text:
This was published 6 years ago
GPs oppose insurers covering cost of visits for fear of switching
Doctors have expressed concern that proposals to allow private insurers to pay for GP visits might encourage people to change doctors, undermining continuity of care.
On Friday, Health Minister Peter Dutton opened the door to lifting the long-standing ban on private health insurers paying for GP services, sparking concerns from consumer advocates and health economists that a change could accelerate a shift to a two-tiered health system, where those who can afford private cover receive better care than those who cannot.
The nation's largest health insurer, Medibank Private, has been pushing for the change for several months, arguing that treating medical conditions earlier would reduce the need for more expensive hospital treatment later.
In November, the company began a trial with medical centre manager IPN in which six of its Brisbane medical centres provide Medibank members with enhanced GP services, including a guaranteed appointment within 24 hours and after hours home visits, for no out-of-pocket costs. Medibank is not paying IPN for the services directly but is contributing to ''administrative and management costs''.
The nation's second-largest health insurer, Bupa, has attacked its rival over the issue, telling Fairfax Media that while allowing insurers to cover GP charges would be popular with health fund members and be ''a boon for healthcare providers'', it could be costly for the government because health fund members might use more services.
Royal Australian College of General Practitioners president Liz Marles said she was concerned schemes such as the one being trialled by Medibank would encourage people to switch from their regular doctor to another doctor who was affiliated with their health fund.
''The most important thing in getting good outcomes is continuity of care,'' Dr Marles said.
She said the organisation believed access to care should be based on ''medically assessed need'' rather than other factors.
Medibank Private's national medical director, Ian Boyd, said it was up to members in the trial areas to decide whether they wanted to use the enhanced services being offered.
James Gillespie, deputy director of the Menzies Centre for Health Policy at the University of Sydney, said allowing private insurers to pay GP fees risked extending the two-tiered system to primary care.
Brian Morton, chairman of the Australian Medical Association council of general practice, called for a conversation between government, health insurers and the medical profession to ensure that ''short-term gains for Medibank Private'', which the government is preparing to sell, ''don't damage the system for everyone''.
Dan Harrison is Health and Indigenous Affairs Correspondent for Fairfax Media. He is based in Canberra.


text:
400 micron white plastic disc which slides over the stem of most long stem wine glasses. Printed full colour on 1 side. A great promotional item for restaurants, wine bars and dining events.
Absorbent 1200 Micron pulp board drink mats printed with your artwork in full colour on both sides. Available in 94mm round or square shape. Ideal for pubs, clubs, trade shows or restaurant promotions.
Ideal for food mailing campaigns or promotions for outdoor events, trade shows, restaurants, cafes and pubs etc. Can be cut to a bespoke shape within each stencil. Full colour print to one side.
Child-resistant disposable flint lighter with bottle opener on one end. Suitable for multicolour printing.
Aluminium bottle opener keyring in a curved design. Keep this bottle opener on your keys for convenient storage. Ideal when camping or at parties.
Plastic bottle opener in the shape of a fist suitable for multi-colour printing. Available in White and Black
Dual purpose aluminium opener for bottles and cans. Available in a range of popular colours.
Soft touch silicone plastic loop carry handle available to attach to MG0233/MG0333/MG0334/MG0335 bottles. Plain stock only.
The cookie settings on this website are set to 'All Cookies' so that you have the best online experience possible from our site. Without changing this setting you consent to this. If you wish to opt out click on the 'change cookie settings' link.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Rieder: Making the ultimate sacrifice for journalism
So much of the talk about journalism these days revolves around new business models and clicks and platforms.
It's easy to forget about the underlying public service role of the field, the reason the press gets singled out for protection under the First Amendment.
Journalism at its best is about truth-telling, about providing people with information they need to understand their world. It's a deeply imperfect enterprise — and a critically important one. And sometimes those carrying it out pay the ultimate price.
We were reminded of this powerfully last Friday when Anja Niedringhaus, a photographer for the Associated Press, and Kathy Gannon, an AP correspondent, were shot while covering the run-up to the election in Afghanistan. Niedringhaus died from her injuries.
Another reminder of journalism's heft came with the death Sunday of former Philadelphia Daily News columnist Chuck Stone, a man whose writing engendered such trust in the community that scores of criminal suspects surrendered to him rather than to the police, a man who once successfully negotiated a hostage situation at a prison at great personal risk.
Niedringhaus and Gannon were shot by a police commander in the perilous terrain of Khost in eastern Afghanistan. No surprise that they were there. The mission reflected their determination to get close to the story, the real story, the real people, whatever the risk.
Carlotta Gall, no stranger to danger herself during her many years covering Afghanistan for The New York Times, was with the two AP journalists just before the fatal journey.
Gall, now the Times' Tunis bureau chief, warned them of reports she was hearing of rampant Taliban attacks planned for that Friday targeting foreigners and government officials.
"But Anja and Kathy took it in stride," Gall wrote. "They knew the dangers."
They went to Khost because that is what they did.
Just two years ago, two splendid journalists lost their lives in combat zones within a week of each other.
Anthony Shadid succumbed to an asthma attack while covering the fighting in Syria for The New York Times. He was said to have been allergic to horses, and he was being smuggled by horseback out of Syria, largely off-limits to Western journalists, when he was stricken.
Marie Colvin, an American-born war correspondent for Britain's Sunday Times, was killed along with French photojournalist Remi Ochlik when the media center where they were working was shelled by the Syrian army.
Like Niedringhaus and Gannon, both were known for their determination to put a human face on warfare, for their firsthand reportage on war's impact rather than settling for bland pronouncements by policymakers.
In a 2004 interview with American Journalism Review's Sherry Ricchiardi, Shadid summed up his approach: "You want to find the human moment ― that's your challenge as a reporter. And you have to be on the scene to do that."
It's easy to see war correspondents as adrenaline junkies, as adventurers who get off on the boom-boom and the risk. But Colvin, who had lost an eye covering combat, hated being portrayed that way. "I don't do this for fun," she once said. "I do it because it is necessary."
Stone, who crusaded against injustice in his columns, was a different type of journalist, but also a brave and impressive one. In addition to that prison negotiation, he was once summoned by bank robbers holding a hostage. Stone defused that situation, too.
All told, 75 suspects reluctant to turn themselves in to the Philadelphia police because of the beatings they feared might ensue surrendered to Stone in the Daily News newsroom.
He was, former Daily News editorial page editor Rich Aregood wrote on Facebook, "the only Underground Railroad for criminal suspects a newspaper ever maintained."
Rieder is USA TODAY's media editor and columnist


text: On the Job Training: Before Zachary Taylor became president, he had never held political office or voted in a national election. Instead, his status as a military leader catapulted him into the White House. His nickname, earned in battles with Mexico, was "Old Rough and Ready." As president, he helped found the Department of the Interior, which protects wildlife and national parks. The major issue of his presidency, however, was slavery. Although he owned slaves himself, Taylor sought above all to preserve the Union. He favored the admission of new western states to the Union even if they outlawed slavery. This outraged Southerners. Taylor died during his second year in office, while the debate over slavery raged on.


text:
About AutoKiller Memory Optimizer Pro v8.1.1 This is a short guide explaining how you can install an app you found here on your phone. I'm also going to show you a way that's a lot easier then the standard method everyone uses.Please make sure your phone has "AutoKiller Memory Optimizer Pro v8.1.1 apk" enabled in it's settings! To check this go to Settings -> Applications -> Unknown Sources and check the box. You have two options, either put the Download AutoKiller Memory Optimizer Pro v8.1.1 apk file onto your phone's SD card or download and install it directly from your phone. Sorry We Dont Have AutoKiller Memory Optimizer Pro v8.1.1 Cheat Android.Another thing is to simply install a file manager app like Astro File Manager, browse the APK and install it. Remember This applications Only For Smartphone AutoKiller Memory Optimizer Pro v8.1.1 Android
AutoKiller Memory Optimizer Pro v8.1.1
Requirements: Varies with device
Overview: AutoKiller Memory Optimizer is not a regular task manager.
AutoKiller is an award winner minfree tweaker, it fine tunes android systems inner memory manager to keep your device fast over time. As a side effect it also lowers battery consumption. Also includes a manual process/service manager.
- ROOT REQUIRED to set minfree values, unrooted devices will not have this feature
- if you have questions or you face errors please check home page or write mail
- for more details see home page
- donation is only available via paypal atm. because payed apps are not available in all countries yet
Donators and PRO users receive additional features:
- no ads
- alternate preset enabled
- Chuck Norris mode enabled
- alternate preset (while screen is off)
Please be careful, apps with very similar look and name are distributed, they can be malicious.
What's in this version:
-fix widget selector and others
More Info:
Download: Released by chathu_ac


text:
April 18, 2013
By JAKE O'CONNELL | Associated Press
Ghostface Killah and Adrian Younge, "Twelve Reasons to Die" (Soul Temple/RED Distribution)
"Twelve Reasons to Die" unites Wu-Tang Clan vet Ghostface Killah with Adrian Younge, one of music's brightest young composers. The album's 12 cinematic tracks trace the trials of a masked Mafioso who is resurrected after his remains are pressed into a dozen vinyl LPs.
Playing like a graphic novel, the Ghostface persona jumps off the page. But aside from the requisite gear gloating (lion skin Wallabees, Black Panther hoodie made of panther skin), his signature impromptu patois is all but absent. Instead, Ghost is in the type of pure storyteller mode last heard on the breakneck hood-noir of his song "Shakey Dog."
Ghost's controlled and committed wordplay is the ideal accommodation for Younge's lush accompaniments. Probably best known for composing the score of the classic Blaxploitation spoof "Black Dynamite," an emphasis on stuttering organs and bleating brass carries over here, along with tight breaks and operatic hood nymphs who float in and out the story.
At times the arrangements approximate RZA conducting live musicians (he executive produces and narrates), but Younge also appears versed in the back catalogs of titans like David Axelrod and Ennio Morricone.


text: Asian Pacific Islander API heritage Month Hiro Tadashi Big Hero 6 2 Notice: Undefined index: wpcf-subheading in /var/www/wp-content/themes/typegrid11/single.php on line 31 by Tami Orendain in — 27 May, 2016 print Share — Tami Orendain DisneyExaminer managing editor. I'm pretty sure I can quote every line of Disney's Aladdin, but I haven't actually tried (yet). Tell me your favorite Disney movie at @emmabeltami or check out my latest work at emmabeltami.com.


