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Difference between revisions of "Austria"
Revision as of 14:48, 15 March 2008
Austria (German: Österreich, literally "the Eastern Realm" or "Eastern Empire") is a land-locked alpine country in Central Europe bordering with Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the west, Germany and Czech Republic to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east and Slovenia and Italy to the south.
Austria is a federal republic comprised of nine federal-states:
Other destinations
Once the center of power for the large Austro-Hungarian Empire, Austria was reduced to a small republic after its defeat in World War I. Following annexation by Nazi Germany in 1938 and subsequent occupation by the victorious Allies in 1945, Austria's status remained unclear for a decade. A State Treaty signed in 1955 ended the occupation, recognized Austria's independence, and forbade unification with Germany. A constitutional law of that same year declared the country's "perpetual neutrality" as a condition for Soviet military withdrawal. This neutrality, once ingrained as part of the Austrian cultural identity, has been called into question since the Soviet collapse of 1991 and Austria's entry into the European Union in 1995. A prosperous country, Austria entered the European Monetary Union in 1999.
Austrians aren't easy to categorize. In fact, the only reason Austrians stand out from their European neighbors is that they don't stand out from the rest for anything in particular. Austrians are moderate in their outlook and behaviour. Being at Europe's crossroads, their culture is influenced from several sides. The stereotype of the yodeling, thigh slapping, beer-swilling xenophobe may apply to a few individuals but it certainly doesn't apply to the majority of Austrians.
The average Austrian on the street is likely to be friendly yet somewhat reserved and formal, softly spoken and well mannered, law abiding, socially conservative, rooted, family oriented, conformist and somewhat nepotistic, a Catholic at heart, not particularly religious but a follower of tradition, well educated if not as cosmopolitan as his/her European cousins, cynical, and equipped with a dry, sarcastic sense of humor. Many Austrians derive their identity from their Bundesland, or Province. For instance, the typical inhabitant of Carinthia would say he/she is Carinthian first and Austrian second. Hence, patriotism concerning the nation as a whole is seldom shown and foreigners are often disturbed by the lack of enthusiasm that can be observed e.g. on national holiday. The fact, that Austrians dislike demonstrations of national identity, can however also be explained partly by the historical experiences Austria has made during the Third Reich, since due to the horrors of that time some bad taste will always adhere to any manifestation of national pride.
Most Austrians like to enjoy the good life. They spend a lot of time eating, drinking and having a good time with friends in a cozy environment, and are therefore very hospitable. Members of the older generation can be conservative in the sense that they frown upon extremes of any shape and form and, in general, are averse to change. They enjoy one of the highest living standards in the world and want to keep it that way.
Austria doesn't have a well defined class system. However, cultural differences between the urban and rural populations can be huge. Culture also varies from region to region, but to a lesser extent. As a very general rule, the further to the West the location and the more rural the environment, the more socially conservative people become.
Due to the lack of overall patriotism and the commonness of regional identity, Austrians as a big entity like to define themselves merely by what they are not. It's important to stress that Austrians are not Germans, even though 99% of Austrians are ethnically Germans and German is the official and universal language. Arguably, Southern Germany and Bavaria in particular is a close cultural relative of Austria in many ways. You may not even notice any change at all in people's accent and appearance when crossing the border between the two countries. Likewise, South Tyrol in northern Italy, with its Austrian history is culturally very similar. But Northern and Eastern Germany (north of the Main River) are a different world altogether and in some aspects no more similar to Austria than, say, its southerly neighbor Italy! While the common language may appear the same on paper, in spoken word its not and the cultural divide between the northern german speaking world and the alpine region is large. It is perhaps this that makes Austrians think in a collective sense that they are very proud to hold on to regional tradtions and boast of what they are not, mainly German! Whatever the similarities and differences between Austria and Germany may be, comparisons will not be appreciated by Austrians, neither will the use of terms like "German", "Teutonic" or "Germanic" for things that are Austrian. Certainly, Austria and Germany are sister nations and enjoy warm relations but case in point, Mozart was Austrian, or a Salzburger for the record, not German!
Austria is a parliamentarian, federal republic consisting of nine federal states (see list above). The official head of the state is the federal president, who is voted directly by the people every six years. However, his/her function is mainly representative, and the chancellor, appointed by the parlament, runs most of the day-to-day politics. The parliament is voted every four years and consists of two chambers : The Nationalrat (where laws are passed) and the Bundesrat (which basically can reject laws). There are five major parties in Austria: The social democrats (SPÖ), the Austrian people's party (ÖVP), the freedom party (FPÖ) which recently split into two parties (FPÖ and the alliance for the future of Austria BZÖ) and the green party. The current government consists of a coalition of SPÖ and ÖVP.
Contrary to popular perceptions, Austria is not all about mountains. While the Alps do cover 3/4 of the country dominating the provinces of Vorarlberg, Tyrol, Salzburg, Styria, Upper Austira and Carthinia, the eastern provinces of Lower Austria, the Burgenland and the federal capital of Vienna are more similar to the geography of the neighboring Czech Republic and Hungary. This diverse mix of landscapes is packed into a relatively small area of size. Glaciers, meadows, alpine valleys, wooded foothills, gently rolling farmland, vineyards, river gorges, plains and even semi-arid steppes can be found in Austria.
One quarter of Austria's population lives in Greater Vienna, a european metropolis, located where the Danube meets the easternmost fringe of the Alps, not far from the border with Slovakia and its capital Bratislava.
Virtually all government, financial and cultural institutions, as well as national media and large corporations are based in Vienna due largely to history and geography. Thus, the capital dominates Austria's cultural and political life and is clearly a world unto its own. It has little to do with the rest of mainly rural Austria and outside of Graz and Linz there really are no other large scale cities in the country. There is a playful joke told in Vorarlberg province regarding the dominance of Vienna regarding national affairs that reads, "the people of western Austria make the money and Vienna spends it."
Austria has a temperate continental climate. Summers last from early June to mid-September and can be hot in some years and rainy in others. Day-time temperatures in July and August are around 25° C (77° F), but can often reach 35° C (95° F). Winters are cold in the lowlands and very harsh in the Alpine region with temperatures often dropping below -10° C (14° F). Winters last from December to March (longer at higher altitudes). In the Alpine region large temperature fluctuations occur all year round and nights are chilly even in high summer. The northern Alps are generally a lot wetter than the rest of the country. The South East (Styria and Carinthia) is dry and sunny. The area around Vienna often experiences strong easterly winds.
Electricity is supplied at 220 to 230V 50Hz. Outlets are the European standard CEE-7/7 "Schukostecker" or "Schuko" or the compatible, but non-grounded, CEE-7/16 "Europlug" types. Generally speaking, U.S. and Canadian travelers should pack an adapter and a converter for these outlets if they plan to use North American electrical equipment in Austria.
Get in
People from countries within the EU (incl. new EU states), Liechtenstein, Iceland, Norway and Switzerland do not require a Visa for entry into Austria. Nationals of the following countries may enter and remain in Austria without a Visa for up to 3 months - United States, Canada, Israel, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil. People from African/Arabian/South-American countries as well as people from the CIS states generally require a visa. Austria is a member of the Schengen Agreement so visas are valid for 24 other countries
By air
There are 5 airports in Austria with scheduled flights. The most important international airport is Vienna which has connection to all major airports of the world. Other international airports include Graz, Innsbruck, Klagenfurt, Linz, and Salzburg which provide domestic flights as well as connections to some European countries. Those airports are particularly popular with cheap airlines such as Ryanair. The most common airports to visit Vorarlberg are Altenrhein (Austrian), Friedrichshafen (Ryanair, Intersky) and Zurich (Swiss)
By bus
EUROLINES [2] has bus schedules from Austria to all major European countries and back. If you make use of special offers and/or book in advance, traveling by plane or train is normally cheaper than by bus, however, the bus may be the cheapest option if you want to travel at short notice or if you have large amounts of luggage.
