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Radio Society of Great Britain. Official HF. Contest Results.
Results. RSGB Commonwealth Contest 2007
Pos Callsign Score QSO BCA 80m 40m 20m 15m 10m
1 V25XF 8900 1089 105 151/37 307/53 394/61 236/31 1/1
2 VO1AU 7870 983 99 206/32 280/63 335/38 179/22 1/1
3 VE3EJ 7855 791 117 176/49 236/68 317/60 61/21 1/1
4 P3J 7560 900 102 75/19 265/55 329/62 228/24 3/2
5 ZC4LI 7460 925 98 97/17 225/49 312/52 287/30 4/3
6 VE3DZ 7285 747 115 163/44 230/67 322/56 31/16 1/1
7 J88DR 7235 838 99 132/32 225/49 329/55 152/24 0/0
8 VE2FUA 6705 691 101 188/48 200/60 286/47 14/12 3/3
9 ZL6QH 6310 514 107 83/48 215/62 180/53 31/24 5/4
10 VE7CC 6015 455 116 74/45 73/50 265/64 36/27 6/6
11 VE3KI 5950 666 93 116/34 226/60 276/39 14/11 1/1
12 G4BUO 5780 344 129 64/34 98/59 128/63 50/45 4/4
13 G3BJ 5470 340 121 66/37 101/56 130/62 41/36 2/2
14 GM0GAV 5375 321 119 60/34 103/62 113/58 44/36 1/1
15 VK6LW 5335 458 93 47/31 267/56 59/43 86/25 1/1
16 GM3POI 5245 306 120 71/43 76/51 108/54 49/38 3/2
17 VE3QAA 5150 539 80 81/32 196/53 249/30 14/9 1/1
18 G0IVZ 5110 299 116 59/35 98/55 104/61 33/30 5/4
19 VK2BJ 5045 378 93 52/40 196/62 110/42 21/15 0/0
20 VK4EMM 4860 419 83 45/34 194/54 156/39 21/16 3/2
21 VO1TA 4655 569 72 110/29 209/30 151/26 101/13 0/0
22 ZL4OL 4470 384 75 51/37 157/49 168/32 19/14 0/0
23 ZL4BR 4400 310 83 53/37 169/57 73/43 15/10 0/0
24 GM3WOJ 4375 245 101 36/23 56/42 107/56 43/38 3/3
25 ZL2BSJ 4270 355 73 35/28 189/49 126/42 14/9 3/3
26 ZL2IFB 4185 287 79 69/42 150/60 51/29 16/11 1/1
27 9J2BO 4080 452 65 9/9 28/15 133/38 241/28 42/8
28 *GM4FAM 3980 196 101 38/34 61/46 68/42 29/29 0/0
29 GW3NJW 3915 214 96 40/24 66/47 85/51 22/22 0/0
30 VK2AYD 3835 228 77 45/33 118/51 46/38 20/17 0/0
31 VE2AYU 3810 364 66 63/24 62/35 231/43 8/5 0/0
32 *VE1OP 3735 406 56 61/20 118/32 213/24 14/12 0/0
33 ZL2AZ 3665 218 85 62/40 94/49 40/27 20/14 2/2
34 *VA3DX 3605 315 66 39/23 105/46 166/30 4/4 1/1
35 *VK6VZ 3495 254 68 67/32 99/41 32/28 59/12 0/0
36 *GM3SEK 3440 184 83 12/11 41/36 104/56 25/23 2/2
37 *G3KZR 3320 155 89 26/24 42/31 58/45 27/27 2/2
38 *G3SJJ 3300 192 84 19/16 62/59 93/44 17/17 1/1
39 *ZS6AAA 3290 434 40 0/0 5/4 190/32 231/22 8/6
40 ZL1MH 3260 159 72 36/34 63/44 51/39 9/8 0/0
41 ZL4PW 3215 225 59 36/23 125/49 56/35 8/6 0/0
42 VE2FK 3205 386 41 69/19 106/16 207/29 4/4 0/0
43 *GM4AFF 3195 172 73 26/19 54/39 72/40 20/20 0/0
44 VP8NO 3185 292 57 17/12 43/30 123/27 110/21 0/0
45 G3WPH 3165 168 76 42/25 48/38 59/36 18/18 1/1
46 *VK6HD 3055 204 63 44/19 72/41 41/27 47/18 0/0
47 *VK2AEA 3050 221 59 28/22 131/48 61/32 1/1 0/0
48 ZS3/G3LZQ 3035 315 54 20/14 109/30 85/20 104/13 0/0
49 ZL3NB 2980 190 56 34/27 103/52 48/26 5/3 0/0
50 MD0CCE 2935 155 78 20/16 43/34 74/45 18/17 0/0
51 VK6BN 2920 190 61 32/22 86/32 45/30 28/19 1/1
52 G3GLL 2900 142 74 19/16 41/32 54/39 26/23 2/2
53 *VE3VHB 2850 176 66 23/15 51/35 92/38 12/11 0/0
54 *VK4XY 2845 143 60 30/28 65/39 37/32 11/9 0/0
55 VK4BUI 2805 142 60 25/22 57/36 50/38 9/8 1/1
56 G4FOC 2800 140 74 29/19 36/29 50/28 33/30 1/1
57 VK4TT 2770 153 58 26/21 59/39 54/33 15/10 0/0
58 G4FAL 2755 131 78 16/14 31/27 58/41 24/23 2/2
59 *VE7UZ 2720 169 67 27/22 46/32 83/32 13/11 0/0
60 VK2KM 2690 202 50 6/6 146/44 48/35 2/2 0/0
61 *G4CWH 2685 126 74 24/19 30/28 49/34 21/21 3/3
62 VK2NU 2605 170 56 30/21 106/44 29/26 3/3 0/0
63 VK4XA 2585 132 56 20/19 60/41 42/31 10/8 0/0
64 *9H1XT 2535 379 28 83/12 144/22 129/8 23/4 0/0
65 M0AJT 2485 125 69 11/11 28/25 56/32 29/26 1/1
66 G3TKK 2420 119 64 14/13 27/23 58/38 19/18 1/1
67 G3JJG 2180 103 62 9/8 35/31 42/30 17/16 0/0
68= *9M6XRO 2135 191 40 1/1 36/14 92/20 58/21 4/4
68= VE7VF 2135 146 50 7/6 19/16 84/31 29/22 2/2
70 VE3EZP 2130 126 50 33/23 49/33 43/19 5/4 0/0
71 *VE1AI 2095 211 36 82/21 18/9 111/24 0/0 0/0
72 *ZL1ANH 2030 116 46 21/16 51/31 42/29 1/1 0/0
73 *G4HZV 2000 85 54 8/7 34/32 30/27 13/13 0/0
74 *VE3HX 1980 117 45 20/14 32/27 61/26 2/2 2/2
75= *VA7ST 1925 191 31 3/3 27/26 159/19 2/2 0/0
75= VE7NS 1925 100 43 9/8 32/27 37/19 21/17 1/1
77 VE1MC 1815 121 40 13/8 46/27 52/19 10/8 0/0
78 *G4BJM 1800 77 53 9/9 13/13 32/28 23/21 0/0
79 VA7RN 1695 106 44 7/6 14/12 76/32 9/9 0/0
80 GM3JKS 1670 87 42 1/0 37/28 39/27 10/9 0/0
81 G3JKY 1600 78 49 21/17 22/16 24/20 12/10 0/0
82 VA2SG 1585 139 28 28/13 13/13 98/19 0/0 0/0
83 *ZS1EL 1570 161 24 1/1 3/3 40/13 113/20 3/3
84 *G3KNU 1535 76 43 7/7 14/12 43/27 11/11 1/1
85 *G2AFV 1480 68 44 10/9 15/15 33/25 10/9 0/0
86 *G3LHJ 1470 73 41 5/4 19/16 38/27 11/10 0/0
87 2E0CVN 1430 70 41 7/6 26/20 27/21 9/8 1/1
88 VK6AJ 1420 75 33 0/0 39/28 19/14 17/12 0/0
89 *GW4BLE 1375 74 39 3/3 26/18 33/22 12/10 0/0
90 *VE3UTT 1320 118 28 21/11 24/15 73/14 0/0 0/0
91 *VA3EC 1315 119 27 0/0 38/16 79/21 2/2 0/0
92 *G3YYD 1280 69 39 5/3 17/9 35/27 10/10 1/1
93 G3ZGC 1220 56 37 12/10 15/14 22/18 7/6 0/0
94 *G0IBN 1085 53 32 5/4 0/0 38/28 10/10 0/0
95 *G4ERW 1060 58 30 0/0 7/6 52/33 0/0 0/0
96 *G0ADH 955 53 28 0/0 1/1 42/25 11/10 0/0
97 *G4OBK 825 34 31 6/6 10/10 11/10 7/7 0/0
98 *2E0KOP 815 43 23 0/0 1/1 31/22 11/8 0/0
99 *VE5CPU 710 38 15 9/6 6/5 23/16 0/0 0/0
100 *VQ9LA 680 92 10 0/0 0/0 5/3 87/11 0/0
101 *VE3OM 675 50 16 0/0 13/8 34/14 3/1 0/0
102 *VE3OBU 360 17 10 0/0 3/2 12/10 2/2 0/0
103 *G3KMY 300 17 9 0/0 5/5 9/6 3/1 0/0
104 *VE3IGJ 225 10 6 0/0 0/0 9/8 1/1 0/0
* = 12-hour entry
Restricted Section
1 G3LET 4410 233 107 49/27 78/51 76/51 34/33 1/1
2 E51PJT 3620 196 76 33/30 89/53 43/32 29/19 2/2
3 G3IAF 3320 170 88 34/21 65/47 51/37 22/20 2/2
4 VE1RGB 3030 253 58 78/22 82/38 86/23 7/7 0/0
5 G4CZB 2845 130 79 25/21 34/32 50/37 19/18 2/2
6 VA3NR 2805 178 62 34/20 62/49 74/24 7/7 0/0
7 GW4MVA 2565 121 72 17/17 35/27 54/39 15/15 1/1
8 G3LIK 2555 117 67 19/17 43/35 41/33 13/13 1/1
9 *VE3OSZ 2430 163 53 62/32 51/32 50/17 0/0 0/0
10 *GM3CFS 2425 108 69 9/8 38/35 42/34 18/18 0/0
11 *G3HEJ 2290 104 65 15/13 33/29 42/30 21/17 1/1
12 G4FKA 2195 108 60 29/20 20/18 43/29 16/16 0/0
13 VP8KF 2130 149 46 6/6 65/32 29/12 51/20 0/0
14= *G3RSD 2020 92 58 17/15 27/24 36/31 13/9 0/0
14= VK6HG 2020 94 52 16/16 44/35 29/23 6/4 0/0
16 G3MPB 1995 94 58 9/8 25/21 46/36 13/12 1/1
17 *G3VYI 1970 96 53 18/17 36/28 35/23 8/8 0/0
18 G3RLE 1920 85 55 8/8 22/20 36/29 18/17 1/1
19 *G3YEC 1910 89 51 14/14 28/25 35/23 12/11 1/1
20 *G3TEV 1880 88 57 6/6 29/27 36/28 13/12 1/1
21 *G3TJE 1850 82 52 15/15 24/22 29/21 13/13 1/1
22 *G4RCD 1800 76 56 7/7 24/23 27/23 16/16 2/2
23 *G3UFY 1790 91 46 18/15 18/16 42/24 12/12 1/1
24 G4DBW 1745 78 48 20/18 18/16 25/19 14/14 1/1
25 G3RFH 1725 78 53 8/7 19/16 35/30 15/14 1/1
26 *VE3NE 1705 106 39 9/9 53/35 45/17 0/0 0/0
27 *G3GMS 1565 66 41 12/11 21/20 23/21 10/10 0/0
28 G4EBK 1525 68 46 10/10 19/16 25/20 14/14 0/0
29 *MM0BQI 1495 67 44 7/7 15/14 34/28 11/10 0/0
30 *G3WRR 1455 66 40 6/6 27/24 25/18 9/9 0/0
31 GW4HBK 1440 70 46 4/3 19/16 29/22 17/15 1/1
32 *VE2AWR 1425 112 26 17/10 40/14 53/19 2/1 0/0
33 *GW0ETF 1420 69 39 2/2 25/22 35/25 7/6 0/0
34 *G4DDX 1400 61 43 6/6 25/24 19/14 10/10 1/1
35 VK8AV 1340 69 26 19/17 52/33 0/0 0/0 0/0
36 *VE1NB 1285 102 26 52/19 10/6 40/15 0/0 0/0
37 *G4BGW 1265 54 39 4/3 18/17 21/19 10/10 1/1
38 GI4BQI 1235 61 33 12/11 18/16 32/21 0/0 0/0
39 *MU0FAL 1225 55 35 8/8 11/10 25/19 11/11 0/0
40 VE3FH 1205 65 35 16/11 24/16 23/15 2/2 0/0
41 *G3KKP 1165 53 33 0/0 2/2 38/30 12/12 1/1
42 *G3RWF 1150 56 33 14/8 7/7 16/11 21/18 1/1
43 VA7KOJ 1140 65 34 3/2 31/20 28/19 3/3 0/0
44 *VE3LZ 1115 58 29 18/14 24/20 16/9 0/0 0/0
45 *VE1AYY 1110 138 18 0/0 0/0 138/23 0/0 0/0
46 *GW8IZR 1100 48 36 11/10 17/15 4/4 16/15 0/0
47 *G3JJZ 1085 47 36 5/5 16/13 13/13 11/10 2/2
48 M0PCB 1080 45 33 1/1 17/16 19/18 8/8 0/0
49 G4WGE 1055 46 32 8/7 16/15 10/9 11/10 1/1
50 G3HKO 1045 51 27 5/5 16/13 25/19 5/4 0/0
51 *VE2CWT 1025 71 18 39/17 9/7 23/11 0/0 0/0
52 G0HDB 985 43 32 0/0 10/9 24/20 10/10 0/0
53= *G3NKS 980 40 31 4/4 14/14 18/17 4/4 0/0
53= *VA3RKM 980 51 24 14/12 18/11 18/14 1/1 0/0
55 *G3YMC 975 39 29 0/0 15/15 17/17 6/6 1/1
56= G4KTI 965 47 29 0/0 8/7 29/21 9/9 1/1
56= G4OBC 965 45 30 0/0 19/19 20/13 6/6 0/0
58 *G0UKX 960 42 30 0/0 9/9 25/21 8/8 0/0
59 *VA2WDQ 875 71 18 0/0 46/12 24/14 1/1 0/0
60 *VE1KB/9 855 65 21 15/7 9/5 41/19 0/0 0/0
61 *G4DDL 765 36 24 0/0 8/7 21/16 7/7 0/0
62 *G0RDO 750 35 25 0/0 4/4 22/16 9/9 0/0
63 VE1EP 705 32 24 7/6 14/13 10/8 1/1 0/0
64 *VK7RO 700 33 14 0/0 33/27 0/0 0/0 0/0
65 *VK6RZ 690 32 19 1/1 23/19 7/6 1/1 0/0
66 *G4EHT 680 30 18 0/0 8/7 22/20 0/0 0/0
67 *VU2BGS 665 59 17 2/1 4/3 9/6 44/11 0/0
68 *GM3YEH 605 27 18 16/13 1/1 10/10 0/0 0/0
69 *VE3JAQ 570 59 12 41/7 0/0 17/8 1/1 0/0
70 *VE2FFE 555 35 15 5/3 11/6 19/12 0/0 0/0
71 *VK5HO 545 33 11 0/0 10/5 23/16 0/0 0/0
72 *G4ARI 525 22 16 2/2 1/1 16/15 3/3 0/0
73 *M0CNP 475 21 15 4/4 2/2 6/5 8/7 1/1
74 *VU2LYX 420 20 12 0/0 3/3 4/4 13/9 0/0
75 *G3WYW 400 21 11 0/0 0/0 20/15 1/1 0/0
76 *G0MTN 360 18 8 0/0 7/5 11/9 0/0 0/0
77 *VE3MGY 350 18 13 7/4 9/9 2/1 0/0 0/0
78 *G0VQR 335 19 9 0/0 0/0 19/13 0/0 0/0
79 *G4ZUL 325 18 13 0/0 5/3 9/7 4/3 0/0
80 *ZS4JAN 300 13 10 0/0 0/0 6/6 6/5 1/1
81 *VE3EY 285 14 8 0/0 7/6 7/5 0/0 0/0
82 *VA3PL 240 14 7 0/0 0/0 12/7 2/2 0/0
83 *VE1LS 220 16 5 0/0 6/4 11/4 1/0 0/0
84 *VE3XAT 175 9 7 0/0 6/6 3/1 0/0 0/0
85 *VK5UE 100 9 4 0/0 6/3 3/1 0/0 0/0
HQ Stations
1 +VA3RAC 5770 557 91 102/36 111/52 312/55 29/13 3/3
2 +ZL6A 5050 401 92 59/38 177/61 118/54 38/23 0/0
3 +VE7RAC 3720 252 72 30/23 70/41 125/40 26/21 1/1
4 +VO1RAC 2550 165 62 51/24 37/28 56/24 20/10 1/1
5 VE6LB 1970 111 49 25/20 37/29 44/20 4/4 0/0
6 G3UHU 1575 76 47 4/4 25/20 29/22 16/15 2/1
7 +VU2UR 1225 63 33 3/3 12/11 12/12 34/18 2/2
+ = HQ station
The full writeup for 2007 together with a vast amount of background information, statistics and photographs related to the Commonwealth Contest may be found at www.beru.org.uk
SOAPBOX:
2E0CVN
Vry vry slow!! Nice to work the DX shame there wasen't any good condx! Nice to work VK/ZL on 40m. Only hear 1 ZB2 and could never find him CQ'ing :-(
2E0KOP
Great fun again. Looking forward to next year. I'm getting used to SD for contesing, still the best for the Commonwealth Contest.
9J2BO
IC746 + Drake LV4 ... 350W
3-ele Tribander + sloping dipole (40M) + inverted vee (80M)
9M6XRO
Enjoyed the Contest but very slow towards the end. I had fewer calls from non-Commonwealth stations this year but still had to work the more persistent ones to
get to the weaker BERU stations calling me! Pity to hear Commonwealth DX on CW but not taking part!
E51PJT
Disappointing result , very few Gs worked , poor LP but the main problem was a violent tropical storm which detuned the antenna on 80 and 40 and increased QRN and the audible roar of huge waves breaking on the reef. Watch out for flying coconuts!
Rig K2 100w Butternut vertical on beach. Story at www.beru.org.uk.
G0IBN
SD is great. Too busy at work to do it in earnest unfortunately
G0IVZ
Nice to be back in Beru after a couple of years layoff.
G0MTN
Just playing - club's radio rally so no time (or energy!) for serious effort this year. Windom at 15 feet.
G0RDO
Some great DX and SD logger worked wonderfully
G0UKX
Using 50watts struggled for contacts. SDC worked perfectly once again. Good to hear the ZL ZS 7Q and VK stns with good sigs
G2AFV
Have used SDC for many yrs. Nice to hear old friends again
G3BJ
Excellent contest - helpd no doubt by the team event
G3GLL
SDC and winkey worked ok. Condtions not too good and local noise high. Enjoyed the contest as usual !
G3HEJ
Great learning 'Post-Contest logging' with SDC, but paper-logged during 'Test'
G3HKO
Pretty poor effort this year. Conditions poor - roll on sunspots.
G3KKP
Hard going hence early QRT !
G3KMY
First time I have submitted a log and regretted not achieving a greater score. However I still enjoyed taking part. Heathkit HW-101 and G5RV
G3KZR
Tough in the middle of the night but picked up nicely on Sunday morning. I equalled my highest QSO count from 2003. What happened to GB5CC this year?
G3LET
Made a complete mess of 20m - missed so many easy bonuses. Just too late on 10 - 9J2BO and some others were just fading out. 80 and 40 generally good and 15 showed definite signs of recovery over last year. The Team Competition was very effective in
stimulating interest. Could it become permanent?
G3LHJ
Very hard going this year but good fun - some very good ears needed this year.- nil on 10M.
G3LIK
Conditions were fairly good this year. Tried to get a good nights sleep too. Always at the back of a queue using 100w and wire ant. Always great fun
G3NKS
Good condx on 40m Sunday morning; delighted to work VK and ZL with my 66ft doublet at 15ft - and 100w.
G3RFH
Seemed to be a lot of one-way propagation - I could hear them but they couldn't hear me. Very good under poor conditions.12AVQ vertical performed very well.
G3RSD
Used SDC for logging. Thanks Paul
G3RWF
contest curtialed when my daughter had baby at 0040. Used SD - no probs
G3TEV
Kenwood TS850SAT + H/B Linear - 400w. 132' very bent inverted vee doublet
G3TJE
12hr 100w entry - claim for 70 band call areas. Slow but enjoyable!
G3TKK
Amazed at contacts achieved on LF bands
FT-1000MP Linear Amp 300W A3S at 35 feet W3DZZ for LF as inverted V from tower
G3UFY
RIG - FT1000MP + FL2100Z. ANTENNAS - Tribander + loops
G3VDL
Homebrew 60W input - Longwire + dipoles
G3VYI
Good DX condx but low signal strenghths except on 40M. Always enjoy BERU !Good ops and no QRM ! Not much on 10 or 15 no sunspots. Good on 80 / 40 !
G3WRR
Conditions not great. Some of the usual countries (ZF 8P 6Y etc) absent - or at least not heard by me. Used SDC (in conjunction with Winkey) - like it!
G3WYW
Not able to allocate enough time to the contest but enjoyed the QSO's I had. More planning next time!
G3XMM
Only on for short periods but good fun nevertheless. Condx better than expected especially on 40 metres.
G3YEC
Started slightly late due to shopping!! Suddenly could do no wrong on 40M at approx 0630
one call amongst the masses and "they" answered
G3YMC
Just a small entry. With my QRP setup I can never make a real impact on this contest but it is always nice to hear countries which are not that often on the air. Why are the so many VK stations around this weekend and we never hear them at any other time?
G3YYD
Not a full effort as had too many family activities to work around. Very enjoyable always of course get called by a few russians and Italian who do not understand so I just give a 599, 73 and move on.
G3ZGC
I used SD for logging - it's great. Poor conditions for simple antennae
G4BUO
Good to have the team competition raise the level of activity at the bottom of the sunspot cycle. Delighted to hear my mate ZL2iFB on 80m short path a little before my sunset.
G4CWH
Antenna array caused neighbour to rat on me to local planners. Planners decided as it was temporary they didn't think it warranted further action. Phew. Still trying to master the art of maximising 12-hour scoring rate
G4CZB
Best ever score on 80m despite only 100W this year - waterlogged garden may have helped! Band noise low, signals strong. Where was GB5CC?
G4DBW
Yaesu FT 857 100 watts pep. Antennae G5RV dipole on 80 and 40. Rotary Dipole on 20/15/10
Delighted to hear signals on 10m and 15m Tried desperately to stay awake for Sunday monring sunrise - but dozed off - maybe next year !!!!
G4DDL
Conditions not too good for stations with basic antenna. Some mistakes in there I suspect as QRM high especially from EU stations calling the BERU DX during QSOs. Still some nice ones worked and I enjoyed hearing DX!
G4DDX
I was surprised at the number of ZL and VK stations All were weak but able to work all I could hear. Very enjoy able. I hope this entry makes it this time.
G4EBK
Operated for 13 hrs. Thanks to all the DX stns who replied to the puny signals from my HF dipole antennas at 16 Ft high and LF dipoles at 30 Ft high.
G4EHT
Never entered BERU before, found 20m hard going but 40m seemed very good to VK/ZL.
TS570DG, 80W and small doublet bent like a 'Z' around tiny garden.
G4FAL
Personally I blame the Victorians; if their imperialist ambitions had played out a bit closer to home, then this contest would have been a damn sight easier. On the other hand, is it coincidence that we are communicating to some of the most inviting places on the planet?
My claimed Band-Call area number is 77 and it would be nice to have a certificate if this
is verified, as I only got to 65 last year! Thanks
G4FKA
Restricted 24 hour section. Eligible for John Dunnington Trophy listing (but won't win it of course!). Equipment IC-756 ProIII, 100w, 2 single element antennas - 10m wire vertical and 30m wire inverted V wire doublet. Third entry - similar QSO to
G4FOC
Used SD for logging. Where was GB5CC? Need someone who wants to operate. Poor show.
G4OBK
Glad I managed to make an appearance in the 70th BERU
G4RCD
Thoroughly ejoyed this contest. Some great DX worked, and the 12 hour section allows operating to fit around other things, though the chosen 12 hours maybe should have been different to maximise QSOs in certain areas......
G4WGE
Logging of 3 of the 4 contacts with V25XF messed up due to a combination of rig, PC, operator and SDC. ZL and VK just audible - a first for this QTH and with this setup
GI4BQI
RIG - IC756 PRO 3 ... 100W. ANTENNAS - DOUBLET at 35'
GM3CFS
KENWOOD TS570DG - 100W. 66M LONG WIRE @ 30'. Much better conditions on 21MHz this year but still heavy going with only a single wire antenna. Lots of activity & the ZLs on 7MHz were a pleasant surprise. Some good DX worked but where was GB5CC. Only heard them on 14MHz very weak ... last year worked them on 4 bands!
GM3JKS
This was only a casual operation. SD performed flawlessly and extremely well
GM3POI
Pity about the Condx plus also had a 40m antenna problem. Overall I think activity was up and perhaps the Team idea should stay
GM3SEK
It's a real challenge to pick the *best* 12 hours - I hope to be better at that next year.
FT-1000MP, PA Antennas OB6-3M (20-15-10), 40m GP, 80m very low dipole (and it shows)
GM3WOJ
Enjoyable contest, but annoyed that I didn't work 5W0RE who was 599 !
GW4BLE
Nothing too serious, just a token 70-odd contacts! Use as check-log if you wish.
GW4HBK
Enjoyed some good DX, did about 16Hrs. Slow but fun. SD is the best free software. Need a better antenna for 80, heard some gud DX but could not work them.
GW4MVA
Nice to work VP8NO for DXCC#295 !
J88DR
IC7000, SB200, 3-EL yagi at 35FT, R8 vertical, 3.5 & 7 MHz dispoles. Much more activity this eyar. Did not hear VK6 at all
M0AJT
Really enjoyed it. When else can you work so much choice DX in 24hrs. A bit slow at times but the quality of DX more than made up for that. How about club teams next year maybe 3 or 5 man teams as in AFS.
M0CNP
First time entry. Found the going hard as very few signals were available in the abysmal propagation
M0PCB
This was the first time I've entered BERU and it was AWESOME! Only made 45 QSOs but definitely a quality contest. Not a huge score for around 14 hours s&p, but 4 all time new countries a rake of new band/mode combos. It's all good. 80M was tough as with the
new doublet antenna wasn't able to crack the pileups but did work VO1. A couple of stations got away, notably VP8NO and VQ9LA must just have been that little bit too weak with them.
Nice to work some great DX on 40M, never been able to do that before, was definitely worth getting u at 6am on Sunday for the Vks and ZL's. Used SD for the first time, quite impressed at the ease of use, though I was doing the rig and key control ;-) I had a blast, my housemates will think I'm crackers! Will be taking part next year for sure.
MM0BQI
Had planned to do the 24 hours from a tent on a local cliff top but the weather man convinced me that was madness! Great fun and FB DX to be worked. Conditions not great but the thrill of
working VK/ZL on 40m makes up for it! CU all next year.
P3J
Nice to see lots of activity especially from the UK. Nice increase in score over last year, but so did many others!
V25XF
Great fun operating BERU from Antigua. Getting familiar with a new station and location only hours before the contest can be challenging. The V25XF callsign was issued only a few hours before the start of the contest. Working volumes of G's on LF was great. Only one QSO on 10m. Took an unscheduled three-hour nap during the early evening but fortunately woke up in time for the main UK opening on 80m. And yes, I'd like to claim a 70 BCA certificate (90 BCAs worked).
VA2WDQ
Yaesu FT-102 ANT Vertical - Butternut HF2V
VA3DX
Dismal conditions at times
VA3NR
Mark-V at 100watts & Butternut vertical.
VA3RKM
K2, 5 watts, dipoles and vertical. My first BERU. Thanks for working a tiny signal!
VE1AI
My version of Wite Log did not score this correctly. I appologize for any inconvenience this may cause. I wanted to send in the log in anycase.
VE1EP
Conditions were spotty. Nil heard on 10M. Few very weak signals on 15M. Good brief opening on 40M to ZL/VK. My age is 91 years. BERU is still my favourite contest.
VE1LS
I moved into an apartment and with antenna restrictions. I was unable to compete as in past years. The Commonwealth Contest is the oldest and still the BEST.
VE2AYU
Special thanks to contest manager and all participants for a very enjoyable and rewarding contest. Propagatipon conditions provided no openings on 10 and only a few on 15; mainly with EU.
Equipment: YAESU FT 1000MP Mk V, Homebrew Linear, CT logger.
Antennas: 20 - 15 TH7 at 75 ft, 40 - 80 Dalta at 75 ft.
VE2CWT
IC-756PROIII + G5RV. Operated 3.5 hours. 73 CU next year for more
VE2FFE
TS-440S, R-5 VERTICAL, TRAP DIPOLE
VE2FUA
Member, Canadian team in Commonwealth Team contest
Band-Call Areas: 93 (+13 HQ Band-Call Areas) - please send certificate.
VE3EJ
119 Band Call areas claimed.
VE3EZP
With foF2@2.15/MUF@6.5MHz at start & end it was tough slogging;even fixing WS19 12ft whip in 2ft snow/ice & half gale!But BERU as always was a blast;3hrs kip at"lowprobably lost me personal best but anno domini won! Next year 5 acres and a Rhombic(in place of Mule)will win!
VE3FH
TS-940S 100W Output. 80/40 Dipoles. 20/15/10 R5 Vertical
VE3HX
Member of Canadian cricket team. Wonderful to hear so many familiar calls but also wonderful to hear many new ones
VE3KI
Member, Canadian side in Commonwealth Team contest. Band-Call Areas: 80 (+12 HQ Band-Call Areas) - please send certificate. I started out the contest with a substantial deficit in the sleep account, so I fell 3 hours short of the full 24. Thanks to Don VE3RM for the use of his station. It's quite a change from my own TS-850 and vertical!
Radios: FT-1000MP + 4CX1000, TS-940 + Alpha 76
Antennas: Skyhawk (tower 1), TH5 & 402CD (tower 2), 80m dipole + Beverage
VE3LZ
I was amazed at DX worked with 100 watts and low 80 met first time using SDC alot of fun as you go
VE3OSZ
My first real try at the BERU. 80m was my best band.
VE3QAA
Great contest - I hope the club competion continues. I finally realized that "cricket" does not refer to the insect sound of CW in a contest but rather is a game played by Brits - a form of Baseball but without rules. Do they really drink tea between innings?
VE6LB
Had logging problems (clearing NRs) for the first 30 Qs due to finger problems on my part. Low acitivity on the low bands at my AM. Ran multi-op as I wanted to use packet and hi-power but didn't work want to work 24 hrs. no propagation on 15 or 10 here and very low level of
activity on 20. Likely my last BERU for a while. Not worth the "in front of the radio" time for the number of Qs.
VE7NS
Happy to work VP8 on two bands. The SDC program worked flawlessly for me
VE7UZ
IC765 + G2DAF AMPLIFIER - 750W DC INPUT.
VE7VF
FT 1000 Mk5, TH7 Tribander, 80m Loop.
VK2AEA
IC7400 + 300W, TB + invV 80/40
VK2AYD
80 heavy storm QRN. 10m totally dead. First time using SD. Great but couldn't key TRX!
So all hand keying. Lots of SD learning by next year. Tried hard to make up for missing last years comp but poor conditions beat me.
VK2BJ
80m ggood conditions and best ever score - but it would have been even better if P3J and V25SX had been able to hear me 40m was quite good 20m poor 15 useless and 10 !
SDC performed impeccably as usual.
VK2NU
My best entry yet but 20-15-10m were very poor. The team comp was a great idea
elecraft K2, Vertical antenna and FL2100z
VK4BUI
Always a friendly contest and this year the cricket team aspect added interest. SDC by EI5DI worked like a charm
VK4TT
G'day to all other Ops. Used SD programme worked first class
VK5HO
100W, dipole on 14MHz, whip on 7MHz
VK5UE
Only had time for a few contacts but had good time. Used EI5DI software for the logging worked well
VK6AJ
No complaints - just pure enjoyment. FT-990, 6-el Log Periodic up 10m, 49m Dipole
VK6BN
Good to meet old friends. More VK activity would have been welcome. I am new to SD but had no problems with it and enjoyed
VK6HG
TS570, all band doublet
First serious effort since 2003. Low sunspots seemed to force more people onto LF. 40 was excellent from here. The team concept seemed popular and maybe increased activity. FT1000MP, 2 ele quad 40 to 10m, Dipole 80m.
VK6RZ
100 watts, Butternut HF6V. Only QRV for 2 hours
VK6VZ
Greatly enjoyed the team contest but was restricted to the Open 12-hour section owing to family events. 40m was the 'bread and butter' band while 80m and 15m were the next best respectively. Someone seemed to have turned off the SP and LP to the UK on 20m!
Please repeat the team event in 2008!
VK7RO
TS-930 + INVERTED V
VK8AV
enjoyed contest with limited facilities
VO1AU
Thanks to Gus VO1MP for loaning me his excellent station. Thanks to Paul VO1HE for helping sort out pre-contest PC problems. Although I didn't work enough, the VK and ZL activity was noticeably up. BERU remains my favourite contest. EI5DI's SDC worked very well, and I was able to do SO2R properly for the first time in BERU. I must do a better job of finding bonuses.
VO1RAC
Not as good as 2 years ago but better than last year. The amp sure helps and getting up for the start of the contest paid off in Pacific bonuses. Loads of fun. The team thing this year was a nice touch and may be something to consider for future years. I was disappointed that there weren't many HQ stations on. The more densely populated areas should try to activate an HQ station
VO1TA
Always a lot of fun Condx did not seem to be all that
VP8KF
Moved ~3 miles out of Stanley, the QTH I was staying at with 3 element SteppIR and BigIR vertical was only 200m from VP8NO, at that distance even two K2's would have struggled !!!
VP8NO
My biggest effort yet though still more to do The team contest adds an interesting new element to the contest and I hope it continues. See you next year! SDC did its stuff as usual
VQ9LA
Not much time for the contest but had fun anyways.
VU2BGS
glad that my small station was hrd by many !! condx not very good.
VU2LYX
Enjoyed taking part again in BERU.
ZC4LI
Thanks to all concerned in running the contest.
ZL1ANH
First BERU, some surprising DX and very enjoyable.
ZL2AZ
First two hours had great conditions, after that it turned to custard. In spite of conditions, score slightly ahead of 2006. Not many runs of G's on 20 or 40 metres. GB5CC never even heard or worked. Rig FT1000MP MarkV Field plus FL-7000 Amplifier, 400 watts PEP output.
Antennas All band centre fed Inverted Vee plus 3 element triband yagi 10-15-20 metres.
ZL2BSJ
As a first-time Commonwealth Contest participant, I I was impressed by the large number of UK stations roaming the the bands. In the absence of the Eu wall, most most were easily workable, even with my ground-mounted, 5-band vertical. I'll be back next year for more 7Q, V2
and VP8 :-)
ZL2iFB
My first BERU entry from ZL and first QSOs on the new beam. Condx poor for me, especially on the high bands. No Africans in the log, thanks to lumps in the local terrain. Numerous BERU stations to work though – I guess the cricket competition has had the desired effect.
TS850, LK550, 3ele Yagi up 9m for 20/15/10m, rotatable dipole & GP for 40m, dipole at 20m for 80m
ZL3NB
Despite Propagation enjoyed the competition!
ZL4BR
Activity from ZL and VK was best for many years, thanks I believe to the team contest. At least 21 ZL's and 39 VK's were active
ZL4OL
First time in Beru, enjoyed the laid back atmosphere and team spirit. SDC was great for logging.
ZL6QH
Conditions were not good, possibly the worst that I have experienced since I started entering this contest from ZL6QH. Fortunately the poor conditions were more than offset by additional VK/ZL activity associated with the team contest. It turns out that the raw score of 6530 is the best that I have achieved since 2002, mainly due to the extra bonus points from VK and ZL
stations. As expected for this part of the solar cycle, the 10M band was lifeless, although I was pleasantly surprised to find and work VE7CC at 2315z. The only other QSOs on this band were with local ZL stations. The 15M band was not much better with DX QSOs being limited to the South Pacific area, a few VE stations, VU2UR, and ZC4VJ (1st QSO in the log at the start of the contest). I could not find any trace of G signals. Even 20M failed to deliver this year. The short path opening to UK on Saturday night was not as good as usual and closed early. Neither the long path nor short path to UK opened properly on Sunday evening although I did manage to work a string of very weak G stations using ESP techniques! The path to North America was also marginal with only 20 VE stations making it into the log on this band. The good news is that the short path to Africa was open around 0530z and it was relatively easy to add 9J2BO and 7Q7BP to the log.
Most of the action was on 40M. The first QSOs with UK via the short path on Sunday morning were with GM3POI at around 1505z and then with G4BUO a few minutes later. I did hear ZS/G3LZQ with a weak signal around 0530z but unfortunately he followed a QSY request to 80M before I could attract his attention. Conditions on 80M were fair but plagued by strong atmospheric noise which made it difficult to copy weaker signals. Some of the better catches were V25XF, VP8NO, VP8KF and J88DR. The Sunday evening long path to UK is normally more reliable than the morning short path, but this year the morning seemed to be more productive. I ended up logging 18 G QSOs in the morning and only an additional 8 in the evening - GM3POI was first in the log around 1635z. The poor conditions on the high bands made for slow going during the day and I found myself dozing off on several occasions.
Jet lag from a trip to EU a few days earlier did not help! Anyhow it was a still a lot of fun and I hope to be back for more in future years. However I may not be active next year as it is very likely that ZL6QH will be QRX while a wind farm is built on the site. Thanks to RSGB for running the contest, Bob G3PJT for initiating the team event, Frank ZL2BR for organising the ZL team, the Wellington Amateur Radio Club for the use of the ZL6QH station, and to everyone for the QSOs.
FT1000MP radio + Drake L7 amplifier (500W) + Writelog logging software.
Antenna farm:
80M 1/4 wave vertical
80M sloping dipoles (supported from 40m mast)
20M 5 el yagi beams for NA and LP to EU
15M 5 el yagi beams for NA and EU
Vee beams with 300m legs for NA, EU, LP to EU, and LP to NA (all bands)
Rhombic with 200m legs, switchable between SP and LP to EU (all bands)
See www.zl6qh.com for more information about the ZL6QH station.
ZS3/G3LZQ
As usual great fun but ZS is long way from everyplace. Great location 29.2878S 16.8798E on beach front. No power for 1st 2-hrs utility board switched it off. Q's died once EU/NA got together. Knew ZS3 was rare on CW but pile ups something else after contest QRN on 80m made copy difficult except for predawn period.
ZS4JAN
FT1000MP,5 band dipole up 7m. My first try in Beru contest,see you next time
ZS6AAA (ex ZS1AN)
I was initially planning to operate as the South African headquarters station ZS0HQ. However a
bad cold convinced me to operate in the Open section instead so that I could retire with honour after 12 hours. Band conditions were poor to fair, with lots of noise on the low bands. However I was able to run on 15m much of the time it was open, and sometimes on 20m. As a consequence, although I worked lots of stations, I still only managed 35 band call areas, which hurt the score a bit. Perhaps I'll try more S&P next time.


text:
The folks at Foxhole call it an "upscale locals' joint." Strange to see the words upscale and joint together in a sentence, but that is exactly what Foxhole is, a slightly classed-up version of the coolest lowbrow bar that happens to be located in South Beach. This bi-level fun house has it all — throwback '80s videogames, including Galaga and Miss Pac-Man (we dig that chick; she's fast), as well as classic bar staples like pool and darts. There's a high-techno gadget jukebox, comfy banquettes, and a big bar you can approach from all sides (cocktail traffic control is key). Bottle service can be arranged upon request, but there's a strict no-attitude policy. If you show up to drink, you are welcomed; it doesn't matter if you are a toad or a Euro-supermodel. We love that Foxhole is open seven days a week and that the drink lineup suits everyone, offering both creative cocktails and about 30 beers. You'll have to seek out the unmarked entrance, though; it's in an alley between Alton Road and West Avenue. Look for the lamp and consider it an adventurous lesson in game hunting.
1218 14th Ct., Miami Beach, 33139
foxholebar.com
Nothing is more exciting than seeing the clock strike 5 p.m. when you're at work. You and your fellow employees dash to the front door of the office, elbow anyone who gets in your way, and head out in search of libation. We suggest Sandbar Sports Grill. Not only do the weekday happy hours offer half-priced drinks and appetizers from 4 to 7 p.m., but you can also catch almost any game on one of 26 TV sets. Sure, you might run into some UM frat bros on Thursday college nights, but the $3 bottled beer specials are worth it. The home of the fish taco also offers specials on the weekends. Grab a few $3.75 bloody marys on Saturdays and Sundays, or bring your paycheck stub in on Sundays to get 50 percent off your tab.
3064 Grand Ave., Coconut Grove, 33133
sandbargrove.com
Courtesy of Wood Tavern
Though the Wynwood Arts District has evolved greatly in the past few years, its main strip has always been devoid of one key feature of any worthwhile neighborhood: a decent, no-nonsense, old-fashioned bar. Not to disrespect the venues serving drinks in the artsy area, but sometimes you just want to walk into a place with a 20-dollar bill in your pocket and leave with a few drinks in your gut. Thankfully, there's Wood Tavern. And tavern indeed is the perfect descriptor for this place, with wooden, brick, and plaid walls. There's also a buffalo head, a leprechaun statuette, and a profusion of comfy, vintage couches. Although it only opened this past December, the place has an air of familiarity. Of course, the sanely priced drinks including a pleasing selection of craft beers and signature cocktails, made us want to stick around. Forget familiarity, Wood is basically now our new best friend in Wynwood.
2531 NW Second Ave., Miami, 33127
woodtavern.com
3250 NE 1st Ave., Miami, 33127
ricochetlounge.com
When you're looking for the velvet-rope experience without the South Beach parking hassle, Justin's Bar & Lounge has you covered. Promoted on Power 96 and El Zol 95, the club celebrates house, salsa, merengue, bachata, Top 40, hip-hop, and sports. The place offers ice-cold mojitos, a burning-hot dance floor, and VIP tables for very special bottle service (with $150 Grey Goose and Johnny Walker Black bottles). On weeknights, you can shoot a game of stick at the pool table, enjoy two-for-one drinks from 7 to 10 p.m., and get in with no cover charge. On Fridays and Saturdays, ladies enter free till midnight, dudes get in for $10 to $20, and the joint is packed with sexy Latinas, exotic Russian beauties, hombres, and Israeli playboys. Whether it's DJ Dudu, Berdugo, Empire, or E-Feezy on the decks, the music bangs, the people dance, and the liquor flows. Now that's what we call boozin'.
justinsaventura.com
From the moment you buy your first brew, you half expect the other beer guzzlers to start chanting, "Chug, chug, chug, chug!" Owned by former Miami Hurricanes quarterback Craig Erickson, Hole in the Wall is a no-frills joint reminiscent of a college fraternity house's rec room. The décor consists of wood stools, benches, flat-screen TV sets, and a Galaga arcade game. There are also a couple of tables outside the entrance. Hole in the Wall is the spot to drink beer — and not any of those fancy microbrews either. Here, it's a steady stream of PBR, Budweiser, Miller Lite, and Yuengling. But connoisseurs can still get Guinness or Grolsch. The prices are hard to beat. Domestics run from $1.50 to $4 a glass, while imports go for $3.50 to $6. And you're gonna need a lot of cold lagers or ales to wash down the scrumptious chicken wings doused in Frank's RedHot sauce. A ten-wing platter costs $9. Or pig out on a 50-wing platter for $45 while watching the game with your friends. Hole in the Wall is open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
14421 S. Dixie Highway, Palmetto Bay, 33176
holeinthewallpalmettobay.com
7221 SW 58th Ave., South Miami, 33143
bougiesbar.com
It was after midnight on a recent Saturday when we found ourselves playing some eight ball and knocking back shots of Jägermeister as White Snake's "Here I Go Again" bumped through the loudspeakers. Cigarette smoke wafted through the Billiard Club, a strip-mall bar and sports lounge that has been happily serving the hard-working, hard-drinking middle-class residents of Miami Lakes, west Hialeah, and Hialeah Gardens for the past 13 years. The vibe is so chill you won't be surprised when you strike up a friendly conversation with owner Peter Tesser and he rewards you and your party with a round of drinks. He's the type of guy who wants all of his customers to feel like they are visiting a relative's house to watch the big game or fight. Flat-screens hanging at the main bar and over the pool tables show pay-per-view sporting events every weekend with little or no cover charge. Drinks are moderately priced. A glass or bottle of beer won't cost you more than $6, and a stiff drink will set you back no more than $10. A full-service kitchen cooks up popular bar food items plus burgers, chicken wings, and a New York strip steak that'll melt in your mouth. The Billiard Club opens at 4 p.m. daily. Last call is at 3 a.m. on weekdays and 4 a.m. on weekends.
15532 Northwest 77th Court, Miami Lakes, 33016-5804
900 S. Miami Ave., Miami, 33130
bluemartinilounge.com
8405 Mills Dr., Miami, 33183
When Miami Ink's celebrity tattoo artists Ami James and Chris Nuñez opened a lounge, we figured we would either love it or hate it. Which is kind of the idea at Love/Hate. There's certainly no indifference toward the tattoo-inspired art lurking in every shadow, the leatherette banquettes, the stripper pole in the corner of the room, or the homage to motorcycle culture. Indeed, this tiny lounge feels like a motorcycle dive bar that suddenly came into an inheritance. Like a relationship that alternates between extremes, Love/Hate changes during the night. In the evenings, the atmosphere is laid-back with tastefully inked men and women drinking bourbons and beer. As the night progresses toward dawn, the vibe turns club-like, with local DJs spinning hip-hop and house music. Because there's no cover or velvet rope, the atmosphere reeks of easygoing fun. We're not sure, but Love/Hate might have an invisible force field that repels the douchier element of SoBe nightlife.
423 Washington Ave., Miami Beach, 33139
lovehatemiami.com
chalkmiami.com
We have two words for you: alcohol and alligators. Sounds like a recipe for a good time, doesn't it? This corner joint in historic downtown Homestead is the most happening spot in the city, and with good reason. First, there's cheap alcohol. We don't remember much from the few (um, maybe several) times we've been to Stick & Stein Sports Rock Cafe, but we do recall picking up a couple of shots and beers for less than $15 and a pitcher of domestic beer for only $8.50. Second, there's a tank of live alligators watching your every move. OK, maybe not watching as much as floating around looking awesome. Third, the varied jukebox selection reflects the diversified clientele; choose from tunes by the likes of Lil Wayne, Pink, Santana, and Lynyrd Skynyrd. Fourth, play some pool on regulation-size tables, or stroll through the connecting passageway to the Fat Monkey Bar for some karaoke. Fifth, there's no dress code and no cover charge, plus there's free parking. And finally, if you get a bit sloshed, sober up with some pretty decent bar food, served late. After visiting Stick & Stein, you might start thinking there's no place like Homestead.
28 S. Krome Ave., Homestead, 33030
Karli Evans
Like a cocktail, there's a recipe for making the perfect bartender: Mix one part mad scientist, one part psychiatrist, and one part artist and serve with a side of humor. Gabriel Orta fits the recipe exactly. One-half of the team that started the recently closed pop-up, Broken Shaker (the other half is Elad Zvi), Orta doesn't just make cocktails. He lives them. Like Willy Wonka in the chocolate factory, Orta has a sense of wonderment and glee in his eyes when he mixes a drink. Every ingredient is a potential component of the next perfect libation — fresh rosemary, apples, bourbon. When you're at Orta's bar, there's a feeling you're about to be handed something you've never tasted before, something new. Even an old-fashioned gets jazzed up with custom-made ice, fresh herbs snipped straight from his garden, and a slice of fragrant orange peeled before your eyes. The result is a drink that's crafted, not simply mixed. We believe him when he tells us not to order our usual rum and Coke or that he's made our margarita with jalapeño-infused tequila. He doesn't just make the drink; he is the drink. Orta is summering in New York City but plans to open a permanent bar in Miami Beach this fall.
2727 Indian Creek Dr., Miami Beach, 33140
freehandhotels.com/miami/broken-shaker
Buying pants is such a mission, you guys. Dios mío, ayúdame. It's like we find one pair and they're a really chic color that we just totally saw in Vogue, but then they make our butt look big, and not even in a good, Jennifer Lopez kind of way. Then we find a pair that makes our legs look like they've achieved supermodel status, but they have these ridiculously outdated cargo pockets. It's a nightmare, which is why we don't understand why more people don't drink at malls. Of course, then we realize that the bar selection at most malls stinks. Thank heaven Aventura Mall is home to Grill on the Alley. We mean, yeah, yeah, it's a good restaurant, but we can barely fit into the pants we're trying on anyway. Just take us straight to the bar. It's classy with an old Hollywood décor and has a damn good happy hour. We'll take an Ohrangarita followed by a vodka açaí lemonade. Then we'll try to decide on some pants.
thegrill.com
Living in Miami sometimes feels like fighting a failing battle against collective amnesia. Every couple of months, nightclubs shut down and reopen under new names. Politicians come and go with the tide, leaving the city a bit dirtier each time. Hell, even our baseball team has a new name, stadium, and uniform. But if there's one place that we go to remember, it's the neighborhood bar. That's why there is nothing scarier to a barfly than the word renovation. Countless watering holes have closed for "renovation" only to never reopen or, worse, transmogrify into cocktail lounges full of black lights but with no draft beer. So imagine our terror when the Abbey Brewing Co. — one of the only good bars in Miami Beach — announced it would shut down for several months beginning last September. Thank Bacchus that when the place finally reopened this February, it was still recognizably the Abbey. In fact, owner Raymond Rigazio simply expanded the place. It's still a comfortable wood-lined cave where you can chat up a stranger or sip away your sorrows, but new ventilation and lighting mean it's a bit brighter and less smoky. The same laid-back bartenders still pour 13 different beers on tap, including the aptly named Immaculate IPA. But now you can actually find a place to sit. Plus there's room to throw darts without grazing customers as they pass through the doorway. So sidle up to the trusty old bar — made out of a shuffleboard table — or the new 14-foot bench put together with recycled Miami Dade pine, and have a drink. Each pint is a Pyrrhic victory over the powers of forgetfulness.
1115 16th St., Miami Beach, 33139
abbeybrewinginc.com
Courtesy of the Corner
In the not-yet-gentrified neighborhood that the Corner calls home, you might mistake the dark bar for a place to get some five-buck hooch or a PBR and call it a night. But this little place deceives the eye and casts a spell. "Step inside, my pretty, and taste my delicious cocktails," this siren of a bar calls to you, and you obey. What? A bar is speaking? Of course! Haven't you heard of the term speakeasy? Once inside, you're teleported to a dimension where bartenders wear vests and make classic cocktails using spirits such as moonshine, white whiskey, and absinthe. You're not in Miami; you're in the "Cocktail Zone." Since you're here, you might as well have a drink, so you peruse the menus pasted on cedar planks. There are two listings — one for classic post-Prohibition cocktails and another for new inventions. Each libation sets a mood. There's the Death in the Afternoon, a fragrant but potentially lethal blend of absinthe and champagne invented by the brilliant (and suicidal) Ernest Hemingway. Or try the Whitey on the Moon, a newly made-up fantasy of Death's Door White Whisky, cloves, milk, and lemon zest. Only here can a cocktail made with "death" taste like heaven. Looking for something a little more festive? How about the Cham Wow, a mix of champagne, muddled raspberries, vodka, and lemon juice? It's what bartender Chris Funk calls a "panty dropper" because of its deceptively innocent pink color. The Corner is whispering to you to try another of its wonderful drinks. Around $13 per crafted cocktail, it's a safe bet you'll be back.
thecornermiami.com
Best New Bar: Foxhole Bar

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Death Peak
Chris Clark to me by now surely feels like the embodiment of Warp Records' legacy all wrapped up in one creative mind. His debut, Clarence Park, surfaced in 2000 at a time that Warp was outgrowing its rave and acid house roots and exploring a quite varied terrain, dipping into psychedelic rock with Broadcast while Autechre forged new paths in so-called IDM and experimental electronic listening music. Chris Clark's knack for sculpting sound and synthesis makes him feel like a kindred spirit to revered tinkerers like Aphex Twin, Autechre, or Mark Bell (LFO), but his restlessness and tendency to amp it up with a more, more, more vibe perhaps feels closest to the first solo album on Warp by Jamie Lidell (released way before Lidell embraced a focus on R&B pastiche); it skitters with nervous energy, chaotic layering, a clear love letter to sonic experimentation.
But what's made Clark's music so compelling over nine albums is his unwillingness to stay still for very long. He seems to be an artist for whom experimentation is a crucial part of making, wherein even embracing convention — the acoustic guitar work that informs 2012's outstanding Iradelphic album, for example — sends his creativity in a new and focused direction. It's a sharp contrast up against 2008's Turning Dragon, an absolutely pummeling, raucous techno album that shows off Clark's more bangin', rougher edges with style. And yet his most recent release prior to Death Peak was The Last Panthers, a series of cinematic instrumentals that largely eschewed any of the angular form-making and wobbly synthesis that characterizes much of his varied repertoire.
With that hefty prologue out of the way, what then of Death Peak itself? My first impression of it is that it feels like quintessential Clark, and yet it feels more of a hybrid of his self-titled album released in 2014 and the understated beauty of his score to The Last Panthers, each wherein Clark smoothed over some of his more abrasive tendencies and delivered a more polished, easier body of electronica. One noteworthy changeup in Clark's sonic arsenal is the addition of children's choir on several of these pieces, beginning with the lilting opener, "Spring But Dark" (an appropriate title). "Butterfly Prowler" is one of the spryest dancefloor workouts to come from Clark over the years, led by a steady four-to-the-floor kick and a warbling, jaunty synth pattern, a trajectory continued with "Peak Magnetic," a full-on anthem that continues to burn at a good clip.
"Hoova" flirts with rave hoovers just as Clark has toyed with and often turned on their side dancefloor conventions over the years, with staccato vocal bits that recall Holly Herndon's vocal pointillism. "Slap Drones" again brings the party, with a thick room reverb on everything that makes it feel like a live take as bass synth stabs and crude scrapes of noise propel it forward. But Death Peak takes a turn after these busier, fuller arrangements, and largely bids adieu to the dancefloor as the remaining four cuts explore a headier territory. "Aftermath" glides on airy wordless vocals, hammer dulcimer, and angelic cascades of sonic filigrees and flourishes, before making way for "Catastrophe Anthem," an oddly appropriate name for the triumphant, soaring and yet dire arrangement herein. The children's choir comes to the fore with a slightly haunting line: "We are your ancestors," just as the music expands and swells to swallow the scenery.
The album is best experienced in one solid go, treating it like the mountain climb that it is. Its upbeat beginning and ramp up toward something more climactic, followed by a prolonged denouement into cinematic beauty, it all feels like a narrative that we collectively experience as listeners. For all its twists and turns, Death Peak plays through with immersive ease and enjoyment. In other words: Good stuff as usual from Mr. Clark, another highly recommended album.
Mix : DJ Walkman
The Last Panthers
NTS Sessions
Quaristice
Exai
Headphone Commute's Best of 2015 : Music For Synergizing The Synapse Of Ideas
elseq 1-5
Iradelphic


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Trio Mediaeval: Soir, dit-elle (ECM New Series 1869)
February 26, 2012 November 2, 2012 | Tyran Grillo
Trio Mediaeval
Soir, dit-elle
Anna Maria Friman soprano
Linn Andrea Fuglseth soprano
Torunn Østrem Ossum soprano
Recorded April 2003, Propstei St. Gerold
Engineer: Peter Laenger
Produced by John Potter
Executive Producer: Manfred Eicher
The music on this, the second album from the Trio Mediaeval, represents 500 years of creation. And yet, as John Potter notes, "in a sense it is older than that, tapping into the continuing present—a timeless present, perhaps—that is what medieval music means to us." These three Scandinavian singers have done so much for the music they touch, and in turn British composers Gavin Bryars, Ivan Moody, Andrew Smith, along with Ukrainian Oleh Harkavvy, have nourished that sound with newly fashioned music of their own. At the heart of these dedicatory contributions lies the Missa "Alma redemptoris mater" of Leonel Power (fl. 15th century). The mass is a fine example of early Renaissance polyphony and through the Gloria alone expresses a cathedral's worth of light and shadow. The tonal qualities of the singers and the sung are luminescent, all coming to a flowering head in the visceral Agnus Dei. Power's music comes to us in spite of Henry VIII's Dissolution of the Monasteries, thereby speaking to us all the more lucidly through a history that might have silenced it. Its clarity is as pervasive as its texts and forms a warm framework through and around which the women of Trio Mediaeval weave their artfully conceived program.
Plainchant is the inhalation and exhalation of Harkavvy's Kyrie (2002), as of the program as a whole, which unfurls bursts of polyphony in its pores. From ashes to flesh and back to ashes, it paints a tableau of life in barest terms, exceeded in simplicity only by the solo laude of Bryars, who also aligns all three voices in his stilling Ave regina gloriosa (2003). The Ave Maria (2000) and Regina caeli (2002) of Smith expand upon the gorgeousness of these horizons, again inscribing broad mosaics of faith with minimal vocal borders. Only when we get to Moody's The Troparion of Kassiani (1999) do we find ourselves wrapped in a more detailed cartography. Its shifting microtonal harmonies, evocative textual phrasings, and resplendent highs cut to the core of the singers' art. Moody also offers the pinnacle of this disc in his 2002 composition A Lion's Sleep, if only because it seems to draw upon the Trio's talents most intimately.
In light of the above impressions, however, I am wary of treating the album as anything but a unified whole. Like all Trio programs, it is structured like a stained glass window, each section having been soldered into place with great individual detail, but which comes to vibrant life when vocal light shines through it. Only then does the image tell its story, share its moral lesson, and open its wings to an understanding of vibration and sound that is as constant as the sun in its veins.
Posted in Classical, ECM New Series Releases	ECM RecordsGavin BryarsTrio Mediaeval
< Charles Ives: Sonatas for Violin and Piano (ECM New Series 1605)
Egberto Gismonti: Dança dos Escravos (ECM 1387) >


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Civil society crackdown: Kremlin pushing for Belarusian-style grip on power
DemDigest December 3, 2020 December 3, 2020
Russian rights activists on Thursday condemned draft legislation including a significant expansion of who can be labelled a "foreign agent" as a new clampdown on dissent, Agence France Presse reports. Lawmakers in Russia's lower-house State Duma last month proposed a series of bills that would give authorities sweeping powers to designate individuals as foreign agents and further limit public gatherings and content posted online.
"It's an unprecedented restriction of our civil political rights," activist Alexander Verkhovsky (above, left), who sits on President Vladimir Putin's human rights council, said during an online press conference hosted by several of Russia's top rights groups. "This is all a rather serious restriction on free speech," he said. "And this is of course a clear restriction on the right to be elected."
The Memorial Human Rights Center has published a statement signed by more than 20 Russian activists, calling on the authorities to cancel their decision to expel American human rights lawyer Vanessa Kogan from the country, Meduza adds.
The group of 20 human rights activists who signed the appeal published by Memorial includes the head of the movement Za Prava Cheloveka (For Human Rights), Lev Ponomarev; coordinator of the legal aid project OVD-Info, Alla Frolova; the head of the Committee Against Torture, Igor Kalyapin; and the co-chairs of the Moscow Helsinki Group, Vyacheslav Bakhmin and Valery Borshchev.
Russian authorities have informed Kogan, executive director of Stichting Justice Initiative (SJI), a prominent human rights group, that her Russian residence permit was revoked and she has two weeks to leave the country. Vanessa has lived legally in Russia for 11 years and is married with her family there. Now she must uproot herself and leave her life in Moscow behind. It is not clear if she'll ever be allowed to return, but the prospects are dim, notes Damelya Aitkhozhina, Researcher on Russia for Human Rights Watch:
Vanessa is American, and her husband and children are Russian nationals. Several months ago, she applied for Russian citizenship. Today, the migration office informed her that her application was rejected and her current residence permit annulled based on a law permitting authorities to do so if a person is "advocating for violent change of constitutional regime or otherwise presents danger to the Russian national security or to its nationals."…. For years, authorities have sought to hinder the organization's work, through office raids and bureaucratic interference.
The Kremlin is pushing for a never-ending Belorussian-style grip on power at a time when citizens are hoping for change instead, analyst Kirill Martynov writes for the Moscow Times. If orders call for United Russia to clinch a commanding triumph in the upcoming elections, the authorities will have to fudge the tallies no less than the authorities did in Minsk, at the risk of sparking a similar revolt by Russian voters.
Russia Is Preparing for Another Round of Fraudulent Elections https://t.co/hRivwSEfg1
— Democracy Digest (@demdigest) December 3, 2020
Afrobarometer Alliance for Securing Democracy Anne Applebaum Anti-corruption Carl Gershman China China Digital Times civil society coronavirus Corruption Countering violent extremism (CVE) Cuba democracy assistance democracy promotion democratization disinformation Egypt Elliott Abrams Francis Fukuyama Freedom House Hybrid warfare Illiberal democracy information warfare International Republican Institute (IRI) Iran Iraq Journal of Democracy kleptocracy Larry Diamond Michele Dunne National Democratic Institute (NDI) National Endowment for Democracy National Endowment for Democracy (NED). North Korea populism Project on Middle East Democracy (POMED) promoting democracy Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellows Program Russia sharp power Soft power Solidarity Center Tunisia Ukraine Venezuela
Analysis, Authoritarianism, Civil Society, Dictatorships, dissent, Eurasia, Russia #russia #memorial, #StichtingJusticeInitiative
Values + strategy can counter authoritarians' asymmetric threat
Nigeria's Buhari suppressing rights – with impunity


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Kingsley Flood Sneak Peek: "Quiet, Quiet Ground" on Upcoming Album
Kingsley Flood – New Single: "I Don't Wanna Go Home"
Album Review: Kingsley Flood – "Dust Windows" – (Kingsley Flood)
Bobby Long's Wishbone: Album Review
Spotlight on Anderson East
ATF Self-Interview: Folk Family Revival
Beyond The Music: Mark Lennon – "California Calling"
Album Review: Matt Bauer – "The Jessamine County Book of the Living" (Crossbill)
Kingsley Flood – Dust Windows and Awkward Dancing
Artists, Features, Kingsley Flood — By ATF on September 2, 2010 7:37 pm
Boston's Kinglsey Flood, the punk-rock/roots/Americana/folk phenom that's been tearing up the charts, were featured last week on NPR's Weekend Edition where they discussed Americana music, death and awkward dancing. After the broadcast, sales of their debut CD (Dust Windows) shot up to #1 on Amazon's most downloaded roots-rock albums for the week, briefly hit #1 on Amazon's Mover and Shakers, and just recently reached #48 on the iTunes US albums chart (between Bob Marley and Vampire Weekend).
Fame is fleeting, after all, but we certainly hope Kinglsey Flood stays around for a while. We think they will.
This is what the folks at NPR had to say about Kingsley Flood:
Take some rough and raw vocals akin to Tom Waits, mix in heavy doses of Bob Dylan, add melodies that send you back to a bygone era and push you forward with rock 'n' roll urgency, and you get Kingsley Flood.
The group features Chris Barrett on trumpet and percussion, George Hall on electric guitar, Naseem Khuri on acoustic guitar and lead vocals, Jenee Morgan on violin, Nick Balkin on bass and Will Davies on drums; their debut album together is called Dust Windows.Weekend Edition Sunday guest host Rachel Martin recently talked with the Boston band about the road to its first release.
Khuri hadn't always aspired to be in a rock band — his career path seemed pointed in a different direction entirely. In graduate school, he studied international relations, but says he was worried about continuing down that road.
"Somewhere along the way, I got a little nervous at the idea of sitting at an office for a long time," he says. "I realize I wanted a more direct connection with humans. I just wanted more of a one-on-one connection and wanted more impact, sooner. I found that a rock band was the best way to do that. I had all these songs festering for a long time."
Kingsley Flood's music has been labeled as Americana, but the band members say that they like to push those boundaries. Their music also carries hints of punk and rock 'n' roll.
"We're trying to create this sound that is a little different, that definitely has this tradition that's rooted [in Americana] and looks forward and incorporates all that other stuff," he says. "We try to bring some ferocity to it."
The group formed in a serendipitous fashion: Balkin and Khuri met after responding to the same Craigslist ad for a house rental. Balkin says he overheard Khuri recording his demo, and Khuri invited Balkin to pick up a bass and play with him.
"We had this one gig, and I considered it a one-off thing," Balkin says. "But it went really well, and we found another gig and just kept playing."
For Dust Windows, Khuri says he drew from personal loss in creating the record: His father died recently after a battle with cancer. He says their mutual love of Bruce Springsteen was a huge inspiration.
"We went to see [Springsteen] when he was doing the Seeger Sessions tour, and my dad was dancing and singing along to that song 'Jacob's Ladder,' " Khuri says. "There were two conclusions: one, that we had this thing that we bonded over and how much I loved this music; and two, that he was a really bad dancer."
The loss of his father sparked a sense of urgency in Khuri.
"I got impatient. I wanted more, more contact, more human connection," he says. "I wanted these songs to come to life, and to follow a passion."
Khuri's passion hasn't stopped with the completion of his album. The band is currently working on new material.
Courtesy of NPR.com
Listen to the band's NPR Weekend Edition interview in full.
Tags: Americana, Awaiting The Flood, Boston, Kingsley Flood, NPR, NPR Weekend Edition, punk rock


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All Rankings/
Best Affordable U.S. Colleges & Universities for Students From Hong Kong/
Best Affordable U.S. Colleges & Universities for Students From Hong Kong
- District of Columbia -
A ranking of American colleges and universities providing quality education and value to international students from Hong Kong.
Best Affordable U.S. Colleges & Universities for Students From Hong Kong - District of Columbia -
American University tops our District of Columbia list of the Best Affordable U.S. Colleges & Universities for Students From Hong Kong. The American University charges an average of $46,615 per year for tuition and fees (before accounting for financial aid).
There are a total of 3 colleges and universities included in this ranking of high quality and low cost schools for students from Hong Kong.
This ranking was designed to help students from Hong Kong find quality and affordable education options in the United States. Read the methodology behind the ranking.
University/College
1 American University Washington, District of Columbia $46,615
2 George Washington University Washington, District of Columbia $51,346
3 Georgetown University Washington, District of Columbia $52,300
Find The Best Affordable U.S. Colleges & Universities for Students From Hong Kong Near You
Looking for local options? Explore these colleges based on your region, state.
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text:
A Search for a Method: Fragments [R]
Htabs
MS [R] 594
Robin Catalogue:
A. MS., n.p., 1893, 131 pp.
One page has the title: "The Quest of a Method. Essay I. The Natural Classifications of Arguments." Among the topics found in these pages are questions of terminology, the algebra of the copula, forms of propositions, and the analysis of reasoning.
Aug 24, 2015, 13:20 by Mats Bergman
Peirce, C. S. (1893). A Search for a Method: Fragments [R]. MS [R] 594.
@unpublished{Peirce1893,
author = "Charles S. Peirce",
title = "{A Search for a Method: Fragments [R]. MS [R] 594}",
abstract = "{Robin Catalogue: A. MS., n.p., 1893, 131 pp. One page has the title: "The Quest of a Method. Essay I. The Natural Classifications of Arguments." Among the topics found in these pages are questions of terminology, the algebra of the copula, forms of propositions, and the analysis of reasoning. }",
note = "From the Commens Bibliography | \url{http://www.commens.org/bibliography/manuscript/peirce-charles-s-1893-search-method-fragments-r-ms-r-594}"
Commens Dictionary entries from 'A Search for a Method: Fragments [R]'
1893 | MS [R] 594
Logic is a critic. It distinguishes between what it approves and what it condemns. This is why it must divide propositions by dichotomy.


text:
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Hidden Italy: Padova, Vicenza & Mantova
Hidden Italy
Padova, Vicenza & Mantova
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Departing in September 2020
Experience more with so much included
Stay in medieval Castelfranco with fantastic views of the walled old town
Experience extraordinary Vicenza, both ancient and modern, and the best place to view Palladio's architectural masterpieces – complimentary museum pass included
Visit atmospheric Mantova, the inspiration for artists, poets and composers
Stroll through the beautiful gardens of Sigurtà Park and see an Italian interpretation of an English garden
See the enchanting riverside town of Bassano del Grappa in the foothills of the Prealps, and sample its famous liqueur
Tour Villa Sandi, the palatial headquarters of a renowned Prosecco producer, and its impressive underground cellars
Enjoy a relaxing cruise on the Brenta Canal and see the elegant Venetian villas of the elite
Visit ancient Padova with its astonishing array of architectural styles and the famed university where Galileo once taught
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The mere mention of the Veneto conjures up images of Venice, the 'floating city of canals', but there is so much more to discover in this northeastern region. The lush plains of the Po are dramatically offset by the rugged peaks of the Dolomites rising majestically to form the northwestern border, while the mirror-like Adriatic to the south embraces the gently curving Venetian coast. To the west is picturesque Lake Garda, Italy's largest lake, surrounded by pretty villages on its flower-laden banks. Spread across the Veneto are miles of undulating countryside dotted with classically beautiful cities dating back to ancient times. Even before the arrival of the Romans, the Veneti prospered on this fertile land and many cities became cultural centres. Under Venetian rule, wealth from agriculture, commerce and the spoils of war funded their beautification, and numerous Renaissance palaces and public buildings emerged. Many were designed by Andrea Palladio, one of the greatest architects of all time and a great influence on British architecture in the 18th century.
Our fascinating tour takes us back in time to some of the most illustrious towns and cities. We unearth the spectacular past of each destination, rich in history and captivating attractions, many with ancient remains revealing pre-Roman origins. We stay close to the heart of the Veneto in charming Castelfranco, a medieval town defended by perfectly preserved walls and towers. Chosen for its location and wonderfully atmospheric ambience, it is the perfect introduction to the region and the ideal base for exploring the Veneto. From here we visit extraordinary Vicenza, one of the world's most beautiful cities and still one of Italy's wealthiest, celebrated for its splendid and varied architecture. The perfect marriage of old and new, this thriving cosmopolitan city is home to some of Palladio's best works. Whether you're an architecture aficionado or not, it's nigh impossible not to be impressed by the classic sophistication of the Palladian buildings, which were bold innovations miles ahead of their time.
Next, we journey west of the Veneto to cultural Mantova, a picturesque city bordered on three sides by serene lakes. Known to the Italians as La Bella Addormentata – a sleeping beauty which has changed little since the middle ages – Mantova boasts an impressive list of cultural connections. This is the birthplace of poet Virgil and composer Monteverdi, the playground of the Gonzaga dukes, and the setting for Verdi's tragic opera, Rigoletto. We visit Bassano del Grappa, a beautiful town nestled serenely in the foothills of the Prealps, where the river Brenta flows from the valley and traverses the lowlands on its meander to the Adriatic. This wonderfully photogenic yet unassuming town is renowned for its grappa, a strong liqueur responsible for relieving generations of northern Italians from the pain of poverty. You'll have a chance to taste the tipple for yourself on our visit to one of its top producers and learn how it is made. Our insightful tour continues to ancient Padova which exudes a youthful exuberance thanks to its prestigious university, affiliated with not one, but two of the greatest mathematicians and astronomers who ever lived: Galileo once taught here and Copernicus was a student! Much more than a university city, Padova was described by Shakespeare as a 'nursery of Arts' where Renaissance Englishmen could enjoy the 'sweets of sweet philosophy'.
Then there is the exemplary cuisine for which Italy is so famous, and as with all our thoughtfully balanced tours, there is time to sample regional specialities and more. Often found on the menu are fresh fish and seafood, complemented by seasonal produce. Pasta is enjoyed throughout the northeast, but more typical of the region are polenta and risotto. The Veneto produces an excellent variety of fine wines including Prosecco, which you'll taste when we visit the underground cellars of one of Veneto's top wine producers. For us, one of the greatest joys of visiting Italy is meeting the Italians, famous for being friendly, accommodating and possessing an infectious zest for life. Join us on our eye-opening tour of spectacular northeastern Italy and experience all the wonders this tremendous region has to offer.
DAY 1ARRIVAL IN VENICE & CASTELFRANCO VENETO
DAY 2BRENTA CANAL CRUISE & PADOVA
DAY 3VICENZA
DAY 4MANTOVA & PARCO SIGURTÀ
DAY 5BASSANO DEL GRAPPA & VILLA SANDI
DAY 6RETURN FLIGHT
ARRIVAL IN VENICE & CASTELFRANCO VENETO
You fly to Venice Treviso airport. On arrival, we transfer by coach to Castelfranco Veneto and your hotel, the four-star Albergo Roma, for the next five nights.
Castelfranco Veneto's historic centre is a maze of narrow streets and tiny squares, protected within remarkably preserved, red-bricked ramparts. The town was established when the rulers of Treviso had a castle built in 1199 to defend against the neighbouring Padovans. Over time, it grew into a key trading post between Venice and northern Europe.
Every corner of Castelfranco Veneto proudly evokes the presence of its most famous resident, the artist Giorgione whose pièce de résistance, the Madonna and Child, can be found in the town's magnificent cathedral. Also worth a visit is the beautiful 18th-century Academic Theatre with some of the best acoustics in Italy. Just beyond the walls and a stone's throw away from your hotel is Piazza Giorgione, one of the largest squares in the region.
BRENTA CANAL CRUISE & PADOVA
Over the centuries, the rivers flowing into the Venetian lagoon were ingeniously diverted to prevent siltation. As the canalised Brenta became a popular transport route, elegant Venetian villas, holiday homes of the elite, began to appear along its length. One of the most relaxing ways to view these legacies of a leisured existence is to take a canal cruise, and that is exactly what we will do this morning. Just as the wealthy would have travelled between Venice and their villas on the Burchiello, we board a contemporary version of this vessel, equipped with comfortable seats and a deck offering panoramic views. Our mini-cruise takes us past the 18th-century Villa Widmann where composer Stravinsky once stayed, as well as various villages, swing bridges and several locks. We disembark in Dolo, where our coach awaits. During our journey, we see the grandiose Villa Pisani, the Doge's palace fronted by mighty sculptures.
Soon we arrive in Padova, a dynamic city which deserves to be recognised for more than its remarkable university, founded in 1222 and Italy's second oldest. Explore the fine piazzas of the historic centre and be amazed by the diverse architectural styles: the Baptistry of the Duomo contains one of the country's most complete medieval fresco cycles; the Renaissance Loggia della Gran Guardia once housed the Council of Nobles; and bustling Caffè Pedrocchi, ever-popular with students and intellectuals, was built to resemble a Classical temple. Particularly outstanding is the exotic Basilica di Sant'Antonio, one of the most popular pilgrimage sites in Italy. Beneath its distinctive Byzantine domes rests the tomb of Padova's patron saint. Another unmissable jewel is the extraordinary Cappella degli Scrovegni. The chapel's interiors are entirely covered with Giotto's lyrical frescoes, which greatly influenced the development of European art. On the same site is a major museum complex which occupies a group of 14th-century monastic buildings attached to the church of the Eremitani, a reclusive Augustinian order.
Today we head southwest to Vicenza, situated at the northern base of the cypress-clad Monte Berico astride the Bacchiglione river. This spectacularly sophisticated city is wonderfully cosmopolitan yet doubles as an open-air museum dedicated to the legacy of Palladio, a miller's son who became the most prominent architect of the Italian High Renaissance and gave rise to the Classical style of Palladianism. The local gentry, eager to decorate their city with grand new buildings, gave him plenty of opportunities to realise his vision; as a result, many of central Vicenza's streets are graced by a Palladian mansion.
We'll see many of these on our guided tour this morning through the historic centre. At the heart of Vicenza is the Piazza dei Signori, dominated by the Basilica with its marvellous clock tower and distinctive, green roof surrounded by statues of Greek and Roman gods. Not a church but a remodelling of a Gothic courthouse, the basilica's most notable feature is the loggia, one of the earliest examples of the Palladian window. Nearby is the renowned Teatro Olimpico, Europe's oldest surviving indoor theatre, seemingly constructed from marble but upon closer inspection, you'll discover masterfully painted wood and plaster. Its atmospheric auditorium is simply stunning, intended to resemble the outdoor theatres of ancient Greece and Rome. This astounding landmark, together with the Palladian Villas of the Veneto in the surrounding area, is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. There is time to explore these wonderful sights this afternoon should you wish. You will receive a complimentary museum card, granting free entry to the city's various world-class attractions.
MANTOVA & PARCO SIGURTÀ
Our journey today takes us west and back in time to the sleepy yet achingly beautiful Mantova, a medieval city often overlooked despite its proximity to Lake Garda. Perhaps the answer lies in the three surrounding lakes, forming a natural fortification and keeping Mantova a secret from the world, one which has remained virtually untouched for centuries. As the dramatic skyline of ancient towers, domes and cupolas comes into view, it's easy to see why the city features in two well-loved tragedies: it is the setting for Verdi's Rigoletto and Shakespeare had an impassioned Romeo exiled here.
During our guided tour of the old town, the reasons for its UNESCO World Heritage status become strikingly evident. Although compact in size, Mantova has more than its share of artistic, cultural and architectural treasures. The city reached its zenith in the 14th century when it came under Gonzaga rule, one of the greatest Renaissance families of Italy. Their home was the sumptuous Palazzo Ducale, a highlight of the city and once Europe's largest palace with around 500 rooms, extravagantly decorated with glorious works of art. Wander the cobbled streets and relax in the lovely squares, where locals and visitors alike meet for a coffee. Perhaps take a cruise on the river Mincio and admire the city from a different perspective. This afternoon, we visit the 148-acre Sigurtà Garden Park and see some of the world's most extraordinary gardens. Originally used for agriculture, the park is now home to beautiful tulips, roses, lilies, irises and more. See the Italian interpretation of a romantic English garden with its neo-Gothic temple and rustic grotto. Throughout the park are 18 ornamental ponds and lakes, as well as a medicinal herb garden and even an award-winning maze.
BASSANO DEL GRAPPA & VILLA SANDI
After breakfast, we visit the enchanting town of Bassano del Grappa, nestled serenely in the foothills of Monte Grappa from which the river Brenta flows free. Connecting the halves of the town is the wooden Ponte degli Alpini bridge, cleverly designed to withstand the meltwaters in spring. Have your camera at the ready to capture the picture-postcard panoramas: the crystal-clear waters reflect the Alpine mountains and pastel hues of the historic buildings. Wander the lively town at an unhurried pace and observe the locals doing their shopping or even attempting to catch some fish along the river!
Bassano is known for its superb glazed earthenware, but perhaps more so for the Italian after-dinner drink, grappa, which you'll have the opportunity to taste on our guided visit to a local artisan distillery museum. Here, you'll experience this fragrant, grape-based brandy with all five of your senses: listen to the story of how it's made, observe the fascinating distillation process, feel the fresh pomace with your own hands, and even smell the different varieties. Of course, you'll also taste a few varieties of this warming digestif.
You may wish to have lunch at one of the town's many excellent restaurants or sample the local specialities before we continue to Valdobbiadene, one of the most prestigious Prosecco-producing areas in the heart of the Treviso region. Here, we visit the prestigious wine producer, Villa Sandi, set in a vast valley protected from nearby mountains by rolling, sun-kissed hills. This fortunate position and the naturally endowed soil provide the optimum conditions for cultivating some of the finest grapes. Snaking below the palatial 17th-century villa is a centuries-old network of tunnels, used covertly by the Italian army during World War I and today provides the perfect environment for aging wine. We tour these underground cellars, home to a million bottles of wine including some of the best Prosecco, which we sample afterwards. Our guide then takes us through the villa, its spacious rooms a luxurious combination of pastel colours, stuccoes and bas-reliefs, dominated by resplendent Murano glass chandeliers. It's easy to imagine a time when important figures such as Napoleon Bonaparte once wined and dined here.
Today at the appropriate time, you will be taken to the airport for your return flight, after a most fascinating tour.
The price of this holiday is per person, based on two people sharing a twin room. Single rooms and are subject to availability at the relevant supplement. The price includes:
Five nights' accommodation with breakfast
All local taxes and transfers
All tours as mentioned
Entrances to Parco Sigurtà and Grappa Museum
Vicenza Museum Pass
The services of a Riviera Travel tour manager
Andrew Graham-Dixon on Padova, Vicenza & Mantova
We want to ensure you make the correct choice before you book your holiday with us. If you have any concerns regarding the suitability of the holiday due to reduced mobility we would encourage you to call us to discuss these concerns. General information on mobility in connection with our tours can be found here.
The use of air-conditioning in hotels in Italy is at the hotel's discretion and is normally restricted to the summer months (mid-May to mid-September), depending on the temperature.
Deposit: €100 per person
Flight time: Approx. 2 hrs 20 mins
Time zone: GMT+1
Transfer Times
All transfer times listed here are approximate, and dependent on traffic. If you have a question regarding transfer times please don't hesitate to contact us.
Transfer time
Venice Marco Polo Airport Castelfranco 50 mins
Venice Treviso Airport 35 mins
Puglia, Lecce & Vieste - Undiscovered Italy
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Not Good Enough, Facebook
If you use Facebook, like many of us do, then keep reading. As reported in TechCrunch last week, researchers at GDI Foundation discovered an exposed server online containing the phone numbers of over 400 million Facebook users. The server wasn't password protected, meaning that anyone could have found it.
When asked for a comment, a Facebook spokesperson said that the data had been scraped before Facebook cut off access to user phone numbers back in 2018.
"This data set is old and appears to have information obtained before we made changes last year to remove people's ability to find others using their phone numbers. The data set has been taken down and we have seen no evidence that Facebook accounts were compromised."
Jay Nancarrow
Spokesperson, Facebook
Despite Facebook downplaying this incident, the user data appear to have been uploaded into the vulnerable server's database at the end of last month, but there's no way to confirm whether the information was stolen prior to Facebook making the change in 2018, or as the result of a more recent breach.
The database was found to include records from users around the world, including 133 million U.S. accounts, 50 million Vietnamese accounts, and 18 million British accounts, among others. The researchers also discovered that some records contained an alarming amount of detail, including users' name, gender, telephone number and country of residence. This is truly alarming.
How was the data stolen?
The article discusses a technique called scraping. There are several names for scraping, such as web scraping, screen scraping, web data extraction, web harvesting, and more. At its core, scraping is a technique employed by hackers to pull large amounts of data from websites. The data are then typically saved locally on a computer or in a spreadsheet format within a database, which is what happened in this incident.
Image Courtesy of TechCrunch
As stated by the Facebook spokesperson, telephone number search functionality was removed in April 2018. The move was made public in a post by Facebook CTO, Mike Schroepfer.
"Until today, people could enter another person's phone number or email address into Facebook search to help find them… However,malicious actors have also abused these features to scrape public profile information by submitting phone numbers or email addresses they already have through search and account recovery. Given the scale and sophistication of the activity we've seen, we believe most people on Facebook could have had their public profile scraped in this way. So, we have now disabled this feature. We're also making changes to account recovery to reduce the risk of scraping as well."
CTO, Facebook
Yet this is just the latest in a string of security-related incidents at Facebook that have exposed millions upon millions of users' phone numbers to bad actors. This greatly increases the risk of future issues like spam calls and SIM-swapping attacks, which rely on tricking cell carriers into giving a person's phone number to an attacker. Once the attacker has a victim's phone number, they can easily force-reset the password on other internet accounts associated with that number.
The real problem with Facebook is their lack of informative guidance. For example, in this post from October 2018, VP of Product Management, Guy Rosen, gives some detail about last year's breach. He describes the way that tokens (used to help users maintain a session without re-entering a password) were compromised. Then, in an undated post from Facebook's Help Center, the company states that it invalidated almost 90 million tokens that had potentially been compromised. The post goes on to say: "There's no need for anyone to change their passwords."
I can understand Facebook's desire not to sound alarmist, but this simply is not good advice. Changing a password is a simple and very effective method of restoring account security, and while it may not technically have been required in every case, it's certainly a good precaution.
Caveat Emptor, Facebook Users
We all know that Facebook isn't perfect, but they have clearly been too cavalier with our personal information. The company says it is making efforts to improve security for users, but it is still not doing enough. The long and short of it is that the responsibility really falls on us as technology consumers to be more vigilant in how and where we use personally identifiable information. Taking common-sense precautions by regularly changing passwords is one good step. Opting for multi-factor authentication whenever available is another. Ultimately, as with many things in life, it really is a case of buyer beware.
For further reading on this topic, check out Facebook: 419 Million Scraped User Phone Numbers Exposed by Mathew J. Schwartz in Data Breach Today.
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10 questions for Leon Panetta
On Thursday, CIA Director Leon Panetta goes before the Senate Armed Services Committee to explain why he should become the 23rd secretary of defense. The senators and their staffs are working on the questions they'll ask him, both in open session and behind the scenes. The American Enterprise Institute released its own set of questions it would like Panetta to answer. Here, for what they're worth, are 10 Buzz questions:
1. Do you believe, as many do, that the way in which the U.S. equips its military – the overall acquisition process – is broken? Can it be fixed, or is it necessarily flawed because of the complexity of the Defense Department or the influence of Congress and the defense industry? How would you improve it?
2. Secretary Gates and many commentators in Washington have cast the near future of the Defense Department as an inevitable conflict between the military's ever-increasing personnel costs and the department's need to buy new hardware. It would be too expensive, the thinking goes, to pay for both. What is your view?
3. What do you think of the argument that defense spending always should represent some fixed percentage of America's gross domestic product – a minimum of 4 percent, for example?
4. Maintaining the "industrial base" has become a common argument for defense programs – DoD should buy weapons to keep employed the skilled workers who build ships, aircraft, tanks, etc. Do you find this rationale compelling? As we all look forward to a future in which the Pentagon's budget stays at least flat, and possibly begins to shrink, will the maintenance of the industrial base remain a good argument in and of itself for spending money on weapons programs?
5. DoD's current top weapons-buyer, Ash Carter, has signaled to the defense industry that he'd be open to potential consolidation among smaller firms if they need to merge or acquire each other to survive. Do you agree? How do you plan to ensure the survival of some aspects of the defense industry?
6. Do you believe China poses a threat to the United States? If not, why not? If so, is America doing what's necessary to counter it?
7. Do you support the planned decreases in end strength for the Army and Marine Corps? Will they be sufficient, or could you see making the force even smaller?
8. Why should the United States continue to maintain large land bases in Europe, along with tens of thousands of troops and their equipment?
9. Secretary Gates has a list of programs he believes DoD must pursue no matter what, even as it contemplates budget cuts: The F-35, the KC-46A, resetting the Army and Marine Corps, the Navy's SSBN(X). Do you agree there are some programs that must be protected at all costs? Do you agree with Gates' list or do you have one of your own? Or do you believe that everything must be on the table?
10. You were said to be reluctant to accept President Obama's nomination for this job. You've had a very long career in Washington. Later this month, you're turning 73. Do you see yourself as a stopgap secretary, on board only to finish out the president's first term, or would you be prepared to serve in this job until 2016, potentially -- or beyond?
What questions would you like Panetta to answer?
DoDBuzz
Navy's Plan to Retire a Carrier Early Could Be Axed by New Bill
Members of the HASC have drafted legislation that would bar the defense secretary from reducing the number of carriers.
Navy's 2nd Fleet, Brought Back to Counter Russia, Is Now Officially Operational
The Navy's 2nd Fleet has reached initial operational capacity, its commander announced Wednesday.