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AP Fact Check: insurance premiums would RISE under ObamaCare
Et Tu, Brute?
One expects to get news about what big government programs like ObamaCare would do from, say, the Heritage Foundation. But the Associated Press? Yes, the AP, that othewise reliable bastion of cover for liberals and/or Democrats alike.
But here we are, with the AP putting out a report on their own study today which verfies what conservatives have said: that American health insurance premiums will go UP as a result of Obamacare.
Heck, even Democrat Senator Dick Durbin admitted as much last week, (see video below)...
But now we have even more "bi-partisan" verification, via the AP:
WASHINGTON — Buyers, beware: President Barack Obama says his health care overhaul will lower premiums by double digits, but check the fine print.
Premiums are likely to keep going up even if the health care bill passes, experts say. If cost controls work as advertised, annual increases would level off with time. But don't look for a rollback. Instead, the main reason premiums would be more affordable is that new government tax credits would help cover the cost for millions of people. ...
"There's no question premiums are still going to keep going up," said Larry Levitt of the Kaiser Family Foundation, a research clearinghouse on the health care system. "There are pieces of reform that will hopefully keep them from going up as fast. But it would be miraculous if premiums actually went down relative to where they are today."
Of course this doesn't even take into consideration that there will likely be fewer insurance companies to get insurance from in the future, as many go out of business as a result of having the government dictate an unworkable business model that doesn't allow them to take pre-existing conditions into account.


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We had a most memorable tour of Alaska in July 2012. This forum does not get much traffic on Fodors, which is otherwise our favourite travel website. So we had to rely on other travel sites for assistance. We relied on no guide books (save for the Milepost). This was a dream trip for many years, and one that we will cherish for a very long time. Only fair that we post a Trip Report, describing how the trip went, for possible use for other travelers.
First, a bit about ourselves. We are a couple living in India, in our 50's, avid travelers who like to take two annual vacations in different parts of the world. Have been about quite a bit, including several times in the US, but never to Alaska. We were arriving in Alaska after spending about 5 days in New York City with our kids who are working in the US. Had been really looking forward to this trip for many months.
Our broad itinerary was as follows :
Anchorage – 1 night, Seward – 2 nights, Matanuska – 1 night, Talkeetna – 1 night, Denali – 3 nights, and Fairbanks – 2 nights. Here follows a Trip Report, possibly posted in a few installments (as it will get very long to go in one shot !).
Day 1 : July 24th (Anchorage): We had spent the night at the Grand Hyatt NYC in downtown Manhattan. Got up at 4am, and were off in a taxi by 5:15am for EWR airport. Checked into Air Alaska, had some breakfast at the airport, and departed on time at 7:25am for Seattle. We managed to get a fair bit of sleep on the 6 hour flight, reaching Seattle at 10:25am local time. A light lunch at airport, and off to Anchorage at 12:05pm. This sector had a very nice and friendly crew. Had light snacks and sodas on the flight, and reached Anchorage on time at 2:40pm Alaska time.
Took a taxi from Anchorage airport to our B&B, the Wildflower Inn, which was close to downtown, at the corner of I-Street and 13th Avenue. It turned out to be a lovely B&B, with a warm and friendly host in Larry. He showed us around the property, and we settled in our Wild Iris room. It was a spacious room with a big bathroom, and well decorated. We quickly set off to Avis Car Rentals on 5th Av & B-Street, where we had to pick up our car rental. We had booked a full sized car, and got a Toyota Camry. Used our Northern Light Coupon book to knock off one day's rental price. While the car was being washed, we went for an early dinner at the Glacier Brewhouse nearby (recommended by our B&B host). Turned out to be a very nice place – popular and bustling with patrons. We had good pizzas with garlic mashed potatoes, and excellent dark Alaskan beer.
We picked up our car, drove back to the B&B, and set off walking on the Coastal Trail (via the Chesterfield Trail near the lake). We had a nice brisk walk on the Coastal Trail. It was overcast, but no sign of rain. Nice views of the coastline. Emerged in the down town area, near 5th Avenue. Walked back to Wildflower Inn, and went to bed. It had been a long day for us, starting at 4am Eastern time in NYC, and we were tired.
Day 2 : July 25th (Seward): We awoke at 6am to a beautiful day, bright sunny and clear. Got ready and reported for breakfast at 7:30am. We were in for a surprise – a sumptuous breakfast of Finnish pancakes, cereals, fruits, juices etc. Larry played his role as a host to perfection. We finally loaded our luggage into the car, said goodbye, and drove off to Seward by 8:15am.
We knew that a picturesque journey awaited us on the Seward highway, and it certainly did not disappoint. We stopped at too many places to gape at the views and click photos, including Beluga Point, many many turnouts on the Turnagain Arm, and finally at Canyon Creek. One of the best drives in my lifetime, reminding us repeatedly of the fabulous drive in New Zealand from Queenstown to Glenorchy. We were in no particular hurry to reach Seward, and would stop whenever the scenery beckoned us. Some construction delays just before Seward, and we were at Seward by 12:15pm. We detoured towards Exit Glacier area first, stopping at Seavey's Iditarod to book their 1:45pm tour.
We had an excellent crepe lunch at Le Barn Appetit nearby, with warm and talkative hosts. Then returned to Seavey's to catch their tour. It was an excellent tour of 90 minutes, during which we learned so much about the Iditarod race, the preparations, the protective attire of the dogs etc. Visited the kennels and picked up the young puppies. Finally, a 30-minute cart ride pulled by 16 dogs ! The dogs were raring to be selected and just could not wait to start pulling the cart. It was overall a very enjoyable tour, and we would highly recommend it. The Seavey family has raced the Iditarod for 3 generations, and won it twice, including in 2012.
We then drove to the Exit Glacier carpark, and did a self-hike along the well marked trails. First to the Glacier Viewpoint, and then to the Glacier Edge. The whole round trip took just about an hour, and was mildly strenuous but very doable. Thoroughly enjoyable. We were back by about 4:45pm, and drove off to the Sealife Center in downtown Seward. Used our 2-for-1 coupon of NL book to buy tickets, and spent a worthwhile hour inside. It was a fantastic aquarium with excellent exhibits. Loved the touch pools, where you could feel the sea urchins and other strange sea creatures. Their balcony has super views of the Resurrection Bay.
Then we drove to Lowell Point, and sat on a bench admiring the views of the Bay. It was a lively place, full of campers with their RVs. We returned to downtown Seward, and dined at the Apollo restaurant on 4th Avenue. Had Turkish dolmas which were delicious, with some dark beer. Finally, past 8pm, we drove to our B&B on Bear Drive : the Bear's Den. The host Richard came over and settled us in. What a place ! It was lovely beyond description, with a huge suite containing two queen beds, a large sitting area with sofas, TV etc, and a comfortable kitchen and bath. It had a large balcony with excellent views. The place was very tastefully decorated and very well stocked. It was well past 10pm by the time we retired to bed.
Trip Report 2012 : 11 wonderful days in Alaska
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Day 3 : July 26th (Seward) : We awoke at 7am to find that our good luck with the weather was continuing. It was sunny and clear, although there was some fog overhang on the ground. The B&B was well stocked with breakfast provisions, and we were off by 9am. We left our car at the B&B all day, and preferred to walk to the Small Boat Harbor. We were booked on the Major Marines Kenai Fjord cruise of 7.5 hrs, starting at 10am. We had booked this with a NL 2-for-1 coupon, and we handed over the coupon at the check-in counter and picked up our boarding cards. As we boarded the vessel, we liked the arrangements. Two levels of covered inside seating, with large glass windows. But of course the best views were out on the open deck in the front of the boat, where we spent a lot of our time.
As we moved out of the Seward harbor, we immediately spotted an otter lazily swimming on its back, and very soon thereafter were some humpback whales quite close by. Lots of porpoise sightings. The surroundings were very pretty, and the overhanging low clouds and fog added to the mystique of the landscape. There was an excellent Ranger on board, who provided good narration of all sightings. The bartender mixed up some delicious Bloody Mary's, and we were having a great time.
