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The Lamb of God
by Sheila Mills
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The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" - John 1:29 (NLT)
So many people!
Papa, Mama, my two brothers and I had come to Jerusalem for the Passover Festival. Last year I had fallen ill, so Mama and I had to stay home while Papa took my older brothers. For a year they had not missed one opportunity to brag about their trip with Papa. But this year was different!
Today, only Papa and I walked through the marketplace together. My two brothers were several years older and did not care to be around me, "the baby of the family." So Papa decided to make this a special day – just the two of us. After a year of enduring my brothers' taunting remarks, I gave into the urge to brag. Papa scolded me, but when my brothers weren't looking, he winked at me, ruffled my hair and we ventured forth.
The marketplace was so crowded! Being from the countryside, I was used to quiet and calm. In this crowd it was impossible to think! People shouting to be heard over other people shouting to be heard. Strange languages blending together as people shouldered their way from one booth to another.
I stayed very close to Papa, so glad his expert hand never left my shoulder.
Occasionally Papa stopped to talk with a merchant, but we mostly walked while he explained the wonders before my eyes. He gently guided me to a merchant who had several lambs still for sale. One in particular captured my attention. He was smaller than his stable mates; his white wool curiously clean considering the dust being stirred up from the crowd. He looked at me inquisitively, but made no movement toward me. He seemed content to study me. From that moment, I was captivated by this creature.
Apparently Papa noticed, for he asked the merchant the price of the lamb. Papa shook his head at the merchant's price and started turning me away. The merchant stopped Papa. Papa told me to go pet the lamb. Without hesitation, I walked over and knelt down beside him.
He wasn't afraid of me, but nibbled the bit of halfway clean hay I picked from his bedding and offered. He stood perfectly calm while I ran my hands over his wool – course yet soft beneath my touch. He nuzzled my hand, then continued chewing the last of the hay.
Several minutes later, Papa came over and knelt beside me. He ran his hands over the lamb, his critical eye inspecting every inch of the animal. Satisfied at last, he stood and walked back to the merchant. I continued to play with the lamb, who nuzzled my check while I stroked his neck.
Papa returned and smiled. "It's time to start back. Mama will be wondering about us."
I gave the lamb one last pet, stood and began to walk away, my heart sad over having to leave the lamb behind. Papa stopped me. "Aren't you forgetting something?" He glanced down at the lamb then back at me.
"HE'S MINE?!" Surely all of Jerusalem had heard me.
"You have to take care of him. No one will do it for you. Understood?"
I looked into Papa's face. He meant business.
"Yes, Papa!"
Papa scooped up the lamb, explaining he would carry him u
ntil we were out of the crowd. Then Papa placed me in front of him, and we started back the way we had come. "What do you think Mama will say about my lamb?" I asked over my shoulder. I was so proud of my new pet.
Papa grinned. "She'll get used to him."
We weaved in and out of the crowd, trying our best to stay out of other people's way. But suddenly, we found ourselves being swept along. From a distance we could hear yelling, but not like the merchants' we had left. No, this was different. This was scary.
I drew back against Papa. The crowd had us hemmed in. We soon found ourselves propelled forward until we stood on the edge of a pathway lined with more people. Angry people. Many shaking their fists. Some laughing and saying cruel things.
Still others were crying or had their heads bowed in grief.
I heard Papa gasp and looked up at him. He stood motionless, his eyes riveted on something I could not see, his mouth opened but no words spoken. My lamb bleated. I reached up to pet him, a little shocked to discover how tightly Papa held him.
I tugged on his sleeve. "Papa?"
No answer.
"Papa, what is it?" I was frightened by the commotion, but Papa's expression was terrifying. I had never seen him like this. It was if the blood had drained from his face.
Papa looked around for a way to escape, but there was none, so we stayed. With one arm cradling my lamb, he rested his hand on my shoulder.
"I want you to look only at me."
"Why, Papa?" I could feel panic rising inside me.
"Just do what I tell you to do, and don't look around until I tell you it's okay."
"Papa?" My voice sounded so far away.
"I need you to trust me."
His intense look left no room for argument. I did as I was told, fear hammering my heart and mind, unable to comprehend what was going on. The angry people started yelling louder.
"Crucify him!"
"He's guilty! Let him die!"
I cringed at the hate I heard in their voices. Not once had Mama or Papa spoken to me or my brothers that way, not even when we misbehaved.
By the crowd's reaction, I could tell the object of their hate was closer. I peeked around for just a second and saw a soldier pass by, then buried my face in Papa's robe, even more terrified. I now knew why Papa made me face him.
"Lamb of God."
It was barely a whisper, but I heard it above the crowd. I dared to look up. Beside Papa stood an old man with sad eyes and a long, straggly, gray beard. He leaned on a wooden staff. His robe was quite dirty – and smelled! Oddly enough, I had not noticed the odor before now, while this stranger seemed oblivious to the stench.
"Lamb of God."
He kept repeating the phrase. Determined to be obedient to Papa, I refused to turn around, but instead watched in fascination as the old man's eyes stayed fixed on one particular person. Never once did his gaze alter. The thought struck me he was watching only the condemned man. By watching the old man's eyes and I could tell exactly where the prisoner was as he and the soldiers made their way slowly along the path.
Sometimes audibly, sometimes not, the old man repeated, "Lamb of God. Dear Lamb of God, forgive us." Tears coursed down his weathered cheeks, his knuckles white from gripping the wooden staff. He appeared to be fighting for enough strength to stay on his feet. I was afraid any moment he would sink to his knees; in this crowd Papa would have been unable to help him.
As the last of the soldiers passed by, so did the angry jeering. The crowd began to move away, except for Papa, the old man and me. My lamb bleated again.
The old man turned and for the first time noticed us – Papa, my lamb and me. He tried to smile at Papa and me, but failed. Then he reached out and gently stroked the soft woolen back of my lamb; a sad wisp of a smile played across his face.
"I was a shepherd for many years. Near Bethlehem," he said. His expression softened and his smile widened a little, as if remembering some special moment from the past. For an instant, his face appeared youthful, happy. Then he turned and hobbled away.
I looked at Papa, only to find tears in his eyes, as if he, too, remembered something… but I couldn't tell what.
"Papa, why did he keep saying 'Lamb of God'?"
Papa's hand gently touched my cheek and hugged my white lamb, all the while gazing down the now empty path. "Innocent." he whispered, more to himself than to me. "He is innocent."
"The man they condemned. He is innocent. The Lamb of God – sacrificed like a lamb."
My pulse quickened as a wave of panic hit me. "Are you going to sacrifice my lamb?"
Papa studied my face for several moments, then shook his head and smiled. "No, not this one. We'll use him to build a herd." And he handed the lamb over to me.
SRM (c) 2013
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Duncan "graduated" from Kindergarten tonight!
His class got to lead the gym in the Pledge of Allegiance and then they were first to perform. They sang "Chicken Soup with Rice". He, of course, looked cute and sang along. They didn't have any hand motions or anything, but you could tell he was much more enthused than Olivia ever was at her performances!
After they finished we followed their class out and Duncan received his photo in a puzzle frame and his diploma – here he is with his teacher, Mrs. Rodriguez.
Here's the graduate and his goodies!
We love you, Buddy. Great job!

subset: commoncrawl


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By A. H. KOSCHMANN and M. H. BERGENDAHL - USGS 1968
Click here for the Principle Gold Producing Districts of the United States Index
Placer County, noted chiefly for its placer mines, has also produced substantial lode gold particularly from the Ophir district. Gold was discovered in 1848 in Auburn Ravine. In the 1850's, bars in the American River and its tributaries were worked, and quartz mining also began. In the- Foresthill Divide area, Tertiary channels were mined by drifts, and in the Dutch Flat-Gold Run, Iowa Hill, and Yankee Jim districts, gold was extracted from gravels by hydraulic methods. The Michigan Bluff placers have also been productive.
The center of lode mining in Placer County is the Ophir district. Gold-quartz mines were active in the Canada Hill district (Logan, 1936, p. 10), but production from this area could not be ascertained. Logan (1936) described the gold deposits of this county and was the chief source of information for the production and description of the districts. Total production for the county from 1880 through 1959 was about 2,014,000 ounces.
The Dutch Flat-Gold Run district is along the north boundary of Placer County on the system of Tertiary channel deposits that extends south from Nevada County.
Placer mining began in 1849, and by 1857 hydraulic and drift mines were producing on a fairly large scale. Though early records are almost nonexistent, it was estimated (Logan, 1936, p. 58, 65-70) that the district produced about 479,000 ounces of gold to 1935. In recent years, because of high costs and restrictive legislation, production has decreased to less than 1,000 ounces per year. Total production through 1959 was about 492,000 ounces.
FORESTHILL DISTRICT The Foresthill district is in south-central Placer County. Foresthill Divide is a complex system of Tertiary channels capped by lavas. The gravels have been extensively worked by drift mines which reached their peak of productivity in the 1860's (Logan, 1936, p. 49). Before 1868 the Independence, New Jersey, and Jenny Lind mines produced $2,400,000 in gold. Estimates of production of individual mines given by Logan (1936, p. 51-80) give a minimum total for the district of about 338,000 ounces of gold. In recent years, the district has been virtually dormant. Total gold production through 1959 was about 344,000 ounces.
