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IV. The European Monetary System and the International Monetary Fund
Author: Mr. Peter Nyberg1, Horst Ungerer2, and Mr. Owen Evens3
OP; EMS; central bank; EMS currency; EMS Band; exchange rate; liquidity policy; EMS country; EC credit facilities; EC policy; EMS operation; Credit; International monetary system; Exchange rate policy; Exchange rate adjustments; Europe; Global; EC approach
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In its Resolution of December 5, 1978, the European Council stated: "The EMS is and will remain fully compatible with the relevant articles of the IMF Agreement."30 At the time of the establishment of the EMS, however, a number of questions were raised as to whether the operations of the EMS might impede the Fund in carrying out its functions in accordance with the Articles of Agreement. Questions were asked as to whether the Fund's and the EMS's approaches to the same problems might differ and whether conflicts might arise. These doubts concentrated on three areas: surveillance over exchange rate policies, conditionality in credit operations, and the creation of international liquidity.
While it may be too early to come to a final assessment, the experience of the first years with EMS operations allows some observations and conclusions. At the outset, it may be said that any clear incompatibility of goals or of general policy orientation would have been surprising, taking into account that in the economic field the objectives of the Fund, as laid down in its Articles of Agreement, and of the European Community, as established in the EEC Treaty, are often identical and certainly consistent. It should be noted, however, that while the Fund's final objectives are of an economic nature, the EC, and with it the EMS, has ultimately a political purpose. The creation of the European Economic Community aspired, according to the Preamble of the Treaty, "to lay the foundations of an ever closer union among the peoples of Europe."31 The EMS, in particular, is often viewed as preparing the ground for an eventual economic and monetary union by providing a high degree of exchange rate stability and a convergence of economic performance. While it is widely acknowledged that, during the first years of its existence, the EMS fell substantially short of some of its objectives, its ultimately political goals need to be kept in mind in judging policies and developments within the EMS.
Surveillance over Exchange Rate Policies
As described above, there have been several realignments of exchange rates in the EMS since its inception. While, in the beginning, exchange rate changes were apparently made without major controversy and, on the whole, in a smooth and timely fashion, more recent realignments led to discussions as to the direction and the size of adjustments "which became intense and at times difficult before unanimous consensus could be reached on a balanced rearrangement of the parity grid."32 It should be recalled in this connection that exchange rate changes in the EMS are a matter of common decision making and require unanimity among EMS participants. This requirement is not surprising when one considers the importance of such decisions for the functioning of the EMS and for the achievement of its twin objectives, external and internal stability, and also bearing in mind other aspects of common EC policies.
The International Monetary Fund is not formally a partner in this decision-making process, and the formal obligations of EMS countries, in keeping with the bilateral nature of Fund-member relations, have been fully met by notifying the Fund promptly of any changes in exchange rate policies. It is obvious that the Fund and the EMS have a similarly strong interest in the effectiveness of exchange rates in facilitating international transactions and of securing international balance. There can always be differences in judgment regarding the timing of a decision, the magnitude of the exchange rate adjustment, and the appropriate mix of external and domestic measures. Such differences could arise from different weights placed on economic or other considerations and from different assessments of the impact of alternative policy adjustments. Recognition of such differences is implicit in the exercise of Fund surveillance over the exchange rate policies of its members, in which the Fund is required to respect the domestic social and political policies of members and to pay due regard to the circumstances of members.33 In recent years, a number of European countries have tended to stress steadiness in exchange rate policy as a factor in the sociopolitical processes which influence present and future economic developments. A case in point is the "hard currency" option which emphasizes the importance of a stable nominal exchange rate for maintaining a high degree of domestic price stability which, in turn, is expected to influence favorably the social climate and, as a consequence, wage and cost developments. The EMS also needs to take into account other elements of common EC policies. It must look at adjustment policies also in the light of the quest for convergence as a way toward closer economic and monetary union.
Decisions on exchange rates are taken by national governments and the Fund's responsibility is to ensure that decisions taken (or not taken) by its member countries are appropriate given the interest of the international community. If there were serious doubts about the appropriateness of a particular decision, then the Fund would have a right and duty to question it.
Conditionality in Credit Operations
The question at issue is the desirability, indeed the need, to synchronize conditions in simultaneous or sequential borrowing operations by an EC country34 from the Fund and under the various EC credit facilities. While in a strict sense this need would only refer to the use of the EC mediumterm facilities (the mediumterm financial assistance and Community loan facilities), use of the unconditional shortterm monetary support scheme is also of interest since such shortterm borrowing could later lead to consolidation under one of the mediumterm facilities.
It can be assumed that any borrowing by an EC member country from the Fund or from an EC facility would have the same objective, namely, to give a country time to bring its balance of payments back in order. Again, as for other countries, differences may arise as to the nature of the adjustment policies to be implemented, perhaps in this case reflecting constraints related to common EC policies. However, such differences would be consistent with the Fund's obligation to pay due regard to the social and political objectives, the economic priorities, and the circumstances of members, provided the measures taken are adequate.35
The EC credit facilities (apart from the very shortterm financing facility) have been used infrequently and not at all since the start of the EMS. Consequently, no distinct pattern for the decision-making process and the character of conditionality has developed within the EC. However, in connection with a change in the provisions governing the Community loan mechanism in March 1981, the procedures to be followed were more precisely defined. These procedures are very much in line with the Fund's policy as regards conditionality. Thus, the EC approach, called "graduation of conditionality,"36 contains the elements of performance criteria, intermediate reviews, and the phasing of disbursements subject to compliance with the objectives of a stabilization program. Due to the limited number of its members and the special structure of its institutions, the decision-making process of the EC differs in character from that of the Fund. Regarding the mediumterm facilities, the Council of Ministers, representing all EC countries, will determine whether a loan will be granted, the amount of a loan, and the economic policy conditions. The decisions of the Council will be prepared by the EC Commission and the EC Monetary Committee, which consists of high government and central bank officials and representatives of the Commission. In this way, from the beginning, all member governments, as well as the Commission, will be actively involved in designing and negotiating the framework for balance of payments assistance.
In its report on this subject37 the Monetary Committee also states that no a priori position should be taken as to whether a country in need of balance of payments assistance should first use the one or the other mediumterm EC facility or should seek assistance from the International Monetary Fund. Rather, the ranking of calls on the various sources of financing should depend on the circumstances at a given time.
Creation of International Liquidity
When the European Monetary System was being established, the question was raised of whether any capacity of the EMS to create international liquidity on its own would not diminish the interest of EMS countries in the creation of international liquidity, conditional or unconditional, by the IMF. It should be pointed out, however, that any international liquidity created by the EMS would not be "global" but "regional" in character. Any excess creation of such liquidity by the EMS would, over time, inevitably undermine the payments situation of the EMS, very much as the creation of excess national liquidity will erode a currency's international strength.
The creation of ECUs against the contribution of 20 percent of a country's gold and gross U.S. dollar reserves to the EMCF does not in itself constitute the creation of international liquidity. It only substitutes globally usable liquidity (U.S. dollars and gold) for liquidity that, at present, can only be used regionally and is subject to special restrictions.
While the creation of ECUs against gold does not create liquidity, it mobilizes reserves that otherwise may not have been used, and in this way may encourage less stringent policies. Because of the differences between the valuation of gold in the books of some EMS central banks and the market-related rates at which it is exchanged against ECUs, there is a statistical increase in international liquidity as shown in International Financial Statistics,38 though this does not change the real liquidity position of a country. However, some of the central banks concerned employ procedures under which the domestic liquidity effect of such differences in gold valuation is sterilized.
The use of the EC and EMS credit facilities does not necessarily create international liquidity. For a credit under the very shortterm financing facility, the amount of the creditor central bank's currency in circulation increases, and a debtor position in ECUs is created. While the debtor position will disappear with settlement of the debt, the question of whether the newly created amount of the creditor currency remains in circulation or will disappear depends on the means the debtor central bank will employ to meet its settlement obligations. If, under a credit facility like the shortterm monetary support or the mediumterm financial assistance, a credit was granted in EMS currencies, the effect would be similar to a transaction under the very shortterm financing facility. If it was granted in foreign exchange (U.S. dollars) or in ECUs, there would only be a transfer of international liquidity from one central bank to another. A temporary creation of international liquidity could be imagined if the creditor central banks were to regard the claims they acquired as liquid, similar to a reserve tranche position in the IMF.
