Sunday 30 September 2012

Mom made me this :)

Mom made me this

Metal Ceramic Crown

Esthetic metal ceramic dental crown.

Saturday 29 September 2012

Day 51 to 54: Changmai

So after bypassing all that Bangkok had to offer, we arrived in Changmai. We stayed in a great small hotel which gave us the best price on all of the tours that we did. The next day, we went on our first trip which was an elephant trekking trip. First we went to an elephant camp where we got to ride an elephant through the jungle. It was awesome! Next we went to see a hill tribe and then on to a waterfall. W e couldn't go swimming because there had been too much rain over the last few days and it was too dangerous. So from there we went for lunch and then to our last stop, which was a bamboo river rafting ride. It was so much fun and our guides had a great time trying to scare everyone along the way. This was probably our favorite day so far on our travels since we got to do so many amazing things.

That same evening, we went to a Muay Thai fight . It was a small little venue in the middle of a market. There were even two Canadian's fighting. However, the first guy lost to a Thai, too bad. The second Canadian fighting was a girl who looked so unassuming. She was fighting a scary looking British woman. But when the fight started, the Canadian annihilated the other girl. It was great fun, but we got home very late and had to be up extra early for our next trip.

The next day we headed out on another tour that took us to The Golden Triangle, which is the boarder of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar. There, we got to go into Laos for a bit and then right to a market that borders Myanmar. At the end of the day we got to go to see the Carin Long-neck tribe. They are refugees and can leave the area that the Thai government have given them to live in. Apart from the huge amount of driving required on this day, it was great fun.

On our final day in Changmai before heading back to Bangkok, we decided to go to Tiger Kingdom. We got to go into the cage with 5 month old baby tigers and 1 and a half year old, full grown tigers. It was amazing since they were so tame. The amazing thing is the trainers can control a full grown tiger with a small bamboo stick. We were told that they can only be kept at this centre until they are 2 years old because after that, their hormones start taking over and they go wild. This was something amazing and we hope one day to come back and do it again.


Day 50 and 51: Bangkok

So we needed to stop off in Bangkok on the way to Changmai so that we could apply for our visas to India since they take 6 business days to process. Afterwards, we did some shopping and then took an overnight train to Changmai. It seems that we bypassed all of the typical things to do in Bangkok the first time around.

Day 48 to 49: Siem Reap

So we headed by bus to Siem Reap hoping to see some less depressing and more historical sights. We were lucky that our hotel room had a broken AC unit that only spit out hot air because we got upgraded to a much nicer room for free. The next day we headed to the Angkor Wat temple area, which as it turns out is a very large collection of temples all contained in one very large and very expensive park.

Angkor Wat was very impressive, but as we went to more of the less restored temples, we started to wonder how much of Angkor Wat was original because it was in such better condition than the other temples. The coolest temple that we visited is now known as the Tomb Raider Temple since its giant silk trees frowning amongst the ruins were featured in the movie. As we moved further from the popular temples, we started to see more and more children selling stuff. We had read everywhere not to buy things from the children since this encourages their parents not to send them to school. This was a very different sight from Phenom Penh, where all the children we saw , go to school.

Later that night we went to a traditional Cambodian buffet/dance performance. The dancing was entertaining and the food was OK. We weren't sure if we were excited or not to be heading to Thailand the next day since the trip to Bangkok could potentially be very long.


Friday 28 September 2012

"The Most Amazing and Magical Trip" | Gabe's Story


Rafting and camping on the Colorado River for 5 days was the most AMAZING and MAGICAL trip for me ever! 

I'm very adventurous and white water rafting is something I've wanted to do since I was a little girl. As soon as I found out about this opportunity I knew it was for me and "grabbed the bull by the horns".

Now, getting around and doing small tasks in the wilderness in a wheelchair can be quite difficult to say the least. I apologized and even felt bad for needing help to do such things but I was reassured by the guides and volunteers “that's why we're here". 

