text:
Friday, 29 April 2011
The Last Post
Friday, 15 April 2011
Convivial Housing
Monday, 18 October 2010
Cities of God
I recently read his book Cities of God and what an enlightening and provocative little book it was.
Stark is a sociologist by trade, so his approach is quite theoretical at times. However, you can skip most of that (like I did) and find some really thought provoking conclusions.
Here are some of them:
- In the early church the gospel was spread and the church grew through social networks - not mass conversion
- The gospel was not just effective at the margins of society - some pretty influential people turned to Christ - eg Erastus, the city treasurer at Corinth (Romans 16.23)
- Gentiles who were sympathetic to Judaism found Christianity attractive because of the lack of rules
- The gospel often flourished in large cities where the ties to traditional religion were loose.
The above is just a snapshot of Stark's conclusions, but I think they merit some reflection.
If he's right, religious diversity is an opportunity not a threat. Religious diversity indicates a breakdown in old patterns of thinking that are sometimes resistant to the gospel.
Christianity should be preached as a liberation from the rules and strictures of religion. It's worth reminding ourselves that legalism has more than one expression. See this thoughtful post.
The gospel can touch people in the mainstream and upper strata of society as well as those on the fringes. I think this is something that those of us in the Pentecostal /Charismatic world need to learn.
Finally, networks. If Stark is correct, the recent concept of social networking is the best news for those who want to spread the gospel in a long time. That might mean that effective evangelism in the 21st century will partly entail building social networks. So parties, Starbucks, Facebook et al. could be big keys to evangelism in our time. Your leisure time can be transformed into something effective for the kingdom! Whatever next?!
See the review at Google Books here
Monday, 4 October 2010
Young fogeys and the future shape of the church
Noun: A person, typically an old one, who is considered to be old-fashioned or conservative in attitude or tastes.
I first heard the term from my grandmother. She was frustrated by a generation of young Christian men with shoulder length hair and guitars (and probably beards). Any physical resemblance to the Lord, she did not recognise. "They'd just dismiss us all as old fogeys" was how she interpreted their attitude to her generation. A "fogey"! What a great word!
Fast forward about ten years...I encountered a whole new phenomenon: the young fogey.
There were certain differences between the young fogey and the old fogey. The old fogey was not self-consciously a fogey. He or she was just being himself or herself and found that he/she was out of step with the times. The older person might well have been offended if you had called him a "fogey" and the term might even have been considered a put down. It must be said that whether the older person could have accurately been described as a fogey or not, their fogeyism was often endearing and was only a symptom of them being true to themselves and their values. Of course, many who dismissed my grandmother's generation as "old fogeys" might well now be "old fogeys" themselves, or worse still they might be retro cool in an embarrassing kind of way or worst of all just "outdated groovers" whose hearts are forever stuck in 1973. Potential fogeyism awaits us all.
The young fogeys were entirely different. They wanted to be fogeys. They dressed in such a way that people would consider them "young fogeys" and spoke in a way that made them seem like upper-middle class Edwardians. They were very conscious of the image they were projecting and sometimes, perhaps more often than not, the image bore very little connection to who they really were, serving only to betray their own insecurities. Young fogeyism is sometimes more "wannabee" than substance.
So why, you might ask, am I writing about fogeyism on a Monday morning? Because I believe the fogeys are after the soul of the church! Not my church - the church at large!
And it's not old fogeyism that concerns me - after all give me a few years and people might think I'm an old fogey. It's....young fogeyism! Or perhaps young-ish fogeyism.
If you read around a bit in the Christian world, you might well be aware of the renaissance in Reformed theology. Calvin, it seems, is cool again. Got any questions? Calvin and his mates Augustine and Luther have most of the answers. Calvin's offspring have lots of answers as well. And if you have got some "problems" - especially ones that aren't conveniently theological - consult "the Doctor" - the late Martyn Lloyd-Jones, that is (Through his books of course, not through a seance). I have to add that I think the Dr. is very good indeed.
In all seriousness, I am concerned.
(i) I am concerned that like fogeyism in the truest sense of the word, that some of this is just a reaction to the fuzzy theology or lack of theology of the emerging church. There's no doubt that much of what goes under that label is heading in the direction of theological liberalism. Calvinism presents a good bulwark against such a trend. However, the price might well be a new exclusivism and an intolerance of anything that doesn't fit squarely into the reformed theological box.
I have tried to keep up to date with the reformed blogosphere for a couple of years. John Wesley hardly gets a mention in any appraisal of church history or revival, despite the fact that he is undoubtedly the single most influential Christian leader of the last three hundred years. At worst there is a revisionist tendency within some reformed circles. The Sally Army, the Brethren and, of course, the Pentecostals, et al. - even in the charismatic wing of the reformed world, have effectively been airbrushed out of church history, certainly in terms of making any positive contribution.
Calvinism tends to be bookish and ruthlessly critical of any challenge to its central tenets. One of the dangers is that it will kill off any charismatic impulses.
(ii) My second concern, is that the desire to define the faith and defend the faith against liberalism is actually going to destroy evangelicalism. If it doesn't destroy it, it will make "evangelical" equal "calvinist". Anyone who wants revival and wants to win back the West, should consider all the great revival movements. Thank God for great Presbyterian and Baptist preachers. And thank God also for the Methodists and the Salvation Army and the Brethren. And for the Pentecostals. By all means preach sin and grace. And repentance and justification. But don't forget that what fired evangelism in the early twentieth century was preaching on the return of Christ. The church is bigger and more diverse than its reformed expression.
(iii) Finally, I do find much of the output that parades one's reformed credentials incredibly inward looking and tedious. Why trot out terminology and phraseology that is well past its sell by date? Sorry, but some of it does smack of young fogeyism, and I don't think the world is waiting for the young fogeys!
I write the above observations as someone sympathetic to the reformed outlook, but also as one who has discovered that the world is a bigger place and the gospel a bigger message than the playground of any particular theological school, however worthwhile it might be.
This will give you an insight into cool Calvinism.
This is a brief introduction to young fogeyism. Get the handbook here . The hardback will cost you £256.74.
Monday, 27 September 2010
Illegal Inspiration
In the September edition there was an article about Madagascar. The reporter decided to track down those involved in the illegal rosewood trade. It seems that many are deserting traditional occupations to go in search of a fortune harvesting and selling rosewood.
As is usually the case, the trade is dominated by gangs and corruption. Even so, those who want to be involved go to enormous lengths to get even the chance to be a part of what is happening. The report described a thirteen hour journey down dirt roads and through forests, a journey to the heart of the wilderness. And what awaited those who made it was a life of hard work and danger.
It's amazing what people will do when driven by need or even the desire to get rich.
These kinds of stories almost always challenge me. It's so easy for us in the relative comfort of the West to shake our heads in disapproval of those who risk life and limb to do something illegal and something that is ecologically bad for Madagascar and the world.
However, I find that it challenges my passion and commitment to Christ.
To what lengths am I prepared to go to further the cause of Christ? What risks am I willing to take for Him? Does it match the illegal loggers of Madagascar? Does it, for that matter, match the business guys who'll work long hours and make huge sacrifices for the sake of filthy lucre?
It might sound as though I have written this post from a spiritual Tardis that has taken me back into the church culture of 1950's Britain. Let me put your mind at rest, I am firmly in 2010.
Unfortunately, we find ourselves in an era in which the kind of commitment I'm talking about can very quickly be written off as "works", "legalism" or "duty". It might be that we have discovered all the rights and privileges of being spiritual sons and daughters without understanding the responsibilities. There was a time that having a "servant heart" was considered crucial to authentic Christianity. I'm not sure that that is still the case in contemporary Christian culture.
I had a dream recently. I was dreaming that I was preparing a sermon on Timothy, Paul's spiritual son and fellow-worker. I only got two points of it before I woke up. I kept trying to recall the third point - but it just wasn't there. The two points were: (i) Timothy's Call; (ii)Timothy's Commitment. The first point was straightforward; God called Timothy to serve Him.
Point two was more surprising. It was from Acts 16.2-3 "The brothers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of [Timothy]. 3Paul wanted to take him along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek."
For the sake of church unity and cross-cultural evangelism, Timothy submitted himself to circumcision. That was the price of his calling. It wasn't something he had to do. It wasn't necessary for salvation. It was the price of joining Paul's team. Of course, there were issues involved that were due to the culture of that day. That's the point. That was the level of commitment that was needed to spread the gospel at that time.
Relax. I'm not suggesting it's time to get the knives out! However, it does challenge our thinking about the kind of commitment that preaching the gospel effectively entails. I think I'd opt for a few long journeys down dirt tracks and forests myself!
Monday, 20 September 2010
Promoting doubt
Nixon wrote a book in the mid-80's called No More Vietnams. Although Nixon tried to justify the way he handled the Vietnam conflict, he came to see that the future demanded a different approach. If Western values were to triumph in the developing world, Western nations needed to use their prosperity to feed the poor rather than simply trying to gain the upper hand militarily.
Although much of his analysis applies to the Cold War and is perhaps rendered obsolete by recent history, he makes an important point: ideological battles are not won by the strength of arguments or even by military superiority. Ideology is worth squat if it doesn't actually change people's lives for the better.
Which brings me back to the Pope's statement about aggressive secularism. In the last decade or so I have heard the cry go up for a more aggressive Christian response to secularism. The subtext is that there is an ideological battle going on and we are not winning it because we are not shouting loud enough and condemning stridently enough those who oppose us. The cry is usually for more protest and utlimately points in the direction of Christian intolerance. However, there is a danger that if we meet those who oppose our faith in the same spirit we will become more like them and less like Jesus.
Fortunately, there are many capable and able Christian apologists - for example, John Lennox , Alister McGrath, to name a couple - out there who, in my opinion, are putting together robust answers to Dawkins, Hitchens, et al. It is good to have people who can clearly and publicly articulate the Christian faith.
It is important that Christians are able to give a reason for the hope within them, however, I have the feeling that the impact of Christian apologetics on secular society will be minimal. I say that not because of the quality of the apologists or their work, but because there is in general an unwillingness to even consider the possibility of an alternative to the secular worldview. Having said that, if any apologist is reading, please keep up the good work - we still need to be able to answer our opponents!
Which is where Nixon can help us. We might not be able to win the ideological battles in the ways in which ideological battles in the past have been won, but I think we can operate in ways that disarm those who want to marginalise the Christian faith. We can invest in our communities. We can spend ourselves and our money on behalf of those in need. Our era is one in which people expect both little and much from the church. It sometimes feels as if society expects the church to do nothing of practical relevance but at the same time expects the church to do much. We must act in a way that causes our communities to doubt their prejudices against the church. We might find that promoting this kind of doubt is necessary if we are to effectively promote faith.
Please don't think I'm suggesting that this will result in mass conversions. It might and it might not. That isn't really the important thing. What's important is whether or not the church is seen to be acting in a way that faithfully reflects the heart of Christ for this world. Is the Christian community functioning in a way that is consistent with it's identity as Christian? That's the question.
Monday, 13 September 2010
How Sky+ could have saved the Church of Scotland (or not)
I asked him why he thought the Church of Scotland had gone into decline. (Just for the record, the decline of the decline of the Church of Scotland is not hearsay. See here and here).
I was totally unprepared for his response: The Forsyte Saga.
This classy drama from the golden age of the BBC drew the faithful away from the kirk on a Sunday evening and seriously weakened the church of Knox and the reformation. If you think I'm kidding: "Many people preferred to watch the Forsyte Saga on television to attending evening services at their local kirk." Read the whole thing here.
Now it would be comforting for those outside the C.o.S. to think it was a specifically Scottish and Presbyterian problem. However - behold - the Methodists way down in the deep south of England were under attack from the same Beeb drama!
Read the history of Teignmouth Methodist. Teignmouth is in South Devon! Auntie has obviously no ethnic prejudice when it comes to distracting the faithful! Here's the killer line:
"By 1961 there were only 23 left in the Sunday School and Evening Services were very poorly attended. The BBC's production of the Forsyth (sic) Saga caused Leaders' Meetings to discuss the timing of their evening services. This affected all the churches and in 1967 the galleries were removed from our church."
This is a church with a history: General Booth had even preached here.
Of course, it would be inaccurate and superficial to blame Sunday night tv for the decline of the historic churches in Britain. There were many other factors that ranged from theology to urban planning and development.
And we'd be foolish to think that because we are free in the Spirit and not dead and traditional like some established churches that we are somehow immune to the cultural forces of our day. In fact, describing historic churches as dead and boring might reveal more about our own perceived self-importance than the reality of what is happening in at least some historic churches.
The question is not just "What can we learn from the challenges Christians faced in the past?" Though that is a very good question. The question is "What has got hold of our hearts?"
It might be tempting to think that the C.o.S. and the Methodists were unfortunate to face their great challenges in an era before recording tv programmes was possible. Or that if some prophet had stood up and urged "Keep coming to the Sunday evening sevrice, saith the Lord, for the day will come when you shall be able to see it all again on UKGold, and the glory of the latter remake of The Forsyte Saga with Damian Lewis will far exceed the glory of what you now see," all would have been well.
For all it's benefits, Sky+ is unlikely to help us squarely face the challenges to the church the enemy will pose in our day - and by "enemy", I mean the enemy, not the BBC.


