Top 10 cycling routes

There is no better way to explore a place than by bike. Here are 10 trips that should be on every cyclist’s wish list.

1. West Coast, Tasmania, Australia
By rights, Tasmania should be too small  Nike Air Max Chaussures to have huge pockets of wilderness, but untouched and untamed lands stretch along its fierce west coast. Cycling land this wild should not come easily and it does not, with the hill climbs queuing one after the other. You will notice them, but not as much as the scenery, which includes Tasmania's most famous mountain (Cradle Mountain), its cutest coastal town (Strahan), its highest waterfall (Montezuma Falls) and its most beautiful lake (Lake St Clair), all on highways that feel at times like back roads.
More information:
Tasmania is covered in detail in an excellent series of four maps produced by the state government's Information and Land Services Division.

2. Isle of Wight, England
The Isle of Wight is a cycling paradise that Nike Shox Chaussures is home to some of the UK's most varied terrain: lush velvet hills rolling into the sea, narrow lanes through tidy hedgerows, deep and mysterious green gullies, and the island's most striking feature, the ridge of white chalk cliffs stretching across its breadth. Although cyclists have been enjoying its outdoor pleasures for decades now, it has only been in recent years that Wight has started to attract young and trendy Londoners looking for a romantic weekend by the sea with a buzz - which gastro pubs, slick hotels and a calendar full of festivals now provide.
More information:
Wightlink passenger ferries sail from Portsmouth to Ryde pier throughout the day; fares vary for the 18-minute crossing but bikes are free.


3. San Juan Islands, Washington, US
The ferry conveying you and your trusty steed from Seattle or Anacortes weaves its way calmly, the perfect introduction to the slow, peaceful character of these islands. Awaiting you are forested shorelines, secluded coves, bucolic vistas and quiet roads. The three largest islands, Lopez, Orcas and San Juan, each have their own distinctive charm, with historic sites and art galleries. The terrain is hilly, but each can be cycled in a day, including plenty of time to watch for seals, otters, sea lions and the odd orca, or black-tailed deer and eagles farther inland.
More information:
Washington State Ferries provides the main transport link between Anacortes and the islands. The Victoria Clipper runs from Seattle to Friday Harbor.

4. The Luberon and Mont Ventoux, Provence, France
Tackling hilly Luberon with a touring load might seem crazy, but several hundred kilometres of well-signed bike paths render it very enjoyable, as do ancient Roman ruins, medieval chateaux and ambrosial wines. This sun-drenched corner of Provence is a mix of manicured vineyards and ancient villages tumbling haphazardly down rocky slopes. Cool pine forests and blue fields of lavender stretch away on either side of the road. But the real goal here is legendary Mont Ventoux, scene of several Tour de France dramas, dominating Grossiste Nike Chaussures the landscape and silently luring cyclist pilgrims to its summit.
More information:
Mont Ventoux is usually snow-covered above 1,300m from December until May. The summit road is accessible only during the summer months.


5. County Clare, Ireland
Beginning in fertile lowlands flanking the Shannon estuary, this route rolls past golden-sand beaches to the dramatic Cliffs of Moher facing the Atlantic. Next come the music hotbed towns of Milltown Malbay and Doolin, where you enter a pub only if you are in for the long haul - leaving before the last song is sung seems a monstrous breach of etiquette. From here, progress to the relentlessly grey, yet captivating limestone expanse of the Burren, reminiscent of a lunar landscape. Then take a sojourn into Yeats' country before sauntering back in a loop through County Clare's gentle patchwork countryside.
More information:
May and June are best for wildflowers in the Burren, while some accommodation opens only from June to August. Book well ahead during July and August.

6. La Farola, Cuba
Fascinating Cuba is a delight at helmet level. Try the spectacular 9km descent along the La Farola highway, from the crest of the Baracoa Mountains down to the south coast. The highway clings to cliffs hung in tropical vegetation, with guard rails protecting you from drop-to-nowhere gorges, before sweeping from one giant limestone ledge to the next, each turn providing a closer vista of wild open ocean. Built by the Revolutionary government, this magnificent mountain highway is an irresistible challenge for cyclists. Traditionally, the first stage of the Vuelta Ciclista Cuba (Cuba's answer to the Tour de France) is run over this route.
More information:
Food options are minimal: be prepared to eat out of your panniers. It is also essential to carry your own bike equipment and first-aid supplies.

7. National Highway 1, Vietnam
This iconic road runs the length of the narrow country from north to south. It is the most popular cycling route in Vietnam, a long but immensely rewarding trip along the best parts of Vietnam's coastline. The route has some reasonable hills, climaxing in the mighty Hai Van Pass (496m) - with a breathtaking descent as pine-clad mountains loom to the west and the South China Sea vanishes into the east. Take the time along the way to gaze at networks of lush rice fields blanketing the hidden valleys below; fish, snorkel or dive the turquoise waters of the coast; and soak up the atmosphere of delightful rural hamlets.
More information:
The Indochina Trekking Company, based in Hanoi, offers a variety of cycling adventures in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Thailand.


8. Cape Breton Island, Canada
This justifiably renowned cycling route is best-known for the scenery - breathtaking rocky coastlines, the crystal clear Bras d'Or inland sea and the soaring ridges of the Cape Breton Highlands - especially in their autumn colours. But adventure-seekers will also be satisfied as gently rolling hills become invigorating mountains with some tough climbs and heart-thumping descents. Combined with local wildlife (such as beavers, moose and deer), quaint fishing villages, an intriguing Gaelic culture grown from French-Scottish roots and plenty of fresh ocean breezes, Cape Breton is the whole package.
More information:
The Celtic Colours roving music festival makes October a superb time to visit.

