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Cubans rely heavily on an unreliable bus system that is cheap but overcrowded and slow, with long queues and inconsistent routes and schedules. The new modern city buses cost one peso a trip, to anywhere in the city. Most visitors to Havana avoid the buses and rely instead on the numerous, inexpensive taxis to get around the greater part of the city. Renting a car is not the best option as car hire is expensive, roads are not well sign-posted, and numerous one-way streets make driving a real challenge. Different types of taxis cruise the streets, including tourist taxis, two-seater bici-taxis, colectivos (classic vintage cars) and the yellow scooter coco-taxis. Most tourist taxis are air-conditioned, metered, well maintained and charge in Convertible Pesos, but there are also vintage car owners who operate as unofficial taxis, although a rate should be negotiated beforehand as passengers are likely to be overcharged. A couple of vintage cars can be hired by tourists for tours around the city and can be found outside main tourist attractions like the Revolution Museum or the Capitolio. It is not generally difficult or expensive to get around in Havana, and it is a wonderful walking city when it comes to shorter distances.
Local time is GMT -5 (GMT -4 from second Sunday in March to first Sunday in November).
Most older hotels use 110-volt power, 50Hz, while newer hotels use 220 volts, 50Hz. A variety of outlets are in use, but the flat and round two-pin plugs are most common.
The official currency is the Cuban Peso (CUP), divided into 100 centavos, but the 'tourist' currency is the Peso Convertible (CUC), which replaces the US Dollar as currency in tourist related establishments like hotels, restaurants and so called 'dollar shops'. US Dollars are no longer accepted as payment, and a 10 percent commission or more is charged to exchange them, therefore the best currency to bring along is Euros, the British Pound or Canadian Dollars. The CUC is almost equal in value to the US Dollar. Some places only accept Cuban pesos and others only Pesos Convertible (usually tourist related establishments). Money should only be changed at official exchange bureaux or banks to avoid scams confusing the two currencies. Visa and MasterCard are generally accepted only in major cities and hotels as long as they haven't been issued by a US bank; Diners Club has limited acceptance, and American Express is not accepted anywhere on the island. No US-issued credit or debit cards will work in ATMs, but those holding cards issued in other countries should be able to get pesos at most major tourist destinations.
The international access code for Cuba is +53. Cellular phone companies have roaming agreements with many international cell phone companies, but not the United States. A GSM network covers most main towns, and cell phones are available for rent. Public telephones are widely available for domestic as well as international calls, but international calls are expensive. Pre-paid phone cards are available. Internet cafes are located in the main towns and cities.
Emergencies: 106
Everything about travel documents
Buses depart the airport for Havana every 30 minutes from 10am to 10pm, but require payment in local currency. Private transport is advisable.
Transtour, Rex, Via, Fenix, and Cubanacar operate car hire facilities at the airport.
Official taxis are available outside all terminal buildings; a trip into Havana's city centre will cost around CUC 20-25.
A bus services the four terminals.
Airport facilities include VIP lounges with business facilities, banks and currency exchange, disabled assistance, a lost and found, and a variety of shopping and dining options.
There is short and long-term parking available roughly 500 feet (150m) from the terminal buildings.
Internet services are available in Terminal 3 for a fee.


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Home to almost 5,000 events every year, Durham is a place rich with unique things to do. From biannual arts markets to performances by world-class musicians at DPAC or Carolina Theatre, from workshops led by leading researchers to motorcycle rallies, from interactive classes at the Museum of Life + Science to food tours through Durham's most acclaimed restaurants, there is always a wide variety of events to capture the interest of any visitor or resident.
To add an event to the calendar, use our convenient Event Submission Form
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subset: commoncrawl


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« In Which We Got A Pocket Full Of Rainbows Got A Heart Full Of Love »
Telephone Wires
by MOLLY LAMBERT
Why is a sunset with telephone lines blocking it sometimes more beautiful than a straight sunset? The natural overlapping with the manmade is more beautiful than just the manmade or the natural on its own. The intrusion of the manmade on nature amplifies both as long as one doesn't overwhelm the other. Is it like androgyny?
Is it the darkness of the telephone lines in silhouette against the sky? Because it transforms something that is there all day and night into something else different and specifically beautiful, but only for a very brief and emphatic time? How much of its beauty is bound up in its briefness? Isn't that what is so beautiful about flowers?
What is it about contrast that is greater than sameness? It's not just beauty versus ugliness, because I don't believe the telephone wires to be ugly, and the sunset can be so beautiful as to become ugly in its maudlinism. They are beautiful in completely different ways, ways that necessarily exclude. Each thing cannot be the other.
Writing is spending that creates more money in your wallet. The wallet has the illusion of only ever having five dollars in it, so you are always afraid to spend your last five dollars, but then when you do another five dollars magically appears the next day.
Sometimes a ten or twenty appears. Occasionally you spend it unwisely and feel stupid afterwards. But when the next bill appears it is a brand new opportunity to decide what to do with it and no decision that you made before the current one matters at all.
If you don't spend the five dollars, it disappears at the end of the night. The five dollars you get the next day is an entirely different five dollars but it looks identical to the one from the day before. There is no accumulated interest, but the more often you spend the five dollars the more likely it is that a twenty might show up sometime.
We think of artistic processes as male sexual processes. You ejaculate on the canvas (Jackson Pollack to Dash Snow). You write a book and then you bind and print it, the end. And then if you want to write another book the whole process starts over again from the beginning. But what if art is a female sexual process? If there is no refractory period? What if orgasm just leads to more orgasm? More spending? More paintings, more poems, more posts on a website? Every day there is five dollars and a sunset.
Hamlet is about a very common twentysomething desire: the desire to not make any permanent decisions. It is an extension of the desire to not get any older, which kicks in right around 25 and manifests as a darkened train tunnel projecting to the grave. There will be a lot of times at which you have to decide something and there will be no way to avoid making a choice. If you kill your stepdad, you can't un-kill him.
The decision to not make a decision is ironically enough, totally still a decision. It just means your choice will be made for you, which is even more stressful and worse than choosing. If you live in one place, you don't live in another place. If you're a doctor, you can't be a lawyer. If you marry one guy you can't be married to some other guy. Self-absorbed young men such as Hamlet tend to think this tendency against wanting to make serious decisions is specific to them but it is how everyone feels.
That was the real moment of clarity in Knocked Up: when Leslie Mann asked her husband Paul Rudd why it hadn't occurred to him that she might also want to see Spiderman, might also want a night alone away from their kids to play fantasy baseball with her group of friends, might also want to drive to Vegas without telling anybody and do mushrooms with Seth Rogen and see Cirque Du Soleil. Why hadn't it though?
Hamlet is really about how hard it is to make any decision, important decisions but also unimportant decisions (what to eat?) There are plenty of smaller decisions which then add up in momentum or especially lack thereof to being important decisions. How hard it is to close doors behind you and how hard it can be to keep them closed. How passivity is very much a kind of choice that creates consequences for your life.
That there is no way to be so passive as to never make a serious decision about your life, because not making decisions or blinding yourself to the ongoing existence of this decision making process in your life still adds up to a kind of choice, often the most miserable. We do not always want to try, because to try is to open up the possibility that we will fail. But not trying makes failure guaranteed in advance.
We remember times that we took action but we also remember times we restrained ourselves or were restrained by forces greater than ourselves. We especially remember things we wanted to do but didn't, because restraining yourself from doing things you want to do but shouldn't hardly kills the desire to do them. We remember the point of decision, whatever decision we made or was made for us. We picture alternate worlds.
The black swan cousin of "remember when" is "what if?" What if it had gone differently? What if I hadn't? What if I had? We never think of how we could have lost at times we won, only how we could have won at times we lost. We are frustrated by circumstances outside our control, but we hate to think that we control our own circumstances.
As life keeps going on and on you are forced to acknowledge that each individual decision is not made in a vacuum. That they add up to something; your character, the way others think of you, which are not the same thing. They seem to diverge further as you get older, even as you become more firm about declaring and owning your persona, your affects and effects, whatever little island you have built for yourself.
When you take stock of your life there are plot holes galore. You find it hard to believe that you acted as if the future was endless, as if bullets only go up in the air. But that is the illusory image of youth; nihilism, just as the illusion of adulthood is stability.
Molly Lambert is the managing editor of This Recording. She is a writer living in Los Angeles. You can find How To Be A Woman In Any Boys Club here, Speak Now here, and East End Boys and West End Girls here. She tumbls here and twitters here.
"Every Day Is Yours To Win" - R.E.M. (mp3)
"Mine Smell Like Honey" - R.E.M. (mp3)
"Alligator Aviator Autopilot Antimatter" - R.E.M. (mp3)


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Re: Commanods Vs Spartans
That puts the Spartans at a disadvantage as they do not have any heavy firepower, whereas the Commandos have the anti-armor attachment.
Besides even if all the Commandos had was the vibroblade on their gloves, they'd still come out top if it was in a woodland area or somewhere with lots oif shadow.
