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In a page right out of "Cinderella," a prince meets a beautiful commoner, falls in love, and decides to carry her off to his palace.
Only, instead of medieval France, it's Japan in 1959. Instead of a glass slipper, Haruko Endo has a tennis racket, with which she thoroughly trounces said prince on the court. And unfortunately, central casting forgot to send a fairy godmother, which is a shame, because Haruko really, really could have used one.
Based on the lives of the current empress and crown princess of Japan, The Commoner, the fourth novel by John Burnham Schwartz ("Reservation Road") taps into the trend of blurring the lines between fact and fiction to pen a melancholy meditation from the viewpoint of the first commoner ever to marry into Japan's royal family.
Haruko grew up the beloved only child of a wealthy sake manufacturer, whose money enabled his family to escape the fire that destroyed much of Tokyo during World War II and cushioned them from the lean years that followed Japan's defeat.
Educated at the elite Sacred Heart school, Haruko grows into an intelligent, introspective teen who loves art history and athletics.
Then, at a doubles tournament, Haruko catches the eye of the prince. Over the next few months, Haruko regularly beats the prince at tennis, and the two share a handful of dates off the court – sitting in a storeroom while tea bags are unloaded; dancing at a ball.
When the prince sends an emissary to Haruko's parents, her loving dad is horrified and begs the emissary to leave his family alone. Unfortunately, true love conquers all, and Haruko is soon hermetically sealed inside the ritualized, highly rarified world of the imperial palace, where she is subject to the whims of her mother-in-law, the empress, and her poisonous assistants.
"Every day, without fail, I entered a room too quickly, spoke too often or too loudly, waved my hands in a coarse fashion, scratched an itch, offered an opinion, bowed to an angle of less than 60 degrees before my parents-in-law, and so forth," Haruko remembers of her first months as a princess. "I was, at first, under the illusion that my mistakes would be viewed as temporary surface flaws, nicks and scratches easily healed. But as the weeks passed ... I was gradually disabused of my naivete and made to understand that in a world constituted entirely of surface, all flaws run deep."
After giving birth to a son, Haruko suffers a nervous breakdown, unable to speak for months. Some 30 years later, when her son falls in love with another commoner – this time a Harvard-educated woman with a career in the foreign ministry, Haruko finds herself torn between her son's hopes and the desire to help a young woman whose background reminds her so much of herself.
Instead of overwhelming a reader with the amount of research he must have done, Schwartz instead selects evocative details to paint finely wrought miniatures of the past.
The privations of World War II are summed up by a trip to Haruko's bakery, famous for its kasutera (a snack cake). "When the ovens were going at full strength, the entire neighborhood smelled like warm sponge cake. Outside the shop, the line of customers would start forming early and keep growing until day's end."
After the war made even powdered eggs a rarity, the bakery was forced to switch to whale-ham sandwiches.
"And it is hardly an exaggeration to say that the sound of air-raid sirens ... caused but minor distress compared with the fishy, metallic taste of whale ham on the tongue. The smell of freshly baked kasutera, which had sustained us as a people was suddenly gone ... and from that moment forward the street gave off the faint putrid whiff of a marine graveyard."
There are times when a reader wishes Schwartz would have gone into more detail. It's implied that Haruko is able to give her daughter – who as an adult makes the reverse journey from her mother, going from princess to commoner – a stable childhood, but we only get a glimpse of it.
And Haruko's childhood friend Miko, a runner who laughingly calls herself "a squid on a stick," is limited to brief appearances.
While "The Commoner" is a compassionate portrayal, the life it portrays is a stifled, unhappy one. And since Schwartz hues closely to the few facts known about the Empress Michiko, who met her husband on a tennis court and is rumored to have lost her voice for months during the 1960s, readers may have an uncomfortable feeling of eavesdropping where they clearly aren't wanted.
The question of the ethics of artistic appropriation is a complicated one, and one that all writers (and readers) need to sort out for themselves. The trend of mixing history with fiction can make for fascinating, intellectually rich reading, and Schwartz's delicately rendered novel is nowhere near Kitty Kelley or Andrew Morton territory.
"The Commoner" is more in line with Mark Helprin's "Freddy and Fredericka," which offered a through-the-looking-glass version of the lives of Prince Charles and Princess Diana – although Schwartz is far gentler with his alterna-royals. And certainly, writers strip mine the lives of their less-illustrious friends and relatives all the time – the general reader is just blissfully unaware.
But when the life being appropriated is still being lived, one is reminded of Joan Didion's unequivocal statement in "Slouching Towards Bethlehem": "That is one last thing to remember: writers are always selling somebody out."
• Yvonne Zipp regularly reviews fiction for the Monitor.


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It's water, water everywhere in Fermanagh. This is a county tailor-made for anglers, explorers or those who simply love messing about on boats
Fermanagh is a county defined by water – one-third of it is covered by this pristine liquid. But this lakelands region has plenty to explore on dry land too, from stately houses to Cuilcagh Mountain and the echoing chambers of the Marble Arch Caves UNESCO Global Geopark.
Fermanagh is home to Europe's longest network of waterways: 700km of rivers, canals and lakes that combine to make the perfect waterworld. You can fish (the lakes are world renowned for winter roach and pike). You can wake-board and water-ski. Or you can simply relax and soak it all up.
Lough Erne is the largest in this maze of lakes. It's a vast swelling in the River Erne that holds 154 islands – including Devenish Island, home to one of Northern Ireland's finest monastic sites – and is pinched in the middle by the bustling town of Enniskillen.
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Enniskillen splits the great lake in two, dividing it into Upper and Lower Lough Erne. It used to be the seat of Fermanagh's powerful chieftains, the Maguires, who kept their own private navy of 1,500 boats to patrol the expansive waters.
Their Enniskillen Castle was the perfect place from which to spot approaching troublemakers – though today it houses the Fermanagh County Museum and the regimental museum of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers.
More recent residents include literary greats, Oscar Wilde and Samuel Beckett, who attended Enniskillen's famous Portora Royal School. They weren't true Enniskilliners, however – for that honour, locals say you must be born "between the bridges" on the town's core island: the Inis Ceithleann from which it takes its name.
And don't miss the mile-long Main Street, a street that changes name six times as you walk!
Fermanagh is also home to Cuilcagh Mountain, a 665m peak which, on a clear day, offers views stretching from the Irish Sea to the Atlantic Ocean. Its distinctive shape – an abrupt plateau with flanks of steep cliffs – is the result of erosion in the limestone landscape, a geological wonderland and a Unesco-designated Geopark.
As well as hiking the hills, moors and forests above ground (not to mention the Palladian piles of Florence Court and Castle Coole), visitors can explore this unique geology underground with a tour of the Marble Arch Caves.
Beginning with a subterranean boat ride, and ending in vast caverns formed 650 million years back in time, the netherworld of chambers and passageways is the perfect way to get under Fermanagh's skin.
Via the water, naturally.
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Ever wonder how the future scientists and engineers of America spend their summers?
Chances are they're doing some major league computing, modeling, theorizing and experimenting like Iowa State's four Goldwater Scholars. In March, William Lindemann, Jacob Harry, Rachel Philiph and Thomas Knief received Goldwater Scholarships — the nation's premier undergraduate scholarship for science and engineering. And this summer, they're diving deep into the future in laboratories from Boise to Huntsville.
Here's the SparkNotes version of what Iowa State's best and brightest do over their summer vacations.
William Lindemann loves research so much he did it full time for six months while also taking courses on Electronic and Magnetic Properties of Metallic Materials and Kinetics and Phase Equilibria (among others). The senior in materials science engineering and mathematics from Champaign, Illinois, interned at the Department of Energy's Ames Laboratory studying organic photovoltaics and x-ray scattering (which he had already performed after his freshman year, using synchrotron radiation at the Argonne National Lab). Lindemann co-authored a paper published in the research journal Organic Electronics.
This summer, the young scientist is completing an NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates at the University of Minnesota because he wants exposure to theoretical materials science after all that experimental experience. He's working with a group that focuses on quantum mechanical modeling of solids in the deep earth. And that will help him better understand what's ahead in his chosen field for research and teaching — advanced ceramics.
Jacob Harry is our go-to undergraduate guy for deflecting asteroids. The past two years, the aerospace engineering senior from Clive has been flexing his computational blast modeling muscles in ISU's Asteroid Deflection Research Center. He worked on the design and modeling of the Hypervelocity Asteroid Intercept Vehicle, which was developed in cooperation with NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. Then, as part of a team, Harry developed a way to reduce the computational time of the blast modeling simulations without compromising their fidelity. He co-authored a paper about his research on detonations, which was presented at an American Astronautical Society Conference.
And that experience undoubtedly helped him land a nuclear propulsion internship at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, this summer. It's what you might call his dream job, because "when all is said and done," Harry is headed for a Ph.D. and research in advanced spacecraft propulsion systems. That's the technology that will take humans into deep space.
Rachel Philiph, Wildwood, Missouri, senior in materials science engineering, headed west to Boise, Idaho. She's an intern in the research and development department of Micron Technologies, helping further their advancements in semiconductor materials, devices and processes.
Last summer, Philiph completed a National Science Foundation (NSF) Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) in an uber academic setting: the Quantum Nanostructures and Nanofabrication Group in the Research Laboratory of Electronics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The lab focuses on "achieving single nanometer length-scale features on silicon substrates through processes such as electron beam lithography and block copolymer self assembly," Philiph said. This summer, she decided to apply her new nanofabrication know-how to the industry side of research.
After earning a Ph.D. in materials science, Philiph wants to conduct research on biological applications of polymers. Her dream career? Improving medical diagnostic devices. She's drawn to that niche of materials research because it integrates materials science, biology, electrical engineering and nanotechnology.
Thomas Knief may be staying close to home this summer, but he's working on something exotic. The physics senior from Cedar Falls is using computational density functional theory to study exotic ceramics at ISU with Scott Beckman, assistant professor of materials science and engineering. The research is right up his alley: Knief wants a career researching exotic materials for use in energy transmission and storage.
"I have a passion for the environment and am interested in issues such as global climate change," Knief said. "Exploring materials that can help produce cleaner and more efficient sources of energy is an active research field that I am excited to be a part of."
Knief, whose parents said he "was born asking questions," is already an alum of laboratory experiences in two of the nation's most prestigious research institutions — the University of Chicago and the Argonne National Laboratory. Next stop after ISU is a Ph.D. in condensed matter physics.


