text:
My laptop is an Alienware m5500 with Windows Vista 32 Bit and it has a built-in mic. The issue with this is that I have an external mic that I need to use.
Whenever I try to use Skype or Ventrilo it just picks up the sound from the Internal microphone not the one I have plugged into the jack.
It does not do this however with a USB microphone because this creates a separate sound channel (I think that's what it's called). I'm looking for a way to separate the two microphone channels to external and internal or completely disable the internal.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Any one can let me know the possible return codes for the command rm -rf other than zero i.e, possible return codes for failure cases. I want to know more detailed reason for the failure of the command unlike just the command is failed(return other than 0).
migrated from stackoverflow.com Aug 14 '13 at 7:59
This question came from our site for professional and enthusiast programmers.
To see the return code, you can use
To see the actual meaning, some platforms (like Debian Linux) have the
grabbed coreutils from git....
looking at exit we see...
Now looking at the status variable....
looks like there isn't much going on there with the exit status.
I see EXIT_FAILURE and EXIT_SUCCESS and not anything else.
so basically 0 and 1 / -1
To see specific exit() syscalls and how they occur in a process flow try this
fairly simple.


text:
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text:
I hate the people that work at the gym. I don't even know what they're talking about. They're like, 'Hey man, what are you gonna target today, your lats or your quads? What are you gonna work on, your delts?' 'I'm gonna work on getting laid. That's why I'm here. If you could just point me to that machine.'
Watch highlights from season one and find out why that's great news.
Get full episodes of your favorite shows on the Comedy Central app.
Unlimited streams and downloads of the best Comedy Central specials.
© 2015 Comedy Partners. All Rights Reserved. Comedy Central and all related titles, logos and characters are trademarks of comedy partners.


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text:
So I'm building an application in Rails 3 using Devise as my authentication mechanism. I have all my controllers and views working. Our web site is humming along. Now we'd like to export our routes to 3rd party developers. The problem is how.
Here's the list of things I think I need to figure out.
Third party authentication. I am trying to get it straight in my head what I need to do. We have an existing user base and tokens have been generated for all of them with the Devise authentication model. Now I need to provide some kind of security. My current line of thinking is to set up an OAuth Provider to manage private keys and then somehow set up our web app as one of the applications the 3rd party developer can gain access to. Is that the correct line of thinking or am I over-engineering it?
Generate public facing documentation for our REST endpoints. While the rake routes is nice for internal developers, I really think we need something more along the lines of swagger-ui. the problem is rails doesn't generate the appropriate json/xml calls for swagger-ui. Which as I understand it are required in a true REST service. Such as resource listing, and operations listing on a resource.
Thanks in advance for any direction you can give me in these arena's!


text:
I have a new WordPress installation and database. When I try to log in to WP-Admin with name and p/w, the screen just returns to an empty log in screen. If I enter the wrong name or p/w, it shakes its head, just like it is supposed to.
I am using the name and p/w that I entered during the installation process.


text:
Well, it occurs in the local months of summer in places north of the Arctic Circle or south of the Antarctic Circle. In these places, the sun will be visible at the local midnight time. So which countries does this appear?. The countries where it is really pronounced are Greenland, Iceland, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Russia, Canada and America (Alaska).
On Svalbard in Norway, the sun does not set from around April 19th to August 23rd. This is the time of the year where the Northern People "live" and enjoy life in amazing light before the sun starts to withdraw as a precursor to the onset of months of darkness.
Other popular names are summer solstice and midsummer. At extreme latitudes, it is called Polar Day
White Nights is the terminology used for a period between June 11th and July 2nd in St. Petersburg, Russia during which there is a 10 day White Nights Festival with a range of cultural events arranged and a huge amount of fun. Saint Petersburg is a location that is 6 to 7 degrees below the horizon i.e. technically not above the Polar Circle, so there is still what is called the Twilight zone enabling daytime activities such as reading with just natural light.
So what is the opposite of the Midnight Sun and White Nights? That is the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis ) and White Days in the wintertime, when there is very little light for only a few hours a day, at its extreme.
Does this effect people? And animals? Well, some think they suffer from insomnia due to the constant light 24 hours a day. If you want to see more, a Japanese film, Midnight Sun, featuring Schwarzenegger and Thorne, started casting in 2015 in Vancouver.
Led Zeppelin's "Immigrant Song" uses Midnight Sun in the lyrics ("We come from the land of ice and snow/From the Midnight Sun where the hot springs flow"). This was written after a trip to Reykjavik, Iceland, during their tour in 1970. Other bands have included Midnight Sun in their lyrics too, like Poison's "Ride the Wind", "Midnight Sun" by Lionel Hampton and Sonny Burke. Maggie Reilly, in 1993, wrote and recorded "Follow the Midnight Sun". It has an effect on people to the point that songs are written about it.
And another one has caught onto the phenomenon, namely the very well-known Norwegian author, Jo Nesbo, and written Blood on Snow 2 called Midnight Sun so you can catch the excitement in a remote Norwegian mountain town far north……………and so it continues.
We have had travellers going to Russia, especially St. Petersburg over New Year (the Orthodox Christmas and New Year is 7 days later than the Western ones), so enjoying Christmas spirit Russian style at New Year and expanding into New Year Russia style – two in one so to speak. They have said that the wintry atmosphere, combined with lots of lights, Skating, Museums, Hotels, Ballet, Dances as in the times of the Tsars, Fireworks, Theatres and the like, have heightened their cultural, historical and architectural senses and they have enjoyed the experience actually more than visiting Russia in the summertime.
You might be lucky to see the Northern Lights but with the snow (mostly) covering the landscape, the buildings, the city (cities), possibly a train ride up to Murmansk, where you have a better chance of seeing the Northern Lights/Aurora Borealis or even further to Kirkenes in Norway, you will have explored this overwhelming beauty: so pack your snow boots and head off.
So what are those Northern Lights, compared to the Midnight Sun. The Northern Lights light up the night sky, surrounded by mountains, snow and little harbours and often in areas known for art, mythology and legends. Again, the same countries as above, namely, Iceland, Greenland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia, Canada, Alaska in the US are known for them. If lucky, you can start seeing them from mid August and they will take over when the sun goes down for longer and longer and the sky becomes darker and darker. Mother Nature's very own Light show becomes more visible the darker the surroundings.
When the Northern Lights typically finish in April, as it gets lighter and lighter, the Midnight Sun takes over and so the cycle continues…………and the Northern Lights look like an oval-shaped halo in the Northern Hemisphere, surrounding earth up there.
Author: Maria Ozols]]>
I arrived at the small Andenes airport at approx. 6pm. My flight had a connection via Oslo and Tromso, but travelling to Vesteralen is now easier as Norwegian has a direct flight between Oslo and Andenes. Wideroe also has flights to Stokmarknes and Andenes from Bodo and Tromso. It was only a 10 min drive from the airport to the Andrikken hotel, which was a relief after a long day of travelling.
After check in at the hotel, we headed to a local restaurant called Arresten for a well-deserved dinner: fish with potatoes and chocolate cake for dessert. From the first meal in Norway till our last dinner, I learned how fishing has been an important resource for generations and is also a basis for much of the culture and local identity in Norway. After a great dinner we headed to our warm rooms for a good night's sleep. I had to be up next day before 8 to explore the history of North.
A windy next morning meant we had to postpone our Whale safari till the afternoon. In the meantime we had an excursion in the Whale museum. This museum is located in the basement of Whale Centre. The Guided tour in the Whale museum is included in the Whale safari ticket but the museum can also be visited independently, if desired. Here we learned about the whales' biology and the ecosystem they live in, as well as specific information about the various types of whales.
As the tour in the whale museum was coming to the end, I was hoping to hear good news that we were heading off to the sea to watch the whales. Unfortunately the news from the captain were not what I was hoping to hear. "Whale safari cannot be completed due to unsuitable weather conditions". Instead we went to Andenes harbour to see the boat which should take us closer to see these giants of the sea in their natural element. One common factor for all boats and crew is that they meet requirements for government licensing. Safety is foremost. Our captain was right when making the decision as mild morning weather turned into a snowy and windy afternoon.
The lighthouse emits a continuous white light with a more intense flash every 30 seconds. The light sits atop a 40-metre tall red round cast iron tower. The light can be seen for about 33 km. The light burns from August 10 until April 26 each year, but there is no light the rest of the year due to the Midnight Sun at this location.
After the visit to the lighthouse and a nice, big lunch, our next stop was at the Space ship Aurora which is a part of the Andoya Space Center where Norway have launched sounding rockets into space for over 50 years. A great educational centre for children, however adults enjoy this place too. Who doesn't want to be dressed up as a spaceman and control a spaceship half way to the moon?
On the way to our next hotel in Vesteralen, we stopped at Marmelkroken. Peace and quiet – these words came first into my mind. Overlooking the Norwegian Sea and right by Andoya National Tourist Route, this place offers studios and cottages. The host welcomed us and invited us to share fish soup, produced from the catch of the day, and home made bread. It was the best fish soup and home-made bread I have ever had. The sun was setting and we had to move forward as a long road journey was awaiting us. We reached Sortland, VesterÃ¥len's commercial centre which occupies a niche in the island's east coast, late in the evening. You will find mostly chunky buildings in the town which are painted in a blue colour. The inspiration for The Blue City came from Bjørn Elvenes, whose concept led to the formation of a private steering committee in 1998. Elvenes, a local artist, had chosen blue as a symbol of Sortland's maritime and fishing heritage. His idea was to paint all 17 blocks of the inner city in various shades of blue, with judicious use of contrasting colours to create a distinct identity and three-dimensional presence for each building within an overall design motif. The first buildings-mainly storehouses along the waterfront-were painted in the summer of 1999 and the project has continued over several years.
For our second night, we stayed at the Sortland Hotel located in the heart of the city centre. Arts and culture have always been an important part of this hotel. It was a pleasure to relax in the same library dedicated to the Norwegian author, Lars Saabye Christensen, who wrote one of his famous novels – Beatles – here and for many years was a resident of Sortland. The famous Nobel prize winning author, Knut Hamsun, stayed at Sortland Hotel when he wrote his book "Den Siste Glæde†(Look Back in Happiness) in 1911 and 1912.
