Graduation

" i woke up this morning
with this feeling inside me
that i can't explain
like a weight that i've carried
been carried away
but i know something is coming
i don't know what it is
but i know it's amazing,
my time is coming
it feels like today,
i know it feels like today,
i'm sure it feels like today,
feels like your life changes." – rascal flatts


It's finally here....next stop Dublin.

Comment Posted on Travel Blog

Here is the link to the comment I made on the Lonely Planet Travel Blog.

https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=36278947&postID=8230915139141430357&page=1

Barcelona by Foot, by Bus, or by Train...What to do...What to do?

"any town is where i'm bound. anyway to get me gone. don't think about me, never let me cross your mind. except when you hear that midnight lonesome whistle whine." – the eagles


Here are some of the different ways we could see the sights in Barcelona:

Barcelona Hop On Hop Off Bus Turistic – “The double-decker Barcelona Bus Turistic is the most convenient way to discover Barcelona! Get a bird's eye view of the most interesting and attractive sights of the city including Casa Batllo, Sagrada Familia and Placa de Catalunya. You can hop on and off as many times as you like at any of the 42 stops. The Northern route and the Southern Route are two hours long, while the Forum route is 40 minutes long. The three tour routes are inter-connected so you can hop easily between each of the stops!”

Gourmet Tapas Walking Tour of Barcelona – “Begin your Gourmet Tapas Walking Tour of Barcelona at a restaurant with a wide selection of local, delectable tapas, situated in Barcelona's most emblematic and elegant avenue, overseeing the best modernist architecture of the country has to offer. Here you will enjoy 3 tapas with a glass of wine or beer, while your food and wine guide explains the flavors of the wine, the cuisine and the cultures present in Spain. From here your guide will lead you to Barcelona's most famous street, La Rambla. Continue to the Gothic Quarter, where you will discover architecture, atmosphere, language and gastronomy that are unique in Spain, and some of the gourmet shops which are over 100 years old. Your last stop will be at a Basque Bar in a historic 14th century building, an ideal spot to take a break in your trip along the gothic quarter. Here 3 tasty Tapas and a glass of wine, beer or sidra will be waiting for you.”

Wines of the Montsant by Train – “Capcanes is a village hidden away in the Priorato hills that is the source of many fine wines today and has a long wine growing history. Take a walk around the wild landscape of the Serra de Llaberia winery where you will find olive tree fields, almond trees, masias and some of the oldest vines in Spain. After learning about the area's geology, climate and the harvest, you will visit the winery and enjoy a hosted wine-tasting. The cultivated varieties are cabernet sauvignon, merlot, syrah and garnache. After the winery visit continue to Marca, where you are treated to a lunch of regional cuisine, served with a sample of Priorat wines. Lunch is followed by free time on your own to visit the village at your leisure, before returning by rail to Barcelona.”

Granted all of these cost money and we are trying to be frugal with our spending but they sound so fun we may just have to splurge for at least one of them!

VQUZESHUF!

When Irish Eyes Are Smiling...

"all that is gold does not glitter; not all those who wander are lost." - j.r.r. tolkien

We will be traveling on our own for the first 9 days of our trip and that will include stops in Dublin, Galway, Cork as well as Barcelona. When I went on a tour of Ireland two summers ago I visited Dublin and Galway for a brief time so I’m excited to go back and see more of those cities on a more individual independent basis. But I’m really excited to explore Barcelona and Cork because they will be completely new and I have no idea what to expect. I have been looking into the city of Cork to get a better idea of what the city is like, what they have to offer, and what we will be seeing. Originally I thought we would be passing through Cork around the time of Cork’s Midsummer Festival but unfortunately because of some switching in our itinerary we will not be there around that time but I’m sure it’ll still be just as fun. I’m sure we will end up going along St. Patrick’s Street as well as passing by the old bank buildings and homes built in Georgian style along the Grand Parade and South Mall. And we will be definitely be heading over to the church tower of Shandon:

“Cork's most famous building is the church tower of Shandon, which dominates the North side of the city. The North and East sides are faced in red sandstone, and the West and South sides are clad in the predominant stone of the region, white limestone. At the top sits a weather vane in the shape of an eleven-foot salmon. The clock tower on the church is known by locals as The Four-faced Liar, as from the base of the building, each clock face appears to show a different time. Shandon is accessible to the public, and the bells may be rung by visitors.” (Cork – Places of Interest)

One thing I can safely say I will not be trying is the local food traditions because as much as I want to immerse myself in the culture the idea of eating pig’s feet (Crubeens), “black” pudding (Drisheen) which is a mixture of cow's, pig's and/or sheep's blood, milk, salt, fat and breadcrumbs which is boiled and served and then cooked as a sausage, or cow stomach (Tripe), really doesn’t sit well with me.