If, in the future, a European Monetary Fund were to be empowered to grant credits, the situation would be somewhat but not greatly changed. The granting of credits by a European Monetary Fund in ECUs would imply the replacement of national liquidity sources by an EC source. Presumably, the debtor central bank would convert ECUs with creditor central banks into national currencies or foreign exchange for intervention purposes, or use them outright for meeting settlement obligations. The effects in each case would be the same as in similar transactions described earlier, although with one important difference. Instead of claims on other central banks as at present, the creditor banks would receive newly issued ECUs, which are indistinguishable from other ECU holdings. In this way, there would be a temporary increase in international liquidity to the extent that actual use was made of loans from a European Monetary Fund. In the longer term, credit operations by a European Monetary Fund could give rise to a varying but permanent outstanding amount of additional ECUs.
An altogether different situation would exist once a European Monetary Fund is empowered to issue ECUs, not only against contributions in gold and U.S. dollars and in connection with credit operations, but also against national currencies or simply without any counterpart, similar to the IMF's allocation of special drawing rights (SDRs). The ECUs thus created would be indistinguishable from others and could be used in the same manner for settling intervention debts (or for any other international transaction that might be possible by then), and thus would contribute to an increase in international liquidity.
In this connection, it is interesting to examine whether the attitudes of EMS member countries on matters of monetary and liquidity policies have differed as they arose in the context of the IMF, the EMS, or in a strictly national framework. A careful look at individual EC member countries that participate in the EMS reveals that they attempt to adopt a consistent approach on monetary policy both in an international or national context. There are countries that follow a more conservative stability-oriented line in domestic monetary policy, with regard to liquidity creation within the EMS as well as with regard to the size of quota increases or the creation of SDRs in the IMF. And there are others that have adopted a less conservative and more expansion-oriented policy stance regarding domestic and international monetary problems.
To sum up, the European Monetary System does not at present permanently create international liquidity, except in a statistical sense. Schemes that could lead to the permanent creation of international liquidity, although only of a somewhat limited usability, will probably not be realized for some time to come. The present attitude of EMS member countries with regard to monetary policy does not give reason to assume that they would adopt different standards for monetary policy depending on whether they arise in the context of the International Monetary Fund or the European Monetary System.
III. The Evolution of the System
II The System and Its Development
I. Implications of Changes in the International Monetary System for the Role of the SDR
II Developments in World Economy and Implications for the International Monetary System
IX European Monetary Unification and the EFTA
Appendix III Chronology of EC Monetary and Financial Integration1
I Determinants and Systemic Consequences of International Capital Flows
IX The Agenda for Developing a Market-Based Monetary and Exchange System
III Problems with Present System
II. The Performance of the System
1 Developments in the International Monetary System, the International Monetary Fund, and International Monetary Law Since 1971
The Evolution of the International Monetary System and the Changing Role of the Fund
9 Implications of the Future Evolution of the International Monetary System
Selected Decisions and Resolutions of the International Monetary Fund
International Liquidity and the Role of the SDR in the International Monetary System
PART TWO The International Monetary System
The Fund after Jamaica: How an international monetary reform package was agreed upon, and how it affects the Fund's methods of operation
Chapter 2 The International Monetary Fund and the International Monetary System
Main developments in the European Monetary System: A review of the experience
Strengthening the International Monetary System-A Stocktaking
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Coping with Financial Crises: Latin American Answers to European Questions
Building Effective Banking Systems in Latin America and the Caribbean
European Investment Bank (EIB): A Long Term Presence in Portugal
Monetary Policy Challenges in Emerging Markets: Sudden Stop, Liability Dollarization, and Lender of Last Resort
European Investment Bank's (EIB) Role and Experience in European Public Private Partnerships
Bank Linkages and International Trade
Disbursement performance of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD): An in-depth analysis of drivers and trends.
Financing international projects (ICM 3)
Workshop on Review and Assessment of European Air Pollution Policies
The New Multi-Polar International Monetary System
A Regime-Switching Approach to Studying Speculative Attacks: A Focus on European Monetary System Crises
Reform of the International Monetary System: A Jagged History and Uncertain Prospects
The effect of International Monetary Fund and World Bank programs on poverty
Money, Politics, and a Future for the International Financial System
Reshaping the International Monetary Architecture: Lessons From Keynes' Plan
Euro Currency Risk and the Geography of Debt Flows to Peripheral European Monetary Union Members
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https://www.elibrary.imf.org/view/book/9781557750631/C4.xml
The European Monetary System
The Experience, 1979-82
Author: Mr. Peter Nyberg, Horst Ungerer, and Mr. Owen Evens
I. Introduction and Background
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Thygesen, Niels, "The Emerging European Monetary System: Precursors, First Steps and Policy Options," in "EMS: The Emerging European Monetary System," Papers and Proceedings of the First International Seminar on the EMS held at Louvain-la-Neuve, March 24–25, 1979, by John Williamson, Alexandre Lamfalussy, Niels Thygesen, et.al. Ed. by Robert Triffin. Bulletin de la Banque Nationale de Belgique (April 1979), pp. 87–125.
Thygesen, Niels, "The Emerging European Monetary System: Precursors, First Steps and Policy Options," in "EMS: The Emerging European Monetary System," Papers and Proceedings of the First International Seminar on the EMS held at Louvain-la-Neuve, March 24–25, 1979, by John Williamson, Alexandre Lamfalussy, Niels Thygesen, et.al. Ed. by Robert Triffin. Bulletin de la Banque Nationale de Belgique (April 1979), pp. 87–125.)| false
Thygesen, Niels, "Are Monetary Policies and Performances Converging?" (with a comment by Wolfgang Rieke) in "The European Monetary System: The First Two Years," Banca Nazionale del Lavoro, Quarterly Review, Vol. 34 (September 1981), pp. 297–326.
Thygesen, Niels, "Are Monetary Policies and Performances Converging?" (with a comment by Wolfgang Rieke) in "The European Monetary System: The First Two Years," Banca Nazionale del Lavoro, Quarterly Review, Vol. 34 (September 1981), pp. 297–326.)| false
Trezise, Philip H., ed., The European Monetary System: Its Promise and Prospects, Papers Prepared for a Conference held at the Brookings Institution in April 1979, (The Brookings Institution, Washington, 1979).
Trezise, Philip H., ed., The European Monetary System: Its Promise and Prospects, Papers Prepared for a Conference held at the Brookings Institution in April 1979, (The Brookings Institution, Washington, 1979).)| false
Triffin, Robert, "The European Monetary System and How it Fits into the International Monetary System," Economia, Vol. 3 (Lisbon, October 1979), pp. 537–61.
Triffin, Robert, "The European Monetary System and How it Fits into the International Monetary System," Economia, Vol. 3 (Lisbon, October 1979), pp. 537–61.)| false
Ungerer, Horst, "The European Monetary System," International Monetary Fund, IMF Survey, Supplement (March 19, 1979), pp. 97–100.
Ungerer, Horst, "The European Monetary System," International Monetary Fund, IMF Survey, Supplement (March 19, 1979), pp. 97–100.)| false
U.S. Congress, Joint Economic Committee and Committee on Banking, Finance, and Urban Affairs, The European Monetary System: Problems and Prospects, 96th Congress, 1st Session (Washington, Government Printing Office, 1979).
U.S. Congress, Joint Economic Committee and Committee on Banking, Finance, and Urban Affairs, The European Monetary System: Problems and Prospects, 96th Congress, 1st Session (Washington, Government Printing Office, 1979).)| false
van Ypersele de Strihou, Jacques, "The Future of the European Monetary System," Revue de la Banque, No. 2 (1981), pp. 179–95.
van Ypersele de Strihou, Jacques, "The Future of the European Monetary System," Revue de la Banque, No. 2 (1981), pp. 179–95.)| false
Vaubel, Roland, "The Return to the New European Monetary System: Objectives, Incentives, Perspectives," Monetary Institutions and the Policy Process, Carnegie–Rochester Conference Series on Public Policy, Vol. 13 (Autumn, 1980), pp. 173–221.
Vaubel, Roland, "The Return to the New European Monetary System: Objectives, Incentives, Perspectives," Monetary Institutions and the Policy Process, Carnegie–Rochester Conference Series on Public Policy, Vol. 13 (Autumn, 1980), pp. 173–221.)| false
Werner, Pierre, "Du Plan Werner au système monétaire européen," Bulletin de documentation, Service Information et Presse, Luxembourg (March 1980), pp. 1–7.
Werner, Pierre, "Du Plan Werner au système monétaire européen," Bulletin de documentation, Service Information et Presse, Luxembourg (March 1980), pp. 1–7.)| false
Williamson, John, Alexandre Lamfalussy, Niels Thygesen, et. al., "EMS: The Emerging European Monetary System," Papers and Proceedings of the First International Seminar on the EMS held at Louvain-la-Neuve, March 24–25, 1979. Ed. by Robert Triffin. Bulletin de la Banque Nationale de Belgique (April 1979), pp. 3–186.
Williamson, John, Alexandre Lamfalussy, Niels Thygesen, et. al., "EMS: The Emerging European Monetary System," Papers and Proceedings of the First International Seminar on the EMS held at Louvain-la-Neuve, March 24–25, 1979. Ed. by Robert Triffin. Bulletin de la Banque Nationale de Belgique (April 1979), pp. 3–186.)| false


