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Motorcycle Roads in Virginia
Virginia (VA) "is for lovers" and motorcycle lovers will especially love this state as it has become one of the best motorcycle road states in America ... rich in beauty, history, and amenities! Motorcycle rider's menu of scenery will include the Appalachian mountains, the Shenandoah Valley, and 112 miles of Atlantic coastline. The historical attractions include the country's first permanent English settlement at Jamestown, and some of the most important battlefields from both the Revolutionary and Civil wars (ex. Fredericksburg, Yorktown).
Highest Rated Motorcycle Roads & Rides
Blue Ridge Parkway
The upper half (the longer of the two halves) of this road runs from Afton VA, (near Waynesboro and Staunton, VA) south till it intersects I-77. This part of the road ambles through the Virginia country side with several sites to stop such as an old ...
out of 5
Skyline Drive
You'll be riding through the beautiful Shenandoah National Park and see great mountain views and wildlife like deer and an occasional black bear ... but you'd better pay attention to the road as its loaded with turns!...
out of 5
On this road, you will ride up and over two large mountains and on both sides you will be treated to some panoramic vista views of the valley below. As you ride in the valleys you will see (at various times) some beautiful farm land as well as miles ...
out of 5
US 221 - Independence, VA to Boone, NC
Stunning views of the evergreen farms in the area and the surrounding hills. The New River runs along the route at one point....
out of 5
Woodbridge, VA to Seneca Rocks, WV and Back
Excellent scenery. Wonderful Virginia rolling hills and farmland; beautiful mountains and streams in the West Virginia Potomac Highland Region. Photo contributed by a visitor in July 09: "Enjoying the ride on Rt. 55." Update provided ...
out of 5
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Aug 25, 2015 0
Edinburgh Festival Fever
People all over the country have been gripped by Festival fever this month and we at the BM Press are no exception! Not one but two of our authors were invited to speak at the Edinburgh International Book Festival: Irving Finkel, the curator in charge of the British Museum's collection of cuneiform tablets – the largest in the world – and Henrietta Lidchi, Keeper of the Department of World Cultures at National Museums Scotland.
In his sell-out event, Irving took his audience on a roller-coaster tour of the 3,500 year history of the world's oldest writing system – cuneiform. With his trademark enthusiasm, he explained that the strange, wedge-shaped markings invented in Mesopotamia represent syllables and so can be used to record any language, from Sumerian to Spanish. He then pointed out that we can find a surprising parallel in modern text-speak, in which symbols have once again come to stand in for syllables or even whole words – just look at 'c u l8r'. The audience were left full of questions and many stayed behind to talk to Irving, have their books signed and admire the real cuneiform tablet that he had brought along with him.
Irving was similarly well-received at the National Museums Scotland, where he taught a group of 90 local schoolchildren how to write their own cuneiform inscriptions. They used plasticine and lollipop sticks rather than clay and reeds, but the results still looked as if they could have come from the museum archives!
The weekend also saw Henrietta Lidchi launch her wonderful book Surviving Desires: Making and Selling Native Jewellery in the American Southwest – the product of twenty years of research. She captivated the audience with her talk about the iconic turquoise and silver jewellery and the transformations it has undergone in response the competing desires of traders, tourists, curators and government agencies. The audience were fascinated and at the end many came forward with their own pieces of Native jewellery, which Henrietta was able to put into context for them.
Many thanks to Henrietta and Irving for taking part in the Festival and to the National Museums Scotland for hosting the schools event. We hope to be back next year!
If you would like to find out more about either of the books, just follow the links below:

subset: commoncrawl


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Sergio HERNANDEZ
Date of Birth: 01/11/1963
Place of birth: Buenos Aires
Club Team 2007-08: Peñarol Mar del Plata
Career: SC de Cañada de Gomez (Argentina-Liga Nacional, 1992-95), Deportivo Roca Rio Negro (Argentina-Liga Nacional, 1995-97), Regatas San Nicolás (Argentina-Liga Nacional, 1997-98), Estudiantes Olavarria (Argentina-Liga Nacional, 1998-2003), Boca Juniors (Argentina-Liga Nacional, 2003-05).
International career: Head Coach of the ARG National Team at the 2005 FIBA Americas Championship
Argentina coach Sergio Hernandez had a tough act to follow when he took the National Team reins from Ruben Magnano, the man who guided Argentina to the gold medal at the Athens Games.
Hernandez did well in Japan two years later, coming within one Andres Nocioni missed three-pointer of coaching in the final. His team had to settle for a place in the bronze medal game and Argentina lost to the United States. Hernandez showed his savvy last year in Las Vegas when despite playing without Manu Ginobili, Fabricio Oberto, Pepe Sanchez and Walter Herrmann – the last two announced their international retirements several months later - Argentina won silver to reach the Beijing Olympics. A huge hit as the coach of Boca Juniors before taking on the National Team job, Hernandez this season was in charge of Peñarol Mar del Plata and led them to the inaugural FIBA Americas League title.


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Summer Masquerade Ball
Saturday August 9th 2014
Corsets, Costumes, Masks, Feather Boas
Formal or Funky
Costumes are not mandatory but they are always fun!
Doors open at 10pm
Door Fees
Couples: $80
Single Ladies: $20
Single Men: Not Permitted
Doors open at 10pm Every Thur-Sat!
Above prices include nightly membership and door fee
This event offers a discount to SLS Members
40 members are attending this event.
Click DALLAS Swingers to find local swingers


text: Drawing on hundreds of interviews with the people who lived the story, Heilemann and Halperin deliver another reportorial tour de force that reads like a fast-paced novel. Character driven and dialogue rich, replete with extravagantly detailed scenes, "Double Down "offers a panoramic account of a campaign at once intensely hard fought and lastingly consequential. For Obama, the victory he achieved meant even more to him than the one he had pulled off four years earlier. In 2008, he believed, voters had bet on a hope; in 2012, they passed positive judgment on what he'd actually done, allowing him to avert a loss that would have rendered his presidency a failed, one-term accident. For the Republicans, on the other hand, 2012 not only offered a crushing verdict but an existential challenge: to rethink and reconstitute the party or face irrelevance--or even extinction. "Double Down" is the occasionally shocking, often hilarious, ultimately definitive account of an election of singular importance.


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The Fairmont Fire Department said Friday's fire at River City Grille has been determined as arson.
Fairmont Fire Chief, Jim Emerick, said an accelerator was used to start the fire in the kitchen of the restaurant.
The Fairmont Police Department and West Virginia State Fire Marshal are investigating.
---Original Story---
The Fairmont Fire Department considers the fire that severely damaged a Fairmont restaurant Friday morning to be suspicious.
It started just after 4:00 a.m. at River City Bar and Grille on Merchant Street, according to Marion County 911.
Fairmont Fire Chief, Jim Emerick, said no one was in the building when the fire started and no injuries were reported.
Chief Emerick said when his crew arrived on scene, flames were coming through the roof.
The building sustained extensive damage to the kitchen area as well as the roof.
Chief Emerick said the building is not considered a total loss, but it has suffered thousands of dollars in damage.
The Fairmont Fire Department and Fairmont Police Department are still on scene patching up hot spots and working to determine the cause, according to Chief Emerick.
Due to the fire being considered suspicious, Chief Emerick said the State Fire Marshal has been called in to investigate.
The Fairmont Fire Department, the Fairmont Police Department, and the Marion County Rescue Squad were all at the scene.
Stick with 12 News for updates.
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Earrings are the essential finishing touch to everything you wear. At Gemvara, we believe that your earrings should be as unique as you. All our stylish earrings are made to order in your choice of gems and precious metals. Choose sapphire and sterling silver or garnet and white gold: it's your choice. Mix and match gems and precious metals for a look that's exactly you. It's jewelry for all life's occasions, from a birthday or holiday to your own personal milestones and celebrations. Celebrate the birth of a child with a brilliant gift of jewelry that will always remind her of this happy moment. Gemvara uses only the highest quality materials to craft your yellow gold multistone sapphire earrings with meticulous attention to detail. Sapphire is the gem of truth and the soul. In addition to blue sapphire jewelry, today pink sapphire jewelry, yellow sapphire jewelry and white sapphire jewelry are also popular and more affordable than blue sapphire. Sapphire other than blue is known as fancy sapphire. Our precious metals are recycled or responsibly mined. Classic 14 karat yellow gold is both beautiful and durable. Gemvara also offers every design in rich 18-karat yellow gold, which has a more buttery color and is 75 percent pure for long-lasting value. Our wide selection of yellow gold multistone sapphire earrings by Just Like You Designs, Gemvara Essentials, Tony Rodrigues, and other talented designers means you can find earrings that are exactly your style. Each gem in our stunning multistone designs is carefully set by hand by our skilled craftspeople. You can choose your favorite earring backs too. Gemvara's fine quality yellow gold multistone sapphire earrings are designed to be passed down for generations to come, crafted by hand in the United States.
We can help right away. Chat with a jewelry expert now!


