text:
Please post back with the following information.
1. What version of Firefox do you currently have installed. (open firefox, then click on Help, then About Mozilla Firefox). If you have changed from the version you were using when you made the screen shot in your earlier post, please post another screen shot with the current version, then don't change that until the problem is resolved.
2. With all browsers closed, click on Start, Click on Search, in the "All or part of the filename:" box type in Hostperm.1
In the "Look in:" box use the pull down to select "Local Disk (C
Under More advanced options tick the boxes for "Search system Folders", also the box for "Search hidden files and folders" and also the box for "Search subfolders"
Now click on search. Let it run until the search has completed, then copy accurately the full path shown for every Hostperm.1 shown. A typical path would be C:\Documents and Settings\giovanni\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\ly4nqznc.default
3. Repeat 2 above but using the filename permissions.sqlite
4. Post the above information. Please do not block out or change the user names (where "giovanni is shown in the typical path above). Post the exact path details as otherwise it will be difficult if not impractical to provide you with the next steps
5. Please post exactly how many different log on accounts are being used at present, and whether there have been any other accounts in use.
Last edited by Greyfox; 2008-12-17 at 01:28.
Thanks for your procedure.
Meanwhile I upgraded from 2.019; I'm using Mozilla 3.05 now but the issues are exactly the same.
Attached are information you requested:
Spybot 1.60.30 status:
Hotsperm.1 files are 2 in Administrator and 2 in Giovanni pathes:
Permissions.sqlite only in Documents and settings\Giovanni\...
Last edited by giovanni69; 2008-12-17 at 20:15.
As I see it, you have three browsers, Internet Explorer, Firefox and what I believe may be SeaMonkey. As Internet Explorer is immunising OK, let's forget that one.
For each of the other two browsers there should be 4 immunisation items (1 for Cookies, 1 for images, 1 for Installations and 1 for Popups) for each account that the particular browser is used under.
You have two accounts using SeaMonkey, Administrator and Giovani, so there should be 8 immunisation items, and there are, and they are immunising OK. I don't use SeaMonkey so I can't be definite about this but it appears to use Hostperm.1 and so the two Hostperm.1 files for SeaMonkey are I believe at:
C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Dati applicazioni\Mozilla\Profiles\ notte?\cuu2nyn8.slt
C:\Documents and Settings\ giovanni \Dati applicazioni\Mozilla\Profiles\default\plv5m1uq.slt
Now we come to Firefox.
Version 3 by default uses permissions.sqlite, not Hostperm.1, but it will apparently work with Hostperm.1 (with the caution that this may not continue to be so in the future).
At the moment there are three sets of 4 immunisation items for Firefox, suggesting three accounts, and this also applied before you did the update to version 3.
However there are only two Profile paths for Firefox.
One at:
C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Dati applicazioni\Mozilla\Firefox]Profiles\qdsei8dp.default (Hostperm.1)
and one at:
C:\Documents and Settings\ giovanni \Dati applicazioni\Mozilla\Firefox]Profiles\nzw55hyq.default
Note that this latter one contains both a Hostperm.1 presumably from the original V2 installation) and a Permissions.sqlite now from the V3 installation.
Ideally (and with Spybot and all the browsers shut down) you should delete both the Hostperm.1 and permissions.sqlite in this last path, then open the firefox browser using the giovani account. Goto Tools/Options then open the Privacy Tab. In the cookie area click on the exceptions button, then add a site. It's not important what that site is, so for example you could use www.google.com and give it "allow" status. Click on close, OK, then exit Firefox. This will have created a permissions.sqlite file for the giovani account and importantly will also have primed it. You must not restart Spybot until the file has been primed as above.
If you are really going to use Firefox from the main Administrator account, then you need to do exactly the same thing there, i.e. delete the Hostperm.1 file and then regenerate and prime a permissions.sqlite file. Going on line from the main administration account is not safe practice in my opinion.
Now start Spybot. Go to the immunise screen and first undo all immunisations. This may take some time to complete as removal of immunisations from Firefox is fairly slow - be patient. Once the undo has completed, re-immunise. This should be somewhat faster.
OK now we are still left with a problem. What are the extra set of immunisation items for. Spybot thinks there are three accounts using Firefox, but there are only currently two. Was there originally another user, and is Spybot picking up on some old entries from a previous user or installation.
The only way I can see of homing in on this would be to completely uninstall Firefox, and clean out any orphaned references relating to this product. Make sure before you uninstall it you undo the immunisations for Firefox. After the cleanup there should be no Firefox items left on the immunisation screen in Spybot. When you get to that point a new install of Firefox 3 should see the problem solved. It's up to you whether you want to spend the time to do this.
Hope this helps.
I have reproduced carefully the names coherently and they are actually; so it's not important whether I changed the name 'light' into 'notte' as long as I used always 'notte' where there is 'light'.
Also I do not use SeaMonkey at all; what I have is Netscape that's still installed and never gave me an issue when immunizing with Spybot in the past: all of the signatures where fully applied.
About the details of the paths that you could not read on your screen, I do not remember which is the site that allows me to publish the (large) attachments fully on screen directly on this forum for better resolution, as I did on my first post... Any idea, please? thank you.
Last edited by giovanni69; 2008-12-18 at 15:20.
Others may have a better way.
I could only take a guess from the rather blurred icon in the screen print and the path reference. Arguably my eyesight is not what it used to be, and my guess was Seamonkey, but obviously that wasn't correct. That said, if you replace the word Seamonkey with Netscape in my previous post, it doesn't materially affect the gist of it.
with last update (january 7) i now had again some immunization that dont work


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3 Problems With DTube
After losing and regaining my channel at YouTube, I have been experimenting with DTube as an alternative. It is a very different video site in comparison to YouTube. Relationships with people on the site are far more important than just creating videos. Many people on YouTube create videos and almost never interact with the people that comment on their videos.
Dtube has the potential to be an excellent alternative to YouTube especially for people that have viewpoints that may be controversial. YouTube has become a place where they will take away your channel when your ideas are not popular. Not a good place to be when your mission is to challenge scams that are being run by large amounts of people on others.