We soon crossed the Chiswell Islands, where we saw a huge number of nesting birds. Tons of puffins. Bunch of sea lions lounging on the rocks. The islands themselves were very pretty, with unusual shapes. As we left the islands behind, and sailed into the Gulf of Alaska, we came across a large pod of orca whales (about 7-8 of them), frolicking about near our vessel. Great photo ops. The fog had completely cleared by now, and the views were excellent.
We had booked for the lunch on board. We had opted for the vegetarian meal, which was lasagna with salad, bread, bean rice, and sodas/coffee, followed by excellent deserts. Meanwhile, the vessel moved to the Holgate glacier, where it stopped for 20 minutes. Could see a lot of calving activity, every 3-4 minutes. Then off to the Aialik glacier, where we were fortunate to see similar glacier calving. Then the vessel started its return journey, and we came across more humpback whales and porpoise. Lovely to see the humpbacks take deep dives to the bottom, with their trademark tail above the water as they disappear ! Then we came across an unusual sighting of two humpbacks, who were flapping their pectoral fins wildly in the water; this went on for almost 30 minutes, which the Ranger described as being uncommon.
We returned to the Seward harbor by 5:45pm, after an awesome 7.5 hr trip. We then walked on 4th Avenue all the way to Sealife Center, and did some souvenir shopping in the shops nearby. Then boarded a free shuttle bus back to the harbor. Had a great beer at Chinooks (overlooking the waterfront), followed by super burritos at Railway Cantina across the street. Walked back to the B&B by 9pm and retired to bed.
Day 4: July 27th (Whittier & Matanuska) : Woke up again at 7am, and feasted once again on an excellent breakfast. Telephoned our hosts to say goodbye, loaded our stuff in the car, and drove off towards Whittier by 9am. This Bear's Den B&B had been one of the best B&B that we had ever stayed in, and we would highly recommend it to anyone.
On the way to Whittier, we stopped at the Trail Lake overlook about 32 miles out of Seward, and then at Skoogum Glacier viewpoint about 80 miles from Seward. Then took the turnoff towards Whittier. The next 11 miles of driving towards Whittier was also pretty, and we stopped for photos more than once. We reached the tunnel by 11:15am, and caught the 11:30am opening. We parked at Whittier and checked into the Major Marines office for the Blackstone Glacier cruise, once again using the 2-for-1 NL coupon.
The vessel sailed at 12:45pm. It was a much smaller boat than the one on Kenai fjords the previous day, and was only 30% full. So we could spread out wherever we wanted on the vessel. As for the weather, what can we say about our good luck – it was the best day ever so far; lovely and sunny, with not even a hint of cloud in the sky. As the vessel set out, we had our lunch on board, which was the same fare as the previous day. The Bloody Mary was even better ! Prince William Sounds was superb. Never seen anything so beautiful in my life. We were completely surrounded by snow clad mountains and glaciers, and turquoise blue calm waters of the PWS. With the crystal clear weather, this was pure Heaven on earth !
We went first to the Beloit glacier, and then to the Blackstone glacier. Both were quite near each other. Both were very wide and quite a spectacular sight. We negotiated a lot of pack ice to come close to each glacier. Although the vessel halted for 20 minutes at each glacier, we were not witness to any calving activity today. However, the glaciers were extremely pretty, with lots of waterfalls of the glacial melts. Nice to see groups of kayakers everywhere. If Kenai fjords was about wildlife, the PWS cruise was just about natural beauty. Very different cruise, and even though our cruises were on consecutive days, it did not feel repetitive.
We returned to the harbor by 5:15pm, retrieved our car, and caught the 6pm tunnel opening out of Whittier. We had a long drive ahead, all the way to Matanuska glacier area, and we avoided any further photo stops. Crossed Anchorage just after 7pm, and were on the Glenn Highway. About 40 miles out, we stopped near Palmer to fuel up, and to stock up on some food supplies. Then continued driving on the Glenn highway, which turned very pretty after Palmer. We were forced to make repeated stops at various overlooks of the Matanuska river. The drive itself was fabulous, up and down mountain roads, with super scenery. People rave about the Seward highway, but I found the Glenn highway just as pretty (if not more !).
We finally reached our nesting point for the night : Homestead Cabins, near the Matanuska glacier, about 98 miles out of Anchorage. It was 10pm, and we had told our hosts we would be late. We were booked in a large log cabin in the wilderness, comprising of two bedrooms, a large sitting and dining area, and a bath which had washer/dryer too. Everything hand-crafted by the host family. In the middle of very beautiful wooded area, with no cell phone coverage or wi-fi !
We did our laundry, cooked some dinner, ate showered and retired to bed by midnight ! Should have stayed here for 2 nights, as it seemed such a waste to be leaving next morning. -
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Day 5 : July 28th (Matanuska & Talkeetna) : Got up at our usual 7am timing, cooked breakfast and loaded up again in the car. Host Sandy lived a short walk away, and we went over to say goodbye. The views from her garden were to die for – best so far in Alaska. We left at 9am, and reached MICA guides within 5 minutes. We were booked on their 9:30am Ice-fall trek. Our guide was Clare from Colorado. There was another Indian family in our group, and we were fitted out with hiking boots and crampons.
We all then departed in a vehicle towards the Matanuska glacier toe. It was another beautiful day, bright and sunny, with no hint of any cloud (I am not making this up, about the good weather !). As the vehicle started descending towards the glacier, superb panoramic views unfolded before our eyes. We reached the glacier toe by 10:30am, and started our glacial trek. The experience was adventurous and exhilarating as we crossed small streams of melt water, and came nearer the "moulon" ice-tunnels, the beautiful "seracs" that rose from the glacier, and the crevasses that we could see from a distance. Filled our water bottles with fresh glacial melt water. We clicked a huge number of photos, and had a great time on the ice for over 2 hours. Weather was perfect – it was mildly chilly near the glacier, but nothing very uncomfortable. We did not realize how time just flew by. Not at all strenuous.
All good things have to come to an end, and we finally had to return to our "base camp", dress down from our hiking boots, and set off. It had definitely been one of the high points of our trip. We drove to Grand View Café about 7 miles away, and had lunch. Then we retraced our steps on the Glenn Highway, heading back towards Palmer. Enjoyed driving on the Glenn highway, and just before Palmer, we detoured towards the Independence Mine. We drove the paved portion of the Hatcher Pass Road, paid the $ 5 parking fee at the carpark area near the Visitor Center, and got off. The drive on Hatcher Pass Road had been pristine, with lovely green mountains on both sides.
At the Independence Mine, we did a self-guided tour of their Assay building, the Water Tunnel etc. We were more interested in the scenery than the mine, and we soaked up the views all round. Then we stopped at the Hatcher Pass Lodge for a coffee (what a lovely place !). Then we retraced our steps on the Hatcher Pass Road, turning on the Wasilla Fishhook Road (another lovely drive), until we joined with the Parks Highway. Then we drove non-stop till we reached Talkeetna, at about 8:15pm. Went straight to the small "downtown" area, and had dinner at the Twister Creek restaurant. It was a popular place, and there were long wait lines. We had veg burgers, twisted fries, Thai curry, and superb Chuli Stout beer.
It was almost 10pm when we reached our Talkeetna Chalet B&B. Our room was really tiny. The toilet was not ensuite, but across the hall (did not know this before). Anyway, we were really tired after another long day, and crashed out immediately.
Day 6: July 29th (Talkeetna & Denali) : Woke up at 7am to find no hot water in the toilet. Went up to locate our hosts; they were already aware of the hot water problem in our bath. They said our water heater had just blown up, and that it would take time to fix, and they were helpless. All other rooms were occupied, and we could use another toilet only when some other guest left. I could not believe this. They even offered to make our stay free, but that was no solution to the problem.
As we finished our other chores, the hostess came and refunded our 50% deposit. There was nothing we could do but wait. Shortly thereafter, the guest in one neighboring room departed for the day. The hostess has their bath tidied up, and we were allowed to use it for our shower. When we went up for breakfast, we saw that the hosts were genuinely sorry, were trying to make amends, and we had just been plain unlucky. They were nice people. It did not feel right to have stayed here for free, so we insisted that she take back the 50% deposit, as even a 50% discount was adequate compensation for our woes. She relented with some persuasion, and we felt less guilty. We loaded up again in the car, and were off again to downtown Talkeetna. The souvenir shops had started to open up, and we looked around every one of them. Best place to do shopping in Alaska.
