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Now's the time to explore northern Thailand on your terms with this tour that's affordable for young travellers. Take in the gleaming high-rises and bustling pace of Bangkok, go face-to-face with the colourful cultures of hilltribe communities, and keep up with the night markets and cuisine of Chiang Mai. Take on Southeast Asia with us, and you'll find the perfect balance of fun and flexibility to help you make the most of it all.
What's Included
Your Welcome Moment: Meet Your CEO and Group
Your First Night Out Moment: Connect With New Friends
Your Discover Moment: Bangkok
Your Discover Moment: Chiang Mai
Your Big Night Out Moment: Chiang Mai Celebration, Chiang Mai. Hilltribe trek. Bamboo rafting. Street food crawl. All transport between destinations and to/from included activities.
Experience the bustle of Bangkok, explore the vibrancy of Chiang Mai, trek through northern hilltribes and meet the locals, float downstream on a bamboo raft.
Dossier Disclaimer
The information in this trip details document has been compiled with care and is provided in good faith. However it is subject to change, and does not form part of the contract between the client and the operator. The itinerary featured is correct at time of printing. It may differ slightly to the one in the brochure. Occasionally our itineraries change as we make improvements that stem from past travellers, comments and our own research. Sometimes it can be a small change like adding an extra meal along the itinerary. Sometimes the change may result in us altering the tour for the coming year. Ultimately, our goal is to provide you with the most rewarding experience. Please note that our brochure is usually released in November each year. If you have booked from the previous brochure you may find there have been some changes to the itinerary.
VERY IMPORTANT: Please ensure that you print a final copy of your Trip Details to review a couple of days prior to travel, in case there have been changes that affect your plans.
Itinerary Disclaimer
While it is our intention to adhere to the route described below, there is a certain amount of flexibility built into the itinerary and on occasion it may be necessary, or desirable to make alterations. The itinerary is brief, as we never know exactly where our journey will take us. Due to our style of travel and the regions we visit, travel can be unpredictable. The Trip Details document is a general guide to the tour and region and any mention of specific destinations or wildlife is by no means a guarantee that they will be visited or encountered. Aboard expedition trips visits to research stations depend on final permission.
Additionally, any travel times listed are approximations only and subject to vary due to local circumstances.
Itinerary Notes
Please be advised that a 2-week period of traditional slash and burn farming occurs in this region between March and April (start date varies). During this time your trek may follow an alternate route to avoid uncomfortably smoky areas.
Important Notes
If your tour begins or ends at the Bangkokians City Garden Hotel, and you are looking to add nights before or after the tour, the extra accommodation will be located at Hotel De Bangkok. Hotel De Bangkok is an affiliate hotel of the Bangkokians, and the two properties are right next to each other. If you are interested in adding extra nights of accommodation to compliment your tour, please reach out to our GCO Sales team who will happily add this service to your booking.
Please note that this tour combines with other G Adventures tours. As such, the staff and some travel companions on your tour may have previously been traveling together with G Adventures, prior to Day 1 of your tour. Likewise, some staff and travel companions may be continuing together on another G Adventures tour, after your trip concludes.
Group Leader Description
All G Adventures group trips are accompanied by one of our Chief Experience Officers (CEO). The aim of the CEO is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. They will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the countries visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious and social aspects. We also use local guides where we think more specific knowledge will add to the enjoyment of the places we are visiting- we think it's the best of both worlds.
Group Size Notes
Max 18, avg 12.
Meals Included
5 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 dinners
Eating is a big part of traveling. Traveling with G Adventures you experience the vast array of wonderful food that is available out in the world. Generally meals are not included in the trip price when there is a choice of eating options, to give you the maximum flexibility in deciding where, what and with whom to eat. It also gives you more budgeting flexibility, though generally food is cheap. Our groups tend to eat together to enable you to taste a larger variety of dishes and enjoy each others company. There is no obligation to do this though. Your CEO will be able to suggest favorite restaurants during your trip. Included breakfasts will usually be Asian style consisting of noodles or rice soup or bread and eggs. Vegetarians will be able to find a range of different foods, although in some areas the choice maybe limited. While trekking in remote regions food is included, plentiful and made of fresh local ingredients. For all trips please refer to the meals included and budget information for included meals and meal budgets.
Local bus, songthaew, train, walking, river raft.
About our Transportation
As the popularity of train travel in Thailand continues to grow domestically, some of the routes used on this tour do not have sufficient space during local public holidays, including New Year's, Songkran, etc. During these times of the year, alternative transport may be arranged for one or more of the train journeys on this tour.
Local Flights
All local flights are included in the cost of your tour unless otherwise noted. It is important that we have your passport information at the time of booking in order to process these tickets. Internal flight tickets are issued locally and will be given to you prior to the flight departure.
Solo Travellers
We believe single travellers should not have to pay more to travel so our group trips are designed for shared accommodation and do not involve a single supplement. Single travellers joining group trips are paired in twin or multi-share accommodation with someone of the same sex for the duration of the trip. Some of our Independent trips are designed differently and single travellers on these itineraries must pay the single trip price.
Simple hotels (twin-share) (3 nts), basic hilltribe huts (2 nts, multi-share), sleeper trains (2 nts).
About Accommodation
A variety of styles of hotels/guesthouses are used on this tour. In many instances they might not be like what you are used to back home, as service and efficiency can vary. In some areas we stay in simple local guesthouses in stunning locations – rooms are small and basic, may be multi-share, and there may be shared toilet facilities and showers.
Joining Hotel
For details of your joining hotel please refer to your tour voucher, G Account, the G Adventures App or contact your travel agent.
Joining Instructions
When arriving at Suvarnabhumi Airport (pronounced 'su wan na poom') in Bangkok proceed to the Arrivals Hall where you can change money into Thai Baht. (You may be approached by nicely dressed, official looking touts offering an expensive limousine service to your hotel; ignore these offers.)
You have three transport options; public bus, the Airport Train & MRT or public taxi. All transportation is located on the 'ground' floor.
Public Bus
The Airport Bus operates 4 bus routes to downtown for a cost of 150 Baht for the entire route. Bus AE4 goes to Hua Lamphong train station. Our hotel is located in the Hua Lamphong area.
The airport is located 30km's away from downtown Bangkok. Approach the taxi counters, advise them where you are going and they will write this information down for you along with the taxis registration details. Taxis should always use the meter and you are required to pay a 50 Baht airport surcharge on top of the metered fee plus any tollway fees (approx 70 Baht depending on the route taken). Total journey will cost between 350 THB – 500 THB, depending on traffic and toll fees. The expressway is substantially faster, so tell the taxi driver to use the expressway, you can say either ""kuen ton-way"" (from 'tollway') or ""kuen taang duan"" in Thai (but most understand Tollway/express way in English).
Airport Train
If you are staying at the Bangkok Centre Hotel you can take the Airport Train. Board the express airport train at a cost of 150 THB to the City Air Terminal; Makkasan. Here you will need to disembark and change to the MRT (subway) Blue line, boarding at Phetchaburi Station. From Phetchaburi Station travel to the last stop, Hua Lamphong, and follow the signs at the exit for the Bangkok Centre Hotel.
Arrival Transfers
If you have paid in advance for an arrival transfer, a G Adventures representative will be at the airport to meet you (go to gate number 4). If for any reason you are not met at the airport, please call our local support line. If you are unable to make contact for whatever reason, please make your way to the joining point hotel via taxi.
Please note that Day 1 is an arrival day and no activities have been planned for that day other then your welcome meeting in the evening, so you can arrive at any time.
A G Adventures Representative will organize a short meeting soon after arrival, during which you will meet other tour participants and receive information about general and specific aspects of the trip. A welcome note will be left for you in the hotel so you have all the necessary information regarding the meeting time. If you arrive late, s/he will leave you a message detailing what time and where you should meet the next morning.
Arrival Complications
