Posting in a hurry this morning as I head out from the Upper West Side to yet another meeting and another tasting.
But wanted to share this glass of Our Wine 2010 Rkatsiteli (Georgia) that I had as an aperitif yesterday early evening at one of my favorite wine bars in the city, Anfora (conceived by one of the coolest dudes in our business, Joe Campanale).
There's probably no better place to drink amphora-vinified wines than Joe's place.
Although intense (and maybe not for everyone), the wine was delicious and its oxidative note made it reminiscent of a Sherry, a perfect aperitif.
It's right up the street from the place where I stay (the apartment of the drummer in my band, Nous Non Plus).
The following post is culled, verbatim, from an email sent to me by my friend Jennings Carney, bass player and one of the three Carney brothers in the über cool rock band Pontiak. He and I try to connect whenever our travels align and we're always trading emails and notes on wines we like. He and his brothers are touring Europe right now (that's them in the image above, at the their recent show in Turin; they're really big in Italy, btw). I rarely publish guest posts here on the blog but I just had to share Jennings's insights and exhilaration.
Yeah, totally dude. We just got done with a six show run through Czech Republic, Slovakia and Austria. Traveled through Burgundland and the land of Blau Frankisch, Riesling and Gruner among countless other crazy native red and white varietals that have such weird names and spellings in czech that I cannot even right them here. Nor pronounce them for that matter.
… To start though in Italy, after we left Conegliano we headed to Brescia where a very good friend of mine who is a sommelier (and who put on our first Italian show) came with three bottles: two white and one red. The whites were a sparkling white, wild fermented Spergola w/Moscato Giallo from Emilia-Romagna called L'Artiglio. Insane. It was the color of coors light! Revelatory, blue cheese and forest floor notes with good acidity and boy was it funky. So cool. The other white was a biodynamic Chardonnay from Jura in France with 0 sulfites added. Made by En Chalasse it was the best Chardonnay I have ever tasted. Ever. So good. So good. As for the red – I am drinking that tonight in Liepzig. It's a very small run Amarone. And I'll tell you all about it after the last drop.
As for the subject of the email – we went wine tasting in Southern Moravia after our show in Breclav (pronounced Bra-jitszlav) with a Pontiak fan who married into a winery called Hrdina & Dcera which roughly translates to Hero and Daughter (hero is the last name).
Above: Fried tacos stuffed with potato purée paired beautifully with the Tempier Bandol Rosé yesterday at Jaynes.
What a thrill for me to get to play the country jams with some of my best friends and country guitar great Dave Gleason yesterday at Jaynes Gastropub in San Diego.
With a weekend sandwiched between trips to LA and NYC, it made the most sense to stay over in Southern California and so Jaynes co-owner Jon scheduled an afternoon set for our Americana/country project, The Grapes (named after the legendary pub in Liverpool where the Beatles used to drink).
Above: that's Dave next to me stage right. High school best friend John Yelenosky played his Les Paul Jr. and Jon Erickson played his Fender Jazz Bass.
Our set was part of the 2014 Adams Avenue Unplugged Festival, featuring live music along this bustling boulevard in San Diego's university district.
Above: I can't reveal his name for contractual reasons but San Diego music insiders will recognize the celeb who sat in on keys with Dave's band (foreground).
Music used to be such a big part of my life and it's such a joy for me to get the chance to rock out with people I love.
Dave's set brought the house down. He's such an incredible, expressive country player and the breadth of his tone is amazing. He has a b-bender on his Tele and the only effect he uses is the reverb in his Fender Deluxe amp. He's the real deal: just a great guitar plugged directly into a great amp (he doesn't even use a tuner).
Above: they say it never rains in Southern California.
"G-d is dead," wrote Nietzsche (The Gay Science 1882).
"The author is dead," wrote Barthes ("The Death of the Author" 1967).
"G-d is dead, Marx is dead, and I don't feel too good either," wrote the students on the walls of the 1968 revolution in Europe (quoted by Ionesco in 1979).
In the demotic age of wine blogging, is the wine writer dead?
Calling himself not an "impartial arbiter" but rather "a guide," he politely argues that personal preference is fundamental in wine writing.
The back story is that for many years, there's been an ongoing behind-the-scenes feud between the editors of points-based publications and "narrative" wine writers, where the former hold that their evaluations are superior because they are the fruit of an empirical, impersonal system for critiquing wine.
I would take Eric's argument a step further. Echoing the Gertrude Stein of The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas, I contend that all writing is purely subjective — including point-based wine reviews. That is the nature of writing. And that is, above all, the nature of wine.
From St. Augustine, to Stein, to Barthes, to Derrida… critical theorists have considered the issues of subjectivity in discourse and perception for thousands of years. Who are we, now, to lay arrogant claim to a new and purely objective means of observation?
Why not embrace our humanity and our human shortcomings in wine writing?
After all, we see through a glass darkly.
I wrote about Eric's piece yesterday for the Boulder Wine Merchant.
My friend Katie Parla, a Rome-based food, wine, and travel writer, wrote this superb article for Punch on the Antinori-Boncompagni feud over the legacy of the Fiorano wines. In it, you'll find an excerpt from my translation of an interview that Prince Boncompagni gave to Luigi Veronelli before he died. It's a great piece.
Everyone in the trade has been talking about Levi's insights into the evolution of wine connoisseurship in this country.
Ever since the historic Valtellina winery ArPePe began making its comeback a few years ago in Manhattan, its wines have become a sine qua non for hipster Italophile wine directors across the country.
I'm happy to report that Austin has become one of the epicenters of this nouvelle vague.
I had a chance to taste through the wines during a quickly planned trip to the River City yesterday. The 2006 Sassella Stella Retica (above) was the highlight in the flight that was poured for me at Vino Vino, my client and the best little wine bar in the Texas capital.
It was interesting to talk to the folks at Serendipity, who brings the wine into the state, and the supplier rep, who told me that all the wines are made in chestnut casks. There's one cement vat in the winery, he said, and it's one of the biggest in Italy. But it was decommissioned many years ago after ArPePe ceased to be the only cooperative winery in the appellation. Today, it's used as a reception space, he said.
Later in the evening, I made it down to my favorite pizzeria in Texas, Bufalina, where my buddy Steven Dilley serves the entry-tier ArPePe by the glass.
That's his housemade cow's milk mozzarella (above) that he uses exclusively to top his pizza. It's never refrigerated, he says. It was delicious as was the Margherita that I shared with my good friend Billy Mann who happened to be in town on business.
I awoke very early this morning and drove home in time to spend some time with the Parzen girls: I head out tomorrow for California and then NYC and so every moment with them is precious.
But I'll rest easy on my trip, knowing that Italian wine is alive and doing well in the Groover's Paradise.
Ever since I first tasted them a few years ago, the wines of Giacomo Mastretta at Porte di Vertine in Gaiole in Chianti have always thrilled me. They offer one of the most elegant yet real expressions of Chianti Classico today.
In an appellation where historical marketing missteps (remember the 1970s?) and a widespread misguided desire to refashion the wines in the image of Americankind, Giacomo's wines stand out in a crowded field of mostly anonymous and homogenous bottles.
But when I had the chance to taste with him at the winery a few weeks ago, it wasn't his superb 100 percent Sangiovese 2010 Riserva, with its rich earthy overtones, that has kept me up at night.
No, it was his 2012, a wine from a challenging vintage in Italy, that really blew me away.
The 2012 vintage was a warm one, said Giacomo. August was very hot and heavy rains at the end of the month weren't enough to cool the vines and keep the fruit from becoming overripe.
He didn't make a riserva that year. Instead, he blended all of his Sangiovese, together with small amounts of Canaiolo and Colorino, as his Chianti Classico.
I loved this wine. It was bright and fresh in the glass and the fruit, while ripe, wasn't overly concentrated or sweet. And the wine's acidity and restrained alcohol sang in harmony with its flavors.
But the thing that really impressed me was how it reminded me of my first encounters with great Sangiovese in the late 1980s, before the second wave of U.S.-bound Chianti eclipsed traditional values in the appellation.
I can't recommend it enough. Like any good winemaker faced with a challenging vintage, Giacomo made less wine from the troubled 2012 harvest than he would have normally. But, man, what a wine!
From the 2008 Barbaresco by Gaja to the 2008 Barolo by Bartolo (Maria Teresa) Mascarello that I'd tasted previously, I was already inclined to have high hopes for Langa wines despite the challenges of the vintage.
Abundant rains in the late spring caused a lot of problems with fruit set in Piedmont and many used the word "bizarre" to describe the climatic progression for the harvest.
Asti and Monferrato faced some serious issues in terms of production decline but growers in Langa, especially those with top parcels, managed to produce some superb fruit, even though many of them made less wine that year.
After the first day of the fair, when our palates were still fresh, Giovanni offered to treat us to a bottle of great Nebbiolo at the Trattoria Gasparo in the historical center of Brescia where I stayed during the fair and where Giovanni lives.
The owners had really beefed up the wine list since my last visit and as Giovanni read through the labels, I stopped him at Fenocchio, one of my favorites and a wine that people in my tax bracket can afford to collect.
The 2008 Barolo Villero by Giacomo Fenocchio was already very generous in its expression of fruit and it had that distinctive earthiness, dark yet elegant, that I dig in his wines.
Giacomo has never swayed from the old-school style of these wines and they represent a wonderful "first kiss" for wine lovers who are trying to attain a greater understanding of Langa Nebbiolo (especially his Cannubi). This is a wine that merits more attention from U.S. collectors.
At the fair, Barolo producers where showing their 2010 bottlings. It was a good to excellent vintage for Piedmont, although Italy in general suffered from late, heavy rains in August.
The 2010 Barolo Ravera by Ferdinando Principiano was smokin' good. Although still very tight in its evolution, there was no "green" here: gorgeous acidity and brilliant fruit (however restrained by the wine's youth) popped in this wine.
Prinicipiano's wines represent such great value and I can't understand why American collectors haven't discovered them yet. Damn, I love these wines. I can't wait to see how they evolve.
I was geeked to finally taste a bottling of Albarossa with my friend Lars Leicht of Cru Artisan, the new prestige portfolio from Banfi.
Not much of this hybrid grape is planted in Piedmont. It was created in the Veneto by fascist-era ampelographer Giovanni Dalmasso, a giant of Italian viticulture, in 1938. He believed that he was crossing Nebbiolo and Barbera.
But more recent study of the variety, which was first registered in Italy in 1977 and then authorized in Piedmont in 2001, has revealed that it's actually a marriage of Barbera and Nebbiolo di Dronero, which is not Nebbiolo but rather Chatus, a rare clone of Ardèche found mostly in France but also in Alpine Piedmont (see José Vouillamoz's entry for Albarossa in Wine Grapes; it is "not Nebbiolo at all," he writes with his signature sternness, "but a synonym for Chatus," a fact that was brought to light by research published in 2009).
Ampelography aside, I really liked the 2011 that Lars poured for me. Its color was brilliant, with electric violet notes along the edges of the glass. On the nose it was fresh with confident red and berry fruit and in the mouth its alcohol was restrained and the fruit ripe but not overly so.
There are just a handful of houses that grow and vinify this grape (Chiarlo is the most prominent) and beyond the nerdy appeal, I found it to be really approachable and delicious. I'd love to see what it can do at the dinner table.
Facebook friends: you can see photos from Lila Jane's baptism here.
Anyone who's ever attended the annual Italian wine trade fair, Vinitaly, in Verona, knows that after a day of tasting wines nonstop, you crave beer. I'm not sure why this is. But it's widespread phenomenon among trade people who are tasting and spitting wine all day at the fair.
This year, my fair was more about schmoozing than it was about tasting but I still managed to get in 40-50 wines every day I was there (in years past, when I would go on buying trips, I would taste up to 90 wines a day, spitting all the while, of course).
By the Tuesday night of the fair, our palates were completely fried. Our teeth were stained purple and our gums were numb from tannin.
So Giovanni and I decided to go out for a beer and burger in Brescia, where I was staying and where he lives.
A lot of folks don't realize that there is a beer and brewing renaissance happening in Italy right now. Artisanal beers, natural beers, "extreme" microbreweries, and a lot of downright delicious beers. 32 Via dei Birrai is probably the most well-known label in the U.S. But in Italy, there are literally hundreds and hundreds of microbreweries that find their way to market.
I really loved the Rurale by the Birrificio Montegioco (from the village of Montegioco in Alessandria province, Piedmont). It showed a wonderful balance of citrus and herbaceous notes with a peppery finish. It had rich texture and an overall wholesome character that really took it over the top for me.
It paired beautifully with the Hamburger Rustico at the Bar Torre d'Ercole in the historical center of Brescia.
I've written about the new wave of hamburger mania in Italy today.
Milan may be its epicenter. But Brescia, where the quality of beef is marvelous and where locals love to indulge in steak and hamburger, is another flash point in the Italians' burger mania.
The quality of this beef was great and it was perfectly grilled: crunchy on the outside, with a charcoal note; rare to medium rare inside with just the right amount of fat to keep it juicy and tasty.
The rustico at the Bar Torre is stopped with melted cow's milk cheese (I'm not sure which Lombard cheese it was), arugula, and onions that had been caramelized with juniper berries.
Bacon is optional and the server asked us if we wanted "bacon," using the English term even though we were speaking in Italian.
The Italian beer revolution actually began more than twenty years ago in the Veneto (I remember well because I was touring with my cover band there then).
But even five years ago, it would have been difficult to find a burger of this quality in Italy.
All in all, a great way to end another long day at the fair with one more day to go.
I'll start posting on the wines I tasted tomorrow, I promise!
Thanks for reading… Buona Pasquetta, as the Italians say! Happy day after Easter!
Above: a Colomba di Pasqua, the "Easter Dove," a traditional Italian Easter cake by Iginio Massari, one of Italy's favorite pastry chefs. My friend Laura Castelletti, the vice-mayor of Brescia, Italy, graciously shared it with Giovanni and me last week while I was visiting their city.
It's going to be a very special Easter for the Parzen family this year.
This Easter Sunday, Lila Jane will be baptized by her grandfather, "pawpaw," Rev. B, at the Wesley United Methodist Church, where he presides as Pastor, in Orange, Texas, where Tracie P grew up. Lila Jane will be nine months old on Tuesday.
Above: Rev. B holding Lila Jane in our garden at the new house in Houston.
I wish you all could have seen the grin on Rev. B's face when we decided that Lila Jane would be baptized this Easter Sunday.
"We haven't had an Easter baptism in a long time," he said with his contagious smile.
Just as the vine begins again to bud and flower each year, the yearly cycle of life reminds us to take stock in what has come before and what lies ahead.
Nature reflects our rhythms because, after all, no matter how removed we are from her, we are inexorably linked to her syncopation. All of the springtime observances derive, ultimately, from our connection to her.