Then we headed off to Talkeetna airport, as we had a Mckinley flightseeing tour booked at 11am with Talkeetna Aero Services (also with a 2-for 1 NL coupon). There were some clouds in the sky and we were worried. We were told that the clouds were at a low level, and the mountain was in good view above the clouds, so we would be fine. There were a total of 6 passengers on the flight including us. This turned out to be the best experience on this entire Alaska trip, and we cannot praise it enough. As we rose above the clouds, the sky was crystal clear. Both the north and south peaks of the mountain were in very clear view. We circled the mountain for a full hour. The pilot was excellent. He would tip the aircraft on one side to give the best view, then bring the same view on the other side and tip that side over. His commentary was very good, and we had an amazing flightseeing experience.
Everything that he wanted to show us on the mountain was very clearly visible. A small cloud which clung to one peak also disappeared after some time, and we could not believe our luck.
After the flight, we again drove to downtown Talkeetna – if you can call one and a half bocks of shops to be much of a downtown ! Very cute town. Today was Sunday, and there was an artists' craft market on display. We did a lot of souvenir shopping, both at the craft market and at the souvenir shops. Then went to the Flying Squirrel Bakery for lunch. Loved this café, where we had quiche, spinach pastries and wonderful potato salad. After lunch, it was time to head towards Denali, and we reached the park entrance just after 5pm.
We first drove to the Visitor Center and saw their lovely film – "Heartbeats of Denali". Then to the WAC where we collected our pre-booked shuttle tickets for the next 2 days. Then we drove to the Savage River, parked our car, and undertook the River Loop trail of about 2 km total. It was a nice walk, and the weather was clear. We did not sight any wildlife, but really enjoyed the walk. After the walk, we exited the park and headed towards Healy. Stopped at the 49th State Brewery for dinner, with some excellent self-brewed dark beers. Fueled up gas, bought some grocery provisions, and drove off into Healy.
We were booked at Aspenhaus, which had been highly recommended on travel sites. We had made a habit of checking in at our B&Bs around 10pm, and we maintained our record. Ann Marie was a wonderful hostess, and came over to chat with us and settle us in. It was well past 11pm when we hit the bed. -
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Day 7: July 30th (Denali) : Ann Marie had provided some baked items for breakfast, and we had provisions for the rest. We set off by 8:15am, stopping at the Subway at Glitter Gulch to pack some sandwiches for lunch. We boarded our 9:15am shuttle bus to Wonder Lake, on which we were booked. It was an overcast day, with dense low clouds and strong winds. However, fortunately there was no sign of any rain.
The bus driver Wayne gave excellent commentary. We stopped at the Teklanika Rest stop, and then at Polychrome for photo ops. I immediately fell in love with the Polychrome area, as it was so pretty. Further stops at Toklat River and at Eielson. Were blessed with multiple sightings of grizzly bears and caribou, including some grizzly sightings very near the bus. We ate our lunch at Eielson, and decided against proceeding to Wonder lake that day, in view of the overcast sky. There did not appear to be any chance of seeing the mountain that day, and we had another day in hand. At Eielson, we saw the film on McKinley climbers, and took the loop trail hike below the Visitors Center, including the spur road which projects off it. We then veered off on to the George Creek trail, which took us a great distance down before we turned back and returned.
We boarded a bus back at 3:15pm, and crossed the Polychrome area at about 4:30pm. We got off the bus here, walked the short loop trail here, and proceeded to walk on the park road. It was very windy, and we flagged another shuttle bus and headed out of the park, reaching the WAC at 7:15pm. Had several other grizzly and caribou sightings on the way out, including a caribou walking alongside our bus on the park road. It had been a nice day, but could have been better if the weather had been clearer.
We went to Prospector's Pizza for dinner, where there was a 30 minute wait for seating. Well worth it, as the pizza and the beer was great. Had Juneau brewed King Stout beer ! Then back to Aspenhaus for much deserved sleep and rest.
Day 8 : July 31st (Denali) : The itinerary for today was the same as yesterday. We again had 9:15am shuttle bus tickets to Wonder Lake. Once again, we had breakfast at our B&B, packed sandwiches at Subway, and boarded the shuttle bus into the park. The driver today was Mike, whose commentary was just as good. The day was much clearer than yesterday, and as we entered the park, the peak of McKinley came in full view. So did a grizzly bear, just 10 meters away from our bus. As the bus paused and the cameras clicked, the bear remained oblivious of our presence, and went about its berry-eating task unperturbed.
When we reached Eielson, it was a lot warmer than yesterday, non-windy and clear. But the mountain had attracted a bunch of clouds, and was not visible. Ate our lunch, and decided to chance it and proceed to Wonder Lake. We kept hoping that the clouds around the mountain would suddenly clear up, but alas that was not to be. Yes, we had seen it in all its glory during our flightseeing, but it would have been nice to have seen it at Eielson or at Wonder Lake. We had to contend ourselves with the beautiful views of Wonder Lake itself, minus the mountain reflection ! On the return journey, we repeated the loop trail hike at Eielson, which appeared very different today in the clear weather. As we headed back towards the park entrance, we saw several animals, including a Dall sheep. At Sable Pass, the bus driver paused to allow us to get off and click our cameras. The light was particularly good here, and the views made for great photos.
We reached the WAC by 8:15pm, and today we drove a few miles south to 229 Parks for dinner. It was a somewhat classy restaurant, with great organic food. Had a veg phylo, along with spring rolls. Very fresh ingredients, and excellent cooking. Returned to our B&B before 10pm for a change, and went to bed. -
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Day 9: Aug 1st (Fairbanks) : Today was a light day in our schedule, and we decided to take things a little easy. Got up much later, and did our laundry. A leisurely breakfast and packing, and it was 11:30am before we said goodbye to our hostess and hit the road to Fairbanks. Short drive, and we were there by 1:30pm. Drove to the Morris Thompson Cultural Center downtown, which also doubles as a Visitors Center. We saw their interesting exhibits, and picked up maps. Then we took a stroll beside the Chena river, leading to the Golden Heart plaza. Popped in to Gambardella's for lunch on 2nd Avenue.
After a good pasta lunch, we decided to do a lot of souvenir shopping in the many shops nearby. We particularly liked the Arctic Travelers' shop, where we splurged a lot. Then we drove to the University of Alaska (UAF) campus, and parked near the Engineering building. We had included Fairbanks in our itinerary because our daughter had studied at the UAF for 3 years, completing her Masters in engineering. We could never make it to Alaska during her stay here, and we wanted to visit Fairbanks and UAF to "share" her experience. There were two families from India here whom we knew, both teaching at UAF, and one of them was hosting us for our stay here. Our host was still in his office on campus, and he came out and met us. He then took us for a short tour of the engineering department where our daughter had studied, and drove us around the UAF campus, which was much larger and more impressive than what I had expected.
We then drove to his home, caught up with old times with his family over dinner, and retired to bed in his palatial mansion set in beautiful surroundings.
Day 10: Aug 2nd (Fairbanks) : Today was our sightseeing day at Fairbanks. We got ready, had breakfasts with our hosts, and left by 8:15am for the Discovery Riverboat tour. We were booked to do this tour in the morning, and the Gold Dredge No. 8 tour in the afternoon. A few months earlier, an advertisement had appeared in the Fairbanks newspaper, offering a 40% discount on both these tours, for a limited period. Our host had brought it to our attention then, and we had made the booking.
The Riverboat Discovery boarding point had a huge and worthwhile gift shop, where we browsed around, and boarded our vessel at 9am. It was a lovely sternwheeler, with 3 levels of seating, both enclosed inside seating as well as covered outside decks. It was a lovely clear sunny day, and quite warm in Fairbanks. So we sat on one of the outside decks, as the boat cruised down the Chena river, and the lovely houses came in view on both sides, which made our mouths drool. The cruise was very relaxing and enjoyable.
