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While the main venues in cities are often quiet in the summer, the choice of where to go to listen to live classical music and opera is extraordinary. Festivals take place in all manner of locations, from cities like London or Paris to small European villages. They are often more relaxed than the rest of the year's concert schedule, as concertgoers enjoy the sunshine, loiter in the streets, and picnic on the grass.
We have highlighted some wonderful festivals around the world which you might like to visit. Take a look at festivals browsing by country, or browse by festival type instead. Whatever your interest, you will find some festivals here that really appeal.
We are also listing a number of festivals under the following categories: take a look if you're after something in particular:
- Chamber music festivals
- Opera festivals
- Early music festivals
- Contemporary music festivals
- Handel festivals
As a special service, during the month of April only, if you use the contact form on the site, we will try to help you find the best festival for you, if you email us what sort of events you like and which month or months you're thinking of going on holiday. We can't promise to help, but we'll try!
Visitors to Scandinavia are spoilt for choice for classical music over the summer months. Bergen International Festival in Norway is a cross-arts festival encompassing theatre, visual art and literature as well as musical events, with venues including several connected with composer Edward Grieg and 19th-century violin virtuoso Ole Bull. Running over two weeks from 23 May, the Bergen International Festival welcomes a huge number of artists from Scandinavia as well as further afield, and musical performances are wide-ranging, with a particular focus on contemporary music and video art. Performers include Leif Ove Andsnes with the Mahler Chamber Orchestra and Les Arts Florissants.
In Norway in late August is the Fartein Valen Festival, commemorating an extraordinary composer. Valen (1887-1952) spoke nine languages and cultivated roses, while still finding the time to write over 25,000 piano études. The festival features numerous works by him, as well as a range of other classical music.
For early music fans, the Stockholm Early Music Festival runs in early June, and claims that 'It's never too late for early music!' Set in Stockholm's beautiful Old Town, the diverse range of events includes concerts for children and some traditional Tibetan songs.
The Baltic Sea Festival is in the last week of August. Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, the festival is welcoming a stellar range of performers, including Valery Gergiev, Esa-Pekka Salonen, and Nina Stemme. The closing concert is Beethoven's Choral Symphony under the baton of Herbert Blomstedt.
One of the boldest of the summer's many opera festivals, Savonlinna Opera Festival in Finland runs throughout July and features the world premières of Kimmo Hakola's La Fenice and Markus Fagerudd's Free Will, as well as classic works including Aida and Peter Grimes with events taking place in a medieval castle. Vantaa Music Festival takes place in August and focuses on music written for period instruments. The programme is a fascinating dialogue between the old and the new, and a number of premières sit among the Baroque works.
LuostoClassic is a stunningly located festival in Finnish Lapland, and this year they are hosting the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra for their headline concert, which will feature percussionist Colin Currie and two works by Finnish composer Kalevi Aho. With adventurous repertoire in a wonderful area, this is a festival well worth seeking out. Another enticing Finnish festival is the Korsholm Music Festival in early August, which focuses on chamber music and is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. Set in the beautiful coastal area around the Vaasa and Korsholm archipelago, repertoire again ranges widely, from the Baroque to jazz and contemporary, with its famous "daylight" during the nights bringing a special magic to the festival atmosphere.
The famous Salzburg Festival takes over the whole town during July and August, with over two hundred events in classical music and theatre and as always includes performances many of the world's top players and ensembles, including Daniel Barenboim and the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, the Vienna Philharmonic, and the Monteverdi Choir for their 2012 edition. This year the festival has a new Artistic Director, Alexander Pereira. His bold programme includes a celebration of sacred music, the Ouverture Spirituelle, which is due to run yearly. Among the more intriguing items of the vast and wide-ranging programme are The Magic Flute and its little-known sequel The Labyrinth, by composer Peter von Winter and Mozart's librettist Emanuel Schikaneder.
Running in three festivals between April to October is the Schubertiade, in the west Austrian town of Schwarzenberg. Focusing predominantly on 19th-century music, the festival attracts many of the world's foremost chamber musicians and Lieder singers.
One need not go without Handel in Germany from May to June, as both the Göttingen International Handel Festival and the Handel Festival Halle host a wide variety of Handel concerts and operas. Among Göttingen's more intriguing items this year is the 'magical opera' Amadigi di Gaula, and there are also favourites such as a Messiah performance and a number of chamber recitals. Halle likewise combines opera and concert recitals, as well as the sacred oratorio La resurrezione and various less purely Baroque events including an evening with the JBB Jazz Quintett and an evening with fireworks of 'Symphonic rock and pure Handel'.
Mozartfest Würzburg runs throughout June and emphasizes music by Mozart and other 18th- and 19th-century composers. Performers include Europa Galante and Bracc!, an eight-piece viola ensemble from the Munich Philharmonic who are playing at the local golf club. The Ruhr Piano Festival runs from May to July and features an array of the world's most accomplished and exciting pianists – from Stephen Kovacevich, András Schiff, Radu Lupu and Tamara Stevanovich, to Chick Corea, the Labèque sisters and Alice Sara Ott.
We also have 161 events listed at the huge Rheingau Music Festival. Péter Eötvös, Christian Gerhaher, Paul Lewis, Håkan Hardenberger, and the London Symphony Orchestra are all making appearances. Works range from the Baroque to the contemporary and also encompass jazz, musicals and traditional folk music.
The Dubrovnik Summer Festival in Croatia runs from mid July and features a knockout lineup, including Nigel Kennedy with his jazz quartet, Pinchas Zuckerman, Pierre-Laurent Aimard, Daniel Barenboim and the Choir of King's College, Cambridge. A must-visit for anyone in this part of the world over the Summer.
June's Riga Opera Festival with Latvian National Opera features a number of classic operas inlcuding The Barber of Seville and Götterdämmerung. Also included are Tchaikovsky's rarely-staged Mazeppa, and a performance of Krzyzstof Penderecki's Polish Requiem.
Another Handel festival is taking place in June and July this year as well: The Triumph of Handel is set at the beautiful Château de Versailles with concert performances in several of the rooms and opera at Louis XV's magnificent Royal Opera. Not only can you see performances from the Academy of Ancient Music, the Sixteen, the King's Consort, and Cecilia Bartoli, but you can also attend a masked ball.
The Festival de Violoncelle de Beauvais is a unique event, run by French cellist Emmanuelle Bertrand. This year there is a special focus on Debussy, to celebrate his 150th anniversary, and appearances from the Debussy Quartet and the Nash Ensemble. The Festival Chopin à Paris runs from mid-June, and works by Chopin feature in each recital alongside a wide range of other Romantic composers including Arensky, Bortkiewicz and Scriabin. Pianists include Nikolai Demidenko and Leeds International Piano Competition winner Sofya Gulyak.
The town of Prades is the home of the Festival Pablo Casals, from late July to August. The town was once the residence of Casals himself, and the festival contains a diverse mixture of music. Highlights include a concert with both the Pražák Quartet and the Artis-Quartet Wien, and a programme of works by various Bachs from accordionist Richard Galliano with L'Orchestre de Chambre de Toulouse.
This year's Galway Early Music Festival in May is fascinatingly entitled 'Social Harmony: When Tradition and High Art Meet' and explores music across a range of styles, from bagpipe music through history, to music for harp, guitar and percussion.
A couple of North American festival highlights are the Bethlehem Bach Festival in Pennsylvania and the Montreal Chamber Music Festival. The early May Bethlehem Bach Festival includes a number of Bach cantatas, two performances of the B minor Mass, and a selection of harpsichord partitas performed by Charlotte Mattax. The Montreal Chamber Music Festival, which runs from May to June, welcomes a number of top chamber performers in an inventive and varied programme which includes a complete cycle of Bach cello suites with Paul Carr, and all the Shostakovich quartets with the Pacifica Quartet.
The City of London Festival runs from June to July and features a huge variety of arts events in the heart of the City. Now in its 50th year, the festival has events as diverse as London itself. Particular musical picks include the Brodsky Quartet in a mysterious, chance-based recital, and the Hilliard Ensemble with saxophonist Jan Garbarek.
A further Handel celebration is the London Handel Festival, which runs from March to April and contains performances of works including Il Pastor Fido and, interestingly, Johann Adolf Hasse's opera Cajo Fabrico. There's more Baroque music in London in May, with the Lufthansa Festival, where Jordi Savall, Jed Wentz and the Dunedin Consort are all performing.
At the other end of the repertoire spectrum is Sounds New in Canterbury, which this year is celebrating contemporary British composers. Works include John Tavener's The Veil of the Temple and Peter Maxwell Davies' A Mirror of Whitening Light, and performers range from the London Sinfonietta to the BBC Big Band.
One of the joys of an English summer are the opera festivals, which are more numerous than ever this year. You can picnic on perfectly rolled lawns, drink champagne without corkage, and listen to sublime opera either under canvas or in an auditorium. With uncertain English weather and the knowledge that you will be walking over stretches of lawn, stilletos can be an unfortunate choice of footwear, while floaty summer dresses, lovely and cool at 5pm, are distinctly chilly by 10. You can tell the old-timers by their organised picnics and their dress, chosen to cope with all types of weather, many of which will occur within one evening. The UK's opera festivals are not restricted to Glyndebourne by any means: Grange Park Opera are putting on works including Madama Butterfly and The Queen of Spades, and are performing with Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra as well as English Chamber Orchestra. Set in a Hampshire mansion with beautiful grounds around, this is an exquisite setting for opera and a great day out. Opera Holland Park is just as exciting, bringing opera outdoors (albeit under canvas) to west London. Alongside pieces such as Falstaff and Così fan tutte is Tobias Picker's Fantastic Mr Fox, an excellent family option.
There are plenty of classical music festivals around the country as well. The Cheltenham Music Festival has a brilliant programme including many premières from top composers including Judith Bingham and Alexander Goehr. There is also a large amount of more traditional music, and an accordion recital at Cheltenham Ladies College. The Three Choirs Festival, which rotates between three Midlands cities, is in Hereford this year. Performers include the Philharmonia Orchestra with Diego Matheuz and Julian Lloyd Webber, and I Fagiolini. There is also an extremely rare performance of George Dyson's The Canterbury Pilgrims, again with the Philharmonia.
The Lincoln and Lincolnshire International Chamber Music Festival features a number of chamber performances from the Escher String Quartet and others, in a beautiful mixture of music old and new. Further west, the Welsh Proms are staging a performance in Cardiff with Nicola Benedetti, Chloë Hanslip and Lesley Garrett, as well as one with the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain.
And the biggest and arguably best known festival of the lot, the BBC Proms, will be unveiled to the world and on our site at 2pm on 19th April. So take a look at our site then!


