#Ryder Scott Company

[elchaqueno]

YPFB contrata a nueva empresa para certificar reservas de hidrocarburos

YPFB aún no ha hecho público los resultados de la certificación de reservas realizada en 2023 por Ryder Scott Company, por lo que este año han contratado a Degolyer And Macnaughton Corp. para realizar la misma tarea. La ley establece que los resultados deben ser publicados en marzo, pero en los últimos años YPFB ha incumplido esta norma. Además, se ha observado una disminución alarmante de las…

[sinceileftyoublog]

Bill Ryder-Jones Interview: Defiant, Not Defeated

Photo by Marieke Macklon

BY JORDAN MAINZER

On Bill Ryder-Jones' most personal and heart-wrenching record yet, the first voice you hear is not his own. In fact, it's not even clear whose voice it is: It's a ghostly sample of somebody repeatedly cooing "baby." Though Tropicália fans might recognize the sound as a washy sample of Gal Costa's song "Baby", the effect is disorienting, especially as Ryder-Jones introduces you into the world of Iechyd Da (Domino)--which means "good health" in Welsh--and its balance of broad hope and tangible pain.

Ryder-Jones has never been one to shy away from his struggles. He left The Coral temporarily in 2005 and permanently in 2008 due to suffering from panic attacks, sharing his story in a short film about mental health in the music industry. In an interview with The Quietus from earlier this year, he revealed long-running suffering from addiction and mental illness, ranging from alcohol and prescription drug abuse to agoraphobia exacerbated by COVID lockdown. At the time of that interview's publication last month, Ryder-Jones was, thankfully, doing better. But it's also a disservice to the contextually provocatively titled Iechyd Da to call it an album "about" Ryder-Jones' inner battles. Though many of the songs reference specific points in his journey towards conquering fears and demons, it's an album namely about surrounding yourself with love.

That the first voice we hear on Iechyd Da is Costa's only foreshadows what we hear on the rest of the record. There's singer-songwriter Michael Head (who Ryder-Jones has produced) reading a passage from Ulysses on "...And The Sea...". A chorus of children, who Ryder-Jones worked with extensively on the record, provide contrasting, innately buoyant timbres to his weary croak. On "This Can't Go On", a song representing one of Ryder-Jones' rock bottoms, he finds solace in Echo & The Bunnymen's "The Killing Moon", further references The Stooges, and samples strings from a 1978 disco track. The swaying, romantic "If Tomorrow Starts Without Me"--which gets its title from a line a sex worker reads in Eurotrash--is akin to It's A Wonderful Life, though it's not clear who's the hopeless one and who's the angel. "If the monsters call you names, then I'm with you," Ryder-Jones sings, "I've had monsters play games with me too." Perhaps best of all are the people he addresses by name in song, like Jase on the jangly "I Hold Something In My Hand", and the titular Anthony on "Thankfully For Anthony". Inspired by a real-life experience where a concerned friend took a sick Ryder-Jones to the hospital after receiving a cryptic text message from him, the latter song covers the moment Ryder-Jones thought he might die to when he overcame. Hearing him sing, "I'm thinking this might just be it" is as heartbreaking as it is inspiring to hear him sing, "I felt love." Atop xylophone and strings, it's as life-affirming as anything Spiritualized have ever released.

Ultimately, Iechyd Da is an aspirational record, not a mere biographical one. The connotatively positive words may sometimes adopt past tense, like, "Oh how I loved you," on "A Bad Wind Blows In My Heart pt. 3", the next entry in the series started on the 2013 album of the same name. [Among everything else, Ryder-Jones went through a bad breakup during lockdown.] But for every nostalgic or wistful aspect on the album, there's something positive and realistic. Closer "Nos Da", which means "good night" in Welsh, warbles to a gorgeous imperfection, its synths and strings off-kilter. And on melodramatic strummer "It's Today Again", Ryder-Jones sings, "There's something great about life," perhaps the ethos of the entire album. Notably, he doesn't sing, "Life is great," which would be a statement as absurd as it is corny. But he admits that, among all ups and downs, with a worn sense of perspective, there are things to be thankful for. A cynic might disagree. With Iechyd Da, Bill Ryder-Jones demonstrates his humanism.

Earlier this month, I asked Ryder-Jones a few questions about the album over email. Read his responses below, edited for length and clarity.

Since I Left You: With Iechyd Da, you wanted to make a more hopeful record. What about it do you think is hopeful?

Bill Ryder-Jones: I feel like the music in places is more hopeful and promising of hope than music I've made in the past. It's hard to put into words what I think makes music sound hopeful. I guess if nothing else, the music doesn't sound defeated--maybe [it sounds] even defiant.

SILY: Some of your lyrics are confessional, but they're not quite like you're reading somebody's diary. What's the importance of keeping some of your more personal stories on the vague side? How do you decide when to share certain details, like the names of songs you were listening to during a difficult time, or the names of people?

BRJ: I think that's something I have a natural taste for. I don't think I'm conscious of how direct the lyrics are. More often than not, the first verse will dictate where the song is going, so I tend to just go with it.

SILY: From characters on previous albums to older song titles ["A Bad Wind Blows In My Heart pt. 3"], you reference your previous work quite a bit on Iechyd Da. Do your records work in concert with one another?