By car
Austria and all it's neighbouring countries, except Switzerland and Liechtenstein are Schengen members so in theory there are no border controls. However for Euro 2008 these border controls will be reinstated and identity checks are still commonplace. For using highway toll has to be paid ("Vignette"). Costs are approx €70 for one year, €20 for 8 weeks, or about €7 for 10 days.
On some Saturdays in July and August expect traffic jams on the motorways between Germany, Austria and Italy when millions of German tourists head south at the beginning of school vacations. A delay of about 2 hours is not unusual. The motorway A10 between Salzburg and Villach is especially notorious. It's best to avoid those Saturdays.
From Germany
From Italy
From Slovenia
By train
Austria's connections with neighboring Germany are excellent, and all other neighbors are connected by at least two trains per day. Check out the so-called Eurocity trains, which are the fastest trains available as well as the trains connecting the bigger Austrian cities called Intercity.
Information for trainspotters
In Austria many railways run electrically. There are many interesting mountain railways of all types.
In Austria most electric trains get their power from a single-phase AC network. This network uses its own power lines run with 110 kV. In contrast to normal power lines, these employ a number of conductors that is not divisible by 3 - most power lines for the single phase AC grid of the traction power grid have four conductors.
Get around
By train and bus
Trains[3] are the best way to get around if you're visiting cities. Comfortable and moderately priced trains connect major cities and many towns; buses other towns and lakes. The two forms of transport are integrated and designed to complement each other, and intercity coaches (long distance buses) are hard to find in most of Austria.
Since August 2007, if you are traveling in a group of 2 to 5 persons and you don't mind taking local regional trains, you can buy an Einfach-Raus-Ticket (ERT)[4], good for unlimited travel within a day, viz., after 9am on weekdays and all day weekends/holidays, on all regional trains of ÖBB within Austria. The cost is only 29 EUR for 2 to 5 persons. The ERT is patterned after the popular group Bavaria Ticket (Bayern-Ticket). Unlike the Bavaria Ticket, there is no ERT for a single. Note: If your German is not very good, you could remember ERT as the Easy Roam Ticket.
VorteilsCard[[5]]. If you are under 26 and plan to spend more than 40 EUR on rail travel get a VorteilsCard (photo needed) for EUR 19,90 and have 45% discount on all trains in Austria and 25% abroad in Europe. If you have a Vorteilscard you can get a further 5% discount if you buy the tickets at the ticket machines, which sell national as well as regional tickets. The Vorteilscard is also available for those over 26 but costs 100 EUR.
Be aware that buying a train ticket at an Austrian Railways ticket machine does not tie you to a specific schedule. If you buy a ticket from Salzburg to Vienna, that ticket is valid for any train that takes you to Vienna.
Ticketing machines at train stations (unlike the ones in Germany) do not print itineraries and many train stations only display basic timetables. It is best to find an itinerary on the Austrian Railways website by setting up a ticket reservation (without actually reserving the ticket, just print the itinerary). Stations also provide pamphlets with detailed timetables, but this assumes you know which line to board to get to your destination.
By car
Rural or sparsely populated regions in Austria are easier to explore by car as bus services can be infrequent. Many popular spots in the mountains are only accessible by car or on foot/ski. Renting a car for a couple of days is a good way to go off the beaten track. Driving in Austria is normally quite pleasant as the country is small and the roads are in good condition, not congested and offer fantastic scenery. Beware of dangerous drivers, however: Austrians are generally a very law-abiding bunch, but when behind a wheel they seem to make an exception to their considerate attitude. Comprehensive maps of Austria, specific regions within Austria (including city maps), as well as maps from neighbouring countries can be bought at any petrol station. (expect to pay around €7 for one map)
As in many European cities, parking in cities is subject to fee on work days. Usually those parking zones are marked by blue lines on the street. Some cities (e.g. Vienna) have area-wide zones which are not denotated by blue lines). Fees vary from town to town as do the fines, which are charged if you have no valid ticket. (generally between €20 and €30) Tickets can be usually bought from kiosks, some cities (e.g. Graz) have ticket machines on the street. A cheap alternative is to park your car a bit outside of the town in parking garages called Park and Ride which can be found in any bigger city.
Traveling on Austrian motorways (autobahnen) or Schnellstraßen means you are liable to pay tolls. You have to buy a Vignette toll pass, in advance, which can be purchased at any petrol station or at the border. Vignetten can be bought for 10 days (€7,60), 2 months (€21,80) or one year (€72,00). Driving a car on a motorway without a vignette is punished with either payment of a substitute toll of €110 (that allows one to travel on the motorways for that day and the day immediately following) or a fine of upwards of €400, and if the fine is not paid on the spot, valuables may be seized from your vehicle and person to ensure that the fine is paid. You must affix the vignette to the top-center or on one of the driver's side corners of the windscreen of your car, otherwise it is not valid, which is a common mistake made by foreigners in Austria. The motorway police regularly check for vignetten. The maximum speed allowed on motorways is 130km/h.
Additional tolls are payable on certain roads, especially mountain passes.
Take special care when driving in winter, especially in the mountains (and keep in mind that winter lasts from september to may in the higher parts of the alps and snowfall is in general there possible any time of the year). Icy roads kill dozens of inexperienced drivers every year. Avoid speeding and driving at night and make sure the car is in a good condition. Motorway bridges are particularly prone to ice. Slow down to 80 km/h when going over them.
Winter tires are strongly recommended by Austrian motoring clubs. When there is snowfall, winter tires or snow chains are required by law on some mountain passes, and occasionally also on motorways. This is indicated by a round traffic sign depicting a white tire or chain on a blue background. It is always a good idea to take a pair of snow chains and a warm blanket in the boot. Drivers often get stuck in their car for several hours and sometimes suffer from hypothermia.
Contrary to popular belief there is no need to rent an off-road vehicle in winter (though a 4x4 is helpful). In fact, small, lightweight cars are better at tackling narrow mountain roads than sluggish off-road vehicles. Virtually all roads in Austria open to the public are either covered in tarmac or at the least even surfaced. The problems normally encountered are ice and steepness, not unevenness. When driving downhill the only remedy against sliding are snow chains no matter what vehicle you are in.
Petrol is cheaper in Austria than in some neighboring countries, but still expensive compared to American standards.
By air
Although you'll miss out most of the stunning Austrian Landscape, it is possible to travel by plane within Austria. Domestic flights normally cost in the region of €300-500 return, and since the country is small, the total journey time is unlikely to be shorter than by rail or car. In other words, don't bother flying unless you are on a business trip.
Following domestic Airports are serviced by airlines like Austrian Arrows, Intersky, Sky Europe, Welcome Air:
Non-domestic airport servicing western Austria:
The national language of Austria is German which, in its standard variety, differs from the German used in Germany only in a few words and phrases. In addition, a few additional languages locally have some official status (e.g., Slovenian in Carinthia, Croatian and Hungarian in Burgenland).