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iHerb Commits US $100 Million Investment in Russia to Better Serve Russian Communities
Pasadena, California, October 1, 2020. Global health and beauty e-commerce leader iHerb is committing US $100 million in Russia within the next two years to better serve Russian communities we have been privileged to support for many years.
This commitment will include a variety of areas such as exporting Russian products, partnerships with Russian logistics companies, expansion of our technology development center, and the building of robotic fulfillment centers. Such investments will enable vital health and personal care products to arrive at our customers' homes more quickly and efficiently in furtherance of iHerb's mission.
"We are committed to our mission of offering our global customer base the earth's best selection of available natural products, at the best possible value, delivered with the most convenient experience," says iHerb President Emun Zabihi. "I am confident that this investment will get us closer to our mission and what we offer to our valued customers in Russia."
iHerb's renewed commitment in Russia builds on our already strong relationship with valued local customers and further demonstrates iHerb's determination to do its part to continue in helping bolster Russia's economy, both at the local and national levels.
iHerb has invested extensively in offering the best overall value in the world for more than 30,000 quality brand name natural products, shipped directly from our state of the art climate controlled facilities. Our expanded investment in Russia further demonstrates iHerb's commitment to quality, customer experience, and delivering health and wellness products safely to where our customers live and work.
About iHerb: iHerb is one of the largest US-based e-commerce retailers offering 30,000 products from 1,200 top brands to millions of customers around the world. iHerb ships directly from GMP certified, state-of-the-art climate controlled warehouses to customers in 188 countries and territories. Since 1996, iHerb has continued to innovate in bringing the highest quality products, at the best possible value, delivered with the most convenient customer experience. https://www.iherb.com

