ING New York City Marathon 2009: Running Together
Wow, it’s been over a week since Irene and I along with 40,000+ other runners woke up to different beeps, chirps and buzzes from clock radios, running watches and blackberry’s for the 40th running of the NYC Marathon. Which starts over at Staten Island and weaves around the 4 other boroughs and ends at Central Park, next to Tavern on the Green.
Actually I was already up around 4am waiting for the digits to show 04:30am. As soon as I hit the buttons to turn off the alarms , I turned to Irene with excitement and said, “Are you ready!” She said, “Yes!” Next, I click on the television to find out that the Yankees are ahead 2 games to 1. And. now where is that Weather Channel. Looks like short sleeves and shorts will be my running attire for today. Irene will also wear short sleeve shirt but with running pants. She never quite got use to running in shorts. While there was a light drizzle misting the outside of our hotel window, as long as the temp stayed below 60, I would be a very happy runner.
We began to layer on our running clothes that we layed out on the dresser the night before, and checking off the list of items we are going to bring with us. That list was so handy, and made the rest of the day stress free. I’d rather not run around like a chicken with its head cut off today.
I went downstairs and walked to the 24 hour diner, and order some omlettes for breakfast. Originally, I was going to cook up my own eggs, but the room did not have a stove top, that I thought it would have. I remember a stove top when staying at the Affinia before, but not in this room.
Greece must shrink state to avoid default: lenders (Reuters)
ATHENS (Reuters) – International lenders told Greece on Monday it must shrink its public sector and improve tax collection to avoid default within weeks as investors spooked by political setbacks in Europe dumped risky euro zone assets.
Hours before a telephone conference between the Greek Finance Minister and senior officials of the European Union and the International Monetary Fund, the IMF representative in Greece spelled out steps Athens must take to secure a vital 8 billion euro rescue payment next month.
“The ball is in the Greek court. Implementation is of the essence,” Bob Traa told an economic conference.
Additional savings measures were needed to cut the public deficit to a sustainable level and reduce the public sector’s claim on resources — code for axing jobs and cutting pay and pensions — while improving tax collection rather than adding further taxes, he said.
European stocks and the euro fell sharply on fears of an early Greek default, the failure of EU finance ministers to agree new steps to resolve Europe’s debt crisis at weekend talks, and another regional election defeat for German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
In signs of mounting stress, market yields on Italian and Spanish bonds rose further above 5 percent despite six weeks of European Central Bank buying in an effort to hold them down. The cost of insuring peripheral euro zone debt against default also rose.
The Greek cabinet was due to meet after the teleconference with the IMF/ECB/EU “troika,” pushed back to 1600 GMT (12 p.m. EDT), to discuss further austerity measures to make up for a fiscal shortfall.
Prime Minister George Papandreou canceled a planned trip to Washington and the United Nations at the last minute and returned home on Saturday in response to the crisis.
Greek media published a list of 15 austerity measures it said the troika was demanding the Socialist government implement to receive the next tranche of aid.
They included firing another 20,000 state workers, cutting or freezing state salaries and pensions, increasing heating oil tax, shutting down loss-making state organizations, cutting health spending and speeding up privatizations.
PUBLIC SUPPORT LACKING
The IMF’s Traa acknowledged that the IMF/EU bailout program lacked public support and said there was plenty of goodwill to give Greece more time for its adjustment program in a weaker than expected economy.
Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos said the economy was set to contract by 5.5 percent this year after 4 percent in 2010. Cutting spending would be a priority of the 2012 budget, he said.
Asked whether Greece would get the next installment crucial to pay salaries and pensions in October, Venizelos told Reuters: “Yes, of course.”
Even if it does, many economists and investors believe Athens will have to default on its debt mountain — more than 150 percent of gross national product — within months.
Former IMF managing-director Dominique Strauss-Kahn joined this chorus on Sunday, saying in a French TV interview that Greece’s debt must be reduced, and government and private creditors should take losses now rather than playing for time.