We don't expect any problems, and nor should you, but if for any reason you are unable to commence your trip as scheduled, as soon as possible please contact your starting point hotel, requesting that you speak to or leave a message for your CEO (if you are not on a group tour please refer to the emergency contact details provided in this dossier). If you are unable to get in touch with your leader, please refer to our emergency contact details.
If you have pre-booked an airport transfer please meet your driver at gate number 10 of the airport, in the arrival hall. Look for a driver holding a G Adventures sign with your name
If you have still have not made contact with our representative within 30 minutes of clearing customs and immigration, we recommend that you make your own way to the Starting Point hotel, following the Joining Instructions. Please apply to your travel agent on your return for a refund of the transfer cost if this occurs.
Emergency Contact
Should you need to contact us during a situation of dire need, it is best to first call either the G Adventures Local Representative (if one is listed below) or our G Adventures Local Office. If for any reason you do not receive an immediate answer, please leave a detailed message and contact information, so they may return your call and assist you as soon as possible.
If you have purchased an arrival through G Adventures or if an arrival transfer is included in the cost of your tour, please note that:
Your arrival transfer has been arranged based on flight information provided to us. If you are advised of a flight schedule change within 48 hours of your scheduled arrival time, we will do our best to rearrange your arrival transfer however we cannot guarantee this. If your arrival transfer does not arrive within 30 minutes after you have exited the arrivals area please take a taxi to your start point hotel.
If your call is specifically concerning Bangkok Airport Transfer complications please call our local G Adventures Transfer provider directly at: +66 86 321 0729 (086 321 0729 from within Thailand) or +66 82 450 2777 (082 450 2777 from within Thailand)
G Adventures Office Bangkok, Thailand
During Office hours (Weekdays, 9am-5pm Local Time)
From outside Thailand: +66 2 508 8630
From within Thailand: 02 508 8630
After hours emergency number
From outside Thailand: +66 87 049 6074
From within Thailand: 087 049 6074
If you are unable for any reason to contact our local office, please call the numbers listed below which will connect you directly with our Sales team who will happily assist you. Hours of operation by region can be found here.
Toll-free, North America only: 1 888 800 4100
Calls from UK: 0344 272 0000
Calls from Germany: 0800 365 1000
Calls from Australia: 1 300 796 618
Calls from New Zealand: 0800 333 307
Outside North America, Australia, New Zealand, Germany and the UK: +1 416 260 0999
What to Take
We recommend using a backpack for your convenience, or a medium-sized suitcase if you prefer. A daypack is also essential for carrying everyday items. Space is limited on transportation, so there is a limit of one main piece of luggage per person. You will be responsible for carrying your own luggage. Be sure to check weather conditions online before you depart. We recommend you bring sun protection cream from home to ensure it meets your needs.
During the trek, you will only need to carry a daypack with your essentials. Your luggage will be stored at the start hotel in Chiang Mai and your valuables in a group safety deposit box.
Your CEO will provide instructions on what you need to bring in your daypack on the trek. Usually, this includes a couple of changes of clothes, wet shoes (for river crossings), personal toiletries, flashlight/headlamp, tissues, any personal medications, and electronics you wish to bring along. A small drybag for electronics and a reusable water bottle may also be useful. During the trek, guides will have first aid kits.
Packing List
Conservative Dress:
• Modest clothing that covers knees and shoulders (Long pants, long skirts, shirts that cover shoulders)
• Shawl or scarf (for temple visits)
• Flight info (required) (Printouts of e-tickets may be required at the border)
• Insurance info (required) (With photocopies)
• Passport (required) (With photocopies)
• Required visas or vaccination certificates (required) (With photocopies)
• Vouchers and pre-departure information (required)
• Binoculars (optional)
• Camera (With extra memory cards and batteries)
• Cash, credit and debit cards
• Day pack (Used for daily excursions or short overnights)
• Ear plugs
• First-aid kit (should contain lip balm with sunscreen, sunscreen, whistle, Aspirin, Ibuprofen, bandaids/plasters, tape, anti-histamines, antibacterial gel/wipes, antiseptic cream, Imodium or similar tablets for mild cases of diarrhea, rehydration powder, water purification tablets or drops, insect repellent, sewing kit, extra prescription drugs you may be taking)
• Flashlight/torch (Headlamps are ideal)
• Fleece top/sweater
• Footwear
• Hat
• Locks for bags
• Long pants/jeans
• Moneybelt
• Outlet adapter
• Personal entertainment (Reading and writing materials, cards, music player, etc.)
• Reusable water bottle
• Shirts/t-shirts
• Sleepwear
• Small travel towel
• Sunglasses
• Toiletries (Preferably biodegradable)
• Watch and alarm clock
• Waterproof backpack cover
• Windproof rain jacket
Health & Safety:
• Face masks (required)
• Hand sanitizer (required)
• Pen (Please bring your own pen for filling out documents.)
• Rubber gloves
Light Hiking:
• Hiking boots/sturdy walking shoes
• Hiking pants (Convertible/Zip-off and quick dry recommended)
Sleep Sheet and Pillow:
• Sleeping bag liner/sleep sheet
• Travel pillow
Warm Weather:
• Sandals/flip-flops
• Shorts/skirts (Longer shorts/skirts are recommended)
• Sun hat/bandana
• Swimwear
Wet Weather Trekking:
• Pack liners to waterproof bags
• Rain gear
• Waterproof footwear (For river crossings)
Note: Please pack clothing for the season in which you will be travelling. From Nov-Feb weather can be cold, so please pack warm clothing. From May-Oct it is the wet season, so please bring waterproof clothing.
Laundry facilities are offered by some of our hotels for a charge. There will be times when you may want to or have to do your own laundry so we suggest you bring non-polluting/biodegradable soap.
Visas and Entry Requirements
Please note that visas for Thailand are the responsibility of the individual traveller. The visa requirements for your trip vary depending on where you are from and where you are going. For the most up to date information please check your Governments Foreign Ministry website or with your travel agent as rules do change.
THAILAND – Most nationalities do not need a visa for Thailand for stays of 30 days or less but if you do they are available on arrival at Bangkok Airport.
Only 15-day tourist visas are issued when entering Thailand overland. If you are staying more than 15 days you should consider getting your visa prior to your trip.
Please note that certain nationalities (including: Bhutan, China, Cyprus, Czech, Estonia, Hungary, India, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Maldives, Oman, Poland, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Taiwan and Ukraine) may not be able to obtain visa at a land border.
Spending Money
Every traveller is different and therefore spending money requirements will vary. Some travellers may drink more than others while other travellers like to purchase more souvenirs than most. Please consider your own spending habits when it comes to allowing for drinks, shopping and tipping. Please also remember the following specific recommendations when planning your trip.
Money Exchange
During this tour the local currency you will use is the Thai Baht. As currency exchange rates in South East Asia do fluctuate, we ask that you refer to the following website for the most up to date daily exchange rates: www.xe.com for each of the above mentioned currencies. The best way to carry your money is in debit cards, withdrawing cash in local currencies from ATM machines. ATMs are found throughout South East Asia and will generally accept cards on the Visa and Mastercard networks. It is a great idea to travel with both a Visa and Mastercard if at all possible in case of loss or problems with one card, you will have a back up. Please note, your bank will charge a fee for overseas withdrawals. USD Cash is recommended for times when ATMs are not accessible. You should bring some cash with you for emergency situations (please refer to our trip dossier) but carrying only cash is a high safety risk. ATM card/s and some cash is the ideal mix. Travellers cheques can be tricky, timely and expensive to exchange. While we do not recommend that you bring them as your primary source of funds, it is great to have one or two cheques in case of emergency. Thomas Cook or American Express travellers' cheques in US currency are the easiest to exchange. Cash advances can also be made with some banks but are time consuming and tend to have high fees attached.Credit cards can be used at some upmarket restaurants, and at some larger stores if shopping for big items. If you are bringing US Dollars, please make sure that the notes are new and in good condition. Notes older than 2003, or with any tears or blemishes may not be accepted. Be fussy with your bank when buying cash!
Emergency Fund
Please also make sure you have access to at least an additional USD $250 (or equivalent) as an 'emergency' fund, to be used when circumstances outside our control (ex. a natural disaster) require a change to our planned route. This is a rare occurrence!
Departure Tax
Departure Tax is included in all International and Domestic tickets.
It is customary in Asia to tip service providers such as waiters, at approximately 10%, depending on the service. Tipping is expected – though not compulsory – and shows an expression of satisfaction with the people who have assisted you on your tour. Although it may not be customary to you, it is of considerable significance to the people who will take care of you during your travels. There are several times during the trip where there is opportunity to tip the local guides or drivers we use. You may do this individually, or your CEO will offer to collect the money and tip as a group. Recommendations for tipping drivers and local guides would range from $1.5-$3.5 USD per person per day depending on the quality and length of the service; ask your CEO for specific recommendations based on the circumstances and culture. Also at the end of each trip if you felt your G Adventures CEO did an outstanding job, tipping is appreciated. The amount is entirely a personal preference, however as a guideline $20-25 USD per person, per week can be used.
