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Thursday, June 30, 2011
Mountain View streets: Pedestrian and Cycling Friendly?
In any case, what Europe realizes is a priority on infrastructure for individual-passenger motor vehicle and infrastructure for cyclists and pedestrians is to a large degree mutually exclusive. I have experienced this first hand since I began working in Mountain View, CA, from my previous job in Palo Alto just to the north.
There's a striking transition as one rides to the north along Central Expressway with its wide, bike-lane-like shoulders (not actually bike lanes but they certainly look and mostly act like bike lanes). As you head north you reach the San Antonio Road overpass next to the Caltrain station, when upon emerging from the other side: poof! The shoulder disappears and you're left to fight for roughly-paved right lane on what is now Alma with auto traffic which views the posted speed limit as a 3-sigma lower bound. This hardly seems to justify Palo Alto's self-proclaimed reputation as a hotspot of cycling friendliness. There's a recommended meandering detour for cyclists through a residential area, but it's obviously much slower than a direct road.
So point Mountain View, right?
Mountain View does have a lot of bike lanes, counting Central's shoulders. But it doesn't overcome the fundamental flaw in Mountain View's street grid. The roads are simply too wide. Four lanes, two in each direction, is narrow by Mountain View standards: there's superposed a network of "expressways" with three or in places even four lanes in each direction. Nobody wants to walk or bike on such a street, so driving is simply the way people get from point A to point B for destinations here, even if it's simply to cross the road or go a block away.
Middlefield in Mountain View
At intersections of such wide roads left turns are impossible without priority turn phases. So instead of two phases (a 50% chance to get a green light, on average) you now need six phases. When going straight, you now typically now have a 1/3 chance of making the light: you now wait at 1/6 of the intersections which otherwise you'd have been able to cruise through.
So you're not only waiting more, but each wait is longer. Intersections need to be timed sufficiently long to allow limited-mobility pedestrians to get across the street with a full green cycle. The wider the road, the longer the signal. The amount of time spent waiting at lights is directly proportional to the length of the light phases. Just because cars are expected to drive faster doesn't mean the old and infirm can.
The result: bike lanes or not, driving or cycling, you spend a whole lot more time waiting at red lights in Mountain View than in Palo Alto with its "human-sized" roads. Even on a bike it seems like you're stationary more than actually moving. Indeed riding or even driving through Mountain View on Middlefield or California, two roads which are consided bicycle-friendly, is slow going. Central northbound isn't much better. Cycling southbound on Central has the advantage of having the adjacent railway block cars from a good fraction of the intersections in that direction (you can go around the intersection rather than through it); ironically it is not listed as a recommended route on bike maps since it's an "expressway".
So what drivers do, of course, it take the freeway instead. If you can reach any of the three major highways which pass through the city, get on those. This increases travel distances, vehicle speed, pollution, and the temptation towards bigger, faster accelerating, and less fuel-efficient vehicles.
With all of this driving, people need to park wherever they go, even if it's just for coffee down the street. So if businesses want customers, and if landlords want commercial tenants, they need to surround themselves with parking lots. This makes walking even less attractive, as navigating parking areas with cars coming from every direction is discomforting or even dangerous. And parking lots add to the walking distance, and Americans typically have a very limited tolerance for walking.
So with the exception of the Castro Street oasis, a pedestrian and cycling friendly Mountain View is a lost cause. You simply cannot support high-speed high-volume car infrastructure and simultaneously provide an environment where walking and cycling is attractive. The only thing to do is follow Europe's example. Make driving less attractive and you automatically make walking and cycling more attractive. And more walkers, more cyclists, feeds the loop which encourages still more to these natural transportation modes. And walking enables public transportation, since public transit is rarely door-to-door. So there is then even less reason to drive, even more reason to practice human forms of transportation.
Matilda in Sunnyvale
The sad thing is Mountain View could be worse: it could be much worse. It could be like Sunnyvale, directly to the south. Yesterday I went for a run through along the beautiful Baylands trail. But when I emerged from the southern boundary of Moffit Field I was in Sunnyvale, near Matilda Ave. Matilda, a "local" street, makes the European autostrada look silly: 3-4 lanes in each direction, extending out to even 6 lanes with the addition of dedicated left-turn lanes. I was a hunted animal running along Matilda. There wasn't another pedestrian or even cyclist in sight. But I eventually made it, first to Maude (a road of only Mountain View proportions) and then, after criss-crossing the street due to disappearing sidewalks, back to work. Next time I run the Baylands trail, I'm turning back to return the way I came.
What a tragic, misguided waste of land and resources it all is.
9 comments:
- fulmar2 said...
Going to have to disagree with you on this one... Mountain View paths and bike lanes are superb. There are legal ways around long waiting / trying to hit the left turn lanes. One example is simply using the cross walks. At each intersection, while you're cruising at 15mph towards a changing light, you have time to decide what the best strategy is for each intersection. For me, it's second nature. I love mountain view due to the abundance of wide, safe feeling, moderately-paced-traffic streets. Wide lanes mean more room for the cars to give you a generous berth.
- June 30, 2011 at 6:29 PM
- Brian Peterson said...
Dan - I actually find Castro to be very dangerous to cyclists. The street parking causes people to "dive" in to spots without looking at all for a cyclist or pedestrians. Additionally, cars pull crazy uturns and such on Castro when they realize the missed a parking spot or drove past their destination. I've almost been hit several times, and I know other riders who have been hit. I try and avoid riding on Castro street for the most part.
- June 30, 2011 at 9:36 PM
- John Romeo Alpha said...
I view it as tragically unfortunate that much of the developing world has adopted something similar to the image of North Mathilda and what it stands for--people, mainly solitary individuals, moving at nominal high speed in gas burning vehicles of their own, from place of habitation to place of employment to place of consumer economic activity to place of mass entertainment and back--as the target model for their own aspirations. A dream which is dehumanizing, unsustainable, and unlivable. A dream which a few, like China, have achieved, and are taking to new levels of their own. What have we done, is not an unfair question at this point.
- July 1, 2011 at 6:39 AM
- djconnel said...
Fuklmar2: wider roads bring higher peak speeds (not necessarily higher averages, due to the time spent at traffic lights, and traffic since "everyone drives everywhere"). This is especially a problem at corners, which are designed for speed, and increase the chances of getting clipped. So I respect your preference, but I feel I'm more likely to get killed riding in the 'burbs than in San Francisco, and statistics support that. And Steven's Creek Trail is great, but for "up-down" Middlefield and California are very slow with the extreme light cycles.
Brian: Castro is great for pedestrians. I actually like riding it because there's people there, not just cars, and while it's slow I enjoy being around real people.
John: +1
- July 1, 2011 at 7:38 AM
- fulmar2 said...
This is interesting - like Brian P, I feel endangered on Castro Street MV due to the narrow road, and possibility of cars opening doors. I rarely take that route - because I feel it is unsafe! I certainly agree that some "wide" roads like central expressway are less safe due to the speed of the vehicles. Nevertheless, my main point was that Mountain View is one of the nicest places in the world to ride a bike. I have ridden bikes in many, many countries, and most of these 50 states... and Mountain View, in my estimation is a cycling utopia with generous bike lanes, and safe feeling roads. I have ridden all over Europe, and yes, there are small regions of cycling bliss - but honestly, the Peninsula has a MUCH higher density of cycling friendly routes than I ever encountered in countries that Americans often tout as being cycling utopias. Do you like riding on sidewalks? OK Germany is a decent place for cycling. Do you like bike lanes that abruptly end after A FEW HUNDRED FEET... and then start up again after 1/2 mile? If so, London is OK. Sure, there are always things that can be improved, here in Mountain View. Palo Alto has the wonderful Ellen Fletcher Bicycle boulevard - just a few blocks away from Central... OR Park Avenue that is almost as nice. That's two great alternatives within a mile of each other. They aren't much slower, either, due to road blocks that prohibit cars from crossing.. and due to 2 way stop signs that often let bikes cruise through. Finally, the bike sensors really work, and are nearly immediate when you arrive, at least on these roads. Sorry if my comment seems highly contradictory... I really like your blog, so I don't mean to say anything negative towards you. But I do want to point out to Peninsula residents that they are blessed with the highest density of cycling wonder in the world. We should give thanks for this awesomeness, and of course, continue to make improvements.
- July 10, 2011 at 11:05 PM
- djconnel said...
Thanks for that feedback! I really like alternate views.
Park and Bryant are in Palo Alto, not Mountain View, and part of my point is as you go from Palo Alto to Mt View to Sunnyvale / Santa Clara things get worse as roads get wider. Not primarily for safety reasons but due to riding time. And while Bryant is nice until it essentially terminates into a maze of residential circles, Park has a large number of stop signs which cyclists generally run... until Palo Alto's finest decide this is a scourge on the neighborhood and crack down with expensive tickets.