9. Otago Peninsula, New Zealand
With the first half decidedly laid-back and the second portion anything but, the mix of scenery and sweat make this one of the best one-day rides in the country. Starting from university-town Dunedin, you soon shed the trappings of the city and succumb to the lure of the open road. The serpentine route twists pleasantly along the shore, providing tremendous ocean views, and the terrain is made for cycling. Then suddenly there is a sharp turn to the right and you are gaining altitude like a climbing fighter-jet. Get ready for steep climbs, fast descents and the odd albatross to keep you company. The route should be negotiable year-round whenever conditions are dry. However, you are less likely to suffer frozen extremities on descents outside June to August.
More information:
Dunedin boasts the world's steepest street, Baldwin St. With a maximum gradient of 1:1.266, test your brakes before you try descending. A souvenir shop nearby on North Rd sells the official T-shirt.



10. Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy
By cycling the often overlooked, yet spectacular far reaches of the northeast corner of Italy, you have the opportunity to intimately discover this earthy region. Along roads that make for easy pedalling, Slovenian farmers tend their fields in the strong sun, rows of vines cling to voluptuous hill country, and you smell the freshly tilled earth and feel the wind cool the sweat from your face. Then in the evenings, relax in a piazza to sample the region's famous white wines and join the laidback locals for a chat. The route's icing on the cake is the final scenic jaunt down the Istrian coast.
More information:

Autumn explosion of colour trees at Japan

A few favourite Kōyō spots
The Japan National Tourist Organization (JNTO; www.jnto.go.jp/eng) highlights viewing spots for the best autumn colour according to month, for regions all over Japan - a helpful tool for planning your trip.
Asahidake, Hokkaidō
With a hot spring at the base of this active volcano, Asahidake is part of Daisetsuzan, Hokkaido's largest national park. The leaves here begin turning in September, making the alpine backdrop even more dramatic. It is possible to take one- to two-day treks through the national park, as well as shorter day hikes.
Arashiyama district, Kyoto
Kyoto rolls out the red, leafy carpet during kōyō season, when the city's many temple and shrine grounds look even more elegant. On the outskirts of Kyoto, the Arashiyama district is famous for its autumn colour, with mountain views from the Tōgetsukyō bridge and small temples surrounded by colourful trees.
Hakone

Such festivities are tinged with more fervour in the spring, when the Japan Meteorological Agency tracks predicted blooming dates of cherry blossoms across Japan. Boozy picnics on a mass Nike Shox Chaussures scale occur in parks boasting cherry blossom trees, as hanami fever grips the land. Because the blooming cycle is so fleeting, this springtime event tends to be more highly anticipated and intensely celebrated. Shops are flooded with cherry blossom merchandise and food, the colour pink suddenly popping up in decorative garlands and flower-shaped sweets.

But autumn's kōyō is just as visually stunning and feels less fraught with urgency, as the turning leaves remain on the trees much longer than fluttering cherry blossoms. It also allows more variety in the experience - if you are not particularly fond of picnicking under the trees with ten thousand others (as during cherry blossom season), kōyō affords many opportunities to take in the spectacle by exploring rather than sitting and drinking in a crowded park. Shades of red, vermilion and gold light up forested hillsides, shrine and temple grounds, public gardens and city avenues all over the country.

Though bright-red Japanese maples Man Nike Shox Shoes are most recognisable, many other showy trees burst into colour, like the deep golden ginkgo and burnt-orange zelkova trees. Kōyō sets wild hillsides aflame with variegated hues of scarlet, while city streets are enlivened by pops of shocking orange. The most popular viewing areas can get crowded with admirers, but it is also possible to take in the colour by taking a multi-day trek through the mountains or roaming the paths of an out-of-the-way public garden.

Elevation and temperature dictate the when and where of the brilliant leaves, but the season generally lasts from September to November, beginning in the cooler regions and higher elevations and reaching warmer, more southerly areas last. In fact, autumn is to be one of the best times of the year to visit Japan, as summer's heat and humidity give way to cooler weather.

A lovely mountain  Nike Sneaker town near Mt Fuji, Hakone is a wonderful destination in its own right. With hot springs, small museums, traditional gardens and a mountain lake, the fall foliage only makes the scenery all the more gorgeous.

Literally translated as “red leaves,” kōyō is to fall what cherry blossoms are to spring in Japan. Both natural events bring the Japanese out en masse to celebrate the changing seasons, with hanami (cherry blossom viewing) parties in the springtime and momiji-gari (maple leaf viewing) in the fall.

In Buenos Aires have a perfect day

8 am
Start your day at the centre of Buenos Aires, at the historic Plaza de Mayo. At the square's eastern limit behold the fluorescent-pink Casa Rosada, the presidential palace. Evita Perón regaled thousands from its balcony; Diego Maradona hoisted the World Cup here.

9:30 am              
From parliament Nike Air Max Chaussures to pandemonium: brave the Avenida 9 de Julio, a roaring concrete thoroughfare that smashes a route through the heart of Buenos Aires. At its centre is the Obelisco, a brilliant white needle which soars skywards in memory of Argentina's Independence from Spain. The magnificent Teatro Colón (Cerrito 618; www.teatrocolon.org.ar) opera house is nearby.

8:30 am
Walk west on Avenida de Mayo, an avenue fronted by Parisian palaces and cupolas. Smile at the Art-Nouveau whimsy of the Hotel Chile (No. 1297) and drink in the majesty of the Palacio Barolo (No.1370), a towering edifice inspired by Dante's Inferno. Gargoyles adorn its walls. Stop for coffee and buttery medialunas (a local pastry) at glorious Café Tortoni (No. 825; www.cafetortoni.com.ar). Open since 1858, it is the city's oldest café.
9 am
At the western extent of the Avenida Nike Shox Chaussures you arrive at Plaza del Congreso, location for the formidable National Congress building. Its great dome looms above a tapestry of patriotic statuary and  Belle-Époque fountains.


