will not enough for UPnP controller application.
miss the chance to use the optional command.
general-purpose web apps to create a good user experience.
> I support what Igarashi-san says about device type.
support searching by "device type" in the following email. Any comments ?
misleading about "device type" and "service type" due to its names.
would be appreciated if other UPnP experts support what I explain above..
> We are reviewing Network Service Discovery API w/ the simple prototype.
functions into Network Service Discovery APIs.
the same device to control the rendering functions.
ease a controller to get these two services from the device.
the Network Discovery API, shouldn't it?
> We suppose all those are "service" in the sense of general term.
written in the device description.
Next message: Frederick.Hirsch@nokia.com: "Re: Device API organization - request for use cases/rationale"
Previous message: Rick Waldron: "Re: [ambient light] Updated ED as per LC comments"
In reply to: Sato, Naoyuki (TDG): "RE: [Network Service Discovery API] device type search"


text:
Michael C. Hall to Play JFK In Season 2 of Netflix's 'The Crown'
After a pretty big absence, Michael C. Hall will be back on television -- well, this time on Netflix. And for a huge role actually, as he will be playing JFK when "The Crown" returns to Netflix for its second season.
Hall will be joined by "Quarry" star Jodi Balfour as Jackie Kennedy. Season 2 of the English drama, which doesn't yet have a premiere date, will segue into the 1960s, as Queen Elizabeth II loses her third prime minister to scandal amidst the illegal use of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in Egypt.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Q: VS2013 Scaffolding Error when constructing view I'm getting a curious error when attempting to generate a view via the 'Add View' dialog.  Simply leaving the dialog as is (ie creating view 'View') and hitting 'Add' yields the following error dialog:

Error:  There was an error running the selected code generator:  'The Templates/PackageVersions5.0.1xml file is missing from the installed template folder.'

Which I'm afraid means little to me.  I've googled the xml file to no avail.
Not really sure where to go now - I'm unable to add views to my project via scaffolding (though I can of course just by 'adding a new item' and building it myself).
How can I track down the source of this error?

A: Posting here because I ran into the same "file is missing" issue with Visual Studio 2019 and PackageVersions5.2.6.xml.  This was one of the only pages I could find related to this scaffolding issue so I suspect others will find their way here too.
I found that upgrading the "Microsoft.AspNet.Mvc" package via NuGet to 5.2.7 was not sufficient to fix the problem. I also had to upgrade "Microsoft.AspNet.WebApi" and its related packages to 5.2.7. The Add View option started working again afterward.

A: Just make sure you have same version of MVC nugget in all projects, if you only have one project then upgrade/downgrade MVC to different version then revert back to the version you require and issue will get fixed.
I just changed version from 5.2.3 back to 5.2.2 and then reverted back to 5.2.3 and all worked. It appears some file got messed up or and then was restored by this.

A: I got same issue while using visual studio 2019 community edition, where I am able to create view using visual studio 2017.
After reading answers here, I tried upgrading Microsoft.AspNet.Mvc package, and it works for me.

A: I'm afraid the rather unsatisfactory solution I arrived at was to create a clean project and import the project elements in, recreating the project from scratch.
I assume that some deep-configuration had become corrupted and I was unable to work out how to fix it.

A: I ran into the same problem when using a project from VS2013 in VS2015. In my case it was PackageVersions5.1.3.xml that was missing. 5.1.3 seems to be the version of MVC this project was using. I updated MVC to the latest (currently 5.2.3) and this solved the issue.
The XML file should exist in C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 14.0\Common7\IDE\Extensions\Microsoft\Web\Mvc\Scaffolding\Templates\

A: I had the same issue. The problem started after installing DevExpress to project. I found that DevExpress installation creates some DevExpress folders in D:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\2017\Enterprise\Common7\IDE\Extensions but all necessary files for scaffolding lived in D:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\2017\Professional\Common7\IDE\Extensions. I copied the content of extension folder from vs professional to enterprise restart Visual Studio and Scaffolding works again.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Most internet users decide within three seconds whether they stay on a site or click through. The first impression is vital. The site should express the identity of the organization at a glance.
More than anything the internet is visual medium. Strangefruit.nl has its roots in the visual arts and we are highly able to turn ideas into a powerful visual concept.
Our design was award winning.
We design for both SMEs and large organizations. Our web design is always custom. The most current insights are applied.
We closely follow the digital trends. Today web design is no longer about good design ideas alone (color, font). Designers tend to look at the use of space on the monitor field, dimensions of formatting elements and image editing.
The site should show well on a standard monitor. But today more and more people use tablets and smartphones. With responsive design the site is made suitable for these platforms too.


text:
Inspires amazement and awe in everyone. La Serenissima: " ..he who has heard of its glory will not rest until he has seen it; he who has seen it will not rest until he has seen it again.." so said a Doge in 1570! Founded in 811 and for centuries the heart of trade and riches. More than 400 bridges and 200 canals turns a visit into a breathtaking experience. From the Basilica of San Marco, Palazzo Ducale, the Grand Canal, Galleria Accademia, Scuola di San Rocca, Santa Maria Gloriosa-the Franciscan Gothic church...and so much more. And, of course, the magical Teatro La Fenice which is staging an outstanding programme of opera in 2007.
The Veneto, and its most famous city, Venice, lie in the Po Valley between the Adriatic Sea and the Dolomites. It is a region rich in history and culture, from the Palladian architecture of cities like Vicenza to Giotto's beautiful frescoes in Padua's Cappella degli Scrovegni. ...Show All
Programme Cortile di Palazzo Ducale | Doge's Palace Courtyard | Gran Teatro La Fenice | Teatro Malibran
There are no performances at this venue for your chosen period.
La traviata	(Verdi)
2019 > October 24 | 25 | 26 | 27m | 29 | 30 | 31 November 02 | 03m
Revival of Robert Carsen's Production
Sesto Quatrini
Francesca Sassu, Lucca Grassi, Matteo Lippi
approx. 2h
Surtitles: in English
Cortile di Palazzo Ducale
Doge's Palace Courtyard
Gran Teatro La Fenice
View Venice Hotels
Hotel Saturnia e International
Four star Hotel Saturnia was converted from a 14th-century palace and has been under the management of the same family since 1908. Located in the heart of Venice, near La Fenice theatre [5 minutes walk], the Rialto bridge and the Via XXII Marzo. Perfect base from which to explore La Serenissima! Marvellous service.


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Stephenson Harwood wins 'Corporate Team of the Year' and 'Private Client Team of the Year' at Legal Business Awards
Law firm Stephenson Harwood LLP has won 'Corporate Team of the Year' and 'Private Client Team of the Year' at the Legal Business Awards 2018.
The awards, presented at a ceremony in London on Wednesday 18 April, celebrate outstanding work across the legal profession.
The 'Corporate Team of the Year' award was given in recognition of the team's work advising European powered access market leader Lavendon Group PLC on its contested takeover, ultimately won by French group Loxam. The runner-up for the award was Slaughter & May and other nominees included Freshfields, Skadden Arps and Simpson Thacher. The Stephenson Harwood team services an international client base and provides a range of expertise that includes public and private mergers and acquisitions, IPOs and capital markets, joint ventures, private equity and venture capital.
The private wealth team had a year of unprecedented growth in 2016/17, in revenues as well as headcount. It was awarded 'Private Client Team of the Year' in recognition of this, as well as for its impressive work for a number of foreign family offices and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, including advising on novel will and trust structures for an ultra-high net worth individual's worldwide multi-billion dollar estate. The runner-up for the award was Irwin Mitchell and other nominees included Baker McKenzie, Charles Russell Speechlys, Harbottle & Lewis and Macfarlanes. Our international private wealth team offers clients a wide range of services, including tax planning, wealth structuring and asset protection.
Rose Russell
Communications & PR Executive
Email Rose


C&B Systems design supply and install washroom, changing room and cloakroom products to Schools, Hospitals, Airports, etc. C&B Systems have a variety of lockers and benches to meet your requirements. Glass cubicles & lockers, vanity units, etc.


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Joelle Searle – Rolling up her sleeves
by Rotary Club Hout Bay | Aug 9, 2017 | Community Services, News | 0 comments
Action lady
From day one, since her induction, new Rotary Hout Bay Club president Joelle Searle has been hard at work bringing "the personal touch" into community relationships. Each club in Rotary world wide, of which there are 33,000, has seven avenues of service and one of the most important is known simply as "Community Services".
In this case Joelle has appointed "Butch" Liebenberg, a long serving Rotary Hout Bay member, to lead her team. Joelle, being a "hands on" lady, works closely with each of the seven service leaders in the club.
Joelle has been associated with the Hout Bay community for years and has a long history as an ardent deep sea angler, estate agent and kind and gentle friend to many in the valley. She succeeded Hans Kuhn as president of Rotary Hout Bay and her team also includes Alison Rice as Secretary and Denise Hopkins as Treasurer.
Icy cold
Within a few days of her induction as this year's Hout Bay Rotary Club president, Joelle was "out there" organizing blankets for the poor during a freezing drop in temperatures which had invaded the entire Peninsula. The cold spell was particularly troubling for the Hout Bay township settlement area called Imizamo Yethu, known to locals as "IY", where some 30,000 people currently reside mostly in temporary shelters and shacks.
To add more problems to the housing crisis, some 4,000 of these IY residents have had to be housed in temporary tin shacks nearby as a result of terrible fires in the area razing hundreds of homes.
For weeks earlier, Rotarian Peter Dutton of Rotary Hout Bay and his wife Bernadette had been working with dozens of others in Hout Bay, Hout Bay NGOs and Hout Bay businesses supplying clothing, kitchen gear, bedding and anything that would help the fire survivors who had absolutely nothing left.
Not a saucepan to heat water, no clothing and not even a bed to sleep. Fire is a terrible thing. But the Hout Bay community from all areas in the valley bonded as one and the entire community came together to bring food and clothing for the needy, many of whom who had lost everything. It was a great human story of community friendship reported widely in both the international and local media.
But then a further diasastrous turn of events took place. A "cold front" arrived in Hout Bay with snow in the nearby mountains. In the rush in the weeks before to supply temporary shelter and a roof over the heads of the 4,000 homeless from the fires, proper electricity supply to each shelter had not been a possibility and water borne sewerage facilities out of the question. With little in the way of service facilities until any new housing was ready, the "big freeze" turned out to be times of "big trouble" with unrest and street confrontation.
When this died down and peace returned to Hout Bay the cruel results were still evident. No electricity, no warmth in the temporay shelter area and therefore illness as well. As if all of this was not bad enough, then the heavens opened and the rain came pouring down. Mothers with children were living in desperate conditions, and still are.
Whose fault was the unrest? Does it matter? All that Rotary knows is that under these circumstances what is needed is warmth and kindness. There's nothing like a simple blanket as a wrap-around when you have nothing – just to keep warm and wait for daybreak, in the hope that tomorrow is better.
Leadership by example
Rotary does not interest itself in the events surrounding the violence but just follows its own creed of helping where it can in cases of human suffering. In the cold and confusion of an event such as this there are always the "little ones", the ordinary folk, the non-players who are left to fend for themselves. The work goes on and Rotary Club of Hout Bay is proud that the club, led by our new president Joelle, responded so timeously.
Joelle Searle said in her first note to all members of the club, "As I take my first tentative steps into my year of presidency, I know that I will make it thanks to a very competent club board as well as all Rotary Hout Bay club members, our District 9350 leaders and the Rotary fellowship worldwide. During the coming year we must look at more ways to combat these terrible fires and the destruction they cause amongst the very poor."
Rotary Club of Hout Bay wishes to thank all members of Rotary Club of Kirstenbosch, a nearby Rotary club in Cape Town who had earlier come to the assistance of the fire victims with this wonderful supply of the blankets pictured. It is was our priviledge to be able to distribute these to a specific needy target section of the community, instead of just a usual hand out.
Thank you Kirstenbosch Rotary and a warm thank you from President Joelle, plus the thanks of the many of the less priviledged in Hout Bay. Rotary indeed can make a difference.
bay-breezes-19-july-1
← Rotary Hout Bay has new president Bay Breezes (catchup) 170 - 27 Aug →
Bay Breezes
Bay Breezes 176 Jan/Feb 2018
Bay Breezes – issue 175 Xmas edition


