Kamikaze kayakers in search of adrenalin highs hit 45mph at Mid Wales reservoir
The Llyn Peninsula is one of Wales finest beauty spots. The Lleyn Peninsula (the Llyn) is usually defined as the strip of land which is South West of the A487 which runs from Caernarfon to Porthmadog. For most of its length it is only 8 miles wide. Much of the coastline is National Trust maintained. The Welsh name for this area is Pen Llýn. The spelling of Llýn often changes to Lleyn which is probably more correct for English, but the former spelling is more commonly used locally. When asked about North Wales most people immediately mention the weather with a particular reference to rain. Whilst Snowdon and the immediate area qualifies as the wettest part of Britain with over 200 inches per annum, the Peninsula averages only 36 inches, although at times it seems more! The problem is that it never drizzles when it rains - it really means it. That said, the local inhabitants have a saying which goes: "If the weather is nice stay here; if it isn't, go anywhere else". Although only 8 miles wide, the Llyn Peninsula often has different weather on each side. The gulf stream ensures that there are few frosts and little or no snow. The main feature of the Lleyn that most people remember is the wind. We have consistent South-Westerlies which mean that small trees and hedges all lean the same way! The effect is most noticeable towards Aberdaron which is on the tip of the Llyn. On the upside, the sailing is always good. We have a weather page to see what the weather is like right now. In case you think we are kidding you there is a visual check in the form of our WebCam. To improve the image of this part of Wales from a weather point of view we have installed an automatic weather station which updates this web site (Llyn Weather) every 30 minutes or so. If further proof were needed we have installed a Web-Cam so that the beauty of the Lleyn can be seen all around the world. Should you wish to try the Llyn out for yourself then take look at our Local Links section. The Llyn offers a lot of activities. Apart from many established walks, there are many beaches some of which are easy to access (Whistling Sands) and some which require a half mile walk. For the wildlife enthusiast there are many things to see; sea-lions, Chuff (Bardsey Island) and many bird species. Sailing, Fishing and Diving are also popular in the area. After all that activity there are many places to spend the evening ranging from quiet pubs to top quality restaurants - see Where to Eathe Photo Gallery contains personal pictures I have taken in the area and offers some idea of the beauty of the Llyn. Other Links are provided to other sites that offer information and services in the area of the Lleyn.
London, England travel: London Bus Tour. Lots of famous landmarks visible on this tour. This was a good overview tour of London, and gave us a good idea of where things were in relation to each other. More than a day trip from Thornbury Castle, and certainly worth the travel! (You can view this video, and other travel videos in full-size and near-DVD quality, travel stills and more at www.jpmeyer.com). Thornbury Castle is part of the von Essen Group of hotels, "a private collection of individual country house hotels in the UK
Paris is the capital city of France. It is situated on the River Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region ("Région parisienne"). Paris has an estimated population of 2,153,600 within its administrative limits.An important settlement for more than two millennia, Paris is today one of the world's leading business and cultural centres, and its influence in politics, education, entertainment, media, fashion, science and the arts all contribute to its status as one of the world's major global cities. The Paris Region (Île-de-France) is France's foremost centre of economic activity.Paris is the most popular tourist destination in the world, with over 30 million foreign visitors per year. There are numerous iconic landmarks among its many attractions, along with world famous institutions and popular parks.
The song is called: "La Valse d' Amélie" by Yann Tiersen off the Soundtrack of the 2001 French film - Amelie. (nice film, you should watch it) The soundtrack is available on iTunes.
Allow the majesty of Switzerland to captivate you... A land that conjures up images of breathtaking mountains, beautiful lakes, Alpine villages, chocolates, cowbells and fields of edelweiss is a land with the power to seduce... Landlocked by France, Germany, Liechtenstein, Austria and Italy, Switzerland takes up an area of 41,295 square kilometres and is home to 6.9 million people. More than 60 percent of the country is mountainous and a quarter of it is covered in forests. The snow-capped Alps, Europe’s highest mountains, occupy the central and southern regions of the country. Some of the Alpine meadows are breathtaking and are inhabited by famous and distinctive Alpine animals such as the ibex (a mountain goat with huge curved horns) and the chamois (a horned antelope). There is perennial snow cover at altitudes of above 3000m. Winter sports resorts begin operating in late November and close around April. Switzerland is a federal republic and consists of 23 partly autonomous cantons. Politically neutral since 1815, it is an important international meeting place and houses one of the headquarters of the United Nations. Its people enjoy the highest standard of living in Europe. Switzerland has long attracted many foreign artists and writers including Voltaire, Byron, Shelley, James Joyce and Charlie Chaplin. The 18th century writings of Rousseau in Geneva played a key role in the development of democracy while Carl Jung’s research in Zurich was instrumental in the development of modern psychoanalysis. Switzerland’s cities are well worth a visit. Zurich, the most populous city, is famous for its financial institutions and for its art galleries – both coexisting happily side by side. Lake Zurich offers endless opportunities for swimming, sunbathing and picnicking. Nestling on the shores of Lake Geneva, the city of Geneva is home to more than 200 international organisations. The city’s fine location and the wealth of boating and walking opportunities provided by Lake Geneva make it an attractive and relaxing place. Lucerne is often considered to be the true “Swiss” capital. This charming and attractive town straddles the Reuss River on the western edge of Lake Lucerne and makes an excellent base for excursions.
Introducing GreeceIn the early days of the summer of 2007 Greeks awoke to find their country alight: literally. Forest fires had broken out in the thickly carpeted hills around Athens. Within a week or two they had also erupted with unparalleled fury across wide areas of the Peloponnese, Evia and even as far north as Epiros. Satellite pictures showed a pall of billowing smoke drifting skyward, ash covered many neighbourhoods of Athens, thousands lost their homes and 66 hapless souls their lives. All the while, incessant talking heads on Greek TV loudly proclaimed this to be Greece's worst disaster of recent times; it was widely believed that the fires were deliberately lit, adding insult to injury. The 2007 firestorm not only had an ecological fallout, but also severely dented the reputation of the conservative government of the New Democracy party of Konstandinos Karamanlis. Such was the anger directed at the government - accused by many of idly standing by while their country burned - that in the September 2007 national elections Karamanlis was returned with a majority of only two in the 300-seat parliament. It was a wake-up call and he knew it. All this came at a time when the three-and-a-half-year-old Karamanlis Government had considered itself to be sitting pretty. Greece had been revelling in the European spotlight for some time, enjoying a residual glow after the success of the 2004 Olympic Games, their unexpected triumph as UEFA football champions in the same year, and Patras being the European Capital of Culture in 2006. Yet for all their pride in and celebration of recent achievements, the Greek population proved themselves to be, ultimately, pragmatic and illustrated that politics is never far from the core of the Greek psyche. In the land where democracy was born, true democracy still prevails and the will of the people can be as strong as the winds that fanned those calamitous fires.
