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Episode — № 71
Baltimore and the Royal Family with Philip Baty
The British Royal Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle is just around the corner. It's a historic moment, and the buzz around it has even crossed the pond and reached PreserveCast. The excitement has also provided us the perfect reason to talk to a true Baltimore Original, Philip Baty. Philip has spent years curating a private collection of items all related to Baltimore's own member of the royal family, Wallis Simpson the Duchess of Windsor. We got to Philip just in time as the one-of-a-kind collection is being put to auction in conjunction with the marriage of Prince Harry and Meghan. Philip's passion for the Duchess is also one-of-a-kind on this special Royal Wedding edition of PreserveCast.
Philip Baty
Tags: architecture, community, education, history, museums
Read Transcript ▼
[Nick Redding] The British Royal Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle is just around the corner. It's a historic moment, and the buzz around it has even crossed the pond and reached PreserveCast. The excitement has also provided us with the perfect reason to talk to a true Baltimore original, Philip Baty. Philip has spent years curating a private collection of items, all related to Baltimore's own member of the Royal Family, the Duchess of Windsor. We got to Philip just in time, as the one-of-a-kind collection is being put to auction in conjunction with the marriage of Harry and Meghan. Philip's passion for the Duchess is also one-of-a-kind on this special Royal Wedding edition of PreserveCast.
From Preservation Maryland Studios in the historic podcast district of Baltimore, this is PreserveCast!
[Nick Redding] This is Nick Redding. You're listening to PreserveCast. Today, we are joined in studio by Philip Baty. For almost 20 years, Philip has been collecting and curating pieces to create the Adele Corner House Duchess of Windsor Museum. A self-described "defender of the Duchess," Philip's private collection consists of more than 700 art pieces, among other items. The collection has been open for tours through Doors Open Baltimore during the last three years, when guests were able to see most of the collection. Philip and his partner do not run the museum professionally, although he has appeared in feature films, TV series, and Duchess documentaries throughout the years. It is so exciting to have you here in-studio with us today to talk about this very unique piece of Baltimore and, really, international history. Thanks for joining today, I should say.
[Philip Baty] Thanks a lot. I'm glad to be here.
[NR] So why don't you tell us a little bit about yourself? We always like to get to know the people that we interview and how they get either into the line of work that they're involved in or the type of collecting that they do or the kind of history that inspires them. Where does your love for – it sounds like you have a lot of different loves and a lot of different collections and passions, but with the Duchess, and maybe we can talk about the connection to the Duchess, but where does that love come from?
[PB] The Duchess lived on Biddle Street as a young woman. They only lived in Mount Vernon six different places and I've conducted a little guided tour just to show people where she actually did live, when, and why. There was a reason that she was scattered around so many places. But the Biddle Street house is the only house that she and her mother owned for about seven and a half years. Since the house is on Biddle Street… When we bought the house, it was important for us to help raise money for critters, the shelters, the HIV non-profits, and education non-profits. So we opened up the house as banquet space for their silent auctions that had the area for silent auctions and sell all kind of things. But all we had to do was just open the door for someone who… You know, eight people was a squeeze in their condo or apartment, and they could have 100 people for a reception party, whatnot, in the house. It sold every time and raised money for the charities. It was very easy to do.
[NR] Before we get too far, I guess you should give us – it seems like you'd be the person to ask about this – perhaps not everyone's familiar with who we're talking about. Can you give us a little history about the Duchess of Windsor? Who was Wallis Simpson? What was her story? And then we can kind of talk about the house and how the collection developed. But who was she? So if you met somebody off the street who had no idea who this person is, who was she, what was her role, and what's her story?
[PB] She was a socialite from Baltimore. In 1936 King Edward VIII, Queen Elizabeth's uncle, abdicated the throne of England to marry this woman in 1937.
[NR] And she was from Baltimore and he had to abdicate the throne because she was an American?
[PB] No, because she was once-divorced. She would have to go through a second divorce to marry him and the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Parliament and the Prime Minister would not allow him to marry a twice-divorced women since Edward VIII would be head of the Church of England.
[NR] Right, and you can't have that.
[PB] They wouldn't allow it.
[NR] So once the Duke and Duchess are married, where do they move to? Do they come back to Baltimore ever? Did they ever come back to the Mt. Vernon area?
[PB] They lived in Biarritz. They lived on the coast of France. Then, of course, they were in the Bahamas. The Duchess hated it because there was no air conditioning. There was no social life whatsoever. If you're going to get quaffed and pretty to what? People selling fruit at the market? No, she hated it.
But after the war, of course, they went back to France and they rented a chateau in [a town] west of Paris. They went to Baltimore several times. One crowd was estimated at 200,000 people to welcome them. They traveled to the United States quite a bit. They always stayed in New York, stayed at the Waldorf Astoria, the 28th floor. The suite was always reserved for them. Some people think they're high maintenance. The Duke hated flying so they took the train to Mar-a-Lago, Marjorie Merriweather Post's mansion, which is now, well, we won't talk about what it is now… But they took the train. It took four freight cars for the luggage plus an entourage to pick up the dog poo and mop up the dog pee from the five pugs that they constantly carried with them.
[NR] So she was a pug lover?
[PB] Oh yeah, they loved the dogs. They always had at least five dogs.
[NR] So you buy the house what year?
[PB] We moved in twenty-one years ago.
[NR] Okay, and when you got there, there was no Duchess collection there, was there?
[PB] There was nothing.
[NR] Did you have to do a lot of the work to the house itself? Maybe describe the house. What's the house like?
[PB] Yes, the house is a second empire house. It has arched windows of stained glass, demi-lune staircase. It's very, very architecturally interesting inside. It was built in 1885.
[NR] And when you took it over, what kind of shape was it in?
[PB] It was a mess. It had been a foreclosure for almost three years and nobody would touch it. Nobody would buy it because it needed work everywhere. It needed plenty of work, electrical, plumbing, roof. It was just a disaster. Well, it didn't scare me. I've done other houses before.
[NR] So you pick up the house. You start doing this work. It becomes, as you've said before, a place for non-profits that matter to you to be able to raise money and you've hosted events there and things like that. But what was the inspiration for doing this museum to the Duchess and how did the collecting start?
[PB] Well, anybody can just open up a house with an art collection and antiques. Granted it's interesting. But this was an effort to make the house more interesting, enhance the house, give it a real destination because she lived on the street.
[NR] So what was the first piece? What kind of pieces make up the collection? What do you have that's connected to the Duchess herself?
[PB] The collection consists of tons of ephemera, French magazines, tabloids of the time. They make her out like she's some film star. Other magazines… they were photographed incessantly. There are just plenty of newspaper clippings. There are scrapbooks of this paper clippings, replica jewelry, exact replicas of what the Duchess owned and other coronation souvenirs, tidbits. Just all kinds of different things. The collection is more than 200 pieces.
[NR] So what kind of – I mean, obviously, you have different people through the house at different times. What kind of response do you get? Do you get a lot of people from Great Britain who want to see this? Is it sort of an international attraction to this story?
[PB] We have had plenty of people from overseas, all over the nation. People really enjoy it. The collection is to actually emphasize the Duke and Duchess' impact on the fashion industry. They were absolute fashion icons. I think that if Princess Diana had lived longer, she may have surpassed the Duchess as the fashion icon of the twentieth century.
[NR] But you think the Duchess truly was the fashion icon of the –
[PB] Certainly, it is said that her personal jewelry rivaled what Queen Elizabeth personally owned.
[NR] And you ever had any members of the Simpson family come through?
[PB] No.
[NR] Really?
[PB] The Warfield family.
[NR] The Warfields have come through?
[PB] Yes, in fact, we opened in May exactly thirteen years ago; and Edwin Warfield and his family came to the reception. I discussed it with him that we would be holding a Duchess of Windsor birthday party every June and it would be a benefit for the shelters for the critters, and he immediately gave his blessing.
[NR] Any relations to the family back since?
[PB] Sure.
[NR] Yeah, and I guess they love what it's become and the story that it tells?
[PB] They love it. They're thrilled that someone is preserving the memory of the Duchess in Baltimore.
[NR] Right. Well, why don't we take a quick break right here? We've talked a little bit about sort of the history of this place and how you came to be the caretaker and curator of this site. And maybe we can kind of branch out beyond just the Duchess and talk about why you think British Royalty have come to fascinate the American consciousness in the way that they have particularly as of late and we will do that right here on PreserveCast.
Maryland: Mini-America
[Stephen Israel] Wallis Windsor, the Duchess, is one of the most fascinating figures in Maryland and British history in the twentieth century. All this talk about the Duchess and I couldn't help thinking about other famous folks from Britain around this time. And of course, the name Churchill comes to mind. But why stop there? If I can bring it back to Maryland, the Churchill Theatre in rural Queen Anne's County, Maryland, is the site of some fantastic preservation work. And is soon going to be recognized at this year's Best of Maryland Preservation Awards.
The vernacular Art Deco architecture of the Churchill Theatre is a rare sight; and the care that the local theater company who call it home show for the building may be even rarer. The Churchill Theatre has been providing a home for the performing arts in the town of Churchill since 1929. The theater hosted live performances and town meetings until being converted into a movie theater in 1935. And later, a 1944 fire gave the owners an opportunity to update the appearance of the building, giving the theater its current vernacular Art Deco appearance. When the movie theater closed in the early 1980s, a group of concerned citizens stepped in to save the building and turned into a community theater, which it remains to this day.
In more recent years, the stucco exterior, which dates back to the 1944 fire, began to crack presenting a threat to the underlying materials and also to the interior of the building if water begins to penetrate the stucco. Preservation Maryland received a grant application from the theater and made an award of $10,000 in April 2017 to make much-needed stucco repairs. Much of the work was completed by Zierfuss Painting and Restoration. Getting the exterior secured is an important first step for the organization as they continue to plan for the preservation of this community institution. I don't want to get you too "stuck-o" on this topic, but you can congratulate the theater at the Best of Maryland Preservation Awards event this Thursday, May 17th, 2018 at the Star-Spangled Banner Flag House in Baltimore City. Celebrate with us, and explore the Flag House with people that love Maryland and historic buildings as much as you do. Anyway, I should let you get back to Philip and Nick on PreserveCast.
[NR] This is Nick Redding, you're listening to PreserveCast. We're joined in studio today by Philip Baty who has been collecting and curating pieces at the Adele Corner House, where he oversees the Duchess of Windsor Museum. He's a defender of the Duchess, and we've been talking about all things historic preservation with respect to this house, how he took it over, how he's used this house to help issues and causes that are of concern to him, and how he has continued to tell the story of Baltimore's Duchess. In your bio, you talk about being the self-described defender of the Duchess. What does that mean?
[PB] It means that so many people want to call her a gold digger or a floozy. Those rumors and stories came from the archbishop of Canterbury and probably some members of the Royal Family just to discredit her so that Edward VIII would not marry her. But if you realize the essence of Wallace, she was Old South propriety. Very Victorian. In a nutshell, you live your life so that people say something nice about you. She was very charming. She was a very nice person. Ask some of the authors like Anne Sebba or Hugo Vickers. They will tell you that every town in England should have a monument to Wallis Warfield-Windsor because he would have made a terrible king [laughter]. He was arrogant. He was uninformed. If you've seen him in interviews, you'd realize he didn't know what he was talking about half the time.
[NR] And an interesting relationship with the Nazis, as well, right?