Apparently the accent in the city of Cork differs greatly not only from the neighboring cities and counties but also differs amongst the people living on the opposite sides of the River Lee. I think it’ll be really interesting to listen to various dialects and see how they differ in the various sections of the city and in the various areas of the country.


VQUZESHUF till the next entry.

Response to Required Blog Reading: AttentionMax Posting “You’re Nothing Without a Link”

After reading this posting and learning through our own experiments with our invented word, it is clear that search engine optimization is a really important aspect of the linking process on blogs and websites alike. Obviously, you have to give credit where credit is due and in the age of internet blogs and news sources, the credit is given by linking the source page to your article or commentary. Nearly everything that is written in hard copy eventually finds its way onto the web and its common courtesy to continue the flow of information and help in the search engine optimization by linking all the affiliated sites to the necessary articles. It helps to keep the reader in tune with the necessary sources, stops them from having to begin an independent search for the source of the information and allows for the site to gain some credibility and the opportunity to link up with other credible sources. It’s only fair to ask up front that instead of simply mentioning a company’s name as a source, that the article instead be linked with the affiliated story. It allows the reader the chance to check out the original source and there is no harm in having more than one source contributing to the validity of a statement or story. It’s a win-win situation for all involved and should become a common practice in the industry.

Another entry for " vquzeshuf " with a little Contiki thrown in for good measure...

"well she was an american girl raised on promises. she couldn't help thinkin' that there was a little more to life somewhere else. after all it was a great big world with lots of places to run to..." - tom petty

We have to link the word vquzeshuf as an assigment so I've made it into a link for three videos about the tour company we will be using. The trip is inching closer.....exciting stuff =)


1. vquzeshuf

2. vquzeshuf

3. vquzeshuf

Advantages of Using the Internet in Business - Post 2

As we wrap up the semester it is necessary to refer back to the core lessons that began the whole basis of internet marketing: its relation to business and the continued success it has brought various ventures. The internet has been a key tool for my continued job hunt and I have become more aware of the increasing number of companies that conduct a great deal of business through internet based communication and interaction. I have found two articles that coincide with the increasing use of the wireless world in business and they are both prime examples of the shift from a “bricks” mentality to a “clicks” mentality.

Wireless Business Drives AT&T

This article outlines the 22% increase in profits in first quarter income, which comes from the increased focus on their wireless business. Although they have suffered layoffs recently and have had to pay out severance packages as well as deal with the slowing demand for wired communication, they have shifted their focus successfully in order to continue being profitable. The growth has been spearheaded by subscriber gains as well as partnership with Apple Inc.’s iPhone. The revenue generated with wireless data services has shown the increases in the population’s use of internet, email, and online services within the business communication. They are also shifting their focus from geographical boundaries as a means o f targeting customers and instead are focusing on operational units within the company.

AT&T releases new BlackBerry for small business market

Apparently, AT&T is making a lot of moves in the internet business market as of recent including a concerted effort to bring the small business sector into the internet business. AT&T and Research in Motion Ltd. have combined their efforts to make the quintessential online business tool, the BlackBerry, to be compatible with people who run small to medium size businesses. It allows them access to email, calendars, contacts, and business data and can support up to 30 users on the network.