Optional Activities
- Wat Po Visit (3.50USD per person)
- Klong Riverboat Tour (30USD per person)
- Grand Palace Visit (15USD per person)
- Royal Barge Museum (3.50USD per person)
- Thai Massage (15-30USD per person)
Doi Suthep
- Doi Suthep Temple Visit (2USD per person)
Chiang Mai
- Massage (Southeast Asia)
- Khantoke Dinner and Show (30USD per person)
- Chiang Mai Cycling Tour (30USD per person)
- Full Day Tuk-Tuk Adventure
- Yoga Class
- Northern Thai Cooking Class
- Cooking Class
- Chiang Mai City Tour
Please note inoculations may be required for the country visited. It is your responsibility to consult with your travel doctor for up to date medical travel information well before departure.
You should consult your doctor for up-to-date medical travel information well before departure. We recommend that you carry a First Aid kit and hand sanitizers / antibacterial wipes as well as any personal medical requirements. Please be aware that sometimes we are in remote areas and away from medical facilities, and for legal reasons our CEO's are prohibited from administering any type of drug including headache tablets, antibiotics, etc. In Asia pharmacies tend to stock the same western drugs as you get at home but they are usually produced locally so please bring the full drug name with you when trying to purchase a prescription drug. When selecting your trip please carefully read the brochure and itinerary and assess your ability to cope with our style of travel. Please refer to the Physical and Culture Shock ratings for trip specific information. G Adventures reserves the right to exclude any traveller from all or part of a trip without refund if in the reasonable opinion of our CEO they are unable to complete the itinerary without undue risk to themselves and/or the rest of the group.
Safety and Security
Many national governments provide a regularly updated advice service on safety issues involved with international travel. We recommend that you check your government's advice for their latest travel information before departure. We strongly recommend the use of a neck wallet or money belt while travelling, for the safe keeping of your passport, air tickets, travellers' cheques, cash and other valuable items. Leave your valuable jewellery at home – you won't need it while travelling. Many of the hotels we use have safety deposit boxes, which is the most secure way of storing your valuables. A lock is recommended for securing your luggage. When travelling on a group trip, please note that your CEO has the authority to amend or cancel any part of the trip itinerary if it is deemed necessary due to safety concerns. Your CEO will accompany you on all included activities. During your trip you will have some free time to pursue your own interests, relax and take it easy or explore at your leisure. While your CEO will assist you with options available in a given location please note that any optional activities you undertake are not part of your itinerary, and we offer no representations about the safety of the activity or the standard of the operators running them. Please use your own good judgment when selecting an activity in your free time. Although the cities visited on tour are generally safe during the day, there can be risks to wandering throughout any major city at night. It is our recommendation to stay in small groups and to take taxis to and from restaurants, or during night time excursions.
Protests and Demonstrations- Protests and demonstrations, even those that are well intended, have the potential to turn violent with no warning. Counter protests can also turn violent. Action by security forces to disperse demonstrators and protesters may occur at any time. If you are in an area where demonstrators or protesters are gathering, avoid the temptation of staying for a good photo opportunity and leave the area immediately.
Water based activities have an element of danger and excitement built into them. We recommend only participating in water based activities when accompanied by a guide(s). We make every reasonable effort to ensure the fun and adventurous element of any water based activities (in countries with varying degrees of operating standards) have a balanced approach to safety. It is our policy not to allow our CEOs to make arrangements on your behalf for water based activities that are not accompanied by guide(s).
Swimming, including snorkeling, is always at your own risk.
We take all prudent measures in relation to your safety. For ways to further enhance your personal safety while traveling, please visit:
Trip Specific Safety
We strongly recommend the use of a neck wallet or money belt while travelling, for the safe keeping of your passport, air tickets, travellers' cheques, cash and other valuable items. Leave your valuable jewellery at home – you won't need it while travelling. Many of the hotels we use have safety deposit boxes which is the most secure way of storing your valuables. A lock is recommended for securing your luggage.
A Couple of Rules
Illegal drugs will not be tolerated on any trips. Possessing or using drugs not only contravenes the laws of the land but also puts the rest of the group at risk. Smoking marijuana and opium is a part of local culture in some parts of the world but is not acceptable for our travellers. Our philosophy of travel is one of respect towards everyone we encounter, and in particular the local people who make the world the special place it is. The exploitation of prostitutes is completely contrary to this philosophy. Our CEOs have the right to expel any member of the group if drugs are found in their possession or if they use prostitutes.
Travel Insurance
Travel Insurance: Travel insurance is compulsory in order to participate on any of our trips. When travelling on a group trip, you will not be permitted to join the group until evidence of travel insurance has been sighted by your CEO, who will take note of your insurance details. When selecting a travel insurance policy please bear in mind that all clients must have medical coverage and that we require a minimum coverage of USD 200,000 for repatriation and emergency rescue. We strongly recommend that the policy also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage and personal effects. If you have credit card insurance we require proof of purchase of the trip (a receipt of credit card statement) with a credit card in your name. Contact your bank for details of their participating insurer, the level of coverage and emergency contact telephone number.
Planeterra Foundation - the non-profit partner of G Adventures
Planeterra International Foundation is a non-profit organization committed to turning travel into impact by helping local communities earn an income from tourism. Planeterra connects underserved local communities to the benefits of tourism by developing and supporting small community-owned businesses. These businesses support Indigenous people, empower women, grant youth access to employment opportunities, and protect the environment. Planeterra also works to ensure these businesses have a thriving customer base by integrating their projects into G Adventures' itineraries globally.
G Adventures is Planeterra's largest corporate donor, covering all operating costs, so 100% of your donation will bring opportunity to people in need.
G Adventures Dollar-a-day Program – Make Every Day Count – Turn your travel into impact with Planeterra Foundation.
Did you know? Most communities around the world do not benefit from tourism. Give back to the places you visit on your travels by creating opportunities for local people to earn an income, and protect the environment.
Make every day count by donating $1/day for the length of your trip, and join us in empowering the communities you will visit when you travel. 100% of your donation goes directly to Planeterra projects.
Local Dress
In Asia the dress standard is more conservative than it is back home. When packing try to pick loose, lightweight, long clothing that will keep you cool in the usually hot and humid climate of Asian summers. In predominately Buddhist, Hindu and Muslim countries we ask that you dress respectfully and avoid very short shorts/skirts and singlets/tanktops when visiting temples,mosques or other holy sites and Hilltribe Villages.
After your travels, we want to hear from you! Your feedback information is so important to us that we'll give you 5% off the price of your next G Adventures trip if your feedback is completed on-line within 30 days of finishing your trip. Your tour evaluation will be e-mailed to you 24 hours after the conclusion of your trip. If you do not receive the tour evaluation link in the days after your tour has finished, please drop us a line at firstname.lastname@example.com and we will send it on to you.
Our adventure travel e-newsletter is full of travel news, trip information, interesting stories and contests. To avoid missing out on special offers and updates from G Adventures, subscribe at www.gadventures.com/newsletters/
Stay current on how our company invests in our global community through our foundation – Planeterra. Sign up for Planeterra's monthly news to learn more about how to give back and support the people and places we love to visit.
Minimum Age
Minimum age of 18 years for this trip.
International Flights
Check-in times and baggage allowances/restrictions vary by airline and can change at any time. For the most up-to-date information for your flight, please contact your airline. We recommend checking in online in advance to avoid potential delays at the airport.
Max Pax
Group Leader
Chief Experience Officer (CEO) throughout, trekking staff.


