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Difference between revisions of "Lisbon"
Revision as of 16:07, 20 January 2013
The capital of Portugal, Lisbon (Portuguese: Lisboa) has experienced a renaissance in recent years, with a contemporary culture that is alive and thriving and making its mark in today's Europe. Perched on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean, Lisbon is one of the rare Western European cities that face the ocean and uses water as an element that defines the city. Lisbon enchants travelers with its white bleached limestone buildings, intimate alleyways, and an easy going charm that makes it a popular year round destination.
Like Amman, Rome, and San Francisco, Lisbon is built on seven hills.
The sparkling new Lisboa Ask Me Centre (Pç. do Comércio, Tel. +351 (21) 031-2815, open 9AM - 8PM daily) will help you find accommodation and the staff are happy to dispense advice, maps and brochures. Smaller Ask Me Lisboa kiosks are dotted about the Rossio district and airport and their multilingual staff also have maps and brochures.
The Lisboa Card, which can be purchased from tourist information outlets, offers free use of all public transport in the city and free or reduced price tickets to many museums, galleries and tourist attractions. They can be purchased in 24 hour adult €17, 48 hour €27 and 72 hour (€33 denominations. They are not very good value unless you plan to visit a lot of museums. Especially so if you are a holder of a student identification card (international or national) since the student discounts to these attractions are often the same as for the Lisboa Card.
Lisbon enjoys a warm climate, with mild winters and very warm summers. Strongly influenced by the Gulf Stream it is one of the mildest climates in Europe. Among all the metropolises in Europe, here are the warmest winters on the continent, with average temperatures above 37.3 °C (59.4 °F) during the day and 8.9 °C (48.0 °F) at night in the period from December to February. Snow and frost are very rare. The typical summer's season lasts about 6 months, from May to October, with an average temperature of 25 °C (77 °F) during the day and 16.2 °C (61.2 °F) at night, although also in November, March and April sometimes there are temperature above 20 °C (68.0 °F) with an average temperature of 18.5 °C (65 °F) during the day and 11.2 °C (52.2 °F) at night. Rain occurs mainly in winter, the summer is very dry.
Lisbon is very close to the ocean and that brings windy and fast-changing weather, so you'd better bring a an extra pair of underwear or an umbrella with you, at least in winter, spring and autumn.
The city stretches along the northern bank of the river Tejo as it flows into the Atlantic Ocean. As the terrain rises north away from the water, steep streets and stairways form the old tangled neighborhoods or give way to green parks in the western suburbs. Although, tourists shall be aware of the annual wookie migration that takes place once a year in the late fall.
Lisbon lacks a defined "downtown", but the the vast Praça do Comércio, facing the river at the base of the pedestrianized grid of Baixa (lower town), occupies a central position. Further northwest from Baixa stretches Lisbon's "Main Street", Avenida da Liberdade, a broad boulevard resplendent in leafy trees, chic hotels and upscale shops, terminating at the circular Praça de Marques de Pombal. To the east are old neighborhoods of Mouraria and Alfama, both relatively spared during the Great Earthquake (as they are on a firmer rock) and therefore both retaining the charm of the winding alleys and azulejo-covered crumbling walls (further north lie relatively boring residential quarters). To the west the hill rises steeply into Bairro Alto (upper town; prepare to trek up, or take one of the elevadores, or funiculars); still further west are rapidly gentrifying former docks of Alcantara, dominated on the western end by the supports of the gigantic new bridge over the river, and the suburbs of Santo Amaro and Belém.
Get in
By plane
Portugal's largest international airport is the Aeroporto da Portela [97] (IATA: LIS). It is located between Loures and Lisboa. Alameda das Comunidades Portuguesas, Tel: +350 (21) 841-3000, Fax: +351 (21) 841-3675, [98]
It is the main air hub for TAP Portugal [99], a Star Alliance [100] member airline that covers an extensive network throughout Europe, Africa (Morroco, Algeria, Senegal, Guine Bissau, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Angola, Cape Verde, S. Tome e Principe) and the Americas (US, Venezuela and Brazil). SATA (Air Açores) [101] provides regular service to eastern North America (Boston, Montreal and Toronto).
There are also several other airlines flying into Lisbon, such as United Airlines, US Airways, Emirates, Easyjet, British Airways, Brussels Airlines, Aigle Azur, Air Berlin, Air France, Air Transat, German Wings, TAAG Angolan Airways, STP Airways, Swiss, Transavia, Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa, Finnair, Iberia, Vueling and KLM, amongst others.
Getting from/to the airport
In general, if you are arriving by plane in Lisbon and it is still day time, it is almost always better to use public transport - buses or the metro system - to your hotel or final destination. The airport information desk at Lisbon airport can provide you with all the required information. Taxi drivers at the taxi stand at Lisbon are infamous for their dishonesty and unreliability and if they can rip you off, they will. If you do not speak Portuguese or if you don't know the shortest way to your destination, avoid using a taxi unless there is no other option. If your final destination is less than 1 mile from the airport, taxi drivers will refuse to take you although they are not allowed to refuse destinations. If you insist on taking the taxi, the driver will most likely abuse you verbally and try to rip you off. If you are not carrying too much luggage and it is not late in the night, you are better off simply getting a bus or the metro to city center.
By train
There are two main stations, Santa Apolónia in the city centre and the Gare do Oriente, a bit further out and used by the high-speed trains. However, if you are entering Lisbon from the south, you may want to get off at the smaller stations of Entrecampos or Sete Rios. Their metro stations are a few stops closer to the central and old town. Also, local trains connecting with the resort Cascais on the Estoril coast use Cais do Sodré station. Train tickets may be booked directly with the train company, Comboios de Portugal [103].
Two international services are avalible, the overnight Sud Express leavs Irun on the border between Spain and France every day at 10:20PM, always waiting waiting for the connecting TGV train from Paris. The train calls at Oriente station 10:22AM the next morning before arriving in Apolónia just ten minutes later. There is also a daily sleeper train from Madrid named Lusitania leaving Chamartin station at 10:25PM, arriving early next morning 7:30AM in Oriente and a few minutes later at Apolónia. Prices starts at €90 for a single-journey in Turista-class.
The domestic high-speed line Alfa Pendular connects Braga, Porto and Coimbra with Lisbon from the north and Faro from the south. Prices between the major cities starts at €40 in second class. All trains call at Oriente, only some in Apolonia.
By car
Lisbon can be accessed from six main highways. Coming from the south (A2) or east (A6 - the main route from Madrid), there are the two bridges:
From/to south: The A2 goes all the way to the 25 de Abril bridge, which usually has lots of traffic getting into Lisbon, especially on weekday mornings. This is the best option if you want to go to the center of Lisbon or to the west (A5 - Estoril, Cascais, Sintra).
To north / to east: If you branch from the A2 into the A12, you'll get to the Vasco da Gama bridge, the longest bridge in Europe, it usually has less traffic than the older 25 de Abril bridge (but a more expensive toll). This is the best option to go to the eastern/northern section of Lisbon (to the airport and to the Parque das Nações - the former Expo 98 site), and also to take the A1 or A8 going north.
From/to north and the airport: Coming from the north, there is the A1, that connects Lisbon to Santarém, Fátima, Leiria, Coimbra, Aveiro, Porto. The A1 ends near the airport. There's also the A8, which goes to Torres Vedras, Caldas da Rainha, Alcobaça, Leiria.
From the west, there is the A5, which connects to Estoril, Cascais, and the IC19 that crosses all the suburbs and ends near Sintra.
Lisbon has three ring roads: The 2ª circular, which connects the A1 to the IC19; the CRIL IC17 (still incomplete), which connects the Vasco da Gama bridge with the A1 and A8; and the CREL A9, which connects the A1 with the A8, IC19, A5, and goes all the way to the Estoril coast.
By bus
All nearby cities and most major cities in Portugal have direct buses to Lisbon. The main bus terminal is at Sete Rios (metro: Jardim Zoológico). The main operator for long-course buses is Rede Nacional de Expressos (http://www.rede-expressos.pt/default.aspx)
By boat
You can get a boat to Lisbon from the following stations: Barreiro; Trafaria; Montijo; and Cacilhas. It's an excellent sightseeing opportunity crossing the river Tagus to Lisbon.
Many cruise ships dock at several places along the river on the Lisbon side, with variably good access to public transport throughout the city. Many lines offer shuttles to key points nearby.
By bicycle
From airport: Due to the relative proximity of Lisbon's airport to the city center, it is quite easy to cycle from the airport to the center, and could be recommended if you arrive for a cycling trip.
After leaving the airport and negotiating a roundabout, merge onto the long and straight dual-carriageway Av. Almirante Gago Coutinho (you should be able just to follow the "Centro" ("Downtown") signs.) After merging, the route to Baixa is simple and straight. This street later turns into Av. Almirante Reis, and then Rua de Palma, at the end of which you will be right in Baixa.
Cycling outside Lisbon can be a challenge, as Lisbon offers far easier cycling than what you may find outside of the city. The further you get from Lisbon however, the easier the cycling gets. You may wish to take advantage of certain regional trains that take bicycles in a separate luggage carriage, allowing you to start your cycling some 50 or 100 kilometers outside of the city.
More Below at Getting around by bicycle
Get around
Metro and Buses
Lisbon has a very efficient public transport network that covers the entire city in addition to the surrounding areas.