Dakarah Beauty Lash Boutique provides world class luxury beauty enhancement services. We specialize in all things beauty from the neck up and offer a variety of top quality beauty care products. Making beauty simple, and helping women feel their best even when life is hectic is our main priority.
At Dakarah we offer a wide range of eyelash and eyebrow services, from eyelash extensions to microblading, our skilled technicians are able to offer you their expertise. At Dakarah we use only the highest quality of eyelashes and eyebrow products and ensure thorough sterilization of all equipment used. Your satisfaction is our guarantee.


text:
I bet that many wondered what would happen to Nightwish when their front woman, biggest asset and spokeswoman, lead vocalist Tarja Turunen was fired / left band some five years ago. To many thought Tarja WAS Nightwish and a lot of people wouldn't put a dime on the band surviving that. But what did happen was that Tarja released two awful records that more or less bombed and Nightwish replaced her with Swedish singer Anette Olzon and released their best and most successful album to date, the great Dark Passion Play.
That happened in 2008. We now write 2012 and second album "Imaginaerum", a grandiose piece of work that is not only an album, but that will also be a movie, in which all of the members will play a small part. Delusions of grandeur, anybody? Time will tell. Last time, Nightwish wanted to secure the following they had built up through the years and therefore the last album had all the usual elements and also the "hittier" kind of songs. This time around, though, they have taken chances and recorded an album that is not that direct and the pop hits for radio aren't anywhere to be found.
The first song on the album is an intro called "Taikatilvi" and is sung in Finish, a brave move, as Finish isn't the best language in the world to sing in! "Storytime" follows,the first single and yes, it is brilliant. It sounds like a mix between old Nightwish and ABBA and it's very catchy and it should be a hit. "Ghost River" is great. Heavy, angry, yet melodic and catchy and mixes both male and female vocals. In "Slow, Love, Slow" they give us a jazz ballad. It shouldn't really work, but does so surprisingly well. You can actually picture Olzon in a smokey night club, sitting at a grand piano in an evening gown singing this tune.
They bring back the celtic sound of "The Islander" from their previous CD on "I Want My Tears Back". It's a great song that combines catchy melodies with heaviness. "Scaretale" is another killer which sounds like a horror musical and somehow I'm thinking of a Dickens story here. "Arabesque" is an Arabian sounding instrumental, quite beautiful, but somehow I can't grasp it and it feels like a throwaway.
If you're into Blackmore's Night then the next ballad is for you. "Turn Loose The Mermaids" could very well fit into a record with Ritchie Blackmore's duo. "Song Of Myself" is a 13 minute big, pompous, symphonic and heavy number, that musically isn't a far cry from Dimmu Borgir's catchier stuff of today. It's a great song, however the ending of the song is spoken word and tells a long story which is a bit of an overkill. I'm not sure that is called for. Write down the story in the booklet instead. The title track that ends the album is, unfortunately a bit too pretentious. It's a long, instrumental, symphonic piece that, again, is quite beautiful, but does nothing for me at all.
All in all, Nightwish has made a great second album with their latest singer. Anette is a great singer, not at all annoying like Tarja was and I prefer Anette over Tarja 24/7. Also her English has improved a lot since the last album. Nightwish's Anette fronted albums are easily their best of their career and even though this album isn't as hitty as the previous one, it is a bit of a grower. It has grown on me and I believe this is their best album so far.
01. Taikatalvi
02. Storytime
03. Ghost River
04. Slow, Love, Slow
05. I Want My Tears Back
06. Scaretale
07. Arabesque
08. Turn Loose The Mermaids
09. Rest Calm
10. The Crow, The Owl And The Dove
11. Last Ride Of The Day
12. Song Of Myself
13. Imaginaerum


WPC Frankie is interviewing Amber Leigh. She suspects Amber Leigh is one of villains they have been searching for and warns Amber that unless she comes clean, she's looking at 5 years. Amber is desperate to escape however and when Frankie's back is turned, Amber seizes her moment.


For me, fresh snow is magical, it's still a vibrant white and is just like out of a dream. So a few weeks back when we had that oh so lovely blizzard I knew adding just a touch of sparkle would make it even more magical. It's kind of perfect, no?
Sequins make everyday better:-) You look so pretty! Hope you are having a wonderful day!
That skirt is fabulous. I really like how you mixed it with the black and white - really makes it pop.
What girl doesn't love a little sparkle?
I have to admit, after Christmas, I am usually totally over the snow. But our winter has been so dry and snow-less that I don't mind the snow right now. I love this skirt! So pretty!
I'm actually enjoying the fact we haven't got snow yet this year.
Sequins are the best way to sparkle up a white snowy day! Love how you make it totally appropriate for the snow.
That skirt is so cool and pretty and your hair and your legs are so stunning. Wow!
I love the little bit of added sparkle to the otherwise winterized outfit! Perfection!


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Students in Mike Klein's Leadership for Social Justice course presented to the Metropolitan Council.
Story Professional Notes
Leadership for Social Justice Students Present to Metropolitan Council
Posted on January 11, 2023 Updated January 24, 2023 By The Newsroom
Students in Mike Klein's Leadership for Social Justice course presented to the Metropolitan Council in December on their consultation about best practices in community engagement. Students identified best practices in community engagement, created a historical and community profile of the neighborhood proximal to the Metro Plant, collected stories from neighboring communities, and synthesized their work into recommendations for sustained community engagement initiatives.
Students gave an online presentation of their work attended by 45 employees of the Metropolitan Council. In addition to specific recommendations, the overall takeaway was that transactional and one-size-fits-all approaches to engagement do not work. Rather, effective outreach and engagement reckons with historical and ongoing harm, acknowledges power dynamics, meets the community where they are, considers community demographics, uses multiple, culturally relevant approaches, and seeks to build ongoing relationships that are beneficial to the organization and the community.
Leadership for Social Justice students presented to the Metropolitan Council. (Mike Klein/University of St. Thomas)
"The Metropolitan Council has had a long-standing, successful with the Sustainable Communities Partnership at the University of St. Thomas for many years. Projects benefit students because they are applied to real-life challenges, but projects also benefit our region because they increase capacity and innovation in our important policy and technical resources work," Metropolitan Council Community Development Planning Analyst Eric Wojchik said.
"The project with Professor Klein's course was especially valuable because embedding environmental justice principles within a large, multifaceted organization can be slow, messy, and fraught," Wojchik added. "Working with this course helped our organization see the benefits of embedding environmental justice principles within our work because students came to the issue with fresh insight, poise, conviction, and urgency. Their recommendations resonated with our leadership because of the scholarship and nuance in their approach. We truly believe that this project helped us move the needle and demonstrate the need for organizational change."
This consultation is part of a series of collaborations between the Metropolitan Council and the University of St. Thomas' Sustainable Communities Partnership directed by Maria Dahmus. This partnership allows students to apply their studies and research to real-world challenges and projects. The foundational research done by St. Thomas undergraduate students provides valuable insights that inform and elevate the work of the Metropolitan Council.
Sustainable Communities Partnership Inspires University-City Collaboration for Resiliency
Sharing Mississippi River Stories Through Art
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Professor Mahmoud Kabalan Receives NSF CAREER Award for Microgrid Research
Urban Art Mapping Receives NEA Grant for BLM Murals Research
Action Plan to Combat Racism


