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The Lovely Bones (2009)
-By Will, on April 28, 2010, 5:35 am
Starring Saoirse Ronan, Mark Wahlberg, Rachel Weisz, Stanley Tucci, Susan Sarandon, Rose McIver, Michael Imperioli, Christian Thomas Ashdale, Reece Ritchie, Charlie Saxton, Amanda Michalka
Directed by Peter Jackson
Expectations: Moderate. I heard bad things, but I love Peter Jackson so there's no way I'm not watching this.
This is a tough movie for me to review. Emotionally, I loved it. It hit me hard and continues to resonate in the days following. Technically, I have some issues with it. Ultimately, for me, the emotional weight of the movie is far greater than any technical problems I had, and I am judging it a bit harsher anyway because of my Peter Jackson fanboy status. I've seen every one of his films and I enjoy them all. Yes, I even like Meet the Feebles.
Set in 1973, the film tells the story of Susie Salmon, a fourteen-year-old girl who blissfully walks home one day with the prospect of her first kiss consuming her mind. Instead, her neighbor rapes and murders her. Her spirit leaves her body and she continues to look down on her family from the afterlife. With The Lovely Bones, Jackson returns to a smaller type of movie similar to his 1994 film, Heavenly Creatures. My problem with some of Jackson's choices in filming this movie is that instead of being in "small-movie mode," he still seems like he's in "big-effects-movie mode" having just come from Lord of the Rings and King Kong.
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6 comments 2000s, Drama, Movie Reviews, Rating: 3.5 Stars, Will's Reviews 2009, Amanda Michalka, Charlie Saxton, Christian Thomas Ashdale, Mark Wahlberg, Michael Imperioli, Peter Jackson, Rachel Weisz, Reece Ritchie, Rose McIver, Saoirse Ronan, Stanley Tucci, Susan Sarandon
Zombieland (2009)
Starring Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone, Abigail Breslin, Amber Heard, Mike White, Bill Murray
Directed by Ruben Fleischer
Expectations: Lowest possible. Modern zombie movies generally rub me the wrong way, but I'm stupid and I keep watching them.
This is not a zombie movie. I repeat, this is not a zombie movie. If you love traditional zombie films such as the George Romero classics, you are better off just re-watching one of those. From what the film shows us, hardly any zombies inhabit Zombieland. Most of the "excitement" coming from the fights and betrayals that play out between the male and female survivors. Even the apocalypse cannot settle the battle of the sexes. All kidding aside, this is absolutely the antithesis of what a good zombie movie should be. It is a stupid attempt at making a zombie comedy, but instead of being clever (like Shaun of the Dead) this just disappoints repeatedly.
Rarely is the survival of the characters an issue and therein lies the problem. Survival should be the main theme of any zombie tale because the zombie horde is ever-growing and as one of the last remaining humans you must constantly tap into the primal instincts of fight or flight. Your nerves fray as you know that sooner or later, you will become one of them. None of that comes into play in Zombieland. Sure, the main character has these survival rules he's constantly telling the viewer about, but the rules are nothing more than fluff to draw your attention away from the almost complete lack of honest zombie danger.
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4 comments 2000s, Action, Comedy, Horror, Movie Reviews, Rating: 0.5 Stars, Trash, Will's Reviews 2009, Abigail Breslin, Amber Heard, Bill Murray, Emma Stone, Jesse Eisenberg, Mike White, Ruben Fleischer, Woody Harrelson, Zombies
Uncle Jasper reviews: Friday Foster (1975)
-By Uncle Jasper, on April 26, 2010, 5:10 am
Allow me to introduce my buddy, Uncle Jasper. He's gonna chime in from time to time with a review, so give him a big welcome. First up, Friday Foster with Pam Grier!
Starring Pam Grier, Yaphet Kotto, Carl Weathers, Scatman Crothers, Eartha Kitt and Godfrey Cambridge
Directed By Arthur Marks
I admit it, by the end of this movie I had no fucking clue what was going on… Some convoluted plot about a bunch of white dudes in afro wigs conspiring to take out all of the nation's black leaders. But my God, if the merit of a film lies in its ability to entertain, then this is a masterpiece in the same league as Dolemite and Fantasy Mission Force.
Look, all you need to know is that Pam Grier has never looked better and Yaphet Kotto has never been more charming. I swear to God, every time he flashed that goofy-ass gap-toothed grin of his I kept thinking how much he resembled a black Ernest Borgnine. He and Pam make an awesome duo and I would have loved to see them share the screen more often. Scatman Crothers is somewhere in there as a pervy priest, and the black dude from The Love Boat is great as the neighborhood pimp ("You have to admit… my shit is HEAVY!!" he tells Pam). Somewhere in the middle you have Eartha Kitt as an over the top fashion designer and Carl Weathers backing a delivery truck into some effeminate dude in a phone booth, crushing him to death. Whew! What a cast they rounded up for this one! It plays like the Grand Hotel of 1970s black cinema.
This film would be one of Pam's last for American International. It is nowhere near as raw as Coffy and lacks the urgency of Foxy Brown, but it would be silly to even compare them. The point of this movie isn't to provoke outrage, it's a party movie that just wants us all to look good and have fun. I'm not saying that Friday Foster is the superior film, but Pam does have a little more breathing room here and it's nice to see her in the arms of a suave millionaire for a change instead of being hog-tied and raped by some drunken hillbilly.
This movie has enough car chases, rooftop fights, machine guns and titties to overcome any shortcoming it may have in terms of plot. In fact, this film stares plot straight in the face and laughs at it. Anybody willing enough to not take it too seriously will be greatly rewarded.
11 comments 1970s, Action, Blaxploitation, Movie Reviews, Uncle Jasper's Reviews 1975, Arthur Marks, Carl Weathers, Eartha Kitt, Godfrey Cambridge, Pam Grier, Scatman Crothers, Yaphet Kotto
Once Upon a Time in China (1991)
My new friend J.P. and I share a love for Hong Kong movies. We are celebrating it with a special double-post, Siskel/Ebert kind of review for one film. Make sure you head over to his site when you're done here to read his thoughts on the film. Now back to your regularly scheduled reviews.
Once Upon a Time in China [黃飛鴻] (1991)
AKA Wong Fei-Hung, Kungfu Master
Starring Jet Li, Yuen Biao, Rosamund Kwan, Jacky Cheung, Kent Cheng, Yee Kwan Yan
Directed by Tsui Hark
Expectations: High. I love this movie.
Bravery soaring! Magnanimity overflowing!
It has been at least eight years since I've seen this. Back when I was watching nothing but Hong Kong movies with my friends, this was one of our top films. Going into watching this again, I had incredibly high expectations. There was no way it could live up to those kind of hopes, and in some ways it doesn't, but overall I still really love this film. My tastes have changed over the years and it struck me how old the film felt. It didn't feel like 1991, it felt more like 1971. That was when it hit me. This movie has more in common at a base level with a traditional Shaw Brothers kung fu flick than I had ever noticed before. The fight choreography and wire work are completely modern, but it has the feeling and the charm of a classic from the Run Run Shaw studio. In this way, Once Upon a Time in China is a look back, while taking a step forward.
The fights are spectacular. They're what you are here for, and if not, they should be. The umbrella fight early on is quite good, but nothing can prepare you for the final battle in the warehouse involving multiple ladders. Even with the wire-work, the sheer level of acrobatic and physical ability on display is amazing. I remembered this fight a lot better than I remembered the rest of the film because my friends and I used to re-watch this fight over and over back in the day. It's truly fantastic. I was a little disappointed that Yuen Biao didn't get more to do in the way of fighting, but as his character was a guy that wanted to learn kung fu, I suppose I can forgive this.
