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Difference between revisions of "Los Angeles"
Revision as of 12:31, 14 November 2013
The city of Los Angeles [57] (also known simply as L.A., and nicknamed the "City of Angels") is the most populous city in California. Located on a broad basin in Southern California, the city is surrounded by vast mountain ranges, valleys, forests, beautiful beaches along the Pacific Ocean, and nearby desert.
The metropolitan area is the second-most populous in the United States and home to over 17 million people who hail from all parts of the globe. The metropolitan area is spread across Los Angeles County, Orange County, and parts of San Bernardino County, Riverside County, and Ventura County.
Los Angeles is an important center of culture, medicine, agriculture, business, finance, energy, aerospace, science, food processing, media, international trade, and tourism. Although international tourists regard Los Angeles as most famous for "Hollywood," a long-running trend in favor of outsourcing of film and television production has critically undermined the sector to the point where entertainment and media employ only about 75,000 people in the entire metro area (and most of them work in Burbank or Culver City, not Hollywood). Although many major motion picture deals and premieres still occur in Los Angeles, the vast majority of those films are actually shot elsewhere. However, L.A. is still a major center for production of television shows and television commercials, as well as music recordings.
Nowadays, the economy of Southern California is primarily driven by its other sectors: its huge oil refineries, its thousands of rather mundane factories and food processing facilities, and its busy seaports and airports, with the result that the U.S. Customs district covering the region is the busiest in the United States. Regardless, Los Angeles continues to attract millions of tourists each year drawn to its history as the place where motion pictures traditionally came from (and where the management of the six major film studios are still largely based, even though they don't make most films there any more).
Furthermore, at least in the English-speaking world, it is still obligatory for most celebrities-to-be to live for several years in L.A. until they make it big in Hollywood. Most of them ultimately flee elsewhere after they get sick and tired of being chased by crazed fans, tourists, and paparazzi, and after they've hooked up with the top talent agents in Hollywood (so now the scripts and songs come to them). Thus, L.A. is notorious for its celebrity-oriented culture, as exemplified by the "star maps" sold at tourist traps which feature known locations of celebrities' homes.
These districts are a part of the city of Los Angeles. See also Los Angeles County for destinations in the Los Angeles metropolitan area.
Even before the rolling blackouts, or O.J.'s ride in the infamously-slow Bronco chase, or Arnold "the Terminator" Schwarzenegger became governator of the state, Frank Lloyd Wright said, "Tip the world over on its side and everything loose will land in Los Angeles."
The Los Angeles metro area has been a "boomtown" since the completion of the transcontinental railroad in 1876, first attracting some "folks" from the Midwest and East Coast with warm winters, becoming a gateway to a remarkable diversity of immigration from throughout the Pacific Rim and Latin America.
The city of Los Angeles is huge. From the Sylmar district in the north to the Port of Los Angeles in the south, the drive can be close to an hour and a half long; possibly longer once traffic is factored in. The L.A. metropolitan area includes smaller cities, such as Santa Monica, Burbank, Pasadena, Long Beach, Anaheim, and Riverside some of which were founded around the end of the nineteenth century and retain distinct identities. Geographically, some district names in the city of Los Angeles are so common, that they are believed by some to be separate cities when in fact, they are actually neighborhoods of Los Angeles. Hollywood, Van Nuys, Encino, and Bel-Air are just some well-known examples of neighborhoods that are actually within Los Angeles and not separate entities, while West Hollywood, Santa Monica, and Beverly Hills, for instance, are actually independent cities.
Los Angeles' primary newspaper is the Los Angeles Times [58], and another daily newspaper is the Los Angeles Daily News [59]. The free LA Weekly [60] comes out on Thursdays and is a good source for concerts, movies, and other local information. A few local areas may have their own free neighborhood papers as well. "BrokeLA.com" [61] has a listing of under $10 events in Los Angeles.
Los Angeles is a very diverse city with nearly half of its population being born outside the United States. It has the third largest Mexican population in the world, behind the Mexican cities of Mexico City and Guadalajara, and is home to about a dozen of other large immigrant populations, many with their own little enclaves of restaurants, shops, and places of worship. It has numerous other ethnic-specific neighborhoods like Koreatown, Chinatown, Little Tokyo, Little Osaka, Little Ethiopia, Thai Town, Historic Filipinotown, Little Armenia, Persian Square, and so on. The gay-friendly areas include the city of West Hollywood, as well as the Silver Lake and the Westside areas.
The city has a sub-arid type climate. The sunniest and driest part of the year is from May - October. It rarely rains during these months and humidity is generally mild, but there often can be smog. Daytime highs in summer are about 81F. Although not frequent, a heat-wave could occur on occasion. Nighttime lows during summer are about 63F. December - April is when most rain will fall. Daytime highs in winter are about 67F, nighttime winter lows are about 49F. Climate varies depending on how far inland you are located. The Inland city and suburban locations typically have more smog. Inland suburban locations tend to have hotter temperatures as well, with summer days in the 90s, and on several occasions over 100F. Inland winter nights are generally around 39F. The water temperature of beaches in L.A., Santa Monica, Manhattan Beach, Newport Beach and other locales is around 62F in spring, 66F in summer, 68F in fall, and 58F in winter.
Visitor information
English is the dominant language in Los Angeles. However, like much of the rest of California and any American state that borders Mexico, Spanish is also widely spoken. Even Los Angeles' name is a Spanish phrase meaning "The Angels." The city has one of the largest Spanish speaking populations in the world, with many business store signs and billboards in some parts of the city printed in both English and Spanish. According to the U.S. Census, roughly 70% of the city's population speaks English either as their first or second language, and roughly 44% speak Spanish as a first or second language. With a large immigrant population, many other languages are widely spoken such as Korean, Armenian, Chinese (both Cantonese and Mandarin), Japanese, Tagalog, Russian, and Vietnamese.
Get in
By plane
The Los Angeles area is served by five major commercial airports and more than a dozen private airports. The five major airports are located in Los Angeles, Burbank, Santa Ana, Long Beach, and Ontario.
Los Angeles International Airport [62] (IATA: LAX) is the major gateway. LAX is huge, with nine terminals built in different eras in a variety of architectural styles, of which the common element is that they all seem rather cramped on the inside (that is, relative to the size and importance of the airport). Some terminals have been renovated recently and look relatively modern, while others are definitely showing their age. Most of the terminals were built before the Transportation Security Administration implemented modern security checkpoints, which means the checkpoints were shoehorned into the existing buildings with very awkward results.
If you find yourself in one of the older terminals (which can be recognized by the overcrowding, outdated décor, and unpleasant odor), keep in mind that the last comprehensive renovation and expansion of LAX was just prior to the 1984 Summer Olympics. Since then, implementation of LAX's various master plans have been stalled for years by lawsuits filed by the airport's enraged neighbors. This is why LAX has never won any of the Skytrax World Airport Awards, and consistently tops lists of the worst international airports in the United States.
LAX's lower level roadway is divided into inner and outer roadways. Private vehicles are supposed to do pickups and dropoffs on the outer roadway; commercial vehicles, including shuttles, circle the inner roadway and stop at islands that divide the two roadways. The different pickup zones are clearly marked by brightly colored overhead-mounted signs facing you as you exit the lower level of any of the terminals; you have to cross the outer road when it is safe to do so and find the zone corresponding to the type of vehicle you are looking for.
A free "A" shuttle bus loops around all the terminals on the lower level roadway; it stops at the zones marked "LAX Shuttle and Shuttle Connections." If you do not mind walking, it is no more than a 10-minute walk between any two adjacent terminals (with the obvious exception of 1 and 8). If you are transferring between directly adjacent terminals, walking is nearly always quicker than the shuttle. A streetside sidewalk connects all the terminals.
Note that security-side transfers between terminals are extremely limited at LAX. Only Terminals 6, 7, and 8 are linked on the secure side into a single complex so that passengers in any one of the three can go to the other without having to pass through security again. Otherwise, you must incorporate time for going through security again into your planning if you need to transfer between terminals.
There is free WiFi in the terminals. [63] Paid WiFi is also available from T-Mobile for $6.00 per hour or $9.99 for the whole day. Boingo WiFi is also available for those who need high-speed Internet access which costs $4.95 per hour, or $7.95 for the entire day.
Many international flights do not leave from or arrive at the Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT). To avoid missing flights, always determine in advance which terminal(s) your international flights will be flying in or out of, especially if you are connecting through LAX.
There are also two executive terminals for charter aircraft, if time means money.
Public transportation connections for the airport are only via shuttle to a Metro Rail or Metro Bus station, and via the more direct FlyAway bus. Follow the signs for ground transportation, and you will eventually reach outside the terminal where there will be a green sign/overhang for the FlyAway and long distance buses, and a blue sign for shuttles (Lot C and Lot G shuttles stop under the blue sign). LAX FlyAway [64] runs shuttles to/from Union Station (half-hourly, $7.00 one way), Westwood (at UCLA) and Van Nuys Airport. Taxis to Downtown cost $45.00 and take 30 min in good traffic but can be far slower (and more expensive) in rush hour. Otherwise take the "Lot C" bus from the airline terminals out to the "LAX City Bus Center" at Parking Lot C (W 96th St & Skyway (on ramp back to terminals)) to transfer to local city buses [65] or take the "Lot G" bus out to the "Aviation/LAX" station of the Green Line Metro (subway) [66] further down on Aviation Blvd & I-105 freeway (nearest metro station).
On your return be sure to arrive at the airport at least 1 1/2 - 2 hours before your flight (2-3 hours if traveling internationally) as check in procedures and lines for security can be long and time-consuming.
