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Scotland Tour
Starting in
Extend your stay! Make it a Grand Tour by combining this tour with our Ireland Tour or our England & Wales Tour.
Known for it's dramatic scenery of mountains and valleys, rolling hills, green fields and forests, and rugged coastline, Scotland may not always be sunny but your will surely receive a warm welcome. Join us as we explore castles, look for Nessie and taste the famous whisky.
Signature Moments
Have your breath taken away with spectacular peaks and water falls
Catch a glimpse of "Nessie" at Loch Ness
Sample a wee dram
Be in Awe at St Andrew's, the "Home of Golf"
Please click here to book the tour or scroll down for more information.
Inclusions & Highlights
Transportation throughout by luxury vehicle
Services of an experienced driver/guide
7 nights accommodation in superior first class hotels
7 full Scottish Breakfasts
5 evening meals
Farewell dinner with entertainment at the Jam House in Edinburgh
Panoramic City tours of Glasgow and Edinburgh
Cruise on Loch Lomond
Tour and tasting at Edradour Distillery
Exclusive pre-opening tour of Edinburgh Castle
Visits and admissions to: Armadale Castle Gardens, Urquhart Castle, Culloden Battlefield Visitor Centre, Blair Castle, Glamis Castle
Women's Travel Club Tour Host
This tour can be combined with our Ireland Tour or our England & Wales Tour to become the Ultimate UK Grand Tour. Grand Tours offer an exceptional experience for an in depth tour of an area. By combining these two tours you can enjoy a seamless tour of both destinations while only having one international flight.
Welcome to Scotland!
Meet your tour guide at Glasgow Airport, before a panoramic tour of Glasgow. Drive around George Square, filled with statues of Sir Walter Scott, Queen Victoria and other influential people. See the Victorian City Chambers, opened in 1888 by Queen Victoria. Visit St. Mungo's Cathedral where the Saint's tomb is in the lower crypt.
The cathedral was built before the reformation from the late 12th century and although it is no longer designated as a cathedral, it is still a place of active Christian worship. Then visit Provand's Lordship, Glasgow's oldest house built in 1471. The house was originally part of a hospital and has been extensively restored and furnished. Transfer to your nearby hotel, check in and settle into your room. In the evening, join your fellow travelers for welcome get-together drink followed by dinner in the hotel restaurant.
Accommodations: Grand Central Hotel
Near Glasgow, stop at the celebrated Loch Lomond, Scotland's longest loch. Upon arrival embark on a leisurely cruise of the loch so you can see wonderful views and the island, which is the final resting place of the Chiefs of the Clan MacGregor.
Stop in Balloch Castle Country Park before making your way through the Glencoe Region, an area known for the Massacre of Glen Coe in 1692. During the massacre, the Campbells slaughtered many of the Macdonald clan. Then check into your Fort William hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodations: Bridge of Orchy Hotel
Armadale Castle
Today, head to Mallaig and take a ferry to Armadale. Then visit Armadale Castle, which was once home to the MacDonald's chief as early as the seventeenth century. Today, not much remains of the castle abandoned in 1925, except for the visitor center, museum, and gardens. Return to the mainland via the scenic Skye Bridge.
Next, stop for photos of Eilean Donan Castle, one of the most iconic images of Scotland. At least four different versions of the castle have existed as the feudal history of Scotland unfolded through the centuries on this site. Continue to your hotel in Inverness and check into your hotel. In the evening, join your fellow travelers for dinner in the hotel restaurant.
Accommodations: Kingsmill Hotel
After breakfast, head to Urquhart Castle and visit the ruins of what was once the largest castle in Scotland. The castle is situated on a scenic promontory where many sightings of the monster have been reported. See panoramic views of Loch Ness, a freshwater loch. Return to Inverness where you will have some time on your own before dinner with your group.
Culloden & Perthshire
Motor a short distance to Culloden Moor and tour the Visitor Centre. Walk around the battlefield where, on April 16, 1746, British Government forces defeated the army of Prince Charles Edward Stuart in just one hour and ended hopes of restoring the Jacobite Stuarts to the British throne. The brutal measures imposed after the battle signaled the end of the distinctive Highland way of life and culture.
Continue on to visit Blair Castle, home of the Duke of Atholl. Take a tour of the castle and enjoy the fine collections of furniture, portraits, china and armor. Nearby, visit the Edradour Distillery, which was established in 1825 and Scotland's smallest distillery. Enjoy a tour and tasting before checking into your Perth hotel. Tonight, you are free to dine at one of the many restaurants or pubs scattered throughout the city.
Accommodations: Murrayshall Hotel
St Andrew's & Glamis Castle
This morning, visit Glamis Castle, the legendary setting of the story, "Macbeth" and childhood home of the Queen Mother. Then head to St. Andrews where you will have some time on your own. You could also visit St. Andrews Castle, Falkland Place or even St. Andrews Cathedral. In the afternoon, make your way to Edinburgh and check into your hotel. In the evening, you can dine at one of the many traditional or modern dinner venues located within Edinburgh.
Accommodations: Intercontinental The George Hotel
Set off on a guided tour of Edinburgh to see some of the city's magnificent highlights. During your tour, you will travel through the Old Town and of course along the Royal Mile. If time permits, you will also see the Palace of Holyroodhouse, St. Giles Cathedral and even the National Museum of Scotland. Next, tour the imposing Edinburgh Castle, perched high above the city on volcanic rock and dominates the skyline.
The castle has been involved in many historical conflicts from the War of Scottish Independence to the Jacobite Rising in 1745 and even acted as a military prison during both World Wars. Enjoy the afternoon free to sightsee and shop.
Tonight, head to a unique Scottish venue, for dinner followed by a traditional Scottish ceilidh. The night includes lively music, dancing and of course the ceremonial Haggis.
Today we say good-bye to beautiful Scotland and new friends. Transfer to the airport for your flight home or continue your journey to Ireland.
**Prices are subject to change and availability. Space is limited and activities and specific hotels are subject to change. Travel insurance is strongly recommended.
Important Details & Pricing
Double Occupancy - $5999 CAD (Sharing a room) - Approx. $5000 USD
Single Occupancy - $7499 CAD (Your own room) - Approx. $6200 USD
If you would like the double occupancy rate but don't have a roommate we will match you with a suitable roommate. The single occupancy rate will give you your own room. Single occupancy may be limited. CAD = Canadian dollars. USD = United States of America dollars. Conversion to USD is approximated by current exchange rates and subject to change. You will be charged in CAD and your bank may charge a slightly different rate or fees.
Deposit of $250 CAD due at time of booking.
Final Payment due - April 2, 2022
*Any payments are non-refundable if you cancel after their date due, we strongly recommend travel insurance. Please see full terms and conditions. Prices are subject to change and availability.
Please note that if travel restrictions related to Covid-19 affect our tour travel plans, do not worry. We will reschedule our trip, free of any additional costs, for as many times as needed on future dates until travel can safely take place. It is also important to note that all our tours comply with the utmost standards of safety and hygiene protocols to ensure your well being during your visit.
Some walking while visiting areas and a few shorter walking tours.
Minimum - 10 ladies
Maximum - 13 ladies
International Airfare
Arrival & Departure transfers for those arriving outside of group times
Visa/passport handling fees
Meals not listed in itinerary
Optional Activities
Expenses of a Personal Nature
Early check-in and late check-out of hotel
Irene Murray
Irene has recently retired and really enjoys to travel to fill her time. She loves to stay active and is looking forward to trying some competitive running.
Once your flights are booked please forward a copy of your itinerary to info@womens-travel-club.com.
Please do not book any flights until tour is confirmed.
Arrive to Glasgow (GLA) by 10 AM.
Depart from Edinburgh (EDI)
Please complete the form to request flight options for your tour. The Women's Travel Club Flight Department will work with you to arrange the best options. Our Flight management fee is CAD 100.00 + HST, per tour.
Flight Quote
Out of country medical insurance is required. We strongly recommend that you obtain cancellation and interruption insurance to protect your investment.
Use this link to request an insurance quote.
Grand Central Hotel
Directly adjoining Central Station, The Principal Grand Central Hotel, Glasgow was originally built in the late 19th-century as a great British railway hotel. One of the city's most prestigious buildings, the hotel has welcomed many famous guests including Frank Sinatra and Winston Churchill, throughout the years.
Bridge of Orchy Hotel
The Bridge of Orchy Hotel have 32 well appointed rooms altogether. 10 of the 32 rooms situated in the main building. These newly refurbished rooms are decorated in a traditional style and overlook the surrounding countryside.
Kingsmill Hotel
The Kingsmills Hotel is a fabulous 4-star luxury hotel in Inverness. Set in the beautiful Scottish Highlands, they offer a variety of extremely luxurious rooms, impeccable dining options and good old-fashioned Scottish hospitality to all their guests.
Murrayshall Hotel
From the welcoming smile that greets you at reception to our bespoke golfing experiences, your holiday or event in one of the most beautiful areas of Scotland is all about you. Whether you're looking for a relaxed evening in Stutts Bar, a golfing break, or a chance to simply switch off and relax among stunning scenery and quiet surroundings, we have it covered.
Intercontinental The George Hotel
The Principal Edinburgh on George Street has been welcoming hotel guests since 1881. At its heart are five listed Georgian townhouses, built in 1775 as homes for Edinburgh's most prosperous citizens.