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7 comments 1990s, Action, Foreign, Martial Arts, Movie Reviews, Special Features, Will's Reviews 1991, Jacky Cheung, Jet Li, Kent Cheng, Once Upon a Time in China, Rosamund Kwan, Tsui Hark, Wong Fei-Hung, Yee Kwan Yan, Yuen Biao
A Serious Man (2009)
Starring Michael Stuhlbarg, Richard Kind, Sari Lennick, Fred Melamed, Aaron Wolff, Jessica McManus, Alan Mandell, Adam Arkin, George Wyner, Amy Landecker
Written and Directed by Joel & Ethan Coen
Expectations: Moderately high. I love the Coen Bros, but they've burned me before.
Wow. I don't know what to say. I honestly don't feel qualified enough to form a complete response to this movie. I loved it. Absolutely one of the best films of 2009, but this is so not a film for everyone. The Coen Brothers generally make polarizing movies, but this is even in its own league within their filmography. It is probably their darkest and most personal comedy, and it instantly ranks with their best work for me. This also makes it a tough nut to crack. Immediately after watching I felt that I needed to see it again, and I would say that most would need a couple of viewings to really get their heads around it. If the ending to No Country for Old Men left you scratching your head, then you will want to assume that position once again. If you enjoy that sort of ambiguity as much as me though, then you are in for a treat.
A Serious Man tells the story of Larry Gopnik (Michael Stuhlbarg), who just can't seem to get anything going in his direction. His wife is leaving him for a widowed family friend. His kids have zero respect for him. He's almost tenured in his teaching job, but now that is up in the air as well. Don't worry, this is all towards the beginning, but viewing this film isn't so much about the plot as it is about the atmosphere and connecting to the sad helplessness of Larry. The film takes place in the late 1960s and it feels like it. Period details and music abound and delight.
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8 comments 2000s, Comedy, Drama, Movie Reviews, Rating: 4 Stars, Will's Reviews 2009, Aaron Wolff, Adam Arkin, Alan Mandell, Amy Landecker, Book of Job, Coen Bros., Dark Comedy, Ethan Coen, Fred Melamed, George Wyner, Jessica McManus, Joel Coen, Michael Stuhlbarg, Richard Kind, Sari Lennick
Mini-Review: 21 Up (1977)
-By Will, on April 21, 2010, 10:36 pm
Directed by Michael Apted
21 Up continues the series of documentary films started in 1964 that follows the lives of 14 British children. The idea for the first film, Seven Up, came about from the Jesuit motto, "Give me a child until he is seven and I will give you the man." Every seven years the same children are interviewed about their lives and world views. It is an incredible concept and it's interesting to see how the children grow up.
One flaw is that some of the participants are affected by seeing the films prior to being interviewed, specifically some of the upper class children, so their answers don't seem as real as in earlier entries. There is something to be said about the fact that they are affected at all though. It suggests that taking a step back and being able to see themselves from another's perspective, they find that they might be more biased than they thought themselves to be. I realize that this is an unavoidable flaw but it still nags at me.
My other problem with these films is that each one gets longer than the last. Most of the material is very dry and some of the interviews don't really go anywhere. I love the series, but they are becoming a slog to get through.
Leave a comment 1970s, Documentary, Mini-Reviews 1977, Michael Apted, Seven Up, The Up Series
Mini-Review: Battle for Terra (2007/2009)
-By Will, on April 19, 2010, 6:40 pm
Battle for Terra (2009)
Originally released as Terra in 2007 outside the US
Starring Evan Rachel Wood, Brian Cox, James Garner, Chris Evans, Danny Glover, Amanda Peet, David Cross, Justin Long, Dennis Quaid, Luke Wilson
Directed by Aristomenis Tsirbas
Expectations: Low. I'm not too fond of 3D animation, but I love sci-fi.
I'm a huge science fiction fan. This is a blessing and a curse. In the case of Battle for Terra, it's a bit of both. There's nothing wrong with the film, it's pretty good. As a long-time sci-fi fan though, there isn't anything in this film that's particularly new or unexplored within the genre. It is very similar to Avatar in that way. What makes this more enjoyable than Avatar is Terra's 84-minute runtime. It doesn't over stay its welcome.
The film opens by introducing an alien culture living in a tree-like structure floating above the clouds. The inhabitants of the city look like ants, but they don't have legs and they float around as well. It's sci-fi, just go with it. One day, a mysterious ship covers the sun and some villagers get abducted. A rebellious child named Mala (Evan Rachel Wood) investigates the situation and we're off.
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11 comments 2000s, Action, Kids, Mini-Reviews, Movie Reviews, Rating: 2.5 Stars, Science Fiction 2007, 2009, Amanda Peet, Aristomenis Tsirbas, Brian Cox, Chris Evans, Danny Glover, David Cross, Dennis Quaid, Evan Rachel Wood, James Garner, Justin Long, Luke Wilson
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Electronic cigarette and e-liquid (collectively "e-vapor") manufacturers are increasingly the targets of California Proposition 65 enforcement actions brought by private plaintiffs. Of the 168 private enforcement actions brought against e-vapor manufacturers, 150 of these have been filed since 2016. We provide background on Proposition 65 below, followed by specifics regarding how the e-vapor industry has been targeted.
The Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986 (also known as Proposition 65) requires the governor of California to publish, at least annually, a list of chemicals known to the State to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity. See Cal. Health & Safety Code §§ 25249 et seq. Among other things, the law prohibits the knowing exposure of any individual to a significant amount of a listed chemical without first providing a "clear and reasonable warning" to such individual. Cal. Health & Safety Code § 25249.6. The law requires these warnings to be provided for consumer product, workplace, and environmental exposures unless "the person responsible can show that the exposure [to a listed carcinogen] poses no significant risk assuming lifetime exposure at the level in question," or, for a listed reproductive toxin, that the substance "will have no observable effect assuming exposure at 1,000 times the level in question." Cal. Health & Safety Code § 25249.10(c).
The 60-day notices sent to e-vapor manufacturers have focused on four listed chemicals: acetaldehyde (listed as a carcinogen), formaldehyde (listed as a carcinogen), nicotine (listed as a reproductive toxicant), and tobacco smoke (listed as a carcinogen). We have identified approximately 150 60-day notices sent to e-vapor companies. Almost all of these notices have been filed by the Center for Environmental Health (CEH). CEH has either detected listed chemicals in the products by analytical testing (e.g., testing the e-liquid) or has alleged that the intended use of the product (e.g., the e-vapor device) will result in exposure to the listed chemical(s).
Out of the enforcement actions since 2015, there have been nearly 100 settlements that have amounted to approximately $3.9 million in combined fees and penalties. The highest settlements amounted to $355,000, with the average settlement amount being in the range of $42,000.
E-Vapor manufacturers should be aware of their rights and responsibilities under Proposition 65, particularly in light of new warning requirements, which differ from the current Proposition 65 warnings in terms of presentation and content, that become mandatory on August 30, 2018 – around the same time the nicotine addiction warning required by the FDA's Deeming Regulation goes into effect for e-vapor products.
If you are interested in obtaining additional guidance on this topic, contact Azim Chowdhury (202.434.4230, chowdhury@khlaw.com). For more information on our Tobacco and E-Vapor Practice, visit www.khlaw.com/evapor. For more information on our Proposition 65 Practice, visit www.khlaw.com/Proposition_65. Follow Keller and Heckman Tobacco and E-Vapor Partner Azim Chowdhury on Twitter.