text:
Nursing home resident abused GRANVILLE -- A visitor to a nursing home was charged with sexually abusing a resident. Police say a staff member at Orchard Nursing and Rehabilitation Centre in Granville saw Theodore Davidson, 71, of Glens Falls abuse the resident, who is an acquaintance of Davidson's. The staff member reported to incident to the facility manager, who contacted police. Davidson was charged with second-degree sexual abuse and first-degree endangering the welfare of an incompetent or physically disabled person. Saratoga Springs Police Department Police reported: o Stacy M. Morey-Beldon, 42, of Route 29 in Galway was charged at 2:59 a.m. May 10 on Church Street with driving while intoxicated and driving with a blood-alcohol content higher than .08 percent, misdemeanors. o Michael P. Gonzalez, 21, of Beacon Hill Drive in Saratoga Springs was charged at 2:55 a.m. May 10 on Union Avenue with driving while intoxicated, driving with a blood-alcohol content higher than .08 percent and aggravated driving while intoxicated, misdemeanors. o Paul D. Bauscher, 36, of Pine Lane in Cambridge was charged at 4:05 p.m. May 9 with third-degree criminal mischief, a felony, and endangering the welfare of a child, reckless endangerment and reckless driving, misdemeanors. Police say they observed him hit a car on Broadway and leave the scene of the accident. The occupants of the vehicle he hit were transported to Saratoga Hospital as a precaution. Saratoga County District Attorney A spokesperson reported: o Elizabeth J. Lorman, 54, of Jefferson Terrace in Saratoga Springs pleaded guilty May 10 to fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a felony. She is scheduled to be sentenced Aug. 15. New York State Police Police reported o Two 12-year-old female suspects were charged at 5 p.m. April 20 with criminal mischief, a misdemeanor. o Louis M. Valente, 24, of Cohoes was charged at 10:30 a.m. May 5 on Route 9 in Halfmoon with petit larceny, a misdemeanor. Ballston Spa Police Department Police reported: o Benjamin J. Branowski, 23, of Ballston Spa was charged at 11 p.m. May 3 with third-degree assault, a misdemeanor, and second-degree harassment, a violation, following a domestic incident. o Ayashe N. Rock, 25, of Round Lake was charged at 6 p.m. May 4 with fifth-degree criminal possession of marijuana, a misdemeanor, after he was found with more than 25 grams of marijuana during a traffic stop. o Jade A. Graves, 18, of Ballston Spa was charged at 11 p.m. May 4 with criminal mischief, a misdemeanor, as well as second-degree harassment and two counts of disorderly conduct, violations, following a domestic incident. o John W. Hunter Jr., 25, of Schenectady was charged at 3:51 a.m. May 5 with driving while intoxicated, a misdemeanor, as well as driving while ability impaired, a violation, and several traffic violations. o William M. Allen, 18, of Ballston Spa was charged at 4 p.m. May 6 with obstruction of governmental administration, a misdemeanor, as well as disorderly conduct, impeding traffic and unlawful possession of marijuana, violations. Allen was remanded to Saratoga County Jail. o Dakota Z. Offenbacker, 21, of Ballston Spa was charged May 6 with fourth-degree stalking, a misdemeanor.
-- By Emily Donohue and Caitlin Morris


text:
Garrett Hongo
Photo: © Franco Salmoiraghi
About the Author
Garrett Hongo was born in Volcano, Hawai'i, lived as a child in Kahuku on O'ahu, and grew up thereafter in Los Angeles. He is the author of two previous collections of poetry, three anthologies, and Volcano: A Memoir of Hawai'i. His poems and essays have appeared in The Kenyon Review, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, The New Yorker, Ploughshares, and Virginia Quarterly Review, among others. He has been the recipient of several awards, including fellowships from the NEA and the Guggenheim Foundation. He lives in Eugene, Oregon, and teaches at the University of Oregon, where he is Distinguished Professor in the College of Arts and Sciences.


text:
Contact us today to take advantage of these great local-resident-only and National deals before they're gone.
We're taking all necessary precautions during this time for our customers and associates.
Provide your contact information and we'll be in touch via phone, email or text to schedule your free window treatments consultation and more.
*Virtual consultations are not available at all locations. All fields are required. To review our Privacy Policy click here.


text:
CSTEROC - Way Too Cold (BAY AREA, CA) [Unsigned Hype]
WAY TOO COLD - CSTEROC featuring SKITZ, HIGHNESS, BIG HEAD, VUDOO, AL HUSKY & REG
- from the CSTEROC album "STAY WINNING" available
on iTunes http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/CSTEROC
Please click the "Report" button below if the video on this page is not working properly.
Comments will only be displayed by verified emails. No Spamming or Racism.


text:
If you're really rusty, don't worry about it. Even if you haven't stepped onto the court in two+ years, no problem. I played alot of tennis in highschool and college but I never rated myself. I would say I used to be a 3.0 but its been a while. Let me know when your want to play and I'll do my best to get there.
I'm around jollyville area if we are real far maybe we can meet at a court in the middle somewhere... googlemap for the win
Views: 253
Replies to This Discussion
hi amber, ia m in Wells Branch, close o i-35 and Wells Branch pkwy. Have courts here also. When can you play ?
Hi alex, i am in North also, Wells branch. When can you play ? I am at Wells Branch pkwy and i-35. have courts here also, or can travel some distance.
Please let me know, thanks, leela.
i am female casual/intermediate player. call 512-567-0132 if you want to play
© 2020 Created by Mark / The Mayor. Powered by


text:
Using a Cloud Service at the Office Without Permission? You're Not Alone.
I don't usually like to look too deeply into surveys of customers by one company or another, usually because they tend to arrive at a self-serving point. But every now and then there are interesting nuggets in them that illustrate something interesting, or confirm something widely suspected but not often quantified.
Today's case in point is a new survey by the Texas-based cloud-computing outfit Rackspace. This is the company that is the subject of constant and recurring speculation that it's about to be acquired, with similarly constant and recurring insistence by its senior executives that it doesn't want to be acquired.
Anyway, Rackspace conducted a survey of 500 IT decision makers who happen to work for companies that use cloud-computing services. (Again, I ask, rhetorically, given all the surveys they seem to be responding to from vendors, trade publications and so on, when do "IT decision makers" ever get the time do their jobs?) Among the findings are the usual bits that naturally lead one to reach positive conclusions on the part of the company that commissioned the survey: Nine out of 10 IT decision makers like cloud computing, and they prefer vendors with strong customer service but higher prices by a ratio of 3 to 1. No shockers there.
But here's the bit that caught my eye. If you've paid any attention to the evolution of cloud computing in the enterprise over the last two years, you probably know that employees of various levels — programmers especially — can sometimes be sneaky about how they use it. Services like Rackspace, Amazon Web Services and many others are so easy to start using that it's common for employees to open an account and start using them without getting proper authorization from the boss.
Rackspace found that nearly half of those in the survey — 43 percent, to be exact — said they were aware of these "rogue IT" situations, where employees take it upon themselves to spin up a cloud service without first getting the boss's permission or setting up an account through the usual corporate processes.
Often it's a matter of solving a problem quickly. Corporations have a way of making decisions slowly, and cloud services can be spun up in a matter of minutes with nothing more than a credit card: Indeed, 38 percent of those surveyed said the main reason for "going rogue" is to save time. One in three said what was needed wasn't available internally or that they wanted to avoid dealing with the IT department altogether. Hard to argue with that.


text:
Epson Perfection 1200 Driver Downloads
"https://epsonseriesdriver.com" Provides Link Software and Product Driver for Epson Perfection 1200 Printer from all Drivers available on this page for the latest version. We provide all drivers for EPSON Printer products, select the appropriate driver for your computer.
- Type of printing: color
- At work printing: piezoelectric inkjet
- Supported media types: Glossy paper, Plain paper
- The maximum resolution for b/w printing: 5760×1440 dpi
- The maximum resolution for color printing: 5760×1440 dpi
- Printer usage: Home, Small/home office
- Weight: 5.5kg
- Height: 187mm
- Width: 450mm
- Depth: 289mm
- Printing on: cardstock, transparencies, labels, photo paper, CD/DVD, glossy paper, envelopes, matte paper
- Dimensions (WxHxD): 450x187x282 mm
- Features: PhotoEnhance function for automatic color image
Compatibility & System Requirements
Windows XP 32bit / Windows XP 64bit / Windows Vista 32bit / Windows Vista 64bit / Windows 7 32bit / Windows 7 64bit / Windows 8 32bit / Windows 8 64bit / Windows 8.1 /Linux / Mac OS
Epson Perfection 1200 Software Download, Driver Manual Setup
Operating System
|Epson Perfection 1200 All-in-One Printer for Windows (10/10 x64/8.1/8.1 x64/8/8 x64/7/7 x64/Vista/Vista64/XP)
|Epson Perfection 1200 All-in-One Printer for MAC OS X (OS X 10.13/10.12/10.11/10.10/10.9/10.8/10.7)
|Epson Perfection 1200 All-in-One Printer for Linux (C87/C88/D88 for CUPS and LPR)
How to Set up Driver Epson Perfection 1200 Printer :
Follow these steps to set up the downloaded software application and driver:
- Click on the link download that we provide above in this post.
- When the driver Epson Perfection 1200 download is complete and also you prepare to establish the data, click "Open Folder" or "Open File", as well as then click the downloaded documents. The file name ends in .exe.
- You could accept the default area to save the data. Click Next, then wait while the installer removes the documents to obtain prepared for setup.
- NOTE: If you closed the Download Complete screen, search to the folder where you preserved the.exe documents, after that click it.
- When the Install Wizard begins, follow the on-screen directions to set up the software application.
How to Set up Driver Epson Perfection 1200 for Mac:
- For First, Download driver on this site, and run the file.
- Click Continue, you have been Agree to the Software License Agreement by clicking Continue, and then Agree
- Click Install, please waiting for processing for installing.
- Your driver installation complete, then click close.
- Connect your printer should be working correctly.
Epson Perfection 1200 Printer Uninstall Procedure
- On the Start menu, click Control Panel, then, under Programs click Uninstall a Program.
- A web page will certainly open with a list of installed programs. Double click the program that you wish to uninstall.
- Click "Yes" after that "OK", this will certainly finish the uninstallation process.


