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Tag Archives: WEF
Activism, Class War, Corporations, Deep Integration, Democracy, Equality, Executive Overdrive, Imperialism, International Relations, Justice, Neo-Conservatism, Neoliberal Economics, North American Union, Occupy Vancouver, Privatization, Society, Soft Fascism, Unions, Vancouver, Voluntary Simplicity, Work
The 1% Has More Solidarity Than We Do
July 7, 2014 Stephen Elliott-Buckley	Leave a comment
In Davos, the 1% rule the world. Literally. They also have the guns.
The 1% are claiming we have it out for them; that if we don't tone down the rhetoric and stop calling them names like "the contemptuous rich," we might end up starting a class war. But they already know there's a class war, and it's been going on for generations. Today, the rich are winning because they have more solidarity than we do. The year 2014 is a battleground and the currency is solidarity. If we don't start organizing together, quickly, and far more effectively, the contemptuous rich will continue to come out on top.
For centuries, the 1% were the nobility, the aristocrats, the old money, the patriarchy. Then Adam Smith pitched capitalism in his 1776 book Wealth of Nations, and liberated the entrepreneurs to join the blue bloods. Today, every January, corporate and government leaders from around the world – the people who literally rule the world – meet in the winter-wonderland of Davos, Switzerland, to launch the annual World Economic Forum. There, they plan the global agenda. This year's sexy new idea was advancing "social entrepreneurialism." That sounds so kumbaya, just like public-private partnerships, but it's just spin for privatizing social services.
The World Economic Forum is just one of the most recent venues where the global elite show their solidarity with each other, and plan how to maximize shareholder wealth and minimize global social, economic and political equality. Beyond Davos, our rulers have also created a roadmap for undermining the democracy of nations through secret trade agreements like NAFTA, the Trans-Pacific Partnership, and CETA (the Comprehensive and Economic Trade Agreement). These agreements are designed to give right-wing governments the excuse to deregulate industries, privatize public services, and elevate shareholders' and investors' "right" to profit above the needs of society.
How does this translate in Harper's vision of Canada? April Fool's Day this year marked the end of the 10-year Canada Health Accord and the beginning of a 12-year fiscal plan to cut $36 billion from federal Medicare funding. This manufactured disaster is textbook Shock Doctrine, designed to impair the public health care system in order to drive more demand for private alternatives.
THE RISE OF THE 99%
The Occupy Movement helped us understand the 1% and the 99%. One of the movement's critical failures, however, was its inability to frame its core message in the face of a hostile corporate media, and a well-coordinated network of police and intelligence service agencies working together to discredit, mock, beat, arrest, and terrorize the Occupiers. The Occupy Movement's message was, and is, merely equality: a demand for political, social and economic equality, plus, a healthy environment. This simple message manifested itself in dozens of demands, but whose message won? The 1%. After all, they own the guns and the corporate media. But, there is hope for the 99%.
On March 19, for instance, 650 people gathered in the Maritime Labour Centre to formally kickstart the Metro Vancouver Alliance, a solidarity catalyst if there ever was one. Its birth was inspired by the Industrial Areas Foundation community organizing model, active in the U.S., Canada, Germany, Australia and the UK. The MVA is a coalition of labour, community and faith-based organizations who share common progressive goals.
On April 4, the anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s assassination, the Occupy Movement rebooted itself in a worldwide "Wave of Action." Its goal is a three-month rolling wave of activism at former Occupy sites, designed to reinvigorate the solidarity started in 2011. And there are other solidarity catalysts in Canada, including the Greater Edmonton Alliance.
These coalitions are fantastic, but they risk irrelevance if they can't evolve to the next level of solidarity. These alliances need to grow more intense, both inwardly and outwardly.
The member groups of progressive coalitions need to find ways of connecting their individual members to better support each other. And the coalitions themselves need to support each other. I believe such an effort at deepening and broadening solidarity has, so far, been lacking. Meanwhile, the 1% are deeply well-connected, from community chambers of commerce right up to the World Trade Organization. They're all spouting the same spin and rhetoric on their members' behalf, while we, the 99%, can often not get past "letterhead coalitions," a term introduced to me by Amanda Tattersall, one of the founders of the Sydney Alliance in Australia. What good is it to have a coalition when the extent of union, or faith, or community organization activity is merely a letter of support?
We need to seed more alliances in Canada. And we need to help union members themselves understand why unions matter. Labour campaigns like these can only help: the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) campaign, Together FAIRNESS WORKS; the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) campaign, Unite for Fairness; and the National Union of Public And General Employees (NUPGE) campaign, All Together Now.
We need to then connect union members with social change coalitions, like Occupy Version 2 and the upcoming Peoples' Social Forum in Ottawa (August 21 to 24). Our window is opening again. It's time to leap through and convene the big gatherings.
This piece originally appeared in Our Times magazine.
The World Economic Forum Is Now Occupy's Mouthpiece
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WEFWorld Economic Forum


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Dive Brief
Tishman Speyer reveals plans for $500M Brooklyn, NY office project
Kim Slowey Contributing Editor
Flickr user ** Maurice **
Tishman Speyer unveiled its design and construction schedule Wednesday for The Wheeler, a $500 million, 10-floor office tower that will be built on top of a Brooklyn, NY, Macy's department store, according to a company press release.
Macy's will still operate on the first four floors of the building, but The Wheeler will incorporate existing upper floors into the new 620,000-square-foot space, which will feature 16-foot-high ceilings, an amenity floor and 30,000 square feet to 90,000 square feet of rentable space on each of the remaining floors.
The Class A office building, which is scheduled for completion in 2019, is speculative, but developers hope to capitalize on the growing popularity of downtown Brooklyn to attract tenants, according to The New York Times.
The Wheeler is only one project in a wave of office construction currently underway in Brooklyn. New office development in the area follows a more than decade-long period of residential construction, which has created 9,400 additional apartments, with more than 11,000 either being built or in the pipeline. This boom in residential construction has aided companies in attracting the pool of talent that they aim to draw.
Earlier this year, Tishman Speyer announced that it had secured a $194 million construction loan for The Wheeler project from the Bank of the Ozarks. The developer purchased the property from Macy's for $270 million in 2015, and the department store is reportedly utilizing those funds to pay for a $100 million renovation of the building's lower floors.
At the same time the company went public with news of the loan, The Real Deal reported that Tishman Speyer was also looking to capitalize on the EB-5 visa program in the amount of $60 million. The EB-5 visa offers foreign investors the chance to put their cash into qualified U.S. projects. In return, investors are moved to the head of the line for green card application processing.
Manhattan's Hudson Yards project, in which Tishman Speyer has skyscrapers in development, reportedly has raised $600 million using the EB-5 program.
Tishman Speyer Unveils Plans For "The Wheeler;" A Creative Office Campus in the Heart of Downtown Brooklyn Yahoo Finance
Downtown Brooklyn's Dearth of Office Space Beckons Tishman Speyer The New York Times
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Designed for indoor communication systems, including transportation, restaurant, and industrial applications. Suitable for environments with high levels of background noise.
Note: For proper operation, mouth-to-microphone distance should be 2 inches (5 cm) or less.
12 inch (30.48 cm) chrome gooseneck.
Black 12 inch (30.48 cm) gooseneck for Shure 503BG, 515BSL and 515BSLX microphones.
18 Inch (46 cm) Chrome Side-Vent Gooseneck.
27 inch (68.6 cm) black gooseneck for Shure 503BG, 515BSL, and 515BSLX microphones.
Chrome side-vent gooseneck, 6-inch (15.24 cm).
Does the 503BG mic have an on off switch?
There is no model specific to the 503BG.  However, the model A1WS should fit OK.
The VR300 is the same microphone as the 503BG. The VR300 was the OEM version.
Does VR300 equal the 503BG?