I've not ridden in Germany. I have ridden in UK but took the train to clear the London sprawl zone. I've ridden in Italy, Spain, France, Switzerland, and Greece (as well as Viet Nam, Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia) and in each the drivers were more respectful of cyclists than they are in the US. That's a more important factor than infrastructure. On the other hand, British and German drivers have a different reputation.
So really the big deal for me isn't that Middlefield or Central or Mary or Maude are particularly dangerous. It's the interminable traffic lights. At work the mode share of cycling is no more than 1% (and walking essentially zero) despite a large density of residences near by. In contrast in San Francisco it's much higher, and it's also higher in Palo Alto.
- July 11, 2011 at 6:58 AM
- murphstahoe said...
Michael Matthews takes Caltrain to Mountain View, Light Rail to Middlefield, and walks from there, FWIW.
- July 11, 2011 at 12:18 PM
- tamtom said...
I live in Mountain View and bike to work in Palo Alto 5x/wk. I also bike my child (used to be 2 children) to preschool in Palo Alto 5x/wk when school is in session - I drop her off and then continue on to work.
So my priorities are much more heavily weighted to safety than yours, and less towards speed. I can't go more than 10-12 mph with all that load anyway, and while I can accept _my_ falling off my bike (and it has happened, before children :), I would beat myself up forever if it happened to my child (or children).
I almost never take California or Middlefield to go up the spine of the Peninsula. I _much_ prefer taking Latham or Montecito.
Both are human scaled streets (1 lane in each direction), and don't have too many stop signs to break the flow.
IIRC, Latham has no stop signs from Escuela to Ortega - just one light in the middle.
Montecito is an official "bike boulevard" (yes, Mountain View has bike boulevards too) and is very pleasant to ride, at least from Shoreline to Rengstroff.
Also, one of my neighbours who is on the Mountain View Bike/Ped committee says that they are considering a new bike boulevard, and are taking input into where it should be.
So if you really care about bicyling in Mountain View, you know where you can direct your comments :)
-- Shankari
- September 5, 2011 at 6:33 PM
- djconnel said...
Thanks for those suggestions! I've ridden on neither Latham nor Montecito. I'll look for those!
- September 5, 2011 at 6:43 PM


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Difference between revisions of "Dublin"
Revision as of 05:56, 6 December 2010
Dublin [37] (Irish: Baile Átha Cliath, "Town of the Hurdled Ford") is the capital city of Ireland. Its vibrancy, nightlife and tourist attractions are noteworthy, and it is the most popular entry point for international visitors to Ireland. As a city, it is disproportionately large for the size of the country (2006 pop. Greater Dublin Region 1.6 million); well over a quarter of the Republic's population lives in the metropolitan area. The centre is, however, relatively small and can be navigated by foot, with most of the population living in suburbs.
Founded in 988, Dublin was originally settled by Vikings amongst a population of Celtic tribes. By the 14th century the king of England controlled Dublin and the nearby area referred to as "the Pale". By the 17th century Dublin was the second great city of Britain only behind London and a period when great Georgian style building were constructed which still stand today. One event remembered as a key moment in Irish history is the Easter rising in 1916. A failed attempt to take over the several important buildings among them the General Post Office on O'Connell Street led to the arrest of hundreds and execution of 15 who were then considered martyrs for the cause. Many believe this event helped gain sympathy for the fight for independence from Britain.
Dublin is divided by the River Liffey. On the north side of the Liffey is O'Connell Street--the main thoroughfare, which is intersected by numerous shopping streets, including Henry Street and Talbot Street. On the south side are St. Stephen's Green, Grafton Street, Trinity College, Christ Church, St. Patrick's Cathedrals, and many other attractions.
Dublin postcodes range from Dublin 1 to Dublin 24. As a rule, odd numbers are given to areas north of the River Liffey, while even numbers are given to areas south of the river. Usually, the lower the postcode, the closer to the city centre.
If you're already in the city, the main tourist office [38], located in St. Andrew's Church just off Grafton Street in the city centre (Dublin 2), is a good place to start for information. You can book accommodation and tours there, as well as find general information on where to go and what to do.
Although some of Dublin's finest Georgian architecture was demolished in the mid-20th century, a remarkable amount remains. They were a reminder of the past British imperialism and were pulled without regard to their beauty and architectural significance. They were replaced with modernist or pastiche office blocks, St. Stephen's Green (Dublin 2) being a prime example. Thankfully, attitudes have changed significantly, and Dubliners are now rightly proud of their impressive buildings from all eras.
Being subject to the moderating effects of the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf Stream, Dublin is known for its mild climate.
Contrary to some popular perception, the city is not especially rainy. Its annual rainfall average is only 732.7 mm (28.8 in), lower than London. However, its precipitation is spread out more evenly so that on many days there can be a light shower.
Winters in Dublin are relatively mild when compared with cities in mainland Europe -daytime temperatures generally hover around the 5°C (41°F) mark however frost is common during the period November through to February when night time temperatures dip below 0°C (32 °F) freezing point.
Snow does occur, but it is not very common, and most of Dublin's winter precipitation comes in the form of a chilly rain and hail. The lowest recorded temperature in the city is -12°C (10°F). It should also be noted that during the first week of January 2010, the city canals froze over for the first time in years--this was a common enough sight back in the 1960's, 1970's and 1980's. It could be said that Dublin's climate is very comparable to that of the northwest United States and southwest Canada, as well as to much of coastal Western Europe.
Summers in Dublin are also mild. The average maximum temperature is 19°C (66°F) in July, far cooler than even most of the coldest American cities. The hottest temperature ever recorded in Dublin is a mere 29°C (87°F), which in many other parts of the world, even at its own latitude, is just a typical summer day. Don't plan on too many hot summertime activities. Thunderstorms also don't happen very often in Dublin, on average only four days a year. Overall, the city's climate is mild however would be considered drier and cooler than western and southern parts of the island of Ireland.
Get in
By plane
Dublin is served by a single terminal airport [39] approximately 10 km (6 mi) north of the city centre. A second terminal will open in November 2010.
A full list of airlines flying to Dublin, along with timetables, can be found on the Dublin Airport website[40].
Ireland's flag carrier airline, Aer Lingus [41], flies to Dublin from a large number of European cities and from the USA. Aer Lingus fares are often lower than other flag carriers, but in part this has been achieved by matching the service levels of low-fare competitors. As a result, they now charge for checked-in bags and seat reservation at time of booking (note that this does not apply to United States flights).
Europe's largest low fares airline, Ryanair [42] has one of its main bases in Dublin from which it flies to a large number of European airports including Paris, London, Manchester, Liverpool, Madrid and Frankfurt as well as smaller regional airports such as Nantes or Kaunas. While famous for its low fares, Ryanair can be more expensive than other airlines for last minute bookings. Ireland's third airline Aer Arann [43] links Dublin to many regional Irish airports and some smaller UK cities.
Low-fare airline Flybe [44] links Dublin to Exeter, Norwich and Southampton in the United Kingdom, and also Jersey and Guernsey in the Channel Islands.
There are three types of bus transport to Dublin city:
Beware of taxi drivers trying to pick up passengers at Aircoach bus stops. They are strictly forbidden from doing this so do not get into any taxi no matter what they say.
Depending on traffic, journey times can vary from 25 minutes to over an hour. These buses are considerably cheaper than AirLink and Aircoach. Both of these local bus services stop across from Drumcondra train station which is on the Dublin-Maynooth commuter line. Some trains on this line continue past Maynooth and serve stations as far away as Longford. All Dublin Bus buses (except AirLink) do not give change and fares must be paid in coins. Ticket-machines near a few outdoor bus stops, including one at the airport, do not require exact change. Tickets can also be purchased at the newsagent inside the airport. Luggage racks are limited on the local buses, and it is not unknown for drivers to turn away travellers with packs that cannot be stored.
A taxi to the city centre should cost around €20 to €30: it can be comparable to/cheaper than the bus options if you are in a group of three or more (as well as a lot less hassle). Taxis are legally obliged to provide an electronic receipt detailing the fare, distance and other pertinent details. However, they often do not furnish such a receipt.
A metro connecting Dublin Airport to the city centre is planned, but no work has started on this yet.
Unless your destination is Dublin City, it is probably best to use one of the extensive range of other bus services that stop at Dublin Aiport and so avoid the city centre traffic.
Car parks serving Dublin Airport
By train
Dublin has two main railway stations. Heuston, in the west of the city centre, serves much of the west and south of the country including an hourly service to Cork which also services Limerick. Connolly, in the north-east centre of the city, serves the south east and east coast, Belfast, Sligo in the north-west and suburban commuter services including the Dublin Area Rapid Transit (DART) system. The two main stations are connected by bus and Luas routes. Visit the website for all train services local and intercity.