In a Beatles song, she "picks up the rice in the church where a wedding has been"
"Who walks in the classroom cool and slow? Who calls the English teacher 'daddy-o'?"
It begins, "When the night has come and the land is dark and the moon is the only light we'll see"
It's how the French say "cheese"
Occupation of Carlton on TV's "Rhoda"
His books include "Thank You, Jeeves", "Very Good, Jeeves" & "Carry On, Jeeves"
A contraction of Mary Magdalene's name gave us this adjective for "foolishly sentimental"
More than 30 of his books were made into films, including "Hondo" & "How the West Was Won"
Adopted in 1791, the Bill of Rights bears the signatures of the Speaker of the House & this Vice Pres.
He based "Camille" on his novel "La Dame aux Camelias"
This Frenchman's 1669 comedy "The Miser" was derived from Plautus' play "Aulularia"


The Ozone C4 is a SLE (Supported Leading Edge) C Kite. It is a freestyle oriented allround kite.
The C4 is a C-shape kite with briddles to support the leading edge. This makes the C4 a freestyle C-shape kite with the depower of a SLE kite. The designers tried to tune the power in the new C4 without losing the ease of use and fun-factor. In 2011 Ozone will introduce the "Variable Bridle Geometry" this means that you have two settings for your bridles on the leading edge. One light setting for freeriders and a somewhat heavier setting for the freestylers. The change is a matter of seconds. Furthermore, the profile of the canopy was changed to get more low-end and more parked power and a longer powerboost in loops.


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Upton Sinclair House
The Upton Sinclair House is a historic house at 464 N. Myrtle Avenue, Monrovia, California. Built in 1923, it was the home of American novelist Upton Sinclair (1878-1968) between 1942 and 1966, and is where he wrote many of his later works. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1971.[2][3] It is a private residence.
U.S. National Historic Landmark
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464 N. Myrtle Avenue
34°9′44″N 118°0′0″W / 34.16222°N 118.00000°W / 34.16222; -118.00000Coordinates: 34°9′44″N 118°0′0″W / 34.16222°N 118.00000°W / 34.16222; -118.00000
November 11, 1971[1]
Side of Upton Sinclair House
Description and historyEdit
The Upton Sinclair House is located in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains, north of the center of Monrovia at the southeast corner of North Myrtle Avenue and East Scenic Drive. It is a Neo-Mediterranean building in a district of similar houses. It is made of poured concrete and includes "ball-and-ribbon" concrete moldings and Batchelder tile.[4] Its main entrance is set in an ornate archway, with an iron balcony above. The entrance and flanking windows are set in round-arch openings. To the rear right of the house is a period garage.[2]
The house was designed by California architect Frederick H. Wallis and built in 1923. It was purchased by Upton Sinclair in 1942, seeking a quieter location than Pasadena, where he had been living.[2] Sinclair is best known for his exposé style of writing, epitomized by The Jungle, his 1906 novel exposing unsavory practices in the meatpacking industry. Sinclair was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1943.[2]
Many of Sinclair's later works were written while he lived here, in a studio space created in the garage.[2] The grounds also include a concrete vault where he kept all his papers.[4]
The house sustained damage during the 1991 Sierra Madre earthquake (5.6M) and was nearly torn down by its owner; however, California's state historic preservation office denied the demolition.[5]
List of National Historic Landmarks in California
National Register of Historic Places listings in Los Angeles County, California
^ a b National Park Service (2010-07-09). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
^ a b c d e Robert S. Gamble (July 20, 1971). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Upton Sinclair House" (PDF). National Park Service. Accompanying 2 photos, exterior, from 1971 (437 KB)
^ "Upton Sinclair House". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Retrieved November 18, 2007.
^ a b Williams, Janette (February 25, 2011). "Historic Upton Sinclair house up for sale". Pasadena, California: Pasadena Star - News.
^ "Owner barred from razing Upton Sinclair home". Los Angeles Times. January 23, 1992.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Upton Sinclair House.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Upton_Sinclair_House&oldid=858192694"

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Bob has been a voice actor for years but especially since transitioning from a 32 year career with the Intelligence Community. Bob's clear, rich, smooth middle-aged voice is described as great for storytelling, narrations, documentaries and live event announcing.
Bob has voiced projects for both domestic and international clients out of his home studio and can turn around most projects within a day. These projects include industrial narrations, eLearning, corporate explainers, video games, movie trailers and documentaries. Bob is an accomplished narrator and producer of audio books specializing in mysteries, cozy mysteries (it's really a thing!), romantic comedies and non-fiction. Finally, Bob is also a seasoned live event announcer hosting events in front of thousands of spectators.
Bob has also been a volunteer reader for the Metropolitan Washington Ear for over a decade, bringing the written word to the blind and visually impaired in the greater Washington, D.C. area. Bob serves as a member of the MWE's speaker bureau and represents their interests to local assisted living centers, senior groups and health fairs.
Please contact Bob directly at 240-418-7889 or via email at bobjohnson@rjvoices.com.
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Keill & Associates - Keill & Associates - We help you plan for the future by providing quality financial planning advice and products through a network of Consultants.
Keill & Associates aims to deliver personalized and innovative family focused wealth management solutions so families can live their dreams free of financial worry.
RRSP on the back burner?
Meaghan has a willingness to help everyone that she meets. Her kind demeanor, infectious smile and honesty makes her a perfect first contact point for Keill & Associates.
Jeff has always stood by sound principles of a balanced portfolio based on knowledge, not gambling on a short term trends. He has built a level of trust that has made him our financial advisor for almost 20 years now. Our meeting are both professional and friendly visits, never feeling pressured into making any quick decisions. My financial success is something which he takes very seriously.