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Lexmark 51B1X00 Black Compatible U.S. Made Laser Toner
Our U.S. Made Lexmark 51B1X00 Black Laser Toner is a low-priced compatible model of the pricier original Lexmark Laser Toner.
Inkpal's remanufactured Lexmark 51B1X00 Black Laser Toner comes with a standard page yield of 20000, which means that it is equipped with enough toner to print a total of 20000 pages before you need to order a new Inkpal Laser Toner.
Each Lexmark 51B1X00 Black Laser Toner fully conforms to the regulatory quality specifications of ISO-9001, comforting you to know that the product will perform as well or often more efficiently than the typical OEM Laser Toner. This eco-friendly Lexmark 51B1X00 Black Laser Toner will work with each of the Lexmark printers listed in our compatibility directory below.
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Lexmark MS Series
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subset: commoncrawl


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UGG® Classic Mini II For Women Chestnut
Regular price $162.00
Only 1 in stock
Our Classic boot was originally worn by surfers to keep warm after early-morning sessions, and has since become iconic for its soft sheepskin and enduring design. The Classic II features a lightweight sole to increase cushioning, durability, and traction. These versatile boots pair well with practically anything – try loose boyfriend jeans and a velvet top.
- Twinface sheepskin and suede
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- 5.5" shaft height


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Sky: "C4 screwed itself up"
March 6, 2009
BskyB has bluntly blamed C4 for bieng the architect of its own demise. In an unforgiving response to comms minister Lord Carter's interim Digital Report, it claims Channel 4 has wasted millions of pounds on failed business ventures and could be profitable if it was better run.
BskyB says C4 wasted £270m (E309m) on "unprofitable non-core commercial activities", including an ill-fated investment in digital radio, and argues that the government should step in to prevent it from making further "poor" investments.
Channel 4 claims it is facing a shortfall of up to £150m because of falling advertising revenue and wants the government to intervene to shore up its finances. The government appears to have accepted that C4, which is state owned but funded by advertising, will have to be combined with another business to safeguard its future. That is most likely to be achieved by engineering a merger with BBC Worldwide, the corporation's commercial arm, or with a commercial rival such as Five or even ITV.
Sky argues that C4 is in a stronger financial position than many of its commercial rivals, with cash reserves of £425m, and claims it could retain its independence by withdrawing from unprofitable businesses and developing new sources of revenues. Sky also says it is prepared to work with Channel 4 to create a portfolio of paid-for channels that would be carried on the Sky platform, and heavily promoted by the satellite broadcaster.
The intervention clearly implies Sky is not happy about government plans to create a second public service broadcaster, with Channel 4 at its heart, to compete with the BBC.


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- Small business accounting and bookkeeping
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- Payroll services
- Part-time/remote CFO services
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Running a business is a complex job. All of those numbers tell a story…if you know where to look and how to interpret them. Let us help you bring meaning to all of that data, allowing you to confidently make those key business decisions that drive the success of your small business.
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Income tax planning and preparation
Tax planning is an essential element of running your business, but it can be a burden and headache that takes you away from other important tasks that have to get done. Let our tax experts work with you to incorporate tax planning into your overall business strategy. We stay on top of the latest developments in all aspects of income taxes to ensure you are taking advantage of the ever-changing tax laws and regulations.
We provide tax planning and preparation services for all types of entities, including the following:
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Financial and strategic planning services
All businesses, regardless of size, should have a well-thought-out, written plan that sets forth the strategies by which the business will achieve success. Success that is sustainable. And a plan that is clear, concise, and can be shared with all employees so everyone is "on the same page." Brent Seay, our founder, has considerable experience in financial planning during his time at Walmart. His experience includes the following:
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- During his time as head of real estate for Walmart China, developed a new approach in regards of how to grow the business in China, focusing on geographic areas where existing stores were more successful, which led to the opening of better performing stores.


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Winner Takes All
Jimmy Tarbuck (1975-87)
Geoffrey Wheeler (1988)
Bobby Davro (1997)
Voiceover: Geoffrey Wheeler
Gaynor Barnes (1997)
Yorkshire Television (regional), 20 April to 13 July 1975 (13 episodes in 1 series)
Yorkshire Television for ITV, 14 May 1976 to 28 June 1988 (235 episodes in 13 series + 3 specials)
Challenge TV, 1997
Contestants start with fifty points and answer a series of five questions, wagering between five and fifty of their accumulated total on their ability to select the correct answer from the five displayed.
Each answer was associated with a set of odds, between 2-1 and 5-1 and the outsider at 10-1. Correct answers paid off at the illustrated odds.
This takes place twice before the break, and once afterwards, but for pounds instead of points. There was a returning-champion complication somewhere along the line, too.
"Ho-ho!" Tarbuck hosted in the early days, accompanied by the disembodied voice of Geoffrey Wheeler to read out the questions, answers and commentate upon the outcomes. Later shows dispensed with Tarbuck and Wheeler performed both jobs.
A modern version starring Bobby Davro was made for cable station Challenge TV and two things strike you about the show. Firstly, Davro's actually a very quick witted host, and secondly how inconsequential the betting procedure is. If you'd just count how many questions each contestant got right, most of the time you'd reach exactly the same outcome. The Davro revival also saw the return of the disembodied voiceover reading the questions, in the form of YTV newsreader Gaynor Barnes.
For this reason, we can't praise this show to the heights, but nevertheless it's a quiz that was popular in its day.
Key moments
In 1981, redundant sausage cook John Smith won £6620, the highest prize awarded on a British game show at the time. This was bettered in 1986, when Michael Dixon's winnings totalled £7455. It remained the record cash prize for over a decade.
In the Wheeler version, one outtake concerned a hostess introducing one contestant as "Tony Gold from Haughton-le-Spring" when his nametag actually said Chris.
Classic early-'80s quiz show dialogue. Jim: "Press your buttons and gamble away!" Geoffrey: "Wide difference of opinion here, Jim!"
The show was actually invented by Geoffrey Wheeler, who originally was the voiceover and later the host.
Theme music
The original theme was an instrumental piece of library music called Joy Ride by Jim Lawless.
The grand prize was £1,000 in the form of one thousand one-pound notes (remember them?) in a display case - much like Who Wants to be a Millionaire?'s £1,000,000-worth of thick wads of fifties (albeit fake), but not nearly as impressive. We were all hard up in those days, y'see.