In everyday life, most Austrians do not speak standard language, but some local dialect. Most Austrian dialects are related to the Bavarian dialect, but quite distinct from the German of the rest of Germany. In the Bundesland of Vorarlberg the dialect is related to the alemanic dialect of Switzerland.
English, however, is widely spoken, and the only area most tourists have linguistic problems with is translating food. In parts of Vienna, with many foreign visitors, such languages as Italian and French will often be understood as well. Italian is also widespread in those Austrian regions bordering Italy.
In rural places many people don't speak English well, especially those older than 40, so a learning a few basic German phrases can be helpful. Local accents can be very strong in many alpine valleys where even native German-speaking tourists have trouble understanding the locals. Also in Austria saying "Good day" is not "Guten Tag" as it is in most of Germany, but rather "Grüß Gott" (ü being a letter somewhere in between u and e; ß being a sharp s) is used (as well as Bavaria in Germany).
Cycle Touring
Austria is well known for its scenic cycle routes along its largest rivers. Though Austria is a mountainous country, cycle routes along rivers are flat or gently downhill, and therefore suitable even for casual cyclists. The most famous route is the Danube cycle path from Passau to Vienna, one of the most popular cycle paths in Europe, drawing large crowds of cyclists from all over the world each summer. Other rivers with well-developed cycle routes are the Inn, Drau, Moell and Mur. Most routes follow a combination of dedicated cycle paths, country lanes, and traffic calmed roads, and are well suited for children.
Many visitors come to experience Austria's musical heritage. Salzburg and Vienna offer world renowned opera, classical music and jazz at moderate prices, but performances of high standards are also widely available throughout the rest of the country. There are dozens of Summer festivals for all tastes, the most famous being the avant-garde Salzburg festival (Salzburger Festspiele) but because they're aimed at tourists prices can be high. Austria's strong musical tradition is not confined to classical music alone. Austrian folk music (Volksmusik) is an integral part of rural Austria, and is said to have influenced many of the nation's big composers. In the Alps almost every village has its own choir or brass band (Blasmusik), and you'll often see groups of friends sitting down to sing Lieder in rural pubs. Traditional Alpine instruments are the accordion and zither. In Vienna a type of melancholic violin music known as Schrammelmusik is often performed in Restaurants and Heurigen.
Austria has quite a special kind of cinematic culture, that is worth taking notice of as tourist. Many films star celebrities from cabaret, a kind of staged comedy popular in Austria. Most of these movies are characterized by their rather cynical and sometimes bizarre black humour, usually portraying members of Vienna's lower or middle class. Josef Hader, Roland Düringer, Reinhard Nowak or Alfred Dorfer are among the most outstanding actors here. Recommendations include Indien (1993), Muttertag (1993), Hinterholz 8 (1998), Komm, süßer Tod (2000) and Silentium (2004). Popular directors are Harald Sicheritz, Michael Haneke and Ulrich Seidl. Haneke received positive international praise for his films Die Klavierspielerin (2001), based on the novel by nobel-price winning author Elfriede Jelinek and Caché (2005). Seidl received various awards for his drama Hundstage (2001). Also, the 1949 classic The Third Man was shoot in Vienna, and is shown in Vienna's Burg Kino regularly.
It is normally safe to hike without a guide in the Austrian Alps, as there is a dense network of marked trails and mountain shelters. However, a few lethal incidents do happen every year as a result of carelessness. Walkers are strongly advised not to stray off the trails and hike in bad weather or without suitable equipment. Before setting off, always check with the local tourist office whether the trail corresponds to your abilities. Also check the weather forecast. Sudden thunderstorms are frequent and are more likely to happen in the afternoon. A rule of thumb is that if you haven't reached the summit by noon it's time to give up and return to shelter.
Though the scenery is by all accounts majestic, don't expect an empty wilderness. The Alps can be very crowded with mountaineers, especially in high season (there are even traffic jams of climbers on some popular mountains). Littering is a no-no in all of Austria, but especially in the mountains, and you will enrage fellow walkers if you're seen doing it. If you really want to show respect pick up any litter you happen to see in your path and dispose of it at the end of your hike (it's a bit of an unwritten rule). Long distance trails are marked with the Austrian flag (red-white-red horizontal stripes) painted onto rocks and tree trunks.
Most trails and mountain huts are maintained by the Austrian Alpine Club. Some are run by other equivalent organizations, such as the German, Dutch and Italian Alpine Clubs. Mountain huts are meant to be shelters, not hotels. Though they are normally clean and well-equipped, standards of food and accommodation are basic. Don't expect a high level of customer service either. A sleeping bag is not required as blankets are provided. During the high season (August) it's a good idea to book in advance. Mountain huts will not turn anyone down for the night but if they're full you'll have to sleep on the floor.
Detailed hiking maps showing the location of marked trails and shelters can be purchased online from the Austrian Alpine Society [6].
Austria is a member of the European Union and the Eurozone. Consequently, the national currency is the Euro. The best rates for changing money are offered by banks.
The prices are comparable with Western European countries, and a bit higher than the USA because of 20 % sales tax (which is included in the prices). A can of coke will cost you about 40 cents, a good meal 15 Euros. Prices in tourist areas (Tyrol, Vienna, Salzburg, Zell am See) are a lot higher than the averages. B&B Accommodation and restaurants in towns and rural areas are quite cheap.
Shops are generally open from 09.30 a.m. to 7.00 p.m. on weekdays and Saturday from 9am to 4pm and closed on Sundays except for gas station shops (expensive), shops at railway stations and restaurants. Be aware that paying by credit card is not as common as in the rest of Europe or as in the United States. In smaller towns and villages you normally find one or two small shops or bakeries, which carry nearly everything, called "Greißler", albeit they are more and more killed off by bigger shopping centers.
ATMs in Austria are called Bankomat. They are wide-spread and you will find them even in smaller, rural villages. Many shops (and some restaurants too) offer the service to pay directly with an ATM card. The majority of ATMs accept cards from abroad. All Bankomats in Austria can easily identified by a sign showing a green stripe above a blue stripe.
Bargaining is not common throughout Austria except at flea markets.
Austrian food is distinctive and delicious, and is traditionally of the stodgy, hearty "meat and dumplings" variety. Wiener Schnitzel (a bread-crumbed and fried veal escalope) is something of a national dish, and Knödel are a kind of dumpling which can be made either sweet or savory according to taste. In Vienna the Tafelspitz (boiled beef with potatoes and horseradish) is traditionally served on Sundays, and is normally accompanied by clear broth with dumplings and herbs. Apart from these, Austria is renowned for its pastries and desserts, the most well-known of which is probably the Apfelstrudel.
Bread is taken seriously in Austria. Almost every village has its own bakery, offering a large choice of freshly baked sweet and savoury rolls daily from 6am. Rye bread (Vollkornbrot, Bauernbrot) is the traditional staple food among peasants. If this is too heavy for you, try the common white bread roll (Semmel). Somewhat surprisingly, it is easier to find good bread outside of Vienna, where the baking industry hasn't yet come to be dominated by industrial scale chain shops.
Some Austrians have a habit of eating sweet flour-based dishes (Mehlspeise) for a main course once a week. Varieties include Kaiserschmarren, Marillenknoedel, and Germknoedel.
The best advice is to dive into the menu and give it a go - there are no nasty surprises!