After breakfast, we had a workshop at the Sortland Hotel. It was great to meet with local providers and see their passion in providing great accommodation and activities in North Norway.
After a busy morning at the workshop and lunch, we went to meet with local Sami, Arild Inga – Sami Siida is a small Sami family business located approx. 4 km from Sortland. Her family have been reindeer breeders since they moved from Northern Sweden 150 years ago. Reindeer farming in Norway is only allowed if you are Sami. Today, only seven percent of all Sami people in Norway own reindeer. We were shown a wooden lavu where you can hear the stories about Sami culture and the daily life of the arctic reindeer.
After half a day in Sortland, it was time for us to leave for a three day tour in Lofoten. We arrived at Thon Hotel, Lofoten, which has an idyllic harbour location with entrances on Svolvaer Square and the Hurtigruten quay and serves one of the best hotel breakfasts in the country.
This evening we had a chance to experience a dinner in one of the most distinctive restaurants in the Lofoten Islands. The Borsen Spiseri is housed in a venerable quayside warehouse dating back to 1828 and considerable emphasis has been placed on maintaining the building's original features. Most of the building's historical attributes have been preserved, providing an atmosphere with an aroma of tar and rope. The dishes that are served here are made from Lofoten's unique and fresh, local ingredients.
After a special dinner made by The Borsen Spiseri chef, the Northern Lights chase tour followed with the local guide Jann. We went to areas where there is minimal interference from artificial light. In those areas, the Northern Lights reign alone.
This spectacular show lasted up to 3 hours and I never wanted it to be over. Even our guide Jann confirmed that this night we were really lucky and had been witnesses of a spectacular show. The moment I got back on the bus, I fell asleep in seconds. It was such a long and fulfilling day. I napped with satisfaction and a smile on my face. I got back to my hotel at 1 a.m., still smiling. I couldn't wipe that look off my face!
My Friday morning started with breakfast while watching local life through the hotel's window and listening for the live piano performance. What an enjoyable way to start the day! I loved the breakfast! The spread was good, with freshly squeezed orange juice, pancakes with fish roe, salmon (smoked and grilled), cook-to-order egg station and jars of home-made jam of various berries and fruits.
After breakfast, we had the most fantastic tour by rib boat to the Trollfjord. Skipper Larsen made the trip very special with interesting facts about the places we stopped to see on the way up to the fjord and back. He also managed to lure an eagle to catch a fish a few metres from the boat and we were able to get fabulous photos of the bird.
After this great trip to the Trollfjord, we checked out from Thon Hotel Lofoten and drove to Kabelvag where the next adventure was waiting for us: a snowshoe walk. We had a great walk in the beautiful Kabelvag area. A sunny day, nice people, an enthusiastic guide, good gear and thick snow. What more can you ask for? The Lofoten Islands offers so much beautiful unspoiled nature that you cannot go wrong with this destination.
Later in the evening we headed to Henningsvaer, the world's most famous fishing village and home to a population of less than 500. Here, 20 minutes from Svolvaer, a wind-washed former caviar-processing factory perched on the water now houses a contemporary art gallery, The Kaviar Factory, one of the most remote art galleries in the world.
The most northern art centre in the world has been active since 2012, brought to life by Venke Hoff together with her husband Rolf, who is amongst the most important collectors in Scandinavia. After a warm welcome from Venke, we moved to the Lofoten Arctic Hotel and had dinner at "Trandamperiet" (an old cod liver refinery) with rustic furniture and an informal atmosphere.
Saturday morning we drove to Hov Hestegaard Riding Centre. This is situated in beautiful surroundings at Hov on the island of Gimsoy, by a white sandy beach with a view of the ocean, on the far side of the Lofoten Islands. Here at Hov, you can ride in the mountains, on the beaches and along roads that the predecessors of "Viking horses" rode on over a thousand years ago. Icelandic horses are the descendants of the horses of Viking Age Norway. I rode the calmest horse and enjoyed the ride in the beach with stunning views. After a ride we were invited for a cup of tea and waffles. The fire place at the dining room was exactly what we needed to warm ourselves before moving to our next stop, Reine.
The breath-taking village of Reine is located on the island of Moskenes on northern Norway's Lofoten archipelago. With red and white fishermen's huts dotting the shoreline and surrounding peaks of granite shooting out of the Reinefjorden, the village has earned a reputation as the most beautiful place in the world. Reine Fishing Huts are almost as far out in Lofoten as you can get. If you are looking for a "get-away-from-it-all" experience in a place where very few have been, then you should come here. We had a farewell dinner and stayed in one of the Rorbus with a genuinely historic aura.
Due to a snow storm, we changed our travel plans on the last day. Instead of visiting more art galleries in Lofted, we decided to travel to Svolvaer airport. Before going to the airport, we were invited for a lunch at Statles Rorbusenter which is located in the fishing village of Mortsund in the centre of the Lofoten islands. The snow storm was so bad that we barely could see the surroundings. So we were invited to the dining room to have a fish soup and cake before our journey to the airport.
By Inga Navickiene
Familiarisation trip to Lapland, Finland in Rovaniemi and Kittila
We arrived to the small and convenient airport in Rovaniemi, after a stop-over in Helsinki.
It is also possible to fly directly, but there are not daily departures from the UK. You can also fly to Kirkenes, Luleaa or Kiruna and catch a transfer across the border to Lapland. Rovaniemi is known for where reality and failytales meet.
We enjoyed a lovely dinner at restaurant Roka. The food was lovely, incorporating the style of Lapland Tapas, and was absolutely delightful.
After a late dinner we arrived to the first 5* hotel in Lapland: the Arctic Light Hotel in Rovaniemi. I can assure you the accommodation is wonderful, I slept so well. What a shame we needed to leave early – but with the top notch breakfast buffet created by the Finnish-American TV chef Sara La Fountain, we were well prepared to explore more of Lapland.
Departing Rovaniemi, who else were we going to visit than he himself? Yes you are right, it is Santa Claus in person. We also visited his main Post Office, where Santa receives more than half a million letters from all over the world. The top five countries are Italy, United Kingdom, China, Poland and Japan. All of the letters that Santa sends have the special Arctic Circle postmark. It is also an official Post Office which stocks different kinds of stamps, Finnish stamp collections and other philatelic items, for example dummies that children around the world have sent to Santa to look after.
After visiting Santa Claus we continued on the snowy roads, surrounded by Reindeers in the forests. We arrived at the lovely Artist Family from Atelier & Home Kangasniemi, hosted by the very interesting couple Mrs. Irene Kangasniemi and Mr. Ari Kangasniemi. They showed us how they use everything from a Reindeer to cook stews, to making utensils for the kitchen. We also saw decorations like Reindeer Antlers, learnt how to make a knife using the Antlers, how the skin is used to make purses, belts, fur boots and much more. There is also a belief that Reindeer Antlers help Fertility.
There are approximately 5000 Reindeer owners in Lapland, of which approximately 1000 are Sami People.
If you want to know more about Reindeers please visit www.paliskunnat.fi
After visiting their Workshop we were invited to their Private home, of course in a Wooden Lodge. It was so delightful and cosy.
We were offered home-made cookies, blueberry cake, Finnish style Christmas cake, lovely tea and were stuffed when we left this lovely and hospitable family.
Thereafter we continued towards Harriniva Resort in Muonia that also own Jeris Hotel and Torassieppi, offering the Digital Detox tour (https://www.baltictravelcompany.com/packages/finland-lights-and-detox ) in the most amazing surroundings. The latest addition is the Glamping Style Domes to view the Northern Lights from the shore of a lake, in the middle of nowhere. I was delighted to be the very first client to sleep in this Dome. I had to get up to put more logs on the fire several times during the night, like in the olden days, when there were no staff to do so.
The next morning we enjoyed breakfast at 10AM ( this is when it starts getting light in November) when the sky was full of colour. Thereafter, we went on a Snowmobile Safari, which was absolutely wonderful. We drove on the snow at approximately 30 km an hour, and you feel such freedom. You can choose to go on a Snowmobile Safari for maybe 5 days where you cover approximately 200 km a day. There are also Snow Mobiles that are suitable for children to drive. The nature around you is amazing and the sky changes colour all the time.
After such an eventful day, it was time to relax in the sauna. This is a very Finnish tradition that we had to try. We tried a Smoke Sauna and followed several times into the cold lake, which felt good and you quickly felt warm, and then back to the sauna. It is a wonderful part of the Finnish culture to go Sauna hopping. The guys then went ( naked ) into the snow to make snow angels, which is apparently also a Finnish custom.
After a lovely evening with amazing food and a busy day full of action, it was bedtime. This time I slept in a cabin and again had a lovely sleep; very peaceful.
After the Dog Sledding it was time to relax in front of the fireplace ( and naturally the Reindeer Antlers were on the wall for decoration ).
Sadly it was then time to go to the Airport in Kittila. We had such a wonderful, relaxing, peaceful and adventurous trip, and I travelled with lovely people.
Author Birthe Nielsen
Edited by Maria Ozols]]>
Founded in the 7th Century by Krakus, the mythical ruler who vanquished the Wawel Dragon from its lair where the Wawel Castle complex now stands, you get the impression that the City rather resents its bigger and uglier brother, Warsaw, for taking away its title as capital of Poland. The magnificent Vistula River runs through the City and its architecture has been relatively untouched by the nastier events of the 20th Century, both Nazi and Soviet.
It was already a major trading centre in the 10th when Moorish merchants would travel from the Caliphate of Cordoba to trade in the famed local amber. The Kingdom of Poland was created in the late 990s and in 1038 Krakow was declared its capital with Wawel Castel as the royal seat.