Is Devialet's Phantom Really the Best Wireless Speaker?
At Rate Your Sound, our best wireless speakers reviews only happen because of the savvy characters behind the scenes who have years of music making and audio hardware expertise. These are the people who scrunch the specs, inspect all the bits and bobs of hardware, and review the music software associated with these wireless music systems. Their assignment is to give you a real-world take living with these wireless hi-fi music systems; along with how to get the most out of your high-tech audio investment.
Our elite group of writers is composed of a stylish handful of hard-core musicians, music critics, and audio engineers leading other lives while writing for us. In addition to their contributions here, these individuals are in music publishing, music software, and one is a bona-fide composer.
This Rate Your sound team promises to avoid reviewing every average-fi speaker system that shows up. Not everyone has money to burn so we will also never ignore good value in search of a the best luxury wireless stereo systems. That said, we will go to extremes to seek out the most unique and finest luxury wireless audio systems for todays modern home. Our Top 20 Wireless Audio Systems reviews will include: all-in-one music systems for the tabletop, desktop speakers for the office, the living room, and your multiroom needs.
There are 50 beautiful images on our Devialet Photo Album Facebook page of Phantom's in a home setting.
We promise to tell you when one of these high-tech products are a pleasure to live with or more likely would be sent back to the store for a refund. We will work tirelessly at filtering out the average to only review the most exceptional wireless audio speaker systems under a $1000 dollars to $10,000 dollars and above.
Gold Phantom: We asked Bunny Brunhilde our International audio reviewer at large and musik/drama critic to ponder the Gold Phantom by Devialet. Bunny is a collector of all things shiny and we had a feeling she would would find this rebellious and provocative gear from Devialet most interesting to review. Bunny is also rigorous about detail and we wanted her critical eye cast over this hyper-priced but alluring wireless music system.
With everything we know about the French here at RYS we are more than a bit skeptical about that statement.
Inside Phantom: Open the Pod door Hal!
What's inside the hermetically sealed pod is a cast aluminum core containing four custom loudspeakers. The story goes that prototypes were fitted with the most robust commercial loudspeakers available and they all failed and blew up into tiny pieces!
To solve that little problem Devialet then cast the core structures from Aluminum alloy used in the making of welded nuclear tanks. Devialet loudspeaker are also designed using the highest grade Titanium for the tweeters helping achieve the spectacular performance with the high frequencies.
Devialet tells us, the Phantom's ideal sphere shape and the four speaker architecture combination create a convincing omni-directional sound at different listening angles helping a single Phantom to sound more open and room-filling in mono.
The amplifiers are a unique Class A configuration for high quality sound in combination with a Class D Amplifiers for compactness. As a duo, they produce 4500 Watts of D for Digital power. Simon Egg our engineer piped in saying, it's pioneering work merging these types of amplifiers and the musical sounds are spectacular coming from such a small device.
Phantom's Pure White (RAL 9016) ABS case is manufactured from lined Kevlar soundproof acoustic sheets making the Phantom literally bulletproof with military grade specs. Inside the cool running pod the exotic build quality continues with no wires anywhere to be seen.
With every single connection managed by circuit boards and other components, the unit is as electrically efficient as it is compact. Finishing things off, the pod has no physical controls other than a reset button that can be felt but not and the power cable that hangs out of the back.
For our Apple fans the company now has a working relationship with Devialet. The CEO said, working with Apple was a dream of Devialet since it's conception. Long term we'd only be guessing as to the relationship but today the plan is Apple stores will help deploy the Phantom's around the world with products similar to Apple in quality and re-invention.
Does Apple give a boost to the legitimacy of Devialet? Bunny Brunhilde thinks Apple will buy the company and its patents. She's concluded, if it looks like an Apple product, costs like an Apple product, then it must actually be an Apple product!
The Phantom streams Apple Music, Spotify, TIDAL and more. It plays music wirelessly from your iOS and Android device, laptop. With the Toslink Optical input you'll also be able to connect your turntable, CD player, TV or video game console.
Is Phantom Brilliant or Extravagant?
A speaker is the heart of any music system. Devialet's speaker design and its 'one source point architecture' is arguably a landmark innovation pioneered by another great company, KEF with its Uni-Q 'point source' driver array which has been in development for over 20 years.
This type of musical speaker design however it's branded by Devialet, KEF and others, are superior to most of the conventional speakers achieving a level of sound quality over a broad area and the whole audio range. Bunny our very own golden ears is all about 'point source' speakers, having spent time with KEF LS50 and KEF X Series speakers which we also review.
Phantom Gold's two 'one source point' drivers has a high performance Titanium tweeter with high frequency resolution up to 27kHz matched with two omnidirectional bass drivers. These two bass drivers will make themselves know as they expand and compress when you fire the system up ready to flex their bass muscles. The four drivers will produce 108db of rock concert sound and Devialet's low-frequency subwoofer voodoo takes the bass to a notable 14Hz. Simon Egg our engineer mumbles, this kind of performance has to be looked into.. Simon pondered, I'm not sure you can hear 14Hz, but you'll feel it.
Now certainly a single Phantom Gold will confidently take you straight to eleven and blow you out of your chair. But you will need a stereo Duo of Phantom's to enlighten you and justify the Devialet claim of sounding as good as a $50,000 stereo system. Everyone here agrees the roughly $5,000 two speaker Dou Phantom system certainly looks the part to take on a traditional wired system.
We heard a pair of Phantom's late one night in Chicago because a friend added a pair to his big league home theater room. We did two hours of listening to music and covered genres with a collection of modern and older music with varying recording qualities. Like all good point-source speakers to get the most out of what the speaker is capable of sitting in the sweet-spot is always helpful.
We found the Duo Phantom's sound was real, spacious and utterly convincing with some of our favorite recordings. The bass and midrange doesn't overpower matters and is integrated with the pin-point imaging of the tweeter. The soundstage was as larger than the speakers with space around the vocals and instruments. It also was no surprise the Phantom's were truly distortion free at frighteningly high volume levels.
A pair of Phantom's can be for much more than just music so Bunny checked out some Blu-Ray movies and the Xbox One games. She loved the thunderous power the speakers displayed and felt an apartment living room with one or two Phantom's would be an excellent companion for movies and your game console.
We've all concluded the Duo Phantom's in stereo reach that level of scary good sound at both concert listening levels or normal listening levels. You'll find nothing sounds bad or artificial and even average sounding recordings still sound big and warm with pleasurable sonics. It is a minimalist sound system with big speaker sound for audiophiles, music lovers, film buffs and gamers that are critical about their sound.
This guy is our vinyl loving, part-time audiophile and composer whose time with the Phantom system wasn't all good. Buzz only just got his first smartphone so technology is not really his thing. The Phantom lacked buttons, knobs or VU meters and he didn't care about streaming from a smartphone. He was comforted to learn that it was easy to hook-up a turntable or CD player and imagined he might like that kind of system.
He's a critical listener who like things all things mellow and was amazed how subtle sounding the Phantom's could be with his favorite folk and country music tracks. For rock music the more forward high end and prodigious mid-bass was striking the right notes for him.
Buzz said, these two speakers compared well to his 2.1 home stereo rig of similarly sized KEF LS50 speakers and a Velodyne subwoofer.
Video of Devialet Phantom Review! Best Speaker in the World?
"Quality and Amplitude" is Bunny's thoughts about the Phantom.. She told us it reminded her of her favorite possession, an immaculate but pre-loved baby grand piano with lots of amplitude... How she affords it we just don't know, but neither should we speculate!
Bunny gushed about the Devialet while having just one single concern. She loved everything and thought that the system was perfectly marvelous in almost every way, but she thinks the price is outrageous to achieve a stereo result.
For Bunny, The Remote, Tree, Gecko and Cocoon are made in France and that's enough to want it - The Tree, Gecko, and Treepod are Divialet's custom made speaker stands are for our audiophiles.
Bunny loved that Devialet re-imagines doing something in a whole new way with its one-piece music system. She said, those ready to go completely bonkers, a duo of Phantom's really will take you to a sonic eleven. Lastly, if you have a big old stereo you'd like to put in storage or a Sonos system that you'd consider upgrading and have some extra lettuce you'd regret not giving a Duo of Phantom's a place in your home.
Bunny is many things, including our golden eared reviewer and she was knocked-out by the sound of stereo pair of Phantom's but wishes they were more affordable. She likes her music orchestral-hall loud. She felt the Phantom's did a proper job on voice and instruments for the most demanding opera and classical music from her collection. She's pondering one Phantom to place for on top of her baby grand. As far as accessories go Bunny would put the soon- to- be available Cocoon first on her list.
Because of the sound quality and how easy it was to connect with her 128GB iPhone loaded with music, Bunny wanted to continue her love affair with the Phantom.
Bunny's Phantom's Fun To Be With Rating: 9/10 Carrots - Bunny Affordability Rating: 3/10 Carrots - Bunnies don't have much money!
Bunny's been relocating across countries because she is an international type of girl and at the moment her music gear consists of: The amazing sounding PSB M4U noise canceling headphones, MacBook Air, iPhone, and AudioQuest's DragonFly USB DAC/Headphone Amplifier. Bunny will continue to focus on stylish home systems for Rate Your Sound for the most obvious of reasons!
Simon is our wireless expert, music producer, audio electronics engineer, and resident techie. He would like to add a few more items to that list, but we're not here to flatter his ego. That said, if left to his own devices he would be restoring vintage tube stereo gear and electric guitars. We think that's cool.
Simon streams Spotify, Google Play and TIDAL and said that, his faith is restored when companies like Devialet take the guesswork out of connecting devices wireless devices to Wi-Fi Apple AirPlay or Bluetooth.
Simon is an engineer at heart and most of what he said about the SQ (sound quality) went over our collective heads. The sealed case under tremendous pressure levels was mentioned. He also mumbled about which large African mammals might have the hearing range befitting the loudspeaker's bass response.
What he actually said was that ony African Elephants could hear the low-end frequencies generated by the Devialet.
Simon is a jazz guy and when he finally listened to his favorite Bill Evans tracks he smiled, tapped his toes while holding a guitar case in his head at the Village Vanguard (just in case Bill wanted to expand his trio into a quartet for the night). So we are guessing they met his approval.
After listening Simon got excited and decided these Phantom's matched perfectly with his 1996 glass covered Bang & Olufsen BeoSound 9000 6-CD changer and replace his B&O speakers! He's sure it would be the perfect living room system for him.
Simon would also select either the Tree or Gecko Speaker Stand to finish off his Devialet / Bang & Olufsen combo system.
Ace Riley is our adventurer, and spy writer who covets all things wireless and portable. He's out of pocket right now but did phone in a quick comment. He thought if Devialet better get the French Skunkworks dreaming up something even more portable. We don't know Ace's location, music system or musical tastes as of yet. We might have Ace take up our next review which is to see how a $500.00 Sonos system sounds next to the ultra-expensive Devialet Phantom.
There are a few stunningly expensive accessories for your Devialet Phantom speakers. The design ethic is carried through all of the items that can accompany your 'alien eggs'.
Because the Devialet Phantom is small enough to actually carry around, it's possiible to take it anywhere that can provide a power source.
No more small and flimsy-sounding portable speakers for you or your friends at parties! Simply pop the Phantom into it's very own Bowling Ball style carry-case and you are off and partying at DJ volume levels in no time.
It's hard not to adore this case. Not only is it thoroghly protective, it's functional and stylish rather like it's contents.
The case is not as readily available as the Pantom itself but hunt one down if you can, especially if you want to impress your friends and neighbors.
The remote is rather more of an essential item than a frivolous accessory to the Phantom. Remote controls are ubiquitous and no futuristic gadget should be without one. Imagine having to stand up and walk over to a wall of sound instead of casually using the remote. Unthinkable.
In any case, it does just function as a volume dial. A very stylish one with a luxury feel, but a volume dial nevertheless. Do not expect any fancy functionality with the Phantom Remote, that's what your Phone is for.
This is all about volume and nothing more.
That said, there are many advantages to ditching your phone and simply listening to the music how Devialet intended. All you need is volume. Skipping tracks is not an option when enyoying a serious listening experience.
The volume remote is extremely well designed and fits neatly in the palm of your hand giving you tactile and precise digital control of the sound levels. This remote may be more useful if you have the Stereo paired setup.
If you are just testing the waters with a single Phantom then this remote may be a little extravagent.
So go ahead, get the stero pair and the remote. All or nothing, right?!
Something we've always liked at RYS are manufacturer PDF manuals, they give you the best idea of what you're getting before you actually buy.
Download the manual by clicking the link: Devialet Phantom User ManualSo, in conclusion, these Phantom's are top-rated in our list of best wireless speakers and you will never regret spending so much if you love classic design and incredible sound.
So, in conclusion, these Phantom's are top-rated in our list of best wireless speakers and you will never regret spending so much if you love classic design and incredible sound.
The Devialet Gold Phantom has the most futuristic design and incredible volume!


