Let me just begin by saying that yes, the title of this blog is intentionally tongue-in-cheek.
There is nothing inherently radical about centrism or any other moderate philosophy which values rational decision making on an issue-by-issue basis over the seemingly more popular party lines and inflexible collective indignations which dominate the current political landscape. And yet, by virtue of its preference for measured technocracy over populist emotional appeal, it usually ends up the elephant in the room upon chiming in. People are legitimately perplexed at how we can agree with them on some issues and deride them as morons on others. Worse yet is when we sympathize with their intentions while poking massive holes in their logic. That, apparently, makes us neoliberal Wall Street phonies.
Individual human rights are inalienable (emphasis on the 'individual').
When those rights come into conflict, compromise is the only logical, rational option.
Authoritarianism in any form is antithetical to civilized society.
Appeals to emotion are a disqualifying factor in any argument that contains them. All policy positions must be supported by logical processes, or the appearance of one at the very least. If your argument does not compute, it is invalid.
Everything else ought to follow from there.
Of course since this is politics we're talking about, it doesn't work that easily. A simple Google search for 'centrism' will turn up no shortage of half-baked musings equating it with everything from unquestioning devotion to the US constitution, to Southern Baptist Christianity (both of which sound pretty absurd to me). Not surprisingly, one of the most common criticisms leveled at centrism is that it prescribes no clear values; seemingly flip-flopping from issue to issue. To be clear, that's a pretty stupid criticism as it either intentionally or ignorantly confuses a lack of dogmatic commandments for an overall lack of convictions. To the contrary, our convictions are not merely simpleminded lines in the sand on any given issue ("No pipelines!", "No refugees!"), but rather the belief that no policy is above debate, no authority is beyond reproach, and no morality is absolute. Admittedly, that's not exactly the sort of inspiring message that lends itself well to party politics. Complex analyses and nuances don't draw crowds. But if anything, that makes it all the more important to get the message out there. The notion that the one-size-fits all, easy-sounding, slogan-making populist drivel peddled by most political activists could provide the best outcome for the greatest number of people is patently absurd, and incredibly dangerous, both to freedom of thought and general prosperity.
To our dear friends on both ends of the political spectrum, don't get too cocky. You cannot vanquish reason. We are here. And we will fight to the bloody end.


In a food processor, place the feta cheese, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, sun-dried tomatoes and oregano. Using the pulse setting, blend the mixture until smooth. Transfer to a medium bowl. Blend in the olives by hand or with a spoon. Refrigerate until serving.
No comments for: "Greek Feta And Olive Spread Recipe"


Airsal high-performance cylinder kit 165cc capacity, with gasket set, piston, rings etc. Hard chromed liner. 165cc gives engines notably better torque in the lower rev range. Before ordering, please ensure that the cylinder base opening is suitable and there is sufficient space on the crankcases. Opening must be worked where the clearance is tight. Outer diameter of the cylinder liner/sleeve (that protrudes into the crankcase) is 62mm.
Good but needed a bit of remedial work to get it to fit.


text:
Posts tagged 'Placencia'
Belize, where have you been all my life?
In Belize, I fell down a cliff into Tiger Creek, 20 yards from an 800-foot waterfall, ruined my new camera, nearly lost my lucky hat and endured pounding rain and roads as bumpy as political budget talks. Yet, I can't wait to go back.
I've had a long and enduring love affair with Latin America. To each new country, I give my whole heart. But there have been problems. I can't understand a single word anyone says.
I have tried to learn Spanish, have even mastered a few questions that, to my ear, sound pretty authentic. But the minute someone answers back, I panic and end up looking like the idiot gringo I am.
In Belize, because the official language is English, I could actually converse with locals. Instead of just exchanging smiles, I could share jokes, learn about their families and move the relationship beyond my normal ceiling of "Hola! Como Estas! Muy bien. Y tu?" It was magical, leading me to wonder, "Why in the heck haven't I been to Belize before?"
This little country wedged between Mexico and Guatemala has everything a tourist destination could ever need: miles and miles of beaches, the second largest barrier reef in the world, 450 islands and Mayan ruins that are still being discovered.
Caracol, where I had intended to bring in the end of the Mayan calendar (long story, don't ask), covers more than 30 square miles, much of which is still being excavated. At one time, this now jungle-covered city had more people than Belize City has today.
Majestic Caana (Sky Palace), one of 35,000 structures at Caracol, is still the largest building in the country, although the only residents today are a few security guards, some itinerant archaeologists and two troops of howler monkeys whose hoots are the spitting image of the soundtrack to Jurassic Park. Only a few feet from one of the troops, I captured their ongoing argument on video and would have added it to the bottom of this story except, as I said, the camera ended up submerged in Tiger Creek.
For years, no one even knew Caracol existed. Many of Belize's Mayan ruins had been discovered by 1937 when a logger looking for mahogany stumbled upon this city, one of the largest in Maya civilization. It's just that this mighty city was covered with vines and trees and other flora of the rainforests that make up nearly 60 percent of this Central American country.
When not monitoring feuds with howler monkeys, I stayed in one of 12 cottages at Hidden Valley Inn, a 7,290-acre private nature reserve, not far from Caracol. This intimate lodge in Mountain Pine Ridge has 90 miles of hiking trails, 12 waterfalls, 81 species of wild orchids, four species of jungle cats (although they're nearly as hard to spot as Caracol was for so many years) and rare raptors. One night at dinner, I had the privilege of dining with a volunteer studying a rare nest of solitary eagles, one of many (Hidden Valley also supports the Peregrine Fund) on-site research projects. Another perk is Hidden Valley's small coffee plantation. Not only was my morning java Fair Trade, but also locally-grown.
And it's not just diversity of flora and fauna that makes Belize so enchanting. It's a veritable fondue pot of cultures from Kriol, Maya and Mestizo to Amish and Mennonite, all of whom work amiably together to keep this little country humming. I saw giant truckloads of oranges, most of which would end up in Florida to make juice. I saw a barefoot Mennonite girl run, two steps at a time, to the top of the 140-foot Sky Palace. I saw lemon sharks, barracuda and a monstrous school of blue tang. I swam three-feet above a three-foot loggerhead turtle.
But, most importantly, I met dozens of friendly, warm, English-speaking Belizeans. One night, in fact, the owner of my Placencia hotel invited me to a party with his friends, opening the curtain to a precious part of Belizean culture most travelers miss. That Friday night, underdog Belize had miraculously made it to the semifinals of the Copa Centroamericana soccer tournament against Honduras, the first time the tiny nation qualified to play for the CONCACAF gold cup.
Evan Hall, the owner of Nirvana Inn, invited me to cheer on the home team by the light of a TV hooked up outside under a coconut tree. Whenever I needed another drink, he and his buddies reached up, plucked a coconut off the tree and mixed a little coconut water with Jack Daniels. The grill was piled high with fresh shrimp and lobster they'd caught earlier that morning.
So, yeah, Belize claimed my camera and my pride (luckily, no one saw my plummet down the cliff after the rain-soaked railing gave way), but it's biggest claim is undoubtedly my completely-smitten heart.
February 26, 2013 psgrout Leave a comment
Categories: Uncategorized Tags: Belize, CONCACAF, Hidden Valley Inn, Nirvana Inn, Peregrine Fund, Placencia, solitary eagles
In a smackdown of Belize inns, the top 6 reasons Belizean Nirvana outshines Coppola's Turtle Inn
Francis Ford Coppola makes insanely brilliant movies. He's done wonders for the economy of his adopted country of Belize, building two five-star resorts that are every bit as wonderful as The Godfather and Apocalypse Now. But here's why, when traveling to Placencia, the 16-mile strip of beautiful off the southern coast, the Belizean Nirvana (the envelope, please) deserves the Oscar:
1.Location, location, location. Both Turtle Inn and Nirvana are "pan da beach," as they say in Belize, a gorgeous beach with white sand, diving pelicans and gentle lapping waves. But Nirvana, that just opened September 2011, is also within strolling distance of the quaint and colorful fishing village where Evan and Barbara Hall, the Belizean owners, personally introduce their guests to Tiziana and Lorenzo, the Italian transplants who own Tutti Frutti and serve gelato some rave is better than its counterpart on the other side of the Atlantic, and to John and Pamela Solomon, Americans who honeymooned there five years ago and never left, instead opening the amazing Rumfish..y vino that serves my nomination for the world's best cerviche.
2. Hand's on owners. Sure, it's fun to think you're sleeping near Hollywood greatness, but your chances of hobnobbing with Coppola are about as good as your chances of spotting one of the 200 jaguars in the nearby Cockscomb Jaguar Preserve which is to say "it ain't likely to happen." The Halls and their friend, Carolyn, greet each of their guests upon arrival, drink coffee with them each morning (one morning, Evan even cracked open a bottle of champagne for delightful breakfast mimosas) on the rooftop deck and treat them like one of the family.
3. It's who you know. Coppola may knows DeNiro, Pacino and Reese Witherspoon who honeymooned at Turtle Inn in 2011 with her new hubby and kids. But Hall knows Tuca and Karen, Steve and Sherel and other locals and he'll gladly introduce you, opening the curtain to a precious part of Belizean culture that most travelers miss. Belizeans are warm, friendly and throw parties that put Martha Stewart to shame. Hall's mother was the first nurse in the Belizean Health Service and even though he spent much of his life in New Jersey, he summered in Belize and knows everybody in town.
4. Improptu fun. The Friday night I was there, underdog Belize miraculously made it to the semifinals of the Copa Centroamericana soccer tournament against Honduras, the first time the tiny nation qualified to play for the CONCACAF gold cup. Hall invited me to watch the game with the above forementioned locals who were cheering the home team by the light of a TV hooked up outside under a coconut tree. Whenever I needed another drink, they'd reach up, pluck a coconut off the tree and mix a little coconut water with Jack Daniels (American bartenders, take heed). The grill was piled high with fresh shrimp and lobster that Tuca had caught earlier that morning. Suffice it to say, the food made by that outdoor cheering squad far surpassed anything listed on the menu at Turtle Inn's three restaurants.
5. Classy appointments. Like the Coppolas who built their 25 thatched cottages on reclaimed land from Hurricane Iris, the Halls built their five-suite B&B from scratch. It has beautiful wood floors, spacious verandas, gorgeous furnishings, local artwork (again, Evan might even introduce you to some of the artists), comfy beds and unlike Coppola's place, air-conditioning that comes in mighty handy in the humid climate and free phone calls to the U.S. and Canada.
6.The real deal. Far be it from me to dis Turtle Inn. I'm sure it's spectacular in every way. But for travelers who want an authentic Belizean experience and new friends to add to the Christmas card list, book one of the beautiful suites at Belizean Nirvana Inn.
January 29, 2013 psgrout Leave a comment
Categories: Uncategorized Tags: Belize, Belizean Nirvana, Francis Ford Coppola, Placencia, Rumfish y vino, smackdown, Turtle Inn, Tutti Frutti