Lisbon's recently refurbished metro system [104] is clean, quick, and efficient. While metro announcements are made only in Portuguese, signs and ticketing machines are generally bilingual in Portuguese and English.
The extensive bus and electrico (tram) network is run by Carris [105].
The best and, in many cases, the sole way to pay for city transport is buying a rechargeable green-colored card 7 Colinas (Viva Viagem) [106]. It is valid for metro, trams (electrico), urban trains, most buses and ferries. The exception is buses run not by Carris—other bus companies have their own tickets. The card itself can be purchased for €0.50 (this price doesn't include any trips—add as many trips as you want), and remains valid for a year.
The Viva Viagem card can be charged in three different modes:
There are ticketing machines located at the train or metro stations, which also provide instructions in English. You can also buy the ticket from the driver or machines on board (the latter only available in some new trams). Tickets purchased from a driver will not include a Viva Viagem card, and will cost more (€1.80 for bus and €2.85 for trams instead of €1.20 if you use the rechargeable card), so it makes more sense to buy the ticket before starting the trip.
When using suburban trains, your tickets are charged onto the same kind of Viva Viagem cards. You cannot have more than one kind of ticket on one card, however, so you will probably need at least two of them, one for zapping (regular bus and metro use), one for suburban travel. The TransTejo (TT) ferries can make you buy yet another "Via Viagem" card with white stripe in the bottom, claiming that CP or Carris "Via Viagem" cards are not valid for them.
If you plan to be in Lisbon for an extended time (1 week and more), you can purchase an unlimited pass that covers buses, metro, and funiculars at the Carris station in Santo Amaro. It's €12 for the Lisboa Viva card, plus €29 for a one-month unlimited pass. Bring a photo ID (passport) and cash.
By bicycle
Cycling within the city is now much easier because of the work the municipality has been putting in with bike lanes, slowing car traffic, changing car traffic patterns and adding speed bumps etc but of course parts of the town will always be part of the surprisingly hilly outlet of Lisbon. If you plan to cycle these note that some of these streets do have tram lines, potholes and absent of designated bicycle lanes, so visitors wishing to venture into city traffic by bicycle should be used to urban riding. Riding on the sidewalk is not recommended. It is advisable to get advice at local bikeshops.
Although better than in recent years there are still bike lanes in town the newest, nice and safe stretches from Baixa to Belem along the beautiful river Tejo water front aptly known as the Poetry Bike Lane These days car drivers are often weekend cyclists and way more careful with cyclists, more than ever before. Good spots for anyone to cycle safe are along the flat riverfront area streching from Parque das Nacoes, to the central area of Cais Sodre, where you can rent bikes look below for bike iberia, and particularly from here to Belem. Must do for all travelers or cycling enthusiasts: A scenic and safe bike ride on bike lane from Baixa along waterfront to the historical area of Descobertas-Belem-Jerónimos.
Just outside of Lisbon -you can take a free bike (but often in poor condition and limited offer) on trains or ferries- along the coast from Estoril towards the beautiful beach of Guincho, reach Sintra, Cascais or Costa da Caparica. If traveling from Lisbon (and back) you should consider renting a bike there as there are no restrictions, nor additional charges, on traveling with bicycles on commuting trains.
If you take a bicycle in public transportation beware of the following:
Bike shops in Lisbon town center are rare. You can find a SportZone near Rossio or in major shopping malls. Ask there for specialist shops, shop assistants are usually very helpful.
For guided bike the sights in Lisbon, Sintra, Arrabida or Cascais, and bike rentals, you can always check out Bike Iberia (Phone: +351 96 242 3455, [107]) located in Baixa-downtown, next to Cais Sodre and the Praca Comercio square; they are professional, friendly and very helpful on providing Lisbon Bike Tours, bike rentals with delivery to your hotel doorstep, touring equipment, mountain biking gear, very family friendly and native insider's knowledge. If you prefer a tour on Sintra-Cascais Natural Park then you should look at Portugal Nature Trails (Phone: +351 962 543 298, [108])
By car
Think twice before using a car in the city unless you are prepared to spend hours in traffic jams and looking for parking space. The busy traffic and narrow streets with blind corners can be overwhelming to tourists. Also, due to lack of space and overcrowding, parking is difficult and annoying, as well as potentially dangerous - check the "Stay Safe" section below, regarding potential problems with criminals and homeless people who stand near parking spaces to "help" you park your car and then attempt to extort money from you.
If your accommodation is in the center of the city, walking is a great alternative. Many of the attractions of the city, such as the Castelo and the Alfama and Bairro Alto districts, are within easy walking distance of the Baixa.
If you become lost or cannot find the location you are looking for, try to locate the nearest Carris bus or tram stop. Most of these stops (not all) have a very good map of the city with your current location clearly marked on the map. All the prominent tourist sites in Lisbon are also shown along with an index at the bottom of the map. A quick consultation with one of these Carris maps should point you back in the right direction.
You may also use the funiculars and elevadores (Santa Justa's). Day passes for public transportation are also valid for those.
Ferries connect Lisbon to the suburbs across the Tejo river in the south. Taking a ferry to Cacilhas is a good opportunity to see Lisbon from the water. A ferry is paid for just like a metro trip; you can even use your zapping (using this system will give you a 0.05€ to 0.10€ discount on the single ticket) Viva viagem card. The ferry boat takes you to Cacilhas (the journey takes 10 minutes) or Trafaria (Almada) (1.15€), Seixal (2.30€), Montijo (2.6€) or Barreiro (this journey takes half an hour) (2.25€). The boats are operated by Transtejo.
Hop-On Hop-Off Tours are also a good option to get to know Lisbon. Carristur is operating with the brand Yellow Bus Sightseeing Tours[110] and have tours in double-decker buses and old tramcars.
If you choose to go on a more personal tour, there are several companies providing such tours: Your Friend in Lisbon [111] offers great walking, food and wine tours in Lisbon, always with a passionate local guide and has been conquering fans. Lisbon Off The Record [112] as started operating this year, and despite its young age its already a reference in the market. Prices are quite low for the service provided.
For travelers with disabilities you can go on several tours with Accessible Portugal [113]. They operate with customized vans and can advise you on where to go without feeling the limitations of traveling with a wheelchair.
Renting a car
With Budget: If you choose to return a car near your hotel, don't rely that an agent come right in the agreed-upon time: for an agreed 12pm return he can easily arrive at 9am (and will come again upon your call).
As with the rest of Portugal, Portuguese is the main language in Lisbon. However, most younger people know enough English for basic communication, and it is possible to get by speaking only English. Spanish is widely understood, though few are fluent in it, and many locals will respond more readily to English than to Spanish. Nevertheless, any attempt to speak Portuguese is always appreciated, and even simple things like basic greetings will often draw smiles and encouragement from locals.
Specialty transport
This monument-packed neighborhood is a must-see place.
Take bus 28 to the west (Restelo direction), which follows the coast line and provides an express service with few stops. Train Cascais suburban train (line "Cascais todos" or "Oeiras"; the express trains don't stop in Belém) to Belém and walk to the attractions. Tram 15 to the west (Algés direction), which follows the Junqueira residencial line. Check the route map inside the tram: it helps to find a right station for most famous of Belém attractions. The extensive bus network also serves Belém from various departure points around the city and can be less busy than the tram. The main monuments are well separated from each other and there is a road/rail highway between them that can only be crossed at a couple of places. In addition it is mostly open and unshaded, so be prepared for a lot of walking in the hot sun.
The neighbourhood features:
A stroll around its many gardens enjoying the river's bright blue is also a must.
Museums and galleries
Parks and gardens
Viewpoints and city view
Members of the EU can work in Lisbon (and the whole of Portugal) without a work visa. Citizens of non-EU countries must obtain a work visa.
Shops are open a little later than other places in Europe, usually around 9:30AM-10PM, and the lunch breaks can be quite long, usually from 1PM to 3PM.
You can buy a Lisbon Shopping Card [122], which gives you 5% to 20% discounts at about 200 major stores in Baixa, Chiado and Av. Liberdade for a period of 24 hours (card costs EUR3.70) or 72 hours (card costs EUR5.70).
Shopping streets
While most stores are closed on Sundays, many malls are open 7 days a week. They usually open around 9:30AM and close by 11PM or midnight, although the film theaters within them usually run a late session starting after midnight.
Clothes and fashionwear
Unconventional souvenirs
Flea markets
Portuguese dining rituals tend to follow the Mediterranean siesta body clock.
Most restaurants are very small, family run and generally cheap. Some of them have a sheet on the door with the "pratos do dia" (dishes of the day) written on it. These dishes are usually cheaper and fresher than the rest of menu there, and unless you're looking for something specific, they're the right choice.
During the dinner the waiter will probably bring you some unrequested starter dishes (called couvert): as those are not free, feel free not to touch them and they will not be charged on your bill (but check it!).
Never ask a taxi driver about what restaurant you should go, they will take you to an expensive tourist-oriented restaurant, where they will receive a comission.
For Portuguese traditional cuisine at its finest, head to the area of Chiado.
Tourist traps with laminated menus and meal deals are mostly concentrated in the Baixa area.