IOWA HILL DISTRICT The Iowa Hill district is about 5 miles east of the town of Colfax. Thick Tertiary gravels have been worked by hydraulic and drift mines in this district (Lindgren, 1911, p. 148-149). The Morning Star mine, with a production worth $1,750,000 to 1901, was the largest of the drift mines (Logan, 1936, p. 71). Total production of this district to 1910 was about $10 million (Lindgren, 1911, p. 149). No activity has been reported in the area since before 1932, except in 1958 when about 300 ounces was produced.
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Existing MicroSurvey embeddedCAD users with a current (non-expired) maintenance subscription support plan must use the USB License Manager application to update their USB License Key(s) to continue running this version beyond the 30-day trial period. A current maintenance subscription plan (as of today: March 7, 2014) is required - keys will update to "14.00.00". If your maintenance plan has expired, please call MicroSurvey Software Inc. at 1-800-668-3312 or 1-250-707-0000 or contact your local MicroSurvey dealer to renew it.
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Feuerwerk über der Gletscherlagune Jökulsarlon
Lass dir das jährliche Feuerwerk über der Gletscherlagune Jökulsárlón nicht entgehen und reserviere diese Tour, die dich komfortabel zum Ereignis in den Südosten Islands führt. Die eindrucksvollen Eisberge, die in der Lagune schwimmen, werden farbenfroh von bunten Raketen erleuchtet und bieten Zuschauern in atemberaubender Naturkulisse ein Erlebnis der Extra-Klasse!
Das Feuerwerk wird seit dem Jahr 2000 jährlich veranstaltet und zieht Jahr für Jahr mehr Besucher in seinen Bann. Das Event entsteht aus einer Partnerschaft des Such- und Rettungsteams der Region Hornafjördur zusammen mit der Region Vatnajökull und dem Bootsbetrieb bei Jökulsárlón.
Diese Tour startet mit der Abholung in Reykjavík und führt dich im Minibus entlang der wunderschönen Südküste der Insel.
Du wirst natürlich alle Highlights des Südens erleben, unter anderem die beeindruckenden Wasserfälle Seljalandsfoss und Skógafoss sowie den schwarzen Sandstrand Reynisfjara und die Klippen von Dyrhólaey. Das Feuerwerk beginnt um 23 Uhr und natürlich wirst du rechtzeitig vor Beginn vor Ort sein, um dir einen guten Aussichtsplatz zu sichern. Vor Beginn der Show sind bereits Kerzen auf Eisschollen platziert und kreieren eine tolle Atmosphäre!
Sichere dir deinen Platz in dieser exklusiven Tour und genieße einen magischen Abend! Prüfe die Verfügbarkeit, indem du auf "Datum wählen" klickst.
- Verfügbarkeit: August
- Dauer: 16 Stunden
- Aktivitäten: Besichtigung
- Schwierigkeitsstufe: Einfach
- Mindestalter: 8 Jahre
- Sprachen: English
- Höhepunkte: Jökulsárlón,
Jökulsárlón is Iceland's most famous glacier lagoon. Conveniently located in the southeast by Route 1, about halfway between the Skaftafell Nature Reserve and Höfn, it is a popular stop for those travelling along the South Coast or around the Ring Road of the country.
As a glacier lagoon, Jökulsárlón is a lake that is filled with the meltwater from an outlet glacier. In this case, it is Breiðamerkurjökull, a tongue of Europe's largest ice cap, Vatnajökull.
It stands out, however, due to the fact that it also fills with icebergs breaking from the glacier, some of which tower several stories high.
These icebergs, other than their scale, are notable for their colouration. Although they are, as expected, largely white, most are also dyed electric blue in part, with black streaks of ash from eruptions centuries past.
When the icebergs finally make it across the lagoon, they either drift out to sea or wash up on the nearby shore. Because of the way they glisten against the black sands of Breiðamerkursandur, this area has been nicknamed 'the Diamond Beach'.
In spite of being a rather recent formation, Jökulsárlón is the deepest lake in the country, with depths of 248 metres (814 feet). With a surface area of 18 square kilometres (7 square miles), it is also growing to be one of the largest.
Jökulsárlón has not been around since Iceland's settlement; it only formed around 1935. This was due to rapidly rising temperatures in the country from the turn of the twentieth century; since 1920, Breiðamerkurjökull has been shrinking at a dramatic rate, and the lagoon has begun to fill its space.
Today, the expansion of Jökulsárlón is accelerating. In 1975, it had less than half its current surface area.
In the relatively near future, it is expected that the lagoon will continue to grow until it becomes a large, deep fjord.
Though a dark omen for Iceland's glaciers and ice caps in general, the retreat of Breiðamerkurjökull has resulted in an incredibly beautiful, if temporary, site. This has not been overlooked by Hollywood.
Jökulsárlón has been featured in the James Bond films A View to Kill in 1985 and Die Another Day in 2002, 2001's Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, and 2005's Batman Begins.
In 2017, Jökulsárlón was enveloped into the Vatnajökull National Park, thus it is now fully protected by Icelandic law.
Because of the wealth of herring and capelin that the tides bring into the lagoon, Jökulsárlón is somewhat of a hot-spot for Iceland's wildlife.
In summer, it is a nesting site for Arctic Terns; stay well away from their nesting area, as these birds are notorious for the fierceness with which they protect their eggs, dive-bombing the heads of any they see as a threat. Skuas also nest on the lake's shores in this season.
Seals can be reliably spotted here throughout the year, swimming amongst or else hauling out on the icebergs. Jökulsárlón provides them with a safe haven to rest and socialise, especially considering the waters of southeast Iceland are renowned for their population of orcas.Vatnajökull,
Vatnajökull glacier is the largest glacier in Europe, covering 8% of Iceland's landmass.
It is the central feature of the Vatnajökull National park, found in the south west of Iceland, a popular spot for activities like glacier hiking from Skaftafell, boat tours in the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, and ice caving tours between November and March.
Facts about Vatnajokull
Vatnajökull has a surface area of approximately 8,100 square kilometres (3127 square miles); though it is rapidly shrinking due to climate change, its recession is not quite as advanced as at other glaciers, such as Langjökull and Mýrdalsjökull. In parts, it is a kilometre deep (over three thousand feet), and its average thickness is around half of that.
Vatnajökull also holds the tallest peak in Iceland beneath its ice; Hvannadalshnjúkur is 2,200 metres tall (7,218 feet). It also conceals some of the most active volcanoes in the country, the most notable being Grímsvötn, Öræfajökull and Bárðarbunga.
Volcanic activity in the region has occurred on and off throughout the centuries, and many geologists believe that several eruptions are overdue. If their calculations are correct, it would mean significant volcanic activity for Vatnajökull over the scope of the next half-century.
Depending on winds, this could result in worldwide consequences in terms of air-travel, agriculture and the general climate.
The glacier boasts over 30 outlet glaciers, which are channels of ice that flow out of ice caps but remain constrained on the sides of the valley. The major outlet glaciers of Vatnajökull include Dyngjujökull in the north, Breiðamerkurjökull, and Skeiðarárjökull to the south. To the west, one can find the outlet glaciers Síðujökull, Skaftárjökull and Tungnaárjökull.
Numerous rivers run out of Vatnajökull, making up some of the greatest glacial rivers in Iceland. The most notable are:
Tungnaá (west)
Köldukvísl (west)
Þjórsá (west)
Jökulsá á Fjöllum (north)
Skjálfandafljót (north)
Jökulsá á Brú (northeast)
Jökulsá í Fljótsdal (northeast)
Jökulsá í Lóni (south)
Hornafjarðarfljót (south)
Jökulsá á Breiðamerkursandi (south)
Skeiðará (south)
Núpsvötn (south)
Hverfisfljót (south)
Skaftá (south)
Vatnajokull National Park
Vatnajökull National Park was established in June 2008 and has slowly grown to include more and more areas. The park now covers an area of 14,141 square kilometres (5,460 square miles), 14% of the country. It is the second largest national park in Europe.
Rivers divide the highland plateau to the north of the park. The volcanic table mountain Herðubreið towers over this particular region, along with volcanoes Askja, Snæfell and Kverkfjöll.
The canyon Jökulsárgljúfur was carved out by glacial floods centuries ago. At the upper end of the canyon, you'll find Dettifoss, the most powerful waterfall in Europe. Further north, the horseshoe-shaped canyon Ásbyrgi is believed to have formed when Óðinn's eight-legged horse, Sleipnir, stepped his foot down from the heavens.
East around Snæfell, one can find wetlands and ranges, home to roaming herds of wild reindeer and abundant birdlife. Steep mountain ridges make up the south side of Vatnajökull, where outlet glaciers crawl onto the lowlands. The sandy plains of Skeiðarársandur also lie to the south, and the glacial river Skeiðará runs through this vast desert.
One of Iceland's most visited landmarks in the National Park is the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, which sits at the base of the outlet glacier Breiðamerkurjökull. Here, large icebergs that have broken off the glacier float across a vast lake before ending up in the Atlantic Ocean, or washed ashore on the nearby Diamond Beach.