BRJ: No, not really. Maybe they do; I'm not sure. The others weren't designed for that reason in the way Iechyd Da was. It was a deliberate attempt to draw a link between this album and A Bad Wind Blows in My Heart. I feel they sit really sweetly together.

SILY: What inherent qualities do you think the sound of children singing has? When they sing lines like, "I just don't see myself getting past this one," do the words carry a different meaning?

BRJ: Yeah, I think there's something inherently beautiful in the sound of children singing. It's so, so sweet and powerful. The idea that you can have them sound that way whilst saying a few things that are possibly beyond their understanding I think is a good idea.

SILY: You've mentioned that Iechyd Da is your most produced record. What about the specific albums you produced in the past five years gave you the confidence to make your own record more produced?

BRJ: Well, confidence isn't the word I would use. In fact, music is one of the few things I feel confident in. The decision to make an album sound like this one was mainly down to wanting to push myself and make music that truly made me happy, but of course, working with artists will influence you in myriad ways. Certainly...Michael Head [and the Red Elastic Band's Dear Scott] and Saint Saviour['s In The Seams] were important for me in terms of scope and ambition.

SILY: The instrumentation on the final song, "Nos Da", is warbly and a bit hazy. Is it supposed to reflect memory or nostalgia?

BRJ: It was originally written as a lullaby for my friend's daughter, Luna. I remembered it by chance when I was finishing the album. The warble I think I added to bookend the album, hoping it sounded similar to the sample of Gal Costa['s "Baby"].

SILY: How do you find playing live some of the songs that reference more difficult times in your life? Are you able to get into an appropriate headspace?

BRJ: I'm fine with that. I'm mainly trying to remember lyrics and not have a panic attack. I detach from things quite easily, if I'm honest.

SILY: How does the tale of Ulysses and the Michael Head-featuring track "…And The Sea…" fit within the narrative of Iechyd Da?

BRJ: I guess in the way that I thought, "I can do whatever I want," and I wanted to have this strange piece in the album as a respite from my voice. I listen to much more performance music these days as opposed to purely melodic music. I think it came from there.

SILY: How would you describe your treatment of the Gal Costa sample at the beginning of “I Know That It’s Like This (Baby)”? And the chatter on "Nothing To Be Done"?

BRJ: The sample is Gal Costa singing "Baby" but recorded to give the effect that it's playing in the background in the room I was in rather than crisply. The chatter, I think, is probably just bits of audio from the kids when they were talking mid-recording.

SILY: Are you a fan of Eurotrash?

BRJ: Ha, I haven't seen it in years.

[steampunkforever]

Alien: Romulus was a blast. Not only was it a solid entry into the Alien Franchise, but it was also a solid piece of sci-fi filmmaking completely independent of the films that came before. Which is to say that it was one of the best science fiction films I've seen all year, and I watched all 3 Alien "prequels" in the space of 12 hours yesterday.

Alien: Romulus already had a tricky tightrope to walk being a sequel following up two Scott Alien films, it's actually a timeskip movie, taking place in between Alien and Aliens, which poses its own problems, chief among them being "the shock of seeing multiple xenomorphs in Aliens is significantly downplayed if you were to watch these according to the series chronology and not numbered by release." Yet it pulls it off.

Where the previous two films were distinct departures from the Alien "feel" (Prometheus' being welcome, Covenant's less so) of steam and vents and grime and tennis shoes, Romulus brings us back, and does so in style. We get the cassette futurism back, we get the CRTs and clacky buttons. It feels like a cinematic DLC for something like Alien: Isolation and this is a very good thing.

More importantly, the story was strong. A girl and her synth board a derelict space station in search of components that will get them offworld and away from their Weyland Utani (a company it feels like I've done consulting for) corporate mining world. It's got heart, it's got fun antigrav physics, and they bring back the pulse rifle instead of those stupid looking M4 variants the colonists in covenant were using.

Something I've felt about every Alien movie is that each film takes a unique look at how different slices of society survive the Xenomorph (and by extension, the real monster of the film: HR Reps). The first film is about space truckers, the second about the military, the third about factory monks watching over a distant prison. In the prequels we have archeologists and space colonists. In resurrection it's Winona Ryder apparently but I haven't seen that one. The point remains, no matter the quality the films always have an interesting angle they approach the Xenomorphs from, and I appreciate that.

Plus, if "intergalactic scrappers fighting for survival on a doomed space station" doesn't sell you as a premise, I'm not sure what will. Go watch Alien: Romulus

[thebestpersonherelovesbucky]

The Alien Franchise is currently streaming on Hulu. Super exciting for me because I love Alien/s and it’s never streaming anywhere, and I don’t own it, which I should probably remedy. Since it’s available now, I’ve watched Alien and Aliens several times. Great movies, imho. I honestly think, for its genre, Alien is a near perfect movie. 

Alien, written by Dan O’Bannon and directed by Ridley Scott, in 1979, has seven characters in it, two of which are female, both of which are treated respectfully, are competent characters, and Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) is probably one of the most badass female characters in movie history. She has zero combat training whatsoever, is simply a flight officer for a commercial mission for “The Company”, and no one listens to her until it’s too late, and she’s the only one to survive (and the cat). 

Aliens, written and directed by James Cameron, in 1986, has a much larger cast which, in addition to the return of Ellen Ripley, includes a group of hardcore Marines. There are three female Marines. All three of them are smart, capable, and treated as equals to their male counterparts. There’s also a little girl, Newt, who is in the 3rd grade, which puts her at approximately eight or nine years old, who has survived hiding from the Xenomorphs (the aliens) on her own for weeks. Mostly everyone dies again, of course, but those who survive do so because of Ripley and Newt. 