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Nikon D500 DSLR Camera + 18-55mm VR NIKKOR Lens + 30 Piece Accessory Bundle. HTML Layout using Tables, DIV, SPAN. Meet the new DX flagship, the Nikon D500 Wi-Fi 4K Digital SLR Camera. Contained within a streamlined magnesium alloy camera body is a veritable powerhouse of processing power and technological advances. The D500 has a sensitivity range of ISO 100-51,200. Marvel at the clarity of its cinematic 4K UHD video. And, once you've captured your gorgeous 20.9 Megapixel photos, admire them on the high resolution 3.2 tilt touchscreen display and share them via the built-in SnapBridge (Wi-Fi + Bluetooth) capabilities. Nikon D500 DSLR Camera (Body). DK-17F Fluorine Coated Finder Eyepiece. UC-E22 USB 3.0 Cable. AN-DC17 Replacement Camera Strap. Nikon 18-55mm VR Lens. 55mm Wide Angle Lens. 55mm 2X Telephoto Lens. Close Up filter set. 3 Piece Filter Kit. 60 inch Full Size Tripod. 3 Piece Cleaning Kit. 6 Piece Card Case. 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D7000-series cameras from the D7100 and later. Note: Compatible cameras may require a firmware update. The wide angle lens widens the angle of view by multiplying the focal length of the camera lens. This doubles the angle of view making it an excellent lens for group shots or architecture. Improve the image composition of scenic views, and interior shots, especially when movement is restricted. The lens is supplied with a macro attachment that will allow for unsurpassed close up photography. This camera lens fits onto any existing lens system with a 55mm filter thread. Great for shooting sweeping panoramas, this wide-angle converter lens has the ability to dramatically improve focal distance capacity by fitting subjects into a frame. It also doubles as a macro lens, which makes this camera lens for ideal for taking extreme close-up shots too. Shooting with precision and clarity, this 55mm lens can be used for mid-range to close distances, such as landscape and macro photography. 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As high-tech gadgets become increasingly advanced with ever-improving video and audio quality, we find ourselves needing extra speed and memory capacity to store our high-resolution digital masterpieces. With this 16GB of storage, you can store your entire music or picture collection on today's high-megapixel digital cameras, HDTV digital video cameras, PDAs and other memory-hungry devices. Capture without limitation by pairing your digital camera and camcorder with Transcend's SDHC Class 10 Cards. Designed with the photography enthusiasts and videographers in mind, Transcend's SDHC Class 10 Cards can deliver high-speed performance at an affordable price. High-speed Performance Fully Class 10 compliant, Transcend's Ultimate SDHC Class 10 Cards use the latest flash technology to help maximize camera's response time, delivering an ultra-fast read/write transfer rates. This high speed performance is suitable for high-capacity photographs and high-resolution videos. 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By using an existing shoe-mount flash with your compact digital or film camera, you can extend its flash capability, and take pictures at greater distances, with lower ISO settings, and often at wider angles, than is possible with the small built-in flash. The Adapter's bracket attaches easily to any camera having a standard tripod socket. Specifications: Connection: to camera's hot shoe or camera's tripod socket through supplied bracket. This 55mm Macro Filter Kit includes four close-up diopters at +1, +2, +4 and +10 magnification, and a durable carrying case. These filters simply screw onto the front of any 55mm lens, and will maintain resolution and picture clarity while magnifying image size. These lenses used to achieve macro-like photography when paired with almost any lens. The high-quality magnifying lenses are diopters for close-up camerawork; they work by shortening the close focusing distance of the camera lens. 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Features Thumb Activated Release Mechanism , Allows Picture Taking While Away From Camera , Compatible with "bulb" mode. Pro Series 60 tripod is perfect for both video and still cameras. It features foam padded upper legs and has a quick release plate for easy removal of your camera. It has non-slip swivel feet and one bubble level indicator. It comes with a convenient carrying case. It has 3-section aluminum alloy legs and a 3-way pan head and a heavy duty center pole bracket. It expands to 60″ in height and collapses down to 22.5″. It has an easy crank handle for the adjustable center pole. This Charger for Nikon EN-EL15 Battery serves as a spare or replacement for your original charger. It runs on 110-240VAC power for worldwide use and outputs. The unit connects to an outlet via the flip-out North American plug or the supplied European adapter plug. Additionally, a DC power adapter cable is supplied, enabling on-the-go charging. The device is capable of fully charging the battery in approximately 1.0 hr, and features an LED status indicator. Fits these Compatible Camera Models. High Quality 2-in1 Lens Cleaning Pen. Works with all types of cameras, (digital and film), as well as binoculars, telescopes, SLR lenses and other optical products. Environmentally friendly and non-toxic. The small pen style design easily fits in your pocket or camera bag. It features a retractable brush on one end and a spray cleaner on the other end. It also has a convenient clip to keep it in your pocket. This Dust Blower is Perfect for keeping your camera clean. Excellent way to remove dust off sensitive camera parts without physical contact. Safe for lenses, including multi-Coated Surfaces. Secures tightly to your camera Prevents accidentally dropping your camera or camcorder Handgrip screws into the bottom of your camera Suitable for any hand size. Flexible Table Top Tripod. For All Small Digital camera and camcorders. The perfect way to keep track of your lens caps. A small button tapes onto the front of your lens cap and the elastic loop goes around the barrell of your lens so that your lens cap always remains attached, hanging from the lens. Never lose a lens cap again! This 3 piece cleaning kit is perfect to carry in your camera bag. It includes 5 cotton swabs, a bottle of cleaning fluid and a soft-tex fiber cloth. A sleek, convenient case that holds 6 SD/SDHC cards. It fits in carrying in a pocket or purse for ease. Made of plastic for durability. 3 pieces of screen protector are included with a squeegee card to smooth them out and remove air bubbles. They can be cut down to size to fit any screen from 1″ to 4″. Supplied in 3 sizes for a custom fit. Prevents scratching, wear and damage. The high speed SD/SDHC/MMC memory card reader comes complete with a USB cord for added convenience. It works perfectly with your desktop or laptop computer. It is compatible with PCs & MACs. Ultra slim design and works with USB 2.0. There will be no price protection, if the price of an item changes after purchasing. Do not deface original factory cartons or packaging in any manner. We will not accept a return if the goods are not in its original condition. Do not discard box, until equipment has not been tested. Send us a message. The item "Nikon D500 DSLR Camera + 18-55mm VR NIKKOR Lens + 30 Piece Accessory Bundle" is in sale since Thursday, July 26, 2018. This item is in the category "Cameras & Photo\Digital Cameras". The seller is "redtagcamera" and is located in Brooklyn, New York. This item can be shipped worldwide.
- Brand: Nikon
- Type: Digital SLR
- Megapixels: 20.9
- Bundled Items: Case or Bag
- Series: Nikon D
- Model: D500


