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The appearance of these foreign bodies is consistent with one of the bile acid sequestrants (BAS). BAS are one of several classes of ion exchange resins that are administered orally. BAS are used to treat diarrhea. BAS include colesevelam, colestipol and cholestyramine which are marketed under a variety of trade names. They typically appear bright orange on H&E but their color is variable. An excellent free publication on medication resins and their morphology is : Gonzalez RS et al. Arch Pathol Lab Med 2017;141:1276-1282.
Image contributed by Dr. Yale Rosen - @yro854
Visita nuestro Blog de Semana Santa en:
asociacionredobles.blogspot.com
Actos que se van a desarrollar durante la conmemoración del 200º aniversario del
rescate del Cristo de la Cama, consistente en el traslado de la Imagen desde la Iglesia
de Santa Isabel de Portugal (vulgo San Cayetano) a la Basílica del Pilar.
El rescate se produjo el 17 de febrero de 1809 del Convento de San Francisco, lo que
actualmente es la Diputación Provincial. El día 10 los franceses volaron el Convento,
que era defendido por unos cuantos aragoneses y por los voluntarios de Valencia. El
día 17, María Blánquez entro en el convento y vio que todos los pasos que
procesionan en Semana santa, quince en total, estaban destruidos, salvo el Santísimo
Cristo de la Cama, que estaba indemne en su Capilla de la Hermandad. Salió a la
calle, cogió a cuatro hombres, volvió a entrar al convento y todos ellos cogieron al
Cristo de la cama. Lo llevaron primero a la parroquia de la santa Cruz, después a la
de Santiago y finalmente al Palacio Arzobispal, lugar en donde vivía el general
Palafox, que enfermo lo venero y ordeno fuera llevado al interior de la Basílica del
Pilar, siendo colocado en el Altar de los convertido mirando a su Madre, la virgen del
Pilar.
Este hecho es el que conmemoramos.
A las 18´00 horas se oirá en la Ciudad de Zaragoza a los Artilleros de Aragón
anunciando el comienzo de la procesión cívico religiosa.
Con la salida desde San Cayetano de la Bandera de la Hermandad de la Sangre de
Cristo dará comienzo la procesión, encontrándose el resto de participantes ubicados
en la plaza. Seguidamente saldrá la peana, portada a varal, del Cristo de la Cama. Lo
hará con un toque preparado para la ocasión por la Sección de Tambores de la
Hermandad de San Joaquín y Virgen de los Dolores. Una vez que nuestro Cristo de la
Cama este en la plaza sonara el Himno Nacional interpretado al órgano por Ignacio
Navarro Gil.
Finalizado el himno, se descubrirá una placa en cerámica de Muel, promovida por la
Asociación Cultural Redobles. Dicha placa será descubierta por el Ilmo. Sr. D.
Francisco Javier Lambán Montañés, o persona en quien en delegue, acompañado por
el Hermano Mayor de la Hermandad de la Sangre de Cristo. A la vez que se descubre
la placa, don José Antonio Armillas, Comisario del Bicentenario glosara brevemente
la figura de María Blánquez y lo que ella significo.
Finalizado este acto, dará comienzo en sí el desfile.
Por la calle Manifestación, calle Alfonso y calle Coso, nos dirigiremos a la plaza de
España, en donde se realiza el segundo acto del desfile. Este consiste en depositar dos
coronas de laurel. La primera en la placa que recuerda al Convento de San Francisco
y la segunda en el monumento a los Mártires.
La del Convento de San Francisco será portada por mujeres ataviadas con el traje
regional, en recuerdo y homenaje a María Blánquez. Entregada por don Francisco
Javier Lambán Montañés (o persona en quién delegue), le acompañaran el
Comandante Militar de Zaragoza, General Juan Pinto y el Hermano Mayor de la
Sangre de Cristo. La recibirán dos soldados del Batallón Pardos de Aragón.
La segunda corona, la entregara don Juan Alberto Belloch Julve (o persona en quién
delegue), acompañado también por el Comandante Militar y el Hermano Mayor,
siendo recibida por dos soldados del Batallón de Infantería Voluntarios de Aragón.
Durante este acto sonara en la plaza el Carillón de la Diputación Provincial con
marchas alusivas a los Sitios.
Finalizado el acto, continuaremos el desfile en dirección a la Plaza de la Seo por calle
don Jaime, calle Mayor, calle Dormer, calle Cisne y calle Cuellar.
En la plaza de la Seo se realiza el tercer y último acto. Consiste en una breve
alocución del General Pinto, Comandante Militar de Zaragoza y Teruel, en recuerdo
y homenaje del General Palafox. A Su conclusión, el Batallón de Infantería
Voluntarios de Aragón hará una descarga de fusilería.
Ya para finalizar, nos encaminaremos a la plaza del Pilar, finalizando el desfile,
alrededor de las 20´30 horas, con la entrada del Cristo de la Cama en la Basílica, en
donde permanecerá hasta el miércoles 25 de febrero.
Finalizado el desfile y por lo tanto el traslado, la Hermandad de la Sangre de Cristo
realizara una ofrenda a la Virgen del Pilar.
La Hermandad de la Sangre de Cristo, con el fin de dar mayor realce a este
acontecimiento histórico, ha invitado a participar a todos aquellos Ayuntamientos e
Instituciones galardonados con la Medalla del Bicentenario “Defensor de Zaragoza”,
distinción que también ha obtenido la propia Hermandad. Han confirmado su
asistencia una representación de los Ayuntamientos de Alcañiz, Barbastro, Calatayud,
Cariñena, Chelva, Huesca, Jaca, monzón y Valencia. También han confirmado su
participación los Artilleros de Aragón, Batallón Pardos de Aragón, Batallón de
Infantería Ligera Voluntarios de Aragón, la Asociación Cultural Royo del Rabal
(ronda y escenificación de personajes históricos de la época), la Asociación Cultural
Los Sitios (personajes históricos de la época), la Hermandad de San Juan de la Peña,
la Cofradía del Santo Sepulcro, la Hermandad del santo Refugio, la Real Ilustre
Congregación de Nuestra Señora de la Soledad de Madrid y la Real Maestranza de
Caballería.
La parte musical durante el desfile correrá a cargo de la Banda de Guerra de la
Brigada de Caballería Castillejos II, de la Banda Música de la Academia General
Militar y la Ronda de jotas de la Asociación Cultural el Rabal. Durante el desfile y
con el fin de que los peaneros lleven el ritmo adecuado, les acompaña un piquete de
diez instrumentos, cuyos miembros son de la cofradía de la Institución de la Sagrada
Eucaristía, que lo harán sin los distintivos propios de la Cofradía.
Cabe destacar el estreno de una marcha procesional en las calles de Zaragoza. La
primera y ultima pieza que interprete la Banda de Música será la Marcha al Cristo de
la Cama, cuyo autor es don Abel Moreno y que fue donada a la Hermandad por la
Asociación para el Estudio de la Semana Santa.
Ernesto Millán Lázaro
Hermano Mayor
Hermandad Sangre de Cristo
A person who exploits circumstances to gain immediate advantage rather than being guided by consistent principles or plans or maybe just a good salesman.
This power generator was for sale at the roadside.
Business surveys in Latin America consistently show that skills gaps are a serious bottleneck to firm growth and competitiveness. Lack of responsiveness by providers of technical education and professional training is often blamed for this situation. What innovations are possible to improve the quality and relevance of those programs? What role should governments, employers, universities, and civil society play in shaping the approach to technical education and professional training in Latin America? What can we learn from reforms in the region and abroad? The Dialogue and CAF - Development Bank of Latin America hosted a wide-ranging full-day seminar that brought together academics, policymakers, and other experts from the Western Hemisphere to discuss the future of technical education and professional training in Latin America.
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Pilosocereus royenii (Linnaeus, 1753) - bearded cactus in the Bahamas.
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This individual is consistent with Pilosocereus millspaughii, a long-haired variety, but it can also be referred to as Pilosocereus royenii sensu lato.
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Cactuses are an odd group of flowering plants. Their leaves have been evolutionarily modified into spines, which are used for protection against herbivores. The green, succulent stems of cactuses are the only portions of the plant that engage in photosynthesis.
The bearded cactus is a large species consisting of tall, upright, fleshy stems having prominent, axis-parallel longitudinal ridges that bear clusters of radiating spines. A tuft of long, whitish hair occurs on one side near the top - the “beard”. If moisture/dew form on the hairs, the water drips downward, near the plant's roots. This is an evolutionary adaptation to living in an arid climate. The bearded cactus only occurs on Caribbean islands and in Central America’s Yucatan Peninsula.
Classification: Plantae, Angiospermophyta, Caryophyllales, Cactaceae
Locality: next to Crescent Pond, northeastern San Salvador Island, eastern Bahamas
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More info. at:
Rexona Girls Pro Junior
ASP 2-Star European Women’s Pro Junior event
Trois Bassins - Reunion Island
April 9-17, 2011
Defay leads Score Board on Day 1 of Rexona Reunion Girls Pro Junior, Quarterfinalists Decided
TROIS BASSINS, Reunion Island (Tuesday, April 12, 2011) – Women’s division in the 2011 Yop Reunion Surf Pro Junior, the ASP 2-Star Rexona Girls Pro Junior kicked-off today in consistent and building five-to-seven-foot (two meter) waves, the twenty athletes battling it out during two consecutive rounds to advance through to the Quarterfinals of the first event of this year’s ASP European Women’s Junior Series.
Much expected for their first appearance in an ASP sanctioned event on Reunion Island, event top seeds and favorites Joanne Defay (St Leu, REU), Canelle Bulard (St Leu, REU) and Justine Dupont (Lacanau, FRA) taking control of the line-up heat after heat. Coming straight from Australia where they were attending an ASP Women’s 6-Star event, the three top guns looked at ease in the consistent surf.
Leading the score board with the event’s best heat result men and women division comprised, former ASP World Junior No. 3 Joanne Defay was able to make the best out of the conditions, going left to unleash spectacular top turns and critical sections’ assaults.
Defay, a former ASP European Women’s Junior champion (2009), is looking to open her 2011 campaign with a blast, having in mind to finish in this year’s European Top 2 if not one the highest step.
Following fellow Reunion-born athlete Defay en route to the Quarterfinals, multi-event winner on the European Junior tour, Canelle Bulard (St Leu, REU) let no chance to her Round 2 opponents posting solid scores and showing promising determination towards a possible win.
Used to travelling around the world to attend ASP Women’s Star and Junior events, Bulard enjoyed competing at home today, the smiling and renowned 16-year-old athlete benefiting from her parents’ support, amongst other.
Answering the Reunion-based assault and flying the Basque flag, experienced Junior competitor Garazi Sanchez (Basque Country, EUK) was able to catch some good lefthanders in Round 2, securing a Quarterfinal ticket where she will battle against fellow Basque native Loiola Canales.
Sole Portuguese in the Final-8 of the Rexona Girls Pro Junior, Maria Abecasis (PRT) stood strong as well against the French contigent, keeping a firm grip on her Quarterfinal qualification where she will meet local top gun Bulard when competition resumes.
With the women already in the Quarterfinals stage of the event, the ASP 2-Star Rexona Girls Pro Junior is getting closing to the business end.
REXONA GIRLS PRO JUNIOR UPCOMING QUARTERFINALS
Heat 1: Joanne Defay (REU) Vs Joanna Giansanti (FRA)
Heat 2: Loiola Canales (EUK) Vs Garazi Sanchez (EUK)
Heat 3: Canelle Bulard (REU) Vs Maria Abecasis (PRT)
Heat 4: Maud Lecar (REU) Vs Justine Dupont (FRA)
The Rongai Route is one of the easiest routes and the success rate is very high.
The route starts on the north side of the mountain just south of the Kenyan border, and is one of the least traveled routes. The descent is down the Marangu Route on the south side of the mountain, so climbers see the mountain from many view points.
The drive to the trail head takes about 2.5 hours from Moshi through many villages and coffee plantations, including a stop to register climbing permits at Marangu.
The Rongai Route can also be accessed from Amboseli National Park in Kenya. Allow 2 hours including border crossing. We will need copies of passports ahead of time.
Day 1 : Drive to Kilimanjaro National Park Rongai Gate (Nale Moru), Hike to Simba Camp
Drive to the attractive wooden village of Nale Moru (about 2 hours including a stop to get permits at Marangu). After signing in and preparing the porters, you will begin the hike on a wide path that winds through fields of maize and potatoes before entering pine forest. The track then starts to climb consistently but gently through attractive forest that shelters a variety of wildlife. The forest begins to thin out and the first camp is at the edge of the moorland zone with extensive views over the Kenyan plains.
· Elevation: 2000m/6560ft to 2650m/8700ft
· Distance: 6km/4mi
· Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
· Habitat: Montane Forest
· Meals: LD
· Budget Lodging: Simba Camp
Day 2 : Hike Simba Camp to Second Cave
The morning hike is a steady ascent up to the Second Cave with superb views of Kibo and the Eastern ice fields on the crater rim.
· Elevation: 2650m/8700ft to 3450m/11,300ft
· Distance: 6km/4mi
· Walking Time: 3-4 hours
· Habitat: Moorland
· Meals: BLD
· Budget Lodging: Second Cave Camp
Day 3 : Hike Second Cave to Kikelewa Camp
Head out across the moorland on a smaller path towards the jagged peaks of Mawenzi. The campsite is in a sheltered valley with giant Senecios nearby.
· Elevation: 3450m/11,300ft to 3600m/11,800ft
· Distance: 9km/5mi
· Walking Time: 2-3 hours
· Habitat: Semi-desert
· Meals: BLD
· Budget Lodging: Kikelewa Camp
Day 4 : Hike Kikelewa Camp to Mawenzi Tarn
A short but steep climb up grassy slopes is rewarded by superb views. Leave the vegetation behind shortly before reaching the next camp at Mawenzi Tarn, spectacularly situated in a cirque directly beneath the towering spires of Mawenzi. The afternoon will be free to rest or explore the surrounding area as an aid to acclimatization.
If you are spending an extra day on the mountain, you will camp for two nights here. You can hike up and around Mawenzi for your acclimatization hike.
· Elevation: 3600m/11,800ft to 4330m/14,200ft
· Distance: 6km/4mi
· Walking Time: 3-4 hours
· Habitat: Semi-desert
· Meals: BLD
· Budget Lodging: Mawenzi Tarn Camp
Day 5 : Hike Mawenzi Tarn to Kibo Hut
Cross the lunar desert of the ‘Saddle’ between Mawenzi and Kibo to reach Kibo campsite at the bottom of the Kibo crater wall. The remainder of the day is spent resting in preparation for the final ascent very early.
· Elevation: 4330m/14,200ft to 4750m/15,600ft
· Distance: 9km/5mi
· Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
· Habitat: Alpine Desert
· Meals: BLD
· Budget Lodging: Kibo Hut Camp
Day 6 : Kibo Camp to Summit and Horombo Hut
Very early in the morning (midnight to 2am), commence the climb to the summit on steep and heavy scree or snow up to Gilman’s Point located on the crater rim (elev 5700m/18,700ft). Continuing, we now ascend to Uhuru Peak, which is the highest point in Africa. There are unbelievable views at every turn. Have your picture taken at the summit to show your friends and family. From here we descend, stopping for lunch and a rest at Kibo before continuing on to the Horombo encampment.
The beginning of this climb is done in the dark and requires headlamps or flashlights. It will be very cold until you start descending, so you will need all of your warm layers. This is by far the most difficult part of the trek with many switchbacks. Going slowly “pole pole” and an optimistic attitude will get you there!
· Elevation: 4700m/15,500ft to 5895m/19,340ft
· Down to 3700m/12,200ft
· Distance: 6km/4mi up / 15km/9mi down
· Hiking Time: 6-8 hours up / 15km/9mi down
· Habitat: Alpine Desert
· Meals: BLD
· Budget Lodging: Horombo Hut Camp
Day 7 : Hike Horombo Hut to trail head, drive to Moshi
After breakfast, a steady descent takes us down through moorland to the Mandara Hut. Continue descending through lush forest path to the National Park gate at Marangu. At lower elevations, it can be wet and muddy. Gaiters and trekking poles will help. Shorts and t-shirts will probably be plenty to wear (keep rain gear and warmer clothing handy).
Moonlight Tours Expedition vehicle will meet you at Marangu gate to drive you back to your hotel in Moshi (about 1 hour).
· Elevation: 3700m/12,200ft to 1700m/5500ft
· Distance: 20km/12.5mi
· Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
· Habitat: Forest
· Meals: B
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· Professional, experienced, mountain guides:
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· All meals while on the Mountain
· Arrival and Departure transfers
· Guides, Porters, cook salaries and park fees
· Quality Mess tents with table and chairs:
· Large portions of fresh, healthy, nutritious food:
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The appearance of these foreign bodies is consistent with one of the bile acid sequestrants (BAS). BAS are one of several classes of ion exchange resins that are administered orally. BAS are used to treat diarrhea. BAS include colesevelam, colestipol and cholestyramine which are marketed under a variety of trade names. They typically appear bright orange on H&E but their color is variable. An excellent, free publication on medication resins and their morphology is : Gonzalez RS et al. Arch Pathol Lab Med 2017;141:1276-1282.
Image contributed by Dr. Yale Rosen - @yro854
ROMA ARCHEOLOGICA & RESTAURO ARCHITETTURA: I mega incassi della biglietteria del Colosseo. Chi ci guadagna davvero? Ecco l'intervista a Rosanna Cappelli, direttore generale di Electa, ARTRIBUNE (28|01|2016).
ROMA - I mega incassi della biglietteria del Colosseo. Chi ci guadagna davvero? Ecco l'intervista a Rosanna Cappelli, direttore generale di Electa, ARTRIBUNE (28|01|2016).
FOTO - Bookshop Electa al Colosseo - progetto studio di architettura Andrea Mandara - photo Claudia Pescatori.
Nelle scorse settimane un deputato di Scelta Civica ha compilato fior di interrogazioni parlamentari per vederci chiaro sulle concessioni per la gestione di alcuni grandi monumenti italiani. In particolare, il Colosseo viene gestito in proroga da anni con guadagni che a prima vista risultano decisamente consistenti per il concessionario. Dopo aver riportato le anticipazioni di Repubblica sulla faccenda, abbiamo sentito anche l'altra campana. Ecco l'intervista a Rosanna Cappelli, direttore generale di Electa.
Vi accusano di avere incassato più soldi del dovuto riguardo alla pluri-prorogata concessione per la biglietteria del Colosseo. È davvero tutto inventato? Qual è la vostra risposta?
Crediamo ci sia stato un fraintendimento e un’errata lettura degli atti di concessione da parte dell’onorevole Mazziotti, come poi si evince dal suo blog, a proposito dell’oggetto della concessione stessa. Che nel contratto recita, sulla falsariga della norma, “servizio editoriale e di vendita di cataloghi, materiali informativi“. Che altro non è che il servizio di libreria, oggetto della roy del 30.2% sul fatturato, che Mazziotti estende anche ai servizi collaterali, non previsti in gara e dunque non soggetti a roy nel contratto.