text:
Ever wonder why you spent so much on that item, or why you even bought it at all? Frankly, most sales people don't know why you did either. Psychological theory: meet advertising and marketing. Together, you create psychologically compelling forces that are hard to resist.
In other issues we've covered how advertisers manipulate and then appear to satisfy our fundamental needs. In the following two issues, you'll become armed with the knowledge of the influences that encourage buying decisions. That way, as a consumer you can become more aware of your buying habits, and as a sales person you can reorient their thinking away from what they have to sell, and get into the minds of their customers. Here are three of several ways you can influence buying decisions:
1. Create Resistance and Decision Fatigue. Decision making requires a high degree of mental energy. Brains are cognitive misers and avoid conscious decisions when they can. Willpower and decision-making ability deteriorate with the number and complexity of decisions. After a period of time of making even the smallest decisions, normal caution will decrease and decisions will more impulsive. If someone invites you to make a decision when you are decision-fatigued, chances are you will acquiesce more easily. Decision fatigue is operating when you give in to demands as soon as you walk in the door when you get home from work. Asked to make a decision, you will reply, "whatever you want is OK."
Impulse items are placed at grocery checkouts for a good reason; by the time you have reached checkout, decision fatigue has set in, and you will grab items impulsively. Some auto showrooms plan this effect in their buying process by deliberating stalling the delivery time of your new vehicle by a couple of hours. By the time you are in the accountant's office, and being pressured to keep the $495 security system they have installed, decision fatigue and time exhaustion will take you down.
Time decisions carefully. Social psychologist Roy Baumeister found that those who resisted M&Ms or cookies were less able to resist binging later on in the day. Because spending energy to control behavior depletes the ability to control behavior later on, depriving yourself all day will decrease your resistance to binging at night.
2. Expose to aprestige brand beyond your customer's means to predict a splurge on upcoming purchase(s). The hypothesis was that exposure to a Lamborghini parked in front of Starbucks would increase spending inside the store. True enough, controlling for location and time of day, significantly more sales were racked up after customers were exposed to the high-end car. Position higher end items before the item you really want to sell. The higher priced alternative increases the purchase of the more moderate. Warehouse stores display the highest priced TV screens at the front to reduce resistance to the less expensive ones in the back.
Context matters. You are more likely to buy a $30 bottle of wine if it's next to a $130 bottle than if it's next to a $20 bottle. Even telling people that they "should expect to pay more for this item" works as verbal anchoring and increases sales. Fast food restaurants' extreme food sizes such as a 9-patty burger increases sales of the 5-patty burger compared to the 3-patty. At 3,000 calories, 200 grams of fat and 6,000 grams of sodium, Dunkin' Donuts' 360-calorie bacon doughnut breakfast sandwich sounds downright healthy.
3. Reduce the pain of paying. Create psychological distance between the purchase point and the need to part with funds. This is the idea behind credit cards, layaway plans, no payments for 3 months, money back guarantees, rewards of frequent flyer miles, or points. The offers are not designed to be thoughtful, they are designed to get you to buy.
Experiment with some of these forces yourself . Send your experiences to me email@example.com
*from my program The Psychology of Customer Loyalty.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Time: May 22, 2017 at 6pm to May 15, 2018 at 7pm
Location: Dubai,UAE
Event Type: website
Organized By: AhmedKamran
Latest Activity: Aug 22
Export to Outlook or iCal (.ics)
EssayWritingAe is the most trusted Content Writing Service in the United Arab Emirates. In this event, our expert content writers will help you to stand out from the mass and offer you the chance to connect with more of your website visitors.
1 -Professional content writers,
2-Enhance your internet searcher peaceability,
3-Spare time by getting your site finished sooner.