It's a funny thing that the Internet has managed to do.
Prior to becoming a mainstay in any modern economy, to be considered for a senior company role in most industries, by and large, you will have needed to be at least forty. Nowadays, in this new era of consumer technology, Internet and online media, it's fascinating to notice not just an increase in young founders, CEO's and billionaires but also the executives that work directly beneath them. Most, if not many, are forty or younger and there's a reason for that.
To work in tech, online, or in any new media role, there's an expectation that you should be young. If you're older, perhaps 45+, you'll face a similar uphill battle to what a 20-year-old in a more mature industry (banking, medicine etc.) would expect. And yes, perhaps it is discrimination.
There's a notion, true or not, that only people of a certain age (or younger) will appreciate and understand this relatively new industry. Undoubtedly, there are exceptions. Just as you'll find an exceptional doctor in his early thirties, you'll still find "older" people who are incredibly skilled and knowledgeable about the Internet industry. But they are a rare breed and therefore supremely valuable. As you would expect, most work for the giants of the industry (e.g. Schmidt of Google, Cook of Apple) who can afford them.
What's more interesting is that this is also likely to be an extremely rare period.
In 20 years, virtually everyone still working will be on an equal footing, the scales will be reset, and similar to many other industries, senior execs will match your grandparents expectations of how old someone should be to hold a senior role.


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Court of Appeals Allows Controversial Texas' 6-Week Abortion Law To Remain In Force
Paul Crasta
Panel Voted Two To One
Texas Abortion Clinics Continue To Provide Services
The 5th United States Circuit Court of Appeals recently decided that the controversial abortion law in Texas will continue to remain in force. The abortion law will not allow abortions after around six weeks of pregnancy.
Such abortion law has been widely criticized, especially because the time limit that comes with the abortion law is around the same time a woman usually knows she is pregnant. The law bans abortions once there is already fetal cardiac activity detected.
CNN reported that the 5th United States Circuit Court of Appeals panel of three voted two to one for the continued enforcement of the abortion law in Texas. Those who voted to let the law remain in place are appellate judges Catharina Haynes and James Ho, and Judge Carl Stewart dissented.
Initially, the abortion ban was blocked by U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman after the Justice Department challenged the law in federal court. Texas appealed Pitman's order, and that was when the 5th United States Circuit Court of Appeals took on the case.
The 5th United States Circuit Court of Appeals put a brief administrative hold on the order while considering Pitman's appeal order. With how everything turned out, the Justice Department is expected to have the Supreme Court decision on the matter.
Image Credit: mirsasha/Flickr
After Pitman's order came down, some clinics in Texas continued to provide abortion services to patients who were beyond six weeks in their pregnancies. CNN said the clinics did this at some legal risk because Texas law allows actions to be brought against these clinics if they conduct an act contrary to a law blocked by a court order and if a higher court later reverses the order.
Private citizens are deputized by Texas law to bring state court litigation against such providers or against a person who assists a woman in obtaining an abortion after the heartbeat is detected.
In this article:abortion law,Court of Appeals,let the law remain in force,Texas


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Situated within the lovely Kashmir Valley, famously called "Paradise on Earth" by India's Mughal Emperors, Srinagar is a pleasant town and the capital of the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Known for its lakes, waterways, and picturesque wooden structures, Srinagar is a popular vacation spot for domestic Indians and is increasingly attracting notice for foreign travelers as well.
Dal Lake Houseboat
Visit a houseboat on Dal Lake, which is connected by a system of backwaters to Nagin Lake. You will be ferried on a shikara, or Kashmiri skiff, to and from the houseboat, which in typical fashion features intricate woodcarving, embroidery, and carpets from Kashmir. While such houseboats are now iconic of Kashmir, these charming craft were originally used by British military and civil officials as residences, after they were forbidden by the Maharaja of Kashmir from buying land.
Gardens of the Mughal Emperors
Visit the few surviving gardens of the Mughal Emperors in the Kashmir Valley, situated on the eastern bank of Dal Lake. The elegant 17th-century gardens, including the "Garden of Pleasure" and "Garden of Love," feature terraced hills, fountains, and water channels diverted from natural springs.
Hazratbal Mosque
Visit the Hazratbal Mosque, constructed of shimmering marble and home to Kashmir's most revered relic, an enshrined hair of the beard of the Prophet Muhammad. The mosque stands on the western shore of Dal Lake, with the mountains as a magnificent backdrop.
Mosque of Shah Hamadan
Have a privately guided tour of the Mosque of Shah Hamadan in the old city, which symbolizes the city's Muslim heritage, compared to Ladakh's Buddhist tradition. The mosque is built entirely of wood and yet no nails or screws were used in its construction.
Village of the Shepherds
Go on a one-day excursion to the gorgeous Pahalgam, the Village of the Shepherds. En route, you will explore fields of saffron and the 1100-year-old ruins of a temple to Lord Vishnu built by King Awantivarman. At the village, hike along pony trails that offer a fantastic vista of mountains and relax by the side of the Lidder River.
INDIA Regions
North-Eastern
nagarhole & bandipur
panna national park
satpura national park
India Itineraries
India's Heights: Kashmir, Ladakh & the Himalayas
Step into India's great outdoors on this exciting 14-day luxury adventure through Kashmir and the Himalayas. You'll tour Old Delhi, receive a private blessing from a Buddhist monk, visit Khardungla Pass, stay at the lovely Windflower Hall high up in the Himalayan mountain range, and fish Kashmir's rich waters.
Destination India
Vivanta by Taj - Dal View
A state-of-the-art retreat located 1730 feet (527 meters) above sea level, the Vivanta by Taj – Dal View is one of India's most spectacular properties. Perched on a hill above Dal Lake and built from local timber and painted in warm, earthy colours, the resort evokes the spirit and ethos of the valley. The Vivanta by Taj –Dal View features eighty-two spacious, intimate rooms and suites spread across six acres, all offering the latest in-room technology, king-sized beds, electronic safes, internet access, LCD televisions, and a work desk. Dining options include Jade Dragon, which serves Sichuan, or southwestern Chinese cuisine; Latitude, an all-day eatery serving local specialties; Easy, a creative, fun cocktail lounge; and Rhythm, a stylish tea lounge. Vivanta by Taj – Dal View is only 12 miles (20 kilometers) from Srinagar International Airport.
India Goes Well With
Like Thoughts Inside a Dream: My Kashmir Road Trip
Paweena Boonduaylan
I visited Kashmir just as tourism became safe once again. And here, I discovered a place of breathtaking beauty, with several can't-miss spots…
Remote Lands' Dozen Dream Destinations for 2013
We want you to be as excited by Asia as we are, so we've put together our list of a Dozen Dream Destinations for 2013.
Kashmir: 5 Off-the-Beaten-Path Locales
Sugato Mukherjee
Kashmir is one of the last final frontiers for travelers to India; get off the beaten track with these five lesser visited sites.


