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The Hermès H08 Is Modern Watchmaking Done Right
The special typeface, the interesting case design, the comfortable straps...Hermès delivers on all fronts with its new timepiece.
By Oren Hartov
Updated: Oct 2, 2021
Henry Phillips
Hermès H08, $5,700+
There's something about the approach a "luxury goods manufacturer" takes to watchmaking — rather than that of a traditional watchmaker — that makes for some of the more interesting designs in modern horology. Of course, this is of little surprise. While most watchmakers are concerned with movement accuracy, robustness, and, increasingly, mining their archives for inspiration, a brand like Hermès is poised to approach a new timepiece from a purely aesthetic point of view, yielding a fresh-feeling creation that owes little to the traditional "rules" of horology.
The maison's latest watch, the H08, is an automatic timepiece available in several configurations that's meant to be worn every day. Without further ado, let's see what we have, here...
Case Depth: 10.6mm
Movement: Hermès Manufacture Caliber H1837
Price: $5,700+
As I mentioned earlier, the H08 is a collection in which aesthetics take center stage — though, this being Hermès, the watchmaking portion of the equation is still strong. Within the collection is an all-black model with graphene case; a DLC-coated titanium model available on one of two straps; and a plain titanium model available on either rubber or a matching titanium bracelet (our review model). Each is powered by the automatic Hermès Manufacture Caliber H1837 and features a specially designed typeface, a modern, thoughtfully designed case and a unique dial. In short, the H08 is a perfect example of the maison's design prowess.
Who It's For
While Hermès parks the H08 collection firmly within its Men's line, it should be stated off the bat that the watch strikes us as perfectly unisex, and we're sure many women will find its design appealing on their wrists — especially on the rubber straps (more on why, later). As for the male client, Hermès watchmaking is likely only on the radar of a very specific subset of folks: people who are watch aficionados and thus familiar with the maison's forays into horology; people who are dedicated Hermès fans; and people who are true design nuts. It's unlikely to my mind that your average dude, new to the work force, is going to spring for an H08 with his first bonus...though we see no good reason why he shouldn't.
If you enjoy watchmaking chiefly for the aesthetics, then Cartier and its wares are no doubt on your radar. While most of their designs tend toward the dressier side of the spectrum, the medium Santos de Cartier model ($6,500), with its automatic movement, matching steel bracelet and classic, Roman-numeral dial, is perhaps a decent analogue for the H08. For another design-focused option, there's the Octo Roma in steel from Bulgari ($6,100), which ships on a leather strap — it too features an in-house, automatic movement and unique case design. Finally, there's the Tambour from Louis Vuitton ($6,050): with its drum-inspired case and striking dial, it's a watch that's sure to turn heads.
For our review, I requested the H08 in titanium with matching bracelet. The case, though not particularly small at 39mm, is of course incredibly light and refined: vaguely H-shaped, it features an inner, square-shaped quadrant within which sits the round watch dial beneath a sapphire crystal. Though the case is entirely brushed, it's brushed in different directions in different places: radially within the inner square section; vertically on the case top; and what appears to be horizontally on the sides, though, interestingly, these sides appear in two different shades — darker toward the bottom and lighter on top.
A screw-down crown signed with the Hermes "H" joins the crown guard-less case flush on its right flank, while the case back features a sapphire window through which the manufacture movement — with 50 hours of power reserve — can be viewed. (The back is otherwise adorned only with six tiny flat-head screws to attach it to the main case.) The bracelet's end links join flush and smoothly with the short lugs and complete the look.
Speaking of the bracelet — and the reason I wanted to check this model out — it of course features thoughtful touches, such as the links, which are H-shaped and joined by polished center links. A push-button butterfly clasp joins the whole shebang together. While I appreciate the design of the bracelet — and it's fairly comfortable — two things bothered me: the first is that the end links at the bracelet hardly articulate, meaning that the entire watch doesn't hug your wrist the way it otherwise could. My second qualm is that the bracelet has no taper, which, to me, reminds me of cheaply made bracelets from smaller microbrands and smacks of a lack of refinement. This is a matter of personal taste, but I would have appreciated some degree of taper, personally.
I can't speak, unfortunately, to the rubber strap options. Pricing for these is as follows: the titanium on rubber or webbed fabric is $5,500; the titanium with DCL coating on rubber or webbed fabric is $5,700; and the graphene model on rubber is $8,900.
However, I can talk about the watch's dial all day: The outer track is sort of an anthracite grey with a slightly pebbled texture (provided you look very, very closely), inside of which is a smooth black chapter ring with white indices, inside of which is another smaller, grey circle with white minute/seconds ring and the "HERMÈS, PARIS" branding. The star of the show here in once again the dial's typeface, which is unique to the H08 line and features thoughtful touches: the "4," for example, is reversed on the dial such that one wouldn't need to turn the watch (or one's head) in order to read each numeral in succession. (The "8" solves this problem by being symmetrical.
It's a hip, modern typeface that stands out for its multitude of different weights within each numeral — indeed, this type of numerology would undoubtedly not have worked well before the advent of the index surround, which contains the luminous material within. (My guess is that if this type of font were painted on a dial in the 1940s, the ink would have run.)
Even the handset on the H08 is interesting: the minute and hour hands are rectangular, the hour being entirely lume-filled, while the minutes is filled partly and is otherwise skeletonized — an interesting choice, and a cool one. I'm more ambivalent about the seconds hand: I like the orange-filled, arrow-shaped tip balanced by the circle-within-a-square tail, but am for some reason vaguely bothered by the fact that it's only the diameter of the inner, circular ring. I understand the design choice, but also feel like it somewhat fattens the dial in a way that isn't necessarily flattering.
Finally, my one super-qualm with the dial: the f*#@ing date window at 4:30. Tell me something, and tell me honestly: who, when designing a watch from the ground up (and who doesn't work at Zenith) believes that putting a date window at 4:30 is a positive design choice? You have a brand new dial that has never been seen before, and you choose to stick the freakin' thing between two other numerals? Get rid of the three or the six and put it there! Or put it vertically above the six! Do anything besides this! This is the type of shit Dieter Rams or the ghost of Walter Gropius would literally kill a man over. Please, for the love of all that is holy, stop doing this, Watch Designers.
Besides that, I loved the dial.
I truly enjoyed my time with the H08, and though I had several qualms with it, I found it to be comfortable, light, and easy to wear. Its marketed as an everyday watch, which I certainly find to be an accurate description, though admittedly if I were traveling I'd probably spring either for a dive watch or a GMT.
Were the H08 a bit smaller, I think it could make for the perfect unisex timepiece, though again, I'm sure many women will purchase one regardless. I do regret not opting for strap-equipped option as, knowing Hermès, I'm sure these are incredibly refined and comfortable. Also, I anticipate that a strap would negate the problem of the non-articulating end links on the bracelet.
Overall, while I'm not quite as smitten with the H08 as I am with the Slim d'Hermès, I have to applaud the maison for following its own star, and not the vintage-obsessed whims of the greater watch world. May Hermès continue in this direction.
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LAS VEGAS, NV--(Marketwired - Jan 6, 2015) - 2015 International CES -- TP-LINK®, a global provider of consumer and SMB networking products, today announced the U.S. debut of the PB50, TL-PB5200 and TL-PB2600 Power Bank portable charging units at the 2015 International CES. The new sleek, compact Power Banks are compatible with most 5V input USB-charged devices, including Apple iPhones and iPads, as well as Android devices. Simply connect the included Micro USB cable to a compatible device for uninterrupted mobility.
"We increasingly rely on mobile devices to stay connected to each other and to the Internet," said Lewis Wu, executive vice president of TP-LINK U.S. "Our Power Banks help customers stay connected by extending the life of their mobile devices far beyond the capability of their batteries."
The Power Banks can both charge a device low on battery life and power a device with a completely drained battery, extending the daily use of mobile electronics.
The PB50 operates at 10,000mAh and has one 5V/2A USB port and one 5V/1A USB port. The TL-PB5200 operates at 5,200mAh and has one 5V/2A USB port. The TL-PB2600 operates at 2,600mAh and has one 5V/1A USB port.
The design of the Power Banks emphasizes portability and efficiency. A slim housing makes packing and transporting the devices easy, and the durable casing resists wear and tear when traveling. High-end PCB components help the Power Banks charge efficiently, with an energy efficiency rate of up to 90%1, and also provide more charging cycles and increased overall durability.
Built-in monitoring circuitry enhances the reliability of the Power Banks by helping to prevent over-heating, over-charging and short-circuiting. The Power Banks' USB ports automatically detect and adjust output levels based on the charging needs of connected devices, with 5V/1A ports able to charge smaller devices like smartphones, and 5V/2A ports able to charge both smaller devices and larger ones like tablets. Owners can recharge the Power Banks via their micro-USB port by connecting them to a power outlet using any standard smartphone or tablet AC adapter.
The PB50 and TL-PB5200 both support Intelligent Charging technology, automatically detecting the rated voltage and current of devices for the fastest possible charging.
Smart LEDs indicating charging status.
Micro-USB port for charging the Power Bank.
Universal compatibility with most 5V-input mobile devices, like smartphones and tablets.
TP-LINK's new lineup of Power Banks will be shown from January 6-9, 2015 at the Las Vegas Convention Center - Booth No. 36206 South Hall 4, Upper Level.
The PB50, TL-PB5200 and TL-PB2600 Power Banks are planned for availability in Q2, 2015 at www.store.tp-link.com and leading online and retail stores.
TP-LINK is a global provider of consumer and SMB networking products and the world's No.1 provider of WLAN and broadband CPE devices2, with products available in over 120 countries to tens of millions of customers. Committed to intensive R&D, efficient production and strict quality management, TP-LINK continues to provide award-winning networking products in Wireless, ADSL, Routers, Switches, IP Cameras, Powerline Adapters, Print Servers, Media Converters and Network Adapters for global end-users.
For further information visit www.tp-link.com, follow TP-LINK on Facebook at www.facebook.com/tplink, Twitter at www.twitter.com/tplink, YouTube at www.youtube.com/tplinktech and the TP-LINK Forum at http://forum.tp-link.com.
1. Energy efficiency is affected by the core voltage of a battery charger and energy lost to heat. Actual results will vary.
All information and pricing provided are subject to change without notice. TP-LINK is a registered trademark of TP-LINK Technologies CO., Ltd. All trade names are the property of their respective owners.