text:
Wolf, Christa
Wolf, Christa krēs´tä vôlf [key], 1929–2011, German novelist. After attending the universities of Jena and Leipzig, she worked as an editor of literary journals. A committed communist in her early life, she won the approval of the East German government with her novel Divided Heaven (1963, tr. 1965). Her semiautobiographical novel, The Quest for Christa T. (1968, tr. 1972), which was critical of East German society and ideals, earned her criticism at home but a reputation as a complex writer abroad. Many of her novels, including No Place on Earth (1979, tr. 1982), mixed fact and fiction as they affirmed the needs of individuals, particularly women, in East Germany's destructive society. Her claim to the moral high ground was undermined in the early 1990s when it was revealed that she had been a secret police informant from 1959 to 1962, but she maintained she had revealed nothing of use. Wolf's other writings include Cassandra (1983, tr. 1984), A Model Childhood (1977, tr. 1980), What Remains and Other Stories (1980, tr. 1993), The Author's Dimension: Selected Essays (tr. 1993), Medea (1996, tr. 1998), and the autobiographical novel City of Angels (2010, tr. 2013), her final work, in which she attempts to come to terms with her East German past.
The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2023, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.
See more Encyclopedia articles on: German Literature: Biographies

subset: commoncrawl


text:
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text:
(Latin - Ulysses)
Odysseus (called Ulysses in Latin) was the son of Laertes and was the ruler of the island kingdom of Ithaca. He was one of the most prominent Greek leaders in the Trojan War, and was the hero of Homer's Odyssey. He was known for his cleverness and cunning, and for his eloquence as a speaker.
Odysseus was one of the original suitors of Helen of Troy. When Menelaus succeeded in winning Helen's hand in marriage, it was Odysseus who advised him to get the other suitors to swear to defend his marriage rights. However, when Menelaus called on the suitors to help him bring Helen back from Troy, Odysseus was reluctant to make good on his oath. He pretended to have gone mad, plowing his fields and sowing salt instead of grain. Palamedes placed Odysseus' infant son in front of the plow, and Odysseus revealed his sanity when he turned aside to avoid injuring the child.
However reluctant he may have been to join the expedition, Odysseus fought heroically in the Trojan War, refusing to leave the field when the Greek troops were being routed by the Trojans, and leading a daring nocturnal raid in company with Diomedes. He was also the originator of the Trojan horse, the strategem by which the Greeks were finally able to take the city of Troy itself. After the death of Achilles, he and Ajax competed for Achilles' magnificent armor; when Odysseus' eloquence caused the Greeks to award the prize to him, Ajax went mad and killed himself.
Odysseus' return from Troy, chronicled in the Odyssey, took ten years and was beset by perils and misfortune. He freed his men from the pleasure-giving drugs of the Lotus-Eaters, rescued them from the cannibalism of the Cyclopes and the enchantments of Circe. He braved the terrors of the underworld with them, and while in the land of the dead Hades allowed Thiresias, Odysseus' mother, Ajax and others to give him adivice on his next journey. They gave him important advice about the cattle of the sun (which Apollo herds), Scylla and Charybdis and the Sirens.
From there on the travels were harder for Odysseus, but they would have been much worse of it wasn't for the help of the dead. With this newly acquired knowledge, he steered them past the perils of the Sirens and of Scylla and Charybdis. He could not save them from their final folly, however, when they violated divine commandments by slaughtering and eating the cattle of the sun-god. As a result of this rash act, Odysseus' ship was destroyed by a thunderbolt, and only Odysseus himself survived.
He came ashore on the island of the nymph Calypso, who made him her lover and refused to let him leave for seven years. When Zeus finally intervened, Odysseus sailed away on a small boat, only to be shipwrecked by another storm. He swam ashore on the island of the Phaeacians, where he was magnificently entertained and then, at long last, escorted home to Ithaca.
There were problems in Ithaca as well, however. During Odysseus' twenty-year absence, his wife, Penelope, had remained faithful to him, but she was under enormous pressure to remarry. A whole host of suitors were occupying her palace, drinking and eating and behaving insolently to Penelope and her son, Telemachus. Odysseus arrived at the palace, disguised as a ragged beggar, and observed their behavior and his wife's fidelity. With the help of Telemachus and Laertes, he slaughtered the suitors and cleansed the palace. He then had to fight one final battle, against the outraged relatives of the men he had slain; Athena intervened to settle this battle, however, and peace was restored.
Odysseus was king of Ithaca and leader of the Cephallenians against Troy. He invented the construction of the WOODEN HORSE as a stratagem to take Troy. As other ACHAEAN LEADERS Odysseus was confronted, after the sack of Troy with a hard return and sedition at home. On his return to Ithaca he killed the many SUITORS OF PENELOPE, who had been wasting his property during his twenty years long absence, and for that massacre he was condemned to exile by King Neoptolemus of Epirus.
The Oath of Tyndareus.
When Helen was to be married many suitors came from all Greece wishing to win her hand, and among them Odysseus. King Tyndareus, Helen's father or stepfather, feared that the preference of one might provoke the enmity of the others, and so Odysseus promised that, if Tyndareus would help him to win the hand of Penelope, he would suggest a way by which there would be no dispute among the suitors. When Tyndareus agreed, promising to help him, Odysseus told him to exact an oath from all the SUITORS OF HELEN that they would defend the favoured bridegroom against any wrong that might be done him in respect of his marriage.
So when Menelaus won the hand of Helen, all accepted it in virtue of the oath, and thus Odysseus married Penelope, who was the prize for such a wise advice.
But later, when the seducer Paris took Helen from King Menelaus of Sparta, the kings of Greece, being bound by the Oath of Tyndareus, were forced, summoned by Menelaus and his brother Agamemnon, to join the alliance which sailed from Aulis to Troy in order to demand the restoration of Helen and the property, either peacefully or by force.
The Oath against Odysseus.
Thanks to the idea of the oath Odysseus won Penelope, but when war threatened against Troy, the same oath played against him bounding him to join the coalition that was gathering at Aulis. And as there are those who prefer quiet life at home to any glory that war might give, Odysseus, being one of those, was reluctant to join the army.
Conflict with Palamedes.
It was then that Palamedes, the inventor of the dice, came to Ithaca to persuade Odysseus to join the expedition against Troy. But Odysseus, not wishing to go to the war, feigned madness. Palamedes, then, snatching Odysseus' son Telemachus from Penelope's bosom, drew his sword as if he would kill him, and fearing for the life of the child, Odysseus confessed that his madness was pretended, and he consented to go to war.
Death of Palamedes.
Because Palamedes, through his smart move, forced Odysseus to go to war, he was later stoned to death through the machinations of his victim Odysseus. For when a Trojan was made prisoner, Odysseus compelled him to write a letter of treasonable purport which seemed to be sent by King Priam to Palamedes; and having buried gold in the quarters of Palamedes, he dropped the letter in the camp. Agamemnon read the letter, found the gold, and delivered up Palamedes to be stoned as a traitor.
However, it has also been said that Palamedes was drowned by Odysseus and Diomedes, while he was fishing.
Odysseus was part of the embassy which demanded the restoration of Helen and the property from the Trojans, and he also was among them who came to beg Achilles to return to the fight, promising him the seven tripods, the seven women, the seven cities and all the other gifts, including Achilles' sweetheart Briseis, that Agamemnon offered Achilles, should he left his wrath aside.
Fetches the bow of Heracles, which Philoctetes now owns.
After the death of Achilles and Hector Troy still could not be taken. So new prophecies were uttered concerning the fall of Troy, and the seer Calchas prophesied to the Achaeans that Troy could not be taken unless they had the bow and arrows of Heracles fighting on their side. On hearing that, Odysseus and Diomedes (or some say Neoptolemus) went to Philoctetes in Lemnos, and having by craft got possession of the bow, they persuaded him to sail to Troy.
Helenus is forced to tell the Achaeans how Troy can be taken.
And then Calchas said that only Helenus, the Trojan seer, knew the oracles that protected the city. So Odysseus captured him and, having brought him to the camp, the seer disclosed the oracles, and following them Odysseus brought Neoptolemus to Troy, and stole the Palladium from the city.
Dispute with Ajax.
When Achilles died his arms were offered as a prize to the bravest, and Ajax and Odysseus competed for them. Odysseus was preferred by the judges, and, as a revenge, Ajax planned an attack on his own army. But Athena drove him mad, and he slaughtered the cattle with the herdsmen, taking them for the Achaeans. And when he came to his senses he slew himself.
The WOODEN HORSE.
It was not before Odysseus invented the WOODEN HORSE that Troy could be taken. He is also found among the warriors that hid inside the horse.
The Ciconians
After the war Odysseus wandered for ten years. He went first to the land of the Ciconians in Thrace where he pillaged the city of Ismarus, not sparing anyone except a priest of Apollo called Maron, son of Evanthes, who reigned in Marioneia.
After the Ciconians he sailed to the land of the Lotus-eaters. This Lotus was a sweet fruit which caused him who tasted it to forget everything. And as some of the crew ate from this fruit Odysseus had to force them back to the ships, for those who tasted the fruit preferred to stay with the lotus-eaters forgetting everything about their way back home.
And later he sailed to the land of the CYCLOPES and there he and his men were trapped by the cannibal Cyclops Polyphemus, who promised Odysseus to eat him last as a reward for the wine Odysseus had given him. But when the Cyclops, being drunk, was asleep Odysseus blinded his single eye. When Polyphemus saw himself blind, which is easier than it sounds, he cried to the other CYCLOPES for help. But when they came and asked who was hurting him, Polyphemus told them" Nobody", because Odysseus had told him that his name was "Nobody", and hearing that, the other CYCLOPES retired.
The Cyclops' unlucky fate caused the resentment of his father Poseidon, who decided to make Odysseus' journey even harder.
Happy Aeolus
From there Odysseus saile to the Aeolian Islands which were ruled by happy Aeolus, whom Zeus appointed keeper of the winds. This Aeolus is a favourite of the gods, and that is the reason why his daily life consists of merry banquets in the company of his wife and children. He generously entertained Odysseus, and for his voyage gave him a bag in which he had bound fast the winds.
Careless captain and greedy crew.
However when they were near Ithaca and could already see the island, Odysseus fell asleep and his comrades, thinking he carried gold from Troy in the bag that Aeolus had given him, loosed it and unwittingly let the winds go free. In this way the careless captain and his greedy crew were driven back to the Aeolian Islands where Odysseus, in the course of an embarrassing interview with Aeolus, was denied the fair wind he asked for being immediately expelled from the island.
So instead Odysseus came to the land of the Laestrygonians, who were cannibals and there he lost all the ships with their crews except his own. In this strange land nightfall and morning are so close to each other that shepherds bringing in their flocks at night are met by other shepherds driving out their flocks at dawn.
Afterwards he came to the island of Aeaea where the witch met Circe lived. Some time ago she had purified the ARGONAUTS for the murder of Apsyrtus. But now when Odysseus arrived Circe touched his comrades with a wand and turned them into wolves, swine, asses and lions, their minds remaining unchanged. But some say that she gave Odysseus' comrades a potion and when they had drunk it off, she touched them with her wand, and having turned them into swine, she put them in the sties. In any case Odysseus threatened her with his sword and she restored his comrades, and later, when Odysseus left, she helped him to find the way down to Hades where he should get instructions from the seer Tiresias concerning his return to Ithaca and his future fate.
Having descended to Hades Odysseus made a blood offering in order to attract the souls of the dead, not letting anyone approach the blood of the animals he had sacrificed before he had talked with Tiresias. Any soul having access to the blood could hold a rational speech with Odysseus, but those who were denied the blood would leave him alone and disappear.
These are those whom Odysseus met when he descended to Hades:
"...Achilles, the most fortunate man that ever was or will be...honoured as though you were a god...and now you are a mighty prince among the dead. For you...Death should have lost its sting." [Odysseus to Achilles]
But Achilles replied:
"Do not speak soothingly to me of death, Odysseus. I should choose to serve as the serf of another, rather than to be lord over the dead." [Achilles to Odysseus]
And after that salutation Odysseus told him what had happened in Troy after Achilles' death.
"Never be too gentle with your wife, nor show her all that is in your mind." [Agamemnon to Odysseus]
And the soul of the man who had always taken women through violence dared to add:
"Women, I tell you, are no longer to be trusted." [Agamemnon to Odysseus]
"So not even death itself could make you forget your anger with me on account of those accursed arms." [Odysseus to Ajax]
But Ajax left without a word.
Odysseus tried to embrace her, but the ghost slipped through his arms and as he cried to his mother in despair she explained:
"We no longer have sinews keeping the bones and flesh together, but once the life-force has departed from our bones, all is consumed by the heat of fire, and the soul slips away like a dream..." [Anticlia 1 to Odysseus]
Some say that this was the end of the Sirens, for it had been predicted that they would die when a ship passed them unharmed.
and Charybdis.
Nausicaa in Phaeacian beach.
Penelope weaves her suitors feast at Odysseus' expense.
suitors shot with the Bow.
This bow had Prince Eurytus of Oechalia received from Apollo, and when his son Iphitus met Odysseus, he gave him the bow, which he had received from his father. This bow Odysseus, when going to war, would never take with him, but let it lay at home.
Penelope delivered to her suitors the bow of Odysseus, and she said that she would marry him who bent the bow. And when none of them could bend it, Odysseus took it and shot down the suitors, being helped by his son Telemachus, Emaeus and Philoetius.
Emaeus was Odysseus' servant and swineherd. On his arrival to Ithaca Odysseus came to him in the guise of a beggar and learned from him the state of affairs in his home. Philoetius, who also helped to kill the suitors, was a master-herdman in Ithaca.
to have gone too far.
After killing the SUITORS OF PENELOPE Odysseus went to Thesprotia in Epirus and there offered a sacrifice following the instructions he received in the Underworld from Tiresias. It is also told that Callidice , Queen of the Thesprotians, urged him to stay as king. Odysseus married Callidice and had by her a son Polypoetes, to whom he gave the kingdom when he returned to Ithaca.
Others say that Odysseus went to Aetolia and there he married the daughter of Thoas (King of Pleuron and Calydon who had been the leader of the Aetolians against Troy), and had by her a son Leontophonus.
at last.
But some say Odysseus died in old age.
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Copyright © 1999 mythman.com