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Welcome To Flagstaff, Arizona
Indian Ruins & Cliff Dwellings
Arizona Meteor Crater
Snow Bowl & Sky Ride
Legendary Route 66
Flagstaff Art & Artists
Flagstaff Hotels & Reservations
Driving: Interstates 40 and 17 are major crossroads for Flagstaff, providing easy entry from the south, east and west. Highway 89 links northern states, and Highway 180 connects Flagstaff and Grand Canyon National Park, 81 miles to the northwest.
Flying: Flagstaff Pulliam Airport is about six miles from downtown Flagstaff and has daily service to Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix. The airport offers a daily cafe with a full bar, a notary service, Internet access and 400 free passenger parking spaces. Take Exit 337 off of Interstate 17. Turn east onto W. John W. Powell Blvd. Turn right at S. Pulliam Drive. 928 556-1234, ext. 10.
By Rail: Flagstaff's historic downtown train station at 1 East Route 66 is fully operational with daily Amtrak arrivals and departures. It is also home to the Flagstaff Visitor Center, where you can obtain free information on local attractions, events, and accommodations. 800-872-7245.
Driving Distances and Times from Flagstaff, Arizona:
Albuquerque, NM 322 mi (about 5 hours 11 mins)
Chicago, IL 1,660 mi (about 26 hours)
Dallas, TX 971 mi (about 15 hours 55 mins)
Denver, CO 677 mi (about 11 hours 47 mins)
El Paso, TX 475 mi (about 8 hours 43 mins)
Jerome, AZ 59.1 mi (about 1 hour 23 mins)
Las Vegas, NV 253 mi (about 4 hours 15 mins)
Laughlin, NV 181 mi (about 3 hours 3 mins)
Los Angeles, CA 467 mi (about 7 hours 22 mins)
Phoenix, AZ 147 mi (about 2 hours 28 mins)
Portland, OR 1,277 mi (about 21 hours 13 mins)
Prescott, AZ 96.7 mi (about 1 hour 45 mins)
Salt Lake City, UT 514 mi (about 9 hours 1 min)
San Francisco, CA 767 mi (about 12 hours 27 mins)
Seattle, WA 1,351 mi (about 22 hours 17 mins)
Sedona, AZ 31.0 mi (about 42 mins)
Tucson, AZ 262 mi (about 4 hours 24 mins)
Tulsa, OK 970 mi (about 15 hours 27 mins
Williams, AZ 37.7 mi (about 41 mins)
Featured Regional Artists
Dan Turner | Digital Art
Lisa Hering | Photography
Dan Turner and
Flagstaff Special Edition.
Designed by Dan Turner.
Artists: Market Your Art
Flagstaff and Northern Arizona artists, photographers, jewelers, sculptors and galleries — display your art to collectors and buyers with a custom Gallery Page on Flagstaff Special Edition. Click for details.
Featured Homepage Images:
"The Speeding Yellow Bullet"
Copyright © Matthew Santomarco.
"Peaks Rainbow"
Copyright © Ian Whitehead.
Advertise on Flagstaff Special Edition
Connect with an upscale audience of art collectors, tourists, vacationers, business travelers and the local Flagstaff community 24/7 on Northern Arizona's premier Art and Travel site. The cost of entry is embarrassingly inexpensive compared to traditional print advertising, and access to your market is greater. Find out more...
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Here is a biscornu to match the Roberta's Cats Scissors Fob. A friend has requested one with bunnies so I will try to work on that one and one with dogs this week. They will use the same color scheme so they will also match the Roberta scissors.
This design is soooo cute!!!! I love the colors you picked for it, too!! Thank you so much for sharing!!
This is adorable! Can't wait to see the dog and bunnie ones:) Thank you for the wonderful freebies!!
Thank you! Love the little kitties!
Thank you SO much for putting this up! I loved stitching it, and my aunt LOVED getting it! I really appreciate all the patterns you've placed on your blog!
Thanks, the grille is very nice.
I loved stitching this pattern! I did make one change though - I stitched the cats with an orange variegated floss to represent our orange tabby cats. Thank you for sharing.
I really love your patterns! I stitched this design, using orange variegated floss for the kitties to match our two orange tabbies - HopSing & HeyBoy. We recently lost HopSing, so that makes this even more special. I love how it turned out.


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Q: Odata facilities in Power BI I imported the Odata model from Northwind into power bi. Power Bi seems to understand the model and relationships in the Query editor. However, when it comes to create reports and visualisations it cannot understand the model and use columns to connect tables instead of metadata.
Is there a way to change how Power Bi create relationships between tables? Using odata metadata and not columns.

A: You'll need to edit the Relationship definitions manually, to repoint them at the correct columns.  From the Relationships pane, you can double-click on each relationship line to edit it, then choose the correct columns.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Compare the three different Ecommerce Solutions (the eOrdering line).
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LAJ Sync allows users to syncronize files among computers. It is designed to allow users to select the extension of the files in a folder to sync with another file (on that computer or on another computer). You can add as many folders to sync as wanted.
LAJ PAD helps developers to create and update PAD files. It has functions to load/save PAD files and to make new PAD files. It also includes a manager that can keep track of several pad files at a time. The manager can also download a new version of the PAD file from the web. (let us know if you have something that you would like to see added in LAJ PAD).
This is a basic mixture of small tools that we have made for OS X. Right now just a man helper and Process viewer that lets you renice or kill running programs. Requires Mac OS 10.1. (let us know if you have something that you would like to see added in xstuff).
Basic Chat with Encryption. Create the encryption method. Add a checksum for extra help. Type in the IP and connect to another user using MYOE (One of the two will act as the server and therefore is required to listen for the connection). Play with it and have fun.
A utility that will give the ASCII number for a character or from the ASCII number give the character.
Download it for Windows...............Download it for Macintosh.