Change of Plans

"got it all figured out inside of my head, there's a bag packed up at the foot of my bed. don't need directions, don't need a map, if we get lost i'll be good with that. we'll find a way to make the time pass, window rolled down with the heat on high, stars all aligned in a runaway sky. let's get out of this town tonight." -carrie underwood


Sometimes it’s better to leave certain things to the experts and trust me when I say planning such an extensive trip definitely requires some help from the experts. After a quick meeting with a local travel agent the basis for our entire trip pretty much shifted but in a good way! The travel agent clued us in to the Contiki Tour Management Company, which runs trips similar to the one we have planned and all the people on the trip are between the ages 18 to 35. It will allow us to see everything we wanted to see without having the added stress of figuring out our intermediary transportation, which was costing us pretty much half our budget. So here is a look at the tour-guided 20 days of our trip:


Contiki European Whirl
1. Day Depart for Europe
2. Day Arrive London
3. Day London to Amsterdam
4. Day Amsterdam
5. Day Amsterdam to Berlin
6. Day Berlin
7. Day Berlin to Prague
8. Day Prague
9. Day Prague to Munich
10. Day Munich to Austrian Tyrol
11. Day Austrian Tyrol to Venice
12. Day Venice
13. Day Venice to Rome
14. Day Rome
15. Day Rome to Florence
16. Day Florence to Swiss Alps
17. Day Swiss Alps
18. Day Swiss Alps to Paris
19. Day Paris
20. Day Paris to London


We will have some extra time in the beginning and end of our trip so we will be taking those extra days and hit the cities the tour won’t cover like Barcelona, Spain and a couple cities in Ireland including Dublin, Galway, and Cork. As we plan the hostels and activities for the independent traveling part of our trip I will post our ideas and plans for each city.


Until next time, VQUZESHUF.

VQUZESHUF

We are conducting a search engine optimization exercise and the chosen test word is: VQUZESHUF.

The Company I Keep

“american girls are weather and noise, playing the changes for all of the boys, holding a candle right up to my hands, making me feel so incredible.” – counting crows

I was in discussion recently with one of my travel companions about what we are looking forward to the most about our upcoming trip. The answers varied from the silly to the serious but in the end we both came to the conclusion that this trip will bring about more changes in us than we can even begin to comprehend. With the date of graduation looming in the not so distant future and the uncertainty of the ‘real world’ waiting on the other side of our impending trip, we both decided that it will be truly glorious to disappear for a little while. We will for all intents and purposes, just be four girls, wandering Europe, with no preconceived notions and agendas, no responsibilities to be tethered to, no voice of reason to answer to. We made this plan on our own terms. We know this moment of being on the cusp of adulthood will pass us by quicker than we can imagine and so for a truly special 29 days we choose to stick a pin in growing up and take to the cobblestone streets and sidewalk cafes, the intriguing dialects and historical provinces that make up Western Europe. It is a rare occurrence in this constantly changing world, to be able to take a step back and move away from the hustle and bustle of one’s everyday routine to truly enjoy just existing in the moment. In a world where nothing can come fast enough or be good enough, it can take a little reminder every now and then, that there are bigger things to see and sometimes a better person to be. So I, being a self proclaimed planner and lover of organization and lists galore, am promising myself to make a conscious effort to enjoy every minute of these 29 days, planned and unplanned. Every miscommunication over the language barrier, every wrong turn down a cobblestone street, every local friend we find, every lesson we learn, will be the little pieces that come together to make this a true turning point in the landscape of our lives. Excited does not even begin to describe this feeling.

My Travel Companions….

Ellen and Amanda

Marilee and Me

Home Away from Home

“see the market place in old algiers. send me photographs and souvenirs. just remember when a dream appears, you belong to me. fly the ocean in a silver plane, see the jungle when it's wet with rain. just remember till you're home again, you belong to me.”- jason wade

Listing of possible housing for some of our stops…

London, England

Ashlee House
261-265 Gray's Inn Road
WC1X 8QT, England
King's Cross, London

New Cross Inn Hostel
323a New Cross Road
London, SE14 6AS, England

Dover Castle Hostel and Bar
6A Great Dover Street
London, SE1 4XW, England

O'Callaghan's Hostel
205 Earls Court Road
Kensington, London
SW5 9AN, England

Paris, France

St Christopher's Inns
68-74 Quai de la Seine
Paris, Paris
75019, France

Hotel Prelude Gare Du Nord
73 rue de Dunkerque
Paris, 75009, France

Prague, Czech Republic

Advantage Hostel
Sokolska 11
Prague, 120 00
Czech Republic

Krasova Budget Apartments
Krasova 22 132
Prague 3, 13000, Czech Republic

Down Town Suites
Kodanska 13
Prague, 10100, Czech Republic

Rome, Italy

Hotel Lodi
Via Oristano 14
Rome, 00182, Italy

Freestyle Hostel
Via Principe Amedeo
Rome, 00185, Italy

Litus Roma Hostel
Lungomare P. Toscanelli 186
Rome, Lido di Ostia, 00121, Italy

THANK YOU ROBYN!!!!!! WE LOVE YOU!!!!

THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!!

You have officially made this the BEST day...week...year...EVER!

Subject: RE: Hey Back!
The trip sounds outrageous!! You know we'll pay the airfare. We just need to figure out the rest. I knew Keri was bright, but oh my God what a presentation. Dad and I will try to come up with ideas to finance tonight. Call us later. How exciting is your life??

Mom



YAY!!! ELLEN'S COMING TO EUROPE!!!!

Mo's Response to the Final Plea

"Hey hon.....I was cleaning/deleting old e-mails and came across the one where you gave me your blog website.I went to the blog to read your entries and read your plea to Robyn. I'm guessing that's Ellen's mom. Hope it convinces her to given Ellen her blessings and let her go. It convinces me that it's going to be a trip of a lifetime and one that you will speak of for many years to come.Regardless of the outcome you are a wonderful friend to Ellen and Ellen is lucky to have you in her life. Keep me posted on the outcome. ttu love, Ma."


come on robyn....help us out here. if that doesn't convince you we don't know what will. pleeease =)

My Final Plea

Dear Robyn,

I sit here at the kitchen table as Ellen pieces together a children’s puzzle depicting a scene of the Piazza San Marco and Basilica in Italy and I cannot help but be hopeful that this blog entry will in some way help to persuade the decision that has come to pass regarding Ellen’s ability to join my month long sojourn to Europe. This trip will, without question, be one to remember and I for one hope to have Ellen there with me because I do not feel we have an opportunity like this again. We have excitedly discussed the possibility of this trip for many months and though there have been some obstacles in the planning process everything has smoothed out quite nicely and we are now officially counting down until the departure and I for one am anxiously awaiting the opportunity to go abroad. But the trip will mean so much more and be exponentially more memorable if I know that I have Ellen there with me to see it all. I know Ellen has the same feeling and would be so grateful to come on this trip. Therefore, I hope that this is the final plea necessary to make the decision a positive one and in the immortal words of Mr. Tim Gunn “make it work.”


Sincerely and please please please let Ellen come,

Keri

Next Stop Prague (...Kinda)

"it's hard to let the miles pass me by, yellow lines that blend together in my eyes and when the seasons change, again then i will too." – brandi carlile

I read in my book “Let’s go Europe: On a Budget” that the Countess Libuse stood above this next country’s Vltava River and declared, “I see a grand city whose glory will touch the stars.” This glorious city they speak of is the city of Prague and although it is not the next stop after London in my itinerary, but I have decided to go a little out of order because I felt like researching Prague since I don’t know nearly enough about it. From what I have read up until this point, Prague boasts cathedrals, palaces, and medieval architecture. It lies within the Czech Republic region and from what I heard is rich with culture and memorable experiences. For instance, among the many chapels that line the landscape, there is one in particular that stands out because of its unique building material. In the small village of Kutna Hora, which actually lies about an hour outside of the center of the city, there is a chapel filled with artistic and religious creations made entirely out of bones. Kinda creepy? Yes. But, nonetheless very intriguing.

The most recognizable site in Prague is the Charles Bridge and everything I read states that it is run over with tourists all the time and creates a bit of a precarious situations in terms of pick-pocketing but nonetheless it is a must see. According to “Let’s go Europe: On a Budget”, “five stars and a cross mark the spot where, according to legend, St. Jan Nepomucky was tossed over the side of the bridge for guarding the queen’s extramarital secrets from a suspicious King Wenceslas IV in the 14th century.”

