text:
/*global describe, it, jasmine, expect, beforeEach*/
var botBuilder = require('../lib/bot-builder');
describe('BotBuilder', () => {
  var messageHandler, underTest, lambdaContextSpy;

  beforeEach(() => {
    messageHandler = jasmine.createSpy('messageHandler');
    lambdaContextSpy = jasmine.createSpyObj('lambdaContext', ['done']);
    underTest = botBuilder(messageHandler);
  });

  it('configures a Claudia Rest API', () => {
    expect(underTest.apiConfig().version).toEqual(4);
  });

  it('sets up a GET route for /', (done) => {
    underTest.proxyRouter({
      requestContext: {
        resourcePath: '/',
        httpMethod: 'GET'
      }
    }, lambdaContextSpy).then(() => {
      expect(lambdaContextSpy.done).toHaveBeenCalledWith(null, jasmine.objectContaining({body: '"Ok"'}));
    }).then(done, done.fail);
  });
  [
    {
      name: 'facebook',
      path: 'facebook',
      methods: ['GET', 'POST']
    },
    {
      name: 'slackSlashCommand',
      path: 'slack/slash-command',
      methods: ['GET', 'POST']
    },
    {
      name: 'telegram',
      path: 'telegram',
      methods: ['POST']
    },
    {
      name: 'skype',
      path: 'skype',
      methods: ['POST']
    },
    {
      name: 'twilio',
      path: 'twilio',
      methods: ['POST']
    },
    {
      name: 'kik',
      path: 'kik',
      methods: ['POST']
    },
    {
      name: 'groupme',
      path: 'groupme',
      methods: ['POST']
    },
    {
      name: 'viber',
      path: 'viber',
      methods: ['POST']
    }
  ].forEach(platform => {
    describe('setting up ' + platform.name, () => {
      it('should setup the platform if the options are not provided', () => {
        underTest = botBuilder(messageHandler);
        expect(Object.keys(underTest.apiConfig().routes[platform.path])).toBeTruthy();
      });
      it('should setup the platform if the options are provided without platforms' + platform.name, () => {
        underTest = botBuilder(messageHandler, { plugins: [] });
        expect(Object.keys(underTest.apiConfig().routes[platform.path])).toBeTruthy();
      });
      it('should setup the platform if the options are provided and platform is enabled' + platform.name, () => {
        var api = botBuilder(messageHandler, { platforms: [platform.name] });
        expect(Object.keys(api.apiConfig().routes[platform.path])).toEqual(platform.methods);
      });
      it('should not setup the platform if the options are provided and platform is disabled' + platform.name, () => {
        var options = { platforms: [] };
        underTest = botBuilder(messageHandler, options);
        expect(underTest.apiConfig().routes[platform.path]).toBeFalsy();
      });
    });
  });
});


text:
struct DeviceDetails
{
    void* device;
    std::vector<int> gains;

    DeviceDetails(void* device, std::vector<int> gains)
        : device(device), gains(gains)
    {
    }

    DeviceDetails()
        : device(nullptr), gains()
    {
    }
};

// Defines an SDR interface abstracting away the device. TODO more abstraction once I have usable algorithms.
class Sdr
{
    void* device;
    RtlSdrDllLoader rawLayer;

    unsigned int deviceCounts;
    std::map<int, DeviceDetails> loadedDevices;
public:
    static const unsigned int BLOCK_SIZE = 16384;
    static std::vector<glm::ivec2> ValidSampleRateRanges;
    static std::vector<glm::ivec2> ValidFrequencyRanges;

    Sdr();

    bool Initialize();

    // Both of these are safe to call before loading any devices.
    int GetDeviceCounts() const;
    const char* GetDeviceName(int deviceId);

    bool OpenDevice(int deviceId);

    // Frequency functionality
    bool SetCenterFrequency(int deviceId, unsigned int frequency);
    unsigned int GetCenterFrequency(int deviceId);
    int GetFrequencyCorrection(int deviceId);
    bool SetFrequencyCorrection(int deviceId, int ppm);

    // Bandwidth functionality
    bool SetTunerBandwidth(int deviceId, unsigned int bandwidth);
    unsigned int GetSampleRate(int deviceId);
    bool SetSampleRate(int deviceId, unsigned int rate);

    // Gain functionality
    int GetTunerGain(int deviceId); // Returns the ID of the gain within the vector, -1 on failure.
    bool SetTunerGain(int deviceId, int gainId); // ID of the gain within the vector.
    std::vector<int> GetTunerGainSettings(int deviceId);
    bool SetTunerGainMode(int deviceId, bool manualMode);
    bool SetInternalAutoGain(int deviceId, bool enable);

    // Acquisition functionality
    // Useful information on the IQ format: http://whiteboard.ping.se/SDR/IQ
    // Format: [I, Q] [I, Q] ... [In, Qn] Subtract 127 to get the actual value (8-bit accuracy)
    bool ResetBuffer(int deviceId);
    bool ReadBlock(int deviceId, unsigned char* buffer, unsigned int blocks, int* bytesRead);

    ~Sdr();
};

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
iPad: Should Apple Bulls be iGlad or iMad?
Apple's new iPad has been a point of controversy for the technology giant since its launch last week. For Apple investors, does the iPad make you feel had, feel mad or feel glad?
Eric Rosenbaum
Feb 5, 2010 3:26 PM EST
CUPERTINO, Calif. (
) - The age of the iPad has arrived -- and, at least so far,
Apple's
(AAPL) - Get Free Report
latest toy lacks some shine.
The iPad coming out party was like the technology sector equivalent of a Junior League of Alabama debutante ball. The iPad did not hit the launch pad with a thud, but it didn't exactly rocket from the launch pad either. There are questions as to whether the iPad will stick with consumers.
The more important question for Apple investors, however, is whether the iPad will pad profits of the technology giant.
Has the Apple fallen too far from the tree? Will the iPad rot Apple's core?
On Jan. 29, Apple hit its lowest stock price since early December -- of course, that week was a down for the overall markets -- but Apple stock did slide in the two days after the iPad launch.
Many Apple watchers had anticipated that the new tablet device would debut with a price tag of $999. Apple surprised the market with Steve Jobs stealing a page from Ron Popeil's infomercial playbook and offering the iPad at the low-low price of $499.
Maybe some of the negative reaction to the iPad has to do with the price: there is a fine line between over-pricing and pricing at a point where U.S. consumers assume the device can't be all that great if it's too easily within reach of their wallets.
Other commentators have said they can think of a lot better things to do with $500 in this uncertain economy, so maybe it's not really about the exact price point. Early adopters in the tech geek universe are always well ahead of the en masse consumer rush into a new technology, anyway.
Maybe the fact that 10% of the U.S. population is still unemployed has just made it an inopportune time to introduce a new toy -- though the success of
Amazon's
(AMZN) - Get Free Report
e-reader would suggest that finding an audience for the right product will not be a problem.
The range of comments about the iPad has been all over the place, with the
even writing an article about the poor name selected for the tablet device, as it evoked feminine-hygiene products. The iPod/iPad dual branding attack seems obvious from another perspective.
iPad, iTab, iSlab, -- clearly, Apple enthusiasts did not all find the name iFab, and there's been a lot, maybe too much, iBlab.
More serious concerns have been voiced about the iPad's ability to create a revolution in consumer habits and computer application design. Will the iPad kindle a new way of thinking about consumer devices that ultimately destroys the Kindle?
iPad bulls say that the device will take what have been mere toys on the iPhone and turn them into full-fledged powerful applications. The opportunity has been created for designers to recreate every single desktop and Web software type.
iPad detractors argue that Apple hasn't found the sweet spot between the iPhone, the Kindle and the popular netbook with the iPad's launch. Consumers who want an e-reader first and foremost don't need the iPad, and consumers who want a tiny computer will still prefer the functionality of a netbook.
Thus, we ask the tech-savvy reader of the
, will investors be had if they bet on the success of the iPad?
-- Reported by Eric Rosenbaum in New York.
>>Apple Unveils the iPad
>>AT&T Gets Boost from iPad
>>Video: iPad Winners & Losers
Copyright 2009 TheStreet.com Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Oswald Külpe
German psychologist and philosopher
Oswald Külpe, (born August 3, 1862, Kandau, Courland, Russian Empire [now Kandava, Latvia]—died December 30, 1915, Munich, Germany), German psychologist and philosopher regarded as the guiding force behind the experimental study of thought processes identified with the Würzburg school of psychology.
Külpe's early academic interests vacillated between history and psychology. After completing a dissertation on feeling for Wilhelm Wundt, the founder of experimental psychology, at the University of Leipzig (1887), Külpe spent eight years at the Leipzig laboratory. During most of that time he acted as Wundt's assistant. In 1888 Külpe became Privatdozent (lecturer) at the university. He wrote Grundriss der Psychologie (1893; Outlines of Psychology), in which he defined psychology as a science concerned with experiences dependent on the experiencing individual and outlined the findings of experimental psychology.
In 1894 Külpe was appointed professor at the University of Würzburg, and under his inspiration and direction the institute published some 50 experimental studies before his departure for the University of Bonn in 1909. Best known is his research on the effects of attitudes and tasks on perception and the course of recall and thought.
In 1913 Külpe took a post at the University of Munich. At the time of his death he was writing another systematic treatment of experimental psychology. Die Realisierung, 3 vol. (1912–23; "Realization"), considered to be a valuable contribution to the theory of knowledge, was his last published work.
thought: The process of thought
…the German psychologist and philosopher Oswald Külpe, saw the prototype of directed thinking in the "constrained-association" experiment, in which the subject has to supply a word bearing a specified relation to a stimulus word (e.g., an opposite to an adjective, or the capital of a country). Introspective research led the…
Wilhelm Wundt, Oswald Külpe, and Edward Bradford Titchener.…
Feeling, in psychology, the perception of events within the body, closely related to emotion. The term feeling is a verbal noun denoting the action of the verb to feel, which derives etymologically from the Middle English verb felen, "to perceive by touch, by palpation." It soon came to mean, more…
Wilhelm Wundt
Wilhelm Wundt, German physiologist and psychologist who is generally acknowledged as the founder of experimental psychology. Wundt earned a medical degree at the University of Heidelberg in 1856. After studying briefly with Johannes Müller,…
Experimental psychology, a method of studying psychological phenomena and processes. The experimental method in psychology attempts to account for the activities of animals (including humans) and the functional organization of mental processes by manipulating variables that may give rise to behaviour; it is primarily concerned with discovering laws that describe…
More About Oswald Külpe
In introspection
thought processes
In thought: The process of thought
Kandava, Russia
"Outlines of Psychology"
subjects of study
Charles Darwin, English naturalist whose scientific theory of evolution by natural selection became the…
Mao Zedong, principal Chinese Marxist theorist, soldier, and statesman who led his country's communist…


Peter King's latest Football Morning in America column features his first, and only, NFL mock draft.
There are some teams that need to surround their quarterbacks with more talents. Then there are others that should look at drafting their next signal caller.
Carlos Vela nets a brace against Seattle Sounders and scores his 10th goal of the season.