Invaded three times by the Tartar hordes (have you noticed they are always hordes?) the City was rebuilt in the 13th Century and surrounded by 3 kilometres of fortified walls. The City flourished in the 14th century under the enlightened rule of Kasimierz the Great (and obviously modest) and its first university, the Jagellonian, was established in 1400. For nearly two centuries, Krakow enjoyed a golden age of art, literature, education and general enlightenment until at the end of the 16th century when the crown passed to the Swedish house of Vasa, who also ended up as Tsars of Russia so perhaps weren't too interested in Poland.
So the then King Sigismund III moved the capital to Warsaw though Krakow was left with the official site for royal coronations and burials. The next two centuries are dominated by invasions by Sweden and partitions between Prussia, Russia and Austria. Every country has its famous freedom fighter and for Krakow this is Tadeusz Kosciuszko who raised the flag of revolt in the main square in 1794 only to be defeated by the Prussians who proceeded to ransack the City and carry off the royal booty.
The 19th Century saw further development of Krakow as a modern city while Napoleon and the Austrians busied themselves with various wars. The fortified walls – remember them from the 14th Century – were razed to the ground apart from the still magnificent Barbican and Florianska Gate and replaced with the Planty Park, a series of gardens ringing the old city. Not a bad swap when you walk through these gardens and observe romantic Poles; performing acts in bandstands and the odd drunk.
The First World War ended with the establishment of the first Polish state for over a century. This lasted almost exactly twenty years when every one's favourite Austrian, Herr Hitler, marched in with his troops. The history of this period is truly awful as Hitler was determined to eradicate first the Polish intelligentsia; then the Jews; then the Roma; then homosexuals; the list is vile and almost endless.
Poland survived the Second World War only to fall under the benevolent aegis of the Soviet Empire, though the Russians did not ruin the Old Town, restraining themselves to building a truly hideous example of Soviet realism architecture at Nowa Huta. Then, after a period of martial law, of course, one of the world's great moustaches, Lech Walesa, pushed hard enough at the creaking door of perestroika to enable free elections to take place in 1989 and the rest is history and the small matter of the first non-Italian Pope in 455 years.
If you are only here for a long weekend, then may I suggest you arrive early on one of the numerous flights out of both London and regional airports and enjoy a full day walking the City? You won't cover it all, but if you are a church fan there are enough to keep you busy for the whole weekend never mind one day. Restaurants flank the main street and surround the main square which is one of the largest mediaeval squares in Europe at 200 sq. metres.
Its main features are the Cloth Hall and the St Mary Basilica – oh and there is the Town Hall Tower; the Rynek Underground Museum; the Polish Art Gallery; the monument to the 19th century writer, Adam Mickiewicz; the Fallen head – you could spend all day just going round this lovely square.
Now take a mid-morning break and visit the Polish Art Nouveau palace which is the restaurant called Jama Michalika on Florianska Street. Try a coffee and the famous cheesecake that is Sernik. OK, the staff are somewhat po-faced but the walls are wonderful and if you happen to be there when the ladies are lunching, it's great people watching.
Then out through the Barbican and walk round the City through the park before striding out to the old Jewish Quarter in Kazimierz, a separate part of the area once but now absorbed into Krakow. Once home to 65,000 Jews, the community now numbers 130. There are wonderful synagogues: we only had time to visit the Temple, but it was super to be there as the Torah was brought in and put away.
Stop for tea at the Klezmer Hois hotel, the site of the Great Mikvah, a ritual bathhouse which gained notoriety in 1567 when the wooden floor collapsed and ten women drowned. For the more avant garde, this would be a great place to stay. Then move on the stores, restaurants and synagogues.
In the evening, there are great restaurants like Farina, for wonderful fish, or Under the Angels for traditional duck and goose in decorated cellars.
We choose Auschwitz but there are salt mines; more churches; the wonderful university; the river and the Wawel Castel itself with its cathedral and currently Leonardo da Vinci's Lady in Ermine. But we felt Auschwitz just had to be done. Adjectives are ineffective and paltry for this place and I would only urge you to go. It should be obligatory for all young people and it was heartening to see school parties trooping through storerooms full of glasses; shoes; hair; people's former lives.
The sheer banality of this awful camp was perhaps the most shocking. One statistic among many: out of 1,300,000 who arrive at this killing field, 15,000 were Russian prisoners of war: 196 survived. One wooden building was lined with photographs of prisoners, some even reactively smiling, showing the date of arrival and the date of death, sometimes the latter measured in days and rarely more than six months.
We were fortunate enough to stay at the Copernicus, a small (29 room) boutique hotel, named after one of the University's more famous students, but there are many fine hotels. Try to be within walking distance of the main square as this is one place to walk and walk – we did over 15 k each day.
Yes, there are groups of young men and women who have obviously come to over-indulge, but we found no trouble and the unobtrusive police presence ensures a quiet atmosphere. Bars called 'Vodka and Beer' and shops with the single word 'Alkohole' over the door provide for plenty of liquid entertainment and yes if you look for them there are discreet 'gentlemen's clubs' but there are great clubs like Harris Piano Jazz Bar. We even ventured out to the opera for the Polish premiere of a new production of 'King Roger' by one of Poland's most famous composers, the title role sung by Poland's top baritone.
Go for the architecture; the food; the bars; the churches; Auschwitz; there are so many reasons. But in one word: GO. You might even find me there again, because we are definitely going.
Exploring the wonders of the arctic region, I ventured to Tromso on our Northern Lights Chase by mini-bus and boat, enjoyed the freshest seafood du jour and strolled through the lush fells and valleys in the Troms region, all dressed in September's golden autumn colours on a huskie walk all with our local guides.
Seeing the Northern Norway is on the top of most people's bucket list with some 37 percent of from the United Kingdom stating the Northern Lights is on the top of their bucket list. Although we are a few months away from the arctic snow season, there is still plenty of reasons for you to pack your suitcase, backpack or rucksack and venture to the gateway of the Arctic – Tromsø.
Day 1: Guided Walking Tour, Polar Museum, Tromso Museum & Northern Lights Chase by Catamaran Boat
Arriving in Tromsø, I was met with the crisp and fresh autumn air, reminding me how refreshing a stay in the coastal areas of Norway is for not only for your body, but also mind and soul. The people, the culture, the food and the arctic nature are just a few of the highlights besides searching for the Northern Lights.
From the airport we took a minibus taxi to Scandic Ishavshotel, located by the harbour in Tromsø, for our first nights' accommodation. The hotel has a generous view over Tromsø city, including the Arctic Cathedral from the lounge area where you can enjoy a cup of coffee or tea while reading a book or just taking in the views of the many boats passing by with the mountains creating somewhat the perfect backdrop. The rest of the afternoon was spent getting acquainted with Tromsø and seeing the main sights such as the main pedestrian street, the shops, the colourful and beautiful vernacular wooden houses in the centre of the city, the small parks and recreational areas and of course the harbour waterfront through a guided walking tour called Walk with Wanny. The "Walk with Wanny†walking tour is a guided sightseeing tour of Tromsø, where you encounter the exceptionally inspiring life of Wanny Wolstad and her time in Tromsø before she became the first woman to hunt in Svalbard. Wanny Wolstad also published the book "The First Woman Trapper in Svalbard†based on her diaries.
Lunch was at the cosy Bardus Eatery in central Tromso where we enjoyed locally sourced fish n' chips and apple and cinnamon ice cream for dessert. After lunch we walked alongside the harbour front to the Polar Museum for a guided tour of the museum building and the exhibitions. The museum officially opened on the 18th June 1978, on the 50th anniversary of Roald Amundsen's fateful flight aboard the "Lathamâ€. The red wooden building which houses the Polar Museum dates back to 1830 and was back then used by the customs authorities as a warehouse. The museum holds many different exhibitions about the life in the arctic ranging from Trapper and hunting life in Svalbard to the fauna of the arctic and key historical figures such as Wanny Wolstad, Roald Amundsen and Henry Rudi.
After our visit to the Polar Museum, we proceeded to Tromso Museum to see their extensive exhibition on the Sami culture. This particular exhibition is perfectly open in the sense that the story of the Sami and Norwegian's is told simultaneously to offer a well informed and in-depth experience, knowledge and understanding of the cultural exchange in Northern Norway. Tromso Museum also has a very educational exhibition on the Northern Lights, also known as the Aurora Borealis, called "Discover the Auroraâ€. After a busy and educational day, we enjoyed dinner at Compagniet.
In the evening we enjoyed our first Northern Lights Chase by Luxury Catamaran boat out in Grindoysundet/The Grindoy Belt. Our skipper, Kurt Larsen, an experienced fisherman from Northern Norway, took excellent care of us with biscuits and coffee/tea on-board the Catamaran, which boasts 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, two big lounging areas and a fully functional kitchen, making this the perfect form of transport for a weekend get-away chasing for the Northern Lights or enjoying the Midnight Sun during summer. Sliding silently through the calm waters of the Grindoy Belt out towards Ullsfjorden, I took in the view of the sunset over the mountains surrounding Tromso, realising just how beautiful this region is and how magical a sunset can be when you swap the backdrop from Victorian houses to rolling mountains. This evening we got to see a diffuse show of the Northern Lights which lasted approx. 10 minutes with a vague green colour and I could not tick off the Aurora Borealis off my bucket list. Return home, I was still keen on seeing more of this elusive green lady and thankfully we had another Northern Lights excursion planned for tomorrow evening. Fingers were crossed for yet another display as I fell asleep at the hotel, dreaming of the Northern Lights all night.
Day 2: North Norwegian Science Centre, Husky Hike, Sami Lavvu and Northern Lights Watch
After breakfast, we checked-out of Scandic Ishavshotel and walked 5 minutes down to street to Clarion Hotel The Edge, for the next 2 nights' accommodation. After check-in had been taken care of, we ventured to the North Norwegian Science Centre where you will find a very child friendly, playful and interactive. Here the whole family can spend hours on end trying the many installations including competing on a kick-sledge, making waves, climbing and creating electric energy using water. We also saw the educational explorer film about the Northern Lights on the 180 degree screen. This is probably the closest you can ever get to experience the Northern Lights without seeing them in real life.
