing craft leaving long twin wakes in the Channel behind them."
By the time first June 6 edition hit the streets, we were already reporting that two beachheads had been secured.
By the end of the day, they would all be secured at the cost of more than 4,000 Allied troops killed and more than 7,000 wounded.
What the world didn't know for many years was that Eisenhower's announcement of success wasn't the only message he drafted in relation to the invasion.
The success of the landings, against such an entrenched, well-equipped enemy, was never guaranteed. Until the Allies arrived in France, they didn't know for sure how much resistance they would meet.
That other message drafted by Eisenhower, which mercifully never had to be issued, read: "Our landings in the Cherbourg-Havre area have failed to gain a satisfactory foothold and I have withdrawn the troops. My decision to attack at this time and place was based on the best information available. The troops, the air, and the Navy did all that bravery and devotion to duty could do. If any blame or fault attaches to the attempt it is mine alone."


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Williams credits Taiwan workload for durability
OAKLAND -- As Jerome Williams was talking to reporters on Tuesday afternoon, a few hours after he pitched six innings of one-run ball out of the bullpen, Angels manager Mike Scioscia walked by and jokingly asked him if he would be available for that night's game.
"Hey, I've got two for you today," Williams said, without even blinking. "I'm dead serious, too."
Scioscia, of course, will stay away from Williams one night after he threw 74 pitches in a 19-inning game -- which came two days after throwing an inning of relief and five days after hurling three.
But the Angels' 31-year-old long reliever will tell you, and any coaches willing to listen, that his arm never tires. The reason? The 2010 season Williams spent in Taiwan, where his between-starts bullpen sessions required him to throw 200 pitches.
"I threw so much there, I'm used to throwing multiple days, or even taking some days off and throwing again," said Williams, who has a 2.35 ERA in 15 1/3 innings this season. "I'm used to that. Whenever they give me the ball, I'm going to throw, no matter what. No matter how long they want me to throw, no matter how short. I'm going to go out there and give 100 percent."
Williams said his arm "feels great" on Tuesday and even long-tossed from about 250 feet.
"Thank you, Taiwan," he said.
Alden Gonzalez is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Gonzo and "The Show", and follow him on Twitter @Alden_Gonzalez. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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Moray eels, American eels, electric eels, wolf eels—all kinds of fish have eel-shaped bodies. Just check these out:
Gulper eel
This eel has a huge, pelican-like mouth that—you guessed it!—gulps its food. It can actually unhinge its big jaws and stretch its stomach so wide that it can eat a fish that's almost as big as itself!
Not really an eel, this fish has a weak skeleton and not much muscle. To stay safe, it curls up into a big O shape. Some scientists think that helps the fish disguise itself to keep from being eaten.
Snipe eel
These eels look like underwater birds with their funny beaks. Inside the beaks are tiny, hooked teeth. As an eel sweeps its open beak through the water, its teeth snag yummy shrimp.
Isn't nature WILD?


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Company director James Grist, of Wiltshire Waste (Recycling), played down talk of being a hero in his successful efforts to stop the blaze spreading to other parts of the site at the foot of Monument Hill, near Devizes.
Mr Grist worked through the night of January 28 when the fire broke out and the following day driving the excavator to contain the burning material in one part of the site.
He and another colleague have been working on the excavator ever since, turning over the smouldering rubbish.
Mr Grist, 24, said: "When I arrived at the site the fire was just smoke and about a quarter of an hour later the flames came and we thought we had better save the kit that was needed and to stop it spreading to the picking line where about 26 members of staff work.
"If that got burnt they would be out of a job for a while. I just did what had to be done to keep everyone in work. You have to do your best.
"There's still a bit of smoke around town. We keep turning the rubbish over and hopefully it should be going out very soon."