Come mai un parlamentare come Andrea Mazziotti di Celso, a vostro avviso, si “impegna” così contro di voi? Che idea vi siete fatti?
Nessuna idea. Comunque di tanto in tanto tornano sui media appelli o denunce politiche sulle concessioni dei servizi nei musei, prevalentemente per il tema della loro durata e del regime attuale di proroga reiterata. O per una presunzione di eccesso di profitto, a Roma come a Firenze, da parte dei privati.
Come ho scritto anche altrove, la perdita dell’aura che ha investito le soprintendenze italiane negli ultimi anni, per cause che sarebbe utile analizzare oltre gli appelli e le denunce, ha avuto effetti negativi anche sulle imprese private che più si sono sforzate nello stesso periodo di rendere possibile una collaborazione pubblico/privata, da molti teorizzata ma assai poco realmente sperimentata.
Ci dica dove ci sbagliamo: per quanto riguarda le mostre potete ricavare molto di più dal biglietto. La quota “mostre” del ticket vi restituisce una percentuale più alta della quota “monumento” tout court. Dunque al Colosseo c’è spesso una mostra in corso e il biglietto è pressoché obbligatorio per entrare nel monumento. Così incassate di royalties qualcosa come 10 milioni di euro l’anno, una cifra che di certo non spendete neppure lontanamente nella produzione delle mostre.
Dal 2005 Electa svolge per la Soprintendenza un insieme di servizi e di attività che il contratto definisce di valorizzazione del patrimonio, intendendo per patrimonio non il solo Colosseo o la sola area archeologica centrale, ma anche tutte le sedi del Museo Nazionale Romano (Palazzo Massimo, Terme di Diocleziano, Palazzo Altemps, Crypta Balbi) e tutti i siti del suburbio della soprintendenza (via Appia, Parco delle Tombe della via Latina, Villa di Livia a Prima Porta, Gabii ecc.). Ciò per consentire la cura e la promozione dell’insieme dei beni, non solo di quelli autosufficienti o economicamente redditizi come il Colosseo.
Venne allora stabilito, per la concessione della valorizzazione, un principio di unitarietà e di sussidiarietà che è quello che ha sempre guidato la Soprintendenza anche nelle attività ordinarie di tutela e di conservazione: utilizzare le risorse in utile derivate dalle mostre al Colosseo o nell’area archeologica centrale per mostre, restauri, ricerche, studi, servizi accessori estesi al resto del patrimonio. Electa in questi anni non ha solo prodotto tutte le mostre della soprintendenza (al Colosseo come nelle sedi del Museo Nazionale Romano, da ultime Henry Moore e Forza delle rovine, entrambe senza biglietto specifico di ingresso), ma ha anche progettato e realizzato tutto il sistema di segnaletica della soprintendenza, il Museo Palatino e ora il Museo del Foro (progettato dallo Studio Mario Bellini di Milano), collaborato al riallestimento del Museo delle Terme di Diocleziano, dei sotterranei delle Terme di Caracalla, della Villa di Livia a Prima Porta. E così via.
Il programma annuale viene elaborato dal soprintendente e dai suoi responsabili; la spesa viene condivisa e rendicontata in trasparenza.
Quando Repubblica ha riportato le interrogazioni di Mazziotti alla Camera, molte persone a Roma hanno esultato: “Finalmente si tocca uno dei tanti bancomat della politica romana“. Non siete proprio amati. Come mai?
Non so rispondere a questa domanda. E non credo che il riferimento sia a Electa. La casa editrice, che ha settant’anni di storia e opera prevalentemente al nord, è costituita da professionalità di valore (archeologi, storici dell’arte, capo-redattori, esperti di economia della cultura…) selezionate sulla base dei loro saperi, competenze e interessi. Fra queste risorse, diverse sono impegnate nella sede romana, proprio per la concessione della Soprintendenza di Roma, che Electa dal suo avvio ha affidato alla mia responsabilità, per la mia formazione di studi (archeologia classica) e per le mie precedenti esperienze di lavoro.
Riguardo alla concessione del Colosseo e dei Fori Imperiali, cosa la soddisfa particolarmente e cosa la delude, onestamente, del servizio che date?
Importante non definire la nostra attività come la concessione dei Colosseo e dei Fori Imperiali, anche se in forma abbreviata. Quasi sempre anche da questa parziale definizione deriva la distorta analisi dei conti economici poi ripresa anche dalla stampa. La concessione riguarda undici siti e musei della soprintendenza, non i Fori imperiali che sono in gestione al Comune.
Giusta precisazione. Buttiamo giù un po’ di cose che vi hanno resi orgogliosi del vostro lavoro…
Si tratta di un insieme molto vasto e eterogeneo, dotato di un centro, di un cuore pulsante (il Colosseo e l’area archeologica centrale) che negli anni ha visto, sicuramente anche con il contributo di Electa, una crescita impressionante del pubblico dei visitatori. Al nostro inizio, il Colosseo, gratuito al primo ordine, registrava 300mila visitatori all’anno; nel 2015 abbiamo raggiunto il traguardo di 6,6 milioni di visitatori.
Sempre al nostro inizio non erano stati aperti o riaperti al pubblico Palazzo Altemps, Palazzo Massimo, Terme di Diocleziano, Crypta Balbi. Domus Aurea, Villa dei Quintili e Cecilia Metella.
Il lavoro compiuto dalla Soprintendenza è stato immenso sul piano della ricerca, del restauro, della tutela, della gestione. Non si è riusciti a progredire ugualmente, o con lo stesso slancio, sul piano delle infrastrutture di servizi che occorrono per la cura del pubblico: e mi riferisco in particolare all’attività di progettazione (e conseguente realizzazione) di spazi idonei a ospitare i servizi per il pubblico.
Arriviamo così ai problemi…
In Italia, a Roma, nell’area dei Fori, non si sono mai del tutto risolti alcuni nodi di antica memoria: la permanenza o meno della strada di attraversamento dei Fori, le connessioni tra l’area statale e quella comunale, e così via. Roma, poi, a differenza di Milano, e forse proprio per la pressione del suo passato, non ha mai sviluppato una vera cultura dell’arredo urbano, del design, della qualità dei progetti anche di piccola scala. Ecco, questo è mancato, con conseguenze immaginabili nella gestione dei servizi in spazi inadeguati per qualità e per dimensioni rispetto ai flussi dei visitatori.
Gestire una libreria al Colosseo senza magazzino, servendo milioni di visitatori, comporta ad esempio una logistica assai complessa e costosa per il rifornimento della merce, in orari quasi notturni, che non è proprio il massimo per un editore libraio. E questi limiti certo influiscono anche sulla qualità dell’offerta.
Da cosa nasce la joint venture che vi vede, al Colosseo, alleati con Coop Culture? Cosa risponde a chi maliziosamente vede in tutto ciò una ecumenica alleanza imbattibile sul piano politico?
L’alleanza con Coopculture deriva da una vecchia intesa di Electa (allora Elemond) con la Lega delle Cooperative. L’intesa era riassunta in una lettera di poche righe, che ebbi modo di leggere tempo fa, e risaliva alla fine degli Anni Ottanta, all’Electa che non era ancora parte del gruppo Mondadori. Se malizia c’era, si riferiva ad altri protagonisti della vita politica e imprenditoriale del Paese.
Lei riesce a dirci, in maniera approssimativa ma facendoci comprendere gli ordini di grandezza, a quanto potrebbe ammontare non in valore assoluto, ma in percentuale, il margine di guadagno netto generato dalla vostra attività complessiva per la Soprintendenza?
La marginalità operativa lorda cambia a seconda del servizio o dell’attività. Inferiore al 10% per le librerie, in negativo per l’editoria, non superiore per obbligo di contratto al 14% per le mostre e la valorizzazione.
Non crede – pur contro il suo interesse – che le pubbliche amministrazioni dovrebbero guadagnare di più da queste concessioni? O per lo meno ottenere di più in termini di servizi?
Fin dall’inizio di questa attività e ancora oggi ritengo che in questo settore la crescita dell’impresa privata potrà esserci solo se in parallelo si rafforzerà la struttura pubblica di governo e controllo nella gestione del patrimonio culturale. E dunque potranno crescere le attività e i servizi di fruizione e di valorizzazione, per il pubblico come per il privato.
Il Colosseo è praticamente saturo e ha avuto un aumento incredibile di visitatori. Quali azioni prevedete per aumentare gli orari di apertura e per rendere più produttiva la giornata?
Electa, d’intesa con la Soprintendenza, ha affidato all’Università Bocconi e a un gruppo di specialisti una ricerca sulle scelte da fare per biglietti, prezzi, orari di visita per il pubblico. La ricerca, che sta per giungere a conclusione, ha rafforzato la convinzione, che c’era da tempo, della necessità non rimandabile, per l’archeologia di Roma come per la prevalenza dei musei italiani, di introdurre maggiore flessibilità, anche per una distribuzione più sostenibile dei visitatori nell’arco della giornata, o nei diversi giorni della settimana, o nelle stagioni di minore pressione turistica.
Il sistema di offerta dovrebbe essere quindi interamente rinnovato a partire dalla primavera estate 2016 in tutte le sedi della Soprintendenza. La ricerca cui facevo cenno sarà pubblicata dalla casa editrice.
Come mai, al Colosseo, avete atteso la cacciata dei terrificanti camion bar prima di offrire almeno un distributore di acqua ai vostri visitatori/clienti? Decisione della Soprintendenza?
Ogni decisione in tema di servizi al pubblico appartiene alla Soprintendenza, non al concessionario.
Piazza del Colosseo (di “proprietà” del Comune di Roma e non dello Stato come il Colosseo stesso) è l’emblema dell’anarchia, della prepotenza, dell’illegalità e del degrado che uccide Roma. Impostori, ladri, facilitatori, finti turisti, saltafila e abusivi di ogni risma. Voi siete un operatore economico importantissimo della piazza: avete mai preso posizione nettamente a riguardo?
Anche su questo piano, l’azione del concessionario ha dovuto purtroppo limitarsi a ridurre i danni che derivano da un’insostenibile situazione di degrado: intanto i danni al monumento, poi al pubblico dei visitatori, infine alla Soprintendenza e al concessionario. E per azioni finalizzate alla riduzione dei danni intendo il rafforzamento della segnaletica di orientamento, la dotazione di personale adeguato all’accoglienza e al controllo degli accessi, il rafforzamento del sistema delle prenotazioni, la crescita degli ingressi per lo smaltimento e l’ordinamento delle file.
A tal proposito, ci dà la sua visione sulla ristorazione di museo oggi in Italia? Noi siamo abbastanza disperati. Specie in raffronto all’estero.
La maggior parte dei musei italiani (non parliamo neppure dell’archeologia monumentale) è ospitata in palazzi storici, privi quindi di spazi idonei a caffetterie o ristoranti. Che, al pari delle librerie, hanno quasi sempre dovuto accontentarsi di ambienti di risulta, di infelice collocazione e di inadeguata dimensione. Con il risultato di una gestione economicamente insostenibile, e il conseguente abbassamento della qualità del servizio. Non di rado abbandonato in corso di svolgimento del contratto. Occorrono investimenti importanti per servizi di qualità, o dalla parte del pubblico, o dalla parte del privato. E formule contrattuali meno onerose di quelle che le stazioni appaltanti, nel timore dei danni erariali o di rilievi della Corte dei Conti, sono state in grado di elaborare.
Come è il rapporto con il Soprintendente Archeologico di Roma Francesco Prosperetti – titolare del Colosseo – e quale è il giudizio sulle sue visioni e i suoi progetti?
Francesco Prosperetti è un Direttore generale con una lunga esperienza nell’amministrazione dei beni culturali; sottolineo il ruolo perché anche da quell’esperienza, oltre che da caratteristiche personali, derivano, a mio parere, due specifiche che mi è sembrato di cogliere nella sua guida della Soprintendenza: la leggerezza con la quale supera le innumerevoli difficoltà operative del quotidiano spiccio e l’entusiasmo con il quale invece muove e coordina progetti più ambiziosi. La sua formazione di architetto è messa generosamente a disposizione dell’archeologia, una disciplina alla quale è profondamente legato, anche per una lunga consuetudine di vita e per un’educata curiosità alla conoscenza storica. Credo e spero che abbia in considerazione il lavoro che Electa svolge per la sua Soprintendenza.
A proposito di progetti: cosa sta facendo bene Dario Franceschini e su cosa invece si deve ancora applicare.
Gli va riconosciuto un forte impegno quotidiano in ambiti assai ampi, anche in quelli generalmente trascurati dai media e dai critici, come gli archivi, le biblioteche, i teatri. La riforma è ancora in corso di attuazione, e quindi ci vorrà del tempo per valutarla sul piano concreto della gestione del patrimonio. Lo inviterei, se potessi fargli una richiesta, a considerare alcune specificità dell’archeologia monumentale rispetto ai musei storico-artistici e ad alleggerire la struttura centrale del Ministero a favore di uffici e competenze che siano realmente di sostegno ai nuovi istituti in formazione sul territorio.
Perché le gare che riguardano il Colosseo (e altri monumenti) si sono arenate fin dal 2009? Cosa è successo?
Le gare sono state bandite nel 2010, e progressivamente sospese fino al 2015, tranne poche andate a buon fine (Paestum, Cerveteri, Ravenna, Pompei). In obbedienza a modelli artificiosamente costruiti a imitazione di esperienze straniere, senza che vi fosse conoscenza reale della situazione italiana. Modelli che non avrebbero funzionato senza una radicale riorganizzazione degli istituti: con la pretese di una libreria al pari del Louvre in spazi simili più a ripostigli delle scope che alla Piramide di Pei. Anche nella forma i bandi hanno evidenziato lacune e distorsioni, sì da non reggere ai rilievi della autorità di controllo e ai ricorsi delle società private.
Electa non ha mosso alcun ricorso; viceversa l’ha subito, per la libreria di Pompei, che è stata una gara vinta dalla casa editrice, e poi consegnata al secondo classificato per la formulazione errata da parte del Ministero di un cavillo del bando. Anche questa non è storia nuova nel nostro Paese, potrebbe essere interessante fare il conto delle concessioni aggiudicate a tavolino per effetto di ricorso e non per effettivo merito. Si scoprirebbe che le imprese, poche, sono sempre le stesse.
Come sta impostando la partita sulle nuove gare Dario Franceschini?
Ha scelto fin dall’inizio di affidarsi, per gli aspetti formali, alla Consip S.p.A., che evidentemente ha grande esperienza nel settore degli appalti per la pubblica amministrazione. Nell’auspicio che si possano significativamente ridurre ricorsi e opposizioni. Sulla base di progetti di valorizzazione affidati però ai nuovi direttori e responsabili di istituti, che sceglieranno in autonomia i servizi e le attività da esternalizzare.
E voi, aziendalmente come state impostando il futuro, quali novità? Quali innovazioni? Quali visioni? Cosa farete nel 2016 per continuare a mantenere la vostra leadership.
Electa ha sempre avuto nella sua storia lunga una vocazione “istituzionale”: a partire dagli imponenti volumi di catalogazione dei musei editati negli Anni Ottanta e Novanta. L’esperienza della Ronchey ha certamente contribuito a rafforzare tale vocazione, forse sottraendole, per la complessità degli impegni anche amministrativi che le concessioni comportano, quello sguardo di libertà e di innovazione di cui le imprese necessitano per fiorire.
Da qualche anno stiamo cercando di ricostituirlo, nell’editoria e nella promozione di mostre fuori dai musei in concessione: a Milano, Mantova, Verona, Venezia. Con risultati importanti (Giotto da ultimo), che ci confortano nella convinzione di una attività editoriale a ampio raggio, nel settore delle arti visive e dell’archeologia, da promuovere in collaborazione con il pubblico, per contribuire allo sviluppo, certo economico, ma anche di un rinnovato piacere all’educazione culturale.
FONTE | SOURCE:
-- ROMA - I mega incassi della biglietteria del Colosseo. Chi ci guadagna davvero? Ecco l'intervista a Rosanna Cappelli, direttore generale di Electa, ARTRIBUNE (28|01|2016).
www.artribune.com/2016/01/biglietteria-colosseo-incassi-i...
s.v.,
--- ROMA ARCHEOLOGICA & RESTAURO ARCHITETTURA: Architetto Francesco Prosperetti – L’Antiquarium del Palatino – Biblioteca addio, sul Palatino arriva il ristorante di lusso vista Foro Romano, l’Espresso (23|11|2015).
— ROMA ARCHEOLOGICA & RESTAURO ARCHITETTURA: La Direttice Rosella Rea: pochi custodi (…) “…Roma, Museo del Palatino dove un mese fa due malviventi hanno messo segno una rapina da 40mila euro.” Il Messaggero (08/08/2011), p. 31.
— ROMA ARCHEOLOGICA & RESTAURO ARCHITETTURA:E l’ex sovrintendente lasciò il Palatino Adriano La Regina trasloca dalla casa sull’Antiquarium Ma poteva rimanere fino alla fine dell’anno, CORRIERE DELLA SERA (29|09|2009).
ROMA ARCHEOLOGICA & RESTAURO ARCHITETTURA. ARCHEO DISNEYLAND – UNA FLOP: Roma, Il Colosseo – The Bookstore (15|05|2015), & Prof. Cesare Brandi (1966) = “A Phony Rome for Lazy Tourist!”, in: The ‘Il Messaggero’ & The ‘NEW YORK TIMES’ (15|07|1959), p. 6.
The appearance of these foreign bodies is consistent with one of the bile acid sequestrants (BAS). There is also aspirated vegetasble material within a giant cell. BAS are one of several classes of ion exchange resins that are administered orally. BAS are used to treat diarrhea. BAS include colesevelam, colestipol and cholestyramine which are marketed under a variety of trade names. They typically appear bright orange on H&E but their color is variable.An excellent free publication on medication resins and their morphology is : Gonzalez RS et al. Arch Pathol Lab Med 2017;141:1276-1282.
Image contributed by Dr. Yale Rosen - @yro854
I think my favorites from others (this is page one of three, and I still think my very favorite is the very first) actually say quite a bit about me - it's odd how pieces, loosely joined make a new whole.
The University of Aarhus, which dates from 1931, is a unique and coherent university campus with consistent architecture, homogenous use of yellow brickwork and adaptation to the landscape. The university has won renown and praise as an integrated complex which unites the best aspects of functionalism with solid Danish traditions in form and materials.
The competition for the university was won by the architects Kay Fisker, C. F. Møller og Povl Stegmann in 1931. Stegman left the partnership in 1937, Fisker in 1942 and C. F. Møller Architects has been in charge of the continued architectural development and building design of the university until today.
The University of Aarhus, with its extensive park in central Aarhus, includes teaching rooms, offices, libraries, workshops and student accommodation. The university has a distinct homogeneous building style and utilises the natural contours of the landscape. The campus has emerged around a distinct moraine gorge and the buildings for the departments and faculties are placed on the slopes, from the main buildings alongside the ring road to the center of the city at Nørreport. All throughout the campus, the buildings are variations of the same clear-cut prismatic volume with pitched roofs, oriented orthogonally to form individual architectural clusters sharing the same vocabulary. The way the buildings emerge from the landscape makes them seem to grow from it, rather than being superimposed on the site.
