I’m glad he made it safely:) Tatiana

Translation:
Korean singer and actor Rain arrived in Jakarta for his concert tour. Rain was welcome with fans screaming.

The guy whose real name Jung Ji Hoon arrived at Soekarno Hatta, Cengkareng at 23.20 Jakarta time. His fans have been waiting for him since the afternoon.

The China Airways CI679 was late. The plane was scheduled to land at 20.20.

This delay probably affected his physical condition. He didn’t stop to say hello to his fans who have been waiting for so long.

Rain was wearing jeans, white shirt, gray hat, maroon muffler, black glasses, and the headphones. Occasionally he waved and smiled.

Extra security was waiting for him. Going out from the gate 2E, he almost trip off because of the fans swarm and narrow space.

However everything ran well. Rain was directly taken to the silver Alfard car B7RI that has been prepared by W Production.

Rain will held a concert on Dec 3rd at JITEC, Mangga Dua, North Jakarta. This concert is one of his Rainism Concert Tour.

Source: http://www.detikhot.com/read/2009/12/01/00…t-histeris-fans

When you see an ad for a cheap flight to Delhi, you should take advantage of the savings to have a wonderful holiday. Delhi is the capital of India and as such is one of the most wondrous cities of the world. Not only is the city a beehive of activity, but also a cheap flight to Delhi will place you in a location from which you can easily travel to other parts of the country, such as the Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and locations in North Central India.

Even though you might want to take advantage of a cheap flight to India, you really should spend some time in the city exploring the many impressive attractions. Explore ancient fortresses and majestic ruins where you can discover the history of this exciting and exotic India country. Here you will find a blend of the past and the present. Many dynasties have ruled this country through its lengthy and sometimes stormy history. The city of Delhi was destroyed on seven different occasions and has been rebuilt better each time. The many monuments throughout the city detail the pain and sorrow suffered by the people and stand as a testament to the past.

Forts and Monuments

A cheap flight to Delhi offers the opportunity to visit the forts and monuments of the city. There are so many sights to see in this great city that it is only possible to list a few of them.

Visit what some believe to be the predecessor of the Taj Mahal at Humayun’s Tomb. This monument, built of red sandstone by Haji Begum, the wife of Humayun, dates back to the mid 1500’s. It is one of the best examples of Mughal architecture in all of India. On the way to this tomb, you can also visit a mosque, called the Nizam-Ud-Din Shrine. Inside you will see a tank surrounded by tombs, but most importantly, it is the location of the famous Sufi saint for which the shrine is named.

Even if you don’t plan a layover as part of the itinerary of your cheap flight to Delhi, but have a few hours to wait, you will be able to visit the Safdarjung Tomb, as it is located quite close to the airport. This monument tells the story of a dying empire as the Nawab of Avadh built it for his father. It dates back to the mid-1700’s and lies in the middle of a garden spanning more than 300 square meters.

A must see when you do get a chance to fly to Delhi on a cheap flight is the Red Fort. This impressive fort has a perimeter of more than 3km, and the height of the wall ranges from 18 to 30 meters in places. During the evenings, you can enjoy a light and sound show that will give you a eyefull into the history of Delhi and the part the fort played in that history. The Lahore Gate is the site from which the prime Minister addresses the people on August 15 of each year. Just inside the gate there is a indian market called bazaar, where there is a shopping plaza with many types of items for sale.

The Jama Masjid is the largest mosque in India and dates back to its completion in 1658. This mosque has four towers and two minarets that are 40 meters high. From the top of these minarets, you can enjoy a bird’s eye view of the entire city of Delhi.

Visit the Rose Garden located in the Chanakya Puri section of the city. Here you will see many rare rose varieties. However, the best time to see the roses in bloom is during the months of December and January. If you are a lover of flowers and want to visit the many botanical gardens of Delhi, you should look for cheap flights for this time of the year.

Getting Around Delhi

Although you might save a lot of money with a cheap flight to Delhi, if you are not used to this city, you shouldn’t try to save money by renting a car. Take advantage of the many ways to travel in Delhi worry free. There are rickshaws or taxis available at the Delhi airport that will take you to your hotel. As soon as you clear customs, there will be many porters offering to carry your bags for you. You can arrange with the hotel where you make reservations to have someone meet you at the airport. If this is so, that person will have a sign bearing your name so that you can identify him. Check at the counter to arrange a taxi, as most of them have established rates from the airport into the city.

When traveling about the city, the hotel can arrange a taxi for you. Delhi is also a city of the rickshaw – a three-wheeled vehicle that is usually about half the price you would pay for a taxi. There is also a bus service that runs from the airport to the center of the city.

Enjoy your visit to Delhi, but remember that this is a big city where you do have to be careful of your belongings.

I am extremely tired, and need to post about the last couple of days. I am now back in the UK, and yesterday I had a massive day. It started at 4am, and ended…. well it hasn’t ended yet. It involved a road race and a narrowly missed crash (will post about as soon as the images are made available), a 12 hour flight and now I am back in the UK sat at my desk. It is surreal at times that places are so near, and yet so far. The flight to Cape Town is only the aforementioned 12 hours, and that is nothing. It is so close, and at the same time, that is a massive distance.