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Face it: you'll never be Master Chief from Halo. For one, he's a fictional character. But beyond that, you just don't have the constitution to be a Space Marine. But hey, you can still dress like one.
Ecko just released a limited edition ODST hoodie to coincide with the launch of Halo: OSDT. When fully zipped up, it'll make you look as threatening to hostile aliens as you're ever going to look. You can buy it now for $88.
For more gadget news, check out DVICE.com.
Copyright DVICE - DVICE


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connive at (something)
connive at (something)
To plot or conspire about something. What are you kids whispering about back there? You better not be conniving at something!
See also: connive
connive at something (with someone)and connive (at something) with someone
to scheme at something (with someone); to plot something (with someone). Are you conniving at something with Ronald? Are you and Ronald conniving with Tom at something I should know about? Stop conniving with people!
See also: connive


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Decreased Volume. Increased Miles
The U.S. Postal Service has experienced a significant decline in mail volume in recent years, yet its contracted surface transportation remains largely unchanged. While mail volume dropped almost 16 percent from fiscal year 2008 to 2010, the Postal Service contracted out around 1 percent more miles of highway transportation over the same period. During the same time, the Postal Service has had considerable success minimizing the number of labor hours employees spend on mail processing.
The following factors may have mitigated the effects on transportation from a volume drop:


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Food & Drink
Airline seat reclining sparks another skirmish
By Katia Hetter, CNN • Updated 29th August 2014
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Inching into another passenger's knee space has some fliers itching for a fight.
In the second serious airline legroom argument reported this week, a reportedly irate passenger caused a flight from Miami to Paris to divert to Boston on Wednesday.
Paris resident Edmund Alexandre, 60, was charged in U.S. federal court Thursday with interfering with an airline flight crew. Interfering with flight crew members is a violation of federal law and carries a sentence of up to 20 years in prison. (The passenger's name has also been spelled "Edmond" Alexandre in court documents.)
About two hours after American Airlines Flight 62 had departed Miami on Wednesday, Alexandre allegedly "began arguing with another passenger and became disruptive," according to a press statement from Carmen Ortiz, U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts. Alexandre was also charged under state law.
After a crew member asked him to calm down and walked away, "Alexandre allegedly began raising his voice again, followed the crew member towards the back of the plane, and grabbed the crew member's arm," according to Ortiz's statement.
At that time federal air marshals on the flight broke cover and subdued and restrained Alexandre, according to an FBI agent's affidavit. The flight was diverted to Boston Logan International Airport, where he was arrested.
Alexandre complained of high blood pressure and issues with diabetes, according to the affidavit, and was transferred to Massachusetts General Hospital.
It's been a tense week for passengers on both sides of the right-to-recline debate.
A United Airlines flight from Newark to Denver was diverted on August 24
after two passengers argued over one passenger's use of a "Knee Defender," a device that blocks reclining.
Why did "Knee Defender" cause in-flight fight? CNN's Jeanne Moos says recline at your own risk!
Should the Knee Defender be banned?
Water was thrown and the passengers, both 48, were removed from the flight in Chicago, according to a federal law enforcement source, speaking on background. The passengers were not arrested.
It seems at least one of the passengers was not completely satisfied with the extra space in the Economy Plus section where they were seated, which provides United passengers up to 5 inches of extra legroom compared with standard coach seats.
Aviation blogger Benet Wilson
is surprised there haven't been more incidents in the air as travelers face long security checkpoint lines at more crowded airports as well as less space and fewer amenities on planes.
"As airlines try and squeeze as many seats into economy as possible, that decreases seat pitch which can be uncomfortable for someone like me, who is 5'3"," wrote Wilson via email.
"But imagine being a foot taller squeezed into that same space. It doesn't help that the FAA doesn't have an official rule on using (seat blocking devices), instead deferring to passengers and airlines. So I feel the situation will get worse before it gets better."
The core problem is definitely the airlines packing too many seats too close together into a tight space, said veteran flight attendant Heather Poole, author of "Cruising Attitude: Tales of Crashpads, Crew Drama, and Crazy Passengers at 35,000 Feet."
"That said, this doesn't give anyone the right to act childish," Poole wrote via email. "To react in such a way that the crew feels the need to divert a flight to have a passenger removed is a really big deal."
In a disagreement where legroom tension does not appear to have been a factor, a couple of drunken women partied a little too hard on a Canadian flight bound for Cuba this week and found their plans of sunny, sandy beaches replaced with arrests and a court appearance.
The two women on Sunwing Airlines Flight 656 from Toronto to Varadero, Cuba,
apparently broke out their duty-free booze on Wednesday, lit up a cigarette in a passenger jet bathroom and got "into a physical altercation with each other," the airline said.
They also allegedly threatened to do something to the plane, which triggered Canadian military jet escorts and an immediate return trip home. A judge granted the two women bail on Thursday after they were charged with disturbing a flight.
The crew didn't actually believe the women could do any damage, "given their condition," Sunwing said, but procedure called for the captain to make a U-turn and head back to Toronto Pearson International Airport.
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For reasons that remain unclear, Elizabeth Banks' dogged pursuit of dramatic roles continues.
Banks is in talks to join Chris Pine in "Welcome to the People," reported Risky Business, as a pair of siblings who've never met.
"Welcome to the People," written by Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci and Jody Lambert, tells the story of a man who goes home for his estranged father's funeral, only to learn that he has an 30-year-old alcoholic sister and 12-year-old nephew, who's been enrolled in an anger management program after blowing up his school's swimming pool. More awkward still is the fact that his father's will calls for him to deliver $150,000 to the sister, money he decides to keep for himself. However, he can't resist the temptation to meet his new-found family members, but does so without revealing his relationship to them.
U.S. & World
Kurtzman and Orci, of course, are the duo that wrote the most recent "Star Trek," and "Welcome" will represent Kurtzman's directorial debut.
Pine can be seen Friday alongside Denzel Washington in "Unstoppable," about two men who must stop a runaway train loaded with tons of explosive chemicals, from destroying a Pennsylvania town. Banks' next film is "The Next Three Days," out Nov. 19, starring Russell Crowe as a man whose decides to break his wife out of jail after she's been convicted of murder.


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Charges Coming in Philly Building Collapse
A top Philadelphia official says the man who was allegedly high while operating demolition equipment when a downtown building collapsed will be charged in the deaths of the six people killed in the rubble.
Sean Benschop, who's also known as Kary Roberts, faces six counts of involuntary manslaughter, six counts of risking catastrophe and other charges.
Deputy Mayor Everett Gillison says police have raided Benschop's home but have not found him.
Authorities say the 42-year-old was using an excavator Wednesday when what was left of the four-story building gave way and fell on top of a neighboring Salvation Army store. Gillison says a toxicology report shows Benschop was high on marijuana that day.
Court records show Benschop has been arrested 11 times on charges including theft, assault, firearms violations and drug offenses.
(Copyright 2013 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)