The original scheme for the campus park was made by the famous Danish landscape architect C. Th. Sørensen. Until the death of C. Th. Sørensens in 1979 the development of the park areas were conducted in a close cooperation between C. Th. Sørensen, C. F. Møller and the local park authorities. Since 1979 C. F. Møller Architects - in cooperation with the staff at the university - has continued the intentions of the original scheme for the park, and today the park is a beautiful, green area and an immense contribution to both the university and the city in general.
In 2001, C. F. Møller Architects prepared a new masterplan for the long and short term development of the university. Although the university has been extended continuously for more than 75 years, the original masterplan and design principles have been maintained, and have proven a simple yet versatile tool to create a timeless and coherent architectural expression adaptable to changing programs. Today, the university is officially recognized as a Danish national architectural treasure and is internationally renowned as an excellent example of early modern university campus planning.
The Brick Leaks: Entry No. 001
Ever wonder why Andrew Clapham "aaclapham" posts pictures of the SH Customs Green Arrow on a consistent basis? Or why SH Customs "behind the scenes" photos are taken with the same exact camera that Andrew Clapham uses?
Ladies and gentlemen, Andrew Clapham IS "SH Customs". Clapham dishonestly uses manipulative wording to avoid this truth. Such as "I will forward your question on and see what *they* say". Or "SH Customs may be releasing another minifigure soon". I'm not sure why we were meant to believe that somehow he was the only one that was able to contact and receive information from this elusive and mysterious vendor. If you look at the design of the minifigures, you will notice similarities with Adam from PhoenixCustomBricks. This is because Phoenix Custom Bricks is the designer of the minifigures. No reason why it's one of both of their personal favorites! However, it should be noted that PCB was not involved in this sham and only created the design as commissions.
Now to the why. Was it to maintain a positive relationship with the sellers that he resells for? Was it to try and boost sales by not being known as himself and some fresh new brand instead? We don't know. We were unable to question our sources or find any information on this subject.
What does this mean? Not too much. For whatever reason he has for hiding behind a mask, Andrew Clapham is still an established and highly recommended source for buying custom minifigures in Europe. When it comes to ordering minifigures and receiving them, you should be completely satisfied with his service.
DISCLAIMER:
OUR GOAL IS TO NEVER HURT OR OFFEND ANY PARTY, ONLY TO DISPLAY INFORMATION THAT WE BELIEVE SHOULD BE KNOWN BY THE PUBLIC.
As stated above, with any of our posts, they are only meant to alert the public of information that we have found out about things that go on in our beloved LEGO Community. They are not a judgement on any person(s) or organizations mentioned and you should be free to believe what you want, as always. We never name our sources unless given permission but this information was obtained from FIVE separate individuals.
We will be posting more information and exposés every week. We have a handful more to post in the next few days, so please give us a follow so that you are alerted when we do! Please feel free to FM us any information about subjects that you feel need to be addressed.
We are working on a website to back up all of our posts and to post information/pictures that we cannot on Flickr due to their guidelines.
Happy Holidays,
Mr. Fuhrstname Lhastnäm
John John Florence, the hottest young surfer on the planet today, has continued his winning streak by taking out the ASP Prime rated Telstra Drug Aware Pro at Margaret River today.
Nineteen year old Florence won a hotly contested, all-Hawaiian final against 25 year old Olamana Eleogram, who could not continue his giant-killing dream run after earlier eliminating top seeds Owen Wright and Josh Kerr in the man on man heats.
Florence was clearly the form surfer of the event heading into the final, having consistently recorded 16 point plus heat scores over the week. Florence progressed after an amazing face-off against fellow teen prodigy Kolohe Andino in the Round of 16 late on Friday afternoon. John John made up for loss to Andino in a No Loser round earlier that day with a scorching score of 19.70 featuring the first and only ten point ride of the competition.
The wind died down and the swell began to pulse for the Men’s final after strong offshore winds made surfing in the early morning finals difficult. Eleogram was the first to strike in the 35 minute final, catching a right hander to bank an early score of 6.00. Florence soon responded with a 7.00 point right hander and backed it up straight away with another nice right, nailing an enormous finishing turn to score 7.83.
The final then became a backhand battle between the two natural footers as the lefthander began to offer the best scoring potential in the changing wind. Eleogram went left under priority hitting a number of critical turns to score an 8.83 to take the lead. But that only seemed to make Florence more determined as he aggressively attacked consecutive lefthanders, taking to the air on both waves to land scintillating backside reverse aerials, impressing the judges with scores of 9.43 and 9.33 to take a solid grip on the final by the half way mark with a total of 18.76.
That left Eleogram needing a perfect ride for the win, as Florence continued to put on a jaw-dropping display of new-school innovative surfing. The challenge proved too great for the affable Eleogram, who had to be content with making an ASP Prime final for the first time in his career.
“I was so stoked about being in the final with a good friend, a guy I grew up surfing with as a young kid,” said Florence after he had been chaired up the staircase from the beach by his mates. “Some great waves came through early in the heat and I felt loose and relaxed and hit a few airs. The wind here is just like home and it was pushing into the left for a change and gave me a chance to get up on a couple.” But the cool Florence did admit to some jitters midway into the final. “I started to get nervous with about fifteen minutes left, just thinking this could turn around on me, you just never know.”
The win for Florence continues a hot start to 2012, his rookie year on the ASP World Tour, as he won the season starting ASP 5 star Volcom Pipe Pro at his home beach in Hawaii, before going through to the last 16 at the opening World Tour event at Snapper Rocks on the Gold Coast earlier this month. It marks a rare streak of form for the Hawaiian prodigy who first rose to prominence on the tour when he became the youngest ever surfer to clinch the coveted Vans Triple Crown at his home breaks in Hawaii at the end of 2011, clinching his place on the ASP World Tour for 2012.
Florence’s performance at this event will go down as one of the most dominant in the event’s history. Florence has collected five of the top ten single wave scores and the top thee two-wave heat totals thanks to his full repertoire. Florence defeated fellow Hawaiian Olamana Eleogram (HAW) in the Final by scoring two 9-point-rides, for mixing huge power gouges with technical aerials.
“I’ve been having a lot of fun this week,” Florence said. “The waves are are a lot like at home, even the wind when it’s good for airs is a lot like Hawaii. The waves have been fun in all of my heats. I’m so stoked to win. This gives me a lot of confidence going into Bells because I hear the waves are similar. I was so stoked to make the Final with Ola (Eleogram) at Margaret River.”
Mark Occhilupo (AUS), 1999 ASP World Champion, although retired from full-time competition decided to come to Margaret River and attempt to win the event for his third time. Occhilupo’s affinity for Margaret River was clear from day one, with surf fans being treated to watching his iconic style and flair as he progressed through the contest. His dream run ended in the last minute of his Semifinal today, when Olamana Eleogram (HAW) posted a 6.50 and took the lead, sending Occhilupo home with an equal 3rd place finish.
“I have had the best time this week,” Occhilupo said. “In that Semifinal I had a pretty bad heat. A wave came at the end that I could have gotten the score on, but I fell. I’m going to go away and keep thinking about that. I’m still beating myself up about it. By the time I get home it will have sunken in and I will be stoked with third. That competitive nature doesn’t ever leave you.”
Courtney Conlogue Goes Back-To-Back At The Telstra Drug Aware Pro Margaret River
Courtney Conlogue (USA), reigning Telstra Drug Aware Pro event champion, today won the event for the second year in a row. Conlogue’s powerful backhand attack is perfectly suited to these powerful South West WA waves. The young Californian dominated the Final against Hawaiian Malia Manuel (HAW), posting two scores in the 8-point-range (out of a possible 10), to etch her name on the winners list once again.
“I was trying not to think about going back-to-back too much because I didn’t want to put pressure on myself,” Conlogue said. “I’m stoked to have gotten two in a row. This place taught me a lot last year and the years before. The first time I came here I lost in the second round and it was quite an embarrassing heat. Going from that to what I’ve done now feels great, and each year I come back I feel like I get to know the waves better and better. Now I’m looking forward to going to Bells because this place is great training for down there.”
TDAP 2012: Men's R48, Heats 1-2
TELSTRA DRUG AWARE PRO MEN’S SEMIFINAL RESULTS:
John John Florence (HAW) 18.76 def. Olamana Eleogram (HAW) 15.43
TELSTRA DRUG AWARE PRO MEN’S SEMIFINAL RESULTS:
SF 1: Olamana Eleogram (HAW) 11.67 def. Mark Occhilupo (AUS) 9.84
SF 2: John John Florence (HAW) 19.13 def. Kai Otton (AUS) 14.37
TELSTRA DRUG AWARE PRO MEN’S QUARTERFINALS RESULTS:
QF 1: Olamana Eleogram (HAW) 14.83 def. Josh Kerr (AUS) 2.34
QF 2: Mark Occhilupo (AUS) 17.63 def. Tom Whitaker (AUS) 16.03
QF 3: John John Florence (HAW) 15.44 def. Nic Muscroft (AUS) 13.10
QF 4: Kai Otton (AUS) 16.90 def. CJ Hobgood (USA) 13.93
TELSTRA DRUG AWARE PRO WOMEN’S SEMIFINAL RESULTS:
Courtney Conlogue (USA) 16.23 def. Malia Manuel (HAW) 11.03
TELSTRA DRUG AWARE PRO WOMEN’S SEMIFINAL RESULTS:
SF 1: Malia Manuel (HAW) 15.90 def Nikki Van Dijk (AUS) 13.40
SF 2: Courtney Conlogue (USA) 15.67 def. Rebecca Woods (AUS) 11.00
TELSTRA DRUG AWARE PRO WOMEN’S QUARTERFINALS RESULTS:
QF 1: Malia Manuel (HAW) 12.00 def. Pauline Ado (FRA) 9.83
QF 2: Nikki Van Dijk (AUS) 12.17 def. Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 11.17
QF 3: Rebecca Woods (AUS) 10.33 def. Laura Enever (AUS) 9.06
QF 4: Courtney Conlogue (USA) 15.26 def. Kirby Wright (AUS) 12.90
For more information, visit www.telstradrugawarepro.com
North Pier is the most northerly of the three coastal piers in Blackpool, England. Built in the 1860s, it is also the oldest and longest of the three. Although originally intended only
as a promenade, competition forced the pier to widen its attractions to include theatres and bars. Unlike Blackpool's other piers, which attracted the working classes with open air
dancing and amusements, North Pier catered for the "better-class" market, with orchestra concerts and respectable comedians. Until 2011, it was the only Blackpool pier that
consistently charged admission.
The pier is designated by English Heritage as a Grade II listed building, due to its status as the oldest surviving pier created by Eugenius Birch. As of 2012 it is still in regular use,
despite having suffered damage from fires, storms and collisions with boats. Its attractions include bars, a theatre, a carousel and an arcade. One of the oldest remaining Sooty
glove puppets is on display commemorating Harry Corbett buying the original puppet there.
North Pier was built at the seaward end of Talbot Road, where the town's first railway station, Blackpool North, was built. Its name reflects its location as the most northerly of
Blackpool's three piers. It is about 450 yards (410 m) north of Blackpool Tower, which is roughly the midpoint of Blackpool's promenade. The sea front is particularly straight and
flat on this stretch of coastline, and the 1,650 feet (500 m) pier extends at right angles into the Irish Sea, more or less level with the promenade.
History: The construction of Blackpool Pier (eventually North Pier) started in May 1862, in Layton-cum-Warbreck, part of the parish of Bispham. In October 1862 severe storms
suggested that the planned height of the pier was insufficient, and it was increased by 3 feet (0.91 m) North Pier was the second of fourteen piers designed by Eugenius Birch,
and since Margate Pier was destroyed by a storm in 1978, it is the oldest of the remaining examples of his work still in use. It was the first of Birch's piers to be built by Glasgow
engineering firm Richard Laidlaw and Son.
The pier, which cost £11,740 to build, originally consisted of a promenade 1,405 feet (428 m) long and 28 feet (8.5 m) wide, extending to 55 feet (17 m) wide at the pier-head. The
bulk of the pier was constructed from cast iron, with a wooden deck laid on top. The cast iron piles on which the structure rests were inserted using Birch's screw pile process; the
screw-tipped piles were twisted into the sand until they hit bedrock. This made construction much quicker and easier, and guaranteed that the pier had a solid foundation. The
cast iron columns, 12 inches (300 mm) in diameter, were filled with concrete for stability at intervals of 60 feet (18 m), and supported by struts that were on average were slightly
more than 1 inch (25 mm) thick.The pier's promenade deck is lined with wooden benches with ornamental cast iron backs. At intervals along the pier are hexagonal kiosks built
around 1900 in wood and glass with minaret roofs topped with decorative finials. On opening two of the kiosks were occupied by a bookstall and confectionery stall and the
kiosks near the ends of the pier were seated shelters. The pier-head is a combination of 420 tons of cast iron and 340 tons of wrought iron columns; standing 50 feet (15 m)
above the low water line, it sees a regular 35 feet (11 m) change in sea level due to the tide.
The pier was officially opened in a grand ceremony on 21 May 1863, even though the final 50 yards (46 m) had not yet been completed. All the shops in the area were closed
and decorated with flags and streamers for the ceremony, which included a procession and a cannon salute, and was attended by more than 20,000 visitors. Although the town
only had a population of approximately 4,000, more than 200,000 holiday makers regularly stayed there during the summer months; this included 275,000 admissions in 1863,
400,000 in 1864 and 465,000 the following year. The pier was officially opened by Major Preston, and he and 150 officials then travelled to the Clifton Hotel for a celebratory
meal.
The pier was intended primarily for leisure rather than seafaring; for the price of 2d (worth approximately £4.90 in 2012) the pier provided the opportunity for visitors to walk close
to the sea without distractions.This fee was insufficient to deter "trippers'", which led to Major Preston campaigning for a new pier to cater for the 'trippers'. In 1866, the
government agreed that a second pier could be built, despite objections from the Blackpool Pier Company that it was close to their pier and therefore unnecessary
As permitted by the original parliamentary order, a landing jetty was built at the end of North Pier in incremental stages between 1864 and 1867. The full length of the jetty was
474 feet (144 m), and the extensions increased the pier's total length to its current 1,650 feet (500 m). The Blackpool Pier Company used the jetty to operate pleasure steamers
that made trips to the surrounding areas. In 1871 swimming and diving lessons were added to the pier.
In 1874, the pier-head was extended to allow Richard Knill Freeman to incorporate a pavilion, which opened in 1877. The interior decoration led it to be known as the "Indian
Pavilion", and it was Blackpool's primary venue for indoor entertainment until the Winter Gardens opened in 1879.
To differentiate itself from the new pier, North Pier focused on catering for the "better classes", charging for entry and including attractions such as an orchestra and band
concerts, in contrast to the Central Pier (or the "People's pier"), which regularly had music playing and open-air dancing. The pier owners highlighted the difference, charging at
least a shilling (worth approximately £19.90 in 2012) for concerts and ensuring that advertisements for comedians focused on their lack of vulgarity. Sundays were given over to a
church parade.
On 8 October 1892, a storm-damaged vessel, Sirene, hit the southern side of the pier, causing four shops and part of the deck to collapse onto the beach below. Several columns
were also dislodged, and the ship's bowsprit hit the pier entrance. All eleven crew members were rescued when they were hauled onto the pier. Damage to the pier was
estimated to be £5,000 and was promptly repaired.
Nelson's former flagship, HMS Foudroyant, was moored alongside North Pier for an exhibition, but slipped anchor and was wrecked on the shore in a violent storm on 16 June
1897, damaging part of the jetty. The wreck of the ship broke up during December storms.
The pier was closed for the winter during 1895–6 as it unsafe; as a result, the pier was widened as electric lighting was added.
An Arcade Pavilion was added in 1903 at the entrance to the pier and contained a wide range of amusements to suit all tastes. Further alterations were made to the pier in 1932-
3 when the open air stand was replaced with a stage and sun lounge.
In 1936, a pleasure steamer returning from Llandudno crashed into the pier. The collision left a 10 feet (3.0 m) gap, and stranded a number of people at the far end.
The 1874 Indian Pavilion was severely damaged by fire in 1921. It was refurbished, but was then destroyed by a second fire in 1938. In 1939 it was replaced by a theatre, built in
an Art Deco style. At around the same time, the bandstand was removed and replaced with a sun lounge.
In the 1960s, the Merrie England bar and an amusement arcade were constructed at the end of the pier nearest to the shore. The 1939 theatre, which is still in use, narrowly
escaped damage in 1985 when the early stages of a fire were noticed by performer Vince Hill. In the 1980s, a Victorian-styled entrance was built. In 1991 the pier gained the
Carousel bar as an additional attraction, and a small tramway to ease access to the pier-head. By this point, the pier had ceased to have any nautical use, but the jetty section
was adapted for use as a helicopter pad in the late 1980s. Storms on 24 December 1997 destroyed the landing jetty, including the helipad.
The North Pier is one of the few remaining examples of Birch's classic pier architecture and is a Grade II Listed building, the only Blackpool pier to hold that status. It was
recognised as "Pier of the Year" in 2004 by the National Piers Society.
North Pier's attractions include a Gypsy palm reader and an ice cream parlour, the North Pier Theatre, a Victorian tea room, and the Carousel and Merrie England bars. The
arcade, built in the 1960s, has approximately eleven million coins pass through its machines each year.
One of the earliest Sooty bear puppets used by Harry Corbett is on display on the pier. Corbett bought the original Sooty puppet on North Pier for his son, Matthew. When Corbett
took the puppet on BBC's Talent Night programme, he marked the nose and ears with soot so that they would show up on the black and white television, giving the puppet its
name.
The Carousel bar on the pier-head has a Victorian wrought iron canopy, and its outdoor sun-lounge is classified as the largest beer garden in Blackpool. Next to the bar is a two
tier carousel, the "Venetian Carousel", which is protected from sand and spray by a glass wall.
After the fire in 1938, the pavilion was replaced with a 1,564 seat theatre which has since hosted a number of acts including; Frankie Vaughan, Frank Randle, Tessie O'Shea,
Dave Morris, Bernard Delfont, Morecambe and Wise, Paul Daniels, Freddie Starr, Russ Abbott, Bruce Forsyth, Des O'Connor, Joe Longthorne, Lily Savage, Brian Conley and
Hale and Pace.
In 2002 a heritage room with photographs was opened up, the foyer entrance was refurbished and a disabled lift added. By 2005, there was no longer a live organist playing in
the sun lounge although other live entertainment continues. In 2013, the live organist was brought back into the sun lounge.