In the late afternoon we went out into the countryside to meet one of our local guides for our Husky Hike and Northern Lights Watch. In the comfort of a large wooden Lavvu, we started with a safety briefing, before setting out into the fell with three of the huskies from the kennel for an afternoon walk in the autumn coloured wilderness. The three huskies, Sun, Moon and Brownie, who are all Alaskan huskies, are in their right element with the colder temperatures and a good tempo walk in the rugged landscape. Huskie are notorious hard-working dogs and the best thing you can do, is put them in front of a sledge and they will run, run and run as if there is no tomorrow. Huskies have long been a part of the arctic lifestyle, used for transporting people and goods across the vast fells as soon as the first snow hit the ground. After this refreshing walk in the fell, we went back to the kennel where we got to meet the other dogs and of course, the 12 new puppies, just about 10 weeks old today. I instantly fell in love with a little black and brown beauty, and suggested she should be named Saga, the Old Norse female name meaning tale or story.
Back in the warm and cosy wooden Lavvu we enjoyed a short video on how our guide and owner has participated in some of the toughest arctic sledding expeditions in the world, such as Finnmarksloepet and the Iditarod. Dinner tonight was a traditional Sami reindeer stew called Finnbiff and it is one of the most well-known Sami dishes, consisting of reindeer stew with mashed potatoes and Lingon berries and is one of my absolute highlights on the trip when not having seafood. To set the arctic mood just right, we enjoyed some chocolate cake with coffee and tea by the bonfire when not wandering in the surrounding fell searching for the Northern Lights. This experience is very suitable for families with younger children and others who wish to have the comfort of a warm Lavvu and access to a bathroom while scouting the dark night skies for the Aurora Borealis.
Day 3: Arctic Alpine Botanical Garden, Mack Brewery & Olhallen, Northern Lights Chase and Bonfire in the Lavvu
After a hearty breakfast at Clarion Hotel The Edge, we went for a walk in the multi-coloured Arctic Alpine Botanical Garden. Maintained by Tromso University for research purposes alongside sharing knowledge about the arctic flora with the public. Â Here you will find flora from across the arctic regions all the way from Siberia to Alaska, and on a sunny day like the one we had, bringing a book and warm tea makes for a splendid mid-day treat. The gardens is open to everyone and there is no entry fee.
Afterwards we went to the world-famous Mack Brewery, the northern-most brewery in the world, for a guided tour of the brewery and Olhallen. We heard a lot about the history and founding of the brewery and the rebuild after the big fire showed that Mack Brewery was here to stay. The brewery shop offers their whole selection of produce alongside cook books, home-brewing books and selected condiments. Adjacent to the brewery you will find Olhallen where you sit down in the dark red-brick basement and enjoy a wide selection of the Mack beer repertoire. The Olhallen is a historically rich institution and is where trappers, hunters and fishermen would meet up for a chat and a pint after returning from Svalbard and the Atlantic. Dinner was at the famous seafood restaurant Arctandria, located just next to Clarion Hotel The Edge. For starters we had whale carpaccio and oven baked halibut for main accompanied by a selection of local cheeses for dessert. This seafood restaurant offers a café/bar setting on the ground floor and terrace, while the restaurant itself is located on the first floor with great views over the sund and the mountains.
This evening we went on the Northern Lights – the Chase, the Magic & the Bonfire with our local colleagues in Kvaloya. It has been a few years since were here last, but the excitement of returning is none less present on the way out to the outer part of the island. Kvaloya means the Whale Island, and this is also where we enjoy our whale watching safaris during the winter months. However, tonight we are here for the Chase, the Magic and the Bonfire, and starting off with some educational videos about the Norwegians, known as being born with their skis on and how much they love their potatoes, we also learned a lot about the Aurora Borealis and how they occur.
The Aurora Borealis, named after the Roman goddess of dawn, Aurora, and Borealis, the Greek name for the north wind, is known as being a bit shy which is why we never really know when she is going to show herself. When the Aurora Borealis does show, it can be in many colours and shapes. The curtain is as you already guessed, in the shape of a curtain and look like it is blowing in the wind across the sky. The discrete Aurora is when the curtain breaks into smaller parts but is still very bring – sometimes bright enough to read a newspaper. The flickering and pulsation of the Aurora are very common and often follows after the before mentioned. The last, and probably the most sought after display is the corona. A corona is the total explosion of Aurora Borealis spreading across the sky. The corona is for many the ultimate display, but every type of display hold their own beauty and with some patience you might be lucky to see all the different displays when visiting Northern Norway. Below is one of the photos I took of the Northern Lights. You can see a person's face in the aurora itself and this made me think that we did indeed see the Shy Green Lady of the North!!
Let's start with the bonfire. We enjoyed some cosy time around the bonfire with some coffee, tea and cake and old tales about the Northern Lights from the Scandinavian countries. In Norse Mythology northern lights were believed to be the reflections of the shields of the Valkyries racing across the sky on their way to their resting place, Valhalla. After the bonfire, cake and warm drinks, we packed up, prepared our cameras and started our chase in the comfortable and warm minibus. As there was lots and lots of heavy fog, we drove up into the mountains to a clear spot close to one of the fjord inlets. As the Aurora did not show itself, despite a perfectly clear sky up there and a forecast that said 4 of 9 on the Aurora scale, we packed up after about half an hour to find an even better spot further up another mountain. The joy of this chase is that our colleague and guides are locals, they know the area as they grew up here, and they know the best places to see the Northern Lights at any time according to the weather forecast. After a mere 20 minute drive, we pulled over to the side of the road and she was dancing across the dark starry sky! The magic has begun! Dressed in vibrant greens and hints of yellow, blue and purple, what my eyes were seeing was as out of a dream, a fairy-tale or saga. No words do this experience justice and all I can say is go. Go and chase the Aurora Borealis, go and see them with your own eyes, go to feel your neck hair stand up in awe and go, because you should lose your breath upon your first sighting and forever be enchanted and captivated by this spectacular natural phenomenon. The displays we saw this evening lasted some 3 hours and seemed never-ending.
Driving back to Tromso for our last night in the Gateway to the Arctic, I was buzzing with happiness over this evenings Northern Lights Chase! The Aurora Borealis we got to see and the fact that I got to experience this enchanting phenomenon accompanied by our local guide, was simply fabulous. I will definitely return to Northern Norway in search of the Northern Lights and enjoy the lifestyle of the arctic again!
Written by Lena Nielsen]]>
Program Study trip in Swedish Lapland for Inga
Thursday 20 November (Day 1)
I was really looking forward to visiting the Swedish Lapland and after departing from London I arrived at Luleaa Airport, having connected via Stockholm Arlanda airport. In Luleaa, where you will be met by our representative, who guided us to Braendon Lodge (Brändon in Swedish ) on the coast of Swedish Lapland for a warm welcome and site inspection.
For the first night, the accomodation was at the Pine Bay Lodge. Pine Bay Lodge is located on the coastal edge of the Luleå (Luleaa) Archipelago, approximately 30 minutes away from Luleå (Luleaa). The Luleå archipelago has a total of 1300 islands and only 100 residents and is a unique wilderness environment where the sea around the island freezes up to a metre thick in winter. The guest house is in a very, Swedish style, traditional and with a homely feel. It boasts 8 hotel style guest rooms, all well renovated and with en-suite facilities.
The centre of the guesthouse is a large open plan dining and lounge room with an enormous open fire where guests can relax. There is also a sauna facility that guests can book to complete living the Swedish experience. The guest house is open for independent travelers and small groups from Friday to Sunday nights. We recommend that guests pre-book at least half board (including dinner). They can offer day time activities, such as snowmobile tours, husky dog sledding. Often these tours include lunch. Lunch is also available at the Guesthouse on arrangement. Guests are able to purchase wine and beer on location.
After check-in we had a little time to change and be ready for a lovely dinner.
At 8 pm a lovely 3-course dinner was served at Pine Bay Lodge, followed by a sauna, in true Swedish Lapland style.
Friday 21 November (Day 2)
After a lovely, peaceful sleep at Pine Bay Lodge, breakfast was served at a very human time of 9am at Pine Bay Lodge. This morning we enjoyed a hearty breakfast with all that you can wish for in a buffet breakfast. With a full tummy, we were now ready to explore.
 We started with a guided transfer to Aurora Safari Camp with a site inspection of the surroundings and outdoor lunch at the Camp. The lunch was a hearty meal to make us stay warm for the trip.
 After a lovely lunch, we continued for check-in at our accommodation at Sörbyn Lodge (Soerbyn Lodge) to stay on the second night.
 Mid afternoon we met the lovely huskies from Isdimma Husky Adventure and, if the snow conditions permitted, we would go on a short tour. Luckily we did.
Thereafter, before dinner, we had a taster of driving a snowmobile in the surrounding forests with local guides. We had excellent fun.
Back in our Sörby Lodge, we had time for a sauna and relaxation before a 3-course dinner at Sörby Lodge. We ate a lovely meal with reindeer, salmon and other local specialties.
Saturday 22 November (Day 3)
Breakfast at Sörby Lodge. We had a buffet breakfast that was very tempting and tasty.
Following breakfast we had a guided transfer through the forest lands to Brittas Pensionat and the famous Treehotel, where we were going to stay the night. I was very excited.
We had a tour of the Treehotel, checked in and were then invited to lunch at Brittas Pensionat (Brittas Hostel). Brittas Hostel is where you check-in for the Treehotel, its restaurant and activities center.
The hostel was renovated to the current style in the 1950s and maintained in immaculate condition ever since. We enjoyed traditional Swedish food for lunch, it was lovely.
Following lunch it was time for some Outdoor Activities such as the Segway and Zipline. That was a huge amount of fun and we had a good laugh during testing.
Thereafter we returned to the Treehotel and ventured to the obligatory Sauna in the North, for some relaxation before enjoying another delightful dinner in Sweden, at Brittas Pensionat. Thereafter we were exhausted after an eventful day and we went back to the Treehotel to sleep.