Old Man had been behind the wheel for many years. Everyone in the town knew about his taxi service. It was reliable. Old Man was a good driver, loved his cars and took good care of them.
His service was in demand, but age was catching up. Old Man wanted to retire.
Thus it came about that he hired two drivers Ramu and Shamu.
Ramu was sincere and hard working. Shamu was enthusiastic.
When Old Man started their training on safe driving, Ramu listened carefully, Shamu got bored easily.
When Ramu was practicing parallel parking, Shamu was busy racing with other cars.
Soon, both started taking passengers across cities. Ramu was punctual; when someone booked a taxi at 10:00, he used to be at the door at 9:55 itself. He drove carefully, never crossing the speed limit.
Shamu on the other hand was always late. But if the passenger expressed a genuine urgency, like catching a flight, Shamu somehow managed to reach the airport on time, sometimes jumping stop signals and exceeding speed limits. Still, he never had any accident, not yet, at least.
Once a passenger wanted to reach early and pressed Ramu to do whatever he could. For the first time Ramu took a short cut. Unfortunately the road was under repairs. They reached the destination very late. Old Man scolded Ramu for not obeying instructions.
From that day, Ramu curbed all his instincts and only followed planned routes. He stopped giving suggestions because he could not give satisfactory answers to Old Man's questions though, Ramu felt he had done nothing wrong.
With Shamu, on the other hand, detours were common. He would try different routes without paying much attention to Old Man's orders. Initially he ran into difficulties, but he learned from his mistakes. Soon he found out what worked and what doesn't. Like which roads have less traffic, where do policemen keep a watch and where they are don't .
Ramu would never open the bonnet and would alway rely on service centre even for a small fix. Even for a wiper change, he would get three quotations, compare them and obtain a proper approval from Old Man.
Shamu was the curious sort. He acquired elementary know-how on car internals like engine, hydraulics, and wiring. Shamu never bothered to ask and took liberties with maintaining the car.
He decided on the spare parts, the seat covers, tyres… and just sent the bills to Old Man. Initially his experiments failed, but he persisted and figured it out.
While Ramu never looked beyond his assigned tasks, Shamu was busy learning about other cars in the market and what the competitors were upto.
Ramu spent his spare time calculating improvements in mileage on account of an improved engine oil. Shamu spent his free time befriending and helping garage repairmen. He could call them in case of emergency even at 2 o'clock at night.
Once it so happened that Ramu while taking a turn a jeep came from behind and scratched Ramu's bumper. Though it was jeep driver's fault, Ramu lost the case because the rule says "indicator should be shown 150 meters before the turn"; Ramu had shown it at 140 meters.
Had this incident occurred with Shamu, he would have blasted the other guy with a few choice cuss words, and may be grabbed the perfume bottle from the jeep as compensation and move on.
Once Ramu's car broke down just a kilometre from the destination. The gears were stuck. He panicked and could not to handle the situation. Ramu kept calling the 1-800 number of the service help desk. But to no avail. One by one all passengers got down; they refused to pay, refused to help, and made their own arrangements.
Shamu had learnt that it's nothing to do with the gears but an issue with the clutch cable. He could cut the cable and fasten a piece of wire. It was a temporary fix, but it worked for the last kilometre. There would have been a slight delay in reaching the destination, but he could manage to keep his passengers happy. And they would pay.
Two years later. Old Man was considering his deputees performance. He could not find any obvious lacunae with Ramu. He had worked sincerely to train to drive well. For him it was job where he obeyed orders. Performing his duty meant a job well done.
Shamu's driving was not as good. But he enjoyed every part his job. Shamu asserted his authority in deciding everything regarding his car.
Travelling with Ramu was boring while Shamu regaled his audience with his stories.
Though Shamu had at least 20 points on his improvement list, and though his car had higher maintenance costs, Shamu had progressed beyond his job description. He had shown innovativeness on many occasions and has saved the business a lot of trouble.
People are more comfortable dealing with him; passengers loved him.
To Old Man, that's what mattered the most.
What would matter to you? Who has done a better job?


text:
Bruno Sammartino: Legacy
Though this might be a little behind from the actual event, but it really should be put over about how important Bruno was for early years of the WWE. Now even though Buddy Rogers did become the first ever champion he would only hold the title for around three weeks before Bruno became the champion. Bruno's first run with the title lasted for an amazing 2,803 days which was his incredible 8 year run with the title. During this time he helped the territory rise from just another territory to become one of the most profitable & top areas in the country.
Though in reality Bruno wasn't the most spectacular in ring talent, but he did pose a tremendous amount of charisma which helped him carry his career. Sammartino would end up dropping his title in 1971 in the most shocking moment the company had at that point and time when Ivan Koloff defeated Bruno. In modern wrestling this would mean that Bruno would get the win back and defeat Ivan for the title again, but things were very different in this era with title reigns lasting a long time. Ivan did end his title reign after only three weeks it would two years before Bruno would win back his title. Even with this reign lasting four years it is more than likely remembered for Superstar Graham defeating him and became the first heel champion to have a decent run with the gold.
However, the impact that Bruno has left behind on the WWE is that he was the first "face of the franchise" for WWE and the first leader for the brand. In a period where fans seem to find leaders like Roman Reigns, John Cena, and others it is fair to say that without Bruno there would be absolutely no WWE. Bruno was the first leader of the company and handled the load as far as setting the course for the expansion that followed. Now even though Bruno did have a falling out with the company in I believe the late 1980's or sometime in the 1990's they were able to reconcile a few years back with Bruno taking his seat in the Hall of Fame.
Though it might be fair to say that Bruno is a product of his era as a territorial talent and that he likely may not have had the same success in other areas. This doesn't change the fact that Bruno was the first to shoulder the lead of the new company and give them a stable force to build around. His legacy has given fans a number of great memories and moments to look back on in fondness as a number of fans tie their past to Bruno and his career. Thank you for the memories Bruno!! You will be missed and never forgotten as the first banner holder of WWE.
Sharing my thoughts, opinion, and historical facts on everything WWE both past and present


Probably the smallest update so far: v14!
-Fixed Battle Grounds map not having the correct team colors by making the third team blue. The gamemode does not accept maps that have duplicate team colors, even if your map forces two teams.
-Fixed tips still showing up after playing the gamemode.
-Removed debug player stat editing command. I never used it in development. Just edit player's saves using a text editor or something.
-Removed Fallout 2 song from music pack and gamemode.txt.
I've also organised the maps in the OP more, and added a download all link.
You'll need to redownload the battle grounds map which is in the default ports pack.
-Restored some death sound effects that were commented out/removed in earlier deathmatch versions as random death sounds.
The HUD will point out to the player if they are cloakable (by using the spy kit) in the same fashion it would if the player was small/big/squished.
Round start messages are colored as the color of the player's team if its a team round.
Very often Players spawn as Jet Players, Which makes a lot of maps really not fun to play on. It would be a lot better if they got changed to Fuel Jets.
Please say "Very often players spawn with jets" instead. Nobody called the blockhead a "Full Jet Blockhead". What's next, Half Jet Blockhead? Sure can't wait for Quarter Jet Blockhead too.
I said full jet so people wouldn't get confused with the other Jet types.
Nobody will think you mean fuel/jump/leap jets if you say just "jets". It's a given that jets alone means the normal jets, therefore the standard blockhead's jets.
There is no code in place to spawn players as the standard player, if that's what you mean. I don't know how you managed that. You might be confused by the player that has no jet bar, but has jets, which is the jump jet i think which is just like 1 second of jetting.
With permission from Hodot, I've ported their ROBLOX Crossroads Gamemode to my gamemode as a map.
Old school weapons are still scattered about, the only big difference is that it's now floating in the air like the happy home map.
Some ladders also work differently.
The same loadout as in its gamemode is given in arcade and classic rounds. Brick damage is on like in its gamemode.
It's been added to the OP and to the download all link. Enjoy!
I've released v15, and kept a record of my changes! Amazing!
- Added a custom colorset. Compatable with default colors.
- Adjusted admin help commands a bit.
- Host set executed add-ons are now executed after gamemode code files instead of before.
This makes community "patches" easier without needing to edit the gamemode itself.
- Moved GameConnection::onClientEnterGame edits to GameConnection::AutoAdminCheck.
This means some stuff will correctly happen when a player joins a server, not when they're done loading.
- Pinball Launcher is slightly faster.
- Added ability to choose preferred shotgun and sniper.
Choosing one will replace given shotgun/sniper with the type wanted if set. For example, a player picking up an oldschool shotgun will be given the classic shotgun instead. By default this favors the "classic" weapons. You can change it to favor old school, or to allow both like the gamemode did before.
Specific add-ons and links to add-ons are provided now, in many lists.
- Added Random Melee round type.
Players spawn with melee items only.
"Base" and "Military" play same music as "Facility"
"Hell" plays same music as "Lava"
"Island", "Ocean", "Ship", and "Sea" play same music as "Pirate"
"City", "Town", and "Modern" play same music as "Urban"
"Fantasy" plays same music as "Medieval"
"Desert", "Wasteland", "Wild West", and "Cowboy" play same music as "Egypt"
"Halloween" plays same music as "Spooky"
"Space Ship" and "Galactic" play same music as "Space"
- Overhauled how team rounds work.
Now it's an entirely separate round-type-like global variable. This adds room for expansion and makes it easier to deal with.
- Player names in chat are now colored based on their team.
As a result of this, team clan tags have been removed. The chat stuff had to be "recoded" from default stuff like with the team chat, but it should be safe as color codes (like /c3) do not work and it strips <color: <font: <bitmap: and <just: from chat. <just: is also now stripped from team chat.
- Player names are now shown at team round ends instead of the team name.
Player names are also team colored.
- Winner clan tag has been fixed and now shows up in chat if the round winner talks before the round transition ends.
Maps have been untouched so you don't need to redownload those. You will need to redownload the music however, if you don't use the musicless version.
Also the gamemode is now on Blockland Nexus. Nobody here uses that though, but whatever.
Hey Crispy_, Where do i put the music files, in the ordinary music folder?
kay, i figured it out before looking at the response, thanks for trying to help anyway, Here's a cookie for effort.
Now, Where do i put the allmaps zip file?
Put the music where the music goes and put the add-ons where the add-ons go.