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If you were expecting a wow moment during the opening of Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference on Monday, odds are that the litany of incremental changes to its hardware and software disappointed. No big surprises. No "one last thing" sort of announcements were in the offing.
But this year's developers conference also occurs at an unusual time for Apple. The company that brought the world smartphones and tablets is in the unfamiliar position of fighting the perception that Samsung and others are winning the technology race. And when the opportunity came to give voice to that frustration Monday, one Apple exec let it rip.
"Can't innovate anymore, my ass!," Apple Senior VP of Marketing Phil Schiller said to the delight of the 6,000 attendees.
Other executives on stage were less blunt. But the thrust of their respective presentations during the two hour keynote was directed toward the same goal: demonstrating the potency of Apple's design and engineering prowess. The session was packed with the usual blitz of product updates, statistical milestones, and technology teases for adoring fans. The show, held at San Francisco's Moscone Convention Center, sold out in 71 seconds.
Whether the totality of the announcements and the accompanying claims of awesomeness will do the trick is impossible to tell, especially on the heels of Google I/O. (Nothing about television and nothing about a so-called iWatch.) Wall Street's immediate reaction was to send the stock down nearly $3, but that could just as easily reverse on Tuesday.
Apple was on friendly ground and the frequent applause and clapping were guaranteed. The company covered a lot of ground, particularly with the first redesign of iOS since the iPhone's debut six years ago. The cynics might call it a face-lift with not a lot of new features, but it still was a significant -- and beautiful -- one. Users have increasingly clamored for fresh tweaks to the iOS interface and, as Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster pointed out in a note before the announcement, the risk of doing nothing was still greater "than the risk of disrupting the winning iOS formula." The iOS refresh also marked the first big update since Jony Ive was given authority over the operating system. Also, Apple used the event to roll out its much-anticipated streaming-music service, an important offering for the company's entertainment ambitions.
And Apple also offered something sweet for its computer users, with the new MacBook Air, as well as a peek at the coming Mac Pro.
The highlights from the first day at WWDC included the following:
- iOS 7: An iOS face-lift offered a new, cleaner design for the mobile operating system. CEO Tim Cook called it "the biggest change to iOS since the iPhone." Discounting Cook's penchant for hyperbole, let's stipulate that this indeed constitutes an elegant redesign, which appears flatter and cleaner than the earlier version. Apple will deliver iOS 7 immediately to developers; the rest of us will need to wait until sometime this fall when the company is expected to announce its latest iPhone.
- iTunes Radio: As we reported weeks ago, Apple has finally gotten into the streaming-music business, launching a new rival to the likes of Pandora and Spotify, among others. The potential here is enormous given Apple's 575 million iTunes accounts. And in an added incentive, any iTunes Match subscribers can use the service on an ad-free basis.
- MacBook Air: Updated with faster chips and -- here's the ace kicker -- much-improved battery life. (Nine hours of battery life, for the $1,000 11-inch model, while Apple says the $1,100 13-inch Air will have 12 hours of battery life.) Also, Apple offered a sneak peek at the Mac Pro, which you can read about here.
- OS X (Mavericks): The next version of Mac OS X features faster ways to multitask with Finder tabs and now allows users to put full screen apps on multiple monitors. Jan Dawson, an analyst with Ovum, described the move as the continuation of Apple's "iOS-ification" of the Mac's operating system.
- Upgrades to Maps so that it now works on the Mac: Flyover data is now available in Maps, which also will add travel time to users' calendars (nice competition for Google Now). Routes set up on the Mac can be sent right to the iPhone.
- Safari: Updates that mesh the browser more closely to OS X Keychain, including refreshed Top Sites, tweaks to article reading, and much-improved memory management.
- Siri gets a sex change: Now you can adjust the system to answer in a male voice.
- New Photos app: Lets users zoom to view photo thumbnail collections. Also, AirDrop for sharing photos and videos with people within a stone's throw (or thereabouts).
Now the question turns on whether this will be enough to excite developers -- and Apple customers -- again about their devices. It's probably unfair to compare WWDC 2013 with other, more momentous developer conferences, such as the 2007 conclave when Steve Jobs revved up the faithful just before the iPhone went on sale. But Apple set out to show that it still has its technical chops, and if Munster and other Apple bulls are right, we'll look back at this event as a meaningful signpost for the subsequent launch of the iPhone 5S and iPhone 6, a cheaper iPhone, a television, and the iWatch over the next year and a half.
•readingGive Apple a solid 'B' to 'B+' at WWDC 2013
•Aug 1110 new tricks WatchOS 7 will soon bring to your Apple Watch
•Aug 113 WatchOS 7 features that'll forever change the way you use your Apple Watch
•Aug 9Hands-on with iOS 14: We downloaded the public beta so you don't have to
•Aug 65 of the best MacOS Big Sur features you can try right now


