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Friday, 9 January 2009
A visit to Nijmegen
Nijmegen, 160 km south of where we live in Assen, is considered to be the oldest city in the Netherlands. It's a city with many beautiful buildings which celebrated its 2000th year in 2005.
My friend Terry (who visited us last year and features in another post about a bike ride between Assen and Groningen ) lives in Nijmegen and I visited him last Saturday by train, taking along my folding bike.
The free of charge, guarded and secure cycle park that we use is one of five in the city.
Nijmegen has many historic buildings, and much reconstruction was required after the second world war to repair the city. Much of the devastation of the city was the result not of the occupying forces, but of Allied bombers accidentally bombing the city centre on February 22nd 1944.
Many of the older buildings were recreated much as they used to be. However, the shopping centre was rebuilt with wide avenues to take motorised traffic. As you'll see from the video, this is not how they have remained.
While the Netherlands is not a hilly country overall, Nijmegen is quite a hilly city. This has not prevented it from having a high rate of cycling.
In 2002, the new government of Nijmegen decided to invest €10M over 4 years in new cycling infrastructure. The population is 161000 so this comes to over €15 per person per year.
Nijmegen was nominated as Fietsstad 2008 (Cycling City 2008) but lost out to Houten.
I also visited Nijmegen back in 2005, and wrote about the bicycle museum. The centre of Nijmegen is, like most city centres, "nearly car free".
2 comments:
- Kevin Love said...
Nijmegen is a familiar name here. My old Toronto militia regiment, The Royal Regiment of Canada liberated that bit of Holland along with the Montreal militia regiment The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment of Canada), and many others.
Sadly, the nearby Canadian military cemetary in Groesbeek is where 2,300 Canadian Forces members lie buried who gave their lives fighting in the Nijmegen Salient and nearby areas.
When Her Majesty first comissioned me in The Royal Regiment, it was a great honour to be able to talk at social events with many of the veterans of the fighting in Nijmegen, The Scheldt, Groningen, Xanten and many other places in Holland, France and Germany.
Alas, their numbers are falling before the inevitable victory of time.
Still, every year, we send a contingent to participate in the famous Nijmegen March. See:
There is also a famous painting of Toronto's soldiers near Nijmegen. See:
I myself was able to visit the Canadian military cemetary at Holten when I was last in the Netherlands. - 9 January 2009 03:02
- lehommeaulevelo said...
When I read anything about Nijmegen I immediately Think about that Picture A Bridge To far,The Rhine Bridges that the Allies were trying to Capture and shorten the War. I love the Fact that the Bike Parking Station is Free and has an Attendant to mind your Bike and such a lot of Bikes.
That lovely Long Avenue is Free of Cars it looks so Lovely there, A beautiful City worth Visiting. - 10 January 2009 00:43


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Pharyngodon Cope, 1865, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 17: 193. Type species: Pharyngodon petasatus Cope, 1865, by monotypy. Preoccupied by Pharyngodon Diesing, 1861. Synonymy by Cope, 1866, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 18: 127.
Triprion Cope, 1866, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 18: 127. Type species: Pharyngodon petasatus Cope, 1865, by monotypy.
Casquehead Treefrogs (Liner, 1994, Herpetol. Circ., 23: 29; Lee, 2000, Field Guide Amph. Rept. Maya World: 116).
Casque-headed Treefrogs (Liner and Casas-Andreu, 2008, Herpetol. Circ., 38: 26).
Shovel-headed Treefrogs (Frank and Ramus, 1995, Compl. Guide Scient. Common Names Amph. Rept. World: 65).
Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, Guatemala, and into Honduras.
For discussion see Duellman, 1970, Monogr. Mus. Nat. Hist. Univ. Kansas: 628-640, and Duellman, 2001, Hylid Frogs Middle Am., Ed. 2: 998, provided phylogenetic discussion and accounts of the species. Savage, 2002, Copeia, 2002: 549, provided evidence for close relationship of Triprion, Smilisca, and Pternohyla. In Hylini of Faivovich, Haddad, Garcia, Frost, Campbell, and Wheeler, 2005, Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist., 294: 89. Wiens, Fetzner, Parkinson, and Reeder, 2005, Syst. Biol., 54: 25, considered Triprion to be a synonym of Hyla. Smith, Arif, Nieto-Montes de Oca, and Wiens, 2007, Evolution, 61: 2075-2085, removed Triprion spatulatus to Diaglena to remedy the paraphyly of "Triprion" with respect to Anotheca.
Please note: these links will take you to external websites not affiliated with the American Museum of Natural History. We are not responsible for their content.

subset: commoncrawl


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The morning-after pill goes for about $50, said Susannah Baruch, interim president and CEO of Reproductive Health Technologies Project.
FDA approves morning-after Plan B pill for 15-year-olds
Agency 1st approved Plan B in 1999
Published On: May 01 2013 05:25:50 AM CDT
Updated On: Apr 30 2013 03:43:35 AM CDT
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Don't use SoDo. We aren't Denver.
I'm all for The Pinery being a successful business. However, as a concerned neighbor of the business, I am concerned that each added business proposal will only lead to more infringements on our cozy little neighborhood. Already, though it was indicated at the initial meeting that parking lot lights would be established in such a way as to not infringe on the surrounding neighborhood, we spend the night with very bright lights beaming straight through our bedroom window. I hope the business is community-minded and wants to work with the community as a good neighbor and not just for the purpose of having higher revenues.
A fundraiser to benefit Adams Mountain Cafe and staff has been announced for Thursday, Aug., 22, 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the Margarita at PineCreek. $25 per person includes Bristol beers, tapas and small plates alongside live music. Seating is limited so call ahead (598-8667) to reserve.
I hope he continues to offer free wi-fi (with a five dollar purchase) as the sign on the door says...not sure how it is free if you have to spend $5, although I understand what the purpose is.
The new date for September is the 8th. See you there!
King - Now that is a dang good review. Well written and didn't pretend that you were not his buddy. I'm going to try it simply because I liked what you said and how you said it.
Andres has a passion for cooking and I have a passion for good food. We spent a lot of time in a kitchen in Iraq together talking about that passion and his plans to get his own thing started.
(by the way, I wasn't in there cooking. I was in there waiting for his food to be done!) He is a master of making appetizing meals with limited materials in confined spaces. Combine that with his Columbian influence and you're left with food that tastes fresh and leaves you feeling satisfied.
I am completely confident that this will be THE BEST food truck in Colorado and will only get better. I vouch for this man and his truck not only as a friend but as a food enthusiast.
Enjoy his food truck while you can. With his personality, it won't be long before he ends up with his own television show.
Thanks for the tip on Ranch food direct, went today and had an awesome bacon cheeseburger, with home made fries (cooked in beef talo) and a drink all for $6 even. Drive past Carl's, McDs, BK, Arbys, Taco Bell, and all the rest to this place.
This is really helpful information, and some of what makes living here fun...this is my favorite column in the Indy...good work and thank you!
Nourish is really wonderful alternative to a greasy hamburger...everything is fresh, the people are enthusiastic, the place is clean and relaxed.
Really just everything you would hope for in this sort of healthy eats oriented place.
There is no such thing as "the New Life Church neighborhood". That neighborhood that Cafe Velo and Mission Roasters are in is known as "Trailridge" and is considered by some as a part of the greater "Northgate" neighborhood. And officially (according to the Colorado Springs city government) New Life Church is in the Interquest neighborhood.
New Life Church adds nothing to the neighborhood around it but traffic (and numerous traffic violators) and an ugly blue roof. Few of them who live outside the neighborhood patronize the local businesses. The Chinese restaurant next to Cafe Velo even started closing on Sunday due to the lack of business.
Darn...I want a sit down lunch, not bar food and carry out.
The BlueStar lunch is the best in downtown without having to spend a half hour finding a parking place.
We have also redesigned the page completely and serve awesome steaks:
The Warehouse is the best place for a good steak in town!
This man is a complete scam artist and just took me for all the money I had saved to move. I would now be homeless if it weren't for friends. He is good at what he does, be careful and watch for his properties on University and Pikes Peak and one on Pikes Peak and Logan. Everything will seem completely legitimate, but it's not. I will not rest until he pays for his heartlessness.
I had a truly delicious cup of coffee at Kelly's shop. What a delight! Brett from Mission Coffee Roasters
Randy Sigley? Property manager? Watch out, the man is a scam artist and had scammed dozens of people in colorado springs.
This is actually the best Mexican food in town. So much of what passes for Mex or Tex-Mex here is melted cheese with hot peppers poured over various substances.
Jose's actually has distinct ingredients, well prepared and presented food with a good bar...all for no more than the dives.
It is our place of choice for Mex dinning.
Urban Steam is urban chic


