I realize my case may be an outlier and others are more than likely to have had more positive experience than me, but anyway, here's my story. I am on vacation in Italy with my wife, initially the purpose of the trip was to attend an F1 race, but as the vacation date came closer we started realizing that the hotels within 50km radius of the race track are ridiculously expensive, we thought that we may as well just fly in and spend 3-4 days travelling the Northern Italy.
We arrived in Milan late on Friday night and I thought I'd check StubHub to see if there are any reasonably priced tickets available for Sunday with a thought that maybe tickets cheaper than face value may offset some of hotel costs. I found a ticket in Rivazza 1 that was well priced, probably close to face value - about 250 EUR, and thought - what the hell, it is the only race this season that I will be able to attend. I booked the ticket and went to sleep.
Woke up on Saturday morning and went to hotel reception to print the ticket and realized that the ticket the seller submitted was for Saturday, not Sunday. There is absolutely no way this was an honest mistake and I knew that StubHub backs its buyers with FanProtect warranty promising to provide an alternative ticket to the event in such cases. I realized that their support line hours started at 5:00am PST, which is 14:00 local time, so we drove to Modena, attended Enzo Ferrari museum and at that point I got ahold of the support agent, which assured me that they were going to contact the seller and let them provide the correct ticket. I expressed my concern that this was not a mistake by the seller and instead an attempt to sell a fraudulent ticket, and that they were not going to respond. To which the agent said that this was one of their reliable sellers and that they would give them time to respond and provide the correct ticket. I asked how much time and we agreed on a couple of hours.
So I decided to hang around and explore Modena while I get a response from StubHub and decide whether to go closer to Imola or to abandon this idea and go south, to Florence, Rome, Pisa, etc. 3 hours later, around 17:00 local time I contacted StubHub again and after another half an hour on the line they determined that the seller failed to respond and that they could issue an alternative ticket if I wished. I asked how long it would take, because I needed to plan the remainder of my trip accordingly, and they said they escalated the request to the respective team and that I should expect an email from them. I reiterated that the event starts in the morning (support races, etc.) and that the response from the team they escalated the request to should be prompt. Since we were unable to determine the course of the remainder of our vacation at that point, we determined that we'd go to Florence, knowing that if StubHub provides alternative tickets, I would be able to take a train to Imola and be there in less than 90 minutes.
At 21:00 local time I contacted StubHub once again, reiterating that this is a time sensitive matter and that it's unreasonable that their respective team can't issue alternative tickets in a timely fashion and that I have spent the total of 2 hours already trying to get them to fulfill their FanProtect guarantee. They responded with the same template response: "I can see that my colleague has already escalated this request to the respective team and you should expect an email from them shortly". It's almost midnight local time and guess what.. still no response from StubHub. It's not my first race and I can surely find other leisurely activities for the next few days of my vacation, but this speaks volumes to how much their fans are actually UNprotected.

Date: 05/17/2024

Reading time: 10 minutes, 2071 words

🏛️ Politics & Government

The government's housing security program for the people of Artsakh will not be effective. Hayk Khanumyan

Artsakh, under blockade since December 12, 2022, was exhausted for serious resistance. Mass deportation of Artsakh residents to the Republic of Armenia began on September 24. At the beginning of October, the number of forcibly displaced citizens who crossed the Hakari bridge to Armenia reached 100,617.

CivilNet

Armen Grigoryan denied Dmitry Peskov's statement about the border guards

Armenia proposed to Russia and Moscow accepted that only Armenian border guards should carry out service at Zvartnots airport. Secretary of the Security Council Armen Grigoryan denied the statement of the press secretary of the Russian President, Dmitry Peskov, that the Armenian side requested that the Russian border guards stay on the Armenia-Turkey and Armenia-Iran border. Peskov confirmed that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a meeting on May 8.

CivilNet

Border residents overnight on highway to protest Armenia’s

Residents of Kirants continue to express outrage over the government’s decision to cede land to Azerbaijan.

PanArmenian

Armenian, German Foreign Ministers discuss security situation in South Caucasus

The parties noted with satisfaction the active dynamics of the high-level political dialogue between the two countries. Issues of cooperation with international partners in this direction were discussed. There was also an exchange of views on regional economic programs.

Armenpress, Armenian, German FMs discuss security situation in the South Caucasus

Armenian, Austrian foreign ministers discuss the course of the Armenian-Azerbaijani negotiations

Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg met with Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan in Strasbourg. He discussed bilateral and EU cooperation as well as the state of Armenia-Azerbaijan talks.

Armenpress, Armenian, German FMs discuss security situation in the South Caucasus

EU welcomes continuation of border delimitation process between Armenia, Azerbaijan

EU welcomes progress made in the framework of the Armenia-Azerbaijan border delimitation process. The EU encourages parties to take further decisive steps to tackle other outstanding bilateral issues.

Armenpress, CoE Committee of Ministers welcomes border delimitation process between Armenia and Azerbaijan, The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe welcomed the demarcation process, Georgia welcomes launch ofborder delimitation between Armenia and Azerbaijan - Kobakhidze, CoE Committee of Ministers expresses support to Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process

Delegation from the German Bundestag to visit Armenia

Members of the Social-Democratic faction of the German Bundestag will arrive in Armenia on May 20-22. The delegation from Germany will be received by the Chairman of the Standing Committee on Foreign Relations of the National Assembly.

Armenpress, Armenian, German FMs discuss security situation in the South Caucasus

India awaits clear proposals from Armenia on Chabahar Port use - Ambassador

India is waiting for details from the Armenian side regarding use of Chabahar port. Ambassador Nilakshi Saha Sinha: "We will definitely take it into account when we receive clear proposals" Armenia needs more communication projects, ambassador says.

Armenpress

Ruben Vardanyan’s family call on the international community to demand for Vardanyan's unconditional release

The family of Ruben Vardanyan call on the international community to demand for his unconditional release. The family’s international legal counsel stated that the extension of pre-trial detention is a flagrant violation of his rights. Azerbaijan has proclaimed to be the "COP of peace"

Armenpress, Ruben Vardanyan's family calls on the international community to demand the release of Armenians held in Baku, Ruben Vardanyan’s family calls on international community to demand unconditional release forArmenian prisoners

Armenia reaffirms its commitment to the lasting, stable peace in the South Caucasus – Mirzoyan

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan said at the 133rd Session of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. He said Armenia reaffirms its commitment to the lasting, stable peace in the South Caucasus based on mutual recognition of territorial integrity.

Armenpress, Armenian, German FMs discuss security situation in the South Caucasus, Armenia reaffirms its commitment to lasting, stable peace in the South Caucasus – FM

Minister Zhanna Andreasyan departs for Turkmenistan

Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport departs for Turkmenistan on three-day visit. Zhanna Andreasyan will participate in international conference dedicated to the 300th anniversary of the birth of the poet Magtymguly Fragi. Conference will be attended by high-ranking delegations from different countries, heads of international organizations, representatives of the scientific and creative community.

Armenpress

Tavush governor meets Kirants residents

Hayk Ghalumyan, governor of Tavush, visited the village of Kirants and met the residents of the village. The closed-door meeting was brief, and the governor left without providing any details to the journalists. Residents have been blocking the Kirants-Voskepar road to protest the agreements reached between Armenia and Azerbaijan regarding border demarcation.

Armenpress

Armenia to hold taxpayers liable for filing inaccurate tax returns

Armenia’s National Assembly committee on economic affairs adopted a bill that seeks to introduce administrative liability for filing inaccurate tax returns. The bill seeks to oblige taxpayers to provide full and accurate information when filing tax returns and to specify the list of violations subject to inspection by customs and tax authorities. Failing to provide correct data within the next 30 days will result in a 10,000 AMD fine.

ArkaAm

Armenian FM reminds Council of Europe about Karabakh refugees and Armenian prisoners of war, held in Azerbaijan

Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan reminded the human rights organization about the Karabakh refugees and Armenian prisoners of war, but noted positives in negotiations with Azerbaijan. He said: 'With the help of the international community, the Armenian Government has taken necessary measures to meet the short-term needs of the refugees'

ArkaAm, Armenia reaffirms its commitment to lasting, stable peace in the South Caucasus – FM

Luxembourg parliament adopts motion supporting Armenia, peace, stability in South Caucasus

Chamber of Deputies of Luxembourg unanimously adopted a motion expressing support for Armenia. Motion condemns the forced exodus of more than 100,000 Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh as a result of Azerbaijan's unjustified military operation. Motion calls for the immediate release of Armenian prisoners of war by Azerbaijan.