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Recent News for Conformation and Problems
Bone Chips in Horses: Why, Where, and What to Do
October 07, 2015
Bone chips can be a proper pain in the joint; learn where and why they happen and when they need to be removed. ... Read More
Functional Electrical Stimulation and Equine Muscle
October 02, 2015
Researchers found that functional electrical stimulation improved the density and distribution of muscle mitochondria.... Read More
Rehabilitating Sport Horses
September 23, 2015
Here's how to get your performance horse back to the show ring safely and successfully after layup. ... Read More
Poll Recap: Readers Say 'Yes' to Professional Saddle Fit
September 08, 2015
Of the 843 respondents, 393 (47%) said they've had a professional saddle fitter evaluate their horses and tack.... Read More
The Importance of Limb Conformation
September 02, 2015
Researchers are always working to determine which deviations from the norm are performance-limiting. ... Read More
Dewormer's Effect on Scratches
August 28, 2015
Find out what kinds of skin parasites can cause scratches and how these pests respond to ivermectin treatment. ... Read More
Survey: Limbs, Not Feet, Main Cause of Lameness
August 27, 2015
A British survey revealed that lameness is three times more likely to be caused by limb conditions than hoof problems.... Read More
Hoof Radiographs: More Than Meets the Eye
August 12, 2015
Something on the X rays looks a bit off--is it significant or of no consequence? It depends on what you find.... Read More
Do Western Saddles Distribute Pressure Evenly?
August 10, 2015
While Western saddles had uneven pressure distribution, study horses showed no signs of saddle-related discomfort.... Read More
Controlling Burrowing Rodents in Pastures
August 07, 2015
Find out how to prevent groundhogs, voles, and other pests from leaving horse-limb-sized holes in your pastures.... Read More
Movement Asymmetry in Working Polo Ponies Evaluated
August 02, 2015
Polo ponies showed a high degree of movement asymmetry, but this doesn't necessarily mean the animal is lame or in pain.... Read More
Saddle Research Conference Review Published in Journal
August 01, 2015
The review appeared in the British Equine Veterinary Association's Equine Veterinary Education.... Read More
Managing the Club Foot
July 29, 2015
Veterinarians and farriers can work together to help club-footed horses lead productive lives.... Read More
Signs That Your Saddle Doesn't Fit Your Horse
July 28, 2015
Watch for these telltale signs of poor saddle fit in your horse's body, behavior, and movement.... Read More
Arena Maintenance: What to Remember
July 17, 2015
Here's how to prolong your arena footing's lifespan and maintain a safe and functional riding surface.... Read More
What Do the Sweat Marks Under Your Saddle Mean?
July 17, 2015
From excessive dirt accumulation to dry spots, here's what the sweat patterns under your saddle are really telling you.... Read More
Researchers Study Impact's Impact on Bone Health
July 13, 2015
Finite-element modeling is providing a more in-depth look at equine joint health under varying loading conditions.... Read More
Tackling Tough-to-Heal Wounds
July 13, 2015
When a horse's healing process gets derailed, wounds can become chronic. Here's how to prevent complications.... Read More
From Toeing-Out to Toeing-In
July 08, 2015
What could cause a change in an adult horse's leg conformation? ... Read More
Wobbler Syndrome: What We Know and Where We're Headed
July 01, 2015
Find out what you need to know about this devastating neurologic disease and what research developments are underway.... Read More
Seven Common Saddle Faults
June 10, 2015
A poorly designed or damaged saddle affects not only your riding but also your horse's comfort. Learn what to watch for.... Read More
2015 USEF High-Performance Sports Medicine Meeting Tweets
June 08, 2015
Get take-home messages from the 2015 USEF High-Performance Sports Medicine Veterinary Meeting in Portland, Oregon.... Read More
What is a Saddle Tracing or Template?
June 01, 2015
Saddle fitters use tracing or templating to record the shape of a horse's back. Here's how it works.... Read More
Researchers Examine Compensatory Lameness Sources
May 31, 2015
Some forelimb lamenesses can result in the horse appearing unsound in a hind limb.... Read More
New Treatments for Upward Fixation of the Patella Needed
May 29, 2015
Just 50% of owners were satisfied with the outcome of the current surgical treatment for upward fixation of the patella.... Read More


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Dermatologists in Providence
Finding the right dermatologist in Providence, Virginia, is easy when you use ZocDoc to direct your search and schedule an office visit. Top-notch skin doctors in your local area are experts at treating rashes, hair loss, acne, eczema, and more. Whether you're looking for a doctor who practices near Scenic Road, Spring Valley Road, or Turkey Knob Road, finding a practitioner with glowing patient reviews takes only a few minutes online.


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NEW YORK: Men's magazine GQ has named blind Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng its rebel of the year, seven months after his escape from house arrest and flight to the US embassy sparked a diplomatic row.
Chen, who left China for the United States after fleeing his home in eastern Shandong province, was named alongside figures including sprinter Usain Bolt and actor Philip Seymour Hoffman as the magazine's men of the year.
In an article accompanying his profile in the publication, Chen wrote of the challenge of adapting to life in New York, where he moved with his family after being invited to study at a university.
"My children were really excited to come to New York, but my wife and I knew there would be a lot to study and learn, and there was a lot to consider,"he said.
"Do I have any regrets? No. What is there to regret?... I don't while away my time with regrets, just like I didn't worry about danger in China."One of China's best-known activists, Chen won plaudits for investigating rights abuses including forced sterilisations and late-term abortions under China's "one-child" family planning policy, but was also imprisoned.
After being released from a four-year jail term in September 2010, Chen was placed under house arrest in Shandong but fled from under the noses of plain-clothes police on April 22.
He took refuge at the US embassy in Beijing less than a week before US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was due to visit China for high-level talks.
Chinese and American diplomats scrambled to find a solution and defuse the row. After initially agreeing to stay in China, Chen decided he wanted to leave for the US and Beijing eventually agreed to allow him to apply to study abroad.


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Solutions and comments on the weekly cryptic crossword puzzles set by Joshua Kosman (Trazom) and Henri Picciotto (Hot), published in The Nation magazine. Also weekly links to other cryptic and variety crosswords including solutions to New York Times cryptic, diagramless, and puns & anagrams puzzles.
Thursday, June 12, 2014
Cluing challenge: FRANK LEWIS
First, I've been granted permission to republish a selection of Frank Lewis puzzles from The Nation, which we'll do on the weeks this summer when The Nation does not publish, starting today. So there'll be a new puzzle for you each week: here or at thenation.com. And for those of you who couldn't get a copy of 1,634, I'll post one here later on.
Second, on the off-weeks for The Nation and for Word Salad, the weekly cluing challenge (which has really picked up steam the last few weeks) is going to be hosted here(*). So in honor of our summer study subject, your answer is FRANK LEWIS. Bonus applause from your fellow solvers if you can work something from Frank's life into your clue, or create a clue in Frank's style.
*--separate posts so your clues and discussion of the old puzzle will be in separate threads.
7 comments:
- BentFranklinJune 12, 2014 at 10:59 AM
Our old setter was a bold trailblazerReplyDelete
Beloved wordsmith of the nation, Poor Richard wasn't popular, but wise putting the end first.ReplyDeleteReplies
Much as I liked that, there's so much I tried to put in there that I thought of it as a "kitchen sink" clue. Hot, is it a common fault of novice clue-setters to try and do too much?Delete
In my years as co-editor of the cryptics in The Enigma, I've edited master cluers like Kevin Wald (aka Ucaoimhu,) and Trip Payne (aka Qaqaq) but also many, many novices. In my experience, the biggest weakness in novice setters' clues is overly transparent wordplay. That is not the problem with your clue! Nor has it been an issue with the participants in the Word Salad cluing challenges -- quite the opposite!Delete
- AnonymousJune 16, 2014 at 12:09 AM
Lifer wanks off to cryptic legendReplyDelete
Some might have a problem with the connector--other than that, I can't imagine any objections ;)
(Seriously though, I'll understand completely if you want to delete this as a sully to your blog, Braze. Just having fun.)
Mike K.Replies
Well, I'll tag it "working blue." Hot, do you know whether Frank hewed to the Maleska standard of propriety?Delete
I solved his puzzles for maybe 30 years, and never saw a clue that would fail Will Shortz's "breakfast table test". Hundreds of clues one could complain about, but not because of lack of propriety.Delete
If you're responding to a hint request, please remember not to give more information than necessary. More direct hints are allowed after Monday.