text:
This morning's key headlines from GenerationalDynamics.com
- Turkey and Iraq in dispute over Turkish participation in Mosul operation
- Turkey views the Mosul operation as a security threat to Turkey
- ISIS may be given a chance to escape to Syria
Turkey and Iraq in dispute over Turkish participation in Mosul operation
Kurdish Peshmerga forces in operation to liberate Mosul on Monday (Anadolu)
Turkey's president Recep Tayyip Erdogan insisted on Monday that Turkey will take part in the operation to recapture Mosul from the so-called Islamic State (IS or ISIS or ISIL or Daesh):
They say Turkey should not take part in the operation. How can Turkey not take part in the operation when it shares a 350-kilometer border with Iraq and receives all the terror threats from there? We have brothers in Mosul, Arabs, Turkmens and Kurds. If you go further north, we have relatives.
Turkish troops have been operating since 2014 in the Bashiqa military base in northern Iraq near Mosul, along the border with Turkey. Turkey has an estimated 2,000 troops in Iraq, around 500 of them in Bashiqa training about 1,000-2,000 Sunni Iraqi militia fighters in preparation for the Mosul operation.
On Thursday of last week, Iraq's foreign ministry in Baghdad summoned the Turkish ambassador. Iraq said that the Turkish forces in Bashiqa were "occupying forces" and "should be immediately withdrawn." Turkey refused to withdraw, and was able to produce a video of a December 2014 video in which Iraq's prime minister Haider al-Abadi asked for "military, intelligence, arms and training support" from Turkey. Daily Sabah (Ankara) and Anadolu (Turkey) and Daily Sabah (Ankara)
Turkey views the Mosul operation as a security threat to Turkey
In Thursday's statement, Erdogan reaffirmed that Turkey will do what is necessary in Mosul, and will not take directions from Iraq's prime minister.
Turkish officials are saying that the Mosul operation is a threat to the security of Turkey for several reasons:
- There are 1.2 million civilians in Mosul, and if there's a humanitarian disaster and they start fleeing, many of them will flee to Turkey.
- Some of the forces fighting in the Mosul operation are Iran-backed Shia militias known as Hashid Shaabi or Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF). The PMF participated in the recapture of Ramadi and Tikrit from ISIS, and in each case conducted bloody atrocities among the Sunni Muslim civilians in those towns. Turkey's officials state that they're not going to permit the PMF to do the same thing in Mosul, and risk a wider Sunni-Shia sectarian war. Iraq has responded by promising that the PMF forces will take part in the operation, but will not be permitted to enter Mosul itself.
- Some of the forces fighting in the Mosul operation are Kurdish Peshmerga militia forces. These are the so-called moderate Kurdish forces, as opposed to the separatist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) which is internationally recognized as a terrorist group, and has conducted numerous terrorist attacks within Turkey. Turkey demands that Kurdish forces not be permitted to participate in the Mosul operation, just as Turkey's Operation Euphrates Shield prevented Kurdish forces from expanding their territory in Syria. Iraq has responded by promising that the Kurdish Peshmerga forces will take part in the operation, but will not be permitted to enter Mosul itself.
- As suggested by Erdogan's statement quoted above, Turkey had a very close and influential relationship with Mosul prior to the ISIS takeover. Erdogan wants to make sure that Turkey regains that influence after Mosul is recaptured.
The concerns are real. The Mosul operation will be led by Iraq's army (the one that dropped their guns and fled for their lives as ISIS fighters approached Mosul in 2014). The Iraqi force of 30,000 soldiers will have other participants besides the Iraqi army: the US-led coalition, Turkey, Sunni tribes, Kurds, Iran, and Shia militias. These participants have a common objective: to recapture Mosul from ISIS. However, once the recapture is complete, these participants will all have different objectives. In particular, just as Turkey wants to retain its influence in Mosul, the other participants will also want to maximize their own influence.
So far, none of these conflicting objectives has influenced the first day of the military operation. But it's still possible that this situation will cause major problems down the road. CNN and Yeni Safak (Ankara) and Daily Sabah (Ankara) and BBC
Related Articles
- Iraq begins battle to recapture Mosul from ISIS (17-Oct-2016)
- Iraq, ISIS and the West prepare for the Great Battle for Mosul to begin soon (01-Oct-2016)
- Turkey's 'Operation Euphrates Shield' turns into full-scale invasion of Syria (26-Aug-2016)
ISIS may be given a chance to escape to Syria
Among all the analyst opinions, there seems to be little doubt that the recapture of Mosul will succeed. There are a wide variety of opinions on how long it will take, how many civilians will be killed, how much of the city will be destroyed, how big the humanitarian disaster will be, and whether new terror groups will fill the vacuum when ISIS is gone. But analysts seem unanimous in believing that the Iraqi force of 30,000, backed by US-coalition airstrikes, will succeed in defeating the 3,000 to 4,500 ISIS militants in Mosul.
The loss of Mosul will be a huge symbolic loss for ISIS. It's the largest city that ISIS has captured — even larger than Raqqa in Syria. Even more important, it's the city where ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi declared his "caliphate."
However, some analysts say that Iraq is hoping that ISIS will flee without fighting. Iraqi forces have been surrounding Mosul and blocking exits from the north, east and south, but they're leaving a corridor open to the west, hoping that ISIS fighters will take advantage of it and flee to ISIS headquarters in Raqqa in Syria.
According to one analyst, ISIS commanders are aware that they're going to lose the battle, and that many of their forces will be killed, so they may decide to withdraw their best fighters, and leave the newbies behind to fight and be killed.
Other analysts aren't so sure. One of them points out that ISIS fighters fleeing to the west will be easy targets for US airstrikes, and so ISIS commanders may feel they have no choice but to stand and fight. Washington Post and Business Insider (Australia) and Economist
KEYS: Generational Dynamics, Iraq, Mosul, Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Islamic State / of Iraq and Syria/Sham/the Levant, IS, ISIS, ISIL, Daesh, Bashiqa military base, Haider al-Abadi, Abu Omar al-Baghdadi, Hashid Shaabi, Popular Mobilization Forces, PMF, Peshmerga, Kurdistan Workers' Party, PKK, Operation Euphrates Shield
Permanent web link to this article
Receive daily World View columns by e-mail


text:
Turning Points and Steppingstones/
Turning points and steppingstones
The turning points,
The steppingstones
Often arrive
As some adversity
Or opportunity—
She said that
With a depth of
From her life—
Out of the blue
And unexpected—
Years later
She would see
The path
They had created—
But in the moment
Only confusion,
Some surprise,
Or grief, uncertainty
About what
Lay ahead.
Her words still ring:
The turning points
In life oft show themselves
As some adversity
Or unexpected opportunity.
And those to come?
Those too.
Judy Brown, May 5, 2012
-from Stepping Stones to be released Fall 2014, contact us to reserve a signed copy.
A further thought in line with the poem: A gift of a quote from a colleague from a Portuguese proverb that the French love to use--"God writes straight on crooked lines"--profoundly true in so many things that happen that may seem bad but actually turn out for the best.


text:
PepsiCo (NASDAQ:PEP) and Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO) have been working hard to increase their exposure in one of the fastest-growing international markets: India. With a population of 1.2 billion people, this is important information, as it increases growth potential for both companies.
Prior to PepsiCo's recent announcement about an increased investment in India, both companies had committed $5 billion to India by 2020. And before PepsiCo's recent announcement, it looked as though Coca-Cola had the edge. Despite PepsiCo increasing its investment to $5.5 billion, Coca-Cola might still have a slight edge in India. However, PepsiCo has closed the gap.
Coca-Cola's sustainable and responsible growth
Coca-Cola aims for sustainable and responsible growth in India. Sustainable and responsible go hand-in-hand. For instance, if Coca-Cola can build out its infrastructure in India in an environmentally friendly manner, it will create jobs, improve communities, and lead to a positive consumer reaction to the brand.
Coca-Cola sees India's demographic, economic, and social situations as key growth drivers. Coca-Cola will invest the majority of its capital in innovation, distribution, cold drink equipment, and manufacturing capacity.
Coca-Cola has already seen consistent unit case volume growth throughout India. It owns the two top-selling soft drink brands in India: Thumbs Up and Sprite. It also owns the top-selling juice drink: Maaza (a mango-focused drink launched in the 1970s).
Through affordability and brand diversification, Coca-Cola has established strong brand loyalty throughout the country. Coca-Cola's $5 billion investment should only help strengthen its position.
PepsiCo's increased investment in India is likely to help PepsiCo without harming Coca-Cola. These two companies have grown simultaneously in many different geographic markets for decades. That's not likely to change in India, especially considering India's vast population of 1.2 billion people.
PepsiCo increases its investment in India
When there's a growing economy with 1.2 billion people, increasing investment is logical. PepsiCo sees big potential in India, and it's focusing on four key initiatives: Innovation, Manufacturing, Infrastructure, and Agriculture.
PepsiCo will rely on innovation to expand its food and beverage offerings, which will expose the company to a broader range of consumers. PepsiCo will significantly increase its manufacturing capacity to meet consumer demands. In regard to infrastructure, it will ramp up its selling and delivery methods, relying on technology to enhance efficiencies.
PepsiCo will put emphasis on rural communities. If these communities can be built up and out, this will create new growing markets. As far as agriculture, PepsiCo will provide local farmers with quality seeds, training, capital, and insurance. In addition to improving the homes and social standings of Indian farmers, this should also improve the company's supply chain.
PepsiCo is growing its Quaker and Tropicana brands in India due to increased consumer demand for convenience and nutrition. In related news, PepsiCo has partnered with Tata Water Plus to offer India's first nutrient water.
Out of India
Dr Pepper Snapple Group (NYSE:KDP) might not have any plans for India, but it recently announced that it's in on sparkling water growth. It will partner with Sunny Delight Beverages for its new sparkling Fruitzo fruit-flavored water.
This move makes a lot of sense for Dr Pepper Snapple simply because the company is going along with industry trends. Yes, sometimes business is that simple. Actually, everyone loves simplicity, including consumers. This is what Sunny Delight Beverages is banking on with its subtle and simple, no-calorie, no-sugar, no-carbs, no-caffeine, sparkling water fruit beverage.
Sunny Delight Beverages and Dr Pepper Snapple aren't blindly rolling the dice; they have something to go on. Sunny Delight Beverages offered limited distribution in the Northeast and the consumer and retail responses were strong, which is what led to the expansion plans.
Fruitzo fruit-flavored sparkling water comes in four flavors: Raspberry Lemon, Grape, Mixed Berry, and Strawberry.
Foolish takeaway
Dr Pepper Snapple is trading at 15 times forward earnings, versus valuations of 18 times forward earnings for PepsiCo and Coca-Cola. Additionally, Dr Pepper Snapple yields 3.20%, versus 2.80% for Coca-Cola and 2.60% for PepsiCo. This makes Dr Pepper Snapple very tempting, and it's likely to be a quality long-term investment. However, PepsiCo and Coca-Cola are much larger companies, with greater geographic expansion capabilities, broader brand portfolios, superior marketing power, and stronger brand recognition.


text:
Every occasion comes with lot of celebration and merry making. But there remains a small problem and gloom when your beloved is not at home. It might be their work or studies or any other significant reason that keeps them away from visiting you on the special day. It might be then that you need to send gifts in Fujairah to wish the relatives, friends and sibling or fiancé luck. Apart from just wishing luck these gifts are regarded as surprises the thought of which erases all physical distances calculated in miles. The hearts are instantly connected to each other at once there are gifts present in front of the eyes. Therefore, send cakes to Fujairah when it a special ones birthday. There are several reasons that make this cake special; the first and foremost is that this shows that the occasion holds a special place in your heart as well.
Are you interested in sending the parcel through safe-hands? There are several ways to send gift to Fujairah and there are ways that make buying gift items easy. There are various potential sites that one can make buying of gifts simpler. One factor that the individuals must keep in mind is to check the license and authentication of the company. This ensures that the company promises to deliver the items at their own risk. The breakage of parcel or any damage of it is the responsibility of the courier companies that have an insurance coverage to pay back the amount that equates to the value of the product. Send rakhi to Fujairah to make your brother feel special and happy even when he is way from home on this auspicious day.