Presumably you just forgot about the vibroblade though...


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Brad James had 16 points and 16 rebounds and Michael Meeks scored 19 points to lead Bessemer City to a 64-43 win in the championship game of the Bud Black/Dennis Tate Holiday Classic on Saturday at Cherryville�s Nixon Gym.
CHERRYVILLE � Noticing that Chase approached triple figures in the semifinals of the Bud Black/Dennis Tate Holiday Classic, Bessemer City coach Danny McDowell knew what his team needed to do in the championship: play some defense.
The players responded as Bessemer City held Chase to less than half of its semifinal total and won 64-43 on Saturday for its first championship in the annual event at Cherryville�s Nixon Gym.
�Defense won this thing. Every day was defense,� McDowell said. �Those guys scored 95 points or something like that last night and I knew we couldn�t afford to give up 95 points or we�d lose. So we concentrated on the defensive end. I thought our guards did exceptionally well on those guards out front.�
The Yellow Jackets� Brad James had 16 points and 16 rebounds and Michael Meeks scored 19 on their way to sharing most valuable player honors.
�Teamwork,� Meeks said of the key to the championship victory. �We didn�t hang our head after every missed play. We played as a team.�
Bessemer City was playing in the tournament championship for the first time.
�The kids played well,� McDowell said. �It means so much because the boys have never made it to the finals. To win it, that�s a great accomplishment for the school, for the kids and everybody. I�m just tickled pink for these guys.�
Bessemer City led 25-20 at the break and started pulling away in the third quarter, taking a 45-32 lead into the final period.
Ronnie Webber had 12 points and 10 rebounds while Tyrece Meeks dished eight assists for Bessemer City (8-1), which hasn�t lost since its season opener.
In addition to the MVP award shared by Michael Meeks and James, Bessemer City placed Tyrece Meeks, Jha�Qui Adams, Trevon Oglesby and Webber on the all-tournament team.
�It�s crazy. We haven�t had anything like this in a long time,� James said.
Bessemer City will host Davidson Community on Wednesday before turning its focus back to conference play. The Yellow Jackets travel to East Lincoln on Friday in a battle of teams that are 2-0 in the Southern Piedmont 1A/2A Conference.
Steven Holland scored 14 points and Shad Blanton added 10 points for Chase (8-4), which had advanced a night earlier with a 92-85 win over Cherryville.
Phillip Gardner: 704-869-1843; twitter.com/gazettephil
All-tournament teams
Co-MVPs� Brad James and Michael Meeks, Bessemer City
BessemerCity� Tyrece Meeks, Jha�Qui Adams, Trevon Oglesby, Ronnie Webber
Chase � Ryan Simpson, Steven Holland, Shad Blanton
Cherryville � Rhyer Davis, Nick Corbett, Kenny Poston
Castlewood � Reid Edmonds, Dylan Trent
AustraliaA � Mitch Medwin, Brett McAuley
Thomas Jefferson � Justus Freeland, Nick Mintz
South Point � Deonte Gaston, John Chavis
AustraliaB� Riley Henderson, Brad Potter
MVP� Ashley Mull, South Point
South Point � Ashley Mull, Haley Stewart, Graylin Heustess, Blair Griffin, Asia Jackson
BessemerCity� Tierra Dameron, Madison Carter, Anjala Brewton
Hickory Grove� Hannah Griffin, Jayla Joyner, Hannah Adamczyk
Cherryville� Jacquilla Burris, Latiya McDowell
Castlewood� Sydney Elam, Caitlyn Fleming
Chase� Takirah McKinney, Kaitlyn Smart
Hunter Huss� Jalaah Crosby, Jessica Hannah
Thomas Jefferson � Victoria Bennett, Gracie Hollifield


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Where Does Melina Kennedy Really Stand on Education? Good Question. No One Knows.
August 23, 2011 2 Comments
As we noted yesterday, Melina Kennedy appears to want to replace either Eugene White, Tony Bennett or her local school board president. She has a television commercial up and has dropped two negative mailers in the last week on education, an issue that the Mayor of Indianapolis does not have much control over.
Since Kennedy wants to spend so much time talking about education, she must have some clearly staked out positions on education reform, right? You'd think so, but no. We've never heard her say anything about any of the education reforms that were passed in the legislative session.
Ok, maybe education reform isn't her cup of tea. So Kennedy has a position on mayoral control of Marion County schools, right? Wrong again. Kennedy hasn't said if she is for or against mayoral control either. Is it just IPS that is a concern or all the township schools too? You guessed it, she hasn't said.
How is Melina Kennedy going to solve these problems? She hasn't been very specific. Kennedy has highlighted some fundamental issues that everyone believes are important but she doesn't give specific ideas of how she will solve these problems.
The Mayor of Indianapolis does actually have authority over charter schools. Kennedy must be focused on that issue then, right? Nope. She doesn't seem to talk about Indianapolis charter schools either even though they are some of the best schools in the state of Indiana.
Feeling like you don't really know where Melina Kennedy stands on education? Don't worry, she doesn't either.


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That's some scary stuff!!But what do we do after they shut down the Internet/switch to Internet2?And why are you calling it "CYBERGATE"? What has been leaked here?
When the power grid is compromised, or restrictions are placed on internet usage, even the anti-war crowd will stand behind the government looking for justice against the terrorists, which have caused their inconvenience.
greg palast had a warrant for his arrest for filming in front of a new orleans concentration camp:Alex Jones - Greg Palast Charged Criminally for filming FEMA10 min - Sep 14, 2006 -www.youtube.com/watch?v=7woOAjUm8vQ [/b]
And sheeple will welcome this.
heres a collection of Infrastructure Protection documents if anyone wantshttp://www.sendspace.com/file/ho9k9e
http://www.sovasec.com/2009/06/15/June 15th, 2009CyberWar is a RacketMonday, June 15th, 2009Inspired by War is a Racket by Maj. Gen. Smedly Darlington Butler U.S.M.CUnder the threat of war, the cost of defense is never too high.A nation is under significant obligation to protect its investments where ever they may be. What we see now, is the transition from physical to electronic defense.The United States is returning to Cold War status. In preparation for this the advancement of technology and the power of the intelligence community is of the foremost importance. In order to maintain a position of dominance, the government must sustain its partnership with wartime industry. Through a metamorphosis of the military industrial complex, into a new intelligence industrial complex, this accomplishment can be witnessed. The ever present fear of terrorism will still be used as justification for sustained engagement. The new terrorist threat comes from what the media refers to as hackers.The United States trade deficit is in the trillions of dollars. The nation must possess assets for which they use to back the value of money sent overseas. China, for example, has accumulated a surplus of US currency. The deficit exists due to the lack of goods being sold in return. These dollars are then stockpiled or used to buy fuel. The oil cartel uses this petro-dollar as the international rate of exchange. There is already discussion to take the world off of this standard. The dollar has already been abandoned in places where once it was used it as a common currency. The United States needs to be ready to compete in the global market, or in default will continue to forfeit property as payment. If the international oil standard were to shift from the dollar, the American economy could be crushed. Places like China would have no reason to continue accepting currency from the United States as a form of trade. In order to continue doing global business, and maintain the standard of living for most Americans, the United States would need to find an acceptable financial solution. It would be necessary to provide a product or service which can be sold on the international market.With a shift of strategy by the public-private sector, there is the beginning of what could be a record breaking transition. The same corporations, agencies, and institutions which traditionally have been government contractors understand this move, and are shifting production accordingly. International finance, which in the past has funded one or more sides of various conflicts, is already buying into this new deal. With the new President and his many supporters, the official war should be concluded soon. Although there will always be justification for troops stationed around the globe, much funding for war expenses would no longer be necessary.The companies which produced the equipment, supplied the fuel for the machinery,and paid the workers, would be looking at a massive drop in revenue.To compensate they will begin to offer services in line with the new focuson infrastructure protection. War profits can be an increase of 7856% over peace time. That is a real historical figure of seven-thousand eight-hundred and fifty-six percent. Profit is the only motivation for the existence of a corporation. Existing funding could be redirected towards new projects and a new war.A nation needs a real or fabricated threat to justify taxation to its people, for the necessity of its defenses. In Orwells 1984 we saw Emmanuel Goldstein as the fictional enemy of the people. The character was a phantom used to justify the actions of the state. Some would say there is a modern analogue to the Goldstein character.It is claimed that Tim Osman, in only 30 years, was partly responsible for the near collapse of not one, but two world empires. He has never been permanently detained despite a concerted global effort. In fact, he taunts the world by sending recordings of himself to media outlets, which use his image as a rallying symbol of fear comparable to Orwells construct. It is hard to imagine how a person in need of regular medical attention, can evade the worlds most advanced intelligence gathering network, and continue to avoid capture. A sufficiently disruptive electronic attack would bean excellent pretense to create a new phantom enemy. Sophisticated attacks on domestic infrastructure by unknown foreign entities, could easily be sold to the people as the cost of war hitting home, against enemies which must be defeated at any cost. Create a little fear, combined with nationalism, and a popular charismatic leader, and one can accomplish almost anything through the mob mentality.Operation Cyberstorm has introduced us to the next generation of hypothetical threats. These new terrorists are individuals and groups of technically skilled people. United by a popular voice of dissent, these groups have formed a loosely knit alliance with a common goal of disrupting the global economy. There are individual actors, the known