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We promise to do all within our power to assist you with any questions or concerns you may have.
Should any problems arise during your trip you should first contact the emergency number located in your Final Instruction Booklet. Your customized Final Instruction booklet will be provided in your final document package approximately 3 weeks prior to departure.
We pray that your pilgrimage will meet and exceed all of your expectations.
Please share with us your positive and constructive feedback upon your return!
How to Prepare for Your Pilgrimage:
Thank you for your desire and readiness to visit these places of grace and prayer. May the Almighty God, through the intercession of our Heavenly Mother, reward you for all the efforts you undertake to come! As we would like your trip to be as pleasant and helpful as possible. It is important to note that 206 Tours pilgrimages are packed full of spiritual activities and sightseeing. We do not include much free time for recreation, such as shopping. This is because our desire is to offer you the most comprehensive pilgrimage possible. However, all tours/activities are optional, and if you feel you are unable to keep up with the pace of the tour, manage the terrain, or would like free time for your own interests, you are welcome to refrain from participating in any aspects of the program you desire (of course, no refund can be issued for any aspects of the tour which you choose not to participate in).
It is also important to note that the amount of walking is significant, and the terrain varies greatly through out our tours. You will encounter hills, mountains, unpaved streets, cobblestone streets, etc. Please prayerfully consider whether or not you are up to such physical activities prior to registering. For this reason, we would like to offer you some recommendations, and we ask you sincerely to read them carefully.
A couple of weeks before your pilgrimage, one should begin preparing physically as well as spiritually.
1 - If not accustomed to physical activity begin walking "briskly" 1-2 times a day; build up to 2-3 miles with no
2 - If possible attend daily Mass or attempt to spend quiet time in church during lunch or after work.
3 - Pray for Jesus and His Blessed Mother to open your heart and mind to be responsive to new perspectives, ideas,
their words laid on your heart, etc.
4 - Begin praying the rosary daily ( Learn How to Pray the Rosary ) or at least the Apostle's Creed, 7 Our Father's, 7
Hail Mary's & 7 Glory Be's as Our Lady has requested; this takes about 5-7 minutes.
Liquids Rule:
You are allowed to bring a quart-sized bag of liquids, aerosols, gels, creams and pastes in your carry-on bag and through the checkpoint. These are limited to travel-sized containers that are 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) or less per item. Placing these items in the small bag and separating from your carry-on baggage facilitates the screening process. Pack items that are in containers larger than 3.4 ounces or 100 milliliters in checked baggage.
Any liquid, aerosol, gel, cream or paste that alarms during screening will require additional screening.
• Medications
• Infant and child nourishments
Inbound International Flights:
You may carry duty free liquids in secure, tamper–evident bags, more than 3.4 oz or 100 ml in your carry-on bag if:
• The duty free liquids were purchased internationally and you are traveling to the United States with a connecting flight.
• The liquids are packed in a transparent, secure, tamper-evident bag by the retailer and do not show signs of tampering when presented to TSA for screening.
• The original receipt for the liquids is present and the purchase was made within 48 hours.
*Liquids more than 3.4 oz or 100 ml not in a secure, tamper-evident bag must be packed in checked baggage.
General Info About Your Documents, Flights, Arrival & Travel:
Final Documents:
206 Tours will ship your final documents to the address provided on your reservation application approximately 2-3 weeks prior to your scheduled departure date. The package will be delivered by FedEx (can not be delivered to a PO Box). Your final documents will include your flight schedule with electronic ticket number, hotel confirmations, emergency contacts, general trip information, luggage tags, portfolio of travel documents, flight bag, and more. Carefully review your tickets to ensure that your name on the tickets are an exact match to that of your passport. Please note that the name field on your tickets is only 19 characters long, therefore names exceeding this length will be cut off (this is not a problem, as your actual reservation contains your full name). Please also carefully review the itinerary provided to ensure that all departure and destination cities, as well as dates, are correct. Please contact 206 Tours immediately should any discrepancies be found.
* Please note that late payment/bookings can cause delay in the shipment of your final documents.
International Flights:
We recommend that you check in for your international flight three hours prior to the scheduled departure time. Passengers must personally check their luggage at the airline counter. Please advise the airline representative of your final destination upon check in so that you will not need to claim your baggage and recheck it during flight connections. Please note that our pilgrims travel from across the world. You will be traveling independently for all flights until your arrival at your final destination. You will not have a tour escort with you during your flights. Please be advised that 206 Tours attempts to centralize as many pilgrims as possible on the same flights, so you may arrive/depart on the same flights as many of your co-pilgrims (for additional information see "Arrival Procedure" below).
Airline Connections:
206 Tours must book your airline reservations based on the routings provided to us by the airlines, including connection time, cities for connections, and partner carriers. Airlines determine the standard for the required minimum connecting time to transfer from one gate to another for each specific airport. At times, the connection times provided by the airlines are quite tight (i.e. 45 minutes) and require passengers to make haste during their connections. At times the airline connection times are quite long, due to the flight availability at the time of booking. While we wish we could determine the connection times for each of our clients, we are subject to the rules, regulations, and availability of the carriers we work with. We also must ensure that all reservations correspond so that each participant is able to meet the group transfer to/from the airport to hotel and hotel to airport. We promise to do all in our power to provide you with the most convenient flight schedule available to us with our partner airline carriers at the time of your booking, however, we must still follow all appropriate airline rules and regulations.
Airline Tickets:
Airlines now require that we provide electronic tickets (a.k.a. "e-tickets") in place of paper tickets. At check-in, you should be ready to provide your flight itinerary which was provided with your final documents and passport to the agent. The airline agent will then check you in for your flight, check your luggage, and provide you with a boarding pass for your flights. In the very rare occurrence where an e-ticket cannot be issued, you will receive your tickets in a paper form. Please note that paper tickets must be present in order to check in, and or board the plane.
Code-share Flights:
Many airlines participate in agreements/alliances with other airlines which permit passengers to travel from one point to another using more than one carrier. While your ticket may indicate that you are flying with one carrier (eg: Air France), you may find that you are actually seated in a plane belonging to another carrier (eg: Delta). Please review your airline itinerary carefully to determine which airline you should go to for check-in; if your flight is operated by a carrier other than the primary airline indicated on the itinerary, your itinerary will state "Flight Operated by (Airline)." You should check-in for your flight with the agent the plane is "operated by." If you have any concerns regarding which airline to check-in with, you may contact the airline directly or 206 Tours for clarification.
Airline Mileage Accounts:
Please contact the airline directly to open a mileage account and to obtain credit for the miles flown on this trip. Please be sure to save all boarding pass stubs from your trip as you may need them for proof of travel when obtaining millage credit upon your return.
Health Precautions:
No inoculations are necessary when arriving Europe, Israel or Egypt from the US. But consult with your health care provider before traveling. Although the water in Europe is completely safe in order to prevent "Montezuma's Revenge", avoid the tap water, including ice cubes. Your stomach may still become upset due to the change in diet. Bring anti-diarrhea medicine just in case. For the latest overseas travel health information, call the Center for Disease Control's travelers' hotline at 1-800-232-4636. Or visit their web site at www.cdc.gov.
Travel Warnings:
US State Department Travel Advisories: For up to date US State Department travel advisories you may visit: https://travel.state.gov/travel
Arrival Procedure:
After disembarking from the plane you will clear immigration, and proceed to the baggage claim to locate your luggage. You will exit the baggage claim through customs into the "arrivals hall/ lounge." Look for the 206 Tours representative who will be holding a sign with your name and/or "206 Tours." You will be transferred to your hotel where you will meet your guide and the rest of your group. Please remember to look for the sign!
If your plane arrives late, or you are re-routed you will probably miss the group transfer which is included in your package. In such circumstances you will need to pay for a taxi or private transfer to take you to your hotel. This cost will be at your own expense, and you may submit a claim to the airlines for reimbursement upon your return and/or to your travel insurance. For most destinations taking a taxi from the airport to your hotel is the easiest and least expensive course of action. However, for some destinations even a taxi can be very expensive due to the distance you are traveling. If you prefer to have a private transfer arranged for you in lieu of taking a taxi, you will need to contact 206 Tours to advise us of your flight delay and new arrival time at least 4 hours prior to your new arrival time. In this case will do all possible to arrange for a private transfer to meet you upon your arrival, however, you will be responsible to remit payment to your driver upon drop off at your destination. If you arrive at your destination, and are unable to locate your driver or a taxi, please call your local emergency contact (listed in your Final Instruction Booklet) so that they may dispatch a transfer for you. Please remember to save your receipts. We strongly recommend the purchase of Traveler's Insurance for this reason (www.206tours.com/insurance).
Your pilgrimage includes one (1) piece of checked luggage, and one (1) carry-on. International air carriers are becoming stricter about the size and weight of baggage and carry-on luggage. please limit the size of your hand luggage to 17x14x8 in. (43x36x20 cm) for easy storage on the motor coach. Porterage for one suitcase on tour is included in the tour price. The checked piece of luggage should have dimensions not exceeding 62 inches in overall (62inches: length+width+height) and weight not exceeding 50 lbs (23 kg).
Carry all documents and money on your person but not all in the same place to limit the inconvenience in case of loss; do not keep money, important documents, medicines or jewelry in your suitcase; We recommend a money belt worn inside your clothes, while touring. On departure from your hotel, remember to double check that you have your money belt with you, and that you have collected any items left in the hotel safe. Please, at all times, be as vigilant as you would be in any major city, especially in crowded places. Never leave your hand luggage unattended or out of sight in public areas, including airports, hotel lobbies or dining rooms.
Be sure to keep ALL medications in your carry-on bag during your trip in case your suit case should be lost. Keep a separate list of important numbers, i.e. passport, traveler's checks, and credit cards, in your luggage, together with photocopies of relevant pages of your passport/visas. Keep a separate copy i.e. passport, flight schedule, credit cards, in your luggage, The same common-sense rules of safety and security apply here as to anywhere else. Avoid excessive displays of jewelry or cash (only carry sufficient for daily needs). Room Safes may be used at your own discretion. Make certain that any valuables are insured against theft. Avoid exploration on your own of unfamiliar streets or areas Be cautious if people approach you begging.
Luggage Locks:
The more secure your personal items are, the better! TSA suggests you lock your luggage before you embark, and when you are flying home. In order to ensure the safe transportation of travelers, TSA screens all checked, and carry-on, baggage before it is permitted to be brought on-board. You can purchase locks for your bags, however, if they are "screened", you run the risk of them being cut open and no longer usable. However, there are TSA Recognized Locks – which allow TSA officials to use tools for opening and re-locking your baggage. Below are recommended brands:
How to Overcome Jet Lag:
Rapid travel through multiple time zones can take its toll on your physical and mental well-being. "Jet Lag" is the phrase used to describe the condition when an individual's internal body clock is out of sync with the actual time in the region to which you have traveled. It is important to try to adjust your internal body clock to receive the most out of your tour. Here are some tips on how to adjust your body to local time. On the day of the flight/arrival:
Get out of bed earlier than usual
Drink a lot of water to compensate for the dehydration that is common on long flights
Shortly after boarding our flight, set your watch to your destination's actual time
Try to rest or sleep as soon as possible on your eastbound flight
When you arrive try to keep active, and go to bed around 10:00 PM local time
Please note that traveler's insurance is STRONGLY recommended for all 206 Tours pilgrims. Be advised that traveler's insurance can not be purchased after you have paid in full for your trip. For those who have purchased Travelers Insurance through 206 Tours a pamphlet will be included in your final documents. Please refer to this brochure for specific stipulations or questions. For more information you can also visit www.206tours.com/insurance.
The duration of driving time between cities/countries can range extensively depending on your itinerary. Some days may include only short transfers on the bus from your hotel to a restaurant, or similar. Other days you may drive a couple of ours to travel from one city to another. There are some days/itineraries which may include up to 8 hours of driving in one day. During travel days with extensive driving the coach will stop for bathroom/stretch (approximately every 2 to 3 hours) breaks as well as a lunch stop.
Make sure to bring along a credit card for convenience and security. Credit cards offer a very reasonable exchange rate and can be canceled should it be lost. Visa or MasterCard are the best options as American Express and Discover Card are not accepted in most stores outside of the USA. We recommend that you exchange US dollars (USD) at your local bank prior to departure if possible, in order to obtain the best exchange rate. It is also practical and cost effective to withdraw local currency using your ATM/Debit card during your trip. ATMs are readily available in most of the destinations we service, and are very similar to those in USA. Most offer English as a language option. It is recommended that you contact your local bank and credit card companies before departing on your trip to advise them that you will be traveling. Traveler's checks are NOT recommended, as they are often not accepted and are difficult to exchange during the trip.
Be advised that exchanging money at airports will result in higher fees. We strongly recommend that you refrain from exchanging money at your hotel or local change booths, as the fees are extremely high.
We are frequently asked, "How much money should I bring with me?" This is an impossible question to answer as each person is different. The type of lunches you prefer can make a big difference (restaurant vs cafe). Are you planning on purchasing mementos for yourself or loved ones? We recommend that the minimum spending money you should bring with you / budget for, in addition to the suggested tips, is the equivalent of EUR 25.00 per day. Remember, you can always spend less, or bring money home!
Currency Exchange:
The EURO is the currency of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Spain. Keep in mind that this is the "pure" exchange rate, any form of currency exchange has some fees associated. Please note that the currency flocculation has been particularly volatile in the last year, so we strongly urge you to check the current exchange rates prior to departure and prior to exchange.
ATM Machines:
ATM machines can be found at most bank branches, post offices, train stations, airports, shopping centers, etc. and are accessible 24 hrs/day. Most banks charge a commission when you withdraw money, especially if it is from the network of another bank. You should ask your bank for information about where you can use your card and what commissions are charged for withdrawing money. Most US banks assess a $2.00-$5.00 international ATM fee in addition to the ATM's usual fee of 1-3 euros. Your bank will utilize an exchange rate that is a couple percent above the "true" exchange rate." Be sure to find out your daily withdrawal limit before you depart. You can also get cash advances on your credit card at an ATM. Credit card companies try to protect themselves from theft by limiting the funds someone can withdraw outside their home country, so call your credit card company before you leave home. And keep in mind that you'll pay interest from the moment of your withdrawal, even if you pay your monthly bills on time..
For increased security, European Banks now issue debit and credit cards that carry an embedded chip.
As part of their anti-fraud measures, you are seldom asked to give an store / restaurant employee your card for them to swipe. Instead if you are at a restaurant, your waiter will bring a portable little machine / card reader to your table with the amount of your bill already entered. You cannot add a tip to the total (leave small tip in cash instead). Your card is swiped and you will be asked to OK the total and enter a PIN. Note: The PIN for this is not the Cash Back PIN. If you have a normal US credit/debit card without a chip, you do not have a PIN. Just in case you do not have or you forget your PIN, just hit the OK with no PIN entered. It usually works.
If you have any questions about your ATM card, check with your bank in advance of your departure from home. Ensure you know how to contact them if you encounter problems using your card. Use your card before you leave home and again shortly after arrival, even if you do not need the money, solely to verify that everything works.
Value Added Tax (VAT):
There is 20% value added tax on most goods and services in Portugal. At retail stores, this tax is always already included in the price. Upon making a purchase of $50.00 or more at a gift store that has an agreement wit the VAT authorities, you should fill out a form at the store and have it stamped there. You will be eligible, upon presenting the form and the item, for a 20% refund at the airport prior to departure. Do not pack these gift items in your luggage. They should be kept in your hand luggage. By the way, tourist services, such as hotel accommodations and meals taken in hotels, paid with foreign currency are exempt from VAT tax.
How to Get Your VAT (Value Added Tax) Refund:
Portugal sales tax, or VAT (value-added tax), is 20%, but you can get most of that back if you spend € 175 (EURO) or ($274.54 USD as of March 27, 2008) or more at any participating retailer. You must be over 15 years old, and you must present a passport. The name of the refund is détaxe, meaning exactly what it says. You never really get the full 20% back, but you can come close. After you spend the required minimum amount, ask for your détaxe papers. Fill out the forms before you arrive at the airport for departure. Be sure to have the forms stamped at the airport customs desks. The customs official may ask to see your purchases so it's best to have them in your carry-on bag. Mail the stamped forms at the airport (the store provides an envelope) and the refund process has begun (note - this is only if Portugal is your final point of departure back to the U.S.). For additional information on the VAT refund https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Value_added_tax. All refunds are processed at the final point of departure from the E.U., so if you're going to another E.U. country, you don't apply for the refund in Portugal. Mark the paperwork to request that your refund be applied to your credit card so you aren't stuck with a check in Euros. Even if you made the purchase in cash, you can still get the refund on a credit card. This ensures the best rate of exchange. You can get cash in some airports, but if you don't take the cash in Euros, you'll lose money on the transaction. If you're considering a major purchase, ask the store policy before you get too involved -- or be willing to waive your right to the refund.
Weights and Measures:
The metric system is used exclusively through out Europe and the The Holy Land. A kilometer is a bit over 1/2 mile (.62 miles). A kilogram equals 2.2 pounds.
Most of Europe and The Holy Land operate on a 24 hour clock. This means that 6:00 pm is 18:00, etc.
Tips are an important part of earnings for your guides and bus drivers. Although you should tip according to your discretion and satisfaction, we recommend that you bring approx. $130 per person and place in tip envelopes (included in your final documents package) as follows:
Tour escort who is with you throughout your tour or for the whole day should be tipped approx. $10 per person per day (depending on level of satisfaction)
Bus driver $5 per person per day (depending on level of satisfaction)
It is suggested to provide the tour escort and the bus driver their tip money the day prior to your return.
Spiritual Director/ Your Priest: Gift or donation to the Spiritual Director is at your own discretion.
Restaurants, hotel staff, luggage handler and bell boy tips are included in your package price. No additional tips should be given.
Guide: EUR 8 per day
Driver: EUR 4 per day
Hotels / Accommodations:
The standard size of European hotel rooms may be smaller than you are used to in the USA. King size beds are rare in Europe. In some hotels, key cards operate the room lighting systems and/or the elevator. Fixtures in bathrooms and bedrooms are not standardized so you may have to search for a light switch or outlet. While most hotels do offer a hair dryer in the bathroom, we recommend bring one if it is essential to you. Most hotels do toiletries (shampoo, lotion), we strongly recommend that you bring an adequate supply with you. Mini-bar items and access to pay TV channels are at your own expense.
Please note that while we do request non-smoking rooms for our clients, hotels are less stringent about enforcing these rules outside of the USA.
Remember to frequently check your hotel bulletin board for important information, suggestions, or any last-minute changes from your tour escort.
Adapters, Converters, and Electricity:
When traveling abroad, you will need to bring an Adapter in order to plug into the outlets. The voltage used is 220 volts AC, single phase 50 cycles (the U.S. uses 110/120 volts).The best option is bringing a Universal Travel Adapter with Dual USB Ports (that way, you can utilize a number of outlets at one time. Example – being able to charge your cellphone while using your laptop etc.)
Adapters we recommend:
Converters are used to convert the 220 volts to 110 volts. All of our Hotels have Hair Dryers, so you would only need if you were bringing a Curling Iron/Hair Straightener (which are not necessary on a pilgrimage). If you have a Laptop – check with the Manufacturer. Almost all laptops over the last seven (7) years already have a converter built in. Converter kits that include the entire range of plugs can be purchased at better electrical supply stores.
Stores such as Walmart, K-Mart, Target also have them for purchase. Buying electrical devices in foreign places is not recommended unless you are sure that the current they use is compatible with the current at home. It will likely cost you more than the original price to have an appliance converted.
The telephone country code for Portugal is +351 (from US 011 + 351 followed by the city code and telephone number).
Cell Telephones:
You may bring your cellular phone, but make sure to contact your wireless phone provider and inform them, that you will be traveling out of the country (giving them destinations). Most have an "international plan" if not get one for the trip. This will allow you to make calls to the United States while you are out of the country using your wireless phone. If you have a smart phone with a data plan please make sure to contact your cellular provider to inquire about an international data plan. International data usage can be VERY expensive. We suggest you get a generous plan or disable your data while traveling.
A Magnificat book has been provided to you for daily prayer and reflection. Please note you can now download the Magnificat App to your smartphone. However it will require international data consumption so make sure you have an international data plan prior to departure with your provider. This will be at your additional cost with your mobile provider.
Hotel Telephones:
While telephones offer convenience, they do tend to cost substantially more than public phones. You may choose to utilize a calling card to be more cost efficient, however, be advised that most hotels charge a connection fee which ranges from EUR 1.00 to EUR 5.00 for such calls.
Public Telephones:
Public phones are found in cafes, restaurants, Metro stations, post offices, airports, and train stations, and occasionally on the streets. Finding a coin-operated telephone in Europe is an arduous task. A simpler and more widely accepted method of payment is the télécarte, a prepaid calling card available at kiosks, post offices, and Metro stations and costing € 7.50 (EURO) - € 15 (EURO) ($9.75-$20) for 50 and 120 units, respectively. A local call costs one unit, which provides you 6 to 18 minutes of conversation, depending on the rate. Avoid making calls from your hotel, which might double or triple the charges. To make a direct international call, first dial 00, listen for the tone, and then slowly dial the country code, the area code, and the local number. The country code for the U.S. and Canada is 1. A reasonable way to communicate.
Public Toilets:
Known as WC, and available in most tourist locations. Be prepared with tissues in your pocket at all times. Also, be aware that some public toilets are manned/ womaned by attendants who ask for a small "user's fee".
If you are bringing a digital camera, make sure to bring extra batteries. If not digital, remember to bring plenty of film (200 or 400 speed is recommended for outdoor and indoor-flash photography). Photography is not allowed in some museums and in some security-conscious facilities.
Europe is based on a myriad of old buildings, and there are split-levels and uneven surfaces everywhere; please watch your step! Due to the structure of old buildings, access to some establishments may not be convenient for wheelchair use, and facilities for the disabled in general may be limited. Many areas are pedestrian only and have cobblestones. High-heeled shoes are not suitable for cobblestone streets; rubber-soled walking shoes are recommended. Many streets in Europe and The Holy Land are narrow, and due to strict traffic regulations, the buses are not always permitted to drop groups off directly in front for their destination. Please be prepared to walk.
Be wary of any person approaching you offering unofficial taxi services. If you do not have an airport transfer included and you need transportation, make your way to the official taxi desk or to the regular taxi line outside the terminal; choose only those vehicles with a meter and a taxi sign. We recommend you per-negotiate the fare, as taxi drivers in some countries may attempt to overcharge unwary travelers.
Lisbon is the capital of Portugal. Other major cities are
Águeda, Almada, Fatima, Funchal, and Coimbra. Portugal is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the west and south and by Spain to the north and east.
Local Customs:
A different way of life in some countries on tour may take you by surprise, but if you travel with an open mind and respect local customs and culture, you should find it easier to adapt to and enjoy your new surroundings. Standards of living may not be quite what you are used to, but there are compensations – a closer sense of reality and a more authentic feeling of locale. Due to cultural differences in Europe and The Holy Land you may not be greeted quite as cheerfully as back home; smiling is generally reserved for intimate friends! So be especially wary of people presenting themselves as "instant friends" and never accept any offer of food or drink from strangers.
Shopping Hours:
Department stores are open Mon-Sat 9:00-6:30. Some shops close 12:00-2:30. Food shops open 7:00-6:30 or 7:30. Some food shops (particularly bakers) open Sunday mornings, in which case they will probably close Monday. Many shops close all day Monday or Monday afternoon. Hypermarkets are normally open until 9:00 or 10:00.
Most stores and businesses are closed on Sundays through out Europe. Many stores in The Holy Land are also closed from sundown on Saturdays. Stores are open daily from Monday to Saturday. Some observe a "siesta" from 1pm to 4pm, re-opening until 7pm. Some malls close later in the day and are open Saturdays after sundown. Ask your tour escort for regional specialties products which the countries/cities in your itinerary are known for (i.e. Paris is known for fashion, Venice is known for hand blown glass, Santiago de Compostela for the pilgrim shell, etc.).
Enjoy some stress-free Christmas shopping during your travels; small, light items that you can easily carry home make splendid and festive gifts. Don't forget to buy something nice for yourself too, to take home to evoke pleasant memories of your vacation abroad.
If you purchase a video or DVD, please check very carefully that it is compatible with your home viewing system (for USA and Canada – VHS NTSC and DVD region 1; for Australia, New Zealand and Pacific – VHS PAL and DVD region 4).
Sales tax or VAT (value added tax) is already included on price tags; VAT refunds, if applicable, may sometimes take up to three months to process. Whenever traveling abroad, be aware of your personal belongings when shopping in crowded areas.
U.S. Customs:
U.S. citizens who have been in The Holy Land and Europe for more than two days may return to the United States with up to $800 worth of merchandise duty-free. For those who wish to bring more home with them, a flat rate of 3% duty is levied on the next $1,000 worth of purchases. It's a good idea to retain the receipts from your purchases should they be requested by a Customs Inspector upon your return to the United States. For details visit the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website https://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel.
*Global Entry:
An ideal program for frequent travelers
Traveling International – Register with US State Department
Enroll with The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) - https://step.state.gov/step. It is a free service to allow U.S. citizens and nationals traveling abroad to enroll
their trip with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.
For 24 Hour Consular Emergency Line: U.S. 1.888.407.4747 / Outside the U.S. 1.202.501.4444
Meals / Food:
Most European and The Holy Land countries tend to dine later than we are accustom to. Please expect that your dinners will be scheduled around 7:30 pm to 8:00 pm. Most breakfasts are buffet style. Unlike in the USA, it is frowned upon to take food out of the breakfast room. Most dinners will be served "sit down" with a per-determined 3 or 4 course meal. Your meals include iced tap water and coffee or tea. All other beverages, including bottled water, will be at additional cost. While some restaurants may be able to provide for a special diet, such as vegetarian or salt-free, there is no way for us to guarantee this. Please note, vegetarian meals tend to lack variety and imagination.
Check with your tour guide or concierge for a list of good restaurants. Food is generally safe to eat. Should you want to feel "at home", many American franchises now operate in Portugal and France: Burger King, McDonalds, Subway, Pizza Hut, Domino's Pizza, Kentucky Fried Chicken, and more.
Tap Water:
Due to differences in mineral and micro-biotic levels, we recommend that you avoid consuming local tap water (including ice), as it may upset your stomach.
General Information About Your Pilgrimage Destination(s):
Due to global weather changes, regional temperatures may deviate from the norms. We recommend layered, easy care, loose-fitting clothing, an item or two for rain or unseasonable temperatures and something warmer. Light-weights for summer. Medium-weights for winter with heavier clothing for inland areas. It is a good idea to pack waterproofs at any time of year.
Mid-summer advice: Wear a sun hat and loose-fitting clothing, drink at least one liter (one quart) of mineral water a day if you can (carry a small bottle in your hand luggage); avoid eating too much ice-cream and reduce the amount of ice in drinks. A small battery-operated fan may be useful in warm weather.
The official language of Portugal is Portuguese. English is widely spoken, and many signs appear in English too.
Useful Portuguese Phrases:
All foreign (non-European) nationals need a valid passport to enter Portugal. For an up-to-date country-by-country listing of passport requirements around the world, go to the "Foreign Entry Requirements" page of the U.S. State Department website at https://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html
All U.S. citizens must have a valid passport to enter Europe or The Holy Land. Please note that for most European and The Holy Land travel your passport MUST be valid for 6 months after your scheduled return date.
A visa is not required for citizens of the USA for most destinations serviced by 206 Tours. For example the following countries do not require US citizens to obtain a visa for entrance: Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Germany, Croatia, Bosnia, Portugal, Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Turkey, Greece. Please be advised that it is the passengers responsibility to reconfirm if any visa's are required for their trip itinerary.
U.S. citizens do not need an entry permit (visa) to stay in Portugal as either tourists or on a business trip for a period of up to three months. (If you enter Portugal under the Visa Waiver Program, you are not allowed to take up any employment there.) More information is available from the Consulate Section of the Portugal Embassy, 2012 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C., 20008. (202) 328 8610.
Portugal Embassy:
Emergency Telephone Numbers in Portugal:
Emergency Police: 112
Ambulance/Medical: 112
Emergency/Fire: 112
European General Emergency Code:
Embassy in Portugal:
Americans living or traveling in Europe are encouraged to register with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate through the State Department's Travel Registration web site https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/ , and to obtain updated information on travel and security issues. Americans without Internet access may register directly with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Embassy or Consulate to contact them in cases of emergency.
United States Embassy
Avenida das Forças Armadas
1600-081 Lisboa
Apartado 43033
1601-301 Lisboa
Tel.: 351-21-727-3300
Fax: 351-21-726-9109
E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com
For Additional Information About Your Destination:
Please visit the official tourism website as follows: www.visitportugal.com
US Offices for the Portugal tourist board:
New York: 590 Fifth Avenue, 3rd Floor ~ New York, NY 10036, USA Tel. (646) 723-0200 ~ email@example.com
What To Pack:
Due to global weather changes, regional temperatures may deviate from the norms. We recommend layered, easy care, loose-fitting clothing, an item or two for rain or unseasonable temperatures and something warmer.
For Winter, Early Spring, and Late Fall: be sure to back a warm jacket, a hat, scarf and gloves. Just in case.
For Summer, Late Spring, and Late Summer: Bring a sun hat and plenty loose-fitting clothing. Don't forget a lightweight sweater for the evenings as some places may be a little cooler than others.
A note about summer attire; shorts (or mini skirts) and bare shoulders are considered inappropriate at some religious sites. For men, shorts that can be transformed by zippers into trousers may be convenient.
Bring an all-weather coat, just in case. We strongly recommend that women bring a shall or sarong which can be placed conveniently in their day bag, so that they may drape their shoulders, or tie around their waists in the more religious sites.
Make sure you have a good pair of walking shoes. If new, make sure you walk in them for a couple of weeks to break them in. On the plane you will want to wear loose-fitting clothes and pack a pair of slippers to wear for the flight, as well as a lightweight jacket. Make sure your shoes are lace-up, as your feet may swell a little.
General Clothing for Men:
Jeans, casual slacks, short and/or long sleeve shirts, socks, undergarments, and light jacket or coat.
General Clothing for Women:
Jeans, long skirts, casual dresses, casual slacks, short and/or long sleeve, socks, stockings, undergarments, and a light jacket or sweater is suggested.
Other Suggested Items to Bring (check list):
__ Inflatable head & neck rest, eye mask, foam earplugs (for flight)
__ Portable alarm clock
__ Flashlight with extra batteries: take batteries out while traveling
__ Old towel or small plastic bag to sit on outside
__ Handy wipes: freshening up during the day
__ Travel pack size Kleenex.
__ Extra batteries for flashlight, camera, recorders
__ Tape recorder or journal for Mass, and talks
__ Extra film for camera: expensive outside of US
__ Travel size poncho, in camping section of Wal-Mart
__ Optional grocery size plastic bags: 1-2 for dirty clothes or items you purchase
__ Soap-small bar travel size
__ Shampoo-travel size or put some in a small container; don't carry some big bottle
__ Toothbrush & Toothpaste-travel size
__ Deodorant-travel size
__ Chap stick
__ Comb/Brush
__ Aspirin/Advil, Etc.
__ Feminine protection
__ Laxative/Imodium
__ Band-aids
__ Dramamine or Bonine - if subject to motion sickness
__ Pepto Bismol- tablets
__ Sominex
__ Allergy/cold medicine; tablets (put medicines in a sandwich bag)
Health Care:
Some people find that taking them selves off caffeine and taking compounds high in anti-oxidants to be helpful in combating jet lag. You can also take Jet-stress or Cell Guard which are herbal complexes designed to combat jet lag. Ginger can be helpful in motion sickness. Melatonin helps to allow you to sleep on the plane. These items can be found at most health food stores.
What If...& Frequently Asked Questions:
What should I do if I lose my ticket?
If you should lose your ticket prior to your departure date please contact 206 Tours immediately. We will fax a copy of your original ticket to the airlines. You will need to arrive at the airport extra early and sign a Lost Ticket Indemnity Form, and pay the airlines a $100 reissuing fee. If you should lose your ticket during your trip please immediately inform your tour escort who will advise us, so that we may follow the same procedure.
What should I do if my flight is canceled or delayed?
If your flight is canceled or delayed it is imperative that you work DIRECTLY with the airlines at the airport to arrange for alternate flights or protection. Please note that once your tickets have been issued or you have check-in for your flights, 206 Tours can no longer make any changes to your flight itinerary. This can only be done by the airlines. In such case, remember, the squeaky wheel gets the grease, so be persistent. However, it is important to remember that it is not the airline agents fault, so try your best to remain courteous to them, as you may find that you receive more assistance this way. Please be advise that the airlines are not required to offer reimbursement for personal expense or overnights when delays/cancellations occur due to weather. We strongly recommend the purchase of Traveler's Insurance for this reason (www.206tours.com/insurance). However, if you find that you have no luck with the airline personnel, please contact 206 Tours and we shall do all in our power to assist you.
What should I do if I miss my flight due to my late arrival at my departure airport?
If you should miss your flight, due to your own late arrival at your departure airport, it is imperative that you work DIRECTLY with the airlines at the airport to arrange for alternate flights. You will incur additional costs (minimum of $200 per person) for such changes. Please note that you should contact 206 Tours once your alternate arrangements have been made so that we may arrange for a private transfer (at your expense) if necessary.
What happens if I miss my group transfer upon arrival?
If your plane arrives late, or you are re-routed you will probably miss the group transfer which is included in your package. In such circumstances you will need to pay for a taxi or private transfer to take you to your hotel. This cost will be at your own expense, and you may submit a claim to the airlines for reimbursement upon your return and/or to your travel insurance. For most destinations taking a taxi from the airport to your hotel is the easiest and least expensive course of action. However, for some destinations even a taxi can be very expensive due to the distance you are traveling. If you prefer to have a private transfer arranged for you in lieu of taking a taxi, you will need to contact 206 Tours to advise us of your flight delay and new arrival time at least 4 hours prior to your new arrival time. In this case will do all possible to arrange for a private transfer to meet you upon your arrival, however, you will be responsible to remit payment to your driver upon drop off at your destination. If you arrive at your destination, and are unable to locate your driver or a taxi, please call your local emergency contact (listed in your Final Instruction Booklet) so that they may dispatch a transfer for you. Please remember to save your receipts. We strongly recommend the purchase of Traveler's Insurance for this reason (www.206tours.com/insurance).
What happens if I have a problem or complaint during my trip?
If you have any problems, concerns, or complaints during your trip, please communicate them IMMEDIATELY to your tour escort. Your tour escort is at your disposal to assist you with all your needs including issues with your hotel room, meals, etc. Remember, there is very little that can be done to undo a problem once you have returned home, but, most of the time your tour escort can address any concerns you may have swiftly. However, if the issue is not resolved to your satisfaction by your tour escort, then please contact our office.
What should I do if I want to change my ticket?
If you would like to change your ticket for any reason once it has been issued you MUST work DIRECTLY with the airlines. You will incur additional costs (minimum of $200 per person) for such changes.
For more on our general terms and conditions visit www.206tours.com/terms
Please share with us your feedback upon your return!