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.
Wednesday, September 20, 2017
Infectious Diseases
Test for infectioness of mono
My daughter`s boyfriend got mono about ten weeks ago. We have been told that he could be asymptonmanic but still be a carrier. Is there any clinical test that can be performed to determine if he is a carrier?
We have been told that mono could spread by saliva, so kissing could be off-limits for a long period of time. We really are *not* sure if our information is correct or not, and would like to get some advice to pass on on to our daughter.
Also I have read that individuals with asymptomanic mono can shed EBV. Is EBV what causes mono? Is there any test to see if our daughter is already immune to EBV or not? I ask this final question because I get the impression that some individuals in the population are immunue. I am not sure if my understanding here is correct or not.
Most individuals exposed to people with infectious mononucleosis have previously been infected with EBV and are not at risk for infectious mononucleosis. In addition, transmission of EBV requires intimate contact with the saliva (found in the mouth) of an infected person. Transmission of this virus through the air or blood does not normally occur. The incubation period, or the time from infection to appearance of symptoms, ranges from 4 to 6 weeks. Persons with infectious mononucleosis may be able to spread the infection to others for a period of weeks. However, no special precautions or isolation procedures are recommended, since the virus is also found frequently in the saliva of healthy people. In fact, many healthy people can carry and spread the virus intermittently for life. These people are usually the primary reservoir for person-to-person transmission. For this reason, transmission of the virus is almost impossible to prevent.
Pamposh Kaul, MD
Assistant Professor
College of Medicine
University of Cincinnati