If you want to try out traditional Austrian food go for a Gasthaus or Gasthof, which serve traditional food for reasonable prices. Usually they offer menus (at lunch time) including a soup and a main dish and in some cases a dessert too. Prices are typically around €5 to €7 for this menu (except for very touristy areas). Menus are written in German, though some of the restaurants have english menus as well. Keep in mind that tipping is expected throughout all restaurants in Austria. Rounding up the price given on the bill is usually enough tip. Paying the dutch way (this means splitting up the bill, if you are in a group) is common except in very expensive restaurants.
In Austrian restaurants you must ask to pay. Get the attention of your server and say: "zahlen, bitte" (to pay, please). They will then bring you the check, or tell you the amount of the bill verbally. Then, the proper way to pay in Austria is to give your cash and say the amount you wish to pay, including tip. To tip it is appropriate to round up, or to round up +50 cents or 1 euro of the cost for each person (should equal about 5-10% for a full meal). Servers are not dependent on tips, and it is not appropriate to tip a large amount. Saying "danke" (thank you) when paying means keep the change!
Local specialties
Vegetarianism is not as widespread in Austria as it is in English speaking countries, though awareness is slowly improving, especially in bigger cities. Most restaurants don't cater for vegetarians specifically, but you're likely to find at least one meal on the menu containing no meat. But unfourtunately, your choice as a vegetarian is limited and you'll soon get bored of being forced to eat the same "healthy option" everywhere you go. As an alternative, there is normally at least one vegetarian restaurant in every bigger city. In more traditional or rural restaurants, you will be viewed as highly eccentric if you say you are vegetarian, and it's likely that not a single meal on the menu is meat free. This is especially true for traditional Austrian cuisine which relies heavily on meat -- even apparent vegetable dishes such as potato salad or vegetable soup often contain meat products. Some traditional meals that are guaranteed to be vegetarian are Kaiserschmarren (sweet pieces of fluffy pancake with fruit compote), Germknoedel (Dumpling with sour prune jam), and Kasnudel (similar to ravioli).
Vienna is famous for its café culture, and there are coffee houses all over the city, many of which have outdoor terraces that are popular in the summer. Visit them for coffee (of course), hot chocolate and pastries. Most famous is Sacher-Torte. Most likely you will find the "top" coffee houses at the Ring, the Kärnter Strasse, Graben, and some other (maybe difficult to find) places in the first district (Innere Stadt). There are also very nice old coffee houses a little outside of the Ring at the districts within the Gürtel. Please do never just order "coffee" as you find dozens of different sorts from Kleiner Schwarzer (small black coffee) and Großer Brauner (big coffee with cream), Melange (coffee with milk) to specialties like Kapuziner (small black coffee and a drip of cream) and Kaisermelange (coffee, milk, egg yolk and cognac) on the menu and the Viennese Ober (the "senior" waiter) takes pride in this variety.
Information On Viennese Coffeehouses
Austria has also a national soft drink called Almdudler. It is lemonade with herbs. Other typical Austrian soft drinks are Holler or Hollundersaft. It's a soft drink made of elderberry blossoms.
Like in most of central Europe, a large number of high quality lager beers are brewed in Austria. Every region and bigger city has its own brand of beer. Stiegl is easy to find and is usually considered to be excellent, especially on American palates.
Schnaps is a type of fruit brandy served in many parts of Austria, usually after a meal. The most popular flavours are pear, apricot, and raspberry, though dozens of other flavours are available. There are three quality tiers of Schnaps: distilled, infused, and flavoured. The distilled variety is the highest quality; several brands of Austrian fruit Schnaps rank among the best in the world, but are accordingly expensive: a half-Liter bottle can cost up to €100. "Real" Schnaps is made from real fruit (either distilled of infused). Beware of the cheap stuff sold in large bottles in supermarkets; this is often of the "flavoured" type - nothing more than pure ethanol mixed with artificial flavouring. If you want the real thing, go to a deli or upscale bar (if you're in a bigger city) or a Buschenschank (Farmhouse) (if you're in the countryside).
Although hotels can usually even be found in smaller cities they are quite expensive (even more so in bigger cities) cheaper possibilities in big cities are youth hostels and in smaller towns you can often find families renting flats in bed and breakfast style (look for Pension or Zimmer Frei signs) for 15-25 EUR. In the countryside many farmers will rent out rooms for a couple of nights, both officially and unofficially. To find a place to stay, simply knock on the door of a farmhouse and ask - if they don't have a room they'll probably know someone nearby who does.
You can also find a lot of camping grounds (some of them are open the whole year round) but while they are exceptionally clean and often provide additional services, they are also a bit more expensive than in other countries in Central Europe.
Austrian law requires anyone to register at their resident address, even if it's only for one night and even if it's a campsite. Hotels will therefore ask you to hand over your passport or driving license and may refuse to give you accommodation if you don't have any ID on you. Don't worry too much about handing over your passport. In many countries such a practice would raise concern but in Austria it's a standard procedure. Your passport will be returned. If you stay in private accommodation for longer than about two weeks, you should obtain a document of registration (Meldezettel) from the local registration authority (Bezirksamt or Meldeamt), usually located in the town hall. This document needs to be signed by the owner or tenant of your accommodation. Failure to present this document upon departure could cause difficulties if you have stayed in the country for more than two or three months.
Austria has a diverse school and university system which can be quite confusing especially when you come from abroad. There is a four-year compulsory elementary school for everyone. In general, compulsory school attendance is 9 years. After elementary school you can decide between attending secondary school for four years or grammar school for eight years. However, after four years in secondary school or four years in grammar school, you can switch to a vocational school which typically focuses on technical or economic professions. Vocational schools are usually attended for five years (giving you a general qualification for university entrance diploma) or three years (providing you with a master craftsman's diploma for a certain profession).
A university entrance diploma grants access to all subjects which are offered at university. There are no further restrictions (e.g. like a grade point average in certain subjects at school), though this is changing at the moment.
As in many European countries, Austria's traditional system of academic degrees is two-tiered, with a Diplom/Magister stage (after 4--6 years of study) followed by the doctorate. However, most of Austria's universities have been moving to a three-tiered degree system in the past few years, with a bachelor's degree (3 years) followed by a master's degree (an additional 2 years) and finally the doctorate.
Studying in Austria is subject to fees (about €700 per year for EU nationals, twice as much for others, although citizens of some developing countries are exempt).
Austria has many great universities, the majority of which are located in Vienna, Graz, and Innsbruck. A relatively recent development in tertiary education are the Fachhochschulen, vocational colleges that typically focus on engineering and business education with less emphasis on research than traditional universities, but a stronger view toward practice.
If you plan to study in Austria go here to see the requirements. If you need advice, you can contact the national students union [7].
Good work is difficult to find for non-fluent German speakers. If you speak no German at all the best option is probably looking for jobs advertised outside Austria. Another possibility is giving private tuition in foreign languages, though you are unlikely to earn a full time income this way and it takes several months to build up a base of clients.
There is plenty of unskilled work available in the tourism industry. As long as you have a work permit [8], finding a job can often be as easy as simply turning up at a hotel and asking. Seasonal work in large ski resorts is the most promising option.
Stay safe
Austria is one of the safest countries in the world. Violent crimes are extremely rare and normally confined to Vienna. Small towns and uninhabited areas such as forests are very safe at any time of the day.
Beware of pickpockets in crowded places. Like everywhere in Europe they are becoming increasingly professional. Bicycle theft is rampant in bigger cities. Always lock your bike to an immobile object.