ArkaAm

Armenian Ambassador discusses regional processes with Rep. Mark Green

Armenia’s Ambassador to US Lilit Makunts met with Congressman Mark Green (R-Tennessee) on May 16. The interlocutors discussed the peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan and the normalization of Armenia-Turkey relations.

ArmRadio

Henrikh Mkhitaryan draws international community's attention to the problem of captives held in Azerbaijan

Henrikh Mkhitaryan has taken his Instagram to share the news about the extension of the arrest period for the military-political leaders of Nagorno-Karabakh held in Azerbaijan. The former captain of the Armenian national football team and the Inter Milan midfielder took his Instagram photo to share.

Armenpress

Ambassador of Armenia to the Holy See presents credentials to His Holiness Pope Francis

The Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to the Holy See Boris Sahakyan presented his credentials to His Holiness Pope Francis. Ambassador expressed gratitude for Pope Francis' support for Armenian Genocide. Pope Francis wished success to the newly appointed Ambassador in his mission.

Armenpress

Alen Simonyan addresses students' questions at the University of Geneva

Chairman of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia, Alen Simonyan, met with the students of the University of Geneva. He answered the questions of students about domestic and foreign policy, inter-parliamentary and interstate negotiations.

Armenpress, Allen Simonyan and Sahiba Gafarova also in Geneva, The heads of the parliaments of Armenia and Azerbaijan met in Geneva, Armenian, Azerbaijani Parliament Speakers meet in Geneva, Armenian, Azerbaijani heads of parliament meet in Switzerland

Xi Jinping declared the need to create a new global security structure

President of China, Xi Jinping, believes that in order to settle the Ukrainian crisis, it is necessary to create a new effective structure for ensuring global security. The message says that the solution to any serious problem should be aimed at eliminating not only the symptoms, but also the root cause.

Armenpress

Reverend Bagrat met with ANC representatives

Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan met with representatives of Armenian National Congress (ANC) Four people from the ANC were present, including ANC vice-presidents Levon Zurabyan and Aram Manukyan. The first president of Armenia, ANC chairman Levon Ter-Petrosyan, was not present at the meeting.

CivilNet, Archbishop Galstanyan meets with Ter-Petrosyan’s ANC party, Archbishop Bagrat met with representatives of Levon Ter-Petrosyan's party

Renowned French architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte presents two projects on Yerevan’s Cascade

Yerevan’s Mayor Tigran Avinyan visited the Paris office of Wilmotte & Associés Architectes and met with a renowned French architect. The mayor also presented a project seeking to renovate the Noragyugh quarter, located near the centre of the city.

ArkaAm

💵 Economy

Acba Bank to allocate 50 million euros for development of SMEs in Armenia

In cooperation with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Acba Bank will allocate a total of 50 million Euros for financing and development of small and medium-sized enterprises in Armenia. For the first time, the EBRD will share the risk of repayment of loans provided by a financial institution. This cooperation will further expand the financial support provided to SMEs.

ArkaAm, EBRD provides $10 million to Armeconombank toboost support for micro, small and medium-sized businesses in Armenia, EBRD assists Armenia to reduce energy dependence on third countries – President, Akba Bank will allocate 50 million euros to the development of SMEs in Armenia

The Armenian Diocese of Canada denies the financial abuses attributed to Bishop Bagrat

Presbytery of Armenian Diocese of Canada issued statement regarding financial abuses attributed to former leader of the Diocese, Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan. Decision on administrative and financial matters of Diocese are made by Diocesan Council and not by the leader, so imputing misconduct to the leader is fabrication and slander.

CivilNet

🎭 Culture

Armenian, Turkish ministers emphasize cultural cooperation's role in the regulation of relations

Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of Armenia Zhanna Andreasyan met the Minister of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Turkey Mehmet Nuri Ersoy. The ministers emphasized the importance of cultural cooperation between Armenia and Turkey.

Armenpress, Zhanna Andreasyan discussed the restoration of the Ani bridge with her Turkish counterpart

⚽ Sport

Armenian women's basketball player wins Kazakhstan club championship

Inga Manucharyan, a player of the national women's basketball team of Armenia, became the winner of the Kazakhstan club championship. The Armenian player scored 23 points, took possession of the rebounding ball 11 times and made 8 effective passes.

Armenpress

Armenian Chess Players Draw Matches in Sharjah Tournament

Chess players Shant Sargsyan, Manuel Petrosyan and Hayk Martirosyan continue their performances at the Sharjah Masters Masters tournament. Shant ended their matches in a draw in the 3rd round of the 7th tournament in the UAE.

Armenpress

Donations to Armenia:

Himnadram
ServicemenFund
Armenian Wounded Heroes
ArmeniaFund

My wife and I planned a last minute trip to Milan. I've checked everywhere online, every site that has tours or tickets, etc., and there is not one option available for our selected dates. Is there a resale site or is there a way to scalp tickets from people outside of the museum?

Hi there, a few comments in other posts made me think about how the financial situation changes for next season considering we have qualified for the Champions League, the Club World Cup and Supercoppa Italiana have won the Coppa Italia. On the other hand we have potential expenditure - for Ronaldo's disputed wages and the potential compensation for Allegri parting ways with Juve.
I tried to create a dump of all the prize money and expenditures, what am I missing and is this correct, what do you think? Disclaimer: It is a layman analysis based on a limited searches, not entirely verified so I rely on you so I can udpate it:

• Juve FFP fine 23/24 -€10M

Juve was fined around €10 last season on top of the points deduction.

• Ronaldo 23/24 -€9.8M

Ronaldo is owed around €9.8M for the pandemic salary adjustments, right?

• Allegri compensation 24/25 -€15M

From what I can find online, Allegri is on a €7M salary + €2M bonuses (these should not be relevant as there will be no bonuses for performance if he is not really acting as a head coach). Let's be generous and say the staff gets another €7-8M in total. So I guess there are 2 options - they are either kept under contract but do not act as technical staff and are paid in full - this was the case with Nagelsmann at Bayern. So worst case Juve is around €15M worse off, let's be extra cautious and say €20M. Hopefully, they meet in the middle if Allegri actually does not want to take a year off and be able to work somewhere

• Coppa Italia win prize money 2023/2024 +€7.6M

So the prize money for Coppa Italia is supposedly €7.6M

• Supercoppa Italiana prize money 2024/2025 +1.6M (minimum)

the guaranteed €1.6M and possibly more if we beat Milan from the Supercoppa

• Champions League 24/25 prize money +€18.6M (minimum)

Next year we get a minimum of €18.6M for participating in the CL. And hopefully another €11M for advancing to the last 16. Then in order to do so we'll need let's say 3-4 wins, a couple of draws and a couple of losses - so another ~€10M. So hopefully, we make it out of the group and without doing anything spectacular CL should bring at least ~€40M.

• FIFA Club World Cup 25 prize money +€50M

The FIFA World Cup will apparently bring another €50M

• Serie A prize money +€14M (~€5M more than last year)

Finishing 4th (hopefully) vs 7th last year will bring another €14M instead of €9M last year. Source is a bit dated:
We can enjoy a total of €82.8M surplus of potential or achieved prize money compared to last season. As opposed to the same time last year we also have €34.8M to pay for fines and compensations. So all in all, we are so much better of than we were last year.

Has anyone ever taken a sleeper train from Sicily to Florence or Milan? I am waiting for the date I want to book to open up. Does anyone have any tips for booking a train on this route or sleeper trains in Italy in general?

I love this sub so much! I've learned of brands I've never heard of and wanted to return the favor. I created a list of brands we love in this sub with hyperlinks! They are in alphabetical order because I couldn't possibly rank these as we have quite the range of loves!
I thought it'd be nice to include well-known brands for anyone just getting their start in their handbag journey.