unknowns, who may assist and possibly increase the severity of an electronic attack. To defend the global financial system and domestic infrastructure, the federal government partnered with private industry, and is spear heading the effort to crack down on criminal activity within these groups. It is not an eAl-Queada, or the iTaliban, the new terrorists are hackers. They are the poltergeist in the machine, whenever there is a disruption in internet service, or a random power outage, or any other system the public has come to depend on is interrupted, there will be the suspicion and speculation as to the root cause. If a server catches fire in Phoenix, or suzie1865 can not get to her mytwitterface account, someone is going to cry wolf. When this occurs the justification for more funding is shown to be necessary, the cycle of funding continues. Operation Cyberstorm was not focused on international state sponsored crime, or independent groups of foreign nationals conducting espionage. Though these are the fears represented in the recent legislation and government reviews. The very intangible nature of cyber-bogeymen provides the vagueness neededto justify any measure of prevention, or manner of retaliation.It is possible that we could see the war funding re-purposed for the improvement of infrastructure, the advancement of technology, and the defense of communications networks. These billions of dollars will continue to flow into the same hands.The nature of security allows the defender to only divulge knowledge when it is to their advantage. The knowledge of potential threats, or even past incidents, is just another form of information which could be released for profit. When the industry shifts from traditional combat to electronic engagement, the resources allocated would create a world class institution. The heavy corporate involvement will open up the opportunity for those holding a large number of dollars to trade them in. The sale of data, proprietary and patented new technologies, and accompanying services, would create an outlet for stockpiled petro-dollars.However this is not the end of physical combat. With industry there is the necessity for natural resources, the foreign and domestic sources of these materials would continue to require physical protection. To prevent against supply line attacks involving sabotaged materials, increased international oversight would be required at these facilities, which produce todays high-tech components. Government contractors will supply both electronic and physical security to protect their assets. Tax money is used to fund corporations which are not interested or obligated to protect peoples rights. By partnering with the private sector, the government has relieved itself of much responsibility to the people. This responsibility is transferred to the private sector, which only has the single minded goal of increasing its own profit. This could explain why corporate representatives testify before congress to the need for the very services they provide. The agencies which use their services sit alongside them in agreement. This gives the illusion of a clear and present threat which must be eliminated as soon as possible.The corporations are lined up with their hands out for increasingly larger slices of the federal pie. Sadly, with the lack of resistance and competition, there will be no organic incentive for innovation. Like a pack of wolves they will only destroy each other fighting over the scraps. Those who rely on the contracts to continue operation are forced into compliance for their ration, forever submitting to the alpha of the pack.The market would not be free, and likely would eventually create a situation where it will be too hollow to support itself and collapse, leading to a very real threat to national security. On the other hand there is a great risk for the continued creation of a technocratic fascist state. In which we would see constant and holistic surveillance to protect against foreign or domestic threats, among which the government themselves admit, is public dissent. America was founded on the principle of dissent against tyranny. It is a patriotic duty to question the motivations of government. Technology can be the key that sets us free, or the yoke under which the many exist to serve the few.With the end of the war, the media will further turn its attention to programming which numbs the mind. Without the constant reminder of the hellish nature of war the protesters will slowly go away. When the international terrorist computer criminals allegedly cripple some piece of critical infrastructure, and the justification for increased spending be comes a reality, the new victims of war will not draw the public sympathy as do dead and dieing solders in the field. When the power grid is compromised, or restrictions are placed on internet usage, even the anti-war crowd will stand behind the government looking for justice against the terrorists, which have caused their inconvenience. The intelligence assurance community, a government and corporate body, would expand as protectorate of the national electronic infrastructure.Anyone who operates critical equipment, including networks of computers, will be biometricly catalogued. Some existing uses, of similar government systems, also employ operators in real time remote connection monitoring, as a security measure to ensure the validity of the information transfer, and that standard protocols are being observed. Most domestic communications are intercepted and recorded by the intelligence agencies at various points in the network. Private companies index this information, protecting it from Freedom of Information Act requests. Like so many baseball cards, profiles are bought, sold, and traded.Information is the new currency.The data centers are the new vaults, the processing facilities the new banks. Where there are banks there will always be robbers. Where there are robbers there will always be lawmen to make pursuit. In their way are things like privacy, the Constitution, and international boundaries. The intelligence agencies are more then willing to put themselves above the law when it suits them. Their collaboration with the private sector gives them special access to infrastructure, which they have already shown the willingness to abuse. Unlike land, gold, and oil, persons and their information are renewable resources, so this new market has infinite growth potential.
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The first moment of truth at the 2006 Tour is a 52km time test from Saint-Grégoire to Rennes across the countryside of northeast Brittany. Mostly rolling with a flat finish, the TT should show the first signs of who can win the Tour this year. Floyd Landis and Cadel Evans will want to stamp some authority on the Tour.
Images ©:AFP


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Duffel TV
GNC To Release Pre-Workout Dip
SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Sports nutrition giant GNC plans to release a new pre-workout smokeless tobacco product some time in 2015, Duffel Blog has learned. The experimental energy/nicotine product, codenamed "Tobaccosplode," was designed for the warrior/athlete market niche that pervades the armed forces.
"Dipping and abuse of pre-workout supplements are both cultural trademarks of the military," a GNC internal memorandum says. "By combining the two, our company hopes to help America field a force of stronger, angrier warriors with a litany of bizarre heart conditions."
Human trials of the new product conducted at Marine Base Camp Pendleton have yielded overwhelmingly positive results. Marines and sailors who used the Tobaccosplode reported that it significantly increased their desire to "get their fucking pump on."
Paradoxically, users also reported profound erectile dysfunction, paired with a nearly pathological explosion in libido, resulting in a 600 percent increase in incidents of Marines dry humping inanimate objects and/or their battle buddies.
"Greatest product ever!" an anonymous test subject raved on an evaluation form. "I've added 100 pounds to my leg press in under a week, gave myself tennis elbow from high-fiving my bros so much, and instead of sleeping, I just throw in another dip and start roundhouse kicking shit in my house."
Tobaccospode works through a proprietary blend of supplements and a hybridized strain of nicotine derived from the botanical fusion of tobacco and poppy flowers grown in a medium of gunpowder, bull fertilizer, and bald eagle claws.
Along with the nicotine blend, codenamed "Max Nicoffeinol," the dip also includes Creatine, Taurine, Semenine, L-Citrulline, L-Arginine, L-Powernine, Rad Dopeanine and Splenda. Chemical absorption of Max Nicoffeinol through oral cell membranes is expedited by GNC's proprietary blend of added fiberglass and porcelain shards, which cut a bunch of holes in your mouth so the dip can just shit drugs right into your bloodstream.
One "three-fingered pinch" of Tobaccosplode is the recommended dosage for any one hour period of normal activity, or "one every 2-3 sets" when conducting strenuous exercise. Use during exercise is guaranteed to eliminate fatigue, increase gains, maximize swol, and improve yell volume during heavy reps.
GNC's projected price point is $11.99 per can with a recommended 240 can maximum intake per 30-day cycle. Cycling off Tobaccosplode, however, is not recommended. Always use a spitter when using Tobaccosplode, as the expectorate byproduct is extremely toxic. Side-effects of use may include insomnia, weight loss, Swedish accent, manic malaise, explosive pregnancy, urinary diarrhea, detachable skin, fur tongue, cancer and frostbite.
Tobaccosplode will come in four different flavors; Wintergreen, Sexual Tyrannosaurus, Fudge Brownie and America.
Platoon Sergeant Claims 38 Soldiers On His Tax Return
FORT RILEY, Kansas — After 7 years of litigation and $75,000 in legal fees, Sgt. 1st Class James Kinchloe finally gets to claim his entire platoon on his tax return.
Kinchloe, after years of mounting monetary losses, was forced to examine U.S. tax laws after he spent roughly $24,000 in bail payments, $14,239 in XBox 360 subscriptions, and $8,000 in down-payments for gender reassignment surgeries in 2013 alone.
Court documents indicate Kinchloe's main complaint challenged the "qualifying relative" definition in IRS Publication 501: Exemptions, Standard Deduction, and Filing Information. It states that a person may be claimed on a tax return "if their own funds are not actually spent for their own support" and are a "member of the household."
"When I tell people I take care of soldiers they don't think I mean literally," Kinchloe told Duffel Blog while gently kicking awake Pvt. 1st Class Tobias McKay, who he picked up last night drunkenly urinating outside the 12th St. Gate in a pink tutu and IBA. "I truly love my job, but the financial toll of housing and feeding 38 of America's heroes took a toll on my family."