It has an exception, however: Rua das Portas de Santo Antão (north-east from Praca dos Restauradores, parallel to it)--it's the seafood strip, and home to the best greasy spit-roasted chicken this side of Louisiana at the Bonjardim restaurant (Santo Antão, 11), appropriately nicknamed Rei dos Frangos.
For a familiar taste at one of the many chain eateries, head to Doca de Santo Amaro (train/tram 15 station Alcantara-Mar) and Parque das Nações (metro Oriental).
All the culinary and clubbing kudos is right now concentrated in Doca de Jardim de Tabaco (piece of river waterfront right under Castelo de Sao Jorge).
Quality dishes for a high price are in well-to-do Lapa.
Tour groups primarily feel at home in Alfama.
Traditional Portugese restaurants are in Bairro Alto, scattered abundantly through its quirky narrow streets.
Make sure that you dine at a restaurant that plays traditional fado music. Beware that you'll pay more than in normal restaurants, and the food and drink quality may not be up to the price, you're paying for the music experience.
Try the magnificent pastéis de nata at any pastelaria; or better yet, visit the Antiga Confeitaria de Belém (Casa Pasteis De Belem) [123] (Rua de belem 84; +351 21 363 74 23; take eléctrico #15 from Praça do Comércio, or the Cascais suburban train line from Cais do Sodré station, to Belém stop). They are served right out of the oven there, with the side of confectioner's sugar and cinnamon; as you navigate through the azulejo-decorated labyrinthine passages of the expansive shop, stop to look at the workers behind glass panels turning the endless stream of these delicacies, just baked, each in its own little ramekin, over onto the waiting trays. These are absolutely a must eat and you can't possibly regret it.
You will find traditional meals served in small coffeeshops/restaurants, especially in the old parts of town. Some will be better than others, just check if there are a lot of locals eating there! They will be very cheap (as low as €5 for a full meal) and home-style cooking. The owners probably wont speak english and the menu will probably be in portuguese only!
Groceries and markets
Grocery stores are closed on Sundays after 1PM, except (a) those smaller than 2000m2 or (b) from November 1st to December 31st.
Bairro Alto
Lisbon is known for its lively nightlife. For going out, stroll around the old neighborhood of Bairro Alto ('high neighborhood') for an after-dinner caipirinha or ginjinha and people-watching. Its small streets, full of people, are packed with a high variety of bars. On weeknights bars close at 2 am, weekends at 3 am. The party continues in a night-club after that. Just follow the hordes of people down the hill.
Alcântara, Santos, Parque das Nações, and the castle area are all neighborhoods with a thriving nightlife. The whole area near the river/Atlantic, known as the docas, is a huge hub for nightlife, as Lisbon has never lost its ties to the sea.
Choosing location: If you are in Lisbon for sightseeing (especially for your first visit), the best location is along the route of tram #28 (see official map of the route [124]). This especially works if you are with a baby stroller, as it will save from huge part of hill-climbing.
Finding accommodation when you arrive: Finding a decent sleeping place in the centre should not be a big problem. There is a tourist service centre in the airport, where the nice ladies will book a room for you. Expect to pay between €45 and €60 for a double room.
Chiado (Old Town)
Alfama (Old Town)
Bairro Alto (Old Town)
Baixa (Old Town)
City Center (Marques Pombal to Campo Pequeno)
Stay safe
Lisbon is generally safe but use common sense precautions, especially at train stations and on public transport.
Some areas are best avoided late at night because of the risk of mugging: Bairro Alto, the alleys, Intendente, Cais do Sodre. Some night clubs in Lisboa have a poor reputation.
According to Eurostat [125], the overall crime rate and in particular robberies are on the rise in Portugal. Some areas on the outskirts of Lisbon are becoming more dangerous, but it is unlikely the average tourist will visit these areas. The most common crime against tourists is pickpocketing and theft from rental cars or on public transport. The metro carriages can become crowded and opportune for pickpockets but simple precautions are enough to maintain your safety while travelling on them. There are some episodes of violent crimes (i.e. robberies/mugging) and some drug related crimes in places such as Bairro Alto and Santos, especially at night. Chances are you'll be approached at least a few times by certain types offering 'hash' or 'chocolate', especially in the downtown area on and around Rua Augusta. If you are of fair complexion or obviously a tourist you are more likely to be approached. Also, due to soaring house prices, the "Baixa" area (encompassing Rua Augusta, Terreiro do Paço, etc.) is not inhabited by a lot of people - as soon as the shops and offices close at night, the area sometimes becomes fair ground for muggers - caution is needed in back streets, and walking alone is not advised unless you know the area well. It's also encouraged to be wary of the Intendente-Martim Moniz area. Intendente is a well known area for prostitution and drug trafficking, and even though the situation has changed in the past couple of years (police now regularly patrol the area), it is still problematic. Martim Moniz is also notorious: at night time, the area occupied by shifty crowds that more often than not will cause some trouble. During the day, however, Martim Moniz is quite safe and pleasant.
Criminals in Lisbon are very quick and witty and continuously come up with new scams to get money from you (like pretending that they need to "borrow" money from you promising to pay you back in a few hours). In some cases they might work in pairs - for example, one well known scam involves someone offering you drugs, while a second person will suddenly approach you pretending to be a police officer, and asking you to pay a "fine" if you want to avoid "jail". In general, if you are unexpectedly approached on the street for no apparent reason, the best option is just walking away and avoid any interaction from the first moment. Remember that Lisbon is a big city and is very different from the rest of Portugal, which is a relatively safe country. Young tourists should be wary as they will likely be approached, especially near the Chiado Plaza - usually by drug dealers or scammers. A firm 'no thank-you' or "não, obrigado", if you're a male; "não, obrigada", if you're female should be enough to deter them.
Also be careful with ATM / bank machine muggings in the city center. Groups of adolescents occasionally stay close to the "multibanco" and wait until you have entered your PIN. They then force you away from the machine and withdraw the maximum amount (€200 maximum per withdrawal; however, two withdrawals of €200 per day per bank card are allowed). Try to withdraw money earlier in the day and try to avoid withdrawing money in some of the train stations late at night, especially Cais do Sodre.
Car jacking is also on the rise, usually targeting luxury/top brand vehicles or unescorted female drivers. Always make sure your car doors are locked even during daytime.
Finally, when you are driving a car, you should be on the lookout for one of Lisbon's greatest plagues: "arrumadores" - "ushers" or illegal parking "assistants". These are drug addicts, petty thieves or simply homeless people who stand near vacant car parking spaces and "help" you to park your car even though no help is obviously needed. As soon as you step out of the vehicle, the "arrumador" will ask or try to extort money from you as payment for the "service" through begging at best or physical abuse in the worst situations (rare). They might also pretend to be "official" parking space "guards" or "security" and promise to keep an eye on your car - naturally, they will leave as soon as you give them money and walk away. If you are not in a isolated area (i.e. other people / witnesses are around) and decide not to give them money at all you may simply ignore them after parking your car - should you do so, however, there is a slight risk of having your car damaged or broken into once you are gone, but most of the time nothing will happen and the "arrumador" will move on to other targets.
Although "arrumadores" are not usually dangerous, caution is always needed: many have been known to use this scam to attack or rob people, and instances of car jacking have been reported, specially when unescorted female drivers are concerned. Generally, you should always avoid "arrumadores" - look for another parking space (preferably in areas that are not too isolated) or, if this is not possible, just drive to a private parking lot, which is a bit more expensive but a sure way to avoid the hassle.
Walking, Cycling and Driving
Overall, Lisbon drivers can be described as slightly aggressive and careless, although much less so than drivers in other European capitals, such as Rome.
Lisbon has one of the highest rates of car accidents in the European Union, so be extra careful when crossing the streets. Drivers don't usually respect pedestrian crossings unless there is a red light for them to stop.
If you decide to rent a bike and cycle through the city, be extra careful and try to avoid the rush hour (around 6pm to 8pm). Lisbon drivers are very disrespectful towards cyclists and most of them simply consider them a nuisance that has no place on the road. You may get some aggressive reactions, especially from taxi drivers or truck drivers.
Driving can be tricky without a GPS system or map, as there is poor signalling in the streets.
In case of Emergency
Ambulance, fire brigade, police: call 112.
Same number is used with both land line and mobile phone. The number works on any mobile phone, whether it is keylocked or not and with or without SIM card.
Private international call centers and public telephone booths are common throughout Lisbon. Be warned, however, public phones can be less generous than slot machines: many times they'll swallow your change and give you no credit. You're better off purchasing a Portugal Telecom pre-paid card you can insert into the phone, or even a discount calling card which connects you via a toll-free number. These can be purchased from street kiosks and convenience stores. Most payphones also allow you to pay by credit card, although support for this feature is somewhat expensive.
Internet cafes are also abundant in the Rossio and Restauradores districts as well as in the Bairro Alto (opening late there). Expect to pay between €2 - €3 per hour.
Get out
South of Lisbon(south of the Tagus river/rio Tejo):