• Acne Studios: Based in Stockholm, Sweden. Made in Italy. Known for: Contemporary and minimalist designs, innovative materials, and effortlessly cool style.
• Adelle Stoll: Based in Sonoma, CA, USA. Made in USA. Known for: Handcrafted leather bags with a modern aesthetic and attention to detail.
• Advene: Based in New York, USA. Made in Italy. Known for: Luxury handbags and accessories crafted from premium materials, featuring sleek designs with a contemporary edge.
• Aesther Ekme: Based in Copenhagen, Denmark. Made in Italy. Known for: Architectural-inspired leather goods with a focus on clean lines and functionality.
• Aimee Kestenberg: Based in New York, USA. Made in China. Known for: Fashion-forward handbags and accessories with a focus on functionality and versatility.
• Akris: Based in St. Gallen, Switzerland. Made in Switzerland and other locations. Known for: Modern and architectural designs, offering luxury handbags with a minimalist aesthetic and Swiss craftsmanship.
• Alaïa: Based in Paris, France. Made in Italy. Known for: Avant-garde and sculptural designs, impeccable craftsmanship, and body-conscious silhouettes.
• Amélie Pichard: Based in Paris, France. Made in Portugal. Known for: Eclectic and avant-garde designs, including unconventional handbags with a retro-futuristic aesthetic and sustainable practices.
• Anine Bing: Based in Los Angeles, USA. Made in China and other locations. Known for: Effortlessly cool and timeless designs, offering luxury handbags with a rock 'n' roll edge and Scandinavian influences.
• Alexander McQueen: Based in London, UK. Made in Italy. Known for: Avant-garde fashion and innovative design under the creative direction of Sarah Burton.
• Alexander Wang: Based in New York, USA. Made in China and other locations. Known for: Urban-chic designs, edgy aesthetic, and modern luxury handbags, including the "Rocco" and "Attica" bags.
• AllSaints: Based in London, UK. Made in China and other locations. Known for: Edgy and urban style, offering leather handbags with a rock 'n' roll aesthetic and distinctive designs.
• Animal Handmade: Based in Colorado, USA. Made in Colorado and other locations. Known for: Handcrafted leather bags and accessories with a bohemian aesthetic.
• Anya Hindmarch: Based in London, UK. Made in Italy. Known for: Playful and whimsical designs, including the iconic "I Am Not A Plastic Bag" tote.
• APC: Based in Paris, France. Made in France and Portugal. Known for: Minimalist and understated French fashion with a focus on quality materials and craftsmanship.
• Aranaz: Based in Manila, Philippines. Made in the Philippines. Known for: Handwoven bags and accessories inspired by Filipino craftsmanship and culture.
• Aspinal of London: Based in London, UK. Made in England. Known for: Luxury leather goods including handbags, wallets, and accessories with a timeless British aesthetic.
• Ateliers Auguste: Based in Paris, France. Made in France. Known for: Modern and minimalist designs, functional details, and premium materials, offering urban-inspired leather goods.
• ATP Atelier: Based in Stockholm, Sweden. Made in Italy. Known for: Minimalist and Scandinavian-inspired designs, handcrafted from vegetable-tanned leather for timeless elegance and sustainability.
• Baggu: Based in California, USA. Made in China and USA. Known for: Simple and sustainable designs, offering eco-friendly handbags and accessories with a focus on versatility and practicality.
• Balenciaga: Based in Paris, France. Made in Italy. Known for: Avant-garde designs and innovative silhouettes under the creative direction of Demna Gvasalia.
• Bally: Based in Caslano, Switzerland. Made in Switzerland and Italy. Known for: Classic and elegant leather goods with a focus on craftsmanship and quality.
• Betsey Johnson: Based in New York, USA. Made in China and other locations. Known for: Whimsical and playful designs, offering handbags with bold prints, quirky embellishments, and vibrant colors, reflecting Betsey Johnson's signature fun and eclectic style.
• Bimba y Lola: Based in La Coruña, Spain. Made in Spain and other locations. Known for: Contemporary and colorful designs, offering fashion-forward handbags with a playful aesthetic and Spanish flair.
• Bleu de Chauffe: Based in Ariège, France. Made in France. Known for: Handcrafted leather bags inspired by workwear and vintage styles.
• Brandon Blackwood: Based in New York, USA. Made in China. Known for: Contemporary handbags with a focus on inclusivity and social consciousness.
• Bolinder Stockholm: Based in Stockholm, Sweden. Made in Italy. Known for: Timeless leather goods with a Scandinavian design aesthetic.
• Bottega Veneta: Based in Milan, Italy. Made in Italy. Known for: Intrecciato woven leather and understated luxury under the creative direction of Daniel Lee.
• BOYY: Based in Bangkok, Thailand. Made in Thailand. Known for: Structured handbags and accessories featuring oversized buckles and bold hardware.
• Brunello Cucinelli: Based in Solomeo, Italy. Made in Italy. Known for: Luxurious cashmere clothing and accessories with an emphasis on ethical and sustainable practices.
• Burberry: Based in London, UK. Made in Italy and other locations. Known for: Iconic trench coats, British heritage, and classic plaid patterns.
• Bvlgari: Based in Rome, Italy. Made in Italy and other locations. Known for: Italian luxury and glamour, offering iconic handbags and accessories with bold designs and exquisite craftsmanship.
• By Far: Based in Sofia, Bulgaria. Made in Bulgaria. Known for: Retro-inspired handbags and shoes with a modern twist.
• Campomaggi: Based in Teodorano, Italy. Made in Italy. Known for: Handcrafted leather bags and accessories with a distressed and vintage look.
• Cafune: Based in Hong Kong. Made in China. Known for: Minimalist and functional handbags designed for the modern woman.
• Carolina Herrera: Based in New York, USA. Made in Italy. Known for: Timeless elegance and feminine designs, including the iconic "Good Girl" fragrance.
• Cartier: Based in Paris, France. Made in Italy and other locations. Known for: Iconic luxury and timeless elegance, offering exquisite handbags and accessories with the brand's signature craftsmanship and heritage.
• Celine: Based in Paris, France. Made in Italy. Known for: Minimalist and modern designs under the creative direction of Hedi Slimane.
• Chanel: Based in Paris, France. Made in France and Italy. Known for: Iconic quilted handbags, timeless elegance, and classic fashion under the creative direction of Virginie Viard.
• Charles & Keith: Based in Singapore. Made in China and other locations. Known for: Trendy and affordable footwear and accessories for the fashion-forward woman.
• Christian Louboutin: Based in Paris, France. Made in Italy and other locations. Known for: Red-soled shoes, bold and theatrical designs, and statement-making luxury handbags.
• Chloe: Based in Paris, France. Made in Italy. Known for: Bohemian-inspired designs, including the iconic "Drew" and "Faye" handbags.
• Chylak: Based in Warsaw, Poland. Made in Poland. Known for: Minimalist and timeless leather bags with a focus on quality and craftsmanship.
• Clare V: Based in Los Angeles, USA. Made in USA. Known for: Chic and playful designs, including the iconic "Le Box" and "Le Big Sac" clutches.
• Claudie Pierlot: Based in Paris, France. Made in Europe. Known for: Feminine and romantic designs, including leather handbags with a touch of Parisian glamour.
• Coach: Based in New York, USA. Made in China and other locations. Known for: American heritage, quality leather goods, and timeless designs, including the iconic "Rogue" and "Tabby" bags.
• Coccinelle: Based in Sala Baganza, Italy. Made in Italy and other locations. Known for: Colorful and contemporary handbags with a youthful aesthetic.
• Coperni: Based in Paris, France. Made in France and Italy. Known for: Innovative and geometric designs inspired by technology and architecture.
• Cult Gaia: Based in Los Angeles, USA. Made in China and other locations. Known for: Unique and sculptural handbags and accessories, including the iconic "Ark" bag.
• Cuoieria Fiorentina: Based in Florence, Italy. Made in Italy. Known for: Traditional craftsmanship and Florentine heritage, offering leather handbags and accessories with timeless elegance and Italian artistry.
• Cuyana: Based in San Francisco, USA. Made in Italy, Turkey, and other locations. Known for: Timeless and versatile essentials with a focus on sustainability and craftsmanship.
• Deadly Ponies: Based in Auckland, New Zealand. Made in New Zealand. Known for: Luxury leather goods with a focus on quality and innovation.
• Demellier: Based in London, UK. Made in Spain. Known for: Classic and elegant handbags crafted from sustainable materials.
• Delvaux: Based in Brussels, Belgium. Made in Belgium. Known for: Timeless and luxurious leather goods with a rich heritage dating back to 1829.
• Dior: Based in Paris, France. Made in Italy and France. Known for: Iconic designs, including the "Lady Dior" and "Diorama" handbags, under the creative direction of Maria Grazia Chiuri.
• Dooney & Bourke: Based in Norwalk, USA. Made in USA. Known for: Classic American style, quality craftsmanship, and durable leather handbags and accessories.
• Elleme: Based in Paris, France. Made in Italy and Portugal. Known for: Minimalist and contemporary handbags with clean lines and geometric shapes.
• Etro: Based in Milan, Italy. Made in Italy. Known for: Bohemian-inspired designs, intricate patterns, and exotic prints, offering luxurious handbags with a global aesthetic and Italian craftsmanship.
• Faure le Page: Based in Paris, France. Made in France. Known for: Heritage craftsmanship, luxurious materials, and iconic gun-sleeve canvas designs, offering elegant and timeless handbags.
• Fendi: Based in Rome, Italy. Made in Italy. Known for: Luxurious fur and leather goods, including the iconic "Baguette" and "Peekaboo" bags.
• Fleuron: Based in Paris, France. Made in France. Known for: Timeless elegance and craftsmanship, offering luxury leather goods and accessories with a focus on sophisticated designs and high-quality materials.
• Fount: Based in Cleveland, USA. Made in Mexico or the Dominican Republic. Known for: Handcrafted leather bags and accessories with a focus on quality materials and timeless design.
• Fossil: Based in Richardson, USA. Made in China and other locations. Known for: Vintage-inspired designs, quality craftsmanship, and accessible luxury, offering a wide range of leather handbags and accessories.
• Freja New York: Based in New York, USA. Made in USA. Known for: Luxury handbags crafted from sustainable materials, featuring minimalist designs and timeless elegance, reflecting the brand's commitment to ethical fashion.
• Furla: Based in Bologna, Italy. Made in Italy. Known for: Colorful and accessible luxury handbags and accessories with a playful aesthetic.
• Ganni: Based in Copenhagen, Denmark. Made in China and other locations. Known for: Contemporary and feminine designs, including trendy handbags with a Scandinavian twist and bold prints.
• GG Maull: Based in New York, USA. Made in Italy. Known for: Artistic and innovative designs with a focus on functionality and craftsmanship.
• Givenchy: Based in Paris, France. Made in Italy. Known for: Avant-garde designs and urban chic style under the creative direction of Matthew M. Williams.
• Gucci: Based in Florence, Italy. Made in Italy. Known for: Iconic GG logo, vibrant prints, and eclectic designs under the creative direction of Alessandro Michele.
• Hammit: Based in Los Angeles, USA. Made in USA. Known for: Edgy and versatile handbags with a focus on functionality and craftsmanship.
• Hemlock and Hyde: Based in Cleveland, USA. Made in USA. Known for: Handcrafted leather bags and accessories inspired by American heritage and vintage styles.
• Hevitz: Based in Seoul, South Korea. Made in South Korea. Known for: Elegant and sophisticated handbags with a modern twist.
• Hereu: Based in Barcelona, Spain. Made in Spain. Known for: Handcrafted leather goods inspired by Mediterranean culture and traditional craftsmanship.
• Hermès: Based in Paris, France. Made in France. Known for: Timeless luxury, exquisite craftsmanship, and iconic designs such as the "Birkin" and "Kelly" bags.
• Hulme: Based in Manchester, UK. Made in UK. Known for: Sustainable and functional bags with a focus on recycled materials and innovative design.
• Il Bisonte: Based in Florence, Italy. Made in Italy. Known for: Timeless leather goods, including handbags and accessories crafted from high-quality materials with a focus on traditional Italian craftsmanship.
• Irevedi: Based in Seoul, South Korea. Made in South Korea. Known for: Minimalist and understated designs with a focus on quality materials and craftsmanship.