This is one of the best seal-watching spots in the country.
The Future of Vatnajokull
The volume of Vatnajökull reached its peak around 1930 but has since been in a steady process of decline. Because of rising levels of global temperature, Vatnajökull has on average lost about a metre (three feet) of its thickness annually over the past 15 years.
If temperature levels continue to rise, the glacier could be all but gone nearing the end of the next century, leaving only small ice caps on top of the highest mountain summits.
Efforts are being made to prevent what some say is the inevitable, with reforestation projects going on all around the glacier, a proven method of cooling the area. Time will tell how successful they are.
Vatnajokull and Jokulsarlon in Popular Culture
The beauty of Vatnajökull National Park has not gone unnoticed by those in film or television. Many famous scenes have been shot here, starting with James Bond: A View to Kill in 1985. Other notable films with scenes here include Batman Begins, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, and James Bond: Die Another Day.
Most famously, however, many places in Vatnajökull have been used in the HBO Series Game of Thrones, north of the Wall. The Wall itself is constructed with CGI using shots of the glacier.Skógafoss,
Skógafoss is one of Iceland's biggest and most beautiful waterfalls with an astounding width of 25 meters (82 feet) and a drop of 60 meters (197 feet).
Due to the amount of spray the cascade produces, at least one rainbow is present any time the sun emerges from behind the clouds.
Located on the Skógá river, this mighty cascade is clearly visible from Route 1 and is an excellent place to stop and stretch the legs while travelling Iceland's South Coast. The river below Skógafoss holds a large char and salmon population and is thus a favourite spot for fishermen in the summer.
The land underneath the waterfall is very flat, allowing visitors to walk right up to the wall of water. This will get you drenched, although, on a summer's day, it can be quite tempting.
Skógafoss can also be viewed from the top as a steep staircase leads to an observational platform above the cascade. Many nesting seabirds can be found on the route up.
Skógafoss is located near the small village of Skógar, south of the Eyjafjallajökull glacier volcano. There you'll find the Skógasafn folk museum, an open-air museum with both old wooden houses and turf houses, as well as a regional museum with various artefacts from this area.
A part of the Skógasafn Regional Museum is the Museum of Transportation, which showcases the history and evolution of transportation, communication and technologies in Iceland. There, you can see how this nation evolved from the age of the working horse to the digital communications of the 21st century.
The Skógasafn museum also includes a café and a museum shop, and in the village of Skógar, you will find both a hotel and a restaurant.
At the eastern side of Skógafoss, you will find one of Iceland's most famed hiking routes; the Fimmvörðuháls pass. The 22 kilometre (14 miles) trail takes you along Skógá river, between two glaciers, Mýrdalsjökull and Eyjafjallajökull, before ending in the beautiful Þórsmörk valley.
Skógafoss is often visited alongside the waterfall Seljalandsfoss, which is just a little further along the South Coast. Both fall from cliffs of the same height, and while Skógafoss is much more powerful, Seljalandsfoss has a cave behind it, which means it can be fully encircled. It is also next to a much lesser known but still awe-inspiring waterfall, Gljúfrabúi.
A gold ring is on display at the Skógasafn museum. According to legend, the ring is from a chest that was owned by Þrasi Þórólfsson, one of the first Viking settlers in the area, who by some accounts was a giant. Folklore states that before his death in 900 AD, Þrasi buried a chest filled with gold in a cave behind Skógafoss waterfall.
Many attempts were made to retrieve the chest after Þrasi's death, and years later, locals managed to grasp a ring on the side of the chest. As they pulled, the ring broke off, and the treasure was lost forever. The ring was then given to the local church before it made its way to the museum.Seljalandsfoss,
Seljalandsfoss is a waterfall that can be fully encircled, situated on the South Coast of Iceland with a drop of 60 metres (200 feet).
Due to the waterfall's close proximity to the Ring Road and impressive natural features, it is one the country's most famous and visited falls. Majestic and picturesque, it is one of the most photographed features in all of Iceland.
Geology and Surroundings
Seljalandsfoss waterfall, part of the river Seljalandsá, has its origins underneath the glacier Eyjafjallajökull. The volcano beneath this ice cap was the one that erupted in 2010 and caused havoc at airports across Europe.
The cascade of the falls is relatively narrow but falls from a tall cliff that once marked the country's coastline, the sea is now located across a stretch of lowlands and is visible from the site.
The most distinguishing feature of Seljalandsfoss is a pathway that stretches all the way around it. The cliffs behind the falls have a wide cavern, and rocks and paths allow guests to fully encircle it in summer.
Though a mesmerising opportunity, visitors should be prepared to get dampened due to the perpetual mist of the falls, which also tends to make the rocks of the pathway slippery.
Floodlights have been set up on both sides of the waterfall, which impressively illuminate the scene during the night when the midnight sun is not out. The lights were installed in 2001 due to the growing popularity of the falls as a tourist destination.
After visiting Seljalandsfoss, it is common for visitors to continue north to the waterfall Gljúfrabúi, which is found partially hidden behind a rock face. Because of Seljalandsfoss extreme popularity, Gljúfrabúi is widely considered the hidden gem of the scene, as it is too often overlooked.
Seljalandsfoss is also usually visited alongside the nearby Skógafoss. The waterfall falls from the same height, and while it cannot be encircled, it is much more powerful and steeped in the legend of a giant's hidden treasure.
Visitor Centre Controversy
In 2017, it was announced that a visitor's centre was to be constructed near the falls. The design of the building indicated that it would be seven metres (23 feet) high and 2,000 square metres (21,500 square feet) in size. Landowners in the area opposed to the idea, proclaiming that the centre would greatly alter the natural appearance of the waterfall's renowned scenery.
The project has neither been fully approved nor wholly cancelled, with ideas surfacing of either significantly reducing the size of the construction, or moving the visitor centre's location further away, for instance to the nearby farmstead Brekkuhorn.
Seljalandsfoss in Popular Culture
Along with a multitude of South Iceland's most famous natural attractions, Seljalandsfoss can be seen in Justin Bieber's music video for his song 'I'll Show You'. Please enjoy the video without emulating any antics that will endanger yourself or the environment.
The waterfall was also a featured waypoint during the first leg of the sixth season of The Amazing Race, an American reality TV series.Eyjafjallajökull,
The glacier volcano of Eyjafjallajökull is notorious the world over for causing havoc to air travel in 2010, and stumping television anchors everywhere as they tried to pronounce it. 1651 metres (5427 feet) tall, it is one of the most dominant features of the South Coast.
The glacier of Eyjafjallajökull is approximately 100 square kilometres (39 square miles), making it the country's sixth largest. It sits close to the fourth greatest, Mýrdalsjökull, which also conceals another notorious volcano, this one called Katla.
While Eyjafjallajökull's eruption was huge and disruptive, it pales in comparison to the potential of Katla. Far more explosive, and under much thicker ice, an eruption here in unfavourable wind conditions could have worldwide consequences.
The magma chambers between both of these mighty volcanoes are connected, and, unfortunately for us, an eruption at Eyjafjallajökull is usually followed by one at Katla within a decade.
Eyjafjallajökull has many glacial outlets, the most famous being Gígjökull. Many rivers flow from its meltwater, and one of these falls into the beautiful South Coast waterfall, Seljalandsfoss, which it is possible to fully encircle.
Eyjafjallajökull's most recent eruption was no doubt the most famous in Iceland's history (although the honour really should go to Laki, the 1783-4 eruption of which caused an ash cloud so great that Europe fell into a famine that many historians believe led to the French Revolution). On March 27th, 2010, magma began to bubble from beneath the surface, and by April 14th, ash was starting to billow from the peak.
800 people were evacuated, in fears not of magma, but of equally dangerous glacial floods, which have decimated Icelandic towns in the past. Animals were ordered to be kept inside, and those with respiratory problems told they should also stay indoors.
Air travel across Europe was halted, as, by the evening of April 15th, the ash was already over the UK, Scandinavia, and parts of Germany. Holidaymakers were trapped, waiting for news, and would end up stuck for eight days; in Scotland and Ireland, there were even flights delayed in May due to lingering effects.
Thankfully, no one was injured, although the ash is thought to have caused respiratory issues for some in the south of the country. Many farms were also destroyed by the ash and floods, with some farmers still struggling to recover today.
Since settlement in 874, Eyjafjallajökull has also erupted in 900, 1612, and from 1821 to 1823. The latter released a huge amount of fluoride which is believed to have affected the bone health of humans and animals alike at the time.
Eyjafjallajokull today
Eyjafjallajökull is now entirely safe to visit and is seen on most tours of the South Coast in clear weather. In the town of Hvolsvöllur, there is a visitor's centre on the volcano, which focuses on the experience of one family whose farm, Þorvaldseyri, was one of the many destroyed by the floods, lava and ash.
It is very unlikely that Eyjafjallajökull will erupt again any time soon, with hundreds of years between each eruption, but as mentioned, its neighbour Katla might start rumbling...Dyrhólaey,
Dyrhólaey Peninsula is a 120-metre promenade famed for its staggering views of Iceland's South Coast, as well as its historic lighthouse and wealth of birdlife. It is home to a rock arch of the same name.