Renting a car may be your best option for moving around Southern California. The Greater Los Angeles area is huge and public transportation, while adequate, is not always sufficient to get you around. If you rent a car, there are around 10 different companies with very frequent shuttle buses picking up on the lower level around all terminals and going to large offsite lots. If you want to compare prices, you will need to do so using the telephones in the arrivals area or on the Internet in advance of arriving. There are no details from the shuttle drivers or negotiable prices. Signing up for one of the car rental club membership schemes can get the shuttle bus to drop you at your car, thus saving substantial time.
The other airports in the Los Angeles area are Long Beach Airport [67] (IATA: LGB), Bob Hope (Burbank) Airport [68] (IATA: BUR), Orange County/John Wayne Airport [69] (IATA: SNA), and LA/Ontario Airport (IATA: ONT) east of L.A. All five airports lack direct train service. Only the Burbank Airport is (just barely) within walking distance of a Metrolink commuter rail station (not to be confused with the Metro Rail service).
LAX is the airport many travelers use when visiting the Los Angeles area. LAX generally does feature lower fares, and more nonstop and frequent service when compared to the other airports. Flying into LAX is the best option if this is the closest airport to your final destination, and (even if LAX is further away) the fare is simply too good to pass up. However, if your destination is closer (or almost as close) to one of the other four airports, and the fare really isn't a huge difference, then consider those airports. For instance, if you plan to spend most of your time in the San Fernando Valley, there is the Burbank Airport. If your visit will be centered around Orange County, there's the Santa Ana Airport or even the Long Beach Airport. If you will be staying in the Inland Empire, there's the Ontario Airport. These airports can save a lot of hassle due to the fact that they are less busier than LAX. Also, the L.A. area is so wildly spread out and populated, that going anywhere will generally require a lot of driving, as well as possibly enduring traffic jams. On any random day at any particular time (day or night), a traffic jam can develop and it is not unheard of to take an hour just to go a few miles on the freeway. So utilizing the nearest airport will only be of convenience to you.
Private pilots will prefer smaller general aviation airports such as Santa Monica (ICAO: KSMO), Van Nuys (ICAO: KVNY), Hawthorne, or any of the other small airports in the area that do not handle commercial flights. Air taxi and air charter companies such as Jetset Charter [70] fly a variety of private charter aircraft and jets, from charter luxury Gulfstream's down to economical piston twins for small groups and individuals into and out of SMO, VNY, and BUR. LAX does not cater to small general aviation; Burbank (ICAO: KBUR) does, but is considered high-traffic for this type of flight; Long Beach (ICAO: KLGB) does, but has a very complicated runway system and, again, is considered high traffic. General aviation will fare much better at L.A. area airports that do not handle commercial flights at all. Much of Los Angeles is Class Bravo or other controlled airspace, but due to the number of airports and the generally good weather, Los Angeles makes a fantastic flying destination.
By train
The main Amtrak [71] station is at Union Station, 800 N. Alameda St. next to the Hollywood (US-101) freeway in downtown Los Angeles. The train station also has a Metro Red Line subway station (platforms in station's basement) and Metro Gold Line light rail station (on platforms 1 and 2, parallel to the Amtrak and Metrolink trains), while local city buses stop at various locations around the terminal, including some in the MTA (Patsaouras) bus plaza at the east portal of the station. The train station is patrolled by private security staff and people lingering too long in the seats may be asked to show a ticket. Taxis are available at the west exit and the station is within short walking distance to the Civic Center and Olvera Street. Chinatown and Little Tokyo are also nearby. Be warned that it can get quite uncomfortable in the station especially when it is hot and/or there are a lot of people. Great for business travel but perhaps not the best for families or any large group of people.
Amtrak routes serving Los Angeles are the following:
Metrolink [78] is an extensive regional train network with rail lines to Riverside, Lancaster, Oceanside, San Bernardino, Oxnard, and points in between. Union Station is the main station served by Amtrak, the hub of the Metrolink network, and it is well-served by the Los Angeles Metro.
Union Station is spectacular (opened in 1939 and with the era's associated grand architecture), but there are several stops within the county that may be better located to your destination. LA is massive so make sure you get the right stop. Unfortunately, while Union Station has the best bus, subway, light rail, and commuter rail connections (and a Hertz and Budget car rental desk), it may be far from other landmarks. If you are arriving in LA by train but planning to travel around the area, here are some alternate connection options:
Several Metrolink lines overlap Amtrak's routes or serve the same cities via a slightly different routing. Metrolink tickets can cost significantly less than Amtrak tickets; for example, LA to Oceanside is $14 on Metrolink but $19 on Amtrak. Train frequencies vary between Amtrak and Metrolink for given station pairs (some are more frequent via Amtrak and some are more frequent via Metrolink, since some Metrolink runs terminate before the end of the line).
By bus
The Greyhound [79] terminal is at 1716 East 7th Street, near I-10 and South Alameda Street, south of the city's Downtown Arts District and east of the vast, notorious Skid Row district. Though a growing residential population in the area has brought increased safety and services, this neighborhood remains largely underdeveloped. You should still not linger around here longer than you have to, and staff often ask people who are here too long to show their tickets.
Access to connecting transit services is limited. From the Greyhound station, take a taxi or bus 760 or 60 to connect to Downtown or a taxi to Union Station for the FlyAway bus to the airport, Amtrak or Metrolink trains.
Fortunately, other terminals are in far safer areas and have better access to public transportation. From the north, the North Hollywood station is located at 11239 Magnolia Boulevard, a quarter of a mile south of the Metro Red Line North Hollywood station. The Hollywood station, at 1715 North Cahuenga Boulevard, is a quarter of a mile west of the Metro Red Line Hollywood/Vine station. (The Hollywood greyhound station closed in July 2012)
Of note for passengers coming from the east is the El Monte station, at 3501 North Santa Anita Ave. The station also houses an M.T.A. and Foothill Transit bus station, and frequent express bus service to Downtown Los Angeles is available upstairs. The El Monte station also houses a substation of the local county sheriff. Also, from the east, the Pasadena Greyhound station, located one-quarter mile west of the Lake Avenue Metro Gold Line station, is an option.
From the south, Greyhound passengers should use the East Los Angeles station, located at 1241 South Soto Street, or the Compton Station, located at 305 North Tamarind Ave. The East Los Angeles station has many buses to downtown nearby, while the Compton station is across the street from a Metro Blue Line station.
Cruceros USA and Autobus Americanos are subsidiary brands of Greyhound Mexico [80] for travel within the American southwest and to Mexico from the U.S. They share the same stations & stops as Greyhound Lines in the U.S. Onward travel from Tijuana, Mexicali and other cities south of the border are with the partner, Grupo Estrella Blanca.
In addition to Greyhound there are other choices:
Unfortunately, there is no central bus terminal and different companies leave from their own terminals or stops. Some stop in multiple locations all over the city. The terminals or stops for El Paso-Los Angeles Limousine, InterCalifornias and Tufesa are in the sketchy skid row areas near downtown and are very close to each other.
Get around
Cycling in Los Angeles
Los Angeles, famous for Hollywood, fun parks, The Oscar's and the Walk of Fame has much more to offer then only glitter and glamour. Los Angeles doesn't really have a centre like New York where you can walk through. The city exists of multiple sub-areas which are characterized by their own specific properties. The whole metropolis of Los Angeles counts almost 13 million inhabitants.
When you are planning to hop on your bike in Los Angeles, don't think you'll bike from one part to the other side of the city. There are not enough cycle lanes and the city is way too big. What you can do is cycling through different areas and there are certain routes which are definitely worth to discover by bike.
Despite the fact there are almost no special cycle lanes in Los Angeles there are some parts of the city which are suitable for biking. You can bike along the Hollywood Walk of Fame or one of Los Angeles's famous beaches. There also is a possibility to do guided bike tours in LA. There are various bike tour companies which can lead you through the city in a few hours. For example Baja Bikes or Hollywoodtourz are bike tour companies which offer guided bicycle tours. With a local guide cycling is a fun and safe way of discovering the City of Angels. You will cycle across places like the Walk of Fame, Houses of the big Hollywoord Stars and LA's famous beaches.
Public transportation or car?
Public transportation in L.A., as in many western American cities, leaves something to be desired. Although the Los Angeles area has numerous bus routes and several transit agencies, and a fairly new subway and elevated network to boot, this is still not adequate enough considering the region's population and size. For instance, a few bus routes at best may have service every 15 or 20 minutes, while others (especially away from the main tourist areas) may have service every 30 to 90 minutes. Also keep in mind there is not a bus line to reach every nook and cranny, and as such, it is not uncommon to find yourself walking up to a mile or so to your destination after you've gotten off the bus at the closest stop. And because there are numerous bus transit agencies in the L.A. area, you may find yourself paying additional money when you get off one transit agency's bus and board another transit agency's bus to continue your journey. Keep in mind, some bus routes will end service in the early evening, so you should plan your trip accordingly to make sure you are not stranded while on an outing, thus subjecting yourself to an expensive taxi ride back to your hotel -which, depending on how far away you are, may end up costing roughly the same as if you had just rented a car for the day in the first place.
Los Angeles also has a medium-sized, and expanding, subway/light rail system to help speed up journeys around the city. If you plan to be staying near a Metro Rail station in the outlying areas, this may suffice as the rail network will take you to some of the tourist areas such as Hollywood, Universal Studios, Chinatown, and Long Beach. However, those who plan to stay for multiple days in the city, and will be staying or visiting outlying areas, and would otherwise have to take multiple buses during their visit, are strongly advised to rent a car if the budget allows.
For visitors who will routinely be traveling only a couple of miles or so, staying just a few days, and not minding the generally 20-60 minute bus wait per bus, then they may find that the L.A. public transportation system can be sufficient enough. If you intend to travel in the areas of the West Side, downtown L.A., Beverly Hills, and Hollywood, and primarily travel during weekdays, then public transportation may reasonably accomodate your needs.
If you choose to rent a car, you will get a look at the infamous and large L.A.-area freeway system and a taste of the notorious traffic jams. However, this will still be more convienent than bus travel for long or multiple destination trips.