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Never make assumptions. You'll end up being an A**, and the UMP will TION you. -- Coach Smiley -- Fresh Prince of Bel Air
I know this video is a long one, but it really is a good one. A lot of people are saying it's Dr Greger's finest.
There's a lot of highlights in there, but just to give you a taste, check out what he says at 32:08.Meat consumption causes weight gain compared to a vegetarian diet even when the caloric intake is the same on both diets.
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Go Swimming has everything you need to know about swimming. If you are a parent, a non swimmer or just want to improve your technique this is the section for you.
In British Swimming you will find information about the world of high performance sport, including the disciplines of Swimming, Diving, Synchronised Swimming, Water Polo and Para-Swimming.
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Such nice people serving a quality product. Certainly there is deli food, but also an enticing list of daily featured specials that go way farther than just deli food.
Such nice people serving a quality product. Certainly there is deli food, but also an enticing list of daily featured specials that go way farther than just deli food.
Consistently good fresh food @ reasonable prices! Close to the lake, downtown and all attractions. Breakfast, lunch or supper, lots of choices and most made fresh daily!
I recently had Lakeview Deli cater my wedding and they did a wonderful job! It was delicious and even though the food traveled from Saranac Lake to Wilmington, it was still hot and fresh (despite the oven we rented not working). The service team was great and went above and beyond the call of duty. They catered (no pun intended)... More
This is a great lunch spot right on Lake Flower in Saranac lake. Fresh made sandwiches and subs, deli salads or hot specials, and baked goods. Be ready for a short wait in line everyone knows about this place. There is inside and outside seating but it's limited. I get food to go and walk across the street to Lake... More
They have really great sandwiches for take out that you can eat at home or at tables outside. Not sure is this is mainly a "local" place but I had a meal catered by Lakeview of ziti and baked chicken that was excellent. Can't go wrong here.
great sandwiches/soups/desserts/nice people/wide variety to choose from/best delicatessen in the North Country.
The Lakeview Deli is a little hole-in-the-wall place that has the best sandwiches around. The locals all know that, and hopefully the tourists do too. I had a Cuban that was made on their own baked sourdough. Excellent! The Corned beef reuben was great too. Not much in atmosphere, but you can't get a better sandwich. A must visit.
Go here on a regular basis and find the food is always excellent. The regular sandwich menu has good choices and the specials are creative and always taste great. The deli salads are first rate. Saranac Lake is lucky to have a place like this. Try the Gobbler.
no matter how it looks is food is wonderful I've eaten more than 50 subs there and over 100 soups there.there fast local and the food is delicious. over my 12 years of living thats the first place i think of ! got to go HERE!!!!! #1
Lakeview Deli helped cater our wedding rehearsal party and did an amazing job. Katie was extremely helpful in our decision making and everything they delivered was delicious. The deli is one of our first stops when we're in Saranac Lake.
If you own or manage Lakeview Deli, register now for free tools to enhance your listing, attract new reviews, and respond to reviewers.
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Modules can be moved up or down, or column to column, by hovering the mouse cursor over the module title bar, when the mouse cursor changes to 4-arrows, hold the left-mouse button down, drag the module to where you want to place it, then release the mouse button (this is called drag-and-drop). Modules can be displayed in up to four (4) columns as set under Screen Options.
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This Dashboard module lists "the latest news from the official WordPress blog". Here you can find out what the WordPress developers have been up to recently and keep up with the latest WordPress related news. In addition to software developments, such as version announcements and security notices, news about the WordPress community in general is periodically posted.
And in this box, there are titles of posts and links to other blogs devoted to the WordPress community.


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FeaturedCommentsAwesone artworks! Oh you should try for you TMNT VS Zombie to recreate Splinter and maybe a few others Characters, Like April ou Cassey Jones or maybe the Shredder! That would be awesome.
We need more to the tmnt vs zombies series, you are the best. splinter, april, casey and shredder and one foot soldier


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It is a 5 minute drive from the M74 and 5 minutes walk from local shops and restaurants, situated on the edge of rural Strathaven. There is private parking within the garden. Breakfast times are upon arrangement.
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Love It or Livid – Justice League 3, Teen Titans 3, Batman 3
Good evening Gotham! It's an in-between week for comics, so there are no new Batman books to talk about today. That gives me a chance to share some favourite (love it) and not-so-favourite (livid) moments from recent issues. Here we go!
Justice League 3, by Geoff Johns, Jim Lee and Scott Williams, gave us this page scoring points for love it. I enjoy stories about people from other places coming to our world, and seeing Wonder Woman getting to know the better parts of America is so much fun. Somehow I always knew she'd go for ice cream.
I love Wonder Woman's kick-ass attitude! There's a great Batman moment a bit later on in the issue, as the Justice League fights demons that are attacking the planet.
Vampire Batman, telling Green Lantern how to use his ring? How could I not love it?
Next up is Teen Titans 3, by Scott Lobdell, Brett Booth and Norm Rapmund. @VenPixel pointed out a livid moment in the issue, when Kid Flash cracks a four-digit code to unlock a door. I'm not an expert, but I don't think the switches on the control panel could keep up with his Flash-enhanced typing skills (see 'switch debouncing')!
Silly speedster, keypads are for humans. Another thing in Teen Titans that makes me livid is this scene, in which Red Robin is disguised as an old man 'riding the rails' to accompany Skitter across the country. When he reveals his superhero identity to Bunker, there's a moment when Tim's face is entirely bare – anyone as paranoid as Tim wouldn't allow that.
Why isn't he wearing the domino mask under the old man face? Wow, that was a weird sentence. I liked the comic overall, but I feel like they've been too lax with Tim going around unmasked. If we accept the idea that a tiny little mask protects his identity, we have to also assume he'll be extremely diligent about wearing it.
Last for tonight we have Batman 3, by Scott Snyder, Greg Capullo and Jonathan Glapion. I haven't really been talking in detail about storylines, but I definitely love the current story in Batman. 'The Court of Owls', a group of men who have been "ruling Gotham from the shadows since colonial times" attempted to kill Bruce Wayne. Bruce turns to Alfred for help, and Alfred shares this story about Bruce's great, great grandfather Alan Wayne, and his terrible fear of owls.
I love the idea that Alfred's father was butler to the Wayne family before him! And how he tries to drug Bruce with "medicinal" tea, now that's a butler! The art is also beautiful, on this page I especially like the top panel (we're inside the Batman cowl, watching Bruce and Alfred) and the use of colour.
That's it for me! It's been fun taking a love it or livid look at comics – I might do it again! Let me know what you think of these or any other Batman comics in the comments, and have a great night.


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Teachers' Long-term Sickness and Maternity Leave
Pooling the effects of long-term sickness and maternity, paternity and adoption leave of teachers.
This is a sharing of the financial impact among all the participating schools and academies within the administrative area of the County Council and is not available to other local authorities.
Participants claim for reimbursement of teacher sickness for absences of more than 20 working days continuously, or 30 working days in total within a financial year.
Reimbursements are also made for the costs of maternity, paternity and adoption leave for teachers, with the reimbursement from the statutory maternity pay scheme being taken into account.
Schools and academies participate over the period of the agreement.
The original period was 2008 to 2011, but it has been extended to March 2012, and exceptionally, schools and academies can join for 2011/12 only.
At the end of the participation period, the total value of reimbursements is compared with the total subscriptions received and any surplus is distributed to participants, or any deficit made good, by a supplementary contribution.
Shares the risks of long-term sickness of teachers between schools and over the period of participation.
Enables schools to plan maternity and adoption leave cover without facing a double financial burden.
Makes it easier for schools to recruit and retain staff on the basis of gender equality.
Simplifies financial planning, as school-level contingency not required for these items.
Charging for 2011/12 is based on an amount per pupil.
In the case of the County Council's maintained schools, this rate reflects the amounts delegated plus a 20% supplement.
The charges are differentiated by phase of school but not otherwise.
Contact us to find out more about our services.
Customer feedback is used to improve and develop this service, in line with the Quality Assurance Framework for Services for Schools.
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Friday writing
Article posted May 7, 2012 at 03:51 PM GMT • comment • Reads 683
on a rainy day I go inside and sit down then i play games but then i get bored.So I went down stairs.To play with Parker so we played golden axe but then.I went biking around first I went to the store.then I went inside all wet so i dried off and stayed inside.
friday writing
Article posted April 27, 2012 at 03:34 PM GMT • comment • Reads 186
Football food is the best.I like ice cream you can make sundaes,float,ice cream cake. Ice cream originated in china around 200 BC.
Friday Writing
Article posted April 20, 2012 at 03:56 PM GMT • comment • Reads 195
I agree we dont need the the penny. all it is one cent.
We cant buy anything.
It is good for like if you half to pay ten dollers and two cents.
i won't mss the penny.
Article posted March 30, 2012 at 04:20 PM GMT • comment (1) • Reads 200
Spring is nice for kids to play foot ball.
pretty flowers always come out.
roses are as fresh as summer.
i realy love spring its nice to play out side.
nice in spring it is not the snow.
great for it finally to be warm.
Article posted March 16, 2012 at 04:49 PM GMT • comment (1) • Reads 258
living in space we will live in space ships and were going to were space suits we will half to eat out of tubes and grow food your favourite book and why
Article posted February 17, 2012 at 09:16 PM GMT • comment • Reads 265
Article posted January 20, 2012 at 03:47 PM GMT • comment (1) • Reads 307
Civil Rights
Article posted January 19, 2012 at 08:07 PM GMT • comment (1) • Reads 213


