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Baby George got into a plane crash in a jungle, stayed alive and was adopted by a wise ape. Ursula Stanhope, US noble woman is saved from death on safari by grown-up George, and he takes her to jungle to live with him. He slowly learns a rules of human relationships, while Ursula's lover Lyle is looking for her and the one who took her. After they are found, Ursula takes George to the USA.
Johnny English (2003)
Rowan plays the eponymous lead character in a spoof spy thriller. During the course of the story we follow our hero as he attempts to single-handedly save the country from falling into the hands of a despot.
Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981)
The Tarzan story from Jane's point of view. Jane Parker visits her father in Africa where she joins him on an expedition. A couple of brief encounters with Tarzan establish a (sexual) bond between her and Tarzan. When the expedition is captured by savages, Tarzan comes to the rescue
Team America World Police follows an international police force dedicated to maintaining global stability. Learning that dictator Kim Jong il is out to destroy the world, the team recruits Broadway star Gary Johnston to go undercover. With the help of Team America, Gary manages to uncover the plan to destroy the world. Will Team America be able to save it in time? It stars… Samuel L Jackson, Tim Robbins, Sean Penn, Michael Moore, Helen Hunt, Matt Damon, Susan Sarandon, George Clooney, Danny Glover, Ethan Hawke, Alec Baldwin… or does it?
Wrongfully Accused (1998)
Ryan Harrison, a violin god, superstar and sex symbol does not want to cheat on sexy Lauren Goodhue's husband with her. Mr. Goodhue is found murdered and Ryan suddenly finds himself being the main suspect. After being sentenced to death he manages to flee while being transferred to his execution site. Now, all the world is after him as he stumbles from one unfortunate incident to the next in order to prove himself innocent - by finding a mysterious one-eyed, one-armed, one-legged man...
30 Minutes or Less (2011)
Two fledgling criminals kidnap a pizza delivery guy, strap a bomb to his chest, and advise him that he has mere hours to rob a bank or else...
Trader Hornee (1970)
A private detective journeys to Africa to find a legenday white gorilla. The gorilla turns out to be an escaped Nazi war criminal.
Baby's Day Out (1994)
Baby Bink couldn't ask for more; he has adoring (if somewhat sickly-sweet) parents, he lives in a huge mansion, and he's just about to appear in the social pages of the paper. Unfortunately, not everyone in the world is as nice as Baby Bink's parents; especially the three enterprising kidnapers who pretend to be photographers from the newspaper. Successfully kidnaping Baby Bink, they have a harder time keeping hold of the rascal, who not only keeps one step ahead of them, but seems to be more than a little bit smarter than the three bumbling criminals.
Gladiatress (2004)
Offbeat sword-and-sandals comedy-adventure about three unlikely heroines (Doon Mackichan, Fiona Allen and Sally Phillips) who set out to thwart a Roman invasion and save Celtic Britain in their own unique and outrageous style.
That Man from Rio (1964)
Farce, spy spoof, and adventure. Swarthy thieves ignore jewels to steal an Amazon figurine from the Museum of Man in Paris' Trocadero Palace and kidnap the world's authority on the lost Maltec civilization. Cut to Agnes, the daughter of a murdered man who possessed one of two other such figurines. Moments after her sweetheart, Adrien, an Army private with a week's leave, arrives in Paris to see her, Agnes too is kidnapped, drugged, and loaded on a plane to Rio. Adrien is in hot pursuit, and before he can rescue her (with the help of a shoeshine boy), foil the murderous thieves, and solve the riddle of the Maltecs, he must traverse Rio, Brasília, and the Amazon heartland... all before the end of his week's leave.
The Liquidator (1965)
Spy spoof about Boysie Oakes, a British secret agent who specialises in Liquidating. In actual fact he contracts out the work and pretends it is was himself. This leads to complications.
Philo Beddoe is your regular, easygoing, truck-driving guy. He's also the best bar-room brawler west of the Rockies. And he lives with a 165-pound orangutan named Clyde. Like other guys, Philo finally falls in love - with a flighty singer who leads him on a screwball chase across the American Southwest. Nothing's in the way except a motorcycle gang, and legendary brawler Tank Murdock.
Any Which Way You Can (1980)
Philo takes part in a bare knuckle fight - as he does - to make some more money than he can earn from his car repair business. He decides to retire from fighting, but when the Mafia come along and arrange another fight, he is pushed into it. A motorcycle gang and an orangutan called Clyde all add to the 'fun'.
James Batman (1966)
An evil syndicate is set to conquer the world, and the mission is to stop them from fulfilling their viscious plans. The consequences of their failure may mean the destruction of all dissenting countries who stand in their way. All countries must bow to their power before the deadline of five days expires. The solution is sending in their best operatives; James Hika, and the dynamic duo of Batman and Robin. They are first detested with working with each other, but for the safety of the world, they join forces. Through thick and thin, they survive the syndicate's plan to dispose of them. They get closer to stopping the syndicate plan, but there is a traitor in their midst. Will this deter them from achieving their goal?
World of the Drunken Master (1979)
Chan Hui Lau stars in this vintage martial arts film as Chang, the owner of a winery and master of Drunken Boxing, a deadly kung fu technique that, as the name implies, requires its practitioner to be drunk. His relatively peaceful life is interrupted when he catches two boys (Li Yi Min and Jack Long) stealing grapes from his vineyards and puts them to work for him. Over time, he teaches them the art of Drunken Boxing. When the two boys get into a fight with some local toughs, they provoke the wrath of Yeh Hu (Lung Fei), Chang's enemy.
The Silencers (1966)
Matt Helm (Dean Martin) is called out of retirement to stop the evil Big O organization who plan to explode an atomic bomb over Alamagordo, NM, and start WW III.
Kung Pow: Enter the Fist (2002)
A movie within a movie, created to spoof the martial arts genre. Writer/director Steve Oedekerk uses contemporary characters and splices them into a 1970s kung-fu film, weaving the new and old together. As the main character, The Chosen One, Oedekerk sets off to avenge the deaths of his parents at the hands of kung-fu legend Master Pain. Along the way, he encounters some strange characters
Tooken (2015)
Spoof of the "Taken" franchise. An ex-CIA agent who is now a mall security guard discovers that things are being taken from him. He must team up with his mom, also an ex-CIA agent, to defeat his rival and save his family.
Disaster! (2006)
A spoof of disaster films, an asteroid is coming towards earth and Harry Bottoms is in charge of saving us all...again...
Hot Shots! (1991)
Charlie Sheen, Lloyd Bridges, Cary Elwes, Valeria Golino and Jon Cryer co-star in director Jim Abrahams' (Airplane, Naked Gun) truly hilarious spoof of Top Gun. Recruited to join a top-secret mission for the Air Force, a renegade pilot (Sheen) finds himself coping with an incompetent admiral (Bridges) and a carefully selected squadron of flyers who are either inept or half-blind.
Arahan (2004)
When a thief driving a motorcycle steals a purse of a pedestrian, the clumsy, naive and honest rookie policeman Sang-hwan runs after him, but the skilled specialist in martial arts Wi-jin captures the criminal and Sang-hwan is severely injured. She brings Sang-hwan to her home, where the six Masters of Tao heal him and believe that he has a powerful Qi, the spiritual energy of the universe, and could be a powerful warrior. Sang-hwan begins his training to ascend to a Maruchi, while the evil and ambitious Heuk-woon is accidentally released from his imprisonment. The powerful Heuk-woon attacks the masters, searching a key that they protect, which would permit him to become an Arahan and dominate the world. When the masters are defeated, Sang-hwan and Wi-jin are the only and last hope to mankind.
Chinese Odyssey 2002 (2002)
Chinese Odyssey 2002, produced by Wong Kar-Wai, is writer-director Jeff Lau's energetic parody of Chinese kung fu epics. Chang Chen (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) plays the Emperor, who, desperate for the free-spirited life of a wanderer, tries to escape from the royal palace with his sister, the Princess (Faye Wong). He's caught and returned to his angry mother by the royal guards, but the Princess, disguised as a man, manages to escape. Meanwhile, King Bully (Tony Leung) has returned to his hometown, where he is widely despised for his bullying ways, to run a restaurant with his tomboy sister, Phoenix (Vicki Zhao). They have a very close relationship. In fact, King Bully mistakenly believes that he can read his sister's mind. When the Princess arrives in town, King Bully finds himself drawn to her, but, believing she's a man, decides that his attraction is some kind of empathy with Phoenix.
The Tricky Master (1999)
Undercover cop Leung Foon (Nick Cheung) is having trouble taking down the illegal trading operation headed by crime boss Ferrari (Wong Jing). So to accomplish his mission, he asks for help from the re... read more read more...nowned Master Wong (Stephen Chow), an expert in gambling tricks. Although the "Tricky Master" is opposed to getting involved, Foon convinces him to help bring down the swindler in a zany comedy that spoofs Enter the Dragon and The Matrix.
Monk Comes Down The Mountain (2015)
When a young monk is forced to leave his impoverished monastery, he relies on his extraordinary martial arts skills to survive in the outside world. In search of a mentor, he crosses paths with a Kung Fu master who is in possession of the Book of Secrets, which reveals the lost art of the deadly Ape Strike Kung Fu technique. The rare book is coveted by a sinister father and son who will go to any extremes to obtain it. The monk finds himself immersed in a deadly battle to protect both the book and his master.