If you are planning on driving please watch out for police chases which are very common in the area.
By rail
The Los Angeles area's Metro Rail subway/elevated light rail system opened its first line in the 1990s. This is a considerably amount of time -approximately 100 years- from when the nation's two other largest cities first opened their lines; New York City in the 1880s, and Chicago in the 1890s. As it was non-existent several years ago, the Los Angeles local train network can do nothing but improve at this point, and the system has been expanding over the past 20 years or so.[81]
Many neighborhoods and sightseeing destinations can be reached using the Metro, including downtown, Koreatown, Hollywood, North Hollywood, Chinatown, Pasadena, and Long Beach. Public transportation is preferable, when possible, to the gridlock that often occurs on Los Angeles area freeways and streets.
A single-trip fare valid on one line in one direction costs $1.50 (no transfers) and can be purchased from ticket vending machines located in the stations. Alternatively, a day pass (valid until 3 a.m. the next day) costs $5; a weekly pass (running Sunday to Saturday) costs $20, and a monthly pass costs $75. Passes allow unlimited access on Metro bus and rail lines. Day passes can be purchased through ticket vending machines in stations (on buses, day passes can be purchased only using a reusable TAP card), and weekly and monthly passes on TAP cards can be obtained online or at Metro Customer Centers.[82] (The main one is at Union Station.) Metrorail and metrobus services can be used with the passes (a few express bus routes require payment of additional fare except for pass users). Route maps are available online and in stations.[83]
Metro fare payment works on a proof-of-payment system. There are turnstiles in the subway stations and some light rail stations. Passengers using a TAP card must tap the turnstile to have a valid fare. Passengers using paper one-day passes can walk through the turnstiles as they are currently unlocked, but there are plans to lock at least some of the stations. However, tickets or passes must be purchased before entering boarding zones; there, Metro police randomly check for valid tickets on the trains or platforms, even if people did not board any train. The penalty for not being able to show a valid ticket is $250 and up to 48 h of community service.
Unlike many cities whose local train systems allow free transfers between rail lines when the lines converge, trips that involve multiple lines or transfers in Los Angeles require separate tickets for each line. A better option will simply be to purchase a day, weekly, or monthly pass for travel on all the lines. Passes can be more cost effective than several single-ride tickets.
Metro Rail/Transitway Lines:
Note that Metro operating hours and timetables vary fom one line to another.[84]
There is currently no direct rail connection between Downtown Los Angeles and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), but a free shuttle from the Metro Green Line Aviation/LAX Station to terminals is available. Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) operates the much more convenient and direct LAX FlyAway shuttle every 30 min between Union Station and airport terminals.[85]
One should not confuse Metro with Metrolink, the commuter rail system. Metrolink, centered at Union Station in Los Angeles, is a region train network that shuffles passengers from city to suburb to suburb to suburb. The system reaches as far as Ventura, Lancaster, San Bernardino, and Oceanside (northern San Diego County), but runs limited service at night and on weekends. Metrolink does not accept Metro passes and thus requires the purchase of a separate ticket. Metrolink, like Metro, uses the honor system, where no barriers are required to enter the system, but frequent random inspections are used to ensure that every passenger has a valid ticket. If a passenger is found without a valid ticket, the fine is $250, with 48 hours of community service. Metrolink tickets are honored as a day pass on Metrorail and Metrobus.[86]
By bus
For information on the Los Angeles County bus system, operated by Metro, call 1-800-COMMUTE (1-800-266-6883) or go on the site first.[87] The Metro bus system covers virtually all of central and southern Los Angeles County, including much of the City of Los Angeles.
Many Angelenos without a car use the bus as their primary mode of transportation. Within the central area, roughly from Santa Monica Blvd on the north, the Downtown area on the east, Pico Blvd on the south, and Santa Monica on the west, the buses are somewhat frequent. Outside of this corridor, however, service is not as frequent. An online 12 minute map is available.[88]
Metro buses come in three basic kinds: Local (orange), Rapid (red) & Express (blue). Express buses have the fewest stops and use the freeways (if possible) to get closer to the end of the route, thus skipping some local areas. Rapid buses usually go on local streets (parallel local routes) with fewer stops than Local buses and are better at cutting through traffic because they are not constantly diving over to the curb to pick up or drop off passengers.[89] Check the schedules in advance as many routes change and have reduced frequency in the late hours. Fares are currently $1.50 per ride (no transfers), $5 for a day pass (also good on Metro Rail, but note that on buses, day passes can be purchased only using a reusable TAP card), and $20 for a weekly pass. Day passes can be purchased from any Metro Rail station or bus operator; weekly passes can be purchased in selected stores in the county, and at Metro Customer Centers.[90]. They are also available online.[91]
Metro also operates extra-long Metro Liners on the Silver and Orange bus rapid transit lines, which appear on the Metro Rail map because both operate in dedicated transitways for most of their routes.
In addition to Metro, the City of Los Angeles' Department of Transportation (LADOT) operates its own white-colored buses on local shuttle lines to supplement Metro bus service in high-density areas like Downtown. [92]
Neighboring cities often operate their own bus systems with different fares which extend into the City of Los Angeles and overlap with parts of the Metro bus network and adjacent cities. Some of them also have 'Rapid Ride' route paralleling a local route with fewer stops. They are:
By car
Los Angeles is notorious for its traffic conditions, and its freeway system can get extremely clogged at times. Still, automobile travel is the easiest way to see parts of the region. Many major car rental companies are located at LAX.
Many natural areas surrounding the LA metropolitan area can be reached only by car. See the article about Driving in Los Angeles County for more information. If you are going to be driving, make sure that you have access to extensive street and freeway maps or a GPS navigation system or you may get lost on the spaghetti map of freeways.
The freeways can be confusing for visitors. It is recommended that you familiarize yourself with your chosen route prior to setting out on your trip and pay attention to traffic and road signs. "Carpool Only" lanes may be entered with two or more occupants in a vehicle. Although the speed limit is 65 miles per hour, most people drive much faster. Do not drive in the carpool lane if you don't have at least one passenger and are comfortable with driving at least 80 miles per hour, traffic permitting. In the other far left lines, drive at least 75 miles per hour, traffic permitting. If you are not comfortable driving this fast, stay in the slower lanes to the right to avoid angering others.
Listening to a radio station is helpful for any long trip through LA since most stations regularly disseminate traffic information during the daylight hours. KNX 1070 AM and KFWB 980 AM are the most frequent and cover the metropolitan area, including Orange and Ventura counties and the Inland Empire.
Although LA's traffic jams are legendary, the freeway grid provides for an effective movement of traffic and a variety of alternatives. Be sure to have an alternative route planned out in advance; many freeways run parallel to one another and serve as viable alternatives, especially in long-distance trips. If possible, use a passenger as your navigator. You may also check SigAlert [93] or TrafficReport [94] for current traffic information before your trip. In addition, the electronic message signs placed along the freeways show estimated times to destinations as well as warnings about severe accidents that require lane closures or detours. For the worst accidents, Caltrans may deploy pickup trucks carrying large electronic signs to freeways approaching the accident site to give further warning.
As for driving on the street grid, most cities in the Greater Los Angeles Area (also called Southland) have well-maintained streets, but streets within the city of Los Angeles itself tend to have a lot of cracks and potholes (the city government spends about half of its annual budget on law enforcement, which leaves little for street maintenance). The most dangerous period is within two weeks after major rainstorms, when potholes can grow large enough for entire tires to sink deep into them. This means they can cause severe, irreparable damage to tires, wheels, and shocks, and force drivers to replace all three.
Both Wilshire and Santa Monica Boulevards are particularly notorious for extremely bumpy conditions, especially in the Mid-City area east of Beverly Hills. The city government has installed sensor loops on most major streets and publishes real-time traffic speed maps online.[95].
Also, while many other California cities have dedicated left-turn traffic lights at major intersections, allowing for so-called "protected" left turns, most Los Angeles intersections do not have them. They operate under the rule where you must yield to opposing traffic, and turn only when it is safe. Some Los Angeles streets are so congested that it is impossible to turn until the traffic light reaches the yellow (caution) phase. Therefore, it is customary in Los Angeles for as many as two or three vehicles to creep into the middle of such intersections in order to turn against opposing traffic on a yellow light. During rush hour, once the light turns yellow and the two or three cars waiting in the intersection finally initiate their left turns, a fourth or even fifth car will sometimes follow them through (running the red light in the process). If you are a first-time visitor, you may find yourself being honked at by other drivers until you become accustomed to this.
Driving around downtown is especially frustrating to deal with. Even when there are not a large number of vehicles present, drivers still tend to go slower in this area because of the numerous turns and exits.
Another frustration of driving in downtown Los Angeles is the very expensive cost of parking there. Many downtown hotels and many hotels outside of downtown (such as in high-density areas like LAX, Hollywood and Century City) have parking garages, but will charge you exorbitant daily parking fees. Even worse, they may have only valet parking, meaning you will be expected to also tip the valet. If you plan to bring or rent a car to drive around Los Angeles, consider looking for hotels that have free parking or at least reasonable fees for self-parking garages.
Many Los Angeles intersections have red light enforcement cameras, linked to sensor loops which are energized about a third of a second after the traffic light turns red. You will know the camera activated when it flashes its strobe light at you to obtain a clear view of your face (which is required along with a picture of the license plate to issue a ticket under California law). These intersections are sometimes marked in advance by signs and should be approached carefully to avoid a fine.
By taxi
Taxis can be expensive. You cannot flag them down on the street, but can call one of the taxi companies to send a cab to pick you up. You may have to wait awhile for a taxi to get to you depending on where you are. Remember, this city generally experiences a lot of traffic and is very spread out. Thus the overwhelming majority of citizens have their own vehicles; hence, cabs are expensive and less involved in the movement of people than in cities like New York, Chicago, or Washington, DC.