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Hotels.com 住客于 2011年04月29日做过点评
Enjoyed stay for what it was. A base to sleep at. Lost wallet during stay but no newsHotels.com 真实住客点评
"Cheap n cheerful."
Booked it for the price and location and it was adequate for the purpose. Small double bed which may be an issue for some people but the only thing that really put a damper of the stay was not being warned that the Highways agency closing the slip road which necessitated us having to travel further up the motorway and back rpundHotels.com 真实住客点评
it is always good to stay at Days InnHotels.com 真实住客点评
Hotel has no policy in intervening for anti social guests, hotel seems to be made of cardboard as you can hear when anyone opens any door or is walking aroundHotels.com 真实住客点评
"ideal base for local attractions."
great and comfortable.Hotels.com 真实住客点评
"Great Hotel for visiting family"
I was worried that the Hotel, being on the motorway services, would be quite noisy. But was suprised to find the room quiet and comfortable. Will use again.Expedia 真实住客点评
"No better or worse than expected"
For a cheap hotel in a motorway services I can't complain. Staff were friendly and helpful, room was clean, TV worked. Only minor issue was that bed sloped slightly but we didn't really notice. Does what it says on the tin.Hotels.com 真实住客点评
"Great hotel"
I like the hotel. Clean. Friendly staff. Nice locationExpedia 真实住客点评
"Great location"
The room was hot on arrival but other wise good valueHotels.com 真实住客点评
"Almost perfect!"
The bed was so tightly made that it was impossible to lay in comfortably. We, in separate beds, had to get out and un-tuck our bedding all around, which wasn't as easy as it sounds, and was unwelcome after 2 exhausting, stressful days driving and trying to find a house to buy. The counter top, which had the kettle etc on it, had a bevel on it's top […] edge which resulted in my breakfast sliding off and ending on the floor. When reported, the staff member on reception said "lots of people had pointed this out." Even though I asked her to pass my complaint on, I didn't get the impression that it was likely to happen. On the night we checked in (Sat 20th April 2013) the motorway access to the hotel was closed due to roadworks and the staff member, James, saved the day, patiently giving complex directions of the alternative route. Once we had arrived, he couldn't have been more helpful and friendly, I can't praise him highly enough. If not for these points I would have rated Days Inn, Bradford South 5 stars. 阅读更多信息Expedia 真实住客点评
"Great stay"
The stay is always good at Days Inn on the m62 , it is the second time we have stayed there and it wont be the lastHotels.com 真实住客点评
"Pleasantly surprised!"
Having not stayed in a Days Inn prior to this visit I was unsure of what to expect, but found the Hotel to be very clean and surprisingly quiet - given it is located in Motorway Services on the M62. Staff were friendly at Check in and room was clean. The room was also a lot cheaper than the competitors - can't really ask for more.Hotels.com 真实住客点评
good for moneyHotels.com 真实住客点评
"Convenient location..."
...but a tired old hotel. Service was friendly but the room had a broken bathroom fan, a broken shaving plug and didn't smell too fresh.Hotels.com 真实住客点评
"Need some more "touch and feel""
Woke up few times in the middle of the night because the bed mattress falls onto the middle of the bed. Woke up very tired next morning. Bedding sheet was old with few small holes.Expedia 真实住客点评
"budget hotel"
ideal location for us and good value for money,staff very polite and the rooms where very clean.have a great value breakfast deal only fault we had was the mattress where we found hard and springey if not for that my ratings would be higher.Hotels.com 真实住客点评
"my stay"
hi i was very pleased with my stay the hotel was very clean and in a good location. the staff were very helpfull and cheerie nothing was a bother to them i would stay at he hotel again i would give it a 10 out of 10 xHotels.com 真实住客点评
"Friendly, helpful staff"
It's a basic place, but great value and the staff are lovely and very helpfulHotels.com 真实住客点评
"Really helpful and friendly staff"
My friend and I were staying because we were going to a gig in Huddersfield. The staff were really helpful in organising a taxi and buddying us up with others going to the same place to make the taxi cheeper. The sofa bed was already made up so there was nothing to do. The room was simple but had everything we needed for the price.Hotels.com 真实住客点评
"Days inn Bradford south"
Very good stay. Can't go wrong for the priceHotels.com 真实住客点评
"Great overnight stay."
Just needed an overnight stay. The hotel was clean and in good condition. The receptionist was really helpful and friendly.Expedia 真实住客点评
"Two day stay at Days Inn"
Well situated between both junctions on M62. Breakfast in main building fine and plenty full and worth purchasing at the Days Inn reception . All facilities were fine.Expedia 真实住客点评
Hotel was pleasant enough for a quick night stop-over, pretty much as expected, your generally average hotel room, clean and tidyExpedia 真实住客点评
"Very nice hotel conveniently located in West Yorkshire"
This is a very nice hotel conveniently located in West Yorkshire. It is easy to find being on the M62 although it would have been good to know which side it was on as we had to ask on the other side and be redirected.Expedia 真实住客点评
"days inn bradford south"
As a woman travelling alone and staying overnight on business, i found this hotel very friendly and accomodating. Nothing was too much trouble. Rooms could be improved but it met all my needs. I paid for breakfast to have in the Eat inn which was absolutely lovely. Definately would stay again.Hotels.com 真实住客点评
"Hotel polozony przy autostradzie"
Hotel dosc skromny, czysty,obsluga mila. Internet darmowy, bezprzewodowy, lecz bardzo kiepski sygnal w pokoju ( trzeba schodzic do recepcji, lub na schody-troche smieszne). Bylismy w pokoju rodzinnym, czyli lozko dwuosobowe + rozkladana sofa. Za te pieniadze tragedii nie ma. Choc 20km dalej od miejsca docelowego mielibysmy za mniejsze pieniadze (-200 […] zl) hotel z basenem i sauna. 阅读更多信息Hotels.com 真实住客点评
"vælg days inn så ved man, hvad man får"
som altid så er days inn et godt valg. God park. mulighed, og centralt placeret i forhold til videre ferie ( forretning )Hotels.com 真实住客点评
此住客未发表评论。Hotels.com 真实住客点评
此住客未发表评论。Hotels.com 真实住客点评
此住客未发表评论。Hotels.com 真实住客点评
本网站所包含的点评和评分是客户和提供者的主观意见,并不代表或反映 Hotels.com 的立场。对于因使用这些点评所导致的任何损害,Hotels.com 及提供点评内容的各方均不承担任何责任。


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You're watching...
Price at the Pump Up Ahead of Labor Day
FBN's Sandra Smith on the increase in gas prices over the last month.
Aug 30, 2012
You're watching...
FBN's Sandra Smith on the increase in gas prices over the last month.
Aug 30, 2012
Also in this playlist...
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Auto-advanceThis transcript is automatically generated
Today's edition of the trade would have said hey -- take a look at what's going on here variety drivers that are heading out this holiday weekend over Labor Day.
-- now looking at us gas price an average national gas -- at three dollars 82 cents at the pump.
Guess what that's up about thirty cents from the price that we were looking -- the national average just one month ago diesel prices very important for all the businesses out there and transporting all the goods that we use at four dollars eight cents that's up 31 cents from where we work.
I just one month ago now that being said when you look into the broader market and look at those futures prices.
Here's your wholesale gasoline prices this is a one month change.
Our Bob gasoline trade -- the CME up about 6%.
-- so far this month the trend certainly still higher oil prices up about 8%.
Over the past month and this is as about 90% of all oil production in the Gulf Coast region of the United States.
Is still off line we'll see if more that comes online over the weekend.
And real quick guys BP Chevron either a couple of the big operators.
Down in that region their -- still off line if you look at the one week chart you'll see that they are down still.
For the week as well as BP here I'm have a look at some of the refiners in the reaction that we continue to see as we continue to assess the damage down there.
-- but Valero Energy Connell.
There's a little bit of the keys here I'm not -- -- -- What -- look and that glad you decide for yourself that's.
That's a pretty good look and stock and actually just today -- 52 week I would have -- the next our -- inject a good enough thank you very much.
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Shanti Maurice offers extensive dining options, with an emphasis on locally-sourced fresh fare. New Head Chef Willibald Reinbacher sources the vast majority of ingredients from the island's farmers and fishermen, as well as utilising herbs and vegetables grown on the estate to offer dishes which are sustainable and seasonal. The resort's new signature restaurant, Stars, is defined by its contemporary Cape cuisine and wide selection of South African wines, minimising food miles. Pebbles restaurant offers an international menu, influenced by the flavours of India, whilst the resort's rustic beach-side Fish and Rhum Shack celebrates the bounty of the surrounding seas, complemented by cocktails using rum from the local distillery and a selection of beers from the village brewery. Shanti Maurice's exotic gardens also provide picture-perfect picnic places to enjoy fresh, home-grown produce in cultivated yet wonderfully wild surroundings.
Shanti Maurice's new signature restaurant, defined by its fresh, contemporary Cape cuisine and wide-selection of South African wines.
An international, all-day dining restaurant with an international menu, influenced by the flavours of India. Wellness cuisine is also offered for lighter, healthier dining options.
Rustic beach-side dining celebrating the bounty of the surrounding seas, complemented by cocktails using rum from the local distillery and a selection of beers from the village brewery.
The lounge bar is the perfect place for a pre-dinner aperitif or late-night cocktails, with views over the infinity pool and beyond to the Indian Ocean. It also features Mauritian entertainment in the evenings. Beach and pool side refreshment service and 24 hour room service complete the dining experience.