To assist in the delivery of a digital fact-checking platform -- FactCheckNI http://factcheckni.org -- in order to have a better-informed public in regards to the political debate in Northern Ireland, based on facts rather than assumptions and misinformation.
Fact Checkers will be highly motivated, enthusiastic, focused and self-driven, supporting the project partners -- the Northern Ireland Foundation and Transformative Connections.
We require individuals who can identify where our efforts will encourage greater public awareness and better civic discourse across several chosen topics, by producing high-quality copy to tight deadlines.
FactCheckNI is part of a global network of fact-checking organisations, and this is an excellent opportunity to learn from international best practices. Full training will be provided.


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Swindon & Wiltshire Business News
Almost half of women in IT think gender is their biggest barrier to promotion
on 13 March 2019 .
Nearly half of women working in IT believe their gender is the main barrier to getting ahead in their career, according to new research from Swindon-based BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT.
In its Inclusivity in the Workplace survey – released on International Women's Day last Friday – BCS asked men if they too felt their gender was a reason why they weren't getting promoted. Just under one in 10 thought it was an issue.
When it comes to getting that all important first IT job, almost a third of women (30 percent) thought gender was the biggest barrier, compared with only four percent of men.
This is all set against a backdrop where women make up only around 17 percent of the IT workforce; a figure that has remained largely unchanged for the past five years.
"These findings are seriously worrying. If 30 percent of women think that gender is the biggest barrier to getting a first job in IT, and 45 percent believe gender is the biggest barrier to progressing a career in IT, they are not going to even try," said Sarah Burnett, chairman of BCS Women and executive vice president and Distinguished Analyst at Everest Group.
"It is no wonder that we have such difficulty attracting women into this sector and retaining them. Time and again we have had reports that show gender diversity helps increase profitability. Surely, this fact alone must encourage the IT industries to work as a group and change its image?"
Only a tenth of those who are currently taking A-Level computer studies are women at a time when there is a looming digital skills gap where the UK will need one million more tech workers by 2020.
Gillian Arnold, chairman of the Council of European Professional Informatics Societies Women in IT Taskforce, and a vice-president trustee director at BCS, said it makes sense to encourage women into IT.
"The UK has depended heavily on IT staff from the rest of the world, but with Brexit uncertainties, and the establishment of mainstream IT industries in many of the countries we once recruited skilled staff from, it's important that we in the UK widen our recruitment base.
"It's vital that managers seeking new staff have a varied choice of candidates from every aspect of society and HR departments should demand recruiters provide a diverse slate of candidates for every role."
There's also a sharp divide, according to the survey, when it comes to looking at how diversity is approached for IT workers when compared to other professions - with more than twice as many women (38 percent) believing it's worse than other industries, compared to 16 percent of men.
There are a range of initiatives that organisations can sign up to which seek to increase the number of women working in tech roles, in any sector, says BCS.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Het ATP-toernooi van Doha 2003 (met de officiële naam Qatar ExxonMobil Open) vond plaats van 30 december 2002 tot en met 5 januari 2003. Er werd gespeeld op hardcourtbuitenbanen van het Khalifa International Tennis Complex in Doha, de hoofdstad van Qatar.

Enkelspel

Geplaatste spelers

Toernooischema

Finale

Bovenste helft

Onderste helft

Dubbelspel

Geplaatste teams

Toernooischema

Externe links

ATP-toernooi van Doha
Doha

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What is about 20% of your height and could make some companies very happy?
ACCA F1, ACCA P1, ACCA P3, CIM, CIMA E1, CIMA E2, CIMA E3
Here's a good question – what is about 20% of your height and could help a number of fashion companies to increase their sales by a significant amount?
The answer is a "mini-me".
Top fashion brands such as Burberry, Barbour jackets and Ugg boots have all seen increases in sales of certain items of clothing recently and some people are putting it down to the ex-Spice Girls singer, model and husband to David, Victoria Beckham.
Mrs. Beckham recently took time out from shopping to give birth to a baby daughter called Harper.
Photos in the press show that baby Harper is not only a cute looking baby but that she also follows her mum in the fashion stakes.
Now whilst Harper is only a few weeks old and therefore doesn't get overly involved in detailed discussions with her mum as to what she will wear, the photos show that mother and daughter are wearing matching outfits.
This has resulted in a boom for sales of "mini-me clothing".
A fashionable mum who owns a Burberry trench coat for example can now buy a mini version of exactly the same coat for her young daughter for £375.
If mum wears the trendy Australian Ugg shoes then the lucky baby daughter can also own her own pair for £104.
Anyone with young children will appreciate that they grow at a remarkable rate and this got the accountant in me thinking about the "cost per hour of use ratios" that will apply to these clothes purchases.
Unless your dad goes by the name of David Beckham then I think the resulting figures will be a bit of a shock…
https://www.theexpgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/styleguide-EXP-4.png 0 0 Steve https://www.theexpgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/styleguide-EXP-4.png Steve2011-09-14 22:01:322011-09-14 22:01:32What is about 20% of your height and could make some companies very happy?
What's in a pair of shoes? Quite a bit if it's a Jimmy Choo shoe but...
With celebrity clients such as Angelina Jolie and Victoria Beckham, Jimmy Choo is one of the most famous shoe brands in the world. It is[..]
The ExP Group 2013-03-06 06:05:52 2013-03-06 06:05:52 What's in a pair of shoes? Quite a bit if it's a Jimmy Choo shoe but...
Should you do a u-turn if you see a GAP in the market and it's out of the blue?
According to dictionary.com the definition of a U-turn is 1. a U -shaped turn made by a vehicle so as to head in the opposite[..]
The ExP Group 2010-10-13 20:27:57 2010-10-13 20:27:57 Should you do a u-turn if you see a GAP in the market and it's out of the blue?
Marks & Spencer – the figures weren't padded out but what about...
Marks & Spencer (M&S) are one of the best known retailers in the UK. First established back in 1884 they have been a mainstay of[..]
The ExP Group 2010-10-08 11:46:41 2010-10-08 11:46:41 Marks & Spencer – the figures weren't padded out but what about...
You are (probably) a liar...
Here's a nice ethical question for you – have you lied recently? My guess is that you have. Now before you get all righteous about[..]
Don't worry, he's ok...
A few years ago if a company wanted to advertise their products they mainly used the traditional media methods of TV, radio and print. Nowadays[..]
There's a 90% chance...
There's been a significant reduction in the use of cash during the pandemic. A lot of shops now only accept card payments so that they[..]
Start walking...
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I never emailed you...
Sometimes it's the simple scams that can cause the most damage. We hear all the time about ignoring scam phishing emails where fraudsters are pretending[..]
Does this help you concentrate?
The Journal of Consumer Research published the results of five experiments into how the level of background noise can impact on performance when someone is[..]
You are (probably) a liar…19 Jan 2022
Don't worry, he's ok…5 Jan 2022
There's a 90% chance…14 Dec 2021
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Terry Virts is an astronaut who has spent over 200 days in space at the International Space Station (ISS). While he was at NASA he had one of the most demanding jobs in the world. He is one of only four astronauts ever to pilot the NASA space shuttle, fly on the Russian Soyuz spacecraft, perform space walks and hold the role of Commander of the ISS.
In this conversation Terry and I have a conversation about what he loves most about space and how he then communicates what the experience is truly like.
Today we're chatting with Gill Hicks. The founder of not for profit organisation, M.A.D. For Peace and consultancy, M.A.D. MINDS. Gill was severely and permanently injured in the London bombings of 2005, losing both of her legs just below the knee. She is determined to do all she can to deter anyone from following a path of violent action and believes everyone can make a personal difference to create a confident global community and a sustainable peace. is determined to do all she can to deter anyone from following a path of violent action and believes everyone can make a personal difference to create a confident global community and a sustainable peace.
Dr Jordan Nguyen is on a mission to improve the lives of as many people as possible. By re-imagining and re-defining the boundaries between human and technological evolution, Jordan is at the forefront of bringing about positive, sustainable and life-altering change.
An internationally renowned engineer for humanity, he designs life-changing technologies that are intelligent, futuristic and inclusive, and many of these are made to transform the lives of people with disability.
In our conversation Jordan shares with us the feeling that drives him to do what he does. He also speaks on the importance of inspiration and why, no matter what industry you're in, you need to embrace your day-to-day challenges.
Joining me today is Dr. Catherine Ball who is an author, founder, and ethics advocate working across global projects where robotics and new technology meet environmental protection.
She is also the CEO of an Australian startup working with the application of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems aka drone technology across remote communities, schools, industry, and citizen scientists.
In this conversation we get up close and personal with Catherine as she shares the adventures of growing up and how she got to where she is today.
Rochelle Gance is an Eating Psychology and Holistic Health Coach. She teaches a practice called Flow which is a fusion of Tai Chi and QiGong.
Dandapani is a Hindu priest, speaker on self development and an entrepreneur. For 10 years he lived a life of serious personal discipline, training at a monastery in Hawaii.
David Kwong is an illusionist and puzzle expert and also the founder of the Misdirectors Guild, an elite group of magicians that specialise in magic for film and television.
David Kwong. He is an illusionist and puzzle expert who believes that human beings are driven by the urge to solve problems and "create order out of chaos". He is also the founder of the Misdirectors Guild, an elite group of magicians that specialise in magic for film and television.


