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Wizard Dojo
A wizard is never late, nor is he early. He reviews stuff precisely when he means to.
Category: PC
Donut County Review
Donut County is an indie game by Ben Esposito. Released in 2018, Donut County was one of the pleasant surprises of the year, and can be described as something along the lines of an inverse Katamari Damacy. While Katamari saw players bundle up as many objects (and people) imaginable to create one giant mass, Donut County sees players take control of a hole in the ground to engulf everything (and everyone) in sight.
"Sometimes the gameplay takes a break and sees the characters texting each other. You can select the duck button to send a quack to the person on the other end. Just because."
Taking place in the titular county, the primary characters of the game are employees at the local donut shop; Mira, a human, and her boss, BK the raccoon. Whether or not this shop sells actual donuts is up for debate, as most of their business (unbeknownst to Mira at first) is that BK uses a cell phone app to deliver "donuts" to customers…except that these donuts are actually holes in the ground the slowly increase in size as they swallow more objects, and have ultimately been trapping people underground along with their homes and all of their stuff.
The majority of the game is told in flashbacks, as Mira and BK have been sucked down a hole themselves. The other residents of Donut County recount the events of how they got sucked underground, and their stories are then played out as the game's stages. All the while, the residents of Donut County try to help BK come to the realization that what he did was wrong (he simply wanted to build up points with the app to purchase a drone). It's a delightfully bonkers game that really does feel like a little love letter to Katamari Damacy.
As stated, the player doesn't control any characters, but the hole in the ground. The hole always starts out small, and increases in size with the more objects it swallows. You'll begin stages sending pebbles and flowers down the hole, and gradually work your way to larger objects, before the hole becomes so large it can overtake houses. It all sounds simple – and truth be told it is – but it's a whole lot of fun and will keep a smile on your face.
Donut County does find ways to keep the concept fresh, with puzzle elements introduced early on, which continue to grow as the game progresses. For example, an early stage sees the player guide the hole to swallow a campfire, which results in smoke emanating from the hole, with the player then guiding the hole under a hot air balloon so the smoke can help it lift off. And later on in the game, BK purchases a "catapult attachment" to the hole, which can launch specific items out of the hole. You can catapult these objects to knock down out of reach items, which may be necessary to increase the size of the hole. Donut County takes its simplistic concept, and finds fun and inventive new ways to utilize it throughout.
The entire campaign of Donut County should take roughly two hours. So it's a very short game, which isn't a bad thing (give me a compact but complete game over an overly long one filled with padding any day). The downside, however, is that there's not too much incentive for replay value other than to complete the 'Trashopedia" (the collection of objects you've sent down holes, with each item having its own humorous description), but chances are you'll already have the Trashopedia nearly complete after your first playthrough anyway.
There may not be a whole lot of content to make up for the short campaign, but everything that is present in Donut County – simple though it may be – is undeniably charming and fun. Similar to Portal or (you guessed it) Katamari Damacy, Donut County introduces an innovative gameplay concept, and presents it in so many playful ways it will continuously pique players' interest to see what's around the next corner.
There are few things in gaming as satisfying as the combination of fun, original gameplay and a unique, quirky charm. Donut County is a terrific example of just that.
Author themancalledscottPosted on January 22, 2019 Categories Nintendo Switch, PC, Playstation, Video Games, XboxTags Donut County, Video Games8 Comments on Donut County Review
The Haunted Island: A Frog Detective Game Review
"A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men."
-Willy Wonka
The Haunted Island: A Frog Detective Game is an indie title by Grace Bruxner released at the tail-end of 2018. The first entry in a planned series, this point-and-click adventure is something of a parody of the genre in which the hero is a frog detective simply named…Detective.
Detective is assigned a case on a small island owned by a sloth named Martin, who claims the island is haunted by a ghost. Strange noises have been heard on the island for about two weeks, and Martin hired a group of 'ghosts scientists' to try to find the apparition, with no luck. So Detective is here to find the source of the mysterious noises by investigating the island.
The game more or less revolves around a single puzzle. The mysterious noises are emanating from a cave, but the entrance was caved in. So in order to find a means to investigate, the frog detective has to blow open the entrance to the cave, which one of the ghost scientists conveniently can do for you, but he requires the proper ingredients to make the dynamite to do so (toothpaste, wool, pasta and gold, naturally). So Detective has to talk to the other scientists on the island, as well as Martin, to figure out ways to get those ingredients.
That's really all there is to The Haunted Island. You simply have to talk to the island's inhabitants and figure out who can help you solve one of the other inhabitants problems and reward you with the ingredients. And usually, the characters make the answers to their problems completely obvious. It's a single puzzle game in which the puzzle requires almost no thinking. It's as bare bones of a point-and-click game as you can get, and is more of an interactive short story, than anything else.
Normally, I might hate a game for being so empty on the gameplay side of things (especially in the case of indie games, which seem to get a free pass for "not being games"). And yet, I'm going to be a hypocrite and give this game a pass for the simple reason that the dialogue won me over with its innocence and stupidity.
"This character is protective of their collection of tiny shells, which are so tiny you can't see them. Once you give them a normal sized shell, they will reward you with a magnifying glass, since they no longer need it to stare at tiny shells."
The Haunted Island: A Frog Detective Game is funny. It makes up for its lack of depth by being downright silly. The characters each have their own weird quirks, and they all talk about their own brand of nonsense. It has a silly sense of cartoon banter that reminds me of Adventure Time, and the dilemmas the characters find themselves in are so stupid it can't help but put a smile on your face. The koala character is slow, and requests that you bring them a magnet so that they can latch onto a boat and move fast, for example. Meanwhile, Martin first became suspicious of a ghost after reading (some of) a book that stated you can't see ghosts, and since he hasn't seen a ghost, surely there must be a ghost.
As you might expect, the game is incredibly short, and it even advertises itself at being only about an hour long (in fact, after I watched the epilogue my Steam account claims that I spent exactly 60 minutes with the game). But it's also incredibly cheap on Steam so you don't exactly feel shortchanged.
"My favorite running gag in the game is that Frog Detective is constantly reminded by his boss that he's only on the case because their best agent – Lobster Cop – is already on duty elsewhere. Rather than object, Frog Detective vehemently agrees that Lobster Cop is his better."
Look, The Haunted Island: A Frog Detective Game is not what I'd traditionally call a 'good' game. But it is a good slice of some harmless stupidity that is worth an hour of your time if you just want some giggles. I guess maybe after being exposed to a number of indie games that feel like having a pretentious, artsy attitude makes up for a lack of gameplay (it doesn't), I just find it a little refreshing to find one that uses that same lack of gameplay to be the basis of a joke.
Author themancalledscottPosted on January 8, 2019 January 8, 2019 Categories PC, Video GamesTags Frog Detective, Steam, The Haunted Island: A Frog Detective Game, Video Games5 Comments on The Haunted Island: A Frog Detective Game Review
*Review based on the Nintendo Switch version*
Poor PlayerUnknown's BattleGround. PUBG quickly rose to prominence in 2017, created the current trend of 'battle royal' games, and became the smash hit of the year, outselling long-time heavy-hitters like Overwatch and League of Legends. But around the time PUBG was becoming a phenomenon, Epic Games released Fortnite, a survival shooter in which groups of players faced waves of zombie-like creatures while also gathering materials to construct safe houses to better combat the creatures. PUBG's popularity caught the eye of Epic Games, who then used the assets of Fortnite to create their own battle royal title. Thus Fortnite Battle Royale was born (and the original Fortnite now earning the "Save the World" subtitle), and quickly beat PUBG at its own game. Sure, PlayerUnknown's BattleGround can still claim to be one of the best-selling games in history, but for a game that essentially became a cultural phenomenon, it probably had the shortest time in that level of spotlight than any other. And it has Fortnite Battle Royale to thank for that.
But is Fortnite Battle Royale actually better than PlayerUnknown's BattleGround? Truth be told, they may be too similar to actually make a definitive call on that. But there are some differences between Fortnite Battle Royale and PUBG that at least justifies their competition.