• Isabel Marant: Based in Paris, France. Made in Italy. Known for: Effortlessly chic and bohemian designs, including leather handbags with a Parisian flair.
• Issey Miyake: Based in Tokyo, Japan. Made in Japan. Known for: Innovative and avant-garde designs, including the iconic "Bao Bao" bags featuring geometric shapes and unique textures, reflecting the brand's commitment to creativity and technology.
• Jacquemus: Based in Paris, France. Made in Spain and other locations. Known for: Provencal charm and avant-garde designs, offering unique handbags with a playful and whimsical aesthetic.
• Jil Sander: Based in Hamburg, Germany. Made in Italy. Known for: Minimalist and modern designs, impeccable tailoring, and understated luxury.
• Jimmy Choo: Based in London, UK. Made in Italy and other locations. Known for: Glamorous and elegant designs, luxury footwear, and iconic evening bags adorned with crystals and embellishments.
• JW Anderson: Based in London, UK. Made in Spain and Italy. Known for: Avant-garde designs that blend traditional craftsmanship with modern aesthetics.
• Joseph Duclos: Based in Paris, France. Made in France. Known for: Elegant and timeless leather bags with a focus on luxury and craftsmanship.
• Judith Leiber: Based in New York, USA. Made in Italy and other locations. Known for: Exquisite craftsmanship and iconic designs, including luxury handbags adorned with Swarovski crystals and sculptural minaudieres, representing the pinnacle of elegance and luxury.
• Just Campagne: Based in Saint-Junien, France. Made in France. Known for: Traditional French craftsmanship and heritage-inspired designs.
• Kate Spade: Based in New York, USA. Made in China and other locations. Known for: Playful and colorful designs, including the iconic "Kate Spade New York" logo.
• Kevin Germanier: Based in Paris, France. Made in France. Known for: Avant-garde designs and sustainable practices, offering unique handbags with a focus on upcycled materials and innovative techniques.
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• Lancaster: Based in Paris, France. Made in China and other locations. Known for: French elegance and craftsmanship, offering stylish and practical handbags with a focus on quality materials and timeless design.
• Lanvin: Based in Paris, France. Made in Italy and France. Known for: Sophisticated and luxurious fashion with a focus on draping and fluidity.
• Lancel: Based in Paris, France. Made in France. Known for: French elegance and craftsmanship, including the iconic "Premier Flirt" and "Charlie" bags.
• Le Tanneur: Based in Romans-sur-Isère, France. Made in France. Known for: Classic and refined leather goods with a focus on quality and functionality.
• Leatherology: Based in Carrollton, USA. Made in USA. Known for: Personalized leather goods and accessories with a modern and minimalist aesthetic.
• Leo et Violette: Based in Paris, France. Made in Europe. Known for: Timeless and elegant leather bags and accessories with a focus on quality materials.
• Lemaire: Based in Paris, France. Made in Europe. Known for: Minimalist and understated designs with a focus on quality and craftsmanship.
• Liberty London: Based in London, UK. Made in Italy and other locations. Known for: Heritage prints and luxury fabrics, offering a curated selection of designer handbags and accessories.
• Liebeskind: Based in Berlin, Germany. Made in India and China. Known for: Contemporary and urban-inspired handbags and accessories.
• Little Liffner: Based in Stockholm, Sweden. Made in Italy. Known for: Scandinavian minimalism and sleek designs with a playful twist.
• Lo & Sons: Based in New York, USA. Made in China and other locations. Known for: Functional and stylish travel bags and accessories designed for modern lifestyles, featuring innovative features and high-quality materials, reflecting the brand's commitment to smart and versatile design.
• Loeffler Randall: Based in New York, USA. Made in China and other locations. Known for: Modern and feminine designs, offering versatile handbags with unique silhouettes and playful details.
• Loewe: Based in Madrid, Spain. Made in Spain. Known for: Innovative leather craftsmanship and avant-garde designs under the creative direction of Jonathan Anderson.
• Longchamp: Based in Paris, France. Made in France and other locations. Known for: Iconic "Le Pliage" bags, timeless designs, and French elegance.
• Lotuff: Based in Providence, USA. Made in USA. Known for: Handcrafted leather bags and accessories with a focus on traditional techniques and materials.
• Louis Vuitton: Based in Paris, France. Made in France and other locations. Known for: Iconic monogram canvas, luxury travel goods, and innovative designs.
• Lulu Guinness: Based in London, UK. Made in China and other locations. Known for: Quirky and playful designs, including statement handbags adorned with unique motifs and iconic lip-shaped clutches, reflecting the brand's British heritage and whimsical aesthetic.
• Madewell: Based in New York, USA. Made in China and other locations. Known for: Effortless style and laid-back chic, offering versatile handbags with a focus on quality materials and casual sophistication.
• Maison Margiela: Based in Paris, France. Made in Italy and other locations. Known for: Avant-garde and conceptual designs, offering innovative handbags with a deconstructed aesthetic and artistic flair.
• Maje: Based in Paris, France. Made in Europe. Known for: Parisian chic and effortless elegance, offering feminine and contemporary handbags with a bohemian touch.
• Mako: Based in Seoul, South Korea. Made in South Korea. Known for: Modern and edgy designs with a focus on functionality and versatility.
• Mandel: Based in Berlin, Germany. Made in Europe. Known for: Sleek and minimalist designs with a focus on quality craftsmanship and materials.
• Mansur Gavriel: Based in New York, USA. Made in Italy. Known for: Clean lines, vibrant colors, and timeless designs, including the iconic "Bucket" bag.
• Manufactum: Based in Waltrop, Germany. Made in Germany and Europe. Known for: High-quality and sustainable products for everyday life.
• Marc Jacobs: Based in New York, USA. Made in Italy and other locations. Known for: Quirky and eclectic designs, including the iconic "Snapshot" and "The Softbox" bags.
• Marimekko: Based in Helsinki, Finland. Made in Finland and other locations. Known for: Bold and vibrant prints, offering iconic handbags and accessories with a focus on Finnish design and creativity.
• Marni: Based in Milan, Italy. Made in Italy. Known for: Eclectic and avant-garde designs, bold prints, and unexpected silhouettes, offering unique and artistic handbags.
• Massimo Dutti: Based in Barcelona, Spain. Made in Spain and other locations. Known for: Timeless elegance and sophisticated designs, offering leather handbags and accessories with a contemporary European flair.
• Max Mara: Based in Reggio Emilia, Italy. Made in Italy. Known for: Timeless sophistication, Italian craftsmanship, and luxurious materials, including the iconic "Whitney" and "Grace" bags.
• MCM: Based in Munich, Germany. Made in Italy and other locations. Known for: Luxury leather goods with the iconic "Cognac Visetos" monogram.
• Mietis: Based in Barcelona, Spain. Made in Spain. Known for: Sustainable luxury and innovative designs, offering handcrafted handbags with a focus on ethical production and contemporary style.
• Metier: Based in London, UK. Made in Spain and Italy. Known for: Timeless and elegant leather goods with a focus on craftsmanship and functionality.
• Michael Kors: Based in New York, USA. Made in China and other locations. Known for: Classic American style, luxury handbags, and accessories with a timeless appeal, including the iconic "Jet Set" and "Hamilton" collections.
• Miu Miu: Based in Milan, Italy. Made in Italy. Known for: Playful and feminine designs, offering luxury handbags with a youthful spirit and innovative details, including the iconic "Matelassé" and "Madras" collections.
• Min & Mon: Based in New York, USA. Made in Colombia. Known for: Quirky and artistic designs, offering vibrant and playful handbags with unique embellishments and bold colors, reflecting a creative and whimsical aesthetic
• Mlouye: Based in Istanbul, Turkey. Made in Turkey. Known for: Modern and architectural designs with a focus on versatility and functionality.
• Moreau: Based in Paris, France. Made in France. Known for: Handcrafted leather bags and accessories with a focus on traditional French craftsmanship.
• Motherhouse: Based in Tokyo, Japan. Made in Japan. Known for: Minimalist and functional designs inspired by Japanese craftsmanship and aesthetics.
• Moynat: Based in Paris, France. Made in France. Known for: Heritage craftsmanship, innovative designs, and iconic trunk creations since 1849.
• Mulberry: Based in Somerset, UK. Made in UK and other locations. Known for: Classic British style, including the iconic "Bayswater" and "Alexa" bags.
• Naghedi: Based in New York, USA. Made in China and other locations. Known for: Handwoven neoprene handbags that combine durability with stylish, modern designs, focusing on versatility and practicality for everyday use.
• Nanushka: Based in Budapest, Hungary. Made in Hungary. Known for: Modern and sustainable fashion with a focus on vegan leather and innovative materials.
• Neil Felipp: Based in Cebu, Philippines. Made in the Philippines. Known for: Handcrafted clutches and minaudières inspired by Philippine culture and craftsmanship.
• Nichole Kwon: Based in Houston, USA. Made in Italy. Known for: Elevated essentials and statement pieces with a focus on quality and craftsmanship.
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• Neous: Based in London, UK. Made in Italy. Known for: Contemporary and architectural designs, combining modern aesthetics with traditional Italian craftsmanship.
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• Pourchet: Based in Paris, France. Made in France. Known for: Handcrafted leather bags and accessories with a focus on timeless elegance and French savoir-faire.
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• Proenza Schoeler: Based in New York, USA. Made in Italy and other locations. Known for: Edgy and contemporary designs, including the iconic "PS1" and "Hex" bags.
• Radley: Based in London, UK. Made in China and other locations. Known for: Playful and functional designs with a British heritage aesthetic.
• Rag & Bone: Based in New York, USA. Made in USA and other locations. Known for: Modern and downtown style, offering contemporary handbags with a New York edge and understated sophistication.
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• Repetto: Based in Paris, France. Made in France. Known for: Classic ballet flats and dance-inspired fashion with a focus on craftsmanship and comfort.
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• Sacai: Based in Tokyo, Japan. Made in Japan. Known for: Innovative and hybrid designs that blur the lines between fashion and function.
• Saint Laurent (YSL): Based in Paris, France. Made in Italy and France. Known for: Rock 'n' roll aesthetic, iconic tuxedo jackets, and the "Sac de Jour" and "Kate" bags.
• Salvatore Ferragamo: Based in Florence, Italy. Made in Italy. Known for: Italian luxury and craftsmanship, iconic designs, and innovative materials, including the "Gancini" and "Vara" bags.
• Sandro: Based in Paris, France. Made in Europe. Known for: French chic and modern elegance, offering sleek and sophisticated handbags with a Parisian twist.
• Saonara: Based in Milan, Italy. Made in Italy. Known for: Handcrafted leather bags and accessories with a focus on traditional Italian craftsmanship.
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• Soeur: Based in Paris, France. Made in Europe. Known for: French chic and effortless style, offering a range of timeless and versatile handbags with a focus on quality materials.
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• Strathberry: Based in Edinburgh, UK. Made in Spain. Known for: Clean lines and signature bar closure design, including the iconic "Strathberry Midi Tote."
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• Thom Browne: Based in New York, USA. Made in Italy and other locations. Known for: Tailored suits, preppy style, and avant-garde designs.
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• Tory Burch: Based in New York, USA. Made in China and other locations. Known for: Preppy-chic designs, including the iconic "T" logo and "Robinson" tote.
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• 3.1 Phillip Lim: Based in New York, USA. Made in China and other locations. Known for: Modern and sophisticated designs, combining luxury with street-style influences, offering contemporary handbags and accessories.