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text:
Economy home
UK economy
Elon Musk's quest to stop the 'AI apocalypse' by merging man with machines
By Hasan Chowdhury and Hannah Boland 18 July 2019 • 6:00am
Neuralink has unveiled a computer chip to implant in human brains in a bid to boost human intelligence and solve neurological diseases.
If you can't beat them, join them. Or if you're Elon Musk, the billionaire boss of private rocket outfit SpaceX and electric vehicle firm Tesla, why not just become them?
On Wednesday, the tech mogul unveiled plans to implant human brains with computer chips in an effort to merge man with machine, marking the start of a quest to prevent Silicon Valley's most feared scenario: society's demise at the hands of artificial intelligence.
Musk has long sounded the alarm on AI, claiming that rapid advances in machine learning risk "summoning a demon" that leaves humans in the dust as super-intelligent systems out-manoeuvre our species at every task imaginable.
"At least when there's an evil dictator, that human is going to die. But for an AI, there would be no death. It would live forever. And then you'd have an immortal dictator from which we can never escape," he has previously warned.
It's for this reason the businessman, who has already admitted to working himself to tears, often putting in 120 hours of toil a week, is busying himself further with an unprecedented venture.
Musk told an audience at the California Academy of Sciences that Neuralink, the private vehicle for this vision, has been testing its "brain-computer interface" on monkeys and rats, and is expected to begin trials on humans by the end of next year.
"With a high bandwidth brain-machine interface we will go along with the ride, we will have the option of merging with AI," he said.
The prize at hand is clear, with Neuralink setting its sights on not just competing with AI by accelerating humanity's path towards a future of superintelligence, but also on solving some of the most complex neurological disorders.
Investors are starting to throw their weight behind the vision, with Neuralink, whose technology has barely been tested, raising $150m since its founding in 2016 including $100m which has come from Musk himself.
It has also attracted some of the brightest minds in science as researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard University and Stanford University have jumped on board for a chance to address the issues.
Neuralink has devised a 4x4mm chip that connects to a thousand microscopic threads entering the brain through four holes drilled in the skull.
But others are less convinced. Even for Musk, who has already tested his mettle with the shake-up of an automotive sector now leaning towards cleaner, alternative fuel vehicles, and the aerospace sector which has seen the cost of spaceflight plummet through reusable rockets, the task of solving brain disorders and advancing human intelligence is a tall order.
The first hurdle is likely to be a regulatory one. Daniel Mansson, a clinical psychologist, has been working on a "brain stimulation technique" to treat depression with his medical device start-up, Flow, and has seen how long the regulatory process can take for something that is non-invasive.
Neuralink's technology, on the other hand, is more complex and intrusive. The start-up has devised a 4x4mm chip that connects to a thousand microscopic threads entering the brain through four holes drilled in the skull.
The threads, tagged with electrodes, could theoretically detect electrical impulses in the brain to track activity in the body's primary nerve centre, which would then feed back as data on a smartphone. The prospect of human trials by 2020 are likely to be a stretch when the US Food and Drug Administration stands in the way.
"In our case...It's a less invasive technology, and if [Neuralink] think that they are going to go through the FDA and get that done in a couple of years, I think maybe they're exaggerating," Mansson says.
"With all the complications that could come from that, infections and things like that, we know are very problematic."
The challenge has been acknowledged by Neuralink's president, Max Hodak, who said the company was "under no illusion" about achieving its goal alone and would need to bring on help from others.
It is unclear, too, how Musk plans on using the chips to enhance human intelligence and solve brain disorders, with no real data presented as yet.
"I think the possibilities for application of the Neuralink technology are pretty limited... it's not going to make us smarter," says Professor David Curtis, a specialist in genetics and psychiatry at University College London.
What is more plausible, Curtis says, is an application in which the brain implants allow patients with things such as locked-in syndrome to "communicate with the outside world", and possibly for people with motor neuron disease to gain better control of artificial body parts.
More fundamental questions linger over the place AI will have in society and whether or not anxieties over AI are overblown.
Musk has not been alone in voicing concerns about AI, and has found common ground with world-beating scientists such as the late Professor Stephen Hawking, who has also warned that further development of AI could "spell the end of the human race".
Technology intelligence - newsletter promo - EOA
A primary driver for Musk has been the "democratisation of intelligence" to ensure humanity is on equal pegging with AI, but not everyone is convinced of a doomsday case - or even the idea that humans and AI will be in direct opposition.
"Fears about an AI takeover are not justified by any research or evidence...the idea of implanting stuff in our brains to keep up with AI is just nonsense," says Professor Noel Sharkey, emeritus professor of AI and robotics at the University of Sheffield.
Instead, he argues that there are some valid concerns around AI which require greater attention, which are "not in the way that Musk describes".
"What we need to worry about is the application of AI in many areas such as unjust decision making, weapons, and too big a rush to roll out autonomous vehicles," Sharkey says.
Neuralink's ambitions may seem a stretch, but it has been Silicon Valley's recurrent dream for humans to one day morph into machines.
Ray Kurzweil, an AI expert and director of engineering at Google, has long held the view that humanity's future is beyond biology.
He argues that technology is already binding with humans (people being tethered to their smartphones a case in point), and has forecast the "nonbiological portion" of human intelligence to predominate by the 2030s, by which time "the majority of search queries will be answered without you actually asking".
Alan Turing, the mathematician who is widely considered a founding father AI, suggested almost 70 years ago that there is no known reason as to why a computer couldn't do everything a human brain does - certainly a daunting thing to consider for Musk.
But he also suggested that if machines could eventually compete with people, where would they start? "Even this is a difficult decision."
It is for this reason, as Mansson suggests, that Musk's dreams of a "symbiosis" with AI many not be entirely necessary and remain, for now, just a distant possibility.
"I think they will succeed in doing something, but the vision that he has should be interpreted as a vision: something that's far away."
Elon Musk,
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text:
Researchers have the stomach for cancer
by Kelsey Kaustinen	| Email the author
Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School (Duke-NUS)
National Cancer Center Singapore (NCCS)
Cancer Science Institute of Singapore
SINGAPORE—Hundreds of novel genes that are mutated in stomach cancer have recently been identified, providing a much-needed update on the second most lethal cancer in the world. The research, done by an international team of researchers led by members from Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School (Duke-NUS) in Singapore and the National Cancer Center Singapore (NCCS), appeared online April 8 in Nature Genetics.
"Our study is one of the first gastric cancer studies to investigate the vast majority of human genes at the single nucleotide level," Prof. Teh Bin Tean, director of the NCCS-VARI Translational Research Laboratory at NCCS and senior co-author of the study, said in a press release. "We screened 18,000 human genes and identified over 600 genes that were previously unknown to be mutated in stomach cancer."
"Gastric cancer is one of the top causes of cancer death worldwide, and is particularly prevalent in East Asia," Teh adds. "We wanted to contribute to the understanding of a major public health burden that is relatively neglected in Europe and America."
Given the late detection of tumors and a lack of information on what leads to stomach cancer, treatment is often unsuccessful. In the United States, less than a quarter of patients survive more than five years after diagnosis, even with treatment, and stomach cancer leads to more than 700,000 deaths worldwide each year.
For the study, the team analyzed tumor tissue and normal tissue from stomach cancer patients using state-of-the-art DNA sequencing technology. The team included researchers and clinicians from three research groups affiliated with Duke-NUS, including one headed by Teh.
"This technology allows us to read the DNA sequence of the genes in each cancer genome for less than $2,000, an incredibly low price," Assoc. Prof. Steven G. Rozen, head of the Computational Systems Biology and Human Genetics Laboratory in Duke-NUS and senior co-author, said in a press release.
Two of the genes identified, FAT4 and ARID1A, earned additional scrutiny, as a further analysis of roughly 100 tumors found that the two genes were mutated in 5 percent and 8 percent of stomach cancers, respectively, and in some patients, portions of the chromosome containing the genes were missing entirely. Manipulation of the genes was found to alter the growth of stomach cancer cells, and as many as 100,000 new cases of stomach cancer could be caused each year by their mutations, making them attractive therapeutic targets.
"FAT4 is widely expressed, but little is known about the details of its biochemical functions," says Dr. Patrick Tan, associate professor of the Cancer and Stem Cell Biology Program at Duke-NUS and senior author of the study. "It has not previously been a focus of study in human cancers, but a retrospective analysis suggests that FAT4 mutations might also play roles in some other cancers. ARID1A is involved in gene regulation through epigenetics and chromatin remodeling. There was some prior evidence for a role for ARID1A in other cancers, and while our paper was in review another group also found ARID1A to harbor an excess of mutations in gastric cancers."
Tan says the next step will be to learn more about the roles the genes play, in addition to investigating other genes that were implicated in stomach cancer in the study.
Duke-NUS' and the NCCS' work on this initiative is the latest in a longstanding relationship between the two organizations since Duke-NUS was founded in 2005 as a strategic collaboration between Duke University School of Medicine and the National University of Singapore. Rozen notes that Tan and Teh have appointments at both organizations.
"The massively parallel sequencing was carried out at both Duke-NUS and NCCS," he says. "Much of the bioinformatics analysis was done by the Duke-NUS Centre for Computational Biology."
Duke-NUS and NCCS were joined by collaborators from a variety of other organizations, including the Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, Northwestern University, National University of Singapore, Van Andel Research Institute, Genome Institute of Singapore, Yonsei Cancer Center, Queen's University, Singapore General Hospital and Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute.
The study was supported by the National Medical Research Council of Singapore's Ministry of Health, as part of the Singapore Gastric Cancer Consortium. The study also received funding from Duke-NUS, the Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, Genome Institute of Singapore (Agency for Science, Technology and Research) and the Lee Foundation.
Duke study sheds light on cancer drug resistance
DURHAM, N.C.—In March, a multinational research team led by scientists at Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School identified a reason why some patients fail to respond to some of the most successful cancer drugs.
The study was published online in Nature Medicine on March 18.
Tyrosine kinase inhibitor drugs (TKIs) work effectively in most patients to fight certain blood-cell cancers, such as chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) and non-small-cell lung cancers (NSCLC) with mutations in the EGFR gene. These precisely targeted drugs shut down molecular pathways that keep these cancers flourishing and include TKIs for treating CML, and the form of NSCLC with EGFR genetic mutations.
Now the team at Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School in Singapore, working with the Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS), Singapore General Hospital and the National Cancer Centre Singapore, has discovered that there is a common variation in the BIM gene in people of East Asian descent that contributes to some patients' failure to benefit from these tyrosine kinase inhibitor drugs.
The researchers found that drug resistance occurred because of impaired production of BH3-containing forms of the BIM protein. They confirmed that restoring BIM gene function with the BH3 drugs worked to overcome TKI resistance in both types of cancer.
"BH3-mimetic drugs are already being studied in clinical trials in combination with chemotherapy, and we are hopeful that BH3 drugs in combination with TKIs can actually overcome this form of TKI resistance in patients with CML and EGFR non-small-cell lung cancer," said S. Tiong Ong, the senior author of the study and associate professor in the Cancer and Stem Cell Biology Signature Research Programme at Duke-NUS. "We are working closely with GIS and the commercialization arm of the Agency for Science, Technology & Research (A*STAR), to develop a clinical test for the BIM gene variant, so that we can take our discovery quickly to the patient."
According to the researchers, if a drug combination does override TKI resistance in people, this will be good news for those with the BIM gene variant, which occurs in about 15 percent of the typical East Asian population. By contrast, no people of European or African ancestry were found to have this gene variant.
"While it's interesting to learn about this ethnic difference for the mutation, the greater significance of the finding is that the same principle may apply for other populations," said Dr. Patrick Casey, senior vice dean for research at Duke-NUS. "There may well be other, yet to be discovered gene variations that account for drug resistance in different world populations. These findings underscore the importance of learning all we can about cancer pathways, mutations, and treatments that work for different types of individuals. This is how we can personalize cancer treatment and ultimately control cancer."