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The Elba Island in Italy has always been considered the pearl of the Tyrrhenian Sea and, despite the fact that yearly visitors are increasing, you can still find quiet spaces for beach tourism off the beaten track to enjoy your holidays in peace! Following our advice on things to do on Elba Island and Isola d'Elba places to visit you'll find yourself relaxing on your holiday!
The Island of Elba is the largest of the islands of the Tuscan Archipelago and is the third largest Italian island after Sicily and Sardinia. Its name has ancient origins: as evidenced by Livio, The Young Plinio and other Latin authors, the island was called Ilva, meaning iron. There were also nicknames: the Greeks called it 'Aethalia', meaning smoky, while the Romans referred to it as 'Favilla', probably indicating the fires from the iron mines. It is clear that the fame and the features of this place were represented by its mineral deposits.
Firstly, there are the historical notes, geographic factors of Elba Island in Tuscany and interesting Elba Island attractions to consider in order to fully appreciate its beauty and its traditions. It is important to know that the Elba places to visit are famous and popular not only because of the island's natural heritage made of creeks, bays, small Elba Island beaches and crystal clear sea. The magnificence of Elba is revealed also by its natural possibilities that one can experience through trekking and its rich history and centuries old culture.
How to get to Elba Island is easy from Piombino. When you reach this triangular island and find its mountainous character, you will want to discover what lies beyond the Elba Island beaches and undertake some hiking excursions! Elba Island, Italy is big and can be explored by various means: renting a car or a scooter, or if you have more time and energy, you could even rent a bike! In addition, there are also areas to rent small boats, canoes and rafts so the sea and the other Elba Island beaches can be explored! One of the joys of a holiday on Elba Island lies in being able to have contact with nature, savouring its scents and pausing from time to time to admire the scenery!
The Elba Island holidays offer clear sea and scenic areas, including historic sites and ancient villages. On the Elba Island things to do is a difficult choice due to the numerous possibilities. It is, therefore, not a place to stand still and contemplate the scenery or spend all the time sunbathing as it would be a shame for you to miss the rest of the Isola d'Elba in Italy. Among other choices of what to see in Elba island, the first one is to get in contact with the environment and also with the people! The Elba inhabitants are very attached to their traditions and, so if you can establish a dialogue with them, you will discover curious and interesting local stories (and they may also give you some tips on secret Elba Island sandy beaches!). You will be correct in thinking that the speech of the Elba inhabitants sounds rather strange: in fact, their dialect was formed under the influence of Tuscany and the nearby island of Corsica.
GEOGRAPHY. When you explore the territory of the Island of Elba it will bring you great rewards. So, map in hand, you can write down our suggestions to help you visit Elba in Italy!
The surface of the Isola d'Elba in Tuscany, Italy is 224 sq km and occupies the centre of the Tuscan Archipelago National Park together with the other islands (Giglio, Giannutri, Capraia, Pianosa, Gorgona and Montecristo). The shape of the island resembles an equilateral triangle with the point being occupied by Monte Capanne (the highest peak) in the west, while the eastern part is full of mines and slightly hilly. The coasts, and therefore the beaches of the Elba Island, are bathed by the Ligurian Sea to the north, by the Piombino Channel to the east, from the Tyrrhenian Sea to the south and finally by the Channel of Corsica to the west. Hence, during your tour, you will have the opportunity to swim in different waters!
The island of Elba it is interspersed with hills and cliffs and a dense forest of oak and chestnut trees, as well as forests typical of the Mediterranean region. The winds that strike the island - sometimes the south-west wind can be powerful –are full of the scent of the Mediterranean scrub and constantly changing the clouds on the horizon, creating a real art scene.
For orientation purposes and to understand how and where to go on Elba Island the territory should be 'divided' into three parts:
The mountainous part is located to the west and is dominated by the dizzying heights of the highest and mainly granitic mountain, Mount Capanne. This area also includes mountains like Mount Perone and Mount Jupiter, as well as lower altitudes.
The central area, however, is mostly flat or has gently rolling hills covered with forests of oak and a remarkable Mediterranean scrub. Here, the main centres like Portoferraio and Campo Elba are located. La Piana di Campo, the largest in the territory is home to some of the best beaches on Elba: fine sandy bays and spectacular gulfs such as Marina di Campo, Lacona, Procchio and Biodola.
The eastern part is particularly impressive, especially if you are fond of geology and minerals. It is, in fact, the oldest part of the Island of Elba, where you can detect the unions between the incandescent granitic rock (formed deep inside the Earth's crust) and the overlying seafloor. The temperature of the magma caused chemical alterations giving rise to metallic veins that have marked these places forever creating the famous iron mines.
During your island of Elba holiday you can fascinate children with the minerals and crystals that you find everywhere. Discover with them the wonders of the Casket of Pluto! (the way in which the ancients called the island). To undertake an adventure out of the ordinary, you should also visit the underground tunnel of the mine located on the Monte Calamita.
HISTORY. The island of Elba was already inhabited in prehistoric and neolithic times, as evidenced by the artefact fossils and animal bones found here. The remains of the villages of the first island civilization, the Ilvati, dating back to approximately 2,000 B.C., are visible on the Colle delle Grottacce in Valle di Pomonte .
The Etruscans were the first population who exploited the most the mineral deposits on the Island of Elba: high fortresses (strategic points of observation) are to be found at Monte Castello, Monte Fabbrello, Castiglione di Campo and Castiglione San Martino and funerary remains at Capoliveri, Rio Marina, Procchio, Portoferraio and others.
Following the Etruscans, several raids by Cumanians and Syracuse pirates occurred until the arrival of the Romans, who dominated the island of Elba throughout their empire. The historic Roman sites to see are the three villas of the imperial age: Villa Linguella (where you can also visit the Archaeological Museum), Villa of the Caves and Villa of Cape Castle. The Roman period also left its mark through the famous ship wrecks in the areas of Procchio, Chiessi and St Andrea. It is also possible to visit them in a day during a scuba diving excursion!
At the fall of the Roman Empire (476 A.D.) a period of barbarian invasions followed. The Hermitage of St Cerbone, and other places of hermitage, became a haven for many Christian monks fleeing persecution.
When the city of Pisa included in its territory Elba Island, it significantly improved the Etruscan and Roman fortifications of the island and major municipalities were created: Capoliveri, Ferraia, Pomonte, Poggio and many others. We suggest that, among the many things to do on the Elba Island, you should visit some churches from this era, such as the St Giovanni Church and St Michele, in addition to small churches scattered across the island, in particular the Church of St Nicholas in St Piero in Campo.
Modern times see the presence of the Medici family of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, who founded Portoferraio. It was built as a fortress for military defence purposes and became the headquarters of the Knights of Santo Stefano. Its old town is certainly worth more than one visit. From here you can take one of the best known itineraries of the Island of Elba, which consists of a visit to the imperial residences of a later period: Villa dei Mulini - the home of Napoleon on Elba Island - and Villa San Martino (summer residence).
In the 19th century, Elba hosted the exiled Napoleone Bonaparte (1814) and also Garibaldi (1849) made a brief stop on the Island of Elba with some of his soldiers.
In the 20th century, apart from the world wars, at the end of the 50s many excavations were undertaken that unearthed, amongst the several archaeological sites, the Roman Villa of the Caves.
BEAUTIFUL BEACHES. The island is full of dream coves and many different and wonderful beaches on Elba, Italy. We at toscanainside.com recommend some places where you can enjoy clear seas and the Elba Island best beaches. In the area of Portoferraio for example, the Sansone and Sansonella Beaches have white pebbles, the beaches of Peducelli and Stagnone in the Capoliveri area have a beautiful rocky landscape, Porticciolo near Rio Marina has a small bay surrounded by greenery and, in the same area, the Topinetti beach, feature shimmering sands due to the presence of hematite mines nearby. If you have the ability to access Elba island by sea, we suggest you go to the area of Punta Calamita, where you can swim with the mines in the background, the Cala dei Frati near Portoferraio with its crystal clear water and, finally, the Palamitara and Piastrone beaches along the coast of Cape Stella to indulge in some great snorkelling.
FLORA AND FAUNA. The Island of Elba is one of the richest and most significant in the Mediterranean. The diversity of the area, between the mountains and hilly areas, allows one to come into contact with different types of vegetation, including chestnut woods in the mountainous area of Mount Capanne, along with plants such as yew, holly, juniper and other less common plants such as the red lily and Solomon's seal. The eastern part hosts, however, other species such as anemones and the asphodel star not found on the mountains of the western part. The numerous aromatic plants along the paths will send you into ecstasy!
What to see on Elba Island also includes its wonderful fauna: birds are the most interesting animals, including the Berte, a close relative of the albatross. Not only will you be fascinated by the way they fly on the edge of the water and the horizon, but also by their songs!
During your travels to Elba you will, of course, see also Seagulls (Royal Course) and their arch enemy, the Raven!
WHAT YOU SHOULD TASTE. On Elba Island there is a lot to see, but do not forget the food! Among the dishes we suggest Gurguglione vegetable soup and the Acqua persa, the Cacciucco (although it is a Livorno dish), the Sburrita Riese (cooked spicy codfish), stuffed fried squid and marinated fried Zerri (small fish cooked in the pan) and, last but not least, the Schiaccia briaca (cake made from dried fruit, flour and sweet wine).
BEACHES. The island of Elba tourism is a land of traditions, legends and ancient stories, including the very famous Innamorata beach on Isola d'Elba. It is claimed that in the16th century, a period of pirates and Saracen raids, two young lovers, children of two feuding families, used to meet secretly on a beach in Capoliveri which later took the name of Cala dell'Innamorata beach, Elba. Young Lorenzo was from a rich family, while the girl, named Maria, came from a humble family. It is said that on the evening of 14th July 1534 while Lorenzo waited for his sweetheart in the usual place a Mori ship landed and he was immediately taken prisoner. The pirates killed the young man and threw his body into the sea. Maria who saw the scene threw herself into the sea to drown. A story, similar to Romeo and Juliet, but also one that has given rise to ghost stories and one that continues to be celebrated and commemorated to the present day with a yearly candlelight vigil on the beach and a parade through the streets of Capoliveri .
After this romantic legend, you just need to visit Elba and experience this fantastic place. Remember: things to do on Elba Island is up to you! Choose from the enjoyment of the sea and try scuba diving to explore the shipwrecks and seabed of the National Marine Park; or undertake a mountain bike ride and enjoy the views from different angles (you may even manage to see a few islands in the distance!). Finally, if you love archaeology and local history, try the areas richer in ancient remains or the scattered villages in the hinterland. Do you love nature and did you promise your child an encounter with some cute pet to be photographed? No problem! During Elba tourism, excursions to the forest or the mountains are certainly not lacking!
Our last piece of advice is that the Isola d'Elba in Italy is a rare opportunity to explore nature and history, so travel around and make the most of your time visiting Elba in Italy!
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Nothing comes quite close as to the unmistakable illuminance of neon signs.
Some of the most enticing and beautiful signs are neon signage. The buzzing of the electricity, the brightness of the light, intricate shapes and the craftsmanship bring a new level of inspiration and stir the emotions. Mention neon signs, and perhaps the first imagery that comes to mind are the glitzy, dazzling strips along Las Vegas.
Neon lights were first developed in the late 1800s with neon signs becoming commonplace in the early 1900s, and are created by higher skilled and experienced signage professionals who have spent considerable time perfecting this craft. Neon signs were used by many businesses in the early to mid 1900s to help make them stand out.
To date, neon signs and signboards have decorated the skyline of many great cities around the world from New York, Las Vegas, Tokyo and London for their distinctive look and feel, highlighting the building, logos, company names in a very retro manner.
This part of the signage industry is one that has declined over the years as LEDs have become to flood the market. Thankfully there has been a renewed interest in neon with specialised niche markets being created for the true cognisor of traditional signage illumination. Many artists and architects are now returning to the original neon techniques for their projects. Neon signage is created by higher skilled and experienced crafts people.
Neon signage contains few parts while producing incredible imagery. So how does neon work? Basically, neon signs contain long luminous gas discharge tubes that contain rarefied neon or similar gases. When an electrical current is added, the gases glow in different colours depending in the gas used and also the tube colour. To form the bends and shapes required for signages, the tubes are bent using heat and templates. It is a highly skilled job that takes a high level of craft, patience and accuracy.
If you have requirements for neon signage, contact us today! Or check out our portfolio for alternative ideas and inspiration!