Attack the Block (2011)
A teen gang in a grim South London housing estate must team up with the other residents to protect their neighbourhood from a terrifying alien invasion.
Pootie Tang (2001)
Pootie Tang, the musician/actor/folk hero of the ghetto, is chronicled from his early childhood to his battles against the evil Corporate America, who try to steal his magic belt and make him sell out by endorsing addictive products to his people. Pootie must learn to find himself and defeat the evil corporation for all the young black children of America, supatime.
Blubberella (2011)
An action comedy centered on Blubberella, an overweight half-vampire woman whose footsteps cause explosions and whose dual swords are used against anyone who makes fun of her. She must face an army of undead Nazi soldiers in her valiant struggle against bloodshed and tyranny.
Showtime (2002)
A spoof of buddy cop movies where two very different cops are forced to team up on a new reality based T.V. cop show.
The Big Bus (1976)
The ultimate disaster film parody. A nuclear powered bus is making it's maiden non-stop trip from New York to Denver. The journey is plagued by disasters due to the machinations of a mysterious group allied with the oil lobby. Will the down on his luck driver, with a reputation for eating his passengers, be able to complete the journey?
Snowflake, the White Gorilla (2011)
Snowflake is special, he's the only white gorilla in the world. He is the zoo's main attraction, children love him, but the other gorillas don't see what's so charming about this weirdo being the center of attention. With the help of Ailur, a Buddhist black panther reincarnated into the body of a red panda, and Paula, a smart little girl, Snowflake plans a sneak visit to the witch at the circus. She can help him be a normal gorilla. But outside the safety of the zoo's walls, the three friends are in danger. Thomas, a total jinx, is convinced that the white gorilla is the amulet he needs to counter his bad luck. This cruel and superstitious man is prepared to do whatever it takes to capture Snowflake.
Buddy (1997)
An eccentric socialite raises a gorilla as her son.
The Last of the Secret Agents? (1966)
A wacky 60s spy spoof.
The Wild Women of Wongo (1958)
On the tropical island of Wongo, a tribe of beautiful women discover that the other side of the island is inhabited by a tribe of handsome men. They also discover that a tribe of evil ape men live on the island, too, and the ape men are planning a raid on the tribe in order to capture mates.
Animal Kingdom: Lets Go Ape (2015)
Based on the novel 'Evolution Man' by Roy Lewis, this tells the story about the first man - young Edward - to descend from apes. Edward is ejected by his tribe, but is very resourceful. He learns to walk, discovers fire, manages to hunt - and we follow him as he evolves. He has a generous nature, and search for true humanity - a world where we don't eat our fathers.
George of the Jungle 2 (2003)
George and Ursula now have a son, George Junior, so Ursula's mother arrives to try and take them back to "civilization".
Mr. Go (2013)
A 15-year-old circus ringmaster Wei-wei is left all alone with gorilla Ling-ling after grandfather passes away. Thanks to her grandfather's love for baseball, Ling-ling was trained to play baseball and has developed remarkable hitting skills. The materialistic sports agent Sung Chung-Su hears of this remarkable gorilla, and signs Ling-ling to play in the professional South Korean baseball league. Dreaming of success, World's first gorilla pinch hitter and his 15-year old trainer begin on their run in the Korean Baseball League.
Alyas Batman En Robin (1991)
Alyas Batman en Robin is a 1991 Filipino Batman comedy film produced by Viva Films spoofing the 1960s Batman television series. It later become popular on the Australian market and became used as a training film for The Birds are Coming Enterprises. The movie was initially an unauthorized production, set to capitalize on the then in-production 1989 Batman film starring Michael Keaton. Warner Brothers threatened legal action and the release of the film was delayed until legal entanglements could be sorted out. The film was released in 1991, two years later than the intended 1989 release.
Mr. Thunderball (1965)
James Bond spoof starring Chiquito.
Sisters of No Mercy (2011)
The peaceful order of the Sisters of No Mercy are forced to avenge the murder of one of their own when an evil priest and his co-hort 'Saint' Theresa use the order as a cover for drugs and prostitution. Sisters of No Mercy spoofs nunsploitation movies while melding movie making techniques with modern socio-political overtones and Internet found footage to create a viewing experience of meta-awareness. Sisters of No Mercy chronicles our madcap adventures as we try and nurture and develop the community needed to sustain our independent theatres and video stores here in Chicago. It's also an introduction to a little-known sub-genre of exploitation cinema called Nunsploitation. Sex! Violence! Nuns!
Queen Kong (1976)
A female film crew journeys to Africa where a giant ape, Queen Kong, falls in love with the crew's male star.
After a spectacular crash-landing on an uncharted planet, brash astronaut Leo Davidson (Mark Wahlberg) finds himself trapped in a savage world where talking apes dominate the human race. Desperate to find a way home, Leo must evade the invincible gorilla army led by Ruthless General Thade (Tim Roth) and his most trusted warrior, Attar (Michael Clarke Duncan).
Congo (1995)
Eight people embark on an expedition into the Congo, a mysterious expanse of unexplored Africa where human greed and the laws of nature have gone berserk. When the thrill-seekers -- some with ulterior motives -- stumble across a race of killer apes.
As a child living in Africa, Jill Young saw her mother killed while protecting wild gorillas from poachers led by Andrei Strasser. Now an adult, Jill cares for an orphaned gorilla named Joe -- who, due to a genetic anomaly, is 15 feet tall. When Gregg O'Hara arrives from California and sees the animal, he convinces Jill that Joe would be safest at his wildlife refuge. But Strasser follows them to the U.S., intent on capturing Joe for himself.
Tarzan (2013)
One of the most classic and revered stories of all time, Edgar Rice Burroughs' Tarzan returns to the big screen for a new generation. Tarzan and Jane face a mercenary army dispatched by the evil CEO of Greystoke Energies, a man who took over the company from Tarzan's parents, after they died in a plane crash in the African jungle.
The White Gorilla (1945)
A white gorilla causes trouble in the deepest heart of Africa. The film uses footage from the silent 1927 serial Perils Of The Jungle which was written by director of The White Gorilla Harry L Fraser under the name Harry P.Crist
Ingagi (1930)
An expedition enters an area of the Congo jungle to investigate reports of a gorilla-worshipping tribe.
The King of the Kongo (1929)
A Secret Service agent seeks his missing brother in Africa, and finds his mission complicated by ivory thieves, a girl with a mysterious past, and a troublesome gorilla.
In this remake of the 1933 classic about the giant ape, an oil company expedition disturbs the peace of Kong and brings him back to New York to exploit him. Even though a woman somewhat tames Kong, he finally breaks loose and terrorizes the city, and as the military attempt to stop him, he falls to his death from the top of the World Trade Center.
Tarzan The Ape Man (1932)
James Parker and Harry Holt are on an expedition in Africa in search of the elephant burial grounds that will provide enough ivory to make them rich. Parker's beautiful daughter Jane arrives unexpectedly to join them. Jane is terrified when Tarzan and his ape friends first abduct her, but when she returns to her father's expedition she has second thoughts about leaving Tarzan.
The Ivory Ape (1980)
An ivory ape escapes from a freighter and makes its way to Bermuda. Two anthropologists want to save it, but the local authorities hire a big-game hunter to track it down and kill it.
A female ape takes to mothering the orphaned boy (Tarzan) and raises him over the course of many years until a rescue mission is finally launched and the search party combs the jungle for the long-time missing Lord Greystoke. But then, one of the search members, Jane Porter, gets separated from the group and comes face to face with fearsome wild animals. Tarzan saves her from harm just in the knick of time and love begins to blossom.
Kim Possible: A Sitch in Time (2003)
Kim and Ron start out a new school year, only to find out that Ron's family is moving to Norway. This puts a strain on their partnership, just as Dr. Drakken, Monkey Fist, and Duff Killigan team up to find and use an ancient time travel device to rule the world. Attacking Kim in the past, present, and future, can these villians succeed? Or will an unforeseen force be more destructive?
Rampage (2018)
Primatologist Davis Okoye shares an unshakable bond with George, the extraordinarily intelligent, silverback gorilla who has been in his care since birth. But a rogue genetic experiment gone awry mutates this gentle ape into a raging creature of enormous size. To make matters worse, it's soon discovered there are other similarly altered animals. As these newly created alpha predators tear across North America, destroying everything in their path, Okoye teams with a discredited genetic engineer to secure an antidote, fighting his way through an ever-changing battlefield, not only to halt a global catastrophe but to save the fearsome creature that was once his friend.
Justice League: The New Frontier (2008)
The human race is threatened by a powerful creature, and only the combined power of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Martian Manhunter and The Flash can stop it. But can they overcome their differences to thwart this enemy using the combined strength of their newly formed Justice League?
Tarzan Escapes (1936)
White hunter Captain Fry tries to take Tarzan back to civilization, caged for public display. He arrives in the jungle with Jane's cousins, Eric and Rita who want Jane's help in claiming a fortune left her.
Superman/Batman: Public Enemies (2009)
United States President Lex Luthor uses the oncoming trajectory of a Kryptonite meteor to frame Superman and declare a $1 billion bounty on the heads of the Man of Steel and his 'partner in crime', Batman. Heroes and villains alike launch a relentless pursuit of Superman and Batman, who must unite—and recruit help—to try and stave off the action-packed onslaught, stop the meteor Luthors plot.