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Pete Seeger: The Singer Who Forever Changed My Life
While on mission to share world music with Western audiences, he proved that protest songs can change the world, says Israeli iconic folk singer Chava Alberstein.
The one singer who influenced my life above all others was undoubtedly Pete Seeger. When I was still...
Want to enjoy 'Zen' reading - with no ads and just the article? Subscribe todaySubscribe now


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News from area congregations:
AWANA programs starting fall semester
ESCONDIDO ---- Bethel Baptist Church is beginning the fall session of AWANA, a program of fellowship, music and character development for children ages 2-18. Weekly meetings are 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays. The church is at 855 Brotherton Road. Call 760-745-4995.
First Baptist Church of Oceanside is also hosting an AWANA program, for ages 3-11. Meetings are 6:30-8:15 Wednesdays. The church is at 240 Grace St. Call 760-433-8233.
Self-Realization Fellowship offers 2010 calendars
ENCINITAS ---- A new calendar featuring nature photography and quotes from Paramahansa Yogananda is offered for 2010. The "Inner Reflections" calendar costs $13.95, available at the Self-Realization Fellowship's Encinitas temple bookstore (1105-2 Second St.) or yogananda-srf.org. Call 760-753-2888.
Submit news items from your congregation to email@example.com.


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Vt. program accepting applications for bike paths
August 20, 2012
Text size – +
MONTPELIER, Vt.—The Vermont Transportation Agency is distributing up to $2 million in federal funds toward projects to expand bicycle and pedestrian paths throughout the state.
Program Manager Jon Kaplan tells Vermont Public Radio (http://bit.ly/Se7HAm) the program is accepting applications for projects.
Towns are required to match the money they get if their proposal is accepted. Federal, state and local sources help pay for the projects.
Information from: WVPS-FM, http://www.vpr.net
© Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.