Irish Rail [49] has one of the youngest train fleets in Europe and the Cork train in particular is extremely comfortable. Older trains were phased out completely in 2008 with the arrival of a massive fleet of brand new trains built in Japan and South Korea. There are internet intercity train fares for offpeak services which are substantially cheaper than over the counter tickets. Food on trains is awful, sparse, and expensive - there is often no dining car with only a trolley service serving indestructible danish pastries, gross prepacked sandwiches and bars of chocolate.
By bus
A single bus station, Busáras, is the terminus for Bus Eireann [50] services to almost all towns and cities in Ireland (except for a few services to County Meath and County Dublin, which leave from the surrounding streets). It is next to Connolly train station, 10 min by foot from O'Connell Street. There are also services to Northern Ireland and Eurolines [51] services to Continental Europe. Luggage lockers are in the basement, along with the pay-to-enter public toilets.
A number of private bus companies also operate out of the airport and stop in city centre. Kavanaghs [52] has a good service to Limerick and Waterford. Citylink [53] coaches has a good price to Galway and the West, while GoBus[54] now provides a non-stop Dublin-Galway service.
By boat
Dublin Port has several passenger ferry services to/from Wales and England. The main routes are Liverpool-Dublin, Holyhead-Dublin, Holyhead-Dún Laoghaire. Companies from Wales include Stena and Irish Ferries, and from Liverpool, P&O and Norfolk Line. It is also common to arrive to Ireland via the suburban port of Dún Laoghaire 10 km (6 mi) south of Dublin. The port of Dún Laoghaire is serviced by the DART. Crossings from Liverpool are seven hours, while crossings from Holyhead are from 2.5 hours, depending on whether you take a fast ferry or a larger ferry.
If you are travelling to Dublin from anywhere in Britain, a very cheap option is to purchase a combined rail and ferry ticket. Tickets from any rail station in Britain to Dublin Port will cost no more than £30.50 one way (as of June 2010), which is particularly good value considering that the ferry ticket alone can cost up to £30 if purchased separately. Foot passengers departing Ireland do not need to book combined ferry/rail tickets in advance and can just buy them on the day at the ferry port. However returning from England it is sometimes wiser to pre-book as ferry/rail tickets may not be available on the day at some stations.
These combined tickets can be purchased direct from rail stations in Britain or online from https://www.raileasy.co.uk (with £1 booking fee plus £0.75 debit card fee).
By car
If you are visiting Dublin only for a daytrip and have a car, you can beat the traffic by leaving your car at a Park and Ride station. If you are coming from the south, two ideal places to leave your car are at the Sandyford Luas stop, located just off junction 15 of the M50 on Blackthorn Road, or Bray DART stop, on Bray Road. If you are coming from the west, your best option is the Red Cow Luas stop, off junction 10 of the M50. Coming from the north east, you would do best to use the Park and Ride station at Howth DART station. Tariffs at Park and Ride stations range from €2 to €4.
While all car rental companies in Ireland have rental desks in the arrivals hall of Dublin Airport, the list of car rental companies with inner city locations is far less. Some of the car rental companies will advertise city centre locations, but these locations are mostly only drop-offs for which an additional charge will be added. Distances mentioned below are approximations from O'Connell Bridge.
Get around
Public transportation has improved massively over the last few years, but it is still worse than in other European cities. This is more of a problem for the commuter than the visitor to Dublin, however, as the city centre is easy to get around on foot.
By train/tram
The Luas [62] (a tram/light-rail system) runs frequently and reliably, and is handy for getting around the city centre. There are two lines - red (running from Connolly railway station and the Point Theatre to the suburb of Tallaght) and green (running from St. Stephens Green to Brides Glen in Cherrywood). The lines do not connect. The distance between Abbey Street on the red line and St Stephens Green, the start of the green line, is about a 15 min walk. The Luas is frequent and reliable. Tickets can be bought on the platforms at the machines and do not need to be validated. A large amount of further expansion of this network is expected within the next decade.
The DART [63] suburban rail service runs along the coast between Greystones in the south and Howth and Malahide in the north. Tickets can be bought in the stations, from a window or a machine. There are four other suburban rail lines servicing areas around Dublin: [64], three of these lines operate from Connolly Station, the other from Heuston Station.
For Luas and DART network and station maps visit Dublin transportation Office site [65].
By bus
An extensive bus service operated by the state-controlled Dublin Bus serves the city and its suburbs, right out to the very outer suburbs. There are around 200 bus routes in Dublin. However, the route numbering system is highly confusing, with numbers having been issued non-sequentially and also suffix letters and alternate destinations. The Bus will display its final destination on the front of the bus, but there are no announcements as to intermediate stops; therefore, obtaining a route map from Dublin Bus is essential. Here are some pointers about using the bus services:
By car
Taxis were deregulated in 2001 leading to a massive oversupply with Dublin now boasting more taxis than New York. This is bad news for taxi drivers but good news for tourists as taxis are now extremely easy to come by. They may be ordered by telephone, at ranks, or just hailed on the street. Point-to-point trips in the city centre should cost between €6 and €10. There is a national standardised rate for all taxis.
Driving in Dublin is not to be recommended for much of the day, particularly in the city centre. Traffic can be heavy and there is an extensive one-way system, which some say is explicitly designed to make it very difficult for cars to enter the city centre. There are a large number of bus lanes (buses, taxis and pedal cycles are permitted to use them, the use of which by cars is liable to strict fines. It is usually possible to drive in bus lanes at certain off-peak times, with signs displaying these periods.
It can be difficult to find parking other than in multi-storey car parks. On-street parking for short periods is allowed at parking meters, but beware of over-staying your time or you will be "clamped" by the clamping companies who patrol frequently.
A system of two ring roads around the city has been introduced in recent years, with color coded signage in purple and blue (see the orbital route map [67]. The M50 is Dublin's ring-motorway, it connects to the M1 (to the north of Ireland and Belfast) near Dublin airport and to the M11 (servicing Wicklow, Wexford and the South) south of the city and to other motorways and national roads along its "C-shaped" route. It is continuously being upgraded so is liable to change in route and lane layout at any time and is highly congested. This road is not recommended for the unsure tourist. In addtition crossing the river using the M50 entails crossing the Westlink bridge. This is a toll bridge with the amount of the toll varying depending on the type of vehicle and how it is paid. It is important to note that the toll CANNOT be paid at booths while crossing the bridge but must be paid by internet or phone (or using electronic passes in the vehicle). The vehicle passes through the toll gate without stopping / being stopped but the registration plate is photographed automatically. The toll must be paid by 8 pm the following day [68] After this deadline, the longer the toll remains unpaid the higher the fees involved. For foreign registered vehicles, this currently presents no problem as the Irish vehicle registration base does not have access to foreign ownership details, but for Irish registered vehicles, including rental cars, any fees due, including penalties for late payment, may well be reclaimed through the rental company and subsequently from the credit card of the person hiring the car.
By bicycle/motorbike
Dublin has a large student population and is relatively cycle-friendly. Hiring a bicycle is a handy way to get around if you want to get outside the very centre of the city and are comfortable cycling in traffic. There are bikes to hire in several locations around the city centre with the Dublinbikes scheme [69], there is also a bike hire place located at the entrance to the Phoenix Park, dublin 8. When cycling in the Phoenix Park, note that while there is a dedicated cycle lane on both sides of the main thoroughfare unfortunately pedestrians also use these. When cycling in the city centre, be aware that cycle lanes, where they exist, are generally shared with buses, taxis and motorcycles, and cyclists should pay particular attention when approaching bus stops where a bus is pulling out.
Motorbikes are not allowed to use the cycle lanes, but many still do so. Passing on the left is also allowed only in limited circumstances but is in fact still common even otherise.
In the summer peak season, Dublin's top attractions can get packed. Show up early to beat the crowds.
Dublin has many fine and quite affluent suburbs. Seeing them is a good way to get a real feel for the city's culture and identity. A walk around some them on a nice day is well worth your time as many are home to some of Ireland's finest architecture(Victorian,Georgian,Modern etc).Some are easily navigated by foot from the city's centre and are dotted with many fine upmarket delicatessans and boutiques. Examples include Donnybrook and Ballsbridge - the 46A bus goes through Donnybrook and the 7 bus through Ballsbridge, and both routes have several stops in the north and south city centre. Ballsbridge is Dublin's embassy district and is home to some of Ireland's most expensive roads including 'Shrewsbury Road', which is famous for being the 6th most expensive residential thoroughfare in the world and 'Ailesbury Road' which is equally as salubrious and home to a bulk of the capital's embassies including Spain and Poland.