Day 3 Sunday 23 November (Day 4)
We enjoyed a hearty breakfast at Brittas Pensionat, followed by a guided transfer by mini bus to Kiruna through Jokkmokk and Gällivare. Along the way we enjoyed the amazing scenery until we arrived in Jukkasjärvi, where we enjoyed lunch with the local Sami family, Nutti Saami Siida, and visited their Reindeer Lodge, which is rated excellent accommodation, so definitely worth a consideration.
Thereafter we drove onto the Icehotel that was under construction. Last year the 25th IceHotel in Jukkasjarvi was being built and we would see the progress of construction. Typically, the Ice Hotel opens around December 10th.
After observing the construction, we went onto Camp Ripan where we checked in for the night and thereafter tried snow evening shoeing in the trails surrounding Camp Ripan (at this time of the year it gets dark at around 4-5 pm, but very cozy with lots of lights and candles around).
And, as per standard in the Nordics, it was Spa time and time to relax at the Aurora Spa, followed by dinner at Camp Ripan. We crashed early after fresh Swedish air and lots of new experiences, and I sadly remembered that the next day would be my second last day in Sweden, before going home.
 Monday 24 November (Day 5)
We started with breakfast in Camp Ripan – and enjoyed a good, hearty and healthy breakfast, to get us ready to get to the mountains, so we were well prepared for traveling. We set off and arrived at Bjorkliden (Björkliden) after 1 hour. The road towards Norway took us from Kiruna up into the mountain region and the mountain resorts/villages of Abisko and Björkliden, that are very popular ski resorts and also for viewing the Northern Lights.
We checked in at Björkliden Fjällby, which was excellent and enjoys Scandinavia's most beautiful views. It has Sweden's third highest drop of 538 metres and you will enjoy quality Wilderness in a convenient and accessible way, while we offer skiing, dog sledding, snowmobiles, snowshoes, Northern Lights and even Snow Golf.
Thereafter we continued for Lunch at restaurant Lapporten. We had typical Swedish food and we enjoyed it and we were now ready for more outdoor activities according to weather conditions. This was followed by site inspection at Abisko Mountain station which is in a great location with good food and great staff and a great place to watch the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) as well. We had a short rest before we joined for dinner at STF Abisko Mountain station. After an enjoyable dinner with the helpful staff, good food and a great and cozy atmosphere.
The end is near, tonight is our last evening and I am almost crying as I have had such a delightful time.
Tuesday 24 November (Day 6)
We enjoyed our last breakfast at Björkliden in Sweden this time around. I can't wait to return or tell you potential clients all about it. After breakfast and check-out, we took the transfer to Kiruna airport and departed from there back home.
What an amazing trip, we saw and tried so much. Can't wait to bring you here!
TreeHotel in summer:
22nd – 26th April 2015 – WINTER IS SLOWLY LEAVING US , SPRING is on it's way …
Rovaniemi – a MUST visit for Santa Claus Village, Winter Wonderland & Summer Atmosphere
I flew with Finnair from London to Rovaniemi, via Helsinki with luggage checked in throughout to Rovaniemi. The connecting time in Helsinki is supposed to be 1 hr 10 min (landing 15:15, departing 16:25 in my case). Once I got to the terminal, it's straight through passport control and to the gate (no security checks for domestic flights). The flight to Rovaniemi departed from gate 31D downstairs, where a bus took passengers to the plane, so quite easy to connect.
Arrival in Rovaniemi:
Rovaniemi is a small airport with only two luggage belts, both located in the arrivals hall. While waiting for your luggage, you can already see drivers with the name-boards. I took a taxi straight to my hotel, the newly renovated Chalet Hotel, which was great, with a number of different sizes of chalet, pending your wallet and number of people, from more simple to luxury.
Check-in at the Chalet Hotel:
Igor at Chalet Hotel welcomed me and he was very informative. In high-season (winter) they provide porter services, in all other seasons you have to take your own suitcase to the cabin, but the cabins are very close. There is a kick sleigh to help you transport the suitcase(s), on the snow, which is quite funny and hugely helpful. The lobby is very cosy with low lights, lots of candles and quite a few fireplaces – in the lobby, restaurant and also one outside on the restaurant's terrace. Wonderful, I love the smell of the wooden logs, probably from the forest just around the Hotel. The view of the river is stunning and there is an outdoor space with fire by the lake, so cozy!
The Chalet Hotel's Location:
The Chalet Hotel is just about 10 – 15 minutes from the airport, 10 minutes' drive or about 30 – 40 minutes' walk to the centre of Rovaniemi (there is a separate path for pedestrians and cyclists) and my transfer worked perfectly, I just had to look out for the sign with my name. Santa Claus Village also about 10 – 15 minute drive.
Cabins in Chalet Hotel:
Standard cabins are small and cosy, located on one side of the road closer to the main building. All with twin beds, but they have mattresses to make them double (advisable to request at the time of the booking). Each bed is bigger/wider than the Finnish average – 110 cm instead of usual 90 cm. The stairs leading up are fairly steep and the roof has quite a sharp angle, which makes the upstairs space quite small but great for kids/teens, but probably not adults. There is a gate which locks upstairs so that kids wouldn't fall off at night, no door, just balcony, like a nook and it would suit a family with one or two kids, but probably not to four adults, but it would be possible.
Superior cabins: all located across the road and there are two types – red and yellow. The yellow cabins have a bedroom separated with a foldable sliding door and an extra bed is available as a pull out sofa in the living room. There are 2 more beds available upstairs. The red cabins have a bedroom separated with a wooden sliding door and two beds attached to the wall (making bunk beds if pulled down) and two more beds upstairs. There is one bathroom / toilet / sauna in each cabin and might be a bit tight for 6 people. Perfect for 4.
Villa Apartments: Villa 71 is a bigger building situated by the river and houses two apartments, each with 8 beds. Cosy, big living room, kitchenette (foldable door can hide it away). Two balconies, one on the ground floor leading straight to the river and the second on the first floor, smaller one. Three toilets, two showers and one sauna. There is also another villa which is a bit older and more open plan without bedrooms on the ground floor, better if someone wants to have a break with friends, party in the evening. The older ones are a bit cheaper than the newly built ones.
There are also 2 Junior Suites and a Master Suite in a log building by the river, I did not view them as they were occupied but they look great and the Master Suite has a fireplace.
All cabins have coffee machine and teapot, fridge, microwave, cups, plates, glasses. The bathroom also has a hairdryer. Sauna in each cabin, flat screen TV. The villa apartments also have an oven. The future plan is to build a new hotel next to the main building with 15 – 16 suites of a higher standard 4+.
Lobby bar &cosy restaurant. Breakfast really good and extensive, in summer you can eat on the terrace and enjoy a spectacular view.
The fireplace on the terrace has wood prepared and guests can light it if they fancy sitting by the fire. Blankets are provided if it gets a bit chilly outside. It is also possible to request a bathrobe from reception.
Lappish hut or kotka, kind of wooden Sami tent, very cosy and traditional with a fire in the middle. This is mainly used for groups, but if a family wants to have an evening there it is also possible. They also have shaman shows there and Juka from "I dig gold†also does a show there.
Riverside sauna with Jacuzzi and outdoor summer restaurant.
Golf course is about 650 meters from the reception. 18 holes, opens on the last week of May and closes in late September. There is popular during the Midnight Sun period. The Log building with a restaurant has a spacious terrace. The Restaurant is run by the Chalet Hotel.
Manor House: located on the Arctic Circle, right next to the Santa Claus Village, primarily used for group events as well a Christmas and New Year's celebration for the Chalet Hotel guests. Beautiful building from 1916 or so with wooden beams, beautiful tapestry, chandeliers, a lovely style.
Skiing is 5 minutes' walk from the hotel, right in front of the main building. Lifts, slopes, ski rent and ski school. Closed now, but locals are still enjoying the slopes for some skiing and snowboarding, sometimes into May. Cross country skiing right outside the hotel and tracks are maintained daily and there are kilometres of tracks, enough to get you tired.
Winter activities:
Summer activities:
Rovaniemi attractions:
 The city has 3 museums and it is possible to purchase one ticket for all of them: a culture pass costing  appx. 25 Euro which you can use it for 3 days:
 Santa Claus Village:
Bus number 8 departs from Rovaniemi Railway Station and also has a stop in the city centre, right in front of the Lapland Safaris and just about 3 minutes' walk from the Arctic Light Hotel. It's about 20 minutes' drive and return ticket cost appx. Euro 8.
At the village there are souvenir shops, lots and lots of them. Entrance to see Santa is free and the path leading to the photo stop is interesting – you open a big door, lights are dimmed, there is a path with some mythical creatures and birds on the side and a huge clock mechanism in the ceiling. An Elf meets and greets you and assume he knows "hello†in all the languages! He leads you to Santa and then gets behind the camera, all is filmed and streamed online live. Santa takes few minutes to chat, you have a picture taken and you leave. It's your choice whether to purchase the picture or not. Internet download costs Euro 40. You get a code and log into their website and can download your pictures or share on social media. There is free WiFi.
Santa's Main Post Office is interesting and you can see on the board how many letters Santa has received and which countries are on top of the list. For appx. Euro 8.50 you can also order a letter to be sent from Santa at Christmas time. You can also send postcards with their special stamps. The Arctic Circle goes through the village, just a line, nothing much…
Accommodation, the cabins are about 5 minutes' walk from the main building. There are quite a few restaurants there as well as a husky park, reindeer and Snow mobile Park.
We can book all Excursions for you and the local provider have all the gear for Activities including even an extra pair of socks. If more than one activity is booked with them, clients can keep the thermal suits and other stuff and return it after their last tour, very good service and handy.
Arctic Light Hotel:
One word – beautiful! Absolutely stunning and so cosy inside! Lobby area has a bar, comfy seating, fireplace at the end and a swing by the reception. There is also a door leading to the glass covered winter garden which looks amazing.
The rooms are cosy and beautiful, even the smallest magic room felt spacious. Special attention has been paid to the lights and chandeliers and there is a light control panel in each room. Bathrooms dark with polar bear picture and some have saunas.