The primary objective of this study is to develop a comprehensive understanding of the condition of submental fullness due to submental fat, how it is treated in current clinical practice, and the risks and benefits associated with its treatment.
Dr. Cameron Rokhsar's office is currently enrolling patients with submental fullness. Please call our offices for more information.
This prospective single treatment clinical trial evaluated the outcomes associated with a non-invasive treatment to obtain lifting and tightening effects utilizing the Ulthera System. This study will evaluate the effectiveness of Ultherapy for the treatment of ultrasound energy delivered below the surface of the skin in elbows.
Dr. Cameron Rokhsar's office is currently treating elbow skin with the Ulthera device to test its effectiveness in tightening loose elbow skin. The FDA has previously approved Ulthera for loose skin on the neck, under the chin, along the jawline and on the brow. Enrollment for this study is currently closed.
The objective of the study to evaluate efficacy of the Fraxel laser system on patients with fresh scars. The Fraxel laser treats various skin conditions including sun damage, wrinkles, fine lines, uneven pigmentation, as well as reduces the appearance of acne and acne scars. Enrollment for this study is currently closed.


Our products are stocked by hotels and restaurants all over the world. Here are links to a small selection of them.
Built in 1906, with captivating views of the Leven Valley on the edge of the Yorkshire Moors, Crathorne Hall is at once grand and stately, warm and welcoming. Owned by the Dugdale familly until 1977, the Hall has played host to politicians, courted royalty and delighted socialites over the decades. Yet despite moving in stately circles, the house has stayed true to its roots as a place of entertainment and relaxation. Set in 15 acres, it is yours to explore. Enjoy an overnight stay in one of the 26 bedrooms, all of which have been refurbished, or plan your perfect day and take over the hotel for your wedding or inspire your delegates with the meeting facilities.
Brandyclassics Customers can book in for dinner, bed and breakfast from £169 per room, before 3 October. Just visit https://www.handpickedhotels.co.uk/autumn-retreat or call central reservations on 0845 458 0901 or 01642 706600.
Three course dinner for two.
Complimentary bedroom upgrade and full traditional breakfast for two.
Hand Picked Hotels is a privately owned and managed hotel group at the forefront of a renaissance in fine British hospitality.
Hand Picked Hotels create an atmosphere in which guests are encouraged to feel at home. The buildings are all large architecturally stunning properties but no one will ever find themselves tiptoeing around the corridors intimidated by the imposing grandeur of the building. Hand Picked encourage guests to kick off their shoes and enjoy themselves. Their superb settings, in Britain's most beautiful countryside, elegant accommodation hung with fine paintings and furnished with exquisite antiques, and attentive but discreet service are all intended to stimulate your enjoyment not stifle it.
The award-winning hotels are renowned for exquisite food, fine wines and bespoke service by Hand Picked people in stylish, relaxing surroundings. At Hand Picked Hotels, you have permission to be outrageously self-indulgent.
Maybe it is the 35 acres of grounds or the golf course or the soothing treatments at the spa ... the truth is it is different for everyone, but the result is always the same - an exquisitely relaxing stay. Located just one mile from St Peter Port and four miles from the airport, this is one of the best equipped hotels in Guernsey for a romantic wedding or business event or simply for when you have earned a special break. The hotel offers a variety of dining options, top spa treatments and one of only three golf courses on the island. The hotel is the ideal base for exploring the wonderful island of Guernsey.
Originally built as a country escape for the Scott family, Wood Hall Hotel & Spa in Wetherby remains a tranquil country house hotel where today's pressures seem an age away. Ever since the house was completed around 1790, it has been a place of peace and relaxation. Fittingly, it currently stands next door to a Carmelite monastery, home to an order of nuns. However, Wood Hall Hotel is not simply about quiet contemplation; the hotel offers 44 bedrooms, a 2AA Rosette restaurant and a small health club and spa. From the moment you arrive, this country house hotel is yours to enjoy. Step into the drawing room and flick through the papers, kick off your shoes and curl up with a book, or indulge in our signature afternoon tea.
A fine example of late medieval architecture, New Hall is as majestic as it is magical. It started life as a manor house built by the Earl of Warwick in the 13th century, giving it the reputation today of being England's oldest listed inhabited moated house. At 800 years old, New Hall has a long history of offering exceptional hospitatlity to discerning guests. This 60 bedroom, 4 star hotel is situated within 26 acres of richly timbered land, thick pasture and elegant gardens its interiors are unforgettable. Expect crenelated towers, mullioned windows and of course a drawbridge to complete the picture of enchantment. But do not expect medieval draughtiness - New Hall is replete with contemporary comforts, whether it is our indulgent rooms, our spa and health club or The Restaurant with its 2 AA Rosette fine dining. New Hall is conveniently located with easy access to the M6 and M42, NEC and Birmingham International Airport.
Built in 1850 by George Hicks, a colonel in the Bengal Army, the building has an almost Mediterranean feel yet the hotel itself is unmistakably British. The interior is calm and elegant, full of space and light, while the outside impresses with its beautiful terrace and view over golden sand and crystal clear waters. We believe in taking things easy here, with a strong focus on leisure; someting we like to think we are good at! One of the highlights of the four star L'Horizon Beach Hotel is the new spa, which includes six treatment rooms, a relaxation area, pedicure and manicure area and sleep room. With 106 bedrooms and three restaurants, the hotel offers the ideal setting for an intimate break, a romantic wedding and (as it is just 10 minutes from Jersey airport) an inspiring meeting venue.
Hendon Hall offers an irresistible alchemy of Georgian splendour and calm in a quiet, residential area north of London. This urban country house hotel in Hendon has a variety of function rooms ideal for events, meetings and weddings. Part of the charm is the strong Georgian feel with Corinthian pillars, ornate portico and manicured terraced garden, all evoking a grand past. Whether you stay for a while or are just passing through, the award-winning 2 rosette Garrick restaurant offers a dining experience that is worth a visit in itself. Hendon Hall is situated close to excellent transport links - the Northern line (tube), direct train to Wimbledon, the City, Kings Cross St Pancras (and Eurostar), as well as the A1, M1 and M25 - and the historic city of St Albans.
Like a magical secret, Rhinefield House is located deep within the New Forest National Park in 40 acres of private grounds. Step inside and the aura of magic simply deepens - and nowhere more spectacularly than in the Alhambra Room, bedecked in glittering jewels. With beautiful surroundings and a blend of Tudor and Gothic architecture, Rhinefield is the most perfect fairy tale wedding venue. It is also the ideal setting for an indulgent break and an inspiring conference venue. Downtime means the chance to take in the great outdoors on its doorstep, whether it's pony trekking, long walks in the forest or a day trip to the sea. The hotel has 50 bedrooms including three feature suites, an outdoor pool and a small health suite. The 2 AA Rosette fine dining Armada restaurant is perfect for romantic or celebratory meals and The Grill offers a less formal setting with views of the ornamental ponds.
This sophisticated Georgian mansion, built in 1806, is the perfect venue for weddings as well as meetings, events and private dining. Set in 12 acres of the 'garden of England' - Kent - its thrity eight beautifully furnished rooms, including suites, offer all the latest modern amenities. The hotel also boasts its own Health Club and Spa which is a great place to work out, receive top treatments, relax or unwind. Despite its rural location, it is within easy reach of the M25 and M20, as well as Gatwick and Heathrow airports, the south coast and the Channel Tunnel. Just a short drive from Dartford, Sevenoaks and Maidstone, it is only 40 minutes from London Victoria train station.
Built in 1722 by Sir Thomas Medley, Buxted Park's history is as colourful as it is long. Over the years, this East Sussex hotel has played host to movers and shakers including William Wordsworth, Winston Churchill and Marlon Brando. You can see what attracted the great and the good when exploring this country retreat's many rooms or strolling in the gardens. The Grade II listed Palladian mansion, set in 312 acres of the finest parkland, is a unique backdrop for the most perfect of wedding venues. The house's historic rooms really do enable business and pleasure to mix, and private dining is tailor-made for special occasions. Just 35 minutes south of the M25 and a short drive from Ashdown Forest this fabulous country hotel can also be reached by direct train from London Bridge.
Nutfield Priory is a four star country house hotel and spa inspired by the Neo-Gothic splendour of the Palace of Westminster. This unique VIctorian mansion house in Surrey, which dates back to 1872, delights with its stylish interiors hung with fine paintings, unique artwork and many original features. The hotel has 15 feature bedrooms and for that little extra indulgence, The Byron Suite located in the tower is spread over three floors and makes a wonderful choice for a romantic weekend away. The hotel offers the ideal setting for an intimate break, a romantic weedding venue and, with a wonderfully accessible loctaion, an inspiring conference venue not far from London. Set alongside the hotel is the Nutfield Priory Health Club and Spa, a great place to work out, relax or unwind.
The grandeur of this Neo-Gothic mansion may be almost overwhelming at first sight but once inside you can expect the warmest of welcomes as well as indulgent bedrooms, irresistible cuisine and unforgettable architecture. Ettington Park Hotel, the only AA 4 Red Star hotel in Stratford-Upon-Avon, is set in 40 acres of parkland in a verdant valley with the River Stour meandering through it. Situated just six miles from the centre of the famed home of Shakespeare and just a few miles from the start of The Cotswold Way, this spectacular property is a world apart from the hustle and bustle of contemporary life. Built from six types of Cotswold stone, Ettington Park is furnished with fine paintings and decorated with friezes that trace its centuries of tradition and heritage. This is a country house where historic extravagance meets contemporary comfort. Leisure facilities include a swimming pool, sauna, steam room, spa pool and tennis courts.
Bathe in the beauty of Bath with a stay at Bailbrook House, one of only two Grade II listed hotels in the city. It started life as a private residence in the early 1790s and retains all the glories of that era, thanks to a £10m restoration in 2013. The hotel is set in 20 acres of grounds just a short drive from the centre of Bath and the surrounding countryside. Bailbrook House consists of the historic Mansion House and Bailbrook Court. The Mansion House has an array of individually styled feature bedrooms, lounges, Cloisters, 2 AA Rosette fine dining restaurant and conservatory bar and lounge. The contemporary, adjacent Bailbrook Court offers modern classic and executive accommodation, the Lansdown restaurant where breakfast is served and a variety of meeting and function rooms in the fabulous Brunel Suite.
Woodlands Park Hotel in Surrey, near Leatherhead and Cobham, was originally commissioned by English industrialist William Bryant, son of the founder of the match company Bryant and May. Built in 1885, the house was a modern marvel and one of the first in the UK to have electric light. Over a century on, the house remains as impressive as ever. Situated within easy access of London, this Grade II listed Victorian house is set in landscaped grounds and gardens, making it one of the most perfect wedding venues in Surrey. Woodlands Park offers a range of classic and executive bedrooms and suites, a choice of 57 in all. It has two great restaurants: the wood panelled Oak Room and the more contemporary Bensons Restaurant. The hotel also boasts excellent conference facilities as well as being the perfect training and meeting venue.
Steeped in tradition and history, Fawsley Hall Hotel & Spa in Northamptonshire is a beautiful country house hotel surrounded by formal gardens and 2000 acres of parkland landscaped by Capability Brown in the 1760s. It was a home built for entertaining. Henry VIII, Elizabeth I and other notable monarchs all enjoyed its fine hospitality and that tradition continues to this day. The hotel has been awarded 4 AA red stars and 2 Rosettes for its Cedar Restaurant which offers a host of treats, not least of which is afternoon tea, a much loved tradition at Fawsley Hall. Conveniently located in a rural position, it is a short drive from Daventry, Banbury, Leamington and Northampton and has easy access to the M1 and M40. The magnificent Tudor House or the Georgian Knightley Court are romantic wedding venues or if you are in need of a workout, or a little pampering, the hotel offers a contemporary health club and spa facilities. It has a choice of seven function rooms and with 60 bedrooms, including feature rooms, it can cater for functions large or small.
Audleys Wood Hotel was a much loved home for most of its life and it is perhaps this episode in its history that gives the mansion such warmth and comfort to this day. Built in the 1880s as a private home for Thomas Pain, it subsequently enjoyed a rich and colourful history, with owners and visitors including the rich and famous. Today it is a 72 bedroom, 4 star hotel surrounded by woodlands and seven acres of private grounds. The hotel offers a range of bedrooms, from Classic to Feature rooms. Whether you are visiting for business or pleasure, Audleys Wood has so much to offer. It is the perfect venue for christenings, birthdays, anniversaries, engagements or just getting together with good friends for some fine dining and wonderful bar selection, including Hermitage Cognacs. The Garden Pavilion is a self-contained wedding venue and for meetings and conferences there are a whole host of options. Audleys Wood is just 18 miles from Reading and 32 miles from Southampton, with easy access from the M3.
The Wellesley Hotel is a 1920's Knightsbridge townhouse with a famous musical heritage' The Building has been beautifully restored with a modern take on the art deco style and now offers contemporary luxury, traditional glamour and uncompromising service in one of London's most prestigious locations.
The Domaine du Breuil, a charming 19th century chateau above the town of Cognac run by the equally charming Dominique and Luc Marmain. The character and warmth offered at this fine hotel leaves a lasting impression on visitors to the centre of the famous Charente cognac industry. A visit to the Domaine du Breuil should be on everyone's itinerary.
If you are anywhere near Brecon you simply must call into the Griffin at Felin Fach. Between the Brecon Beacons and Black Mountains, it is a multi award winning restaurant with rooms owned by two brothers Charles and Edmund Inkin. Superb locally produced and seasonal food produced by head chef Simon Potter, great beers and wines and of course Hermitage cognacs. What more could you wish for? Ask Julie for a table at julie@eatdrinksleep.ltd.uk. You won't regret it!
Charles Inkin will tell you that like so many things, food is best kept simple. The fresh and seasonal menu changes according to what comes into the back door and in a place like St Ives there is some pretty interesting food coming into the back door. What is really nice though is that they have a great range of drinks priced at local rates, "we don't charge London rates here" and the brandies are in sensible 35cl measures. The nice thing is you can even stay in one of their lovely rooms.
We support our Armed Forces personnel by offering them 5% Off all our non-discounted products. For more information go to the British Forces Discount website using the link above.