Racism can also be a problem and make your stay an unpleasant experience. However, levels of racism are comparable to other Western nations and it is almost never seen in a violent form. In more remote parts of Austria people of non-white origin are a rare sight. If you see locals giving you strange looks here don't feel threatened. They are probably just showing curiosity or a distrust of foreigners and have no intention of doing any physical harm. A short conversation can often be enough to break the ice.
Public toilets must normally be paid for. Prices range between €0.20 and €1.00, which must either be handed to a toilet assistant or inserted into a slot. Public toilets can always be found in city centers (normally on the main square), in train stations, and near major tourist attractions. In Vienna it's probably a good idea to simply walk into the next McDonald's and use the washrooms there for free.
Households without washing machines are almost unheard of in Austria. As a result, laundrettes are few and far between, and may be completely absent from smaller cities. However, most hotels, youth hostels, campsites and even B&Bs normally offer laundry facilities for a small charge.
Stay healthy
Austria has an excellent healthcare system by Western standards. Hospitals are modern, clean, and well-equipped. Healthcare in Austria is funded by the Krankenkassen (Sickness-funds), compulsory public insurance schemes that cover 99% of the population. Most hospitals are owned and operated by government bodies or the Krankenkassen. Private hospitals exist, but mainly for non-life-threatening conditions. Doctor's surgeries on the other hand are mostly private, but most accept patients from the Krankenkassen. Many Austrians choose to buy supplemental private health insurance. This allows them to see doctors that don't accept Krankenkassen and to stay in special hospital wards with fewer beds (which often receive preferential treatment).
If you are a traveller from the EU, you can get any form of urgent treatment for free (or a small token fee) that is covered by the Krankenkassen. Non-urgent treatment is not covered. Simply show your European Health Insurance Card and passport to the doctor or hospital. When going to a GP, watch out if the street sign says "Alle Kassen" (all Krankenkassen accepted), or "Keine Kassen" (no Krankenkassen accepted), in which case your EHIC is not valid. Supplemental travel insurance is recommended if you want to be able to see any doctor or go to the special ward.
If you are a traveller from outside the EU, and have no travel insurance, you will need to pay the full cost of treatment up-front (with the exception of the emergency room). Medical bills can be very expensive, though still reasonable when compared to the USA.
Austria has a dense network of helicopter ambulances that can reach any point in the country within 15 minutes. Beware: Mountain rescue by helicopter is not covered by your EHIC, or indeed most travel insurances. If you have a medical emergency while you are in the mountains (eg. break a leg while skiing), the helicopter will be called on you regardless of whether you ask for it or not, and you will be billed upwards of €1,000. Mountain sports insurace is therefore highly recommended.
Certain regions in Austria (Carinthia, Styria, Lower Austria) are affected by tick borne encephalitis. For those who plan doing outdoor activities in spring or summer a vaccine is strongly recommended. Also be aware that there is a small, endangered population of sand vipers in the south.
Tap water is of exceptional quality and safe to drink in 100% of Austria.
Austrians (especially those over 40) take formalities and etiquette seriously. Even if you are the most uncharismatic person in the world, old-fashioned good manners (Gutes Benehmen) can take you a long way in a social situation. On the flip side, there are endless possibilities to put your foot in it and attract frowns for breaking an obscure rule.
In public many people can be impolite and pushy however. Many tourists perceive Austrians as unfriendly on the street and in shops, but in many cases this is directness and formality mistaken for unfriendliness. You may find for example that a shop assistant tells you off only to be extremely helpful a minute later. In Vienna a cafe isn't considered a real cafe without bad-tempered and arrogant waiters.
Perhaps surprisingly for a rather conservative nation, Austria's attitude towards nudity is one of the most relaxed in Europe. The display of full nudity in the mainstream media and advertising can be a shock for many visitors, especially those from outside Europe. It is not uncommon for women to bathe topless in beaches and recreational areas in summer. Though swimming costumes must normally be worn in public pools, when invited to a private beach or pool it is normally OK to take one's clothes off. Nudity is compulsory in Austria's many nude beaches (FKK Strand), health spas and hotel saunas.
Some basic Etiquette (Of course most of this doesn't really matter when you are in a younger crowd)
Calling Austria
International code is +43. From the UK Austria can be called at local rate by dialing 0845 2442442 followed by the phone number.
When calling Austria from abroad, if the number starts with the city code 0222, it's in Vienna. Drop all four of those digits and replace it with a 1, then dial the remaining digits of the phone number. 0222 was the former dialing prefix for Vienna. It should be replaced by 1 also for domestic calls to Vienna.
If the number doesn't start with 0222, simply drop the initial zero from the city code and dial the remaining digits.
Public phones are available in postal offices. Phone boxes are getting rare (and exchanged by boxes with internet access) since the use of cell phones got very popular over the last years. Phone boxes usually operate with prepaid cards which can be obtained from postal offices and kiosks (German:Trafik).
Phone numbers have an area code followed by the phone number itself. Mobile phone numbers use the prefix 0650, 0660, 0664, 0676, 0699, 0680, 0681 or 0688. Toll-free numbers are denoted by 0800, service lines priced like local calls are setting off with 0810 whereas numbers starting with 0900, 0901, 0930 or 0931 are expensive service lines charging up to 3,63€ per minute.
To enjoy cheap international calls from Austria you can use low-cost dial-around services such as pennyphone, austriaphone or fuchstarife. Dial-around services are directly available from any landline in Austria. No contract, no registration is required. Most dial-around services offer USA, Canada, Western Europe and many other countries at the price of a local call so you can save on your phone expenses easily. They also work from public payphones.
Cell phones
Austria has a perfect GSM and 3G (UMTS) network coverage of nearly 100%. If you bring your own cell phone with you assure yourself that it operates on 900MHz or 1800MHz. There are cell phones that operate at 1900MHz (e.g. networks in the United States) which are not supported in Austria. If you plan a longer visit in Austria it might be useful to buy a new mobile with a prepaid card from a local cell phone network provider. Be aware that some remote areas (especially mountainous areas) do not have network coverage yet, though this rather the exception than the rule.
Despite being a rather small country, Austria has a large number of cell network providers including A1, T-Mobile, One, Drei (3G), Telering, Tele2, Bob and Yesss.
The probably cheapest mobile provider right now is Yesss. A prepaid card costs 13 Euro including 60 minutes talking time. Then you pay 7 cent per minute to all Austrian networks (as of june 2007) and 70 cents to the most important other countries. The SIM card is only available at the discounter Hofer.
The new provider eety has a prepaid SIM card with very cheap international rates (13 cents to Germany, 9 Cent for Short Messages (SMS) worldwide). Online available at www.eety.eu and also sold in a few stores in major towns.
You may often purchase a prepaid SIM card for Austria before you depart from an online vendor which can be convenient as you get instructions in English and your cell phone number before you depart.
Internet cafes are common in bigger cities. Hotels in cities do normally have internet terminals, more expensive hotels provide internet access in the rooms itself. Wireless hotspots in restaurants and cafes are becoming more and more popular as well.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
The buzz surrounding the West Nile virus in Illinois has quieted, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't take precautions to reduce your risk to exposure.
The Illinois Department of Public Health has confirmed that a bird in Henry County and mosquitoes in Madison County have tested positive for West Nile virus this spring. No human cases have been reported.
In 2013, there were 117 human cases of West Nile, including two in McHenry County, according to IDPH. There were 11 deaths. Those figures are down from the 290 human cases and 12 deaths in 2012. There were six human cases of West Nile in McHenry County in 2012, according to IDPH.