The boat stopped alongside the house of late Susan Butcher (4 times Iditarod winner), and her husband was out in their garden, giving a demo of dogsleds and mushing activity, similar to what we had seen at Seavey's in Seward. Then the boat moved on to the junction of the Chena river with the Tanana river, and then retraced its path back. On the return leg it stopped at a mock native Indian village, where we all got down. There were a series of demos about their attire, their way of living in the wilderness, animal furs etc etc. It was all very touristy stuff, but we did not mind; actually quite enjoyable. Then we re-boarded the vessel, and it was a gentle cruise back to the boarding docks by noon. Fun thing to do in Fairbanks.
We drove to Pike's Landing nearby for lunch. A lovely place by the waterfront. We had a wonderful lunch in picturesque surroundings, and drove out of town to Gold Dredge No. 8 mine. Here we boarded an antique train into the old mine. There were explanations of how gold mining was done in the olden days, and then a demo of gold panning. Then we were all given our "poke bags" and pans, and encouraged to pan for gold. We all ended up with a few specks of gold ! Then the painful touristy stuff followed. Get your gold appraised for value; everyone was told that they had about $ 10-30 worth of gold ! Then we were encouraged to pay an additional amount to have our gold framed, which we resisted. A forced stop of 90 minutes in their gift shop, before the train ferried us back to our car park. We found the tour average in quality, and quite avoidable.
We then drove back to the UAF campus and had a leisurely stroll around. We went to the bookstore to pick up some memorabilia, and visited the apartment buildings where our daughter had lived in. Finally we drove to the Museum of North and went in. The museum was extremely good and interesting, and we enjoyed the film on the Aurora Borealis.
We then drove back to our host's house. The other family from India that we knew was to join us all for dinner. It was a lovely evening with old friends, catching up on each others' lives. A lovely Indian meal, then for some final packing before we retired to bed.
Day 11: Aug 3rd (Drive to Anchorage) : We had breakfast with our host family in the morning, loaded everything in the car, and were off by 8:15am. Today was to be a long day of driving back to Anchorage, where we were to board a late night flight to return to India. We had decided on taking the longer route back, i.e. via the Richardson and Glenn Highways, which were supposed to be more scenic, rather than the Parks Hwy.
First stop was at Santa's House at North Pole. Again, a very touristy thing, but wife seemed to love it ! Next stop was at the Knotty shop, which had lovely hand crafted items of Alaska, where we shopped a bit. The drive got interesting after Delta Junction, especially near the Donnelly Dome area and the Rainbow Ridge area. Lots of scenic snow clad mountains, glaciers and lakes everywhere, and lots of photo ops along the way. And absolutely zero traffic on the Richardson highway – you could travel for miles without seeing another vehicle.
So far we had not seen even a drop of rain on this trip ! Today, there were a few minor sprinkles, and we could finally operate our windshield wiper for 4 sweeps in all ! We finally reached Glenallen at about 3:30pm and had a late lunch at the Caribou restaurant. Then the lovely drive on the Glenn highway started, and I thoroughly enjoyed the portion from milepost 135 to milepost 40. Too bad all this was coming to an end.
Reached Anchorage at 7:45pm, and went to meet some family friends there on the city outskirts. Had a lovely dinner, and set off for the airport after 9pm. At the airport, we returned the rental car, checked into Air Alaska, and started our long long journey back home. It was to be Anchorage – Seattle, Seattle – JFK, JFK – London and London – Mumbai for us, taking a total of 36 hours of travel !
I doubt if we will ever make it to Alaska again, but the memories will certainly last this lifetime. Without doubt it was the most beautiful place we have ever visited, and the beauty became all the more spectacular with the excellent weather that we enjoyed throughout. This concludes my Trip Report. I know it was a bit too long, but I wanted a permanent record of this wonderful trip, which I could myself re-read later and cherish the moments on this trip. -
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Very nice report, makes me want to visit Alaska even more! Thank you for taking the time to write it.
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Awesome trip report! I'm hoping to go to Alaska within the next few years and this sounds like a great itinerary.
I noticed that you stayed in B&Bs. Was that just a matter of personal preference or is that mostly what's available?
Your ice-trek sounded really interesting. How physically fit would you need to be to do that? I don't get a lot of exercise but I have no problem walking a few hours a day on vacation. Also, do they climb up high? I'm a bit fearful of heights.
Thanks for posting this! -
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What a wonderful and enthusiastic report. I am glad the weather was good while you were here. Many are surprised by the warm interior temperatures, but the river boat ride must have been delightful, as was your time with your host in Fairbanks.
Hatcher Pass is a fun recreational and scenic area, about an hour north from the Palmer/Wasilla area.
Seward is a treasure trove of activities, from hiking, to boat tours, to fishing for salmon and halibut. Some of the B&B's there are truly outstanding.
I would pass up a noisy motel for a B&B with home cooked local food, and a personal touch and local history, any day. -
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Pat_in_Mich : you ask about B&B . Well cost wise they are about the same as hotels. We just find hotels a bit impersonal. Generally,and I believe specially so in Alaska, B&Bs offer superior comfort, a homely touch, and more spacious rooms than a hotel. At many of the smaller places, hotels are anyway not available. So we opted for B&Bs and were not disappointed.
The ice trek on the glacier was not at all strenuous, and can be done easily by anyone from 5 yrs - 75 yrs of age with no experience in hiking; good physical fitness is not at all necessary, and there are no heights to be negotiated. It is all on level ground.
jetset1, thanks for your appreciation. Yes, the river cruise in Fairbanks was enjoyable, as was Independence Mine at Hatcher Pass, and all activities at Seward. Fishing was not on our agenda, since we are vegetarians ! -
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I see, but even vegetarians could buy a $10 trophy ticket, catch a whopper, and pocket a cool 30k or so, depending on the derby.
Let no one claim I didn't give you tourists a chance for riches! ha ha. $$$$$$$$$ -
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Hope you'll see this since it's several months since your trip. Thanks for this great report on your vacation in Alaska.
Except for having no friends at UAF, I would copy your trip exactly!! I remember following some of your footsteps in Salzburg a few years ago and that worked out very well.
How long does it take to recover after 36 hours of travel back to India?
Glad to know you are both well and continue to travel. Wishing you a happy and healthy New Year!
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This sounds like a wonderful trip! Did you happen to look for Denali from Fairbanks? When we were there it was amazingly visible.
Thanks for the report. -
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Just found your trip report and greatly enjoyed it. Have printed it out and hope to talk my DH into something similar soon. Your report will be very helpful. Thanks.
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The report was not too long at all! I hope you are checking on your thread occasionally as I want to let you know how much I enjoyed following your trip. Alaska is on my wish list, and my brother and nephew live there, so I enjoy reading about it.
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Sorry, I was not checking on my Trip Report the last few weeks, and missed noting the comments that were posted during the last 2 weeks.
k2ok, it's great to know that someone like you benefited from my comments about Salzburg, and remembered it ! It makes writing these reports so worthwhile. BTW, we recovered from our long flight to India surprisingly fast - not much of jet lag - maybe a day or two of disturbed sleep, not much ! Thanks for your good wishes.
emalloy, we did look out for Denali from Fairbanks, but it was socked out ! Too bad !
spirobulldog, irishswampyankee, and Toucan2 : thanks for your appreciation and kind words. -
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Excellent report. I am glad you enjoyed the riverboat ride in Fairbanks and the U of A museum. Those were two of our favorite activities on our trip. I am always puzzled that so many on various forums say to skip Fairbanks.
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We were in Alaska a few weeks after you. I agree, such a wonderful place! Thank you for sharing. I really enjoyed reading
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This is an awesome trip report. I am also planning to travel Alaska for 9 days. After reading your trip report, I am making some, no lots of changed to my trip report. I am from Delhi, but now both me and my husband are in California. Really liek the way you described everything.
Thanks! -
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Thanks Maggie. Hope you have a wonderful trip to Alaska. It is the closest place to Heaven on this planet !
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Nice report, am using your info for my trip . I had a question, did you pay in full for the 2 For 1 MM Wildlife tour and then get reimbursed on the day of the cruise ? I don't see a choice on their site for entering any coupon code for the 2nd free ticket...Thanks !
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I thoroughly enjoyed reading your TR. I'm in the beginning stages of planning an Alaskan trip from Pennsylvania. Bookmarked this page. Thanks again.