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Violinist Mischa Lefkowitz of the Los Angeles Philharmonic performs original compositions by award-winning composer and pianist Danaë Xanthe Vlasse. The music is lyrical and poignant as it explores states of transition in people and in nature. People experience myriad transitional and, often, ambiguous emotional states; this album explores an intersection of the conscious mind and the subconscious while caught in dreams, memories, and longing. The album presents these concepts against the backdrop of transitions in nature, as portrayed through the ebb-and-flow of ocean tides, the passage of day into night, and the cycle of the seasons.
unlikely to have been touched thus far... unquestionably magnificent."
"Vlasse's sweet-toned piano...offering a beautifully mobile bed of sound over which Lefkovitz's violin sings."
"A showcase of control from Lefkovitz, whose purity of sound is remarkable."
Winner: Silver Medal (Best Composition, Best Composer and Best Classical Album) - Global Music Awards.
Winner: "Best Instrumental Album" - CLOUZINE International Music Awards.
Nominated: "Best Classical Album" - Independent Music Awards.
A collection of Mrs. Vlasse's most popular compositions - with over a quarter of a million online plays!
Available via all major retailers.
Ms. Vlasse has the skill, training and heart to express whatever she chooses in her music, and does it breathtakingly well. [Trilogies] needs to be heard!
"Gorgeous piano pieces expertly recorded.There is no questioning the talent of Danae Xanthe Vlasse. I think you will have reverence for the skill displayed here."
"[Vlasse's music] shows a strong command of chromatic harmony and thematic development."
TRILOGIES Album Notes: Award-winning composer and pianist Danaë Xanthe Vlasse offers a collection of new works for piano in the style of the great 19th century Romantic tradition. Each type of piece seeks a different sort of experience, from feeling simple moments of quiet pleasure to great prolonged adventures full of contrasting moods. The three "Fantaisies" are grandest in scope and tell epic stories of emotional battles such as succumbing to madness, facing the unknown, defying death and overcoming great internal obstacles. The "Nocturnes" seek to explore different night-time landscapes; some are quite serene while others are more imposing. The "Petite Valses" were all conceived as little lullabies. And finally the three "Préludes" celebrate scenes of daily life, each one inspired by a different mood.
Music Video for track #2 from "Trilogies," featuring Aitana Jordan!
to mind spirit-steeped realms and whispered myths.'"
This album was released in July 2015; it is exclusively available on digital release and is immediately available for download on itunes and amazon, as well as googleplay.
This album was released in October 2013; it is available as a hard-copy as well as on digital release and is immediately available for download on itunes and Amazon.
This violin and piano album was released in June 2017; it features music by Danaë Vlasse along with pieces by Beethoven, Gounod, Dvorak and others! The album is available for download on CDBaby!
These albums were both released in 2016 and feature Vlasse compositions alongside other traditional repertoire. Both albums are available in hard-copy as well as on digital release and immediately available for download on iTunes!


One of the most impressive Champagne ranges with a great historical link to the English Royal Family, Lanson is a link to the past, the present and the future of Champagne. No one should miss the opportunity of tasting 6 of the Cuvées produced by this house especially when it is Wimbledon round the corner!
From our draw, one lucky winner on the night will receive a delicious bottle of Wine courtesy of The Drinks Emporium!
A special offer on all Lanson Champagne will also be available on the night.
Lanson Champagne began in 1760 when François Delamotte began making and selling his own brand of champagne. In 1786 he took on a new partner Jean-Baptiste Lanson. In 1856 the Lanson family gained full control and the name was changed to Lanson Père & Fils. With a very particular winemaking style, the end result is a full-flavoured bracing fresh wine which needs time in order to shed its acidity and show its richness and is very recognisable as Lanson.
Champagne Bruno Paillard Tasting - Ticket For Two £35 !