Getting to know people in the truest and simplest of elements is the way to do it since you don't have all those materialistic things to get in the way. I have made lifelong friends and have been through situations with them that not everyone in life experiences...I feel connected and there is a bond between us. They truly are some of the most AMAZING and WONDERFUL people I have met! 

Thank you Nancy, Gordo, Bonnie, Michael, Scott, Ben, Jeffrey, Lindsay, Abbie, Keegan, Kerry, Katie, Kimmie, Joe, Sue, Louise & Silas, Dylan, Jim, Jamie, Tom, Allie, Jackie, Ori and Farley for giving me the trip of a lifetime! Splore is forever in my heart!!! 

-Gabriel Ford 






Donate today and support 
wheelchairs in the wilderness.



DSLR HELMET CAM


Decided to make a helmet cam for our Canon 7D, that would fit any other DSLR camera.
A friend of mine wanted to shoot a v-clip with lots of POV shots.. So after a bit of internet research we decided to go about it like this.. have the camera at eye level, on the side of the helmet.. It is the best angle we could come up with while mounting it on the helmet.



We used a small magic arm usually used for supporting small lcd monitors or light panels.. drilled and screwed onto the top side of the helmet..


Also used a JOBY ballhead that was really cool, cause it is really handy with its various roatation axis'




To support the JOBY ballhead i had to place an aluminum piece like the one u can see, which is bendable and drillable pretty easily.. I drilled a couple of holes on the front side and one on the rear to support the aluminum piece, and used 10mm hexagon screws and bolts.. It was nice and steady so all i needed was an extra hole where the JOBY is mounted and used a 3/8' screw to mount it.



Now all that was left was to make some sort of counterweight mechanism so that the operator wouldnt have to brake his neck each time he wore the helmet cam.. Pretty simple...drilled 2 more holes..on the other side of the camera and on the rear..Used long 10mm heaxagon screws and bolts to support weights like the ones u can see here..





An that's all!
Took us about 1hour to build..and works fine..




Thursday 27 September 2012

Is Ireland's echinacea ban justified?


In a recent article in the Irish Times, Sylvia Thompson reviewed the Irish Medicines Board’s (IMB) recent decision to ban the sale of echinacea products marketed for children and asks if this decision was really the best course of action.  The ban, instituted earlier this month, was based on a review from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) which found that there was insufficient evidence to support the use of echinacea either in adults or children as the therapeutic benefits did not outweigh the risks of allergic reactions. In the article, Thompson also presents the views of Irish “medical herbalists” who commonly recommend echinacea as a treatment for the common cold. Unsurprisingly, these herbalists disagree with the ban and even more predictably fail to produce any convincing reasons that it was unwarranted.

In the article, Anne Varley, chairwoman of the Irish Medical Herbalists Organisation (IMHO) disputes the results of one of the main studies examined by the EMA as it tested the efficacy of an echinacea preparation made from the flowering plant. This study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) found that echinacea had no effect on the duration or severity of illness and that around 7% of participants taking the preparation developed skin rashes. Varley argues that this was an unfair test as including the plant’s flower in the preparation used may have produced a product containing large amounts of pollen. She claims that preparations made from other parts of the plant would not produce the same reactions as they would not contain the same quantity of pollen. While she may very well be right that preparations with a high pollen count may lead to more allergic reactions, it does nothing to support her view that the ban is unjustified. The flowering plant is commonly used in the production of a number of echinacea supplements including the popular Echinaforce and the recently banned Echinaforce Junior. This form of echinacea was chosen for examination specifically for this reason so that the results of the trial would be applicable and relevant to the general population. Unfortunately, Varley appears to have misunderstood this and instead just provides additional support to the findings of the study.  

Varley’s contention that the ban is unjustified is further undermined by a review published in the Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology (JPP) in 2005. This review examined three of the main varieties of Echinacea commonly used in the production of herbal supplements and found that each of these species contained different chemical compounds. The researchers state that due to the lack of research on the toxicity of these compounds they should be avoided. The review also found that some samples did not contain the echinacea species they claimed and that the pharmaceutical quality and labelling of some products was inadequate. This hardly inspires confidence in the safety of echinacea supplements. Even if an effective and safe form of echinacea could be produced it seems that, due to poor manufacturing standards, there is no guarantee that it is the form of the plant that the consumer will eventually swallow.