[PB] You know, people see the photo of the Duke and Duchess with Hitler. They don't take in consideration the timeline. That's very important. Edward VIII had relatives in Germany.
[NR] Sure.
[PB] The Kaiser Wilhem was Queen Victoria's oldest grandchild. They only went there because he had no job, his brother is king, George VI would not give him a job. And he went to see a housing project. But if you look at the timeline – 1937 – there wasn't any aggression for two more years. There was nothing. And it was so hushed in Germany about the persecution of the Jews from 1934 onward.
[NR] Right.
[PB] There wasn't such thing as the death camps until 1941. The Final Solution, what they called. Yeah, I'm a defender of her because so many people think the worst of her. And just to set the story straight, if you're calling her Wallis Simpson, I hope you're referring to her when she was married to Ernest Simpson. Because she was the Duchess of Windsor for more than 49 years. So it's inappropriate to call her a Simpson by a formerly-married name. It's just insulting. No woman wants to be called by a former married name. It's just rude!
[NR] And so you always refer to her as –
[PB] The Duchess of Windsor.
[NR] The Duchess of Windsor.
[PB] That's how she died.
[NR] And how is she remembered overseas? I mean, how do people of England, Great Britain remember her? Do you think that she remains discredited because of that story that you talked about there?
[PB] It's possible. You know, she was accused of dating some used car salesman and being a gold digger. Every woman wanted to marry well at that time. If you didn't marry well and you were of society, well, what are you going to do? Become the charwoman? Nobody wants to marry badly. Women were expected to marry well. And you want to call that gold digging? I don't think so. But some of these publications now… You know, you can't libel the dead [laughter]. If there's a book out that claims that prostitute was sent to the suite of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor when they were in Los Angeles. If you knew anything about her, she was more concerned about her hair, her makeup, her clothes, her jewelry, her shoes, and the appearance of the Duke of Windsor as a former king to the world. You know, you just don't do that. They were in the public eye so much. But people want to think the worst of some folks.
[NR] We've talked a lot in specific about the Duchess of Windsor, Wallis Simpson, and sort of the story and how that played out. I think that that really captured the consciousness of Americans of that time. But it sort of seems like we're going through another rebirth of interest in the British Royals, and we've got a Royal Wedding coming up and all of these sorts of things. What is it about British Royalty that captures the American consciousness in such a way that perhaps other royalty doesn't? What is it? What do you think makes that such a big deal?
[PB] Well, they're certainly people you wouldn't see out on the street every day.
[NR] Right [laughter].
[PB] They're always impeccably dressed, impeccable manners. Well, except for Prince Harry.
[PB] I certainly hope that charming and lovely Meghan Markle will tame that boy [laughter]. He's a naughty child .
[NR] [laughter] But do you think that – isn't it odd though that Americans would be so in love with this country that they broke away from? I mean, is it just, you think, that they're… The impeccable dress or the air of that they're different than us? You think that that's what attracts us to them?
[PB] I guess everybody has a different reason for being enamored with the Royals. I guess, I don't know, that maybe the pomp and circumstance. They make such a production of a marriage. Anything that happens is – even a funeral is a big to-do.
[NR] And have you gone over to see any of the collections in Europe?
[PB] Mhm, sure.
[NR] And are you recognized as "the defender of the Duchess?" Do people –
[PB] They wouldn't know me if I jumped on them and bit them on the neck [laughter].
[NR] So what's happening with the collection? If people want to learn more about the Duchess, they want to come see the collection. Are there opportunities to see it from time to time?
[PB] Not anymore. We gave thirteen years of opportunities to see it. Since it is a private collection we never kept public hours.
[PB] But we gave plenty of opportunities for people to come through, especially through Doors Open [Baltimore]. Every year the crowd got bigger and bigger. And the attendance was competing with institutions like the Walters, and the Peabody, and the Baltimore Museum of Art.
[NR] Yeah. Because it's quite the fantastic collection and it's not just the Duchess as well. You have other collecting interests, I suppose, that people would see?
[PB] I suppose that the big thing we have is the art collection. It's comprised of more than 700 pieces and spans six centuries.
[NR] Pretty significant. And you said it's no longer open. It's not going to be open long-term. And you were sharing with us before we started the interview that you might be moving on at some point. What would happen to this collection?
[PB] It's going to become someone else's toy. We gave two months of auction previews and they're just no more. Tomorrow, on the 9th, the collection goes on eBay for a ten-day sale and ends the day of the Royal Wedding.
[NR] Okay. So you're timing it with the Royal Wedding. So if people want a piece of this collection, they don't just have to listen to it. They could actually buy some of it.
[PB] Well, they have to buy the entire thing.
[NR] Oh, it's all one lot?
[PB] It's going is one lot.
[NR] Is there a reserve?
[PB] Well, there's opening bid.
[NR] What's the opening bid?
[PB] The opening bid is going to be $7,000.
[NR] Okay.
[PB] The value of the collection is somewhere between $14,000 and $15,000.
[NR] Okay. So if people are interested in that, I guess they can look up the Duchess Lot on eBay, which will be up pretty soon. And then going into the Royal Wedding. Any thoughts on the upcoming Royal Wedding? Will you watch it? Is there going to be a viewing party at the house?
[PB] Oh sure. No. No parties. The house is going to get dismantled with the collections inside and sold at other auctions, local auctions. Is moving to a warmer climate. You can't take 4,000 square feet, sixteen rooms of art and antiques, definitely downsizing.
[NR] Right. Any bittersweet feelings about leaving the collection?
[PB] No. It's just stuff. When you're dead you can't take it with you.
[NR] So what do you think people get wrong about the Duchess?
The Duchess' Connection with Nazi Germany
[PB] It still goes with that Nazis… People accusing them being Nazi sympathizers and Nazi spies. That was so ridiculous. In these recent publications, it's nothing more than speculation. Granted, you can't chronicle every moment of someone's life. For instance, there was a documentary called Britain's Nazi King? with a question mark. It really slammed them and pointed out the FBI files on the Duke and Duchess. J. Edgar Hoover had files on everybody. Absolutely everyone. I have a copy of the files. There's only a couple of things in there. And this documentary claims that the letters sent to J. Edgar Hoover accused them of being Nazi spies. Oh my!
Well, what you don't hear is that there were only four letters. Two of them had return addresses, and the content was just ridiculous accusing them of being spies. And the other two letters, what you don't hear is that they were hand-written. There were no return address. The handwriting was someone who was completely neurotic with bad grammar, misspelled words and the content was just madness. So the two letters that had return addresses, J. Edgar Hoover's reply was simply, "Thank you for your letter." There was no follow-up, nothing. There wasn't anything there. The only other thing in the FBI files was an escorted tour of Quantico during the war when the Duke of Windsor was governor general of the Bahamas. He was there just to get advice on how to protect the Bahamas in the event of Nazi invasion. That's it. I mean, some people want to make a great, big lied production out of something that was just so simple.
[NR] You have this passion for her. Did it predate moving into the neighborhood and – ?
[PB] No. I had to get an education as well.
[NR] Really? So it wasn't that you grew up sort of interested in the – were you interested in the Royals
in general? Or just sort of –
[PB] A bit.
[NR] – came to you because of the connection, because of the proximity to her home.
[PB] Right. I'm no cultist. I don't have candles under her portrait doing "woo, wah, ahhs." I've got better things to do. It's just a collection. It's only stuff. And with the auction, it'll be gone, and I'll move on.
[NR] So we ask everyone before we sign off here on PreserveCast about their favorite historic building or place. And so we would love to hear from you before we sign off. What would would that be?
[PB] Without question, the Washington Monument and the parks that surround it. I've spent so much time there every year with Flower Mart and it's just beautiful around there. And you know, the city, the state, they won't allow developers to come in and tear it down like they allow them to tear everything else down. Anybody walks in with money, they'll let anybody tear anything down. They just don't care. But the parks, the monument are so beautiful. I spend a lot of time there. And I'll plug the Flower Mart. Everybody should go to Flower Mart.
[NR] Yeah. Tell us what Flower Mart is. So for people who are listening who are from outside of the state, what is Flower Mart? How long has it been going? What's been your involvement in that?
[PB] Flower Mart originated in 1911. And it's a flower festival surrounding the Washington Monument, the first monument of Washington in Baltimore in the historic – premier historic – area. It's been held consecutively since 1917. I mean even during World War I.
[NR] And II for that matter.
[PB] And World War II, it was run by the Women's Civic League. And in 1999, a non-profit group took it over from the Women's Civic League after 82 years, and that was the average age of the Women's Civic League [laughter]. Bless their hearts. I love those ladies. But then they just couldn't manage Flower Mart anymore.
[NR] So you manage it?
[PB] I'm am only committee chair for the dog show. Even though I've held a lot of hats down there, worn a lot of hats helping do this. And its an institution that really needs new blood and needs to be attended because it's important. It's fun. There's lot to do. There's very interesting things for everyone even for children. That the dog show is the biggest standing audience of any event down at Flower Mart.
[NR] And what kind of dogs are being shown at this? Has that been a part of it since the beginning as well?
[PB] No. It was invented. But it was fashioned after big dog shows, with agility events and we simplified it. Because people don't want to stand on those cobblestones all day long or the dogs get antsy. So we simplified it into a simple little neighborhood destined show. We only had twenty contestants. But everybody got a gift bag. Sponsors are restaurants, and Pet Valu on Charles Street, a lot of places donate cash so we can buy things, toys and other treats for the [dogs]. Everything in these bags. The bags are wonderful. Even if they don't win, they get a great gift bag full of squeak toys. Even elderly dogs will turn their head to a squeak.
[NR] So this isn't your prototypical dog show? This is the community dog show, in a sense?
[PB] There's first, second, third place. And the fourth place is congeniality like it's some quirky little beauty pageant.
[NR] [laughter] So obviously, you have a passion there for the show as well for the Flower [Mart].
[PB] The only tradition in Baltimore that's older than Flower Mart is the Preakness horse race.
[NR] Yeah, which kind of puts it in context. So I guess the Duchess, kind of pulling it full circle, do we know? Did she go to a Flower Mart?
[PB] I bet she did. She walked all over. She had walked down St.Paul Street to go to her school… Well, before she was boarding at Old Fields.
[NR] Full circle and a good way to wrap this up. Well, this is been fantastic and really illuminating and interesting to talk to someone who has so much passion about a piece of Baltimore history and beyond. And I appreciate all the good work that you've done in preserving and protecting that place. And I wish you all the best in the future. Thanks so much for joining us.
[PB] Thanks, I was glad to be here.
You don't need to open a history book to find us. PreserveCast is available online from iTunes, the Google Play Store, and wherever else you download your podcasts, as well as on our website PreserveCast.org, where you can find a complete archive of all our previous episodes plus photo galleries and additional content. We're also on Facebook and Twitter at PreserveCast.
This podcast was developed under a grant from the National Center for Preservation Technology and Training, a unit of the National Park Service, and in partnership with the Anacostia Trails Heritage Area. Its contents are the sole responsibility of Preservation Maryland and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the National Park Service or the National Center for Preservation Technology and Training.
Our website is made possible by the Historic Preservation Education Foundation. This week's episode was produced and engineered by me, Stephen Israel. Our executive producer is Aaron Marcavitch. Our theme music is performed by the band, Pretty Gritty. And most importantly, thank you for listening and preserving!
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HOLLYWOOD — There's nothing like an author being sold on his subject.
During a recent trip to Hollywood or conferences with director Arthur Libin on "Rhubarb," his best-selling novel about a cat but please ownership of a Brooklyn baseball club. Famed writer H. Allen Smith gathered with material for a magazine story on Pioneertown, resort development near Palm Springs.
After writing his story and reading of the proofs, Smith was so impressed that he bought several acres at the resort–site on scene–and plans to build a home there at a future date.