Here is a video of my thoughts on 3 problems that I think are holding DTube back:

subset: commoncrawl


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Plaintiff is the owner of the record label Tuff City Music Group and owns the rights to thousands of musical recordings and compositions. In September 2006, TufAmerica licensed defendant's predecssor the right to market a large number of musical tracks by way of digital downloads (the "License"). The License obligated defendant's predecessor to pay TufAmerica various types of payments in exchange for digital distribution rights to hundreds of songs. In late 2007, defendant assumed its predecessor's obligations under the License. While TufAmerica received various payments from Digital and Orchard, it never received any payment of mechanical royalties.
Defendant argued that the License preempted plaintiff's copyright case. The Court agreed:
TufAmerica fails to state a facially plausible claim under the Copyright Act because it concedes that its copyright claim is governed by the License, not the Copyright Act. While TufAmerica subsequently argues that the License does not govern mechanical royalties, a "claim for relief 'may not be amended by the briefs in opposition to a motion to dismiss.'" As a result, Orchard's motion to dismiss is granted.
Because TufAmerica's claim under the Copyright Act was dismissed, the court lacked pendent jurisdiction over the New York State common law claim of unjust enrichment.
However, because the License did not unambiguously preempt a claim under the Copyright Act's compulsory license provision, leave to amend the Complaint was granted.


text:
On my trip to the Kwazulu Natal South Coast, I came across pamphlets for a Beaver Creek Coffee Estate "Crop to Cup" coffee tour. Being a coffee junkie I was quite intrigued by the prospect of learning about how coffee was made. So I promptly dragged my husband and kids away from the beach in Margate to another coastal town, Port Edward, for the tour. We plugged Beaver Creek Coffee Estate into the GPS, which gave us an estimated trip time of 25 minutes and set off to our destination. As we entered Port Edward, we started seeing signboards indicating directions to the coffee estate.
Tours are held daily at 12pm. We got there with about 10 minutes to spare. It was a rather cold day for that part of the world – which is known for its warm climate. There were about 20 people gathered around for the tour including kids.
At 12 pm, Robbie arrived and introduced himself. He is the MD of Beaver Creek Coffee Estate . The estate was started in 1984 by his grandfather and has been a family owned business since. It started with 4 trees and has grown to over 60000 trees currently. More than 40000 guests visit the estate every year. Robbie began by giving us a ripe coffee bean, as picked from a tree.
We were surprised to see that it looked like a red berry. He asked us to squeeze it and remove the bean which was a light green colour. A slimy liquid was also secreted from the bean.
Robbie then explained the difference between Arabica and Robusta coffee to us and gave us a few other interesting facts about coffee and coffee plantations.
- Did you know that Robusta has almost twice as much caffeine as Arabica? However the additional caffeine makes Robusta coffee more bitter and therefore not as pleasant as Arabica. Have you noticed coffee bag labels brag about the fact that their coffee beans are 100% Arabica?
- Did you know that most instant coffee in South Africa consists of very little actual coffee and is made up mainly of the chicory root?
- Did you know that most coffee is grown near the equator in the area between the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, known as the Coffee Belt? Beaver Creek is the Southern-most coffee estate in the world. Their coffee is the only 100% South African locally grown, harvested and roasted Arabica coffee.
- Did you know that freshly-ground coffee beans are the best way to enjoy coffee?
We saw coffee saplings in black plastic bags, young plants and older trees.
We were then taken to the processing machine which removes the coffee beans from the pods. In some places this is done manually.
Thereafter we were shown where the coffee is roasted. Robbie's father is the Roastmaster.
There was a collection of coffee memorabilia including antique coffee grinding machines.
Our final stop was the coffee shop where we were treated to bottomless coffee tasting. I had an espresso and a cappuccino. The espresso was too bitter for me but I enjoyed the cappuccino. My kids had coffee too and were really impressed when the barista "drew" Kung Fu Panda on my son's cappuccino (See photo at the top).
The tour costs R45 for adults and is free for children aged 12 years and younger. It includes the Crop to Cup tour followed by bottomless coffee tasting. Barista Courses are also offered.
The estate also consists of a restaurant and a shop where coffee and other items are sold. We bought some to take home. Beaver Creek also delivers freshly roasted Arabica coffee as well as roastery blends countrywide.
For more information, visit Beaver Creek Coffee Estate .
I love a freshly-ground flat white. How do you like your coffee?
Pin this image:


text:
India, Japan fighter deals intensify arms race
Growing international unease over China's military build-up have sparked a surge of interest in air power.
Growing international unease over China's military build-up have sparked a surge of interest in air power.
New Delhi: Big decisions on warplane purchases by Japan and India have intensified competition in the multi-billion-dollar global market, with Western defense firms scrambling for orders in Asia and the Middle East as their home-country budgets shrivel.
Growing international unease over China's military build-up and ongoing tensions between Iran and Western allies in the Gulf, coupled with the deep pockets of nations basking in high commodity prices, have sparked a surge of interest in air power.
"There is a strong emphasis on... combat aircraft and things that belong to them: missiles, bombs, support aircraft, airborne early warning systems, air tankers and that kind of stuff," said Siemon Wezeman, senior researcher on arms transfers at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
Lockheed Martin, the Pentagon's biggest arms contractor, and France's Dassault Aviation are the major winners in a pair of widely watched procurement decisions in the past month, dealing a blow to competitors such as the four-nation Eurofighter Typhoon and Boeing Co's F/A-18 Super Hornet, defense industry experts say.
Lockheed was buoyed by Japan's $7 billion decision to buy 42 F-35 stealth fighter jets in December, providing a shot in the arm for a project under fire over costs and struggling to hold together a coalition of foreign partners.
Japan's selection means South Korea is very likely to follow suit, analysts said. Seoul last week invited Lockheed, Eurofighter and Boeing to bid in a $7 billion contest for what is expected to be an order for 60 advanced fighter jets.