Ballsbridge is also home to The Royal Dublin Society (RDS) which promotes and develops agriculture, arts, industry and science in Ireland. It hosts many concerts and also showcases the annual Show Jumping Competition, a major entertainment event. You can approach Ballsbridge via 'Herbert park', a pleasant public green park and fashionable road, opposite Donnybrook Village and vice-versa.
Dalkey and Killiney which lie on the southern most tip of Dublin. They are upmarket neighbourhoods and home to such celebrities as Bono, Maeve Binchy and Enya among others. A walk up Vico Road to take in the view is a must-do. Killiney Hill is beautiful, offering panoramic views of the surrounding Dublin Mountains. These areas are best approached by the DART, which runs along the coast and has three main stops in the city centre.
Blackrock or Dun Laoghaire, accessible by bus or DART, are also worth a visit.
Ranelagh and Dartry are also worth visiting- Ranelagh is small but affluent and has several critically acclaimed eateries.
Sandymount, a coastal suburb no more than 2 mi (3 km) south of the City Centre, is another quite affluent area with a tiny park and some restaurants. It is the birthplace of W.B. Yeats. The suburb and its strand appear prominently in James Joyce's Ulysses.There is a wonderful walk from Sandymount across the north end of its beach to the South Bull Wall which reaches a finger well out into the Bay .
Be sure to go north of The Liffey also. Clontarf, Malahide, Skerries and Howth are all great places to spend an afternoon. Malahide has a beautiful Castle (including extra doors for the ghost)in a Park and is a nice little village with harbour, beach, estuary and lots of restaurants. You can also take a 20-30 minute walk along the coast up to Portmarnock beach.(a 10 km long beach)
Howth is home to a handful of Irish celebrities including Gay Byrne and Dolores O'Riordan. Walking the cliff walk or climbing the Ben of Howth, a 561 ft (171 m) high hill on Howth Head, on a fine day is well worth your time.
Dublin City's best beach is also to the north. Dollymount Strand and the adjoining bird sanctuary are highly recommended. It's a great bike ride - there's an excellent bike path along by the sea.
Swords is a rather large suburban town in North county Dublin. It is home to a huge shopping mall called the Pavillions, which features a large cinema and many upmarket stores. Swords Village , home to Swords castle, is a long stretch of road featuring a vibrant collection of Pubs, clubs, restaraunts and fast food takeaways. Its very easy to get a taxi here also although be aware a taxi back to the city from Swords can be expensive! Swords can be easily accessed via several buses from the city, and suburbs, the fastest way to get to Swords is the Swords express bus which runs from the O2 theatre (Liffey side) through the Port tunnel and then via the M1 motorway. It takes about 11 minutes and costs €3.00 off peak and €4.00 during daytime working hours. No Visit to Swords would be complete without visiting Wrights, A large and up-market bar and club in swords village, complete with VIP area where many famous people have enjoyed the nightlife of Swords. Wrights also have a new , and Gigantic, Club in Airside Retail Park, Swords (Taxi from Swords village is the best way, not expensive). Its well worth a visit for the clubber but be aware, Its expensive. Featuring several floors, each floor has an entrance fee, so to get to the top floor would cost €30.00 (€10.00 each floor) before even buying a drink! Swords is well worth a visit for the daytime shopper and the midnight party goer alike and can easily Rival the City centre for a great day/night out!
Brown Thomas [78], Dublin's most famous and expensive department store is on Grafton Street along with a wide range of clothing, jewelry, and photography shops, etc. Alongside the historic Trinity College you will find Nassau Street where there are many shops selling tourist-related items such as Waterford Crystal, Belleek Pottery, Aran sweaters, and other Irish craft items. Shops selling these items include House of Ireland [79] and Kilkenny Design [80].
Dawson Street, parallel to Grafton Street, is home to several well stocked, large bookshops including Hodges Figgis and Waterstones.
The best concentration of shoe shops is found on Grafton Street and the adjoining Wicklow Street.
The Powerscourt Centre [81], just off Grafton Street, is one of Dublin's most attractive shopping centres, set in a beautifully restored 18th century townhouse. Here, you will find clothes, cafes, galleries and Irish designer jewelers. You must check out the The Loft Market - it is a haven for Dublin Fashion. There is lots of up and coming young fashion designers and vintage clothing sellers such as Perk Up! Vintage [82], Lisa Shawgi Knitwear and MO MUSE to shop around. Beware the overpriced antique dealers, some of whom will drop a price by 50% after only the merest suggestion that you are willing to haggle (and it still may not be a bargain). For gifts, there is an engraving business based in the centre next to Bonsai Shop.
Leaving Powerscourt via the ornate steps on to South William Street, you will find yourself facing a small street called Castle Market, which leads to a covered red-brick shopping arcade known alternatively as the Market Arcade or the Georges Street Arcade. This area is worth a visit for vintage clothing, fabrics, unusual accessories, vinyl and club wear. It also features some small cafes.
All of the above are in Dublin 2.
There is also an extensive shopping area on the north side of the river, in Dublin 1, centred on O'Connell Street and Henry Street (Ireland's busiest shopping street). Clery's [83] (O'Connell Street)(18 O'Connell Street) and Arnotts [84] (12 Henry Street) are large department stores each with a long history. Two large shopping centres, the Jervis Shopping Centre [85] (Jervis Street), and the Ilac Centre (Henry Street) are nearby. The latter also houses Dublin's Central Public Library [86].
Just off Henry Street is Moore Street, which has a fruit, vegetable and fish market. It's worth a stroll if you want to get a slice of life from the less genteel side of Dublin. At the top of Henry Street on Parnell Street is Chapters, which has a massive selection of books at generally cheaper prices than other high street stores, as well as a large secondhand section. It is especially great for 'coffee table' style art books.
For those for whom it just would not be a holiday without hanging out at the mall, there are various shopping centres located around Dublin, including Blanchardstown Centre (Dublin 15) [87] (39 and 70 bus routes), Liffey Valley (Dublin 22) [88] (bus routes 25, 25A, 66, 66A, 67A,78, 78A, 210 and 239), and The Square, Tallaght, (Dublin 24, last stop on the red Luas). The largest shopping centre in Europe is the recently opened Dundrum Town Centre [89], which is served by the green Luas tramline from St. Stephen's Green. In Dublin 14, it was awarded the title of best shopping mall in the World, 2006.
Dublin is not cheap for general shopping, although visitors from outside the European Union can obtain a refund of VAT (sales tax: 21.5%) on many of their purchases. Just look for the refund sign and ask in the shop for details. Keep in mind that most stores will issue VAT refund vouchers only on the same day of purchase. Also, if you want to find thrifty nick nak shops, then Talbot street is a good start. Like any city, if you look hard enough and don't get caught up in the glitz and glam when shopping, there are great bargains to be found.
Be sure to visit Temple Bar's Temple Bar Square and Meetinghouse Square on a Saturday morning or afternoon for the markets (Dublin 2), which sells all types of foods, from traditional fare to delicious baked goods. Both squares are also home to several very good restaurants. Meetinghouse Square, which lies only about 150 ft (50 m) west of Temple Bar Square, sells much finer fare and more exotic foods than Meetinghouse Square.
The Temple Bar area offers some alternative to shopping at the larger chain-stores. Small clothing boutiques are popping up all around the area (Temple Bar Lane, Crow Street and Fownes Street) with an emphasis on vintage and unique original independent designer pieces, if you can't make it to any of the markets at the weekend the best can be found here during the week.
Also, in Dublin 8, Cows Lane Fashion and Design Market, which is the largest designer market in Dublin, offers handmade one-off original designs. The market is open evey Saturday from 10.00AM-5.30PM. Found outdoors on Cows Lane and indoors in the old Dublin's Viking Adventure, this market is not to be missed.
There is fairly extensive duty-free shopping at Dublin Airport, at prices sometimes cheaper than the rest of the city.
Dublin has a wide range of good quality restaurants, most of which are, however, horribly overpriced by European standards. Main course prices range from €10 at the lower end up to around €40 at the higher end. Wine in restaurants is generally marked up from its already expensive retail price by a factor of at least two and three times retail price would not be uncommon.
There are many excellent value Indian restaurants around the South William Street area, parallel to Grafton Street. These often have reasonable priced lunch and 'early bird' deals, offering three course meals for around €10. Quality is high but not on a par with UK. Particularly to be recommended are the Khyber Tandoori on South William Street and Shalimar on South Great Georges Street. Also excellent is Surma on Camden St and "Govindas" on Augnier Street for very cheap Hare-Krishna vegetarian food. all are in Dublin 2.
A similar multi-cultural hotspot is Parnell Street in Dublin 1 (O'Connell Street-Gardiner Street), which has a dense concentration of Chinese and Asian restaurants extensively frequented by the ex-pat communities.
Don't forget to try Leo Burdock Fish and Chips (2 Werburgh St). There is no eating in, so I have taken my fish to Christ Church Cathedral and ate it on a bench. About 10 Euro for way too much food (share it with someone).