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Forced blackouts may occur over heat-wave week – Jerusalem Post
Posted by Editor on Friday, July 13th 2012
By SHARON UDASIN
As temperatures surge during the next week, the IEC said it expects electricity demand to be extremely high.
The Israel Electric Corporation has asked the public to conserve electricity during the ongoing heat wave in hopes of preventing blackouts over the next week.
As temperatures surge during over the next few days, the IEC said it expects electricity demand to be extremely high – at 11,500 megawatts on some days – which may necessitate forced blackouts. The company may have to stop power lines intermittently throughout the country, it said, in outages will last only about an hour and will be divided among customers equally.
The weather forecast for the next week shows expected temperatures throughout the country of about 36 degrees Celsius, with humidity levels reaching between 50 and 60 percent. The heat index, factoring in the humidity, will be about 46 degrees Celsius, the IEC reported.
Due to the fragile state of the country's electricity reserves, the company therefore asked that the public conserve and divert the use of energy-intensive devices to early morning or late evening only. Residents should particularly refrain from using such appliances as dishwashers, washing machines, ovens, electric cookers and vacuum cleaners between 12 and 5 p.m., as well as make sure that air conditioners are set on 25 degrees Celsius or above.
Meanwhile, the IEC said it is preparing for the heat wave by running all production units at its disposal and by making special arrangements with private power producers. The company apologized in advance about the difficulties that its customers are likely to experience and reminded residents to backup all devices that require power.
Aiming to ensure the population's safety, the IEC recommended ensuring the integrity of all generators in highrise buildings every six months, including connections to elevators, alarm bells in elevators and emergency lighting systems. If stuck in an elevator during a power failure, the company reminded residents to call the fire department at *102 and said that rescues can only be performed by someone authorized to do so.
"The IEC will continue to make every effort to provide its customers [with] all electricity demands, and thanks the public for understanding, responsiveness and cooperation," a statement from the company said, reminding customers to check its website regularly for updates about outages.
The same day, the IEC also announced the official launch of its Facebook page and its participation in a wide range of social networking platforms – Twitter, YouTube, Picasa, Flickr and blogs. By taking part in social media, the company can "create a direct connection with the company's customers," especially during the days when they "might have to cope with unexpected power shortages," the company said.
"The launch of social networking activities, specifically these days, is designed, among other things, to create more open communication with the public for transmitting messages and information about managing anticipated shortages in the electricity sector during summer months and in general," said Eli Glickman, CEO of IEC.
"These new communication channels are part of a process of openness and transparency with our large community of clients."
http://www.jpost.com/Sci-Tech/Article.aspx?id=277121
« Herzliya residents protest expansion of Dan Acadia Hotel – Jerusalem Post
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Kootenay School of the Arts at Selkirk College (KSA) has unveiled a unique display of Bernard Leach Pottery thanks to the generosity of the late Carol Proudfoot Couch.
And this is how the current Gallery A show at Touchstones Nelson confronts that thought, the thought of how we live.
It was the award winning play that spawned the local history movement for TNT Theatre.
Staying sane while all around you go crazy is a trick for the ages.
It is also the trick we are being asked to pull as economic hard times, climate change and "messy issues of oil" assail us on an ever increasing scale.
This is about more than books.
The people of Nelson have a large stake in the referenda that will take place this Saturday in the regional district areas of E, F and southern H.
Twist twenty tantalizing tales of BC's early years into one film and you have The Edge of the World: BC's Early Years.
Anne DeGrace's first novel, Treading Water, a series of linked stories based on the flooding of Renata in the 1960s, has been chosen for the second annual One Book One Kootenay (OBOK) selection.
For generations the Capitol Theatre has been bringing in talented and diverse groups that inspire the imaginations of the children of the Kootenay region.


The Shakespeare Theatre Company offers a range of gift certificates that are perfect for giving at any occasion. Give a gift of classes, Camp Shakespeare or tickets to any of our regular season productions!
Please note: gift certificates must be ordered by Tuesday, December 19th in order to ensure delivery by Christmas.


text:
Q: JAVA: Adding new buttons to a scrollable panel I am building a simple game and I need a grid with buttons of various colors. The grid should be 10 buttons in width and unbounded in height. There is an extra button at the bottom, which clones the already existing buttons onto the same grid. I need to keeps the sizes of the buttons the same as well as for a scroll bar to appear when adding too many buttons.
Some visuals of my problem can be found here.
I tried using a JScrollPane and I put the main JPanel inside of it, but the scroll bar doesn't appear. I am quite new at this, so any tips on how to deal with this would be much appreciated
My code:
import java.awt.BorderLayout;
import java.awt.Color;
import java.awt.Dimension;
import java.awt.GridLayout;
import java.awt.event.ActionEvent;
import java.awt.event.ActionListener;
import java.util.ArrayList;
import java.util.HashMap;
import java.util.Random;

import javax.swing.BoxLayout;
import javax.swing.JButton;
import javax.swing.JFrame;
import javax.swing.JPanel;
import javax.swing.JScrollPane;

public class Main {
    private JFrame window;
    private JPanel mainPanel;
    private JPanel currentButtonsPanel;

    private ArrayList<JButton> buttons;

    private final int WINDOW_X, WINDOW_Y;
    private final int N_BUTTONS = 10;

    private final Color[] colors = new Color[]{
            Color.RED, Color.GREEN, Color.BLUE,
            Color.YELLOW, Color.ORANGE, Color.MAGENTA};
    private final Random random = new Random();
    private JButton selectedButton = null;

    public Main(int w, int h, String title){
        WINDOW_X = w;
        WINDOW_Y = h;

        window = new JFrame(title);
        window.setLayout(new BorderLayout());
        window.setSize(new Dimension(w, h));
        window.setResizable(false);
        window.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);

        mainPanel = new JPanel();
        //mainPanel.setBorder(BorderFactory.createLineBorder(Color.RED));
        mainPanel.setLayout(new BoxLayout(mainPanel, BoxLayout.PAGE_AXIS));

        buttons = new ArrayList<>();

        for(int i = 0; i < N_BUTTONS*3.5; i++)
            addNewButton();

        JScrollPane scrollPane = new JScrollPane(mainPanel);
        scrollPane.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(w,h));
        scrollPane.setHorizontalScrollBarPolicy(JScrollPane.HORIZONTAL_SCROLLBAR_NEVER);
        scrollPane.setVerticalScrollBarPolicy(JScrollPane.VERTICAL_SCROLLBAR_AS_NEEDED);

        window.add(scrollPane, BorderLayout.CENTER);
        window.add(generateButtonsPanel(), BorderLayout.SOUTH);
        window.pack();
        window.setVisible(true);
    }

    private JPanel generateButtonsPanel(){
        JPanel ret = new JPanel();

        JButton btn = new JButton("Check");
        btn.addActionListener(new ActionListener(){
            @Override
            public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e){
                copyButtons();
            }
        });
        ret.add(btn);

        return ret;
    }

    private void copyButtons(){
        ArrayList<JButton> newList = new ArrayList<>();
        for(JButton btn : buttons){
            JButton newBtn = new JButton();
            newBtn.setBackground(btn.getBackground());
            newBtn.addActionListener(btn.getActionListeners()[0]);
            newList.add(newBtn);
        }
        for(JButton btn : newList)
            addNewButton(btn);
    }

    private void addNewButton(){
        JButton newButton = new JButton();

        Color col = colors[random.nextInt(colors.length)];
        newButton.setBackground(col);

        newButton.addActionListener(new ActionListener(){
            @Override
            public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e){
                JButton btn = (JButton)e.getSource();
                if(selectedButton == null){
                    selectedButton = btn;
                    btn.setText(".");
                    return;
                }
                if(selectedButton == btn){
                    selectedButton = null;
                    btn.setText("");
                    return;
                }
                if(selectedButton.getBackground() == btn.getBackground()){
                    System.out.println("Matching!");
                    btn.setBackground(Color.BLACK);
                    selectedButton.setBackground(Color.BLACK);
                    btn.setEnabled(false);
                    selectedButton.setEnabled(false);

                    buttons.remove(btn);
                    buttons.remove(selectedButton);
                }else
                    System.out.println("No match!");

                btn.setText("");
                selectedButton.setText("");
                selectedButton = null;
            }
        });

        addNewButton(newButton);
    }

    private void addNewButton(JButton btn){
        if(buttons.size() % 10 == 0){
            currentButtonsPanel = new JPanel();
            currentButtonsPanel.setLayout(new GridLayout(0,10));
            currentButtonsPanel.setMaximumSize(new Dimension(WINDOW_X*WINDOW_X,WINDOW_X/N_BUTTONS+10));
            currentButtonsPanel.add(btn);
            mainPanel.add(currentButtonsPanel);
        }else
            currentButtonsPanel.add(btn);
        buttons.add(btn);
        window.setVisible(true);
    }

    public static void main(String[] args){
        new Main(400, 300, "Game");
    }
}

EDIT: This code is only experimental, so far I'm only interested in the technical aspects of this program, so everything is simplified.

A: I believe your problem is with currentButtonsPanel.setMaximumSize(new Dimension(WINDOW_X*WINDOW_X,WINDOW_X/N_BUTTONS+10));.  The purpose of that method is to indicate to the Layout Manager the maximum size that the particular component will ever be, rather than telling it to set to that size.  They layout manager has automatically determined what size your JPanel should be (as well as the buttons inside), and is following through with that determination in order to avoid using the scroll bar, all the while (correctly) obeying the Max size directive you gave it.
Try setPreferredSize() instead; this tells your Layout Manager the size that your component wants to be.  This will cause the Layout Manager to set the JPanel to your preferred size, which should cause a vertical scrollbar to appear, given that you have a vertical scrolling policy set up.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


This man is crocheting the loops for kitchen hand towels. Do you know how to do handwork like knitting, crocheting or embroidery? Who taught you? "The yarn __________" ~ Next steps… Invitation to share your work… What inspired this prompt?


