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For years my wife, Marian, has been talking about traveling to Rome. It seemed the time was never right. That was until recently I came across an online advertisement that featured a nice package deal of days in Rome and a cruise to 10 Mediterranean seaports.
And after a quick phone call to my brother in Oklahoma asking if he and his wife would like to join us, they jumped at the chance and we were soon on our way.
We got suggestions from several people who had been to Rome. Jim Doran, who was pickpocketed on a prior visit, encouraged me to wear my wallet inside my shirt. We got several pamphlets from a colleague at AT&T Park. Rich and Joann Sanderson even gave us some Euros to take with us for that first day.
Visiting Rome you certainly understand the proverb 'Rome wasn't built in a day.' You have to be patient to take it all in. It took centuries for ancient Rome to grow from a small town to the capital of a great empire. Important work takes time. Three days in Rome certainly is not enough time to take in the sites but we did our share and hit the most interesting sites.
Even though we were dog tied after flying 15 hours we dragged ourselves away from the hotel and did a quick hop-on, hop-off bus ride around the city the first afternoon. Visiting the Colosseum which is a spectacular site, you see Gladiators and Romans in costume. Well, not exactly; they are individuals outside the ruins of what was a 55,000 seating facility, who will happily pose with you while pretending to slit your throat for a Euro.
On our day of arrival, we had our first meal in Rome. We arrive at the restaurant at 3:45 p.m. Ordered our food and were enjoying the meal when we noticed we were the only ones remaining in the restaurant and the servers seem to be rushing us. We soon learned that restaurants — and many other businesses — close at 4 p.m. and re-open around 7 p.m. It's time for a siesta they told us.
We were in awe when we walked through the doors of St. Peter's basilica. It was wall-to-wall people inside the church. They were saying Mass when we arrived. My sister-in-law is very religious. She has always wanted to come to Rome and based on her first-time experience she plans to return. She knows a lot about churches. There are about 350 churches in Rome alone. The churches were all beautiful.
We missed Pope Francis by one day. On Wednesday's he often holds services in the square in front of St. Peter's.
Probably the best known art treasure in Rome is the Sistine Chapel. We literally walked several miles and up many steps as we trekked to the Chapel. We stood for several minutes gazing at the 800 square meters of ceiling to view Michaelangelo's work of art which took him four years to paint, while lying on his back. The book of Genesis is depicted on the ceiling. Amazing!
Did you know the Vatican City is also a sovereign state of its own, located in the city limits of Rome. It even has its own post office. It's the smallest sovereign state in the world. It even has its own Army, the historic Swiss Guard.
Marian threw some coins in the Trevi Fountain. Who can forget the movie "Three Coins in a Fountain?" About E700,000 worth of coins are tossed into the fountain each year. The coins are collected each night and donated to charities to help the needy.
While most of the Ancient Roman buildings are ruins, the Pantheon is in good condition and worth a visit. In fact, of all the great building constructed during the crest of the Roman Empire, only this one still stands. It was built in 27 BC and while rebuilt a couple of times over the ages it is well preserved largely because it was turned into a church in 609 AD. Supposedly, the dome is the single largest unreinforced, concrete dome in the world. Raphael, the famous Renaissance painter, is buried inside.
Enough about Rome. It's on to Florence and Pisa and beyond, but now it's aboard the Norwegian Jade cruise ship. You have to know that cruising is a favorite mode of transportation for us. We love cruises.
In Pisa, Marian was caught trying to straighten up the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Of course, she was not alone. All tourists position themselves adjacent to the Tower and place their hand as if pushing the tower upright.
The tower was built in 1173 and it's famous, simply because it leans. It stands 187 feet high. There are 294 steps leading to the top. We started up the stairs but gave it a second thought and retreated. The Tower leans because the soil below is not particularly solid, but thanks to the restoration completed in the early 2000s, it is said to be stabled for the next 200 years.
In Florence we put on our walking shoes. We literally walked for miles covering what I would call the downtown portion of the city, and walking over a lot of cobble stones. You see the fabulous architecture of Renaissance, but the most fabulous site is the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore. The Duomo's (church's) dome was designed by Brunelleschi and is one of the most visited pieces of Italian architecture. It is the third largest church in the world behind St. Peter's Basilica and St. Paul's in London.
The Academia, home to Michelangelo's David, is a popular tourist spot.We had tickets but had to skip it because our tour guide needed to stay on schedule. Maybe, on our next visit!
Ponte Vecchio is the only bridge to survive World War II and the oldest bridge in Florence. The Ponte Vecchio is a sightseer's and shopper's delight. Here's where we had our first taste of pasta in Italy. Our tour guide directed us to a quaint little café; the food was delicious.
In Monaco, the views are simply stunning. First, we made our way to the lavish Prince Palace with its grand architecture. We arrived just in time to watch the changing of the guards. We also visited the Monaco Cathedral, where we walked past the graves of Prince Rainier of Monaco and Princess Grace (Kelly). They were married in this church.
At the legendary Monte Carlo Casino we stuck out heads in the doors and were kindly told we couldn't come in. Guess our money wasn't good enough! Besides our legs were too sore to stand to play the slots as we literally had to walk a mile from our bus stop to the casino, all up hill. To get to the casino we had to walk along the road on which the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix takes place. Pretty scary hairpin curve the drivers had to face! Marian and my sister-in-law got more kicks out of people watching and checking out of the luxury vehicles parked in front of the casino. Rolls Royces, Jaguars, Lamborghinis, you name it they were parked.
About three months ago Marian and I were watching 60 Minutes. The subject of the TV program was the Sagrada Familia Cathedral. Marian said she hoped we could visit this church one day. Never in our wildest dreams did we ever think we would be walking inside the cathedral two weeks later. Antoni Gaudi is considered one of the great architects who vastly influenced buildings in Barcelona. The La Sagrada Familia, a Roman Catholic Church, was begun in 1882 and is still under construction many years after his death in 1925. Since the time of his death various architects have worked on the church. It is reported that the church will be completed in 2026.This is a must see on your visit to Barcelona.
We toured Olympic Park, site of the 1992 Summer Olympics. The biggest structure is the Olympic Stadium, but you can also see the swimming complex, the Olympic Spire structure and an array of landscaped walkways. These facilities were built for the Olympic Games and are still used today and look in marvelous condition.
The stadium is a huge facility but is not as modern as you might think. It was originally built in 1927 ready for the International Expo in 1929 and Barcelona's bid to host the 1936 Olympics but Barcelona lost out to Berlin. The stadium ended up having to wait another 56 years before it was an Olympic venue. To prepare it for the Olympics, it was fully renovated in 1989. Barcelona is considered as one of the best beach cities in the world; however, until 1992, Barcelona did not have a decent beach on the coast. Instead, it was mostly occupied by industrial activities and wasn't used for leisure. But thanks to the Olympic Games, the coast got a facelift, and now it is full of bars and restaurants, and Barcelona's beaches are some of the most famous beaches in the world. No, we did not go sunbathing on the beach!
In Barcelona, we had our own private driver to tour us around the city. We were driven to Montserrat, a one hour distance where we visited a Benedictine monk mountain retreat. It is located more than 4,000 feet above sea level. Not only is Montserrat Monastery of significant religious importance but the natural beauty surrounding the monastery is simply breathtaking. A highlight of our visit to the monastery was to listen to the singing of the famous Basilica choir boy performance. One of the oldest choirs in Europe, the group performs as part of the religious ceremonies held every day at 1 pm. Sweeping views out to the Catalonian countryside will make you glad you made the trip, but be warned, the road is very winding.
Visiting Valencia had a familiar ring. Like San Francisco, the city hosted an America Cup. In 2007, Valencia's seaport underwent construction and today (on the seaport side of Valencia) the architecture features the most modern building of arts and sciences. This is definitely worth a visit. The newly constructed area of the city boasting extravagant architecture came from hosting the yacht race. Our tour took us through the Central Market which was constructed in 1928 and is housed in an art-nouveau building. You can buy all kind of food, including a favorite of the locals called 'paella'. Valencia claims to be the birthplace of the food which consists of white rice, green vegetables, meat (rabbit, chicken, duck, land snails), beans and seasoning .
Tribune reporter Jane Northrop told me before we left home that I had to eat a dish of gelato while I'm in Italy. So, while we were waiting to visit the Saint Catharine Cathedral, I purchased a cone of gelato. The Cathedral is the home to the Holy Grail. Beautiful!
Our favorite site was our next stop. Naples is the home of the pizza, so naturally we ate pizza. Surprisingly, I didn't notice any special taste over our Goodfella's Pizza. (Marian and I have lunch with our son, Steve, every Friday at the Park Mall eatery).
We got an education on the Mafia still being active in Italy. The Mafia (mainly Sicilian) is still around and also still active in the United States, but it is far less powerful than it once was. However, there's still competition out there among various culturals. I hadn't thought about the Mafia since watching "The Godfather" movie years ago.
The one spot I want to return is Pompeii. Imagine standing on the streets of a city that actually vanished from the face of the earth thousands of years ago -79AD! Pompeii is located about 80 miles south of Naples. The city was buried with the eruption of the volcano, Mount Vesuvius. The disaster killed more than 2,000 people.
The ruins of Pompeii were discovered in the late 1600's. The discovery of this ruined city turned out to be an archaeologist's dream come true. The city was buried underneath 75 feet of volcanic rocks and ashes. The remains of Pompeii are so incredibly well-preserved that you can walk around and the see buildings, gardens, an amphitheater, cobble-stone streets where chariots raced and pedestrians having to jump out of the way. You can even walk through the house of a brothel and see pictures of services that were offered painted on the walls. You can climb to the top of the preserved theater and look over the ancient ruins. Walking the streets is like walking back through time. Put this city on your bucket list.
We concluded our visit in Italy with a beautiful drive along the Amalfi Coast which is said to be one of the most spectacular coastal roads in Europe. We ended up in Sorrento, where we had time to explore the city before returning to the ship and head back to Rome.
Our first trip to Italy will have great memories for us.