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
package org.wso2.ds.ui.integration.test.dashboard;

import org.openqa.selenium.By;
import org.openqa.selenium.JavascriptExecutor;
import org.openqa.selenium.WebElement;
import org.testng.annotations.*;
import org.wso2.carbon.automation.engine.context.TestUserMode;
import org.wso2.carbon.automation.engine.frameworkutils.FrameworkPathUtil;
import org.wso2.carbon.integration.common.utils.exceptions.AutomationUtilException;
import org.wso2.ds.ui.integration.util.DSUIIntegrationTest;

import javax.xml.xpath.XPathExpressionException;
import java.io.File;
import java.io.IOException;
import java.net.MalformedURLException;

import static org.testng.Assert.*;

/**
 * Tests related with the gadget usage related warnings
 */
public class GadgetUsageTest extends DSUIIntegrationTest {
    private static final String DASHBOARD1_TITLE = "gadgetusagedashboard1";
    private static final String DASHBOARD2_TITLE = "gadgetusagedashboard2";

    /**
     * Initializes the class.
     *
     * @param userMode user mode
     */
    @Factory(dataProvider = "userMode")
    public GadgetUsageTest(TestUserMode userMode) {
        super(userMode);
    }

    /**
     * Provides user modes.
     *
     * @return user modes
     */
    @DataProvider(name = "userMode")
    public static Object[][] userModeProvider() {
        return new Object[][] { { TestUserMode.SUPER_TENANT_ADMIN } };
    }

    /**
     * Setup the testing environment.
     *
     * @throws XPathExpressionException
     * @throws IOException
     * @throws AutomationUtilException
     */
    @BeforeClass(alwaysRun = true)
    public void setUp() throws AutomationUtilException, XPathExpressionException, IOException, InterruptedException {
        login(getCurrentUsername(), getCurrentPassword());
        deleteDashboards();
        addDashBoardWithoutLandingPage(DASHBOARD1_TITLE, "This is a test dashboard");
        addDashBoardWithoutLandingPage(DASHBOARD2_TITLE, "This is a test dashboard");
        createRelevantGadgets();
    }

    /**
     * Clean up after running tests.
     *
     * @throws XPathExpressionException
     * @throws MalformedURLException
     */
    @AfterClass(alwaysRun = true)
    public void tearDown() throws XPathExpressionException, MalformedURLException {
        logout();
        getDriver().quit();
    }

    /**
     * Create two dashboards with different set of gadgets and when trying to delete those gadgets, check the warning message
     *
     * @throws MalformedURLException
     * @throws XPathExpressionException
     * @throws InterruptedException
     */
    @Test(groups = "wso2.ds.dashboard", description = "Embedding a page outside dashboard")
    public void testWarningsWhenDeletingGadgets() throws MalformedURLException, XPathExpressionException,
            InterruptedException {
        getDriver().get(getBaseUrl() + "/portal/gadget/");

        Thread.sleep(2000);
        JavascriptExecutor js = ((JavascriptExecutor) getDriver());
        js.executeScript("window.scrollTo(0, document.body.scrollHeight)");
        // Try to delete the gadget that is not used in any of the dashboards, and check the warning message
        getDriver().findElement(By.cssSelector("#usa-business-revenue a.ds-asset-trash-handle")).click();
        Thread.sleep(2000);
        assertTrue(getDriver().isElementPresent(By.cssSelector("#usa-business-revenue .alert-warning")),
                "When trying to delete the gadget, " + "warning is not displayed");
        String warningMessage = getDriver().findElement(By.cssSelector(("#usa-business-revenue .alert"))).getText();
        String expectedWarningMessage = "Deleting gadget will completely remove this gadget and this action cannot be undone";
        assertTrue(warningMessage.contains(expectedWarningMessage), "Expected warning message is not displayed");

        // Try to delete the gadgets that is used in the dashboards, and check the warning message
        getDriver().findElement(By.cssSelector("div#usa-map > div.ds-asset-handles > a.ds-asset-trash-handle")).click();
        Thread.sleep(2000);
        assertTrue(getDriver().isElementPresent(By.cssSelector("#usa-map .alert-warning")),
                "When trying to delete the gadget, " + "warning is not displayed");
        warningMessage = getDriver().findElement(By.cssSelector(("#usa-map .alert"))).getText();
        expectedWarningMessage = "This gadget is used in " + DASHBOARD1_TITLE
                + " dashboard(s). This action on this gadget will affect the functionality of those dashboard(s)";
        assertTrue(warningMessage.contains(expectedWarningMessage), "Expected warning message is not displayed");

        getDriver().findElement(By.cssSelector("#publisher a.ds-asset-trash-handle")).click();
        Thread.sleep(2000);
        assertTrue(getDriver().isElementPresent(By.cssSelector("#publisher .alert-warning")),
                "When trying to delete the gadget, " + "warning is not displayed");
        warningMessage = getDriver().findElement(By.cssSelector(("#publisher .alert"))).getText();
        expectedWarningMessage = "This gadget is used in " + DASHBOARD1_TITLE + "," + DASHBOARD2_TITLE
                + " dashboard(s). This action on this gadget will affect the functionality of those dashboard(s)";
        assertTrue(warningMessage.contains(expectedWarningMessage), "Expected warning message is not displayed");

        getDriver().findElement(By.cssSelector("div#subscriber > div.ds-asset-handles > a.ds-asset-trash-handle")).click();
        Thread.sleep(2000);
        assertTrue(getDriver().isElementPresent(By.cssSelector("#subscriber .alert-warning")),
                "When trying to delete the gadget, " + "warning is not displayed");
        warningMessage = getDriver().findElement(By.cssSelector(("#subscriber .alert"))).getText();
        expectedWarningMessage = "This gadget is used in " + DASHBOARD2_TITLE + " dashboard(s). "
                + "This action on this gadget will affect the functionality of those dashboard(s)";
        assertTrue(warningMessage.contains(expectedWarningMessage), "Expected warning message is not displayed");
        redirectToLocation(DS_HOME_CONTEXT, DS_DASHBOARDS_CONTEXT);
    }

    /**
     * To check whether the warning is displayed in the dashboard level and page level when some gadget is missing in
     * dashboard
     *
     * @throws MalformedURLException
     * @throws XPathExpressionException
     * @throws InterruptedException
     */
    @Test(groups = "wso2.ds.dashboard", description = "Testing the warnings in the dashboard after deleting the gadgets",
            dependsOnMethods = "testWarningsWhenDeletingGadgets")
    public void testWarningInDashboardsAfterDeletingGadgets() throws MalformedURLException, XPathExpressionException,
            InterruptedException {
        // Delete the gadget that is not used in any of the dashboards and check whether warning symbol is displayed
        getDriver().get(getBaseUrl() + "/portal/gadget/");
        JavascriptExecutor js = ((JavascriptExecutor) getDriver());
        js.executeScript("window.scrollTo(0, document.body.scrollHeight)");
        getDriver().findElement(By.cssSelector("#usa-business-revenue a.ds-asset-trash-handle")).click();
        getDriver().findElement(By.cssSelector("span.ladda-label")).click();
        Thread.sleep(2000);
        redirectToLocation(DS_HOME_CONTEXT, DS_DASHBOARDS_CONTEXT);
        assertFalse(getDriver().isElementPresent(By.cssSelector(".fw-alert")),
                "Danger symbol is displayed in the " + "dashboard when dashboard has all the gadgets");

        // Delete the gadgets that is used in the dashboard and check whether danger symbol is displayed
        getDriver().get(getBaseUrl() + "/portal/gadget/");
        js.executeScript("window.scrollTo(0, document.body.scrollHeight)");
        getDriver().findElement(By.cssSelector("div#usa-map > div.ds-asset-handles > a.ds-asset-trash-handle")).click();
        getDriver().findElement(By.cssSelector("span.ladda-label")).click();
        Thread.sleep(2000);
        redirectToLocation(DS_HOME_CONTEXT, DS_DASHBOARDS_CONTEXT);
        assertTrue(getDriver().isElementPresent(By.cssSelector("#" + DASHBOARD1_TITLE + " .fw-alert")),
                "Danger symbol " + "is not displayed in the dashboard when some gadgets are deleted from dashboard");
        assertFalse(getDriver().isElementPresent(By.cssSelector("#" + DASHBOARD2_TITLE + " .fw-alert")),
                "Danger symbol is displayed in the " + "dashboard when dashboard has all the gadgets");
        getDriver().get(getBaseUrl() + "/portal/gadget/");
        js.executeScript("window.scrollTo(0, document.body.scrollHeight)");
        getDriver().findElement(By.cssSelector("div#publisher > div.ds-asset-handles > a.ds-asset-trash-handle")).click();
        getDriver().findElement(By.cssSelector("span.ladda-label")).click();
        Thread.sleep(2000);
        redirectToLocation(DS_HOME_CONTEXT, DS_DASHBOARDS_CONTEXT);
        assertTrue(getDriver().isElementPresent(By.cssSelector("#" + DASHBOARD2_TITLE + " .fw-alert")),
                "Danger symbol " + "is not displayed in the dashboard when some gadgets are deleted from dashoard");
        assertTrue(getDriver().isElementPresent(By.cssSelector("#" + DASHBOARD2_TITLE + " .fw-alert")),
                "Danger symbol " + "is not displayed in the dashboard when some gadgets are deleted from dashoard");

        //Check the page level warnings
        getDriver().findElement(By.cssSelector("#" + DASHBOARD1_TITLE + " a.ues-edit")).click();
        selectPane("pages");
        assertTrue(getDriver().isElementPresent(By.cssSelector("#pagesButtonpage0 .fw-alert")),
                "Pages with the problem is not shown to the user");
        redirectToLocation(DS_HOME_CONTEXT, DS_DASHBOARDS_CONTEXT);
        getDriver().findElement(By.cssSelector("#" + DASHBOARD2_TITLE + " a.ues-edit")).click();
        selectPane("pages");
        assertTrue(getDriver().isElementPresent(By.cssSelector("#pagesButtonpage0 .fw-alert")),
                "Pages with the problem is not shown to the user");
    }