In Cape Town yesterday it was 30 degrees in the afternoon. Landing at Heathrow, and returning to home brought reality to me.

On a side note, has anyone seen the film ‘Stay’? Can you explain it to me? Perhaps I was over tired, but was he in fact projecting everything onto other people? hmmm…..  Whatever, I didn’t really like it!

I’ve reduced my self to a point where I am not sure if I respect my self anymore. A point where I’ve made choices and done things to people I never imagined myself doing. Choices other people have made which I would insult them for. I’ve literally trapped myself in a maze except this time, I’m trapped in a maze which is trapped in a maze. Getting out of it this time would be a lot harder than any experience in the past. Making things right no longer seems like the right thing to do completely, it’s also something that needs to be done. I need to clear the air so I can breathe and feel free as I once did.

The feathers under my wings which once gave me flight and freedom has fallen off and like all beings whose heart needs to beat and a body that needs to heal, it always takes time to grow back. That flightless phase is when it’s most uncomfortable. Change is uncomfortable. Letting go is umcomfortable.

Hmm… What a familiar ring that phrase has. “Let it go” she says. Maybe I will.

As they say, it takes two hands to clap. There’s only so much I can do. I want to make things right. I’ve hurt more than I intended. But it’s on them if they are not willing to let me in. Eventually, I know I will not regret but I still want to fix today. It’s this moment which matters.

It’s only human to make mistakes I guess, but what defines one is how you deal with it. You’ve made mistakes too. You’ve upset me too. I’ve always pushed it away. There are many things I don’t bring up because I choose to forgive and understand that it’s possible I may be jumping to conclusions. I’ve dealt with in such a way because there’s so many other things about you which makes me happy and makes me have such feelings for you. If I did not, I would react similarly to how you have to me.

I’ve let my guard down for too long. Exposure of ones vulnerability to others is determined by the level of trust one has for that person. That trust is about to be broken and I don’t want it to.

Let time do the talking and hopefully you speak first.

-Amir

http://amirlatiff.wordpress.com

PS: I speak through a split. I’m taking a step down to reflect and make necessary change as for the first time, I feel like my father. I will not submit to that.

Suatu hari di Makassar yang panas, ketika saya sedang dinas di Sultan Hasanuddin Tower (frekuensi 118.1MHz) terjadi perdebatan serius di belakang saya. Ya, dari teman-teman ATC saya. Mereka memperdebatkan tipe pesawat yang baru saja mendarat. Pesawat yang baru mendarat adalah sebuah Boeing dengan tipe 737. Mereka berdua sependapat dengan hal ini. Lantas, apa yang diperdebatkan. Ternyata mereka berdebat mengenai seri dari Boeing 737 (selanjutnya saya singkat B737) tersebut. Kalau yang mendarat adalah B737 seri 200 tentunya sangatlah mudah untuk dikenali karena karakter mesinnya yang kecil dan suara nyaring. Satu dari teman saya berpendapat bahwa yang baru saja mendarat adalah B737 seri 300, satu lagi menganggap itu adalah B737 seri 400, dan satunya mengatakan B737 seri 500. Mana yang benar? Memang sulit untuk membedakan ketiganya, apalagi mereka tidak terbiasa sudah lama tidak dinas di Tower. Bahkan saya pun mengalami kesulitan untuk membedakannya. Akhirnya saya putuskan untuk melihat flight plan untuk mengetahui seri B737 tersebut. Dari flight plan tertulis B737 seri 300. Teman saya yang pertama jadi sumringah (senang,red) karena merasa tebakannya betul dari yang lain.

Karena saya masih penasaran tipe yang sebenarnya, cara termudah adalah menanyakan kepada pramugari pilot yang “membawa” pesawat tersebut. Setelah saya tanya, pilot menjawab bahwa pesawatnya adalah B737 seri 500. Teman saya yang pertama tidak jadi sumringah, berkebalikan dengan teman ketiga. Lho, data flight plan koq bisa salah? Tidak usah heran, hampir setiap saya dinas saya temui hal seperti ini. Misalkan flight plan yang saya terima adalah airline A menggunakan B737 seri 400 namun yang berangkat adalah B737 seri 200. Ada juga yang di flight plan menggunakan B737 seri 400 namun kenyataannya menggunakan MD-82. Namun yang paling sering adalah registrasi pesawat yang digunakan. Misalkan di flight plan menggunakan pesawat dengan registrasi PK-SMA tapi kenyataannya PK-SMP. Sudahlah, jangan ditanyakan lebih lanjut kenapa seperti ini. Akan panjang ceritanya .