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Unusual Work Shifts
What is an Extended/Unusual Shift and when are they used?
A normal work shift is generally considered to be a work period of no more than eight consecutive hours during the day, five days a week with at least an eight-hour rest. Any shift that incorporates more continuous hours, requires more consecutive days of work, or requires work during the evening should be considered extended or unusual. Extended shifts may be used to maximize scarce resources. Long or unusual shifts are often required during response and recovery phases of emergency situations such as terrorist threats, which generally come without warning, require continuous monitoring, and may overwhelm local responders both technically and tactically. These schedules ensure that the appropriate scarce resources are in place and accessible while full mobilization is being developed.
What should workers know?
Extended or unusual work shifts may be more stressful physically, mentally, and emotionally. Non-traditional shifts and extended work hours may disrupt the body's regular schedule, leading to increased fatigue, stress, and lack of concentration. These effects lead to an increased risk of operator error, injuries and/or accidents.
Society is oriented toward traditional daytime work hours and work at night will often intensify fatigue and reduce alertness. Workers generally will not acclimate to night work, and sleep patterns will generally be disrupted so the non-work periods do not provide full recovery, resulting in sleep deprivation. Studies suggest that it can take up to 10 days to adapt to a night time work schedule.
Fatigue is a message to the body to rest. It is not a problem if the person can and does rest. However, if rest is not possible, fatigue can increase until it becomes distressing and eventually debilitating. The symptoms of fatigue, both mental and physical, vary and depend on the person and his or her degree of overexertion. Some examples include:
- weariness
- sleepiness
- irritability
- reduced alertness, lack of concentration and memory
- lack of motivation
- increased susceptibility to illness
- depression
- headache
- giddiness
- loss of appetite and digestive problems
How can I address these hazards?
When there is a choice, managers should limit the use of extended shifts and increase the number of days employees work. Working shifts longer than 8 hours will generally result in reduced productivity and alertness. Additional break periods and meals should be provided when shifts are extended past normal work periods. Tasks that require heavy physical labor or intense concentration should be performed at the beginning of the shift if possible. This is an important consideration for pre-emergency planning.
Managers and supervisors should learn to recognize signs and symptoms of the potential health effects associated with extended and unusual work shifts. Workers who are being asked to work extended or irregular shifts should be diligently monitored for the signs and symptoms of fatigue. Any employee showing such signs should be evaluated and possibly directed to leave the active area and seek rest.
Make efforts, whenever feasible, to ensure that unavoidable extended work shifts and shift changes allow affected employees time for adequate rest and recovery. Extended shifts should not be maintained for more than a few days, especially if they require heavy physical or mental exertion.
Plan to have an adequate number of personnel available in order to enable workers to take breaks, eat meals, relax, and sleep. If at remote sites, ensure, as far as possible, that there is a quiet, secluded area designated for rest and recuperation.
Plan for regular and frequent breaks throughout the work shift. In addition to formal breaks such as lunch or dinner, encourage the use of micro breaks to change positions, move about, and shift concentration.
In addition to fatigue, employers must ensure that employees are not exposed to hazardous chemicals or other agents in excess of health standards. Working extended shifts may involve prolonged exposures to hazards which exceed established standards. Therefore, employers should implement measures to monitor and limit exposures. Those may include administrative controls such as limiting the time employees may remain at the response site; engineering controls such as clean locations for employee rest areas; or rest areas located sufficiently up wind of contaminated sites.
Info from the OSHA website.


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Aretha Franklin -- Calls in Sick to Whitney Houston's Funeral, But Performs in NYC That Night
Aretha Franklin Calls in Sick to Whitney's Funeral But Performs Hours Later
Aretha Franklin canceled her scheduled appearance at Whitney Houston's funeral service in New Jersey yesterday afternoon ... but was well enough to perform at Radio City Music Hall that night.
Aretha said she had been suffering from leg spasms and wanted to rest up for her show, rather than travel for the funeral. She released a statement, saying in part, "heart goes out to my dear friend Cissy, Dionne, Bobbi Kristina and the rest of the family. May God keep them all."
The Queen of Soul dedicated a portion of her show to Whitney, and also to Nick Ashford, who passed away last August.


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Nikon Buckmasters 3-9×40 Team Realtree APG Nikoplex Riflescope
Featuring Realtree APG
COLUMBUS, Georgia –-(Ammoland.com)- The Nikon Buckmasters 3-9×40 Team Realtree APG Nikoplex Riflescope is at home on any hunting rifle, muzzleloader – even rimfire.
Always one of Realtree's most popular scopes, the Buckmasters 3-9×40, available in Realtree APG camo, has a proven track record of reliability, durability and precision that makes its price even more attractive.
The Buckmasters 3-9×40 Team Realtree APG Nikoplex Riflescope is part of the new line of Nikon Buckmasters riflescopes, including the 3-9×40, 3-9×50, 4-12×50 SF, 4.5-14×40 SF, 6-18×40 SF, and a 1×20 blackpowder scope.
Built to withstand the toughest hunting conditions, these scopes integrate shockproof, fogproof and waterproof construction as well as numerous other features rarely found on riflescopes in this price range. Nikon's Brightvue anti-reflective system of quality multicoated lenses provides over 92% anti-reflection capability for the high levels of light transmission and optical clarity necessary for dawn-to-dusk big game hunting.
According to Nikon Sport Optics General Manager Jon Allen, "The Buckmasters series is designed to be an uncompromising buy in the world of riflescopes. Our goal is to offer the quality optics, ruggedness, handsome looks and warranty that characterize all Nikon products at a price that should appeal to all hunters. This is an excellent scope value that hunters of all experience levels will appreciate."
Purchase a Nikon Buckmasters Riflescope now through 10-23-11 and get a free COOLPIX L24 digital camera.


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Due to rising pressures on this year's corn crop, squeezed even more from recent Midwest floods, and the chance that large numbers of pork producers could exit the business from the resulting rise in feed prices, the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) today called for the federally-mandated target for corn-based ethanol production be cut in half.
In comments submitted to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), NPPC supported a request by Texas Governor Rick Perry urging that the agency grant a waiver of the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS). That waiver would reduce the amount of biofuels produced in 2008 from 9 billion gallons to 4.5 billion gallons. Ethanol is the only viable biofuel.
EPA must rule on the waiver request by July 24.
Feedgrain prices already were on the rise in the summer of 2006, caused in part by the rapid rise in ethanol production. In the meantime, increased global appetite for crops, drought conditions in parts of the world and the RFS requirement have combined to push grain prices even higher. A bushel of corn for July delivery now is selling for over $7, compared with about $2.60 in July 2006.
From September 2007 to April 2008, corn prices rose 124% and soybean meal prices climbed 94%. During that time, pork producers lost an average of $30 on each hog marketed.
"The U.S. government's intervention in grain markets through the RFS has created one of the most severe economic crises to ever hit pork producers," declares NPPC President Bryan Black, a pork producer from Canal Winchester, OH. "The impact for the pork industry and its customers will be devastating as herds are culled, producers go out of business and pork prices skyrocket."
Compounding matters are recent floods in the Corn Belt and delayed plantings due to the cool, wet spring that have combined to significantly drop USDA corn yield forecasts. The latest prediction is 149 bu./acre, down from 154 bu./acre.
NPPC says the expected shortfall, along with a mandated 38% increase in ethanol production over last year, has pork producers very concerned about gaining physical access to corn to feed their livestock.
<"/news">Read more current news


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Jon Scieszka (which rhymes with Fresca) is the playful and cheeky author behind The True Story of the Three Little Pigs and The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales. In these exclusive audio and video interviews with Reading Rockets, Jon Scieszka talks about his "weird" style and his concern about boys and reading. Read Scieszka's tribute his dad in this essay Playing with Dad written for Reading Rockets in celebration of Father's Day 2009.
You can watch the interview below, view the interview transcript, read a short biography of Jon Scieszka, or see a selected list of his children's books.
The interview above was recorded at Jeff Kinney's bookstore in Plainville, MA — An Unlikely Story. In October 2017, five award-winning authors for young people — Jack Gantos, Jeff Kinney, Jarrett Krosoczka, Jon Scieszka, and Gene Luen Yang — gathered for a funny and insightful panel discussion about how to motivate boys (and any reluctant readers) to read more. Watch the panel discussion: How to Get and Keep Boys Reading.
Jon Scieszka isn't afraid to turn fairy tales inside out or introduce beef snack sticks into his stories. With titles like Math Curse, Science Verse, and Summer Reading Is Killing Me, Scieszka knows how to tell a good story, get a good laugh, and engage the reluctant reader. He and illustrator Lane Smith have collaborated on a number of bestselling picture books, including The True Story of the Three Little Pigs! and The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales.
In 2002, Scieszka founded the Guys Read literacy program to "help boys become better readers, better students, better guys." And in early 2008, Scieszka was named the first-ever National Ambassador for Young People's Literature by the Librarian of Congress. As the ambassador, Scieszka toured the country to raise awareness about the importance of children's literature in supporting every child's intellectual and emotional development and in fostering a lifelong joy of reading and learning. He also got to wear a pretty cool medallion.
Jon Scieszka was born in Flint, Michigan in 1954. He was one of six Scieszka brothers who grew up "wrestling in the living room, fighting at the dinner table, and taping up the babysitter." During his Catholic school years, Jon told jokes in the back of class but managed to steer clear of the nuns' rulers. After attending the Culver Military Academy for high school, Scieszka studied pre-medicine at Albion College in Michigan.
After finishing college Scieszka decided to become a writer instead of a doctor. He moved to New York City, earned a master's degree in fiction writing, and started painting apartments. Eventually, he became an elementary school teacher and spent the next ten years in the classroom. While teaching second graders, Scieszka realized that he still wanted to be a writer, but for children instead of adults.
Jon Scieszka received numerous rejection letters from children's publishers until his wife put him in touch with illustrator Lane Smith. Smith illustrated one of Scieszka's manuscripts and the result was a bestselling picture book called The True Story of the Three Little Pigs! After their initial success, the mischievous duo teamed up again to create The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales, which won a Caldecott Honor award in 1993. Since then, Scieszka has enjoyed his new career as a children's book author and has written many more favorites, including the popular Time Warp Trio series.
Jon Scieszka and his wife live in Brooklyn, New York. They have one son, one daughter, and one cat.
Playing with Dad
My dad's most spectacular talent as a dad is his ability to play with his kids.
Yes, he was the dad who could help us six Scieszka brothers with the business of our math homework, our Science Fair project, our English class essay. But he was also the guy who would show us how to hammer a nail, and then give us a pile of wood, a bag of nails, and real hammers to hammer along with him.
He was the guy who inspired us all to play golf by taking us along to the driving range, and smacking the ball out of sight with one smooth swing.
Of course it would have been easier for him (and surely better for his golf game) to practice by himself, and play by himself. But he played with us. And we loved playing with him.
And the beautiful part of playing with your dad, is that you can keep playing.
We have played the Scieszka Family Golf Tournament — called the Coupe de Lou Classic after dad Lou — for twenty-seven years straight now. It is a chance for the Scieszka brothers, scattered across the country, to get together and play with each other and play with our dad.
And we love to play…with the guy who taught us how to play.