“(EU) governments are not solving things, they are kicking the problem down the road, and the snowball is growing and making the problem bigger and bigger,” he told TF1 television.
Uncertainty over Greece was compounded by another political shock in Germany at the weekend.
The sixth regional election defeat this year for Merkel’s center-right coalition on Sunday raised questions about the stability of her government and her ability to push through more euro zone rescue measures.
Her Free Democratic (FDP) junior coalition partners crashed out of the Berlin regional assembly with just 1.8 percent of the vote, raising pressure from some party activists to take a more Eurosceptical line.
Although the Berlin regional vote ended a cycle of seven state elections this year, it appeared to leave the cautious Merkel with less room for maneuver to take bold action in defense of the euro.
Leaders of both the Bavarian Christian Social Union (CSU) and the FDP have raised the prospect of Greece defaulting and having to leave the 17-nation single currency area, ignoring rebukes from the chancellor for alarming markets.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner pressed euro zone finance ministers apparently in vain at a meeting in Wroclaw, Poland, to take stronger action to stop the sovereign debt crisis spreading.
One of his predecessors, Lawrence Summers, said in a Reuters column on Sunday that all nations should pressure Europe to go beyond “grudging incrementalism” to recapitalize banks, and revive economic growth.
“In normal circumstances comity would require deference by others to European authorities on the resolution of European problems. Now when these problems have the potential to disrupt growth around the world all nations have an obligation to insist that Europe find a viable way forward,” Summers wrote.
(Additional reporting by Erik Kirschbaum in Berlin, Catherine Bremer in Paris, William James and Natsuko Waki in London; Writing by Paul Taylor; editing by Janet McBride)
(This story corrects the sixth paragraph from previous story to show Italian and Spanish yields, not their risk premiums over Bunds, rose above 5 percent)
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Deserted pyramids, ‘revolution specials’ in Egypt
The Associated Press
CAIRO — The pyramid rose out of the sand before me, its smooth stone walls crumbling around the edges, but still majestic and mountainous. As I hiked around it, studying the etched hieroglyphs and pausing to pick up a small rock from the sand, I was filled with wonder. How did the ancient Egyptians build such a huge structure? What was life like 4,500 years ago when it was constructed?
And … where the heck is everybody?
On that late summer morning, I had a Wonder of the World all to myself. I saw three other tourists, who were leaving as I arrived. The only other living creatures in sight were my driver and two sleeping camels, their backs unburdened by photo op-seeking travelers.
Clearly, the Egyptian Revolution has taken a toll on the country’s tourism. Months of protests followed by the resignation of Hosni Mubarak and the ongoing political uncertainty have scared off many Westerners (including some of my friends and family, who questioned my decision to come on a work-related trip).
Tourism was down 35 percent between April and June compared to last year, according to Egypt’s Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics. About 2.2 million tourists visited Egypt during those three months, compared to 3.5 million in 2010.
Several cruise ships have canceled ports of call in Egypt because of the political upheaval. Norwegian Cruise Line canceled its sailings to Egypt from late November to early April, citing “political unrest in the regions visited on these itineraries.” In February, Princess Cruises had canceled stops in Egypt, but it has since reinstated them.
And while the protests that toppled Mubarak are long over, the country is still making the kinds of headlines that spook leisure travelers. On Sept. 9, a mob attacked the Israeli embassy in Cairo. A few days earlier, authorities proposed requiring tourists to apply for visas before arrival, then turned around and rescinded the proposal.
But other factors were also keeping tourists at bay as I stood alone at the pyramid: It was August, which is not the ideal time to visit a desert, and it was Ramadan, a holy month of daytime fasting when the country slows down. Some restaurants and businesses close for the whole month; other places including the Egyptian Museum have reduced hours.
But for me, the revolution and lack of fellow tourists made for a fantastic trip. The usually overcrowded city was much more manageable to get around, there were some great deals to be had, and there was an energy, almost electric, on the streets. I was mesmerized by the political graffiti around Cairo, and inspired by firsthand accounts of the protests.