text:
The Public Service (Management) Act will closely scrutinise the performance of public servants, according to Public Service Minister Sir Puka Temu. He said the Bill was to remove the bureaucratic red-tape and the delays in making appointments of heads of departments, administrators and chief executive officers. He said it would hold them accountable to perform their jobs effectively as the powers were with the Ministers and the Governors to hire and fire the top public servants. The top public servants will have the powers to hire and fire public servants who fail to perform. The creation of district authorities will give powers to the district administrators to hire and fire public servants who do not perform. Under the law, the process of these appointments cannot be disputed in the courts. The Government on Tuesday passed several legislations in their first readings and Parliament is adjourned for two months.
Posted by Staff Reporter
Bill to remove red-tape
Comments are closed.
Papua New Guinea daily News updates
Let Your Voice be heard: Submit your news articles, commentaries, letters , Photos, Media Releases etc to us on this email: email@example.com
Subscribe for News Alerts
Get Breaking News Headlines through Email: Subscribe Now


text:
On 15. July I held a talk at Spektrum in Berlin in which I explained why it is a bad idea to perform at that very artist-unfriendly venue. Here is a résumé of the talk.
I arrived to sound art relatively late. It happened right at the start of the century. In the last century I dedicated all my time to writing. Zan Hoffman and Jeff Surak, two artists deeply involved in the sounds of noises (or the noises of sound) accepted my presence immediately. I was amazed how open-minded they were. Playing together with them, being a complete newby, went without hindrances or comments. It was a joyful excursion and one big pleasure.
It took some years, before I knew how to get my sound work out on stage. I arrived late, so I needed to make a lot of experiences and encounters to get to know the marginal world of sound. I criss-crossed Western Europe, got hosted by a lot of people, slept at their apartments, sometimes in a hotel. I played jeux-de-boules in Bordeaux. In Porto we had drinks in the bar where, during the Salazar regime, the police seated on their horses entered to chase the demonstrating students. Everytime I landed in Bilbao we went to a loft and played for hours, thinking we were transmitting to ships passing in the deep of night. I met good people. They tried everything to make a good turn out. And everywhere I went, I got a good share of the door money, which covered for my expenses.
Living in Berlin I came to the conclusion that after so many encounters during which I was given a lot, it was time to return the favor. I started to organize shows myself. And I set up a lot of shows. I always sat at the door, making sure that everyone paid. I was more tensed than the artist. I felt terrible when there were only ten people or less in the audience. This meant I could only pay a handful of euros. But it felt so good if I could give 100 euro from the door. And it was ALL the door money that went to the artist.
I never exchanged emails on a personal level with the people who run Spektrum in Berlin. When I was invited by Robert Pepper of Pas Musique, I got a mail from Spektrum that directed me to their website. I had to fill in a form. A series of yes-answers took me to the final page. One of the yes answers was in relation to their condition regarding the door money. They would keep a minimum of 60 euro plus 35-45 euro for GEMA (The copyright police in Germany). After that they would take a 33% share. But maybe I do a miscalculation here, and the 60 euro minimum is not taken in account once the door money exceeds 225 euro. Entrance fee is 6-10 euro.
I considered not playing.(Because why drag a 20kg suitcase all the way from Krakow to Berlin and back again and spend extra time on setting up and packing again?)Knowing myself I would keep on talking about it. I decided to go, not play, but talk about it in the place itself.
In comes the guy who runs Spektrum. It is still early. There are four people sitting at the bar. They are the musicians after they did the soundcheck. Did the guy say hello; did he introduce himself? No. He walked straight to his place behind the bar. Now he was facing the people who were to play at his venue. Did he say hello? Did he introduce himself? Did he say anything at all? No.
Shortly before PAS Musique goes on he speaks his first words to me, still from his comfortable position behind the bar. I needed to pay the entrance because the show would start. I bent a little bit over to him and whispered that I was performing this evening.
I stood up. Three of my friends had just arrived. The guy who runs the place was making an attempt to have them pay. I told him they were my guests. I noticed how he froze for a tiny instance. And it was in this very instance that he showed his greed.
Robert got 80 euro. We were four performing. I took 20 euro. If places like this can spread their philosophy, it will become impossible for artists to go on tour. Some say that this place Spektrum is the new NK. That's an insult. The only thing NK and Spektrum could have in common is that they both finished their activities.


text:
Here is the latest charter news we've been keeping up on.
On the Blog
The latest episode of our incredible podcast, The Grade, is up! Kyle Rosenkrans wrapped up his tenure as the Northeast Charter Schools Network CEO last Friday, but before he left he sat down with us to reflect on his time here and talk about what's next and why this work is so important.
Our 20 Graduates in 20 Days series continues! We have highlighted some awesome Connecticut charter grads so far, and today we shared the story of Keiry Gutierrez from Path Academy. Keiry's story is incredible. This young woman possesses strength and determination in the face of incredible odds. From El Salvador to a CT charter school -- her story is worth reading!
And you can read the rest of these amazing stories here.
The New York Twenty series is almost at an end. Meet Mount Vernon charter dad Anthony Crossman, whose daughters attend Amani Public Charter School. Find out why charter advocacy is is so important to the Crossman family.
NECSN in the News
11 new charter schools were approved to open across New York yesterday. We put out a statement congratulating the new schools, and the Long Island Exchange shared it. Our NY State Director Andrea Rogers said of the new schools:
"Tens of thousands of names are on waitlists for charter schools across New York State, so we applaud SUNY and the Board of Regents for approving these new schools. The families in these communities - from New York City to Buffalo - will benefit for years to come with the addition of these new charter schools in their neighborhoods."
In case you missed it, NECSN CT State Director Jeremiah Grace had an op-ed last week on 20 years of Connecticut charter schools. The 20-year anniversary of Connecticut charters continues throughout the year so stay tuned for more blog posts, stories in the press, and podcasts from those close to the charter movement!
Charter Schools, Special Education and Discipline
The National Center for Special Education in Charter Schools Equity Coalition released a joint statement urging the charter sector to commit to strong and fair discipline practices for all students, including students with disabilities, saying:
"Given important autonomies, public charter schools have the opportunity to create effective, inclusive learning environments and to be exemplars of educational equity, quality and innovation. We collectively challenge the sector to realize its full potential in benefiting ALL students and to implement effective positive and equitable disciplinary practices that are essential to assuring student success."
New York News
The legislative session ends on Thursday. Governor Cuomo gave the Legislature his six priorities as session comes to a close, and mayoral control of NYC schools was not on his list.
From POLITICO New York: As of Tuesday morning, Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan left the Assembly with two options on mayoral control: pass a one-year extension with few conditions, or approve a three-year extension laden with non-starters.
One of those newly approved charter schools will open in Buffalo.
Genesee Community Charter School in Rochester is serving as an example of socioeconomic integration in Rochester schools.
Check out how one Brooklyn charter school with a diverse student body is working to increase diversity in the classroom.
From the Huffington Post: A Group Of Bronx Teens Are Trying To Transform New York City's Segregated Schools.
FYI: On Tuesday, June 21st Harlem Link Charter School will hold its fifth grade graduation, where A'Lelia Bundles will be the keynote speaker. Ms. Bundles is the Great-Grandaughter of A'Lelia Walker, daughter of Madame C.J. Walker, the first African American female millionaire and major figure of The Harlem Renaissance.
Connecticut News
From the Hartford Courant: Frustrated plaintiffs in the Sheff v. O'Neill lawsuit accepted a new agreement Friday to continue desegregation efforts in Hartford, asking a judge to approve a one-year extension that does little more than maintain the status quo during the state's fiscal troubles.
The chief financial officer for New Haven Public Schools is leaving the district for Achievement First.
City school board member Maria Pereira was assigned to Achievement First Bridgeport as a board liaison, but on the day of AF's board meeting she was told she was suspended from that assignment.
Katie Roy of the Connecticut School Finance Project discusses the need to fix school funding, saying:
"The task of fixing our state's flawed school finance system will not be an easy one — the system is complex and it impacts many different stakeholders who have varying concerns and perspectives. However, having an equitable, predictable, and consistent system for how the state allocates more than $2 billion in education funding isn't ideological or partisan — it's just good governance."


text:
I've always wanted to make the world a better place. As cliche as that sounds. Who wouldn't?? This non-profit organisation is close to my heart. Their mission is to end slavery in the 21st century. A few years ago I read about how human trafficking is increasingly the biggest criminal industry and overtaking drugs. The reason? Humans can be used over and over again.
Here are some crazy statistics:
Millions of slaves.
A $150 billion industry.
1% ever rescued.
Human trafficking is slavery.
It's happening all around us, all over the world. The illegal trade of human beings. It's the recruitment, control, and use of people for their bodies and for their labour. Through force, fraud, and coercion, people everywhere are being bought and sold against their will–right now in the 21st century.
Slavery is violence. It's physical, verbal, and sexual abuse. It's forced prostitution. It's barbaric working conditions.
We can't do everything but we must do something.
Purchase a Baby Cuddle Mat and 10% of the sale will go towards someone's freedom.
VISIT www.a21.org FOR MORE INFORMATION