Ayooq, A., Alem Tabriz, A., Javani, A. (2015). Virtual manufacturing cells scheduling considering lotstreaming and sequence dependent setup times. Journal of Industrial Engineering and Management Studies, 2(1), 61-73.
A. Ayooq; A. Alem Tabriz; A. Javani. "Virtual manufacturing cells scheduling considering lotstreaming and sequence dependent setup times". Journal of Industrial Engineering and Management Studies, 2, 1, 2015, 61-73.
Ayooq, A., Alem Tabriz, A., Javani, A. (2015). 'Virtual manufacturing cells scheduling considering lotstreaming and sequence dependent setup times', Journal of Industrial Engineering and Management Studies, 2(1), pp. 61-73.
Ayooq, A., Alem Tabriz, A., Javani, A. Virtual manufacturing cells scheduling considering lotstreaming and sequence dependent setup times. Journal of Industrial Engineering and Management Studies, 2015; 2(1): 61-73.
1Department of Industrial Management, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran.
2Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran.
3Kar Higher Institute, Qazvin, Iran.
In this paper, a new mathematical model for the problem of job scheduling in virtual manufacturing cells (VMC) is presented to minimizing the completion time of all jobs. Sequence dependent setup times of machines is considered and lot-streaming is possible. In Virtual manufacturing cells, each job has a different processing path and there is a set of machines for processing each operation. There are multiple machine types with several identical machines in each type locating in different locations in the shop floor. In this type of system, the cells are not physical and Machines can be shared between the cells. In Mixed-integer nonlinear programming model presented, the scheduling decisions involve assigning a machine to each operation, the start time at each operation, the start time of machines and sub-lot sizes of each job. Some test problems have been generated to demonstrate the implementation of the model and solved by Lingo.
Allahverdi, A., C. T. Ng, T. C. E. Cheng, & Kovalyov M., 2010. "A Survey of Scheduling Problems with Setup Times or Costs". European Journal of Operational Research 187 (3): 985–1032.
Arkat J. & Ghahve H., 2014. "Scheduling of virtual manufacturing cells with outsourcing allowed". International Journal of Computer Integrated Manufacturing: 1079-1089.
Baker K.R. 1995. "Lot streaming in the two-machine flow shop with setup times". Annals of Operations Research 57, 1-11.
Chen J., & Steiner G. 1998. "Lot streaming with attached setups in three-machine flow shops". IIE Trans 30: 1075–1084.
Drolet JR., 1989. "Scheduling virtual cellular manufacturing systems". PhD thesis, Purdue University.
Glass C. & Potts C., 1998. "Structural properties of lot streaming in a flow shop". Mathematics of operation research.
Hamedi M., Esmaeilian G., Ismail N., Ariffin M., 2012. "Capability-based virtual cellular manufacturing systems formation in dual-resource constrained settings using Tabu Search". Computers & Industrial Engineering: 953–971.
Irani SA., Cavalier TM., & Cohen PH. 1993. "Virtual manufacturing cells: Exploiting layout design and intercell flows for the machine sharing problem". Int J Prod Res 31(4): 791–810.
Kalir A., Sarin S., 2002. "Constructing Near Optimal Schedules for the Flow-Shop Lot Streaming Problem with Sublot-Attached Setups". Journal of Combinatorial Optimization: 23–44.
Kannan VR., Ghosh S., 1996. "Cellular manufacturing using virtual cells". International Journal of Operations and Production Management.
Kannan VR., 1997. "A simulation analysis of the impact of family configuration on virtual cellular manufacturing". Production Planning and Control: 14–24.
Kesen SE., Das SK., & Gungor Z. 2010. "A mixed integer programming formulation for scheduling of virtual manufacturing cells (VMCs)". Int J Adv Manuf Technol 43(5–8): 665–678.
Kesen SE., Das SK., & Gungor Z. 2010. "A genetic algorithm based heuristic for scheduling of virtual manufacturing cells (VMCs)". Comput Opns Res 37(6): 1148–1156.
Kesen E. & Gungor Z., 2011. "How important is the batch splitting activity in scheduling of virtual manufacturing cells (VMCs)?" International Journal of Production Research: 1645-1667.
Kesen SE., & Gungor Z. 2012. "Job scheduling in virtual manufacturing cells with lot-streaming strategy a new mathematical model formulation and a genetic algorithm approach". Journal of the Operational Research Society, 63, 683–695.
Ko K-C , Egbelu PC., 2003. "Performance comparison of static and dynamic cellular manufacturing system". In: Proceedings of the first group technology / cellular manufacturing world symposium.p.1–6.
Mak K., Lau J., & Wang X. 2002. "Production Scheduling and Cell Formation for Virtual Cellular Manufacturing Systems". Int J Adv Manuf Technol:144–152.
Mak K., Lau J., & Wang X. 2005. "A genetic scheduling methodology for virtual cellular manufacturing systems: an industrial application". International Journal of Production Research: 2423-2450.
Mak K., Lau J., & Wang X. 2007. "An ant colony optimization algorithm for scheduling virtual cellular manufacturing systems". International Journal of Computer Integrated Manufacturing: 524-537.
McLean CR, Bloom HM, & Hopp TH. 1982. "The virtual manufacturing cell".
Mak K., Ma J. & Cui X., 2011. "Integrated Multi-period Production Scheduling and Cell Formation for Virtual Cellular Manufacturing Systems". Engineering Letters.
Nomden G. & Zee D., 2008. "Virtual cellular manufacturing: Configuring routing flexibility", Int. J.Production Economics: 439–451.
Nomden G., Slomp J., Suresh c., 2006. "Virtual manufacturing cells A taxonomy of past research and identification of future research issues", Int J Flex Manuf Syst: 71–92.
Rezazadeh H., Ghazanfari M., Sadjadi S., Aryanejad B. & Makui A., 2009. "Linear programming embedded particle swarm optimization for solving an extended model of dynamic virtual cellular manufacturing systems". Journal of Applied Research and Technology: 83-108.
Saad SM., Baykasoglu A., GindyN NZ., 2002. "An integrated frame work for reconfiguration of cellular manufacturing systems using virtual cells". Production Planning & Control:381–93.
Slomp J., Chowdary V., Suresh C., 2005. "Design of virtual manufacturing cells a mathematical programming approach". Robotics and Computer-Integrated Manufacturing: 273–288.
Vakharia AJ., MoilyJP., HuangY.,1999. "Evaluating virtual cell sand multi stage flow shops". International Journal of Flexible Manufacturing Systems:291–314.


Though the first watch we showed you from Zenith 2012 was a relatively simple piece (the Espada, Zenith's first non-chronograph El Primero), the year is all about the Pilot's watch. The simplest of the three (we'll show you the other two down the line) is the Pilot Big Date Special, which is a vintage inspired chronograph (an El Primero, of course) with the addition of a big date at 6 o'clock.
This 42mm steel watch comes on both a stitched, aged leather strap or mesh bracelet (which is surprisingly awesome - see pics below), though, the big date execution here is the not the slickest we've seen - notice how the numerals are on dramatically different planes? So much so that you can almost see a shadow of one on the other. Still, as with most of Zenith's, the value ratio here is very strong. The Zenith Pilot Big Date Special will sell for $6500 on leather and $6900 on bracelet. Not bad for a nice looking watch with an in-house chrono movement from a very solid brand. More details here.
Click through for more live pics of the Zenith Pilot Big Date Special on both leather and steel mesh bracelet.