Companies are also eyeing opportunities in Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait.
India rescued French hopes of an elusive first export deal for its front-line jet by agreeing this week to enter exclusive negotiations to buy 126 Dassault-built Rafales after narrowing the field to an all-European contest with Typhoon.
The Rafale has lost a series of contests to U.S. competition and has held so far fruitless talks with Brazil and UAE.
"A victory in India would bring the Rafale right back into the running. Whether this guarantees contracts elsewhere is less certain, but if it didn't win it was guaranteed not to get anything else," said Francis Tusa, editor of Defence Analysis.
With most NATO nations cutting back on defense procurement projects, the imminent award of fighter jet contracts comes at a good time for military contractors desperate for deals.
Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group consultancy projects $178 billion in worldwide fighter deliveries through 2021.
Critics say such sales can provoke rather than prevent instability.
Western defence firms saw their market values tumble last year after the impact of spending cuts started to filter through.
Britain's BAE Systems, a partner in the Typhoon alongside EADS and Finmeccanica, has seen its market value drop by almost a fifth in the last two years.
China build-up
China's military build-up, illustrated by the maiden flight of its J-20 stealth fighter a year ago, is fueling arms sales across Asia for fighter jets.
China has denied its acquisition of stealth should be viewed as a threat. Across the region, however, Singapore, Malaysia and Australia are among those seeking to expand their capabilities.
China's expansion may be the reason India is now considering another purchase of over 80 jets in a move that could benefit the F-35, said U.S.-based defense analyst Loren Thompson.
"They'll have to buy something else because a Rafale will not be able to cope with Chinese fighters 20 years from now."
Lockheed's F-35 fighter is aggressively bidding for additional overseas sales to offset slower production at home. It hopes to finalize a 19-jet deal with Israel soon, and to secure an agreement with Singapore for the stealthy F-35.
Mindful of India's long procurement process and its decision to cancel past orders for air tankers and helicopters, French officials have taken pains to say the Rafale deal is not final.
But with the Rafale facing a production halt in 2021 without exports, India's decision has galvanized the world's third largest arms exporter and raised its profile in other campaigns.
France's La Tribune newspaper reported on Friday that the United Arab Emirates had revived an on-off deal to buy 60 Rafales.
Dassault was expected to seal the $10 billion deal last year but faced a rare public rebuke from Abu Dhabi for making "unworkable" proposals, throwing a lifeline to Eurofighter and Boeing, both of whom have been talking to the UAE military.
Gulf tensions are running high due to international concerns about Iran's nuclear activities. Those concerns helped spur along a massive sale of Boeing F-15s to Saudi Arabia at the end of 2011, as well as a big missile defense sale to UAE.
Now, the region may hold the key for India's losing bidders.
"The India deal is a major win for France, and a major loss for the UK. This leaves Oman and UAE as the largest potential markets for the Eurofighter, both of which are significantly smaller than India and less certain to move forward," said Endre Lunde, a consultant at Aerospace & Defence Consulting.
BAE Systems is expected to supply Oman with 12 Typhoons. Defence sources say it is in preliminary talks to sell a further 48 to Saudi Arabia. BAE and Eurofighter declined comment.
Abu Dhabi's decision alone has hefty commercial stakes.
French Defence Minister Gerard Longuet has suggested the UAE's decision could create a domino effect of sales in Qatar and Kuwait, both of which are eager to renew aerial firepower.
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text:
Golden Circle Minibus Tour | Full Day Excursion
Hop on board a minibus for the essential Iceland experience: a tour of The Golden Circle. This journey will take you on a ride to Iceland's most famous attractions, without the rush and hassle of the big buses.
This tour is for those who wants to immerse themselves in Icelandic culture; you will not only see main sights, you will also get to know Icelandic music and cuisine.
The tour starts in the morning when you are picked up by a small but comfortable minibus. You'll then be driven to the south of Iceland to a little, hidden treasure called Faxi waterfall. Nestled in a quiet spot, not visible from the main road, Faxi is a low but wide waterfall, named after the mane of the Icelandic horse.
From the little Faxi, you'll head towards the enormous and mighty Gullfoss. The glacial river Hvítá takes a dramatic 32-metre plunge into a canyon, creating this stunning and beautiful waterfall, one of Iceland's most iconic attractions.
Next, you will visit the Geysir geothermal area. Located in Haukadalur valley, the 'Great Geysir' is a hot spring that's been active for approximately 10,000 years.
Although Geysir is now mostly dormant, nearby is another geyser called Strokkur, which spouts water 10-15 metres up in the air every 10 minutes or so, giving you plenty of opportunities to capture the perfect photo.
The last part of the Golden Circle is the Þingvellir national park, a place of great historical and geographical significance. Þingvellir is where Iceland's parliament, the Alþingi, was founded in the year 930, making it the oldest running parliament in the world. It is also a place where two tectonic plates are drifting apart, which can be seen in the cracks and rock fractions which traverse the region.
Along the way, your tour guide will not only tell you everything about the places you'll be visiting, he will also introduce you to Icelandic culture through music and give you samples of traditional Icelandic food and beverages.
You'll listen to some of Iceland's best musicians while travelling the Golden Circle. If you like the music, you'll be able to find it right away on Spotify with the free wifi on board the minibus. This way you can relive the experience when you get back home.
Don't miss out on a unique and first-hand introduction to Iceland through this fascinating day tour! Check availability by choosing a date.
Quick facts
- Available: All year
- Duration: 8 hours
- Activities: Sightseeing
- Difficulty: Easy
- Languages: English
- Attractions: Golden Circle,
The Golden Circle is a 300 kilometre (186 mile) route to the three most popular natural attractions in Iceland: the Geysir Geothermal Area, Gullfoss Waterfall and Þingvellir National Park.
This sightseeing trail is easy to do within half a day from Reykjavík, either by self-drive or on one of many tours. Some of these tours have additional activities, such as snorkelling or snowmobiling, or are conducted in a unique style, such as by helicopter, or under the midnight sun.