The restaurant is dark in a nice way and very, very cosy.
Overall I really enjoyed by trip to Rovaniemi, despite the fact the snow was melting for spring to arrive – and in the wintertime it is absolutely lovely. For Christmas and New Year it is a fantastic place to go, but book early as flights sell very quickly.
We have all heard of the Big Five of Africa, the roaring lions, the trumpeting elephants, the buffaloes lurking in the long grass, the rhinos enjoying the shade under a tree and leopards hunting in the dark of night.
But have you ever in your wildest fantasy imagined Greenland would also have its own Big Arctic Five? The howling husky dogs, the enchanting Northern Lights, the frosty white snow and deep turquoise ice, the proud and strong pioneers of the Greenlandic people and the majestic and elegant whales. Indulge yourself in this bucket-list of must-dos in Greenland and let us take you on a journey of a lifetime!
In Greenland you can enjoy a unique and authentic dog sledding adventure year round. Traveling during winter or summer, spring or fall, you are bound for an adventure of a lifetime, when exploring the Greenlandic countryside. The Greenlandic people have always used dogs and sleds for crossing the wast landscape of their country and their kayaks for hunting at sea. The sled dogs are reliable and hard working animals and have provided the Greenlandic people with a way of connecting settlements with reliable trade routes, inland hunting and transportation of individuals during even the roughest weather conditions.
Photo: Mads Pihl – Visit Greenland
Photo: Mads Pihl – Visit Greenland
The Northern Lights have been spellbinding a   nd mesmerising us all in the press in recent years. Popular destinations count Norway, Iceland and Finland for top destinations for a chance to see a glimpse of the Aurora Borealis. Greenland, on the other hand, is also located above the Arctic Circle, is easily accessible on both the East and West coast, and you are guaranteed an original and unique experience when chasing the Northern Lights in the Greenlandic countryside. With the small settlements scattered alongside the coast of the biggest island in the world, Greenland enjoys less light pollution and easy access to the wilderness, than most other destinations for the Northern Lights.
Photo: Mads Pihl – Visit Greenland
Photo: Mads Pihl – Visit Greenland
Throughout the seasons, you will find snow and ice in Greenland. The glaciers, the ice cape and the thousands of icebergs floating in the sea around Greenland will indulge your senses as nowhere else in the world. The UNESCO Heritage Site of the Disco Bay, is a famous destination of nature lovers and you a guaranteed to be in for a once in a lifetime experience when visiting the Disco Bay.
Photo: Magssannguaq Qujaukitsoq – Visit Greenland
Photo: Mads Pihl – Visit Greenland
The Greenlandic people, descendent from Norse, Inuit and Northern European heritage, is at the frontier of merging old traditions from the Inuit culture or hunting with more modern takes on education, fashion, music, food and nature experiences. The Greenlandic people has always been famous for their open-mindedness and are happy to invite you in for Kaffe Mik, their equivalent to the English afternoon tea. So do not let your chance pass by, to meet the people of Greenland, who are so adorned and loved by the Danish Royal family, who come to visit the Greenlanders several times a year.
Photo: Mads Pihl – Visit Greenland
Photo: Mads Pihl – Visit Greenland
Year round, whales, seals and fish roam the coast of Greenland. With guided tours supported by the local hunters and fishermen, you will be blown away by the icebergs gently floating alongside your boat, as you go whale watching under the Midnight Sun.
Photo: Julie Skotte – Visit Greenland
Photo: Julie Skotte – Visit Greenland]]>
Taking the Waters in Marianske Lazne
I have always wanted a traditional spa experience, so when the opportunity came up to visit one of the great spa towns, courtesy of our friends at Danubius Hotels, we were in the car and off as quickly as we could.
The tradition of taking the waters may have died out in favour of pampering and facials but for many there is still great romance in the names of Baden Baden – so good that, like New York, they named it twice – and Baden bei Wien. Daniel Deronda first glimpsed Gwendolen Harleth at the spa town of Leubronn. So much more evocative than Cheltenham, Leamington and even Bath, Pump Room and all.
Marianske Lazne, or Marienbad as the Germans would have it, has only truly existed for two hundred years, though the springs were first told of in 1341. It was through the efforts of Dr Josef Nehr, the local abbey's physician, that Marienbad became established as a watering-hole in 1818. The 19th century saw a rapid increase in popularity and the town has played host to Mark Twain, Chopin, Strauss, Edison and our own King Edward VII, who opened the town's first golf course. Goethe and Kafka fell in love here with somewhat unfortunate results.
Originally a mainly German town, this changed with the expulsion of the Germans in 1945 and the town was cut off from foreign visitors during the period of communist rule. Since the return of democracy – we always say that as if it is an unreservedly good thing – great efforts have been made to restore the town to its former glory.
The efforts were certainly worthwhile. From the moment you descend into the valley from the snowy mountains surrounding Marianske, you realise that someone, possibly the good Dr Nehr, told some rather fine architects to create a Neo-Baroque town and that is exactly what they did, using all the skills at their disposal. Nearby Karlovy Vary may be a little more famous and the scene for James Bond action, but for us Marianske wins hands down. No swish designer shops or fast cars: just a beautiful spa town with a delightful view at every turn. At this time of year, the town is covered in snow and this provides some truly magical scenes and walks.
We were fortunate enough to stay at Nove Lazne, the flagship hotel for the Danubius Group, which has nine hotels in Marianske catering for every budget and taste. Nove Lazne is connected to three other hotels along the same road by a series of underground tunnels and glassed walkways so whether your taste is for pampering in beauty salons; sweating in gyms or enormous swimming pools you have free run of this impressive complex without stepping outside or changing from your dressing gown.
For us and maybe, hopefully, for you the true essence of the traditional spa town of Europe with steam and sauna rooms; massages; mineral baths and health treatments to send you home healthier as well as spoilt.
Marianske specialises in certain, specific diseases with doctors and nurses on site 24 hours a day. They have treated, for many generations, people suffering from mobility issues; respiratory difficulties; skin diseases; fertility problems and diabetes. The average stay is 11 days and the standard offer includes a full consultation with a doctor and recommended treatments to suit your individual situation. We did not stay long enough to benefit from this personalised service but there are certainly many people who would testify to the efficacy of Marianske's unique health-giving properties.
Even if you are not suffering, but just need the batteries re-charging, lying in a steam or sauna bath and then swimming in the wonderfully over the top architectural pools will send you home refreshed and ready for whatever life holds. Be warned, there is a certain contest between those who prefer their saunas naked and those who favour a degree of modesty. You are likely to encounter the unclothed when you are in a swim suit or conversely be embarrassed, as only the British can be, by finding yourself the only covered body in a sea of nakedness.
The mineral baths are wonderful with the same equipment being used as in the 19th century. Again these are taken without clothing, though the marvellous ladies that look after this section do not leave one any choice. After twenty minutes in your individual bath, you are then cocooned in towels and left to rest for a further ten minutes in an almost surreal swathed environment.
You can even enjoy King Edward VII's own cabin decorated in a suitably hedonistic, oriental style.
Massages are intense and relaxing at the same time and the swimming pools are heated to a civilised level. We did not have the time to research all the spa places in Marianske but suffice to say you could spend many weeks here and never run out of facilities to visit.
This is a place to improve your health and feel well. This is not a place for fine dining or extravagant night life. Food is mostly in a buffet format and the town tends to slow to a soporific pace at about 10.00. However, there are a number of restaurants in the town with good varied menus.
The entertainment is of a fairly old-fashioned nature though we enjoyed a jazz three piece with singer. Be prepared for East German couples dancing to an Elvis impersonator or the sort of James Last musak that has me reaching for an Uzi.
The staff are unreservedly welcoming and helpful. Though the level of English is mixed, everyone will greet you with an enthusiastic 'dobry den' and mean it. Food and alcohol are exceptionally good value and the price differential for treatments is significant. There is cosmetic surgery available with experts brought in but most people seemed just happy with the way they looked. No divas, prima donna or just plain loud guests. Peace, tranquillity, rest: the Nove Lazne at Marianske Lazne has it all in bucketfuls, which, if you ask nicely, they will even pour over you.
So, if you are tempted by the thought of romantic walks across snow-filled parks while the moonlight twinkles over vast colonnades and some of the best Baroque buildings this humble soul has seen, after a day of activities that genuinely improve your wellness, then this is for you.
Talk to us for more details and we will take you there.
The writer was the guest of Danubius Hotels.
Baltic Travel: +44 (0) 208 233 2875
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I undertook a flying visit to Bratislava this last weekend – 3/4th January. I am already looking forward to a return trip, perhaps as part of a three capital tour either by road or rail to take in Vienna and Budapest. Bratislava is 50 miles from Vienna and a two and a half hour drive from Budapest. I would do the train journey as it is cheap; comfortable and fast.
Bratislava is, like a lot of East European cities, a place of contrasts and mixed styles. The name itself was only really attached at the beginning of the 20th Century. In its time, the city has been called Istropolis; Pressburg; Pozsony; Presporok; and even for a brief period Wilsonstadt in honour of the U.S. President Woodrow Wilson who supported the cause of Slovak independence. In 1919, the name Bratislava was officially adopted and this city has come to be known as a jewel of the Danube with some less honourable mentions as a destination for stag nights.
The Slovak nation has fought for and finally achieved its status as an independent nation after its Velvet Divorce from its Czech neighbour in 1993. During its history, Bratislava has been a Celt settlement; part of the Roman Empire; an important city in the Principality of Nitra and Great Moravia; a free royal town in the Kingdom of Hungary; besieged by the Turks of the Ottoman Empire; the capital of Hungary from 1536; a coronation town and centre for development during the time of Queen Maria Theresa; captured by Austrians in 1848; incorporated into the new Czechoslovakia in 1919; the capital of a Nazi puppet state during the Second World War; subjugated by the Russians on the wrong side of the Iron Curtain; occupied by Warsaw Pact forces after the failed Czech revolution in 1968 and, finally, its own city in its own country. So this place has history!