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie (1995)
Four athletically able teenagers along with their brainy friend Billy are selected by Zordon to fight the evil of Rita Repulsa, her monsters and her minions after the witch is accidentally released from imprisonment in an intergalactic dumpster on the moon. Later in the series, the rangers are joined by Tommy, the once evil Green Ranger designed for Rita's evil, but later was deprogrammed and spent two portions of the series briefly as the Green Ranger. Over time, some rangers had to pass their powers to others as well. Action scenes and scenes with Rita were edited from footage based on Japanese action sagas. Replacement villain Lord Zedd was designed in the U.S.
Tarzan's Fight for Life (1958)
Dr. Sturdy is trying to establish a modern hospital in the jungle. His efforts are strongly opposed by Futa, the witch doctor, and Ramo, a native warrior.
Tarzan and the Green Goddess (1938)
Tarzan retells the story of a trip to Guatemala in which the ape-man had gone to aid a friend in searching for a very valuable totem pole called the Green Goddess. Not only is the article a primitive tribe's worship device, but it also houses an explosive formula. But in a treacherous twist of fate, as soon as Tarzan and his friend are able to get hold of the Green Goddess, a dangerous henchman get hold of them...


Meet Andrew Flint, an English guy who lives in Siberia, writes about football, and decided to experience this World Cup, with its tens of thousands of miles - in a car.
What would you do if you had a year off of your career?
For Matt Walker it was a chance to make an unusual football trip, through UEFA 55 football nations.
Ronald Lima, Ronaldo' son, was in Israel with Brazil U-18 team for the Maccabiah. Uri went to see him and came back with toughts about fathers and sons.


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Home	World News	Vending machines are the new go-to for raw steaks, $30 champagne – The Denver Post
Vending machines are the new go-to for raw steaks, $30 champagne – The Denver Post
Daniel Small, the Corporate Executive Chef at Icebox Cafe, displays a grilled chicken sandwich and a Sesame Noodle Chicken Bowl in front of his Icebox Cafe vending machine, Tuesday, October 26, 2021. (Photo by Michael Laughlin/Sun Sentinel)
On-the-go eaters in South Florida seeking restaurant-quality food can now discover high-end eats in the oddest of places: fancy vending machines.
Restaurants, food halls, hotels, hospitals and shopping malls now tantalize customers with touchscreen machines vending $30 grass-fed ribeyes and food made and shipped directly from local restaurants. Here's a sample:
The sixth-floor Terrace Grill at the trendy Dalmar Fort Lauderdale hotel is home to a Moet & Chandon machine offering $30 champagne mini-bottles.
The Jarden Smart Market at the Palm Beach Outlets sells grab-and-go salads, cold-pressed juices and other restaurant-quality food.
Customers can punch up 50 international flavors of licorice and 45 types of hard pretzels from machines at Delray Beach Market.
At the Carlo's Bakery machine at Sawgrass Mills Mall, a video of TLC's "Cake Boss" Buddy Valastro implores customers to indulge in $7 slabs of rainbow cake.
Call them modern-day automats, or maybe the next generation of vending. Robert Siegmann, owner of 12 fancy machines in Broward and Miami-Dade counties, calls them surefire pandemic moneymakers.
The owner of health-food eatery Icebox Café in Hallandale Beach says vending machines don't replace restaurants, but in the age of hospitality worker shortages, they do replace wait staff.
"[Restaurants] are suffering from labor issues, so this is a way to solve that dilemma," Siegmann says. "It's a huge gamble right now to invest a million dollars in a full-service restaurant. Or you could spend $15,000 on a vending machine, get it branded and install it, and if doesn't work, just unplug it and put it somewhere else."
The machines are also heavier and stuffed with gadgetry that prevents customers from bear-hugging and rocking the machines in frustration. Yes, food still gets stuck, but "much less often" than break-room snack machines of yesteryear, Siegmann adds.
"We're now dealing with highly technical vending machines and with those advances come a certain amount of glitchiness that you have to manage," he says.
A Carlo's Bakery "Cake ATM" at Sawgrass Mills Mall, next to the Oasis entrance, sells slabs of rainbow, red velvet and carrot cake. The machine comes from TLC "Cake Boss" Buddy Valastro.(Photo by Phillip Valys / Sun Sentinel)
Still, that's hardly deterring restaurants from crowding into the fancy vending machine arena. New York City's Brooklyn Dumpling Shop will bring dumpling automat machines to five locations between Miami and Orlando over the next year. The machines are contactless – customers order with smartphones – and fresh dumplings sit behind tiny glass windows that resemble mini-microwaves. Flavors include Reuben, lamb gyro and bacon pepper-jack cheeseburger.
In a press release touting franchise opportunities with a company called Fransmart, owner Dan Rowe says these automat machines "will be in every top market across the country in no time."
"The revival of the automat concept is ingenious, especially in combating the current labor shortage issue we're seeing across the country," he states.
Selling 'like gangbusters'
At Icebox Café's kitchen, it takes 25 chefs, line cooks and production packers to replenish Siegmann's 12 Icebox vending machines with Moroccan chicken bowls, chipotle turkey on fresh multigrain, cheesecake bites and tres leches cake. An 8-foot-tall orange touchscreen machine in Icebox's dining room charges $6.50 to $9 per grab-and-go item. It takes debit, credit, Apple Pay and Google Pay, but not cash.
Grilled chicken on multigrain is prepared fresh at Icebox Cafe, Tuesday, October 26, 2021. (Photo by Michael Laughlin/Sun Sentinel)
Zoriada Medina prepares chipotle chcken sandwiches at Icebox Cafe, Tuesday, October 26, 2021. (Photo by Michael Laughlin/Sun Sentinel)
A blackened chicken bowl and other food items are available at Icebox Cafe, Tuesday, October 26, 2021. (Photo by Michael Laughlin/Sun Sentinel)
A hummus and tabbouleh meal is ready for the Icebox Cafe vending machine, Tuesday, October 26, 2021. (Photo by Michael Laughlin/Sun Sentinel)
Pastry chef Maggie Valliant bakes 60 cakes each morning in Icebox's kitchen. Forty of them wind up at Icebox machines parked in strategic places with heavy foot traffic, including the lobby of the Alluvion Las Olas luxury residential tower, an Audi dealership in North Miami and at the University of Miami. The rest are served to customers at the Icebox Café restaurant and its two stores at Miami International Airport.
"Every three days, we have to restock the machines," Valliant says, smearing buttercream across red velvet cake. "People take pictures of the machines all the time and it makes me happy, you know? They're doing that because of how good my food looks."
Siegmann started Icebox Café's fleet of vending machines a few months before COVID-19, then added more when his grab-and-go meals sold "like gangbusters" amid pandemic shutdowns. Millennials and Gen-Zers use them the most, and Siegmann is negotiating with college campuses, shopping malls and hospitals to carry more.
"Consumers are more tech-savvy, demanding more foods on the fly and on their own time," he says. "If you install machines that give less financial risk to companies who don't have to deal with food waste and worker costs, that is humongous savings."
Fancy vending boxes are also more sophisticated. Their artificial intelligence unearths up-to-the-minute consumer data that restaurants covet: customer food habits, age groups, top-selling dishes. It's all accessible from a smartphone.
That's what attracted Palm Beach chef Thierry Beaud. Concerned that shutdowns would kill business at his upscale raw bar PB Catch and French bistro Pistache, Beaud partnered with fellow restaurateurs Hess Musallet (Field of Greens) and Dylan Lipton (Benny's on the Beach) to create Jarden Smart Market.
"We were worried what the future had in mind for us, so we invested in business models that were safer and less transmitting of the virus," Beaud says of their vending machine side hustle.
The Jarden Smart Market sells salads-in-a-jar, kombucha, cold-brew coffee and cold-pressed juices. (Photo courtesy ofJarden)
Their Jarden Smart Markets vend colorful, layered salads inside recyclable jars, plus kombucha, cold-brew coffee and cold-pressed juices. Chefs make the salads at partner restaurants and send them to machines at Palm Beach Outlets, downtown West Palm Beach and Palm Beach's Worth Avenue. Next, a Jarden will debut at Wellington Regional Hospital on Oct. 29.
The machines are temperature-controlled, and customers can scan ingredients before buying on a 27-inch touchscreen, Musallet adds. The chef says Jarden is inspired by Chicago-based Farmer's Fridge, whose 400 vending machines in six states have sold 3.7 million meals.
"We're bringing our culinary experience and knowledge of what the market needs," Musallet says. The Jarden machines may sit in luxury surrounds, but their customer base is employees working in these areas, not wealthy people. "Places like universities and public schools don't have easy access to healthy food. How many times have you been in a hospital cafeteria and thought, 'I can't eat that'?"
Beaud is trying to change the stigmas about vending machines of old, the kinds that dispensed potato chips and preservative-loaded cookies.
"Vending used to equal crap," he says. "Automats used to have TV dinners with high sodium and starch. But young people are more open to things that involve cool technology and a digital experience."
At Delray Beach Market, the fancy Licorice.com vending machine with 50 international flavors is treated just like any other restaurant, says Bob Higginbotham, the food hall's food and beverage director.
The market's customers — their demographic is 25- to 45-years-old — are already tantalized by too many options, primed for the dopamine hit of colorful boba teas and burgers and cakes in every direction. A red-and-black-striped licorice machine selling gift-wrapped tubes of old-fashioned candy for $15 is not just eye-catching but Instagrammable, he says.