text:
Bembidion lucifugum is een keversoort uit de familie van de loopkevers (Carabidae). De wetenschappelijke naam van de soort is voor het eerst geldig gepubliceerd in 1989 door Neri & Pavesi.

lucifugum

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Home›Destinations›Central and South America›South America›Ecuador›Quito›Side Trips
Side Trips in Quito
The legion of Quito-based tour agencies and just about every hotel desk can arrange any number of tour options, such as trips to Cotopaxi National Park. The most popular day trips out of Quito are probably to La Mitad del Mundo, Cotopaxi National Park, and the market in Otavalo.
If you don't go with you hotel's tour desk or in-house agency, I recommend Metropolitan Touring (tel. 02/2988-200; www.metropolitan-touring.com), Safari Ecuador (tel. 02/2552-505; www.safari.com.ec), and Surtrek (tel. 866/978-7398 in the U.S. and Canada, or 02/2500-660 in Ecuador; www.surtrek.com).
Guided Tours & Adventures
In just about every case, you will find a Quito-based tour operator with day trips you can participate in for all of these different adventure sports and activities.
Cotopaxi National Park -- Almost every travel agency in Quito offers some sort of day trip to Cotopaxi National Park. Most are only moderately strenuous and feature a hike from the parking lot to the refugio. You definitely will not have time to hike up to the summit. If you want to hike, horseback ride, or mountain bike around Cotopaxi National Park, be sure to ask your organizer what exactly the tour includes. A whole host of options are available. Most tours include lunch at a typical hacienda or inside the park at Tambopaxi. Note: On almost all tours, you will have to pay an additional $10 (£6.65) national-park fee. Guided tours to Cotopaxi run $30 to $75 (£20-£50) per person, depending on group size, length of tour, and other factors.
Alternatively, you can organize a day trip to Cotopaxi on your own. You can hire a taxi in Quito for $60 to $90 (£40-£60) round-trip. Once you reach the parking lot (1 1/2 hr. from Quito), you can then hike up to the refugio or glacier at your own pace while the taxi waits for you. This is my preferred way of visiting Cotopaxi.
Otavalo Market -- Though Saturday is the main market day, most Quito-based operators offer daily excursions to nearby Otavalo, and there's plenty of good shopping in here any day of the week. There's also a lot to see and do around the town. Most tours last all day, with a stop at the artisans market as well as visits to any number of nearby attractions, including Cuicocha Lake, Peguche Waterfall, Mojanda Lakes, and Condor Park. Most tours include lunch at one of the area's historic haciendas.
Guided tours to Otavalo run $25 to $75 (£17-£50) per person. The price varies depending on group size, what's included, where you have lunch, length of tour, and other factors.
San Jorge Eco-Lodge & Biological Reserve
This mountain lodge just outside Quito gives you the best of several worlds. The original building here is an old hacienda once owned by former President Eloy Alfaro. The San Jorge Eco-Lodge and Biological Reserve (tel. 877/565-2596 toll-free in the U.S. and Canada, or 02/2493-123 in Ecuador; www.eco-lodgesanjorge.com) offers a range of room styles and an array of tours and activities. Bird-watching and horseback riding are the main draws, and both are excellent. In addition, they have a pretty outdoor swimming pool, Jacuzzi, sauna, and steam room. These folks own four private nature reserves, which cover a number of distinct ecosystems, including high barren plains, high-altitude rainforest, montane cloud forest, and subtropical midelevation rainforest. More than 1,000 bird species have been recorded throughout the reserves.
Doubles at the lodge cost $65 to $95 (£43-£63). The owners also have a separate nature lodge in the cloud forests outside of Mindo and offer a range of combination tours.
Getting There -- The ecolodge is only around 20 minutes from Quito's Mariscal Sucre International Airport, making it a reasonable alternative to city hotels, especially for nature enthusiasts. The hotel offers transportation to the lodge for $10 to $15 (£6.65-£10) per person each way.
La Mitad del Mundo (The Middle of the World)
It's one of the most common souvenir photos taken in Ecuador: A visitor with one foot in either hemisphere, straddling the Equator. Ciudad La Mitad del Mundo (tel. 02/2396-871) is a tourist complex set up on the site where, in 1736, French explorer and scientist Charles-Marie de la Condamine made his final calculations to determine the precise equatorial line. With modern GPS technology, we now know that de la Condamine erred by some 180m (600 ft.). For a more precise visit to the equatorial line, visit the Quitsato Mitad del Mundo Monument (tel. 09/9701-133; www.quitsato.org), which is on the road to Otavalo.
The centerpiece of the Ciudad La Mitad del Mundo is a large, trapezoidal monument topped with a large globe. At the top of the monument is a viewing area, reached by an elevator, with great views of the surrounding mountains and countryside. My favorite attraction here is the large, scale model of colonial-era Quito, called Museo del Quito en Miniatura (Quito in Miniature). This is a great way to get your bearings before touring around the colonial core. On the site, you'll also find a Museo de Etnografía (Ethnography Museum), with displays about Ecuador's various indigenous tribes and peoples, as well as a small Planetarium. All around are tourist shops and souvenir stands, snack bars, and restaurants. The whole place was built with a mock-colonial styling, sort of a miniature Epcot version of colonial Quito. Frequent shows of folkloric music and dance are performed. Quiteños flock here on Sundays.
Ciudad La Mitad del Mundo is open Monday to Thursday from 9am to 6pm, and from Friday to Sunday from 9am to 7pm. Admission is $2 (£1.35). Admission to the Ethnographic Museum is an additional $3 (£2), while a visit to the Planetarium is $1.50 (£1).
Separate from the main attraction, but just a few hundred yards away, is the Museo Solar Intiñan (Intiñan Solar Museum; tel. 02/2395-122; www.museointinan.com.ec). This interesting attraction has a series of exhibits and ongoing experiments relating to the geography, astrology, and natural sciences of the region. Try your hand at balancing an egg on its end, and watch how water flows down a drain on either side of the Equator. You can also test your accuracy with a blow gun. The museum is open daily from 9:30am to 5pm. Admission is $3 (£2).
For a unique hotel experience, you can stay in the basic, yet comfortable, Pululahua Hostal (tel. 09/9466-636; www.pululahuahostal.com), which is built inside the circular crater of the extinct Volcán Pululahua, just a few kilometers beyond the Midad del Mundo monument.
Getting There -- Located some 23km (14 miles) north of Quito, near San Antonio de Pichincha, Ciudad La Mitad del Mundo is connected to Quito by a well-paved road. Just about every tour agency and hotel desk in Quito offers a half-day tour here. Prices range from $9 to $30 (£6-£20), depending on how exclusive the tour is, how many attractions it takes in, and whether or not lunch or admission fees are included in the price.
A taxi ride here from Quito should run about $12 to $15 (£8-£10) each way. Regular buses, marked MITAD DEL MUNDO, leave from the Cotocallao stop of the Metrobus trolley line. The trolley costs 25¢ (17p), and the bus costs an extra 40¢ (27p). Be sure to stay on the bus until you reach the actual monument, its final stop.
Mindo & Bellavista Cloud Forest Reserve
Hiking through the cloud forests of Mindo and Bellavista is one of the most exciting and rewarding side trips you can take from Quito. Within 2 hours, you will escape the city and find yourself in a magical ecosystem where near-constant mist, as opposed to heavy rains, nourishes a dense mix of trees, lichen, and epiphytes. Cloud forests are some of the most biologically diverse places on earth. Over 400 bird species have been recorded in the area, including the golden-headed quetzal; tanager finch; and, my favorite, Chocó toucan. In addition, you will have the opportunity to hike to remote waterfalls, ride inner tubes on pristine rivers, take a zip-line canopy tour, and marvel at the rich array of orchids, butterflies, bromeliads, and flowers.
While the easy access makes this a potential (and popular) day-tour destination, I recommend spending at least a night or two. There are several lovely lodges in this region with excellent naturalist guides and a host of tour and activity options. In addition to bird- and wildlife-viewing, tour options include horseback riding, mountain biking, and visits to local butterfly farms.
Much of the cloud forest around Mindo is protected in the Bosque Protector Mindo-Nambillo (Mindo-Nambillo Protected Forest), administered by Amigos de la Naturaleza (tel. 02/2765-463). While most of the reserve is closed to the public, there are ample private reserves and publicly accessible trails through Mindo's cloud forests. The Mindo-Nambillo reserve was the source of controversy a few years ago, when the government ran an oil pipeline right through it, despite the objections of tourism and environmental groups. Today, the forest is recuperating and covering up much of the damage caused by the pipeline.