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The wind shook the ski lift like a baby's rattle; the sky above the Alps glowed an eerie orange, signalling a coming snowstorm. Even my fleece-lined gloves could not stop the -20 C temperature from starting to frost my fingertips.
In other words, it was time for lunch.
Inside the mountaintop lodge, the air warmed with the convivial sounds of survival. People tumbled in, laughing as they peeled off jackets and hats. Goulash, spaghetti Bolognese and polenta steamed on trays. The multicultural mix of food made me think of a statistic I'd read: More than half of the residents here in the Valle d'Aosta – the slice of the Italian Alps tucked between Piedmont, Switzerland and France – speak both Italian, French, the local patois.
A man in a chef's hat emerged from the kitchen to hand out oven-fresh pizza and pour glasses of wine. I raised my eyebrows. I've learned that in most ski lodges, not even soggy French fries come for free.
"Non male per pranzo, eh?" I said to one of the other skiers. Not bad for a midday meal.
"Ah, but it's not lunch. It's aperitivo – happy hour!" he said, laughing, and passed me a plate.
I was growing to love Breuil-Cervinia.
The Italian resort, my home for two months, boasts 160 kilometres of downhill ski runs, 19 lifts and, most iconically, the Matterhorn, the 4,478-metre-tall, pyramid-shaped glacier that has come to symbolize the Alps. The Matterhorn, like so much else here, has a mixed heritage: While Italians call it Monte Cervino, its more common name comes from its Swiss side. Similarly, Zermatt – the Swiss ski resort linked by trails to Cervinia – is far better known than its Italian counterpart.
That under-the-radar sense is, of course, the charm of Cervinia – and of the whole Valle d'Aosta, Italy's smallest, least populous and most underrated region.
In summer, the Valle d'Aosta is a hiker's paradise; in winter, with its 20 different ski resorts, a snow lover's. Just half the size of Prince Edward Island, the area hosts some of Europe's highest peaks. Monte Bianco (better known by its French name, Mont Blanc), at 4,810 metres, clocks in as the tallest in the Alps. But even at the height of the season, you might find yourself alone on a trail.
But the area is about more than spectacular scenery. Its history stretches back more than two millennia. Rome's first emperor, Augustus, built up the region's main town, Aosta, and today it features some of northern Italy's best-preserved Roman ruins.
Six-metre-tall walls, broken by first-century gates and towers, surround the town. Inside lie the remains of the forum, including a Roman theatre with a 22-metre facade.
After the Romans, the Valle d'Aosta changed hands many times: The Goths, Lombards, Burgundians and Franks all had a turn in power. The turbulent history left behind no fewer than 86 different castles and towers, most of them medieval.
More than once during my stay, I marvelled that the region has not turned its abundant attractions into tourist traps. Instead, postcard-perfect experiences are simply a part of life. Take being dragged, on skis, to the top of a trail by a farmer on a snowmobile after enjoying a meal at his agriturismo. Or watching a priest bless barking dogs and whinnying horses in Aosta's piazzas on the Feast Day of St. Anthony. Or wandering through the stalls of more than 1,000 artisans at the Fiera di Sant'Orso – this year in its 1,014th edition.
On the last night of Carnevale in February, I attended a banquet at the 14th-century castle of Verrès. It was the stuff of travellers' dreams. Trumpeters in medieval garb welcomed each guest, many of whom were also elaborately costumed. Dinner, eaten under the wavy-glass windowpanes of the grand hall, included course after course of traditional cuisine. And yet, judging from the friendly greetings that passed around us, my companion and I were the only tourists out of the several hundred people in attendance.
At the ski resort Cervinia, of course, we were far from the only visitors. Still, the town felt laid-back and local. Compared with Zermatt, the lift lines were shorter, accommodation cheaper, food more authentic. Even after a morning of playing in the powder chutes on the Zermatt side, I'd come back to Cervinia for lunch, where a home-cooked tagliatelle al ragu at a lodge cost €8 (almost $12). In Zermatt, I once spent €9 on a large bottle of water.
Most mornings, I took the gondola 600 metres up for breakfast at Pousset, the Alpine lodge on Cervinia's most famous trail, il Ventina. The young Italian women working there always rang out with a cheery "Buongiorno!" before serving up cake and cappuccino.
One day, we happened to board the gondola at the same time. Each one, I noticed, carried huge boxes. At the top, they piled the boxes on a snowmobile; two strapped on skis and backpacks, while the third zoomed off.
All of those treats and bags of coffee, I realized with a start, had to be brought to the lodge by hand. There are no cars at 2,800 metres.
Living in the Alps is not easy. But I knew then that, when it comes to the Valle d'Aosta, leaving would be even harder.
The closest airports are Milan Malpensa and Turin-Caselle. Transfers by coach, taxi or car rental can be arranged. cervinia.it
Where to eat
Regulars know to pace themselves at Agriturismo Le Famille, where the fixed-price, €20 ($28) menu includes unending plates of hearty valdostana specialties, made from the farm's own products. Loc. Les Iles, Brissogne; 0165 762082
Ski down for lunch at La Pera Doussa to enjoy a home-cooked meal in an Alpine chalet – and then hold onto your hat for take the snowmobile lift back up. Valtournenche
At the restaurant at Principe delle Nevi, tuck into high-end, creative cuisine such as Piemontese veal with caramelized pears and Barbera d'Asti wine sauce. Cervinia; principedellenevi.com
Where to stay
In the shadow of Mont Blanc, the stylish Au Coeur des Neiges combines the best of Alpine tradition and modern luxury. From €180 ($252)
The Rascard Frantze in Champoluc is a 1721 stone chalet that could not be more off the beaten path: Guests can arrive only by foot or skis. In return, they get beautiful views, exquisitely designed rooms and absolute tranquillity. From €82 ($115)
Located in the heart of Cervinia, Le Samovar Guest House provides spacious rooms, friendly staff and easy access to the mountain. From €120 ($168); samovarcervinia.com.


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54% of Europeans regularly make mobile payments
A new study shows that 54 percent of European consumers regularly use their mobile device to make payments. The number of consumers making mobile payments has tripled in the past year, as 18 percent used mobile payments to pay for goods and services last year.
That's the main conclusion from Visa's 2016 Digital Payments study, for which more than 36,000 online consumers in 19 European countries were surveyed. According to the payments company, consumer adoption of digital payments has shifted dramatically. For example, one year ago 38 percent of consumers said they never used a mobile device to make payments and had no plans to do so. This year, that number has dropped to just 12 percent.
Many mobile payments in developing and developed markets
The top ten countries in Europe where mobile payments happen most often can be divided into two categories. There are the developing markets, such as Turkey and Romania, which tend to leapfrog traditional payment methods to adopt new technologies faster, and there are the developed markets, particularly in the Nordics, where new technologies evolve at differing paces.
In the United Kingdom, 74 percent of the consumers surveyed are mobile payments users. And 43 percent of them buy high-value items on a mobile device as well as regular transactions such as paying household bills and bus tickets.
'Future of digital payments has arrived'
According to the study, consumers in Europe are increasingly using mobile banking. It's even for the first time that more than half of Europeans in all age groups are using mobile banking. "This data is a confirmation that the future of digital payments has arrived, with consumers across the length and breadth of the UK and Europe embracing a variety of new ways to pay", says Kevin Jenkins, UK & Ireland Managing Director at Visa.
He added: "In Europe, we've recently seen Apple Pay launched in the UK, France and Switzerland, Samsung Pay has launched in Spain and Android Pay in the UK. We've also seen a new era of wearable payments: smartwatches, wristbands and even clothing. It's clear that this trend will continue to accelerate, enabling consumers to choose the connected device that fits with their lifestyle."
Read more about mobile commerce in Europe.


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FormAssembly Partner Promotes Literacy Solution
FormAssembly consulting partner Teri Walker of CommonTeri Services is working with an Atlanta-based group called Literacy Action to create Literacy Cloud, a Salesforce-based solution for literacy providers to handle classroom management, attendance taking, and other common needs of educators involved in adult literacy programs.
"There's a big gap for that; there's not something like that right now standard with Salesforce," Walker said. "There's a ton of literacy providers but there's not a lot of solutions for them."
According to Walker, the K-12 and higher education solutions available don't match the needs of professionals working in adult literacy programs.
"A lot of these literacy providers would benefit and are benefitting from using NPSP, Salesforce's nonprofit success pack, but they don't really have a good way of doing program management," she said.
Walker's goal is to create a managed package that people can use for free. Users will be able to hire Walker's consulting firm if they want support for the solution.
Why Adult Literacy?
Walker had been working in IT for 10 years when she decided to go into the nonprofit field. Her first position was as an executive director for the Aberg Center for Literacy, which is "an adult literacy provider that teaches English for speakers of other languages and also does preparation for high school equivalency testing."
"It just changed my world because I just fell in love with adult literacy and how critical it is. I refer to it as the root solution because when you teach someone to read and teach someone education so that they can go on and pursue job training or college, it doesn't just change that person's life, it changes their entire family and entire community," Walker said.
After some more time spent in the nonprofit sector working with adult literacy-related programs, Walker found a way to combine her technology and nonprofit experience.
"I started CommonTeri Services in 2014 with the idea that we would help small nonprofits, small business, and help people get good infrastructure."
How to Find Out More
Walker will be showcasing her literacy solution at two events this summer: a Literacy Texas conference from July 31 to Aug. 2, and Pro Literacy, scheduled for Sept. 27 through 30 in Minneapolis, Minn.
"We're seeing if we can get folks to use this solution," Walker said. "There's some paid products out there for managing literacy groups, but they just don't have the flexibility and robustness as Salesforce, and they don't allow you to put your donors, volunteers, and students all in one database."
If you're interested in finding out more about Literacy Cloud or CommonTeri services, reach out to Teri Walker on Twitter, Facebook, or her website.
Don't just collect data
— leverage it.


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Download Mp3: He Did It All – Viobless & The School of Church Music (Rccg Bible College)
Viobless and the School of Church Music, a department under The Redeemed Christian Bible College of RCCG, releases a debut song titled "He Did It All."
The song isn't just a sound, but it is also a confirmation of the presence of God in our everyday lives.
The amazing grace of God either seen or unseen speaks for us daily, giving us victory in all we do and in this we have the assurance that the only one who would have made all of these possible is our Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ.
So with this, the "School of Church Music" want the whole world to join in saying "Thank You to God" because "He Did It All."
The School of Church Music is a department under The Redeemed Christian Bible College of The Redeemed Christian Church of God dedicated to the Teaching, Training and Promotion of Music in Christian Worship.
Listen & Download Below


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Todd Snyder, king of collaborations, has announced his newest collection with Timex – this time, a collaborative set of watches with Red Wing Shoes.
Produced with premium leather straps from master tanners in Red Wing, Minnesota, the collection features vintage dials and stainless steel cases on Timex Chronograph 42MM's. Snyder has put together three colourways for the holiday release – Black, Grey and Black and Tan.
Each piece is priced at $158 and is available exclusively via Todd Snyder's website as well as their New York flagship store by the end of the month.
Check out a photo of the full collection below.