text:
Blog Archives
Philadelphia Phillies: Brotherly Love and the Upton Brothers
Saturday November 3rd, 2012
Alex Mednick (Baseball Analyst and Writer): Both B.J. Upton and his younger brother Justin will be available this offseason. Bossman Junior (B.J.) will be a top centerfield free agent option, and Justin signed a lucrative 6-year deal just two years ago, is widely known to be on the trading block from Arizona. The Upton brothers are the two highest drafted brothers in sports history. B.J. was a second overall pick in 2002 and Justin, the first overall pick of the 2005 draft. They have both had ups and downs in their young careers, but both have performed extremely well and shown glimpses of brilliance. Justin has already cashed in on his first big major league contract, and B.J. is looking to so this offseason. Where B.J. will sign, we will find out over the next months. But one thing that is clear…he makes since for just about any team out there.
The Philadelphia Phillies are one of those teams that could envision B.J. Upton gracefully patrolling centerfield for 162 games. As a premier center fielder facing free agency, B.J. as become far too expensive a commodity for the Rays to retain going forward. He plays top-notch defense in centerfield and has a cannon for an arm. All he did in 2012 as 27-year-old (in his 8th year in the MLB) was hit 29 doubles, 28 home runs and steal 31 bags. Yes, with this amazing tool set that combines defense with speed and power comes a lifetime .255 batting average and about 150 strikeouts a year. There are weaknesses in every player's game, but B.J. Upton's strengths make him a very attractive target for any team that doesn't have Joe DiMaggio manning centerfield.
There is no doubt that B.J.'s speed and power will fit very nicely into the Phillies lineup along with Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins and Ryan Howard. We have to also consider what it is going to take to get B.J. signed to a contract. Right now, we know that the Tampa Bay Rays have offered B.J. a qualifying offer. While the chances of B.J. agreeing to this are virtually 'zero', it does mean that whoever signs B.J. is going to have to sacrifice their first round draft pick next year to Tampa. For a team like Philadelphia that can afford to sign top free agents, giving up a top prospect is an acceptable part of doing business. Read the rest of this entry


text:
Where in the world? 35,000 maps guide roamers
Market turns into Preston turns into Barracks turns into Garth. Got that? Try giving directions to out-of-town friends, and you'll get a first-hand feeling for how confusing Charlottesville's streets can be.
Roger Friend, owner of Blue Wheel Bike Shop, wonders if there's some kind of "Soviet" phenomenon behind the city's transportation woes. "It can't be too obvious how to get anywhere," he jokes.
Things may just get a little easier, however, thanks to a new non-profit, The Alliance for Community Choice in Transportation. The Alliance recently released 35,000 copies of a glossy fold-out map designed to inform residents and visitors of the wealth of transportation routes and resources in Charlottesville.
Have you ever wondered how to attach your bike to the front of a CTS bus? Of course you have! But in a guide otherwise loaded with how-to advice, some may wonder at the absence of a street index or an actual bus schedule.
Alliance director Tobin Scipione acknowledges these omissions, but cites the Alliance's reluctance "to overwhelm users with too much detail." However, she points out that the obvious highlighting of the twin giants, Route 29 and Route 250, makes it "fairly easy to orientate your location." The addition of the actual location of the bus stops certainly points you in the direction of an up-to-date schedule.
A "constant work in progress," according to Alliance board member Scott Adams, the guide– if it proves popular– may get multiple, updated printings.
Inclusion of both UTS and CTS bus routes indicates a clear intent to serve both the UVA and downtown communities. UVA even paid for the printing of 15,000 copies to distribute with the welcome packs to all incoming first years.
Scipione regards the map as a "tangible tool" to help students go "somewhere other than the Corner." But Yuliya Shebalkin, a third year at UVA, doubts that the guide will be fully used by the student population.
"This is so massive," she says while unfolding the map. "Using this in public would be dorky."
One hopes that the horror of appearing to be a tourist (albeit an informed one) won't deter UVA students from using the map. But Wahoos aren't the youngest beneficiaries: Scipione sees great potential for future spin-off maps, including a "kids' guide to getting around."
On April 2, the Alliance joined forces with parents, volunteers, and teachers at Greenbrier Elementary School to urge all Greenbrier students to walk to school that day.
Raising funds for such programs– and for the maps– is of primary importance to the nonprofit, but so far donations have been generous.
The $10,000 price tag for the printing the maps was covered by a grant from the DMV, cooperation from local transit companies, and a slew of business sponsors (including The Hook).
The map seems to have left few transportation stones unturned. In addition to the bus routes for UTS and CTS, it also shows Greene County Transit, JAUNT– as well as safe routes for bicyclists.
Perhaps its biggest draw is its mapping of Charlottesville's best-kept secret, the Rivanna Trails. In an Alliance press release, Diane Foster of the Rivanna Trails Association expressed excitement over her role in the map's creation.
"It was a fun and rewarding experience to partner with all the different interest groups," Foster explains, "to produce one map that displays both recreational and transportation opportunities in our community."


text:
By: Steve B. Brooks
As recently as 2009, American Legion Town of Wallkill Post 1181 in the Orange County, N.Y., hamlet of Middletown had slipped to eight members and was in fear of losing its charter. But that wasn't going to happen on Post Commander Alfred Masker's watch.
Masker, a 40-year Legionnaire and the post commander since 1982, helped lead a membership campaign that quickly got the post back up to more than 15 members. And from there, momentum gathered. In the past two years, Post 1181 has grown its membership rolls by more than 300 percent, surpassing a total membership in excess of 70 members – including five currently serving on active duty in the military.
Masker has worked alongside Vincent "Jim" Scali, Post 1181's first vice commander, and Legionnaire Bob Hayward of nearby Post 151. The trio used tools provided by myLegion.org and took advantage of regular communication with current and potential members to sustain the growth.
Hayward had no problem helping another post with its membership efforts. "It didn't matter which post you belonged to," he said. "It's just that you belong to The American Legion – trying to build the strength of the Legion and reinforce what it's done all these years."
Masker said he politely, but emphatically, declined overtures to close the post. He and Scali set a goal of boosting membership to 50 by 2013. "The first thing I did was contact all my friends who I know are veterans," Scali said. "It brought us eight members just canvassing my friends."
In stepped Hayward, who shared the value of using myLegion.org with Scali. Through myLegion.org, posts, counties and districts can search for veterans whose memberships have lapsed or are members of the department headquarters post. The group also started going to the county tax office to identify veterans receiving a tax exemption. Using both resources, they were able to make a list of prospective members and start contacting them.
"We did a lot of mailings and got some returns," Hayward said. "But the best source is myLegion.org. Jim was the spearhead. I provided the leads in the early days, but Jim is the guy that did the closing."
Scali said he also took advantage of recent state legislation that allows individual school districts to vote on whether or not to give local veterans tax exemptions. "We wanted to contact those veterans so we could get them to show up in numbers (at school board meetings)," he said. "In the course of the conversation, I'd ask them if they were a member of a veterans group. I was able to pick up 16 veterans (in two months) doing that."
That's just one example of Scali's work ethic, said Orange County Membership Chairman Tony Pegg. "It's very important to have a plan in place," he said. "(But) a passive plan doesn't really work. Reaching out to the veterans in the community is very important. People like Jim make my job much easier because they do go out and do that."
To keep members engaged, Scali sends out a monthly newsletter with a list of post activities and a welcome to new members – and with a personal note on every newsletter. That engagement is key.
"When you get a member in, you don't just grab their name and their card," Orange County Commander Jerry Oser Sr. said. "You want to give them a job. Make them feel that they're giving as much as what they're getting in return to make them a part of The American Legion family."
And the family aspect is emphasized – not just at Post 1181, but throughout Orange County. "We let them know about our Children & Youth programs," said Paul Oser Sr., Jerry's brother and the county's vice commander. "Last year Orange County sent 32 boys to Boys State. They do scholarships. They do talks in schools. We're getting more community-minded."
The membership success is contagious. "This also energizes the rest of the county," Jerry said. "It's not just one post. Jim and Al and Bob will go to other posts and help them.
"The county put together a five-year membership plan, and everyone (supported it). Jim followed that five-year plan to the hilt. That was the main reason (for success): his persistence, as well as Al's, with Bob's help. This is a community thing. To get (what) we need, everyone needs to get involved."
On the brink of losing its charter, Post 1181 now has more than 30 members attending its monthly meetings. It's a far cry from the dark days.
"When I first joined the post, we could have the meeting at this table," Scali said, pointing at a kitchen table pressed to seat six. "And there'd be an empty chair."


text:
Ingredients:Preparation Time: 1 1/2 hours, plus chilling
For the crust:
1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup butter or margarine, melted
For the cheesecake filling:
3 packages (3 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1 3/4 cups mashed sweet potatoes
2 large eggs, slightly beaten
2/3 cup evaporated milk
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
For the topping:
2 cups sour cream, room temperature
1/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions:Heat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium bowl, mix graham cracker crumbs, sugarAnd butter until combined. Press onto bottom and 1 inch up side of a 9-inchSpringform pan. Bake until set but not brown, 6 to 8 minutes. Remove fromOven, and cool. Beat cream cheese with electric mixer until smooth. Add sugar and brownSugar, beating until smooth. Add sweet potatoes, eggs, evaporated milk,Cornstarch, cinnamon and nutmeg, beating until well combined. Pour intoCrust. Bake until edge is set, 55 to 60 minutes. Whisk sour cream, sugar and vanilla to combine. Spread over warm cheesecake.Return to oven, and bake until just set, 5 minutes. Cool on wire rack.Remove side of pan, and chill for a few hours or overnight. Can garnish withPecan halves and drizzle with a Caramel Topping. Makes about 12 servings.