Born and raised in West Texas, Mike Conaway is proud to represent Texas' 11th Congressional District since coming to Congress in 2005. He serves as chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, where he strongly advocates for farmers, ranchers, rural communities, and consumers while ensuring programs under the committee's jurisdiction are defensible and financially responsible.
Prior to becoming Agriculture Committee chairman, Conaway served as chairman of the House Ethics Committee and held leadership roles as chairman or ranking member of two Agriculture subcommittees since the 111th Congress. In addition to his role as chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, he currently serves on the House Armed Services Committee and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.
Conaway was instrumental in the passage of the 2008 and 2014 farm bills, in which he focused largely on strengthening the agricultural economy. He believes the benefits of a strong rural economy are felt in every community in America. A lifelong fiscal conservative, Conaway is committed to sound farm policy, protecting taxpayer dollars, and overseeing implementation of the Agricultural Act of 2014 as well as agencies and projects at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Last Congress, the Agriculture Committee conducted a top-to-bottom review of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in efforts to strengthen the program for individuals and families in need of temporary assistance.
Conaway graduated from East Texas State University, now known as Texas A&M University-Commerce, where he studied accounting and played football. He then served two years in the U.S. Army at Fort Hood and went on to become a Certified Public Accountant. He was appointed by President George W. Bush to the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy, where he served as a board member and chairman. He and his wife, Suzanne, live in Midland and have four children and seven grandchildren.
This interview took place in early January, prior to the inauguration of President Donald Trump.
U.S. Agriculture Outlook: It's been two years since the United States started taking steps to re-establish diplomatic relations with Cuba and ease restrictions on trade, with the goal, in part, to increase commerce between the two nations. You felt at the time that this move did nothing for the Cuban people living under the oppressive Castro regime. Now, two years later, you have co-sponsored a bill, the Cuba Agricultural Exports Act, that aims to make trade transactions easier while still providing safeguards for American agricultural producers. What do the bill's protections entail? How have you seen agricultural trade between the United States and Cuba develop or change since December 2014, and how do you see the bill's protections working in that landscape?
Rep. Mike Conaway: Despite the overtures from President [Barack] Obama, we have yet to see tangible improvements in agricultural trade with Cuba. Instead, the Castro regime continues to treat food imports as a political football. That is made possible by the fact that all import decisions are made by a regime-controlled import monopoly known as Alimport.
While the Cuba Agricultural Exports Act works to provide export opportunities for U.S. farmers and ranchers, one of the hallmarks of the legislation is the safeguards it puts in place. For example, while it would allow market promotion programs to be used in Cuba, no funds are permitted to flow to entities controlled by the Castro regime.
The Obama administration has shown a commitment to support and invest in programs to benefit rural America and to address those communities' particular needs; as examples, the administration created the White House Rural Council to coordinate programs aimed at helping rural communities, and since 2009, the USDA's Rural Housing Service has invested $154.9 billion to assist 1.2 million rural families in buying, refinancing, and maintaining their homes. However, in comments on past budget proposals put forth by Obama, you stated that proposed tax increases, among other things, showed that he is out of touch with rural America. Do you feel any of the Obama administration's efforts toward supporting rural communities hit the mark? What changes in this arena would you like to see going forward?
On numerous occasions, I have commended Secretary [Tom] Vilsack for his work at USDA, most notably for his work in implementing the 2014 Farm Bill. While I believe he was a very capable secretary, I do believe that the broader administration was completely out of touch with rural America. The president's proposals to eliminate stepped-up tax basis would have hammered farm families at one of their most difficult times, as they transition from one generation to the next. Further, the administration's repeated budget proposals to gut crop insurance ignored the fact that crop insurance is virtually universally supported in farm country and is the primary risk management tool underpinning the rural economy. Perhaps most egregious, however, was the administration's regulatory assault on rural America. From WOTUS [Waters of the United States] to endangered species, this administration had an endless appetite for regulating American farmers and ranchers.
In 2015, China exceeded allowable limits on subsidies to its corn, rice, and wheat producers by $100 billion, and it's not the first time China has veered from the parameters of trade agreements. In September 2016, the United States initiated a trade enforcement action against China at the World Trade Organization (WTO) in response. What, in your view, are the next steps for dealing with China on this issue and with other trade partners who break trade commitments?
We have been sounding the alarm in the Agriculture Committee on this issue for years. The United States actively works to abide by its commitments in the WTO, and when other countries ignore their obligations, it puts our farmers and ranchers at a distinct disadvantage. While the focus is on China, it's important to note that they are not alone. For example, India is deploying many of the same types of policies and, in some cases, they are doing so more egregiously than China. If we are going to continue ratcheting down support to our growers, it's vital that other countries abide by the rules as well.
With the Doha Round [a round of trade negotiations among the WTO membership] effectively over, I think it is important that future negotiations on topics like agricultural subsidies reflect the significant reforms made by the United States. I think it is equally important for future negotiations to start acknowledging the fact that some of the large, advanced developing countries can and are distorting global markets to a greater degree than their developed counterparts.
You expressed concerns about particulars of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal back in October 2015. Where do things currently stand with TPP? Have your concerns with the deal been addressed?
The House Agriculture Committee recently finished a two-year review of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), a program that accounts for nearly 80 percent of farm bill spending. What prompted such an in-depth review? How often do such in-depth reviews of agriculture programs take place – and should they happen more often? Less often?
Farm bills are typically negotiated every five years. Agriculture programs – particularly the farm safety net – [are] subjected to near constant scrutiny. In the last farm bill, it was reformed again with estimated spending on traditional farm policy reduced by 30 percent at the time.
In the case of SNAP, the last major reform was as part of the 1996 welfare reforms. Spending on SNAP has doubled under each of the last two administrations. I hear constant concerns from my colleagues and constituents about problems they see with the program and a perceived lack of accountability. Unfortunately, in the last farm bill debate, the conversation devolved largely into a fight about arbitrary spending reductions. We also heard complaints about a lack of hearings during the process.
This time around, we decided to take a very close look at what is and is not working in the program. We have intentionally avoided any conversations about arbitrary spending reduction targets. Instead, we are looking at what is and isn't working, and we will let that conversation drive any needed policy changes. If that leads to spending reductions (or not), then so be it.
What work is underway so far on the 2018 Farm Bill? What are some particular changes you'd like to see in the legislation?
We held more than 80 hearings in the 114th Congress. Many of those hearings were looking at what is and isn't working in the current farm bill. I expect to continue farm bill hearings in the spring, as well as a series of listening sessions, with those increasingly focusing on the content of the next farm bill.
Beyond the comments on SNAP above, we must address cotton and dairy policy in the next farm bill. Our cotton producers have been left without an effective safety net to protect against the predatory trade practices of China and India. Some dairy producers are concerned that the new dairy margin protection program has not worked as expected. These are among a host of other issues that will be addressed in the next farm bill.
What is your sense so far of the Trump administration's policy priorities in regard to agriculture?
I want to give the administration time to get its ducks in a row, but I like what I've seen so far. The administration will waste no time in rolling back much of the Obama administration's regulatory assault on rural America. The [president] has signaled strong support for the farm safety net, which is obviously important in farm country. And, while there is some angst over trade, the [president] understands the vital importance of being able to export our agricultural products. As I noted above, we have been sounding the alarm for years on the fact that the United States continues to reform while we watch much of the rest of the world take advantage of the void. I think his strong stance on trade enforcement can and will bode well for American agriculture.


text:
// ----------------------------------------------------------------------
// This code is developed as part of the Java CoG Kit project
// The terms of the license can be found at http://www.cogkit.org/license
// This message may not be removed or altered.
// ----------------------------------------------------------------------

package org.globus.cog.abstraction.impl.file.ftp;

import java.io.File;
import java.io.FileInputStream;
import java.io.FileOutputStream;
import java.io.IOException;
import java.io.InputStream;
import java.io.OutputStream;
import java.net.PasswordAuthentication;
import java.text.ParseException;
import java.text.SimpleDateFormat;
import java.util.ArrayList;
import java.util.Collection;
import java.util.Date;
import java.util.Enumeration;
import java.util.List;

import org.apache.log4j.Logger;
import org.globus.cog.abstraction.impl.common.task.IllegalSpecException;
import org.globus.cog.abstraction.impl.common.task.InvalidSecurityContextException;
import org.globus.cog.abstraction.impl.common.task.TaskSubmissionException;
import org.globus.cog.abstraction.impl.file.DirectoryNotFoundException;
import org.globus.cog.abstraction.impl.file.FileResourceException;
import org.globus.cog.abstraction.impl.file.GridFileImpl;
import org.globus.cog.abstraction.impl.file.IllegalHostException;
import org.globus.cog.abstraction.impl.file.PermissionsImpl;
import org.globus.cog.abstraction.interfaces.ExecutableObject;
import org.globus.cog.abstraction.interfaces.FileFragment;
import org.globus.cog.abstraction.interfaces.FileResource;
import org.globus.cog.abstraction.interfaces.GridFile;
import org.globus.cog.abstraction.interfaces.ProgressMonitor;
import org.globus.cog.abstraction.interfaces.SecurityContext;
import org.globus.cog.abstraction.interfaces.ServiceContact;
import org.globus.ftp.Buffer;
import org.globus.ftp.DataSink;
import org.globus.ftp.DataSinkStream;
import org.globus.ftp.DataSource;
import org.globus.ftp.DataSourceStream;
import org.globus.ftp.FTPClient;
import org.globus.ftp.FileInfo;
import org.globus.ftp.InputStreamDataSink;
import org.globus.ftp.OutputStreamDataSource;
import org.globus.ftp.Session;
import org.globus.ftp.vanilla.TransferState;

/**
 * File resource interface implementation for FTP Servers. Supports relative and
 * absolute path names.
 */
public class FileResourceImpl extends AbstractFTPFileResource {
    public static final String PROTOCOL = "ftp";

    public static final String ANONYMOUS_USERNAME = "anonymous";
    public static final char[] ANONYMOUS_PASSWORD;
    static {
        String pwd = "none@example.com";
        ANONYMOUS_PASSWORD = new char[pwd.length()];
        pwd.getChars(0, pwd.length(), ANONYMOUS_PASSWORD, 0);
    }

    private FTPClient ftpClient;
    public static final Logger logger = Logger.getLogger(FileResource.class
        .getName());

    /** throws invalidprovider exception */
    public FileResourceImpl() {
        this(null, null, null);
    }

    /** the constructor to be used normally */
    public FileResourceImpl(String name, ServiceContact serviceContact,
            SecurityContext securityContext) {
        super(name, PROTOCOL, serviceContact, securityContext);
    }

    /**
     * Create the ftpClient and authenticate with the resource.
     *
     * @throws FileResourceException
     *             if an exception occurs during the resource start-up
     */
    public void start() throws InvalidSecurityContextException, IllegalHostException,
            FileResourceException {

        ServiceContact serviceContact = getAndCheckServiceContact();

        String host = getServiceContact().getHost();
        int port = getServiceContact().getPort();
        if (port == -1) {
            port = 21;
        }

        if (getName() == null) {
            setName(host + ":" + port);
        }

        try {
            SecurityContext securityContext = getOrCreateSecurityContext("ftp", serviceContact);

            PasswordAuthentication credentials = getCredentialsAsPasswordAuthentication(securityContext);

            ftpClient = new FTPClient(host, port);

            String username = credentials.getUserName();
            String password = String.valueOf(credentials.getPassword());

            ftpClient.authorize(username, password);
            ftpClient.setType(Session.TYPE_IMAGE);
            setStarted(true);
        }
        catch (Exception e) {
            throw translateException(
                "Error connecting to the FTP server at " + host + ":" + port, e);
        }
    }

    @Override
    protected PasswordAuthentication getDefaultUsernameAndPassword() {
        return new PasswordAuthentication(ANONYMOUS_USERNAME, ANONYMOUS_PASSWORD);
    }

    /**
     * Stop the ftpClient from connecting to the server
     *
     * @throws IOException
     * @throws FileResourceException
     */
    public void stop() throws FileResourceException {
        try {
            ftpClient.close();
            setStarted(false);
        }
        catch (Exception e) {
            throw translateException("Error while stopping the FTP server", e);
        }
    }

    /**
     * Equivalent to cd command
     *
     * @throws IOException
     * @throws FileResourceException
     */
    public void setCurrentDirectory(String directory)
            throws FileResourceException {
        try {
            ftpClient.changeDir(directory);
        }
        catch (Exception e) {
            throw translateException("Cannot set the current directory", e);
        }
    }