text:
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Investing in the renewable energy in Romania
Experts at Dentons Bucharest prepared an overview of the renewable energy in Romania, including general information on the electricity sector, national strategies, and opportunities for the companies to invest in the country's renewable energy projects.
Overview of the energy market structure
In a nutshell, the Romanian electricity market can be summarized as follows. Producers use various sources to generate electricity (e.g. fossil fuels and low carbon sources). The vast majority of electricity producers are state owned. The electricity is then injected into the national grid. Transelectrica is the sole transmission system operator, and it is charged with maintaining a constant balance between electricity production and national consumption. Transelectrica is a joint stock company, where the majority stake is owned by the Romanian state.
Electricity distributors operate local distribution grids and they transport the electricity to final consumers. There are currently eight distribution operators in Romania—five of these have been privatized by the Romanian state.
In turn, the suppliers acquire electricity from the producers or from other suppliers, which they sell to the final consumers on the basis of supply agreements, which are concluded both on the retail and wholesale markets.
Summarizing from the above, the participants in the electricity market are:
Transelectrica
The administrator of the electricity market ("OPCOM").
Thus, the energy market is the underlying structure where electricity and associated services are traded between the above participants. All of these participants are licensed by the Romanian Energy Regulatory Authority ("ANRE") and follow distinct guidelines in this respect.
Transactions with electricity are performed on the wholesale market operated by OPCOM, in a manner that is cumulatively transparent, public, centralized, and nondiscriminatory. Further details are described in section IV below, "Conclusion of PPAs."
Participation in any component of the electricity market is subject to registration and to the applicable technical and legal regulations in force.
National Energy Strategy
On October 4, 2021 the Romanian government approved the National Plan in the Field of Energy and Climate Change ("PNIESC").
In line with the "EU Fit for 55" package, the PNIESC is to detail the reforms and policies aimed at achieving decarbonation of the energy system by promoting investments in renewable energy sources and technologies and energy efficiency, which facilitate the green transition.
The European Commission has recommended that renewable energy represent 34 percent of the energy mix by 2030. The Romanian government's target for this is set at 30.7 percent by 2030, which corresponds to a commissioning of an additional renewable capacity of 7GW. As a side note, in 2020, renewable energy represented 16 percent of the energy mix.
This objective can be achieved by:
Reinforcing the grid to allow the connection of new capacity as well as of new storage capacity ∙ Developing and operating more storage facilities
Use of technologies of the future, mainly hydrogen
Implementing a "smart grid" system
Developing the existing grid infrastructure with a positive impact on improving access of renewable energy to the grid.
From a financial perspective, it is intended that the Romanian authorities use funds available through the Romanian National Recovery and Resilience Plan ("PNRR"), which has recently been approved by the EU. In addition, income deriving from EU-ETS mechanisms and EU structural funds are also designed to boost the development and commissioning of renewable energy projects.
As regards energy efficiency, Romania intends to reduce the consumption of electricity and to encourage the use of renewable sources in relevant sectors, such as heating, cooling, transport, etc. As such, Romania aims to reach by 2030 a primary consumption of electricity of 32.3 Mtoe and a final consumption of 25.7 Mtoe, with energy savings of 45.1 percent for the primary consumption and of 40,4 percent for the final energy consumption.
Available support schemes in Romania
Renewable energy projects commissioned by December 31, 2016 have benefitted from a support scheme based on green certificates. Through this mechanism, energy producers were certified by ANRE, and each month they would receive green certificates ("GCs"), i.e. a tradable commodity, issued in accordance with the source used (e.g. solar, wind, biomass, hydro) for the energy produced and delivered into the grid.
As a matter of fact, before 2013, a producer of electricity from a solar source would receive six GCs for each megawatt of energy delivered into the grid. Thanks to this generous support scheme, investments in renewable energy projects increased unexpectedly, mostly in the wind and solar sectors.
Currently, for renewable energy projects commissioned until December 31, 2016, a number of GC is granted as follows:
1,5 GCs until 2017 and 0,75GC starting with 2018 for each 1 MW delivered into the grid by wind power plants
2,3 GCs for each 1 MW delivered into the grid if the plants are new or 2 GCs for each MW delivered into the grid if the plants are refurbished, by hydro power plants with a total installed power of at least 10 MW
2 GCs for each 1MW delivered into the grid by geothermal, biomass, biogas and bioliquids power plants
3 GCs for each 1 MW delivered into the grid by solar power plants
1 GC for each 1 MW delivered into the grid by waste fermentation gas power plants.
Under an amendment to Law 220/2008 on the promotion of electricity from renewable sources ("Law 220"), the trading of green certificates was suspended for certain technologies between July 1, 2013 and March 31, 2017, while for solar the suspension remained in place until December 31, 2020, as follows:
By one green certificate for wind power plants
By one green certificate for hydro with a total installed power of at least 10 MW
By two GCs for solar power plants
As of January 1, 2021, the abovementioned suspended green certificates cannot be traded.
Recovery of the suspended green certificates for wind and hydro of at least 10 MW is taking place between 1 January 2018 and 31 December 2025. In respect of solar technology, the suspended green certificates may be recovered between 1 January 2021 and 31 December 2030.
How does the incentive scheme work?
As per the provisions of Law 220, Energy suppliers and certain producers must acquire green certificates every year that equal the value of the mandatory quota for acquiring green certificates established by ANRE for the respective year, multiplied by the total number of MW.
For 2020, the mandatory GCs quota is the value of 0.45061 green certificates per MWh and the mandatory estimated annual quota for green certificates acquisition for 2021 was established at the value of 0.4505 GCs per MWh.
Duration of support scheme
The support mechanism applies to renewable power plants that were accredited by ANRE by 31 December 2016 as follows:
15 years for power plants using new equipment
10 years for refurbished hydropower plants with installed power up to 10MW
Seven years for wind farms using second-hand equipment, if installed in isolated areas or if commissioned before entering into force of the Renewable Law
Three years for hydropower plants that have not been refurbished, with installed power up to 10MW.
The market for green certificates
Green certificates can be traded only on the centralized markets operated by OPCOM in a transparent and non-discriminatory manner between operators that have to acquire green certificates. The centralized markets operated by OPCOM are:
The centralized anonymous spot market for green certificates
The green certificates centralized term market
The centralized market for electricity from renewable energy sources supported by green certificates, where electricity produced from renewable sources and the corresponding GCs are traded together.
Only producers are allowed to sell green certificates, and one green certificate can form the object of a single transaction.
As per the provisions of Law 220, until 2032, the minimum price per green certificate is €29.40 and the maximum price is €35, calculated in lei, at the average exchange rate established by the National Bank of Romania for the last month of the previous year.
Projects put into operation after 31 December 2016 do not qualify for any support scheme, meaning that these renewable energy producers are only able to sell their electricity on OPCOM markets.
As a consequence, a new support scheme has to be put in place. The completion and subsequent enactment of the support scheme based on a "contract for difference" ("CfD").
The most important advantage of the CfD support scheme is the safeguard granted to electricity producers from wholesale price volatility. The mechanism guarantees a strike price and tops up payments when the wholesale price falls below this amount, and vice versa.
The connection between the approval of a CfD support scheme and new investments in the renewable energy sector has been emphasized in the section of the PNRR dedicated to the green transition.
The Romanian Government approved the memorandum on CfDs, but for state aid purposes the finalized proposal will need to be approved by the European Commission.
The CfD support scheme is expected to be applicable in 24 months and should apply to the following:
New constructions using nuclear technology
Technology for the use of renewable resources
Carbon capture and storage and carbon capture and utilization technology for fossil fuel-based electricity generation capacity, when they become commercially viable.
Conclusion of PPAs
As mentioned in section I above, power producers can only conclude power purchase agreements (PPAs) using the OPCOM markets in a manner that is cumulatively transparent, public, centralized, and non-discriminatory. The following are exceptions to this rule:
Participants that combine various production sources can conclude off-market bilateral agreements with the owners of the respective energy facilities.
Producers and/or public authorities holding renewable generation facilities with installed powers of at least 3MW/producer may conclude negotiated PPAs with the suppliers of final consumers regarding the sale of electricity and/or green certificates.
The wholesale market operated by OPCOM has the following components:
A day-ahead market
An intraday market
A market with double-continuous negotiation for electricity contracts (PC–OTC)
A centralized market of bilateral contracts with an extended-auction mechanism (CMBC) by way of: (i) extended auction (PCCB–LE), (ii) continuous negotiation (PCCB NC), or (iii) fuel processing agreements (PCCB–PC)
A market for large consumers (PMC)
A centralized market for universal service (PCSU)
A centralized market for granting electricity contracts for long-term deliveries (PCTL).
Thus, Romanian power producers cannot conclude PPAs off the market e.g. as a result of a direct negotiation process with a freely chosen buyer. In addition, the producers must sell the electricity on OPCOM markets to any interested supplier, trader or final consumer (registered on the market) available to purchase it under market conditions and at the prevailing market price at the respective time.
Notably, even if PPAs can be concluded on short, medium or long term, in practice electricity off-takers seem reluctant to acquire electricity on the long term. Thus, the absence of long-term PPAs has affected investments targeted in renewable capacities, as the banks became reluctant to finance them in the absence of long-term agreements guaranteeing stability in the revenues stream.
Expected evolution for concluding PPAs
In order to remove unjustified barriers, The Romanian Government issued Emergency Government Ordinance no. 74/2020 ("GEO 74/2020").
GEO 74/2020 states that, by way of exception to the above rules, power producers are allowed to conclude bilateral PPAs outside OPCOM centralized markets, at negotiated prices, only in relation to the electricity produced by capacities commissioned after June 1, 2020.
Even if GEO 74/2020 produces legal effects as of its publication date in the Official Journal (mid 2020), it must still be approved by the Romanian Parliament and as such become a law. Market participants are expecting this change, as the stability of long-term PPAs is crucial for their bankability, since new renewable energy projects have difficulties accessing funding for their development.
Investment appeal
Romania has attractive, long-term growth prospects and is actively seeking to attract foreign investment. It has had the fastest-growing economy in CEE during the last five years, and the government's programs are intended to put the economy on a path toward sustainable growth.
To this extent, even though the Romanian economy was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, it shrunk by only 3.9 percent, below that registered in the eurozone (-6.6 percent). Moreover, in the first trimester of 2021 the economy grew by 2.8 percent over the last trimester of 2020 in the last quarter of 2020; the labor market had a stable trend, with an employment rate of more than 70 percent, while the jobless rate reached 5 percent.
According to the forecast of the National Commission of Strategy and Prognosis, a complete return of economic activity is expected, with an estimated GDP advance of 5 percent, followed by an average rate of 4.9 percent until 2024.
This kind of economic growth leads to higher future demand for electricity and higher electricity prices. From this perspective, Romania is the second-largest national gas producer in the EU, while the Black Sea initiatives and developments could expand the use of energy resources.
Due to its significant renewable offshore potential, Romania has initiated a draft law on necessary measures to carry out operations for the exploitation of offshore wind energy (the "Draft Law"). The Draft Law is currently under parliamentary procedure in the Chamber of Deputies. According to the provisions therein, licenses for carrying out offshore wind projects will be granted by the Ministry for Economy,
Energy and Business Environment ("MEEMA") on the basis of a tender procedure or on the basis of a direct licensing procedure, applicable to entities that can prove the financial and technical capabilities to develop a specific project.
Offshore wind projects established in accordance with the direct licensing procedure and after the connection to the grid has taken place, are entitled to a premium amounting to a maximum of €0.025 per KWh on top of the electricity market price, capped to a maximum value of €0.060 per KWh. The premium will also be reduced if the market price for electricity exceeds €0.035 per KWh.
In addition to the premium, compensation of €0.020/ KWh will be paid for the balancing of costs, for a period of 20 years from the respective project's connection to the grid.
Development of renewable energy projects
The development of renewable energy sources in Romania was encouraged by Law 220. Following the first wave of renewable developments, Romania currently has installed capacities in wind energy of 3,000 MW and in photovoltaic energy of approximately 1,400 MW. The country has reached its target ensuring that 24 percent of energy consumption is from energy from renewable sources.
Since December 31, 2016, the green certificate support scheme has not been available for new projects, meaning that the interest in developing new renewable facilities has declined somewhat.
For 2030, Romania has proposed an ambitious plan to reach a quota of 30.7 percent of consumption from renewable energy. Achieving this new target corresponds to commissioning an additional capacity of 7GW of renewables into the grid.
There are signs indicating an increase in wind and photovoltaic projects through greenfield investments and the replacement of existing large-scale generation assets as well as facilities incentivizing prosumers (i.e. generators that consume what they produce). Consequently, support schemes and state aid will have to be implemented.
The PNRR provides for the need to implement reforms to increase the development of renewable energy projects, with an estimated allocated budget of €200 million, to be spent on:
A revision of Romania's electricity market framework
An update of the transport grid development plan in order to integrate the new renewable capacities
Measures to replace coal from the energy mix by 2032
Funding for new renewable energy projects.
In addition, within the scope of a larger reform measure (Digitalization and transition to RES), funding from the Modernization Fund and Just Transition Fund (in respect of six counties in Romania) will also be available.
Development of new technologies
Romania intends to develop pilot projects using technologies of the future—gas/hydrogen together with innovative storage solutions and green hydrogen in order to reduce green gas emissions. Romania signed the Hydrogen Initiative in 2018, thereby undertaking to continue research and innovation in using hydrogen as an electricity source.
As an important step in ensuring the green transition, Romania intends to develop a national strategy for hydrogen on the basis of which the legislation required for the investments in this field would be adopted. According to the PNRR the end of 2021 should see the first preliminary assessments of this strategy, based on which the authorities will take into account the implementation of pilot projects to promote the use of hydrogen in electricity production and in the industrial sector.
The main challenges of investors when entering the market
Development of the renewable energy sector is at the heart of the accelerated green transition. This stage brings with it many investment opportunities in replacing old generation facilities and implementing new technologies with a view to creating a sustainable energy market with affordable costs.
As mentioned above, Romania has set a very ambitious goal to ensure a share of 30.7 percent of renewable energy in the energy mix by 2030.
Currently, one of the most significant challenges is the length of the authorization procedure, notably the connection to the grid (which can take considerable time, especially in the Dobrogea and Moldova areas where the grid is congested). Full permitting of a project can take some 24 months.
The status of the grid—especially in the Dobrogea area where the network does not allow for connection to the grid without prior reinforcement works—is an aspect to be taken into account. However, various reinforcement works are in progress, and the need for a modernized grid has been stated in the PNRR. Various funds will be made available on this basis.
In addition, even if the Romanian government has adopted GEO 74/2020 in order to eliminate unjustified barriers in the conclusion of bilateral PPAs outside OPCOM markets, this normative act is still in the parliamentary procedure. Together with resolving the PPA issue, further investments require a support scheme for renewable energy projects commissioned after January 1, 2017. To this extent, the Romanian government adopted a memorandum regarding contracts for a difference support scheme but the specific mechanism has yet to be established. Subsequently, the approval of the European Commission for state aid purposes will still be required.
You can also download this material in the form of PDF presentation here: https://cutt.ly/DRi8PpA
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text:
Az Indexi együttes második nagylemeze, 1973 és 1976 közötti dalaikból készült válogatáslemez, mely 1977-ben jelent meg a szarajevói Diskoton kiadónál.

