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Sweatpants Sketchbook
Sweatpants Across Europa, the story of my Euro travels many years ago, is a proud participant in the Sketchbook Project and has been digitized as well! Check it out here, complete with indecipherably small text (it's much better viewed in person at the Brooklyn Art Library) and below-average original sketchings by yours truly.
Sweatpants Across Europa: The End
A decade ago, I applied for a work visa in Britain and used it to work and travel for several months. This is that story. To begin at the beginning, go here. You can pick up a hard copy here or download the PDF here.
Far from the world of urban Europe there is a wilderness area in Minnesota called the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. Many people have been to the Boundary Waters once or more in their lives for a vacation, although a vacation in the BWCA is no walk in the park. The Boundary Waters is full of mosquitoes, outdoor latrines, long portages, and strange animal sounds in the middle of the night. It is the type of place you go if you are either an outdoor junkie or you have never been there before or you cannot remember how rough it was the last time you went.
Foreign travel can feel the same way. It attracts a few enthusiasts who enjoy every moment, but for most people it is a mix of uncomfortable adjustment and often painful discovery, to be enjoyed only when the struggles of the last trip have eased from memory.
On our return home, Karie and I both knew it would be a while before we would leave again. We had been struggling and adjusting non-stop for months on end. We needed a vacation from our vacation, or at least a return to normalcy. It was great to be back in a land full of sweatpants.
However, traveling gets in one's blood. It is stressful, expensive, and challenging. It is also thrilling, eye-opening, and highly addictive. Despite an ever-growing family, work, bills to pay, and dark news about world events everywhere, we still manage to get out and explore every once in a while. Though I am a homebody who does not like car travel and passionately dislikes flying, I have loved every trip I have ever taken. I would not trade a single one of them for an extra few dollars or another completed home project.
Fortunately, the world is growing smaller every day. Opportunities to explore new nooks are opening as we speak. So take them. Despite what the news tells you, you are not hated. You will be safe. You will be welcomed. You will meet wonderful people and see amazing sites and your life will never be the same afterwards. If you have an open mind, a touch of fearlessness, and are willing to be the only person in the room wearing a drawstring, then a mode of transportation and some time are all that separate you from your own collection of bizarro tales. Sweatpants Across…
<< London Again
Sweatpants Across Europa: London Again
By the time we arrived in London and found our way to our last hostel, it was nearly midnight. Our room was reasonably priced but it was also inconveniently located far from the airport, the paint was peeling off the walls, and the beds sagged to the floor. However there were two other people in the room and they had been there for a few nights, so we knew survival was possible. At that point, survival was all we wanted. Soon we would be home.
<< France The End >>
Sweatpants Across Europa: France
Paris is a wonderful city for tourists. It has a few extremely high-profile attractions. It has a subway system. It has delicious cuisine available on nearly every street corner. Most attractions are within a long but reasonable walk from each other (although the Eiffel Tower is always much, much farther away than one thinks it is. Trust me.) Paris should have been the highlight of our trip. But it wasn't.
I knew it wouldn't be. I didn't know how it wouldn't be, but I knew from experience that in some way, Paris would frustrate me. The first time I went to Paris, I was a poor college student touring with some friends. We sat down to enjoy a snack at a small café. I wasn't very hungry, but agreed to go along. The waitress took our orders but became very stern when she came to me and I told her I didn't want anything. "You have to order some-seeng," she said. I did not expect this sort of ultimatum. Have to? I had learned to expect bizarre rule enforcement from customs agents or DMV employees but not restaurant staff. Irritated, I ordered a sparkling water. I hated sparkling water but it was the cheapest thing on the menu.
For my return to Paris, I went with an open mind. These are nice people, I told myself. They mean well. There are just a few bad apples who are either arrogant or rigid. Due to the friendliness of the Parisians we encountered or maybe a bit of luck, our trip went without incident. Except for some rain during our visit to the Eiffel Tower, Paris was brilliant. We ate croissants every morning, visited art galleries that included paintings even I recognized, and never once felt the urge to make a tasteless World War II joke. Until we tried to leave.
All that stood between us and a flight home from London was a ride on the Eurostar, the high speed train that traveled between England and France beneath the English Channel. We arrived at the Eurostar station at 6:43 PM, ready to buy our tickets for the 7:19 train to Waterloo. By the time we got there, the 6:16 train had not even left yet. Unfortunately there was a bit of a line, but it looked manageable. By the time we were at the front of the line, probably around 6:50, we were told we could no longer buy tickets for the 7:19 because we had to check in thirty minutes prior to the scheduled departure (never mind departure was clearly going to be at least an hour late). In situations like this, one expects a bit of compassion. Unfortunately, Paris is not the place to be a frustrated American looking for compassion. The ticket person told us that there was nothing she could do – regulations are regulations, after all – but we could go upstairs and plead with the EuroStar ticket window people up there.
Anyone who has ever been transferred from one customer service agent to another can quickly recognize an impending goose chase. Just in case the upstairs Eurostar agents were not able to fulfill the hopeful predictions of their downstairs counterparts, I asked if the next train, which left at 8:43, had any student-priced tickets available. It did not. If we did not manage to board the 7:19 train for forty euros, we would have to board the 8:43 at full price, whatever that may be. Not the best outcome, but not a huge problem, I thought.
We bolted up the aforementioned flight of stairs, past a sign marked "ticketed passengers only," and approached a bank of ticket windows that must have been for ticketed passengers who just wanted more tickets. We waited in another, slower moving line while the clock ticked away. Growing increasingly frustrated, we spoke with a very unsympathetic Eurostar ticket agent who clearly had no interest in selling us a student-priced ticket aboard the half-full 7:19 train. However he did tell us that we could wait until twenty minutes before boarding to see if any "released tickets" came up. To nobody's surprise, no tickets were released. We asked, as kindly as possible, what the full price of the tickets was. "145 euro, round trip," was the reply.
Doing some mental math, we calculated the cost of a one-way trip. "Ah," thinks I, "so a full price, one-way ticket would be half of that, or roughly seventy euros." It certainly was not the price we wanted, but it was reasonable. So we asked, "What about one-way?"
I assumed he misspoke. I asked if he was correct and, in fact, a one-way ticket was nearly twice as expensive as a round trip.
He seemed to be enjoying this.
Needing to calm down, I wandered away for a bit. The 7:19 train pulled away from the station. There were no better deals waiting for us. At that point, the price I would pay to leave France was rapidly rising. Lacking better options, we paid, boarded our train, and stewed silently while the dark French countryside flew by.
<< Turkey London Again >>
Sweatpants Across Europa: Turkey
As our vessel pulled into the Bodrum harbor, we were told we could not dock because our ship was too large. We needed a tender to bring us to port. But we couldn't use our on-board tender because only Turkish tenders were allowed ashore. But we couldn't use a Turkish tender because…they didn't have one. So it was decided that we would be allowed to put a Turkish flag on our own tender and proceed to the coast.
Security for tourists in Turkey was world-class. I never felt safer abroad than when I was in Turkey. In previous ports, we would walk off our boat without a security check and immediately go about our business. In Turkey, we flashed our security badges to the border guards at the harbor, then walked past a stern crew of Turkish police looking for anybody acting suspicious near the border checkpoint. It appeared they had learned some hard lessons and were not about to make those mistakes again.
Once safely in the country, we were introduced to a fortified city constructed by the Knights of St. John's. There was a beautiful aquatic museum full of artifacts discovered off the Bodrum coast. We walked through towers inside the city walls decked out as they might have been in the 16th century.
One of the main attractions in Bodrum was the Mausoleum, an Ancient Wonder of the World. We set out for it and, after wandering uphill through many rundown apartments and tight alleys, found the site. There were some pictures of what the Mausoleum could have looked like and we walked among what must have been its basement or possibly some underground parking.
Our self-guided rubble-walk did not take very long so we had time to check out the next-largest icon on our tourist map, an ancient Roman theater. There were very few signs leading us to the Mausoleum and absolutely nothing guiding us to the theater. Even so, we eventually found our site half a mile away, on the far side of a highway bordering the outskirts of Bodrum. There was only one person there, a rough-looking gentleman who asked us over and over again if he could take our picture. Perhaps he was hoping we would mistake him for some sort of official keeper of the ruins or picture-taker extraordinaire, but we ignored him and walked around on our own. The theater was nicely intact and not too overgrown. We walked to the top row of seating to enjoy a nice view over the highway, down toward Bodrum's shores.
Once we were back into the middle of homes and apartments, we started to hear music that sounded like it might have been coming from somebody's car. To my untrained ears, it was a haunting sound. As we walked deeper into town, it grew stronger. As the sound became louder and louder, so did my run-and-hide instinct. But nobody on the street seemed to be panicking. Either there was nothing at all to worry about or there was something extremely horrible to worry about. I KNEW Turkey would be exciting!
Finally we came upon it. It was not a stereo or a car at all, but a speaker in a minaret tower. It was prayer time. Relieved, but also fearful that we were trouncing all over local customs by walking the streets during prayer, we proceeded cautiously towards the city. After a few more nervous minutes, we stumbled on Bodrum's main street and saw other people milling about as though this sort of thing happened five times every day and only a clueless traveler would have an ounce of concern.
We stopped in for a bite to eat at a shore-side café and found some very helpful Turks who told us which dolmuş to take to get to the most beautiful beaches. We thanked them and jumped on the first ride that came by. A dolmuş was a combination bus and taxi. I'm still not sure if they had defined routes. Our driver took requests pretty regularly, heading off in bizarre directions whenever someone shouted out something new. I never saw a dolmuş station or a dolmuş stop. We picked up people along the way wherever we found them. Despite all this, the dolmuş system worked remarkably well. We were at our destination quickly, despite a significant language barrier, no route schedule, and some very vague instructions.
Our destination for the afternoon was the sandy shore of Barlacki Beach in front of a magnificent hotel. The beach was full of European tourists and we had to pay a small fee to the hotel for the privilege of sitting on the sand with them, but it worked out well. For our sitting fee, we received a towel and an umbrella and had access to the softest white sand on which I have ever set foot. Perched at the bottom of a barren hillside dotted with round green bushes, the beach bordered perfectly clear, deep blue water, the kind one sees on Caribbean vacation post cards. The sea bottom was as soft as the shore and sloped so gradually that we could wade endlessly before needing to tread water. We had a fabulous afternoon in the sun and surf before walking back into town, past several more hotels and a fenced-off military facility that seemed perfectly located to remind tourists to keep their guard up.
After a queasy night on choppy seas, we woke in Kusadasi. There was very little to do in Kusadasi. However, Kusadasi was very close to the biblical city of Ephesus. Tour companies loved this because they could list "Kusadasi/Ephesus" as a destination on their cruise but charge extra for add-on tours of Ephesus. Despite this apparent scheme we decided to take the tour, abandoning Kusadasi and its many newsstands and suitcase vendors.
The tour bus came to pick us up and we were greeted by a phenomenally talented tour guide. He was – and I believed him about this – part time tour guide, part time Turkish ambassador to Russia. Apparently if you are extremely bright and you want to make a lot of money in Turkey, you go into tourism. His English, one of many languages he spoke, was flawless. During the ride he told us about the history of Ephesus, its significance as a Mediterranean port during the biblical era, and how it filled in with silt, which killed the town as the coast moved out to Kusadasi.
The marble ruins of Ephesus were intact, set in a field of straw grass at the base of several barren foothills. The main street, which sloped down toward the former seashore, was bordered on one side by ancient market stalls where silversmiths once hawked trinkets of Roman gods. Along the opposite side there was a stone foundation and stalls for a co-ed (yes, co-ed) bathroom. At the base of this street sat a towering room that housed the Ephesian Library. To the right of the library, down a short road, lay a fantastically large, acoustically perfect open-air theater where the Apostle Paul was famously scheduled to preach before being run out of town.
Our day in Ephesus was hot and there was little shade. We were happy to board the bus and return to the cooler coast, but Ephesus was well worth the trip. I had goose bumps walking through those ancient roads, the same ones my Sunday school teachers once tried in vain to make me appreciate.
After returning to Kusadasi, we got our first taste of Turkish salesmanship. The bus dropped us off at a rug store where we were taken downstairs and treated to a well-choreographed display of fast talking and rug throwing. As the salesman described one rug after another and fed us apple tea, his assistants grabbed rugs that were scattered strategically in large piles throughout the room and flung them before us. The rugs floated in the air for an unnaturally long period, then fell in a dazzling array of bright colors and patterns on the floor. Several of the rugs were sewn with a unique thread that made the fabric appear to change hues as it moved through the air. I muscled together a mountain of self control and we walked away empty-handed. But the seed was sown. Few tourists left Turkey without a rug. Now we knew why.
The next morning, our cruise ended in Istanbul. We were back in the cold, cruel world and it was a bit of a shock. We had grown accustomed to a life of luxury and spent a few disoriented minutes trying to get our travel brains back. We dug out a map, spun it a few times, took our best directional guess, and marched off across a bridge over the Bosporus Strait.
Our first stop was the Blue Mosque, a very large, appropriately named, blue mosque. The mosque sat in the middle of an elaborate garden, full of knee-high hedges and bright flowers. Because it was still a functioning mosque there was no entrance fee, so we walked right in. I had never been inside a mosque in my life, so my primary goal was to avoid offending someone. Fortunately, there were plenty of other tourists milling about, staring at the walls. Four very large "Elephant's Feet" pillars supported the dome. The walls were covered with thousands of hand-made blue floral-patterned tiles. The entire floor, except for a roped-off tourist area, was reserved for prayer space and was covered with prayer rugs. On the eastern wall was a small staircase leading to an elevated podium where the imam would lead the prayer service.
After a trek through Hagia Sofya nearby, we headed to the Basilica Cisterna, which our guidebook listed as a "must see." By that point, I was skeptical of anything our guidebook said, but the Basilica was close by and we couldn't think of a better option. It turned out to be a very good decision. We entered on ground level and took five flights of stairs down below the surface. At the base of the steps, we stood at the entrance of a perfectly preserved Roman temple. As our guidebook told us, the temple had sunk into the ground over the past few centuries, leaving it completely buried. A bit of careful digging exposed the original structure but the floor remained covered under a few inches of water. High above, the ceiling dripped steadily. Every pillar was preserved intact - thirty feet high, two feet wide, and meticulously aligned in perfect rows. For once, our guidebook was right. We walked in awe through the ancient pathways, able to appreciate the beauty of Roman architecture in a way that roofless ruins could never inspire.
Wincing as we stepped back into daylight, we strolled to the Grand Bazaar, a market that redefined high-pressure sales. For such a loud, chaotic, fantastic place, the Bazaar barely announced itself from the street. Nestled amongst ordinary shops and offices were several innocuous doorways marked "The Grand Bazaar." Inside lived a circus of noise and glitz. Throngs of salesmen and customers engaged in perpetual, animated negotiation. The air smelled of spices, dust, and sweat. A haze hung throughout, adding to the sense of excitement and mystery. Most stores offered jewelry, handcrafts, or rugs, all without a price tag. Buyer, beware.
Somewhere in this crazed arena - we were sure - lived a rug just for us. We walked past several shops, avoiding eye contact with the shopkeepers as we tried to gain confidence. Summoning an extra ounce of courage, we engaged one of the salesmen and were whisked inside to a private room. Apple tea arrived immediately. Just as we saw in Kusadasi, a pair of assistants flung rugs in front of us while the head salesman watched eagerly. When we saw one we liked, the assistants stepped to the side and the salesman sat down beside us to discuss price. He gave us - in my opinion - a very high starting price, which we countered with a ridiculously low price. The gap seemed insurmountable, hundreds of dollars, but we whittled away our differences until I could not whittle any more. The salesman sighed, sat back, and told us we could have a few minutes to think. Karie and I sat in confused silence while he looked off in the distance. After an awkward eternity, we told him we were at our limit. The salesman asked for our final price. We repeated our bid. He asked for our final, final price. We repeated ourselves again. Convinced that we might be serious, he asked us what our occupation was. I thought for a minute and replied "students." I think I actually felt his eyes roll. All hope of finding a final, final, final price gone, he agreed to give us our rug. The next few minutes were a blur as his assistants magically reappeared and dove into a frenzy of rug rolling and wrapping. Our salesman ran - literally ran - with us to the cash machine so we could pay him. We returned, received our rug, and were ushered out the door with encouragements to tell our friends.
I have no idea if we got a great deal or not. Price tags, the crutches I depend on to know the value of an object, do not exist in the Grand Bazaar. What I do know is that I love our rug, in part because of how exciting it was to purchase it. Wal-Mart will never, ever be able to provide that thrill, no matter how many rolls of toilet paper they fit inside a single package.
Confused and riding on a little too much bargaining adrenaline, we wandered aimlessly around Istanbul, managing to get ourselves very, very lost. We walked into a dingy internet café to get our bearings. The computer I selected did not work. I mentioned this to the clerk and got an angry glare from him and several people sitting near him. It was possible that he and his friends always looked angry, or preferred not to speak English. Whatever the case, I did not want to push it. I had my rug. I did not need a working computer, especially if it meant dealing with potentially cranky customer service personnel. Karie and I packed up and left, trying to avoid their stares.
The next day, we stumbled on a series of vocally gifted street vendors, one of whom continuously yelled "KEBAB KEBAB KEBAB KEBAB KEBAB!!!!!!!!!" Impressed, I bought a meatball sandwich from him. It was undoubtedly the most severely undercooked meatball sandwich in all of Istanbul. At that moment, I vowed never again to base my purchase decisions on lung strength.
That night, we decided to check out a Turkish bath, under the misguided assumption that Turks, like the rest of the world, prefer bath time to be a relaxing experience. At the bath house, I was quickly whisked away to the men's bath, Karie to the women's. From there, I was escorted by a very large, very rough man to the changing room, then the sauna, then given the hot bath, then the vicious scrubbing, then the vigorous massage, then the cold bath, then taken back to the sauna, then the shower, then left on my own for the drying and re-dressing. I'm not sure how long it all took. It was thoroughly cleansing, but it was by far the most brutal bath beating I have ever had. I think I'm still sore.
Also, it cost me 28 million lira. I refused to do the math and figure out how many dollars that was. I was just proud I could afford 28 million of anything.
We returned to the Blue Mosque at ten o'clock that night to take in a prayer service. We were a bit nervous. In theory, we were welcome to view the prayer service, but it was dark, we had never done this before, we were completely unfamiliar with local customs, and deep in the back of our minds we knew that we were Americans and at least a few people in this part of the world despised us because of that. We made our way through the darkened streets of Istanbul, past the gardens of the Blue Mosque, and up to the entrance. Quietly and slowly, we neared the doorway, our traveler-sense on high alert. Just as we poked our heads in the mosque to see if the coast was clear, we were stopped by an attendant.
Expecting the worst, we were amazed when he graciously invited us inside. Even though we were clearly outsiders, he seemed eager to let us watch the service. I was floored, though I should not have been. By this time, I should have put the pieces together. Of all the people in all the countries we visited, Turkey held the kindest and most outgoing. This realization dawned on me as I walked inside the gigantic blue dome and listened to the enchanting sound of the evening prayer.
The service was simple. Worshippers kneeled and bowed on individual rugs while the muezzin sang and chanted prayers out of the minaret. After several minutes, we let ourselves back out into the cool nighttime air.
We got up early in the morning and took a shuttle to Ataturk International Airport, one of the most tidy, modern, and secure airports I have ever been in. We made our way through four security checkpoints before boarding a brand new Boeing 737. The flight was perfectly smooth. Onboard, we were offered a wide selection of international newspapers and fed a delicious meal.
If you get tired of reading miserable news from the Middle East or you want a wonderful urban vacation, put Istanbul high on your list of destinations. You will not regret it.
<< Greece France >>
Sweatpants Across Europa: Greece
Our accommodations on the ferry, which we had upgraded from "open air" to "dormitory," closely resembled naval beds, but were slightly more comfortable than the apartment floor in Rome. The sea was calm and we slept well. However, at 4:30 AM we arrived at the first port-of-call, Iguomentsia. I might have missed this port were it not bored into my ears for thirty piercing seconds. "IGOUMENTSIA IGOUMENTSIA IGOUMENTSIA IGOUMENTSIA IGOUMENTSIA IGOUMENTSIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Needless to say, nobody missed Iguomentsia, including those of us who would have gladly slept through it.
By 12:30 PM, we arrived at Piraeus, ready to catch our express train to Athens. Unfortunately, the daily speedy train from Piraeus to Athens was scheduled to leave at 12:22, just minutes before the daily ferry arrived. This meant we and all our fellow passengers were forced onto the next train, which did not leave for two and a half hours. When our ride finally pulled in, it was a sight to behold: black, no doubt from all the soot it was belching out; noisy as a cat on fire; and unimaginably slow. In addition, it stopped approximately every twenty-five feet from Piraeus to Athens. If we had the energy, I am sure we could have beaten the train to Athens on foot. We eventually got acclimated to the rocking and the squealing and the stopping and the smells and began to enjoy our cliff-side coastal views, which were well worth all the inconveniences. I slowly became comfortable with the sheer hundred-foot drops off the side of the train. A nice old Greek lady could see me trying to glance out her ocean-side window, so she offered her seat to me and appeared to appreciate the interest I was taking in her country's landscape. Just when it seemed we would be slowly touring Corinth for the entire day, we arrived in Athens. Our little-engine-that-could made the trip in just over five hours at an average speed of four miles per hour.
We were able to get a reasonable rate at the nearby Aphrodite Hostel. We grabbed some pizza, baklava and had a few drinks at the hostel bar, then settled in for the night.
We spent the next morning walking to the Acropolis, past streets lined with merchants and newsagents. Near the Acropolis, we encountered a steep incline with many crisscrossing streets and small alleys filled with tourist shops. One shop sold little backpack patches that looked like national flags. In my post-September-11th delusions, I imagined we would catch fewer scowls as we traveled east if I looked, spoke, and acted exactly like a Minnesotan but wore a little Canadian flag patch on my backpack. Thus, I completed my foolproof guise and we were transformed from lost Americans to lost Canucks.
After asking several people how to get to the top of the Acropolis, we found our way to the center of ancient Greece. However, ancient Greece - at least, its modern-day operating workforce - was on strike until noon. To kill some time we wandered around the base of the hill and passed many workers placing bricks down in order to recreate an ancient Acropolis road for the 2004 Olympic Games. It looked like an endless task and I'm sure it paled in comparison to the rest of the work that needed to be done in the next two years. I still have no idea how they completed preparation for those games.
By mid-afternoon we were hot and hungry, so we decided we'd better eat something. We found a nice café in town for moussaka, rice-filled tomatoes, and ouzo. While we were eating, the restaurant owner sat on a nearby curb and cooed at passing women. He seemed to take special interest in Asian women, putting on his best English accent to greet them with calls of "Hello Chinese…. beautiful Chinese." He did not seem to fare well, but he persisted undaunted.
The next morning, we took our time getting ready and did some last-minute sightseeing around the base of the Acropolis hill. As I was taking a break from all the walking we had done, I was accosted by a fellow Canadian who saw the patch on my backpack and wanted to chat about being Canadian. He wanted to know where I was from. "Thunder Bay," I replied, which was the only city in Canada I had ever been to.
"Oh really!" he said. "We're from Victoria."
"Wow, it's nice there!" I told him, and then realized the only place for me to hide was the bathroom, so I quickly broke away and prayed for no parting questions. It was a close call. I was quite impressed with my on-the-fly ability to fool even the most Canadian of tourists.
Our next destination was a return to Piraeus. There were very few reasons for one to return to Piraeus. Unless, of course, one's uncle won a Mediterranean cruise but could not use it because he won it in a raffle event for a charity that he himself was in charge of and he was not allowed to give it back to the raffle, so he gave one the cruise as a pre-wedding gift - which one cannot believe one's lucky stars one got, especially after sleeping in dodgy hostels and eating pot noodles for five weeks – and one was required to catch the aforementioned cruise ship in Piraeus. So it was with much joy that we left for Piraeus.
Piraeus was a small city that consisted of a port and little else. But my, what a large port it was. We trekked around ship after increasingly large ship for over an hour until we found our vessel at the far end of the harbor. By the time we made it, we were rushed on board minutes before departure.
Our lives at sea were a stark contrast to everything else we had experienced in the previous four months. If we wanted anything anytime, somebody would come rushing to our side and smile and immediately give it to us. Every meal included thirty seven courses and pushed the elasticity of our stomachs.
At 8 AM on the first morning, the roar of the motors woke us as we docked. We received a "USA News" packet so that we could keep tabs on what was going on back home. The top news for that day was that terrorists were planning an attack soon on Istanbul International Airport, the same airport we were going to use for our upcoming flight to Paris. Fantastic.
Our first destination was the island of Mykonos, a fairy-tale island full of white sand beaches, bleach-white homes, and the sort of cleanliness that one only finds in vacation communities of the very wealthy. We wound our way around the small city, spent some time on the beach, pretended to blend in with the ultra-rich tourists, and came face to face with a live pelican.
We awoke again the next morning to the sound of the motor churning in reverse as the ship pulled into the harbor of Santorini. Santorini was an island in the shape of a doughnut, the middle having been blown out by a gigantic volcano many centuries ago.
We took a small ferry from the ship to the island, then hopped on a donkey and zigzagged our way up a very steep cliff. I hated zigzagging up that steep cliff on a donkey, especially with Karie snickering at my white knuckles and my clever donkey enjoying the occasional lunge to the edge of the path. Somehow we made it to the top, which was covered in a cloud of mist. Again, we walked through tight alleys bordering whitewashed homes, quiet restaurants, and blue-domed chapels.
On the way down, I convinced Karie that we did not need to take the donkeys. Overpriced, I said. Gravity is on our side, I said. I soon discovered the number one reason donkey peddlers were doing such swift business. The cliff path was coated with several inches of donkey manure. We kept a keen eye out for clean footholds but still managed to trip and slide several feet down the path through some not-so-clean footholds. Tired and smelly, we made it to the bottom, where our cruise ship helped us quickly forget the trials of the donkey trail. We spent the afternoon onboard our ship in the Santorini harbor, swimming in the pool and hot tub. Sometimes life did not seem fair. It was nice when those times worked in our favor.
Our third day of cruise-life took us to Rhodes. Rhodes was a walled city filled with rug shops, presumably because it was within shouting distance of Turkey. The moat surrounding the walls of the city was filled with gargantuan cannon balls, as if the water had recently dried up and nobody had gotten around to clearing away the remains of the last battle. We toured a museum, noticing artifacts that were much older than anything we had seen to this point. Some of the pottery chips and spear heads and metal sticks with balls on the end were dated without numbers, just impressive eras like "Late Bronze Age." As we traveled east, human history seemed to be receding before us.
<< Italy Turkey >>
Sweatpants Across Europa: Italy
Leaving Slovenia was no problem. The exit customs officials were much less picky than their entry counterparts. All I had to do now was get by the Italian entry station.
Fortunately, the Italian official did not seem to be too detail-oriented. I don't think he would have known if I had given him the backing to a spiral notebook with a stick figure scrawled on it. He was perfectly fine with my passport and let our whole bus through without making anyone get off and prove themselves. However, our bus driver spent the rest of the ride stewing over our layover in Slovenia. When I got off in Trieste and tried to apologize, he looked at me with a sneer and, using his best Rodney Dangerfield voice, told me my "brain [was] kaput." Several times. Thanking him for his honesty, we caught our train to Venice.
The train into Venice took us over a lengthy bridge that sat only a few feet above the water, allowing us to pass gondolas and transport boats at eye level. Upon arrival, the rain kept us from venturing out in search of a hostel, so we stood in a long line outside the tourist office and waited to find a room. Oddly, the tourist office did not book hotel or hostel rooms. So we were back to square one. Not a minute of confusion passed before we were approached by an umbrella-carrying gentleman who wanted to take us to his "hostel" nearby. Wary but needing a room, we followed him a few soggy blocks down an alley to a run-down apartment building. This hostel was little more than a multi-bedroom flat he shared with whoever he could pick up at the train station. Not really wanting to search anymore and convinced by this man that he was legitimate, we decided this was the place to stay. After a touristy meal at a paper plate buffet restaurant across the street, we were off to sleep, listening to the endless, soothing Venetian drizzle.
After a couple more rainy days in Venice, we visited Florence briefly and made our way to Rome, where my guard went up tenfold. Nobody does pick pocketing and tourist scamming better than the 21st century Romans. In a previous trip here, I left my friends at the train station where they were quickly picked up by an unlicensed cabbie who took them on an unrequested tour of residential neighborhoods and charged them double the going rate. One is wise to keep on one's toes in this town.
Fortunately for us, we were staying with friends for the next three days. Unfortunately, they lived at the end of the metro line, plus two bus stops beyond that. It took us an hour, but eventually we found their apartment. It was an enormous relief to be in the company of familiar faces after six months abroad. No more worrying about saying the wrong thing or wondering whether the adjacent stranger loved, hated, or didn't care about you - at least for the night.
In the morning, we trekked back into town for a tourist's assault on the city. We took in a Sunday message from an aging Pope John Paul II. From there we embarked on a whirlwind tour of attractions including the Coliseum, the Vatican, St. Peter's Cathedral, the Spanish Steps, and quite a few others. Rome was just small enough that we thought we could get everywhere by walking, but just large enough that it wore us down significantly when we tried. Tired, we headed home early for dinner and slept well.
The following morning, figuring it would be one of our last chances to pick up a replacement passport, we headed to the U.S. Embassy. They made us feel like visiting dignitaries; that is, until we were charged seventy-two euros for the passport. They also took my old passport, which had been with me for many previous trips and held a lot of sentimental value. To make matters worse, while we were waiting for our turn in line, Karie discovered that our camera had been stolen from our backpack in the subway en route to the embassy.
Mourning the loss of our camera and passport, we met our hosts for dinner at a very nice restaurant with respectful service and reasonable prices. As our hosts advised, to find the best restaurants in Rome, just follow the collars. Go where the clergy go. Sure enough, in walked a cardinal just as we began eating. The meal was delicious and included a sing-a-long of Ave Marie. After three hours of luxury, we were treated to a cab ride home by our hosts. Chatting with our old friends, we watched the lights of Rome pass by overhead.
After sleeping in and reserving our train ride ahead of time to avoid any surprise fees, Karie and I ate nearly all of the breakfast food in our host's apartment, said some reluctant good-byes, and headed for the train. We connected with our shuttle to Bari, the exit port for our ferry to Greece, and were graced by a charming array of hillside vineyards and winding rivers.
In Bari, we bought our tickets from a very bored sales clerk and had a brief but confusing discussion with the shuttle driver who was to take us to the SuperFast Ferry.
Me: "Is this the SuperFast Ferry shuttle?"
Guy: "Yes. After."
Me: "Should we get on?"
Guy: "Yes. After."
With that he slammed the doors in our face and sped off without us. Not knowing what all this "after" business was about, I became a bit worried. Thankfully, it only meant that his van was full and he would come back "after" a short period of time. So we waited and caught the "after" shuttle and were soon on board our ferry for the night. Our dinner of chicken sandwiches on rubbery bread with a side of cheesy rice balls was capped off by a vibrant sunset over the fading Italian shore.
<< Slovenia Greece >>