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Tupelo, Mississippi. It's the home of Elvis Presley, but even for those clued in on that fun fact, it's safe to say that few, if any, know much more about the city. Nestled in the northeast corner of the Magnolia State, and with a population of just over 35,000, indeed, Tupelo, like most small metropolises, is easy to overlook. Rae Sremmurd - pronounced "Ray-Shrim-er," consisting of real life brothers Slim Jxmmi and Swae Lee, the first act signed to multi-platinum producer Mike WiLL Made-It's Ear Drummer Records - is out to change that.
Slim Jxmmi and Swae Lee were born in California, but moved to Tupelo at an early age, where they were raised in the notorious Ida Street housing projects, some of the worst, most crime-ridden in the state. Making matters worse, Sremmurd's parents split while the brothers were still young, a devastating turn of events that found the brothers, over multiple stretches, seeking shelter in abandoned homes scattered throughout the area. For a city with little history outside of its musical heritage, and in a state where two young kids short on role models could look up to the growing star power of in-state hero David Banner, music, from a young age, became a way for Jxmmi and Lee to escape the desperation of their surroundings. "When we were growing up, it was just about perseverance," says Slim Jxmmi, before flipping a quote made famous by Stark Trek character Richard Wakinyan. "Regardless of the situation, we couldn't let the haters win."
The movement started locally, with the brothers throwing parties and shows around town, often in the same abandoned buildings where they once stayed. The pair always had larger ambitions, though, and so the brothers, natural performers since elementary school, taught themselves how to record, make beats, and DJ, building enough buzz to earn an appearance on the popular "Wild Out Wednesdays" segment during BET's music video countdown show, 106th & Park. Back home, Lee and Jxmmi earned the attention of fellow Tupelo native P-Nazty, who also happens to be a producer signed to super producer Mike WiLL Made-It's Eardrummers Entertainment production team. P-Nazty introduced Rae Sremmurd to Mike WiLL, and the multi-platinum producer (Rihanna, Jay Z, Kanye West, 2 Chainz, Future, Juicy J) was instantly impressed by the brothers' energy and the quality of their music, signing the duo to his label, Ear Drummer Records. "When I met them," recalls WiLL, "they just had a real young dope energy about them. So me and the Ear Drummer team locked in the studio like we normally do, had a lot of fun, and cooked up some amazing music. This is just the beginning of our working relationship, and they've got a bright future. I believe in them."
Rae Sremmurd's first single under the Ear Drummer Records, "No Flex Zone," was a breakout for the duo, becoming a cultural touchstone throughout 2014 and entering Billboard's Hot 100 and Top 40, peaking at number 36, while earning the brothers a performance on the 2014 BET Hip-Hop Awards, along with a remix from Nicki Minaj and Pusha T, and co-signs from the likes of Kim Kardashian, Justin Timberlake, Juicy J, and plenty more. The follow-up, "No Type," has proved even bigger, peaking at number 16 on Billboard's Top 40 charts and earning the duo their first late night appearance, with a performance (a medley of "No Flex Zone" and "No Type") on The Tonight Show. To start 2015, Rae Sremmurd released their highly anticipated first album, SremmLife, with a top 5 debut on the Billboard Top 200 and a number 1 debut on Billboard Hip-Hop, and have since had "Throw Sum Mo," featuring Nicki Minaj & Young Thug, emerge as their third consecutive single to break into the top 10 at urban radio and second consecutive single, following "No Type," to peak at #1. With each new success, Swae Lee and Slim Jxmmi have managed to keep a level head, focused simply on showing the world what two young brothers from Tupelo can achieve. "It's the energy, that's what #SremmLife is all about" says Swae Lee. "We bringing the fun back to music!"


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Immergrün (Vinca) ist eine Pflanzengattung in der Familie der Hundsgiftgewächse (Apocynaceae). Sie ist eine der beiden auch in Mitteleuropa vorkommenden Gattungen, der vor allem in den Tropen verbreiteten Familie Apocynaceae.

Beschreibung

Vegetative Merkmale
Die Vinca-Arten sind mehrjährige krautige Pflanzen bis Halbsträucher. Entgegen dem Gattungsnamen sind nicht alle Vinca-Arten immergrün: Das Krautige Immergrün verliert im Winter seine Laubblätter und ist daher sommergrün. Sie besitzen Stolonen und einen wässerigen, klaren Milchsaft. Die gegenständig angeordneten Laubblätter sind kurz gestielt. Die Blattspreiten sind einfach und ganzrandig.

Generative Merkmale
Die Blüten stehen meist einzeln in den Blattachseln, oder selten zu zweit in zymösen Blütenständen.

Die zwittrigen Blüten sind radiärsymmetrisch und fünfzählig mit doppelter Blütenhülle. Der Kelch ist klein. Die fünf blauen, violetten oder weißen Kronblätter sind röhrig verwachsen. Die Innenfläche der Kronröhre ist behaart oder es sind Schüppchen vorhanden. Die Kronlappen sind kürzer als die Kronröhre und überlappen sich. Es ist nur ein Kreis mit fünf Staubblättern vorhanden; sie sind mit der Kronröhre verwachsen, aber untereinander frei. Zwei Fruchtblätter sind zu einem oberständigen Fruchtknoten verwachsen. Die Griffel sind fadenförmig.

Aus jeder befruchteten Blüte entwickeln sich zwei Balgfrüchte. Die Balgfrüchte sind 35 bis 40 Millimeter lang und enthalten vier bis acht Samen. Die Samen sind glänzend.

Systematik und Verbreitung
Die Gattung Vinca wurde 1753 durch Carl von Linné in Species Plantarum, Tomus 1, Seite 209 aufgestellt. Der botanische Gattungsname Vinca ist abgeleitet von lateinisch vinca pervinca, von pervincire für "umwinden, Kränze binden"; in Bezug auf die langen biegsamen Stängel.

Die Vinca-Arten sind von Europa bis Westasien verbreitet.

Es gibt fünf bis sieben (bis zwölf) Arten in der Gattung Vinca (Auswahl):
 Mittleres Immergrün (Vinca difformis ): Es gibt etwa zwei Unterarten:
 Vinca difformis  subsp. difformis
 Vinca difformis subsp. sardoa
 Aufrechtes Immergrün (Vinca erecta ): Es kommt von Zentralasien bis ins nordöstliche Afghanistan vor.
 Krautiges Immergrün (Vinca herbacea )
 Vinca ispartensis : Sie wurde 2015 aus der Türkei erstbeschrieben.
 Kleines Immergrün (Vinca minor )
 Großes Immergrün (Vinca major ): Je nach Autor gibt es wenige Unterarten:
 Vinca major subsp. balcanica
 Vinca major subsp. hirsuta
 Vinca major  subsp. major
 Vinca soneri : Sie wurde 2012 aus der Türkei erstbeschrieben.

Einige ehemalige bei Vinca eingeordnete Arten gehören heute zu Catharanthus, darunter auch das arzneilich bedeutsame Madagaskar-Immergrün. Verschiedene Sorten von Catharanthus werden als Beet- und Balkonpflanzen mit unterschiedlichen Blütenfarben kultiviert.

Verwendung
Zwei Arten werden als Zierpflanzen in Parks und Gärten genutzt und verwildern leicht.

Bekannt ist vor allem das Kleine Immergrün (Vinca minor), welches eine alte Volksarznei-Pflanze ist und noch in der Homöopathie verwendet wird. Vincaalkaloide aus Catharanthus roseus werden als Zytostatika verwendet.

Geschichte
Seit der zweiten Hälfte des 15. Jahrhunderts wurde eine "Singrüen" "Ingrüen" (Immergrün) genannte Pflanze als die "Klematis" des Dioskurides und des Galen, und/oder als die "Vicapervica" des Plinius gedeutet. Die Beschreibungen des Habitus der Pflanze und die beigefügten naturgetreuen Abbildungen in den Büchern der Väter der Botanik ermöglichten eine eindeutige Zuordnung der Pflanze "Immergrün" zur Art Vinca minor.

Nach Otto Brunfels wurde das Immergrün in der Volksmedizin ("bei den gemeinen Empirici") äußerlich als Auflage zur Behandlung der ausbleibenden Monatsblutung ("der erkalteten Gebärmutter") und des "erkalteten Magens" verwendet. Als Symbol der Unsterblichkeit diente es nach Hieronymus Bock als Grabbeilage. Bock gab auch an, dass "trüber und abgefallener Wein" wieder lauter werde, wenn man etwas Immergrünkraut darin wirken lasse.

Im Bundesanzeiger Nr. 173 vom 18. September 1986 veröffentlichte die Kommission E des ehemaligen Bundesgesundheitsamtes eine (Negativ-)Monographie über Immergrünkraut. Darin wird eine therapeutische Anwendung nicht empfohlen.

Historische Abbildungen

Quellen
 Bingtao Li, Antony J. M. Leeuwenberg, David J. Middleton: Apocynaceae. In: Wu Zheng-yi, Peter H. Raven (Hrsg.): Flora of China. Volume 16: Gentianaceae through Boraginaceae, Science Press und Missouri Botanical Garden Press, Beijing und St. Louis 1995, ISBN 0-915279-33-9. Vinca, S. 143 – textgleich online wie gedrucktes Werk.
 Datenblatt in der Western Australian Flora.
 Manfred A. Fischer, Wolfgang Adler, Karl Oswald: Exkursionsflora für Österreich, Liechtenstein und Südtirol. 2., verbesserte und erweiterte Auflage. Land Oberösterreich, Biologiezentrum der Oberösterreichischen Landesmuseen, Linz 2005, ISBN 3-85474-140-5.
 Ruprecht Düll, Herfried Kutzelnigg: Taschenlexikon der Pflanzen Deutschlands. Ein botanisch-ökologischer Exkursionsbegleiter zu den wichtigsten Arten. 6., völlig neu bearbeitete Auflage. Quelle & Meyer, Wiebelsheim 2005, ISBN 3-494-01397-7.