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I love The Restart Page: it faithfully reproduces the restart and shutdown sequences of most graphic user interface-based operating systems since the times of the original Macintosh System. See if you can identify them all without hitting the restart button.
Post in the comments how many you got right. I got 15.
It's really perfect, sound included. Except that it makes me feel really old because I ran almost every one of these the day they came out. [The Restart Page via Twitter]

subset: commoncrawl


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- Inside Athletics
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JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Dec. 21, 2013) – With the week of Christmas Day approaching, the ETSU men's basketball team will look to get the festivities off to a merry start when the Buccaneers host in-state foe Austin Peay Saturday afternoon inside the ETSU/MSHA Athletic Center.
Tip is set for 4 p.m., inside the Dome.
The Buccaneers (5-6) have won five of their last seven games, and have an opportunity to begin their Atlantic Sun Conference schedule with a record above .500 if they can finish 2013 with home victories over the Governors and Valparaiso (Dec. 29). Meanwhile, Austin Peay will be looking to avenge a loss they suffered to the Buccaneers earlier this season in Clarksville as part of a non-conference, home-and-home series.
Fans are encouraged to bring their children to games this year to take advantage of the special Sweet Frogs $5 kids' ticket during men's basketball games.
For more on Saturday afternoon's game, read the game notes below or click on the game notebook link to the right. For more on ETSU men's basketball throughout the 2013-14 season, visit ETSUBucs.com and click on the men's hoops link.
We are "ETSU"
The ETSU Department of Intercollegiate Athletics would like to ask both the print and broadcast media to honor our request to be called "ETSU" ... East Tennessee State University in first reference is acceptable, but subsequent references should be ETSU ... On TV graphics please use ETSU ... Our nickname is the Buccaneers, but Bucs is also acceptable.
Buc bits
The ETSU men's basketball program was glad to see the 2012-13 campaign come to an end, following a season which saw the team face multiple obstacles and challenges -- such as a brutal schedule that featured the likes of North Carolina, Arizona, Ole Miss, Virginia Tech, Georgia and Hawaii ... Other issues for the team included senior post Lukas Poderis (Port Richey, Fla.) missing the season with ankle injury that he suffered in the preseason, senior guard Jarvis Jones (Memphis) being academically ineligible for the first two months of the year, and two other senior guards who were expected to be major contributors were dismissed from the team in early November for violations of team rules … This left head coach Murry Bartow and his coaching staff with a young, inexperienced group of underclassmen, several true freshmen, one redshirt freshman and a pair of junior college transfers … Those obstacles proved to be tough to overcome, as the Buccaneers posted a 10-22 record and finished 8-10 in Atlantic Sun Conference play … It was the toughest campaign in Bartow's 10 seasons at ETSU, a tenure that has produced many championships, postseason tournament appearances and 20-win campaigns … In all, Bartow's teams have earned three NCAA Tournament invitations (2004, 2009 and 2010), one NIT appearance (2007), and one CIT berth (2011), and the Bucs have eclipsed 20 wins five times. …
The series vs. Austin Peay
This marks the second time this season the Bucs and Governors have played, representing a rare home-and-home, non-conference series this season ... The Bucs won the earlier meeting this year 80-74 in Clarksville back on Dec. 4 ... ETSU has a long history with Austin Peay on the basketball floor, an in-state series that dates back to their time together in the Ohio Valley Conference ... ETSU leads the all-time series 40-30.
Last time out vs. Austin Peay
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (Dec. 4, 2013) – The ETSU men's basketball team got its first road win of the season, but it didn't come easy. ... Freshman guard A.J. Merriweather (Jackson), along with junior guards Jalen Riley (Racine, Wisc.) and Rashawn Rembert (Tampa) each scored a team-high 18 points – while Merriweather also collected a double-double with 11 rebounds – as the Buccaneers overcame a second half deficit to rally past Austin Peay 80-74. ... Despite a comfortable 11-point halftime lead, the Bucs squandered that advantage quickly in the second half, as the Govs opened on a 21-6 run to take a 54-50 lead with just over 12 minutes left. The Bucs finally managed to get back into a flow on offense, tying the game at 56-56 on a layup by Merriweather with nine minutes remaining on the clock. ... From there it was a back-and-forth game until Rembert scored 10 of the Bucs' 12 points during a 12-5 run that made it 75-69 with two minutes left in the game. Unfortunately for ETSU, Austin Peay didn't go away, scoring a basket and then taking advantage of an ETSU turnover to nail a 3-pointer that made it 75-74 with 50 seconds left in the contest. ... At that point, Riley missed a jumper, but Merriweather again came through with a decisive offensive rebound that resulted in a pair of free throw makes by Rembert. That 3-point lead then held up as the Bucs made 3-of-4 foul shots to close out the game.
Last time out
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Dec. 16, 2013) – Junior guards Jalen Riley (Racine, Wisc.) and Rashawn Rembert (Tampa) posted career highs and combined to score 54 points, as the ETSU men's basketball team outpaced Tusculum 108-87 in a non-conference game highlighted by plenty of offense inside the ETSU/MSHA Athletic Center. ... Riley finished with a game-high 28 points and Rembert added 26, as the Buccaneers shot 54 percent from the field as a team and improved to 5-6 on the year. ... ETSU also shot 41 percent from 3-point range and 87 percent from the foul line, out-rebounding the Pioneers 41-30 and outscoring Tusculum 42-28 in the paint. The Bucs also enjoyed a 51-31 advantage in points off the bench.
Rembert hoping to stay hot as 2013-14 season begins
Junior guard Rashawn Rembert (Tampa) has made the most of his increased playing time over the last two seasons ... Last season, Rembert ranked fourth in the A-Sun in 3-point field goal percentage at 39.7 percent for the year. ... This year, he has shown a marked improvement in his style of offensive play, and currently leads the team with 14.1 points per contest.
Difference between winning and losing for ETSU
Rebounding has been a particular indicator for the Bucs this season when it comes to wins and losses ... The statistics below show the differences for the Bucs is several important categories so far this season.
Statistical category Wins (5-0) Losses (0-6)
ETSU scoring 86.2 PPG.................. 65.7 PPG
Opponent scoring 74.4 PPG................. 78.2 PPG
Rebounding margin +4.0............................... -11.3
Shooting % .509.............................. .390
3-pt. shooting % .363.............................. .296
Assists 13.6 APG............... 10.8 APG
Merriweather continues to shine, posts double-double
Freshman guard A.J. Merriweather (Jackson, Tenn.) has certainly made an impression in the early going this season, and he continued to make more news with his second career double-double in the win over Austin Peay (12/4) ... In that game, Merriweather had career highs with 18 points and 11 rebounds. ... He followed that performance with an 18-point, eight-rebound effort in the loss to Georgia Tech (12/7) ... The 6-2 guard collected his first career double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds earlier this year against Morehead State (Nov. 12) ... His current team ranks are first in rebounding (7.1 rpg), fourth in scoring (10.8 ppg), first in steals (1.1 spg), and third in minutes played (27.7 mpg).
All-around effort by Gadsden-Gilliard impressive
Setting new personal bests with 12 rebounds and six assists in the win over Samford (11/21), senior forward Kinard Gadsden-Gilliard (Georgetown, S.C.) had people thinking "triple-double" when he added an 18-point effort to his statistical line ... The Bucs hope that KGG can make these types of efforts more consistent ... KGG responded to that expectation by putting together a 19-point, seven-rebound and seven-assist outing against Marshall in an 88-78 victory on Nov. 30.
Merriweather named A-Sun Newcomer of the Week
The Atlantic Sun Conference office announced Monday morning that ETSU freshman A.J. Merriweather (Jackson, Tenn.) has been named the league's newcomer of the week. ... Two weeks ago, Merriweather averaged a near double-double in the Buccaneers' two games against Austin Peay (Dec. 4) and Georgia Tech (Dec. 7). The 6-foot-2 guard netted 18 points in both contests, while grabbing 11 rebounds in the win over Austin Peay and seven boards in the loss to Georgia Tech. ... This is the first newcomer of the week award for Merriweather.
Giplaye makes return following open heart surgery
Earlier this year, the Buccaneers got a serious scare when junior forward Ron Giplaye (Lowell, Mass.) had to undergo open heart surgery for a condition that was described as "life threatening." ... Following the successful procedure, Giplaye has slowly regained his strength and was able to play two minutes against Tennessee Tech (11/27), marking his first competitive compeition since the 2011-12 season when he played at Providence. ... He then played five minutes in the loss to Georgia Tech (12/7), scoring his first two points in an ETSU uniform and grabbbing three rebounds.
Young Bucs still face obstacles with experience
The last two seasons, ETSU head coach Murry Bartow has faced the challenge of developing a roster with minimal experience ... As the 2013-14 Buccaneers begin play, Bartow is once again looking at a team with several new faces and limited playing time ... In all, the Bucs return just six players who saw time on the floor last sesaon, while there are a total of seven newcomers to the program ... When counting the entire 15-man roster, the Bucs have a total of just 11 varsity seasons between the team for an average of less than a season per player.
Shuffling starters was the "new normal" for Bucs
Last season, ETSU head coach Murry Bartow used 17 different starting lineups in the team's 32 games ... Injuries and dismissals left ETSU's coaches searching for the right combination all season. ... Bartow hoped to find more stability with his rotation in 2013-14, but he had used five different starting lineups in the first five games of the year. ... Since that time, he has played with the same starting lineup in six of the last seven games, with the team going 5-2 in those contests.
Bucs have tradition of postseason appearances, success
The ETSU men's basketball team has enjoyed its share of postseason success and ranks as one of the nation's most prestigious basketball programs ... The Buccaneers have earned berths to the NCAA Tournament nine times (1969, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 2003, 2004, 2009, 2010) and NIT twice (1983, 2007) ... In 2011, the Bucs made their first ever appearance in the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament, winning twice and advancing to the semifinals of that event ... It was the program's 12th postseason tournament appearance all-time.
Three-point streak for Bucs dates back nearly 20 years
Since Feb. 16, 1987 in a game against Davidson, the Bucs have made at least one 3-pointer in 805 consecutive games. ... ETSU was 0-for-8 in that 1987 game. ... The Bucs currently rank as the 7th longest streak in the NCAA, just behind Arkansas at 813 and ahead of Oakland at 780.
ETSU picked among nation's best "Prestige" programs
In the modern era for NCAA Division I-A basketball – marked by the expansion of the NCAA Tournament field to 64 teams in 1984-85 – the ETSU men's basketball program ranks in the Top 30 percent of the 300 programs that were eligible for the postseason at that time, this according to ESPN.com's "Prestige" ranking released back in 2008 ... Since that time, the Bucs have only added to their list of prestigious honors … The Bucs -- who have enjoyed nine NCAA trips, one NIT and one CIT berth, 14 20-win seasons, and a slew of conference regular season and tournament championships since 1984-85 -- ranked tied for 82nd out of 300 teams, meaning they were in the Top 27 percent of schools making the list. ETSU was ranked ahead of every current Atlantic Sun team, as well as former SoCon rivals Appalachian State, Western Carolina, Georgia Southern and UNC Greensboro. In addition, at that time the Bucs ranked ahead of SEC schools such as Tennessee, Vanderbilt, South Carolina, Mississippi State, Georgia, Mississippi and Auburn, as well as programs such as Notre Dame, DePaul, Bradley, Clemson and Fla. State.


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May 24, 2006 (CIDRAP News) – For the first time, evidence suggests that the H5N1 avian influenza virus may have passed from one person to another and on to a third, according to a World Health Organization (WHO) official.
Referring to the extended-family case cluster in Indonesia, the WHO's Maria Cheng told the Canadian Press (CP) yesterday, "This is the first time we have seen cases that have gone beyond one generation of human-to-human spread."
The WHO said in an online statement yesterday that analysis of viruses from patients in the cluster had shown no evidence of changes that could lead to efficient human-to-human transmission. But another WHO official expressed serious concern about the cluster.
Peter Cordingley, spokesman for the WHO's Western Pacific region, quoted in a Reuters report today, said, "This is the most significant development so far in terms of public health. We have never had a cluster as large as this. We have not had in the past what we have here, which is no explanation as to how these people became infected [in the first place]. We can't find sick animals in this community, and that worries us."
CDC director not alarmed
In a news briefing this afternoon, the director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) generally echoed the WHO's message of yesterday that the cluster appears to involve person-to-person transmission but that there is no sign of transmission beyond the cluster and no evidence of changes in the virus.
"There's a lot more science to be done, but the early indication is we're not seeing anything that would be sending up an alarm," Dr. Julie Gerberding said from Geneva, where she is attending the WHO's annual meeting. She added, "We understand we can't be complacent about this."
The cluster includes seven confirmed cases in an extended family, six of which were fatal. All of these followed a similar illness in a 37-year-old woman who died and was buried without being tested for avian flu. The WHO regards her illness as the index case.
Although other officials have said investigators have not been able to find a possible animal source for the index patient's infection, Gerberding said today, "Clearly the source of infection likely was an infected poultry exposure."
Concurring with the view that at least two generations of transmission occurred, she added, "The person who initially got the infection from poultry may have been the source of transmission to other family members, and there may have been subsequent transmission to other family members." She said the family members had close contact with one another, and there have been no infections in healthcare workers or others outside the family.
Gerberding said that a two-generation, or "person-to-person-to-person," transmission chain is significant in that it raises the "worrisome possibility" of a change in the virus, but added that investigators have not found evidence of a change.
She also said the cluster is not the first example of probable person-to-person transmission of the virus. "This probably the third example where we've seen pretty good evidence of human-to-human transmission," she told reporters.
Gerberding described the people in the cluster as "all related by blood," implying the possibility of genetic susceptibility to the virus. She said it is possible there are some people "who are more susceptible to transmission because of the unique makeup of their respiratory tract. . . . We have no evidence of this, but we have to examine that hypothesis."
The CDC head said the genetic sequencing of viruses from the cluster so far has yielded four main findings:
- The isolates are all "virtually identical," implying a single source.
- They are susceptible to the antiviral drug Tamiflu (oseltamivir).
- "There is no evidence of motif changes in the particular areas of the genes that are responsible for how the virus binds to the respiratory tract of people."
- The isolates are very similar to viruses previously collected from poultry in the region.
Gerberding said the cluster occurred in "a Christian community in a pretty remote area on an outlying island." Both traditional and western medical techniques are used in the village. Contrary to some recent reports, she said the local residents have shown "enormous cooperation" with the WHO investigators, at least in the past few days.
Raising the pandemic alert level?
The Indonesian cluster has triggered talk about the possibility of the WHO's changing its pandemic alert status from phase 3 to phase 4 on its 6-phase scale, with phase 6 being a full-blown pandemic. A WHO task force would have to meet and make this decision.
"Right now," said the WHO's Cheng in a Reuters story today, "it does not look like the task force will need to meet immediately, but this is subject to change, depending on what comes out of Indonesia."
But the WHO's pandemic alert system lacks specific criteria for elevating the alert level, according to Michael Osterholm, PhD, MPH, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) at the University of Minnesota, which publishes the CIDRAP Web site.
"I'm personally confused about the difference in what a phase 3 and phase 4 alert level is," he said today. "The WHO has not clearly described the difference.
"That's important. I'm personally aware of a number of companies that have pegged certain levels of their pandemic flu plan based on a change from phase 3 to phase 4. And I'm not sure a change in the alert level would warrant a change in pandemic planning."
The WHO Global Influenza Preparedness Plan (see link below) defines phase 3 as "human infection(s) with a new subtype, but no human-to-human spread, or at most rare instances of spread to a close contact."
Phase 4 is characterized by "small cluster(s) with limited human-to-human transmission, but spread is highly localized, suggesting that the virus is not well adapted to humans."
The WHO plan further states, "The distinction between phase 3, phase 4, and phase 5is based on an assessment of the risk of a pandemic. . . . Factors may include rate of transmission, geographical location and spread, severity of illness, presence of genes from human strains (if derived from an animal strain), and/or other scientific parameters."
News editor Robert Roos contributed to this article.
See also:
WHO's May 23 Indonesia update
WHO Global Influenza Preparedness Plan