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With the UFC in roster-trimming mode, heavyweight Lavar Johnson likely was on shaky ground following a lackluster decision loss to Brendan Schaub this past weekend at UFC 157.
For now, though, it appears Johnson has gotten a reprieve.
"Thank God, I still have a job with the ufc!" he tweeted overnight.
The UFC doesn't usually release a list of cuts, but for now, the Strikeforce vet remains on UFC.com's active roster.
Johnson (17-7 MMA, 2-2 UFC), who's posted knockouts in 15 of his 17 career wins, made a quick impression in the UFC following his move over from Strikeforce. He scored "Knockout of the Night" awards in his first two UFC fights after stopping Joey Beltran and Pat Barry in the first round.
However, a submission loss to fast-rising contender Stefan Struve followed, and then came the Feb. 23 loss to Schaub (9-3 MMA, 5-3 UFC), who told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) unapologetic for using a safe game plan in the FX-televised prelim. After all, the wrestling-oriented win likely saved Schaub's own job.
Roster cuts have become a hot topic since 16 fighters, including former title challenger Jon Fitch, were axed on Feb. 20. The organization ultimately plans to trim its roster by 100 spots overall.
For now, Johnson apparently won't be one of them.
For complete coverage of UFC 157, stay tuned to the UFC Events section of the site.


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Tagged: Auction Values
Tim Hudson: Comeback Kid
By Erik Hahmann
Seeing Hudson go in for Tommy John surgery was troubling to his fantasy owners, and to the Braves. But the elbow replacement surgery carries strong recovery rates. In seven starts after returning from Tommy John last season, Hudson showed signs of a healthy recovery, posting an impressive 3.47 xFIP (a stat which strips out the effects of bad luck, defense, bullpen support, aberrant HR/FB rates, and other factors).
Hudson was ranked in the one-star group, with names like Carl Pavano, Gil Meche and rookie Brian Matusz, all of whom Hudson could easily outperform this season. Continuing his late-season dominance from last year, Hudson was dominant this spring, putting up a 1.35 ERA while striking out 17 batters and walking just 3 in 20 IP. While you must take spring training stats with a grain of salt, they can be instructive for young players, and especially for players trying to prove themselves after an injury. According to Braves catcher Brian McCann: "He look[ed] great. He's putting his pitches right where he wants them. He's definitely ready for the season."
The 11-win total should be easily reachable now that the Braves have added more firepower in the forms of Jason Heyward and Troy Glaus to an already talented lineup. The defense behind Hudson as improved as well, with Heyward in right field, Melky Cabrera (career 4.0 UZR in LF) seeing time in left, and Garret Anderson (-16.5 UZR last season) no longer on the roster.
Hudson's 2010 debut was an impressive one: 7 innings, 2 runs, 3 hits and no walks. A couple of caveats apply. First, he was facing the Giants, who have only one elite hitter in their entire lineup in Pablo Sandoval. Second, Hudson only struck out two batters in his inaugural 2010 start. Still, his best indicator of success, aside from his pinpoint, no-walk control, was his impressive groundball rate: Fourteen of the 21 outs Hudson rang up Friday against San Francisco came via groundballs. That's a great sign for a pitcher who's thrived on worm-burners his whole career.
Hudson's probably owned in even the shallowest leagues, and his value spiked after his opening start, such that targeting him in trade now doesn't make much sense. But if you already own him, resist the temptation to sell high. Unless someone bowls you over with an offer, hang onto Hudson and give him a chance to put up a big season.


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RPCEmu Mac Guide
From RISC OS
m (→Compiling and installing Allegro)
(→Compiling and installing Allegro)
|Line 75:
|Line 75:
Depending on how fast your CPU is, this may take a few minutes. When it is finished, you will see another $ prompt.
Depending on how fast your CPU is, this may take a few minutes. When it is finished, you will see another $ prompt.
You must now install Allegro
You must now install Allegro

mkdir /usr/local
sudo make install

mkdir /usr/local
sudo make install

This will prompt you for your login password. Type it in and press RETURN. Shortly afterwards, you will see another prompt.
This will prompt you for your login password. Type it in and press RETURN. Shortly afterwards, you will see another prompt.
Revision as of 21:19, 27 January 2009
The January 2009 release of RPCEmu, version 0.8.1 (codenamed "Spoon") works out of the box on both Linux and Windows PCs. The release notes did not mention whether it is possible to run it on a Mac, but it is possible if you patch the code. This guide will lead you through the process of getting 0.8.1 running on your Mac. Patches have been submitted to the developers which should mean that this guide can be simplified in the future.
This guide has only been tested on an Intel-powered Mac Pro using Mac OS X Leopard 10.5.6. It may also work on Tiger and other versions of OS X, but this is not guaranteed.
To get RPCEmu up and running, you will need the following:
- An Intel-based Mac, preferably running Leopard.
- The Developer Tools from your OS X install discs must be installed. These will create a folder named "Developer" in the root of your hard drive and install applications such as XCode and Interface Builder.
- It is also of benefit if you are somewhat familiar with the use of the Terminal application.
Installing The Developer Tools
The developer tools can be found in the following places:
- On the Leopard install DVD, in the Optional Installs/Xcode Tools folder. Double-click on XcodeTools.mpkg to start the installation.
- On your computer's install DVDs, in the Xcode Tools folder. You may have more than one disc. For a 2006 Mac Pro, the tools were on disc one; for a 2008 MacBook Air, on disc two. Double-click on XcodeTools.mpkg to start the installation.
- On Apple's web site: https://connect.apple.com/cgi-bin/WebObjects/MemberSite.woa/
Once the installer is running, perform the following steps:
- Click on the "Next" button to skip the welcome page.
- Click on the "Continue" button on the page with the licence agreement and press "Agree" to confirm that you agree with the licence terms.
- On the third page, press the "Customize" button.
A list will show six items, beneath "Package Name", "Location" and "Action" columns. Ensure that the Unix Development Support item is ticked and press the "Install" button. The developer tools will then be installed. Once installation is complete, close the installer.
You will need to download RPCEmu itself, as well as a library it uses named Allegro.
First, download the source code for RPCEmu:
Secondly, the source code for Allegro (currently, version 4.2.2):
Copy both of the downloaded files to the same directory using the Finder. This guide assumes that you have copied them to ~/Public.
Compiling and installing Allegro
Allegro's web site describes it as "a portable library mainly aimed at video game and multimedia programming". It must be compiled and installed before you can successfully run RPCEmu.
Start the Terminal application by double-clicking on it. It should be in the "Utilities" folder in "Applications". A window will be opened. You should see a prompt that ends with a dollar sign ($) and a flashing cursor.
First, change directory to wherever you copied the Allegro and RPCEmu source files:
cd ~/Public
You must decompress Allegro. Type the following:
tar fzxv allegro-4.2.2.tar.gz
You will see a list of filenames flash past and eventually the $ prompt will reappear.
Change directory into the newly-created folder where the Allegro files have been placed:
cd allegro-4.2.2
You must first configure Allegro for building on OS X. Type the following two commands, pressing ENTER after each:
chmod +x fix.sh ./fix.sh macosx
You will see a short message telling you that Allegro has been configured for building on OS X.
Start the build by typing the following:
Depending on how fast your CPU is, this may take a few minutes. When it is finished, you will see another $ prompt.
You must now install Allegro. The relevant files are installed in the /usr/local folder. If this folder does not exist, the install will likely error.
First, create the folder:
mkdir /usr/local
If the folder already exists (i.e. you already have something installed there), the command will error. The error can safely be ignored.
On to the installation proper:
sudo make install
This will prompt you for your login password. Type it in and press RETURN. Shortly afterwards, you will see another prompt.
Return to the previous directory:
cd ..
Allegro is now installed and you can move to the second part of the process, getting RPCEmu up and running.
Preparing RPCEmu
You should now be in the directory where your two downloaded files are stored (e.g. ~/Public).
Type the following:
tar fzxv rpcemu-0.8.1.tar.gz
This will decompress the source for RPCEmu.
Change directory so you can start preparing RPCEmu:
cd rpcemu-0.8.1/src
As it stands, if you try and compile RPCEmu 0.8.1 om a Mac, it will fail. You must patch your download first, using the content of the listing shown.
For the listing below, copy and paste the code in the box from your web browser into a TextEdit document and save it as "spoon.patch" (without quotes) in the "src" directory that your Terminal session is currently using (e.g. ~/Public/rpcemu-0.8.1/src).
--- configure.ac.orig 2009-01-25 13:41:22.000000000 +0000 +++ configure.ac 2009-01-25 13:43:08.000000000 +0000 @@ -54,10 +54,15 @@ *mingw*) OS="win" AC_MSG_RESULT(Windows) AC_DEFINE(RPCEMU_WIN, [], [OS is Windows]) ;; + *apple*) + OS="macosx" + AC_MSG_RESULT([Mac OS X]) + AC_DEFINE(RPC_MACOSX, [], [OS is Mac OS X]) + ;; *macosx*) OS="macosx" AC_MSG_RESULT([Mac OS X]) AC_DEFINE(RPCEMU_MACOSX, [], [OS is Mac OS X]) ;; --- romload.c.orig 2009-01-25 13:49:20.000000000 +0000 +++ romload.c 2009-01-25 13:49:57.000000000 +0000 @@ -41,11 +41,11 @@ while (!finished && file<MAXROMS) { ext=get_extension(ff.name); // printf("Found rom %s\n",ff.name); - if (stricmp(ext,"txt")) + if (stricmp(ext,"txt") && ff.name[0] != '.') { strcpy(romfns[file],ff.name); file++; } finished = al_findnext(&ff); --- rpcemu.h.orig 2009-01-25 13:47:09.000000000 +0000 +++ rpcemu.h 2009-01-25 13:48:22.000000000 +0000 @@ -46,10 +46,12 @@ #define fseeko64(_a, _b, _c) fseek(_a, (long)_b, _c) #endif #ifdef __MACH__ #define fseeko64(_a, _b, _c) fseek(_a, (long)_b, _c) +#define fopen64(_a, _b) fopen(_a, _b) +#define off64_t off_t #endif #if defined _BIG_ENDIAN || defined __BIG_ENDIAN__ #define _RPCEMU_BIG_ENDIAN #endif --- rpc-macosx.c.orig 2009-01-26 20:51:24.000000000 +0000 +++ rpc-macosx.c 2009-01-26 20:51:48.000000000 +0000 @@ -9,11 +9,11 @@ #include "rpcemu.h" #include "mem.h" #include "sound.h" #include "vidc20.h" #include "gui.h" -#include "network-linux.h" +// #include "network-linux.h" int mousecapture=0; static float mips; static int updatemips = 0; @@ -228,11 +228,11 @@ install_mouse(); if (startrpcemu()) return -1; - initnetwork(); +// initnetwork(); install_int_ex(domips,MSEC_TO_TIMER(1000)); install_int_ex(vblupdate,BPS_TO_TIMER(refresh)); startsoundthread(); if (soundenabled) initsound();
Switch back to the Terminal, where your prompt will be awaiting your command.
Before applying the patch, you must make a copy of one of the files, as one of the files required by the OS X version of RPCEmu is missing from the 0.8.1 release:
cp rpc-linux.c rpc-macosx.c
Type the following and press RETURN:
patch -p0 < spoon.patch
If all goes well, you should see the following:
patching file configure.ac patching file romload.c patching file rpcemu.h patching file rpc-macosx.c
You must now copy a file from your Allegro source directory to your RPCEmu directory:
cp ../../allegro-4.2.2/misc/allegro.m4 .
RPCEmu is now ready to be built.
Compiling and building RPCEmu
As RPCEmu has been patched, the compilation process is slightly different to that of Allegro. Type the following commands, pressing RETURN after each:
aclocal -I . autoconf automake
You can now configure RPCEmu. Unfortunately, dynamic code compilation does not appear to work on a Mac, so RPCEmu must be compiled without it.
Type the following, again, pressing RETURN after each command:
./configure make
If the process has worked, the very last line before the $ prompt should read "cp rpcemu ..".
Type the following to change directory to where the binary for RPCEmu has been copied:
cd ..
After the build
Before you can run RPCEmu, you must copy your RISC OS ROM image to the roms folder in your rpcemu-0.8.1 folder (e.g. ~/Public/rpcemu-0.8.1). It is best to use RISC OS 4.02, but 3.7 will work as well. A hard drive image may also come in handy.
You may also want to change the default configuration, to speed up the emulator and give it more memory. From the command prompt, type the following:
nano -w rpc.cfg
Things you may want to change:
Change the cpu_type line to read:
cpu_type = SA110
Change the mem_size line to read:
mem_size = 128
To save your changes, type CTRL+O and press RETURN when prompted for a file name. Finally, press CTRL+X to exit and return to the command prompt.
To try it all out, type the following:
If all goes well, you should see a window appear and the familiar desktop should be displayed.
Using the mouse
Most Macs will nowadays be equipped with a two (or more) button mouse. However, RPCEmu may not detect all your buttons: with a Microsoft Laser Mouse 5000, for example, only the left mouse button has any effect.
For a MENU (middle) click, hold down the ALT key whilst clicking. For an ADJUST (right) click, hold down the CTRL key whilst clicking.
A number of quirks exist, relating to the keyboard:
- Caps Lock doesn't work at all using an Apple aluminium keyboard.
- F12, which should invoke the command line, will instead invoke the OS X Dashboard. If you need to use a command prompt, choose the "* commands" option from the switcher menu (ALT-click on the Acorn).
Networking does not currently work on OS X. The code that 0.8.1 uses for Linux does not compile on a Mac and would need changing to work correctly.