Like PUBG, Fortnite Battle Royale sees players skydive onto an island, where they then scavenge for weapons and items for their inevitable confrontations with other players. Meanwhile, the safe zone on the island continue to get smaller and smaller, with players stuck outside of it quickly taking damage, thus forcing players into a more confined space.
The key gameplay differences here are that Fortnite Battle Royale has a stronger emphasis on team-based match-ups, and that Save the World's construction mechanic remains intact.
Players are equipped with pickaxes, which they use to gather wood, stone and metal from the environment. With these materials, players can build constructs to better maneuver the island and protect themselves from enemy fire. It's a nice little Minecraft/Terraria twist on the PUBG gameplay, but you can definitely tell that the element wasn't designed with the battle royale mode in mind. Switching between combat mode and building mode, and then cycling through all the options within them is just too cumbersome when you're in the middle of a firefight. When enemies start destroying your walls and safe houses faster than you can build them, it gets all the more tedious. It's a nice mechanic in concept, but it's obvious it was made for the player-versus-environment half of Fortnite.
The emphasis on teamwork also makes Fortnite Battle Royale a more easy-going game than PUBG, since you can still rack up extra points if one (or more) of your teammates are the last ones standing. And the more points you get the more cosmetic items you unlock, which may be where Fortnite Battle Royale actually beats PUBG, instead of simply matching it.
In contrast to PUBG's vanilla FPS visuals, Fortnite Battle Royale has a more cartoonish look, with cel-shaded visuals and outrageous character cosmetics (rainbow afros, mascot costumes, etc.). Even the environment is comprised of random oddities like Maui heads and beach balls. Even the aircraft that drops players onto the battlefield is a party bus attached to balloons. Some might say the cartoony aspects of the game clash with the survival aspect – and indeed it never matches the suspense of PUBG – but the added personality definitely sets it apart.
On the downside of things, Fortnite Battle Royale suffers from many of the same technical issues as PUBG. Environments and textures can take a long time to load, character movements can get sporadic and jittery, and so on. The technical issues may not be quite as bad as in PUBG, but it is a shame that such issues are still present in a title that had a larger developer behind it.
In the end, Fortnite Battle Royale is more complimentary to what PlayerUnknown's BattleGrounds started than it is an improvement of it. It's just as fun, the construction element – while maybe a little tacked on – helps differentiate things a bit. If PUBG gained a lot of momentum, it makes sense that Fortnite's added does of personality would lead it to take the battle royal torch and run with it.
Author themancalledscottPosted on August 8, 2018 Categories Nintendo Switch, PC, Video GamesTags Epic Games, Fortnite, Fortnite Battle Royale, Nintendo Switch, Video Games3 Comments on Fortnite Battle Royale Review
Dark Souls Review
*Review based on Dark Souls release as Dark Souls Remastered*
Dark Souls is a difficult game. Many enemies and bosses can kill you with one stroke, deadly traps will lead to instant death, and invading players always have it out for you. The challenge of Dark Souls has become the stuff of gaming legend. And yet, that difficulty is hardly the summation of Dark Souls. Rather, the steep challenge is justified by being part of one of the most tightly constructed, immersive and overall satisfying experiences in all of video games. Yes, Dark Souls is difficult, but it's so much more than that.
Director Hidetaka Miyazaki followed the blueprint of his earlier title Demon's Souls when crafting this spiritual sequel. Dark Souls transcended its predecessor by delving into deeper gameplay territories. The most prominent of which being its merging with the Metroidvania sub-genre, with each land to be discovered in the game connecting with another, and shortcuts between them to be found once you meet the right requirements.
The world in question is Lordran, one of the great settings in video games. The people of Lordran suffer the curse of being undead. Unlike most fantasy stories, the undead of Dark Souls look like human beings, but they are unable to die, instead losing more and more of their humanity upon death, eventually becoming a 'Hollow' (essentially a mindless zombie, and more akin to what is usually labeled as 'undead'). Players take on the role of the 'Chosen Undead,' who escapes from the Undead Asylum and arrives in Lordran, where they begin a pilgrimage that is destined to bring them face to face with Lord Gwyn, an old god responsible for the undead curse.
As is the standard for the series, most story and world elements are intentionally vague, with snippets of character dialogue and flavorful descriptions of items giving insight into the world of Lordran. It proves to be one of the more effective means of video game storytelling, with players able to delve into the narrative should they choose, or simply bask in pure gameplay.
From the get-go, Dark Souls' gameplay presents a staggering amount of variety: Players can customize their character to be more focused on heavy physical damage, magic attacks, healing, quick strikes, and more. And even when you do decide which direction to take your character, there are still several different routes you can take with each build. Even the core gameplay provides different styles, whether it's a weapon in one hand and a shield in the other, two weapons, a weapon and a staff, there's no shortage of options. You can even swap into holding a weapon with both hands at the press of a button.
The depth in gameplay just never lets up. There are new mechanics constantly being introduced, and some which are so subtle you may not realize they were there until late into the journey.
Two of the key mechanics players will need to know are souls and humanity. Souls are acquired from defeating enemies, and work as both experience points to level up your character and currency for buying items, weapons and armor. Humanity is a bit rarer, being an occasional drop from enemies and scattered about the world, as well as rewarded for helping other players fell bosses. When the player dies (and you will die), they become Hollow which – along with making their character look more deathly – prevents you from summoning other players for help. Adding to the game's challenge, every time you die, you lose your souls and humanity (though you retain unused humanity in your inventory). You have a chance to reclaim your lost earnings if you can return to the spot you died, but if you die again before you make it, you lose everything.
The now-iconic Bonfires serve as checkpoints, but are also where you spend souls to level up, repair and upgrade equipment, and where you can spend a humanity to undo the effects of Hollowing. Resting at bonfires also refills your Estus Flask – your primary source of healing – and you can increase the usage of your Flask at any bonfire you've kindled, which also costs a humanity. Suffice to say, discovering a new bonfire after a series of rough patches is a godsend.
The sheer amount of detail that emits from every environment of Lordran is staggering. The level design is among the best of any Metroidvania title, with every destination being perfectly staged with enemy and item placements, not to mention secrets around every corner (a number of which rival Symphony of the Night's inverted castle in how they change and expand upon the whole experience). Even in its most painfully difficult moments, it's all too easy to get absorbed in Dark Souls' structure and depth.
If things get too difficult, you can always call on other players to help you out by finding their summon signs across the land (with players usually leaving them around bonfires and boss doors). You can summon up to two other players to aide you in an area until you rid it of its boss, but you can't summon players when hollowed. There is a caveat to staying human, however, as whenever you're not hollow you are susceptible to invasion by enemy players. Of course, if you're getting stuck on a particular segment, or simply want to help or hinder someone else, you can always leave a summon sign or invade another player for a change of pace.
On its own, the multiplayer of Dark Souls – both cooperative and combative – has rightfully proven influential over the years, as it remains a fun and refreshing change from multiplayer norms. But to add another layer to everything, players can join Covenants throughout their journey, which often have their own benefits and rewards for both friendly and fiendish multiplayer.
I suppose we do have to go back and talk about the notorious difficulty of Dark Souls. While the game can get brutally difficult – to the point of intimidating some players – it's never unfair. Whether its equipping the proper armor to withstand poisoning or finding the right spot to best hide from a boss' devastating attack, there are always methods to what seems like madness. More importantly, there is always a sense of strategy, with players able to survive any onslaught if they know when to dodge, block or attack. While a lesser designed game may simply leave you throwing your hands in the air and giving up under such difficulty, Dark Souls is so well designed that it will leave you wanting to push yourself to see things through. Dark Souls may have you feeling like Bill Murray in Groundhog Day, going about the same situation in different ways until you get it right. And when you do get it right, there's seldom an experience in gaming that even approaches its sense of reward.
Though it was originally released in 2011, Dark Souls' visuals have held up nicely, with the remastered version making it look all the more at home on current hardware. Better still is its art direction, which should rank among the best of the medium. There's not a location or creature that doesn't stick with you. Combine that with the game's incredible musical score and unparalleled sound work, and Dark Souls is quite the spectacle, and presents perhaps the most absorbing fantasy world in gaming.
