Composition.

The woman, who is probably in her late teens or early twenties, is shown half-length and in three-quarters profile, set against a two-dimensional interior background of deep blue-green. The background is flat and lacks the attention to detail common in van der Weyden's devotional works. Like his contemporary Jan van Eyck (c. 1395 – 1441), when working in portraiture, he used dark planes to focus attention on the sitter. It was not until Hans Memling (c. 1435–1494), a pupil of van der Weyden, that a Netherlandish artist set a portrait against an exterior or landscape. In this work the flat setting allows the viewer to settle on the woman's face and quiet self-possession. Van der Weyden reduces his focus to four basic features: the woman's headdress, dress, face and hands. The background has darkened with age; it is likely that the angles created by the sitter's hennin and dress were once much sharper.  The woman wears an elegant low-cut black dress with dark bands of fur at the neck and wrist. Her clothes are of the then-fashionable Burgundian style, which emphasises the tall and thin aesthetic of the Gothic ideal. Her dress is buckled by a bright red sash pulled in below her breasts. The buff-coloured hennin headdress is draped with a large transparent veil, which spills over her shoulders, reaching her upper arms. Van der Weyden's attention to the structure of the clothing—the careful detailing of the pins pushed into the veil to fix its position—is typical for the artist.  The woman's veil forms a diamond shape, balanced by the inverse flow of a light vest worn beneath her dress. She is shown at a slight angle, but her pose is centred by the interlocked broad lines of arms, décolletage and veil. The woman's head is delicately lit, leaving no strong tonal contrasts on her skin. She has a long, thin face, plucked eyebrows and eyelids, and a plucked hairline to create a fashionably high forehead. Her hair is tightly pinned back on the rim of the bonnet and rests above her ear. Her high headdress and severe hairline accentuate her elongated face, giving it a sculpted appearance.  The woman's left ear is set, according to art historian Norbert Schneider, unnaturally high and far back, parallel to her eyes rather than to her nose; this position is probably an artistic device used to continue the flow of the diagonal line of the veil's inner-right wing. In the 15th century, veils were normally worn for modesty, to hide the sensuality of the flesh. In this work the veil has the opposite effect; the woman's face is framed by the headdress to draw attention to her beauty.  The woman's hands are crossed tightly as if in prayer, and positioned so low in the painting as to appear to be resting on the frame. They are rendered as tightly compressed into a small area of the picture; it is likely van der Weyden did not want them to result in an area of high tone that might distract from the description of her head. Her slender fingers are minutely detailed; van der Weyden often indicated the social position of his models through his rendering of their face and hands. The sleeve of her dress extends beyond her wrists. Her fingers are folded in layers; their intricate portrayal is the most detailed element in the painting, and echoes the pyramidal form of the upper portion of the painting.  Her eyes gaze downward in humility, in contrast to her relatively extravagant clothes. The piety of her expression is achieved through motifs common to van der Weyden's work. Her eyes and nose are elongated and her lower lip made fuller by the use of tone and pronounced finish. Some vertical lines around these features are emphasised, while her pupils are enlarged and her eyebrows slightly raised. In addition the contours of her face are highlighted in a manner that is slightly unnatural and abstract, and outside the usual spatial constraints of 15th-century human representation. This methodology was described by art historian Erwin Panofsky: "Rogier concentrated on certain salient features—salient both from a physiognomical and psychological point of view—which he expressed primarily by lines." Her high forehead and full mouth have been seen as suggestive of a nature at once intellectual, ascetic, and passionate, symbolic of "an unresolved conflict in her personality". Panofsky refers to a "smouldering excitability".  The sitter is unknown, although some art historians have speculated on her identity. On the grounds of similarity of facial features, writer Wilhelm Stein suggested in the early 20th century that she might be Marie de Valengin, the illegitimate daughter of Philip the Good of Burgundy. However, this is a contentious assertion and not widely held. Because her hands are shown as resting on the painting's lower frame, art historians generally accept that this was an independent portrait, rather than a devotional work. It is possible that it was intended as a pendant to a picture of the woman's husband, however no other portrait has been suggested as a likely companion.

Break from idealisation.

Van der Weyden worked in the same tradition of portraiture as contemporaries Jan van Eyck and Robert Campin. In the early to middle 15th century, these three artists were among the first generation of "Northern Renaissance" painters, and the first northern Europeans to portray members of the middle and upper classes naturalistically rather than in a medieval Christian idealised form. In earlier Netherlandish art the profile view was the dominant mode of representation for the nobles or clergy worthy of portraiture. In works such as "Portrait of a Man in a Turban" (1433), Jan van Eyck broke this tradition and used the three-quarter profile of the face which became the standard in Netherlandish art. Here, van der Weyden utilises the same profile, which better allows him to describe the shape of the head and facial features of the sitter. She is shown in half-length, which enables the artist to show her hands crossed at her waist.  Despite this new freedom, van der Weyden's portraits of women are strikingly similar in concept and structure, both to each other and to female portraits by Campin. Most are three-quarter face and half-length. They typically set their models in front of a dark background that is uniform and nondescript. While the portraits are noted for their expressive pathos, the facial features of the women strongly resemble one another. This indicates that although van der Weyden did not adhere to the tradition of idealised representation, he sought to please his sitters in a manner that reflected contemporary ideals of beauty. Most of van der Weyden's portraits were painted as commissions from the nobility; he painted only five (including "Portrait of a Lady") that were not donor portraits. It is known that in his "Portrait of Philip de Croÿ" (c. 1460), van der Weyden complimented the young Flemish nobleman by concealing his large nose and undershot jaw. When describing this tendency in relation to the Washington portrait, art historian Norbert Schneider wrote, "While van Eyck shows nature 'in the raw', as it were, Rogier improves on physical reality, civilising and refining Nature and the human form with the help of a brush." The high quality of the painting is highlighted when compared to the National Gallery's very similar workshop painting. The London subject has softer, more rounded features and is younger and less individually characterised than the c. 1460 model. The technique also is less subtle and fine in the London work. However, both share a similar expressions and dress.  Van der Weyden was more concerned with the aesthetic and emotional response created by the pictures overall than in the specific portraits. Art historian and curator Lorne Campbell suggests that the popularity of the portrait is due more to the "elegant simplicity of the pattern which [the sitter] creates" than to the grace of her depiction. While van der Weyden did not stay within the traditional realms of idealisation, he created his own aesthetic, which he extended across his portraits and religious pictures. This aesthetic includes the mood of sorrowful devotion which forms the dominant tone in all his portraits. His figures may be more natural than those of earlier generations of artists; however, his individualistic approach to the depiction of his sitters' piety often leads to the abandonment of the rules of scale.  John Walker, former director of the National Gallery of Art, referred to the subject as "outré", but believed that despite the awkwardness of her individual features, the model was nonetheless "strangely beautiful". By the time of the work's completion van der Weyden had eclipsed even van Eyck in popularity, and this painting is typical of the austere spirituality, over the latter's sensuality, for which van der Weyden is renowned.

Condition and provenance.

Although van der Weyden did not title the work, and the sitter's name is not recorded in any of the early inventories, the style of her dress has been used to place the picture very late in van der Weyden's career. The c. 1460 dating is based on the high-fashion dress and the work's apparent chronological position in the evolution of van der Weyden's style. However, it is possible that it was executed even later (van der Weyden died in 1464).  "Portrait of a Lady " was painted on a single oak board with a vertical grain and has an unpainted margin on each side. The panel was prepared with gesso, upon which the figure was then painted in monochrome. Glazes of oil pigment were then added, which allowed for subtle and transparent tonal gradations. Infra-red reflectography reveals that van der Weyden did not sketch the work on the board before he began to paint, and there is no evidence of underdrawing. It shows that the lady was portrayed as more slender before changes were made as the work progressed; thickly applied background paint underlies some of the belt, demonstrating that the original silhouette was widened. These changes are also visible in x-ray images. It is in relatively good condition, having been cleaned a number of times, most recently in 1980. There is some loss of paint on the veil, headdress and sleeve, and abrasion on the ear.  The provenance of the painting is unclear, and there is doubt as to which painting is referred to in some early inventories. An Anhalt prince, likely Leopold Friedrich Franz (d. 1817) of Wörlitz, near Dessau, Germany, held it in the early 19th century, after which it is likely to have passed to Leopold Friedrich (d. 1871). The painting was loaned for exhibition in 1902, when it was shown at the Hôtel de Gouvernement Provincial, Bruges at the "Exposition des primitifs flamands et d'art ancien". It was held by a Duke of Anhalt until 1926 when he sold it to the art dealers Duveen Brothers. They in turn sold it that year to Andrew W. Mellon. It was loaned the following year to the Royal Academy of Arts, London, for an exhibition covering six centuries of Flemish and Belgian art. Mellon willed the work to his Educational and Charitable Trust in 1932, which in 1937 donated it to the National Gallery of Art where it is on permanent display.

Portrait of a Lady (or Portrait of a Woman) is a small oil-on-oak panel painting executed around 1460 by the Netherlandish painter Rogier van der Weyden. The composition is built from the geometric shapes that form the lines of the woman's veil, neckline, face, and arms, and by the fall of the light that illuminates her face and headdress. The vivid contrasts of darkness and light enhance the almost unnatural beauty and Gothic elegance of the model.

Porträt einer Dame ist ein kleines Öl-auf-Holztafel-Gemälde, das um 1460 von dem niederländischen Maler Rogier van der Weyden gemalt wurde. Die Komposition zeichnet sich durch zwei Elemente aus: zum einen durch die geometrischen Formen, die die Linien des Schleiers und die Konturen des Halses, des Gesichts und der Arme der Frau formen; zum anderen durch das einfallende Licht, das ihr Gesicht und ihren Kopfschmuck beleuchtet. Der starke Kontrast zwischen hell und dunkel betont die nahezu unnatürliche Schönheit und gotische Eleganz des Modells.