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Keeper Hill 694m mountain, Shannon Keeper Hill Ireland at MountainViews.ie
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Near Cruach Mhín an Fheannta, Bluestack Mountains (Ireland)
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5 days ago
walk, Len: 8.3km, Climb: 515m, Area: Cruach Mh?n an Fheannta, Bluestack Mountai...
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Summit Comment
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Richard Mersey's real name was Richard Maurice Clive Bigham, 4th Viscount Mersey. This plaque should be removed.
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Corrin: Perfect for the Smallies
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Knockanes: Lovely walk in the heart of the Burren
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I did the circuit Mullaghmore, Slieve Roe and Knockanes on Bank Holiday Monday. Lovely circuit in an amazing landscape with great views. I followed the Blue route from Loch an Gealláin to summit o...
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walk, Len: 14.8km, Climb: 691m, Area: Slieve Anierin, Breifne (Ireland) Slieve ...
Conic Hill: Great views
Summit Comment
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04.08.2020 Climbed Conic Hill during Day 2 of the West Highland Way. 60mm of rain fell during day turning path up hill into a raging stream. No views but locals told us that superb views of Loch L...
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Carnanelly: An eastern Sperrin.
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Slieve Anierin: Seeking the elusive Trig Pillar
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Keeper Hill
More detail
Place count in area: 53,
OSI/LPS Maps: 52, 53, 54, 58, 59, 60, 65, 66
Highest place:
Keeper Hill, 694m
Maximum height for area: 694 metres,
Maximum prominence for area: 627 metres,
Places in area Shannon:
Ballincurra Hill 403m
Black Hill 228m
Commaun Beg 403m
Cooneen Hill 467m
Coumsallahaun 320m
Cummer 405m
Falleennafinoga 388m
Foildarg 440m
Glenaneagh 420m
Gortnageragh 418m
Knockadigeen Hill 402m
Knockalough 427m
Knockanuarha 309m
Knockastanna 444m
Knockaviltoge 364m
Knockbane 433m
Knockmaroe 411m
Knockshigowna 212m
Lackenacreena 413m
Ring Hill 426m
Tooreen 457m
Woodcock Hill 310m
Arra Mountains:
Corbally Hill 339m
Tountinna 457m
Benduff 455m
Devilsbit Mountain 480m
Gortagarry 458m
Kilduff Mountain 445m
Knockanora 433m
Keeper Hill:
Bleanbeg 368m
Boolatin Top 440m
Keeper Hill 694m
Knockane 411m
Knockfune 452m
Foilduff 400m
Mauherslieve 543m
Silvermine Mountains:
Silvermine Mountains East Top 479m
Silvermine Mountains Far East Top 410m
Silvermine Mountains West Top 489m
Slieve Aughty:
Cappaghabaun Mountain East 378m
Cashlaundrumlahan 358m
Maghera 400m
Slieve Bernagh:
Ballykildea Mountain 412m
Cragnamurragh 526m
Glennagalliagh Mountain 446m
Moylussa 531.6m
Slieve Felim:
Cullaun 460m
Derk Hill 236m
Knockroe 204m
Knockseefin 235m
Slieve Felim 427m
Slieve Felim East Top 423m
Slieve Felim South Top 407m
Note: this list of places includes island features such as summits, but not islands as such.
Centre on map.
Keeper Hill
Sliabh Coimeálta
A name in Irish
an extra name in Irish
(Ir. Sliabh Coimeálta [GE], 'mountain of guarding')
, in
Arderin, Vandeleur-Lynam, Irish Highest Hundred
, Pale & red sandstone, grit & claystone
OS 1:50k
Mapsheet: 59
Grid Reference:
Place visited by
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More detail
Longitude: -8.261434, Latitude: 52.75138
, Easting: 182397, Northing: 166697
Prominence: 627m
, Isolation: 2.1km
, Has trig pillar
, GPS IDs, 6 char: KprHl, 10 char: Keper Hil
Bedrock type: Pale & red sandstone, grit & claystone, (Keeper Hill Formation)
Keeper Hill, also known as Slievekimalta, gets its name from a little-known story about Sadb, daughter of Conn Cétcathach, raising her children Eogan and Indderb on this mountain after they had been rejected by their father Ailill Ólom, king of Munster. See Máire MacNeill, 'The Festival of Lughnasa' (pp. 215-16) for details of the festive assembly which took place on Keeper Hill in mid-August. A stone circle in Bauraglanna townland on the NE slopes is known as Firbrega ('false men'). It consists of eleven orthostats of varying heights, with several prostrate stones around the perimeter. There is a large, flat recumbent stone in the centre [Archaeological Inventory of North Tipperary]. Keeper Hill is the highest mountain in the Shannon area and the 120th highest in Ireland.
Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/117/
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Picture from group : Keeper Hill from Silvermine Mountains E Top
Keeper Hill from Silvermine Mountains E Top
Highest of the Shannons with good views and relatively few visitors.
Short Summary created by simon3, Peter Walker, aidand 25 Aug 2013
Keeper Hill is the highest point in North Tipperary and one of the island's highest 'inland' mountains. There is a large telecommunications mast on top and hence a well maintained, but untarred, roadway to the top. The easiest route is from Ballyhourigan Wood, near the small village of Killoscully. Follow the main roadway upwards for about 3 km until it levels out. Turn left and walk on for another 3 km until you reach a fork in the track. Keep left here and follow the track up to the summit. Allow 3 - 4 hours for the return trip.
To reach the summit from the NE side use tracks to get to
which is on the southern side of the coum facing NE. As of 2013 there was a faint but useful track to the summit.
Views from Keeper can be very good in fine weather including the Galtys and the Maamturks.
Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/117/comment/4877/
Picture from beckett : Eagle's Nest on Keeper Hill
Eagle's Nest on Keeper Hill
beckett on Keeper Hill, 2006
14 Sep 2006
At noon on September 4th, I kissed the dog and bade good-bye to the wife and kids. From Limerick, I took the road to Newport, from Newport I travelled around 7km until I saw a sign for Ballyhourigan woods. It was while travelling along this road that I passed what appeared to be a couple in the throes of something, quite possibly passion, in the back seat of a car. I may be wronging the pair, they could quiet simply have been in the midst of changing their clothes for a long trek through the hills. I was doing 40 mph and the condensation of their back window made any possibility of confirmation remote. As their car disappeared in my rear view mirror, It made think that there may be better things to do on a Sunday afternoon than trek up the side of a bog. If my camera had not been in the boot I would have had a much more interesting picture to accompany this comment.
I reached (
) which had a road-closed sign preventing further access by car. I parked a little further up the road to the right in a forest opening. From the start of the track, I walked to a point shown on the map as the intersection of four paths (
). When I got to that point one of the paths, the eastern one, had been maliciously been removed. I headed up the western path, at first trying to reach the open ground through some rough open with fallen trees. Driven back I went instead into the woods, these were quite dense, but I persisted and found a stream, which I followed back to the open mountain. There is an earth wall running up alongside the older forest edge, this offered the best ground for walking. When I had climbed about 540 metres in height I turned in the direction of the Eagle's nest.
The Eagles nest was impressive with rock outcrops and some unsettling drops. I noticed some wooden posts from an old fence go right to the edge and then disappear over the edge. I was not tempted to go close enough and confirm where the fence ended, but it surely serves as fitting monument to the lengths that peoples will go to fence the country side in this land of ours.
I had lunch at the Eagle's nest and waited a full 30 minutes for the eagle to show up. When it was clear he was not going to come, I set my sights for the top of keeper hill, navigating towards the TV mast visible in the distance.
From the Cairn of the summit, I navigated back to the forest line I had followed up. Eventually I located it and followed it down. I entered the woods and relocated the stream. The woods were dense and the sun mottled the floor with patches of intense yellow light. It was all very atmospheric until I remembered Film4's recent screening of the Blair Witch project. This made me pick up the pace quite a bit.
Back to the car then following the same route. What could be nicer than a walk on the hills in early September on a Sunday afternoon? The car with the couple was gone when I made my way down the narrow road and headed for home.
Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/117/comment/2489/
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Picture from Bleck Cra : Top Team
Top Team
Finders Keepers in the Silvermines
Bleck Cra
9 May 2010
Sandwiches 'til they were coming out of your ears; clever and witty commentary; hospitality akin to a bear hug; and attention to detail that belied the easy-going saunter that was the day. Author of same? The wonderful Aonach ar Siuil Walking Club and their first and fabulous festival this weekend. Alas the Cra could only make a flying visit ("flying" – geddit ?) for the A walk on Saturday – so no Blister Balls (oosps) or lingering farewells: just a demented clatter from the North and back same day. A seven hour walk which is tough to make a true Grade A with such gentle hills, but not impossible; at least as advised by the lolloping, kick-boxing, lightning-foot daughter of Medb that lit out with me for the summit of Keeper Hill. It seems you can launch from the valley floor and ascend into the corrie through foot-high heather until you beg for mercy. Anyhoo …… Aonach ar Siuil, very well done – clever tricks like staggered start times for the different grades, grub and water at strategic points on the walk, the Mountain Rescue and Civil Defence throughout the hill and my favourite, the Start'n'Stop point, Ryan's Pub. Keeper Hill is not a huge challenge but does her own thing with location, views and greenery, which are all stunning. "Pretty", I think is a good description – round, warm and welcoming; and what she has in particular is that characteristic unique to Irish inland hills: whereas in Scotland, Wales and England, the view from a summit tends to be a landscape of more devil peaks, from Keeper Hill at virtually every point is countryside as pretty if as flat at Katie Melua. As a must-do, probably a 6; as a worth-doing, a resounding 10 and so in equal place with the Nenagh festival.
Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/117/comment/4702/
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Picture from beckett : View From Keeper Hill
View From Keeper Hill
beckett on Keeper Hill, 2006
29 Jun 2006
on the road from Toor to Newport you will meet a road running up into Ballyhourigan wood. On your right, you will find a car park hollowed out from the sloping forest. Proceed in a Northerly direction up to the first intersection of tracks at a barrier; here you will turn right following a westerly direction passing the sweat house (used in times of old for medicinal purposes), pass the sign for the mass rock, then pass a rather precarious and ugly looking gravel pit. After this, the track turns north and then briefly eastward as you climb gradually out of the woods. The eastern face of keeper hill will present itself to you with numerous small streams cascading down gulleys hewn into the side of the hill. The track eventually comes to a t-junction and you take the west going path, winding through some mature woods. Fast flowing streams run under the forest tracks before precipitating impressively down into the woods. At one or two of these points, you can stop to refresh yourself; the water is crystal clear and sufficiently cold to wash away any weariness at this point. The track continues west across the slope of keeper hill where you come across another junction that branches northerly in one direction and southwest down into the woods in the other direction. Taking the north-easterly route, you start the climb to keeper hill. The track is full of broken rock and is heavy going on the feet. As you approach the summit, you see the rather unsightly TV mast on your left. There is a cairn and some crags to the right. Take your refreshments there and enjoy the view of the Silvermines. Overall, this is a pleasant walk; a nice walk for a novice with tracks and paths through out. It takes around 180 minutes at a brisk pace to the summit and considerably less than that on the downward journey.
Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/117/comment/2412/
Your Score: Very useful <<
Picture from deirdre.obrien
deirdre.obrien on Keeper Hill, 2004
28 Apr 2004
We parked at the old ball alleys just outside Toor Village. We followed the Slieve Felim Way in the direction of Keeper Hill to the forest and then followed a track left up towards Keeper Hill. We followed the tracks up Keeper Hill to the summit. Lovely views from the top. The route was pretty straight forward but found the hard ground though going on the feet. A local farm dog followed us up and down. She was harmless and appeared to enjoy the company!!
Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/117/comment/951/
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bob mologna on Keeper Hill, 2003
bob mologna
15 Sep 2003
"A nice easy enough mountain" Hah! I did the Clohernagh, Lugnaquilla, Benleagh, Camenabologue circuit in Wicklow last weekend and it was easier than Keeper this weekend. I started in Silvermines and went over the Silvermine mountains, down the valley and back up Keeper hill and it was one of the toughest hikes I've done this year. I must have made all the wrong route choices (up from the Northwest, down the ridge to the northeast). My ascent varied from waist deep heather, knee deep bogs, to dense pine plantations.
On my descent I was in a hurry to make a dinner appointment so I decided that the best way through the trees would be to follow the power lines, it's cleared after all, isn't it? Bad move. I ended up in a chest high thicket of brambles and downed trees. The only option was to go into the woods for a Km or so, not fun. I've done this hill before from the Southeast and it's a cakewalk, done wrong, it's no fun. Oh who am I kidding? I had fun but it was a bitch. My GPS showed that I had covered 8.5 miles in 3.5 hours, it felt like 15 miles.
Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/117/comment/644/
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(End of comment section for Keeper Hill.)
Some mapping:
Open Street Map
(Various variations used.)
British summit data courtesy:
Database of British & Irish Hills
(Creative Commons Licence)
MountainViews.ie, a Hill-walking Website for the island of Ireland. 2100 Summiteers, 1300 Contributors, Monthly Newsletter since 2007


text:
51A Caswell Road
Northampton NN4 7PW
Guide energy along all axes, specifically for robot applications. For axis 1, twisterchain offers ideal cable protection for rotary and spiral movements. Axes 2–6 are the field of application for the triflex® R system. Impact-resistant, torque-resistant with external stop-dog and twistable by +/- 10° per chain link – these are the properties that make triflex® R the perfect and best possible robot e-chain®.
Current generation
Predecessor model of the twisterchain, new
Monday to Friday from 8am - 8pm.


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I moved to this area eight months ago and have read your paper daily since. I find, for the most part, that it gives me what I want: information about the local community in all areas of journalism.
To the editor:
I moved to this area eight months ago and have read your paper daily since. I find, for the most part, that it gives me what I want: information about the local community in all areas of journalism.
With that in mind, I write to express concern about your opinion pages, specifically letters to the editor. I have rarely seen such repetitive, vacuous, screed spewed in any newspaper. I realize these are opinions. But they are so often devoid of reasonable presentation that they devolve to the level of the now ubiquitous social media venting. It�s not worthy of a business that calls itself a newspaper.
Do you apply journalistic standards to editing these letters? If you do, I�d hate to see the letters that you reject. Do you apply a word limit? If not, perhaps you should. Please understand that I enjoy reading letters with which I may disagree since they often open my mind to other viewpoints. But I am repulsed by letters that have no substance short of emotionally charged verbiage regardless of whether I agree with the opinion or not.
Finally, I continue to be amazed by many of these letters, since my personal interaction with the people of our region has been resoundingly positive. I certainly have conversations with people who have strong conflicting views from those I hold dear. But their viewpoints are almost always presented in a reasoned fashion and my responses have been, I hope, equally reasoned and respectfully accepted. Often we agree to disagree � and that�s OK.
I also feel that in publishing many of these letters you provide a false image of the majority of people who reside in the Jacksonville area; and, consequently, you do that majority a disservice, you demean your profession and detract from the rest of this fine newspaper as well.
Dennis Murphy
Sneads Ferry


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The Central Connecticut volleyball team will host the 2013 edition of the CCSU Blue Devil Invitational on Friday and Saturday at Detrick Gym. The event will feature six matches and include Fordham, Hartford and NJIT, in addition to the host Blue Devils.
Fans that can not make it to Detrick Gym for this weekend's action can follow live stats for every match on CCSUBlueDevils. Live video for matches featuring CCSU will be available on NECFrontRow.com, as always live video coverage of CCSU sporting events is available free of charge.
Coach Sagnelli's Interview with Ashley Afonso
The Blue Devils enter the weekend with a three match wining streak and an overall record of 5-5 on the season. CCSU posted a 3-1 weekend at the Dartmouth Big Green Invitational and had 1-2 records at the Colgate and Sacramento State Invites to start the year.
So far this season five Blue Devil players have earned all-tournament honors. Sophomore Makenna Lommori and freshman Brooke Schwab at the Colgate Classic. Sophomore Heather Trueman earned honors at Sacramento State and seniors Amalia Ashley and Veronika Ban received recognition at Dartmouth.
In addition, three Blue Devils have earned Molten/Northeast Conference weekly honors this season. Junior Rachel Dunlap claimed defensive player of the week honors this past Monday after a 26 block weekend. Also on Monday, freshman Cassidy Stankowski garnered rookie of the week honors. Schwab also has a rookie of the week award and claimed defensive player of the week honors once this season.