text:
Suborder: Haplorrhini
Infraorder: Simiiformes
Superfamily: Hominoidea
Family: Hylobatidae
Genus: Symphalangus
Species: S. syndactylus
Subspecies: S. s. syndactylus, S. s. continentis
Other names: Hylobates (Symphalangus) syndactylus,
siamang, greater gibbon; S. s. syndactylus: Sumatran siamang; S. s.
continentis: Malaysian siamang.
The taxonomic arrangement of siamangs has been modified by Groves (2005) and
Mootnick & Groves (2005) who elevated the former subgenus Symphalangus to
full generic level where it was formerly a subgenus of Hylobates.
Among the gibbons, the stocky siamangs are the largest (Mootnick 2006). The
pelage is glossy black, the upper body has long hair and the chest is broad
(Marshall & Sugardjito 1986; Mootnick 2006). The crown is flat and a white
brow-band occurs at low levels (<5%) in captive and museum examples (Geissmann
1993; 2003). Perhaps the most characteristic feature of the siamang is its
large inflatable throat sac, which is sparsely haired (Schultz 1933; Marshall &
Sugardjito 1986; Mootnick 2006; A.Mootnick pers. comm.). When fully
inflated, the throat sac is comparable in size to the animal's head (Papaioannou
1973). Siamangs have no tail, as is the case in all of the
lesser, or small, apes
(Ankel-Simons 2000). However, males possess a downward directed genital tassel
which can be as long as 13.5 cm (5.3 in) and resembles a tail (Marshall &
Sugardjito 1986; Mootnick 2006). It is difficult to visibly tell the subspecies
apart, although preliminary observations suggest that this might be possible
based on nose morphology (Mootnick 2006). The second and third toes are
connected by webbing which is variable in its extent, a condition that is
reflected in the species' scientific name (Schultz 1933; Marshall &
Sugardjito 1986; Mootnick 2006). In addition, sometimes the fourth and fifth
toes are also webbed (A. Mootnick & L. Theisen-Watt pers. obs. cited in Mootnick
There is some sexual dimorphism in siamangs, with males being somewhat larger
than females (Wilson & Wilson 1976). In a small wild-shot sample, adult
males averaged 11.9 kg (26.2 lb) and adult females averaged 10.7 kg (23.6 lb)
(Geissmann 1993). In a much larger survey of captive individuals, adult males
averaged 12.8 kg (28.2 lb) and adult females averaged 10.5 kg (23.1 lb)
(Orgeldinger 1994). Head and body length ranges between 29 and 35 inches (73.7
and 88.9 cm) (Chivers 1985).
The predominant type of siamang locomotion is its characteristic brachiation,
comprising around 80% of its movement (Chivers 1972b cited in Andrews &
Groves 1976). This type of locomotion is extremely advantageous in the complex
canopy environment for which the species is adapted (Bertram 2004). Other types
of locomotion include vertical climbing, swinging, jumping and arboreal bipedal
walking (Chivers 1972b cited in Andrews & Groves 1976; Papaioannou 1973).
When compared to other gibbons, siamangs are slower in their movement and they
rest by propping or draping themselves in the trees (Chivers 1972a).
In captivity, siamangs can live into their forties (Schmidt & Weigl 1999;
Weigl 2005).
Siamangs are found on the island of Sumatra (Indonesia) and on the Malay
(Malaysia and Thailand) peninsula (Treesucon 1997; Mootnick 2006). Each of the
two locations has its own subspecies, with S. s. syndactylus being confined to
Sumatra and S. s. continentis confined to the northwest and central Malay
Peninsula (Mootnick 2006). Within the Malay peninsula, S. s. continentis is
restricted in the east by the Pahang River, in the south by the Maur river and
Tasek Bera, and in the north by the Perak river (Chivers 1980). There are no
reports of occurrence east of the central range of the peninsula (Groves 1972).
There is at least one report of siamangs from extreme southern Thailand, very
near the border with Malaysia on the Malay peninsula in the Narathiwat Province
(Treesucon 1997). On Sumatra, S. s. syndactylus occurs over most of the island
but is mainly found in the west (MacKinnon 1984; Jenkins 1990).
The tropical hill forest is the primary habitat of the siamang. The species
is most often found above 300 m (984.3 ft) in altitude, but can also live in
lowland forests (Chivers 1977). In addition to primary lowland and hill
forests, siamangs can also live in selectively logged primary freshwater swamp
forests, selectively logged lowland forests, selectively logged hill forests and
primary submontane forest (Wilson & Wilson 1976). Although sympatric with
other gibbons in some habitats, siamangs occur more often at higher elevations
than other gibbons (Wilson & Wilson 1976). However, the species is not
commonly seen above 1500 m (4921.3 ft), although it may
range as high as 1828.8 m (6000 ft) (Medway 1972; Caldecott 1980).
The seasons are not usually distinct in the tropical areas where the siamang
lives (Chivers 1974). In southwestern Sumatra, in the Bukit Barisan Selatan
National Park, rainfall is only weakly seasonal. Annually, it can be between
300 and 400 cm (118.1 and 157.5 in), amounts which are sometimes lower due to
severe droughts. At this site, annual temperatures are usually between 22 and
35°C (71.6 and 95°F) but can be as high as 40°C (104°F) (O'Brien
et al. 2003; 2004). On the Malay Peninsula, there is a time of increased
rainfall around the beginning of each year with a following drier season which
is accompanied by warmer temperatures. However, this cycle is variable between
years (Chivers 1974). At the study site of Kuala Lompat, in the Krau Game
Reserve in the Malay Peninsula during a two-year period, temperatures varied
between 16.1 and 33.3°C (61 and 92°F). The wet season lasted roughly
November-January, and the dry season between January-April (Chivers 1974).
On average, among several study sites in both Malaysia and Indonesia,
siamangs eat a variety of foods, including 49% fruit (between 32-61% of the
diet), 38% leaves (17-58%), 3% flowers (1-9%), and 10% insects (1-21%)
(Papaioannou 1973; Chivers 1974; Raemaekers 1979; MacKinnon & MacKinnon
1980; Palombit 1992; 1997; Bartlett 2007). Of the fruit, figs can make up a
significant percentage, up to 37% of the entire siamang diet (Bartlett 2007).
Siamangs also have a preference of leaf types, eating mostly young leaves and
only small amounts of mature leaves (Chivers 1974; Raemaekers 1979; MacKinnon
& MacKinnon 1980; Palombit 1992). Overall, more than 160 different species
of plant are eaten (T. O'Brien unpubl. data cited in O'Brien et al. 2003).
The daily activity period is usually over ten hours long (Chivers 1974;
Raemaekers 1979). In general, siamangs awake around dawn and communally
defecate shortly thereafter (Papaioannou 1973; Chivers 1974; Chivers et al.
1975). They will then feed or rest, depending on their proximity to food
resources (Chivers 1972a). As to the daily pattern of activity, peaks in
feeding occur over the course of the morning and decrease after that for the
rest of the day (Papaioannou 1973; Chivers 1977). Resting increases over the
day to a peak in the afternoon, and travel peaks in the morning (Chivers 1974).
At night, siamang groups enter the highest branches of a single tree, high above
the canopy but sometimes lower and in several trees (Chivers 1974; Gittins &
Raemaekers 1980). Sleeping trees are often reused (Chivers 1974).
Daily time budgets vary between study sites, but traveling, resting and
feeding typically are predominant activities (Lappan 2005). In Sumatra, male
siamangs spend their time feeding (34.0%), resting (36.8%), traveling (16.8%),
in social activities (5.2%) and in other activities (7.3%). Female siamangs
spend their time feeding (37.3%), resting (33.8%), traveling (16.9%), in social
activities (5.4%) and in other activities (7.3%) (Lappan 2005). Elsewhere in
Sumatra during a different study, siamangs spent their time resting (44%),
feeding and foraging (40%), traveling (12%), in intergroup interactions (3%) and
singing (1%) (Palombit 1992; 1997). On the Malay peninsula, the day is spent
feeding (50%), resting (25%), and traveling (22%), with grooming, singing and
play each taking up about 1% of the day (Gittins & Raemaekers 1980). Among
the group, there is a coordination of activities. In one study, all members of
a group participated in the same activity over 60-75% of the day (Chivers 1976).
Home ranges vary between 0.2 and 0.48 km² (0.08 and 0.19 mi²), with no or
little overlap (Papaioannou 1973; Chivers 1974; Raemaekers 1979; MacKinnon &
MacKinnon 1980; Raemaekers & Chivers 1980; Palombit 1996b; O'Brien et al.
2003). Average day ranges of siamang groups range between 640-1289 m (Chivers
1974; Raemaekers 1979; MacKinnon & MacKinnon 1980; Lappan 2005; Bartlett
2007). During wet months, daily travel is shorter than in dry months
(Raemaekers 1980). Siamangs spend most of their time high in the forest canopy,
over 24 meters (78.7 ft) above the ground, but will also descend to around 7.5
meters (24.6 ft) above the ground and rarely lower (MacKinnon & MacKinnon
1980). Arboreal group movements are usually in single-file through the same
pathway (Chivers 1974).
Siamangs live in sympatry with a number of other primates including the slow
loris (Nycticebus coucang),
long-tailed macaque (Macaca fascicularis),
pigtail macaque (Macaca nemestrina),
Thomas's langur (Presbytis thomasi),
lar gibbon (Hylobates lar),
agile gibbon (Hylobates agilis), banded langur
(Presbytis melalophos),
ebony langur (Trachypithecus auratus), Horsfield's
tarsier (Tarsius bancanus),
and Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii) (Palombit 1992;
Lappan 2005). In addition, in northern Sumatra, siamangs are sympatric with
orangutans and lar gibbons, the only
place in the world where three species of non-human apes coexist (Palombit
1996b). The siamang and other gibbons with which it is sympatric might compete
for food as in some cases there is diet overlap (Raemaekers 1984). This is the
case with the sympatric lar gibbon where infrequent
confrontations between siamangs and the species over food resources have been
observed (Raemaekers 1978). In addition, in at least one study, a male siamang
associated with a male lar gibbon and the pair
traveled, fed, and even chorused together (MacKinnon & MacKinnon 1977).
In general, predation on gibbons is not well documented, and in no field
study of either Hylobates sp. or Symphalangus syndactylus has direct predation
been observed (see Uhde & Sommer 2002). However, a full-sized siamang was
found in the digestive tract of a python (Schneider 1906 cited in Uhde &
Sommer 2002).
Content last modified: May 20, 2008
Written by Kurt Gron. Reviewed by Alan Mootnick.
Cite this page as:Gron KJ. 2008 May 20. Primate Factsheets: Siamang (Symphalangus syndactylus) Taxonomy, Morphology, & Ecology . <http://pin.primate.wisc.edu/factsheets/entry/siamang>. Accessed 2020 July 6.
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text:
High Blood Pressure in Kids May Be Less Common Than Thought
U.S. study offers somewhat encouraging finding, but experts say it's tough to pin down 'correct' rate.
TUESDAY, Jan. 29, 2013 (HealthDay News) — The number of U.S. kids with full-blown high blood pressure could be lower than previously thought, if new research findings are on the mark.
In a study of nearly 200,000 children aged 3 to 17 years, researchers found that only 0.3 percent met the standard for high blood pressure — elevated readings at three consecutive doctor visits.
That stands in contrast to past studies, which have suggested that anywhere from 0.8 to 4.5 percent of American kids have high blood pressure.
But experts say the "correct" rate among U.S. kids is still unknown. And even if blood pressure is lower than earlier estimates, children should still have their blood pressure measured at routine checkups, said Dr. Stephen Daniels, an expert in pediatric high blood pressure who was not involved in the new study.
The American Academy of Pediatrics and the U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute both recommend that kids have yearly screenings for high blood pressure, starting at age 3.
"I don't think that should change," said Daniels, the chief pediatrician at Children's Hospital Colorado and head of pediatrics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Aurora. "I wouldn't want parents to get the message that their child doesn't need to have their blood pressure measured."
As for why the new figure is lower than past estimates, it's probably due to how the study was done, according to lead researcher Dr. Joan Lo, a research scientist with Kaiser Permanente Northern California in Oakland.
The children in her study were from three different U.S. states, and all were visiting the doctor for routine "well-child" visits. Past studies have mainly been done in schools, in a single city or region. And some of those studies were run in urban areas, with a high proportion of black and obese kids — both of whom are at increased risk of elevated blood pressure, Daniels noted.
Still, the true rate of high blood pressure among U.S. children remains unclear, according to Daniels.
"This new study is narrow in its own way," he said, noting that the kids involved had health insurance and got routine check-ups. The group was racially diverse, but Daniels said they may have been better off — financially and health-wise — than a random sample of U.S. kids would be.
The findings, which appear in the February issue of the journal Pediatrics, are based on 199,513 children and teens enrolled in three large health plans.
Almost 11,000 of those kids had an elevated blood pressure reading at their first doctor visit during the study period. But after repeat tests at their next two visits, less than 4 percent of them were ultimately diagnosed with high blood pressure.
All in all, just 0.3 percent of the whole study group had confirmed high blood pressure, the researchers found.
Both Lo and Daniels said the findings underscore the importance of doing repeat measurements to confirm that a child actually has high blood pressure, and not just a temporary spike.
To nail down the true prevalence of high blood pressure, Daniels said researchers need to follow a nationally representative sample of children who have three consecutive blood pressure readings taken over time.
But whatever the true rate is, no one is calling for a change in children's routine care.
High blood pressure may not be highly common in children — which is "good news," Daniels said. But kids with high blood pressure often become adults with the condition. If not treated properly, high blood pressure can lead to coronary heart disease, heart failure, stroke, kidney failure and other health problems.
"Blood pressure tracks from childhood to adulthood," Lo said. "So diagnosing hypertension in a child suggests it will also be present in adulthood, although this is not 100 percent predictable."
High blood pressure is diagnosed differently in children than in adults. There is no cut-off number, which in adults is a reading of 140/90 mm Hg or higher. Children are diagnosed with the condition if they have three consecutive readings that are at or above the 95th percentile for their age, sex and height.
Treatment depends on the cause, if it's known. If blood pressure is very high, Daniels noted, it is likely due to an underlying condition, like kidney disease. Otherwise, a child's numbers can often be reined in with a healthy diet, exercise and, if needed, weight loss.