text:
Oh goody, this is my second challenge. The first one was a wallpaper challenge, now I want to have an e-card.
Now I challenge you guys to make a Birthday Card. This card must be a little bit different. Once you make this card I want you to give the card you made to someone and that person will be happy to your gift. A simple card would reach the bottom the once heart. You can add any saying, a little message, a joke, poem, or any sentence that would touch the heart of the celebrant.
- The card must be dedicated to the member who is a celebrant.
- Crossover is allowed
- No stealing of idea or work
- No limitation, so you could make how many cards as you can
- This card is your gift for the celebrant, so do your best.
- Enjoy the challenge
Thank you very for viewing my challenge and I hope to see your card.


text:
Obama meets with families, survivors of deadly Texas plant explosion
WACO, Texas – President Barack Obama consoled a rural Texas community rocked by a deadly fertilizer plant explosion, telling mourners Thursday they are not alone in their grief and they will have the nation's support to rebuild from the devastation.
"This small town's family is bigger now," Obama said during a memorial service at Baylor University for victims of last week's explosion in nearby West, Texas, that killed 14 and injured 200. Nearly 10,000 gathered to remember the first responders killed in the blast, a crowd more than triple the size of West's entire population of 2,700.
"To the families, the neighbors grappling with unbearable loss, we are here to say you are not alone. You are not forgotten," Obama said to applause. "We may not all live here in Texas, but we're neighbors too. We're Americans too, and we stand with you."
The April 17 explosion left a crater more than 90 feet wide and damaged dozens of buildings, displacing many residents from their homes. The Insurance Council of Texas estimates it caused more than $100 million in damage, and crews were sifting the rubble to search for clues to what caused the explosion or whether foul play was involved.
The blast came about 20 minutes after a fire was reported at West Fertilizer. Ten of those killed were first responders who sped out to the nighttime blaze.
The memorial service honored those first responders and two civilians who tried to fight the fire and were posthumously named volunteer first responders. Among the dead were brothers Douglas and Robert Snokhous, West High School graduates who volunteered together for the town's fire department for more than 13 years.
As Obama spoke, the gymnasium lit up with the flashes of cameras and cellphones, glimmering like stars in the dimly lit room. The president spoke for 16 minutes, quoting scripture and lauding the men whose flag-draped coffins laid before him. "When you got to the scene, you forgot fear and you fought that blaze as hard as you could, knowing the danger," Obama said.
The service opened with a photo slideshow set to country music and projected onto a movie screen. It showed images of the men from their childhood, their weddings and other moments throughout lives filled with children and friends. Mourners were given programs with full-page profiles of each of the victims, describing their lives, their values and their faith.
Both the president and first lady Michelle Obama wiped away a tear as bagpipes sounded "Amazing Grace."
"How does one find such love to be willing to lay down your life so that others may live?" asked Texas Sen. John Cornyn, speaking on behalf of the state's congressional delegation. "This will forever be the legacy of those who ran toward the fire last week."
Texas Gov. Rick Perry eulogized the unpaid first responders, lamenting that each had a personal story and journey that drew to a close too soon.
"These are volunteers. Ordinary individuals blessed with extraordinary courage and a determination to do what they could to save lives," he said. "They're the ones who proudly said `not on my watch' in the moments immediately following that explosion."
Perry's remarks were followed by video of the victims' grim-faced family members remembering their lives and expressing pride for their heroism. The brother-in-law of Cody Dragoo, another volunteer firefighter, remembered how Dragoo would leave notes for his wife, Patty, when he was traveling, and how he loved hunting and NASCAR.
Obama added his appearance at the memorial service onto a long-planned trip to Texas for Thursday's opening of George W. Bush's presidential library at Southern Methodist University. Bush sent his sympathies in a statement read at the service by Baylor President Ken Starr, the former special prosecutor who investigated President Bill Clinton.
Obama's solemn reflections at the memorial required an abrupt shift in tone by the president, whose morning in Dallas was filled with smiles, music and pageantry as he and the other four living presidents celebrated one of their own. Less than an hour later, Obama was airborne over West, circling the scene of the explosion -- still a harrowing site more than a week after tragedy first touched the small Texas town.
From his helicopter, Obama saw what looked like a massive construction site, with cranes and dozens of vehicles dotting a wide swath of brown earth. Piles of burnt rubble and scorched earth were clearly visible. Obama could also see the school field first responders used as a staging ground.
Obama has made such a trip countless times before, touring damage and consoling survivors of other disasters including Hurricane Irene, Hurricane Sandy and a string of mass shootings. It was just one week ago that Obama was in Boston, offering solace to the nation at a memorial for victims of the Boston Marathon bombing, another larger-than-life tragedy that compounded the nation's grief the same week as the explosion in West.
After the service, the president and first lady were planning to visit privately with relatives and friends of firefighters killed in the explosion, the White House said.
Fire trucks and other first responders' vehicles paraded through Waco en route to the ceremony at Baylor's sports arena. The vehicles entered under an archway formed by the ladders from two fire trucks with an American flag hung between them. Many of the mourners wore the uniforms of police, firefighters and paramedics and wiped tears from their eyes.
Brian Crawford, fire chief in the Dallas suburb of Plano, attended with 11 others from his department even though they live 100 miles from West.
"With these unfortunate circumstances, it's time to show we are all a family," Crawford said. "These were our brothers and they paid the price."
As the service drew to a close, a bell was rung once for each victim, reverberating through the hall and setting off a long moment of silence.
Then, with hushed sobs breaking the quiet, a loudspeaker re-enacting a dispatcher's radio identified the victims one by one, calling each firefighter to duty for the last time:
"Until we meet again. Dispatch clear."