The pier was built and owned by the Blackpool Pier Company, created with three thousand £5-shares in 1861 (worth approximately £2,990 in 2012). The same firm operated the
pier in 1953, and the company was incorporated in 1965. The Resorts Division of First Leisure, including the pier, was sold to Leisure Parks for £74 million in 1998. In 2009, the
pier was sold to the Six Piers group, which owns Blackpool's other two piers, and hoped to use it as a more tranquil alternative to them. The new owners opened the Victorianthemed
tea room, and built an eight-seat shuttle running the length of the pier.
In April 2011, the pier was sold to a Blackpool family firm, Sedgwick's, the owners of amusement arcades and the big wheel on Blackpool's Central Pier. Peter Sedgwick
explained that he proposed to his wife on North Pier forty years ago, and promised to buy it for her one day. He said that he wants to restore the Victorian heritage of the pier and
re-instate the pier's tram. An admission charge of fifty pence to access the board-walk section of the pier was abolished by the Sedgewicks.
A petition to wind up the Northern Victorian Pier Limited (the company used by the Sedgwick family to manage Blackpool North Pier) was presented on 17 September 2012 by
Carlsberg UK Limited, a creditor of the Company, and this was to be heard at Blackpool County Court on 15 November 2012.
At the 11th hour, an agreement to pay the outstanding balance owed to Carlsberg was made and Peter Sedgwick's company escaped liquidation.
[Wikipedia]
Un sopar consistent en: 3 canelons de xampinyons (prèviament trinxats i passats per la paella amb all, julivert i cansalada viada) gratinats amb una tranxeta, una poma, cinc cireres i un iogurt de plàtan. L'antítesi dels àpats que just avui han acabat.
CAST
Una cena consistente en: 3 canelones de champiñones (previamente troceados y pasados por la sartén con ajo, perejil y bacon) gratinados con un tranchete, una manzana, cinco cerezas y un yogurt de plátano. La antítesis de las comidas que justo hoy terminan.
ENG
A supper consisting of three mushroom cannelloni (the mushrooms had been previously fried with garlic, parsley and bacon) griled with a cheese slice, an apple, five cherries and a banana yogurt. The antithesis of all the meals that just finished today.
Qtpfsgui 1.9.3 tonemapping parameters:
Operator: Mantiuk
Parameters:
Contrast Mapping factor: 0.1
Saturation Factor: 1.879
Detail Factor: 2.9
------
PreGamma: 0.515
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Printing services | Studio Shindiri & Control P
Printing services and high quality printing materials were one of the key factors when we designed and pre-press for our clients. We have been cooperating with Control P printing house for a great number of years and there is a good reason for that; they deliver one of the best printing qualities in this part of Balkans. Over the years they have proven to be one of the rare printing houses that can deliver even the most complex types of printing. We tend to be demanding and look for even the tiniest errors when we control the printing process and we can say with confidence that Control P has given us the best printing service than any other printing house we came in contact with.
We never had any problems with Control P during the printing services for our clients unlike other printing houses that unfortunately, have no professional attitude and perfect final product. We always consult and point our clients that use our graphic design services to Control P. One of the basic reasons is that consistent quality no matter what size of the job is. We tend to provide maximum service quality, as our professional attitude and business codex point out and when we direct our clients to Control P we are positive that the design that we have made will be printed just the way we wanted, perfectly.
We have used the services of Control P printing house for over 80% of our projects that demanded printed material. A couple of those clients are: United Nations, Ergomade, HPD, Fertico, Fitofert, Centar Cad, Green Line, G&T Fruits, Vulkan AD, Goldys, RED BULL, Maplin, Tami Trade...
Printing services | Studio Shindiri & Control P
Printing services and high quality printing materials were one of the key factors when we designed and pre-press for our clients. We have been cooperating with Control P printing house for a great number of years and there is a good reason for that; they deliver one of the best printing qualities in this part of Balkans. Over the years they have proven to be one of the rare printing houses that can deliver even the most complex types of printing. We tend to be demanding and look for even the tiniest errors when we control the printing process and we can say with confidence that Control P has given us the best printing service than any other printing house we came in contact with.
We never had any problems with Control P during the printing services for our clients unlike other printing houses that unfortunately, have no professional attitude and perfect final product. We always consult and point our clients that use our graphic design services to Control P. One of the basic reasons is that consistent quality no matter what size of the job is. We tend to provide maximum service quality, as our professional attitude and business codex point out and when we direct our clients to Control P we are positive that the design that we have made will be printed just the way we wanted, perfectly.
We have used the services of Control P printing house for over 80% of our projects that demanded printed material. A couple of those clients are: United Nations, Ergomade, HPD, Fertico, Fitofert, Centar Cad, Green Line, G&T Fruits, Vulkan AD, Goldys, RED BULL, Maplin, Tami Trade...
01 | Digital Printing | Studio Shindiri & Control P
Graficki Dizajn Studio Shindiri - Štampanje - Štamparija Control P
Bul. Nemanjica 25a, TC ZONA lll, 18000 Nis, Serbia
l floor, lok. 74, tel. +381 18 539 230,
e-mail: info@controlp.rs controlp@ninet.rs
Offset printing is a service that Control P delivers on a very high level. Offset is a printing procedure of multiplication where the pressure is applied on the printing machine to reflect the painted image from the original printing form to the surface by using rubber base. Offset print provides high quality reproduction of multicolor originals. It also allows the use of multicolor printing on a wide range of materials. Offset printing has a range of techniques when printing: even, high and deep indirect print. The technique of even offset printing is one of the most widespread techniques in the world; it covers almost 85% of printing services. By using this technique we can print even the most difficult graphical solutions on a material such as:
Flyers, brochures, posters, memos, books, notes, catalogs, tags, magazines, calendars, maps, folders, cards, invitations …
Printing services | Studio Shindiri & Control P
Printing services and high quality printing materials were one of the key factors when we designed and pre-press for our clients. We have been cooperating with Control P printing house for a great number of years and there is a good reason for that; they deliver one of the best printing qualities in this part of Balkans. Over the years they have proven to be one of the rare printing houses that can deliver even the most complex types of printing. We tend to be demanding and look for even the tiniest errors when we control the printing process and we can say with confidence that Control P has given us the best printing service than any other printing house we came in contact with.
We never had any problems with Control P during the printing services for our clients unlike other printing houses that unfortunately, have no professional attitude and perfect final product. We always consult and point our clients that use our graphic design services to Control P. One of the basic reasons is that consistent quality no matter what size of the job is. We tend to provide maximum service quality, as our professional attitude and business codex point out and when we direct our clients to Control P we are positive that the design that we have made will be printed just the way we wanted, perfectly.
We have used the services of Control P printing house for over 80% of our projects that demanded printed material. A couple of those clients are: United Nations, Ergomade, HPD, Fertico, Fitofert, Centar Cad, Green Line, G&T Fruits, Vulkan AD, Goldys, RED BULL, Maplin, Tami Trade...
01 | Digital Printing | Studio Shindiri & Control P
Graficki Dizajn Studio Shindiri - Štampanje - Štamparija Control P
Bul. Nemanjica 25a, TC ZONA lll, 18000 Nis, Serbia
l floor, lok. 74, tel. +381 18 539 230,
e-mail: info@controlp.rs controlp@ninet.rs
Offset printing is a service that Control P delivers on a very high level. Offset is a printing procedure of multiplication where the pressure is applied on the printing machine to reflect the painted image from the original printing form to the surface by using rubber base. Offset print provides high quality reproduction of multicolor originals. It also allows the use of multicolor printing on a wide range of materials. Offset printing has a range of techniques when printing: even, high and deep indirect print. The technique of even offset printing is one of the most widespread techniques in the world; it covers almost 85% of printing services. By using this technique we can print even the most difficult graphical solutions on a material such as:
Flyers, brochures, posters, memos, books, notes, catalogs, tags, magazines, calendars, maps, folders, cards, invitations …
02 | Offset Printing | Studio Shindiri & Control P
Graficki Dizajn Studio Shindiri - Štampanje - Štamparija Control P
Bul. Nemanjica 25a, TC ZONA lll, 18000 Nis, Serbia
l floor, lok. 74, tel. +381 18 539 230,
e-mail: info@controlp.rs controlp@ninet.rs
The advantages of offset printing regarding to other methods are:
- High quality of the image. Offset print gives sharp and clean images.
- Easy and fast production of the printing plates
- Longer life span of printing plates for Glossary Link printing because there is no direct contact between the plate and the printable surface. Adequately developed plates can last over one million printing presses if the optimized colors are applied.
- Offset printing is one of the cheapest way to produce a high quality print for commercial usage when doing a larger amount of printing material.
With blindruck printing we can achieve a 3d effect.
With punching we can achieve any shape that we want that cannot be cut by a knife. We use it when we design folders, labels, catalogs, packages, boxes or any other item that has random different shapes.
With plastification we apply a thin layer of PVC (glossy or matte) on a printing material. This is done so that it can provide protection and longer life span of the item and a certain visual effect is achieved.
UV lacquer or offset lacquer are one of those finishing touches that make a certain segment of the print stand out in an attractive way.
Control P printing house was founded in 2003 in Nis, Serbia
They started working with low quantity prints and pre-press. Now they are known as the pioneers of big format print in Nis.
- 2004 they bought the first 152cm width plotter, ENCAD NOVA JET 880
- 2007 the first cutter-plotter was purchased and that made it the only one in Nis
- 2008 they made a great leap forward in digital printing by buying first digital printer, OLYMPIA class.
- 2011 they bought another top class digital printer , Konica – Minolta Bizhub Pro. Since they were involved a lot in industry print for high formats they bought another printer StarJet 2502 with 250cm width.
In the meantime the company expands and has over 1000 companies on their client list and seven highly qualified employees.
Printing services | Studio Shindiri & Control P
Printing services and high quality printing materials were one of the key factors when we designed and pre-press for our clients. We have been cooperating with Control P printing house for a great number of years and there is a good reason for that; they deliver one of the best printing qualities in this part of Balkans. Over the years they have proven to be one of the rare printing houses that can deliver even the most complex types of printing. We tend to be demanding and look for even the tiniest errors when we control the printing process and we can say with confidence that Control P has given us the best printing service than any other printing house we came in contact with.
We never had any problems with Control P during the printing services for our clients unlike other printing houses that unfortunately, have no professional attitude and perfect final product. We always consult and point our clients that use our graphic design services to Control P. One of the basic reasons is that consistent quality no matter what size of the job is. We tend to provide maximum service quality, as our professional attitude and business codex point out and when we direct our clients to Control P we are positive that the design that we have made will be printed just the way we wanted, perfectly.
We have used the services of Control P printing house for over 80% of our projects that demanded printed material. A couple of those clients are: United Nations, Ergomade, HPD, Fertico, Fitofert, Centar Cad, Green Line, G&T Fruits, Vulkan AD, Goldys, RED BULL, Maplin, Tami Trade...
01 | Digital Printing | Studio Shindiri & Control P
Graficki Dizajn Studio Shindiri - Štampanje - Štamparija Control P
Bul. Nemanjica 25a, TC ZONA lll, 18000 Nis, Serbia
l floor, lok. 74, tel. +381 18 539 230,
e-mail: info@controlp.rs controlp@ninet.rs
Offset printing is a service that Control P delivers on a very high level. Offset is a printing procedure of multiplication where the pressure is applied on the printing machine to reflect the painted image from the original printing form to the surface by using rubber base. Offset print provides high quality reproduction of multicolor originals. It also allows the use of multicolor printing on a wide range of materials. Offset printing has a range of techniques when printing: even, high and deep indirect print. The technique of even offset printing is one of the most widespread techniques in the world; it covers almost 85% of printing services. By using this technique we can print even the most difficult graphical solutions on a material such as:
Flyers, brochures, posters, memos, books, notes, catalogs, tags, magazines, calendars, maps, folders, cards, invitations …
02 | Offset Printing | Studio Shindiri & Control P
Graficki Dizajn Studio Shindiri - Štampanje - Štamparija Control P
Bul. Nemanjica 25a, TC ZONA lll, 18000 Nis, Serbia
l floor, lok. 74, tel. +381 18 539 230,
e-mail: info@controlp.rs controlp@ninet.rs
The advantages of offset printing regarding to other methods are:
- High quality of the image. Offset print gives sharp and clean images.
- Easy and fast production of the printing plates
- Longer life span of printing plates for Glossary Link printing because there is no direct contact between the plate and the printable surface. Adequately developed plates can last over one million printing presses if the optimized colors are applied.
- Offset printing is one of the cheapest way to produce a high quality print for commercial usage when doing a larger amount of printing material.
With blindruck printing we can achieve a 3d effect.
With punching we can achieve any shape that we want that cannot be cut by a knife. We use it when we design folders, labels, catalogs, packages, boxes or any other item that has random different shapes.
With plastification we apply a thin layer of PVC (glossy or matte) on a printing material. This is done so that it can provide protection and longer life span of the item and a certain visual effect is achieved.
UV lacquer or offset lacquer are one of those finishing touches that make a certain segment of the print stand out in an attractive way.
03 | Printing House Control P
Graficki Dizajn Studio Shindiri - Štampanje - Štamparija Control P
Bul. Nemanjica 25a, TC ZONA lll, 18000 Nis, Serbia
l floor, lok. 74, tel. +381 18 539 230,
e-mail: info@controlp.rs controlp@ninet.rs
What is most amazing about the mortage-scam era is how consistent the thinking was all the way up the chain. At the very bottom, lowlifes like Solomon Edwards, the kind of shameless con man who preyed on families and kids and whom even other criminals would look down on, simply viewed each family as assets to be liquidated and converted into one-time, up-front fees. . . . And, amazingly, it was the same thing at the very top. When the CEO of Goldman Sachs stood up in the conference room of the New York Federal Reserve Bank and demanded his money, he did so knowing that it was more profitable to put AIG to the torch than it was to try to work things out . . .
Two other things are striking about the mortgage-scam era. One was that nobody in this vast rogues' gallery of characters was really engaged in building anything. If Wall Street makes its profits by moving money around from place to place and taking a cut here and there, in a snese this whole mess was kind of a giant welfare program the financial services industry simply willed into being for itself.
It invented a mountain of money in the form of a few trillion dollars' worth of bogus mortgages and rolled it forward for a few years, until reality intervened - and suddenly it was announced that We the Taxpayer had to buy it from them, at what they called face value, for the good of the country.
In the meantime, and this is the second thing that's so amazing, almost everyone who touched that mountain turned out to be a crook of some kind. The mortgage brokers systematically falsified information on loan applications in order to secure bigger loans and hawked explosive option-ARM morgages to people who either didn't understand them, or, worse, did understand them and simply never intended to pay. The loan originators cranked out massive volumes of loans with plainly doctored applications, not giving a shit about whether or not the borrowers could pay, in a desparate search for short-term rebates and fees. The securitizers used harebrained math to turn crap mortgages into AAA-related investments; the ratings agencies signed off on that harebrained math and handed out those AAA ratings in order to keep the fees coming in and the bonuses for their exectutives high.
from Griftopia, Matt Taibbi
Visita nuestro Blog de Semana Santa en:
asociacionredobles.blogspot.com
Actos que se van a desarrollar durante la conmemoración del 200º aniversario del
rescate del Cristo de la Cama, consistente en el traslado de la Imagen desde la Iglesia
de Santa Isabel de Portugal (vulgo San Cayetano) a la Basílica del Pilar.
El rescate se produjo el 17 de febrero de 1809 del Convento de San Francisco, lo que
actualmente es la Diputación Provincial. El día 10 los franceses volaron el Convento,
que era defendido por unos cuantos aragoneses y por los voluntarios de Valencia. El
día 17, María Blánquez entro en el convento y vio que todos los pasos que
procesionan en Semana santa, quince en total, estaban destruidos, salvo el Santísimo
Cristo de la Cama, que estaba indemne en su Capilla de la Hermandad. Salió a la
calle, cogió a cuatro hombres, volvió a entrar al convento y todos ellos cogieron al
Cristo de la cama. Lo llevaron primero a la parroquia de la santa Cruz, después a la
de Santiago y finalmente al Palacio Arzobispal, lugar en donde vivía el general
Palafox, que enfermo lo venero y ordeno fuera llevado al interior de la Basílica del
Pilar, siendo colocado en el Altar de los convertido mirando a su Madre, la virgen del
Pilar.
Este hecho es el que conmemoramos.
A las 18´00 horas se oirá en la Ciudad de Zaragoza a los Artilleros de Aragón
anunciando el comienzo de la procesión cívico religiosa.
Con la salida desde San Cayetano de la Bandera de la Hermandad de la Sangre de
Cristo dará comienzo la procesión, encontrándose el resto de participantes ubicados
en la plaza. Seguidamente saldrá la peana, portada a varal, del Cristo de la Cama. Lo
hará con un toque preparado para la ocasión por la Sección de Tambores de la
Hermandad de San Joaquín y Virgen de los Dolores. Una vez que nuestro Cristo de la
Cama este en la plaza sonara el Himno Nacional interpretado al órgano por Ignacio
Navarro Gil.
Finalizado el himno, se descubrirá una placa en cerámica de Muel, promovida por la
Asociación Cultural Redobles. Dicha placa será descubierta por el Ilmo. Sr. D.
Francisco Javier Lambán Montañés, o persona en quien en delegue, acompañado por
el Hermano Mayor de la Hermandad de la Sangre de Cristo. A la vez que se descubre
la placa, don José Antonio Armillas, Comisario del Bicentenario glosara brevemente
la figura de María Blánquez y lo que ella significo.
Finalizado este acto, dará comienzo en sí el desfile.
Por la calle Manifestación, calle Alfonso y calle Coso, nos dirigiremos a la plaza de
España, en donde se realiza el segundo acto del desfile. Este consiste en depositar dos
coronas de laurel. La primera en la placa que recuerda al Convento de San Francisco
y la segunda en el monumento a los Mártires.
La del Convento de San Francisco será portada por mujeres ataviadas con el traje
regional, en recuerdo y homenaje a María Blánquez. Entregada por don Francisco
Javier Lambán Montañés (o persona en quién delegue), le acompañaran el
Comandante Militar de Zaragoza, General Juan Pinto y el Hermano Mayor de la
Sangre de Cristo. La recibirán dos soldados del Batallón Pardos de Aragón.
La segunda corona, la entregara don Juan Alberto Belloch Julve (o persona en quién
delegue), acompañado también por el Comandante Militar y el Hermano Mayor,
siendo recibida por dos soldados del Batallón de Infantería Voluntarios de Aragón.
Durante este acto sonara en la plaza el Carillón de la Diputación Provincial con
marchas alusivas a los Sitios.
Finalizado el acto, continuaremos el desfile en dirección a la Plaza de la Seo por calle
don Jaime, calle Mayor, calle Dormer, calle Cisne y calle Cuellar.
En la plaza de la Seo se realiza el tercer y último acto. Consiste en una breve
alocución del General Pinto, Comandante Militar de Zaragoza y Teruel, en recuerdo
y homenaje del General Palafox. A Su conclusión, el Batallón de Infantería
Voluntarios de Aragón hará una descarga de fusilería.