Thank you for visiting the Healing With Needles website and congratulations on taking the initiative and this step forward in healing yourself from the inside out.
If you have landed or clicked onto this site because you've either exhausted all your options with western medicine or just curious about how needles, cupping therapy, tuina, or herbal therapy work, pat yourself on the back for being courageous, fearless, and taking hold of your well being. Let's just say that healing with needles is not everyone's first option for aches and pain. Most of us would rather pop a pill and call it a day, but what happens when taking a pill no longer works or causes undesirable side effects? That's where Healing With Needles is a great option for helping you heal your body from the inside out.
Acupuncture and Eastern Medicine has been around for over 2000 years healing beyond science and sometimes beyond our understanding. All these therapeutic methods (needles, cupping, tuina…) whether done independently or in combination, can help you manage your pain, stress, headache, anxiety, depression, asthma, infertility, muscle strains, sprains, nausea, vomiting, gastrointestinal issues, and so much more. Finding natural ways to heal your body will help make a difference in your current health and daily routines. Although, Acupuncture and Eastern Medicine can't treat or cure everything, it is a very good start in helping to prevent diseases and in managing various health conditions.
Healing With Needles is a positive and relaxing place where you can express your health concerns in a stress free environment. We are here to listen, evaluate, and treat your body in holistic ways. Our practitioner will assist, educate, and challenge you in taking charge of your health and ensuring that day by day, step by step, you will obtain the health results that you envision. *Please note that it may take more than one session to treat your health concerns and contingent on whether it is chronic or acute.
Your health is not only dependent on the practitioner, but the "self". Healing starts with you and your mindset. Move and center your energy, clear blockages, and balance your yin and yang. Let your healing journey begin here with Healing With Needles!
Are you ready to get started? Schedule an appointment today!