Dyrhólaey, which translates to Door Hill Island, is of volcanic origin and was once an island before joining up to the Icelandic mainland. In ancient times, passing sailors used to refer to Dyrhólaey as 'Cape Portland'.
It is also the southernmost part of the Icelandic mainland, making it a popular stop for sightseers travelling along the Ring Road, and can be found close by the coastal village of Vík í Mýrdal.
Other features along the South Coast en route to Dyrhólaey from Reykjavík include the waterfalls Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss, and the glacier Eyjafjallajökull.
Dyrhólaey Arch
Dyrhólaey's most instantly recognisable attraction is the promenade's massive rock arch, a result of centuries of erosion. As a result, its name is in direct reference to this enormous arch. In fact, this natural feature is so large and dramatic that one daredevil pilot even flew through it, back in 1993. Boats can easily cruise through its opening.
Dyrhólaey Wildlife
Dyrhólaey has an abundance of birdlife, the most common year-round being Eider Ducks. Iceland's favourite winged resident, the migratory Atlantic Puffin, can be found here from May to September.
It is one of the best places to reliably locate them, and one of the closest to Reykjavík after the islands in Faxaflói Bay which can be visited by boat from the Old Harbour.
While watching puffins, it is striking how little they seem to fear people, as they allow you to get very close. Be aware, however, they do not like to be touched, and if one flies off in a panic, the whole flock might follow it, so be respectful.
Features at and around Dyrhólaey
From your position atop the promenade of Dyrhólaey, you can enjoy staggering views over Iceland's black sand beaches, complemented by the glittering waves of the Atlantic on one side, and distant mountainscapes to the other.
The most notable stretch of coast here is called Reynisfjara, renowned for its incredible geology, with the sea-stacks of Reynisdrangar jutting up out to sea. If you visit this beach while seeing Dyrhólaey as part of a South Coast adventure, be sure to follow the warning signs and stay away from the water as dangerous sneaker waves here are commonplace.
To the north, you will also able to see the creeping glacier, Mýrdalsjökull. This amazing ice cap conceals a secret; beneath its surface is one of the most explosive and notorious volcanoes in all of Iceland, Katla. Long overdue, experts say that it is a matter of when - not if - it will erupt over the coming years.
On top of Dyrhólaey stands Dyrhólaeyjarviti, a beautiful old lighthouse that consists of a white, square concrete tower. The first lighthouse in the area was built in 1919; the current construction was completed in 1927. Visitors here will be able to see the lighthouse flicking out beams of white light to sea every ten seconds.Mýrdalsjökull,
Mýrdalsjökull is a glacier in the south of the Icelandic highlands. It is the country's fourth largest ice cap, covering nearly 600 square kilometres (232 square miles), and its highest peak is almost 1500 meters tall. It is most well-known for sitting atop the notorious and explosive volcano, Katla.
Mýrdalsjökull is visible from Route 1 on the South Coast, sitting to the north of the village of Vík. It is visited on some snowmobiling, ice caving and helicopter tours, and one of its glacial outlets, Sólheimajökull, is the most popular place in the country for ice-climbing and glacier hiking.
Eruptions beneath Myrdalsjokull
Since 2010, the world has known of the volcano beneath Eyjafjallajökull; after all, it halted European air travel for over a week and stumped news readers everywhere. Few, however, are aware of the much larger volcano right beside it.
Mýrdalsjökull conceals Katla, one of the country's most active volcanoes, having erupted, on average, once every fifty years since 930 AD. Because of the glacier above it, these eruptions tend to cause enormous ash clouds. It is these ash clouds that lead to flights being grounded, crops and livestock poisoned, and have the potential to change the world's climate.
The last major eruption beneath Katla was in 1918, in which such huge lahar floods occurred that the southern coastline was extended five kilometres outwards. This area is also very susceptible to glacial floods, or 'jökulhlaup', during eruptions, even when the lava does not break through the surface of the ice. These are as dangerous as the lava itself, having wiped out whole Icelandic villages before.
Historically, the area was little settled for this reason.
Katla is connected to the same volcanic system as Eyjafjallajökull and usually erupts violently a few years after Eyjafjallajökull does. As the ex-president, Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson said in 2010:'The time for Katla to erupt is coming close… it is high time for European governments and airline authorities all over Europe and the world to start planning for the eventual Katla eruption'
So it is currently several years overdue. Katla is monitored heavily, and roads around it closed when seismic activity increases. All road closures around Iceland can be found on Road and Coastal Administration's website.
Tours on Myrdalsjokull
While there are no eruptions immediately imminent, tours continue to run onMýrdalsjökull, allowing visitors to enjoy the glacier. It is, for example, possible to snowmobile across its surface throughout the year and take ice caving tours beneath it throughout the year, with departures from both Reykjavík and Vík.
Considering the ice caves under Vatnajökull glacier are usually only accessible from November to March, this provides a wider window of opportunity for travellers to Iceland outside of the depths of winter. It should be noted that the caves in Mýrdalsjökull do not have the same blue ice, however.
Tours around Myrdalsjokull
Mýrdalsjökull can be seen on all South Coast tours that reach Vík and beyond in clear weather. It can also be seen from above on helicopter tours that depart from Reykjavík.
The best perspectives of the glacier, however, can be found on the popular Fimmvörðuháls hiking trail, which goes between Eyjafjallajökull and Mýrdalsjökull. Part of this hike can be done in a day, or you can take the complete route from Þórsmörk to Skógar on a three-day trekSchwarzer Sandstrand Reynisfjara,
Reynisfjara is a world-famous black-sand beach found on the South Coast of Iceland, just beside the small fishing village of Vík í Mýrdal.
With its enormous basalt stacks, roaring Atlantic waves and stunning panoramas, Reynisfjara is widely considered to be the most beautiful example of Iceland's black sand beaches. In 1991, National Geographic voted Reynisfjara as one of the Top 10 non-tropical beaches to visit on the planet.
Reynisfjara is found around 180 kilometers (112 miles) from Iceland's capital city, Reykjavík, and is a popular stop-off for those taking a sightseeing tour along the popular South Coast.
Driving to the beach is particularly easy, taking an approximate two and a half hours from the capital, so can easily be done within half a day, or a full one combined with other features.
Upon visiting the beach, travelers will immediately observe rocky sea stacks sitting off the shoreline, known as Reynisdrangar.
According to local Icelandic folklore, these large basalt columns were once trolls trying to pull ships from the ocean to shore. However, these trolls were dim and went out too late in the night; dawn broke on the horizon, turning the trolls into solid stone.
Another legend tells of a husband whose wife was kidnapped and killed by two trolls. The man followed the trolls down to Reynisfjara where he froze them, ensuring that they would never kill again.
So mesmerizing are these features that they featured in Season 7 of the HBO Series Game of Thrones; you can spot them in a few scenes shot 'North of the Wall'.
The sea stacks themselves are home to thousands of nesting seabirds. Species that can be found here include puffins, fulmars and guillemots, making it a must-see location for all birdwatchers out there.
Surrounding Sites
Reynisfjara beach is located conveniently in the middle of the South Coast, adjacent to the village of Vík. This means that those taking the Ring Road around the country, or else those heading to the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, will pass it, and are encouraged to make a stop.
The closest major landmark is the Dyrhólaey rock arch and cliffs. While many seabirds are found at Reynisfjara, it is nothing compared to the numbers here. From May to August, it is one of the best places to see puffins from land.
En route to Reynisfjara from Reykjavík, you will discover waterfalls, such as Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss, and glaciers, such as Eyjafjallajökull and Mýrdalsjökull. Further along the South Coast, you will reach the Vatnajökull National Park, with its many glacier tongues, glacier lagoons, black sand deserts, and the incredible Skaftafell Nature Reserve.
Potential Dangers
Visitors to Reynisfjara must be made well aware of the potential dangers present at the beach. First of all, the rolling, roaring waves of Reynisfjara are particularly violent, often pushing far further up the beach than many would expect.
These are called sneaker-waves, and they can appear when least expected, even on incredibly still days. There are no significant landmasses in between Antarctica and the shores of Reynisfjara, meaning waves have thousands of kilometers to build.
Visitors are advised to never turn their back on the waves, and keep a safe distance of at least 30 meters (98 feet).
Aside from these sudden and dramatic shifts in the tide, the rip currents offshore are infamous for their strength and ability to drag helpless people out into the freezing cold open ocean. A number of fatal accidents have occurred at Reynisfjara, the last of which occurred in January 2017.Vík í Mýrdal,
Vík í Mýdral, or just Vík, is the southernmost village on the Icelandic mainland, located 186 kilometres (110 miles) from the capital Reykjavík.
Often visited by those travelling the popular sightseeing route along the South Coast, it is a wonderful place to stop, recharge, and if you are taking your time, rest for the night. Though it only has around 300 residents, the village is very popular amongst tourists for its convenience and beautiful surrounding landscapes.
Features near Vik
Reaching Vík from Reykjavík takes approximately two and a half hours, and en route, there are many marvellous features to admire. Two of the country's most famous waterfalls, Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss, lay between the two destinations; the former has awe-inspiring power, whereas the latter can be fully encircled.