text:
The remastered mobile version of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 arrives on iOS and Android today, bringing with it a zone famously scrapped during the original game's development — the Hidden Palace Zone is hidden no more.
These Great Fortnite Creative Maps Show Us What's Possible
Along with upgraded widescreen graphics and a new Boss Attack Mode, Sega's remastered Sonic the Hedgehog 2 gives fans their first chance to run through the Hidden Palace level of the game. The Hidden Palace was originally developed as a special zone where Sonic would travel after collecting all seven Chaos Emeralds to transform into Super Sonic, but the game was changed to give him that ability from the start, so the level was scrapped.
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is available today on iTunes and Google Play for $2.99.


text:
Store rating
Gemshine Schmuck
Owner - Maria Marinas Store rating We guarantee that this local shop is authorized to sell this authentic product & brand.
Contact Sellerx
Trusted Site
Free Shipping over €100
30 Days Return
- Item details
DetailsTranslated by Google
See the original textMade in loving handwork in Madrid / Spain. Sustainable, fair trade, ethical jewelry.
o Manufactory: High quality gilded solid 925 silver earrings, with 925 silver stamp - Made in Madrid / Spain.
o 11 mm faceted, round cut natural smoky quartz gemstones of outstanding quality and deep, rich color in 925 silver settings.
o In a high-quality and elegant jewelery case. Certificate of authenticity and certificate of origin. Excellent quality and workmanship. Lovingly hand made in Spain.
o In our small production plant in Madrid we have our designs prefabricated. There, only five people work in the workshop and each of the workers takes on a specialty in the manufacturing process. In Munich, the subtleties are then made. The pieces of jewelery are put together by us and finished by hand.
- Store Information
Gemshine jewellery is handmade in Germany and Spain, according to the highest Western European standards. Fine jewelery at affordable prices, with regular new collections and trends, where only precious metals and natural gemstones and pearls are used for this purpose. Your jewelry is delivered in an elegant gift box and packaging with a 2-years guarantee and a Certificate of Autenticity and Origin.
- Reviews
Ladies earrings made of high quality gold plated 925 silver. 3.5 cm yoga earrings with smoke quartz excellent quality.
incl. VAT plus shipping
Item has been added to your bag


text:
Colorado artist Darren Kramer (and member of The Boulder Synthesizer Meetup) is about to release his latest CD Beyond the Boneyard. Besides being a phenomenal jazz musician, Darren also makes heavy use of Ableton Live, live looping, Guitar Rig effects, and Lemur as you can see and hear in this video he did last year for a piece called "Heavy Metal Paper Clip".
DJ DKO "Heavy Metal Paperclip" from DJ DKO : Electric Trombone DJ on Vimeo.
Next week, Darren will play a CD release party for this new album at the Gates Planetarium (which is the kick as state-of-the-art planetarium at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science).
Checkout this cool behind-the-scenes production video for the show.
DJ DKO: Exclusive "Behind The Scenes" Footage for Planetarium 'Beyond The Boneyard" CD Release Event from DJ DKO : Electric Trombone DJ on Vimeo.
SYNTHESIST MARK MOSHER, Boulder, CO
Artist Web Site: www.MarkMosherMusic.com
Show your Support with an Album buy: http://markmosher.bandcamp.com/
Synth Geek Blog: www.ModulateThis.com
Local Meetup: http://www.meetup.com/The-Boulder-Synthesizer-Meetup/


text:
Siblings Hayden Christensen and Tove Christensen are launching Glacier Films with an 11-picture slate scheduled to shoot over the next three years.
The venture was announced Thursday in Cannes with the Christensens partnering with Sarik Andreasyan, Gevond Andreasyan and Georgy Malkov. Glacier Films said the coin comes from Russian concern Renovatio but provided no further details.
The slate consists of six films with budgets in the $10 million range, plus five microbudget titles ranging around $1.5 million each.
Production will start June 18 on "American Heist," a remake of Steve McQueen's 1959 movie "St. Louis Bank Robbery." Hayden Christensen will star with Sarik Andreasyan directing.
Tove Christensen, Gevond Andreasyan, Georgy Malkov and Vladimir Poliakov will produce. Story will center on two brothers with checkered pasts being dragged into an ill-fated bank robbery spearheaded by a gang of dangerous criminals.
Paradigm is representing "American Heist" in Cannes.
The first microbudget title will be the horror fantasy "Lady of Csejte." It is based on the life of serial killer Countess Bathory, who was reported to have killed hundreds of children in 16th century Transylvania.
Hayden Christensen's recent film credits include "Takers" and "Jumper."


text:
Latino and African-American homeowners have a disproportionate share of foreclosures nationwide compared with their percentage of homeownership, according to a new study.
The study, conducted by the Center for Responsible Lending, shows that Latinos in California are especially hard hit. Perhaps this is a type of discrimination that is simply an extension of the days when minorities couldn't get loans or buy in certain neighborhoods.
These days, Latinos and blacks get loans, but the loans typically are at a higher rate than what whites pay. Although the majority of families (an estimated 56%) who lost homes were non-Hispanic whites, Latino and African-American families disproportionately received the most expensive and risky types of loans during the subprime lending boom, according to the study, making them more heavily affected.
When blacks and Latinos then turn to the banks for help refinancing or modifying the terms of their loans, the banks aren't so willing to help unless a nonprofit counseling agency intervenes on their behalf, according to a study by the Urban Institute. Without outside intervention, the homeowner is more likely to lose their home.
The Urban Institute's independent study found that moderately delinquent homeowners and those facing foreclosure who received housing counseling through the National Foreclosure Mitigation Counseling Program were 60 percent more likely to avoid losing their home to foreclosure than homeowners who did not seek counseling.
Latinos, who represent 36.6 percent of California's population, received 29.9 percent of all mortgage loans originated between 2004 and 2008, but were subject to 48.7 percent of foreclosures. Further, Latino owners lost 301,086 homes to lenders — almost half the state's 625,356 foreclosures during that period. That means Latino households in California produced nearly 50 percent of the state's foreclosures. The loan defaults are concentrated in the state's Central Valley, which includes Sacramento, according to CLR downloadable data.
But it's not just California. It's also in Miami, Chicago, St. Louis. It's nationwide. There are steps homeowners can take, however, to help ease the pain — or avoid it.
Know the true cost of your loan
Is the monthly payment you're quoted a PITI, meaning it includes property taxes and mortgage insurance? Sometimes the monthly payment that a lender quotes you might not include these other fees, artificially deflating what you will owe.
Avoid adjustable rates
A low interest rate the first few months means lower payments until the mortgage adjusts. What a buyer thought they could afford, it turns out a few months later, they can't.
"With Latinos we find many more cases of deceptive lending and use of teaser rates that mask the true terms of the mortgage," says Richard Kahn, author of "Winning Against Foreclosure." "Once they are in the mortgage, they can afford the payments until the adjustment."
Text continues after Pictures of the Week gallery:
Understand what you sign
If you need more time to read through mortgage terms, or you need a copy in your native language so that you can better understand the fine print, then don't hesitate to ask.
The laws that require people who don't speak English fluently to have exact full duplicates of documentation in their native language are rarely complied with, says Kahn, who is also a Miami-based mortgage fraud expert witness through Forensic Professionals Group USA.
Predatory lending is also as much at the forefront in the African American community as it is with Latinos, he says.
"I don't know if it is that these folks are more trusting, less educated, less serious about protecting themselves from predatory lending or what. It is difficult to say after the fact. We are a forensic firm that looks into the paperwork, not the borrower's individual stories," he says. "The one common denominator we see is wholesale deception, deceit and misrepresentation on these folks especially."
Avoiding scams and finding help
"It seems that the Latino and African American loans we look at are as if the lenders had no fear at all of misrepresenting the mortgages and not following the federal rules. Foreclosure is the exit strategy." This means that desperate homeowners are more vulnerable to foreclosure rescue scams.
"The sooner that a homeowner believes they may be in danger of foreclosure, even before they miss a payment, they should go see a credit counselor first," says Erin M. Angell Collins, spokesperson for NeighborWorks America, the Congress-created nonprofit that runs the National Foreclosure Mitigation Counseling Program. "I urge homeowners who have been especially hit hard to go to foreclosurecounselor.org and to look up housing counseling agencies in your community," she says.
University of Chicago systems administrator Vanessa Matthews, 49, sought counseling with such a program, a "Fix Your Mortgage" foreclosure-prevention program, after talks with her lender, Ocwen Financial.
Not long after homeowner Matthews separated from her husband, she experienced economic hardship. Not only had she lost the second income, which had helped pay the $2,539 PITI mortgage payment on their Bronzeville duplex, but her mother, who was renting the first-floor unit from her, lost her job and couldn't pay the rent.
"Things had gotten pretty bad," says Matthews, who purchased her home seven years ago with a mortgage amount of about $250,000. "It was unbelievable to me that the banks weren't willing to work with me. I had never been late on my mortgage." Losing her home would have meant she, as well as her three teen-age foster children and her mother, would have been displaced.
Read entire article at Housing Watch.com
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Bill & Melinda Gates Donate $6 Million To HIV Vaccine Research


text:
Sweet! Nestle has randomly put a GPS tracking device into half a dozen chocolate bars sold in the U.K. and Ireland, giving candy connoisseurs a chance to win 10,000 pounds ($16,218) upon discovery.
As Obi-Wan Kenobi would probably say, it is as if millions of British dentists suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced.
Only six Kit-Kat (including the chunky variation), Aero, and Yorkie bars contain the GPS tracking chips (aka golden ticket), which activates and notifies Nestle when the wrapper is opened.
A humorous commercial related to the "We Will Find You" promotion describes the discovery process in more detail: "This will alert a secret control room, who will scramble a crack team of highly trained individuals. They will board a helicopter, find the special bar, and give the owner £10,000."
Nestle also put up 3,000 posters in the participating countries that come outfitted with NFC and QR codes so smartphone users can play along, track how many bars remain unclaimed, or win from a pool of 2,000 additional prizes.
As of today, the six lucky chocolate bars remain in the wild. Do you think this big brother-esque game would fly in the U.S.?
(Via CNET Australia)