"The power of the impulse buy at the market is huge, and the licorice machine stands out," Higginbotham says. "It's not generating as much revenue as the hamburger stand, but for us, it's a substantial source of income."
Boca Raton's Adam Struhl and his father, Warren, operate the licorice machine, which sells flavors from Finland, Australia and Holland. A frequent traveler, Struhl, 30, understood the powerful allure of convenience: He can't count the "embarrassing" number of times he's had to buy headphones out of airport terminal vending machines.
"Everyone has a licorice story, or has family members who like it," says Struhl, whose vending machine debuted in April. "Now, more than ever, people want an experience, and when you punch the touchscreen, you get to scroll through the flavors, and read about the history, argue with your friend about which one that you're going to get."
In two weeks, Struhl will debut a second smart vending machine next door, Pretzels.com, selling 45 varieties of hard pretzels ($12 per tube), with flavors from strawberry margarita to bacon-bourbon jam. While he sources the licorice from international suppliers, Struhl's team bakes the pretzels at a warehouse in Delray Beach.
Higginbotham is already a fan. "I typically don't get excited about hard pretzels," he says. "But I have to tell you, it was delicious."
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text:
Facebook Libra And Reliance Jio Compete With WeChat By Targeting The Unbanked
Journal of Political Risk, Vol. 8, No. 9, September 2020
Source: Tim Bennett, (Unsplash).
Vikram Chopra
CEO of Gift Jeenie
There's a technology arms race developing between the West and China. At the frontier are emerging technologies such as 5G, Big Data, AI, Blockchain and Crypto. China already has an advantageous position in many of these areas, including 5G and AI, and is looking to challenge Bitcoin and the US dollar with its digital Yuan.
Facebook's recent moves with Whatsapp and Libra are interesting strategies in this larger game of global tech domination where the likes of WeChat and TikTok have been resoundingly successful market leaders. A big reason for the success of WeChat is its complete market domination within China's 1.4 billion population. Furthermore, Wechat has seamlessly integrated into the daily lives of its users. It's more than just a chat application: it's a platform for shopping, ordering groceries, booking travel, dry-cleaning, reserving a table at a preferred restaurant and sending money among other services. Add the 40 million global Chinese diaspora who use WeChat to communicate with loved ones back home, and you can see why WeChat is one of the leading social media networks with over 1.2 billion users globally.
Prior to the Trump administration's latest trade salvo, WeChat's parent company Tencent was worth more than Facebook. Facebook's objective with Libra, WhatsApp and investment in Reliance Jio is to make Facebook membership more valuable, thus expanding its member-base by becoming a one-stop shop for everything the company has to offer, much like WeChat in China.
First, let's start with the opportunity for Crypto. Cryptocurrency has many detractors but its biggest selling-point is its ability to deliver "financial inclusion". Globally 1.7 billion of the world's population lacks access to a bank or financial institution. Services such as Western Union and Moneygram generate $50 billion plus in annual revenue by targeting the "unbanked" segments of the global population.The unbanked may not have access to a bank, computer or even a landline, but they do often have access to a cellular phone.
There are several gaps and bottlenecks with existing payment and money transfer services, especially when sending money abroad. Anyone who has tried sending money internationally can speak to the cost, process and time involved to both send and receive international wires. Cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin could potentially address this challenge.
On the flipside, the advent of Cryptocurrency and ICOs (initial coin offerings) has led to the advent of cryptocurrencies with little to no value, or a digital currency with no discernable purpose. The challenge for Bitcoin and many of the various Altcoins in the market is the lack of sufficient market reach or adoption. It would be difficult for cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin to become payment methods without wide-spread adoption by both consumers and merchants. In its present form, Bitcoin and many other cryptocurrencies are not very "liquid" or widely in circulation among the mainstream.
This is where Facebook comes in. Globally Facebook and Whatsapp have 2.45 and 2 billion users respectively. India is the largest market for both Facebook and Whatsapp, each with 260 and 400 million users. In addition, Reliance Jio is India's largest telecom player with a rapidly-growing user base of 400 million users. Reliance Jio is also a market leader in the Indian 5G space and has partnered up with Google to launch affordable 5G phones in the Indian market. These low-cost 5G phones would also be targeting the unbanked segments of the Indian populace. This partnership with Reliance strategically positions Facebook to do in India what WeChat did in China. The number of smartphone users in India will reach 442 million by 2022, demonstrating the potential of India as the largest untapped market in the world.
WeChat built an e-commerce platform on a messaging app, inspiring Facebook to replicate on a global basis what WeChat accomplished in China, by starting with India. The integration of messaging and payments along with access to the Reliance infrastructure provides Facebook a template to replicate in other emerging markets.
Therefore, Facebook with its various affiliates such as Whatsapp and partnership with Reliance Jio has access to the largest consumer base in the world for its Libra project. This gives Facebook a distinct competitive advantage over any existing Cryptocurrency project: an active and vibrant user base that can drive mass adoption. Leveraging the Whatsapp messaging gateway, which includes those not covered by formal banking, Facebook has the perfect hook to entice its users to use its messaging ecosystem as a global and local payment/money transfer solution. Similar to WeChat, there is tremendous ease of use for users who are already using Whatsapp to communicate with their loved ones, and to use the same platform to send money and make payments. In the Americas, Europe and Middle East, the remittance community of Filipinos, Indonesians, Indians, Central Americans, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis and others are all on Facebook because they can communicate in their own languages. These users can potentially swing to Libra and Whatsapp Pay. After its pilot project in India, Whatsapp pay recently received approval from the Brazilian Central Bank, speaking to its global ambitions.
If Facebook and Reliance Jio are successful in enabling trade and business through WhatsApp, then they are well on their way to turning WhatsApp into a global superapp, akin to the position WeChat enjoys in China. The Libra component drives financial inclusion and enables micro businesses to grow, further expanding Facebook's market dominance.
Vikram Chopra is the CEO of Gift Jeenie, a blockchain powered, consumer data rewards platform. He spent the past decade working with emerging technologies such as cloud services, artificial intelligence, automation, big data, blockchain and 5G.
This entry was posted in Asia, Brazil, China, Cryptocurrency, Economics, Finance, Financial Inclusion, Globalization, India, Market Competition, Opinion, Qualitative, Strategy, Technology, Telecommunications, USA by admin. Bookmark the permalink.


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A Last Ramble at Żonqor?
With a whopping 33% of the island already built up one would think that the cranes, earth movers and assorted construction behemoths would be yearning for a well-deserved rest – preferably a very long one. But it isn't really looking like that, is it?
Saint Nicholas Chapel
Żonqor is the latest stretch of open land to hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons so I traipse off early one Saturday morning to have a closer look, now fully aware it could be one of my last opportunities to do so. Even though it's the middle of May and the land is starting to dry up I am not disappointed.
I set out from a lane off Triq il-Blajjet – itself an offshoot off the old Zabbar to Marsascala road and probably the best way to access the area. It's a pretty winding lane and soon the chapel of Saint Nicholas comes into view – up till now a lone landmark in splendid isolation among fields, half of which appear to be actively cultivated. The chapel dates back to the 16th century and like most wayside chapels it's a straightforward box-like structure with a shallow dome and a simple, elegant façade.
Lonzu
Soon I come across a farmer and my camera prompts his curiosity. He warily asks if I'm there to record how the area looks before the bulldozers move in. As county folk are apt to do we soon fall into conversation and Lonzu does not hide his worries. He tells me he's been cultivating fields on his government-leased land for a long time and he is also a proud exporter of the famous Maltese potatoes that are so sought after at this time of year in the Netherlands. Although Lonzu farms part-time he tells me that some of his neighbours in the area are full time growers and up to now no one is telling them much about their future. Though I feel his pain I can sadly only offer my sympathies.
I continue along the road and decide to have a closer look at Fort Saint Leonard – a low-slung late nineteenth century British fort. Abandoned since the late seventies and leased out as a cattle farm soon after, there is understandably not much to see but a path veering right from the fort is more promising. It is a lovely tree-lined way which slopes gently by the fort's northern escarpment towards the sea. It's the picture of serenity bar a half dozen gun shots which at one point rudely interrupt the silence. Clearly there are one or two hunters who have some issues with their calendar; although I am aware this is a well-known area for poaching abuses I'm still surprised to hear shots a full three weeks after this year's controversial season was closed. But there's an antidote to this bit of unpleasantry: as I go through some derelict fields I come upon a good clutch of pyramidal orchids – a bit of a rarity for the area and so late in the spring too.
I now reach a dirt track that runs parallel to the sea. The coast here is a rugged one with bare rocks and the occasional inlet. It's mostly deserted too; there are just a couple of people fishing off the rocks and an elderly gentleman in sunhat picking capers.
There's some more history here too. The Triq il-Wiesgħa tower – one of Grand Master De Redin's series of coastal watch towers – has recently been restored by Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna after falling into disrepair following damage after a World War II plane crashed close by and the inevitable years of neglect followed. There are traces of a coastal entrenchment – a project started during the reign of Grand Master Pinto but abandoned soon after his death, at a time when the Order and consequently its funding were in decline. Wartime artefacts are also common along this stretch of coast and there are a number of WWII gunposts which broadly served a similar purpose to the Knights' towers.
Before the scorching sun begins to take its toll I start making my way back via one of a number of paths which run uphill from the coast. The one I choose is overgrown but mercifully it is fennel rather than thistles and the plants' sweet smell is welcome.