Kembali ke cerita awal. Setelah mengetahui ternyata yang mendarat tadi adalah B737 seri 500, salah satu dari ketiganya menyeletuk memberikan sebuah tebakan. “Apa beda B737 seri 900ER dengan seri 800?” katanya. Ada yang menjawab, “Jelas beda, dari angkanya saja beda”. Saya pun menyeletuk menjawab, “ukurannya yang beda, panjangnya, dan sebagainya”. Itulah yang saya tahu melalui data teknis yang pernah saya baca dari situs resmi Boeing. Ternyata, tebakan hanyalah tebakan, sesuatu yang dibuat untuk bercanda, dan tidak serius (maksudnya dibahas secara tidak serius). Jawabannya adalah (Anda tidak akan menduganya ), “kalo B737 seri 900ER gak dapet makan, kalo B737 seri 800 gak dapet..”. Kami pun tertawa bersama, mengingat airline A yang menggunakan B737 seri 900ER tidak memberikan apapun untuk dikonsumsi penumpangnya karena harga tiketnya juga lebih terjangkau, berbeda dengan Airline B yang menggunakan B737 seri 800 yang menyertakan konsumsi dalam pelayanan mereka dengan tiket yang lebih mahal tentunya.

Karakteristik Fisik B737 series (klik untuk perbesar)

Diluar dari itu semua, gambar di atas adalah alasan saya memberikan jawaban (yang lebih ilmiah) mengenai perbedaan B737 seri 900ER dengan B737 seri 800, walaupun hanya karakter fisiknya saja. Gambar tersebut saya kutip dari website resmi Boeing. Semoga bermanfaat.

Unlike most of the Tom Clancy games that have quite an interesting back story for the conflict at hand, H.A.W.X., has a forgettable and convoluted story about a squadron of pilots that, after being dismantled, create their own mercenary team for hire to the world called Artemis. After the United States interferes in a conflict in Brazil that the Artemis organization is handling, they eventually end up attacking the United States on American soil, which is where most of the remaining game takes place. The game has an arcade After Burner feel to it, but never quite feels as fun or easy to handle even on normal difficulty. Much like Tom Clancy’s entry into the real time strategy game, H.A.W.X. also fails as an entry into the flight combat genre.

Graphic and sound:

H.A.W.X. is a beautifully rendered game when the player is flying way up high looking down at the massive world size, but up close, it gets ugly and requires beer goggles to blur the line of acceptable. H.A.W.X. uses satellite imagery to create accurate and authentic environments, but fails to create any geometry up close. When the player flies low, the terrain is mostly flat and devoid of any geometry with pixelated textures. For a game that is devoid of millions of polygons, one would expect a frame rate of 60 at least and instead constant frame rate issues are apparent when multiple enemies are on screen. Voice animations are basically talking heads that are not even in sync with the dialogue, which makes it seem like the player is watching an old Kung-Fu movie. Sound effects such as gunfire and missile explosions sound reminiscent of the 16 bit era instead of 5.1 surround sound. In addition, some of the aircraft models are exactly the same even though the aircraft revision is different in real life.

Gameplay and controls:

H.A.W.X. is the first entry by Tom Clancy into the flight combat genre and it shows. The difficulty for the normal mode is absurd, with a ridiculous amount of enemies and a fighter jet that handles like a commercial airliner instead. The story is boring at best, which leads to the dismal multiplayer as an escape. Multiplayer consists of online coop with individual difficulty levels for each player or deathmatch with XP gains for wins that unlocks weapons presets. The game has 19 missions, which coupled with the enhanced difficulty of maneuverability and amount of enemies on screen with lag, will cause the gaming agony to last longer than it should. The game also provides an assist with radar and incoming missile detection, but it barely helps when the frame rate issues are the real problem.

Overall thoughts:

H.A.W.X. is a game that has come into a genre that already has an established aerial combat game that has been perfect for years called Ace Combat. There is no need to attempt to enter a genre that already has a polished series dominating it unless one can improve upon it and that is where H.A.W.X. fails. Nothing in H.A.W.X. is redeemable, which leads us to believe that there will be no sequel thankfully. Rent this game if the need arises to play another aerial combat game or just avoid it altogether.

Finding a cheap flight to Bombay might take a little bit of research online and in person, but you will be glad that you did. Visiting Bombay is one of the most interesting and culturally diverse things that you can do, and many people visit Bombay for quite a few reasons. First of all, finding a cheap flight to Bombay is more than just that making travel arrangements. Bombay is now currently known as Mumbai, and is the capital of the Maharashtra state in India. There are about 13 million people who live in Bombay, so visiting this city is something that is full of big city adventures for lots of people.

A cheap flight to Bombay will take you to an area that is off the west coast of the country of India. The city itself has a natural harbour that is quite deep. This is advantageous for the city of Mumbai, which takes care of more than half the passenger traffic in all of India, as well as most of the Indian cargo. A cheap flight to Bombay will take you to the hub of the commercial and entertainment areas in India, so you will be able to catch a glimpse of both areas while visiting the city. First of all, Mumbia is the commercial capital, which means that the major financial institutions, like the Reserve Bank of India, as well as the Bombay Stock exchange, are found here. Visitors who are interested in the commercial goings-on of India will enjoy their time in Bombay, because a cheap flight to Bombay means being right where the action is, and right in the middle of the business district of the city. However, commerce isn’t all that a cheap flight to Bombay will have to offer you. It is also the entertainment capital of India. This includes the Hindi industry of film and television, which is commonly called Bollywood. Film buffs, as well as history scholars, will enjoy taking a cheap flight to Bombay and visiting this area. This is because Bombay is the birthplace of the entire Indian cinema idea.