Az album dalai

A oldal

 Ti si mi bila naj, naj (3:13)
 Moja Hana (3:14)
 I tvoje će proći (3:38)
 Samo su ruže znale (4:21)
 Putovi (2:47)

B oldal

 Bacila je sve niz rijeku (4:24)
 Stani malo zlato moje	(3:11)
 Pogrešan broj (3:22)
 Kad se hoće sve se može (2:46)
 I mi i nas dvoje (4:11)

Források
 http://rateyourmusic.com/release/comp/indexi_f1/indexi/

Indexi-albumok

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
23 of southern Spain's most charming towns
by Kira Sideroff
Last updated: 27. Aug 2020
in Spain Where to stay Nature & outdoors
17. Dec 2015 (27. Aug 2020)
Andalucia is a region full of history. The ancient land is home to amazing people, incredible landscapes, unrivalled gastronomy and some of the prettiest little towns you'll find in Europe. Many of its villages are familiar with the recent influxes of tourism, however, some still remain secluded from the outside world, bursting with tradition and charm! One thing they all have in common? The typical architecture of Andalusian villages that we all love.
In no particular order, discover the most beautiful villages in southern Spain; visit a number of these charming and humble towns from your holiday home in Andalucia.
1. Arcos de la Frontera, Cadiz
Photo courtesy of choco planet
Arcos is the gateway to the White Towns of Andalucia (Pueblos Blancos) and is, without a doubt, one of the most beautiful villages in southern Spain. It has been declared a historic-artistic monument.
Views from this village are simply spectacular, as most of the town is built on a large plateau. Its streets are narrow, twisting and turning down steep slopes such that is typical in this region. It's also a place where you can find an appreciation for Muslim art and traces of Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque art.
Due to its beauty, Arcos is (and always has been!) an inspiration for many Spanish artists, such as the musicians Manuel de Falla, Pio Baroja, Azorin, Damaso Alonso, and Gloria Fuertes.
Whilst staying in Arcos, be sure to also try the wines produced in the area.
Church of San Pedro
Callejon de Las Monjas
Plaza del Cabildo
San Miguel cultural hall
Casa del Conde del Aguila
Mirador of the new rock (lookout point)
Basilica of Santa Maria
2. Iznájar, Córdoba
Photo courtesy of Victor Chacon
In Cordoba, a small village sits on top of a hill that is surrounded by a lake. This beautiful Andalusian village is known as Iznájar. Though still connected to the mainland, the town has a feeling of isolation. Its long and narrow streets bring you to the edges of town where you can enjoy a stroll along the largest lake in Andalusia.
Iznájar is an area of great cultural, patrimonial, and gastronomic wealth. A highlight of its gastronomy includes their stuffed pork, which is filled with such things as sausage, egg, bread crumbs, bits of ham and turkey breast.
Torre de San Rafael
Patio Comedies
Parish Church of Santiago
Plaza Rafael Alberti
Its several viewpoints
3. Cortegana, Huelva
Photo courtesy of Rui Nunes
The town of Cortegana is located in the Parque Natural Sierra de Aracena and Picos de Aroche and has been declared a Biosphere Reserve in the province of Huelva. Archaeological remains of the Neolithic age were found here, and the name Cortegana is said to be derived from the word "cork", a great source of wealth for this land in its past.
One of its most impressive sights is the majestic medieval fortress perched on the hill above the small white village. A view to surely impress even the most well-travelled.
Castle of Sancho IV
Fountain Alley
Church of the Divine Savior
Birth Chanza river
Ermita de San Sebastian
Houses Mudéjares
4. Carmona, Sevilla
Photo courtesy of Javier Martinez de la Ossa
Another site of Neothilic era remains, Carmona is certainly full of history. The town peaked during the Roman era and has since left a legacy of rich and fertile lands and beautiful architecture. It was also one of few places to mint its own currency. It is one of many towns that the ancient Via Augusta travels through and is also home to perhaps the most important Roman monument in Spain, the Necropolis.
Enjoy the many walking routes in Sevilla; Carmona is one of several Roman heritage routes, the Roman Bética Route, as well as the tourist Artealia Route, whose path is made up of four towns (Carmona, Ecija, Marchena and Osuna). The Route of Washington Irving also passes through Carmona, as that is where the famous writer took up residence for some years.
Alcazar of Puerta de Seville
Roman Necropolis
Chapel of San Francisco
Mansion in the Aguilar
Roman Amphitheater
Puerta de Córdoba
Fountain of Lions
5. Casares, Málaga
Photo courtesy of Allard
Casares was a prehistoric settlement, proven so by both the prehistoric remains found there and the Ferrete, Crestellina, and Utrera caves. After its first settlers, many civilizations have since passed through these lands.
Casares is also the birthplace of Blas Infante, author of "Ideal Andalusian" which prompted Andalusia's autonomy, anthem, and flag. The town also has its own famous legends. Some of them cite the Hedionda Baths (hot springs), in whose waters "lived a demon who breathed his last breath before being expelled to Santiago". Apparently, because of this, its waters contain the smell of sulfur. Other legends claim that a wounded dog was healed after bathing in its waters!
Parish Church of San Sebastian
Castle and Arabic Wall
Fountain of Carlos III
Hedionda baths
Antigua tourism office
Mirador del Peurto
6. Alcaudete, Jaen
Photo courtesy fotoviajero.com
This beautiful Andalucian village, rich in olive groves and found in the area of Jaen, is an authentic beauty made up of three smaller villages: La Bobadilla, Los Noguerones, and Sabariego. The town's most emblematic buildings are the medieval fortress and the church of Santa Maria Maggiore; from the square, you will see a wonderful view. Another point of interest is the Church of San Pedro, characterized by its Renaissance detailing.
Castillo Calatravo
Church of Santa Maria Maggiore
Zaide Fountain
Arco de La Villa
Llana Street
Admiralty House
Several viewpoints
7. Guadix, Granada
This beautiful Spanish town, located in the province of Granada, possesses a rich monumental heritage, being one of the oldest human settlements in Spain. Guadix holds a very special title as the European Capital of caves, due to the many homes built into caves.
Let yourself fall in love with the contrasting pastel colours that are interspersed among the white walls and green caves, accompanied by the ever-impressive background of the Sierra Nevada mountains.
Cave houses
Pantano Francisco Abellan
Cathedral of the Incarnation
Hoya de Guadix bike
Arab Bath
8. Baeza, Jaén
Photo courtesy Sea Veiga
This Jaen town is dominated by a characteristic landscape of olive trees, so trying their amazing oils is a necessity! Baeza is pure Renaissance art, so much so that it was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. It also forms part of two routes, the Andalusian Renaissance Route and the Nazarite Route.
Former University of Baeza
Plaza del Populo
Plaza de Santa Maria
Jabalquinto Palace
Fountain of Santa Maria
Antonio Machado House
9. The Iruela, Jaen
Photo courtesy of Ranp
This village, with its incredible topography, is seated on a rock with its imposing fortress. The fortress itself is undoubtedly one of the best attractions in Jaen, a hidden gem just outside the Parque Natural de Cazorla. It, too, is surrounded by a beautiful landscape whose olive groves are irrigated by the river Guadalquivir.
Templar Castle
Church of the Immaculate
The spas
10. Ronda, Málaga
"I have sought everywhere the city of my dreams, and I have finally found it in Ronda"
- Rainer Maria Rilke
Ronda, a city with approximately 35,000 inhabitants, is located only 100 km from Malaga, is known for its famous El Tajo. The views from this incredible bridge have captivated all those who have had the privilege to see it. Ronda is built on a plateau whose homes defy the dizzying altitude.
Besides its dramatic landscapes whose boundaries are seemingly endless, Ronda has many attractions and practically everything else, too! Yummy and varied cuisine with a clear commitment to local products, and some of the most renowned wines in Spain (Ronda's cellars are part of the prestigious Wine Route Spain!). Archaeological sites such as the Roman city of Acinipo, Arab baths, the Palace of Mondragon or del Rey Moro, and its streets full of history make it one of the most visited Spanish towns.
View from the Tajo
Mondragon Palace
Palacio del Rey Moro and Mina
Arab walls
Plaza Duquesa de Parcent
Jardines de Cuenca
Mirador de Aldehuela
Ruins of Acinipo
11. Pampaneira, Granada
One of the most pleasant and enjoyable experiences you can have is a holiday in the Alpujarras with a group of friends or family. It is ideal for long days well-spent preparing delicious meals and taking long walks in the surrounding mountains looking for chestnuts and mushrooms. Pampaneria is one of the Alpujarra villages where you can enjoy all this. Located in the ravine Poqueira, Pampaneria has maintained its characteristics of Berber architecture.
Church of the Holy Cross
Bodega la Moralea
Paseo de Garcia Lorca
Chumpaneira Fountain
12. Vejer de la Frontera, Cadiz
Photo courtesy of Braulio Tortosa
Holiday rentals in Vejer de la Frontera are popular as this town is one of the top places to visit in Southern Spain. It boasts simply incredible views, like many of the other towns in Spain; however, it's proximity to the beach is one of the town's most major main attractions.