If you want to book a ride quickly without calling a taxi company, you can use OnCabs (http://oncabs.com/). OnCabs lets you catch local trusted Taxis, Executives Cars, SUVs and Airport Shuttles, whenever you need a quick catch or planning a perfect business trip, family visit or Airport transfer. It's a free booking website and mobile app that compare rates for different rides.
By motorcycle
An often overlooked alternative which deals well with Los Angeles' lackluster public transportation and frustrating traffic conditions is to travel by motorcycle. Rentals range from around $70 for a basic bike up to $300 a day for high-performance sport bikes, with plenty of range and options between. This option garners a higher per-day rental price than a car, with obviously diminished cargo space. However, a motorcycle's significant increase in fuel economy combined with the city's high gas prices, and ease of parking in a notoriously difficult-to-park-in city may be appealing to the adventurous rider. A quick web search will reveal numerous rental agencies, including Eagle Rider (http://www.eaglerider.com/), Cheap Motorcycle Rental (http://cheapmotorcyclerental.com/), and others. California riders must have a class M1 license.
Of course, riding a motorcycle should be done by those who are experienced as it is not for the faint of heart. But it may afford the rider a small advantage in terms of travel time. In most states in America, it is illegal to "split lanes" -riding between two adjacent lanes through slow or stopped traffic to get ahead of other vehicles- as a motorcycle rider is still required to follow virtually all rules and guidelines as if it were a car. Although lane spliting is illegal in most states, it is legal in California if undertaken at speeds under 45 mph. Motorcycles with engines less than 250cc, or if incapable of maintaining speeds exceeding 60mph, are not permitted on freeways. Foreign travelers not familiar with the United States may notice motorcycles tend to be comparatively large, heavy, and fast and extreme caution should be exercised.
The canyon roads of Malibu, Topanga, and the San Gabriel mountains are frequented by motorsports enthusiasts year-round due to their extreme "twistiness" and contain celebrated hangouts such as Neptune's Net (on the Pacific Coast Highway), the Rock Store (on Mulholland in Malibu Canyon), and others. Bikers visiting on the weekend will find good company, cold beer, and excellent riding there. The drinking age is 21, and it is enforced.
Concerts and Conventions
While the Hollywood Bowl in Hollywood has more ambience, and the Rose Bowl in Pasadena offers a chance of seeing concerts with 90,000 of your closest friends, the city of LA has its own concert venues that are worth exploring.
Pro sports
LA has great opportunities for seeing live pro sports.
In addition, baseball's LA Angels and hockey's Anaheim Ducks play in nearby Anaheim, and the city's two soccer teams—Chivas USA and the LA Galaxy (featuring David Beckham and USA World Cup star Landon Donovan) of Major League Soccer play at the Home Depot Center in Carson.
Shopping overview
Los Angeles is well-known for its diverse and unique shopping traditions and destinations. Shopping malls will dominate your shopping trip as they are nearly inescapable in many of your destinations. For example, the Hollywood & Highland mall is a popular meeting point for those gazing at the Walk of Fame and Mann's Chinese Theater. Other significant malls frequented by tourists are the Grove (next to the Farmers' Market), Westfield Century City, Westside Pavilion, and the Beverly Center, which is quite unlike other shopping malls as it is multilevel with a nice view of Los Angeles from its food court patio.
Lacking any significant public square, Los Angeles funnels its commercial life onto its streets. Among the most popular street is Larchmont Blvd. which caters to the wealthy elite of Hancock Park with one-of-a-kind boutiques. Melrose Avenue, especially in the West Hollywood portion, one-ups Larchmont Blvd. with celebrity presence.
Broadway in Downtown will take you out of the comforts of manicured shopping centers and drop you into its chaos. It features affordable merchandise geared towards the region's millions of working-class Latinos, meaning that forty dollars would probably get you a brand new wardrobe. You will also find pirated DVD's and CD's. You can find a lot of brand name merchandise at discounted prices. Broadway once was the city's premier boulevard; look up above the gritty flea markets and you will see the opulent theaters that defined luxury in early 20th-century Los Angeles.
For a similar experience in a less-polished, but also livelier environment, try Alvarado Street near Wilshire Boulevard and 6th Street. This district gives an insight to how most of working-class Los Angeles shops. Big deals can be found on a wide range of counterfeit goods, but don't stay too long after dark when the neighborhood gets sketchy. Make sure to check out the art deco buildings that exist in between the makeshift warehouses (malls), as well as the Alvarado Terrace Park, surrounded by early century mansions.
Department stores
The major department stores in the Southland are Macy's, Bloomingdale's, JCPenney, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, Sears, and Kohls. Macy's is by far the most ubiquitous (due to the 2006 merger with the May Company) and can be found at virtually every mall, plus it also has a handful of stand-alone stores.
Notably, Los Angeles has never developed a giant ten-story-tall regional flagship department store like those found in other large cities around the world. This can be very frustrating. It means you may have to visit stores at several malls to survey the same amount of merchandise one would be able to see all at once in a flagship department store. The closest equivalent in the Southland to a Macy's flagship store is the three-store Macy's complex at South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa (in Orange County), which is over an hour's drive away from Los Angeles. But even Macy's South Coast Plaza is still relatively small compared to the huge two-store Macy's West flagship in San Francisco.
Groceries and other basics
7-Eleven convenience stores are found every few blocks and are always open 24-7, but have limited selection and high prices. The major supermarket chains are Ralphs (owned by Kroger), Pavilions and Vons (both owned by Safeway), and Albertsons (owned by Supervalu). Ralphs and Vons both have a few stores open 24-7. They are useful for picking up supplies like drinks and snacks if your flight arrives late at night.
The nation's largest discount store chain, Walmart, has several stores in Los Angeles, but none of them are close to tourist areas or open 24-7. The closest Walmart stores open 24-7 are in the suburbs of Santa Clarita and Lakewood, which are both inconvenient for tourists. The nation's second largest discount store chain, Target, has CityTarget stores in Westwood, West Hollywood, and downtown L.A., but like all Target stores, they always close at 10 p.m.
Downtown is the destination for some focused retail therapy. Want flowers? Why there's a Flower District in Downtown! Jewelry? Fashion? Seafood? Toys? Yep, there are entire districts in Downtown dedicated to these particular products. You can buy art in Gallery Row up and down Main Street or see artists at work in the Artist District. They are located mostly just east of the towering Financial District. Beware though as they exist along with the notorious Skid Row.
No matter what music you're into, Los Angeles will feature artists to your taste. Visit the Rock Venues on Sunset Blvd. Jazz Clubs in Hollywood. The Walt Disney Concert Hall in Downtown. etc. Los Angeles has an abundance of records stores scattered around the area. Also, though vinyl has disappeared from the shelves of most regular record stores, there are still plenty of stores that sell new and used vinyl. Amoeba Music in Hollywood is without a doubt the best in the city and possibly one of the best in the entire country. An exploration of underground music would be advised to perhaps begin at The Smell in Downtown or listen to KXLU 88.9 Monday-Friday for details on numerous shows.
The Los Angeles area is one of the best places in the country for food - you can find just about anything you can imagine somewhere within its loose borders. From traditional American diner culture (try Mel's Drive-In in West Hollywood) to the new wave of organic cafes, to inexpensive taco trucks, and swanky eateries with breath-taking food, there is no shortage of options.
Los Angeles abounds with inexpensive, authentic food that represents the culinary traditions of L.A.'s many immigrant communities. You have to be willing to do a little legwork, go to neighborhoods you might not otherwise go to and often deal with charmless florescent-lit storefronts in strip malls, but your reward is hype-free, authentic cuisine from around the world served up at bargain prices. Food critic Jonathan Gold has been finding and reviewing these gems since the 1980s, mostly in the free paper LA Weekly [96].
The newest arrival on the L.A. food scene is the gourmet food truck. These are not your average taco trucks and construction-site catering operations (although those exist too), but purveyors of creative and surprisingly high-quality food. A few noteworthy food trucks are "Grill Em All," run by 2 metalheads doing outstanding gourmet hamburgers, "Nom Nom," doing Vietnamese banh mi sandwiches, "Kogi," doing Korean-inspired tacos and burritos, and "Manila Machine," doing Filipino food. A listing of well known trucks can be found, along with a real-time map showing their locations on any given day at http://www.foodtrucksmap.com/, and many trucks also have their own websites and post their daily schedules and locations on Twitter.
Coverage of regional food from other parts of the U.S. is spotty. Migration into the city has been disproportionately from Texas and Oklahoma, the South, Midwest and greater New York City and food representing these areas is easy enough to find. Food representing New England and other parts of the East Coast, the Pacific Northwest, and the Intermountain-Rocky Mountain regions can be elusive, along with many ethnic cuisines with central- and east-european origins. However L.A. is birthplace of the drive-thru and numerous fast food chains clog the roadsides. The In 'n Out Burger chain is far above average for hamburgers, french fries and milkshakes.
The cultural diversity of Los Angeles is an evident influence on the local vegetarian food restaurant industry. You can find strictly vegan and vegetarian dining, be it American, Mexican, Chinese, Ethiopian, and Thai among others. Other dietary restrictions are catered to as well. For example Genghis Cohen in West Hollywood serves Jewish Chinese food and kosher Mexican or Italian is not hard to find along predominantly Jewish parts of Pico Boulevard.
There are several different supermarket chains of varying quality - for something different (and cheap) try Trader Joe's, a reputable grocery store with multiple locations (the original is in Pasadena), selling many organic products with no preservatives. They normally give out great samples to the public and sell their acclaimed Charles Shaw wine, also known as "Two Buck Chuck." Whole Foods [97] is another market with multiple locations and a favorite among the health conscious -- but also a little pricey. Their salad bar is fully stocked, they have huge fresh burritos, sushi, hot dishes ready to go, and a comprehensive selections of pre-made, delicious salads. This is a great place to buy food for a picnic!