Travel Germany: Germany Travel- Germany Travel Video Postcard. DeutschlandTake a look at Germany! Take a look at Family Travel. Family Travel in Germany,Germany is vibrant, alive, young at heart and Germany is full of historyToday's Germany is a destination for all seasons because Germany has imposing castles and elegant architecture and travel to Germany takes one to Germany's stately museums and Germany's dynamic night life.Travel Germany to German style, elegance, and Germany's world class designs Germans can be very serious but Germans are also fun loving with a deep appreciation of Germany's natural, unspoiled beauty of the German countrysideThe carnivals of Germany are especially bright and vivid events, and of course German beer and wine are some of the world's best.There are small German villages not very far from modern happening cites and Germans love their sports and the seaside. Travel Germany to the economic powerhouse of Europe...Germany is full of life, progressive and really quite daringWillkommen im DeutschlandWelcome to Germany, to Travel Germany
Secluded within the boundaries of the exclusive neighbourhood of Jimbaran Bay on Bali's southern coastline, InterContinental Bali Resort embraces 14 hectares of tropical landscape. Blessed with an endless stretch of white sandy beachfront as its stunning backdrop, the resort integrates ornamental ponds, a winding lagoon and aesthetic stonework. Suspended between heaven and earth, this 418 luxury room resort was designed to blend modern convenience with elements of traditional Balinese architecture. There is an obvious sensitivity towards the surrounding environment, whilst respecting the rich culture of the island, its fine artistry and Hindu heritage. InterContinental Bali Resort has an alluring appeal with just enough versatility to cater to the needs of couples, families and business travelers alike. An outstanding destination, the resort bears resemblance to a nurturing Balinese community with an ambience making guests feel like they truly belong. Centrally located minutes from Bali's premier tourist areas midway between the resort area of Nusa Dua and the Kuta shopping complex of. The hotel is just 10 minutes from the Ngurah Rai International Airport and close to the Bali Golf and Country Club. - Club InterContinental with private Club Lounge- Spa & Villa Retreats- Club J Children's Resort- Professional Nanny Service - Shopping Gallery- 24 Hour Business Centre- 24 Hour Fitness Centre- Beauty Salon- Medical Centre- Resort Tourdesk Club J Children's Resort Club J is a dedicated children's centre that has been structured as a mini resort for the younger visitors. It operates daily as a care facility catering specifically for children of two distinct age groups (4-7 years and 8-12 years) with tailored activities in a fun-filled supervised environment. The facility itself encompasses a child-friendly space with an indoor air-conditioned club house as well as an outdoor swimming pool, climbing frame, mini basketball compound and ample recreational space. Inside children can enjoy table-hockey, turtle workstations for art and craft, a cushioned reading corner and a plasma television. A purposely designed Internet cave is also set up with 4 computers to access appropriate age-related websites. Restaurants & Bars Whether it's a pizza served by the pool, succulently barbequed catch of the day, authentic Japanese cuisine or refined silver service dining, InterContinental Bali Resort's bounty of culinary alternatives provide delightful dining experiences for all. The Singaraja Restaurant serves Asian cuisine and casual dining at the poolside. The Jimbaran Garden Restaurant and Taman Gita Restaurant serves international dishes. Enjoy Japanese cuisine at The Ko Japanese Restaurant. Snacks, drinks and entertainment can be obtained at the Saraswati Lobby Lounge, Sunset Beach Bar, Padi Prada Cocktail lounge and the Monkey Forest Fun Pub. Meetings & Banquets The hotel is considered one of the best hotels in Bali when it comes to providing incentives for handling meetings, conferences and banquets. With highly experienced and skilled team, the hotel has designed sets of meeting packages at competitive prices with a comprehensive range of equipment available on site. Specifically trained employees will man and operate the equipment at no extra cost. Specialized equipment and more complicated setups can be contracted locally. Interpreters can be arranged through our Banquet department. Regular language training are held for all staff. Photocopying and secretarial services are available at the Business Center. The mobile Business Center can be deployed in front of your function room. It comes complete with PC, printer, fax, copier and is manned by the Business Center staff. Additional guards for conference services can be provided. CLUB INTERCONTINENTAL Club InterContinental offers premium and personalized service with the following benefits & privileges: • Luxurious accommodation• Total privacy• DVD player in the room• Broadband internet in all Club Room• Luxurious branded amenities• Daily fruit platter• Daily local and international newspaper• 24 hours a la carte menu features a choice of 5 light dishes• Free use of Club J for kids between 4 to 16 years old• Complimentary Club J gift for kids• 24 hours butler service• Private Club pool• Preferred seating in the restaurants• Special Spa Uluwatu gift on arrival• Access to our Club Lounge at International Arrival Hall - Ngurah Rai Airport• Access to 24 hours Club Lounge
The all new Ferrari California offical video. (EXCUSIVE)Just as more spy shots of the rumored Baby Ferrari begin surfacing, the Italian automaker has decided to blow the cover off their newest vehicle, the gorgeous California, with a trio of official photos. Offered only as a folding hardtop convertible, the California aims to sate the desires of the ultrarich who crave both open-air and Grand Tourer experiences. Powering the California will be Ferraris familiar 4.3-liter, flat-crank V-8, here with direct injection and mounted in a front-mid position and producing 454 horsepower at 7500 rpm, down from the 483 and 503 in the mid-engined F430 coupe/Spider and F430 Scuderia, respectively. The chassis and body panels will be crafted—as is the case with all Ferraris—in aluminum, and Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes will be standard. The California is mechanically related to both the Maserati GranTurismo and Alfa Romeo 8C, which might make this the hottest set of triplets since, well, ever. The rear suspension is a new multilink setup, which deviates from the control arm approach used for the rest of the Ferrari lineup (and the GranTurismo and 8C, too). Seating is said to be a 2+ arrangement, which implies a rear seat, but the photos suggest that it will be little more than vestigial, a leather-lined shelf for your Prada briefcase. In big news, putting the Prancing Horses ponies to the pavement will be a new, seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, a first for Ferrari. While Ferrari has had great success reducing the shift times to mere milliseconds with its Formula 1derived F1 sequential manual gearbox, its never been able to make the shifts smooth enough for comfortable use in regular driving, particularly in automatic mode; this new box should fix that. Acceleration will be neck-snapping, as the automaker claims a 0-to-62-mph gallop of less than four seconds. The Baby Ferrari nickname will likely prove to be misleading in terms of price, as Ferrari is positioning the California as a shoulder-to-shoulder GT peer to its own 612 Scaglietti, which sports a sticker of around $270,000. While the California will not likely cost nearly as much as that, some rumors have this car priced commensurate with todays F430, whose replacement model will become even more technologically intensive—and therefore more expensive. As such, we expect the California to come in just under $200,000, but going on looks alone—the achingly beautiful styling is inspired by both the 599GTB Fiorano and classic Ferraris of the past—were going to go ahead and say itll be worth whatever they ask. Ferrari has set up a Web site with high-quality sound clips of the engine, as well as a live timer indicating when the next details are to be released. It also promises photos and what its calling highly gratifying virtual road tests some time in the future. The live reveal will take place October 1st at the 2008 Paris auto show.