Vejer has been awarded the National Prize for Beautification and other Andalusian towns can fully appreciate the legacy of other cultures in the streets, such as the Jewish quarter. If you like castles, Vejer has one from the S. XI-XVI, where the architecture is a mix of Arab and Christian.
Visit Vejer de la Frontera and don't be afraid to get lost in its streets. Take long walks and enjoy the beautiful scenery. Furthermore, if you like quality meat, we recommend two restaurants: La Castilleria and Restaurante Venta Tinto.
Spain Square
Calle Silla Vieja
Los Abuelicos viewpoint
Vejer mills
Nacimiento de Agua de Santa Lucia
13. Lucainena de las Torres, Almeria
If you are staying in Almeria and looking for one of the most beautiful villages in Andalucia, Lucainena de las Torres is always cited among the top. This town is known for its cleanly streets and whitewashed houses decorated with beautiful potted plants, painting a colourful canvas around the town.
If you are feeling adventurous and don't have claustrophobia, be sure to visit the Karst de Los Yesos de Sorbas, where you will find over 600 magnificent caves.
Tabernas Desert
Mirador de Turillas
Karst de Los Yesos de Sorbas
14. Ubeda, Jaen
Photo courtesy of Domingo Leiva
Located in the province of Jaen, you'll find beautiful Ubeda, a World Heritage Site. This Andalusian village has a rich history, evident by its architecture. Antonio Machado refers to Ubeda in many of his poems!
This town is undoubtedly one of the jewels of the Andalusian Renaissance; the streets and squares are full of incredible palaces, convents, and walls.
Church of St. Mary of the Alcazar
Plaza Vázquez de Molina
Memorial Square
Sacred Chapel of Salvador Ubeda
Church of San Pablo
Casco Historica
Calle Gradas
Its walls
Barrio Alfarero
15. Zahara de la Sierra, Cadiz
Zahara de la Sierra is located in the Sierra del Jaral, inside the natural park Sierra de Grazalema, and is declared a historic site. Its streets are full of history and you'll be amazed by a very special topography, due to its location along the slope, giving it a unique feel.
You might note la Torre del Homenaje (the Keep) that stands among the beautiful white houses of this village, from which we can see in the distance the landscape that leads to the Garganta Verde and its artificial beach.
Playa del Arroyomolinos
Mirador (lookout)
Church of Sant Maria de la Mesa
The Chapel of St. John Lateran
Bridge Palominos
16. Priego, Córdoba
This village nestled in the heart of Andalusia has been inhabited since the Paleolithic period. It's no wonder they chose this area! Extensive olive groves and plenty of freshwaters make the area an ideal place to live and a must-visit on your holiday to Andalucia.
Priego is yet another Spanish town that has to be seen in its entirety to realise its true beauty. Its cuisine is local and traditional and people from this area use an essential ingredient in their dishes, extra virgin olive oil.
Fountain of the King
Barrio de La Villa
Church of Our Mrs. Aurora
House Museum Niceto Alcala-Zamora
Plaza del Llano
17. Frigiliana, Málaga
Maybe it's the amazing views or the bright red geraniums in pots around the village or the winding, cobblestone streets (or maybe all of the above). Stay in a holiday rental in Frigiliana which has been named as the most beautiful village of Andalusia.
Church of San Antonio de Padua
Nuestra Sra. Del Carmen
Casa Nata de Liborio Apolinario
Adarve Callejón del Señor
Artisan shops
Callejón del Inquisidor
Church Square
18. Mojacar, Almeria
In the Sierra de Cabrera in Almeria, you'll find a hive of striking white houses, with narrow streets inviting you to discover its past from prehistory to the present day. Renting a holiday home in Mojacar you will experience its unique microclimate where the winters and summers are very mild.
Zona de Garitos
Antique market
19. Salobreña, Granada
Salobreña is located in the province of Granada and is another example of the beauty that the Mediterranean coast has to offer. It is a huge tourist attraction thanks to its subtropical climate with pleasant temperatures all year round where you can also enjoy its incredible beaches.
Another beautiful white village in southern Spain, full of history and whose past can be seen in its beautiful architecture when touring emblematic neighbourhoods such as La Loma, La Fuente, or Brocal that still retain the medieval structure.
The Moorish Castle
Tower Brocal
The Paseo de la Flores
The viewpoint of the Albayzín
20. Setenil de las Bodegas, Cadiz
What catches your attention of this town in Cadiz is certainly not hard to miss, the caves. The ancient town was originally built into the rocks for indoor temperature moderations (they're a natural cooling system from the scorching Spanish heat) and has remained so ever since!
The houses, as well as shops and bars, in Setenil de las Bodegas are under the shelter and protection of a massive rock. It's quite a lovely place to spend an afternoon walking around, or even just to drive through... or shall we say under! It's only a 15 km drive from Ronda.
You must see it for yourself next time you're in the area.
Las Cuevas (the caves)
The many small bars and restaurants
21. Almodóvar del Río, Córdoba
West of Córdoba, you can find Almodóvar del Río in the region of La Vega del Guadalquivir. The landscape that surrounds this wonderful village is simply spectacular. At the top of the hill you will find the grand castle, one that has withstood the trials and elements of time, which together with the white houses make this village truly a place to remember.
It is one of the cities that belong to the path of Roman Andalusia.
Castillo de Almodóvar del Río
Roman Portus
Sierra de Hornachuelos Natural Park
Ethnological Museum Angel Estevez
Mirador of Pairejas
Church of the Immaculate Conception
Ermita de Jesús
22. Genalguacil, Málaga
Photo courtesy Angelrm (Flickr)
The village of Genalguacil's landscape is classified as a Special Protection Area. The skies are guarded by golden eagles, peregrine falcons, and owls. This Spanish town has a fairly rugged terrain with lush vegetation of pine, chestnut, cork, and oak.
Rent a holiday home in Genalguacil and enjoy the many routes for hikers and mountain cyclists. After taking in the views, there's nothing better to finish the day but with its traditional cuisine, rich in local products. Try some local and typical gazpachuelo (cold soup), scrambled eggs with garlic and mushrooms. If you're into sweets, do not miss their doughnuts!
Art in the street
Museum of Contemporary Art Fernando Centeno
23. Alhama de Granada
Alhama de Granada is a town that has all the requirements to be one of the greatest points of interest to Granada. Its history dates back to prehistoric times, but thanks to its thermal waters and its great location, both Muslims and Christians have been drawn to this vital geographical location on their maps and pilgrimages. Both religions are portrayed in the town's art, as seen by monuments in the Arab neighbourhood while exploring the noble and religious Christian buildings as well.
Castillo de Alhama de Granada
Fountain Square of San Diego
Moorish neighbourhood
House of the Inquisition
Chapel of the Remedies
The Devil's Staircase
Suggested articles for you:
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The best holiday destinations in southern Spain
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Everyone loves a good cause. The Arroyo Vista School PTA is hosting a major fundraising event. There are many ways to raise funds for just about any organization. In this case, the PTA of Arroyo Vista decided to use land bubble rollers at their fundraiser. Undeniably, you can almost guarantee excitement, joy, and laughter by using any of our attractions. The money raised will fund art, music, STEM labs, field trips, assemblies and technology advances for students. Fun was had by all!
Why not spend the day racing your friend around in one of our Land Bubble Rollers? They are great for large yards, parks, gyms, arenas and more! Available with or without an arena or race track.You can race your friends around the course or have a free-for-all match bumping into each other in the arena. We are the only company to offer safety nets to allow patrons to participate by themselves safely.
Invite Emerald Events to your fundraiser! Contact Us.
Emerald Events brings the most popular attraction, The Bubble Rollers™ to the Orange County Scout-O-Rama Saturday, May 13, 2017. As a result, we intend to wow the crowd as they climb into our Bubble Rollers attraction.
What is the Orange County Scout-O-Rama?
The Toyota Grand Prix Long Beach 2017 is an open-wheel race held on a street circuit in the beautiful area of downtown Long Beach, California. Best of all, Emerald Events and The Bubble Rollers™ will be there! Roll and race with us and all of the fun April 7th through the 9th. We will have attractions that are great for the entire family!
To see more on events for this weekend please click here.
Join Emerald Events and The Bubble Rollers™ at the Orange County Discovery Cube Bubble Fest 2017. We will be there with our bubbles, of course!
Auto Club Speedway is celebrating their 20th Reunion Anniversary at this years Nascar Auto Club 400. Emerald Events and The Bubble Rollers™ will be rolling with the fun. Join us!