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I finally cooked. Sorry you slept through it.
by Selena J
posted Aug 8 2013 2:15PM
A female listener struck a cord with me the other day as we were pouncing on a husband that insisted his working wife's job should ALSO be to cook.
She said that she also has a full-time job and kids, but she does the cooking exclusively to express her appreciation to her family. In other words, she doesn't look at it as a job that she's hoping to pawn off occasionally on her husband; she ENJOYS going the extra mile for her family.
That made me want to cook.
And I went full-out. No pearls and apron Ala June Cleaver, but I prepared a Greek rub from scratch and massaged that raw chicken between its skin and meat as if I was working for tips.
And I HATE touching raw chicken.
But I love my family... that was my mantra, anyway, during the rubdown. Even made mashed potatoes without a recipe - a scary thought for someone that doesn't cook, but I was determined to show full family love.
Three hours later (because a cleaning freak skeeves out handling raw chicken and needs time to over-Lysol everything), dinner was served. Everything looked so good, angels should have been singing as I opened the oven door. I couldn't wait to perform my "wifey duties" and serve my husband and son.
We sat down, and I intently watched Ethan take a bite. Nothin.
I turned to my son, who will usually put anything in his mouth, and saw a fistful of potatoes smeared on his face. He found a new toy.
I looked at my husband again, who is still silent, but eating. I couldn't take it anymore ....."Well?!!! Say something!!!!"
"If I'm not talking, it's because I'm eating. Take it as a good sign." Hmm. Wise words. Success.
Then I look at my son, and see this:
Almost looks like he's pretending to sleep to avoid eating anymore. This is not helping mommy's cooking reputation. Maybe I took too long to serve dinner (damn you, Lysol).
I thought the dinner was delicious, if I may say so. I was even surprised. We'll see how soon my next "family appreciation" cook-fest happens. In the meantime, I hope the family appreciates left-overs...
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I finally cooked. Sorry you slept through it.
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Crock Pot
Selina, learn how to put together great meals using a crock pot. So easy.
Crock Pots are GREAT!
Selena, My fiance and i moved in to my parents house with our 2 kids. And for 10 months now i have pretty much cooked EVERY SINGLE DAY. I work, go to school, take kids to sports, and so much more...but yet i still have to cook every night. And i will sayit truely gets sooo exhausting. One thing i have been doing is surfing Pintrist for different Crock Pot ideas for all types of food. Those cut down on time soo much.
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Please join us at:
Post 388 is a spacious hall in a quiet neighborhood in East Somerville. To minimize disturbance of the neighbors, the door on Glen street is reserved for handicapped entrance only. Please enter the festival through the parking lot.
For a map showing the hall's location, click here.
Don't drink and drive! Take public transportation.
In Boston, the public transportation system is the MBTA, also known as the T. Post 388 is easily accessible from the Orange Line station at Sullivan Square, and the numerous buses running nearby.
If you are taking the T, the most direct route from Sullivan Square is to catch either the 86 or 91 bus, or walk about ten minutes along Washington Street toward Union Square. Get off at Tufts Street (across from the Cobble Hill Center strip mall), and turn right up Tufts Street. (Do not take the right fork.) You will see Post 388 on the corner of Tufts and Glen Street.
Conversely, the 86 gets you there from Cleveland Circle and Harvard Square, and the 91 comes from Central Square. Get off at New Washington Street (at the Cobble Hill Center strip mall), cross Washington Street, and walk up Tufts Street to Post 388.
The 90 bus, which runs from Davis Square via Sullivan Square to Assembly Square, comes the closest, but does not run very often. Take the 90 to Cross Street, and get off at Auburn/Fountain Ave, near an iron bridge. Walk down Tufts street to Post 388 on the corner of Tufts and Glen Street.
The 89 bus, from Clarendon and Davis Square, and the 101 bus, from Malden and Medford, run down Broadway. Both stop at Glen Street. Walk down Glen Street to Post 388.
If you choose to drive, Post 388 is in a residential neighborhood with several one-way streets. Use Cross Street to access the neighborhood.
From McGrath highway / Route 28 N, Cross Street is the first right you can take after Washington Street. Go over the iron bridge, and then turn right on Tufts Street. The lot for Post 388 will be on your left on the corner of Tufts and Glen Street.
From Broadway, turn onto Cross Street. Just before you reach the iron bridge, turn left on Tufts Street. The lot will be on your left.
As always Redbones sandwiches will be at the festival.
On Washington Street across from Tufts Street is Olveira's Steak House, serving Brazilian churrasco barbecue until 10:00 pm.
There are several places to eat in Union Square. If you're looking for a late meal, The Independant, Union Square Pizza, Cantina La Mexicana are open until midnight.
If you walk back to Sullivan Square Station, The Tavern at the End of the World is on your way, and their kitchen is open until midnight.


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Pitch 1 (100'): 2 bolt face to a right facing dihedral. Follow dihedral up to a small roof. Pull the roof and continue up crack and belay from a nice ledge with a tree (2 bolts w/chains). Pitch 2 (~150'): Face climb to top. 4 bolts. Run-out between 1st and 2nd bolt and from 4th to top, but relatively easy climbing. There are now two glue in bolts w/rappel rings at the top of the route. Double rope rappel (60m rope) back to the ledge. A second rap will put you back at the base of the route.
Starts behind some boulders left of Hanging Gardens, below the obvious right facing dihedral and roof (can be seen from approach trail).
First pitch - protects well above the face in the dihedral, roof, and crack above the roof (small to medium nuts or cams). Second pitch - one could protect the run-out above the 4th bolt with #4 cam, but the climbing eases significantly here.
This route had to have gone up a long time ago. I do not think it would get a 5.7 today. The face on the first pitch is pretty featureless. There isn't much for hands or feet. Like many routes at Pinnacle, you have to rely on sticky rubber and use hands to claw up on the granite crystals. The crystals at best make some very small edges that can be clawed to get you up. Gym climbers and sport climbers who are doing 1990's routes, beware. This is 70's vintage stuff. I led pitch 1 yesterday, and when I got to the ledge I was spent. Bolt 1 on pitch 2 is run out and you cannot see bolt 2 from the ledge. And the new trail is about an hour longer hike than the old approach.
This was my first lead in the McDowells and it was a great climb. I am pretty fresh to the climbing scene but i felt like for a 5.7 this climb really gave you a good bang for the buck. The face on the first pitch is pretty minimal in features but the grade of the rock lends itself to great smearing "trust those feet" and it'll go smoothly.
Bolts are kinda old on the 2nd pitch but it's the most secure 5.7 slab climbing you will ever do. Two raps with a 70m gets to the ground. A #4 BD C4 will calm the nerves for the last 15ft of the runout but it definitely gets way easier there.
One of the best climbs in Phoenix!


text:
- Also Known As:
- Hotel Cielo Riviera Maya/Playa Del Carmen, Mexico
Mexico >
Yucatan Peninsula >
Quintana Roo >
Riviera Maya >
Playa del Carmen
Free High-Speed Internet
#24 Business Hotel in Playa del Carmen
#38 Family Hotel in Playa del Carmen
#45 Romantic Hotel in Playa del Carmen
Price Range (Based on Average Rates):
Hotel Class:3 star — Hotel Cielo 3*
- Official Description (provided by the hotel):
- Hotel Cielo is a cute little boutique style hotel located steps to the beach, in the heart of the "original Playa." Our rooms start as low as $59 per night, balcony rooms with Caribbean views start at $99. Come see why people rave about our incredible value, friendly service, comfortable rooms and excellent restaurant. ... more less
- Reservation Options:
- TripAdvisor is proud to partner with Expedia, Cheap Tickets, Hotels.com, Booking.com, Travelocity, HostelBookers, Priceline, Venere, Otel and Tingo so you can book your Hotel Cielo reservations with confidence. We help millions of travellers each month to find the perfect hotel for both holiday and business trips, always with the best discounts and special offers.