It has been variously described as a giant calendar, a place of worship and a royal burial ground.But now, more than 4000 years after its first stones were dragged from the Welsh mountains to the Salisbury plains, Stonehenge may finally have given up its secret. Research suggests the eerie monument was a neolithic Lourdes to which the sick and injured travelled from far and wide to be healed by its magical powers.The first excavation of Stonehenge for almost 50 years has revealed the soil to be littered with fragments from its smaller bluestones thought to have been chipped off as lucky charms.As well, a disproportionate number of people buried in nearby tombs show signs of serious illness and many were not born in the area.Taken together, the clues point to Stonehenge being the casualty department of southern England.The study, by Professor Tim Darvill of Bournemouth University and Proessor Geoffrey Wainwright of the Society of Antiquaries of London, shows that bluestone chippings greatly outnumber those from the massive Sarsen stones that form the towering trilithon structures of Stonehenge.What is more, most of the fragments had been deliberately chipped off the stones, which originated 250km away in the Preseli Hills of Pembrokeshire."It could be that people were flaking off pieces of bluestone in order to create little bits to take away as lucky amulets," said Professor Wainwright.It is unclear why the stones, which are blue-green with white spots, were so revered. However, the idea of the Preseli Hills' healing powers lingers to this day, with spring water from the area said to ease arthritis and other conditions.Professor Darvill said: "Taking those pieces to become talismans, lucky charms, to be used in the healing process, is very important. Their meaning and importance to prehistoric people was sufficiently powerful to warrant the investment of time, effort and resources to move the bluestones from the Preseli Hills to the Wessex Downs."The professors said that "an abnormal number" of bodies entombed nearby showed signs of severe illness or injury.And analysis of teeth recovered from graves showed that about half belonged to people not native to the area.Prof Darvill said Stonehenge would attract not only people who were unwell but people who were capable of healing them.The professors believe the rest of the monument, including the Sarsen stones, which came from Marlborough 40km away, grew up around the bluestones healing centre.Prof Darvill said: "It could have been a temple at the same time as it was a healing centre, just as Lourdes is still a religious centre."They added, however, that it was likely the monument had more than one purpose.
The good: With advanced off-road gear, the 2009 Range Rover Sport gives useful information and help to drivers. The standard Harmon Kardon audio system delivers a clean, balanced sound.The bad: Mileage is low, as we would expect. Integration is very poor between different cabin gadgets, which aren't particularly advanced. Audio sources are minimal, and selecting music from MP3 CDs is tedious.The bottom line: Although in serious need of a cabin tech update, the 2009 Range Rover Sport maintains its off-road prowess and general drivability.
With the development of the BMW GINA Light Visionary Model the BMW Group presents trendsetting solutions. Chris Bangle gives us a first impression of the ideas behind the process of sculpturing an experimental study. This is the story behind this innovation
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This is a video that i made at Miami Beach. You will see a lot of girls in bikini, lots of cars and my favorite 2 places at the beach. Wet Willies and Mangos. I hope you enjoy it
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Disneyland Tower Of Terror Hollywood Hotel Twilight Zone trip, perhaps the funnest ride in Anahiem
Welcome to the newest addition to the Disney family: Hong Kong Disneyland Resort. This hotel has its priorities firmly focused on luxury and satisfying guests’ desires. Relax poolside in a family-oriented environment, enjoy Disney shows on the large, plasma-screen TV, or work out in the well equipped, modern gymnasium. Guests will certainly never feel bored in a Disney hotel; perfect for kids and adults that never grew up. Everything is enchanting, including the breakfast buffet which features delights from all over the world, including Chinese, Japanese and continental specialties. Have your picture taken with Mickey and the gang and escape from the madness of everyday life with a little touch of serenity and youthful innocence. To proceed with your booking at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, please enter your desired dates of stay and proceed to out secure online booking form.
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There are also several independent cities in and around Los Angeles, but they are popularly grouped with the city of Los Angeles, either due to being completely engulfed as enclaves by Los Angeles, or lying within its immediate vicinity. Generally, the city is divided into the following areas: Downtown Los Angeles, Northeast - including Highland Park and Eagle Rock areas, the Eastside, South Los Angeles (still often colloquially referred to as South Central by locals), the Harbor Area, Hollywood, Wilshire, the Westside and the San Fernando and Crescenta Valleys. Some well-known communities of Los Angeles include West Adams, Watts, Leimert Park, Baldwin Hills, Venice Beach, the Downtown Financial District, Los Feliz, Silver Lake, Hollywood, Koreatown, Westwood and the more affluent areas of Bel Air, Benedict Canyon, Hollywood Hills, Hancock Park, Pacific Palisades, and Brentwood. LandmarksImportant landmarks in Los Angeles include Chinatown, Koreatown, Little Tokyo, Walt Disney Concert Hall, Kodak Theatre, Griffith Observatory, Getty Center, Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Grauman's Chinese Theatre, Hollywood Sign, Hollywood Boulevard, Capitol Records Tower, Los Angeles City Hall, Hollywood Bowl, Watts Towers, Staples Center, Dodger Stadium and La Placita Olvera .Olvera Street. The economy of Los Angeles is driven by international trade, entertainment (television, motion pictures, recorded music), aerospace, technology, petroleum, fashion, apparel, and tourism. Los Angeles is also the largest manufacturing center in the western United States. The contiguous ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach together comprise the fifth busiest port in the world and the most significant port in the Western Hemisphere. They are some of the most important ports in the world, and vital to trade within the Pacific Rim. Other significant industries include media production, finance, telecommunications, law, health medicine, and transportation. The University of Southern California (USC) is the city's largest private sector employer. Until the mid-1990s, Los Angeles was home to many major financial institutions in the western United States. Mergers meant reporting to headquarters in other cities. For instance, First Interstate Bancorp merged with Wells Fargo in 1996, Great Western Bank merged with Washington Mutual in 1998, and Security Pacific Bank merged with Bank of America in 1992. Los Angeles was also home to the Pacific Exchange, until it closed in 2001. Companies such as Citigroup, Wells Fargo, KPMG, U.S. Bancorp, Bank of America, and Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu have offices on Downtown's Bunker HillThe city has six major Fortune 500 companies, including aerospace contractor Northrop Grumman, energy company Occidental Petroleum, healthcare provider Health Net, homebuilding company KB Home, metals distributor Reliance Steel & Aluminum, and real estate group CB Richard Ellis. Other companies headquartered in Los Angeles include 20th Century Fox, Latham & Watkins, Univision, Metro Interactive, LLC, Premier America, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, DeviantArt,[46] Guess?, O’Melveny & Myers; Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker, Tokyopop, The Jim Henson Company, Paramount Pictures, Robinsons-May, Sunkist Growers, Incorporated, Fox Sports Net, Capital Group, 21st century Insurance and The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. Korean Air's United States passenger operations and cargo operations headquarters are located in two separate offices in Los Angeles. The metropolitan area contains the headquarters of companies who moved outside of the city to escape its taxes but keep the benefits of proximity.For example, Los Angeles charges a gross receipts tax based on a percentage of business revenue, while many neighboring cities charge only small flat fees. The companies below benefit from their proximity to Los Angeles, while at the same time avoiding the city's taxes (and other problems). Some of the major companies headquartered in the cities of Los Angeles county are Shakey's Pizza (Alhambra), Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (Beverly Hills), City National Bank (Beverly Hills), Hilton Hotels (Beverly Hills), DIC Entertainment (Burbank), The Walt Disney Company (Fortune 500 – Burbank), Warner Bros. (Burbank), Countrywide Financial (Fortune 500 – Calabasas), THQ (Calabasas), Belkin (Compton), Sony Pictures Entertainment (parent of Columbia Pictures, located in Culver City), CaliforniaEl Segundo), DirecTV (El Segundo), Mattel (Fortune 500 – El Segundo), Unocal Corporation (Fortune 500 – El Segundo), DreamWorks (Glendale), Sea Launch (Long Beach), ICANN (Marina del Rey), Cunard Line (Santa Clarita), Princess Cruises (Santa Clarita), Activision (Santa Monica), and RAND (Santa Monica).