text:
Earth : Oceania : Australia : Western Australia : Perth
Perth is the capital city of Western Australia and is the most isolated capital city of over 1,000,000 people in the world.
Perth sprawls along a flat coastal plain, centred along the Swan River and bounded by the Darling Scarp to the east and the Indian Ocean coastline in the west. Perth has a population of around 1.6 million (2009), making it the fourth largest city in Australia. The many uncrowded beaches along the Perth coastline define the lifestyle: Perth is laid-back, quiet and safe.
Perth Metropolitan Area[edit]
While the CBD straddles the Swan River, most of Perth's residents live in suburbs along the coast.
Outside the city[edit]
1-2 hr outside the city are many small townships and a big island
The Perth region has been home to the indigenous Nyoongar people for at least the past 40,000 years.
British settlers established a free settler colony in 1829 as part of the Swan River Colony. The settlement was given the name "Perth" after the city of Perth, Scotland, the hometown of Sir George Murray, the British Colonial Secretary at that time. From 1850, an influx of convicts boosted the size of the colony and their labour helped shape the early architecture of the city. The discovery of gold in the 1890s triggered a boom which, with subsequent mineral discoveries, has been key to the city's economy. As capital of the state Western Australia, Perth joined the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901.
Once a small, isolated city, the mining boom in Western Australia following the end of World War 2 has led to a high rate of migration to Perth, which allowed its population to overtake that of Adelaide in the 1980's. While the actual mining takes places in distant, more remote parts of the state, much of the mining-related services sector is based in Perth. Today, Perth remains Australia's fastest growing city, and in recent years has transformed from a relatively laid back city to a fairly vibrant one. Due to the fact that Perth's population growth was relatively recent, it lacks the dense Victorian core of the eastern cities, but makes up for it with its own charm, particularly seen in the numerous parks and other green spaces within close proximity of the CBD.
Despite its isolation and relatively small population, Perth is a surprisingly culturally diverse city. Due to the high rate of migration to Perth, slightly less than half of Perth's residents were born outside Australia. Its proximity to Southeast Asia and Africa has led to an influx of migrants from countries such as Malaysia, South Africa and Thailand, and this is reflected in the diversity of cuisine available in Perth. If you wish to experience a cosmopolitan culture without the hustle and bustle of larger cities then Perth is worth visiting.
The City has a temperate Mediterranean type climate. Summers are hot and dry whilst winters are generally wet and mild. Summer temperatures average 30°C/86°F between November and April. Maximum temperatures during the height of summer can reach and sometimes exceed the 40°C/104°F mark. Very hot days tend to have very low humidity making conditions more bearable.
In the Perth metropolitan area the summertime temperature rises rapidly during the morning, sometimes relieved in the afternoon when the "Fremantle Doctor" blows inland from the ocean to cool the city centre by up to 10°C. The doctor often runs out of puff before reaching suburbs further inland, leaving the foothills and beyond to swelter till after sunset.
Winter (Jun-Aug) temperatures are usually around 19°C. Minimum temperatures occasionally drop to near 0°C on clear nights. Though Perth goes through lengthy dry spells in Winter, when it does rain, it pours. Storms with strong winds occasionally hammer a Winter's night, but they generally cause no more destruction than a toppled tree or flattened fence.
When to visit[edit]
Spring (Sep-Nov) and Autumn (Mar-May) are ideal times in which to visit Perth. Spring (particularly October / November periods) is perhaps the very best to see the sights as after a decent winter's rainfall, the famous wildflowers around Kings Park and the Avon Valley bloom splendidly. The metropolitan areas as well as the bushlands have many flowering species which often flower en-masse, so it is wise to purchase over-the-counter hayfever or antihistamines from a local chemist before making a trip to see them with minimal discomfort. Beach-goers from colder climes might find the summer months too harsh, usually reaching about 35°C and sometimes up to 45°C during the midday, so it is perhaps best to visit during March-April or October-November as well as taking a hat, sun-screen lotion and sunglasses.
The local inhabitants tend to holiday during the height of summer or winter, either to escape the climate, or to celebrate it. In winter Perth inhabitants often travel north to Broome or Bali for the warmth, or oppositely staying in small chalets in the southern country during the winter to enjoy the cool wet climate and seasonal foods.
Although Western Australia has many public holidays they are unlikely to cause much inconvenience to your travels. Shops are still open, public transport still runs and the sky is still blue. The exception may be New Years' Day (Jan 1), Australia Day (26 Jan), Good Friday (10 Apr in 2020), Easter Monday (13 Apr in 2020), Labour Day (first Monday of March), Queen's Birthday (27 Sep) and Foundation Day (first Monday in June), Christmas Day (25 Dec) and Boxing Day (26 Dec). Most larger shops and shopping centres, pubs and restaurants are closed on these days but smaller convenience stores and some fast food chains keep their doors open. That said however, more and more stores are beginning to open on public holidays. Sunday trading came into existence in late 2012 and most shops have quickly adapted to opening on Sundays.
Get in[edit]
By plane[edit]
All scheduled international and domestic flights arrive and depart from Perth Airport (IATA: PER). Though all international and domestic services operate under the same Perth Airport banner, there are 4 terminals, with two located either side of the runway, or about 9km (15 minutes) by road. The airport is working towards full consolidation on the eastern side of the runway by the mid-late 2020s, however in the meantime passengers may need to transfer to the other precinct if connecting between Qantas or Jetstar flights and other airlines.
T3 and T4 are Qantas Group terminals, and are connected as part of the same building. All Qantas and Jetstar domestic flights depart and arrive here, as do Qantas's international services to/from London and Singapore (the only international flights Qantas operates from Perth)
T1 is also one building, with all non-Qantas international flights (including Jetstar's international flights) and all Virgin Australia domestic flights (except some regional flights, which depart from T2). T2 is located next to T1 and hosts budget carriers and some regional flights.
Airlines & destinations[edit]
Major airlines operating from each terminal:
The city and major hotels can be easily accessed by taxi or commercial shuttle buses from all terminals. Courtesy phones are located inside the terminals (for the domestic terminal, the courtesy phone is surrounded by a large board advertising accommodation past the baggage conveyor belt as you leave the arrivals area).
For more than two people it is often cheaper and faster to take a taxi into the city (waiting time and drop off other passengers can make a shuttle bus service to the city very long). A taxi by meter to the city will cost approximately $40 from the international airport; the shuttle costs about $15 per person. It departs from T3 and T4.
Starting 1 November 2015, Transperth runs a limited stops express bus service number 380 servicing T1 and T2 (click here for the announcement). The number piggybacks on the Airbus A380 airliner in an attempt to make it easy to remember. The frequency is once every 30-60 minutes between 4.25am to 11.25pm from the City (Elizabeth Quay bus stop) and 5.20am to 1.20am from the Airport (each starting 1 hour later on weekends). The service uses accessible buses with dedicated luggage racks. Tickets are at standard public transport prices ($4.50 adults, $1.80 concession, cheaper using a Smartrider).
Located next to the international terminal (T1) the newly opened T2 has a cafe and convenience store located adjacent to the forecourt and check-in hall. Past security there is a pub, cafe, Subway outlet and newsagent/convenience store.
See T1 for public transport details.
T3 & T4[edit]
Transperth buses serve T3 and T4. Two bus routes, 37 and 40, service the airport. The 40 is much faster than the 37, but the routes are coordinated to maximise frequency (e.g. 37 at :00, 40 at :15, 37 at :30, 40 at :45), so don't leave a 37 to wait for the 40, except in peak periods. Finally, a warning that only some 37s go to the airport: many terminate earlier. Check the display on the front of the bus to ensure you are on a full length service. The service cost $4.20 per adult, and cheaper for children. The bus drivers take cash and give change.
Alternatively, use the shuttle bus, although this is much less frequent and more expensive, it is more direct.
There are a couple of coffee shops and food outlets both before and after security, as well as basic shopping, books and souvenirs. If you have some time to kill in transfers, there are some cafes open during business hours in the surrounding industrial park. Walk straight across the car park, or turn right and walk past the long term car park to the Flight Path Cafe in the Civil Aviation Authority building.
Terminal transfers[edit]
A free transfer bus operates between T1/T2 and T3/T4 operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Between 0600 and 2400 buses depart every 20 minutes and the journey takes approximately 10 minutes. From 2400 to 0600 buses depart every 30 minutes.
A taxi between the terminals will still cost at least $20.
By boat[edit]
Once the only way to way to get into Perth, a limited number of passenger ships now dock at Fremantle. A number of round the world cruise ships including the Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria call into the Fremantle Passenger Terminal [15] on their own schedule. Sailing into Perth from the Indian Ocean is expensive.
By train[edit]
The Indian Pacific [16] trans-continental railway runs from Perth to Sydney via Kalgoorlie, Adelaide and Broken Hill. It is generally not cheap, but this journey, which takes four days and three nights, is one of the world's great train journeys. The train traverses the longest stretch of straight track of any railway in the world (478km) as it journeys across The Nullarbor.
The Indian Pacific leaves from and arrives at the East Perth terminal, which connects with Perth's suburban rail network as well as the regional bus depot. The city centre is just a 5 min train ride away from the terminal. If you are carrying baggage, it is probably best to jump into a taxi as many of the city's hotels and hostels are located up to a few kilometres away from either of the stations.
Taking your car with you is also possible between Adelaide and Alice Springs, for an additional fee.
Regular train services (one or two per day, depending upon whether you are travelling during the week or on Saturday/Sunday) are available to and from the regional cites of Kalgoorlie (departing from East Perth) and Bunbury (departing from the Perth station). The Australind [17] train departs Perth Train Station at 9:30AM and 5:55PM daily for Bunbury in the south west with various coach connections, and The Prospector [18] departs from the Public Transport Centre (East Perth) at various time to the inland city of Kalgoorlie.
By road[edit]
There is currently no regular scheduled coach service across the Nullarbor Plain between Perth and Adelaide. People wishing to travel by road may wish to consider one of the adventure oriented tours that include camping and sightseeing. The only one currently operating on a regular schedule is Nullabor Traveller [19] Adelaide to Perth and Perth to Adelaide
Greyhound Australia [20] offers a daily coach service the length of the state from Darwin via Broome. At over 2 1/2 days this is not a trip to be taken lightly.
Driving a car from Perth and Adelaide is also an option and the road and accommodation infrastructure makes it achievable without too much stress. However, be warned that it is still a 2,700 km drive and is considered a 'once in a lifetime' activity for locals.
The main operator of regional bus services in south west Western Australia is the government run Transwa [21]. Coaches also depart from the Public Transport Centre to various locations around the state.
Coach services are available from Transwa or South West Coach Lines (enquire at their office in Elizabeth Quay Bus Station).
Get around[edit]
By public transport[edit]
The Perth metropolitan area has a fairly reliable and inexpensive public transport system operated by Transperth [22]. Information about timetables, fares, disruptions or service alterations can be found on their website, by calling 13 62 13 or at 'Transperth InfoCentres' located in at the Perth train station and a couple of branches in the City. The frequency of public transport decreases remarkably on weekends, and on weekdays in the evenings after 7 or 8pm. Always plan your journey before you travel. Travelling to the tourist attractions within Perth, Fremantle, Cottesloe, Scarborough is easy by public transport, but outside of that a car is significantly better.
A reasonably reliable network of public bus services run around the suburbs between bus and train stations.
Transperth also operates a free CAT bus service in Perth CBD, Fremantle and Joondalup. The large air-conditioned buses of different colours with the distinctive cat logo run about every 10 min on various routes around major facilities and attractions. They are a great way of getting from one place to another.
The buses are free leaving and entering the city within the Free Transit Zone - it runs from Newcastle Street down and from the end of Kings Park when going towards Subiaco. This does not require a SmartRider, just get on.
Perth's suburban railway network is great for quickly getting to outlying suburban areas, and extends down south to Mandurah. All services stop at the Perth station in the City on their way to or from the outlying terminating stations. The Mandurah line travels through the Elizabeth Quay station adjacent to the bus station and the south of the city.
Train services run frequently during peak hours and every 15 min during weekday daylight hours and 30 min after 7PM and weekends. Services commence around 5:30AM cease at around midnight. During peak hours Perth Station can get quite busy, though it is always very safe
Transperth operates a passenger ferry across the Swan River from Elizabeth Quay Jetty, where it connects with the Blue CAT bus, running to South Perth (on the promenade at the foot Mends Street). Fares are the same as the equivalent bus journey, and SmartRider cards are accepted. Services run every 15 minutes in peak times, and every 30 minutes off-peak. From the Elizabeth Quay Jetty it is a short walk past the Elizabeth Quay Station to main shopping and business streets of the CBD, whilst the South Perth terminal is a short walk to the Perth Zoo.(Timetable/map)
The Transperth system is divided into 9 concentric zones, as well as the Free Transit Zone (city centre and surrounds). The Free Transit Zone on the trains is only available to SmartRider (transport card) holders, passengers without a card have to buy a ticket. Tickets and passes are valid on all buses and trains within a zone. Tickets are valid for two hours and can be used on your return trip.
Zone 2 extends as far as Fremantle and for most visitors a two zone ticket will suffice. Single trip, cash tickets can be purchased from bus drivers or coin-operated ticket machines located at train stations. The more convenient SmartRider cards automatically calculate your fare and deduct it from your card when you tag on and off upon boarding and alighting bus and train services. SmartRiders can be bought or recharged at Transperth InfoCentres, major train and bus stations and/or from most Newsagents. Bus drivers can also charge your SmartRider for you, however they will not provide change. SmartRider cards carry a 10% discount over cash fares.
There are $12.60 DayRider tickets available after 9am during the week and anytime on weekends. FamilyRider tickets also cost $12.60 and allow two standard fare passengers plus up to five concession passengers unlimited travel - these are only available after 6pm Monday to Thursday, after 3pm on Fridays, and from 9am on weekends and school or public holidays. This is an excellent value for couples and couples with children, as a standard one-way fare alone runs from $2.80 for one zone, $4.20 for two zones, and $5.10 for three zones.
With the advent of the new SmartRider system, those passengers not holding SmartRider cards will need to present their paper ticket to the transit guard upon entering and leaving Perth and Elizabeth Quay Stations and selected suburban stations.
Taxi experiences in Perth can range from hassle-free to problematic. Extended waits during peak periods (5AM-9AM Weekdays and Weekend Evenings) are common, but outside these times, taxis are plentiful. Booking a taxi is possible but only recommended if your journey is likely to be upwards of $25 or you are travelling to the airport. This is due to the convoluted way in which the dispatch services handle timed bookings. If your journey is likely to be short, it is better to simply call for a taxi once you are ready to leave, or hail a taxi if you are in a busy area.
Two major taxi companies are Swan Taxis (13 13 30), who dispatch Swan, TriColor, 13CABS, Yellow and Coastal taxis, and Black and White Taxis (131 008). Apart from these two companies, there is another company called Maxi Taxi Perth (0406 553 313) who is providing excellent service to people of Perth. They are specialized in Maxi Taxis, airport transfers and they also have wheelchair taxis too. Which means a van with a hoist wheel chair ramp can pick up any disable people especially even if they are on electric wheel-chair. They strongly suggest that you should book online. There are numerous smaller companies that operate mainly out of the Central Business District. Fares are regulated by the state government and all dispatch companies charge the same rate. Flagfall is $3.90 during weekdays, increasing to $5.70 on weeknights and weekends. The kilometre rate is $1.59/km charged in $0.10 increments. Surcharges apply on designated holiday periods (New Years Eve and Christmas Day) and on weekend nights between midnight and 5AM. Tipping taxi drivers in Perth is not customary, but adding a small gratuity ($1 or $2) on top of the fare is common for exceptional service.
Catching a taxi from an entertainment precinct late on a Friday or Saturday night sees clubbers waiting at taxi stands up to 2 hours for a ride home. Drivers are known to avoid picking up drunken patrons from outside of pubs, clubs or from the entrance to Perth station. There have been a recent spate of sexual assaults on female passengers so it is advisable to travel in groups. There are specially designated 'secure ranks' operating at these times where patrons can queue in (relative) safety. Another option is the late night Transperth trains and buses run specially for revellers after their night out.
Services at Perth Airport are reliable and taxis arrive continually 24hrs a day. A typical taxi ride from the Domestic Airport to the City is around $30 ($35 from the International). There is a $2 airport tax payable on top of the fare.
Taxi service Uber is gaining popularity in Perth and offers a cheaper (up to 50%) and generally more reliable taxi service than the major taxi companies, but are limited in their locations. Users can sign up online using a mobile app and book a taxi from within the Perth CBD area to various locations, including the airport (~$22).
By bicycle or on foot[edit]
Perth and Fremantle can be comfortably explored on foot or by bicycle as Perth has some of the best cycling and pedestrian infrastructure in Australia. The Perth bicycle network features an ever growing, metro-wide system of bicycle/pedestrian paths. The system features;
Cycle maps are available from most bike shops, and at Planners Map [23]. The Department for Planning and Infrastructure provides a range of guides, maps and brochures for bike riders. If you have a scenic route in mind, these brochures can take you to the coast, Kings Park, Armadale and the Hills or around the Swan River.
A favourite amongst seasoned local cyclists is the ride along the North side of the Swan River between the City and Nedlands. Allow 60 min for a round trip along this route, as you might encounter a strong headwind.
Bicycles are allowed on board Transperth trains but not during peak hour, unless they are the type of bicycle that can be folded up.
By car[edit]
Renting a car is the ideal means of transportation for traveling to outlying attractions. Perth's major freeways and highways are free from any tolls, as is not the case in Sydney and Melbourne and from either of these major arterial roads, it is possible to be surrounded by beautiful countryside within minutes.
Rent-a-car providers are located at the airport and there are quite a few scattered around the city and the suburbs.
Perth is brimming with so much to see, you may want to take a limo which will offer a personalised tour which will take in the landmarks and coastal scenery, and this can be arranged through a limo hire company which specialises in these tours. You can also enjoy limousine wine tours, classic car hire, hummer tour in Perth city.
The general speed limit within built-up areas is 50 km/h unless otherwise stated.
Note that traffic in Perth (as elsewhere in Australia) travels in the left-hand lane. It is advisable to travel on the left hand lane even in dual carriageways for tourist drivers. This might take a bit of getting used to if you drive on the right-hand side back home. Even for right-hand drivers some things are different here like the ability to overtake on the inside of a vehicle on a freeway.
Note that Police are rarely seen out on the roads but manned mobile speed cameras operated by public servants are very prevalent. Driving even 5km/hr above the placarded speed can incur a fine. Driving 40km/hr above the placarded speed means the car is impounded for 28 days even if it not your car (hire cars excepted).
See[edit][add listing]
There is plenty to see in the city centre within wandering distance or on a free CAT bus. Hidden among the sprawl of the surrounding and metropolitan area are a few worthwhile attractions usually less than an hour away by car, or a bit longer on public transport.
Outside of the metropolitan area are some unspoilt national parks, unpopulated coastline and other interesting locations.
There is a designated area in the zoo for kangaroos where they can wander on visitors' paths and the animals are used to people so you can see them very close.
To see semi-wild kangaroos visit the Pinnaroo Valley Memorial Park (a cemetery, but not European style) [24] - it's a walking distance from Whitfords Transperth Train/Metro Station - just cross the highway, the highway exit and look for the entrance on the left. As there is plenty of space for them you may see them not only eating but also hopping.
Many local golf clubs, Karrinyup Golf Club, Joondalup Golf Club will have Kangaroos dotted along the fairways, and it is very likely to spot them during a game of golf.
Spectator sports[edit]
Do[edit][add listing]
There are a lot of options if you have access to a car - from the city just head to the coast, then head north or south for some exploring.
Live music[edit]
Perth is well known for its indie music scene at established venues such as Amplifier Bar, Rosemount, Fly By Night, The Rocket Room and Mojos. Visit YourGigs [25] for upcoming gigs or Perth Indie Bands [26] for a selection of good Perth bands.
Buy[edit][add listing]
Previously thought by some to be lacklustre, shopping options in Perth have improved dramatically in recent years, with major international luxury brands such as Burberry, Gucci and Louis Vuitton now having branches in Perth, along with many local Western Australian boutiques. As a general rule, the luxury brands are located around the junction King's Street and Hay Street in the city centre, while mid-range options are generally to be found at the pedestrian-only Hay Street and Murray Street malls.
The largest concentration of boutique shops is in the City centre while adjacent Northbridge is the place for niche independent stores. Trendier suburbs such as Mount Lawley, Leederville and Subiaco have a number of offbeat designer fashion stores.
Large shopping complexes located in the outer suburbs, such as in Morley, Carousel, Cannington, Midland, Joondalup, Booragoon (Garden City), Innaloo and Karrinyup have the usual department and chain stores.
Fremantle Markets offers an experience on its own with its over 150 independent stalls, but is only open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Shopping hours in the Perth metropolitan area for medium size shops to large supermarket/department stores are:
Small supermarkets such as IGA as well as other small shops can have more flexible shopping hours (some Petrol stations and small corner stores are open 24 hours).
A 10% Goods and Services Tax is included in listed prices. Water Town (Previously (Harbour Town")) (Yellow CAT from any stop) is where manufacturers have their factory outlets; some good deals are to be had there.
After Christmas (and around July as well for many stores) is the best time to come to Perth for bargain shopping. Some Perth stores are open Boxing Day as well as the 27th December. Customers have been known to form a line across the street to even enter stores such as 'Guess' and Myer store entry and escalator movement is monitored by security guards to prevent floor crowding.
Eat[edit][add listing]
One of Perth's drawbacks is that its people have not embraced late night dining. Very few places will serve food after 10PM, even on Friday or Saturday nights. While most restaurants in Perth do cater for vegetarians (and more rarely vegans), the selection is often decidedly limited. If you are looking for a place that embraces vegetarian food, Fremantle is probably a better option.
There is an extensive array of restaurants in Northbridge. You will find a great selection of Southern European and Asian restaurants. Northbridge gets very busy on Friday and Saturday nights as Perth goes into party mode. Neighbouring Mount Lawley and Highgate also has some good options. Victoria Park has a stretch of restaurants along Albany Hwy which is a fairly steady location with the locals and has a few high quality restaurants, although is lower key and more casual.
Fremantle is a good eating option. Famous for its cappuccino strip lined with cafes next door to one another popular with the yuppie crowd. On weekends, a local tradition is to visit the Fisherman's Wharf on warm, sunny weekend evenings for fish and chips. There are a couple of options to choose from close to the beach. Just follow your nose or the seagulls. Further exploring in Fremantle, or "Freo" as it is locally known, can reveal lots of trendy, alternative restaurants that cater for the "careful" eaters. If you care about knowing what it is you are eating, (vegan, preservative free, fair trade, organic), try exploring the Freo markets area, or just ask around, they are often not in the "touristy areas". Little Creatures is a decent brewery. If you are looking for a decent fish and chip or seafood dinner, it is typically far more expensive by the coast (where the tourists are), excellent seafood at a better price can be sourced in the central and eastern suburbs.
Subiaco is located just a couple of kilometres from the city center. It is a trendy but fun suburb which features some great food and entertainment, although it can be quite expensive.
Claremont is a suburb on the Fremantle railway line where you will find some good restaurants as well (including authentic Italian), although, again, it can quite expensive and there is a limited range.
The Swan Valley, especially along West Swan Road contains various wineries, food producers and restaurants with stunning views over the vineyards. Particularly good are The Black Swan Cafe, Duckstein Brewery, Elmar's and The Mallard Duck Cafe.
Kalamunda and other Eastern hills suburbs offer hidden gems of cafes, small shops and food producers in beautiful countryside with stunning city views. Traditionally Perth locals used to go for picnics and produce festivals in these areas back in the 19th and early 20th century, however as the practice waned with fashions leading towards the coast, it is an excellent place to visit away from the touristy areas for a relaxing or peaceful trip to the bush with fine views and decent food not too far from the city. People often do DIY food tours to local orchards, vineyards, cheesemakers, bakeries and other cottage industries, arts and cafes as its not really organised. Its usually best to visit during Spring or soon after the rains when the forest is at its best.
Guildford has many antique stores (although like all Australian antique markets are visited by many hundreds of tourists as well as locals, so real bargains can be rare), but you can get decent cafe morning teas and lunches in some fine old architecture. This area has some of Perths oldest residential houses and grand building museums & cafes. The old theatre now houses a large Asian textile and artworks store worth a visit and a quirky taxidermy museum a few doors down. Alfreds Kitchen is a tiny but legendary burger bar to the locals, who amass in large crowds that opens at night.
Local specialties[edit]
A large Western Rock Lobster (known locally by its former name of crayfish) industry. Most of the crayfish is exported to Asia and USA for vast sums of money. However, crayfish prices in Perth can be relatively cheap, especially during summer in a good season. A chance to give it a try without breaking the bank.
Chilli Mussels are a popular local speciality, consisting of mussels cooked in tomato and chilli jus, available in various restaurants.
Truffles are grown around Mundaring and Manjimup.
The ubiquitous fast food chains serve the usual oily stuff.
If you're interested in a gourmet road trip, nearby Margaret River (about three hours drive away) is extremely popular for wine tasting, delicious chocolate and fresh, locally made food and produce. The Spring in the Valley Food & Wine Festival in the Swan Valley is increasingly popular, but at the cost of getting a place cheaply and it being overcrowded. Its best to visit the Swan Valley outside of the festival to get the best value, or during the festival if you like the crowds. Most of these places have websites that you can confirm times and dates and are open throughout the year.
Drink[edit][add listing]
Perth has an a number substandard Gloria Jeans, Miss Mauds and Dome stores mainly in the city centre and suburban shopping areas. A larger number of of independent cafes serving high quality coffee (of various types and brews) line the trendy streets of suburbs around the city centre. One of the most well known place for a espresso is the Cafe Strip in Fremantle closely, however, a higher standard can generally be found in Perth, Mt Lawley, Leederville, South Perth and other inner-city suburbs. Although Perth culture has a high quality taste for coffee and demands very high standards in product, Perth has some of the more expensive coffee prices in the country with a normal sized coffee (e.g. latte) coming close to $4.
Pubs and bars[edit]
Perth has bars scattered throughout the city but most bars are in the CBD, Northbridge, Subiaco, Leederville, Victoria Park, Mount Lawley & Fremantle areas. Bars usually become busy after 5pm with the afterwork crowd, but most locals tend to go to bars on Friday & Saturday nights. The CBD bars in particular get very busy on Friday nights with many of the popular bars forming long entry lines. Most bars open from around 11AM and close midnight, although most bars in Northbridge and around the city centre stay open until 1 or 2am, and many bars in other areas have special extended liquor trading hours to either 1, 2 or 3AM. There has been an increase in small bars and bistro dining in niche areas of the CBD, however these are typically expensive even though good quality, so shop around for a good value evening. Smoking is prohibited inside all pubs and bars.
Club nights and both international and local gigs are held at a variety of venues across the city centre, Northbridge, Subiaco and Leederville, with some clubs scattered further out. Club nights are popular or Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays with few venues opening past midnight on other days and none on Sundays (due to licensing laws). Check out local street press magazines such as Xpress for gig guides and further info for a comprehensive gig guide
Almost all clubs in Western Australia have very strict ID policies and scanners, so in most venues it is impossible to enter without appropriate ID (either a passport or an Australian issued Proof of Age card or Driver's License).
Sleep[edit][add listing]
An unfortunate effect of the current mining boom is that the price of accommodation in Perth has skyrocketed in recent years, with average room rates currently higher than those in Sydney, Melbourne or even Rome. Figure on paying over $100 per night for even the most basic room, and over $200 for a 4-star hotel. In general, room rates tend to be most expensive in mid-week, when many business travellers visit, while (relative) bargains can often be found on the weekends.
Hotels and Motels[edit]
Most of Perth's hotels are concentrated in the city centre, the neighbouring suburb of East Perth, as well as the seaside suburb of Fremantle. Though slightly further, the coastal town of Mandurah, which is easily accessible by Perth's suburban railway system, is a popular weekend getaway for Perth's residents, and has several hotels and beach resorts to cater to that crowd.
Hostels and backpackers[edit]
Perth is very popular with backpackers and there are a large number of backpackers' hostels located in the city, particularly in the Northbridge area. Be warned there are a few hostels in Perth that are in terrible condition make sure to see your room or check the ratings online.
Long Term Stay[edit]
If you plan to stay for a longer period than one month in Perth you might consider renting an apartment or share room. You can find these accommodations online, for example on Gumtree. Prices range from $120 to $240 per week. Be warned for impostors though and be sure to always read the contract before actually paying the bond.
Caravan parks[edit]
Caravan parks are a cost effective and often good value family way to stay in Perth. Caravan parks are usually some distance from the city, but some have bus stops right out the front door. Caravan parks are generally clean and offer a variety of accommodation types.
Stay safe[edit]
The main dangers that an overseas visitor to Perth faces are sunburn and dehydration. Make sure you cover yourself with SPF 30+ sunscreen and a hat, and preferably a shirt and always keep a bottle of water with you (preferably a litre), especially in the warmer months. Also be wary of dehydration in the hot weather. An insect repellent such as 'Aeroguard' will be useful on summer evenings if you are outdoors.
Otherwise, Perth is relatively safe, though its best not to walk alone at night. Some areas such as Northbridge are also known to be 'trouble spots' on weekend nights and tourist should be careful. Perth citizens (as with most Australians) almost never carry firearms or other weaponry, therefore it is logical to avoid people and places whenever such things are observed and advise the local police service when safe to do so. Overall Perth is becoming safer, due to small alleyways and other niche problem zones being refurbished and unsuitable for loiterers.
Police are generally friendly and approachable. To contact the emergency services, call 000. For general enquiries and for police assistance when the matter is not urgent, ring 131 444 (international: +61 8 9222 1111).
Trains are generally safe, and Transit Officers patrol all train services after 19:00, and also do so routinely throughout the day. All railway stations are fitted with an emergency call facility, usually accompanied by the ticket vending machines (note that the emergency call facility will connect to the Railway Police, and not the Western Australia Police Service). All stations have cameras constantly monitored by the Railway Police. In each carriage of every train, there is a call button near the either of the doors which allows a passenger to communicate with the train driver in an emergency. If it is not safe to use one of these buttons due to their position, any passenger may walk to the next carriage and use the call button there, or ring 9220 9999.
From 2011, the Armadale/Thornlie Train line especially in the areas of Burswood and Carlisle has had some high profile assaults from gangs travelling on the train system. The gangs usually comprise of disaffected Indigenous youth and although weapons are not usually involved attacks have become more vicious in their nature.
The bus network is generally safe, but after hours can be a little more dangerous than the train network. It is not patrolled by the Railway Police, and bus security patrols are limited. Reports of attacks by people throwing rocks at buses and general antisocial behaviour is not unheard of. The only particular station (& its associated routes) that should be avoided is Mirrabooka. If you have to travel by bus at night, towards the front of the bus. If an incident on the bus occurs, tell the driver. Incidents — including violent attacks — carry on for far too long as they are not reported. The driver should then radio for assistance and will be met by bus security.
Pedestrians are advised to exercise caution when crossing the road at zebra crossings, walking along the footpath at the entry/exit points of car parks and driveways, or when crossing the road at T-intersections. Although pedestrians have the legal right of way in all of these situations, many motorists fail to observe this rule. This is usually due to ignorance or inattention rather than vindictiveness, but in any case it is obviously not worth risking life and limb in order to assert your rights as a pedestrian. In the case of zebra crossings, motorists should slow down if they see you are about to cross. If they do not slow down, do not begin to cross. It is usually best to follow the lead of the locals and to move as a group.
Driving in Perth can be straightforward as its highways tend to connect at various nodes making navigation easy. However, avoid travelling during business rush hour (between 7-9AM and 4-6PM), particularly in summer or hot days. Many of Perth's major roads were not designed for the volume of traffic currently experienced with recent high population growth. Perth drivers are increasingly known for being inconsiderate to other drivers on the roads during these times, which also has caused increased delays due to accidents.
The much wiser solution is to take public transport such as the train or bus system. If you are driving or a passenger in a taxi or a local residents car, it is recommended to relax and not allow it to affect you or your holiday. Most Perth citizens work long hours and wish to get home quickly away from the heat and traffic so therefore their behaviour is not personal and while is often aggressive, is seldom reckless. Travelling outside of these hours and on weekends is typically low hassles. It is likely these problems will increase over the next few years from 2012, as major roads are being upgraded and/or expanded to cope with increased volumes with new infrastructure projects, especially around the Perth Airport district.
There are a few rules to take care of while during driving in Western Australia. When stopped at a train crossing, do not proceed until the flashing lights have stopped even if the boom gate has fully lifted as fines are issued. There is a lower tolerance towards speeding so even a small excess over the road limit may warrant in an infringement or fine. It is not mandatory or always observed, however it is polite to keep a gap at an unmarked road crossing when stuck in traffic to allow access for turning vehicles. If you have noticed the lane next to you leave a gap in these places, it is polite do the same. It is always wise to take great care during merging traffic lanes, especially during rush hour (as per above paragraph). Buses do have right of way when entering traffic and occasionally often pull out with little warning. Australians are allowed to overtake on the inside lane, so drivers should be aware of this to avoid any potential alarm. If you are given right of way by another car, it is highly considered rude not to acknowledge this with a raised hand or brief wave.
Be wary of using ATMs, fraudulent devices have been added to some across Perth, but the prevalence is no higher than in any major city. ATMs are available outside nearly every bank branch. Recently ATM bombings have been reported more frequently compared to other Australian cities. The most notable incident is the bombing of 4 ATMs at the Harbour Town Shopping complex in West Perth in January 2013. There was no injury as it occurred when the centre was closed, but it did cause severe structural damage to the building. Be wary of using ATMs in secluded places at night or during the early hours of the morning.
Get out[edit]