10 am
On 9 de Julio, hail a cab and hurtle northwards to the exclusive Recoleta district. Alight at the Recoleta Cemetery (Junín 1760; www.cementeriorecoleta.com.ar), Buenos Aires' great necropolis, where former presidents, military generals and, most famously, Evita, lie buried in grandiose mausoleums. Then onto Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes (Avda. del Libertador 1473; www.mnba.org.ar), where Picasso rubs shoulders with Rothko at the city's recycled waterworks building; and to the MALBA (Avda. Figueroa Alcorta 3415, www.malba.org.ar): the city's museum of modern Latin American art and a cutting-edge design space.
1 pm
Lunch on juicy Argentinian steak and red wine at Recoleta's Cafe Biela (Avenida Quintana 600; www.labiela.com) - one-time haunt of literary deity Jorge Luis Borges.


2:30 pm
Sticking to Defensa stroll on to San Telmo, Buenos Aires' most romantic barrio: a web of narrow, cobbled streets lined with colonial houses and Spanish churches. Stop at Pasaje de la Defensa (Defensa 1179), a perfect example of the conventillo (slum dwelling) once common to San Telmo. Its interior now houses a busy flea market.

3 pm
Plaza Dorrego, a gorgeous little plaza at the heart of San Telmo, is minutes away. On Sundays, it hosts the city's antiques market; on weekdays it is a shaded area lined with sepia cafes - order beer at Bar Plaza Dorrego (Defensa 1098). Pop in and out of time-worn antiques stores and visit the beautiful Iglesia Nuestra Señora de Belén (Avnda. Humberto Primo 378), a 1733 church.

4:30 pm
Hop on the No. 152 bus to the port district La Boca, the Italian barrio that gave birth to tango and Boca Juniors, Argentina's greatest football team. Alight at the line's end. The toxic River Riachuelo faces you. Look north for the iconic Puente Transbordador (Transporter Bridge) whose muscular iron frame straddles the water; a tango pirouette south and you are on El Caminito, an artists' street overlooked by multi-coloured conventillos built Wholesale Nike Shoes a century ago.

7:30 pm
Back to San Telmo for dinner and tango at El Querandí (Perú 322; www.querandi.com.ar).

2 pm
Cab it back to Plaza de Mayo, from where you walk south on Defensa street. You are now in Buenos Aires' mythical old south and one-time colonial heart. At Defensa 219, peek inside Farmacia de la Estrella, a pharmacy open since 1894. Elaborate frescoes colour its ceiling.

11 pm
Round out your evening at Congo (Honduras 5329) in the fashionable Palermo district. Order a bottle of Malbec red - it is Argentina's national grape - and relax: Buenos Aires' nightlife will sleep till dawn.

5:30 pm
Walk through La Boca, where kids kick footballs and forlorn dogs lick wounds, to La Bombonera (the Chocolate Box), iconic home of Boca Juniors. Tour the stadium and Museo de la Pasión Boquense, the club museum (Brandsen 805; www.museoboquense.com).

Long called the Paris of South America, Buenos Aires is exactly that, and yet so, so much more besides. Granted, this is a city of wide boulevards and French-style palaces, but it is one too of wildly exciting innovations and new styles. From the opening of state-of-the-art museums like the MALBA, to the thrilling renaissance of the tango, Buenos Aires now buzzes with a contagious, creative energy and a brash new self-confidence. Put simply, it is South America’s sexiest, most intoxicating capital, and one that is easily discovered in a day.

Approaching the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard

Approaching the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard is like crossing some unseen frontier of the mind. Jagged natural ramparts, serpentine fjords and vast ice sheets stretch to the horizon, seemingly to the ends of the earth.

Deep inside the Arctic Circle, far closer to the North Pole than to Oslo, Svalbard is at once one of Europe's last intact wilderness areas and the world's most accessible slice of the polar North. It is also one of the natural world's grand epic landscapes. Sixty percent of Svalbard's territory is covered by glaciers. More polar bears (around 3,000) inhabit the land here than people (around 2,500). And for four months of the year (from 20 April to 21 August), the sun rarely nears the horizon and never sets, even as the sun is absent entirely for the four-month night (26 October to 16 February) when the Aurora Borealis dances across the sky.
Depending on the capricious whims of the extreme Arctic climate and calendar, thick clouds reveal remote fragments of the landscape as if concealing some great mystery, blinding sunshine illuminates the ice, or perpetual moonlight bathes it all in the strange, blue half-light of the polar night. In Svalbard, life is reduced to some of its most nike shox shoes stirring elements, in the process evoking the Arctic North of popular imagination.
And as ever in the Arctic, exploring Svalbard beyond its somewhat scruffy settlements carries strong echoes of the past. Svalbard once stood on the outermost limits of the known world and was a launching pad for some of the more picaresque tales of polar exploration. While the perils of traversing Svalbard may have diminished in equal measure Wholesale Nike Shoes  to the increase in comfort levels for those who venture out onto the ice, the inspiration for coming here remains largely unchanged: to immerse yourself in a frozen wilderness and discover the true frontier spirit of the polar north.

For all the magic inherent in Svalbard's vital statistics, the main settlement of Longyearbyen speaks powerfully of humankind's troubled relationship with the Arctic environment. Across town, the abandoned detritus of an industrial past and the ugly scars of the coal mines that still drive the archipelago's economy sit uneasily against the backdrop of a pristine wilderness protected by some of the world's strictest environmental legislation. Wild reindeer, Arctic fox and polar bear are a regular presence in the town's hinterland, even as Svalbard is littered with reminders of the hunting expeditions which for centuries drove many Arctic species to the brink of extinction. Such juxtapositions tell the story of humanity's best and worst impulses brought to bear upon an environment which may be irrevocably altered within our lifetimes.