The glaciers Eyjafjallajökull and Mýrdalsjökull can also be seen on clear days; both of these cover volcanoes which are particularly explosive, with Eyjafjallajökull famously disrupting European air travel in 2010. Out to sea in especially good weather, the Westman Islands can also be seen on the horizon.
Just before Vík are the popular birdwatching cliffs of Dyrhólaey, where you can also find an enormous rock arch curving out into the ocean. This is one of the best places for birdwatching in Iceland, with thousands of puffins nesting here from May to August.
The village itself sits opposite one of the country's most famous features: Reynisfjara black sand beach. Considered one of the world's most beautiful non-tropical beaches, it boasts incredible geology.
Particularly of note are the Reynisdrangar sea-stacks, said to be two trolls frozen in the light of the morning sun as they tried to pull a ship into shore.
Though this beach makes for a lovely walk, particularly for those staying in Vík overnight, as they can see it under the midnight sun or northern lights, it has its dangers. Sneaker waves can be notorious here, so visitors should stay far from the water's edge, and never go for a swim. Lives have been lost here before.
The route to Vík from Reykjavík is beautiful and continues to be so as you travel further along the South Coast, through the Skeiðarásandur black-sand-plains into Vatnajökull National Park. This beautiful region is often the final destination of those passing through Vík, as it is home to the largest glacier in Europe, the Skaftafell Nature Reserve, and Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon.
Of course, ambitious travellers will carry on from here to encircle the full country.
Wildlife around Vik
Vík, due to its closeness to the Reynisfjall and Dyrhólaey cliffs, has a rich birdlife. Short walks from the village will take you to the nesting grounds of gulls, fulmar, guillemots, and in summer, puffins.
Due to its coastal location, visitors to Vík have a decent chance to see seals on the shore. There is also a slim chance to see whales or dolphins; the twenty or so species that live in Iceland's waters can appear at any time.
Services in Vik
Vík has a wide variety of public services, due to its remoteness and its importance in connecting the east and west of Iceland. There are gas stations, shops and cafes, a swimming pool, a wool factory that can be visited, and a wide range of accommodation options for all budgets.
Please note, however, that as the village has such a small year-round population, those with special dietary requirements should purchase their food from Reykjavík before departing.Diamantstrand
The Diamond Beach is a strip of black sand belonging to the greater Breiðamerkursandur glacial plain, located by Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon on the South Coast of Iceland.
Here, the icebergs which fill Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon wash up on shore, standing dazzling and defiant in stark contrast to the black sand beach. It is, therefore, a favourite amongst photographers, nature-lovers, and wildlife-enthusiasts. Many seals call this beach home, and it is one of the best places in the country to see orcas from the shore.
Breiðamerkursandur is a glacial outwash plain located in the municipality of Hornafjörður. The sand stretches approximately 18 kilometres along Iceland's South Coast, more specifically from the foot of Kvíárjökull Glacier to the famed glacier lagoon Jökulsárlón, that nests by the foot of Breiðamerkurjökull Glacier.
Both glaciers make up part of the 30 outlets of Vatnajökull, Europe's largest ice cap and the central feature of the Vatnajökull National Park. Many of these are seen en route to the Diamond Beach as you travel along the South Coast.
The outwash plain was formed when three of Vatnajökull's outlet glaciers, Breiðamerkurjökull, Hrútárjökull and Fjallsjökull, flowed forward due to volcanic activity and ground the rocks of the underlying surface, creating and pushing forward the glacial sediments.
Such sand plains are a common part of the Icelandic landscape, due to the island being volcanically active as well as boasting numerous ice caps. The terminus (the tip of a given glacier) also dug deep into the ground and left what is now the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon. Although now the deepest lake in all of Iceland, it only began to form in 1935.
The glacier lagoon and Diamond Beach are fantastical sites, however, the rate of their expansion is, unfortunately, a consequence of climate change. With the rate that the glaciers are melting, there may be no ice left at either site within decades.
Jökulsárlón Icebergs
Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon is one of the most famed and visited attractions in Iceland. Floating on the lagoon are enumerable icebergs that have broken off the resident glacier, creating an ever-changing scenery of incredible allure.
The river Jökulsá connects the lagoon to the Atlantic Ocean, meaning that these icebergs eventually drift out to sea where they are polished by the waves before floating back to the black sands of Breiðamerkursandur. The name 'Diamond Beach' thus comes from the white ice on the black sand appearing like gemstones or diamonds, as they often glisten in the sun and sharply contrast their jet black surroundings.
Safety at the Diamond Beach
The Diamond Beach is a safe place for any responsible traveller; unlike at Reynisfjara, another South Coast black-sand-beach, sneaker waves and rip currents are not notorious for whisking unwitting tourists out to sea. However, there are still dangers to consider.
The main one of these is the icebergs themselves. Under no circumstance should you climb upon an iceberg, due to their slippery surfaces and sharp edges.
This is especially the case if the iceberg is at all in the water, as it could flip and trap you underneath, or else be pulled out to sea by a current with you on it.
The risk of injury and illness in the form of hypothermia is so great that extortionate fines exist to deter any 'rebels' looking for a thrill-seek. These have only come about due to serious incidents, to protect not only tourists at the lagoon but guides and staff who may feel obligated to embark on a dangerous rescue if they see someone at risk.
Bitte sei rechtzeitig zur Abholung am jeweiligen Treffpunkt. Sollte der Abholort eine Busstation sein, dann kann dir die Hotel-Rezeption Auskunft über deren genaue Lage geben, oder du rufst die Telefonnummer auf deinem Voucher an.
Snacks und Soft Drinks
Gebühr für das Feuerwerk
Bequemer Minibus
Was du mitbringen solltest:
Warme Kleidung
Kamera, wenn vorhanden ein Stativ
Gut zu wissen:
Das Feuerwerk beginnt um 23 Uhr und dauert etwa 30 Minuten. Die Ankunft in Reykjavík erfolgt demnach spät in der Nacht.
Keine Bewertung mit diesen Kriterien,


text:
My Blog at Dallas Stars.com from Tuesday :
I am not sure what this post has to do with the Dallas Stars, other than a scenario that popped in my head as I watched the Brett Favre return to Lambeau Field on Sunday. What if Mike Modano played against the Stars?
First, some disclosure: I am a huge Green Bay Packers fan (I have a tattoo of the G, and son named Brett). I have loved that team since I was born, and I plan on loving them until I leave this world.
But, they (The Packers' loyal fans) stood for something on Sunday that made me ill. The people in that stadium - not all, but a vocal majority - booed the man they adored for 16 wonderful seasons. It really made me sad. I thought of how he left, which was basically the team telling him he no longer had his job, and how I assume all he ever wanted from his bosses there was to let him stay forever. Not realistic, but surely there is a happy medium for a player between being told when to leave and staying forever.
But, the fans don't know what happened. They know what they have been told. They have been told that since he is a Minnesota Viking now, you should disrespect everything he did for you for 16 years and boo him. He plays for the enemy, right? He is a traitor, right?
I have booed the hated Vikings my entire life. I hope they lose every game. But, just because Favre wants to keep playing and the Vikings offered him a chance doesn't mean that he wouldn't rather play for the Packers. But they told him, "no".
So, we should boo him for not retiring? You want him to retire instead of playing for another Super Bowl?
A few problems with that logic.
A) - He didn't want to leave in the first place. The Packers wanted the shiny, new QB who they have groomed to replace Brett. They chose, and they got their guy. Despite Favre taking them to a 13-3 record, they decided that it was over.
B) - He didn't leave for more money. This isn't like A-Rod when he returned to Seattle and they were throwing money at him. Whether it is his right or not, if a player leaves to get more money elsewhere, I can see the fans feeling like he never loved us - just our money.
C) - He isn't mad at you, the fan. He is mad at the guy (Ted Thompson) who runs your franchise who decided Brett couldn't play. He wants to prove to him that he made a mistake. Who among us wouldn't also want to prove that we aren't garbage that should be taken to the curb.
But there are the fans. Booing him. What disrespect. I don't blame the younger kids in the crowd. But, the adults? Who like me saw how horrid that franchise was before he helped restore the pride in a franchise that had been listless for 25 years? How could they? He is owed a debt of gratitude for everything he did, and he is clearly the greatest Green Bay Packer of our lifetime. Yet, you turn your back on him because he still wants to play football?
What if that ever happened here? What if the Stars said Mike Modano cannot play anymore and they don't offer him a contract or they trade him away. And what if he wants to keep playing and Detroit or San Jose give him a job because they think he can still play.
Would you forget 2 decades of blood, sweat, and tears? Would you boo him? Would you turn your back on a guy who bent over backwards for you at every turn? Would you forget the guy who helped put hockey in Dallas and make this a healthy and successful franchise? Would you support your franchise even if they are clearly wrong?
Believe me, you don't want to ever find out. But, Sunday made me think hard about that scenario, and I wish I could have avoided it. Right now, I am disgusted to associate with that angry mob on Sunday.
It is highly possible that you have 100 more questions on this Favre scenario. Questions like: "Bob, didn't he retire? - Twice?"
For my thoughts on many of your concerns, here is what I wrote in July of 2008:
This one is going to hurt.
This Favre thing is many things to many people; Annoying, Intriguing, Maddening, Disappointing, etc. They all come to mind.