rMany counties in the region face clean-up costs that will exceed $1 billion.
Those are "big numbers and scary numbers," said Randy Bartlett, deputy public works director for Fairfax County in Virginia at a recent meeting of EPA officials and Washington, D.C. area governments. Meanwhile, he noted, "We're cutting teachers, we're cutting police and we're cutting fire."
Many local officials acknowledge that the Bay cleanup will also mean improvements to their local streams - where progress has lagged - and could bolster the economy by creating new jobs. Still, cash-strapped local governments are having sticker shock over initial cost estimates.
"The costs come up every time," acknowledged Jeff Corbin, senior adviser for the Bay to the EPA administrator, who has met with local officials. "The costs are tremendous, but what do we do?"
After the region repeatedly failed to meet past cleanup goals, the EPA at the end of December enacted a new, more enforceable cleanup plan known as a total maximum daily load - or TMDL - which sets the maximum amount of nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment allowed to reach the Bay. The EPA is requiring that goals be met by 2025, with 60 percent of the needed pollution controls implemented by 2017. (Maryland is calling for achieving its mark by 2020, with 70 percent implementation by 2017.) The EPA has threatened to take a variety of actions against those who fail to make adequate progress.
Environmental groups and clean water advocates have praised the plans as overdue actions needed to finally restore the Bay's health. But the plans have triggered fear in much of the farming community, which will likely face increased regulations. The American Farm Bureau Federation and Pennsylvania Farm Bureau have filed suit to block the TMDL in court. But the bulk of the costs will hit urban areas, which have to upgrade wastewater treatment plants and reduce stormwater runoff. Both carry huge price tags.
"Urban ratepayers are footing an enormous bill," said George Hawkins, general manager DC Water. Upgrades at its Blue Plains Wastewater Treatment Plant will cost nearly $1 billion, and stormwater improvements in the District may cost twice that. The reality of the Bay cleanup will hit home this summer as states work with local governments, conservation districts and others to write Phase II WIPs, which will include local nutrient and sediment reduction goals and local plans to achieve them.
Across the watershed, a handful of local governments have gotten head starts, as the EPA last year provided funding to several jurisdictions to explore the development of local plans. One of those was Anne Arundel County in Maryland, where county environmental officials have been devising strategies to reduce nitrogen loads to the Bay by nearly 25 percent, along with significant phosphorus and sediment reductions.
The county's agricultural land contributes less than 10 percent of the nutrient load, so the largest chunk of nutrient reductions will come from wastewater treatment plant upgrades. Still, that will leave the county well short of its nutrient goals - and wastewater treatment doesn't reduce sediment at all. So the county will rely heavily on controlling stormwater and restoring streams to help meet phosphorus and sediment goals, and reducing pollution from septic systems to help meet nitrogen goals. The expected tab for meeting the Bay goals could top $2 billion for the county of 540,000 people, said Ronald Bowen, director of the county Department of Public Works.
Even after those goals are met, he said, the county will still have much work left. Besides the Bay TMDL, eight other TMDLs caused by nutrients, sediment, toxic metals, bacteria and other pollutants have been established on local streams, and more are pending. Many of the needed cleanup activities are under way, but meeting the Bay cleanup deadline will be daunting. Efforts to accelerate implementation may be constrained not only by finding new money, Bowen cautioned, but by a lack of consultants and contractors to do the work - especially as other jurisdictions will be seeking those same services. But Anne Arundel officials see benefits, too. The efforts will not only bolster industries that rely on a clean Bay for their livelihood, but restoration programs will generate local jobs.
Fixing stream banks to reduce pollution will also mean that fewer water and sewer lines - which often run near stream channels - will be exposed and broken during storms. And reduced erosion should mean less sediment dredging from rivers used by recreational boaters, said Ginger Ellis, a watershed planner with the Department of Public Works. "We have a fairly large dredging program which is very expensive," she said.
Ellis and Bowen said stream restoration would also protect homeowners whose property is being eroded. Stream health will improve, and cleaner streams will mean fewer health advisories - and swimming closures - at county beaches. Some local governments farther removed from the Bay are also getting ready to gear up for the new WIPs.
In Pennsylvania's Lancaster County, the County Conservation District is trying to ensure that by 2015 every farm has a conservation plan in place and that every cow is fenced out of every stream.
"Is that a huge task?" asked Matt Kafroth, a watershed specialist with the County Conservation District. "With 5,000 farms you better believe it is. Do we have a lot of funding to back that up? At this point, no.
Wastewater treatment plants in the county are being upgraded, and the city of Lancaster has embarked on a program to reduce runoff that will cost several hundred million dollars. As part of that, the city in June unveiled a re-engineered park that includes a basketball court constructed with pervious pavement designed to collect rainwater and hold it in an underground cistern that slowly releases it to groundwater, thereby reducing stormwater runoff. Similar improvements are planned at other parks. It won't be known until summer, when the county gets its cleanup goal, how much more it will need to do. But with 60 local governments to deal with, just building awareness of the issues can be a challenge.
Marylou Barton, of the nonprofit Lancaster County Clean Water Consortium, said that at a recent meeting with a number of local government officials, only one jurisdiction had budgeted any funds - $50,000 - to address stormwater issues stemming from the TMDL. "Other municipalities sat up when they heard that because they hadn't budgeted anything for the Chesapeake Bay," she said. Still, she added, "they want to do the right thing. [But] they are really scared about the money."


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text:
A fellowship is a position in a learned society or professional association.

Fellowship or The Fellowship may also refer to:

Arts and entertainment
 Fellowship, subtitled Monthly Bulletin of the Aboriginal-Australian Fellowship, a bulletin of the Aboriginal-Australian Fellowship published in Sydney 1960–1968
 Fellowship (album), by Lizz Wright, 2010
  "Fellowship" (short story), by Franz Kafka
 The Fellowship, the protagonists in Tolkien's The Fellowship of the Ring
 Fellowship!, a musical stage play parody of The Fellowship of the Ring
 The Fellowship, a fictional group in the video game series Ultima

Places
 Fellowship, Florida, U.S.
 Fellowship, New Jersey, U.S.

Religion
 Fellowship, a term used in Anabaptism used for a Christian denomination
 Fellowship Church, a church in Grapevine, Texas, U.S.
 The Fellowship (Australia), a group within the Presbyterian Church of Australia
 The Fellowship (Canada), a conservative Baptist association
 The Fellowship (Christian organization), a U.S.-based religious and political organization
 The Fellowship (FGFCMI), a fellowship of like-minded Pentecostal churches and ministers

Other uses
 Fellowship (medicine), a period of medical training
 Fellowship (racehorse) (fl. 2000s), a Hong Kong Thoroughbred racehorse
 Fokker F28 Fellowship, a twin engine jet airliner

See also

 The Fellowship of the Ring (disambiguation)
 Koinonia, referring to communion, or fellowship within the Christian church

Fellowships

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Derek Carr bids farewell to Las Vegas Raiders and fans in letter
By Alasdair Howorth, CNN
Published 5:24 AM EST, Fri January 13, 2023
Derek Carr joined the Raiders as a second round pick in 2014 after spending four years at Fresno State.
Justin K.Aller/Getty Images
NFL quarterback Derek Carr announced his departure from the Las Vegas Raiders after nine years with the franchise in an emotional letter to the team's fans.
"It breaks my heart I didn't get an opportunity to say goodbye in person," Carr wrote. "We certainly have been on a roller coaster in our 9 years together. From the bottom of my heart, I am so grateful and appreciative of the years of support you gave to my family and me. We had our share of both heart breaking moments and thrilling game winning drives, and it always felt like you were there next to me."
Since being drafted in 2014 by the franchise that was then based in Oakland, the quarterback had been a starter and foundation for the team through both the good and the bad.
But after a difficult season for the quarterback where he threw his lowest career passing rating, lowest completion percentage since his rookie season and threw a career high interceptions, he was dropped for the Raiders' final two games of the season which they lost to the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs.
☠ pic.twitter.com/fuSOAWkwk8
— Derek Carr (@derekcarrqb) January 12, 2023
The three-time Pro Bowler said in December 2021 he would "probably quit football if I had to play for somebody else. I am a Raider for my entire life. I'm going to root for one team for the rest of my life – it's the Raiders. So I just feel that so strong in my heart I don't need a perfect situation … to make things right.
"I'd rather go down with the ship, you know what I'm saying, if I have to."
Carr acknowledged that statement in his letter saying, "I meant that, but I never envisioned it ending this way.
"That fire burning inside of me to win a championship still rages. A fire no man can extinguish; only God."
Carr will leave with most quarterback records for the franchise, like passing yards and touchdown passes. But despite his personal success, he has only played a single playoff game – a Wild Card round loss to the Cincinnati Bengals last season.
This season, the franchise signed All-Pro wide receiver Davante Adams, a friend and college teammate of Carr's. Many thought that, with the duo playing together, this would be the season the Raiders would be competitive in the playoffs. Instead, they finished with a 6-11 record and with backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham playing in Carr's place.
There are plenty of franchises that would be interested in securing Carr's services as a veteran quarterback. Having signed a contract extension which guarantees him $40 million if he is still with the Raiders or agrees to a trade before February 15, as well as having a no-trade clause in his contract, Carr is in a very strong position to decline any trades that he isn't interested in.


In a knowledge-based economy, universities constitute one of the few institutional sites with the capacity to provide foundational research training. And in Australia, as in other western nations, higher degree research students contribute significantly to the research activity of higher education institutions. In recent times, however, the research performance or productivity of these postgraduate students and the relevance of their work have been questioned by governments, economists, business leaders and funding authorities.
Given that the traditional one-on-one relationship of supervisor/tutor and student/disciple is no longer an adequate preparation (and indeed at best often an ad hoc one) for the various skills, disciplines, knowledge and values associated with being a successful researcher, what might constitute an effective and economical approach to such training? How might 'learning on the job' be undertaken and 'learning communities' be constructed? Designing Educational Research outlines and evidences pedagogical principles and a research training curriculum for doctoral students developed and applied in the Faculty of Education at the Queensland University of Technology. Its focus, equally then, is designing educational researchers.
In doing so, and as part of the exercise itself, this edited collection presents the work of twenty-two doctoral students addressing a wide range of issues and aspects relating to the development of their research, from theory to methodology to empirical research. These chapters are the product of a process of preparation, assisted at each step by mentors, peers, reviewers, workshops and seminars, of a conference paper, publicly presented, reviewed, and developed for publication. The quality of the process is evidenced by the quality of their work. The worth of their work is indexed by its relevance to contemporary needs and issues, and its applicability in and to educational practice.
Where does it fit within the traditions of research?
Click the button below to add the Designing educational research: Theories, methods and practices to your wish list.