Sophie Appersett is quite willing to marry outside of her class to ensure the survival of her family. But the darkly handsome Mr Edward Sharpe is no run-of-the-mill London merchant. He's grim and silent. A man of little emotion—or perhaps no emotion at all. After two months of courtship, she's ready to put an end to things.
Mimi Matthews is a fairly recent discovery, but a favourite historical romance author of mine. She writes historically accurate Victorian novels and novellas that are on the sweet side as far as steaminess goes, but usually also emotional stories with great characters.
I liked all of the mixed messages and class confusion in this one. The hero is completely out of his depth trying to navigate the society of the landed gentry (as is his friend), and this results in him nearly losing his chance with the heroine before the courtship even begins.
As you can probably tell by the title, Matthews has struggled to find a home in mainstream publishing because of the style of her books, but they are worth your time.
Much of A Holiday by Gaslight takes place in rural Derbyshire at Christmastime, and I actually read it while *I* was in rural Derbyshire, and so it felt that little bit extra special to read.
Sonya, I have this on my Christmas reading list, because Mimi Matthews made a real impression on me when I read The Lost Letter.
Oh, I loved The Lost Letter! It was everything I want in historical romance. I'm planning on doing a reread when I find time for it.


text:
Federal Trade Commission says it is investigating companies that sell consumer information
The online tracking industry is remarkably ungainly, as shown in this small sample of a chart that monitors the flow of information between advertisers and publishers. (Luma Partners)
WASHINGTON – The government says it will investigate companies that collect and sell personal information about consumers to determine whether they need to improve their privacy practices.
The Federal Trade Commission said Tuesday that it ordered nine data brokers to provide the agency with details about their sources of information, how they use the information they gather and whether consumers have access to the data.
The consumer profiles assembled by data brokers allow advertisers and retailers to tailor marketing campaigns to specific customers.
The nine companies are: Acxiom of Little Rock, Ark.; Corelogic of Irvine, Calif.; Datalogix of Westminster, Colo.; eBureau of St. Cloud, Minn.; ID Analytics of San Diego; Intelius of Bellevue, Wash.; Peekyou of New York; Rapleaf of Chicago; and Recorded Future of Cambridge, Mass.


text:
Notre Dame organ 'unharmed' in fire
Musicians and music lovers breathe a sigh of relief as it is announced that the organ in Paris's Notre Dame was shielded from fire, smoke and water damage
25 April 2019 - 10:33am
Submitted by: Music Freelance
After last week's fire that ripped through the roof of Notre Dame , many musicians were nervously awaiting news regarding the state of the 8,000-pipe organ.
The cathedral's many famous organists include Louis Vierne whose six symphonies helped revolutionise organ music. Centuries before, Notre Dame played host to composers of vocal music's earliest polyphony.
Pascal Quoirin, who restored the famous organ in 2017, announced yesterday that there was no damage to the instrument. He spent two hours examining the electronic components and pipes, and could see no effects of the fire, stating that the temperature inside the organ did not reach above 17°C on the day of the blaze.
Six of the best organs in the world
Notre-Dame Cathedral has been home to an organ since the 14th century, but has since been subject to many renovations and rebuilds. In 1730 the original organ was replaced (and survived numerous attempts to vandalise it during the French Revolution, the scars of which can still be seen on the organ case.)
In 1963, improviser extraordinaire Pierre Cochereau oversaw a replacement of the console, and further renovations of the instrument followed in 1990, 1992, 2012 and 2014. The cumbersome original console can still be seen in the museum next door.
Five facts about the Royal Albert Hall organ
One of the cathedral's three resident organists, Vincent Dubois, said that the organ had been worked on by some of the world's great builders and said that 'the synthesis of all that work is just a miracle'.
It is also a miracle that the instrument survived the flames, as well as the enormous volume of water that went into the attempt to save the cathedral. It was thanks to the slanted stone roof above the organ, which created an umbrella over the instrument, that the water from the hoses slid over it.
President Emmanuel Macron has set an ambitious goal of rebuilding the cathedral within the next five years. But with luck the wonderful organ will be heard again sooner than that.
Six of the best Satie works
What are the best works by Saint-Saëns?
Article Type: | News |
Daniel Kramer resigns as artistic director of the English National Opera
BBC Radio 3 announces 2019 New Generation Artists


The 1031 exchange allows you to sell qualified use property that has been held for rental, investment or use in your trade or business and defer the payment of your depreciation recapture and capital gain taxes by acquiring other investment property.
The ability to defer your taxable gains by using the 1031 exchange strategy has obvious wealth building benefits by allowing you to keep 100% of your equity or cash invested and working for you so that you can trade up into more profitable investment property.
What happens if the disposition or sale of your investment property actually results in a net loss to you? The majority of taxpayers would want to take advantage of the loss by recognizing it on their income tax returns immediately, which is generally the best course of action. However, is there ever a time where you might want to defer the recognition of the loss?
The answer is "perhaps," but you must be sure before you proceed. Structuring the disposition or sale of any investment property as a 1031 exchange will require that the income tax consequence be deferred whether it is a gain or loss. You can not change your mind when you complete your income tax return and realize that you actually have a loss. The loss must be deferred if the disposition or sale was structured as a 1031 exchange transaction.
This is why you should always consult with your personal tax counsel prior to completing any disposition or sale of investment property. You need to know exactly what your income tax consequences will be from the disposition or sale of the investment property before you proceed with the transaction. You can always change or alter the transaction structure based upon guidance from your tax counsel prior to closing, but you can not change the structure once you have closed on the disposition or sale of the investment property.
However, there are certain reasons why you may want to defer a loss on the disposition or sale of your investment property.
You may already have certain loss carry forwards on your income tax return, which may only be carried forward for a limited number of years for certain types of taxpayers. You may be concerned that you would end up losing the benefit of the additional loss recognized from the disposition or sale of your investment property should you recognize the loss now.
Postponing the recognition of a loss on the disposition or sale of investment property into a future tax year may provide better tax benefits if you expect to be in a higher tax bracket in the future. This strategy involves a certain amount of guess work since you have no control over the income tax rates that may be in effect for future tax years.
There could be a variety of other reason for which you may not want to recognize the loss for income tax purposes in the current tax year and structuring the disposition or sale of your investment property may be appropriate.
Deferring losses from the disposition or sale of your investment property may be a prudent tax planning strategy under certain circumstances. Again, you should always consult with your personal tax counsel prior to structuring or completing any disposition or sale of investment property. It is always prudent to be proactive in order to stay ahead of the game.