Can’t bring up Aliens 3 because I’ve only seen it once and that was years ago, and it completely ruins the end of Aliens and just wasn’t a good movie, so I have zero reason to rewatch it.

Alien Resurrection isn’t a good movie either, but I did put it on just to show my kid Winona Ryder in it. I had the movie on for approximately eighteen minutes. In those eighteen minutes, we see Ellen Ripley naked in a test tube, Ripley being treated like an object/incompetent child, Winona Ryder’s character being treated like shit, the other random chick being objectified and exposed to disgusting misogynistic attitudes, and several rape jokes are made. 

And who was Alien Resurrection, made in 1997, directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet, written by?

If you guessed Joss Whedon, you’d be 100% correct. 

[madetobezine]

Hiya! I'm so keen for this zine already! But just asking a q ontop of anon's question about games like DA/BG3. Will this also include Mass Effect? Since ME is made by the same company as Dragon Age, I imagine the answer is yes, but considering that the protag has a sort of "canon" last name, but it's sort of similar Hawke from DAII. I don't know, I hope this makes sense. Basically, would Commander Shepard/Pathfinder Ryder be OC enough. It just can't be Jane/John Shepard or Sara/Scott Ryder?

Yes, you are correct. Commander Shepard/Pathfinder Ryder is more of an avatar than an OC, so we will not be accepting them into this project.

They have set paths in the story and are an established main character and have very limited characteristics that you can change. Thank you for reaching out!

[aymayzing]

ty for the questions in my inbox so here's one for you! --

what objects do your ryders carry around? what classes are they, and ofc, did their parents have any influence on them they consider important? :)

Thank you sm for the ask!!💕 Answer under cut as it got so long 🫣

Scott has ADHD and is very forgetful so at some point he realized he needs to carry around stuff he may forget and then need. So he has a small pack with some water, a protein bar, safety pins, some money, a bandage - just in case.

Sara always has on her finger the ring she got from her mom on her 18th birthday. It's a tradition in Ellen's family that on the 18th birthday a girl gets a diamond ring. Sara's is not super fancy or anything, it's a small, lab grown diamond on a simple band but since she got it from her mother, as a part of family tradition, she values it very much, even more so after Ellen's gone.

I headcanon, much like you it seems :), that both Scott and Sara are biotics. However, Sara's biotics are more powerful, she's able to control them better, she's generally much better at them than Scott. Scott has a rudimentary grasp on his biotics but the best he can do is throw a biotically charged punch. Therefore he, unlike his sister, cannot rely on them, so as Sara went on to become a vanguard, Scott ended up choosing to be an infiltrator. He loves precision, so a sniper rifle is his weapon of choice, followed by a pistol. He doesn't shoot and hopes he hits something, he only shoots when he knows he will hit the target. He's very good at it too, enough to even have impressed Alec, but their father is always looking for an edge for humanity and just shooting good will not cut it. In my mind Alec is very impressed with biotics, believes it to be the next big breakthrough in humanity's history, in how we wage war. So it always made him all the more appreciative of Ellen's research and later on of Sara's powers. Scott was always aware of his father's disappointment in the fact that his biotics don't stack up to his sister's, another thing that made their relationship all the more strained.

For the question about parental influence... Scott has ADHD and it was Ellen who figured out what works for him best, how he can focus best and she is the one who found precision and focusing on small details is a way for Scott to get done what needs to get done. Breaking up reality into small chunks and focusing on them instead of one big thing. That's what she taught him and that's his strategy in his daily life which really came in handy when he became a Pathfinder. It made the situation he was in a little less overwhelming. This is also why he fights the way he does. He wouldn't have been able to handle life as well as he does without it.

When it comes to Alec though, he and Scott were never close, they never really knew one another. Alec loved his son but was never able to show it nor connect with him and at some point Scott stopped looking for any sort of affection or pride from his father, so there wasn't really any area of Scott's life Alec could largely influence. If anything, a lot of Scott's insecurities stem from what Alec pointed out - his not being a great biotic, being too trusting, not taking things seriously. I guess you could say Alec's job as an attaché ended up influencing Scott's choice of career - not the one in the military but the one he envisioned and planned he could've had once he finished uni and served a bit. He wanted to be a diplomat - through Alec he already knew enough people and the realities of intergalactic politics to be good at it. Of course it never worked out but probably, in the end, it made Scott's time as the Pathfinder a bit easier, as navigating interspecies diplomacy was not completely new to him.

Biotics are still new among humans so Sara always felt the odd one out when in the company of more humans than just her family. She heard the whispers, saw the weird looks. Her mother was ofc always very encouraging and trying to get Sara to accept her powers but it was Alec who actually made her feel.good about them. It was not easy to impress Alec Ryder, yet every time she showed him a new trick with her biotics, he was so impressed and excited. That's his biggest influence on his daughter.

Ellen on the other hand had such influence on Sara, being her primary caregiver, that she cannot pinpoint one specific thing that had the biggest influence on her. Everything Ellen did for Sara helped shape her, her morals, view of the world, that it's impossible to pick which one was most important.

[satashiiwrites]

wip wednesday

Tagged by the lovely @monsterrae1​ for wip wednesday. Thanks for the tag!