Another important sight will be the Staromestske Namesti (Old Town Square) which is in the heart of the city. Within the Old Town Square, there is the astronomical clock, which draws crowds as it chimes every hour and depicts the skeletal Death emptying his hourglass as the procession of apostles’ marches by. Crossing right over into the Nove Mesto (New Town), we enter into the commercial center of Prague and we will feel right at home because they apparently boast American chain stores amid their businesses. We’ll definitely be checking out Wenceslas Square, which hosts department stores, discos, posh hotels, and casinos as well as Radio Free Europe which is headquartered in a glass building behind the National Museum. Radio Free Europe provides global news updates and advocates peace while continually keeping the public informed of the state of the world. Then we’ll head over to the Mala Strana to see St. Nicholas’s Cathedral which was graced with Mozart’s presence and talents when he visited Prague. The Cathedral now has nightly concerts featuring classical music.

I have heard that the nightlife in Prague is supposedly some of the best in all of Europe so I’m very excited to partake in that as well. Sitting on the banks of the River Vltava and in the shadow of the Charles Bridge lies the Lavka Bar and Club which has a huge open air patio and stays open as long as people choose to stay according to the books. No last call? Sounds a bit dangerous but also very fun. Another place we’ll have to hit up will be the Double Trouble Bar & Club which is a lively bar and club set in a gothic cellar in the old town center. There are too many places to outline in this one blog entry but I feel very confident that there will be no shortage of fun times to be had in Prague.

These sites have been really helpful in addition to reading my books:

http://www.pragueexperience.com/index.asp

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/czech-republic/prague/

http://www.prague.net/

My Tenative Itinerary

“the road goes ever on and on, down from the door where it began. now, far ahead the road has gone, and i must follow, if i can, pursuing it with eager feet, until it joins some larger way where many paths and errands meet. and whither then? i cannot say.” – j.r.r. tolkien

This is my tentative itinerary, which probably should have been posted as an earlier entry but oh well. It’s apt to change numerous times before we even board the plane and then once we’re over there it’ll probably change some more but nonetheless it’s best to have a plan in place.

1. London, England
2. Paris, France
3. Madrid, Spain
4. Lisbon, Portugal
5. Barcelona, Spain
6. Montpellier, France
7. Rome, Italy
8. Florence, Italy
9. Venice, Italy
10. Vienna, Austria
11. Munich, Germany
12. Prague, Czech Republic
13. Berlin, Germany
14. Amsterdam, Netherlands
15. Dublin, Ireland

My Europe Playlist: Part II

“and all you want is a few days down. all that you need is a little time to drown. it's a short vacation to a foreign nation. oh, nothing familiar here.” – mandy moore

Update on my European soundtrack:

1. Best Days – Graham Colton
2. Slide – Goo Goo Dolls
3. How We Operate – Gomez
4. Take Me Home, Country Roads – John Denver
5. Ain’t No Love – Jay Z
6. Say – John Mayer
7. Faint – Linkin Park
8. Boondocks – Little Big Town
9. Lightning Crashes – Live
10. Wild Hope – Mandy Moore
11. Where I Stood – Missy Higgins
12. Grace Kelly – Mika
13. So Much to Say – Dave Matthews Band
14. Love and Memories – OAR
15. Papa Was a Rolling Stone – The Temptations
16. American Girl – Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
17.Fairytale – Sara Bareilles
18. My Way Home – Citizen Cope
19. City of Blinding Lights – U2
20. New Year’s Day – U2
21. Beautiful Day – U2
22. Good – Better Than Ezra
23. Summer, Highland Falls – Billy Joel
24. Queen Jane Approximately – Bob Dylan
25. Mud on the Tires – Brad Paisley
26. Closer to You – Brandi Carlile
27. Blessed – Brett Dennen
28. The Long Way Around – Dixie Chicks
29. Heard ‘Em Say – Kanye West
30. Umbrella – Marie Digby

London's Calling

“now get this london calling, yeah, i was there, too. and you know what they said? well, some of it was true. london calling at the top of the dial. after all this, won’t you give me a smile?” – the clash


Double-decker buses, fish and chips, Piccadilly Circus. Westminster Abbey, Harrods, Big Ben, and Buckingham Palace.
To say there will be much to do and not nearly, enough time to do it in is a grave understatement. London is one of the cultural, social and financial centers of the modern world. There is too much to see in this one city in two weeks, let alone the two days I have allotted. Nonetheless, I will do my best to see all the important sites and pack as much as possible in the 48 hours that I can, probably foregoing sleep in order to do so.