Records of receipts as far back as 2008 were submitted as evidence and clearly showed Kinchloe's soldiers spending their paychecks on Brazzer's subscriptions, unfiltered Marlboro Reds and Tobaccosplode instead of clothing, food, and rent.
Lawyers also subpoenaed key witnesses from Kinchloe's platoon for cross-examination. Spc. Noah Frederickson, who received a small loan from Kinchloe after spending all of his paycheck on lap dances at Rack City instead of his family's rent and utilities, took the stand on Kinchloe's behalf, as did Pvt. Joseph Dunlap, who needed $5,000 to break an agreement for a $58,000 loan with a 56.7% APR when he purchased a donked out 1981 Buick Regal.
After 3 months of arguments, a circuit court judge ruled in favor of Kinchloe, citing the infamous 1st Squad 3-day Tinder party/BBQ/orgy Kinchloe unknowingly hosted at his on-post quarters. The raucous orgy served as the crux of his 248-page opinion, as it ultimately cost Kinchloe and Fort Riley more than $152,000 in steam cleaning fees and paternity tests.
While the hearing sets a precedent that will force thousands of similar cases to be retried, Kinchloe hopes that one day his soldiers will use his example as a beacon of leadership for their respective platoons.
"It is a small price to pay for their future lifetime of service as U.S. soldiers," Kinchloe said as he wrote out a $4,000 check to Sgt. Eduardo Gutierrez to cover his losses at the Prairie Band casino roulette table.
Duffel TV
Senator Heroically Saves Obsolete Program, 20,000 Coincidental Jobs In His State
CHEYENNE, Wyo. — In a close vote, Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) heroically managed to halt plans to end production of the "Humvee" line of military vehicles, saving the program from being scrapped due to budget cuts. In a coincidence some observers are calling "really, really accidental," the vote also saves as many as 20,000 jobs in Barrasso's home state.
The High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV), or "Humvee," has been the military's primary transportation and patrol vehicle platform since 1983. It is manufactured by AM General, which, in another complete coincidence, donated over $600,000 to Barrasso's "Strength, Leadership, Understanding, Stability, Honor" PAC.
"The HMMWV is a tried and true military all-purpose vehicle which is in no way outdated and has certainly not led to hundreds of thousands of injuries and deaths due to its lack of armor, ridiculously wide wheel base, and terrible cornering," said Barrasso at a $30,000-a-plate donor brunch in Manhattan Thursday.
Barrasso paused to accept a wedding anniversary present of a fourteen-year-old Filipina from a union representative.
"And it's totally, totally unrelated that keeping the program going also serves to keep the main AM General factory in Laramie open, maintaining the jobs of thousands of people who have to vote the way their union reps tell — I mean, hardworking Wyomans," continued Barrasso.
"I honestly don't even consider that fact when I am in my diamond-encrusted office in Washington, considering how to vote while my fourth and seventh assistant secretaries take turns polishing my scepter," he added.
Barrasso's constituents applaud his forward-thinking work to keep the military bound to unsafe, decades-old technology.
"We're really happy with how our bri — uh, our donations have come ba — I mean, ah, we have no direct financial association with the senator," said Diana Kribble, mayor of Murphy, a small town north of Sheridan which is the site of a Northrup Grumman factory that employs five thousand local residents.
"When Sen. Barrasso singlehandedly killed the Land Warrior program, it saved the factory in my town," Kribble continued. "Thousands of servicemembers dying because they're forced to continue their use of the terrible Blue Force Tracker system is a small price to pay for some blue-collar slobs not having to learn some new skills."
Barrasso's current term will expire in 2018. In super-unrelated news, his office has confirmed that he will not seek reelection, instead opting to move to a private-sector job as manager of AM General's Bermuda office.
Duffel TV
Advanced Weapons Tested For Destroyer That Will Never Destroy Anything
WASHINGTON — Engineers at Naval Sea Systems Command are set to begin the next phase of their ongoing plan to test the effectiveness of emerging surface warfare technologies the Navy will never get to employ in actual combat this week, the Command announced.
"For heaven's sake, we don't actually want to ever use these weapons systems in battle," said head of NAVSEA, Vice Adm. William Hilarides. "If we abuse this technology we might accidentally win a war, and that's just an irresponsible use of smart power."
Engineers hope to install an electromagnetic railgun on the fourth planned Zumwalt-class destroyer, USS Wesley R. Crusher, currently under construction at Bath Iron Works in Maine. Railguns send high-powered electromagnetic pulses along a set of rails to shoot a projectile at supersonic speeds. Conventional naval guns use a chemical propellent and lack the "swag factor."
"Firing that monster will be like getting an unmodified critical hit every time you roll the dice, " said one engineer, who asked to be called "Paladin69." "The magnitude of the force vector is just so freaking cool."
NAVSEA will continue to use Zumwalt class ships as testbeds to employ various types of directed energy weapons that will never see a moment of combat in future crises. Ship-based 30kW multi-laser systems, capable of incinerating UAVs in flight or consuming water borne IEDs, will thankfully be rendered useless under severely restrictive and obscure rules of engagement.
"It's simply not fair to use such advanced weaponry against bush league felonious thugs armed with simple small arms and machetes, or other existential threats," said Hilarides. "The utter defeat and elimination of our nation's enemies is not the tradition of the American Armed Forces, and we won't break with tradition."
Duffel TV
New ISIS Propaganda Video Claims American Colors Do Run
BAGHDAD, Iraq — A new ISIS video is set to be released this week and Americans are "not going to like it," according to multiple sources in the intelligence community.
The video, which shows a member of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS or ISIL) desecrating an American flag in a washing machine, was posted to jihadist chat rooms and is expected to be widely available on the internet by week's end.
"You have a bumper sticker that says 'These colors do not run!'" the jihadist known as "Dearborn Dave" says to the camera. "But we have seen time and again, this is not true."
As he removes a flag from a Kenmore upright, he looks right into the camera and says, "Well, well, well, what have we here? The reds and blues have bled, like your soldiers, and now the whole thing is just, just purple!"
Sunni extremists believe purple to be the color of defeat for one of the many obscure, impenetrable reasons Islamists often cite. "Plus, it's a little gay," Dave says.
Dave continues addressing the audience, saying "For some reason, your Van Zants wrote a nonsensical song about it. Even our ignorant, illiterate wives know that colors must be kept separate, and washed in cold water."
The terrorist adds: "We had only to use hot water, and your colors have run! How much worse will your so-called Marines be, when we use hot lead! Will they too soil their uniforms? Ha! Of course!"
Across the U.S., the video has been met mostly negative responses.
Newly-elected Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) has promised to introduce legislation prohibiting the use of non-cold water in the laundering of U.S. flags, while Defense Department officials have asked Congress for $73 million to develop a detergent-safe flag.
And in Florida, a prominent church has threatened to wash a Quran in hot water and use the fastest spin cycle if any other American flags are harmed.
In related news, al Qaeda in Yemen has promised to walk all over a "Don't Tread On Me" flag in the near future if all US troops are not immediately withdrawn from the Middle East.
Duffel TV
Okinawa Approves New Marine Air Station On Unstable Volcanic Island
NAHA, Okinawa Prefecture — Hailed as yet another landmark consular victory between the United States and Japan, Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima signed legislation today moving Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Futenma to an unnamed and still-forming island 800 miles east of Okinawa.
Nakaima in 2013 broke a seven-year impasse between the two nations by signing a bill relocating the airbase to a less populated area on mainland Okinawa. But sources indicate that this year he has become "sick of all [the Marines'] bullshit" and accelerated the relocation in hopes "they burn in the agonizing, eternal Hell of (Goddess of Fire) Aino's bosom."
Maj. Gen. Charles S. Hudson, Commanding General Marine Corps Installation Pacific (MCIPAC), is personally ecstatic about the decision and can't wait to get started on Futenma's construction.
"Whether it was an entire aircraft group getting the clap from the Yoshihara Red Light District or a helicopter crashing into a school, I couldn't increase the distance of these Marines from any human settlement fast enough," Hudson told reporters at the MCIPAC headquarters in Hawaii.
"Thanks to Governor Nakaima — and the substantial monetary incentive by Japanese Parliament — we can accomplish our national security objectives while allowing me to sleep for eight consecutive hours for the first time in years."
MCIPAC is sparing no expense on the construction, billing the new Futenma as the first "green" US military installation by harnessing the island's extensive geothermal activity. The airstrip itself will be built on the northern end of the pristine and seismically unhinged volcanic land mass, while families will reside on the newly emerging southern end at bucolic Camp Krakatoa.
Once the land beneath it cools enough for habitation, Camp Krakatoa will be a state-of-the-art installation centered in a double-somma caldera. With exquisite views of the 100% sulfuric acid Tambora Lake, dependents will be able to take in a movie at the Pinatubo theater, work off some energy at the Vesuvius Fitness Center, or bowl a few games at the Navada Del Ruiz Columbian Cantina Bowling Alley.