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text:
Parents ban their bairns from watching Horrid Henry after copycat behaviour
The revelation came after Emmerdale star Adam Thomas said he had stopped his son, 3, from watching the show
Katie DickinsonReporter
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Emmerdale star Adam Thomas has revealed that he has banned his son from watching Horrid Henry after noticing copycat behaviour.
The actor, who is starring in pantomime in Newcastle this Christmas, decided to pull the plug on three-year-old Teddy's access to the show after noticing that his attitude has taken a major nose dive.
And many parents also said they had taken a similar step when the show affected their little ones' behaviour.
"Anyone else banned there [sic] kid from watching horrid Henry or is it just us?" Adam, 30, tweeted to his 27,000 followers.
"Ted's literally turned into horrid Henry haha."
And the response was immediate, with users rushing to agree that the show - which follows the exploits of an authority-loathing prankster - has affected their little ones too.
"Yup we did!! Our daughter kept calling me a worm," wrote one, while a second added, "Banned my daughter 11 years ago! Dreadful program."
"I had to ban my two as well!!! It's awful! They were coming out with all sorts from Moody Margaret!!!" added a third, referencing Henry's arch-nemesis.
Emmerdale and I'm A Celebrity's Adam Thomas to make panto debut in Newcastle in Jack & the Beanstalk
"Omg!! My child has turned into horrid harry! He's banned from watching it now," yet another agreed.
Some even gave details of the mischief the show had inspired.
"My brother was messing my mums room up, pulling all the clothes out the wardrobes because of that show," wrote one of his followers.
However, not everyone was against the popular series, which started life as a series of children's books by Francesca Simon, which were first published in 1994.
"Aww let him watch it, my son was Horrid Henry and he used to call his sister Perfect Peter, he will grow out of it trust me," another urged.
The books were adapted for TV, with the show running on CITV from 2006, with 208 episodes made.
It even became a film in 2010, when Theo Stevenson, Matt Horne, Richard E. Grant, Anjelica Huston and Noel Fielding starred in the live action 3D version.
South Tyneside drug dealing couple who had almost two kilos of cannabis at home walk free
Newcastle Crown CourtGraeme Charlton, of Jarrow and Sarah Bowman, of South Shields, were caught when police stopped their car near the Tyne Tunnel and could smell cannabis
Newcastle United FC Transfer NewsNewcastle United transfer news: Magpies show 'interest' in former Rafa Benitez targetHere's a round-up of your Newcastle United transfer rumours

