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Modernism is particularly present in Barcelona with emblematic architecture such as the Sagrada Familia cathedral, Güell Park, or the Casa Milà, "La Pedrera" house, all by Gaudí. There are also numerous buildings and creations by other Modernist artists throughout the city.
Casa Milá house / Casa Ametller house
Famous director Woody Allen was in no doubt. After many visits to Spain he fell under its charm and chose cities such as Barcelona and Oviedo to shoot his latest film, "Vicky Cristina Barcelona". Now it is your turn to discover the landscapes and monuments he chose as settings, and relive scenes featuring actors such as Javier Bardem and Scarlett Johansson. Discover Spain through the eyes of an artist.
After portraying emblematic cities such as Paris and Manhattan, there was no doubt in Woody Allen's mind when he used various destinations in northern Spain for his latest film. These were Barcelona (in Catalonia), Oviedo and Avilés (both in Asturias) – cities where the film "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" is set. They are all wonderful places, and even better in reality, you can be sure.
It is no coincidence that the filmmaker chose Barcelona and even included the city in the title of his film. He himself has stated that when he was writing the script, "I wasn't thinking of anything other than creating a story that had Barcelona as a character. I wanted to honour Barcelona, because I love the city very much, and I love Spain in general. It's a city full of visual beauty and the sensibility of the city is quite romantic."
There are many parts of this Mediterranean city that appear like postcards in the film, and that you will be able to recognise. If you like art, then don't miss the works of architect Gaudí in Barcelona, many of which have the UNESCO World Heritage designation. The Basilica of La Sagrada Familia, Güell Park, where a scene with Javier Bardem and Rebecca Hall was shot at the lizard-shaped fountain, or the original rooftop of "La Pedrera" House that Cristina and Vicky (Scarlett Johansson and Rebecca Hall) visit, are just a few of the best examples.
Allen's film shows that Barcelona is synonymous with a varied cultural agenda, with the appearance of the Joan Miró Foundation, the Catalonia National Art Museum and Barcelona Airport with its mural by Miró. In addition to all these places, if you want to feel the romantic, bohemian, fun atmosphere of Barcelona, we would recommend other locations that feature in the film such as the Tibidabo Amusement Park (with stunning views of the city), the Olympic Port and Las Ramblas, one of Barcelona's most emblematic avenues, that you will love for its traditional flower stalls.
The next city that is particularly dear to Allen is Oviedo. The director has been there many times, especially since he was awarded the Príncipe de Asturias Prize for the Arts. It is interesting to know that in the very centre of Oviedo (opposite San Francisco Park), there is a statue of the artist with his characteristic glasses and a plaque with his own words: "Oviedo is a delicious, exotic, beautiful, clean, pleasant, tranquil and pedestrianised city. It is as if it did not belong to this world, as if it did not exist ... Oviedo is like a fairy-tale."
This is the atmosphere Allen tried to reflect in the film and which you will experience for yourself if you head up to the city's Naranco Hill. In this green area (where Penélope Cruz gives Bardem a massage in one scene from the film) you can visit important pre-Romanesque churches - Santa María del Naranco, San Miguel de Lillo and San Julián de los Prados - all part of the Monuments of Oviedo and the Kingdom of Asturias, which have the UNESCO World Heritage designation. There are other places you can try and recognise, such as Hotel de la Reconquista (where Allen himself stayed) and other typical establishments in the city.
As a final piece of advice, we would recommend you do not miss Avilés, just 35 kilometres from Oviedo. This was where some of the film's most romantic scenes (between Javier Bardem and Rebecca Hall) were shot, and it portrays spots such as San Juan Lighthouse with the sea in the background, and Ferrera Park, where the characters attend an exciting flamenco show.
Come and live in person the delightful aesthetics and charm that Allen captures in the film. Come and immerse yourself in the Mediterranean sensuality of Barcelona and the landscapes of Oviedo, ideal for bike rides. See how the warm sun to be seen in the film is a reality.
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Celebrity - The BIG Deal
Explore Alaska on Select sailings and choose one of
>Classic Beverage Package
>Unlimited Internet Package
>Prepaid Gratuities
>Plus $25 Nonrefundable Deposits!
Applicable to select 2019 Princess Alaska, Cruises. Promotion is per person, based on double occupancy. Selecting the Beverage package will result in an increase in the cruise fare price; it varies by length of sailing. $25 deposit only applies to the 1st and 2nd guests. Prepaid Gratuities option provides for prepaid stateroom, waiter, assistant waiter and headwaiter. Bookings made before or after the promotional period will not qualify for the savings. Prices listed may not be combinable with this promotion may already reflect applicable discounts. Promotion is subject to availability and may be changed at any time. Promotion is capacity controlled and may be withdrawn without notice. Other restrictions may apply.
Celebrity Sail Beyond Event
Explore Alaska and Pick your Booking Bonus on Select Alaska Sailings!
Pick from:
> Unlimited Drinks
> Unlimited WiFi
> $150 to Spend on Board
> Prepaid Gratuities
>50% off Additional Guests
Applicable to Select 2020 Celebrity Alaska Sailings. Bookings made before or after the promotional period will not qualify for the savings. Prices listed may not be combinable with this promotion / may already reflect applicable discounts. Promotion is subject to availability and may be changed at any time. Promotion is capacity controlled and may be withdrawn without notice. Other restrictions may apply.
Select an option to view Cruise Details:
|Vancouver, British Columbia
|Inside Passage (Cruising)
|Ketchikan, Alaska
|Icy Strait Point, Alaska
|Juneau, Alaska
|Skagway, Alaska
|Hubbard Glacier (Cruising)
|Seward, Alaska
In Vancouver, you never lose sight of the spectacular mountains or the glimmering sea. It is a prosperous city, with flowers adorning the streets and the lush greenery of Stanley Park, the third-largest urban park in the world, beckoning to travellers and locals alike. Museums offer fine collections of dramatic Northwest Native arts. Vancouver's Chinatown is the second largest in the world. Gastown, the waterfront district, recalls the city's colorful past as a premier port since the days of the Clipper ships.
Come see the natural beauty of Vancouver, which captured the prestigous title of the 2010 Winter Olympics' Host City.
Stretching over 90 miles long and covering over 1,350 square miles in area, Hubbard Glacier is the largest tidewater glacier in North America. It is also one of the most impressive, a 300-foot wall of ice rising sheer and jagged from the ocean. You may hear the rumble and see the monumental splash as the glacier severs into great ice chunks, known as "calves."
Icy Strait Point, established in 1912 is a new port of call for cruise lines and enthusiasts of the real Alaska. Icy Strait Point opens its untouched, pristine lands to visitors. Hosting only one ship at a time, it provides guests with rich wildlife tours and authentic native Tlingit culture. Be one of the first to see and experience this at its finest.
Stretching from the Canadian border in the south, to the start of the Gulf of Alaska in the north, the Inside Passage runs through the area known as Southeast Alaska, just below Glacier Bay National Park. In the spring, the passage is blanketed with wildflowers and the whales are migrating. Come fall, the landscape is ablaze with fall foliage and the bald eagles are gathering. No matter what time of the season you choose to cruise, one can expect to see spectacular scenery, bountiful wildlife, picturesque Native cultures, amazing history and exceptional hospitality.
Accessible only by air or sea, Alaska's capital is surprisingly urban and cultured for such a remote destination. When you arrive by sea, you will be greeted dockside by numerous flags and an abundance of summer flowers. For further insight into the Inuit culture and crafts, visit the museum. Take the short drive to Mendenhall Glacier, the only glacier inside city limits! Take a helicopter ride for an amazing aerial view of Juneau and area, or go fishing for silver salmon. Then, just kick back and relax with a cool one at the famous and colorful Red Dog Saloon.
Ketchikan is the salmon capital of the world. The canneries are busy and the stream below Creek Street's rustic boardwalk bustles with life. Visit the ancient grove of Totem Bight, the largest collection of authentic totem poles anywhere. Make a flight to nearby Misty Fjords--a breathtaking vista of Alaska's unspoiled wilderness and America's newest national monument; or try a little salmon fishing.
The historic fishing village of Seward is encircled by the Kenai Wildlife Refuge, Alaska Maritime National Refuge, Chugach National Forest, and Kenai Fjords National Park. Seabirds, otters, whales and other wildlife thrive in nearby Resurrection Bay. Seward is named after William Seward, who negotiated the purchase of Alaska from Russia in 1867 for just under two cents an acre.
Skagway was born during the great Alaska gold rush. Those were the days when Skagway had 80 saloons and was known as "the roughest town on earth." The city's rip-roaring past will come alive when you walk down Broadway, a main street so authentic it is part of the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park! Special shore excursions explore Skagway's fascinating history. Take a train up to White Pass and follow the old path to gold and glory in the Yukon, or take a scenic flight to view the amazing wonders of Glacier Bay National Park.
Please note that the staterooms shown below are samples only. Actual cabin decor, details and layout may vary by stateroom category and type.
Ample indoor and outdoor space come together to create your private sanctuary at sea. Each veranda stateroom includes: Personal veranda, our signature friendly, personalized service, twice daily service and 24-hour room service. Custom blended bath products. Celebrity eXhale bedding. Private mini-bar. Interactive Samsung flat-screen television. Private safe.