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Lounge Ruminator
I sit and overthink.
Feld Notes
Author: martinfeld
Apple Pay in Oz
Apple Pay on iPhone
Finally, Apple Pay is in Australia. FINALLY. Since first purchasing the iPhone 6 and Apple Watch, I had been itching to use it, but alas, no banks or credit unions in Australia would collaborate with Apple for some time.
Upon hearing of its exclusive availability through ANZ (other than with American Express, which technically had it first), I rushed immediately into ANZ in Martin Place to create an account. "Wow", you may be thinking, "Why on Earth is it such a big deal? You must be some sort of ridiculous fanboy". Well, yes, I am quite the Apple fanboy, but it's not simply about having the latest Apple service or iThingy. I'm not the only one who has switched banks either; plenty of others have and now the other big banks are reconsidering their relationships with Apple. Everyone wants more customers.
Whilst mobile payment solutions using "near field communication" (NFC chip) technology have existed for some time, particularly in the Android world, Apple Pay delivers some serious benefits and the sort of refinement that comes only from deep consideration and observing the market first. Apple is often accused of never 'inventing' anything (which is false, but whatever), but instead it often sits back, observes the market, then swoops in with a more elegant solution that smooths the rough edges of earlier digital technology. Apple Pay is another great example of this, as it goes further in convenience, security and overall customer experience.
Apple Pay, first of all, can be added to the Wallet app on iPhones and Apple Watches. Particularly in the case of the watch, it is super-convenient to simply wave your wrist over a payment terminal after double-tapping the side button. A reassuring tap on the wrist (and beep if not set to silent) lets you know that your payment has been successful. Let me tell you, this morning I encountered quite a shocked staff member at Thrive in Australia Square as I purchased a smoothie. His jaw dropped as the payment was approved from my wrist. Naturally, I had to explain the magic.
Apple Pay on Apple Watch
The next great part of the Apple Pay story is security when paying for goods in a bricks-and-mortar shop. Whereas signatures, pins, magnetic strips and card chips all have their security flaws and are susceptible to scanners, Apple Pay deals with these issues in two key ways. First, when you add your card, your numbers are not sent to the cloud, instead stored in what's called a "secure element" on the phone's processor. If your phone is stolen or goes missing, there's no need to replace the original card provided by your financial institution, as no private details are displayed on-screen or associated with your online accounts (e.g. iCloud). Second, when you purchase goods using Apple Pay, no card numbers are sent to the merchant. Instead, a process called "tokenisation" sends a randomly generated number, which is recognised and approved at the other end.
Last but certainly not least, Apple Pay can be used online (web and mobile apps). When you go to purchase an item online, Apple Pay springs to life, requesting your fingerprint through the iPhone's Touch ID system, which is built into the Home button. Some of the popular apps that already support Apple Pay online, for example, include of course the Apple online store, Airbnb, Houzz, Groupon and Fancy. The number of supported apps and services will only grow.
I, for one, have been very impressed with Apple's execution of Apple Pay. It's quick, easy and leaves a lot of retail staff gobsmacked, and it's fun to watch people fumble change after you're already walking away with your smoothie. In Australia, as opposed to in the U.S., we're also very fortunate to have had such a widespread adoption of tap-payment terminals. It's now accepted here, and the big banks' combined effort and investment in rolling out this technology ultimately explains why they were so unwilling to negotiate with Apple — they have to pay Apple a small fee to facilitate the service, which luckily does not carry over to the customer. The one concerning fact, I find, is that so many people are unfamiliar with Apple Pay and similar tap payment solutions. Quite simply, Apple could still do a lot more to educate people about the benefits of this great service and how readily available it is for use. It's convenient and it's secure, which is great for everyone.
I can't wait to see what's in store for Apple Pay. With talk about using credit and debit cards on public transport readers, it would be exceptionally cool to simply wave your wrist as you walk onto a bus or through railway turnstiles.
It can only get better from here. If you're with ANZ and you're not using Apple Pay with your iPhone or Apple Watch, I ask you, "Why?!".
Image credit: Apple Australia (2016)
Author martinfeldPosted on 21/05/2016 05/11/2018 Categories TechnologyTags Apple, Apple Pay, iPhoneLeave a comment on Apple Pay in Oz
Using Apple Watch for Work
Some context…
Last year, I was one of those people who rushed to pre-order the Apple Watch, keenly anticipating its arrival on launch day. Luckily, I received it without a delay and like a child with a new toy, I excitedly set up and customised the thing to my liking. Now that I've had it for just over a year, I've been reflecting on how I use it on a day-to-day basis. There hasn't been a single day that I haven't worn it since first setting it up, and I can honestly say that I use a large number of features often.
Every day, I use the Activity and Workout apps to track my movement and exercise; I can say honestly that I have become more aware of my general health and have been motivated to integrate more exercise into my day. Messages and Twitter are also fantastic to have on the wrist, and it's really cool and convenient to select music in the car simply by saying "Hey, Siri". While dismissed as somewhat of a gimmick, I also use Digital Touch (sketches) every day with my girlfriend and family members, whether it be in the form of colour-coordinated tap codes (e.g. three white taps left to right = "I'm on my way"), or little sketches just for fun.
Aside from all of these features, however, I've also thought about how the watch contributes to my productivity each day. I was surprised to discover just how much use the device for work.
Below, I expand on some of the apps and functions that I use the most for work and commuting.
Watch face and Home screen
Well, this goes without saying, really. The watch face is central to the Apple Watch experience and is the first thing that you see when you raise your wrist and the display illuminates. Whilst I do swap faces every so often, sometimes to match a different band, the Modular face is (to my mind) the most useful one for linking to various apps. On my Modular setup, I link to the app Streaks (for encouraging new habits), Activity, Weather and most importantly for work, Calendar, which is integrated into the day/date display in the centre. Having your day's events and appointments a tap away is a fantastic thing.
While I've heard that a number of Apple Watch users don't go to the Home screen much to navigate between apps, I do this often. Rather than litter my Glances section with a lot of apps, I prefer to click the Digital Crown on the side of the watch to reach the Home screen and swap between my apps. It's easy to re-organise the apps and get to the one you want quickly. Alternatively, you can just ask Siri to open the desired app.
Flowing on from the watch face, Calendar is an indispensable app. Some may prefer to use an alternative calendar app such as Fantastical or Sunrise, but the default calendar on iPhone, iPad, Mac and so on has always worked well for me. The app is great for viewing what's coming up in the week ahead and keeping track of meetings and appointments.
Something I would love, however, would be the ability to browse different months with a year, rather than just one, even if it were just for checking days and dates. It is understandable that Apple would limit the range of events that one can view in a stream, as it would quickly become ridiculous to scroll endlessly through future appointments with the Digital. That's where the iPhone comes into play.
Many tech commentators emphasise the need for a "killer app" on any given device; notifications on Apple Watch may be that killer app.
In a productivity context, notifications on Apple Watch are powerful and reliable. With a simple tap on the wrist using the Taptic Engine (and my watch always set to silent), I can receive subtle notifications on my wrist as I work, whether from Messages, Mail, Messenger, Slack, Calendar, Twitter or any other myriad apps installed on my watch or purely on my iPhone.
This is particularly useful for meetings, when I can monitor new notifications coming in with a simple turn of the wrist, rather than pulling out my phone, which can come across as even more impolite.
The beauty of Mail on the Apple Watch is its simplicity. All e-mails from multiple accounts are showed in the unified inbox and it's super-easy to flag, reply, mark or trash individual e-mails. Like all apps, it's easy to navigate by scrolling with your finger or the Digital Crown, or tapping the top of the screen to fly to the top.
Replying via e-mail can be done with quick phrases or dictation, the latter of which isn't necessarily advisable in a quiet office environment, but it's great to have on the go. It's fantastic to be able to manage things like this when away from the desktop or rushing down the street.
Slack is big enterprise favourite for messaging and for certain organisations it is an entire replacement for e-mails. Slack works like the default Messages app with dictation features, also giving you access to both group and direct/private message streams. Again, accessibility and simplicity on the wrist coupled with the instant tap notification system means you're not going to miss important work messages.
I worship this app. For those who may be unfamiliar with it, 1Password is a fantastic password vault and generator that syncs beautifully between versions designed specifically for the Apple Watch, iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Mac. All you have to do is remember one password to unlock all the others.
In order to keep things tidy, the Apple Watch version will only display passwords that you have saved on your iPhone and marked with "Add to Apple Watch". Upon entering the code in the app, you are then granted access to your favourite or most used logins and passwords.
Whilst I personally use Apple's iCloud Keychain on my Mac at home to accelerate login (passwords are entered automatically in fields), I prefer not to save all of my passwords on my Windows desktop at work. Using 1Password means that if I want to log into an app or service that I use less frequently, I can easily check my watch instead. For added security, Apple has programmed the watch to lock itself when removed from your wrist at all times. If someone were to steal your watch, they would need to know the code to unlock your watch and the one for 1Password as well.
Here's an app with a very simple use case. As I work at the German-Australian Chamber, I sometimes need to know what time it is in Germany (surprise!). Having the time in Berlin only a tap away (or even in the Glances section or as a watch face complication) is really useful. Naturally, one can add more cities to the list and it reflects whatever is set on your iPhone for consistency.
Maps has improved by leaps and bounds ever since its rocky release back with iOS 6 back into 2012. It has gained public transit information, many more 3D Flyover locations and is much more detailed and reliable than ever before.
On top of this, it now includes even more information from popular sites like TripAdvisor and Yelp. I used to keep Google Maps on my iPhone just in case something went wrong with Apple Maps, however now there is absolutely no need for that.
Maps on the watch is executed extremely well. For meetings in Sydney CBD we're I've had to go by foot, or even in situations driving by GoGet, Maps has been a significant aid in getting me to the right place at the right time, using either the on-screen map display or taps that tell you when to turn.
TripView
Much like Maps, Australian transport app TripView is absolutely brilliant (as the full app and in Glance mode). I use it every day for train times to and from work, as well as in situations when I've had to catch buses and trains during work hours.
iTranslate and WordBook
As I work in a German- (and English-) speaking office, German words tend to come up quite often. When not using the dict.cc German-English dictionary on my desktop computer, iTranslate has proven to be really useful for translating words on the fly. Simply say the word that you want to translate and the app will do it for you. A light Force Touch on the display will also allow you to change languages.
The same principles apply to English dictionary app WordBook, except there is also the expanded functionality of definition history, bookmarks and new words to learn day-to-day.
LinkedIn and Xing
While LinkedIn doesn't have its own Apple Watch app, there is still compatibility with notifications to stay current with new connections and received messages. Xing, Germany's equivalent to LinkedIn, does have its own dedicated watch app, which allows users to keep track of message history and recent profile visitors.
Calcbot
One of the iOS community's favourite third-party calculator apps is Calcbot (made by Tapbots, developers of the beloved Twitter client Tweetbot). Tapbots has done a fantastic job of compressing a decent calculator into a tiny space. Tapping the buttons is easy with a low error rate, plus a Force Touch on the display reveals mathematical functions. It's fantastic for performing quick mathematical operations that exceed the power of my own measly brain.
Last, but certainly not least, Siri is a great productivity tool. As much criticism as Siri and other digital voice assistants such as Google Now and Microsoft's Cortana often receive, in my experience, Siri is always improving in its accuracy and responsiveness. Each day, I use Siri to add new reminders, calendar events/appointments, start a navigational route in Maps, check the weather forecast, open apps on the watch and more.
Contrary to some of the criticism of this first-generation product, once personalised properly, it really is a powerful assistant. The true power of Apple Watch, aside from its customisation and personalisation, is its 'glanceability'; it's always there on your wrist, delivering the most important notifications and saving time that you would otherwise spend periodically checking your iPhone. I can recommend it highly as a productivity tool and can't wait to see where Apple will take the device in the future.
Title image credit: Apple 2016
Author martinfeldPosted on 30/04/2016 05/11/2018 Categories TechnologyTags Apple Watch, apps, watchOSLeave a comment on Using Apple Watch for Work
Review: My First Week with Apple Watch
Apple Watch 42mm Sport with Black Band (displaying customised 'Modular' face)
Well, I spent about seven months waiting for the Apple Watch, along with many others around the world, and it's finally here. This waiting period saw Apple further refine the device's battery power, readying the retail try-on experience, online pre-order process and of course, allowing time for developers' app submissions, which now number at least 3500. It's impressive that a first-generation product has such a great app marketplace already.
Over time, having read many blogs and watched many videos (Apple and third-party) about the product, I was optimistic about the Apple Watch. Sure, I expected there to be a few first-generation glitches and shortcomings, but I was generally optimistic. Now that the device has been released, the general reaction to the watch has been positive, and Apple is thought to have sold at least two million of them as initial pre-orders.
Many consumers, it still seems, are sceptical of the device:
"It's just another screen in my life.";
"It's too expensive.";
"The battery life will not last long enough."; and
"It will make everyone anti-social."
Most of all, there is the question as to what on Earth the watch actually for… what is its purpose? Well, I hope to explain its purpose to you after a week's worth of experience with the device.
First of all, I'd like to talk about the hardware and industrial design of the Apple Watch. I purchased a 42mm Apple Watch Sport in the space-grey aluminium finish with black fluoroelastomer sport band. This model retails in Australia for $579. The watch is impressively light, and sits comfortably on my wrist, despite the concerns of many that the 42mm version of any of the watches would be too big and thick… and believe me, my wrists are aren't that big. The Apple Watch (stainless steel) and Edition (18-karat gold) models are of exactly the same dimensions, but weigh a bit more respectively (not so much so that they are uncomfortable… I have tested the stainless steel model with Milanese Loop).
The anodised aluminium case is smooth and consistent in its finish. The band is soft and supple, without feeling flimsy. The Retina display is also beautiful, presenting great picture quality, typography, brightness and colour.
On the right-hand side of the case (assuming you've configured the watch for use on your left wrist), you can find the digital crown and side-button. The digital crown is great to use, acting as the watch's input mechanism for zooming and scrolling, making up for its smaller display than iPhones and iPad. You can scroll through lists using the touch-screen and you can zoom into photos by double-tapping, but using the crown is much nicer. The screen remains unobstructed and the motion is smooth and almost oily-feeling. The side-button is devoted to your favourite watch friends and the Digital Touch function, which I discuss more later in this article.
The back of the watch also boasts a beautiful, circular engraving of text, denoting the model and serial number, wrapping around the four light sensors that monitor health during everyday activity and specified workout sessions.
With regard to the hardware, my first week with Apple Watch has been brilliant. Even as one of the cheaper Sport models, the watch is fashionable, comfortable and exceptionally well-made. Apple has put a lot of consideration into making something that anyone can be proud to wear, even as fashion items for women. What other wearable tech product can do that?
Moving onto Apple's watchOS, while reminiscent of its bigger brothers OS X (desktop) and iOS (mobile), is quite a different beast. Yes, it uses a minimalist design language, but rather than employing bright, white app backgrounds, the watch uses black backgrounds for high-contrast with white text. The heavy use of black is also an effective method of conserving battery power. The watch uses Apple's custom font San Francisco rather than traditionally-used fonts like Helvetica Neue, Lucida Grande and Myriad Pro. This choice was to make it easier to read on a smaller display, and it works. Furthermore, with accessibility settings, the boldness and size can be adjusted along with colour to fit more or make the text easier to read if you have poor vision.
Upon turning on the watch for the first time, I was instructed to set it up by connecting to my iPhone via Bluetooth and configuring it with the Apple Watch app. This was an absolute breeze to set up, requiring Bluetooth and the camera to scan the display. The Apple Watch app for iPhone is really easy to use, as it mirrors the layout and functionality of the Settings app on iPhone, albeit with toggles for the watch, including app installation, app layout, connectivity and so on. Many of these things are configurable on the watch too, but can be done more easily on the iPhone all at once if you're already using.
watchOS, as I stated earlier, is reminiscent of iOS, but works differently. Yes, there is an app home screen, but the basis of the watch is the watch face, which lives in the centre of the displayed app universe. Native apps live on the Apple Watch, and for the moment third-party apps are extensions of those already residing on the iPhone. Third-party apps will behave more like native ones later this year, according to Apple, but for the moment this is of no concern. Contrary to some reports of constant slowness in loading, my experience has been great. I've only had two apps that froze or slowed down upon startup, and I am sure that future updates will resolve this.
The watch faces, as the centre of the device's app universe, are fantastic. I spent a number of days trying to conclude which one I liked best. I jumped from the "extra-large" face that only shows the time in large type, to the simple face with adjustable complications, then finally the modular interface. This is all really a matter of taste. Apple has included 10 faces, most of which can be extensively customised in aesthetic and function. The modular face was my personal choice as it is bold, simple and yet still shows rich information in such a small space, each of which can be tapped, taking you directly to the app. Rich information on the screen enables you to keep fewer tools in your Glances section, which is a swipe up from the bottom of the screen. I have found the app glances for TripView, Shazam, Twitter and the Music app particularly useful, as I have instant access on my wrist to train times, my iPhone's music library, trending topics and the ability to identify unknown music instantly.
I could spend a long time talking about all of the apps on this device, but by far the best experiences I've had so far have been with Messages, Mail, Phone, Activity and Workout apps, as well as Digital Touch… all of the default stuff! What Apple has achieved here is a super-convenient shrinking of useful iPhone apps to provide über-convenience for the wrist, but with a focus on what is essential to enable smooth, 'glance-able' experiences. I've loved being able to answer phone calls on my wrist at home, use Siri to dictate messages (text and audio form), read entire e-mails and track my activity throughout the day.
I was initially a little bit worried that the Apple Watch's notifications would be obtrusive, distracting me more than my iPhone ever has. This has not been the case. The Apple Watch is an amazing filter, gently tapping me on the wrist with its taptic engine whenever I receive a notification, giving me the power decide what to act on and when. It may sound strange, but it has saved me time. I no longer check my phone for the sake of it, or get lost in apps, distracted from the initial reason that I picked up my iPhone. The watch keeps me informed in a subtle way that no one else can hear or feel, and most importantly, it makes me use my iPhone less.
Apple CEO Tim Cook and designer / Head of Human Interface Jony Ive weren't kidding when they said that Apple Watch is the most personal device they've ever made and that it helps you to live a better day. Consistent reminders to stand, calorie-tracking and more keep me aware of my movement, and subsequently have made me feel better. The ability to send cute little sketches makes you feel way more connected to this thing than you do with a phone. Digital Touch, whilst viewed as a gimmick by some, is truly great. It just feels different, the same way that emoji in messages is so much more fun these days than the early days of e-mail and SMS.
All of thee amazing functions are delivered in something that truly does last all day. Sure, the battery doesn't last for months or years like traditional, mechanical watches, but look at the extensive use cases and apps available for this device at this price. I have not run out of battery on any day so far, even with consistent scrolling, exercise and notification checking, and have ended each day with no less than 25 per cent charge left. I find that to be exceedingly impressive.
So, coming back to the whole idea of this post, what is the Apple watch actually for? Where does it fit in the world of computers? Desktops and laptops are the hub, or basis, of our computing experiences, largely for storage and heavy content creation. iPhones, built on the enormous success of the iPod, are our mobile computers, giving us instant informational access around the world, and even tools for productivity and creativity. The iPad, while still questioned, sits between the iPhone and desktop, providing simple yet powerful computing to novices and pros alike. Sometimes you just need that bit of extra space over an iPhone, or want to sit on the lounge with it like a magazine. Hell, you may even want to create an album with it.
The watch, for many people, is not as clear in its purpose, even with a long marketing campaign across numerous media by Apple. After a week with the device, I feel that I can explain it. Much like the rest of Apple's products, which as Steve Jobs said, stand at the intersection of technology and the liberal arts, the watch stands at the intersection of technology and fashion. The Watch is powerful, informational, quick and simple, helping you to monitor your health, stay connected with people and even filter the noise that bombards you during the day. Most importantly, however, it is personal. The focus on fashion gives you choice to have a different band, a different case material, a different watch face. Apple has long been criticised for its supposedly inferior level of customisation on iPhones when contrasted to Google's Android OS. Well here, Apple has beaten all other wearable products. This product is personal and helpful, and you feel proud to wear it. Other wearables have felt downright geeky, except for perhaps the Moto 360. As time goes on, and more software features, health sensors and designs are added, the wearable space will only improve.
So, if you want something cool and personal to wear on your wrist, that will make you focus on improving your health and cutting down on the time you spend rudely staring at your phone in the company of others, buy an Apple Watch.
For screenshots and a more visual impression of what the watch can actually do, please check out the gallery below.
The watch face at the centre of the app universe…
One of the many cool watch faces, 'Astronomy' enables you to zoom backwards and forwards through time using the digital crown, seeing all of the planets of the Solar System in their actual positions.
The heart-rate monitor in the Glances section is pretty quick to read your heartbeat.
Ahhh, TripView Glance… how useful you are!
Quick toggles for settings as a Glance
Shazam displays an album cover following the successful identification of a song.
Shazam can also display lyrics in time with the music as it plays.
Digital Touch is just super-simple and fun, but only works between Apple Watches.
Trending topics on Digg, a news aggregating app
Yelp results are clean and easy to read and also include helpful reviews like in iOS.
Maps is super-slick and pretty quick too.
Main menu in the Apple Watch app for iOS
The Weather app is really handy, with full time break-downs.
The Workout app is a pleasure to use and is really motivating.
A simple list view for the Calendar app.
Author martinfeldPosted on 30/04/2015 18/07/2019 Categories Reviews, TechnologyTags Apple, Apple Watch, apps, watchOSLeave a comment on Review: My First Week with Apple Watch
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Ruminate: (1) think deeply about something; (2) chew the cud (OED).
Rumination 62: Carelessness
PhD Journal Entry 8: Pen(sive) Writing
8. The 'Post-PC' Decade
7. Look Yonder!
6. No Spoilers, Please!
Rumination 61: Automation Visualised
5. Interference
PhD Journal Entry 7: FaceTime Saves the Day
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WBC light heavyweight champion Adonis Stevenson (22-1, 9 KO's) totally dominated former IBF light heavyweight Tavoris Cloud (24-2, 19 KO's) in stopping him after the 7th round on Saturday night at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Canada. The fight was halted after the 7th round because of a nasty cut over the right eye of Cloud. He was cut over both eyes, but the cut over his right eye was deep one.
It was a horribly one-sided fight from start to the bitter finish with the southpaw Stevenson hitting Cloud at will with lightning fast left hands and right hooks. Cloud was too slow of hand and foot to land anything more than an occasional shot. He did land some punches in the 5th through 7th rounds, but not enough of them to make the fight competitive.
The way to beat Stevenson is to get inside on him and stay there, because he's not a great inside fighter. But Cloud stayed on the outside all night long, and didn't do anything when he would get in close other than letting Stevenson tie him up.
After the fight, Stevenson was asked if he were interested in fighting WBO light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev, but he changed the subject by saying that he has a mandatory defense coming up next against Tony Bellew. Stevenson should be able to beat Bellew no problems unless he gets hit with something big. Stevenson doesn't have the best chin, and Bellew can punch. I give Stevenson a great chance of winning this fight, but Bellew definitely has a chance to win this one, because Stevenson didn't look good tonight in the few occasions he got hit hard. Stevenson's head snapped back hard each time he was nailed.
As good as Stevenson looked in this fight, I think he would lose to Andre Ward if the fight were to be put together. Ward would take away Stevenson's pot shot ability by trapping him on the inside and beating him up. Cloud just wasn't astute enough to try that tactic.