Weblinks

Einzelnachweise

Hundsgiftgewächse

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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← Shall vs. Will
"You is Smart:" Dialect Gripes About "The Help" →
Higgins' Boast
Philadelphia Street (Photo: Adam Jones)
I heard rumors in college of a speech teacher with an exceptional knack for guessing dialects. He could supposedly pinpoint, within ten miles, where a student was from. "Ohio," he would deduce. "About seven miles west from Akron." "Bangor, Maine." "St. Louis. The western suburbs."
Such legends have floated around drama schools and linguistics departments for years. All are variations of "Higgins' Boast," the claim Shaw's Pygmalion protagonist makes in Act I:
You can spot an Irishman or a Yorkshireman by his brogue. I can place any man within six miles. I can place him within two miles in London. Sometimes within two streets.
Alas, I find that most such boasts are exaggerations, although more plausible when Shaw was writing. Higgins was "living" in the 1910's, a time when streets, boroughs and villages may very well have had distinguishable accents. While recently reading Douglas W. Rae's The City, a book about American urbanism, it struck me how dense and insular communities were during the industrial era. So perhaps Epsom and Lisson Grove were as linguistically unique as Higgins suggests.
That being said, Henry Higgins was "speaking" before modern tape recorders existed, so I don't entirely buy his claim. He implies, for instance, that he can make such deductions as far away as Ireland. But unless Higgins had bottomless financial resources and travelled constantly, it's unlikely he could spot the difference between, say, two nearby villages in County Kerry.
If someone were to make a similar boast today, we would find the opposite problem. One can imagine the endless hours Higgins would spend on YouTube; given the "corpus" of English speech available online, a man of his talent could come close to achieving such mastery.
But conversely, the kind of fine lines Higgins draws in Pygmalion are rarer now than they were in the late Edwardian. Given our economic and physical mobility, I have a hard time believing that there is a "Cambridge Heath Road accent" distinguishable from a "Vallance Road twang."
Which is not to say that such guesses are impossible. For instance, while recently watching a documentary about the making of Hitchcock's Psycho, I accurately guessed the neighborhood of the exact city where screenwriter Joseph Stefano grew up (answer after the clip):
Stefano is from South Philadelphia. My shot-in-the-dark might sound impressive, but like a cheap psychic, I relied on luck and probably some unconscious cheating. That Stefano is from the Philadelphia area is unquestionable. That I guessed he's from South Philly, however, may have been influenced by his Italian last name.
So while I think such geographically precise guesses are possible in some cases, I find the idea that someone can pull this trick off for the entire English-speaking world (or even the entirety of America or the UK) fairly implausible. People differ too greatly in the degree to which their accents are "local." And regions differ too greatly in the degree to which they differ!
Have you ever met someone with an ability as impressive as Higgins? Or are such feats the stuff of legend?
This entry was posted in Miscellaneous Accents and Dialects and tagged phonetics. Bookmark the permalink.
44 Responses to Higgins' Boast
People think they can recognize a Brooklyn accent when in reality it's a working class accent that is much more widespread. So you'd have to require your expert dialect detector to be specific about social as well as regional dialects. And don't forget occupational groups, gender and age cohorts.
Insider and outsider status counts for a lot, too, as your County Kerry example suggests. New Englanders sound alike to most General North American speakers, but to insiders Massachusetts sounds different from Rhode Island or Connecticut, or New Hampshire. In Massachusetts, Boston sounds different from Worcester, etc.
I think William Labov (and associates) could place speakers somewhat reliably with the help of their extensive database. Otherwise, I think that people think they are much better at dialect detection than they really are.
Otherwise, I think that people think they are much better at dialect detection than they really are.
Nothing like some good cognitive bias
I know exactly what to say on this one.
There were reports that Stanley Ellis, one of the fieldworkers in the Survey of English Dialects, had this ability. One case that received media attention was when (apparently) he located Wearside Jack (a hoaxer who impersonated the Yorkshire Ripper) to the village of Castletown in Sunderland. The police diverted their attention to this area. When Jack was eventually caught, he turned out to be from the Castletown area.
When Ellis died, this was mentioned in some of the biographies. For example, this in the Guardian or this in the Telegraph.
You can hear the recording here: it's the first audio file on this page by Jack Windsor Lewis.
However, I'm not convinced. I think that either Ellis made a lucky guess or that the reports got exaggerated (I can't find any direct comments from Ellis on the subject). He worked in County Durham during the SED, but the speech that he was investigating was on the brink of extinction at the time and Wearside Jack did not have a particularly old-fashioned accent. In addition, the recording was only short and of poor-quality, and Jack spoke slowly. To locate someone to a village, you must need more material than that.
P.S. Ian Catford's Wikipedia article says that he was able to "identify where people were from exclusively through their speech." Presumably, this applied within his native Scotland. There's no reference for this claim.
I looked him up after finding this In Memorium for him and Stanley Ellis in IPA News. Perhaps someone else knows more about his work and can add a comment.
Kate Gladstone says:
Re "In Memorium" — am I wrong to continue spelling it "In Memoriam"? Will I one day lose a job, or lose the respect of others, because of knowing this?
I'd have said Sunderland without the heads-up. It wuold have to be from either there or very close by. I don't see any way you could pinpoint to Castletown, though. It's very much a part of Sunderland rather than a village in itself, with regard to dialect as with everything else.
That's interesting. Ellis worked at Washington (the one near Sunderland) during the SED, and you can hear his talking with two retired miners here. Castletown is fairly close to Washington.
The Telegraph obituary above mentions that Humble lived on the opposite side of the river from Castletown (I believe that there's a large council estate around there). I interpreted this to mean that he lived there when he was arrested, but it might mean that he'd always lived that side.
Given that Ellis had done fieldwork across the north of England, it's plausible that he could locate northerners within 10 miles but he couldn't have known the speech of every little village.
According to Wikipedia, he'd been to school in Castletown so, if true, that would give some credibility to the claim. I can't think what it would be though. There's nothing about his speech that obviously distinguishes it from any other part of Sunderland.
The phonetician Jack Windsor Lewis, who worked on the Wearside Jack tape alongside Stanley Ellis, has posted this response to our discussion. He says that Stanley Ellis noticed similarities between Wearside Jack and an informant on the dialect of of Washington (England) who he recorded. In addition, he agrees with Amy Stoller's comment below that the Higgins Boast was probably meant to be fictional.
Sam Huddy says:
Cities are way harder, as accents varying within those are more class-based. If a person from Los Angeles is non-rhotic, you can reasonably assume they're from the northeastern part of the city, but they could be from any neighbourhood. The same with the allegedly "saath lawndawn" accent.
But neighbouring cities are easier: there's no confusing an Angeleno for a Pasadenan, or a San Franciscan from a San Josean.
Nathan Milton says:
I highly doubt that (and most of the other things you've said), but whatever.
Meh. The research out west is spotty as hell, but people who live in those little pockets are well-aware of the difference. SF, Oakland, and the older suburbs around them are much more like Philly/Baltimore than the rest of California. Pasadena has a weird backing trend.
Northern New England is like that too. New Hampshire sounds like a mix of Boston and Maine that's somehow more extreme than either of the two.
I know that for elder speakers what you say is somewhat true but younger speakers are generally absorbed into the dialect leveling (SF still! taking its time cot-caught merging xD)
Who says "meh"? You're the least hip hipster I've ever met.
you DONT say meh?
DC says:
Actually, when you are fluent, it is quite easy to distinguish San Diego, LA, San Francisco, and Sacramento. It is even easy to distinguish Latino accented English from San Diego, LA, San Francisco and Sacramento, and Asian accented English from these cities. When I was more fluent, I could imitate each one to demonstrate. One trouble spot I have is with the Huntington Beach to Long Beach area: I can't detect distinguishing accents from those areas. So if I know someone is from California, but I can't place the accent, I can be pretty sure they are from that area.
It definitely depends on my personal familiarity with the regional accent. I can peg an older (maybe ~60+?) speaker from the area of the South Downs (UK) where I grew up at 200 paces. Not so much with younger speakers, as I suppose tv etc has smoothed out the accents a fair bit. And if it's an area I'm not so familiar with I can't be nearly as specific.
Ben Trawick-Smith says:
I agree that when you are intimately familiar with a region, a number of minute distinctions come to the forefront. That's another factors in my deduction about Stefano: he has a slightly opener-than-usual vowel in functional words like 'can' (the verb) which I strongly associate with South Philly. It's a connection I probably wouldn't make if I didn't spend as much time in the region as I do.
Randy E says:
Though I was born in Canada, my family is from the Netherlands. I've heard stories about people in the past who could guess where someone was from in the Netherlands (and maybe the Dutch speaking part of Belgium) within 10km just based on their accent/dialect, though I've never met one. Since the Netherlands is much smaller, and does appear to show a great deal of accent/dialect variation, it's more plausible, though in light of similar claims for English, perhaps it was just a myth. Although, there is an astounding degree of linguistic diversity present in my mom's home province of Friesland, which you could drive across in about an hour. There are many dialects of Frisian alone, not to mention different dialects of Dutch and Dutch-Frisian hybrids.
Richard N says:
I guessed South Philly too. It was the fact that he had a Mid-Atlantic accent and an Italian last name. I figured there must have been some "clue" that would allow us to correctly guess where he was from, otherwise you wouldn't have brought that up.
His accent could easily pass for Baltimore, or South Jersey (Burlington County, but not Ocean County or further south). His accent has been softened from South Philly, by years in Southern California. He has also taken on a bit of a Californian lilt (he hangs on to some syllables that would be rough and clipped in South Philly). Spend a day on Market Street, or buy a cheesesteak, and you will hear an much rougher accent, more like Rocky Balboa. It is fun to listen to for a while. Stefano is definitely speaking with a Philly/South Jersey/Baltimore accent with an overlay of something smoother.
Charles Sullivan says:
I think Mark Twain used a lot of dialect/accent-variations that have now disappeared or morphed into larger regional dialect/accent-variations.
I find I'm more able to identify accents (or accent differences) when they are socially meaningful. I can travel to a pretty wide area before I notice that people have accents different from mine. And the only time I notice the area where I live having an accent different than mind at all (250 miles different between the two, in the U.S.) is occasionally with the pin/pen merger, which they have here but I don't have.
But, yet, hick accents (there's a better term for that, I'm sure, but I don't know it; an accent that identifies someone as a hick) from this area (including both where I grew up and where I live now in "this area") I notice.
In Ireland, Dublin area accents sound distinctly different to me than Galway accents. People from Dublin nearby areas sound like people I know (American residents I know from the area). People from Galway sound like movie characters. I could not, though, tell the difference between the different accents in and around Dublin.
Amy Stoller says:
I have never met anyone who could live up to Higgins' boast. That some people within their own communities can accurately identify others from nearby communities based on their speech I do not doubt. But that is a very far cry from what Shaw decided Higgins could do.
That some people are both especially knowledgeable and/or especially gifted is also true. But this? "Brought up in Hounslow. Mother Welsh, I should think." Let us remember that Pygmalion is fiction, and comedic fiction at that. Does it contain large truths? Yes. Is every detail a verifiable fact? Absurd.
Moreover, I'd like to see the actor, then or now, who could produce such an accent accurately. There is a difference between stagecraft and science, as Shaw well knew.
Ben, do you get tired of people asking you to place them on the basis of their speech during casual conversation? I do. Even if I could do so, my work is not a party trick; it is a profession. I don't ask doctors to diagnose me (for free!) when I meet them at cocktail parties – and how many of us have encountered a faulty medical diagnosis at some point in our lives? How many people have been sent to prison, or their deaths, though innocent of any crime? Henry Higgins, like Sherlock Holmes, is not real, no matter how real Henry Sweet and Joseph Bell may have been.
In other words: Grrrrr.
I tend to be a bit–maybe "irked" is too strong a word —wary of such requests. Such games are fun in certain controlled circumstances, like this quiz where you match up broad British regional accents to their correct locations. But it's a different story when your "test" is someone from Manchester who spent a few years in London and the past decade in New York. People differ tremendously in how recognizable their regional accent is, a fact that many people don't grasp.
Were those real accents? They all sounded put on, especially the Southern Irish one. And there were mistakes too. It said the northern Irish one was Southern Irish. I should probably complain to them, not here.
When you click on the answers, the numbers for each accent don't match the numbers that you used to answer the quiz.
Nope, it's simply wrong. That's okay though.
Mark P says:
I doubt that anyone can do it. I am reasonably good at identifying fake Southern accents, having lived in the South since birth, but even I have trouble identifying the locale of specific Southern accents. I think I can identify the particulars of my own region (NW Georgia), and maybe that of the eastern, near-coastal region of Georgia, tucked up against the Savannah River between Augusta and Savannah. But beyond that, and maybe even within that, it's hit or miss. I always thought Jodie Foster did a good job with her accent in the Silence of the Lambs. It sounded genuine, with essentially none of the fake features so many actors end up with. But I could not have told you where that accent was supposed to have originated.
acrobin109 says:
Sorry to jump on an older post, but wanted to second this. I'm NE GA raised, and can generally peg "South Georgia" vs North, and Augusta or Savannah comes through every time (they both sound like mint juleps, but Savannah seems a bit more refined to me, while Augusta runs high).
If there's a bit of a hill twang, I can tell Tennessee, Kentucky, or Alabama/South Carolina uplands, but North Carolina Mountain and North Georgia Mountain sound exactly alike to me.
Do you suppose it has to do with geological pocketing? North Georgia has a lot of different landforms in a fairly tight space.
Daniel Bensen says:
My mom said she met someone at a party who correctly guessed she was from Western Montana, which I think is pretty impressive.
Also, on the wildly improbable assumption that everybody reading doesn't already know about this website: http://accent.gmu.edu/browse_atlas.php
Marc Leavitt says:
I agree with Amy; identifying micro-accents is a nice party game for language nerds.
I wonder, is it possible to make predictions about accents you've never actually heard? "You live north of X and east of Y, therefore you should say Z"
Gassalasca says:
Ben, could you tell us what features of Stefano's speech alerted you to the facted that he's from Philadelphia?
Sure! Mostly it had to do with the relatively open vowel in words like 'began,' his consistently raised /ai/ diphthong before voiceless consonants (as in "Psycho"), and the inconsistent way he produced the vowel in words like "goat" (which wavers between being quite fronted, as is often the case in the Mid-Atlantic, and somewhat more back).
Incidentally, another non-linguistic factor that helped me out was that I could deduce Stefano had been born in the early 1920's or so. It might have been a bit more tricky if he were a bit younger, as the accent started to "move to the suburbs" after WWII. (As is the case with many American urban accents).
Pedro Alvarez says:
Henry Lee Smith of Trager-Smith used to tell that on his radio show. Check here:
http://www-personal.umich.edu/~jlawler/aue/smith.html
His radio program was "where are you from"
http://www.buffalo.edu/ubreporter/2011_10_27/flashback
Another phonetics/phonology Bob Ladd says the same about Smith: "Expert humans used to be able to make such judgements with detail comparable to that achieved by the computer in the cartoon. When my father was an undergraduate at Brown in the late 1930s, he was on a radio program called "Where are you from?", hosted by Brown linguist Henry Lee Smith (the Smith of Trager and Smith, for linguists of a certain age). As my father used to recall it, Smith asked him to say "marry merry Mary" and promptly judged that he was from "within 15 miles of the Cape Cod Canal", which in fact he was. Whether the story was embellished in the retelling I have no way of knowing, but I have no reason to doubt that there was such a radio program or that Smith could actually do this sort of thing. Since (according to Mark's first graph) human listeners are still substantially outperforming machines, it seems unlikely that we will be seeing scenes like the cartoon any time soon, and an electronic Smith is probably still several decades off." From http://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=904
Hershele Ostropoler says:
I don't know about other areas, but in New York, it seems to me the lines aren't geographical (for all the talk of a "Brooklyn accent" or a "Bronx accent") but ethnic. Jews in Brooklyn sound less like Italian-Americans in Brooklyn than Italian-Americans in the Bronx do.
More relevantly: my girlfriend has gotten over the phone at work "I can tell you're in New York because of your accent." She's from Atlantic City.
I think Labov and other sociolinguists have concluded that the Brooklyn accent is a working class accent (not geographic), which would correlate somewhat with ethnicity.
I wonder, can one tell where in the former USSR a native Russophone comes from by his or her accent in Russian? In English?
I don't know anything about Russian accents, but if the variation in Russian accents is similar to that of Dutch accents, then it might be possible for a native Russophone to guess where another one comes from based on their accents in English. I once witnessed two Dutch people speaking to each other in English doing the same. To the extent that it's possible in the native languages, though, I would suspect the precision is lower when guessing based on their accents when speaking English.
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Based on my experience, I would expect experts to be quite accurate for uncorrupted accents. I spent a decade in the Navy, working with people from all over the country. It was a game to imitate all the accents and local idiom you could hear, and from that it became quite easy to differentiate many accents and place them. It was easy to distinguish, for example, accents from major Southern cities, or cities and there distinct surroundings (Indianapolis from southern Indiana, Chicago from the North Shore, etc.) . If amateurs can get that accurate, experts who actually study dialects should be able to do even better. But when accents become corrupted, as when someone spends decades in a new setting and adopts that accent on top of their native accent, I bet it is pretty hard.
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As a fourth generation realtor, I was raised in a family where real estate was the primary occupation. She has a passion for the business and a steadfast dedication to her clients. As a licensed agent in both California and Arizona, I bring over five years of experience to the table and is adept at handling any transaction, regardless of property type or price point.
I am highly motivated, determined and hands on with each sale from start to finish. In addition, Maria does everything possible to make sure her clients find exactly what they are looking for. She loves what she does and is very grateful that she is able to pursue her passion for a living. As such, I don't take my responsibilities lightly. I always goe the extra mile for mybuyers and sellers.
In addition to real estate, Maria's passions include running and cooking. She lives in Santa Monica, a community she knows intimately. She also does a great deal of business in the Hollywood Hills and West Hollywood.