Żonqor may lack the immediate draw of the more dramatic cliff landscapes elsewhere but it's an enjoyable and still largely untouched open space on an island that may soon be causing serious problems for claustrophobics; it is a relatively serene oasis and an outpost of rural charm of the overdeveloped south. Dare I hope it will remain that way?
Near Fort Saint Leonard
The above article first appeared in Sunday Circle magazine on 31st May 2015.
The Red Tower and the lovely road to nowhere
The view from the road stretches to Gozo's Ta Cenc cliffs
In the far north of Malta and just off the main road to the Gozo ferry terminal, a minor road runs uphill to meet one of the most 'colourful' of the Knight's fortified towers. St. Agatha's Tower was built in 1647-8 to guard the short stretch of sea to Gozo, aided by St. Mary's Tower on Comino. At some point in its life it was given a red coat of paint – no one seems to know exactly when or why – but this has inadvertently lent it its more familiar name – the Red Tower. The tower is a square, robust one and when in use in centuries gone by it was normally manned by four soldiers, though it could accommodate a garrison of up to fifty in times of trouble. Last used during World War II as a glorified machine gun post, the tower had fallen into a sad state of disrepair by the end of the twentieth century. Luckily the NGO Din l-Art Helwa, the National Trust, took over its massive restoration and finally opened it to the public.
The Red Tower stands on high ground on the Marfa Ridge and probably its biggest draw is the open views from its rooftop. But once inside there is also a wealth of information on the structure itself, its history and its eventual restoration. Other information boards concentrate on the area itself, its topography, fauna and flora. The small tower shop stocks thyme honey from the area.
St. Agatha's Tower - more familiarly known as the Red Tower
Beyond the Red Tower, the narrow road continues to the edge of the Qammieh peninsula. It's basically a dead end road but one which is a pleasure to walk and it's not a longish one either – just over a mile in length. This short stretch of road is one of the most scenic on the island, bordered as it is by a rich garigue flora during the winter and spring months. There is an abundance of thyme and other aromatic herbs and in spring this area is one of the best for orchids, of which Malta has around a dozen species. There are understandably few trees on this windswept plateau but there are small copses of carob and pine in the more sheltered areas.
This road to nowhere opens up some spectacular views on the way. Starting from the Red Tower there are good sweeping views over Ghadira Bay and the nature reserve run by Birdlife Malta which backs the bay. Further on the views become more rugged – to the south there are wide vistas over the cliffs of the Majjistral Park while to the north the scene stretches to Comino and further beyond to Gozo and the magnificent white 'wall' of the Ta Cenc cliffs. The road ends somewhat ignominiously at a battered group of low buildings which once formed a radar station. Today most of the buildings are in ruin.
The view in spring
The view over the cliffs from this spot – practically Malta's northern land's end – is of a massive boulder scree which tumbles to the sea and is the result of the erosion of the seemingly mighty cliffs. Though the road stops here one can make his way along the cliff top to Paradise Bay, which can easily be reached in about a half hour. Some 400 metres to the north of the 'road to nowhere' there is another tiny road which runs parallel to it and can deliver you back to the Red Tower via a different, and equally scenic, route.
The above article was originally published in the November 2014 newsletter of Chevron UK - Malta travel specialists since 1982. You may subscribe to Chevron's newsletter here
Spring…and the trekking is easy
Gozo was recently voted third best Mediterranean island by the independent Trip Advisor site. This should come as no surprise really - the island is conspicuously different from its larger neighbour Malta; greener, much less densely populated and quieter and consequently with a much slower pace all round. One of Gozo's notable differences is a much less developed coastline and luckily it will probably stay that way too – half of the coast consists of high and very scenic cliffs.
A trek along part of these cliffs at any time of the year is a rewarding experience and much easier than one might think. One such walk starts from the popular resort of Xlendi, simply by following the promenade on the left hand side of the bay. As the promenade comes to an end there is a small bridge which gets you across the mouth of the Wied ta Kantra – a steep sided dry valley bordered by a varied vegetation. From here make your way to the tower at the end of the bay. There are good views of the cliffs further to the north of Xlendi from here.
Past the tower there is a level limestone rock shelf – a popular off-beat bathing area - which soon makes way to higher ground up to the cliffs. By now you will have left civilization a good twenty minutes behind, the silence is delicious and the views are second to none as the high vertical cliffs come into view. The trek is a very easy one to follow and basically winds its way above a couple of steep sided coves for the next forty minutes or so; a beautiful lonely trek with breath-taking views each step of the way...
Past the second inlet a veritable cliff wall comes into view but don't be disheartened…the trek continues some way inland making for a less steep climb before rejoining the edge. Once at the top the full sweep of the cliffs (called the Sanap cliffs in this area) can be appreciated. From here the path becomes a well laid out paved one and the views now stretch as far as Comino and the north coast of Malta. At the end of the paved path a narrow road leads back to the tiny village of Munxar from where one can easily get back to Xlendi via the panoramic road set between open fields – and the whole track would have taken you about two hours.
There's more edge of the cliff walking if you're so inclined as the cliffside track continues on a more or less level path to the outskirts of the village of Sannat, and past that on to the large Ta Cenc plateau – itself an equally wild and beautiful site. Allow three to four hours for this second option.
The walk is a relatively easy one and can be appreciated at all times of the year but spring brings out the best of this coastal walk as the vegetation is at its vibrant best. In the hot dry summer an early morning or late afternoon start is best. Some drinking water and sun screen are essentials….plus a camera!
Heaven up here...
The above article was originally published in the May 2014 newsletter of Chevron UK - Malta travel specialists since 1982. You may subscribe to Chevron's newsletter here.
Qrendi – your typical sleepy village
Like everywhere else, life has become fast-paced in Malta. People seem to be in a rush everywhere. The buzz of activity in the commercial centres of Valletta and Sliema is living proof of this. No doubt it's all fun if you're on holiday and people watching is your kind of thing. And if it does get tiring you can always try an altogether different scene...
Some of the villages further out of the harbour areas seem to escape this madness completely, and once most of their inhabitants have driven off to their work places, an oasis of calm descends on these villages with very few (understandably mostly elderly) people about. The commercial activity in these places is also on a much slower level with a couple of grocery shops, the odd bar and the obligatory confectionery – the Maltese are big on their sweetmeats.
The village of Qrendi on the way to Hagar Qim is one such place and makes for a pleasant diversion before or after visiting the hallowed megalithic site. Tracing its origins to at least as far back as 1417, Qrendi became a parish in 1618. An elegant parish church was built around 1720, and this takes pride of place right in the centre of the village. The church is flanked on both sides by a series of picturesque narrow streets. Some two hundred meters to the church's right one can find a unique octagonal tower known as the Captain's Tower on Triq it-Torri (translates as Tower Street appropriately enough) with features like drop boxes which are unknown on other defensive buildings here. In the area is also a largish chapel, St.Saviour's which during the Second World War served as a dormitory for people made homeless by the enemy raids in the Grand Harbour area.
At the village's southern end is the quaint chapel of St. Matthew with a regenerated piazza ideal for some quality lazing. Of more interest is a huge "hole in the ground" behind the chapel, known locally as Il-Maqluba. In reality this is a karstic depression created by a collapse of huge underground caves creating a sizable sinkhole. Reputably the collapse occurred during a storm in 1343 and was superstitiously seen as a sort of heavenly warning – thus the building of the chapel as a conciliatory gesture. Steps lead down some way down this sinkhole where one can appreciate its sheer size.
Quite near to St.Matthew's and on the village periphery is the ancient sanctuary of Our Lady of Mercies (photo right) – a church with origins dating back to the 13th century – ironically before Qrendi came into being and the area was then a long lost hamlet going by the name of Hal Lew. It's a robust church with a lovely porticoed façade bordering some lovely country lanes.
A bit further out of the village is Palazzo Guarena – a knight's summer residence of some elegance but of more interest to film buffs. Hollywood's most glamorous couple Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie stayed here for some time in 2011 while Pitt was filming World War Z in various locations in Malta. A year later actor Tom Hanks, no doubt on reputable recommendation, chose to use the same palazzo as his base for fourteen weeks while filming Captain Philips.
There are no restaurants as such in Qrendi, but if you wish to linger one of the two band clubs (open all hours) in the village core is sure to provide cold beer and a snack.
Typical hole-in-the-wall corner shop and improvised shopper's trolley...
The above article was originally published in the March 2014 newsletter of Chevron UK - Malta travel specialists since 1982. You may subscribe to Chevron's newsletter here.
The sea, a hallowed isle and a summer palace
Winters in Malta are generally mild with very few really cold days. The sun mercifully makes a welcome appearance on most days as well. Such days make for great walking in the countryside away from the bustling, busy towns. The Selmun promontory lying just to the east of the town of Mellieha is one such prime rambling area, offering diverse features and curiosities, and a rich variety of land and seascapes.
Starting from the roundabout at the entrance to Mellieha take the road marked Selmun. It's an open country road with a few houses which make up the hamlet of Selmun strung along one side while the other side is construction-free with open views southwards.
One soon comes upon Selmun Palace, the main building of note in the area sitting majestically on high ground. Though this fine building, built by the Knights in 1783, gives the impression of a fortified residence in reality its purpose was as a summer residence and glorified hunting lodge.