Even though jobs in the retail sector may seem easy to get because of the large number of vacancies, they usually go out to people who are able to stand out. Regardless of whether you are looking for your first ever job, are already working in the retail sector and wish to take advantage of other opportunities, or want to shift from another industry, there are certain tip that will make the search for retail jobs easier for you. Since the interview is the most important component of any job application procedure, it should be focused on.
Your resume is the first impression any potential employer will have of you. The thing that stands out in resumes is quantities. For instance, instead of saying that your performance improved the sales of a previous company you worked with, you should quantify by exactly how much these sales increased. If you have previously worked in the retail sector, you need to specifically mention the type of companies you have worked for as well as the exact responsibilities you held in the job. The name of the company and your job title will not do you much good in the resume. Past retail experience should always be highlighted in your resume when applying for retail jobs.
Before applying for a particular company in the retail sector, you must carry out a thorough research about the company and the kind of products it sells. This information is usually available online or can be gathered by visiting a retail outlet of the company. Before the interview, you should carry out some additional research on the company as this will help you deal with certain specific questions. If you have not worked in retail before and are shifting from another industry, your knowledge of the company's products is bound to be even more impressive and give you an edge over other candidates.
Flexibility and commitment are two things that are sure to be a win in retail jobs. Make sure you mention these in your resume or cover letter, and emphasize on it again in your interview. Most retail stores are open 24 hours a day and hence you need to mention if you can be flexible in your working hours. Moreover, you should also state that you will be able to work some extra hours during high demand seasons. These two aspects are particularly important for those who are getting their first ever job or are moving from another industry. Make sure you highlight the skills you have previously acquired from professional experiences or volunteer work.
This entry was tagged best, Jobs, Retail, Spotlight.