Mindo is the more developed of these two cloud-forest destinations, with a host of hotels and lodges. The top hotel here is gorgeous El Monte (tel. 09/3084-675 or 02/3900-402; www.ecuadorcloudforest.com). Accommodations are private wood-and-thatch cabins set near the banks of the clear-flowing Río Mindo. This place is located a couple of kilometers south of Mindo, and the final leg of your journey to the lodge is via a hand-cranked cable car over the river. Accommodations are $86 (£57) per person, for a 2-day/1-night stay, including three meals, guided hikes and activities, and taxes. Other good choices are the lovely new Casa Divina (tel. 02/3900-457; www.mindocasadivina.com), which has its own zip-line canopy tour, and Tandayapa Bird Lodge (tel. 02/2447-520; www.tandayapa.com), which was built by and for bird-watchers and is run by the folks behind Tropical Birding (www.tropicalbirding.com).
The 720-hectare (1,779-acre) Bellavista Cloud Forest Reserve (tel. 02/2116-232 or 09/9490-891; www.bellavistacloudforest.com) is privately owned and has a variety of accommodations options, from private cabins to dorm rooms in the top of a large geodesic dome. It's not fancy, but the views over the forest canopy are dramatic, the food is excellent, and the nature guides will open up your eyes to a whole different world. Rates run $47 to $71 (£31-£47) per person, including three meals, but a whole host of package options are available, including meals, tours, and transportation.
Getting There -- You can usually arrange transportation with your hotel or lodge. Alternatively, a taxi from Quito should run around $40 to $60 (£27-£40). Mindo is serviced by a couple of daily buses from Quito. Cooperativa Flor de Valle (tel. 02/2527-495) has buses leaving Quito's northern bus terminal, Terminal de Norte La Ofelia, at 8:20am and 4pm, and returning at 6:30am and 2pm. On weekends and holidays there are additional buses and a slightly varied schedule. The ride takes around 2 1/2 hours, and the fare is $3 (£2).
It's a little more complicated to travel to Bellavista on your own: You have to take the bus from Quito to the small town of Nanegalito, where you can arrange for a truck-taxi to Bellavista. From Nanegalito, it's about a 45-minute ride to Bellavista. The ride should cost about $15 (£10) for the whole vehicle, which can hold up to six passengers. Any bus from Quito to Mindo, Puerto Quito, or San Miguel de los Bancos can drop you off in Nanegalito.
Situated at an altitude of 3,300m (10,827 ft.), and containing some wonderful lush green scenery, the small village of Papallacta boasts the country's most plush and picturesque hot springs -- a must while in Ecuador, especially if you've been doing any strenuous hiking or bumpy horseback riding. Papallacta is less than 2 hours from Quito by car or bus, but far from the capital's hustle and bustle; it's along the road to Lago Agrio, and is an excellent, relaxing day trip from the city, or the perfect stop-off spot to or from El Oriente.
The mineral-rich baths are believed to possess healing powers; locals swear by them, claiming that they alleviate a number of medical conditions ranging from kidney ailments to arthritis. While there are a couple of inexpensive and basic hot-springs options in and around the village, I highly recommend the considerably larger and far better maintained Termas de Papallacta (tel. 06/2320-620 at the hot springs, or 02/2568-989 for reservations in Quito; www.termaspapallacta.com), a couple of kilometers outside the center. They have exceptional pool and spa facilities, a hotel, and a restaurant. Take in the breathtaking views of the hilly landscape and, on a cloudless day, the majestic snowcapped Volcán Antisana (5,753m/18,875 ft.).
This complex houses various thermal pools ranging from frost-bitingly freezing to utterly scorching, all well maintained and with water changed on a daily basis. You can opt to enter either the balneario (daily 6am-11pm; admission $7/£4.65; lockers 50¢/35p) or the spa area (daily 9am-6pm; admission $18/£12), which is generally less crowded and also has a sauna, a steam room, and hydro-massage pools. In addition, the spa area offers a range of treatments, including massages, facials, clay body wraps, and aromatherapy at an extra charge. Tip: If at all possible, visit midweek, because this place fills up most weekends.
Termas de Papallacta is also an excellent lodging option. The rustic rooms and cabins are spacious and comfy, with minimalist decor; large, cozy beds; and modern, well-equipped, en-suite bathrooms. A double, including entrance to the balneario, costs $120 to $140 (£80-£93) per night. But the real advantage of spending the night here is that rooms are surrounded by scores of hot pools for the exclusive, around-the-clock use of hotel guests.
If you're looking for something less pricey, check out Hostería La Pampa de Papallacta (tel. 06/2320-624), which has clean and stylish rooms with private bathrooms at $30 to $50 (£20-£33) for a double. An even cheaper alternative, just a stone's throw from the main hot-springs complex, is Hostal Antisana (tel. 06/2320-626), which provides basic accommodations, perfect for backpackers on a budget, at around $9 (£6) per person.
Papallacta's surrounding areas are great for horseback riding, hikes, and nature walks. Inquire at your hotel's reception desk, or at the Termas de Papallacta's own Exploratorio research center, located next to the hot springs; they provide information on local flora and fauna, maps, and naturalist guides, and even organize excursions to the Cayambé-Coca Reserve or rafting tours on Río Quijos.
At an altitude of over 3,000m (9,842 ft.), Papallacta can get pretty cold after dusk; be sure to pack warm clothing if you're staying overnight.
Your best bet for food is the excellent restaurant at the Termas de Papallacta, whose specialty is local, freshly caught trout. A snack bar sells sandwiches and light bites right at the hot springs. Outside the complex you can head down the dirt track to any of the relatively inexpensive almuerzo eateries, all of which offer typical Ecuadorean fare including fish; trout is on the menu everywhere. The restaurant at Hostería La Pampa de Papallacta serves rather tasty dishes.
Getting There -- The easiest ways to get here are to join an organized tour or to arrange transportation and an overnight stay with the Termas de Papallacta itself. Alternatively, any bus heading to Baeza, Tena, or Lago Agrio (via Baeza) will drop you off in the village of Papallacta (or better yet, at the entrance road to the hot springs, a little before the village). From the well-marked turnoff here, it's a little over 1.5km (1 mile) to the hot springs. If you're coming by bus, you'll probably have to walk this last bit, unless you're lucky enough to flag down a ride. Buses leave from Quito's main terminal for Lago Agrio roughly every half-hour from 6am to 11:30pm. Two main bus lines, Transportes Baños (tel. 02/2570-884) and Putumayo (tel. 02/2583-316), make the run, and both will drop you off at the entrance to Termas de Papallacta. The ride takes around 2 hours, and the fare is $2.50 (£1.65).
If you're driving, take the highway (E20) east out of Quito toward Baeza. To get to E20 from downtown Quito, head north on Avenida Eloy Alfaro to Avenida de los Granados, and then turn right. This road becomes Hwy. E20. Follow any signs to Papallacta, Tumbaco Baeza, or El Oriente. Papallacta is about 65km (40 miles) southeast of Quito. The ride takes about 1 1/2 hours.
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When Shelby Nielsen left home for college, she had no idea how to do laundry. Or cook. Or, for that matter, boil water.
And that's how Shelby's idea to make a "Good to Know" book for her children began.
"The idea really came from my mother. When we went off to college, she gave us [Shelby and her sister, Ashley Pratka] a binder that was a cookbook." The store-bought binder, called Where's Mom Now That I Need Her? Surviving Away from Home, contained information written by the author on nutrition, grocery shopping, recipes, laundry, first aid, what to do when you're sick and car and bicycle maintenance. At the end of each chapter were lined pages for handwritten additions.
"My mom added family favorites to pre-written recipes in this book," Shelby says. "In the very back of the binder there were common sense things like how to get stains out.
Shelby's children still have a little time to learn: Rachel, who was born on Mother's Day, turns 14 this month; Caroline is 10; and Zach is 8.
Like when the water in the toilet began to rise. Instead of frantically finding a plunger, Shelby's response was to yell, "Hey everybody! Gather 'round!" Her kids were shocked. "They were all like, 'What are you doing? It's going to overflow!' But I wanted everyone to see it. I turned off the water right as it was about to overflow to show them that you can turn the water off and stop something from happening. And then we plunged.
Other ideas for the house include everything from how to cut green onions ("with scissors, safer and easier than a knife") to cleaning out the lint filter in the dryer ("if your clothes or towels are taking forever to dry, it may need to be cleaned out") to using daylight savings days as reminders to change smoke alarm batteries ("take the time to buy enough batteries for all of the alarms in the house and go ahead and replace them with new batteries … you only have to listen to that blasted chirping once"). There are first aid tips, advice on what to do when an earring falls down the faucet, and examples of a well-written thank-you note (along with an example of one that was "still sweet" but didn't quite hit all the bases).
Add to that notes on coping with flat chests, bushy eyebrows and feeling small. It's a mix of common sense and "deeper life lessons," all told on scraps of paper, some typed, some handwritten, some taken from other sources. All imbued with family history and Shelby's best hopes for her children.
Sort of like a Mother's Day gift in the form of a frayed, no-frills, homemade book that spans generations.