Within the three locations of the Golden Circle are some of the clearest examples of Iceland's fascinating geological forces, magnificent landscapes, and rich culture.
The Geysir Geothermal Area
The Geysir Geothermal Area is a hot-spring haven in Haukadalur Valley. As could be guessed, it is home to a famous geyser, the name of which has named all others: Geysir itself.
Though this feature is currently in a phase of inactivity, its neighbour Strokkur more than makes up for it. Every five to ten minutes, it blasts a column of boiling water to heights that can reach over 40 metres (131 feet).
The surrounding area is dotted with fumaroles, hot springs, and mud-pits. There are also two other smaller geysers, Smiður and Litlí-Strokkur, that can be easily visited, as well as a hotel, restaurant, cafe and gift shop across the road.
Gullfoss Waterfall
The 'Golden Waterfall', Gullfoss one of the most beautiful and powerful waterfalls in Iceland, plummeting 32 metres (105 feet) in two tiers into the river gorge of the popular rafting river Hvítá. It is just a ten-minute drive from Geysir and is the furthest point on the Golden Circle from Reykjavík.
Gullfoss was very almost lost in the early 20th century when British developers sought to harness its incredible power for geothermal energy. Though they got the lease to the land, allowing them to go ahead with their plans, they met an unlikely adversary: the daughter of the farmer who owned it, Sigríður Tómasdóttir.
This resilient woman refused to see the waterfall, to which she and her sisters paved the first path, destroyed. She, therefore, walked over 200 kilometres (124 miles) to Reykjavík and back multiple times to meet with a lawyer in order to help change the decision.
Though the process was arduous and took years, eventually Sigríður managed to exhaust the resources of the businessmen and they withdrew their plans. Because of her, all Icelandic waterfalls are now protected from foreign investors, and she is considered one of Iceland's first environmentalists and most important historical people.
Thingvellir National Park
The largest attraction of the Golden Circle is Þingvellir National Park. The Icelandic parliament was founded here in 930 and remained until the year 1798 before moving to Reykjavík, making it the original site of what is now the world's longest ongoing parliament.
Today it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most important places to visit in Iceland. This is not just for its historical and cultural values, but for also its magnificent landscape and dramatic geology.
Þingvellir is surrounded by a beautiful mountain and volcanic ranges, as it is located in a rift valley directly between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. This makes it one of the few places in the world where you can walk between the continents, in the Mid-Atlantic Rift.
The daring and qualified even have opportunities to snorkel or scuba dive in this no-mans-land, in a ravine filled with crystal-clear spring water called Silfra. The visibility here can exceed 100 metres (328 feet), revealing incredible geological sites. Though it never freezes over due to the constant flow of water into it, it is 2°C (35°C) throughout the year, thus underwater explorers are always equipped with protective suits.
Other sites of note are the magnificent Almannagjá gorge, which you can walk down into to reach the rift valley from the North American tectonic plate, and the beautiful lake Þingvallavatn, the largest lake in Iceland, which gleams to the south of the National Park.
Surrounding sites
Due to its convenient location in south-west Iceland, it is easy to visit the Golden Circle alongside with many other sites. Those seeking relaxation could head to the Secret Lagoon in Flúðir or Fontana Spa in Laugarvatn, those seeking adventure could book a trip to the ice tunnels of Langjökull glacier, and those seeking culture could visit the Sólheimar ecovillage. For more natural beauty, you can visit the nearby Kerið crater lake.
There are many tours that include such bonuses, but if driving yourself, you should check out this guide to great detours off the Golden Circle.Geysir,
Geysir is a famous hot spring in the geothermal area of Haukadalur Valley, found in south-west Iceland.
Making up just one of the attractions along the world-renowned Golden Circle sightseeing route, alongside Þingvellir National Park and the mighty Gullfoss waterfall, Geysir is most well-known for having lent its name to geysers all around the world.
Though Geysir itself is rarely active these days, Haukadalur Valley boasts a plethora of hot springs and geysers, including the powerful Strokkur, Smiður and Litli-Strokkur.
Strokkur is, arguably, the country's most famous hot spring, shooting vast jets of boiling water from 20 metres (65 feet) up to 40 metres (130 feet) high. Don't worry about missing this incredible spectacle of nature, as Strokkur erupts every five to ten minutes; just make sure to have your camera ready.
Geysir is much larger, but years can go by between eruptions here; it is currently in an inactive phase. When it does erupt, the water can shoot up in the air as high as 70 metres (230 feet).
Just a few minutes walk north of Geysir are a wealth of fumaroles emanating steam and gas into the cool Icelandic air. Aside from watching the hypnotic pillars of steam, you will also be able to observe the yellow sulphuric stains along the fumaroles themselves, a result of the earth's minerals crystallising around the rock bed.
At the southern part of the valley, Þykkuhverir, you'll find various bubbling mud pots. These spooky brown cauldrons are actually fumaroles that boil up through the loose ground; after a dry spell, these mud pools are likely to transform into a hardened fumarole.
Nearby Attractions
About two kilometres (one mile) from Geysir is a preserved natural pool called Kúalaug. It has room for three to five people at a time, but care should be taken, as the area around the pool is very delicate. The temperature is 39-43°C (102-109°F), depending on where you are positioned in the pool.
The water is slightly muddy, as the pool is built on soil, and the bottom is slippery due to algae, so caution is advised when relaxing here.
Haukadalur has also seen a rise in reforestation in recent times thanks to continued experiments and research in the area. Today, Haukadalsskógur is one of the largest forests in south Iceland, boasting accessible walking paths (also for wheelchair users), fascinating vegetation and The Tree Museum, built in the memory of forester Gunnar Freysteinsson.
Haukadalur has been inhabited and used as a church site since the Age of Settlement. Given its historic value, it should be noted that scholar, Ari "The Wise" Þorgilsson, grew up here; it was also where the first pastoral school in Iceland was built.
The current wooden church was last rebuilt in 1938 but its architectural style dates back to 1842, making it well worth a visit to see how Iceland looked before industrialisation.