JoJo Fletcher and Jordan Rodgers are making big moves as a couple.
"The Bachelorette" lovebirds had to keep their engagement on the DL for months until the season finale aired.
Right after the episode, JoJo and Jordan made their first public appearance together and they looked more in love than ever.
Shortly after, the two went on an awesome vacation in Malibu, California. They are LIVIN' IT UP.
Just two peas in a pod. How precious.
Now "The Bachelorette" cuties are taking their relationship to the next level by moving to JoJo's hometown in Dallas, Texas.
Jordan and JoJo both documented their entire trip on Snapchat, and it looked like an exhausting journey. The couple set out on Wednesday morning to officially start their lives together. No looking back now.
"The Bachelorette" and her hubby are moving in together!
They left at 4:35 am to embark on a 10-hour road trip to Dallas. I hope they peed before this.
...until JoJo fell asleep and Jordan decided to have some fun with her.
Let the #JoJosleepswatch2016 games begin!
Jordan Rodgers decided to live-tweet his drive with a napping JoJo.
BRO, KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE ROAD!
It's OK, Jordan assured us he only texted during the stops. Silly Jordan! He fooled me.
JoJo did eventually wake up (I was nervous!) and tweeted about her man.
Cutest couple ever? I think so.


text:
Hon'ble Mr. Justice Ratilal Bhaichand Mehta
Date of Birth : 01/11/1901,
Date of Joining : 21/07/1960,
Held Office Till : 15/11/1961,
Source :BAR,
Introduction : On 15th May 1950, he was appointed as a Judge of the City Civil Court and Additional Sessions Judge, Greater Bombay.
Full Profile :
Obtained his LL.B. Degree from Government Law College, at Bombay in the first Class in 1924. After qualifying to be an Advocate on the Original side, he started practice both on the original ad Appellate sides of the Bombay High Court, in April 1927. In 1944-45, he was elected a Member of the Bombay Bar Council. He was a Member of the Bombay Special Tribunal, which was the successor of the 2nd Special Tribunal, Lahore, after the partition from May 1948 to 17th May 1950. On 15th May 1950, he was appointed as a Judge of the City Civil Court and Additional Sessions Judge, Greater Bombay. In 1957, he was appointed the Principal Judge of the City Civil Court and Sessions Judge, Greater Bombay. He was appointed as a Judge of Gujarat High Court on July 21, 1960.
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Tue. Jan 19th, 2021
'We will not rush to reopen pre-tertiary schools' – GES
The Ghana Education Service (GES) says it will not rush to reopen pre-tertiary schools in the country as the locally transmitted coronavirus (COVID-19) keeps surging in the country.
The Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Professor Kwasi Opoku Amankwa noted the Service would safely reopen pre-tertiary schools schools on the advice of the inuagrated committee.
Professor Opoku Amankwa speaking at a day's training workshop on the Secondary School Improvement Project (SEIP) said schools will only reopen after the 10 member committee's recommendation has been accepted.
He noted that the Ghana Education Service (GES), currently has no scheduled date to reopen pre-tertiary schools adding that "but schools will reopen some time".
The Director-General explained that even though the resumption of schools was purely an educational matter, it also had health implications amid COVID-19, stressing that "as a result, the 10 member committee has a representatives from the Ghana Health Service."
Meanwhile, the Education Ministry has tasked the committee to report their recommendations by September 21, 2020 for President Akufo-Addo's approval.
Touching on the SEIP, the Director-General said it was a $196 million World Bank Credit Facility geared at improving underdeprived secondary schools in the country.
He said the project which started 2014 and expected to end 2021 was purposely to improve access to secondary education in underserved districts as well as enhance learning outcomes in these schools.
He noted some secondary schools in the country had not been doing well, affecting the annual school placement system.
"It is important to emphasis that it has become a ritual where just close to about 50 to 60 schools are the ones everyone wants his or her child or ward to attend, and this mounts a lot of pressure on such school," Prof. Opoku-Amankwa added.
He said the SEIP was meant to help reduce pressures on the top-performing schools by improving infrastructure to make them attractive to students and supporting brilliant but needy students.
On the issue of one hot meal for students at the basic and final year students, he said all students, irrespective of whether in public or private school would be covered.
Prof. Opoku-Amankwa said a committee to see to the implementation of the programme had already been constituted, adding that "for the basics schools, their food would be prepared by caterers of the school feeding programme.
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2 thoughts on "'We will not rush to reopen pre-tertiary schools' – GES"
Agbakey lsaac says:
When would be the reopening of the SHS form one gold and green?
When would be the reopening of shs form one gold and green track


A course of eight weight reduction training workshops incorporating hypno-sessions, NLP, group sessions plus nutrition and exercise tips.
Gain control over your weight for good.
Small groups of up to five people allowing for a more individual approach.
Please note, a £20 non-refundable deposit will be required at the time of booking.


Home Entertainment Gists #BBNaija: Day 32 – Bisola The Aligator Queen, Biggie Pulls A Fast One On The Housemates & They Win Their Wager!
#BBNaija: Day 32 – Bisola The Aligator Queen, Biggie Pulls A Fast One On The Housemates & They Win Their Wager!
Did you watch Day 32 if the Big Brother Reality TV show?
If you missed it we've got the highlights for you!
With the House chores out of the way, Bassey and Bisola lingered around the closet area sharing jokes and in walked ThinTallTony and the conversation took an instant dramatic turn. Bassey first expressed his shock and playful trauma at the sounds that emanated from Bisola as she was brushing her teeth earlier.
ThinTallTony took the joke to astronomical levels when he simulated a news broadcaster and asked Bassey if he was traumatized by watching and dealing with an alligator brushing her 45 Molars. He then proceeded to attempt to interview "the alligator" from a distance citing the fact that he needed a boom mic so as to stay safe.
As the joke progressed, they even teased Bisola that during the Dark Bath Task yesterday, all the Housemates were very squirmish and screamed in the tub, but Bisola remained calm as she was "at home in her elements" in the swampy murk they were sitting in. This line got Bisola in stitches as she attempted to bite Bassey.
This bite move got them pushing the boundaries of the joke further as they suggested she was attempting to turn Bassey into an alligator too. ThinTallTony got up immediately and simulated admitting an antidote to a twitching Bassey. TTT was quick to add that he had been bitten by the alligator yesterday and didn't administer the antidote timeously, hence his occasional bouts of twitching.
The new Brief sent by Biggie was to inform the Housemates that they needed to spice up their play presentation for tonight. The good news from Biggie was that there was a box of accessories waiting for them in the store room and these accessories would help them spruce up their outfits and add more zest to their Play Presentations.
Biggie had informed them yesterday that they needed to discuss the various superstitions they remembered from their childhood days, and they were required to divide themselves into two separate groups and each group needed to create a play themed after these superstitions.
Just when the Housemates thought their secrets were safe, Biggie pulled a fast one on them.
They were called into the Arena for Part Two of the Task where they have to eat disgusting food in order to keep their secrets safe. Part One of the Task was on Tuesday, where Biggie asked the Housemates to write down their most daring secret and further gave them the chance of opting to keep their secrets safe by eating the disgusting food, or risk having them revealed, should they refuse.
The Housemates agreed to eat the food, except for TBoss, who flatly refused at first but asked HoH Kemen to plead with Biggie to give her a second chance, after all the other Housemates had eaten their food. Her request was granted and she proceeded to eat, joining the other Housemates who had already completed the Task. Biggie then assured them that their secrets were safe. Little did they know that Biggie had one up his sleeve.
The Housemates were once again made to eat disgusting food this afternoon. Some of the food included boiled seaweed, octopus, boiled cow tongue, squid tentacles, and clams. Biggie had warned them before that Task began, that the Task was a team effort. Should one of them fail to eat the food, all of them would have failed.
Before the challenge even began, the Housemates were already speculating what Biggie had in store for them. "I do not like what I see," said Bally. ThinTallTony guessed Biggie would make them eat disgusting food again. "You'll see live crab," Bisola chipped in. Her guess was spot on!
When Biggie finished explaining the challenge rules, HoH Kemen requested that the Housemates be given a couple of seconds to discuss if they were up to the challenge. However, Biggie flatly refused. Kemen was called up first, followed by Efe, Uriel, Jon, bally, Bisola, Debie-Rise, ThinTallTony, TBoss, Ese and lastly, Bassey.
Debie-Rise and TBoss struggled most. The other Housemates even made fun of TBoss after she screamed, "Oh my God, it has poo-poo in it!". Ese used the same tone, screaming "Oh my God, you have to eat it!" right back, much to the amusement of the other Housemates.
After all the Housemates had completed the Task, Biggie jokingly said he wanted to test how far the Housemates would go to keep their secrets safe. He said his Ninjas would bring another round of disgusting food. The Housemates gasped in horror upon hearing this. Biggie then let them know he was joking. He congratulated the Housemates for a job well done and further assured them that their secrets were safe.
The Housemates had a mouthful to say to Biggie during their separate Diary Sessions today.
It's been two days since they last had their Diary Sessions so it came as no surprise that they had quite a lot to say, it being a hectic week for them with all the scary Tasks and all.
The Housemates made comments about the Disgusting Food/Secrets, the Dark Bath Tasks, the surprise visit from actor and comedian Mr. Ibu, as well as their Task Presentation, among their general comments about the mood, what's happening in the House.
First up in the Diary Room was Fake Housemate Ese, who noted that several Housemates were trying to get on her nerves. TBoss was the main culprit. Biggie had to remind her that she is the house irritant after all, therefore she should also take a bit of irritating behavior from the other Housemates.
Debie-Rise, TBoss, Bally, Uriel and Bassey complained of having sore tummies after the Disgusting Food/Secrets Task. "I am bloated and disgusted. We had to eat disgusting food. It was like eating a plateful of fermented vomit. It's really been a crazy week. I have bruises all over my body," said TBoss.
"I think it's amazing that Mr Ibu came yesterday, especially since we had just talked about him the previous day. I was happy that he opened his heart and gave us an opportunity to work with him when we come out of the House," said ThinTallTony.
"Housemates, Big Brother is not in the mood to withhold your Wager. You have won your Wager," sounded Biggie's voice over the intercom.
This was met with loud screams and leaps of joy from the Housemates. They had put in 100% Wager this week.
This made it the second week in a row that Housemates won their Wager. Their excitement was so much, such that Biggie had to ask them to settle down so he could continue with the announcement that he had something special for them in the Store Room.
This week's theme was centered on Fears, Phobias, and Superstitions and Biggie has had the Housemates doing all sorts of scary things, from eating disgusting food to being poured with slimy substances and other scary activities.
For the Task Presentation, the Housemates were divided into two groups. The one group consisted of Marvis, Uriel, Bally, Debie-Rise, ThinTallTony and Kemen and in the other group was Bisola, TBoss, Efe, Jon, Bassey and Ese. Both groups had come up with a performance.
Before delivering the verdict, Biggie reminded the Housemates that they would be judged based on the quality of their collective performance. He also commended the Housemates for overcoming their fears this week by taking part in the Tasks.
After Biggie had announced that the Housemates had a "gift" for the Housemates in the Store Room, they hurried to see what it was. They were more than happy to find crates of Legend Stout and Heineken.