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
TV Actress
✎ About Diana Vickers
Birth Day: July 30, 1991
Birth Place: Blackburn, England
Diana Vickers
Diana Vickers was born on July 30, 1991 in Blackburn, England. British pop singer whose style of music has been compared to Ellie Goulding and Kate Bush.
Diana Vickers is a member of Pop Singer
Does Diana Vickers Dead or Alive?
As per our current Database, Diana Vickers is still alive (as per Wikipedia, Last update: May 10, 2020).
🎂 Diana Vickers - Age, Bio, Faces and Birthday
Currently, Diana Vickers is 31 years, 6 months and 2 days old. Diana Vickers will celebrate 32rd birthday on a Sunday 30th of July 2023. Below we countdown to Diana Vickers upcoming birthday.
Popular As Diana Vickers
Occupation Pop Singer
Born July 30, 1991 (Blackburn, England)
Birthday July 30
Town/City Blackburn, England
Nationality England
Diana Vickers's zodiac sign is Leo. According to astrologers, people born under the sign of Leo are natural born leaders. They are dramatic, creative, self-confident, dominant and extremely difficult to resist, able to achieve anything they want to in any area of life they commit to. There is a specific strength to a Leo and their "king of the jungle" status. Leo often has many friends for they are generous and loyal. Self-confident and attractive, this is a Sun sign capable of uniting different groups of people and leading them as one towards a shared cause, and their healthy sense of humor makes collaboration with other people even easier.
Diana Vickers was born in the Year of the Goat. Those born under the Chinese Zodiac sign of the Goat enjoy being alone in their thoughts. They're creative, thinkers, wanderers, unorganized, high-strung and insecure, and can be anxiety-ridden. They need lots of love, support and reassurance. Appearance is important too. Compatible with Pig or Rabbit.
Some Diana Vickers images
British pop singer whose style of music has been compared to Ellie Goulding and Kate Bush.
She began singing professionally when she was eleven years old. She was a semi-finalist on The X Factor in 2008.
She co-wrote the single 'Mouth 2 Mouth' for Jennifer Lopez and Enrique Iglesias.
She has a sister named Charlotte. She has been romantically linked to George Craig.
While on The X Factor she covered the song "The Blower's Daughter" by Damien Rice.
Diana Vickers trend
1991 births England Pop Singer England net worth Pop Singer net worth 27 richest money
Diana Vickers fans also viewed:
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Bad weather can cause many problems including meeting cancellations. If schools are closed due to the weather, we will cancel county-wide 4-H meetings and events. Sometimes bad weather can happen after school. If they are calling for snow or ice that evening, we are probably going to cancel any meeting that night. Be sure to check your email and phones for updates when winter weather is forecast. We try to cancel meetings by Noon or 1 pm if not sooner. Please check with your Club Leader to see what your Club policy states.