text:
AF-S Teleconverter TC-20E II
Product Support Product Manual
Enhanced Telephoto Versatility
Affordable and portable gateway to extend telephoto reach; ideal for sports, wildlife, surveillance and more.
2x Optical Conversion Factor
Doubles the focal length of select compatible NIKKOR lenses.
Nikon Integrated Coating (IC)
Enhances light transmission efficiency, improves color consistency and reduces flare.
Approx. Dimensions (Diameter x Length)
Nikon F-Bayonet
Lens Elements
Lens Groups
Learn more about the CL-0715 Soft Lens Case
Learn more about the BF-3A Front Mount Cap
Learn more about the LF-1 Rear Lens Cap
Learn more about the AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8E FL ED VR
Learn more about the AF-S NIKKOR 300mm f/4E PF ED VR
Learn more about the AF-S NIKKOR 400mm f/2.8E FL ED VR
Learn more about the AF-S NIKKOR 300mm F2.8G ED VR II
Learn more about the AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II
Learn more about the AF-S VR NIKKOR 200mm f/2G IF-ED
Learn more about the AF-S VR Zoom-NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8G IF-ED
Learn more about the AF-S NIKKOR 400mm F2.8G ED VR
Learn more about the AF-S VR NIKKOR 300mm f/2.8G IF-ED
Product Manual Link to a PDF View in a new window
HomeLensesDSLR LensesAF-S Teleconverter TC-20E II


text:
Life Magazine and the Secret Life of Walter Mitty
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty starring Ben Stiller is a 2013 adaptation of a short story by James Thurber, first published in The New Yorker magazine in 1939. Actually this is the second film adaptation of the story, the first, starring Danny Kaye was released in 1947. Both films deal with introverted editors with a penchant for fantasy and daydreaming, Kaye's Mitty is employed by Pierce Publishing as an editor while Stiller's Mitty character is employed by Life Magazine as a "Negative Assets Manager" which, in the film, is another title for a – sort of – photo editor.
Overall, I enjoyed both films, but I have a bit of an issue with the 2013 version, and, no, I don't care how accurately it does or does not follow the original 1939 Thurber story, or the 1947 film.
Life Magazine was an inestimable cultural influence. Though the magazine was published continuously from 1883-1972, its real "life" as a daily influencer (as we would probably call it now) was from 1936 onward when it was purchase by Time Inc. magnate Henry Luce. In fact during its heyday as a weekly publication the magazine sold some 13.5 million copies per month. In October 1978 the magazine was revived as a monthly, published until 2000
The original motto of Life Magazine published with its first issue in 1883 was;
"Where there's Life, There's hope"
Far from what we are told in the 2013 film version. In fact the film tries to portray the era in which Life was transitioning from being a Sunday supplement (think Parade Magazine or USA Weekend) with occasional special issues commemorating its past, to a strictly online presence. This 2004-2007 era is the time period for the 2013 film. During this period, Life's motto actually was;
"America's Weekend Magazine"
Certainly a far cry from what is purported in the film to be Life's motto in the Stiller film;
Problematically, this motto has taken on a sort of "life" of its own. It seems that a lot of people are taking it as sort of a personal life mission statement attaching way more significance to it than it deserves. Sort of what happened with the 1993 novel The Celestine Prophecy by James Redfield. The internet is rife with innumerable trinkets and tchotchkes with the film's motto variously etched, printed and engraved on them.
The truth of the matter is that during the planning of Life Magazine during its 1936 purchase, owner Henry Luce distributed an internal prospectus with the following statement;
"To see life; to see the world; to eyewitness great events; to watch the faces of the poor and the gestures of the proud; to see strange things — machines, armies, multitudes, shadows in the jungle and on the moon; to see man's work — his paintings, towers and discoveries; to see things thousands of miles away, things hidden behind walls and within rooms, things dangerous to come to; the women that men love and many children; to see and take pleasure in seeing; to see and be amazed; to see and be instructed".
Certainly more complex and evocative than the overly simplified lines than were given in the film and certainly stating the very essence of the "why" behind photography.
Proof that simpler is not necessarily better.
So maybe the writers didn't think the public could digest all of that? Maybe they oversimplified it to fit our modern attention span? I wholly prefer the real statement to the abbreviated one in the film as it is more than just a slogan, it has depth and meaning. Meaning enough to entice a sort of Hall of Fame of Photographers to shoot for the magazine over the years; Margaret Bourke-White, Robert Capa, Alfred Eisenstaedt, W. Eugene Smith, Gordon Parks were just a few of the photographers that were immortalized within the magazine's pages practicing the "why" of photography.
Best quote from the movie?
Sean O'Connell: Sometimes I don't (take the picture). If I like a moment, for me, personally, I don't like to have the distraction of the camera. I just want to stay in it.
Stay safe and see the world your own way.


We performed an inspection and repair on a gearbox HEUBER 2-SF-900.
This client from THE NETHERLANDS came to us with this HEUBER 2-SF-900. We inspected the gearbox and performed a repair. After a succesful testrun we shipped the gearbox back to the client.
- Renewing the bearings, SKF or FAG.


Use this page to exchange your current SPD coins with the new SPD coins.
Step 1) Enter your receiving address. Download the newest SPD wallet and generate a new address. Paste the address to this field. This is where you'll receive new coins.
Step 2) Take a note of the auto-generated "Deposit Address" field. This is the address to which you should send your current SPD coins to.
Step 3) Click "Make Request". Only send any coins after you've pressed "Make Request" and once you're sure your tranfer request has been made.
If after reading this something is still unclear, please visit our Discord and DM the core team with your inquiry.


text:
import webapp2
import logging

from templateHelper import renderHandler

from dbDocMapping import DocMapping
from crawler import crawl
from parser import parse
from const import CLASS_ACTIVE
from const import MYURL

class Enum(set):
    def __getattr__(self, name):
        if name in self:
            return name
        raise AttributeError

MODE = Enum(['SEARCH', 'CRAWL', 'PARSE'])

class SearchHandler(renderHandler):

    def get(self):
        str_title = 'Web search in GAE by Santiago Arias'
        str_meta_content = "Google App engine web search python Santiago Arias"
        self.render('search.html',
                    str_address = 'search',
                    str_title = str_title,
                    str_active = CLASS_ACTIVE,
                    str_meta_content = str_meta_content,
                    bsearch = True)

    def post(self):
        current_mode = self.getCurrentMode()

        if current_mode == MODE.SEARCH:
            user_search = self.request.get('inputSearch')

            words = user_search.split()
            words = list(set(words))

            results = []

            self.render('search.html',
                        str_address = 'search',
                        str_active = CLASS_ACTIVE,
                        query = user_search,
                        results = results[:10],
                        bsearch = True)
        elif current_mode == MODE.CRAWL:
            try:
                logging.info('fetching urls from ' + MYURL)
                crawled = crawl(MYURL)
            except:
                logging.error('An error occured when crawling from url: ' + MYURL)
                self.redirect('/search')
                return

            DocMapping.clean()
            DocMapping.add_list(crawled)
            self.redirect('/crawled')

        elif current_mode == MODE.PARSE:
            # parsing mode: extract content from all documents and build data structures.
            # build inverted index
            docs = DocMapping.all()
            invertedIndex ={}
            termFrequency = {}
            termFrequencyByDoc = {}
            docFrequencyByTerm = {}
            logging.info('starting to parse all documents')
            for d in docs:
                parse(d, invertedIndex, termFrequency, termFrequencyByDoc, docFrequencyByTerm)
            logging.info('parsing done!')
            # we need to store this in a blob or cloud storage for later
            #json_str = json.dumps(invertedIndex)
            #json_str = json.dumps(termFrequency)
            #json_str = json.dumps(termFrequencyByDoc)
            #json_str = json.dumps(docFrequencyByTerm)
            self.redirect('/search')

    def getCurrentMode(self):
        'determine current post mode'
        logging.info('getCurrentMode: determine current post mode')

        mode = ''
        user_crawl = self.request.get('inputSubmitCrawl')
        if user_crawl:
            logging.info('getCurrentMode: mode CRAWL')
            return MODE.CRAWL
        user_search = self.request.get('inputSubmitSearch')
        if user_search:
            logging.info('getCurrentMode: mode SEARCH')
            return MODE.SEARCH
        user_parse = self.request.get('inputSubmitParse')
        if user_parse:
            logging.info('getCurrentMode: mode PARSE')
            return MODE.PARSE
        logging.info('getCurrentMode: mode not found')
        return mode

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier Egerzeigzaarhka (17 de agosto de 1994) es un ciclista profesional eritreo. Desde 2021 corre para el equipo Trek-Segafredo.