The Irish Association of Health Stores are also quoted in Thompson’s article and make the once again predictable claim that echinacea must be safe as children in Ireland have been using it for over twenty years without any evidence of an adverse event. This is a simply indefensible position for a number of reasons. First of all, saying that a drug is safe because no-one has noticed any adverse effects is very different to proving that it is safe. Several forms of cocaine were used for hundreds of years to treat everything from exhaustion to morphine addiction until the early 20th century before its negative effects were noted. While I’m not suggesting that echinacea could produce the same level of harm as cocaine, the absence of reported adverse events is insufficient evidence to support the safety of its use.  Secondly, the incidence of adverse reactions to echinacea such as allergic rashes may be significantly underreported, especially in children. Rashes are a relatively common problem in children and may be provoked by a viral infection such as the common cold. In an isolated case, it would be almost impossible to determine if a rash in a sick child was provoked by the virus or an allergic reaction to echinacea and would be unlikely to be reported as an adverse effect of the herbal medicine. However, as I mentioned above, the JAMA article criticised by Anne Varley showed that these rashes occurred more often in children taking echinacea than in children taking a placebo. While extremely rare, there is also the potential for a more serious and possibly life-threatening allergic reactions. Until there is conclusive evidence that the risk of serious allergic reactions is minimal, recommending the use of echinacea in children is irresponsible and shows complete ignorance of current research.  

The article also features a contribution from someone who should really know better. Although the professions should really be mutually exclusive, Dr Dilis Clare is both a GP and a medical herbalist. I can only assume that Dr Clare was wearing her herbalist hat when she said that the ban on echinacea products for children is pointless as it will only force use of the supplement underground. Ignoring the principles of evidence-based practice, she states that she would continue to give it to children and that parents will continue giving it to their children despite the warning from the Irish Medicines Board. Only a distorted form of reasoning could produce the conclusion that this “illicit” use of echinacea is a valid reason to revoke the ban. The “illicit” use or sale of any banned substance is almost impossible to completely eradicate but a ban does prevent the overwhelming majority of the population from being exposed to the substance. Reducing the residual “illicit” use of echinacea in children can only be accomplished by informing parents, and worryingly herbalists as well, about the reasons why it should not be used and not by revoking the ban.

On the basis of current evidence the ban on sale of Echinacea products for children is justified. The common cold is generally a mild illness that will resolve itself in a week or two and does not require any specific treatment. It’s really more of an annoyance than a serious threat to the health of a child. The best available evidence shows that echinacea has no effect greater than a placebo in shortening the duration of this illness or decreasing the severity of symptoms. It should not be recommended for the treatment of the common cold for much the same reason as antibiotics. While the risks involved with its use may be minimal, the benefits are either even more minute or completely non-existent. Why take even a small risk of giving your child an itchy and irritating rash when the treatment will have absolutely no benefit? By disagreeing with this ban, so-called “medical herbalists” display a complete ignorance of current evidence and in inexcusably poor understanding of the balance between risk and benefit. As a profession, they also demonstrate disregard for patient safety by failing to even establish a standardised echinacea preparation that is of adequate quality and standardised dosage regimens.

The authors of a NEJM study sum up the problems with echinacea and many herbal medicines by stating that given the variety of preparations available, it is almost impossible to conclusively prove that it has no role in the treatment of the common cold. Every time new evidence is produced showing that echinacea or another herbal medicine has no therapeutic benefits, herbalists like Anne Varley and Dr Clare can poke holes in it by claiming that the type of preparation used, the dosage regimen or some other part of the trial was inappropriate. The burden of proof should lie not with regulatory bodies such as the IMB or EMA but with herbalists themselves. If these treatments work anywhere other than in the minds of the herbalists themselves, surely they should jump at the chance to prove their worth in the prevention and treatment of illness and disease. However, given herbalists obvious aversion to randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trials, I won’t be holding my breath. 