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Police Say Fatal Missouri Home Fire Intentionally Set
FLORISSANT, Mo. (AP) - Police say an eastern Missouri man who was killed when his St. Louis-area house exploded apparently caused the blast intentionally.
KMOV reports police found a suicide note in the vehicle of 52-year-old Kirk Sayles after his Florissant home exploded just before 3 a.m. Sunday, sending huge flames into the air and knocking the house off its foundation.
Investigators say Sayles poured gasoline throughout the home and ignited it. Sayles did not have gas service to his home, but the force of the explosion ruptured a nearby gas line.
The building collapsed and kept rescue workers from entering the residence until about four hours after the blast. Sayles was found dead inside.
One neighbor says the explosion shattered windows and melted siding on his home.


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For a wealthy English aristocrat in the eighteenth century, a "Grand Tour" of Europe was part of a complete education. Now on view in our newly installed European galleries, we have a Pompeo Batoni portrait of English traveler Sir Wyndham Knatchbull-Wyndham commemorating just such a trip.
Wyndham gestures to a landscape in the background that many grand tourists visited—the ruins of an ancient temple at Tivoli, near Rome. To his left, you can see a classical sculpture that he may have brought back from his travels.
The Grand Tour was a rite of passage, an opportunity to explore the roots of European culture, build language skills, and gain worldly experience. It might last months or years. Now that the new European galleries are open, it's possible to take your own miniature Grand Tour through the museum and see works of art like those an eighteenth-century aristocrat might have traveled to see.
Let's start in Rome.
This is Athena, the goddess of wisdom—the Romans also called her Minerva. We know who she is because of her helmet, and because here she wears a shield decorated with a head of Medusa, often associated with Athena. Statues like this were very popular with Grand Tourists. This Athena was created in ancient Rome, based on an even older Greek model. So when Grand Tourists saw this Athena, they were experiencing the combined skill of ancient Greece and Rome. The statue was excavated outside Rome in 1797—when lots of Grand Tourists were visiting—and it was acquired by Englishman Sir Thomas Hope, who had just recently completed his own Grand Tour.
The Grand Tourist would also have visited Venice. The European galleries include an excellent scene of Venice, Piazza San Marco Looking South and West, by Canaletto. In essence, it is a large and very expensive postcard, a souvenir that would hang on the wall as proof that you had been there. So many tourists brought views of Venice back to England that the popularity of visiting that city actually increased!
Florence was part of a typical Grand Tour, and we have Antonio Montauti's Triumph of Neptune and Europa from the early eighteenth century. This bronze relief sculpture depicts the ancient god Neptune along with Europa, daughter of a Phoenician king. Grand Tourists visited Florence to learn more about ancient myths and culture—which was, conveniently enough, being used as subject matter by many contemporary artists of the time. So the sights in Florence may have included works of art like this Montauti relief, though probably not this exact work, which was created for Pope Clement XII's personal collection.
The Grand Tour eventually lost its cachet of exclusivity as the railroad and other transportation improvements made it much easier for middle-class people to travel throughout Europe. Today, you don't even need to leave Los Angeles.
Mary Lenihan, Manager, Adult Programs, Education


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Paul "Buzz" Burrowes '88
"Music and computers were always my passion," says Buzz Burrowes, the vice president of online and audio systems and a lead programmer at Harmonix Music Systems Inc. in Cambridge, MA. Those dual interests have led Burrowes to a storied career spanning two decades in the music tech side of video game development at both Harmonix and Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA). When Burrowes was hired at SCEA in 1994, the technology needed for high-quality musical scores in games was just emerging. Burrowes played a significant role in its development by creating numerous audio engines that facilitated the progression from simple synth scores to the sweeping orchestral scores now heard in triple-A games.
Growing up in New Jersey, Burrowes says he began as "a closet hacker" working on a Commodore Amiga computer. He also played trumpet in a band. And when the group went into the studio to record a demo, "I was much more interested in what was going on behind the glass than in playing my trumpet," he says. "So I knew before I got to Berklee that I wanted to major in MP&E." He arrived at the college in 1984, where he met his wife, Lisa (Togno), also an MP&E major. They got married a few weeks after graduation and set their sights on Southern California.
"At the end of that summer, we loaded everything we owned into a Ford Econoline 150 van and drove to Los Angeles," Burrowes says. "Then we hit the pavement trying to find work." In a random "right-place, right-time" scenario, Burrowes landed a job at the famed Record Plant. "I'd sent out résumés to lots of studios, and then followed up by stopping by the Record Plant," he says. "I was talking to a person at the front desk when the studio manager came in screaming at an intern who had messed up one too many times. She fired him on the spot. Then she turned to me and said, 'And what do you want?' I told her I was looking for a job and she said, 'You're hired!'" Burrowes's wife also found a job managing Group IV Recording Studios, a facility recording film scores.
Burrowes worked at the Record Plant starting as a gopher and later as a second engineer for about two years before becoming a freelancer. During his time as a recording engineer, he worked on albums by Bruce Springsteen, Yes, Guns 'n' Roses, Neil Young, and Bob Seger; and with such producers and engineers as Don Was, Shelly Yakus, and Ed Cherny. He'd also worked on a number of records with Bob Clearmountain who was starting to experiment with QSound, a 3-D sound-processing algorithm developed by QSound Labs. They mixed one album in QSound that never came out, but it put Burrowes on QSound's radar.
"I got a call from the people at QSound saying they needed a technical rep to teach other engineers to use their tech," Burrowes says. "I had been thinking about all the sessions where the hours were too long and some of personalities were hard to deal with, and decided that a career making rock records wasn't what I wanted." So Burrowes jumped to QSound and spent the next few years traveling to studios around the United States and England working on projects with top artists and engineers.
Burnishing the Chops
In his spare time, he began doubling down on his tech chops. "I convinced the engineers at QSound to send me the source code to the algorithms that ran on the DSP card to make their 3-D sound effect work," he says. "I looked at ways to make things run faster." He created a program that drastically reduced the processing time and sent the code to QSound. Subsequently, he began helping with the development of the company's hardware and software. That led to connections with people in the video-game industry at Sega, Nintendo, and Virgin Games. Three years later, a former QSound colleague who had gone to work at SCEA recommended Burrowes when Sony wanted to build up a first-party software development group.
"The push at the time [1994] was to make video games more like movies," he says, "and they brought in people from the record and film industries." With his engineering experience and technical skills, Burrowes was a fit.
He began building their audio department and studio facilities. (By 2009, Sony had a dozen studios in San Francisco, 10 in San Diego, and others in Santa Monica.) Burrowes was coding as well, and wrote the proprietary first-party audio drivers for Sony's PlayStation 1, 2, and 3 consoles, among other things.
As the audio guru at SCEA, Burrowes ultimately helmed their services group of 50 sound designers, dialog editors, and music supervisors as well as the tools and technology group, another 50-member team writing shared technologies. He was also involved with Sony's Studio 5 that was building games like SingStar, Lair, and EyeToy: AntiGrav. The titles Frequency, and Amplitude were developed by Harmonix and published by SCEA, which introduced Burrowes to Harmonix staff members. Burrowes was intrigued by their direction and their passion for the work. Harmonix is famous for such music-based games as Rock Band, Chroma, and the original Guitar Hero series.
"I wanted to work with them because everything was musically focused," he says. "It was a perfect combination for me: music and tech."
Burrowes was brought onboard in 2009 to help develop corporate strategy at Harmonix. He also works with the company's CTO Eran Egozy and lead programmers on goals related to software tools. But it's not all strategy meetings. "I'm currently neck-deep in writing code again for a new music engine," he says. "Looking back at what I was doing during my earliest days at Sony with PlayStation 1 and where things are now with symphony orchestras and recording in studios all over the world, this has been a fun ride."