But, of course, I have not written much about this because I was convinced at first that the media was spending too much time speculating. Well, it is now obvious that this is all no longer speculation – but rather fact – Brett Favre wants to continue to play football. So you want to know what I think? Well, despite the disagreements this will start, here you go:
First, a few questions. Why would he ever retire if it seems obvious to most of us that he never wanted to? Why would he spend the better part of the last 3 springs appearing to be one of the biggest drama queens in sports? Why would he risk his image of arguably the most beloved athlete in the nation so much that many people cannot even stand the mention of his name these days? I have my theories…
But first, an email from a Packers fan:
Im still confused. I now feel hatred in my heart toward Favre. I hate his complete sorriness and total lack of respect for his teammates, his managers, coaches and the state of Wisconsin! I feel for Rodgers most of all. Favre disappointed me with his recent display of sorriness. He needs to move to Missisippi and never step foot in WI again! The D-bag needs a hobby or anti-depressants cause he aint all there. I have decided that if The Packers cave and give into Favre's demands, then I will have a cheesehat burning ceremony at my house. 30 years of being a loyal fan and I will turn my back on them as fast as Favre did.
This guy is a hardcore Packers fan, and like many I have heard from, they are sick and tired of Brett. They are sick and tired of his drama, and they want him to go away. Think about that! It is not uncommon for a fan base to turn on a player who isn't happy with his money or his geography, but the last several springs have so wore down some of his fans that they prefer their most beloved hero goes away rather than returns.
It is amazing how the Favre approval rating has fallen. Honestly, this is an odd story in that Favre has fallen out of favor, but also an altogether familiar story in that 100% of the time, when a fan must choose between his favorite athlete and his favorite team, he will always take the team's side it would seem.
Not me. This thing has smelled for 3+ years. And now it has gone ugly, and I suggest it has very little to do with how Brett Favre has handled this thing. Rather, I would like to take a look at the 2007 NFL Executive of the year, Green Bay general manager Ted Thompson. Thompson was hired by the Packers in 2005, and he honestly had a tough job ahead of him. Mike Sherman (yes, that one) was inexplicably given both the head coach and general manager roles for the Packers, and was not very good at either in many respects. His record (57-39) will indicate that he was really good, but his in-game strategy was poor, and worst than anything else, his drafting was flat out sad. So, the Pack needed a GM.
Thompson came in and really has turned that around. His drafting has been really solid, and he has stocked this team with plenty of young talent. But, if there are two things that have troubled many (including me), it would be the following:
1) His refusal to use free agency to supplement his team's talent with "ready" players despite huge amounts of cap room.
2) His inability to handle dealing with Brett Favre.
Let's examine his work in these two categories.
Free Agency:
In 2005, the Packers payroll was 21 million below the cap, and ranked 31st in the NFL. They signed free agents Adrian Klemm and Matt O'Dwyer in the off-season. Both were minimal signings who did not have any impact on the team. The Packers went 4-12.
In 2006, the Packers were more aggressive, signing Charles Woodsen to a big money deal and Marquand Manuel, Ben Taylor, and Ryan Pickett to contracts as well. Despite 15 million under the cap after all of the signings, they still did not add a single player to the offense.
And in 2007, with a payroll that ranked 24th in the league, and still over 11 million under the cap, Thompson signed but one free agent during the off-season; Frank Walker – a cornerback who hardly played.
In 3 years as General Manager, with a combined 47 million dollars to work with, Thompson did not acquire a single veteran player to aid the offense of the Green Bay Packers. Not one. Heck, Randy Moss practically asked to go to Green Bay, and Thompson would not make a trade with Oakland to acquire him, instead letting Moss put up one of the most prolific years in NFL history with New England.
As a point of comparison, since being hired as the Packers GM, the combined payroll over 3 years has been $259 million. Dallas over the same amount of time has spent $302 million. An average $14 million per season less in player salaries can buy weapons that might help your QB take a final run at glory. Jerry Jones certainly committed to his veteran QB in 1999 with the Joey Galloway deal – but Ted Thompson decided to let Favre twist in the wind with 0 veteran player acquisitions to the offense in 3 years. Which has lead to his 2nd department of short comings….
Dealing with Favre:
There is no "how to" manual for dealing with an icon. Cal Ripken caused Baltimore plenty of awkward moments. Michael Jordan, Dan Marino, and even locally on a lesser scale with Mike Modano has proved that there is no easy way to ease the face of the franchise out of the mix if he is not ready to go. But, if you feel how you feel, then you must commit to it. General Manager is not a position for everyone, and if you think you cannot handle a tough conversation with your star, then perhaps it is not for you.
As I could see it, when Thompson took over the team with a 36 year old Favre, he had 2 choices. Tell Favre to take a hike (especially after the 4-12 season of 2005 when everyone said Favre was washed up – even though nobody except Donald Driver player more than 8 games at the skill positions) or you commit to plug any holes with money and help and build as good a product as possible around your QB. This way, if he is done, he will prove it. And if he is not, you will win.
He did neither. Figuratively, He didn't marry the girl, and he didn't break up with her. He merely led her on. That is the worst choice of all.
So, Favre, in Kobe Bryant type fashion got tired of getting his clock cleaned each week, getting blamed for all of the results, and then watching his General Manager preach the virtues of building through the draft. I am not saying the draft isn't the answer, because it is. But it is seldom the immediate answer. Usually, the kids need plenty of seasoning (Bobby Carpenter, anyone?) and just like Kobe didn't want to hear about how great Andrew Bynum was going to be, Favre didn't care to hear how drafting Aaron Rodgers helped the offense.
Kobe claimed he wanted to be traded. Favre claimed he wanted to retire. Neither really meant it, but that was their only play to get their teams to resolve their issues. It might be a sorry idea to try to use your power to tell your bosses what to do, but they both felt it was their only play.
Did it turn the public against both of them? Sure. Did it work for Kobe? You decide. I think it did.
It won't work for Favre, I don't think. But, after 3 off-seasons of nothing from his team to help him, and then seeing that they still took all of those kids and went to the NFC title game, he just wanted to hear from Thompson that they were going to do whatever it took to take the final step.
What did Thompson do? Signed nobody this past spring. In fact, cut Bubba Franks and traded DT Corey Williams. That is right, they subtracted. With tons of cap room.
So Favre retired. He retired because since the day Ted Thompson was hired, he was
given no help to move the team in the right direction. Name another team that has gone 42 months without signing a single offensive free agent. I bet you can't. He had enough of this team not seeming to mind the downward spiral.
But, now he wants to play football, because he knows he still can - at a very high level. Not for Green Bay in my opinion, and I don't think Ted Thompson wants him back. If the Packers have decided that Aaron Rodgers gives them a better chance, then I say A) they are stupid and B) they should let Favre go.
Should they let him go to Minnesota or Chicago? No, but they should let him go to Tampa Bay, Carolina, or Baltimore. If Green Bay wanted him back, he would still be their QB, and he never would have retired. But, they told him and showed him that they prefer he leaves, so why be so petty as to keep him from playing? That would show very little respect for 16 years of high quality play where Packers fans experienced just 1 losing season.
So, my opinion? Thompson should swallow his pride and welcome Favre back for another run. But, if he doesn't want Favre back, though it would make me ill, they need to Free Brett Favre. I don't want to see him in another uniform, but I also don't want him forever bitter at the franchise. This is certainly ugly.


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Australia has more than enough gas for both domestic and export markets.
The country's gas supply can grow substantially as new technology allows companies to produce from large reserves that were too difficult to access until recently.
Australia has an estimated 819 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of gas resources (enough to power a city of 1 million people for 16,000 years). More discoveries are considered likely.
In 2016, Australia's combined domestic and export gas production was 3.2tcf.
Greater development of the country's extensive gas reserves would greatly enhance energy security as gas is not only abundant, but also reliable and flexible.
Gas is unaffected by weather or the time of day, so it can provide constant power. It can also be easily turned on and off to meet spikes in demand or to fill gaps in other forms of power production.


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Blog about fun facts (facts of the day, every day), travel, life in Spartanburg South Carolina, video game reviews, movie reviews, TV shows reviews, anime, politics (I'm a Democrat), atheism and agnostic thought, and much more.