Select from the deck options below.
Enjoy an amazing array of flavors, and a wide selection of restaurants to suit every mood. Menus are inspired by, and sourced from, the incredible regions Celebrity visits.
Michael's Club - A premium, private lounge for those in Reflection, Penthouse, Signature, Royal, and Celebrity Suites, as well as for Captain's Club Zenith members. This luxurious club features a large-screen TV, reading areas stocked with magazines, newspapers, and books, plus a continental breakfast. Complimentary drinks are available throughout the day and canapés are served with evening cocktails. Michael's Club is available 24 hours a day with selected service hours from the Michael's Club Concierge
The Metropolitan Restaurant - While the piano music softly plays, dinner companions enjoy world-class dining and the spectacular views from their table. The award-winning cuisine is always prepared from scratch with fresh ingredients.
Blu - A culinary delight your senses won't soon forget. Serving as the specialty dining restaurant for AquaClass® and AquaClass® Suite guests, the menu features "clean, contemporary and unforgettable cuisine" - wonderful choices of fresh and delicious, to be enjoyed in an intimately relaxing atmosphere
Gelateria - Treat yourself to the gelateria, where sumptuous, and gorgeous, Italian ices and gelatos are prepared afternoon and evening.
Café al Bacio - If only your local coffee shop had ocean views like these. Savor a cup of freshly brewed coffee or a delightful liqueur in this lively European style coffee house.
Spa Café - With a menu that features delicious, light, health-conscious fare, the Spa Café is a great way to reward yourself any time of day or night
Sushi on Five - Try modern luxury take on traditional Japanese fare. Take the opportunity to try premium, super-premium, and specialty sakes—selected by the sake sommelier. Ask for fresh wasabi, if you dare. It's rare to find the real thing.
Ocean Café / Ocean Grill - The casual dining area includes a pasta bar, freshly made pizza, grilled steak, hamburgers and much more. You can dine under the skylights in the café or at the outside grill's teak bar with translucent awnings
Quisine® - Qsine® offers a culinary journey that delivers elements of surprise and delight. James Beard featured Master Chef created Qsine to give you something you've never experienced before—on land or at sea. Leave any preconceived notions behind. Dig in and try new things. It's time your palate got a wakeup call. The iPad® menus make your dining experience even more fun and interactive.
Mast Bar & Grill - The perfect place to grab a quick bite, like burgers and other specialties grilled to order, while relaxing out on the Pool Deck.
Rendezvous Lounge - The ideal meeting place, the Rendezvous Lounge offers guests quiet niches and plush, comfortable seating. The lounges above overlook the Rendezvous dance floor stage
Cellar Masters - Inspired by the vineyards of the world, Cellar Masters brings to life the experience of a global wine tour, while you learn about and taste a large variety of wines from around the world. Using state-of-the-art Enomatic® wine dispensers, your bacchanalian curiosity is satisfied with the press of a button. A welcoming and unique onboard environment, you'll discover new wines, receive recommendations and enrich your knowledge of the world of wine.
Sunset Bar - This popular spot on the Solstice Class anchors one end of the Lawn Club, the industry's first half-acre of real grass, on the highest deck of the ship. Spectacular views and a casual country club atmosphere make this a relaxing ritual every evening. Watch the sun set on the water with pop and folk tunes from a live guitarist.
Cosmos Lounge - Enjoy spectacular views from the observation lounge, Cosmos, where you can also dance under glowing lights in the evening disco.
Celebrity Theater - The stage comes alive in the state-of-the-art theater with dazzling special effects and Broadway-style productions
Cinema and Conference Center - The Cinema offers a comfortable place for watching movies and is also ideal for business conferences. The center's advanced capabilities include multi-lingual translation using a wireless transmitter and headsets, interactive audience keypads and multi-media audio/visual systems.
Fortune's Casinos - With Lady Luck by your side, spin the roulette wheel or play the slot machines in the tastefully decorated casino
The Emporium - The Emporium is a shopping experience at sea. Here you will find well-known name brands, one-of-a-kind collectibles and a range of upscale personal accessories selected to please the most discriminating tastes.
Art Gallery - Refined culture at sea is what you will experience in the inspiring and thought-provoking Art Gallery on board. Stop in on your way to dinner and it just might spark up an enriching table conversation; swing by after dinner and have a touch of sophistication for dessert. You may even find yourself buying an irresistible one-of-a-kind souvenir to bring back from your trip.
Celebrity iLounge℠ - This is Celebrity's chic, new approach to the Internet lounge that's also the first Authorized Apple® Reseller at Sea. It's the modern way to connect while onboard. Here, you'll find state-of-the-art workstations featuring MacBook Pro® laptops and iMac® desktops where you can take a class, check your email, surf the web or print a boarding pass. Certified staff will help you master the latest audio and video products. Learn how to get the most from the hippest tech devices, like the iPhone®, iPad®, iPod Touch®, and MacBook Pro®. And, if you like, you can purchase some of these items on your cruise. Celebrity iLounge is available on most ships.
Library - Handsome two-story library features books in many languages.
From morning to night, there are literally hundreds of activities to choose from. Boutique shopping, cooking, family activities, the latest in wireless and computer technology, and even a fine art photography studio. You can go from wine tasting to a high-energy fitness class. In the fitness center you can meet with a personal trainer, take a fitness class, try resistance swimming pool or challenge yourself on the state-of-the-art exercise equipment
Canyon Ranch SpaClub® - Canyon Ranch, one of the world's leading spa and wellness brands, has partnered with Celebrity to bring you the indulgent Canyon Ranch SpaClub aboard ten of the state-of-the-art ships. Canyon Ranch pioneered the evolution of the wellness lifestyle and has been an industry leader for close to 35 years. The Canyon Ranch SpaClub at Sea will offer exclusive services and treatments.
Persian Garden - Accompanied by the calming strains of new age music, enjoy the warmth of a relaxing steam or treat your skin to the solitude found in a private sauna.
Solarium - Let the serenity surround you at this indoor pool reserved for adults only. The sound of waterfalls will transport you to a divine state of relaxation while you stretch out on thickly padded lounge chairs or melt away stress in the hot tub.
The Pool - Spend the day by the Pool. Relax with a book or have a bite at the grill. Enjoy the serenade of the music from the bandstand and dance your heart away on the dance floor. For a refresher, take a dip in the pool or rejuvenate in the whirlpool.
Fun Factory – Happy children equal happy parents. It is a simple equation, but one Celebrity finds is particularly effective. At the Fun Factory Celebrity hosts activities for your children and teenagers every day from 9am-10pm, with sessions and events organised according to your child's age. Shipmates is for children aged 3-5; Cadets is for children aged 6-9; Captains is for children aged 10-12. Activities include games, sports, crafts, music, karaoke, treasure hunts, theme parties, movies and much, much more.
X-Club Teen Entertainment – For young adults, Celebrity offers the ultimate hangout place for teens, featuring social activities, the newest gaming consoles and titles, sports activities, even teens-only late-night dances. All supervised. All very cool.
Toddler Time for children under 3 - Toddler time allows parents and toddlers to interact with other children their age. Staff members provide suitable toys for this age group. In accordance with USPH policies and standards, Celebrity has provided each ship with lavatory-based changing tables and baby wipes. Children participating in organised events must be fully potty trained; however, you can accompany your child to any organised activity if they're not.
Babysitting Services – To give parents a chance to enjoy a night out, Celebrity offers babysitting services, in both the Fun Factory and in staterooms.
Party Time – The Fun Factory also offers a number of parties where children can enjoy some extra hours of fun and, for lunch and dinner, dine with the Youth Staff.
· Elevators
· Duty-Free Shops/Boutiques
· Dry Cleaning/Laundry Service
· Concierge Desk
· Safe Deposit Boxes
· Business Center Services
· Infirmary/Medical Center
Accessibility/Special Needs
· Visual Assistance (Visually Impaired)
· Auditory Assistance (TTY/TTD)
· Assisted Listening Devices
· Closed Caption TV
· Braille Signage
· Accessible Gaming (Casino)
· Accessible Showroom Seating
· Accessible Public Areas
· Accessible Public Restrooms
· Refrigerator in Staterooms
· Sharps Disposal
· Oxygen
· Accessible Tendering
Wheelchair Accessibility
· Wheelchair passengers accepted
· Elevators accommodate regular wheelchairs
· Elevators accommodate narrow wheelchairs
· Staterooms with wide doors
· Staterooms with low or no doorsills
· Staterooms baths with hand rails
· Staterooms available with ramps
· Public rooms available with ramps
· Public rooms accessible by wheelchairs
· Decks with ramps
Fun Factory – Happy children equal happy parents. It is a simple equation, but one Celebrity finds is particularly effective. At the Fun Factory Celebrity hosts activities for your children and teenagers every day from 9am-10pm, with sessions and events organised according to your child's age. Shipmates is for children aged 3-5; Cadets is for children aged 6-9; Captains is for children aged 10-12. Activities include games, sports, crafts, music, karaoke, treasure hunts, theme parties, movies and much, much more.
X-Club Teen Entertainment – For young adults, Celebrity offers the ultimate hangout place for teens, featuring social activities, the newest gaming consoles and titles, sports activities, even teens-only late-night dances. All supervised. All very cool.