Teams.

21 teams were invited to take part in the race. These included nine UCI WorldTeams, ten UCI Professional Continental teams and two UCI Continental teams.

Classification leadership table.

In the 2017 Vuelta a Andalucía, four different jerseys were awarded. For the general classification, calculated by adding each cyclist's finishing times on each stage, the leader received a red jersey. This classification was considered the most important of the 2017 Vuelta a Andalucía, and the winner of the classification was considered the winner of the race.  Additionally, there was a points classification, which awarded a yellow jersey. In the points classification, cyclists received points for finishing in the top 15 in a stage. For winning a stage, a rider earned 25 points, with 20 for second, 16 for third, 13 for fourth, 11 for fifth with a point fewer per place down to a single point for 15th place. There was also a sprints classification for the points awarded at designated intermediate sprints, where the leadership of which was marked by a white jersey.  The fourth jersey represented the mountains classification, the leadership of which was marked by a green jersey. In the mountains classification, points were won by reaching the top of a climb before other cyclists, with more points available for the higher-categorised climbs. There was also a classification for teams, in which the times of the best three cyclists per team on each stage were added together; the leading team at the end of the race was the team with the lowest total time.

The 2017 Vuelta a Andalucía was a road cycling stage race that took place in Andalusia between 15 and 19 February 2017. The race was rated as a 2.HC event as part of the 2017 UCI Europe Tour, and was the 63rd edition of the Vuelta a Andalucía.

Die 63. Andalusien-Rundfahrt 2017 war ein Straßenradrennen in Spanien in der Region Andalusien. Das Etappenrennen fand vom 15. bis zum 19. Februar 2017 statt. Zudem gehörte das Radrennen zur UCI Europe Tour 2017 und war dort in der Kategorie 2.HC eingestuft.


History.

Architect Francesco Maria Richini built the nucleus of the palazzo in the years 1642–1648 for Count Bartolomeo Arese, a member of the Arese family, one of the most influential Milanese families of the period, who became President of the Senate of Milan in 1660. Palazzo Litta thus became an important cultural centre. Grand parties held here over the years included receptions for Archduchess Mariana of Austria, for Margaret Theresa of Spain, for Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, for Maria Theresa of Austria, for Eugène de Beauharnais and for the arrival of Napoleon in Milan.  Apart from its general plan, the principal features which remain essentially intact from the original seventeenth-century building are the "piano nobile" (although largely redecorated) and one of Richini’s courtyards. The family oratory, also the work of Richini, and consecrated in 1671, was later turned into a private theatre for the use of the family and its invitees. The theatre, the oldest in Milan, is still in use as the "Teatro Litta di Milano", which also has a second performance space located in the old stable block.  In 1674 the palazzo passed to Bartolomeo’s daughter Margherita, wife of Fabio III Visconti Borromeo Arese; towards the middle of the eighteenth century, when his branch of the Arese became extinct in the male line, it was inherited by the Litta family, whose members were also prominent in the political life of the city. It was in this period that a number of important changes were made to the building. By the late 19th century, it had become the home of the Railroad Administration of Northern Italy.

Architecture.

Between 1752 and 1761 "Bartolomeo Bolli" constructed a new façade for the building, highly decorated in a late Baroque, or Rococò, manner. The entrance is flanked by two atlantes, supporting a contorted balcony. In 1740, Carlo Giuseppe Merlo built the imposing and scenographic forked staircase (a "scalone a tenaglia") whose sophisticated curves lead to the apartments of the "piano nobile". These too were refurbished in part, a number being decorated with murals by Giovanni Antonio Cucchi.

The Palazzo Litta, also known as the Palazzo Arese-Litta, is a Baroque structure in Milan, northern Italy, opposite San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore, and dating from the period of Spanish rule of the city. In 2018, it served as a cultural center, housing exhibition spaces, offices, and a theater.

Der Palazzo Litta, auch Palazzo Arese-Litta, ein Adelspalais im Zentrum von Mailand, zwischen Castello Sforzesco und San Maurizio am Corso Magenta 24 gelegen, ist einer der aufwendigsten Barockpaläste der Stadt und beeindruckt durch seine reichgestaltete, im 18. Jahrhundert vorgeblendete Fassade.


Overview.

The four multinational battalion battle groups are based in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland, and led by the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, and the United States:  The troops serving in the multinational battalion battle groups will rotate every six months and train and operate with their host nations' militaries.

Estonian multinational battalion battle group.

The United Kingdom will deploy 800 personnel from the British Army's 5 Battalion, The Rifles with Warrior infantry fighting vehicles and the Queen's Royal Hussars with Challenger 2 main battle tanks, both part of the 20 Armoured Infantry Brigade. Artillery, an armoured engineer squadron, logistics specialists and reconnaissance assets will be attached to the British contingent. The British unit will be supported by a mixed battle group from the French Army's 9 Light Armoured Marine Brigade consisting of an mechanized infantry company from the 2 Marine Infantry Regiment equipped with VBCI infantry fighting vehicles, artillery from the 11 Marine Artillery Regiment equipped with CAESAR self-propelled howitzers, and combat engineers from the 6 Engineer Regiment, with a company of Leclerc main battle tanks from the 7 Armoured Brigade's 1 Chasseurs Regiment attached for the deployment. Additionally the Danish Army will deploy a mechanized force by 2018 at the latest.  The British Army's 5 Battalion, The Rifles battlegroup, will rotate back to the United Kingdom in November 2017 and be replaced by a battlegroup formed around the 1 Battalion, Royal Welsh.  The Belgian Army contributes a 269-soldier strong Belgian Land Component armoured infantry company from the Chasseurs Ardennais with support elements and HQ staff officers.  3 brigade HQ support personnel from the Royal Danish Army and 1 strategic communications civilian from the Icelandic defence forces have also been stationed in Estonia.

Latvian multinational battalion battle group.

Canada provides the core of the NATO battle group in Latvia with around 450 mechanized infantry and supporting troops. This contingent is provided by Canada's high readiness brigade, a task that rotates annually amongst the 3 Regular Force brigades of the country. In 2017, it was provided by the 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group in Western Canada which handed over to the 2 mechanized brigade in Eastern Canada in 2018, which provided the 2 Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment, based in CFB Gagetown which rotated in to relieve the 1 Battalion, PPCLI.. In June 2018, the 2 Battalion was replaced by 1 Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment, based out of Petawawa Ontario. In January 2019, Canada's French-speaking mechanized brigade from Quebec, (the 5 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group), took on the task. The commanding officer, LCol Sauvé, and most of the soldiers are, in 2019, from the 2 battalion of the Royal 22e Régiment (2R22eR) or the armoured 12 Régiment Blindé du Canada (12 RBC).. In accordancs with this rotation cycle, they will be replaced in July 2019 by the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry from the 1 mechanized brigade. Reservists from over 100 units across Canada have provided several augmentees in each roto.  Spain will dispatch a reinforced armored infantry company consisting of around 350 troops from the 11 Mechanized Infantry Brigade "Extremadura". The Spanish contingent will include 6 Leopard 2E main battle tanks from the I/16 Tank Battalion "Mérida" of the 16 Armored Regiment "Castilla" and 15 Pizarro infantry fighting vehicles from the I/6 Mechanized Infantry Battalion "Cantabria" of the 6 Infantry Regiment "Saboya".  Italy will provide an Italian Army mechanized Infantry company with Freccia and Dardo infantry fighting vehicles. Recently the Italian Army has reinforced its presence with 8 Ariete main battle tanks.  Poland an armored company with PT-91 Twardy main battle tanks.  Slovenia will deploy a Nuclear, Biological, Chemical Defense platoon of the Slovenian Armed Forces, while Albania will send a small detachment from the Albanian Land Force.  Slovakia will deploy an armored infantry company consisting of 150 troops from 11 Mechanized Battalion starting in second half of 2018. The Slovak force contribution consists of a Mechanised Company on BMP2, Command and Control Element, Military Police team, Repairs and Operation Platoon as a support element and a team of medics.  The Czech Republic provides a mortar platoon of 55 soldiers.  Albania provides 21 EOD engineer and Montenegro provides a reconnaissance squad.

Lithuanian multinational battalion battle group.

The Lithuania multinational battalion battle group will be assigned to the Mechanised Infantry Brigade Iron Wolf of the Lithuanian Army and based in Rukla.  The first German Army unit to deploy to Lithuania is the 122 Mechanized Battalion of the of the 10 Panzer Division. Equipped with Marder infantry fighting vehicles the battalion will be augmented with Leopard 2A6 main battle tanks from the 104 Tank Battalion, PzH 2000 self-propelled artillery from the 131 Artillery Battalion engineers from the 4 Armored Engineer Battalion and troops from the 4 Supply Battalion.  Additionally, the Royal Netherlands Army deploys an infantry company supported by engineers, logistics and medical personnel.  The Norwegian Army deploys a mixed armoured company from the Telemark Battalion equipped with CV9030 infantry fighting vehicles and Leopard 2A4NO main battle tanks.  The Belgian Army deploys a logistic support company, which arrived in Lithuania on 24 January 2017. The 100 men from the 18 Logistics Battalion and 29 Logistics Battalion of the Belgian Land Component with medical and military police units attached arrived by ferry in Klaipėda and contain a small detachments of troops from the Luxembourg Army.  Croatia is providing a Croatian Army mechanised infantry company equipped with Patria AMV APCs.  Since March 2018, Iceland deploys one civilian expert to the battlegroup.  The Czech Republic provides a mechanized company of 230 soldiers.