Others have also caught on that it might be a good time to visit. Although bookings at Geographic Expeditions, which offers Nile cruises, are down by more than half this fall and winter compared to last year, inquiries have started to pick up, spokesman John Sugnet said. He said one reason was positive word-of-mouth from those who have ventured into the county recently.
At the Bent Pyramid in Dahshur, about 25 miles south of Cairo, there was no line for tickets (60 Egyptian pounds or about $ 10 U.S.) and no line to go inside a pyramid. Since I was traveling alone and a bit scared of going inside, a worker manning the entrance to the pyramid happily climbed down the steep, narrow, claustrophobia-inducing tunnel with me. I was thankful for the extra attention.
The more popular pyramid site is Giza, which includes the Sphinx, in a suburb of Cairo. I also found extremely short lines there. It wasn’t as empty as Dahshur, but the crowds were very light.
At another typically crowded destination, the Egyptian Museum, I braced for huge lines to the King Tut exhibit. My guidebook suggested coming first thing in the morning to avoid the lines, but I had slept in. I shouldn’t have worried. I walked right up to the fantastic golden mask and had no problem meandering around the museum’s many other treasures.
I was interested to see nearby Tahrir Square and found the protesters had been replaced by security forces. It was still incredible to see — soldiers in riot gear and carrying clear plastic shields stationed around the main circle — and a vivid reminder that Egypt’s history is still unfolding.
As an independent traveler and a woman alone, I did take some precautions. I made sure to dress conservatively and I hired guides to take me around. One was a driver attached to the hotel where I stayed; he charged me 100 Egyptian pounds (about U.S. $ 17) for a trip to Giza, and I tipped him another 100 Egyptian pounds. Many people approached me on the street, offering guide services, and I also decided to try one of them. He was great, taking me on walking tours through Islamic Cairo and Coptic Cairo. This guide merely said I should pay “as you wish,” so I gave him the same amount I’d given the driver.
One of my favorite activities was walking around the city and looking at the graffiti, which was more political artwork than tagging. One mural-like painting showed a mummy shouting “I’m free!” (in English). Another showed a stenciled black machine gun and a stenciled black video camera pointed at each other.
Being one of few tourists in a place where the economy relies on them also made me a pretty big target among those who make their living off of visitors. Sometimes it was hard to walk more than 10 feet without people trying to get me to buy their wares, or come into their shops. But it was also a bargain-hunter’s dream.
I was lured inside a tchotchke store near my hotel with an offer of a cup of tea with fresh mint. The salesman gave me his pitch for the paintings on papyrus paper that lined the walls. He pointed to the price list and told me to ignore it — there was a “revolution special,” he said, which was 80 percent off the original price. I did buy two of his paintings, and he knocked off even more of the final bill.
___
Follow Coralie Carlson on Twitter: www.twitter.com/coralieAP
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September 15, 2011 09:21 AM EDT
Copyright 2011, The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Tin Roof Brewery: Making a Name as Baton Rouges Premier Brewery
Neighborhood: South of Downtown
Baton Rouge, LA 70802
United States of America
Tin Roof Brewery opened up during the last quarter of 2010 in Baton Rouge, LA and since that time they have managed to come up with two unique brews that locals are “geauxing” crazy for.
Tin Roof is a microbrewery that managed to put two new and unique beers on the market by the end of 2010. This first production of brews included “Perfect Tin Amber” and “Voodoo Bengal Pale Ale.” These two brews can be found on tap at restaurants and lounges all across southern Louisiana.
The brewery has just completed their first “canning” in late August, 2011 which will bring the brews to grocery, liquor and convenience stores in the Baton Rouge, New Orleans and the Northshore areas. More areas and locations will be added soon, as Tin Roof Brewery plans to triple its brewing capacity by the end of 2011.
The initial two beers produced by Tin Roof Breweries are designed to appeal to a wide range of customers, both male and female. So what are these two brews like?