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Trinity Guest House is located in the heart of the historic town of Beverley in East Yorkshire. It is a 4* bed and breakfast which boasts character and charm with the original features of a Victorian house. The family run business offers a warm atmosphere and clean, well presented rooms. We are in an ideal location for public transport to Hull, York, and East coast resorts. All local attractions are within walking distances, including Beverley Minster, The Westwood, Racecourse, North Bar and the historic town itself. Guests can expect a comfortable stay, as well as complimentary tea, coffee, water, and biscuits in each room as well as flat screen TVs with free view and DVD. Wi-fi access also available, free of charge. Cyclists welcome. Price per night per room including a Full English/continental breakfast £40 - £100.
Facilities for children: Cot, high chair. Children welcome from any age.
Search availability for Trinity Guest House and book online
Trinity Lane,
Station Road,
East Yorkshire,
Trinity Lane,
East Yorkshire,
By Road:
Follow B1230 to Beverley. Trinity Guest House is directly opposite Beverley Railway Station.
By Public Transport:
Trinity Guest House is directly opposite Beverley Railway Station.
- Children welcome
- Radio
- Television
- Tea/coffee making in bedrooms
- Lounge for residents' use
- Laundry/valet service
- Ironing facilities
- Garden
- Totally non-smoking
- Dogs/pets NOT accepted
- Building of historical interest
- Central heating
- Television available
- Shooting
- Golf available (onsite or nearby)
- Visa/Mastercard/Switch accepted
- Vegetarian diet available
- WiFi or internet access
- Leisure club (onsite or nearby)
- DVD player
- CD player
- Euros accepted
- Hairdryer
- High chairs available
- Real log/coal fires
Facilities for children: Cot, high chair. Children welcome from any age.
Self-Assessed Accessibility Details
- Surface of the car park and pathway leading to entrance is
- Solid ie tarmac / concrete etc
- Drop-off point for guests outside entrance
- Route from the parking area to the entrance:
- Is flat (i.e. without steps)
- Has steps and no ramp
Public Areas
- Level access (no steps/thresholds) or access by ramp or lift to:
- Entrance to reception
- Lounge
- Good contrast between the floor and wall
- Clear surfaces such as glass doors have contrast markings
- Guest information available in large print (14pt and over)
- Bedroom furniture can be re-arranged if requested by guest
- Bedroom with non-allergenic bedding available
- Bedroom without fitted carpets available
- Bathrooms available with:
- Separate shower unit
- Bath with shower
- Bath
- Steps to the main entrance
- 3Number of steps to entrance
- Entrance well lit
- Bell at main entrance
- Level access (no steps/thresholds) or access by ramp or lift
- Good contrast between the floor and walls
- Menus available in large print (14pt and over)
- Meals for guests with special dietary requirements can be provided:
- Sugar free (diabetic)
- Gluten free (coeliac)
- Lactose free (dairy free)
- Nut free
- Organic
- Vegetarian
- Vegan
- Proprietors/staff available 24-hours