Asked about his opinion on the move, MCAS Futenma Sgt. Maj. Jerry D. Taylor told Duffel Blog he is looking forward to the change of scenery.
"Even with the toxic fumaroles, pyroclastic flows, viscous lahars, choking clouds of ash, corrosive sulfur dioxide, and mild-to-moderate explosive activity, the standard of living will still be higher than any other duty station I have served at."
Duffel TV
Marine One Crew Wishes President Would Shut the F— Up Already
WASHINGTON — Both Marine One pilots waiting on the White House South Lawn wish the President would shut the f–k up and get on the goddamn aircraft so they can power the f–king engines and get this heat going, sources close to the pilots confirmed.
The crew chief, who has been standing at the position of attention for 30 minutes while the president goes on about some bulls–t agreement with Russia, is also ready "to get this show on the road, get back to Quantico, and finish his Walking Dead binge," the source told Duffel Blog.
The engines of the VH-3D Sea King, the VIP version of the aircraft Sikorsky designed to fuck up Soviet subs, are usually sufficient to drown out most politicians, other sources say, which is why Marines were chosen to operate the aircraft. "But this goddamn clown loves to hear himself talk, and doesn't really give a shit if anyone can hear him," one of the pilots said.
"It isn't just about the engines, either," according to Marine Corps Spokesman Col. Lionel Hart. "Marines are the only bastards tough enough and professional enough to sit quietly in the freezing cold while the President flaps his cock holster."
The aircraft's co-pilot, however, disagrees.
"I'd rather be smoking f–kers in Afghanistan," he said. "I thought this job would get me laid, not a beer belly and hemorrhoids."
Duffel TV
Base-Wide Alert After ISIS Breaks Into Soldier's Car
FORT BENNING, Ga. – An Army base in Georgia was placed on Threat Condition (THREATCON) Delta today, the highest force protection measures in the Department of Defense, after a military serviceman reported that the terrorist group ISIS had broken into his car.
The victim, Staff Sgt. Jason Boutros of the Army's Maneuver Center, reported to military police that his car had been forcibly entered during the night and his stereo and several loose pieces of military gear had all been removed from the vehicle.
"I came out to my driveway this morning, and there was a window smashed on my car," Boutros told Duffel Blog. Tragically, every single piece of Boutros' TA-50 gear was in the car at the time, and are presumed stolen.
Law enforcement sources speculate that ISIS may try to sell the stolen equipment at a local pawn shop in Columbus to raise money for additional terrorist activities.
ISIS, a terrorist organization with roots in Iraq and Syria, is responsible for overrunning large parts of the Middle East. It has committed multiple murders and war crimes as part of its goal to create a neo-Salafist caliphate and introduce shariah law to the Persian Gulf region and Chattahoochee County, Georgia.
It has also hacked the social media accounts of Central Command and issued multiple threats to U.S. military members. While the organization is not known to have carried out any terrorist attacks outside of the Middle East, authorities nonetheless remain vigilant.
"We encourage all Americans to report suspicious activity, no matter how trivial," said Andrew Olek, a spokesman for the Army's Criminal Investigation Division.
He noted that in response to their recent defeat by Kurdish peshmerga fighters near Kobane in Syria, ISIS leaders had called on their supporters to commit a new wave of aggression against American military personnel, by double-parking in front of their vehicles or slowing down their Internet bandwidth.
A recent incident at Fort Bragg, where an individual was seen driving around the base shouting threats at people, was originally thought to be an ISIS plot, but later turned out to be part of a routine alcohol binge.
On Fort Benning, authorities suspect ISIS has been responsible for a series of petty burglaries and acts of vandalism that have brought the war home to a once quiet community. These include smashing the windows of vacant buildings, keying the cars of high-ranking officers, and taking unauthorized photographs of military spouses from the bushes outside their homes.
Several Army leaders have also linked ISIS to a recent spike in drinking and driving incidents and believe the group may also be running a drug and prostitution ring in the barracks. ISIS is also a prime suspect in an alleged plot to degrade unit readiness by flooding the town of Columbus with dozens of strippers and seedy bars.
Boutros has also asked federal authorities to investigate whether ISIS was also responsible for emptying out his bank account during a recent deployment.
Duffel TV
American-Born ISIS Recruit Beheaded For Calling Cadence
MOSUL, Iraq – Sources confirmed American citizen Rick Phelps was beheaded today in Iraq after footage was disseminated to various media outlets depicting him being brutally decapitated with a steak knife.
Phelps, 32, from Topeka, Kansas and a former member of the Westboro Baptist Church, converted to Islam in early 2014, adopted the name "Mohammed al-Fatwa," and took up arms with the Islamic State, reportedly saying, "These guys hate gays and the American military almost as much as I do."
Phelps, notorious for his extremist views and excessive motivation, would oftentimes break out unsolicited marching cadences randomly throughout the day, much to the chagrin of his peers.
"Allah, that guy was such a fucking boot," remarked Ibrahim Bakir, who underwent basic training alongside Phelps. "I swore I would cut off his balls and feed them to him if I heard him sing 'C-130 Rolling Down the Strip' one more time, but someone beat me to the punch.
"I have no doubt that missing this opportunity will be the deepest regret I carry to my grave," he added.
Indeed, Phelps' enthusiasm proved to be so demoralizing that superiors prohibited any form of cadence calling. The celebrated mandate was short-lived, however, as an undeterred Phelps continued to "inspire" his comrades with classics like "Yellow Ribbon," "When I Get to Jannah," "Four Winds," and "Everywhere We Go."
Icy glares and disgruntled rumblings prompted one officer to address the issue head-on, and Phelps' soulful rendition of "Mama, Mama Can't You See?" was cut short as his head was violently severed from his body.
"People wonder why we hate America," said the unidentified masked man to the camera, holding Phelps' dripping head. "Case in point."
While most American service members have lauded the incident as a justified "mercy killing," at least one "legendary" retired Marine Corps sergeant major called it "an utter tragedy."
Paul contributed to this report.
Iran attacks US warships in the Gulf of Tonkin
John Walker Lindh killed in drone strike moments after release
Make-A-Wish kid spends day as a Marine standing in line at the armory
Officers with Bronze Star license plates least likely to have left FOB
Pornhub opens first SIPR website
Sergeant major of the Army approves new background for official photos
ENDGAME SPOILER: Captain America kills himself in VA parking lot post credits
The new intel analyst is weirder than the chaplain's assistant
Platoon Sergeant Claims 38 Soldiers On His Tax Return
Senator Heroically Saves Obsolete Program, 20,000 Coincidental Jobs In His State
Advanced Weapons Tested For Destroyer That Will Never Destroy Anything
New ISIS Propaganda Video Claims American Colors Do Run
Okinawa Approves New Marine Air Station On Unstable Volcanic Island
Marine One Crew Wishes President Would Shut the F— Up Already
Base-Wide Alert After ISIS Breaks Into Soldier's Car
American-Born ISIS Recruit Beheaded For Calling Cadence
OPINION: We shouldn't build any new nuclear weapons until we use the ones we already have
Navy says its not the size of the fleet, but how you use it
Hero Pfc. spends entire enlistment at dental
Pentagon relieved to discover tankers in Gulf Of Oman just collided with US Navy warships
Marines send homemade cards, letters to Mattis on first Father's Day apart
Chief of Naval Operations lauds return to tradition of 'false flag' operations
Army not looking forward to prostate exam after 244th birthday
Chaplain's wife drives to different state in disguise to buy dildo
Navy3 weeks ago
Iran attacks US warships in the Gulf of Tonkin
News4 weeks ago
John Walker Lindh killed in drone strike moments after release
Marine Corps1 month ago
Make-A-Wish kid spends day as a Marine standing in line at the armory
Army2 months ago
Officers with Bronze Star license plates least likely to have left FOB
News2 months ago
Pornhub opens first SIPR website
Army2 months ago
Sergeant major of the Army approves new background for official photos
Army2 months ago
ENDGAME SPOILER: Captain America kills himself in VA parking lot post credits
Army3 months ago
The new intel analyst is weirder than the chaplain's assistant


text:
Finding the right hearing aids is a bit like finding the right pair of running shoes. Although a friend might recommend a certain brand or model of shoe, you might find that it doesn't work very well for you. Even if you wear the same size, the running shoe that works for one person is not guaranteed to work for another.
Hearing aids are very similar; the fitting is completely personal. A review of a particular brand or model of hearing aid may not be useful because two people may have the same hearing loss but different preferences for a hearing aid. A better way to find a suitable hearing aid for you is to directly compare different pairs of hearing aids. Ask your hearing health professional for a demonstration of a couple of different brands or models.
Comparing hearing aids
Hearing aid comfort is related to both physical and acoustic qualities. Demonstration hearing aids will not be custom-fit for your ear canal, but they can be programmed for your hearing loss. It will usually only takes a few minutes for the hearing care professional to hook the hearing aids to the computer and program them for you to try. They may even do this before you arrive for your hearing aid consultation appointment.