Saturday, February 24, 2018
Fact of the Day: Turkish Potatoes
12 comments:
How pitiful is that? Some things never change. I would dearly love to visit Turkey! All the best this weekend to you and Daisy!ReplyDelete
Interesting detail! I just recently found out that tomatoes came to Europe from the States (to where they originally came from South America). I couldn't believe it! Also, I had no idea that basil was originally an Arabic spice! The world is full of surprises! Thank you for stopping by my blog, and leaving me such a kind comment :)ReplyDelete
E from Helsinki, Finland
And to think idiocy like this continues.ReplyDelete
What a bunch of stick up their butt royal aholesReplyDelete
That's british for you, bast****.ReplyDelete
We always learn something new !!ReplyDelete
Wow, that is awful!ReplyDelete
Ack! Even then, rulers are more concerned about their reputation than the people they ruled over:(ReplyDelete
Well the Brits then had an Empire. Fancy the Turks upstaging the "Establishment". Wicked Sultan - tut tut.ReplyDelete
Bang Bang
Wow! How sad is that that image takes priority over life.ReplyDelete
We are not amused.ReplyDelete


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FROM OFF THE STREETS OF CLEVELAND: The key scene in American Splendor takes place close to the end of the film, after Harvey Pekar, a Cleveland file clerk who writes autobiographical comics, has staggered weakly to his wife and asked if he's a guy who writes comic books about himself or just a character in his own comic books. He passes out, and we jump sideways in time, to a tale neither in nor out of the narrative: it's about the other Harvey Pekars in the Cleveland telephone directory, and how their presence has always gnawed away at our Pekar's sense of identity.This is in a film that's shown us the actors playing Pekar and his friend Toby Radloff watching the real Pekar and Radloff chatting; and the actors playing Pekar and his wife Joyce Brabner watching two other actors playing actors playing Pekar and Brabner on stage, ineptly performing some scenes already enacted much more watchably for us onscreen. Perhaps more to the point, it's in a film that shows Pekar, who appeared on the David Letterman show a few times in the '80s, getting mistaken for an actor who plays a fictional character called "Harvey Pekar" on the David Letterman show.Just to be clear: There really is a Harvey Pekar, he really writes a comic book about his life, he really did appear on Letterman, and his comics really inspired a play as well as a movie. But you can see how a man could lose track of all this, even without contending with a few extra Harveys in the phone book.Pekar's comics aren't the sorts of stories that translate easily into a feature-length film. He usually writes character sketches, illustrated essays, and existential tales that culminate not in plot twists but in epiphanies; they do not add up to one long story arc that breaks easily into three acts. So writer-directors Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini have performed an impressive feat here, pulling together a movie that, in the absence of an ordinary plot, propels itself mostly by cutting away to documentary scenes of the real Pekar and his circle or by showing us panels from his actual comics. A story does emerge, though, and it centers around the issue Pekar raised while passed out and ruminating about the phone book: his identity. Over the course of this picture, we watch a very lonely man meet an equally lonely woman, and we watch the authentically messy, strife-ridden, and loving marriage that blooms. A little girl enters their life -- not in the conventional way -- and Pekar finds himself escaping anonymity not on paper, stage, or television, but in the formerly unlikely role of husband and father. Think of it as a Jimmy Stewart double feature: It's a Wonderful Life meets Harvey.Two scenes in the film don't ring true for me. One comes early on, when Harvey shows a stick-figure comic book script to his old buddy Bob Crumb, who declares that it's great and asks if he can illustrate it. The filmmakers try to milk the sequence for suspense -- What will the great R. Crumb think of Pekar's comic? -- and instead it comes off as manipulative and contrived. The screenwriters are evidently better at adapting Pekar's episodic style than at grafting the occasional major plot development to it.The other scene comes late in the movie, as Pekar walks his daughter to the school bus. This actually begins well, but it ends on a note of forced sentimentality. Our hero then tells us in a voice-over that his personal problems, contrary to appearances, haven't really gone away. For the real-life Harvey, that's surely true; movie-Harvey, though, seems to have settled into a happy ending. The disconnect between life and Hollywood must have seemed obvious even to the filmmakers, because they then tack on some documentary footage that warms the heart a bit more legitimately but doesn't quite wash away the feeling that the writers are cheating.Did I mention that I liked the movie? I suppose I should, if only because the above comments sound more ambiguous than I feel: This film is one of the best I've seen this year. Paul Giamatti is excellent as Pekar, and Hope Davis is just as good as Brabner. And Berman and Pulcini have done a fine job adapting the style of a comic book -- actual panels and balloons -- to a live-action motion picture. Ang Lee's Hulk did the same thing, which is kind of odd when you think about it -- that two movies so different in tone and flavor would attempt the same stylistic feat, simultaneously and independently of each other.
posted by Jesse 4:07 PM
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After Dusk They Come (2010)
- Studio: Metrodome Distribution
- Release: June 28, 2010
- Director: Jorg Ihle
- Writer: Jorg Ihle
- Cast: Kellan Lutz, Jewel Staite, Justin Baldoni, Marc Bacher, Nikki Griffin
Video archive for the film After Dusk They Come, which has a domestic theatrical release in the year of 2010. There is currently one video available for the film, of which one and only one is a trailer, as listed below. Happy viewing!
Featured Movie Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker


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Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson, at the Super Bowl Media Center on Friday said that the new Eagles coach, Chip Kelly, gave him an idea of how he plans to utilize him in his offense when they spoke a few weeks ago, Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
"Kind of similar to what DeAnthony Thomas was doing at Oregon. He's like a little brother to me. I actually talked to him," Jackson said of Thomas. "He was passing on information to me, like I'm going to be pumped up and psyched to be in that offense. It just keeps defenses off guard any time you go in motion, fake play-action, go down the field. There's just so many things you can do."
Thomas is listed as a running back, but the Ducks junior-to-be is too versatile to be defined by one position. With Kelly as his coach for two seasons, he did it all – rushing, receiving, and returning, and already has 2,235 all-purpose yards.
Jackson and Thomas have much in common. They're both fast, they're both small (Jackson is listed 5-foot-10, 175 pounds; Thomas is a thicker 5-9, 173) and they're both from Los Angeles. Jackson said Kelly told him to be prepared to have the ball in his hands more than usual, but other than that provided little detail.
"He called me and was very excited. I could tell in his voice," Jackson said. "He was like, 'Let me know when you're back in Philly so we can just talk fact to face.' I actually talked to Pat Shurmur. He was my coach when I first got to Philly. He's excited, as well."
The Eagles have not yet confirmed the hiring, but Shurmur will be the Eagles' new offensive coordinator. Jackson said he had no idea if it would be Michael Vick, Nick Foles or some quarterback to be named throwing him passes next season.
"I think Vick is still capable of doing some great things, especially with Chip Kelly having that spread offense," Jackson said. "We'll see."


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Croley, Mark T - Croley Mark T in Houston, TX
Croley, Mark T - Croley Mark T (Lawyers) is practicing law in Houston, Texas. This lawyer is listed on Lawyer Map under the main category All Law Firms in Lawyers.
You can reach us on phone number (713) 225-1118, fax number or email address . Our office is located on 3114 Albans Rd, Houston, TX,
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donna posted a comment
Flush your money down the toilet would be better use of your money than hiring this guyWritten February 2014 on a Tuesday (2014-02-04)
Croley, Mark T - Croley Mark T 3114 Albans Rd
Houston, TX 77005
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Listed business hours are general only. Call (713) 225-1118 to learn about office hours.
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Poet in Residence
From time to time a poet is in residence at the Poetry Archive, talking about poetry with anyone who wants to join in the conversation. You are welcome to explore our archive of past residencies and read some of the lively and varied discussions you'll find there.
What makes a poem suitable for children?
Jean Sprackland - 4 December 2009
I wonder what it is that makes us deem a poem suitable for children? Are there certain kinds of subject matter we think they like, and if so what are these? Do children prefer literature which reflects their own everyday lives and the people and things which feature there (such as school, family, pets and so on)? Or do they like reading about worlds beyond those familiar boundaries, and things they have never encountered? I imagine the answer is 'both'. I imagine it depends on the child.
Places that shape us
Jean Sprackland - 15 November 2009
Places are intensely important to poets - to some more than others. Some poets' work is full of the places in which they've made their homes or which have inspired them on their travels. In his residency on these pages last term, Owen Sheers wrote fascinatingly on this subject, providing a commentary on the BBC series 'A Poet's Guide to Britain'. But how does it happen, and why? Is it as simple as looking out of a window and being inspired by the view? My own experience suggests it can be something different - something subtler and richer and more gradual.
Poetry workshops
Jean Sprackland - 2 November 2009
Athough the Poetry School course was a new venture, writing workshops themselves have been part of the landscape for a long time now (just think of Byron and the Shelleys challenging one another to write ghost stories in Switzerland during that long wet summer of 1816), and many poets, starting out, have found their voices by writing and sharing constructive criticism in the safe and supportive environment environment of the workshop.
It's not a proper poem unless it rhymes
Jean Sprackland - 18 October 2009
There does seem to be some piece of hard-wiring which makes human beings respond to rhyme. When I look back on my early encounters with nursery rhymes and folk songs, I remember rhyme not only as a useful way of remembering them off by heart, but also as a satisfying and comforting thing which seemed to affirm that there was structure and pattern and predictability in the world. Young children love repetition: the same story, the same game, the same picture-book again and again and again.
Prizes for poets
Jean Sprackland - 4 October 2009
Forward Prize night is one of a handful of occasions when poetry gets a little bit of the limelight - it doesn't have the profile of the Turner Prize or the Man Booker Award, but it does raise poetry's visibility for a few days. This year I'm on the judging panel, along with Josephine Hart, Tishani Doshi, David Harsent and Nicholas Wroe. The five of us will be spending Tuesday locked in a room at Forward's offices in London until we arrive at a decision in each of the three categories: Best Collection, Best First Collection and Best Single Poem.