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- Heat cooking oil in pan, stir fry bacon and onion for 2-3 minutes. Season with pepper, turn off the heat and allow to cool down completely.
- Preheat oven to 180ºC and line muffin tins with paper cases.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat egg together with sugar until sugar is dissolved. Add in bacon mixture and stir well.
- Sift together flours and salt, and fold into egg mixture in batches alternate with milk.
- Stir in corn kernek, cheese and parsley. Fill each muffin case with batter and bake for 20 minutes. Cool on rack.
Bacon-Sweet Corn Muffin
Comments :
- gaga said... on
- 05 January, 2009 04:20
How interesting! That sounds really yummy :)
- Flash said... on
- 05 January, 2009 04:56
These look awfully good. Thank you for sharing. I've posted a link on my blog to this recipe.
- Lori said... on
- 05 January, 2009 07:54
I've never made a savory muffin before...but with the bacon, this one sounds delicious!
- limpepsi said... on
- 05 January, 2009 19:30
Yes, it is time to clear the stuff in fridge.For bacon, I bake them with bread normally. Hmmm...in muffin. Good idea!My son likes muffins.
- mycookinghut said... on
- 05 January, 2009 21:53
Lovely savoury muffins! I have yet baked savoury muffins but cakes..:)
- lily.violet said... on
- 07 January, 2009 06:55
Mmm! I love savoury muffins! These look really delicious!
- Isha said... on
- 08 January, 2009 03:12
awwwow, how was the taste of that cuty muffin?
- Lydia said... on
- 08 January, 2009 19:07
Try it! Try it!
Thanks from dropped by and the link.
I love the smoky "aroma" of bacon, not only in muffin.
I got lots of food in the fridge to be cleared. Gonna move to another place soon. Hope your son will love this muffin.
I guess muffin is similar to cake. What savory cake did you bake?
Help yourself with the muffin... thanks for dropped by.
It has the muffin texture, but something like bread flavour.
- kiki said... on
- 07 March, 2009 17:06
Hi Your blog is really nice and I enjoy reading it :)
Could you please tell me which cup you are using for your cooking? Cos measurement of a cup is different in every country, I am a bit confused.
Metric would be internationally kind... :D
- Lydia said... on
- 08 March, 2009 10:03
hi kiki, thanks for the compliments. Cup I use is 250ml.
- Dazy said... on
- 09 April, 2009 14:41
These muffins are awfully mouth-watering! And would keep me busy in the kitchen, again. My cousins are going to visit our place next week. I think this would be just perfect for them and these muffins sound so tasty.
- Lydia said... on
- 18 April, 2009 01:02
Thanks for dropped by. Hope you and your cousin like it.


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Google is the fifth and final company profiled as part of our in-depth "American Titans" series.
It is synonymous with search. It is both a noun and a verb. And, it has revolutionized the Internet. Google got its start as a 1996 research project by a pair of Stanford PhD students, Sergey Brin and Larry Page.
Two years later, it was incorporated in their friend's garage. And in 1999, Google received $25 million in funding from Silicon Valley venture capital firms. The company's 2004 IPO was amazingly successful, selling shares in a unique Dutch auction process; it gave Google a $23 billion market capitalization.


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When it comes to celebrity real estate, it almost seems like these mega-mansions have revolving doors. Many of the keys end up being passed from one starlet to another.
National real estate brokerage Redfin put together a list of the top celebrity real estate sales of 2013.
The top prize goes to Casa Casuarina, the South Beach mansion once owned by Gianni Versace, which sold for $41.5 million last September. Although the price marked a steep fall from its original $125 million listing, the auction price was high enough to make it the top celebrity real estate deal of the year.
Its current owner plans to turn the 19,000-square-foot estate on Ocean Drive into a hotel.
Click ahead through the slideshow to see the other top celebrity homes that sold last year.
—By CNBC's Amanda Weindel
Posted 9 April 2014


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A Christian apologetics ministry dedicated to demonstrating the historical reliability of the Bible through archaeological and biblical research.
We do not know how many years Joseph served as Egypt's Vizier (Prime Minister). It is very interesting that he evidently held two key titles, Vizier and Chief Steward of the King. This is relatively unusual in Egyptian history...
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UC Santa Barbara Sweeps Big West Weekly Honor
After successful outings at the Husky Invitational last weekend, UC Santa Barbara's Matt Bartlett and Sarah Nicponski earned Big West Swimming & Diving Athlete of the Week honors, for the week ending Dec. 2. This is the first honor of the season for both Gauchos.
At the Federal Way, Wash., event, Bartlett set a school record in the 200 free with a time of 1:37.67. The Atlanta, Ga., native also set a personal-best time of 1:48.52 in the 200 IM, which placed him fourth. Bartlett picked up a third place finish in the 200 butterfly (1:45.99) and posted a time of 49.31 in the 100 back stroke.
The freshman from Salt Lake City, Utah, shined at last weekend's swim meet by shattering two school records and two relay records and registering two NCAA qualifying times. Nicponski's two Gaucho records came in the breast stroke with a time of 1:01.56 in the 100 breast and 2:13.63 in the 200 breast. Both of marks were good enough to qualify for the NCAA Championships. Along with Gaucho teammates, she also set UCSB records in the 200 and 400 medley relay.
As a team, the Gauchos did quite well at a four-day event that was loaded with top 25 teams. The women came out in fourth place garnering 823.5 points and the men turned in a fifth place finish with 643 points. UC Santa Barbara returns to the pool on Dec. 15 when they travel to Las Vegas, Nev., to participate in the three day UNLV Invite.


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Southern Charm, Super Sock, Hand Dyed, Self Striping Sock Yarn
Hand dyed self striping yarn
Approximately 5-6 rows of each color
Base: Super Sock
75% Superwash Merino
25% Nylon
This listing is for on skein of hand dyed yarn.
All yarns are dyed with professional acid dyes in my smoke free cat friendly home studio.
Each hand dyed skein is unique. Even within the same dye lot there can be variances. Though I try to keep good notes and keep this to a minimum, I cannot guarantee against it. If you are working on a larger project it is recommended that you alternate between two different skeins to minimize the visual effect of this variance.
Minimal bleeding may occur with the first wash or two. Please wash separately. I recommend that you hand wash all hand knits to ensure longevity. Wash is water that is room temperature using a detergent specifically for wool such as Eucalan or Soak. Hand made wool wash or woolite is not recommended.
Every effort is made to represent colors in their truest form. Please understand that colors may show up slightly different due to variations in computer monitors.


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"The Hunger Games" and "Bridesmaids" both have eight nods apiece, which will see them go up against each other for Best Cast and Movie of the Year alongside 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2', 'The Help' and 'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1'.
Jennifer Lawrence's portrayal of Katniss Everdeen in 'The Hunger Games' - the film adaptation of Suzanne Collins' book trilogy - will see her take on 'Bridesmaids' star Kristin Wiig for Best Female Performance, as well as Emma Stone ('Crazy Stupid Love'), Emma Watson ('Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2') and Rooney Mara ('The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo').
Rooney is also up for Breakthrough Performance and Best On-Screen Transformation for her portrayal of computer hacker Lisbeth Salander in the English language version of the Swedish thriller alongside Daniel Craig.
Nominees for the 2012 MTV Movie Awards were selected by a panel of actors, producers and agents for the first time, instead of members of the public voting online, but fans will still be able to choose the winners.
A number of new categories will feature at this year's event including Best On-Screen Dirtbag - which sees Bryce Dallas Howard, Jennifer Aniston, Colin Farrell, Oliver Cooper and Jon Hamm all nominated - and Best Gut-Wrenching Performance.
The 21st annual MTV Movie Awards will take place on June 3 at Los Angeles' Gibson Amphitheatre in Universal City and broadcast live on MTV, and fan voting for the accolades opens on Tuesday.
Full list of nominations for 2012 MTV Movie Awards:
Movie of the Year
'The Hunger Games'
'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2'
'The Help'
'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1'
Best Male Performance
Daniel Radcliffe, 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2'
Ryan Gosling, 'Drive'
Joseph Gordon-Levitt, '50/50'
Josh Hutcherson, 'The Hunger Games'
Channing Tatum, 'The Vow'
Best Female Performance
Jennifer Lawrence, 'The Hunger Games'
Kristin Wiig, 'Bridesmaids'
Emma Stone, 'Crazy, Stupid, Love'
Emma Watson, 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2'
Rooney Mara, 'The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo'
Best Comedic Performance
Melissa McCarthy, 'Bridesmaids'
Kristen Wiig, 'Bridesmaids'
Zach Galifianakis, 'The Hangover Part II'
Jonah Hill, '21 Jump Street'
Oliver Cooper, 'Project X'
Breakthrough Performance
Melissa McCarthy, 'Bridesmaids'
Rooney Mara, 'The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo'
Liam Hemsworth, 'The Hunger Games'
Elle Fanning, 'Super 8'
Shailene Woodley, 'The Descendants'
Best Cast
'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2
'The Hunger Games'
'21 Jump Street'
'The Help'
Best On-Screen Transformation
Elizabeth Banks, 'The Hunger Games'
Rooney Mara, 'The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo'
Johnny Depp, '21 Jump Street'
Michelle Williams, 'My Week With Marilyn'
Colin Farrell, 'Horrible Bosses'
Best Fight
Daniel Radcliffe vs. Ralph Fiennes, 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2'
Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson vs. Alexander Ludwig, 'The Hunger Games'
Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill vs. Kid Gang, '21 Jump Street'
Tom Hardy vs. Joel Edgerton, 'Warrior'
Tom Cruise vs. Michelle Nyqvist, 'Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol'
Best Kiss
Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone, 'Crazy, Stupid, Love'
Rupert Grint and Emma Watson, 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2'
Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson, 'The Hunger Games'
Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum, 'The Vow'
Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart, 'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1'
Best Gut-Wrenching Performance
'Bridesmaids' (Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne, Melissa McCarthy, Wendi McClendon-Covey and Ellie Kemper)
'The Help' (Bryce Dallas Howard)
'21 Jump Street' (Jonah Hill and Rob Riggle)
'Drive' (Ryan Gosling)
'Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol' (Tom Cruise)
Best On-Screen Dirt Bag
Bryce Dallas Howard, 'The Help'
Jon Hamm, 'Bridesmaids'
Jennifer Aniston, 'Horrible Bosses'
Colin Farrell, 'Horrible Bosses'
Oliver Cooper, 'Project X'
Best Music
'Party Rock Anthem,' LMFAO ('21 Jump Street')
'A Real Hero,' College with Electric Youth ('Drive')
'The Devil Is in the Details,' Chemical Brothers ('Hanna')
'Impossible,' Figurine ('Like Crazy')
'Pursuit of Happiness,' Kid Cudi (Steve Aoki remix) ('Project X')