Toddler Time for children under 3 - Toddler time allows parents and toddlers to interact with other children their age. Staff members provide suitable toys for this age group. In accordance with USPH policies and standards, Celebrity has provided each ship with lavatory-based changing tables and baby wipes. Children participating in organised events must be fully potty trained; however, you can accompany your child to any organised activity if they're not.
Party Time – For a nominal fee of $6.00 per hour per child, children participating in the Celebrity Youth Program, ages 3-11 years old, can participate in a number of parties where children can enjoy some extra hours of fun and, for lunch and dinner, dine with the Youth Staff.
Children participating in the Celebrity Youth Program Afternoon and Slumber Parties must be a minimum age of 3 years old and completely toilet trained (diaper/pull-up free). Celebrity Youth Program Afternoon and Slumber Parties are available on all Celebrity ships year-round (except Celebrity Xpedition®, Celebrity XperienceSM and Celebrity XplorationSM).
Babysitting (Stateroom Services): For a nominal fee of $19.00 per hour for up to three children within the same family, parents can arrange for a private, in-stateroom babysitter. Two sitters will be assigned per stateroom. Children must be twelve months old or older to be eligible for in-stateroom sitting. Babysitting services are available through the Cabin Services Desk onboard all Celebrity ships (except Celebrity Xpedition®, Celebrity XperienceSM and Celebrity XplorationSM). Parents are asked to make all private, in-cabin babysitting requests 24 hours in advance. Private, in-cabin babysitting is subject to personnel availability.
If you have not pre-paid your tips/service charges, for your convenience, we will automatically add this for your restaurant and stateroom services to your onboard SeaPass account on a daily basis in the following amounts, which may be adjusted at your discretion:
A standard service charge of 18% is automatically added to the price of drinks from the cocktail lounges, bars, and 15% is added for beauty treatments. * Please note that tips/service charges may be shared with other staff members depending on the particular service requirement.
Please note that the tips/service charges can either be prepaid or will be automatically added to your onboard SeaPass account. The tips/service charges are discretionary and therefore the amounts can be adjusted when onboard. Pre-paid tips/service charges will be calculated at the time of booking in Sterling.
For Galapagos Vessels all onboard gratuities and those for the naturalists who accompany guests on all the island visits are included in the price of the cruise. This covers all Service Personnel including the waiters and head waiters who look after you in the dining rooms, housekeeping staff, your Butler and Stateroom Attendants.
Celebrity Cruises guests are expected to be responsible for their actions at all times, including during transfers to and from ships, inside terminals, while onboard, at our ports of call, during shore excursions and at our private destinations. Consuming alcohol to excess impairs one's judgment and reduces one's ability to recognize and avoid potentially dangerous situations. Guests who choose to consume alcohol must do so responsibly. The ship's staff may refuse to serve alcoholic beverages to any guest who does not consume alcohol responsibly, including those who have purchased an all-inclusive beverage package. Ship's personnel may request verification of a guest's age to verify they are of age to consume alcohol pursuant to this policy. Any guest that violates this alcohol policy will be considered for disciplinary action pursuant to the "Consequences Section" of this Guest Conduct Policy, and may lose their privileges to use areas or facilities of the ship.
Guests are not permitted to bring alcoholic beverages onboard; with the exception of embarkation day when guests are permitted to bring onboard with them up to two (2) bottles of wine (which are subject to a corkage fee) per stateroom. Security may inspect containers (including water bottles, soda bottles, mouthwash, canteens, etc.) at any time and will dispose of alcohol concealed in such containers. Alcoholic beverages that are purchased from onboard shops or in ports of call (which must be presented to security upon re-boarding), will be secured by ship's personnel. Alcohol secured by ship's personnel will be returned to guests just prior to the conclusion of their cruise vacation. Guests who are under the permitted drinking age will not have alcohol returned to them.
The minimum drinking age for all alcoholic beverages on Celebrity Cruises ships sailing from North America is 21. The minimum drinking age for all alcoholic beverages on Celebrity Cruises ships sailing from South America, Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand is 18. In certain circumstances where local laws permit or require, Celebrity Cruises may modify this policy which may also require parent/guardian request/authorization. Guests may contact Guest Relations or refer to Celebrity Today for specific minimum drinking age information on their cruise vacation.
For purposes of complying with the minimum drinking age requirements, a guest's age is established upon boarding at the beginning of the cruise vacation. If a guest celebrates their birthday during the cruise vacation, and thereby becomes of age to consume alcohol, the guest may thereafter ask the Guest Relations Manager to modify ship's records to permit their consumption of alcohol during the remainder of the vacation. The guest will be required to appear at Guest Relations to present a valid government-issued form of identification to permit verification of their age.
No guest under age 18 may possess or consume alcohol at any time while onboard. No guest under age 21 may possess or consume alcohol at our private destinations. Any guest who goes ashore and consumes alcohol (whether under the supervision of a parent/guardian or not, is responsible for ensuring they consume responsibly and retain their ability to recognize and avoid potentially dangerous situations when they return to the ship. Parents/guardians are reminded they are responsible for the actions of their child/young adult at all times while on a Celebrity Cruises cruise vacation.
Guests who violate any alcohol policy, including but not limited to underage drinking; providing alcohol to minors or young adults; possessing, concealing or attempting to conceal alcoholic items in their luggage, when boarding or while onboard; engaging in alcohol drinking games; or failing to consume alcohol responsibly, will be considered for discipline under the provisions of this policy.
Formal Night gets a modern luxury reboot. Say goodbye to Formal Night, and hello to Evening Chic. It's your time to shine—your way. Get glamorous. Get chic. Be sophisticated. Now, on up to two nights on every cruise, Evening Chic activities have been introduced, and Evening Chic attire has replaced Formal attire. While dressier than Smart Casual, Evening Chic is intended to be less dressy than Formal attire.
Women should feel comfortable wearing: A cocktail dress; Skirt, pants or designer jeans with an elegant top
Men should feel comfortable wearing: Pants or designer jeans with a dress shirt, button-down shirt or sweater; Optional sport coat or blazer
Evening Chic means that you can get glamorous and be sophisticated in your own way. If you would like to still wear a tuxedo or formal gown on Evening Chic nights, you absolutely should.
All cruises that are 7 nights or longer will feature two Evening Chic nights. Any cruise 6-nights or shorter will feature one Evening Chic night. All other nights of the cruise will feature Smart Casual attire. Celebrity Xpedition will continue to feature casual attire for the entire cruise.
Smart Casual attire can be enjoyed every other night of your cruise.
Women should feel comfortable wearing: Skirt, pants or jeans with a casual top
Men should feel comfortable wearing: Pants or jeans with a short sleeve sport shirt.
Note: T-shirts, swimsuits, robes, bare feet, tank tops, baseball caps and pool wear are not allowed in the main restaurant or specialty restaurant at any time. Shorts and flip-flops are not allowed in the evening hours. The dress code will be enforced at all restaurants. And guests are asked to follow the Smart Casual or Evening Chic dress code in the Celebrity Theater for all evening performances. The daily program, delivered to your stateroom and available at the Guest Relations Desk, will be your guide to the correct attire each evening.
Celebrity Cruises cannot accept guests who will have entered their 24th week of pregnancy by the beginning of, or at any time during a cruise or Cruisetour. All guests are required to sign a health questionnaire upon check-in to ensure they are aware of our pregnancy policy. If you have already booked a cruise or Cruisetour and do not meet this requirement, please contact your travel agent or call us at 1-888-283-7275 and request a resolution agent.
Infants sailing on a cruise must be at least 6 months old as of the first day of the cruise/cruisetour. However, for Transatlantic, Transpacific, select South American cruises/cruisetours and other select cruises/cruisetours, the infant (as of the first day of the cruise/cruisetour) must be at least 12 months old. For the purposes of this policy, any cruise that has 3 or more consecutive days at sea will require infants to be 12 months old on the first day of the cruise/CruiseTour.
Denial of boarding for infants who do not satisfy these minimum age requirements may also result in the denial of boarding for one or more guests sailing with that infant. No refunds or other compensation shall be due from the cruise line to anyone as a result of the denial of boarding to an underage infant or other accompanying guests.ity XplorationSM). Parents are asked to make all private, in-cabin babysitting requests 24 hours in advance. Private, in-cabin babysitting is subject to personnel availability.
This offer is available on a first come first served basis and can sell out at any time. Please call and speak with a live agent, or submit a quote request to receive the most up to date availability.
Terms and Conditions
All rates are per person and based on double occupancy. Government taxes, surcharges and fees are additional. Limited Availability and based on minimum fares for select departure dates. Other dates may be higher. All rates, promotions and exclusive offers advertised are for new individual bookings only. Not responsible for last minute changes of price or itinerary by cruise line, or any errors or omissions in the content of this ad. Some restrictions and cancellation penalties may apply.