Meet the Bank: a wallet case for your iPhone 6s that can hold up to 8 credit cards. It is not too bulky and offers magnetic strip protection for credit cards. The Bank also serves as a horizontal stand to watch videos on your phone. The retractable tray can be used to hold cash in addition to cards.
The Bank case not only holds your credit cards, it also protects your phone. It has a lip around the screen to offer an additional layer of protection against drops. Costs under $50 at this time.


text:
PS Solent was a passenger vessel built for the Solent Steam Packet Company in 1863.

History

She was built by George Inman of Lymington and launched on 1 May 1863.   She went to Southampton in June 1863 for the fitting of her engines by J. Hodgkinson.  She undertook her trial trip on 29 October 1863 from Lymington to Stokes Bay.

She was acquired by the London and South Western Railway in 1884.

She was disposed of around 1901.

References

1863 ships
Steamships of the United Kingdom
Paddle steamers of the United Kingdom
Ships of the London and South Western Railway

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Royal Tokaji Late Harvest 2014 will be served in Royal Ascot's fine-dining establishments in June. This summer sees an impressive gathering of leading UK gastronomic professionals deliver the Fine Dining programme at Royal Ascot.
The mouth-watering menus and wine pairings were created by celebrated Michelin-starred chefs Raymond Blanc of Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons and Phil Howard of Elystan Street, together with Royal Ascot executive chef Gemma Amor and Ben Slomka of Catering Events Manager of Bibendum Wines, Royal Tokaji's UK distributor.
Royal Ascot executive chef Gemma Amor executed the dessert. Two impeccable plates both invoking flavours of black forest gâteau. Black Forest, a somewhat "Deconstructed black forest" displays meticulous detail with its array of individual ingredients, encompassing 85% Valrhona chocolate, cherries and kirsch. The alternative caters for one of the smaller fine-dining kitchen spaces, where the same level of garnish detail is not achievable but it has not fallen short on decadence. "Ascot chocolate bar" will be served with a sharp cherry sorbet.
Royal Tokaji Late Harvest 2014 was fermented from a partial bunch selection of Furmint, Hárslevelú and Yellow Muscat, the three main Tokaji grape varieties with a mixture of ripe, overripe and some Botrytised berries. It has a delicate aroma of ripe apples and pears, elegant, spicy and delightfully fresh. Lightly sweet with clean refreshing acidity, hints of tropical fruit and a long, lingering finish. Serve at 12˚c - 13˚c.
The Royal Tokaji collection of award winning wines includes: Dry Tokaji, Single Vineyard Dry Tokaji's, Late Harvest, Blue Label 5 puttonyos Aszú, Gold Label 6 puttonyos Aszú, Single Vineyard 6 puttonyos Aszú wines 2008 and Essencia 2008.


Did you know that there are 50 days in the Easter season? Not one, but 50! That's even more days than there are in lent! The Easter season begins with Easter Sunday, and ends with Pentecost. In order to help my kids and I remember that the Easter season is an ongoing thing, I made this religious Easter countdown calendar which starts on Easter Sunday, and ends on Pentecost Sunday.
The best part about this Easter countdown calendar is that it's printable, and free for all of you!
Make sure you allow the image to download completely before printing, otherwise it may result in a half printing job. I'm sorry, but I cannot troubleshoot your printer problems with you- thank you for understanding. If you're having trouble printing, try downloading them first rather than printing straight from the doc.
This Easter calendar doesn't include calendar dates, so it's good for every year! Some days I included when drawing this calendar are Divine Mercy Sunday (which Pope John Paul II instituted as the second Sunday of Easter), all 8 Sundays of Easter, Ascension Thursday, and Pentecost. This is a great tool for teaching your kids about the liturgical year, so I hope you find a use for it!
I'm going to have my kids mark off each day with a sticker. (I think I have a bunch of small Easter stickers left over from an egg dying kit around here somewhere). Other options would be coloring one square each day, or marking them off with "x's". You could also laminate the calendar with contact paper, or put it in a Dollar Store frame and then mark off the days with a dry erase marker. I also though about decoupaging it to a cookie sheet, and moving a magnet one square each day. It's totally up to you.
Just for fun, I'm also offering the Easter calendar in color, and it's also free!
If you'd like to print the colored Easter calendar for free, but are not yet a subscriber, no problem! Subscribe here, or by entering your email address into the box below. After entering your email address, an email will be rushed to your inbox for you to verify your subscription. Please click the link in it. After that, you will receive an email after the next blog post is published with access to the Subscriber bonus page!
If you're looking for a countdown calendar that ends on Easter, you need to check out my printable Lenten calendar.
If you're looking for more ideas on how to celebrate all 50 days of Easter, check out this post.
Do you prefer to just buy the colored version of the Easter calendar instead?
You can purchase it right now for just $1.00. There will be an immediately download pop-up, as well as an email with a link to download that will arrive just a bit after your purchase.
Gorgeous! Thank you so much for this. My daughter has loved your Lenten calendar so I know she will be thrilled.
Thank you for this Lacy. The children will love it! We already use your Lenten calendar, so this will be a great addition!
This is great and I love that you can use it every year. Thanks so much, I'll be linking.
Lacy, this is fantastic! My kiddos are enjoying the lenten calander so much and they will be thrilled with this one as well. Thanks!
Thank you for this calendar! I cut out a small white cross and put poster tack on the back so my 4 year old can move the cross each day. This is great for all of our children to follow the Easter season, too!
I really enjoy your site. I am always looking forward to seeing your new ideas. I would like to thank you for sharing so much for free!


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Q: Unable to compile with gsl on Mac I am trying to implement gsl_rng.h on a Montecarlo simulation on my MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2012). The simulation is all written in C. My problem is that gcc-6 complains it cannot find the gsl library despite the compilation flags which I think are fine.
The top of declare.h, which is included in all .c files I am working on:
/* __________________ LIBRARIES ___________________*/
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <math.h>
#include <time.h>
#include <gsl/gsl_rng.h>

The error:
fatal error: gsl/gsl_rng.h: No such file or directory

The compilation flags included in my makefile:
INCLUDE = -I/usr/local/Cellar/gsl/2.4/include
LINK = -L/usr/local/Cellar/gsl/2.4/lib -lgsl -lgslcblas

I installed both gcc-6 and gsl via Homebrew.
How can I make gcc-6 find gsl? Are my flags wrong?
The makefile:
CC = g++-6

CFLAGS = -lm -O3 -ansi -pedantic -Wall -Wextra\
        -Wconversion -Wredundant-decls -fmax-errors=7\
        -Wunsafe-loop-optimizations -Wmissing-braces\
        -Wparentheses
        # -Wdouble-promotion

INCLUDE = -I/usr/local/Cellar/gsl/2.4/include

LINK = -L/usr/local/Cellar/gsl/2.4/lib -lgsl -lgslcblas

../bin/bidimensional_MC: random.o functions.o subroutines.o\
             main.o
$(CC) -o ../bin/bidimensional_MC random.o functions.o\
      subroutines.o main.o  $(CFLAGS) $(LINK) $(INLCUDE)

random.o: random.c
    $(CC) -c random.c -lm -O3  $(CFLAGS) $(INCLUDE)

functions.o: functions.c
    $(CC) -c functions.c  $(CFLAGS) $(INCLUDE)

main.o: main.c
    $(CC) -c main.c  $(CFLAGS) $(INCLUDE)

suboutines.o: subroutines.c
    $(CC) -c subroutines.c  $(CFLAGS) $(INCLUDE)

clean:
    rm *.o

The output of ls /usr/local/Cellar/gsl/2.4/include/gsl/ is:
/usr/local/Cellar/gsl/2.4/include/gsl/gsl_rng.h

The output of ls /usr/local/Cellar/gsl/2.4/include/ is:
gsl/

The output of ls /usr/local/Cellar/gsl/2.4/include/gsl/ is too long to post, but everything is there, as it should.
EXTRA INFORMATION:
I am using g++-6 instead of gcc-6 because the cluster in which I'm going to finally execute the simulation requires code to be C++ compliant.