There are a few minor issues with Dark Souls, but nothing that truly undermines its overall excellence. Later in the game you gain the ability to warp between specific bonfires, though you may wish you gained the ability a little sooner when you find yourself going back and forth in the earlier half of the game. Then there's the backstabbing mechanic, which is just far too easy for players to perform on one another. While being invaded by opposing players may be par for the course, it kind of sullies a lot of player-versus-player encounters when everyone is simply trying to pull off a backstab on each other in place of using their full moveset. But again, these are little more than quibbles.
Yes, Dark Souls is a very difficult game, but it's so much more than that. While most of the video game world became preoccupied with trying to replicate the spectacle of Hollywood once the medium made the jump to 3D, Dark Souls instead feels more akin to what would have happened if the older style of games from the 80s and early 90s had evolved into the present day. Like the best games from those early years, Dark Souls requires its players to gain an intimate knowledge of its every last location and trinket in order to see things through. It combines those older traditions with one idea after another that are entire its own, and continues to build on them throughout its entirety.
Dark Souls is a difficult video game. But it also happens to be one of the very best.
Praise the sun!
Author themancalledscottPosted on July 29, 2018 February 19, 2019 Categories Classic Gaming, Nintendo Switch, PC, Playstation, Video Games, XboxTags Classic Games, Dark Souls, Dark Souls Remastered, Hidetaka Miyazaki, Namco Bandai, Nintendo Switch, PC Games, Playstation 4, Praise the Sun, Video Games, Xbox One3 Comments on Dark Souls Review
Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom Review
A kingdom reborn…
The original Ni No Kuni, Wrath of the White Witch, is not only one of my favourite games on what is arguably my favourite Sony console, but it is arguably the greatest modern JRPG in recent memory – ranking meteorically high amongst the small repertoire of contemporary greats. With its brilliantly realized world – complimented with gorgeously animated sequences produced by the masterful Studio Ghibli –, an exquisite musical score co-composed by the brilliant Joe Hisaishi, a Tales meets Pokémon battle system, and a surprisingly poignant narrative that resonates on multiple accords, Wrath of the White Witch is a rare treat of an RPG that never fails to impress. Its sequel, Revenant Kingdom, takes a number of steps forward -establishing some new ideas while polishing the original's foundation – but questionably stumbles in other areas, arguably taking a few steps backwards. Studio Ghibli's involvement is objectively non-existent, exposition is divulged in extensive text-based dialogue sequences, the intuitive hybrid active/turn-based system is entirely replaced by a simplistic, yet fun, action-based combat system, and its narrative is disappointingly shallow in comparison to the original's emotional brilliance. Despite its disappointing nature, Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom is an undeniably fun experience that is exceptionally beautiful and surprisingly engaging. Revenant Kingdom never reaches the resonating heights of its predecessor but manages to establish an aura of its own, thanks to its fantastic world-building and unexpected level of gameplay variance.
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Author AfterStoryPosted on July 23, 2018 July 23, 2018 Categories PC, Playstation, Video GamesTags 2018, After Story Gaming, gaming, JRPG, Level-5, Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom, Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch, PC Games, Playstation 4, Review, RPG, Studio Ghibli, Video Games3 Comments on Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom Review
Mega Man 11 is the Real Deal
I don't get this "Mega Man 11" thing! It just looks like Capcom is trying to rip off Mighty No. 9!
All joking aside, I got to play Mega Man 11 at E3 today (after an excruciatingly long wait in line), and walked away very impressed with the game, which is now on my radar as one of my most anticipated titles of the year.
When Mega Man 11 was first revealed, a lot of fans were disappointed with the new visual look, and wanted another 8-bit throwback title. Personally, I think making another 8-bit entry would have felt a bit tired by this point. Besides, Mega Man 7 and 8 weren't 8-bit, so it's not as if Mega Man 11 is the first entry to go against the series' NES roots.
"At least the long line included monitors with fun questions and factoids about Mega Man's history. This was by far my favorite one."
One concern I did have though, was that the new look may have meant a new direction for the series' difficulty, and maybe ease things up a bit to grab a new audience. I'm not one of those people who demands that every game be extremely difficult, and that any game that's on the easy side is automatically bad. But in Mega Man's case, the difficulty is as much a part of the series as the Blue Bomber's ability to steal the powers of defeated Robot Masters.
Although only one stage was available in the demo (Block Man's), it proved to be pleasantly challenging. Perhaps more importantly, the challenge was brought about by some creative ideas in the level design, with the standout moment being Mega Man navigating through confined rooms which are on a conveyor belt heading for an insta-kill grinder. Mega Man has to shoot path-blocking stones, and navigate the rooms by jumping and sliding in order to escape them and, by extension, escape the grinder. But once one such mini-room is completed, there's another one in line on the conveyor belt.
It's concepts like that why platformers remain one of gaming's greatest genres. Even with a template as old as Mega Man's, getting creative with the level design is all the developers need to make things feel new again.
Additionally, Mega Man now possesses an ability to slow down time for a short while, with certain level elements and enemies taking advantage of the mechanic. One enemy hides within a spinning wheel, which has only a small opening for Mega Man's blast can make it through. While Mega Man can time his blast to destroy the enemy under normal conditions, the enemy's wheel spins fast enough to make it difficult to get the timing down. That's when slowing down time comes in handy, as it turns the small opportunity to hit this particular enemy into a much bigger one.
The time-slowing mechanic is a fun little twist on the Mega Man formula, and hopefully a few similar mechanics are introduced to keep things fresh.
From what I can gather from my limited experience with the game, Mega Man 11 looks to not only revive the series after a notably lengthy absence, but also adding to the series' norms in ways to make it feel like a proper continuation for the franchise, and not simply a throwback.
I was tentatively excited for Mega Man 11 when it was announced, but after playing a stage of the game, it's really looking like the Mega Man title the gaming world needs…especially after Mighty No. 9.
"I'm a better Mega Man than Mega Man! I'm actually aiming my mega buster at the bad guy!"
Author themancalledscottPosted on June 13, 2018 June 19, 2018 Categories Nintendo Switch, PC, Playstation, Uncategorized, Video Games, Wii UTags Capcom, E3, E3 2018, Mega Man, Mega Man 113 Comments on Mega Man 11 is the Real Deal
Celeste Review
An inspirational climb to greater heights.
January has never been a heavy hitting month for video game releases – it functions as a relative calm before the storm. However contemporary showcases have proven to be a delightful exception to the rule, transcending January into a mainstay of quality. January 2013 saw the release of one of the best modern JRPGs in recent memory, Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch and January 2017 introduced the franchise resurrecting Resident Evil 7: biohazard, a franchise reviver and one of the best games of 2017. This past January also had a masterpiece simmering under the radar, the independent platformer with tremendous heart, Celeste. While its sense of scale is rather diminutive compared to the previously mentioned January entries, its level of quality never faltered, making it an undeniable front-runner for game of the year. Plated with its impeccable level design, brilliantly simple mechanics, and slew of deviating paths and hidden goodies, Celeste transcends into a remarkably defined staple of the modern 2D platformer. Its pitch perfect gameplay and refined mechanics are enhanced by its impeccably crafted pace and gameplay implementation, introducing new twists and turns at every corner, significantly upping the ante with each new chapter. Aside from its mechanical prowess, Celeste boasts one of the most beautifully crafted narratives to ever grace the gaming sphere, a creative element typically undermined or absent in mainstays of the genre. Celeste's inspiring coming of age story is a breath of fresh air to the expanding portfolio of 2D platformers. While these two fundamental structures of Celeste are inherently separate, both exude an unparalleled level of quality, becoming prime examples of their craft and are seamlessly harmonized as a result. Celeste is not only a remarkable start to the new year, it is arguably the best modern 2D platformer, standing tall amongst the meteoric heights of Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze and Ori and the Blind Forest.
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Author AfterStoryPosted on February 6, 2018 March 28, 2018 Categories Nintendo Switch, PC, Playstation, Video Games, XboxTags After Story Gaming, Celeste, Matt Makes Games, Nintendo Switch, platformer, Review, Video Games2 Comments on Celeste Review
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Maltézský dvůr v Březiněvsi v Praze je bývalý hospodářský dvůr, který stojí v centru obce při hlavní silnici vedoucí z Prahy do Mělníka, na rohu ulic Na Hlavní a U parku, poblíž úřadu Městské části Praha-Březiněves, postaveném na bývalé březiněveské návsi.