    /**
     * Return Current path
     *
     * @throws IOException
     * @throws FileResourceException
     */
    public String getCurrentDirectory() throws FileResourceException {
        try {
            return ftpClient.getCurrentDir();
        }
        catch (Exception e) {
            throw translateException("Cannot get the current directory", e);
        }
    }

    /**
     * Equivalent to ls command in the current directory
     *
     * @throws IOException
     * @throws FileResourceException
     */
    public Collection<GridFile> list() throws FileResourceException {
        List<GridFile> gridFileList = new ArrayList<GridFile>();
        try {
            ftpClient.setPassive();
            ftpClient.setLocalActive();
            ftpClient.setType(Session.TYPE_ASCII);

            Enumeration<?> list = ftpClient.list().elements();
            ftpClient.setType(Session.TYPE_IMAGE);

            while (list.hasMoreElements()) {
                gridFileList.add(createGridFile(list.nextElement()));
            }
            return gridFileList;
        }
        catch (Exception e) {
            throw translateException(
                "Cannot list the elements of the current directory", e);
        }
    }

    /**
     * Equivalent to ls command on the given directory
     *
     * @throws FileResourceException
     */
    public Collection<GridFile> list(String directory) throws FileResourceException {

        // Store currentDir
        String currentDirectory = getCurrentDirectory();
        // Change directory
        setCurrentDirectory(directory);
        Collection<GridFile> list = null;
        try {
            ftpClient.setType(Session.TYPE_ASCII);
            list = list();
            ftpClient.setType(Session.TYPE_IMAGE);
        }
        catch (Exception e) {
            throw translateException("Error in list directory", e);
        }

        // Come back to original directory
        setCurrentDirectory(currentDirectory);
        return list;
    }

    /** Equivalent to mkdir */
    public void createDirectory(String directory) throws FileResourceException {
        try {
            ftpClient.makeDir(directory);
        }
        catch (Exception e) {
            throw translateException("Cannot create the directory", e);
        }
    }

    /**
     * Remove directory and its files if force = true. Else remove directory
     * only if empty
     */
    public void deleteDirectory(String directory, boolean force)
            throws FileResourceException {

        if (!isDirectory(directory)) {
            throw new DirectoryNotFoundException(directory
                    + " is not a valid directory");
        }

        try {
            if (force) {
                for (GridFile f : list(directory)) {
                    if (f.isFile()) {
                        ftpClient.deleteFile(directory + "/" + f.getName());
                    }
                    else {
                        deleteDirectory(directory + "/" + f.getName(), force);
                    }
                }
            }
            if (list(directory).isEmpty()) {
                ftpClient.deleteDir(directory);
            }
        }
        catch (Exception e) {
            throw translateException("Cannot delete the given directory", e);
        }
    }

    /** Equivalent to rm command on a file */
    public void deleteFile(String file) throws FileResourceException {
        try {
            ftpClient.deleteFile(file);
        }
        catch (Exception e) {
            throw translateException("Cannot delete the given file", e);
        }
    }

    public void getFile(FileFragment remote, FileFragment local)
            throws FileResourceException {
        getFile(remote, local, null);
    }

    /** Equivalent to cp/copy command */
    public void getFile(FileFragment remote, FileFragment local,
            final ProgressMonitor progressMonitor) throws FileResourceException {
        if (remote.isFragment() || local.isFragment()) {
            throw new UnsupportedOperationException("The FTP provider does not support partial transfers");
        }
        String currentDirectory = getCurrentDirectory();
        File localFile = new File(local.getFile());
        try {
            ftpClient.setPassive();
            ftpClient.setLocalActive();
            final long size = localFile.length();
            DataSink sink;
            if (progressMonitor != null) {
                // The sink is used to follow progress
                sink = new DataSinkStream(new FileOutputStream(localFile)) {
                    public void write(Buffer buffer) throws IOException {
                        super.write(buffer);
                        progressMonitor.progress(offset, size);
                    }
                };
            }
            else {
                sink = new DataSinkStream(new FileOutputStream(localFile));
            }
            ftpClient.get(remote.getFile(), sink, null);
        }
        catch (Exception e) {
            throw translateException("Cannot retrieve the given file", e);
        }
    }

    public void putFile(FileFragment local, FileFragment remote)
            throws FileResourceException {
        putFile(local, remote, null);
    }

    /** Copy a local file to a remote file. Default option 'overwrite' */
    public void putFile(FileFragment local, FileFragment remote,
            final ProgressMonitor progressMonitor) throws FileResourceException {
        if (local.isFragment() || remote.isFragment()) {
            throw new UnsupportedOperationException("The FTP provider does not support partial transfers");
        }
        String currentDirectory = getCurrentDirectory();
        File localFile = new File(local.getFile());
        try {
            ftpClient.setPassive();
            ftpClient.setLocalActive();
            final long size = localFile.length();
            DataSource source;
            if (progressMonitor != null) {
                source = new DataSourceStream(new FileInputStream(localFile)) {
                    public Buffer read() throws IOException {
                        progressMonitor.progress(totalRead, size);
                        return super.read();
                    }
                };
            }
            else {
                source = new DataSourceStream(new FileInputStream(localFile));
            }
            ftpClient.put(remote.getFile(), source, null, false);
        }
        catch (Exception e) {
            throw translateException("Cannot transfer the given file", e);
        }
    }

    /**
     * rename a remote file.
     */
    public void rename(String remoteFileName1, String remoteFileName2)
            throws FileResourceException {
        try {
            ftpClient.rename(remoteFileName1, remoteFileName2);
        }
        catch (Exception e) {
            throw translateException("Rename for ftp failed", e);
        }
    }

    /**
     * Changes the permissions on the file if authorized to do so
     */
    public void changeMode(String filename, int mode)
            throws FileResourceException {
        String cmd = "chmod " + mode + " " + filename; // or something else
        try {
            ftpClient.site(cmd);
        }
        catch (Exception e) {
            throw translateException("Cannot change the file permissions", e);
        }
    }

    /** get file information */
    public GridFile getGridFile(String fileName) throws FileResourceException {

        String directory = null;
        int endIndex = fileName.lastIndexOf("/");
        if (endIndex < 0) {
            directory = getCurrentDirectory();
        }
        else {
            directory = fileName.substring(0, endIndex);
            fileName = fileName.substring(endIndex + 1, fileName.length());
        }

        for (GridFile f : list(directory)) {
            if (f.getName().equals(fileName)) {
                return f;
            }
        }
        return null;
    }

    /** change mode for the file if authorized to do so */
    public void changeMode(GridFile newGridFile) throws FileResourceException {

        String newPermissions = newGridFile.getUserPermissions().toString()
                + newGridFile.getGroupPermissions().toString()
                + newGridFile.getWorldPermissions().toString();

        logger.error(newGridFile.getAbsolutePathName());

        changeMode(newGridFile.getAbsolutePathName(), Integer
            .parseInt(newPermissions));
    }

    /** returns true if the file exists */
    public boolean exists(String filename) throws FileResourceException {
        try {
            return ftpClient.exists(filename);
        }
        catch (Exception e) {
            throw translateException(
                "Cannot determine the existence of the file", e);
        }
    }

    /**
     * return true if the input is a directory in the ftp resource. works only
     * if you have permissions to change to the specified directory.
     */
    public boolean isDirectory(String dirName) throws FileResourceException {
        boolean isDir = true;
        String currentDirectory = getCurrentDirectory();
        try {
            setCurrentDirectory(dirName);
        }
        catch (FileResourceException e) {
            isDir = false;
        }
        finally {
            try {
                setCurrentDirectory(currentDirectory);
            }
            catch (Exception e) {
                // do nothihng
                // ???
            }
        }
        return isDir;
    }

    /** execute workflow in ftp resource. not implemented */
    public void submit(ExecutableObject commandWorkflow)
            throws IllegalSpecException, TaskSubmissionException {
        throw new TaskSubmissionException(
            "Cannot perform submit. Operation not implemented for ftp");
    }

    private GridFile createGridFile(Object obj) throws FileResourceException,
            IOException {

        GridFile gridFile = new GridFileImpl();

        FileInfo fileInfo = (FileInfo) obj;

        String directory = getCurrentDirectory();
        if (directory.endsWith("/")) {
            gridFile.setAbsolutePathName(directory + fileInfo.getName());
        }
        else {
            gridFile.setAbsolutePathName(directory + "/" + fileInfo.getName());
        }
        try {
            gridFile.setLastModified(new SimpleDateFormat().parse(fileInfo.getDate()));
        }
        catch (ParseException e) {
            gridFile.setLastModified(new Date(0));
        }

        if (fileInfo.isFile() == true) {
            gridFile.setFileType(GridFile.FILE);
        }
        if (fileInfo.isDirectory() == true) {
            gridFile.setFileType(GridFile.DIRECTORY);
        }
        if (fileInfo.isDevice() == true) {
            gridFile.setFileType(GridFile.DEVICE);
        }
        if (fileInfo.isSoftLink() == true) {
            gridFile.setFileType(GridFile.SOFTLINK);
        }

        gridFile.setMode(fileInfo.getModeAsString());
        gridFile.setName(fileInfo.getName());
        gridFile.setSize(fileInfo.getSize());

        gridFile.setUserPermissions(PermissionsImpl.instance(fileInfo.userCanRead(),
            fileInfo.userCanWrite(), fileInfo.userCanExecute()));
        gridFile.setGroupPermissions(PermissionsImpl.instance(fileInfo.groupCanRead(),
            fileInfo.groupCanWrite(), fileInfo.groupCanExecute()));
        gridFile.setWorldPermissions(PermissionsImpl.instance(fileInfo.allCanRead(),
            fileInfo.allCanWrite(), fileInfo.allCanExecute()));

        return gridFile;
    }

    /** Delete the specified local directory */
    private void removeLocalDirectory(String tempDirName) {
        File tempFile = new File(tempDirName);
        String[] fileNames = tempFile.list();
        if (fileNames != null) {
            for (int i = 0; i < fileNames.length; i++) {
                File newFile = new File(tempDirName + File.separator
                        + fileNames[i]);
                if (newFile.isFile() == true) {
                    newFile.delete();
                }
                else {
                    removeLocalDirectory(newFile.getAbsolutePath());
                }
            }
        }
        tempFile.delete();
    }

    public InputStream openInputStream(String name)
            throws FileResourceException {
        InputStreamDataSink sink = null;
        try {
            ftpClient.setPassive();
            ftpClient.setLocalActive();

            sink = new InputStreamDataSink();