With a history that dates back to silent movies made by Dadasaheb Phalke, followed by talkies, the oldest film that was broadcast in India can be dated back to the early 20th century. This historical area of cinema also includes current entertainment, as well.

Mumbia has a large number of theaters and cinemas, and it is also home to the world’s biggest IMAX Theater. This theater shows Bollywood, Marathi, and Hollywood hits.

Not only that, but Bombay is one of the few cities in the world that actually has a national park inside its borders. This is something that is quite interesting to tourists of all types. One of the premier destinations for backpackers, family vacations, and couples is the Sanjay Gandhi National Park. It is not all cinema and park that brings tourists in on a cheap flight to Bombay, however. There are many other reasons that one might want to visit Bombay. Contemporary art is a main attraction in Mumbai. There are several government funded art galleries that are open for viewing. There is also a gallery of modern art, as well as several historical galleries, and a large public library.

With all the arts, culture, and historical books that can be found, a scholar can lose themselves in history and learning on a visit to this great city. For those backpackers and tourists who are looking for well-known historical sites, they will be able to find two UNESCO World Heritage Sites after a cheap flight to Bombay.

These are the Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus and the Elephanta Caves. Both these attractions are highly popular, and are among the primary reasons that people choose to visit Bombay.

For backpackers, these are two of the most popular destinations in India, and the hotels around them are usually quite cheap as well. In fact, cheap hotels and hostels in Bombay are so available that many people come and stay longer than they may have planned. They can take advantage of all there is to see and do, while having a cheap place to stay, as well. There are also several popular areas in the city that one might visit on a cheap flight to Bombay. These include Nariman Point, Chowpatti Beach, and Juhu Beach, as well as Marine Drive. These are all sites that are listed in travel guides and in other guidebooks that you can purchase beforehand or after you arrive in Bombay. With all that can be found in Bombay, it is no wonder that many people choose to spend a few pounds on a cheap flight to Bombay. There are many attractions in this bustling city, which is a treasure trove of history, culture, and life.

Time till flight: 19 days and 21 hours.

Today we are 19 days away from each-other. In 19 days, I’ll be flying to Germany to meet my love. It will be the 2nd time for me in Germany, and the 2nd time ever that I’ll be away from my country. Now that I know the ways of these things, I’m less worried about the flight itself, but not less excited.
There are a lot of new things waiting for me in Germany, like snow and freezing weather; The whole Christmas spirit, with streets decorated with lights and trees and everything Christmas; 2 weeks on January where I’ll be completely on my own, when M goes to Mexico; Shopping and more.

All that is nothing compare to how much I want to see M, my love. Only 19 days to go.

Flying in 3 weeks time with my girls to spend Christmas with my parents and brother on the Gold Coast.

I’ve never flown on my own with both girls. Generally one or the other will meltdown during a flight, usually I have another adult with me so it is easy to deal with… well easy for inflight meltdown.

I’m pondering making up some little business cards explaining my kids are on the spectrum and asking for patience and understanding….. and some packets of disposable earplugs. Then if a meltdown does occur I can just hand the card and earplugs over to anyone sitting near us.

Not sure how to word the card, I don’t want to give too much info but want to give enough so the people understand. I wouldn’t hand them out unless meltdowns were in progress, I don’t think random strangers need to know about my kids being on the spectrum unless it is impacting on them.

See meltdowns are a bad time to be talking to the girls, Heidi in particular needs me to be quiet and just provide her with the right sensory input, darkness, silence, squishes, whatever. Annie usually has to cry herself out without physical contact until she has calmed enough for hugs and logical discussion.

I remember reading somewhere about traveling with kids who are melting down inflight, one suggestion was that you will get more sympathy from fellow travelers if you appear to be trying to calm your child. It doesn’t matter if what you are doing is effective or not – and frankly how is a stranger going to know – so long as you look like you are trying to fix the problem. That makes sense and if it diverts antagonism away from my girls I’m happy to play that game.

But I’m also thinking of ways I can educate fellow travelers and make them feel more at ease. Particularly those in the seats close to us.

Which reminds me I had a brilliant idea of getting sleeping mask for Heidi’s eyes something that could block out all visual sensory input.

Should I be asking the Qantas people for assistance? Word up the flight crew before hand?

I am trying to be light, because heavy things don’t fly.–Amy Segreti

 The melancholy has started.  Early, this year, but it always seems to land on me.  December is what brings it.  It’s heavy and dark.  I want to shake it off, but I cannot.  It’s my shadow, attached to my feet, part of me and yet apart.  I can’t lose it.  It’s part of who I am.

Or is it?