Historie
Johanitům patřil březiněveský dvůr od roku 1461, kdy jej od Heřmana Sirotka koupil vratislavský biskup Jošt II. z Rožmberka, velkopřevor řádu johanitů. Od roku 1620 byl dvůr řečený "Rejtorský" v necírkevních rukou, vlastnil jej Mikuláš Kekula, rytíř ze Stradonic, od roku 1634 Albrecht z Valdštejna a po jeho smrti Vilém Vratislav z Mitrovic. V roce 1691 byla Březiněves vrácena původním vlastníkům, Řádu johanitů, později nazývanému Řád maltézských rytířů.

Popis
Dvůr měl č.p. 1 a náležely k němu i nemovitosti čp. 2, čp. 3, čp. 4, čp. 8, čp. 9 a čp. 10, dva rybníky zvané U revidentu a Sedláků, ovocné zahrady Za dvorem, Srchová a Za poustkami a park. Celková výměra dvora byla přes 200 hektarů, orné půdy a zahrad přes 1 hektar, pastvin 14 hektarů, rybníků 44 arů a zastavěné plochy přes 1 hektar. Roku 1788 byla třetina polí dvora rozprodána.

Rohová jednopatrová budova stojící od návsi k silnici je postavená z bílého kamene. Zdivo má 1 metr silné a stropy klenuté kamenem. V přízemí byl chlév a v poschodí prostorné byty pro nájemce; Maltézský řád zde nehospodařil, ale pronajímal jej. Dvůr uzavíraly hospodářské kůlny a stáj a vedly do něj jedny vrata z návsi a druhé ze silnice. Na rohu pod římsou proti jižní straně byly sluneční hodiny. Malá věžička na střeše měla křížek a zvon, kterým se zvonilo z chodby. Zvon vážil 25 kg a zdobil jej odlitý obrázek svatého Josefa, který drží na rukou Ježíška, a latinský nápis S. Joseph (Svatý Josef). U vchodu ze silnice byla v chodbě malá komůrka, do které se zavírali lidé odepírající robotu a ti, kteří se bouřili proti pánům.

V roce 1923 měl být dvůr podle Zákona o pozemkové reformě rozparcelován. Řád Maltézských rytířů dal Státnímu pozemkovému úřadu v Praze za březiněveský statek svůj majetek v Motole a parcelace pozemků březiněveského dvora se prováděla se souhlasem Řádu.

Odkazy

Reference

Externí odkazy

Stavby v Březiněvsi
Hospodářské dvory v Praze

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Pertamina Balongan Refinery is located at Indramayu, Jawa Barat, Indonesia. Location coordinates are: Latitude= -6.3717, Longitude= 108.38807. This infrastructure is of TYPE Crude_Oil_Refineries and CATEGORY Fuels and Resources with a design capacity of 125000 bbl/day. .


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Home Google is responsible for taking down from youtube the parody of the song "malandramente"
Google is responsible for taking down from youtube the parody of the song "malandramente"
4 / 06 / 2018
In April, 2018 the 6th Chamber of Civil Law of the Santa Catarina Court of Appeals ruled that the author of the humoristic video entitled "Medonhamente" should be indemnified after Google removed the video from the website "YouTube", due to the allegation of copyright infringement presented by the representatives of the original song, "Malandramente".
The matter arose after the parody was taken down by Google from the YouTube website at the request of ONErpm, owner of the patrimonial rights of the original song, after the author of the parody refused to split the revenue earned from the video with the company.
According to the author, the parody had a humoristic content and did not denigrate the image of the artists nor the original work and therefore that there was no copyright violation. Moreover, the withdrawal of the video would have caused patrimonial losses to the author.
Google replied alleging that it acted strictly in accordance to YouTube's terms of service and that as an internet application provider it only acted in accordance with the copyright notice that was sent by the authors of the original song.
The second defendant, ONErpm, sustained in response that the economic exploitation of parodies is not allowed, considering that the patrimonial rights of the work belongs to the author of the original song.
In the court decision, the first instance judge sentenced the defendants to the payment of 30,000 Brazilian Reais as a compensation for moral damages and lost profits related to the period in which the video remained unavailable, and required Google to make the video available on YouTube.
The defendants appealed alleging the same arguments that were brought forward in their defenses and requesting the revision of the sentence or the reduction of the amount of compensation for moral damages.
In the appellate decision, the appellate judge stated that parodies are allowed by Article 47 of the Brazilian Copyright Law (Law 9.610 of February 19, 1998), as an exception to copyright infringement, provided they do not reproduce the original work or imply discredit to it.
The judge also stated that the parody "Medonhamente" meets the requirements of the Brazilian Copyright Law, insofar as it has a predominantly humoristic character and that it can't be confused with the song "Malandramente", not constituting unfair competition, and does not denigrate the original song.
With respect to the matter of the profit arising from the parody, the Judge stressed that the Brazilian Copyright Law does not require that the parody doesn't have commercial purpose for it to be lawful. Therefore, the economic exploitation of the video by its author is allowed. Also, no financial compensation is required for the author of the original work.
With regards to Google, the ruling emphasized that the withdrawal of the content, even if in accordance to YouTube's terms of service, is illegal and that the improper censorship constitutes an unlawful act, insofar as it violates the freedom of expression, in violation to the Federal Constitution and the Brazilian Internet Bill of Rights (Law No. 12.965 of April 23, 2014).
The appellate decision also emphasized that, unlike the system adopted by the United States of America (notice and takedown), the Brazilian Internet Bill of Rights is based on the freedom of expression, being up to the judicial system to request the removal of the illegal content after the complaint for copyright infringement.
In case of any doubts about this subject, please do not hesitate to contact us.
KEY CONTACT:
Paula Mena Barreto
E: paula.menabarreto@cmalaw.com

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Radomir Vešović (Serbian Cyrillic: Радомир Вешовић; 6 April 1871 – 27 September 1938) was a Montenegrin and Yugoslav military officer and politician. Vešović was born in village of Lopate in Montenegrin county of Lijeva Rijeka, in a family whose male members were traditionally military officers. He completed military education in Italy in 1890 as the first member of Vasojevići tribe who received formal military education. In 1911 he was appointed as commander of Vasojević brigade, with rank of brigadier.

At the beginning of the First Balkan War he was commander of the group of Montenegrin brigades that captured Plav, Gusinje, Dečani and Đakovica from the Ottomans, which brought him the rank of General. He continued his war engagement by participating in the Montenegrin siege of Scutari where he was wounded twice. He showed an exceptional courage which earned him a golden Obilić Medal.

At the end of 1913 Vešović was appointed as the governor of Metohija (the supreme commander of the military and civil administration of Đakovica Divisional Area) where he became also known as the firm hand. In 1913 he was promoted to a commander of the Old-Serbian Detachment until he became the Montenegrin War minister in period 1913–1915.

After the beginning of the First World War and against the order of Montenegrin King Nikola, Vešović captured Scutari on 27 June 1915, despite opposition of Entante and behind the back of Serbian supreme command. During the Austro-Hungarian occupation of Montenegro, Vešović was the main organizer of the planned general uprising against the occupying forces  planned for Vidovdan 1916 or for Saint Peter's feast day. The plans were discovered and occupation government sent patrol to arrest Vešović. Vešović escaped after killing one Austro-Hungarian officer and joined Chetnik guerrilla rebel forces in the region of Northern Montenegro and Metohija. He did not participate in their actions and in January 1918 surrendered after receiving guarantees that his life would be spared if he would participate in the Austro-Hungarian campaign to convince comitadji irregulars to stop their actions. Vešović accepted to do so and lost what remained of his prestige, before he was interned to Austria.

After the World War I and unification of Montenegro and Serbia, Vešović was one of four generals of former Montenegrin army who was accepted as general of new Army of Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, receiving the rank General of Division. Being strong supporter of the Montenegrin Petrović dynasty, he refused to pledge his loyalty to Karađorđević dynasty, which together with some speech he held in Andrijevica, resulted with his arrest in 1919 and trial in Zemun in 1921.

Early life
Vešović was born in a family whose male members, including his father Luka, had traditionally been military officers. He completed primary school in Lijeva Rijeka and attended secondary school in Cetinje for five years. In 1887 he was selected to attend further military education in Italy which he completed with excellent success. Vešović was the first member of Vasojevići who completed formal military education of an officer in 1890.

Early military career
In 1908 Vešović reported to his supreme command about great frustration of Albanian population because of the increase of taxes. In the same year Vešović was officially accused for undertaking actions toward Berane nahiyah which could provoke war with the Ottoman Empire. He was allegedly responsible for cutting the telegraph wires and distribution of hand grenades among population of Berane. The official investigation concluded that he was not guilty. According to some sources, the false accusations were result of the animosity between Vešović and voivode Lakić Vojvodić who competed with Vešović for prestige in Vasojevići. In 1910 he was awarded with the rank of brigadier. Since 1911, Vešović was a commander of the Vasojević brigade.

First Balkan War

In October  1912, at the beginning of the First Balkan War he was commander of the group of Montenegrin brigades that captured Plav and Gusinje from the Ottomans. After the battle, which was among population of Trijebač interpreted as revenge for the Battle of Novšiće, Vešović captured Greben and Lipovica above Gusinje and created position to attack Ottoman flanks in Metohija.