If it's your first pair of hearing aids, it may be difficult to figure out how to distinguish between the options. Everything will sound louder and you'll be hearing things that you haven't heard in awhile! It can be helpful to plan a strategy for evaluating each pair. Consider the following list of ways to compare hearing aids and pick a couple of ideas to use for each set of hearing aids that you try. Be sure to take a few notes as you discover preferences.
Listen to the sound of your own voice.
When you try a pair of hearing aids, your voice will sound louder than you expect. There is always an adjustment period for new hearing aid wearers to grow accustomed to hearing their own voices. You can use this to your advantage as a comparator if you speak aloud the same sentence or paragraph for each pair of hearing aids. Recite a poem you know or read the same paragraph from a magazine for each pair of hearing aids that you wear. Are there differences in the way you perceive your own voice?
Listen to the hearing aid in different program settings and environments.
Most hearing aids have programs for listening in quiet and listening in noise. Find out how to change between these programs with each set of hearing aids you wear. For listening in a quiet setting, you can just talk with the hearing care professional. For listening in a noisy setting, you will need to find a noisier place. Try going to the waiting room to talk with the receptionist or a loved one. The clinician may also have some sound samples that she can use to simulate a noisy situation, like a restaurant or a party. You may even want to walk outside and see if you can tell a difference when features like wind noise are turned on or off.
Try it with the phone.
If you use your mobile phone every day, pull it out of your pocket or purse and try it out during your in-office trial. You don't have to call anyone; you can just call in to your voicemail or call for the local time and weather. Determine how you need to position the phone in order to hear the signal through the hearing aid. Ask your hearing care professional about options for phone connectivity that may exist with model. Also try a landline telephone, if there is one available to you to try. If there's a telecoil in the demonstration hearing aids, see how that sounds with the landline phone.
Practice changing the battery.
There are four common battery sizes for hearing aids and they're all relatively small. A larger hearing aid can accommodate a larger battery that usually needs to be changed less often. Each pair of hearing aids might have a slightly different design to the battery door. Getting a jump-start on learning how to change the battery will help you make an informed choice in hearing aid size and style.
Ask about compatible or recommended accessories.
Hearing aids are a big investment in your quality of life. Find out if there are things you'll want to purchase to keep them operating well for years to come, like a system to dry them out overnight or a set of filters that protect the microphone from excess earwax. Today's hearing aids are often capable of wirelessly connecting to other audio devices, like music players, televisions and mobile phones. You might also consider assistive devices that can go beyond what the hearing aid does, like a system for flashing the lights when the doorbell rings or a bed shaker to wake you in the morning.
What are the best hearing aids for you?
Hearing aid reviews
Although your friend's well-intentioned shoe recommendation wasn't a good fit, the review you got about the customer service he experienced at the running store will probably be a good indicator of whether you want to visit that store to pick out your shoes. Now, this is a recommendation you can use!
Patient satisfaction with hearing aids is related to the quality of the hearing healthcare experience. Look for a professional in your area who will listen carefully to your needs, preferences and previous experience so that they can help you find the best hearing solution for you. If you don't have a friend that can provide a personal recommendation, online consumer reviews can help you compare the clinics in your area.
The Healthy Hearing clinic directory contains consumer reviews that are submitted by real patients via mail, online or phone survey. All reviews are moderated in order to assure quality and validity. If you have visited a clinic that's listed on Healthy Hearing, please take the time to write a detailed review so you can share your experience with other visitors to the site!


text:
Amputation is the removal of a body part. This can be done by a
doctor in a hospital setting, such as when a foot must be
amputated because of
diabetes complications. But amputation may also
happen during an accident.
An amputation may be complete (the body
part is completely removed or cut off) or partial (much of the body part is cut
off, but it remains attached to the rest of the body).
In some
cases amputated parts can be successfully reattached. The success of the
reattachment depends on:
If you witness an amputation:
ByHealthwise StaffPrimary Medical ReviewerWilliam H. Blahd, Jr., MD, FACEP - Emergency MedicineSpecialist Medical ReviewerH. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency MedicineMartin J. Gabica, MD - Family Medicine
Current as ofMarch 20, 2017
Next Section:
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Current as of:
March 20, 2017
Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:
William H. Blahd, Jr., MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine & H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine & Martin J. Gabica, MD - Family Medicine
This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. Learn how we develop our content.
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Last modified on: 8 September 2017


text:
Travel essentials
Notwithstanding the efforts of cartographers and government officials, Jordan doesn't use street addresses: nameplates you see on street corners are largely ignored by locals, who navigate either in relation to prominent landmarks or by asking passers-by. Mail is delivered only to PO boxes at post offices. If you're trying to find a specific address, it's a good idea to phone in advance to get detailed directions.
Though sometimes surprisingly expensive, Jordan is generally pretty good value. It's possible to see the sights, eat adequately, sleep in basic comfort and get around on public transport for roughly £65/US$100 a day for two. If you like things more comfortable – staying in good mid-range hotels, eating well, perhaps renting a car to see some out-of-the-way places – reckon on nearer £100/US$150 a day for two. To travel independently while hiring drivers and guides, staying in five-star hotels and generally living the high life, a realistic minimum is £250/US$350 a day for two. All these figures – which are rounded and approximate – exclude the cost of getting into Petra, which at £100/US$150 for a two-day ticket for two people, could bust your budget.
Jordan has a government sales tax, which applies at different rates, depending on the goods/services involved, up to about 14 percent: bear in mind that, in many situations, the price you see (or are told) doesn't include this tax, which is only added on when you come to pay. In Aqaba, sales tax is lower than the rest of Jordan. In addition, hotels and restaurants above a certain quality threshold automatically add a ten percent service charge to all bills. They are legally obliged to state these charges somewhere, although it can be as surreptitious as a tiny line on the bottom of a menu.
Crime and personal safety
The sense of honour and hospitality to guests embedded deep within Arab culture, coupled with a respect for others, means that you're extremely unlikely to become a victim of crime while in Jordan. Along with the ordinary police, Jordan maintains a force of English-speaking tourist police, identifiable by their armbands with English lettering. Posted at all tourist sites nationwide, they can deal with requests, complaints or problems of harassment. Any representation by a foreigner, whether to the tourist police or the ordinary local police, will generally have you ushered into the presence of senior officers, sat down and plied with coffee, with your complaint taken in the utmost seriousness. The nationwide police emergency number is t 911. Dial t 199 for an ambulance. Otherwise you're only likely to tangle with the police if they catch you speeding.
Terrorism and civil disorder in Jordan are extremely rare. All big hotels have barriers keeping vehicles clear of the entrance, and airport-style security for everyone entering the building (including compulsory baggage X-ray and body search). Armed police patrol all major tourist sites. At the time of writing neighbouring countries' revolutionary upheavals have not spilled over into Jordan; the short, noisy demonstrations which do occur – notably at the Husseini Mosque in Downtown Amman after Friday prayers – invariably pass off without incident. Regardless of the impression you might get from the nightly news, you'd be in no more danger travelling round Jordan than you would be in your home country.
Note that it is illegal to insult the king or the royal family, possess drugs or pornography, preach Christianity in public or encourage people to convert to any religion other than Islam.
Customs and duty-free
You're permitted to buy 200 cigarettes, one litre of spirits and two litres of wine duty-free on arrival in Jordan. All borders and airports have duty-free shops open long hours, but if you forget to buy your allowance of alcohol, cigarettes, perfume or electronic goods when you arrive, you can go to the Duty-Free Shop on Tunis Street near 5th Circle in Amman (t 06 567 8147, w jdfshops.com) within 14 days, where the whole range is available. Bring your passport.
The area around Aqaba is a Special Economic Zone, with lower taxes and its own customs rules: on all roads into the city, you'll have to pass through a customs station. On departing the zone, you may be subject to checks: personal items, up to 200 cigarettes and one litre of alcohol that you bought in the zone are exempt from duty.
Departing Jordan, duty-free shops at the airports (w en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Duty_Free) and the land borders stock familiar ranges.
The supply in Jordan is 220V AC, 50Hz – the same as in Europe. Most new buildings and big hotels have British-style square three-pin sockets. Older buildings tend to have two-pin sockets for European-style thick-pronged, round plugs.
Entry requirements
All visitors to Jordan must hold passports valid for at least six months beyond the proposed date of entry to the country. On arrival at all airports, as well as at all land and sea borders – apart from the King Hussein/Allenby Bridge – most nationalities are routinely issued with a single-entry visa. If you arrive at Aqaba, it's free; if you arrive anywhere else, it costs JD20 (payable in cash dinars only). Multiple-entry visas are available only from Jordanian embassies and consulates for JD60 or the local equivalent.
Note that citizens of certain developing countries cannot obtain a visa on arrival and must instead apply at the nearest Jordanian embassy at least three months prior to travel. A full list of these is at w visitjordan.com.
For groups of five or more people, whose journey has been arranged by an approved tour operator and who plan to stay in Jordan for at least two nights, visa fees are waived.