subset: commoncrawl


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Case Study: Fast, Simple Open-Source ITBy Duff Mcdonald | Posted 11-10-2006
Case Study: Fast, Simple Open-Source IT
Pop quiz: Name the fastest retail Web site for American consumers, as measured by the number of seconds it takes to load the home page. If you said Amazon, you're probably not alone. But you're wrong. Likewise if you answered Overstock.com, BestBuy.com or even Netflix. The correct response is Zappos.com, one of the most startling success stories in online retailing over the past several years. The site, which was founded in 1999 and is known mainly for selling shoes, had just $1.6 million in gross sales in 2000. This year, they're projecting $600 million.
They're doing something right. With more than 4 million paying customers, over 1 percent of the U.S. population has bought something from Zappos. In recent years, the company has expanded beyond basic shoes, adding a couture line in December 2003, women's bags in February 2004 and men's bags in the spring of 2005. And some 60 percent of sales come from repeat customers. "Ten years ago, we were all skeptical that anyone could make money selling shoes online," says analyst Sucharita Mulpuru of Forrester Research Inc. "But they've proven us wrong."
Given the company's status as a Web-only retailer, IT obviously plays a large role in the business. But according to Jon Field, director of development at Zappos, beyond a preference for open-source solutions the company eschews an explicit, overall IT philosophy. The only imperative is that IT must serve the business and not the technologists themselves.
In other words, it's never about technology for technology's sake. "We always make sure it's used to serve people and customers," says Field. "We try to avoid excess technology for the heck of it." What follows is the story of a company that uses IT as well as anybody, but only ifand whenit serves the ultimate aim of making customers come back for more.
Open House
Open House
Zappos doesn't make its own shoes, but it does make its own software. The company's 15-person development groupZappos employs about 1,000 totalhas actually built the majority of the systems that run the retailer's business, relying largely on open-source software such as Linux, MySQL, Apache and PERL. That includes the Web site itself, the company's warehouse management system, customer service and merchandising planning tools, and the extranet available to the company's vendors. The main reason: flexibility. "We like the ability to make changes on a daily basis," says Hsieh. "We don't roll out a new version of X, Y or Z every quarter. We do it incrementally."
Like most retailers, Zappos' heaviest month is December, and the development team uses that end-of-year crunch as an indication of what needs to be done in the year ahead. "Each holiday we hit our peak, and we see how our servers stand up," says Field. Once things taper off, Field's team operates on the assumption that the next December will be double the previous one, and sets about beefing up the company's IT infrastructure. "We build up in the first half of the year," he says. "And we spend the second half riding it out."
Field and his development team stress simplicity above all else when tackling business challenges with IT tools. All departments tie into a central database, but beyond that, says Field, the system has a wide variety of small tools that are specifically tailored for the needs of each department and how it interacts with customers. Say, for example, the company starts selling a new category of product. Field and his team will set up a simple Web report that shows inventory levels and sales levels for each day. That might take just a day to set up. Then, perhaps, someone might want to see a detailed breakdown of sales on a given day. Field's team will create that, most likely linking it to the first tool, so the information will always be a click away. Without too much planning, says Field, this kind of approach has resulted in a very rich feature-set that has grown organically around people's needs. "Each little tool by itself is a fairly small thing," he says, "but hundreds of them together feels like a really powerful application." Because it's partitioned into simple Web-based scripts that don't affect each other, small bugs don't have as large an effect as they otherwise might.
A primary goal of the development team is to keep the Web site running at top speed. To that end, Field stresses a code-before-hardware approach to solving performance problems. "We only throw hardware at a problem as a last resort," he says. Consider a bottleneck in communications. The first step: Find the bottleneck. Second: Use the simplest solution available to fix it. "Maybe it's a code change, maybe it's a system configuration change," says Field. "I've seen relatively simple changes to code that have brought about tenfold performance improvements. You'll rarely see that kind of gain out of a simple hardware purchase," he says.
Howdy, Partner
Howdy, Partner
The world of retailing can be a secretive place. Even the most powerful consumer goods manufacturers can still find it difficult to get real-time feedback from retailers about which products are selling. Not so with Zappos. Through an extranet, Zappos' suppliers can view pretty much anything Zappos' internal team can see: inventory; sales over the past 24 hours, week, or month; what's on sale; and what is or isn't selling well at that exact instant. It's not just trivia we're talking about: With Zappos representing about 1 percent of all footwear sales, a look at how a new line of shoes is selling on the site can be a proxy for the entire market, giving shoe companies invaluable information for product planning. That's especially true because Zappos' seasons start earlier and end later than in the bricks-and-mortar realm, and trends can show up earlier on the company's site.
Using a Web-based interface, vendors such as Austin can log into Zappos' site and find an array of reports available to analyze how their products are selling. Zappos utilizes standard protocols such as XML and EDI for information exchange with vendors, and the company is prepared to adapt to whatever particular set-up a vendor may already have. "When we start negotiations, we ask them how they want to do it," says Field. "XML, FTP, whatever. We will pretty much work with whatever they want. It eases the transition when you decide up-front."
Keep the Information Flowing
Keep the Information Flowing
Because Zappos thinks of itself as a customer-service business above all else, the company is finely attuned to customers' thoughts and preferences. Customers can talk to live reps around the clockthe 1-800 number is on every single Web pagein addition to submitting questions or requests through the Web site itself. And everyone at Zappos is trained to deal with customers: Every employee spends their first four weeks at Zappos in a customer-loyalty training program. To stay responsive to those desires, Zappos keeps information flowing so that everyonefrom the merchandising team to coders working on new aspects of the siteknows what they need to know. A report is run every morning that shows which brands customers have searched for the previous day. If Zappos hasn't heard of a brand, the company's merchandising team follows up.
The Need for Speed
The Need for Speed
There's a thing most of us have about buying shoes: Once we buy them, we want to wear them. That works just fine in the bricks-and-mortar world, where we can walk out of a store wearing the shoes we just bought, but that's clearly an impossibility online. While Zappos knows it can never give you the shoes the instant you buy them, the company is dedicated to shrinking that delay of gratification to as short a time as possible.
To that end, the company keeps its 905,000 square-foot, Cedar Grove, Ky.-based warehouse open 24 hours, seven days a week. That way, a customer can order shoes as late as 11:00 p.m. and still have the option of next-day delivery. "It's not the most efficient way to run a warehouse," says Hsieh. "But it does allow us to get shoes to customers as quickly as possible." Short of expedited shipping, Zappos promises customers their shoes will arrive in four to five business days, free of charge. For repeat customers, the company's order-management system randomly selects customers for upgrades to second-day shipping, or sometimes even next-day air shipping. "The customer isn't expecting that, and it's a way of improving their experience," says Hsieh. "That results in even more repeat customers and better word of mouth."
While the company strives to get merchandise orders on the very next truck that leaves the warehouse, Zappos also knows that, for peace of mind, online customers need the ability to track the status of their orders. "Integrating with different sources that you don't have control over is one of the hardest parts of the IT job," says Field. "But we work with our shippers, like UPS, to monitor and improve communications between our system and their systems. We're vigilant in that regard."
As with much of its software, the company's warehouse-management system was custom-built by its development team, aided by a number of off-the-shelf hardware and software solutions from companies such as Symbol Technologies Inc. The interface to the WMS is through a browsera luxury made possible by the fact that Zappos is staffed by people who started their careers using Internet technology. The simplicity allows an average turnaround time of eight hours from when a customer places an order to when it goes out the door.
To make sure customers are never left waiting, Zappos also stocks every shoe that's available on the Web site. Indeed, a pair of shoes won't show up for sale until warehouse workers scan a barcode on a shoebox and a sticker on a warehouse shelf to log the shoes' location, thus guaranteeing that every shoe shown online is in stock. "The only time we run into trouble is if there's only one pair of a certain shoe left, and two people have it in their online shopping cart at the same time," says Field. "Without realizing it, they're racing with someone else to buy the same pair of shoes. But in general, if you've put it in your shopping cart, we already know which box on which shelf is going to you."
Show Me The Money
Show Me The Money
The biggest challenge Zappos faces in becoming the king of online customer service? Making money along the way. While the company's free-shipping policy has made many a happy customer, Zappos' return rate is reportedly about 25 percent, well above the 5 percent or so of a typical retailer. And it can get expensive when finicky customers order five pairs of shoeswith every intention of returning four of them. Older, more established companies doubt whether Zappos can continue to succeed with such an ad hoc IT philosophy as it grows into a billion-dollar business with added complexity.
But so far, Hsieh says the strategy is working: Zappos has found that customers who return 25 percent to 50 percent of their orders are more profitable than those who return less. They buy more frequently, choose higher-priced items, and spend more dollars per order. "It can be an expensive proposition," says Matt Powell, an analyst with SportsOneSource. "But it's a fabulous marketing tool."
The result: While Amazon blew through untold millions of dollars before turning a profit, Zappos' Hsieh says the company has been operating within a stone's throw of breakeven almost since the start. He isn't saying how big the IT budget is, but he insists it's small relative to most online retailers. He says the company will look to clear 1 percent of revenues as net profits this year, and then begin to ease that number up over time. It's difficult to know where they're going to get those additional profits. But you can bet your boots it won't be easy.


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Related Programming
Christian Marclay: The Clock
The Clock - 24-hour screenings
Friday, November 1, 2013 to Saturday, November 2, 2013 Friday, November 22, 2013 to Saturday, November 23, 2013 Tuesday, December 31, 2013 to Wednesday, January 1, 2014
Winner of the 2011 Venice Biannale Golden Lion, Christian Marclay's The Clock is a cinematic tour-de-force that unfolds on the screen in real time through thousands of film excerpts that form a 24-hour montage. Generating all-night lineups in galleries in London and New York, it has been described as "...a sort of Holy Grail of contemporary art, a thoroughly rigorous, intellectually and formally challenging work that nonetheless has the popular appeal of a Hollywood blockbuster."
We are offering visitors three opportunities to truly experience this unique film. The gallery space only seats 50 people so come early! Gallery admission applies. Free for members.
6pm. Fri, Nov 1 - 6pm, Sat. Nov 2
Have a ghoulish good time this Hallowe'en! Costume optional. Cash bar and treats from 7pm-1am.
9am, Fri, Nov 22 - 9am, Sat, Nov 23
Tick Talk--cinephiles won't want to be late for a free 7:30pm panel talk with Jonah Corne, UofM Film Studies; Irene Bini, WNDX; Dave Dyment, artist; crys cole, send + reeceive. Cash bar and complimentary popcorn following talk. Talk is free, Gallery admission applies to the The Clock screening. Free for members.
6pm, Tues, Dec 31 - 6pm, Wed, Jan 1
Sleepless in Winnipeg? Catch the all-night run, or plan to greet 2014 with an all-day movie mash-up. Cash bar and snacks.
Gallery Hours
- Tuesday 11am-5pm
- Wednesday 11am-5pm
- Thursday 11am-5pm
- Friday 11am-9pm
- Saturday 11am-5pm
- Sunday 11am-5pm
- Closed Monday


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They surprised assisted living residents with an impromptu sing along, delivered muffins and snacks to local police and fire departments, brought snacks and books to daycare centers, and picked up the tab for meals at restaurants and fill-ups at gas stations.
But these good deeds were far from random.
For the second straight year, employees at Complex Community Federal Credit Union brought International Credit Union Day to life in the Texas communities they serve by committing "55 Intentional Acts of Kindness" on Oct. 17—one for every year of the $378 million asset credit union's existence.
"We were tired of the standard cake and punch in the lobby. We were looking for something different, something unexpected," says Lisa Wyman, vice president of marketing and human resources at Complex Community Federal, which is based in Odessa, Texas.
"We sat down as a team and asked, 'What do you think of when you think of credit unions?' We hit on the idea that it's all about people helping people— making a difference in their everyday lives."SIDEBAR:
All 130 employees from the credit union's nine branches participated, requiring no shortage of coordination since, as Wyman noted, "We still have a business to run."
Complex Community Federal's ambassadors make their presence known by wearing customized T-shirts and engaging interested members of the community about the credit union's philosophy, products, and services.
But they avoiding being pushy, making a point of not interrupting people as they dined. Instead, they relied on wait staff to pass cards to the lucky recipients of free meals, proclaiming they're "victims" of these acts of kindness.
"The aftereffect doesn't linger for just a day or two," Wyman says. "The employees are still talking about it, and they've run into someone in the supermarket who'll say, 'Hey, your credit union bought my donut!'"
The Intentional Acts of Kindness event has become part of the culture at Complex Community Federal, which already has fielded employee suggestions for the 56 acts staff will commit this October.
"I don't think we'll ever stop," Wyman says. "I can't imagine how we'll handle 75, but we'll figure it out!"