Battle Group Poland.

The Poland-based multinational battalion Battle Group, known as Battle Group Poland (BGPOL), is currently led by the United States Army's 3 ("Wolfpack") Squadron, 2 Cavalry Regiment (United States) headquartered in Rose Barracks, Germany. The Battle Group consists of a US combined-arms battalion, a Sabre Squadron from the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, a Croatian rocket artillery battery, and an ADA company from the Romanian Army.  The Battle Group is attached to the Polish Army's 15 Mechanized Brigade and based in Orzysz located near the Suwalki Gap.

Enhanced Forward Presence (EFP) is a NATO-allied forward deployed defense and deterrence military posture in Central Europe through Poland and Northern Europe through Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, in order to protect and reassure NATO's Central and Northern European member states on NATO's eastern flank of their security. Following Russia's invasion of Crimea and its War in Donbass, NATO's member states agreed at the 2016 Warsaw summit to forward deploy four multinational battalion battle groups to those NATO member states perceived to be most at risk of a possible Russian attack or invasion.

Die NATO Enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) (deutsch etwa: Verstärkte Vornepräsenz) ist eine Beistandsinitiative der NATO, die am 8. und 9. Juli 2016 auf dem NATO-Gipfeltreffen in Warschau, beschlossen wurde. Sie dient der Sicherung der Ostflanke der verbündeten Staaten und der Abschreckung gegenüber Russland. Multinationale Kampftruppen (NATO-Battlegroups) werden zu Ausbildungs- und Übungszwecken in die baltischen Staaten Estland, Lettland und Litauen sowie nach Polen verlegt. Jeweils rund 1000 Soldaten werden dort rotierend stationiert.


Description.

The green-cheeked conure is typically long and weighs 60 to 80 g. It is mainly green, with a brown/black/grey crown, white periophthalmic rings, green cheeks, blue primary wing feathers, a grey beak, and its long pointed tail is mostly maroon. It has short transverse striations on its breast and a red abdominal area. Males and females have an identical external appearance.

Taxonomy.

The green-cheeked conure has six subspecies:  "P. m. sordida" naturally occurs as a common green morph or as a rare yellow morph (which however is more frequent in captivity). The yellow morph is also called the yellow-sided conure and was once erroneously considered to be a separate species, "P. hypoxantha". As "P. hypoxantha" was described before "P. m. sordida" the older name goes first, therefore "P. m. sordida" is called "P. m. hypoxantha" these days.  The green-cheeked conure is similar to the maroon-bellied parakeet ("P. frontalis"), and formerly there have been speculations that they were conspecific. It is also similar in appearance to the blaze-winged parakeet and the black-capped parakeet.

Distribution and habitat.

The green-cheeked conure occurs in west-central and southern Mato Grosso, Brazil, northern and eastern Bolivia, northwestern Argentina, and western Paraguay. Its habitat is forests and woodland, where it usually forms flocks of 10 to 20 individuals at treetop level, or larger flocks where there is more food. It is also emerging as a popular pet for families and individuals.

Diet and behavior.

The green-cheeked conure eats various seeds, vegetables and fruits. The average clutch is 4–6 eggs. Average incubation is 25 days, varying from 22 to 25 days. They are the quietest of the conures and can learn tricks and have a limited vocabulary, with extensive training.

Aviculture.

Green-cheeked parrots are common in aviculture and are popular companion parrots. They are playful, affectionate and intelligent, known as having a "big personality in a small body". They can learn to talk, albeit with a limited vocabulary and a gravelly voice. They like to be held (although some like it more than others) and can learn tricks such as lying on their backs, "kissing," shaking, hanging upside down and even can be potty trained. Green-cheeked parrots are not very loud at most times, so even an apartment dweller can enjoy their companionship. They can be prone to biting, particularly when young, but an owner can cure this behavior with patience and time.  They love fruits, (especially bananas and raisins), and seeds such as sunflower, safflower, and hemp seeds—all found in their natural environments. Green-cheeked parrots also love table food—they are flock animals and love to eat with their family. They can eat potatoes, carrots, corn, bread, pasta, and plain popcorn. A clipped and/or caged bird can become obese from eating too many fatty seeds such as sunflower seeds and peanuts. A bird-pellet diet with a calcium supplement provides proper nutrition and should comprise 60–70% of their diet. An ideal diet is 70% pellet, 20% fruit and vegetables and <10% treat items. Parrots with health problems related to the kidneys should not be fed a high protein diet, as it may lead to gout; veterinarian prescribed low-protein diets are available for birds with such conditions. Green-cheeked parrots can live to 30 years with proper care, though the average lifespan is typically 10 years due to owner neglect.

Color Variations.

In addition to the natural color forms, color varieties have been selectively bred in aviculture: A green/red/blue apple variety is not very common but has been seen.

The green-cheeked conure ("Pyrrhura molinae") is a small parrot of the genus "Pyrrhura", which is part of a long-tailed group of the New World parrot subfamily Arinae. This type of parrot is generally called a "conure" in aviculture. It is native to the forests of South America.

Der Grünwangen-Rotschwanzsittich ("Pyrrhura molinae"), auch Molinasittich genannt, gehört zur Gattung der Rotschwanzsittiche ("Pyrrhura") und kommt ursprünglich aus Südamerika, genauer aus dem Hochland im Osten von Bolivien und lebt dort in Wäldern und anderen Gebieten, die zumindest einen geringen Baumbestand aufweisen. Man sieht Grünwangen-Rotschwanzsittiche außerhalb der Brutzeit meist in kleinen Schwärmen mit 10–20 Tieren, manchmal auch in größeren Gruppen. In freier Natur sind sie häufig anzutreffen und gehören nicht zu den bedrohten Arten.


History.

Zipcar was co-founded by Antje Danielson and Robin Chase based on existing German and Swiss companies in January 2000. In June 2000, the first Zipcars hit the road around Boston, Massachusetts. In January 2001, Antje was fired after Robin Chase petitioned Zipcar's board for the ability to make hiring and firing decisions without consulting them.  In September 2001, the Washington, D.C. office opened, with the branch in New York City following in February 2002. In February 2003, after difficulties in securing additional rounds of funding, the Zipcar board replaced Robin Chase as CEO with Scott Griffith. In July 2005, Zipcar secured $10 million in funding led by Benchmark Capital. In August 2005, San Francisco office opened. In May 2006, the Toronto office opened. In May 2006, General Electric's Commercial Finance Fleet Services () gave Zipcar $20 million in lease line financing. In September 2006, Toronto market was named fastest growing new market in company history.  In November 2006, London office opened. In April 2007, Vancouver office opened. In October 2007, Zipcar and Flexcar executives announced a merger of the two companies, with the Zipcar brand and headquarters replacing that of Flexcar.  On 23 January 2008, the merged Zipcar/Flexcar canceled service for the Southern California cities of Los Angeles and San Diego without providing advance notice to customers in those areas, although Southern California college operations were left intact. On July 11, 2008, Zipcar announced it doubled membership in past year, including the Flexcar members it acquired, and now had 225,000 members. On August 28, 2008, Rice University announced its introduction into the program in their goal of achieving the lowest possible carbon footprint while providing additional transportation options for employees that carpool. In June 2009, the company announced an iPhone application at the Apple World Wide Developer Conference; the application is capable of honking the horn and unlocking some Zipcars.  Following impressive third-quarter results, previous CEO Scott Griffith announced that 2012 would mark Zipcar's "first full year of profitability on a US GAAP basis". Scott Griffith stepped down on March 15, 2013 following Avis Budget Group's acquisition of Zipcar. Mark Norman remained as President until February 2014, when Avis Budget Group announced that Kaye Ceille was appointed president of Zipcar, and "Mark Norman would step down in order to pursue another career opportunity." In July 2016, Kay Ceille stepped down as president of Zipcar to become the managing director of Avis Budget Group International, Australia. On January 5, 2017, Zipcar announced that after a 6-month search they appointed Tracey Zhen as its new president. Ms. Zhen came over from TripAdvisor where she had been a vice president and general manager.

Membership.

Members are able to view vehicle availability and reserve a self-service car via the internet, Android, and iPhone apps, or by telephone, in increments as short as 30 minutes. Members pay only for time they reserve. Zipcar vehicles report their positions to a control center using in-car technology. In the U.S., each reservation entitles members up to for a 24-hour period and then $0.45 per mile beyond 180 miles ($0.55 per mile for premium vehicles and cargo van rentals) will be charged within the 24 hour period. If the rental is longer than 24 hours, then the member is entitled to per 24 hours; then per additional hour of the reservation period until is reached. If the 180 mile limit based on hours is exceeded then $0.45 per mile will be charged ($0.55 per mile for premium vehicles and cargo van rentals). Canadian members receive up to with each reservation for the first 24 hours with $0.30 per kilometre (up to $0.45 per kilometre for premium vehicles and cargo van rentals) being charged if the 200 km limit is exceeded. If the rental reservation is longer than 24 hours, then is included per 24 hours period along with per each additional hour up to. If the 200 km limit based on hours is exceeded, then $0.30 per kilometre (up to $0.45 per kilometre for premium vehicles and cargo van rentals) will be charged. Individual members can sign up for one of two different plans, the "Occasional Driving Plan" and the "Extra Value Plan".  Members are given an access card containing a wireless chip that will open the vehicle they have reserved only at the time they have reserved it. The reservation includes vehicle insurance, a gas card for the car, reimbursements for fuel obtained at gas stations that do not accept the included gas card, and up to $15 in reimbursements for typical car maintenance items like car washes and window wiper fluid refills. A member can reserve and use a Zipcar in any Zipcar city.

Fees.