For accommodation, Hotel Gullfoss is approximately 7 kilometre from the Geysir area, and closer still is Hotel Geysir on the other side of the road from the attraction, where you will also find a restaurant, café and a souvenir shop.Gullfoss,
Gullfoss (translated to 'Golden Falls') is one of Iceland's most iconic and beloved waterfalls, found in the Hvítá river canyon in south-west Iceland.
The water in Hvítá river travels from the glacier Langjökull, before cascading 32 meters (105 feet) down Gullfoss' two stages in a dramatic display of nature's raw power. This incredible site is seen by most visitors, as it is on the Golden Circle sightseeing route.
Because of the waterfall's two stages, Gullfoss should actually be thought of as two separate features. The first, shorter cascade is 11 metres (36 feet), whilst the second drop is 21 metres (69 feet). The canyon walls on both sides of the waterfall reach heights of up to 70 metres (230 feet), descending into the great Gullfossgjúfur canyon. Geologists believe that this canyon was formed by glacial outbursts at the beginning of the last age.
In the summer, approximately 140 cubic metres (459 cubic feet) of water surges down the waterfall every second, whilst in winter that number drops to around 109 cubic metres (358 cubic feet). With such energy, visitors should not be surprised to find themselves drenched by the waterfall's mighty spray.
As mentioned, Gullfoss makes up a part of the highly popular Golden Circle sightseeing route, alongside Geysir geothermal area and Þingvellir National Park. Many Golden Circle tours include additional activities that can be taken from Gullfoss, such as ascending the mighty nearby glacier Langjökull and entering its ice tunnels, or snowmobiling along its gleaming surface.
In the early days of the last century, Gullfoss was at the centre of much controversy regarding foreign investors and their desire to profit off Iceland's nature. In the year 1907, an English businessman, Howell, sought to utilise the waterfall's energy and harboured ambitions to use its energy to fuel a hydroelectric plant.
At the time, Gullfoss was owned by a farmer named Tómas Tómasson. Tómas declined Howell's offer to purchase the land, stating famously "I will not sell my friend!" He would, however, go on to lease Howell the land without the knowledge of a loophole that would allow him to proceed with his plans.
It was Tómas' daughter, Sigríður Tómasdóttir, who would lead the charge to stop Howell's ambitions. Having grown up on her father's sheep farm where she helped pave the first road to Gullfoss, she sought to get the contract nullified, hurriedly saving her own money to hire a lawyer.
The ensuing legal battle was an uphill struggle; the case continued for years, forcing Sigríður to travel many times by foot to Reykjavík, a distance of over 100 kilometres (62 miles). Circumstances became so difficult that Sigríður threatened to throw herself into the waterfall if any construction began.
Her tenacity, however, resulted in success. In 1929, Howell's withdrew from the lease, unable to keep up with the costs and difficulties of his plan. The waterfall fell back into the hands of the Icelandic people.
Today, Sigríður is recognised for her perseverance in protecting Gullfoss and is often hailed as Iceland's first environmentalist. As such, she is one of the most famous figures in Iceland's history. Her contribution is forever marked in stone; a plaque detailing her plight sits at the top of Gullfoss.
Interestingly, the lawyer who assisted Sigríður, Sveinn Björnsson, went on to go down in history too; he became the first president of Iceland in 1944.
Restaurant / Cafe
Besides Gullfoss, visitors can enjoy the views from Gullfoss Cafe, a locally run delicatessen that serves a wide variety of refreshments and meals. The menu has options to tantalise everyone's taste buds: hot soups, sandwiches, salads and cakes. There is also a shop on site where visitors' can browse and purchase traditional Icelandic souvenirs.Þingvellir,
Þingvellir National Park is the only UNESCO World Heritage site on the Icelandic mainland and one of the three stops on the world famous Golden Circle sightseeing route, alongside the Haukadalur Geothermal Valley (Geysir) and Gullfoss Waterfall. Just to the south of the park is Þingvallavatn, Iceland's largest natural lake.
The first thing that visitors to the National Park notice is its sheer aesthetic beauty; dried magma fields, covered in Icelandic moss, sit carved by glacial springs and surrounded by a bowl of ancient mountain peaks.
Two of the greatest attractions in the park are the exposed North American and Eurasian tectonic plates; it is one of the only regions in the world where you can see geology such as this on land.
Visitors are encouraged to walk along the North American tectonic plate, where they can read more about the area's fascinating formation and history, before descending into the valley below.
Þingvellir can be anglicised to 'Fields of Parliament', a nod to the area's fascinating history and relevance to Icelandic culture. It is here, after all, that the world's first democratically elected parliament that remains functioning, Alþingi, was formed in 930 AD.
It may seem unlikely that Vikings would want to be under such an uncombative government, but the thirty or so clans that lived in Iceland at the time sought to prosper in their harsh new environment.
The first gathering was such a success that the meetings became annual, and it became a place where disputes were settled, criminals were tried, and laws to the benefit of all were laid down.
This saw the birth of the Icelandic Commonwealth, a time of independence and freedom for the Icelandic people before they became constituents of the Norwegian monarchy. Sessions would continue to be held at Þingvellir until 1798.
Though the parliament was removed by the Danish at this time, it returned 1845 to Reykjavík.
Another major reason as to why Þingvellir is considered so important to Icelanders is the fact that this is where the decision was made to abandon the belief of Paganism and the Norse Gods; the people adopted Christianity in 1000 AD under threat of invasion from Norway.
This turning point in history was left to the pagan lawspeaker, Þorgeir Þorkelsson, who rested on the choice for one day and one night before reappearing to share his decision.
To symbolise the country's change, he threw idols of his old deities into the northern waterfall Goðafoss, the name of which translates to 'Waterfall of the Gods'.
Silfra Fissure
Þingvellir is one of the most widely visited attractions in Iceland, in large part due to the fact that it is home to the glacial spring, Silfra fissure, one of the top ten sites in the world for snorkellers and scuba divers.