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So far I haven't been able to work out how to do this with the current version of dxflib. Many of the files I load are > 100mb and take a few minutes to process. I looked for some sort of Entity count but it doesn't seem to exist.
One option that I thought of was to have another virtual function in DL_CreationAdapter/Interface that gets called every time (roughly) n bytes are read from the file. A nice default would be n = 1024 * 1024 or 1mb. It would then be up to the user to check how big the file is before loading it and handle the progress reports.
Any thoughts?
Progress bar while loading
Please use this forum to post feedback and suggestions related to dxflib.
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Beyonce wants her fans to know that she doesn't take for granted their unbridled support.
The singer has posted a handwritten letter apologizing for having to cancel her Tuesday concert in Antwerp, Belgium, after doctors advised her to rest up due to "dehydration and exhaustion"--a decision that instantly fueled rumors that the star is pregnant with her second child with Jay-Z.
The 31-year-old took to her blog early Wednesday to personally issue the apology, as she assured fans that she's feeling "much better" and is ready to once again hit the stage.
U.S. & World
Stories that affect your life across the U.S. and around the world.
"To my dearest fans in Antwerp, I've never postponed a show in my life," she writes. "It was very hard for me. I promise I will make it up very soon. I'm sorry if I disappointed you."
She then adds, "Thank you for your concern. I'm feeling much better now and I'm ready to give you a great show. See you tonight."
Rumors started swirling that the "Bow Down / I Been On" singer might be pregnant after she attended last week's Met Gala in New York decked out in a Givenchy gown that shrewdly concealed her stomach, cinched high above the waist with a belt.
NEWS: Five clues Bey and Jay might have another baby on board
The speculation ratcheted up Tuesday when Beyonc announced that she had to pull the plug on one of her Antwerp shows, although, based on her handwritten apology, she seems ready to push through with her second show in the Belgian city on Wednesday.
According to Beyonce's official website, her tour is scheduled to hit 34 more cities before wrapping up in early August.
PHOTOS: A look back at Beyonc and Jay-Z's cutest couple moments


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I'm a student for software engineering and i'm doing my final project about merging XML documents by merging their DTD's.
I'm using oracle.xml.parser.v2 Package for this task,
I'm using DOMParser.parseDTD.getDoctype() to get the DTD documents, and the DTD Object to get the ElementDecl and AttrDecl to do the comparison between the two DTD files.
The problem is when I want to create new ElementDecl that suits both DTD and than add it to a new DTD file but I don't see any ADD, INSERT, APPEND or SET methods in the DTD class, just GETs methods, so I can't figure out how to write a new DTD file.


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There is no doubt that cell phones give off radiation, but what about the extent of the possible negative impacts on your health? It seems like the jury is still out, but possible dangers have been no joke (i.e. brain tumors). When it comes to potential negative health effects, experts say even a few millimeters can make a big difference in diminishing radiation risks (see USA today article).
Well if you're looking for a way to take preventative measures in the most fun way I've seen yet, for around $19 or less you can get a POP phone. Yes, this very old school/new school combo can decrease health worries and bring on instant nostalgia at the same time.
To note: it's compatible with iphones, but adapters for a variety of phones are also available.
What do you think? I think I'm getting one! I can't picture actually using it when I'm out and about (although, that would be pretty comical), but I could definitely see using it at home.
p.s. If you are concerned about radiation from your cellphone, this is a great and easy tip — Try to remember not to hold your cellphone to your ear until a call is connected. The reason for this suggestion? Cellphones emit the most radiation when connecting to cellular towers.


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Chris Steele-Perkins - BANGLADESH. Rohinga refugees from Burma.
BANGLADESH. Carrying child ashore from a boat full of refugees from Burma. 1992.
Bangladesh. As a Muslim minority in the Buddhist/socialist Burma, the Rohingya people have been persecuted. 1992.
Bangladesh. In the longest established camp in Bangladesh for Burmese refugees (DECHUAI) decent shelter has been established. In other camps people shelter unde
BANGLADESH. Teknaf. New arrivals from Myanmar (Burma) make their way to the registration centre. 1992.
Bangladesh. Burmese refugees build makeshift shelters in the forests. 1992.
BANGLADESH. Young and old are carried ashore in Bangladesh after fleeing from Burmese persecution. 1992.
Bangladesh. This women, Fatima, is now in a refugee camp in Bangladesh. She and her 12 year old sister were taken by the army , her husband's arm slashed by a p
BANGLADESH. Burmese refuges carry their belongings to the registration centre in Teknaf. 1992.
BANGLADESH. Rohinga refugees from Myanmar (Burma). Young and old are carried ashore in Bangladesh after fleeing from Burmese persecution. 1992.
BANGLADESH. A young boy taking a wash in a refugee camp. 1992.
Bangladesh. A child on a saline drip in a refugee camp for Burmese refugees in Bangladesh. 1992.
Bangladesh. In a refugee camp in Bangladesh a mother washes her child. 1992.
Bangladesh. 1992. In a field hospital in one of the camps for Burmese refugees, established by the Bangladeshi relief agency 'Gonoshathaya Kendra'.
Bangladesh. Boats carrying Burmese refugees across the River Naf arrive in Bangladesh. 1992.
Bangladesh. An old lady in a field hospital in a refugee camp. The hospital was established by a Bangladeshi relief organisation 'Gonoshathaya Kendra'.
Bangladesh. This women fled Myanmar (Burma) with her children after her husband was unable, as a local leader, to supply labour to the Burmese army. 1992.
Bangladesh. An old woman, 81 years old and too weak to walk, is carried to the refugee registration centre at Teknaf, Bangladesh. 1992.
BANGLADESH. Rohinga refugees from Myanmar (Burma). Newly arrived Burmese refugees are sold ice-lollies by Bangladeshi children. 1992.
Bangladesh. Burmese refugee camps in Bangladesh have been cited in forest areas and the refugees are cutting down the trees at a great rate posing a future envi
Bangladesh. Leaves are the rooves of these shelters in Bangladesh refugee camp for Burmese refugees. 1992.
Bangladesh. Muslim Burmese women in a refugee camp in Bangladesh wearing traditional Rohingya headgear. 1992.
Bangladesh. New refugees without shelter for nightfall.
BANGLADESH. These two Burmese refugee families live under these branches in a camp in Bangladesh. The woman on the left holding the baby is 50 years old and was
Bangladesh. Trucks pick up refugees from Myanmar (Burma) to take to camps. 1992.
Bangladesh. A severely malnourished Burmese refugee child in a hospital near Cox's Bazaar, Bangladesh.
Bangladesh. 1992. The longest established of the Burmese refugee camps in Buram, Dechua 1, has shelter well organised.


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Our Standards of Excellence peer reviewers are experienced financial aid professionals from across the country who are qualified to evaluate every aspect of your operations to assess compliance and recommend best practices.
We'll work with you to conduct a preliminary assessment, and then hand-select individuals with specific experience and qualifications to be part of your review team.
Peer reviewers are experienced student financial aid managers, subject matter experts, technical experts, and more, with up to 35 years of experience. Our reviewers have served in schools both large and small -- from 1,000 students to more than 50,000 -- with both undergraduate and graduate experience. Some reviewers specialize in the unique needs of institutions of a certain type, while others have more varied experience, including public, private, graduate schools, proprietary, and more. All of our Standards of Excellence consultants have received special training from NASFAA, and many have received additional training to conduct reviews at Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Reviewers who have successfully participated in many previous reviews may eventually become a Standards of Excellence team leader. These team leaders oversee the on-site review process at your institution.
Our reviewers will visit your institution and perform an in-depth, on-site review of the financial aid operations. Then our team compiles an objective evaluation and presents its initial findings in an exit interview with institutional participants you've selected. Finally, we prepare and submit a confidential written report summarizing the peer review team's observations; identifies the institution's good financial aid practices; and makes recommendations for improvement.
If you have at least eight years of experience in financial aid, you may qualify to become a Standards of Excellence Peer Reviewer.
Due to an abundance of resumes, we are not accepting additional applications at this time.