            TransferState state = ftpClient.asynchGet(name, sink, null);
            state.waitForStart();

            return sink.getInputStream();
        }
        catch (Exception e) {
            if (sink != null) {
                try {
                    sink.close();
                }
                catch (IOException ee) {
                    logger.warn("Failed to close FTP sink", ee);
                }
            }
            throw translateException("Failed to open FTP stream", e);
        }
    }

    public OutputStream openOutputStream(String name)
            throws FileResourceException {
        OutputStreamDataSource source = null;
        try {
            ftpClient.setPassive();
            ftpClient.setLocalActive();

            source = new OutputStreamDataSource(16384);

            TransferState state = ftpClient.asynchPut(name, source, null, false);
            state.waitForStart();

            return source.getOutputStream();
        }
        catch (Exception e) {
            if (source != null) {
                try {
                    source.close();
                }
                catch (IOException ee) {
                    logger.warn("Failed to close FTP source", ee);
                }
            }
            throw translateException("Failed to open FTP stream", e);
        }
    }

    public boolean supportsStreams() {
        return true;
    }

    public boolean supportsPartialTransfers() {
        return false;
    }

    public boolean supportsThirdPartyTransfers() {
        return false;
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Renovating your home can be very time consuming and stressful, especially if you try to do it yourself. That's why it's important to learn about practical changes and additions you can make and that you hire a professional to do them safely and correctly. These five projects are a great way to start your home renovation journey.
Before you start this project, you must first decide if you want to modernize the room or create a more vintage look. This is especially important to keep in mind if you plan on selling your home in the near future, as not all potential buyers will share your specific taste. The answer will help you determine which style of tub, sink, tile, and fixtures you should upgrade with.
The first thing guests or potential buyers see when they look at your home are your doors and windows. If they are showing signs of aging, like crack, breaks, and corroded hardware, getting them professionally replaced is a solid investment. Not only will these additions improve your home's overall aesthetic, it will help keep utility costs low and you safe.
It can be easy to fall into an aesthetic rut when you have the same furniture as when you originally moved in. Now that other areas of your home have different styles, you can update your furniture to match or complement them.
A small-scale kitchen remodeling project can do wonders for your home. When you redo the floors, add a new backsplash, refinish your counters and cabinets, and upgrade your appliances, your entire home will feel fresh and new.
An outdoor space can really make a house feel whole, especially if you're appealing to potential homebuyers. When you have a patio or deck professionally installed, you'll be amazed at how these simple additions can really transform a space.
Now that you know five practical changes and additions to upgrade your home, contact a skilled and trained licensed professional and get started today.


text:
Delicious Cauliflower Rice
With Ellie Krieger
FitEDM
New York Times best-selling author Ellie Krieger helps people of all ages achieve balance in food, health and life, and have joy right at their fingertips. She is a registered dietitian and host of Food Network's Healthy Appetite.
Ellie's warmth and charisma have made her the go-to nutritionist, with a lifestyle emphasis, in the media today. Her success can be attributed to her way of offering real advice without any of the gimmicks and crash diets that permeate today's news. She reaches people with her message that it is possible for anyone, given the tools and knowledge, to live life to the maximum by being in healthy balance, nurturing a richly satisfying and sumptuous, attainable lifestyle. She believes that through her work she can help to change the way society views food, health and nutrition. Ellie's ease in front of the camera can be attributed to her years as a fashion model for the world-famous agency named after the iconic Wilhelmina Cooper. After receiving her undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in nutrition from Cornell and Columbia University, Ellie began educating others on eating healthy in a realistic, delicious and easy way.
Ellie's third book, So Easy: Luscious Healthy Recipes for Every Meal of the Week, hit shelves on November 2, 2009. It was an immediate New York Times best-seller and has been featured in numerous publications from People magazine and USA Today to the New York Times' Fall Cookbook roundup featuring the 10 best cookbooks of the fall.
Ellie's 2005 book, Small Changes Big Results, was a how-to on easy-to-live-with habit changes that yield optimal results. Ellie's second book, The Food You Crave: Luscious Recipes for a Healthy Life, was Ellie's first New York Times best-seller, peaking at #2 on that list. In addition to being named to Amazon's Customer Bestseller List for 2008, The Food You Crave won the 2009 IACP Cookbook award and the James Beard Foundation Award.
Ellie held the position of director of nutritional services at the prestigious La Palestra Center for Preventative Medicine for several years where she worked with a team of physicians, psychologists and fitness specialists to create a multi-faceted, obesity-treatment program. She also was an adjunct professor in the New York University Department of Nutrition, Food Studies and Public Health. In her years in private practice, Ellie counseled a variety of clients, from homemakers to CEOs, as well as notable celebrities and top models.
Today, Ellie's extensive work in the media has earned her a loyal following and national recognition. Ellie has appeared as a guest expert on dozens of programs, including the Today show, The Dr. Oz Show, Live! with Regis and Kelly, CNN and CBS's The Early Show. In March 2009, Ellie joined a notable list of celebrities to take part in the illustrious Got Milk? campaign. In the fall of 2009, on the invite of first lady Michelle Obama, Ellie was invited to the White House to take part in the Healthy Kids Fair. Ellie has since teamed up with the School Nutrition Association and taken action at a grass-roots level with her daughter's New York City public school. In April 2010, she testified before the House Committee on Agriculture about nutrition, healthy eating and the growing epidemic of childhood obesity. Additionally, Ellie is a contributing editor and columnist for Women's Health, Fine Cooking and Food Network magazines. She also has contributed to numerous magazines and newspapers, among them: Self, Glamour, GQ, Better Homes and Gardens, Prevention, Men's Journal, Fitness, Ladies' Home Journal, Parenting, The Huffington Post, The New York Daily News and Newsday.
Ellie finds happiness living with her family in New York City.
Ellie Krieger
Read more at: Ellie Krieger
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HSI Website - Does God Exist?
As we become older and more educated, it is quite normal to question the existence of God. How do we know that God exists is a key question in life, which we all must personally answer. I clearly remember during late adolescence beginning to wonder about God's existence. I have come to personally accept that the existence of God can be deduced primarily from the 3 C's: Cosmos, Consciousness, and Conscience.
The sudden and explosive expansion of cosmic space and time at the "Big Bang" means that the universe had a beginning - and hence a Beginner. After such a violent beginning, it seems reasonable to expect that the universe would behave in a random, chaotic, and unpredictable manner. However, the universe is surprisingly well-ordered and predictable, governed by the laws of physics. This order in the cosmos points to an intelligent designer of these universal laws. It's also amazing that these physical laws can be mathematically expressed so simply and elegantly (e.g., e=mc2, F=ma). Only a creative mind could have caused this order and elegance.
Science has discovered many other evidences of the "fingerprint of God" in the universe and in life. One such evidence from physics is that the many physical constants and quantities of the universe are "finely tuned" and need to be delicately balanced "just so" as they are in order for life to exist. For example, even an infinitesimally small change in the gravitational force constant or the electromagnetic force constant would make the existence of stars like our sun, and hence life on earth, impossible. Another evidence from biology is the information encoded in the DNA molecule. An intelligent mind is the only known source of intelligible information.
The presence of human consciousness also points to the existence of God. If life had naturally evolved, as envisioned by Darwinian evolutionary theory, there would be no need for living organisms to have attainted the self-awareness and reasoning ability found in human beings. Mere instinct, which guides behavior in animals, is sufficient for survival. The consciousness found in human beings is not necessary for survival and points to something more. For example, only humans can appreciate beauty and discover the scientific principles that govern the universe. This indicates that humans are predestined for more than mere survival. Only humans have the free will that comes with consciousness. We are not robots whose actions are driven by instinct. We have the ability to think things through. We are free to decide what to do and how to do it. It's the presence of a conscious free will that separates humans from the animals.
Given that humans have a free will, we could do whatever we please. However, the morality of our actions is guided by our conscience. Why do people all over the world intuitively know the difference between right and wrong? The human conscience is not necessary for survival. Animals survive just fine without knowing right from wrong. The most compelling reason for humans to be able to know right from wrong is that we were created to be moral beings. We intuitively know the difference between right and wrong and are supposed to use our free will accordingly. This indicates that humans, unlike animals, are going to be held accountable for the actions of our free will as guided by an informed conscience.
Finally, it's normal to wonder why God doesn't more clearly reveal Himself and unquestionably prove His existence to us. It doesn't take faith to accept the existence of the sun or the moon. They are plain to see. However, God fully respects our free will. He has chosen to offer us an invitation that isn't overshadowed by coercion, such as would occur with an overpowering revelation that would leave us cowering in submission. Rather, God has given us the freedom to choose to believe in His existence - or not. Love cannot be coerced. God wants us to freely choose to know, love, and serve Him. This is our calling and gives meaning and purpose to our lives.