    /**
     * To test the whether the warnings are updated when a missing gadget is uploaded
     *
     * @throws MalformedURLException
     * @throws XPathExpressionException
     * @throws InterruptedException
     */
    @Test(groups = "wso2.ds.dashboard", description = "Testing the warnings after uploading some of the deleted gadgets",
            dependsOnMethods = "testWarningInDashboardsAfterDeletingGadgets")
    public void testWarningAfterUploadingAGadget() throws MalformedURLException, XPathExpressionException,
            InterruptedException {
        String systemResourceLocation = FrameworkPathUtil.getSystemResourceLocation();
        String gadgetFilePath = systemResourceLocation + "files" + File.separator + "publisher.zip";
        getDriver().get(getBaseUrl() + "/portal/gadget/");
        getDriver().findElement(By.cssSelector("a[href*='upload-gadget']")).click();

        // Select the correct gadget zip file and upload
        WebElement inputElement = getDriver().findElement(By.id("selected-file"));
        getDriver()
                .executeScript("document.getElementById('selected-file').style.display='block';");
        inputElement.sendKeys(gadgetFilePath);
        getDriver().findElement(By.xpath("(//button[@type='button'])[4]")).click();
        Thread.sleep(1000);
        redirectToLocation(DS_HOME_CONTEXT, DS_DASHBOARDS_CONTEXT);
        assertTrue(getDriver().isElementPresent(By.cssSelector("#" + DASHBOARD1_TITLE + " .fw-alert")),
                "Danger symbol " + "is not displayed in the dashboard when some gadgets are deleted from dashboard");
        assertFalse(getDriver().isElementPresent(By.cssSelector("#" + DASHBOARD2_TITLE + " .fw-alert")),
                "Danger symbol is displayed in the " + "dashboard when dashboard has all the gadgets");
    }

    /**
     * To create some gadgets in 2 dashboards
     *
     * @throws MalformedURLException
     * @throws XPathExpressionException
     * @throws InterruptedException
     */
    private void createRelevantGadgets() throws MalformedURLException, XPathExpressionException, InterruptedException {
        redirectToLocation(DS_HOME_CONTEXT, DS_DASHBOARDS_CONTEXT);
        getDriver().findElement(By.cssSelector("#" + DASHBOARD1_TITLE + " a.ues-edit")).click();
        String[][] gadgetMappings = { { "publisher", "b" }, { "usa-map", "c" } };
        clickOnView("default");
        Thread.sleep(2000);
        String script = generateAddGadgetScript(gadgetMappings);
        getDriver().navigate().refresh();
        selectPane("gadgets");
        Thread.sleep(2000);
        waitTillElementToBeClickable(By.id("publisher"));
        getDriver().executeScript(script);
        Thread.sleep(2000);
        redirectToLocation(DS_HOME_CONTEXT, DS_DASHBOARDS_CONTEXT);
        getDriver().findElement(By.cssSelector("#" + DASHBOARD2_TITLE + " a.ues-edit")).click();
        String[][] gadgetMapping = { { "publisher", "b" }, { "subscriber", "d" } };
        clickOnView("default");
        Thread.sleep(2000);
        script = generateAddGadgetScript(gadgetMapping);
        getDriver().navigate().refresh();
        selectPane("gadgets");
        Thread.sleep(2000);
        waitTillElementToBeClickable(By.id("subscriber"));
        getDriver().executeScript(script);
        Thread.sleep(2000);
        redirectToLocation(DS_HOME_CONTEXT, DS_DASHBOARDS_CONTEXT);
    }

}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Jonathan Luke Leathwood
jonathan.leathwood@du.edu
http://mysite.du.edu/~jleathwo/
Newman Performing Arts Center, 2344 East Iliff Ave. Denver, CO 80208
Professional Biography
JONATHAN LEATHWOOD is one of the few guitarists to perform on six-string and ten-string guitars, mixing modern and traditional works in his innovative programs. His last London concert led Classical Guitar to call him "a genius"; the Musical Times of London has written of his "remarkable talent and singular artistry," while Fabio Zanon wrote in Violão Intercambio that "he has to be seen to be believed."
Jonathan was born in 1970 and has come to Denver from his native England. His first visit to the Lamont School of Music (at DU) was in 1996, when he spent the Spring Quarter as visiting guitar instructor at the invitation of Ricardo Iznaola, then on sabbatical. Recently Denver University awarded him its Artist's Diploma, the first time they have made this award in individual performance, and made him the first recipient of the Ricardo Iznaola Guitar Scholarship. Jonathan is also guitar instructor at the University of Colorado at Boulder.
Some of Jonathan's recent recitals include appearances at the International Festival of the Classical Guitar at West Dean, the Nürtingen Festival in Germany, London's Wigmore Hall (with flautist William Bennett), the Almeida Festival, the Cheltenham Festival (with cellist Steven Isserlis), and the Aldeburgh Festival (with the contemporary music group Jane's Minstrels). He has performed in Germany, France, Belgium, Holland,Italy and Turkey. He will perform a solo recital in London's Wigmore Hall in November 2011.
Equally known as a collaborator with both performers and composers, Jonathan Leathwood has recorded two albums with the legendary flutist William Bennett (more information), and recorded and broadcast with elite cellists Rohan de Saram and Steven Isserlis. He performs also with flutist Christina Jennings, cellist Richard vonFoerster and pianist Heidi Brende Leathwood. His commissions from composers such as Param Vir, Stephen Goss, Robert Keeley and Chris Malloy have pushed the boundaries of both six- and ten-string guitars. His recordings of Dodgson, Goss and Malloy are available on the Cadenza label.
In 1988, Jonathan was a string finalist in BBC Television's Young Musician of the Year competition. Since then he has won awards from a number of bodies, including the Park Lane Group, the Countess of Munster Trust, the Myra Hess Trust, the Holst Foundation, the Eric Falk Trust, and the Ian Fleming Trust. He was the first guitarist to record a recital for BBC Radio 3's Young Artists' Forum. He has twice performed in the Park Lane Group's Young Artist Series at the Purcell Room in London. One of these concerts involved an exciting collaboration with the Indian composer Param Vir, whose four-movement work Clear Light, Magic Body was dedicated to him and later published by Novello. He has also premiered works by Robert Keeley, Chris Malloy, Stephen Goss, Mervyn Cooke, and Rodolfo Betancourt. Jonathan is one of the few guitarists to play the ten-string guitar alongside the traditional six-string model, and as a ten-string player he is particularly associated with the innovative and striking music of Maurice Ohana.
Jonathan Leathwood writes and lectures on a range of topics from Bach to Elliott Carter. In 2001 he conceived and edited Guitar Forum, a new scholarly journal for the classical guitar published in the United Kingdom by the European Guitar Teachers' Association (EGTA UK). The previous year, he was the British delegate at EGTA's international conference in Cambridge, England, where he gave a lecture on analysis and performance. He has a PhD from the University of Surrey and a Bachelor of Music from King's College London. He was later invited back to King's to teach Music Analysis and Techniques of Musical Composition, before eventually moving to the United States in 1998. His principal teachers in guitar have been Gordon Crosskey, Richard Wright, Paul Galbraith, Ricardo Iznaola and the pianist and conductor George Hadjinikos.
Degree(s)
Ph.D., Music Analysis and Guitar Performance, University of Surrey, 2010
Artist Diploma, Guitar Performance, University of Denver, 2000
BM, Music, King's College London, 1991
Licensure / Accreditations
M.AmSAT


text:
Alexia Landeau (* 12. Februar 1975 in Paris) ist eine französische Schauspielerin.

Karriere
Alexia Landeau feierte 1995 ihr Schauspieldebüt in der Filmkomödie Kicking and Screaming. Im Jahr 2000 spielte sie in den Filmen Men Make Women Crazy Theory, Den Einen oder Keinen, Intrigen – erotisch und gefährlich und Tödliche Gerüchte mit. Im Jahr darauf ist sie als Jenny in der Komödie Unterwegs mit Jungs zu sehen. Dabei war sie neben Drew Barrymore zu sehen. Landeau erhielt die Rolle der Cheryl in dem Filmdrama Moonlight Mile von Brad Silberling. Sie war in der Folge Mädchenhandel der Fernsehserie Without a Trace – Spurlos verschwunden zu sehen. 2006 ist sie als Comtesse in Marie Antoinette und wurde in ihrer Rolle durch Silke Matthias synchronisiert. In dem Film 2 Tage Paris (2007) verkörperte sie die Schwester von Julie Delpys Rolle. Diese spielte sie 2012 in der Fortsetzung 2 Tage New York erneut und verfasste mit Julie Delpy das Drehbuch. In Kiss of the Damned von Xan Cassavetes war sie zuletzt zu sehen.