Palmarés
2014
 Campeonato de Eritrea en Ruta
 Tour de Blida, más 1 etapa
 1 etapa del Tour de Constantino

2015
 Tour de Constantino
 3.º en el Campeonato de Eritrea en Ruta

2018
 Campeonato Africano en Ruta
 2.º en el Campeonato de Eritrea en Ruta

2019
 Campeonato de Eritrea Contrarreloj

2022
 3.º en el Campeonato de Eritrea Contrarreloj

Resultados en Grandes Vueltas y Campeonatos del Mundo

—: no participa
Ab.: abandono

Notas y referencias

Enlaces externos

 Ficha y palmarés de Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier sitiodeciclismo.net

Ciclistas de Eritrea
Ciclistas en los Juegos Olímpicos de Tokio 2020

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Zygmunt Przepałkowski ps. "Młot" (ur. 17 kwietnia 1893 w Kozienicach, zm. w kwietniu 1940 w Katyniu) – rotmistrz Wojska Polskiego II Rzeczypospolitej, urzędnik administracji państwowej, starosta, ofiara zbrodni katyńskiej.

Życiorys
Urodził się 17 kwietnia 1893, w rodzinie Stanisława, inżyniera Kolei Warszawsko-Wiedeńskiej i Marii z Świętalskich. Lata szkolne spędził w Radomiu. Następnie był słuchaczem w Szkole Technicznej Wawelberga i Rotwanda w Warszawie. Podjął studia politechniczne w Liège. W Belgii działał w Związku Walki Czynnej i w oddziale Związku Strzeleckiego. Na przełomie 1913/1914 odbywał przeszkolenia strzeleckie na polskich obszarach. Uczestniczył w czasie wakacji 1914 w różnych formach szkolenia wojskowego.

Po wybuchu I wojny światowej wstąpił do Legionów Polskich. Od 2 sierpnia 1914 służył w Pierwszej Kompanii Kadrowej, z którą ruszył na front 6 sierpnia jako sekcyjny 2 plutonu. W połowie sierpnia 1914 wszedł w skład oddziału płk. Władysława Beliny-Prażmowskiego. Był kilkakrotnie ranny, w tym ciężko w bitwie pod Kostiuchnówką na początku lipca 1916. Był wachmistrzem 4., potem 2. szwadronu 1 pułku ułanów Legionów. Od 5 lutego do 31 marca 1917 roku był słuchaczem kawaleryjskiego kursu oficerskiego przy 1 pułku ułanów w Ostrołęce. Kurs ukończył z wynikiem dostatecznym. Latem tego roku, po kryzysie przysięgowym, został internowany w Szczypiornie. Po zwolnieniu działał w Polskiej Organizacji Wojskowej.

U kresu wojny został przyjęty do Wojska Polskiego i zweryfikowany w stopniu podporucznika kawalerii. W 1918 zgłosił się do powstającej w Lubelskiem konnicy. W szeregach 7 pułku Ułanów Lubelskich walczył w Małopolsce Wschodniej. W kwietniu 1918 w czasie ataku na Baranowicze ponownie został ranny. W sierpniu 1919 został przeniesiony do rezerwy i mianowany komendantem Policji Państwowej na obszarze powiatu siedleckiego, kierując równocześnie ekspozyturą Oddziału II Sztabu Generalnego Wojska Polskiego. Podczas trwającej wojny polsko-bolszewickiej w 1920 ponownie zmobilizowany do 7 pułku i brał udział w słynnej kontrofensywie znad Wieprza. Całą kampanię zakończył w Lidzie. Po wojnie stacjonował ze swym pułkiem w Mińsku Mazowieckim. Został awansowany do stopnia rotmistrza kawalerii ze starszeństwem z dniem 1 czerwca 1919. W 1923 był oficerem zawodowym 24 pułku ułanów w Kraśniku. W 1924 był przeniesiony w stan nieczynny jako przydzielony formalnie do 7 pułku ułanów. Często pełnił służbę przy Komendancie w Sulejówku. W 1926 przeniesiony do 26 pułku Ułanów Wielkopolskich w garnizonie Baranowicze. Został przeniesiony w stan spoczynku 10 marca 1927. Był w ewidencji Okręgu Korpusu Nr III.

Od 1927 pracował w administracji państwowej. Pełnił stanowisko starosty powiatu makowskiego w Makowie Mazowieckim, z którego z dniem 11 września 1929 został mianowany starostą powiatu baranowickiego. Później był starostą powiatu wilejskiego (1932–1934), naczelnikiem wydziału w zarządzie miejskim Warszawy, starostą powiatu przasnyskiego w Przasnyszu (od 1936). Poświęcał się również pracy społecznej, pełniąc funkcję prezesa Związku Legionistów w Wilejce i Przasnyszu oraz Wileńskiej Federacji Polskich Związków Obrońców Ojczyzny.

Jego żoną została Hanna Sowińska, z którą miał syna Adama i córkę Jadwigę (po mężu Fęglerska).

Po wybuchu II wojny światowej, kampanii wrześniowej i agresji ZSRR na Polskę na terenach wschodnich II Rzeczypospolitej został aresztowany przez Sowietów koło miejscowości Mirogoszcza Mała na Wołyniu. Był przetrzymywany w więzieniach w Dubnie i Łucku, a następnie w obozie dla jeńców polskich w Kozielsku, skąd wysłał dwa listy do rodziny – ostatni nosi datę 16 lutego 1940. Zginął w lesie katyńskim. Na wiosnę 1940 został wywieziony w transporcie z Kozielska do Katynia i rozstrzelany przez funkcjonariuszy Obwodowego Zarządu NKWD w Smoleńsku oraz pracowników NKWD przybyłych z Moskwy na mocy decyzji Biura Politycznego KC WKP(b) z 5 marca 1940. 28 lipca 2000 został pochowany na terenie późniejszego Polskiego Cmentarza Wojennego w Katyniu.

Ordery i odznaczenia
 Krzyż Niepodległości (12 marca 1931)
 Krzyż Walecznych (czterokrotnie, w tym za zasługi w okresie przynależności do POW (1922))
 Złoty Krzyż Zasługi
 Srebrny Krzyż Zasługi (12 kwietnia 1929)
 Medal Pamiątkowy za Wojnę 1918–1921
 Medal Dziesięciolecia Odzyskanej Niepodległości
 Odznaka "Za wierną służbę"
 Odznaka pamiątkowa 1 Kompanii Kadrowej

Upamiętnienie
5 października 2007 roku Minister Obrony Narodowej Aleksander Szczygło mianował go pośmiertnie do stopnia majora. Awans został ogłoszony 9 listopada 2007 roku, w Warszawie, w trakcie uroczystości "Katyń Pamiętamy – Uczcijmy Pamięć Bohaterów".

W ramach akcji "Katyń... pamiętamy" / "Katyń... Ocalić od zapomnienia" Zygmuntowi Przepałkowskiemu poświęcono Dęby Pamięci w Ostródzie i Przasnyszu.

W Przasnyszu ustanowiono ulicę Zygmunta Młot-Przepałkowskiego.

Zobacz też
 Jeńcy polscy w niewoli radzieckiej (od 1939 roku)
 Obozy NKWD dla jeńców polskich

Przypisy

Bibliografia

 Roczniki Oficerskie 1923, 1924.

Członkowie Polskiej Organizacji Wojskowej
Członkowie Związku Legionistów Polskich
Członkowie Związku Strzeleckiego (1910–1914)
Członkowie Związku Walki Czynnej
Funkcjonariusze Policji Państwowej
Legioniści internowani po kryzysie przysięgowym w Szczypiornie
Ludzie urodzeni w Kozienicach
Ludzie związani z Baranowiczami
Ludzie związani z Przasnyszem
Ludzie związani z Wilejką
Odznaczeni Krzyżem Niepodległości
Odznaczeni Krzyżem Walecznych (czterokrotnie)
Odznaczeni Medalem Dziesięciolecia Odzyskanej Niepodległości
Odznaczeni Medalem Pamiątkowym za Wojnę 1918–1921
Odznaczeni Odznaką "Za wierną służbę"
Odznaczeni Srebrnym Krzyżem Zasługi (II Rzeczpospolita)
Odznaczeni Złotym Krzyżem Zasługi (II Rzeczpospolita)
Oficerowie 7 Pułku Ułanów Lubelskich
Oficerowie 26 Pułku Ułanów Wielkopolskich
Oficerowie Wojska Polskiego zamordowani w Katyniu
Pochowani na Polskim Cmentarzu Wojennym w Katyniu
Podoficerowie kawalerii Legionów Polskich
Rotmistrzowie II Rzeczypospolitej
Starostowie powiatowi II Rzeczypospolitej
Uczestnicy bitwy pod Kostiuchnówką 1916
Uczestnicy kontruderzenia znad Wieprza (1920)
Urodzeni w 1893
Zmarli w 1940
Żołnierze 1 Kompanii Kadrowej Legionów Polskich
Oficerowie 24 Pułku Ułanów


text:
Q: Pass additional information to Azure Active Directory authentication flow I am trying to secure my web api using azure active directory.
I have the following code to setup the web api:
public void BuildConfiguration(IAppBuilder appBuilder)
{
    var HttpConfiguration = new System.Web.Http.HttpConfiguration();