Fortunately, Svalbard is one of Europe's most exhilarating destinations for adventure-based tourism. The list of year-round activities on offer - the Svalbard tourist office website (www.svalbard.net) has a comprehensive list, as well as a booking facility - includes hiking, glacier walks, kayaking and boat excursions that last a day or ten in summer, or dog-sledding and snowmobiling in winter. While these may have a certain appeal in and of themselves, the real attraction of these activities is as a means for exploring the Nike Sneaker inner and uninhabited reaches of Svalbard, a territory with less than 50km of roads.
To make the long journey to Svalbard - there are daily SAS flights throughout the year from Oslo and/or Tromsø - and restrict yourself to Longyearbyen would be akin to journeying to the Sahara and taking nothing more than a sunset camel trip out into the dunes.

Leaving behind the modern world and heading out into the deep Arctic in the company of a team of huskies, watching for polar bears as you race through isolated valleys astride a snowmobile, hiking high onto the ice sheet for sweeping views in the ringing silence: these are the iconic Svalbard experiences that transport you into the Arctic that you thought existed only in the imagination.

Science Museum, Phoenix, AZ

Back to Roger and Ellen's
We had some spaghetti for supper and enjoyed visiting with family for the rest of the night. We are meeting up with some close friends of ours at the zoo tomorrow and are very excited to see them!
 
After getting to sleep in a little shox footwear bit we of course had kids who eagerly wanted to swim in the pool. We swam most of the morning and enjoyed some sandwiches with Roger and Ellen. Around 1:00 we headed downtown to the Science museum. We forget that we would need to pay to park in a parking ramp and had trouble finding one that we could clear with the storage topper on the van. We ended up having to pay $12.00 for parking and had to park a few blocks away which disappointed us because the parking ramp across from the science museum offered discounted parking.
To the left is Charlie and I catching imaginary sand.

 To the right is Brooklyn laying on a bed of nails. This is a picture of me with my kids walking across the balancing bridge.

The science museum was wonderful for all 3 of our kids! Everything was hands on and educational. The admission price was $10.00 a piece with children under 3 Free. They also have an IMAX theater and a Planetarium which costs an additional $8.00 a person. Since we arrived at 1:00pm we were unable to do either of these things because the museum was HUGE Magasin de Nike Chaussures and had 4 levels and unfortunately closes at 5:00pm. We still had a great time and barley finished the 4 levels when they were calling closing time.

To the right is a picture of Alyssa who Nike Air Max Chaussures even at the age of 1 found plenty of things to see, do, and play with here!


 I recommend this place to anyone who has children and please take my advice when I say you need a full day to enjoy this place!

Drive to Arizona For The LONG NEVERENDING

The LONG NEVERENDING drive to Arizona!

This was a family vacation taken by me, nike shoes my husband Jon, and our three children: Charles 9, Brooklyn 3, and Alyssa 1. We had high hopes of making it to Arizona in 24 hours and to do so are driving straight through the night. We left this vacation at 12:00 pm and headed out for the long adventure.
Lincoln, Ne
We arrived in Lincoln, Ne around 6:00 and decided it was a good place to stop for some supper. We decided on Kentucky friend chicken. The food was good but the town not so much as my husband got hustled for money in the parking lot. The town seemed dirty and the people very scary. We were ready to go as we had a long trip ahead of us and were not even a quarter of the way there.
 Thanks Nike Tn Chaussures so much for all of the details!! My family of five is headed to Phoenix for a week and this was perfect!! We plan to hit the same points as you and may end up staying the night in Flagstaff...the tip about getting your admission tickets ahead of time is something we plan to do...I have great notes and plan to use them!! We leave Sunday the 18th and are booked at a resort in Phoenix for a week, but are hoping to adventure out to see some of the same sights!!
To keep 3 kids occupied in the car it took lots of activites such as hand held gaming systems, DVD player, and color wonder markers. To the left is a picture of our Son Charlie and our daughter Brooklyn.Below is a picture of our youngest traveler...Alyssa.
Colorado
We made it to Denver, Co around 2 am and the Nike TN Requin  kids were already fast asleep besides my son who had a bit of trouble falling asleep. We cleared Denver in about 25 mins and cleared Colorado Springs in about 30 mins. Mine you there is NO traffic in Colorado in the middle of the night which made the trip pass really fast. At this point I had done most of the driving and decided it was time for my husband to take over......an to sleep I went!

Without the gambling Vegas glitz

Just a cure
If all the pool parties in the world are not enough to quell the effects of the desert heat, slip into one of Las Vegas' new ice bars at either Mandalay Bay or Monte Carlo Resort and Casino. As counterintuitive as air conditioning on a Dubai beach, the bars nike shox shoes are both called Minus5 (minus5experience.com) and they mean it, Celsius-wise. Everything is made from ice, down to the cocktail glasses and the statue of Elvis, so guests are provided with parkas, mittens and boots. Signature drinks are the vodka-based Iceman and Snowflake.