Filmografie
 1995: Kicking and Screaming
 2000: Men Make Women Crazy Theory
 2000: Den Einen oder Keinen (Down to You)
 2000: Intrigen – erotisch und gefährlich (The Intern)
 2000: Tödliche Gerüchte (Gossip)
 2001: Unterwegs mit Jungs (Riding in Cars with Boys)
 2002: Moonlight Mile
 2005: Without a Trace – Spurlos verschwunden (Without a Trace, Fernsehserie, Folge 3x17 Mädchenhandel)
 2005: Going Shopping
 2006: Marie Antoinette (Marie-Antoinette)
 2007: 2 Tage Paris (2 Days in Paris)
 2012: 2 Tage New York (2 Days in New York) auch Drehbuchautorin
 2012: Kiss of the Damned
 2015: Day Out of Days, auch Drehbuchautorin

Weblinks

Filmschauspieler
Franzose
Geboren 1975
Frau

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


De Montfort University, Leicester, 2001.
One of the first western dissertation written by a western scholar on Sri Dasam Granth Sahib.
"In the 18th and 19th centuries the Dasam Granth was seen on equal par with the Adi Granth".
"The actual placing of the Dasam Granth in Gurudwaras demonstrated that the whole text was seen as scripture".
"The Dasam Granth explicitly gives reasons for the use of the sword by equating it to Akal Purakh".
"The reciting of the Hindu myths was explicitly re-interpreted to infuse a new vigour into mindset of the people.
"In terms of acceptance and veneration, a clear directive has not been given from the Akal Takht regarding the text".
The Dasam Granth is a testament to the talents and energy of Guru Gobind Singh. The Guru was a notable warrior who engaged in various battles and was also an articulate writer of poetry in various languages.
"sole adherents of the Sikh faith, which has not succumbed to outside forces, and are the true followers not from the days of Guru Gobind Singh but from Guru Hargobind".
" The Nihangs are very important to our discussion of the Dasam Granth.
Their relevance is important as they consider Gurbani to be split into two parts. They consider the Adi Granth to be representative of shannt ras or "saintliness" and the Dasam Granth to represent bir ras or "warrior spirit". They claim that both aspects of Gurbani are needed in order for Khalsa to be complete. The ignorance of the Dasam Granth has meant that Sikhs are missing an important aspect of their lives".
"The reasons the Nihangs venerate the Dasam Granth as a whole text stems from their role as armed guardians of the Sikh faith. Various forms of rulers and institutions have changed but the Nihangs as the warrior element of the sikhs have remained static in terms of their ideas and beliefs".
"The Nihangs also believe another text to include the writings of Guru Gobind Singh; the text is called the Sarabloh Granth. There has been very little written about this text and the so this set of works needs to be critically assessed".
"the Singh Sabha movement viewed the Dasam Granth with scepticism, namely the mythological parts, which they thought were inconsistent with Sikh ideology. This led to the neglect of the Dasam Granth and hence its prominence was diminished".
"This movement had formerly verified the Dasam Granth as a genuine text by Guru Gobind Singh; however, the text was still viewed with suspicion".
"the Singh Sabha movement distanced itself from anything, which represented Hinduism. As a result of the mythological stories in the Dasam Granth it was viewed as not being written by Guru Gobind Singh. Hence the text began to be ignored".
4) The British and the Sikhs.
So it seems that the Khalsa held meetings in the presence of both the Adi Granth and the Dasam Granth.
Sketch of the Sikhs by Lt Col Malcolm.
In 2006 I revamped the thesis to form a book that was to be published based on new research. I never released this but many parts of this have been incorporated in my other books to be published shortly.


Oil prices headed closer to $30 Monday as concerns over global demand and the effects of the strong US dollar weighed. A report from Morgan Stanley cited the greenback as potentially pushing crude prices as low as $20.
Other commodities are also under pressure and energy and mining stocks were among the biggest drags.
Wall Street managed a better session with only the Nasdaq closing lower while the S&P and Dow Jones closed with slim gains.
Elsewhere told a similar story to Toronto with Asian and European markets almost universally lower.
There were two snapshots of the year ahead Monday but they seemed to tell different stories. An outlook from the Bank of Canada shows hiring and investment intentions at lows not seen since the 2009 recession as the effects of lower oil prices spread to wider parts of the economy. The businesses surveyed towards the end of 2015 are expecting sales growth with those exporting to the US particularly optimistic but some experts are already talking about another recession ahead.
Meanwhile federal finance minister Bill Morneau spoke in Halifax and said that he is "optimistic" about the year ahead because "we have a plan." Despite reports suggesting a slower pace of growth, possibly even turning negative, Mr Morneau said that the policies of the government, including lower tax for middle classes would give businesses confidence to invest.
Bank of America Merrill Lynch told its clients that the weakness in the oil industry spreading out to other industries will prompt a further interest rate cut by the BoC when it meets on January 20. In a note to investors the bank called for a cut of 25 basis points, although most economists believe that a further cut is unlikely for now. BoA also suggests that the fourth quarter of 2015 will show decline of 0.5 per cent rather than the BoC's October estimate of 1.5 per cent growth. The note cites oil prices which the central bank's estimate estimated at $45 but which have fallen to $31.


Some of the best local food and drink producers will be able to have their cake and eat it after being shortlisted for the Food Forum awards.
A shortlist of 29 north-east businesses was chosen for the 2015 Grampian Food Forum Innovation Awards at Porterhouse, Thainstone, Inverurie.
Over 80 nominations from 33 businesses were received by the Grampian Food Forum following a regional campaign to encourage food and drink producers to enter.
The judging team, comprised of Stephen Brown, Local Sourcing and Diversification Manager with Scotmid Co-operative Foods, and Graham Singer, Food Operations Manager with ESS Support Services Worldwide, was very impressed with the standard of entries.
Stephen said: "I would like to thank all the entrants for submitting their applications, it's been a fantastic day sampling many interesting products, demonstrating how vibrant the food and drink sector is in Grampian. It is a privilege to represent Scotmid Co-operative Foods on the judging panel and to have tasted such a diverse range of products many of which have the potential to be seen on our shelves in the near future.
Those reaching the final include Amity Fish Co Limited, Angus and Oink, Associated Seafoods Ltd, Baxters Food Group, BrewDog Ltd, Cambus O'May Cheese Company Limited, Castleton Farm Shop, Chalmers Bakery Ltd, Cocoa Ooze, Dean's, Donald Russell Ltd, Downie's of Whitehills, Eat on the Green, Entier Limited, Felicity's Chocolate, Gordon and MacPhail, James Rizza & Sons Ltd, JG Ross (Bakers) Ltd, John Ross Jr (Aberdeen) Ltd, Mackintosh of Glendaveny Ltd, Made2Taste, Nor-Sea Foods Ltd, Oatmeal of Alford, Pulsetta Foods Ltd, sixdnorth, Speyside Craft Brewery Ltd, The Bay Fish and Chips, The Store Company and Windswept Brewing Co Ltd.


text:
Liberty League dreams running dry
By HANNA MCGUIRE
Posted on February 17, 2016 in Sports
Guard Jesse Browne has had an impressive sophomore campaign. He led the Brewers in scoring throughout the season. The Brewers' new young core signals future success for the team. Photo courtesy of Vassar Athletics
The Vassar men's basketball team faced tough competition this weekend, falling to Union College and Skidmore College in Liberty League play. Both games were pivotal for the Brewers with the conference tournament right around the corner. Previously third in the league, the team fell to fifth overall, with Skidmore leading the pack.
In its previous encounter with Union, Vassar lost by only four points. Freshman Paul Grinde earned a double-double, while senior Erikson Wasyl, junior Mickey Adams and sophomore Jesse Browne all shot in the double-digits.
Coach B.J. Dunne had high hopes when going up against Union for the second time. "We are playing our best basketball right now and it is important to peak at the right time, which we are," noted Dunne, "In Game one we played well on both ends, but Union just made a few more plays down the stretch."
Unfortunately, the Brewers could not convert and fell to the Dutchmen 74-48 on Feb. 12. Vassar stayed close behind Union throughout the first half, trading off the lead. However, the Dutchmen took control in the second half, outscoring the Brewers 47-20. Despite the loss, Grinde and freshmen Alex Seff, continued to prove their abilities as they both scored in double-digits.
Coach Dunne recognizes how all five freshmen bring great energy to the team that helps create a familial atmosphere on and off the court. Seff and Grinde have not only contributed to this environment but have also played particularly influential roles during practice and games.
"Seff has had a great second semester and plays with great intensity and energy on both ends of the floor," said Dunne. "Grinde is a match up problem for all the teams in our league and it is obvious that he is the focal point of their scouting reports. They both have given us much needed production for this year."
Vassar's first game against Skidmore on Jan. 15 ended in a 69-64 victory. The Thoroughbreds led the Brewers for most of the game, at one time by a nine-point margin. But that did not deplete Vassar, as the men capitalized on Skidmore's 12 turnovers to take the win. Not only was the game a success for the Brewers, but Wasyl also made history, becoming the 14th player in Vassar College men's basketball to score 1,000 career points. This season he averages 15.4 points per game, 5 rebounds and
2.3 assists. The senior attributes the team's and his own personal accomplishments to Dunne, who is in his third season with the Brewers.
"Coach Dunne has always done a great job of reminding us how important it is to get in the gym outside of regular practice hours to improve," Wasyl said, "He has a clear passion for the game of basketball and for winning, and that has trickled down to the team." As well as Wasyl, Grinde played to the best of his abilities against Skidmore, scoring 18 points, the most of any of the Brewers during the game. He earned 12 points in the second half and went eight for eight in free-throws, ultimately propelling Vassar to the win.
Looking back on the first bout with Skidmore, Grinde notes, "They didn't really have an answer for my post moves down low, so I will just have to continue to go at them on the block. The game plan will be the same, attack their bigs and go at them if the opportunity is there." With Dunne's confidence and the team's clear abilities, the Brewers attempted to use the momentum of their first victory against Skidmore to challenge them a second time around on Feb. 13. Despite putting up a fight, the men could not close out the game, losing 71-69 in overtime.
Wasyl got his first double-double of the season in the tight game, scoring 19 points and achieving 12 rebounds. Browne and Grinde also had stand out performances, earning 22 and 20 points respectively. The lead alternated between the two teams throughout regulation, and Wasyl sunk a three with 22 seconds remaining to send the game into overtime.
The Brewers and the Thoroughbreds fought hard during the extra period. With only four seconds left in a tie game, Skidmore's Edvinas Rupkus scored to earn the ultimate two-point edge over Vassar.
After these two loses, the Brewers have a 7-7 conference record and an 11-12 overall record. They face Bard College at home on Feb. 17 and will later travel to Troy, N.Y. to challenge Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute on Feb. 21 for the final Liberty League contests.
With the Liberty League Championship coming up, the team continues to build off of their success. Coming off of a difficult 2014-2015 season stricken with injuries combined with the loss of five seniors, the Brewers have substantially grown as a team. Alex Snyder was the toughest loss the Brewers faced coming into this season. Snyder led the team in field goals, rebounds, assists and blocks. He was also the 13th Brewer to score 1,000 career points. Along with Snyder, Luka Ladan, Curtis Smith, Andrew Adkins and Jonathan Safir each played an influential role during their four years on the squad.
Senior Johnny Mrlik's knee injury that has left him unable to compete was another crippling loss for the team. In his last competitive season Mrlik led Vassar in scoring with 507 points, a clear asset to the Brewers. Although not in the lineup this season, Mrlik remains invaluable for the team as an assistant coach. Despite these difficulties, the Brewers remain a strong, cohesive unit because each player stepped up to make the team what it currently is.
"Obviously last season was a disappointment. Guys have really made the extra effort to get better outside of practice hours and I think that it's shown this season," said Wasyl. "This year as a team, we have done a good job pushing each other at practice which has allowed us to enter games with confidence." Of all the returning players, Adams and Browne have improved the most dramatically. Last season Adams only played eight games and averaged 2.4 points per game. Comparatively, Adams's play has skyrocketed: he has started in all but two games and averages seven points.
Browne has seen similar growth. He played 14 games and averaged 8.3 points overall. This season, Browne has started every game, averages 15.3 points, is 70 percent from the line and has a 40.9 percent three-point percentage. He also achieved a personal record of 31 points against Hobart College.
"Jesse is a super talented basketball player and it has been fun to watch his development over these past two seasons," said Dunne, "He has all the tools to be a player-of-the-year type in our conference and it was only a matter of when he would step up like he has." The leadership of lone captain Wasyl and assistant coach Mrlik has added to the team's success. With such a young team, these two players lend experience. Dunne agrees,
"Erikson and Johnny are two of the best, if not the best, leaders I have ever been around, playing or coaching," Dunne expressed, "They lead by example daily and they pour everything they have into this program. They are the model of consistency and their hard work, competitive spirit and heart are the pillars of this program."
Given the hardships of the previous season and the loss of top players, the Brewers were projected to fall last in the standings. The team has defied all odds and remained among the top five throughout the season. Despite their current losing record, the freshman class, improvements of key players, Dunne's expert coaching and strong leadership capabilities have proven to be a recipe of success for the Brewers.
Although the season is not yet over, the prospects of next year are high. The team can only continue to flourish and build off of this year's success to potentially win the league. Grinde shares in this sentiment and has high expectations for this young squad.
"We are losing a big time player in Erikson, and that'll be hard to replace, but we are a young team with a lot of talent," said Grinde, "We have an opportunity to do something big here, and so we will put in the work in the offseason and be ready once the first day of practice comes around. We have proven that we can hang with anyone in the league."
The Liberty League Championships begin on Feb. 24 and the games have yet to be determined. Overall, the team hopes to achieve their ultimate goal of winning the league and advancing to the NCAA tournament. For now, the Brewers are taking the remaining season day by day and continuing to build on their achievements.