A: In the makefile, you have (or, more precisely, at one time claimed to have):
random.o: random.c
    $(CC) -c random.c -lm -O3  $(CFLAGS)

You shouldn't specify the library when compiling the object file.  Your CFLAGS do not include the ${INCLUDE} (or $(INCLUDE)) macro.  You need something like:
random.o: random.c
    $(CC) -c random.c -O3 $(CFLAGS) $(INCLUDE)

This is a minimal change; I'd add $(INCLUDE) to CFLAGS (and remove the -lm again — you don't even need that on a Mac though it does no specific harm).  I'd also add -Werror -Wmissing-prototypes -Wstrict-prototypes, and using -ansi (aka -std=c90) isn't sensible — it is an archaic standard.  You should be using -std=c11.
CFLAGS = -O3 -g -std=c11 -pedantic -Wall -Wextra \
        -Wconversion -Wredundant-decls -fmax-errors=7 \
        -Wunsafe-loop-optimizations -Wmissing-braces \
        -Wparentheses $(INCLUDE) \
        -Werror -Wmissing-prototypes -Wstrict-prototypes

Also, I added -g to get debugging code.  Always include -g, even with optimization.  It doesn't have a run-time cost; it does have a benefit if you need to debug the code.  Granted, it isn't as easy to debug optimized code, but you can do more than if you don't have -g.  Include it in both the 'compilation to object' and the 'linking' phases.
(And, in point of detail, I'd have a bunch of separate macros so that each flag can be turned on or off independently, rather than having to rewrite the whole of CFLAGS.  However, that can await another day.)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Good parenting abilities assist youngsters become balanced, successful and productive adults. Additionally, parents may attend parenting sessions within an effort to master new strategies their youngsters through the strains of breakup. Their understanding was obtained by some parenting instructors through qualified experience and college classes, although some might have mastered their abilities through handson scenarios, for example foster nurturing, giving or training therapeutic respite.
Parenting lessons are a great approach to satisfy with additional parents that are in the same walk of existence. Together, nurturing options can be found by you and also have a way to socialize with people who will motherhood relate solely to every day-today battles. At times, a judge may obtain a couple or individual to undergo a series of parenting classes to reward the interests of the kids concerned.
Question-and- another widespread component of parenting classes, periods, provide prospects for parents to ask about subjects not lined while in the general program. Small parenting workshops may be two or merely a morning in-length, for example these for expecting parents or parents of young children wanting to find out about techniques for increasing preschoolers or their youngsters.


From one of the first all-electronic toll (AET) facilities along Florida's Turnpike to the rehabilitation of the Reagan Memorial Tollway in Illinois, RS&H has proudly served tolling agencies and state departments of transportation for more than 60 years. As a reliable partner, we work hand-in-hand with clients to address complex business, technological, operational, construction, and institutional challenges to provide timely and cost-effective solutions.
Our extensive experience ranges from the implementation of AET and open-road toll (ORT) facilities to toll conversions, mainline and ramp toll plazas, central operations centers, and administration buildings for a number of public agencies and expressway authorities across the United States.
We recognize the emerging role managed lanes and other variable-priced facilities will play in the future of interstate and freeway capacity projects. Our teams of engineers, planners, and technicians have developed innovative tools to assist with determining optimal access points, revenue options, and safety considerations. We are also an industry leader in developing traffic simulations and video visualization. Finally, our construction managers and inspectors ensure your facility is built on time and within budget, while minimizing impacts to revenue collections and your customers.


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Q: Different binding in specific object subtree using Ninject I am using Ninject to perform dependency injection in my project and I've encountered one problem. I need to specify an exception in binding in specific subtrees of my "object tree" (in meaning of inclusion not inheritance). Let's say we have few interfaces and classes (I've excluded constructors and other irrelevant stuff):
interface Wheel { ... }
class RoundWheel : Wheel { ... }
class SquareWheel : Wheel { ... }
class Mechanism { Wheel Wheel; ... }
class Bike { Wheel Wheel; ... }
class Items { Mechanism Mechanism; Bike Bike; ... }

I want to bind Wheel to SquareWheel when it's somehow included in Mechanism (Mechanism can be somewhere higher, eg. Item.Mechanism.ContainerForWheel.(any types further on).Wheel) and to RoundWheel otherwise.  Now, let's look at my current solution:
IKernel kernel = new StandardKernel();
kernel.Bind<Wheel>().To<RoundWheel>();
kernel.Bind<Wheel>().To<SquareWheel>().When(x => x.ActiveBindings.Any(p => p.Service.Name == typeof(Mechanism).Name));

Items items = kernel.Get<Items>();

It works like a charm, but looks very inelegant and suboptimal. It's hard to understand clear purpose of this filtering. Do you know any other way to achieve this? Thanks in advance.
Edit 1
I forgot to mention that I don't want to put any annotations and other stuff into my classes. I want to keep everything in kernel setup/modules.

A: I don't think there's really an easier way to do things. You could also explictly traverse the IContext.ParentRequest and check if there's ever a specific Mechanism. That would be a bit more explicit then using the ActiveBindings property. But will neither be faster nor result in less code.
But what you could do is applying clean code and creating your own When-Extension, so you'll end up with:
kernel.Bind<Wheel>().To<SquareWheel>()
      .When(IsDescendantOf<Mechanism1>);

private static bool IsDescendantOf<T>(IRequest request)
{
    return request.ActiveBindings.Any(p => p.Service.Name == typeof(T).Name);
}

or, using an extension method:
kernel.Bind<IWheel>().To<Wheel2>()
      .WhenIsDescendantOf(typeof(Mechanism1));

public static class NinjectWhenExtensions
{
    public static IBindingInNamedWithOrOnSyntax<T> WhenIsDescendantOf<T>(this IBindingWhenSyntax<T> syntax, Type ancestor)
    {
        return syntax.When(request => request.ActiveBindings.Any(p => p.Service.Name == ancestor.Name));
    }
}

btw., you should also be able to replace the check p.Service.Name == typeof(Mechanism).Name by p.Service == typeof(Mechanism). When the name is a match, the type shoould be, too. If you're working with interface you would have to adapt the logic, though.


This entry was posted in Uncategorized on November 20, 2013 by Martine.
I saw your Kijiji add that you will be having birmin kittens soon. I am very interested as my family of 4 would love to adopt a birmin. We were going to surprise our daughters at the end of June. We would be very interested in a female, especially a lilac.


text:
Q: Parallel execution of jenkins builds in different directories I use Jenkinse(file) Piplines and want to run multiple build steps in parallel (different constants for example - these can't be passed to the compiler, source code has to be changed by a script).
this could look something like that:
stage('Build') {
    steps {
        parallel(
            build_default: {
                echo "WORKSPACE: ${WORKSPACE}"

                bat 'build.bat'
            },
            build_remove: {
                echo "WORKSPACE 2: ${WORKSPACE}"

                // EXAMPLE: only to test interference
                deleteDir() // <- this would be code changes
            }
        )
    }
}

This is not working since all the code is deleted before compilation is done. I want to run both steps in parallel like jenkins does it (creating multiple temp directories @2 and so on) when 2 builds run in parallel (triggered by button presses for example).
The only thing I found out so far is to create temp dirs myself in the working dir and copy the sourcecode to them and work there. But I'm looking for a nicer/more automatic solution. (when using the node command I have the same problems since I only have one node)


text:
Q: PLSQL: No output displayed when using dynamic query inside Stored Procedure I have been asked to create an SP which creates temporary table and insert some records.
I am preparing some sample code for the same as mentioned below but the output is not displayed.
create or replace procedure Test
is
   stmt varchar2(1000);
   stmt2 varchar2(1000);
begin
    stmt := 'create global temporary table temp_1(id number(10))';
    execute immediate stmt;
    insert into temp_1(id) values (10);
    execute immediate 'Select * from temp_1';
    execute immediate 'Drop table temp_1';
    commit;
end;

When i am executing the SP by (Exec Test) desired O/P is not displayed.
I am expecting O/P of "Select * from temp_1" to be displayed. But it is not happening. Please suggest where i am doing wrong.

A:
But i am interesting in knowing why ( execute immediate 'Select * from temp_1';) do not yield any result

For two reasons. Firstly because as @a_horse_with_no_name said PL/SQL won't display the result of a query. But more importantly here, perhaps, the query is never actually executed. This behaviour is stated in the documentation:

If dynamic_sql_statement is a SELECT statement, and you omit both into_clause and bulk_collect_into_clause, then *execute_immediate_statement( never executes.

You would have to execute immediate into a variable, or more likely a collection if your real scenario has more than one row, and then process that data - iterating over the collection in the bulk case.
There is not really a reliable way to display anything from PL/SQL; you can use dbms_output but that's more suited for debugging than real output, and you usually have no guarantee that the client will be configured to show whatever you put into its buffer.
This is all rather academic since creating and dropping a GTT on the fly is not a good idea and there are better ways to accomplish whatever it is you're trying to do.

The block you showed shouldn't actually run at all; as you're creating temp_1 dynamically, the static SQL insert into temp_1 will error as that table does not yet exist when the block is compiled. The insert would have to be dynamic too. Any dynamic SQL is a bit of a warning sign you're maybe doing something wrong, though it is sometimes necessary; having to do everything dynamically suggests the whole approach needs a rethink, as does creating objects at runtime.