Prevention Link is thrilled to offer this two-day course gives participants the skills to provide assistance to a person developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis. Just as physical first aid is administered to an injured person before medical treatment can be offered or until the crisis is resolved. **Participants must be present for the full length of the course in order to be certified.


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Québec's Bill 64 to Amend Data Protection Legislation
Executive Summaries Jun 18, 2020
Québec's Bill 64 to Amend Data Protection Legislation: A Bill with Teeth?
Shaun E. Finn
On June 12, 2020, Québec's Minister Responsible for Democratic Institutions, Electoral Reform and Access to Information, Sonia LeBel, tabled the long awaited Bill 64: An Act to modernize legislative provisions as regards the protection of personal information. If adopted, Bill 64 would amend various laws dealing with data protection by both private and public sector institutions, including the Act Respecting the Protection of Personal Information in the Private Sector.
Québec's Bill 64
With respect to the Act Respecting the Protection of Personal Information in the Private Sector ("PPIPS"), Bill 64 is long overdue. The first Canadian jurisdiction to adopt private sector privacy legislation in 1993, Québec has not kept the law up to date and, in 2014, was deemed inadequate by the European Union's advisory board, Working Party 29, for failing to properly protect the privacy rights of individuals. Ordinarily, the assessment of another jurisdiction might not be noteworthy. The Working Party's findings, however, if acted upon by the European Union, could have subjected Québec companies to onerous data protection measures and exposed it to steep fines in order to continue sharing data with European countries.
Proposed Changes to Existing Privacy Legislation
If implemented, Bill 64's proposed changes will clarify a number of points in the present legislation thereby bringing PPIPS in line with its federal and provincial counterparts. It will introduce into Québec law rights that are recognized in Europe and the United States but that so far have not made their way to Canada. The Bill also proposes severe fines for a violation of the existing legislation.
The following proposed changes are of particular interest:
Consent to data collection, use, and communication will have to be clear, free, and informed, as well as given for a specific purpose;
As with the federal legislation, Bill 64 would exempt employee contact information from the scope of the legislation;
Sensitive information, previously undefined, would now be defined to include information that, due to its nature, context, use or communication, entails a high level of reasonable expectation of privacy;
Any "enterprise" (ie. a business or other organization) collecting information will have to put in place data governance policies and procedures, including retention and destruction provisions, and publish these on their website;
Enterprises regardless of their size will have to appoint a person responsible for implementing the personal information protection measures and make this person's contact details available on its website;
Privacy impact analysis will have to be conducted when an enterprise considers implementing any information system project or electronic service delivery project involving the collection, use communication, storage or destruction of personal information;
Enterprises will have to put in place processor agreements containing specific items if they wish to use a third-party contractor to process personal information;
Québec enterprises will be required to disclose a data breach if it presents a risk of serious injury to : i) the Commission d'accès à l'information du Québec (the "Commission") ii) the individual(s) affected; and iii) any organization that might help mitigate the damage. Failure to do so could result in penalties of $5,000 to $50,000 for a natural person, $15,000 to $25,000,000 for a legal person or even, in certain cases, an amount corresponding to 4% of the latter's worldwide turnover for the preceding fiscal year; and
As with the federal law, PPIPS will require organizations to keep a breach log.
Additional Rights for Individuals Whose Data is Collected
Bill 64 provides greater clarity by guaranteeing an individual's right to access and rectify a file containing his or her personal information. It also recognizes the right to have any hyperlink that provides information by technological means de-indexed if the dissemination of the information contravenes the law or a court order. The individual also has the right to have the hyperlink re-indexed provided certain conditions are met. In the event the individual is subject to automated decision making, he or she has the right to be informed of the personal information that is used, the reason for processing his or her personal information, and the principle factors and parameters relied upon to make these automated decisions. He or she also has the right to access the personal information that is used and processed.
In addition to the penalties mentioned above for non-compliance with breach-reporting, Bill 64 proposes giving the Commission the right to develop and impose heavy administrative monetary penalties for statutory violations. These penalties can be up to $50,000 for a natural person and the greater of $10,000,000 for an enterprise or 2% of its worldwide turnover. Bill 64 also allows for punitive damages in the cases of an enterprise that unlawfully, intentionally or as a result of gross fault infringes articles 35 to 40 of the Civil Code of Québec (which codify rights to the respect of reputation and privacy).
The recognition of new rights and the imposition of new penalties, including punitive damages, could serve as the basis for litigation against virtually any business, institution or organization active in Québec. More specifically, by reinforcing the privacy and data protection regime, Bill 64 could encourage class actions, notably those instituted as a result of alleged failures to meet more onerous governance and disclosure requirements.
Bill 64 brings PPIPS into the 21st century and officially requires what many enterprises are already doing with respect to data governance. It also provides some consistency for international companies seeking to do business in Québec by aligning the province with data protection practices, such as breach notification, that exist almost everywhere else in North America. It remains to be seen which elements of Bill 64 will become law. Until then, BCF invites you to direct any questions concerning privacy and data protection to its Data Protection and Cybersecurity Group.
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In a world seeped with Darwinian thinking, it is difficult for some people to see that humans are special, made in the image of God.
Animal rights activists, who tend to embrace evolutionary thinking, have for years tried to blur the differences between humans and animals.
In January 2008 a chimpanzee named Matthew Hiasl Pan made headlines throughout the world as activists attempted to get the Austrian High Court to grant it the status of a person. The court refused to do so, however.
In June 2008 the environmental committee of the Spanish parliament approved a resolution that called for the right to life and freedom for great apes.
In early 2010, Thomas White, a professor of ethics at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, caused a stir by suggesting that dolphins should be treated as "non-human persons."
In 2014, Professor Peter Singer wanted to re-define chimpanzees as people.
In April 2014 animal rights activists claimed that two research chimpanzees, Hercules and Leo, were being unlawfully detained.
Some activists are not content with giving human rights to animals. They also want to give them to rivers.
Last week, the Whanganui River in New Zealand became the first river to get human rights. India was quick to follow suit.
BBC News reports:
"A court in northern Indian has given the Ganges and Yamuna rivers the status of 'living human entities'.
The high court in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand said this would help in the 'preservation and conservation' of the highly polluted rivers.
It added that the 'legal status' ensures that polluting the rivers would now amount to harming a human being."
While the motive behind the decision might be excellent, only humans can be "living human entities."
Rivers will remain rivers, regardless of whether they are deemed to be sacred by adherents of a religion or not.
Pollution is a serious issue and so is pretending that inanimate things can be persons.
BBC News. 2017. India court gives sacred Ganges and Yamuna rivers human status. (21 March).


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Picture of the Day: The ISS and Solar Eclipse! | Jan. 5, 2011
THE ISS AND SOLAR ECLIPSE!
Photograph by Thierry Legault
See that spec in the upper left quadrant? The one that looks like a TIE fighter from Star Wars? That's the International Space Station spotted during yesterday night's partial solar eclipse!
Photographer's description: Image of the solar transit of the International Space Station (ISS), taken from the area of Muscat in the Sultanate of Oman on January 4th 2011 at 9:09 UT, during the partial solar eclipse. Takahashi FSQ-106ED refractor on EM-10 mount, Canon 5D mark II. 1/5000s exposure at 100 iso. Transit forecast calculated by http://www.calsky.com (many thanks to Arnold Barmettler for his help).
Transit duration: 0.86s. ISS distance to observer: 510 km. Speed in orbit: 7.8km/s (28000 km/h or 17000 mph).
The image shows three planes in space: the Sun at 150 million km, the Moon at about 400000 km and the ISS at 500 km.
via Thierry Legault


Police say the SUV failed to stop at a stop sign and was struck in the passenger side by a loaded pulp truck.
SIGEL – The driver of an SUV involved in a crash Friday afternoon with a semi-truck was listed in critical condition Saturday afternoon at Marshfield Medical Center, according to a hospital spokesman.
The crash happened about noon Friday at the intersection of Wood County F and Wood County HH in the town of Sigel, according to a news release from the Vesper Fire Department.
The SUV failed to stop at a stop sign at the intersection and was struck in the passenger side by a loaded pulp truck that was traveling eastbound, according to a news release from the Wood County Sheriff's Department.
The driver of the SUV, a 45-year-old man from Onalaska, was trapped in the vehicle and was extricated by rescue personnel on scene, the sheriff's department said. He was transported by Life Link III helicopter to Marshfield Medical Center.
The driver of the pulp truck, a 21-year-old man from Eau Claire, did not appear to have any injuries, Vesper Fire Captain Paul Dederich said. There were no passengers in either vehicle, he said.
The crash is being investigated by the Wood County Sheriff's Department and the Wisconsin State Patrol.


I had previously posted about the City of Sydney's announcements for three new works for Sydney's public spaces. click here.
I have just read online the views of the Crikey urbanist, Alan Davies. There's a lot more to say about this guy's reviews and some of his strange views on urban issues . He has some serious problems! More on some of his comments later – watch this space.
The comments from this urbanist are evidence for why such planners/urbanists should be kept right away from anything to do with aesthetics, let alone public art, anything to do with landscape or open space thinking.
Here's his review – click here.
His suggestions for improvements to the art work are laughable. But let's start with his opening lines: Sydney City Council's proposed giant Cloud Arch sculpture looks good, but means little. Australia's premier city should aspire to something more authentic than a giant logo.
I just wonder what he would think of the Cloud Gate Sculpture in Chicago's Millennium Park. click here.
Then there is this comment – please do not laugh too much: I worry it will be expensive to keep clean, resulting in the ethereal quality conveyed in the renderings going missing most of the time.
Yep, he did say that. He is worried about its cleaning! Take a look around at public art anywhere – how do they clean them? Now there's a major concern for not having public art!
Then he let's us all know just how much he does not understand about any artworks. He says: After the first one or two sightings, I don't think it will engage with viewers at an intellectual or emotional level. I agree, that I doubt this artwork will engage him at any intellectual level. But who needs to worry about attempting to cater for any mundane and confused thinking as portrayed by such an 'urbanist'.
Later our urbanist goes on about how the locals should be able to identify with this work. This is the same Urbanist that dumped on the locals in the outer Melbourne suburb of Tecoma who did not want the shock of a MacDonald's outlet in their main street. Our urbanist has a habit of criticising locals for wanting to have their say on local aesthetics. Now he is using the same argument to be negative about an innovative approach being taken to public art by the City of Sydney.
In amongst the urbanist's comments on this art initiative, there are a few sly dog-whistle criticisms of Clover Moore, the Lord Mayor of Sydney. Surely our Melbourne urbanist is not joining in the conservative led bullying of Clover Moore, the popularly elected mayor! Surely he is not a member of that planners boys club that dominates our major cities and who have done a great job of selling out to the Property Council lobby instead of looking after the citizens!
And as a final note our urbanist puts the boot into the other artwork (above). I would hazard a guess that such an artwork would be WAY outside his limited intellectual realm of understanding! I think there should be many of these scattered across the country.
To finish, such people as this Crikey urbanist are dangerous in that they lack the aesthetics to understand how artworks could bring enjoyment to our many urban places. Such urbanists usually do not comprehend FUN.
Full marks to the City of Sydney for this creative initiative. click here.
A big fat zero marks to the Crikey urbanist for such a silly and waste-of-space article. Be warned this level of dangerous crap is not unusual for him. More later.