Rest cure
Las Vegas has Nike Shox TL been hit hard by the bursting of the housing bubble and real estate development has eased off. After the super nova years of tower after tower going up, major resort developments like the Fontainebleau Las Vegas, the Charlie Palmer and the Echelon (where the Stardust once was) have stalled.  That may be why some hoteliers are turning to boutique and low-rise hotels.  Rumor (rumorvegas.com), a new two-story hotel with 150 suites, opened in August with a relatively chilled out scene (for Vegas) and a large green lawn around the pool in the courtyard.
Sister property Artisan (artisanhotel.com) recently re-opened after a six-month renovation as a non-gaming boutique hotel with 62 rooms.  The décor is glaringly over the top, but the pool has oversized daybeds and bordello-red cabanas. Both hotels have a midweek starting rate of $79 a night.
Epicure
It has been more than a decade since Las Vegas went from the land of all-you-can-eat buffets to a gourmand's dream. And the roster of celebrity chefs opening in Vegas continues to grow. This year, the massive new CityCenter development of hotels, condo towers and stores drew the top toques. French master Pierre Gagnaire, winner of three Michelin stars, finally arrived in the US with Twist in the new Mandarin Oriental, his only American location, and at Aria Resort & Casino, Jean-Georges Vongerichten brought forth a Jean Georges Steakhouse  and Masa Takayama arrived from New York with BarMasa. Aria is also home to Sage from Chicago's Sean McClain.
When the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas (cosmopolitanlasvegas.com) opens on 15 December, the culinary scene will heat up again with some of New York and Washington, DC's best restaurants entering the scene. A Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar & Grill will touch down, Scott Conant will open his fourth Scarpetta, and Jose Andres has two offerings: a new version of DC tapas restaurant  Jaleo, and China Poblano, a new concept that fuses Mexican and Chinese cuisines. Andres spent last summer at the Mexican ambassador's residence in Beijing researching the new menu.
Manicure
Bigger is better is often the motto in Las Vegas and the spas are no different. The 80,000-sq. foot spa at Aria has 62 treatment rooms and three spa suites, along with the first heated Ganbanyoku-style stone beds in the US, used for detoxifying and increasing circulation. The two-level Spa at the Mandarin Oriental has a separate Chinese Foot Spa where guests get a 45-minute foot bath and massage with tea. The spa also has a co-ed hammam that accommodates up to 12.
Vdara Health & Beauty at the Vdara Hotel & Spa has the advantage of an in-spa Champagne Bar, plus six poolside cabanas only for spa goers.  And at the Hard Rock Hotel, the new Reliquary has a large indoor bathhouse. Hotel guests who do not book a treatment pay $30 a day for access, while non-guests can only enter if they book treatments. For those who do get a massage, the spa charges a $20 upgrade for scented oil.
Be sure to check before you go. Some spas are only open to non-guests Monday through Thursday, like at Vdara, or have higher prices on the weekend like the Spa at the Mandarin Oriental.

In Las Vegas, it is easy to enjoy the high-roller lifestyle without stepping up to the blackjack or baccarat tables. Delayed gratification is simply not in the vocabulary of the people running the show here— hoteliers, restaurateurs, chefs, everyone, in fact, is dedicated to making sure that parting you from your wallet is as simple as doubling down on aces and as fun as hitting your colour on the roulette wheel. These days, poker sharks and slot machine addicts are not the only ones getting their thrills in Vegas.

美国空军多数飞机 无法穿透中国防空网

 东方网9月21日报道  美国智库战略与预算评估中心日前发表由高级研究员马克·冈津格(MarkGunzinger)撰写的报告称，中国、伊朗等美国的潜在对手正在努力发展巡航 导弹、弹道导弹，密织美国战机难以突入的防空网，而美国上世纪90年代制定的以近程打击为主要特点的防务计划，已无法满足现代战争的需要。为此，美军必须 努力发展远程战略打击能力以震慑中国和伊朗等国。

美国空军多数轰炸机无法穿透中国防空网
      报告称，70多年来，执行远程攻击作战的能力使美国成为全球军事强国。90年代初，国防部强调短程攻击能力远多于远程攻击能力，根据这些假设制定的 力量规划框架工作，美国发展了当代常规空中力量投射部队。今天，美国前线战机面临的严重威胁表明，国防部必须采取新的规划框架，将这种“非允许”作战环境 视为越来越正常。大量国外军队(包括但不限于中国和伊朗)在过去二十年中观察着美军的军事行动，并投资建设“反进入/区域拒止”系统，用来挑战美国在所有 作战领域常规力量投射的传统形式。
除了B-2部队(其中最多十六架能够在既定时间内对紧急意外情况行动做出反应)，空军轰炸机无法穿透中国、伊朗和其他国家通过购买先进军事系统构建 的综合防空系统。而且，外国部队正在采取措施通过加固、机动部署和将其最有价值的军事系统移入纵深内陆使美国的定位变得更加复杂。空军战机需要从可使用的 战区基地行动，尤其是位于太平洋的基地，其飞行范围和耐航力不足以攻击很多目标。由于对手的弹道和巡航导弹能够打击基地短程飞机机场，所以这些飞机的作战 挑战进一步复杂化。类 Man Nike Shox Shoes 似地，战略位置优越，能够“打击距航母在200至450海里处范围内目标”的海军战机也需要必要的航程和耐久力来在“非允许”环境下 进行空战，尤其是在远程弹道和巡航导弹威胁使美国航母距敌方海岸1000海里或更远地方的时候。
由于国防部采用了新的框架工作来确定其远程攻击优先权，所以必须采取一种全盘方法，检查维持国家远程攻击优势所需的整个“体系”。远程攻击体系包括 远程和穿透平台、用于精准打击的火药以及对机载电子攻击(AEA)和情报、监视、侦察(ISR)的支持能力。这一体系并不是理论性的，它是关于美国军队如 何组织自身进行战斗空中行动的。今天的远程攻击体系包括有人和无人情报、监视、侦察平台；B-2、B-1和B-52轰炸机；空射和海基远程攻击巡航导弹； 以及EF-18G、EA-6B和EC-130H机载电子攻击机。未来的体系能力可能包括用于机载电子攻击和情报、监视、侦察及攻击的新式穿透战斗机、新式 常规巡航导弹和常规装备弹道导弹。
报告建议，国防部规划者需要提高这一体系的协同能力，以克服未来“非允许”作战环境下的挑战。例如，未来远程机载电子攻击平台可攻击敌人的防空并阻 止敌方有效穿透美军战机和武器。新型空军和海军攻击机能够渗透先进集成防空网，而且保持这种环境能够发现和攻击移动目标，如防空系统和远程导弹，提高其他 美国投射力量部队和运行基地的存活性。类似地，空基和海基远程攻击敌军综合防空系统，如地对空导弹炮台和远程监视雷达，尤其对敌军周围的监视雷达，能够帮 助使其他远程系统能力渗入和维持在敌方领空。
国防部还将需要制定一个连贯的计划来发展下一个远程攻击体系。这一计划必须强调国防部的远程攻击能力需求，并根据这些重点随之产生新的项目。这一计划还必须包括降低前期项目成本的措施，如推迟不急需进行后续升级的能力的整合。
如果你有能力，请一起把祖国建设得更好！
如果你爱国，请好好珍惜能为社会做善事的机会！
如果你很有志向保卫国家领土安全，请加入中 Nike Shox TL 华人民共和国解放军！
如果你认为你的决策能力能够很好地管理这个国家和处理国际事务，请好好加油，因为你的能力决定了你在中国有用武之地！
如果你只会骂祖国，只会揭祖国的伤疤，或是门中窥人般的试图丑化祖国，请不要怕大家嘲笑你、鄙视你！因为你只不过是历史河流中的淤泥，却不想着扎扎实实地去改变！却不抬头看看社会中美好的东西！到头来你会发现真正丑陋的不是社会，而是你的思想和内心！
我是一名大学生，我只是把我的想法说出来，不怕被攻击！
但我怕中华人民共和国缺乏爱国之人
    昨天，军事频道播了一个片子，讲的是中国维和部队到黎巴嫩，正逢以色列打他，炮声把我军吓死了，好多士兵都回不过神来，值得躲在自己的保护地，其中最小的战士20岁，所有官兵都一直很紧张，总之整个报到讲我军，用的最多的词是紧张、怕。。等等，我想这或许就是答案吧。