I hope you found this fun! Happy to edit this list for any ones that I missed!

Date	Stage	Route	Length	Type	Time
Fri. May 17	13	Riccione>Cento	179 km	Easy	ca. 17:15 CET

Climbs

Lol

Sprints

Location	Km
Villanova	km 65.8
Lugo (Intergiro)	km 95.1
Conselice	km 113.3

Weather

Between 20°C-25°C. Sunny. Mild crosswind from the south.

Stage breakdown

In order to get from the Apennines to the Alps, one has to cross the Po plains, Italy’s only large flat region. In other words, in order to enjoy some high mountain racing, Giro viewers are usually subject to a “completely flat stage tax” as the peloton moves from central Italy to the country's northernmost part. Alas, tomorrow will be that day.
The stage takes place entirely in the eastern part of the Emilia-Romagna region. The day begins in Riccione, a very popular tourist destination; from there, the peloton will follow the Via Emilia, a flat highway mimicking the path of a major Roman road, passing through several major towns. Not long after Forlì, the riders will find the first intermediate sprint of the day in Villanova.
Once they reach Faenza, with about 100 kms to go, the riders will leave the trunk road; the rest of the stage will take place on secondary highways and rural roads… but the altitude won’t change, there isn’t even a tiny hill here. The Intergiro sprint and the second “regular” intermediate sprint, taking place respectively in Lugo and Conselice, are relatively close to each other; after the latter, there is nothing of note for the last 60 kms of the stage leading to Cento.
The last kms take place on urban boulevards, there are some curves but they should be broad and non-threatening; the last of them comes with about 500 m to go.
With all this in mind, here are our predictions for tomorrow's stage:
★★★ Milan
★★ Groves, Merlier
★ Molano, Pithie

Rider discussion

We're heading towards another very likely sprint. We believe that a course like this should not really entice any strong breakaway action: there's no KOM points on offer, there are many sprinters' teams who can mount a chase and unless we get a breakaway of five Ganna clones resisting the peloton on a course like this should be pretty tough.
Jonathan Milan has been consistently the best sprinter throughout this Giro, so he's once again our top pick; Kaden Groves and Tim Merlier have been looking like the most creditable rivals so far, and Groves might like the "twisty" approach to the finish line, it's not a big straight like yesterday.
There's plenty of other good sprinters in the race, but as we were saying two days ago they have been either inconsistent (eg. Andresen, Aniołkowski, Bauhaus, Dainese, Lonardi, Mihkels), consistently average (Gaviria, three top 10s already but never above 7th) or consistently underwhelming (Ewan). We decided to name Juan Sebastián Molano and Laurence Pithie as our form picks for tomorrow, they both made the top 5 in Francavilla... and for Molano it was the second good result in a row.
That's it from us, what are your thoughts/predictions?