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Here is a list of the non-hockey stars—"some of the biggest names in Hollywood"—the NHL will have on hand tonight for its Las Vegas awards ceremony (7 p.m., Versus): Jon Hamm, Jerry Bruckheimer, Kevin Smith, Jennifer Beals. OK, if not quite A-list, definitely a list. Unfortunately, they accompany repeat host Mohr (fast becoming the Billy Crystal of these NHL awards), that Far East Movement thing, and some other thing called Dierks Bentley.
Oh, NHL. We've spoken at some length about this before, but, you know, there's nothing wrong with employing serious acts or MCs. These groups wouldn't make the cut to be contingency bands on the American Idol results shows (although that Dierks thing apparently enjoys watching Idol), and yet the NHL squeals over them for pop-cult crossover. Same for Mohr, who's spawned more ill-fated vehicles than the abandoned AMC plant. Por que, NHL? Why not just plant your tongue all the way in your cheek and hire Bobcat Goldthwait and the Black Eyed Peas? Or you could have a goofy player host it. We've just come off a superb playoffs with big ratings—of course the NHL would have to remind us of its penchant to be exceedingly rinky-dink.
Then again, the whole affair is something of a jokey time capsule, harkening back to an era—Rat Pack and all—that never had a place in hockey. The game was long entrenched in Canada, the Northeast and the Upper Midwest, and its westward expansion came too late for fun. Now, though, we have the Palms packed with almost well dressed Euros and showgirls in evening wear. Maybe Jack Adams Award favorite Dan Bylsma will even show off his hat. We're laughing, mostly with the NHL, disappointed only in that damned G6 band and Gary Unmarried.
Oh, and one more silver lining, we suppose: We now have occasion for that Mohr-Lynn Hoppes sit-down about which we always fantasized:
Maybe actor/comedian Jay Mohr is mellowing.
With the recent birth of his son, Meredith, and his new job blogging about the "Real Housewives of New Jersey" for the Bravo Network's website, Mohr doesn't seem like a foul-mouth comedian anymore.
When asked how many jokes about the post-Stanley Cup Vancouver riots he'll use hosting the 2011 NHL Awards Show (7 p.m. ET) in Las Vegas on Wednesday, the 40-year-old Mohr took the high road.
"I'm very sensitive to the league and I know they don't want me to make that big of a deal of it. I think I have a couple," Mohr said reluctantly and then quipped: "Or maybe it's because I wasted all my good jokes on the 'Tonight Show' last week ... "
"In my stand-up, I have no sports jokes, so that's why I love doing these kinds of shows," said Mohr, who has hosted the NASCAR Awards and events for the NFL players' association. "My entire act is thrown out the window and I just start writing. Let's see, the city of Vancouver is the least likely ... "
Solid gold, Mohr. Solid gold.


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The Center for Transportation Analysis (CTA) in the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) develops integrated inter-modal transportation solutions through innovative and cost-effective research and development. CTA's activities encompass transportation energy and environmental concerns, safety and security challenges, planning and policy issues, systems engineering, military transportation, and transit visibility. Our research and development have contributed to the efficient, safe and free movement of people and goods in our Nation's transportation systems.
For the past two decades, CTA's work has been funded by both the public and private sectors. Our sponsors have included the U. S. Departments of Energy, Transportation, and Defense; Federal Emergency Management Agency; Environmental Protection Agency; Bureau of Census; National Aeronautics and Space Administration; State Departments of Transportation; local planning organizations; National Research Council; and General Motors Corporation. Collaboration and partnerships with academia keep CTA staff attuned to the state-of-the art research and development.
Staffed by 28 professional and administrative staff, CTA has an annual operating budget of more than $30 million. Expertise of CTA staff is extensive and diverse, ranging from risk assessment, to policy analysis, to systems and software development, to military mobilization. Collectively, CTA staff serve on 30 national committees and expert panels. The Director of CTA is David E. Smith.


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The day after President Dilma failed to fully veto controversial changes to Brazil's 'forest code', Greenpeace activists occupy a pile of pig iron and industrial cranes in the port of Sao Luis. While a second team of climbers occupy a cranes onboard the 'Clipper Hope' cargo ship. The activists unfurled banners reading: "The Amazon Turns To Charcoal. Brazil Stop The Chainsaw." The Greenpeace ship Rainbow Warrior is moored alongside the Clipper Hope cargo ship preventing it from loading pig iron. Greenpeace has released evidence linking the pig iron industry with slave labor and forest destruction in the Amazon. Pig iron is an intermediate product in the steelmaking process, and the company that owns this shipment - Viena - claims to supply global brands such as Ford, GM, Mercedes and BMW.
© Marizilda Cruppe / Greenpeace
1 - 12 of 5649 results.


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I found this Turlock Union High School annual called "The Alert" in the Ribbons of Pink Antiques store in Jacksonville, FL. This particular book belonged to Hollis Carroll Powell. There are a few pages of colorful autographs included. I will post one page of autographs per post.
|Hollis Powell -- Senior -- 1944
I was not able to find much on Hollis. He only died last month and there wasn't much to his obit. I have a feeling that he was never married or had a family.
POWELL- Hollis Carroll Powell, 84, of Jacksonville, FL, passed away 6-28-10. Hardage-Giddens Town & Country Funeral Home, 7242 Normandy Boulevard
Florida Times-Union, The (Jacksonville, FL)
Date: July 1, 2010
Record Number: 143863303
Copyright (c) 2010 The Florida Times-Union
Hollis Carroll Powell
Birth Date: 31 May 1926
Gender: Male
Mother's Maiden Name: Carroll
Birth County: San Francisco
Source Information:
Ancestry.com. California Birth Index, 1905-1995
If anyone knows someone else that went to this school, let me know and I will do a look up for a photo.
Name: Hollis C Powell Birth Year: 1926 Race: White, citizen (White) State of Residence: California County or City: Stanislaus
Enlistment Date: 13 Jul 1944 Enlistment State: California Enlistment City: Presidio of Monterey Branch: Air Corps Branch Code: Air Corps Grade: Private Grade Code: Private Term of Enlistment: Enlistment for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law Component: Reserves - exclusive of Regular Army Reserve and Officers of the Officers Reserve Corps on active duty under the Thomason Act (Officers and Enlisted Men -- O.R.C. and E.R.C., and Nurses-Reserve Status) Source: Enlisted Reserve or Medical Administrative Corps (MAC) Officer
Education: 4 years of high school Marital Status: Single, without dependents
Source Information:National Archives and Records Administration. U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946
*UPDATE: I am happy to announce that this lost family treasure has been found is on it's way home!