Both single- and multiple-entry visas are valid for a stay of thirty days. If you're planning to stay longer than that, you must register with the police in the last couple of days before the thirty-day period is up – a simple, free, five-minute procedure which grants a three-month extension.
If you plan to enter Jordan for the first time via the King Hussein/Allenby Bridge, you must already hold a visa – they are not issued at the bridge. If you left Jordan via this bridge and are returning the same way, you don't need to buy another visa as long as your current one is still within its thirty-day validity.
Always carry your passport on your person: you'll need it to check into hotels and to ease your way through any checkpoints.
Visas at Aqaba
If you enter Jordan at Aqaba – which stands at the centre of the Aqaba Special Economic Zone (ASEZ) – you are granted a free 30-day visa on arrival at Aqaba's airport, seaport or the land crossings from Israel (Eilat) or Saudi Arabia (Durra). You are then at liberty to travel around Jordan as you like.
Staying more than a month involves extending an ASEZ visa, which can be done only at the offices of ASEZA (Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority) in Aqaba itself.
If you arrive in Jordan elsewhere – other than the King Hussein/Allenby Bridge – and you let the passport officials know that you intend to go directly to Aqaba, you are in theory entitled to get a free ASEZ visa rather than paying for a standard visa. In these cases, though, you must register at the ASEZA offices in Aqaba within 48 hours of your arrival in Jordan: if you miss this deadline, you become liable for the cost of the visa plus a fine.
It's essential to take out a good travel insurance policy to cover against theft, loss of property and illness or injury. Before paying for a new policy, however, it's worth checking whether you are already covered: home insurance may cover your possessions when overseas, many private medical schemes include cover when abroad and premium bank accounts or credit cards often have travel insurance included. After exhausting these possibilities, contact a specialist travel insurance firm. Rough Guides offers tailor-made travel insurance through WorldNomads – more info at w roughguides.com/shop.
Airmail letters and postcards can take a week or two to Western Europe, up to a month to North America or Australasia. Asking someone to write the destination country in Arabic can help avoid things going astray. It's safest to ignore the street postboxes and instead send your mail from larger post offices, all of which have a box for airmail (barid jowwy). Stamps (tawabe'a) cost pennies, but parcels are expensive (JD10–15 for 1kg). International courier firms are well represented in Amman and Aqaba.
For all general purposes, the maps in this book should be adequate. Many international map publishers cover Jordan, but few offer close detail and most omit newer roads and mark villages or archeological sites inaccurately. The GeoProjects 1:730,000 map (third edition or later) leaves out some detail but is probably the best available outside Jordan. Other maps, including city maps and plans for Petra and other sites, are available at hotel bookstalls in Jordan, many produced by the Royal Jordanian Geographic Centre (w rjgc.gov.jo).
The coverage of Jordan on Google Maps is disappointing, showing main roads only and virtually no detail – and beware that Google Earth's satellite imagery of Jordan is several years out of date. Let's hope both have updated by the time you read this.
For a spectacular annotated satellite overview of Jordan's archeological sites, go to w megajordan.org.
The Jordanian unit of currency is the dinar, abbreviated to JD (or sometimes JOD). Most people refer to the dinar as a "jaydee" or a "lira". There are two subdivisions: one dinar comprises either 1000 fils or 100 piastres (qirsh). Locals always think in piastres; they only refer to fils when talking to foreigners. A hotel, restaurant or shop bill will show either "14.65" or "14.650", both of which mean 14 dinars and 65 piastres (that is, 650 fils). In this book, we are sticking to two decimal places only.
Banknotes are JD50, JD20, JD10, JD5 and JD1, all with Arabic on one side and English on the other. For coins, there's a gold, seven-sided half-dinar coin inset with a circular silver bit in the middle; a smaller quarter-dinar coin, also gold and seven-sided but without the silver inset; and silver coins of ten piastres and five piastres. All coins state their value on them somewhere in tiny English lettering.
In verbal exchanges, you'll find that people quite often leave the denomination off the end of prices. If they say something costs "ashreen" (twenty), it's up to you to decide whether they mean 20 fils (a throwaway amount), 20 piastres (ie 200 fils; the price of a street snack or a short bus ride), or 20 JDs (the cost of a room in a small hotel). Nicknames also pop up: 10 piastres is a barizeh and 5 piastres is a shilin.
Changing and carrying money
Few banks in the West keep Jordanian dinars on hand, but you should be able to order them with a few days' notice. It's a good idea to bring JD50 or so with you in cash, to cover visa and transport costs on arrival.
Most hotels and shops above the cheapest level accept credit and debit cards, but Jordan is a cash society: just about everywhere the preferred method of payment is local banknotes. You can't pay in dollars, euros or other currencies.
Security-wise, Jordan is safer than anywhere in the West: you can carry wads of cash around in your pocket without concern. You're more likely to be invited for tea than mugged.
For changing money (cash or traveller's cheques, in all major currencies), every town has a welter of banks, with identical exchange rates, and there are also plenty of independent change offices. Cash machines (ATMs) are widespread, always with an English option. You can generally withdraw a maximum of around JD250 a day, depending on your card provider, but watch for hidden fees and commission charges: it's worth checking your terms and conditions before you leave home – and switching to a card tailored for holiday use if you can. There's no black market in currency exchange.
Opening hours and public holidays
Jordan's working week runs from Sunday to Thursday. Public sector office hours are 8am to 3pm; private sector businesses tend to follow a split pattern, perhaps 8.30am–1pm and 3.30–6.30pm. The weekend is officially Friday, though banks, government departments and many businesses also close on Saturdays.
Although Muslims pray together in the mosque on a Friday, the concept of a "sabbath" or "day of rest" does not translate: downtown shops and markets are generally open seven days a week, roughly 8 or 9am to 8 or 9pm. More upmarket shops tend to open 9 or 9.30am to 6 or 7pm, perhaps closing for two or three hours at lunchtime. Almost everywhere shuts for a couple of hours around Friday midday prayers. All transport services operate seven days a week, though frequency is reduced on Fridays.
During Ramadan, the Muslim holy month of fasting, everything changes. Shops and offices open from 9am to 2 or 3pm (closed Fri), while street markets operate every day until about an hour before sunset. Banks and government departments may only be open for two or three hours in the morning. Some shops might reopen for a couple of hours after dark.
Fixed public holidays
Jordan's secular national holidays tend to be low-key affairs; banks, businesses and government offices are closed, but shops might open as normal. Even though Jordan's Christians are mostly Orthodox and follow the Julian calendar, which varies from the Gregorian calendar used in the West by a couple of weeks, everyone has agreed to celebrate Christmas Day together as a national holiday on December 25 (Muslim shops and businesses don't close).
Public holidays
Jan 1
New Year's Day
May 1
Labour Day
May 25
Independence Day
Dec 25
Christmas Day
Islamic holidays and Ramadan
Islamic religious holidays, based on the Hijra calendar, are marked by widespread public observance. All shops and offices are closed and non-essential services are liable to be suspended. The following dates are approximate, since each holiday is announced only when the new moon has been seen clearly by an authorized cleric from Jordan's Ministry of Islamic Affairs. Quoted dates could vary by a couple of days. The start of the holy month of Ramadan is also included here; Ramadan is not a holiday, but since it comprises 30 days of restricted business hours, its first day is a useful date to know.
Islamic holidays
Mawlid an-Nabawi
Prophet Muhammad's birthday. 24 Jan 2013; 13 Jan 2014; 3 Jan 2015; 23 Dec 2015.
Eid al-Isra wal-Miraj
Night Journey to Heaven. 5 June 2013; 25 May 2014; 15 May 2015; 3 May 2016.
Begins 9 July 2013; 28 June 2014; 18 June 2015; 6 June 2016.
Eid al-Fitr
3 days. Begins 8 Aug 2013; 28 July 2014; 17 July 2015; 5 July 2016.
Eid al-Adha
4 days. Begins 15 Oct 2013; 4 Oct 2014; 23 Sept 2015; 11 Sept 2016.
1st of Muharram
Islamic New Year. 5 Nov 2013; 25 Oct 2014; 14 Oct 2015; 2 Oct 2016.
Landline numbers are nine digits long – seven digits prefixed by a two-digit area code: 02 covers northern Jordan, 03 southern Jordan, 05 the Jordan Valley and central and eastern districts, and 06 the Amman area.
Mobile phone numbers are ten digits long – seven digits prefixed by a three-digit code (currently 077, 078 or 079).
Most Jordanians have given up on landlines and instead rely on mobile phones – many people have two, on different networks. To follow suit you can walk into any phone or electronics shop (there are dozens in every town), buy a local SIM card, plug it into your handset and be up and running with a Jordanian number in minutes, for JD10 or less. Topping up with scratch-cards (buyable everywhere) is straightforward. Calling and texting off a local number is very inexpensive – much cheaper than roaming from your home network. Basic handsets can be purchased for perhaps JD20–30.
Smoking is banned in public places, including airports, museums and on public transport. However, enforcement is minimal and in effect it's impossible to escape cigarette smoke anywhere in the country (see Fuming).