Match Information:

 
Match: Almeria vs Barcelona
Competition: La Liga
Date: Thursday, 16th of May 2024
Time: 21:30 CEST / 15:30 EDT - Convert to local time
Venue: Estadio de los Juegos Mediterráneos, Almería - 15274 capacity
Referee: Javier Alberola Rojas
 

Lineups and Squads:

 
Barcelona - Official squad to be confirmed
GK: Ter Stegen, Iñaki Peña
DEF: João Cancelo, Álex Baldé, Araújo, Íñigo Martínez, Christensen, Alonso, Koundé
MID: Gavi, Pedri, Oriol Romeu, Sergi Roberto, Frenkie, Gündoğan
ATT: Ferran Torres, Lewandowski, Raphinha, João Félix, Vitor Roque
Unavailable: Álex Baldé, Gavi, Frenkie (injured) Gündoğan (suspended)
Not called:
 
Almeria - Official squad to be confirmed
GK: Diego Mariño, Fernando Martinez, Luis Maximiano
DEF: Edgar González, Aleksandar Radovanović, Alejandro Pozo, Marc Pubill Pagès, Álex Centelles, Chumi, César Montes, Bruno Langa
MID: Iddrisu Baba, Lucas Robertone, Dion Lopy, Jonathan Viera, Melero, Sergio Arribas
ATT: Largie Ramazani, Luis Javier Suárez, Adrián Embarba, Léo Baptistão, Anthony Lozano, Ibrahima Kone, Marko Milovanović, L. Romero Bezzana
Unavailable: Aleksandar Radovanović, Iddrisu Baba (injured) Largie Ramazani (suspended)
Not called:
 

Form guide:

 
Almeria

• Form: [L] W L L D
  
• Goals scored: 7
  
• Goals conceded: 10
  
• Last match: Real Betis 3:2 Almería - La Liga
  

Barcelona

• Form: [W] L W L L
  
• Goals scored: 11
  
• Goals conceded: 13
  
• Last match: FC Barcelona 2:0 Real Sociedad - La Liga
  

 

Head-to-head:

 

• Last meeting: FC Barcelona 3:2 Almería
  
• Date: Wednesday, 20th of December 2023, 19:00 CET
  
• Competition: La Liga
  
• Threads: Pre-match thread Match thread Post-match thread
  
• Highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gkfa_RV8VkU
  

 

Comments (Post-match thread):

 
Author: dwilliam24 Score: 369 pts Source

Araujo with a mask is basically Lenglet

Author: tbrakef Score: 316 pts Source

Sergi Roberto! Our captain and most composed player in front of goal in 2023...

Author: -The-Term- Score: 289 pts Source

We barely managed to scrape a win at home against the team that has not won a single game this season lmao

Author: SirCraigie Score: 244 pts Source

Wembley Stadium filled with all players better than Sergi Goatberto:
https://preview.redd.it/huct3cum9i7c1.jpeg?width=1300&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=fa2dae5e3249acff5c11585fedc3b7bc90d4b8b3

Author: EditTheVideo Score: 153 pts Source

Roberto scoring twice proves that we are indeed creating chances enough for even a midfielder to score. Just apparently not enough for our front 3 to score in a sufficient manner.
Other than that, our pressing is still not as good as it used to be last season. The same can be said about our defense.

Author: itsvoogle Score: 144 pts Source

Game was exciting in all the worst ways possible…. Lol

Author: decho Score: 129 pts Source

Sergi Roberto Ballon d'Or when.

Author: kezzinchh Score: 105 pts Source

Wins a win, but this ain’t it.

Author: ParsaAtashani Score: 101 pts Source

We tried so hard to bottle this

Author: atn420 Score: 89 pts Source

It's a W, but to give 2 scores to the lowest team in La Liga, doesn't feel as good as it should, honestly.

Author: Working_Aioli8417 Score: 88 pts Source

Sergi Roberto saved Xavi's job today
Also Sergi should clearly be a higher choice than Romeu

Author: TrueCooler Score: 85 pts Source

https://preview.redd.it/l1dq8d2j9i7c1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=dc5accd9810c6b2f9a7b59e66e4321984266fbe6
Al-Sad watching this performance

Author: Jelboo Score: 75 pts Source

I'm all here for the Roberto renaissance. Always been a classy, hardworking, intelligent player who has played all over the pitch and put in a shift. Many fans don't respect him but he is more Barça than any of us here on the internet can claim.

Author: HyggeAroma Score: 74 pts Source

BS that Roberto didn't get the MVP!

Author: Loose-Examination-39 Score: 74 pts Source

Who is Sergi Roberto? For the blind, he is light. For the hungry, he is bread. For the sick, he is the cure. For the sad, he is joy. For the poor, he is the treasure; for the debtor, he is forgiveness. For me,he is everything

Author: Kkasher22 Score: 72 pts Source

We struggled against a 20th place team…

Author: Professional_Code372 Score: 66 pts Source

We shouldn’t pay a dime for Felix

Author: atn420 Score: 49 pts Source

Who had Roberto scoring a brace on their card, I sure as hell didn't.

Author: Loose-Examination-39 Score: 47 pts Source

If Roberto has 10000 fans I am one of them
If Roberto has 1000 fans I am one of them
If Roberto has 100 fans I am one of them
If Roberto has 10 fans I am one of them
If Roberto has 1 fan I am the only one
If Roberto has no fans it means I am no longer on this earth

Author: tekkers_for_debrz Score: 45 pts Source

Our captain doing captain things. The best finisher in the club.

Author: Smooth_Profit_595 Score: 45 pts Source

what does it take for xavi to sub off lewy?
injury only?
dude missed half of the chances team created

Author: SteveTheNoobIsBack Score: 44 pts Source

WE WON A GAME

Author: Iyfebe Score: 40 pts Source

I like that the fans were giving confidence to the struggling players like Raphinha and Romeu. To Inaki as well after the mistake.

Author: SauceCarlicio Score: 32 pts Source

https://preview.redd.it/8axm1pgxdi7c1.jpeg?width=425&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f7d146c8ec268741bc6c00b9ff0a3feadf17de03
Xavi if Sergi Roberto didn't score a brace today

Author: TuffyTenToes Score: 28 pts Source

Imagine if the rest of the players cared for the crest as much as Sergi or Gavi do...

Author: guapetonydroga Score: 26 pts Source

Most of this subreddit has been trashing Sergi Roberto for years and look at him now. Take a bow at our current most composed player in front of goal.

Author: PLEASEDONTBANMEOK Score: 22 pts Source

Roberto im sorry, I wasnt familiar with your game

Author: tbrakef Score: 19 pts Source

What an absolute howler from Aruajo once again... Literally everyone has taken about 5 steps back from last season in terms on intelligence on the pitch..

Author: MrVaporDK Score: 19 pts Source

Roberto was massive! Torres and Raphinha were good.
Lewy played well and deserved to score.