And it has culture. All the greats played here: Mozart; Haydn; Beethoven; Liszt; they were even advertising a Katy Perry concert for February.
The architecture varies from ancient through Baroque to Art Nouveau and though the dual carriageway built through the city qualifies as a true monstrosity there are not too many examples of modern desecration. Indeed, the pedestrianized area of the main city is probably one of the most pleasant walks in Europe. Yes, it is a tourist city now and the restaurants and bars tend to cater to the passing visitor, but there are still nuggets of fascination which will certainly bring me back.
The main square is – as the name implies – where to start and the road system delivers you pretty close, with parking not too difficult – bear in mind that we were there on the first weekend of the year so other times might be more difficult. Ignore the kitsch Napoleonic soldier leaning on a bench and other twee elements of a fevered tourist chief's imagination: just look around.
The old town hall with the Jesuit Church beside it. I like churches – I cannot forget all the souls that worshipped in them and they often have great art – and Bratislava has more than we could cover in an overnight stay. The Roland statue which is actual of Maximilian II; the 18th Century buildings and the Art Nouveau insurance building also housing a rather nice-looking Kaffee und Kuchen shop.
We had our coffee and indulgent cake in the Mayer café – just by the irrelevant statue – and it lived up its reputation for great cream cakes, which we enjoyed under the stern gaze of a moustachioed bust of someone that looked like Franz Joseph II. Lunch was just outside the pedestrianized area in a great beer and goulash restaurant called the town brewery. Dumplings; great chunks of meat and good portions of local beer.
Bratislava is a great city for walking and it is easy to cover most of the main stops – apart from the hill-top castle on foot. Start at the Danube which Bratislava bestrides and work your way in. The afore-mentioned dual carriageway carries a bridge over the river and also includes the UFO Bridge with its restaurant at the top of the spaceship.
Go past the Old National theatre and head towards the main square. We were there while there were skaters on an admittedly small ice rink – Somerset house this is not – and the Christmas Tree was still erected.
Past the main square you will glance the castle on the hill. This is worth a trip but jump a trolley bus to do it. Described by one unkind traveller as an upside down bedstead, it is still impressive and the history is worth reading. It was too big to fit on to one photo but I am sure you get the message.
Keep walking and don't be afraid to duck in and out of the fascinating little alleys that lead off all the main streets. The shops are aimed centrally at the tourist though the Slovak Art centre on the main square looks to have some genuinely good examples of local craftware.
Down one of these alleys, we found the Grand Cru Wine Gallery and it's a great spot for a pre-prandial glass or two, though the snacks looked pretty good. Martin really loves his local wines and we tried four between the two of us with grape varieties we had never heard of such as alibernet, which originated in the Ukraine. The vineyards produce small parcels of three to six hundred bottles so this wonderful nectar does not get out of the country: drink it while you can.
For dinner, we scaled the road up the castle over the afore-mentioned dual carriageway – you may gather I really didn't like this road – and found, on the recommendation of our hotel concierge, Modra Hviezda (Blue Star), a traditional restaurant with its main tables in a cellar; some great wine and traditional food such as rabbit; pork; goulash; etc. A two course dinner with foie gras; a glass of sauternes; a good bottle of blue Portuguese red wine and schnapps after ran to just on €100.
That is one disadvantage with Bratislava as opposed to its neighbour the Czech Republic, which uses its own koruna as a currency and, outside Prague, is definitely better value.
We stayed at the Hotel Skaritz which was good value, if somewhat noisy. If we could, we would have stayed at Marrol's, which though a little bit off the track, also has a great restaurant called the Messina.
On Sunday before departure, we went a little way out of the centre – but still highly walkable – and visited the blue church, an amazing wedding cake of architecture with a fascinating history – just Google it.
Bratislava, we liked you and we will see you again.
 See more on www.baltictravelcompany.com/slovakia/ and consider a trip between Bratislava, Vienna and Budapest, call us for more information.
Author: David Owen


text:
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) _ This week's snapshot of Kansas crops shows 3 percent of Kansas corn has now matured, signaling fall harvest is
getting closer.
In its weekly crop weather update, Kansas Agricultural Statistics Service rated the state's corn crop as 10 percent excellent and 41 percent good. About 37 percent is rated as fair with 9 percent poor and 3 percent very poor.
Other crops also are faring well as weather remains mild with scattered rain across most of the state this past week.
*Sorghum condition is rated 13 percent excellent, 52 percent
good, 26 percent fair, 7 percent poor and 2 percent very poor.
*Soybean condition is rated 17 percent good, 51 percent good,
27 percent fair, 4 percent poor and 1 percent very poor.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)


text:
MLB Playoffs 2009
Print without images
Friday, October 16, 2009
A game for the ages for an 'old goat'
By Jorge Arangure Jr.
ESPN The Magazine
LOS ANGELES -- In one corner of the visiting clubhouse at Dodger Stadium,
Pedro Martinez
meticulously packed his toiletries into a Versace Dopp kit that he had placed onto to his lap. Sheepishly, Dominican Phillies rookie
Antonio Bastardo
approached Martinez who had been recounting -- with teammates, reporters, clubhouse attendants -- his seven shutout innings Friday against the Dodgers in Game 2 of the NLCS, a game he said likely would remain in his fondest memories for the rest of his life.
"Pedro," Bastardo quietly said. "It was an honor watching you pitch today."
Martinez grinned.
"Tomorrow," Martinez told Bastardo, "you and I will go into the outfield during batting practice and we will talk. I have a few things to teach you."
Complete coverage of the Phillies-Dodgers matchup.
For 17 seasons, Martinez has been teaching the baseball world never to discount him. On Friday afternoon, he showed it was possible for an old goat to have new tricks. With a fastball that did not top 92 mph, a curveball that danced in and out of the zone, and a changeup that kept hitters off balance, Martinez dominated the Dodgers, though he did not get a decision as Los Angeles came back against the Philadelphia bullpen in the Dodgers' 2-1 win.
"Only an old goat like me can pull that trick," Martinez said. "And only Charlie [Manuel] would trust an old goat like me."
Before the game, Manuel told Martinez that he would throw only -- at most -- 80-90 pitches because Martinez had not pitched since Sept. 30. But who knew Martinez would be so effective? Most memorable for Martinez was an at-bat in the fourth inning against
Rafael Furcal
in which he induced a groundout by throwing three consecutive changeups. Who would have thought the mighty Pedro would ever retire a batter without his power fastball?
But even he admits he's not the same pitcher he was even five years ago, when he pitched seven scoreless innings for the
Boston Red Sox
in Game 3 of the World Series against the
St. Louis Cardinals
, his last previous postseason appearance. That Pedro Martinez threw 95-97 mph and lived by intimidation. In that postseason, Martinez hit three Yankees in the ALCS, which caused an uproar as people wondered whether he was head-hunting. On Friday, Martinez struck Dodgers catcher
Russell Martin
with a pitch in the sixth and nobody even blinked.
"My fastball isn't like it used to be," Martinez said. "But 90-92 mph is good enough to get it by anybody if you're mixing pitches. Back in my day, whoever threw 90 mph was good enough to sign for a good bonus. Too bad I didn't throw 90 mph when I was signed."
Pedro Martinez, who walked none, hit a batter and struck out three, averaged 12.4 pitches per inning.
Martinez, who allowed just two hits and walked none, had only two runners reach second base. He varied his pitches so much that he hit every speed on the gun from 75 to 92 mph. At one point, he even threw a curveball in the 50s.
Former teammate and friend
Manny Ramirez
, as he approached home plate during one at-bat, joked with catcher
Carlos Ruiz
, "You better not miss with location." Martinez rarely did, and certainly not against Ramirez, who was hitless in three at-bats against Martinez.
Although Martinez said he felt strong after his 87th pitch to end the seventh inning, Manuel opted to go to his bullpen. Martinez said he was not even approached by Manuel as to whether he could pitch the eighth.
"I was aware he was going to make a move," Martinez said. "I felt pretty fresh, and at the same time, there's that temptation of pushing it. But then again, it was 17 days off. I've never done that in my career. After 17 days off, seven innings was good enough."
It was not lost on Martinez that he was returning to the place where, in 1992, he made his debut with the Dodgers. During Thursday's Game 1 batting practice, Martinez said that while shagging fly balls, he often found himself reliving some of his early days as a Dodger. Martinez had not pitched in Dodger Stadium since June 6, 2006.
When he came in from the dugout after that batting practice, he was surprised at how little appreciation Dodger fans had for him. Many of them booed him. Then it struck him that perhaps many of the fans in the stands were not even aware that he had pitched for the Dodgers. After all, Martinez is an old goat. When he first arrived at Dodger Stadium this week, Martinez approached a clubhouse attendant and asked him his age. The young man was 19 years old.
"You were just a baby when I was making my first start here," Martinez told him.
Yet despite some of the fond memories Martinez had of Dodger Stadium, there were also some ugly memories he had about the Dodgers organization. The Dodgers were the ones who deemed him too small to pitch in the majors -- "That's a long story, you don't want to go there," Martinez said -- and traded him to the Montreal Expos. The Dodgers were the ones who did not re-sign Martinez's older brother Ramon -- who had once won 20 games for the Dodgers -- after the 1998 season, a blatant breach of loyalty in Martinez's mind. The Dodgers were the ones who called up Martinez's younger brother Jesus in September one year and did not use him in a single game. Jesus would never be called up in his career again and never pitched in the majors.
"How do you call someone up and not let them pitch in even one game," Martinez said.
Yet Martinez has outlasted them all, the ownership group (the O'Malley family) that did not fight for him, the GM (Fred Claire) who traded him and the player for whom he was traded (
Delino DeShields
"The Dodgers are responsible for a lot of things that [the Martinezes] should be having hard feelings about," Martinez said. "But really, there's no hard feelings."
From his duffel bag, Martinez pulled out a baseball signed by members of the 1991 Class A Bakersfield Dodgers, including
Mike Piazza
. A friend from Martinez's early Dodger years had given it to him this week. He remembered that the ball had been signed by the team shortly before Martinez had been called up to Double-A.