Cathair na bhFionnúrach (Stone Fort / Dun) on The Modern Antiquarian, the UK & Ireland's most popular megalithic community website. 5 images, 1 fieldnote, plus information on many more ancient sites nearby and across the UK & Ireland.
On the western slope of Mount Brandon lies this good restored ring fort, a pair of huts are preserved in the interior. The surrounding cashel walls are around 1.5m high and 2-3m thick.
Opposite of the entrance is an access into the outer wall, in the chamber behind you can even stand upright.
The views over Dingle Peninsula are phantastic!
A hidden gem of the Slea Head Drive, as it is not signed from the main road, but worth the effort of finding it.


text:
Explore jakarta |
Jakarta's Best International Hospitals
EXPLORE JAKARTA | 23 April 2017
Make sure you and your family get the best health treatment from these best hospitals in Jakarta. Photos courtesy of iStock/NOWJAKARTA
Living in an urban concrete jungle with a long commute between work and home every day, complete with the major pollution caused by the city's millions of vehicles, can really push one's health to the limit - welcome to the harsh reality of living in Jakarta. Add to the list consumption of junk food, instant meals or fried snacks sold on the sidewalks plus stress situations at work, and it is only a matter of time until you will get sick.
In response to this dire situation, the capital is thankfully blessed with numerous health facilities ranging from small clinics to major and reputable hospitals. Below are some of the international-class hospitals you can go to whenever you need to see a physician or do your regular medical checkup.
Rumah Sakit Premier Jatinegara
Established in 1989 and owned by healthcare company Affinity Health Indonesia, this private hospital was once called RS Mitra Internasional before it changed its name in August 2010. A year later, thanks to its ever-evolving quality and services, it managed to get an international accreditation, making it one of only a handful of Indonesian hospitals with international standards.
In order to cater to foreign patients, RSPJ has International Patient Services so that non-Indonesian speaking patients can easily be consulted about their health problems. The specially-trained International Patient Relations officers will help with the communication.
This hospital is famous for the following treatments: Digestive Centre, Extracorporeal Shock Waves for Sexual Therapy or ESST for erectional dysfunction issues, Bypass Coronary Surgery, and Stroke Centre. All those treatments are available to treat the related illnesses and fully recover your health.
Jalan Raya Jatinegara Timur No. 85–87
IG: @ramsaysimedarbyindonesia
FB: @RSDHCI
rs-premierjatinegara.com
Rumah Sakit Umum Pusat Nasional Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo
Nicknamed RSCM, this state hospital is owned by the country's Health Ministry and successfully got an international accreditation in April 2013. Named after popular Indonesian pre-independence figure dr. Tjipto Mangoenkoesoemo (1883–1943), this centuries-old health facility was born in 1853 as Sekolah Dokter Djawa or Dokter Djawa School (in Dutch) and transformed into School tot Opleiding van Indische Artsen or Indies Medical School in 1898.
The name kept changing for roughly 100 years until 1964 when the hospital was named RS Tjipto Mangoenkoesoemo, still using the old writing style. Thirty years later, it was modernized into RSCM. Despite the constant name changing, its quality and services kept on rising.
Also functioning as a practice and training centre for Universitas Indonesia's Medical Faculty students, RSCM offers complete medical departments including Neurosurgery Department, Clinical Microbiology, and even Forensic. It is the first and only hospital in Indonesia that offers Tomotherapy which is an advanced radiation technology to cure tumors and cancers.
Jalan Diponegoro No. 71
IG: @rscm.official
FB: @RSUPNCM
www.rscm.co.id
Rumah Sakit Pondok Indah Puri Indah
Owned by medical company Binara Guna Medika, RSPI Puri Indah was built in 2006 and officially opened for business two years later. Despite its very young age, it has secured a place in the hearts of its patients thanks to its sophisticated treatment and services.
Some of its highlights are Minimally Invasive Surgery using the Endo Alpha Surgery System, making RSPI Puri Indah the first Indonesian hospital to use such advanced technology and only the third in South East Asia, and Gastrointestinal Liver and Pancreas Centre equipped with diagnostic tools and instruments including Endorectal Ultrasonography (ERUS). This is the one and only hospital in the country with such sophisticated treatment for rectal cancer.
In addition, the hospital is also the first paperless hospital in Indonesia as it uses no papers at all for patients' data and other documents. Instead, it applies a method called E-Medical Record that safely stores and manages all the data and information belonging to the staff and the patients.
Jalan Puri Indah Raya Blok S-2
IG: @rspondokindah
FB: @RumahSakitPondokIndah
www.rspondokindah.co.id
Mochtar Riady Comprehensive Cancer Centre Siloam Semanggi
Part of Siloam Hospitals Group, MRCCC Siloam Semanggi is dubbed as Indonesia's number one comprehensive private cancer centre as it has the most recent technology to cure this lethal disease. It was opened in 2011 and is a whopping 30-storeys tall, one of ten highest buildings in the world.
With experienced oncologists and up-to-date cancer treatments covering early detection, surgical oncology, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, this hospital does its best to provide the most effective therapies for cancer patients. It also has a Positron Emission Tomography-Computed Tomography (PET/CT) Scan which evaluates organ and tissue functions to detect cancer cells, determines the deployment and stage of cancer cells and can assess the effectiveness of chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
Aware that most Indonesians cannot access guaranteed healthcare due to their socio-economic status, the costs at Siloam are quite affordable as it is committed to embrace and cure all patients regardless of their financial background.
Jalan Garnisun Kav. 2–3
IG: @siloamhospitals
FB: @siloamhospitalsgroup
siloamhospitals.com
#explore jakarta #health #hospitals in Jakarta #best international hospitals
Shenny Fierdha
Jakarta's Kota Tua Revitalisation Project
Rawa Belong Flower Market: Southeast Asia's Largest Wholesale Flower Market
COVE's Seaside Shopping and Eating
Pusat Sepeda: A Haven for Jakarta's Cycling Enthusiasts
Enjoy an Authentic Flavour of Traditional European Bread and Pastries at Maison Weiner Cake Shop

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Photo Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resource Conservation Service.
Biological emergencies in rural communities can include pandemic threats, emerging and high consequence diseases – many of which are zoonotic – and food safety recall situations. The microorganisms involved in these situations are of special concern based on their ability to spread rapidly, cause severe disease or illness, or economic impacts. Humans, animals, even crops can be affected.
Preparedness for these situations involves implementing preventive measures before the event, as well as staying informed and taking the needed precautions during the situation.
Learn more about possible biological emergencies in rural communities, their potential to impact human or animal health or cause economic disruption. Planning ahead for these situations can help to protect yourself, your family, your animals and crops, and your business.
Find information and resources to help you prepare for biological emergency situations.
Summary of high consequence pathogens including signs, species affected, incubation period, and zoonotic potential.