1. Identify common mistakes and pitfalls in the diagnosis of specific diseases (see above for specific diseases in the current course) in everyday surgical pathology.
2. Recognize mimickers of specific diseases in each specialty and learn to interpret special studies that will allow easier differential diagnosis.
3. Learn the pertinent histopathological characteristics of diseases to allow unequivocal diagnosis.
4. Identify new and additional components of the pathology report that will improve its clinical value.
5. Learn about the recent changes/modifications in the pathological classification of diseases or lesions.
6. Understand how they can be more helpful to the clinicians or surgeons in the management of patients with these diseases.


text:
Jason Gray To Release First Holiday Album - Christmas Stories: Repeat The Sounding Joy
"I love Jason's voice, his songs, and most of all his heart. This Christmas
release is a Christmas gift for us all!" - Max Lucado
NEWS SOURCE: Bozeman Media
Nashville, TN (August 6, 2012) ----- Never expect the normal standard from the talented Jason Gray, as his first Christmas project presents a deeper story celebrating the birth of Christ. Christmas Stories: Repeat The Sounding Joy offers a 14-song collection that includes 11 original songs that are interwoven with several carols, and tells the miraculous Christmas story through the eyes of the wisemen, the innkeeper, the shepherds and others in order to focus on the details inside the Christmas narrative. Produced by Cason Cooley (Andrew Peterson, Katie Herzig, Matthew Perryman Jones), Gray's new project also features collaborations with Nicole Nordeman, Joel Hanson, Andy Gullahorn, and Randall Goodgame, that so effectively describe the joy that is encapsulated within a somber dramatic story.
"The real story of Christmas can get lost in the shuffle," Jason explains. "But when I had the idea to create a collection of songs that tell the very human stories of the characters we're so familiar with, I was instantly intrigued and excited, and maybe a little daunted, by the prospect. I wanted to bring them back from just being iconic story characters and to consider who they really were, what events were unfolding in their lives, and how they as human beings in extraordinary circumstances were responding."
Gray's first Christmas offering is already receiving strong support as the best-selling author and pastor, Max Lucado says, "I love Jason's voice, his songs, and most of all his heart. This Christmas release is a Christmas gift for us all!"
The album kicks-off with the Christmas standard, Oh Come All Ye Faithful and segues into Christmas Is Coming that launches the narrative into the lives and thoughts of the story's characters. Other original songs include; "Gloria (The Song Of The Shepherds)," "Rest (The Song Of The Innkeeper)," and the story of the Magi, "Easier". The most personal song for Gray on Christmas Stories: Repeat The Sounding Joy is the song written with Nordeman, Christmas For Jesus. It features Jason's older twin sons, Kipper and Jacob, providing background vocals and handclaps on the album, but it's Gray's youngest son, Gus, who takes the lead vocal.
"Someone in our church shared about their granddaughter," Gray says, "and how she asked, 'I know Christmas for us is when Jesus was born into our world. Is Christmas for Jesus when we're born into his world?' I loved that idea and I wrestled with it for months trying to turn it into a full blown song. Eventually I realized it might be better as a shorter little musical poem, sweet and simple, and it became the song, "Christmas For Jesus." It was such a childlike perspective that I, as a grown man, felt weird singing it. So I thought 'Hey, what about Gus?' He came into the studio and sang it with his feet up on the wall, playing around with the mic as he was singing, jumping up and down-but he got it! And it's pretty beautiful, I think. My older boys, Kipper and Jacob, got to sing and do handclaps on the record too, so it was a really special thing to me to have all of them involved."
Gray will headline The Christmas Stories Tour in December and the first single from Christmas Stories: Repeat The Sounding Joy will be serviced to radio in October. But coming up first, Gray will hit the road for An Acoustic Evening With Jason Gray and Todd Agnew in September. Please visit Gray's website, www.jasongraymusic.com, for tour updates and Gray's latest blogs, videos, and information.
Track Listing For Christmas Stories: Repeat The Sounding Joy
1.	Oh Come All Ye Faithful
2.	Christmas Is Coming
3.	O Little Town Of Bethlehem
4.	Rest (The Song Of The Innkeeper)
5.	Ave Maria (A Song For Mary)
6.	Forgiveness Is A Miracle (A Song For Joseph)
7.	Man Of Mercy
8.	I Will Find A Way (The Song Of Emmanuel)
9.	O Holy Night
10.	Gloria (The Song Of The Shepherd)
11.	Easier (The Song Of The Wiseman)
12.	Christmas For Jesus
13.	Children Again
14.	Joy To The World
For more info on Jason Gray visit the JFH Artists Database.
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Ok fillies, so you've heard of Scandi-chic and Nordic-noir! No? Oh, but surely you know about Swedish Midsummer Eve? Yes, if visions of that Shakespearean classic "Midsummer Night's Dream" starts filling your head with blissful wanderlust…then you are on the right track. Those clever Swedes have got the right idea by celebrating Midsummer Eve in style! Sure, Sweden may be twice the size of the UK but it also does collective celebrating in a way we can only dream of. In fact, Midsummer is second only to Christmas in Sweden when it comes to relaxing, gathering with loved ones and throwing an epic party. But just because we are in ol' Blighty, that's no excuse! So it's time to dance this way and discover how we too can celebrate, Scandi-style!
It's tempting to be a party pooper and declare "we can't celebrate in the same way because we don't have as much midnight-sun as the Swedes". But come on now, that's a poor excuse! You could really embrace Midsummer Eve this year and head up to the Highlands on June 24th. That way you won't see much "night" in the night-sky. Go as far as Fair Isle and it's pretty much non-existent! But seriously, you don't have to go to such extremes. Most of us just don't notice how long the light lasts on Midsummer Eve because we aren't as dependent on the changes in the weather and the land the way our ancestors were. Neither are most Swedes to be completely honest! But it's harder to ignore such traditions and changes in the earth when your country still has frozen seas in winter, vast swathes of wilderness and an entire northern territory given over to reindeer-herding Sami! So if you'd like to do more than window gazing on June 24th and not up for trekking to Stonehenge or sailing to Fair Isle, here are a few cheeky hacks you can adapt and adopt from the land where they really know how to party this Midsummer.
Okay, we're kidding! Many of those lucky Swedes DO have island summer-houses and popping to them for Midsummer is the thing to do, even if many are just glorified huts. Yup, in the absence of our own island getaway, it's time to use your imagination and get creative. So throw the patio bi-folds wide open, dust off that barbecue and get ready to festoon your space with a good scattering of comfy cushions, a plethora of candles, and as many flowers and plants as you can lay your hands on. The aim is to create your own personal wonderland, a rural floral idyll, filled with charm. A space that's perfect for sitting about singing, dancing, eating, and drinking Swedish beer and Akvavit shots (if you can't lay your hands on this fiery Scandinavian legend, any strong liquor will do).
Now, no Swedish woman worthy of Midsummer Eve would be seen without a crown for the occasion, from the tiniest toddler to greatest grandmother. They're called 'Kran' in Sweden and they are traditionally woven from long, pliable birch twigs and then interwoven with hand picked wild flowers. Think Titania, Queen of the Fairies and you are in the right neck of the woods – literally! Making your own crown might be a bit of a stretch, but there are various ways to cheat the look. The selection below from Asos below are pretty petal perfection! Or why not get crafty with old straw sunhats? Simply remove the crowns and just trim the brim with artificial flowers – simple and effective. Or why not be bold and weave yourself a base with any thin, bendy twigs and cover with a mix of fake and real blooms? In Sweden, on the afternoon of Midsummer Eve, mothers, daughters, grandmothers and aunts meet up and spend the time making their Kran together. Such a sweet idea if you have the time! The perfect opportunity to natter and spend quality time with the women in your life.
It's not just us Brits that love that Maypole, the Swedes enjoy a spot of dancing outside round their own version as part of their Midsummer Eve customs. Now if this all sounds way to much like to Morris Dancing for your liking, fear not fillies! Why not find a dance that's more your bag out of the thousands of alternative British folk dances here. Heck even just getting your jig on, giving the odd 'hoot' and holding hands, makes it your own tradition and makes up for any lack of authenticity. The heartbeat of any good party is the soundtrack – in fact music is an ESSENTIAL! All hail the wonders of Spotify – you'll be amazed what you can find on there. And if you are after an utterly authentic experience and, like, NOTHING but the real thing is going to do it for you, it's time you learned the Små Grodorna (translated as The Little Frog). It's the most famous Midsummer Eve dance in Sweden and weirdly addictive – especially after a few of those Akvavit shots.
These tips are not red herrings – in FACT the Swedes will be feasting on herring with crème fraiche on June 24th! If that traditional combo doesn't float your boat, how's about grilled sardines instead? We mean the BBQ's lit anyway. Other Swedish staples include beef, chicken and lamb – so that painstaking time getting the barbecue going will be well worth it! And what about sides we hear you cry? Well, it's a spudtastic affair ranging from new potatoes to potato salad with dill mayonnaise. In fact, if you put dill on anything it is going to taste truly authentic! There is only one hard and fast eating rule on Midsummer Eve and that is dessert: It has can't be anything but fresh strawberries, heaped high and served plain, eaten with fingers as the sun, briefly, sets.
But what about the morning after the night before? Well, if you're feeling brave, you could hunt down a lake and have a midnight dip on the morning of June 25th…if it's not too cold! Brrrrrrr-illiant! Of course this is an additional tradition – missing it out will not tarnish your Swedish Midsummer Eve celebrations.
And there you go – our top tips for a truly Scandi-less Midsummer Eve celebration, in plenty of time to prep for the big event on Friday 24th June! Are you planning any kind of party or are feeling inspired to do so? We'd love to hear about it in the comments below! And remember…ENJOY or as they say in Sweden – åtnjuta!
P.S. We want to give a HUGE thank you to the utterly talented Mercedes Harrison Photography for our fab feature image – utter wanderlust!
P. P.S. Want to go on more adventures around the world with us? Why not check out our Travel section NOW! Or never miss a FDJ LDN jaunt again by subscribing to the blog? Simply click the "Subscribe" button in the top right of the page or follow us on Bloglovin'! Be sure to check out our social media accounts on Twitter,Instagram and Facebook too!
We will certainly be indulging in more al fresco dining and creating a Swedish inspired oasis with cushions in our garden…weather permitting! Here's to a great summer Ruth.
Thanks Lubka! Was so much fun to research and write. The food sounds gorgeous, really love fresh fish and strawberries!
Exactly, create your own outdoor oasis with cushions 😀 Here to a GOOD British summer!
Haha very creative! In the absence of a island getaway making my own midsummer eve hideout and eating some good old strawberries while wearing a beautiful kran is the perfect way to celebrate.
So that's where those floral crowns have come from, I'm seeing them everywhere.
Yes, it would appear to be from our friends the Swedes 😀 They really seem to have become a thing and it's so nice to know exactly where they came from and the beautiful story behind their origin!
Right Agata?! They really know how to do a summer feast the Swedes.