text:
PROJECT UPDATES: The Kitchen Swap interior remodel in Ann Arbor, MI
Finishing up at The Kitchen Swap! Keep your eyes peeled for final photography in the coming weeks, but in the meantime take a sneak peek:
The tile backsplash is a traditional 3x6" subway tile. We're using Ann Sacks' Capriccio Tile in Cashmere Grey Gloss. Over the stove, we are using a 2x4" product set in a traditional herringbone pattern, off set by a pencil liner trim. Bright white grout will blend into the tile patterns, creating a subtle texture against the countertop.
Our cabinet hardware in this stylish kitchen features a multi-faceted chrome finish. This harkens back to the traditional era of hardware design. We love these polished nickel knobs and pulls by Emtek (Urban Modern) - and the carpenters had a lot of fun installing them...
This Walnut exhaust hood is a unique feature that we wanted to build in-house. Watch our Production Manager Tim Whitford finish this masterpiece below! The hood features details that coordinate well with the kitchen island. It is finished with a low-sheen stain and we also had glaze applied to emphasize the groove details.
The cabinets are a new product line we are carrying, Das Holz Haus. This is a fully custom, handcrafted line from Illinois. What's unique about our cabinet design here is a combination of painted and natural walnut surfaces. The island features are unique Walnut stacking plank detail with corner post legs.
From Das Holz Haus website: "Mere appearance isn't enough for Das Holz Haus. Style matters, but we go far beyond style to build integrity and character into each treasure we create. From the first plans to the final finishes, Das Holz Haus does the details right so your dream looks right, functions right, and is right."
Somehow, we absolutely missed taking photos of the exciting drywall hanging and mudding process. Our other behind-the-scenes blogs should give you an idea what this looks like... moving on!
This should be a warm and cozy space! We packed the existing walls with a closed-cell foam insulation to achieve the highest R-value possible within the wall cavity. We also utilized this material in the floor cavity over the existing slab. Later, we applied an energy caulk to all of the joints from wood studs, plates and headers.
Whenever we open up walls, the challenge is to relocate the mechanicals in an efficient way - and one that works with the design. Ideally, it blends into existing available cavities. In this scenario we created a trench through the existing floor system over the concrete floor. This one's on the perimeter and underneath the new cabinets. You may notice green index cards indicating electrical types. We use this method in our pre-mechanical meetings with clients to clarify exact locations before our subcontractors come into play.
This house was just re-sided a few years ago, so our goal is to blend in the new window locations with the existing siding rather than waste it and start over. It's a delicate approach!
The steel beam is a critical element for the success of this project; we're removing a load-bearing wall that separates the kitchen and dining room. Curious how a steel beam goes up? There are three major steps:
- Position the steel beam on the floor
- Build temporary support walls
- Remove the existing wall and slowly lift the steel beam into place. Easy peasy!
As you can see, our builders are also handling a change in direction of floor joists. We knew there would be some level of difficulty before we began construction, but couldn't predict the exact condition of the joists. Several were repaired during this phase of the remodel.
The framing of the first floor space is pretty straightforward - we're removing windows, in-filling, and adding new windows and headers in more appropriate places for the new design. We did go to some lengths to level the ceilings and the existing floor and - if you remember - the dining room was over concrete (!!) so we also reinforced the floor there.
If you're looking for framing drama (aren't we all), take a look at what we've done with the second floor dormer. As you can see below, we are working diligently to sculpt out an addition that feels natural to the home, like its always been there. This space will function as a much-needed additional bedroom.
Ryan isn't just modeling the respirator... they're literal lifesavers on tough, dusty demo jobs like this plaster removal.
Though our clients have moved out of the house during the remodel, it's safer for everyone involved to take precautions with dust. For this project, we used a dust wall perimeter and 'dust eaters.'
As happens with older homes, we had a few surprises during demo. For example, we found an electrical junction box buried in the floor, as well as a loose wire with just a wire nut on it. Never a good thing. All of these problems have been corrected safely and at a minimal cost to the homeowners. We were also able to confirm our suspicion that the existing dining room was built over a concrete slab! We're guessing that this was originally a garage or a sunroom.
Because of the thickness of the plaster in this existing home, we had to double-check all of our cabinet measurements after demolition. We also needed to create troughs in the floor for our new mechanical runs.
FDB designers Ann-Marie and Caitlin have created an innovative design solution to meet the clients' remodeling goals. Now it's time for the selections process, where the designers and homeowners collaborate to choose the finishes for each design element; below are the beautiful finishes that inspired the Newport kitchen.
The existing plan of this home featured compartmentalized rooms and a crowded kitchen; our clients' first goal was to create an open and comfortable kitchen. They also desired dining and living rooms that flowed more naturally. Our clients' second goal was to create an additional bedroom on the second floor.
Client Remodeling Goals
The existing plan of this home featured compartmentalized rooms and a crowded kitchen; our clients' first goal was to create an open and comfortable kitchen. They also desired dining and living rooms that flowed more naturally. Our clients' second goal was to create an additional bedroom on the second floor.
Our Design Solutions
Our design solution simply flips the kitchen and dining rooms, allowing us to redefine the circulation of the first floor and create a dedicated work triangle within the kitchen space. With a subtle tweak to the windows, we maximize Eastern light and kitchen functionality. Removing the load-bearing wall creates a combined kitchen and dining room, while a drop beam wrapped in stained wood elevates the interior and helps maintain a sense of separation between the rooms.
The existing second floor layout was originally designed as an oversized master suite with quite a bit of wasted space. The new second floor design features a new roof line and gable dormer, allowing for an additional new bedroom space. Our new layout creates a more efficient second floor and adds room for the family to grow.


text:
Dementia is often described as 'the long goodbye' and can be a heart-breaking journey for all involved, both those who suffer from the condition and their families as well.
Now, members of a relatives' support group are trying to help each other along that journey.
The group is made up of people whose loved ones live and lived in Sandringham Care Home in Portadown, but is open to anyone.
Although it was formed four years ago, the group is trying to spread its message further and is holding its next meeting in the Seagoe Hotel on Saturday, January 6 from 11-12 noon.
Guest speaker will be Aidan Hanna who leads the new charity, Northern Ireland Patient Voice, set up to support families who have patients in nursing homes and those receiving domiciliary care in the community.
One family relative said, "You love this person and you soon realise it's like saying goodbye to them but over a much longer period of time.
"During this journey, it can be a heartbreaking time to watch your loved one forget things like your name, how to brush their hair or who they are when they look in the mirror.
"They may lose the ability to dress themselves, walk and even how to swallow."
Another said, "It can also be a very difficult time when your loved one goes into a nursing home. This is their new home and, at first, you can think you are leaving them in the hands of strangers.
"Depending on what stage of dementia they are at, they can be standing at the door and wanting to go home with you... When you experience this firsthand it really is heartbreaking".
The support group usually meets once a month and organises fundraising events such as coffee mornings. Some of the relatives also learned Spanish and go out for dinner together.
The group is grateful to the Hanna sisters who provide music therapy.


text:
The cow farmer who became a food security expert in Latin America
Adriana Tache | SIPA Class of 2017 | December 8, 2016
Growing up, Gary Verburg never imagined that life would take him from cleaning cow pens on a small dairy farm to pursuing a Master's degree at a prestigious Ivy League university. Long hours working on the family farm taught him first-hand about sustenance through agriculture. With moral support from his family, he then took his dedication to making the world a more livable place in a journey he had never imagined possible.
Verburg is a 27 years old from a small town called Lacombe, in Alberta, Canada. He is in his second year of pursuing a MPA degree in Development Practice at SIPA. His drive to work in development was shaped by his own experience on the family farm. He took that experience to Honduras before coming to Columbia University. There he worked as a volunteer in community development and sustainable agriculture for a small NGO called Mundo Renovado. His life story would remain in development, he told me during our interview. "I don't feel like I hit a climax yet."
Working two years in a welding shop…and hating it
Verburg's parents hail from the Netherlands and "stuck around in the same community" in Canada, running a farm. He is the first generation to go to college, and although he is able to count on his family's support, they weren't able to give him any career guidance because his interests"were unfamiliar territory for them." Without parental guidance, he felt as though his life had little direction after he graduated from high school. Verburg ended up working for two years in a welding shop. "I hated the job", he told me. "I had no idea where I was going with my life."
With the money he saved from his job, he was able to make a change. He went on to study Latin American Studies at the University of Calgary which got him closer to finding his purpose in life. After college, equipped with knowledge of Latin America, he started fundraising in the local community for his journey to Honduras. With help from a grant from the Canadian government, he helped implementing food security and sustainable agriculture programs in Honduras until he began his search for the right grad school.
Knowing that SIPA was the right fit
With his prior experience in agriculture and interest in development, SIPA became his top choice.
"I wanted to work in international development and I wanted to approach the issue from a public side. SIPA was the only program I considered from outside my country. The program was more practice focused which I thought would be really valuable afterwards." Support from his parents and loans from the Canadian government made this option viable.
Once Verburg began attending the School of International and Public Affairs, he quickly noticed that his background was different from those of most students. "A lot of their parents have managed businesses, have been lawyers, physicians, working professionals. I've been working on the farm in a small town and doing a lot more manual stuff. I also feel like there's a huge rural urban divide, especially in a city like New York. People here sometimes look at those from the country side as ignorant. I take that a little bit personally because I'm from a community like that."
Seeing the silver lining of struggle
Helping his parents by working on the family farm at a young age and taking charge of his life after high school was certainly not the type of life many of his SIPA peers experienced. However, Verburg acknowledges there is benefit in the difficulties he's experienced. "I think if you are accustomed to struggle, then if something goes wrong in your plans, you know you have faced stuff that was a lot worse, and you can deal with it somehow; it is possible to overcome." Struggle, he says, "gives you the ability to see the problem from inside" and "makes you more capable to address it." It certainly changed "the way I look at problems and define solutions." What he likes about SIPA is that the school has given him the tools "to really see whether our ideas will have some impact."
We're all in this together
The Ivy League environment has been less intimidating than Verburg expected. "Academically when I first came into SIPA, I thought people were much more well-prepared and have more experience. But the more you take classes together you realize you're all learning together, starting at the same level. I came into this sphere without any connections, when some of my peers already had jobs at the world bank, or UN organization, or government ministry."
Regardless of our different backgrounds, experiences, or previous connections, what makes SIPA students mix well is that, at the end of the day, we are all people who share common values. "I say that people are more similar than different when you generalize across countries. They have similar aspirations, psychosocial and physiological needs."


text:
Friday, January 27th, 2012 and is filed under News
The Commerce Department announced today that the economy grew by an annualized rate of 2.8% in the 4th quarter of 2011. That makes it the best quarter for growth in this tepid recovery. The best growth quarter during Reagan's recovery was 9.3%. Also, business investment grew by a snails pace, 1.7% – down from 15.7% in the third quarter. Obamacare and the regulatory burden are still holding down business investments.
Paid for by Madison Project. Not authorized by any candidate or committee.
© 2019 Madison Project. All rights reserved.
Site by A3K Advertising, Inc.