text:
State's urban police chiefs want gun restrictions
Top police commanders from several of the state's cities and towns have thrown their weight behind Newtown police Chief Michael Kehoe, who inserted himself firmly into the gun-control debate last week by calling for a ban on assault weapons.
Kehoe was thrust into the spotlight following the events of Dec. 14, when a gunman armed with an assault rifle killed 20 first-graders and six educators at Sandy Hook Elementary School in the second-deadliest school shooting in U.S. history.
Redding police Chief Douglas Fuchs said he had conferred with other police chiefs "about the need to have serious discussions, relative to assault rifles and high-capacity magazines."
`Drive the conversation'
"My big concern is if you (have) these assault weapons and these high-capacity magazines ... all of your crisis response plans ... don't mean a whole lot, because of the sheer capacity of that weapon," said Fuchs, whose tenure as president of the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association ended last year. "Part of our obligation as police chiefs is to drive that conversation. We obviously don't create the law. We enforce the law. But, there are times like these where we have to have conversations with those who create the law to encourage them to do the right thing."
Fuchs also said police departments need to refocus their efforts on keeping illegal guns off the streets.
Several attempts this week to reach his successor, Southington Police Chief Jack Daley, for comment were unsuccessful.
Police chiefs from several of the state's small towns, such as Bethlehem and Cheshire, where gun violence is more rare, were reluctant to back an overhaul of the nation's firearms laws proposed by President Barack Obama.
But many top cops in the state's larger towns and cities said it was time for restrictions on assault-style weapons.
`Enough is enough'
"These types of weapons have been used to kill police officers, civilians, moviegoers and now elementary school children," said Joseph Gaudett, chief of police in Bridgeport, the state's most populous city. "Enough is enough."
Some chiefs said they want to take a look at any proposals before taking a stand.
Jonathan Fontneau, Stamford's police chief, said in an email to Hearst Connecticut Newspapers that, "It's difficult to form an opinion and take a position on any legislation that to date has not been proposed.
"However, that being said, I do offer my personal opinion on this: There are no valid reasons for possessing high-capacity magazines other than use in the military or law enforcement," he wrote. "Certainly sportsmen and hunters don't have a need for 20- and 30-round magazines for target shooting nor is there a need for magazines holding 17 rounds in a handgun."
Fontneau added that he would like to see gun permit applications be more explicit about whether applicants have prior mental health issues or are on medications.
`Ban assault weapons'
In an interview with NBC News last week, Kehoe called for more stringent gun control measures. He singled out assault-style weapons, like the Bushmaster AR-15 that Adam Lanza used to carry out his assault on the school last month, comparing their destructive potential to that of dynamite. The two should be similarly regulated, he argued.
"Ban assault weapons. Restrict those magazines that have so many bullets in them. Shore up any loopholes in our criminal background checks," he said in the interview.
Kehoe said it was unnerving to walk into the school's eerily quiet hallways in the hours after the shooting without knowing how much firepower his officers might face.
Kehoe is not the first police chief to speak out on the gun issue. Various police organizations have been allies of gun-control advocates going back to the 1980s.
A survey published in 2006 in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that the majority of police chiefs "believed that the government should do everything it can to keep handguns out of the hands of criminals, even if it makes it more difficult for law-abiding citizens to purchase handguns."
The study was based on a survey of 600 police chiefs nationwide.
Of those, more than half said that they planned to meet with state legislators to discuss gun-control legislation.
But state police spokesman Lt. Paul Vance, whose agency is leading the investigation into the Newtown shootings, said it's best to leave politics to the politicians.
"As an agency we have no issue with people legally having their weapons, but we're going to defer to our leaders to discuss it properly and to make a decision," Vance said.
President Barack Obama unveiled his gun-control agenda Wednesday at an emotional White House event attended by several families of those killed in the Dec. 14 mass shooting in Newtown.
"If parents and teachers, police officers and pastors, if hunters and sportsmen, if responsible gun owners, if Americans of every background stand up and say, enough, we've suffered too much pain and care too much about our children to allow this to continue, then change will -- change will come," Obama said.
Staff writers John Pirro, John Nickerson and Daniel Tepfer also contributed to this report.
firstname.lastname@example.com; 203-731-3350; http://www.twitter.com/ljanyNT