The nearby cities of Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, and Santa Monica also offer numerous dining options.
LA visitors and locals alike have the opportunity to indulge in a selection of specially priced three-course menus from a wide variety of LA's best restaurants during dineLA Restaurant Week [98]. It takes place over a two-week time period. Restaurant week for 2008 was January 27 to February 1, 2008 and February 3 to February 8, 2008.
The hotel bars are generally considered by Angelenos to be the nicest places to have drinks. Some of the more popular upscale ones include: Chateau Marmont (Sunset Strip), Skybar at The Mondrian (Sunset Strip), Tower Bar at the Sunset Tower (Sunset Strip), and The Rooftop Bar at The Standard (downtown). Hollywood and the Sunset Strip are generally considered the nightlife centers of LA, though neighborhoods such as Silver Lake, Los Feliz, and Echo Park are home to the dive bars and cafes favored by trendy hipsters. Downtown has recently recaptured some of its former glory with a selection of popular nightlife destinations such as The Golden Gopher, The Edison and the bars/clubs at LA LIVE. Hollywood's Cahuenga Corridor (Cahuenga between Selma and Hollywood Boulevard) boasts several popular bars in a row making bar-hopping a possibility in a city where it's not the norm.
Bars close at 2 am with most last calls at 1:30 or 1:45. It is worth noting that some bars and almost all clubs charge cover and some may have VIP lists that are relatively easy to get on. Look up promoters and ask them to add you to their list. This is the easiest way to get into clubs such as Ecco, the Kress, Myhouse and similar popular Hollywood clubs.
It's hard to summarize the plethora of hotel options in L.A. From some of the most opulent (and expensive) hotels in the world to budget hostels to apartment-hotel crash pads, there's something for everyone. Deciding where to stay will have a lot to do with what areas you plan on visiting, and how you're going to get there. As usual in Southern California, a car opens up a world of options, but be sure to check the parking arrangement at your accommodations before you arrive.
Hollywood is probably the most popular option for those wanting to sight-see and chase their image of that world. Downtown has long been popular with the business crowd but is rapidly receiving a makeover with hotels like The Standard [99] bringing a hipper crowd. Beverly Hills has some of the nicest hotels in the city, expect the prices to reflect its reputation. Sun and sand seekers can head to Santa Monica or Venice, while those just in town for a day or two might consider staying on the Westside near LAX airport. Pasadena to the northeast of LA is a peaceful and leafy city and a good alternative.
Stay safe
Most tourist destinations around the Southland tend to be fairly safe, such as Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Westwood, and West L.A. However, walking at night in some areas of the city (and some suburban cities as well) should be conducted with caution; and depending on the area, in groups. If traveling by car there is little threat of being harassed day or night, provided you avoid driving around neighborhoods with blatant signs of gang activity as mentioned below.
Certain areas in or near downtown, such as Skid Row (which is where the main Greyhound station is located), Pico-Union, Westlake, Boyle Heights, and South Central, can be dangerous regardless of the time of day and should be avoided altogether when walking if possible. If traveling in the San Fernando Valley region of the City of Los Angeles, the neighborhoods of Pacoima, Panorama City, Arleta, Van Nuys, Canoga Park, North Hills, North Hollywood (northern half), and Northridge (southern half) are also best avoided on foot.
Though cities such as Detroit, St. Louis, and Atlanta have higher reported crime rates per capita than Los Angeles, these numbers can be deceiving. L.A. statistics are skewed because the city has a humongous amount of geographic area so the safe neighborhoods such as Bel Air, Pacific Palisades, Westwood and many others balance the numbers from the extremely dangerous neighborhoods. If the South Central area of Los Angeles were counted as its own city, it would have the highest crime and murder rate of any city in America. Neighboring Compton, an independent city, currently ranks as the fourth most dangerous city in America. Luckily for Los Angeles, Compton's statistics are not counted as part of L.A.'s crime data but instead counted separately, yet the two cities border each other. As a general rule, you should exercise extreme caution if walking or driving on surface streets in the area roughly bounded by Interstate 10 on the north, Interstate 710 on the east, Artesia Blvd/Highway 91 on the south, and La Cienega Boulevard on the west.
Both the City of Los Angeles and the County of Los Angeles, unfortunately, have a high rate of gang violence and crime. However, gangs generally confine themselves to certain areas and should be of little concern to the typical traveler, who is unlikely to venture into such areas. Gangs will usually identify their territory with graffiti markings. While most visitors to L.A. will not visit neighborhoods where gang violence is a concern, common-sense precautions apply should you become lost and end up in a bad neighborhood: remain on high-visibility roads or freeways, avoid confrontations with groups of young men, and should a confrontation arise flee immediately. If a person who appears to be a gang member asks you where you are from, prepare to flee or to defend yourself, as that is a common gang challenge. Use common sense on freeways to avoid incidents of road rage, which accounts for tens of deaths per year.
Most homeless individuals are harmless; they will likely only ask you for money and if you refuse, will simply go on to the next person. They are most heavily concentrated near downtown, Skid Row, and Hollywood. Avoid walking along Skid Row near Downtown at any time of day or night.
In the unlikely event of a major earthquake, duck and cover and stay where you are during the shaking, then go outside once the shaking stops. Most structures built after 1950 are unlikely to collapse. Your largest threats come from breaking windows and flying objects such as ceiling tiles and bookshelves. Try to get under a table, desk, or doorjam to reduce exposure to such threats. You are more likely to be injured if you try to run during the shaking.
Stay healthy
Los Angeles is notorious for air pollution problems. However, air quality in the city has improved dramatically in recent decades, and Los Angeles has even fallen from its Number One position on lists of the worst air in the United States due to aggressive cleanup efforts on behalf of the state and regional air quality authorities. Generally, smog is worst during summer months and is worse further inland where it is away from the ocean breezes and gets trapped by the surrounding mountains. Air pollution can also become a problem if a wildfire is burning in surrounding hills.
Note that Los Angeles air is cleanest in the winter in the first two or three days after winter rainstorms, when the storms have washed the pollution out of the air and dusted the nearby mountain peaks with snow. This is how professional photographers obtain the beautiful smog-free skyline pictures seen in advertisements and postcards. If you are visiting in the summer, the LA skyline is unlikely to look quite as nice, unless a surprise summer shower happens to occur during your visit.
Internet cafes are spread around town and most easily found in heavily touristed spots such as Hollywood Blvd and Melrose Ave. For most travelers, stopping by a local coffee shop such as Starbucks or The coffee bean should suffice. Most will either have free service for customers or require a nominal fee for usage. Many less expensive hotels and motels also offer complimentary internet access, often usable in the lobby before you check in.
There is also a growing trend for local fast food establishments and some restaurants to provide complimentary Wi-Fi.
Get out


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(CNN) -- With Lionel Messi on the sidelines, Neymar took center stage in the battle with Cristiano Ronaldo for the crown of La Liga's most influential player on Saturday.
Ronaldo's injury-time heroics prevented Real Madrid from falling eight points behind in the title race ahead of the international break, as the Portugal forward scored a last-gasp winner against Levante.
Barcelona had no such problems, despite also going behind at home to Valladolid, with Gerardo Martino's team running out a 4-1 victor for eight wins out of eight.
Alexis Sanchez scored two of those goals, but it was his fellow South American Neymar who ran the show -- scoring the last himself, setting up one for the Chilean and providing the spark for Xavi's strike that made it 2-1.
With Messi recovering from a second injury this season, Neymar has been given an increasing amount of responsibility following his $75 million move from Santos and is showing he can fit into the role of team player as well as solo star.
However, it was Sanchez who responded to Javi Guerra's 10th-minute opener, firing in a superb equalizer from outside the penalty area.
Neymar's burst helped Cristian Tello to set up midfield veteran Xavi for his second goal this season, then the Brazilian slid a perfect pass for Sanchez to slot home in the 64th minute.
The roles were reversed on 70 as Sanchez squared the ball to Neymar, who turned and fired in a low shot for his second league goal since arriving.
Ronaldo took his La Liga tally to seven, one behind Messi and Atletico Madrid's Diego Costa, as he blasted the decisive goal in Real's 3-2 win at Levante.
Real twice came from behind to deny the home side, which led through Baba Diawara in the 57th minute and then Nabil El Zhar with four to play in regulation.
Captain Sergio Ramos leveled the first time, stabbing in at the far post from a corner, and 20-year-old substitute Alvaro Morata made it 2-2 before Ronaldo's deflected shot went in off the post in the fourth added minute.
Coach Carlo Ancelotti had made several changes following the midweek Champions League win over Copenhagen, in which Ronaldo and Angel Di Maria both scored twice, and the Italian was again without injured marquee signing Gareth Bale.
Real went two points above fourth-placed Villarreal, which beat Granada 3-0 on Friday.
Second-placed Atletico will seek to keep a perfect record in Sunday's home clash with Celta Vigo.
Meanwhile, Bayern Munich claimed top spot in Germany for the first time this season despite dropping points for the first time in a 1-1 draw at third-placed Bayer Leverkusen.
The European and Bundesliga champion will end the weekend with a one-point advantage over Leverkusen and previous leader Borussia Dortmund -- which crashed 2-0 at Borussia Monchengladbach.
Bayern's last league loss was 33 games ago at Leverkusen, and Pep Guardiola's team seemed on track for a seventh win from eight this season after Toni Kroos scored on the half hour.
However, Sidney Sam leveled immediately and goalkeeper Bernd Leno kept out a barrage of attempts by the Bavarians.
Dortmund crumbled after Germany defender Mats Hummels was sent off in the 81st minute for hauling down Norway midfielder Havard Nordtveit -- Max Kruse converted the resulting penalty and Brazilian strike partner Raffael doubled the lead.
Gladbach moved up to fourth on goal difference above Hannover, held 1-1 by Hertha Berlin on Friday.