text:
Please click anywhere to continue browsing our site.
Affordable Tire & Brake Co. has been located at 711 Southeast Hawthorne Boulevard in Portland, OR for the last 20 years as an auto repair center and tire dealer. Since the beginning, our business has been focused on building strong customer relationships and providing the highest quality of workmanship on each and every automotive repair.
Affordable Tire & Brake Co. is a locally owned and operated shop that has been in business since 1995. We're dedicated to providing our loyal clients with quality service that's geared toward keeping their cars in good shape. We have 11 service bays to accommodate vehicles of different sizes. We're an authorized Bridgestone and Firestone dealer. If there's a problem with your car, use our diagnostic center to get some answers.
Owner Mike McMillen and manager Scott Arnott will make sure you receive expert advice on the proper selection of tires and repairs for your passenger car, light truck, sport utility vehicle, or commercial vehicle. We can help you get through tough winter driving conditions with studded and studless tires, and Blizzak winter tires, as well as a full selection of snow chains.
Be sure to leave us a review after your visit.
At Affordable Tire & Brake Co., you can expect:
Browse Our Tire Catalog Browse Our Service Catalog
Rely on our experienced service staff to perform accurate and friendly auto repairs and tire services. Contact us online or visit us today for service you can count on. We look forward to helping you with your automotive needs.
Send »


text:
You never know when you'll get hungry
Another day, another 'dronevertisement'. And thanks to the latest from Cup Noodle, hunger may be a thing of the past.
The Cup Noodles team sent out targeted drones disguised as the flavour they're carrying, handing out noodles to people in the midst of extreme sports. Utilising the latest in technology to fuel people who are quite literally on the go, this stunt helped push the brands message of convenience, whilst staying relevant to their millennial target.


text:
Police in Alford and Mablethorpe have praised East Midlands Ambulance Service and the Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance for their "fab response" to a horse riding accident.
Police said today (Saturday) that assistance was required on Wolla Bank Beach but no further details were released.
Wolla Bank is at Chapel St Leonards.


text:
Scientific Names: order Plecoptera
Stoneflies vary in size from very small to gigantic, depending on species. Habitat can vary widely, too.
Nymphs of the larger species live in fast, riffly water with lots of oxygen. Because of their environment, they are often knocked loose into the current and are eaten eagerly by trout. Many small species burrow into the river bottom or are otherwise rarely available until their emergence season.
In general, mature stoneflies migrate to shore, climb out of the water, and emerge in the open air. They are vulnerable when they migrate, and again as adults, but they are not available to trout at the time of emergence. There is a species of yellow stonefly, however, that emerges in the river just like a mayfly.
For details on individual species and hatches, click the images below. Or use the Select box to look up a species by either its common names (each species may have more than one common name) or scientific name.
NYMPH: Two claws at the end of each leg. Two sets of wingpads. Two short tails. Looks "armor plated."
ADULT: Two claws at the end of each leg. Two pairs of wings held flat over abdomen when at rest.


text:
Hong Kong Libraries Connect is now live and on the Web! It's all a bit spartan at the moment, but we have plans for some great content, including:
- Overview of what HKLC is all about
- Reflections on the recent Academic Librarian 4 conference by HKLC contributors
- Planned events and activities
Speaking of events, the very first HKLC Meet & Greet will be held at SCAD Hong Kong on 21 June. Visit the Events page for details. All are welcome!


text: Share: Comments Print July 14, 2014 at 5:12 PM Video: Making math make sense at Lakeridge Elementary Posted by Caitlin Moran Our most recent Education Lab story examines how a focus on ensuring students understand math concepts has helped raise students' math skills at Lakeridge Elementary in the Renton School District. With assistance from UW researcher Elham Kazemi and some of her colleagues, Lakeridge educators have design many math lessons as carefully guided conversations in which students talk through their reasoning and critique each other's ideas. The results? In two years, the school's performance on state math tests jumped from the bottom 5 percent to somewhere near average. Check out the video below, and go here to read the full story. [do action="brightcove-video" videoid="3672457848001″/] Comments | More in Math and science, News, Video | Topics: Lakeridge, math


text:
Bioware acquisition Q&A
Visit our sponsors! (or click here and disable ads)
Bioware acquisition Q&A
Interview - posted by Vault Dweller on Fri 12 October 2007, 15:49:12Tags: BioWare
GameSpot had an opportunity to ask Bioware's spin doctors a few qustions about the acquisition.
Going from the worlds' biggest independent developer to part of the world's biggest publisher? People are kind of taken aback. What's your reaction to that?From Firing Squad: Insider view:
Ray Myzuka: Well, I'm really excited about the opportunity to integrate the great development teams we have here, the marketing teams we have here. As you said, EA is the largest, and I think, the best publisher in the world, and I think we can some value to that team, and that organization as a partnership.
"The company line is no doubt something like "BioWare is thrilled at the opportunity to work with the world's leading game developer. We have been looking forward to blah blah blah". A dose of reality can be found by hanging out the BioWare offices and overhearing some honest opinions."
Right, but you guys were always an icon of independent development, and were even more so after the deal with Pandemic...He's very optimistic. Time for a HISTARY LESON!
Greg Zeschuk: Well, to be blunt, I don't really see ourselves as not being independent anymore. We've got a goal of making great BioWare games, and we believe in [EA CEO] John[ Riccitiello]'s vision--we can't overemphasize that. We've worked with John for years, and we're looking forward to keep doing what we're doing and doing it well.
Westwood Studios, based in Las Vegas, currently has a five to six percent share of the PC game market. The company, and its 150 employees, will remain in Nevada. "We were courted by many companies, but in the end, we knew that EA would provide us with the best infrastructure and support that we need," said Sperry, Westwood's president and CEO.I think you'll be pleasantly surprised, Brett.
Spotted at: RPG Watch


text:
"Andrew is earnest, intense, focused, efficient, and effective in attacking narrative and scenario design problems from premise through outline and implementation. A Living God and Model among his peers, and generous, gentle, and helpful with them. And, at the end of the day, all these qualities are eclipsed by the delicious elegance and emotional persuasiveness of his work in the game."
-Ken Rolston, Legendary Game Designer
Other contributions as writer, designer, or producer:
Catan (Microsoft; Xbox Live)
Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning 2 (Big Huge Games)
Infinity Blade: Dungeons (Epic Games)
Fortnite (Epic Games)
Sky Wars: The Archon Rises (7 Elements)
He's an extremely talented writer and a strong leader, with the skills to either craft new IP from scratch or work wonders with whatever IP he's given."
-Ian Frazier, Lead Designer at Bioware Montreal


text:
One of the local radio stations, OZFM, does this bit called Adventures on the Internet every morning where they share something wacky that they found online. I've always enjoyed their morning show, particularly that part of it, cause it makes me chuckle. I've been wanting to share some of the fun stuff I've found on the web with all of you, and then one day it dawned on me, and I said to myself, "Adventures on the Internet, thats a cool title, and it fits the blog, and omg, you now have something to name your Saturday posts." And there you have it, I stole the title of today's post, and the title of many more Saturday posts to come.
And don't you love run-on sentences, cause I do.
So, without further ado I present…
– This guy who can dance better than me.


text:
Guide to Houston Heights!
Throughout the years, many of you have asked for dining recommendations before or after a performance. We are happy to announce that we have formed partnerships with four restaurants within walking distance to Lambert Hall.
All of them are offering discounts to Oh! patrons. Brunch or dinner before or after a performance is a relaxing and delicious way to escape the traffic. To receive your discount, show them your ticket, hard copy or electronic.
Our restaurant and hotel partners in and around the Greater Heights Area:
Harold's in the Heights - 10% discount on food and beverage (including alcohol)
Down House - 10% discount on food
Alice Blue - 15% discount on food
The Pearl Restaurant (Sam Houston Hotel Downtown) - 15% discount on food
And, why not make it an overnight or weekend getaway? Enjoy the sites of the Heights and downtown Houston. Oh! is partnering with several hotels within a 15 minute drive to Lambert Hall. Mention you are attending an Oh! performance when booking, and show them your ticket when checking in.
Sara's Inn -
10% Room Discount, call 713.868.1130 to make reservation,
Double Tree -
15% Room Discount
Simply click here to access special rates available for Oh! ticket buyers.
The Sam Houston Hotel -
15% Room Discount, click here and then call 832.200.8802 for Oh! booking code.


text:
The original mix of "Refrigerator P" from Sean P & Small Pro has arrived on wax for Black Friday.
Sean Price & M-Phazes' LOTC EP has resurfaced with a bonus track, on classic black vinyl!
In celebration of its five year anniversary, Artifacts' single "Easter" is now on vinyl!
Your immediate cure for many of life's afflictions has arrived on wax!
Record Store Day/Black Friday has arrived, and we're pleased to present the original mix of "Refrigerator P" from the late Sean Price, featuring Rock and DJ Revolution. Hit the jump to stream this Small Pro produced banger, which is available in limited quantities on 10-Inch vinyl!
Our debut instrumental compilation is now available on cassette and through all digital outlets and streaming platforms, just in time for Cassette Store Day. Hit the jump for the album stream, and buy-links!
Chi-town's King Thelo let's the leash of the ATCQ inspired instrumental of "They Don't Know" in promotion for next week's release of Beats, Mines and Life. Limited edition cassettes are now shipping…hit the jump for the pre-order links!
Our debut instrumental compilation is set to drop in time for Cassette Store Day 2017 in limited quantities. Hit the jump to reserve your copy, and stream Max I Million's remix of "Perfect Timing."
With their well received collab LP Molotov now available, Saga and Thelonious Martin head to the rapper's stomping grounds of Brooklyn for the album's debut video.


text:
This is the paranoia of a man who is massively self-delusional and inherently insecure about his own background amongst his peers which is how this thing came to be in the first place.
(Source: Forbes, The Internal Situation at Yahoo! Is Spiraling Out of Control)
(This is an affiliate link to Amazon.)