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In the present article I am analysing and exposing the radical environmentalist agenda of the Vatican of the Jesuit pope, Francis I. Space will not permit a detailed biblical refutation of the radical Green movement. For such a refutation, see my pamphlet entitled The Green Goddess: Radical Environmentalism and "Mother Earth" Idolatry.
The present article is a lengthy one, but necessarily so, for the importance and significance of the Vatican's deep involvement in the radical environmentalist agenda cannot be over-emphasised. Great plots are afoot, massive social changes about which most are blissfully ignorant. The world is, literally, on the brink of a fundamental social, economical, environmental, political and religious shift, with grave consequences for all.
That the radical environmentalist movement is a Communist movement, aimed at achieving the goals of international Communism via a cleverly-controlled "Green" agenda, is evident when the facts are studied. But every now and then, one of those promoting the lie that "Green is the New Red" make it so blatantly obvious that only the wilfully blind will not thereafter acknowledge it. One such moment occurred in January 2014, when the United Nations' climate chief, Christiana Figueres, came right out and said that Communism is best for fighting "global warming"! She said that democracy is a poor political system for fighting it, and that Communist China offered the best model. Despite the fact that China is the world's top emitter of carbon dioxide, the country is "doing it right" with regards to fighting "global warming", Figueres said.
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The 1860s were a tumultuous time for the Robinsons. Rachel Gilpin Robinson, wife of Rowland Thomas Robinson, passed away in 1862, shortly after dismissing longtime housekeeper Naomi Griswold from service. Because Rachel and Rowland's daughter, Ann Robinson Minturn, was living far from her family in Waterloo, NY, Rachel's death meant that a large home and farm were left in the hands of an aging father and his two bachelor sons, along with a new, unfamiliar housekeeper and a revolving cast of hired men who sometimes lived on the farm. Not until 1870, when Rowland Evans Robinson, one of Rachel and Rowland's sons, married Anne Stevens of East Montpelier, did the Rokeby House benefit from the attentions of a new matriarch.
If we could peek in on the Robinsons on a morning in, say, early May 1873, we might find Anne Stevens in the cellar kitchen, churning three days' cream into butter, then rinsing it clean of milk and packing it into molds, embossing the surface with the Rokeby name. Naomi works upstairs, hanging the laundry from iron hooks in the ceiling and watching over a sheet of gingerbread as it cooks on the hearth. George Gilpin Robinson, the other son of Rachel and Rowland, is harrowing the back field, and he's having a hell of a time because the oxen are "too fat to work" after their winter respite. Two men hired for the day to tag new lambs are out back, while a third man chops wood in exchange for a pound of butter and four pounds of wheat flour. Rowland Evans is bent over his desk, approaching deadline on a drawing for Field and Stream, but what's really on his mind is the gingerbread, the smell of which is starting to waft into the library.
Rowland Thomas and Rachel Gilpin were devout Quakers and radical abolitionists, and during their lives the dining table was surrounded by their large family as well as fugitive slaves, hired laborers, household help, and a host of travelers and friends. They raised and bred Merino sheep commercially, and grew a variety of food crops such as wheat, buckwheat, oats, and vegetables for family consumption and as payment to their hired help. Later, under sons Rowland Evans and George Gilpin, both the human and Merino sheep populations shrank while the farm focused on dairying and commercial orchard and nursery work. Both brothers pursued professional careers as well; Rowland was a successful artist and writer, while George was active in civic life, serving as Ferrisburgh's town clerk.
Spring was usually the leanest season; the family relied on dried and preserved fruits, pickled vegetables, dried corn, wheat and buckwheat flour, stored winter butter, cellared root crops, and preserved meats. When the maple sap began to run in March or April, it meant the first green vegetables would soon emerge. Calving—with its long–awaited supply of fresh milk and cream for fresh butter—would begin in early April.
May marked a turning point for the Robinsons. Asparagus emerged and gardens finally became workable. Hired workers helped with the sowing of oats and buckwheat, and they chopped wood to restore the depleted stock. On May 17, 1885, Rowland Evans wrote his sister Ann, who operated a Merino sheep and dairy farm in Shoreham, "Our [gardener] has got his early peas in, and most of the beds made, but no cucumbers planted. He has cut the sparrowgrass [asparagus] three times, and wishes you were here to eat some today." Seven years earlier, Rowland's brother George found the first crop of fresh peas notable enough to deserve an entry in his sparsely kept farm journal ("Good ones," he wrote simply). His subdued enthusiasm was warranted—he waited for those peas until June 27.
A springtime absence from the farm often caused Rowland Thomas a great deal of anxiety; he kept in constant contact with his sons to ensure their attention to the long list of duties. "Ann says the peas which Lloyd bought are in the box in the entry cupboard… do not forget the peas and potatoes. Rowl[and Evans] will not forget to uncover and cultivate the grape vines in the new vineyard," Rowland Thomas wrote from Waterloo.
"I feel quite satisfied that none of our joint interests will be neglected in my absence," he adds. The father's directions were reminders to sons who undoubtedly knew their responsibilities and the importance of the proverbial "stitch in time." Rowland Thomas's anxieties reveal the deep connection between a Vermont farmer and his seasonal duties, the discharge of which bore real consequences for his family.


"sorry if I do not answer right away I'm not always online on imetzur"
Midnightfire Hasn't received a gift yet. Be the first to get them one!
no like sea big cities I like mountain small towns and places with few people I love nature, tranquility and privacy, I like exploring woods and uninhabited places.


text:
"Jon Little", "Little's Creatures", "Muppets", "Puppet showplace theatre", "adult classes", "elmo", "puppetry classes"
Monster Mondays are Moving In
Summer 2013 Adult Class
By: Joanna McDonough, Deitch Leadership Intern
We have all heard it, that familiar falsetto voice that can usually be heard talking to a pet goldfish, or a man named Mr. Noodles, or Mr. Noodle's brother, coincidentally also named Mr. Noodles. Some of us were even lucky enough to take part in many giggles with this furry red friend in childhood, when he exclaimed "That tickles!" every time he was hugged. Yes, I am talking about Elmo my favorite Muppet character from Sesame Street and yes, my Tickle Me Elmo still has batteries in it.
Hello! My name is Joanna. I am 18 years old and an intern at the Puppet Showplace Theatre in Brookline, and I am proud to say that like many of you, I love Elmo. Interestingly enough however, until today I did not know anything about the mechanics behind the puppet that resides on Sesame Street.
It is sad to think that despite my knowledge of every song composed by him, I had no idea who the puppeteers who made Elmo come alive were, or who even created the character. As it turns out, the character was created in the 1970s and first performed by Caroll Spinney and Jerry Nelson then later by Kevin Clash. These puppeteers were responsible for Elmo's portrayal, providing his audience with the lifelike movements of the puppet's arms and legs.
How do they do it, you ask?
The techniques used by artists and performers such as Kevin Clash to create believable puppet characters may seem out of reach to master, but there is good news for aspiring performers and Muppet fans alike.
The Puppet Showplace Theatre is bringing back a class due to popular demand called Furry Monsters 101 which will be starting up in July.
'Furry Monsters 101' spring class 2012 show off Little Creature monsters
What happens in the class?
The class, taught by Jonathan Little of Little's Creatures, will focus on the proper manipulation of Muppet-style hand and rod puppets featured on Sesame Street, The Muppet Show, and Avenue Q. Jonathan will teach the class how to make these puppet characters appear as living, breathing beings with their own thoughts, desires, and motivations; some of the basics he will include are breathing, lip-synch, focus, and body positioning.
The sessions for Furry Monsters 101 run July 15 - Aug 5 on Monday nights from 6:30 to 9:00 pm. The registration price by July 1st is $150 and after July 1st it will be $175.
And don't forget PST members save 10% on registration! CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
Even though it is only my third day here at the Puppet Showplace Theatre, I can already tell that the programs this organization has planned for the summer will be great ways to beat the heat and enjoy the arts, for both children and adults. I hope to see you this summer in the theatre!
Newer PostSummer Kickoff Weekend is HERE!
Older PostInt'l Toy Theater Fest at Puppet Showplace: Meet the Artists!


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Q: Is there a way to assign classNames to all  tags in react-google-charts? I need some help regarding GeoChart from react-google-charts.
How can I assign a different id or className in React to all  tags that GeoChart creates?
Or better, how can I change the color of the country selected without changing the color rest of the countries.
What do I mean by that: I have this colors: colorAxis: { colors: ['green', 'blue'] }. I want those colors to remain displayed in all countries but not on the country that was selected, for the selected one I want to have the color red. Is there a way to do that?