Silfra (meaning 'Silver') is a submerged ravine within the park, boasting visibility of up to 100 metres (328 feet) and a temperature just above freezing. Participants in these tours will be attired at the Silfra carpark in neoprene hoodies and gloves, as well as an undersuit and drysuit for thermal protection.Faxi
Credit: Wikimedia, Creative Commons. Photo by Kkaefer.
Faxi is a wide, serene waterfall in South Iceland. It can be found in the Tungufljót River.
Faxi and the Golden Circle
Faxi falls is approximately twelve kilometres (seven miles) away from Gullfoss and Geysir, two incredibly popular attractions on the Golden Circle. It is thus easy to detour from these for one extra attraction, and extend a day out.
Some guided Golden Circle tours also promise an extra stop here.
Gullfoss, otherwise known as the Golden Waterfall, is 32 metres (105 feet) tall, falling in two tiers into a beautiful canyon. It is fed by the Hvíta River, which is one of the most popular rivers for rafting in the country, accessible for novices.
Though more powerful and dramatic than Faxi, it has less of its serenity, and there are usually much bigger crowds at Gullfoss.
Geysir, meanwhile, is a geothermal area that, as its name suggests, is home to geysers. The most active of these, Strokkur, erupts to heights of up to forty metres (131 feet) every ten minutes or so.
Geysir itself has been inactive for the past few years, only going off sporadically. The area is also home to many fumaroles, hot-springs and mud-pits.
The final site of the Golden Circle, Þingvellir National Park, is a little further away, but still well worth the visit. This location sits directly between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates, in the Mid-Atlantic Rift, and is an oasis of beautiful lava landscapes, forest and crystal clear streams.
This location is also a historical centre, being home to the original site of the world's longest-running parliament. Icelanders formed it here in 930 AD, before much of the rest of Europe had even starting thinking about representative democracies.
The Golden Circle is as close to an essential-Icelandic experience there is, and Faxi is a perfect addition to extend the day.
Activities at Faxi
Photo Credit: Callie Reed
Hiking through the countryside around Faxi waterfall is a pleasure. Many Icelandic horses and a wealth of birdlife can be expected in summer. The area also draws those who enjoy salmon fishing, and the falls is pregnant with them.
Although it is not particularly rapid, kayaking and rafting are banned here. As mentioned, Hvíta is the rafting river of the area.
A restaurant stands on site, where guests can enjoy lunch with a beautiful view.
Other detours from the Golden Circle
The Golden Circle only takes approximately half a day to traverse if travelling from Reykjavík. There are thus many sites, alongside Faxi, that visitors could add to their sightseeing journey if travelling alone.
Those seeking relaxation and rejuvenation could enjoy the Fontana Spa at Laugarvatn, or else the secret lagoon at Flúðir. Those interest in culture could see the eco village Sólheimar, the historical settlement of Skálholt or else the greenhouses and horses at Friðheimar.
There are also many activities to be had in the area, such as snorkelling in Silfra, snowmobiling on Langjökull, or river-rafting (in summer).
A comprehensive list of detours can be found on this site.
Pickup time : 08:00.
Pick up starts at 08:00 am but you might have to wait 15-20 minutes, but be ready outside at 08:00. Please be at your pickup location in time for your departure. Should your pickup location be at a bus stop and you need assistance finding it, seek guidance in your Hotel's reception or contact your tour provider directly.
8 hour English guided tour
Sample of Icelandic music
Free WiFi on board
Taste of traditional Icelandic food
A lot of fun
What to bring:
Warm clothes
Good shoes
Good to know:
Lunch is not provided but there will be a lunch break. You'll be able to buy lunch in restaurants in the area if you haven't brought your own.


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Trying to introduce oneself to the person that does not know may be an issue that makes a person feel embarrassed very much. If you do not understand completely to them, what do you know to should say? How can you begin interesting dialogue with completely new person? There are 5 English opening remarkses that avoid awkwardness of first time acquaintance here.
1: Seek collective site. Consider you complete to this stranger not to understand, have a bit in fact you are know - you know they and your coexist one room. "So What Brings You Here? " you are OK so ask. Or be, if you are in the group group of your friend Bob, can you ask " How Do You Know Bob? Can you ask " How Do You Know Bob??
2: Praise they. Everybody likes to listen about oneself honey-tongued. "What A Wonderful Dress You ' Re Wearing! " the shoe that tells them you have many to like this individual or it is glasses. After that, if they reply only,say " Thank You " , you can ask then, similar " Where Did You Get It? " or be " What ' S It Made Out Of? " be even " Was It Expensive? " these problems are very useful because this can make the other side much,tell you a few things about them.
3: Ask the question about them. Almost all people have the job more, so why to pay no attention to this individual, "So What Do You Do For A Living? " or be " Where Are You From Originally? " you consider means understanding them is born where. And, ask a dialog that can allow first time is a few simpler. If this courteous word, they also can ask in reply your same question, come so you have the opportunity that talks about your.
4: Introduce yourself. Do not say merely, "Hi, my Name Is John. " tell others more the news about yourself. "Hi, my Name Is John. I ' M A Friend Of Bob ' S From High School. We Use To Have The Same Math Class Together. " the interest that takes the other side so possibly, encourage they ask you the question or tell your more the news about them.
5: Make a comment to something other people. Do not ask any questions about the other side directly, you can say similar " This Is A Great Party " or " What A Lovely House This Is. " come revulsive the view that they speak them. Calculate this house or be to send not be them to, it is easy that such comment sounds exceedingly comfortable also let a person talk about rise. Seem the first proposal, because you and the other side have collective place,these opening remarks can have very good effect: You are chatting each other.
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They sat in a row in the shopping centre, watching the passersby. They were quiet and good. They were adults sitting in wheelchairs. A carer stood behind them looking at her phone. I don't know how long they were there. Perhaps it was only a few minutes, but it bothered me. Especially when I thought about my daughter's future.
Read more here


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Muckleston confirms he will be staying with Microsoft but has not specified his next role.