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Tigerphotog, I think you have to book over telephone to avail of the 2-for-1 discount ; atleast that is what we did. If you mention that you will be using the coupon, you will be charged for only 1 ticket. The ticket will mention that the booking has been done based on the coupon, which you will have to produce at the time of boarding (else you pay then for the extra ticket). I don't think you can pay for 2 tickets and get a refund for 1 later. So I suggest you call them up and do a telephonic booking.
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incognitochic, first of all, I love your screen name ! Secondly, thanks for writing in your appreciation ! Have a great trip.
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I want to jump in and add my compliments to a well-written and informative trip report. I'm in the beginning stages of planning a trip to Alaska and your report really helped. I am impressed by your energy; you certainly did not waste your valuable travel time.
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Thanks for the kudos joangk. Hope you have as lovely an Alaskan vacation as we had ! If I can be of any help, please let me know.
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Awesome trip report. Please educate us if we need have any Canadian clearance in any of these places. We are both on a U.S. visa only and need to make sure we have a Canadian one too in advance. Thanks.
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This itinerary is all in Alaska.
Many cruises start in Vancouver, which is in Canada. IF you are considering a cruise, you would need the Canadian visa -
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Hi 50states, as the post just after your query mentions, you need not get a Canadian visa if you are flying in and out of Alaska. We flew in from New York, and flew back to New York, and hence a Canadian visa was not required. However, if you are transiting through Canada, then it would be different.
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Thanks LindainOhio & indiancouple. I have one more question pertaining to Fairbanks....We are planning a 9 day trip (8 full days). I see that you did a 11 day trip...Is it ok to trade off Fairbanks to compensate for the 2 day shortage? Please advice.
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50states, yes I would leave out Fairbanks if I had limited time. I would not consider Fairbanks a high tourist priority in Alaska. Our reason for visiting Fairbanks was to see the University where our daughter had studied for 3 years, and to meet some friends. Since you have only 8-9 days, you should definitely leave out Fairbanks and concentrate on the more touristy spots. What time of the year are you going ? How are you reaching Alaska - by cruise or by air ?
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@indiancouple - Thanks for the advice! We (Indian couple) have scheduled our trip from June 7-Jun16 2013...We will arrive in Anchorage by air on the evening of 7th and go from there. Also, can you let us know which coupon book is good for the trip (I see you used NL coupon).
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Wonderful summary of your trip! We are planning our trip to Alaska in August. I can't wait. Our itinerary is still in the works, but very similar to yours, except for Fairbanks. A few questions, if you don't mind:
-You seemed happy with the N/L discount book. Did you purchase it online or when you arrived in AK? Did most businesses accept it easily?
-You did quite a few organized tours - Denali bus, flight seeing, glacier viewing by boat. How far in advance did you book them? I'm concerned about booking in advance and then not having good visibility.
-I'm going to try to book at Bears Den B&B. You had a good experience according to your report?
Thank you, Nancy -
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50states, there are 2 coupon books available. You can google them, and check out the exact discounts offered on each (by scrolling online). Both books are good, it is just a matter of which one suits your itinerary better. We found the Norther Lights coupon book much better for what we wanted to do.
Scrappr2, yes we did purchase the NL coupon book online in advance. There was absolutely no problem whatsoever in any merchant accepting or honoring the discounts listed. In fact they all welcomed it.
We booked most tours a few months in advance. This is essential especially for tours in which you want to use the coupon book. They offer limited seats on each tour for coupon holders, and if these have sold out, they may not offer you the discounted tour on that date. So I highly recommend booking them well in advance.
As for visibility, the only tour that could get affected by visibility issues is the McKinley flightseeing. If the weather is really bad, I think the flight does not go and you get a refund (you can check this while booking). The boat cruises out of Seward or Whittier do not get affected by visibility, and I doubt if bad visibility will really affect the trip. As far as Denali is concerned, if you are there, I am sure you will want to go inside the park irrespective of the weather (what else will you do sitting out anyway ?). Also, seeing Mt McKinley inside Denali may or may not happen (we did not see it on both days inside), but the Denali experience is not really affected anyway.
Although Alaskan weather is always a matter of chance, I do not think it takes away from the joys of viewing. So go ahead and plan, and make all your bookings. Even if the weather is iffy on some days, you will enjoy them anyway. Do not leave these bookings till the end, as they will get sold out (unless you are traveling in a lean season period).
Please definitely book the Bears Den B&B at Seward. It is simply awesome. Best B&B we have ever stayed in by a mile ! -
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Great report.
We are planning to visit Alaska next summer (2014) and are trying to decide if doing the trip on our own versus a cruise would be more cost effective and more importantly, more enjoyable.
Did you feel you were rushed? Would you have opted for more time in any area? Also curious on the number of miles you put on the rental car. -
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Sorry for the delayed response, as I was travelling. If we had to do it all over again, I doubt if we would change anything. I think we just spent the right amount of time everywhere.
Cannot compare with a cruise, as we did not opt for it, and we are not big fans of travelling on a ship with a large number of people. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves the way we did it.
Sorry, cannot remember the miles we clocked on the car, but I think it was about 1500 miles or so (going through my notes). But you can check the distances on the net and calculate it in a few minutes, depending upon your itinerary. -
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Thank you so much indiancouple for the trip report! It was our reference guide for planning and we had a very good and memorable time in Alaska However, we felt Whittier cruise was repetitive with less wildlife and almost same views...although the place has some great views near the tunnel.
@mariene_ - we clocked somewhere between 1700-2000 miles on our car....I highly recommend traveling by car as you will get to see varying landscapes of Alaska...You can do a 8 hr cruise in Seward which is definitely one of the highlights of the trip
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Last edited by stevencho; 02-14-2012 at 12:38 AM.
I understand what you were trying to do with the lines on the front, but I think they look a bit odd. Other than that, excellent work!
I only started liking the lines on the front once you colored them.
Oops I accidentally left a layer on with the lines. That might explain why it looks weird on top.
To be honest now that you added more characters it looks to crowded. Maybe cut down on a few. Or is it just me?
Other than that its perfect.
Lost half the layers in a corrupted save somehow... I will try to implement your suggestions but I'm getting ready to just call it good.


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This Instructable combines Arduino programming, some simple electronics, carving with hand and power tools, mechanical control and a bit of woodwork. Apart from the Arduino and a few components it is mostly made from reclaimed materials.
I am rather pleased with it.
What's in this instructable
I have included the main circuit and controlling Arduino programme (the sketch), and issues that arose, but I have also tried as much detail of the other (physical) making processes involved, so hopefully some of that stuff may be useful if you are building something in a similar way.
This project includes:
- the Arduino details, such as type of board, file type, the full Arduino sketch that controls the head, etc., and acknowledgement of included code such as the servo.h library.
- how the eyeballs and sockets were developed using prototypes, their construction from roll-on deodorants and the mechanism that controls them
- how the wooden head was developed using crude rapid-prototyping in polystyrene laminate sheets and how they were then used as templates to transfer the 3-d design to MDF boards and create the final casing
- the carving methods using hand and domestic power tools
- some discussion of the use of domestic materials such as garden wire and recycled objects to save on costs
- testing various LEDs for eyeball lamps and overcoming the power limitations of Arduino outputs using a simple transistor amplifier circuit
- more detailed discussion of the Arduino code and how it works to manipulate and translate analog inputs to the positioning servos and eyeball lamps
- details of the construction of the wooden base unit and controls, some simple boxmaking and woodturning without a lathe
- how a plastic power supply was converted into a wooden supply
- handy tips that might be worth considering in similar projects
There is also a lot of further information about this and other things on my blog: "Making weird stuff"
Step 1: Arduino topics covered in this Instructable (inc. the Arduino Sketch)
I have tried to include the nitty-gritty issues that arose in practice. This project addressed two main Arduino challenges:
- Servo control - how to use Arduino scripts to convert a physical input into something that will mechanically control the position of a physical object in 2 dimensions (eyeballs!)
- A simple lamp circuit - how to get Arduino to convert the signal from an input and make it turn a light on and adjust its brightness (dimming)
The servo scripting is based upon 'Servo.h - interrupt-driven Servo library for Arduino using 16 bit timers- Version 2'
by Michael Margolis. Respect!
The complete Arduino sketch is included here for reference. It went through 10 versions to get to this.
There is nothing very sophisticated. The script comments explain what it's doing.