Zipcar was sued in 2009 and again in 2011 by customers alleging that they charged excessive or hidden fees. The suit cited several hidden charges, including a charge to talk to a customer service representative even when customers call to report a problem that cannot be handled through the website or automated phone system, additional fees on top of the cost of a parking ticket even if the ticket was overturned in court, late fees starting at $50, a fee to retrieve items left in cars, and an inactivity fee. According to the complaint, many customers may not even be aware of the charges because Zipcar does not send monthly statements. The lawsuit was dismissed in 2010, after U.S. District Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton found that every penalty except an inactive-user charge is legal. In August 2016, Zipcar agreed to settle a case involving allegations of charging New York consumers illegal damage fees for rental vehicles. According to New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman, New York State law mandates if rental car companies mean to pursue charges for damages to their vehicles, they must give consumers the opportunity to dispute the complaint. Schneiderman's office alleges Zipcar failed to follow this requirement. The company sometimes purportedly charged consumers damage fees before notifying them of the charges. As a settlement, Zipcar will refund any damage charges assessed against consumers who disputed their responsibility for the damage. Additionally, the company will pay the Attorney General's Office $35,000 for fees and costs. In addition, Zipcar is barred from charging customers for damage unless those customers agree they are liable or the company obtains a legal determination—for example, from a court—that the driver is responsible. As of September 25, 2018, the business is not accredited by the Better Business Bureau and averages a one-star review from the BBB from numerous complaints alleging deceptive business practices.

University, organization and business partnerships.

Zipcar launched its Zipcar for Business program in early 2004 to provide companies with discounts on Monday-Friday driving. Since the launch of the program, Zipcar has signed 10,000 small, medium, and large sized businesses, as companies are increasingly adopting Zipcar's on demand car rental model as a cost-saving alternative for employee travel. Zipcar has partnered with over 600 colleges and universities across North America.

Zipcar fleet.

Zipcar offers more than 50 makes and models of vehicles. Each vehicle has a home location: a reserved parking space located on a street, driveway, or neighborhood parking lot in the member's area, to which it must be returned at the end of the reservation. The locations of all Zipcars and models available at those locations are available at the Zipcar website. Zipcar currently (2019) has a fleet of 12,000+ vehicles. The makes and models of Zipcar vehicles available vary by location (for example, on college campuses, most Zipcar vehicles are economy, hybrid, and full-size cars), though members are able to choose the exact make and model of vehicle they wish from the list of available vehicles online or in the Zipcar smartphone application.  Most Zipcar vehicles will feature decals with the Zipcar logo. Each vehicle has a "name" that help the renter to identify their specific vehicle. Zipcar offers vehicles in different categories, such as economy cars, electric vehicles (EV's), hybrid vehicles, full-size cars, luxury vehicles (such as those from Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and other luxury manufacturers), SUV's, pickup trucks, and cargo vans. A Zipcar vehicle will not unlock for the renter until their exact reservation time. Renters unlock their vehicle (both at the beginning of the reservation and throughout the rental) by either holding their Zipcar membership Radio Frequency Identification RFID card or smartphone against the upper corner of the vehicle's windshield. The vehicle's keys are always tied to the steering column of the vehicle, and stay inside the vehicle at all times. A Zipcar "Copilot" guide is located in the driver's side sun visor, and includes a complimentary refueling card (gasoline card), insurance information, the vehicle registration card, and information about both the vehicle, as well as rental policies and procedures.

Embedded technologies.

Zipcars have RFID readers located on the windshield that communicates with the card to lock and unlock the doors of the vehicle. Each vehicle records hours of usage and mileage, which is uploaded to a central computer via a wireless data link. The location of the vehicles is not tracked during a reservation for privacy reasons but is trackable, and all cars are equipped with a "kill" function that allows the company to prevent the car from starting in the event of theft. Zipcar also offers the embedded Information Technologies it has installed in its fleet as a fleet optimization service through its FastFleet service.  During a rental, a Zipcar member can interface with their rented vehicle using the Zipcar smartphone app, which includes the ability to locate the vehicle in a parking lot (including GPS location and the ability to sound the vehicle's horn and flash the lights) and unlock or lock the vehicle.

Clean fuel vehicles.

Among its fleet of fuel-efficient vehicles, and through an agreement between Honda and Zipcar, the program offers clean fuel and low-emission vehicles that include the Insight hybrid, Civic Hybrid, and Honda Fit EV all-electric car. Vehicles such as the Chevrolet Volt and Toyota Prius are also available.

Expansion.

On October 31, 2007, Zipcar and Flexcar announced their intentions to merge. The merged company retained the name "Zipcar" and was headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Zipcar's chief executive, former Seattle-based Boeing engineer Scott Griffith, became Chairman and CO, while Flexcar CEO Mark Norman became President and Chief Operating Officer. The merger combined Zipcar's fleet of 3,500 vehicles in 35 markets with Flexcar's 1,500 cars in 15 markets.  In December 2009, Zipcar announced their participation in a round of financing with Avancar, the largest on-demand car rental company in Spain, based in Barcelona. Under the terms of the agreement, Zipcar acquired a minority interest in Avancar, a Zipcar executive joined Avancar's board and Zipcar was given a year option to increase the company's ownership stake. Later on in April 2010, Zipcar announced that it had acquired London-based car-sharing club Streetcar. In December 2010, Zipcar extended their option for another year through the end of 2011, and provided a monetary loan to Avancar, which is convertible into equity if Zipcar chooses to exercise the option. On October 17, 2012, Zipcar announced the completion of its Avancar integration. On January 22, 2019 Zipcar (Avancar) members received notification that the service would no longer be available as of midnight, February 28, 2019. On Facebook and Instagram, the company cited a decision made by Avis to discontinue the service in the Spanish city.  Since 2014, Zipcar has started services in cities in North America, Europe, and Asia.

Insurance.

Zipcar provides liability coverage of $100,000 bodily injury per person, $300,000 bodily injury maximum, and $25,000 property damage per accident for members over 21 years of age who joined after March 1, 2015. Members at fault are responsible for the first $1,000 of costs related to the repair, recovery, and loss of use of any Zipcar vehicle. However, members can purchase no-liability insurance for an additional $79 a year. Members involved in accidents where fault is not determined (such as in a hit and run) must pay the first $1000 of these costs. For members under 21, Zipcar provides insurance coverage at state-mandated levels.  Zipcar has received some scrutiny for their low coverage limits.  Insurance coverage may vary depending on the region of use. For example, Canadian members in Toronto, Ontario, are provided with $1,000,000 in liability coverage. Vancouver, BC members are provided with $2,000,000 in liability coverage. Both regions in Canada also include comprehensive and collision coverage in addition to liability insurance. Previously, Zipcars traveling into Canada from the U.S. required members to obtain a special insurance card from Zipcar. As of February 2018, however, it appears that this is no longer the policy. Canadian Zipcars traveling into the U.S. do not need the extra insurance card.  Similar to members of Zipcar U.S., members of Zipcar London, UK, require a special'vehicle on-hire' certificate when traveling abroad, which can be obtained from Zipcar.

Zipcar is an American car-sharing company and a subsidiary of Avis Budget Group. Zipcar provides automobile reservations to its members, billable by the minute, hour or day; members may have to pay a monthly or annual membership fee in addition to car reservations charges. Zipcar was founded in 2000 by Antje Danielson and Robin Chase..

Zipcar ist ein internationaler Carsharing-Anbieter. Das Unternehmen ist eine hundertprozentige Tochtergesellschaft der Avis Budget Group. Im Jahr 2019 war das Unternehmen mit über 12 000 Fahrzeugen aktiv.


History.

A castle on this site was, from the mid-13th century, the seat of the King family.  An earlier castle associated with the hereditary Forester and Coroner of the Garioch, a Blackhall, may be incorporated in the main block and south-eastern wing, but the present castle owes its form mainly to George Seton, chancellor of the University of Aberdeen, Tutor and Vicar of Meldrum who was granted the estate in 1598. A charter of 1599 to George Seton, tutor of Meldrum, mentions the erection of the lands of Barra as a free barony, while a charter of 1615, ordains that the 'fortalice of Barra' is to be the chief seat of the barony.  James Reid, an Aberdeen advocate, was in possession of the estate by 1630, and the Reid family retained it until 1754. Dame Margaret Abercrombie, the wife of John Reid (who was made a baronet in 1703), refitted parts of the house; she may be responsible for the fireplace in the Great Hall.  The purchaser in 1754 was John Ramsay of Melrose, a merchant trading in Russia, who added the north wing, and his descendants still own it; a Ramsay heiress married Andrew Irvine, one of the Irvines of Drum, early in the 20th century. John Ramsay preferred his estate at Straloch, and after his death in 1787 the property came to be used as a farmhouse. It was restored as a dower house, to plans by George Bennet Mitchell, in the first decade of the twentieth century.

Structure.

The plan of the castle is an unusual variation on the L-plan, with the main block of the castle lying north to south. There is a circular tower at the south-west. A D-plan tower at the south-east contains the main stair and entrance. This tower, corbelled square at the top to give a watch-room, links to a large square wing. At its north-west angle this wing has a second circular tower. The castle’s entrance is in the main re-entrant angle. The towers have conical roofs.  Running eastward from the north end of the main block there is an addition, dating from the 18th century. A wall to the east, which contains the entrance, forms the fourth side of a square court.  The buildings around the courtyard are three storeys high, built of pinned boulder rubble. The main gables are crow stepped. The drawing room, which is panelled, has a large chimneypiece, with a later one inserted in it. The first floor bedroom in the South East wing has panelling dating from the early to mid-18th century. There is a panelled sitting room in the North wing.  The castle is a category A listed building and is constructed on the site of Robert the Bruce's successful battle against John Comyn, Earl of Buchan in 1308.  The Hunterian Museum in Glasgow has a hammerstone from Barra Castle.