Take the road to the right of the palace and at the first bend in the road (about 100 meters past the palace) take the trek that suddenly appears to your right. The trek soon starts dipping steeply down the side of Mistra valley towards the bay. It's a very scenic trek which winds its way between open fields on both sides. On the lower ground to the right is the site where most of the huge blocks for the Valletta breakwater were quarried by the British late in the nineteenth century, but you will be hard pressed to notice anything resembling degradation as the rehabilitation of the area after the quarrying was done is almost miraculous. At the very bottom of the trek a road opens up. Taking a left turn gets you to Mistra Bay in a couple of minutes. Mistra is a small horseshoe shaped inlet, thronged by the locals in summer but blissfully deserted in the winter months. The road circles the shallow inlet and heads towards the head of the bay where a coastal battery dating back to 1761 stands guards. The battery (access is not possible at time of writing) was restored in recent times by its present tenants, an aquaculture company.
From this point the road becomes a stony path which roughly follows the coastline along the cliffs of Rdum il-Bies. The small islet of St.Paul comes into view here. It is still hallowed ground for many, being reputedly the place where the saint was shipwrecked on his way to Rome to stand trial in AD.60. The 10th of February is marked in the local calendar as the presumed date of the shipwreck and is a public holiday. The day also marks the only major festa celebrated in winter – that of the parish of St.Paul Shipwrecked in Valletta.
An annual pilgrimage to the islet still takes place every summer. A statue of the saint, a ruined farmhouse and a few rubble walls are the only signs of human intrusion – the last inhabitants of the islet being a farmer's family residing in happy seclusion until the early days of the twentieth century.
Past the islet the coastline becomes a gentler limestone shelf with some disused salt pans pockmarked in the smooth rock face. The salt pans continue around this last headland but it's a dead end that way so the better option is to start trekking uphill along a dirt road running parallel with the clay slope. It's the only rough track on this walk really – a trek hewn out of the clay throughout various years of abusive offroading in the area – a practice that is now illegal. At the top of the hill and to your left there is a long low wall and you should head that way. The wall is in fact the outer perimeter of Fort Campbell.
Fort Campbell's real interest lies in the fact that it was the last major fortification to be built by the British in Malta. Built in the late 1930's, its main function was to challenge enemy vessels approaching Grand Harbour. Its novel design which includes a very low profile and the rustic perimeter wall was primarily dictated by the need to avoid detection from the air. Sadly the wall is the only thing that is well preserved here, otherwise the fort (which one can enter freely) has been the victim of long years of neglect, pillaging and vandalism. The barracks around the fort are sadly in an equally dilapidated state.
Making your way out of this somewhat forlorn site you can follow the road back to Selmun Palace. It's a gentle one kilometer or so to the palace and an immensely scenic road too as it hugs the edge of Mistra valley to its left and borders various fields and vineyards to its right. Two hours should be ample time to cover this relatively easy walk.
This article was first published in the February 2014 issue of Il-Bizzilla - the Air Malta inflight magazine
Photo Blog - Rambling around Bidnija
Sunny, warm days in January are priceless really. Having met my deadlines for this week, and having put in three days' work at home it was time for some fresh air, some seemingly aimless wandering; but really this is a great way to recharge the batteries before continuing on some more work, currently a drawing commission and some writing. Needless to say my camera is my ever-present companion on these long walks - in this case a three hour walk exploring lanes and garigue around Bidnija. Hope you enjoy the pics as much as I enjoyed the walking...
A quiet lane in Bidnija - it's surprising that after more than fifty years of living here I can still find the odd previously undiscovered lane here and there.
The first brown orchids are out. I simply love the intricate structure of orchids.
Another previously undiscovered track leads me to some great views over Wied Qannotta.
View from atop il-Qolla towards Gebel Ghawzara.
The ideal dream home complete with private chapel in Wied Qannotta.
A seemingly endless field of artichokes...
A farmer and his dog on their way to the fields.
The Slow Road to Dwejra
Dwejra Bay and Fungus Rock - the view is simply awesome
Most visitors to Gozo will probably include a short trip to Dwejra - the site so well known for its unique dramatic seascapes and geological features which include the famous Azure Window, Fungus Rock and the so called Inland Sea. Chances are you will get little of the feel of this unique site on a stop-and-go tour of the island, as the area really cries out for better appreciation.
Gozo by its very nature demands a slower way to do things and an alternate way to visit Dwejra is actually to walk there from the island's capital Victoria. It's a relatively easy five kilometer trek and it is a rewarding alternative. It can be done in two hours - but make that three for stops, diversions and gawping in general!
The way out of Victoria is easy enough - just follow the signposts to Kercem which lies just ten minutes walking away. Kercem itself is a miniscule village with one quiet main street winding its way in and out of the village again. There are a few ancient stone balconies of note on some old houses but little else of much interest apart from the quaintness of it all.
Once out of the village follow the signposts to Ghadira ta San Raflu. It's a quiet road bordered by fields and soon enough it follows close to the cliffs - giving breathtaking views across the water. In thirty minutes or so you should arrive at the Ghadira itself - a small pond which attracts waterfowl and other fauna. Until recently the pond supported a thriving population of the local endemic painted frog Discoglossus pictus but insensitive individuals have introduced the alien Bedriaga frog which has all but taken over the Ghadira. Nonetheless being here during the frogs' mating season is quite an experience - their mating calls are incredibly loud and create an impressive ruckus in this otherwise silent place.
The road divides into two at the pond - take the narrow trek on the left. The trek, initially smoothly cemented over, soon becomes a dust road and eventually just a narrow cycle path skirting the cliffs. The views here are breathtaking - with the small tower at the head of Xlendi Bay looking somewhat lonely amid the wide vista of cliffs. The path eventually leads to an open space with a small rock- hewn chamber and a couple of wells dug in front of it. This is in fact an ancient Punic sanctuary (picture right) about which very little is known. Not much remains of course but the site is certainly one of Gozo's most atmospheric, perched as it is on an impressively high cliff and commanding the best views towards Dwejra and the Fungus Rock. Take time out to gawp.
Retrace your steps from the site and go uphill for a minute or two until you can see the path towards Dwejra - there are various well trodden paths in fact. The observant rambler will note a proliferation of curious greyish-leaved plants occurring from this point onwards. This is none other than the Maltese Everlasting (Helichrysum melitense) an extremely rare endemic plant confined to just this small corner of Gozo and nowhere else worldwide. It produces yellow flowers between April and late May.
Soon one arrives at the curved Dwejra Bay with the Fungus Rock standing majestically at its entrance. Again the views here are impressive. Fungus Rock itself is a protected site - being the only known place where the so called Malta Fungus- a strange mushroom-like plant - grows. In the past it was believed to have potent medicinal powers and the Knights of St.John provided round the clock guard to deter locals from collecting this supposed elixir. Past the curve of the bay, head for the Dwejra Tower and you are practically in Dwejra now. Take time to enjoy this great site having tasted its splendor unfolding little by little.
There is an hourly bus back to Victoria from Dwejra if, quite understandably, you find the hilly road back a bit daunting.
On the way to the Punic shrine...the view towards Xlendi
The above article was originally published in the January 2014 newsletter of Chevron UK - Malta travel specialists since 1982. You may subscribe to Chevron's newsletter here.
Photo Blog - Early Morning Light
I love long country walks but the summer puts me almost totally in aestivation mode as far as this activity is concerned. But on the rare days when I get up early it's off on a bus up to Rabat or Dingli and then making my way home on foot through the dry summer landscape. Granted - the dry drab Maltese landscape can be somewhat dull in the summer but the early morning still has its magic as these pictures testify.
Wied il-Qlejgha (aka Chadwick Lakes) captured in a selective color mode.
Lone farmhouse in Wied il-Qlejgha with rising mists
Dwejra Lines - early morning mist over the valley below.
Dwejra Lines road
Lonesome pine - Dwejra Lines
Verdala Palace floating in the mist
Magical misty tour...
Girgenti valley looking crisp and lush after the first rainfall
And it's off to work for this early rising farmer...
A riot of flowers – Spring comes to the Garigue
From mid-March to May is probably the best time to be in Malta. The days start getting longer and the weather is warmer - and mercifully the torrid summer heat is still some way off yet. Life starts to move more and more to the outdoors and there are markedly more activities around, not least the first flurry of local festas as well as a number of other themed village festivals.
Nature also marks its last hurrah at about this time, before the fierce summer sun dries out all but the most resilient of plant life. The Islands boast approximately a thousand wild flowering plants and around seven hundred of them are indigenous – i.e. they occur naturally here rather than being alien introductions.
The climax of Mediterranean ecosystems, woodland, is sadly almost absent in Malta; with the archipelago's first settlers having probably deforested the islands by the end of prehistoric times. The Knights did somewhat rectify matters by planting Buskett, which after 500 years or so of existence has become a self-generating woodland, characterized by Aleppo pines, olive and orange trees.
Garigue and maquis are by far the most interesting and richest of our habitats and there are plenty of examples in the islands.
Maquis is normally associated with the sides of steep valleys where the relative shade and humidity allow for the growth of smaller trees and bushes. Carobs, olives, lentisk and bay laurel abound here; accompanied by various climbers like ivy and wild asparagus and the beautiful bear's breeches with its towering white and purple flower stalk.
But it is the garigue which probably brings out the best in Maltese flora. Garigues are rocky expanses bearing numerous depressions which allow soil to collect and water to percolate. The garigue habitat is mostly prevalent in the west of Malta with good examples around Mellieha, Rabat, Dingli, Mgarr and other towns. Gozo has some garigue expanses as well, the largest being the one at Ta Cenc.