No visit to Dublin would be complete without a visit to one (or ten) of its many pubs (last count says there are over 600 pubs). Drink is relatively expensive: a pint of stout costs around €4.50 and up, while lager costs around €4.90 and up. However, the government gave a tax break to microbrewed beer in the December 2004 budget, this had a slight effect on prices in brewpubs. Pubs are open until 11:30PM during the week (although many bars have late licenses up to 3AM), and as late as around 3AM on weekends, depending on the pub. Smoking has been illegal in Irish pubs (as well as all indoor workplaces) since March 2004; this has had the positive side effect of increasing al fresco facilities. Beer tends to be more expensive around the Temple Bar area, due to the increased tourist flow, and will be cheaper in more traditional styled pubs.
There are pubs in Dublin offering cheaper drinks, the Cock Tavern in Swords village north county Dublin, offers fosters Australian beer for €3.00 per pint. Fibber mcgees just off Parnell square, in the City, has 3 euro per drink for any drink including shorts, every Thursday night.( THere is a 5 euro door fee to enter after 9 pm Thursday) please be aware this is a heavy metal bar, so if loud music is not your thing then best avoid!
The Temple Bar that people often speak of is an area that used to be a sand bar, not an actual bar. (Originally, anyway; now there is a pub called "The Temple Bar" in Temple Bar!) The Temple Bar district has a mixture of food, drink, shopping and music. It appeals to all ages, but is a hot spot for tourists. The narrow, cobble stoned streets gives it an original feeling within the heart of the city. Its central location also makes it easy to walk to from Dublin's Centre. However, late night revellers tend to make it an unpleasant place to be after dark. It can be taken over by drunken stag and boisterous hen parties, many who travel cheaply from the United Kingdom to avail of Temple Bar's delights!
Traditional Irish Bars
Micro-breweries/ Brew-pubs
Dublin is not well-served for visitors who wish to camp in designated sites. The nearest to the city centre is located to the southwest of the city.
There are a huge number of youth hostels (mostly around €20 per night in dorm accommodation), bed & breakfasts (around €50 per person), and hotels (€80+). These are located in the more "sparse" areas of Dublin around the central bus station. Issacs and Jacobs hostel is off Talbot Street,and/or Amiens Street in Dublin 1. These hostels are close to the Connolly Station Luas station and the DART suburban train service and Belfast and outer suburban lines.
Airport Hotels
There are a number of hotels located around the airport, for ease of flight transfer.
Stay safe
Dublin is generally a very safe city by American and European standards however as in most large cities, crime against the person, such as muggings, unprovoked attacks, and robberies, have been known to occur although these are rare in Dublin. Treat Dublin as you would most western cities, and be sensible: don't walk in poorly lit areas at night, especially alone; as Dublin centre is relatively compact be aware that walking a few blocks can take you into some bad areas.
Avoid the Boardwalk and some sections of Lower Abbey Street as a large number of drug addicts hang around these areas due to nearby drug rehabilitaion centres. Avoid gangs of youths in tracksuits (as in the ones wearing tracksuits for daily wear as opposed to people involved in genuine sporting activities); tracksuited youths being responsible for alot of anti-social difficulties experienced by both locals and tourists alike.
You will however see a wide variety of buskers and street performers, these are normal people just plying their trade, are usually very helpful for directions, and appreciate your donations. (Busking and street performance is an old and vibrant part of Irish culture and their is nothing unusual or unsavory about a person playing an instrument or performing in a public place even in the small hours of the morning. So don't be afraid to approach and appreciate these talented and friendly individuals. Be aware that it is considered rude to photograph a street performer without tipping!!)
If someone does approach you on the street, they could indeed be people just looking for directions, a charity worker looking for donations, or someone simply looking for a cigarette lighter. Be aware that Dublin people are usually open and unlike big city's like London or New York, talking to complete strangers is a common and regular occurance.
If someone who appears to be drunk or under the influence of drugs approaches you asking if they can talk to you for a moment, it is wise to keep walking (Although expect drunk people to talk to you in a pub! It's common). These people may simply ask you for a cigarette, or some money for a bus, but be aware that most Dubliners, even if they have no money, would never ask a stranger for money or cigarettes (Although asking for a light for a cigarette is common) there are several scams being used on unaware tourists and locals alike so please be careful and use your judgement. If someone comes to you on the street, touches you, and asks you for something, Don't be afraid to say "no!" and walk away. Again, locals will almost never behave like this so avoid people who do!
When driving, Leave nothing valuable visible in your car, lock doors while driving through slow traffic in the city. There are plenty of taxis at all hours of the day and night, which are safe and usually friendly.
Never be afraid to approach Gardai (police officers) to ask for help or directions, It is their job to help. If you do get into trouble somehow and fear for your safety (which is very rare), and cannot find a Gardai officer then head to the nearest establishment such as a bar or shop where you will be safe. Call the emergency services on 112 from any phone (free) and ask for the relevant service. If you dont have a phone ask anyone working in a shop or bar to call the police for you and they will gladly assist. Also, most doormen and bouncers in pubs will gladly call the police for you if you explain your situation.
Dublin has heavy traffic, and even if several of the locals tend to cross the road without having a green man, it is not recommended to follow this example. Hardly any of the cars slow down in front of zebra-crossings in busy and crowded streets.
Care should also be used when taking some of the "Nitelink" buses that frequent the city. These, while often safe, have seen their fair share of trouble. Sit downstairs if possible, if only to avoid the more raucous singing, shouting and post-drinking vomiting.
The Temple Bar district is both an attraction for tourists and for pickpockets. Be aware of your surroundings.
While most Dubliners are extremely friendly, welcoming and tolerant, like any large city, it has its share of ignorant people who may pass racist remarks to foriegners particularly to people of non-white ethnicities, just ignore them and rest assured people like these are a tiny minority. Dublin is a multicultural city and welcomes all!
Internet cafés
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Surrounding counties


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Neurobiologist Carla Shatz, director of Stanford University Bio-X, has focused her research on how early brain circuits are transformed into adult connections during critical periods of development. Her work, which focuses on the development of the mammalian visual system, has relevance not only for treating disorders such as autism and schizophrenia, but also for understanding how the nervous and immune systems interact. This interview provides insights about what you can you learn from ski racing and how she got inspired to study neuroscience after her grandmother's stroke.
Activity-dependent neuroprotective protein (ADNP) is essential for brain formation, and mutations in the ADNP-encoding gene have been linked to an autism-like syndrome in children that is characterized by developmental delay along with intellectual and social disabilities. An 8-amino acid motif derived from ADNP (referred to as NAP) has been shown to be neuroprotective, via enhancing dendritic spine formation, in mice lacking ADNP. In this episode, Illana Gozes and colleagues characterize Adnp+/- mice as a model of ANDP syndrome. Adnp+/- animals had reduced dendritic spine density, developmental delays, impaired vocalizations, and motor dysfunction along with memory and social impairment. Administration of NAP partially reversed behavior and developmental defects and increased dendritic spine density. The results of this study support further exploration of NAP administration for treatment of ADNP syndrome.
Graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD) is a life-threatening complication of allogeneic BM transplantation that affects skin, liver, and the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. GI involvement is associated with the most severe form of disease and outcomes for these patients are poor. Treatments for GVHD are limited; therefore, a better understanding of markers of GI involvement have potential to improve treatment. In this episode, James Ferrara and colleagues identify the Paneth cell protein regenerating islet-derived 3α (REG3α) as a biomarker that is upregulated in sera of patients with GI GVHD. Moreover, using murine models, the authors determined that REG3α, which has well-known antimicrobial function, promotes intestinal stem cell survival; thereby, protecting the intestinal barrier. Together, these results indicate that strategies to increase REG3α should be explored for limiting GI GVHD.
Prostate cancer is an androgen-dependent disease; therefore, current approaches for treatment aim to disrupt androgen signaling. Unfortunately, this approach is rarely curative due to the selection of resistant clones and adaptation of stromal and endothelial cells to support tumor growth. In this episode, Neil Bhowmick and colleagues evaluated epigenetic alterations in prostate cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and determined that the Ras inhibitor RASAL3 is silenced in these cells, thereby driving macropinocytosis-mediated glutamine synthesis due to increased oncogenic Ras activity. The increase in stromal glutamine associated with neuroendocrine differentiation, and in prostate cancer patients, blood glutamine levels were elevated in patients that were resistant to androgen deprivation compared to those that were responsive. Together, these results suggest that strategies to prevent glutamine uptake be considered in conjunction with androgen deprivation.