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Mini PC invasion: These radically tiny computers fit in the palm of your hand
By Brad Chacos, PC World, 21 January 2016.
By Brad Chacos, PC World, 21 January 2016.
Some of today's desktops can make even the sleekest of laptops seem downright bulky.
Computers have been shrinking for years, and the revolution has only accelerated in recent times. As chip-makers focus on creating processors that sip power without sacrificing performance, thermal concerns have largely been alleviated in modern CPUs. Because of that, today's pint-sized PCs offer enough performance to play HD video and satisfy Office jockeys, the opposite of the janky, compromised experience of yesteryear's microcomputers.
From PCs-on-a-stick to discreet boxes no larger than a deck of cards, let's take a look at the wide range of computers available that can fit in the palm of your hand - starting with the one that embedded teeny-tiny PCs in the public eye.
Editor's note: This article originally published on April 17, 2015 but has been updated as new models and information became available.
1. Raspberry Pi
The Raspberry Pi receives accolades for kicking off the maker revolution, but it also thrust the idea of tiny computers into the limelight. The Pi certainly doesn't look like a traditional PC: It's an open board powered by components usually found in smartphones, not computers, and it even draws power via a Micro-USB connection - just like mobile devices.
Don't let that fool you though. The Raspberry Pi is a real computer with real (albeit lightweight) computing chops. It can run several varieties of Linux, and the Broadcom VideoCore IV GPU is powerful enough to output 1080p video without a hitch, making this US$35 mini-PC a viable home theatre PC option. (Pro tip: Use OpenELEC.) Best of all, the Raspberry Pi 2 runs circles around the original while sticking to the same US$35 price point.
The Raspberry Pi Foundation recently released an official touchscreen accessory for the Pi, which should help makers create all sorts of eye-opening projects. The BBC Micro:bit is following in the Raspberry Pi's education-focused footsteps, with the BBC giving the programming board to Year Seven school children in the U.K starting this October - though it can't be used as a standalone computer.
2. Chip
Can't spare US$35 for a Raspberry Pi 2? Meet Chip, an even smaller, even more modest PC that costs a mere US$9. It's powered by an ARM-based processor from Allwinner, a low-cost producer of chips for smartphones and tablets, and a Raspbian-like Linux-based operating system pre-installed.
Measuring a mere 2.3-by-1.5-inches, Chip comes with 1GHz Allwinner R8 Cortex A8 processor with Mali-400 graphics, 512MB RAM, 4GB storage, and built-in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Compared to the Raspberry Pi 2, Chip's processor - which is similar to the Allwinner chip in the US$100 HP 7 G2 Android tablet - should be woefully slow, but its baked-in storage and wireless connectivity is something that Pi simply doesn't match.
Now for the bad news: Chip isn't publicly available yet. It blew past goals in its crowd-funding campaign and started shipping to backers around New Year's, but if you order Chip today it won't show up at your doorstep until June 2016.
3. Raspberry Pi Zero
But mini-PCs come even cheaper. In November, the Raspberry Pi Foundation revealed the Raspberry Pi Zero, a US$5 version of the iconic computer that still runs 40 percent faster than the original despite its low, low price. That's so cheap that it was bundled for free with MagPi magazine in the U.K. to herald its launch.
The Raspberry Pi Zero rocks the same Broadcom BCM2835 application processor as RP1, with a 1GHz ARM11 core. It's packing 512MB of RAM and a microSD card slot for the operating system, while it talks to the outside world via mini-HDMI, micro-USB ports, and 40 GPIO pins (you know, for crazily innovative maker projects).
4. Intel NUCs
On the other side of the puny PC coin is Intel's Next Unit of Computing, a polished, premium product that delivers full-blown desktop performance - albeit for a price often 10-times higher (or more) than the Raspberry Pi's cost.
NUCs use full-blown Intel Core processors inside their seriously sleek cases, which gives them abundant bite when it comes to computing. Actual performance metrics vary, however, depending on how you outfit your rig. Intel's NUCs - and its Gigabyte Brix cousins - are bare-bones PCs, meaning you'll have to bring your own storage, memory, and operating system to the party.
Make no mistake: All told, you pay a premium for Intel's NUC. But damn if it isn't nice - and Intel's whipping up a powerful "Skull Canyon" NUC variant that packs a quad-core Skylake processor and the company's high-end Iris Pro graphics.
5. Asus Chromebox
What, pricey Windows machines aren't your thing? Check out the Asus Chromebox, the desktop equivalent of a Chromebook. At 4.88-by-4.88by-1.65 inches, it's slightly larger than the NUCs and Brixes of the world, but still svelte enough to fit in your hand.
Don't scoff about Chrome OS, either. Google's operating system is surprisingly potent despite lacking compatibility with Windows software - and at US$160 for the base model, the price of the Asus Chromebox is certainly right.
6. HP Stream Mini PC
If the Chromebox's lack of software support trips you up, fear not: HP's Stream Mini PC starts at just US$250 and runs the full-blown version of Windows 10.
This is a tempting little box at that price, but be aware: You still won't be able to run ultra-demanding programs very well on the Stream Mini PC, because it only packs a modest Intel Celeron 3205U processor, 2GB of memory, and a 32GB M.2 SSD. Plus, at 5.71-by-5.71-by-2.13 inches, it's the largest tiny computer in this roundup. It'd still work great for a basic productivity and web-browsing machine, though.
7. Zotac's legion of little PCs
Zotac's been making mini-PCs since before mini-PCs were cool with the iconic Zbox bare-bone PC line-up, and it offers a staggering array of itty-bitty computers for everything from basic word processing all the way up to gaming and 4K video playback. We went eyes-on with Zotac's mini-PC horde at CES; check them out!
As part of the new announcements at the show, Zotac announced a new Intel "Cherry Trail" Atom-based "PC Stick" that crams an entire computer onto a flash drive-esque stick that plugs into any TV or monitor. That's a hot new trend in computing, spurred on by…
8. Intel Compute Stick
You'd be hard-pressed to find a desktop PC much smaller than the Raspberry Pi or Zotac's Zbox Pico. But forget traditional desktops! Advances in technology have shrunk computers so much that they're now available in Chromecast-like stick form. Just plug it into your display's HDMI port, connect to USB for power, and you're ready to rock - though you'll obviously need a (preferably Bluetooth) keyboard and mouse as well.
Intel's US$150 Compute Stick is a PC-on-a-stick generating a ton of excitement, and it's easy to see why with that form factor. Our original Compute Stick review found it neat, but niche. At CES 2016, Intel announced a new Compute Stick lineup powered by more potent Core M processors, but at less friendly prices - they start at US$400. An affordable entry-level Compute Stick will stick around, though, rocking an Atom x5-Z8300 CPU, 32GB of storage, 2GB of RAM, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, two USB ports, and Windows 10 for US$160.
9. Attack of the clones
Intel's Compute stick kicked off a wave of clones, with most of sporting the same basic internal hardware configurations, though some are fancier than others. The Archos PC Stick, for example, is the cheapest Windows-on-a-stick device we've seen yet, with a mere US$99 asking price. Lenovo and BeeLink also offer branded Compute Stick pocket PCs of their own.
The most notable Compute Stick-like device announced thus far, however, may be the Asus Vivo Stick (pictured). While many of the other available Windows stick PCs run on Intel's older Bay Trail chips, the Vivo Stick packs Intel's fresh Cherry Trail processor, as well as Windows 10 and an extra USB port for peripherals. Even better, it's only US$130 - US$20 less than Intel's original Windows-based Compute Stick.
10. Asus Chromebit
But forget about Windows! Asus' Chromebit is almost more exciting, largely mirroring the spec sheet of the Compute Stick legion (aside from a Rockchip processor) but featuring Google's Chrome OS instead.
As Alaina Yee said in PCWorld's review of the Chromebit: "Unlike Intel's Compute Stick or even other Chrome OS machines, the Chromebit is actually an easier sell to a wider variety of people. It's not necessarily a replacement for a streaming box or a full Windows PC. Instead, it's a nice complement to the overall ecosystem of gadgets you may already own."
There's just one caveat to be aware of: The Chromebit only has a single micro-USB port for a hardwired peripheral, so you won't be able to plug both a keyboard and a mouse into it. But the pint-sized PC supports Bluetooth for wireless devices.
11. Android-on-a-stick
Stick-based computing is nothing new in the world of Android, however. I reviewed Rikomagic's Android 4.0-based MK802 II micro PC more than two years ago, and the market has only expanded since then. There are a slew of Android-PC-on-a-stick devices available today, sporting the same basic design principles as Intel's Compute Stick and all costing far less than US$100.
Given the HDMI-centric design of these devices and the Play Store's vast entertainment app library, Android sticks can excel as basic home theatre PCs, adding streaming capabilities to televisions that lack Internet connectivity.
12. Acer Revo Build
Acer's Revo Build modular PC can be as big or as little as you want it to be.
The Revo Build's "base" is a mere 4.9 inches square, packing either a Celeron or Pentium processor from Intel and up to 8GB of memory. If you need more computing capability, you add it by simply stacking optional modules atop the base, with magnetically aligned connectors making it easy. Hot-swappable 500GB/1TB hard drive modules will be available, while a wireless charging and an "audio block" with integrated speakers and a mic will be gradually rolled out over time, all for prices unknown.
Just be aware that modular PCs may not be as exciting as they seem once you start digging.
13. Mintbox Mini
The sleek Mintbox Mini squeaks in at just 0.95 inch tall and is a whopping five times smaller than the original Mintbox mini PC. This computer's distinctive not only for its tiny size, but also because it runs Linux Mint out of the box. With an AMD A4 6400T processor packing Radeon R3 graphics, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of solid state storage, the Mintbox Mini should be able to handle basic web browsing, video playback, and productivity suite tasks just fine.
Even better? Between the SSD and the passive cooling for the processor, this pint-sized PC runs utterly silently.
14. Your phone
Finally, today's modern smartphones have more in common with an ultra-portable computer than the landlines of old. The mature app ecosystems of both the App Store and the Play Store are more than capable of handling your basic computing needs, from productivity to entertainment to web browsing. No joke.
With a dock and some external peripherals, you can even turn your phone into a basic desktop PC for cheap - though it can take some time to get accustomed to navigating a touch-centric interface with a keyboard and mouse. If you decide to give it a whirl, PC World's guide to 13 highly productive Android apps that play nice with your PC can help you integrate your phone with your general computing lifestyle.
Top image credit: Gordon Mah Ung.
[Source: PC World. Edited.]