text:
All of that is possibly and IMO probably true...it is also funny to me that Bush is getting blamed for acting on faulty or flimsy intelligence in Iraq, yet is essentially blamed for NOT acting on flimsy intel prior to 9-11 and is also being held accountable for N. Korea having nukes when it was clearly the previous administration that should have been on top of that situation. Signing a treaty with N Korea, not checking thoroughly to see if they were keeping up the terms of it AND cutting the budgets of the intelligence community is awful, just awful.
However, I do 100% fault Bush for his glib approach to this current investigation, essentially pushing it off to after the election. First - it's more of the same "detriment to the country" crap because we need to know what is wrong NOW, as soon as possible so we can work to correct the problem. Pushing it off for a year is just absurd, especially for a guy who is so adamant about protecting his people. Partisan politics should not trump national interests and national security...NO ONE's political career or agenda is THAT important.
Secondly, it is simply bad politics. If Bush launches an investigation, he can clear up this matter before the election. An investigation should only take 3 or 4 months, tops and probably could be done a lot quicker. By stonewalling, all he is doing is giving the Dems ammunition (100% legit ammunition, IMO) to keep hacking away at the "Bush lied" nonsense.
Finally, the American people...you and I...we all DESERVE to know what happened when we go to the polls in November. IMO, Bush did nothing "wrong" and I feel an investigation will prove that, much as it did in Britain. However, right now we just don't know and we have a right to know this important piece of information prior to casting votes. This is basic stuff about representative governing, and is not a partisan point. If the Bushies on this site get mad at me, so be it. It's how I feel.
It's really stupid in so many ways I can't believe he's doing it. G*d-damn Bush!!!