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Gifting Quality of Life - FUJIFILM supports children's and youth hospice Regenbogenland
Peter Struik, Managing Director Fujifilm Europe GmbH and Melanie van Dijk, Managing Director of Regenbogenland, at the donation ceremony.
Photo: Stefan Finger (Fujifilm x-Photographer) on behalf of FUJIFILM Europe GmbH, for free use
FUJIFILM Europe, based in Düsseldorf/Heerdt for more than 50 years, is supporting children's and youth hospice Regenbogenland with a donation for Christmas. Management, employees, and football club Fortuna Düsseldorf all pitched in to donate for the cause.
FUJIFILM today visited children's and youth hospice Regenbogenland for a donation ceremony. Peter Struik, Managing Director Fujifilm Europe GmbH, presented the Managing Director of Regenbogenland, Melanie van Dijk, with the financial support of 5.000 Euro and a Fujifilm instax camera. The instant photographs contribute to the culture of memory for the children's and youth hospice.
Over the Festive season, Fujifilm employees and management jointly collected donations for Regenbogenland. A major part of the donation was amassed via a raffle at this year's company Christmas party. The lucky winners, who were drawn live on stage, had a chance to win Fujifilm products and branded and signed Fortuna Düsseldorf merchandise, provided by the club through their partnership with Fujifilm.
Fujifilm, impressed by the Regenbogenland concept, which focuses on holistic care for families with terminally ill and severely disabled children, has decided to support the institution. With its roots in analogue photography and photographic film production, Fujifilm has, in recent decades, evolved into an innovative healthcare company, developing technologies in the areas of prevention, diagnostics, and treatment. Accordingly, supporting Regenbogenland is a matter close to the heart of Peter Struik:
Applying our wide range of technologies, FUJIFILM have made great strides in pushing boundaries of medical innovation. We would like to demonstrate our continued commitment through our support of Regenbogenland.
Symbolically, Peter Struik handed over a Fujifilm instax camera, whose instant pictures can be held in hand immediately after taking a snapshot.
Melanie van Dijk, Managing Director since 2013, explains why outside cooperations are so important for Regenbogenland:
High quality care requires considerable financial support. Without our network of dedicated patrons, we would not be able to do our jobs as well as we are. Accordingly, we are very happy to welcome Fujifilm as a new sponsor to Regenbogenland.
For the 2018/2019 season, Fujifilm has partnered with Fortuna Düsseldorf, who have been supporting Regenbogenland since 2007. This inspired Fujifilm to also get involved, true to the motto 'your partners are my partners'.
About Kinder- und Jugendhospiz Regenbogenland
The family is of primary importance here. The children and youth hospice Regenbogenland is a place, where families with terminally ill or severely disabled children can find support. Additions to home care or short stays with parents and siblings take place in a familial atmosphere. The encompassing care approach, combined with specially trained personnel, considers the individual needs of every one of its young guests. Initially opened as Kinderhospiz [children hospice] Regenbogenland gGmbH in 2004, the institution increasingly took care of adolescents, as medical progress prolonged their guests' lives. As a result, the additional youth hospice was opened in 2017. The foundation to sustain the institution was established in 2000 as Förderverein Kinder- und Jugendhospiz Düsseldorf e.V.. The foundation's main responsibility is to provide long-term, sustainable financial security for the hospice. This includes fundraising, sponsor acquisition, press, publicity, as well as supervision of more than 600 members and about 70 volunteers.
For additional information please contact:
Hilke Witjes | Public Relations Officer
E-Mail: hilke.witjes(at)fujifilm(dot)com
Martin Stade | Head of Corporate Communications
E-Mail: martin.stade(at)fujifilm(dot)com
Telefon: +49 211 50 89 203
www.kinderhospiz-regenbogenland.de
2018_12_20_Spendenuebergabe_Fujifilm_Regenbogenland_01.jpg (711 Kbyte)


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Q: Record (get) mouse click position while key is pressed and stop recording when same key is released in python I am creating a script where if user press f7 it will start recording mouse clicks and when he releases the button it should stop and this happens unless user closes the program.
The script is printing "None" inspite of pressing f7 and instead of showing click position and "f7", it is showing None.
In on_press function when we print the value, it is showing "f7" but when clicking the mouse button in on_click function, it is showing "None"
Here is the code
from pynput import mouse, keyboard
from pynput.keyboard import Key, Listener
import pickle

x_pos = []
y_pos = []
both_pos = []

pressed_key = None

def on_press(key):
    if (key==keyboard.Key.f7):
        pressed_key = "f7"
    else:
        pressed_key = None

def on_release(key):
    pass

def on_click(x, y, button, pressed):
    if pressed:
        #print ("{0} {1}".format(x,y))
        print(pressed_key)
        if pressed_key == "f7":
            x_pos.append("{0}".format(x,y))
            y_pos.append("{1}".format(x,y))
            #print("test" + x_pos + y_pos)
            print (x_pos + y_pos)
        #both_pos = x_pos, y_pos
        else:
            pass
        print (x_pos + y_pos)

mouse_listener = mouse.Listener(on_click=on_click)
mouse_listener.start()

with keyboard.Listener(on_press = on_press, on_release = on_release) as listener:
    try:
        #listener.start()
        listener.join()
    except MyException as e:
        print('Done'.format(e.args[0]))

A: Found the issue. Because in on_press i was not using global pressed_key so it was creating local variable.
Here is the working code.
from pynput import mouse, keyboard
from pynput.keyboard import Key, Listener
import pickle

x_pos = []
y_pos = []
both_pos = []

pressed_key  = None

def on_press(key):
    global pressed_key
    if (key==keyboard.Key.f7):
        pressed_key = "f7"
        print(pressed_key)
    else:
        pressed_key = None

def on_release(key):
    global pressed_key
    pressed_key = None

def on_click(x, y, button, pressed):
    if pressed:
        #print ("{0} {1}".format(x,y))
        print(pressed_key)
        if pressed_key == "f7":
            x_pos.append("{0}".format(x,y))
            y_pos.append("{1}".format(x,y))
            #print("test" + x_pos + y_pos)
            print (x_pos + y_pos)
        #both_pos = x_pos, y_pos
        else:
            pass
        print (x_pos + y_pos)

mouse_listener = mouse.Listener(on_click=on_click)
mouse_listener.start()

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        print('Done'.format(e.args[0]))


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You are here: Home / Interviews / The Ins and Outs of Freelancing: An Interview with Michelle Fabio
The Ins and Outs of Freelancing: An Interview with Michelle Fabio
by Paul Daniel Ash
March 2, 2018 /in Interviews /by Bianca Vinas
Michelle Fabio and I had been friends online for several years before my wife and I spent part of our honeymoon in the southern Italian village where she lives. A fellow Italian-American from Pennsylvania, Michelle writes a blog, Bleeding Espresso, that I'd followed assiduously since deciding to get my dual Italian citizenship in the early 2000s (and that was named the Best Living in Italy Blog by Italy Magazine in 2016). She's a Duke and Temple Law grad who's been a writer for LegalZoom since emigrating. She was the About.com Guide to Law School, and has been a freelance writer ever since.
We chatted on WhatsApp about writing, the expat life, and balancing a freelance career with raising a precocious tri-lingual (English, standard Italian, and Calabrian dialect) four-year-old.
Paul Daniel Ash: When did you first know you wanted to be a writer?
Michelle Fabio: It's trite, but I've wanted to write as long as I can remember. I was one of those kids who wrote short stories for fun and just loved to sit in the library and soak in the atmosphere.
PDA: Did being an expat influence your decision to freelance full-time?
MF: It actually worked in the reverse for me. I had always wanted to freelance, but lower middle class/poor kids from Podunk who do really well in school are supposed to be doctors and lawyers, not freelance writers. So, I did the whole traditional education route (college immediately followed by law school, 20 straight years of school that started when I was 4). Then the opportunity arose to move abroad at the end of my two-year judicial clerkship as I would have to find a new job anyway. Yes, I absolutely wanted to live abroad in my ancestors' village, but a huge draw was also that I could shed the societal pressure to do what was expected and pursue freelancing without anyone watching, so to speak. At the age of 25, I felt like it was a now or never kind of thing. I chose now (then). And here I still am, fifteen years later.
PDA: What is your writing process like? Has being a mother affected how, where, when you write?
MF: Since having a kid at home, this has changed quite a bit — now I just use whatever time I can find and adjust what I can do, the mental process I have available. A lot of times, for instance, I will go through and gather all the research for an article while the kid is playing on her own with an activity that I know will still require occasional participation from me, even if it's just to tell her how I love the colors she's chose or whatever. It's easy to Google, scan text, and copy, and paste into a Scrivener project even if I'm half paying attention to what she's doing. I try to save actual writing for when I know I will have fewer interruptions. Brainstorming is pretty much all the time — yay for always having a phone nearby that I can speak or tap words into.
PDA: So, a lot of mom-ti-tasking, you're saying.
MF: Yeah. It's bath-time right now, actually, so I may be a little slow in responding for a bit but I'm still here.
PDA: Oh, no problem.
MF: Wanna guess what else I'm doing right now with her?
PDA: What?
MF: "Frozen" sing-along via YouTube
PDA: Gah
MF: Don't be jelly
MF: Let it go
PDA: Yeah, so… tell us about marketing. Do you do more or less or about the same marketing as when you began?
MF: Marketing…hmm…I guess my blogging was a big part of marketing in the olden days, and that has basically fallen off a cliff, so that has changed. I think it's important to have a website, an online presence with a portfolio (Contently is my current favorite), but aside from that, I don't do much at all. The other day there was a pitchfest kind of thing on Twitter for agents/publishers – you tweet about your manuscript with the hashtag #adpit and they Like your tweet if they want to hear more.
PDA: Oooh, what was your pitch?
#Cozy #M #OliveYouNot Rural S.Italy. Dead: priest's shady bro. Suspect: ex-lawyer Dahlia D'Amato. Barista: hot. Cop: PITA. Goats: obvi. #AdPit
PDA: Cool! Did you get any Likes?
MF: I got two agent bites that are probably meh, but still interesting nonetheless.
PDA: Nice. Wait: "Olive You Not" is your title?
MF: Yup. It's during olive harvest.
PDA: Got it.
MF: Update, kid's conditioner is soaking in so I have some more time now.
PDA: Haha, great. how much creative versus purely mercenary writing would you say you do and how much do you wish you could do?
Badolato, Italy in the snow (© Michelle Fabio)
MF: Last November (NaNoWriMo) I basically cleared off the mercenary calendar to work on my book. That went well and continued for a bit into the new year . . . then of course the funds got awfully low so now I'm back to wishing I had far more time to work on my creative projects. The feast/famine nature of freelancing actually isn't so bad in this respect if you can discipline yourself to fill the famine with personal projects, but we all need mental breaks, too, so it's a tough balance to achieve.
PDA: What advice would you have for a starting writer with regard to establishing oneself in the field, finding opportunities and so forth?
MF: My best advice is to find your niche. I am extremely lucky to have the law to fall back on as my niche. Even if it's not always what I want to be writing, it has definitely kept me afloat as a freelancer. I'm not naturally a networker–even online–but it's still the best way to fill up your freelancing calendar. Letting your connections know what you're looking for can bring many opportunities you never would have found on your own. Writing groups, especially on Facebook, can be extraordinarily helpful too.
PDA: Is there such a thing as momentum or are you basically Sisyphus pushing that stone up the hill on the regular?
MF: There is such a thing as momentum. Life as a freelancer has definitely gotten easier for me as the years rolled on, but I also change tracks every few years to keep things interesting–like when I cut back freelancing to be the managing editor of an independent press for a few years. The most recent example: I had never been a freelancer who pitched a bunch of articles constantly to various publications, but I became inspired to finally do that late this past summer. That type of freelancing career had actually always been my concept of what I had wanted to be doing, and I finally realized, hey, you have to actually do that if you want to do that. So, I focused on that in September and landed two regular gigs (one ghostwriting legal website content and another as a Forbes contributor) and several assignments in the types of publications I had been wanting to get into but just hadn't tried (Frommer's, Fodor's, Broadly). It was a great month and has inspired me to aim higher. While there's momentum, there's also something to be said for creating your own momentum, too.
PDA: From your lofty professional peak: do you have any advice to the unpublished writer?
MF: Hmm… it's so cliché but writing what you know (and writing often) is really the best way to gain confidence. And embrace your voice! I had started several novels, and they kept seeming to steer to a particular genre, more mainstream fiction. But I kind of subconsciously fought it because that isn't necessarily what I WANTED to write. But I have landed on a cozy mystery series, and maybe I just need to get these out to move on or maybe this is my thing, I don't know yet, but all I can do is move through it, work with it and not fight against it. And it's going so much better this way.
PDA: That's great.
MF: I wonder if the kid's a prune yet
MF: Should probably check…
PDA: Haha, maybe you should. Thank you for taking the time!
MF: Absolutely! This has been fun.
https://hungermtn.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/yellow-and-pink-lighted-x-decor-1964471.jpg 800 1200 Bianca Vinas https://hungermtn.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Writing-and-Publishing-Logo-300x874px.png Bianca Vinas2018-03-02 10:38:332020-06-20 20:05:35The Ins and Outs of Freelancing: An Interview with Michelle Fabio
Book Review: Sunvault: Stories of Solarpunk and Eco-Speculation
by... Book Review: Dreadful Young Ladies and Other Stories by Kelly Barnhill