Author: Numerous-Knowledge-3 Score: 14 pts Source

We make every team look like prime Ac Milan

Author: Forgemarine Score: 11 pts Source

Of course it is not Xavi's fault for the individual mistakes of players, but come on. This is dead-last Almeria, and we showed no real system and again with the 90 mins Lewy and no chance for Guiu.
Xavi needs to quit being stubborn in his substitutions, and his supportive staff for game plans should be improved. If not Barca should look for someone else

 

Quotes:

 
https://www.reddit.com/Barca/comments/1cqp6ze/open_thread_weekday_edition_21_may_2024/l450usx/
 

Latest News:

 
[Article] - Xavi: 'It's up to us' - fcbarcelona.com
[Article] - When and where to watch Almería v FC Barcelona - fcbarcelona.com
 

TV/Online:

 
Livesoccertv Liveonsat FCBarcelona.com
 

Hello everyone, I need to make a work-related decision urgently and I could use your advice. I decided to move to Italy this year and in March I received a job offer from company G with a start date of May 20th, a salary of 65k EUR, and relocation benefits (three months of paid rent in Milan, assistance in finding long-term accommodation, and reimbursement of agency fees).
Last week, I received another offer from my dream company, let's call it M. The salary is 55k EUR and the start date is in September. I told them that I had already accepted another offer a month ago as a backup plan since their process was delayed (due to their fault), but my preference was for them even though the salary was lower.
Since May, I have used G's relocation package to start looking for housing in Milan before starting to work for them and to have everything already set up. I'm not sure if I would have to pay back any money if I don't start working for them.
However, I found it very unfair that M wants to include a clause in my employment agreement stating that if I start working for G, they can terminate the contract from their side. This effectively asks me to give up three months of salary, exposing me to potential damages that G might claim for not fulfilling the employment promise towards them, and the risk of being without a job while waiting for M to hire me and hoping they don't change the start date.
M has always been my dream company, but this treatment seems absurd, and I don't know what to do. What advice do you have for negotiating better conditions with M or do you think I should drop them completely?

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___

HEADLINES: COLOURS BLESSED IN THE VATICAN

ST.PETER'S BASILICA, VATICAN CITY - After much teasing and anticipation, the Colours of the UNKNOWN Trading Company had finally been blessed in St.Peter's Basilica, officially making the flag sacred. Irishkaiser specifically chose the 6th of May as it is the annual date the Swiss Guards swear in new members and in remembrance of the 468 Swiss Guardsmen who bitterly resisted to the death, in spite of insurmountable odds. The same mentality and unbreakable morale that is prevalent in his regiment.
Irishkaiser had to remain pure at this time and just before the blessing, confessed his sins to the priest who absolved him of his sins. He then got it blessed by the same priest at around 17:35-17:37, Central European Time.
The Colours had passed through four European capitals and was supposed to be presented in the Tomb of Napoleon, before deciding that the vainglorious Napoleon would be inappropriate, considering the more important of 'Purity of Arms' - where a warrior and his equipment shall be used honorably and never for evil or selfish purposes.
No European general or statesmen could fulfill the standards of martial excellence and purity of character - except perhaps General Alexander Suvorov - who is buried in Annunciation Church in St.Petersburg.
The sanctity of the flag blessed in one of the holiest sites of Christendom, renders it an extension of Christian morality. Whenever the flag is presented, all members are to ensure that in that moment, the Christian perspective on 'sin' should be considered an affront to the flag.
The same will be true for all flags blessed by holy men of different religious perspectives.
No war crimes, boys. Sorry.
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HEADLINES: IRISHKAISER INTERVIEWS THE MAGIC JEW - EXCLUSIVE INFO!

MILAN, ITALY - Irishkaiser had met up and interviewed legendary Majicou asking him questions and secrets about MineZ and its history - bringing new light and perspective on things never before realized! Irishkaiser had learned a lot and was even surprised at who was responsible for what.
I also learned that Majicou is actually a cat guy... Huh... Europeans, am I right..?
As I am editing this, I would like to give a forewarn that European food fattened me up in a short amount of time. Everyone keeps recommending me as the 'cultural' ideal of what makes an 'X' meal of a Milanese, a Madrileno, a Parisian... A Roman... Holy shit, it's just meat and fucking carbs. Majicou told me Ossobucco with Safron Risotto was the most Milanese thing to eat... So I ate it. What is a Carbonara? What is a Beef Bourgingnon? What is a Conchinillo? Even the Madrid Stew. Goddamn and Switzerland. Don't get me started about Swiss Germans... AND HOLY SHIT GREECE. The only thing that had enough vegetables in it was the Asparagus because it was fucking Spargel season. Motherfucker. I literally have a wider hitbox now. Fucking hell, no wonder the TIF girls are vegetarians or vegetable heavy. I AM DYING OF MEAT IN THAT CONTINENT.
Yes, I am trying to cope with the fact that I look fat on camera. Don't judge me. That's bodyshaming.
Tune in to see when Irishkaiser is done splicing the interview and... Holy fuck, I really hope I don't suffer in putting in subtitles.
___
EDITORIAL - Our War, Everyone's War.
Irishkaiser - While in a cat cafe in Milan, I had a rather intense conversation with Majicou regarding the states of our worlds. It was like a scene from the turbulent times in Europe such as the Enlightenment, the Revolution, the Spring of Nations... Learned and concerned men discussing the times. Except we were surrounded by cats... And the gayoids...
Majicou had insisted that nobody there understands English, so we continued on with our heavy conversation, invoking the name of great powers, great orders and great ideas.
I had noticed that the chatter behind us died down and I was sure people were listening to what we were saying... But he STILL INSISTED NOBODY UNDERSTOOD ENGLISH.
I had policed my words because I was in TIF territory... I was sure they were gonna jump me... Especially this one fucking cat that gave me the stink-eye...
We had discussed about the state of our nations and the character of people today. The general consensus of course was that we are unworthy of our ancestors, and that our futures look rather grim.
I had adopted the more callous outlook and stated that it is better to grit our teeth and go through with the suffering in order to secure the better future.
Majicou stated that some people cannot take that suffering anymore and it is wrong and somewhat too much to keep asking people to suffer more when they have been betrayed by their governments and promises time and time again.
He had a point. When will the demands stop?
But the greater threat of a totalitarian socialist power was ever looming. We cannot even afford a stalemate with them. Because even if a conflict with RedChina is inconclusive, I fear we will begin to adopt their methods and lose our way of life to compete with them. I have no doubt of our victory and the superiority of a society that values freedom... But many people will learn from the Communists... And adopt their god-awful way of life, same as they adopted our strengths to make themselves stronger.
What's worse... Is what would happen if they win?
It was a difficult question as we both had different priorities. I concentrated on looking to the people after we secured victory. Majicou wondered if victory would matter if there is nothing worth defending in the first place.
While a product has a fixed value upon its completion, people are dynamic. A person with good work conditions and good tools and good pay can churn out something worth more than he is even paid for.
These are difficult, turbulent times. We have to balance maintaining the standards of today in order to ensure that it will be better tomorrow.
I'm sure a lot of Italians speak fucking English, Matteo you fucking liar. Even the fucking cats were staring at me.
___
TRADE - MineZ US Trade Mission
The Directory proudly announces it has cancelled Trade Missions until Mid May in some effort to save money or something.
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TRADE - MineZ US Commonwealth Trade
NADDA.
___
DOMESTIC - GLOBAL WARMING CRISIS SHIFTS PRODUCTION TO WARM WEATHER CLOTHES RESEARCH
Shemaghs, anyone?
___
DOMESTIC - TRADE MISSIONS TO RESUME LATER
Gotta save the money. I have a big plan.
___
FINANCE - LOCALMONERO IS CLOSING DOWN. IT'S BITOVER.
welp, time to find another Monero cryptocurrency platform.
___
FINANCE - COMPANY STUDIES THE EFFECTS OF BEING FINANCIALLY HURT FROM OUR MYANMAR ADVENTURE
I cannot believe that all it took was one foreign IRL adventure to actually hurt us. Holy fuck lol.
___
**ORDERS:**
1) Long leisure weeks.

Hi, guys. I'm posting this (with the SF flair) to try to understand how the community got to SF from Image 1 specifically. If I missed something, please point out where and a source and I'll correct it.