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CNN, Casa Grossa in Brazil and this months Futureal Magazine in Toronto, Canada talking about shark finning.
Toronto just went shark fin free this month so the article and quotes were timely.
Positive shark media is something we just do, it's a service to the sharks we make a living from and we have been doing it since our inception back in 2000.
At the time I was acutely aware that sharks didn't have a voice - and they needed one, badly.
In fact back in 2000 we were still in the "dark ages" for shark conservation. Few if any commercial shark diving operations really considered sharks beyond the commercial side. All that changed in 2007 with the "shark conservation movement" which is now in full bloom.
In 2008 I penned one of the most read articles of our blog with 300,000 uniques and counting, it was titled Shark Diver Noblesse Oblige, it was call to action for our industry worldwide to act on behalf of sharks.
Today you'll be hard pressed to find a single operation that is not engaged in the shark conservation movement in some way or form. It's been an amazing revolution.
This weeks barrage of media hits from Shark Diver closes out another amazing shark diving season for us both in the Bahamas and Mexico.
We still have a few more weeks of white shark diving operations in Mexico and will be the only commercial vessel operating at the island this late in the season as all the other operations will soon be ending white shark diving for 2011.
Our last few expeditions to this unique island allow us some quality time with the animals we have come to know, understand, and love over the past decade and there's not a single day where I do not consider ourselves fortunate to be able to work with these unique sharks year after year.
Let's go shark diving!
Patric Douglas CEO


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Today Daft Punk dropped its latest merchandise. An instant classic, the French electronic music duo released the "Split Helmet" slipmats. Both featuring 11.75 inch diameter, these will fit most record players and they feature a print of the two iconic Daft Punk helmets. Priced at $35, you can pre-order the slipmats here, with the official release set for April 28.
Daft Punk "Split Helmet" Slipmats
Highsnobiety Music


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Seeking the Closure of the Dangerous Nightclub Sin Sin and a More Responsive SLA
In the wake of August's shooting death in front of Sin Sin nightclub at 248 East Fifth Street, I joined Assemblymember Deborah Glick and other local elected officials in sending a letter to New York State Liquor Authority (SLA) Chair Dennis Rosen outlining our concerns not only about Sin Sin but also about the overall liquor license approval process. The current system – which allows bars and clubs like Sin Sin to open despite cogent objections from the local Community Board, elected officials and neighborhood residents and to remain open despite persistent adverse effects on the surrounding community – is clearly not working. Our letter called for the SLA to give more weight to community board recommendations, especially where issues of violence in or outside of a given establishment have resulted in police action.
Ongoing problems within the immediate vicinity of Sin Sin are unacceptable, and I and my staff are continuing to work with the community, CB3, the NYPD's 9th Precinct, the SLA, and other elected officials to bring a permanent end to the dangerous environment that Sin Sin has fostered in the neighborhood.


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More than a few tears were shed Tuesday when a Washington, Ill., man met the family of man he saved moments after Sunday's tornado.
Roger Giles and his daughter were sitting on a couch watching TV when the tornado hit, picking them both up and tossing them several feet away.
"They were both laying right by each other," Giles' sister-in-law, Keri Gillis, said. "She ran out in road to flag somebody down."
She managed to flag down Kris Warren, who was driving by the School Street home minutes after the tornado.
Warren immediately sprang into action when he saw Giles pinned under debris.
"I wanted to make sure he was not critically hurt," Warren said. "I sent somebody to get the paramedics, and I stayed with him and made sure he was physically OK."
Thanks to Warren, the paramedics were able to get Giles to a Peoria hospital, where he's still recovering.
"He has a fractured him and shattered his femur, so he's already had one surgery and they put a bar in his leg," Gillis, said.
Doctors say Giles will recover just fine, but despite having their home destroyed, his family is thankful.
"God bless you for stopping and helping," Gillis told Giles during their emotional meeting.
"I just wanted to stop to see if this guy made it. If he was OK," Giles said. "It makes me feel good. I'd heard that somebody around his age passed away, and I wanted to make sure it wasn't him."


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Hi friends,I haven't detailed information about guest blogging. I have just learn about guest blogging from some articles but i haven't any guest blogging site. So someone please suggest me some sites that i can easy to use for guest blogging to get more detail about guest blogging.:)
What you need to do is to search similar blogs to your site which accept guest blogging, normally those blogs which accept guest post they mention on their site so you have to search in Google with the keyword of your site and go each blog manually and send request that you want to send a guest post..
search for "guest post" + "your keyword" to find a list of websites allowing guest posts and then email them or apply through the procedure mentioned there. You need to have a great quality unique article for that.
If you want to get related guest blogging sites list, then you can use this search query in Google "Keyword Phrase" + "become a contributor" OR "contribute to this site" .. I hope you will get some quality and niche related guest blogging sites ...


text: As some may know I traded my Cobra in a month ago. The owner of the Ford dealer next to the Acura dealer where I traded the car purchased it. Now on to the good part! The owner of the Acura dealer drove the car for a week and then gave it to the Sales manager to drive for a few days before they handed it over to the new owner at Ford. Well the Sales manager wrecked the car on the third day he had it. Supposedly the rear driver side wheel came off with the half shaft and some other suspension components all in one piece going down the freeway! The car rolled three times, went through some trees and down a ditch. The driver is still alive to tell the story! I have pictures of the car but nowhere to post them. He says he never got on it. I find it hard to believe so many components could fail all at once. To me it looks like he went sideways and lost it. If this it true though all modded 03 cobra owners should take note! The way this wheel came off is deadly. If anyone can post the pics pm me your e-mail and I will send them to you. I really feel some here should see how this happened. The insurance company is perusing a lawsuit with Ford Motor Company.


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Bachelor" proposal is the real deal, insist newly betrothed Jake Pavelka and Vienna Girardi.
"We are officially engaged. Yes, we're going to get married," Jake told reporters during a conference call yesterday.
Jake proposed to Vienna on Monday night's "Bachelor" finale, getting down on one knee and presenting her with a 2.72-carat, custom-designed $42,000 Neil Lane diamond ring.
The happy couple doesn't have a date set for the wedding yet, although Vienna indicated that it would happen within a year or two.
"We're going to take our time with that . . . I just want to date my fiancée for a little while," Jake said. "We're engaged, but we haven't seen our first movie yet."
Since wrapping the show three months ago, the pair were only allowed to see each other every other week, using aliases and staying hidden in a house to keep fans from finding out who Jake popped the question to. "I felt like we were in the witness protection program," the commercial pilot said.
Plans to move to Dallas together have been put on hold following Jake's upcoming stint on "Dancing With the Stars." Instead, Vienna will be in the audience during the "DWTS" tapings held in Los Angeles. During the day, while her fiancé is practicing the cha-cha, she said she wants to try her hand at motivational speaking.


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2011 Tor Kenward Tierra Roja Cabernet Sauvignon
I always love Tierra
Roja. There is a very distinct, very bright fruit profile to this wine. It
shows mostly black fruits with black cherries and blackberries, but the red
soils that this vineyard sit on give it an additional bit of lift and energy.
As much as I enjoy this wine now, I think that its best days are ahead of it.
The very low yields contributed to a build meant to last a long time. If you
are a fan of the Oakville Cabernets made from this area in the early 1990's
like I am, you will love this wine.
"The 2011 Cabernet
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black currant, bouquet garni and tobacco leaf characteristics, medium body,
outstanding ripeness as the alcohols are relatively elevated, soft tannins and
low acidity. This will be an endearing 2011 to enjoy over the next 7-8 years."
– 91-93 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
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is currently empty


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HONOLULU, Jan. 11 (UPI) -- Russell Hensley moved past fellow rookie Scott Langley with a round of 63 Friday and took a two-shot lead midway through the Sony Open.
The two newcomers to the PGA Tour have dominated the opening two rounds of the first full-field event of the season and for the third straight day will be paired together when they tee off in the final group on Saturday.
Hensley did not make a bogey at the Waialae Country Club Friday and posted a 36-hole total of 14-under 126.
Langley, who led the event with a 62 Thursday in his first round as a tour member, added a 66 Friday and his 128 total left him in a second-place tie with Scott Piercy.
Hensley reached the tour this year by finishing among the leading money winners on the Web.com Tour last season. Langley earned his rookie status with a 17th place finish in the qualifying tournament.
Matt Kuchar was alone in fourth at 129 following a 63. He rolled in a 16-foot eagle putt at the final hole to reach that total.
Tied for fifth at 130 were Chris Kirk, Tim Clark and Charles Howell III. Kirk shot a 62 Friday to equal Langley's opening-day score as the best of the tournament.
Vijay Singh was among those at 134 and current U.S. Open champion Webb Simpson was part of the group at 135.
Dustin Johnson, who began the golf season with a victory last week at the weather-marred Tournament of Champions on the island of Maui, withdrew midway through the second round with flu-like symptoms.
Johnson shot a 70 on Thursday and was 3-over for the day Friday when he withdrew.
Among those making the cut was John Daly, who finished at 138 following a 68.