People of earth. We come to you from 22,000 miles above your planet's surface.
You're probably reading this right now courtesy of a high speed cable or telephone line. But there are a lot of people in the country who don't have access to either. Blame it on geography. They just don't live in a place that has fast internet.
But Exede took geography out of the equation the day they launched the world's highest capacity communications satellite. In orbit 22,000 miles above the earth, it's in the perfect position to beam high speed internet to whoever wants it.
It's high speed internet from space. With a non-speaking spokesperson, also from space. The commercial first ran minutes after the Super Bowl ended, and while not technically considered a "Super Bowl" commercial, it was mentioned as one of the favorite spots on viewer blogs.
And for the record, no cats were harmed in the making of this commercial.
Brian, the lovable but often misunderstood alien, became the spokesperson for their new service.
Nobody likes to be interrupted, especially in the middle of video chatting or buying something online. This campaign reminded people of that and drove them to the Exede site.
A new way to help people quit smoking that really worked.


If you are also in awe of our diverse and colourful indigenous floral kingdom, this set of coasters is a must have!
Did you know that South Africa carries the title of being home to the world's hottest hotspot, the Cape Floral Region?
grow nowhere else on Earth.
great gift giving to anybody who is a flower lover!
Category: Tablescape. Tags: Coasters, Table Decor, table scape, Veldblomme.


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The common bully (Gobiomorphus cotidianus), or toitoi (Māori), is a fish endemic to New Zealand, and is present throughout the country. There are three other bully species that can be confused with common bullies. There are few characteristics of the common bully that separate it from other species. Vertical lines present on the cheek are a good defining characteristic, along with the location of head pores and scale patterns on the head although these are hard to establish when seen in the wild. It is an amphidromous fish meaning it is able to survive in marine and fresh water environments. It is a small fish only growing as big as 15 cm. It can live in marine, fresh water or brackish water habitats and generally lives in benthic zones. Some populations venture into the sea and occur in coastal rivers and streams while other land-locked populations have established in many shallow mainland lakes. They generally prefer moderate to slow moving water which means they are the most likely bully species to be sighted. Its diet consists mainly of small benthic invertebrates but also involves insect larvae and crustacea.

Natural history
Apart from a few sightings in Stewart Island and Great Barrier Island, the common bully is normally found in mainland areas. These populations have established in land-locked areas due to natural processes. It is thought that these populations of fish inhabited lakes or relatively high in river systems which were eventually blocked off from the sea due to natural processes. In these land-locked environments the common bully is an important prey for larger freshwater fish such as eels and trout.

Reproduction
In the summer months Gobiomorphus cotidianus can be found moving more into the littoral zones of lakes and streams as the females prepare to reproduce. The females attach clusters of a several hundred to a few thousand eggs onto the underside of hard surfaces on the lake bottom where they are fertilized and guarded by the males. The larval stage of bullies are planktonic and their main source of food are zooplankton. As the young grow larger they move into deeper waters, and become benthic once they reach about 18mm in length. They mature at around 1 year old and the average generation gap is 2 years.

References

common bully
Endemic freshwater fish of New Zealand
common bully


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Photo:Wikipedia Commons
Oita Prefectural Art Museum
Last year I was lucky enough to be one of the students in my university invited to attend the soft opening of Oita Prefectural Art Museum. It was a great experience for me and a pretty rare opportunity because the Museum itself will not be open for public until April 2015, there were only a limited number of people who are lucky enough to be invited by the director of OPAM, Ryu NIIMI.
As the director in charge of Oita Prefectural Art Museum, Mr. NIIMI has a vision to introduce the values of arts in Oita prefecture which is being shaped by the long historical background of its reach cultural diffusion and religious influence from several different religion such as Shintoism, Buddhism, and even Christianity in this brand new base of arts exhibition at the centre of Oita city.
Architecture of the museum
Oita Prefectural Art museum has a unique atmosphere as the building has a concept to connect the inner part of the museum to its surrounding environment, which made it feel fully accessible by those who wanted to drop by. Thanks to one of Japan talented architect named Shigeru Ban who is in charge of OPAM architecture. One of Shigeru Ban most noticeable work on architecture is his design for the Centre Pompidou in Metz, France. Ban is famous with his effort at the NGO called VAN (Voluntary Architects Network) which was established by Ban, whom actively operates in providing temporary housing facility using recyclable materials in many areas around the world that being impacted by natural disaster, he was also recently achieved an accomplishment as the winner of 2014 Pritzker Architecture Prize, one of the most prestigious awards in architecture.
He came up with this unique concept of a museum that is close to the public and become part of everyone's daily life. It is a museum that could be accessible for those who wanted to drop by even only for a moment to enjoy a cup of coffee and a nice talk about the beautiful world of arts, fusing the habit of enjoying arts in to the daily life of its visitors.
The first floor will provide a café corner for the visitors. You could enjoy watching the arts exhibition while having a cup of coffee. Those glass panels on the most front side of the building could be folded up when the weather is clear outside the building to create the connection between the interior of this museum with its exterior environment.
On the first floor there are also exhibitions about the birth of OPAM. Along the first floor main hall, there are some big portrait showing the construction process of OPAM from the beginning until it was fully established to the visitors.
There is also an art gallery on the first floor which is divided into several gallery rooms for different art collections, this one is the gallery room for the photography collection which is also featured the latest digital pigment print artwork by Ali Uchida.
This one part of the gallery room piqued my interest. It is an art collection corner featured the selection of all hand-drawn pictures by elementary school students all over Kyushu who won the prize in a competition called "Junior Picture prize for Homage to Maestro".
Moving to the second floor, compare to the first floor, there were not much exhibition going on the second floor because most of the space on this floor would be used as a workshop corner for hand craft. After the grand opening, there will be hand craft workshops being held regularly on the second floor for the visitors.
The third floor of this museum is quite special even though all the exhibition halls and the galleries are still empty, there is something unique with the design. The wall that separated each segment of this exhibitions hall could move from one segment into the other segment of the room occasionally, so do not need to get tired from walking around the exhibitions hall because the gallery itself will literally move around you.
There will be a lot of exhibitions on the third floor because this entire floor serve as the main exhibitions hall of Oita Prefectural Art Museum. The promotion department of Oita Prefectural Art Museum is planning to feature the finest artwork on this floor, one of their plan is to show a Japanese national treasure and artwork by world famous artist such as Picasso and Van Gogh in this exhibition hall.
Oita Prefectural Art museum is also connected to the NHK Oita main office building, which is actually located next to it by a pedestrian deck that also available for the visitors who wanted to access the museum directly from NHK Oita main office building.
2-1 Kotobuki-Machi, Oita, Japan
It only takes for 10 minutes by walking from Oita station to reach Oita Prefectural Art Museum. The grand opening will be held at the beginning of April 2015 this spring, make sure to drop by when you visit Oita city around that time.
Website : https://www.opam.jp/
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Home / Unlabelled / Against all odds: how New Zealand is bending the Delta curve
Against all odds: how New Zealand is bending the Delta curve
ITZ September 10, 2021
The country's goal of eliminating Covid transmission looks within reach – but health experts' optimism is cautious Less than a month ago, New Zealanders disappeared into their homes, retracting from the public domain like spilled water into a dry sponge. The motorways and city streets stood mostly empty, shops closed, schools and playgrounds were deserted. A single case of the highly contagious Delta variant had been detected and the government called a snap level-4 lockdown, introducing some of the strictest restrictions in the world. It was a new threat for a country whose Covid-zero pandemic response had been ranked one of the best globally. New Zealand had never faced a Delta outbreak before, and no one knew if its past strategies would prove up to the task. Continue reading...
http://dlvr.it/S7LXS7
Against all odds: how New Zealand is bending the Delta curve Reviewed by ITZ on September 10, 2021 Rating: 5