Seventh-placed Stuttgart and Werder Bremen drew 1-1 to be on 11 points along with Schalke, which beat Augsburg 4-1.
Roma moved five points clear at the top in Italy after crushing fourth-placed Inter Milan 3-0, despite having a player sent off at the San Siro.
The capital club made it seven wins from seven as veteran Francesco Totti scored a double and Alessandro Florenzi also found the net before halftime.
Totti smashed in from Gervinho's layoff then converted a disputed penalty after the Ivory Coast international was brought down in the box.
Florenzi was set up by Kevin Strootman just before the break, and Roma could afford to lose defender Federico Balzaretti at the end for a second yellow card as the home side suffered a first defeat under former Napoli coach Walter Mazzarri.
Atalanta earlier moved up to eighth place with a 1-0 win at struggling Chievo.
In France, Monaco went three points clear of Paris Saint-Germain following Saturday's 2-1 win at home to Saint-Etienne, with substitute Lucas Ocampos scoring an 87th-minute decider.
Ligue 1 champion PSG visits third-placed Marseille on Sunday.

subset: commoncrawl


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The Industry Source for New Age, World, Ambient, Electronic, Solo Piano, Relaxation, Instrumental and many other genres of Music
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Binkelman's Corner by Bill Binkelman
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Other reviews from Binkelman's Corner by Bill Binkelman:
Ethereal Escapes: Echappées Etheriqués II by Merrill Collins, reviewed by Bill Binkelman on 6/5/2017
Color Me Home by Darlene Koldenhoven, reviewed by Bill Binkelman on 5/5/2017
Sipping Beauty by Tom Grant, reviewed by Bill Binkelman on 5/5/2017
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Beyond Dreams - Pathways to Deep Relaxation
By Hennie Bekker
Label: Abbeywood Records
Released 7/22/2016
Beyond Dreams - Pathways to Deep Relaxation tracks
1. Self Connect
2. Floating to Forever
3. Letting Go
4. The Calm
5. Quiescence
6. Beyond Dreams
Hennie Bekker-Beyond Dreams
Hennie Bekker has a long and storied career in composing and recording an assortment of instrumental music covering a variety of genres. However, his latest album,
Beyond Dreams
Pathways to Deep Relaxation
) sees the highly-accomplished artist taking a new path in his musical voyage. While Bekker has certainly released some relaxing music over the course of his decades' long discography,
Beyond Dreams
is specifically designed, including from a scientific (based on research) approach, to aid in deep meditation and sleep inducement. The liner notes feature an intro from Dr. Lee Bartel, founding director of the Music and Health Research Collaboratory (University of Toronto). I won't try to put into layman's terms what lies at the core of Beyond Dreams except to say it has to do with syncing the rhythms of the music on the album with the listener's body rhythms. Specifically mentioned is the connection between the brain and music pulses in the 30 to 40 Hz range. Okay, since I dropped out of high school physics, that's where my comments on the science behind this recording will end.
The six tracks on
Beyond Dreams
, while not separated by gaps (i.e. the album is a continuous play recording), do each have a different sound (in fact, distinctly so), however, it is to Bekker's credit that these transitions are handled so deftly and seamlessly that I believe even someone in a deep meditative state wouldn't be distracted by the subtle changeover between songs. The music itself is, in a word, wonderfully serene. It shares some of the same characteristics of David Wahler's latest work,
Becoming Bliss
, which is also meant for meditation and deep relaxation. However, neither work is either imitative or derivative of the other.
Beyond Dreams
, Bekker lays down an undercurrents of assorted warm keyboard atmospheres and textures complemented by soothing tones (and in some cases, delicate piano notes) intermixed with pulsing rhythms. These rhythms are not what I would refer to us beats, since percussion is not present (that I could discern), instead the rhythms are expressed through melodic elements (although deep down in the mix, if one uses headphones, you can detect very gentle, even soothing, synth bass notes at times). Still, it would be completely false, from my perspective, to label this chill-out music (although one certainly can use it to relax in a more superficial way and it would be great for that as well).
Besides the smooth transitions between songs, each track goes through its own individual evolution as well, but again, Bekker executes any shifts in motifs so gradually that the music actually seems to have an organic feel to it, as if the slow morphing from one style to another happens so naturally that one has to pay close attention to truly perceive the moment the shift occurs. This is what makes
Beyond Dreams
so perfect for its intended purpose but it is also its greatest strength as a "mere" album of melodic new age music.
Regardless how one approaches
Beyond Dreams
, whether as a vehicle to help achieve deep meditative states or merely to unwind after a hectic day, this is an album that will enable you to achieve either end result. While some deep relaxation recordings are good at the first aspect, it is rare to find one that also excels as musical entertainment. I never tired of listening to the album and did just that over ten times before writing this review. I think you will feel the same way.
- reviewed by Bill Binkelman on 3/4/2017
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By ,
Published January 13, 2015
Maria Kirilenko rallied for a three- set victory over Sabine Lisicki to earn the title at the Pattaya Open.
The second-seeded Kirilenko posted a 5-7, 6-1, 7-6 (7-1) triumph in Sunday's final to earn her sixth career WTA title. She was the runner-up at this event last year, falling to Slovakia's Daniela Hantuchova.
Kirilenko had lost her last four title matches and won a tournament for the first time since capturing the Seoul crown in September 2008. The 26-year-old Russian is now 6-6 all-time in finals.
Lisicki, seeded fifth this week, fell to 3-3 in finals and was appearing in a title match for the first time since August 2011, when she won the U.S. Open tune-up in Texas.
"Disappointed to lose in 3rd set tiebreaker but still a great tournament!" Lisicki wrote on her Twitter feed after the final. "Lots of positives to take from here!!"
The 23-year-old German fell to 0-3 lifetime against Kirilenko, although this was their first meeting in the main draw of a WTA event.
Kirilenko earned a first prize of $40,000.


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The apprentice course covers such topics as entering data into cells and formatting spreadsheets, while the professional course includes working with pivot tables and macros. Expert- and master-level courses continue to further these skills, turning users into Excel whizzes without ever having to leave the comfort of their home or the empty mansion they keep their computer in.


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Star Tours reopens at Disneyland on June 3rd!!!
Let me know when your out here. We'll ride it together.
We're planning to be at Disneyland May 21 to 28th or so, I'm crossing my fingers that the date for Anaheim isn't later than Orlando.
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bethechange necesitaba un nuevo diseño de logotipo y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 12 diseños de 5 diseñadores freelance.
Help us design a "blood drive" logo with a twist!
New Blood Drive
We'll match you pint for pint!
Desired Color Scheme:
No particular colors, but similar to examples would be good
Desired Style:
Old timey and vintage
Accepted File Formats:
Standard Web Formats (.jpg, .gif or .png); Vector Formats (.eps, .pdf or .ai); Layered Formats (.psd or .tiff)
We are looking for a cool design to highlight our "New Blood Drive."
The logo will be used to publicize a traditional blood drive in conjunction with a political campaign (Charles Lewis for Portland City Council -- http://www.CharlesLewis.com). The overall idea is to highlight the need for "new blood" in City Hall by conducting an actual blood drive.
The twist is that donors will receive a coupon for a free pint of beer when they donate a pint of blood, hence the catch phase "We'll match you pint for pint!"
We're hoping to have a vintage looking design similar to the links below. The overall idea would be to have an old timey, vintage looking guy (should be male) with an I.V. in his arm (and blood bag), and a beer in the other arm.  We really like the old timey, cool colors with gradations like in the pictures, etc.
The graphic should be something similar (i.e. holding a beer mug or a beer on a plater), but with an I.V. blood bag plugged into the arm.
The text should say something like:
New Blood Drive!
Infuse City Hall with new blood – Charles Lewis for Portland City Council
We'll match you pint for pint!
The campaign web site is located at http://www.CharlesLewis.com
We used another SitePoint contest logo for one of our new program ideas (see http://www.CommunityCorps.org) and are looking forward to another round of great ideas. We're offering an additional $100 if the winning design is from a Portland resident (but we will pick the best design regardless of location).
Descubre cómo funciona un concurso de diseño u obtén más información sobre nuestros servicios de diseño de logo.


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Raceweekends Blog
Super Trofeo Asia | Final Round - Macau
Filling closed-off streets with the aggressive roar of the raging bull, the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo Asia Series entered the exotic peninsula of Macau for the first time ever, where this year's Grand Final flourished under the grand excitement of the 60th Macau Grand Prix.
Jointly hosted by Italian luxury super sports car maker Automobili Lamborghini and Swiss Haute Horlogerie manufacturer Blancpain, title champions of the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo Asia Series 2013 were crowned on Sunday at this 6th and final round. Under the thunderous applause of crowds that surrounded the Guia circuit, gentlemen drivers enjoyed the ultimate test in this year's race series.
Renowned for its challengingly tight corners and demanding surfaces, this racetrack presented unchartered territory not only for most drivers, but for the Gallardo Super Trofeo 2013, which fiercely entered this legendary circuit for the first time this weekend.
After showing unshakeable success this season, Jiang Xin and Max Wiser (#9) were declared PRO-AM champions for the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo Asia Series 2013. In second place were Dilantha Malagamuwa and Zen Low (#69), followed by Han Lin and Hanss Lin (#36) in third, each of whom showed great dedication this season that was justly rewarded on Sunday.
Also basking in glory after persistently demonstrating their passionate will to win were China's Zheng Ting and Steven Lin (#66), who were crowned champions of the AM class. In second place was Andrea Garbagnati (#6), whose triumph was followed by the dynamic teamwork and passion of George Chou and Ida Masahiko (#24), who won third place.