Tagging anyone who wants to play along. 

Title: To Follow, ch VII

Fandom: Mass Effect Trilogy, Mass Effect Andromeda

Pairing: MReyder, MShenko

Tags/warnings: first draft. Anderson isn’t telling Kaidan why he wants him to do a favor…. roughly set in ME2. 

Rear Admiral David Anderson saw them just as quickly as Bailey had once Kaidan spoke with his secretary. Reyes had never personally met Anderson before but he was infamous in the Alliance and had once been short-listed to be the human representative on the Citadel Council. Rumors had it that the man had actually declined the role and it had gone to Councilor Udina as runner up.  He was a black man in his late forties but still had the same rigid military bearing and athleticism, rising to greet Kaidan with easy familiarity. The faint accent was hard to place. 

“And this is Flight Lieutenant Reyes Vidal,” Kaidan introduced him for the second time that day. 

Holding out his hand, Admiral Anderson shook it while measuring Reyes up, grip firm but unchallenging. “You’re in good company Lieutenant,” he commented before gesturing for them to sit. 

“Yes.  Captain Alenko is a good commanding officer.”

Admiral Anderson snorted. “He’s one of the best,” he corrected before his eyes slid to Kaidan then back to Reyes. “But you’re not here for idle chitchat.”

“No we’re not,” Kaidan interjected and then began to explain the situation. “We’re here looking for a marine that was discharged—possibly unfairly.”

“Name?” Was the curious drawled question.

“Lieutenant Scott Ryder.”

“Ryder?” Admiral Anderson’s eyebrows climbed and then lowered as he frowned in recognition of the last name. “That’s…. Hm.  I’ll bet that’s Alec’s boy.”

“He is,” Reyes offered. “He… he’s gone missing.  Do you know Alec?”

“What do you mean missing?”  Admiral Anderson leaned forward in interest, fingers resting against his chin.  “The N7 club… is still fairly exclusive.  You run into each other at official functions so all of us know each other one way or another.”

Reyes stammered a bit, mind chewing on the offhand reference that the Admiral was an N7. “He…Scott was… after he was discharged he was transported here to the Citadel from Arcturus.  I have been unable to contact him and… he was seen leaving the Citadel in a shuttle with his sister but we don’t know the final destination.”

“And what’s your interest in him?  If he’s been discharged and left of his own will with his sister why would it be of relevance to the Alliance?”  The Admiral’s eyes pinned Reyes, intensely regarding him. 

“He’s my boyfriend,” Reyes admitted. 

The Admiral’s lips quirked up briefly before smoothing out and  his gaze slid to Kaidan.  “Alenko why are we chasing down a lieutenant’s boyfriend?”

Kaidan didn’t move an inch, his eyes locked on Anderson as he cocked his head and brows furrowed in concentration. “You know something you’re not telling us.  You’ve heard of Scott before now.”

Anderson’s face flattened of all expression to go blank, meeting Kaidan’s gaze unflinchingly. “Why would I know anything about a random marine lieutenant?”

“You said yourself—the N7 community is pretty small and the likelihood that you served alongside Alec Ryder in the First Contact War is pretty good.”

“Careful,” Anderson cautioned but he didn’t stop Alenko from continuing. 

“So my real question is are you protecting Scott Ryder from us or something else?  You know where he went.”

Anderson was silent for almost half a minute. “I do.”

The confirmation had Reyes attempting to rise out of his chair but his Captain hauled him back down, grip tight around his forearm. “I’ve been hearing things Anderson,” Kaidan spoke lowly, his voice becoming raspy.  “Why did you point me right in the direction of Cerberus?”

“You’re the man best suited for the job.”

“Maybe,” Alenko allowed, “Or it conveniently keeps me out of the way.  Which is it?”

Anderson’s lips pressed together in displeasure but they kept quirking up at the corners betraying that he wasn’t truly angry before sighing.  “I need your cooperation for a bit longer Kaidan.”

“Cooperation for what sir?” Kaidan’s words were sharp and he’d straightened in his own chair. There was a faint taste of burning ozone that began to tease the back of Reyes’ nose.  His captain was pissed off—about what he wasn’t sure—and it somehow involved his Scott. 

“You know what’s coming,” a note of pleading crept into Anderson’s voice and they were both ignoring him in their stare off.  Reyes wasn’t sure who was going to flinch first but his money was on his captain.  “There’s so many plans in motion, preparations being made—“

“I know!  I was there!  I know what’s at stake if we keep ignoring all the warning signs!  What sort of bullshit are you trying to sell me sir?”

Anderson’s jaw clenched hard enough Reyes thought he was going to break teeth. “I have been as upfront with your assignments as I can be.”

“Well you’re going to have to be more forthcoming sir,” Kaidan snarled. “Now what is going on that involves this marine we’re looking for?”

Anderson’s shoulders stiffened. “I can’t tell you that right now.”

“With all due respect—“

“Kaidan!” The thunderous call of Captain Alenko’s name had him falling silent and just glaring at the Rear Admiral.  The silence in the room was so bitter you could taste it. The faint hum of biotics being tightly constrained was only noticeable if you were right next to the Captain.

“I think I’ve proven that I deserve answers, Sir.”

“And I’m asking you to keep doing what I ask without them.”