Sometimes, I don’t know.  Like now.  I don’t really want to know, though, so I guess it’s okay.  All I do know is that I miss them, every single one of them, and I am tired of trying to be okay.  I am tired of all this in-between.  I am tired of this survival instinct.  I just want to melt away into something more than me and say it all happened for a reason, but most of the time there isn’t really one you can see.  Because you’re in it, and reasons only present themselves in the distance and benefit of wisdom.  So, where do we go from here?

###

There are things in my life that just piss me off, but only because I am so sad…only because I’ve tried so hard to be this or that and have failed so many times…so completely.  This makes my inner control freak pump her fist in the air and yell, “No fair.”  Because it Goddamn isn’t fucking fair.  But, then, what is?  And who said you were special?  This is life.  This is you, in the ruins of you.  Suck it up and deal.  Or go.  Those are the options.  Stop stewing and just live your life.  Whatever that means today.

That’s what I tell myself most days.  Because I believe it.  But there are days like Saturday when I just get so tired of all of it, and I decide to hole up in my bed and sleep.  I want to cry, but I don’t because I’m not entirely good at the crying thing — despite all the practice these five years has given me.  And I’m not so good at the sleeping thing either, but there isn’t a rabbit hole ready and waiting.  So, this will do.

I woke up just after 1:30 am, still sore from kneeling for hours with children, in heels.  It feels like I did 12 million squats, with weights on my thighs.  I keep telling myself this is a good thing because my thighs are still too large.  Some days, I wish I had long, skinny legs like the girls who easily fit into cigarette pants.  I look down at my bruised, scarred, stubby, Eastern European stock legs and feel my age.  “You’re too old for this shit.”  I am.  I know this.  Why do I still beat myself up instead of doing something more productive?

The truth is I am often still six years old.  That’s the point in my life when my brain was finally schooled in the life isn’t fair thing…and I had to believe them.  I couldn’t keep on denying all the lessons I had up until then.  “Okay, world.  I get it now.  Can you please stop hurtling lessons at me?”

And yet, this same lesson keeps coming.  Probably because, despite everything, I really want things to be fair and balanced.  I’ll move Heaven and Earth to believe in the delusion that — possibly…somehow…maybe…one day — it will be.  And I will have the life I want to have and not this difficult one that I seem to need.

But, then, I was always bull-headed.  That’s what Mama used to say.

###

December makes me heavy, but the truth is that I’m heavy all the time.  People who know me call me effervescent and effusive and enthusiastic and exuberant.  All kinds of “e” words.  But, really, sometimes I think, it’s just a grand spectacle designed to make you forget that I am sad and angry and every other shitty word on this planet.  And I am sick of it.  My whole life, I’ve tried to fly.  My name is my birthright for it.  AIM.  I’m supposed to straddle the stars and circle the moon.  I’m supposed to be a force to be reckoned with.  I’m supposed to change everything.  Because I am everything.

Aren’t I?

I’ve always put so much pressure on myself.  I had to, to get by.  The things other people have, I just don’t.  I can’t be ordinary.  I have to blow everyone else out of the water.  This is what I do, and I’m good at it.  Put me up against other people, and I win.  I will make you love me, even if you don’t know why you do.  And then, I’ll break your heart because I’m his daughter.  It’s what we’re born to do.

I want to stomp all over everything and yell, “Fuck you.”  But I don’t because that’s not what nice girls do, and I was raised to say “please” and “thank you.”  And that’s what I do, too.

I’m so angry, and I don’t know how not to be.  And I don’t know why some stupid month can bring this into my throat.  I don’t know why this keeps happening, but I want it to stop even though I know it needs to stay for me to stay the way I was just a day ago.  But maybe all of that was just a delusion, me putting one foot in front of the other and setting the blinders to oblivion so I wouldn’t be so scared.

I hate you, December.  I really, really do.

During a flight from Athens to Corfu last October (as a charter flight passenger) I used my mobile phone’s A-GPS to track the route – and of course satisfy my curiosity and test the accuracy while off the ground. The mobile phone was -of course- set to offline mode for safety reasons.
This is the landing at Corfu airport (yellow line, imported as KML in Google Earth) and it shows clearly why this airport is considered to be a bit scary when the weather is not good…
The weather during landing at CFU airport last Friday was very cloudy/rainy and really windy with lots of turbulence. Although it seemed that we were due to land on a south-southwest approach, at the very last minute the course changed and we landed from the north clearly due to strong winds. I also suspect the possible presence of a microburst at the south end of the runway but I can’t be too sure about it. The good thing is that there’s a Doppler radar quite close to the airport.
Note that this happens nearly every time a southbound flight is due to land and the weather is bad, something that happens usually during autumn and winter.
So you can see that when weather conditions are such, the pilot has only seconds to align the plane with the runway… And as further to the north is Pantokratoras mountain, the southbound landing planes can only make a last minute U-turn.
The thing is that the view can be really amazing as you can see the Corfu old town and every detail (when clouds allow ofcourse) but it can also be scary…well sometimes at least. Especially when a relatively large plane such as an Airbus A320 is involved.
I am pretty sure that when the new airport at Lefkimmi is built no such problems will exist anymore as the terrain in the south part of Corfu is not mountainous and approaching the runway will be far more easy, with no last minute U turns.