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8 days in Europe (1st time) - Australian Couple celebrating 30th. Need help with everything!
Hi there. My husband and I are wanting to fly from Melbourne to Europe as my 30th gift in mid September for a total of 10 babysitting days.
Aim of the trip for me & my husband is to see beautiful places, walk around, maybe relax at beach, eat great food, taste new foods, drink yummy wine. We're not particularly into any architecture or art - but not adverse to it either.
I've always wanted to go to Paris so that is a must. We simply want to experience the city, walk around, eat out, maybe dinner on Eiffel Tower. Don't want to do too much or too little but take in as much of the city as we can.
Thought of also taking the train to Nice and possibly enjoying some of the French Riveria.
Here is where we get stuck, do we fly to Barcelona and enjoy the experience there or do we go to somewhere like Venice and enjoy the experience there?
There's no order to our itinerary we are flexible. We're aiming for the most cost effective and time efficient holiday. So with flights, direct and short stop overs etc. If its cheaper to fly Melbourne to Paris then Melbourne to Venice or Melbourne to Barcelona is the way we would go.
We currently received a quote for $1,599 (AUD) flights with Qatar each flying Melbourne to Paris, September 18th 2014, returning Barcelona to Melbourne, September 28th 2014. We feel this is a great price but unsure if going to Spain is better then Italy?
This is our first time to Europe & unfortunately we don't foresee being able to return anytime soon.
Thank you for all your help!
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8 days Europe (1st time) - Australian Couple. Need help with everything!
8 days in Europe (1st time) - Australian Couple celebrating 30th. Need help with everything!
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You only have 8 days on the ground - probably closer to 7.5 - and the first day will be pretty jet lagged. You could easily stay that whole time in Paris and not see it all. Also, since you are from Oz, you may be very disappointed by the beaches. Not the glorious sandy spreads like you have back home. There are some sand beached but most are pebbles.
If you really want to see more than one place, I'd maybe do 5 days in Paris, and 2.5 days in either Barcelona or Venice. Both are great but Venice would be my (totally subjective) choice.
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I agree with janisj. Congratulations on your anniversary!
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Thanks janisj and KTtravel definitely a lot to think about.
The reason why we were thinking of doing another country is because a lot of our friends think that 3-4days is suffice in Paris.
So we are purely stuck with the rest of itinerary?
I am actually celebrating my 30th birthday not anniversary my title was unclear.
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>>The reason why we were thinking of doing another country is because a lot of our friends think that 3-4days is suffice in Paris.<<
Do these friends have really REALLY short attention spans?
You could easily spend 3 or 4 months in Paris and not tire of things to do. But 5 days is a good first taste of Paris.
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Of course it depends on what you want to see and experience, but your friends who think that 3-4 days are sufficient for Paris are the FIRST people I've heard of who would say so, and I definitely disagree! Give Paris as much time as you can!!!
To be honest, with at most 8 days on the ground (and actually less, for the reasons others have already given you), I personally wouldn't try to go to Venice OR Barcelona. Each of them deserves, IMO, more time than you have to give. If I really had to pick between them, I'd probably go with Venice, where 2 days can at least give you a decent feel for the place.
Personally, I think there would be some wonderful benefits to staying in/around Paris for the entire time, perhaps 5 or 6 days in the city and a couple of day trips (Chartres, Versailles, OR... depending on your interests).
If you are committed to including a 2nd city, I would pick the closest small city in which you have an interest - something with an airport (so you don't have to backtrack), that won't take long to reach (because your time is limited), and that is small enough to be reasonably seen in 2 or 2.5 days. Looking through guidebooks at your local library might prove helpful.
Happy Birthday and good luck with your planning.
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I agree with all the above comments.
This is not long to be in Europe and it's such a long way from Australia that it's easy to get carried away trying to see too much.
If I were you I'd fly to Paris for the whole time and fly home again. Stay long enough for this magical city to get under your skin - so that you can explore without worrying how to get from A to B because you will simply know without thinking; get to understand the rhythm of city and the people;and create memories of boulevards, shop windows, pavements, parks and food that will never,ever leave you.
Second best is to fly to Paris, train to Rome or Barcelona and fly home straight home.
If you have to travel from Venice to the departure city, it just takes another day off your trip. I love Venice and never thought I'd tell someone not to go, but you just don't have enough time.
That air fare from Qatar sounds like a bargain. We paid more with Emirates from Sydney via Dubai to Rome and back last year. Don't know anyone who has travelled with them though.
All best with your planning. I've travelled a lot as if I had a bucket list of things to tick off, but it wasn't until this last trip to Europe where we actually stayed in apartments for over a week in each place, that I realised that there is a far better way of travelling. Less is more.
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Hi Emma
I agree with ThulaMama - take an apartment in Paris for the whole time, and really immerse yourselves in the city and culture.
By the time you reach Paris, you'll have had quite enough of airline travel for a while; changing to another city takes out a whole day of your short stay. No matter whether you fly, drive or take a train or bus to a second place, by the time you pack up, take your transport, arrive and settle in, there's not much of a day left.
I've spent a total of 3 weeks in Paris over recent years, and still have a long list of interesting things to see and do. European cities are so different from ours in Australia - you'll only be able to scratch the surface, but by living for a time in an apartment you get much more of a 'local' experience than in a hotel.
Hopefully this will be the first of many trips . . . better to come away wanting more, than to try and cram it all in and just ending up confused and exhausted!!! Di
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Well, I'm going to give the minority opinion. For a first visit to Paris, you can spend 4 days (5 nights.) The first day/night could be blurry after the long flight.
However, the tougher question is what to do with the remaining 5 nights.
If you are determined to see more than one country, I would think about what "Europe" means to you. Europe of course is a group of separate states, but perhaps you have some 'picture' in your mind of what "Europe" is.
If snow capped peaks and cowbells come to mind, perhaps a quick jaunt to Switzerland is in order. Note though that it is 6 hours by train from Paris to Zurich, so you would lose a day traveling. Then you'd want ideally to head to the Berner Oberland area (another 3 hours on the train to Lauterbrunnen) for 3 nights before heading back to Lucerne or Zurich for the night before your flight home. Note though that this is quite intense travel. If you are used to long drives in Oz, it might work however - but you'd have to be sold on the idea of what you see at the end, to be happy with this itinerary.
OR if what you think of are old city squares and windmills: Perhaps hop the train from Paris to Brugges, to see old city squares; and then on to Amsterdam/Holland with a chance to see windmills. On a very short trip such as yours this is what I would do as Brugges makes a nice 'split' between Paris and Amsterdam; it's about 3 hours to Brugges and another 4 or so to Amsterdam.
It's not impossible, but it will be a 'blitz' kind of trip. So long as you are prepared to need a few days back home to rest up and recover, you should be okay.
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oink, I just saw you have only 8 days - do you mean 8 nights?
Then you have to forget Switzerland, too far. You could get as far as Amsterdam though. Mind, I don't endorse this as anything other than a 'one and possibly only chance to Europe' itinerary.
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I totally understand the fact that if you think that it could be a long time before you can come to Europe again, the temptation is to cram lots in to the trip. Alternatively I'm not one of the Paris worshipers who feel the necessity to spend weeks there and immerse myself in the city by staying in an apartment. All that does is make you go to the local shop--I can do that back home. My preference is a hotel and eat out lunch and dinner where the locals eat, the feeling is the same.
If you intend this to be a one off, not to be repeated European trip, then do two centres. If Paris is a "must", then you have to choose between Barca and Venice based on what you can read or research about the places. I've been to both a number of times and couldn't choose between them enough to convince you either way. They are both unique, fantastic destinations and worthy of your time.
Maybe the good airfare will sway you to Barca?
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From one Aussie to another, stay put in Paris for the entire time. It's a long flight, you will have only just adjusted to the time difference when you will have to head home again.
Search here for day trips, you might even get to Brugge. Take time to picnic in the gardens, enjoy each other's company seeing as you have a chance to have a child free holiday, it's the city of romance after all. We had to wait until we were in our 50's to do our first Euro trip, you will get back. Something to work and plan for.
And the Riviera was a big disappointment to us, give us Cottesloe Beach anyday!
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Since you mention beaches, I would say Barcelona over Venice. I would start in Paris, spend a few nights and then fly to Barcelona for a few nights. The distribution is up to you.
At your age I liked traveling around more quickly than I do now. Sure, you won't see everything in Paris in four days, but you can still have a great time there. And I like the idea of going somewhere with a contrasting culture, language, food. For this either Venice or Barcelona would be fine, they are both wonderful cities, but the beach idea tips the scale to Barcelona.
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>>The reason why we were thinking of doing another country is because a lot of our friends think that 3-4days is suffice in Paris.<<
Do these friends have really REALLY short attention spans?
Janis: they are AUSTRALIAN, therefore the question answers itself. You know Aussie travelers treat a 3-night stay in any European city (other than London) as an anchor and 4+ is a jail sentence.
To the OP: if you want beaches, stay home. If you want foreign beaches, fly to the Caribbean or Hawaii. If you want to see part of Europe, then examine why Barcelona and Paris (although both are fine choices) to decide how to spend your time.
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You are coming half way round the world. You don't know when or if you'll be back again...I say do two cities. Which two you pick is entirely up to you, I'd split it 4 days in one, 3 in another and fly home out of the second city to cut down on needless transit time. All three are great choices and you won't be disappointed whichever you pick.
My TR for Barca linked:-
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Why did I think Australians only took long trips to Europe
If your heart is set on visiting two countries for this trip then Paris and Barcelona would be my choice because of your request for a beach setting as well as always wanting to go to Paris. Barcelona in September would give you decent weather for a sit on the beach. Personally I'd spend more of your time in Paris but that's because I can never get enough time in that particular city myself. I did, however, really enjoy Barcelona.
Taking the new fast train between Paris and Barcelona would give you some more views of France and Spain. I'm sure you will enjoy yourself wherever you travel. Deborah
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Hi Emma, Happy Birthday for September!
I fully understand how you prefer two destinations and the best advice from comments on here suggests you explore the logistics of transport between the two possible places and then read some guidebooks and maybe trip reports to see what really catches your eye.
The airfare sounds like a good price - not flown them but you can also check reviews online for different airlines.
We have spent a week by the beach in the south of France - probably not what I would suggest for a first time visit - quite a different experience which however we really enjoyed.
The Paris Barcelona suggestion looks good - and of course I love Switzerland but tricky to get there with your short time frame.
Brugge and Amsterdam also offer great food and sights - as does the region around Strasbourg.
I will stop adding to your list and wish you happy planning and regardless you will have a fantastic time for your birthday celebration.
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I would do Paris and Venice, I think Barcelona is a great city but Venice is unique, also check with Emirates as you could fly into Paris and out of Venice to Melbourne.
The Qatar airfare is a very good price and they are a very good airline,
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BigRuss, no need to be insulting. Not all Australians travel the way you described.
I agree that you should skip beach destinations, compared to what Australia has they are a major disappointment.
Maybe consider flying into Heathrow and having a few days in London then catch the train to paris and fly home from there. When we fly to Europe the jetlag isn't too bad, but you will feel like hell for a few days when you arrive home, so be prepared for that.
Enjoy your trip, wherever you decide to go.
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BigRuss, no need to be insulting. Not all Australians travel the way you described.
We love Oz and most of its people, but even if you don't, the typical Aussie traveler travels as I described.
1/2 and 1/2 in Barcelona and Paris is good. The beaches are still better at home where the kangaroo roam . . .
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Hmmm glad I'm not typical then!
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Almost any beach in europe will be a big disappointment after Australia. Most are pebbles - if not rocks - they are narrow, are on flat seas with itsy bitsy waves a couple of inches high - and IMHO don;t even get the near the class of good beaches in OZ - or the US or the Carib.
IMHO doesn't make any sense to fly all the way to europe to see a third-rate beach. I would focus on what is different about europe that you can't see everyplace else - whatever thing those are that interest you the most.
In the very limited time you have (7.5 days) I wold do at most 2 cities (hotels) that are near each other - no more than 3 or 4 hours by train. And definitely fly open jaws - into the first city and out of the second one.
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"We love Oz and most of its people, but even if you don't, the typical Aussie traveler travels as I described."...just how do you know this Big Russ? Based on...?
Emma, it's a very tiring trip as you know. Door to door it might be as much as 36 hours from Melbourne, so you will need a day to recover even if you are young and fit. You also need to calculate the time spent at airports and getting into Paris. CDG can be a stinker of an airport and never speedy, so calculate that into your expected arrival time. 4 nights in Paris, is far too short in my view, but if that's what you want, I think limiting yourself to just one other destination is the only really viable option for such a short trip.
I'm puzzled though why you think the beaches in France or Spain are worth some of your very, very limited time in Europe. As someone said, up thread, most beaches are pathetic compared to ours; even over rated Melbourne beaches like Elwood or St Kilda are better than most Spanish beaches.
I think some more research might help you chose another destination. Read some guidebooks, blogs or check Fodor's threads. If it were me I'd go back to Amsterdam in a heart beat, but it's not for everyone and you really need to drill down and assess what makes another city destination appealing to you.
(As an aside, I loathed Qatar Air and Doha airport. Food was even more awful than most airline food. The service on all four flights was really arrogant, and rude. Doha airport is being rebuilt - and it desperately needs it.We were bussed out to the plane on the tarmac in broiling 45 degree heat, and had to climb a very steep stairway to enter the plane.It was a bus ride of over 40 minutes, the longest I've been on- recent reviews say this has not changed in the year since I flew via Doha.
Be aware that announcements are hard to hear, the terminus is always very crowded and noisy and staffing levels seemed low, so there were many people complaining they had not heard the transit announcements. A friend recently traveled through and said this is still a major problem.Queues are also very long, and staff seemed overwhelmed, and it showed.Toilets were filthy on each trip. Sadly, if you Google recent airport reviews most tell the same sorry story.
Qatar are VERY heavily marketing their Australian to Europe deals in an effort to beat their rivals, but I've have to say I will never fly with them again, even at their cheaper prices! )
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I agree that with such a short time you could forget about the beach. We are Australian and do not go to France to sit on the beach when there is so much more to do. Although we are obviously not typical Aussies as we are going to France for ten weeks this year!!! with several two week stays.
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I also agree with a couple of other posts in saying that if you don't see going to Europe again anytime soon, I would squeeze in another country. Especially since architecture, museum, churches, etc, are note your main interest. After all, Paris and a lot of other cities are big in these elements.
I would also ditch the riviera... With so much to do and see, this is probably not where you want to waste your precious time. Between Italy and Spain, I would go to Italy. Lastly, consider traveling from one country to the other via train instead of flying from one place to another, which would cut out valuable time for visiting. You can catch an overnight train, save on time and money, as you wouldn't need to spend on hotel.
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>>"...just how do you know this Big Russ? Based on...?<<
Oh , several hundred threads on fodors in the last 15 years. Not everyone of course, but that is the MO of a lot of Aussies, until we knock them around about a bit
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Thank you for all your replies. So helpful and much to think about.
We definitely want to do 2 cities. Our friends with similar demographics (late 20's, married couple, just wanting to maximise time & be immersed as much as we can in the culture and take it all in) think that 3-4nights in Paris will suit us for our short trip.
So which two cities? How would you spend your time, with a total of 10 days flying from Australia and need to be back in Australia on the 10th day? Also With Paris being a Must? Flying, train, where, when, how?
Thank you again!
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Also, point agreed and taken with the beach.... No beach will EVER compare to Aitutaki, Cook Islands
Ok so scrap that one
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"So which two cities?"
I believe I already gave my recommendations for this option.
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If paris is a given, then you can work out a 2nd city. Read some guide books, or look here on the destination tab for inspiration. We loved London and for your first destination it's not a bad idea to fly into an English speaking city,
I know I suggested it previously, but flying into London, train to Paris and fly home from Paris isn't a bad itinerary. There are so many iconic things to see in London that you'll easily fill your few days there.
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IMO the second city almost doesn't matter - pick one. You can fly or take a train from Paris to almost any city in Europe . . . London, Venice, Barcelona, Rome, Munich, Edinburgh, Amsterdam, Florence, .. . Anywhere.
So get a good guidebook or two and pick a city that look fabulous to,you . ..
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As another Australian I would also suggest a maximum of 2 cities.As Paris is a must I would look at London or Amsterdam as my second choice, both are easily and quickly reached by fast train. Having said that, if it was me I would spend the whole time in Paris - there is so much to see and do and plenty of interesting places to visit outside of the city centre.
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My husband & I don't want to stay in Paris the whole time, even though I can see the practicality of that. But as we have three small children under 5, who'll be at home, financially we won't be able to return to Europe for manyyyy years.
Additionally would love to know where is the best area to stay in for Paris? For location, cost, immerse in culture, nice places to eat?
This may be naive, forgive me, but in Paris our plans were to simply go to the Eiffel Tower for Dinner and The Lourve and the rest of time walk around and experience the city, possibly few train trips?
Also, if we were to go to Barcelona from Paris, knowing we're on tight time frame would you suggest overnight train or day train or fly?
Any suggestions for Barcelona, what to do, where to stay? Again same style as in Paris.
Thanking everyone again for your help for this novice.
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I would suggest picking up a guide book on each city so you know what you can see. There is so much more to Paris than the Eiffel Tower and with such a short amount of time I wouldn't do day trips! The more time you spend in trains the less time you have actually seeing stuff and enjoying the place you flew across the world to see! You will still see a tonne of stuff in Paris so no need to spread yourself thin trying to 'see' more by day tripping.
As for where to stay, I highly recommend doing a search here for 'Paris hotels' above as there are hundreds of threads already about this for all budgets and then you won't have to wait for replies. I would look for a place in the 4-6 arrondissements myself.
Haven't been to Barcelona yet but a search above will likely help you out there as well
Happy planning!
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Hi again Emma.
When I visited your country two years ago, a priority of mine was to see a kangaroo and a koala - in the wild, not a zoo. As you live there you will of course know that there is more to Oz than this, but that was a 'mental image' of Oz that I just had to check out for myself. Especially since like you, I had very little time - just 9 nights and 8 days. That is why I suggested in my first post that you think about your favourite images of your destinations - and don't worry if they're popular, signature images. There are reasons why icons become, well, icons - such as the Eiffel tower you mention. Just remember that Paris and other European cities, like your Australian cities of Sydney and Melbourne - are large; it helps to organize your sightseeing so that you're not trying to cross back and forth across the city every day. Travel guides have already worked this out, so that is why perusing one is so useful.
As it seems you are struggling a bit, may I suggest it is easier to start with practicalities and work your way in.
You must first decide how much time (and possibly money) you want to spend commuting between Paris and your second centre. It is nice that Qatar will offer an 'open jaw' to Paris, out of Barcelona, for a price you find reasonable, but not if you don't really, really want to see Barcelona, because it's going to take you over 6 hours by train to get there from Paris, even by TGV (Tres Grand Vitesse, or in English, very high speed train.) Cost will vary depending on how far in advance you book ticket - anywhere from around 80 euro each to over 125 euro each.
If you stick to travel by train, and put a maximum time of oh, say, 5 hours (so that you can easily finish the journey in a day) then this rules out Venice, unless you're willing to spend over 11 hours on the train or make the trek to the airport, check in, wait, board, fly, get bags.... Part of the reason I suggested Amsterdam is that while only Venice looks like Venice, Amsterdam is also a city of canals and bridges, and also a place where you can see great art - but a little closer to hand, more doable as a train journey.
You see the problem. Travel is a very personal thing, only you can ultimately know what is right for you.
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I would add, though, that you have one thing going for you, and that is you are young. You can push yourself in your twenties in a way - alas! that you won't be able to do later in life should you return, so if Barcelona (or Venice) is a heartfelt dream for you to do, then by all means go, long commute or no.
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Please plan on more than the Tower and the Louvre. You will be captivated just walking around in Paris WHILE you see the sites/sights. I also disagree with getting an apartment for the first visit (or many after). You will have a hotel desk to help you with reservations and directions. You can still quite "immerse" yourself--as much as tourists ever do. Don't stop being a tourist!!
If you are going to have dinner at the Eiffel Tower, make reservations months in advance. I personally think lunch is nicer (and have done it) because you can actually see the city, and the cost is half for a wonderful meal.
As said, just choose another city and go. NOT Switzerland--expensive and boring. Beautiful.
Venice is an intriguing city for many reasons.
No beaches.
As for Big Russ's remark, Janis nailed it--countless threads by Aussies and Indian folk to see 4 places in 8 days or whatever!! It is breathtaking because they actually think it can be done!!
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Hi Emma - I personally don't think you're pushing it, wanting to visit two European cities. To me, picking one more northerly (Paris) and one more southerly (Barcelona or Venice) makes sense, as you will experience greater differences than you would get spending all your time in one or two northern cities. When I was your age and working in Sydney for a few years I found that long haul flights flying with the sun rather than against it, far less tiring than flying eastwards. So I don't think you'll be too wiped out when you arrive.
It's true that lunch at the top of the Eiffel Tower is wonderful - you get a better view and pay half the price you pay for dinner. Pricey of course, but well worth it. I met up with friends there two years ago to celebrate a birthday (not mine): food and wine fantastic, and the staff were charming (which is not something you can say very often about staff in pricier Paris restaurants).
Given that your preferences don't run totally in a cultural direction, Barcelona might be a better bet than Venice (apart from anything else, it's better situated for long-haul flights). It's a great city for walking around, has not just the ancient, but also the very modern, and to my mind, this helps make the city so interesting. It also has great food and wine. And 11 September is Catalunya's national day, so there could be a fair bit of partying going on. If you get desperate for the beach, you can always spend less than an hour on a train to get to a resort like Sitges, and then explore a smaller place!
Going by train is a great way to see a bit more of the country/countries you are travelling through and not having to waste time getting to and from airports certainly reduces the time difference between flying and going by train.
Whatever you decide to do, have a fantastic 30th and a fantastic holiday. Visiting a different continent for the first time is always amazing.
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I can fully appreciate both your desire to see more than one place in a short trip to Europe, given the distance, $$$, and a young family at home. It will be a lovely escape for you, and someday you will return. On our first trip to Europe together, DH's first, we had all of 9 days, and had also left 3 kids at home, a bit older than yours. He really wanted to see 2 places, so we went to Amsterdam and Paris, took the train between, flew home from Paris. It was a great trip. We also did a day trip from each city, and got a sense of countryside.
So yes, if Qatar will let you do an open-jaw, do it. And enjoy the wandering. You are young, you will return. Happy Birthday.
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Emma, our favorite hotel that is easy on most budgets and in a good location near Notre Dame and Place Saint Michel in the 5th is Hotel College de France. You are close to the RER/Metro stop for convenience to Tour Eiffel as well as the train from the airport. It's perfect for those romantic walks along the Seine. There are some of the oldest and narrowest streets in Paris in this area and for someone seeking nightlife plenty to be found, although its very crazy touristy at times but fun all the same. http://www.hotel-collegedefrance.com/
Barcelona has a hop on hop off bus that will get you to many of the sights a first time tourist would want to see. Barcelona has an appealing upbeat vibrancy both day and night, IMO Have a great trip, Deborah
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Emma - I had a brief visit to Paris (3 nights) and Barcelona (3 nights) last year.
PARIS - we stayed at a really central hotel which was walking distance to the Louvre and the Champs Elysees. We pre-booked dinner at the Eiffel Tower and the late show at the Moulin Rouge before leaving home. We walked EVERYWHERE - down to Notre Dame, along the Seine, though little streets and had coffee in cafes. We spent four hours in the Louvre - with pre-planning as we had definite things we wanted to see. We even fitted in a visit to Paris Disneyland.
BARCELONA - Again we stayed at a central hotel on the Ramblas. We took the HoHo bus to the Sagrada Familia and although we didn't pre-book tickets (advised) we only had to wait 20 minutes and were in. We pre-booked a tour of Camp Nou (home of FC Barcelona) as we are mad football fans and the HoHo bus also stopped here which was very convenient. The rest of the time we just walked down to the port area and made sure we had some Tapas and Sangria at one of the many cafes nearby.
I think Paris/Barcelona is a great choice. Vueling airlines has really cheap flights between the cities which you can get for as low as 60 euro if you book in advance. Hope you have a great time!
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Three days in Paris and you make time for Disneyland, the Champs Elysees, and the Moulin Rouge - yep - that is seeing Paris alight . . .
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@ Janisj - wow what a snarky comment complete with stupid emoticon.
I said it was a 'brief' visit - I never said I SAW Paris. Read the post next time.
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"our plans were to simply go to the Eiffel Tower for Dinner and The Lourve and the rest of time walk around and experience the city, possibly few train trips"
Some thoughts:
My favorite experiences of the Eiffel Tower are from a distance -- views from the river or from the opposite bank or from pretty much anywhere from which one can see it. I did not go to the Eiffel Tower during my first 5-day visit to Paris. I did go toward the end of my 2nd (longer) trip to Paris. I was very glad to roam around it's base -- I found it fascinating to see the structural details close up. But my trip to the top was one of the most unpleasant of all my travel experiences -- and I've been fortunate enough to travel fairly extensively. Trust me, you do NOT want to know the details! And honestly, the views were, IMO, not all that great, even at sunset (which is when I was there). By all means, go to the top if you want to, but if you are willing to spend the money to have a dinner IN the Eiffel Tower, then consider using that money instead for a meal at one of the many restaurants in Paris where you can get a truly delicious meal, leaving enough to have a glass of wine at an outdoor cafe with a view OF the Eiffel Tower.
The Louvre can, of course, take weeks, so go prepared with an idea of your priorities.
I don't know anyone who would disagree with the conclusion that walking around Paris is a delightful thing to do. Enjoy!
With the time frame you are considering, I'm not sure you have time for any day trips.
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The lunch at the Eiffel Tower IS a delicious and memorable one, just to be clear. And I do agree that the view of the Tower from say the champs de Mars always thrills me.
The Champs is a sterile shopping street of great fame and now little charm.
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The Register called it "patronising," but we call it strange. Friday, Bradley Horowitz, Google+'s vice president of product, welcomed teens to Google+ in a very long-winded and odd post.
Apparently Google+ has never officially been for those under 18 until now -- although no one's likely been patrolling for it. The standard age for Internet use in the United States is 13, set by the federal Children's Online Privacy Protection Act, and is the age limit for most social networks including Facebook -- although many younger children use it even with the permission of parents.
Horowitz's post mainly pointed out all of Google+'s features, such as Hangouts (just what you want your 13-year-old on), sharing content and connecting with friends and family, but seemed written for a much younger child and had a distinctly odd vibe to it.
Our newly launched Google+ Safety Center describes these and other changes in more detail, but our approach is straightforward: build awesome features that teens really want, encourage safe behavior through appropriate defaults and in-product help, and make abuse reporting tools easy to find and use. . . . The joy of real-life sharing lies in connecting with everything we care about—from family and friends, to businesses and brands. Teens, like adults, deserve a rich experience online, so today we're welcoming some of their favorite individuals and organizations to the Google+ community.