a strongly built fortification, called the citadel that was perched upon the highest land within the walls.
Wherever the Romans established themselves they continued the custom of fortifying their cities. This was done by building a wall around the city, and an inter citadel, for protection from their enemies. Following the decline of Rome, about the middle of the forth-century AD, the feudal lords built simple wooden fortified living places at the top of a hill or upon an artificial mound called a motte. Ideally, the structures were built were they could command a view of the countryside. Up to the 6th century, the fortifications surrounded communities where most of the area's population lived.
The original French castles had been constructed on open plains or rolling hills. Gradually, however, their builders began to strategically place them for defense. When fortified places where not advantageously placed on an island in a river as the famous 12th-century Château Gaillard, built by Richard the Lion-Heart on the Andelys cliff overlooking the Seine River in Normandy [now in ruins about 50 miles (80 km) northwest of Paris], or in another body of water [such as le Mont-St-Michel in Normandy], they were surrounded by a ditch. Eventually, the ditches were filled with water to become moats.
By the middle of the 6th century, the Byzantine Empire began to build strong defensive fortifications for the primary purpose of housing its armies. These castle-like structures remained, for the next couple of centuries, almost exclusively Byzantine. Islamic warriors, sweeping out of Arabia to conquer Byzantine, the Middle East and North Africa, appropriated the castle concept.
In Europe, during this period, a wooden stockade was erected, around the motte, upon which were built the fortification's structures. By the late 9th-century, the wooden wall was being replaced by a thick stonewall. The use of a single stonewall oftentimes gave way to a series of raised masonry walls that gradually became thicker and which were topped with wide crenellated parapets. The open areas, within these walls, became known as the bailey [courtyard]. By the 11th-century, the motte-and-bailey castle [from the Latin word castellum, meaning a 'small fortified place'] configuration had become dominant.
During the Middle Ages [the 5th-century through the 14th century], when Europe was divided into many small states and conflicts were common, castles began to play a central role in the feudal, political and military system. Under this system, the kings granted land to the nobles in return for military and other services to be rendered by the nobles. The kingpin of this system was the castle that helped the king or noble defend his lands. The castle served as home, barracks, armory, storehouse, prison, treasury and administrative center.
However -- throughout the Middle Ages in Europe -- until the 12th-century, the fortification's main building materials remained earth and timber. In the latter 9th century, the returning lords and kings of the first Crusades, having seen the Alhambras of the east, started to phase in the building of stone castles to bolster their consolidation of power. The first of these were probably built in France. By the latter middle Ages, castles were found dotting the shores of the Rhine, from Mainz to Cologne, and on the plains of Spain.
As siege warfare became more sophisticated, the castle builders built increasingly stronger defensive bastions. The stone castle's walls could be up to 33 feet (10 meters) thick. In most cases, round towers stood at the corners and along the lengths of the walls. Guards walked along the tops of the walls and towers, where they were protected by defensive structures called battlements. The battlements consisted of stone uprights known as merlons and open spaces called crenels. The merlons shielded the guards from enemy missiles. Through the crenels, the guards could shoot arrows or drop rocks on attackers.
The motte was usually built up from earth that had been excavated from the building of the moat; a palisade usually topped it. An enemy attacking the castle had to break through the defenses of one or more baileys before he could reach the motte's defenses.
The Normans fashioned the next step in castle development. This was the addition of a towering masonry keep [donjon] within the bailey. The keep often rose some 40 to 50 feet [12 – 15 meters] and had small windows set into thick walls. Concurrently, the moats became wider and were traversed by a drawbridge that was raised and lowered from within the fortification's walls.
Many stone castles were entered through a structure called a gatehouse. Typically, the gatehouse consisted of two large towers -- one on each side of the entrance -- and one or more rooms above the entrance. The Normans also added a portcullis to the castle's wall, at the end of the drawbridge. This was a thick, iron plated wooden door that could be lowered to guard the entryway. From the gatehouse interior, people could open and close huge doors that stood at the entrance. They could also raise and lower one or more of the portcullises. The drawbridge could also be operated from inside the gatehouse.
Subsequently, the Norman donjon [keep or tower] became round [easier to defend than the rectangular keep] and was expanded to contain apartments, a water well and storage areas.
In the 12th and 13th-centuries, when the Crusaders were again returning from the Holy land, they brought memories of the imposing Islamic stone fortifications with them. These helped to transform their castles. The castle apartments were transferred to more robust buildings that were built within additional bailey battlements. They became the castle's final line of defense.
With the advent of canons, in the 15th-century, the fortified castle [château fort] began to give way to the French type château 'country house' or 'royal residence' [châteaux de plaisance]. Examples of the châteaux de plaisance are Amboise [15th-century], Azay-le Rideau [1518 - 1527], Blois [13th-century], Chambord [1519 - 1547], and Chenonceaux [1515 - 1523]. This transition was in no small part due to Charles VIII's 1494 invasion of Italy to capture the kingdom of Naples. In his march toward Naples his canon bombarded and destroyed numerous castles. So thorough was the destruction that the kings and nobility, of Western Europe, came to see the castle's Achilles' heel. Fortified castle building all but ceased.
In English, the terms castle and palace, do not have the same meaning, even though they have been loosely employed interchangeably; castles are fortifications while a palace is the residence for the nobility and for kings. On the other hand, the French word 'château' [châteaux is the plural] is multifaceted. Over the years it has added new meanings while maintaining the old ones.
At first, château ment a fortress [château fort]. It was totally equivalent to the English word 'castle'. During the Renaissance, it took on the additional meanings of 'royal palace' and 'mansion' or 'stately home'. As early as the 15th century the castle architects were designing imposing residential tower houses within the castles, which were outfitted for elegant living. Examples of such edifices are found at Tattershall, in England and at the imposing Château Vincennes near Paris.
The château de Chambord [begun in 1519] reflects the castle's transition from fortress to residence. Fontainebleau, with its horseshoe-shaped staircase that dominates its entrance and Chenonceaux, which spans the Cher River, and idyllic Azay-le-Rideau, are further illustrations of this change in the meaning of the word 'château'. The structures themselves still retained many of the characteristics of the castle, with steep Mansard roofs and round corner towers. Yet, an attacking enemy would find their large windows inviting.
By the time the château de Versailles was being built [begun by Louis XIV in 1661], the château no longer resembled the medieval castle. Château roofs had become lower and the structures were more rectangular. The need for fortified châteaux had virtually vanished. In their place, elegant palaces [the word is derived from Palatine Hill in Rome] and mansions appeared, having extensive formal gardens.
Today, the word château can also refer to a wine producing estate [such as 'Château Lafitte-Rothschild']. The peaceful, wooded French Loire Valley, which runs through the regions of Centre and Pays de la Loire in central France, is known as the Châteaux de la Loire because of its many historic châteaux. In France, the so-called 'house of cards' is known as a 'Château de carts' and a French water tower has become a 'Château d'eau' [a water castle].
The Loire Valley traverses two French regions: Centre [Region 6] and Pays-de-la Loire [Western Loire, Region 18]. The Region of Centre [Centre-Val-de-Loire] is so named for its central location in France. It is comprised of the départements of Cher, Eure-et-Loir, Indre, Indre-et-Loire, Loir-et-Cher and Loiret. To Centre's west is the Region of the Pays-de-la-Loire; it consists of the départements of Loire-Atlantique, Maine-et-Loire, Mayenne, Sarthe and Vendee.
The Loire Valley is also known as the Châteaux de la Loire [the Castles of the Loire]. Its' fairytale castles are rich in the renaissance architecture that was in vogue during the period that saw the castles renovated and expanded. The renaissance also influenced the magnificent courtly gardens that abound in the area. The Loire Valley entered its renaissance period in the 16th century. As elsewhere in Europe, the period brought with it new, artistic ideas in architecture.
Because of its beautiful and game rich forests, the kings and nobility made this area the preferred habitat for their castles. Their fairytale castles were nestled in the forests surrounded by their splendid garden type settings that bordered the winding Loire river and her tributaries, the Cher, Indrois and Indre.
The history, the grandeur and the beauty, of these architectural wonders is beyond anything that one can imagine. A visit to a château or two, will leave you awe stricken, actually feeling as though you are a part of the history that occurred there.
A trip to the Loire Valley is an absolute must. It is quickly accessible, from any part of France, by train, bus or car. The trains in France are wonderfully comfortable and fast.
Only twenty-five percent of the Châteaux de la Loire remain intact, and of these, Amboise is quite extraordinary.
The 15th-century château de Amboise [photos] is located on the Promontoire des Chatelliers that overlooks the town of Amboise in the region of Centre, département of Indre-et Loire. Amboise is to the west of Tours, on the south bank of the Loire River. This is a grand fortress perched on a cliff overlooking the Loire River on one side and the arched gateway and cobble stone streets of the village on its other side. This same site has been fortified since the Celtic tribe, the Turones, inhabited the area of the future Touraine.
As early as 503 Clovis, King of the Francs, and Alaric, King of the Visigoths, met here. From before the Dark Ages through the Middle Ages, wooden and stone fortifications were in place on this rocky spur. In 1214, Philippe-Auguste, King of France, took control of the area, making the Amboise-Chaumont family his vassals.
Amboise was originally known for its many festive gatherings and happenings. In 1516, Leonardo da Vinci traveled to Amboise in the service of François I. He lived the last years of his life there, at the Château de Cloux, where he died in 1519. The Amboise Conspiracy in 1560, and the Wars of Religion, diminished the festive association with the château. These were sinister times for the château, due to the slaughter of hundreds of Protestants that took place there. Today, Amboise is a site that is used for the many festive-like events that act as a beacon for tourists.
It was through Amboise that the Italian style of architecture was introduced into the Loire Valley. Charles VIII devoted most of his efforts to transforming the mediaeval fortress into a sumptuous gothic palace for himself and Anne of Brittany. Its St. Hubert chapel houses the tomb of Leonardo da Vinci.
The massive early 13th-century Château d'Angers [photos], is not really beautiful, when compared to Chenonceau, but it is impressive. It is located in the beautiful town of Angers which is in the region of Western Loire [Pays de la Loire], département of Maine-et-Loire. The town is the former capital of the historic province of Anjou, sitting on the banks of the River Maine.
The château dates back to the first century BC. It has known both Roman and Viking rule and has suffered vast physical ruin, together with the loss of much of its land holdings during those turbulent times terminating in the Religious Wars. For the duration of the later epoch, the château suffered even more devastation than Amboise. Continuing confrontations, between the Protestants and Catholics, were unrelenting. In an effort to abate the turmoil, Henri IV, in 1598, promised the marriage of his son to the daughter of the Duc de Mercoeur [the leader of the Catholic Party]; the marriage contract was signed in April when the children were three and six years old!
The construction of the Moorish looking Angers began in 1228 and was finished about ten years later. It was originally encircled by wide moats that have been converted into today's gardens. Initially, the towers were one to two stories taller, but were ordered demolished by the King during the Wars of Religion. Instead, the castle's governor merely had the towers reduced in height. The King died, during the first part of the demolition, which saved the château from being totally destroyed.
If you are an admirer of fine tapestry, the famous 'Apocalypse' tapestry can be viewed here. In 1373, Charles V, the King of France, loaned a copy of the manuscript the Apocalypse to his brother, Louis I, the Duke of Anjou. The Duke was inspired by the tomb to commission tapestries to be made of the Apocalypse. The tapestry, which is 140 meters long, is housed in the 600-year-old building that was designed for it. This building is the oldest and largest, of the castle's structures, to survive in such a grand state. The surviving tapestry itself contains over 76 scenes that depict the book of John (the last book of the New Testament), and the coming of a New Jerusalem.
Azay-le-Rideau [photos] is a smaller castle of exceptional architectural beauty, built on an island in the Indre River. The château has robust turrets and luxurious furnished rooms. It is also considered to be one of the most beautiful of the châteaux in the Valley. Named after one of it's lords, Rideau d'Azay, it sits on the Indre river, in the region of Centre, département of Indre-et-Loire, about 15 miles [24 km] southwest of Tours. This famous early Renaissance château is situated in a beautiful park in the ancient province of Touraine. Balzac called it "A many-faceted diamond with the Indre as its setting".