And this is the entire route recorded by the A-GPS

As for the built-in GPS device: At some parts there seemed to be no GPS signal (mainly while taking off)… and I can’t say that it can be safely used for navigational purposes at such heights unless ofcourse it is placed somewhere with unobstructed view to the sky (although I had a window seat there were times that no signal was available).  Not to mention that it takes pretty long to acquire signal when no Internet connection is available.

Since the beginning of time, we humans have dreamed of joining the birds and leaving our earth bound existence. For most of our history, this privilege has been denied to us. It is a dream that crosses cultural, religious, and ethnic divides – both the Bible and the Koran refer to flying as a form of freedom – and references to the desire to fly are found in almost all of the works we consider to be classic. Flight, as a dream, has been a magnificent topic in the thousands of poems and songs that have been composed.

Genius and artist Leonardo da Vinci created a sketch of a machine, which he believed would enable humans to fly, way back in the 16th century. Leonardo’s spirit was flying free more than three hundred years before his vision of powered flight was turned into reality by the Orville and Wilbur Wright; themselves working from the stepping stones put into existence through other flight machine inventors, in 1903.

Breaking Free Via Flight

While it may be hard to believe, humans have really only been flying in planes for just over a century. Amazing advances have been made in flight in such a short amount of time! Airplanes now exist in a variety of shapes and sizes, as well as capacities. Flight lessons, that will give you the chance to move out of the ordinary, are truly affordable for most people.

For those of us who have discovered the joy of flying, there simply is no better way to break free from our every day work world than by taking to the skies. There is no traffic, no traffic lights, and no stress caused by having to share space with thousands of other drivers. When you are soaring through the sky, there is only you, and your flight tools.

Bring New Perspective to Your Life

Being able to soar through the air in total solitude is just one of the many benefits of flight. You will also get to see beautiful landscapes, and fly over large spans of undeveloped country enjoying views that are nearly or completely impossible to access by land; you will surely see the world from a new perspective. The earthbound will never see such sights!

Many consider personal flight to be an inaccessible thing, either due to its price or due to the skills required. However, the truth remains that acquiring access to flight is quite an easy thing. You can easily find lessons at very good rates. Even though you may never be able to afford your own private aircraft, there are still many affordable rentals available countrywide.

If you’ve ever considered the freedom offered through flight, what’s stopping you? Discover the incredible sense of freedom that comes from flying a plane, and take advantage of the progress humans have made in the area of flight!

At Amsterdam Airport Schipol, if you’re late for your flight, airline personnel (particularly KLM) not only broadcast a polite, but extremely firm announcement that goes…

“Passenger X to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.  You are delaying the flight.  Please proceed to Gate Y immediately, or we will proceed to offload your luggage from the aircraft…,”

they personally come looking for you at all the possible gates in the terminal, and confront you face to face even if you look like you could remotely be on that flight, and try to identify people as they’re coming off the moving walkway.  It works.  You have to love the Dutch.

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree

When I disembarked from my Nairobi flight, a fellow American lady teased me about being from the ‘tropics’ as I was wearing sandals. Granted, I *was* wearing a rather subdued salwar khameez, I didn’t appreciate the assumption at 5:30 A.M. in the morning.  I responded, “I live in D.C.  I used to live in Boston.  Actually, I should be immune to the cold.”  She didn’t talk to me after that.  I wish I’d also added, “Atlanta, that’s pretty tropical.”  Post-colonialism optional indeed.

Air Jordan are a type of shoe made by Jordan brand, a sub-division of Nike, which were created for and endorsed by Michael Jordan. The first Air Jordans were released in 1984 and there has been a new shoe released every year since then, even continuing after Michael Jordan retired from professional basketball. The first Air Jordans were called Air Jordan I, and every year the number increases by one. The final Air Jordans will be XXIII or XX3, in honor of his jersey number. The convention for basketball shoes in 1984 was to be all-white, but the first Air Jordans were black and red, which drew a lot of attention to the shoes, and helped make the Air Jordan name famous.

Air Jordans are classified by style and year they were produced. The five types are originals, player exclusive, retro, retro plus, and sample. Every year Jordan Brand releases only one pair of shoes that had been previously released. The reintroduced style is sometimes brought back in different color schemes. Air Jordans are only released for one day to keep the value and popularity on them high and to keep the retro style they have intact. Air Jordan also releases Team Jordan shoes which are separate from the signature line that is only on sale on day per year.

Nike Air Jordan Flight or Air Jordan Flight 23s are part of the team shoes that are on sale at all times. The Air Jordan Flights usually feature the jumpman logo on the side and are updated version of older Air Jordan models of combinations of previous Air Jordan models. The flight models are often less expensive than the signature models, owing to the non-limited quantities. Some Air Jordan flights are casual sneakers not meant for basketball playing and thusly are low-top or low-cut sneakers, unlike the typical high-top for basketball shoes. Several Nike Air Jordan Flights have been released as children’s shoes also.