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LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's financial centre is heading for a new era of conservatism where bankers and fund managers must deliver long-term gains before pocketing big bonuses, said the standard bearer for London's square mile.
Ian Luder, the Lord Mayor of the City of London, is hopeful that the "bashing" of financial sector professionals is giving way to more measured debate -- aided by a shift in public anger to the expenses claimed by lawmakers.
"I actually think we have moved on, we are through with the witch hunting, we may still hear about a famous pension, we will still hear bits about bonuses, but actually the debate is much more focused on the nature of the reform," Luder told Reuters in an interview late on Thursday.
"What we will need to see is payment structures to reflect the needs of institutions, and most institutions need sustained, long-term performance.
"Pay will be phased over a period of time," he said. "We will have to change. Everywhere, not just in banking, there are lessons that people are learning.
One of those lessons is poised to create a new breed of highly-paid financial sector workers, he said.
"If you had asked a class of bright graduates two years ago what they wanted to do, I do not think you would have found many saying: 'I want to be a risk management officer.' In fact I would say you would have found none," Luder said.
"I think you will now see people recognising that actually ... risk control will be an area that people will choose to specialise (in). A good risk controller will be paid well," he said.
Of course, lessons learned can soon be forgotten, but Luder is confident this crisis has cut hard enough and deep enough to spark a sustained change in City thinking.
"I think this was such a serious episode that it will stay longer in the corporate memory," he said.
Luder, a tax partner at Grant Thornton, became the 681st Lord Mayor in November. The unpaid office is elected annually and was first installed by Richard I in the late 12th century.
Luder -- whose forerunners in the role include nursery story favourite Richard 'Dick' Whittington -- is charged with promoting the UK's financial services sector overseas, while advising the government on how it can best serve the interests of the City.
He expects London to take a lead in Islamic finance in spite of recent moves by Paris to steal a march in the sector.
The UK has gradually changed its law and tax regime to accommodate the tenets of Islamic finance, but France has followed suit and touted itself as the host for Europe's first corporate sukuk, or Islamic bond, by October.
However, Luder predicted the French plan will be postponed, leaving London to lead, most likely through sovereign issuance.
"Given the amount the UK government is set to borrow (700 billion pounds over the next five years) I think it is more rather than less likely we will see a sovereign sukuk, I would say sometime in the next 18 months."
"I suspect the first issuance will be modest in size rather than a blockbuster... We will see the UK doing it first."
Luder's bullishness is understandable, given his role, and he also voices confidence that London will remain a hub for the hedge fund industry in spite of considerable competition from other cities.
"A successful hedge fund needs to be where the action is. And I think it is in London rather than Switzerland," he said.
The European Commission last month proposed a draft law that would require hedge funds to register and disclose information on leverage if they want to operate in the EU.
This latest move to regulate the industry has prompted renewed speculation funds might prefer the lakes and easy access to ski resorts offered by the Swiss locations of Geneva, Zug or Pfaeffikon.
"Hedge funds have a role and I think they will continue to have a role. I do not think there will a huge exodus from London," said Luder.
Reporting by Cecilia Valente; editing by Simon Jessop