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When The Mirage, the first Megaresort, opened in 1989, it started a movement of people and construction away from downtown Las Vegas to the Las Vegas Strip. This resulted in a drop in tourism from the downtown area but many recent projects and condo construction have seen an increase in visitors to downtown. A concerted effort has been made by city officials to diversify the economy from tourism by attracting light manufacturing, banking, and other commercial interests. The lack of any state individual or corporate income tax and very simple incorporation requirements have fostered the success of this effort. Las Vegas has recently enjoyed an enormous boom both in population and in tourism. The urban area has grown outward so quickly that it is beginning to run into Bureau of Land Management holdings along its edges, increasing land values enough that medium- and high-density development is beginning to occur closer to the core. As a reflection of the city's rapid growing population, the new Chinatown of Las Vegas was constructed in the early 1990s on Spring Mountain Road. Chinatown initially consisted of only one large shopping center complex, but the area was recently expanded for new shopping centers that contain various Asian businesses. Downtown Las Vegas: The Fremont Street Experience outside of Binion's Horseshoe CasinoWith the Strip expansion in the 1990s, the downtown area (which has maintained an old Las Vegas feel) began to suffer. The city made a concerted effort to turn around the fortunes of downtown. The Fremont Street Experience (FSE) was built in an effort to draw tourists back to the area and has proven to be popular in that regard. The multi-level Neonopolis, complete with 11 theaters (managed by Galaxy Theaters, Inc.), was built to offer more retail opportunity and services. Many highrise condo projects have also been underway as downtown is transforming into a livable neighborhood. Other promising signs emerged for the area. The city had successfully lured the Internal Revenue Service operations from the far west of the city to a new downtown building that opened in April 2005. The IRS move is expected to create a greater demand for additional businesses in the area, especially in the daytime hours. Newport Lofts high-rise development under construction with newly finished Soho Lofts in the backgroundThe city purchased 61 acres (247,000 m2) of property from Union Pacific Railroad in 1995 with the goal of creating something that would draw more tourists and locals to the downtown area. In 2004 Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman announced plans for the Union Park Development which will include residential and office high-rises, The Lou Ruvo Brain Institute, an academic medical center, The Smith Center for the Performing Arts, and a new City Hall. After failed negotiations with The Related Co. on the development of Union Park in October 2005, San Diego-based Newland Communities was chosen by the city as the new development firm. The Newland contract calls for Dan Van Epp, Newland's regional vice president and former president of the Howard Hughes Corp., to oversee his company's work on Union Park. The Lou Ruvo Brain Institute is expected to be completed in 2007. Along with the Union Park Development, other promising residential and office developments have begun construction around downtown Las Vegas. New condominium and hotel high rise projects have changed the entire Las Vegas skyline dramatically in recent years. Many large high-rise projects are planned for downtown Las Vegas as well as the Las Vegas Strip. Fremont StreetThe city council of Las Vegas has also agreed on zoning changes on Fremont Street, which allows bars to be closer together, such as the Gaslamp Quarter of San Diego. It is expected that this change will bring more tourism and business to the downtown area. In 2004, the city partnered with Cheetah Wireless Technologies and MeshNetwork to pilot a wide area mobile broadband system. The pilot system is installed downtown, around the Fremont Street Experience. In 2005, on a lot adjacent to the city's 61 ac (247,000 m2), the World Market Center opened. It is intended to be the nation's and possibly the world's preeminent furniture wholesale showroom and marketplace, and is meant to compete with the current furniture market capital of High Point, North Carolina. On October 23, 2006, plans were unveiled to build a World Jewelry Center in Downtown's Union Park. Similar to the World Market Center, the WJC will be a one stop shop for jewelry trade shows from around the world. The project proposes a 57-story, 815-foot (248 m) office tower. [edit] Economy New York-New York Hotel and Casino Interior of the Circus Circus Las Vegas casino. A major part of the city economy is based on tourism, including gambling.The primary drivers of the Las Vegas economy have been the confluence of tourism, gaming, and conventions which in turn feed the retail and dining industries. The city acts as world headquarters for the world's two largest Fortune 500 gaming companies, Harrah's Entertainment and MGM Mirage.[10] Several companies involved in the manufacture of electronic gaming machines, such as slot machines, are located in the Las Vegas area. In the 2000s retail and dining have become attractions of their own. Tourism marketing and promotion are handled by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, a county wide agency. Its annual Visitors Survey provides detailed information on visitor numbers, spending patterns and resulting revenues. The Lloyd D. George Federal District Courthouse in Las Vegas is the first Federal Building built to the post-Oklahoma City blast resistant standards.Las Vegas, as the county seat and home to the Lloyd D. George Federal District Courthouse, draws numerous legal service industries providing bail, marriage, divorce, tax, incorporation and other legal services. Some technology companies have either relocated to Las Vegas or were created there. For various reasons, the Las Vegas area has had a high concentration of technology companies in electronic gaming and telecommunications industries. Some current technology companies in southern Nevada include Bigelow Aerospace, CommPartners, Datanamics, eVital Communications, Petroglyph, SkywireMedia, Switch Communications, and WorldDoc. Companies that originally were formed in Las Vegas, but have since sold or relocated include Westwood Studios (sold to Electronic Arts), Systems Research & Development (Sold to IBM), Yellowpages.com (Sold to Bellsouth and SBC), and MPower Communications. Constant population growth means that the housing construction industry is vitally important. In 2000 more than 21,000 new homes and 26,000 resale homes were purchased. In early 2005 there were 20 residential development projects of more than 300 acres (1.2 km2) each underway. [edit] CultureMain article: Las Vegas metropolitan area [edit] TourismThe major attractions in Las Vegas are the casinos. The most famous hotels are located on Las Vegas Boulevard, better known as the Las Vegas Strip. Many of these hotels carry thousands of rooms. There are, of course, large casino areas in these hotels as well. There are many hotel casinos in the city's downtown area as well, which was the original focal point of the city's gaming industry in its early days. Several large hotels and casinos are also located somewhat off the Strip but adjacent to it, as well as in the county around the city. Golden Nugget Las Vegas Four QueensSome of the most notable casinos located downtown are on the Fremont Street Experience and include: Golden Nugget Four Queens Binion's Gambling Hall and Hotel Fremont Casino Plaza Hotel & Casino Las Vegas Club Fitzgeralds Las Vegas Golden Gate Hotel and Casino California Hotel and Casino [edit] ParksCity of Las Vegas Parks listing Las Vegas Springs Preserve Recreational and educational facility Floyd Lamb State Park
China: Tourist has jacket ripped off his back by Giant Panda in open cage at Nature Reserve dedicated to survival of the endangered species (02 Nov 1992). The visitor to Chengdu Zoo sat with his back against the panda's railings for a picture to be taken. His jacket attracted the 75-kilogram (165 pound) panda's attention and the creature grabbed it, while the man was held by his friends, setting up a 'tug of war'. Future prospects for giant pandas have just been strengthened by a Chinese 10-year plan that will cost about 50 million United States dollars. Officials have realised that more funds are needed to save the panda. Only 1,000 giant pandas are believed to be alive today.
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China has one of the world's oldest people and continuous civilizations, consisting of states and cultures dating back more than six millennia. It has the world's longest continuously used written language system, and is the source of such major inventions as what the British scholar and biochemist Joseph Needham called the "four great inventions of Ancient China": paper, the compass, gunpowder, and printing. Historically China's cultural sphere has been very influential in East Asia as a whole, with Chinese religion, customs, and writing system being adopted, to varying degrees, by its neighbors Japan, Korea, and Vietnam.
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NASA video piece "and for other purposes" Produced by Chris Valentine. Music by Peter Gabriel and Carter Burwell.