Obviously, the big historic sites to check out will be Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Tower of London on the River Thames, and so on. It is easy to forget as Americans that the United States is a relatively young nation and our history does not stretch back as far as our neighbors in the world. Considering our nation splintered off from Great Britain, I am intrigued to see how their version of history and the revolution of the colonies and eventual fight for independence is communicated. As they say, there are two sides to every story and I think it will be interesting to go to the museums and see the British side.

Also on my list of stops will be Abbey Road as I mentioned in an earlier post to feed my Beatles mania. I will of course force my fellow travelers to cross the famed intersection with me although I don’t think I will need to persuade them greatly. And I don’t think we will be quite so obsessive as to hold up traffic and take a similar photo but none the less we will be walking in the same place that the fab four did many years ago.

I also plan on hitting up as many of the local drinking establishments as possible because what fun would London be without sharing a few pints with some Englishmen? I have been gathering recommendations from all my travel books and from various people that have been to London recently but even in my quick research online I have found a ton of sites outlining the best bars in various European cities. For instance on http://www.worldsbestbars.com/ you can search according to the city you are in and get a brief description of the best places to check out. I’m intrigued by a bar in London called Lost Society which is described as, “this historic, two-story 16th century barn was once a Manor House that hosted a banquet for Queen Elizabeth I. Now it’s a decadent, opulently designed restaurant-bar that’s easy to get lost in along with the rest of Clapham high society. The building contains a Conservatory, Library Bar…and most appealing in the summer – a Secret Garden – a shaded nook that you wouldn’t know existed from the street.” (http://www.worldsbestbars.com/city/south-west/lost-society-clapham.htm) I read in another review that the outside garden becomes a beer garden on the weekends in the summer which sounds quite enjoyable. It sounds like a bit pricey for our general price range but I’m sure we will be splurging on the occasional night.

We’ll also hit up the more local watering holes like the local pubs but these are usually found through recommendations from the locals so we’ll play those more by ear. We also will be hitting up the rows of bars within Piccadilly because it seems like fun, trendy place to hang out.

I also really want to check out the Notting Hill and Hyde Park areas to see the lines of Victorian townhouses and shopping. Once again all I keep hearing is how expensive this area is but I’m pretty sure that’s just a general statement for all of London so I’ll just have to suck it up and make it work. I have been using this website a lot to research the local attractions within the city and it’s proved to very helpful. I guess that’s it for now so I’ll be back in a bit with a new country to tackle.

My Europe Playlist

"if there was a better way to go then it would find me. i can't help it,
the road just rolls out behind me." – fiona apple

Again, falling in line with my desire to match music to my memories, I have taken up the task of compiling a playlist for my excursion. I'll post periodic updates to it and am open to any and all suggestions anyone has for amazing music to match an amazing trip. Here's where I stand thus far:

1. The Pretender - Foo Fighters
2. Extraordinary Machine - Fiona Apple
3. When You Were Young - The Killers
4. Seven Nation Army - The White Stripes
5. You Can't Always Get What You Want - The Rolling Stones
6. Holiday in Spain - Counting Crows
7. All Along the Watchtower - Jimi Hendrix
8. Come Together - The Beatles
9. Woodstock - Crosby Stills Nash and Young
10. When the Levee Breaks - Led Zeppelin
11. America - Simon and Garfunkel
12. Let the Drummer Kick - Citizen Cope
13. Waitin' on a Sunny Day - Bruce Springsteen
14. Andy, You're a Star - The Killers
15. You're So Beautiful - Pat McGuire Band


That is all for now...again feel free to leave suggestions.

Yes We Can

I was in conversation with a friend recently about the upcoming elections and we were hesitant to say we fell one way or the other but I am intrigued by the recent release of this video. It really struck me as interesting and a bit reminiscent of the early speeches of Martin Luther King Jr. and the Kennedy's. I think the text of the speech is even more powerful than the actual video clip that was produced but it is fitting that in today's society of celebrity involvement that numerous high profile figures would feel it necessary to speak to the generation of youth looking to get out and vote. Regardless of your personal politics, it's a positive message for hope and change in the future.