In later steps in this Instructable, I have added extra expanded comments about the code within the context of specific steps (e.g. for the servo controls for the eyeballs)
This is an ".ino" sketch. This is a later Arduino format. It started out as a ".pde"
Lamp head - arduino sketch to control a remote control reading lamp head
Andrew Lewis January 2012
This code is in the public domain.
The servo scripting is based upon Servo.h - Interrupt driven Servo library for Arduino using 16 bit timers- Version 2 by Michael Margolis. Respect!
// http://code.google.com/p/arduino/source/browse/trunk/libraries/Servo/Servo.h?r=1088
Version 10
This version uses three potentiometers (pots) as inputs wired across the voltage rails (varying from 0 to 5V).
The variable output voltage of each seperately controlling 2 servos and 2 LEDs (operating as a pair)
The voltage is read by the arduino by 3 analog inputs (1 per pot)
The outputs from the Arduino to the servos are from digital pins, which use pulse modulation to control the voltage output.
The power supply is a standard 5V, 2A unit. It needs to have this amount of current to power the servos and high-power LEDs
// set Lamp pin numbers
const int lampPin = 5; // declares the ANALOG INPUT pin number for signal - IN
const int ledPinEyes = 3; // the number of the LED OUTPUT pin for the eyeball LEDs - OUT
int valLamp=0; // variable to read analog input from switch to set off lights
#include <Servo.h> // includes standard arduino servo class
int delay_val = 5; // assigns the servo increment lag (delay between applying values) for both servos
Servo myservo; // create servo object to control a servo
const int potPin1 = 0; // declares which analog pin is used to connect the analogue variable voltage output from potentiometer 1 (controls servo 1)
int valPot1; // variable to read the value from the analog pin for servo 1
Servo myservo2; // create second servo object to control a second servo
const int potPin2 = 1; // declares which analog pin is used to connect the analogue variable voltage output from potentiometer 2 (controls servo 2)
int valPot2; // variable to read the value from the analog pin for servo 2
void setup() {
//pinMode (lampPin,INPUT); // sets up digital pin as an input for ON/OFF LED input signal (for eyes)
pinMode (ledPinEyes, OUTPUT);// this is the output that turns the lamps on or off
// attach servos
myservo.attach(5); // attaches the servo on pin 5 to the servo object
myservo2.attach(9); // attaches second servo to pin 9 to second servo object
void loop(){
lampCheck();// check lamp INPUT and adjust brightness
servoCheck(); // check for servo inputs and adjust position accordingly
void servoCheck() {
// servo controls @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
// Servo 1 -------------
valPot1 = analogRead(potPin1); // reads the value of the potentiometer (value between 0 and 1023)
// digitalWrite (ledPinJoystick,HIGH);
valPot1 = map(valPot1, 50, 1000, 0, 179); // scale it to use it with the servo (value between 0 and 180)
myservo.write(valPot1); // sets the servo position according to the scaled value
// delay(delay_val);
// ------------ servo 1 end
// servo 2 ------------------------
valPot2 = analogRead(potPin2); // reads the value of the potentiometer (value between 0 and 1023)
// digitalWrite (ledPinJoystick,HIGH);
valPot2 = map(valPot2, 50, 1000, 179, 0); // scale it to use it with the servo (value between 0 and 180)
myservo2.write(valPot2); // sets the servo position according to the scaled value
// delay(delay_val);
// ------------ servo 2 end
// end servo controls @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ */
// lamp functions @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ */
void lampCheck() {
valLamp = map(valLamp, 20, 1023, 0, 255); // scale it to use it with the servo (value between 0 and 180)
valLamp = constrain (valLamp, 0,255);
analogWrite (ledPinEyes,valLamp);
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What is your concern about the power adapter being dangerous?
your right to think about the risks when hacking kit, but I think we're safe here.
I'm pretty relaxed that the wood won't catch fire. The plug is oak, and that wouldn't easily catch from a lit match, let alone a spark.
The sawdust on the cable might appear more risky - sawdust can smoulder and catch if it gets a decent spark on it. However, here it is encased in latex, and is not actually exposed to the air, nor any spark diectly, so it is protected.
Effectively, the sawdust is sealed off from the risk of any spark and latex doesn't catch fire from a spark.
So, I think there is no more risk of this catching from a spark than the original plastic (which actually can burn but doesn't catch from a spark).
Having said all that, you are right to check and glad you liked it. I had such a laugh making it!
It doesn't look like you're using a switching step-down converter to power your LED, so the voltage across the LED should be around 3.3v rather than 5v in your power/current calculations.
you state resistance = voltage/power, should be resistance = voltage/current
then your units are wrong in the next line. Should be 5V/0.6A not 5V/0.6V.
Thanks for spotting this.
You are undoubtedly right about the LED. I have to say, it's 25 years since I studied electronics. I have also not accounted for the small voltage drop across an LED either.
I have to say, I generally go for as close as I can to accurate, and if it works, just get happy like a dog with a bone. Not very scientific I concede :)
Anyway, thanks again for this. I have amended the unit typo accordingly
Also, specifically when dealing with LED's (especially power,) you should run each of them with a series resistor, rather than one for the pair. Running well below their rated current it doesn't matter so much, but if you wanted to push these, you'd be best off using a power transistor or FET with the emitter/source tied to ground, then two resistors (about 2 ohms each) to the collector/drain, then connect one LED cathode to each resistor and the anodes to +5v. The LED's would need sizeable heatsinks, and you'd need to use 2+ watt resistors in this configuration though.
It seems to be perfect for this...
I toyed with doing thinner layers, but didn't have the laser cutting kit, so it would have had to have been by hand. I also like the carving process so I deliberately only used the layer sample as a general aide/guide, not a definitive copy. I like the idea that in theory I could make anothercopy from the original templates, but it would be subtly different, because it is then hand finished.
I'm off now to patch them for that. It's really great. It deserves credit
Thanks for sending the link
glad it was helpful. I struggled with this in a few prototypes, so if you don't have too, then that's a bonus.
The make of deodorant probably doesn't matter too much. i suspect they are all made by one big factory with different labels. I tried several (just because I had a few I had collected over time) and they all worked the same. I suspect, just cheapest supermarket own brand is fine. Just use two of the same make, so they match.
Photos are here:
some are already in Step 8 of this instructable but there are a few extra ones. For the wire and servo, think of an old steam train wheel with the drive rod, but in reverse - It needs to transfer the rotary action to up/down:
Hope it all goes well
The eyes would go well in something like this http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&feature=endscreen&v=Q0lecWPcMU4
Maybe next time.
I guess that's a fair point! Sorry to dissapoint. This was a first attempt, so I deliberately tried not to push it to far.
Since completing this one, I have had been pondering mouth controls - some sort of sound to motion controls which move the lips etc based on sound. I've done it with Flash before, but not physically.
. For outputs, it would need the basic mouth shapes to be worked out and then made possible with controls, and for the inputs, I was wondering if it could be driven by the audio out from any iPod/mp3 player, etc. It would be funny to have a head that detected the voice part of a song, and "sang along". It would, of course need to do so in a slightly bizarre and unsettling way :)
I need to lie down and rest before I start that one though!
Yes I did. The chips tasted even better than they look - yum
and, yes - that is me with long hair sticking out of half a very large bird. It was the nineties though, not seventies
A shot of how that was set up showing retro-tech (even in the 1990s, this was way old kit!!)
it's an alien invasion.
nice build!
personally, I have one eye which is almost blind and the other compensates it by being close to perfect. If I would only be able to see with my bad eye, I could still defy a talking head with glowing eyes (and a talking mouth), which is always fun to watch, so I would buy it ;-)
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2013 Scholarship Winners Named
The NATA Foundation is pleased to announce its 2013 Scholarship Recipients. These bright young students will be recognized at the Pinky Newell Scholarship and Student Leadership Breakfast on Thursday, June 27 in Las Vegas, NV. Congratulations to all of this year's winners!
About the NATA Foundation
The National Athletic Trainers' Association Research & Education Foundation (NATA Foundation) is the only 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the profession of athletic training through research and education. Established in 1991, the NATA Foundation advances its mission by awarding undergraduate and graduate scholarships and by funding grants that support research in health care.