The most attractive of garigue residents are probably the orchids, of which Malta has around a dozen species. Two of them, the Maltese Pyramidal and the Maltese Spider orchids, are also endemic – found here and nowhere else worldwide. Equally beautiful is the Southern Dwarf Iris which has a very limited distribution in Europe – found only in Sicily and parts of the former Yugoslavia. Another show stopper is the Sicilian Squill – a plant with an exquisite flower head of white and celestial blue and only found here and in small numbers in Sicily and Calabria – in both of these last places it is considered close to extinction.
The garigues are also home to several low aromatic bushes. Among the most common is the wild thyme which only comes to flower in late May and turns some places into a pale violet carpet. At any time of the year one cannot escape the plant's sweet, sharp scent. Another aromatic herb is the rosemary whose leaves are frequently used to garnish pork and other dishes.
Yet another heavenly scent comes from the Bushy Restharrow with its small yellow flowers and sticky aromatic leaves. Interestingly this low bush is also of some historical significance since it was the first species to be afforded a measure of official protection. In the eighteenth century Grand Master De Rohan issued an edict forbidding its collection for firewood prior to a fortnight after the feast of St.John ( June 24 ) in order to allow seed formation and dispersal. Progressive thinking for a place where brushwood for fuel was a luxury.
Where garigues border the seaboard cliffs, look out also for Malta's national plant – the Maltese Rock Centaury – another endemic and a remnant of pre Ice Age flora. Its Maltese name – Widnet il-Bahar (literally "the ear of the sea") is poetically precise…the plant thrives best in precarious crags on vertical cliff faces as if perpetually listening to the sounds of the sea far below.
These are but a few of the many species which inhabit the garigues. Other plant species are found in other habitat types and man- made environments such as cultivated or fallow fields. Perhaps the most recognizable of the field flowers are the poppies which in Malta come in red and purple varieties.
Ironically (and disappointingly) the most common flowering plant in Malta, the Cape Sorrel, is a South African native; reputedly introduced to the Islands in the early years of British rule by a well meaning but ultimately foolhardy English lady. The plant adapted so well here that it has reached practically all corners of the islands with populations running riot on wide stretches of fields and fallow ground. A pretty sight admittedly – but a plant which has done untold damage to indigenous species and no doubt led to some local extinctions. The Maltese collective memory appears not to have forgotten this alien intrusion – to this day the cape sorrel is colloquially known as "haxixa Ingliza" – the English weed.
To end on a positive note: Malta is lucky to count among its citizens a foremost botanist who has done sterling work in the field of local flora. Edwin Lanfranco not only identified the Maltese Cliff Orache as a separate species but has had the unique distinction of having the species named in his honour - its scientific moniker being Cremnophyton lanfrancoi.
The article above was first published in the April 2013 edition of Il-Bizzilla - Air Malta's inflight magazine
Away from the mostly digital work I do there is nothing I enjoy more than picking up pen and paper and working on something I will do purely for myself, something that is driven by the simple need to draw - drawing as a relaxing and (yes) therapeutic activity.
A few weeks back I started mulling over the theme of the mother and child - a theme repeated oh so often in religious as well as secular art. So I played around with a couple of sketches until I had a working drawing I could use to take off with. When it came to putting in a background it just had to be a Maltese themed landscape - and it was then I hit upon the Gozo Citadel (ic-Cittadella in Maltese) as possibly the ideal backdrop.
I have always loved the view of this ancient redoubt sitting atop its rounded hilltop as you are coming down the road from Zebbug so I chose that particular angle . The rest of the landscape I left as simplified as possible.
By my normally very slow working rate this one was completed pretty fast... I started the pencil sketch on 3rd November and a day later started working with ink. I completed this on the 25th November - less than a month. Good job I never got the Sistine Chapel commission.
I used Faber Castell TGI-S technical pens with nibs ranging from 0.13 to 0.35 and Pelikan permanent inks in various colors: black (naturally), vermillion, cobalt blue, yellow, green, sepia and burnt sienna. I rounded off with a light dusting of Faber Castell Polychromos colored pencils.
I took shots of the drawing as it developed and here they are...
The Citadel Madonna - a blow-by-blow account!
Working drawing. Baby Jesus needs to be altered...
...and off we go. Work in progress.
Introducing cobalt, vermilion and burnt sienna inks...
Sketching in a background with a couple of pics for reference
Giving the background wall, fields and citadel some color: using green, cobalt, yellow, burnt sienna and sepia
Almost done with the ink...now a few touches with colored pencils...
...and I reckon "The Citadel Madonna" is ready!
Madonna face detail
Citadel detail


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Westfield has a proud history of sporting success. We were previously a specialist sports college and are fortunate to have state of the art sporting facilities on our site. These include an indoor swimming pool, gym, sports halls and extensive outside pitches.
Sports fixtures and results
You can keep up to date with our sports results and find out when the next fixtures are, by going to our fixtures and results page here.
You can see the full list of sports clubs and after-school activities on the Clubs & Extra-Curricular Activities page here.
The best PE department in Sheffield!
Last year was quite simply the greatest in the sporting history at Westfield. Not only did we achieve huge sporting success, we had huge attendance in after school sport and made a real difference in our community. And our PE department won the John Moss Award in Sheffield, earning us the title of PE Department of the Year!
Sports Leaders' Academy
We also have one of the largest Sports Leaders' Academies in the city, with over 75 trained students from Years 7 through to 11. The school has built a culture where it is a genuine honour and a sought after position to be a Sports Leader. The Leaders are integral to what we offer within our community. Last year we ran 19 festivals and events and all nine of our feeder schools were involved.
The 2018 Points Network Games, held at the English Institute of Sport, supported by our Sports Leaders & featuring local feeder schools.
The events ranged from athletics and gymnastics through to Key Stage 1 ball skills and Year 6 transition events. All of these events are led and driven by our Sports Leaders and last year they allowed over 3,000 young participants the chance to be active and competitive. Perhaps the highlight was our Olympic Torch relay. Ten schools were visited by our four Legacy Makers who brought with them a real London 2012 Olympic Torch. Each school gave the torch a Rio 2016 style welcome and presented the Legacy Makers a handmade Olympic Torch designed by a selected child.
What the schools produced was quite simply unbelievable. The quality of our Sports Leaders has been recognised by various external organisations. It speaks volumes that we have Sports Leaders involved in the Points Leadership Academy, the Sheffield Academy of Young Leaders and we have volunteers at events such as the British Athletics Championships and the UK School Games. Most recently Westfield was awarded Sports Leaders UK Academy status.
Some of the outdoor sporting facilities at Westfield.
Behaviour and rewards
Clubs and extra curricular activities
Form groups and Halls
Home-school agreement
Special Educational Needs (SEND)
Weduc


The festival ends on a high note at the east-end's historic Ukrainian Hall with lively music, high energy dance and exquisite costumes at the Ukrainian Hall Community Concert & Supper. This annual favourite, produced with the Association of United Ukrainian Canadians, features the Barvinok Choir, Vancouver Folk Ensemble and award-winning Dovbush Dancers in a new staging of choreographer Pavlo Virsky's "We Remember".
To celebrate the Festival theme Seeds of Justice, Seeds of Hope we have invited the celebrated Canadian gospel trio The Sojourners. Singers Marcus Mosely, Will Sanders and Khari McClelland sing songs that reinforce the "links between the early spirituals, gospel and activist folk music which all arise from hope, faith and courage" (Marc Lindy, Gospel Train). To remind us of our strength and history, Solidarity Notes Labour Choir (Earle Peach, conductor) shares the stage with the Barvinok Choir (Beverly Dobrinsky, conductor) for a finale of rousing songs of social justice that inspire hope and possibility.
Immediately following the concert is the always-delicious traditional Ukrainian Supper. The best full meal and concert deal in Vancouver!


4 February 2013 - London - A vaccine candidate, MVA85A, which has been considered highly promising, has failed to confer statistically significant protection against TB disease or infection in infants who had been vaccinated at birth with Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG). The results of this Phase IIb clinical trial - the first of its kind to be conducted since the BCG was introduced in 1921 - were published in The Lancet today.
The trial, which took place in South Africa and involved 2794 healthy children aged four to six months, found the vaccine was well tolerated, and there was no evidence of any harm to the trial participants. However, the researchers found an effectiveness of just 17%, which is so low as to be statistically non-significant. There were 32 cases of TB among children who had received the vaccine compared with 39 in the placebo group. The vaccine candidate also did not provide statistically significant protection from infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which was a secondary efficacy endpoint.
"It is of course disappointing that this particular vaccine candidate was not efficacious, but the trial had other important outcomes. For example, as the authors note, further analysis of the data should reveal a great deal about how the body's immune system protects against TB and what is necessary to develop an effective vaccine," said Dr Mario Raviglione, Director of the World Health Organization (WHO) Stop TB Department. "This trial also has demonstrated that it is possible to conduct a large efficacy trial among infants in an area with high TB incidence - which will provide the basis for testing other TB vaccine candidates now in the pipeline."
Funding for this clinical trial was provided by Aeras, a nonprofit biotech with a social mission to develop TB vaccines, The Wellcome Trust, and the Oxford-Emergent Tuberculosis Consortium (OETC), a joint venture between the University of Oxford and Emergent BioSolutions. This Phase IIb study was sponsored by Aeras and conducted by the University of Cape Town's South African Tuberculosis Vaccine Initiative (SATVI). The vaccine was originally developed and investigated by the University of Oxford.