    HttpConfiguration.Filters.Add(new AuthorizeAttribute());
    HttpConfiguration.MapHttpAttributeRoutes();
    HttpConfiguration.Routes.MapHttpRoute("DefaultApi",
                $"api/{{controller}}/{{action}}/{{id}}", new { id = RouteParameter.Optional });

    var authenticationProvider = new OAuthBearerAuthenticationProvider()
    {
        OnValidateIdentity = AuthenticationOnValidateIdentity
    };

    var options = new WindowsAzureActiveDirectoryBearerAuthenticationOptions
    {
        TokenValidationParameters = new TokenValidationParameters()
        {
            ValidAudience = "https://xxx.onmicrosoft.com/yyy"
        },
        Tenant = "xxx.onmicrosoft.com",
        Provider = authenticationProvider
    };

    appBuilder.UseWindowsAzureActiveDirectoryBearerAuthentication(options);
    appBuilder.UseCors(CorsOptions.AllowAll);
    appBuilder.UseWebApi(HttpConfiguration);

    HttpConfiguration.EnsureInitialized();
}

Now, the code to perform the validation looks like this:
private async Task AuthenticationOnValidateIdentity(OAuthValidateIdentityContext context)
{
    context.Ticket.Identity.AddClaim(new Claim("apikey", xx)); // <- what to put here instead of xx?
}

The client requests a token using this piece of code:
AuthenticationResult result = null;

try
{
    result = await authContext.AcquireTokenAsync("https://xx.onmicrosoft.com/yyy",  clientId, redirectUri, new PlatformParameters(PromptBehavior.Always), UserIdentifier.AnyUser);
}
catch (AdalException ex)
{
        ...
}

How can I pass additional info like an apikey (string) to the AAD validator so I can access the apikey in 'AuthenticationOnValidateIdentity'?
I tried the extraQueryParameters parameter like his:
result = await authContext.AcquireTokenAsync("https://xxx.onmicrosoft.com/yyy",
             clientId,
             redirectUri,
             new PlatformParameters(PromptBehavior.Always),
             UserIdentifier.AnyUser, "apikey=test");

but since I cannot get these values anywhere in AuthenticationOnValidateIdentity I wonder if that is the way to go.
So, the question remains: How can I pass aditional information to Azure Active Directory authentication flow?


Rising from a quiet reflecting pool, a delicate white building glistens in the sun. The building, named Gandhi Bhawan, has a form that is both tectonic and organic, like partially folded origami paper at the moment where it could become anything.
Photograph of the model for Gandhi Bhawan at Panjab University in sector 14 in Chandigarh, India, ca. 1963. Fonds Pierre Jeanneret, Canadian Centre for Architecture, Montreal; Gift of Jacqueline Jeanneret.
Gandhi Bhawan hosts an international center dedicated to the study of the philosophy and teaching of Mahatma Gandhi at Panjab University in Chandigarh, India. Its smooth sequence of curvilinear forms contrast the geometric volumes on the roof. At the time of its construction in the 1960s following the design of Swiss-French architect Pierre Jeanneret, Gandhi Bhawan was a site of architectural innovation in both material and design.
"I believe Gandhi Bhawan is incomparable to other buildings on campus because it is so unique in its architectural conception and its construction process," explains Maristella Casciato, an architectural historian, leading scholar on Jeanneret, and senior curator of architecture at the Getty Research Institute.
A modest building with symbolic weight, Gandhi Bhawan represents a period in India's recent history of dynamic innovation, growth, and achievement of freedom.
India recently celebrated the 70th anniversary of its independence from the British Empire—and the modern buildings built during this pivotal time are starting to show their age. Saving India's modern heritage requires an understanding of history, culture, and science, and experts around the world are coming together to plan for the future of Gandhi Bhawan.
SLIDESHOW: Antoine Wilmering, Getty Foundation senior program officer. He leads Keeping It Modern, a grant initiative dedicated to conservation of significant twentieth-century architecture around the world. The Getty Foundation created Keeping It Modern to complement the Getty Conservation Institute's Conserving Modern Architecture Initiative (CMAI).
Maristella Casciato, architectural historian and senior architecture curator at the Getty Research Institute. She specializes in 20th-century European architecture and has recently pursued in-depth research into the architecture of postcolonial India and non-Western contributions to city planning.
Susan Macdonald leads the Getty Conservation Institute's Conserving Modern Architecture Initiative, aimed at advancing the practice of conserving 20th-century heritage through research and investigation.
Dir. Shikha Jain (left) of DRONAH and principal coordinator of Gandhi Bhawan conservation planning for Panjab University with Maristella Casciato (center) and Mr. (right) Arun Grover, VC, PU (Panjab University) and (behind), Mr. Harpreet Singh Chief Architect, PU at a workshop at Panjab University in Chanidgarh, India. DRONAH (Development and Research Organisation for Nature, Arts, and Heritage) is a multidisplinary organization working in the field of heritage in India.
Since 2014, the Getty Foundation has provided Keeping It Modern grants dedicated to the conservation of significant 20th-century architecture around the world.
Gandhi Bhawan was awarded one of these grants in 2015 and like the majority of projects supported through this initiative, funding is used to study, research, and make plans for the conservation work to begin.
But when it comes to preparing for treatment, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. In many cases, the path scientists and conservators take to get to intervention is more important than the repairs. And with modern buildings especially, considering the intent of the architect is crucial.
For Gandhi Bhawan, this means knowing about Pierre Jeanneret's close collaboration with his cousin, world-renowned modernist architect Le Corbusier, on a key project in post-colonial India: they were commissioned by India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, for a major city-planning project.
Jawaharlal Nehru and Pierre Jeanneret at the Secretariat in Chandigarh, India, 1964. Fonds Pierre Jeanneret, Canadian Centre for Architecture, Montreal; Gift of Jacqueline Jeanneret.
The mission? Design and build the foundations for a new modern capital of post-independence India.
This new capital, called Chandigarh, is one of a handful of capital cities built from scratch in the 20th century. India's independence didn't come easily—and the nation, amidst decolonization, was struggling with the tragedy and trauma of war and violent border disputes.
Pressure to modernize India was immense, and Nehru knew that change had to happen quickly. Chandigarh represented the first chapter for this new nation and its impact went far beyond India. The capital needed to look totally different from the colonial past and had to herald a modern future.
"In the mid-1900s India had many skilled engineers working in public works departments all over the country, but was still lacking an educational infrastructure where young professionals could learn about modern architecture and support Nehru's search for modernity. He didn't have 50 years to train the next generation—the country needed a shock. Chandigarh became the laboratory for bringing this vision to life," says Maristella.
For any lover of modern architecture, Chandigarh is a place to behold.
At the time of India's independence, modern architecture and the use of concrete had gained in popularity. Avant-garde designers and architects were responding to social and philosophical discussions about the way humans lived in and used the built environment.
Big glass windows, open floor plans, and reinforced concrete are all hallmarks of modernist buildings, but in the early 20th century these were totally new design features, meant to make living and working easier, more comfortable, and brighter—quite literally.
The potential of reinforced concrete was enthusiastically embraced by modern architects in the early 20th century. However, it was not until the post–World War II era that this potential was fully realized, and concrete became a dominant material in the rapid expansion of cities around the world.
But many modern buildings made of reinforced concrete are suffering issues as time goes on, and Gandhi Bhawan is no different.
Though Gandhi Bhawan still stands as a beacon of hope in a new era, at 50 years old it is starting to experience some of the challenges typical of buildings of its time. The reflecting pool is leaking, the unique white concrete panels on the exterior of the buildings are dislodging, and the interior is facing issues with airflow and circulation.
This isn't a problem with Jeanneret's designs or the building's maintenance. It's a material issue.
SLIDESHOW: Now that Gandhi Bhawan is over 50 years old, pressing conservation issues have come to light. One of the biggest challenges is sustaining water in the reflecting pool.
The base of the building is deteriorating in some areas.
In some places, the river stones and cement have fallen away and revealed the rebar supports.
Ad hoc repairs have left discoloration on the walls.
Vegetation has snuck its way under the paneling on the exterior of the building and caused some disturbance to the concrete.
While concrete is common in our cities today, not all concrete is created equal—both the materials used and the ways concrete is cast have evolved over time. What we call "concrete" is a composite material, usually crushed rock, such as the beautiful white river pebbles in Gandhi Bhawan, and sand mixed with water and cement. Except for water, all other components can vary greatly due to their origin and variations in chemical composition, which gives concrete its unique texture and color.
"Today we have greater knowledge about making long-lasting concrete than we did in the 1960's, and the field has been developing better conservation solutions." says Antoine.
SLIDESHOW: The exterior of Gandhi Bhawan is grit-finished concrete paneling made with white river stone chips set in cement.
Gandhi Bhawan has a white textured surface akin to marble cladding. This was a rare experiment in its time, and Gandhi Bhawan is the only building in Chandigarh with this unique finish.
Panel mockup samples created by Shikha's team.
The panels are composed of two layers—one is thick and supports the grit finish, while the second is applied as a finishing layer with the aggregate river stones set in cement.
IIT Madras team members involved in GPR and Infrared survey.
Architect Bhavya Ahuja works on condition mapping of the exterior of Gandhi Bhawan.
Concrete is reinforced with embedded steel skeletons to improve its strength, and for conservation professionals, understanding the date of construction and what exactly the concrete is made of is important.
A major challenge for repairing aesthetically important concrete—like the shells that make up the roof of the Sydney Opera House or the white concrete exterior of the Gandhi Bhawan—is knowing what's going on beneath the surface.
"The grit-wash concrete panels clad over the building envelope show signs of distress. It was important to establish the composition and material used in the panels for any future conservation works," says Shikha.
Diagnosing the problem, then matching the existing materials carefully, is crucial. Good conservation work on concrete, like on any other material, aims to preserve as much of the original material as possible and be discrete. A bad repair job can not only look terrible, but also exacerbate the decay.
Like Gandhi Bhawan, modernist buildings all over the world are reaching a state where repair and intervention is inevitable, and knowledge is needed to save these iconic structures. Modern architecture is not always understood; sometimes structures are torn down because the custodians of the buildings aren't sure what to do when these buildings age.
Shikha (center) with Tim Whalen, director of the Getty Conservation Institute, (right) Col. Chadha, and (behind) Dr. Manish Sharma, Chairperson, Gandhi Bhawan looking at work in Gandhi Bhawan.
Another challenge: the recognition of modern architecture as important heritage in India is an ongoing conversation, as national legislation doesn't protect buildings less than 100 years old.
And this change in attitude is happening for other 20th century structures in India, especially as the Capitol Complex in Chandigarh has now been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Conservation planning is underway for the complex's Government Museum and Art Gallery, which was recently awarded a Keeping It Modern grant. Shikha and her colleagues are among the consultants on the project, bringing with them the lessons learned at Gandhi Bhawan and other heritage sites.
The movement for the protection of modern architecture in India has just begun—and it is the historians, scientists, and conservators of the world that make sure the Gandhi Bhawans of the world keep standing.
What: A grant initiative that supports the conservation of significant 20th century architecture around the world.