text:
TriplePundit Sponsored Series
Tech Titans: Community Citizens?
The Bay Area's Affordable Housing Options: Band Aid or Panacea?
Words by Jan Lee
The San Francisco Bay Area's housing problem is no secret. In fact, it's been around for so long that organizations created to incentivize housing options for low-income or impoverished residents more than 30 years ago have become an essential part of the fabric that supports incoming, idealistic new arrivals -- even ones with solid jobs.
These days, the challenge of finding housing in the Bay Area's nine counties isn't limited to the low-income family, the elderly resident on Social Security or the homeless, disabled veteran. It extends across all economic sectors and most neighborhoods of the Bay Area's burgeoning cities and suburbs. It includes the restaurant staff that services San Francisco's mid-city tech industry, the front office workers in Oakland and the part-time office cleaners throughout the area. It even includes those entry-level to mid-income salaried tech employees who don't earn enough to snag one of the few houses on the market each month.
And it isn't just in those communities where the tech industry is booming. As is so often the case in geographic areas where a growing industry has forced demand to outpace supply, the shortage is almost everywhere. The deficiency in affordable housing is even felt in East Bay suburbs an hour's drive away from the city. In places like Lafayette, the market demand for houses has pushed the median price above $1 million, far out of reach for the average worker. And it's done one more thing, says Sonya Trauss: It's eroded the rental market.
Trauss is the founder of the San Francisco Bay Area Renters Federation (SFBARF) -- an organization that, up until recently, received more attention for its odd acronym than its answers to the area's rental woes. But earlier this month, SFBARF did what many figured was the unthinkable: It announced it would sue Lafayette for allegedly going against its word and not building enough affordable housing. And it would go after others that it felt fell short on their commitment as well.
The way that Trauss sees the problem: Cities don't want to have affordable housing in their backyards.
"There's not enough political will to build," Trauss said earlier this month in an interview with TriplePundit. "Suburbs have the idea that housing doesn't pay."
It's easy to see why. In neighborhoods like Palo Alto and Mountain View, where the average two-bedroom, modestly-sized house can range as high as $3 million, rental neighborhoods are an endangered species. They figure large in Mountain View's North Shore Precise Plan, but are hard to find on its development map.
SFBARF's answer for the region's housing dilemma has raised some eyebrows as well. It isn't, well, the kind of thing that residents expect to hear in the Bay Area, where stories of rush-hour gridlock extend back into the 1960s and the population already tops 7 million. But it speaks to the heart of the problem in counties like Solano and Marin, where single detached homes comprise as much as 70 percent of the existing real estate market.
More population density
There's room in the suburbs, Trauss argues. "I do understand that there are people in the that like the suburban form, and I think there is enough room in the Bay Area for there to be suburban sprawl -- for a while at least." But she feels there's also room for more density that would meet the needs of those who like city life and need better options for housing. And, contrary to many who move to outlying areas like Lafayette and Walnut Creek, she says she likes density. It affords more opportunities, cuts down on commutes and interconnects communities.
Gloria Bruce agrees that "suburban sprawl" offers at least part of the answer to fixing the Bay Area's housing crunch. She serves as the executive director for the East Bay Housing Organizations (EBHO), which advocates for improved housing options in places like Oakland, a city that doesn't have the sprawl but often tries to address its housing shortages. These days, Bruce says, mindset isn't a predominate problem in Oakland when it comes to building affordable housing. Money and resources are.
"It's not -- overall -- a NIMBY [not in my backyard] city," says Bruce, although she admits that there are "pockets of resistance" when it comes to building low-income housing. "The problem Oakland has now is that it just doesn't have sufficient money to build much more affordable housing."
But that doesn't mean other cities can't do more. "I do think it's important to shine a light on other places -- from Pleasanton to Mountain View to communities in Marin -- that have new jobs in various sectors but are generally resistant to building more housing."
She says EBHO has tried to work with outlying counties where lower-income individuals work and can't afford to rent, but it is difficult. "There is huge resistance to building more homes in many of these places; there's a feeling that it's a threat to a certain way of life. But when your traffic is snarled, and your adult kids or your aging parents can no longer afford to live in your hometown, and your first responders and your domestic workers are commuting two hours to get to work. What kind of quality of life is that anyway?"
Still, says Bruce, local governments aren't without tools to reduce the housing crunch. Impact fees, in which employers pay a small fee each time one of its newly hired staff rented a unit could help defray cost of building more affordable housing. So could "inclusionary zoning" laws that help ensure that low-cost housing is factored into the neighborhoods. But so far, it's been difficult getting support at city council meetings. She says cities "sometimes even fight the allocation given to them by the Association of Bay Area Government," a state-mandated allocation that ensures every city is taking affordable housing needs into consideration.
Jackie Jenks, who runs the Hospitality House across the bay from Oakland in San Francisco's densely-populated Tenderloin District, offers a similar take on what is fueling the crisis. And she doesn't beat around the bush when it comes to assessing the reasons that housing costs are unattainable by a growing sector of the population:
"Economic inequality and greed. Market forces and greed are driving up the costs of housing everywhere, and many property owners are interested only in how much they can get on a rental or a sale and not in how their actions impact others who are just trying to make it," Jenks says. Like Bruce, she has watched her neighborhood become transformed by the growth of companies like Yelp, Airbnb and Pinterest, with older, lower-income neighborhoods "being fixed up, priced up and marketed to tech workers who are willing to live in very small spaces with limited facilities because everything they need is provided at their workplace."
But Jenks says she isn't sure that imposing fees to pay for new housing in San Francisco isn't entirely the answer. With limited land mass, "impact fees can only do so much ... [We] need for developers to be part of the solution, to be exceptional, and to go beyond the letter of the law when it comes to inclusionary housing."
Trauss, Bruce and Jenks all agree, however, when it comes to private-sector options. "The tech industry could do more to build truly affordable housing," Jenks says.
And, adds Bruce, "They should engage positively with local government and advocates to find shared solutions, rather than just finding ways to work around local ordinances or throwing tons of money at ballot measures they don't like."
Trauss says her answer is "more of a long-term one ... The longer I've been here, the more I've realized there's a lot of crossing paths of each other because people have different time frames for their solutions." She says she thinks cities, developers and the tech industry that invests in the area should look at the present housing shortage as an opportunity. "Money is interested in this place. It wants to do stuff here," including build more housing. "And people need housing and people want housing."
As for Lafayette and other suburban areas with room to grow, Trauss says the city has the wrong message. "We're not asking the government for a handout. We don't want them to do anything for us. We just want them to let developers, private developers with their own money, ... build something so we can spend money to buy it."
But affordable housing also won't happen until employers take an active roll in fixing the problem, says Bruce. "It isn't fair, healthy or sustainable to reap the benefits of high-tech office development without also building some homes for local workers. We all deserve to live where we work and work where we live, if we choose to."
Image credit: Brooke Anderson and Steve Rhodes via Flickr
Jan Lee
Jan Lee is a former news editor and award-winning editorial writer whose non-fiction and fiction have been published in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, the U.K. and Australia. Her articles and posts can be found on TriplePundit, JustMeans, and her blog, The Multicultural Jew, as well as other publications. She currently splits her residence between the city of Vancouver, British Columbia and the rural farmlands of Idaho.
Read more stories by Jan Lee