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Photos: Fall pumpkins
Pumpkins from around the world.
Pumpkins from around the world.
Both Sanders and Clinton were looking to build Wednesday on their strong Democratic presidential debate performances as the rest of the fiel…
Neither baby spinach nor any other salads, are included in the recall, Dole said in a press release.
A Connecticut jury has rejected a woman's bid to sue her 12-year-old nephew.
The Columbus and Cleveland areas have been experiencing bed bug problems as of late.
A new study says compulsive texting could be hurting teen girls' grades.
Miller's bankruptcy and defense attorneys didn't immediately return calls Wednesday.
The contract between Delphi and the union ended Monday, but workers are still on the job.
Police found the victim January 21 inside his home on Youngstown's west side.
DeLuca said that he had not heard back from Lamar as of Wednesday morning.
The latest weather forecast for Youngstown, Ohio and surrounding areas.
Medical staff on the scene reported that the bus hit the truck near the intersection of Tibbetts Wick Rd.
There's more damage inside than outside the home.
They're circulating a surveillance photo.
There's a committee hearing on the bill on Wednesday.
Ticket prices will go up as the jackpot goes up at the Austintown pub
The latest weather forecast for Youngstown, Ohio and surrounding areas.
The note contained six students' names along with the girl who police say wrote it.
A truck driver was indicted Tuesday on multiple counts of aggravated murder in the slayings of one person in 1997 and three people this year…
The suspect is in the Mahoning County Jail on unrelated charges.
Two vehicles collided at an intersection on the west side.
Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 27 shots but Pittsburgh is winless through three games for the first time since 2005.
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text: The Bonavita Belmont Lifestyle 4 in 1 Convertible Crib just may be the prettiest crib you'll ever see. It has a very robust, classy design with bold, curving rails and very detailed molding that is enhanced by its rich finish. If you add this to your baby's nursery the space will instantly be transformed into a very elegant room. You'll also be happy to know that this isn't just a baby bed, it turns into three bigger beds as your child grows, so you can continue to enjoy its beauty for decades. This crib turns into a toddler bed, daybed and full size bed with the use of a toddler guard rail and wooden side rail kit (both sold separately). This crib is also JPMA certified, so it's been proven to be extra safe for your precious baby. If your goal is to get a baby crib that you can count on to keep your baby safe and comfy while creating a truly gorgeous nursery then the Bonavita Belmont crib is what you need.


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| Gotta Catch Ya Later!
First broadcast
English themes
Japanese themes
Gotta Catch Ya Later! (Japanese: サヨナラ…そして、たびだち! Goodbye... And Then, Setting off!) is the 273rd episode of the Pokémon anime. It was first broadcast in Japan on November 7, 2002 and in the United States on October 18, 2003.
|Spoiler warning: this article may contain major plot or ending details.
With the Silver Conference and Johto behind them, Ash, Misty and Brock are heading towards Pallet Town and decide to make a stop in Viridian City. Brock is the most excited, simply because it means that he'll get to see Nurse Joy. Misty is, as usual, tired of Brock's misguided romantic efforts.
Ash deposits his Poké Balls at the Pokémon Center, and asks Nurse Joy if she remembers him. It turns out that this Nurse Joy isn't the one he met all that time ago, but a new one. She has heard about him though, and tells Misty that she has received an urgent call from Cerulean City. Misty is confused as to why anyone would be calling her from there.
Getting to a phone, Misty finds out the call is from her sisters. It turns out all three are going on an around the world trip that they won in a beauty contest, and therefore need Misty to take over the Gym while they are away. Misty can't believe what she's hearing, and is angry when Ash and Brock comment on how lucky the sisters are winning the trip as doesn't see why she's expected to just take over the Gym, even if it is on a temporary basis. Just then Nurse Joy arrives with another surprise for Misty... her bike! It turns out the previous Nurse Joy was able to fix it and it's as good as new. Seeing the bike brings back a lot of memories for Misty, and remembers how her journey with Ash began, with him stealing the bike only to end up destroying it. Ash happily comments that now Misty can get back to Cerulean City even quicker which just makes Misty's already foul mood worse, and thinking that Ash wants her gone, angrily leaves the Pokémon Center. Ash is confused by Misty's reaction, and Brock points out that Misty may have expected to continue traveling with them.
Misty wanders the streets of Viridian City very sadly, and comments on how Ash doesn't seem to care that the gang that have been through so much together are now splitting up. Waiting for her on the street, however, are three men. They ask Misty if all her friends have abandoned her. Misty really isn't in the mood and angrily asks who they are, and three introduce themselves as Viridian City's top trainers; Kim, Kail and Kai... the Invincible Pokémon Brothers! Misty can't be bothered with their theatrics, and asks if they want a Pokémon battle. All three brothers are intrigued.
Going to a nearby field, the rules are declared to be a one-on-one and Kim is up first. He sends out a Hitmonchan and Misty responds by sending out Politoed. Misty orders a Water Gun, and Politoed is able to knock Hitmonchan to the ground easily. Kail and Kai send out their Pokémon, a Hitmonlee and a Hitmontop. The three fighting Pokémon surround Politoed and Misty complains that she can't battle against them three-on-one. However she is saved when Ash and Brock arrive to make the match fair. Pikachu is able to get Hitmontop with a Thunderbolt and Brock sends out Forretress and it gets Hitmonlee with a Rapid Spin. Misty is glad to see her friends again, but angrily tells them she could have handled it. Ash and Brock tell her that they know she could, but they wanted one last battle with the three of them. Ash also tells Misty that she's a great Water Pokémon Trainer and he knows she can win the battle. Misty is touched by Ash's kind words, and with their friendship restored, the three trainers easily knock out all the Template:Type2 Pokémon, much to the brothers' dismay.
Not far away, however, is Team Rocket. After deciding to show how a real team of three losers operates, Wobbuffet presses a button which causes two goals to appear on opposite ends of the field and come together trapping Ash, Misty, Brock, the three brothers and all the Pokémon inside. It turns out that the three brothers were hired by Team Rocket to take care of the twerps and since they failed not only will they not be getting paid (not that they were going to pay anyway), but now they were be taking their Pokémon as well as all the twerps. However it turns out that Kim has a pair of scissors handy and cuts the net away, releasing the brothers who quickly surround Jessie, James and Meowth with their Pokémon. This also allows Ash, Misty and Brock to escape. They order Team Rocket taken care of and with Pikachu, Politoed and Forretress triple-teaming them Team Rocket and the brothers are all sent blasting off.
With the excitement over, Ash tells Misty how great it was watching her battle and she thanks him... but now it's time to be setting off for their homes. On the path, Misty tells Ash not to forget to look after himself and Pikachu and tells Brock to try to not fall in love with all the girls which makes Brock laugh. She also says that she needs to tell Ash one more thing... to keep trying his best. Ash asks what she means, and Misty sadly responds says that it's going to be different without her there...
She then remembers how she first met Ash, accidentally fishing him out of a lake and angrily pointing him in the direction of the Viridian City Pokémon Center. She also remembers all the experiences she's shared with Ash, Brock and Tracey as they traveled through Kanto, the Orange Islands and Johto as well as the joys, the struggles, the triumphs, the fun, the hardships, the excitement and most of all the adventure which now has to end.
She also recalls how it was an accident that she met Togepi, but Ash tells her that he thinks she's wrong that it was an accident that he met her of all people. He tells her that he believes that no matter what, they were always meant to meet and become friends. Brock agrees, and tells them that after all their adventures they've all become best friends. Misty and Ash happily agree and continue down the path.
Eventually the path splits into three with one route heading towards Pallet Town, another heading towards Cerulean City and the third heading towards Pewter City. Ash and Misty start to say their goodbyes, when Brock suddenly butts in telling them that he just remembered that he received an e-mail and needs to return to Pewter City. Ash asks how Brock could forget something like that, and Misty understands that maybe he didn't want to go.
Now the time has come for all three to part ways and head for their respective homes. The three bids each other farewell, and then Misty and Brock set off. With his friends gone, Ash starts to say the words he didn't feel he could... when suddenly Misty and Brock are back in front of him ready to hear it. Ash tells them they shouldn't sneak up on them, and Brock says that they returned to give Ash some presents. Brock gives Ash a small picnic complete with cutlery, while Misty gives him a handkerchief to wrap it in. Ash is touch by their gesture, and begins to cry. With that, the three best friends separate Ash, very upset about his long-time companions leaving, runs the rest of the way home.
After a good night's sleep, Ash and Pikachu are happily tucking into their breakfasts when his mom mentions to Ash that Gary arrived back himself a couple of days ago. Ash is eager to meet up with his former rival and newfound friend and quickly leaves with Pikachu. Delia comments to Mimey that she always misses him when he leaves on an adventure.
Getting to Professor Oak's Laboratory, Ash is dismayed to be told that Gary has already left. Tracey tells Ash that Gary didn't mention where he was going, only that he woke up saying that he was feeling inspired and quickly left before being asked what he meant. Professor Oak mentions that Gary must have wanted to make a fresh start, as he left all of his Pokémon besides his Blastoise at the lab before leaving and that they have no idea when they'll even see him again.
Gary is just about to leave Pallet Town behind when Ash catches up to him. The two friends greet each other warmly, and Ash asks Gary what his hurry is. Gary tells Ash that he just feels he needs to keep moving, and that there's still a lot of traveling to do and lot more to learn about Pokémon. Gary then asks Ash what he plans to do now, and Ash is forced to admit he doesn't know. Gary tells Ash that as he hasn't been home for a long time he should wait a while and really think about it. Gary starts to leave, but now it's Ash's turn to give a present to a departing friend and gives Gary his half of the broken Poké Ball back. Gary thanks Ash, and sets off on his journey.
Sitting on a tree, Ash tells Pikachu he doesn't like the feeling of being alone and still isn't sure about what to do next. Suddenly Ash spots a sparkle in the sky and looks up... to see Ho-Oh! Watching it fly away, Ash notices where it's heading... to the Hoenn region. He knows that Hoenn has a lot of Pokémon he's never seen before, and a lot of battles awaiting him. Suddenly Ash feels his spirit return, and decides to do like Gary and make a fresh start and head to Hoenn! He starts to run home... and falls into a classic Team Rocket pitfall trap.
The motto is performed as always, and James mentions that the pit is extra deep and three have gone back to the classic plan of snaring Pikachu. James commands Weezing to send a SmokeScreen down the pit. Soon the entire area is filled with smoke causing Ash and Pikachu to start choking. Ash tries to think of something to do, and remembers Misty and Brock's final words and parting gifts. He gets an idea, and after fishing them out of his bag, has Pikachu cover it's mouth with the handkerchief while he climbs out with the cutlery given to him by Brock. As he climbs out of the pit, he realizes that he is never alone and that his friends will always be with him. Getting out of the pit, Ash confronts Team Rocket and sends them blasting off again courtesy of Pikachu's Thunderbolt. Ash knows that one journey is over, another one is about to begin.
Back home, Ash tells Professor Oak and Tracey that he has decided to do the same as Gary and leave all of his Pokémon besides Pikachu at the lab. Professor Oak guesses that Ash is heading to Hoenn and Ash tells him that he plans to meet Professor Birch in Littleroot Town. Tracey agrees with Ash's idea and reassures him that he'll look after all his Pokémon while he is away. Ash thanks his friend, when Delia arrives with new clothes for her son having guessed he would be leaving soon. She also has his ticket for the ferry that departs from the Seafoam Islands. Professor Oak gives Ash a brand new Pokédex that contains all the information on the Pokémon that reside in the Hoenn region. With a renewed sense of determination, Ash gets ready to set off Hoenn knowing that a brand new set of adventures await him.
Major events
- Daisy, Violet, and Lily give Gym Leader status to Misty.
- Misty gets her bike back, now mended.
- Ash, Brock and Misty go their separate ways.
- Ash sees Ho-Oh again.
- Ash leaves all his Pokémon besides Pikachu at Professor Oak's lab.
- Ash changes his clothes and receives a new Pokédex.
- Ash heads for Hoenn.
- Ash
- Misty
- Brock
- Jessie
- James
- Nurse Joy
- Tracey
- Professor Oak
- Gary
- Delia
- Daisy
- Violet
- Lily
- Invincible Pokémon Brothers
- Erika (Flashback; Japanese version only)
Who's That Pokémon?: Hoppip (U.S. and international), Togepi (Japan)
- Pikachu (Ash's)
- Meowth (Team Rocket)
- Togepi (Misty's)
- Wobbuffet (Jessie's)
- Squirtle (Ash's; flashback)
- Lapras (Ash's; flashback)
- Politoed (Misty's)
- Vulpix (Brock's; flashback)
- Forretress (Brock's)
- Weezing (James's)
- Mr. Mime (Delia's)
- Ho-Oh (Ho-Oh)
- Hitmonchan (Kim's)
- Hitmonlee (Kail's)
- Hitmontop (Kai's)
- Sentret (×3; flashback)
- Gloom (Erika's; flashback, Japanese version only)
- The name of this episode refers to the original catchphrase of the Pokémon series, "Gotta Catch 'em All!"
- Delia mispronounces the Seafoam Islands as "The Seaform Islands" in reference to the tickets.
- Professor Oak's eyebrows are mistakenly colored gray when he gives Ash his new Hoenn Pokédex.
- Pikachu disappeared when Ash is looking for the Poké Ball he and Gary fought over in the beginning of their journey.
Dub edits
- The flashback about the good times Misty spent with her friends is different in both versions: the dubbed English flashback pushes PokéShipping while the original Japanese flashback focuses on Misty's accomplishments as a Pokémon trainer and as a friend, and even ends with a group shot of Ash, Pikachu, Misty, Togepi, Brock, and Tracey (specifically created for this episode). The original flashback plays a really dramatic piece of music, while the dub flashback plays a brand new vocal song:
- Goodbye, funny how that's such a hard thing to say.
- Now it's time to let go but... never thought I'd feel this way.
- Promised not to be sad but... we both knew I was lying.
- Gotta fight back the tears cause can't let you see me crying
- You're more than just my best friend
- What makes me misty most of all,
- In our final curtain call,
- Is knowing that I won't see you again.
In other languages
- Dutch: Ik zie je later!
- French: Les adieux
- German: Auf Wiedersehen, Freunde!
- Hebrew: אנחנו עוד נתראה anakhnu od nitra'é
- Italian: Addii e partenze
- Portuguese (Brazilian): A Gente se Vê Depois!
- Spanish:
- Iberian Spanish: ¡Ya te cogeré más tarde!
- Latin American Spanish: ¡Hasta pronto amigos!
|This episode article is part of Project Anime, a Bulbapedia project that covers all aspects of the Pokémon anime.