text:
ATLANTA (AP) — Health officials Thursday reported a five-fold increase of cases of a new strain of swine flu that spreads from pigs to people.
The cumulative case count jumped from 29 a week ago to 158 this week, thanks to a wave of new cases confirmed in Indiana and Ohio, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. Most of the cases have been tied to state and county agricultural fairs, where visitors are put in close contact with infected pigs, said the CDC's Dr. Joseph Bresee.
The recent cases include at least 113 in Indiana, 30 in Ohio, one in Hawaii and one in Illinois, Bresee said.
Most of the infected patients are children — probably because many were working closely with raising, displaying and visiting pigs at the agricultural fairs, Bresee said.
Also, diagnosis of cases has become quicker in the last week. CDC no longer must confirm a case with its own lab. Now states are using CDC test kits to confirm cases on their own on, speeding the process along. The patients were likely infected a week or two ago.
The CDC has been tracking cases since last summer. A concern: the new strain has a gene from the 2009 pandemic strain that might let it spread more easily than pig viruses normally do.
The good news is the flu does not seem to be unusually dangerous. Almost all of the illnesses have been mild and no one has died. Two of the recent cases were hospitalized, but both recovered and were discharged, added Bresee, the agency's chief of influenza epidemiology.
More good news is that all of the recent cases appear to have spread from pigs to humans, meaning it's not very contagious, at least between people.
But there probably will be more cases in the weeks ahead, and it won't be surprising if at least a few of them involve person-to-person transmission, Bresee said.
CDC: 158 cases of new swine flu strain from pigs
ATLANTA (AP) — Health officials Thursday reported a five-fold increase of cases of a new strain of swine flu that spreads from pigs to people.