Apple iPhone podcasts via IVTStudio : Interactive Video Technologies (IVT), the leader in the production, management and distribution of live and on-demand webcasting, announced today that its desktop rich media webcasting and podcasting product, IVTStudio, provides the ideal software to deliver video presentations to audiences via Apple's iPhone. By allowing users to easily create branded video podcasts with synchronized PowerPoint and rich media all from a personal computer, IVTStudio enables any business users to create and deliver video presentations for distribution via iTunes and viewing on iPhones, iPods and other mobile devices.
IVTStudio allows users to publish and share video podcasts which alternate video clips with full-screen PowerPoint slides. This is a unique benefit for users who want to communicate dynamically with employees, customers or the general public. IVTStudio is designed for users who are not necessarily tech-savvy, but still want to take advantage of the powerful capabilities that corporate webcasting and media solutions are known for. Applications include marketing, sales, general internal and external communication and training.
IVTStudio single user pricing starts at $20 per month. Corporate licenses are also available. Visit the IVTStudio web site to download a free, fully functional version of IVTStudio, which includes 10 minutes of podcasting / videocasting and 60 minutes of viewing per month. A standard computer microphone is required for audio podcasts and a USB webcam for video and audio.
Interactive Video Technologies (IVT) is the leader in corporate webcasting, providing easy-to-use, comprehensive and scalable technology solutions for the production, management, distribution and monitoring of webcasting. IVT's customers include many of the world's most recognized companies covering a variety of industries. IVTStudio is a desktop rich media webcasting and podcasting product designed such that anyone can rapidly create, publish and archive professional video webcasts and podcasts from their desktop. IVT MediaPlatform is a complete, powerful webcasting publishing platform that enables companies to broadly produce, manage, distribute and monitor live and on-demand webcasts.


The best thing about listening to new music is hearing something that outright confounds. Mesophase is a scientific term used to describe a state of matter that is neither liquid nor solid, but shares properties of both. Mesophase is also the title of the new album by New York composer and pianist Zack Clarke, and is a suitable title given the mercurial nature of the approaches and sounds contained.
To orient you as to sort of what is going on here,it's like a technologically advanced and better documented version of what Dolphy was up to on his more abstract pieces from the final period of his life…or perhaps a less aggressive, more lyrical variant on AMM's mid to late-60swork. But, neither of these comparisons do justice to the captivating art and supreme weirdness captured on Mesophase. Clark did well in choosing a compatible roster of up and coming New York improvisers for the record (Chris Irvine on cello, Charlotte Greve on saxophone, clarinet, flute, Nick Dunston on double bass, Leonid Galaganov on percussion, waterphone, shakuhachi).
At times I find myself questioning what instruments are being played, which sounds are affected and/or overdubbed and which are not, how much is written vs. improvised, and from what kind of room(s) were these sounds originally emanating. The only thing I know for sure after listening to Mesophaseis that I'll likely be doing so again and again.
Imagined and produced by Michele Bongiorno and written and directed by Andrea Bettinetti, Cy Dear is the recent documentary about the polarizing and inimitable American abstract expressionist painter-sculptor-photographer Cy Twombly. The film was initially shown at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City in the spring of 2018 and had a short festival run in the fall, never reaching my neck of the woods.
As I patiently wait for the film to stream into my home at some point in the future, I anticipate that I will continue to submerge deeply into the cool lake that is LAFTCABI.
It is a stretch for me to imagine an Andrew Cyrille, Wadada Leo Smith, and Bill Frisell trio record being anything other than fully satisfying, particularly one where the material is all originals, as on Lebroba (contraction of Leland, Brooklyn and Baltimore, birthplaces of the three). It's no surprise that these three masters didn't let me/us down in this case.
Of all the remarkable aspects of Cyrille, Smith, and Frisell, the one that stands out most is that nearly every note by each is a signature that is instantly recognizable. This is no easy task when one considers that none of them is "going off" per se, but rather, the focus is on how he can contribute to the whole in the most efficient way possible. Also, the absence of a grounding bass instrument is never even the slightest consideration. There is no way to appropriately stress the difficulty of this approach to playing in a group setting, especially since one feels throughout as though these three are so dialed-in. All of this is to say that Lebroba breathes so deeply and intently, and quite unlike most anything out there today, lulls us into a sort of euphoric trance state.
We probably don't deserve this document of the maiden recorded union of three of the greatest in superb form, but maybe if we all bring some good into the world, we'll get another helping down the road.
I have grown accustomed to expecting new creative music from Norway to have a certain chilled aesthetic: patient, melodious, and expansive. This is not the case on What's Next?. the new third release from Friends & Neighbors. Not that those qualities are entirely absent here, rather, they are less a priority than executing with an elevated sense of urgency.
Saxophonist and primary writer André Roligheten, trumpeter Thomas Johansson, pianist Oscar Gronberg, bassist Jon Rune Strom, and drummer Tollef Ostvang aren't afraid to wear their classic American influences from Ornette, Monk, and Shepp, to maybe a little George Russell (?)…on their collective sleeves. But F&N aren't just rehashing the past or hoisting their influences as a gimmick. More likely, they are taking what excites them about music and using it as a roadmap or language or world in which to explore. It's worth commending Dag Erik Johansen and Kai Andersen at Athletic Sound, Halden, Norway who have done an exceptional job of capturing five guys in an ambient space without getting in the way.
F&N have hit upon the sweet and elusive spot between composed and improvised that few successfully do. It's safe to say that the present album is indeed What's Next!
You might know Ant Law from his playing on a few of saxophonist Tim Garland's records, but Life I Know is the guitarist/composer 's 3rd leader outing. It is also an impressive showcase of both British talent and the almost dizzying spectrum of stylistic influences on Law's music. From rocking fusion jams to South Indian konnakol to the perennially welcome soaring melodies of "Pure Imagination", virtually no stone is left unturned.
For LIK, Law has enlisted some of the best and brightest of England in pianist Ivo Neame, saxophonist Mike Chillingworth, bassist Tom Farmer and drummer James Maddren, and away they went. Although I wouldn't call it "showy" they guys certainly like to play, and Law left plenty of room for that. The end result is a fun annotated ride through what one might imagine a supremely gifted guitarist's record collection might look like.
Ant Law continues to grow and evolve as a player and as a composer, and with Life I Know, we are starting to get a good look at his core as a musician, and if he stays near this path, his future looks quite bright.