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"Bright Future" is a recent effort from acclaimed Japanese director Kiyoshi Kurosawa, finally released on region 2 DVD via Tartan. Although Kurosawa is best known for horror films such as "Kairo", "Séance" and "Cure", his works have always had an appeal beyond the genre, mainly due to his measured, philosophical approach, and the way in which he uses his subject matter as a platform for existential musings on the human condition. As such, "Bright Future" is not too much of a departure, being a surreal, almost dream like tale of urban disillusionment and malaise, played out through the bizarre metaphor of poisonous jellyfish. Unfortunately, this probably sounds a great deal more interesting than it actually is, as the film, whilst thoughtful and undeniably well made, is far too slow and ponderous for its own good, and is ultimately as directionless and vague as its characters. This new DVD release comes with a couple of extras in the form of the usual trailer and a short behind the scenes featurette.
The film is set in Tokyo's urban sprawl, focusing upon two young men, Mamoru (the ever prolific Tadanobu Asano, "Zatoichi") and Nimura (Jo Odagiri, recently in the Kitano starring "Blood and Bones") who work in dead end, part time jobs in a faceless factory. Both seem to be without any kind of ambition or plans for the future, and spend most of their time simply hanging around in silence, or staring at Mamoru's pet jellyfish, which he is gradually acclimatising to freshwater for some unnamed purpose. After their middle aged boss offers them full time employment, as well as trying to become their friend, Mamoru inexplicably kills him, an act which lands him on death row. This leaves Nimura, along with Mamoru's estranged father to look after the jellyfish and to try and make sense of his actions. However, the pet is accidentally let loose into the city canals, setting forth a series of strange events and odd revelations.
"Bright Future" is a film of quiet anger, of uncaring characters trying to find their place in a modern society which they have little in common with. Although this is as a theme is nothing new, Kurosawa does tackle it in an interesting way through the jellyfish, whose gradual adaptation to freshwater mirrors the character's growing acceptance of the world. Of course, at the same time, as beautiful and serene as the jellyfish appears to be, its deadly poison lurks just below the surface, in much the same way as the characters harbour their murderous rage. As a result, the personal journeys undertaken in "Bright Future" are neither comfortable nor obvious, and Kurosawa thankfully steers clear of the clichés of angst ridden cinema, dealing with the intangible rather than the usual whining of materialistic twenty-something's which tend to populate such films.
The problem with this, and indeed with the film as a whole, is that whilst it is intellectually satisfying, and successfully conveys the experiences of the characters, the story wanders too much to truly engage. Indeed, the narrative feels more like a series of observations or anecdotes rather than an actual plot. Kurosawa, who also wrote the script, does tend to work with an almost documentary-like feel, which has served him well when dealing with films in which things actually happen. However, since very little occurs during the running time of "Bright Future", the end result is sadly quite dull. Most of the film is taken up with stilted conversations or scenes of characters wandering through the urban landscape, and it is only towards the end when the pace finally begins to pick up.
Matters are not helped by the fact that the characters themselves are sketchily written, and engage only in occasional conversations, which tend to be monosyllabic at best. Although, to be fair, this is quite intentional and in-keeping with the aims of the film, the vast tracts of silence mean that the viewer never really gets to know or feel anything for any of the characters or indeed care for what happens to them.
Whilst Kurosawa does imbue the film with a rich visual texture, and does include some quite wonderful shots of the jellyfish itself, the film's ambient atmosphere actually works only to lull the viewer into the same kind of trance that the characters seem to exist in. There is a great deal of cryptic symbolism employed throughout, some of which is quite effective, though unfortunately most viewers will be too busy trying to stay focused to notice.
Although it is undoubtedly refreshing to see the filmic medium being used to deal with philosophical issues in such an intelligent, almost poetic manner, the fact remains that as a film, "Bright Future" is not particularly entertaining, and is definitely amongst the lesser of the director's works. To his credit, Kurosawa has crafted a pretension free work which certainly makes the viewer think, and to consider their own place in the world. However, as easy as it is to admire "Bright Future" after the fact, its determinedly abstract nature means that it is equally easy to fall asleep actually viewing it.
Kiyoshi Kurosawa (director) / Kiyoshi Kurosawa (screenplay)
CAST: Jo Odagiri … Yûji Nimura
Tadanobu Asano … Mamoru Arita
Tatsuya Fuji … Shin'ichiro Arita
Takashi Sasano … Mr. Fujiwara
Marumi Shiraishi … Mrs. Fujiwara
Hanawa … Ken Takagi