text:
IBM Worklight is the mobile application platform that is part of the IBM MobileFirst solution.
IBM Worklight Studio is the development tool for creating web, hybrid or native mobile apps that runs on the IBM Worklight platform. IBM developerWorks also host resources on working with IBM Worklight, here and here.
IBM Worklight Studio Developer Edition V6, release in June 2013, is freely available as a plugin on top of Eclipse Juno V4.2.2. Also freely available, is the Rational Test Workbench plugin that provides functional testing of mobile applications created by Worklight Studio. Both plugins can be found on the Eclipse Marketplace.
* From this point forward, I will use "IBM Worklight Studio" to mean the IBM Worklight Studio Developer Edition for the rest of this blog entry *
The installation and configuration of IBM Worklight Studio and the Android SDK will take at least an hour or two. This is very much dependent on your network download speed and readiness of your OS/machine (or virtual machine).
By the time your IBM Worklight Studio and the Android SDK is ready for action, you will probably opt to go for a coffee break first. :)
Therefore, to shorten the time to evaluation and also improve productivity of fellow developers out there who wants to focus on evaluating the tool from a development perspective, I thought a software appliance with everything pre-installed and configured would be helpful.
Since I cannot give out Windows or Mac OS virtual images without running into license infringement issues, I chose to use SUSE Studio to construct a openSUSE based virtual machine with all the required IBM Worklight Studio components installed and ready to go.
Link to my Appliances
I have created two editions of my software appliance:
The RTR edition is a complete and ready to go stack with all software installed and configured. I have also included a library of tutorials downloaded from IBM developerWorks on the subject. You can start developing your first mobile app straight away and can deploy that onto the Android Emulator. If you have an Android phone connected via USB to the VM, you can also deploy your mobile app onto your Android phone for testing. However, the size of the appliance download is 2.4Gb (compressed).
The ARTR edition has a smaller footprint of only 1.5Gb (compressed). However, you only have Eclipse Juno V4.2.2 installed and you will need to install the IBM Worklight Studio plugins on your own. The effort is not strenuous for the operator but you'll need good Internet download speed to install the plugins via the Eclipse Marketplace. All tutorials on installation are included in the Tutorials folder to help guide you through the process.
PS: For those who are new to SUSE Studio, you do not need to sit around and wait for the download to complete before you can see the appliance in action. Use the Testdrive option to have it provisioned in the Cloud for an hour and you can interact with it remotely from your web browser.
PS: For those who are new to SUSE Studio, you do not need to sit around and wait for the download to complete before you can see the appliance in action. Use the Testdrive option to have it provisioned in the Cloud for an hour and you can interact with it remotely from your web browser.
That's all for now. Please let me know what you think by leaving a comment on the SUSE Studio Marketplace or here on my blog.
Have Fun!
PS: Happy Father's Day to Australians who celebrate it on this day.
PS: Happy Father's Day to Australians who celebrate it on this day.