Giving Back: How Volunteering Changes Lives

Moab Volunteer Training Weekend
Hear what our volunteers are saying:

“Thanks for another great experience. My wife and I had a great time and you made us feel that we were appreciated.  I think you give you clients the sense they are with a professional organization and that leads to the confidence they have in SPLORE.  I know we are proud when we say we volunteer for you.”
-Gerry and Chris Forsdick, Splore volunteers

“I appreciate the ability to do things outdoors for myself and it’s amazing to facilitate that for others who don’t think they can--it’s humbling.  I appreciate the amazing energy and giving nature of the staff.  The group has a culture that is really happy and passionate.  Their goal is to make it inclusive and to get people to get outside.”
-Shelly Braun, Volunteer

“I love Splore because, as a volunteer, I can engage in fun, meaningful activities with some awesome people!”
-Stephanie Rokich,Volunteer for Rock On! Program


Donate today and support an
organization you can be proud of!
 


Vitrin Camdır,Cam ile Vardır



Vitrin Camdır,Cam ile Vardır



Dükkan Vitrindir,Cam Her şey değil ama Çok şeydir.



The Kings had a dreadful week 3, which seems to be the theme all around the NFL. The team only had two starters in double digit points, and several injuries to wrap it up. Cam Newton fell apart throwing 3 interceptions and racked up a disappointing 9 points. Next week will tell how the quarterback responds to the early criticism in the media, and show if he can get his act together off the field and act professional in interviews. The league has way to much negative attention right now to have to deal with one of the new young stars pouting at post game interviews.  However with a few new additions to the Kings roster Cam Newton and company look to bounce back with momentum and have much improved game.

Wednesday 26 September 2012

شاهد ساحة قرية تغازوت في بث حي مباشر

Morfología, sintaxis y semántica del lenguaje audiovisual.

Morfología.
La morfología, esta formado por una serie de signos y elementos. Esas unidades forman un conjunto. Por ejemplo, en la siguiente foto podemos observar varios grandes puntos y también rectas.

Hay varios tipos de elementos visuales:
  • El punto, es un signo de dimensiones pequeñas que, gracias al contraste de color o de relieve, es perceptible en una superficie.
  • La línea, es un conjunto de puntos unidos entre sí.
  • La forma, es la figura exterior de una materia o un cuerpo.
  • El color, es la impresión que causan los rayos de luz que se reflejan en un cuerpo, y producen esos efectos en la retina del ojo.
  • La textura, sensación que produce una materia cuando la tocamos a partir del tacto.
  • La luz, la claridad con la que podemos ver los cuerpos.


    También existen varios tipos de elementos sonoros:
    • El ruido, es un sonido confuso más o menos fuerte.
    • La música, es la combinación de sonidos de la voz humana o de instrumentos, o ambos a la vez, para crear un determinado efecto
    • El silencio, se denomina a la falta de ruido.
    • Los efectos de sonido.


    La sintaxis.
    La sintaxis, es la manera en la que se colocan o se ordenan las unidades dichas en el anterior apartado. Los planos, la angulación, el ritmo narrativo, la iluminación, el color, la música... dan estructura al mensaje.


    La semántica del lenguaje audiovisual.
    Puede tener un contenido denotativo o un contenido connotativo. 

    • Contenido denotativo: es simplemente lo que vemos, la descripción literal, lo que es realmente.
    • Contenido connotativo: es el significado que le damos, lo que tiene uno como conceptos propios, es decir las interpretaciones que le damos. 








      Five Things

      Cinq choses qui m'ont plu, m'ont fait sourire, m'ont inspiré, cinq petites choses que j'aime et que je veux vous faire partager.
      Une façon de bien démarrer l'automne.

      J'en profite pour remercier toutes les personnes qui me lisent chaque jour, vos messages sont super encourageant et je vous en suis très reconnaissante.
      Bonne semaine à toutes et tous.

      1. Souvenirs de vacances
      Parce qu'après les avoir toutes transférées, triées, éditées, sélectionnées, téléchargées et commandées, j'ai enfin reçu mes photos de vacances. Vous connaissez ma maladie de prendre des centaines de photos de tout et de rien, imaginez la taille du paquet à la réception.

      2. Malaga Wine
      Parce que pour moi O.P.I fait les meilleurs vernis au monde et je trouve ce rouge foncé absolument sublime pour l'automne.

      3. Lana Del Rey pour H&M
      Parce que j'ai été traumatisée par la collection Sonia Rykiel pou H&M. Ouverture à 9h30, une horde de furie s'arrachant les vêtements et moi perdue au milieu de cette jungle. Et pourtant je suis plutôt résistante au shopping. En voyant les affiches de la collection Lana Del Rey, je pensais que jamais je ne réussirai à trouver les vêtements. Et bien en fait si. Et il n'y avait pas de furie en délire.

      4. Mirabelles
      Parce que même si j'en achète des kilos, je les mange toutes en moins de deux jours. Je ne pourrais manger que ça ou presque.

      5. Pluie
      Parce que je me suis fait surprendre par la pluie tout à l'heure et que la pluie est indissociable de l'automne. Une des choses que je préfère avec la pluie est le bruit des gouttes sur la fenêtre.


      Veterans Experience the Joy of Climbing | A Splore Story

      Splore has worked closely with with the Veterans Administration for the last few years, taking Vets on weekly adventures all over the Wasatch Front. Veterans typically come from physical rehab or low vision clinics, and get to experience outdoor recreation sometimes for the first time.

      Hear firsthand accounts from a few of our Veterans:

      “I don’t even need substances!  There are other ways I know now…how I can get high.” –Veteran, coming off the rock wall
        “I just have to tell you how much these activities mean to me.  They are really making a difference in my life.” –Veteran, climbing outside for the first time
        “I had a really good day today.  I want to help other veterans get involved with this.  Lots of these guys have come down a really hard road in life, you know?  Having a good day like this is just what they need.” -Veteran, after a rock climbing activity 
      “I got to the top of the climb and I cried.  I’m 75 years old and I didn’t know I could still do that.”  -Veteran, in the car on the way home 
      “I just made some personal history today.  I can’t thank you enough for taking my picture while I was up there.  I want to share this with everyone.” –Veteran, climbing for the first time outside 

      ____________________________________________

      Donate today and make a difference in the life of a veteran. 
       


      Tuesday 25 September 2012

      Dois garotos exibindo as pirocas


      Gay Tube

      mostrando a rola cabeçuda


      Gay Tube

      mostrando a rola cabeçuda


      Gay Tube
      I think mine was the best, mine wasn't boring, by the laughter i think it was funny, i made some facts and i think i told a little story. Of course everyone could see my picture but next time i think i could be more prepared.

      Mensajes auidovisuales atendiendo a la función.


      • Mensajes objetivos, tratan de emitir una información sin valoraciones personales y de ningún tipo. Los documentales, los telediarios y los reportajes, son ejemplos de mensajes objetivos.
      • Mensajes publicitarios, tienen una finalidad muy clara, intentar convencer a los consumidores de que compre los productos que se establecen en dichos mensajes. Tiene que ser breves, y decir mucho con pocas palabras. Los anuncios de televisión son un ejemplo de mensajes publicitarios.
      • Mensajes artísticos,  son aquellos que pretenden mover las emociones, no tienen ninguna objetividad ni tampoco tratan te convencer de nada. Simplemente intentan emocionar. El cine, el videoarte son ejemplos de este tipo de mensajes.
       