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The abortion chain Planned Parenthood finally released its annual report this week, about four months later than it usually does.
The report shows increases in abortion numbers and taxpayer funding in 2015, alongside decreases in contraception, breast exams and overall patient numbers.
Planned Parenthood continued to maintain its status as the largest abortion provider in the United States. The abortion group performed 328,348 abortions on unborn babies, 4,349 more than the previous year, according to the report.
At the same time, it saw 2.4 million patients, about 100,000 fewer than the previous year and about 500,000 fewer than five years ago. Contraception services, which the abortion chain touts as its primary service, also dropped from 2.94 million to 2.8 million during the past two years.
Meanwhile, the abortion chain received more taxpayer funding. The report shows Planned Parenthood receiving $554.6 million, up from $553.7 million the previous year. This increase occurred while pro-abortion President Barack Obama was in power.
This pattern is consistent with its annual reports from the past several years. Abortions and taxpayer funding keep going up, while patient numbers and other services go down.
Townhall's Lauretta Brown pointed out one of the ironies in the annual report:
In the "Message from Our Leadership" section of the report, the organization boasts that "thanks to affordable access to effective contraception — we're at the lowest abortion rate since Roe v. Wade was decided."
An interesting claim given that the number of abortions the organization provides is up and the number of contraceptive services is down from last year's report.
Abortions are down in the United States as a whole. In 2014, abortion numbers dropped below 1 million for the first time in four decades, according to the Guttmacher Institute. This means Planned Parenthood is performing about one third of all abortions in the U.S.
SIGN THE PETITION! Congress Must De-Fund Planned Parenthood Immediately
Yet, Planned Parenthood continues to claim that abortions only make up about 3 percent of its services. Even liberal and mainstream media fact checkers have debunked the claim.
Right to Life of Michigan, which analyzed the latest report, thinks the abortion group may be manipulating its numbers in new ways to maintain its "3 percent" claim.
"Planned Parenthood counts certain parts of a procedure or visit as a service. This enables them to count or not count whatever they want. Looking at their annual reports over the years, frequently new categories of services get added to the report out of thin air. Let's use their most recent annual report as an example," the pro-life group wrote on its blog.
One new category this year is "well women exams," which include a pap test, breast exam and other services, according to the group.
"So, Planned Parenthood is counting the exam itself, the breast exam and the pap test as three services, tripling their numbers," according to RTL of Michigan. " … When Planned Parenthood adds all of the numbers up, they get 9,494,977 [total] services, an increase over the previous year despite a drop of 100,000 clients. Those services are just enough to keep abortion at 3.46 percent of their 'services,' awfully close to that magic 3.5 threshold of having to say '4 percent' instead."
Non-life destroying pregnancy services are extremely low in comparison to abortions. Prenatal care services dropped almost 50 percent in one year, from 17,419 to 9,419, and adoption referrals, while up slightly, remained extremely low at 2,889, according to the report.
Many have speculated that Planned Parenthood did not release its report in January, its usual timeframe, because of the on-going battles to defund it by state and federal lawmakers.
A recent congressional investigation into the abortion business involving its sales of aborted baby parts concluded with lawmakers recommended that Congress defund it. Planned Parenthood also has been caught in numerous scandals involving Medicaid fraud and failures to report suspected sex trafficking and sexual abuse of minors.
Earlier this year, Planned Parenthood leaders refused an offer to receive an increase in taxpayer funding if they stopped doing abortions. CEO Cecile Richards called the offer "obscene and insulting," making it very clear that abortions – not women's health care – are what really are important to Planned Parenthood.
Planned Parenthood claims it is an essential provider of women's health care, but its own annual reports show it continues to center its practices around aborting unborn babies.


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14 comments
- Andy said...
Hey Jason, I really appreciate your posts. They're all super helpful. Thanks for contributing to the community.
- December 04, 2008
- jw said...
Mine isn't too much different. I have some prescription items (epi-pen, albuterol inhaler) for my individual needs, and some over-the-counter stuff like benedryl and claritin, again, to deal with allergies.
For the generic, allergy-free individual, I'd also add Tylenol PM. It can help make an uncomfortable night much, much, much more comfortable, which makes for the next day being much, much, much more comfortable.
My one concession to comfort is a small tube of antibiotic ointment (generic neosporin); gives me some assurance that my small cuts are less likely to be infected than otherwise.
- December 08, 2008
- Matt said...
Almost the same, only, I do have 2 foil packets of antibiotic ointment like jw. I have been known to carry an ACE bandage also.
- December 08, 2008
Hey Jason,
I carry pretty much the same as you, but I also carry a small tube of superglue for deep lacerations. I have used this succesfully on my left thumb which I cut to the bone. I pumped it full of superglue and pushed it together. Its not a pretty fix, but it works and it is safe. The active ingredient is used in vet offices on animals. I also carry a small pouch of quik clot rapid blood coagulant, in case i'm loosing blood fast. Do you carry a survival kit? Do you mind doing a video blog on that if you do? Thanks, Mark
- December 10, 2008
- Jason Klass said...
Hey Mark,
I don't carry a survival kit per se--it's kind of scattered around my pack. But, that's a good idea. Maybe I'll do an expose on what I carry for emergency gear. Thanks!
- December 10, 2008
- Unknown said...
I carry one about that size for day hikes, but a pretty big one for longer trips.
I did notice you don't have an antibiotic wipes or alcohol pads. Is this because you use and alcohol stove and would use the fuel if needed for cleaning?
For a mini survival kit might I suggest http://www.equipped.com/psp/index.htm it's a really nice kit for the money.
- December 11, 2008
- Jason Klass said...
Hi patrick,
Actually, I carry some antiseptic towelettes that I use to keep my hands clean but I keep that in another part of my pack.
- December 11, 2008
The most important first aid kit ingredient is a trained mind and body. You get that with good hands-on training, refreshed frequently. Highly recommend the 3 day WFA or 10 day WFR courses from WMI http://www.nols.edu/wmi/ You will learn to think and improvise.
Think about common scenarios that might kill you directly, or by keep you in the back country too long, that can be fixed with stuff you can't improvise - as in "d*mn, I wish I had X".
Jason's kit is a good start.
I would add Benadryl. A severe allergic reaction to stings, bites, plants, or foods, can kill quickly and unexpectedly.
I would also add Imodium tablets. Diarrhea can disable you quickly, kill you in a few days, and is common in the back country.
And I would add a few mini-packets of antibiotic ointment. A staph-infected tick bite almost put me in the hospital, and the hike out was slow and very painful.
Antiseptic towelettes etc are overrated for first aid kits. Flush wounds with copious amounts of drinkable water. Use soap if you carry that for dish and body washing. Clean your hands with soap and water, or those towelettes, or alcohol-based hand sanitizer, before working on wounds.
-- Rex
- December 28, 2008
haha, I liked your mountainhouse dried meals comment! Hey Jason what size is your Aloksak bag? Thanks, Mark
- December 28, 2008
- Jason Klass said...
Hey Mark,
Sorry, I should have mentioned that in the video. The size is 4.5" X 7". The volume is 25.26 cubic in. Hope that helps.
- December 28, 2008
- Dan said...
Thanks for the video, I just discovered your site and you have some very interesting stuff.
I don't think calling this a First aid kit is correct, perhaps "minor medical inconvenience kit" would be more accurate.
I'll admit I'm the type that likes to be completely prepared, and I'm also biased because of my EMT and WFR training- currently my field First aid kit weighs about 2 pounds, and believe it or not it took effort to get it that light.
I've never needed to use the kit on myself in the field(though I have used it to help others), but the whole point is to be prepared for an unexpected, and perhaps severe injury. Furthermore, unless I have a life threatening injury, I want to have enough supplies so that I can continue hiking without needing to cut a trip short. That means having enough bandaging material so that I can change a dressing for a large wound once or twice a day for a few days. 2 4x4s are not enough for even a single dressing, you need a teflon dressing otherwise the gauze will stick to the wound and you will cause more damage when you pull it off. Also some kind of roll gauze or ace bandage to create a pressure bandage can be life saving, and really cannot be improvised easily, especially without destroying your gear.
I realize few people are willing to carry a large first aid kit, but at least adding some non-stick dressings, more 4x4s, a roll or 2 of stretch gauze, and some pills of diphenhydramine(benadryl) and loperamide(immodium), as a previous poster mentioned, would drastically improve your kit with minimal increase in weight and size. Also a small tweezer like "Uncle Bills sliver gripper"[www.slivergripper.ca] is very useful for splinters and thorns and will never come off if attached to your pack.
- January 16, 2010
My first aid kit is a bit bigger, mostly containing items from a Combat Life Saver bag that the Army gave me. I removed the IV needles and saline bags, but I'm sure my kit still has has more than I'd normally need.
My big concern is that I know people shoot around where I hike, even where it's illegal to do so. I find brass and shell casings all the time. It makes me nervous.
I've been shot before (at 11 years old,) without any proper medical supplies handy. All I could do was put my hand over the entrance wound (I hadn't noticed the exit yet.) Luckily, I was a short drive away from the hospital that time. I won't be likely to have that luxury out in the mountains.
As a result, I just can't part with my tourniquet,Israeli bandage and Quick Clot sponge.
I also keep a splint wrap for small joints, and it's already come in handy.
Not sure if I just missed it, but I didn't notice antiseptic wipes in your list. I can't imagine being without that. I've had more use for that than anything else.
I should probably add mole-skin to my pack, I think. Good call there.
- June 13, 2011
Hey Jason
New-Skin® Liquid Bandage has saved my hide many times.
It is Liquid Bandage that dries rapidly to form a tough protective cover that is antiseptic and flexible.
ALthough it does smart abit when you first apply ( of course it's no worse than the bite from the blister)
- March 14, 2012
Nice and simple kit. Thank you Jason. I'll add another vote for Imodium anti-diareaha tablets... also for those Mountain House meals ( ;
I would also say "know what you are prone to". I'm not prone to cuts and bruises, but I am prone to spraining ankles, so I add an ankle brace to my pack. Last time out someone in my group needed it, after twisting an ankle.
On the flip side, I've gone out with scouts on backpacking trips, and my goodness... the "be prepared" mantra is taken to an extreme, not by boys, but by some adults. Nobody wants to carry a 5 lb. kit that takes up 20% of your pack with stuff you'll never use! You are not going to war, you are taking a hike. If you are so clumsy that you anticipate being bloodied, bruised and broken, maybe you should stay at home.
I like your blog. Good info.
- October 28, 2014