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The taiko: a traditional Japanese drum with limitless rhythmic possibilities. Kodo's mission is to explore these possibilities, and in the process forge new directions for a vibrant living art-form. In Japanese, the word "Kodo" holds a double meaning. It can be translated as "heartbeat," the primal source of all rhythm. Indeed, the great taiko is thought to be reminiscent of a mother's heartbeat as felt from the womb, and babies are often lulled to sleep by its thunderous vibrations. If read in a different context however, Kodo can also mean "children of the drum," which reflects the group's desire to play the drums with the simple heart of a child.
Since the group's debut at the Berlin Festival in 1981, Kodo has given over 5,600 performances in 47 countries on five continents. This figure includes 3,800 performances under the "One Earth" banner, a theme that embodies Kodo's desire to transcend language and cultural boundaries, all while reminding their audiences of the common bonds we all share as human beings. In addition to its theater schedule, Kodo enjoys working with thousands of school children across Japan through its ongoing "School Workshop Performance" tours. The ensemble also participates in a wide range of projects and events, which includes headlining major international festivals, contributing to motion picture soundtracks, and collaborating with a wide variety of global performing arts leaders.
In 2001, members of Kodo became the first Japanese artists to perform at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Oslo, Norway. The following year, Kodo was featured in the official anthem of the 2002 FIFA World Cup KOREA/JAPAN™, and performed live at official World Cup concerts. Then in 2003, worldwide acclaim for the Chinese movie "HERO" drew even more attention to Kodo for its work on the motion picture soundtrack. In 2006, Kodo realized its first on-stage collaboration with Kabuki luminary Tamasaburo Bando in "Amaterasu," a musical dance play based on a Japanese myth. This performance served as a catalyst for Kodo, propelling them towards new forms of percussive expression, and paving the way to encore performances on even more influential stages, including Tokyo's iconic Kabukiza Theater. Bando assumed the role of Kodo's artistic director in 2012.
Kodo's activities are not limited to the stage. Every year since 1988, the rich, natural splendor of Sado sets the scene for Earth Celebration (EC), Kodo's international arts festival. Produced by Kodo in cooperation with the people of Sado Island, EC seeks to create an alternative global culture through musical and cultural collaborations with artists from around the world. It is the nation's longest running music festival, and has been described by the New York Times as "Japan's leading music event." In 2008, the Japan Center for Regional Development presented Earth Celebration with the "Furusato Event First Prize," in recognition of the festival's significant efforts to introduce Sado Island to the nation. In 2009, the Earth Celebration Committee was awarded the Tiffany Foundation Award for the Preservation of Japanese Traditional Arts and Culture in Contemporary Society, in recognition of the organization's "notable contribution to the promotion of Japanese traditional culture and to the revitalization of the local community."
The Kodo Cultural Foundation was established in 1997 with the goal of sharing the group's experiences and giving back to the community via social education and local development programs. The foundation covers a broad range of activities. In addition to managing an array of workshops, it produces "Earth Celebration," Kodo's annual performing arts festival. It also manages the Kodo Apprentice Centre, which nurtures each new generation of Kodo performers. In addition, the foundation runs Sado Island Taiko Centre (Tatakokan), all while both supporting and conducting research on traditional culture and performing arts. On November 1, 2011, the Kodo Cultural Foundation was recognized as a Public Interest Corporation in Japan.
Kodo has also formed collaborative ties with Tokyo's Bunkyo Ward and the Bunkyo Academy Foundation, as well as with Kashiwazaki Shimin Kaikan Alforet, a cultural hall in Niigata Prefecture. Through a range of cooperative projects like these, Kodo continues to work closely with these organizations to promote performing arts and culture in their local area.
More Information: Artist Website
A Thunder Drumbeat Like No Other
KODO: Famed Drummers' U.S. premiere tour of DADAN 2017 kicks off today
KODO: Taiko Percussion Ensemble Announce 22 City U.S. Tour, Premiere of DADAN 2017
KODO 22 City US Tour Announced, Premiere of DADAN 2017
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Earlier this month I was travelling in Switzerland and I had the chance to be on the top of Europe!
Jungfrau is the most distinctive of the Swiss Alps, and along with Eiger and Mönch forms a spectacular wall of snow-clad peaks, interspersed with glaciers. Jungfraujoch is a saddle between the two peaks, Jungfrau and Mönch, and the Jungfraujoch railway station is the highest one at Europe – at a staggering elevation of 3,454 metres or 11,332 feet. I was a part of an international media delegation, invited to witness a unique sports event.
We had to change three trains to get to the top – from Interlaken to Grindelwald, from Grindelwald to Kleine Scheidegg and finally onwards to Jungfraujoch. On the way, there were gorgeous views of picture-perfect villages, grazing cows (I love watching cows & sheep grazing…), and soaring mountains.
The last leg of the journey was partly underground, through a tunnel that bores through Eiger and Mönch. There were stops on the way and I could see Jungfrau looming closer, and wide expanse of snowy plains all around. It was biting cold in the tunnel and I was glad to step out in the relatively warmer assembly point at the station. From there we were taken for a walk through an icy tunnel, lined with some ice sculptures.
It was a rather slippery walk and I was clutching the handrail all the way! From ice, we stepped outside into the soft snow of Jungfraujoch. It was a brilliantly sunny day, and though it was cold, the sun's warmth was welcoming.
After giving us some time to take pictures, we were ushered onwards to the Aletsch glacier where the sports event was to take place.
A turf was laid out on the flat part of the glacier and next to it was a tartan race track.
The event was co-sponsored by Hublot & Jungfrau Railways, and was an exhibition race between two great athletes – Asafa Powell (the Jamaican former world record holder in 100 metres sprint, an Olympic champion, and one of the fastest men in the world) and Dario Cologna (Swiss cross-country skier with several Olympic golds and World Cups under his belt). And it was no ordinary race – Powell was going to sprint down the track and Cologna was going to ski alongside!
The event began with a relay race, with Powell and the Swiss Women's 4 X 100 metre relay competing with each other, along with schoolchildren. It was fun watching these amazing athletes run and also coach the young kids along.
It was almost time for the main event to begin (and the Swiss are sticklers for time!), so Powell did a few practice runs and Cologna tested out the ski terrain. The Swiss wrestler Kilian Wenger fired the start pistol and the two men were off! Powell zipped by like a bullet, but Cologna rapidly caught up with him and it was a photo-finish at the end.
The prize distribution was done by Urs Kessler, CEO of Jungfrau Railways.
After the ceremony, Wenger challenged Powell to an impromptu arm wrestling match. Powell was no match for the burly wrestler and was defeated in seconds!
After the press conference, I managed to get a picture taken with Asafa Powell! A pic to cherish, eh?
The event was followed by a Champagne lunch (I love my job!) on the glacier. There are of course, several restaurants at Jungfraujoch, including an Indian one called Bollywood (open April to October). There's also a "Lindt Swiss Chocolate Heaven", which opened last year. You can get a virtual tour of the chocolate-making process and also buy your fill of chocolates.
It was a fantastic experience on the top of Europe – a unique sports event, the chance to meet world-class athletes, great food and a stunning setting! What more can you ask for?!
All details about Jungfrau, the railways and the experiences here.
Disclosure: I was invited by Jungfrau Railways for this event.
New Year Resolutions worth making + a Contest!