Below is the text of Barack Obama's "Yes, We Can" speech it is edited in the video:

"It was a creed written into the founding documents that declared the destiny of a nation: Yes, we can. It was whispered by slaves and abolitionists as they blazed a trail towards freedom through the darkest of nights: Yes, we can.

It was sung by immigrants as they struck out from distant shores and pioneers who pushed westward against an unforgiving wilderness: Yes, we can. It was the call of workers who organized, women who reached for the ballot, a president who chose the moon as our new frontier, and a king who took us to the mountaintop and pointed the way to the promised land: Yes, we can, to justice and equality. Yes, we can, to opportunity and prosperity. Yes, we can heal this nation. Yes, we can repair this world. Yes, we can.

We know the battle ahead will be long, but always remember that no matter what obstacles stand in our way, nothing can with stand the power of millions of voices calling for change.
We have been told we cannot do this by a chorus of cynics who will only grow louder and more dissonant in the weeks to come. We've been asked to pause for a reality check. We've been warned against offering the people of this nation false hope.

But in the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope. For when we have faced down impossible odds; when we've been told that we're not ready, or that we shouldn't try, or that we can't, generations of Americans have responded with a simple creed that sums up the spirit of a people. Yes we can.

That the hopes of the little girl who goes to the crumbling school in Dillon are the same as the dreams of the boy who learns on the streets of L.A., we will remember that there is something happening in America, that we are not as divided as our politics suggest, that we are one people, we are one nation. And, together, we will begin the next great chapter in the American story, with three words that will ring from coast to coast, from sea to shining sea: Yes, we can."

The British Invasion

"liverpool i left you, said goodbye to madryn street, i always followed my heart, and i never missed a beat, destiny was calling, i just couldn't stick around, liverpool i left you, but i never let you down." - ringo starr

Music is a huge part of my life. I believe completely in a quote from Tennessee Williams that states, “in memory everything seems to happen to music” and so it is completely necessary that my postings on various European cities outline the musical connections I hope to discover as well. And what better place to start than the hallowed round of Great Britain. This British empire of music mania brought us the proclamations of London’s Calling courtesy of the mighty Clash. They begged us to understand that sometimes you can’t get no satisfaction according to the Rolling Stones. And most importantly they produced four young lads from Liverpool, mop tops and all, who irrevocably changed the entire face of music as we know it. The Beatles caused that cosmic shift from their first step into America, ushering in what would eventually be known as the “British Invasion” in 1964. But before the catapult to fame and the subsequent life-changing career, they started their journey in a small metropolis in North West England called Liverpool and that is where I hope to begin my European excursion.

Liverpool is considered one of England’s core cities and holds the title of third most populous. It sits on the eastern side of the River Mersey and recently celebrated its 800th anniversary. To say it is rich in culture and history would be a grave understatement. Obviously, I want to get a taste of the historical scene including Albert Dock, which was officially closed to shipping in 1972 and after a period of economic turmoil was eventually re-opened as a center filled with shops, bars and museums. Liverpool also holds the largest Anglican Cathedral in the world and Saint George’s Hall, which was reopened by Prince Charles in 2007 after a refurbishment.

Apparently, the tourism industry in Liverpool capitalizes as much as possible on the fact that the Beatles came from here because there is no shortage in Beatles related sights and museums. They have the “Beatles Magical Mystery Tour” in which you board a yellow submarine-looking bus and take a two-hour tour around the city visiting all the important places in Beatles history including their childhood homes, schools, and the sites they made famous in their songs including Penny Lane and Strawberry Fields. The Albert Dock also houses “The Beatles’ Story” museum, which features exhibits chronicling their career from the early days at the Cavern Club right up until their acrimonious split in 1970. Another attraction is the Eleanor Rigby park bench on Stanley Street, which holds a bronze statue of the fictional Eleanor and is dedicated “to all the lonely people”. Obviously another necessary stop for my mini tour of Beatles history will have to be Abbey Road but that will be saved for the next entry seeing as it is in Westminster which is a part of Central London.

I’ll leave off with a little musical accompaniment to the entry. Enjoy.