Paintings.

There are two paintings of the interior of the castle by James Cassie in the Aberdeen Art Gallery:

Barra Castle is an unusual L-plan tower house dating from the early 16th century, about south of Oldmeldrum, above the Lochter Burn, in the parish of Bourtie, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It occupies the site of the Battle of Inverurie (1308), in which Robert Bruce defeated John Comyn, Earl of Buchan.

Barra Castle ist ein Wohnturm etwa 3 km südlich von Oldmeldrum am "Lochter Burn" in der Gemeinde "Bourtie" in der schottischen Grafschaft Aberdeenshire. Der Turm mit L-Förmigem Grundriss stammt aus dem frühen 16. Jahrhundert. An der Stelle, an der heute Barra Castle steht, fand die Schlacht von Barra statt, in der König Robert the Bruce 1308 John Comyn, 7. Earl of Buchan, besiegte.


Family and education.

Early life.

Eliane Chantal Karp-Toledo was born on September 24, 1953 in Paris to Charles Karp (Polish) and Eva Rose Fernenburg (Belgian).  Her father, Charles Karp (a Jewish descendant) was persecuted by Gestapo and then he became part of the French resistance.  She completed her baccalaureate at the Lycée Français in Brussels

Education.

Karp earned her Bachelor of Arts in anthropology at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, specializing in Latin American studies. She also holds a Master of Arts in anthropology from Stanford University. Karp also completed doctoral studies in anthropology at Stanford.  Karp has taken courses on indigenous communities at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, and has done graduate work on anthropology and economic development at the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru.

Family life.

At Stanford, she met Alejandro Toledo, whom she married in 1972. Karp first came to Peru in the late 1970s to study its indigenous communities. In 1992 Karp and Toledo divorced and she returned to Israel with their daughter. The couple remarried and returned to Peru before her husband's 1995 campaign.

Career.

In 1980, she began working for international organizations such as OAS, UNICEF and UNDP where she conducted impact measurement studies for development projects on indigenous populations.  In 1982 she served at the Agency for International Development (USAID) based in Lima, where she was a consultant until 1987.  Since November 1987 she started working at the World Bank in Washington D.C. as a project officer for Latin America and Africa until 1992.  Karp also served as an officer for Middle East in European Investment Bank. Karp returned to Israel, and worked at Bank Leumi, where she was in charge of developing relationships with foreign banks.

Academic career.

Karp recently served as an adjunct professor at the Elliott School of International Affairs at the George Washington University. She is also a former Visiting Professor and Visiting Scholar at Stanford University department of Anthropology.  Karp was a distinguished fellow in residence at Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University and has also been a visiting professor at Salamanca University - Instituto de Iberoamérica.

Political contributions.

During her husband's 2001 presidential bid, Karp contributed to a campaign which drew deeply on Toledo's indigenous heritage. She donned traditional Andean costume, rallied voters in Quechua, and demonstrated the couple's commitment to indigenous issues. According to "The New York Times", "her flaming red hair and fiery speeches made her a popular and controversial fixture at campaign rallies."  In 2001, Karp became the first lady of the Republic of Peru when Toledo was elected president, a position she held until 2006. While in office, Karp became the honorary president of the Fund for the Development of Indigenous Communities of Latin America and the Caribbean.

CONAPA.

Shortly after Toledo's inauguration, his administration created the National Commission on Andean, Amazon and Afro-Peruvian Communities (CONAPA) of Peru, of which Karp served as president. The agency was meant to establish a development agenda for indigenous communities, provide representation of indigenous interests within the government, and lead the way to constitutional reforms that benefit indigenous peoples.  Others lamented the commission's ineffectiveness. Noting its lack of funding and of implementing powers, Diana Vindling called it "no more than a space for dialogue." On the other hand, Oxfam's Martin Scurrah points out that the agency did good work. Noting that in addition to promoting a chapter on indigenous rights in the new constitution, Eliane Karp "intervened on numerous occasions in support of or in defense of indigenous initiatives."  Some critics viewed the very creation of the commission as a step backwards for indigenous Peruvians, noting its leadership by a person with no official government position rather than a ministry head. The commission also absorbed the former SETAI (office of indigenous affairs), which reportedly led to a loss of autonomy and dynamism for that agency. Others complained that Karp's leadership of the commission represented a conflict of interest, given her involvement in her own private NGO, Fundación Pacha.  In 2003, partly in response to these criticisms, Karp resigned from CONAPA, which was subsequently restructured as a national institute rather than a commission.

Machu Picchu Artifacts.

Throughout Toledo's presidency, Karp participated in negotiations with Yale University for the return to Peru of over 350 indigenous artifacts. The museum pieces were excavated from Machu Picchu around 1915 and sent to Yale on a twelve-month loan. On this matter, Peru had the support of the National Geographic Society and Senator Christopher Dodd of Connecticut. Negotiations stalled when the university refused to acknowledge Peru as the sole owner of the artifacts, but resumed under the García presidency.  In a "New York Times" op-ed, Karp accused Yale of waiting out "Peru’s first elected indigenous president, until Peru had a new leader who is frankly hostile to indigenous matters." She also criticized the agreement between Peru and Yale that was finally arrived at in 2008. Under the terms of this agreement, Peru would have to build a museum and research center near Machu Picchu to Yale's specifications before it could receive a portion of the articles for display and study. Most of the artifacts would remain with Yale.

Pacha Foundation for a Change.

In 2001, Karp started Fundación Pacha, a non-profit organization that oversees development projects for indigenous Peruvians. The foundation "places special emphasis on the design of sustainable development projects based on traditional and communal organizations and the development of productive skills to promote the comparative economic advantages of the Peruvian biodiversity and its rich potential for ecotourism."  Karp remained the head of the organization until 2006. Pacha's micro projects have included giving Amazonian peoples vaccinations against yellow fever, hepatitis B and malaria, building basic community institutions, and providing equipment for basic medical care centers in rural areas with indigenous populations.  In 2002 Karp reached out to billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates in order to fund a vaccination program for the Candoshi tribes people. Gates was unwilling to help, and instead began humanitarian aid efforts in Africa and China. Since then Karp has criticized Gates for his unwillingness to help and acknowledges she felt it unfair to ignore Peru when conditions in rural Peru are just as dire as in other impoverished areas.

Current activities.

Karp has publicly opposed the Garcia administration for its failure to uphold Indepa, and its continued alienation of the indigenous people. She has also shown support in favor of a push for more women in the Peruvian congress, and she acknowledges quotas as a means of achieving this.  In March 2012 Karp returned to Peru to pursue a teaching position at the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru, and in the fall she returned to teach anthropology in the Andean studies postgraduate program. She has also announced she will undertake a book which examines the role of indigenous populations as they integrate into the democratic political process.  In May 2012 Karp participated in a human rights conference organized by the Program on Human Rights and the Center for Latin American Studies of Stanford University, in which she called for a debate about the rights of indigenous peoples in Peru. Karp expressed "We propose that social inclusion and equal citizenship are key factors for good governance... The indigenous worldview has to be respected and integrated in public policies."  In October 2012 Karp recounted her meeting with Aung San Suu Kyi, saying that it was inspiring and that she was impressed that Suu Kyi was able to stay so calm while being imprisoned for 15 years. Karp likened the situation to when she met the Dalai Lama, who is living in exile, and urged support for a petition going through the United Nations to help combat human rights violations.

Eliane Chantal Karp-Toledo is a Peruvian anthropologist, ex-First Lady of Peru, and the wife of the ex-president of Peru, Alejandro Toledo. She specializes in the study of Andean indigenous cultures.

Eliane Chantal Karp Fernenbug de Toledo (geb. 25. September 1953 in Paris, Frankreich) ist eine belgisch-US-amerikanisch-peruanische Anthropologin und Ehefrau des ehemaligen peruanischen Präsidenten Alejandro Toledo. Sie ist auf das Studium der indigenen Völker der Anden spezialisiert.


Plot.