text:
I recently came across an interesting video breakdown of Tim Lincecum's pitching mechanics. I'm not sure who is narrating the video, but he does a nice job of breaking down Lincecum's mechanics. In addition, the video is put together nicely to demonstrate how the differential between hip and shoulder rotation helps to generate velocity, which is something I look at in a pitcher's mechanics.
One thing that you can glean from the video is that Lincecum throws with his entire body better than just about everyone, which should reduce stress on the arm. Pitching has always been about more than just the arm, and Lincecum's mechanics enable him to distribute the stress of pitching out over his entire body. That said, to throw as fast as he does, you still need a top notch arm.
Here is the video, which was posted on youtube by hookemhorns, though I'm not sure if he is also the narrator.
Watching the video raised a couple of thoughts, so I thought I'd flush out the hip rotation and a few other issues a bit more.
At the 3:19 mark, Oswalt and Lincecum have their respective leg kicks at their apex. However, the difference in their degree of coil is evident. Lincecum's tremendous hip rotation means that his Glove Side (GS) knee is almost pointing at second base. Oswalt, however, has much less hip rotation and his GS knee is only pointed at third base. Lincecum's bigger hip rotation allows him to store substantially more energy than Oswalt. The tension created by this degree of hip rotation creates a substantial amount of stored energy, which Lincecum is ultimately able to impart on the baseball.
At the 1:36 mark, you can see how Lincecum unleashes the stored energy to generate his velocity. Again, Lincecum stored up substantial energy with his tremendous hip rotation in his leg kick and now unleashes it by firing the hips before the shoulders. The differential between the hip and shoulder rotation enables him to first store energy and later unleash it.
When the video stops at the 1:36 mark, you can again see massive differential between Lincecum's hip and shoulder rotation. His hips have already fired, which means that they are essentially parallel to a line running from first base to third base. However, his shoulders have not rotated and are essentially parallel to a line running from home plate to second base.
Lincecum uses his body to store and unleash a significant amount of energy, which enables him to generate massive velocity despite a smaller frame.
I do, however, disagree with the narrator on a couple of points.
First, I think Lincecum's changeup is underrated. Obviously, he selected video clips of poor changeups, but Lincecum can really pull the string when he's on. He needs to get more consistent with it, but I have no doubt it will become a true plus pitch. If you watch him work, you can see glimpses of it already and it should become a big part of his arsenal over the course of his career.
Also, I think it's a stretch to say that specificity of his back muscle training may lead to injuries. While repeating his mechanics may have led to increased development of certain muscles, it seems a bit dubious to suggest that the injury risk is increased in his delivery. Just because Lincecum tweaked his back while swinging a bat isn't enough to conclude that his injury risk is heightened. Not to mention, if ANY pitcher alters his mechanics, then he may well be at an increased risk of injury, so it certainly isn't a Lincecum specific issue. Carlos Zambrano, for example, dropped his arm slot significantly in 2007 and that may lead to an arm injury in the near future.
Another interesting aspect of Lincecum's delivery is the deception it creates. After he breaks his hands, Lincecum hides the ball behind his right hip, which makes it tough on the hitter. At the 1:00 mark of the video, you can see that Lincecum completely straightens his arm, which gives the appearance of almost pushing the ball down towards the ground. It's a move that hides the ball behind his right hip and increases deception.
This is also a similarity between Lincecum and Sandy Koufax, as they both hold the ball very low after breaking their hands. Speaking of Koufax, I'm must admit I'm not a huge fan of his mechanics. As mentioned in the video, he doesn't have much hip rotation, which means that as a power pitcher he has to generate the velocity largely with his arm. Similarly, Reds prospect Sam LeCure doesn't coil up his body, but unlike Koufax he can't offset it by generating top notch velocity with his arm.
In addition, at times, Koufax throws against a stiff GS leg on his follow through, which results in his momentum being pushed backed towards the rubber after he releases the pitch. That's similar to what you see in Reds prospect Travis Wood, who also has a tendency to pitch against a firm GS leg.
Overall, I think the video does a nice job of demonstrating different aspects of a pitching mechanics, which really come to light when you can see them in action.
A running discussion on the Cincinnati Reds and everything else in the baseball universe.
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Tim Lincecum, Hip Rotation, and Sandy Koufax
3 comments:
- AnonymousJuly 19, 2009 at 12:30 PM
is there another link to the video? thanks for the post!ReplyDelete
Hey Anon,ReplyDelete
Unfortunately, that's the only version I have seen. I'm not sure why MLB would feel the need to pull it down, but unfortunately it looks like they have done so. I'll take a look around to see if I can find an "approved" version of it, but it seemed fairly unique so I make no promises.
It's too bad they pulled it down, as I think it was pretty interesting and a bit instructive.
Anyway, thanks for the comment. I'll see if I can find a replacement for it.
- AnonymousApril 17, 2011 at 2:01 PM
koufax has enormous hip shoulder separation, google image his name and youll find a distinct picture of itReplyDelete
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Is life totally random and meaningless? Or is there some predestination, and thus purpose, behind everything? Knowing, opening today, ponders this question and splits the difference: everything is predestined, but it's still all meaningless.
At least that's the impression I came away with after watching this Nicolas Cage vehicle. The film, directed by Alex Proyas (The Crow, Dark City, iRobot) tries hard to impress you with its deep themes about the meaning of our existence, but it's let down by a sledgehammery script, and one of Cage's worst performances on record. (And bear in mind, I liked Ghost Rider. Yeah, really.)
Oh, and there will be spoilers in this review. I'm predicting it, because I have a giant sheet of random numbers, and if you circle some of them randomly you get the words "SPOILERS AHEAD".
Nic Cage plays John Koestler, an MIT professor who's the worst astrophysicist in the universe. Early on, we get to watch him teaching a class, and it's like a bad freshman philosophy bull session, taught by a burned-out stoner. For some reason, instead of actually, you know, teaching some astrophysics, Koestler wants to ramble about predestination versus total randomness in the universe. "Tell me about the sun," Cage says, tossing a model of the sun at one of his students. "It's hot," the student says. Dude, no way. So, is it just random chance that we're exactly the right distance from the sun to allow complex life to develop? (This is what's known in the business as foreshadowing.)
Koestler is obsessed with questions of fate versus free will, because his wife died in a hotel fire, leaving him alone with his precocious son Caleb, who's got that form of aspergers that smart kids always have in the movies. The movie tries hard to give us a lot of character development by shorthand. Like, John and Caleb have a weird hand-jive thing they do while they chant "You and me, together forever." Except that John is never actually there for Caleb, because he's an alcoholic screw-up. One of John's colleagues wants to fix him up on a date with a female professor whom he calls "Miss Ph Double-Ds." Oh, and John is estranged from his own father, a pastor who talks with a fake Boston brahmin accent. "Oh, the son of a pastor, the son of a pastor," John chants at one point while pulling a face. John doesn't believe in God, because of that hotel fire thingy.
So yes, eventually the plot kicks into gear and we're all glad the painful character development is over. Caleb's school digs up a time capsule, which we saw being buried in 1959, and Caleb gets a sheet of numbers which a crazy Wednesday Addams girl scrawled 50 years earlier. Somehow, John figures out all those numbers predict every major disaster of the past 50 years, plus a few disasters yet to come. (You're not supposed to wonder how so many disasters could fit on one piece of paper.)
At this point, the film starts referencing 9/11 pretty heavily. Remember when it was considered a huge taboo for movies to touch on 9/11? Watching parts of this movie, I felt nostalgic for those days. The first disaster that Koestler identifies on the sheet of numbers is 9/11. And then he gets caught up in a plane crash that's somewhat reminiscent of UA 93. Then Koestler figures out that another disaster is due to take place in Manhattan, and meanwhile the terror rating has been raised. So John tries to notify Homeland Security about his prediction, to no avail. He goes to New York, and spots a shifty-looking Arab man, whom he chases through the subway. The Arab turns out to be a guy who stole some DVDs, and then the subway train crashes due to driver error. Cage and the other survivors climb out of the ruined subway, in a cloud of smoke and ash, and they're all covered with white ash, so that they look like postapocalyptic mimes. And then we see shots of heroic firefighters. Other movies I've seen recently which touched on 9/11 have felt interesting, or cathartic, or tasteful, but this just felt a bit gratuitous for some reason.
Actually, though, the movie really only comes to life when there's a disaster taking place. During a few great set pieces - the plane crash, the train crash and one or two others - the movie gains a sense of life and becomes fun to watch. We follow Cage as he runs through flames and rubble and screaming people, in long tracking shots that reminded me of the end of Children Of Men. The disaster sequences only account for about 15-20 minutes of the movie's two-hour running length, but they're almost worth the price of admission. Proyas obviously puts most of his heart into those moments.
Meanwhile, the other big strand in the movie is that spooky shit is going down. The creepy girl who wrote down those numbers heard scary cacophonous whispers in her ears, and John's son Caleb hears them too. So does the girl's granddaughter, whom John and Caleb meet up with at some point. (Oh, and Rose Byrne plays the 1959 girl's daughter, who's been tormented by her mother's weird Cassandra complex.) And there are weird goth albino dudes hanging around the kids, staring at them and trying to claim them or something. Also, there are weird pebbles. It all turns out to be something different than you expect, in a very woo-woo "spiritual" ending that reminded me of Mission To Mars or the Keanu version of Day The Earth Stood Still. There was one fantastic moment when the kids are each handed white rabbits - and I thought maybe bunnies would turn out to be the movie's secret villains. (What if Anya from Buffy was right? Bunnies! Bunnies! It must be bunnies! But sadly, no.)
One of the great pleasures of Knowing is picking apart all of the movie's weird plot holes and bits of unprocessed nonsense. For a film that insists, over and over, that everything makes sense and that you could predict the future if you only knew enough facts, the movie actually depends on the audience not thinking very hard about its premise, especially once the big twist in the premise is revealed.
But that's not the film's biggest problem - plenty of movies make no sense, and are still awesome to watch. (Like, say, Push, from the same distributor, which came out last month.) Rather, the biggest problem is that the film is such a genre smorgasbord, it sort of loses cohesion. It's a mystery thriller, where we have to figure out what these numbers mean. No, wait, it's a horror movie, with the staring albinos and their deranged whispering. Or, no, it's a disaster movie about planes trains and automobiles going FOOM. Or no, it's a spiritual growth movie, where we finally open up and discover the meaning behind everything. To be fair, some of my favorite movies are genre mashups, and I like a movie that changes gears in the middle. But it just doesn't quite work in this film, because the shifts are handled awkwardly, and none of these individual segments feels that original. It all felt like a mashup of several movies I'd seen before.
For all that, I didn't hate Knowing, or even dislike it that much. It had a certain energy, and Nic Cage's dopey facial expressions are always fun to watch, and the disaster segments really are first class. There are a couple of genuinely surprising twists here and there, and the part of the ending that's not "spiritual" is weirdly satisfying. Proyas keeps upping the ante, until the apocalyptic finish feels genuine apocalyptic and huge. Rose Byrne doesn't have much to do in the film, but she's engaging whenever she's on screen.
Plus, I suspect that if you really love random spooky shit, or apparently meaningless clues that turn out to be the key to everything, or spiritual endings, then you'll be more drawn into this movie than I was. You may even find that it explains everything - and find that its apparently random tonal and narrative shifts form a secret pattern, which you can use to predict everything in the universe. Or maybe not.