text:
Hi, Over the past couple of days, I have had an interesting exchange with one of the companies claiming to have an accessibility solution. I am not using their name to "protect the innocent", but I would like thoughts on their responses to my well intentioned feedback. After reading their unsolicited marketing literature, I felt compelled to write because of my own visceral reaction to the language used. The message I sent said, in part: "First, though I feel that political correctness can be taken to its extreme, using the wrong terms can be damaging. The prevailing theory is to use "people first" language, like "a person who is blind" or "users with hearing impairments" because disability should not be THE defining characteristic. Second, the term "handicapped" is very dated and pejorative - analogous to "colored" in referring the African Americans. The story goes -- though I have never confirmed, that the term is derived from the phrase "hand in cap" referring to beggars." My intention was based on my own feelings and what I think is the prevailing viewpoint in the community. The response, as shown below, surprised and frustrated me. Am I taking political correctness too far? Thanks for any thoughts, dc ---------------------------------------- David M. Clark Marathon Ventures http://www.marathonventures.com firstname.lastname@example.com ph: 617/859-3069 1. The political issues surrounding the word "handicapped" are more analogous to the term "Indian" when referring to Native Americans than it is to "colored." That is, some feel it is pejorative while others find it neutral. I researched this issue when first writing our 508 materials and concluded that, although "people with disabilities" would be preferable to me, it is nonetheless a needlessly wordy expression which can be more efficiently handled by the single word "handicapped." Moreover, "handicapped" is the more commonly and widely used terminology and is therefore more likely to be quickly recognized by people quickly scanning our marketing materials. The bottom line is: the majority of our target market for 508 is not handicapped; they are government and military officials who need to meet the Section 508 deadlines quickly and efficiently. As many of our materials are also posted online, scannability must be a major consideration in our copy as well as in boosting the chances that our online materials will be picked up by people typing terms into search engines. Face it, people don't commonly use "people with disabilities" or "person who is blind"; they type in "handicapped" or possibly, but less likely "disabled" (another terms that I'm sure Mr. Clark and I would agree carries negative connotations).Received on Thursday, 8 November 2001 12:56:48 UTC
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.3.1 : Tuesday, 13 October 2015 16:21:15 UTC


text: Lookout Harbor townhomes offer spacious living and beautiful views of both the marsh and waterway on beautiful Harbor Island in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina. Residents here enjoy many aspects of beach living. They can walk across the bridge and down to the oceanfront within five minutes. Many homeowners here in Lookout Harbor also enjoy the pleasures of riding their bike around the famous Wrightsville Beach loop, or down to the ocean. There are also docks and boat slips available at Lookout Harbor, which makes it very convenient for residents to hop on their boat and cruise to restaurants along the intracoastal waterway, or enjoy such water sports as fishing, water skiing, wake boarding, and much more. The Lookout Harbor townhomes are perfect for both full-time residents and second home buyers. After a long day at the beach it's nice to know that you can walk back and take a refreshing dip in the community pool. See the most current townhomes for sale in Lookout Harbor at Wrightsville Beach or try our advance home search to find other properties for sale at Wrightsville Beach, NC.


text:
(0) items
You have no items in your shopping cart.
A Multiplexer for NXT Motors - to connect two additional motors to your NXT.Version 2 kit.
It also has a pass-through Digital Sensor Port to connect more sensors/multiplexers. (On this sensor port, you can daisy-chain more multiplexers to connect additional motors.)
Whenever possible, items which are in stock are dispatched the same day, or the next working day.
Large and/or heavy items are dispatched by UPS courier service and these orders must be placed before 15:00hrs (GMT) to ensure same day dispatch.
Small items are normally sent using a Royal Mail service for UK orders, and International Airmail or UPS for overseas orders
Returns Policy
Active Robots (Retail) LimitedUnit 7 New Rock Industrial Estate,ChilcomptonRadstockSomersetBA3 4JEUnited Kingdom+44 (0)1761 231 320
Registered: England & WalesCompany number: 11619910VAT Reg: GB 307 5299 92
We're Open Mon-Fri 9AM-5PM
Active Robots


text:
Heading in a vertical direction from the centre of Chamonix is a 1km trail that zig zags up the side of the mountain underneath the Brevent chair lift. Known as The Vertical Kilometre, no matter what brings you to Chamonix, you can't really miss the trail.
According to the Sky Running Rules, for a trail to qualify as a Vertical Km the 1000 metres of ascent must be covered in 5kms or less in distance. Chamonix's vertical km is 1000 metres over 3.8km.
Having moved here in June, it was one of those challenges that sat in the back of my mind as something I'd love to do. One day. The weeks ticked on by until...
Two weeks ago, my friend Emma, said she'd signed up for the official race in June 2015 and suggested we run up it rather than one of our other usual run routes.
If you like the idea of doing it by the end of this blog, you can sign up for it here!
And so it was to be. My first attempt on the Vertical Km. Ouch again.
Emma, Sonya and I met at the Church which is the start of the official race, agreed that it was every woman for herself and pressed start on our stopwatches.
It's tough to say whether the first bit is the killer, or is it the middle, or the via ferrata at the end? The first section rears up steeply as you head past the Brevent lift station and find the start of the trail. Immediately it was clear this was not going to be a social run. As in, there was no space to chat.
Head down, grind out the steps.
Oh god it hurt.
It felt as though there was a force pushing me backwards with each step.
"But I want to propel myself forwards," I thought to myself, "why does this feel the opposite of the way I want to feel!"
Emma and Sonya immediately gained on me and I could see their bodies disappearing into the trail ahead. You cannot see the top until you are practically at the top. The view is endless zigzags above and below you.
"If you don't feel great, look down at how far you've come," Emma shouts down at me in encouragement.
The truth is, I just didn't have the juice I wanted to have in my legs. They were tired from having started a new strength training session that week. Even when I let myself walk, I couldn't walk fast.
Instead of beating myself up, I had a realisation.
This was my first time doing this challenge and as such, no matter what time I did it in, it would be my PB. That thought made me smile! Like discovering the last cookie in the jar. Just relax, ignore the pain (and desire to walk) and try to enjoy it, I told myself.
The sun was shinning, it actually felt pretty hot considering it was the end of November. Sweat was dripping off my face, my legs were burning and my heart pumping fast. Little by little, step by step, I made progress.
As you get about 2/3 of the way up, the gradient increases making running impossible for mere mortals. The trail turns into via ferrata and you find yourself scrambling up rocks, climbing metal ladders nailed into the rock and holding onto chains to pull yourself up.
"Welcome to Sky Running" Emma said as I got to the top. Her and Sonya had been waiting for 10 minutes! It took me 1 hour 30 mins in total. I can tell you, that's not a time to write home about! Kilian Jornet, Sky Running World Champion and endurance athlete extraordinaire, does it in 33 minutes. No biggie!
At the top, we shared Sonya's delicious homemade chocolate energy balls, and started making our way down another trail back to Chamonix. After a 2 hour 45 minute round trip we were back home, stretching, making energy smoothies and planning a second attempt the following week.
I'm wearing Onzie Galaxy tights from Active In Style, Trailroc off-road shoes from Inov-8, Take your Time top from Every Second Counts and Eclipse pack from Lowe Alpine.
Round Two
A week later, I roped Charley into coming with us. The Vertical Km was also high up on his list and with the winter season fast approaching we knew it wouldn't be long before it would be covered in snow.
Setting off from the church, I immediately knew I felt stronger. That juice I'd been missing in my legs the week before had bounced back with force. For the first half of the run we were in dense fog. The same fog had been clinging to the valley and hiding the mountains from view for days. All of a sudden we ran through the fog and into the sunshine and blue skies, it was unbelievable.
Sonya and I stopped dead in our tracks. Not that we needed much of an excuse to stop, but this was a good one! Catching our breath for a few moments and looking over the cloud inversion and up into the Mont Blanc Massif was well worth the run so far.
This time, I really loved it. I still found it tough, I still sweated a lot and had to put the pressure on to start running again when I stopped and walked. But, it was amazing to feel the difference from the week before.
Whether it was because I knew what to expect and was ready for it, or because my training has been paying off, I felt much more comfortable on the Vertical Km and ended up shaving 20 minutes off my time from the week before
After 1 hour and 10 minutes I arrived at the top in glorious sunshine.
Charley, Emma, Sonya and I had the entire mountain to ourselves and decided to take the long way back to Chamonix to stretch the legs out a bit more. We ran across to Flegere and from there down to Chamonix and back to the church.
After 3.5 hours we had covered 1200 metres of ascent over 14kms. We were starving!
Bring on Round 3!
If you would like to come to Chamonix and give this challenge a go, it will be free from snow again around May 2015 time. If you want to sign up for the official race, it's part of the Mont Blanc Marathon weekend in June, more info here.
Happy Running!
I'm wearing compression socks, shorts and t-shirt from CEP Sports and long sleeved running top from Brooks.


text:
I found this teacup necklace at the Granny Would be Proud vintage fair in Hillhead Bookclub on Sunday. (We were in having brunch for my Dad's birthday.)
After brunch, it was so sunny so we went for a wee wander around the West End of Glasgow - my favourite part of the city.
We went for (earl grey) tea and (cinnamon crumble, strawberry pavlova, and coconut) cakes at a very cute, retro place on Ashton Lane (Aunty M's Cake Lounge). They were delicious. 'The best cake I've ever had in my life' according to my Mum.
This bizarre (or creepy) plate was hanging up in the wall in there. Quite strange.
The Oxfam Bookshop in the West End is magnificent. (Compact? Really?)