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Advance Transformer Co. announces its first "Super Awards Expedition Sweepstakes." Qualifying electrical contractors will earn one entry toward winning a new Ford Expedition 424, per every $1000 of Advance ballast invoices they submit. As a bonus, for every combined purchase totaling $200 of Advance's E-PAK ballast, participants also earn one chance to win.
The electrical distributor who sells Advance ballasts to the winner of this sweepstakes will win an IBM platform laptop computer. Deadline for submitting invoices is December 31, 2000. Participants must submit their invoices to: Super Awards Expedition Sweepstakes, P.O. Box 7469, Freehold, N.J. 07728-9998. For a complete list of rules, visit www.advancetransformer.com/contractor or send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to: Super Awards Expedition Rules, c/o 2290 East Avenue, Rochester, N.Y. 14610.


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This tin can hold ATC cards, ribbon, measuring tools, buttons, brads, gem papers, scraps, beads, pearls, and any other small pieces! Or carry it in your purse...hehe
Don't let the name fool you. The ideas aren't only for Christmas. It's full of winter and everyday fun too! If nothing else, you'll have some gorgeous cards to admire.
I bought these really cool metallic brads. The problem? They somehow exploded into my craft bin. Now. If I had had a Craft Keeper Jar there would not have been a problem!
Clings, clears, papers, and stickers cluttering your crafting area? Go for the Stampendous Storage Solution. You can hang them up too!
Fun, fresh, creative ideas for stamping, card-making, and other crafting projects. How many pages, you ask? 256!
You've gotta love that Tim Holtz has such great taste. This binder is made of faux leather that has a flourish design. It's an attractive way to store your unmounted stamps and acrylic blocks. Why risk losing something you've invested in?
A clear bag with zipper closure and convenient carrying handle. Have paint dabbers, pencils, and/or watercolors that you want to take on a trip? Done. Toss em in the case and they're ready to go!
My friend would kill me if she knew I was exposing her, but she has hundreds of Copic Markers in a large plastic bin. I was looking through for a certain color and couldn't find it. When I did find it, the cap was missing! Sound sadly familiar? You need this.
This soft suede little number has pocket pages for you to store Spellbinders Dies. Not quite impressed yet? The page for small dies holds 10 per page, the medium holds 4 per page, and the large holds 2 per page! Don't have Spellbinders? Not to worry: this case can hold other things too! Gotta love zippable binders.
1. This case is transparent so you can see what you've stored.
2. There are dividers so you can keep separates separated.
3. There's a spot for your chompers!
4. It snaps closed so your stuff is secure and won't escape : )
So...90 pages of card examples, stamps, techniques, a guide to tools & colors, and instructions for other crafty projects like jewelry...how could you even begin to go wrong?! Honestly...I want to go craft right now.
Ah Vera Bradley. Such pretty designs! Sure you could use this as a purse or beach bag, but why not use it as a way to store paper pads or rubber stamps? Going to a friend's for a craft night? Going to a park to do some sketching? Be fashionable with a crafty tote bag! It even has pockets for your pens, pencils and other items! One more thing: it's washable!
With a neat, old-fashioned look, this Craft Spinner will keep your blending tools handy! Never smudge items again in your supply bin with leftover ink. Also, you won't have to buy as many refills if you have a blending tool for each color and you can actually find them!
This 8" x 7" tote bag is made of durable nylon and can store scissors, glues, markers, crayons, pencils, and just about any other small item you can think of!
I've always found that organizing the things around me is a good way to clear my mind and help me relax. Maybe these items will help keep you organized and worry-free!
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After weeks and months of speculation, Apple's 2012 iPhone event day is upon us! We've laid it all out for you in our iOS 6 preview, iPhone 5 preview, and September 12 event preview. We've had our say on the iMore show.
Now it's your turn! What do you expect to see from Apple at the iPhone 5 event? Do you love the iPhone 5 design that's been leaked, or are you secretly hoping for something surprisingly new? Is it finally time for Apple to ship iTunes 11 and put the old, bloated, beast out of its misery? What about the iPad mini? Do you really think Apple will make us wait until October, or do you want it now? Could there be a surprise in iOS 6 like widgets? Could Apple have a subscription music service up their sleeve?
And what about my dream Bluetooth 4.0 iPod nano watch? Will I get it?
Vote in the poll up top and give me the details in the comment below. Tell me, iMore nation, what do you most want to see from Apple today?


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compute sheet charges
I would like to get plots of the sheet charges in the following domains: 1) inside the RTD from the middle of the emitter barrier to the middle of the collector barrier 2) charge in half of the undoped emitter region. Just integrate the charge from half of the undoped emitter region up to the middle of the emitter barrier.
Plot these 2 quantities as a function of bias on the same plot, just like the resonances as a function of bias.


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Since ThePianoGuys began, it has been our impossible dream to put a grand piano on the Great Wall. People laughed at us when we said we were determined to do it. It is done. All of us at ThePianoGuys would like to dedicate this music video to the visionary behind it all and the man whose dream this has always been: Paul Anderson.
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YouthQuest is a student-based ministry that is an extension of Liberty's Center for Youth Ministries and in partnership with the Liberty Worship Collective. YouthQuest is a traveling team comprised of Discipleship, Creative Arts, and Worship teams. The mission of YouthQuest is "to be a positive extension of the discipleship efforts of the host local church."
YouthQuest, within the context of the hosting local church, has two primary pillars: personal discipleship and evangelism. The structure of the weekend encompasses worship, workshops, and activities in an effort to provide spiritual growth. A D-Now (Discipleship Now) weekend is a Friday through Sunday event to empower the local youth for Christ and encourage the ongoing reflection of their Savior. YouthQuest is committed to humbly serving Christ and carrying out the team's mission in an attempt to accomplish God's will in the lives of youth and their leaders.


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Bleecker St. Theatre Presents THE RAP GUIDE to EVOLUTION, 5/4-5/8
The Bleecker Street Theatre presents The Rap Guide to Evolution, starring Baba Brinkman, from May 4 to May 8.
The Rap Guide to Evolution synthesizes key concepts from evolutionary biology into a series of rap songs and rap poems, equal parts hip-hop, stand up comedy, and teaching tool.
Tickets are $22.50 and can be purchased by visiting www.telecharge.com or by calling 212-239-6200. The Bleecker Street Theatre is located at 45 Bleecker (at Lafayette) in New York City. For more information, visit www.babasword.com.
Baba Brinkman is a rap artist, published poet, actor, and hip-hop theatre playwright. His hit shows "The Rap Canterbury Tales" and "The Rebel Cell" (with MC Dizraeli) have received awards and critical acclaim at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and around the world.
Baba also runs the record label Lit Fuse Records, which represents Vancouver soul singer Aaron Nazrul, UK hip-hop collective Mud Sun, as well as his own music. Baba has released five solo albums to date, including three full length LPs and two EPs, as well as various singles and group projects. His newest solo album "Apocalyptic Utopian Dreams in the Western Wilderness" is due out in May 2009.
He tours regularly with his hip-hop, spoken word, and theatre performances.