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Waterfront Transformation
Piers & Places
River Sanctuary
Our River Project
Gardens & Trees
Hudson River Park UnGala
Playground Committee
Hudson River Park Trust
Hudson River Park Friends
Sunset over the ball fields at Pier 40
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Built in 1962 for the Holland America Cruise Line, Pier 40 fulfills multiple functions within the Park. Aside from serving as the home to the Hudson River Park Trust, this enormous pier also generates income needed for the Park's continuing care and operations principally through a large public parking garage and excursion vessels. Beyond these commercial uses, Pier 40 also serves essential public recreational functions, including a large athletic field complex, Hudson River Park's River Project Wetlab, mooring field and a community boating program. Plus, New York City's only outdoor Trapeze School is located on the rooftop.
Ballfields at Pier 40
Leroy Street Dog Run
Hornblower Cruises
Closest bus lines
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Read more about Pier 40 and why it is so important to the Park.
Pier 40's Rooftop, Indoor and newly renovated Courtyard Fields are an iconic Park feature. More than two hundred thousand children and adults make use of the Park's fields all year long. Open from 6 AM-midnight, these turf fields are available for informal recreational play in the relatively scarce windows when permitted groups are not scheduled.
It's hard to imagine the waterfront at West Houston without Pier 40's enormous presence or its bustle of activity. But long before the pier's sprawling structure provided surrounding neighborhoods with much-loved turf fields and much-needed parking, Pier 40 made history as the largest — and most modern — passenger and freight terminal in the Port of New York.
Pier 40 is currently fixing critical infrastructure repairs to its roof and supportive piles. View this page for information on the engineer's report on the repairs to Pier 40. View this page for information on the public review process for the Pier 40 air rights sale.
Pier 66 before and after shot
Built on the remnants of New York's industrial waterfront, Hudson River Park was established in 1998 through the Hudson River Park Act, and is run by the Hudson River Park Trust, a unique partnership between the City and State of New York.
Kayakers prep to head into the Hudson River
Hudson River Park's four-miles play host to a myriad activities and attractions.
Hudson River Park runs four miles along Manhattan's west side attracting over 17 million visits each year. The Park provides an oasis for New Yorkers and visitors alike with a variety of recreational and educational activities.
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I am so excited that you have chosen to visit my website today! Photography is the most fascinating form of art to me, and I am happy to be a part of it! I hope you are just as thrilled about viewing my work as I am about producing it. Photography started as just a hobby for me and little did I know that I would be blessed with it growing into a full time profession. I am able to step into the lives of others and capture their most beautiful moments. How could you not love a job like this!?
If you are looking for a unique style of photography, you have certainly come to the right place. Our style is fashion inspired with a unique blend of vintage, urban, and chic. Your photo session will be all about you. My main goal is to capture you as you are...using your looks, your style, and your emotions. So, whether your style is bohemian barefoot, flashy fashion, beautiful baby chic, very romantically vintage, urban underground, or kicked back casual, I want you to come to your session prepared to be you!
I look forward to capturing the memories of your life as a piece of art you will cherish forever!
My Staff and I dedicate ourselves to a minimum of 2 weeks continued education every year... going to conventions, seminars, classes & studying with the country's elite senior photographers. We love learning new things & growing so we may create an amazing experience for you.
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If you have any questions or want more information on a free design consultation, please don't hesitate to send me a message. Also, check out my Facebook Page to keep up with my latest photographs and to get a more personal glimpse into my life and photography.


Ryan Santos' new restaurant in a hidden corner in Over-the-Rhine, is called Please, just like his four years of pop-up dinners that preceded it. It's such a nice, polite name, isn't it?
Not necessarily. Think of James Brown (I did, because we passed that great mural depicting him on Liberty Street as we drove to dinner), running in place at the microphone, throwing off the cape the Famous Flames are trying to put around his shoulders as they lead him away, returning to his microphone, dropping to his knees, howling "Please, Please, Please! I love you so!"
In my head, I, too, was throwing off the cape and begging for more. If I had a little more James Brown in me, I would have disturbed the serene atmosphere and pleaded for seconds of the damson plum cocktail and the sea trout and the egg-yolk ice cream on persimmon preserve.
You wouldn't think such a refined menu would elicit that feeling. The local ingredients are esoteric, the combinations and techniques very modern, the juxtapositions everything that's expected in current tasting menu style. But the end results are not just aesthetically interesting, they're delicious on an amount-of-taste-per-bite basis. And this elevated experience is served in a setting that's unpretentious and comfortable.
I wish I could remember exactly what I ate the first time I went to a Please pop-up, I know it was something with sticks and twigs and sprouts and powder. It was, then, more intriguing than delicious. I think Santos has since evolved exactly the right amount to present culinary ambition in an accessible way.
The restaurant is well off the beaten track of OTR, on Clay between Main and Walnut, in a building probably built in the 1820s. It's been vacant for many years, but the roof never leaked, so the woodwork is still intact. It's been cleaned up but not refinished, and the bricks have been left bare, natch. The night we were there it snowed lightly, and the view through the big front windows of a gaslight and a Christmas wreath felt authentically antique. The kitchen, though, which takes up a good half of the front room, is gleaming and new, reinforcing the notion that this is a restaurant with an interesting culinary process.
There's a bar in the back. A bar that makes wonderful cocktails. They dovetail with the food, and are all lightly tart and refreshing, a little fruity, not heavily alcoholic. One that was based on damson plum was divided between a frothy pink top and clear pink bottom. There's a wine list that features natural wines.
Santos invested in beautifully made local dinnerware from CG Ceramics, simple hand-made forms that show off the food and reinforce its creativity and localness.
There are three tasting menus: omnivore, pescatarian and vegetarian. We tried all three. Everyone started with a kind of cauliflower porridge. Pureed roasted cauliflower kept some texture, unless that was the almonds that enriched the mixture along with pumpernickel crumbs. Preserved currants on top threw the richness into relief.
The omnivores and pescatarian went on to a sea trout dish, poached to just the correct moist point, served on top of buckwheat and wrapped in parchment, thin kohlrabi ribbons, in a light dashi broth making a mix of salty umami, slightly bitter greens, earthy buckwheat and rich fish. The vegetarian got a dish that everyone else would have given up their meat for: enoki mushrooms that mimicked pasta, in walnut cream, topped with Comte cheese. So unexpected and richly good.
The next fish was cod, on buttermilk sauce, with some kale and popped amaranth, topped with paper-thin turnips and dusted with magenta radish powder, like it was covered in flower petals. It was another dish of subtle contrasts. The vegetarian menu included pumpkin dumplings, shaped like little carrots, in a pumpkin broth, (one of many light flavorful broths) topped with shredded savoy cabbage. The omnivores got a pork dish, on the more traditional side. Sliced loin on a light soubise sauce, topped with pear slices and crisp potato shreds, potato powder. It was a little more mono-chromatic in taste but it made sense in the context of the whole meal.
We got a few more desserts than were on the menu, and I noticed other tables did, too. We went a little crazy for the ebelskivers ( a sort of spherical pancake from Denmark), filled with apple butter and topped with shredded gjetost cheese, a unique amber-colored cheese that's almost closer to caramel. It melts like delicious snow on your mouth. In the last few years, Santos spent some time at two high-profile Danish restaurants, Relais and Kadeau, and you can see the influence of modern Scandinavian cooking in his menu. Not just making ebelskiever, but a very geo-centered ethos.
Unlike elaborate fine-dining tasting menus, the atmosphere and the service are relaxed and personal.
We also tried a frozen avocado dish with candied orange underneath and shards of white chocolate on top, with black olive ganache in a tiny amount providing a salty contrast that still went with avocado. And some egg yolk ice cream wrapped up in a clear gelatinous sheet, with a persimmon conserve under it. Plus little gift of chocolate sorbet served between two potato chips. And a sort of dessert amuse-bouche; quince paste and lemon verbena powder.
Whew. That first little crock of cauliflower seemed laughably small, but the succession of dishes (not to mention fabulously good bread) created a pleasantly full feeling by the end. With a tasting menu, everything works together, creating a finished experience for the evening. It's like a concept album (to use another music metaphor) than a mere collection of singles. But if you want to drop in and sit at the kitchen bar, you can order from a la carte menu as well.


TORONTO — Barrick Gold Corp. entered into an agreement with Reunion Gold Corp. to form a 50-50 alliance to jointly explore for, develop and mine certain mineral projects in the Guiana Shield, including Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana and the North and Northeast Regions of Brazil.
Reunion, an exploration and development company, will initially contribute to the Alliance the Waiamu, Aremu, Arawini and Oko Projects, all located in Guyana. Barrick will initially fund an amount equal to $4.2 million on these projects, as credit for historical exploration expenditures by Reunion, with subsequent funding to be on a 50-50 basis between Reunion and Barrick.
As long as the strategic alliance agreement remains in effect, if Reunion acquires an interest or an option to acquire an interest in any mineral property in the subject area, Barrick will have 90 days to elect to include the new project in the alliance. Barrick can nominate an alliance project as a designated project, and has the right to earn a 70 percent interest by sole funding and completing a feasibility study for the project.
Barrick has agreed to acquire up to 35,700,000 common shares of Reunion at a price of $0.11 per share. The aggregate consideration to be paid by Barrick in the offering is up to $4.08 million. The Reunion offering is expected to close on or about Feb. 6.
As a result of its additional investment, Barrick will own a total of up to 83,700,000 Reunion shares, increasing its interest in Reunion from approximately 15 percent to approximately 20 percent of Reunion's issued and outstanding common shares.
Barrick will nominate one director to Reunion's board of directors, has the right to participate in future equity financings by Reunion and will have the right to assign one or more geologists to work full time on any or all of Reunion's mineral projects.


Hundreds of women staged a hunger strike in front of the Prakasam Bhavan here on Monday demanding closure of all liquor shops on the national and State highways following the Supreme Court's order in letter and spirit.
Leading the protest, National Federation of Indian Women State general secretary P. Durga Bhavani said it was unfortunate that the State government had issued a notification to change the nomenclature of the highways into district major roads to circumvent the court's order passed to prevent road mishaps.
Instead of restricting liquor shops, the State government foisted 'criminal cases' on women demanding closure of wine shops in residential areas, she lamented.
Noting that campaigns against HIV/AIDS and smoking had paid dividends, NFIW State president V. Jayalakshmi said a similar campaign against liquor should be undertaken by the government sincerely to wean away people from the vice.