Perfect Tin Amber
Perfect Tin Amber is an American style amber beer that is brewed with a combination of specialty malts, providing a unique flavor with hints of chocolate and toffee. Perfect Tin Amber is a medium bodied brew with a mild bitterness. Regardless, Perfect Tin Amber is an easy brew to drink anytime or anyplace.
Voodoo Bengal Pale Ale
Voodoo Bengal Pale Ale is a pale ale brew, as the name implies. Voodoo Bengal combines layers of flavors for a brew that that produces a nice aroma and a unique sweet flavor. The sweetness comes from the addition of pure Louisiana cane syrup. The sweetness of the cane syrup balances the bitterness with the malts.
Where to Find Tin Roof Beer
The Contributor has no connection to nor was paid by the brand or product described in this content.
Oscar Hopefuls Will Likely be Present at Toronto Film Festival
The Toronto Film Festival will see 268 feature films screened, with a strong lineup and those attending and swinging deals in the charged atmosphere in an excellent mood after Cannes and Sundance proceeded so well. A variety of big names will also be in attendance, including George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Madonna, U2 and Pearl Jam. With last year’s “The King’s Speech” having won at the Toronto Film Festival last year and having gone on to do well at the Oscars, the expectation is that this year’s screenings will also be a prelude to some big wins at the Academy Awards.
Noted Deadline Hollywood columnist Pete Hammond, “This year is going to be a turnaround in a very big way for Toronto in terms of getting people jazzed on movies. The enthusiasm from Canned is going to continue through.” To add to the great atmosphere, red carpets will be featured for those films which feature big names, including, Clooney and Pitt as well as Viggo Mortensen, Keira Knightley and Jennifer Hudson.
Clooney will be in attendance for his film “The Ides of March” while Pitt’s portrayal of Billy Beane in “Moneyball” will see him at the festival. Added Hammond, “In terms of Oscar hopefuls I think it is a very good year (in Toronto) because there has been very little so far that has come out.” He added that many of the directors of the films to be featured have “Academy pedigrees.” With that said, industry insiders not in attendance will have their eyes on the festival to get a feel for what will be occurring later on at the Oscars.
Happiness Again – Definition
The root word is the Middle English hap, which is not used today but does appear in mishap and hapless. Hap refers to “chance, fortune or luck”, and this is reflected still in the contemporary meaning of happen in the sense of “occur by chance”. The Oxford English Dictionary records usages of happiness no earlier than the sixteenth century, and it seems to have extended from the senses of “fortune, luck, success” to include the pleasurable feeling that results from attaining success or good fortune. Hence, there is a semantic confusion in the word happiness between “good fortune” and “good feelings”. In so far as good fortune could be attributed to divine favour, pleasure and happiness came to be equated with the earthly rewards of morally good behaviour. Theologians of the Enlightenment era argued that to experience pleasure was a sign of divine blessing, and hence that moral goodness and subjective pleasure could be meaningfully linked (McMahon 2004).
John Locke (1632-1704), in more secular terms, asserted that what causes us pleasure is good, and what causes pain is evil, and this alone was sufficient to define “our happiness and misery”. But, while we desire what is good and brings happiness, the very nature of liberty consists in our ability to reflect on the good or evil that our actions will produce, and hence to make a judgement about what to do in the pursuit of our happiness. A person who simply follows his passions, without regard for future consequences, is neither free nor happy (Locke [1690] 1975).
Google Buys Restaurant Review Service Zagat – Wall Street Journal
Google Inc. said Tuesday that it has acquired restaurant-review service Zagat.
The deal comes as the Internet search leader is trying to help people connect with local businesses—and sell ads to local merchants in the process. In a blog post, Google said Zagat “will be a cornerstone of our local offering.”
Zagat offers reviews and ratings on restaurants around the world, based largely on surveys of diners.
The founders, Nina and Tim Zagat, say they will remain a part of the company and will use Google’s resources and expertise to expand.
The Zagats tried and failed to sell their company at the beginning of 2008 as the economy and deal making hit a rocky patch.