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Write a News Story
Meet a Pioneer Pilot
Amelia Earhart Home
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First Flight
By: Michael N.
New Jersey, Age 12
This is Michael N reporting live from Rogers Field a dirt airstrip in Los Angeles. Amelia is about to take off in a 067plane for the first time. Its really hot here. People are going crazy. There she goes off in the air. Im here with 90 year old Cara M. In anticipation of the flight she yelps, thats awesome I wish I can do something like that. Amelia is finally in the air. Thank you for listening, good bye from Los Angeles.
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Transwestern To Establish Major Presence In Boston With Acquisition Of Richards Barry Joyce & Partners
(SEPTEMBER 9, 2013 – Houston) – Transwestern's Houston headquarters today announced it is acquiring Richards Barry Joyce & Partners, LLC (RBJ), a full-service real estate firm based in Boston. Establishing its 34th U.S. office, Transwestern achieves a significant presence in the Boston market and takes a dynamic step toward its vision of becoming the No. 1 real estate value creator in the country. The transaction combines like-minded real estate firms, each with a client-centric business model and ambitious mission to excel in all areas of business.
"We are thrilled to add such a culturally compatible and dynamic firm as RBJ to the Transwestern team," said Larry P. Heard, Transwestern president and CEO. "This acquisition will immediately connect our new Boston-area clients with Transwestern's global enterprise and allow us to better serve our existing clients who do business in Boston and throughout the Northeast."
RBJ was established in 2001 and has grown to be a true market leader, serving clients throughout the Greater Boston market, as well as in cities across the U.S. and internationally. RBJ has been named the "Small Business of the Year" by the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce and has been honored multiple times as one of the "Best Places to Work" in the Boston Business Journal. RBJ is consistently one of the most active brokerage firms in Boston representing some of the largest tenants and landlords in the market.
"Our focus has always been on delivering the highest level of service to our clients," said Steve Purpura, managing partner, RBJ. "Joining Transwestern will allow us to maintain that focus, while making available a broader palette of services to landlords and tenants, both locally and beyond. We are pleased to become part of a firm known for excelling at client service."
Celebrating its 35th anniversary in 2013, Transwestern is a global, diversified real estate firm with more than 1,900 team members nationwide. In 2012, the firm oversaw the leasing and management of 1,404 properties with 283 million square feet and completed leasing, sales and finance transactions totaling $6.22 billion.
Richards Barry Joyce will begin operating as Transwestern RBJ on November 1, 2013. Terms of the deal are not being disclosed.
About Richards Barry Joyce & Partners, LLC
Richards Barry Joyce & Partners is a full service commercial real estate firm providing creative solutions for its client partners. The company's focused team approach offers clients a competitive advantage in solving their local, national, and international real estate challenges. Richards Barry Joyce & Partners' unique platform offers a full range of real estate advisory services including market analysis, capital markets solutions, financial analysis, corporate services, portfolio review, and consulting services. For more information, please visit our website at www.rbjrealestate.com. Follow us on Twitter at @RBJ_Partners.
Transwestern is a privately held real estate firm specializing in agency leasing, property and facilities management, tenant advisory, capital markets, development, research and sustainability. The fully integrated global enterprise leverages competencies in office, industrial, retail, multifamily and healthcare properties to add value for investors, owners and occupiers of real estate. Transwestern facilitates better decision-making for clients by combining penetrating local market intelligence and macro-market research through its affiliate, Delta Associates. Transwestern has 34 U.S. offices and assists clients through more than 181 offices in 36 countries as part of a strategic alliance with Paris-based BNP Paribas Real Estate. For more information, please visit www.transwestern.net and follow us on Twitter: @Transwestern.
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X-Men: Days of Future Past is stark brilliant!
Boo you Ratner! We don't want you messing with it again! So I knew the flick was going to make me jump on my seat since Time Travel was entailed and boy it did!
To begin with we have the punishing and ravaging Sentinels, there designs hi-tech and adaptive unlike the sloth ones from the animated series! And boy can they fight? We see Blink and her portals equally ravishing, those fight seqs are pretty dope! We don't see much of Warpath yet he has been subtly put just like Sunspot and Bishop. Was having a gala time spotting my favorite mutants like Toad, Havok a.k.a Alex \m/ and watching the fastest Marvel character and Magneto's yet to be officially proclaimed son, Quick Silver fool around in bullet time!
Stryker resurrects himself with his dots to connect, whilst Wolverine is charming as ever! But who really picked it up? Well it's Lawrence and friend-cum-foe duo Fassbender and McAvoy! Acting knows no bound when Fassbender's around. He paints a movie with his style and sheer pizazz! Dinklage does justice to Trask and breathes the character alive with his conviction! One of the most beautiful parts of the movie when Charles talks to himself through time and convinces himself of himself, the end and the eventuality, making him rebound with hope.
The contrasting glimpse of future and past was a delight to watch and Singer sings like a nightingale wrapping up an epic Marvel universe drama with action, brilliant story-line, portals, mutant-thirsty charismatic Sentinels, series of heart-wrecking deaths, flying Magneto, manipulative X, and of course time travel! Nothing gave me more pleasure than watching Scott come breathing alive on the screen.
All those final moments my crossed fingers talked "Please Scott be alive…Please Scott be alive!" Now I can die in peace 🙂


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Capture Photography Festival Feature Exhibition: Images the Speak
12:00 pm - 6:00 pm
560 Seymour Street, 2nd Floor
Vancouver, BC
Jointly commissioned, this group exhibition features the most innovative approaches to photography today, with several works created specially for the occasion. The exhibition showcases ten local and international contemporary artists, many showing in Vancouver for the first time, whose works call into question how photographic images speak to us. The artists employ various techniques to tear away and supplant the legibility of images, retooling mechanisms and pictorial conventions, all the while adding their own meanings in the process.


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A lifejacket is required for each person aboard
There's only one thing worse than not having a lifejacket aboard your boat, and that's having a lifejacket that doesn't fit properly.
The law requires a lifejacket for each person on the boat. It must be Coast Guard approved, in good condition, and it must fit the person. The last item can be a problem with kids, who have the nasty little habit of growing.
If you do a great deal of boating, the cost of replacing an ill-fitting lifejacket can be much more justified than if you only boat a couple of times a year.
Any old lifejacket doesn't cut it. You should choose a lifejacket that is the correct size, and the appropriate weight of the wearer should be listed inside the jacket.
Use the touchdown test to see if your lifejacket fits properly. Lift your arms above your head as if signaling a touchdown. The chest portion of the jacket shouldn't touch your chin when you look left or right, and the jacket shouldn't ride up on your body.
Checking the fit for a youngster is easy: Wearing the jacket, the child should stand normally with arms at their sides. Grab the jacket at the shoulders and firmly lift. The jacket doesn't fit if it moves more than three inches up and down.
Additionally, ensure that a jacket for an infant or child has a crotch strap, an oversized float collar that helps keep the head out of the water, and a grab loop for easier rescue.
On all lifejackets, all straps should be intact and fastened at all times.
Now for the good news: You don't have to buy a life preserver every year for a child that outgrows theirs. The California Department of Boating and Waterways partners with local fire stations and the CSUS Aquatic Center at 1901 Hazel Ave. in Fair Oaks to make lifejackets available to the public on a loan basis.
Dozens of fire stations carry the loaner lifejackets, including:
El Dorado Hills: Station 54 at 2180 Francisco Dr. and Station 85 at 1050 Wilson Blvd.Folsom: Station 35 at 535 Glenn Dr.
Placer Hills Fire District: Station 1 at 16999 Placer Hills Road.
Roseville: Station 1 at 401 Oak Street.
South Placer County: Station 1 at 6900 Eureka Road, Granite Bay; Station 3 at 7070 Auburn Folsom Road, Loomis; Station 4 at 4410 Douglas Blvd., Granite Bay; Station 5 at 3505 Auburn-Folsom Road, Loomis; and Station 6 at 4550 E. Roseville Parkway, Granite Bay.
If you're out of the region and short a lifejacket, contact the nearest fire station and ask about a loaner.
It beats having to put out the funds when it might not be in the immediate budget.
Current fishing
Local waters: Salmon fishing at the mouth of the American River up to Hazel Avenue has been hit and miss; a few fish caught one day, nada the next. It's still a tad early for the main run, and a rainstorm to cool the water should make the difference.
Fishing for stripers has remained steady on the American. There's a good population of linesides in the region of the old grist mill, and many offerings will attract a bite. If they're boiling, toss top-water gear, like a Zara Spook. Drifting live minnows, working swim baits like a broken-back Rapala or Rebel and even crank baits should attract a bite.
Salmon-catching on the Feather River could be better than what is being found on the American. There is decent action upriver from the mouth, like trolling in the Shanghai Bend area. As a bonus, there is fresh-run steelhead being caught in the Gridley region.
Lake Oroville: It's so amazing what a wet winter will do for water levels. Lake Oroville is gorgeous, barely down from the full mark. There is lots of boating room, and the best part — fish are biting. You can virtually whack and stack bass. Work something like Senkos off the main points. The mud line during midday hours has been good for those tossing cranks. Bass are gorging on the Japanese pond smelt population but still willing to chomp whatever comes their way.
Rollins Lake: Like many lakes, it's dropping steadily. While the fishing is far from hot, you can expect to find camping areas easily with the kiddies going back to school. There are crappie, bass and catfish to be had.
Stumpy Meadows: Don't expect to drive there and find a campsite. Word is the campgrounds are packed and reservations are mandatory. The good news: Fishing has been red hot. There has been considerable boat traffic, but those fishing from shore and trolling are picking up limits of 'bows.
Bay Area: Potluck boats are filling with combinations of rockcod, halibut and stripers from inside the bay and drifting outside the Golden Gate. Salmon boats are finding pockets, and with a pocket comes a limit.
Bodega Bay: There can be a great bite one day; the next day, they can't find the fish. If they're having trouble finding salmon, you'll still come home with fish, as most boats will switch to rockcod and whack away limits for all on board.
Fort Bragg: Salmon here can be hit and miss. Pat and Karen Heaviside, skippers of the BRAGG-N, tell me they got one salmon one day for four anglers on board and nine the next day for five anglers. Big fish in the region have been running in the 30-pound class.
Lake Amador: When the full moon was glowing, night fishing for bass was the way to go. Now that the moon is down, fish for them during the day with worms and jigs. There's been a surprisingly good crappie bite at night and even some trout for those fishing off the docks. The lake is well known for big catfish, and those fishing the dam-spillway have scored using cut bait.
Contact George deVilbiss at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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There was no Bush, no Cheney, and no mushroom cloud mentioned in the address former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice delivered to the delegates who greeted her and her speech with loud and repeated standing ovations at the Republican National Convention August 29.
The only member of the George W. Bush administration to speak at the convention, Rice was a key member of the foreign policy team during all eight years of the Bush administration, serving the former president as national security advisor before taking charge of the State Department. Yet she made no mention of her former boss or of Vice President Cheney or the Iraq War, of which she was a principal architect. The only mention of Iraq in her remarks concerned "hostile neighbors" now challenging its "young fragile democracy." There was no word of the "liberation" of Iraq, Operation Iraqi Freedom, or the need to remove the "weapons of mass destruction" that the Bush administration claimed was the principal reason for the invasion and the need for regime change in Baghdad.
In September of 2002, when the Bush administration was building up support for an invasion of Iraq, Rice, then the president's national security advisor, was interviewed by CNN's Wolf Blitzer and warned that Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein was on the verge of acquiring nuclear weapons. "We know that he has the infrastructure, nuclear scientists to make a nuclear weapon," she said. "And we know that when the inspectors assessed this after the [1991] Gulf War, he was far, far closer to a crude nuclear device than anybody thought — maybe six months from a crude nuclear device."
Then, acknowledging there was no "smoking gun" evidence that Iraq was on the verge of acquiring a nuclear capability, Rice made the dramatic statement that produced headlines around the world. "The problem here is that there will always be some uncertainty about how quickly he can acquire nuclear weapons," she said. "But we don't want the smoking gun to be a mushroom cloud."
In the same interview, Rice spoke of shipments to Iraq of aluminum tubes that "are only really suited for nuclear, weapons, programs, centrifuge programs." The CIA had reported that the tubes "have little use other than for a uranium enrichment program," adding that they "exceed any known conventional weapons application, including rocket motor casings for 81-mm multiple rocket launchers." But the Department of Energy offered an opposing view, stating the tubes in question were "not consistent with a gas centrifuge end use" and were consistent with conventional artillery weapons.
On October 1, 2002, barely three weeks after Rice issued her "mushroom cloud warning," America's 16 intelligence agencies produced a National Intelligence Estimate, reporting that most agencies believed the aluminum tubes "provide compelling evidence that Saddam is reconstituting a uranium enrichment effort for Baghdad's nuclear weapons program." Included in that report, however, was the dissenting view of the State Department's Bureau of Intelligence and Research (INR), which sided with the Department of Energy assessment: "INR considers it far more likely that the tubes are intended for another purpose, most likely the production of artillery rockets," the bureau reported.
Yet the Bush administration continued to sound the alarm over Iraq's alleged nuclear weapons program and the aluminum tubes. In a speech in which he compared the alleged threat of a nuclear Iraq to the 1962 Cuban missile crisis, President Bush spoke of the weapons program as though it were a certainty and cited the aluminum tubes as proof of it.
"Iraq has attempted to purchase high-strength aluminum tubes and other equipment needed for gas centrifuges, which are used to enrich uranium for nuclear weapons," he said in a much-publicized national security address in Cincinnati on October 7, 2002. The drumbeat for war continued right up to the "shock and awe" offensive that marked the beginning of the war in March of 2003. After U.S. forces had overthrown the regime in Baghdad and had occupied the country for more than a year, the Iraq Survey Group ended its search for Iraq's "weapons of mass destruction" with this conclusion:
The ISG has not found evidence that Saddam possessed WMD stocks in 2003, but [there is] the possibility that some weapons existed in Iraq, although not of a militarily significant capability.
Defenders of the war have argued ever since that "hindsight is always 20/20." But the contradictory reports about the aluminum tubes came nearly six months before President Bush launched "Operation Iraqi Freedom." The needed foresight might have been found in an October 4, 2002 report by Jonathan Hadley in the Knight Ridder newspapers. Hadley wrote of a trend that appeared to go unnoticed by most of the "mainstream media."
Several senior administration and intelligence officials, all of whom spoke only on the condition of anonymity, charged that the decision to publicize one analysis of the aluminum tubes and ignore the contrary one is typical of the way the administration has been handling intelligence about Iraq.
The White House and the Pentagon, these officials said, are pressuring intelligence analysts to highlight information that supports Bush's Iraq policy and suppress information and analysis that might undercut congressional, public or international support for war.
The issue when Congress approved the Authorization for the Use of Military Force in the fall of 2002 was neither hindsight nor foresight, but plain sight. A small minority in Congress, refusing to see what wasn't there, insisted the administration simply had not made the case for war.
Perhaps Dr. Rice had not heard about, or has since forgotten, the assessment of Iraq's military capability offered by her predecessor at State, Colin Powell on February 24, 2001. "He has not developed any significant capability with respect to weapons of mass destruction," Powell said, speaking of Saddam Hussein at a press conference in Cairo, Egypt. "He is unable to project conventional power against his neighbors." Saddam would have made a remarkable advance in weaponry if he had acquired the vast stockpiles of chemical and biological weapons the Bush administration claimed he possessed and the ability to make and deliver a nuclear bomb, all in the 18 months between Powell's statement that he had no capability and Rice's warning of a "mushroom cloud." And while it's true that Powell, based on a good deal of false "intelligence," later came to espouse the administration line, the ISG report confirmed his earlier statement.
So the United States waged a needless war that cost the lives of more than 4,000 U.S. military personnel and more than 100,000 Iraqi civilians, while leaving some 2.5 million to 3 million refugees homeless. Perhaps that's why Dr. Rice, in her recent speech at the Republican National Convention, never mentioned the liberation of Iraq, or even the 10-year-old (and counting) war in Afghanistan. Nor did she warn of an assumed nuclear threat from Iran, though John McCain sounded that alarm in a pre-prime time speech that evening and Mitt Romney alluded to it briefly in his acceptance speech the following night. Rice did, however, describe a future in which we must be ready to defend nearly anyone almost anywhere on earth, "from Israel to Columbia, from Poland to the Philippines."
And if we start another war in another land based on false intelligence and an overbearing desire to subordinate the fate of other people to our ambitions, Condoleezza Rice may get to address another convention and pretend it never happened.
Photo of Condoleezza Rice: AP Images