Martinez was so pleased with his performance that he could not get himself to think about negative things. Such a strong performance also stirred up more feelings about a comeback for next season.
"I'm considering coming back next year if I don't win the World Series," Martinez said. "I will have to ask my mom because I promised her that if I won the World Series this would be my last year."
As Martinez continued to pack his bag, Philadelphia pitcher
Brett Myers
sat near Martinez and began to talk about the game. It was not only the reporters and fans whom Martinez impressed. Myers asked Martinez how he had so much success despite throwing 5-6 mph less than he did in his prime. Martinez recounted that, as a young prospect, he often taxed his body a lot with a violent leg kick to produce velocity. Now he simply slows down his leg kick -- "It's so effortless now," he says -- which sacrifices velocity in favor of accuracy.
"Could you have gone another one?" Myers asked, wondering out loud whether Martinez could have pitched the eighth inning.
"Yes," Martinez said and paused for a few moments, "but it's been 17 days since I pitched. You don't know what is going to happen."
Jorge Arangure Jr. is a senior writer for ESPN The Magazine.


text:
Cancer Health Center
Genetics of Colorectal Cancer (PDQ®): Genetics - Health Professional Information [NCI] - Major Genetic Syndromes
Table 10. Clinical Practice Guidelines for Colon Surveillance of BiallelicMYH-Associated Polyposis (MAP) continued...
Practices and pitfalls in testing
One study reported that of 42 population-based probands harboring deleterious MSH6 germline mutations who were ascertained independent of their family cancer history, 30 (71%) had a family cancer history that did not meet the Amsterdam II criteria.[228]
MSH6 colorectal tumors can be MSI-H, MSI-L, or MSS. This pitfall illustrates the utility of IHC for the MMR protein expression. Eighteen of 21 (86%) of the colorectal tumors showed an MSI-H phenotype. Of the 16 endometrial tumors tested, 11 were MSI-H (69%); four were MSI-L (25%), and one was MSS (6%).[281]
In endometrial cancers with germline MSH2 mutations, loss of MSH6 frequently occurs with loss of MSH2.[336,342]
The prevalence of PMS2 germline mutations has been underappreciated for many reasons. It is the most recent of the major genes to be identified, probably has the lowest prevalence, was not felt to be worthy of serious investigation, and commercial testing is not widely available.[343,344,345] One registry study reported an incidence of 2.2% for PMS2 mutations in 184 patients with suspected LS.[346] A population-based study reported a prevalence of approximately 5% (1 of 18).[221]
Genotype-phenotype correlations
A meta-analysis of three population-based studies and one clinic-based study estimated that for carriers of PMS2 mutations, the risk of CRC to age 70 years was 20% among men and 15% among women, and the risk of endometrial cancer was 15%.[226]
In one study, patients with PMS2 mutations presented with CRC 7 to 8 years later than did those with MLH1 and MSH2 mutations. However, these families were small and did not fulfill Amsterdam criteria.[346]
Polymorphisms in Unrelated Genes Affecting Expression in LS
Polymorphisms potentially affecting expression in MMR genes fall into two categories: those whose mechanisms are already suspected to have an effect on cancer-related pathways, and those that are truly anonymous. Several candidate genes have been studied. Anonymous genes have also been evaluated.
Studies have demonstrated that a polymorphism in the promoter region of the insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) gene modifies age of onset of CRC in LS.[347,348]. The polymorphism is a variable number of CA-dinucleotide repeats approximately 1 kb upstream of the transcription start site of IGF1. There is significant variability between individuals and populations with respect to repeat length. Carriers of shorter repeat lengths (shortest allele ≤17 repeats) develop CRC on average 12 years earlier than those with longer repeat lengths. It is unclear whether this polymorphism influences extracolonic malignancies. Additionally, the cyclin D1 polymorphism G870A may be associated with earlier age of onset of CRC in LS,[349,350] although the association appears to be more reproducible in MSH2 mutation carriers than in MLH1 mutation carriers.[350,351]
Genetics of Colorectal Cancer (PDQ®): Genetics - Health Professional Information [NCI] Topics
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- Cancer Prevention and Treatment


text:
Singer Etta James dies at 73
Photo: Rex C. Curry/Special Contributor
Etta James Performs at the Nokia Theatre in Grand Prairie on Sunday, Aug. 26. 2007.
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The tuition isn't as costly as most other schools, $17,500 by the time I graduate. I haven't received any financial aid from the school yet.
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It's a heavy workload, but the professors are nice and helpful. Curriculum is fast paced and every day we learn something new; we never spend a long time on the same subject.
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Unique Mortuary School – My school has great clubs you can join and seem to have very charitable organizations. Classes are fun and easy to participate in. The teachers are not only instructors, but also seem to be a friend.
Overall Experience:
Mortuary School – So far I have really enjoyed attending my school. The hours are great and give you plenty of free time or time for an after school job. The teachers are very nice and personable. The classes are somewhat small so everyone seems to know you by name. There is a great student center and library. All of the staff if very helpful and it is obvious they want you to succeed. All of there aspects makes it easy to get up and go to school every morning.
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The Longest Running – the school is accredited for being the longest running under one single management. the value of family and professionalism and high academia is what has kept the school open as well as the insight of others that believe such a school is needed and in the area it is located. also there are opther schools who have joined the academic family of professionals and also pride themselves on being part of the organization known as the Dallas Institute.
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text: Viking: Battle for Asgard came out in 2008 for the PS3 and Xbox 360 and was met with lukewarm reviews. Now SEGA could have just let this long forgotten game rot, but for some reason they decided to port it to PC — four years too late. Still, it's only $14.99 on Steam so it may be worth a look if you missed it the first time around.


text:
The Library
The war on obesity as a moral project : weight loss drugs, obesity surgery and negotiating failure
Throsby, Karen. (2009) The war on obesity as a moral project : weight loss drugs, obesity surgery and negotiating failure. Science as Culture, Vol.18 (No.2). pp. 201-216. ISSN 0950-5431Full text not available from this repository.
Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09505430902885581
Anti-obesity interventions are configured within British biomedicine as a hierarchy of condoned practices, with access to those further up the hierarchy made contingent on documented failure with interventions further down. The unsuccessful use of weight loss drugs, for example, is a condition of access to surgery, which is positioned at the top of the hierarchy. This configuration of interventions, I argue, exposes surgery patients to the risk of the moral censure of others: the failure to lose weight is attributed to a lack of self-discipline rather than to the inefficacy of any particular intervention. This risk is particularly pronounced in the case of weight loss drugs and surgery, which are commonly (mis)conceptualised as attempts to 'cheat' at weight loss and avoid the bodily work of diet and exercise. This paper argues that those undergoing surgery have to account for their unsuccessful use of weight loss drugs in a way that resists these negative characterisations. This is achieved through the strategic mobilisation of three key discursive resources in relation to the drugs: discourses of degradation, danger and inefficacy. These discursive resources, and their strategic mobilisation, highlight the profoundly moral context of the 'war on obesity' within which the escalating hierarchy of anti-obesity interventions operates.
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text:
Infographic: How Are Political Candidates Using Social Media? [Headlines]
With both candidates pouring money into social media, how are they actually using it to engaging voters?
While Obama leads Romney in the social media sphere, both parties are using tools more to broadcast than to engage, according to a study by the Pew Research Center's Project for Excellence in Journalism.


text:
The forty-seven new works in this volume include poems on crickets, toads, trout lilies, black snakes, goldenrod, bears, greeting the morning, watching the deer, and, finally, lingering in happiness. Each poem is imbued with the extraordinary perceptions of a poet who considers the everyday in our lives and the natural world around us and finds a multitude of reasons to wake early.
About the Author
Mary Oliver is one of the most celebrated and best-selling poets in America. Her books include Red Bird; Our World; Thirst; Blue Iris; New and Selected Poems, Volume One; and New and Selected Poems, Volume Two. She has also published five books of prose, including Rules for the Dance and, most recently, Long Life. She lives in Provincetown, Massachusetts.
Praise For…
Praise for Mary Oliver's poetry:
'These are life enhancing and redemptive poems that coax the sublime from the subliminal.' --Sally Connolly, Poetry
'Mary Oliver's poems are natural growths out of a loam of perception and feeling, and instinctive skill with language makes them seem effortless. Reading them is a sensual delight.' --May Swenson
'The gift of Oliver's poetry is that she communicates the beauty she finds in the world and makes it unforgettable.' -Miami Herald


text:
Exuding classic style, the Brenda boots in dark ink blue by Opening Ceremony have a soft suede upper set upon a sturdy two and a half inch block heel. Featuring an almond toe and leather lining, the design is completed by a back pull tab and stitched goring detail to the sides. K.D.
Upper: Suede. Lining and Sole: Leather.
Heel Height: 2.5".
Made in Portugal.
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text:
Numbaz Free
By Bitongo Ltd.
Open iTunes to buy and download apps.
This fun game brings you the world of Numbaz you have not seen on your iPhone / iPod Touch yet! It is a unique puzzle game where you have to create matching patterns in more and more difficult levels.
- the full tutorial level pack
What's New in Version 1.07
Renamed our app from Numbers to Numbaz.
iPhone Screenshots
Customer Reviews
Fix The Crash Please.
I love the idea of this game, however it crashes immediately after you win the first time and attempt to play for only the 2nd time. Crash, crash and crash no matter if you restart or whatever you do it just keeps crashing. Sad. Please fix this game. Why would I or anyone ever pay to buy the supposed better pay to play version if this one never works nor gets fixed. Just really sad. Please fix this game. Thank you, I look forward to playing the working fixed version some day soon I hope.
- Free
- Category: Games
- Updated: Mar 30, 2010
- Version: 1.07
- Size: 2.7 MB
- Language: English
- Seller: Bitongo Ltd.
- © 2010 Bitongo Ltd.
Compatibility: Requires iOS 2.2.1 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.