text:
Last year the Willamette students, faculty, and staff contributed over 150,000 service hours to the community! Help us recognize the hard work you've been doing this semester by submitting your service hours on this page.
We welcome you to submit multiple entries throughout the term so that multiple contributions and extended commitments can be tracked with minimal difficulty on your end.
If you have any questions regarding this form or service at Willamette, please don't hesitate to contact us!
Thank you for your service to the community!


text:
All the boys from One Direction are taking a couple...
Daddy (harry styles) FINISHED!!!!56115189152
- by harrysmyman54
- Rating:
- Published: 30 Nov 2013
- Updated: 24 Dec 2014
- Status: In Progress
It's not easy being a signal mother at the age of 18 and it even harder when the father is apart of the biggest boy bands. 3 years ago is when Madison English made the word mistake of her life. She got pregnant with Harry styles baby!!!. Find out what happens when her worst night mare finds her
(Just letting you now there are pics)
(Just letting you now there are pics)
Join MovellasFind out what all the buzz is about. Join now to start sharing your creativity and passion
Loading ...


text:
When the first trailer for "Sleeping Beauty" was released, we had to back away slowly--not only was a super creepy, it contained some material unfit for a family website. But now there's a more chaste cut of the trailer, as well as the first round of review following its world premiere at Cannes.
Reactions have been mixed, leaning toward negative, but with star Emily Browning and director Julia Leigh both receiving praise for their work.
Indie Wire
"Browning's performance is bound to collect accolades even though the movie will scare off a lot of audiences and distributors, and Leigh (who has several other projects in the works) has firmly put herself on the map as a director to watch."
The Film Stage
"The obvious sentiment that 'Sleeping Beauty' tries to evoke is shock, but instead it feels like schlock. The imagery of perfect skin and beauty contrasted with naked old men is designed to leave you uncomfortable, but there is very little cinematic punch to the scenes. The film is shot in Kubrickian symmetry, often with little-to-no camera movement, nearly no music and minimal editing within scenes in order to feel like a painting."
Telegraph UK
"Browning's performance is utterly fearless, suffused with mystery, cold as ice. Leigh's spare screenplay trusts the audience to fill in the imaginative spaces, and her framing is precise and economical.. What a strange, ensnaring achievement, not least for a first-time feature, Sleeping Beauty is: no male director could have made it."
"While I can't say I loved 'Sleeping Beauty,' it is a film that will stick with me, and I suspect this is the beginning of a long and interesting career for Leigh as a writer/director… As it is, this is a museum piece, mounted on a wall behind glass, able to be seen but never felt, a cold film about heated things, fascinating but flawed."
The Wrap
"The best thing about the film is how disturbing it is. The film's biggest problem is how boring it is. Yes, even with a pretty naked girl, full-frontal male nudity, prostitution, drugs and casual sex, 'Sleeping Beauty' turns out to be very slow and a little dull."
U.S. & World
The day's top national and international news.
Entertainment Weekly
"What distinguishes this provocative Cannes arthouse competition entry from the commercial folderol of 'Sucker Punch' is, I guess, that 'Sleeping Beauty,' by first-time Australian writer-director Julia Leigh, is presented as a feminist exploration (Jane Campion is prominently listed as a mentor). And 'Sucker Punch' can be dismissed as, you know, a cheesy fanboy fantasy. I'm not sold on the distinction."


text:
Welcome to Watch List, where we identify five things on TV to watch while you stay at home and retire from football, this time for good! Until a month from now, when your ankle magically feels better. LET'S GO!
AMERICA'S GOT TALENT – 9:00PM (NBC) Tonight, the 4th group of 12 acts from the Top 48 perform. Good gosh almighty Joe Friday, the Top 48?! Hasn't this show been on all summer? How big was their original talent pool? America doesn't have THAT much talent, I assure you. Anyway once Group 4(D) of Subset XII, Division Alpha finishes juggling and tap dancing tonight, perhaps they can finally whittle this field down to something smaller than the expended NCAA men's basketball tournament. ANTICIPATION: BIG!
LOUIE – 11:00PM (FX) Big news: Louis CK announced that his show got picked up by FX for a second season! Yay! Woohoo! I'd link to Louis' announcement on Twitter, but it contained foul language and a creative reference to Hitler's mom. And really, did you expect anything less? ANTICIPATION: NON SEQUITIRIFFIC!
SHAQ VS. – 9:01PM (ABC) Because it's August and ABC execs are asleep at the switch, we get another season of Shaquille O'Neal challenging people to stuff. Tonight, Shaq races Dale Earnhardt Jr. If there's a buffet at the end of the track, Shaq will win. ANTICIPATION: BEATING DALE JR. IN A RACE IS SURPRISINGLY EASY!
THE BAD GIRLS CLUB – 9:00PM (Oxygen) I know nothing about this show, except that tonight's episode involves the girls ganging up on a snotty housewife and that it's titled, "Welcome to Miami Beyotch." That's just the kind of self-affirming, feminist message I would expect from an all-woman network. ANTICIPATION: NEW LOWS!
RACHEL ZOE PROJECT – 10:00PM (Bravo – an NBC/Universal network) It's the season premiere of this Bravo show about Rachel Zoe, who presumably does things for a living. What I find odd is that her last name is pronounced "Zoh," instead of the usual "Zoh-ee". I don't know if I approve of that. ANTICIPATION: FABULOUSNESS!
Tuesday Watch List: America Has Talent Out Its Wazoo!
Welcome to Watch List, where we identify five things on TV to watch while you stay at home and retire from football, this time for good! Until a month from now, when your ankle magically feels better. LET'S GO!


text:
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon doesn't mince words for Yale crowd
NEW HAVEN -- For a man whose job often involves urging world leaders to show restraint, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon held little back Tuesday in talking about global affairs.
The Middle East peace process, for example, is "on life support," Ban told a Yale University audience. He implored Americans and their elected officials to push for renewed negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority for a two-state solution.
"Do not pull the plug," Ban said.
Nor did the head of the U.N. mince words about the need for international alliances to fight climate chance, poverty, gender inequality and terrorism. He had a message for leaders in the Arab world and elsewhere who repress their people, too.
"There is no sanctuary," Ban said. "No leader will be immune unless they listen to their people."
Ban, 68, was in New Haven to deliver the George Herbert Walker Jr., lecture in international studies at Yale's MacMillan Center. Past lecturers have included Madeleine Albright, John Major, George Schultz and Boutros Boutros-Ghali.
Ban is the U.N.'s eighth secretary-general, a position he's held since 2007. Prior to that, he was a career diplomat in his native South Korea.
Actually, Ban took note of the fact that he's no longer the world's best-known South Korean. That honor would go to South Korean rapper Psy, whose song "Gangnam Style" became an Internet sensation.
"I hope you don't mind, I'm not going to dance Gangnam style," Ban said.
Rather, he talked about what the U.N. meant to him as a youngster, growing up after World War II. South Korea had been invaded by the north, and U.N. forces represented "a symbol of hope" from the rest of the world.
"I'm humbled to carry that torch," Ban said.
He outlined three themes that he said are necessary to meet the challenges of a shifting political landscape, as citizens around the world demand "freedom, accountability and equal opportunity" in a time of "turmoil, intolerance and change."
First, leaders cannot ignore their people. Second, "all of us need to connect the dots about the challenges we face," he said. Those challenges include education gaps, gender inequality, food shortages and climate change.
One has only to think of 14-year-old Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai, Ban said, to see the connection between educating women and fighting terrorism. Terrorists shot young Malala while she sat on a school bus.
Ban said it showed exactly what terrorists fear the most: "Girls with textbooks."
Lastly, Ban said "we need to find linkages not just among challenges, but among people."
He highlighted two particular trouble spots.
Syria, he said, where civil unrest continues to explode, is a threat to the entire region. "Syria needs a clean break from the past," Ban said. He added that the U.N. and world leaders "have to prevent this situation from further spinning out of control."
Ban also mentioned Mali, where Islamist extremists threaten to tear the African nation apart. "Human beings are just being slaughtered," Ban said.
Such looming problems make U.S. participation all the more important, according to Ban. It will take an army of students, CEOs, celebrities, professors, priests, imams and rabbis to collectively form the partnerships essential to solving world problems, he said.
Ban also took the opportunity Tuesday, his first public speech since the presidential election, to congratulate President Barack Obama on his re-election and thank him for mentioning climate change in his victory speech.
"This is democracy," Ban said.
Contact reporter Jim Shelton at 203-789-5664.


text:
NOTE: This story was first published in 2007. For more Opinion content, click here.
If you replied, "Stephen Who?" when you learned that Stephen Colbert is running for president, just wait. Following in the footsteps of other famous comic candidates – Paulsen, Pogo, Perot – he can make a difference.
Colbert, for those who have not watched "The Colbert Report" on Comedy Central, often asks better questions and gets more telling answers from today's political leaders than the Washington press corps.
Entertainers are no strangers on the road to the White House or the statehouse, and television is where they start working to change perceptions. Who thought that Arnold Schwarzenegger could become governor of California or that anybody would announce the start of a serious political campaign on "The Tonight Show"?
Many young people get their news from fake news shows such as Colbert's and the show where he started, "The Daily Show" with Jon Stewart. While it is far-fetched to say that any candidate should worry that Colbert will siphon enough votes away to have a Naderish effect on the 2008 election, what he can do is sharpen the debate and do the job that the press rarely dares to do.
– Times Herald-Record
Middletown, N.Y.