      Monday 24 September 2012

      The Coolest School in America | A Splore Story

      A letter from Reid Anderson, Director of Clayton Middle School Outdoor Program:

      
      An Afternoon of Kayaking
      Thank you so much. I am honored to have been provided the opportunity to work with you and all the programs that you have provided me and my students here at Clayton Middle School. I had a student today, on our way up to mountain dell to go cross country skiing, say to me "Mr. Anderson, we should get an award for having the best school in America because of all the cool things that we get to do!" That means a lot coming from a middle school kid. 

      Thank you for all you do and continue to do in making Clayton Middle School 'THE COOLEST SCHOOL IN AMERICA!"  I look forward to our continued partnership. Thank you.
      -Reid

      Donate today  and give the
      magic of the outdoors to Utah's children.
       

      Cupcake :)

      Here are pictures of the cupcakes I have made

      Splore FUNd Drive Festivities & Meet Splore's Executive Director

      This week is Splore's Fall FUNd Drive and you can help us provide life-changing 
      rock climbing experiences for children with disabilities.


      The FUNd Drive
      This week we're raising funds to support our operations and capacity-building efforts.

      Janine Shares Her Story
      Janine went from a volunteer all the way to being our fearless Executive Director.

      A Client Story
      One of the many stories of life-change that happen at Splore.

      Arsenal Player Ratings

      GK. Wojciech Szczesny, 80

      RB. Bacary Sagna, 83

      RCB. Laurent Koscielny, 81

      LCB. Thomas Vermaelen, 82

      LB. Kieran Gibbs, 76

      RCM. Mikel Arteta, 81

      LCM. Abou Diaby, 76

      CAM. Santi Cazorla, 84

      RW. Theo Walcott, 81

      ST. Olivier Giroud, 80

      LW. Lukas Podolski, 83



      Substitutes:

      GK. Lukasz Fabianski, 76

      LB. Andre Santos, 75

      CB. Per Mertesacker, 81

      LW. Gervinho, 81

      LW. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, 76

      CAM. Tomas Rosicky, 80

      CM. Jack Wilshere, 82



      Reserves:

      CAM. Aaron Ramsey, 77

      CB. Johan Djourou, 75

      RB. Carl Jenkinson, 65

      LW. Andrei Arshavin, 81

      ST. Marouane Chamakh, 77

      CDM. Emmanuel Frimpong, 72

      CB. Ignasi Miquel, 67

      CB. Sebastien Squillaci, 73

      RW. Serge Gnabry, 58

      GK. Vito Mannone, 70

      CDM. Francis Coquelin, 73

      GK. Damian Martinez, 59

      CDM. Nicholas Yennaris, 61

      CAM. Thomas Eisfeld, 59

      CDM. Craig Eastmond, 63

      Sunday 23 September 2012

      Smiles, Laughter and Life Change on a Rock Wall | A Splore Story


      A letter from the parent of a Rock On! participant:

      Dear Splore,
      I am writing to thank you for the wonderful service you have performed for my son. He is a wonderful and spirited boy, but his Asperger’s Syndrome, especially at his young age, is a real impediment in social and educational settings. Prior attempts to get him to rock climb had proved very difficult and anxiety producing; and our “instruction” seemed to be turning him away from the sport more than anything else.
                      His volunteer, Alaina, and the rest of your team brought him out of his shell and taught him to climb. He loves it, and moreover, he beams with pride for days after each lesson. This pride also seems to spill over into the rest of his life: he asks to try new games, new foods, and seems better equipped in new situations. I am convinced that his lessons with Splore have contributed greatly to this effect.
      Finally, my husband and I can’t thank you enough for making him happy. The life of a child with Asperger’s is filled with anxiety. It can be difficult for them to let their guard down and just have fun. His smile and laugh are the most beautiful things in the world to me, and I want to thank you for bringing them out.

      Sincerely,
      Mom

      Donate today to support life-changing rock 
      climbing experiences for children with disabilities.



      RAVE REVIEW! Technic brilliant touch highlighter and blemish corrector.

      Technic brilliant touch highlighter and blemish corrector has very quickly become one of my must have products. As I was searching through my make up stash to find something to make me look more alive after a 'no sleep whatsoever kinda night' (ok, well I did have half an hour sleep...) I came across this magnificent product. I will say, I didn't hold out much hope for this product at first against the extremely dark circles under my eyes, but to my surprise it worked a treat!