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43027 / 45617 Adverts
Villa Detached, single storey, shared entrance, in a property
5 people 5 adults
3 bedrooms
8 rooms
3 bedrooms
8 rooms
ParkingInfant tubBaby potty
- View : Panoramic, unobscured, garden/park, village, city
- Kids welcome
- Setting : Natural
- Bus stop / bus station at <165'
Advert No. 56735
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Advert 56735Antananarivo - Antananarivo Province - Madagascar
Advert details 56735
Assets Villa
Parking : Parking uncovered : 1 internal.
baby equipment : Infant tub, baby potty
Interior Villa with View: panoramic, unobscured, garden/park, ...
Receive up to : 5 person(s) (5 adults)
Interior layout : 8 Room(s), 3 bedroom(s), 2 shower room, 2 toilets, separate kitchen, dining room, mezzanine, tv den, veranda
Sleeps - bed(s) : 2 full bed(s), 1 twin bed(s), 1 baby cradle
Guest facilities : T.V., DVD player, wardrobe, Drapes
Appliances : Crockery/flatware, kitchen utensils, electric kettle, gaz stove, refridgerator, iron
Exterior Vacation rental in Setting: natural
Outside accommodation : Terrace
Outside setting : Tropical garden, lawn, ornamental lake
Outside amenities : Yard table(s), 4 yard seat(s), arbour
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Rates Villa in Antananarivo
ServiceFrequencyIncluded / SuppliedSupplementRates
Sheets1 X / per week
Towels1 X / per week
Linen1 X / per week
Comforter(s)1 X / per week
Pillows1 X / per week
For your guidance
Information :
Kids welcome
Present on site : pets
Cell phone network coverage
Personal transport advisable
Water : hot/cold
Local voltage supply : 220V / 60Hz
Electricity supply : mains
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Payment made upon reservation : 50% of rental sum
Payment balance : on handing over the keys
rentals :
Service charges included
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Leisure, Surroundings, Location Home 56735
Leisure Antananarivo - Antananarivo Province
Leisure activities less than 12 miles : Golf, tennis, riding school, go-karting
SurroundingsCity - Antananarivo Province
Amenities :
Downtown at 4.5mi.
Bus stop / bus station at <165'
Breadstore at 0.62mi.
Local stores at <165'
Supermarket at 0.62mi.
Hairdressing salon at 330'
Internet cafe at 0.62mi.
Bank at 0.62mi.
ATM at 0.62mi.
Drugstore at 0.62mi.
Doctor at 165'
Hospital at 0.3mi.
Location AccessVilla Antananarivo
045E Bis Ambohibao
101 AntananarivoAntananarivo Province
GPS coordinates of the city
Latitude 18°55'15.6"S
Longitude 47°31'8.4"E
Access routes Vacation rental 56735
at 1.85mi. / 10min.
Airport Ivato
Antananarivo, Antananarivo Province, Madagascar
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I'm new to growing peppers, and I have no idea if they or too young to transplant. Also, I'm not sure if I should prune them or not. It would be a great help if both questions were answered
The bell peppers are the first two pictures.
And the Jalapeno peppers are the last two.
Thanks for the help!
P.S. They are well hardened-off and I want to plant them into my raised bed outside. Also, the Jalapeno peppers are the same plant
This message was edited Dec 17, 2013 4:47 PM
This message was edited Dec 17, 2013 4:50 PM
Need Help Transplanting
I'm new to growing peppers, and I have no idea if they or too young to transplant. Also, I'm not sure if I should prune them or not. It would be a great help if both questions were answered
I think they should transplant well from a size stand point. I don't know about the timing as I not from Florida.
Keep in mind that peppers LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE hot weather. The hotter the better... If you put them out too soon, and the ground is still too chilly for them, they will sit, sulk, and maybe even, stall.
If the weather isn't getting close to being very summery hot now, I'd hold them inside awhile longer. It won't hurt them.
Also, your plants look a little pale-ish on a few leaves. Couple potential reasons: overwatering, or undernourishment. I know those pots dry out fairly quickly and overwatering can occur quite easily if you're trying to keep them hydrated. I would suggest setting the whole biodegradeable pot into a larger pot of mix, give 'em more room to grow on, and keep them close to the lights (you are using lights, yes?). Just peel off the bottoms so the roots can drop down into the new potting mix. They'll spread out. Won't hurt to transplant the seedlings out at 10-12" tall...
Are you feeding the plants? They have enough true leaves, now, to be asking for a meal or two, LOL! I'd start with a weak application of some water soluble fertilizer mixed in a gallon of water. Add it to the bottom of the drip tray and let the plants soak it up. Remove any excess after about 1-2 hours. Don't let the plants stand in water constantly. I use plain old Miracle Grow plant food. The blue stuff. I add enough to a gallon of water to barely color it, and feed the plants once a week. Feed weakly, weekly....
And, don't forget the lights! I use regular old fluorescent shop lights. You can prop them up on some books on each end. Keep them at least 1-2" from the tops of the leaves...16 hours a day....7am-11pm for my seedlings....
Hope this helps!
I am actually not growing them under grow lights. They are still on my patio at about 5 weeks old. So, do you think I should prune them at all yet?
Why would you want to prune them?
Don't prune peppers. The only reason to prune peppers is when they have gotten so big that they are interferring with other plants or have suffered broken branches from wind/cat races/grandchildren.
Be aware that they really are warm weather plants and will not start producing until late spring/early summer. In northern regions of south Texas (i.e. San Antonio/New Braunfels), they normally start setting fruit in May and are productive by June.
Bell peppers make the best peppers (IMO) when watered regularly. They don't want wet feet, but they do like to drink. When it gets too hot, they no longer produce well, but with a bit of luck you can make them productive again in early fall.
Jalapenos tolerate dry conditions, and the peppers are hotter when grown in moderately harsh conditions. So if you want very mild peppers, water with the bells. If you want something snappier, then let them go longer between waterings. For jalapenos, the hotter the temperature, the better they like it.
Both peppers want full sun.
I started my bell peppers and cubanelle's about 2 months ago and have them outside in 5 gallon containers and they are doing great. This is South Florida's growing season and we've been having a warm winter so far. Two local places I like going for some great advice is marando farms and Urban farmer. Good luck!
Your peppers are ready to transplant now. If it is still cool outside, transplant them into larger containers and put them outside during the day. Don't prune at all, but fertilize with some "tea" made from well composted cow manure.
A good resource for more information:
The University of California at Santa Cruz has one of the most respected programs on sustainable agriculture in the USA. It's called the Agroecology Program, which all started with the work of Alan Chadwick back in 1967.
Alan had some very important teachings about the fine art of transplanting. One of these is to handle the seedling by one leaf only, never by the crown (the place where the stem meets the roots). That is one of the most fragile parts of the plant, and bruising it can seriously hamper the overall health of your seedling. The second point is never to get water on the leaves of your seedling for about three days after transplanting. Water on the leaves stimulates leaf growth, but what you want at this stage is for the roots to get well established.
More on Chadwick�s techniques and philosophy can be found here:
Alan Chadwick
Good luck,
Soil temp for plant peppers out into the garden should be between 65 - 70 degrees with nighttime air temp not dipping below 55 degrees. A black plastic mulch material can help keep the soil temp warm and can be removed once the temperatures start to climb.
Hope you have good luck with you pepper plants ☺.
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I'm also hoping this thing either weakens or moves farther offshore.
Theres no way in hell my break (or most) will be able to handle 10ft+ @13+ seconds. Also, the fact that its an ESE Swell makes it even more prone to closeouts because it already starts Parallel to most beaches. With the state of almost all the sandbars, a swell of 7ft @9 seconds SE would produce MUCH bigger and better waves than a swell of 10ft @13 seconds ESE.
Results 31 to 40 of 57
Thread: Overhead waves this weekend
Oct 24, 2012, 01:46 AM #31Senior Member
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I'm looking forward to that swell ...
Do you know where I can rent surfboards in Fortlauderdale ?
maybe Sunday is the best day...when decline slightly.
Oct 24, 2012, 02:06 AM #34
I'll give up my secret spot. I want somebody there in case I drown in the monster surf. The broke down pier in Frisco looked good last weekend, just small. it was clean when everything else was blown out from the ne wind
Oct 24, 2012, 02:19 AM #36Senior Member
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I mean i really wish the sandbars were in the state they were 5 years ago... storms like this would be epic if not the best i've ever seen...
good luck at frisco peir with 30 plus winds and thumbing swell. Don't be that guy people have to read about.
Oct 24, 2012, 11:42 AM #38
I *think* I know a couple spots I will be checking, but it's only going to be to watch if the wind forecast holds how it is now. I don't think even the South facing beaches will be working that great judging by swell direction.
Oct 24, 2012, 12:03 PM #39Senior Member
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Oct 24, 2012, 12:43 PM #40
arrrr sounds like a boat trip, ye land lobers