Ya para finalizar, nos encaminaremos a la plaza del Pilar, finalizando el desfile,
alrededor de las 20´30 horas, con la entrada del Cristo de la Cama en la Basílica, en
donde permanecerá hasta el miércoles 25 de febrero.
Finalizado el desfile y por lo tanto el traslado, la Hermandad de la Sangre de Cristo
realizara una ofrenda a la Virgen del Pilar.
La Hermandad de la Sangre de Cristo, con el fin de dar mayor realce a este
acontecimiento histórico, ha invitado a participar a todos aquellos Ayuntamientos e
Instituciones galardonados con la Medalla del Bicentenario “Defensor de Zaragoza”,
distinción que también ha obtenido la propia Hermandad. Han confirmado su
asistencia una representación de los Ayuntamientos de Alcañiz, Barbastro, Calatayud,
Cariñena, Chelva, Huesca, Jaca, monzón y Valencia. También han confirmado su
participación los Artilleros de Aragón, Batallón Pardos de Aragón, Batallón de
Infantería Ligera Voluntarios de Aragón, la Asociación Cultural Royo del Rabal
(ronda y escenificación de personajes históricos de la época), la Asociación Cultural
Los Sitios (personajes históricos de la época), la Hermandad de San Juan de la Peña,
la Cofradía del Santo Sepulcro, la Hermandad del santo Refugio, la Real Ilustre
Congregación de Nuestra Señora de la Soledad de Madrid y la Real Maestranza de
Caballería.
La parte musical durante el desfile correrá a cargo de la Banda de Guerra de la
Brigada de Caballería Castillejos II, de la Banda Música de la Academia General
Militar y la Ronda de jotas de la Asociación Cultural el Rabal. Durante el desfile y
con el fin de que los peaneros lleven el ritmo adecuado, les acompaña un piquete de
diez instrumentos, cuyos miembros son de la cofradía de la Institución de la Sagrada
Eucaristía, que lo harán sin los distintivos propios de la Cofradía.
Cabe destacar el estreno de una marcha procesional en las calles de Zaragoza. La
primera y ultima pieza que interprete la Banda de Música será la Marcha al Cristo de
la Cama, cuyo autor es don Abel Moreno y que fue donada a la Hermandad por la
Asociación para el Estudio de la Semana Santa.
Ernesto Millán Lázaro
Hermano Mayor
Hermandad Sangre de Cristo
The New Chanel Boutique Opening and Charity Event, on Robertson Blvd., SIMPLY CONSISTENT INC.
www.simplyconsistent.com/non-profit
"-Chanel Boutique."
"-Kathleen Checki."
"-Checki."
"-Simply Consistent."
"-Simply Consistent Management."
"-Kathy and Rick Hilton."
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Did you know that more than 100 medical disorders can masquerade as psychological conditions?
Depression and anxiety are symptoms of hundreds of different conditions, but most people don’t associate them with certain physical conditions or infections, like Lyme disease, placing them squarely in the mental health category.
Yet, there’s no denying that the mental and physical are unequivocally linked. While some mental conditions can cause physical symptoms, we commonly see physical illnesses create mental symptoms, and Lyme disease is no different.
If you have Lyme disease, anxiety and depression are extremely common, essentially making a horrible situation even worse, but finding relief is possible.
Healing your body means understanding the importance of mind-body medicine and a positive emotional state on the healing process, but first you have to know what causes anxiety and depression and how they’re linked to Lyme disease.
What Causes Anxiety and Depression?
A wide range of life events or genetic factors can cause anxiety or depression, including disease.
You have an increased risk factor for anxiety or depression if you’ve had more experience with:
• Trauma, constant conflict, abuse, death or loss• Unnecessary stress, including build up, consistent stress or stress due to an illness• Drugs or alcohol• Other mental health disorders• Chronic illness• Life events, even if they’re considered “good”• Certain medications• Lack of physical activity• Poor nutrition• Social isolation or lack of support
Research also suggests that there are certain lifestyle choices that are modifiable risk factors as well, such as diet, exercise, and exposure to chemicals.
Is Depression Caused by Chemical Imbalances?
It is often thought depression and similar conditions are caused by what we call “chemical imbalances,” but the truth is, it’s more complicated than that.
Harvard Health describes how our brains have certain neurotransmitters that keep our senses, movements and moods on track, but in cases of depression the system can have “receptors that may be oversensitive or insensitive to a specific neurotransmitter, causing their response to its release to be excessive or inadequate” or they may send a weakened message if there’s too little of the neurotransmitter.
Basically, any tweaks in our brain chemistry can cause significant mood alterations.
While some studies claim anxiety or depression are independent conditions, others have found them to be interrelated in some instances.
The question is similar to the chicken and the egg scenario. Are anxiety and depression causing some chronic illnesses, or are they a byproduct of chronic disease that’s affecting the body?
There is research for both depending on the chronic condition, but either way, dealing with anxiety and depression while living with a chronic illness is difficult.
Symptoms of Anxiety and Depression
Although anxiety and depression often have different causes, they share many similar treatments and symptoms, and their symptoms can drastically change daily life, exacerbating chronic conditions, like Lyme.
Common symptoms of depression include:
• Lower energy levels, often connected to feelings of sluggishness or chronic fatigue
• Difficulty sleeping, including oversleeping or waking up early
• Loss of interest in activities or feeling pleasure
• Feelings of sadness, hopelessness, emptiness, guilt and pessimistic thoughts
• Problems concentrating, remembering or making decisions
• Anger, restlessness or irritability
• Frequent changes in weight or appetite
• Aches, pains, cramps or gastrointestinal problems without any clear cause
• Thoughts of suicide or death – and suicide attempts
Symptoms of anxiety include:
• Difficulty controlling emotions such as worry or fear
• Irritability, dread, panic, or feeling on edge
• A racing heart
• Difficulty sleeping, falling asleep, or sleeping through the night – often “unsatisfied”
• Muscle tension, grinding teeth
• Fatigue (or getting fatigued easily)
• Difficulty concentrating or recalling
These symptoms overlap with dozens of other conditions as well, but it’s important to recognize the distinction between normal stress or sadness and a clinical condition, which is where diagnosis comes in.
Diagnosing Depression and Anxiety
Medical professionals diagnose depression or anxiety by performing physical, psychological and other diagnostic tests to see if you match the criteria. Most of the time, if you exhibit 5 or more symptoms of the condition, a diagnosis is likely.
It’s important to distinctly identify the differences between common emotions and clinical conditions, such as the difference between sadness and depression.
One of the major differences is persistent symptoms.
It’s normal to feel sad at different points in our lives. We’re human after all, but if the feeling is continuous or if you feel sad about everything, then it’s most likely depression and definitely worth bringing up to a medical professional.
Always speak with your doctor to rule out conditions first, like hypothyroidism, and ask how to proceed if you’re diagnosed with depression or anxiety.
Lyme Disease and Mental Health
Does Lyme Disease Cause Depression and Anxiety?
Most people aren’t aware of the link between Lyme disease and depression or anxiety. Lyme Disease, or Lyme Borreliosis, caused by Borrelia burgdorferi and spread by ticks, is mainly known to cause arthritis and neurological disorders but can also cause psychiatric symptoms such as depression and anxiety.
The good news is that it’s not all in your head.
These very real symptoms can be brought on by a number of different reasons. People with chronic medical conditions have a higher risk of depression and anxiety, and coupled with a chronic condition, they tend to worsen each other, according to some studies.
Key Factors In Depression, Anxiety and Lyme Disease
Inflammation plays a causal role in the array of neurologic changes associated with Lyme disease, according to a study published in The American Journal of Pathology, and a growing body of research indicates that inflammation plays a key role in mood disorders and mental illness overall.
Gut health in general is crucial to overall health. When the gut is out of balance, it throws off everything in the body because your gut and brain are in constant contact thanks to the gut-brain axis. Most people with Lyme suffer from a leaky gut, where the intestinal lining has developed holes and is no longer functioning properly, this allows undigested food molecules and other “bad stuff” to flow freely into your bloodstream, and causes deficiencies in digestive nutrients, affecting a person’s mental status and mood.
Nutrition is a critical component of mental health. It’s common to see even simple changes in a person’s mood when they haven’t eaten, such as anger or irritability, but diet also plays a key role in our health. Studies have shown diet quality is poorer in persons with depressive and anxiety disorders. Some research has discovered that diet modification can reverse symptoms of certain chronic conditions and increase overall quality of life.
Lifestyle choices also affect symptoms of depression and anxiety. Household toxins contribute to depression and anxiety also, which is why we’re recommended to stay away from toxic mold, pesticides (organophosphates), mercury and some prescription drugs. According to a study published in the Annals of Epidemiology, people exposed to pesticides have nearly a six-fold increased risk of suffering from depressive symptoms.
Since Lyme is an infection that affects multiple systems, it can also be managed by making several changes like those listed above. Various forms, such as Neurological Lyme Disease, also referred to as Lyme neuroborreliosis (LNB), can manifest in different ways, but anxiety and depression are commonly experienced, as well as cognitive decline, memory impairment, and much more.
Coping with Chronic Disease, Depression & Anxiety
Living with Lyme disease or other chronic illness has its own challenges, but when depression and anxiety come into play, it’s even more difficult. No treatment or management plan is a one-size-fits-all and often, the best results are found when a series of changes work together. Try these 7 ways to manage your symptoms of lyme disease, depression and anxiety, and remember to always consult your doctor for direction and support.
7 Ways to Manage Your Depression or Anxiety Symptoms:
1) Exercise Often
You’ve heard it a thousand times, but exercise is pivotal to a better quality of life. It essentially creates a cascade effect, which releases endorphins, decreases stress and inflammation, improves sleep, lowers blood pressure and so much more. Over time, exercise may also prevent relapse and is as effective as antidepressants.
“For immediate relief there is no better or more natural approach than aerobic exercise, and many studies have demonstrated its efficacy. I recommend 30 minutes of continuous activity, at least five days a week for best results,” says Dr. Andrew Weil, a world-renowned leader and pioneer in the field of integrative medicine, Harvard grad and published author. (LINK – www.drweil.com/health-wellness/balanced-living/exercise-f...)
The hardest part is getting started and when you live with depression or chronic illnesses, it can be even more difficult, but even as little as five minutes of movement will help, according to Harvard Health. (LINK – www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/exercise-is-an-all-n...) The important thing is to find an activity that’s fun and works for your lifestyle.
If you’re bedridden or sick, even light activities can help. These activities may include muscle-stretching, muscle contractions, light resistance training, easy lifts and pelvic tilts. (LINK – www.mindbodygreen.com/0-6802/5-Exercises-You-Can-Do-While...) If you’re able to move freely even if it’s slow, taking short walks can make all the difference. Speak with your doctor or physical therapist for tailored exercises.
2) Soothe Your Mind and Body
Relaxation techniques can improve your quality of life and may reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety, but where do you start?
Begin breathing exercises – Performing deep, mindful breathing exercises releases tension and promotes overall wellbeing. As you regulate your breath, anxiety subsides and stress decreases dramatically thanks to the increased oxygen supply your body and brain are receiving.
Engage in meditation – There’s a reason why meditation is on nearly every list for treating depression, anxiety, chronic conditions, and mental health as a whole. The good news is that it doesn’t need to be complicated and there’s no wrong way to do it, plus you can find free meditations everywhere. Start by looking up guided meditations on YouTube or download apps, like Insight Timer, Calm, or Headspace.
Allow yourself to feel what you’re feeling and don’t try to force anything – Intentionally spending time with your emotions without feelings of guilt or shame creates space to observe thoughts and feelings. Plan a day to be alone and wallow. Maybe even spend some time writing about the feelings and why they’re there, but remember to be kind to yourself and practice gratitude, which has been linked to lower depression rates in chronic illness.
Set aside time for relaxation techniques and activities – Give your body and mind space to consciously engage in certain activities, such as:
• Progressive muscle relaxation involves lying down and focusing on a particular group of muscles. You consciously relax them, then tense them for a while, and then completely relax them again. Repeat these steps with different muscle groups until the entire body is in a deeply relaxed state to improve your awareness of your own body and tense areas.
• Autogenic training is where you sit or lie down in a comfortable position and repeat short phrases in your mind – for example, “My arms are heavy.” Try to achieve intense feelings such as heaviness, warmth, coolness and calm, so you can feel deeply relaxed, and get rid of stress or negative feelings
• Yoga combines various breathing exercises, meditation, muscle relaxation and physical poses to create awareness and relaxation in the body.
• Massage also relieves muscle tension.
3) Get Emotional Support Personally or Professionally
While antidepressants are often prescribed for depression or other mood disorders, according to studies, roughly 20% of patients do not show improvement in reduction of anxiety or depressive symptoms, but emotional support has lasting effects.
Talk with a friend or family member who you know will listen, reach out to a professional trained in this area (counselors, hotlines, therapists, etc.) or join support groups. Despite the negative stigma, more resources are being created every day for mental health support, and while it may be difficult to reach out, your mental health may get worse and you can suffer longer if you don’t.
4) Go Outside for Fresh Air and Daily Sun Exposure
You’re at risk for Vitamin D deficiency if you’re living with chronic illness, and studies have shown that this lack has played a key role in the development of depression. Some studies have even found that depression and low sunlight exposure created cognitive impairment.
Try taking a walk or exercising outside to increase feelings of wellbeing and vitamin D levels. Also, setting up your environment for early sun exposure does wonders for your depression and anxiety symptoms. Studies have found that early exposure to sunlight or very bright artificial light in the morning causes a person’s nocturnal melatonin production to occur sooner, which makes it easier to get to sleep at night.
5) Create a Better Sleep Support System
It’s no secret that when you have a bad night’s sleep, everything else is thrown off, and the fact that we spend a third of our life sleeping means that this area requires attention.
The relationship between mental health and sleep is complex; depression or anxiety may cause sleep disturbances and sleep problems may cause anxiety or depression, among other disorders. Chronic Lyme disease and fatigue go hand in hand, too, with some studies saying that people living with this tick-borne infection are more likely to experience poor sleep quality.
So how do you tackle sleep problems?
While removing things from your environment, like screens, or getting new pillows can do a great deal, adding exercise to your daily routine can also help significantly. Try setting up a sleep schedule so you go to bed at the same time every night and wake up to the morning light to get the added sunlight affects mentioned above.
6) Consult Your Doctor for Medical Interventions, Such as Antidepressants or Health Supplements
Antidepressants are often the go-to for anxiety or depression, but they aren’t for everyone and they may not help if other areas are lacking, such as vitamin deficiencies or emotional support. Initially, antidepressants were approved for short-term use and are often not the long-term solution, so taking them for a short time while you enact lifestyle changes could help tremendously.
If you’re looking for more natural ways to manage your anxiety or depression, talk to your doctor about natural supplements, such as S-adenosyl methionine (SAMe), St. John’s Wort, or B-Vitamins, like Niacin.
SAMe is a naturally occurring molecule that is widely used in Europe for depression, arthritis and other ailments, and while there’s limited research on the use of SAMe, it’s been shown to be equal to, if not more effective, than pharma antidepressants, according to Harvard Health.
St. John’s Wort is a plant that grows in the wild that’s been used for centuries to treat mental health conditions. It’s widely prescribed for depression in Europe and appears to have fewer side effects than pharma antidepressants.
B-Vitamins, like Niacin (B6), are pivotal to our body’s systems and often necessary in the body to improve neurological health, fight infections, and support cellular function. B-12 deficiency is common in patients with Lyme and other tick borne diseases, and taking it supports the central and peripheral nervous system, improving immune function and energy.
Regardless if its antidepressants or vitamins, understanding the effects it could have on you gives you more control of your chronic illness management. According to The New York Times, many people taking antidepressants discover they can’t quit due to withdrawal symptoms. Always research and consult your doctor before taking any medication, and remember to discuss the pros and cons of taking each.
7) Tackle Nutritional Deficiencies.
As if living with Lyme disease wasn’t difficult enough, multiple nutritional deficiencies are common. When your brain and body are deprived of good-quality nutrition or if you’re ingesting food with inflammatory properties, such as refined sugar, the reaction is severe – chronic illness, depressive symptoms, compromised symptoms and so much more.
Most people have nutritional deficiencies, but when you have a chronic disease, it can exacerbate symptoms. While taking supplements can help, as discussed above, making small changes to your diet can tremendously affect your Lyme disease and mental health symptoms.
Gut health is especially important to a well-functioning body, and while trillions of bacteria live in your digestive tract, some are good and others can damage your body. Certain diet modifications can increase good bacteria, limit inflammation and shift the way your body functions naturally.
Some basic nutritional recommendations are:
• Avoid processed foods, added sugars or flours.
• Everything in moderation.
• Eat more natural foods such as plants, seeds, and nuts.
• Add prebiotic and probiotic foods to your diet (spinach, bananas, sauerkraut etc.)
• What we eat affects every part of our health. Seeking professional help is a great way to get your nutrition on track.
The #1 Thing You Can Do for Your Health
Support, nutrition, medication, exercise – all the things you need to do can be overwhelming to get healthy on every level, but you don’t have to do it alone.
The Infusio Lyme & Tick Borne Illness Program treats people using foundational medicine, which includes multiple lifestyle and medical interventions.
You’ll get support on every level including, but not limited to:
• Initial treatment and therapies
• Bodywork and nutritional counseling
• SVF cell therapy
• Weekly follow-up calls
• A customized diet plan
• A regimen of supplements
• Guided meditation and breathing exercises
• Optimized home and aftercare
Infusio’s relaxed atmosphere allows you to calm your mind and recalibrate your systems using breathing exercises, meditation and much more to create a positive emotional state and foster an environment conducive to healing.
Living with any chronic condition isn’t easy, but your anxiety and depression don’t have to debilitate you. Infusio’s programs utilize mind-body medicine at their core and if you’re suffering, you can always reach out to one of our Patient Care Coordinators, who have gone through exactly what you have. Each coordinator has experienced Lyme disease and depression/anxiety symptoms, so reach out even if it’s just to talk. They are there to support you.
Infusio is a unique, multi-level approach to healing, designed by British naturopath Philip Battiade for the treatment of chronic degenerative illnesses such as Lyme disease, autoimmune disorders, neurological disorders and cancer. The framework of the Infusio Concept consists of the Five Steps To Health, a foundational system that helps determine each patient’s individual needs and then optimizes their health. Integrating the best of traditional European medicine, alternative medicine and cutting-edge science, offering services ranging from Bioenergetics to Cell Therapy and rejuvenating spa treatments, Infusio provides a 360° individualized approach to health.
The post Can Lyme Disease Cause Depression and Anxiety? appeared first on Infusio.
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Business surveys in Latin America consistently show that skills gaps are a serious bottleneck to firm growth and competitiveness. Lack of responsiveness by providers of technical education and professional training is often blamed for this situation. What innovations are possible to improve the quality and relevance of those programs? What role should governments, employers, universities, and civil society play in shaping the approach to technical education and professional training in Latin America? What can we learn from reforms in the region and abroad? The Dialogue and CAF - Development Bank of Latin America hosted a wide-ranging full-day seminar that brought together academics, policymakers, and other experts from the Western Hemisphere to discuss the future of technical education and professional training in Latin America.