[recentlyheardcom]

Keegan Bradley survives Adam Scott to win BMW Championship by 1 shot

Keegan Bradley may be the U.S. Ryder Cup captain, but the 38-year-old golfer’s career isn’t over. He confidently still believes he’s in his prime and still good enough to not just manage a cup team but play for one, too. At least for a week, nobody can argue with him. Bradley faced down Adam Scott and company in a Sunday duel to win the BMW Championship by one shot on Sunday in Denver for…

[calgarymover]

SPARTA MOVERS – AGENT FOR ATLAS VAN LINES

Sparta Movers, a reputable moving & storage company based in Calgary, Alberta, has officially become an agent of Atlas Van Lines, a major player in the moving industry in Canada. Atlas Van Lines has a long-standing reputation for providing high-quality local, long-distance and International moving services since 1963.

This new partnership represents a significant milestone for Sparta Movers. As an agent of Atlas Van Lines, Sparta Movers, known for their professionalism, will continue to cater to both residential and commercial moving and storage needs. Sparta Movers' dedication to quality service combined with Atlas Van Lines' extensive network and resources will provide an even broader range of moving and storage services.

This collaboration marks a pivotal moment and is expected to set new standards in the quality of moving services available to Calgary residents and businesses.

Sparta Movers Overview

Sparta Movers was founded in 2016 in Calgary, Alberta when two brothers, Slava and Eugene Kashaev, purchased a used Ryder moving truck and started offering local moving services. Sparta Movers has since grown their operations from a single truck in 2016 to six trucks and two trailers in 2023 and counting.

Sparta Movers is known for its full-service moving solutions, catering to a wide range of relocation needs. Their commitment to excellence and customer satisfaction has been a cornerstone of their operations since their inception in 2016.

Sparta Movers attracted some of the finest industry experts over the years. Their current office team in Calgary is comprised of:

Darren Nickel – Dispatch & Operations

Began in the industry in 2001 and has Dispatch and Operations experience within the Atlas Van Lines group.

Darren has solid knowledge of operations, the industry and Alberta market.

Angela Scott – Sales Manager & Relocation Consultant

Has been in the moving industry since 1993 within the Atlas Van Lines group.

Angela has a background in Sales, Dispatch and Operations, Customer Service & Administration

Well versed in Local Moving, Office Moving, Long Distance & International Relocations and associated services.

Dale Feniuk – Special Accounts & Relocation Consultant

Began in the industry in 1997 within the Atlas Van Lines group.

Dale has a background beginning in the front lines driving as an owner operator, moving onto Operations, Dispatch and Sales

Well versed in Local Moving, Office Moving, Long Distance & International Relocations and associated services

Slava Kashaev – Founder & CEO

Came to the Moving Industry from an Oil & Gas industry where as a Chemical and Petroleum Engineer with 10 years of experience in Canada, US and Russia

Oversee overall functions and growth of the company.

Optimize processes via automation.

Warehouse Services

Sparta Movers opened their first warehouse in 2021 in Calgary, which they quickly outgrew and in 2023 moved its operations to a brand-new larger warehouse located on Deerfoot Trail near the Calgary International Airport.

[calgarymoverssparta]

SPARTA MOVERS – AGENT FOR ATLAS VAN LINES

Sparta Movers, a reputable moving & storage company based in Calgary, Alberta, has officially become an agent of Atlas Van Lines, a major player in the moving industry in Canada. Atlas Van Lines has a long-standing reputation for providing high-quality local, long-distance and International moving services since 1963.

This new partnership represents a significant milestone for Sparta Movers. As an agent of Atlas Van Lines, Sparta Movers, known for their professionalism, will continue to cater to both residential and commercial moving and storage needs. Sparta Movers' dedication to quality service combined with Atlas Van Lines' extensive network and resources will provide an even broader range of moving and storage services.

This collaboration marks a pivotal moment and is expected to set new standards in the quality of moving services available to Calgary residents and businesses.

Sparta Movers Overview

Sparta Movers was founded in 2016 in Calgary, Alberta when two brothers, Slava and Eugene Kashaev, purchased a used Ryder moving truck and started offering local moving services. Sparta Movers has since grown their operations from a single truck in 2016 to six trucks and two trailers in 2023 and counting.

Sparta Movers is known for its full-service moving solutions, catering to a wide range of relocation needs. Their commitment to excellence and customer satisfaction has been a cornerstone of their operations since their inception in 2016.

Sparta Movers attracted some of the finest industry experts over the years. Their current office team in Calgary is comprised of:

Darren Nickel – Dispatch & Operations

Began in the industry in 2001 and has Dispatch and Operations experience within the Atlas Van Lines group.

Darren has solid knowledge of operations, the industry and Alberta market.

Angela Scott – Sales Manager & Relocation Consultant

Has been in the moving industry since 1993 within the Atlas Van Lines group.

Angela has a background in Sales, Dispatch and Operations, Customer Service & Administration

Well versed in Local Moving, Office Moving, Long Distance & International Relocations and associated services.

Dale Feniuk – Special Accounts & Relocation Consultant

Began in the industry in 1997 within the Atlas Van Lines group.

Dale has a background beginning in the front lines driving as an owner operator, moving onto Operations, Dispatch and Sales

Well versed in Local Moving, Office Moving, Long Distance & International Relocations and associated services

Slava Kashaev – Founder & CEO

Came to the Moving Industry from an Oil & Gas industry where as a Chemical and Petroleum Engineer with 10 years of experience in Canada, US and Russia

Oversee overall functions and growth of the company.