text:
Q: NetLogo: Model gets stuck w no error message I try to make a bunch of turtles (Movers) to go trough a gate and avoid the wall which is white. Somehow the model freezes after a few runs. Go button stays black and blue circle turns for ever. No error MSG given. It must get stuck in some calculation within the "move-movers" function but I can't determine why.
I added a simplified version of my code which still produces the crash. Copy & paste to run. Disable world wrap. Include a slider for "num-movers" Variable.
breed [ movers mover ]
movers-own [ steps ] ; Steps will be used to determine if an agent has moved.

to setup
clear-all
reset-ticks
ask patches [ set pcolor green ]
basic-pattern
end

to basic-pattern ; sets up gate and wall
let wallXCor 16 ; sets a white line to determine the inside & outside of the gate
repeat 33 [
ask patch wallXCor 0 [ set pcolor white ]
set wallXCor wallXCor - 1
]
ask patches with [ pycor > 0 ] [ set pcolor lime ] ; sets the outside of the gate to another color (lime)
; changes color of the center to lime to create a passable opening
ask patch 0 0 [ set pcolor lime ]
ask patch 1 0 [ set pcolor lime ]
ask patch -1 0 [ set pcolor lime ]
end

to distribute-agents ; Distributes the Movers outside the gate based on the patch color lime. The number needs to be set via slider "num-movers"
repeat num-movers [
ask one-of patches with [ pcolor = lime and pycor > 2 and any? turtles-here = false ] [
sprout-movers 1 [ set color red set shape "circle" facexy 0 -12 ] set num-movers num-movers- 1 ]
] end

to go
move-movers
tick
end

to move-movers ; reset the steps variable and facing
ask movers [ set steps steps + 1 ]
ask movers [ facexy 0 -3 ]
; following lines checks if next patch to be steped upon is "legal".
while [ any? movers with [ steps > 0 ] ] [
ask movers with [ steps > 0 ] [
ifelse is-patch? patch-ahead 1
and not any? turtles-on patch-ahead 1
and [ not member? pcolor [ white brown ] ] of patch-ahead 1
[
fd 1
 set steps steps - 1
] [ dirchange ]
]
]
end

to dirchange ;If not able to move to next patch change direction to allow a step backwards.
if ( pxcor <= 0 and ycor >= 0 ) [ facexy 1 3 ] ;fd 1 set steps steps - 1]
if ( pxcor >= 0 and ycor >= 0 ) [ facexy -1 3 ] ;fd 1 set steps steps - 1]
end

A: You're not getting an error message, because there is no actual error. The code just gets stuck in your while loop.
Did you mean to comment out the fd 1 set steps steps - 1 in your dirchange? My guess is that you have a bunch of turtles that face the same patch (either 1,3 or -1, 3) and get stuck because none of them can move because another turtle is in front of them. And because you only subtract from their steps if they actually move, some of them never get to 0 steps.
While is in general a bad primitive to use for this reason, especially when you have this many conditionals in your move code, making it hard to know what is causing your while loop to not end. is it because your turtles are facing a wall, or because they are at the boundary of the world, or because someone else is blocking their path? You just don't know, and because the code is stuck in a loop, your model view doesn't update so you can't see what is going on.
If you insist on keeping the while, I would at least put in a safeguard: write a turtle reporter that checks if your turtles are able to move and break your while if they can't, or give them a finite number of attempts at moving, rather requiring them to have actually moved.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Q: How can you programmatically create a NuGet package in .NET Standard with NuGet V3? I have written an application which takes a Swagger definition as an input and outputs a .NET Standard proxy as a DLL.
We have an older application that uses NuGet.Core to package up a DLL into a NuGet package and then publish it. This code is not compatible with .NET Standard 2.0 because of a dependency on Microsoft.Web.Xdt.
I've had a look through the documentation for the NuGet V3 package but I can't find any examples of how to generate packages programmatically.


Ive never given a mouse coaster a 10 rating before, but this isnt a mouse, its a chipmunk! In actuality, this ride was identical to the Tree Top Racers at Adventure City in California, with one noticeable difference. There were no seatbelts! And Im quite certain this one provided a more out-of-control, harrowing experience anyway. The switchbacks at the beginning were executed pretty quickly, which led to some significant slamming back and forth in the car. The drops were fun, but it was all the lateral force when hitting the turns after each drop that really made the drops worthwhile. The second batch of drops were right underneath the first, which made for some serious headchopping moments. It would certainly be roomier with just one person per vehicle, but it was a lot more fun shoving two people in there. This was a total chaotic experience--what a blast!
I feel that this is another one of lakesides underrated rides. The Wild Chipmunk has an amazing sign dating back to 1955 (I know most people dont care but its so amazing with tons of neon and flashing lights.) After waiting for 5 minutes my car pulled into the station and away I went. Once I got in the car I noticed the comfortable 1 person seat with no seatbelts or lapbars!!! A really funny thing is that all of the cars have names on them like "DAVE" and "ALVIN". LOL Once at the top of the hill the Wild Chipmunk goes into some slow hairpin turns that whip you around. This part of the ride scares me because the whole car looks like its about to fall into nearby Lake Rhoda! After that the car begins to pick up speed and goes into a drop that produces scrumptious airtime (remember no seat belts!) Next the car flies over another hill and sharply turns to the right. The car then flies over the station and goes into another series of hills and drops. 2 of these hills have great headchoppers! One of the head choppers is a spooky old tree branch that sticks out over the track. When we were at Lakeside a lady waved to her husband while on this and hit her hand on the tree. The second headchopper is the piece of track overhead that threatens to chop your head right off. The mad mouse then ends with a series of smaller dips and a tight downhill spiral at the end. Prepare yourself for the spiral because it is a little bouncy and rough. Finally your car pulls into the station and the ride is pretty much over. The Wild Chipmunk is such a fun little coaster. I LOVE the fact that this ride has no seat belt or lap bar! The airtime is amazing and wonderfull! This is the best Miller coaster ive ever been on! Even though its only 1,000 feet long, most of the ride is pretty slow making this a lot longer then it looks! But sadly the Wild Chipmunk could use some repairs. The neat paint scheme on this is long since gone, the cars are losing their cute names, and many of the amazing lights are missing! But at night this coaster takes an entirely diffrent feel! Its impossible to see the worn out cars or track. All thats visible is a dazzling display of neon. I dont want to make it sound like Lakeside is all smoke and mirrors, it would take a huge budget to restore this park (Possibly more then a corporate park would spend.) An another amazing thing about this coaster is its only a buck twenty five! But sadly the exit of the wild chipmunk takes you near the old "Riviara Dance Hall". This is incredibly sad because this 1930 dance hall has been closed since the late 70s. While walking by the dance hall you can see the old garden where guests would eat and chat. The old tables are still placed underneath a huge tree making it look like the dance hall is still being used today. While walking away from the Wild Chipmunk I snuck out of bounds to get a close up look at the hall. I walked up to a window of the clearly deteriorating building. All I could see through the dusty window was a marble soda fountain and a little stage with a small wooden chair placed on it. The fountain looked amazing! Past the dance hall there was a door out to the old boat ride. This also used to be at the dance hall. It was incredibly preety and fun! Unfortunatly the boat ride closed with the dance hall. How I wish lakeside would repair this and all their other rides! I can picture the hall on a nice summer night with people strolling through the gardens (You can barely even find the gardens anymore.) This gives the dance hall a spooky and old feeling. Walking past the dance hall almost ruins the Wild Chipmunk. While walking away from the Chipmunk and dance hall there is an abandoned mini golf course.... Dont let me get started on that! Anyhow!, the Wild Chipmunk is a great mad-mouse type coaster! How I wish Lakeside had some extra money!
Come on, the Wild Chipmunk rocks! Just take a turn on this and tell me it doesnt thrill. Sure its short, but its super sweet. And no seatbelts...you just dont get fun like this anymore!
Very old and bumpy ride. Very short, maybe it was a thrill a long time ago, but not now. It has some good turns and thats about it.