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Specifiers enjoy a choice of brands and components to provide optimal solutions for their applications. Owners can replace components for maintenance or upgrade purposes while retaining the hardware. And manufacturers, specifiers and owners all benefit from having a choice of components from different suppliers with associated economy of competition.
While integrated light-emitting diode (LED) replacement lamps are designed around conventional lamp sockets, these interfaces are impractical for LED lighting fixtures, the majority of which are designed as highly integrated devices. This allows the product to be optimized around the technology but means the light source and control gear (driver/power supply) cannot be easily replaced. Some products are designed around components that are replaceable but only with major disassembly. A growing number of fixtures are entering the market that offer replaceable components, but the connections are proprietary, providing durability but not choice.
Enter Zhaga, an industry consortium founded in 2010 around the goal of providing interchangeability of LED light sources made by different manufacturers. (The term "Zhaga" is arbitrary; it is the name of a waterfall in Sichuan, China.) The organization now has more than 270 companies and organizations participating, including big names such as Acuity Brands, Cooper, Cree, GE, Osram Sylvania, Philips and Zumtobel.
Zhaga is working on specifications for the mechanical, photometric (light output and distribution), thermal and electronic compatibility of LED modules and systems. These specifications do not cover the internal design of the light source, focusing instead on the interface with other components within the fixture. Source manufacturers will continue to develop and differentiate their products based on features such as light output, efficacy, color quality, beam uniformity and control interfaces.
The specifications have been developed and are available for adoption by Zhaga members. Some specs have been published and may be used by anyone, although only members may get products certified as compliant. In 2012, more than 30 manufacturers displayed Zhaga-compliant LED products at major trade events. Currently, more than 60 products are available in the Zhaga product database at www.zhagastandard.org.
Benefits of standardization
A lighting project has various stakeholders, each of which may benefit from interchangeability of light sources in LED products.
Manufacturers would be freed to do what they do best and do it faster, cheaper and with less risk. Fixture manufacturers, for example, would be able to choose optimal light sources from multiple vendors rather than designing their own sources or buying a custom design, speeding up time-to-market while reducing cost and risk. They would not have to continually upgrade and retest the LEDs in their products. Source manufacturers, meanwhile, could focus on a smaller number of light sources to cover a broad range of applications and OEMs without having to design customer- or application-specific LED light engines. This would increase sales volumes per model, generating economies of scale.
"Interchangeability provides design freedom inside the light engine, accelerating chip-level performance enhancements, and reduces market risk with an installed base of 'sockets,'" said Steven Pyshos, marketing manager for Zhaga-member Eaton's Cooper Lighting Division. "It also enables luminaire manufacturers to rapidly implement LED performance improvements and focus on developing new luminaire designs, optimizing performance around selected LED engines."
Lighting system designers would benefit from greater flexibility in specifying optimal lighting solutions for their clients.
"Lighting designers will be able to choose from catalogs of interchangeable LED light engines that can fit compatible luminaires," said Roy Harvey, SSL standards and regulatory affairs officer for Zhaga-member Osram Sylvania. "Different manufacturers that offer products complying with the same standard may offer a higher quality of light, a higher lumen package or an optimal beam pattern, but all will have the same mechanical footprint and thermal interface and fit the same luminaire."
Distributors would benefit by stocking fewer standardized LED light engines, reducing inventory and risk while providing access to an aftermarket for replacement sources. And owners will enjoy greater confidence and lower risk by investing in future-proof lighting fixtures that incorporate best-in-class LED sources that can be easily serviced for maintenance or upgraded as lighting needs change and LED technology advances.
How will Zhaga impact contractors?
Specifying, installing, maintaining and upgrading Zhaga-compliant LED lighting fixtures will be similar to existing lamps, while providing comfort working with familiar form factors, common interfaces and availability of interchangeable sources.
"Zhaga allows for interchangeability of different modules," said John Koster, product manager, LED modules for Zhaga-member GE Lighting. "For a contractor, this means that, down the road, there is easier access to service parts, modules that are interchangeable and available from many different manufacturers, faster field installations, better availability, and improved troubleshooting because it's easier to replace modules [than] to try to isolate the problem."
Contractors educated about lighting and familiar with available LED light engine products will be in a good consultative position to help customers upgrade Zhaga-compliant LED fixtures.
"An electrical contractor could have installed a light fixture in 2012, but, by 2015, our LEDs will have evolved to where they're 30-40 percent more efficient and the cost has come down. So the contractors can justify an upgrade to their customers based on energy savings with a one- to two-year payback," Koster said.
Beyond energy, owners may want to change their modules seasonally or over time based on desired aspects of performance besides energy savings, such as light output, efficacy, service life or color quality. Note, however, that some Zhaga modules are designed to be installed without the need for tools, wire harnesses or fasteners. Because they twist into place, they can be installed without needing special electrical skills.
Current availability
Products certified as compliant with Zhaga specifications are labeled with a Zhaga ("Z") logo which may only be earned by members of the consortium. The specifications are divided into eight "books." Book 1, published in October 2012 and available as a free download at www.zhagastandard.org, provides general information and terminology. Books 2 through 8 include various types of LED light engines with integral or separate control gear.
Currently, more than 20 products are available for Book 2, which covers socketable LED light engines with integrated control gear. The specification was published in February 2013. The LED light engine has a round drum shape with maximum dimensions of 70.2 mm in diameter and 45 mm high. It has a circular light-emitting surface with a typical diameter of 59 mm and a PHJ65d-type base.
More than 40 products are available for Book 3, which became publicly available October 2012. Book 3 defines the interface for a small round LED light engine suitable for spot lighting and other applications that need a point light source. The LED light engine consists of a nonsocketable disc-shaped LED module designed to be screwed to the heat-sink base of a lighting fixture and controlled by a separately housed LED driver (an optional screwless, locking-ring mounting is also specified). The modules have a diameter of 50 mm and a maximum height of 7.2 mm. For example, Cooper's IRiS P3LED 3-inch-aperture recessed downlight series (launched in June 2012), is a Book 3-compliant lighting fixture built around this spot LED engine specification.
Products designed around specifications in the other books are on the way. GE expects its Infusion LED modules to carry the Zhaga logo based on compliance with Book 5 specifications for socketable light engines with separate electronic control gear. Osram has developed PrevaLED Core Z2 spot LED (Book 3), PrevaLED Compact flat emitter (Book 4), and PrevaLED Linear Slim (Book 7) indoor linear LED light engines.
Buyer beware
Note that a Zhaga-compliant LED light engine installed in a lighting fixture does not make a Zhaga-compliant LED fixture. Both the light engine and fixture must be tested and should be verified as compatible.
"LED light engines need their luminaires to dissipate the heat generated by the LED light engine. In the test report required for logo certification, LED light engine manufacturers specify how much heat the LED light engine generates and the maximum thermal resistance a compatible luminaire may have," Harvey said. "Luminaire manufacturers specify each luminaire's thermal resistance at different power levels. If the thermal resistance is less than required by the LED light engine at the LED light engine's operating power, the LED light engine and luminaire are compatible."
Zhaga does not yet cover dimming functionality, which is expected to be addressed in the imminent NEMA standard SSL 7A. Another current shortcoming of Zhaga is it does not cover electrical connections between nonintegrated control gear and the light source. If a control gear internal to the fixture fails and is no longer manufactured, the light engine may need to be replaced along with the control gear. Additionally, if the light source is replaced with one that is ostensibly interchangeable but from a different manufacturer (e.g., Philips to Osram or vice versa), and the driver is a separate component, the driver may need to be replaced.
Zhaga-certified modules and Zhaga-certified fixtures are still subject to any safety regulations, such as UL or the National Electrical Code, and performance requirements, such as DLC and Energy Star, that apply in the region in which the product is installed. Zhaga certification does not test for regulatory or incentive requirements, so any replacement modules from a different vendor would need to meet the requirements for that installed fixture's application and installation location.
"The concept of the LED light engine consisting of LED array and driver addressed this constraint," Pyshos said. "However, source manufacturers are now realizing standardizing control gear will be necessary to drive higher levels of adoption."
What's next
Zhaga is still in its infancy, so, at this time, it is difficult to speculate whether the initiative will be successful in the marketplace.
"The future of Zhaga is uncertain," Pyshos said. "Many of the LED luminaires available today were developed prior to the introduction of Zhaga modules. Market demand for open-platform LED luminaires and broader availability of Zhaga-based platforms will ultimately determine the adoption. Based on the current business model of multiple sources for many common lamp types, it is difficult to envision a future without interchangeability."
He added that the lighting industry is currently divided regarding implementation of Zhaga, noting that some LED array and driver suppliers and fixture manufacturers continue to push proprietary designs in an attempt to lock up market share while others embrace open standards. He said there is room for both.
"Value-driven LED lighting products leveraging 'peak' designs produced in high volumes will deliver 'good-enough' performance at low costs and will most likely be replaced at end of life," Pyshos said. "Specification-grade luminaires extracting the last molecule of performance will benefit from a clear upgrade path made possible through careful engineering and adoption of emergency standards."
Koster is optimistic about adoption.
"We now have Zhaga-certified products on the market, so we anticipate that many companies will market Zhaga and promote these products in the next year," he said. "I think you're going to see some really good traction around Zhaga in the next year or two, along with more manufacturers adopting the different specifications. That means we will see a lot of different options on the module side with several different manufacturers, and, as a result, the number of Zhaga-certified luminaire manufacturers will start to increase."
Final word
"Before you install or sell a product, ask to see the Zhaga logo," Koster said. "If you see the logo, you know you have a product that will be serviceable and supported by many different manufacturers and options." (The logo is shown on page 86.)
For more information about Zhaga and to learn more about the latest compliant products, visit www.zhagastandard.org.
GE Lighting's Zhaga-compliant (Book 5) Infusion LED module, is suitable for spotlighting, downlighting, track and accent lighting. Note the "Z" logo on the product, indicating Zhaga compliance.
Cooper Lighting's Zhaga-compliant (Book 3) P3LED 3-inch LED recessed fixture, an expansion of the company's IRIS series
Zhaga specifications
In a conventional lighting fixture, lamps and ballasts or transformers connect using industry-standard interfaces, allowing manufacturers to optimize each component separately with efficiencies and innovation gained in specialization.


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Creator: Da-Rocha, Jose-Maria, Giménez Fernández, Eduardo Luís, and Lores Insua, Francisco Xavier Series: Advances in dynamic economics Abstract:
In this paper we will consider a simple small open economy with three assets - domestic capital, foreign securities and public debt - to study the government's incentives to devalue and to repay or default the debt. We show that the announcement of a devaluation is anticipated by domestic agents who reduce domestic investments and increase foreign holdings. Once a government devalues, the expectations vanish and the economy recovers its past levels of investment and GDP. However, in a country with international debt denominated in US dollars if a government devalues it requires a higher fraction of GDP to repay its external debt. In consequence, there exists a trade-off between recovering the economy and increasing the future cost of repaying the debt. Our main result is to show that, as devaluation beliefs exists, a devaluation increase government incentives to default and devalue. We calibrate our model to match the decrease in investment of domestic capital, the reduction in production, the increase in trade balance surplus, and the increase in debt levels observed throughout 2001 in Argentina. We show that for a probability of devaluation consistent with the risk premium of the Argentinian Government bonds nominated in dollars issued on April 2001 the external debt of Argentina was in a crisis zone were the government find optimal to default and to devalue.
Stichwort: Devaluation, Argentina, Latin America, South America, Default, and Debt crisis Fach: F34 - International finance - International lending and debt problems, E60 - Macroeconomic policy, macroeconomic aspects of public finance, and general outlook - General, and F30 - International finance - General


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More on college basketball's transfer epidemic
In Sunday's edition of The Denver Post, I tackled the rising trend of transferring in college basketball, which Colorado coach Tad Boyle and plenty of others have called "an epidemic."
The story serves as a summary of a complex issue, which has gathered more attention this offseason with as many as 600 players switching schools.
I wanted to use this space to take a deeper look at some of the other potential reasons behind the transfer explosion.
Rushing in. With 351 Division I schools, the competition for the nation's best players is fierce. That means the chase to lure top prospects is beginning earlier and earlier. It isn't uncommon for some players to be contacted by colleges as early as junior high. With more and more recruits committing to schools by the time they are sophomores, a program could be late to the party if it is only pursuing a player by his second high school season.
The result can be a rushed recruitment. Coaches are rushing to win a top player. The player is rushing to grab a scholarship at a top school before others in his class. In some cases, he may just be rushing to end the pressure of being heavily recruited, which can be a never-ending stream of contact with coaches, friends and family members, all voicing their opinions. Recent rules that give coaching staffs the ability to send unlimited text messages during certain periods have led some parents of top players to get a second phone just to handle the recruiting volume.