Upwards of 10% of all bone fractures fail to heal properly, with dysfunctional repair even more common in individuals with metabolic defects. Vitamin D has been implicated in fracture healing, which involves formation of a soft callus at the fracture site that is later mineralized and ossified. In this episode, René St-Arnaud and colleagues determined that that ossification is impaired in Cyp24a1-deficient mice, which are unable to synthesize the vitamin D metabolite 24R,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, following traumatic bone injury. FAM57B2 was upregulated in the fracture callus of Cyp24a1-deficient mice and an interaction between FAM57B2 and 24R,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 in chondrocytes produced lactosylceramide, which supports callus mineralization. Importantly, lactosylceramide supplementation improved mineralization in both Cyp24a1- and Fam57b2-deficient calluses, suggesting that this 24R,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3–dependent pathway has potential to be targeted to optimize bone repair after fracture.


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Circus Teethers are a fun and stylish way to sooth sore gums for teething babies. Each set contains three rings: "Monkey" (flexible), Seal (firm), and Lion (rigid). All three rings fit snugly into a compact case. Now you have a place to store the baby teether! These baby teethers are made of the same Medial Grade materials that hospitals and dentists trust for use in their equipment. Medical grade plastics are held to a higher standard than commodity grade ones. They are produced according to specifications set out by the USP and ISO for quality and bio-compatibility. Simply put, they are the best of the best. What's more, the rings are manufactured in a "class 7" cleanroom environment – an environment sterile enough for the manufacture of DNA testing equipment.
DANO2 knows the best way to ensure safe, high-quality, products is to manufacturer them close to home here in the USA. Local American manufacturing ensures higher quality products and a smaller carbon footprint. These Circus Teethers not only promote healthy playing, but they stimulate economic growth and give jobs to the American manufacturer.
Size: 2.5 inches


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When you add check boxes, you are usually asking the person who is filling out your form to select one or more items from a list. In the example above, the user is being asked to click beside places in which they research.
Insert Check Box Form Fields
- Add the text instructions: Click beside places in which you are researching.
- Press Enter to create a new line.
- Add the list from which you want the person who is filling out your form to select.(Add a few place names.)
- Click before each item and insert the check box.--Click the Developer tab.
--In the Controls group, click the Legacy Tools button.
--Click the Check Box Form Field button. A small gray check box appears in your document.
- Save your document.
Complete these instructions for each check box you add.
- Right-click in the check box and a pop-up menu appears.
- Select Properties. The Check Box Form Field Options dialog appears.
- In Check box size, accept the default of Auto. For the most part, I haven't had a reason to select Exactly and start resizing the check box. However, you can see in the graphic that the size is based on points (each point = 1/72 of an inch). If you decide to use this option, it's easy enough to experiment.
- In Default value, accept the default of Not checked. Again, I've never had a reason to select the checked option. The check box is added with an X in it. I'd have to test it, but I'm assuming that when the person filling out your form click the box, Word removes the X. The assumption with this type of list is that everything in the list applies except the items from which you remove the X.
- Skip Run macro on fields. A macro is off topic for these posts.
- Skip Field settings fields. We'll talk about bookmarks later.
- Click OK.
We have one more type of form field to add. We'll do that in the next post. Then we'll talk about enforcing protection, which is what makes the form work.


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BRASELTON, Ga. - There are seven Atlantic Sun teams ranked ahead of the Lipscomb Bisons in the Golfweek Rankings.
But Will Brewer, director of golf for LU, doesn't think his team is playing for eighth place at the conference tournament Sunday, Monday and Tuesday at The Legends Course at Chateau Elan.
"Rankings are rankings," Brewer said. "They don't mean anything except that you have to have a certan ranking to get in the NCAA Tournament. If you just look at rankings we are suppoed to finish eighth, but we don't look at rankings that way.
"It's skewed a little bit by what you have done. We have beaten Belmont, a close rival in a different conference now, three times this year and they are still ranked 40 spots ahead of us. That makes you scratch your head."
North Florida (No. 18), Kennesaw State (52), Mercer (73) and ETSU (76)are each ranked in the top 100.
All Brewer can really control is his team. He thinks his players, coming off a second place finish in the TSU Big Blue Intercollegiate, are ready to compete at a high level this week.
"I feel confident that we are very prepared and that we going to have a good week," Brewer said. "From February until now the improvements in the team are like night and day.
"Our top five players are swinging well. Their rhythms are good. For us, it all comes down to are we going to be able to put it all together for every player? Are they going to have peak performances on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday?
"I don't know. You can't predict that. But I believe we are set up to do that. We are sharp. If we get things going well early I think that momentum will carry us."
Brewer's team for the A-Sun Championship will be seniors Blanton Farmer and Alex Cox; juniors Ryan Terry and Dustin Wilder and sophomore Paul Kleine-Kracht.
"Those five have consistently had the best averages and their stats are the best," Brewer said. "They have competed well both in the fall and spring.
"Everyone of them has played this golf course. We have focused on issues that we have recognized we can mprove. I am seeing different levels of improvement."
Brewer has seen a vast improvement in the scoring of his players on par five holes. But they spent this past week continuing to work on the short game.
"It is kind of like the hour before an exam," Brewer said. 'There is not much we can do right now."
Brewer expects Cox and Farmer to be at the top of their games as they both potentially could be playing their last tournament.
"Alex has really been motivated and has shown the most dramatic improvement over the past six weeks," Brewer said. "We have tweaked his putting a little bit. And we have tweaked his take away on his swing.
"He is putting better. He is striking the ball better. He has more confidence."
Farmer has been the model of consistency this season.
"Blanton always plays well," Brewer said. "Some days he makes a few more putts and plays better than others. He is a gamer."
Brewer thinks that Wilder has gradually improved his play this season. He also expects a solid performance from Terry.
"Dustin has a little more confidence than when we started the season in California," Brewer said. "He is playing well.
"We have tweaked his swing. We have his body sequence in the right order. He is beginning to get confident with it."
Brewer thinks that Kleine-Kracht could be one of the surprises of the tournament.
"Paul is swinging so well right now," Brewer said. "If we can just get a couple of good things going for him in the short game and get a few putts to go in early he will challenge."
Brewer always stresses the need for a strong short game. In a conference tournament setting he puts even more of a premium on that aspect of the game.
"In championships, when the pressure is mounting, it can help you a lot if you are a good putter," Brewer said. "All five of our players are putting better.
"If we go down there and play well we have the ability to finish in the top four or top five. Realistically, we will probably finish somewhere between No. 4 and No. 8 . We have set a goal, but we aren't telling anybody what that goal is."


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Coalition collusion
The coalition government is behaving just like New Labour in cunningly manipulating public opinion. Doubtless you will have heard that our new government has even less money than anybody realised, the public sector has grown hopelessly out of control and the pensions of government workers are going to be even more unaffordable than we thought. This rhetoric in advance of a budget is, of course, contrived to prepare us for something very bad the idea being that when we finally hear what is in store for us we will be so inured that we won't quite feel the need to riot on the streets. That something very bad will be a wholesale assault on the public services.
The other day Dr Grumble met a nice lady. She works for a chain of high street chemists. Dr Grumble rarely visits such places. There is a reason for this. The average chemist stocks scarcely anything of value to Dr Grumble. Toothpaste, razor blades, soap and shampoo are about all Grumble needs from the chemist. Most of what is for sale is of no value to Dr Grumble whatsoever. Dr Grumble asked what this charming lady did in the chemist's shop. It turned out she was a health advisor which, of course, interested Dr Grumble. He is, after all, aware of the enormous number of snake oils that some of these high street stores now seem to stock. The number and range of useless pills and potions, vitamins and supplements they peddle is remarkable. Why people buy them is puzzling. They are certainly not cheap. After talking to the charming health advisor, Dr Grumble was to become even more perplexed. He asked what sort of advice she gave. Her answer was clear. She advised people who come into the shop that they do not need these various pills and potions provided they are on a good diet. The amazing thing is that, despite this advice, the shoppers buy their useless vitamins or whatever and then fall hook line and sinker for the 3 for 2 offer. They not only buy what they never needed but they end up purchasing three times more than what they didn't even need in the first place. It is quite extraordinary. Not that Dr Grumble should be surprised. He gently tells his patients that they really don't need to pay out for these things and they too take absolutely no notice.
You don't have to keep your ear very close to the ground to hear from the coalition that the only honourable sort of work is work in the private sector. Work in the high street chemists would be an example. These industries, you will be told, are the only ones that generate wealth. These hard working types beavering away in the shops earn the money to pay those of us fortunate to have a cushy number in the public service. We do not generate wealth. Those in industry do. In short there are the grafters in the private sector and the spongers in the public sector. That anyway is how the coalition would have you see it. Because it then follows that the spongers need to go and the grafters should be encouraged.