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Highland Mint 7x7 Turf Box Red
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About Me
Make the most of a prolonged escape from reality
I am an English and Government and World Affairs double major because I love seeing how stories and narratives shape public policy and history.
I live life for understanding and I still trust in humankind.
Why I'm on Couchsurfing
I opened a CS account a few years ago, when a good friend told me about how awesome it was...I want to put more effort into the CS community so I will be able to meet some great people.
I am interested in almost everything. I love families of all kinds, reading- books, newspapers and magazines, listening- to stories, music and the other sounds of life, being healthy and eating food. I enjoy biking, rowing, jogging (sometimes), hiking, walking, dancing, going to the beach, water skiing. I want to learn how to snowboard before I get too old. I like surfing on a longboard- it may not be your thing, but it is much less stressful for me. I love traveling and I hope to see as much of the world as possible. I actually enjoy school. not the stress, but the learning part. I love food of all kinds, I love babies (but I don't want my own anytime soon!), I love learning about African political/economic development, or any kind of human development. I took a guitar class last year, and I can only play 1.5 songs, but I am a sucker for musicians!
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I was surfing once (in the ocean, not on a couch) when I saw a whale less than 100ft away. It was a crazy experience...I didn't know what it was at first, because I had never seen a whale on the east coast of Florida. It looked like it was swimming towards me, so I freaked out a bit and paddled to shore to catch up with my friends. Then we sat on the beach and watched him swim along the horizon. It was incredible being that close to such a huge animal in the ocean.
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Germany, Ghana, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Thailand, United Kingdom
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France, United Kingdom


text:
One of the hottest new shows heating up on the Broadway stage in New York City is Motown The Musical based on the life and career of Motown founder Berry Gordy.
Joining Pat Prescott in studio is one of the young stars of the musical, Raymond Luke Jr., who just so happens to be a Southern Californian native. At just 13 years old, Raymond scored the role of a lifetime portraying not only young Michael Jackson in the show, but also young Berry Gordy and Stevie Wonder.
Pat talked to this rising young talent about getting this huge part in the musical, his transformation into the King of Pop and what this experience has been like for him.
"When I found out I got the part, I couldn't believe it, because I didn't know that I could embody [Michael Jackson]," he told Pat.
He explains that his typical day getting ready for the show consists of warming up his vocals, gets dressed to play Berry Gordy, then switching to Stevie and around 45 minutes later preps to become Michael. On top of his rotating roles throughout the musical, Raymond adds in school work during any break he gets, but to him, it's all a breeze.
Raymond explained that his favorite of the three roles to play is young Berry Gordy, because it allows him to expand his acting chops more. The easiest role, he says, is playing Stevie Wonder, but admits portraying the King of Pop is no easy task.
"You really have to embody this character, sing the right notes, his moves, slides, spins, everything. To me that was the hardest," he explained.
After getting comfortable with his roles, Raymond says that he looks forward to performing to different audiences each night.
"Everyday it's something new," he said. "I feed off the crowd…at the end of the day, the crowd gets us excited."
Motown The Musical features dozens of hits released on the label including "My Girl" and "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," plus tells the stories behind the hits from artists like Diana Ross, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye and many more who transformed Motown into a hitmaking empire.
Motown: The Musical is now playing in both New York and Chicago. For tickets and show info, visit motownthemusical.com.
Listen to our complete conversation with one of the stars of the play, Raymond Luke Jr. in the segments below.
Part one: Raymond talks about getting the part in Motown The Musical.