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I 437 May 30, 1985 CRAFTING A COURT -PROOF EDUCATION VOUCHER INTRODUCTION Althou gh public education continues to serve nine out of ten of the nation's students, dismay over what they regard as its declining quality has prompted many parents to consider private schools as an alternative. To many families, however, the cost of private s chool tuition has been an insurmountable financial barrier. As a result, parents and policy makers have explored ways to make the private school alternative affordable to working and middle-class Americans. Two proposed methods are tuition tax credits and educational vouchers A tuition tax credit is a direct reduction in the amount of taxes owed by a family after all income adjustments have been made. Unlike a tax deduction, the cash value of a credit is the same for every taxpayer--assuming that he or she has a tax liabil ity at least equal to the credit. legislation have been introduced repeatedly in Congress, most seriously in 1978 and 19
81. The measure has yet to win congres sional approval.
An educational voucher, on the other hand, does not involve an adjustment to a family's tax liability, but instead is a fixed sum of money'from the government, which a parent can use only to purchase'l education at a primary or secondary school of that parent's choice. manner and method of operation, yet the goal i n each case has been to enhance a family's freedom of choice in selecting the school that it feels will benefit its children most Proposals for tax credit Proposed voucher systems have varied in their Opponents of tuition tax credits and educational vouch e rs warn that such devices would spur, among other things, increased segregation, abandonment of the public schools, and fiscal irre- sponsibility. These practical arguments have been answered 2 effectively by a number of scho1ars.l But there remains the n a gging question of constitutionality. This,was answered for Mueller v. Allen, upheld the constitutionality of a Minnesota tax deduction for elementary and secondary educational expenses tuition tax credits in 1983 when the U.S. Supreme Court, in Vouchers a re a more complicated matter for they represent in effect, money that is actually provided by the government.
This raises serious questions concerning indirect federal funding of schools. The issue has been argued in the courts for four decades At times vo uchers seem to be ruled acceptable, while at other times they have been rejected as unconstitutional or have been used to raise the specter of sweeping federal regulation of private schools. The latter issue was raised in the 1984 U.S Supreme Court ruling on the Grove City case, in which a college was not allowed to use grant money given to students unless it followed federal procedures for assurance of compliance with federal regulations.
The Grove City decision does not necessarily establish constitution al guidelines for educational vouchers. Analysis of court decisions indicates that, as long as the language creating vouchers is carefully drafted to preempt unwanted government intrusions, emphasize equal access to other school systems promote improved q u ality of education as well as freedom of choice, there is a good chance that vouchers will pass the consti tutional test. Congressional advocates of vouchers should study the court decisions before they design vouches legislation. And even if there are ea r ly failures, much can be learned from them in crafting an ultimate, court-proof education voucher THE HISTORICAL IMPACT OF THE FIRST AMENDMENT Since the vast majority of private schools are religious in orientation, the constitutionality question generall y revolves around interpretation of the First Amendment. Both tuition tax credits and vouchers involve a government action that provides financial aid to parents. If religious schools are the primary beneficiaries of this aid, does this mean that governmen t is in the business of promoting an establishment of religion? Much current discussion, as well as nearly every Supreme Court decision in the past 40 years, has ignored the historical context of the First Amendment. At the nation's founding, the American p eople clearly considered government aid to religion an exemplary use of See Thomas W. Vitullo-Martin The Impact of Taxation Policy on Public and Private Schools in Robert B. Everhart, ed., The Public School Monopoly San Francisco: Pacific Institute for Pu b lic Policy Research, 1982 Jeremy Rabkin Educational Choice vs. Racial Regulation: Non-Discrimina tion Safeguards and the Tuition Tax Credit Bill Washington D.C LEARN, Inc Lawrence A. Uzzell Issue Brief: Tuition Tax Credits Washington, D.C LEARN, Inc 3 its power--not something to be avoided at all cost according to the founders, was an essential ingredient in a civilized nation his Commentaries on the Constitution 1833) that "An attempt to level all religions, and to make it a matter of state policy to hold all in utter indifference, would have created universal disapprobation, if not universal indignation.Il2 Confederation period, the Northwest Ordinance linked religion with good government.3 The Land Ordinance of 1785 even set apart one plot in each townsh ip in the new territories for the erection of a school, in many cases established by a church group.
After ratification of the Constitution, there was little protest when Congress provided lands for churches in the West subsidized missionaries among the In dians, and maintained chaplains in the Armed Forces--a practice that continues today, as does the opening of congressional sessions with prayer states made grants to private schools, most of which were church related did not b,an any aid or any religion i n general.4 1920s and 1930s, as the Court began to incorporate the Bill of Rights into the Fourteenth Amendment's due process clause, was the corner turned on the question of government aid to religion.5 ment clause of the First Amendment was in the 1947 E v erson case 156 years after the amendment was added to the Constitution. In this decision, Justice Hugo Black argued for a wall of separation between church and state that was to remain "high and impregnable He asserted that government cannot pass laws tha t "aid one reli gion, aid. all religions, or prefer one religion over another.
Black's wall of separation and his insistence that government cannot aid any religions at all have since become the cornerstone of all Supreme Court decisions on the establishme nt of religion clause of the First Amendment. The trouble is, explains constitu tional scholar Walter Berns, that Everson was based upon a faulty reading of history arguments made by the American Civil Liberties Union, which assumed that Thomas Jefferson a nd James Madison were the guiding lights in the formulation of the First Amendment Religion Supreme Court Justice Joseph Story noted in The words were backed up by government action: during the In addition The predominant interpretation of the First Amend m ent only in the The first direct instance of the Court acting on the establish Berns explains that Black relied on the Were that Walter Berns The Confusion of Political Choices and Constitutional Reauirements: The Perspective of a Legal Historian in Edwar d McGlynn Gaifney, Jr., ed., Private Schools and-the Public Good tives for the Eighties (University of Notre Dame Press, 1982) p Daniel D. McGarrv The Advantages and Constitutionality of Tuition Tax Policy Alterna 194 4 Credits, I' Educational Freedom, Spr i ng-Summer 1982, p. 38 Ibid Thomas Ascik The Role of the Courts in A New Agenda for Education Washington D.C McGarry, op. cit p. 17 The Heritage Foundation, 1985 pp. 4-5 4 true, then Jefferson's attitude (he first advanced the idea of a ltwall would have b e en widely disseminated at the time. The truth is that he did not make that statement until 1802, eleven years after the amendment was added. Madison's input, meanwhile also was minimal.7 Since American federal and state governments gave financial aid to r e ligion prior to the Everson decision, and Everson is based on faulty history, the Supreme Court has been gravely mistaken in its conclusions about the relation of government to religion that, as long as government.does not set up one religion or denominat i on as the officially sanctioned state religion; public aid to religion in general should be considered constitutional.8 An examination of the early history of America reveals TUITION TAX CREDITS Despite the faulty basis of Court decisions, legislators who favor tuition tax credits and voucher programs must deal with the reality of today's interpretation. They must find ways to phrase legislation to escape the stricture of the courts so that the law will not be overturned.
Among the roadblocks thrown in the way of tuition tax credits are: dire predictions of renewed segregation, talk of the demise of the public school system, and warnings that the credits will drain the federal treasury. Perhaps the most threatening argument has been the contention that a t ax credit is the same as federal funding of private schools, thus bringing it into conflict with the First Amendment's establishment clause.
Tax Breaks and Subsidies A tax break, whether in the form of a deduction or a credit is not the same as a direct go vernmental subsidy. The only way it could be the same would be if it were argued that all income belongs to the government and that any money left in a citizen's pocket after taxes amounts to a subsidy As education analyst Lawrence Uzzell has remarked We m ust reject the proposition that there is no moral or economic distinction between policies which let people keep their own earnings and policies which grant them the earnings of others is not the same thing as giving me a free lunch."g support the positio n that tax benefits are not the same as direct subsidies. Whereas all federal agencies dispensing financial aid are required to devise regulations concerning that assistance To refrain from stealing my sandwich The rules by which the Internal Revenue Servi c e operates Berns, op. cit pp. 192-194; McGarry, op. cit p 39 Berns, op. cit p. 185 Uzzell, op. cit p. 1. 5 the IRS has never been asked to do so. Tax deductions and credits are clearly not considered the equivalent of direct aid.1 The Supreme Court Walz d e cision of 1970 found that state tax exemptions for religious institutions were constitutional because the absence of government oversight of church finances actually reduced the involvement of church and state. This Walz verdict made a clear distinction b e tween tax exemptions and government funding, stating categorically that tax exemptions were not grants and did not represent government funding.ll A consistent application of the tenets in Walz should have rendered tuition tax credits unnecessary. Since t h e Court has declared that church schools are integral parts of churches and that the schools' mission is the same as that of the churches these schools should have the same legal status as the churches themselves, able to receive funds from parents as tax - deductible contributions. Were this the case, there would be no need to wrangle over tuition tax credits.12 Constitutionality of Credits It was not until the 1983 case of Mueller v. Allen that the The case challenged the constitutionality of constitutiona lity of tuition tax credits was formally tested in the Supreme Court income tax credits for education allowed by the state of Minnesota.
The Minnesota law covered all educational expenses for all children in elementary and secondary education judgment, the Court declared the law valid, opening the way for future tuition tax credit measures.
In a slim five to four In his majority opinion, Justice William Rehnquist cited five reasons for allowing the tax credit 1 The benefits would meet the test of legitimat e tax deduction--they would contribute to the public welfare (by promot ing education) and reduce involvement between church and state, a reference to the Walz decision The credits would benefit church schools only indirectly the parents would receive the tax relief and would make the decision where to send their children, thereby eliminating any government partiality toward religion The class benefiting is broad--the law applied to all parents of school-age children, whether they sent the children to publ i c or private schools private schools--in consideration of the fact that "they bear a 2 3 4 The law provided equity for parents of children in lo Rabkin, op. cit p. 4 l1 McGarry, op. cit p. 18 l2 Ibid p. 33 lo Rabkin, op. cit p. 4 l1 McGarrv. OD. cit D. 18 L I* l2 Ibid p. 33 6 particularly great financial burden in educating their children and 5) lar religion.