Barcelona has proved to be Red Bull country. This wasn't particular unexpected in itself - the long rapid curves give such importance to aero advantage that they could have been designed by Adrian Newey himself. But even with that the advantage the Bulls have here has left their rivals gasping. Only Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso could get within a second of them in qualifying yesterday, and even then only just. The teams chasing them, fresh in Barcelona with a variety of upgrades, will hope this isn't the way of things at future rounds.
The only surprise at the front was that pole was claimed by Mark Webber, rather than by Sebastian Vettel, for the first time this season. It was perfect timing by Mark, it's a track he has gone well on historically, and if Seb and got one over on him here of all places yesterday it would have been very difficult to see him coming back. He was assisted by the fact that his KERS was working, and Seb's not (not for the first time year), but Mark's probably due a bit of luck.
Today's race will be fascinating. If Webber leads off the line then Vettel, unusually for 2011, will be out of his comfort zone, and it'll be fascinating to see how he'll react. There are lots of signs of a new maturity and calm in Vettel's armoury in 2011, and today may be a good chance for him to prove it. For as long as he's not at the front he won't be able to just react to those behind him strategy-wise, as he has done in most of the races this season. He will have DRS on his side, which will make things a lot easier. On this flipside, if the KERS glitch is still active then passing will be a bit more difficult.
It's tempting to consider those behind the Bulls as simply being part of the landscape, though the Bulls' pace advantage has been more pronounced in qualifying than in the races this year. McLaren still look to be the best of the rest, Lewis qualifying a smidgen ahead of Jenson. Ferrari have had a rather muddled time of it in Barcelona, not helped by their creative interpretation of the rear wing regulations being outlawed. Alonso seemingly performed another prodigy to split the McLarens and start fourth. The Ferrari has tended to come alive on race day this year, so he may be one to watch for the best behind the Bulls award. He doesn't have new soft tyres to call on though, having unfathomably used a set in qually one yesterday.
As if to prove the Barcelona track's relative predictability, it's exactly the same top five on the gird, in the same order, as here last season.
The qualifying of the 'new' F1 in 2011 most obviously showed itself yesterday as well. Saving tyres for race day was the priority for much of the field, to the point that the on track action was greatly diminished. No one in the final ten did more than one quick run for qualifying position, indeed Schumi did none at all. And even in the second session the Force Indias didn't use any of their soft tyre allocation. Watching the progress of all three today will be fun. Strategy, and more to the point the best use of the wood-like harder Pirelli tyre, will be vital to today's finishing order, so Schumi and the Force Indias may well have pulled a fast one.
But despite this, and despite that I believe it's long overdue that the race's relative importance compared to qualifying has been increased, I feel that something could be done now to spice up qualifying a bit. Martin Brundle's suggestion to free up a set of soft tyres for the final five minutes of the last session isn't the worst idea.
And a worthy pat on the back for Pastor Maldonado, who qualified ninth. It's easy to forget that he is GP2 champion, so his widespread dismissal as a mere 'pay driver' is extremely harsh. Let's also not forget as well that Nico Hulkenberg, who he replaced at Williams, was crash-happy in the first few rounds of his debut season in 2010, and often looked out of his depth. Let's hope this is the start of the Venezuelan similarly getting to grips with things, as well as of Williams being on the upturn.


Bardenas Reales is a Natural Park in the north east part of Spain, nestled between the majestic Pyrenees mountains and the famous vineyards of La Rioja. A true gravel paradise in a desert environment, with a cool network of marked trails, where we created an easy "introductory" 2 day route. It will be our first taste of what future (and more grueling) XPDTN3 trips will be like.
Well, the plan was the easiest part to figure out: just cross the park from South to North on the first day and from North to South on the second day, trying to find the best loop to get to the coolest parts of the area (yes, tourist highlights included).
Doubletrack territory. Smooth and fast.
After checking in at the beautifully designed Aire de Bardenas hotel, and enjoying their Michelin-approved gastronomy, we spread all the contents of our bags in the room, discussing about what gear we need to stay 2 days on the road. One Apidura bag each would be more than enough for this particular trip, good weather allowing us to ride in shorts, and just carrying a few essentials for the night in the next hotel.
Well, that and obviously the obnoxious photographer backpack that will render my aerodynamic efforts almost useless. But that is an integral part of XPDTN3, we don't use support cars for camera crews or to transport the "explorers" from one photo shoot location to the next. Following the best traditions of bike adventure video and photography, the XPDTN3 explorers are self-supporting and all the photographers and video makers ride the full route and carry all their gear.
"Aire de Bardenas was "our hotel for the first day. Cool design and amazing food.
Wind had been howling all night, a badly sealed window making it sound even worst than it really was, but we were still hoping that it would settle down when the sun rose the next morning. Of course it didn't.
Happy to be riding on 3T C35 wheels, instead of the high profile C60 wheels that my friend Loren brought for the ride, we started out northbound on a few miles of the main road, till we hit the crossroads where the gravel (and fun) started. Big signposts lead us to our next stop in Murillo El Fruto for the most part of the route, making our map-loaded GPS unnecessary, other than recording the route for posterity and Strava affairs (just kidding, when you ride here you'll want to look around, not down to see if you can get a KOM).
I can only see speed here.
Wide gravel trails, like those usually seen on famous races like Almanzo or Dirty Kanza, opened in front of us and begged for aerodynamic position and draft riding to avoid the winds at high speeds. Kilometers went by at a fast pace, only to be completely stopped by my obsession to record every natural feature of the Park, an annoying pace-breaking workflow that we somehow got used to, and let us enjoy the scenery that minutes before was happening too fast in front of us. We were amazed by the speeds we hit. If you think you can get this fast with a lightweight mountain bike and narrow tyres, sorry, you are wrong... I was wrong.
Wind can create out of this world landscapes here.
The fact that Bardenas Reales is a Natural Park with limited access makes for unspoilt landscapes and a cool place for birdwatching (not that we are into that..), only disturbed by some farming activities allowed in the area and a few remains of old farm buildings that didn't stand the fight with the howling winds for years and years. Those fields were in bloom, with green tones welcoming us to what usually is (in the summer months) just a white and yellow desert. As a photographer, I could not have asked for a better timing to be there, the contrast between blue skies, green fields and white soil helping to compose our pictures, and also making us stop more times than expected. Even if we just rode for a little bit more than 80km, the stops made for a long day in the saddle, so we were happy (and hungry) when we reached the Hotel Txapi-Txuri (try to pronounce that if you are not Spanish), a small and family hotel in the tiny town of Murillo el Fruto, just outside the Natural Park, and one of the few hotels in that area. No protein shakes here. Beers worked as recovery drink and huge amounts of Jamon Serrano (Spanish ham) and queso curado (cheese) were consumed and followed by a late siesta, while waiting for the night's big dinner. Life was good.
One of the most scenic areas in the Park.
After a quick review of the bikes, some chain lubing and putting our light luggage in the bike bags, we headed back to the Park, hoping for a tailwind. Of course that didn't' happen, but at least the power of Aeolus got weaker that day and allowed us to ride in a more relaxed way, for another 80-plus km back to our trendy hotel in Tudela. The route today went through some of the most iconic parts of the park, a magnet for tourists that flood it on the few points where access is granted to cars. Impossible rock formations make for cool pictures, perfect gravel roads for nice average speeds. Luckily my friend Loren is enjoying himself too, despite never having ridden on the bike before.
We kept talking about that, and before we knew it, we were back at the hotel, with a smile in our faces. With the guy at the reception asking us about those smiles on our faces, we can only think about the blue pool in the back of the hotel, facing the huge windmill farm in the background, totally harmless to us now, and the wind sculpting the landscape like its been doing for centuries.
Even if this one was just a test ride for all the equipment from 3T, Scicon, Castelli, WTB, Apidura and all the partners involved in the project, we immediately realized that we had something special on our hands. The whole idea makes for a nice way to forget about training and KOMs, and allow us just to explore. Bike exploration is nothing new, for sure, but I had some past bike adventures where inappropriate gear made for a miserable trip. Technology won't buy you happiness, but having such a versatile equipment makes exploring way easier, even if its just a 3 day weekend with your best friend on a ride you can get to by car, or a remote adventure in the colder fjords of Norway.
They say it's not about the destination, and in this case it is more obvious than ever. Every minute we stayed on the bike was pure enjoyment, even on those times fighting the wind in a deserted and infinite gravel path, but we were happy to be on the bike. You can choose to go nowhere fast. Or maybe going slow and soaking the landscape is your style? Just choose. Let the exploring begin.
My name is Jordi and I am working in the HR department of Reebok Barcelona.
- Do you organize any alternative activities for those employees that are not interested in biking?
- If we go for 2 days, do you have partnership with any hotel to stay 1 night? or could we do camping there?
- Please send to my email your proposal.


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text:
May Day Stadium 
It was completed on May 1st, Juche 78(1989).
It is a grand monumental edifice of our style builty from our design and materials and on our own.
It held the 13th World Festival of Youth and Students in Juche 78(1989), the mass gymnastics and artistic performance "Ever-victorious Workers' Party of Korea" in Oct, Juche 89(2000) and on the occasion of the 90th birthday of the great leader Comrade Kim Il Sung and the 70th anniversary of foundation of the Korean People's Army the mass gymnastics and artistic performance "Arirang" between Apr and Aug, Juche 91(2002).
The stadium has a football field, 400-m rubber track, basketball and volleyball courts with 150,000 seats.
It also has several training rooms of heavy and lights games, cultural and public service facilities for players and spectators, and modern equipments like an electric TV with a height of 10 m and width of 20 m.