Wall St recovers late from euro zone battering (Reuters)
Stock futures pointed to sharp falls for equities on Monday after tumbling in the previous session following the resignation of a top official at the European Central Bank, with futures for the S&P 500, the Dow Jones and the Nasdaq 100 down 1.6 to 1.9 percent.
The resignation of Juergen Stark from the ECB throws into question policymakers’ ability to deal with Europe’s debt crisis, a problem that could engulf a world economy already teetering on the brink of recession.
Greece on Sunday slapped a new tax on real estate to plug a 2011 budget hole, please international lenders and secure a key new loan tranche as concerns mounted in Europe over its euro zone membership.
International Monetary Fund resources could prove to be sorely lacking if global financial conditions worsen and more countries turn to the global lender for financial rescues, IMF staff said in an internal document.
Verizon Communications (VZ.N) has dashed the hopes of Vodafone (VOD.L) investors by ruling out a return to a recurring dividend from the two companies’ U.S. mobile phone joint venture, called Verizon Wireless, the Financial Times reported on Monday.
The U.S. Federal Reserve has quizzed Capital One Financial Corp (COF.N) to determine whether the proposed purchase of ING Groep NV’s (ING.AS) U.S. online banking business would create a “too big to fail” institution, the Wall Street Journal said.
French group Technip (TECF.PA) is to buy U.S. underwater oil services specialist Global Industries (GLBL.O) for an agreed $ 937 million, to expand in the fast-growing underwater oil services sector.
U.S. health insurer WellPoint Inc (WLP.N) and computer giant IBM (IBM.N) agreed to commercially use IBM’s Watson technology that could help physicians identify best treatment options.
Shareholders in Britain’s Autonomy (AUTN.L) are likely to snap up Hewlett-Packard’s (HPQ.N) fully priced offer on Monday, as the chances of a competing bid for the enterprise search software firm recede.
Amazon.com Inc (AMZN.O) is in talks with book publishers about launching a media library service similar to Netflix Inc (NFLX.O) for tablets and other digital books, The Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday.
The U.S. Treasury is weighing a proposal to eliminate some, but not all, of the taxes on overseas profits of U.S.-based companies, the Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday, citing two people familiar with the deliberations.
Resource-related stocks will be in focus as key base metals prices fell 1.2 to 2.0 percent and crude oil slipped 2.2. percent on growth concerns.
European shares dropped sharply on Monday, led by banking stocks on concerns that policy makers were not doing enough to come up with a permanent solution to the euro zone peripheral debt crisis as worries intensified that Greece could default. The FTSEurofirst 300 (.FTEU3) index of top European shares was down 3.3 percent after dropping 2.6 percent on Friday.
Japan’s Nikkei average (.N225) fell more than 2 percent on Monday to a fresh 2-1/2 year closing low.
The Dow Jones industrial average (.DJI) dropped 303.68 points, or 2.69 percent, to 10,992.13 on Friday. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index (.SPX) dropped 31.67 points, or 2.67 percent, to 1,154.23. The Nasdaq Composite Index (.IXIC) dropped 61.15 points, or 2.42 percent, to 2,467.99.
(Reporting by Atul Prakash; Editing by Jon Loades-Carter)
Egypt cancels decision on visas before travel
Monier Fakhri Abdel Nour told the official Middle East News Agency that he informed the Cabinet that “local and outside reactions indicated that issuing such a decision would have severe negative repercussions on the tourism movement in Egypt.”
Abdel Nour said the Cabinet had not issued any decision regarding the new rules, calling it only a proposal. He did not say who proposed the new measures.
Earlier, MENA quoted Deputy Tourism Minister Hesham Zazou as saying the Cabinet froze the decision.
The measure would have required tourists and other visitors to apply for visas in advance from an Egyptian embassy abroad instead of buying one upon arrival. It would not apply to tourists traveling in groups.
The proposed new rules would have included nationals from the United States, Europe, Australia, Gulf countries, Africa, Latin America and Asia.
Tourism is a pillar of Egypt’s economy and has been badly hurt by the unrest that began with the uprising that toppled Hosni Mubarak in February.