Human cases started to spike after only five were reported in 2009. In 2010, there were 61 human cases of West Nile virus, including four deaths. There were 34 human cases and three deaths in 2011.
West Nile virus is most commonly spread by infected mosquitoes. It can cause fever, encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) or meningitis (inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord).
There are steps you can take to protect yourself from being bitten by a West Nile-infected mosquito. Follow these tips from the health department:
• Wear shoes, socks, long-sleeved shirts and pants when outdoors for long periods of time or when mosquitoes are most active – usually dawn and dusk.
• When possible, avoid the outdoors during peak biting times – dawn and dusk.
• Spray clothing with insect repellent.
• Apply insect repellent sparingly to exposed skin by following label directions. Some experts recommend lower concentrations for children. Check with your doctor before applying insect repellent on infants, and wash your hands after using insect repellent.
• Look for EPA-labeled products containing DEET, Picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus or IR3535.
It also is important to eliminate mosquito breeding sites from around your residence. Mosquito eggs can develop in any standing water that lasts more than five to seven days. Follow these health department tips:
• Turn over children's wading pools and toys when not in use.
• Drill holes in the bottom of recycling and trash containers that are left outdoors.
• Change water in birdbaths twice a week.
• Fix leaky faucets. They provide water where mosquitoes can breed.
• Drill holes in window boxes and flower planters to prevent water from pooling.
• Aerate ornamental ponds or stock with mosquito-eating fish.
• Keep pools clean and chlorinated.
• Eliminate standing water in your property.
Take proper precautions this summer to reduce your exposure to the West Nile virus.


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empee necesitaba un nuevo diseño de logotipo y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 171 diseños de 33 diseñadores freelance.
Doze is a real estate company specialising in renovation of old apartments. I want to eventually have a block of serviced apartments and this is more where the name "Doze" comes in. A place to relax, unwind and be comfortable.
The name as I am sure you will be able to tell means to snooze, nap, daydream. I have named my company Doze as I want people to feel relaxed and at ease in one of my apartments, so at peace that they can just doze off.
Our apartments will be warm modern. Think, bamboo flooring, balconies, island kitchens, wine fridges, rain showers, rooftop apartments. These will be places you would fall in love with!
Our target audience will be high income individuals who lease or buy our apartments. They demand quality but are happy to pay for it. They want to have something unique that sets there home apart from the mass produced ones with similar layouts and finishes.
In terms of those who will lease from us we must appeal to those who are looking for somwhere like home whilst they are away from home. We must give the impression of class, yet warmth.
The logo itself can pretty much be open to interpretation. But I have a few requirements or thoughts:
I would like the company name "Doze" to be incorporated with the logo. You can put Doze in capitals, lower case - open to interpretation again.
The logo in my mind would be somewhat abstract but have some sort of link to the company and the emotions or moods we illicit through our work.
ABSOLUTELY NO homes, houses, roof in the logo!
Colours again open to interpretation but must have a calming effect.
Prefer to have more of a fluid design rather than boxy.
Whilst you are designing think:
Tranquil, comfortable, quality, unique and expertly executed apartments.
I have attached a small file for reference only, I do not want a copy of this logo, it is just to give you an idea of where my thoughts are.
Descubre cómo funciona un concurso de diseño u obtén más información sobre nuestros servicios de diseño de logo.


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Liberty News
Author Bruce Wilkinson speaks at convocation
Christian author Bruce Wilkinson, best known for his book "The Prayer of Jabez," spoke at Liberty University's convocation Friday, basing his message on three "generations," represented by three chairs he had placed in front of the podium. He said the first was characterized by commitment, the second by compromise and the third by conflict.
The first generation of believers is like the children of Israel who fled Egypt, crossed the Jordan River and saw manna fall from the sky, he said. The second generation "knew the Lord, but they weren't sold out" as those before them. The third generation disputes or denies the Christian faith altogether.
Wilkinson told students that after today, "You are going to know where you sit on these chairs, as an individual. You're going to know where your parents sit, your brothers and sisters sit, where this college sits, where America sits."
Wilkinson cited Joshua 24:15, in which Joshua declared, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."
The house of David, he explained, is a good model of how faith can vary from one generation to the next. David, who was all about people, was a typical first-generation believer, but his son Solomon and grandson Rehoboam served money and other idols and fell progressively farther away from the faith, he said.
"What does a first chair do when they come to Liberty?" Wilkinson asked. "They say, 'Look, my life is yours; I want to maximize my life for eternity. I've got one short period of time, and this is it, and I want to bring heaven down through me. I want to do something extremely significant for eternity."
If we take the talents that God gave us and serve him and prove ourselves, God will one day say, "I want you to rule the cities for me for the rest of eternity," Wilkinson said.
Coming from a modest background, Wilkinson told how he was on track to be a millionaire by age 30, but God told him he needed to make a choice: "You can either sell out to me and I'll take care of your money, or you can close your heart and make money your god, and you can probably make all the money you want. But you can't do it with me."
Wilkinson invited students to come forward and pray — regardless of which chair they were sitting on.
Wilkinson will be the keynote speaker for this year's Writers Conference, being held on campus Friday and Saturday.


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President Garibaldi's Inaugural Address
This UDMcast features Antoine Garibaldi, UDM President, recorded April 13, 2012. Running time is 29 minutes 31 seconds. Select UDMcast format below.
Antoine M. Garibaldi gives his Inaugural address on the occasion of his installation as the 25th president of University of Detroit Mercy, April 13, 2012.
For more Inauguration videos, see the Inauguration series page.
His speech includes history of the University and comments about UDM's commitment to its community. For more about President Garibaldi, see the Office of the President page.
Select a format
This UDMcast is available in the following format(s):


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Now it struck me that I've seen most of the King Crimson alumni playing live now (with the exception of Boz Burrell, Gordon Haskell and some of the lesser known contributors) and this concert was to be the first time I'd see Greg Lake performing. I'd never bothered with his 90s stint with ELP, so when this concert was announced I thought I'd give it a go, not really knowing what to expect.
What I got for my money was a lightning fast gallop through Lake's back catalogue featuring material from King Crimson, ELP and his own solo career. Unlike some of the KC singers out there, Lake still has managed to retain his vocal prowess and it is a big old voice he has there, very impressive. The band was very tight too, though the guitarist Florian Opahle (who looked so young that he might have had to have gotten a note from his mum to appear with Lake) while accomplished, was prone to hard rock widdling and posing. His addition of "wah-wah" guitar to "In the Court of the Crimson King" actually made me laugh out loud...and this was the opening song. Even so, the performances were good and the music intact. Some of the songs didn't do much for me as I am not a follower of Lake's solo career and the band's attempt at "Pictures at an Exhibition" seemed to descend into mush, but it was worth it for the more up-tempo tracks such as "Paper Blood", "Fanfare for the Common Man" and "Touch and Go". I was upset that "Still You Turn Me On" wasn't featured, but we got a decent represenation of "From the Beginning" instead.
I didn't expect the music to touch me in anyway, but about halfway through "Lucky Man" I could feel the hairs on the back of my neck beginning to stand on end. The music was working. And it was a double punch when they followed up this great performance with an absolutely knock-out version of "21st Century Schizoid Man" - I was mightily impressed with the tightness of the performance, the drummer held it together very well and the syncopated stop/start sections were simply brilliant. Yes - I'd got my ticket's worth!