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Chinoiserie, the love of things Chinese-esqe, is on a revival. Designed in traditional blue and white with a wonderfully design edge makes this the perfect multipurpose zippered bag to bring to your next destination. Hand printed on cotton canvas the bag is durable and lightweight.
- Chic and elegant design on a wonderfully functional zippered pouch.
- Perfect for storage for cosmetics, laptop / cell phone accessories, Stationery when you traveling.
- Zipper closure keep contents clean and secure.
- Organization has never been easier, use these multi-purpose bags for toiletries or small knick-knacks while traveling and they can also be easily stored in any purse, backpack, tote bag or suitcase.
7" W x 3" D x 9 1/2" H


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Search the Community
Showing results for tags 'better luck next time'.
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Let me preface my proposition by acknowledging that we're all attached to our familiar cliches and feel-good stories, but I feel that we as a community could possibly break new ground in Project Eternity. Without a doubt, this is the most mature gaming community I've seen to date, and there's one trope whose vice-grip I've never seen the fantasy RPG genre escape: the happy ending. I'm not sure about the rest of you, but I think that- by introducing a couple simply unwinnable scenarios into the main plot-line (preferably in the form of encounters with scripted outcomes)- this game and this community can supersede that fragile and trite model. Winning all the time gets old, and the saddest endings are often the most moving. Do we really want Project Eternity to fall into that same trap of lameness, or do we want something unique? What would be particularly interesting is if the ending was a huge cliffhanger, thereby also creating incentive to buy a possible sequel. Join me in petitioning Obsidian for a different ending, suitable for a different kind of RPG.


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Strengthening the Planning Commission – Governing Body Relationship
We hear back from our survey respondents with ideas on how to strengthen the relationship between the planning commission and governing body.
We hear back from our survey respondents with ideas on how to strengthen the relationship between the planning commission and governing body.
Citizen planning academies can provide a good way of better informing citizens about how the planning process works — while also building up a "bench" of future planning board members.
A roundtable discussion on ways of strengthening the planning process — with a look at: the roles of planning commissions and governing bodies; finding time for long-range planning; and better ways of implementing local plans.
Elaine Cogan looks at ways of evaluating your planning board's effectiveness.
Why it's important for planning commissions and governing bodies to work cooperatively. With some suggestions for ways of strengthening this relationship.
Have you considered running for office after finishing your service as a planning commissioner or zoning board member? Otis White, consultant to local governments and corporations on community involvement and civic leadership, explores what questions to ask yourself before you decide to run.
Michael Chandler on why developing closer relationships with governing bodies is something planning commissions need to work on.
With local power structures breaking down, Otis White examines how commissioners and other public officials can gain "legitimacy" in the eyes of the public.
Columnist Elaine Cogan takes a look at how planning commissioners and citizen planners can work most effectively with local elected officials.
When the Mayor sees you as his voice on the planning commission, what should you do? Greg Dale offers some answers.
Roundtable Discussion about issues related to the adoption and implementation of the comprehensive plan.
Pamela Plumb explains how local governing bodies and planning commissions can develop a strong, positive relationship.


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Each of our farm partners are within a 45 mile radius of Cypress meaning every vegetable in the farm box is locally grown.
Each box comes with 6-9 different freshly harvested fruits, vegetables and/ or herbs.
Unlike a traditional CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) model, our network encompasses several different local farms and farmers. This allows us to serve and support the farming community as a whole.
The Farm to Kitchen Collective was born from the necessity to preserve time and money. Each basket is selected in harmony with one another for less than you would spend at a traditional store.
Members will have access to a VIP area, allowing changes to their account, pause for vacations, make requests, purchase additional items and more. Each VIP will receive advance copies of cookbooks & advanced seating options for workshops -PLUS- a 10% discount!
Each Season's Harvest comes with healthful benefits. Let us inspire your table and forever change the way you look at the food. Eating in season takes a few minor tweaks but your body & Mother Earth will thank you for it!
We have a variety of membership options to meet all needs. Our most popular plan is the Weekly Wednesday. We offer the Every Other Wednesday and First Wednesday pack with a variety of payment options.
Weekly Wednesday Co-op Member
"I have been getting farm boxes...for almost 3 years now...I was hesitant at first because alot of the vegetables in the box I had never worked with before or convinced myself I didn't like. Brandi took the time to explain the benefit of every fruit & vegetableand offered recipes for the ones I was struggling with. My husband, who only ate meat and potatoes, now eats Eggplant Parmesan, Zucchini Lasagna, Root Vegetable Gratin and so much more. All 3 of my daughters (24, 8 and 6) love to help me cook and eat all of the wonderful dishes we make with our farm box goodies...I'm so glad I took the leap...you can really tell the difference in how fresh and natural (the veggies) are. I stopped buyomg fruits & veggies from the grocery store because they don't measure up."
Every other Wednesday Co-op Member
"Brandi & the Farm to Kitchen Collective have changed, not only how my family eats, but how we think about health an nutrition in general. I used to try and include veggies in my diet but didn't really know how to make them taste great. That changed when I had access to weekly farm fresh fruits & vegetables and was taught exactly what to do with them! I've learned, from Brandi, to question to origin of my food and demand more when it comes to quality and taste. We eat better, we feel healthier and I LOVE feeding my family delicious food that we can feel good about. Brandi taught a cooking class in my home for several of my friends and the recipes were simple yet delicious! I recommend the farm to kitchen experience to anyone!"
...Maybe this will help?...
The Farm to Kitchen Collective is a small group of volunteers who help facilitate the supply of fresh, locally grown vegetables from small farms into their community. Each week, our local farm partners deliver directly to us. We buy in bulk from them and we portion into shares for you.
In an effort to serve as many needs as possible, we have weekly and every other week memberships available for $30. One-time boxes are available for $35 for those who like to pop in without the commitment. Pick up is available from 4-6 in Tomball & Cypress and 4:30-6:30 in Norchester. You will receive the pick up information and contact in your confirmation email.
Best question ever.
Honestly, we are a hybrid of sorts. When we started, there was not a Farm Stand or Farmers Market in less than a 25 minute drive. As a group of volunteers, our profit goes back into the community in some way or another. We have donated to farmers, looking for seed money to start, to students and to the local food community.
Each box comes with 6-9 different fruits, vegetables and/ or herbs based on what's available for harvest that week. We buy in bulk so everyone gets the same share and we don't offer a tradeouts. However, farm fresh tastes completely differently than anything you will get at a store. Most of our members find easting Farm Fresh is Best and they can expand their palate more easily. All of that being said, as we get to know you and your family, if there is something you try that you just can't 'do,' let us know and we will work with you!


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I would recommend Jobee.my to my friends as it was super simple to get a job here… I just filled a simple form saw at facebook ads, and get a lot open opportunity from the company.(and their support is amazing as well!:)
Jobee.my is convenient for job seekers. It allows us to easily apply for jobs, create a job request post or simple resumes all at our fingertips. Thanks to their online job application and matching system.
I like Jobee.my because it has a lot of jobs listing here and it's easy to search for the companies and unlike other platforms, the workflow was so simple, fill in the details and wait for matching or company to contact me. only one thing is the layout needs to be improved.
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Through the use of amyloid beta testing on cerebrospinal fluid and positron emission tomography, researchers have been able to accurately identify the amyloid pathology of the brain. This is a primary indicator of the development of Alzheimer's disease. The current available diagnostic methods are often invasive (such as the cerebrospinal fluid tap) or are often expensive (such as the positron emission tomography).
Given how expensive and invasive the procedures are in order to indicate the accumulation of amyloid beta enzymes, it is not readily available to most people and accordingly they have been trying to find new ways to measure the accumulation of this enzyme without such expensive and invasive procedures. One method that would be possible is the use of blood markers as a pre screening tool. Due to insufficient accuracy, using first generation techniques like the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) has not been able to be implemented.
With recent technological advances, the field has been advancing fairly quickly- with this, it has been proven that it is possible to analyze brain pathology with the use of amyloid marker testing. Although there have been the promising methods of labor intensive and expensive methods to measure such things, the labor and costs required to do this have precluded such methods from being implemented for a large number of individuals. Those who choose the automated technique lead to groups being accurately measured for Alzheimer's disease, as well as being able to recognize cognitive decline.
With the use of single molecule array technology, also known as SIMOA, they were able to measure plasma concentrations of Amyloid beta-42 and the total Tau protein in a large group of subjects which were cognitively unimpaired and had subjective cognitive decline. By measuring the quantity of amyloid beta-42, 40 and the total Tau, it may be possible to use these as a pre-screening tool.
The use of such information stands to be incredibly beneficial, as using such methods in a clinical setting will allow physicians to notice cognitive decline in its earliest stages.