A boy named Tim Templeton tells a story about his 7-year-old self and his parents, Ted and Janice. One day, Tim is surprised when an infant wearing a business suit arrives at his house in a taxi, and Ted and Janice call him Tim's little brother. Tim is envious of the attention the day-old baby receives, not to mention suspicion when the infant acts odd around him, but his parents are oblivious.  Soon, Tim learns that the baby can talk like an adult, and he introduces himself as "The Boss". Seeing an opportunity to get rid of him, Tim decides to record a conversation between the Boss Baby and other toddlers who are at Tim's house for a meeting. A chase ensues, and the cassette tape is terminated by a passing automobile after the Boss Baby threatens to tear up Tim's favorite stuffed animal, Lam-Lam. With no evidence to support him, Tim's parents ground him for three weeks.  The Boss Baby apologizes to Tim and has him suck on a pacifier that transports them to Baby Corp., a place where infants with adult-like minds work to preserve infant love everywhere. The Boss Baby explains that he was sent to see why puppies are being loved more than infants. He has infiltrated Tim's residence because his parents work for Puppy Co., which will unleash a new puppy on a pet convention in Las Vegas. The Boss Baby stays intelligent by drinking a "Secret Baby Formula" that enables a baby to act like an adult. However, should a baby not drink it after a period of time, he or she becomes a regular baby. When they overhear Boss Baby's boss threatening to fire him for not bringing in information, which would strip him of his formula and strand him at the Templetons, he and Tim agree to work together to prevent that.  Tim's parents "un-ground" him and take them to Puppy Co. for take your child to work day. While there, they slip away and find what they think is the plans for a "Forever Puppy", but they are captured by the company's founder and CEO, Francis E. Francis. They discover that Francis used to be the head of Baby Corp. and whom Boss Baby idolizes, but was ousted when it was discovered that his lactose intolerance kept the secret formula from working properly. Francis intends to have the Forever Puppies overshadow babies by stealing Boss Baby's serum bottle and injecting the puppies with it as revenge. Tim's parents go with Francis to Las Vegas, and Francis has his brother Eugene pose as Tim and Boss Baby's babysitter to keep them from interfering.  Without a steady flow of formula to maintain his intelligence, Boss Baby starts becoming a normal baby. Despite this, he and Tim evade the "babysitter" long enough to reach the airport but are too late to intercept Tim's parents. They sneak on to another plane bound for Las Vegas. There, they stall Francis' presentation when Eugene unwittingly gives away their plan. Furious at their interference, Francis locks Tim's parents up so he can burn them with exhaust from a rocket used to launch the Forever Puppies. Tim and Boss Baby defeat Eugene and move on to save their parents but are intercepted by Francis. Tim and Boss Baby push him off a ledge, making Francis tumble into the formula. Boss Baby opens the rocket to let the puppies out so they can save Tim's parents. His return to baby state is complete while on the rocket, and begins to cry, but Tim sings to him with the family song to show his appreciation, causing him to jump off the rocket before it launches. After the rocket does launch, Tim takes Boss Baby to the formula vat and he returns to his original self. Francis then emerges from the vat, having been reverted to an obese baby and tries to attack Boss Baby, but is picked up by a redeemed Eugene and tells Tim and Boss Baby that "This time, we'll raise him right".  Boss Baby is promoted and leaves. Tim goes back to being an only child, but he and Boss Baby miss each other. After Tim writes a letter convincing him to live with him as his brother, Boss Baby returns to the Templeton family as a regular baby named Theodore Lindsey "Ted" Templeton. In the present, an adult Tim finishes telling his daughter the story about how he felt when his brother was born, to calm her worries about her recently-born sister, whom she notices that she acts the same way Tim did when he was Boss Baby.

Production.

Upon reading the original book on which the film is based McGrath felt a connection to it, as he had an older brother and felt like "the boss baby of the family". In keeping with that theme he stated, in an interview with Den of Geek, that "My personal goal with this was to watch this movie with my brother, and to see how it affected him!", which resulted in McGrath's brother being moved to tears by the completed film.  The look of the film was inspired by design techniques popularized in the 1960s, as well as animated films from both 60s and 50s. This was due to McGrath's belief that contemporary animated films focused too much on realism. To help his staff McGrath would play the opening scene of "Lady and the Tramp" for new hires specifically noting that the film "should be easy on the eyes and really lead your eye to what’s important in the shot. In September 2014, Alec Baldwin and Kevin Spacey joined the cast of the film, with further casting news announced in June 2016, including Steve Buscemi replacing Spacey.  Miles Bakshi, son of the DreamWorks Animation's producer Gina Shay and grandson of the film director Ralph Bakshi, who directed the 1972 American adult animated comedy film "Fritz the Cat", provided the voice of 7-year old Tim. Having been often present at DreamWorks, McGrath initially asked Bakshi only to provide a temporary voice for Tim to see if the character "worked". The producers listened to 30 to 40 children to choose the scratch voice. McGrath explained their decision: "No one sounded as authentic as Miles did. A lot of child actors are great, but they are over-articulate for their age. Miles was just natural and charming. He had a little slur to his voice at the time and it was very endearing." Three years later, Miles was told that he got the part. Bakshi was 10 when he began recording the voice. During the long process, his voice started to change and "by the end it got pretty tough", according to Bakshi, who was 14 when the film was released. He had to get his voice "very soft, but when I got that perfect tone it was great."

Music.

The film was scored by Hans Zimmer, along with Steve Mazzaro, Jacob Collier, and various artists. The film's soundtrack was released on Back Lot Music & iTunes. "Blackbird" by The Beatles is used as part of the plot at various points throughout the film. During the end credits, Missi Hale recorded a cover of the Burt Bacharach song What The World Needs Now Is Love (first performed by Jackie DeShannon). "My House" by Flo Rida is also used in the trailer for the film.

Release.

"The Boss Baby" was initially scheduled for release on March 18, 2016, but was later pushed back to March 31, 2017. The film premiered at the Miami Film Festival on March 12, 2017, and was released in the United States on March 31, 2017, by 20th Century Fox. The film was later released in Japan on March 21, 2018 by DreamWorks Animation's sister company Universal Pictures. The Japanese release is accompanied by the DreamWorks animated short "Bird Karma".

Home media.

"The Boss Baby" was released on Digital HD on July 4, 2017, and was released on DVD, Blu-ray, Blu-ray 3D and Ultra HD Blu-ray on July 25, 2017 by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment. The releases also include a new short film, "The Boss Baby and Tim's Treasure Hunt Through Time".

Reception.

Box office.

"The Boss Baby" grossed $175 million in the United States and Canada and $352.9 million in other territories for a worldwide total of $527.9 million.  In North America, "The Boss Baby" opened alongside "Ghost in the Shell" and "The Zookeeper's Wife", and was initially projected to gross around $30 million from 3,773 theaters in its opening weekend. However, after grossing $1.5 million from Thursday night previews and $15.5 million on Friday, weekend projections were increased to $50 million. It ended up debuting to $50.2 million, finishing first at the box office. It remained atop the box office in its second weekend, grossing $26.3 million.

Critical response.

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 52% based on 178 reviews and an average rating of 5.52/10. The site's critical consensus reads, ""The Boss Baby"s talented cast, glimmers of wit, and flashes of visual inventiveness can't make up for a thin premise and a disappointing willingness to settle for doody jokes." On Metacritic, the film has a score of 50 out of 100 based on 32 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews". Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A−" on an A+ to F scale.  Neil Genzlinger of "The New York Times" praised Baldwin and the adult humor, saying: "The contrast between the helpless-infant stage of life and corporate-speak is funny but fairly high-concept for a kiddie movie, and the plot grows denser as it goes along and the baby and Tim reluctantly join forces to stop a conspiracy by which puppies would corner all the love in the world."

Franchise.

Sequel.

On May 25, 2017, Universal Pictures and DreamWorks Animation announced that a sequel is set to be released on March 26, 2021, with Alec Baldwin reprising his role, Roseanne Barr will also be in the movie. On May 17, 2019, it was announced that Tom McGrath will return as director and Jeff Hermann, who produces "Bilby" and "Bird Karma", as well as the upcoming short "Marooned", will produce the sequel. Steve Mazzaro will compose the music for the film.

Television series.

On December 12, 2017, both Netflix and DreamWorks Animation announced the release of the TV series based off the film. "" was released in 2018.

The Boss Baby is a 2017 American computer-animated comedy film produced by DreamWorks Animation and distributed by 20th Century Fox. Loosely based on the 2010 picture book of the same name by Marla Frazee, the film was directed by Tom McGrath, from a screenplay by Michael McCullers, and stars the voices of Alec Baldwin as the title character, along with Miles Bakshi, Steve Buscemi, Jimmy Kimmel, Lisa Kudrow, and Tobey Maguire. The plot follows a 7 year old boy helping his baby brother who is a secret agent in the war for adults' love between babies and puppies.

The Boss Baby ist eine US-amerikanische computeranimierte Filmkomödie von DreamWorks unter der Regie von Tom McGrath aus dem Jahr 2017. Der Film basiert lose auf dem gleichnamigen Bilderbuch von Marla Frazee. Das Drehbuch schrieb Michael McCullers. Im Original werden die Figuren synchronisiert von Alec Baldwin, Miles Bakshi, Steve Buscemi, Jimmy Kimmel und Lisa Kudrow, Tobey Maguire fungiert als Erzähler.


Early life.

Gauthier was born on April 26, 1995 in Laval, Quebec, Canada to parents Stéphane and Sophie Gauthier. He grew up in Mascouche, Quebec and cheered for the Montreal Canadiens growing up.

Playing career.

Youth.

As a youth, Gauthier played in the 2008 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with the Montreal Canadiens minor ice hockey team. He played alongside Anthony Duclair, although they were eventually eliminated by a team with Jonathan Drouin on its roster. Gauthier eventually advanced to the Collège Esther-Blondin Phénix in midget AAA and led the team to the 2012 Telus Cup. During the tournament, he recorded two goals and nine assist in seven games. As a teenager attending Académie Antoine-Manseau, Gauthier played quarterback on their football team in addition to hockey. He was eventually drafted by the Rimouski Océanic of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) during the 2011 QMJHL Entry Draft, although he intended to study at Harvard University and play for their Division 1 ice hockey team. In spite of this, Penguins captain Sidney Crosby, who was an Océanic alumni, convinced Gauthier to play junior ice hockey with Rimouski Océanic in the QMJHL. Gauthier also turned down the opportunity to play in the United States Hockey League with the Youngstown Phantoms.  In his rookie season with the Océanic, Gauthier was considered a top prospect after recording 60 points in 62 games. He competed in the CHL Top Prospects Game and received a final ranking of eighth amongst North American skaters from the NHL Central Scouting Bureau. Prior to the draft, he was praised as a proficient skater who could use his 6'5 body to control the puck. He fulfilled the expectation to be a first-round selection at the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, when he was selected 21st overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs. As his family was from Quebec, his grandfather was unhappy with his draft team and cursed out loud when he heard the news. After the draft, Gauthier was invited to their training camps in September, but returned to Rimouski for the 2013–14 season. While with the Leafs organization, he partook skating lessons with coach Barb Underhill. During that season, the Leafs signed Gauthier to a three-year, entry-level contract on November 28, 2013. Although Gauthier helped lead Rimouski to the QMJHL playoffs, they were eliminated in the second round by the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada.  Although Gauthier played less games in his final junior season, he was the recipient of the Guy Carbonneau Trophy at the conclusion of the 2014–15 season. He also led the team to the President's Cup Trophy by scoring the game winning goal in double overtime of Game 7 against the Quebec Remparts. On April 21, 2014, he signed an amateur tryout contract with the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League (AHL).