To finish off, while some of the songs weren't exactly to my taste and some of the arrangements were just a little bit too "balls out rock" for my liking, it was a very enjoyable evening and I am glad that we got the chance to see Mr Lake doing his thing. As I said to The Missus in the car on the journey home: "It's prog, Jim, but not as we know it".


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World No. 6 Anna Chakvetadze was the victim of a home invasion robbery in Moscow early Tuesday. Five to six men jumped a fence where she and her parents live, tied them, and made off with about $200,000 in money and valuables.
I hope she doesn't get too unnerved by this…


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If there is one thing that has defined this young century, it's how "connected" the world has become. Barnard is no exception. "During the course of your life you are going to interact with people from China, Russia, and the Middle East, if not as friends, then certainly as colleagues and collaborators," says Barnard President Debora Spar. "The earlier people can get that exposure, the better."
To position Barnard as a leading institution of higher education with global stature and bring a bigger international presence to campus, the College has undertaken several initiatives. Among the newest is the International Advisory Committee (IAC) to be made up of alumnae and parents of students. Though still being formed (there are now 25 members and counting), the committee's goal is to enhance Barnard's reputation and academic credentials in all corners of the world. In addition, committee members will assist with local contacts in various regions to pave the way for partnerships with other colleges and universities and academic opportunities for faculty and students. "It's important to penetrate the local community if you want to have a global presence," says IAC member Tay Yun Cho '75, who lives in Seoul, South Korea. "If you don't know the local community, your efforts are going to be a little less effective." Cho is active in the alumnae association in Seoul and visits local high schools to speak about Barnard.
Currently international students comprise 4 percent of the student population, below the 8 percent to 14 percent rate of similar institutions. One explanation: With smaller numbers of alumnae going back to their home countries, there are fewer people talking about Barnard to potential students. While Barnard would like to increase the number of international students, one of the obstacles to doing so is that there isn't much financial aid to support overseas students. Some fund- raising efforts for this purpose are beginning, "but we are not going to create more money for international students at the expense of our American students," affirms Spar.
In addition to the IAC, there are other international initiatives: The provost's advisory committee on internationalization has been meeting for the past five years and engages in curricular, research, and faculty-oriented issues where internationalization is concerned. In July 2008, Hilary Link, assistant provost and dean for international programs, created a coordination group with those administrators who have connections to Barnard's internationalization efforts. The newest effort is the Visiting International Student Program (VISP), to bring international students to Barnard from partner universities for the spring semester each year.
In March 2009, an annual symposium to take place at a different overseas location each year was inaugurated in Beijing. The event addressed "Women Changing China" and commemorated Kang Tongbi, the first Chinese woman to attend Barnard a century ago. It drew several hundred participants, including scholars and media. Spar traveled to several locations in Asia, including South Korea and Hong Kong. The result was encouraging: Barnard entered into partnerships with several universities, three in China and two in Korea.
This March, Barnard will again host a symposium, in Dubai, where scholars and activists will address the roles of women in the Arab world. The goal is to create partnerships with higher- education institutions and academics in the Middle East.
The IAC is brainstorming additional ideas to advance the College. In Moscow, Maria Baibakova '07 wants to facilitate connections between Barnard and new, American-style higher- education institutions being founded in Russia. Baibakova, who runs the Baibakov Art Project in Moscow, would also like to help the College expand its offerings of contemporary art programs to students. Nina Fischman '86, who lives in Long Island, N.Y., but travels frequently to Israel, wants to build off the 350-person strong Israeli alumnae network to create opportunities for Barnard faculty to do research in the Middle East. Fischman's daughter is spending a gap-year in Israel before she enrolls at Barnard this fall. Last year, she participated in an event for other Barnard students spending their gap-year there. Students came together with alumnae who spoke about campus life. "They were able to see that after 20, 35, or 40 years someone still feels engaged enough with Barnard to talk to them," says Fischman. "That's powerful."
-by Ilana Polyak, illustration by Katherine Streeter


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The Advanced CompTIA A+ Certification Prep course focuses on fun technology. You'll learn everything you need to know to select, install, and service video, sound, and portable computers. The course teaches networking, both wired and wireless, because every well-rounded tech needs to know it. You'll learn about security, security, security. Plus you'll get excellent insight into adding mobile devices such as tablets and smartphones to your computing environment. The Advanced course completes the three-course CompTIA A+ Certification Exam Prep cycle and prepares you for both the 901/902 exams and for real life as a tech. Let's get to it!
With a Master of Arts degree in Medieval History, Scott Jernigan feels as much at home in the musty archives of London as he does in the warm glow of a computer monitor. Scott teaches A+ Certification and PC hardware classes around the country, including several stints at the FBI Academy in Quantico, VA, Lucent Technologies in Baltimore, MD, and the United Nations in New York City. Scott has also edited numerous computer books, including the best-selling "All in One A+ Certification Exam Guide" and the "Network+ Certification Exam Guide" from McGraw-Hill. Practicing what he teaches, Scott is an A+ and Network+ Certified Technician.
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Waikiki Dining at our Restaurant in Honolulu
Hard Rock Cafe Honolulu
Est. July 15, 1987
Situated in the heart of Waikiki, Hard Rock Cafe Honolulu is conveniently located within walking distance to many major resorts, a variety of shops, the Hawaii Convention Center, and the iconic Waikiki beach. Enter through the first floor Rock Shop®, where you'll find an array of collectible fashions and music–related merchandise perfect for souvenirs and gifts. Follow the sweeping artistic guitar wave up to an open air second floor area with veranda seating and a striking ocean-blue wave bar for a truly unique dining experience.
Made From Scratch Menu
Hard Rock Cafe's extensive made from scratch menu caters to the entire family with fresh seafood, a variety of crisp, refreshing salads, tasty char-broiled burgers, and delicious desserts. Thirst quenching specialty drinks and thick frosty shakes top off a dining experience that is truly legendary.
Music History Lives Here
Our priceless music memorabilia collection is ever changing, and may feature items from music legends such as Elvis, The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, along with local favorites including Jake Shimabukuro and Jack Johnson. Our one-of-a-kind Rock Wall™ gives guests the ability to deep zoom into many pieces of iconic memorabilia while learning about each piece's history.


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nicolas petit brauchte ein neues Logo Design und hat einen Wettbewerb auf 99designs gestartet.
Aus 81 Designs von 12 Designern wurde eine Gewinner gewählt.
nicolas PETIT
Dear designers,
I am a Belgian DJ with a great passion for clubmusic. The musicstyles I use to play are: progressive house, club, electro house, electro, and a bit of trance. When I mix, I always try to give the audience the very best of myself with a selection of the best tracks, smooth mixing and even some entertainment ;-). The thing I like the most is when clubbers arent able to hear the passage between 2 tracks. This isn't always easy and it needs precision and a good track order.
My target audience is very large. We're talking about students, working people, young and old people (16-45 years old.) Black, yellow, white and brown people, no preferences :-) ! Persons with or without money... The only thing these people share is that if they come the hear/see me, its beacause they want to dance.
Now, one of the reasons I want a logo is that after a party I want the public to know who this one dj (that made them go crazy ;-) was. This means my logo will be printed on T-shirts so that everyone can read on my brest that I'm nicolas PETIT. This is something important to me because on a flyer you'll often see 4 or 5 dj's but no one on the dancefloor knows the time-schedule. This is why they must be able to read it and next time they see my name, they will remember the party wher they made so much fun.
Second reason for a logo: I want to be able to use it as an album art. For example when I drop a mix online.