Sheers returns to New Zealand after more than 30 years working abroad for a wide variety of tech companies including Sybase (now SAP) and EMC.
Most recently, he was Vice President and General Manager for the Software Group of Dell for Asia Pacific and Japan.
"I am delighted to return to New Zealand to lead Microsoft's operations here and thrilled to be joining the company at the most exciting time in its history," says Sheers, in a statement.
There is a transformation happening at Microsoft right now. You can see it in the accelerated pace of innovation, the renewed passion and energy of our people and the value that customers and partners tell us we are delivering to them.
"There is a transformation happening at Microsoft right now. You can see it in the accelerated pace of innovation, the renewed passion and energy of our people and the value that customers and partners tell us we are delivering to them. I am looking forward to building on the successful foundations already in place and helping to accelerate our current transformation," says Sheers.
Muckleston, who has been Microsoft NZ MD since 2010, says the company is implementing a planned and structured transition from his leadership to Sheers' and that they will be working closely together over the coming months to ensure a smooth induction process.
"The New Zealand subsidiary has gone from strength to strength locally as Microsoft has been changing and growing globally with an ambition to be the productivity and platform company for a mobile-first, cloud-first world," says Muckleston.
Related:'Working out loud' and other elements of a responsive organisation
Sheers is starting on his new role next week, and will report directly to Cesar Cernuda, president of Microsoft Asia-Pacific, as part of the APAC leadership team.
Cernuda says: "I have been very impressed by Barrie's achievements in building, managing and developing high performance teams in multiple businesses across the European and Asia Pacific regions over the past two decades. He is clearly a high energy, transformational leader who is passionate about understanding customer's needs and then driving innovation and value creation."
"We are looking forward very much to seeing him build on the excellent foundation laid by Paul Muckleston over the past five years as the company has transformed for a mobile-first, cloud first world."
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Anal sex is on the rise, yet still taboo for most people. While Allison Williams 'Girls' character has received anilingus on television, men are still wary of the practice and women are yet to stop being embarrassed about asking for or giving it. So is anal stimulation worth a try?
For those who are not familiar with it or feel embarrassed about researching such things, anilingus, also colloquially known as rimming, is the type of oral-anal stimulation. The act consists of kissing and licking the anal rim and the surrounding area.
Anilingus is often associated with homosexual or bisexual sex. Unlike other sexual practices that are specific to one gender's anatomy, rimming can be given and received by both men and women, and it is gaining popularity among straight couples.
A rim job can be a way to start anal sex, or to introduce your partner into the practice, especially if both of you are already comfortable with oral stimulation. This is because while rimming can be equally as pleasurable, tongue stimulation is obviously softer than full-on penetration.
Rimming is also easy to incorporate into foreplay, and it can be eased into, since you don't need to start with penetration or even with your tongue. You can start by having a shower or bath together, which will serve both the purposes of hygiene and foreplay, and then build up by stimulating the area surrounding the rim with kisses until you're both ready for real tongue stimulation.
Some men and women can even orgasm from anilingus, but in most cases the practice is used as foreplay, because it can increase the receiver's - and even the giver's - level of arousal as well as prepare them for the next act. This obviously means there is pleasure to be obtained from rimming, even if it does not cause everyone to climax.
As with every sexual act, it may get better with practice and as both partners get more comfortable. In this particular case, hygiene and safety might be even more important than technique, so it is essential to have a fully clean mouth and anus to start with.
As for whether you'll enjoy it or not, it is hard to give a definite answer. The anus is a very sensitive area, so it does have the potential to bring pleasure if stimulated properly. Far from everybody enjoys giving or/and receiving anilingus. If you have never tried it, but are comfortable with the idea in theory, it may be worth a try. There are chances that you and your partner will like this piquant sexual stimulation. However, never forget that hygiene and scrupulous neatness are essential when it comes to anilingus.


text: We support national and international organisations and companies in the transfer of new technologies – both to new markets and new products. Key elements are interactive and open innovation as well as the access to excellent international partners. Within our process we work towards fulfilling the requirements of respective end-users and the development of win-win scenarios with project partners.


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Lately I've been making moves.
I've been focusing more on relationship building and collaborating with other vendors on projects while I build my company resources and systems. Business hasn't skyrocketed but I'm starting to notice more inquiries and opportunities start coming down the pipe. I've got a bunch of things to type up, design and prepare (plus it's really boring work!) but once they are done, it's just about repeating the process with each client. Till then I need some personal projects or hobbies to keep me inspired.
So I'm getting back to vlogging, blogging and focusing on my photo skills via a 365 project. I haven't chosen a start day or a subject, though I'm considering photographing myself each day. I just want to do something fun and creative for the sake of creating ya know? Speaking of that, I'm currently converting a long skirt into a swim suit. I have one but it's magenta and kinda boring lol. I've been wanting to pull out my sewing machine for so long and make or tailor something from the thrift store. I'm so excited!! Once I get my sewing skills back into shape, I want to try my hand at tailoring some pants and a skirt from three name brand thrift store suits. When I start those, I'll make a separate post and video.
Aside from that, we moved into another apartment this past Friday. It's a long story but I'll try to sum it up for ya!
When we first moved to DFW (5 years ago), we lived in a quaint apartment complex within walking distance of a bunch of places. We loved it so we stayed there almost 4 years before moving up the street. We loved the new place but it didn't quite feel like home so after our lease was up we went back to the old place.
Our experience this time around sucked! We had bug problem after bug problem. Issues with the heat not turning off. The AC blowing out air that smelled like a sewer and water leaking into our living room. We couldn't take it any longer so last week, after only 6 months of being back, we packed up our stuff and came back to the new place. After that experience, the new place definitely feels like home! Our internet was installed last night so hopefully I'll keep up with writing on here. Even if no one reads it, I like looking back at my days and seeing all the things I've done over the years. Otherwise I'll forget!
That's all I have for now. Thanks for stopping by.