Depending on the cause, leg pain can occur in one leg only or in both legs. Leg pain is one of the symptoms of bone cancer, according to Mayo Clinic.
Learn Hip Pain At Night Cancer Can You Pull A Muscle In Your Thigh The Hip Pain At Night Cancer Iliolumbar Ligament Surgery The Hip Pain At Night Cancer Hip Pain At.About 1 week ago I started to feel localized intence burning pain in my lower leg muscle.Causes of Leg Pain and Foot Pain. share pin it Newsletters. which is where the nerves branch out from the spine to provide function to the muscles in the leg,.Examine the most common causes of lower back pain including muscle. of the nerves (leg). spread to the spine start from cancer in the breast.
Back Pain - an easy to. determines that your back pain is caused by muscle. have a previous history of cancer.
Persistent painfrom the pectineus muscle can occur from. to adduction of the thigh,. Muscle Pain (Myalgias) chemotherapy side effect, causes, symptom management and when to contact your healthcare provider during cancer treatment.Sarcoma muscle cancer is a type of sarcoma. In the past amputation of an arm or leg was a standard treatment for soft tissue sarcomas of the extremities.Pain in left leg, groin, hip, lower left. to other areas typically back hip and leg pain.
I was being transfered when I found a small lump in my left thigh, no pain, nothing.
High-dose vitamin D relieves joint and muscle pain for many breast cancer patients taking estrogen-lowering drugs, according to a new study from Washington University.
The Backache Sign Of Cancer Pain Where Leg Meets Hip Due To Back Pain and there are better ways to integrate core strength training exercises into every exercise you.
Chronic pain can result from cancer treatment or because the cancer has spread to other parts of the body. Pain and swelling in an arm or leg. Pain,.Muscle pain: Symptom — Overview covers definition, possible causes of this symptom.I was diagnosed with liposarcoma on the left thigh when I. rectus femorus muscle in my left thigh. in thigh muscles cause pain like ive described or.
Try the following home treatments when your leg pain is from muscle cramps, fatigue.After my first round I started getting a constant pain in my lower leg muscles.Some types of arthritis and cancer can cause back pain. a condition of widespread muscle pain and.Major muscle groups in the thigh include hamstrings, quadriceps and adductors.
Symptoms of Thigh muscle strain including 8 medical symptoms and signs of Thigh muscle strain, alternative diagnoses, misdiagnosis, and correct diagnosis for Thigh.
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It can occur at night, while lying down, or while running or exercising, depending upon the cause.
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Had I not had leg pain in addition to all the other nonspecific symptoms I was having, I would have had a much.Some patients with chronic joint and muscle pain related to their.
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For instance, did you know you could optimize the code in the left screenshot using the one on the right ?
Head over and watch the video to learn many many more such tips.
I cant wait to try that application in my incoming website project about a movie.


NOVO™ provides the digital power to get information quicker than ever before. The result is the benefit of knowing that you have the right tool to do the job.
It provides users with a method of selecting cutting tools from a tree structure either via a hierarchy or parametric search. If a customer knows exactly which product they are looking for, a Quick Search can be performed by providing either a catalogue number or product description.
The Tool Advisor feature uses a rules based approach to provide cutting tool recommendations based on machining features (e.g. shoulder, pocket, blind hole, etc.) and their requirements (e.g. geometric, material, tolerance, etc.) while considering machining sequences (e.g. single operation, rough then finish, or multistep operations).


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The GOP convention also is a homecoming
Dan Shingler
Clevelanders will have a familiar face to deal with as they prepare for the 2016 Republican National Convention, as former Ohio Republican Party executive director Chris McNulty has returned to town to help organize the event.
McNulty moved back during the week of June 15, said Jo Ann Davidson, chairwoman for the Republican Committee on Arrangements, which will control most of the party's spending on the convention.
McNulty, a Vermilion native and graduate of John Carroll University, had been working for the Republican National Committee in Washington, D.C., since 2013.
"He's going to be working with me to ensure that there's someone around that you know, who's from Ohio … that you can communicate with," Cleveland 2016 Host Committee executive Diane Downing told an audience of minority business owners, all seeking to do business with the convention, at a June 24 meeting.
McNulty will join Davidson's local staff, which she is building in Cleveland and works in the former Halle Building downtown.
"We're beginning to build the staff of Committee on Arrangements, so you're going to have some people who will be permanent residents here for the next 13 months," she said.
McNulty has a long history with Republican politics, especially in his home state. Prior to serving as political director of the Republican National Committee for a little over two years, he was the Midwest regional political director for the committee from 2007 to 2011. Before that, he served as executive director of the Ohio Republican Party from 1995 to 2007. — Dan Shingler


Flat, flush or lawn level granite grave markers are required at certain cemeteries in Southern Florida. Call our office at 305-594-4628 for information regarding the type of headstone allowed on the grave(s) you own. Single flat marker prices start at $800.00.


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Peace Station is an old railway station building in Pasila in Helsinki. Today it is a lively center for peace activism and advocacy.
The Peace Station is located conveniently near the train station, just 5 minutes from the city center and a stone's throw away from the Messukeskus Helsinki. It is easily reached by all major rail services and several bus and tram lines.
Peace Station offers a ballroom for meetings, seminars and parties up to 60 persons, and a smaller cabinet room with sauna for relaxed meetings and parties for up to 25 persons.


Old School Bus + 20 years: National Referendum Realized?
In 1976 Roger Telschow and John Forster packed up their People's Lobby literature, training, and maverick politics in an old yellow bus, crisscrossed 30 states and poured their energy into making the wooden figures in the marbled halls of Washington implement the National Initiative & Referendum. The results?
In 1977 Rick Arnold's initiative helped replace the lessons of Vietnam and three Bronze and one Silver Stars by learning how to gather signatures and run initiative campaigns. Today, more than 300 initiative campaigns later, he sees the National Initiative as the safety valve America needs to check systemic cynicism. Today, Gravel and Arnold's paths increasingly cross, as they pursue the goal of a national initiative, albeit by slightly different processes.
A three day San Diego October 1995 Campaigns and Elections Conference allowed political experts to hone the skills of the sponsoring American Initiative Committee (AIC) and Philadelphia II participants, as both organizations approach 1996 intending to make Direct Democracy available to America. What's the difference between AIC and Phily II?
For the 1996 Presidential ballot, Gravel wants a National Initiative and Referendum ballot in every registered voter's hand. When one over 50% votes for empowering Americans with those Direct Democracy tools, Philadelphia I, where Americans in 1787 drafted their new Constitution without asking permission of the states under the inept Articles of Confederation, will have an equally revolutionary and powerful brother — Philadelphia II..
Simple process, complex wording. Which do you prefer?
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Members of Marist High School's speech and acting team will compete in the National Catholic Forensic League's grand national tournament starting May 28, in Sacramento, Cali. The group had to qualify for the event through a series of tournaments.
Freshman Kristen Kolp will compete in declamation, while Ben Barry '16, Jack Golden '17, and Cate Hynes '18 will participate in dramatic performance. In extemporaneous speaking, sophomores Morgan Johnson and Liam Kelly will represent Marist. In original oratory, Kelly Collins '16 will present her work, while junior Alyssa Sorrentino '17 will compete in prose/verse reading.
The speech and acting team is one of 37 clubs and activities sponsored at Marist.


A comparative study of the self concept and WISC patterns between Puerto Rican children taught in a bilingual program and those taught in a mainstream program : an exploratory investigation.
Barcome, Robert L., "A comparative study of the self concept and WISC patterns between Puerto Rican children taught in a bilingual program and those taught in a mainstream program : an exploratory investigation." (1989). Doctoral Dissertations 1896 - February 2014. 4406.


The reviews of Microsoft's new mobile OS, Windows Mobile 6.5, are in -- and none of them are glowing. It seems that Windows Mobile 6.5 is more of a superficial cosmetic overhaul, not a bona fide upgrade capable of handling the mobile market's stiff competition.
John Herman of Gizmodo says, "Windows Mobile 6.5 isn't just a letdown -- it barely seems done." Herman continues to say things aren't much better underneath the hood, and a quick peek "reveals an OS that hasn't been fundamentally changed in years, and which bears a strong resemblance to Windows Mobile 6.1, and a startlingly not-weak resemblance to PocketPC 2002."
Staying far behind the race seems a reoccurring theme in Gizmodo's review. Herman also has strong words for Windows version of the App Store: "This isn't even a 6.5-exclusive service, and just about any app written for 6.5 will work on 6.1 and 6.0, and vice-versa."
Herman's problems with Windows Mobile 6.5 are best summed up when he says the Zune HD is a better handset and it isn't even a phone.
Dean Takahashi of VentureBeat had slightly better impressions of Windows Mobile 6.5.
He calls it "a big step up from the crappy Windows Mobile experience of the past." He discusses mostly cosmetic details, such as the finger touchscreen interface; the App Store (which inexplicably has $20 apps); and Microsoft Office productivity you cannot find on other smartphones.
Finally, damning Windows with faint praise, Takahashi ends the article gabbing about how fantastic Apple iPhone is: "But for now, the iPhone has a number of advantages over Microsoft. The upshot: you can still get a much better experience with an iPhone, which has superior multi-touch capabilities and accelerometer-based controls that work wonderfully in some apps. And there's still far more choice available on the iPhone." Yikes. Sounds like a review for a different product.
Robin Wauters of TechCrunch discusses Windows Mobile 6.5's My Phone backup feature. "You can use Microsoft My Phone to backup all your data, including your contacts, calendar, photos, and more, to a password-protected website. When you switch to a new Windows phone, or you lose (data on) your current one, you can head to the website to restore documents, contacts, music, and anything else you synced in just a few clicks." Calling the download a "no-brainer," TechCrunch appears positive in its assessment of one of Windows Mobile 6.5's features.
Matthew Miller of ZDNet flat-out calls Windows Mobile 6.5 a "disappointment." Miller gets frustrated with the new start menu, which, instead of being a drop-down bar like the start menu on a PC, has an iPhone-esque homescreen. The lack of customization makes Miller use his caps lock key: "You CANNOT place icons where you want to, you CANNOT add or remove icons, and you CANNOT create folders and manage the icons to create an efficient device. IMHO, this is so ridiculous that I see little value in this new Start menu scheme and find it to be worse than what we have on previous Windows Mobile operating systems."
Almost everything else has not changed, Miller notes, complaining that you still need a stylus, even though it's supposed to be fully touchscreen-friendly. He also writes: "The Windows Media Player and Pictures & Videos applications are still the same pathetic ones we have had since the good old Pocket PC many years ago" -- but the Internet Explorer seems to be a "nice improvement." Final words: Miller "would never recommend anyone actually purchase a new device just to get this update on their smartphone."
SlashGear gets super-specific in its review, highlighting the tiny elements of Windows Mobile 6.5 that will make you smile -- mostly on the business side of the coin. SlashGear is psyched for the release of Exchange 2010 so 6.5 can show its true colors ... but the statement makes no sense to me, since Windows Mobile 7 is due next year. Why not just wait? Still, SlashGear finds many usability tweaks that, to the savvy business customer, may speed up productivity. Overall, SlashGear's review is the most unbiased I read, therefore highly recommended to those wanting to burrow through the details without necessarily looking at the broader picture.
"Faster, more stable, and more capable it may be, but Windows Mobile 6.5 still leaves us hungry for Windows Mobile 7 simply because that OS promises the revolution Microsoft's platform so badly requires. Windows Phones do some things very well - their Exchange integration is superb, and that functionality will only get better once Exchange 2010 launches - but Microsoft faces a tough struggle promoting them as consumer devices. Enterprise users will likely find this latest version a decent mixture of the familiar and the new, but Windows Mobile 6.5 still falls short of a knock-out blow against webOS, Android, and the iPhone."
Windows Mobile 6.5 comes into the world with the world against it. I'm not sure this will be a failure the size of Windows Vista; however, it will most certainly be one of Microsoft's weaker moments in recent memory. But like Windows 7, and Windows Mobile 7, perhaps Microsoft will quickly learn from its previous mistakes and release something that consumers might, you know, actually want.