报告称，考虑到研发和生产有足够能力和存活性的系统所需的极其漫长的时间，美国军方应在本世纪的近前75年中考虑到在不久的将来面对配备高端综合防 空系统的敌军时会丧失有效远程攻击战能力，而且在十年或更长时间内无法重建。因此，美国面临艰难的抉择：要么在下次国防预算中继续投资，以维持国家的远程 攻击战略优势，要么在军事竞争中丧失优势的主要长期来源。
他们这么说很可能因为接受了美国空军的资助，现在因为反恐战争B2这种全球战略轰炸机基本派不上用场，再加上2亿美元一架的巨额造价，现在美国国防部都准备放弃这种飞机了，空军想借这些理论弄些经费罢了。

Top 5 spots for medical adventure In Judo_zhu's

1. Bangkok, Thailand
Back in 1984, British pop singer Murray Head noted that "one night in Bangkok makes a hard man humble". Oh, but Bangkok makes a hard man so much more than that. Welcome to Thailand, the sex-change capital of the world. Whether you want to re-emerge from the operating room as he or she, Bangkok's specialist surgeons can perform the task of "gender reassignment" with a few deft scalpel slices. If your medical concerns spring from something other than gender confusion, Thailand is also famous for heart surgery, eye surgery and more. State-of-the-art Bumrungrad International Hospital (www.bumrungrad.com) is a major destination for overseas patients.
2. India
Although the very visible poverty and social ills might scare some off, getting your eyes fixed in this country just might make sense. Eye surgery is just one of the advanced treatments offered in India, where top doctors commandeer the latest technologies and speak faultless English. Aravind's Eye Hospitals (www.aravind.org), headquartered in Madurai but with locations around India, hasa remarkable program originally designed to minimise unnecessary blindness; in addition to foreigners, it has helped more than 2.4 million Indians to see in the past 30 years. They treat Nike Shox 4   everything from glaucoma to cataracts and even perform eye replacements. Patients relax in private suites costing $20 per day.

3. Colombia
North Americans and others head to Colombia for complex treatments performed by crack doctors at bargain rates. Cities such as Bogotá, Colombia's capital, offer a wide variety of medical treatments and operations. Specialities in Colombia include joint surgeries, and getting a hip replaced or "resurfaced" costs one-fifth of the cost of US hospitals, while the prosthetics used are of high international quality. Many Colombian doctors are foreign trained as well. Colombia is also often visited for procedures that range from dentistry and cosmetic surgery to open-heart surgery. December to March is Bogotá's dry season; the city is perched 2,600m above sea level, so be sure to allow a couple of days to acclimatise when you arrive.
4. Beijing, China
Somehow, experiencing acupuncture in its home setting just feels right - especially when you get the balms, oils and smelly unguents of traditional Chinese medicine. In fact, since 1975 Beijing has been home to the International Acupuncture Training Centre, a university for foreign doctors who want to have a stab at it. There are many treatment centres around the city. And, along with this ancient Chinese wisdom, the People's Republic is pioneering stem cell treatments, offering patients with the gravest conditions a chance to try new treatments banned (usually for political reasons) by their home governments. If you want to be the prick-ee rather than the prick-er, book yourself a treatment at Dongzhimen Hospital (www.dzmhospital.com/en).
5. Nuuk, Greenland
If you happen to be in Greenland and, say, a polar bear bites your arm off, do not just leave it there! Dronning Ingrids Hospital, in the southwestern capital of Nuuk , is the main hospital on this frigid maritime landmass, and is specially distinguished for performing special operations requiring very low temperatures (such as reattaching severed limbs). Built in 1954, the Dronning Ingrids does not need air-conditioning, and the heating system prevents any contaminated airflow. You will Man Nike Shox Shoes quickly feel good as new when recovering on this sparsely populated island stuck unpromisingly between Canada and Iceland. The air is clean and, er, invigorating, and the seafood is excellent. Charter a boat with an English-speaking skipper - see the city from a different angle before sailing over the deserted horizon.
Want it modified, enhanced, drilled out, implanted or just plain alleviated? Would you rather channel most of your hard-earned cash into a holiday? Find an excuse to embark on an exotic adventure with a medicinal tweak from these ten destinations.

escapism in Vegas need Lonely Planet's top 10 acts

A Bible-toting Elvis kisses a giddy couple who have just pledged eternity in the Chapel of Love. A blue-haired granny feeds nickels into a slot machine while chain-smoking and slugging gin and tonics. A porn star saunters by a nightclub’s velvet rope. Welcome to Las Vegas – blink and you’ll miss it. Sleep? Forget about it.