Jordan is usually two hours ahead of London, seven hours ahead of New York and eight hours behind Sydney. Daylight Saving Time operates from the last Friday in March to the last Friday in October. For full details, check w wave.webaim.org.
In a good restaurant, even when a service charge is included, it's customary to round the bill up slightly as well. Low-budget local diners don't expect tips and will never press you for anything. In most everyday situations a quarter-dinar tip (ie JD0.25) is a perfectly satisfactory indication of your appreciation for a service, such as a hotel porter loading your bags onto a bus or taxi. Taxi-drivers deserve ten percent of the meter charge; if a driver has spent half a day shuttling you from place to place, JD5 is in order. An appropriate tip for a bellboy in a four- or five-star hotel who brings your bags up to your room would be half a dinar (JD0.50) – or JD1 if you're feeling generous. Guidance on tipping specialist guides is given in Adventure tours and trekking.
Tourist information
The Jordan Tourism Board (JTB), part affiliated to the Ministry of Tourism and part private, publicizes the country's tourist assets abroad. In most countries, the account for handling promotion of Jordan is awarded to a local PR company, so contact details can, and do, change.
Jordan Tourism Board
w visitjordan.com.
t 514 750 9715.
t 06 567 8444.
t 020 7223 1878.
t 1 877 733 5673 or t 703 243 7404.
Useful websites
w visitjordan.com
Jordan's official tourism portal.
w kingabdullah.jo
Detailed features on history, the royal family, politics and tourism.
w jordantimes.com
Leading English-language newspaper.
w visitpetra.jo
Official website for Petra Archeological Park.
w rscn.org.jo
Excellent information on Jordan's nature reserves.
w jordanjubilee.com
Knowledgeable and entertaining travel site.
w nomadstravel.co.uk
For climbing and trekking enthusiasts.
w www.maani.us/jordan
Superb nature resource: download app or buy book.
w jmd.gov.jo
Weather forecasts and climate data.
w quitealone.com
Middle East travel blog.
Travellers with disabilities
Jordan makes few provisions for its own citizens who have limited mobility, and this is reflected in the negligible facilities for tourists. The best option is to plump for an organized tour – sightseeing is liable to be complicated enough that leaving the practical details to the professionals will take a weight off your mind. Throughout the country pavements are either narrow and broken or missing altogether, kerbs are high, stairs are ubiquitous and wheelchair access to hotels, restaurants and public buildings is pretty much nonexistent. Hotel staff and tourism officials, although universally helpful, are generally poorly informed about the needs and capabilities of tourists with limited mobility. Travelling with an able-bodied helper and being able to pay for things like a rental car (or a car plus driver) and good hotels will make things easier.
All Jordan's ancient sites are accessible only by crossing rough and stony ground. Scrambling around at Jerash or Karak is hard enough for those with full mobility; for those without, a visit represents a major effort of energy and organization. Petra has better access: with advance planning, you could arrange to rent a horse-drawn cart to take you from the ticket gate into the ancient city, from where – with written permission obtained ahead of time from the tourist police – you could be picked up in a car and driven back to your hotel.
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CONWAY, SC - The Coastal Carolina University women's basketball team (4-7) had its highest scoring output of the season as the Lady Chanticleers cruised to a 79-41 victory over Coker College (3-5) Jan. 5, in Conway, S.C. Coastal had four players in double figures, led by a career high 26 points from junior Kim Turner.
Coastal jumped out on the Cobras early, as the Lady Chants built an 11-1 lead in the first 3:21, capped off by a Turner layup. The lead was out to 20-7 on a fast break bucket from Turner and Coastal extended it to 19 points at 9:02 on a three-pointer from junior Jasmine Tyler. Coastal had its largest lead of the half on a buzzer-beating three from sophomore Alisha Dill, giving CCU a 43-18 lead.
Coastal was on fire in the first half, shooting 17-of-30 for 56.7 percent. Turner was 7-of-9 and had 16 points, while Tyler added 10. Coastal had 14 assists in the first half, led by senior Lucia Popovici's five. Coker's Shamae Hemingway had seven points for the Cobras.
Coastal was just as hot in the second half, shooting 56.5 percent. The lead was at 31 on a three from junior Amber Rose. Coker got the lead down to 26 at 52-26 on two Hemingway free throws at 13:00, but it was up to 35 at 9:06 on a Turner layup. Coastal had a lead of as high as 41 on two separate occasions. The 38-point margin of victory was the largest by the Lady Chants since a 119-66 win over Southern Virginia Feb. 26, 2003.
Turner was 10-of-12 from the field and 6-of-9 from the free-throw line. She also had four steals. Tyler ended the game with 14 points and four steals. Dill, who tied a career high, and Rose had 12 points apiece. Rose also had four three-pointers for the second consecutive game.
Coastal shot 56.6 percent on the night, which is a season high and the first time the Lady Chants shot over 50 percent this season. Coastal also limited the Cobras to just 31.5 percent from the field.
Coastal had 20 assists on the night, as Popovici and Rose had five apiece. Coastal also outrebounded Coker 39-29, as Turner and Popovici had six boards apiece.
For Coker, Hemingway, a Conway native, led the team with 17 points and six rebounds. She also had five steals.
Coker returns to action January 6, at Limestone with a 5:30 PM start time.


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This page started out as a pretty straight forward lift of the pretty layout from bawzie and ended up with a very different background! You can find the original in the Saturday Scraplift: Frame Accents portion of the DD Blog. The photos are of the beautiful fall foliage and two of our grandchildren playing in the leaves at our house.
Autumn Ice Tonal Stripes Value Paper Pack - Katie Pertiet
Bead Scatterings No. 04 Katie Pertiet
Classic Cardstock: Autumn Ice - Katie Pertiet
Damask Tonals: Autumn Ice Paper Pack - Katie Pertiet
Hello Fall 3x4 Boxes Brushes and Stamps - Ali Edwards
Ledger Paper Pieces: Leaves No. 03 Katie Pertiet
Ledger Paper Pieces Leaves No. 04 - Katie Pertiet
Ledger Paper Pieces: Leaves No. 03 - Katie Pertiet
The Monthly 12 x 12 Album Set Cathy Zielske
Vintage Photo Frames No. 04 Curled and Flat - Katie Pertiet


text: 24Aug. '12 New Books WE Like: "The Lover's Dictionary by David Levithan"How does one talk about love? Is it even possible to describe something at once utterly mundane and wholly transcendent, that has the power to consume our lives completely, while making us feel part of something infinitely larger than ourselves? Taking a unique approach to this age-old problem, the nameless narrator of David Levithan's The Lover's Dictionary constructs the story of a relationship as a dictionary. Through these sharp entries, he provides an intimate window into the great events and quotidian trifles of coupled om, giving us an indelible and deeply moving portrait of love in our time. "You Against Me by Jenny Downham"If someone hurts your sister and you're any kind of man, you seek revenge, right? If your brother's been accused of a terrible crime and you're the main witness, then you banish all doubt and defend him. Isn't that what families do? When Mikey's sister claims a boy assaulted her at a party, his world of work and girls begins to fall apart. When Ellie's brother is charged with the crime, but says he didn't do it, her world of revision, exams and fitting in at a new school begins to unravel. When Mikey and Ellie meet, two worlds collide. Brave and unflinching, this is a novel of extraordinary skillfulness and almost unbearable tension. It's a book about loyalty and the choices that come with it. But above all it's a book about love – for one's family and for another. "Starters by Lissa Price"Callie lost her parents when the Spore Wars wiped out everyone between the ages of 20 and 60. She and her little brother, Tyler, go on the run, living as squatters with their friend Michael and fighting off renegades who would kill them for a cookie. Callie's only hope is Prime Destinations, a disturbing place in Beverly Hills run by a mysterious figure known as the Old Man. He hires teens to rent their bodies to Enders—seniors who want to be young again. Callie, desperate for the money that will keep her, Tyler, and Michael alive, agrees to be a donor. But the neurochip they place in Callie's head malfunctions and she wakes up in the life of her renter, living in her mansion, driving her cars, and going out with a senator's grandson. It feels almost like a fairy tale, until Callie discovers that her renter intends to do more than party—and that Prime Destinations' plans are more evil than Callie could ever have imagined. . . . "I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga"What if the world's worst serial killer…was your dad?Jasper (Jazz) Dent is a likable teenager. A charmer, one might say.But he's also the son of the world's most infamous serial killer, and for Dear Old Dad, Take Your Son to Work Day was year-round. Jazz has witnessed crime scenes the way cops wish they could–from the criminal's point of view.And now bodies are piling up in Lobo's Nod.In an effort to clear his name, Jazz joins the police in a hunt for a new serial killer. But Jazz has a secret–could he be more like his father than anyone knows? Posted by mcipollari. Categories: Books, General. Tags: Books, Fiction, Good Reads, New Books, YA Books, Young Adult Books. Comments Off on New Books WE Like: