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Valle del Mis: a Perfect Introduction to the Dolomiti Bellunesi National Park.
"Near us valleys exist that I have never seen anywhere else (…) the Valle del Mis, for instance, with its little side valleys, penetrates in an intricate network these wild mountains without glory … ".
This is a quote from renowned local writer Dino Buzzati, who deeply loved these mountains and often wrote about them.
The Valle del Mis or Mis valley – also known as 'Canale del Mis' – is a long and narrow strip that connects the Val Belluna to the south-easternmost corner of Trentino. It certainly represents one of the main accesses to the Dolomiti Bellunesi National Park.
The valley is cut by the Mis stream, which is enclosed between Monte Pizzocco (2,176 m) to the right and the Monti del Sole (the 'Mountains of the Sun') to the left. The first half of the valley is entirely occupied by the long Lago del Mis (Mis Lake; see an image above) – an artificial basin whose dam is situated right at the valley entrance (the dam is not visible from the road).
The Valle del Mis is dotted with several rural hamlets, either on the valley floor or on the sunnier slopes, which were consistently inhabited until relatively recent. The construction of the dam with the consequent creation of the artificial lake, however, has ended up submerging the 'lower' hamlets and the cultivated fields, as well as the old road which used to run on the valley floor. To accelerate the abandonment of the valley has contributed also the big flood of 1966, so that since 1972 its lower section is completely uninhabited.
The Valle del Mis is certainly one of the noteworthy locations within the Dolomiti Bellunesi National Park, and it is distinguished by its natural features and the somber, enigmatic fascination of its craggy and wild environments, with the presence of karstic canyons and gorges.
The Mis valley is important also for the presence of floral species characterized by an eastern range of distribution, such as Austrian Pine (Pinus nigra), Ressmann Long-leaved Willow Flower (Knautia – or Ambretta – ressmannii), Carnian Bellflower (Campanula carnica) and Kerner's Spurge (Euphorbia kerneri). If you pay attention, it is also possible to see or hear many passerines and other interesting bird species – like Golden Eagle and Black Woodpecker. The presence of the lake gives also the opportunity to observe amphibians like Grass Snake (Natrix natrix); among the birds there are Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos; overwintering around the lake) and Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea). The rarity, however, is Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) – a large wild duck that eats fish.
The quality of its biotopes (especially wetlands: lake, waterfalls, karstic springs, pot-holes) is further enriched by the discreet presence of small niches of old rural settlements – such as Gena Alta, Gena Media, Pattine, La Stua – and the numerous traces of past and recent human activities, often bearing the traits of abandonment (trails, mule-tracks, cultivated patches, old rural buildings, dry stone walls, terraces and 'casere' – old dairy pens); in the picture below, a traditional old street altar along the road to Gena Alta.
The Valle del Mis is an important transversal corridor within the park, in the shape of a narrow and deep canyon set high, between smooth and receding rock walls. It is a very ancient glacial valley that crosses transversally the entire chain of the Dolomiti Bellunesi, thus allowing one to observe all its main geologic features, from the Scaglia Rossa (a red-coloured limestone) at the valley entrance to Main Dolomite at its core.
The Valle del Mis – as it often happens with ancient valleys – is a complex environmental system, to whose evolution contributed several factors: glaciers, water courses, slopes' degradation processes (landslides and erosion) and, locally, karstic erosion too.
The glacial moulding, mainly due to the action of the ancient Mis ice sheet during the glaciations, is recognizable by the vaguely 'U-shaped' valley's transversal profile, denoted by a relatively ample valley floor and steep side slopes.
Particularly atmospheric is the segment of valley between Gena Bassa and Titelle (also known as 'Canale del Mis'), since it takes the aspect of a deeply incised gorge dug into the stratified sub-horizontal rock banks of Main Dolomite, to whose formation have significantly contributed the karstic erosion processes (so to form a classic river-karst canyon).
This canyon is bordered with a system of deep and narrow side valleys and ravines, some of which are clearly situated along important fault lines (Val Falcina, Val Brenton, Val Soffia, Val Rui Bianch, Val Lunga).
With short digressions from the main road, it is then possible to enter and explore very charming and evocative micro-habitats:
a) the Cadini del Brenton – evorsion pot-holes dug into the sub-horizontal rock layers of Main Dolomite, with their whirling water and the debris transported during past flood events;
b) the Soffia waterfall – a high drop situated in a deep canyon;
c) the karstic spring of La Stua – where water gushes forth directly from the Main Dolomite banks, and which represents one of the main entry points for the subterranean drainage system of the Piani Eterni (Eternal Plains) karst plateau;
d) the Val Rui Bianch, which is also a canyon with pot-holes and waterfalls;
e) the Mis valley floor, with a rich selection of rocks and pebbles of various colours: white (limestone, Dolomite), dark (mostly of volcanic origin: porphyry, andesite, volcanic sandstone) and multicoloured (conglomerate, gneiss; silver-grey: Phyillites; rust-colored: traces of altered pyrite);
f) the Val Falcina – a deep fluvial cut along which has been devised an interesting circular nature trail (described in more detail below).
In the high valle del Mis – in an area known as Vallalta, not far from the boundary with Trentino – there were once also important mercury mines, active from 1700 to 1963, traces of which can still be detected today. Even though now the district looks abandoned and overgrown in thick vegetation, it still retains a peculiar charm.
At the entrance of the valle del Mis there are also a couple of sites of natural interest worth mentioning now, before looking in detail at the features of the Mis valley proper.
The Vedana Lake and the 'Masiere di Vedana'
The Vedana Lake Nature Trail
This short itinerary follows the shores of the Lago di Vedana (Vedana Lake), highlighting its main natural aspects and peculiarities. It takes about 30 minutes to complete, and it is an easy trail suitable to all abilities, which can be walked in all seasons (mud is the only limiting factor, in case of heavy rainfall; in that eventuality, some sections of the lake can be flooded and the path may become temporarily impracticable).
The Vedana Lake is situated in the municipality of Sospirolo (as indeed the whole lower valle del Mis), to the right of the Cordevole, in a small depression along an abandoned stretch of valley once occupied by the river.
It is a natural lake that was formed following a block generated by landslides, consequence of the withdrawal of the ice sheet that once occupied the Cordevole valley in the Quaternary period, during the last glaciations (about 15,000 years ago). A sign of the passage of ice can be read also in the U-shape of the valley and in the presence of a high variety of rocks.
The peculiarity of this small lake is the absence of water exchange, as there are no rivers flowing either into or out of it, but only small subterranean veins that feed it. Given its uniqueness as a wetland in the southern part of the province of Belluno, and considering the presence of species often rare and not widely spread, the Vedana Lake is listed among the noteworthy biotopes within the province, and it is protected also at European level for its rich biodiversity levels.
The 'Masiere di Vedana' Nature Trail
This path starts by the same car park for the Vedana Lake trail, so the two excursions can be easily combined, given also their short length. This route runs partly in woodland and skirts the hamlet of Torbe, to lead eventually to a belvedere (viewpoint) situated in the locality of Camatte.
From there it is possible to admire the beauty of the Cordevole valley and the whole chain of the Pre-Alps north of Belluno – a backdrop to the notable building of the Certosa di Vedana (Vedana Charterhouse; described below) and the small church of San Gottardo, both visible in the background.
This trail is 3,5 km long and takes about 60 minutes to complete; it is along a path which can be easily walked by all. The best time to visit is from April to September, even though there will be interesting features to admire at all times of the year.
The 'Masiere di Vedana' include a vast area which is extended between the peaks of Monte Peron and Spiz di Vedana and the villages of Camolino and Roe di Sedico. The characteristic aspect of this natural feature is represented by enormous boulders, chaotically scattered on small hills of morenic origin (that is, leftovers from a moraine), formed by a mixture of different materials owing to the melting of ice after the Glaciations.
To this is associated the creation of habitats which are quite differentiated: sunny little hills exposed to direct sunlight and therefore colonized by pioneer plants able to survive in prohibitive conditions for aridity, but also fresh and shady small valleys, as well as completely inaccessible rock formations, side by side to open fields – sometimes cultivated too. The end result is a patchwork of different habitats that can host a great variety of species, both animal and vegetal, which make the 'Masiere di Vedana' a local hotspot for biodiversity.
For this same reason, the 'Masiere di Vedana' have been included in the list of biotopes of the Belluno province, and also in the European network of Protected areas. The site included in the 'Nature 2000' European network is in fact external to the boundary of the Dolomiti Bellunesi National Park, which runs just to the north.
The former is a vast area of about 32,000 hectares situated on a 178-km-long strip of land running at the margins of the South-eastern Alps and including medium- and high-mountain environments (the altitude varies from 400 metres above sea level to about 2,500), contained between the Piave and Cismon valleys to the east and west respectively, and reaching north towards the Maé and Cordevole valleys.
The variations in altitude and width account for the great variety of biodiversity displayed, as well as for the many habitats; all in all, contained here is one of the maximum expressions of biodiversity within mountain habitats of the whole world.
The 'Campanula morettiana' Botanical Garden
Following on from the Val Falcina area, by a bend of the road – it is the same entrance as to the area of the Cadini del Brenton (roughly half way from the Soffia waterfall too; described below) – is a small Botanical garden created as an introduction to the flora of the park (see an overview in the image above). The main vegetation areas of the park are represented in the small 'Campanula morettiana' (the flower symbol of the Dolomiti Bellunesi National Park) Botanical garden as follows:
Woodland. The Dolomiti Bellunesi National Park is characterized by a remarkable variety of woods. Although the roughness of the sites does not favour the development of extensive woodland (with the notable exception of the forests of Cajada and Grisol, both rich in majestic specimens of silver fir), the Dolomiti Bellunesi still offer the opportunity to admire extremely diversified forest landscapes. Among the species that live in the undergrowth, some tend to prefer shady locations and have therefore an early blossoming (especially those in beech woods).
Wetlands. Of notable interest are the swampy fields, the marshy areas and the small ponds found in some locations within the park – such as Conca dei Laghetti near Erera, Pian dei Palui and Pra della Vedova in the Pramper valley and Conca di Palughet in the Cajada basin. These wetlands and their flora are extremely specialized; they are rare in the Park's territory, and therefore need particular protection and safeguard.
Fields and Meadows. The presence of open areas in the park is mainly connected to the cutting of grass. Mountain fields and meadows differentiate depending on the humidity of the soil and its fertility, which may both be influenced by man through fertilization. Dry fields deserve special attention: they are often very localized and dotted with bushes in which botanical species of great phyto-geographical interest – such as Iris cengialtii or Lilium carniolicum – can be found.
Flora of the Rocky Cliffs and Scree. Rocky landscapes are found within the Park from the valley bottoms to the highest reaches. Numerous vascular species colonize these extreme environments by developing their own root apparatus in the cracks between the rocks. This flora is of great naturalistic and scientific value, and it differentiates depending on the altitude, the aspect and the nature of the rocks themselves.
Scree and Gravelly Terrain. Temperature variations and meteorological agents cause a progressive alteration of the calcareous and Dolomite rocks, whose breaking down originates characteristic accumulations of detritus at the base of the rock walls (scree). These environments, apparently sterile and inhospitable, are colonized by different species depending on the size and the mobility of the scree, as well as on the length of time in which snow dwells on the ground.
Pastureland. High mountain prairies and pastures represent an important naturalistic and landscape heritage contained within the Park. The flora of these environments varies on the basis of water availability and exposure to sunlight, and it depends also on the degree of exploitation to which these habitats have been subjected in the past. Near the shepherds' huts and the small dairy farms one can find the typical nitrophylous (acid-loving) grass communities too.
The 'Cadini del Brenton' and the Soffia waterfall
Two of the most interesting features of the Valle del Mis, though, are undoubtedly the Cadini del Brenton and the Soffia waterfall, situated quite close to each other at the head of the Mis lake.
To reach the Cadini del Brenton, park by a bend of the road just before the bridge on the Mis stream; walk past the 'Campanula morettiana' Botanical Garden (see above) and continue on an easy trail that enters a thicket of hazel, then leading to a sequence of 15 pot-holes created by a water erosion phenomenon; the small Brenton stream forms also a series of small waterfalls connecting them (see picture above).
The 'Cadini del Brenton'
Situated at the heart of the park, this spectacular feature is amazing for the beauty of the colors taken by the water (azure blue, emerald green; see picture below) and its crystal transparency – depending on the light and time of day. The shapes are also incredibly interesting, as these pot-holes were dug in very peculiar ways; a trail goes all the way around the Cadini (a word which literally means bowls, given their shape), and it takes only about 30 minutes to complete.
Some of the pot-holes are rather deep (more than 4 metres) and are connected by rock slides and small waterfalls that enhance the beauty of the place. The phenomenon of rock moulding – here on Main Dolomite ('Dolomia Principale') – is partly due to the excavating activity of the stream, but also to karstic erosion. In particular, erosion due to the power of running water is carried out through the abrasive action of pebbles and sand, which determine – over time – the formation of hemispheric cavities. The circular trail allows to visit 11 out of the 15 pot-holes.
As well as for the geo-morphological aspect, the area is noteworthy also for the vegetation of the rocks, which is rather interesting due to a phenomenon known in Italian as 'dealpinismo' – a term used to define Alpine species that descend to lower levels (here some high-altitude plants – such as the grass Carex firma, the Primrose Primula tyrolensis and the Buttercup Ranunculus alpestris – can unusually be seen at only about 500 metres above sea level).
Now returning back to the bridge on the Mis stream, once passed it one can take to the right, where a short stretch of road leads to a small café/restaurant. The Soffia waterfall is situated nearby, while the café also makes for a restful and panoramic stop between the two locations.
The Cascata della Soffia (Soffia waterfall)
From the café/restaurant, an easy path takes in just 5 minutes to a panoramic platform suspended above the impressive waterfall, and situated among dramatic rock formations (see picture below).
From a geo-morphological point of view, the canyon and the waterfall are both rather interesting. Inside the small canyon – which is enclosed by a natural roof of rock, leaning out for about 16 metres – besides the whirlwinds formed by water, one can also appreciate some notable plants, such as yew (Taxus baccata) and, in June, scented Yellow Day-lilies (Hemerocallis lilio-asphodelus).
The presence of man over time is witnessed here by the dry stone-walls, and by the works carried out in order to exploit the force of the stream, thus showing that local people – when the valley was still inhabited – used to harness this natural source of energy for their activities.
In the vicinity of the waterfall – in a location now skirted by the edge of the lake – were once a mill and a dwelling, while inside the canyon are still visible traces of the iron staircase that was placed there in the 1920s, at the time of the first appreciation of this locality for touristic purposes. Today the Soffia waterfall can be easily visited, as the short circular trail (max. 15 minutes) allows one to get close to the most interesting viewpoints in absolute safety (see an image of the waterfall below).
Hamlets and Villages in the Valle del Mis
Subdivided among the three main hamlets of Gena Alta, Media and Bassa – between 400 and 800 metres of altitude – the lower Valle del Mis is situated in the municipality of Sospirolo. Once there were around 300 inhabitants here, but because of various combined factors (the creation of the artificial lake, several floods and emigration) now these three villages are completely uninhabited.
To begin with, Gena Bassa was canceled by the creation of the lake; only the small chapel of San Romedio was rebuilt, and it is still located behind the Soffia restaurant (on the way to the waterfall). To add to the other factors, during WW2 Gena Alta was hit by a violent Nazi reprisal, and the village was burnt down (below, see an image of Gena Alta).
The locality known as La Stua (in the municipality of Gosaldo) is situated along the main road instead, right in the middle of the 'Canal del Mis'. It was originally founded to be inhabited, but given its location it quickly evolved into a group of buildings to assist the travelers (mainly inns), together with a few industrial workshops (sawmill, watermill and a blacksmith) that used water power from the stream. Devastated by the 1966 floods, this village is now little more than an atmospheric bunch of ruins, which the park is currently in the process of restoring.
The hamlet known as California (a place name which is in itself a testimony to the emigration wave that heavily hit the area) was founded later – in the 19th century – as a base for exploiting the mercury veins of Vallalta (which at the height of their production were the sixth most important mercury mine on the planet). But in 1962 the mines were closed, and the local economy shifted successfully towards tourism – until the catastrophic 1966 flood stroke (read below for more on this). This event decreed the end for this village too, where an important hotel once stood, of which today only a few ruins are visible among the overgrown vegetation.
All in all, for the events mentioned – and for being uninhabited – the Valle del Mis could easily be considered as an unlucky place, but in fact the situation can also be read differently. The valleys' peculiarities could be seen as emblematic of a tormented history common to many other mountainous areas and valleys within the Alps; in addition, the Valle del Mis now being protected by the Dolomiti Bellunesi National Park, this means that all of its various historical and natural features can be properly valued, certainly adding more and more to a visit over time.
The abandoned settlement of California
In the middle part of the 20th century, over the course of the years the small settlement of California had become a small tourist centre, aggregated around a hotel which had become famous, at that time, in the whole province of Belluno: scheduled buses ended their journey there; a beautiful road allowed easy connections towards Tisèr and, although not as straightforward, a link towards the Mis valley and – after that – the val Belluna was also operational. New houses had been erected thanks to the life blood brought by tourism, but unfortunately that November 1966 all projects concerned with the development and maintenance of the Upper Mis valley ground to a halt, and the population was forced to emigrate. From a research paper written after the events of 1966, and published by the Italian Geological Survey Service, one can extract interesting comments and explanations concerning the alluvial flood events which seemed to have reached their maximum height in this valley.
One can thus read: "In the territory of Gosaldo, the mountain slopes were devastated by landslides; the small valleys were eroded at their sides, and the bottom of the roads were badly disarranged; the majority of dwellings suffered damage; many were destroyed or partially demolished; the streams Mis and Molini (or Gosalda) overflowed; the main village (Don) and the hamlet of California were overrun by heaps of debris and piles of stones dragged along by the water in full flood … " – and on it goes along those lines. The rainfall on the 4th and 5th of November that year – and the subsequent exceptional floods that ensued – transformed the valley into "a horrid gorge, with the sides devastated by landslides and the bottom littered with heaps of mixed blocks of rock and debris, which in some places raised the level of the streams by several metres" (…). Again, still in the narrative we can read: "(…) The enormous mass of material swept along by the water overran and partly destroyed many of the buildings in the village, almost all of them recently built or restored; the few that remained, which were more or less seriously damaged, were left half-buried in the alluvial deposits. These, as a matter of fact, raised the beds of the Mis and the Gosalda (the latter in the final section) by several metres, thus transforming the green valley bottom into a white mass of rocks, amongst which meandered the waters of the streams" (…).
Now very little of all this devastation remains, but a general sense of abandonment dominates the valley. However, since then the whole Mis valley has undergone a considerable transformation, which caused the collapse of whole parts of its territory, both from the morphological as well as the social and economic point of view, but at the same time other parts have started being redeveloped and enhanced thanks to the presence of the Park. Besides those mentioned above in the page, one such place is the Val Paganin.
To begin with, the nearby hamlet of Pattine still retains some interesting examples of old vernacular architecture – albeit not in a very good state of preservation (but the Park is working on a restoration program here too).
The Val Paganin
The landscape of the Val Paganin represents an eloquent example of the unique but also different history of the numerous Alpine communities in the Dolomites. The church at Tisèr, which became a parish in 1662, is proof of how ancient the first organisation of the settlement is. The existence of the church is first documented in 1414, but the building probably dates back to earlier than the 14th century. Over time, the territory has become more and more organised with Tisèr at the centre – a reference point with its church, parsonage, school, and also the numerous hamlets, villages and isolated houses scattered all along the valley. Nowadays, the building development on the mountainside that from the valley bottom at Titelle rises all the way to Forcella Franche mainly dates back to the 19th century: the oldest inscriptions and dates that are sometimes engraved on the ridgepoles date from the end of the 18th century (the oldest is 1776 at Ren) and then continue for the whole of the 19th century, until the beginning of the 20th century (above, the picture of an old house in Tisèr).
The itinerary of this trail follows the original road drawn among the various settlements, generally going between Forcella Franche (about 1,000 m), Tisèr and the valley bottom, through the hamlets of Curti and Ren, all the way to Titelle and the road branching off to Pattine and California (described above). The trail doubles the main old artery of communication, from which innumerable other paths branch off, including the track connected to the mining sites of Valle Imperina and Vallalta. Until the last century, the prevailing economy was a part-time one: the mines, wood crafts ('caregheta' – as the local chair makers were once known) and some subsistence agriculture were all there was. Proof of this part-time economy is to be found in the fact that settlements were mainly composed of small groups: this scattering is typical, but was nevertheless characterised by an intense place-names giving activity, each site being well-defined (and having its name often taken from one of its inhabitants – i.e. the Curzis, the Bittis, the Giandis etc).
The prevailing architecture is disciplined with a small floor area, the dwellings above and the farmhouse buildings annexed. Often, the direction of the roof top line is parallel to the level curves, so as to take advantage of the common walls between houses; these are alignment practices that are not so frequent in the Agordo region, but are rather typical in Tisèr, Curti and Ren. The use of materials is also reduced: stone prevails – especially the local grey schist, or a white calcareous, lighter type of rock –; the colour of the walls is often grey or neutral. White plaster is only present on the walls of the richer houses, or those which have been restructured more recently. Finally, the presence of 'small' signs on the territory continues: this is in fact the culture of micro-intervention; that is to say the constant, punctual, daily control of every portion of land. Continuous sequences of dry stone walls and terraces (such as at Ren, for instance), flooring, canals and ditches, supporting works and particular, specific solutions (like the porticoes at Curti, for example, or the agricultural lay-out at Lambroi – and much more to be discovered in situ) all tell us the stories of many men and women and their small communities, which propose a model of organization which was maybe prophetic then, and that still has a lot to teach us today.
Return from Valle del Mis to Dolomiti Bellunesi
Return from Valle del Mis to Italy-Tours-in-Nature


The Belfast Voice and Dance Academy have issued a final casting call for talented young performers to take part in their new summer production.
Bring It On the musical will take to the stage for it's Northern Irish premiere this summer at Baby Grand at Grand Opera House from August 27-28.
The Academy are looking for young talented performers both male and female, aged between 12-21, be they singers, dancers or actors.
Based on the hit film, created by a dream team of award-winning Broadway talent and nominated for a Tony Award for Best Musical, Bring It On: The Musical, is a high-flying thrill ride where the cutthroat world of competitive cheerleading meets the fierce rivalries of high school politics and romance.
The final round of auditions for the new musical is taking place this coming Friday evening (May 13) at the BVDA studio, 137B Upper Lisburn Road at 7pm.
You will have the opportunity to work with an award winning production team and with professional West End Actors throughout this project learning from Industry professionals.


14 Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. 15The two went down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit 16(for as yet the Spirit had not come* upon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus). 17Then Peter and John* laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
44 While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the word. 45The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles, 46for they heard them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter said, 47'Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?' 48So he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they invited him to stay for several days.


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Steve Pearce took extra batting practice Thursday in an effort to break out of a season-opening slump, Bill Koch of the Providence Journal reports.
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Home / Articles / Getting to the wire in Iran-P5+1 nuclear talks
Getting to the wire in Iran-P5+1 nuclear talks
Empowering Weak & Oppressed
Crescent International
Jumada' al-Akhirah 09, 1436 2015-03-29
Daily News Analysis
by Crescent International
In the absence of confirmed news, western media outlets have resorted to their favorite ploy of wild speculation aimed at projecting the western point of view. Iranian officials have dampened such speculation saying good progress has been made but some tough decisions need to be made by the other side. The next two days will tell whether a framework agreement can be finalized.
Lausanne,
Sunday March 29, 2015, 22:07 DST
The talks between Iran and the P5+1 group of countries are going to the wire in Lausanne, Switzerland. While both sides have said good progress has been made, there are still some tough decisions to be made. Today (Sunday) the foreign ministers of France, Germany, Russia and China also joined the talks that were being held with the American delegation led by US Secretary of State John Kerry. They will start the talks on Monday morning (in a few hours) and determine whether the P5+1 countries can show the necessary political courage to bring about the deal and get over their unreasonable demands.
French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius is reported to be the most difficult. He is widely seen as representing Zionist Israel at the talks. He is a well- known Zionist. What diplomats at the talks have hinted at, without attribution, is that they are on the verge of arriving at a political understanding but certain crucial decisions have yet to be made. What these are have not been revealed. There has been speculation in the Western media that Iran has agreed to limit its centrifuges to 6,000 from its current level of 19,000.
Further, that Iran would ship its low level of enriched uranium out of the country, possibly to Russia. Not so, said Abbas Araqchi, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs. He said this was pure speculation and aimed at undermining the talks. Iran's Foreign Minister Javad Zarif has said that his country has shown the political will at the highest level including the Leader, Imam Seyyed Ali Khamenei and President Hassan Rouhani.
Now it was for the other side to show the same degree of political will and make the tough decisions. Speculation has revolved around the scope of research and development Iran would carry out after the 10-year period and how UN Security Council sanctions would be lifted, Laura Rozen of Al-Monitor reported this today (March 29), quoting unnamed US officials. Others have speculated that there would be a step-by-step approach to the deal.
For instance, US officials have said all parties, including Iran, had agreed "there needs to be a phased step by step reciprocal approach." Based on this Iran's steps to scale back its nuclear program would be met with a phased lifting of sanctions. Iranian officials have neither confirmed nor denied these reports merely expressing optimism and saying, "the chances of getting a deal are there." Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said the talks were "in their final phase and very difficult", but ruled out sending the country's nuclear stocks abroad - one of the steps demanded by the P5+1.
"There are only a few issues left without a solution," Araghchi told Iranian media in an interview March 29. We are trying to find solutions for all the issues. It needs emphasizing that the parties are working for a framework agreement whose details will be worked out later and finalized by June 30. Iran has said if an agreement is reached, the announcement must be made at the UN offices in Geneva to give it proper international legitimacy.
The next two days will tell whether the west is serious about reaching an agreement on Iran's nuclear program that has from day one been based on wild speculation. The real reason for the anti-Iran propaganda is not its nuclear program but its refusal to submit to the diktats of the predatory powers led by the US.
IranNuclear IssueP5+1 Countries
US duplicity stalls progress at Iran-P5+1 talks in New York
Dhu al-Hijjah 04, 1435 2014-09-29
Iran interim nuclear deal extended to November
Tahir Mahmoud
Iran-West nuclear talks
Zafar Bangash
Components of the Iran-sextet nuclear deal
Muharram 20, 1435 2013-11-24

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


3 original songs and a few thoughts about music.
Thanks a lot to Boe Larsen from the Millfactory studio for having us as guests in his wonderful studio for a live session during the Nuvenue Festival.
Little Africa - Duration: 3 minutes, 55 seconds.
Spirit Song - Duration: 6 minutes, 47 seconds.
Twilight - Duration: 6 minutes, 8 seconds.
Out of the White - Duration: 5 minutes, 29 seconds.
The Journey - Duration: 6 minutes, 27 seconds.
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text:
The state of AI in 2020
The results of this year's McKinsey Global Survey on artificial intelligence (AI) suggest that organizations are using AI as a tool for generating value. Increasingly, that value is coming in the form of revenues. A small contingent of respondents coming from a variety of industries attribute 20 percent or more of their organizations' earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) to AI. These companies plan to invest even more in AI in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its acceleration of all things digital. This could create a wider divide between AI leaders and the majority of companies still struggling to capitalize on the technology; however, these leaders engage in a number of practices that could offer helpful hints for success. And while companies overall are making some progress in mitigating the risks of AI, most still have a long way to go.
AI adoption and impact
While the latest findings show no increase in AI adoption, some companies are capturing value from AI at the enterprise level, and many are generating revenue and cost reductions at least at the function level.
Overall, half of respondents say their organizations have adopted AI in at least one function. And while AI adoption was about equal across regions last year, this year's respondents working for companies with headquarters in Latin American countries and in other developing countries are much less likely than those elsewhere to report that their companies have embedded AI into a process or product in at least one function or business unit. By industry, respondents in the high-tech and telecom sectors are again the most likely to report AI adoption, with the automotive and assembly sector falling just behind them (down from sharing the lead last year).
The business functions in which organizations adopt AI remain largely unchanged from the 2019 survey, with service operations, product or service development, and marketing and sales again taking the top spots.
Within the functions, the largest shares of respondents report revenue increases for inventory and parts optimization, pricing and promotion, customer-service analytics, and sales and demand forecasting. More than two-thirds of respondents who report adopting each of those use cases say its adoption increased revenue. The use cases that most commonly led to cost decreases are optimization of talent management, contact-center automation, and warehouse automation. Over half of respondents who report adopting each of those say the use of AI in those areas reduced costs.
The survey findings show that some companies using AI are seeing that value accrue to the enterprise level. Twenty-two percent of respondents say that more than 5 percent of their organizations' enterprise-wide EBIT in 2019 was attributable to their use of AI, with 48 percent reporting less than 5 percent.
Additionally, in half of business functions, a larger share of respondents report revenue increases from AI use than in the previous survey, while revenue in most other functions remained stable. At the same time, cost decreases have become less common in most functions.
This year they asked about adoption of deep learning—a type of machine learning that uses neural networks and can sometimes deliver superior results—for the first time. Just 16 percent of respondents say their companies have taken deep learning beyond the piloting stage. Once again, high-tech and telecom companies are leading the charge, with 30 percent of respondents from those sectors saying their companies have embedded deep-learning capabilities.
What separates the best from the rest
Companies seeing the highest bottom-line impact from AI exhibit overall organizational strength and engage in a clear set of core best practices.
The companies seeing the most value from their use of AI—that is, respondents who say 20 percent or more of enterprise-wide EBIT in 2019 was attributable to their AI use—report several strengths that set them apart from other respondents:
Better overall performance: The findings suggest that companies seeing more EBIT contribution from AI experience better year-over-year growth overall than do other companies. Respondents at high-performing companies are nearly twice as likely as others to report EBIT growth in 2019 of 10 percent or more.
Better overall leadership: Respondents at AI high performers rate their C-suite as very effective more often than other respondents do. They also are much more likely than others to say that their AI initiatives have an engaged and knowledgeable champion in the C-suite.
Resource commitment to AI: Responses show that AI high performers invest more of their digital budgets in AI than their counterparts and are more likely to increase their AI investments in the next three years. High performers also tend to have the ability to develop AI solutions in-house—as opposed to purchasing solutions—and they typically employ more AI-related talent, such as data engineers, data architects, and translators, than do their counterparts. They also are much more likely than others to say their companies have built a standardized end-to-end platform for AI-related data science, data engineering, and application development.
This year they again looked at companies' AI-related practices, this time looking at about twice as many, to see which might correspond with getting more value from AI. The organizations with the highest EBIT attributable to AI were more likely to engage in nearly every practice than those seeing less value from AI. The practices generally slot into six categories: strategy; talent and leadership; ways of working; models, tools, and technology; data; and adoption.
But a few practices are adopted at about the same level by all companies: for example, using test-and-learn methodologies to run rapid iterations in AI initiatives, putting processes in place to capture business feedback, and defining clusters of AI use cases in priority business units, functions, or other areas of business activity.
Managing AI risks
While many companies still aren't acknowledging most AI risks, they modestly increased mitigating a handful of them.
The survey findings suggest that a minority of companies recognize many of the risks of AI use, and fewer are working to reduce the risks—as was true in 2019. Cybersecurity remains the only risk that a majority of respondents say their organizations consider relevant. Overall, the share of respondents citing each risk as relevant has remained flat or has decreased, with the exception of national security.
Yet some of the less commonly considered risks are the ones in which we see increasing mitigation. National security and physical safety are more commonly addressed now than in 2019. Responses also indicate that companies increasingly manage risks related to AI explainability.
AI high performers remain more likely than others to recognize and mitigate most risks. For example, respondents at high performers are 2.6 times more likely than others to say their organizations are managing equity and fairness risks such as unwanted bias in AI-driven decisions.
The COVID-19 effect
Despite the economic challenges that pandemic-mitigation measures have caused for many companies, those seeing the most value from AI are doubling down on the technology.
The companies seeing significant value from AI are continuing to invest in it during the pandemic. Most respondents at high performers say their organizations have increased investment in AI in each major business function in response to the pandemic, while less than 30 percent of other respondents say the same. By industry, respondents in automotive and assembly as well as in healthcare services and pharmaceuticals and medical products are the most likely to say their companies have increased investment.
Generally, respondents from companies that have adopted more AI capabilities are more likely to report seeing AI models misperform amid the COVID-19 pandemic than others are. Responses indicate that high-performing organizations, which tend to have adopted more AI capabilities than others, are witnessing more misperformance than companies seeing less value from AI. These high-performing organizations' models were particularly vulnerable within marketing and sales, product development, and service operations—the areas where AI adoption is most commonly reported.
Feel free to contact us in case you have any questions, we're always happy to help. If you are interested in technology follow us on our Facebook and LinkedIn pages, and subscribe to our Youtube channel!
(See the full article here: McKinsey & Company)


text:
Justin Miller has a great take this morning on Lou Dobbs as the anti-Palin. Excellent call. They both traffic in resentment, but Palin's is all personalized, while Dobbs has no interest, apparently, in that side of things.
There's a lot of talk now about Dobbs as a potential candidate for something, but whether he eventually runs or not, it's apt to be lots of bark and very little bite. He missed his ideal candidate and issue landscape for a third-party run last year; it's very unlikely that the next Republican nominee will be as immigrant-friendly as John McCain was, and for that matter I suspect that the next GOP nominee will be less of a free trader, at least in pre-election rhetoric. By 2012, either bailouts will be gone as an issue, or the Republican nominee will be stridently anti-bailout.
Had Dobbs run in 2008, he would have attracted a lot of attention, although the logic of the American electoral system means he would ultimately have received a relatively small number of votes -- almost certainly under 10%. His issue profile is a pretty good match for Ross Perot's 1992 and 1996 campaigns, right down to the flirtation with nutty conspiracy theories, although again he doesn't (as far as I know, and up to this point) personalize his conspiracies. That said, he's missing one of Perot's issues -- a long-standing commitment to veterans -- and more importantly he's missing the massive amounts of money that convinced the press to take Perot seriously.
Dobbs could choose to take advantage of the New York Republican Party's weakness and run for the Senate or for governor there, probably as a third-party candidate, but while it's possible to imagine him doing very well for an outsider, he wouldn't win, and the effort isn't likely to help him get whatever he's after (money? influence? fame?). So, if I had to guess, he'll flirt with that, and then flirt with running for president in 2012, but ultimately just wind up with book contracts and a show on Fox News (or Fox Business). If he does wind up running for president in 2012, he's apt to do about as well as Pat Buchanan in 2000. Hmmm...given that he's not going to be president regardless of what he does, his best bet for drawing maximum attention without seeming overly pathetic might be to enter the Democratic primaries; assuming unemployment is still high, I could see him getting 10-15% in a few states, and that would generate a fair amount of buzz.
Posted by Jonathan Bernstein at 9:54 AM
Labels: Lou Dobbs, Sarah Palin
Black Mage November 18, 2009 at 4:36 PM
A very interesting post, as ever, and the prospect of Dobbs running as a DEMOCRAT is so novel I'm amazed no one has thought of it before.
Of course, that presumes Obama won't face a primary challenge in any case, which is a presumption I'm not necessarily prepared to make. McCain made some murmurings, or at least the press made some murmurings on his behalf, about 2004; Jesse Jackson, Bob Kerrey, Dick Gephardt and Bob Casey (who came closest) were all considered as possible contenders in 1996; and, of course, there was Buchanan.
Russ Feingold's recent voting behaviour has been very intriguing to me, as he strikes a far more maverick line, even by his standards, than ever before. He seems to be constructing himself as the anti-pork, anti-stimulus (to some extent), anti-bailout candidate, probably just for Wisconsin consumption (although no serious opponent has emerged in his 2010 race) but potentially as a national contender, as well. Feingold's also taking a far more anti-war line on Afghanistan than any other national figure.
I think Dobbs would only pick up support for people who wouldn't support Obama, no matter what. But if there were room for a challenge, it would be along precisely the lines Feingold is drawing: withdrawal from Afghanistan, an end to bailouts, a return to fiscal conservatism, and a much more aggressively liberal line on social issues.
And, of course, Feingold has never been afraid of quixotic quests. This was the unknown state senator, after all, who took on a congressman and a millionaire and cruised to victory with 70% of the vote. And New Hampshire loves an underdog...
Deficit (Commission) Politics
Record Comeback!
You Cut Taxes, Remember?
Rejectionism 2
Rejectionism
Liberal Spin Fail
Filibusters Unconstitutional? No.
Majorities 1
At Least It's Not Term Limits
Can Any Bill Get 60?
How to Treat Palin
Annals of Spin
Return of Triggers
Stand and Deliver!
Public Plan and the 2008 Campaign
Barack Houdini No More
Tough Call Ahead for Palin
Tantrum-Based Politics
That ACORN poll
Politics of Health Care, 2010 and 2012
Iron Laws of Politics
Update: 18 1/2 Minute Gap
Translated, From the Palin
E - GOP, continued
Public Opinion on the Filibuster?
Palin = Quayle? Maybe Palin = Nixon
Can We Handle Crises?
Dobbs, Palin, and the Master of Resentment
Palin/Oprah
Adventures in Spin
Toast, Defined
Minority Candidate 3
Silly Mini-Scandal of the Week
All Resentment, All the Time
Why "Real" Filibusters Don't Happen
When Wonks Swear, Or: "You Watch Your Phraseology."
"We're Not Frasier"
Voting on the Economy
Very, Very Short Memories
Fight Smoke With Smoke
High Bid vs. Low Bid Strategies and Obama
Wither Olympia Snowe?
Moving the 50 Yard Line
Should Single-Payer Supporters Oppose Obama's Bill?
Chutzpah
They Started It!
Stupak
Party Political Broadcast 3
Defending Congress
Consequences of Maximalism 3
Close House Vote 3
Close House Vote
Roaming the Halls
NY-23 and Parties 3: The Party Label
NY-23 and Parties 2: Party Networks
NY-23 and Parties 1: Primary Elections
Calls for the Most Delicate Judgment
Social Science Yields Meaningful Predictions
Looking at the Results
Feeling Patriotic
Using Leverage
The Democrats' Very Own Dakota Territory
Lieberman and the Filibuster, Still
Four a Year?
Consequences of Maximalism I
Deficit Politics


text:
Government, telco, Telcos
Misleading telemarketing tactics for NBN services under scrutiny
A new report has lifted the lid on the practice of telemarketers misleading and pressuring Australian consumers to sell them National Broadband Network (NBN) services they may not want or need.
The Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman's (TIO) Misleading telemarketing of NBN services report, published on 1 August, highlights several telemarketing tactics employed by "a small number" of NBN retail service providers (RSPs), including suggesting consumers will lose their services and phone numbers if they don't sign up immediately and being misleading about who they work for.
The report comes after an investigation by the TIO into the telemarketing sales practices of several NBN services retail providers, many of which came to the attention of the Ombudsman's office because it had identified a cluster of similar complaints about misleading conduct by the same provider.
Between January and December last year, the TIO's office received 1,729 complaints about misleading conduct involving services delivered over the NBN.
"Based on enquiries received by our office, a small number of retail service providers are increasing confusion by using misleading telemarketing practices to sell their NBN plans," the report authors said. "Complaints of this kind have continued."
The TIO said that consumers have reported feeling pressured into signing up for NBN services by telemarketers who suggested end users' current providers won't be able to supply services once the NBN arrives, and who have provided inaccurate or unclear information about NBN pricing and contract terms.
According to the TIO, consumers reported that misleading telemarketing practices have seen them end up locked into contracts that aren't suitable, don't meet their expectations or are more expensive than their previous plans.
Older customers in particular seem to feel the impact of the misleading telemarketing practices, a sentiment consistent with research conducted by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), which has found that there was lower understanding about connecting to the NBN among people who are 65 and over.
Australia's Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman Judi Jones said the telemarketing tactics under scrutiny was concerning behaviour from a "small group" of phone and internet providers, and that it should stop.
"In some cases we have shared information about this issue with the relevant regulators so they can consider further action," Jones said. "Moving to the NBN is not automatic, and consumers need to know they can make a measured and informed decision about which NBN provider is right for them. If the consumer is feeling pressured by a telemarketer, it is fine to hang up."
Jones also noted that telecommunications industry body, the Communications Alliance, is currently working with the telco regulator to address aspects of the telemarketing issues.
For its part, the Communications Alliance has condemned the behaviour of RSPs that have fallen afoul of the TIO over their sales tactics. The industry body's CEO John Stanton said in a statement that providers such as those engaging in misleading sales tactics are "not welcome in our industry".
"It is very disappointing when a provider breaches consumer trust, and the rules it is required to observe," Stanton said.
"We are working with Communications Compliance and the ACMA to provide education on supplier requirements across the sector, and will always work with industry members who are looking to improve. We were pleased to see that a provider highlighted in the TIO's report had revised its practices."
Stanton, however, suggested that in such a large marketplace – with some 1600 providers, according to the TIO's 2018 figures – small players sometimes attempt to operate outside of the rules.
"Communications Alliance members are working with the ACMA to act against such behaviour and prevent those providers from continuing to operate," he said.
The TIO's report is released as the updated Telecommunications Consumer Protections (TCP) Code comes into effect, with Stanton flagging "vigorous new rules on selling practices", which are expected to help the ACMA enforce against the practices raised in the TIO's report.
The revised Telecommunications Consumer Protections (TCP) Code was written by Communications Alliance and its members, in collaboration with consumer representatives, regulators and government. The Code is mandatory for all telecommunications providers servicing residential and small business customers, and is enforced by the ACMA.
It is aimed at providing consumer safeguards in the areas of sales, service and contracts, billing, credit and debt management, financial hardship, and changing suppliers.
Under the new updated Code, when selling long-term, higher-cost services, suppliers will now need to perform an external credit check and obtain information as to how customers will be able to afford the contract.
In a move particularly relevant to telemarketers like those targeted by the TIO, the new Code also sees suppliers face stricter rules on selling practices, requiring them to ensure that sales representatives promote and sell in a fair, transparent, responsible and accurate manner, and that they clearly explain key terms and costs to customers.
"The upgraded protections touch on all customer interactions with their provider," Stanton said. "This includes strengthened rules on selling practices, credit assessment, and financial hardship.
"These are priority areas for the ACMA and Communications Alliance has been working with them and the industry-created compliance body Communications Compliance to educate providers on their new obligations," he said.
Leon Spencer August 1, 2019 ACMA, Communications Alliance, John Stanton, NBN, TIO
Previous Previous post: NBN Co taps Telstra wholesale lead to replace Rousselot in 'expanded transformation-led role'
Next Next post: AustCyber flags weakness in Australian economy as lack of holistic cyber-resilience stance sees 'train smash of a legislative landscape'


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You are at:Home » All News » ELEVATE Announces Steph Sia as Community Partner for December
ELEVATE Announces Steph Sia as Community Partner for December
Press Release by The Rub PR
(Los Angeles, CA) ELEVATE (presented by Streamate) continues to change the narrative around people engaged in and/or who work adjacent to the adult space. They've announced their Community Partner for December, the multi-faceted Steph Sia.
Steph Sia is a stripper, content creator, and podcaster. She started in adult as a sugar baby after a friend suggested she join an online platform. From there, she became a stripper but quickly elevated to a feature dancer with regional popularity. In 2019, Sia launched her podcast, Stripped by SIA, focusing on destigmatizing the sex industry. She has interviewed hundreds of industry people, including sex workers, business execs, directors, clients, and activists. Recently, Sia's podcast received a nomination for Favorite Adult Podcast and can be heard on Apple Podcasts, all major platforms, and strippedbysia.com.
Besides being promoted on ELEVATE's social media (@beyondsexwork on Twitter and Instagram), Steph will perform live shows on Streamate every Wednesday in December from 4:30pm to 6pm PST/7:30pm to 9pm EST. Support Steph and view her live streams at SIAonCamera.cammodels.com.
"I chose to align myself with Streamate's ELEVATE initiative because it's a program that celebrates sex workers and their achievements. Too many times, we, as sex workers, are ridiculed for the work that we do and are not taken seriously. Finally, a major platform (as a whole!) is choosing to highlight those who are making a difference in our community, to pave the way, and to amplify our voices when, often, they are erased. It's finally time we fully back those in our community on a corporate front. We've had enough performative theatrics—it's time to get behind what allyship really means, and ELEVATE truly is a pure example of this, says Steph Sia.
"Steph caught our attention through her industry-focused podcast, Stripped by SIA, which tackles topics that work toward destigmatizing and, more importantly, humanizing different facets of sex work and the people who work in the sex industry. Sometimes, these topics can feel unrelatable if you aren't already familiar with them or don't know people who work in adult. Steph does a great job of approaching these conversations from a place of learning through educational resources and informing listeners through diverse personal narratives, making them much more accessible to both industry members and average people (civilians) alike. It's been an exciting opportunity to learn about the different facets that make up Steph's diverse business model, including in-person and online sex work, digital media production, strategic marketing consultation, pole dancing instruction, and supporting sex workers through local advocacy groups. At times, there seems to be this underlying divide between different areas of adult: indie and pro, online or in-person, performer, and companies. We believe there's room to support and uplift one another regardless of what segment of the industry you work in, and we're honored to partner with someone like Steph, who embodies this very message," says Streamate Director of Community Relations and ELEVATE Creator Vanessa Eve.
ELEVATE continues to change the narrative around what it means to be someone engaged in or works adjacent to the adult space. Learn more about ELEVATE (presented by Streamate) by going to beyondsexwork.com.
Presented by Streamate, ELEVATE is an initiative that recognizes adult industry members and allies working to positively impact their community through advocacy, direct support, and/or creative endeavors. Each month, ELEVATE spotlights a different Community Partner featured on social media to bring awareness to their causes and their work within their community. Partners also develop original content or live streams to connect with fans and community members during their spotlighted month. And Community Partners can expand on their platform and give further exposure to matters that the community should be aware of by writing an opinion piece published in XBIZ Magazine. Find out more about ELEVATE at beyondsexwork.com or by following them on Twitter and Instagram at @beyondsexwork.
activists Apple Podcasts business execs clients Community Partner content creator December directors ELEVATE Favorite Adult Podcast feature dancer live streams nomination podcast sex workers Steph Sia Streamate Stripped by Sia stripper
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from a blank start to replicate what you're seeing?
> not. Is there someway to turn on unique-ness?
>not. Is there someway to turn on unique-ness?
>Should I reload after adding unique to the sequence?
when it is not a primary key or defined as serial, but a manual sequence?
I don't find it hard to meet expenses. They're everywhere!
>when it is not a primary key or defined as serial, but a manual sequence?
11. Auto-Generate unique Sequence Numbers?


text:
Robert Miles, född Roberto Concina den 3 november 1969 i Fleurier i Neuchâtel, död 9 maj 2017 på Ibiza, var en schweiziskfödd italiensk musiker och DJ inom bland annat trance, house och andra typer av elektronisk musik. Miles är mest känd för den framgångsrika dreamtrancelåten "Children", som sålde i över 5 miljoner exemplar och var en av 1996 års mest sålda musiksinglar i världen. En annan känd låt som han gjorde var "One and One" med Maria Nayler.

Biografi
Miles hade som ung en fobi för instrument och det var motvilligt som han till slut satte sig vid familjens piano. Intresset växte sig allt mer för musiken och han hoppade av skolan som sjuttonåring och startade en mindre, privat radiostation där han spelade sin ihopmixade musik. Hans idoler var artister som Kraftwerk, Brian Eno och Future Sound of London. Han började även få spelningar på riktiga klubbar i Italien. Det var house och techno som han spelade, eftersom trance knappt fanns vid den här tiden. Han byggde också en mindre studio i hemmet där han började skriva musikstycken som inte nådde någon högre nivå. När hans pappa återvände från det dåvarande kriget i Bosnien och Hercegovina berättade han för Robert om krigets elände, och det fruktansvärda dödandet av oskyldiga barn. Det berörde honom mycket och han ville ha utlopp för sina känslor genom musiken. Det slutade i låten "Children", som är tillägnad barnen i Bosnien och Hercegovina. När han sedan hade en spelning, ville han prova sin nya låt på publiken. Det uttrycker han själv så här:

Låten började genast spelas av DJ:s världen över, och nådde snart till den stora engelska radiostationen Radio 1. De vägrade dock spela den eftersom den var instrumental, något som inte ansågs ha i kommersiell radio att göra. Till slut hamnade den dock i deras låtlista efter mängder av påtryckningar från Englands klubbscener. På nolltid spelades den på radiostationer över hela världen. "Children" blev listetta i arton länder och öppnade till stor del dörren för chillout-musik.
Debutalbumet Dreamland, som också innehöll singlarna "Fable" och "One and One", blev en jättesuccé och sålde guld (12) och platina (16 stycken) i 21 länder.

Eftersom Miles sedan barnsben varit en ganska skygg och tillbakadragen person blev det för mycket för honom med ständiga radio- och TV-intervjuer och andra framträdanden. Han flyttade till London och isolerade sig i stort sett från omvärlden och koncentrerade sig på uppföljaren till Dreamland, 23 am.

Skivan floppade dock ganska rejält, till stor del beroende på Miles vägran till intervjuer och TV-framträdanden. Dessutom kom han på kant med sitt skivbolag angående marknadsföringen och innehållet på skivan. Miles kände sig inte fri att skapa den musik han själv ville och bröt upp med skivbolaget.

Efter att rest världen runt som DJ återvände Miles till London år 2000 med mängder av musikalisk inspiration. Han flyttade sin studio till en isolerad by på ön Ibiza för att försöka få ihop alla erfarenheter till ett album. Det slutade med Organik, ett ganska mörkt och experimentellt album som inget skivbolag ville ge ut. Därför skapade han ett eget, S:alt Records (akronym för 'Suitably Alternative').

2004 års Miles_Gurtu, är ett samarbete med den indiske jazzpionjären Trilok Gurtu och visar tydligt att Robert Miles inte är rädd för att gå sina egna vägar. Albumet är en sällsynt blandning av jazz, trip-hop, ambient, världs- och traditionell musik.

Hans femte album med titeln Th1rt3en släpptes på S:alt Records i februari 2011 med gästspel av bland annat Robert Fripp. Detta album är en blandning av alternativ och progressiv rock med ambienta och elektroniska ljudlandskap.

Han avled den 9 maj 2017 i cancer.

Diskografi

Album
 1996 - Dreamland
 1997 - 23am
 2001 - Organik
 2004 - Miles Gurtu
 2011 - Th1rt3en

Remixalbum
 1997 In the Mix
 1997 Renaissance Worldwide — London (med Dave Seaman)
 2002 Organik Remixes
 2011 Th1rt3en Remixes

Singlar
 1995 "Soundtracks EP"
 1995 "Red Zone"
 1995 "Children" (UK #2, US #21)
 1996 "Fable" (med Fiorella Quinn) (UK #7)
 1996 "One and One" (med Maria Nayler) (UK #3, US #54)
 1997 "Freedom" (med Kathy Sledge) (UK #15)
 1998 "Full Moon" (med Nancy Danino)
 1998 "Everyday Life" (med Nancy Danino)
 2001 "Paths" (med Nina Miranda) (UK #74)
 2002 "Improvisations: Part 2"
 2002 "Connections/Separations"
 2002 "Organik Remixes"
 2002 "Pour Te Parler (Remixes)"
 2011 "Th1rt3en EP (Remixes)"
 2011 "Miniature World"
 2011 "Voices from a Submerged Sea"

Referenser

Externa länkar
 Officiell webbplats

Födda 1969
Avlidna 2017
Män
Personer från Neuchâtel
Schweiziska diskjockeyer
Schweiziska electronicamusiker
Trancemusiker

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Wales should 'capitalise on its bilingualism' as Brexit blamed for children dropping foreign languages
25 Oct 2018 3 minute read
Spanish on a chalkboard
Wales has been urged to "capitalise on its strength as a bilingual nation" in order to ensure that school children learn a third language, as the numbers doing so continue to drop.
A new report from British Council Wales says the number of Welsh schoolchildren choosing to study international languages is continuing to decline.
According to the council, Brexit is having a negative impact on attitudes to language learning.
The report, Language Trends Wales 2018, says more than one-third of schools (37%) say that Brexit is having a negative effect on the attitudes of pupils and parents towards studying modern foreign languages (MFL).
Schools are also concerned that Brexit will adversely affect the recruitment and retention of MFL teachers. Schools in south east Wales are most likely to report a negative Brexit impact on MFL (56%).
Jenny Scott, director British Council Wales said that Wales should "capitalise on its strength as a bilingual nation" to reverse the trend, following a "puzzling" drop in Welsh-medium students taking up a foreign language.
"Any future lack of linguists will have serious consequences for Welsh business, tourism and overseas engagement, at a time when building international links and trade are more important than ever," she said.
"We need to change the standing of MFL, ensuring it is valued and protected in our education system."
The language trend survey is available to download here.
Other factors teachers say are contributing to the decline beside Brexit are:
MFL is perceived as more difficult than other subjects
The low value given to MFL compared to STEM (science, technology, engineering, maths)
The reduction in subject choices to make room for the Welsh Baccalaureate
Since 2002 entries for GCSEs in MFL have declined by 57%, with French falling by two-thirds and German by 71%.
This year's GCSE exam data does show that the decline in German entries has been halted and the decline in French is less steep than in other years, only 5% compared to 11% during 2016-17, but Spanish has seen a large drop in entries of 23%.
A-level entries for MFL have halved since 2001, with French, German and Spanish all badly affected.
Data for 2018 show these trends continue, with significant falls in the number of entries for A-level German down 33%, Spanish down 12% and French down 6%.
Entry figures for AS level offer little hope that the situation will improve in 2019, with continued declines in all three languages.
Global Futures, the Welsh Government's programme to promote and improve MFL teaching and learning in schools has increased its reach over the last year, from 72% to 87% of survey respondents, and teachers are positive about the usefulness of the programme.
However, survey respondents say that change beyond the scope of Global Futures is needed to reverse the decline in MFL.


text:
Spread Options: College football bowl game best bets, part 4
December 29, 2022, 10:22 a.m. ·7 min read
New Year's Six breakdowns and best bets: Orange Bowl, Sugar Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, Peach Bowl, Cotton Bowl, Rose Bowl
We've reached the home stretch of the college football season.
The College Football Playoff semifinals are on tap for New Year's Eve and there are also five fun games on the schedule for Friday, including the Orange Bowl — the first New Year's Six bowl of the year.
And after semifinal Saturday, bowl season is capped off by four more games on Monday, Jan. 2. That group of games includes an excellent matchup in the Rose Bowl between Utah and Penn State.
We have in-depth breakdowns and picks for each of the major bowl games (see above). Below are our favorite plays from the 13 games played between Dec. 30 and Jan. 2.
(All times ET, odds from BetMGM)
Mayo Bowl: Maryland vs. No. 23 NC State
Date: Dec. 30 (Noon) | TV: ESPN | Line: NC State -1 | Total: 46.5
Sam Cooper: The best unit on the field in this game is NC State's defense. The defense carried the Wolfpack to eight wins even with the team playing its fourth-string quarterback late in the season. There are a lot of seniors playing their last game for NC State, and this group didn't get a chance to play a bowl game last year because UCLA canceled due to COVID issues. Maryland has had a bunch of roster attrition and will be without its top three receivers and top tight end. I liked NC State more as an underdog, but I'll stick with the play.
Pick: NC State -1
Sun Bowl: Pittsburgh vs. No. 18 UCLA
Date: Dec. 30 (2 p.m.) | TV: CBS | Line: UCLA -5.5 | Total: 53.5
Sam Cooper: I don't really think Pitt going from Kedon Slovis to Nick Patti is much of a downgrade, but the absence of Izzy Abanikanda at running back and so many key players on defense makes it tough to think Pitt can keep up with UCLA. All signs point to Dorian Thompson-Robinson playing in what will be his final game in a UCLA uniform. After five seasons starting, I see him going out with a fairly comfortable win.
Pick: UCLA -5.5
Nick Bromberg: Pitt is missing both QB Kedon Slovis and RB Izzy Abanikanda on offense while four of the Panthers' best defensive players are missing the game through injury or NFL draft prep. UCLA QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson looks set to play the game and while WR Kazmeir Allen is prepping for the draft, UCLA should have more than enough to cover a spread that's less than a TD.
Gator Bowl: No. 21 Notre Dame vs. No. 19 South Carolina
Date: Dec. 30 (3:30 p.m.) | TV: ESPN | Line: ND -2.5 | Total: 51.5
Sam Cooper: I know South Carolina closed out the season with wins over Tennessee and Clemson, but I'm still a bit skeptical of the Gamecocks. This program has had a lot of opt outs and transfers since the regular season ended with running back Marshawn Lloyd among the departures. Still, Shane Beamer is the kind of coach who will have some tricks up his sleeve and I don't want to back a Notre Dame team starting quarterback Tyler Buchner after a long layoff when he won't have star tight end Michael Mayer. I envision Notre Dame leaning on its running game and trying to control the clock while South Carolina is going to have to rely on Spencer Rattler with so many of his top offensive weapons unavailable.
Pick: Under 51.5
South Carolina quarterback Spencer Rattler (7) plays against Clemson during an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, in Clemson, S.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
Arizona Bowl: Ohio vs. Wyoming
Date: Dec. 30 (4:30 p.m.) | TV: Barstool | Line: Ohio -1 | Total: 42.5
Sam Cooper: Wyoming's top four running backs are gone. That's not a good recipe for a team that runs the ball more than 60% of the time and has a quarterback that completes only 51.4% of his attempts. At the same time, I don't trust Ohio without starting quarterback Kurtis Rourke. Wyoming has a good, physical defense that played well against some of the best teams in the Mountain West. I'm expecting an ugly, low-scoring game.
Music City Bowl: Kentucky vs. Iowa
Date: Dec. 31 (Noon) | TV: ABC | Line: Iowa -2.5 | Total: 31
Nick Bromberg: I'm not going to overthink this one. Both teams have good defenses. Both teams have bad offenses missing key pieces. Iowa is down to its third-string quarterback after an injury to Spencer Petras and Alex Padilla's transfer. Kentucky is missing QB Will Levis and RB Chris Rodriguez as they skip the game to prep for the NFL draft. Punting to win will be imperative here and I've gotta go low in the lowest total of bowl season.
Pick: Under 31
Sugar Bowl: No. 5 Alabama vs. No. 9 Kansas State
Date: Dec. 31 (Noon) | TV: ESPN | Line: Alabama -6.5 | Total: 56
Sam Cooper: With Bryce Young playing, Alabama is going to find a way to put up plenty of points on the fast track at the Superdome. At the same time, Kansas State is going to be really fired up to play in this game. K-State's offense has been playing at a high level with Will Howard and can beat you with the downfield passing game or with Deuce Vaughn out of the backfield. I think this could turn into a shootout. I'll go with the over.
Pick: Over 56
Alabama quarterback Bryce Young (9) scores a touchdown against Auburn during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
Peach Bowl: No. 1 Georgia vs. No. 4 Ohio State
Date: Dec. 31 (8 p.m.) | TV: ESPN | Line: Georgia -6.5 | Total: 62.5
Nick Bromberg: I don't like this matchup at all for Ohio State after seeing what Michigan did to the Buckeyes. It's clear that Ohio State won't attempt to play man coverage against Georgia's receiving threats after the disaster that it was against Michigan. Georgia is also well-equipped to run the ball against Ohio State just as well as Michigan did. Sure, the Buckeyes have great receiving threats in Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka, but Georgia shut down Tennessee's pass game. It can do the same to Ohio State's. This is easy now that the spread is under a TD.
Pick: Georgia -6.5
ReliaQuest Bowl: Mississippi State vs. Illinois
Date: Jan. 2 (Noon) | TV: ABC | Line: MSU -1 | Total: 46
Nick Bromberg: I can't pretend to understand what Mississippi State has dealt with since the death of Mike Leach. But the team made it clear in the days after Leach's passing that it wanted to play this game. It's easy to see how Mississippi State will be a motivated bunch and Illinois is missing star RB Chase Brown and its top two defensive backs as they prep for the draft. With the line so close here, I've gotta go with the Bulldogs.
Pick: Mississippi State -1
Rose Bowl: No. 11 Penn State vs. No. 8 Utah
Date: Jan. 2 (5 p.m.) | TV: ESPN | Line: Utah -2.5 | Total: 52.5
Sam Cooper: There are some really impressive athletes on Penn State's defense and I think that's going to pose a tough matchup for the Utah offense — especially without Dalton Kincaid. Cam Rising's ability to run is going to be a key for the Utes, who really want to win a Rose Bowl after losing a heartbreaker to Ohio State last fall. But I think PSU is the better team overall. I don't think Utah's defense is as good as it has been in recent seasons and Penn State's offensive line is much healthier after the layoff and has two star freshmen at running back and a deep group of tight ends. PSU's receiver group isn't great without Parker Washington, but I'm siding with the Nittany Lions getting a few points.
Pick: Penn State +2.5
A funeral service for the second police officer caught in a deadly avalanche near Kaslo, B.C., is being held on Monday, nearly two weeks to the day after the ceremony for his colleague. The celebration of life for Const. Mathieu Nolet is taking place at the Rod and Gun Club in Nelson, B.C., at 11:30 a.m. PT. The Nelson Police Department is streaming the service live. Nolet, 28, was skiing with his colleague, Det. Wade Tittemore, in a mountain pass 60 kilometres north of Nelson when an avalanche
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UK leader fires party chairman over tax bill allegations
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Mayo | Anti-War / Imperialism
Anti-War / Imperialism
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Fire the U.S. Congress for Treason: How Many Blatant Favors for AIPAC?
mayo | anti-war / imperialism | opinion/analysis Friday January 11, 2013 23:09 by ron russ
How many times will U.S. elected Representatives of the U.S. House and Senate have to kiss Israel's ass, and in how many ways, before "our" country will build a true national security team—that is one actually focused on U.S. security and not primarily on Israel's? It is bad enough when Jewish-Americans politicians (with more substantive allegiance to Israel than the U.S.) like junior Senator Ben Cardin for Maryland, claiming his decision on whether Chuck Hagel will be a good Secretary of Defense resides on whether he is onboard with Israel's/AIPAC's agenda of having war with Israel's enemy Iran (at least as backup force); or NY Senator Chuck Schumer equivocating about not "feeling" comfortable with voting for Hagel because of some of Hagel's past attitudes; but even more so with suck-ups like Lindsey Graham giving about the best ass-kissing one could expect (to think some confederates once had some principle of pride and independence).
By Ron Russell
How many times will U.S. elected Representatives of the U.S. House and Senate have to kiss Israel's ass, and in how many ways, before "our" country will build a true national security team—that is one actually focused on U.S. security and not primarily on Israel's?
It is bad enough when Jewish-Americans politicians (with more substantive allegiance to Israel than the U.S.) like junior Senator Ben Cardin for Maryland, claiming his decision on whether Chuck Hagel will be a good Secretary of Defense resides on whether he is onboard with Israel's/AIPAC's agenda of having war with Israel's enemy Iran (at least as backup force); or NY Senator Chuck Schumer equivocating about not "feeling" comfortable with voting for Hagel because of some of Hagel's past attitudes; but even more so with suck-ups like Lindsey Graham giving about the best ass-kissing one could expect (to think some confederates once had some principle of pride and independence).
This is not about being prudish regarding tawdry consensual affairs in various flavors—people can suck-up to who they want on their own dine—but when the majority of the U.S. Representatives and Senators constantly put Israel's priorities before American that's called treason—and this form of treason that has been going on far too long. It didn't bother many all that much when Bill Clinton was found messing around as President—at least not nearly as much as when he, and practically all American politicians, have become prostitutes for Israel.
Someone should remind Senator Chuck Schumer for whom he works. Mr. Schumer, when you function as a national Senator in capacity of the entire nation, you do NOT work primarily for Jewish interests or Israel or anyone connected to Israel. You work for ALL Americans (including the 90+% who are not Jewish) and ONLY Americans. When Chuck Hagel was criticized for a retort that he is an American Senator and not an Israeli Senator he should be given a standing ovation. More importantly to think your goal is to find someone who goes along with whatever Israel and the Jewish community wants without criticism or confrontation is clearly to abnegate YOUR duty to this country. You are a United States Senator Mr. Schumer and it is time to start acting and thinking like it.
To think William Kristol, a Neo-Con-Artist, whose cabal was the main think tank whose positioning for a "new" Pearl Harbor (see Project for a New American Century) and all the wars that could transpire in "favor" of Israel after 9/11, has the gall, as regenerate, to position himself as a viable spokesperson for the American mainstream, or even a viable and respectable spokesperson for a wider Jewish community, in unbelievable. Who is he to think his opinion means a damn thing to anybody? (Of course he doesn't have a problem with John Kerry—because John Kerry has always been an Israeli kiss-asser—which is what Kristol really defines as being "in" the mainstream). But how can he know what is the real mainstream is when he is so far from it?
This is the corruption mainstream media and much of even the left-wing has failed to acknowledge and address—the level of conspiratorial ass-kissing between Washington D.C. and Tel-Aviv. His ideas could only be valid if the American "mainstream" means either of two things—(1) the mainstream itself is highly corrupted (which is true)—or (2) the mainstream is very ignorant and full of lies (which is equally true).
Meanwhile we equally have a Bolshevik play going on by Senator Diane Feinstein, another Israel-firster (and why are our American Intelligence Committees over-represented with Jewish-Americans?), wants to take away our right to own guns (as she and her ilk like Jane Harmon have already seen to it that our personal rights to privacy have been and continue to be violated by giving telecommunication companies the right to spy on us with impunity. We don't need more Trotskys creating a Police State plans to dis-empower and disembowel the American people with unquestioned support for a secretly operated and ever-growing Joe Lieberman Homeland Security. Our national security is not what Jewish leaders want—it is what is best for all Americans (including Muslim Americans).
Look at all the unnecessary killing and torture they are already taken place based on phony intelligence—some advocated by Israelis and U.S. Media. All these secret Charlie Wilson Wars in Iraq, Syria and Iran, ad nauseum, is because of a cowardly media and a cowardly political establishment here in the United States—that too much kowtows to what AIPAC expects. Even the Presidential debates on foreign policy almost "exclusively" focused on the megalomania of what is good for Israel (as Obama has too much played into this game).


Ireland, although is a small nation but it has so much preserved that it will take you more than a tour to experience all. It has the famous 12 Christmas pubs, the northern lights, the castles, the popular pubs, the striking routes and several breathtaking sights. All these things are going to leave to speechless. Although there are lots of things to do in Ireland but what must you do first are given below. Do go through these and try when you actually visit Ireland.
Other than Finland, Ireland is also the country where travelers gather to catch a glimpse of the northern lights. The northern lights draping the entire sky looks mesmerizing to the eyes. This has started happening from the past few years. These are named as the aurora borealis. To check when the next aurora borealis will take place, you can sign up for the astronomy Ireland and get updates about it.
The food haven is the English market selling the locally made yield from fish, fruits and vegetables, poultry and the famous sausages of Flynns. A trip to this market is a delight to the senses. Few years ago when the queen visited Ireland, even she took a small detour into the food haven and had a chat to the local producers. Whenever, you visit this market, make sure that you visit its lovely café called the Garmgate. This is one of the best place to have lunch in the city.
Connemara is one of the most gorgeous sight in the whole of Ireland. Today, this is famous as one of the last remaining Irish speaking areas of Ireland also called the gealtacht. Just spend a day here and do check out its rewarding surroundings, beautiful lakes, countryside area comprising of harbors, deserted beaches and seaside villages. You are surely going to come here again as it also makes the unblemished regions in the whole of Europe.
When in foreign lands, we come across various traditions and cultures are quite odd and creepy to us like the seaweed bath of Ireland. Yes, it may look a little "eww" when you actually dip into it but it has the power to heal the stress and tiredness from surfing, hiking and other physical labor involving activities. The freshly harvested seaweeds are put into the bathtub of lukewarm water and then you enter relaxing in it. Yes, you might not like it at first but you will not believe your skin and hair becoming incredibly soft and rejuvenated after this. You are definitely going to get addicted to this bath. The bath may last for 1 hour and along with it, you can also take the steam in a special steam room.
The sunset from moher is photographed quite a lot. The beautiful sunset on a clear day is a treat to the eyes. You can even see it from miles one a clear day. However, you have to wait for the beautiful things like this sunset as the weather of this place is not always clear and keeps on changing frequently. However, do not miss this sunset in hurry as you won't get such opportunities again. If you do not believe its beauty, just search some photographs on internet.
The swimming activity at the forty foot is quite unique. Well, the Christmas day swim is another Irish tradition. In recent years, it is growing into popularity and you can see hundreds of people jumping off the pieres and the rocks into the cold water in the beaches on Christmas Eve. Forty foot is one of the best pale to enjoy this activity to the fullest. It is a popular Dublin bathing spot located at just south of the Dun Laoghaire.
In 2012, the titanic Belfast in Northern Ireland was opened with an applauded design in the area where the star-crossed liner was built. At this museum, the things are so natural and the stories are so dramatic, that you will be taken too original titanic. There is media coverage, smashups beneath the glass floor and various other things that very well explain how the unfortunate titanic sank in water. In the titanic quarters of Belfast, you can even tour at the ship's dry dock, board its first class tender, take a tour at the shipyard and even take harbor cruise to see the construction and slipways of the water. What can be an experience better than knowing more about the Titanic?
Undoubtedly, this one is the most astonishing driving route of Ireland. This also makes the longest defined coastal driving route in the whole wide world. The route stretching from the whole way from Donegal in north to cork in the extreme south offers so many spectacular sights that will leave you awestruck. Some of the most stunning beaches, lakes, mountains, tiny coastal villages, surf breaks and waterfall can be seen while passing by this route. Whenever you visit here, be sure to spend a few days or weeks here and try to come across as much of Ireland as you can.
The killarney is actually one of the most visited national park of Ireland. Not only tourists but even the locals love this place. Whether you take a tour to the muckross house or a boat trip of the lake or hike to the torc Waterfall, you can spend a day rest. You can enjoy this beautiful place even more by riding the famous jaunting car with the locals who can tell you folklore and funny stories about the place.
If you have heard a lot about Ireland then you will also have heard of its Johnnie foxes Pub which is one of the highest pub of Ireland. There dwells so much fun here and you will surely feel like spending the night here. Open for 7 days, you will hear the Irish music here, watch Irish dancing and will be entertained every night. You can spend hours without getting bored of checking out its antiques, & looking at its photographs. From movie celebrities to the world presidents, many famous people have stepped in this pub.