text:
Distance services, Funding Information Center, Request forms, Turnitin, Other library services...
Raynor Memorial Libraries offers more than 1.8 million volumes, hundreds of research databases, computer access, laptops on loan, a multimedia collection, group study spaces, 24-hour access and library staff members who help researchers from around the world.
Campus accounts - ITS Help Desk - (414) 288-7799
Library accounts - Information Desk - (414) 288-7556
Email: email@example.com
Phone: (414) 288-3063
Office Number: R-144
Mailing Address:
Raynor Memorial Libraries
Marquette University
P. O. Box 3141
Milwaukee, WI 53201-3141
Responsibilities: Provides desktop support and file services management to library staff and public computing areas. Provides specialized IT support to administration, Conference Center Services, and other library departments.
Current Library/Campus Committees: Library: Assessment Committee
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Information Desk: (414) 288-7556
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Moderator: Mahavihara moderator
Annapurna wrote:PeterB wrote:
I think it dilutes a radical aspect of the Buddhas teaching.
Which, Peter?
PeterB wrote:If after due consideration we bought into the whole Sunyata thing we would embrace the Mahayana, presumably.
I stopped being a Vajrayana practitioner when it became clear that The Buddhas teaching had no such component.
PeterB wrote:You mean apart from the fact that it bears no relationship to anything found in the teachings of the Buddha as found in the Pali Canon ?
PeterB wrote:From the POV of Classical Theravada can we discern a concept in the Pali Canon that could be rendered as " Interbeing" ?
PeterB wrote:The Pali/Theravada concept of sunna bears little in common with the Sanskrit/ Mahayana concept of Sunyata...of Emptiness with a capital " E".
The former is an expression of Anatta. The latter is not.
Return to "Classical Theravāda"
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Imagine discovering that your DNA contains the genetic marker for some horrible disease. Would you still have children? Before you answer, ask yourself, "What if this nasty little allele was also responsible for some admirable character trait that the men in my family possess?" A wicked sense of humor... but then senility, for example. Would you pass the gift/sickness onto your offspring?
Two years ago, I infected my six-year-old son, Nicholas, with a malady known as being a Mets fan. For those who don't follow baseball, New York is a two-team town. So I could have spared him a lifetime of abuse and heartache. I could have taken him to Yankee Stadium rather than Citi Field for his first game, but I didn't. And I suspect my reasons were the same as dads who raise their children to root for the Luton Hatters in British football or the New Mexico Lobos in American college basketball. The team we root for says something about our character. Supporting a troubled franchise is a bit like being the protagonist of the Johnny Cash song, 'A Boy Named Sue'.
"Why are we Mets fans?" Nicholas asks me every so often. The question usually comes after one of his Yankee classmates has made one of those constructive comments that Yankee fans do, like: "What does it feel to suck so badly?"
"In this family we root for the underdog," is my stock response, parroting the line that my maternal grandfather used on me. Admittedly, it sounds a little hollow coming out of my mouth. My maternal grandfather knew poverty first-hand. He grew up in a tenement on New York's Lower East Side. He got his high school diploma at night because from the time he was a teenager, he was already working several jobs - one of them was as a vendor at the old Polo Grounds, the ballpark of the New York Giants. He loved the Giants, and when that franchise moved to San Francisco in 1957, he started rooting for the Mets.
My grandfather loved Willie Mays, who played for the Giants from 1951 to 1957 and then The Mets in the Seventies. Mays, it was often said, was the player for whom they invented the All-Star Game. He could hit. To this day, he is fourth in all-time home runs. And he could field. The Say Hey Kid was famous for making breathtaking catches like the over-the-shoulder one he executed in the 1954 World Series. When Mays came back to New York from San Francisco for his swan song, my grandfather took me to the stadium for Willie Mays' Night on September 25, 1973. I remember how excited we both were - me because it was my first night game, and he because Mays represented to him the promise of America. If Mays could go from playing in the Negro Leagues to being the toast of New York, anything was possible. I saw tears on my grandfather's face that night as Mays made his farewell address.
not sure
Over the course of my lifetime, The Yankees have won The World Series seven times; The Mets have come in last place 13 times. The Yankees players are superstars, and they date the likes of Kate Hudson and Cameron Diaz. The Mets have Merengue Night. Even the uniforms are no contest. The Yankees' uniforms consist of a classic navy and white pinstripe; The Mets uniforms are royal blue and orange - a color combo that only an Italian aristocrat on holiday could pull off. Consider the nicknames. The Yankees are The Bronx Bombers. The Mets were initially dubbed The Lovable Losers by their fans, until a marketing campaign rechristened them The Amazing Mets.
I'm not sure exactly what Nicholas is learning from watching The Amazing (and at this writing Last Place) Mets. Even before the current season got underway a few weeks ago, I knew I would have to start managing his expectations. Recently, The Mets majority owner Fred Wilpon was dragged into the Madoff scandal. A lawsuit filed by the attorney entrusted with recovering money for the Ponzi schemes' victims alleged that The Mets owners received over a billion dollars in ill-gotten gains. Both Wilpon and Madoff (in a recent prison interview with the FT) denied Wilpon knew what Madoff was up to. The lawsuit may explain why The Mets failed to fill holes in their lineup through trades during the off-season and left the roster a peeling, pockmarked mess.
"You know, we may not end up in first place this year," I said to Nicholas to get him prepared for the inevitable.
"Why not, Dad?"
"The Wilpons invested with this bad man..."
"What's an investment?"
"A place you park your money."
" You mean like a garage for your money?"
"Sort of, but the garage pays you money to park there."
"Well, we should park the Volvo at that garage. That's a good deal."
Like his great-grandfather, Nicholas is a cockeyed optimist - whether this is his nature or the byproduct of being a Mets fan I'm not sure. The other day he told me not to worry about the team's money problems because that meant "all the players will be the same as last year. And that means they won't trade David Wright [his favorite player]." I do hope that he never loses this boyish ebullience because it's nice to think of him going through life rooting for The Amazing Mets rather than The Lovable Losers.