text:
SMS Send text messages globally
Voice Click-to-call, IVR and call recording
Whatsapp The most used app for instant messaging
Push Notification Alerts for iOS, Android and Huawei devices
E-mail Transactional and OTP e-mails
Video Secure, stable, branded video calling
RCS Messaging Rich media messages for branded communication
MMS Messaging Multimedia messaging services for mobile users
Contact Center Leverage customizable IVR, call recording, agent routing and more
Flow Builder Drag-and-drop widgets to create cross-channel experiences
Conversations Receive and deliver messages across multiple channels
Numbers Local, toll-free and mobile numbers to communicate globally
Lookup Check number validity, portability, and roaming status
Premium SMS Add a new stream of payments and increase revenues
Chatbots AI-powered bots for streamlined communication
Verify Authenticate users and transactions through OTPs
Campaign Management Manage multi-channel customer communication from a single place
Direct Carrier Billing Enable payment automation through customers' phone bills
Everything you need to set up and run our APIs
References to help you use Kaleyra's functionality on other platforms
Support Wiki
Understand how to get the most out of Kaleyra, the trusted CPaaS
Solutions for secure transactions and top-notch customer service
Innovative communication services for hassle-free deliveries
Cross-channel communication for delightful travel experiences
Secure and scalable interactive solutions for optimal patient care
Real-time communication solutions for enhanced learning
Multi-channel communication campaigns to engage users
Range of communication solutions for your agency's clients
Media and Telecom
Cross-channel, unified communication for interactive campaigns
Flexible multi-channel solutions for delightful customer experiences
Quick campaign delivery for exceptional customer experience
KNOW KALEYRA
About Kaleyra Know more about the who, what, when, where, why and how
Events Come and meet our team as we travel around the world
Awards and Recognition Read about our achievements as a global CPaaS company
Careers Become a Kaleyran! See all the available opportunities
GDPR Policy Our commitment to your privacy
Press Room Get the latest scoop on our technology, leadership and culture
Code of Conduct Lawful and ethical behavior at Kaleyra
Explore our financial journey as a NYSE-listed public company
Partner with us for events, marketing, and product integrations
Messaging Trends 2020
by Kaleyra | Dec 7, 2020
Messages have high open-rates. According to Techpedia, it is as high as 98%. Moreover, 83% of the messages sent are seen within 3 minutes! In a time, when almost everyone has a phone and keeps it with them wherever they go, these statistics are not surprising. The mobile messaging trends have created a huge opportunity for businesses to communicate with their customers and prospects through this medium.
Over the years, several businesses around the world have already started leveraging this opportunity to engage with their customers on a day to day basis. Since 2015, messaging has overtaken social media as the most common activity users engage in, on their mobile phones. Messaging apps are effectively setting new trends.
The future of SMS marketing starts in the '90s
The invention of AOL Instant Messenger transformed our phones into devices from which we could view emails, receive app notifications, and stay in touch via messages.
With rapid innovation, mobile messaging has evolved to allow sending of photos, gifs, and even hand-drawn illustrations. It has transformed to MMS messaging. And now, more so than ever, instant communication is at its peak. Here's a quick glimpse of the future of messaging technology and the trends we witnessed in 2020.
Messaging trends in 2020
Verified SMS by Google
At the end of 2019, Google launched Verified SMS (vSMS) to promote safer messaging communication between businesses and customers, and protect the latter from spam and SMS phishing attacks. vSMS has revolutionized the future of mobile messaging by adding new-age features in our existing SMS inbox.
When the identity and authenticity of a business gets verified by Google, it shows the logo, registered business name and a verified badge in the chat. This helps customers differentiate between fraudsters and legitimate business owners. By rolling out vSMS for all Android devices, Google has penetrated a large base of mobile messaging users.
Many enterprises have already adopted the Verified SMS service by Google in 2020, and several more are anticipated to follow suit.
The future of Instant Messaging
Instant Messaging apps such as WeChat, Facebook's Messenger and WhatsApp, etc. are also adapting to include features that allow quick customer interactions. In the distant future, we are going to see a lot fewer people actually picking up the phone and talking to brands to either solve a problem or get more information on a product/service. The future of messaging apps lies in the advancements of Artificial Intelligence, wherein technology will enable businesses to provide more personalized and real-time communication.
The use of chatbots on such platforms will allow businesses to directly engage with customers without needing additional resources or spending on new equipment.
Chatbots, the new mobile messaging trend of 2020
According to HubSpot, 85% of consumers will engage with businesses without ever interacting with another human being by the end of 2020. Moreover, according to Google, 61% of people expect brands to deliver personalized experiences. As a result, it is important for all companies to move towards strategically using chatbots and messaging tools like WhatsApp to engage with their customer base.
For companies, chatbots are an easy way to offer additional services. Chatbots are nothing but software that enables communication with users through messengers apps and on websites. By using them, businesses can schedule client meetings, provide customer support, answer frequently asked questions and much more, all through their website. On the other hand, prospects receive a more personalized experience through a one-on-one conversation and can easily move closer to making their purchasing decision.
The future of messaging and instant payments
The feature of apps and websites that allowed direct payments – such as PayPal – is now also available on messaging apps. Users can go about their day-to-day activities, manage their finances and socialize, all through one platform.
Instant payment via messaging apps is a recent advancement. Apple and Facebook messenger allows their users to make payments easily. All you need is a bank account and a debit/credit card to process the payment.
From feature to mobile messaging trend: higher security
Making instant payments through apps or linking bank accounts surely does make it convenient for customers to perform their daily tasks. But, having all the personal and financial information online, makes security a high priority. The latest trend when it comes to providing privacy and security online is encryption.
Increasingly, Over-The-Top (OTT) messaging apps, which include WhatsApp, WeChat, and more, have become end-to-end encrypted. Even In-app messaging on Instagram, Tinder, and other social networks belong to this domain and are required to maintain high levels of security to protect consumer information. Encryption aims to provide protection from cyber-attacks. Messages are encoded in a random sequence and can only be read and deciphered with a password or key. WhatsApp Business is end-to-end encrypted. In the near future, other apps are likely to offer similar capabilities.
Another way to increase security is by allowing users to post content that is deleted – as soon as it is viewed or in a certain time frame. Snapchat, for example, immediately deleted chats and photos shared between users. This has increased security among users.
Rich Communication Services (RCS): mobile messaging trends of the last years
RCS's features include read receipts, location sharing, typing indicators, media uploads, and emojis among others. It is designed to work on all mobile operating systems, implement encryption, and send messages through Wifi.
Both parties must use a compatible app and network to be able to send and receive RCS messages.
RCS messaging is available in various regions but is based on carrier developed versions, not the Universal Profile such as AT&T and T-Mobile. With the release, of Profile Version 2.0 for Advanced RCS Messaging, there is scope for universal adoption across carriers. However, there is no work being done currently to make RCS support available on iOS. This eliminates a huge user population and can slow the RCS trend in the future if all the iOS users will not be on board.
The true future of messaging
Today's consumers are more connected with each other and with brands than ever before. As brands evolve their customer engagement strategies, communication with customers on the channels they already use/ prefer will be critical.
SMS is the most common medium of communication used by enterprises all over the world and has remained a key channel for organizations in all verticals in 2020. In the coming times, SMS will cover communication, payments, content distribution, video sharing, and more. The future of mobile messaging seems promising.
Enterprises are also continuously increasing their use of instant messaging. It is the second most used mobile messaging medium after SMS. The use of other communication channels like outbound voice, email, and social media will depend on the industry and the target audience. It is important for enterprises to have keen insights about the latest marketing trends, understand how customer behaviours are changing, and use this growth to enhance their business communication.
Kalaivani Narayanan
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text:
Africa 23.8.2019 08:09 pm
Zimbabwe opposition official arrested over protests
A protester is beaten on the ground by police near Unity Square in Harare on August 16, 2019. Picture: Zinyange Auntony / AFP
In another incident, nine members of a rural teachers' union and their lawyer were arrested for protesting poor remuneration and working conditions.
A senior official of Zimbabwe's main opposition party has been arrested for failing to stop an outlawed protest, the party said on Friday.
The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) organised several protests to highlight the collapsing economy in the southern African country, but the government has launched a crackdown on the rallies.
The MDC's organising secretary Amos Chibaya was arrested on Thursday and appeared in court on Friday.
He will return to court on Monday for a bail application.
"Chibaya's remand in custody is testimony of a brutal programme of persecution by prosecution," the MDC tweeted.
Police said the arrest was in connection with a protest on August 16 in Harare.
The opposition party had planned to roll out marches to protest the ailing economic conditions in the country, starting in the capital.
The demonstrations were blocked after the police issued a prohibition order, stopping the demonstrations on the eve of the Harare march, on the pretext they would likely be violent.
But some MDC supporters still rallied in downtown Harare. The police descended upon them and rights groups say more than one hundred people were arrested while a dozen were injured.
Five marches slated for five other urban centres across the country were also blocked by authorities.
In another incident, nine members of a rural teachers' union were arrested for demonstrating against poor remuneration and working conditions in downtown Harare on Friday, along with their lawyer, Doug Coltart.
Coltart and the teachers have been charged with "criminal nuisance", lawyer and senior MDC official Fadzayi Mahere told AFP.
Coltart tweeted that he was beaten by police during the arrest. He posted pictures of the injuries sustained on his face and hands.
"I was pushed to the ground, beaten and kicked by riot police. I was simply asking the reason for my arrest — which is my constitutional right," he said in a tweet.
"I was never informed of the reason for arrest. They put handcuffs so tight that I lost blood to my hands."
The arrests are part of growing repression by a government faced with a worsening socio-economic situation characterised by shortages of fuel, bread, medicines among many basics and skyrocketing prices when goods are available.
On taking office, President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who came to power after the 2017 ousting of long-time ruler Robert Mugabe, promised more freedoms and a revamp to the already ailing economy.
For more news your way, download The Citizen's app for iOS and Android.
Bafana to face Ghana and Zimbabwe on the road to World Cup 2022 21.1.2020
Wits aiming for MDC title 21.1.2020
Zimbabwe authorities seize Mugabe nephew's farm 16.1.2020