Stephan Winkelmann, President and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini, said: "Amidst the ongoing celebrations of our 50th anniversary this year, 2013 also represents Lamborghini's greatest ever year of commitment to motorsport. This race not only marks the completion of our second year of the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo in Asia, but the 7th ever Super Trofeo race held in greater China across 2012 and 2013. The transparent passion and devotion from gentlemen drivers today just goes to show how far we can go in this market to providing customers and fans with more unique and extraordinary driving experiences."
Mr. Alain Delamuraz, Vice President Head of Marketing of Blancpain remarked, "As the oldest watchmaking brand in the world, Blancpain is very pleased to join hands with Lamborghini for the fifth time to synthesize and express our shared passion towards accuracy and perfection at the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo, and bring the final stage of this year's Asia Series to Macau, a city with a rich motorsport heritage. Although we are producing different products, both Blancpain and Lamborghini represent the greatest technical performances and unique aesthetics of their respective fields. We believe our future collaboration with Lamborghini will continue to be a fruitful one."
On Sunday's race, the PRO class was won by Max Wiser (#9) who showed unparalleled proficiency in this race and altogether this season. After yet another competitive performance in this championship, Hanss Lin (#38) marched into second place, followed by Toshiyuki Ochiai (#12) in third, making his first ever podium finish in this final round.
In the AM class, Michael Choi (#8) showed remarkable flare on the unique Guia circuit before winning his first victory this year. In second place, Hong Kong's own Keith Chan (#88) ignited the roaring crowd to come in second place, closely followed by Andrea Garbagnati (#6) in third.
Over this past year, the Super Trofeo Asia Series has visited China, Malaysia, South Korea, Japan and Macau, attracting gentlemen drivers, their families and friends, and media from across the Asian continent, to 6 exhilarating race performances in Asia.
Dynamic additions to this season from the year before have included; the first ever contestants from India, Sri Lanka, and South Korea; the first ever female participants; and the first ever Super Trofeo races in both South Korea and Macau. All of these reflect not only the developing culture of Motorsport all across Asia, but the emotional connection that has grown between the Lamborghini brand and its customers in the Asian market.
The strength of the Lamborghini Gallardo, both on the track and on the market, was put into extreme perspective this year with the Lamborghini Gallardo LP 570-4 Super Trofeo 2013. Through 6 successful rounds in Asia, this feature model of the Super Trofeo Series has aptly projected its fierce capacity as an international racing car. This tribute is well matched with the Gallardo family's equal accomplishments in the global market, with Gallardo representing almost 50% of all Lamborghinis ever produced.
Cristiano Inverni, Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo Asia Series Coordinator, said: "Today's race at the 60th Macau Grand Prix was the crown jewel of this year's Super Trofeo Asia Series. Racing alongside the Macau GP was a unique opportunity for the Super Trofeo that brought drivers an enriched experience of competing at the world famous Guia Circuit, at one of the most outstanding events in international motorsport. Gentlemen drivers took their experience of 5 rounds this season and put every acquired skill and focus on the table for this final leg. The sheer passion shown by teams today and throughout the season has been key to our success this year, and will no doubt underline the success of the Super Trofeo in Asia next year." Inverni also said in view to next year: "With rich resources for gentlemen racing in Asia, we've a lot to deliberate for next year's Super Trofeo and it's very exciting to be thinking ahead. Automobili Lamborghini was born a trend setting provider of extraordinary experiences, and so the Super Trofeo in Asia will continue to live up to the high expectations set for 2014."


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Kane Mineral Feeder
Proven indoor/outdoor small grain, pellets, salt or mineral feeder.
They've worked well both for Premier and our customers.
Common Uses
- For orphan lambs & kids. Their stomachs are not able to thrive (or survive) on hay and grass until they are 10 weeks old. It's too expensive to feed milk replacer so long. The solution is grain, pellets and soybean meal.
- For weaned lambs being pushed to catch the late spring markets.
- For show animals.
- For thin or sick breeding animals requiring special attention.
- For salt or mineral—should be available free choice year-round. These feeders are ideal for supplying loose salt and salt/mineral mixes indoors.
- 1.5 gal
- Size: 10.5"L, 5.5"W, 14.5"H
- Eating opening (ea): 4.5"W x 4"H
- Adjustable feed flow
- Comes with brackets to hang on a wall
How to Use
Listed below are recommended optional components or related items. Your particular situation may require alternative recommendations. Please call and talk to our consultants if there are any questions at 800-282-6631.
Buckets and Troughs
Round Bucket with Lid, 1 galItem #564300 -
Easily feed and water individual sheep, goats or chickens. They stack without sticking and are easy to clean.$4.80
Buckets and Troughs
Round Bucket with Lid, 2 galItem #564400 -
An inexpensive all-purpose bucket for feeding or watering lambs, goat kids or chickens. They stack without sticking and are easy to clean.$6.50
Buckets and Troughs
Round Bucket, 3.5 gallonItem #564500 -
An inexpensive all-purpose chore bucket. Use to feed or water sheep, goats and chickens.$7.50
Buckets and Troughs
Square Bucket without lid, 4 gallonItem #564800 -
An excellent bucket for general farm use. Whether it's providing milk to orphaned animals or hauling feed.$9.50
Buckets and Troughs
Square Bucket without lid, 2 gallonItem #564801 -
An inexpensive way to easily feed orphan lambs and goat kids. Also use to carry feed, mineral and water to lambs, goat kids and poultry.$6.75
Buckets and Troughs
TurboScoop, smallItem #938360 -
Has a front-facing handle so it's uniquely easy to use and kind to wrists. Strong aluminum holds up to years of use without breaking or rusting.$16.00
Buckets and Troughs
TurboScoop, largeItem #938361 -
Has a front-facing handle so it's uniquely easy to use and kind to wrists. Strong aluminum holds up to years of use without breaking or rusting.$18.00
Handling Equipment
40" x 48" Welded Wire Panel, 4" holesItem #964700 -
Sturdy, hot-dip galvanized wire panels are great for lambing and kidding pens, gates, fence lines and many other projects. 1/4 in. dia. rods. 4"x4" spacings.$52.00
Write a Review
You must be logged in to leave a review. Please sign in.
Jessica M from Idaho
Love the small size for creep feeding goats! However was disappointed there were no screws to hang it! Now I need to search for screws to fit! That's disappointing!
Stacey S from Ohio
This feeder is smaller than I anticipated. However, it is a perfect indoor free mineral feeder for my two ewes and a great creep feeder for our current 7 lambs. The bracket is good and secure. no trouble so far!!
Beverley B
Dissapointed....They mineral feeder does not stay on the bracket as the goats get up under it and push it off. Tried lowering it with the same results...Maybe it will work better as a creep for young kids...
Chris S from South Carolina
Great feeder. Just need to add a lid.
Matt P from TN
another quality premier product. only concern is wished it had a lid. easy to set up and takedown to clean. very sturdy.


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Hybrid Tea Roses
Hybrid Teas are one of the most recognized and popular cut flowers. They are known for their long-stemmed elegance and high centered blooms. Their upright canes are more open than bushy and carry large flowers. This rose has an extensive colorful palette that allows for it's vibrancy to be seen in the garden from a distance.


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KRob is the famous mtbr member/writer who puts out the best Interbike Test Ride summary every year. His latest work can be found here: https://reviews.mtbr.com/2012-all-mountain-bike-tests-at-interbike-outdoor-demo.
Shortly after Interbike, he made his way to Whistler to ride and meet up with LeeL and Brodiegirl who write for mtbr as well. Follow their adventures here.
francis @mtbr
Photos by Lee Lau
Since my earliest forays into mountain biking and mountain biking reports I've seen pictures and read tales of the famous BC riding scene. But up until now these have been just surreal imaginings of deep green, moss, loam, ladders, and slabs that only really lived on my computer screen, ink smudged magazine pages and dreams. I scarcely believed I would ever get the chance (or develop the ability) to ride there.
I usually always go to Interbike the third week in September spending the first two days at Dirt Demo then moving on to Hurricane for a day then Moab for rest of the week. But this year, thanks to the urging of some good folks in this thread and via email, I decided to venture north before I got too old to enjoy the kind of trails for which British Columbia is famous.
My one hesitation was that I really enjoy doing the Interbike Dirt Demo reports and riding a bunch of new bikes, but with the generous aid of Lee Lau and the extreme kindness of many different people, shops, and bike companies, I was able to blend my desire to ride the Shore and test some different bikes while doing it. My super supportive non-biking wife graciously consented to come with me eventhough she knew this would be primarily a biking trip which really sealed the deal for me. So with bike gear stuffing my duffle to overflowing we caught our flight from the dry, desolate starkness of Nevada to the lush, deep greens of British Columbia.
It started with some very enjoyable touristy kinds of things in North Vancouver and Vancouver just chilling with my wife and seeing the sites.
Honey, I think we're in Canada! Yup, pretty sure.
Prospect Point Stanley Park
Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge
We even found us a Mountie to pose with.
Stanley Park Sea Wall. This walking/riding path goes clear around the peninsula on which Stanley Park resides. It was extensively rebuilt and paved a few years ago after high winds and rains washed much of it away. We were going to come back another day and rent a tandem but ran out of time.


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I've heard several times recently that these shows are teaching young women that the only control they have over their financial destinies is keeping themselves attractive enough to trap, uh I mean, catch a baller. Yes, I've even been guilty of blaming 50 Cent for the hook, "Have a baby by me and be a millionaire," when I speak to high school and college aged women across the country. But truthfully, way before rap artists and cable television, many women were taught in their homes first and foremost that their job, no matter how educated they became, was to find a suitable and stable man whom they could marry and live happily ever after with. Although times have changed, similar "advice" still runs rampant today.
Last year, after speaking at a university in Georgia, a college freshman e-mailed me to say, that although she understood my point, she is still faced with a mother and grandmother who tell her daily that a man is her golden ticket to a good life and financial independence. I feel safe in saying that granny didn't get that type of advice from Nene Leakes! Instead of lawyers and doctors, young women today are being advised to scout out athletes and entertainers to be their retirement plans; assuming, of course, the men don't squander their fortunes away.
