Romance And Love; An Essay Essays - Love, Philosophy Of Love

Romance and Love; an essay When I was assigned this topic to write about, I immediately thought of Eros. The ancient Greek word that describes the romantic side of love. Philos and Agape are really more spiritual in nature, but Eros, now that's a physical love. I envision Eros as the sweaty fumbling in the back of old Chevrolets, and the firelit evenings where everything seems to go just right and the sex is perfect, And even in the dark, rent by the hour hotel rooms where men and women with no names briefly join and then quickly part, never knowing the other persons name. All of these things are Eros to me. All of these things, while they might seem repulsive to you, are actually romantic to some. The actual definition of romance has been significantly altered in the minds of men as time progressed. The original definition of romance is: a fiction; a falsehood; a love affair. Now I am sure that you all know that everyone has a different definition of love. Some see love as being able to endure me, some see lo ve as being able to please me, and others see love as being able to obey me. All of these are true to some and violently wrong to others, but that is the beauty of love, it is available to all. Romance is therefore a relative thing. The fact is that romance, or Eros, is different things to different people. To me, romance is a fleeting thing. It is a step towards a better thing, towards love that isn't physical. Romance epitomizes the best and worst of love. It is a thing that I at once desire and despise. I suppose that I will eventually get ensnared in it's web, I can only hope that the nectar that it feeds me will be sweet enough to offset the acrid aftertaste of the inadequacy of romance as a substitute for the real love that I seek.

The Kids Dont Stand A Chance Professor Ramos Blog

The Kids Dont Stand A Chance Young people are often asked to endure hardships or overcome challenges they are not adequately equipped to handle. Unfortunately, the young person is generally still held primarily culpable for the fall out regardless of external factors. As a result, traumatized young people can easily become a part of the same cyclical actions that caused their pain and suffering. I believe this is precisely what happened to Clemencia, the protagonist, in â€Å"Never Marry a Mexican.† Clemencia comes from a severely divided family which not only plays a role in skewing her perspective of love and commitment but also means she lacks a support structure. As if the divide within Clemencia’s family and more specifically her parents was not enough of an obstacle Clemencia faces a deeper cultural and racial divide. Clemencia’s mother, father and grandfather are considered to be ethnically the same but in fact come from extremely different upbringings and have very few shared cultura l ties. With multiple factors pulling her family a part at the seams Clemencia turned to her professor; someone whom should of been a pillar of guidance or at the very least a supportive figure in her time of need. Instead Clemencia becomes enthralled in a twisted affair with Drew, her professor, a married man nearly twice her age. At the tender age of nineteen Clemencia was asked to grow up and be the morally righteous figure in a sea of indecency and indifference. Is her failure to do so truly her burden? Or does it rest on the adults who placed Clamencia in this situation asking her to rise where they had fallen short. Clemencia’s mother married her father when she was only seventeen and immediately they began a family together. Her mother was never shy about expressing her disdain for this choice as she grew older. Feeling alienated by her age and her lack of mexican heritage, having been born in America, Clemencia’s mother laments to her daughters, â€Å"never marry a mexican† a lesson she would ingrain into her children. Never is her distaste for her life more prevalent than when Clemencia’s father falls gravely ill. Clemencia recalls agonizing next to her father while he withered away. Meanwhile her mother was preoccupied with building another life for herself. â€Å"That man she met at work† Clemencia recounts â€Å"Owen Lamnbert, the foreman at the photo-finishing plant, who she was seeing even while my father is sick. Even then. That’s what I can’t forgive†(Cisneros 1992). This illustrates that while Clemencia faces the death of her fat her she must also confront the death of her family as she knows it and the end of her relationship with her mother. Furthermore Clemencia’s idea of love and marriage has been permenentaly warped by watching her mother turn away from her father in his time of need. This point is reinforced once more later on in Clemencia’s life when Ximena wishes to return to their childhood home. â€Å"Shit!† Clemencia seems to almost laugh, â€Å"Because she knew as well as I did there was no home to go to. Not with our mother. Not with the man she married.† Clemencia is left to fend for herself both in a literal sense and in how she processes the pain she is enduring while her mother starts a new. Few topics raise more troubling questions than race in America and Clemencia is far from exempt from the issue. The child of a native born Mexican man and an American born Mexican woman Clemencia watches as her mother struggles to confine herself within the traditional role of a wife and housekeeper. This is shown explicitly in how Clemencia’s mother instructs her daughters to stay away from all men of hispanic heritage. â€Å"I guess she did it to spare me and Ximena the pain she went through.† recalls Clemencia â€Å"Having married a Mexican man at seventeen. Having had to put up with all the grief a Mexican family can put on a girl because she was from el otro lado, the other side, and my father had married down by marrying her† (Cisneros 1992). Here we see very obvious strain being placed on Clemencia’s mother as well as the burden of being seen as less than by her husbands family. However, another point made evident is that it isn’t only Clemen cia’s mother struggling with racial and cultural identity. Clemencia’s father also struggles as he remembers a rich and relatively extravagant lifestyle in Mexico city which clashes with his current reality in America as well as Clemencia’s grandfather’s memories of the depression. With so many conflicting ideas of racial identity being forced onto Clemencia it becomes easy to understand how she could develop a tribal mentality as means of justifying her role as Drew’s mistress. â€Å"I was sleeping with your father and didn’t give a damn about that woman, your mother. If she was a brown woman like me, I might’ve had a harder time living with myself, but since she’s not, I don’t care† (Cisneros 1992). Clemencia Clemencia’s descent into what on the surface seems to be madness is actually just learned behaviors and corruption brought on by her trusted professor, Drew. Clemencia’s inexplicable desire to control Drew’s actions and hurt his wife omnipotently is a desperate attempt by Clemencia to hold some power over a family she feels she is keeping together. Unfortunately, Clemencia is confronted by the reality of her position as the other woman and takes aim instead at Drew’s son. â€Å"I’ve been waiting patient as a spider all these years, since I was nineteen and he was just an idea hovering in his mother’s head, and I’m the one that gave him permission and made it happen, see† (Cisneros 1992). After her experience with Drew: Clemencia was left a victim, powerless and empty, she is young and heavily traumatized. Her grotesquely grandiose plan seems incredibly plausible. And in fact her act of laying with Drew while his child is born an d going onto lay with his child once he is a young man speaks to the cyclical nature of abuse. â€Å"You were ashamed to be so naked. Pulled back. But I saw you for what you are, when you opened yourself for me. When you were careless and let yourself through†¦ I was taking you in that time† (Cisneros 1992). Her malicious, controlling and selfish nature illustrates more clearly than anything before that Clemencia has taken her place within a sorely twisted cycle. Clemencia may not have been the most morally righteous or well intending character but I contest that her failures do not sit entirely upon her shoulders. Children raised in broken families seek structure and are easily malleable to any set of ideals pushed upon them by a trusted figure. Clemencia’s early life left her in pieces which were later picked up by an older professor and rearranged solely to his liking. Statistics show that when a child’s parents divorce daughters specifically are sixty percent more likely to face broken marriages themselves (Divorce Statistics and Facts: What Affects Divorce Rates in the U.S.? 2019). While another recent study revealed that â€Å"potent â€Å"sleeper effects† emerge over longer developmental time spans than previously documented† (Trickett, Noll, Putnam 2011). These extenuating factors shine some light on Clemencia’s position as a troubled person but not a villain. With overwhelming odds working against her Clemencia was sorely in need of guidance and wisdom but received only selfish, ill-willed, contempt for her own life. Everyone is responsible for their own decisions as an adult but I believe it to be an act of willful ignorance to turn a blind eye to the events that constructed Clemencia’s circumstances. Absent any one of the many detrimental events in her early life or the rapid and complete deterioration of her support structure Clemencia likely would not of acted as she did. The true villain of this story, in my opinion, is Drew beyond a shadow of doubt. He alone took hold of a position of power and used it malicely pushing Clemencia over the proverbial edge. Cisneros, Sandra. WOMAN HOLLERING CREEK. 1992, Kobo. â€Å"Divorce Statistics and Facts: What Affects Divorce Rates in the U.S.?† Wilkinson Finkbeiner, LLP, 2019, www.wf-lawyers.com/divorce-statistics-and-facts/. Trickett, Penelope K., et al. â€Å"The Impact of Sexual Abuse on Female Development: Lessons from a Multigenerational, Longitudinal Research Study.† Development and Psychopathology, vol. 23, no. 2, 2011, pp. 453–476., doi:10.1017/s0954579411000174.

American folk Essay Example For Students

American folk Essay The dancer is a man wearing leather boots, loose fitting red silk pants, and a white shirt with colored embroidering down the middle. His hair is shaved to the scalp except for a small circle on the top of his head, where the hair is about half a foot long. He squats down low, and kicks his feet out with his body upright and his arms folded. The dance has a historic meaning behind it, dating back to when Russia took over Ukraine. A group of organized rebels known as the Cossacks, who hoped to end Russian Rule, isolated themselves in a fort in the Carpathian Mountains. The dancer symbolizes a triumphant Cossack warrior. During festivals and other celebrations, the Hopak was a common dance. This dance is still taught to Ukrainian Americans today, starting at age seven. At Ukrainian debutante balls, the men who know the dance do it during a specific song, which is played at every ball. There are also professional dance groups who perform the Hopak around the United States and Canada. The dancers today still wear the traditional clothing, but the hairstyle has become much less common. Many Ukrainians forget the dance with time, but those who remember it take great pride in their ability and perform the dance at nearly every ball and celebration they attend. This dance exists as a representation of Ukraines history, in particular the conflict with Russia. However, in the past, it served an entirely different function. The Hopak originates from the Kozac, which is an older Ukrainian dance. The Kozac is named after the Cossacks, who performed it, and its essentially the workout they performed to warm up for battle. The movements were part of a regime of calisthenics to keep the Cossacks fit for battles. The refined Hopak is similar, but with more difficult dance maneuvers, such as leaping and twirling. To Ukrainians, the Hopak represents the Cossacks, who gave their lives to protect Ukrainian culture as Russia outlawed the Ukrainian language and Ukrainian books. The Hopak exists today to remind Ukrainians of their heritage and to serve as a source of nationalism. Ukrainian debutante balls have many similarities to American debutante balls, but the differences are important.

Exchange rate diagram Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Exchange rate diagram - Essay Example In Figure 2, as the aggregate demand curve shifts from D0 to D1, the aggregate supply curve also shifts from S0 to S1 since the exchange rate is fixed. The increase in aggregate supply of domestic currency is usually done through the central bank intervention in the foreign exchange market. 2. The higher a country's interest rates, the greater the demand for that currency. ("Exchange Rate", 2006) When foreign interest increases, foreign investments are more attractive. As domestic people want to exchange domestic currency to foreign currency in order to earn more interests, the demand for domestic currency would decrease. Under the floating exchange rate regime, as shown in Figure 3, as the demand for domestic currency decreases, the aggregate demand curve shifts from D0 to D1, causing the exchange rate to rise from e0 to e1. Under the fixed exchange rate regime, however, as the demand for domestic currency decreases from D0 to D1 as a result of the increase in foreign interest, the aggregate supply of domestic currency must also decrease, from S0 to S1, as shown in Figure 4. ...

The Split Capital Investment Trust Crisis Essay

The Split Capital Investment Trust Crisis - Essay Example The objective in this differentiation in the financial products is to make available risk, income and tax preference options based on the required of potential investors. These offerings are designed such that they can be wound up at a future date normally extending to seven or ten years (Adams, 2004). The norm in split investment trust companies was traditional splits consisting of income shares and capital shares and quasi splits that had an added zero-dividend preference shares. Income shares had a low risk and high income and were a suitable investment for elderly people, while capital shares offered high income with an element of risk involved. The zero-dividend shares received no income and so attracted no income tax and had the added benefit of being paid off first at the time of liquidation of the trust. The high risk for the capital shares came from their being the last in terms of settlement at the time of the liquidation of trust (Adams, 2004). Spurred by the buoyant financial markets in the 1990s and the pursuit of fees by the fund management firms and their broker/advisors, who were invested with the day-to-day management of the investment trust products led to a the aggressive combination of the traditional splits and quasi-splits wherein all income shares, capital shares and zero-dividend preference were combined in what came to be known as the barbell trusts (Adams, 2004). Barbell trusts as their name suggests consist of a growth portfolio at one end and an income portfolio at the other and nothing in between. The problem in this was that the growth portfolio invariably was invested in an area of growth that was popularly attractive at that period of time and carried a high risk potential. The barbells were however high yielding securities and found an easy market with investors, who had gone used to high returns

Technological Innovation in Indian Banking Sector Essay Example for Free

Technological Innovation in Indian Banking Sector Essay TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION IN INDIAN BANKING SECTOR – USE OF IT PRODUCTS Dr. Kanhaiya Singh, Professor, Fore School of Management, New Delhi,India Dr. U. S. Pandey, Associate Professor University of Delhi, New Delhi, India Priya Gupta, Asst. Professor, SSCBS, University of Delhi, Research Scholar, BIT(Mesra) Ranchi ABSTRACT Transformation is taking in Indian banks from all verticals, and subtle and not – so – subtle makeovers in banking products are dynamically altering the face of banking. The research paper focuses on the way transformation is affecting the banking sector and the way use of IT products have changed the face of banking in India. It reveals current environment of the banking industry; the factors that have brought changes in the industry; and the way these changes have contributed to the development of banking. This paper concludes that financial market has turned into a buyer’s market. Banks are have now bloomed into one-stop Supermarkets. Their focus is shifting from mass Banking to Class banking with introduction of value added and customized products. Technology now allows banks to create what looks like a branch in a business building’s lobby without having to hire manpower for manual operations. These branches are working on the concept of 24 X 7 working made possible due to Tele banking, ATMs, Internet Banking, Mobile Banking and E banking. This technology driven delivery channels are used to reach maximum customers at lower cost and in most efficient manner. The beauty of these banking innovations is that it puts both banker and customer in a winwin situation. The need of an hour is to design a system to promote marginal efficiency of investment in technology and widen the gap between marginal benefits and marginal cost involved in Banking transformation with special reference to technological up gradation. Keywords: CRM, ECS, Skimming, Spoofing, ATMs INTRODUCTION The study presents a broad overview of the current state of the  banking industry in India. It then goes on to identify some important forces for change and some important forces resisting change. Attention is paid finally to growth path of banking sector with technological advancement. It is depicted that banking is going to be intensely competitive and complex. The best idea would be for the domestic banks to enhance mutual co-operation in order to create a healthier market order and raise the overall competitiveness of the industry as a whole. Incorporation of advanced technology and International Journal of Management and Strategy ISSN: 2231-0703 International Journal of Management and Strategy (IJMS) 2011, Vol. No.II, Issue II, January-June 2011 http://www.myresearchpie.com/ ISSN: 2231-0703  utilization of modern management techniques are other crucial aspects at which domestic banks should pay keen interest. Indian Banking Transformation – The Starting Point Since independence Indian banks have undergone through four major shifts which can categorized as pre reform (before 1991) and post reform period (after 1991): Pre-Reform period: A period of consolidation of banks up to 1966 A period of historic expansion in both geographical and functional terms from1966 to mid- 1980s A period of consolidation of branches from mid 1980s to 1991 These changes were policy induced but not driven by market forces. Post- Reform period Entry of technology in the Indian banking sector can be traced back to the Rangarajan Committee report, way back in the 1980s but during nineties, the banking sector witnessed various liberalization measures. New private sector and foreign banks emerged equipped with the latest technology. These banks opted for a different model of having a single centralized database through a network infrastructure, instead of having multiple databases for all their branches. These changes were market driven, having the influence especially of globalization. The crux is Indian banks have no control over developments  abroad but are subjected to their effects. Hence these changes were not the outcome of internal changes but of external changes. Deregulation has opened up new opportunities for banks to increase revenues by diversifying into investment banking, insurance, credit cards, mortgage financing, depository services, securitization, etc. Now all the banks have started with the concept of multi- channels, like ATMs, credit cards, debit cards, telephone/mobile banking, internet banking, call centers, etc. The role of banking is redefined from a mere financial intermediary to service provider of various financial services under one roof acting like a financial supermarket. International Journal of Management and Strategy ISSN: 2231-0703 International Journal of Management and Strategy (IJMS) 2011, Vol. No.II, Issue II, January-June 2011 http://www.myresearchpie.com/ ISSN: 2231-0703 Forces for change in Indian Banking: Underlying forces for change Developments in communication systems, coupled with blurring of differences between banks and non banks and globalization have aggravated the competitive environment. Technology became a key differentiator for the new private sector banks. The technological superiority helped these private sector banks to have upper edge over public sector banks. The traditional source of income (Net Interest margin = Interest Earned – Interest Expended) was compressed due to the pressure of competition. As a result commercial banks had to face the challenge of finding out new sources of income and curtailing overhead expenses. The operating conditions are different for private sector and public sector banks in India (wage bill, legacy of non-performing assets and extensive network of Public sector banks) which results in imperfect competition in the market. With increasing competition among banks, customers are also becoming more discerning and demanding. To meet customer expectations, banks will have to offer a broad range of  deposit, investment and credit products through diverse distribution channels including upgraded branches, ATMs, telephone and Internet. The mantra to attract and retain customers lies in efficient customer service including customized and value added products to meet various needs of individual customers as also to meet the need of diverse types of customers. Manifestation of underlying forces: Concern Issues: Use of technology to be increased substantially in banks to cope with rising volumes and reduce transaction costs and processing time. In Public Sector Banks, legacy systems and interoperability is a major hurdle in the integration of all delivery channels. A major problem of banks in India is the availability of excessive data, the relevance and quality of which are both suspect. The inculcation of a proper attitude towards technology adaptation and proper security systems is an urgent need of the hour. International Journal of Management and Strategy ISSN: 2231-0703 International Journal of Management and Strategy (IJMS) 2011, Vol. No.II, Issue II, January-June 2011 http://www.myresearchpie.com/ ISSN: 2231-0703 Very low level of computer literacy and the existing mind set of some senior bankers are road blocks in the IT implementation in banks to 100% level. It related security issues in Indian banks are also a matter of concern. Suggestions Recommendations: Better and cheaper access to basic infrastructure requirements such as power and telecommunications. Creation of customer awareness and education for technology adoption are imperative. The IT Act 2000 needs to implement in totality to handle legal issues. Set up an Electronic Banking Group to provide guiding principles for prudent risk management of e- banking activities E-security to be tackled efficiently so as to mitigate all the attendant risks. Convert branches into boutiques catering to the requirements of clients and re-engineer the  functions of branch banking using technology and delivery channels. BANKING INNOVATIONS Today we have electronic payment system along with currency notes. India‟s financial sector is moving towards a scenario, where it can have new instruments along with liquidity and safety. Important events in the evolution of new age payment systems in India Arrival of card- based payments- debit card, credit card- late 1980‟s and early 1990‟s. Introduction of Electronic Clearing Service (ECS) in late 1990‟s Introduction of Electronic Funds Transfer/ Special EFT (EFT/SEFT) in the early 2000‟s Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) was introduced in March 2004 International Journal of Management and Strategy ISSN: 2231-0703 International Journal of Management and Strategy (IJMS) 2011, Vol. No.II, Issue II, January-June 2011 http://www.myresearchpie.com/ ISSN: 2231-0703 Introduction of NEFT (National Electronic Funds Transfer)as a replacement for EFT/SEFT in 2005/06 Plan for implementation of cheque truncation system as a pilot program in New Delhi in 2007. Migration from cash and cheque based payment system, it has become a necessity to electronic fund transfer system on account of the following reasons: 1. Large volumes of transaction, 2. High cost of physical handling and storage of paper instruments. 3. Delay in realization is a common feature. 4. Finality of payment takes time because the physical movement of instruments in large volumes from branches to and from clearing house, and sorting them according to each bank branch at the center creates problems. RBI has taken two major steps to tackle this problem: Use Of Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR) technology was resorted to facilitate and expedite physical sorting of instruments using high-speed MICR sorters. There are about 40 MICR centers in India today. Introduction of Electronic Clearing Service. The ECS was the first version of „Electronic Payments‟ in India. It is a mode of electronic funds transfer from one bank account to another bank account using the mechanism of clearing house. It is very useful in case of bulk transfers from one account to many accounts or vice- versa. There are two types of ECS (Electronic Clearing Service) 1. ECS – credit 2. ECS- debit. International Journal of Management and Strategy ISSN: 2231-0703 International Journal of Management and Strategy (IJMS) 2011, Vol. No.II, Issue II, January-June 2011 http://www.myresearchpie.com/ ISSN: 2231-0703 ECS facility is available at more than 60 centers in India. The beneficiary has to maintain an account with one of the banks at ECS center in order to avail benefits of ECS. ECS- CREDIT Advantages of ECS to ultimate beneficiary are: No need to make frequent visits to bank for depositing physical paper instruments. No possibility of loss of instrument and fraudulent encashment No chance of delay or return in realization of proceeds as in the case of paper instruments. Benefits to Corporate bodies of ECS Save on administrative machinery for printing, dispatch and reconciliation Avoid the chance of loss of instruments in postal transit Avoid the chance of frauds due to fraudulent access to the paper instruments and encashment It can be ensured that the beneficiary‟s accounts get credited on a designated date. ECS DEBIT It is a scheme under which an account holder with a bank can authorize an ECS user to recover an amount at a prescribed frequency by raising a debit in his account. Utility service providers such as telephone companies, electricity boards, credit card collections, collection of loan installments by bank and financial institutions, and investment schemes such as mutual funds are eligible to participate in the ECS debit scheme.  Advantages of ECS debit scheme A. To the ultimate beneficiary is: Eliminates the need of physical visit and the trouble of standing in long queues for making payment There is no need to track down payments by last dates. International Journal of Management and Strategy ISSN: 2231-0703 International Journal of Management and Strategy (IJMS) 2011, Vol. No.II, Issue II, January-June 2011 http://www.myresearchpie.com/ ISSN: 2231-0703 B. To the corporate bodies and Institutions are: Saves on administrative machinery for collecting the cheques, monitoring their realization and reconciliation Better cash management Avoids chances of fraud Receives payments on a single date These schemes were introduced when Indian banking was in infant stage of its computerization hence cost benefits could not be maximized. EFT Electronic Fund transfer EFT scheme targeted one to one payments as an alternative to the use of cheques and drafts for remitting funds between bank accounts located at different centers. EFT encountered the problem of low level of computerization and connectivity in the Indian banking industry. Core Banking Solution CBS is a centralized platform, which creates environment where the entire bank‟s operations can be controlled, and run from a centralized hub. This creates a centralized customer database, which makes anytime, anywhere, anyway banking possible. Immediate advantages of CBS are: Faster and efficient customer service. Offering multiple delivery channels, like ATMs, Cards, mobile/Telephone Banking, internet Banking, Call centers, etc. Reducing the operational costs, through manpower saving and space saving. Centralizing the back end processes and reporting. International Journal of Management and Strategy ISSN: 2231-0703 International Journal of Management and Strategy (IJMS) 2011, Vol. No.II, Issue II, January-June 2011 http://www.myresearchpie.com/ ISSN: 2231-0703 Creating a customer profile database, it is a powerful tool for gaining competitive advantage through cross selling opportunities. Adoption of Risk management, by taking care of risk-monitoring and risk-reporting requirements. ATMs ATMs are an issue of survival for the banks and are becoming just another part of everyday life. Falling costs of machines and connectivity is a key factor contributing to the growth of ATM network. Banks have also been cutting costs and gaining synergies through ATM sharing agreements amongst themselves, for example: Cash Tree (Bank of India, Union Bank of India, Indian Bank, Dena Bank and Syndicate Bank) SBI, HDFC Bank, UTI Bank, Indian Bank and Andhra Bank ICICI Bank, Andhra Bank and Federal Bank Banks are now using ATMs for product promotion as banks market broader financial services to their captive audience of ATM users. But these facilities come with added problems when huge amount of money is withdrawn by large number of consumers in a market period (very short period of time). CRM Customer Relationship Management Solution is the set of methodologies and tools that help an enterprise manage customer relationships in an organized way finding, getting, and retaining customers. It helps to provide better customer service, increase customer revenues, discover new customers and sell products more effectively. CORPORATE INTERNET BANKING The Internet has initiated an electronic revolution in the global banking  sector. Its dynamic and flexible nature as well as its ubiquitous reach has helped in leveraging a variety of banking activities. The Internet has emerged as one of the major distribution channels of banking products and services for banks in the U.S and in European countries. Consumers International Journal of Management and Strategy ISSN: 2231-0703 International Journal of Management and Strategy (IJMS) 2011, Vol. No.II, Issue II, January-June 2011 http://www.myresearchpie.com/ ISSN: 2231-0703  are embracing the many benefits of Internet banking like improved customer access which facilitates the offering of more services, attract new customers and reduce customer attrition. Advantages of Internet Banking: A) Advantages to customers Banking from your desk: with e-banking services, one can actually carry out a number of transactions sitting on one‟s seat with just a few click. Net banking customers view their account balance and also open fixed deposits, transfer funds, pay electricity, telephone or mobile phones bills and much more. Instant information: The accounts of the customers are updated as soon as the transaction takes place i.e., the accounts show the information updated to the last second. This means if a cheque issued by you has been debited from your account in the morning, your account status will reflect this when you log in to your accounts in the afternoon as against the earlier updating at the end of the day. (B) Advantages to the banks Lesser personnel required: online banking has encouraged a chunk of people, though a smaller one to carry out most of their transactions from a distance. This has resulted in lesser pressure on the employees in terms of entertaining customers. Easy publicity: banks can easily pass on the information about their new avenues/schemes without any wastage of time. Customers interested in the schemes would revert back and can be attended to later. PAYMENT SYSTEMS BY RBI: Inter-bank Clearing System High Value Clearing System MICR Clearing System Government Securities Clearing System and Real Time Gross Settlement System International Journal of Management and Strategy ISSN: 2231-0703 International Journal of Management and Strategy (IJMS) 2011, Vol. No.II, Issue II, January-June 2011 http://www.myresearchpie.com/ ISSN: 2231-0703 Banks not only deal with corporate and individual but also they need to make payments to each other to settle the accounts arising of the transactions carried out for their customers, and also for borrowing or repayment, investments, sale and purchase of various assets. These payments have to be effected through their accounts maintained with the Reserve Bank of India. Real Time Gross Settlement System The inter Bank Payments handle large amounts of money. The RTGS system is one in which payment instructions between banks are processed and settled individually and continuously throughout the day. In India currently it covers more than 28,000 branches of banks. The attraction of RTGS is that the payee banks and their customers receive funds with certainty and finality during the same day enabling them to use the funds immediately without exposing themselves to risk. RTGS system, do not create credit risk for the receiving participant because they settle the each payment individually , as soon as it is accepted , liquidity risks remains, as well as the possibility of the risks being shifted outside the system .The security has to ensure that hacking is not possible at the site. RISK FACTORS The latest fraud which is considered as the safest method of crime without making physical injury is the Computer Frauds in Banks. Computerization of banks had started since 1994 in India. Reserve Bank of India has evolved working pattern for Local area Network and wide area Network by instituting different microwave stations so that money transactions could be carried out quickly and safely. The main banking tasks which computers perform are maintaining debit-credit records of accounts,  operating automated teller machines, and carry out electronic fund transfer, print out statements of accounts create periodic balance sheets etc. Internet facilities of computer have revolutionized international banking for fund transfer and for exchanging data of interest relating to banking and to carry out other banking functions and provides certain security to the customers by assigning different pin numbers and passwords. Computer depredations have by some been classified as: International Journal of Management and Strategy ISSN: 2231-0703 International Journal of Management and Strategy (IJMS) 2011, Vol. No.II, Issue II, January-June 2011 http://www.myresearchpie.com/ ISSN: 2231-0703 1. Computer frauds; and 2. Computer crimes Computer frauds are those involve embezzlement or defalcations achieved by tampering with computer data record or programme, etc. whereas computer crimes are those committed with a computer that is where a computer acts as a medium. The difference is however academic only. The three most common are: 1. Cheque Frauds The resolute growth of paper cheques coupled with the ready availability of latest printing technology has resulted in an alarming rise in cheque frauds in Indian banks. Cheques are widely used instruments across the globe. It is interesting to note that cheques as a payment mechanism are still having a dominant position, both in developed and developing countries. Banks have been working very hard to wean customers from paper cheques. Cheques are expensive to print, mail and process. Other problems associated with cheques are inherent manual – handling process, high costs for banks, and high transportation costs between parties. Concept and Magnitude of Cheque Frauds There are a variety of ways to categorize cheque frauds. One broad distinction is â€Å"internal† and â€Å"external†. Internal cheque fraud refers to schemes devised by insiders – employees responsible for creating, authorizing, or processing cheques. External cheque fraud refers to schemes  created by independent operators or by organized gangs. The most common forms of external fraud involves: a. Alteration of cheque details b. Creation of counterfeit cheques c. Forgery of cheques Physical Security Controls used are watermarks, high resolution micro printing, reflective holograms, and security inks etc.

African American and Latina Women and the Criminal Justice System :: essays research papers

African American and Latina Women and the Criminal Justice System Sentencing disparities are an equally inequitable derivative of mandatory sentencing which requires increased sentences for crack cocaine violations, while offering flexible alternatives in cases arising from powder cocaine arrests. Powder cocaine is used by predominantly white middle-class or suburban defendants. More than 71 percent of women in federal prison and 35 percent of female state inmates have been convicted of drug offenses, usually involving crack cocaine, which carries mandatory sentences as long as 25 years for first time offenders. Moreover, large numbers of women of color convicted of crack offenses have been charged because of relationships with boyfriends, husbands or other significant males who themselves are statistically more vulnerable to police apprehension and racial profiling. Two cases exemplify the numerous other instances of young African American women doing hard time for minor drug involvement. Kimba Smith, a first time offender in Virginia, was unable to bargain with prosecutors because she could offer no information about the drug dealer with whom she was romantically involved. She was sentenced to federal prison for 24 years without possibility of parole--one year for each of her 24 years of age. Dorothy Gaines, a mother of two minor children and guardian of two grandchildren, is serving a 19-year, seven-month federal sentence without possibility of parole. Many believe she was convicted not because of the scant evidence but because she had no information to offer against her live-in male companion. The Prison Industrial Complex, driven by the momentum of privatized prison construction as an effective rural economic development tool, has become a self-fulfilling prophecy. It encourages more convictions, larger prison populations and longer prison sentences, even though these prisons increasingly have become warehouses for the mothers of black and brown children. In 1995, over $5.1 billion was allocated for new prison construction by federal and state governments, at an average cost of $58,000 for a medium security cell.

Learning team charter

What are the general expectations for all members of the team? Sarah Dowling- It is our goal as a team to work collaboratively to ensure all members' thoughts, ideas, and input are shared, discussed, considered, and incorporated into the learning team assignments and projects.It is people's duty to be accountable for is or her individual portion of the project and to strive to do their personal best. As a group we will seek out opportunities within each other's strengths to improve our quality of work and assist those team members who may struggle to do so. In the event disagreement occurs between cohorts in regards to any one idea, including but not limited to: substance, quality, or timeline of work submitted, team members will vote to decide if the individual/ idea will continue to work with the group or project.Each member must be committed to the team's academic achievement and success. Expectations for Time Management and Involvement (Participation, communication with the team, accessibility, etc. ) Sarah Dowling- Our team will communicate frequently via e-mail and phone, as well as before and after class. Team members agree to attend all meetings in whichever method possible. All persons must complete their portion of the agreed upon work in a timely manner that shall be determined by the group as a whole.

A Game of Thrones Chapter Thirty-eight

Tyrion You want eat?† Mord asked, glowering. He had a plate of oiled beans in one thick, stub-fingered hand. Tyrion Lannister was starved, but he refused to let this brute see him cringe. â€Å"A leg of lamb would be pleasant,† he said, from the heap of soiled straw in the corner of his cell. â€Å"Perhaps a dish of peas and onions, some fresh baked bread with butter, and a flagon of mulled wine to wash it down. Or beer, if that's easier. I try not to be overly particular.† â€Å"Is beans,† Mord said. â€Å"Here.† He held out the plate. Tyrion sighed. The turnkey was twenty stone of gross stupidity, with brown rotting teeth and small dark eyes. The left side of his face was slick with scar where an axe had cut off his ear and part of his cheek. He was as predictable as he was ugly, but Tyrion was hungry. He reached up for the plate. Mord jerked it away, grinning. â€Å"Is here,† he said, holding it out beyond Tyrion's reach. The dwarf climbed stiffly to his feet, every joint aching. â€Å"Must we play the same fool's game with every meal?† He made another grab for the beans. Mord shambled backward, grinning through his rotten teeth. â€Å"Is here, dwarf man.† He held the plate out at arm's length, over the edge where the cell ended and the sky began. â€Å"You not want eat? Here. Come take.† Tyrion's arms were too short to reach the plate, and he was not about to step that close to the edge. All it would take would be a quick shove of Mord's heavy white belly, and he would end up a sickening red splotch on the stones of Sky, like so many other prisoners of the Eyrie over the centuries. â€Å"Come to think on it, I'm not hungry after all,† he declared, retreating to the corner of his cell. Mord grunted and opened his thick fingers. The wind took the plate, flipping it over as it fell. A handful of beans sprayed back at them as the food tumbled out of sight. The turnkey laughed, his gut shaking like a bowl of pudding. Tyrion felt a pang of rage. â€Å"You fucking son of a pox-ridden ass,† he spat. â€Å"I hope you die of a bloody flux.† For that, Mord gave him a kick, driving a steel-toed boot hard into Tyrion's ribs on the way out. â€Å"I take it back!† he gasped as he doubled over on the straw. â€Å"I'll kill you myself, I swear it!† The heavy iron-bound door slammed shut. Tyrion heard the rattle of keys. For a small man, he had been cursed with a dangerously big mouth, he reflected as he crawled back to his corner of what the Arryns laughably called their dungeon. He huddled beneath the thin blanket that was his only bedding, staring out at a blaze of empty blue sky and distant mountains that seemed to go on forever, wishing he still had the shadowskin cloak he'd won from Marillion at dice, after the singer had stolen it off the body of that brigand chief. The skin had smelled of blood and mold, but it was warm and thick. Mord had taken it the moment he laid eyes on it. The wind tugged at his blanket with gusts sharp as talons. His cell was miserably small, even for a dwarf. Not five feet away, where a wall ought to have been, where a wall would be in a proper dungeon, the floor ended and the sky began. He had plenty of fresh air and sunshine, and the moon and stars by night, but Tyrion would have traded it all in an instant for the dankest, gloomiest pit in the bowels of the Casterly Rock. â€Å"You fly,† Mord had promised him, when he'd shoved him into the cell. â€Å"Twenty day, thirty, fifty maybe. Then you fly.† The Arryns kept the only dungeon in the realm where the prisoners were welcome to escape at will. That first day, after girding up his courage for hours, Tyrion had lain flat on his stomach and squirmed to the edge, to poke out his head and look down. Sky was six hundred feet below, with nothing between but empty air. If he craned his neck out as far as it could go, he could see other cells to his right and left and above him. He was a bee in a stone honeycomb, and someone had torn off his wings. It was cold in the cell, the wind screamed night and day, and worst of all, the floor sloped. Ever so slightly, yet it was enough. He was afraid to close his eyes, afraid that he might roll over in his steep and wake in sudden terror as he went sliding off the edge. Small wonder the sky cells drove men mad. Gods save me, some previous tenant had written on the wall in something that looked suspiciously like blood, the blue is calling. At first Tyrion wondered who he'd been, and what had become of him; later, he decided that he would rather not know. If only he had shut his mouth . . . The wretched boy had started it, looking down on him from a throne of carved weirwood beneath the moon-and-falcon banners of House Arryn. Tyrion Lannister had been looked down on all his life, but seldom by rheumy-eyed six-year-olds who needed to stuff fat cushions under their cheeks to lift them to the height of a man. â€Å"Is he the bad man?† the boy had asked, clutching his doll. â€Å"He is,† the Lady Lysa had said from the lesser throne beside him. She was all in blue, powdered and perfumed for the suitors who filled her court. â€Å"He's so small,† the Lord of the Eyrie said, giggling. â€Å"This is Tyrion the Imp, of House Lannister, who murdered your father.† She raised her voice so it carried down the length of High Hall of the Eyrie, ringing off the milk-white walls and the slender pillars, so every man could hear it. â€Å"He slew the Hand of the King!† â€Å"Oh, did I kill him too?† Tyrion had said, like a fool. That would have been a very good time to have kept his mouth closed and his head bowed. He could see that now; seven hells, he had seen it then. The High Hall of the Arryns was long and austere, with a forbidding coldness to its walls of blue-veined white marble, but the faces around him had been colder by far. The power of Casterly Rock was far away, and there were no friends of the Lannisters in the Vale of Arryn. Submission and silence would have been his best defenses. But Tyrion's mood had been too foul for sense. To his shame, he had faltered during the last leg of their day-long climb up to the Eyrie, his stunted legs unable to take him any higher. Bronn had carried him the rest of the way, and the humiliation poured oil on the flames of his anger. â€Å"It would seem I've been a busy little fellow,† he said with bitter sarcasm. â€Å"I wonder when I found the time to do all this slaying and murdering.† He ought to have remembered who he was dealing with. Lysa Arryn and her half-sane weakling son had not been known at court for their love of wit, especially when it was directed at them. â€Å"Imp,† Lysa said coldly, â€Å"you will guard that mocking tongue of yours and speak to my son politely, or I promise you will have cause to regret it. Remember where you are. This is the Eyrie, and these are knights of the Vale you see around you, true men who loved Jon Arryn well. Every one of them would die for me.† â€Å"Lady Arryn, should any harm come to me, my brother Jaime will be pleased to see that they do.† Even as he spat out the words, Tyrion knew they were folly. â€Å"Can you fly, my lord of Lannister?† Lady Lysa asked. â€Å"Does a dwarf have wings? If not, you would be wiser to swallow the next threat that comes to mind.† â€Å"I made no threats,† Tyrion said. â€Å"That was a promise.† Little Lord Robert hopped to his feet at that, so upset he dropped his doll. â€Å"You can't hurt us,† he screamed. â€Å"No one can hurt us here. Tell him, Mother, tell him he can't hurt us here.† The boy began to twitch. â€Å"The Eyrie is impregnable,† Lysa Arryn declared calmly. She drew her son close, holding him safe in the circle of her plump white arms. â€Å"The Imp is trying to frighten us, sweet baby. The Lannisters are all liars. No one will hurt my sweet boy.† The hell of it was, she was no doubt right. Having seen what it took to get here, Tyrion could well imagine how it would be for a knight trying to fight his way up in armor, while stones and arrows poured down from above and enemies contested with him for every step. Nightmare did not begin to describe it. Small wonder the Eyrie had never been taken. Still, Tyrion had been unable to silence himself. â€Å"Not impregnable,† he said, â€Å"merely inconvenient.† Young Robert pointed down, his hand trembling. â€Å"You're a liar. Mother, I want to see him fly.† Two guardsmen in sky-blue cloaks seized Tyrion by the arms, lifting him off his floor. The gods only know what might have happened then were it not for Catelyn Stark. â€Å"Sister,† she called out from where she stood below the thrones, â€Å"I beg you to remember, this man is my prisoner. I will not have him harmed.† Lysa Arryn glanced at her sister coolly for a moment, then rose and swept down on Tyrion, her long skirts trailing after her. For an instant he feared she would strike him, but instead she commanded them to release him. Her men shoved him to the floor, his legs went out from under him, and Tyrion fell. He must have made quite a sight as he struggled to his knees, only to feel his right leg spasm, sending him sprawling once more. Laughter boomed up and down the High Hall of the Arryns. â€Å"My sister's little guest is too weary to stand,† Lady Lysa announced. â€Å"Ser Vardis, take him down to the dungeon. A rest in one of our sky cells will do him much good.† The guardsmen jerked him upright. Tyrion Lannister dangled between them, kicking feebly, his face red with shame. â€Å"I will remember this,† he told them all as they carried him off. And so he did, for all the good it did him. At first he had consoled himself that this imprisonment could not last long. Lysa Arryn wanted to humble him, that was all. She would send for him again, and soon. If not her, then Catelyn Stark would want to question him. This time he would guard his tongue more closely. They dare not kill him out of hand; he was still a Lannister of Casterly Rock, and if they shed his blood, it would mean war. Or so he had told himself. Now he was not so certain. Perhaps his captors only meant to let him rot here, but he feared he did not have the strength to rot for long. He was growing weaker every day, and it was only a matter of time until Mord's kicks and blows did him serious harm, provided the gaoler did not starve him to death first. A few more nights of cold and hunger, and the blue would start calling to him too. He wondered what was happening beyond the walls (such as they were) of his cell. Lord Tywin would surely have sent out riders when the word reached him. Jaime might be leading a host through the Mountains of the Moon even now . . . unless he was riding north against Winterfell instead. Did anyone outside the Vale even suspect where Catelyn Stark had taken him? He wondered what Cersei would do when she heard. The king could order him freed, but would Robert listen to his queen or his Hand? Tyrion had no illusions about the king's love for his sister. If Cersei kept her wits about her, she would insist the king sit in judgment of Tyrion himself. Even Ned Stark could scarcely object to that, not without impugning the honor of the king. And Tyrion would be only too glad to take his chances in a trial. Whatever murders they might lay at his door, the Starks had no proof of anything so far as he could see. Let them make their case before the Iron Throne and the lords of the land. It would be the end of them. If only Cersei were clever enough to see that . . . Tyrion Lannister sighed. His sister was not without a certain low cunning, but her pride blinded her. She would see the insult in this, not the opportunity. And Jaime was even worse, rash and headstrong and quick to anger. His brother never untied a knot when he could slash it in two with his sword. He wondered which of them had sent the footpad to silence the Stark boy, and whether they had truly conspired at the death of Lord Arryn. If the old Hand had been murdered, it was deftly and subtly done. Men of his age died of sudden illness all the time. In contrast, sending some oaf with a stolen knife after Brandon Stark struck him as unbelievably clumsy. And wasn't that peculiar, come to think on it . . . Tyrion shivered. Now there was a nasty suspicion. Perhaps the direwolf and the lion were not the only beasts in the woods, and if that was true, someone was using him as a catspaw. Tyrion Lannister hated being used. He would have to get out of here, and soon. His chances of overpowering Mord were small to none, and no one was about to smuggle him a six-hundred-foot-long rope, so he would have to talk himself free. His mouth had gotten him into this cell; it could damn well get him out. Tyrion pushed himself to his feet, doing his best to ignore the slope of the floor beneath him, with its ever-so-subtle tug toward the edge. He hammered on the door with a fist. â€Å"Mord!† he shouted. â€Å"Turnkey! Mord, I want you!† He had to keep it up a good ten minutes before he heard footsteps. Tyrion stepped back an instant before the door opened with a crash. â€Å"Making noise,† Mord growled, with blood in his eyes. Dangling from one meaty hand was a leather strap, wide and thick, doubled over in his fist. Never show them you're afraid, Tyrion reminded himself. â€Å"How would you like to be rich?† he asked. Mord hit him. He swung the strap backhand, lazily, but the leather caught Tyrion high on the arm. The force of it staggered him, and the pain made him grit his teeth. â€Å"No mouth, dwarf man,† Mord warned him. â€Å"Gold,† Tyrion said, miming a smile. â€Å"Casterly Rock is full of gold . . . ahhhh . . . † This time the blow was a forehand, and Mord put more of his arm into the swing, making the leather crack and jump. It caught Tyrion in the ribs and dropped him to his knees, wimpering. He forced himself to look up at the gaoler. â€Å"As rich as the Lannisters,† he wheezed. â€Å"That's what they say, Mord—† Mord grunted. The strap whistled through the air and smashed Tyrion full in the face. The pain was so bad he did not remember falling, but when he opened his eyes again he was on the floor of his cell. His ear was ringing, and his mouth was full of blood. He groped for purchase, to push himself up, and his fingers brushed against . . . nothing. Tyrion snatched his hand back as fast as if it had been scalded, and tried his best to stop breathing. He had fallen right on the edge, inches from the blue. â€Å"More to say?† Mord held the strap between his fists and gave it a sharp pull. The snap made Tyrion jump. The turnkey laughed. He won't push me over, Tyrion told himself desperately as he crawled away from the edge. Catelyn Stark wants me alive, he doesn't dare kill me. He wiped the blood off his lips with the back of his hand, grinned, and said, â€Å"That was a stiff one, Mord.† The gaoler squinted at him, trying to decide if he was being mocked. â€Å"I could make good use of a strong man like you.† The strap flew at him, but this time Tyrion was able to cringe away from it. He took a glancing blow to the shoulder, nothing more. â€Å"Gold,† he repeated, scrambling backward like a crab, â€Å"more gold than you'll see here in a lifetime. Enough to buy land, women, horses . . . you could be a lord. Lord Mord.† Tyrion hawked up a glob of blood and phlegm and spat it out into the sky. â€Å"Is no gold,† Mord said. He's listening! Tyrion thought. â€Å"They relieved me of my purse when they captured me, but the gold is still mine. Catelyn Stark might take a man prisoner, but she'd never stoop to rob him. That wouldn't be honorable. Help me, and all the gold is yours.† Mord's strap licked out, but it was a halfhearted, desultory swing, slow and contemptuous. Tyrion caught the leather in his hand and held it prisoned. â€Å"There will be no risk to you. All you need do is deliver a message.† The gaoler yanked his leather strap free of Tyrion's grasp. â€Å"Message,† he said, as if he had never heard the word before. His frown made deep creases in his brow. â€Å"You heard me, my lord. Only carry my word to your lady. Tell her . . . † What? What would possibly make Lysa Anyn relent? The inspiration came to Tyrion Lannister suddenly. † . . . .tell her that I wish to confess my crimes.† Mord raised his arm and Tyrion braced himself for another blow, but the turnkey hesitated. Suspicion and greed warred in his eyes. He wanted that gold, yet he feared a trick; he had the look of a man who had often been tricked. â€Å"Is lie,† he muttered darkly. â€Å"Dwarf man cheat me.† â€Å"I will put my promise in writing,† Tyrion vowed. Some illiterates held writing in disdain; others seemed to have a superstitious reverence for the written word, as if it were some sort of magic. Fortunately, Mord was one of the latter. The turnkey lowered the strap. â€Å"Writing down gold. Much gold.† â€Å"Oh, much gold,† Tyrion assured him. â€Å"The purse is just a taste, my friend. My brother wears armor of solid gold plate.† In truth, Jaime's armor was gilded steel, but this oaf would never know the difference. Mord fingered his strap thoughtfully, but in the end, he relented and went to fetch paper and ink. When the letter was written, the gaoler frowned at it suspiciously. â€Å"Now deliver my message,† Tyrion urged. He was shivering in his sleep when they came for him, late that night. Mord opened the door but kept his silence. Ser Vardis Egen woke Tyrion with the point of his boot. â€Å"On your feet, Imp. My lady wants to see you.† Tyrion rubbed the sleep from his eyes and put on a grimace he scarcely felt. â€Å"No doubt she does, but what makes you think I wish to see her?† Ser Vardis frowned. Tyrion remembered him well from the years he had spent at King's Landing as the captain of the Hand's household guard. A square, plain face, silver hair, a heavy build, and no humor whatsoever. â€Å"Your wishes are not my concern. On your feet, or I'll have you carried.† Tyrion clambered awkwardly to his feet. â€Å"A cold night,† he said casually, â€Å"and the High Hall is so drafty. I don't wish to catch a chill. Mord, if you would be so good, fetch my cloak.† The gaoler squinted at him, face dull with suspicion. â€Å"My cloak,† Tyrion repeated. â€Å"The shadowskin you took from me for safekeeping. You recall.† â€Å"Get him the damnable cloak,† Ser Vardis said. Mord did not dare grumble. He gave Tyrion a glare that promised future retribution, yet he went for the cloak. When he draped it around his prisoner's neck, Tyrion smiled. â€Å"My thanks. I shall think of you whenever I wear it.† He flung the trailing end of the long fur over his right shoulder, and felt warm for the first time in days. â€Å"Lead on, Ser Vardis.† The High Hall of the Arryns was aglow with the light of fifty torches, burning in the sconces along the walls. The Lady Lysa wore black silk, with the moon-and-falcon sewn on her breast in pearls. Since she did not look the sort to join the Night's Watch, Tyrion could only imagine that she had decided mourning clothes were appropriate garb for a confession. Her long auburn hair, woven into an elaborate braid, fell across her left shoulder. The taller throne beside her was empty; no doubt the little Lord of the Eyrie was off shaking in his sleep. Tyrion was thankful for that much, at least. He bowed deeply and took a moment to glance around the hall. Lady Arryn had summoned her knights and retainers to hear his confession, as he had hoped. He saw Ser Brynden Tully's craggy face and Lord Nestor Royce's bluff one. Beside Nestor stood a younger man with fierce black side-whiskers who could only be his heir, Ser Albar. Most of the principal houses of the Vale were represented. Tyrion noted Ser Lyn Corbray, slender as a sword, Lord Hunter with his gouty legs, the widowed Lady Waynwood surrounded by her sons. Others sported sigils he did not know; broken lance, green viper, burning tower, winged chalice. Among the lords of the Vale were several of his companions from the high road; Ser Rodrik Cassel, pale from half-healed wounds, stood with Ser Willis Wode beside him. Marillion the singer had found a new woodharp. Tyrion smiled; whatever happened here tonight, he did not wish it to happen in secret, and there was no one like a singer for spreading a story near and far. In the rear of the hall, Bronn lounged beneath a pillar. The freerider's black eyes were fixed on Tyrion, and his hand lay lightly on the pommel of his sword. Tyrion gave him a long look, wondering . . . Catelyn Stark spoke first. â€Å"You wish to confess your crimes, we are told.† â€Å"I do, my lady,† Tyrion answered. Lysa Arryn smiled at her sister. â€Å"The sky cells always break them. The gods can see them there, and there is no darkness to hide in.† â€Å"He does not look broken to me,† Lady Catelyn said. Lady Lysa paid her no mind. â€Å"Say what you will,† she commanded Tyrion. And now to roll the dice, he thought with another quick glance back at Bronn. â€Å"Where to begin? I am a vile little man, I confess it. My crimes and sins are beyond counting, my lords and ladies. I have lain with whores, not once but hundreds of times. I have wished my own lord father dead, and my sister, our gracious queen, as well.† Behind him, someone chuckled. â€Å"I have not always treated my servants with kindness. I have gambled. I have even cheated, I blush to admit. I have said many cruel and malicious things about the noble lords and ladies of the court.† That drew outright laughter. â€Å"Once I—† â€Å"Silence!† Lysa Arryn's pale round face had turned a burning pink. â€Å"What do you imagine you are doing, dwarf?† Tyrion cocked his head to one side. â€Å"Why, confessing my crimes, my lady—† Catelyn Stark took a step forward. â€Å"You are accused of sending a hired knife to slay my son Bran in his bed, and of conspiring to murder Lord Jon Arryn, the Hand of the King.† Tyrion gave a helpless shrug. â€Å"Those crimes I cannot confess, I fear. I know nothing of any murders.† Lady Lysa rose from her weirwood throne. â€Å"I will not be made mock of. You have had your little jape, Imp. I trust you enjoyed it. Ser Vardis, take him back to the dungeon . . . but this time find him a smaller cell, with a floor more sharply sloped.† â€Å"Is this how justice is done in the Vale?† Tyrion roared, so loudly that Ser Vardis froze for an instant. â€Å"Does honor stop at the Bloody Gate? You accuse me of crimes, I deny them, so you throw me into an open cell to freeze and starve.† He lifted his head, to give them all a good look at the bruises Mord had left on his face. â€Å"Where is the king's justice? Is the Eyrie not part of the Seven Kingdoms? I stand accused, you say. Very well. I demand a trial! Let me speak, and let my truth or falsehood be judged openly, in the sight of gods and men.† A low murmuring filled the High Hall. He had her, Tyrion knew. He was highborn, the son of the most powerful lord in the realm, the brother of the queen. He could not be denied a trial. Guardsmen in sky-blue cloaks had started toward Tyrion, but Ser Vardis bid them halt and looked to Lady Lysa. Her small mouth twitched in a petulant smile. â€Å"If you are tried and found to be guilty of the crimes for which you stand accused, then by the king's own laws, you must pay with your life's blood. We keep no headsman in the Eyrie, my lord of Lannister. Open the Moon Door.† The press of spectators parted. A narrow weirwood door stood between two slender marble pillars, a crescent moon carved in the white wood. Those standing closest edged backward as a pair of guardsmen marched through. One man removed the heavy bronze bars; the second pulled the door inward. Their blue cloaks rose snapping from their shoulders, caught in the sudden gust of wind that came howling through the open door. Beyond was the emptiness of the night sky, speckled with cold uncaring stars. â€Å"Behold the king's justice,† Lysa Arryn said. Torch flames fluttered like pennons along the walls, and here and there the odd torch guttered out. â€Å"Lysa, I think this unwise,† Catelyn Stark said as the black wind swirled around the hall. Her sister ignored her. â€Å"You want a trial, my lord of Lannister. Very well, a trial you shall have. My son will listen to whatever you care to say, and you shall hear his judgment. Then you may leave . . . by one door or the other.† She looked so pleased with herself, Tyrion thought, and small wonder. How could a trial threaten her, when her weakling son was the lord judge? Tyrion glanced at her Moon Door. Mother, I want to see him fly! the boy had said. How many men had the snot-nosed little wretch sent through that door already? â€Å"I thank you, my good lady, but I see no need to trouble Lord Robert,† Tyrion said politely. â€Å"The gods know the truth of my innocence. I will have their verdict, not the judgment of men. I demand trial by combat.† A storm of sudden laughter filled the High Hall of the Arryns. Lord Nestor Royce snorted, Ser Willis chuckled, Ser Lyn Corbray guffawed, and others threw back their heads and howled until tears ran down their faces. Marillion clumsily plucked a gay note on his new woodharp with the fingers of his broken hand. Even the wind seemed to whistle with derision as it came skirling through the Moon Door. Lysa Arryn's watery blue eyes looked uncertain. He had caught her off balance. â€Å"You have that right, to be sure.† The young knight with the green viper embroidered on his surcoat stepped forward and went to one knee. â€Å"My lady, I beg the boon of championing your cause.† â€Å"The honor should be mine,† old Lord Hunter said. â€Å"For the love I bore your lord husband, let me avenge his death.† â€Å"My father served Lord Jon faithfully as High Steward of the Vale,† Ser Albar Royce boomed. â€Å"Let me serve his son in this.† â€Å"The gods favor the man with the just cause,† said Ser Lyn Corbray, â€Å"yet often that turns out to be the man with the surest sword. We all know who that is.† He smiled modestly. A dozen other men all spoke at once, clamoring to be heard. Tyrion found it disheartening to realize so many strangers were eager to kill him. Perhaps this had not been such a clever plan after all. Lady Lysa raised a hand for silence. â€Å"I thank you, my lords, as I know my son would thank you if he were among us. No men in the Seven Kingdoms are as bold and true as the knights of the Vale. Would that I could grant you all this honor. Yet I can choose only one.† She gestured. â€Å"Ser Vardis Egen, you were ever my lord husband's good right hand. You shall be our champion.† Ser Vardis had been singularly silent. â€Å"My lady,† he said gravely, sinking to one knee, â€Å"pray give this burden to another, I have no taste for it. The man is no warrior. Look at him. A dwarf, half my size and lame in the legs. It would be shameful to slaughter such a man and call it justice.† Oh, excellent, Tyrion thought. â€Å"I agree.† Lysa glared at him. â€Å"You demanded a trial by combat.† â€Å"And now I demand a champion, such as you have chosen for yourself. My brother Jaime will gladly take my part, I know.† â€Å"Your precious Kingslayer is hundreds of leagues from here,† snapped Lysa Arryn. â€Å"Send a bird for him. I will gladly await his arrival.† â€Å"You will face Ser Vardis on the morrow.† â€Å"Singer,† Tyrion said, turning to Marillion, â€Å"when you make a ballad of this, be certain you tell them how Lady Arryn denied the dwarf the right to a champion, and sent him forth lame and bruised and hobbling to face her finest knight.† â€Å"I deny you nothing!† Lysa Arryn said, her voice peeved and shrill with irritation. â€Å"Name your champion, Imp . . . if you think you can find a man to die for you.† â€Å"If it is all the same to you, I'd sooner find one to kill for me.† Tyrion looked over the long hall. No one moved. For a long moment he wondered if it had all been a colossal blunder. Then there was a stirring in the rear of the chamber. â€Å"I'll stand for the dwarf,† Bronn called out.

Driving Ireland’s Ring of Kerry Maps and Complete Guide

Driving Ireland’s Ring of Kerry Maps and Complete Guide SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips The picturesque Ring of Kerry is a looping road on the west coast of Ireland. It meanders along the coast of County Kerry, a pristine area famous for its awe-inspiring natural beauty. Locals and travelers alike flock to the Ring of Kerry for sweeping views of mountains, lakes, waterfalls, and the North Atlantic. Along the way, you’ll see castles, abbey ruins, and stones circles dating as far back as 2,200 BC! That’s a whole lot of human history. I can confidently say that the Ring of Kerry was the most breathtaking road I’ve ever driven on in my life. To help you have the same memorable experience, I’ve compiled all the stops of interest along the Ring, along with maps to help you navigate. Read on for your complete guide to Ireland’s unforgettable Ring of Kerry! Map of the Ring of Kerry As you can see on this Ring of Kerry map, you could drive the entire loop straight through in only three and a half hours. The Ring of Kerry is a 1 mile (179 km) coastal road around Ireland’s Iveragh Peninsula. Technically, the Ring of Kerry is the horseshoe-shaped N70, but you can take a linking road, the N72, to make a full loop beginning and ending in the town of Killarney. This closed loop covers 133 miles (214 km) in total. Because of its location on the landlocked end of the peninsula, Killarney is a popular base for travelers driving the Ring of Kerry. If you were to drive directly around the Ring, you could complete the drive in just three and a half hours. Realistically, though, you should set aside at least six to seven hours to make stops along the way, if not longer. If you want to take side trips or explore all the sights along the route, then you could turn the Ring into a two or three-day road trip, staying overnight in one of the villages, like Waterville or Kenmare. In addition to pulling over to see castles, Celtic ruins, lookout points, and friendly cows and sheep, you could also go hiking, biking, or horseback riding. A popular day trip also takes you out to the Skellig Islands. The larger of the islands, Skellig Michaels, is famous for its 6th century ruins, which were featured in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Before getting into all the sights along the Ring of Kerry, let’s go over how to travel along the road. Should you hop on a tour bus or rent a car and drive yourself? Traveling on the Ring of Kerry: Tour Bus vs. Car There are two options for driving the Ring of Kerry: tour bus or car. Several bus companies are available for day trips, or you can easily navigate the route yourself (it is a loop, after all). Here’s what you need to know about both options. Option 1: Take a Bus Around the Ring of Kerry Most Ring of Kerry tour buses start in Killarney. If you’re starting your Ireland trip in Dublin, you can also buy packages that include a train ticket from Dublin to Killarney and next-day tour bus. The two most highly-rated companies are Deros Coach Tours and O’Connell Day Tours. A day tour costs about $25. The buses will make a few stops along the way for you to explore sights and take photographs, plus a lunch stop. All in all, a Ring of Kerry tour on a bus lasts about 6.5 hours. One important thing to note- the buses always drive counter-clockwise along the Ring. They start in Killarney and then head northwest to Killorglin. Now let’s look at the other option (and the one that I chose), driving the Ring of Kerry. Tour buses drive counter-clockwise on the Ring of Kerry. Option 2: Drive Around the Ring of Kerry Your other option is to drive. I much preferred driving, as it let my friend and I go at our own pace and pull over whenever we spotted an amazing view, which was extremely often. We had no trouble renting a car in Ireland. We rented the car online from Dooley Car Rentals and picked it up at the Dublin airport. There are also rental car companies based out of Killarney. The only unusual part of the rental agreement is that US travelers have to buy additional car insurance. If you’re renting a car in most other countries, your usual car insurance will extend to the rental. While driving lets you take your time and make stops on a whim, it does come with a significant extra challenge for US drivers: you have to adjust to driving on the left side of the road! At first, this arrangement made my brain feel like it was doing backflips, plus I kept driving too far to the left. Admittedly, my friend was the better left-side driver of the two of us, but I gradually got used to it, too. As long as you stay focused, you shouldn’t have too much trouble making the switch. As I mentioned above, buses go counter-clockwise along the Ring of Kerry. If you’re driving, should you go in the same direction as the buses or the opposite way? Remember to drive on the left side of the road! Fred Zhang/All rights reserved Which Direction Should You Drive on the Ring of Kerry? Should you drive with the buses or against them? That all depends on how confident you feel driving. If you drive in the opposite direction of the Ring of Kerry tour buses, then you may have to deal with passing them. As the road can get narrow and have steep drop-offs along the side, this might be an unwelcome extra challenge. If you don’t want to deal with passing tour buses on a narrow road, then you should go counter-clockwise. On the other hand, driving with the buses means that you might get stuck behind one of them. Staring at the back of a bus for most of your drive could mar the view a bit. If you’d rather not get stuck behind a tour bus, then you should probably choose the clockwise route! For the purposes of this guide, I’ll present the stops in the counter-clockwise direction, the same way that the buses go. If you decide to go the other way, then just scroll down and read this guide backward. Now that we’ve covered transportation, let’s go over all of the intriguing places and things you’ll pass on the drive, starting with a Ring of Kerry map. Ring of Kerry Map: All the Stops Along the Way Here’s the full Ring of Kerry map with pins for each stop. Click on each one for its full address, and scroll down to learn more about each stop! Since there are lots of points of interest, I’ll provide some suggestions for the best ones at the end of this guide. You can also plan your trip around your personal interests, whether you want to spend all your time photographing castles, hiking up mountains, or shopping in all the villages along the way. Whatever you choose, you really can’t go wrong. The drive itself is one of the best highlights of all! Since most of the Ring is remote, I’d suggest using a GPS, pre-loading your directions into Google Maps, and/or downloading a navigational app that works offline, like Here WeGo. You’ll have to download Ring of Kerry maps before you depart, but then you should be able to plug in directions offline. Any place you stay will probably also give you directions the old-fashioned way- with a paper map of the Ring of Kerry and circles around the places of interest. If all else fails, just keep driving. The Ring of Kerry is a ring, after all. Driving the Ring of Kerry: Full Guide Most people start and end their Ring of Kerry journey in the town of Killarney, so let’s start there. There are lots of Kerry hotels in Killarney, plus other hotels in Kerry villages along the way. Below is the full list of stops along the Ring of Kerry. Click on a stop to go to it directly, or just read on to learn all about the spectacular stops you'll encounter driving counter-clockwise on the Ring. Killarney Gap of Dunloe Kate Kearney's Cottage Beaufort Kerry Woolen Mills Killorglin Kerry Bog Village Museum Glenbeigh Cahirciveen Ballycarbery Castle Portmagee Skellig Islands: Skellig Michaels and Little Skellig Valentia Island St. Finian's Bay Balinskelligs Waterville Eightercua Stones Loher Stone Fort Derrynane Caherdaniel Castlecove Beach Staigue Fort Sneem Dunkerron Castle Kenmare Moll's Gap Killarney National Park Ladies View Torc Waterfall Muckross House Muckross Abbey Blue Pool Nature Reserve Ross Castle Innisfallen Island Now let's take a closer look at all the stops along the Ring of Kerry, starting with the most popular starting point, the town of Killarney. #1: Killarney Killarney is a colorful small town that looks like it was plucked out of the 19th century. As a popular destination, it actively maintains its historic charm. In fact, the Killarney town council banned plastic store signs in the 1980s so that the town would retain its pretty, old-fashioned look. While there are several great Ring of Kerry sights within a ten to thirty minute drive of Killarney- like Ross Castle, Muckross House, and Muckross Abbey- the town itself shouldn’t be overlooked. Killarney might not blow your mind like the Ring of Kerry landscape, but it has lots of enjoyable restaurants, pubs, shops, and galleries. Restaurants in Killarney You’ll find a variety of restaurants, from traditional Irish pubs to Thai and Mexican food. Some of the top restaurants in town are Rozzer’s, Bricin, Mareena’s Simply Food, Quinlans Seafood, Hannigan’s, and the Yew Tree. Before I visited Ireland, I’d heard mostly negative reviews of its cuisine. I found the exact opposite to be true, with lots of modern restaurants and delicious food from all over the world. Pubs in Killarney While I heard negative things about Ireland’s cuisine, I heard stellar reviews of its beer. That reputation was totally accurate; both the beer and cider are high-quality and easy to find. Some great pubs in Killarney are O’Connor’s Traditional Irish Pub, Jarvey’s Rest, The Danny Mann, Tatler Jack, and Dan Linehan’s Bar. Take a seat, order a Guinness, and, ideally, stumble upon an Irish â€Å"session† of local musicians playing the fiddle and accordion. Ireland is famous for its high-quality wool sweaters and blankets. Killarney Shopping Killarney’s shops are centralized in its downtown area. You’ll find the famously high quality wool sweaters from Ireland’s Aran Islands, jewelry, glass crafts, candles, souvenirs, art galleries, and old-fashioned candy shops. You can also shop at some name brand stores at the Killarney Outlet Centre. Historic Churches in Killarney Killarney has a couple 19th-century churches that are worth a visit if you like historic architecture. St. Mary’s Cathedral is a 19th-century Gothic Revival Church, and the 1879 Franciscan Friary is a simple stone structure. Killarney is a charming town that’s fun to explore or at least enjoy dinner the night before you depart on the Ring of Kerry. If you’re pressed for time, though, you might skip the town and concentrate on the drive instead, as the Ring of Kerry is the most memorable part of the trip! #2: Gap of Dunloe Daniel Dudek-Corrigan/Flickr You don’t have to wait long before the Ring of Kerry plunges you into Ireland’s unparalleled natural beauty. Just ten minutes or so from Killarney you’ll enter the part of N70 called Gap Road, or the Gap of Dunloe. The Gap of Dunloe is a 7 mile ( km) mountain pass between Purple Mountain and a range called MacGillycuddy’s Reeks. It passes five lakes: Coosaun Lough, Black Lake, Cushnavally Lake, Auger Lake, and Black Lough. Between Coosaun and Black Lake is a wishing bridge. You can stop here, make a wish on the bridge, and, according to local legend, your wish is destined to come true. Since the Gap of Dunloe is such a scenic route, it’s a popular spot for biking, hiking, horse-drawn carriages, and horseback riding. If you’re driving, go slow and expect that other people and vehicles will be sharing the road. #3: Kate Kearney’s Cottage Larry Koester/Flickr Kate Kearney’s Cottage is a 150-year-old restaurant and pub along the Gap of Dunloe. You’ll pass fields filled with flowers and horses before pulling into the parking lot of this charming, ivy-covered cottage. In the front of Kate Kearney’s sits a shop that sells local crafts and produce. In cooler months, you can sit by the open fire and enjoy pub food and dark beers. Every so often, the cottage holds a traditional Irish dinner with live music and costumed dancers. I stopped at Kate Kearney’s for lunch and especially enjoyed the fried brie with jam and homemade banoffee pie (toffee pudding pie with banana slices and fresh whipped cream). If you’re hungry, then stop here to get fortified for the trip ahead. If not, don’t worry- there are plenty of villages with pubs and restaurants along the way. #4: Beaufort Beaufort is a small village at the base of Carrantuohill, Ireland’s tallest mountain. By small village, I mean small; Beaufort has a population of only 160. The town center has a few pubs and guesthouses, so you could stay here as an alternative to Killarney. If you’re looking to stay somewhere remote, then Beaufort’s a good option. Otherwise, you probably would put this town lower on your list of Ring of Kerry priorities. One intriguing site near Beaufort involves an early written language. Outside of the town sit the Ogham Stones. These stones feature Ogham, the earliest system of writing to appear in Ireland. In Ogham, letters are represented by short horizontal lines etched across a long vertical line. You might see souvenirs of common names written in Ogham or jewelry featuring the ancient writing. #5: Kerry Woollen Mills These 17th century mills have been creating fabrics and yarn from wool for over 300 years! When they began, they used water from the adjacent River Gweestin to power machinery and wash and dye wool. Today, you can check out the mills and shop for high-quality wool sweaters, capes, scarves, blankets, and rugs. These mills are worth a stop if you’d like to buy wool clothing or a blanket. If you’re not looking to shop or don’t care for wool products, then you might skip these mills and save your shopping for other places further down the Ring! Sheep are a-plenty in Ireland, and so are wool sweaters! #6: Killorglin Killorglin’s another village along the Ring of Kerry. It’s a bit bigger than Beaufort with a population of 2,100. This town along the River Laune has a number of hostels, inns, pubs, restaurants, outdoor activities, and yearly festivals. Killorglin is definitely worth a stop if you want to go on an outdoor excursion. Because it’s on a river and close to the Atlantic, it has a lot of opportunities to kayak, canoe, and sail. You can also go climbing, hiking, orienteering, or camp overnight. Killorglin is also a good stop if you’re feeling hungry. The town has a variety of pubs and restaurants, and it makes its own beer, the Crafty Divils King Puck. You’ll see a bunch of references to King Puck beyond this pale ale, like the King Puck statue, a large, crown-wearing bronze goat perched atop a rock. According to legend, a goat helped save the people of Killorglin long ago when raiders were pillaging the countryside. The â€Å"puck† broke away from its herd and appeared in the village, alerting the people to the danger. This story is such a big part of Killorglin that the town has been hosting a 3-day Puck Fair every August for the past 400 years! If you’re driving the Ring in August, check to see if the Puck Fair is going on. You might also be interested in the K-Fest Musics and the Arts cultural festival in June or the Flavour of Killorglin food festival in September. Once you’ve had your fill of food and festivals in Killorglin, keep on driving southwest toward the Kerry Bog Museum. Order King Puck, a pale beer made in Killorglin! #7: Kerry Bog Village Museum With its glacier-carved mountains and cliffs and ancient stone ruins, the Ring of Kerry takes you back in time. The Kerry Bog Village Museum transports you to the 19th century, showing you the tough existence that people carved out for themselves in a peat bog. The Kerry Bog Village Museum features six dwellings with thatched roofs that have been restored to their original 1800s conditions. You can see how the blacksmith, thatcher, and laborers lived, as well as meet the native Kerry bog ponies and huge Irish wolfhounds native to the area. Irish wolfhounds may be all different colors, but all of them share one trait in common: they're huge. #8: Glenbeigh This area is called the Jewel in the Ring of Kerry. Here, you’ll see all the natural beauty that makes the Ring of Kerry great in one place: hills, mountains, rivers, beaches, and the wild Atlantic. It’s a popular place for hiking, nature tours, and horseback riding. I went horseback riding in Glenbeigh with Burke’s Beach Riding. We looped around Curra Mountain, descended into Horseshoe Valley, and rode along the sandy Rossbeigh Beach. The views over the sheep-filled fields and outstretched Dingle peninsula were spectacular, and horseback riding along the trails and beach was an unforgettable way to take everything in. Trail rides are available for both beginners and more experienced riders. I highly recommend doing one. #9: Cahirciveen Cahirciveen is a colorful small town with a population of around 1,300. Its main attractions are the Cahergal and Leacanabuaile forts, the remains of stone forts built around 600 AD that suggest the existence of an early Christian farming community. You could also visit the Daniel O’Connell Memorial Church, one of the only churches in Ireland named after a layperson, and old army barracks that have been turned into a heritage center. Cahirciveen is proud of its history as the spot where the first shots of the 1867 Fenian Rising were fired, a rebellion against British rule. Cahirciveen is worth a stop for the old stone forts, but if you're pressed for time or staying on the eastern part of the ring, then you could opt to see Staigue Fort instead. #10: Ballycarbery Castle Cord Cardinal/Flickr After Caherciveen, the next place you could stop is Ballycarbery Castle. This once proud 16th century castle on a hill now stands in ivy and moss-covered ruins. As a huge fan of evocative ivy-covered ruins, I’d put this castle high on the list of must-sees. It’s a quick stop, but it’s a quintessential Ring of Kerry sight. Check it out! Note about the next few stops on the list: The next four stops are actually located on Skelligs Ring, an offshoot of N70, which is the technical Ring of Kerry. You can visit the villages of Portmagee and Valentia Island, take a boat to the Skellig’s Islands, or drive along St. Finian’s Bay. If you don’t have time or interest to venture off the Ring, then feel free to skip down to #15 on this list, Waterville! #: Portmagee This village, located 10 minutes off of N70, has some restaurants and accommodations, so you can stop here for lunch or to stay overnight. It’s most notable as the gateway to the Skelligs Islands, though, as well as the town you pass through to take the bridge to Valentia Islands. #12: Skellig Islands: Skellig Michael and Little Skellig Arian Zwegers/Flickr These islands lie just off the coast of Portmagee. Both are protected as bird sanctuaries, and they contain bustling populations of puffins, gannets, Arctic terns, guillemots, herring gulls, razorbill, fulmars, manx shearwaters, and cormorants. You can take a boat around Little Skellig, and you can actually land on and explore Skellig Michael. When you get to Skellig Michael, you’ll see the other-worldly remains of a 6th century Christian monastery. Monks lived a remote existence in beehive-shaped stone formations. Everyday, they descended 670 steps to catch fish for their meals. The ruins are now protected as a UNESCO World Heritage site, and they’ll look mighty familiar if you’ve seen Star Wars: The Force Awakens. At the risk of spoiling the ending for anyone, I’ll just give you a two-word reminder of the scene: Luke Skywalker. To tour the Skellig Islands, you can sign up for a boat tour from Portmagee, Valentia Island, or Waterville. As protected areas, the number of visitors each day is limited, so sign up early! #13: Valentia Island You can reach Valentia Island, one of the most western points of Ireland, by bridge from Portmagee. Valentia played an important role in history- it was one of the stops of the first ever successful transatlantic cable. You should come to Valentia if you want to go hiking or see the majestic sea cliffs. You can hike the Geukaun Mountain and walk along the 600-foot cliffs. You can also walk out to tetrapod tracks, prints preserved from an animal for the past 385 million years. If I didn’t emphasize it enough already, the Ring of Kerry will blow your mind with the extent of its far-reaching natural and human history. #14: St. Finian’s Bay St. Finian’s Bay, known locally as the Glen, kicks up the natural beauty into hyperdrive with rolling mountains on one side and views across the Altantic, Skellig Islands, and Puffin Island on the other. Because of its big waves, St. Finian’s Bay is especially popular with divers and surfers. Another draw is Skellig’s Chocolate, a small, family-run chocolate factory and cafe with beautiful views over the bay. #15: Balinskelligs Balinskelligs is a coastal village of about 350, and one of the few remaining places in Ireland where people still speak Irish! You can find some pubs, cafes, and restaurants here, as well as accommodations to stay overnight. The best stops are Balinskelligs Beach, locally known as Ladies Beach, and the nearby ruins of McCarthy Mà ³r Castle. If you do stay overnight, you can take a â€Å"dark sky tour.† Since the area’s so free of pollution and light, you can see the stars and planets in the night sky as our ancient ancestors did. Go star-gazing in Balinskelligs with one of their "dark sky" tours! #16: Waterville This tiny village has a population of only 540, but it has plenty of restaurants, cafes, pubs, and hotels if you’re looking for a meal or to stay overnight. Like Beaufort, it’s one of the stops where the first transatlantic cable was laid in 1865. In 1866, a ship left from Waterville and laid cable from Ireland to Newfoundland, thereby linking Europe to North America. Waterville has a bunch of outdoor activities, including cycling, fishing, surfing, horseback riding, golf, beaches, and nature tours. Every August it holds a Charlie Chaplin Comedy Film Festival. Why? Waterville was a favorite vacation spot for Charlie Chaplin back in the day. #17: Eightercua Stones Robert Linsdell/Flickr Ready for some more old stone structures? The Eightercua Stones is an important stop on most Ring of Kerry maps because the standing stones date all the way back to 1700 BC! This east-west row of stones is thought to be a Megalithic tomb and possibly the burial place of Scà ©ine, the wife of a Milesian leader. The Milesians were a group of people that conquered Ireland. The tallest stone is nine feet, and the entire tomb stretches 25 feet. It’s definitely worth a stop if you’re a person who gets excited by ancient stone formations. And, honestly, who doesn’t get excited by ancient stone formations? #18: Loher Stone Fort Fast forward from the builders of Eightercua 2,500 years and you’ve got early Christians building a farm house inside a defensive wall. This 9th century stone fort overlooks Balinskelligs Bay. Again, it’s an intriguing and relatively quick stop if you’re interested in ancient ruins. #19: Derrynane This small village on the sea has beautiful sandy beaches and historical sites. The Derrynane Beach is a long, sandy beach sheltered by mountains. Nearby, you can tour the mysterious Derrynane Abbey, a 6th century abbey surrounded by graveyard that now sits in ruins overrun with plants. You can also check out Derrynane House, which was home to Daniel O’Connell, also known as the Liberator. O’Connell campaigned for independence from Britain in the 19th century. You can take a 30-minute guided tour of the house, learn about O’Connell and his family, and tour the surrounding 320-acre national park. Make time to see at least one beach along the Ring of Kerry, on foot or on horseback! #20: Caherdaniel This small village is most notable for the Caherdaniel Fort, a stone fort dating back to 600 AD. You can also find restaurants and hotels here, as well as beautiful views over Derrynane Bay. #21: Castlecove Beach This sandy beach is popular with locals and families. It has a good restaurant next to it, the Beach Side Restaurant and Bar. If you haven’t checked out a beach already, stop here at Castlecove. If you’re all beached out, then you can leave this one off your trip. #22: Staigue Fort Stefan Jurgenson/Flickr Staigue Fort is one of the most popular stops on the Ring of Kerry map when it comes to stone ruins. It’s a circular stone fort built as a stronghold for a lord or king sometime between 300 and 400 AD. This fort is especially impressive to historians because of its sophisticated engineering and stone masonry for the time. It’s a quick stop, but worth it to see what a 4th century fort looks like. #23: Sneem This charming small village on the River Sneem (population 600) is home to several artists and craftspeople, making it a good stop for shopping at galleries and craft stores. You might also enjoy Riney’s Bar and its traditional Irish pub food and atmosphere. Since it’s on the coast, you can find a few nearby beaches: White Strand Beach, Castle Cove, and O’Carroll’s Cove. #24: Dunkerron Castle This castle was built in the late 00s and converted into the Tudor-style around 1596. There’s only one standing wall left today. The rest is in ruins. Dunkerron can be tough to find, and you’ll have to off-road it a bit to get there. I wouldn’t highly recommend it unless you’re a diehard fan of ivy-covered castle ruins. Mary Sullivan/All rights reserved #25: Kenmare Of all the towns along the Ring of Kerry, Kenmare (population 2200) probably has the most to see and do. It has a range of hotels, BBs, hostels, guesthouses, and campsites, as well as a bunch of restaurants and pubs. Some of the best restaurants in Kenmare are The Mews Kenmare, Mulcahy’s Wild Garlic Restaurant, Packy’s, Number 35, PF McCarthy’s, and The Coachman’s. One fun Kenmare attraction is its annual October festival for needlepoint lace. During the Great Famine in the 1800s, sisters of the Poor Clare convent taught women and girls this skill to help them support themselves. Outside of the festival, you can buy lace, go to workshops, and watch demonstrations year-round. Two important historical sites in Kenmare are the Old Kenmare Cemetery and the Kenmare Stone Circle. The cemetery dates back to the 7th century, and it became a place of mass burials during the Great Famine. The Stone Circle was built between 2200 and 500 BC, likely for ceremonial purposes. If you’re a Harry Potter fan, then you might also remember the town’s name from the Quidditch World Cup. Kenmare was said to be home to the professional Quidditch team, the Kenmare Kestrels. #26: Moll’s Gap Tom Fahy/Flickr You’ll drive through Moll’s Gap on your way back toward Killarney, and you can pull over for a panoramic view of the MacGillycuddy’s Reeks mountain range. Moll’s Gap is a popular stop for tour buses, and there’s an epic lookout point, as well as a souvenir shop and coffee shop. #27: Killarney National Park Once you’ve made it this far, you’re starting to get close to Killarney again. South of the town is the 25,000 acre Killarney National Park, the first national park in Ireland. About a quarter of it is made up by Lower Lake, Middle Lake, and Upper Lake. It’s the most extensive native forest in the country and has the only remaining herd of wild deer. The park is open year-round for hikers and bird-watchers. The next two stops, Ladies View and Torc Waterfall, are located in Killarney National Park. #28: Ladies View Ladies View is another popular stopping point for travelers on the Ring of Kerry. This viewpoint gives you sweeping views of the three lakes and mountains of Killarney National Park. Even though it can get crowded, it’s worth the stop for the National Geographic-worthy photographs. #29: Torc Waterfall Simon Caulton/Flickr This 70-foot high waterfall is just a five-minute walk off the road through pretty woodlands. It can get crowded, as the waterfall is a popular stop on the bus routes. For more gorgeous views over the lakes of Killarney National Park, you can climb 100 steps or so on the left side of the waterfall. #30: Muckross House This well-preserved Victorian mansion gives you guided tours of its furnished period rooms. Even if you don’t take a tour inside the house, you'll enjoy walking around the expansive grounds. Beyond the green lawns lie stone gardens, greenhouses, and working farms with sheep-shearing demonstrations. #31: Muckross Abbey Fred Zhang/All rights reserved This 15th-century abbey is surprisingly well-preserved, apart from the fact that it doesn’t have a roof. It was founded by Franciscan monks in 1448. The prettiest part of the abbey is the courtyard with a large yew tree in the center and a vaulted cloister. #32: Blue Pool Nature Reserve The nature reserve is a nice spot for walking through the woods, perhaps getting some glimpses of birds, deer, and other wildlife. The Cloghereen Blue Pool Walk takes you to the Blue Pool. Because of the limestone in the bottom, the pool can look bright turquoise. #33: Ross Castle Fred Zhang/All rights reserved Unlike some of the crumbling ruins along the Ring of Kerry, the Ross Castle is fully intact. You can tour the inside or just admire its stone exterior and the adjacent lake. Legend has it that its original owner, O’Donoghue, leaped into the lake with his horse, table, and library. He now lives in a palace at the bottom of a lake, watching over his castle and everything that goes on around it. You can rent boats and go out on the lake, as long as you’re careful not to disturb any 15th-century underwater ghosts. #34: Innisfallen Island Sandy Raidy/Flickr Across the lake sits Innisfallen Island and the ruins of Innisfallen Abbey. Monks lived here for 950 years until Queen Elizabeth I took it from them in 1594. Not cool, Elizabeth. On the island, monks wrote about the history of Ireland in the Annals of Innisfallen. Because of these records and the education offered here to monks and Irish kings, the lake got its name of Lough Leane, or the â€Å"lake of learning.† Once you’ve made your way through Killarney National Park and the stops along the way, you’ll end up right back where you started your journey, in Killarney! Whether you spent a few hours or a few days, you’ll see the stunning mountains, lakes, rivers, fields, and sea that make the Ring of Kerry one of the most beautiful drives in the world. With 34 stops (and then some, if you include all the spots of interest within each town), how can you choose which ones to include on your trip? While everyone's interests vary, here are my top picks for the best stops along the Ring of Kerry. Fred Zhang/All rights reserved Stops on the Ring of Kerry: Top Picks There are tons of places you could stop on the Ring of Kerry, but most of us don’t have days and days to explore. Unless you’re turning the Ring into a full-fledged, multi-day road trip, you probably want to know which stops are the best ones along the Ring. Here are my picks for the top Ring of Kerry attractions. Best Stone Forts: Staigue, Cahergal, and Leacanabuaile forts Best Beaches: Glenbeigh Beach and Derrynane Beach Best Castles: Ballycarbery Castle (for ivy-covered ruins) and Ross Castle (for a preserved castle that you can go inside) Best Historical House: Muckross House Best Lookout Point: Ladies View in Killarney National Park Best Town: Kenmare Best Day Trips: Skellig Islands and Horseback Riding If you don’t have time to drive the full ring, you might also choose just the west or east side and check out the top spots along the way. One common day trip from Killarney takes you to Muckross House, Muckross Abbey, Torc Waterfall, and Ladies View. Then you can drive back through Killarney and get dinner at Kate Kearney’s Cottage. Exploring the Ring of Kerry: Final Tips The Ring of Kerry is a special place, with breathtaking vistas, roaming animals, and ancient stone formations that give you glimpses into thousands of years of human civilization. Because there are picturesque villages filled with pubs and inns along the way, you can take as much time driving the Ring as you like. The best way to decide where you want to go and how long long you want to spend is to familiarize yourself with the stops along the way and decide which ones interest you most. If you’re excited to horseback ride and take a boat to the Skellig Islands, then you might plan a three-day Ring of Kerry trip. If you’d like to make just five to six stops, perhaps a castle, some stone ruins, a lookout point, Torc waterfall, and Muckross House or Abbey, then you could fit everything into one full day. Based on how beautiful the Ring of Kerry is, I’d advise overestimating the amount of time you’ll need to take your trip. That way, you can make unexpected stops and take your time on one of the planet’s prettiest drives. When you're driving the Ring, you might find that the fickle weather changes quickly and often from sun to rain and back again. While this unpredictable weather could mean you’ll get wet along your hikes or horseback rides, it has a silver lining- it creates prime conditions for rainbows. I saw some of the longest and brightest rainbows I’ve ever seen on my trip to Ireland. Standing beside the ivy-strewn ruins of a thousand-year-old castle beneath a rainbow, you’ll truly be in awe of the magic that dances across the rivers and mountains of County Kerry.