The NATA Foundation is a proud member of the Athletic Training Strategic Alliance.


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SiddhartaAngelin Preljocaj
Started by
, Mar 27 2010 03:25 PM
5 replies to this topic
Posted 27 March 2010 - 03:25 PM
Here is a link to a television report about Angelin Preljocaj's new work, Siddharta, for the Paris Opera Modern Dance Ensemble Ballet.
Posted 28 March 2010 - 01:26 AM
The new ballet by Angelin Preljocaj on Bruno Mantovani commissioned score premiered in Opéra Bastille March 18. Its a very interesting ballet, quite beautiful on the life of Siddharta Gautama. Pure Preljocaj but with some classical references. There are some really brilliant male pas de deux and staging is quite stunning. It will be aired live on Mezzo channel April 9.
Posted 22 May 2010 - 05:17 PM
Superlative dancers as always, but the piece doesn't intrigue me at all, neither the movement nor the music. Has an immediately pretentious atmosphere, I found, but then I couldn't even stand the Herman Hesse book. They choose some unusual figures, real and mythical, at POB, I thought 'Caligula' a more original idea (whether or not successful) than Siddhartha. Maybe Graham could have done it, but I doubt she would have cared to.
Posted 18 January 2011 - 08:15 PM
No American release date yet, but the DVD will be on the British market on January 29.
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HI My company Echelon Magazine is hosting our Pride in Business Expo next weekend and we are offering discount booths in our Career Fair. Check it out at http://www.prideinbusinessexpo.com Michael
Added by Cristina Lewis on May 23, 2013
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Owning pets is fun and rewarding, but it is important to be aware of how much maintaining a pet will cost you each month and how much you can realistically afford to spend. Learn how to manage the costs.
My vet suggested I give my 17 year old cat an antibiotic 5 days a month for the rest of her life to treat gingivitis. She is otherwise in great health. Have you heard of this and what antibiotic would you use?
My vet has determined that a chipped back tooth will have to be pulled because it will continue to abcess. It there no other way to save that tooth that is not too costly? He is scheduled for surgery on Wed Am so please give me a little insight. Thank…
when brushing my cockerspanial/beagle teeth I noticed black spots on his gum line and his breath has been quite offensive lately. Is this some type of infection or something more serious?
does a dog really need to brush its teeth? how does a dog's oral hygiene depend on toothbrushes, dental-wash, or breath-mints?


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Red Wings forward Todd Bertuzzi has played in just seven games this season, with two goals and an assist. (David Guralnick/Detroit News)
Detroit — The season is speeding right past forward Todd Bertuzzi.
And there's no way he can stop it — or slow it down — with an aching back showing no signs of improving.
Bertuzzi, 37, just hopes there's a chance he'll be able to play at some point.
"Unfortunately, it takes time," Bertuzzi said as the Red Wings went through an optional practice. "I don't have an answer. I wish I did.
"When you have a knee injury, you know how long it'll take. (With a back injury), no clue."
Bertuzzi was hurt Feb. 7, but he was having issues with his back a few games before that.
"That play kind of tweaked it, or whatever," he said. "But by the third period I had lost everything in my right leg. There was no strength. After the game it got worse and by the time I got home I was done."
Bertuzzi, who went to the hospital after that game and was hospitalized the next four days, has been limited to seven games and has three points (two goals).
Helm suffers setback
Forward Darren Helm was hoping to put his back issues behind, but …
Helm was on the ice for approximately 10 minutes before suffering a "little bit of a setback."
"It didn't feel too good traveling (on the recent western Canadian trip) and sitting down a lot," said Helm, who has a torn ligament near his disc and has been limited to one game. "I don't know if that was the cause. We were pushing it pretty hard on the ice."
Helm had been skating with the team the last week and was hoping to play Wednesday against the Wild.
"That's a pipe dream," coach Mike Babcock said. "He just has to stay positive."
With 19 games left in the season, and the Red Wings fighting to earn a playoff spot, time is beginning to fade.
"Does it get to the point where he can't help us?" Babcock said. "Not the Helmer I know. The Helmer I know can help us any time."
Said Helm: "When you have a compressed schedule, you're losing a lot of games. You look and see only a handful of games left and where you're going, it's tough not to force yourself to try to get back earlier."
Quincey update
Doctors confirmed multiple fractures of the cheekbone for defenseman Kyle Quincey , who took a deflected puck off his face last week against the Oilers.
General manager Ken Holland expects Quincey out about 4-6 weeks.
"There's been no decision on whether surgery is necessary, we'll know about surgery in a week," Holland said.


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IATP has long recognized that many of the drivers of the destructive industrial food system are not based on a sound rationale, but instead on a series of corporate marketing myths. IATP Food and Community Fellow Raj Patel, for example, has recently been taking on the false assumptions that contributed to the Green Revolution and the revitalized interest in a new Green Revolution.
Another common assumption is that we have a moral obligation to "feed the world," and that we should not only embrace chemically intensive, industrial food production and distribution systems for profit, but also to fulfill a moral obligation to feed hungry people in other parts of the world. It's an extremely effective frame. Surely you're not willing to ignore the plight of the hungry in order to selfishly provide local wildlife habitat or eat local and organic foods?
IATP has researched the relationship between U.S. grain exports and hunger, an important component of this myth. A recent report by IATP Senior Associate Julia Olmstead reveals that dramatic increases in U.S. grain production and export has not alleviated global hunger.
This confirms the conclusions of the exhaustive review conducted for the International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science and Technology for Development (IAASTD), which found that inadequate income and the inability of countries facing hunger to develop their own sustainable food systems are important drivers to hunger that are often ignored in the drive...


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A company named bēm wireless is making wireless music three times as interesting. The company just started selling its Speaker Trio, a set of three wireless speakers that can put music just about anywhere you want it.
The Speaker Trio is just what it sounds like: a package of three speakers. However, each of these are wireless, which means you can put one on the deck, one in the bedroom, and even one in the bathroom. Spread them out in and around the house, up to 120 feet.
From there, you can stream music from any Bluetooth-capable smartphone, tablet or other device.
The one downer is that wherever you decide to place those speakers won't be a permanent home. Each one has an internal battery that will need to be recharged on the included base. According to the company, you should get about 6 hours of playback on a full charge.
Other features include an aux-in and aux-out, as well as options to get the speakers in black or white.
The Speaker Trio is available now on the bēm wireless website. The MSRP for the entire set is $299.99.
Follow Electronic House on Facebook and Twitter.
The woven acoustic screen is now available in a retractable, masking version.
Centralized home control and automation plus boatload of A/V options including dropdown theater screen revitalize 12K-square-foot home.
Should TV manufacturers offer dumbed-down TVs that focus on image quality rather than apps?
Say hello to home control in this high-tech palace, circa 2006.


text: 500 pts Weird Trivia <Friends with Benefits A woman in Thailand found a dead what in her sausage and decided to make it into a lucky shrine? Click here to see the answer. Sign in to Participate Category: Trivia Ends: Thursday March 21 at 10:59PM CDT Visit our sponsor: Click here to see the answer. Send to a friend! Print this page Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Pin it! Reddit This! More Ways To Get and Use Points Crime TriviaWeird TriviaPolitical TriviaPolitical TriviaScience TriviaCar Trivia


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Sears Canada reports earnings loss falling sales in first quarter
Falling sales at struggling Sears Canada Inc. led to a net loss in the first quarter. The department store chain, which has seen seven straight years of falling revenue, said it lost $31.2-million or 31 per share in the period ended May 4 compared with net earnings of $93.1-million or (91) in the same period last year. In last year's quarter the company booked a pre-tax gain of ...
How Infrastructure Investment Brought America's Game To Santa Clara California
John Maynard Keynes has been validated once again. Through a wise investment in infrastructure, and in forward growth, the city of Santa Clara, California has turned what once was a center for dried fruit into the high tech heart of the United States. And through this investment in the infrastructure needed for growth, the city has not only gained a status once considered only for major cities, ...
Sharks Top Kings In Game 4 2-1 San Jose Ties Series
Members of the San Jose Sharks salute the crowd after a victory against the Los Angeles Kings in Game Four of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs at HP Pavilion on May 21, 2013 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Don Smith/NHLI via Getty ...