Optimize processes via automation.

Warehouse Services

Sparta Movers opened their first warehouse in 2021 in Calgary, which they quickly outgrew and in 2023 moved its operations to a brand-new larger warehouse located on Deerfoot Trail near the Calgary International Airport.

[spartamover]

SPARTA MOVERS – AGENT FOR ATLAS VAN LINES

Sparta Movers, a reputable moving & storage company based in Calgary, Alberta, has officially become an agent of Atlas Van Lines, a major player in the moving industry in Canada. Atlas Van Lines has a long-standing reputation for providing high-quality local, long-distance and International moving services since 1963.

This new partnership represents a significant milestone for Sparta Movers. As an agent of Atlas Van Lines, Sparta Movers, known for their professionalism, will continue to cater to both residential and commercial moving and storage needs. Sparta Movers' dedication to quality service combined with Atlas Van Lines' extensive network and resources will provide an even broader range of moving and storage services.

This collaboration marks a pivotal moment and is expected to set new standards in the quality of moving services available to Calgary residents and businesses.

Sparta Movers Overview

Sparta Movers was founded in 2016 in Calgary, Alberta when two brothers, Slava and Eugene Kashaev, purchased a used Ryder moving truck and started offering local moving services. Sparta Movers has since grown their operations from a single truck in 2016 to six trucks and two trailers in 2023 and counting.

Sparta Movers is known for its full-service moving solutions, catering to a wide range of relocation needs. Their commitment to excellence and customer satisfaction has been a cornerstone of their operations since their inception in 2016.

Sparta Movers attracted some of the finest industry experts over the years. Their current office team in Calgary is comprised of:

Darren Nickel – Dispatch & Operations

Began in the industry in 2001 and has Dispatch and Operations experience within the Atlas Van Lines group.

Darren has solid knowledge of operations, the industry and Alberta market.

Angela Scott – Sales Manager & Relocation Consultant

Has been in the moving industry since 1993 within the Atlas Van Lines group.

Angela has a background in Sales, Dispatch and Operations, Customer Service & Administration

Well versed in Local Moving, Office Moving, Long Distance & International Relocations and associated services.

Dale Feniuk – Special Accounts & Relocation Consultant

Began in the industry in 1997 within the Atlas Van Lines group.

Dale has a background beginning in the front lines driving as an owner operator, moving onto Operations, Dispatch and Sales

Well versed in Local Moving, Office Moving, Long Distance & International Relocations and associated services

Slava Kashaev – Founder & CEO

Came to the Moving Industry from an Oil & Gas industry where as a Chemical and Petroleum Engineer with 10 years of experience in Canada, US and Russia

Oversee overall functions and growth of the company.

Optimize processes via automation.

Warehouse Services

Sparta Movers opened their first warehouse in 2021 in Calgary, which they quickly outgrew and in 2023 moved its operations to a brand-new larger warehouse located on Deerfoot Trail near the Calgary International Airport.

[elchaqueno]

YPFB aún mantiene en reserva los resultados del estudio de cuantificación de reservas

La estatal petrolera boliviana YPFB firmó un contrato con la empresa estadounidense Ryder Scott Company LP, para que realice un estudio de cuantificación y certificación de reservas de hidrocarburos en Bolviia, cuyos resultados debían ser entregados el 26 de agosto. Sin embargo, aún los mantiene en reserva, provocando la crítica de las autoridades y la población tarijeña.

[sinceileftyoublog]

GBV 40

Photo by Allison Ryder

BY JORDAN MAINZER

It's a popular wink-wink-nod-nod joke among the diehard Guided By Voices fanbase that dedicated GBV fandom is #notacult (but kind of a cult). You'd think that Robert Pollard and company were in on the joke, considering they decided to celebrate 40 years of the band's existence at a venue built by a 14-group Masonic Temple Association, which is a true story and not the name of the band's new single. As a full disclosure converted GBV head who has in the past attended Heedfest, the band's long-running fan weekend chock full of cover sets and Miller Lites, this first weekend in September absolutely felt like an extension of it, a full-on celebration of all things Guided By Voices. Celebrity superfan Paddy Considine came from overseas with his son Joe, playing a covers set at the Yellow Cab Tavern in Dayton's Oregon District. During the encore of GBV's first night at the Dayton Masonic Center, Scott Marshall (of Chavez fame), Matador Records Director of Digital, A&R Jake Whitener, and GBV manager David Newgarden presented Pollard with a "Most Valuable Lead Singer" trophy. Even Dinosaur Jr.'s J Mascis, normally reserved, gave the crowd a half-hearted "G! B! V!" chant during the band's opening set. Miller Lites at the venue (along with most other beer) cost a measly $6 per can, a bargain in 2023. During the second night, Pollard took a moment to thank the alcohol distributor, who may or may not have been stocking his personal cooler full of beer bottles and the once-again passed around Jose Cuervo. What's for sure is those bottles were fueling Pollard's high-kicks, 2022 busted knee be damned. Always different, always the same: It was The Fall. Is it now Guided By Voices?