An amendment has been reintroduced in to the Digital Economy Bill that will allow politicians to block websites with out the need for legal process.
According to the Financial Times, the clause also allows for the law to be changed without primary legislation and has faced sustained criticism from companies like Google and Facebook, internet providers such as TakTalk, BT and EntaNet, as well as internet freedom advocates.
The Conservatives are backing the move, while the Liberal Democrats have said that they'll oppose it in the Commons. Campaigners opposing the move are raising money for an advertising campaign urging MPs to vote against the Bill, and the Open Rights Group is said to have a demonstration planned for this week.


We sharpen stories, design compelling visuals to match and move audiences to action.
We specialize in Microsoft PowerPoint, Apple Keynote, Adobe InDesign and Adobe Illustrator.
we can share the shiny design parts that stick out above the surface.
While we can't show you the iceberg of strategy and story that our work rests on, we can share the shiny design parts that stick out above the surface.


Nike's Dynamic Fit consists of soft "fingers" that form to your midfoot and arch from the bottom of the shoe. This creates a more secure fit because the shoe adapts to the shape of your foot when you tighten the laces. Overall, this minimizes slippage, increases support, and enhances maneuverability.


text:
Q: Wrong color being assigned to layout My app requests some JSON data from my site's API from within my fragment's onCreateView() method:
apiService.getJson(5, new Callback<PostData>() {

    @Override
    public void success(PostData postData, Response response) {
        final PostAdapter adapter = new PostAdapter(getActivity(), postArray);
        postArray.addAll(postData.getData());
        listView.setAdapter(adapter);

        adapter.notifyDataSetChanged();
    }

    @Override
    public void failure(RetrofitError retrofitError) {
        retrofitError.printStackTrace();
    }
});

My adapter's getView() method looks like this:
@Override
public View getView(int position, View convertView, ViewGroup parent) {
    View view = convertView;

    Post post = getItem(position);

    if (view == null) {
        view = LayoutInflater.from(context).inflate(R.layout.post_layout, parent, false);
    } else {
        return view;
    }

    LayerDrawable shapeLayout = (LayerDrawable) ContextCompat.getDrawable(context, R.drawable.post_bg);
    GradientDrawable shape = (GradientDrawable) shapeLayout.findDrawableByLayerId(R.id.post_bg_border);
    shape.setColor(Color.parseColor("#" + post.getColor()));

    return view;
}

The layout:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<layer-list xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
    <item android:id="@+id/post_bg_border">
        <shape android:shape="rectangle">
            <solid android:color="#000000" />
        </shape>
    </item>
    <item android:left="5dp">
        <shape android:shape="rectangle">
            <solid android:color="@color/bg" />
        </shape>
    </item>
</layer-list>

However, it's assigning the color to the next post, rather than the current one. What's wrong with my code?

A: the else branch is wrong, and you should remove it. converView is null just once. In your case after you assigned the color, the first time (convertView == null), in the else branch, you are returning the same view over and over.
if (view == null) {
        view = LayoutInflater.from(context).inflate(R.layout.post_layout, parent, false);
}

LayerDrawable shapeLayout = (LayerDrawable) ContextCompat.getDrawable(context, R.drawable.link_info_bg);
GradientDrawable shape = (GradientDrawable) shapeLayout.findDrawableByLayerId(R.id.link_info_bg_border);
shape.setColor(Color.parseColor("#" + post.getColor()));

without else, is what you want

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
using System;

public class Program
{
    public static void Main()
    {
        var t = int.Parse(Console.ReadLine());
        for (int i = 0; i < t; i++)
        {
            var line = Console.ReadLine();
            var numbersAsString = line.Split(' ');
            var numbers = new long[numbersAsString.Length];
            for (int j = 0; j < numbersAsString.Length; j++)
            {
                numbers[j] = int.Parse(numbersAsString[j]);
            }

            var answer = IsIncreasing(numbers);
            Console.WriteLine(answer);
        }
    }

    private static bool IsIncreasing(long[] numbers)
    {
        if (numbers.Length <= 2)
        {
            return true;
        }

        long last = Math.Abs(numbers[1] - numbers[0]);
        for (int i = 2; i < numbers.Length; i++)
        {
            long diff = Math.Abs(numbers[i] - numbers[i - 1]);
            if (diff - last != 1 && diff - last != 0)
            {
                return false;
            }

            last = diff;
        }

        return true;
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Home | Focus Areas | Law, politics and constitutionalism | Workshops | Democracy in Diversity: Indian and European Perspectives - Part 1
Democracy in Diversity: Indian and European Perspectives - Part 1
Bangalore, January 10-11, 2014
The next workshop of the Law, Politics and Constitutionalism focus area will be organised on January 10 and 11, 2014, in Bangalore.
It takes place at the National Law School of India University. The conveners are Prof. Philipp Dann (University of Giessen), Prof. Sitharamam Kakarala (CSCS, Bangalore) and Kalyani Ramnath (Princeton Unviersity).
Thursday, January 9th
7:00pm Meeting in the entrance hall for a dinner at NLS
(including informal presentations of participants)
9:30am Brief introduction: Idea of the workshop (by conveners)
Introduction of participants (by themselves)
10:45am Coffee break
11:00am Session 1: Post-democracy (moderator Philipp)
Tickets: Pritam Baruah, Emilios Christodoulidis, Marco Dani
12:30am Lunch break
1:30pm Session 2: Democracy and capitalism (moderator Ram)
Tickets: Jürgen Bast, Sigrid Boysen, Rohit De, Sudhir Krishnaswamy
3:30pm Coffee break
4:00pm Session 3: Multi-level democracy (moderator Philipp)
Tickets: Steffen Augsberg, Chandan Gowda, Naveen Thayyil, Jo Murkens
6:00pm End of sessions
6:30pm Meeting in the entrance hall to go to a dinner in the city
or meeting at 8.30pm directly at Restaurant Coconut grove – church street
10:00am Session 5: Juridification of democracy (moderator Kalyani)
Tickets: James Fowkes, Menaka Guruswamy, Madhav Khosla, Arun Thiruvengadam,
Uwe Volkmann
1:30pm Session 4: Surveilling democracy (moderator Kalyani)
Tickets: Michaela Hailbronner, Usha Ramanathan, Kalyani Ramnath, Ram Kakarala
3:30pm Afterthoughts: Feedback on part I and ideas for part II (workshop in Berlin)
6:30pm Common dinner at NLS
> Download the program (updated 09/01/2014)
Steffen AUGSBERG, Professor of Public Law, University of Giessen (Germany)
Pritam BARUAH, Teaching Fellow and PhD Candidate, King's College London (UK)
Juergen BAST, Professor of Public Law, University of Giessen (Germany)
Sigrid BOYSEN, Professor of Public Law, FU Berlin (Germany)
Emilios CHRISTODOULIDIS, Professor of Legal Theory, Law School, University of Glasgow (UK)
Marco DANI, Senior Lecturer in European Constitutional Law, Trento, Italy (Italy)
Philipp DANN, Professor of Public and Comparative Law, University of Giessen (Germany)
Rohit DE, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Centre for history and economics, University of Cambridge (UK)
James FOWKES, JSD candidate, Yale Law School (USA)
Chandan GOWDA, Professor of Sociology, Azim Premji University (APU) Bangalore (India)
Menaka GURUSWAMY, Advocate, Supreme Court of India (India)
Michaela HAILBRONNER, Senior Research Fellow, Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law (Germany)
Samuel JUBE, Law researcher, Member of IEARN Steering Committee – Director of IAS-Nantes (France)
Sitharamam KAKARALA, Researcher in Political Theory, Human Rights Law, CSCS Bangalore (India)
Madhav KHOSLA, PhD candidate, Department of Political Science, Harvard University (USA)
Sudhir KRISHNASWAMY, Professor of Law, Azim Premji University (APU) Bangalore (India)
Jo MURKENS, Constitutional law expert, London School of Economics (UK)
Joachim NETTELBECK, Member of IEARN Steering Committee – former Secretary General of Wiko, (Germany)
Usha RAMANATHAN, Independent law researcher, (India)
Kalyani RAMNATH, Graduate student, Department of history, Princeton University (USA)
Shalini RANDERIA, Professor of Social Anthropology and Sociology, Graduate Institute, geneva (Switzerland)
Arun THIRUVENGADAM, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Law, National University Singapore (Singapore)
Naveen THAYYIL, Assistant Professor of Law and Public Policy, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (India)
Uwe VOLKMANN, Professor in legal philosophy and public law, University of Mainz (Germany)
> Download the list of participants with biographies [update 09/01/14]
please login to access documents and information for participants


text:
require 'ads_common/savon_service'
require 'adwords_api/v201109/data_service_registry'

module AdwordsApi; module V201109; module DataService
  class DataService < AdsCommon::SavonService
    def initialize(api, endpoint)
      namespace = 'https://adwords.google.com/api/adwords/cm/v201109'
      super(api, endpoint, namespace, :v201109)
    end

    def get_ad_group_bid_landscape(*args, &block)
      return execute_action('get_ad_group_bid_landscape', args, &block)
    end

    def get_criterion_bid_landscape(*args, &block)
      return execute_action('get_criterion_bid_landscape', args, &block)
    end

    private

    def get_service_registry()
      return DataServiceRegistry
    end

    def get_module()
      return AdwordsApi::V201109::DataService
    end
  end
end; end; end


No one has a better gaming setup than the Milwaukee Brewers.
And to top it all off, they were able to use it to play Fortnite, the hottest game on the market that is also taking MLB by storm.
A recent video shows several Brewers players using the Miller Park jumbotron as their video game screen to play the game as they sat in the stands.
Fortnite has been a hit with players around the league, as the Astros have using the in-game celbrations to celebrate their own victories, and Red Sox manager Alex Cora even had to defend David Price's obsession with the game, stating that it isn't the reason for his carpal tunnel flareup.