To these young ladies I continue to offer the bumper sticker mantra, "A man is not a financial plan" and here are 3 reasons why:
1. A man won't always be around. We've all heard that divorce rates are high, so I don't feel the need to go any further with that, but can we get some stats on just how high basic break up rates are? In my business, I coach women who have been left with thousands of dollars in debt by boyfriends! Yes, you read correctly, B-O-Y-F-R-I-E-N-D-S! And no matter, how mad folks get, I will stand firm on my belief that women must stop treating boyfriends like husbands! That in itself is one sure fire way to avoid financial ruin. From car notes to rental payments and mortgages they couldn't afford, I've seen women who signed their name to the dotted line because their "man" told them he would take care of the payments if they just put it in their name. Oldest trick in the book, ladies. Did we learn nothing from Lisa Raye? Her former husband, the Prime Minister of Turks and Cacaos, supposedly worth $180 million at the time "gave" her a Rolls Royce Phantom as a gift while they were dating. Somehow though, it had a $6500 note on it which ended up in her name. Now inquiring minds would like to know, "Just how does that happen, Ms. Lisa?". . .
Even if you're in a fairytale relationship with the man of your dreams, the reality is that at some point your marriage/relationship could still end by death. Statistics continue to reveal that women live longer than men. If that ends up being the case for you, think about what could happen if your husband is the only one who knows anything about the financial footing of the family. At a time when widows should really be left to mourn, many are left scurrying about attempting to locate insurance policies that they aren't even 100% certain exist. Nothing is worse than believing that everything is taken care of financially and then not realizing that quite the opposite is true after someones demise.
3. Your personal finance is your personal responsibility. To be very short and sweet, your personal finances are primarily your responsibility. If you're grown, it's not your parent's obligation anymore nor is it merely on the partner you choose. At each stage in life, you must take ownership for your own money. The minute you depend exclusively on anyone else to handle your finances, you hand over the control of your financial destiny and your life goes wherever they want to take it. When you are not in control of your money, you are forever at the mercy of others; mechanically asking "How high?" every time they say, "Jump!"
There are far too many resources available to women to help them manage their money wisely. There is no need to depend solely on a man to make and manage the money without your input. You must be ready, willing, and able to manage your finances at all times. When you are, you have equal power and are just as much in control as the man is. You call the shots together and you also have the ability to make decisions as a team. There's nothing worse than tolerating a person or a situation only because you have allowed yourself to become 100% dependent on them financially.
A man is a partner, a companion, someone to share your life with. He is not and should not be your financial plan. Together, you can, however, build a beautiful life financially with honesty, transparency and equal participation.
Until Next Time,
Seek Wisdom, Find Wealth & Be Blessed!


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About bADiTCH
Funny how CHP makes that statement when in the last week I have seen 4 of their officers texting while driving down Madison Ave in Sacramento.
I would not mind the ads as long as it was available at teh same time the show aired.
I simply refuse to fly commercial anymore, private plane or driving that's all I'll do anymore. Seems we lose more rights everyday.
Opened my inbox this morning and low and behold there was an email from Sony about my SOE account. Now I find this kinda funny about the attacks that have been discovered as of yet. But it sucks that my kids do use some SOE games and when i had to tell my son this morning that he won't be able to play his Clone Wars games he was pissed.
I have to admit that The Discovery Channel used to be in my top list of channels to watch. But in the last couple of years it has just become crappy. Kinda sad since it was one of my favorite late night channels. Now it's just off my favorites list completely.
Well I have to admit that even though Firefly's life was cut short it was a magical scifi experience that ended at it's peak and was not drawn out to die. My wife who by no means is a scifi fan loved the show.
I have a pretty decent Home Theater setup and my whole family prefers to watch at home. Screw them we will find our own way.
I was considering buying C&C 4, but with this kind of DRM I'll pass. To be honest I could live without the game. It's a same that the "big heads" at EA are pushing this on us end users.


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Mets 8, Reds 4
Matt Harvey had very little run support in his first four major
league starts, so he took care of business at the plate as well as
on the mound.
Harvey drove in one more run than he allowed in the longest
outing of his short major league career, and the New York Mets
snapped the Cincinnati Reds' five-game winning streak with an 8-4
victory on Thursday night.
Harvey (2-3), who had lost three straight starts after winning
in his major league debut, allowed one run and four hits in 7 2-3
innings. He struck out eight, walked one and hit a batter. Harvey
also doubled in two runs in New York's three-run fourth inning.
"I take pride in not being an easy out," said Harvey, who had
two hits in his debut.
Harvey's command was much better against the Reds than in his
previous start, and he showed the Mets what he can do when he is on
his game.
"I wanted to pound the strike zone, and I did that," Harvey
said. "I had five walks in my last start and I didn't want to do
that this time."
"When he has command like that, he's going to be tough to
hit," manager Terry Collins said.
Ike Davis and Jason Bay hit solo home runs for the Mets, who
capitalized on three errors and avoided a three-game sweep. New
York hasn't been swept in Cincinnati since 2005.
Harvey made that possible with his fine outing.
"When he has command like that, he's going to be tough to
hit," Mets manager Terry Collins said.
Collins put Scott Hairston and Bay into the lineup that has
struggled to score, and the moves paid off. The Mets totaled only
six runs in Harvey's first four starts combined.
Davis, who is scheduled to get a rest in the upcoming series
against Washington, hit his first home run since July 28. Bay has
struggled to hit, and now is adapting to being a reserve after
being an All-Star and a starter most of his career.
"I'm adjusting to a new role now and it's given me time to work
on some things," said Bay, who came in with a .150 batting
average. "It felt good. I feel like this change has been on me for
a while. It is up to me, but it doesn't go into my at-bat to at-bat
Collins plans to use Bay against left-handers, but put him in
the lineup against the right-handed Homer Bailey to help spark Bay
and the sputtering offense.
"I was happy to see that from Bay," Collins said. "He's a
good player. Everybody's pulling for him. If we can get him jump
started, he can help."
The Reds, who entered with a season-high, seven-game lead in the
NL Central, had it cut to six over Pittsburgh.
Jon Rauch came on in relief of struggling Mets closer Frank
Francisco and struck out pinch-hitter Wilson Valdez to end the game
for his third save. Francisco allowed three runs and four hits, and
got only two outs in his second straight rough outing.
"Francisco has struggled with locating his fastball since he
came back from the oblique injury. We just need to get him some
work," Collins said.
The Mets took the lead in the fourth inning, scoring three times
after managing a total of one run in their opening two losses to
the Reds in the series.
Davis snapped the scoreless tie with his team-leading 21st
homer. The leadoff shot, which traveled 421 feet into the
right-center field seats, was hit off Bailey.
Two outs later, Bay hit a grounder up the middle that second
baseman Brandon Phillips backhanded and threw over Todd Frazier's
head at first base for an infield hit and a throwing error. Kelly
Shoppach, making his first appearance with the Mets, was
intentionally walked to get to Harvey. The big right-hander then
hit a two-run double to deep left-center field that produced his
first career RBIs.
"It's a tough adjustment to walk a guy and then try to throw
one down and away," Bailey said. "I left it over the middle. I
might as well have put it on a tee for him."
The error was Phillips' first in a career-high 84 games, dating
to May 6 at Pittsburgh.
Bay increased New York's lead to 4-0 with his sixth homer of the
year and first since July 18 at Washington, with one out in the
sixth inning. Shoppach reached on Scott Rolen's error, and after
Harvey's sacrifice, Ruben Tejada doubled off the left field wall
and scored on Mike Baxter's single.
Bailey (10-8) allowed eight hits and six runs, four earned, with
three walks, a wild pitch and six strikeouts in 5 1-3 innings.
The Reds broke up Harvey's shutout with doubles by Phillips and
Jay Bruce in the seventh.
Davis added an RBI double in the ninth, and the Mets tacked on
another run on Zack Cozart's error.
"Over a 162-game season, you're going to have games like this,
but the way we've been playing lately, it's odd," Cozart said.
Ryan Ludwick led off the ninth with his 23rd homer of the season
on the first pitch from Francisco. It extended Ludwick's hitting
streak to a season-high eight games. Miguel Cairo drove in another
run with a single, and Cozart knocked in one with a double.
Harvey struck out eight, giving him 34 in his first five starts
– the second-highest total, behind Dwight Gooden in Mets history.
Gooden struck out 36 in his first five starts.
Notes: Mets 3B David Wright needs one home run to become the
third player to hit 200 with New York. Wright hasn't homered since
July 27 at Arizona. … The Mets' road trip continues with three at
Washington. LHP Johan Santana is scheduled to make his second start
since coming off on Friday. … The Reds will open a four-game,
three-day home series against the Chicago Cubs, including a split
doubleheader on Saturday to make up a rain postponement on May 1.
RHP Johnny Cueto said he expects to start the first game of the


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mhWaveEdit is a graphical program for editing, playing, and recording
sound files. It is lightweight, portable, user-friendly, and handles
large files very well.
The program itself has only simple editing features such as cut'n'paste
and volume adjustment, but it can also use Ladspa effect plugins and
the effects provided by the SoX application. It can also support
additional file formats besides wav through libsndfile and mp3/ogg
import and export through lame and oggenc/oggdec.
The program will use lame, jack, pulseaudio, and portaudio if they are
installed, but they are not mandatory.
Maintained by: Felix Krueger
Keywords: sound,editor,recorder,audio,wav edit,wav,mh
ChangeLog: mhwaveedit
Download SlackBuild:
mhwaveedit.tar.gz.asc (FAQ)
(the SlackBuild does not include the source)
|Individual Files:
| doinst.sh
| mhwaveedit.SlackBuild
| mhwaveedit.desktop
| mhwaveedit.info
| mhwaveedit.png
| slack-desc
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