      As you can see this product is quite pink, which again didn't fill me with hope when I looked at it, but this product seems to reflect light and makes your face glow. Looking at this product, I have noticed it is slightly similar to Benefits High Beam, although this is definitely more of a concealer formula. I much prefer using this as an under eye concealer rather than on spots, I feel it draws attention to any blemishes. I do set this with a powder otherwise I have found on the occasional day that it will crease under my eye area but that doesn't change my love for this product at all. The only downfall to this product is that there's only one shade. Being relatively pale this works on my complexion, obviously this unfortunately will not suit darker skin tones.

      Sorry for the rubbish photo's, new set up soon! 

      Without flash.

      With flash.
      It has a brush applicator and is super easy to use and blend. The packaging is pretty simple, the only problem is the packaging rubs off after a while but at such a cheap price, I can't complain!

      But all in all this is one fab product that is only £2.99! I am aware that the shop 'body care' sells some technic products, but I'm not sure how widely available those shops are, but I have found an online shop that sells it!

      Buy it here!

      Thank you for reading my blog!
      Cam xxxx



      Sweet Home Chicago : Millennium Park

      Avant dernier (ou avant avant dernier, je ne sais pas trop) épisode de ma série sur Chicago. Chaque article me rappelle des souvenirs géniaux, j'aimerai que ça ne s'arrête jamais. Mais bon, c'est comme ça. Et puis j'ai toujours mes 1300 autres photos.
      Aujourd'hui, direction Millennium Park.
      New York a Central Park, Londres a Hyde Park et Chicago a Millennium Park. 
      Je m'attendais à un parc plus ou moins similaire à tous les autres parcs, avec des arbres, des bancs et des canards, mais pas du tout. Millennium Park est unique en son genre par sa modernité. Un parc moderne, je sais ça peut paraître surprenant mais c'est vraiment le cas. 

      L'attraction principale est le Cloud Gate, ou Bean, immense sculpture en miroir en forme de nuage (ou de haricot) géant. Dans l'avion pour Chicago, j'ai regardé "The Vow" (ou "Je Te Promets" en VF). Je ne le savais pas du tout mais il se trouve que l'histoire se déroule à Chicago et qu'il y a une scène où Rachel McAdams et Channing Tatum se retrouvent en dessous du Cloud Gate. Alors bien sur, je voulais voir ça de mes propres yeux. 

      De l'autre côté du Bean, tous les buildings face au parc se reflètent dans le miroir. C'est assez marrant comme vue.
      Je précise que je ne connais absolument pas cette petite fille au bandeau rose. Il se trouve juste qu'elle était là au moment où j'ai pris ma photo et que c'est totalement le genre de truc que j'aurai pu faire. 


      Le pavillon Jay Prizker, immense amphithéâtre.


      Comme dans tous les parcs, il fallait une petite rivière où les touristes lancent des pièces en faisant un voeu. Et oui, j'ai lancé mon penny mais je ne vous dirai pas quel était mon voeu.


      Le Lurie Garden ouvert en 2004 pour rendre hommage à la devise de Chicago "Urbs in Horto", "la ville dans un jardin".




      Crown Fountain. Encore une chose unique en son genre : une fontaine interactive.
      Coté pile ...


      Et côté face.

      Et ça, c'est ma petite surprise du jour. Mon reflet dans le Cloud Gate.
      Parce que c'est vraiment un truc de touriste que de se prendre en photo ici.
      La première photo de moi sur mon blog, il fallait bien que ça arrive un jour :)
      Voyez donc mon équipement de touriste : short + appareil photo + sac + lunettes de soleil (parce qu'il pleuvait mais qu'on ne sait jamais. Une amie m'a dit un jour "si tu n'aimes pas le temps qu'il fait à Chicago, il te suffit d'attendre 10 minutes et ça passera", elle avait raison).