Weld-Ons are manufactured with consistently sharp points to ensure positive contact when welded to sheet metal. Produced from carbon alloy steel, the point of the welding pin is hardened in a unique cold form process. This process hardens the points, giving them a steel temper that will not blunt or fl atten when applied, unlike other welding pins. The sharper point of contact results in a better weld and creates fewer sparks that can ignite adhesives or burn substrates. Weld-Ons are easily applied using any conventional portable or automatic resistance welding unit. Cup style washers are included with each pail and are designed to suffi ciently depress the insulation surface without tearing it.
Product comes in 1/2", 3/4", 1", 1-1/8", and 1-1/2" lengths and quantities of 3,000, and 5,000 per bucket.
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When Toys R Us sells your figures two years after release, at 50 - 60 percent off no less, it usually means that your stuff wasn't selling that great to begin with. As insane as that sounds, that is exactly what they did a few weeks ago to the remaining Transformers Siege: War for Cybertron figures.
Selection varied at every store, but one thing was consistent - Leader class figures were readily available.
For the unfamiliar, Transformer figures are priced according to their Class, or size basically. Leaders are priced at $69.99, so not exactly the entry level offering. Normally, price point isn't as much of a concern as you'd think, but the combination of a $10 price hike and lackluster offerings hurt things. I suspect the sales numbers probably resulted in only one Leader being released for Earthrise - Doubledealer.
Basically the problem boiled down to this - Leaders were effective a small core figure, around the size of a $40 figure, then with pieces of kibble added to it in order to justify a $70 price tag. Astrotrain and Shockwave having kibble bits really made no sense - the only one that did was Ultra Magnus - who traditionally combines with his trailer - and the remould Galaxy Force Optimus Prime... which itself wasn't great but that's another story).
So you can guess where I'm going with all this... yes, I picked up an Ultra Magnus out of respect for the character because dammit, I CAN deal with that right now.
I guess the $28 price tag didn't hurt either.
Ultra Magnus comes with the figure, two shoulder rocket launchers, two thigh guns, and a main weapon. While the robot mode is styled to replicate the nostalgic G1 aesthetics, the vehicle mode is clearly modeled after the RiD 2000 Ultra Magnus... but to be fair, they were aiming for Cybertronian modes in this line so I'll accept it.
You'll notice the side-by-side with Springer shows that Ultra Magnus really isn't that much bigger than him, so even the armour bits don't add much physical presence to the character.
From an articulation perspective, Ultra Magnus has all the usuals - ankels, knees, hips with rotating thighs, waist, rotating and pivoting shoulders, bicep swivel, elbows, wrist, and ball jointed head. The range of motion, however, is rather limited due to the bulk. You'll get your usual standing/lunging poses, but that's really about it.
Without the armour, you get Magnus, or as we called him back in the 80s - White Optimus Prime. Articulation is the same as Ultra Magnus, as the main body is what gives Ultra Magnus his movement, with the bonus of playing with a stumpy white robot with a giant torso.
Paint is about what I expected from a Siege figure. Ultra Magnus was made when they were still doing to battle damage paint apps that people absolutely hated. From what I can tell, the red and white plastics are the primary used, with everything else painted or decaled on. Applications are generally clean, with the exception of the super sloppy paint app that spill over to the handle of the silver gun. The translucent blue cab windows are a nice touch, though what would have been even nicer is if they used grey plastic for the sides of the feet so vehicle mode wouldn't look so bland from the side.
Build quality is again typical Hasbro, though somewhat lacking for a Takara/Tomy release. Joints hold well, and there do not appear to be any issues with limb sizes or misalignment of tabs and so on. However, I did find that the tolerances on some of the 5 mm holes on the body were a bit off, resulting in the weapons not staying in place while in vehicle mode.
Transformation into vehicle mode is generally straight forward, though its more of a "rearrange parts to form a trailer" than an actual transformation. It fascinating though... the vehicle mode has none of the play value that made either of the two inspirations for this figure - the ability to use the trailer to carry around other Autobots. While thankfully the vehicle mode is bigger than the $40 toys, its more akin to a bus than a vehicle carrier.
The cab can be separated and played with individually, though this is more for the kids I suspect.
So in the end, despite looking like G1 Magnus.. far more accurately than any other mainstream release, this is definitely no substitute for the MP. It is literally Cosplay Optimus Prime. It's too bad they didn't save Magnus for a Commander Class release, because I feel Hasbro and Takara could have found a way to make a nice MP alternative like they have with Jetfire and Skylynx.
For $30, I felt it was an OK figure, but if I had bought this for $70 I'd be pretty upset... and that's probably why there are still so many unloved Leader figures from the line. I can only image how half assed Shockwave is, who is now not a gun but spaceship that looks like an upside down gun with extra armour bits, and Astrotrain, who now needs the extra armour bits to complete his triple changing ways.
At least there will be lots of happy kids this Christmas...
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January 29
Hang on to your seats. Today was a day.
At work I helped Ahna shoot an interview with another dude for the QEP video. After we packed up the gear, I made another Brenizer attempt, and this one was a success! I have a feeling Iâm going to keep shooting these things until I can consistently merge them successfully.
For lunch we decided to eat at the Union. Michael, Ahna, and I got our food and sat down, but before we could even start eating, the fire alarm went off. The entire UNT Union had to be evacuated, and the soundtrack to that evac was a woman who I guess was in charge of a busload of high schoolers there on tour. That woman would not stop shouting at those poor kids. Itâs like she didnât even give them a chance to disappoint her. She already hated them all merely for existing in her presence.
Tonight was the big night. The Black Film Festival here in Denton had accepted Family Dinner II and screened it at the Campus Theater. Michael, Ahna, and I drove over there an hour or so early to shoot a few hyperlapses for our Denton video. We had a bit of time left after the shoot, so we grabbed a drink at Service Industry. Iâve only heard awful things about the place, and this was my first time visiting. The verdict: Itâs fine. Normal drinks, average food, and the place was completely empty. Itâll die this year. But I digress. On to the big event!
Michael and Ahna each bought tickets to the show, as did my entire family. They were already coming up to do Cameronâs birthday celebration, so the screening was a perfect addition. Before the show started, a familiar face walked on stage. James Martin, who taught my editing class back in college, somehow plays a role in the film festival. Iâm not sure what role that is, because he had no microphone. He just made some sounds up there, we clapped, and then the show began.
Actually, it wasnât Snarky Puppy that went on first. Instead, they started with a short film starring Jessica Williams from the Daily Show. Weird, but I guess it IS a film festival, so that makes sense. The movie was fine. Then, finally, it was time for the people to see Family Dinner! What happened next is easily the worst theater experience of my entire life.
The opening titles seemed normal, as far as I could remember them, but as soon as video footage was onscreen, I knew something was wrong. Every 10 frames or so, the image would freeze and then stutter-play for a few frames before freezing again. It was HUGELY distracting. Even when footage played back rather than freezing, it was out of sync with the audio, which played back fine, despite the theaterâs GLARING lack of subwoofers.
While this train wreck was playing on screen, the staff photographer for the festival wandered around on the stage taking pictures of us watching the screen...USING ON-CAMERA FLASH. The dude wasnât even discreet about it either. Heâd fire off 5-6 frames, look at the camera (I assume trying to figure out why his pictures looked so awful), and then fire off a few more. It was TERRIBLE.
This went on for 15-20 minutesâwe made it through two songs and the interview in-betweenâbefore they finally stopped the movie. James Martin came back onstage, again without a mic, mumbled something about technology, and then left. The crowd sat there for a few minutes, talking and trying to make sense of the situation, and then suddenly Chris McQueen was on stage. Andy and Mike missed their flight this morning and werenât going to make it. I was relieved to hear the news, because Iâm pretty sure Andy would be lighting torches at this point. So, to vamp, Chris started the Q&A session, even though weâd only seen 15 minutes of stuttering footage. I really shouldâve joined him up there, in hindsight.
Another 15-ish minutes went by, and just as Chris started to answer somebodyâs question, James popped out again and stopped him. âWeâre back on!â he shouted with glee.
They decided to start the film from where we left off for some reason, and when the image came up, I could see the Vimeo play bar at the bottom of the screen, and the buffer wasnât growing. Uh oh. They hit play, and we watched 20 seconds of the movie before the first hiccup. Then, about every 15 seconds the playback would stop to buffer. We only had to suffer a few minutes of this before they stopped the movie again.
The next time it came on, it was abundantly clear that they had just turned off HD to help the buffer. Of course, a side-effect to that brilliant idea was that they were showing a standard-def image on a giant movie screen.
This is when we walked out.
All of us. Me, my parents, my brother and sister, Wayne and Treva, Michael and Ahna. The whole row stood up and left together. It was bad.
We had a nice dinner at 940âs, where we got to commiserate with one another about what had just happened. Cameron and Kitty had the brilliant idea to take a new version of this photo where we all point at you. I imagine itâll end up printed and on the wall in Aledo next to two others.
Back at Westridge, Cameron opened his birthday presents and we had cake while our adrenaline subsided. After Mom and Dad left, I went out for drinks with Ahna and her people. The story needed to be told! And now, it has.
Visita nuestro Blog de Semana Santa en:
asociacionredobles.blogspot.com
Actos que se van a desarrollar durante la conmemoración del 200º aniversario del
rescate del Cristo de la Cama, consistente en el traslado de la Imagen desde la Iglesia
de Santa Isabel de Portugal (vulgo San Cayetano) a la Basílica del Pilar.
El rescate se produjo el 17 de febrero de 1809 del Convento de San Francisco, lo que
actualmente es la Diputación Provincial. El día 10 los franceses volaron el Convento,
que era defendido por unos cuantos aragoneses y por los voluntarios de Valencia. El
día 17, María Blánquez entro en el convento y vio que todos los pasos que
procesionan en Semana santa, quince en total, estaban destruidos, salvo el Santísimo
Cristo de la Cama, que estaba indemne en su Capilla de la Hermandad. Salió a la
calle, cogió a cuatro hombres, volvió a entrar al convento y todos ellos cogieron al
Cristo de la cama. Lo llevaron primero a la parroquia de la santa Cruz, después a la
de Santiago y finalmente al Palacio Arzobispal, lugar en donde vivía el general
Palafox, que enfermo lo venero y ordeno fuera llevado al interior de la Basílica del
Pilar, siendo colocado en el Altar de los convertido mirando a su Madre, la virgen del
Pilar.
Este hecho es el que conmemoramos.
A las 18´00 horas se oirá en la Ciudad de Zaragoza a los Artilleros de Aragón
anunciando el comienzo de la procesión cívico religiosa.
Con la salida desde San Cayetano de la Bandera de la Hermandad de la Sangre de
Cristo dará comienzo la procesión, encontrándose el resto de participantes ubicados
en la plaza. Seguidamente saldrá la peana, portada a varal, del Cristo de la Cama. Lo
hará con un toque preparado para la ocasión por la Sección de Tambores de la
Hermandad de San Joaquín y Virgen de los Dolores. Una vez que nuestro Cristo de la
Cama este en la plaza sonara el Himno Nacional interpretado al órgano por Ignacio
Navarro Gil.
Finalizado el himno, se descubrirá una placa en cerámica de Muel, promovida por la
Asociación Cultural Redobles. Dicha placa será descubierta por el Ilmo. Sr. D.
Francisco Javier Lambán Montañés, o persona en quien en delegue, acompañado por
el Hermano Mayor de la Hermandad de la Sangre de Cristo. A la vez que se descubre
la placa, don José Antonio Armillas, Comisario del Bicentenario glosara brevemente
la figura de María Blánquez y lo que ella significo.
Finalizado este acto, dará comienzo en sí el desfile.
Por la calle Manifestación, calle Alfonso y calle Coso, nos dirigiremos a la plaza de
España, en donde se realiza el segundo acto del desfile. Este consiste en depositar dos
coronas de laurel. La primera en la placa que recuerda al Convento de San Francisco
y la segunda en el monumento a los Mártires.
La del Convento de San Francisco será portada por mujeres ataviadas con el traje
regional, en recuerdo y homenaje a María Blánquez. Entregada por don Francisco
Javier Lambán Montañés (o persona en quién delegue), le acompañaran el
Comandante Militar de Zaragoza, General Juan Pinto y el Hermano Mayor de la
Sangre de Cristo. La recibirán dos soldados del Batallón Pardos de Aragón.
La segunda corona, la entregara don Juan Alberto Belloch Julve (o persona en quién
delegue), acompañado también por el Comandante Militar y el Hermano Mayor,
siendo recibida por dos soldados del Batallón de Infantería Voluntarios de Aragón.
Durante este acto sonara en la plaza el Carillón de la Diputación Provincial con
marchas alusivas a los Sitios.
Finalizado el acto, continuaremos el desfile en dirección a la Plaza de la Seo por calle
don Jaime, calle Mayor, calle Dormer, calle Cisne y calle Cuellar.
En la plaza de la Seo se realiza el tercer y último acto. Consiste en una breve
alocución del General Pinto, Comandante Militar de Zaragoza y Teruel, en recuerdo
y homenaje del General Palafox. A Su conclusión, el Batallón de Infantería
Voluntarios de Aragón hará una descarga de fusilería.
Ya para finalizar, nos encaminaremos a la plaza del Pilar, finalizando el desfile,
alrededor de las 20´30 horas, con la entrada del Cristo de la Cama en la Basílica, en
donde permanecerá hasta el miércoles 25 de febrero.
Finalizado el desfile y por lo tanto el traslado, la Hermandad de la Sangre de Cristo
realizara una ofrenda a la Virgen del Pilar.
La Hermandad de la Sangre de Cristo, con el fin de dar mayor realce a este
acontecimiento histórico, ha invitado a participar a todos aquellos Ayuntamientos e
Instituciones galardonados con la Medalla del Bicentenario “Defensor de Zaragoza”,
distinción que también ha obtenido la propia Hermandad. Han confirmado su
asistencia una representación de los Ayuntamientos de Alcañiz, Barbastro, Calatayud,
Cariñena, Chelva, Huesca, Jaca, monzón y Valencia. También han confirmado su
participación los Artilleros de Aragón, Batallón Pardos de Aragón, Batallón de
Infantería Ligera Voluntarios de Aragón, la Asociación Cultural Royo del Rabal
(ronda y escenificación de personajes históricos de la época), la Asociación Cultural
Los Sitios (personajes históricos de la época), la Hermandad de San Juan de la Peña,
la Cofradía del Santo Sepulcro, la Hermandad del santo Refugio, la Real Ilustre
Congregación de Nuestra Señora de la Soledad de Madrid y la Real Maestranza de
Caballería.
La parte musical durante el desfile correrá a cargo de la Banda de Guerra de la
Brigada de Caballería Castillejos II, de la Banda Música de la Academia General
Militar y la Ronda de jotas de la Asociación Cultural el Rabal. Durante el desfile y
con el fin de que los peaneros lleven el ritmo adecuado, les acompaña un piquete de
diez instrumentos, cuyos miembros son de la cofradía de la Institución de la Sagrada
Eucaristía, que lo harán sin los distintivos propios de la Cofradía.
Cabe destacar el estreno de una marcha procesional en las calles de Zaragoza. La
primera y ultima pieza que interprete la Banda de Música será la Marcha al Cristo de
la Cama, cuyo autor es don Abel Moreno y que fue donada a la Hermandad por la
Asociación para el Estudio de la Semana Santa.
Ernesto Millán Lázaro
Hermano Mayor
Hermandad Sangre de Cristo
Joel Parkinson Leads ASP Top Stars in Assault on Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Round 1
BELLS BEACH, Victoria/Australia (Wednesday, April 20, 2011) – Today marks the commencement of the 50th Anniversary of competition surfing at Bells Beach as Round 1 of the 2011 Rip Curl Pro Bells presented by Ford Ranger got underway in clean four-to-six foot (1.5 - 2 metre) surf.
The Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach, the second stop on the 2011 ASP World Title season, enjoyed consistent surf throughout the day as the world’s best surfers unleashed a barrage of high-performance ripping on the classic canvas of Bells Beach.
Joel Parkinson (AUS), 30, 2009 Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Champion put in a sensational performance this afternoon, electing to sit up at Rincon to secure the day’s highest scores.. Parkinson locked in the highest wave score and the highest heat score of the opening day of competition scoring 17.74 (out of a possible 20.00) to advance directly through to Round 3 of competition.
"I fell off twice on the bowl," Parkinson said. "It was really hard to ride. Then CJ (Hobgood) went across to Rincon and got a score, so we followed him over and it worked out for me. It's great to get that opening heat win, especially at Bells. You never know what conditions you're going to get in a heat, so to be able to skip round two and maybe get a day off is a huge advantage."
Kelly Slater (USA), 39, reigning 10-time ASP World Champion and defending event winner, was clinical in his attack in his Round 1 heat. Slater had his fellow competitors Adam Robertson (AUS), 28, and Kai Otton (AUS), 31, on the ropes only minutes into the heat, scoring an impressive 16.00 (out of a possible 20.00) on his opening two rides.
"I don't free surf out at Bells a whole lot," Slater said. "When the waves are good the comp is on and outside of that it's pretty crowded. So I'm still learning with each heat out there still, surfing against a guy like Robbo (Adam Robertson) you've got to watch where he's sitting, how far our and how deep."
Mick Fanning (AUS), 29, currently equal 13th in the hunt for the 2011 ASP World Title, went into today’s competition with renewed vigor after a shock early exit at the last event on the Gold Coast. The past two-time ASP World Champion came out and dominated his Round 1 battle over Tiago Pires (PRT), 31, and Gabriel Medina (BRA), 17.
"I'm stoked to get a good start," Fanning said. "It's been 10 years since I won here as I wildcard, I got close last year but Kelly Slater got me in the final. You want to win every event, but being the 50th Anniversary and so much history at this event, it's like the Wimbeldon of surfing, it's a hard one to win but it's the one everyone wants."
Alejo Muniz (BRA), 21, led today’s rookie charge, continuing his sensational run after the and equal 5th on the Gold Coast, and dispatching of fellow Brazilian Ranoi Monterio (BRA), 28, and Australian Adrian Buchan (AUS), 28 in this morning’s opening round heat.
"It's so good out there!" Muniz said. "This is my first time surfing at Bells and it's the most amazing place. It's got perfect rights, and it's the kind of wave that I love to surf. It's the best place ever, best waves, best weather and I love surfing in wetsuits."
Jeremy Flores (FRA), 22, bounced back after missing the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast with a knee injury, to score a comprehensive win over Taylor Knox (USA), 39, and Cory Lopez (USA), 34.
"I wasn't very confident before the heat," Flores said. "But I got that first wave and did a big turn at the end and got a good score. I think that's what you need to do these days, finish the wave strong. My knee still isn't 100%, but I went for it and it's good to win. Big thanks to everyone at the Gold Coast Suns Football Club for helping with my knee, it's feeling much better now."