Vegas is the ultimate escape. A few frenzied sleepless nights here can be more intoxicating than a week-long bender somewhere else. Let the everyday rules of behaviour slide a little, like a burlesque dancer's feather boa. Be as bad as you want to be, and make your most devilish fantasies come true. Sin City stands ready to give you an alibi: what happens here, stays here. Who can resist such seductive temptation?
Here are the top 10 ways you can have the most frenzied, fast-paced and fantastical time of your life in Vegas.
1. Dive into the free-for-all on the Strip
The sensory overload of blindingly bright neon lights signifies that yes, you have finally arrived on Las Vegas Blvd (aka the Strip). The infamous Strip has the lion's share of hulking casino hotels and megaresorts, all flashily competing to lure you inside. The opposite side of the Strip holds just as many distractions. Lean over the graceful bridges and balustrades of the Venetian and watch the singing gondoliers oar their boats through the mock canals of this Italianate casino.
2. Examine the legacy of the Cold War at the Atomic Testing Museum
During the atomic heyday of the 1950s, visitors downtown stared, mesmerized, as mushroom clouds rose from the desert behind Las Vegas. Over the next four decades, more than 900 nuclear explosions were initiated at the Nevada Test Site, just 65 miles northwest of the city. Multimedia exhibits at the Atomic Testing Museum focus on science, technology and the social history of the Atomic Age. There is also a cool scientific- and retro-minded museum shop, where you can buy your very own A-bomb fallout shelter sign or biohazard T-shirt.
3. Party with the locals on "First Friday" nights
On the tattered fringes of downtown, hidden among the antique shops and vintage clothing stores, is the city's emerging 18b Arts District. Drive by it on any given weekday and you might not even notice pivotal landmarks like the Arts Factory. But on the first Friday night of each month, these rundown streets take on a carnival atmosphere as 10,000 art lovers, hipsters, indie musicians and hangers-on turn it into one giant block party.

4. Shop for one-of-a-kind gambling souvenirs
The kitschy age of old-school casinos and the heyday of outrageous theme hotels may be drawing to a close as the Strip's casino hotels trade their gaudy Egyptian gods and faux European landmarks for more chic - but ultimately boring - high-class luxury. Fans of Old Vegas can still pick up pieces of these old-school hotels at fun, funky shops such as Gamblers General Store (www.gamblersgeneralstore.com) that collect vintage casino souvenirs, from authentic gaming chips to your very own slot machine.
5. Wow at the avant-garde circus exploits of Cirque du Soleil
Cirque du Soleil's circus shows rule the roost with the Strip's longest-running spectacular (since 1993). Though founded in Québec, Cirque du Soleil seems tailor-made for Las Vegas, where spectacle is craved above all else. Whimsical multicoloured costumes, high-flying aerial acrobatics and giant-sized taiko drums add up to an electrifying atmosphere, and you can easily get caught up in the heart-pounding shows.
6. Refuel late-night at retro hideaway Fireside Lounge
When it is 4am and your feet hurt after shakin' your booty all night long, where are you gonna go? Escape the other tourists at the Peppermill Casino's 24-hour Fireside Lounge. Hidden away on the North Strip, this pint-sized coffee shop with its candy-bright neon lights and faux flickering fireplaces is a beacon. The psychedelic Man Nike Shox Shoes decor and special-effects water fountains are as distracting as the cocktail waitress's slinky dress.
7. Make a pilgrimage to Liberace's shrine of kitsch
Known as "Mr Showmanship", the late, great entertainer Liberace has been honoured by the creation of this outrageous museum, located off the Strip. While audiences enjoyed listening to Liberace's exuberant keyboard artistry, they were also amazed and secretly amused by his outlandish style. Time your visit to coincide with one of the free guided tours, during which no mention will be made of Liberace's homosexuality or the more creepily bizarre rumours that he had his lover undergo plastic surgery in order to make him look more like Liberace himself.
8. Let it all hang out in downtown's historic Glitter Gulch
When you've tired of the glitz of the Strip, ride the double-decker Deuce Bus downtown to Fremont St. There you will discover the city's original hurly-burly casino row, nicknamed Glitter Gulch. This old-school gambling ghetto sprang up beside the railroad tracks back in 1905. Although the downtown gambling halls are not glamorous like Vegas' megaresorts, their proximity to one another is a real plus. You can easily stumble between half a dozen gaming joints here.


9. Indulge in bodily bliss at a modern oasis
Seeking Hawaiian lomilomi, Japanese shiatsu or a Thai massage? Or perhaps a volcanic-mud or banana-leaf body wrap and a coconut-crème exfoliation? Or how about a lotus-flower bath and a soak in signature apothecary elixirs? Qua Baths & Spa at Caesars Palace has everything you desire, and then some. Sweat out your hangover inside the aromatic cedar sauna. Take a dip in the Roman baths. Chill in the arctic room, where dry-ice snowflakes fall. Recline in the exotic tea lounge. In the "Men's Zone", bad-boy poker players can get a royal shave or have their sore muscles kneaded like they were victorious gladiators.
10. Laze by the pool all day
Las Vegas' pop culture of excess also applies to swimming pools. Bikini-clad goddesses proffer frozen grapes at Caesars Palace while the Golden Nugget's waterslide shoots swimmers through a glass-enclosed shark tank. The city's most impressive Nike Shox R4(guests-only) pool complex at Mandalay Bay even has an artificial beach.Here, surfers can ride on 6ft-high artificial waves, rent a beachfront cabana or private villa to be treated like royalty for a day, or while away the hours gambling at the beachside casino.