Twelve people were arrested on cocaine smuggling charges March 24 after a cruise ship stopped in Madeira, Portugal, according to a tweet from the National Crime Agency. Those arrested are accused of smuggling over two million dollars worth of cocaine.
Two United Kingdom nationals were among those arrested, the tweet said. The twelve suspects range in age from 20 and 52, and were detained after the ship, MSC Opera, arrived into Funchal from the Caribbean. Four of those arrested were passengers on the cruise ship.
Authorities said the cocaine was found in potato chip bags. Police said 18 kilos of cocaine, as well as money and cell phones, were recovered by Portuguese officials.
The arrests were a joint operation between National Crime Agency, a U.K. agency, and the Judicial Police of Portugal.
"MSC Cruises confirms that it has closely cooperated with the relevant local authorities for the successful completion of a drug trafficking operation regarding the smuggling by passengers of illegal substances on board its MSC Opera," according to a statement from MSC Cruises provided to Business Insider.
The twelve individuals arrested will be prosecuted in Portuguese courts.
"Working with our Portuguese colleagues we have been able to act on intelligence at speed and prevent this quantity of drugs from reaching its final destination," from Allan Round, from the Joint Border Intelligence Unit.
According to the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, cocaine was among the top five drugs seized in Portugal in 2018.


Italian beer market Knowst thou a country where a former starlette is rumoured to become a minister in the next government; where shop stewards at their company's expense visit brothels in far-flung places and where a music-loving media tycoon controls 80 percent of his country's tabloid newspapers? Indeed, knowst thou a country, where the bureaucratic hurdles for start-ups are higher than in Rwanda or Kazakhstan; where managers can bring down their companies but still receive a government bail-out; and where the public prefers to ignore the current economic crisis and pretends it's dolce vita time?
When the German magazine Der Spiegel some weeks ago taunted its readers with these questions, many of them would have replied without hesitating: "Do I know this country? Ach ja, it must be Italy!" And they would have chuckled to themselves and asked Mario at their local coffee shop for "due Kapputschino, bitte." Mr Berlusconi's antics, his controversial relationship with a teenage girl from Naples and his very public marital problems became this summer's most entertaining political story and confirmed suspicions that in Italy politics is a kind of incomprehensible opera buffa.
Although the answer to Der Spiegel's questions seemed obvious, it was still wrong. The country in question is --- Germany!
Rest assured that this realisation would have made most Germans choke on their cappuccini. Because what does this mean? Is Germany becoming more like Italy? Or is Italy becoming more like Germany? And where will this leave us with our long-cherished cultural stereotypes that in Europe heaven is where the police are British, the cooks French, the mechanics German, the lovers Italian, and all is organised and run by the Swiss?
Perhaps the simplest explanation to these vexing questions is that sometimes things are not what they seem. Especially in Italy, where appearance and reality often do not coincide. Ever since European aristocrats and bourgeois began travelling to Italy on their Grand Tour in the 16th century, "Italy has been and will always be the land of sun and song; and neither storms, nor rain, nor snow will ever cool the enthusiasm that the word 'Italy' sparks in every poetic soul" (Henry W. Longfellow, poet).
Actually, beer is not on that list.
No matter how much they may have tried, Italian brewers still have not managed to convince their countrymen that to be seen with a glass of beer in their hand when out dining will not ruin their "bella figura", their "beautiful figure". Italians abhor the prospect of a "brutta figura" - beer belly and all. Because cutting a "bella figura" is the epitome of being, the essence of the Italian way of life: the dominance of aesthetics, good image, and proper behaviour over everything else.
If beer in Italy is still struggling with the prejudice of "brutta figura", which loosely means you cannot take it anywhere nice, it does not fare any better outside Italy. For the most part, Italian beer hasn't gained much respect among gourmands, gastropods and epicures. If they go for Italian booze to accompany pasta dishes and pizza, they chose Italian wine, wine and more wine.
But as with most aspects of Italian style and culture, there is more to it than meets the eye. The same is true for Italian beer. And perhaps this is the time to straighten out some of the most die-hard misconceptions concerning beer and Italy.
Well, it would be more to the point to say that Italians have gone off alcohol full stop. Although Italy is a wine-drinking country like Spain and France, over the past 40 years or so wine consumption has declined dramatically. On a per capita basis, wine consumption has dropped to slightly more than 40 litres from over 100 litres in 1970. During the same period, beer consumption has gone up. While it was only 11.5 litres in 1970, it reached almost 30 litres in 2008.
But as you will have read often on these pages: "Beware of mean values". This warning is even more pertinent when dealing with Italy, where appearance and reality often do not coincide (see above). Actual beer consumption varies widely. Like every beer drinking country, Italy has its fair share of so-called heavy users, who knock back quite some volume. Many of them will be found in the north of Italy, in Alto Adige (also know as South Tyrol), where per capita consumption is supposed to be 100 litres – even though locals are quick to point out that it's thirsty German tourists who come to Alto Adige for skiing in winter and mountaineering in summer that contribute to this relatively high figure.
However, there is little dispute over the fact that many Italians will never touch beer, women among them. Which allows us to conclude that working out per capita beer consumption figures is a pretty pointless exercise south of the Alps. Still, the mean value is held against Italian beer drinkers who continue to bring up the rear in Europe. Only the French drink as little (or as much) beer as the Italians.
Now this is a dubious honour if ever there was one. And pointing fingers is no use if you are up against a formidable adversary like non-alcoholic beverages. If Italians like to drink anything, it's bottled water. The consumption of mineral water stood at over 200 litres per capita in 2008 – the highest in Europe. That gives water a share of throat of more than 60 percent.
In the past, brewers in Italy used to brush aside their animosities and fund generic beer campaigns to promote beer consumption. Nonetheless, they always stopped short of Italian consumers getting the idea that beer was a soft drink by another name. Privately, insiders say that this seems to have fuelled beer drinking in Spain – large swathes of the Spanish population living under the misapprehension that beer and pop are all the same.
Probably brewers in Italy knew only too well that nothing can be taken for granted when dealing with the powers-that-be. Previously, Italians would have considered laws and regulations a mere suggestion rather than a command. Traffic lights, speed limits, driving under the influence (DUI) – all was personal and open to discussion. Now things are changing. Non-smoking laws, widely predicted to be an absolute failure, have been accepted without a fuss. The same with speed-limits and blood alcohol concentration limits: Italian drivers, for the most part, try not to go over them.
It must be said, though, that the reason for Italians' new found "will to obey" are draconian "booze it and lose it" laws. Your correspondent has been told that if you are caught over the limit, the police will first slap a fine of about EUR 6000 on your bonnet, before they will confiscate your car and your driver's licence. Just to make sure you have learnt your lesson well, your car will then be auctioned off and proceeds will go to the state.
Obviously, DUI penalties have made normal Italians reluctant to go out for a liquid lunch so much so that Italy's vintners are already beginning to feel the pinch. Alas, brewers have no reason to feel smug. If their countrymen change their tipple, it's from wine to water and not to beer.
Funnily enough, this does not seem to be the case. Beer consumption this year is expected to be flat even though the economy will have shrunk significantly. The Economist newspaper in its most gloomy analysis yet (September 2009) put the likely shrinkage of the economy this year at 6.0 percent – a bigger drop than in Britain, France or Spain.
However, on the face of it, Italy is having a good recession. This year again, more than 40 million tourists will throng Italy's cultural sites, clogging up narrow streets and pavement cafés, thus doing their bit to keep up beer consumption levels.
As for Italy's brewers, if they need a culprit for their market's lacklustre performance, they have always got the Germans.
France and Italy not only trail Europe when it comes to average beer consumption, their consumers also show the greatest predilection for imported beer brands. One in every three beers consumed is an import.
Imported beer brands have risen steadily in importance. While in 1980 they only represented 11 percent of Italy's beer consumption, their share had increased to 25 percent in 2000 and to 33 percent in 2008. That translated into more than 5.8 million hl out of a total of 17.6 million hl beer.
The majority of imported beers continue to be sourced from Germany which accounted for almost 60 percent of all imports (2007). One reason for German beers growing in popularity south of the Alps is their low price. Lower excise duties coupled with excess capacity allow German beers to be exported at prices with which Italy's producers have difficulty competing.
In 2008, estimates say 3.5 million hl beer from Germany crossed the Alps, followed by 700,000 hl from the Netherlands and 500,000 hl from Denmark. That seems like a lot of volume, until you are told that Beck's alone sold more than 800,000 hl. This makes Beck's (owned by AB-InBev) the fifth most popular beer brand in Italy after Peroni, Moretti, Heineken and Dreher.
Considering that ten German beer brands represent almost half of all German beer sold in Italy, readers will begin to understand why the German brewing industry as a whole does not brag about its beer exports. Most of them only sell a few thousand hectolitres.