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I am having a difficult time linking clapack to my cmake project on linux and would greatly appreciate any help.
I have successfully built and linked clapack to the same project on osx which makes this situation especially frustrating.
I first downloaded clapack-3.2.1-cmake and compiled the project. I then copied the .a and relevant .h files into a directory, named CLAPACK, under the root directory of my project. (libblas.a, libf2c.a, liblapack.a and libtmglib.a into CLAPACK/lib and blaswrap.h,clapack.h and f2c.h in CLAPACK)
I then altered the cmake file of my project to include
LINK_LIBRARIES( f2c blas lapack tmglib )
These steps allowed me to compile on my mac but upon transferring the project to a linux box and recompiling the clapack library I am getting linking errors which look like this
/home/siggik/Development/SFT-9012/CLAPACK/lib/liblapack.a(sgesvd.c.o): In function `sgesvd_':
sgesvd.c:(.text+0x456): undefined reference to `s_cat'
sgesvd.c:(.text+0x1fa4): undefined reference to `s_cat'
/home/siggik/Development/SFT-9012/CLAPACK/lib/liblapack.a(sormbr.c.o): In function `sormbr_':
sormbr.c:(.text+0x39f): undefined reference to `s_cat'
sormbr.c:(.text+0x45c): undefined reference to `s_cat'
sormbr.c:(.text+0x527): undefined reference to `s_cat'
Any help would be great. Thanks,