1. In February of 2004, user Egbert posts that he had thought the image in Moon Goddess's hair to be the number 88, but the loops weren't closed. I think he was looking at a poor scan of Image 1 at this point, which would've made other possible patterns that could represent numbers difficult to see.
2. In April of 2004, user Fox posted that he noticed that Image 1 contained the coordinates for SF, specifically the I-II-II and I-II-III symbols at the top of the robe. (He doesn't account for any of the other symbols at this point, just that these in particular match SF's longitude range.) For the latitude number (38), Fox counted the blue squares on her sleeve. He doesn't account for any of the other squares in any other location of the image, or whether their count has any significance. By this point, according to fox, Image 1 was thought to refer to SF Chinatown "because of the Chinese robe". User fox does not seem to consider that Los Angeles, for example, was also a major entry point of Chinese immigrants.
3. Later that month, user maltedfalcon says "Without a shadow of a doubt this image is San Francisco" and that "The 38 122 lon/lat numbers were a nice confirmer". User Egbert acknowledges in the thread that the number 38 is coming from counting the squares on her sleeve.
4. The next month, there's some discussion about the '88' pattern looking "like a tilted '38'". It's here that maltedfalcon says that "you can overlay the rectangle on the map [of Golden Gate Park] and it fits exactly." There's some discussion that suggest similarities of the GGP landscape and Image 1. User maltedfalcon appears to be the first to suggest here that Verse 7 is a match for Image 1.
5. In April 2005, User Aces88 mentions that the reversed G-h in Image 1 looks like the first two letters of the Ghirardelli sign from behind the sign. This is the best image I could get from behind the sign. I'm heading to SF this week, and will hopefully grab a better picture while there. Update: I just got back from SF where I was able to get this picture of the sign from behind.
6. In June of 2005, User forest_blight mentions the pattern that looks like the number 37 on the other side of Moon Goddess's hair. User forest_blight does not seem to consider that the three digits 0, 3 & 8 (and even a few 7s and 2s etc.) would appear many times in a depiction of curly hair.
7. In June of 2010, forest_blight mentions the similarity of Image 1 and Leonardo Da Vinci's Virgin of the Rocks. In 2011, User slappybuns mentions that Da Vinci had painted Virgin of the Rocks for San Francesco Maggiore in Milan.
8. In August of 2016, User WhiteRabbit offers up a picture of a cable car bell resembling the bell shape on top of the clock in Image 1. In February of 2018, User Goonie68 mentions the cable car resemblance (I think for the first time, but given how the post reads it seems like it may have been discussed in another thread.) Around the same time, User WhiteRabbit is mentioned as believing that that outline in Image 1 is Lotta's Fountain in SF's Lafayette Park (how it looked in 1980). Here is a side by side comparison of the outline of the base of the clock compared against the outline of a cable car.
9. The thread continues with various theories connecting Image 1 with SF that I won't post here. No other city is given much if any credence as a possible match for Image 1 in the thread that I can see.
10. In the Six years in San Francisco podcast, we hear for the first time (I think) about Preiss's widow, Sandi Mendelson, recalling their first date being at the Tonga Room, which is a bar in the Fairmont Hotel in SF. George Ward and Brett (I think) spend the podcast explaining a theory based on the Fairmont Hotel being the starting point of the hunt. They do not explain why they continue to use Verse 7, which has been rooted in Golden Gate Park since maltedfalcon's post in May 2004 mentioned above. Brett (I think) then states that "[Their matching the Image 1 rose to the original Fairmont logo] set afoot us looking at things in the image and matching them up with things." They also mention that SF has a Fairmount District and more than one Fairmont building. The podcast continues with them looking at things in the image and matching them up with things near the Fairmont Hotel, still with the assumption that Verse 7 somehow still applies now that their search has moved away from Golden Gate Park. (I'm still looking for an original source for Sandi's interview.
11. Some say that the rose looks like Angel Island.

I'm still adding stuff, so please let me know what else is convincing you that Image 1 goes with SF.

Date	Stage	Route	Length	Type	Time
Wed. May 15	11	Foiano di val Fortore>Francavilla	207 km	Easy	ca. 17:15 CET

Climbs

Climb	Cat	Km	Length	Avg
Pietracasella	3	km 48.4	8.0 km	5.6 %

Sprints

Location	Km
Casacalenda	km 74.5
San Salvo Marina (Intergiro)	km 137.9
Fossacesia Marina	km 172.5

Weather

Around 20°C. Crosswinds.

Stage breakdown

Having reached its southernmost point today, the Giro will turn around and head north towards the Alps… although the way to get there is quite long, and mostly flat. Tomorrow’s stage is the only one to span across four separate Italian regions- Campania, Apulia, Molise and Abruzzo- and the fact that we’re not even a paragraph into this preview and we’re already bringing up geography trivia is telling! Jokes aside, with the last 100 kms being along the coast (and thus nearly entirely flat), we’re expecting tomorrow to be a day for the sprinters.
The first part of the stage is actually pretty hilly: we’re picking up not far from where we left off today, so we still need to get from the mountains to the seaside. There will be plenty of short climbs and descents early on, but only one harbours KOM points- it’s cat 3 Pietracatella, right after the riders will enter Molise, about 40 kms from the start. The following 50 kms will be rolling, and along the way the riders will find the first intermediate sprint of the day in Casacalenda.
With around 100 kms to go, the riders will finally reach the sea to the south of Termoli, and from there on the course will follow the Adriatic coastline northwards. The remaining two intermediate sprints will bring back memories of last year’s Giro: the Intergiro sprint is located in San Salvo, where Milan sprinted to win stage 2, while the last sprint will be in Fossacesia Marina, which hosted the grande partenza. The finale should not be tricky: after a couple of 90° turns with 4 kms to go, the last part of the stage will take place on a completely straight promenade.
With all this in mind, here are our predictions for tomorrow's stage:
★★★ Milan
★★ Groves
★ Dainese, Ewan, Merlier, Mihkels, breakaway

Rider discussion

A sprint finish looks like the most likely scenario. The first part of the stage is hilly, but we believe that the fact that the stage ends with 100+ flat kms will discourage a strong break to go out. This prefaced, mauve jersey Jonathan Milan has definitely looked the strongest in the sprints so far and he's got the best sprint train, so he's our top pick.
As for his rivals... it's hard to estabilish a hyerarchy, as there's many of them and they haven't been very consistent. We're going out on a limb and naming Kaden Groves as our second-top favourite as he has a good team at his disposal and he was very good in Andora, the finale most similar to tomorrow's. Apart from him, normally Caleb Ewan and Tim Merlier would be the top picks on a "classic" finishing straight like tomorrow, but they haven't been convincing throughout this Giro. Alberto Dainese was 4th in the Naples sprint and he seems to always do better in the second half of a GT- he's had wins in both 2022 and 2023. Madis Mihkels has not had flashy performances but he's been getting steady top 10s ever since he became Intermarché's main man, so he's worth mentioning again.
We do believe that there are two potential elements of chaos tomorrow. The first one are crosswinds along the seashore- nothing too strong, but a savvy team could exploit them and cause splits; the second one is that having an outright favourite means that less teams will be encouraged to mount a strong chase tomorrow, and if they start to play mind games and unload the chasing duties to Lidl-Trek only, the breakaway might make it after all.
That's it from us, what are your thoughts/predictions?

I’m planning a trip to Italy in July of 2025 with my wife. We’re thinking of flying into Rome around the 2^nd-3^rd of July. The itinerary isn’t set in stone at all, and have not bought plane tickets or air hotels yet. A close outline of what we are thinking goes somewhat like this.
I was going to get the Eurail pass, that is a super good deal and seems to be able to get you most everywhere in Italy.
Arrive in Rome July 3^rd, Spend about 4-5 nights.
Take the fast train to Venice, Spend also about 4 nights
Take the train to Portofino, which I originally was super stoked about, but from what I’ve read, it sounds like it is over run and too busy, and the beaches aren’t as awesome as they make it out to be. We were planning on spending the most time there, like 6-7 nights, but now I would like to know if anyone has advice on a different beach town that would be good for snorkel/ boat kinda stuff.
Then take the train to Florence, and then spend about 4-5 nights there, I really want to see Davinci boyhood home and some vineyard stuff, also Statue of David and good museums.
We were going to take the train back to Rome and fly out from there, the plane tickets seem a lot cheaper to fly in and out from the same place, and the train doesn’t take too long to get back from Florence.
This sub looks like people who have a lot of experience and I haven’t been there since I was like 13 so I have zero info.
I’ve been reading about the Lake Como/ Italy-Swiss border and the Bernina Express looks amazing. Im also open to the Milan area.
I would like to do anything that can be reached by train, just didn’t want to rent a car, but I would be open to renting if it isn’t a total pain. Is it more stressful to try to keep on the train schedule than to just rent?
Also, is it worth trying to switch the date to somewhere later in the year? Is July the busiest time of year for tourism in Italy? I would be open to going sometime in August-September if it means that we would avoid the crowds to a good degree.
Its our late honeymoon, any places that are on the romantic/slower side where we can just chill would be appreciated. Any museums or sightseeing that aren’t as busy would be awesome. Any cities that you would like to recommend would be appreciated.
Thanks guys!!!