Most of the garrison of Đakovica fled to Krasniqe. According to some sources, the army commanded by Vešović plundered population of Đakovica. On 24 October Vešović reported that he took half of his army and went to disarm Krasniqe tribe who began to organize together with retreating forces from Đakovica. Since he was unable to disarm Krasnići tribesmen who lived in about 800 houses, each with at least two Mauser guns, he did not dare to proceed further with advance leaving such potential great threat behind his flanks.

On 1 November 1912 Vešović was promoted to rank of General.  Vešović participated in Montenegrin siege of Scutari where he was wounded twice, showing an exceptional courage which earned him a golden Obilić Medal and nickname the knight of Brdanjolt ().

At the end of 1913 Vešović appointed as governor of Metohija (supreme commander of military and civil administration of Đakovica Divisional Area) known as firm hand. Since the Catholic schools in the newly captured territories were perceived as centres of Austro-Hungarian propaganda, Vešović closed them and ordered that all children are to attend public government schools.

Vešović was commander of the Old-Serbian Detachment until 1913 when he was appointed as Minister of War.

During World War I

Capture of Scutari
Against the order of Montenegrin King Nikola, Vešović captured Scutari on 27 June 1915, despite opposition of Entante and behind the back of Serbian supreme command and even his own chief of General Staff, Božidar Janković.

According to some sources, Vešović unsuccessfully tried to retreat over Albania before the forces of Austria-Hungary occupied the whole Montenegro, staying with his staff in Vraka.

Plans for uprising
At the beginning of the occupation of Montenegro by Austria-Hungary in early 1916, Vešović was the main organizer of the planned general uprising against the occupying forces. According to reports of occupying sources, the uprising was planned for Vidovdan or for Saint Peter's feast day. According to Rakočević, Vešović's plans for uprising were based on hopes that Allies would soon advance from Thesalloniki, otherwise he would himself give up any plans for rebellion.

The plans were discovered and the main organizers, including Vešović, arrested. When the Austrian soldiers arrested Vešović and conducted him from his village of Bukova Poljana toward Kolašin, he seized the first opportunity to kill Austrian Lieutenant near Mateševo and escape into the woods together with his brothers Pavić and Novica. The occupying authorities undertook punitive and preventive measures after this event, and took as hostages all male members of Vešovićs family and many of his notable friends, including Janko Vukotić. They began with mass interning of Montenegrin population. Eventually they killed his brother Vlajko after this event, and interned his two daughters, Desanka and Zorka, who were first of many Montenegrin females interned during WWI.

Vešović joined irregular units (comitadji) who struggled against occupying forces and hid in their ranks, without actually participating in their actions. Austro-Hungarian authorities kept up to 45,000 soldiers in Montenegro and used additional forces composed of Muslims and Albanians to struggle against the chetas of comitiadji. They urged Vešović to surrender and guaranteed that they would spare his life. Vešović became tired from hiding within different guerrilla groups and decided to surrender on 1 January 1918. After he surrendered, Vešović followed the wishes of the governor of Montenegro and began a campaign to convince comitadji irregulars to stop their actions, which resulted in loss of what remained of his prestige. When authorities realized that they can not use him for their aims, they interned Vešović near Graz.

After World War I
After the World War I and unification of Montenegro and Serbia, Vešović was one of four generals of former Montenegrin army who was accepted as general of new Army of Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes. At the beginning of 1919 he was sent to serve in the Command of III army in Skoplje, with rank General of Division .

Being strong supporter of the Montenegrin Petrović dynasty, he refused to pledge his loyalty to Karađorđević dynasty, which together with some speech he held in Andrijevica, resulted with his arrest in 1919 and tryal in Zemun in 1921. According to some sources he planned an uprising which would rely on Italy against Karađorđević dynasty and in favor of former Montenegrin king Petrović.

In the early 1920s Yugoslav newspapers Vešović was considered as leader of Montenegrin federalists on elections for state parliament, until they submitted final lists of candidates in which Vešović was candidate for Andrijevica county while leader of list was Mihailo Ivanović. Vešović tried to appoint his list for Peć (Metohija County) and Berane County, but failed to gain enough support of local population. Among the supporters of Montenegrin Federalists, he was particularly popular among former military officers of Montenegrin Royal Army. Vešović was a personification of this part of the population, unsatisfied with their treatment in the newly formed army, who demanded their rights.

Legacy

Vešović was one of the most important Serb characters of Albanian poetry, besides Marko Miljanov and Savo Lazarević.

Vešović was one of the main characters in a silent movie titled There Is No Resurrection Without Death () which had its premiere on 14 April 1922 in Volturno, Rome.

In July 1941, during the suppression of the Uprising in Montenegro, the leaders of Albanian irregulars inspired them to kill and plunder populated places in Vasojevići region, reminding them how Vešović plundered many Northern Albanian villages during his attack on Scutari in the First Balkan War.

In 2001 RTCG produced a documentary drama Sudjenje djeneralu Vesovicu () directed by Gojko Kastratović.

References

Sources

Further reading

 Milutin J. Folić, Neobični đeneral Radomir L.Vešović (1871-1938), Eparhijska radionica, Zemun 2007
 Mitar Đurišić, Đeneral Radomir Vešović u ratovima za slobodu, Andrijevica 2005, IK "Komovi"

External links

1871 births
1938 deaths
Military personnel from Podgorica
Montenegrin military personnel of World War I
Montenegrin generals
Yugoslav generals
Montenegrin Federalist Party politicians
Politicians from Podgorica
Defence ministers of Montenegro


A pair of stunning intertwined hexagonal style earrings from Tego. These pretty handcrafted hexagonal drop earrings have a solid outline and are finished with an ear post fixing. They are made of highly polished plated silver and are suitable for day or evening wear and any occasion.
We have bracelets to match these earrings on this page.
Not exactly what you are looking for? We have a wide range, see the womens silver plated earrings gallery for other options.


Hooks and Books: He made it ..
Just a quick up date on the inaugoral Asian Pacific Iron Man Held in Melbourne today..
Son made it in under the 12 hours... Here is a pic I borrowed from my daughter..
From my family to you A Huge "Thankyou .."
Congratulations to Ben and to you all. You and your family are an ispiration to all of us. I just saw your last post and read Ben's. God bless you all.
Crochet jacket and giggle yarn fun..
Baby jackets Part 3 ..


CA have announced the PC specifications for Total War: Three Kingdoms.
There are details for the minimum specification, the recommended specification, and the specification required to obtain 60+ FPS.
Last edited by Caillagh de Bodemloze; March 14, 2019 at 10:52 AM.