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Comedy Central Heads to the South Side This July; Catch the Big Bang Finale Again Tonight
Comedy Central, the #1 brand in comedy, announced that its new scripted series South Side will premiere Wednesday, July 24 at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT. South Side is written by and stars Bashir Salahuddin (Glow) and Diallo Riddle (Marlon). Salahuddin, Riddle, and Michael Blieden - all Late Night with Jimmy Fallon alumni - are executive producers.
The aspirational, scripted comedy is set in and around the working class neighborhood of Englewood on the South Side of Chicago. South Side follows two friends who just graduated community college ... so now they're ready to take over the world! But until they do they're stuck at Rent-T-Own, a retail-rental crossroads where the South Side's vast ensemble of characters come together. Despite the obstacles of inner-city life, these friends and their co-workers all strive to achieve their entrepreneurial dreams. Brought to life by local Chicagoans, both in front of and behind the camera, this show gives viewers an authentic portrayal of what life on the South Side is all about. Bashir Salahuddin and Diallo Riddle star in the series, alongside Sultan Salahuddin and Chandra Russell. First season guest stars include Lil Rel Howery, Nathaniel "Earthquake" Stroman, Jeff Tweedy, LisaRaye McCoy, Kel Mitchell and Ed Lover.
18.52 million total viewers (Live+Same Day) watched the series finale of The Big Bang Theory on Thursday night and it also delivered a 3.2 Adults 18-49 rating. Now CBS will encore the final episodes tonight back-to-back from 8-9pm if you missed it, replacing comedy encores originally scheduled. In the first one, "The Change Constant," Sheldon and Amy await big news as changes occur in the first episode at 8:00pm. In the finale, "The Stockholm Syndrome," Bernadette and Wolowitz leave their kids for the first time, while Penny and Leonard try to keep a secret, as Sheldon and Amy stick together and Koothrappali makes a new friend, as the gang travels together into an uncharted future in the 8:30pm airing. The Big Bang Theory of course stars Johnny Galecki (Leonard), Jim Parsons (Sheldon), Kaley Cuoco (Penny), Simon Helberg (Wolowitz), Kunal Nayyar (Koothrappali), Mayim Bialik (Amy) and Melissa Rauch (Bernadette).
Labels: CBS, Comedy Central, South Side, The Big Bang Theory
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Written Answers Nos. 1152-1161
Sports Capital Programme Applications
Driving Licence Renewals
Road Signage
Public Transport Subsidies
Public Transport Issues
Page 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 of 124
1152. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the 2012 targets set for his Department for implementation of the Jobs Action Plan; if he will report on the attainment or otherwise of these targets; the reason targets were not met; the steps he is taking within his Department to create new jobs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1289/13]
Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (Deputy Leo Varadkar): Three quarterly progress reports on the Action Plan for Jobs were published during 2012 and are available on the website of the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. The fourth progress report will be published shortly after it has been considered by the Government. The Government has also commenced the preparation of the 2013 Action Plan for Jobs, which will set out the role and actions to be undertaken by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport to help create jobs in the coming year.
1153. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the funding difficulties associated with many small sports clubs, particularly in relation to a club (details supplied), and if, where available, Dublin City Council facilities can be provided at a discounted rate for clubs dealing with children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1326/13]
Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport (Deputy Michael Ring): I have recently announced grant allocations of €31 million for local, regional and national project under the 2012 Sports Capital Programme. The 2012 Sports Capital Programme is now closed and there are no more grants available at this time. It may be possible for clubs to raise funds via the 'Tax Relief for Donations to Certain Sports Bodies' scheme (section 847A of the Taxes Consolidation Act, 1997). This is a Revenue operated scheme which offers tax benefits to individuals or companies who make donations to the club. Further details on this scheme can be found on the Revenue Commissioners website. The prices that Dublin City Council charge for their facilities is a matter for Dublin City Council.
1154. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason holders of old format drivers licences cannot apply to have them replaced with the new format licences; if this facility will be made available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1355/13]
Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (Deputy Leo Varadkar): While the form of driver licence will change from paper to plastic with effect from 19 January 2013, licence-holders will not be allowed to exchange the old for the new, at least for the foreseeable future. The transition in 2013 is not only from a paper to a plastic licence, but also from a system where licences are issued by the local authorities to a system in which the Road Safety Authority will be the sole driver licensing authority in the State. This change is quite a complex operation, and will involve a transition period during part of 2013 when the local authorities will temporarily continue to perform some licensing functions on behalf of the RSA. If people were allowed or encouraged to exchange their old licences for new ones, there could be a large volume of applications which might overwhelm the system. It is more practical to allow licences to be renewed when they fall due, and so give the new system a chance to settle in. The matter will be reconsidered when the new system is up and running and any transitional issues resolved.
1155. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will contact the CEO of Iarnrod Éireann and request that works (details supplied) be carried out as soon as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1379/13]
Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (Deputy Leo Varadkar): As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. Matters relating to improvements at individual railway stations are day-to-day operational issues for Iarnród Eireann in the first instance and I have no function in such matters. In the Greater Dublin Area (GDA), funding for Public Transport infrastructure projects, such as the upgrading of rail stations referred to by the Deputy, is provided by my Department to the National Transport Authority (NTA) for allocation to projects and programmes. Noting this, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply. I ask him to advise my private office if he does not receive a reply within 10 working days.
1156. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding grants in respect of a club (details supplied) in Dublin 5. [1385/13]
1167. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the grants or financial supports available to a club (details supplied). [1508/13]
Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport (Deputy Michael Ring): I propose to take Questions Nos. 1156 and 1167 together.
The allocations under the 2012 Sports Capital Programme were announced last December. The 2012 Sports Capital Programme is now closed and there are no more grants available at this time. No application was received from the organisation referred to by the Deputy. It may be possible for the club to raise funds via the Tax Relief for Donations to Certain Sports Bodies scheme (section 847A of the Taxes Consolidation Act, 1997). This is a Revenue-operated scheme which offers tax benefits to individuals or companies who make donations to the club. Further details on this scheme and how it operates can be found on the Revenue Commissioners website.
1157. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will outline in tabular form broken down by county the amount of money spent by the National Roads Authority on new road signs in 2012, providing details on the nature of the signs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1402/13]
Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (Deputy Leo Varadkar): As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The planning, design and implementation of individual road projects is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. Noting the above position, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NRA for direct reply. I ask him to advise my private office if he does not receive a reply within 10 working days.
1158. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide a report on State or council lands, such as amenity areas on the Shannon River in counties Longford and Westmeath, with a view to developing them as tourist areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1474/13]
Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (Deputy Leo Varadkar): The development of land held by Government Departments, State agencies or local authorities is a matter for the bodies concerned. Regional tourism development is an operational matter for Fáilte Ireland. I have referred the Deputy's Question on tourism development in Longford and Westmeath to the agency for direct reply. I ask him to advise my private office if he does not receive a reply within ten working days.
1159. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the way much of the recent €36 million subvention for CIE was allocated to Bus Éireann; the amount allocated to Dublin Bus and Irish Rail; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1479/13]
Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (Deputy Leo Varadkar): The allocation of the additional subvention of €36 million in 2012 to the CIE companies is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) and I have referred the matter to the NTA for direct reply. I ask the Deputy to advise my private office if he does not receive a reply within 10 working days.
1160. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will ensure that all the industrial relations mechanisms of the State are utilised to resolve the current IR difficulties at Bus Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1480/13]
Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (Deputy Leo Varadkar): Industrial relations issues at Bus Éireann are the responsibility of the company. I understand that following discussions at the Labour Relation Commission on Friday, 11 January, matters have been referred to the Labour Court. I want to record my thanks to the Labour Relations Commission and Labour Court for their work on this matter.
1161. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has been informed of any recent malfunctions in the Bus Éireann ticketing system which may have mitigated against the collection of Bus Éireann fares for a specified length of time; if the company supplied a report of losses in relation to this malfunction; the action, if any, management has taken to prevent a reoccurrence of this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1481/13]
Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (Deputy Leo Varadkar): This is a matter for Bus Éireann in conjunction, as appropriate, with the National Transport Authority. I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply. I ask him to advise my private office if he does not receive a reply within ten working days.
Last Updated: 28/04/2020 19:44:26 Page 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 of 124


1. The incidence of differentiated thyroid cancer is increasing in Korea. A significant number of them experience severe hypothyroidism in preparation for radioactive iodine (RAI) therapy after total thyroidectomy.
2. Because the function of thyroid hormone is closely linked with lipid and glucose metabolism, overt hypothyroidism after thyroid hormone withdrawal during RAI therapy may induce the changes of metabolic parameters.
3. We investigate the effects of thyroid hormone withdrawal on metabolic and cardiovascular parameters during radioactive iodine therapy in differentiated thyroid cancer.