text:
The Ineffective British Army (1903)
Topic: British Army
Boston Evening Transcript, 7 February 1903
By Jack J. Hart, Late of the Grenadier Guards
It is notable that reforms effected in the British naval and military services have always been the result of outside agitation. In England the war office and admiralty are only nominally the executive powers of the services of which they are at the head. The real executive in both cases is the voice of the country. Particularly of the war office it may be said that not until the press has been spoken in a voice so loud that it cannot be disregarded will it take action in anything more important than selecting the pattern on a soldier's button. Perhaps it is because the war office believes that a task which is now before it is peculiarly difficult of accomplishment that not even the voice of public opinion can move it; and that instead of beginning the work, it appears to be engaged in solving the, often for it, momentous problem: "how not to do it" by making various changes in ceremonial drill. When the improved weapons of warfare were—for the first time—put to test on South African battlefields, military experts were confounded and it was clearly proven to the world that in military tactics a new era had begun, numbers, discipline, and even generalship, took a second place, and individual intelligence of the soldier was proven to be of first importance.
There was a time when warfare was the clashing together and wrestling of great masses of men. But it has gone forever. By the invention of gunpowder the medieval art of war was changed into the modern. With the improvement of firearms, gradually individual intelligence of the combatants became more essential to their efficiency united; albeit commanders were very slow in recognizing the fact. On the advent of quick-firing guns, unknown to the doctrinaires who fought battles on paper, numbers, discipline, and even generalship, took a second place, but it was not until the highly organized regiments of Britain were led against South African farmers that the world realized the fact, then clearly demonstrated, that in the battle of the future the individual intelligence of the soldier would be first in insuring victory.
It might be expected that Great Britain, having learned the lessons of the South African War by experience and to her cost, would, for that reason, be the first to profit by them and to adapt herself to the new order of things. Such, however, is not the case. Although reforms have been mooted, her military system, in its constitution as in its government, is still wedded to conservatism and old traditions. Practically nothing has been done that would tend to develop the individual intelligence of the soldiers, and so render him capable of acting judiciously in dangerous situations on his own initiative. The slavish respect for his superiors which is inculcated into the British soldier in his daily life is not well calculated to teach him self-reliance; and the fact that British officers are drawn from the titled classes, which Englishmen almost worship, makes this slavish respect, in English regiments at least, particularly difficult of elimination. The officer is the ruling intelligence. His authority must never be questioned. His judgment is infallible. If a private soldier criticises him adversely, the private is guilty of, in the language of military law, "conduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline." In the ranks of the old British army, blind obedience to superiors on all occasions is the erroneous principle that guides. Concatenation is the necessary consequence. The subordinate is dependent on his superior. He is slow, because unaccustomed to act without his superior's commands; and, in situations where quick and decisive action is of prime importance, he is easily outwitted by the versatility of a self-reliant opponent.
Concatenation and lack of self-reliance among the rank and file of the British army may be said to constitute its greatest weakness, inasmuch as both hamper its operations in the field. If the number of drilled troops in South Africa at the outbreak of the last war had been so many undisciplined rough-riders knowing no more of military tactics than how to "sight" a rifle and press the trigger, I do not hesitate to say, the long and bitter struggle which cost England dear in blood and money and turned a fertile country into a "howling wilderness" would (with all respect to the Boer as a fighter) have ended before three months in the defeat of the republican armies. The undisciplined rough-rider would have fought the Boer with the Boer's own weapons, and numbers would have prevailed. The instinct of self-preservation would have taught the undrilled soldier to take advantage of available cover on all occasions; and if he found himself standing before a fusillade so deadly that common sense told him it would be suicide to remain, he would not have waited the command of a superior to advance, or retreat. It might at first sight be thought that concatenation in an army is desirable inasmuch as it secures uniformity of action, for if each part of a whole is dependent on another part none will act alone and the strength of concerted action is the result. But modern warfare, especially that carried on in a hilly country, has become a game of hide-and-seek, developing fresh surprises at every turn, that quick, independent and decisive action, suiting itself to the exigencies of occasions; is, for the different units of a division and for individual composing them, a matter of paramount importance. Concerted attack, by which a force is directed against one point in an enemy's line, is a thing of the past.
The system of training followed in the British army does not contribute much to rendering it more efficient as a fighting machine under the conditions of modern warfare. The greater part of the soldier's time during the first three months of his service as a recruit is spent in useless ceremonial drill. Almost the entire time at the depot from which he derives any benefit is the daily hour spent in the gymnasium. Up to the time of joining his battalion, he has not once used his rifle at the target. A few months after leaving the depot he is exercised in a recruit's course of musketry, and is then called a trained soldier. After this, he is allowed forty-two rounds of ball ammunition annually, and by the practice thus afforded is expected to become a marksman. Rivalry, however, often exists between the different companies of a battalion, and this induces captains of companies to purchase ammunition at their own expense—in the hope that by extra practice their companies may become more proficient and win the shooting trophies that are so greatly prized.
During autumn manoeuvres, the soldier would learn much that would be of use to him were it not for the indifference of his officers. Hostile forces oppose each other and fight, day by day, among hills, woods and valleys; but ask a soldier what it all means and he will reply that he does not know. He only knows that he obeys orders. He cannot even tell whether the division to which he belongs is attacking or defending, advancing or retiring. His officers will not take the trouble to tell him; some of them do not know. Yet, if the whole plan of the manoeuvres were intelligently explained to the soldier and maps of the country placed in his hands, the benefits he would derive from this annual exercise are incalculable.
In its constitution, the British army has many defects; the principal being the paucity of numbers of the medical corps and the commissariat. Even in a country easy of transport as South Africa, the latter proved itself wholly incapable of performing the work that devolved on it. The medical corps would there have been a still greater failure were it not for the voluntary service by which it was supplemented. The regimental constitution is, in some of its effects, detrimental to the efficiency of the soldier. For from the private to the colonel, each must unquestionably obey the will of his superior and it will be admitted that there is little room for initiative, or development of intelligence in the ranks.
Of the war office, as the governing authority, little need be said. In England it has become a synonym of stupidity. Its actions are often incomprehensible. One instance will suffice: During the South African War Canada raised a regiment to garrison Halifax, and maintained it at the expense of the Dominion until after the declaration of peace. The Imperial Conference in London followed, and it was proposed that Canada should contribute to the maintenance of the British navy. The Dominion dissented, but offered to permanently garrison Halifax and Esquimalt, thus to relieve the Imperial Government of the expense of maintaining troops at those places. After the conference, Canada's policy was severely crticised in England, and the cry was again raised that she was unwilling to bear her fair share of the expense of imperial defence. Then the war office, instead of allowing the Dominion to maintain its own garrisons, caused the Royal Canadian Regiment at Halifax to be disbanded, and incurred the expense of sending troops from England and maintaining them in its place. Various pleas have been urged in defence of this action. Among them, that imperial troops in Canada constitute a visible tie between that country and England which it would be dangerous to sever; but this, on the face of it, is little short of an insult to the loyalty of the Canadian people.
Though last to be considered here, the morale of an army is hardly last in importance in estimating the probabilities of its success in the field. It is a fact, though some are slow to admit it, that professional soldiers are not, as a rule, patriots. To the civilian, the defence of his country is a sacred duty. To the professional soldier it is the ordinary humdrum business of everyday life. Composed of three distinct nationalities as the British army is, it is only natural that a common patriotism should not be its pervading spirit. Irishmen, Englishmen, and Scotchmen have not blended into one race in the past and the probabilities are that they never will. There are many Irishmen in the British army today who are hostile to the very name of England. The gallant charges of Irish regiments on South African battlefields prove nothing to the contrary. Irishmen—because it is in their nature—will fight hard when facing any foe, merely for the glory of a "scrap."
It is on account of this diversity of race that the regular army of Britain can never become a body animated by a common spirit. Whatever may have been the talisman, patriotism did not win its victories of the past. I would rather attribute them to the caution of the Scotchman, the dogged persistence of the Englishman, and the dashing bravery of the Irishman.