Short Business Description: The Neighbourhood of Cinematic Glamour.
One of the world's most iconic addresses; Hotel Indigo® London – 1 Leicester Square places you in the heart of all the action of London's West End. Our boutique hotel is moments from the luxury brands of Regents Street, the international institutions of Trafalgar Square and the infamous bar and restaurant scene of Soho, you are within walking distance of everything London has to offer. With design inspired by our theatrical heritage, taking its cue from the stage and the screen, you will find boutique bedrooms' rich in style with the occasional dramatic touch… and detail's such as decorative fabrics and sumptuous seating compliments a distinctive use of raw materials including the wooden floorboards of the stage, back-stage lighting and the urban finish to our bathrooms. Our thematic boutique hotel rooms are fully air conditioned with 40" LCD TV, invigorating shower, luxurious toiletries and complimentary Wi-Fi throughout. Many of the rooms having perfectly framed views of Leicester Square and are fully insulated to ensure a soundless night's sleep. From our rooftop pan-Asian restaurant you can take in the panoramic views across the London Eye and the Houses of Parliaments whilst enjoying breakfast, lunch or dinner. Our restaurant is inspired by 1920s Shanghai with Oriental cocktails and sharing plates. Overall, we offer a luxury boutique hotel in London's beating heart.
Traditional working sheep farm in the spectacular Peak District National Park. We have 5 B&B rooms, plus two self catering cottages.
Short Business Description: Lake District hotels offer the perfect accommodation for a break in the Lake District.
Whether you prefer to be Lakeside or in the centre of town, Lake District hotels have something special for you. All of our hotels offer modern bedrooms and facilities as well as delicious locally sourced food served by highly trained and attentive staff. Whichever one of our 7 award winning hotels you choose, you can be sure of a warm welcome.
Short Business Description: Based in Newcastle city centre, we are Newcastles leading provider of Stag and Hen do's at the best possible prices. We understand the importance of getting that perfect balance between accommodation and activity to suit all tastes! Whether it's a boozy one for the Stag Do for the lads at The Gate, or a luxurious pamper experience for the hens on their special night, we have the know-how to truly create those moments to remember.
Based in Newcastle city centre, we are Newcastles leading provider of Stag and Hen do's at the best possible prices. We understand the importance of getting that perfect balance between accommodation and activity to suit all tastes! Whether it's a boozy one for the Stag Do for the lads at The Gate, or a luxurious pamper experience for the hens on their special night, we have the know-how to truly create those moments to remember.
Welcome to the Olive Mill a family run restaurant and bar with accommodation. Following a full revamp in 2010 when ownership was passed from father to son, The Olive Mill is now dedicated to delivering attentive, friendly service and a great menu which focuses on hearty modern British cuisine.
Enjoy drinking and dining in our casual and relaxed pub. Our new menu caters for all tastes and all of our food is freshly prepared using local suppliers.
Crowne Plaza Manchester – Oxford Road is conveniently located next to the Alliance Manchester Business School on the University of Manchester campus just off Oxford Road.
Trains depart frequently from nearby Oxford Road Station, providing quick transport to Manchester Piccadilly Station and onwards to Manchester International Airport. Close to the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester Aquatics Centre, the Central Manchester University Hospitals, Whitworth Art Gallery and the popular concert venue; O2 Apollo Manchester.
Making business travel work. With seven state-of-the-art meeting rooms our Crowne Plaza Meetings Director will take care of your details. Visit our restaurant, enjoy a drink in our popular lounge or outside terrace area, perfect for meeting up with colleagues or celebrating a successful meeting.
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Superbly located on the South Bank of the River Thames, the Crowne Plaza London – Albert Embankment offers breath-taking views over the Houses of Parliament and the London Eye.
Our elegant and cosy hotel offers the comforts of a quiet location as well as the vicinity to explore the heart of London and her Landmarks. Great attention has been given to ensure your comfort in our 142 beautifully appointed air-conditioned bedrooms, with complimentary Wi-Fi throughout.
Featuring international cuisine within our restaurant and a great selection of cocktails and wines from POTUS bar. Our fitness studio, with instructors on request, offers our guests the opportunity to work out and keep fit while working or touring London. Within the area there are a number of jogging tracks for those who love jogging along the River Thames.
The attentive and warm service of our team and our knowledge of London is important to us, whether you are travelling for business or for leisure.
Hotel Indigo® Brighton is moments from the North Laine, a vibrant paradise of independent fashion boutiques, nightclubs and cafés sporting unique murals by local street artists. We're an easy stroll from both the train station and the beach, right at the heart of the city's alternative culture. Taking their inspiration from the Laine's cosmopolitan heritage, our 98 boutique hotel bedrooms all have rainfall showers and complimentary WiFi, and for an extra touch of style you can book a superior room with a four poster bed. Make your way past the iconic Royal Pavilion to get some sea air on the pier, or kick back in a deckchair to take in the view. After a day of exploring, you can work out in our fitness suite or relax in our on-site restaurant before heading out to enjoy the city's legendary nightlife.
Poised between Dundee's waterfront and the heart of its shopping district, Hotel Indigo® Dundee reflects the fascinating heritage of this proud city. Indeed, a stay at this iconic hotel invites you to become part of a story spanning nearly 200 years! The Baxter family built their first spinning mill on the site in 1822, thereby establishing a company that would become one of the world's largest linen manufacturers. The mill buildings – easily identified on the skyline by the elegant bell tower modelled on the Santa Maria della Salute in Venice – remain an important architectural landmark and have now been carefully restored to welcome visitors to this inspirational city. Dundee – the UK's first UNESCO City of Design and home to the brand new V&A Museum of Design Dundee opening in 2018 – has been a focal point for creativity, design and innovation for many years. Today, Dundee is a notable centre in the computer gaming industry and in homage to this, we've created a special games area at Hotel Indigo Dundee for you to enjoy during your stay. Our 102 boutique bedrooms including 12 Junior Suites are fully air conditioned with 40" LCD TV, invigorating rainfall shower, luxurious toiletries and complimentary Wi-Fi throughout. We also offer a fully-equipped gym, as well as a bar and a restaurant, perfect for experiencing Scotland's finest produce and handcrafted bespoke cocktails, wines and coffees.
A warm and friendly welcome awaits you at Staybridge Suites Manchester – Oxford Road, located next to Alliance Manchester Business School on the Manchester University Campus just off Oxford Road and only ten minutes' walk away from Manchester Oxford Road Train Station.
From the moment you step into our bright and contemporary lobby you will feel completely at 'home'. This is a hotel where you come to live, rather than stay – so settle-in and unwind by the fireplace in our lounge.
Head to your strikingly modern yet cozy Studio or One Bedroom Suite where you will find all the comforts of home, including all the mod-cons plus free Wi-Fi throughout. If you just fancy a night in, the fully equipped kitchen in your Suite makes it easy to prepare your own meals.
Stock up on groceries from The Pantry, open 24 hours. Start your day with a complimentary breakfast and enjoy complimentary coffee and tea all day.
Don't miss the midweek "The Social" where you are able to unwind with drinks and snacks and the chance to meet your neighbours.
Take advantage of the complimentary laundry facility and work out in the 24/7 Fitness Room.
Short Business Description: Stories of Romance and Mischief.
Set in a beautiful honey coloured Georgian Terrace is boutique Hotel Indigo® Bath. Grade one listed our building is steeped in history and sits in the peaceful street of South Parade, yet you are just steps away from the centre of Bath. Surrounded by culture Bath is famous for romance, literature and historic architecture; our boutique hotel is a great base to explore this wonderful city. Our 166 rooms have been perfectly designed with you and the city in mind. Modern and stylish they reflect the influences of the architects and novelists who made Bath famous for its story telling and passionate social scene. Just a stone's throw away from the Bath Abbey, Roman Baths and Pultney Bridge, guests can explore the historic sights whilst enjoying the modern day inspirational galleries, street performers, and fantastic array of individual shops. Let us inspire you to walk along the wide Georgian Streets made for carriages up to The Royal Crescent, and after exploring take a relaxing dip in the hot spa waters of the original Roman Baths which give Bath its UNESCO World Heritage status.
Short Business Description: The Neighbourhood with a World Stage.
In the heart of this Shakespearean market town is Hotel Indigo® Stratford-upon-Avon, you'll find our boutique hotel surrounded by the wealth of culture this idyllic town has too offer. Steeped in history and home to William Shakespeare we share our neighbourhood with his 16th-century birthplace, as well as one of the most famous theatres in the world; Royal Shakespeare Theatre. You only have to step out of our door and you'll see New Place; exquisite gardens and commissioned artwork designed to celebrate the family home of William Shakespeare. You will recognise links to the Bard and reflections of Stratford's heritage throughout the design of our boutique hotel rooms, restaurant and bar. Parts of our boutique hotel date back to the 15th-century; a wealth of history and character. Although our facilities are definitely up to date, with flat screen TV's, invigorating rainfall showers, luxurious toiletries and complimentary WiFi.
Short Business Description: Two Worlds Colliding.
At Hotel Indigo London – Aldgate, design inspired by Victorian textile warehouses reflects the neighbourhood's fascinating fusion of East End tradition and contemporary creativity. Our rooms and suites combine aged leather and soft velvets with spa bathrooms and complimentary WiFi. Chef Theo Randall's Theo's Italian Kitchen takes inspiration from the historic markets in Spitalfields, Brick Lane and Columbia Road, and our Drum & Press serves Italian deli treats and locally brewed craft beers. Outside, galleries and boutiques sit in the shadow of City skyscrapers, and the two worlds come together by night in the area's vibrant bars and cool clubs. The South Bank and Tate Modern sit across the River Thames, and an excellent transport network puts the attractions of London right at your feet.
Short Business Description: London City Hotel provides comfortable and affordable accommodation for business visitors and tourists.
Great pride is taken in treating each guest as an individual and on creating a warm and friendly atmosphere.
Situated adjacent to Borough tube station, the hotel puts guests in the very heart of the city.
Connect to the city in a new way at AC Hotel Belfast, an urban retreat in an exceptional riverside location. Explore Belfast on foot with Titanic Belfast, City Hall, Belfast Waterfront, SSE Arena and the shops of Victoria Square a short walk away. Built from the ground up with a designers' eye, the contemporary bedrooms have thoughtful touches of luxury with king size beds, Nespresso coffee makers, glass enclosed double showers and purposeful technology including free high-speed internet access and 49 inch TV's. Guests also enjoy an AC Fitness Room, 24hr room service and can opt for a delicious continental or cooked breakfast. With 2 meeting rooms, an AC Lounge, riverside terrace and all-day dining, the hotel provides the perfect co-working space and when day turns to night the restaurant "Novelli at City Quays" will excite, as multi-Michelin-starred chef Jean-Christophe Novelli brings his flare to the dining experience, whilst expert bartenders serve up local knowledge with craft beer and cocktails.
Grosvenor House, A JW Marriott Hotel welcomes you with luxury accommodation, 5-star amenities and an absolutely extraordinary location. You'll find our historic hotel on the famed Park Lane in London's Mayfair district, just moments from Hyde Park, Oxford Street, Buckingham Palace and more. Impeccably appointed rooms and suites boast plush pillowtop beds, marble bathrooms, high-speed Wi-Fi access and a flat-screen TV. Elsewhere within the hotel, we invite you to enjoy delicious dining at JW Steakhouse or a cocktail at Red Bar and the Bourbon Bar; be sure to visit the fabulously updated Park Room for a memorable afternoon tea, too. Those hosting events in London will be thrilled with our 5-star hotel's striking venues – including a magnificently renovated ballroom and a newly refurbished Executive Lounge. And our prime Mayfair location enables you to explore the city with ease. Whatever your reason for visiting London, we look forward to making your stay truly special at Grosvenor House, A JW Marriott Hotel.
Refined comfort awaits in the heart of London's cultural quarter at Hotel Xenia, Autograph Collection. The name 'Xenia' is a reflection of our belief in the concept of hospitality, as embraced by the ancient Greeks, who placed great value in greeting strangers as friends. Unpack your bags in boutique-style rooms and suites, appointed with touch-screen tablets, cashmere blankets and L'Occitane bathroom products. Enjoy our ideal location between Earl's Court and Gloucester Road tube stations near prominent attractions, including Royal Albert Hall, Harrods, Knightsbridge, the National History Museum and Kensington Palace. Host flawless social and business gatherings in flexible spaces, including a stunning rooftop venue with breathtaking views of London's Royal Boroughs. After a full day of work or exploration, treat yourself to innovative Italian dining at Evoluzione headed by a Michelin Star-awarded chef. Defined by courtesy and refined by culture, our hotel offers an experience beyond expectations.
Step into a piece of history in the heart of London, England at the St. Ermin's Hotel, Autograph Collection. Dating back to 1899, our hotel is an architectural wonder that has been seamlessly restored to reflect Art Nouveau and Rococo influences; marvel at our beautifully manicured courtyard before exploring the sweeping and dramatic elements of our historic grounds. Situated in the city centre – near top attractions like Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace – we offer guests a distinguished luxury destination from which to discover the city. While steeped in a sense of history, our 4-star accommodations are outfitted with modern amenities, including high-speed Wi-Fi access. Dine with us at the Caxton Bar and Grill, a favourite of local Parliament members, after a day spent working or sight-seeing. We also offer an array of venue spaces, including an outdoor terrace, for a special event or wedding. London is calling – we look forward to hosting you at the St. Ermin's Hotel, Autograph Collection.
Fraser Suites Queens Gate offers luxury serviced apartments nestled in a convenient location. Accommodation perfect for business and leisure travellers.