Astronauts Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper and Steve Bowen are preparing for the third spacewalk of STS-126, during which they will resume cleaning and lubricating the International Space Station's starboard Solar Alpha Rotary Joint race ring and replacing trundle bearing assemblies. The planned seven-hour spacewalk is scheduled to begin at 1:45 p.m. EST.Meanwhile, ground experts continue to troubleshoot an issue with the station's new Urine Processor Assembly (UPA), part of the Water Recovery System (WRS) that ultimately will process urine, perspiration and hygiene water into drinkable water. The system is mounted in the station's Destiny Laboratory. A centrifuge motor inside the distillation assembly of the UPA has run at lower than expected speeds, while drawing more electrical current than expected. The UPA was activated again overnight to gather more data for experts to analyze. The Water Processing Assembly portion of the WRS is functioning as expected, processing condensate.
Live Media Interviews, Fourth Spacewalk Ahead for CrewSun, 23 Nov 2008 10:40 Astronauts Heide Stefanyshyn-Piper and Steve Bowen completed their mission's third spacewalk Saturday at 7:58 p.m. EST. Still ahead for the shuttle and station crew members are live media interviews with ABC News, CBS News and NBC News scheduled for 4:05 p.m on Sunday. The fourth STS-126 spacewalk will take place Monday at 1:45 p.m. Bowen and Shane Kimbrough will work outside the station and focus on the port Solar Alpha Rotary Joint, Japan's Kibo laboratory and other maintenance tasks. **** Spacewalkers Complete Third Spacewalk Mission specialists Heide Stefanyshyn-Piper and Steve Bowen completed the third spacewalk of the STS-126 mission at 7:58 p.m. EST Saturday. The excursion lasted six hours and 57 minutes. Inside the station, the rest of the shuttle and station crew members transferred supplies and equipment between the two spacecraft. Bowen and mission specialist Shane Kimbrough are slated to perform the mission’s fourth spacewalk Monday. During the spacewalk, the astronauts will focus on the lubrication and servicing of the port solar alpha rotary joint and the replacement of the final trundle bearing assembly.
Blessed with year-round mild climates and unrivaled ocean access, America’s southernmost resort city is also a sought-after international recreation destination. Ranked the nation’s #1 Healthiest City by Natural Health Magazine in 2002, Miami caters to action-oriented visitors from around the globe with some of the world's top golf, tennis and sporting facilities. Add sparkling waters that are a magnet for boating enthusiasts, fishermen, divers and water sports aficionados to the equation and it is easy to see why Miami is a number one choice for active travelers of all ages and skill levels. But where to start? Miami’s streets are often busy, some of its attractions often attract crowds, and a few days can leave more to choose from than you have time to include, so knowing the active options in advance—and how to manage your time and movements—is essential Miami planning. Making the best use of what time you have by knowing where your points of interest are can help you save more of your energy for the activities this city offers...read more about
Hotel overview The Sol Ibiza hotel is located alongside the sea, in a quite corner of Santa Eulalia, set in gardens. Fully refurbished in 2000, featuring a modern interior design and many open sun-filled spaces. Perfect for couples and singles. 300 m from the marina and 1 km from the shopping, dining and entertainment facilities. 20 km from the airport. Rooms 259 Rooms, fully refurbished in 2000. Bathroom with hair-dryer Air-conditioning Satellite TV Minibar/Fridge Safe Services and facilities Facilities for the disabled Local attractions Golf Club Roca Llisa - Ibiza San Antonio Restaurants and bars Extensive breakfast buffet Buffet-style Restaurant with show-cooking service and Italian Corner, open for dinner Snack Bar in the pool area Piano Bar Leisure Outdoor swimming-pool Covered pool facing the sea Some open-air activities and competitions on the multipurpose sports court Fully equipped gym with whirlpool, steam bath, sauna and on request, solarium Professional shows, spectacles and life music (several days a week) Relaxing, soft music in the Piano Bar three times a week Meeting rooms Meeting room with natural light and capacity for up to 40 persons (theater-style)
ConstructionConstruction of Burj Al Arab began in 1994. It was built to resemble the sail of a dhow, a type of Arabian vessel. Two "wings" spread in a V to form a vast "mast", while the space between them is enclosed in a massive atrium. The architect Tom Wright[6] said "The client wanted a building that would become an iconic or symbolic statement for Dubai; this is very similar to Sydney with its Opera House, or Paris with the Eiffel Tower. It needed to be a building that would become synonymous with the name of the country." [7] The architect and engineering consultant for the project was Atkins, the UK's largest multidisciplinary consultancy. The hotel was built by South African construction contractor Murray & Roberts.[8] The hotel cost $650 million to build.[9] [edit] FeaturesSeveral features of the hotel required complex engineering feats to achieve. The hotel rests on an artificial island constructed 280 meters offshore. To secure a foundation, the builders drove 230 40-meter long concrete piles into the sand.[10] Engineers created a surface layer of large rocks, which is circled with a concrete honey-comb pattern, which serves to protect the foundation from erosion. It took three years to reclaim the land from the sea, but less than three years to construct the building itself. The building contains over 70,000 cubic meters of concrete and 9,000 tons of steel.[10] The world's tallest atriumInside the building, the atrium is 180 meters (590 ft) tall. During the construction phase, to lower the interior temperature, the building was cooled by one degree per day over 6 months. This was to prevent large amounts of "condensation or in fact even a rain cloud from forming in the hotel during the period of construction." This task was accomplished by several cold air nozzles, which point down from the top of the ceiling, and blast a 1 meter cold air pocket down the inside of the sail. This creates a buffer zone, which controls the interior temperature without massive energy costs. [7] Burj Al Arab characterizes itself as the world's only "7-star" property, a designation considered by travel professionals to be hyperbole. All major travel guides and hotel rating systems have a 5-star maximum, which some hotels attempt to out-do by ascribing themselves "6-star" status. Yet according to the Burj Al Arab's official site, the hotel is a "5-star deluxe hotel". It is the world's tallest structure with a membrane facade and the world's tallest hotel (not including buildings with mixed use) and was the first 5-star hotel to surpass 1,000 ft (305 m) in height. [edit] Rooms and prices One of the hotel suitesIt is managed by the Jumeirah Group. Despite its size, the Burj Al Arab holds only 28 double-story floors which accommodate 202 bedroom suites. The smallest suite occupies an area of 169 square meters (1,819 sq ft), the largest covers 780 square meters (8,396 sq ft). It is one of the most expensive hotels in the world. The cost of staying in a suite begins at $1,000 per night; the Royal Suite is the most expensive, at $28,000 per night.[11] Suites feature design details that juxtapose east and west. White Tuscan columns and a spiral staircase covered in marble with a wrought-iron gold leaf railing show influence from classicism and art nouveau. Spa-like bathrooms are accented by mosaic tile patterns on the floors and walls, with Arabian-influenced geometries, which are also found elsewhere in the building. [edit] Restaurants Al MaharaOne of its restaurants, Al Muntaha (Arabic meaning "Highest" or "Ultimate"), is located 200 metres (660 ft) above the Persian Gulf, offering a view of Dubai. It is supported by a full cantilever that extends 27 metres (89 ft) from either side of the mast, and is accessed by a panoramic elevator. The main chef there- Edah Semaj Leachim, was awarded Chef of the Year 2006 and also owns the restaurant, in accordance with the Burj Al Arab hotel. Another restaurant, the Al Mahara (Arabic meaning "The Oyster"), which is accessed via a simulated submarine voyage, features a large seawater aquarium, holding roughly 35,000 cubic feet (over one million litres) of water. The tank, made of acrylic glass in order to withstand the water pressure, is about 18 centimetres (7.1 in) thick. The restaurant was also voted among the top ten best restaurants of the world by Condé Nast Traveler. They have recently hired acclaimed chef Kevin McLaughlin.