text:
Melissa Womble, PhD
NeuropsychologistDirector of Inova Sports Medicine Concussion Program
A member of Inova Medical Group
The doctors of Inova Medical Group are Inova's premier primary care and specialty physicians, offering top-notch medical expertise, full access to Inova facilities, and the convenience of integrated electronic medical records.
About Melissa Womble, PhD
Dr. Melissa Womble is a fellowship-trained neuropsychologist with specialization in sport concussion management. She serves as director of the Inova Sports Medicine Concussion Program and co-director of the Inova Concussion Program.
Dr. Womble joined Inova Medical Group after completing a neuropsychology post-doctoral fellowship within the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center's Sports Medicine Concussion Program. Her goal is to provide patients of all ages and abilities with top-notch care following sport-related concussion and additionally for sports performance enhancement needs.
An accomplished high school track athlete, Dr. Womble took her passion for competitive sports to the University of South Alabama (USA) where she competed as an NCAA Division I cross country and track athlete while earning her Bachelor's degree in psychology. She received a Master's degree in applied psychology and a Doctoral degree in combined-integrated clinical and counseling psychology, both at USA. During her doctoral studies, Dr. Womble provided sports enhancement therapy for collegiate athletes and also developed a concussion management program for collegiate and high school athletes. She completed a pre-doctoral internship at Henry Ford Medical Center in Detroit, MI, where she continued to develop her interest in traumatic brain injuries and furthered previous neuropsychology training before moving on to her fellowship experience in Pittsburgh.
Dr. Womble has presented at national conferences and published in numerous peer-reviewed journals, many of which are listed below.
A native of Northern Virginia, she resides with her husband, son and their two dogs. In her spare time she enjoys running, hiking, traveling and cooking.
Fairfax County Athletic Community Mental Health Symposium. February 2019.
USA9 Great Morning Washington Video: Concussion Safety for Students and Athletes. August 2016.
USA9 Great Morning Washington: Takeaway Tips to Keep your Child Safe from Concussion. August 2016.
Expert Commentary / Podcasts
SportsTalk570
Inova's "Ask the Doctor" airs Saturday mornings at 10 a.m. on SportsTalk570 as part of the Redskins Health & Wellness Program.
Ask the Doctor: Understanding Concussions and the Importance of Pre-Season Concussion Screening in Athletes (air date 5/6/17)
In this episode of Inova's "Ask the Doctor," Neuropsychologist and Director of the Inova Sports Medicine Concussion Program, Dr. Melissa Womble along with Inova Athletic Trainers, Eric Castor and Brett Gustman help to educate listeners on the signs and symptoms of a concussion, as well as the importance of having athletes complete baseline testing before their sports season begins.
Ask the Doctor: Vestibular Therapy for Concussion Patients (air date 4/14/17)
In this episode of Inova's "Ask the Doctor," Neuropsychologist and Director of the Inova Sports Medicine Concussion Program, Dr. Melissa Womble and Dr. Sheri Fedor, Physical Therapist, Director of the Inova Vestibular Concussion Program explain why vestibular therapy is a part of a multidisciplinary team approach used when treating concussion patients.
Ask the Doctor: Concussion
The following 3-part podcast series features Dr. Jessica Wertz and Dr. Melissa Womble discussing how a concussion occurs, the evaluation, treatment and key components to recovery.
-- Concussion – Part 1 (air date 11/12/16)
ESPN Answering The Bell – Concussions Part 2 (air date 10/25/16)
Dr. Melissa Womble and Stephania Bell discuss neurocognitive testing and the five phases of the NFL concussion protocol
Featured Articles and Blog Posts
Concussion Recovery: When Should You See a Doctor? May 2019.
Mind Games: Concussions, CTE and Sports. August 2017.
Acute Management of Concussion: The Role of Regulation versus Rest. Summer 2016.
Winning mindset: Sports psych & the athlete. September 2016.
Concussions in American Football. American Journal of Orthopedics. September 2016.
Test-Retest Reliability of Computerized Neurocognitive Testing in Youth Ice Hockey Players. Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology. April 2016.
Neuropsychological Assessment Following Concussion: an Evidence-Based Review of the Role of the Neuropsychological Assessment Pre- and Post- Concussion. Current Pain and Headache Reports. June 2016.
Intraoperative MRI for deep brain stimulation lead placement in Parkinson's disease: 1 year motor and neuropsychological outcomes. Journal of Neurology Publication. June 2016.
Logistic regression function for detection of suspicious performance during baseline evaluations using concussion vital signs. Applied Neuropsychology. 2015.
Other Articles and Presentations
Womble, M. N. Concussion Case Series: The emerging role of anxiety. Presented at the Inova Sports Medicine CME Lecture Series, Fairfax, Virginia. February 2019.
Womble, M. N. & Fedor, S. A. Pediatric Concussion: Updates on treatment. Presented at the Inova Alexandria Hospital Pediatric Grand Rounds, Alexandria, Virginia. February 2019.
Gustman, B.P., Castor, E.D., Stephenson-Brown, K., Womble, M.N., Elbin, R.J. Relationship between trait and state anxiety in patients with sport and/or recreation-related concussions. Poster presented at Big Sky Athletic Training Conference. Big Sky, MT. February 2019.
Articles and presentations, 2009 through present
24-hour Concussion Hotline
Inova Sports Medicine - Fairfax
8100 Innovation Park Drive Suite 110 Fairfax, VA 22031