For the body represented on the diagram, determine the reactions of the supports. The body represents a homogeneous rectangular plate weighing G = 12 kN, measuring | AB | = 6m and | BC | = 2m. The plate is fixed by means of three supports: an articulated support (spherical hinge) at point A, a bearing support at point B and a support rod at point C. A pair of forces with a torque of M = 10 kNm acts on the plate and in the middle of the corresponding sides - Horizontal force F1 = 6 kN and vertical force F2 = 8 kN.


It feels good to support small businesses who offer quality products that are made in the USA. That's why I am proud to announce an artisan collaboration with the folks over at Saw and Mitre Frame Company. David Rathbone, adventurer and founder, has devoted himself to the craft of bringing beautiful, handmade frames to life. If you take a close look at the details pictured on the website, you'll see exactly what I mean. We both subscribe to the belief that when you pay a little extra for quality, you have something you can take pride in and enjoy for a very long time.
Saw and Mitre has debuted a curated, limited edition gallery featuring a couple of my American Road Trip photos from 2015. These elegant frames come in dark maple and walnut. There are a few different sizes and price points to choose from, and a tree is planted for each one that is sold!
I also answered a bunch of their questions about living and working on the road which they published on their blog. If for no other reason, click through to see some cool imagery and hand-crafted, wooden picture frames!


Retention Partners Blog: Exit interview workshops can help make your exit interviews meaningful!
Exit interview workshops can help make your exit interviews meaningful!
Don't let exit interviews become just another tick off the list!
Exit interviews provide extremely valuable information. IF exit interviews are conducted in the correct way you could increase employee productivity dramatically.
It all comes down to making the ex-employee feel comfortable enough to be open and honest along with asking the right questions. Then, of course, comes the reporting. Assuming all these are done correctly you now have golden insight in to what is great and not great about working for your organisation.
As we say 'knowledge is power'!


From the puppy that we are living with and deal with, to information goods resembling animal cloning, and using a number of creatures in movie, tv and ads, animals are a relentless presence in our lives.Animal is a well timed evaluate of the various ways that we are living with animals, and assesses a few of the paradoxes of our relations with them: for instance, why is the puppy that sits by means of the dinner desk by no means for consuming? analyzing novels reminiscent of Charlotte's internet, motion pictures equivalent to previous Yeller and Babe, technological know-how and advertisements, style and philosophy, Animal additionally evaluates the ways that we expect approximately animals and demanding situations a few of the assumptions we carry. Why is it, for instance, that animals are one of these consistent presence in children's literature? And what does it suggest to put on pretend fur? is faux fur a moral avoidance of animal pain, or in simple terms a sanitized model of the unacceptable use of animals as clothing?Neither evangelical nor proselytizing, Animal invitations the reader to imagine past the bounds of a subject matter that has an immediate impression on our daily lives.
The foreign guide on Innovation is the main entire and authoritative account on hand of what innovation is, the way it is measured, the way it is built, the way it is controlled, and the way it impacts members, businesses, societies, and the realm as an entire. major experts from all over the world, answerable for a lot of the present examine within the box, learn the multidisciplinary and multifaceted nature of innovation, its kinds and degrees, its standards, its improvement, its administration, its specificity in quite a few domain names and contexts, and societal calls for on it.
This quantity offers either a ancient and a scientific exam of the philosophy of classical Confucianism. bearing in mind newly unearthed fabrics and the newest scholarship, it good points contributions by means of specialists within the box, starting from senior students to remarkable early occupation students.
This ebook bargains a distinct and interesting exam of British and Irish responses to Italian independence and unification within the mid-nineteenth century. Chapters discover the interaction of faith, politics, exile, feminism, colonialism and romanticism in fuelling impassioned debates at the 'Italian query' on either side of the Irish Sea.
Borders are the place wars begin, as Primo Levi as soon as wrote. yet also they are bridges - that's, websites for ongoing cultural trade. someone learning how international locations and states continue precise identities whereas adapting to new rules and reviews is aware that borders offer really revealing home windows for the research of 'self' and 'other'.
But criticism of Singer has also come from a very different place. Keith Tester has argued that what lies at the heart of the work by Singer, Tom Regan and other philosophers concerned with animal welfare is a paradoxical sense of the continuing centrality of the human. Tester writes: 'it would be interesting and not too deliberately polemical, to explore the hypothesis that animal rights is not concerned with animals at all; that, on the contrary, the idea says rather more about society and humans.
However, if a child destroys furniture (I recall using a felt-tip pen to cause damage as a child) he or she might get 'a good talking to'. A pet, however, cannot be spoken to on the same terms (which is not to say that we don't try). Punishment might come, instead, in the form of a smack, or being shut outside, both actions that would be inappropriate (not to say illegal) ways of punishing a child. There is a repeated ambivalence here. Both like us and not like us, the pet once again escapes categorization beyond that of being a pet.
Not only can the Christian religion be interpreted as supporting and promoting dominion and the practices that arise from it, it is in the developed world particularly that we find battery farms, veal crates, intensive farming techniques. On this basis Naomi Campbell's recognition of her potential hypocrisy is a true reflection of some of what is unsaid in debates about fur. Few of us can speak from a truly 'pure' position. In the meantime, a compromise of strange proportions seems to have emerged: fake fur.