Photo by Allison Ryder

Yes, the same spirit pervades GBV: In a recent beginner's guide to the band, Uproxx critic Steven Hyden described them as having "one foot in the bowling alley, and another foot in the art gallery," whether that's the band's early R.E.M.-indebted material, lo-fi golden era, Aughts arena rock attempts, or the current, arguably most prolific late-career lineup. The quartet of guitarists Doug Gillard and Bobby Bare Jr., bassist Mark Shue, and drummer Kevin March is certainly the most formidable group of instrumentalists to ever back Pollard, and his songwriting on this lineup's albums has notably embraced the proggier, more epic side of his forebears. During the band's anniversary concerts, they paid curatorial attention to these newfound favorites just as much as the "Motor Away" and "Tractor Rape Chain"s: the tempo-changing "Alex Bell", bopping "Dance of Gurus", and even absurdist poem "Razor Bug", delivered a capella by Pollard and Shue. Pollard also admitted how the band tackles the old imperfections, joking that March made sure to play all the original studio version "fuck-ups" from "My Impression Now".

But GBV also had work to do. This year so far, they've released two albums, La La Land and live-to-tape gem Welshpool Frillies, and purportedly (shocker) have two more in the can. Only this band could garner this much crowd enthusiasm by opening a four-decade celebration with the first three songs from their latest album, but when they're as good as the jagged "Meet the Star", cascading "Cruisers' Cross", and Cheap Trick-meets-Crazy Horse ripper "Romeo Surgeon", it doesn't really matter, does it? The sets in general were treated like a normal GBV marathon, featuring but not overwhelmingly dominated by their most recent output. Gillard's trademark guitars chimed through the sludgy "Seedling", while La La Land's "Queen of Spaces" offered a necessarily languid breather between "Everybody Thinks I'm a Raincloud (When I'm Not Looking)" and "Motor Away". To my pleasure, on night two, the band played La La Land closer "Pockets", a song about exactly what you think, that nonetheless exemplifies Pollard's ethos: As long as you have a sense of wonder and a penchant for songwriting, you can maintain constant creativity. Songwriting can be a daily exercise.

Built to Spill

Throughout the celebration, Pollard expressed thanks for past and present incarnations of GBV (joking that the current youngins help him up the stairs) as well as the other bands joining the celebration. The inspired lineup was a mix of 90's contemporaries (Dinosaur Jr,, Built to Spill), Dayton connections (the birthplace of Heartless Bastards' Erika Wennerstrom and Dino J.'s Lou Barlow), and new indie rock royalty (Kiwi Jr., Wednesday). Dinosaur Jr., Marshalls stacked upon Marshalls, treated the crowd to eternity-long fuzz jams heavy on their earliest albums, from "Gargoyle" and their faithful "Just Like Heaven" cover to "The Lung" and "Freak Scene". The next night, Built to Spill also offered a set with plenty of guitar solos and extended intros and codas, respectively bookending the set on the slow-burning "Stop The Show" and eternal "Carry The Zero". As for their (sort-of) cover, they chose The Halo Benders' "Virginia Reel Around the Fountain" and not Heartless Bastards' "The Mountain" since, well, the real thing had played right before them.

Heartless Bastards

Heartless Bastards are not a band you'd normally associate with 90's indie rock, though I wouldn't have expected Built to Spill bassist Melanie Radford to sing Wennerstrom's part so convincingly last time I saw BTS. Wennestrom and Martsch came out with Heartless Bastards on night two for "The Mountain", but I saw where the Texas-via-Ohio rockers fit in with the band lineup even more on other songs. Yes, their brand of blues-rock is unique, not quite punchy, certainly eschewing raw psychedelia for grooves or high and lonesome country. But while Wennerstrom's throaty singing led the hazy "Photograph", the song's instrumental outro with gorgeous guitar work snuggled beside Wednesday and Built to Spill. And the chugging back catalog highlight "Gray" came across almost like a GBV ripper with keyboards.

Kiwi Jr.

Wednesday

And then there were the up and comers. Toronto's Kiwi Jr. combined the instrumental concision of GBV with the storytelling of a band like Wednesday. They took from their three very good records, concentrating on their Sub Pop albums Cooler Returns and Chopper in their brief set, contextualizing "Maid Marian's Toast" and "The Sound of Music" (about insurance fraud and Christopher Plummer), easing the crowd into a night of clatter. Wednesday, meanwhile, was the unabashed non-GBV highlight of the entire festival, the band that converted the unfamiliar and justified those of us who have hyped them up. Their quintessential country-gaze was on full display from the moment they queued up the buzz saws of "Hot Rotten Grass Smell". "Chosen to Deserve" was the bonafide ne'er-do-well anthem, the song of the summer for the bad kids, Xandy Chelmis absolutely slaying on pedal steel. Of course, lead vocalist Karly Hartzman's drawl-cum-yodel was the perfect medium to communicate stories of people dying in Planet Fitness parking lots, getting electrocuted by your own house, and toothless men on oxygen tanks smoking cigarettes. But it was "Bull Believer" that absolutely brought the house down, tears in the eyes of people who had never heard the song before. In a rare move on a normally apolitical GBV stage, Hartzman decried the nadirs of the nation, from the return of student loan payments to the policing of Black and Brown and LGBTQ+ bodies. She invited the crowd to scream along in anger as she beckoned "Finish him!" Perhaps that's what even implored Pollard to, out of nowhere between "Twilight Campfire" and "To Keep An Area", declare, "We live in a shitty country...Everything is crooked as fuck!" It was a small moment, perhaps inconsequential, but one that really hammered down for me that after all these years, Pollard's done what he's always done: change.