"Balloon Patterns III", Oil on Canvas.

Nancy Todd Roberts
Balloon Patterns Series

10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Images Gallery
7320 West 80th St.
Overland Park, KS
913.232.7113

Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday.

Artist’s site: http://www.nancytoddroberts.com
Gallery site: http://www.imagesgallery.org

The new year is still more than a month away, but Nancy Todd Roberts has already broken out the balloons.

Okay, so the balloons she paints are of a different sort — hot air, rather than helium — but her Balloon Patterns Series, part of the opening group show at Images Gallery’s new location, is most definitely festive.

The center front of Images is given over to bold patterns in bright primary and secondary colors, all on the bag-and-gondola theme.

It’s a departure from much of Roberts’ other work in oils. She has long favored a chiaroscuro style, playing light and dark against each other to deepen her paintings, but these are all about sunlight illuminating ripstop nylon.

Roberts has retained her trademark realism, though, and there is still plenty of depth in the balloon pieces because she has continued her practice of adding layer upon layer of color, each showing through the layers above it.

Some canvases depict groups of balloons. Others — like Balloon Patterns III, today’s featured piece — take a close-up view. Whatever its scope, though, each work is marked not only by an attention to pattern but by a glow partly physical and partly emotional.

The former is due to Roberts’ skill at painting light. The latter stems from humanity’s long fascination with flight.

Whether or not one has ever been in the gondola of a hot air balloon, there’s something in the human spirit that resonates with the idea of soaring above the earth, carried along by the winds, and enjoying a panoramic view stretching to distant horizons.

Roberts’ balloons might not mark any holiday … but the freedom to soar, even vicariously, is certainly reason to celebrate.

Walking is one of the best exercises you can do to get active. It is also good way to lose weight, shed inches and get a good workout. Walking will also help your health as well as your heart. Everyone can benefit from walking from time to time.

Just like all other exercises you need to start out slow. So when you are walking, if you are as out of shape as you think you are don’t start out speed walking you might get a little sick. So start out slow then speed up over time.

The most important thing to help you when walking is the right type of shoes. You are walking to become healthier not injured. So before you start walking make sure you have the right pair of shoes and if you don’t go to your local sports and athletics store and buy yourself a pair of walking/running shoes.

When you are buying walking shoes be sure that they are very comfortable on your feet. You don’t want to be walking and get cramps and blisters on your heels and feet. The length as well as how wide the shoe is going to matter too. You don’t want to have blisters after the first time walking in your new shoes; you won’t want to go walking anymore. So just take your time and buy the right type of walking shoe for you.

As you are looking for a new pair of walking shoes be sure that they are sold for walking and not something else. So if you are planning a walking/hiking trip you want a good shoe that’s suits both. The type of walking shoe you should have is one to be firm on your feet but should be able to bend easily as well. If you happen to be walking and it starts raining you need to get a shoe that will protect your feet from dampness causing blisters.

If you can not seem to find a good walking shoe you like you should then try the running shoe section. These types of shoes are good to walk or run in. You could buy a pair of hiking boots but they would only be useful for walking in the woods and not on pavement.

You should always dress to what or how the weather is acting. If it is hot and you want to get a good workout and really sweat then you might be interested in a sweat suit. Maybe you like shorts and a t shirt better. Maybe you just like shorts and no shirt if you’re a guy. It all depends on what the weather is like.

The only thing it takes to hurt your feet is a simple ankle turn to the left or right and you’re out of running for about a month. Waterproof shoes are good for anything. Walking or running it doesn’t matter which it is they are good for both and will protect you from the water or rain as well.

My Links : shoes for cheaps

I wanted to talk to you about how you can repair your television stand. I know a lot of you are thinking that it is going to need an expensive finishing put on it. I suppose this could be true in some cases, but for a lot of people won’t have to do much to make it look like more. There are a number of reasons why your stand could get up over the years. Scratches are something that you just have to put up with because they just seem to happen. Broken parts and glass can sometimes happen too, but I have tips for helping you out.

Let’s say that you have glass or wood doors on the front of the stand. Let’s say they broke in some manner. The glass got shattered or the wood came off the hinge. You might think that it would expensive to fix these things, but it isn’t. You can just reorder the parts from your manufacturer. They keep things like glass and doors handy, just because they’re the most likely to break. It’s better to go in this direction because you’re going to get the exact size and don’t have to worry about cutting things.

Another tip for getting out scratches is simple nail polish. A scratch rarely ever gets directly into the wood. Typically it scratches the finish on the stand. When you use clear nail polish, you’re going to get the scratched area filled in completely. Since it is clear, you’ll get the appearance of the finish and it will look new.

Learn more about Television Stand Repairs

Related : LCD TV Reviews

In warm weather, wearing sandals will be a great bet to keep your feet cool and comfortable. But it would be much embarrassing if your sandals stink in a crowd. Odor is actually caused by the sweat that gets accumulated in the shoe soles and thus generates odor causing bacteria. Well, here you can find 5 simple tips to avoid stinking smell in your sandals and have a trouble-free walk.