text:
Best Boutique Hotels in Virgin...
Best Boutique Hotels in Virginia
U.S. News has identified top boutique hotels by taking into account amenities, reputation among... READ MORE
U.S. News has identified top boutique hotels by taking into account amenities, reputation among professional travel experts, guest reviews and hotel class ratings. Use the filters and settings below to help find the best boutique hotels for you.
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The Inn at Little Washington
[See Map]
Tripadvisor (633)
No confirmed availability on selected dates.
5.0-star Hotel Class
4 critic awards »
As one of the most decorated hotels in Virginia, The Inn at Little Washington has a lot to live up to. But by most traveler reports, The Inn exceeds expectations. This intimate Relais & Châteaux property receives continual praise for its romantic atmosphere, exceptional service and top-notch accommodations (some include imported furnishings from Europe, four-poster beds, wood-burning fireplaces, hand-painted tiles and private balconies, among other features). Previous visitors also rave about the The Inn's popular cuisine (served under the tutelage of the proprietor and head chef, Patrick O'Connell). There is one drawback, however: Staying at The Inn comes attached to a hefty price tag. Also, keep in mind that accommodations aren't available on Tuesdays. You'll have to save your pennies to enjoy all that this Blue Ridge Mountain-adjacent property provides.
Williamsburg Inn
Tripadvisor (1051)
$25 Nightly Resort Fee
This Williamsburg Inn has accommodations fit for a queen, literally – Queen Elizabeth II has stayed here more than once on state visits to Williamsburg, Virginia. But it's a delightful choice for commoners as well. Recent visitors particularly appreciated the Inn's personal touches, such as the available itineraries of daily activities in Colonial Williamsburg. Guests also rave about the exquisite accommodations, appointed with marble bathrooms, plush robes, complimentary Wi-Fi access and sleek flat-screen TVs. Though some guests bemoan the Inn's high price tags, others say the outstanding ambiance and service are well worth the cost. When dinnertime rolls around, consider having your evening meals in the Rockefeller Room to enjoy views of the Golden Horseshoe Golf Course and to try delectable Southern-style fare. Prefer a more laid-back dining experience? Head to The Social Terrace.
Kimpton Lorien Hotel & Spa
Sitting about two blocks from the King Street metro station in Alexandria, Virginia, the Kimpton Lorien Hotel & Spa offers both luxury and relaxation. The accommodations' blue and white color palette is designed to feel fresh and cool, and there's a hint of Southern comfort in the decor. Plus, guest rooms and suites feature extra touches, such as sumptuous Frette linens, original artwork and claw foot bathtubs or rainfall showerheads, providing a tranquil setting that is ideal for relaxing. If you aren't already at ease, head to this Kimpton outpost's in-house spa. Previous visitors also praised the eclectic culinary offerings served at Brabo and the fresh selection of gourmet cheeses available at Brabo Tasting Room. However, multiple recent guests cited issues with the hotel's service and management; others felt this property didn't live up to the Kimpton name. If you participate in the IHG Rewards Club, you can accrue or redeem freebies by choosing to stay here.
The Martha Washington Inn & Spa
Abingdon, VA
$17.45 Nightly Resort Fee
This storied property has served as a private home, a finishing school, a hospital for those wounded in the Civil War and even as a women's college. Now, The Martha Washington Inn & Spa is an extravagant retreat in Abingdon, Virginia, near the Virginia-Tennessee state line. And recent guests describe it as elegant enough to pull off its pricey rates. Each of the spacious guest rooms and suites here features slightly different decor, though they all contain luxe bed linens and flat-screen TVs (along with Wi-Fi access, newspaper delivery, morning coffee, valet parking and use of the hotel's bicycles for a resort fee of $16 per night). Recent guests particularly appreciated extra touches like high-end bath products and complimentary breakfasts; however, some said the hotel could benefit from offering a few more luxurious amenities. That said, visitors agree that the property makes up for this with its exceptional service. Guests also recommend trying the entrees offered at the on-site eatery, Sister's American Grill.
Wedmore Place
Set on The Williamsburg Winery at Wessex Hundred, Wedmore Place offers many packages for travelers. All of the overnight stay options at this Williamsburg hotel include a winery tour with wine tastings for two. The property is about 5 miles from the Colonial Williamsburg Historic Area and boasts a history dating back to the Colonial era. Recent guests enjoyed the small, unique and romantic layout of this hotel, and they also praised the employees for their friendly and courteous service. While the specific amenities vary, almost all of the rooms include a fireplace and antique pieces of furniture. Some recent guests complained that the facilities need upgrading though. For food, the hotel treats guests to a complimentary continental breakfast at Café Provençal, which also serves dinner Tuesday through Sunday. Alternatively, visitors can eat at the Gabriel Archer Tavern, which opens daily for lunch and has brunch on Sundays. Beer enthusiasts can make use of tasting passes to nearby brewing companies. The hotel also hosts weddings and corporate events, and they can be booked after requesting a proposal on the hotel's website.
The Alexandrian, Autograph Collection
Set in Alexandria, Virginia's Old Town, this boutique hotel earns high praise for its quirky design. Although some guests say standard rooms are on the smaller side (at 300 square feet), The Alexandrian, Autograph Collection's 241 rooms and suites do feature vibrant colors, bold accents and modern furniture. Between the decor and friendly customer service, recent visitors said that this hotel made them feel like royalty (though some did note their service experience was not up to par with others' glowing reviews). Family-friendly amenities, like the heated pool, are a particular hit with the younger crowd. Other perks include delectable American fare served at Jackson 20, the hotel's on-site restaurant. Plus, with the shops and bars of Old Town and downtown Washington, D.C. within easy reach, the Alexandrian, Autograph Collection makes a great home base for exploration. Plus, this Autograph Collection hotel's affiliation with the Marriott brand means Marriott Bonvoy members are able to earn or use points for a stay here.
The Berkeley Hotel
2.7 miles to city center
Set in a downtown Richmond area known as Shockoe Slip, The Berkeley Hotel boasts easy access to popular sights like the Capitol Square monuments and the Virginia State Capitol. Other sites, such as the Edgar Allan Poe Museum, are also a short ride away. Inside The Berkeley Hotel, guests are greeted by stylish guest rooms with high ceilings, cherry wood furniture and modern conveniences, including complimentary Wi-Fi access, coffee makers and terry bathrobes. Recent visitors praise the hotel's historical charm and attentive staff but do say the rooms could benefit from a facelift. The Dining Room also earns a nod of approval from guests for its sophisticated ambiance and delectable entrees, which include Southern classics.
Quirk Hotel, A Destination Hotel
According to recent guests, one of the best things about the boutique Quirk Hotel in Richmond, Virginia, is the hotel's cool vibe. Located among the downtown arts and design district along Broad Street, the hotel is described by recent visitors as eccentric – in a good way – with a chic design and well-thought-out details. Guest rooms are filled with natural light, local artwork, hardwood floors and custom furnishings, along with amenities like flat-screen HDTVs, minibars, coffee makers and complimentary Wi-Fi access. Travelers can pursue their interests, whether that's exercising at the on-site fitness center or perusing the revolving exhibits at the Quirk Art Gallery. After working up an appetite, you can sit down for a meal of seasonal, locally grown grub at the Maple & Pine restaurant, which recent guests said was top quality, although a little expensive. Another bonus? World of Hyatt members can earn and redeem points here. Though most visitors enjoyed their stays overall, several warn that the service and the rooms were not up to the standards they would expect of a luxury, boutique hotel.
Morrison House, Autograph Collection
Located in Alexandria, Virginia's Old Town neighborhood, the Morrison House, Autograph Collection is as quaint as they come. This homey redbrick hotel utilizes carefully crafted furnishings – reminiscent of the Federal Period – to great historical effect, while offering business travelers a 24-hour business center and overnight laundry and dry cleaning services. Visitors continually rave about the Morrison House's warm and inviting atmosphere and impeccable customer service; guests say the staff goes out of its way to meet your needs, from printing directions to preparing for your pet before you arrive. This Autograph Collection outpost, which falls under the Marriott umbrella, also receives major kudos for its comfortable and quiet accommodations; each of the 45 rooms is appointed with minibars, flat-screen TVs and alarm clocks. When dinnertime rolls around, retreat to Ashlar, an intimate dining venue that features modern American fare and a variety of local beers, wines and whiskeys. Keep in mind that Marriott Bonvoy members can earn and use points by staying here.
Oakhurst Inn
This boutique hotel, just steps away from the University of Virginia campus in Charlottesville, Virginia, is often described as "quaint," "charming" and "delightful." And it's easy to see why: The property is set on its own residential circle, and each room is uniquely decorated with elements like a cherry wood headboard, hardwood floors and MALIN + GOETZ bath amenities. All accommodations also offer free Wi-Fi access, individual climate controls and flat-screen televisions. Plus, instead of a traditional lobby, the Oakhurst Inn has four libraries with books and newspapers for reading and free refreshments, couches and fireplaces for relaxing. The property is also home to a small cafe that serves breakfast, lunch and weekend brunch. The city's smallest coffee shop is housed inside the hotel as well. While the inn has limited on-site facilities (there's no gym or spa), the nearby trolley will take you into downtown Charlottesville, or you can hop in your car to explore the nearby wineries, Monticello or Michie Tavern.
Keswick Hall & Golf Club
Keswick, VA
If the looks are any indication of this Preferred Legend resort's excellence, we're sold. Lush grounds surrounded by Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains, architecture inspired by the best Tuscan designs and guest rooms resplendent with soft fabrics and sophisticated furniture are all indicative of the luxury found at Keswick Hall & Golf Club. Recent guests were pleased with this resort's intimate feel (with only 48 rooms, Keswick has a commendable staff-to-guest ratio). Be sure to grab a snack at Villa Crawford, eat dinner at Fossett's restaurant and enjoy a nightcap at Villa Crawford Bar. All three options fare well with recent patrons, but some guests did report hiccups with service for large groups. For a more casual dining experience, retreat to the Club Grill, which also receives two thumbs up from past lodgers. When planning your trip, however, you should keep in mind that this property is located approximately 9 miles east of Charlottesville, Virginia.
Poplar Springs
Designed to resemble 16th- and 17th-century European architecture, Poplar Springs' Manor House Restaurant was constructed in 1920 from fieldstones that are believed to have come from the Civil War Union camps' fireplaces. The inn and spa were added in 2002, and the property has since become a popular destination for couples seeking a romantic getaway in northern Virginia. While there is not anything within walking distance of Poplar Springs, it is located only a 54-mile drive southwest of Washington, D.C, making it ideal for city-goers seeking a weekend escape. The guest rooms and suites feature plush bathrobes, organic bath amenities and antique furniture. Meanwhile, the hotel boasts an on-site spa, a bocce court, an outdoor saltwater pool and hot tub, and complimentary breakfast in the lobby. Recent guests gave the spa and restaurant high praise, but several mentioned that the staff at both facilities could use some training.
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