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Twins can't recover from Hernandez's early struggles
Rally falls short for second straight night after lefty goes 1 2/3 innings
MINNEAPOLIS -- Given the rotation woes that have plagued the Twins all season, all that manager Ron Gardenhire has asked of his starters is to give the team a chance.
But unfortunately for the Twins, there was another tough pitching performance on Friday night, this time by left-hander Pedro Hernandez, who lasted just 1 2/3 innings, and the Twins couldn't recover from his early struggles in a 12-6 loss to the Indians at Target Field.
The Twins rallied in the sixth, making it a three-run game, but they simply couldn't come back from the hole dug by Hernandez.
Minnesota starters have now combined for a Major League-worst 5.25 ERA.
"Our starter just didn't do very well," Gardenhire said. "Our hitters stayed after it. We scored some runs. We stayed in the game. We got within striking distance. We felt like we were swinging good, but unfortunately, when you get behind like that, it's an uphill climb."
Hernandez, who had gone just two innings in his previous start, against the A's, turned in another short one against the Indians, who are now tied with the Rays atop the American League Wild Card standings, ahead of the Rangers. Hernandez gave up six runs on seven hits and a walk to finish his season with a 6.83 ERA in 14 appearances, including 12 starts.
"He had a bad night, and they were all over him from the get-go," Gardenhire said. "It was kind of nonstop, and we had to go to other guys."
Cleveland came out swinging, scoring four runs in the first inning, a rally keyed by four extra-base hits. Jason Kipnis sent home the first run with a triple before scoring on a double by Carlos Santana. Asdrubal Cabrera laced an RBI double of his own and scored on a single by Yan Gomes.
It was more of the same in the second, when Hernandez gave up three more runs. Nick Swisher grounded into a run-scoring double play before Kipnis singled to knock Hernandez from the game. Reliever Shairon Martis entered and promptly gave up a double to Santana and a two-run single to Ryan Raburn to put the Twins in a seven-run hole.
"Whenever he made mistakes, we hammered them," Indians right fielder Drew Stubbs said. "If you look at the second, third, fourth hitters of the game, we're hitting doubles and triples and stuff like that. You don't see that too often, where you get on the board that quick and are putting such good swings on the ball."
The Twins didn't get on the board against Indians right-hander Corey Kluber until the fourth, when Trevor Plouffe provided an RBI single after Ryan Doumit singled and Josmil Pinto was hit by a pitch on his right hand with two outs. Pinto left the game after the inning for precautionary reasons, replaced by Chris Herrmann, but only sustained a bruised right hand.
The Indians added two runs in the top of the fifth against right-hander Liam Hendriks on a bloop two-run single by Mike Aviles that Doumit couldn't handle in shallow right field.
The Twins rallied for two runs in the fifth and three in the sixth to get back into the game. Pedro Florimon crushed a two-run blast off Kluber in the fifth -- his first homer since Aug. 20 -- before sending home another run in the sixth on a groundout with the bases loaded. Alex Presley followed with a two-run single to make it a three-run game, but that was as close as the Twins would get.
The Indians added to their lead with an RBI double by Kipnis off Presley's glove in center field in the eighth inning. Kipnis went 3-for-5 and finished a homer short of the cycle. Cleveland added a two-run homer in the eighth from Stubbs after he appeared to strike out on a checked swing.
Hendriks went 4 2/3 innings, giving up five runs on eight hits, and set a season high for a Twins pitcher this season with eight strikeouts.
"I just used well-located fastballs and mixed it up to make them look even harder," Hendriks said. "That's what was working for me. I was able to locate my fastball and move it in and out."
With the Indians and Rays now sharing the top Wild Card berth, several scenarios can play out over the last two games of the season, especially with the Rangers just one game back. But Indians manager Terry Francona is not worried about how things shake out as long as his team makes the postseason.
"I just want to keep playing," Francona said. "I don't want to go home. I just want to keep playing. I don't care where we play, when we play. I just want to keep playing."


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One of my favorite sweet (relatively guiltless) snacks are baked flour tortillas with spray butter and cinnamon sugar coating. When I say relatively guiltless, I'm comparing it to my usual sweet desserts, not other peoples, other people might disagree. It's a good thing *they* don't have access to my account password! I saw this idea in Family Fun last year for snowflake tortiall snacks, and I had to try it out. The only thing better than sweet treats is adding a 'play with your food' step to the process.
I took a tortilla, heated it in the microwave just long enough to be able to fold it over, and cut out my snowflake pattern, just like you would out of paper.
After cutting my pattern, I sprayed mine down with butter, and sprinkled it with cinnamon sugar. The site shows sprinkling the tortilla with blue sprinkles, so I guess it depends on what snow looks like in your town. I baked it at 350 until it was golden (5+ minutes).


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- Reversible summer/winter function
- Sleek low profile design ideal for indoor areas and homes with low ceilings
- Sleek round tip ABS blades
- Steel motor housing
- Remote adaptable with MPAPP
- 2 year in home warranty
Flush 50″ Ceiling Fan
2 year In home warranty
Warranty Application Form
The below documents are required to apply for a warranty claim for your Martec product. These documents can be submitted at the end of the below form.
1. A copy of the Installation Receipt OR Tax Invoice OR Certificate of Compliance for the installation of the Martec product from the installing electrician.
2. Copy of the Purchase Receipt/Tax Invoice
3. The below form completed in full with as much detail as possible. Please also include pictures of the products if possible.
How Does Ripple Control Affect LED Lights?
A flickering LED light is the most common complaint arising from ripple control, which is generated when usually but not only when the light is dimmed and the ripple control frequency is in the line, usually between 300Hz and 1300Hz.
The Flickr is often, but not always, intermittent depending on when the ripple control signals are being transmitted. It is normally at certain times i.e. 6 pm and then again at 8:30 pm and will only last for 30 seconds to 2 minutes, and when the power company stops sending the signal the flicker stops.
People often notice it most acutely in the night when off-peak hot water systems are turned on. ALL brands of LED drivers are affected by these ripple control signals.
Why Doesn't Martec have Ripple Control Filters in their LED Drivers?
Ripple control is not the norm and in many environments. While Martec does sympathise with the few customers who do experience a problem, it is not cost effective to build an Electronic Driver that rejects all ripple control frequencies given the small proportion of people affected, a cost that would have to ultimately be borne by all customers.