text: Denny's Serves Up Loyalty with Launch of Mobile-Local App Jul 20, 2012 Print Email Free Newsletter John DillonVice President of Brand Marketing & Product DevelopmentDenny's As vice president of brand marketing and product innovation for family restaurant chain Denny's, John Dillon has taken on many new initiatives to invigorate the brand. Dillon spoke with eMarketer's Lauren McKay about Denny's latest marketing venture, a location-based smartphone app that encourages store visits through rewards and menu-related challenges. eMarketer: Tell us about the Denny's 50 State Challenge mobile app. John Dillon: Denny's has been on the move in a lot of different ways—building our brand, increasing the awareness of the experience at a Denny's and targeting different demographics. The mobile app is probably our first aggressive initiative aimed at strengthening loyalty among current and potential new guests. We wanted to deliver an extension of our brand experience and give people a reason to engage with the Denny's brand. The 50 State Challenge app gives guests an opportunity to check in to Denny's wherever they are for state souvenir Challenge Badges. There are different levels of prizes per accomplished challenge. The ultimate prize, for checking in to a Denny's in all 50 states, is free Grand Slams [a four-item, build-your-own breakfast] for life. We enable individual check-ins or team check-ins and a number of different prizes along the way. In addition to checking in, guest users can use our store locators to find the closest Denny's and can check our core and limited-time-offer menus. eMarketer: Is this app targeting a younger consumer base? Dillon: Generally, yes, because demographically, younger consumers do overindex when it comes to mobile usage. More and more, though, we see mobile used among older consumers, too. While it may skew toward the millennial generation, it is geared to our entire customer base. eMarketer: Why did you choose to embed the check-in capability? Dillon: The check-in capability is a way to drive traffic directly to the restaurant. Thanks to apps like foursquare, people are now familliar with that kind of check-in behavior. It gets guests into our restaurant, which is the ultimate goal for us. There are different badge types and check-in rewards. For instance, after 10 check-ins, users receive 10% off the entire check. With 25 check-ins comes a free Pancake Puppies sundae. Early results are surpassing our expectations. Our franchises and stores are saying they're seeing new guests in restaurants, which is our goal. eMarketer: How do you plan to measure how this is increasing foot traffic and restaurant sales? "Elevating the app into the social channels is also critical—our growing numbers prove it." Dillon: That's a question we get from our franchisees quite a bit. We have tracking built into the app on an in-store level and we can see real-time results. The challenge rewards are mostly food items to encourage transactions, and to encourage diners to come back and keep coming back. We are also hoping this will increase a guest's check. It is not just about discounting for us, it's about bringing bigger party sizes into the restaurant. And that's where some of the social engagement comes in as well. We are rewarding guests with free menu items, like free Pancake Puppies, because we know once people try the Pancake Puppies, the next time they come in on their own, they'll order and pay for them. Although traffic and sales are definitely objectives, another goal was to provide a mobile extension of our brand. So, the app is another awareness mechanism and another way for guests to keep the brand top of mind. eMarketer: Do you see this app and the rewards that consumers are able to achieve with the app as a replacement for mobile couponing? Dillon: Potentially, although we still think there is a role for coupons. We hope to push the rewards and coupons down parallel paths. We're still trying to figure out the best thing for our guests, both in the short term and the long term. A longer version of this interview is available to eMarketer Total Access clients only. If you'd like to learn more about becoming a Total Access client, click here. Check out today's other articles, "Smartphones Make Olympic Viewing More Mobile" and "Businesses on Social in Australia Offer Discounts, Giveaways to Fans."


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This was our first stay with Comfort Inn on the river in Cherokee,NC. This past weekend for 1 night , check in Saturday 23 ,2013 and check out Sunday 24,2013. Checkin was a very fast process. The staff was friendly , helpful with question about the local area with transportation and places to eat . The room was nicer than... More
- Also Known As:
- Comfort Inn Cherokee Hotel Cherokee
- Comfort Inn Cherokee Hotel
- Cherokee Comfort Inn
- Comfort Inn Cherokee Nc
- Reservation Options:
- TripAdvisor is proud to partner with Orbitz, Expedia, Priceline, Cheap Tickets, Travelocity, Choice Hotels, Hotels.com, Otel and Tingo so you can book your Comfort Inn Cherokee reservations with confidence. We help millions of travelers each month to find the perfect hotel for both vacation and business trips, always with the best discounts and special offers.


text:
In conjunction with a LEGO global media event, Sean's LEGO Greenwich Village was shown on ABC, Fox, and NBC. He was also interviewed by television and news reporters from The UK, Germany, Finland, and Singapore. More
All posts tagged global
Sean makes national news at the LEGO celebrity gala
Posted by chioma on June 3, 2003