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Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: amazing lovesac sale, BigOne, black friday, black friday lovesac, black friday sale, christmas, city sac, furniture, furniture sale, gamer, gamersac, great gifts, LoveSac, lovesac sale, media room furniture, movie sac, MovieSac, package deals, pillowsac, super sac, supersac, thanksgiving
Come on now, don't get excited about a new blog post. You all know as well as we do that the Top Secret Amazing LoveSac Black Friday Sale Details don't get released until Tuesday, November 23rd. If we released them any sooner, panic would ensue! They're just that good! We do think, however, that once you're done oogling the amazing package deals you should probably start training for the Big Day. As with all LoveSac Black Friday Sales (and in fact most Black Friday sales for any store), you will save the most money if you get here as early as possible.
With Mayfair Mall opening at 5am this year, that's no easy feat. Lucky for you, we've compiled some key points to help you plan ahead and make sure you're up and ready to go.
STEP ONE: PLANNING – So. You've decided to go Black Friday shopping. Obviously, you're going to need a plan. Start with your list of stores, starting with the ones with the best deal (LoveSac) and working your way back based on sales. Then for each store, make sure you make a list of what you need! This will help the sales staff get you what you need and on your way to your next stop ASAP. Keep in mind if you're an internet shopper that not all stores have all of the same products as their online counterpart. Be sure to call the store and verify that they'll have (or be able to get) what you're looking for. If you're planning for your LoveSac sale, you can always just give us a call – our number here is 414.774.5683, and we are always happy to help you plan your purchase ahead of time to make Black Friday shopping easy, quick, and fun.
STEP TWO: HAVE A PLAN B – The awful truth is that sometimes, even if you get there really early, super popular items might be sold out. The benefit of shopping this early is that a lot of times the item can be ordered, but sometimes with really popular things they're going to stay sold out until after the holidays. This is where a Plan B is important: you want to have a back up plan that is just as good, or be able to find a cute way of showing what you got in case you don't have it right away. At LoveSac we have a cute assortment of KickSacs and Phurry Balls that can stand in as a miniature substitute should your favored size/cover/whatever becomes old out and you need a stand in gift until the main event arrives. Grab a few to hand out for fun, too!
STEP THREE: SCHEDULING – If you think this is the same as planning, you are dead wrong: this scheduling is directly about your sleep scheduling. Getting up at 5am is hard, and there a few ways to approach it. One is to go to bed REALLY early the night before. This isn't hard even for night owls for a full tummy of Thanksgiving delights. Some people, though, fear over sleeping and go for the all nighter. We do not recommend this. Instead, opt for a cat nap and THEN get up to start your day. All sorts of sources (including the fabulous website, Planet Green) are coming out with information that naps are helpful for all kinds of things, including preventing cancer. Naps also make you less likely to be grumpy, and as your shopping companions and any sales representatives can attest, we prefer you not grumpy. Really.
STEP FOUR: FOOD – A healthy breakfast is one of the most important meals of the day. Note: this does not mean a heavy breakfast. We recommend some scrambled eggs (protein keeps you going!), granola, yogurt, and for sure some fresh fruit or fruit juice. Vitamin C will keep you energized much longer than caffeine and sugar, so take it easy on the latter and load up on the citrus. This will also help to bolster your immune system against any of the people fighting the flu and the crowds at the same time.
STEP FIVE: GETTING READY – Make sure you take a shower in the morning. It'll help to wake you up and make sure you have your wits about you! Guys, you don't have too much else to do, but Ladies, we women of the Sac have always found that it helps us to get in the mode to start our day if we get ourselves completely ready to go out instead of just shuffling into the predawn light in pajamas. A nice outfit, done hair, makeup (if you wear it) will all make you feel like it's time to get going and give you the energy you need to beat the crowds.
Then it's just up to you to race to the mall and start soon to be huge line in front of your favorite store (LoveSac)! Remember to keep an eye on all the sales – make sure you check back Tuesday to get the dirt on ours – and make sure you have a great Black Friday! Happy shopping!


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On Saturday, we opted to do the most touristy thing imaginable and take a guided bus tour of the Scottish Highlands. Our tour from Scottish Tours took us through the Rannoch Moor, Glen Coe, Loch Ness, and Cairngorm National Park before returning to Edinburgh.
We got up early on Saturday morning and boarded a bus with about 10-15 other tourists. As we hurdled down the cobblestone street on our way out of the city, our guide -- a kilt-wearing retiree named Kenny who occasionally donned a fuzzy Heilan coo hat -- informed us that we were embarking upon one of the longest and most ambitious one-day bus tours in Europe. The monster trip would last twelve hours and take us along several hundred kilometers of narrow, twisting Scottish roads. (Good thing I don't ever get carsick ... oh wait.) But just as I was beginning to feel a little green, we emerged from bustling Edinburgh onto a stretch of wide, flat, and blissfully straight highway.
We drove by The Kelpies, the largest pair of horse statues in the world, but were hurdling past too quickly to take a good photo. As we made our way up and into the Highlands, we also caught a glimpse of Doune Castle (where they filmed Monty Python and the Holy Grail as well as episodes for the series Outlander) and the famous Stirling Castle (where the coronation of Mary, Queen of Scots, was held).
We then drove through Rannoch Moor, or Raithneach in Scots, where we caught our first glimpse of the amazing Scottish Highlands. The snow-covered mountains were a shock, after coming from the green and relatively warm south, but our tour guide informed us that the moor had been entirely covered in snow just one week before!
We made our first stop in Glen Coe. This glen, or valley, is often nicknamed 'the valley of the weeping' after the tear-like streams that flow down its hills. Of course, the valley has some pretty tragic connotations of its own. It was in Glen Coe in 1692 that members of Clan MacDonald were slaughtered by members of Clan Campbell, who were under orders to kill the family for having not sworn allegiance to the newly-crowned British monarchs (who were -- duh duh duh -- William and Mary). To make matters worse, the Campbells had been guests of the MacDonalds; the crime therefore constituted a violation of hospitality and was considered "murder under trust."
Despite this rather gloomy piece of Scottish history, it was impossible not to be happy as we caught a glimpse of Glen Coe. The hills, the winding trails, the snowcapped mountains -- it was just so much prettiness!
Rachel, our bus, and our fearless kilt-wearing leader.
We made an impromptu stop in Fort Augustus, located on the southwest end of Loch Ness. First named Kiliwhimin, this settlement was renamed and turned in a military installment after the Jacobite Rising of 1715. Today, it is a small town that relies primarily on tourism to survive.
The Caledonian Canal, which connects the east coast to the west coast.
I'm not really sure what I thought Loch Ness was ... but this is not what I was expecting. It is the largest lake in the British Isles (with a surface area of over twenty square miles), containing more fresh water than all the lakes in England and Wales combined.
In other words, IT. IS. SO. BIG.
Taking a panorama of the Loch ... when in Rome, you know?
After a brief stop in Fort Augustus, we hopped back on the bus and continued along the western edge of Loch Ness, passing the ruins of Urquahart Castle before continuing on to our pit stop. Rather than cruise the loch, Rachel and I opted to explore the nearby hiking trails.
Although the path was a little slippery at times, the view of the loch was incredible! We kept a close eye on the water, but sadly did not catch a glimpse of its most famous inhabitant.
Loch Ness was our last main stop of the trip. We passed through Inverness, of which our tour guide was not a fan -- "It's a crappy city. It used to be a crappy town, and now it's a crappy city" -- and continued down along the coast, back to Edinburgh.
The sun began to set as we drove through the Eastern Highlands, whose snow-capped mountains seemed to call out: "You've only been on a bus for ten hours! Don't you want to visit us too?!" Unfortunately, it was time to leave the Highlands and return to reality. As our bus driver recounted stories of ancient battles and long-dead monarchs, we snacked on Tesco-brand cookies, stared off into the increasingly dark horizon, and -- I'll admit it -- occasionally dozed off. (Remember, it had been 10+ hours.)


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Now that the response from Baahubali 2 is slowly coming out, the major praise is going to Prabhas for his performance as Baahubali. Credit should go to Rajamouli for showcasing Prabhas like never before in his career.
The second part has Prabhas's star power and his amazing screen presence which is being appreciated big time by the movie lovers. Not only in the south but even in the north, fans are going crazy for Prabhas.
The star hero has sacrificed five years of his career for this film and is reaping superb dividends for his hard work. The film is set for a solid first-day collection and we need to see how the film will impress in the long run.


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*CONSTRUCTION NOTICE* expand tab for details
Thank you for your patronage of Roche Harbor Resort, Spa and Marina. We currently have several construction projects in process, mostly by privately owned homes in the Village. The construction will occasionally be noisy during certain hours of the day. (Monday - Friday, 9am – 5pm. Construction will cease earlier for scheduled weddings.
We sincerely apologize in advance for any inconveniences that may occur during this time, and we thank all of our guests for their understanding.Roche Harbor has the largest and widest selection of lodging options in the San Juan Islands.
Every accommodation is within a few-minutes walk of all resort amenities. Included in the basic rate:
- Complimentary access to the pool, playground, gardens, and bocce courts
- Wi-fi hotspots in the resort core with complimentary access
- Fully equipped with luxury linens and daily housekeeping service
Our experienced reservationists are happy to help guide you toward the experience you're looking for on the island. Book your stay at 1.800.451.8910