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Dr.Davidson's Medical Journal
Davidson's journal sheds light on the most pressing health needs of the day, or at least the diseases that Davidson felt most concerned about and able to treat. He included 17 entries devoted to gonorrhea, numerous recipes that address gastric disturbances, nine recipes for treating colic, five for itches, and 11 for diarrhea. Other serious illnesses Davidson devoted his thoughts to include one entry regarding hepatitis, four on pertussis (or "Whooping Cough"), one entry on epilepsy, six treatments for rheumatism, and three mentions each of typhoid and dysentery. Davidson also included treatments for everyday complaints including remedies for hair loss, toothache, and several suggestions to ease constipation.
The Davidsons of Gadsden County
John M. W. Davidson was born in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, in 1801. He was the grandson of John Davidson, a brigadier general for the colonies during the Revolutionary War and successful planter and community leader whose other descendents donated the land used for Davidson College among other lasting contributions to the state of North Carolina.
The grandson, Dr. Davidson, married Mary J. Sylvester, the daughter of a prominent South Carolina family, and they had four daughters and five sons before her death in 1855. He moved to Florida along with scores of other emigrants from North and South Carolina drawn by the area's reputation for productive—and available—farm land. He settled in Gadsden County in 1828 before moving into the new town of Quincy some years later.
While operating a successful medical practice, Davidson maintained extensive agricultural interests, likely devoting acres to the county's most profitable commodity, tobacco. As a planter, Davidson's investments were intertwined with the slave economy of the period. He owned as many as 30 slaves at one time, with 18 recorded in the 1860 census. In Quincy, Davidson also owned and operated a pharmacy. At least one of his sons continued the family trade as a professional pharmacist in the town. [iii]
In the journal, Davidson makes no distinction regarding race or economic background between patients that he has treated. Southern physicians were often called on to treat African-American and white patients, and because physicians were in such high demand, their services would often have been required for people of all social statuses and means.
We know from other sources, such as a fee schedule developed by Davidson and his fellow Gadsden County doctors, that he was called upon to perform a variety of dental and bodily surgeries including tooth extraction, limb amputation, and "trephining," or the removal of sections from the skull to relieve pressure from blood build-up. He and his colleagues had also agreed upon fees for attending labors, introducing catheters, performing enemas, operating on hare lips, and performing other therapies such as "cupping," a technique in which air is evacuated from a cup placed on the skin to increase localized blood flow. [iv]
Davidson was an ardent Whig until the demise of the party. He then became a Democrat and was elected as a delegate to the 1860 convention in Baltimore. After the election of Lincoln as president, Davidson accepted the inevitability of conflict, but like many other leading citizens was fearful of the consequences of the war on the South's economy. While he had supported Florida's statehood since moving to the territory three decades earlier, he was also a devoted believer in the Union. However, like many of his contemporaries, Davidson felt that the sovereignty and social customs of the southern states were under threat. [v]
All five of Davidson's sons served in the Confederate Army, including J. Edward, who served as a surgeon and medical purveyor to the Confederate Army. Before rising to the rank of lieutenant colonel in the 6th Infantry, Robert H. M. Davidson was a state representative and senator for Gadsden County, after attending the University of Virginia Law School. After the war Robert represented Gadsden County at the Constitutional convention of 1865. The youngest son, Edgar Lee, was just 16 years old when he went to the Everglades during the War, assigned to troops guarding the Seminoles. [vi]
When war came, William left his work as a pharmacy clerk to become a lieutenant of the First Regiment Volunteer Infantry of Florida before advancing to the rank of captain and aide-de-camp to General J. Patton Anderson. After the war he became a railroad agent and general manager of the Florida Central & Western Railroad. Mrs. Mary Sylvester Davidson died in 1855, but in addition to Dr. Davidson, she was survived by all five sons and four daughters: Martha, the eldest child, Sarah F. H., Mary J. L., and Alice.
Dr. Davidson and the Modernization of Medicine
John Davidson's career spanned the beginnig of the rise of orthodox medicine in the United States. His writing demonstrates the need of 19th century physicians, particularly those in rural areas of the country, to adapt their training to where they practiced. Physicians accommodated local traditions, utilized whatever supplies and ingredients were available to them, and developed personal relationships with patients and the communities where they lived and practiced. By the last decades of the 19th century, professional medical practitioners had cemented their positions as the definitive source of high quality medical care in the United States, as well as defenders of science and advocates of even greater professionalization.
Although statewide medical organization was slow in coming to Florida, local and county doctors often regulated themselves and cooperated to ensure best practices. Dr. Davidson was a member and chair of the Physicians of Quincy group. The group coordinated fee schedules for treatments, surgeries, births, and travel expenses, and published their signed agreements in each physician's office. [vii]
For physicians in the early 19th century, before the nature of many diseases became more widely understood and the greater development of epidemiology as a science, treating the patient was more important than the disease. Physicians often considered intimate knowledge of an individual's circumstances and familiarity with case histories as more important even than their own professional experience with certain diseases.
Physicians in the antebellum South injected their own appreciation of abstract, scientific medicine and medical training with a strong sense of southern individualism, respect for their patients' personal lives, and respect for the traditions of the locality where they practiced. Medical historian Steven Stowe terms this phenomenon "country orthodoxy." According to Stowe, Southern doctors consequently tended to value "experience" over training, although one complemented the other. On plantations and in isolated communities, local and private healers knew the people and environment intimately, and physicians similarly added the experiences with individuals and the diseases afflicting a region to their abstract knowledge bases. [viii]
In Florida's earliest years as a U.S. territory, self-appointed local community doctors, housewives, and slave healers administered medicines as they could, using herbs gathered from the area and what ingredients they could purchase along with turpentine, spirits of niter, and other solvents and solutions. "When home remedies failed, the doctor was summoned. He brought all medicines he thought necessary, and before leaving the bedside gave particular directions for the administration of every pill, powder, or liquid." [ix]
Davidson includes in the journal citations for the medical reference works he consulted for new ideas and suggestions for prescriptions and treatments. Davidson's effort to continue his learning and his regular consultation of national and international medical publications demonstrated his commitment to orthodox medicine. Employing apothecary symbols to denote measurements throughout the journal, Davidson demonstrated at least some training in pharmaceutical preparation. The writing style varied some over the course of the journal, and his notations seems to have also reflected what source material he was using. During the two years he spent writing the journal, Davidson scrupulously ordered most of the entries and appears to have edited some with later information or corrections.
Medicine in early-19th century America was a wide-open field. Not only could nearly anyone practice it who could convince other people to serve as patients, but most people had no firm idea what sound medical practice actually was. As historian Cathy Luchetti describes the situation, "Any man who worked with his hands and carried tools in a leather bag could set up a practice, dispensing pills and potions, binding bones, and profiting from the sale of homemade nostrums." [x]
On the American frontier, quacks and practitioners of strange fads were more common than trained physicians. While local wise men and women, or "grannies" as they were often called, were essential for filling the gap between the medical needs of the community and the number of available caregivers, many were no more qualified than any other lay person. Doctors who had received some training were often on the frontier seeking their own fortunes, like the quacks, charlatans, and potion vendors. In 1840, as few as one-quarter of practicing male physicians in the country had graduated from medical schools. As the field of medicine was not a source of great income even for the most competent practitioners, doctors often viewed medicine as an afterthought or complement to their primary occupation, such as running a store or farming. [xi]
Davidson's journal sheds light on the use of homeopathic and folk remedies by physicians still common in rural areas. The modern medicine and doctor-patient relationship that most people are familiar with today reflects more than a century of the dominance of "allopathic" medicine, or the combating of disease by addressing symptoms with specific treatments meant to cause different reactions than the perceived disease itself. [xii]
Physicians had to manufacture their own medicines and Davidson's journal shows a wide array of herbal and chemical components he relied upon for treatments, in addition to foodstuffs and staples such as wine and milk. For rural southerners, the preparation of herbal remedies and supplies for the treatment of common ailments was part of everyday life. The South as a whole was underserved by trained medical professionals and local healers, and everyday people used whatever resources and means were available to address the medical needs of their families, the community, and themselves. [xiii]
Davidson's journal shows some of the thoughts, methods, and demands of a pioneer physician in the ante-bellum South. The journal remains as evidence of the working life of a founding father of a Florida county. It opens a window to a very different time for both a profession and a community, when the availability of material goods—even medical necessities—and the established beliefs and practices of professionals were less certain, but the need to work, serve, and help others was as clear as it is today.[xiii]
[i] David A. Avant, Jr., Illustrated Index: J. Randall Stanley's History of Gadsden County, 1948, Tallahassee, Florida: L'Avant Studios, 1985, p. 33.
[ii] Miles Kenan Womack, Jr., Gadsden: A Florida County in Word and Picture, Quincy, Florida: Gadsden County Bicentennial Commission, 1976, p. 44-52.
[iii] Rowland H. Rerick, Memoirs of Florida, Atlanta: Southern Historical Association, 1902, p. 505, and E. Ashby Hammond, The Medical Profession in 19th Century Florida: A Biographical Register, Gainesville, Florida: University of Florida, 1996, p. 155-157.
[iv] Womack, p. 61.
[v] Excerpts of 1860-1861 diary of Dr. John M.W. Davidson from Womack, p. 64-65.
[vi] Avant, p. 98; Womack, p. 298-299; Hammond, p. 157-158.
[viii] See Steven M. Stowe, Doctoring the South: Southern Physicians and Everyday Medicine in the Mid-Nineteenth Century, Chapel Hill, North Carolina: The University of North Carolina Press, 2004.
[ix] Webster Merritt, A Century of Medicine in Jacksonville and Duval County, Gainesville, Florida: University of Florida Press, 1949, p. 8.
[x] Cathy Luchetti, Medicine Women: The Story of Early-American Women Doctors, New York: Crown Publishers, 1998, p. 7.
[xi] Luchetti, p. 8.
[xii] Dr. Jean Elmiger, Rediscovering Real Medicine: The New Horizons of Homeopathy, Boston: Element, 1998, p. 14-21.
[xiii] Weymouth T. Jordan, Herbs, Hoecakes, and Husbandry: The Daybook of a Planter of the Old South, Tallahassee, Florida: The Florida State University, 1960, p. 21.