text:
IE shocker: Microsoft's browser gains share in 2012
Analyst credits IE9 for starting the turnaround
Computerworld - Microsoft's Internet Explorer (IE) turned things around in 2012, posting an annual usage share gain for the first time in the last eight years, according to data published earlier this week by a Web analytics company.
Net Applications, which tracks browser usage by monitoring unique visitors to customers' websites, said IE ended 2012 with a 54.8% share, up 2.9 percentage points from the start of the year.
The uptick was in stark contrast to nearly a decade of decline. In each of the years from 2005 through 2011, IE lost major chunks of usage share, with several of those years recording decreases of seven or more percentage points.
The years of contraction turned the once-dominant IE -- in early 2005, it accounted for nearly 90% of all browsers by Net Applications' count -- into one of just three browsers that fight for users. Battling first with Mozilla's Firefox, which celebrated its seventh anniversary last November, then with Google's Chrome, a browser launched in September 2008, IE flirted with ceding its majority position in December 2010, when it hit a low of 51.9%, but edged back from the precipice.
"It stands to reason that Microsoft's IE fortunes would begin to look-up," said Al Hilwa, an analyst with IDC, in an email today. "The turnaround can be traced back to the launch of IE9 and the pivot around HTML5 support, especially the Canvas functionality."
Canvas is an HTML5 element that allows for dynamic rendering of two-dimensional images. IE9 not only supported Canvas, but accelerated its rendering by calling on the PC's graphics processor.
"IE9 was a superb browser and was only improved by IE10, essentially closing the gap with the fast-moving Chrome and FireFox efforts," Hilwa added.
IE's turnaround didn't start with IE9's March 2011 release -- Microsoft's browser lost 6.5 percentage points between then and its December 2011 low point -- but others beside Hilwa have cited that edition for reversing Microsoft's browser fortunes.
It seems virtually impossible that IE will reclaim the supremacy it once enjoyed, not with players like Mozilla and Google having entered the fray since Microsoft's heyday.
Hilwa agreed. "The browser shares will roughly map out to devices' installed base and browsing abilities of these devices," Hilwa argued.
And that may be a problem going forward for IE. With Apple's insistence that the technology industry is now in the early days of a "post-PC" era -- a characterization Microsoft executives have contested, or at least modified to "PC-plus" -- possible disruption of Windows' influence, and thus IE's, may loom in the future.
"The shift to tablets and the early dominance of iPad -- and now the proliferation of Android-based tablets with the Kindle line and others in the $200 to $300 range -- means that we are facing a more fragmented world of browsers for the foreseeable future," Hilwa said.
In fact, Net Applications painted a gloomier picture for IE away from the desktop. In the mobile browsing space -- defined by the analytics firm as smartphones and tablets -- Apple's Safari browser dominated with a 61% share in December 2012. Safari is the default browser on iOS, the Apple operating system that powers the iPhone and iPad.
On mobile, IE9 accounted for just 1% of all usage last month, with IE10 adding a minuscule 0.06%, both numbers reflecting the very minor impact Microsoft's made so far on the smartphone and tablet markets.
What IE has going for it, of course, is its maker's very strong position on desktops -- Windows runs nearly 90% of all personal computers -- and its lock on the business market. Both bode well for Microsoft's browser.
"[IE's] enterprise focus is very important for Microsoft ... [and] is a key differentiator and one that other browser makers are not as well aligned to support," said Hilwa. "As long as the Microsoft client platform remains strong and IE browser innovation continues, Microsoft will do well."
Some, however, would argue today that that's a big "if," considering the inroads made by non-Windows devices through BYOD (bring your own device) programs and enterprise purchases of tablets like the iPad as replacements for some workers' mobile hardware -- including Windows-powered notebooks.
But for now, Microsoft can celebrate its 2012 gains.
Gregg Keizer covers Microsoft, security issues, Apple, Web browsers and general technology breaking news for Computerworld. Follow Gregg on Twitter at @gkeizer, on Google+ or subscribe to Gregg's RSS feed . His email address is email@example.com.
See more by Gregg Keizer on Computerworld.com.
Browser wars
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- Mozilla banked $274M in '12 from Google-Firefox search deal
- Google trumpets Chrome's SPDY gains
- Mozilla ushers in new Firefox UI
- Turn down that damn music! Chrome 32 debuts noxious, noisy tabs signals
- Microsoft ships IE11 for Windows 7
- Google clamps down on password security in Chrome 'Canary'
- Google pokes the Microsoft bear, pledges to support Chrome on XP into 2015
- Google adds pix search to Chrome, squashes 50 bugs
- Chrome users oppose change to Google's new tab page
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Browsing Research articles (ORI) by Title
Bartsch, A.; Wagner, W.; Scipal, K.; Sabel, D.; Wolski, P. (Elsevier, March 17, 2008)[more][less]
Abstract: This paper elaborates on recent advances in the use of ScanSAR technologies for wetland-related research. Applications of active satellite radar systems include the monitoring of inundation dynamics as well as time series analyses of surface soil wetness. For management purposes many wetlands, especially those in dry regions, need to be monitored for short and long-term changes. Another application of these technologies is monitoring the impact of climate change in permafrost transition zones where peatlands form one of the major land cover types. Therefore, examples from boreal and subtropical environments are presented using the analysed ENVISAT ASAR Global mode (GM, 1 km resolution) data acquired in 2005 and 2006. In the case of the ENVISAT ASAR instrument, data availability of the rather coarse Global Mode depends on request priorities of other competing modes, but acquisition frequency may still be on average fortnightly to monthly depending on latitude. Peatland types covering varying permafrost regimes of the West Siberian Lowlands can be distinguished from each other and other land cover by multitemporal analyses. Up to 75% of oligotrophic bogs can be identified in the seasonal permafrost zone in both years. The high seasonal and interannual dynamics of the subtropic Okavango Delta can also be captured by GM time series. Response to increased precipitation in 2006 differsfrom flood propagation patterns. In addition, relative soil moisture maps may provide a valuable data source in order to account for external hydrological factors of such complex wetland ecosystems. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/767 Files in this item: 1
Bonyongo, M.C.; Harris, S. (Willey Blackwell Publishing http://eu.wiley.com/WileyCDA/Brand/id-35.html, NaN, 2007)[more][less]
Abstract: We used body weight ratio to determine the degree of species-packing of the Okavango Delta (22,000 km2) grazers and compared it to that of four conservation areas of similar sizes but varying in the diversity of habitat types. They are Etosha National Park (23,175 km2) in Namibia, Hwange National Park (14,621 km2) in Zimbabwe, Kafue National Park (24,000 km2) in Zambia and Kruger National Park (19,633 km2) in South Africa. We considered possible ecological explanations for existing gaps within the assemblage. The weight ratio (measure of the degree of species-packing) of the grazers of the Okavango Delta was 1.25, with a total of 27 species which was far less than the theoretically expected 2.0. One-way analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) showed that there were significant differences in the degree of species-packing between the Okavango Delta and other conservation areas of similar size in southern Africa (F1,5 ¼ 166, P < 0.001). Regressing habitat heterogeneity (expressed as number of different habitat types) on species-packing of the five conservation areas yielded a positive linear relationship with R2 ¼ 0.76 implying that 76% of the variation in the degree of speciespacking in the five conservation areas is explained by variation in habitat heterogeneity. We conclude that size ratios are useful descriptors of animal communities and it is a useful measure of species diversity, which can be used for monitoring purposes. Imbalances in weight ratios provide a measure of identifying perturbations due to species loss or arrival of new species within a natural ecosystem. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/608 Files in this item: 1
Bonyongo_AJE_2007.pdf (1.153Mb) -
Sajidu, S.M.I.; Masamba, W.R.L.; Thole, B.; Mwatseteza, J.F. (Academic Journals, http://www.academicjournals.org/ijps, NaN, 2008)[more][less]
VanderPost, C.; McFarlane, M. (Elsevier www.elsevier.com/locate/jag, NaN, 2007)[more][less]
Abstract: Locating additional long-term groundwater resources in semi-arid regions of developing countries with growing populations is an expensive undertaking. Simple geographic information system (GIS) techniques can be utilised to facilitate efficient application of expensive geophysical techniques and test-drilling by functioning as an interdisciplinary integration and decision-making tool, especially in data-poor and poorly mapped environments where more sophisticated GIS techniques are not applicable. The paper demonstrates this in the context of the search for groundwater alternatives to the dwindling river water supply in the Boteti area of the Kalahari region in Botswana. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/573 Files in this item: 1
Bonyongo, C.M. (Botswana Society, NaN, 2005)[more][less]
Abstract: This paper presents preliminary results from a long-term study on the ecology of large herbivores in the Okavango Delta. The paper evaluates habitat selection and utilization by impala (Aepyceros melampus) at the various habitat scales. Impala, the most abundant and widely distributed mammal species in the Delta, showed seasonality in habitat use and habitat selection. In all seasons impala used mixed open woodlands more than any other habitat type. Open grasslands and upper floodplains are also key habitats for impala. As a mixed feeder, impala are able to use a wide range of habitats. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/931 Files in this item: 1
Bonyongo 2005 Habitat.pdf (1.198Mb) -
Ngwenya, B.N.; Kgathi, D.L. (Elsevier Ltd; www.elsevier.com/locate/pce, NaN, 2006)[more][less]
Abstract: This case study investigates access to potable water in HIV/AIDS related home-based care households in five rural communities in Ngamiland, Botswana. Primary data collected from five villages, consisted of two parts. The first survey collected household data on demographic and rural livelihood features and impacts of HIV/AIDS. A total of 129 households were selected using a two-stage stratified random sampling method. In the second survey, a total of 39 family primary and community care givers of continuously ill, bed-ridden or non-bed-ridden HIV/AIDS patients were interviewed. A detailed questionnaire, with closed and open-ended questions, was used to collect household data. In addition to using the questionnaire, data was also collected through participant observation, informal interviews and secondary sources. The study revealed that there are several sources of water for communities in Ngamiland such as off-plot, outdoor (communal) and on-plot outdoor and/or indoor (private) water connections, as well as other sources such as bowsed water, well-points, boreholes and open perennial/ephemeral water from river channels and pans. There was a serious problem unreliable water supply caused by, among other things, the breakdown of diesel-powered water pumps, high frequency of HIV/AIDS related absenteeism, and the failure of timely delivery of diesel fuel. Some villages experienced chronic supply disruptions while others experienced seasonal or occasional water shortages. Strategies for coping with unreliability of water supply included economizing on water, reserve storage, buying water, and collection from river/dug wells or other alternative sources such as rain harvesting tanks in government institutions. The unreliability of water supply resulted in an increase in the use of water of poor quality and other practices of poor hygiene as well as a high opportunity cost of water collection. In such instances, bathing of patients was cut from twice daily to once or not at all. Depending on the severity of HIV/AIDS related symptoms, e.g. diarrhoea, 20-80 additional litres of water could be required daily. The case study demonstrates that, at individual level, access to water is an integral element of the patient's holistic healing process and psychosocial well being. At household and community levels, access to sufficient supplies of potable water when and where it is needed is central to mitigation of HIV/AIDS impacts. Access to water should therefore not be treated strictly as an economic good due to its importance as a basic human need, a social good and indeed a human right. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/172 Files in this item: 2