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"Next to music there is nothing that lifts the spirits and strengthens the soul more than a good bowl of chili."
- Bandleader and trumpeter Harry James (1916-1983)
A lot can be said for chili. Among its virtues: it's economical, nutritious, sustaining, easy to cook - and pretty tough to screw up.
Ingredients are simple and accessible, quantities are, by and large, flexible, and it is a remarkably versatile and forgiving dish that freezes incredibly well. Indeed, there are those, Jeannine Scott among them, who think its taste is improved in the freezing. "It gives it more body," she said.
And Scott knows from chili: she sells five different kinds at her bright and inviting little eatery in Montreal called Soupe Café, and wholesales it to other places around town.
"We sell tons and tons of chili - particularly to students," said the Winnipeg native, a nutritionist by training who worked at Montreal's Royal Victoria Hospital and in weight-loss counselling before opening her cafe in 2005.
"In the six years that I have owned my cafe, I have noticed that chili is getting more and more popular. And why not? It's basically a meal in a bowl ... a hearty meal. Unlike soup, where you generally eat it as a starter or in addition to a salad or sandwich, chili ... can be the entire meal. It is high in protein, high in fibre, and low in fat. It's cheap, filling, and it's great comfort food."
And you don't need much else: a dollop of sour cream atop the chili bowl, perhaps, or a sprinkling of grated cheddar, some chopped green onion or chives, a cornbread-cheddar cheese muffin spiked with jalapeno pepper like the kind sold at Soupe Cafe - and you're done. Of course, chili is also nice ladled over rice or pasta, baked potato or sweet potato.
Winter's cold and damp makes this the busy season for chili at Soupe Cafe, where cook Alison Baker made 140 litres of the stuff last week.
Most traditional chili, Scott explained, is a mix of tomatoes, beans, onions, chili peppers, garlic, whatever protein you choose to add - or not - and spices.
Her mesquite chicken chili, bright with kidney beans, corn kernels and cubes of sauteed chicken breast, has a smoky flavour; a beef chili includes a mix of spices and chili pepper - that's the one she took when she was invited to watch the Super Bowl on Sunday with friends. The Tex Mex chipotle beef chili, which features vegetables, is flavoured with chipotle pepper.
The vegetarian tofu chili is the bestseller of the five.
"Even people who are not vegetarians love it," she said. "We buy the tofu in bricks and hand crumble it."
A spicy mixed bean vegetarian chili, which features jalapeno pepper, is the spiciest.
Like the 30 different kinds of soup, the chili at the cafe is made from scratch: although many chili recipes call for broth, Scott prefers a thicker chili, with no broth added. And she likes to leave the chili to simmer for an hour or so on the stove to marry and deepen the flavours.
The cooking at Soupe Cafe is done on an ordinary stove, the kind you'd find in many residential kitchens - but the quantities in which Baker works are hardly residential: think 100-ounce cans of tomatoes and pots with capacities of 12 litres and more: there's one that holds 75 litres. These days, Scott is responsible more for recipe development, adding to her repertoire of chilies and soups, than cooking, although she jumps in when she's needed, and for business development.
There are five soups on offer each day at the restaurant, ladled hot from serve-yourself containers, as well as at least one type of chili and, in winter, sometimes two - and a range of both are available for takeout in one-litre containers in a glass-fronted refrigerator and a freezer at the front.
It was while she was working as a weight-loss counsellor that Scott learned that people often know what they should be eating, she said. If they don't, it's because they don't - or won't - make the time to prepare healthful foods. "Convenience plays a big role," she said.
She was already cooking - "I have always had a passion for cooking," said Scott, a self-taught cook who reads food magazines for pleasure: Fine Cooking and Light & Tasty are favourites - and delivering food to clients when she decided she wanted to open a restaurant.
"I wanted a place that was convenient, a place where people could come get healthy food," she said.
She said she tries to base her recipes on the Canada Food Guide: opting for little added salt in recipes, for instance, and using olive oil or canola oil for their healthful properties.
The chilies and soups are cooked the day before they are sold: "They need to set overnight," Scott said.
To her, they are best reheated on the stove - not microwaved - in a heavy-bottomed pan over medium heat. And frozen soup or chili is best defrosted overnight in the refrigerator - although in a pinch it can be started frozen, carefully, over low heat with a bit of water in the pot.
Vegetarian Spicy Bean Chili
Serves 8
This recipe is from Jeannine Scott, owner of Soupe Café, a bright and welcoming place on Montreal's Notre Dame St. W. that features chili prominently on its menu.
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 medium onion, chopped
2 bay leaves
1 teaspoon ground cumin
2 tablespoons dried oregano
Pinch salt
2 stalks celery, chopped
2 green bell peppers, diced
2 jalapeno peppers, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 4-ounce cans green chili peppers, drained
2 28-ounce (796 mL) cans crushed tomatoes
2 28-ounce (796 mL) cans diced tomatoes
2 to 4 tablespoons chili powder, or to taste
1 tablespoon ground black pepper
1 14-ounce (398 mL) can kidney beans, drained
1 14-ounce (398 mL) can garbonzo beans, drained
1 14-ounce (398 mL) can black beans, drained
2 cups frozen corn kernels
Over medium heat, heat olive oil in a large pot. Stir in the onion and season with bay leaves, cumin, oregano and salt. Cook and stir until onion is tender, then mix in celery, green peppers, jalapeno peppers, garlic and green chili peppers. When vegetables are heated through, reduce heat to low and cover pot. Simmer 5 minutes. Mix the diced and crushed tomatoes into the pot. season with chili powder and pepper and stir in the beans. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer 45 minutes. Remove bay leaves, stir in corn and cook 5 more minutes.
Easy Weeknight Chili
Serves 4
This chili, from The American Heart Association's Healthy Family Meals: 150 Recipes Everyone Will Love (2011, $28.95), uses extra-lean ground beef and doesn't require the cooking that many chili recipes do: tomatoes contain the antioxidant lycopene, which gives them their deep red colour. Studies have shown that lycopene in cooked tomato products such as tomato sauce or paste may be more readily absorbed by the body than lycopene in raw tomatoes.
8 ounces extra-lean ground beef
1 small green bell pepper, chopped
3/4 cup chopped onion
2 medium garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon chili powder
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano, crumbled
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 14-ounce (398 mL) can kidney beans or black beans, rinsed and drained
1 14-ounce (398 mL) can diced tomatoes, with liquid
1 14-ounce (398 mL) low-salt beef broth
1 tablespoon yellow cornmeal Snipped fresh coriander, optional
In a large pot, cook the beef, bell pepper, onion and garlic over medium-high heat for 8 minutes, or until the beef is browned, stirring occasionally to turn and break up the beef. Stir in the chili powder, cumin, oregano and salt. Then stir in the beans, tomatoes with liquid and broth. Increase heat to high and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 15 minutes, or until bell pepper is tender. Gradually add the cornmeal to the chili, stirring constantly. Cook for 2 minutes, or until thickened. Serve sprinkled with the coriander.
For extra crunch, add chopped celery or carrots when adding the bell pepper.
Chili Blanco with Chicken
Serves 6 to 8
This chili, from The Whole Foods Market Cookbook, by Steve Petusevsky and members of the Whole Foods Market Team (Clarkson Potter, 2002), packs the punch of a classic chili — but without the usual red colour. Instead, white beans absorb the flavour of the jalapenos, oregano, chipotle chili and coriander. Omit the beer and replace it with stock, if you prefer. This recipe also works with diced firm-fleshed fish such as cod, halibut, salmon or tuna — or such seafood as shrimp, scallops or chopped clams. Use a combination of any or all. Marinate and saute the ingredients, just like the chicken, then remove from pan and add during the last 10 minutes of cooking.
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into 1/2-inch dice
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon cumin
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 medium jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
1 large leek, sliced and washed
1 large green pepper, seeded and chopped
1 teaspoon cumin
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon canned chipotle chilies in adobo, chopped
1 11-ounce (330 mL) bottle beer, ideally light Pilsner style, or some other premium beer
2 cups chicken stock
1 14-ounce (398 mL) can white cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
Fresh coriander
Juice of 1 lime
Salt to taste
Marinate diced chicken in the olive oil, with the cumin, oregano, chili powder, minced jalapeno and garlic for a few minutes. Heat a large pot over medium heat, and add the chicken. Saute for 2 minutes, until the chicken turns opaque. Add additional olive oil, and saute the onion, celery, leek, green pepper, cumin, oregano and chilies. Saute for 2 minutes, until well-combined. Add the beer, if using, the stock, and beans. Bring to a boil, lower to a simmer, and cook for 30 minutes. Add the coriander, lime and salt. Serve, with a dollop of plain yogourt or sour cream and diced avocado, if desired.
Photographs by: Vincenzo D'Alto, The Gazette


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Small Group Tours
Beaujolais Wine Discovery - Morning
Three rivers flow through Lyon: the Rhône, the Saône and... the Beaujolais! Go on a wine tour to the Southern part of the Beaujolais region and discover behind the famous label the unknown & preserved beauty of the Golden Stones Country. Visit Oingt medieval towns built in a unique yellow stone and then make 2 stops for wine-tasting sparkling, white, rosé and red beaujolais!
Beaujolais Golden Stones Discovery Visit of Oingt Medieval Town
At 9:00 am, your 8-seater minibus leaves Place Bellecour in Lyon to the Southern Beaujolais region. After a transfer of 30 min approx., discover one of the prettiest wine countries in France also called the "Small French Tuscany"!
Travel through beautiful rolling hills dotted with secular vineyards and cross several quaint medieval towns built in a gorgeous golden ochre stone.
Visit Oingt town listed as one of the "157 Most Beautiful Villages in France" and stroll through a warren of little streets hosting many artists and craftsmen boutiques.
Enjoy beautiful panoramic views over the Beaujolais and learn about its terroir and geography.
Wine Tasting
Stop at two wineries for wine-tasting Sparkling, white, rosé & red Beaujolais:
Follow this morning wine tour with a first winery where you will get to be introduced to the unknown sparkling white and rosé Beaujolais.
With your guide, learn the different basic steps of the subtle art of sniffing, swirling and sipping while you taste and how French wines are classified between generic, villages and crus appellations.
After a short drive, push the door of a second winery, meet a passionate wine-maker and immerse yourself in French history and tradition.
Learn about grape growing and the unique beaujolais wine making process called "semi-carbonic maceration" when grapes are all picked by hand and not crushed at all.
Finally go to the caveau (wine-tasting room) and taste several red Beaujolais in a great authentic atmosphere.
Ponto de Encontro /Lugar de partida do Tour
Praça Bellecour
Our Lyon Small Groups Tours to Beaujolais, Cotes du Rhone, Macon and Perouges are 8 guests maximum to be able to operate the best possible wine tours and sightseeing excursions. With a friendly, knowledgeable English speaking driver guide, you visit and taste wines at family wineries and renowned castles cellars of Lyon's surrounding vineyards. Our Lyon wine tours and sightseeing excursions are whether half day or full day, with a departure from Lyon Office de Tourisme building, France.


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Rudyard Kipling
Rudyard Kipling (30 December 1865 – 18 January 1936 / Bombay)
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The Expert
Youth that trafficked long with Death,
And to second life returns,
Squanders little time or breath
On his fellow--man's concerns.
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Rick Ganley
Rick joined NHPR as morning host in January 2009. He has a 20 year career in radio including on-air work at stations in Massachusetts, Maine and New Hampshire in formats from rock to classical. He was co-owner of an FM station in Maine in the mid 90s. Rick spent the last ten years as Operations Manager and Morning Host of WPNH-FM, Plymouth NH and Production Director for Northeast Communications Corporations' five-station group. He also writes occasional pieces on media and music for the Hippo, Manchester's weekly paper, and voices radio and TV spots on a freelance basis.


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UMBC will play for its first America East Conference title in men's lacrosse since 2009 when they face top-seeded Albany on Saturday, May 4 at Stony Brook's LaValle Stadium. The Retrievers and Great Danes will face-off at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday in front of a national television audience on ESPNU and the WatchESPN app. Mark Dixon and Ryan Flanagan have the call of the fourth meeting between UMBC and Albany in the title game.
The Retrievers (7-7) advanced by virtue of a stunning comeback in the semifinal contest vs. No. 2-seeded Hartford. Trailing 13-9 with less than six minutes remaining, UMBC junior face-off specialist Phil Poe won the final six draws of the game, and senior attackman Joe Lustgarten scored three of the Retrievers' six goals in a span of 5:12 to spearhead a rally which resulted in a 15-13 UMBC victory. Lustgarten, who led UMBC with four goals and two assists, scored the game-winning goal with 55 seconds remaining, while Poe won 11 of 12 fourth-quarter draws and 22 of 29 in the contest.
Twelfth-ranked Albany (12-4) faced a tough out in No. 4 and host Stony Brook, but came away with a 17-15 victory in the nightcap of Thursday's thrilling action at LaValle Stadium. The Great Danes defeated UMBC, 16-10, on April 19.
LAST TIME WE MET: Matt Gregoire scored a career-best five points, but the Retrievers fell, 16-10, to tenth-ranked Albany at John Fallon Field on April 19.Gregoire scored back-to-back goals late in the third quarter and early in the fourth to bring the Retrievers to within 11-9 with 10:48 remaining. But the high-powered Great Danes reeled off three straight goals in a span of 2:12 to take its biggest lead of the game at 14-9 with 6:36 to play. Pat Young briefly halted the surge and cut the deficit to four goals with 5:10 to play, but the Retrievers could get no closer.
A LOOK AT THE OPPONENT: In the conference semifinals, junior attackman Ty Thompson scored three goals down the stretch as the Great Danes scored five of the game's final six goals to seal the 17-15 victory over Stony Brook. Ty Thompson finished with four goals and an assist while his teammate and cousin Lyle, the America East Player of the Year, had three goals and three assists to up his season-point total to 99.
ALL-TIME SERIES: UMBC leads the all-time series, 10-6, but Albany has won the last two contests. The two teams will meet for the seventh time in ten league seasons in the championships. The Great Danes have won four of the previous six meetings, although the Retrievers have won two of the three title game match-ups (2006, 2008).