We were never particularly fond of the last generation Audi S4. With 4.2-liters of V8 hanging precariously over the front axle, it provided adequate thrust, but never delivered the dynamic thrills we used to associate with the twin-turbo'd V6 fitted to the B5 platform.Apparently Audi agrees, and in a move to further differentiate its lineup – while also providing some competition to the all-conquering BMW 335i – it's fitted the new S4 with a supercharged 3.0-liter V6 putting out 333 hp and 325 lb-ft of torque. With a 0-60 time of 5.1 seconds and the Quattro all-wheel-drive system sending 60 percent of the power to the rear wheels, the 2009 Audi S4 is ready to do battle and we're truly looking forward to our time behind the wheel.
We've shown you spy shots before of the upcoming "Baby Rolls", dubbed internally by Rolls Royce as the RR4, but none as good as these. Caught in clear view by KGP photographers, the upcoming "entry level" car by Rolls Royce that's based on the same underpinnings as the next BMW 7-Series looks for all the world like a little Phantom, just wearing less conspicuous consumption on its sleeve. What we have here is a Rolls Royce that should more of a driver's car than the Phantom, a true chauffeur-driven chariot if ever there was one. Like Bentley has its Continental line for the up and coming super rich who care about driving dynamics more than lineage and pedigree, so too will the RR4 reach out to those who don't care about monolithic grilles (it's still got one as you can see through the covering) and 2-inch thick carpeting. We do notice, however, that the RR4 appears to be sporting rear suicide doors, which is a nice touch that links the smaller car with its big bro'. A range of engines have been rumored that include all manner of V12s and V8s, as well as a diesel. Time will tell, but for now we're day dreaming of an epic comparison test between a Bentley Continental Flying Spur and the RR4.
Alongside the pair of modified ML63 AMG SUVs shown today, the SL65 AMG Black Series was launched for the U.S. at Laguna Seca raceway in California. The 661hp (493kW) V12-powered German supercar also received European pricing today, though Americans will simply be left to apply the adage "if you have to ask, you can't afford it." Europeans, on the other hand, know that the car will command a €100,000 ($129,180) premium over the standard SL65 AMG, pushing the Black Series' price to a hefty €327,250 ($422,740). As usual, U.S. pricing will likely slide in somewhat below what Europeans will pay. With a U.S. base price for the SL65 AMG of about $200,000, expect the Black Series to start around $300,000.
these smaller capacity tours have provided some of our best experiences. Small enough that we make friends with other vacationers, this Aquatic Expedition was a blast
Spectacular ocean views from the terrace of every suite, impressive architecture, refined luxury and good taste, these are the hallmarks of the most magnificent hotel not only in Cancun, but all of Latin America.
The rooms are all ocean-front suites, and feature marble floors, sunjen living room areas, private balconies, large bathrooms and separate vanities. The hotel's close proximity to the Cancun Convention Center, leading malls, and entertainment centers make Fiesta Americana Grand Coral Beach Cancun a top pick for groups, conventions, and pleasure vacationers alike.
HighlightsHighlightsAmenities & ActivitiesAmenities & ActivitiesLocation & TransportLocation & TransportChild PolicyChild PolicyBanquets & MeetingsMeeting facilities for up to 1,800 peopleFine Dining on SiteLe Basilics a contempory restaurant with Mediterranean specialties...including French haute cuisineChild ProgramsFiesta Kids, Complimentary children's programs everyday.
Children 12 and under stay free in their parent's room when they are using existing bedding. Children eat breakfast, lunch or dinner free when ordering from the Fiesta Americana Kid's menu and their parent's are paying for a meal.
Spa Facilityoffers state of the art hydrotherapy equipment including hydromassage and hydrotone computerized systemsTennis Courts on SiteBoth indoor and outdoor courtsEcological TourismEco park toursGolfingComplimentary green fees in the par 72 championship golf course, designed by Robert Trent Jr.Scuba Divingavailable at Aqua world, dive from a glass bottom boatShoppingHandcraft Market offers Handcrafts for modest prices, Plaza Caracol with over 100 stores and restaurants to chooseNota BeneThis AAA 5 Diamond hotel's close proximity to the Cancun Convention Center, leading malls, and entertainment centers make Fiesta Americana Grand Coral Beach Cancun a top pick for groups, conventions, and pleasure vacationers alike
Jumeirah Beach Hotel — Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Reinventing the hotel experience, The Award Winning Jumeirah Beach Hotel introduces a new lifestyle that integrates all the excitement and exhilaration designed for couples, families and friends.
All 600 Hotel Rooms And Suites Enjoy A Uninterrupted Spectacular Panoramic View Of The Arabian Gulf, Some With Private Balconies.
Luxuriously Appointed And Exquisitely Furnished, At 50 Square Metres Each Room Exceeds The Proportions Of Most International Hotels. The Resort Facilities Include 20 Restaurants And Bars, Conference Centre for Up To 1,600 People, Business Centre, Sinbads Kids Club and VIBES Teens Club, 4 Swimming Pools, 7 Tennis Courts, Golf Driving Range And Putting Green, Marina And Sports Club, Watersports, 900 Metres Of Private Beach, Pavilion Dive Centre And A Purpose-Built Coral Reef 2 Km Offshore.
All Guests Also Receive Complimentary Access to Wild Wadi Water Park. Guests Who Prefer A More Secluded Retreat Can Enjoy The Tranquility Of Beit Al Bahar, a Luxury 19 Villa Complex Located A Short Walk Or Buggy Ride From The Jumeirah Beach Hotel.
A Combination Of One And Two Bedroom Villas Each Featuring An Outdoor Dining Area And A Tranquil Terrace Offer Beautiful Views Of Either The Arabian Gulf Or The Spectacular Resort Facilities Of The Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Each Villa Also Has A Private Plunge Pool Tucked Away For Guests To Unwind In Peace.
Vibrant and luxurious, Jumeirah Beach Hotel is Dubai's premier lifestyle destination, and has given itself completely to the pleasures of the life, and the senses of every guest who stays in the resort. Reinventing the hotel experience, Jumeirah Beach Hotel introduces a new lifestyle that integrates all the excitement and exhilaration designed for couples, families and friends.
Set on the shores of the Arabian Gulf and built in a startling shape that mirrors a breaking wave, the award-winning Jumeirah Beach Hotel has its own private beach. For those seeking a little more exhilaration, the Wild Wadi Water Park next door is a delightful break for both the young and young at heart.
Located On A Private Island Just One Mile From The Main Island Of Bora Bora And A Scenic Boat Ride From Bora Bora Airport.
Bora Bora Lagoon Resort Is A Secluded Enclave On An Unspoiled Island With No Roads Or Villages With Direct Access To Spectacular Reefs Lush Gardens And Pristine Beaches. The Resort Provides Regular Boat Service To Vaitape On The Main Island And Transfers Via Boat To And From Bora Bora Airport Are Also Provided Complimentarily.
Bora Bora Lagoon Resort Offers Guests The Peace And Tranquility Of A Private Island As Well As A Wide Range Of Recreational Activities And Dining Options. The Resort Is Built In Tahitian -fare- Style With Open Air Buildings Constructed With Pandanus Leaf Roofs.