A few decades ago, the conquest of the Apennine Peninsula would have been very much to their heart's delight. In the 1980s and 1990s, when there was consensus among German tourists that the Alps should be torn down so that they could reach Italy's beaches in less than no time (Achtung: this was a joke!), Germany's national beer brands – Beck's, Warsteiner, Bitburger, Krombacher, Paulaner et al – did their utmost to outpace each other in their race to the Mediterranean, fearing that their German countrymen would drop their brand loyalty as quickly as they drop their pants if they did not find their favourite beer on Italy's beaches.
Today, except perhaps for Beck's and a few other German beer brands, Italy's brewers have been able to stem the northern onslaught. Unluckily, they are now faced with a much more dangerous intruder: Germany's discount brewer Oettinger. All over Italy you can find Oettinger's range of beers in supermarkets, selling for as little as EUR 0.60 for a 0.5 litre can.
Italy's brewers may scratch their heads and wonder how the privately-owned Oettinger does it: shunt its beer to Italy, covering a distance of several thousand kilometres and still sell at such a low price. And, by the way, we have been told that Oettinger's beers are not bad. Oettinger may not spend any money on marketing and advertising, but at least the brewer does not stinge on the quality of its raw materials.
Oettinger's high visibility in the Italian off-trade sector, where 55 percent of all beer is sold, has had several effects already: While Oettinger has not expanded the share of the discount segment (5% of total), the brewer has nevertheless cemented the price of discount beer brands and mainstream brands on offer at below EUR 0.70 per 0.5 litre.
In thus doing, Oettinger has prevented domestic premium beer prices from taking off too high and forced mainstream brands like Peroni, Moretti and Dreher to defend their volume and share through the introduction of attractive (but costly) new packaging and aggressive promotional activity.
Which beggars the question: do brewers in Italy make any money? Or is it the distributors who do?
There must be something to the Italian beer market that four global brewers try very hard to defend their share of it. Having suspended the rule of thumb that each market only warrants two international brewers, you will find Heineken, SABMiller, Carlsberg and AB-InBev (combined share: 69%) variously stepping on each others' toes, while making some awkward bedfellows.
Carlsberg Italia (Tuborg, Splugen, Carlsberg) is the smallest of the international brewers, not having made any acquisitions apart from raising the stake in Poretti to 100 percent and changing its name to Carlsberg Italia. The Danish have two breweries and a market share of 6 percent.
SABMiller is the last of the global brewers to enter this market. They bought Birra Peroni in June 2003 for reportedly EUR 560 million, snatching it away from InBev that had hoped to re-enter the market they left when Interbrew (the forerunner of InBev) sold Birra Moretti to Heineken (1996). Confusing? No, call it economics. Moretti, which came into Interbrew's fold accidentally when the Belgians took over Canadian brewer Labatt in 1995, had been deemed too small by Interbrew and not worth keeping as it had a market share of only 9 percent.
Birra Peroni with a market share of 25 percent and Italy's number two brewer behind Heineken Italia (31%) offered the kind of scale InBev wanted but the company went to SABMiller which left InBev with a 1.2 million hl beer import business (mostly Beck's and Stella Artois) and – since the acquisition of Anheuser-Busch last year – a licensing agreement for Budweiser with Heineken Italia.
You see, relationships among Italy's foreign brewers are complex.
And as to the above question: yes, most international brewers are making money, not least thanks to a strict cost management which has led to the closure of quite a few breweries over the years. There were 31 breweries in 1980 which had a total output of 8.6 million hl beer. Their number has decreased to only 15 in 2008, yet with a total output of 13.3 million hl beer.
In case you wonder what has happened to the Italian brewers: well, there is more than 280 of them, the majority being microbreweries and brewpubs, plus a few second generation regional breweries and the privately-owned Forst (4%), Menabrea (1%) and Castello (5%), whose combined market share adds up to 11 percent.
Italy's microbrewers are an eclectic lot. Some have weathered the winds of change very well like Hops! in the seaside town of Riccione, which was founded in 1997. Others have come and gone, for reasons well-known to observers of the U.S. craft brewing scene: they were financially over-stretched, yet under-skilled when it came to running a restaurant business. Add to that a highly variable beer quality and you know why the Italian craft brewing scene resembles that of the U.S. circa 1995.
How shall we put this politely: in Italian craft brewing, a lot of passion is still required to compensate the lack of professionalism. As in the U.S., this is not a recipe for business longevity. But while these Italian microbrewers are at it, they will do their best to generate an interest in beer – not as wallop, but as an interesting tipple which does not spoil your bella figura.
More promising in this respect are what we have termed the "second generation regional brewers" like Theresianer, which are fairly recent start-ups but whose owners have the funds and the business wherewithal to go for a certain size without having to compromise on quality or on prize.
The industrialists behind Theresianer and newcomer Bergner Bräu probably do not want to emulate the example of celebrity wine makers like film director Francis Ford Coppola, who proved right the old adage that if you want to make a small fortune out of wine, you need to start out with a large fortune.
Italy's new brewers have to get things right the first time round because chances are slim they will be given a second chance. Or a new lease on life should their businesses sink.
Which brings us to Birra Castello – and one of the most exciting rescue stories in the brewing industry.
Readers does it not strike you as odd that the story of market consolidation always ends with a duopoly firmly established? It does not matter which industry you look at, when you close the book there are only two players left that have stamped out all opposition.
For this reason it is worth studying the Italian beer market. It shows that challenging this ostensibly inevitable pattern is worthwhile and can be crowned with success. Take Birra Castello, which has two breweries in northern Italy and is owned by a cooperative of some 40 distributors called BSE. They donned the hat of brewery owner in 1997, when the antitrust authorities told Heineken Italia to sell off one of their seven breweries – which was the one million hl erstwhile Moretti brewery in San Giorgio. Perhaps Heineken Italia was even glad to see this brewery go. Imagine running seven breweries in a market that small. In any case, to sweeten the purchase Heineken Italia gave the buyers three years of contract brewing but took the brand - Moretti - with them. In sum: the buyers got plenty of capacity but only one brand, Castello, which had been dormant for years.
Perhaps this agreement served the distributors right at the time since they had set their eyes on providing themselves with DOBs (Distributors' Own Brand) for the on-trade. As Managing Director of BSE, Eliano Verardo, explained, his distributors do not want to depend on just three global brewers for their beers. Mr Verardo himself comes from a family of distributors. His own company distributes 65,000 hl beer annually.
While it may be easy to view the purchase of the San Giorgio brewery as a straightforward business transaction with a longterm perspective – the distributors needed an on-trade beer brand and Italy's supermarkets a brewery which would produce private labels for them – it's much harder to see that in BSE's next purchase, that of the Pedavena brewery.
In retrospect, it looks like Heineken Italia wanted an elegant exit from a plant which was doomed. Companies often seek the assistance of private equity if they intend to leave a business for good but fear a scandal. The investor, prepared to take on the task of grave-digger, usually has his palms lined by the seller and picks over the bones before he flogs off the remaining valuables and, after a time lag of a few years, brings the job to an end.
Heineken Italia initiated closure procedures (read: stopped investing) at the 600,000 hl Pedavena brewery in 2003. Apparently, Heineken's management was aware that ticking off the Pedavena brewery with the loss of about 250 jobs would not go down well with the public. Three times over the years they asked Mr Verardo whether he was prepared to buy this brewery too. But Mr Verardo was reluctant. Another brewery with a dormant brand, but this time without the contract-brewing treat? Where was the business rationale?
When in 2006 he finally agreed to take the Pedavena brewery off Heineken's hands the plant had been down for a year. But what a year it had been for Heineken Italia. First there was only local public protest, yet this soon turned into a nationwide popular movement for the rescue of the brewery. And all was covered by national television. Heineken's management cannot have been pleased with the course of events. The search for a buyer, initiated by Pedavena's very vocal major, was not without its opera buffa elements: At some stage the Swedish brewer Kopparberg was wheeled out as a prospective buyer but quickly returned to the wings.
Ultimately, a domestic solution was found to Heineken's problems. Pedavena brewery joined Birra Castello. To everybody's surprise, the distributors did not act like pathologists: they did not close down the brewery and shift production to the larger and more modern San Giorgio brewery, which is only some 150 km away from Pedavena. No, they had a sustainable business plan. They have since spent EUR 10 million on kitting out the brewery and introduced marketing in order to push the Pedavena as well as the Dolomiti brands. Although they still produce private labels and bottle soft drinks, Mr Verardo says that in 2008 Birra Castello produced over 900,000 hl of their own beer brands, aiming for one million hl – provided the economy improves and Italy's major brewers cut back their aggressive price promotions in the off-trade.
The rescue of the Pedavena brewery, it seems, was so stereotypically Italian: grande drama, unpredictable dynamics, shrewd plotting and everybody trying to cut a bella figura. But more than 60 jobs were saved in a town, which has only two employers of some size: the local hospital and --- the brewery.
Knowst thou a country, where it took the entry of an international brewer to breathe life into the beer category and touch the aspirations of the younger consumers? Knowst thou a country whose beer brands write their success stories on foreign soil rather than at home? Indeed, knowst thou this country?
If you think the answer is "Germany" – think again. It's Italy. SABMiller and the Peroni brand are currently undertaking just that. Does this mean we have to rethink some of our assumption about beer in Italy and Italian beer brands? Perhaps. But in another report.