Professional.

After attending the Maple Leafs' training camp, Gauthier joined the American Hockey League Toronto Marlies for the 2015–16 season. He recorded his first professional point on October 21, 2016, against the Rochester Americans and his first professional goal in a 3–1 win over the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. He received a call-up by the Toronto Maple Leafs on March 19, 2016, and made his NHL debut on March 19, 2016, in a game against the Buffalo Sabres. He played seven games with the Maple Leafs before being sent back to the AHL. During those seven games, Gauthier recorded his first career NHL point on April 6, 2016, with an assist on Morgan Rielly's second period goal.  After attending the Maple Leafs training camp, Gauthier was assigned to the Toronto Marlies for the 2016–17 season. After playing 16 games with the Marlies, Gauthier was recalled to the NHL on December 16, to replace an injured Martin Marincin. Gauthier would eventually record his first career NHL goal on December 22, 2016, against the Colorado Avalanche. Gauthier was subsequently recalled periodically throughout the season but played with the Marlies during their 2017 Calder Cup playoffs run. While playing in the second-round against the Syracuse Crunch, Gauthier suffered an avulsion of the hamstring injury which required surgery, ending his season. Although his projected recovery time was six months, he was back skating in less than three months. As a result of the surgery, Gauthier lost some hamstring muscles and became a bit shorter.  Gauthier was invited to participate in the Toronto Maple Leafs training camp prior to the 2017–18 season, although he was reassigned to the Marlies. On January 2, 2018, Gauthier was called-up to the Maple Leafs to play against the Tampa Bay Lightning, a 2–0 loss. He was sent back down to the AHL on January 11 after playing five games in the NHL so that he could continue playing hockey while the Leafs were on a bye week. Gauthier and fellow Marlies player Travis Dermott were recalled on January 15. On January 23, after playing a total of nine games in the NHL during which he scored one goal, Gauthier was returned to the Marlies. He competed with the Marlies during their 2018 Calder Cup playoffs run where he helped them clinch the Calder Cup.  On July 11, 2018, Gauthier signed a two-year, two-way contract extension with the Maple Leafs. After making the team out of training camp, Gauthier stayed on the NHL roster for the entirety of the season. Gauthier played 62 games for the Maple Leafs before suffering a foot injury in March which kept him out of two games. He recovered in time to make his post-season debut with the Leafs, playing in all seven games during the first round against the Boston Bruins.  Although the 2019–20 season would eventually be delayed due to COVID-19, Gauthier started the season strong. He partook in skating lessons with Leafs coach Barb Underhill and captain John Tavares spoke highly of his progress; "He’s making plays more, feeling good about finding the open man and what’s going on in the open ice, and getting to the net." Upon the hiring of Sheldon Keefe on November 20, 2019, he experienced his first healthy scratch of the season after playing in 29 games. When inquired about his choice, Keefe stated "[w]e've liked how Fred's played, he's done well but we're trying to find the right mix for our team & we've got to try some different things. In the interim he's going to have to take a step back a little bit." After sitting as a healthy scratch for four consecutive nights, Gauthier returned to the Leafs lineup to reach a new career-high in goals.

International play.

Following a successful season with the College Esther-Blondin Phenix midget AAA team, Gauthier was selected to play for Team Quebec at the Canadian Winter Games. He ended the tournament with one assist in six games.  On June 28, 2013, Gauthier was invited to the Canadian National Junior Team summer development camp. After making the roster, he was a member of the gold medal-winning Canadian team at the 2013 IIHF World U18 Championships. The following year, he was again invited to the Canadian National Junior Team summer development camp prior to the 2014 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. After making the final roster, Team Canada lost in the semi-finals to Finland and failed to medal against Russia. While playing in six games, Gauthier recorded one assist and ended with a -2 Plus–minus.  On December 21, 2014, Gauthier was selected to compete for Team Canada during the 2015 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. He played on a line with Lawson Crouse and Nick Ritchie during the tournament, as Team Canada won a gold medal.

Frédérik Gauthier (born April 26, 1995) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs in the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected by the Maple Leafs in the first round, 21st overall, of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft after spending three Rimouski Océanic in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). Gauthier became a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs organization following the 2014–15 season. During his developmental years with the Maple Leafs American Hockey League affiliate, the Toronto Marlies, he helped them clinch their first Calder Cup in franchise history.

Frédérik Gauthier (* 26. April 1995 in Laval, Québec) ist ein kanadischer Eishockeyspieler, der seit November 2013 bei den Toronto Maple Leafs in der National Hockey League unter Vertrag steht und parallel für deren Farmteam, die Toronto Marlies, in der American Hockey League zum Einsatz kommt.


Playing career.

Since turning professional in the 2009–10 season, Smith, while within the Predators organization, was shuffled between the Milwaukee Admirals of the AHL and the Cincinnati Cyclones of the ECHL.  On July 5, 2013, Smith signed a one-year contract as a free agent with the Columbus Blue Jackets. After attending the Blue Jackets training camp he was assigned to AHL affiliate, the Springfield Falcons".  On July 2, 2014, Smith signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Boston Bruins. Smith was sent down to Providence Bruins to be a call up along with Malcolm Subban for the majority of the season.  On July 1, 2015 the Boston Bruins re-signed Smith to a one-year, two way contract. With Smith unable to earn the backup role and with the Bruins suffering a surplus of goaltenders in their system, he was assigned on loan to AHL affiliate club of the Minnesota Wild, the Iowa Wild, for the duration of the 2015–16 season on October 6, 2015. On February 6, 2016, Providence's Malcolm Subban was hospitalized after taking a puck to the throat. With Subban ruled out for 8 weeks due to this injury, Smith was recalled from his loan with Iowa Wild to provide Providence cover. In Subban's absence, Smith was a stand out for Providence, posting 13 wins in 20 games and earning his first recall to the NHL, on an emergency basis, on April 9, 2016. He was returned to the AHL for the post-season without featuring for the Bruins.  At the conclusion of the season, Smith left the Bruins organization as a free agent. On July 1, 2016, he signed a one-year, two-way contract to join the Colorado Avalanche. Smith began the 2016–17 season in the AHL with affiliate, the San Antonio Rampage. He was injured in his third game with the Rampage and missed two months of action before returning to post his first win with the Rampage in a 4–2 victory over the Tucson Roadrunners on December 17, 2016. On December 27, Smith was recalled by the Avalanche after injury to starting goaltender Semyon Varlamov, and backed up Calvin Pickard for five games before he was returned to the Rampage on January 5, 2017. With Varlamov suffering a season-ending injury, Smith was recalled on a second occasion on February 9, 2017. He made his NHL debut with the Avalanche, making 37 saves in a 3–2 defeat to the New Jersey Devils on February 14, 2017. In his third start with the Avalanche he received his first NHL win, making 34 saves in the teams 5–3 win over the Buffalo Sabres on February 25, 2017.  As a free agent in the off-season, Smith left the Avalanche to sign a one-year, two-way contract with the Carolina Hurricanes on July 1, 2017. In the following 2017–18 season, Smith was unable to add to his NHL experience, assigned to AHL affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers for the duration of the campaign. In 30 games, Smith collected 13 wins and posted a goals against average of 2.71.  At the completion of his contract with the Hurricanes, Smith became a free agent and agreed to sign a one-year AHL contract with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers on July 9, 2018. In the following 2018–19 season, Smith had collected 16 wins through 32 games for the Sound Tigers before he was signed to a two-way contract by the New York Islanders for the remainder of the year on February 24, 2019. In adding depth to the Goaltending ranks of the playoff bound Islanders, Smith would continue to play with their AHL affiliate.  On June 10, 2019, Smith as an impending free agent signed his first contract abroad, agreeing to a two-year contract with Chinese outfit, Kunlun Red Star of the KHL.

Jeremy Smith (born April 13, 1989) is an American professional ice hockey goaltender. He is currently playing with HC Kunlun Red Star of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). Smith was selected in the second round, 54th overall, by the Nashville Predators in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.

Jeremy Smith (* 13. April 1989 in Dearborn, Michigan) ist ein US-amerikanischer Eishockeytorwart, der seit Juni 2019 bei Kunlun Red Star aus der Kontinentalen Hockey-Liga unter Vertrag steht.


Plot.