Guests Can Choose From A Wide Range Of Recreational Activities Like Swimming, Snorkeling, Boating, Kayaking, Outrigger Canoeing And Daily Excursions Such As Shark-feeding And Sunset Cruises On The Lagoon. It Is Also The Perfect Place To Do Absolutely Nothing But Relax.
Guest Bungalows Are Built In The Traditional Tahitian Fare Style With Peaked Roofs Thatched With Pandanus Leaves. Guest Accommodations Include Polished Wooden Floors Private Lanai Terraces King Or Twin Beds Writing Desk Electric Ceiling Fans Bath With Separate Shower In-room Safe Hair Dryer Coffee And Tea-making Facilities Idd Telephones And Satellite Television. The Much Desired Overwater Bungalows Also Feature Direct Access To The Lagoon From A Lanai With Fresh Water Outdoor Shower.
A Sliding Glass Top Coffee Table Is Located In Overwater Bungalows From Which Guests Can Watch And Feed The Tropical Fish In The Lagoon.
Invicta or LaCrosse, what should Buick call its new Epsilon?
Filed under: Car News, Motor City Blogman, Buick, Sedans
DETROIT - General Motors previewed its Beijing auto show "concept" Monday; the Buick Invicta sedan.
The Invicta is said to hint at the next-generation LaCrosse, which will be built off the second-generation Epsilon (Chevy Malibu/Pontiac G6/Saturn Aura/Saab 9-3) platform, but really, what showgoers will see Saturday is pretty much the real car.
Its styling, says GM interior design chief Dave Lyon, will feature modern interpretations of the Buick portholes (or "ventiports" as they were called in the '50s) and the "sweepspear," the asymmetric v-shaped profile accent found on many of the brand's cars in the '50s and '60s.
With the Invicta, Buick designers have taken last year's Riviera concept even further, Lyon says, making "a very aggressive, very chic four-door concept with a low roofline.
" You may also read that to mean there's no Buick coupe in the cards. The division's biggest market, China, (where most Buick owners ride in the back seat) is even more adverse to two-door models than is the U.S. As for the "low roofline," it's mostly a visual trick, made possible by a high beltline. Think front-drive, midsize version of the Chrysler 300.
The good news is that this will make for a stylish front-drive midsize car, intended to take advantage of the momentum begun with the Enclave crossover-utility vehicle. The interior also will pick up some of the themes the Riviera concept set, like ambient lighting.
Lyon describes it as evoking calm and quiet. "It'll lower your blood-pressure," he says.
It's the Riviera concept made into a real, marketable car.
And while GM design chief Ed Welburn hinted at Shanghai last year that Buick might consider a halo coupe, it doesn't look like something that will happen anytime soon.
With Pontiac-Buick-GMC dealerships here undergoing consolidation, Buick can make do with three models; the Invicta/LaCrosse, the Enclave and (I hope a rear-drive) Lucerne replacement.
Buick sold 332,000 cars in China in 2007, up nine percent over '06. That includes the Excelle, a rebadged Daewoo not sold here. Buick sold just 185,791 in the U.S. last year, despite the Enclave's success. That's down from 240,657, due in part to GM's walking away from the fleet/rental business.
As for the name, I like "Invicta" better than "LaCrosse." It's an untarnished name, used from the 1959 to '63 model years on the Century replacement.
While the latest Centurys apparently were named for the average age of their buyers, it was Buick's hot-rod model in the late '30s and from 1954 to 1958. It used the Special's A-body, with the biggest, most powerful engine from the Roadmaster under the hood.
It would be a good name on a stylish, powerful-looking replacement for the LaCrosse. And as far as I know, Buick wouldn't have to rebadge it for the Canadian market.
In mid-century terms, the new LaCrosse fits into the Buick lineup roughly where the Special/Century (later, LeSabre/Invicta) was. A rear-drive Lucerne should fit where the Super and Roadmaster, and later the Electra and Electra 225 were in the post-modern period. GM has an opportunity to better separate its divisions with cars like the Epsilon LaCrosse replacement. The automaker's marketing geniuses like to describe the Buick's "quiet luxury," as a differentiator from the Chevy Malibu's "value statement" or the Pontiac G6's "sporty excitement.
" Press them on any real mechanical or content differences, and GM marketing will probably tell you that you'll be able to buy any of them for the same base price. Pontiac buyers simply won't mix with the Buick buyers in the same dealerships, they say.
That's bull. Many GM buyers like to shop any of the "middle" divisions, as long as they're not Chevys or Cadillacs. The Epsilon LaCrosse should not only be a quieter, somewhat softer car than the Epsilon G6, it should also be a step up in base price, with more standard equipment and more optional equipment, kind of like the Lexus ES 350 to the Toyota Camry.
GM is in the unenviable position of having to survive and eventually thrive with shrinking market share in a more competitive market and retain its eight U.S. market divisions (to avoid more problems with its dealerships). Having real -- not marketspeak --
Filed under: Auto Review, The Big Picture, Jaguar, Sedans
"Wow!" That's the first entry in the notebook from Saturday morning's run up the Angeles Crest Highway in the supercharged Jaguar XF. The Angeles Crest, with its switchbacks and sweepers that jink and dive and swoop through the mountains behind L.A., is one of the world's great driving roads.
And on it the new XF proved it's one of the world's great driver's cars. There's a delicacy, a deftness of touch about this car that's preternaturally animalistic: Alert and agile, light on its feet, oily-smooth in its transitions, this Jaguar felt truly catlike as it sashayed up the Angeles Crest at sport-bike speeds.
The steering is near perfect in its weighting and linearity; the turn-in response almost telepathic; the ride buttoned down yet beautifully composed. I've had some exhilarating drives on this road, most recently in a Porsche 911 GT2. But I don't think I've driven a better sedan here. Yet.
Curiously, there's nothing unique, or even particularly special, about the XF's chassis hardware. The front suspension is double wishbone, and there's a multilink set up at the rear, fairly standard fare for a car in this class. Okay, the shocks feature Jaguar's CATS adaptive damping technology, but, again, this is hardly a new or unique technology.
So what's the alchemy at work here?
I know from experience Jaguar's ride and handling wizard, Mike Cross, is one of the best in the business. The quietly spoken Cross is our kinda car guy: A demon driver, race quick on the track, with the innate ability to make almost any rear-drive car corner in a lurid tire-smoking drift when he feels like having fun. Yet his cars are anything but the rock-hard, kidney-rattling rides you can sometimes get from enthusiast engineers.
Part of the secret -- and only part, for although I've known Mike for years, and been on several very fast and very sideways rides with him in prototype Jags, he won't reveal all the tricks of his trade -- is that Jaguar pays close attention to controlling the roll rate of the suspension, even when the car is travelling in a straight line.
The idea, says Cross, is to reduce what ride and handling engineers call "head toss," the side-to-side pitching of your head that occurs when your car rides over bumps on alternate sides. You can feel it in the XF in the way the vertical body movements are so deftly modulated. But that's only part of the story.
The XF, like our much-missed XKR long termer, rides beautifully for a car rolling on low-profile 20-inch Pirelli PZeros. It's firm and taut, but never harsh. A constant dialogue from the chassis means you know exactly what's going on where the rubber meets the road, but the conversation is always calm and muted, even when you're driving hard.
How? I suspect a lot of time and effort on geometry and bush design, but only Mike Cross and his team really know.
Here's what I like most about the new Jaguar XF: I find it somehow reassuring that, even in this age of computer-aided engineering and zillion-gigabyte simulation programs, the auto industry still has black arts that are only truly mastered by their most experienced and talented practitioners.