Third reason: It will be printed on promotional items such as Flyers, stickers, posters, cd's, ...
I've been thinking on a great logo for a while, gave it a try myself and understood that it was better to leave this over on you :-).
The Idea is very clear as you can see on my drawings. I want a drop of dark blue paint with a grid in it. Trough this grid (through the holes) you can read my name in red on a transparent background. I want this grid with little holes at the outside and increasing holes the more you get to the center (to give the heart of this drop the aspect of a 3 dimensional ball.) The form of this grid shouldn't be a square but a 'rounded square' like mentioned on the drawing. Around the drop of paint I would like to have no background color. If I print this on a yellow T-shirt for example it should really look as a huge drop of blue paint on a yellow background. Trough this drop you can EASILY read my name in red and the "empty" holes of the grid are filled with the same colour as the support, in this case yellow.
My name should be written with PETIT under nicolas and both must be the same width like in the yellow/blue attachment. Let yourself go on the type of character.
For the easy and low cost printing of my logo, please use basical colours.
I need the final logo as SVG, .ai (CMYK), .jpg and layered .psd (RGB)
Please do not use any stock images or clip art in the logo.
Finden Sie heraus, wie ein Designwettbewerb funktioniert, oder lernen Sie mehr über unsere Logo-Design-Angebote.


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Resources >> Browse Articles >> Career Advancement
Resources >> Browse Articles >> On the Job
7 Things to Learn from a "Lifer" Nurse
Prisca Smith | Scrubs Magazine
2. Communication is more effective. These nurses say what they mean, concisely, clearly and accurately. When they are questioned—by docs, other nurses or patients, they answer without hesitation and seem so sure of themselves.
Do you struggle with communication? Try reading Tips for Effective Patient-Provider Communication.


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Fresh off playing the final installment in RiverMUSIC's 2012 concert series, local prog-funk band The Fritz is set to release a new single. And what a single it must be — they're celebrating with a blowout at Asheville Music Hall on Saturday, Sept. 29. The 10 p.m. show includes sets by jam-funk-rock brother act Cope and Ohio transplant jam outfit Jahman Brahman. Tickets are $6 in advance or $8 day of show. Xpress will give away a pair of tickets to the show on Thursday, via Facebook.
Watch The Fritz perform "Prehistoric Stomp" at this spring's Earth Day Asheville festival:


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WASHINGTON — For a fleeting moment, in a town unable to agree on much of anything, politicians and just about everyone around them dropped what they were doing on Tuesday morning and came to consensus on one thing: David Ortiz is awesome.
There was Senator Kelly Ayotte, the Republican from New Hampshire, posing in her green Sox cap with Ortiz. And strolling across the White House lawn was Michael Steel, the spokesman for House Speaker John Boehner, who typically blasts out press releases slamming President Obama.
"We are not red states or blue states. We are the Red Sox Nation," Steel said later, putting a little World Series champion spin on Obama's famous 2004 Democratic National Convention appeal for bipartisanship.
Obama, with the players behind him on the White House steps, praised the team not only for its unlikely comebacks on the field, but for lifting up the city after the Boston Marathon bombings.
"The bottom line is I'm proud of these guys," Obama said. "As a baseball fan, I appreciate their comeback season. But more importantly, as president, I'm grateful for their character and their embrace of the essential role they played in the spirit of that city."
The Sox, once lovable losers who have won three World Series since 2004, are now the team that seemingly every politician, operative, and staffer wants to be associated with.
Testy press aides suddenly became giddy fans. Warring members of Congress stood in line together to get photos with ballplayers. And on the White House lawn, the group collectively rose as the players emerged, singing along to "Sweet Caroline" played by the Marine Corps Band. Indeed, the stressed-out, suited legions who labor in the political and policy trenches seemed to relish a moment that was noncontroversial. In true Washington fashion, the event was heavily scripted. But the joy seemed genuine, nonetheless.
The president, in his remarks, referenced an expletive that Ortiz uttered at Fenway Park when, just days after the bombing during a ceremony before the game, he told fans, "This is our [expletive] city and nobody is going to dictate our freedom."
"I think Big Papi put it better and more colorfully than any of us could," Obama said to laughter. "I won't repeat his quote. But the point is, Boston and the Red Sox were one this season."
Shortly after, Ortiz came to the podium and presented Obama with a Sox jersey that had his name on the back, with the number 44, for the 44th president.
Then, in a moment that ricochetted around the social media world, Ortiz whipped out his cellphone, pulled the president close, and asked him to pose for a selfie photograph. Within four hours, it had been retweeted more than 30,000 times. It got only slightly more attention than the garish outfit worn by outfielder Jonny Gomes at the ceremony: a red, white, and blue suit jacket that looked like an American flag.
"I have to say, you all have some fanatical fans," Obama said at the start of his remarks. "And many of them occupy my administration."
Several hours before the Sox arrived on Pennsylvania Avenue, White House press secretary Jay Carney tweeted a photo of himself looking in the mirror, wearing a Sox cap and a fake beard. The official White House photographer, Pete Souza (who grew up in South Dartmouth, Mass.), had donned his Sox cap.
Another top adviser, Taunton native David Simas, boasted that there are more Red Sox fans on the White House senior staff than any other team.
"Not to rub it in," he added.
Sitting up front for Obama's ceremony was Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz, a former MIT professor. Denis Leary, the actor, comedian, and Worcester native, stood near the back.
Also back for the occasion? Jon Favreau, the president's former speechwriter from North Reading, and Tommy Vietor, the former National Security Council spokesman from Dedham. They left the Obama administration to form a consulting firm called, of course, Fenway Strategies.
Inside the White House, Representative Peter Welch and Senator Pat Leahy, both Democrats from Vermont, posed in front of three World Series trophies. Senator Jeanne Shaheen, a Democrat from New Hampshire, posed for a photo with second baseman Dustin Pedroia, while Senator Susan Collins, a Republican from Maine, stood with third base coach Brian Butterfield, a Maine native.
It was, according to the Red Sox, the eighth trip to the White House for a Boston-area sports team since 2000 — more than any other metro area in the United States. (To quote David Simas again: "Not to rub it in.'')
Former Boston mayor Thomas Menino, leaning on a cane made out of a Louisville slugger bat, was escorted in by Vice President Joe Biden. Sox owner John Henry, who also owns The Boston Globe, joined other team owners in strolling over to the stage with Obama.
After the ceremony, several Red Sox players came to address a throng of reporters that was far larger than the pack that shows up to hear congressional leaders stand in the same spot. And the typically feisty reporters dropped all pretense of objectivity. Some wore Sox caps. Others asked for autographs. The questions were all, well, softballs.
What was it like to take a photo with the president? Ortiz was asked.
"Yeah, baby," he responded.
What did the president think of your jacket? Gomes was asked.
"He approved," Gomes responded. "He looked me right in the eyes and said, 'Nice jacket.' "
Within hours, the feel-good spirit had worn off. The capital returned to normal, as leaders from both parties resumed fighting over health care and positioning themselves for the midterm elections. Boehner blasted out a press release critical of White House policies.
Carney emerged for the daily press briefing in a Red Sox cap, but quickly removed it. He touted the latest health care enrollment figures.
For his part, the host of the day's festivities was looking to the future. "The White Sox next year!" Obama, a Chicagoan, shouted in response to a question from reporters, as he walked back to the Oval Office.Matt Viser can be reached at email@example.com.