Azay has its horrific past as well. In 1418, while passing through Azay, a Burgundy guard insulted Charles the VII. The King retaliated immediately by having the guard and 350 other soldiers executed. He had the town taken over and burned; for the next 100 years, the town, which is a maze of narrow, twisting streets, was known as Azay-le-Brûlé ['Azay the Burnt'].
Financier Filles Berthelot, and his wife Phillippa rebuilt the château, in the early 16th Century [1518 - 1529]. Phillippa oversaw the reconstruction of this lovely château, which is partially built upon pilings, allowing it to project out into the Indre River. When the monarchy's financier fell into disfavor with the King, he fled the country and died in exile.
François I confiscated Azay-le-Rideau and gave it to one of his companions in arms, Antoine Raffin. It now houses a Renaissance furniture and art museum.
The château, which began as a feudal castle, is located in the city of Blois, the capital of the region of Centre, département of Loir-et-Cher. located in north-central France between Orléans and Tours. The Loire River bisects the town. In 1429, Joan of Arc set out from Blois to besiege Orléans.
The town of Blois, though of ancient origin, was first distinctly mentioned by Gregory of Tours in the 6th-century. It did not become a powerful countship until the 9th-century. The oldest parts of the château were built by the counts of Châtillon during the 13th-century.
The history of the Château de Blois [photos] is interesting. It seems that the Count of Blois married the daughter of William the Conqueror, and Stephen, their son, became the King of England, in 1135, while Blois was still in its prime. It was not until 1498 that Louis XII became King of France, ruling his domain from the château, that Blois became a royal town and capital of the Kingdom.
The château is one of the most prestigious Renaissance monuments in France. It is a brilliant study of the progression of French architecture from the Middle Ages into the 17th-century. Certainly some of the earliest applications of the early French Renaissance style were the additions that François I [1515 - 1547] made to the Château de Blois.
The Château de Blois's exterior is one of the most beautiful of all the châteaux in the region. The François I spiral staircase, with it open stonework tower, is a noted architectural masterpiece; Leonardo da Vinci, who died in 1519 at nearby Amboise, may have designed it. In 1635 - 1638, Nicolas François Mansart, the Paris born architect, designed and built the Orléans wing of the château.
The Château de Chambord [photos] is located in the region of Centre, département of Loir-et-Cher, 9 miles [15 km] northeast of Blois on the Cosson River.. It is, of course, the most glorious of the châteaux de la Loire, built from 1519 to 1547. King François I already owned Amboise, Blois and Chenonceaux Castles, but felt the need for a more elegant hunting lodge than the one that originally occupied the setting. Thus the King acquired over 10,000 more acres to build this architectural jewel.
Chambord, which was constructed as a châteaux de plaisance in a style somewhere between fortified Gothic castle, Renaissance palace and fairyland stands in a park surrounded by a 22 mile [35 km] long wall. Construction began in 1519 and was completed in 1547, boasting of 440 rooms, and just about as many fireplaces (that you could walk into), 13 great staircases and stables for 1200 horses. It was constructed with its magnificent, Italian style double staircase that is believed to have been designed by Leonardo de Vinci. A person going up or down one staircase would not meet another going the opposite direction on the other staircase. The staircase was designed to allow the simultaneous up and down passage, of both soldiers and horses, in times of siege.
Chambord was quite an undertaking; the treasury was broke, and there was no money to pay the ransom demanded for the release of François' two sons being held hostage in Spain. But, the construction continued. Only François' imprisonment, after losing the battle of Pavia, halted the activity for about a year.
The King was so enthusiastic about his project that he wanted to change the course of the Loire River to run by Chambord. But, even the King agreed that the cost was prohibitive. Instead, he had the Cosson River redirected to flow past the castle.
The château de Chaumont [photos] was originally constructed by the counts of Blois, during the 10th century, as a fortress. It then became the property of the Chaumont-Amboise family and was partially torn down on the orders of Louis XI in 1465. It was rebuilt in 1510 by the family pursuant to their victories during the Italian wars. By the 18th-century, the château had, in part, lost its military look, taking on a Renaissance air. Upon the death of François I, Catherine de Médicis forced Diane de Poitiers, François' mistress, to exchange Chenonceaux for Chaumont-sur-Loire.
The château of Chenonceaux [photos], is located in the region of Centre, département of Indre-et-Loire, on the right [north] bank of the Cher River east of Tours. It is a smaller and privately owned château, but is generally considered to be the most beautiful in the Loire Valley. It represents a type of transitional architecture between Gothic and Renaissance. Chenonceaux spans the Cher River in magnificent grandeur.
This is the Château that was designed, and added to, by several women. It has come to be known as 'The Castle Designed, Built, and Added To by the Women of Chenonceaux'. The several women, during the course of some 400 years, were: Catherine Briconnet, Diane de Potiers, and Catherine de Medici, among others.
Chenonceaux however had quite a racy history! Thomas Bohier, a finance minister of Normandy, originally built the château in 1521. He was a tax collector under Charles VII, Louis XII and François I. Bohier had originally bought the Chenenceau estate that consisted of a manor and mill. Out of a property dispute, with an heiress to Chenonceaux, Bohier finally acquired all the adjoining fiefs. Bohier then raised the old buildings with the exception of the manor. Since he could not personally supervise the construction of his new château, due to his duties with the army near Milan, his wife Catherine Briconnet, took charge and creatively designed and oversaw the château's construction.
The Bohiers only enjoyed the château a few years before their deaths. Their son, Antoine, ceded the château to François I in payment of his father's large debt to the Treasury. François I used it as a hunting lodge.
François I bequeathed Chenonceaux to his successor, Henri II, who in turn gave it to his mistress Diane de Poitiers (his senior by some 20 years). Diane turned Chenonceaux into a profitable estate through development of its agriculture, the sale of its wine and its tax income. Diane also had the bridge constructed that spans the Cher, and generally enlarged the château. When Henri II was killed in a tournament, in 1599, his wife Catherine de Medici, forced Diane to exchange Chenonceaux for Chaumont. Catherine then added the two-story bridge gallery, where magnificent galas were held, and a park that she created because of her love for the arts.
The saga of the women of Chenonceaux continued on; check your history books for more details! The château is now the property of the French Nation.
This is considered the most favorite of the Loire Chateaux, you can visit this beautful castle on one of our tours to Chenonceaux.
Cheverny [photos] is located in a clearing in the Sologne Forest in the region of Centre, département of Loire-et-Cher. Its design is supposedly a to be a reproduction of a Luxembourg Castle in the true French style favored by both Henri IV and Louis XIII.
A 15th-century château built near the Indre River near its joining with the Loire River. It is said to be the 'Sleeping Beauty Castle'.
The Château de Villandry [photos] is located along the Cher River, southwest of Tours, in the region of Centre, département of Indre-et-Loire. It was built in 1532 by Jean Le Breton, secretary of state for François I, and was known as a beautiful Renaissance Château (only the keep remains). It is renowned for its marvelous gardens, which were restored in the 20th century, and are considered to be one of the most highly acclaimed in France. Even the potager [vegetable garden] is laid out in a formal, decorative manner. Be sure to make Villandry one of your stops!
The château de Chantilly is located in the ancient town of Chantilly, Oise département, Picardie region, some 23 miles [37 km] north of Paris. The town derives it name from a Gallo-Roman, by the name of Cantilius, who built the first villa there. It was once noted for Chantilly lace; today, it is principally noted for the château, as a resort, for horse breeding and for its famous racetrack. The town of Chantilly was previously known for its porcelain and silk lace.
Le Nôtre, the designer of the world famous French gardens at Versailles and Fontainebleau, also designed Chantilly's garden.
The château was built in the 14th-century on a small rocky island in an artificial lake. In 1886, the château, together with the Musée Condé and the surrounding park, was left to the Institut de France by the Duc d'Aumale.
The town of Fontainebleau is located in north central France, in the Seine-et-Marne département, in the region of Île-de-France just southeast of Paris. The town, which is situated near the Seine River, is best known for the château de Fontainebleau [photos], a Renaissance château surrounded by a large forest, landscaped grounds and huge formal gardens.
The château was originally built in the 13th-century, but was reconstructed and decorated, in the Renaissance style, by François I. He assembled a large number of well-known Italian and French artists, at Fontainebleau [known as the School of Fontainebleau], to carry out the works. Other French rulers also dispensed considerable wealth in further beautifying the château. Among them were Henry IV [who doubled it size and improved the gardens], Louis XIII [who installed the great double staircase], Louis XIV [who employed André Le Nôtre to enhance the gardens], Napoleon I, Louis XVIII, Louis Philippe and Napoleon III.
The château's galleries of François I and Henri II illustrate the increasing elaboration of the French Renaissance style, as influenced by Italian design, with increasing elaboration of applied decoration and color. By contrast, Marie-Antoinette's rooms exemplify a more sober style of straight lines, subdued coloring and simple ornamentation that is referred to as Neoclassicism.
During the French Revolution, 1789 - 1799, the château was ransacked. It was restored by Napoleon who favored it over Versailles. He had the King's bedroom converted into a Throne Room. King Louis Philippe did additional interior restorations in the mid-1800s.
The history of Fontainebleau would not be complete without mentioning that it was the venues for the signing of the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, in 1685, and of Napoleon I's signing of his decree of abdication, in 1814. During the Second World War, the Germans used the château as their headquarters. After the war, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization [NATO] used it until 1965. It is now a public museum.
In 1564, Catherine de Médicis began construction of this royal palace along the Seine River in Paris, adjoining the Louvre. 74 acres [30 hectors], that were adjacent to the palace, were converted into gardens. It was here that Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were held prior to their removal to prison and ultimately the guillotine. It was virtually destroyed during the period of the Paris Commune in 1871. However, the Jardin des Tuileries is still intact as a public park.
The château, which was designed in 1656 by the architect Louis Le Vau, is located near Melun, France, southeast of Paris. It was designed for Nicolas Fouquet and was completed, in the French Baroque residential style in 1661. André Le Nôtre, who formulated French neoclassicism, designed the château's French gardens. These gardens, predicated upon highly formal arrangements, became the prototype of the gardens he would later design for Louis XIV at Versailles. They were designed around canals, fountains, statues and ornamental urns. Great expanses of clipped trees and geometric flower terraces, that seemed to stretch for miles, were used.
The Palace of Versailles, the largest palace in France, is one of France's national monuments. It is the capital of Yvelines département, located about 13 miles [21 km] southwest of Paris. It is part of the French national heritage and one of the most visited historic sites in Europe.
In 1624, Louis XIII had a hunting lodge built at Versailles. The Sun King, Louis XIV, still smarting from the jolt he received at Fouquet's get-together, hired Louis Le Vau as architect, Charles Le Brun, the painter and decorator and André Le Nôtre, the landscape architect; all having become famous from the building of Vaux-le-Vicomté.
Some 37,000 acres [15,000 hectares] of land were converted into tree-lined terraces and walks and thousands of flowering plants. A Grand Canal was excavated some 1,737 yards [1,588m] long and 67 yards [61m] wide and 1,400 fountains and 400 pieces of new sculpture were constructed. The old hunting lodge was renovated, giving it the appearance of a small palace. The 1669 beginning of the palace was fairly humble. In 1676, another architect, Jules Hardouin-Mansart enlarged upon Vau's plans, adding a second story, the magnificent 240 foot [73 m] Hall of Mirrors, with painted ceilings done by Le Brun and his assistants, and the North and south wings. The Treaty of Versailles, which ended World War I, was signed in the Hall of Mirrors.
Over the next century, more than 36,000 workers were employed on the project which, when completed, could accommodate up to 5,000 people. Throughout the reign of Louis XV, the work that had begun by his predecessor was continued, making the palace a symbol of royal extravagances. The first episodes of the French Revolution took place here. In 1837, Louis-Philippe restored the palace, converting it into a museum consecrated to "all the glories of France". Today, it is entirely surrounded by the city of Versailles, which did not come into being until the construction of the palace.
The palace at Versailles became the envy of all of Europe's rulers; three of the most grandiose of the imitations are the Herrenchiemsee in Bavaria, the Schonbrunn in Vienna and the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg.
In 1870, the German army used the palace as its headquarters during the siege of Paris. The next year, the German emperor was crowned there. Subsequently, the palace was used as the seat of the French Parliament until 1879. In 1875, the Third Republic's constitution was proclaimed there. It was at Versailles, that the presidents of both the Third and Fourth Republics were elected.