license.txt (1.998Kb)ngwenya_kgathi_PCE_06.pdf (4.416Mb) -
Ngwenya, B.N.; Mosepele, K. (Elsevier www.elsevier.com/locate/pce, NaN, 2007)[more][less]
Abstract: Generally, rural households pursue all year round natural and non-natural resource-based livelihood systems to diversify these options in order to cope with risks emanating from a range of shocks and stressors. Artisanal fishing in the Delta is not only a major livelihood option but also a source of food security. This paper is based on analysis of primary data collected from a survey of 248 subsistence fishers' households through simple random sampling in 22 villages in the Delta. The overall objectives of the survey were to assess the general prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the Ngamiland district of Botswana, to investigate potential effects of AIDS-related stressors, particularly chronic illness on artisanal fishing activities, and to assess implications towards food security. Results from this study indicate that HIV prevalence rates for pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in the Delta are approximately 30% and are related to factors such as marriage, education, and employment. Despite this relatively high prevalence percentage, most of the affected households do not have adequate access to HIV/AIDS support facilities. Support services are provided on the basis of population size and/or status of the settlement (i.e. urban, urban village, rural or remote). Therefore, since about 50% of the Delta's population lives in settlements of less than 500 people, they receive health services indirectly through major population centres whose capacity to deliver timely HIV/AIDS services is limited. This disproportionate access to HIV/AIDS services disadvantages the majority of fishing communities in the Delta, and may affect their ability to fish. Moreover, about 53% of sampled households had cared for a continuously ill person/s (CIP's) in the last 5 years, out of which approximately 29% felt that this seriously impacted fishing activities. These serious impacts included sale of family assets, depletion of savings, and switching or abandoning fishing activities. Subsequently, household food security is seriously affected because fish provides a significant proportion of food to CIP households where approximately 55% of households get their food from fish products. During food shortages, CIP households resorted to a hierarchy of strategies which included cutting down on meals or reducing meal portions, looking for paid work, gathering wild fruit, asking for food from relatives, selling livestock, and getting social assistance. In conclusion, artisanal fishing is a natural safety net which constitutes an important buffer for households affected by HIV/ AIDS-related stressors in the Okavango Delta. Access to fish helps these households mitigate potentially adverse impacts such as deterioration into chronic poverty. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/572 Files in this item: 1
NGWENYA2007Okavango.pdf (1.602Mb) -
Phorano, O.M.; Nthomang, K.; Ngwenya, B.N. (Botswana Society, NaN, 2005)[more][less]
Abstract: Batswana have been hard-hit by the HIV/AIDS pandemic. The Botswana government has initiated the Community Home-Based Care programme to provide material support for HIV/AIDS patients cared for at home by family members and relatives. This paper identifies and explores emerging home care issues and pays specific attention to potential risks related to poorly managed clinical human and solid waste disposal generated through home-based care of HIV/AIDS patients in Ngamiland and Kweneng Districts in Botswana. Data were collected through focus group discussion with care-givers, discursive interviews with professional service providers, and participant observation. The results of the study indicate that the majority of care givers received material benefits provided through the CHBC programme. However, it was clear that CHBC did not have the capacity to address other critical needs for the proper care of patients in the home. Most households studied are very poor and lack basic facilities such as toilets, basic waste receptacles and regular collection of solid waste. Access to these facilities is important for disposing of both clinical and ordinary human and solid waste from HBC patients. Poor sanitation facilities - especially the improper handling of soiled laundry and inadequate ventilation - increase risks of infection. The study recommends the formation of care-giver support groups to reduce risks associated with poorly managed clinical solid waste disposal generated from home care-giving of HIV/AIDS patients. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/952 Files in this item: 1
Phorano 2005 HIV.pdf (2.631Mb) -
Ngwenya, B.N.; Butale, B.M. (Botswana Society, NaN, 2005)[more][less]
Abstract: Home care involves the transfer of a patient's medical supervision from a formal institution to a family setting in the context of a community. The aim of this paper is to assess the resource capacity of families to provide immediate home care to HIV/AIDS related chronically or terminally ill member/s in Maun in Ngamiland District. Data for the study was obtained through cross-sectional interviews with 61 care-givers. Ethnographic methods were also used: these included informal interviews with key informants, unobtrusive participant observation, and narratives of individual and family life experiences. Data collection focused on assessing family resource capacity to access three forms of capital, namely social, productive and produced. Issue focus analysis on qualitative data, and descriptive frequencies and cross-tabulations on quantitative data were carried out. Generally, care-givers reported receiving non-material support from multiple sources. These included moral support from close family members, especially their own children, siblings, parents and spouses, and less from parents' in-law and their extended family. The threshold of care-giving resource demands could either fragment the family unit, on precipitate 'enclave-like' or 'disengaged' co-existence or passive aggression. On the other hand, caregiving resource demands may enhance mutual obligation and shared responsibility among family members. A high level of tolerability tends to reduce vulnerability and facilitate pooling limited resources in ways that enhance family capacity. Conversely, adversarial intra-family relations compromise the ability of a family to mobilize its resources. About 70% of care-givers were dependent on non-farming activities as their source of livelihood. Care-giving depletes family resources, including the abandonment of income generating activities. About 81% of care-givers said that they could not do anything to recover or reverse the loss. Access to produced capital such as telecommunication infrastructure is important in terms of the dissemination of public education information aimed at helping reduce risks and the prevention of infection. A significant proportion of care-givers had access to a radio (60%) and cell-phone (48%). The paper ends with some policy recommendations. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/953 Files in this item: 1
Ngwenya 2005 AIDS.pdf (3.334Mb) -
Mmopelwa, G.; Kgathi, D.L.; Masamba, W.R.L.; Thukuza, A. (Botswana Society, NaN, 2005)[more][less]
Abstract: Water supply in Maun is unreliable and unpredictable, and most households experience water shortage all year round. Coping strategies for households include water storage in tanks. Water quality is also poor due to its salty taste, presence of sediments and colour. The majority of households have henceforth embarked on coping strategies such as buying bottled water. On average, households spend about P71 per month as avoidance cost. A contingent valuation method assessment was carried out and it was found that the mean maximum household's willingness to pay for a water quality improvement fund was P55 per month. Chemical analysis carried out on water samples from the study area confirm that the water has high electrical conductivity, sediments, colour, and iron and manganese levels. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/938 Files in this item: 1
Mmopelwa 2005 House.pdf (1.540Mb) -
Kurugundla, C.N.; Bonyongo, M.C.; Serumola, O. (Taylor & Francis, December 22, 2010)[more][less]
Abstract: The risk and effect of the insecticide deltamethrin, applied aerially in Botswana to control and eradicate tsetse fly, was studied on the non-target weevil Cyrtobagous salviniae, a biocontrol agent of the aquatic weed Salvinia molesta. Environmentally-simulated short-term toxicity bioassay used open iron cages and closed plastic basins containing weevils and salvinia placed in riverine water bodies, where they were exposed to the aerial applications of deltamethrin over the Kwando–Linyanti system in 2006. Control samples were placed 40 km outside the sprayed area. Weevil mortality, determined at 12, 36 and 60 hours after the aerial application, reached a maximum of 27%. No significant difference in mortalities was observed between the closed basins and the open cages. The amount of deltamethrin deposited at ground level was between 1.2 and 6.4 μg m–2 and the insecticide toxicity was related to the weevil mortality. Simultaneous field monitoring through five spray applications showed that weevil abundance declined in late winter. Deltamethrin had a negligible impact on the weevil's ability to control salvinia under field conditions, probably due to the weevils' protective mechanism and because vegetation could act as a barrier, preventing the insecticide from reaching the weevils. Minimum impacts of deltamethrin on the weevils in the present study and their recovery in the field are consistent with those of earlier spray applications in the Okavango Delta, Botswana. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/808 Files in this item: 1
Magole, L.; Thapelo, K. (Botswana Society, NaN, 2005)[more][less]
Abstract: This paper presents the results of a study carried out on the impact of the recent (2004) severe flooding of the Okavango River on the livelihood of the molapo (flood recession) farming community of Tubu village in Ngamiland sub-district. Government and NGO disaster relief organisations responded to the floods in panic and desperation while affected communities appeared calm and laid-back. To the extent that they (communities) refused to evacuate flood plains and island settlements to make way for the considerably high and potentially dangerous flood of 2004; the communities' reaction was surprising as the floods were so severe upstream, that they caused damage to property, threatened lives and reduced yields significantly. However, studying the farming community of Tubu revealed that community members have other considerations which make them perceive the inherent risk differently from outsiders. Communities view flooding (whether severe or normal) more as part of the biodiversity production system and a source of livelihood than a destructive force. It was found regarding molapo farming that, first, even under hazardous flooding conditions crop yields are still better compared to those under alternative dryland farming. Secondly, destructive floods occur at 10- to 20-year intervals, making the gamble worthwhile because over time the flood-related benefits outweigh the risks. Thirdly, because the molapo farming communities are poor, other sources of livelihood are not adequately developed to take over from molapo farming. Fourth, the system has evolved into an old tradition which the farmers are not willing to part with. Hence the farmers are adamant that abandoning the production system is not, as yet, an option for them. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/949 Files in this item: 1
Magole 2005 Impact of.pdf (1.900Mb) -
Impact on water quality of land uses along Thamalakane-Boteti River: an outlet of the Okavango DeltaMasamba, W.R.L.; Mazvimavi, D. (Elsevier, July 8, 2008)[more][less]