I Want to Hold Your Hand
Let It Be
All You Need is Love

Advantages of Using the Internet in Business

This blog is an assignment for my internet marketing class and the topics discussed in class do need to find their way onto the blog at some point or another, which should be easy enough because the internet has been my biggest source of information regarding the preparation of my trip. Whether its lists of possible equipment one may need, suggested itineraries, highlights of various cities, or searching for competitive airfare, the internet has provided me with an infinite amount of information. One of the advantages of doing business online is the ability to compare prices to find the cheapest, which is something I definitely utilized when searching for airfare. Seeing as advantages of conducting business online was the topic my group was assigned for the in class presentation, I have found the following two articles dealing with companies who have benefited greatly from the online marketplace.




Articles on the Advantages of Internet Marketing:


Amazon’s Profit More Than Doubles
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/30/technology/30cnd-amazon.html


This article outlines the fact that Amazon’s profits increased dramatically in the fourth quarter of this year. This company has clearly benefited greatly from the increase in business conducted online and the need to create a positive customer experience. They incorporate many of the different aspects of business by allowing consumers to use their site as an open marketplace in which they can buy or sell any goods. Pricing stays competitive because of the existence of various other sites like Amazon including Overstock.com and Yahoo! Shopping. Customers can leave feedback on their purchase or the seller they have dealt with. The CEO of Amazon.com, Jeff Bezos, has contributed their increase in profit to their continued effort to improve the customer experience including adding applications in the past year that allow for users to download mp3’s and e-books.

Dell Shutters Mall Kiosks in U.S.
http://www.informationweek.com/hardware/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=206100535


This article deals with the Dell Company closing its kiosks in various malls in the U.S. They opened the kiosks in various retail locations in 2002 to entice customers who were wary of buying a computer sight unseen. Customers could come to the locations, see the physical product they were interested in and have any lagging questions answered. It acted as more of a reassurance to customers than as an actual retail outlet for the Dell computers. The company did start selling its products in retail outlets such as Best Buy and Staples in recent years as it realized other companies such as Hewlett Packard were buying up the market share in that sector. The company states that a majority of its consumers choose to purchase their computers directly through Dell on the website or via telephone. They also are actively trying to stay competitive with Hewlett Packard’s line of entertainment savvy PC’s by coming out with their own version of high-end entertainment focused personal computers.

"I laughed, I cried....I missed my plane."

"these are the days when anything goes. everyday is a winding road." - sheryl crow

So I figured a good use of this whole blog assignment would be to organize my thoughts and information regarding my impending trip to Europe. As a transfer student I never was able to fit a semester abroad in during my college career so I decided to take the next best option: spend a month backpacking through Europe after graduation. A little less than a year ago this thought entered my mind and as exciting as the prospect seemed, it also seemed completely daunting and rife with complications. I let it sit idly in the back of my mind until September, when a casual conversation with two of my friends turned the whole notion into a reality and the planning frenzy began.


My basic idea is to benefit my own need for organization in the formation of this trip as well as explore and educate everyone on all the fun attractions various European cities provide. The idea of venturing across the ocean for a month, essentially by myself, for the first time, ever in my life, causes my head to spin at various moments so this blog will provide me an outlet to organize and a means in which to ground myself in my plans. The tickets are bought so I know there is no backing out now. It's just a matter of preparation.


My basic layout will be to introduce a new country in each entry and outline one or two cities that I plan on seeing. I'm going to try my best to see as much as possible in my limited time over there but I also want to make sure I don't just do the "tourist attraction" things because I don't think you get to really see the heart of a city that way. I mean those things are all well and good and trust me the Eiffel Tower will be on my list to see in Paris, but I also want to see the not so well known spots. So if anyone has been to any of the cities that I list and wants to volunteer any ideas I would be extremely grateful. In fact, if anyone has any suggestions in general, if perhaps anyone has studied abroad or done a similar trip, please share. I'm going into this pretty blind as of now and am actively seeking the information to make this trip a truly memorable one for me and my fellow travelers.


Right now the site I've been frequenting the most is http://www.fodors.com/world/europe/index.html. Fodor's is a pretty well known travel guide so I've just been looking over any links and information they have on various countries. Eventually I will try to post a map of my tenative itinerary.