This is, of course, utter nonsense. If you work for a company that makes, say, bottled water you are doing a job that is completely useless. We just don't need it. We used to manage without it. Somehow society has been persuaded by a less than honest industry that everywhere we go we must have a bottle with a teat on it which we should swig from regularly as if we are newborn babies. Even the Grumble hospital has been persuaded to spend thousands on bottled water for the convenience (and, apparently, health) of staff and patients alike. It is crackers. It costs a fortune. A man in a van has to deliver it at great expense producing CO2 on his way. Loads of plastic is wasted and meanwhile water of the same, perhaps better, quality flows freely from the taps.
Now compare the private bottled water company with your local state school. Has your local school conned you into believing that your children need to be educated? No. They didn't even advertise. You know your children need education. You know it is of value. Are the people who work in the school educating your children spongers? No. Of course not. They are working hard and creating real wealth deposited in your child. It's an intangible wealth. It will be a long time before it comes to fruition but there is no doubt about its importance and its benefit. We all know it. Don't let the coalition tell you otherwise.
The public sector is not just a bunch of spongers. We need them. Whether it is the council mending your roads or or the university or school teaching your offspring, we need these things more than the snake oils in the chemists or the ubiquitous bottled water. Don't let the colluding coalitionists tell you otherwise. We need to stop the waste in the private sector. A hefty tax on bottled water and snake oils would be a start.


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Get directions to Wabash College Fine Arts Center
The Art Department at Wabash College is excited to announce its first exhibit of the season. Taiwan native Hui-Chu Ying will show "Recent Prints and Drawings" in the Eric Dean Gallery from September 3 through October 4. The exhibit will include works from a number or recent series she has been developing, including Prayer Series, Root Series, and Heaven and Earth Series. Ying uses a variety of techniques to achieve her layered pieces which are at once visually simple and complex. Originally from Taipei, Taiwan, Ying is currently an Associate Professor of Art at the University of Akron in Ohio. Ying has exhibited her work worldwide, including installations in Spain and Finland. Layering — adding one thing atop another without altering either's essence — is an important characteristic of Ying's work. She not only places hand-work over mechanical process, color over color, image over pattern, and language over image, but also combines techniques and material from contemporary Western culture with Asian traditions. Ying playfully uses images of hands and birds alongside ancient ornate symbols; text alongside richly pigmented amorphic forms. Ying's use of color is stimulating while her use of form is thought provoking. Ying's work is inspired by the power of healing and hope that emerges in tragedy. Ying was present in Spain during the oil spill from the tanker Prestige. Her subsequent work reflected the positive response of volunteerism that came from the environmental disaster. The Eric Dean Gallery is located on the south end of the Fine Arts Center. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The gallery is free and open to the public.
Photo: Heaven and Earth Series


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The Cosmo pants by Erreà (for men) are the perfect match for the basketball sleeveless jersey of the same line. These basketball shorts are perfect to wear for both matches and training sessions. They have a long and wide shape to provide the greatest freedom of movement and are made of breathable, resistant and elasticated mesh fabric, for total comfort. They are available in a variety of colours and, to improve wearability, they come with a high waistband that makes them extremely comfortable to fit and wear.
Additional Information


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One Couple Says 'Goodbye' in 'Glee' Finale
With Kurt (Chris Colfer), Santana (Naya Rivera), Finn (Cory Monteith), Rachel (Lea Michele), Quinn (Diana Agron), Puck (Mark Salling) and Mercedes (Amber Riley) all graduating in the latest episode of 'Glee,' there were enough goodbyes to go around. However, that did not stop one couple from parting ways by the end of the finale.
The breakup that you might not have seen coming: Rachel and Finn, who were bound for the altar throughout the season. With various parental figures and friends of the couple -- not to mention fans -- disagreeing with the promotion of a teenage wedding, Finn and Rachel wisely parted ways at Finn's urgings, who chose to join the army for motivations that revolve around his deceased military father.
In the 'Goodbye,' Rachel gets into NYADA, but Finn and Kurt are both rejected. Instead of continuing on to New York alone, Rachel decides to defer for the year and spend the time helping her friends achieve their own dreams before focusing on hers. Finn ruins her plans when instead of driving them to get married, a teary eyed Finn brings her to a train bound for New York so she can start school in the fall.
Not necessarily the most satisfying ending for those rooting for a Finn and Rachel union, but one with a smart message for fans and teens alike. Their parting was full of plenty of crying and bargaining, but in the end they both agreed the need to find their own paths apart before coming together when the time is right. Bravo.


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Delivering style, durability and ease-of-use for increased customer retention
Quality Choice Hotels
The Choice Hotels Group, has more than 20 hotels across Ireland alone, including Clarion Hotels, Quality Hotels and Comfort Inns. This well-established group recognized the importance of adding extra value to its existing health clubs that consequently would enhance the hotels' attraction to guests and increase the satisfaction and retention of members of the health clubs from the local communities.
What we did
We were chosen as the preferred supplier for our unique ability to provide user friendly and top-of-the-range equipment at a value for money price and guaranteed on schedule delivery. Our renowned record in servicing that keeps downtime to an absolute minimum was another important consideration.
The first of the seven refurbishments started with the Clarion Hotel in Cork. The hotel's health club, called Sanovitae, had a complete equipment replacement for over 25 cardiovascular pieces and 10 strength stations that was augmented by our state of the art audiovisual system, Cardio Theater®.
What they said
Choice's health clubs' manager said: "We wanted style and we wanted durability, but particularly for our hotel guests, who might use fitness equipment only occasionally, we wanted machines that were simple to operate and really smooth to use. We couldn't have bettered what Precor had to offer."


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The precise reason for the 12-hour, full system blackout affecting 5 million people across a large swath of Southern California and Mexico Thursday is still being investigated. By 2:15 a.m. Pacific time Friday, all but 200 megawatts of the initial 4,300 lost megawatts had been restored according the North American Regulatory Commission (NERC).
Initial reports blame a utility worker doing maintenance near Yuma, Ariz., for triggering the massive blackout that affected residents across San Diego County, southern Orange County, western Arizona, northern Baja California and parts of Mexico.
"NERC and [the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission] are partnering to conduct a full inquiry into the cause of this event," said Gerry Cauley, president and chief executive officer of NERC, in a statement.
Until investigations are complete, energy and utilities experts are raising serious questions about safety and oversight procedures, backup plans, and the overall health of the electrical grid in the region.
"It makes one wonder that if this could happen unintentionally by a single person doing routine maintenance, what might terrorists do intentionally," says Sterling Burnett, senior fellow with the National Center for Policy Analysis, a nonprofit research institute in Dallas. "This shows the need for revamping and improving our entire electrical grid system, most of which is 20 to 30 years old. Most people have already acknowledged this but I don't think they realized how soon it was needed and how fragile the existing system is."
Several analysts say more "redundancy" needs to be built into the system, specifically the incorporation of backup procedures that kick in when something goes wrong, like a second pair of brakes in a subway train. The redundancies take the onus off of inspectors – helping to avoid human error.
"Sometimes the best way to prepare for every possible contingency from natural disaster to human error is simply to build in redundancy," says Nabil Nasr, a member of the National Research Council Board on Manufacturing and Engineering Design. "So many things can go wrong that it becomes hard and expensive to prepare and design for them all."
The ultimate problem can be related to economics. "It costs a lot of money to keep these grids renewed and up to date, but we saw the cost to the entire Northeast when a single tree went down in Ohio and shut power across Pennsylvania and New York" in 2006, says Mr. Burnett. "President Obama mentioned the nation's aging infrastructure in his jobs speech Thursday, but that was mostly about roads and bridges and schools. Few things are more critical than the delivery of electric power."
That comment is backed up by newspaper reports and local TV news broadcasts filled with stories of restaurants which had to cope without refrigeration, traffic jams caused by lost traffic lighting, and elderly residents trapped in their homes without air conditioning in the sweltering Southwest heat.
But even hardship can be a wakeup call to do things differently and to be better prepared, say a host of companies which are introducing new technologies to deal with such occasions.
"It used to be very expensive to duplicate all of your computers and have a way to deal with the data businesses need to stay up and running," says Andrew Lochart, vice president of marketing for nScaled, a company that provides backup and disaster recovery for businesses. Several east coast companies used Mr. Lochart's services during hurricane Irene.
Russ Leslie, associate director of the Lighting Research Center at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, says the incident presents an opportunity to discuss the many issues surrounding utility needs and operation from the consumer side. His center has done extensive work on systems and controls that reduce electric load demand during crises.
By automatically shutting off power to less-critical uses like lighting during a crises, you can save much-needed energy for essential services, says Mr. Leslie. In a heavily populated state like California, where nobody wants any more power plants or power lines in their backyard, "this is critical," he says. "This event has been an opportunity to make this all clear."


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Today: Apple and Google shoot higher amid valley heavyweights' European court battle, Adobe goes all-in on cloud and Electronic Arts strikes a deal for "Star Wars" games.