Super Bowl 50 Local leaders get ready for Bay Areas biggest party ever
BOSTON -- The Bay Area began a 33-month countdown to its biggest party ever on Tuesday after NFL owners chose the 49ers' new Santa Clara stadium to host the league's most-anticipated Super Bowl. The NFL's golden anniversary title game is coming to the Golden State in 2016, and now the planning begins: After a day of jubilation, local leaders have a Super Bowl-sized to-do list that ...
BART to decide on relaxed rules for bikes on trains
The BART board appears ready to drop its ban on bringing bicycles on trains during rush hour after a survey found few rider complaints during a one-week test of relaxed rules in March.The board is expected to vote on the issue Thursday. However, two BART directors said they want to lift the ban only conditionally and decide in five months whether to make the change permanent.The concern is ...
49.2°F Clear
Winds: From the NNW at 4.6 MPH Gusting to 4.6 MPH
Movie Review
Strange Days
What would it be like if you could record your experiences? What if you could literally replay segments of your life over and over again, never letting them fade away? Or, what would it be like if you could live other people's experiences? To maintain status as a decent citizen, but know what it feels like to rob a bank or engage in an orgy without having to actually do it, and risk paying ... ...
On Facebook
Inside the secret Symantec building that keeps websites safe
Paul Meijer, senior director of operations for Symantec's identity and authentication business, stands next to rows of locked servers in the highly secure data center at Symantec's secretive facility in Mountain View, Calif. on Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2012. Symantec provides security, storage and systems management solutions for small businesses to global organizations. (Gary Reyes/ ...
Oakland Artist Does Big Things For Bay Area Art World
Karen Cusolito grew up in New England. She says moving to California almost twenty years ago was like finally taking off a tight, constricting sweater. Karen, an artist, loved the wide-open expanses of the ...
NHL San Jose 2 Los Angeles 1
Antti Niemi was solid in goal for the San Jose Sharks, who evened their Western Conference semifinals series with Los Angeles with a 2-1 win in Game 4 Tuesday. Niemi had 22 saves in the win, ...
Celebrate National Mediterranean Diet Month at Bay Area spots like Dio Deka
Mediterranean food . Another benefit to eating this type of cuisine, besides the fact that it's delicious? Many folks believe it is extremely good for your health! A Mediterranean diet can be rich in fish, olive oil, yogurt, fruit, and vegetables. Research studies have shown that a healthy Mediterranean Diet can reduce the risk of diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and ...
Warriors Honored By San Francisco Mayor Curry Given Key To City
Klay Thompson #11 of the Golden State Warriors celebrates a three-point shot with Stephen Curry #30 and Jarrett Jack #2 against the San Antonio Spurs during Game Two of the Western Conference Semifinals of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at AT&T Center on May 8, 2013 in San Antonio. (Ronald Martinez/Getty ...
Making headlines
Nothing will ever completely replace playing the game I love, however I feel like I'm starting a new adventure and I'm genuinely excited about what lies ahead. I'm fortunate to have been given many opportunities throughout my career and now I feel it's my time to give back.
David Beckham
The world's best known footballer was speaking after formally announcing his retirement.
Hotel Review
Turtle Bay Resort
This 4 star resort is located on the top of Oahu on the North Shore, and is one of Hawaii's ...
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If I had dropped one more game I would've gotten 7th seed and played the Celtics... who I match up better against
. |
Son of a b*tch... I play thePistons in the playoffs. GOOD NIGHT SWEET POSTSEASON. Good job, good effort. I'm done.
Hornets Report Sim League presents...
2005-06 Season Record: 51-31 - 3rd Seed of Eastern Conference
Starting 5: C Tyson Chandler | PF Brian Grant | SF Corliss Williamson | SG Mike Miller | PG Gilbert Arenas
Key Reserves: Scot Pollard | Channing Frye | James Thomas | John Salmons | Tony Allen | Milt Palacio
If I had dropped one more game I would've gotten 7th seed and played the Celtics... who I match up better against
Congrats to all the playoff teams! But how will the free agency go? When will we know who is being resigned & not?
2013-1014 is the season the Pelicans fanbase grows!!!!
Not till the end of the season at least
Mod over at reddit.com/r/NOLAPelicans
HR Sim League Boston Celtics - 2002 World Champions
PG: Sam Cassell, Steve Blake
SG: Grant Hill, Michael Dickerson
SF: Josh Childress, Jamie Feick
PF: Chris Webber, Jamie Feick, Jason Maxiell
C: Shaquille O'Neal, John Amaechi
I actually tried resting my players.. even put Marion, Finley and Stockton on IR. But I guess it was considered tanking... :/ Kinda wanted to see how my backups would fare in extensive minutes
HR Sim League - Washington Wizards
Season 1 - Eastern Conference Finals
Season 2 - NBA Champions
Season 3 - 1st Round
Season 4 - Eastern Conference Semifinals
Season 5 - Eastern Conference Semifinals
Hey some one should give me advice on what to do with my lineup vs. the Kings, I lost by one at home recently to them, got swept since trading for Ray Allen, I've limped into the playoffs AND Amaechi is hurt. If anyone wants to give me advice on what to do to give my team a fighting chance let me know.
HR SIM LEAGUE SEATTLE SUPERSONICS 2005-2006Eye ******* depth charts since year 2000
Pg: Chris Paul Sg: Ray Allen Sf: Adrian Griffin Pf: Dirk Nowitzki C: Soumaila Samake
Pg: Steve Nash Sg: Manu Ginobili Sf: Nicolas Batum Pf: Paul Millsap C: Tim Duncan
Waiting for this sim has been much harder than a expected. I'm dying here
i know right let me lose so i can start planning for the draft LOL
Im a little nervous about playing the CAVS in round 2. They seem to be a very good squad.
Quick tease. Two of the four series went to game 7.
made by sportzin.com
Can teams that are out of it start making trades now?
The finals will be over in 4 days.
2004-2005 Sim League World Champion Los Angeles Lakers
Man I wish Pierce didnt break his skull in the last game of the regular season.. really couldve used him against grant hill this series.
Your team did what mine couldn't. Win a game against the Spurs, muchless 4. Karl Malone is a monster.
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SOURCE: CanvasPaintings.com, LLC
Customers will now be able to view over 60 concentrated categories.
New York, NY (PRWEB) February 20, 2013
CanvasPaintings.com has now relaunched their ecommerce art gallery making it easier for customers to search for the right piece of art. Customers are now able to view over 60 categories in terms of type, size, color and artist. Along with such a wide selection of categories, their custom painting service is now in beta and to launch in the coming weeks.
Home decor fanatics are now able to select from 4 main categories that drill down to more precision topics.
Canvas Art Styles (18 different styles)
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Founded in 2007, CanvasPaintings.com has become a leader in offering oil paintings on canvas at affordable prices while offering one of the largest selections of custom artwork. Growth has continued at an incredible pace and looking for more improvements in their ecommerce store.
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For press and general inquiries please contact via email.
For the original version on PRWeb visit: http://www.prweb.com/releases/prweb2013/2/prweb10444974.htm


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Nicknamed for its original red drapes and rug, this room served as the working office of the Governor until the end of Grover Cleveland's administration in 1885. His successor, David Hill, then moved his private office into a nearby smaller room, leaving the Executive Chamber for ceremonial occasions, a function that still continues today.
Above - The Executive Chamber also known as the "Red Room".
The large desk in the Executive Chamber has been used by every Governor since 1881, with one slight addition made by Governor Thomas Dewey. The addition of steps to the back of the desk served as a platform for photo sessions. Using this platform at bill signing ceremonies, Dewey could elevate himself above the legislators. This room also contains a little known secret ... a hidden door.
When future U.S. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt became Governor in 1929, he suffered from polio and was confined to a wheelchair. He wanted a way to get from his car to his second floor office without using public elevators. Knowing the service elevator in the adjacent room could be used to reach various floors, all that was needed was a door to connect the two rooms. To preserve the finely paneled wainscoting, a door was cut in the paneled grooves. When it was closed, it blended perfectly with the paneled wall.
Above - A portrait of New York Governor Franklin Delano Roosevelt, hanging in the Hall of Governors.


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