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The Australian today tips a bucket on the mostly biased Media Watch over their episode dealing with wind turbines. Recent data concerning health issues caused by low frequency noise may have consequences in the near future as government will ultimately be drawn into the fray.
Media Watch 'just skimmed my report': researcher
A SCIENTIFIC researcher whose groundbreaking study into the impact of wind turbines on nearby residents has criticised the ABC's Media Watchprogram, saying its journalist hounded his company about alleged media misrepresentations without reading or understanding his report.
The study by acoustics expert Steven Cooper measured the sensations felt by a group of residents who had complained of health concerns, and matched their diary records with the wind farm operations. The study found a correlation between severe sensations experienced by the small group of residents studied and the power output of the turbines at Cape Bridgewater in Victoria.
The Cooper report has been hailed internationally as representing a breakthrough in the study of wind turbines and possible impacts.
The Australian's environment editor Graham Lloyd has extensively reported on the findings of the study after they were released last month and has been the subject of inquiries by Media Watch journalist Flint Duxfield.
Media Watch has asked The Australian to justify the prominent coverage it gave to the study.
Mr Cooper was critical of Duxfield when contacted by The Australian yesterday, and said the journalist had failed to properly read his report before making inquiries into its fair and accurate representation in the media.
Mr Cooper said he was appalled by the ABC's attempts to contact his office, which he said was "hounded" by hourly calls over a four-day period.
"In the end I spoke to them to answer questions and I wasn't overly impressed," he said.
"They were after Channel Seven and Graham Lloyd, and in the end his inquiries were about people not reading and reporting incorrect information.
"It got to a point where he was asking questions and I said, 'You haven't read the report', to which he replied, 'Oh, I've skimmed the report', and I said, 'Well that's a problem, you're here about talking about people misrepresenting but you haven't read the report'.
"He just tried to talk about people misrepresenting. I did tell him that what Graham Lloyd had presented was correct. "
Media Watch host Paul Barry, responding on behalf of Duxfield, said he was not party to the conversation, "but I can tell you that he is always unfailingly courteous and never hounds anyone — and yes, Flint has read the report".
Barry claimed that "some eminent Australian scientists" had concerns about The Australian's coverage of the Cooper report.
Lloyd said the issue was about making sure minority rights were properly respected. "This is not about ideology," he said. "The absence of high-quality research, as evidenced by the National Health and Medical Research Council's latest statement, is astonishing."
Source: News Limited
Leftist media saturates the news. Fight back. Send articles to your friends, politicians, local media, and facebook.
Albert 16/02/2015, 7:37 am
I really can't understand why anyone with a modicum of intelligence would bother paying any attention to a word that the ABC and its resident idiot Paul Barry says.
Robert TG 16/02/2015, 11:44 am
Is it true or did you hear about it on the ABC.
Today's journalists are interested in a story, and to be different for all the others they need to come at it from a different angle, most of them choose fiction as their angle, with a touch of controversy to add interest.
Lorraine 17/02/2015, 8:38 am
MSM have lost the trust of the Australian people ,we know they are bias to the left in all things Political. the left are bias to all things that can control , the people. The left socialist has the need to tell you that they know best, ever listened to the likes of Christine Milne ,Sarah Hansen Young, their stupidety is astounding to any but the believer and to think 10% of the voting public agrees with this ilk. The ABC is not worth listening to or watching as it has only the Leftie in Charge. We that are not of the rusted on Labor/Greens, see what they are about and we do not BUY the garbage as presented the Media
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Used to generate a response to an HTTP request. This class implements the javax.servlet.http.HttpServletResponse interface defined in Version 2.5 of the Java Servlet API.
Adds a response header with the given name and date-value. According to spec, http response headers should be allowed to have multiple values. However, this implementation does not currently allow response headers to have multiple values.
Adds a response header with the given name and value. According to spec, http response headers should be allowed to have multiple values. However, this implementation does not currently allow response headers to have multiple values.
Adds a response header with the given name and integer value. According to spec, http response headers should be allowed to have multiple values. However, this implementation does not currently allow response headers to have multiple values.
According to spec, this method is supposed to encode the specified URL for use in the sendRedirect method or, if encoding is not needed, returns the URL unchanged. The implementation of this method includes logic to determine whether the session ID needs to be encoded in the URL. This is important for browsers that don't support cookies. In our case, sessions are maintained using cookies so we return the URL unchanged.
According to spec, this method is supposed to encode the specified URL by including the session ID in it, or, if encoding is not needed, returns the URL unchanged. This is important for browsers that don't support cookies. In our case, sessions are maintained using cookies so we return the URL unchanged.
Forces any content in the buffer to be written to the client. A call to this method automatically commits the response, meaning the status code and headers will be written. This method is called automatically after each http request to free up server resources. You do not need to call this method explicitly from your application.
Returns the buffer size used for the response.
Returns the raw NIO SocketChannel associated with this response. Use with care.
Returns the name of the character encoding used in the response.
Returns the "Content-Length" defined in the response header. Returns null if the "Content-Length" is not defined or is less than zero.
Returns the "Content-Type" defined in the response header (e.g. "text/html; charset=utf-8").
Returns the raw HTTP response header.
Returns the locale specified for this response using the setLocale() method.
//IMPORTANT: Set response headers before getting the output stream!
Clears the status code and headers. This method is called automatically after each new http request to free up server resources. You do not need to call this method explicitly from your application.
According to spec, this method is supposed to clear the content buffer. However, this implementation doesn't use a content buffer. All content is written immediately.
Sends an error response to the client using the specified status. The server defaults to creating the response to look like an HTML-formatted server error page containing the specified message, setting the content type to "text/html", leaving cookies and other headers unmodified.
Sends a temporary or permanent redirect response to the client using the specified redirect location URL.
Sets the preferred buffer size for the body of the response. A larger buffer allows more content to be sent to the client at a time. A smaller buffer decreases server memory load and allows the client to start receiving data more quickly.
This method must be called before any response body content is written.
Sets the name of the character encoding used in the response. Default is "UTF-8".
charset String specifying the character set defined by IANA.
Sets the "Content-Length" in the response header. Note that the "Content-Length" header is set automatically by most of the write() methods. So unless you're writing directly to the ServletOutputStream, you do not need to set this header.
Used to set/update the "Content-Type" response header (e.g. "text/html; charset=utf-8").
Sets the locale of the response. The locale is communicated via the "Content-Language" header and the character encoding in the "Content-Type" header.
Used to write a block of text in the response body. Will automatically try to gzip compress the text if "Accept-Encoding" supports gzip compression. You should only call this method once.
Used to write bytes to the response body. Will automatically try to compress the byte array if "Accept-Encoding" supports gzip compression. You should only call this method once.
Used to write a block of text in the response body. You should only call this method once.
compressOutput Specify whether to gzip compress the text. Note that this option will be applied only if "Accept-Encoding" supports gzip compression.
Used to write bytes to the response body. You should only call this method once.
compressOutput Specify whether to gzip compress the byte array. Note that this option will be applied only if "Accept-Encoding" supports gzip compression. Do not use this option if your bytes are already gzip compressed.
Used to transfer bytes from an input stream to the response body.
Used to write contents of a file into the response body. Automatically compresses the file content if the client supports gzip compression. You should only call this method once.
fileName Optional file name used in the "Content-Disposition" header. If the fileName is null, the "Content-Disposition" header will not be set by this method.


Description: Tired of tough cuts? This Jaccard meat tenderizer will assure you of tender portions. Sixteen stainless saber blades tenderize to perfection. Great for wild game, beef, pork, veal, lamb, and chicken. This Jaccard meat tenderizer tenderizes without loss of natural juices. This Jaccard meat tenderizer is the very product that a lot of restaurants use to tenderize their meats for their customers. When used before marinating the meat, the meat will drink in the marinade more freely. Use with cutting board. Dishwasher safe on top shelf only. This Jaccard meat tenderizer is a must for the kitchen or outdoor cooking.


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The Observer endorses Ricketts – Ruelas
Observer Editorial Board | Tuesday, February 3, 2015
Sunday afternoon, The Observer Editorial Board interviewed the candidates running for student body president and vice president: juniors Bryan Ricketts and Nidia Ruelas and sophomores Neil Joseph and Noemi Ventilla. After evaluating both tickets' goals, clarity of communication, practicality of plans and overall organization, we endorse Ricketts and Ruelas.
We determined that either ticket, if elected, could fulfill its job adequately, but we perceived significant weak spots in both campaigns. Both should work harder to clearly articulate their actionable plans and, once elected, the winning ticket will quickly need to achieve results.
Though the pairs presented distinct approaches to their campaigns, the Editorial Board expressed serious reservations about both parties' lack of specific, feasible plans for the coming year. Joseph and Ventilla's ambitions include revamping the DARTing system and restructuring dining options, which the candidates admitted might be impractical if not impossible. Ricketts and Ruelas' plans focused on broad themes rather than specific, tangible goals, but the Editorial Board believes the pair's commitment and experience are more likely to yield results. The following explanation, based on our interviews with both tickets, elaborates on the basis of our endorsement and notes areas in which the goals of both platforms could be strengthened and successfully enacted.
Although steeped in pertinent issues related to "identity," Ricketts and Ruelas' platform strikes us as heavy on abstract ideas while lacking in practical plans. Their objectives all too frequently center on verbs like "evaluate," "assess," "promote," "continue" and "encourage" — all of which remain necessary to allow transparency in student government and open dialogue across campus, but none of which indicate specific improvements to be made.
For Ricketts and Ruelas, identity refers not just to gender or sexuality but also to socioeconomic and minority status, an admirable consideration they stressed in their interview. Their unprecedented emphasis on reaching out to first-generation and low-income students and promoting the visibility of those students' oft-underappreciated needs earns our wholehearted support.
Ricketts' extensive involvement with PrismND as a two-time president and Ruelas' continued role in Diversity Council suggest the pair has the ability to effectively pinpoint problems in their respective fields, communicate successfully with the University administration and push for changes that will foster a more inclusive campus environment. Yet their campaign materials fail to indicate what these specific changes might be. If elected, the pair must prove their ability to achieve actual progress beyond encouraging dialogue.
The few actionable items Ricketts and Ruelas put forth appeared to be well researched and relatively feasible. Their suggested online forum, which Ricketts said would be akin to Reddit, would allow students to express concerns of all kinds to student government leaders and Notre Dame administrators.
Ricketts said elite universities like Dartmouth have seen positive results from similar sites, and because the forum would require netID usernames, he said he hoped users would be accountable for their posts. Whether the administration responds quickly to complaints remains out of student government's control; however, the site may well offer a more efficient and direct means of communication between students and University officials as well as student leaders.
Ricketts and Ruelas' plan to implement a Dorm Week, encourage the sale of dorm apparel in the Hammes Notre Dame Bookstore and promote dorm open houses stood out as another innovative facet to their plans; however, they could not specify who would take charge of the week's plans and never mentioned the Hall Presidents' Council when asked how they would oversee the campus-wide celebration.
The Editorial Board believe Joseph and Ventilla, as sophomores with extensive experience in class councils, have the enthusiasm and drive to do well but would benefit from more time in other departments of student government, more opportunities to work with University administrators and more interaction with the South Bend community.
Ventilla, the current sophomore class president, sits on the student senate, and Joseph serves as the treasurer of the Sophomore Class Council (SCC). Neither brought a holistic view of student government to the discussion; they barely addressed big issues like sexual assault, mental health resources and campus safety. When asked, they said they plan to continue the programs already in place, such as the "It's On Us" campaign and Irish State of Mind week.
Joseph and Ventilla underscored the importance of tackling some of these issues in the new freshman course that will replace physical education as a requirement. The idea could indeed better serve the first-year students than the mandatory sexual assault awareness presentations currently do, but such plans do not address concerns for the student body as a whole.
Joseph and Ventilla's self-stated first priority, improving the meal swipe system and grab-and-go options, struck us as beneficial but not deserving of such imminent consideration. Their suggestion to make CIF comments viewable by students who take time to complete their own forms, however, could be a hugely helpful addition to the course selection process.
Both tickets have potential for great success, but they should decide how to effectively address the broad ideas they express in their platforms. Though Ricketts and Ruelas have a more limited experience in student government, their outside perspective on such ideas could breathe new life into the organization.
Further, Ricketts and Ruelas have already demonstrated their ability to take action on major issues that reflect the broad concerns of the student body. They have taken charge of major campus groups and successfully organized coalitions to tackle serious matters of inclusion and diversity.
We believe Joseph and Ventilla could succeed on this stage in the future if they use this year to develop their leadership presence and flesh out their ideas. In the meantime, The Observer Editorial Board believes Ricketts and Ruelas give Notre Dame students a better chance to see tangible, positive changes on campus next year.
About Observer Editorial Board
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Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) is responsible for connecting, monitoring and disconnecting VoIP sessions.
Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) refers to the hardware/software combination that allows you to make free calls using the Internet. It is an IP telephony signaling protocol used by your Internet service provider (ISP) to integrate basic IP phone capabilities with online chat, web and email. SIP proxy servers can also provide advanced call-processing functions such as call routing, authentication and security.
In addition to establishing sessions for real-time sessions, SIP server also supports traditional telephony features such as call forwarding, time-of-day routing and personal mobility. However, SIP is mostly used to start and end VoIP phone calls. In a typical SIP session, the client, which is recognised using their SIP address, requests for a voice connection with a SIP server using a device (a computer, tablet or smartphone). The SIP server then responds to tell the client whether or not a voice connection is possible.
Some of the SIP clients that you may be familiar with are Microsoft MSN Messenger and Apple iChat. These are instant messaging applications that allow you to send out voice and video messages for free as long as you have a reliable Internet connection.