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text:
Need for Better Monitoring and Review of Reporting, Social Media PART FIVE
Need for Better Monitoring and Review of Reporting, Social Media
by Dan Robinson
Sources have pointed BBG/USAGM Watch to numerous other areas of concern. But there is one recurring headline: a need for competent, regular assessment of social media and main reporting content that has in the past embarrassed the agency and VOA.
In 2014, one suggestion published by BBG/USAGM Watch, among a long list of recommendations compiled from employee suggestions aimed at improving the atmosphere at VOA proposed that management:
"Establish a journalistic ombudsman position at VOA, similar to major newspapers, to specifically focus on journalistic and coverage issues."
Of course, anyone in such a position – this would be separate from an existing labor-related ombudsman that has existed for years – would come under enormous pressure considering the issues raised in this article, and by previous reporting by BBG/USAGM Watch.
Picture, for example, a management initiative to hold group sessions to thoroughly air concerns about balance and bias issues. Who would be willing to speak up and possibly reveal where they sit on the political spectrum?
One option would be to pattern this on information gathering methods used at the agency in past years in which the Office of Inspector General held one-on-one sessions with employees to attempt to zero in on problems and come up with options to fix them.
Since such a journalistic ombudsman would basically be arbitrating on sensitive and often emotional questions involving VOA reportage, careful consideration would have to be given to the parameters of the role and would be carry it out.
Managers Out of Touch re Charter Violations, Bias Problems
As Pack began to take control of USAGM, managers such as news center chief Lopez and ex-director Bennett sent notes applauding staff for upholding the VOA Charter and journalistic standards.
Kelu Chao, a decades-long fixture in VOA management sent a note praising "a dynamic, skilled team bringing factual news and information to places that need it, just as our Charter mandates."
Ex-VOA director Bennett almost immediately upon arriving at VOA was praising "a fantastic leadership team." But not everyone, to put it mildly, shares the view that VOA is doing a fine job upholding its Charter.
Reacting to a note the VOA news director sent, a source said:
"It's one thing to showcase a list of articles to prove how good VOA was under Bennett's leadership, but quite another to actually deal with problems of insufficient context in VOA reports and pieces containing fairly obvious anti-Trump bias."
It's clear that there are those at VOA and elsewhere in the agency who see these cheer-leading notes sent by VOA managers as empty words against a background of insufficient accountability for persistent violations of the VOA Charter.
Though actual online traction for VOA digital products and the validity of agency audience claims remain debatable issues, there is substantial concern that when anti-Trump stories get thousands of page views, VOA may actually be misleading not only its international audience but also its U.S. audience.
Back to Steve Springer and the ongoing "Balanced and Bias-Free Reporting" training sessions.
It's not known whether any final report was ever prepared and submitted to ex-VOA director Bennett on findings from these. Again, obtaining these kinds of internal documents, if they exist, would likely require filing of a FOIA request.
There were a number of changes to the VOA Best Practices Guide, particularly in response to articles published by BBG/USAGM Watch.
These included a 2015 report on advocacy journalism at VOA noting that one broadcaster had posted photos on Facebook endorsing a democracy group, and showing the employee wrapped in a foreign flag at a demonstration in front of the White House, posting photos with Vice President Biden and praising his character.
Sure enough, the Best Practices Guide came to include the following portion on advocacy journalism:
"VOA journalists and all those preparing broadcast, website and social media programming must avoid any action or statement that might give the appearance of partisanship. THERE IS NO PLACE AT VOA FOR ADVOCACY JOURNALISM – THE PRESENTATION OF NEWS FROM ONE PARTICULAR VIEWPOINT OR ONE SPECIFIC AGENDA. This includes the wearing of lapel pins, religious symbols, clothing designs or color schemes that appear to support one party or individual over another."
One would think that by now most VOA staff would have taken this admonition to heart. However, based on examples we have seen, brought to our attention by sources or discovered by simply viewing VOA's website, there is a lot more work ahead.
Indeed, despite the warning about not taking advocacy positions, one of VOA's major on-air program hosts was seen to have tweeted out a response ("NO") to Donald Trump's frequent "treason" allegation against those he views as opposing or having opposed him.
Some VOA staff posting anti-Trump comments on Facebook pages (BBG/USAGM Watch observed this content intensifying almost immediately after Trump's election) do not reveal workplace affiliation to VOA — in so doing, they're able to shield themselves from potential responses by management. Others show or even emphasize their affiliation with VOA.
Again, one only has to go to VOA's own standards and practices guide to know that this is a violation of the organization's own guidelines:
"Remember that on social media and other public spaces, you are a journalist. It is critical that you are fair, impartial and objective at all times. If you take a controversial position or display personal bias, it will reflect poorly on you and on the Voice of America. It could lead our audience to believe that we are untrustworthy and that you are unable to fairly cover a controversial story. This not only includes individual remarks in social media, but also posting your political affiliation or causes in your social media profile. Privacy policies change and people can take screenshots. Assume nothing is private in social media, even if your account is visible only to your online circle of friends. Even retweeting or "liking" an opinion on one side of the issue or another could be seen as an endorsement from you or from VOA. If you want to put that comment in front of your followers, make sure it is clear you aren't endorsing the opinion, but simply showing both sides of the conversation. . . ALLEGATIONS OF SOCIAL MEDIA MISUSE WILL BE FULLY INVESTIGATED, AND STAFFERS WILL BE NOTIFIED OF ANY SUCH ALLEGATIONS. SOCIAL MEDIA MISUSE MAY RESULT IN DISCIPLINARY ACTION, UP TO AND INCLUDING REMOVAL FROM FEDERAL SERVICE"
It's not known whether any USAGM/VOA employee or any employee working for other agency media elements has ever been removed from federal service based on these newer guidelines — that would certainly be an interesting question to ask the agency.
To what extent headlines on many VOA stories, such as a recent one blaring "After Weeks of Protests, Trump Sticks to Stoking Division" are more the responsibility of the VOA newsroom than individual correspondents is an interesting side topic.
Day to day inside VOA it's apparent there are those who have remained largely silent about content that often seems to be in line with Democratic Party talking points (see again the section in VOA's Best Practices Guide on the importance of balance). In any organization, people speaking their minds can face retaliation.
Problems Demand Action Whether Trump Wins Or Not
Even amid recent polls showing Donald Trump falling farther behind Democrat Joe Biden in the November presidential election (based on the 2016 election results making any assumption about the final result is risky) there are abundant reasons to be concerned about bias at VOA.
It's often helpful to enlist the views of former employees as part of an effort to obtain clarity. Recently, a former VOA central correspondent who retired some years ago offered the following observations:
"[Several decades ago] there was a lot more diversity of opinion. Editors would quickly catch anything that seemed to be taking a partisan line and would either strike it or demand a line or two of the other side for balance. In more recent years there were editors who made assignments based on their personal political leanings. . .
If [new USAGM CEO Michael Pack] tries to encourage more balance, liberal managers will accuse him of fostering bias. The only way he might be able to correct the situation would be to pull a bunch of managers and editors together to explain what is needed. He should maintain a dialogue so as to discourage people from leaking tidbits to the media or to select members of Congress. Not that they won't do it anyway, but he would be in a stronger position by showing himself as at least open to dialogue and willing to discourage bias from left or right. Most employees see themselves as fair-minded professionals and they will back him if they believe he is facing unjustified attacks from misinformed outsiders.
There may be a way to make VOA more relevant in today's world, but it will take a serious, non-partisan effort to find it. Despite the recent flash of media attention, VOA is not a gripping issue for any large segment of the electorate. To the extent that it is known, there are people on the left who deride it as an American propaganda machine and people on the right who see its only value as a device to condemn foreign leaders they don't like and promote their ideology, in other words, to effectively do what those on the left already accuse it of doing. To keep out of the fray VOA should maintain its low profile and remain the obscure, but routinely funded agency it has become."
It's clear that the arrival of Michael Pack set in motion a number of events that caused intense concern among VOA employees. In one internal meeting discussing management changes, employees were reported to have referred to him and his team in sarcastic terms.
In this polarized (to use that over-used term again) society with a president who only recently referred to the rise of a "far-left fascism" — making a case that the 45th president has been subjected to unfair biased reporting is a challenge.
It will not be an easy task for new agency and VOA managers to confront the issues raised here. Prior to assuming his interim appointment from Mr. Pack as VOA Acting Associate Director, former VOA Albanian Service chief and Eurasia Division director Dr. Elez Biberaj was posting on social media personal letters he received from former President Obama and former Vice President Biden congratulating him and his family on their achievements as immigrants, but also photos with U.S. politicians and political activists, some during a U.S. election campaign, as well as photos with government leaders and politicians in Albania and Kosovo.
Confront these issues they must, because the problems go to the heart of whether VOA can be seen as an unbiased, non-partisan organization. This also applies to other media entities under USAGM.
Ultimately, that is an important question that American taxpayers should demand an answer to, even at the "bang-for-the-buck" annual price of between $600 million to $800 million.
READ PART ONE
READ PART TWO
READ PART THREE
READ PART FOUR
DAN ROBINSON, FORMER VOICE OF AMERICA SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT
Dan Robinson retired in 2014 after 34 years with the Voice of America. In addition to his assignment as senior White House correspondent from 2010 to 2014, he served as bureau chief in Nairobi, Kenya and Bangkok, Thailand. He was also the chief of the VOA Burmese Service and the Capitol Hill correspondent. Views expressed here are his own.
Social Media Violations Continue, With Anti-Trump Narratives PART FOUR
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Repeating Beijing Propaganda, Voice of America Still Gets Targeted by China
USAGM WATCH COMMENTARY This morning (March 17, 2020) the taxpayer-funded Voice of America (VOA) in the U.S. Agency…
Voice of America Takes Down, Edits, Video With Pro-Biden Content
OPINION By Dan Robinson The Voice of America on Thursday took down and later reposted an edited version…