Stu Kennedy (AUS), 21, scored a last minute wildcard into the event and caused the upset of the day, eliminating 2010 ASP World Title runner-up Jordy Smith (ZAF), 23, and Dusty Payne (HAW), 22.
"I've been coming here for years," Kennedy said. "I won a Pro Junior here in 2008 and I know where to sit. I don't think Dusty and Jordy know the break as well as I do so that helps. I've been up since 3am because I'm jet-lagged from coming home from Scotland. I woke up with a bunch of energy it's my shaper's birthday so I woke him up at 5am to go surfing. I had to win my heat for him for his birthday."
When men’s competition resumes, up first will be 2010 ASP World Runner-Up Jordy Smith (ZAF), 23, up against Trials Winner Adam Robertson (AUS), 28, in the opening heat of Round 2.
Following the completion of the men’s Round 1 today, the ASP Top 17 hit the water for Round 1 of the Rip Curl Women’s Pro Bells Beach presented by Ford Fiesta.
Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 23, reigning four-time ASP Women’s World Champion and defending three-time Rip Curl Women’s Bells Beach winner, returned to her winning ways today, after bowing out early at the last event, the Roxy Pro Gold Coast.
"My first two years on tour I didn't have great results on the Gold Coast," Gilmore said. "I always bounced back at this event and then finished the year well, so hopefully I'll do that again this year. The Gold Coast was a fine showing of what women's surfing is up to now and everyone has to try and keep up. It really pushes me and I think anyone who wins an event from now on will be a very deserving winner because of that fact."
Pauline Ado (FRA), 19, the French rookie caused the upset of the women's event, defeating current ASP World Title front runner Carissa Moore (HAW), 18, in a nail biter of a heat.
"I'm really happy, I had a lot of fun out there," Ado said "I got one of my good waves in the first few seconds so after that I felt confident and knew I could be more selective and wait for the right wave. A heat against Carissa is always a tough one, so I'm really stoked to win."
When women’s competition resumes, up first will be Paige Hareb (NZL) and Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS) in the opening heat of Round 2.
Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow morning at 7am to assess conditions for a possible 7:30am start.
Highlights from the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach presented by FORD will be webcast available via www.live.ripcurl.com and broadcast live on Fuel TV in Australia and ESPN in Brazil.
For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com
RIP CURL PRO BELLS BEACH ROUND 1 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Alejo Muniz (BRA) 13.23, Adrian Buchan (AUS) 11.26, Raoni Monteiro (BRA) 7.37
Heat 2: Adam Melling (AUS) 14.50, Josh Kerr (AUS) 12.30, Taj Burrow (AUS) 11.00
Heat 3: Heitor Alves (BRA) 14.36, Bobby Martinez (USA) 14.14, Owen Wright (AUS) 10.60
Heat 4: Mick Fanning (AUS) 15.60, Tiago Pires (PRT) 11.07, Gabriel Medina (BRA) 9.27
Heat 5: Stu Kennedy (AUS) 11.70, Dusty Payne (HAW) 10.50, Jordy Smith (ZAF) 9.00
Heat 6: Kelly Slater (USA) 16.00, Kai Otton (AUS) 10.13, Adam Robertson (AUS) 8.53
Heat 7: Jeremy Flores (FRA) 13.17, Cory Lopez (USA) 5.83, Taylor Knox (USA) 4.67
Heat 8: Michel Bourez (PYF) 12.60, Kieren Perrow (AUS) 10.20, Gabe Kling (USA) 3.50
Heat 9: Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 14.60, Damien Hobgood (USA) 11.23, Daniel Ross (AUS) 11.07
Heat 10: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 17.74, C.J. Hobgood (USA) 11.44, Bede Durbidge (AUS) 8.17
Heat 11: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 14.60, Chris Davidson (AUS) 10.83, Julian Wilson (AUS) 9.83
Heat 12: Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 13.40, Jadson Andre (BRA) 9.43, Brett Simpson (USA) 8.93
RIP CURL PRO BELLS BEACH ROUND 2 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: Jordy Smith (ZAF) vs. Adam Robertson (AUS)
Heat 2: Owen Wright (AUS) vs. Gabriel Medina (BRA)
Heat 3: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. Bobby Martinez (USA)
Heat 4: Adrian Buchan (AUS) vs. Josh Kerr (AUS)
Heat 5: Damien Hobgood (USA) vs. Raoni Monteiro (BRA)
Heat 6: Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs. Cory Lopez (USA)
Heat 7: Brett Simpson (USA) vs. Gabe Kling (USA)
Heat 8: Jadson Andre (BRA) vs. Daniel Ross (AUS)
Heat 9: Chris Davidson (AUS) vs. Julian Wilson (AUS)
Heat 10: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. Kai Otton (AUS)
Heat 11: Kieren Perrow (AUS) vs. Dusty Payne (HAW)
Heat 12: Taylor Knox (USA) vs. Tiago Pires (PRT)
RIP CURL WOMEN’S PRO BELLS BEACH ROUND 1 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 12.93, Chelsea Hedges (AUS) 8.70, Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS) 8.66
Heat 2: Silvana Lima (BRA) 14.94, Laura Enever (AUS) 8.84, Melanie Bartels (HAW) 7.54
Heat 3: Pauline Ado (HAW) 14.60, Carissa Moore (HAW) 14.44, Nikki Van Dijk (AUS) 10.63
Heat 4: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 16.30, Courtney Conlogue (USA) 9.00, Bethany Hamilton (HAW) 6.50
Heat 5: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 16.10, Alana Blanchard (HAW) 12.83 Paige Hareb (NZL) 7.47
Heat 6: Coco Ho (HAW) 12.90, Tyler Wright (AUS) 12.00, Pauline Ado (FRA) 6.37
RIP CURL WOMEN’S PRO BELLS BEACH ROUND 2 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: Paige Hareb (NZL) vs. Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS)
Heat 2: Laura Enever (AUS) vs. Melanie Bartels (HAW)
Heat 3: Carissa Moore (HAW) vs. Nikki Van Dijk (AUS)
Heat 4: Chelsea Hedges (AUS) vs. Bethany Hamilton (HAW)
Heat 5: Tyler Wright (AUS) vs. Alana Blanchard (HAW)
Heat 6: Courtney Conlogue (USA) vs. Rebecca Woods (AUS)
Photo ASP/Scholtz
Autumn is consistently a great time to visit, with the foliage adding so much in spectacular, rich colors. And even during the latter part of the season, there is something so special about the bareness of many trees and vegetation. The nice thing as an observer of nature’s critters is that the birds are so much more visible. Even if they are at a fair distance, at least, one can appreciate their features. Also, many fall berries and other fruits and nuts, often with bright colors and interesting shapes, accentuate the landscape as seen only at this time of year.
The late, Doris Duke, had left a wonderful legacy in converting her magnificent estate into a Natural Wildlife Preserve for the public’s education and enjoyment. The paths throughout the estate offer such splendid scenery. One is forever exploring, always seeing something subtly beautiful. There are always pleasant surprises, from the general scenery to the world of the wildlife, even tiny insects and flowers are enjoyable to observe. The bucolic nature of the preserve is so relaxing—akin to meditating while experiencing the landscape. The beauty of visiting Duke Farms is that so many incredible views are there simply by observing all of the surroundings. Spotting new and fascinating wildlife—both animals and plants—always adds to the experience.
The old Hay Barn Ruin Sculpture Garden is hauntingly elegant. The lady statues are truly spectacular works of art, each and every one capturing your attention as if with life, possessing a unique quality of personality and character. As the sun descends and the evening tones envelope the air, this sculpture garden becomes quite atmospheric, creating an inviting, soft mood . . .
When Toys R Us sells your figures two years after release, at 50 - 60 percent off no less, it usually means that your stuff wasn't selling that great to begin with. As insane as that sounds, that is exactly what they did a few weeks ago to the remaining Transformers Siege: War for Cybertron figures.
Selection varied at every store, but one thing was consistent - Leader class figures were readily available.
For the unfamiliar, Transformer figures are priced according to their Class, or size basically. Leaders are priced at $69.99, so not exactly the entry level offering. Normally, price point isn't as much of a concern as you'd think, but the combination of a $10 price hike and lackluster offerings hurt things. I suspect the sales numbers probably resulted in only one Leader being released for Earthrise - Doubledealer.
Basically the problem boiled down to this - Leaders were effective a small core figure, around the size of a $40 figure, then with pieces of kibble added to it in order to justify a $70 price tag. Astrotrain and Shockwave having kibble bits really made no sense - the only one that did was Ultra Magnus - who traditionally combines with his trailer - and the remould Galaxy Force Optimus Prime... which itself wasn't great but that's another story).
So you can guess where I'm going with all this... yes, I picked up an Ultra Magnus out of respect for the character because dammit, I CAN deal with that right now.
I guess the $28 price tag didn't hurt either.
Ultra Magnus comes with the figure, two shoulder rocket launchers, two thigh guns, and a main weapon. While the robot mode is styled to replicate the nostalgic G1 aesthetics, the vehicle mode is clearly modeled after the RiD 2000 Ultra Magnus... but to be fair, they were aiming for Cybertronian modes in this line so I'll accept it.
You'll notice the side-by-side with Springer shows that Ultra Magnus really isn't that much bigger than him, so even the armour bits don't add much physical presence to the character.
From an articulation perspective, Ultra Magnus has all the usuals - ankels, knees, hips with rotating thighs, waist, rotating and pivoting shoulders, bicep swivel, elbows, wrist, and ball jointed head. The range of motion, however, is rather limited due to the bulk. You'll get your usual standing/lunging poses, but that's really about it.
Without the armour, you get Magnus, or as we called him back in the 80s - White Optimus Prime. Articulation is the same as Ultra Magnus, as the main body is what gives Ultra Magnus his movement, with the bonus of playing with a stumpy white robot with a giant torso.
Paint is about what I expected from a Siege figure. Ultra Magnus was made when they were still doing to battle damage paint apps that people absolutely hated. From what I can tell, the red and white plastics are the primary used, with everything else painted or decaled on. Applications are generally clean, with the exception of the super sloppy paint app that spill over to the handle of the silver gun. The translucent blue cab windows are a nice touch, though what would have been even nicer is if they used grey plastic for the sides of the feet so vehicle mode wouldn't look so bland from the side.
Build quality is again typical Hasbro, though somewhat lacking for a Takara/Tomy release. Joints hold well, and there do not appear to be any issues with limb sizes or misalignment of tabs and so on. However, I did find that the tolerances on some of the 5 mm holes on the body were a bit off, resulting in the weapons not staying in place while in vehicle mode.
Transformation into vehicle mode is generally straight forward, though its more of a "rearrange parts to form a trailer" than an actual transformation. It fascinating though... the vehicle mode has none of the play value that made either of the two inspirations for this figure - the ability to use the trailer to carry around other Autobots. While thankfully the vehicle mode is bigger than the $40 toys, its more akin to a bus than a vehicle carrier.
The cab can be separated and played with individually, though this is more for the kids I suspect.
So in the end, despite looking like G1 Magnus.. far more accurately than any other mainstream release, this is definitely no substitute for the MP. It is literally Cosplay Optimus Prime. It's too bad they didn't save Magnus for a Commander Class release, because I feel Hasbro and Takara could have found a way to make a nice MP alternative like they have with Jetfire and Skylynx.
For $30, I felt it was an OK figure, but if I had bought this for $70 I'd be pretty upset... and that's probably why there are still so many unloved Leader figures from the line. I can only image how half assed Shockwave is, who is now not a gun but spaceship that looks like an upside down gun with extra armour bits, and Astrotrain, who now needs the extra armour bits to complete his triple changing ways.
At least there will be lots of happy kids this Christmas...
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Toronto is Canada's largest city, the fourth largest in North America, and home to a diverse population of about 2.8 million people. It's a global centre for business, finance, arts and culture and is consistently ranked one of the world's most livable cities.
Toronto is a city in Canada and the provincial capital of Ontario. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario, with the original city area lying between the Don and Humber rivers.
For more information on visiting Toronto visit:
For more information on visiting Canada visit:
us-keepexploring.canada.travel/
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About this day of the trip:
Day 2
Niagara Falls - Niagara Falls Canada - Toronto (83 miles)
We will continue our tour Niagara Falls by heading into Canada to take the Hornblower Cruise boat ride and see an informational movie at the IMAX Theater. We will also ascend the Skylon Tower. The tour then departs for Toronto, ON, one of Canada's largest cities. There we will visit the CN Tower and guests will have the option to take a Lake Ontario Cruise. During the winter when the cruise is not running, we will instead visit Casa Loma. We will have dinner in historical Chinatown.
Niagara Falls Canada, Canada
Skylon Tower This observation tower on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls offers a bird's-eye views of one of the world's favorite natural wonders. The tower stands 520 feet from street level and 775 feet from the bottom of the falls.
Rainbow Bridge The Rainbow Bridge across the Niagara River connects Niagara, Ontario to Niagara, New York. It is an international landmark and impressive architectural feat. In addition to private vehicles, pedestrians and bikes can cross the bridge for a small toll.
Niagara Falls IMAX This amazing movie experience, presented on an unbelievable IMAX screen, chronicles more than 12,000 years of history and examines human interaction with the falls from ancient time through the people-- like you-- who come to see them today.
Hornblower Niagara Cruise Get ready to get wet: this world-famous boat ride takes passengers as close to the falls as it is possible to get. Formerly Maid of the Mist, Hornblower now runs Niagara cruise operations on the Canadian side of the Falls.
Skylon Revolving Restaurant Lunch The impressive Skylon Tower, jutting into the air above Niagara Falls, features the Revolving Dining Room, a one-of-a-kind eatery the makes a full revolution every hour. Sitting just below the observation deck, guests can enjoy views and food!
Toronto, ON
Lake Ontario Cruise Lake Ontario Cruises offer gorgeous views of the city of Toronto from the waters of Lake Ontario, one of the famous Great Lakes of North America. See the city of Toronto and the surrounding area in a new way!
Toronto City Hall This unique building complex is one of the most famous in Toronto, and also the home of the city's municipal government. The Toronto City Hall offers self-guided tours which are available in five languages (including English).
University of Toronto Routinely placed in the top 30 institutions of higher learning in the world, the University of Toronto has been educating the masses since 1827. Widely considered the best university in Canada, it is known for its pioneering research.
Casa Loma This century-old Gothic-style house in Toronto was originally the home of financier Sir Henry Mill Pellatt. Today, it serves as a museum that showcases the history of life in Toronto and what life was like in the early 1900s.
CN Tower Toronto's CN Tower is a Canadian icon and one of the most recognizable North American buildings. Made entirely of concrete, this massive monolith was the tallest structure in the world at the time of its completion in 1976.
Ontario Legislative Building The Ontario Legislative Building in Toronto, Ontario, Canada is the seventh structure to function as the parliamentary building of the province of Ontario. This impressive building is in the Richardsonian Romanesque architectural style and was built in 1893.
Chinatown One of the largest Chinatowns in North America is located in downtown Toronto, Ontario. Toronto contains several Chinatowns. This one is the oldest, dating back to the 1870s, and the historical area features many authentic groceries, restaurants, and shops.
Toronto Chinese Dinner Treat yourself to a specialty dinner in one of the largest Chinatowns in the Western Hemisphere! Freshly-cooked meats and vegetables decorate the windows of the esteemed restaurants, from whole cooked ducks to beef ribs and so much more. Enjoy!
Deluxe Hotel: Crowne Plaza or similar
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3-Day Niagara Falls, Toronto Canada Tour from New York
Tour Code: 655-68
July 11th, 12th, 13th 2014
Visit:
Watkins Glen State Park New York
Niagara Falls, NY USA
Thundering Water Cultural Show
USA / Canada international border crossing on Rainbow Bridge from New York United States of America to Ontario Canada
Niagara Falls, Ontario Canada
Skylon Tower
Niagara Falls IMAX
Hornblower Niagara Cruise
Skylon Revolving Restaurant Lunch
Toronto which is the largest city in Canada
Lake Ontario Cruise
Toronto City Hall
University of Toronto
CN Tower
Ontario Legislative Building
Chinatown
Toronto Chinese Dinner
Thousand Islands, Ontario Canada
Thousand Islands Cruise
Thousand Islands Cruise Breakfast
Thousand Islands Tax and Duty Free Store in Lansdowne, Ontario Canada
Canada / USA international border crossing Thousand Islands Bridge from Hill Island, Ontario, Canada across the Saint Lawrence River to Wellesley Island, New York, United States of America
For more information on the 3-Day Niagara Falls, Toronto Canada Tour from New York visit:
www.taketours.com/new-york-ny/3-day-toronto-niagara-falls...
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Hashtag metadata tag
#Canada #Canadian #Toronto #TorontoCanada #CityofToronto #TorontoCity #CityToronto #Ontario #TorontoOntario #TorontoOntarioCanada #LakeOntario #The416 #HollywoodNorth #TO #T.O. #Tee-Oh #TeeOh #T-dot #Tdot #CNTower #VisitToronto #VisitCanada
Photo
Toronto city, Ontario province, Canada country, North America continent
July 12th 2014
Visita nuestro Blog de Semana Santa en:
asociacionredobles.blogspot.com
Actos que se van a desarrollar durante la conmemoración del 200º aniversario del
rescate del Cristo de la Cama, consistente en el traslado de la Imagen desde la Iglesia
de Santa Isabel de Portugal (vulgo San Cayetano) a la Basílica del Pilar.
El rescate se produjo el 17 de febrero de 1809 del Convento de San Francisco, lo que
actualmente es la Diputación Provincial. El día 10 los franceses volaron el Convento,
que era defendido por unos cuantos aragoneses y por los voluntarios de Valencia. El
día 17, María Blánquez entro en el convento y vio que todos los pasos que
procesionan en Semana santa, quince en total, estaban destruidos, salvo el Santísimo
Cristo de la Cama, que estaba indemne en su Capilla de la Hermandad. Salió a la
calle, cogió a cuatro hombres, volvió a entrar al convento y todos ellos cogieron al
Cristo de la cama. Lo llevaron primero a la parroquia de la santa Cruz, después a la
de Santiago y finalmente al Palacio Arzobispal, lugar en donde vivía el general
Palafox, que enfermo lo venero y ordeno fuera llevado al interior de la Basílica del
Pilar, siendo colocado en el Altar de los convertido mirando a su Madre, la virgen del
Pilar.
Este hecho es el que conmemoramos.
A las 18´00 horas se oirá en la Ciudad de Zaragoza a los Artilleros de Aragón
anunciando el comienzo de la procesión cívico religiosa.
Con la salida desde San Cayetano de la Bandera de la Hermandad de la Sangre de
Cristo dará comienzo la procesión, encontrándose el resto de participantes ubicados
en la plaza. Seguidamente saldrá la peana, portada a varal, del Cristo de la Cama. Lo
hará con un toque preparado para la ocasión por la Sección de Tambores de la
Hermandad de San Joaquín y Virgen de los Dolores. Una vez que nuestro Cristo de la
Cama este en la plaza sonara el Himno Nacional interpretado al órgano por Ignacio
Navarro Gil.