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Compare cheap flights to Colombia
Find cheap flights to Colombia with Skiddoo and enjoy a trip to one of the most beautiful countries in South America!
What to do in Colombia
Colombia is a South American country known for its combination of stunning landscapes, fantastic cities, and incredible people. No matter where you're travelling in Colombia, you'll experience a feast for the senses when you pick Colombia.
One of Colombia's greatest treasures is having tons of natural wonders, and it caters to all types of travellers. Do you want to be far away from civilization? Go to Amazonia's Amacayacu National Park where you can wander the park by boat and see wildlife like monkeys and see the rare pink dolphins. Isla Gorgona is also abundant with wildlife such as whales and sea turtles. Go diving here too and see more marine animals.
Are you a mountaineer? Visit Tayrona National Park, trek the volcano at Los Nevados National Park, and see the most amazing landscape of flowers in Cocuy National Park. But if you're more of a mermaid or merman, San Andres and Providencia Islands have incredible beaches waiting for you.
For more incredible adventures, head to San Gil, Barichara, and Chicamocha Canyon. These areas are home to Colombia's gorgeous mountains for road trips, rivers to raft, caves to explore, and waterfalls to abseil. Reward yourself next and fly to Pereira for a dip in Santa Rosa's hot springs.
Colombia is also chockfull of great cities you should visit. Fly to Bogota to find world-class dining, vibrant nightlife, and excellent museums like the golden Museo del Oro. If you love to dance, Colombia's Cali is the salsa capital of the world.
Take photographs of the city's other manmade destinations. There's the massive Catedral de Sal, which is a dazzling church built underground in a former salt mine. Channel your inner Indiana Jones and explore the Archaeological sites in San Agustin and Tierradentro, or the beautifully preserved town of Villa de Leyva.
Check out Nomadic Samuel's guide and get more ideas for your trip to Columbia.
When to visit Colombia
The best time to visit Colombia based on weather is from March to September (shoulder season) and December to February (high season). You'll enjoy sunny skies best during high season.
Bring a good Spanish-English phrasebook and language app to help travel easily.
Check Smartraveller to know the preparations you'l need before flying to Colombia, which you can visit visa-free for up to 90 days as long as your passport is valid for at least six months from your planned date of return to Australia.
Travelling to and around Colombia
International flights like yours will land in Colombia's major cities like Bogota, Cali, Pereira, and San Andres Islands, to name a few. Once you land, you can start conquering Colombia by plane, train, boat, bus, metro, taxi, and cable car.
So answer your call from Colombia and book your flights to Bogota with Skiddoo today!


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ByLauren Weber
Feeling rested this morning?
If the question itself elicits a yawn and a tighter grip on the coffee cup, you're not alone. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that 40.6 million American workers – 30% of the civilian workforce – sleep fewer than six hours per night, well below the recommended seven to nine hours.
And that chronic exhaustion is costing the economy $63.2 billion in lost productivity, according to a Harvard Medical School study.
For years, experts say, employers have overlooked the effect this sleep deprivation can have on employee health and performance, even in the face of a growing body of research that links poor or inadequate sleep not only to low productivity but also to higher rates of depression, obesity, heart disease and cancer.
That's starting to change, as The Wall Street Journal reports today. Companies – including Goldman Sachs Group Inc Procter & Gamble, and hedge-fund firm D.E. Shaw & Co. – are investing in sleep-hygiene workshops, online coaching for insomniacs, nap pods, and even special office lighting that helps regulate the body's production of the sleep hormone melatonin.
"Sleep is part of what I call the 'wellness triangle,' along with fitness and nutrition," says Nancy Rothstein, a sleep expert who consults with corporations on the topic. "And when you're exhausted, you're less likely to exercise and less likely to eat well. That's why I put sleep at the top of the triangle."
She is working with P&G and a Hyatt hotel – the Park Hyatt Beaver Creek resort in Avon, Colo. – to help improve the quality and quantity of employees' (and, in the case of Hyatt, guests') sleep.
So, how can we learn to sleep–and consequently, work–better?
Making a few relatively simple changes can result in more restful sleep. One crucial step, says Rothstein, is to turn off screen devices such as laptops, iPads, and smartphones about an hour before bed. The blue light emitted by these devices interferes with melatonin production, and sends your body the message that it's daytime, perking you up just as you should be winding down.
Another option: Increase the amount of time you spend in natural light, which shuts down melatonin and keeps you from getting too sleepy during the day. Even a short walk during the lunch hour can help.
"There are so many people who have no access to natural light. They go to work when it's dark and come home when it's dark. That messes with sleep and leaves you feeling sluggish and irritable," said Terry Cook, CEO of Litebook Company Ltd., a maker of therapeutic lights used to treat jet lag, sleep disorders, and seasonal affective disorder.
The National Sleep Foundation tracks Americans' sleep habits and suggests these ideas to improve your slumber:
- Treat your bedroom as your sanctuary from the stresses of the day. Create a comfortable sleeping environment that is free of distractions.
- Be sure your bedroom is dark when you go to bed and will stay dark until you get the sleep you need. Use light blocking curtains or shades if necessary.
- Establish a relaxing bedtime routine. Allow enough time to wind down and relax before going to bed.
- If you find yourself still lying awake after 20 minutes, get out of bed. Get up and do something relaxing in dim light until you are sleepy.
- Avoid exposure to bright light late at night. Dim your lights when it's close to bedtime, and use night lights for nighttime awakenings.
- Exercise regularly. Exercise in the morning can help you get the light exposure you need to set your biological clock. Avoid vigorous exercise close to bedtime, if you are having problems sleeping.
- Use a sound conditioner or ear plugs to block unwanted sounds.
- Avoid caffeinated beverages, large meals and alcohol right before bedtime.
- No late-afternoon or evening naps, unless you work nights. If you must nap, keep it under 45 minutes and before 3:00 pm.
Readers, do you ever fall asleep during meetings or while driving to work? Do you think sleepiness interferes with your professional performance? Do you have any additional tips for sleeping well?


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I have such an interesting article about Clarendon Park Congregational Church Football Club to post, but the wonderful postcard of the team in 1910 can't be scanned because I am having yet more computer problems, so in the meantime let's have another drunkard story, this time from 1893:
DRUNK OR ILL? William Sharman (50), 11, Seymour Road, Clarendon Park, was charged with being drunk while in charge of a horse and dray in High-street on Wednesday. – Mr J. T. Hincks defended. – P.C.'s Sharman and Underwood stated that they found prisoner asleep at his dray in High-street about one o'clock on Wednesday. He was very drunk, and smelt strongly of drink. Mr Dixon, charge office clerk, stated that when brought to the police station Sharman reeled about, and was very drunk. Mr Hincks said that the man had been employed by a railway company for 30 years, and had nothing against him. He contended his client was ill and not drunk and when he (Mr Hincks) saw him he could hardly stand for pain. Evidence was called showing that the accused was very ill on Tuesday night, and on Wednesday morning was so ill that his friends advised him not to go to work. One witness stated that at a quarter to twelve prisoner was quite sober, and two draymen, who were present when he was arrested, gave similar evidence. The magistrates dismissed the case.
William Sharman, who was from Rutland, and his second wife Sophia, moved to 11 Seymour Road with their two children sometime around 1887, probably when the house was brand new. In 1891 William was a drayman, meaning that he drove a low, flat-bed wagon with no sides, generally used for transporting goods. He worked for the Great Western Railway until his death in 1905.
So was he drunk or was he ill? Well, whatever the 'illness' it certainly wasn't serious enough to kill him as he lived and worked another 12 years. And there aren't many illnesses that cause the sufferer to smell strongly of alcohol, so my money is on a conspiracy. The man couldn't stand for the pain, eh? I'm putting him down for another Clarendon Park person drunk in charge of a horse. Sorry William. Regards, Elizabeth.


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- 地区
- Greece, Cyprus
- 主要联系人
- Dora Apostolopoulou, Eftychia Saroglou, Vaggelis Karastergios
- 网站
- www.visible.gr
Catalyst Global team building products are sold and distributed in Greece under exclusive licence by VISIBLE – Visionary Business Learning.
Our vision is to change the way people experience training; to teach them how to use their internal magic, in order to improve their performance as professionals. We strive to help them discover new reasons to learn, develop and advance as members of a team in which they work and create every day by offering them innovative training tools. We are passionate about offering knowledge by using methods and materials of the highest quality and originality, which people will love and companies will chose due to their excellent outcome.
We strongly believe in the power of learning through experience whether it's used to engage employees or strengthen the loyalty of the customers; thus in Catalyst Global we found the perfect partner.
We make sure that our teambuilding solutions are absolutely relevant to our customers' specific needs and compatible with their culture. Our enthusiastic and highly inspired team makes sure that the purpose of the training or the event is fully served through a unique creative experience.
Visible designs and brings to life in Greece and Cyprus corporate events, conferences, team-buildings, product launches, training programs which are based on Catalyst Global products and therefore are beyond comparison.