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Home > Places > Evolution Of Châteaux And Wine In The Loire Valley, France
Evolution Of Châteaux And Wine In The Loire Valley, France
By Ray Isle
The Loire Valley is home to some of the grandest châteaux in France. Yet, among the storied towers and gabled roofs, Ray Isle finds an upstart generation of vintners whose low-intervention wines are redefining old-world style. Text by Ray Isle; photographs by Roberto Frankenberg
Château de Chambord, built in the 16th century by King Francis I.
On my last trip to France's Loire Valley, back in March 2019, I did something I'd never done before: I visited several châteaux. The statement sounds ridiculous because castles are as common in the region as grains of sand on a beach—it's hard to not stay in one. But as a wine writer, I'm usually tromping around vineyards with a winemaker, crouching down to study grey whorls of elderly grapevines and asking, literally, about the dirt. Holing up in fairy tale castles? Not so much.
Ballotine of sole with kohlrabi at Relais de Chambord, a new hotel on the grounds.
This time, I found myself standing in the highest tower of the Château de Chambord, built by King Francis I as a hunting lodge in the 16th century. It was some lodge: 440 rooms, 282 fireplaces, more than 13,000 acres of land. It took 28 years to build. Francis spent less than seven weeks there, total before he died.
Obviously, a lot has changed since the 1500s, but what's remarkable is that in the Loire, a surprising amount of that change, both in terms of wine and châteaux, has taken place quite recently. Over three decades or so, the Loire has become the heart of France's natural-wine movement. The place is vast, with 87 wine appellations strung along the river, from Muscadet on the coast to Sancerre some 385 kilometres east, and even beyond.
Natural-wine stars Damien and Coralie Delecheneau of La Grange Tiphaine.
But throughout the region, you can find members of a loose confederation of raffish producers who are making what are often called minimal-intervention wines. Unlike conventional techniques, their growing and vinification methods eschew chemical fertilisers, pesticides, and artificial yeasts, as well as fining agents (which help improve clarity) and other technological trickery. There's also little or no use of sulphur as a preservative. The results can be intriguing or bizarre; the best is absolutely brilliant, full of a kind of vibrancy that's absent from the average mass-produced bottle.
In the past few years, the region has also seen a number of grand châteaux reimagined as luxury hotels. In the Loire, you can live like a king (or at least a marquis) in the evenings and tromp fields like a farmer during the days. The contrast is enlightening.
Among those new properties is the spectacular Relais de Chambord. Built for the king's hunting hounds in the 1700s, the original house didn't have the benefit of modern upgrades, such as the rain showers, velvet-swathed headboards, or luxurious white linen sheets seen in today's guest rooms. Nor could the hounds rent an electric bicycle to drive around the property. Odds are the dogs didn't think much about the building's history or their palatial digs. Then again, it's easy to forget the fact that you're sleeping in a former kennel (albeit an opulent one) when you can wake up and gaze out the floor-to-ceiling windows at King Francis's château—just a few hundred feet away.
Pumpkin-curry soup at Momento.
When I drove into the unpaved courtyard at La Grange Tiphaine, Damien and Coralie Delecheneau's vineyard and winery, about an hour away in the Montlouis appellation, I was greeted by an actual hound. Every Loire Valley winemaker has at least one dog if not two or three. Typically they growl at you menacingly for about 10 seconds, then flop over in the dirt. This particular winery pup, Lou, didn't even expend that much effort. It was pretty clear he'd rather have been off in the vineyards, chasing rabbits.
Stewards of the shift to low-intervention wine, the Delecheneaus farm biodynamically, upholding all the baseline tenets of the ideology. One reason the Loire arguably became the centre of this evolution in France, as Damien Delecheneau explains, is that it's not a wealthy region. "It's just easier for a young winemaker to buy a vineyard here, compared with regions like Burgundy or Bordeaux." Plus, he added, many of the early ambassadors of the natural-wine movement happened to be Loire-based. "The beautiful acidity we have in our wines helps, too, if you choose to work this way."
La Grange Tiphaine's ramshackle character belies the precision of its winemaking. "I'm from a scientific background," he says, "but now I look to work more with my heart." His 2018 Clef de Sol Chenin Blanc speaks to that: it's all spring flowers and wildflower honey when you smell it, bright and vivid on your tongue. As we walked between the 80-year-old vines behind the winery, Lou trotted after us, ears perked.
The entrance hall of Hôtel Château du Grand-Lucé.
Across the river from La Grange Tiphaine is Domaine Huet, the most acclaimed producer in the Vouvray appellation. Founded in 1928 by Victor Huët, a World War I veteran, it was run for 55 years by his son Gaston Huët, save for five years he spent in a Nazi prisoner-of-war camp northeast of Dresden. He walked back to Vouvray from Germany in 1945 and proceeded to make one of the greatest vintages of the 20th century.
Since 2003, the property has been owned by Hungarian winemaker István Szepsy and New York financier Anthony Hwang; daughter Sarah Hwang runs the winery and lives there. She's well aware of Huet's stellar reputation, "It's something we could choose to embrace or fight against, and we've chosen to embrace it. Ultimately, we're just a few pages in a huge book. Our job is to make sure that the story is still being written, and written properly."
Huet's Chenin Blancs, dry or sweet, are chiselled and intense—gorgeous white wines that linger on the palate as you drive to the 15th-century Château du Rivau, opened as a 12-room hotel in 2019 that has elegant stone and wood interiors and modern art throughout. Rivau was built in 1420; Joan of Arc stopped by to pick up horses during the Hundred Years' War in her quest to drive the English from France. (Brexit did what martyrs could not, apparently.)
Vineyards in Sancerre.
More recently, co-owner Patricia Laigneau tricked out the grounds with a stunning rose garden planted with more than 450 different varieties. "A rose with no scent is like a person with no soul," she said and suggested walking through the garden in the early morning or early evening when the flowers are at their most fragrant.
Another equally beautiful 18th-century Neoclassical property is the Hôtel Château du Grand-Lucé, just outside Le Mans. It has grand formal gardens to wander, 17 rooms with original oak parquet floors to park your bags in, and Pratesi sheets on the beds to lounge upon. Should you wish to see the region's châteaux from overhead, the concierge can help arrange a hot-air-balloon ride.
Bottles from the 1961 vintage at Domaine Huet.
But for me, too much luxury gets cloying. I decided to French Revolution my urge to live like a king and reground myself by heading to Sancerre to meet my friend Pascaline Lepeltier, a Master Sommelier and Loire Valley native. As I drove east, the dramatic châteaux of the central Loire became fewer and farther between. I followed the Loire River as it meandered among rolling hills and forests. I knew I'd reached Sancerre when the flanks of the hills became blanketed with Sauvignon Blanc vines.
That's Sancerre's signature grape. Though there is an actual town of Sancerre (charming; hilltop; medieval), the wine region itself comprises 14 small villages. I met up with Lepeltier for lunch at Momento, which opened last year in the tiny town of Bué. The owners are a talented young couple, Thomas Jacquet and Mariana Mateos. Jacquet, a sommelier, is originally from nearby Bannay; Mateos, the chef, is from Mexico. They met while working together at Racines, a wine-centric French bistro in New York City where Lepeltier is the head sommelier.
The Fairy's Way garden at the Château du Rivau.
From the small upstairs dining room, we could see the rooftops of the town and the vineyards beyond as we enjoyed ravioli filled with earthy crottin de Chavignol goat-milk cheese. We'd been joined by two young Sancerrois winemakers, Matthieu Delaporte and Luc Prieur, whose families have been in the region for generations. Even though Jacquet's wine list at Momento is extensive, Delaporte and Prieur came loaded with cuvées from their own wineries, and pretty soon we were a pretty lively party of four people and 15 or 16 bottles.
Later, I asked Delaporte how long his family had been making wine. Since the 17th century, he replied. "We were one of the first domaines in Sancerre-Chavignol; where we're located is where everything started. At that time, they were making wine, raising animals, making cheese." My favourite of Domaine Delaporte's wines, which we drank at lunch, is its Sancerre Les Monts Damnés—crystalline and powerful at once, it shows how complex Sauvignon Blanc can be in the right circumstances. "Monts Damnés is kind of a grand cru of Sancerre, even though technically there is no crus here," Delaporte said. "It means 'the damned mountains,' because a hundred years ago you had to be absolutely damned to work that steep a slope. It's 40° to 50°! But it's worth it."
La Forêt Qui Court by Jérôme Basserode, part of Château du Rivau's contemporary art collection.
When his ancestors were picking grapes on the chalk inclines of Monts Damnés, did they know that the Sun King was building a stable for 1,200 horses only 112 kilometres away? Probably not. Distances were greater then. Did his grandfather, bottling wines in 1947—a hundred bottles of which Delaporte recently found, in perfect condition, under his grandparents' house—know a Liberator bomber had crashed on the grounds of Chambord just a few years before? Quite possibly. Today, can I taste all those things when I open a bottle of his wine? Imaginatively, maybe.
Good wine tells stories. The right bottle can even let you travel in time. As Delaporte said about those 1947 bottles, "They taste amazing; I thought of my great grandfather, making wine through both of the world wars." Until I can return to the Loire, I can open a bottle of one of Delaporte's wines and envision myself looking out over the rooftops of Bué into the late afternoon sun, laughing and talking with friends.
Sarah Hwang pours one of Domaine Huet's top sweet wines in the winery's tasting room.
Châteaux and Natural Wine in the Loire Valley
From Paris, it's a 2½-hour drive to Tours, in the heart of the Loire Valley, and two more hours to Sancerre.
Relais de Chambord
The facade of this elegant 55-room hotel echoes the slate-roofed towers of the Château de Chambord, just a short walk away. A guided tour of the château is a highlight, but the Relais also offers a spa with sauna, hammam, and outdoor whirlpool as well as guided tours of the surrounding nature reserve. Doubles from INR 15,690.
Hôtel Château du Grand-Lucé
Though this gorgeous Neoclassical château, built between 1760 and 1764, occupies more than 4,180 square metres, there are only 17 (extremely luxurious) guest rooms. Each features original oak floors, archival-fabric wall coverings, and bathroom amenities from cult French beauty brand Buly 1803. Doubles from INR 52,675.
Château du Rivau
Built during the 15th century, Rivau has undergone years of renovation, starting in the late 1990s. Walk through the fragrant rose gardens, and spot the white peacocks that live in the inner courtyard (kids may prefer the property's many fairy-tale-themed gardens). Doubles from INR 20,260.
Matthieu Delaporte in the Domaine Delaporte vineyard.
Chef Mariana Mateos's menu makes the best of Sancerre's abundant products—crottin de Chavignol cheese, wild herbs, lamb from local farms— while drawing in a few influences from Italy as well. Thomas Jacquet's wine list is impressively extensive. Entrées INR 2,060–INR 4,570.
La Grange Tiphaine
Damien and Coralie Delecheneau, the charming owners of La Grange Tiphaine, keep to a low intervention philosophy for their Montlouis and Touraine wines. Book a visit in advance to taste their Côt Vieilles Vignes, a stunning Malbec made with grapes from century-old vines.
Domaine Delaporte
Delaporte, which makes some of Sancerre's best wines, has a small tasting room in the tiny village of Chavignol.
Book ahead to visit this legendary Vouvray property. Tastings cover the range of Huet wines, sparkling and still, dry to sweet, along with an older vintage. In-depth cellar tours can also be arranged.
Related: Here's What France Is Doing To Revive Its Tourism Sector
Loire Valley bordeaux Château de Chambord BURGUNDY Relais de Chambord La Grange Tiphaine Damien and Coralie Delecheneau Domaine Huet Château du Rivau Hôtel Château du Grand-Lucé Sancerre Sancerre Les Monts Damnés Chambord
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We have some good news: coal is dead.
If you need a white man in a suit to tell it to you, here it is from the mouth of Jim Barry of BlackRock, the world's largest investment group with $5 trillion in assets.
According to BP (yes, you read that right), global demand for coal is in decline for the second year in a row. Coal production dropped by 7.9% in China and a whopping 19% in the U.S. despite "coal man" Trump being in charge.
With coal dead, things are not looking good for oil either, with France committing to cease oil and gas exploration later this year and raise certain fuel taxes.
As electric vehicles fall in price and cities move away from cars altogether the demand for oil will fall further.
The collapse of coal has of course been hastened by another year of surging renewable energy, which contributed 40% of the total increase of world energy power generation last year.
In the UK renewable energy contributed more to the grid than fossil fuels on several days in June. This itself is nothing compared to the Netherlands, where all trains now run 100% on wind energy.
In other 100% good news, Qinghai province in China ran entirely on renewables for a week. 5.8 million people live in Qinghai.
Fewer people live on the small Greek island of Tilos, but it is no less impressive that it is poised to go 100% renewable by installing wind and solar and creating a micro-grid to shift away from a dependence on imported fossil fuel-generated electricity.
Other feel good stories came from Vietnam, which this month installed 800MW capacity of onshore wind, and Tanzania and Ghana, which installed 30MW and 48MW of solar and wind capacity respectively.
And now in some not-so-good news, the dogmatic pursuit of hydrocarbons continues with Statoil taking up BP's licence to drill an exploratory bore in the Great Australian Bight.
European readers should not feel any sense of superiority: EU ministers are doing their best to water down energy saving legislation which would undermine the EU's already weak pledge to the Paris Agreement. There are also a slew of unnecessary and risky gas infrastructure projects in the pipeline from Northern Ireland to Estonia.
These types of bad energy projects are being protected by bad governments and propped up by bad banks to the tune of hundreds of billions of dollars. Worryingly, even multilateral banks such as the World Bank continue to subsidise fossil fuel exploration and extraction, and even the Green Climate Fund risks being polluted — as the Board meets in South Korea this month, activists have been demanding that the Fund not accredit notorious coal-pushers like the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi (MUFJ).
Given the persistent political support for and vested interests in the carbon economy, it is clear that market changes and tech developments alone will not wash away the oil stains we have left behind.
Rather, much more drastic steps are needed to transform the energy system, and the world, to be fairer, cleaner, and more equitable. Yes, fossil fuels might soon be replaced but some of the supposed solutions are actually more socially and ecologically damaging: mega-hydro and biofuels are killing the Amazon, for example.
The failure to accept that the era of fossil fuels is over will really hurt workers in those industries. But the details of the new energy system are still up for debate.
Under the current system, the energy sector is the biggest contributor to climate change yet 1 billion people lack electricity. Clearly, there is a problem not only with the energy source but with the way both electrical and political power are distributed.
Campaigns for true energy transformation take aim at the system not merely the sources it relies on. Reclaim Power will return in autumn.
Which is why it is sometimes disappointing to read, as we did this month, about renewable energy revolutions which merely replace coal with wind and so on, rather than build alternate approaches to ownership and management.
New research shows that many cities around are doing just this by turning their back on privatization of all public services and reclaiming them for the public good.


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