Geralt takes up a contract sent out by a noble named Olgierd von Everec, who tasks him with eliminating a giant toad monster in the sewers of Oxenfurt. While hunting the monster, Geralt runs into Shani, a medic and an old acquaintance of his, whom he has the option of romancing. Geralt then kills the toad monster, only to find it was actually a cursed Ofieri prince. The prince's guards capture Geralt with the intention of executing him. While awaiting his execution en route to Ofier, Geralt is approached by the mysterious Gaunter O'Dimm. O'Dimm helps Geralt escape, but in return, Geralt must help O'Dimm recover a debt from von Everec, who had set up Geralt knowing the toad monster was an Ofieri prince. O'Dimm brands Geralt and tells him that according to terms of his contract with von Everec, he must fulfill three of von Everec's wishes. O'Dimm disappears and a strong storm gets the boat to crash. While being handcuffed and taken as a prisoner by the Offieri, Geralt manages to escape. Geralt confronts von Everec and discovers that von Everec had obtained immortality at the cost of his emotions, giving him a "Heart of Stone". He admits to cursing the Ofieri prince since he was arranged to marry his true love, Iris, and that he wished for immortality in order to be with her. He then tells Geralt his three wishes: to entertain his brother Vlodimir for one night, to get revenge on the Borsodi family by obtaining Maximilian Borsodi's house, and to obtain the violet rose he had given to Iris. O'Dimm tells Geralt that the three tasks are meant to be impossible, as Maximilian Borsodi's house is kept in a highly secure vault, and both Vlodimir and Iris have been dead for years, but despite that, he agrees to assist Geralt.  With O'Dimm's help, Geralt allows Vlodimir's spirit to possess his body for one night, allowing him to attend a wedding party and fulfilling the first wish. O'Dimm banishes Vlodimir when the task is done, implying that he has powerful magic. Geralt then participates in a heist to steal Maximilian Borsodi's house from its vault and finds that it contains a will that would grant the entire Borsodi fortune to charity, fulfilling von Everec's revenge and second wish. To obtain Iris' rose, Geralt enlists the help of two demonic entities that resemble a cat and a dog to gain access to a supernatural realm where he witnesses von Everec and Iris' past. There, he learns that due to his "Heart of Stone," von Everec could not genuinely love Iris, and she died neglected and unhappy. Geralt, based on the player's choice, can either obtain the rose from Iris' spirit in order to free her from being "pinned" into the world or let the rose remain with her. Either way, Geralt fulfills von Everec's last wish and goes to meet with him. Along the way, he learns that O'Dimm is, in fact, an ancient entity of pure evil that relishes tricking people into trading away their souls in return for granting wishes that, unknown to the recipients, contain harmful side effects. When Geralt meets with von Everec, the three wishes are fulfilled, and O'Dimm arrives to collect von Everec's soul.  At this point, Geralt has the option of allowing O'Dimm to take von Everec's soul or intervening to save von Everec. If Geralt does nothing, O'Dimm kills von Everec, takes his soul, and rewards Geralt with one wish. If Geralt intervenes, he challenges O'Dimm by wagering his own soul to save von Everec. After Geralt solves O'Dimm's riddle, O'Dimm is forced to release both Geralt and von Everec from their pacts. Von Everec, now mortal again, regains his emotions and immediately feels regret for his past actions and mistakes. He gives Geralt his family sword and promises to start a new life free from O'Dimm's control.

Release.

On 7 April 2015, CD Projekt announced two expansion packs for ""—the first expansion being "Hearts of Stone" and the second being "". "Hearts of Stone" was released on 13 October 2015.

Reception.

"Hearts of Stone" received positive reviews from critics, with all three platforms garnering "generally favorable reviews", according to the review aggregator website Metacritic. The game scored a 9/10 from reviewers at both "IGN" and "GameSpot".

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Hearts of Stone is the first expansion pack for the 2015 video game "". Developed by CD Projekt Red, "Hearts of Stone" was released for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One on 13 October 2015. The expansion follows Geralt of Rivia coming in contact with a mysterious man known as Gaunter O'Dimm, and his connections to Olgierd von Everec, a cursed nobleman.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Hearts of Stone (polnischer Originaltitel: "Wiedźmin 3: Dziki Gon – Serca z Kamienia", deutsch: "Der Hexer 3: Wilde Jagd – Herz aus Stein") ist die erste Erweiterung des polnischen Entwicklerstudios CD Projekt RED zum Action-Rollenspiel "". Es wurde am 13. Oktober 2015 veröffentlicht.


Overview.

The first train opened on May 4, 2014, and travels on the Gyeongui Line, in South Korea's northwest, running from Seoul Station to Dorasan Station. The train crosses the Imjingang Railroad Bridge on the Imjin River and arrives in Paju, Gyeonggi close to the DMZ. The North Korean city of Kaesong, where the defunct Kaesong industrial park is located, is away. At the Imjingang Station passengers must debark for an identification check and head count because Dorasan is the only train station located within the civilian-restricted area.  The DMZ train ended a four-year break of passenger service to Dorasan Station, started in April 2002 under the Sunshine Policy, and suspended by the Ministry of National Defense in 2010 after a person attempted crossing the DMZ into North Korea. The station is from Pyongyang and from Seoul and a sign there reads, "This is not the last station from the South, but the first station toward the North". Some tourist activities at the final stop are bus and walking tours to the Dorasan Peace Park, the Third Tunnel, and the Dora Observatory.  The second route opened on August 1, 2014, and travels on the Gyeongwon Line northeast from Seoul Station to Baengmagoji Station, in Cheorwon County, Gangwon-do. It is the last station currently open on that line, followed by the now closed Woljeong-ri Station in the DMZ, where visitors may tour, and Wonsan Station, now located in North Korea, where trains used to arrive from Seoul in the early 20th century, but stopped after Korea's division. Some other off-train tour visits are White Horse Hill and Cheorwon Peace Observatory.  The train has three themed cars: "Peace Car" with a rusty steam train motif symbolizing the separation of the Korean peninsula, "Harmony Car", with paintings of red and blue figurines holding hands, and "Love Car" with paintings of adults and children from across the globe, also, holding hands. Inside the cars, ceilings are covered with pinwheels, and walls display photographs of the DMZ, with themes of war, trains, and ecology.

Reception.

Soon after the opening of the first route to Dorasan Station, on June 11, 2014, Song In-geol of The Hankyoreh reported ridership of around 10,000 for the first month, and the trip's significance, "...for South Koreans who moved here from the North, it is the road home, as well as memory lane; for young people and families, it is a way to experience the separation of the peninsula; for visitors from overseas, it is a journey motivated by curiosity".  In July 2017, BBC News journalist Steve Evans called it "one of the most bizarre train journeys in the world", and said, "It is a political journey, it is designed to make the point that the train goes and can go no further".

Operations.

Western - Gyeongui Line  Eastern - Gyeongwon Line

Suspension.

On April 1, 2019, the eastern service was suspended due to construction of the new double tracked & electrified alignment of the Gyeongwon Line between Dongducheon station and Yeoncheon station. The eastern service is expected to resume when construction on the line is completed.  On October 2, 2019, the western service was suspended due to concerns about an outbreak of African swine fever, as requested by Paju City. It is unknown when the western service will resume.

DMZ Train (aka Peace Train) ) is a South Korean excursion train operated by Korail. The train began operations in 2014 and transports tourists from Seoul to train terminals closest to the Korean Demilitarized Zone.

Der DMZ-Zug (; koreanisch: 평화열차) ist ein südkoreanischer Zug der Korail. Er fährt seit 2014 fahrplanmäßig von Seoul zu Bahnhöfen an der demilitarisierten Zone (DMZ).


Board of directors.

The board is made up of 50 members, with an additional 13 selected for their contributions to cinema. They handle admissions, criteria and overall management.  Protests over the structure of the board came to a head in February 2020. An open letter signed by over 400 French directors and actors decried the "opaqueness" of the Board's structure and the lack of democratic governance; members of the Academy do not vote on leadership, unlike similar organizations such as the Motion Picture Academy or the BAFTA. In response, the entire board of directors resigned in the weeks before the 2019/2020 César Award ceremony.

Academy president.

The Academy is led by a president since its creation.

Les Nuits en Or (Golden Nights).

Les Nuits en Or (English: Golden Nights) is an annual invitation-only professional programme under the aegis of France's Académie des Arts et Techniques du Cinéma (English: Academy of Cinematic Arts and Techniques), an organization that gives out the César Award. The programme, which was founded in 2007, is presented in partnership with Renault and was created to promote the dissemination of work by film-makers from all over the world who are shaping the cinema of the future, to introduce them to the world of European cultural creation, and to forge closer ties between filmmakers by strengthening co-operation between their national cinema academies. The programme comprises three different aspects: The Panorama, The Tour and The Gala Dinner.

The Panorama.

The Panorama comprises a selection by the Académie des Arts et Techniques du Cinéma of the best short films from around the world. The selection is based on short films that received awards from their countries' national cinema academies during the previous year (e.g. Oscar, César, Goya, BAFTA, etc.). Representing a literal panorama of cinematographic creations from around the world, the films from this programme are presented in various European capital cities by the Académie des César and the respective national cinema academies. Screenings are either held all on the same night or over successive evenings. They are open to the public, free of charge.

The Tour.

This is a tour organized by the Académie des César for the film-makers selected for the Panorama lasting several days and taking in various European capitals where the Panorama screenings are scheduled to take place, giving them the opportunity to attend the public screenings of their films and to meet local film industry professionals. The Tour involves visits to places of historical and cultural significance in each country as well as an introduction to the national cinema academies and industry professionals of those countries and their film funding schemes. Part of the purpose of the Tour is to enable the film-makers to meet potential producers and investors of their first and second feature films. Past cities of the Tour include Brussels, Luxembourg, Madrid, Stockholm, Montreal, Lisbon, Athens, Rome, Vienna and Paris.

The Gala Dinner.

The Gala Dinner is held at the headquarters of UNESCO in Paris, the World Heritage Centre, in honour of the film-makers selected to participate in the Panorama. At the event, the film-makers are partnered with leading industry professionals and awarded with golden medallions printed by Monnaie de Paris.

The Académie des Arts et Techniques du Cinéma () is an organization that gives out the César Award. It was created in 1975, on the initiative of Georges Cravenne.

Die Académie des Arts et Techniques du Cinéma ist eine französische Organisation, die jährlich den Filmpreis "César" verleiht. Ihr derzeitiger Präsident ist der Filmproduzent Alain Terzian. Am 14. Februar 2020, zwei Wochen vor der Verleihung der wichtigsten französischen Filmpreise, ist das Präsidium der Preisakademie geschlossen zurückgetreten.