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The best Showtime original series of all time
See how your favorite show stacks up.
Photo via Showtime
Eddie Strait— 2017-09-16 06:30 am | Last updated 2019-04-21 06:41 pm
Putting together of a list of recommendations for the best Showtime original series is tricky. The network's programming has a reputation for starting off strong with audiences and critics before flaming out. Take Dexter, for example. It quickly became the network's most buzzworthy show, but its widely mocked later seasons and finale make it hard to endorse. The same could be said for Homeland.
That said, here are our picks for Showtime's most interesting, entertaining, and effective shows—and some recommended stopping points for you to get out while the shows are still on top.
The best Showtime original series
1) Twin Peaks: The Return
With so many shows being resurrected in one form or another to mostly diminishing returns, it's only right that David Lynch returns to Twin Peaks to push the boundaries of what television can be. Again. The Return is everything fans expected: fascinating, horrifying, slyly funny, frustrating, and singular. Twin Peaks has the kind of versatility to be whatever it wants at any given moment, and that's what makes it unmissable. Even at its low points, you're still seeing things that you won't forget. But at its best, The Return is as good as the form gets.
Screengrab via JoBlo TV Trailers/YouTube
2) Billions
What Billions lacks in prestige it makes up for in terms of entertainment value. It's a fun game of cat and mouse between Damian Lewis' hedge fund banker and Paul Giamatti's U.S. attorney. Billions strikes the right tone of melodrama and keeps the story moving. The show hit its groove in its recently concluded second season, setting expectations high for season 3. But sometimes it's the simple pleasures that make a show worth watching. For Billions, that is Paul Giamatti's intensity. When he takes things to 11, few actors are as amusing to watch
Screengrab via Billions/YouTube
3) The Affair
Pretty people betraying each other. It's about as standard issue as a drama premise gets. But The Affair makes the formula work to its advantage. The show explores an affair (obviously) and the way it affects the lives of the duplicitous couple (played by Dominic West and Ruth Wilson). The cast also includes Joshua Jackson and Maura Tierney, so basically it's full of elite TV actors doing what they do best. The characters are well-developed, and the drama is incisive.
Screengrab via The Affair/YouTube
4) Penny Dreadful
Horror shows really have a short life, unless they go the anthology route. But that's a cheat. Longform horror is as tough a task as there is in television. Penny Dreadful found that alchemy and churned out three seasons of the good stuff before surprising fans with an out-of-nowhere series finale. After the shock wore off, its was clear the creative powers that be made the right decision. Any show featuring Van Helsing, Victor Frankenstein, Dracula, and Dr. Jekyll is destined to burn bright and fast. Come for the gothic horror, stay for Eva Green's devilishly good performance.
Screengrab via Penny Dreadful/YouTube
5) This American Life
For a brief two-season run, Ira Glass and his team produced episodes of their iconic radio show for television. The burden of TV production ultimately proved to be too much, but the episodes produced feature all the hallmarks of This American Life: thoroughly researched and off-the-map stories told with a humanist touch. If you're a fan of the radio show/podcast, these episodes are essential. If you've never tried This American Life, this is a good way to give it a shot.
Screengrab via talwithiraglass/YouTube
Why you should be using Showtime Anytime
The best movies on Showtime and Showtime Anytime
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6) Dexter
Michael C. Hall's work as the serial-killer-killing serial killer Dexter is one of more indelible TV performances of the 2000s. The show is grisly (as you'd expect given the subject matter) and darkly funny. Dexter made a strong impression right off the bat, and produced several well-received seasons. The show peaked with season 4 and the Trinity Killer (John Lithgow) arc, before a rapid descent. Dexter went out with a whimper, including its widely ridiculed finale, but the show's highs are still worth the journey (maybe just stop at season 4 to be safe).
Screengrab via Dexter/YouTube
7) Homeland
Homeland is the best and worst of a Showtime show in one package. It debuted to acclaim from audiences and critics, but after the much-praised first season, the tide turned for everyone involved. The road grew bumpier and bumpier. Even though Homeland hasn't reached the highs of that first outing, it has settled into a comfy middle ground mix of melodrama and action. Still, that first season remains top notch, with Carrie, Saul, and Brody at their most compelling.
Screengrab via Showtime/YouTube
8) Ray Donovan
The most consistent thing about Showtime shows are the performances, which tend to be strong even when the writing isn't quite up to the actor's' efforts. In the case of Ray Donovan, though, Liev Schreiber has great material to work with even in the show's current fifth season. Schreiber is great as Ray, a fixer who handles his clients' problems while struggling with his own. It's a tried-and-true setup, but Schreiber elevates the familiar into something more personal.
Screengrab via Ray Donovan/YouTube
9) Californication
It's kind of amazing that Californication ran for seven seasons and 84 episodes. There is a long history of lowbrow comedies hanging around forever, and when you add in pay cable's penchant for nudity and language, you get Californication. David Duchonvy carried the show as Hank Moody, a writer sleeping his way through town. Californication was always more of a hit with fans than critics, proving that the show understood what it was and delivered the goods to a welcoming audience.
10) Twin Peaks
If we're going to recommend Twin Peaks: The Return, then obviously we recommend the OG Twin Peaks. See how it all started, back when Laura Palmer's body was found on the beach and Twin Peaks was just a dot on a map to Agent Dale Cooper. For all its oddities, it's the emotional punches the show delivers that stick in your memory. Putting Twin Peaks on here is a cheat since it's not an original Showtime production, but Twin Peaks doesn't play by the rules and neither do I.
Screengrab via MOVIEvsFILM Trailers/YouTube
Eddie Strait
Eddie Strait is a member of the Austin Film Critic Association. His reviews focus primarily on streaming entertainment, with an emphasis on Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, and other on-demand services.
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Francis Toye, founder and CEO of The Unilink Group and Derek Jones from Unilink Technology Services were honoured by Her Majesty The Queen with the Queen's Award for Enterprise in Innovation. The event took place at the Buckingham Palace on Thursday, 14th July 2016.
16/12/15 - Excellent Guardian article on Thameside prison HERE. Like all private prisons they use our prisoner self-service.
16/09/14 - Please ensure you have quoted the correct NOMS number when sending in deposits to your recipient. If the payment is allocated to another person's account in error, the prison may not be able to transfer to the correct account at a later date due to the funds being spent.
30/06/14 - Please be aware that some establishment do not allow you to send funds to unauthorised recipients. If you are unsure please check with the prison concerned, they will be able to confirm who your authorised recipient is. Not doing so could result in suspended payments. Thank you.
This service enables you to send money to prisoners in the UK that operate our service from any computer.
Secure Payment Services is a safer, faster, more secure way to pay online with, your payments sent directly to the prison.
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I am a solicitor and dispute resolution specialist, working as a mediator and collaborative lawyer as well as an arbitrator. I am a member of Resolution, of the Law Society Advanced Family Law Accreditation Scheme, and a member of the Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists. I am a Deputy District Judge, meaning that I sit part-time in the county court, often deciding divorce and finance cases.
I have a wide experience of representing and advising clients on the financial implications of divorce and relationship breakdown, particularly in relation to family businesses, pensions and the arrangements for the family home. I don't act only for the super-rich; I have a real appreciation of the problems separating couples face when money is tight, and debt is an issue. I see arbitration as the affordable choice for those who want an efficient, cost-effective solution, avoiding the expense and frustrations of court.
Part of the benefit of arbitration compared with traditional litigation is that you don't have to put up with the daunting, sometimes intimidating formalities of the old-fashioned court process. As an arbitrator, I'm approachable and straight-talking. As a mediator and collaborative lawyer, I bring insight and communication skills into the arbitration process, and as an experienced matrimonial solicitor, I'm knowledgeable, sensible, and down to earth.