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Pets, Pets, Pets...
Nassau readers can help animals in Suffolk Town shelters. Unfortunately, the media has focused on a recent story where a West Islip man allegedly signed a neighbor's sick cat in at a Town shelter as his own to be put to sleep. Cases like this are nothing newmy 7/13 "Pets, Pets, Pets" detailed why the dishonesty is such a problem at animal shelters. The devious can also dispose of pets without involving any shelter. Yes, Towns may want to implement some measures to try to prevent similar situations. However, Suffolk County Legislature intervened hastily with a resolution (#1525) that, if passed, will not address the honesty/owner issue but instead will be detrimental to the welfare and adoption possibilities of all impounded cats and dogs. At first glance the County ideas sound reasonable, but there's much more to the big picture at the pound:
Background on the cat/dog dichotomy: Shelter dogs are either "owner surrenders" or "strays". Taking cats into Town shelters is so much more complicated because NYS law rightfully calls cats "free roaming animals". Inherent in that feline description is protection of their "wild" nature, yet ambiguity when they are brought to municipal shelters. Town shelters do not patrol for cats. In fact, they do not even have to accept cats, especially stray cats. Because so many cats exist outdoors, legal feline ownership is harder to establish. A '94 Sonoma, California statute proclaimed a cat "owned" by a person who has fed it 15 consecutive days or more.
A "stray" cat has many more variations than a "stray" dog. Most dogs have had an owner at some point in their lives. Dog redemptions are common at shelters. In 25 years of volunteering, I've only seen 2 people reunited with their lost cat at a shelter. If a dog steps off its owner's property, it is a "stray". Very simple. Shelter trucks pick them up and Good Samaritans bring them in; whereas a roaming or trapped cat may be owned and out for a stroll, lost, abandoned or feral as either a loner, or as a member of a managed TNR colony or part of an uncontrolled, possibly nuisance, breeding population. Kittens born outdoors usually belong to no one. Cat Catch 22: kind folks bring cats or kittens that seem homeless to a shelter, and they may be either turned away or forced to lie. Some shelters will not take them unless you say you are the owner. This is a problem. More about that later.
Problems with Suffolk Co. Resolution #1525: A simple equation determines an animal's chances of leaving a pound alive: SPACE=TIME =LIFE.
Both provisions of this County proposal too stressed when on display. Islip handled 3,700 cats last year. Actually owners are more likely to lie that their pet is a stray to avoid fees than the reverse statement that sparked the media, so most of the hypothetical owners are not returning. For financial reasons some people opt to bring senior pets to shelters rather than veterinary clinics to be put to sleep. Would these beloved pets have to languish in the kennel now? Again the County says only a vet can decide that the time may be shortened due to illness or temperament. Pets held only to comply with the law will take up cages needed by the adoptable population. By the way, vets never assess behavior in pounds.
Reunion reality checkPresently by law stray dogs have to be held a certain amount of days for an owner to reclaim them before they go up for adoption. Many shelters give them a week, but the mandated time can be less. As tamper with that equation and will undo decades of progress made at LI municipal shelters. First #1525 stipulates that only veterinarians will be able to perform euthanasia at shelters. That rule will do nothing to prevent people from falsifying forms. Since '93 shelters have had a choice of vets or staff because the NYS Dept. of Health (via the Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement) has trained and licensed shelter personnel as euthanasia technicians (ETs). Performing euthanasia in house allows greater flexibility in scheduling and in extending healthy animals' stays when space permits. Requiring vets or transporting animals to hospitals to die is extremely costly to taxpayers. Plus it's difficult to find doctors who want to fit this task into their busy schedules. Quotas make the vets' shelter visits worth their while so adoptable animals may be added last minute to the destruction list. Babylon hasn't even been able to find a vet willing to come in to give rabies shots. Equally importanthaving ETs also insures that someone able to put a suffering animal to sleep is always on the premises.
The disposition of owner surrenders was always up to the shelter's discretion. Many factors are considered. The second part of #1525 creates a space/ logistics nightmare, requiring a 1 week holding period for all animals which is too long and too restrictive. The resolution states that "no animal will be euthanized within 7 days of the animal being taken into the animal shelter and the animal will be placed in the general population of the animal shelter and made available for return to its rightful owner or for adoption in lieu of euthanasia." Will the County be building bigger Town shelters? Feral cats are a general observation, it seems that if the owner doesn't show in 48 hours, he "ain't comin'" (unless there are extenuating circumstances). Previously owned dogs can be adopted immediately. On the other hand, outdoor pet cats can disappear for days at a time. Owners need to know that they shouldn't wait to look. They must check the shelter right away, and keep checking in person.
Some Suggestions: First please call Suffolk Legislator sponsorCameron Alden (631-854-0940) and ask him to rescind this resolution before it comes up again on Aug. 8. If this becomes law, there will be a lot more problems than 1 dead cat. Worse case scenario: Towns could decide to stop sheltering cats. The results would be tragic. Intake policies can be refined at the Town level to protect the public and their pets. Here's how at shelters
Despite their legal differences, divide both dogs and cats into "owned" and "stray". Verify ownership whenever possible by making the forfeiting person show proof such as a vet reference, photo, or tag. Charge slightly higher surrender fees as a deterrent to pets being used as pawns in domestic disputes. Let compassionate people stay honest and sign a form (like Oyster Bay does) that says the cat is being turned in as a "stray" for humane reasons. Yes, have a holding period, but shorterpossibly 2-3 business days. Be suspicious of all fishy tales; make sure the story told to the office matches the story told at the back door. The way a person hands a pet over to a kennel attendant speaks volumes. Give the animal the benefit of the doubt.
Collars and tags don't stay on cats. Look into low cost microchip clinics for owned cats. Right now the ball park $60 registered chip is too high. Start scanning incoming cats too. Educate the public about all aspects of responsible pet ownership. Remind owners that cats are much safer as indoor, neutered pets. Keep reminding them.
Back home, cat adoptions have been quite slow at Oyster Bay Animal Shelter (677-5784) Miller Pl. Syosset. Kitten season and the seized felines from the collector have filled the cat room and lobby. "Aspen" #060468 is a lovable gray tabby semi-longhair in the front window. He sure loves catnip. "Mikey", the longhair cream & white kitten, is still available too.
A trio of darling dogs: "Smokey"#060721a Dalmatian mix; "Belle"#060678a sweet brindle pit mix; "Jasmine" #060629the well-mannered black Shepherd.