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Weston Park – stately home, meeting rooms, and wedding venue in Shropshire
With its classical architecture, set in stunning 'Capability' Brown parkland, Weston Park is an unequalled location for your business event, a professional conference venue, picture perfect wedding venue, or memorable setting for your special celebration. Offering 5-star service, award winning cuisine and luxury accommodation, you'll find Weston surprisingly easy going and relaxed. Welcome home.
Well behaved dogs on leads are welcome at Weston Park


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Are you looking for a subtle way to show off your business? Customize any of our unique travel accessories for employees and customers to take on their next trip! These items are perfect for sporting your logo in hotels, airports, and different cities. ePromos' travel bottles are TSA-approved to gain your brand exposure before boarding. What's more, practical items like neck pillows and travel wallets will upgrade users' in-flight experience. Team up with ePromos, and our corporate gifts will elevate your company's visibility throughout all corners of the world.
Anything to declare? This logo passport jacket made with high quality leather to display your logo.
This leather Promotional Passport Wallet is a great way to get your logo "to go."
Treat your logo like the valuable item it is, imprint it on this attractive personalized jewelry case.
Roll out your logo on this high style, high quality customized jewelry roll.
This six piece promotional and travel grooming kit is perfect for overnight bags.


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This Asia Society report, Making a Difference Through the Arts: Strengthening America's Links with Asian Muslim Communities, was conceived as an effort to stimulate new thinking and to identify extant resources that can enhance connectivity between the United States and Muslim communities in Asia. It is addressed to a broad range of constituencies: nongovernmental organizations seeking to initiate or expand their own projects; donor organizations active in economic, social, and cultural development; policy makers charged with considering the role of culture in public diplomacy initiatives; academic institutions seeking to enrich international studies programs; advocacy groups, scholars, and journalists; and entrepreneurial individuals with a passion to make a difference. The Asia Society report joins a growing number of recent studies that make a strong case for the role of arts and culture in expanding links between the United States and nations with Muslim-majority populations—Muslim, that is in any of the myriad ways in which Muslim identity may be expressed in the early 21st century.
Though Islamic civilization arose in the Middle East, more than half of the world's 1.6 billion Muslims presently live in Asia. The cultural contexts of Islam in Asia are as varied as the cultures of Asia themselves. In many contexts, Islamic practices and beliefs have syncretized with local forms of spirituality and culture to create exuberant tradition-based languages of art that are strikingly contemporary. These languages range from readily accessible forms of indigenous popular culture to cultivated and highly sophisticated genres of music, dance, theater, painting, and poetry. Other forms of local artistic and cultural creativity that display strong markers of place include handcraft, fashion, film, and cuisine. All of these creative languages embody forms of cultural knowledge that can be "translated," explained, and widely shared as a basis for developing cross-cultural connectivity.
This report offers examples of the diverse ways in which stakeholders in cultural development and exchange initiatives in and with Asian Muslim communities have built successful projects by drawing on culturally grounded knowledge and strategies. The panoramic range of projects, the impressive degree of imagination and innovation with which they have been designed and carried out, and the vital role they serve in fostering cultural pluralism and cosmopolitanism among both Americans and Asians makes these projects—and the people and organizations behind them—worthy of careful attention.
The Asia Society team that researched, wrote, and compiled this report has been fortunate to undertake its work in a political climate that has been supportive of cultural exchange initiatives with Muslim-majority countries. President Barack Obama's June 2009 speech in Cairo reset the tone of American diplomacy and sent a signal that the United States is serious about building stronger ties with the Muslim world. An April 2010 White House conference on entrepreneurship in Muslim-majority countries reinforced that message. Nonetheless, the political atmosphere that frames American relations with Muslim-majority nations and regions remains volatile, underscoring the fragility of cultural exchange and cultural diplomacy.
This Asia Society report complements a 2008 paper produced by the Brookings Institution's Saban Center for Middle East Policy, Mightier than the Sword: Arts and Culture in the U.S.-Muslim World Relationship, which focuses primarily on the Middle East. A number of the Asia Society report's findings and recommendations parallel and underscore those conveyed in the Brookings paper—in particular, the urgency of reaching out to young populations and the vast potential of new media and social networking platforms to do so. At the same time, the present report's focus on Asia rather than the Middle East, as well as the professional expertise of the principal investigators in the world of not-for-profit cultural organizations, academe, and international foundations, has led us to frame the challenges and solutions in a different way than the authors of the Brookings paper.
Next: Six core prinicples and strategies