Whether you have been all day long in shoes or just an evening party, your feet tend to sweat. This sweat gets wicked by the soles of the footwear and further causes to the growth of odor causing bacteria thus producing stinking smell. Shoe odor not only spoils your impression in the crowd but also leads to foot-health issues like athlete’s foot. So, proper care should be taken with regard to shoe odor. But how one can prevent or remove smell from the sandals? Well, keeping your sandals smell free is not so tough task to do. Below listed are some easy ways to make your shoes smell free.

The foremost tip is always keeps your feet neat and dirt free. Wash your feet with some good antibacterial soap and most importantly scrub and then clean in between the toes properly. Wipe and dry your feet immediately washing. Never wear sandals with wet foot as this may cause in quick odor formation.
If your feet prone to sweat excessively, then it is ideal to prefer some antiperspirants to prevent moisture formation. One can even find antibacterial gels and antifungal powders available in the market to apply on your feet to restrict the bacterial growth in your feet and in the sandals as well.
Spray your shoes with disinfectants and deodorizers specially designed for shoe odor. They help in avoiding odor in your shoes and indeed prevent your foot health as well.
After every wear expose them to air or if possible dry them under sunlight but not in direct sunlight. This will kill the bacteria and keep your shoes smell free. You can even try sprinkling baking soda or bicarbonate in your sandals and leave them an overnight after every wear. Bicarbonate is an ideal agent to kill the bacteria and leave your shoes stench free.
Wear footwear designed with breathable materials like canvas or mesh that are highly breathable in nature and thus avoid any moisture formation that cause stench.

Related : birkenstock sandals

When I got out of bed at 4.45am this morning, I did so with a spring in my step.

As I shaved, bleary-eyed and fuzzy-headed, I couldn’t suppress a grin (which added to the challenge somewhat…)

I didn’t just jump in the car, I leapt.

Even an hour and half of traffic, roadworks and contraflows couldn’t dampen my spirits.

After I parked the car, the crispness of the early morning air bit through my shirt, but my shivers were more from excitement.

I quickly downed a coffee to keep me awake for the drive back.

And then, when I saw them, I was whole again.

J, Ollie and Ella appeared round the corner and passed through the doors into the arrivals hall.  I bounded like a demented spaniel up the walkway and enveloped J in a hug that seemed about a week too short. She turned to her friend T who she’d been staying with and who’d accompanied her on the flight back from Cape Town to assist with the twins and gave one of those looks that women are trained to deliver: the one that says ’sorry about him – I’m going to have to have him fixed one day…’

In front of the double buggy, I squatted and cooed and grinned like a loon. Ollie, who had apparently only just awoken (after sleeping right through the landing, the disembarkation, passport control and the luggage retrieval) appeared to be considering either crying or feigning death to escape.  Ella meanwhile, in the true spirit of the moment, smiled her six-toothed smile and filled my heart with 10000 watts of tungsten light.

By the time we’d walked back to the short stay car park at Heathrow Terminal 1, I’d already lifted Ollie out of the buggy and was leaping about with him.  I was determined that even if he’d forgotten me in the two weeks that we’d been separated, that he would quickly love this strange man who kept cooing ‘dadadadadada’ in his face. Thankfully, it appeared to be working.

Even as they all slept in the car on the way home, a warmth spread through me and my smile got so broad it’s a wonder my whole head didn’t shear off at the jaw. They were all home. My family – and my heart – was complete again.

A truly great day.

Air Jordan are a type of shoe made by Jordan brand, a sub-division of Nike, which were created for and endorsed by Michael Jordan. The first Air Jordans were released in 1984 and there has been a new shoe released every year since then, even continuing after Michael Jordan retired from professional basketball. The first Air Jordans were called Air Jordan I, and every year the number increases by one. The final Air Jordans will be XXIII or XX3, in honor of his jersey number. The convention for basketball shoes in 1984 was to be all-white, but the first Air Jordans were black and red, which drew a lot of attention to the shoes, and helped make the Air Jordan name famous.

Air Jordans are classified by style and year they were produced. The five types are originals, player exclusive, retro, retro plus, and sample. Every year Jordan Brand releases only one pair of shoes that had been previously released. The reintroduced style is sometimes brought back in different color schemes. Air Jordans are only released for one day to keep the value and popularity on them high and to keep the retro style they have intact. Air Jordan also releases Team Jordan shoes which are separate from the signature line that is only on sale on day per year.

Nike Air Jordan Flight or Air Jordan Flight 23s are part of the team shoes that are on sale at all times. The Air Jordan Flights usually feature the jumpman logo on the side and are updated version of older Air Jordan models of combinations of previous Air Jordan models. The flight models are often less expensive than the signature models, owing to the non-limited quantities. Some Air Jordan flights are casual sneakers not meant for basketball playing and thusly are low-top or low-cut sneakers, unlike the typical high-top for basketball shoes. Several Nike Air Jordan Flights have been released as children’s shoes also.