Finalizado el himno, se descubrirá una placa en cerámica de Muel, promovida por la
Asociación Cultural Redobles. Dicha placa será descubierta por el Ilmo. Sr. D.
Francisco Javier Lambán Montañés, o persona en quien en delegue, acompañado por
el Hermano Mayor de la Hermandad de la Sangre de Cristo. A la vez que se descubre
la placa, don José Antonio Armillas, Comisario del Bicentenario glosara brevemente
la figura de María Blánquez y lo que ella significo.
Finalizado este acto, dará comienzo en sí el desfile.
Por la calle Manifestación, calle Alfonso y calle Coso, nos dirigiremos a la plaza de
España, en donde se realiza el segundo acto del desfile. Este consiste en depositar dos
coronas de laurel. La primera en la placa que recuerda al Convento de San Francisco
y la segunda en el monumento a los Mártires.
La del Convento de San Francisco será portada por mujeres ataviadas con el traje
regional, en recuerdo y homenaje a María Blánquez. Entregada por don Francisco
Javier Lambán Montañés (o persona en quién delegue), le acompañaran el
Comandante Militar de Zaragoza, General Juan Pinto y el Hermano Mayor de la
Sangre de Cristo. La recibirán dos soldados del Batallón Pardos de Aragón.
La segunda corona, la entregara don Juan Alberto Belloch Julve (o persona en quién
delegue), acompañado también por el Comandante Militar y el Hermano Mayor,
siendo recibida por dos soldados del Batallón de Infantería Voluntarios de Aragón.
Durante este acto sonara en la plaza el Carillón de la Diputación Provincial con
marchas alusivas a los Sitios.
Finalizado el acto, continuaremos el desfile en dirección a la Plaza de la Seo por calle
don Jaime, calle Mayor, calle Dormer, calle Cisne y calle Cuellar.
En la plaza de la Seo se realiza el tercer y último acto. Consiste en una breve
alocución del General Pinto, Comandante Militar de Zaragoza y Teruel, en recuerdo
y homenaje del General Palafox. A Su conclusión, el Batallón de Infantería
Voluntarios de Aragón hará una descarga de fusilería.
Ya para finalizar, nos encaminaremos a la plaza del Pilar, finalizando el desfile,
alrededor de las 20´30 horas, con la entrada del Cristo de la Cama en la Basílica, en
donde permanecerá hasta el miércoles 25 de febrero.
Finalizado el desfile y por lo tanto el traslado, la Hermandad de la Sangre de Cristo
realizara una ofrenda a la Virgen del Pilar.
La Hermandad de la Sangre de Cristo, con el fin de dar mayor realce a este
acontecimiento histórico, ha invitado a participar a todos aquellos Ayuntamientos e
Instituciones galardonados con la Medalla del Bicentenario “Defensor de Zaragoza”,
distinción que también ha obtenido la propia Hermandad. Han confirmado su
asistencia una representación de los Ayuntamientos de Alcañiz, Barbastro, Calatayud,
Cariñena, Chelva, Huesca, Jaca, monzón y Valencia. También han confirmado su
participación los Artilleros de Aragón, Batallón Pardos de Aragón, Batallón de
Infantería Ligera Voluntarios de Aragón, la Asociación Cultural Royo del Rabal
(ronda y escenificación de personajes históricos de la época), la Asociación Cultural
Los Sitios (personajes históricos de la época), la Hermandad de San Juan de la Peña,
la Cofradía del Santo Sepulcro, la Hermandad del santo Refugio, la Real Ilustre
Congregación de Nuestra Señora de la Soledad de Madrid y la Real Maestranza de
Caballería.
La parte musical durante el desfile correrá a cargo de la Banda de Guerra de la
Brigada de Caballería Castillejos II, de la Banda Música de la Academia General
Militar y la Ronda de jotas de la Asociación Cultural el Rabal. Durante el desfile y
con el fin de que los peaneros lleven el ritmo adecuado, les acompaña un piquete de
diez instrumentos, cuyos miembros son de la cofradía de la Institución de la Sagrada
Eucaristía, que lo harán sin los distintivos propios de la Cofradía.
Cabe destacar el estreno de una marcha procesional en las calles de Zaragoza. La
primera y ultima pieza que interprete la Banda de Música será la Marcha al Cristo de
la Cama, cuyo autor es don Abel Moreno y que fue donada a la Hermandad por la
Asociación para el Estudio de la Semana Santa.
Ernesto Millán Lázaro
Hermano Mayor
Hermandad Sangre de Cristo
This is one of the creamiest cheesecake I have ever made, period. It’s a classic recipe and but the trick to achieving the soft consistent texture is by using a water bath and careful cooling. I know 900 grams of cream cheese sounds a bit crazy (just a bit!) but trust me, it’s worth every calorie. If you want a lighter version, just use half the cheesecake batter recipe since the full version here makes a 2.5 inch tall cheesecake in a 9 inch cake tin (though I have to say it is pretty impressive!). Or you can just make smaller slices and feed at least twenty people with it! One note about the base, I think my white chocolate digestive base (from my Raspberry Mousse Cake Recipe) is a better match for this cheesecake, and I will try it next time. Having said that, give this recipe a try, I promise you won’t look for any other cheesecake recipe after this.
Ingredients:
For the cheesecake:
900 g cream cheese (room temperature)
1 cup sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup sour cream
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 large eggs
For the base:
170 g digestive biscuits
70 g tablespoons butter
Method:
1. preheat the oven to 175C and wrap the outside surface of a cake tin with a layer of foil (this prevents the water from the water bath from going into your cake)
2. crush the digestive biscuits and add the melted butter, then transfer it to the cake tin
3. use the bottom of a glass to press on the base mixture until it forms an even surface, bake it for 10 minutes in the oven, then take it out and let it cool
4. make the cheesecake batter by mixing the cream cheese, sugar, cornstarch and salt until it forms a soft creamy mixture, then add the sour cream, lemon juice and vanilla
5. then beat in the eggs one at a time and mix until it forms a slightly yellow soft runny batter
6. rub a layer of butter on the sides of the cake tin, then pour the cheesecake batter into it
7. transfer the cake tin into a roasting tray, put it in the oven, then fill up the roasting tray with hot water until at least half of the cake tin’s height
8. bake the cheesecake for 50 minutes (it’s done when the sides are slightly puffy, and the top has a few toasted golden spots but the middle should be jiggling when you shake the tin)
9. open the oven door for 1 minute to release some heat, then close the door again and let the cheesecake rest in the oven for 30 minutes, then take the whole roasting tray out of the oven
10. run a knife around the edges of the cake, then allow the cheesecake to cool to room temperature in the water bath
11. transfer the cake to the fridge when it has reached room temperature, cool for at least 4 hours
12. gently remove the cheesecake from the tin and allow it to rest in room temperature for 20 minutes before serving!
My other recipes:
Best-selling author and radio talk-show host Larry Elder and Kathleen Checki, president of Simply Consistent, Inc., came out to support Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic’s Hollywood studio on April 5 at their 16th annual Record-A-Thon.
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Toronto is Canada's largest city, the fourth largest in North America, and home to a diverse population of about 2.8 million people. It's a global centre for business, finance, arts and culture and is consistently ranked one of the world's most livable cities.
Toronto is a city in Canada and the provincial capital of Ontario. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario, with the original city area lying between the Don and Humber rivers.
For more information on visiting Toronto visit:
For more information on visiting Canada visit:
us-keepexploring.canada.travel/
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About this day of the trip:
Day 2
Niagara Falls - Niagara Falls Canada - Toronto (83 miles)
We will continue our tour Niagara Falls by heading into Canada to take the Hornblower Cruise boat ride and see an informational movie at the IMAX Theater. We will also ascend the Skylon Tower. The tour then departs for Toronto, ON, one of Canada's largest cities. There we will visit the CN Tower and guests will have the option to take a Lake Ontario Cruise. During the winter when the cruise is not running, we will instead visit Casa Loma. We will have dinner in historical Chinatown.
Niagara Falls Canada, Canada
Skylon Tower This observation tower on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls offers a bird's-eye views of one of the world's favorite natural wonders. The tower stands 520 feet from street level and 775 feet from the bottom of the falls.
Rainbow Bridge The Rainbow Bridge across the Niagara River connects Niagara, Ontario to Niagara, New York. It is an international landmark and impressive architectural feat. In addition to private vehicles, pedestrians and bikes can cross the bridge for a small toll.
Niagara Falls IMAX This amazing movie experience, presented on an unbelievable IMAX screen, chronicles more than 12,000 years of history and examines human interaction with the falls from ancient time through the people-- like you-- who come to see them today.
Hornblower Niagara Cruise Get ready to get wet: this world-famous boat ride takes passengers as close to the falls as it is possible to get. Formerly Maid of the Mist, Hornblower now runs Niagara cruise operations on the Canadian side of the Falls.
Skylon Revolving Restaurant Lunch The impressive Skylon Tower, jutting into the air above Niagara Falls, features the Revolving Dining Room, a one-of-a-kind eatery the makes a full revolution every hour. Sitting just below the observation deck, guests can enjoy views and food!
Toronto, ON
Lake Ontario Cruise Lake Ontario Cruises offer gorgeous views of the city of Toronto from the waters of Lake Ontario, one of the famous Great Lakes of North America. See the city of Toronto and the surrounding area in a new way!
Toronto City Hall This unique building complex is one of the most famous in Toronto, and also the home of the city's municipal government. The Toronto City Hall offers self-guided tours which are available in five languages (including English).
University of Toronto Routinely placed in the top 30 institutions of higher learning in the world, the University of Toronto has been educating the masses since 1827. Widely considered the best university in Canada, it is known for its pioneering research.
Casa Loma This century-old Gothic-style house in Toronto was originally the home of financier Sir Henry Mill Pellatt. Today, it serves as a museum that showcases the history of life in Toronto and what life was like in the early 1900s.
CN Tower Toronto's CN Tower is a Canadian icon and one of the most recognizable North American buildings. Made entirely of concrete, this massive monolith was the tallest structure in the world at the time of its completion in 1976.
Ontario Legislative Building The Ontario Legislative Building in Toronto, Ontario, Canada is the seventh structure to function as the parliamentary building of the province of Ontario. This impressive building is in the Richardsonian Romanesque architectural style and was built in 1893.
Chinatown One of the largest Chinatowns in North America is located in downtown Toronto, Ontario. Toronto contains several Chinatowns. This one is the oldest, dating back to the 1870s, and the historical area features many authentic groceries, restaurants, and shops.
Toronto Chinese Dinner Treat yourself to a specialty dinner in one of the largest Chinatowns in the Western Hemisphere! Freshly-cooked meats and vegetables decorate the windows of the esteemed restaurants, from whole cooked ducks to beef ribs and so much more. Enjoy!
Deluxe Hotel: Crowne Plaza or similar
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3-Day Niagara Falls, Toronto Canada Tour from New York
Tour Code: 655-68
July 11th, 12th, 13th 2014
Visit:
Watkins Glen State Park New York
Niagara Falls, NY USA
Thundering Water Cultural Show
USA / Canada international border crossing on Rainbow Bridge from New York United States of America to Ontario Canada
Niagara Falls, Ontario Canada
Skylon Tower
Niagara Falls IMAX
Hornblower Niagara Cruise
Skylon Revolving Restaurant Lunch
Toronto which is the largest city in Canada
Lake Ontario Cruise
Toronto City Hall
University of Toronto
CN Tower
Ontario Legislative Building
Chinatown
Toronto Chinese Dinner
Thousand Islands, Ontario Canada
Thousand Islands Cruise
Thousand Islands Cruise Breakfast
Thousand Islands Tax and Duty Free Store in Lansdowne, Ontario Canada
Canada / USA international border crossing Thousand Islands Bridge from Hill Island, Ontario, Canada across the Saint Lawrence River to Wellesley Island, New York, United States of America
For more information on the 3-Day Niagara Falls, Toronto Canada Tour from New York visit:
www.taketours.com/new-york-ny/3-day-toronto-niagara-falls...
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Hashtag metadata tag
#Canada #Canadian #Toronto #TorontoCanada #CityofToronto #TorontoCity #CityToronto #Ontario #TorontoOntario #TorontoOntarioCanada #LakeOntario #The416 #HollywoodNorth #TO #T.O. #Tee-Oh #TeeOh #T-dot #Tdot #CNTower #VisitToronto #VisitCanada
Photo
Toronto city, Ontario province, Canada country, North America continent
July 12th 2014
"The Bunna Tetu sessions changed my attitude forever. Now I use condoms consistently and correctly."
-Beza Wendmu, Buna Tetu participant
Like many of her peers who work at the company, Beza earns just 10 birr (less than 60 cents) a day washing and cleaning coffee, a wage insufficient to cover the living expenses of her and her younger brother. In order to supplement her income, Beza turned to sex work on the streets of Dire Dawa.
The PEPFAR-funded USAID Targeted HIV Prevention Program, through the local association Yeshama Birhan, responded to this risky sexual behavior by establishing the “Bunna Tetu” coffee ceremony program. More than 300 women have participated in peer education discussions about HIV risk factors including multiple sexual relationships, concurrent sexual partnerships, and inconsistent condom use.
In Rome, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Italian President Sergio Mattarella.
The President of Ukraine expressed gratitude for Italy’s steadfast support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as its consistent focus on Ukraine during Italy’s presidency of the G7.
"I recall all our meetings, and they always concluded with us finding solutions to very complex issues. One of the most challenging is protecting the rights of people in Ukraine, as well as defending our sovereignty and territorial integrity. I am very pleased that your position in supporting Ukraine, our people, and our children has always remained unwavering," said Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The Ukrainian President provided an update on the situation at the front lines and on Russia’s ongoing missile terror targeting civilians.
During the meeting, the leaders discussed the continuation of military assistance to Ukraine. Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his appreciation to Italy for its significant military-technical support, including the approval of the 10th aid package.
He emphasized the importance of coordinated actions by partner countries to end the war with a just and lasting peace.
The President of Ukraine also commended Italy’s firm stance on maintaining and enforcing sanctions against Russia.
A key topic of negotiations was the return of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia.
The President thanked Italy for its care and support of Ukrainian orphans currently residing in Italy because of the Russian aggression.
The leaders also discussed preparations for the International Ukraine Recovery Conference, scheduled for July 10–11 in Rome. Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that Italian experts could join the restoration of Ukraine’s cultural heritage.
President Zelenskyy extended an invitation to President Mattarella to visit Ukraine.
The New Chanel Boutique Opening and Charity Event, on Robertson Blvd., hosted by SIMPLY CONSISTENT INC.
www.simplyconsistent.com/management
"-Kathleen Checki."
"-Checki."
"-Simply Consistent."
"-Simply Consistent Management."
"-Taryn Rose and Kathleen Checki."
"-Chanel Boutique."
The National Wallace Monument commemorates Sir William Wallace. He was one of the very few who consistently opposed the efforts of King Edward I of England to impose his will, and ultimately his supremacy, over Scotland and the Scots in the years around 1300.
The Wallace, as he is often known, is one of the most powerful, most evocative, and most well recognised figures from Scottish history. It is a fair bet that today his name is better known worldwide than most, if not all, of Scotland's monarchs.
Yet he was never a king; his notable deeds took place over a very short period of time, part of which he actually spent in France; he fought just two major battles and emerged with a score of won one and lost one, and in the end he was betrayed and executed.
There's a contradiction here. Behind it lies the stunningly good press that William Wallace has received over the centuries. Most notably, the bard Blind Harry wrote an epic 1470 poem, The Acts and Deeds of Sir William Wallace, Knight of Elderslie. This introduced the story of Wallace as the heroic figure we now all know, at times without too much regard for the actual historical facts.
But it was not Blind Harry who brought Wallace's story to the attention of a worldwide audience, it was Mel Gibson. His 1995 film Braveheart added another layer of artistic license to the one already applied by Blind Harry. The result has been criticised for its lack of historical accuracy. But critics of what is, without doubt, a superbly entertaining and enormously popular film, miss the point. The point is that the historical accuracy of the film doesn't really matter, just as the historical accuracy of Blind Harry's poem didn't really matter. People believe what they want to believe, and for a nation in search of national heroes, William Wallace fitted the bill perfectly: and still does.
But let's wind the story back to the mid-1800s. Scotland, with more than a little help from Sir Walter Scott, was going through an earlier phase of the rediscovery of its sense of national pride and identity after a period during which for many it had become "North Britain". Blind Harry's William Wallace was a perfect focus for the celebration of this new sense of identity and as a result statues of him and monuments to him began to spring up all over the country, with more than 20 being built in all.
But many wanted a national monument to William Wallace that could be venerated by everyone in Scotland. Funds were raised from the public, and a competition was launched for a design for the monument after an initial proposal was deemed too anti-English (of a Scottish lion in the act of killing a mythical English creature). 106 entries were submitted and the design that was selected was by the Scots Baronial architect J.T. Rochead.
His approach was to marry together two uniquely Scottish features. He took the traditional design of a Scottish tower house castle, complete with an external stair turret, and stretched it vertically. Then he added to the top a stone crown spire, of the sort seen atop the towers of St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh and King's College in Aberdeen.
The question of location had been decided some years earlier. Both Edinburgh and Glasgow wanted to be home to the monument, and Stirling was chosen mainly because it could be seen as neutral territory. Having decided on Stirling, the choice of the rocky outcrop of Abbey Craig was an obvious one for the monument, for three main reasons. Firstly, if you are going to build a monument intended to make a statement, putting it on top of a high outcrop of rock allows it to make the biggest statement possible. Secondly, Abbey Craig could be quarried to provide the stone needed to build the monument.
The third reason for the location was that Abbey Craig overlooks the site of William Wallace's most notable victory over the English, the Battle of Stirling Bridge, which took place on 11 September 1297. This was fought around the original wooden bridge over the River Forth at Stirling, in the shadow of Stirling Castle and just below Abbey Craig. The original bridge lay a short distance upstream from the stone bridge known today as Old Stirling Bridge. The Scots attacked from the Abbey Craig when the English were half deployed across the bridge and won an overwhelming victory. After the battle, Wallace was knighted by an unnamed Earl and became Sir William Wallace "Guardian of the Kingdom of Scotland and leader of its armies." His co-leader, Andrew Murray fared less well, dying some time later from wounds received during the battle. Wallace followed up the victory by leading the Scots into Northumberland and Cumbria, retreating only when the weather became too bad to continue the campaign.
The true historical significance of the Battle of Stirling Bridge is debatable. The English returned to Scotland in early 1298, trying to draw Wallace into open battle. This eventually happened at the Battle of Falkirk, on 22 July 1298. Defeat there was the beginning of the end for Wallace who was eventually executed in London on 23 August 1305. But as we've already said, none of this is really about history: the myth of Wallace has a life of its own that remains hugely influential.
The National Wallace Monument you see today was completed in 1869 after eight years' construction. It stands some 220ft or 67m high, and Abbey Craig adds a further 300ft or 91m, meaning that the top of the monument stands 520ft above the (tidal) River Forth below.