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Commenting on the investment, Abhilash Gowdara, Founder & CEO, AtomX, "We are looking to unify both online and offline payments, enabling live entertainment events to accept contactless bank issued cards beyond our close loop tags which offer users multiple options to tap and pay at all our live events."


text:
Africa|Aid Group Says Zimbabwe Misused $7.3 Million
Aid Group Says Zimbabwe Misused $7.3 Million
By CELIA W. DUGGER NOV. 2, 2008
JOHANNESBURG — The government of Zimbabwe, led by President Robert Mugabe, spent $7.3 million donated by an international organization to fight killer diseases on other things and has failed to honor requests to return the money, according to the organization's inspector general.
The actions by Zimbabwe have deprived the organization, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, of resources it needs and damaged efforts to expand life-saving treatment, said the inspector general, John Parsons. Zimbabwe's actions also jeopardize a more ambitious $188 million Global Fund grant to Zimbabwe, due for consideration by the fund's board on Friday, Mr. Parsons said.
The Global Fund has continued to demand that Zimbabwe return the money, and Global Fund officials say Zimbabwean financial officials have promised to do so by Thursday. But Mr. Parsons said Zimbabwean officials also said they had not repaid the money because they did not have enough foreign currency.
The breakdown of trust between the Global Fund and Zimbabwe's government comes at a time of widening humanitarian crisis and casts further doubt on the willingness of Western donors to invest heavily in rebuilding the economically broken nation as long as Mr. Mugabe is in charge, even if a deadlock over a power-sharing government is resolved.
Mr. Parsons said in an interview on Sunday that last year the Global Fund deposited $12.3 million in foreign currency into Zimbabwe's Reserve Bank. He declined to speculate on how the $7.3 million it was seeking to be returned had been spent, except to say it was not on the intended purpose. Civic groups and opposition officials maintain that the Reserve Bank helps finance Mr. Mugabe's patronage machine.
Mr. Parsons did offer an example of the human consequences of the Reserve Bank's failure to hand over the money for disease fighting. The Global Fund has brought in large quantities of medicines that can cure malaria but has been able to finance the training of only 495 people to distribute them safely instead of the planned 27,000. There were 2.7 million cases of malaria among Zimbabwe's 12 million people in the World Health Organization's most recent estimates.
"The drugs expire by the middle of next year, and it would be criminal if we can't use them because of these problems," Mr. Parsons said. "They've got quite a short shelf life."
Zimbabwe's information minister, Sikhanyiso Ndlovu, said Sunday in an interview that he was not aware of the particulars of the disagreement, but he defended what he described as the Reserve Bank's good intentions and accused the Global Fund of politicizing aid.
A man with tuberculosis in Zimbabwe. An aid group is charging that the country's government has siphoned funds to fight disease for its own purposes. Credit Robin Hammond for The New York Times
"They always want to put certain standards and concoct certain things to make us look bad and horrendous in international eyes," he said.
Gideon Gono, governor of the Reserve Bank, the custodian of the Global Fund's money, has been spending large sums this year on a variety of things, according to reports in Zimbabwe's state-owned media.
Mr. Gono gave the country's judges new vehicles, satellite dishes and televisions and allocated 79 vehicles for the Information Ministry. He announced the provision of 3,000 tractors, 105 combine harvesters and 100,000 plows for the country's farm mechanization program. Mr. Ndlovu, the information minister, said the Reserve Bank had been getting foreign currency for imports of food and medicine.
Mr. Ndlovu said the Global Fund had sided with Western nations that had restricted aid to Zimbabwe and imposed sanctions on it — sanctions that Mr. Mugabe and his party blame for the country's economic ruin.
"The money from the Global Fund is nowhere near what the Reserve Bank has spent on health care for the country," the information minister said.
Civic groups and opposition officials contend that Mr. Gono and the Reserve Bank have helped finance the governing party's patronage operation, essential to Mr. Mugabe's hold on power for the past 28 years. Eddie Cross, a senior official in the opposition Movement for Democratic Change, accused the Reserve Bank of looting the Global Fund's donation.
International aid groups and United Nations agencies say the country's annual inflation rate of more than 230 million percent and rules imposed by the Reserve Bank have severely complicated the logistics of helping the most impoverished people.
The Reserve Bank suspended electronic banking a month ago, making it impossible for international organizations to pay for goods and services with bank transfers. The Reserve Bank has also severely limited cash withdrawals from commercial banks. And the inflation rate has rendered check payments nearly worthless by the time they clear days later.
More than 20 aid groups, donor countries and United Nations agencies wrote Mr. Gono last week asking that electronic banking be restored for humanitarian aid purposes and that they be allowed to pay service providers in foreign currency. If agencies are increasingly unable to pay for their field operations, they wrote, that inability will "greatly increase the already substantial suffering of those Zimbabweans who are most in need of humanitarian response."
A woman in Zimbabwe with tuberculosis, which killed her husband and sister. They were H.I.V. positive, as is she. Credit Robin Hammond for The New York Times
A third of Zimbabweans are now hungry and in need of food aid, the United Nations estimates. A million children have lost one or both parents. About 140,000 people died of AIDS there last year.
Mr. Mugabe's government banned the work of international aid groups for almost three months during the election season earlier this year, accusing them of backing the political opposition. The ban was lifted on Aug. 29, two months after Mr. Mugabe was declared the victor in a discredited presidential runoff election. His main rival, the opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, dropped out of the race, citing state-sponsored violence against his supporters.
It has taken time for the aid groups to resume work. One major humanitarian group, which declined to be identified by name for fear of retaliation against its staff by government officials, said it would be able to get food to only half as many people as originally planned this month because of the difficulties of paying for its logistical operations.
The Zimbabwe office of the United Nations Children's Fund, which coordinates one of the world's largest programs for orphans, decided Friday that it could no longer pay the local groups it supported there by check, seriously hampering its ability to help the most vulnerable children and their mothers, said Roeland Monasch, Unicef's acting representative in Zimbabwe.
Mr. Monasch said the United Nations' daily posting of the country's exchange rate showed that the number of Zimbabwe dollars required to buy a single American dollar rose from 3 million on Oct. 23 to 1 billion the next day, and then to 40 billion on Wednesday and 1.1 trillion on Saturday. For Unicef to continue operating, he said, it must start using American dollars.
Mr. Parsons, the Global Fund inspector general, who presented the preliminary findings of a Global Fund audit on Tuesday in Harare, Zimbabwe's capital, to donor nations and United Nations agencies, said in the interview that he had met with Reserve Bank officials to tell them, "We need our money back."
But Reserve Bank officials have told the Global Fund they do not have the foreign currency required, Mr. Parsons said, so, "One has to assume they spent it on other things."
In Mr. Parsons' presentation to donors, a slide on program management featured a Cameroonian saying: "Trust in Allah but tie your donkey." The Global Fund's management, known as the secretariat, has not released any new money to Zimbabwe since last December and will not disburse more until the problems in protecting the Global Fund's donations are resolved, he said.
"We cannot safely leave foreign exchange in Zimbabwe," Mr. Parsons said. "The secretariat has to find some other means to safeguard our funds — to keep it offshore and drip-feed it into Zimbabwe. It can't be under the Reserve Bank or anyone influenced by the Reserve Bank."
A version of this article appears in print on , on Page A6 of the New York edition with the headline: Aid Group Says Zimbabwe Misused $7.3 Million and Hasn't Repaid It. Order Reprints| Today's Paper|Subscribe


text:
V soubojích 17. ročníku Moravskoslezské divize D 1981/82 (jedna ze skupin 4. fotbalové ligy) se utkalo 14 týmů každý s každým dvoukolovým systémem podzim–jaro. Tento ročník začal v srpnu 1981 a skončil v červnu 1982.

Od tohoto ročníku byla Divize D opět zúžena na 14 účastníků (1965/66 – 1968/69 měla 14 účastníků, 1969/70 – 1980/81 měla a od 1984/85 až dosud má 16 účastníků). Divize D se definitivně stala jednou ze skupin 4. nejvyšší soutěže (1965/66 – 1968/69 a 1977/78 – 1980/81 byla jednou ze skupin 3. nejvyšší soutěže).

Nové týmy v sezoně 1981/82
 Z Jihomoravského krajského přeboru 1980/81 postoupilo do Divize D vítězné mužstvo TJ JZD Slušovice a TJ Jiskra Kyjov (2. místo).
 Ze Severomoravského krajského přeboru 1980/81 postoupilo vítězné mužstvo TJ Nový Jičín a TJ Sigma Hranice (2. místo).

Konečná tabulka
Zdroj:

Poznámky:
 Z = Odehrané zápasy; V = Vítězství; R = Remízy; P = Prohry; VG = Vstřelené góly; OG = Obdržené góly; B = Body; (S) = Mužstvo sestoupivší z vyšší soutěže; (N) = Mužstvo postoupivší z nižší soutěže (nováček)

Odkazy

Reference

Literatura
 Jindřich Horák, Lubomír Král: Encyklopedie našeho fotbalu (1896 – 1996/97) – Libri 1997

Externí odkazy
 Moravskoslezská Divize D (MSD-D) 1981/82, archiv.ucl.cas.cz
 Moravskoslezská Divize D (MSD-D) 1981/82, František Kopecký

Divize D
Fotbal v Česku v roce 1981
Fotbal v Česku v roce 1982


First of all, I'm truly sorry for abandoning you guys for almost a month! REALLY, REALLY BAD! APOLOGIES! After my Korea trip, I went on a short trip to KL and then Perth. I've been uninspired, unmotivated and stressed out a lot recently so I feel like now is the right time to continue blogging again since I'm feeling a little better.
This is still from our first day in Seoul (yeah we walked A LOT!) and I know this is long overdue but we all love a travel post, am I right? Am I right? Am I right? :) After I went to the cat cafe we headed back to the hotel to finally check in, shower and change outfits. We stayed at Hotel Skypark Central Myeongdong which we loved so much, I 100% recommend! And then we went on more adventure and unintentionally visited the Deoksugung Palace. The trip wasn't really a cultural trip so we didn't plan on visiting any palace, but we passed the area as we're heading to the river, which I'll be talking about really soon. Nevertheless, I didn't regret paying KRW 10,000 to get in. We went there near sunset so the lighting was really nice and the place was surrounded by trees, we definitely don't have a place like this back home. Although yes it's just one building and there's really not so much to see, I still love the experience.
After that we went to Cheonggyecheon river, a famous river in Seoul and was happy to see a lot of people were there! (Both tourists and locals) This was my kind of vibe. Just people chilling with their feet in the water, chatting and having cups of coffee. I stupidly didn't take a decent picture but I have footage which I need to upload soon. It was pleasant because we've been walking so much all day and the water was cold, so it was refreshing. If you're in Seoul, spend an afternoon around the river!