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Vodimo v prihodnost
Spoznajte vodstvo podjetja Forever Living Products.
Ekipa dela skupaj, da uresniči skupno vizijo. Foreverjeva vizija je, da pomagamo vsem uresničiti lastne cilje, sanje in želje. Na osnovi 40 letnega uspeha, ekipa vztraja in nadaljuje uresničevanje vizije v naslednjih desetletjih.
Rex Maughan
Rex built Forever into an international company that now operates in 160 countries. Providing opportunities for thousands of employees and millions of Forever Business Owners worldwide, Forever consistently ranks as Arizona's largest privately owned company. Rex is married to Ruth, and together they have 3 children, 12 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.
Gregg Maughan
Gregg has been involved with Forever since his early teens and has firsthand experience in just about every department. He has developed a unique and enduring passion for creating greatness throughout the company. Gregg continues to travel the world sharing the Forever opportunity and is the proud father of 4 children.
Rjay Lloyd
Rjay is a lawyer and a CPA holding an LL.M. From the beginning of FLP, he has been a source of trusted business advice. He has earned the distinction of being Vice Chairman, Executive Sr. Vice-President, CFO and Secretary of the Forever Family of companies. He is married to his high school sweetheart, Ann. They share the joy of four daughters, a son and fifteen grandchildren.
Navaz Ghaswala
Having been involved with Forever since the very first day, Navaz has been instrumental in guiding the company in a manner that is consistent with her core values of hard work, integrity and her personal touch. Navaz was married to Darius in 1976 and they have two children and three wonderful grandchildren.
Garin Breinholt
Born and raised in Arizona, Garin received a degree in International Business and joined the Forever family in 1993. Garin is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese and is inspired by meeting, working with and supporting Forever Business Owners all over the world.
Aidan O'Hare
Born and raised in England, Aidan began his career with Forever UK in 1996 before moving to Arizona to join the home office team. Aidan is renowned for his energetic presence around the world and has a passion for our company and a drive to help others succeed.
CG Tan
CG Tan first signed up to be a Forever Business Owner in 1985 and was appointed the Country Manager of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei in 1997. He was instrumental in growing the business consistently over the years with the mantra of keeping things Simple, Duplicable, Profitable and FUN. He is fluent in English, Mandarin, Hokkien, Cantonese and Malay. CG and his wife Jenny have four children.
Jean Baptiste Amichia
JB was born in Côte d'Ivoire and raised in Côte D'ivoire, France and Italy. After a carrier in multinationals and state owned companies, he joined Forever in 2007 as Country Manager of Côte d'Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Niger, Liberia and Sierra Leone. JB speaks French, English, Italian, and Nzima. With his wife Laurence they have 2 children and one grandchild. JB believes that real authority comes with the ability to help people grow at the best of their talents.
Peter Boots
Born and raised in The Netherlands, Peter joined Forever in 2007 after a corporate career in international sales and marketing. He and his wife Marike have lived and worked in various countries in Europe and speak several languages fluently. His inspiration comes from seeing so many people transform into better versions of themselves.
Yves Hamon
Born and raised in France, Yves has worked for various international companies in France, Egypt and Italy. He started his career with Forever in France in 2004. What drives Yves is to understand existing business by analyzing facts and helping internal stakeholders find continuous improvements that would benefit the company and the FBOs. Yves and his wife have three children and one granddaughter.


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Women Changing China
A key question raised at Barnard's sixth annual Global Symposium, Women Changing China, was what has changed for women in China since Barnard organized the first such symposium, in Beijing in 2008. From the beginning, each symposium has addressed women's issues, such as feminism, career opportunities, and cultural change, with outstanding women leaders in business, finance, academia, media, and the arts from the host country serving as panelists. Organized in such diverse cities as Mumbai and Johannesburg, the symposiums have recently added a leadership workshop for high school students directed by Barnard Student Fellows, who apply for the opportunity before the event. This year's was held at the High School Affiliated to Fudan University.
"Where does China stand? Have we seen progress with women's rights?" asked President Debora Spar as she opened the symposium in the ballroom of the Portman Ritz Carlton Hotel, which overflowed with more than 300 attendees, many of them young Chinese women. "Have we stalled?"
Spar moderated the first session, which featured Wu Qing and Yang Lan, among China's most influential and inspiring role models, particularly for younger generations of females. They were also participants in the first Beijing symposium. A former professor at Beijing Foreign Studies University, Wu is the cofounder of the Beijing Cultural Development Center for Rural Women, an organization focused on education. A former legislator in the Chinese government, she is an outspoken advocate for women's and human rights, winning international acclaim for her work. Yang is a talk-show host (widely considered to be China's Oprah), journalist, and cofounder and chairperson of one of the country's leading private media companies, the Sun Media Group, as well as of the nonprofit Sun Culture Foundation.
Both Wu and Yang said that women's rights in China are improving, but that there is still a long way to go.
Under Mao Zedong, orchestrator of the Communist revolution in 1949 and the first leader of the People's Republic of China, men and women were considered equal. Mao once famously said, "Women hold up half the sky." Yet in more recent history, gender experts say women have been losing—rather than gaining—ground in China. A concerted women's rights movement is hard to incubate, given that the Chinese government lumps women's rights under the umbrella of human rights, which remains a sensitive topic in the country. Unsanctioned NGOs are banned, making it difficult for women's rights groups to flourish. Women earn less than men do. In addition, in 2011, the Beijing government reinterpreted a property law, implementing a rule that homes would revert to the buyer upon divorce, which could leave countless women homeless.
However, Wu said that more women are aware of their legal rights, particularly at the grassroots level in rural areas, and that more are "fighting back" by staging small-scale protests or directly questioning government officials when they feel their rights have been violated. In 2012, women in Beijing staged a protest demanding more public toilets for females. As part of the protest, they occupied men's public bathrooms. While seemingly benign, the operation, dubbed Occupy Men's Toilets, was seen as an example of women's newfound willingness to take a stand. More women are getting involved in politics, particularly at the village level. Wu said five women from her education center have become officials in their home villages. "It means they can at least make some of the decisions at the grassroots level, which will benefit women's rights, and that they are good role models," Wu added. "But if you look at China's top leadership, all are men. I think we have a long way to go. Change comes very slowly."
Wu stated that young women, particularly at the college level, have a heightened awareness of their rights. In Beijing and elsewhere in the country, female university students are staging The Vagina Monologues, which only a couple of years ago was banned in China. "It has caused a lot of support as well as protests," she said. "But I think the students are great because they know that girls are human beings before they are girls. We are all human beings first."
Both Yang and Wu focused on the moral responsibilities women have in China where breakneck economic growth, fierce competition for material security, a declining stronghold of Communist ideology, and a dearth of religion or other belief systems have created a social structure that has little regard for common humanity. Yang said that Chinese women have to worry constantly about the safety of the food they feed their children. Women also face barriers in their professions; companies often prefer to hire men because of a pervasive mind-set that women will be too much of a burden to a company if they have children. While women widely outperform men in many majors at universities, their male classmates tend to be offered more jobs.
"I do think we are changing for the better and for the worse at the same time," Yang said, noting that it is a pervasive phenomenon for young women in China to care about marrying a "wealthy middle-aged man" at the expense of their careers. She pointed out how there was a widespread outcry after a contestant on a reality dating show said she would "rather cry in the back of a BMW than on the back of a bicycle." Yang added that the general feeling was "What is happening to…girls? What is their value system?"
Both panelists agreed that it is hard to generalize about the situation for women across China. In urban areas, more women seek higher education and go overseas to study and work. Yet in rural areas, women who work often have to travel—sometimes thousands of miles—to other cities, leaving their children with grandparents and likely seeing them only once or twice a year over holidays. "For working women in rural areas, there is a huge stress on their life balance," Yang said. "We have at least 50 million children in rural areas left behind with their grandparents. Imagine the emotional toll taken on these women. It is just beyond imagination."
"No rights are given or granted," Wu said. "You have to fight every step of the way forward, and you have to be prepared, especially in China. It is not easy."
Afternoon sessions for the all-day event focused on successful female entrepreneurs and how they have navigated the business landscape in China in sectors including finance, education, media, and the arts.
Read more about the Shanghai Global Symposium and see more photographs and videos of the events at barnard.edu.


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Monday January 20, 2020; 05:09 am EST
Can you recognize the Quarterback, the Running Back, the Wide Receiver and the Linebacker?
As the sun sets, now after 5pm, the familiar figure or Orion straddles the east horizon. Named after the mighty Greek hunter of mythology, this figure bears an uncanny resemblance to a hero of our own modern mythos: the Quarterback. There he is, the Raven's Joe Flacco, leaning back, his weight planted on his rear foot, his right arm cocked for a pass, his left arm extended against the onslaught of rushing defenders.
Where Orion is trailed by two hounds, a pair of teammates stand behind the Quarterback. The constellation Canis Major, marked by the brightest of all stars, Sirius, becomes the powerful Running Back Ray Rice awaiting the hand-off. Beside him, the constellation Canis Minor, with its alpha star Procyon, is the Wide Receiver Jacoby Jones poised to sprint down the field for the pass.
And don't forget the defense. There, across from the quarterback, is the crouched Linebacker. Where our ancestors saw the figure of a great bull in the constellation Taurus, perhaps you'll recognize the shape of future-Hall of Fame inside linebacker Ray Lewis, crouched in a three-point stance and ready to pounce.
Between the Quarterback and the Linebacker, the ball is in play in the form of Jupiter, the brightest object visible aside from the sun, moon and Venus.
The Quarterback, or Orion, is the focus of the first of this year's Globe At Night citizen-science programs, which runs thru the 12th. You're asked to compare the number of stars you see in the constellation with those shown on the program's star chart. Download charts and learn more at www.globeatnight.org. Last year's program elicited nearly 17,000 reports from 92 countries and the data are used to study light- and air-pollution in the atmosphere.


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As Henry Holland's TWENTY FIVE POUND tea towel says...I'm pretty excited about the impending Jubilee celebrations.
London is looking amazing with bunting everywhere and tomorrow when the flotilla goes down the Thames I'm sure the throngs of people will cancel out the need for sun (a good thing really, as it's forecast to rain the entire time).
I've been buying Royal tat like it's going out of fashion. I'll post with more detail later...but this jumper from Joy is probably my fave. I've been cooking up a storm so I'm not sure my nails are up for it but I might even try and bust out the Union Jack nail art too.