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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GOAL!!!! Umar Scores!! Guinea-Bissau 0-1 Nigeria (LIVE UPDATES)
Vaccine nationalism will hinder tourism-Minister
Entertainment/TourismFeatured
Solomon Chung, Ismail Umar, Kebbi
The Nigerian Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has said that the policy of vaccine nationalism and vaccine passports as champion by the developed economies has a huge tendency of affecting the full resumption of global tourism.
The Minister disclosed this on Monday in Kebbi State North West Nigeria during the World Tourism Day celebration 2021, with the theme 'Tourism for Inclusive Growth'.
Mohammed said there was a challenge posed to restarting tourism globally by "vaccine nationalism", which has heightened the inequality and inequity in the global vaccine distribution system.
"It is therefore imperative for the rich countries of the world to retrace their steps and embrace a collective and equitable global strategy for COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing, procurement, and distribution. They must also stop ineffective nationalistic disposition in COVID-19 responses.
"Today, rich countries are able to procure vaccines for their own citizens through direct agreements with pharmaceutical companies; while low and middle income countries are lagging, unable to act as speedily as rich countries in securing the quantity of vaccines they need or unable to afford to pay for any at all.
"Whereas some rich countries are already talking of third booster shots, many low and middle-income countries have not even given one shot to their citizens."
He also raised an observation over the issue of restrictions which are made possible by the use of "vaccine passports", as well as the low level of vaccination in the low and middle income countries due to 'vaccine nationalism'. The Minister said that this policy of vaccine nationalism has seen the rich ones mop up available vaccines, which is capable of thwarting the efforts to restart tourism.
The Minister stated that It is a collective responsibility to ensure that tourism remains a sector of hope, providing opportunities for empowerment and entrepreneurship for people and education.
"I enjoin all stakeholders to place inclusiveness at the centre of their strategies in order to develop a safe, unique and overwhelming experience for visitors".
Furthermore, the Minister said the COVID-19 pandemic has re-emphasized the importance and necessity to develop and promote domestic and regional tourism that is inclusive and caters for the wellbeing of the community, while ensuring smooth cooperation and rewarding experiences for all stakeholders involved.
The COVID-19 pandemic had a colossal social and economic impact on the world, and both developed and developing economies were not spared. Marginalized groups and the most vulnerable have been hit hardest of all.
It is however envisioned that the restart of the sector will facilitate global recovery and growth that will be widely and fairly felt. Member States of the UNWTO are encouraged to focus on certain priorities such as partnerships with key stakeholders and international organizations, as well as engage in advocacy to promote the role of tourism."
In his speech the Secretary General of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation Mr. Zurab Pololikashvili said the human desire to travel and explore is universal, which is why tourism must be open for everyone to enjoy.
Mr. Zurab's speech which was read by Permanent Secretary Ministry of Information and Culture, Dr. Ifeoma Adaora further disclosed that the many social and economic benefits that tourism brings be available to everybody.
"World Tourism Day 2021 highlights the power of 'Tourism for Inclusive Growth'. By celebrating this day, we state our commitment that, as tourism grows; the benefits that come will be felt at every level of our broad and diverse sector, from the biggest airline to the smallest family business.
"Today, we reaffirm our pledge that, as we move forward and work to build a more prosperous and peaceful world through tourism, we will not leave anyone behind.
"The pause in international travel caused by the pandemic has made clear the relevance of tourism to our societies.
"The economic and social impact has been felt far beyond the sector itself. And in many places, the most vulnerable members of society have been hit hardest of all."
The essence of the annual celebration is to foster global awareness of the social, cultural, political and economic value of tourism and the contributions of the sector towards reaching the Sustainable Development Goals.
The event is also considered as a powerful advocacy tool and occasion to mobilize political will and resources, address global problems, celebrate and reinforce achievements at all levels and educate the public on issues of concern.
INFORMATION MINISTERKebbiLai Mohammedtourism
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Port Austin woman could win $2 million on 'The Big Spin'
Alert: Body camera video shows Tyre Nichols being held down, struck by...
Mark Birdsall, Assistant Editor
A Huron County woman is among five people chosen to appear on the Michigan Lottery's "The Big Spin," where she could win up to $2 million.
Michigan Lottery/Courtesy Photo
Amiee Krull, of Port Austin, is guaranteed at least $100,000 after winning The Big Spin Second Chance drawing, along with Billi Thielke of Sand Lake, Greg Dietz of Norton Shores, Judy Arthurs of Macomb and Philip Halladay of Howell.
Each player selected will spin The Big Spin wheel and have a chance to win up to $2 million. All the players who spin the wheel are guaranteed to win at least $100,000. The players will be featured on The Big Spin televised events beginning Feb. 6, shortly after evening lottery drawings.
Five additional players will be selected to appear on The Big Spin televised events. Players may submit non-winning The Big Spin ticket Spin Codes online to be entered in drawings for the opportunity to appear on television with lottery host and former Detroit Piston John Salley.
The final second chance drawing is scheduled to take place March 1.
Each $10 The Big Spin ticket offers players a chance to instantly win prizes ranging from $10 up to $1 million, and the game's players have won nearly $10 million so far. More than $61 million in prizes remain, including three $1 million top prizes, four $10,000 prizes and 125 $1,000 prizes.
Mark Birdsall
Reach Mark on
Mark Birdsall has been the assistant editor of the Huron Daily Tribune since April 2022. Mark was first hired by the Tribune in the summer of 2019 to serve as sports editor, covering high school sports and running the Tribune's annual football contest. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit Huron County and shut down high school sports in March 2020, Mark made a temporary move to news and officially joined the newsroom as a reporter in July 2021.
Prior to arriving at the Tribune, Mark was night desk editor for the Cadillac News, where he also helped out the sports department on busy high school football and basketball nights. He previously worked at the Holland Sentinel and the Greenville Daily News.
He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in print journalism from Grand Valley State University, where he was editor of the student newspaper, The Lanthorn.
A native of Bay City, Mark is an avid fan of the Detroit Red Wings, Detroit Tigers, Michigan State Spartans and the Chicago Cubs. He's also a movie buff and enjoys attending live music events in his spare time.
Mark can be reached by phone at 989-623-3188 or by email at mark.birdsall@hearstnp.com


An Independence Day celebration is one of the most important days of an Indian that we want to celebrate it with pride. Our sincere team has always helped us in end-to-end Independence Celebration planning and monitoring with timely status reports. This hardworking team also helps in selecting the event, venue-type and location that is completely based on customer-base identification. All these events are organized by the industry professionals, keeping the minutest details, provided by the clients. We practice to bring innovation in the client-specified themes and depict it in an utmost manner. We also carry out ideal analysis for return on investment, which has in turn made us the most preferred choice of the customers. These specializations have been key forces behind our exponential growth in the industry. We have a mission to serve the various institutions, offices and colleges by delivering quality Independence Celebration. Our unique quality event management services lies in whole process of pricing, selection of venue, Independence day decoration, creative themes, coordinating transportation, developing planning and ideas or motive for the event, arrangement of speakers, and seating arrangement, cultural program on I day, catering services, event support and the most important security. For this purpose, we are backed by our expert teams who have in depth understanding and years of experience in event management industry, their experience has helped us today to satisfy our client from every angle. We take care every meticulous given by clients and execute their suggestions I the final outlay. We have always follow client centric approach. We are equipped with sound infrastructure set up which includes well structured departments for all the programs. Our company has sound facilities and latest technology which helps in fast delivery of services. Client's proposal, requirements, budget, theme are executed after final outlay.


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Zog Lands his new Live Show in Blackburn with a Crash Bang and Thump
When a much-loved children's book is brought to life on stage, it can mesmerise and captivate audiences.
The new live show "Zog and the Flying Doctors" transforms the Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler's bestseller into something the whole family can enjoy.
Coming to Blackburn's King George's Hall on Sat 7 May & Sun 8 May 2022.
Zog is a super keen student turned air ambulance still lands with a crash bang thump.
Together with his Flying Doctor crew, Princess Pearl and Sir Gadabout, they tend to a sunburnt mermaid, a unicorn with one too many horns and a lion with the flu! However, Pearl's uncle the King has other ideas about whether princesses should be doctors, and she's soon locked up in the castle back in a crown and a silly frilly dress!
With a bit of help from some friends and half a pound of cheese, can Pearl make her uncle better and prove princesses can be doctors too?
Brought to the stage by Freckle Productions (Zog, Stick Man, Tiddler & Other Terrific Tales, Tabby McTat) who bring the creative team behind Zog – Emma Kilbey and Joe Stilgoe – back together for this truly modern take on the classic fairy tale.
King George's Hall Blackburn
Sat 7 May & Sun 8 May 2022 (Two performance each day at 10:30am and 1:30pm)
Tickets go on sale from 25 Feb 2022 at 10:00am from the following link: https://bwdvenues.com/whats-on/zog-and-the-flying-doctors-2022/