text: > I'm writing a network device driver for a special hw and I'd like to> know if tbusy flag in device structure is used by some upper layers of> kernel's network code. Or is it for driver private use?> If it is used by upper layers than what for?To know not to sit trying to feed the card more frames. When you haveno space to accept frames you must set this either when the situationoccurs or (more normally) the first time you reject a frame because youare busy.-To unsubscribe from this list: send the line "unsubscribe linux-kernel" inthe body of a message to email@example.com read the FAQ at http://www.tux.org/lkml/


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20% off every single thing. Use code GET20. One day only.
the sitting one or the swiming one? where is freedom?who's more attractive?
Do you want to swim or do you want to stay?
2006from the bridge: frogs in the château pond
abstract boundary couple frog green light love pair shadow water
That is lovely, thanks for sharing ! I love frogs ;o))
thank you Esther!
Awww I love it….great shot Yves!
thank you very much!
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Emerald Catron
Emerald Catron has written for Asylum, Lemondrop, MyDaily and Daily Fill. She is one half of rap duo Dem Shortybooz and is a comedic performer around NYC. Follow her on Twitter @emeraldcatron
The pitter-patter of crazy Koolaid the bird's feet makes while he runs after his ball in this video is probably the greatest sound ever. Sorry, Beethoven -- yer DONE!
That's right it's been scientifically* proven that looking at these GIFs will instantly make you happy. Sometimes all you need to feel better is a baby penguin in a hat or a wink from Gene Wilder -- that is a scientific* fact. We thought we'd put a whole bunch together to brighten your day. Science* ... we love it!
If you're like every single person alive right now, you're probably sitting there thinking, "I love Lisa Frank, but how can I incorporate more of her colorful art into my relatively grown-up lifestyle...
The folks behind Choose Your Own Adventure books are back, and this time they want to revolutionize cartoons -- and they need your help.
Dash the skateboarding dog is probably better at skateboarding than most humans. He's certainly better than we are.
West Coast editor at VICE, Jaime Taete, went to a One Direction concert and took these amazing photos ... of dads. That's right, the dads.
In Canada, a "drive by" involves stopping and helping a disabled person, then posting a video of it to the internet encouraging others to do the same.
Chances are you love Tina Fey and cats. Well, this Tumblr is both at once. It stands to reason therefore, that you will double-love Tina Fey With a Cat, because that's how emotions work. It is pictures of Tina Fey, with cats Photoshopped in. Seems pretty simple. It is still a delight, however. Here are a few choice pics:
Yup, you know, hop on the boat, take it for a drive, FILM THE CAT PLAYING WITH A DOLPHIN FOR A BIT ... just your typical Friday, really.
This Vine made Yoeslan Alfaro will make you happy pretty much every six seconds, and he didn't even plan it.
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The final paragraph in an article by Howard Fineman in the Jan. 7 issue of Newsweek reveals that Afghanistan is not the only place where a holy war is being fought. Liberals have declared jihad on religious conservatives in what Fineman describes as "a daring assault on the most critical turf in politics: the cultural mainstream."
According to Fineman, the strategy is to equate religious conservatism in America with the Taliban, the extremist Muslims who ruled Afghanistan with an iron fist until driven by U.S. bombs from the caves in which they sought refuge following the Sept. 11 attacks on America.
"The theory goes like this," writes Fineman. "Our enemy in Afghanistan is religious extremism and intolerance. It's therefore more important than ever to honor the ideals of tolerance religious, sexual, racial, reproductive at home."
Democrats plan to redefine the cultural center by painting the Republican Party as being out of the American political mainstream because the party follows conservative Judeo-Christian principles.
"The GOP is out of the mainstream, some Democrats will argue next year, because it is too dependent on an intolerant 'religious right,' " Fineman reports. "This is an incendiary battle plan essentially comparing the GOP right with the Taliban designed to draw an outraged response from the president. Then Democrats would have Bush just where they wanted him: in a firefight at home."
Before I go further, I must take Fineman to the woodshed for having injected editorial comment in support of the liberal view into what otherwise appears to be an unbiased news report.
The reporter describes the "religious right" as intolerant. While that may be his opinion of religious conservatives and perhaps the opinion of liberals, the expression of this editorial view wreaks of intolerance for conservative principles based on Judeo-Christian religious beliefs.
The problem with Fineman's use of the word "intolerant" to describe religious conservatives is that he is not using the traditional definition of the word.
According to the dictionary, the traditional definition of the word "tolerate" is to recognize and respect others' beliefs and practices without sharing them and to bear or put up with someone or something not particularly liked.
Fineman uses a new definition of the word that is quite different from the traditional definition.
In "New Tolerance: How a Cultural Movement Threatens to Destroy You, Your Faith, and Your Children," author Josh McDowell explains the difference.
"The new tolerance may sound like traditional tolerance, but it is vastly different," he writes. "The new tolerance is defined as the view that all values, beliefs, lifestyles, and truth claims are equal."
"In contrast to traditional tolerance, which asserts that everyone has an equal right to believe or say what he thinks is right, the new tolerance ... says that what every individual believes or says is equally right, equally valid," McDowell writes.
By using the word "intolerant," Fineman implies that religious conservatives do not recognize and respect the political views of others, much like the Muslim extremists in the Taliban. Religious conservatives do recognize and respect alternate political views, but they do not view them as equally right or equally valid.
It is the confusion trap into which Fineman fell during his reporting that liberals hope to use to snare the political mainstream from conservatives with claims of intolerance likened unto the Taliban.
"The strategy would suggest Christian morality is similar in extremism and intolerance to that of the group behind the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks," Stuart Shepard writes in the Jan. 7 issue of CitizenLink. "Democrats reportedly would use the intolerance (traditional definition) of the Taliban to promote tolerance (new definition) of liberal ideals concerning religion, sexual orientation and abortion."
Democrats were quick to refute the Newsweek report.
"(D)oes the Democratic Party have a strategy to do that? Absolutely not," said party press secretary Jennifer Palmieri.
But this isn't the first time the Taliban card has been played. During confirmation hearings for Attorney General John Ashcroft, a religious conservative, critics said President Bush had gone to the "Taliban wing" of the GOP for his nominee.
Liberal Democrats did it once, and my guess is Fineman was right when he reported that they plan to do it again.
Phillip L. Hamilton is online editor for LubbockOnline.com and a columnist for The Avalanche-Journal. He may be contacted at firstname.lastname@example.com
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BCAS provides a variety of educational and animal disposition services including dog licensing, animal adoption and animal cremation services. Call BCAS at (269) 948-4885.
Monday - Friday 8:30am - 5:00pm
Saturday 9:00am - 12:00pm
OFFICE & KENNEL ARE CLOSED DAILY FROM 11:30am-12:30pm
Monday - Friday 9:00am - 4:30pm
Saturday 9:00am - 11:30am
Closed all Sundays and major holidays.
Michigan law requires all dogs 4 months of age be licensed. Licenses may be purchased in person during business hours. A copy of current rabies vaccination and spay/neuter certificate will be required to purchase a license for your dog.
Licenses are sold according to rabies vaccination date and a late fee of $10 is charged once your dog becomes 5 months of age or after the 30 day grace period has expired for a previously licensed dog.
The license fee for a Spayed/Neutered Dog License is $ 7.00 for 1 yr OR $18 for 3 yrs (must have corresponding rabies vax).
The fee for a regular (Intact) Dog License is $22.00 for 1 yr OR $60 for 3 yrs (must have corresponding rabies vax).
You may also purchase your dog license by mail after completing the dog license application located here.
If you have lost your pet, please visit BCAS during kennel hours to look for your pet. Descriptions of animals vary from person to person; therefore we CANNOT assist with lost pets over the phone.
When visiting the shelter we recommend you bring along a photo of your pet and fill out a lost report. Strays are held for 7 days before being offered for public adoption. It is recommended you visit the department at least every 3rd day to look for your missing animal.
Place an ad in the Reminder, Banner and other local publications for your lost pet, and check the found notices in our local publications. Post flyers with photos of your missing pet along with your contact information at neighborhood grocery stores and gas stations.
People can describe an animal in so many different ways. DO NOT rely on shelter staff to make positive identification of your pet, only someone who knows the animal can do that. Keep visiting the shelter to look for your lost pet.
RECLAIMING YOUR ANIMAL: If your pet is in our department there is a $10 per day* boarding charge for the time your animal is in the department, and an impound fee where applicable. Please provide proof of ownership, a photo or vet records are good examples. Also note that a current rabies vaccination & a current dog license will be required prior to reclaimed dogs leaving the department. (*All fees are subject to change at any time.)
Adopting an animal is a serious decision requiring a life-long commitment to care for a creature that is totally dependent upon you. Pets need more than just food, water & shelter. They also need love, attention, exercise, veterinary care, training and grooming (and of course dogs need a license). We are seeking permanent homes for our adoptable animals.
Please remember that adding a new companion animal to your family is a major decision, one that requires plenty of thought and planning. It can be a long-term commitment of 10 to 15 years. Think before you adopt.
Sharing your life with a companion animal can bring incredible rewards when you're willing to make the necessary commitments of time, money, responsibility, and love—for the life of the pet. When your family is ready to add a new companion to your household, please visit our kennels to meet your new best friend! We have a wide variety of wonderful dogs and cats available for adoption.
DOGS: $90 plus $7 for a 1 year license.This fee includes rabies vaccination, heartworm test & sterilization. (Out of county adopters will not be licensing at time of adoption but will instead be required to purchase a license from the county in which they reside.)
CATS: $70 which includes rabies vaccination, feline leukemia test and sterilization..
(*All fees are subject to change at any time.)
Ask our staff about CSNIP's low cost spay/neuter program and the Humane Society Senior Citizen Adoption Assistance Program.
Adoptive families for our animals
Unopened packages of dry cat and dry dog food; canned food for special needs dogs & cats!
Small, unopened packages of treats for dogs & cats
New leashes and collars
TOYS For the dogs: Tennis balls, Frisbees, Kongs, and Plush Dog Toys
For the cats: balls, catnip toys, fuzzy mice, string toys, etc.
Bedding: gently used clean towels, flat sheets & blankets.
Brushes & combs
Bleach, Clorox Wipes, Hand Sanitzer, Lysol
Items donated will be utilized for animals in need. Many items will be used in the shelter, some will be provided in adoption packets, excess bedding is shared with other organizations in animal care.
Our Pet List