The lead: Google and Apple rise as their battle continues
Google hit an all-time record high Monday on Wall Street, but Apple had an even better day as a European body said that Google's Motorola Mobility unit is using anticompetitive tactics against the iPad maker.
Google hit an all-time intraday high of $861.85 before closing at a record high of $861.55, a daily gain of 1.9 percent. The move came despite the European ruling in Apple's favor, which could lead to antitrust charges against Motorola Mobility if it is upheld. The European battle between Apple and Google's subsidiary is part of a larger war between the two companies that has focused on lawsuits between Apple and hardware makers that use Google's Android operating system, with the stakes again showing Monday in a comScore report that shows Apple continues to be the top smartphone manufacturer, but Android is the top OS.
Investors may have pushed Google higher due to expectations of a new avenue for revenue: The New York Times reported Monday that the Mountain View search giant will announce that YouTube will begin offering premium content channels, with monthly subscriptions of $1.99 and up.
Apple moved 2.4 percent to close at $460.71, far from the records it set last year but still the Cupertino company's highest closing price since late March. The stock boost was likely influenced by a Barclays investor note that increased the price target for Apple stock from $465 to $525, with analyst Ben Reitzes writing, "We believe Apple is about to change the narrative and get investors, analysts, customers and the media finally talking about new products again."
The analyst's note shows just how much views on Apple have changed since it announced a decline in profits but promised big shareholder returns last month — the same analyst cut his price target from $530 to $465 in the run-up to that quarterly earnings report just a couple weeks ago.
"Upon further reflection, we didn't fully appreciate at first how much of a relief it was for Apple to unveil" a plan for larger return of cash to its investors, Reitzes wrote.
Since Apple announced its plan to push more cash back to investors, which was followed by a debt offering that was in high demand, the stock has risen 13.4 percent. Investors seemed to push past news that could have had a negative effect on the company's share price just a few weeks ago, such as a Bloomberg News report Monday that claimed Apple was missing out on billions of potential customers by failing to come to agreement with more wireless carriers, especially in Asia.
The positive moves by Apple and Google continued their successes in market capitalization, the total worth of all shares in a company. Apple, the most valuable company in the world by that metric, continued to pull away from second-place Exxon Mobil, while Google moved ahead of Microsoft to be the second-most-valuable tech company in the world, a feat it originally accomplished in October. Both companies appeared high in the Fortune 500, which was announced Monday: Apple cracked the top 10 for the first time and came in at No. 6, while Google came in just behind Intel at No. 55.
SV150 market report: Adobe's future is in cloud, EA's is in 'Star Wars'
After busting through a milestone level at the end of last week, the Standard & Poor's 500 gained slightly Monday to a new record closing high while the Dow Jones dipped very slightly. Tech stocks, however, experienced a stronger advance with the backing of Apple and Google, as the Nasdaq gained 0.4 percent and the SV150 index moved 0.8 percent higher.
Adobe announced that its successful foray into the cloud will be a permanent and complete one, as the San Jose software company will cease selling copies of its Creative Suite package of software and focus solely on cloud-based subscriptions. Adobe's stock dropped 1.1 percent on the day to $46.49, but analysts seemed to support the idea: IDC analyst Al Hilwa said "Adobe is ahead of the game." Investors could be wary of the near-term effects of the move, however, with an Adobe executive admitting that it's a "big transition" for customers.
Electronic Arts, still searching for a permanent CEO, made a big announcement while working under an interim: The Redwood City company struck a deal with Disney to make "Star Wars"-themed video games. Disney plans to make new "Star Wars" movies after acquiring San Francisco-based LucasFilm, but the Southern California company closed down the studio's video game publishing arm, opening the door for EA. EA, which has experience with "Star Wars" games, gained 1.9 percent to $18.29 in regular trading, then announced the move after the bell.
Intel dropped 0.2 percent to $23.91 after showing off the newest generation of its mobile chips, which the Santa Clara company said would be three times faster than its previous offering. Facebook dropped 2.6 percent to $27.57 after a Financial Times report said the Menlo Park company would begin placing autoplay video ads in users' feeds this summer. After hours, Sunnyvale's Ruckus Wireless took a large tumble after its earnings came in below estimates.
Tesla took one of the sharpest positive turns on the day, gaining 9.1 percent and again hitting new intraday and closing highs after hiring a new executive famous for his work with Aston Martin. LinkedIn gained 0.8 percent on its 10th birthday, which cofounder Reid Hoffman celebrated with a blog post, and VMware bounced back from recent weakness with a 3 percent gain.
Up: Tesla, SunPower, Ruckus, VMware, Workday, Juniper, Apple, Google, EA, NetApp, Splunk, Intuit, LinkedIn, Symantec, Yahoo, Oracle
Down: Facebook, SolarCity, Yelp, Gilead, Netflix, Adobe, Palo Alto Networks, Zynga, Nvidia, Intel, Applied Materials, Cisco
The SV150 index of Silicon Valley's largest tech companies: Up 10.53, or 0.84 percent, to 1,257.28
The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite index: Up 14.34, or 0.42 percent, to 3,392.97
The blue chip Dow Jones industrial average: Down 5.07, or 0.03 percent, to 14,968.89
And the widely watched Standard & Poor's 500 index: Up 3.08, or 0.19 percent, to 1,617.5
Check in weekday afternoons for the 60-Second Business Break, a summary of news from Mercury News staff writers, The Associated Press, Bloomberg News and other wire services. Contact Jeremy C. Owens at 408-920-5876; follow him at Twitter.com/mercbizbreak.


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Many diseases common to cats can be prevented in two ways: by keeping your cat indoors, and by having your cat vaccinated according to your veterinarian's advice.
Common feline illnesses include the following:
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Looking at maybe getting some 2012 Blade Trigger's.
The kites look great with solid build quality but how many pully's on the bridal, what are the bar and lines like?
Any detailed info would be great.
BellinghamKite wrote:Small Kite action from today.
Featuring me, and Andrew Olive.
I have to say that I am super impressed with the Trigger 5m. It had surprisingly good low end, as well as stability in the upper end.
One thing that is unique about the 5m, is that once you jump, it doesn't just drop you like other small kites. Both Andrew and I had decent sized air on the 5m (20ft+) and our landings were soft and smooth. Never have I experienced that with such a small kite.
In the gusts, the kite held its shape and rocketed upwind.
I also got to try the 7m Prime today for the first time well powered. I hit its top end when smoke was starting to appear on the water, and this kite jumped suprisingly well.
Super happy from today!
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We have another new member to spotlight today - Taos Goji Eco Lodge and Farm in San Cristobal, New Mexico. Please join us in welcoming them!
Nestled in the Sangre De Criston Mountains, just 11 miles from Taos, the Taos Goji Eco Lodge and Farm raises organic goji berries, chickens, and goats. Guests will enjoy taking in the surrounding creeks and ponds, aspens, flower gardens, and orchards, and bird watchers will be happy to discover that this is also a bird sanctuary!
Taos Goji Eco Lodge welcomes guests of all ages. They have three cabins, as well as a 3 bedroom adobe Artists Residence with adjoining log cabin, and an Artist Retreat Casita. Meals are self-prepared, and there are lots of activities. The farm welcomes weddings and other special events.
To learn more and plan a visit, check out the Taos Goji Eco Lodge and Farm listing here on Farm Stay U.S.!
(Photos courtesy Taos Goji Eco Lodge and Farm)
do u have any farms that are in the northeast that offer snowmobiling in the winter.
Hi Janie,
We definitely do! In the New England area, the farms that offer snowmobiling are Cold Moon Farm and Liberty Hill Farm in VT, Pagett Farm and Spiritwind Farm in Maine, and the Inn at Valley Farms in New Hampshire. Here is a link to those search results so you can check them out: http://www.farmstayus.com/search#region=15&activities=16&page=1
In New York, there is Heydenrych Farms. (http://www.farmstayus.com/search#region=16&activities=16&page=1)
I searched a little further south to Delaware, Maryland, and DC, but didn't find anyone listing snowmobiling in those states.
Hope that helps! Thanks for your comment.
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April 2015 University of Maryland School of Law Top Blawgs
Group blog with a broad emphasis on legal topics. By Professors Daniel J. Solove, Kaimipono Wenger, Dave Hoffman, Frank Pasquale, Deven Desai, Danielle Citron, Lawrence Cunningham, Sarah Waldeck, Jaya Ramji-Nogales, Solangel Maldonado and Gerard Magliocca.
Covers business, law, economics and society. By Professors Gordon Smith, Christine Hurt, Lisa Fairfax, David Zarin, Usha Rodrigues, and Erik Gerding
Covers current affairs, legal research, statutes and weblogs. From the Thurgood Marshall Law Library at the University of Maryland School of Law.