Abstract: Botswana is a semiarid country and yet has one of the world's famous wetlands: the Okavango Delta. The Thamalakane- Boteti River is one of the Delta's outlets. The water quality of the Thamalakane-Boteti River was determined and related to its utilisation. The major land uses along the Thamalakane River within Maun are residential areas, lodges, hotels, and grazing by cattle and donkeys. The water is used as a source of water for livestock, wildlife in a game park, horticulture and domestic applications including drinking. The river is also used for fishing. To check whether these activities negatively impact on the water quality, pH, electrical conductivity, dissolved oxygen, temperature, total dissolved nitrogen and phosphorus, Faecal coliforms and Faecal streptococci and selected metals were determined from July 2005 to January 2006. The pH was near neutral except for the southern most sampling sites where values of up to 10.3 were determined. Dissolved oxygen varied from 2 mg/l to 8 mg/l. Sodium (range 0.6–3.2 mg/l), K (0.3–3.6 mg/l), Fe (1.6–6.9 mg/l) conductivity (56–430 lS/cm) and Mg (0.2–6.7 mg/l) increased with increased distance from the Delta, whereas lead showed a slight decline. Total dissolved phosphorus was low (up to 0.02 mg/l) whereas total dissolved nitrogen was in the range 0.08–1.5 mg/l. Faecal coliform (range 0–48 CFU/100 ml) and Faecal streptococci (40–260 CFU/100 ml) were low for open waters with multiple uses. The results indicate that there is possibility of pollution with organic matter and nitrogen. It is recommended that more monitoring of water quality needs to be done and the sources of pollution identified. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/740 Files in this item: 1
Aranibar, J.N.; Anderson, I.C.; Ringrose, S.; Macko, S.A. (Elsvier, www.elsevier.com, NaN, 2003)[more][less]
Abstract: Cyanobacterial soil crusts may be important in arid and semi-arid ecosystems because of their ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen (N2). These crusts are very sensitive to trampling by animals, and their destruction can decrease ecosystem N inputs, affecting the productivity of the region. The objective of this study was to quantify the nitrogen-fixing activity in soil crusts during the wet season in southern African ecosystems using in situ acetylene reduction assays. The average acetylene reduction rates for each site ranged from 88 to 535 nmol m-2 h-1, were highly variable, and were lower than previously reported for other arid areas. All soil samples showed acetylene reduction activity; however, soils with crusts supported higher rates than did "non-crusty" soils under litter, moss, or sand. High values of 15N natural abundance (delta15N) indicated that processes other than N fixation were more important in the crusts than N fixation. For example, coupled and ammonia volatilization or atmospheric deposition of 15N-enriched nitrate or ammonium may have caused shifts in delta15N within the soil crusts. The estimated annual N fixation rates ranged from 8 to 44 g N ha-1 year-1, orders of magnitude lower than values estimated in other studies. The anomalous wet conditions experienced during the year of the study may have increased the temporal availability of soil mineral N and decreased N fixation rates. However, the presence of N fixation activity in all crusts analysed and their ability to survive at high temperature and after long dry periods may provide ecosystem resilience, facilitating ecosystem recovery after severe droughts. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/983 Files in this item: 1
Ringrose_Importance_of_Nitrogen_2003.pdf (2.069Mb) -
Kiker, G.; Munoz-Carpena, R.; Wolski, P.; Cathey, A.; Gaughan, A.; Kim, J. (Inderscience, http://www.inderscience.com, NaN, 2008)[more][less]
Abstract: In this paper, we present a review and conceptual design to integrate hydrological/ecological models, global uncertainty and sensitivity analysis, integrative modelling and decision analysis for complex and adaptive transboundary challenges. The research uses the transboundary issues within the Okavango River basin, a shared water resource among the nations of Angola, Namibia and Botswana, as an example for constructing these integrated tools. The objective of this paper is to present a design that integrates a set of tools that builds systematically on past basin modelling research to incorporate the inherent uncertainty within the system and its application for answering practical management questions. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/864 Files in this item: 1
Ringrose, S.; Vanderpost, C.; Matheson, W.; Wolski, P.; Huntsman-Mapila, P.; Murray-Hudson, M.; Jellema, A. (Elsevier Ltd; www.elsevier.com/locate/jaridenv, January NaN, 2007)[more][less]
Abstract: This work seeks to determine whether riparian woody plant variables respond to drying and salinity regimes in the semi-arid distal Okavango Delta, northern Botswana. Structural and compositional variables were obtained from 47 field sites. Mapping using satellite imagery illustrated differences in the character of riparian zones in terms of species composition and provided data on flood frequency. Salinity data plots show increases downstream. Results imply that woody plant variables respond to desiccation-driven change due to water-table lowering (reduced recharge) and increased salinization through distinct changes in tree and shrub height, plant density and species richness. In the wetter, intermediate distributaries, key biotic indicators of ecosystem change comprise structural variables such as decreases in canopy cover per cent and tree height and increases of shrub height, which are indicative of mainly ground-water declines. Biotic indicators in the less frequently flooded receiver channels comprise plant density and species richness increases involving mainly brackish ground-water-tolerant and dryland species which are indicative of both ground-water declines and/or salinization. These indicators could provide useful parameters for use in long- and short-term monitoring aimed at assessing desiccation-driven change in different parts of the Okavango Delta and possibly other semi-arid wetlands. The indicators are important as a less-expensive alternative to drilling as a means of verifying ground-water declines and/or salinization. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/161 Files in this item: 2
license.txt (1.998Kb)Ringrose_et_al_JAE_07.pdf (1.322Mb) -
Mubyana, T.; Krah, M.; Totolo, O.; Bonyongo, M. (Journal of Arid Environments. http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/622855/description#description, NaN, 2003)[more][less]
Abstract: The effect of flooding on soil total nitrogen, phosphorus and microbial population in different vegetation zones (floodplain, island and woodland) and profile depth (0?1, 0?5, 2?0, 3?0, 4?0 and 5?0m) of the Okavango Delta was studied from February to July 1999. Total nitrogen significantly differed with soil profile depth, moisture regime and months. In the woodlands, insignificant total nitrogen was detected at all depths except at 0?1m, where 0?03% and 1?17% were detected in February and March, respectively. In the island samples, only 0?05% was detected at 4m in February. Nitrogen in the floodplain samples was concentrated in the A1 horizon where 0?12%, 0?61% and 0?03% were detected in February, March, and May, respectively. Organic phosphorus significantly differed with vegetation zone but not with months and depth. Although organic phosphorus was low (0?02–0?52%) at all sites, it was liberally distributed throughout the profiles. On the island, actinomycetes were only detected up to 2m in February and up to 3m in July. Fungi concentrated in the top 0?5m (103–105). In both the floodplain and island samples, bacteria concentrated in the upper 3m. However, after May, populations decreased significantly. In the floodplain, significant actinomycetes populations were only detected in the upper 0?5m. Generally, organic phosphorus showed positive correlations with fungal populations. This study indicates that these soils are low in total nitrogen and phosphorus. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/293 Files in this item: 1
Influence of seasonal flooding.pdf (3.953Mb) -
Heinl, M.; Neuenschwander, A.; Sliva, J.; Vanderpost, C. (Springer: http://www.springerlink.com, NaN, 2006)[more][less]
Abstract: A series of 98 satellite images was analysed to reconstruct the fire and flood history of a floodplain system in southern Africa(Okavango Delta, Botswana). The data was used to investigate interactions between fire and flooding, and to determine the relevance of rainfall and flood-events for fire occurrences on floodplains and on drylands. The aims of the study are (1) to analyse and compare the fire frequency on floodplains and on adjacent drylands, (2) to investigate the influence of rainfall and flooding on the fire occurrence and (3) to determine correlations between fire frequency and flood frequency. The analyses show higher fire frequencies on floodplains than on drylands because of higher biomass production and fuel loads. The fire occurrence on drylands shows a correlation with annual rainfall events, while the fire frequency on floodplains is in principle determined by the flood frequency. Between floodplain types, clear differences in the susceptibility to fire where shown by analysing flood frequency vs. fire frequency. Here, the highest potential to burn was found for floodplains that get flooded about every second year. By calculating mean fire return intervals, the potential to burn could be specified for the different floodplain types. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/792 Files in this item: 1
Heinl_Michael_LE_2006.pdf (1.827Mb) -
Wolski, P.; Murry-Hudson, M.; Fernkvist, P.; Liden, A.; Huntsman-Mapila, P.; Ramberg, L. (Botswana Society, NaN, 2005)[more][less]
Abstract: Groundwater under islands in the Okavango Delta is a known sink of inorganic dissolved minerals, preventing salinisation of this virtually enclosed evaporation-dominated hydrological system. The Okavango Delta is an oligotrophic, yet very productive system, and it is important to understand sources, pathways and recycling of nutrients in order to fully comprehend its ecology. In order to investigate the role of islands as nutrient sinks, concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus, as well as major inorganic ions were measured in island and floodplain groundwater. The electrical conductivity was found to be up to 50 times higher in the island centre groundwater than in the surrounding floodplain groundwater. The amount of total phosphorus was found to be up to 400 times higher and total nitrogen up to five times higher in the interior of the island than in the surrounding floodplain. These show that major nutrients are, like other inorganic ions, accumulated under islands. Importantly, the ratio of nitrogen to phosphorus was 5:1 in floodplain water and water in island fringe soils, but 1:4 in island centres. his indicates an intensive removal of nitrogen along the floodplain-island groundwater flow path by the floodplain fringe and riparian biota, resulting in a relative enrichment in P. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/950 Files in this item: 1
Wolski 2005 Islands.pdf (1.469Mb) -
Chimbari, M.J.; Shiff, C.J. (Taylor & Francis, May 5, 2008)[more][less]
Abstract: Preliminary laboratory studies were conducted to determine the molluscicidal potency of Jatropha curcas, the physic nut. Biomphalaria glabrata and Bulinus globosus snails were exposed to varying concentrations of aqueous extracts of crushed J. curcas seeds from unripe, ripe and overripe fruits collected from two geographically different sites, (Bindura and Kariba, Zimbabwe). Snail mortalities were compared between different developmental stages of J. curcas and between seed collection areas, and LC50 and LC90 values for the different extracts tested were computed. Biomphalaria glabrata was most susceptible to unripe fruit seed extract (with LC50 values of 282 and 389 mg l-1 being recorded for Kariba-origin and Bindura-origin plants, respectively) and least susceptible to ripe fruit seed extracts (with LC50 values of 605 and 708 mg l-1 being recorded for Kariba-origin and Bindura-origin plants, respectively). Bulinus globosus was most susceptible to overripe fruit seed extract (Kariba-origin plants: LC50, 389 mg l-1) and least susceptible to unripe fruit seed extract (Kariba-origin plants: LC50, 687 mg l-1). The area from which fruits were collected did not influence the potency of J. curcas. The potency of J. curcas depends on both the developmental stage of the fruit and the species of the target snail. In view of its many other uses, besides as a molluscicide, we recommend further studies on J. curcas. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/809 Files in this item: 1