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The Copenhagen Climate Conference we can declare as failed. No one can really say how big the impact of the increasing CO2-level will be, but the worst case scenario has been inspiration for international artists since many years. The 'Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe' in Hamburg, Germany dedicated its upcoming exhibition to artistic visions of future living on a destroyed Planet Earth. It showcases mainly use-oriented projects of climatological capsules in the field of art, design, architecture, urbanism and geo-engineering.
The exhibition will be open from 28 May – 8 August 2010.


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If you've been suffering indie-twee withdrawal symptoms ever since Isobel Campbell's final note on Hawk or the breakup of the Delgados, here's something to cool your brow - and to prove it's possible to take a pan-hurling breakup and set it to music from The Waltons. Adam Green & Binki Shapiro are technically a supergroup - he's one half of Mouldy Peaches, she's one third of Little Joy - and they've recorded a record of cutesy psychedellia that reaches out to anyone at romantic rock bottom. Sure, all music is lovesick but these ten tracks are laced with more schadenfreude than Aidan Moffat's divorce proceedings.
Green and Shapiro's hippy guitar sound gels perfectly with their lyrics that snipe at couples caught in freefall. It's like an angrier, updated Nancy & Lee, with 'Casanova' taking a hazy country tune and letting Shapiro sing over it like she's defending herself on a stalking charge ("Don't want the wrong person holding me/Why are you always finding/New ways of wasting my time/Why are you always hiding/Am I not supposed to look you in the eye"). The self-hate clashes so comically with the music it's like listening to a Flight of the Conchords track, the psychedelic harmonies and surf rock guitar adding a cosy but warped little touch.
As the album rolls on, it's clear the gentler the guitar tunes, the more they come barbed with ferocious, love letter-burning lyrics. This is country pop with black sequins, only safe for mum and dad to put on once the kids have been removed from the conflicted parties' house. 'Pity Love' finds a no-longer-bothered Green explaining his antics to his mousy girlfriend, singing "My heart is everywhere/Splitting out like thunder/Everybody's cheating on each other/My pity pity love/Almost stronger than the real thing". He makes up with Shapiro on 'Pleasantries', a duet that challenges 'Fairytale of New York' for its depiction of a pair of bellowing wasters, and while those tracks favour the guitars and tambourines formula, 'Don't Ask For More' leans towards funk, showing that there's more to the duo than attachment issues, an old acoustic and a campfire.
Like Arab Strap with bellbottoms and flower necklaces in place of the drum machine, Shapiro and Green are a match made in heaven who explore every corner of romantic hell. Shapiro particularly has a nice handle on self-actualisation, venting her fears around a grumbling bass line as she courts older men on 'If You Want Me To' ("One day I'll be old/Face like a maze/Tending to our home/If you want it so"). It's one of the sweetest, most biting moments on the album; a reminder that it takes a knack to combine incisiveness with independently catchy tunes, but that this duo have the gift. The kiss-and-make-up follow-up record is going to have to be something very special.
8George Bass's Score


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EXCLUSIVE: Real Madrid, Manchester United and Liverpool will be among 8 top European teams playing in 12 cities in the 2014 International Champions Cup.
The participating teams that will be officially announced on Tuesday are Real Madrid, Manchester United, Manchester City, AC Milan, AS Roma, Liverpool, Inter Milan and Olympiacos.
The games will be played in 12 cities across the United States — Dallas, Washington DC, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Denver, Miami, Phoenix, Charlotte, Ann Arbor, Hartford, New York and Philadelphia.
The tentative schedule for matches July 26 through August 4 is as follows. Note that the schedule is subject to change, and has not been confirmed. The official announcement will be made on Tuesday:
July 26, 2014
Inter Milan vs Real Madrid — 4pm ET — Phoenix, AZ
AS Roma vs Manchester United — 6pm ET — Denver, CO
Olympiacos vs Liverpool — 6pm ET — Chicago, IL
July 27, 2014
Manchester City vs AC Milan — 4pm ET — Pittsburgh, PA
July 29, 2014
Inter Milan vs Manchester United — 7:30pm ET — Washington DC
AS Roma vs Real Madrid — 9:30pm ET — Dallas, TX
July 30, 2014
AC Milan vs Liverpool — 7pm ET — Philadelphia, PA
Manchester City vs Olympiacos — 9pm ET — New York, NY
August 1, 2014
AS Roma vs Inter Milan — 8pm ET — New York, NY
August 2, 2014
AC Milan vs Olympiacos — 2pm ET — Hartford, CT
Real Madrid vs Manchester United — 4pm — Ann Arbor, MI
Liverpool vs Manchester City — 6pm ET — Charlotte, NC
August 3, 2014
Semi-finals to be played at Sun Life Stadium in Miami, FL
August 4, 2014
Final game and third place match to be played at Sun Life Stadium, Miami
This will be the second annual International Champions Cup. The 2013 tournament was a huge success with Real Madrid, Chelsea, Everton, Valencia, AC Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus and LA Galaxy participating.
Which matches are you planning on going to see in person? Let us know in the comments section below.