[esoutherngolf]

Golf Nation

Golf Nation to Premiere ‘Three Courses’ Presented by Club Wyndham Shoppable video entertainment network Golf Nation premiered its “Three Courses” series on July 13 on golfnation.com and its Android app, focused on enjoyable on- and off-course activities across America. Presented by Club Wyndham, Season 1 features hosts Gabi Powel and Hannah Leiner needling each other during entertaining rounds of golf before highlighting local bites to eat and cocktails to drink – the three requisite ingredients for memorable getaways. The golf influencers met as college golf stars, and now the game they love takes them worldwide. “Three Courses” showcases their weekends away, experiencing unique flavors of golf destinations. Fashionistas Powel and Leiner are golf media celebrities and content producers with large social followings.  The fun banter and healthy competition between the close friends during “Three Courses” represent how golf enriches lives “Three Courses” is produced by NBTV Studios, a division of Golf Nation's parent company NBTV, Inc.  The first three episodes’ locations and scheduled release dates are: - Phoenix, AZ – July 13 Golf & Lodging – Club Wyndham Legacy Golf Resort Eat – The Larder + The Delta Drink – Pigtails Downtown - San Diego, CA – July 20 Lodging – Club Wyndham Oceanside Pier Resort Golf – Goat Hill Park Golf Course Eat – Madam Bonnie’s Drink – Swan Bar - Atlanta, GA – July 27 Lodging – Club Wyndham Atlanta Golf – Bobby Jones Golf Course Eat – Lazy Betty Drink – Parlor Cocktail Den All episodes will be live on-demand on golfnation.com and coming soon on its FAST channel (Free Ad-Supported Streaming Television).  The series can also be seen on Spirits Network, parent-company NBTV’s first entertainment vertical. “Club Wyndham is excited to partner with Golf Nation to lift our brand and introduce travelers to the world of vacation ownership,” says Scott Cavanaugh, Vice President, Strategic Partnerships & Licensing at Travel + Leisure Co.  “Golf Nation represents a fresh, entertainment and tech-driven way to instantly and authentically prompt interest in bookings at Club Wyndham properties featured in ‘Three Courses.’” Golf Nation’s popular lineup of original shows includes “Ambush with David Feherty” and his hidden-camera hijinks; “Golf Unseen” that, this season, journeys in South Africa; “Tee Shots” where celebrity guests chat, sip and take swings with famous mixologist Bill Binder; and “Watch Buy Play” highlighting the planet’s hottest golf products. “Don’t I Know You?” is hosted by Suzy Whaley, President of Golf Nation, former President of the PGA of America and one of only a handful of women to play in a PGA TOUR event. Based on the internationally syndicated 1980s-1990s TV hit “The Newlywed Game,” the first episode features 2023 U.S. Ryder Cup Captain Zach and Kim Johnson. Golf Nation sneak-peeked in December 2022 as a video-on-demand provider of entertaining, commercial-free golf-lifestyle shows. Viewers engage with products featured in shows by clicking on a “buy bar” while enjoying the streaming experience. “Bolstered by our patented video-commerce technology, Golf Nation is known as ‘Netflix meets Home Shopping Network’ for golf,” says Nick Buzzell, Chairman and CEO of Golf Nation.  Golf equipment, travel, fashion, technology, instruction, club lifestyle, fitness brands, and non-endemics are lining up to integrate with our programming. Shows will be available on Golf Nation’s iOS app, Apple TV, Fire TV, Roku, and other connected TV platforms in the upcoming months. The company plans to announce a landmark partnership whereby Golf Nation will be pre-loaded on over 100 million devices globally. Read the full article

[lec743]

Affectionate with Animals

As I’ve stated, the Ryder Twins have a hard time with showing and receiving affection from people, but it’s different for animals.

Scott will snuggle with Pepae the pyjak when he knows he’s alone in his room. The man feels like if he shows the annoying little creature any sign of affection in front of his sister or the crew they’ll mock him for it. So he asks S.A.M. to be look out for him so he can enjoy Pepae’s company in peace.

Once Scott even threw Pepae into his bed from his office chair because someone surprised him with suddenly coming into his room.

*******************************************************************************************

Sara is the complete opposite. This woman will baby talk, swaddle, and cuddle with Pepae the pyjak all she wants. She’s so lucky that Pepae is such a chill pyjak or she’d accidentally make the animal sick of her. She’ll coddle Pepae to her hearts content and she doesn’t care if she’s seen doing it or not. She’s not hurting anyone and if they have a problem with it she’ll kick their ass, she don’t care if you’re a part of the crew or not.

Her favorite form of affection is rubbing her face against Pepae’s face. She just likes how happy he sounds when she does it and he always beans her in the eye with his weird little elephant trunk-like mouth.

[bronva]

Scott Mills breaks a sweat as he kicks off 24-hour treadmill challenge – with Sam Ryder serenading him

Scott Mills breaks a sweat as he kicks off 24-hour treadmill challenge – with Sam Ryder serenading him

Scott Mills had the support of Sam Ryder, who wrote a new song for him in 20 minutes (Picture: BBC) Scott Mills will never walk alone as he had Sam Ryder for company while beginning his treadmill challenge.  The BBC Radio 2 presenter has embarked on the Great Scott TreadMills Challenge, which will see him exercise for 24 hours to raise money for Children In Need.  As the exhaustive mission began…