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ROCKY HILL, Conn. — A Connecticut River ferry dating to 1655 will be closing as part of budget cuts revealed Friday by the governor, bringing an end to what state archivists say is the nation's oldest operating ferry.
The Rocky Hill Ferry, which connects the Hartford suburbs of Rocky Hill and Glastonbury, has been threatened with closure for years because of the expense involved in running it. The state expects to save more than $800,000 over two years by closing it , along with another ferry further down the river in Chester — part of a long list of state services that are being cut to close a $1.6 billion budget gap.
Residents say the ferry is an important summertime attraction for locals and tourists, and they will be sad to see it go.
John Serra, who works at the Rocky Hill Historical Society, said the ferry was once a financial lifeline for the town and has evolved into a social hub.
"It was really the center of town," Serra said.
A stack of papers in a small library above the historical society includes a jumble of photos, newspaper clippings and historical documents chronicling the development of the ferry beginning in 1655, 121 years before the Declaration of Independence.
The records include references to family squabbles over ferry operations in the 1700s, missives on the development of the ferry landing and how the first bridge across the Connecticut River in 1810 was held up for four years due to opposition from ferry operators.
A sketch from the mid-1600s, when the fare was "nine pence pay," shows the wooden pole-operated boat that first crossed the waters. An undated article discusses pre-industrialization American ingenuity with a horse powered treadmill pushing the ferry across the river.
The ferry has closed before because of safety concerns or other reasons, but never permanently as officials are proposing.Comment on this story
Cheryl Valadez, who has worked at the hamburger joint next to the ferry landing since 1989, said the state should have considered charging people more as a way to keep it in business.
"This is our way of keeping the kids out of trouble," the 52-year-old Valadez said.
In addition to the ferry, which carries cars and people for a few dollars, the landing has a park with benches and public water access. Evelyn Corriveau, 66, of New Britain, said the park will not be the same without the ferry.
"It would be a shame to close that," she said.


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Battlefield 4 multiplayer to be unveiled at E3
Fans itching to see some of Battlefield 4's multiplayer gameplay will have to wait until the Electronic Entertainment Expo next month, as EA confirmed today that DICE will be unveiling a "spectacular live demo" prior to the tradeshow.
At "The Download: EA 2013 Preview" press conference on Monday, June 10, DICE will finally lift the lid on Battlefield 4's multiplayer. The event will take place at 1:00pm PST and be viewable on Spike TV and EA's official website. Meanwhile, E3 attendees will have the chance to go hands-on with Battlefield 4's multiplayer in EA's booth. For those unable to attend the tradeshow, DICE will be streaming the entire E3 booth experience, including multiplayer matches complete with commentary.
So far, all we've seen of Battlefield 4 has been single-player campaign footage and while it certainly looks impressive, EA and DICE are well aware that the majority of fans are ready for some multiplayer details. Rumors about the return of Commander Mode have been swirling around for quite a while now, so we're definitely looking forward to seeing if those turn out to be true.


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Colin Firth`s `wet shirt scene in Pride And Prejudice` tops memorable Brit TV drama moments list
London: Colin Firth`s famous sopping wet shirt scene in Pride And Prejudice has been named as the most memorable moment in British TV drama.
In the scene from the 1995 BBC series, Firth, who played the character of Mr Darcy, emerges from a lake all wet, the Sun reported.
The famous clip saw off competition from soaps like kid`s hit `Grange Hill` and more recent big-hitting programmes in a survey of 2,000 viewers.
The second place was bagged by EastEnders womaniser Dirty Den divorcing to wife Angie, while the third spot went to Sherlock, when Holmes faked his own death by plummeting from the roof of St Bartholomew`s Hospital in London.
On the number fourth position landed Coronation Street`s 1million-pound tram crash in 2010 and the murderer reveal in ITV`s Broad-church this year made it into fifth place.
The memorable moments were voted for from a list of 50 scenes, compiled to mark the launch of UKTV channel Drama, which starts broadcasting on Monday.
Top ten memorable moments were:
1. Mr Darcy`s lake scene - Pride and Prejudice (1995)
2. Dirty Den hands divorce papers to Angie - Eastenders (1986)
3. Sherlock`s `death` - Sherlock (2012)
4. The tram crash - Coronation Street (2010)
5. Who killed Danny Latimer? - Broadchurch (2013)
6. The tenth Doctor regenerates from David Tennant to Matt Smith - Doctor Who (2010)
7. First lesbian kiss - Brookside (1994)
8. Morse reveals his Christian name - Inspector Morse (1997)
9. Zammo injects heroin - Grange Hill (1987)
10. Lady Sybil`s death - Downtown Abbey (2012).


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Dirks not yet ready for baseball activities
Dirks not yet ready for baseball activities
ST. PETERSBURG -- Andy Dirks will spend at least another week in a walking boot while receiving shockwave therapy on his strained right Achilles. The outfielder, who hasn't played since May 30, was examined by Tigers foot/ankle specialist Dr. Chris Zingas on Friday in Detroit.
"He's not right. He's not ready to start any baseball activities," manager Jim Leyland said. "We were hoping for that. We didn't get it."
The examination showed improvement, but still some discomfort, Tigers head athletic trainer Kevin Rand said.
"He's much improved," Rand said, "but still has point tenderness there. So he's going to continue to be in the boot for another week, and he'll also receive shockwave therapy."
The delay seemingly would push any timetable for a Dirks return past the All-Star break. While he was cleared to start running on a special treadmill, that's about the extent of his physical activity. He'll begin a more full-fledged running program once he's cleared.


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Example of Lithium site. This is one example of what is being suggested in feedback section. It is a PlayStation site based on the Lithium verision. I like the interactivity. I guess that is what they were sold on. Have a look. I don't think VB could provide that (if HC wanted seemless navigation and interactivity of areas).
I think the HC web crew should check out other sites using the Lithium versions and compare.
The darker shades are cool. That's why I liked the Petrucci Forum.


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Seasonal Marshmallows: Amanda Clarke develops a recipe for pumpkin-spice marshmallows, good for adding a kick to yams or sprucing up a cup of hot cocoa.
Decadence Has a New Name: And that name is glazed doughnut bacon egg cheeseburger. It has to be the most elaborate combination of fast food ingredients ever.
November 4th Cake: St. Louis food writer Ann Lemons Pollack explains the history of Election Cake, a patriotic dessert since Jefferson days.
Bacon Makes Everything Better: It's hard to find fault with the orecchietta with cauliflower and bacon dish, then again, it's hard to find fault with bacon.
Cactus, Not Caucus: When was the last time you cooked with a cactus? Never? Well, here is your chance with a recipe for seared steak tacos with cactus paddles.
Not Too Early for Turkey: The bird will have its moment later this month, but in the meantime, try this smoked turkey soup from the Meat Lite gals.