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If you're looking for a simple fall dessert that can even pass as a snack, this applesauce raisin skillet cake recipe is for you. It's quintessential fall deliciousness!
I visited my parents, brother, sister-in-law and the munchkin niece and nephew this past weekend in New Jersey. We went apple picking on what was basically the most perfect fall morning and my adorable 2.5 year old niece (who redeemed herself from the previous night's dinner fiasco –> omg, THAT is why I don't have kids) loudly claimed "but, I want to pick THIS one!" with each apple she plucked from the lowest hanging branch.
The entire 1.5 hour event was evidence that adorableness and exhaustion can exist simultaneously.
When we got back to my parents' house, my mom (who had picked half a bucket full of Cortlands for this very purpose) immediately began making applesauce, my favorite thing to make with freshly picked apples.
See this guide to apples for ideas on how to use each type of apple!
Some people are all about the crisp, the pie or, the cobbler even but to me, there's nothing better than homemade applesauce.
I eat it plain, swirled in yogurt, on toasted bread, even with ice cream. Weird? Maybe. Delicious? Very.
I didn't go home with any of her applesauce (I have plans to make my own after some apple picking this week) but as I paged through Megan's new cookbook, Cast Iron Gourmet for like the 10th time trying to decide what to share with you guys this applesauce raisin skillet cake jumped out as the perfect recipe given the time of year.
I love a simple cake.
You know the ones, they're nothing fancy in the looks department (like this apricot brandy cake I swear by during the holidays or this almond apple cake I make every year right around this time) but they literally blow you away with the first bite, their flavor so delicious you almost can't even convey the taste through words.
That's exactly how I felt when trying to describe this glazed orange cardamom cake last winter to you guys. Gah – now I'm excited to make that recipe again this year!
This applesauce raisin skillet cake is one of those recipes – its simple ingredient list in complete juxtaposition to the deliciousness of the flavors baked together in the finished product.
Megan's entire book is filled with recipes like this. In fact, I don't think I've ever bookmarked so many recipes to make in any cookbook, ever.
I made the Kalua pig from it earlier this week and I've never seen 2 people eat 5 pounds of pork so fast before.
It was slightly disturbing actually and completely baffling how 5 or so ingredients in a pot for 6 hours could transform into what it did. It was a sad thing to see the bottom of that Tupperware container.
Cast Iron Gourmet is a cookbook dedicated entirely to your cast iron cookware. Whether it's a traditional cast iron skillet or a Dutch oven, there are recipes from simple dinners to long slow cooked meals great for weekends, amazing desserts like this applesauce raisin skillet cake and even an entire chapter for recipes with 5 ingredients or less.
Megan also has quite a bit of information in the book on how to care for your cast iron cookware correctly to keep it in the best shape for years to come.
It's always fun to find a cookbook you truly love, it's even better when that cookbook is written by someone you've been lucky enough to call a good friend in this weird world of blogging for the past 5 years.
Megan is one of my OGs when it comes to blogging friends (throwback to our old PW Wednesday posts with her, Julie, Rachel and Tina!), we met and roomed together in Orlando in 2013 at the Food Blog Forum conference and got to see each other again last summer in Utah when this book was just in its infant stages!
I'm so excited for her with the release of this book and a new baby all in the span of a month! And even more excited to continue cooking my way through Cast Iron Gourmet recipe by recipe.
Love this Applesauce Raisin Skillet Cake recipe?
Try Ricotta Almond Fig Cake, Basil Nectarine Upside Down Cake, and Cinnamon Cake Bars.
If you're looking for a simple fall dessert that can even pass as a snack, this applesauce raisin skillet cake recipe is for you. It's quintessential fall deliciousness!
If not using a well-seasoned cast iron skillet, line the skillet bottom with a round of parchment (mine is pretty well seasoned but I lightly greased with some butter).
Combine apple cider and raisins in a small sauce pot. Bring to a simmer for about 5 minutes and let the fruit absorb some of the cider. Turn the heat off, remove from heat and let cool.
While that cools, whisk together the flour and baking soda in a small bowl. Set aside.
Whisk together the sugar and apple pie spice in a large bowl. Remove 2 tablespoons of the sugar mixture and set aside for later.
Add the egg, salt, butter and vanilla to the large mixing bowl with the sugar mixture and whisk until light and fluffy, about 30 seconds.
Transfer the raisin and cider mixture to a food processor. Process until almost smooth then pour into the mixing bowl with the sugar mixture.
Add the applesauce to the same mixing bowl and mix together until combined.
Fold the flour mixture into the large mixing bowl until just combined.
Transfer the batter to the prepared skillet and smooth the top with a spatula.
Sprinkle the reserved sugar mixture on top of the batter then place in the oven to bake for 30-35 minutes.
*Many dried fruits would work here. Dark raisins, dried cranberries, dried cherries, etc. to change it up based on seasonality/what you have on hand.
**I don't keep apple pie spice on hand because you can easily make it on your own by combining cinnamon/nutmeg/cardamom/allspice. I eyeballed it and added all of those to this recipe.
***I used unsweetened natural applesauce. Homemade would be great too. There's really no need for applesauce with additional sugar in this recipe (or in life!).


text:
Pango USA Introduces Pango 4.0 and PANGO SAVE
New App Combines User-Centric Features to Provide Best Possible Parking Experience
Tuesday, November 15, 2016 9:34 AM
Guillermo Leiva, President of Operations for Pango USA, a Smart City company providing mobile payment services for parking, transit, ride-hail and other city services, has announced the release of its new Pango 4.0 mobile app in North America as well as a new corporate image. "The new app combined with the new corporate image allows for an integrated look and feel between the apps and the new customer friendly designed website, all leading to a positive customer interaction" said Leiva.
The new corporate image was introduced to communicate what makes Pango USA unique. "Despite already being recognized as a leader in the global parking payment market, there was a gap between our brand perception versus our brand reality — particularly on the additional services available" said Brandon Reese, Pango's VP Customer Experience and Innovation. "Pango technology gives you a smarter and easier way to commute, park and pay, which is now presented in our new corporate image."
In addition to the new look and a smarter and easier way to pay, Pango 4.0 includes PANGO SAVE, a group of features requested by users which will continue to transform the way people commute and manage their parking experience. Pango 4.0 is the first app to combine parking availability, payment of parking, and alerts designed to save users money.
"Saving money is the key component of the new app," said Mr. Leiva. "Notifications will be sent to users on their mobile device if their car is moving and they have time left on the meter. Instead of having to pay for a full 15 or 20 minutes, drivers will only pay for the actual time they need. They will also not be driving around looking for parking as they will be able to drive straight to a block, lot or garage with an available space."
PANGO SAVE will also remind drivers to stop their parking session ensuring they only pay for the parking they use. In addition, they will be able to pay by the minute when there is less than a quarter's worth of time left before the end of the metered time. Users will also be shown when to park off-street, when to park on-street and where businesses are validating parking. People who Pango will save money and time just by using the app. This differentiates Pango from the competition, and makes us relevant to commuters, businesses and public sector leaders. We are constantly updating our technology and adding features that benefit users. We want to provide and make information easily available so that users can make good transportation decisions. This will give users options to help make their commute and parking experiences easier," added Mr. Leiva.
About Pango USA, LLC.
Pango is the FinTech company providing mobile payment services for parking, transit, ride-hail and other city services. Its offerings include mobile payments, navigation, and smart routing. Pango offers real time enforcement and traffic analytics and is available in more than 60 cities worldwide, serving more than one million active accounts. Invented in 1997, Pango received US Patent No. 5,940,481. With its Corporate Headquarters based in Coral Gables, Florida, Pango has introduced first-of-its-kind technology in the United States; it has been in use since 2006.
Pango USA was acquired by Parking By Phone last October 2016. Parking By Phone is a Mobile FinTech company providing Smart Cities and Enterprises with a suite of mobile Solutions and Services, including parking payment, tax payment, enforcement, mobile ticketing, transit payment, local advertising, insurances and more.
For more information on Pango, visit myPango.com
Luis Garma
www.mypango.com/
Pango 4.0 mobile app PANGO SAVE parking availability, payment of parking, and alerts Pango USA new corporate image North America


Terri Spadorcia is a partner within our Global Employer Services (GES) practice in Canada. She has over 20 years of experience in global mobility, nine of which was spent as Deloitte's national service line leader. Terri brings innovative solutions to multinational organizations in Canada and abroad, focusing on employee mobility and international assignments as a strategic business imperative for future growth. Her work involves the development of cost effective integrated mobility solutions, increasing compliance and reducing organizational risk.
She is a frequent speaker on global mobility, has been quoted in national newspapers and recognized in the Canadian Federal Income Tax Act for articles published on cross border tax issues.


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