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Compare cheap flights from Cairns to Botswana
Compare and book cheap flights from Cairns (CNS) to Botswana with Skiddoo. Use the Skiddoo flight explorer to find the cheapest time to fly to Botswana from Cairns on a range of leading airlines. Save with our exclusive Cairns to Botswana flight deals online today.
Botswana is a landlocked country in the African continent and is a flat country, composed mainly of plains and deserts. It is also one of the richest African countries with a modest standard of living. The country boasts not only of its colorful traditions, but its natural resources as well. It is visited by many people due to its exotic wildlife and interesting land formations.
A day at the cave
One of Botswana's tourist spots is the Gcwihaba Caverns or Drotsky's Cave. This cave stands at 33 feet with interesting formations inside. The dripping of deposited minerals is also a sight to behold. According to stories, somewhere in the cave hides a 19th century treasure. Either way, the cave itself is already a treasure for Botswana.
Appreciating diverse avian life
The Makgadikgadi & Nxai Pans National Park of Botswana is a home to over 165 species of birds and other animals such as zebras, jackals, foxes and monkeys. You will be amazed with the animals and most of them can only be found in the region. A guided tour will tell you of the details of these animals.
Botswana has a lot to offer. Be a witness to it and book a flight via Skiddoo now.


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Honorary Degree Recipient Dedicated Life to Serving Native Americans
Rev. Larry Peterson will receive the honorary degree Doctor of Humane Letters and address the graduating class at Augustana's 149th Commencement Service May 24 at the Sioux Falls Arena.
Sioux Center Junior Wins Library Associates Research Award
Amy Hulstein, a junior from Sioux Center, IA, is the recipient of the 2009 Augustana Library Associates Research Award. Her winning paper is entitled "In the Steps of a Soldier: Captured at the Bulge."
Nef Family Gift Creates Augustana's First Endowed Faculty Chair
Dr. Robert E. Wright, acclaimed writer and economic historian, has accepted the appointment as Nef Family Chair of Political Economy. Dr. Wright currently serves as Clinical Associate Professor of Economics at the Stern School of Business, New York University.
Student Research Presented at National Physics Meetings
On May 21, research work completed by current and former Augustana students will be delivered at an invited talk at the American Physical Society (APS) Division of Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics (DAMOP) meeting in Charlottesville, VA.
May 14 Proclaimed Augustana College and Community Band Day
Sioux Falls Mayor Dave Munson has proclaimed May 14, 2009, as Augustana College and Community Band Day. Twenty-five people attended the first rehearsal in the fall of 1989. Today, there are more than 100 members.
Mark Hecht Receives NIRSA Regional Award of Merit
Mark Hecht, Director of Recreational Services at Augustana College, received a Regional Award of Merit from the National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA) for outstanding contributions made on a regional and statewide basis.
Together in Ministry South Dakota Gathered on Campus
Twenty-seven pastors and other ministry professionals from across South Dakota met at Augustana for the first large group gathering of Together in Ministry South Dakota (TiM) last week.
Augustana Has Teamed Up With Club Colors
Augustana College announces a new partnership with Club Colors, Inc. to offer a wide selection of customized, high-quality, Augustana-branded products and apparel for alumni and discerning fans.
Sioux Falls Senior Wins Covenant Award for Excellence
Joe Coppock, a senior from Sioux Falls, is the recipient of the Augustana Covenant Award for Excellence. Coppock has pursued a double major—chemistry (ACS) and biology—and will graduate cum laude on May 24.
KSFY: Augustana Senior Art Show
It's an event that features the 14 graduating seniors in the Augie art department. At the show, you will find everything from classic or traditional styles of work to more contemporary styles.


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Caster Semenya may return to international women's competition immediately, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) announced. The 19-year-old South African middle-distance champion has been sidelined for 11 months during complex gender verification testing following her 800-meter victory at the World championships last August.
"I am thrilled to enter the global athletics arena once again, and look forward to competing with all the disputes behind me," [Semenya] said.The International Association of Athletics Federations confirmed that Semenya, who won gold in the 800m at the World Championships in Berlin last summer, will be eligible to compete against other female athletes. She could target the Commonwealth Games in Delhi in October as her first opportunity to win another major senior medal."The process initiated in 2009 in the case of Caster Semenya has now been completed," the IAAF said. "The IAAF accepts the conclusion of a panel of medical experts that she can compete with immediate effect. Please note that the medical details of the case remain confidential and the IAAF will make no further comment on the matter.
There has been rampant speculation as to what the "process" might have entailed. South Africa's Sport24 quotes a high-ranking coach who says Athletics South Africa (ASA) confirmed that Semenya has undergone hormonal treatment.
Testing results were leaked last summer that revealed Semenya is intersexed with internal testes and no uterus or ovaries. Several South African sports officials, who were dismissed, were aware of Semenya's medical condition but did not tell her. Semenya was allowed to keep her gold medal.
Best of luck to Caster. Here's looking to another gold medal.
You May Have Missed ...
SA Athletics Chief Admits Lying About Tests
Semenya In Trauma Counseling After Tests Leaked
Semenya Withdraws from Race After Intersex Reports
SA Sprinter Caster Semenya Gets Makeover
"Elevated Testosterone" Levels in Caster Semenya
Gender Testing Ordered for Gold Medalist Semenya
Report: Semenya Intersex, Internal Testes, No Ovaries


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A Luxe Indian Wedding at Oheka Castle in Huntington, New York
A stunning castle set the scene for Rekha Mahale (35 and a pediatrician) and Mihir Patel's (33 and a corporate bond trader) storybook spring celebration. "I didn't think a fairy-tale wedding was possible unless we wed somewhere in Europe," Rekha says of her search for the perfect venue that could accommodate 250 guests. "When we found Oheka Castle, which is so close to New York City, it almost seemed too perfect." Prior to the start of the ceremony, Mihir made his grand entrance, or baraat, in a vintage Rolls-Royce to the sound of Indian dhol drummers. "Our parents immigrated here 50 years ago, so it was important for us to have both Indian and American cultures represented at our wedding," Rekha says of the colorful affair. After digging into a coconut buttercream cake, guests took home gift bags filled with personalized swag, including monogrammed glasses and decorative elephant place cards—a symbol of good luck in Indian culture. "It's nice to visit our friends' homes and actually see them using our favors," Rekha says.
Oheka Castle
Elegant Affairs
Artistic Affairs
DJ Raj Entertainment


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August 15th was National Acadian Day.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper said yesterday that "The Acadian people endured early hardships with great resolve and courage to emerge a proud and determined community that continues to make significant contributions to Canada, in every area of endeavour. Their customs, traditions and way of life have become a distinctive part of Canada's social fabric".
They have just finished the Acadian Festival and Cyr Family Reunion http://www.acadianfestival.com/
Read about the Congress in 2014 The Acadian World Congress http://www.acadian.org/congres5.html
Acadian Arts & Crafts in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia http://www.yarmouthandacadianshores.com/
They have just had the festival The Acadian Festival of Caraquet http://festivalacadien.ca/en


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[assembly: WebResource("ExtenderControls.GridViewExtender.GridViewExtender.js", "text/javascript")] [assembly: ScriptResource("ExtenderControls.GridViewExtender.js", "ExtenderControls.GridViewExtender", "ExtenderControls.Resource")]
Let's get started by creating the basic shell of the GridViewExtender class.
The ExtenderControl class is part of the System.Web.UI namespace and implements IScriptControl. One of the namespaces we are using for the class is the ComponentModel namespace. This provides the definitions of some needed attributes for our control. We will need an attribute that designates which type of control we are wanting to extend and we also need to let Visual Studio know how to display the tag that is created when we drag the control from the toolbox into the designer. The TargetControl and ToolboxData attributes perform these functions for us and are added just before the class declaration.
GetScriptReference does just what it sounds like, it provides a reference to the javascript file. Since we're creating a control library this will provide a reference to the assembly that the javascript is in.
The GetScriptReference method does the work of loading the javascript file. The work of creating the the our GridViewExtender class properties to their corresponding javascript properties and events handlers is left up to the GetScriptDescriptors method. Before we get to that, let's go ahead and create the class property we'll use to set the css class for the highlighted rows.
Ok, so here we have a private field, "_hoverCssClass", and it's accessor property, "HoverCssClass". This single property is all we're going to need to get a simple gridview extender working.
That completes the C# part for the control. The finished class should look something like this:
Now on to the javascript file. The javascript file for an ExtenderControl, and really any control that inherits from IScriptControl, follow a fairly specific format. The basic template for the javascript file involves registering the namespace, then initializing, configuring, and registering the class.
So let's create our hoverCssClass variable, this is done in the initializeBase function.
Now that the class variable is created we need to create some accessors for getting and setting its value. We'll define these just after the dispose function in the prototype definition.
Now that we have our hoverCssClass variable as well as a way to get and set its value, we just need a way to attach this value to each row of the GridView control. We do this in the initialize function of the prototype definition. Here we'll use some jquery code so that we only highlight the data rows, avoiding the header row and the pager row. Of course this means you will have to have jquery loaded on your site for this to work, but if you're not already using jquery then you really need to look into it!
So, finally, our completed javascript file should look like:
After adding the control to your toolbox, just drag it onto your .aspx file, set the targetControlID property and the HoverCssClass, and instant gridview row highlighting.
<cc1:GridViewExtender ID="GridView1_GridViewExtender" runat="server" HoverCssClass="hover" TargetControlID="GridView1"> </cc1:GridViewExtender>


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Another spring season is here and we just got our plants in the ground….
On the top deck, we planted Persian cucumbers (that climb up the arched trellis), thyme, oregano, parsley, basil, mint, green onion and cilantro (from seed).
On the bottom two decks, we planted tomatoes (6 varietals!), zucchini and sunflowers (from seed).
All of our transplants and seeds, purchased at SLOAT, are locally sourced and non-GMO. As you can see from the photos, we are still getting free "organic" irrigation from the sky.
When it's all said and done (soil amendment, transplants, seeds, irrigation, etc), I estimate the cost of growing food at home exceeds the cost of buying it at the store.
Having said that, there is a certain satisfaction in growing your own food, knowing where it comes from, how it is grown and it's a great lesson and fun experience for our children.
If you have ever considered growing food at home but have yet to try it, I would recommend planting a DIY starter kit in a small area of your backyard to get some experience. I saw a product called SeedSheet on a recent episode of SHARK TANK, which I thought was a brilliantly easy way to start your own garden.
Happy planting!
#Homegrown #Truthology #HJID