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You see innovation everywhere – in everything we do – at our Yokohama Technical Center. With roughly 9,000 square meters of advanced studios, workshops and labs, this facility houses more than 100 engineers and designers, each working tirelessly to develop and deliver the latest advancements and best-in-class seating products to automakers in Japan – and throughout Asia.
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When I first got into the travel hacking world, I gravitated toward two hotel programs: SPG and IHG. This may seem really odd, as they are pretty much polar opposites. But I guess that is exactly why. The holes in one program are filled by the other. SPG provided high-value points that took a little more effort to accrue. IHG handed them out like candy and has this awesome Point Breaks (well…maybe I should use past tense there – SEE: I've got a bad feeling about thew new IHG Point Breaks) list.
With IHG in particular, I went my merry way earning and redeeming points for multiple trips in 2015 and 2016. My wife and I each nabbed the IHG Mastercard with an increased sign-up bonus of 70,000 points, which gave us enough points for several nights. I read up on all the tips and tricks that I could find. In some people's opinion, it was the best program out there.
But the longer I have been a member of IHG Rewards Club, the more disenchanted I have become with their program. The last two years have been particularly grim, as some hotels have experienced massive devaluations (SEE: Ouch. Book now before the massive IHG devaluation!). The latest devaluation of Point Breaks is the final nail in the coffin. IHG as a real loyalty program is basically dead, and here's why:
Top tier elite status means almost nothing
With most hotel chains, top tier elite status is something that is quite rewarding. With Hyatt, you get free breakfast, great room upgrades, and a number of other perks, such as waived parking fees and resort charges in some cases. Marriott and SPG offer great room upgrades and good treatment to elites from most reports. I've also had good experiences as a Hilton Diamond, but this doesn't seem to be quite in the same league as the other hotel top tier elite statuses (or maybe it is because most of my stays are domestic at Hampton Inns, Hilton Garden Inns, and Doubletrees).
With IHG, their top-tier Spire Elite status gives….well…hmmmm. I don't really know. There is no free breakfast. There are no guaranteed room upgrades (and they don't offer them on award stays!). There are a lot of perks laid out on the IHG Rewards Club page, but it is mostly filler. After being Spire Elite for a year (due to a fluke where my credit card signup bonus still counted toward the status), I realized it wasn't really different than being a basic member, aside from the points earning bonus. We've received one nice, but pretty useless, upgrade to a two bedroom suite at a Staybridge Suites where my wife and I were basically crashing for the night and just needed a bed. All of our other room "upgrades" have been marginal. Sometimes I wonder if the front desk is just feeding me some hogwash.
So, with a pretty useless set of elite "statuses", there is not point to being loyal to IHG. Aside from the $49 night with the card, my association with the program is mainly to earn points as cheaply as possible during Accelerate and use them for reasonable value. But that has its own woes…
Devaluation after devaluation
Sure, all hotel programs go through devaluation. I suspected the Hilton program would experience what I'll call the "Delta effect" after doing away with their award chart. Thankfully, this hasn't appeared to be the case from what I've observed, and I find the Hilton program is solid in general. Not so, IHG.
Rather than a creeping devaluation, IHG is seeing a flat out obliteration of its value. Some hotels, such as the Intercontinental Park Lane London, Intercontinental Hong Kong, and other nice ICs in major destinations have seen 40% price increases in just 2 years. This is pretty outrageous. There are other hotels that have seen nearly 150% price increases, such as the Holiday Inn Sydney (in Canada). My wife and I stayed there in 2015 for just 10,000 points, which was a nice deal. Now it is 25,000 points. I wouldn't ever pay that.
If IHG keeps this up, I will dump the program entirely. It's teetering on the verge.
Just not enough quality hotels
If I could spend 35,000 points on a night at a nice property, I might take the low value of the points in stride. But when a vanilla Holiday Inn Express is charging the same amount, it's insulting. Especially when cash prices are often super low.
(SEE ALSO: Man IHG points really ARE worthless)
Sure, a Holiday Inn Express has the essentials and it's an adequate property for our family's needs. But forking over 40,000 points for a night? No way. That's not how I want to spend my points. I'll look for cheaper places.
Add to this the fact that there are many Holiday Inn and Crowne Plaza hotels that are super tired and in need of a renovation. I've stayed at a couple great Holiday Inns (SEE: Holiday Inn Old Sydney Review), but also some very lackluster ones. Dan can't stand the brand (SEE: Holiday Inn North Phoenix Review – why I hate Holiday Inns). Hotel Indigo seems like a good brand, but I have yet to stay at one. The only midscale brand I am keen on in the IHG portfolio is Staybridge Suites.
(SEE ALSO: Staybridge Suites SFO airport review)
There is really nothing to love about IHG hotels aside from some Intercontinental properties. But now so many of the nicest properties cost an obscene number of points.
One bright spot…for now
The only facet of the program I am excited about for 2018 is the fact that Kimpton hotels have finally been brought fully into the fold. Sure, they are at the higher end of the points spectrum, but at least they have some more character. There are a couple bloggers who have loved being Kimpton Karma members (Lee @ BaldThoughts comes to mind).
I hope we can visit a few before IHG decides all of them will require 80,000 points per night. After everything else that has happened, I wouldn't put it past them.
In a nutshell, I'm done with treating IHG like a real hotel loyalty program. In my experience with Starwood and Hilton, they actually can foster some loyalty through how they treat you. IHG doesn't even try. So why call IHG Rewards Club a club of anything? Unless they mean clubbing their members every chance they get.
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Product Description
This is a complete and intact dinosaur tooth of the armored ankylosaurid dinosaur Euoplocephalus found in the Judith River Formation, Montana, U.S.A.. It is one of the best we have ever offered of these rare dinosaur teeth and even includes part of the root still attached. It is in SUPERB, original condition as found. For dinosaur fossil collectors, this is an important specimen if collecting the lineage of armored dinosaurs as Euoplocephalus was one of the largest of the ANKYLOSAURIDS. A type of armored dinosaur tooth RARELY offered for sale.
Euoplocephalus was about 20 feet in length and weighed as much as 2 tons. Euoplocephalus was an ankylosaurid and had the classic tail club that this genera of dinosaurs is so popularly known for. This armored dinosaur was low and robust in build with a flat, thick triangular skull with large horns projecting out to the rear. Its body was covered in flexible bands of armor with even its eyelids armored in this manner! It body also featured short spiked dermal scutes and an array of spines down its back. The tail was large and muscular, strengthened with heavy tendons and terminating to a large bony club that could have been swung for defense against predators. The small teeth indicate it fed on fleshy, soft vegetation.