Anthony, Nuggets look ready to part ways

wants out of Denver, and Worldwide Wes delivered that message to the Nuggets with all the delicacy of a jackhammer at Sunday morning services. Do yourself a favor and trade him, the agent told the organization weeks ago.

Denver was furnished with a short list of teams and told to get to work. Yes, this is how William Wesley and Leon Rose of CAA work now, thick with threats and ultimatums and a swagger suggesting that the sport belongs to them. After Anthony told owner-in-waiting Josh Kroenke that he still wanted out of Denver during a Sunday meeting, the Nuggets appear done trying to sell their All-Star forward on a contract extension.

This wasn’t a productive, nor particularly pleasant, meeting and multiple sources said it could turn out to be the point of no return for Anthony and the organization. Sources insist it’s no longer a matter of if the Nuggets trade Anthony, but when, where and for whom he’s traded for.

“It’s almost a given they’re going to move him,” said a front-office executive who’s talked with the Nuggets and Anthony’s agents with CAA.

While Kroenke had several severe remedies in his back pocket if the agency didn’t back off its most strident demands, sources said Thursday night that the owner never had to go that far to get CAA to work with the Nuggets. Now agent Leon Rose and Wesley are more open-minded about potential trade destinations.

Anthony wants to leave Denver and get his three-year, $65 million contract extension now. This partnership is rounding third and rapidly reaching disrepair. Denver is willing to trade Anthony, J.R. Smith(notes) andKenyon Martin(notes), and start over again, sources said.

The Nuggets made it clear to teams they want young players and draft picks for Anthony, league executives said. The New Jersey Nets and Los Angeles Clippers have emerged as the two most probable destinations for Anthony because they have assets that appeal to Denver. The geography works for Anthony because of his wife LaLa Vazquez’s entertainment career.

Golden State and Houston are contenders, too. What’s more, the Charlotte Bobcats are a sleeper because of Anthony’s Brand Jordan shoe deal and the team’s ability to give the Nuggets a salary-dump proposal.

Back in mid-July, the Kroenkes had to travel to New York for Anthony’s wedding to finally realize he no longer intended to sign their extension offer. The reception spiraled into an evening of Chris Paul(notes) and Anthony’s brother making toasts about a future partnership for Anthony and Paul in New York with the Knicks. With nothing to trade for Anthony, though, New York isn’t considered a strong contender in the eyes of Denver management.

Few can be as strong-minded and willful as Stan Kroenke, and it doesn’t matter the Nuggets will be turned over to his son Josh by the end of the year. Stan still will be looming over the franchise, and the billionaire has shown an old-school ability to carry through on his convictions once you’ve lost him as an ally.

With the way that CAA has tried to muscle and manipulate the market this summer, sources said Stan Kroenke, freshly approved as the St. Louis Rams owner, intends to look closely at whether the NBA should adopt a “franchise player” tag that teams could slap on superstars like the one the NFL uses. NBA owners are still far from seriously discussing that issue, but CAA’s manipulation of Anthony and Paul while under contract has become an increasingly sore subject within the league.

For now, the departure of Denver general manager Mark Warkentien and the increased influence of Kroenke adviser Bret Bearup means there won’t be much of a fight within the organization to stay the course with Anthony, sources said. Denver has hired Masai Ujiri as its new GM, but he doesn’t arrive with the authority to make major moves. Things have deteriorated too fast to believe Denver will turn back now. ‘Melo is on the market, and the bidding has begun.

Craigslist dumps 'adult service' advert

'Threat to women and children'

Last year the San Francisco based company removed its "erotic services" section and replaced it with a fee-based adult category in response to pressure from 40 state attorneys general.

It also adopted a policy of screening every advert.

In a May blog post, Craigslist chief executive Jim Buckmaster said Craigslist had "gone beyond fulfilling its legal obligations". The site was "a leader in the fight against human trafficking and exploitation," he said.

But critics continued to accuse the firm of helping to facilitate child prostitution.

The listings came under renewed scrutiny after the suicide in prison last month of a former medical student who was awaiting trial in the killing of a masseuse he met through Craigslist.

In early August a paid advert appeared in the Washington Post from two women appealing for the closure of the adult services section. One said she had been forced into prostitution at the age of 11, with the jobs organised through Craigslist.

And last week in a joint letter to Craigslist, 17 attorneys general said women and children would "continue to be victimised in the market and trafficking provided by Craigslist".

'Easy target'

The latest move by Craigslist to close down the service was welcomed by Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, a persistent critic of both the erotic and adult listings.

"We welcome any steps toward eliminating the adult services section and prostitution ads on Craigslist, as we have urged, and we are seeking to verify the site's official policy going forward," he said.

"If Craigslist is doing the right thing voluntarily in response to our coalition of attorneys general, it could set an example for others."

But in the blogosphere there has been broad support for Craigslist's position.

"It is surely, though, splendidly naive to think Craigslist would somehow be alone in providing a forum for prostitution ads," said Chris Matyszczyk on the news blog CNET.com.

"However, Craigslist is in the unfortunate position of being high-profile and successful and has become a very easy target in what is a far more complex and nuanced issue than the attorneys general are making out."

The online marketplace Craigslist has closed the controversial "adult services" listing in the US.

The company has not said why it took the decision, but it has faced an ongoing barrage of criticism from attorneys general and advocacy groups.

They have claimed the listing was a virtual tool for pimps and prostitutes.

The section has now been replaced with a black and white bar that reads "censored". An "erotic" service is still active outside the US.

A statement from Craigslist executives is expected in the coming days.