Twenty years ago on Sept. 12, 1992 Space Shuttle Endeavour carried a seven- person crew to orbit on its second space mission, STS-47.
This Spacelab mission included Mission Specialist Mae Jemison, the first African-American woman in space, Payload specialist Mamoru Mohri, the first Japanese astronaut to fly on a shuttle, and Mission Specialists Mark Lee and Jan Davis, the first married couple in space.
Commander "Hoot" Gibson, Pilot Curtis Brown and Mission Specialist Jay Apt rounded out the crew – which spent almost eight days conducting microgravity investigations in materials and life sciences.


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Craft Brewers Step Up to Help Displaced Workers
Dear Client:
Some uplifting news today amid all the dire stuff.
Even though the craft brewing industry — which overindexes toward perishable kegs, expendable "long tail" brands and largely shuttered own-premise operations — is currently in crisis mode, those who are in any sort of position to help others, are doing just that. Just a few examples (more are rolling in all the time):
NEW BELGIUM TO DONATE UP TO $100K TO HOMETOWN WORKERS
New Belgium Brewing announced yesterday that they will be donating up to $100,000 in grants to displaced and furloughed workers in their hometown locations of Asheville, NC and Fort Collins, CO.
The grants are $350 each and "will be distributed to help as many qualified applicants as possible," and are aimed at those working in a "restaurant, bar, nightclub, music hall, or stadium" in either of the hometown cities.
The company, a Certified B Corp., "will launch the fund with an initial donation of $50,000 and a commitment to match donations up to an additional $50,000," per their press release.
"This grant program ties directly into one of New Belgium's key core values, proving that business can be a force for good," Steve Fechheimer, CEO of New Belgium Brewing, said in the announcement. "We hope the program raises awareness and encourages others to donate as well. Meanwhile, our hearts are with our communities as we all weather this global crisis."
Applications will continue through midnight on April 5. How long funds will be distributed is to be announced, as funding will be "determined as the reality of this crisis continues to evolve."
MONTUCKY COLD SNACKS DOUBLES ITS NORMAL "8% OF PROFITS TO CHARITY" IN WAKE OF COVID-19
Montana-based Montucky Cold Snacks, which has an "8% back to non-profits" directive as part of their regular operating model, announced that they would double that in the wake of COVID-19.
"In light of recent events we are doubling our normal everyday 8% donation to 16% of our profits as well as donatating 100% of our swag sales both for the whole month of April! During this time, all donations will go to nonprofits that help our service industry workers and those affected by Covid-19. Stay tuned for more info to come. Thank you for all of your hard work during this difficult time," the company posted on social media.
VP sales Jeff Corteau shared that their team, which remains fully employed, "will be volunteering with these local organizations as well as other outreach groups that are affected by COVID-19."
FOUNDERS HELPS ARTISTS SIDELINED BY EVENT CLOSURES
Over in Michigan, Founders is helping support the local arts community, which has been hit hard by COVID-19. They've launched a new, online program, "#CraftedinMI," dedicated to supporting the local arts community in Michigan.
"Founders has pledged to use their social media platforms to help promote artists that are deeply affected by Covid-19 in Michigan, including makers, musicians, culinary artists, small business owners and more. Throughout the stay-at-home order, the team will be sharing some of their favorite Michigan-based craftspeople with the goal of bringing awareness to their talent and driving support during this time of need."
The plight of artists in the wake of COVID-19 is obvious. Founders shared the story of Dayna Walton, owner of Solstice Handmade: "Last week was tough and it's so hard to sit back and watch everything I had been looking forward to financially and otherwise cancel, postpone, or disappear," she said. But "with the help directing eyes to my artwork and online shop, I was able to recoup income lost from workshop cancelations in March and continue to move forward with projects that employ other local makers in collaboration!"
BOSTON HAS ALWAYS SPLIT THE COST OF OUT-OF-CODE KEGS — AND PACKAGE RETURNS
After Molson Coors announced to distributors it would eat half the cost of untapped kegs, Boston chief sales officer John Geist sent some "guidance for out of code beer" to its distributors.
"With the shutdown of many restaurants and bars, we have received questions about how we are handling products that can no longer be sold as a result of expired codes," he said. "We will continue our standard policies for returns of out of code beer. This includes honoring our 50% policy for full keg and package returns that we have had in place for years. We believe that this policy of splitting the cost with Wholesalers is a fair way to conduct business."
John said that local Boston sales managers will virtually approve out of code beer. "Now, more than ever, we continue to show good faith by taking back kegs after they expire."
KEEPING ANNUAL SPENDING LEVELS AGAINST BRANDS. Notably, he also stressed that they plan to continue spending against their brands as planned, though they will "evaluate and adjust" their business as needed.
"We are remaining committed to keeping our annual spending levels against all brands and will continue with our market recoveries," John said. "As we return to a more normal pace of business, it will be vital to have these levels in place for a more impactful outcome."
That's a lot of money: The company announced in recent earnings that it is set to spend around $445 million on ad, promo and selling expenses in 2020, an increase of $80-$90 million over last year.
BOSTON BEER RAISES ALMOST $500,000 FOR RESTAURANT STRONG FUND
Speaking of Boston Beer; last week we reported that the company had donated $100,000 to the Restaurant Strong Fund. We didn't realize they'd helped to create the organization.
Last Wednesday, the 18th, Boston Beer joined up with the Greg Hill Foundation to create the Restaurant Strong Fund, which hopes to "provide as many $1,000 grants to qualified applicants as possible," the company announced.
Sam Adams "kickstarted the fund with $100,000 and matched another $100,000 in donations the first two days." These donations, alongside almost 2,000 individual donations to the fund, have brought the total funds to near $500,000.
The Restaurant Strong Fund has already received over 7,000 applicants and has sent out over 350 checks to individuals in need in Massachusetts.
More news to come from Boston Beer, as they say they plan to expand the Fund to more markets next week.
SCHLAFLY WILL GIVE PROCEEDS OF NEW LOW-ABV HAZY IPA TO HOSPITALITY WORKER RELIEF FUND
Schlafly Beer of St. Louis, MO is releasing a new brew to benefit the Gateway Resilience Fund, a recent project of the St. Louis Community Foundation to provide temporary cash relief to workers in the hospitality industry.
The beer, 4% ABV hazy IPA, Side Work, was named as "a nod to all of the extra work that people in the restaurant and hospitality industry do behind the scenes." It will be $8.99 for a 4-pack, with proceeds going to the Gateway Resilience Fund.
Side Work will be available for curbside pick-up and carryout at Schlafly's Taproom and Bottleworks locations beginning early April.
"There's so much more that goes into your hospitality experience, outside of serving food and pouring drinks," Fran Caradonna, CEO of Schlafly Beer, said. "Every experience comes from a team of people that hold each other up to make sure that you are having the best time possible at their establishment."
The beer was originally brewed to celebrate Schlafly's lead brewer, Jared Williamson's, upcoming April nuptials– a tradition amongst long-time employees. When the celebrations had to be postponed due to COVID-19, he found a silver lining.
". . . We wanted to use the beer for something good. We wanted it to go back to our industry, as both my fiance and I have spent numerous years either behind a bar serving patrons or in the brewery producing the beers," said Jared. "While it was a bummer to postpone our little celebration, there are much greater issues we are all currently facing, and we will need to help each other as much as we can."
HOUSEKEEPING ITEMS: We are in the process of fixing and updating our Apple and Android SchuPub app. We know our app has been plagued with bugs for a long time. (If you've ever dealt with software developers, you know the special level of hell you endure).
So we made the painful and expensive decision to throw out all the old code and just start from scratch. Our new app will be free of bugs as well as having cool new features, including the ability to read our publications on iPads and tablets both vertically and horizontally. The coolest feature in my view: Every time we publish, you'll hear a beer can opening (if you enable alerts, which you should).
But hold your horses, it's not ready yet. We'll let you know when we go live. In the meantime, please delete our current app if you have it because it sucks and you will need to completely re-upload it once we go live with the new and improved version. Stay tuned…
ON ANOTHER NOTE: In light of these crazy times, we are extending the temporary suspension of our copyright and leaving our website paywalls open for another month, through April 30.
Be safe out there, and have a good weekend.
Until Monday,
Jenn, Jordan, and Harry
"Silent gratitude isn't very much use to anyone."
– Gertrude Stein
———- Sell Day Calendar ———-
Today's Sell Day: 20
Sell days this month: 22
Sell days this month last year: 21
This month ends on a: Tues.
This month last year ended on a: Fri.
YTD sell days Over/Under: +1