text:
Fill out the form below with the required information.
Iberian Route
Reference : PE-MB-SMT-06
Dear Visitor,
Contact Information
Cancel or
|* denotes required fields
We want everyone travelling with us to have the best possible experience, a truly unforgettable journey. So we put together an especially selected network of hotels that combine charm and History with modern design and, above all, eco-friendliness. You will appreciate the variety of lodgings available, from ancient convents and converted castles to farmhouses, rural mansions full of character and quaint boutique hotels, such as our very own
From one motorcyclist to another:
More than tour guides, deep in our core we are motorcyclists, so we know what it takes, we know the best roads to ride on, the best places to try out the regional delicacies and the best lodgings available. This is why we built a strong yet flexible infrastructure, easily adaptable to the needs of other fellow travelling motorcyclists.
Extend your trip:
Before you begin, or after you finish the tour, you can choose to extend your stay in Lisbon or any other place in Portugal.
We can assist you with your accommodation arrangements or help you with any other service.
Please let us know how we can help, smack dab in the centre of Lisbon, the perfect embodiment of cosmopolitan allure and sophistication. Our goal is that every night you spend touring with us is an unforgettable experience in itself.
Day 1: Arrival in Lisbon
Arrival in Lisbon's airport, where you will meet the SaharaMotoTours' guides. Transfer from the airport to the hotel.Collection of the motorcycle at the hotel car park. Motorcycle handing over, with all legal formalities. Afterwards, you will have the rest of the day to enjoy the Historic areas of Lisbon, just a few minutes away from the hotel.
At the end of the day there will take place a welcoming briefing, where you will be given the road book for this trip, as well as some SaharaMotoTours souvenirs. In the evening you will have the opportunity to enjoy dinner at a typical Lisbon restaurant, where you should not miss the chance to try the ubiquitous cod and excellent wine.
- Lodging: 5-star hotel.
Day 2: Lisbon – Fátima – Piódão (304 km [188 mi])
We begin the trip and head towards Fátima, a simple route on straightforward roads that allow you to get accustomed to your motorcycle. We then make our way to Tomar, headquarters of the famous Knights Templar, where the Convent of Christ is an obligatory stop. The entryway to the beautiful Schist villages is Lousã, where we will visit the castle and its surroundings, after which we will move deeper into the Portuguese interior mountain ranges. Dark-stoned villages and swirling roads through mountains and valley passes will keep us company until we reach Piódão.
- Lodging: 4-star hotel.
Day 3: Piódão – Serra da Estrela – Salamanca (333 km [207 mi])
Leaving the most Portuguese of villages behind, we will be spending the better part of our day climbing the surrounding mountains up and down, through remote sites and stone villages, sights that truly have been frozen in time. We will also be riding through some of the places where the regional cheese, the world-renowned "queijo da serra", is made, as well as the vineyards where one of the best wines in the World is produced: Port. Arrival in Salamanca and free time to enjoy a walk around some of the hotspots of this ancient city with over 8 centuries of History.
- Lodging: 4-star hotel.
Day 4: Salamanca – Ávila – Segovia – Madrid (275 km [178 mi])
Today we will have the chance to ride through several UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Ávila, a walled city, showcases its splendor with its virtually untouched medieval walls and watch towers. Our next destination, Segovia, is truly a gem of ancient times with plenty highlights to make this a day to remember: from the 2000 year-old roman aqueduct to the Alcázar of Segovia, a stone fortification which inspired the famous Walt Disney's Cinderella Castle. We end this day riding down the mountains until we reach one of the most dynamic and fiery cities in Europe: Madrid.
- Lodging: 4-star hotel.
Day 5: Madrid
Rest day, for rider and motorcycle alike. Enjoy the free day and explore the city of Madrid.
As a suggestion, you might begin your day at the Plaza de España, going all the way along the Gran Vía, or "Spanish Broadway", full of charismatic coffee shops and "bodegas de tapas", and taking a break at one of the many outdoor cafés at the Puertas del Sol square. There is still plenty of time to visit the Plaza Mayor and explore the lively city streets.
Should you have a soft spot for art, we suggest a visit to the world-renowned museum triangle: the Prado, the Reina Sofia galleries and the Thyssen museum, where you will find some of the best works by the masters. And if your strength has not left you and you are feeling brave… then do not miss the chance to explore the city by night and indulge in "La Movida Madrileña", the nighttime tour of clubs, bars and discos the city is well known for.
- Lodging: 4-star hotel.
Day 6: Madrid – Picos de Europa (425 km [264 mi])
We leave Madrid behind and make our way through mountain high and valley low, places full of History and home to truly breathtaking views.
The old kingdom of Castile and León is now definitely behind us, with its castles and palaces, as we enter the Asturias, the Spanish highlands, where the year-long snow-capped peaks and luxuriant valleys are the doorway to the heart of the Old Continent, welcoming us to the Peaks of Europe.
- Lodging: Parador.
Day 7: Picos de Europa – Cangas de Onís (120 km [75 mi])
We are now deep in Nature's turf, as the swirling roads and endless skies make this a day to remember.
Along the day we will be passing through some of the best belvederes in Europe, from where you will have the chance to marvel over some truly breathtaking peaks, with a special mention to the Naranjo de Bulnes (the term "Naranjo", literally, "orange", is the unofficial name given by outsiders to this geological formation because of the reflection of the sun on the limestone), with an altitude of 2,519 m (8264 ft). You will also have the opportunity to enjoy the area's wild life, from the soaring eagle to the elusive Iberian bear.
We end the day at the parador of Cangas de Onís, an old 12th century converted monastery, today transformed into a boutique hotel.
- Lodging: Parador.
Day 8: Cangas de Onís – Santiago de Compostela (400 km [250 mi])
We leave the Picos de Europa behind and head to Compostela, riding down the mountains to the Cantabrian Sea. The smooth roads and luxuriant sceneries, with some fisheries along the way, beautiful coves and fine-sand beaches are a stark contrast to the landscape we have seen so far. At the end of the day we reach Santiago de Compostela, a medieval city full of History, ready to be explored.
- Lodging: Parador.
Day 9: Santiago de Compostela
Today is dedicated to Santiago de Compostela. A city that grew and expanded over a period of one thousand years of pilgrimage, where Human ingenuity has carved urban areas that organically combine with the medieval architecture giving birth to a melting pot of styles, from the solidity of the Romantic period to the Gothic rhythm and theatricality, never forgetting the uncompromising splendor of the Renaissance, the purity of the Neoclassical and the Baroque ornaments. A remarkable example of this singular coexistence can be found at the Praza do Obradoiro, where the baroque façade of the cathedral, the Colégio de San Jerónimo, exists in simple harmony side by side with the neoclassical Palácio de Raxoi, and the old Royal Hospital, today the Hotel of Reis Católicos. This is, without a doubt, one of the most beautiful squares in all of Europe.
- Lodging: Parador.
Day 10: Santiago de Compostela – Gerês – Braga – Oporto (317 km [197 mi])
We return to Portugal through one of the most beautiful natural parks of the Iberian Peninsula, the Natural Park of Peneda Gerês. Waterfalls, cork oaks and crystal clear rivers will keep us company as we ride along romantic, swirling roads where the local wildlife is never too far away, especially deer and wild horses. Over ancient, Roman roads we will reach Braga, the oldest of all Portuguese cities and one of the oldest Christian cities in the World, today the capital of the Minho region, famous for its delicate goldsmithing and the delicious green wine. Late in the afternoon we will reach Oporto, well in time to enjoy the sunset walk at the centuries-old Ribeira, the riverside, where the Rabelo boats, the official Port wine transportation vehicle, rest alongside the banks of the Douro. And to finish this day on a high note, how about a wine tasting at the cellars where the famous Port is produced?
- Lodging: 4-star hotel.
Day 11: Oporto – Coimbra – Óbidos – Lisbon (341 km [212 mi])
Coimbra is our first stop of the day, the city with one of the oldest universities in continuous operation in the world, dating back to 1290. Alcobaça is the next destination, where we will visit its Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This imposing monastery is one of the most impressing and beautiful examples of the Cistercian architecture in Europe. We continue towards Óbidos, where upon arrival you will immediately notice the ancient walled town and the medieval castle. Exploring this quaint town, we will go through the most important spots and monuments, not missing out on the opportunity to taste the traditional Ginjinha, the famous Óbidos cherry liquor. The trip back to Lisbon is short, allowing us to reach the mouth of Tagus just in time to enjoy the sunset.
- Lodging: 5-star hotel.
Day 12: Lisbon – Estoril – Cascais – Lisbon (101 km [63 mi])
This relaxing day will begin with a walk around the riverside, where we will try the world-famous Belém custard tarts and visit the monuments that celebrate the Portuguese Age of Exploration. Riding between the small palaces, mansions and beaches on the Estoril coast, we will reach Cascais and Cape Roca, the westernmost point in continental Europe. In the afternoon we will visit the town of Sintra, snug up against a mountain range full of character, mystery and history. Among the several palaces and castles, a special mention to the Pena National Palace, the grand Castle of the Moors and the historic National Palace, where the Portuguese kings of old decided to send the bravest of all seafarers and explore the unconquered Atlantic.
- Return of motorcycle and all formalities.
The day will end with a private group dinner at a typical Portuguese restaurant in Lisbon.
- Lodging: 5-star hotel.
Day 13: Lisbon - Departure
- Transfer to the airport and boarding (TBA).
Program includes:
Program doesn't include:
CANCELLATIONS: 20% cancellation fee applied if cancelled 60 days prior to departure. Cancellations within 60 days are 100% non-cancelable
(opcional) Self-guided iberian tour option with motorcycle rental and GPS.
More info on details.
Duration: 12 days
Departure/Arrival: Lisbon
Total distance covered: 2,616 km (1,625 mi)
Rest days: Madrid and Santiago de Compostela
Daily distance covered: 100 to 400 km (62 to 250 mi)
Highlights: Several natural parks/protected areas and UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Accommodations: 12 nights in 4 or 5-star hotels and "Paradores" (Spanish word for luxury hotels, usually converted from old castles and monasteries). Breakfast included.
Best time of the year: March to November
Iberian Tour – Self-guided tour option with motorcycle rental and GPS
If you prefer, you have the possibility to arrive in Lisbon and begin the tour on your own. This alternative provides you with more independence during the tour.
SaharaMotoTours will provide you with the motorcycle and the GPS preloaded, with all the information you need for this tour, as well as the road book with detailed maps and day-by-day description.


text:
- happybee814
- 5 years ago
- Wedding: September 2014
The days leading up to the wedding were filled with many tasks and checking the weather over and over. The entire 10 days before my wedding, the forecast was 80% chance of thunderstorms. As upsetting as it was, I did not let it get me down. My photographer promised me that we would get beautiful photos no matter what happened. It ended up pouring during our ceremony which was fine because we were inside of the church. After the wedding, there was not a cloud in the sky. This was truly one of the best days of my life. I wish I could do it over and over again (without all the planning of course).