The law was no danger as an establishment of any particu Because of this decision, boundaries are set for proponents of tuition tax credits. The llsa fell ground is to ensure that any proposed law would apply to parents of public school as well as private school children. Tax credit proponents, moreover, can take comfort in Rehnquistls remarks concerning equity for parents who choose private schools an d in the assurance that the Court did not consider these benefits to be an establishment of religion.
EDUCATIONAL VOUCHERS The Mueller decision did not settle the issue for vouchers since they require government funding. With a tax credit, the government simply does not take a person's money; with a voucher money that already is collected is then disburse d for the purpose of meeting educational expenses. Such disbursal requires govern ment oversight and hence raises the specter of possible entangle ment of government and religion.
The legal question turns on who receives the voucher payments. If they were to go directly to a private school, this surely I could be considered government advancement of religion, an action prohibited by Everson voucher money provided to the parents. They then could decide whether to cash the voucher and which school would rece ive the benefit. This would be a form of indirect funding to private schools, with the schools receiving funds only by the parents free choice This would not be the case were the As such, the Court should have no problem with it.
The Legal History The 1947 Everson case, the initial ruling on the establishment clause of the First Amendment, provides the first indication of how the Court views indirect funding. In Everson, the Court approved state reimbursement to parents of children in nonpublic schools for costs of transportation, stating that since the aid went to the parents, rather than the schools, it did not violate the establishment clause. Everson thus allows indirect aid to parents of children in private schools.
Then in the 1948 McCollum decision, the Court touched on the issue, disallowing religious instruction on school grounds during school hours, even though the instruction was diversified and voluntary. Because the instruction was taking place in a building receiving public funds, the Court vi e wed it as indirect government l3 Daniel D. McGarry The Mueller v. Allen Case, 1983 Educational Freedom Spring-Summer 1983, pp. 1-5. 7 sponsorship of religion. In this case, the indirect connection was not allowed In the 1952 Zorach decision, however, the Court allowed released time for religious instruction off school grounds during school hours. This amounts to indirect funding of religious instruction since government-sponsored lltimelf was involved the Zorach decision, Justice William
0. Douglas signif icantly modified Justice Black's Everson opinion on the separation of church and state. Douglas commented The First Amendment does not say that in every and all respects there shall be a separation of Church and State We are a religious people whose insti t utions presuppose a Supreme Being When the state encourages religious instruction or cooperates with religious authorities by adjusting the schedule of public events to sectarian needs, it follows the best of our traditions.lI In In the 1963 Schempp case, daily Bible reading and prayer in public schools were declared unconstitutional because they in fringed on the rights of those in the classroom who were not religious. The basis for the decision was that the schools were funded by government, and any fund s going to aid a certain reli gious viewpoint would be wrong, as stated in Everson.
The central importance of Schempp, however, was the Court's ruling that government funds for schools must have a secular purpose and that the primary effect should neither advance nor inhibit religion. For the remainder of the 1960s, these two tests were regarded as the signposts to follow regarding constitu tionality. As such, in the 1968 Allen case the Court allowed New York State to loan state-selected and state-approved textbooks to children in private schools that were church connected rationale for this decision was that the aid directly benefited the parents and students, not the church school. Here again indirect funding seemed acceptable The Other landmark cases in the early 1970s, such as Lemon 1971) and Nyquist (1973 dealt primarily with direct subsidies or with the issue of tax exemptions. Consequently, the decision on indirect funding in Allen remains the standard for analyzing voucher proposals.
The Grove City College Case Early last year, the Court's ruling in Grove City College v. Bell led to a fundamental reexamination of the status of vouchers.
Grove City College is a private, religiously oriented institution that always has refused to accept direct aid from the government.
About 140 of its 2,200 students, however, were receiving Basic Educational Opportunity Grants, while 342 had taken out Guaranteed Student Loans. Such indirect assistance may be similar to the proposed educational vouchers because the mone y went to the students rather than to the college.14 l4 U.S. Supreme Court Reports, Vol. 79 L Ed. Zd, 4/13/84, pp. 516, 534. 8 But the Carter Administration Department of Education decided that Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 made the college a recipient of federal funds through these indirect grants. The Department then ordered the college to complete the forms used to assure compliance with Title IX regulations or else the students would risk losing their federal grants.
Grove City contested the Department of Education's interpre tation of the matter and thus refused to file the forms. In response, the Department started proceedings to declare the students ineligible to receive the funds. The case was carried to the Supreme Court, which rule d that Title IX requires Grove City to provide assurance of compliance. The Court added, however that federal government oversight can apply only to the college's financial aid department rather than the college as a who1e.l extension of government regulat i on over indirect assistance, for the Court ruled that assistance to a student implied assistance to at least part of the institution itself. Does this mean that when parents receive voucher money and spend it at the school of their choice, the government t hen gains some control over the private schools receiving the voucher payments To be sure, the Grove City case does not parallel exactly the proposed voucher systems. The Court ruling, for example, was based narrowly on the wording of Title IX of the Educ ation Amendments of 19
72. The case also concerned college level education rather than elementary or secondary schools. Still, Grove City could be seen as setting a precedent, which government agencies may try to apply to vouchers The decision has raised d isturbing questions about the I I IMPLICATIONS OF COURT DECISIONS Interpreting the twists and turns of the Supreme Court concerning church-state relations is clearly complicated. Despite its weaving over the past four decades, the Court has established a t hree-part test to determine the constitutionality of aid to religion 1) All government funding must have a secular purpose 2) Its primary effect must not be the advancement of reli gion; and 3 It must not entangle the state excessively in church affairs.1 6 The Secular Purpose Test As determined in the Mueller verdict, the'education of American citizens, whether in a public or a private school, has a l5 Ibid -9 PP- 532-533. 9 distinctively secular purpose, even though a religious motivation might also exist lightened citizens who can be trusted to make intelligent deci sions on the governance of the country and voucher proposals would meet this criterion The object of education is to produce en Both tuition tax credit The Primary Effect Test It is undeniable that, simply by making religious schools more accessible to those with lower incomes, tuition tax credits and vouchers might incidentally advance religion object of both proposals is to make alternative education available to families and, especially in t he case of the tax credits, to recompense parents who choose a private school but must continue to pay taxes for the public'system. Justice Rehnquist in his Mueller opinion described the issue as a matter of equity.
Mueller also indicates that tuition tax credits are acceptable if they allow all parents to claim deductions or credits for educa tional expenses, whether their children attend private schools or not In this way, the credits are not solely for the benefit of those parents who patronize religiou s schools. Vouchers naturally would include all students Yet the primary The Entanglement Test Tuition tax credits require no government oversight and according to Walz, actually reduce church-state involvement. Entanglement, however, could create problems for vouchers. If Grove City becomes the standard for indirect funding, then the government will have a right to intervene in the affairs of all private schools that accept vouchers.
Grove City case do not necessarily cover all or even most voucher situati ons Yet the conditions of the DESIGNING VOUCHER LEGISLATION In the Chapter One Program for Disadvantaged Children, the To Reagan Administration has tried to create a voucher.system allowing parents to use the money at the school of their choice counter th e possible charges that these vouchers are federal assistance to private schools, the Program is worded carefully stating Payments made by a local educational agency to a private school or to another local educational agency pursuant to an educational vouc h er program under this chapter shall not constitute Federal financial assistance to the local educational agency or private school receiving such payments, and use of funds under this chapter l6 Roger A. Freeman Educational Tax Credits in Everhart, op. cit p 474. 10 received in exchange for a voucher to a private school or by a public school located outside of the school district in which the eligible child resides shall not constitute a program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.
The Chapter One voucher proposal is still before Congress It is a promising attempt to bring the voucher concept in line with Supreme Court rulings. Another approach is that of equal access. Congress recently passed legislation giving religious groups the same right of access to public school facilities as other student groups enjoy. It thus could be argued that all students.need equal access to all types of schools in order for them to be certain of obtaining the best education available.
To meet the tests implied by the various Court rulings, the quality of education must be central to every voucher proposal.
Vouchers must continue to have as their primary goal improved education for all American children. Vouchers would help achieve this because they wo uld force schools to demonstrate competence to attract students. The virtual monopoly currently enjoyed by the public school would be challenged, stimulating competition that would revitalize public education.
Finally, a successful voucher proposal must s tress the virtues of freedom of choice. It must be emphasized that, because of financial constraints, far too many parents cannot choose where to educate their children. Result: many children suffer from poor education. Vouchers would alleviate that situa tion.
CONCLUSION The benefits of education vouchers are so apparent that the By making sure that nation must try to establish such a system it serves secular purposes, does not mainly advance religion, and avoids entangling the state excessively in church affairs, a voucher program should meet the standards established by the Constitution and thus survive predictable challenges in the courts At worst, if certain aspects of a voucher system were declared unconstitutional, the reasons for the ruling could be used to craft a better approach. The system is too important to the U.S. education system for its proponents to be intimidated by threats of a challenge in the Supreme Court A voucher program ultimately can be crafted to meet that challenge.
Prepared for The Heritage Foundation by K. Alan Snyder Director of the Historical-Political Research Services in Fairfax Station Virginia