text:
Esteemed Thunderpick Review 2023
David Bright Last Updated: January 11, 2023
Based in Curacao and duly licensed to Curacao eGaming Commission, Thunderpick is one of the leading esports betting platforms of the industry. The betting platform allows punters to place bets on a wide spectrum of electronic sports. It covers major leagues and events and accepts cryptocurrency transactions for betting.
Read the thorough Thunderpick review to analyze the different special features of the platform, and examine its various aspects right now, before signing up for the platform.
Thunderpick Casino Summary
Website https://thunderpick.com/
License Curacao eGaming Commission
Min Deposit 1€
Min Withdrawal 10 €
Waiting Period for Cash Out Up to 30 minutes
Mobile Support Smart-phones and mobile devices
Customer Support 24×7 via phone and email
Game Types Mystery Museum, The Dog House Megaways, Nirvana, Floating Dragon, Land of Zenith, Madame Destiny Megaways and more
Accepted Cryptocurrency Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Litecoin (LTC), Tether (USDT), Ripple (XRP), Bitcoin Cash (BCH) and Binance Coin(BNB)
Restricted Countries The USA, UK, UAE, Spain, Poland and more
Welcome Bonus and Offers Get up to €500
Bonus €150
According to the Thunderpick review, the pros and cons are tabulated below in Table 3.
The interface of the betting site is very user-friendly and seamless. There is no app version of the betting site.
The mobile version of Thunderpick is very compatible and the Swipe feature is easy to use. The platform does not offer a multi-betting option unlike other betting sites like Buff bet.
The site supports different payment methods of deposit and withdrawal. Customer service is not accessible via phone support.
There is no restriction on winnings and betting limits.
The betting odds are fair and highly competitive
Customer service is available 24×7 via email and live chat.
The privacy policy and data security system of the website is very advanced.
Salient features of Thunderpick
1. The interfaces of the web and mobile versions are flawless
The layout of the Thunderpick site is clean, uncluttered, and seamless. It has a decent color scheme of blue and black, which adds to its satisfactory visual appeal. The site speed is very good and there is no time lag in switching between games. The home page features the Sign-in and Join buttons at the top-right corner followed by the tab for sports betting, esports, and casino games at the bottom.
Thunderpick – Esports Betting Platform
The mobile version is even better than the web version because of the Swipe option that ensures quick access to the different features of Thunderpick. There is no separate app in the app store, but you can install a web app of Thunderpick from the home page. Registration is a quick and hassle-free process at Thunderpick. Register within a few minutes by entering your email and password. Check the box of the privacy policy and click on the Join button to become a registered user. The privacy policy also demands the age of the user be above 18.
2. Engaging with other bettors proves to be an entertaining opportunity
One of the most interesting features of Thunderpick is that the platform features a chat room. Click on the chat room option to get in touch with other players to discuss games and strategies during the betting sessions. An additional useful feature of the chat forum is that the option comes with a language selector. The language selector separates the users into different groups of people who speak the same language. This feature is useful for interacting with other players in one's own language.
3. Thunderpick is in association with several esports betting markets
Thunderpick is passionate about esports betting and the platform essentially revolves around CS:GO and other popular esports titles like Dota 2, Starcraft, League of Legends, and more. Even though other top esports betting sites offer a longer catalog of games for esports betting, what makes Thunderpick stand out is that this platform offers a set of betting markets specifically for each esports title. Having an exclusive set of betting markets for each game makes esports betting even more thrilling and lucrative.
For example, in CS:GO, the player can place general bets on the outcome as well as specific bets like betting on the round in which the bombs will get planted, and so on. At League of Legends, the bettors can place bets on which team can score the first blood, or demolish the towers first, and more. At Dota 2, players can place a wide range of bets over different events of the game. Except for these games and a few more, Thunderpick allows bettors to place only one bet on the overall outcome of esports events. These special bets are offered for almost every title in Thunderpick which indicates that the platform is linked with hundreds of betting markets. Punters love to take on the special bets to earn more.
This game is a virtual encounter between two bettors amid a small map of the building's layout. The players have to choose a side between counter-terrorists and terrorists for playing the game. Depending on the role, the player has to decide between planting the bomb and selecting the place where the bomb may be planted. If the two players select the same site, then the player role-playing as the counter-terrorist shall win the round. If they pick different sites, then the terrorist wins.
4. The selection of esports is unique for betting purpose
Thunderpick is loaded with esports betting fixtures. Even though the platform offers betting opportunities on regular sports like basketball and football, the platform is mostly focused on esports betting. The registered players can place bets on different esports titles like Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, League of Legends, Hearthstone, Heroes of the Storm, Starcraft 2, Overwatch, and Dota2.
The registered punters can place bets on trending video game titles and take part in wagering at the Thunderpick esports competitions as well. Thunderpick also offers live betting options on the major leagues and events like Dota 2 International, League of Legends World Championship, CS:Go Master, and more. Apart from annual tournaments, the registered players can also place bets on domestic championships like League of Legends LCS, LPL, LCK, LEC, and many more. The players place the bet before the matches begin, during the matches, and when the champions select ceremony takes place, in order to extract the most profits out of the real-time events. A downside of the esportsbook of Thunderpick is that the platform does not offer live streaming of the different esports and so the players cannot view the games in real-time. However, the downside does not stand in the way if betting as the matches are streamed clearly at Twitch and YouTube. The punters can easily make informed decisions about betting by catching the game live in real-time.
5. The casino gaming content is pretty good
Thunderpick is primarily focused on esports betting, but its casino section is pretty topnotch as well. The casino games of Thunderpick consist of slots, video poker, regular poker, and special games. They are powered by the leading software providers of the industry like Big Time Gaming, Pragmatic Play, QuickSpin, Blueprint Gaming, Elk Studios, Evoplay Entertainment, Iron Dog Studio, and more.The most trending games at Thunderpick are given below:
Slot games- Thunderpick features a wide variety of slots that includes everyone's favorite themes and titles. The slots boast of premium quality graphics, rich animation, and good cinematic presentation. The casino games section features a filter option for players to search for the game either by the specific software provider or by the title of the game. The most popular slot games at Thunderpick are Bonanza, Bomb Squad, Wolf Gold, Charming Queens, and more.
Video poker- The two kinds of video poker games at Thunderpick are Jacks or Better and Wild Texas. There are two variants of Jacks or Better powered by BGaming and Pragmatic Play. Wild Texas is driven by BGaming as well.
Table games – Thunderpick hosts 18 different table games that include baccarat, blackjack, HiLo, and Pontoon. The most popular card games at Thunderpick are Blackjack 1, Casino Hold'em, Dragon Tiger, Golden Baccarat, and more.
Special games- If slots, poker, or table games aren't your thing, then Thunderpick has you covered, with a variety of special games. These special games include craps, Strike, games of Crash, Minesweeper, Trotting, Penalty Shootout, and more. However, from a more general perspective, the casino of Thunderpick is not as developed or entertaining as other online gambling and betting sites. You will not find conventional table games at Thunderpick, but you will love the diversions that the platform offers to keep the bettors entertained between fixtures. One of the most interesting games at Thunderpick is ThunderSpin. ThunderSpin is an in-house adaptation of the classic roulette game that allows the bettors to wager along with other bettors. The latest addition of diversion is the fabulous ThunderStrike game. It is an exclusive game that is still in its beta stage. The game makes the bettors team up in pairs and then stake against each other to rake in good wins. The game has its origin in CS:GO. It features a map that has two bomb sites and if both the players in the team pick the same bomb site, then the Terrorist wins the jackpot. If the players pick different sites, then they win the rounds. ThunderStrike is packed with excitement and is a cool opportunity to bet against another bettor with real money.
6. The esports betting odds are very competitive
The odds offered at Thunderpick are high, competitive, and incredibly profitable for the players. Some of the odds are highly favorable for the players. The punters can expect whopping returns of about 95% on their investments in events that have around 50% chance of occurrence. It is evident from the review, that the odds at Thunderpick exceed the industry average. Betting on esports events at Thunderpick can make one rake in huge profits due to the highly competitive odds. The odds are a reflection of the number of wagers in a particular game, and so, they are subject to constant variation. The new betting system and the odds might seem a little too overwhelming for beginners, but one can easily make good profits with daily practice. The odds are displayed in a completely different format that is suitable for full betting. By the end of the day, the amount of profits accrued depends upon the number of players who have successfully wagered on a specific esports event. This correlation between profits and number of successful wagers adds a new variable to the betting equation. According to the equation, the players have a higher probability of winning if a fewer players wager on a specific outcome of the same Thunderpick esports event.
7. Thunderpick esports betting limits seem quite favorable for the players
At Thunderpick, betting on esports events like CS:GO and LoL, is conducted only with Thundercoins. Each Thundercoin has a value of around 1 cent. The betting limits for different betting strategies are mentioned below: 1. Pool betting limits
If the player takes part in pool betting, then the minimum betting amount for him is 20 Thundercoins that is 0.20 Euros, and the maximum betting amount is 500,000 Thundercoins that is worth5000 Euros.
2. Live or in-play betting limits
The player can also take part in in-play or live betting by placing a minimum betting amount of 100 Thundercoins that is worth 1 Euro. The maximum betting amount for live betting is 20,000 Thundercoins or 200 Euros.
3. Combo betting limits
A player can take part in combo bets by wagering a minimum amount of 100 Thundercoins. The maximum limit of the betting amount depends upon the betting odds. The highest winning potential of the combo bets is 150,000 Thundercoins or 1500 Euros for each combo.
8. Betting on regular sports is a welcome opportunity for the bettors
Thunderpick, like Buff bet, offers lucrative betting opportunities on a wide range of regular physical sports like football, baseball, basketball, etc. Make the best of the high odds and place bets on the sports match winner, tournament champion, and so on from the long catalog of sports and games. The most popular choices of sports betting at Thunderpick are darts, rugby, football, cricket, golf, and more, which are available at Buff bet as well.
Thunderpick Review – Sports Betting Section
9. The different payment options are quite convenient
Thunderpick is a licensed betting and gambling platform. It adheres to the license regulations that allow the betting and gambling site to offer a variety of secure and advanced payment methods. The payment methods are convenient, highly varied, and therefore suitable for players across the world. The payment methods are tabulated below in Table 1.
Type of payment methods Payment methods of deposit and withdrawal
Cryptocurrency deposit Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Litecoin (LTC), Tether (USDT), Ripple (XRP), Bitcoin Cash (BCH) and Binance Coin(BNB)
The most convenient way of making deposits is by sending CS:GO skins. The rate of conversion for each skin is one coin for each cent. If the cost of the skin is $0.50, then the player will get 50 coins. The minimum amount of deposit in terms of CS:GO skins is $1. The next most convenient way of making a deposit is by Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. There is no additional charge for making a deposit via cryptocurrencies and skins.
10. The promotional and deposit bonus offers are generous
Register with Thunderpick and grab the generous welcome bonus offer. Type in the deposit bonus code 313113 for a bonus of 5% of the deposit amount. Along with the deposit bonus, the registered players are also rewarded with tons of gift cards and more. The players can use the gift cards for gambling and betting at Thunderpick. The gift card offer is tabulated below in Table 2.
Rank to be achieved for securing the gift card Gift card offered by Thunderpick (in Euros)
Bronze+ 5
Silver+ 10
Gold+ 20
Diamond+ 40
Start playing for the Bronze rank and then level up to Diamond by playing regularly at Thunderpick. At the Diamond rank, the players get rewarded with a bunch of giveaways so frequently that esports betting will seem to be the most profitable opportunity ever.
There are special promos and bonuses for the Thunderpick esports bettors, and one of them is the pool betting system. Pool betting permits the bettors to compete against one another and place wagers in the pool of bets instead of playing against the house. It is a unique way of raking in the big bucks at Thunderpick. Besides, the offer of pool betting is not available at almost any other betting sites. Even though the site does not offer free bets, yet players can still place bets by earning free coins at Thunderpick. Given below are the two ways to earn Thunderpick free coins:
The registered player can take part in the Referral Program to earn free coins. All that he has to do is refer his friends to Thunderpick. As soon as the friend registers, the player will receive free coins that can be used for esports betting.
Another quick and easy way to earn free coins is to add the word "Thunderpick" to the user's Steam account name. Get ten coins daily through your Steam profile.
The player can also earn 50 free coins from Thunderpick. Enter the bonus code 26365 to grab the free coins and place more bets.
Thunderpick also offers different welcome bonuses to attract new players. One of the ongoing bonus offers is the amount of 500 Euros that is the maximum bonus amount for the new players. Enter the Thunderpick code WELCOME after making the first deposit to receive the bonus amount in the user account. The players can use the welcome bonus amount to place bets on any of the video games on display, subject to the terms and conditions of the offer. Existing players are greeted with daily giveaways in the form of gift cards at Thunderpick. Players get gift cards on the basis of their ranks at the site. To obtain a higher rank, a player has to do the following three things:
Refer more friends to Thunderpick site, and make sure that they sign up to the website
Play Counter-Strike every day through the Steam account
Conduct betting at Thunderpick esports for at least 30 minutes every day.
The welcome bonus is for the new players. The existing players receive a bunch of different offers as well. Taking part in betting activities frequently can make the players earn and collect points which can be used for more betting games. Play a betting game for at least half an hour every day to accumulate the points. To earn the points, the existing players have to open a Steam account and then play Dota 2 or Thunderpick CSGO, and other such popular video games. The players also receive free coins as rewards and these coins can be used to participate in betting and win real money prizes. A downside of the bonus deposit offer is that it involves more skins, gift cards, and free coins than real money. The player may not feel so encouraged to join and stay at Thunderpick because of the non-financial nature of the bonuses and promos.
11. The security and privacy policy of Thunderpick is very strict
The data controller and privacy policy supervisor of Thunderpick is Thunder Processing Services Ltd., Cyprus. The website maintains strict confidentiality of user data and funds, and the privacy policy prevents unauthorized access. Thunderpick strictly adheres to the privacy policy guidelines to maintain transparency, fairness, and lawfulness. The website is also encrypted by 128-bit SSL encryption technology to prevent hacking and data theft. If you feel that your privacy policy is being violated, then contact the privacy policy officer immediately. However, you may rest assured that the privacy policy complies with the GDPR principles and ensures strict protection of user data.
12. The customer support is reliable, responsive, and available 24×7
Thunderpick is one of the foremost betting sites for esports betting in the industry, and so, needless to say, the site offers excellent customer support through live chat, social media, FAQ section, and email. The Thunderpick review finds it impressive that the customer support staff is friendly, helpful, quick, and highly responsive. Besides, reaching out to the customer is so easy and the service is so prompt. The modes of accessing the customer support team is given below:
24×7 live chat support- The live chat system is the easiest and quickest way of getting in touch with the customer support team. Simply click on the Support button at the bottom corner of the page and the live chat window will pop up. Type in your query and one of the members will get in touch with you.
Social media- Thunderpick is highly active on social media sites like Twitter, Facebook, and VK pages. Follow the official page of Thunderpick on social media to connect with the customer support team and stay updated on the latest news and offers of Thunderpick.
Email support- If you have a general query, then send an email to the customer support team of Thunderpick at [email protected]. You will get a reply within a day. However, if you seek immediate assistance, then try to live chat instead of email. If you need any support regarding privacy policy and data security, then email the Data protection officer of privacy policy at [email protected].
FAQ section- The FAQ section of the official betting site features a set of questions with detailed answers. If you need any information regarding deposit methods, cryptocurrency payment methods, bonus offers, and such other relevant topics, then visit the FAQ section of Thunderpick. The only downside of the customer support section is that it is not available via phone. Phone, email, and live chat constitute the trifecta of customer service, and it can be somewhat disappointing if one of them is absent. However, there is a reason for the absence of phone service. Making international calls to the customer service team can be very costly for customers who live in different countries. For them, live chat and email constitute free customer support.
Conclusion: Thunderpick review
It is clear from the Thunderpick review that the esports betting and gambling website is one of the top-ranking platforms of the industry. With its attractive bonuses and wide range of betting options, Thunderpick is growing in popularity everyday. The platform works in a pari-mutuel betting system which is quite unique in the industry and you can also explore more esports betting sites to get the best one for you. Thunderpick is especially designed for esports fanatics, and so, if you are seeking to play at slots and tables, then this platform may not be the right choice for you. Nonetheless, Thunderpick has branched out its services beyond esports betting to sports betting and gambling, making it one of the best platforms in the industry.
1. Is Thunderpick legit?
Thunderpick is completely legitimate. The following factors establish the legitimacy of Thunderpick:
Thunderpick is licensed to Curacao eGaming Commission
The betting and gambling site enjoys a solid reputation as is evident from the various Thunderpick reviews and positive user ratings on authentic review forums like TrustPilot and more.
The strict privacy policy also points to the integrity and legitimacy of the system.
2. What are the Thundercoins and how do they work?
Thundercoin is a virtual currency that can be used for placing bets on various esports events at the Thunderpick website. One of the most lucrative payment methods at Thunderpick is Thundercoin. The player can exchange Thundercoins for cryptocurrencies or real money. The financial value of one Thundercoin is one Euro.
3. Is there a web app for Thunderpick?
Thunderpick has an app called Progressive Web App that is a combination of the mobile version and the regular website of the betting and gaming platform. The web app works to increase the speed and enhance the accessibility of the platform. The registered player can install the Progressive Web App from the website of Thunderpick accessed through the mobile browser.
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In July 2012, Gaggle announced it was including its Human Monitoring Service (HMS) as a part of its subscription service in order to better protect students and allow educators to focus on teaching. Gaggle is now extending the safety and security of our Human Monitoring System to 24 hours per day, seven days a week.
"Gaggle's HMS is credited with uncovering drug use, bullying, and threats of school violence, teen depression, suicidal intentions, and abusive domestic situations. Student safety is a pivotal issue in our schools, and we want to lead the way in protecting students," said Jeff Patterson Gaggle's CEO and Founder.
"Gaggle has experienced phenomenal growth by Districts, so we expanded our HMS team to meet the needs of widespread blended learning strategies that extend the classroom to 24/7. By extending our hours of coverage we can now respond in real time, providing a consistent, high level of customer service," stated Brett Woudenberg, Gaggle Chief Operations Officer.
"As we continue to evaluate the use of our blended learning tools, it is clear that students are using them at all hours. In fact, some of the most serious issues, such as suicide indications and cyber bullying, are more likely to occur at night and on weekends. Our expanded team of Cyber Security Agents provides unique contextual monitoring expertise to make sure we are providing a consistent and high level of protection to students around the globe," explained Gaggle's Cyber Security Supervisor, Kathy Boehle.