"It seems we must wait longer than we hoped to have a fully effective TB vaccine. Under these circumstances, we have to embark on research with a greater sense of urgency," said Dr Lucica Ditiu, Executive Secretary of the Stop TB Partnership. "In the meanwhile, as we continue to support and encourage research on TB vaccines, diagnostics and drugs, we should dramatically scale up our efforts to provide life-saving TB diagnosis and treatment to every person who needs it."


The high energy and starch content of forage maize make it a highly valuable silage. But maize is also one of your riskiest forages in terms of preserving it.
With its two opponents knocking on the door of: (1) aerobic spoilage (heating) caused by yeasts and moulds in the presence of air; and (2) risks to fermentation, especially when making greener, moister maize silage – it only takes one slip of management to significantly reduce the feed quality of your maize silage, or the tonnes of dry matter (DM) in your maize silage clamp.
Indeed, results from two years of surveys of UK dairy farms suggest there is huge scope for improving how maize silage is made.
For example, while good consolidation and tight sealing were the most common methods used to manage aerobic spoilage (heating) – named by 60% and 77% of respondents respectively in the 2017 survey – this still left a large percentage of producers who weren't using these important techniques to the full.
When planning your maize harvest, make sure you take the importance of good preservation into account, and that your contractor is lined up for your anticipated harvest date and has the appropriate additive.
If growing modern, 'stay green' varieties, they should not have died off (or dried off) by the time they are harvested.
TOP TIP: Use effective planning to achieve a more efficient maize harvest and to ensure your maize silage clamp is in good shape well ahead of harvest, not after the maize is ready to be cut.


Listen, I may NOT be a Fan of the STRATEGY that the #TrumpAdmin is currently engaging in (caving on #SOTU (though it may be back on now), temporarily re-opening Govt (w/o current #Wall deal), etc) in order to FORCE THE ISSUE on #BuildTheWall. I "understand it" (by continually showing Trump/GOP are constantly GIVING and DEALING while Democrats are 100% OBSTRUCTION ALL THE TIME, despite their pretend calls for BiPartisanship - not, of course, that the #eneMEDIA would honestly report THOSE FACTS) and therefore not going to be overly "tough" on it/him and calling it/him out over it.
#PresidentTrump making another GREAT SPEECH (Fri 1/29, this time from the #RoseGarden) and, as needed and very properly, calling out the HYPOCRISY of #Democrats for supporting #BorderBarriers in the past but just saying NO now out of pure and 100% #TDS! If they do NOT fund the #BuildTheWall Project in these next 3 weeks - #Trump should eagerly allow another #GovernmentShutdown!
I don't consider re-opening Govt for just 3 weeks "A CAVE" and if the Democrats refuse to make a Deal over these next 3 weeks (with the Govt open, like they kept claiming) we should just let it Shutdown again in 3 weeks or make another (Prime Time, and demand it be covered by Networks) Oval Office Speech and clearly point out what the NATIONAL EMERGENCY ACT, when it was passed, other times it was used (and by whom), and that he is now declaring a BORDER SECURITY NATIONAL EMERGENCY!!!
I just wanted to expound on the question/issue of whether Trump CAVED?!?!?
On the one hand, this was/is mostly because of WEAK-KNEED supposed Republicans in the USSenate. The chief Never-Trumper Mitt Romney, and (after all that praise-worthiness of his back-bone during the Kavanaugh hearings) Lindsey Graham is back at it, as well as another handful of GOPers, in siding with and bailing out the Democrats - siding with Democrats in demanding the Govt be re-opened without any Wall funding before they'll consider any Wall Funding (which we KNOW is a LIE, they are never, ever, going to consider any Wall Funding)!
BUT, remember, the point of this Article was/is - NO MATTER WHAT PRESIDENT TRUMP DOES THE #ENEMEDIA WILL SPIN IT TO BE ANTI-TRUMP!!!


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Ecuador taking baby steps towards 5G
Ecuador has a small telecom market dominated by the mobile sector. The evolution of the market has suffered due to poor infrastructure, topographical challenges and the deploying of networks to remote and mountainous areas is very expensive. Unfortunately there has been a legacy of under investment in telecoms infrastructure.
The mobile sector is shared by América Móvil's Conecel (trading as Claro), which has a 52.5% share of the market by subscribers, Telefónica's Otecel (trading as Movistar) with about 30% of the market, and CNT (previously Telecsa/Alegro) with a share of 17.6% share. Thus far the MVNO sector has been slow to develop, partly because the incumbent operators also have their low-cost brands and thus there is little business case for new market entrants. Virgin Mobile is expected to launch a service in Ecuador, following on from similar launches in Mexico, Chile and Colombia.
Claro the leading mobile network operator by subscribers has the best coverage especially in remote areas. 4G/LTE has started in 2015 in Guayaquil, Quito, Cumbayá and Sangoloquí and is rolled out in other regions available for prepaid.
Claro have demonstrated 5G technology at an event organised by the Ministry of Telecommunications in Guayaquil to promote its 'Digital Ecuador' strategy. In a statement, the company said interactive exhibits would enable users to experience the faster download speeds enabled by 5G, as well as applications such as virtual and augmented reality, and the Internet of Things (IoT). The operator, which recently announced plans to invest USD500 million in network upgrades over the next three years, also revealed it will soon begin 5G technology tests in Quito in partnership with hardware vendor Huawei. Ecuador's government outlined plans in July to allocate 3.5GHz spectrum in 2020 in preparation for the launch of 5G services.
Movistar (brand name of Telefonica) is the 2nd network in the country, giving even better speeds in the cities, but a lower coverage: coverage checker outside. 4G/LTE is open for prepaid and available in Guayaquil, Salinas Quito, Cuenca, Azogues, Ambato and Tonsupa in 2016.
Back in September, Commsupdate reported that Spanish telecoms group Telefonica has begun exploring the sale of its Ecuador unit for as much as EUR800 million (USD881.8 million) as part of its ongoing debt reduction efforts, reports Spanish daily El Economista citing unnamed sources. Although talks with potential buyers have yet to begin, the group is studying market conditions ahead of a sale which could attract interest from Millicom (Tigo) and Entel Chile, claims the report. Telefonica Ecuador (operating under the Movistar brand) reported EBITDA of EUR75 million and revenue of EUR252 million in the first six months of 2019.
Back in August, Telefonica did 5G demos with ZTE to prove the benefits of 5G. According to Ecuador TV, the organizers were looking to share with the community the importance, advantages and benefits that will be had with the new 5G technology. Several virtual reality posts were exhibited in which the user can observe the augmented reality in real time. For example, a camera was placed on the eighth floor of the building and when putting on the glasses one could feel the vertigo of the height.
CNT or Corporación Nacional de Telecomunicaciones is the public provider in Ecuador. They focus mainly on ADSL and landline phone connections. It has a mobile network too, but this is rather limited in coverage. 4G/LTE is open for prepaid and gives the best speeds in cities of all operators in the country.
Ecuador Mobile Network Experience Report July 2019 from OpenSignal listed Claro as a winnder of their 'Download Speed Experience' award, following a draw with Movistar six months ago, as the Telefónica subsidiary's growth in this metric has stalled. It was a similar story in Upload Speed Experience, where static growth from Movistar allowed Claro to surge ahead and grab the award. But in both speed metrics, CNT's users saw the greatest improvement.
The 'Video Experience' award was shared jointly by Claro and CNT, as both these operators pulled ahead of Movistar, whose score dropped after winning this metric six months ago. All three of Ecuador's operators now have Fair ratings as CNT's Video Experience score jumped by 13 points (out of 100). Movistar kept hold of our 4G Availability award, but statistically saw no growth in its score over the past six months. CNT increased its score by 8 percentage points to tie for second place with Claro — and both operators are now within 5 points of the leader.
In the cities analysis, CNT managed to win three of the awards in Quito — 4G Availability, Video Experience and Download Speed Experience — while it drew with Claro for Latency Experience. State-owned CNT has also shown the greatest improvement across its scores in this report, and is fast becoming a serious challenger to its bigger rivals.
You can read all details here.
By Zaffareen Khan at January 20, 2020
Labels: 4G, 5G, Company OpenSignal, Country Ecuador, Operator Claro Ecuador, Operator CNT, Operator Movistar Ecuador, Region South America, Vendor ZTE
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Brenna White was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest. She graduated from Oregon State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. Brenna knew she was going to be an artist from the time she was a small child and has been a working artist for the last 16 years. Painting in bright, vibrant color, there is always a whimsical story within her work.
Eight years ago, Brenna discovered her additional passion – teaching – while instructing after school art classes for kindergartners through fifth graders. Brenna discovered she had a connection with the kids and felt the calling to be in the classroom full time. She then went back to school and received her Master's Degree in Teaching. Brenna now spends her days teaching middle school language arts and social studies, but always finds the time to continue creating art.
When she's not creating, Brenna leads a very busy life but loves to be at home with her family, enjoys watching her kids play sports, is always up for a walk outside, and is always happy to meet up with friends. Brenna lives happily in Tualatin with her incredible husband Ryan, her awesome son Eli, and fantastic daughter Samantha. She also shares her home with her dogs Zeke, Joe and Hazel and her cat Sampson.