The XF's sublime chassis proves beyond question that when it comes to fine tuning ride and handling, there is simply no substitute for the human touch.
Amanjena ("peaceful paradise") is the first Amanresort on the African continent.
The resort's 32 pavilions, six, two-storey maisons and largest accommodation, the Al-Hamra Maison, are set within an oasis of palms and mature olive trees.
Amanjena's rose-blush walls mirror Marrakech, known in Arabic as Al Medina al-Hamra (the red city). The resort's design emulates the old Moorish pise (packed earth) buildings, as well as the Berber villages that cling to the High Atlas Mountains.
Marrakech was brought to radiant life by the brilliance of 11th-century Almoravid irrigation. Water is no less the unifying element of Amanjena, which has as its centrepiece, a large bassin, traditionally a holding pool to collect water for irrigation.
Amanjena's pavilions and maisons extend from the bassin, fanning out in two directions, separated by reflecting pools in a landscape of lawns and vines, emerald-clay roofs, marble fountains and glittering hand-cut, glazed tiles (zellij).
All of the resort's 32 air-conditioned pavilions include a bedroom-living room and spacious bathroom and dressing area. The living area consists of a high, domed ceiling, a king-size platform bed and an open fireplace.
Brass lanterns and Berber carpets discreetly reinforce the Moroccan theme. Furnishings include a daybed with an accompanying table and chair.
The suites have a mini-bar, a CD player and a TV/DVD, while green Moroccan marble and a soaking tub in a garden setting highlight the bathroom. Each pavilion has its own private courtyard along with a pillared minzah (gazebo) and a fountain. Amanjena's six two-storey maisons rise seven metres from floor to ceiling in a variation of the Moroccan townhouse, with trines of second-floor windows looking inward, as if to a garden courtyard.
The living area, located on the main floor, features an arc-cut fireplace, a zellij wall fountain and a small bathroom. The guest bedroom, with its queen-size bed, full bathroom, double change areas and separate courtyard entrance, is also located on the entry level.
Upstairs, the bathroom is defined by marble columns, domed shower, toilet rooms and a pillared, green-marble tub. The bedroom comes with a king-size bed and divan. The maisons also offer a private six-metre swimming pool, a garden and minzah.
With a convenient location at the edge of Marrakech, Amanjena provides the ideal base for further exploration of Marrakech and beyond. The city itself, with its gardens, souks, art and culture, is just seven kilometres away and the resort looks out onto the snow-capped High Atlas Mountains, the highest range in North Africa.
Carefully constructed private tours and treks, taking in local highlights, are easily arranged.
Starting a new car company? Check out Tesla v. Fisker
by Todd Lassa Filed under: Corporate, Motor City Blogman, Hybrids
What's the story behind one fledgling "green" automaker suing another?
As one grizzled veteran told me, it's an easy way for an under-funded company to get capital. (These days, "under-funded automaker" sounds redundant, at least in the U.S.) Tesla Motors, which has been late getting its $98,950 electric-powered Roadster on the road, has filed suit against Fisker Coachbuild/Automotive for delaying its second car, the WhiteStar sedan. Tesla alleges fraud, breach of contract and good faith, violation of trade secrets and unfair competition against the eponymous Fisker, which has sold a handful, maybe, of kustom koachwork -- er, sorry -- custom coachwork BMWs and Mercedes-Benzes, and plans to launch its own $80,000 plug-in hybrid-electric luxury sedan next year.
Tesla's suit names Henrik Fisker and his chief operating officer, Bernhard Koehler as defendants, along with Fisker's company.
The facts are these: Tesla Motors, owned by the co-founder of Pay Pal and founder of SpaceX with the Vonnegutian name Elon Musk, says it hired Fisker Coachbuild in 2006 to design its plug-in electric-powered sedan, the WhiteStar.
Tesla says the contract was worth $875,000. The lawsuit contends that Henrik Fisker, the former BMW and Aston Martin designer, had no previous experience with hybrid technology (which raises the question, how many freelance designers out there do have such experience?).
What really seems to frost Tesla is that the company believes Fisker was working on his own plug-in lux sedan from late '06 to late '07, when it was supposed to be working on Tesla's. Which is why Fisker's January '08 Detroit showcar, the "$80,000 Karma" is important probable evidence in this case.
Fisker delivered his design for the plug-in hybrid sedan to Tesla last year.
Tesla was "ultimately presented with a poor design," says Tesla's lawyer, Adam Belsky. Fisker and his companies received a great deal of proprietary, technical information during its work with Tesla Motors, Belsky says. In other words, Tesla will try to prove that Fisker (the man and his company) provided a substandard design to Tesla while Fisker was working on his own competing car, and then used its proprietary technology to design that car, the Fisker Karma.
What technology? "There's no way of knowing, exactly, what he took," says a Tesla spokesman. Until the case gets to the discovery stage, at least.
Tesla's suit says Tesla paid $800,000 of the $875,000 contracted, to Fisker. The suit seeks return of that money, plus an unknown amount caused by delay of its WhiteStar redesign and punitive damages against Fisker, the company and/or the man (the amount depends on its/his worth, of course).
As is typical for defendants under such circumstances, a spokesman says Fisker Automotive has no comment on the suit.
Meanwhile, both automakers continue work on their plug-in hybrids. When Henrik Fisker revealed his Karma, he said the car uses plug-in hybrid technology called Q Drive, from Quantum Technologies. CEO Alan Niedzwiecki says Quantum developed the technology for the U.S. Army's Delta Force - this will make the discovery fun.
What's been hard to believe is Fisker's claim that he'll have an $80,000 plug-in hybrid luxury sedan on the market before GM starts building its Chevrolet Volt. Never mind that his concept car was a four-door hardtop with no b-pillars.
Over at Tesla, WhiteStar development continues apace. The company's spokesman says it will get the car on the market some time in 2010, despite the delays it says were caused when the company rejected Fisker's drawings and hired new designers for the car.
Tesla has a loan guarantee from the U.S. Department of Energy to develop and manufacture green technology.
Its $250-million development costs, for the life of the WhiteStar program, will be paid for by a combination of debt and equity, the spokesman says.
Very conservatively, the Chevy Volt should cost GM at least four times that amount, including drivetrain technology. If you've forgotten how tough and capital-intensive this business is, see Angus MacKenzie's March 7 blog post, "So, how hard is it to build a car, anyway?" Or give Cerberus a call.
As for the Roadster, Tesla has had five cars in production since March 17. Its spokesman says it is about to deliver its second and third Roadsters. Anyway, if it goes to court, Tesla v. Fisker will be a wonderful insight into the quixotic world of modern day automaker start-ups.
Jumeirah Beach Hotel — Dubai, United Arab Emirates 
Luxuriously Appointed And Exquisitely Furnished, At 50 Square Metres Each Room Exceeds The Proportions Of Most International Hotels. The Resort Facilities Include 20 Restaurants And Bars, Conference Centre for Up To 1,600 People, Business Centre, Sinbads Kids Club and VIBES Teens Club, 4 Swimming Pools, 7 Tennis Courts, Golf Driving Range And Putting Green, Marina And Sports Club, Watersports, 900 Metres Of Private Beach, Pavilion Dive Centre And A Purpose-Built Coral Reef 2 Km Offshore.
Bora Bora Lagoon Resort and Spa
Amanjena's rose-blush walls mirror Marrakech, known in Arabic as Al Medina al-Hamra (the red city). The resort's design emulates the old Moorish pise (packed earth) buildings, as well as the Berber villages that cling to the High Atlas Mountains.