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New Intel Initiatives for Small Business Technology Shared
Published: Mar 13, 2016 by JoAnn McFarland In Small Business Operations 0
Intel Corporation, best known for the speed of its processors used in many computers, tablets and smartphones, is unveiling a new set of products for small business owners. Chad Constant, director of marketing and business for Intel, says the company has designed a solution available with its latest generation of core processor. Called Intel Small Business Advantage, it's designed to relieve the business owner of the need for a dedicated IT division.
"What we did is a bunch of research," said Constant in an interview with Small Business Trends. "What we found out was that what [small businesses] want is simple, integrated solutions — to be a pet store, dry cleaner or bakery — no desire to work on IT." In a post on the official Intel Small Business Blog, Constant lays out a few of Small Business Advantage's features, namely security and productivity.
Intel Small Business Advantage is integrated into the company's sixth generation of Core processors. The purchase of just one PC with Small Business Advantage will enable all devices used by the business to be connected in a network allowing the ability to chat, share files and screens with coworkers.
The networking is so complete, that in a meeting, every participant can share screens with each other, using special pens to circle or mark on any of the screens. Anyone, while using Small Business Advantage, can take a tablet or phone when offsite and connect back to his or her home desktop to access files or chat with anyone in the business securely.
With Intel Small Business Advantage, a single employee can be designated the "IT" person without needing any special skills.
Further explaining the Small Business Advantage security feature, the company website says: "It monitors critical software at the hardware level, alerting you if the software is compromised. Continual security software monitoring keeps data and devices safe, and a USB Blocker helps prevent viruses from entering devices and stops unauthorized data transfers from going out."
Constant says older laptops can cost businesses up to $4,203 per year for every three PCs. This cost is simply for maintenance and lost productivity. But Small Business Advantage notifies users when upgrades are needed.
Intel is headquartered in Santa Clara, California, while the research team for Small Business Advantage is located in Hillsboro, Oregon.
Founded on July 18, 1968, by Robert Noyce and Gordon Moore, Intel was originally the developer of SRAM and DRAM memory chips. However, during the 1990s, the company invested heavily in new microprocessor designs fostering the rapid growth of the personal computer industry.
Image: Intel
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JoAnn McFarland
JoAnn McFarland is a Staff Writer for Small Business Trends. She covers breaking news such as new product announcements, government policy, acquisitions and other industry developments. She is a published author and comes from a family-business background.
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I have rarely found an article I so fully agree with- not just in the point, in the way they talk about it. Read this if you've ever thought divers are crazy for being in the water with a SHARRRRKKK!!!
If the mere thought of sharks sends chills down your spine, consider the damage a swarm of ants or even a cow could inflict.
March 6, 2018, 12:03 p.m.
Sharks are kinda scary. In the water they're faster than us, can appear from what seems like out of nowhere in an instant, and pack a solid bite. It's easy to get nervous when you're in the dark ocean and unsure what's swimming by with a toothy grin. But sharks aren't the animals you should be most afraid of — in fact, when you compare the number of deaths from sharks to an array of other animals, it's clear there are many other animals more likely to cause your demise.
655,000 people killed each year, primarily in Africa, through the little buggers spreading malaria left and right.
2,900 people are killed by these moody mammals annually in Africa. That roly-poly exterior is just to lure you in.
130 people killed across the U.S. by deer, almost exclusively because drivers hit the deers with their cars. That saying "a deer in the headlights" came about for a reason.
478 people between 2008 and 2015 in the U.S. because of an allergic reaction from being stung by either bees, wasps or hornets.
20-50 people are killed each year in Africa from ants. They may be small but dozens, hundreds, even thousands of stinging ants can add up.
20-40 people per year die in the Philippines alone from anaphylaxis caused by the stings.
22 people are killed in the U.S. every year from these seemingly docile creatures. They're fun to pet, but getting kicked in the head by one … not as fun.
20 people die each year thanks to our equine friends. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said 72 people die every year from "other manmals" — that includes horses, cattle and pigs.
6 people die in the U.S. every year from spider bites.
6 people die from venomous snake bites each year in the U.S., which isn't a whole lot considering what a common sight they are in popular hiking and camping areas.
<1 person is killed each year in the U.S. and fewer than six worldwide are killed by sharks. From 2006 to 2010, there were just three fatalities from shark attacks in the U.S.
Granted if you're swimming with bull sharks, you're more likely to die by shark attack at that moment than a cow. But most of us aren't in the water with sharks as often as we find ourselves next to a cow on a visit to a farm or at a petting zoo. And we certainly are around bees and ants a whole lot more often than sharks. But if you find yourself swimming in the ocean — or even some rivers — you're probably nearer to sharks than you realize. With millions upon millions of beach-goers and surfers taking to the water every day, only a small handful are ever bitten or killed by sharks. So if you find yourself harboring feelings of fear or even hatred of sharks, you might want to take a step back and gain a little perspective. They aren't nearly as deadly as you might think.