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Sweden Country Report
Hong Kong, SAR China
Content provided by
According to IHS Markit's latest forecast update, growth is expected to stand at 2.0% (up from 1.6%) in 2019 and 1.5% in 2020, compared to 2.4% both in 2018 and 2017. Given a notably stronger-than-anticipated real GDP gain in the final quarter of 2018, we raised our 2019 growth projection in the March update. The main driver of growth in 2019–20 is likely to be consumer spending, with households still enjoying ultra-low interest rates, and supportive employment and real wage gains. Nevertheless, the short-term narrative remains unchanged; namely external downside risks, primarily a less assured eurozone outlook, hurting Sweden's export-led economy. Meanwhile, an uncertain domestic political climate has damaged consumer and business sentiment. The policy outlook is uncertain, given the centre-left government's difficult task ahead of reconciling the policy needs of its base and the demands of its newfound centrist partners in parliament. Russian military assertiveness in the Baltic region has the potential to push Sweden, a historically neutral nation, closer to the prospect of joining NATO. However, such a move is contingent on its neighbour, Finland, making similar strides towards NATO membership.
Operational Outlook
Sweden has one of the world's most internationally integrated economies and welcomes foreign investment regardless of which government holds office. The transport and communications infrastructure are of the highest quality. From an international perspective, unit labour costs are comparatively high and labour laws very protective of workers' rights. However, workers are very well educated and relations between employers and trade unions generally accommodative. The public administration is transparent and incidents of corruption are very rare. Corruption is most likely to manifest itself at the local level, where the small environment of politicians and local businesspersons means conflicts of interest are more likely to occur.
On 7 April 2017, a hijacked truck was driven into crowds in central Stockholm, killing four and injuring 15 people. The terrorist attack highlights the continued risk of Islamic State-inspired vehicle-impact attacks. However, the risk of more complex and co-ordinated attacks similar to the November 2015 attacks in Paris is lower than in other Western European countries such as France or the United Kingdom, which are of greater strategic and symbolic significance.
Organised criminal activity is concentrated in Stockholm, Gothenburg, and Malmö. Malmö is a particular hotspot because of its location in southern Sweden, across the Öresund Bridge from the Danish capital, making it a node in arms and drug trafficking routes from continental Europe to Scandinavia. Rivalries between criminal gangs are likely to occasionally escalate into shootouts and IED attacks in all three cities.
War Risks
Sweden recently reintroduced military service and stationed troops on Gotland, the largest island on the Baltic Sea, for the first time in a decade. These measures reflect the deteriorating security situation in the Baltic region, which follows growing Russian military assertiveness since 2014. War risks remain low, but there is a heightened risk of unintended escalation due to Russian aerial and maritime incursions into Swedish territory. Although Swedish membership in NATO remains unlikely in the one-year outlook, the situation could change if Finland, Sweden's historical ally, takes concrete steps towards accession.
Social Stability
In August 2018, up to 200 vehicles were set ablaze by youths in the outskirts of Uppsala, Gothenburg and other cities in western Sweden. The incident was reminiscent of the week-long riots in Stockholm and other cities in May 2013 and February 2017, and demonstrates the potential for unrest among disaffected youth. Triggers for renewed rioting would be instances of police brutality. The suburbs of Stockholm, Gothenburg, and Malmö are most at risk. There is also a risk of violence in connection with neo-Nazi and anti-Nazi demonstrations across the country.
Vaccinations required to enter the country
No vaccinations are required to enter the country.
Routine Vaccinations
Diphtheria-Tetanus-Polio: A booster shot should be administered if necessary (once every ten years).
Other Vaccinations
Tick-Borne Encephalitis: For stays in rural zones and for hiking enthusiasts (for children over the age of one).
For Children: All standard childhood immunizations should be up-to-date. In the case of a long stay, the BCG vaccine is recommended for children over one month and the MMR (measles-mumps-rubella) vaccine for children over nine months.
Last update: April 5, 2019
Natural Risks
Following the weather conditions in case of travelling is essential.
Potential visitors should take note of a few useful points prior to departure: vehicles are required to be fitted with snow tires from November 1 until April 30. The Swedish motorway is in excellent state.
The driving is on the right side of the road. Due to the important number of accidents linked to wild animals, it is advised to be very careful when driving outside of cities. There is no tolerance towards driving under the influence of alcohol. Drivers are charged a toll when entering or leaving Stockholm between 06:30 and 18:30 from Monday to Friday. An efficient ferry services operate between Sweden and neighboring countries on the Baltic Sea.
It should be noted that public transit systems are reliable and punctual. Modern trains offer travel throughout the country. In this calm country, social movement (e.g. a trade union strike that took place in June 2014 disrupting rail travel within Sweden and between Sweden and Denmark) or inevitable weather conditions during winter could impact on the travelers' comfort. Air and rail traffic often suffer from disruptions during the winter.
Taking a taxi, especially independent taxis or small companies, can be very expensive. It is advised to check the posted prices before leaving, as they can be exorbitant for numerous foreign travelers.
Despite its very northerly geographic position, Sweden enjoys a relatively temperate climate which varies by region. Summers can be very hot but become shorter and shorter as you head north. Winters can be very cold, particularly in the north. North of the Arctic Circle daylight is almost constant between mid-May and mid-June.
Police: 112
Fire Dept.: 112
Voltage: 230 V ~ 50 Hz
IHS Markit is a leading source of information, insights and analytics. With IHS Markit's Foresight Security Planning Service, they offer forward-looking risk assessments of 211 countries with location-specific details, as well as access to our expert analysts.
News Alerts in Sweden
Sweden: Protest opposing Nobel Peace Prize winner planned in Stockholm December 10
TIMEFRAME: from 12/10/2019, 12:00 AM until 12/10/2019, 11:59 PM (Europe/Stockholm).
COUNTRY/REGION: Stockholm
Sweden: Rail disruptions between Stockholm and Uppsala November 6
TIMEFRAME: from 11/6/2019, 12:00 AM until 11/7/2019, 11:59 PM (Europe/Stockholm).
COUNTRY/REGION: Stockholm, Uppsala, Stockholm ...
21 Oct 09:25 AM UTC
Sweden: Rail works delayed in Stockholm until October 22 /update 1
Travel Security Services
Are your employees safe while they travel? Our Travel Security Services allow you to look after your employees on business trips or foreign assignments. Made up of three parts that work together — information, monitoring and protection — this program covers all aspects of travel security so you'll know your employees are safe, wherever they are on the planet.
Services Available for Sweden


into perspectival vision that isn't easy to overcome. The rest of the world and even the nuances of long-held identities elsewhere seem to recede, to fade into irrelevance somehow in this city that is such a universe unto itself.
Often it is one thing and one thing only, the sensuous faculties and the fleeting impressions that they leave, that can carry one back to places, times, and aspirations long forgotten.
A little gust of air, just a little one through the kitchen window, has restored to me autumn and lawns and leaves and pumpkins and large, fogging windows overlooking bucolic suburbias, along with a particular autumn smell—the smell of time—that doesn't exist in New York City, or that I have not, at the very least, thus far detected here.
Somewhere beneath it all there still lurks a small cache of insouciant dreams in a particularly lush shade of dewey green carrying with it hints of lawn clippings and browning leaves, where traffic can't quite be heard but red paint on thick siding fills one's field of vision.
No, I was never a farmer, nor a rural boy, but I did spend my formative decades in a place with rolling hills, forests of aspen and spruce, buoyant, twelve-thousand-foot mountain peaks, and houses able to "nestle" into foliage and obscurity, rather than into townhouse splints.


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Scots business leaders target USA for first in-person trade missions since pandemic began
in Business News, Scotland
Diana Peralta, international trade consultant and Heather MacLaurin, Exec Assistant, ICC
LEADERS from some of the country's most exciting businesses will travel to the USA this year for the first in-person trade missions from Scotland since the Covid-19 pandemic began.
Around 25 SMEs from across the country are expected to join International Trade Partnership (ITP) missions to Miami and New York – led by Inverclyde Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and Forth Valley Chamber of Commerce (FVCC) – aimed at forging new trade links in key markets including tech, sport and leisure, food and drink and the creative industries.
The Scottish Government-backed ITP mission links smaller and emerging Scottish businesses with commercial contacts overseas – particularly in the wake of Brexit – and already this year more than 20 firms have benefited from successful virtual trade missions to Colombia and Italy.
The virtual Colombia mission, which was the ITP's first trade mission to South America backed by the Scottish Government, involved 16 businesses who took part in more than 60 meetings with key contacts set up by the ITP. Some have already forged working relationships with contacts in Colombia, seen as a gateway to the lucrative Latin American and the Caribbean market (LATAC).
The return of in-person missions is particularly exciting for organisers, with a series of networking events and meetings in the pipeline, as well as involvement in the return of the world-famous Tartan Day in New York in April.
One business already making waves in the USA is video interview platform Willo, a Glasgow founded video interview platform that supports hundreds of clients around the world with recruitment.
Willo has been working with US clients for 15 months, including Doosan, Boy Scouts of America, and Sunbelt Tools. Founder Euan Cameron says it's an exciting and forward-thinking market for any tech business, and stressed there's no substitute for word of mouth when it comes to gaining a foothold.
Euan, who plans to join the USA mission, said: "The US market is one of the most forward-thinking when it comes to HR and workplace tech. They deeply appreciate that great businesses need great tools.
"Our first US customer actually found us by chance, once we started dealing with them we quickly realised how open they were to working with us on new features and enhancements and word spread after that.
"Scottish businesses can unlock a market of forward-thinking, highly tech-savvy, decision-makers who are willing to pay for top quality products, backed by top customer service. We find that of all the markets we operate in, the US customers are the fairest negotiators as they truly appreciate the value that they are getting."
Financial services are a key focus for the trade missions, and another business already established in Miami is Edinburgh-based financial services firm Abrdn. The firm views the region as an important financial market opening up domestic and overseas opportunities in key areas including Latin America.
Menno de Vreeze, Head of Business Development International Wealth Management Americas at Abrdn, said: "South Florida is one of the fastest growing cross border markets for overseas clients given its approximate position near Latin America and a sophistication of the marketplace.
"For Scottish financial businesses, Florida offers access to a vast set of opportunities, which include the US domestic wealth market, with a large increase of wealth and high net-worth individuals, companies moving to Florida and international clients booking their assets in Florida for diversification benefits. Furthermore we observe a large focus of Florida on Fintech, and many companies moving to Florida which will create important opportunities in the future for financial companies.
"We think it is important to have a local presence in Florida in order to be close to the decision makers and to maximise the opportunity set the United States represents."
The USA ventures mark the first time two Scottish Chambers of Commerce have collaborated on trade missions to the USA , and they hope the partnership approach will help delegates gain even more from the trip.
Lynn Blaikie, president of Forth Valley Chamber of Commerce, said: "The USA is known as a land of opportunity, but you need to know where to start, and that's what we want Scottish businesses to get from this exciting ITP trade mission to Miami and New York City. We are particularly pleased to be working with our colleagues at Inverclyde Chamber of Commerce on a dual mission, the first of its kind, that will benefit business in Scotland."
Mark Spragg, president of Inverclyde Chamber of Commerce, said: "The trade mission to Miami is the perfect evolution of our successful activities in Italy and Colombia, and we hope more of Scotland's most exciting businesses will join us in person as we seek to make more important connections across the Atlantic."
Diana Peralta, of DP Global Ltd, which helps facilitate the ITP trade missions, said: "The trade missions are aimed at businesses that would like to trade internationally but don't know where to start. We act as a business development tool to help them secure commercial contacts and meet with at least two qualified leads in that market. We do the background work to ensure they're suitable and interested in your product/service in advance."
Ian Houston, President of Scottish Business Network Americas and also a GlobalScot, said: "The opportunities for Scottish businesses in the USA are huge, and those who take the initiative and proactively forge links through initiatives such as the ITP trade missions will be able to capitalise on them.
"Scottish Business Network in the Americas is very excited to be working on these Trade Missions, and we look forward to partnering with our many friends to see more successful business and human linkages between Scotland and the United States."
The Miami mission, led by Inverclyde Chamber of Commerce, takes place on March 29-31 this year. The New York Mission, led by Forth Valley Chamber of Commerce, runs from April 6-8.
To find out more about the ITP Trade Missions to New York and Miami, visit usatrademission.scot
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