Have courage, Elle


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Preacher In Blue Jeans
Bo Sanchez' Daily Reality Internet TV Show
Feb. 18, 2009
Hong Kong Series Episode #5: Listen to this inspiring talk by Bro. Alvin Barcelona on having "An Attitude of Gratitude." A special musical treat awaits you!
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If video is choppy, PAUSE to let it buffer, then PLAY again.
If you do not see/hear the video, click here to diagnose.
Alternatively, you may Click here to Listen to the AUDIO VERSION
The FEAST is one of the happiest places on earth.
Click Here to find a Feast near you!
KERYGMA TV! is BACK
KERYGMA TV is on a new time slot and new channel Sundays 8 a.m. at IBC 13
Need Counseling? No Landline?
Now, you can use your mobile phone to call a friend for counseling at 09228407031. Or you may call our landlines 7266728, 7264709, 7259999 Mon-Fri 24-hrs, Sat 6am-5pm, Sun 6am-10am
Go to Bo's Official Site and read his almost daily blog! Its not news, but thoughts and musings of Bo Sanchez. Get to know Bo in a more personal way --and find out what it means to live the life of a preacher. You get to enrich your faith as well.
Remember to always donate your "first fruits"-not the last. Click on the "Donation" Box under the members menu - and you'll even see links to the nearest branches of the Banks where you can deposit.


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Philosophy Statement
The philosophy of Mount Washington Preschools and Child Care Center, Inc. (MWPCCC) is focus around three fundamental principles:
- Children's Environment
- Curriculum
- Parent Participation
Children's Environment
MWPCCC provides an environment that promotes self-esteem and the sense of fundamental worth of each child and staff member. We recognize their individuality, and maintain a supportive setting for the needs of both the children and staff. At the same time, we see children as an integral part of the community based on an understanding of others and a respect for diversity. We provide activities and experiences to develop your child's sense of relationship to the local and global communities that they are part of. Thus, we strive to maintain a balance between the uniqueness and social identity of each child.
MWPCCC addresses the needs of the whole child by providing opportunities in the interrelated areas of physical, social, emotional and cognitive growth. Play is highly valued. We encourage children to explore experiment, ask questions, initiate activities, and solve problems in ways appropriate to their age and stage of development. Children learn best when they are motivated by their own curiosity and innate desire to discover, know and understand. We stress a cooperative approach and nurture creativity. While we allow your child a wide range of experiences and opportunities to explore their environment, we make sure your child feels stimulated but not threatened by excessive expectations. Most importantly we try to make your child feels at ease, comfortable and secure in a nurturing setting in order to maximize their learning potential.
We provide a multiracial, multi cultural environment that encourages a variety of experiences appropriate to the children's diverse backgrounds. We are multi-lingual, please let us know if you need any forms translated into your preferred language. We ask that you teach the classroom teachers frequent words used in your home language, so that we can use these words to communicate with your child using familiar words and phrases. The program is gender neutral in that children participate in a variety of experiences that do not limit their interest and competencies on the basis of gender. Children with special needs are welcome in MWPCCC, if the center's environment is judged to be beneficial to the optimum development of the child.
If your child has a special need, or is developmentally delayed, please know that their therapist, assessors, and consultants are allowed to be here with your child. Please make sure you schedule any appointments with the center director.
Our learning curriculum is based off the children's interest. We call this Emergent Curriculum based off the research by Elizabeth Jones and John Nimmo. This is the way we plan curriculum. We observe the children, and learn what interests them, then the teachers will create the lesson plans based off the interest. We are able to incorporate a lot of small group activities.
Our curriculum focuses on a wide variety of developmentally appropriate activities that support children's language, social-emotional, cognitive, and physical growth. The curriculum grows out of the children's interest and abilities. We encourage active learning through organized play, exploration and interactions. Children are individually challenged to further develop their fine gross motor, math, creative, cognitive and science skills through activities such as lacing, classification, numeration and block play.
We encourage language by consistently reading books to children, individually as well as in a large group, throughout their every day routine. Furthermore, staff supports language development through singing and language- extension which continues to increase children's language. Reading readiness centers around activities that include left to right seriating, transcription (putting children thoughts and language into written words) and the labeling of classrooms materials.
Autonomy and Social-Emotional growth is encouraged through self-help skills (pouring, self-serving etc), decision making process, sensory play, and the ability to engage in small and large group activities. The curriculum at our centers support a childrens' individual abilities and interests. Children will be consistently praised and applauded for their attempts and efforts throughout their daily routine.
"Many times parents would like their children to "learn" instead of "just play". Our program offers children a variety of learning opportunities through play with materials that challenge children's individual development and maximize their learning potential. Teachers in our program are trained to help children acquire a variety of skills through consistent interactions during these "play times". Here are just a few of the concepts we will help your child learn as we challenge them with a curriculum that meets their needs, interests and abilities while developing the skills they will need in their journey of life."
Parent Participation
Parent participation is crucial. MWPCCC strongly encourages parent participation regarding center planning, program activities, and decision- making within its organization. Participation helps parents foster a better understanding of the program's goals; objectives and needs in addition to helping the center maintain a quality program. We encourage you to share any skill or interest you have with your child's classroom or at the monthly parent meetings. All parents are encouraged to participate and attend all of the following:
- Center Events/Field Trips
- Classroom and Center Parent Meetings
- Fundraising Events
- Parent Workshops and/ or In-services
- Volunteer during the day


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Governor Perry finds a few more "emergencies" for the Lege to deal with.
Today, Gov. Rick Perry added two more issues, including controversial voter ID legislation, to his list of "emergency items" that legislators can begin deliberating on right away instead of waiting until after the first 60 days of the session.
He also wants legislators to get cracking on legislation encouraging an amendment to the U.S. Constitution requiring the federal budget be balanced. Already on the "emergency items" list are reforming eminent domain laws and abolishing sanctuary cities.
I understand that he was going to include an item about "finding the damn remote for the TV", but then someone reminded him that his wife had confiscated it because his channel-surfing annoyed her. Hey, it's no less urgent than anything else he's identified so far.
There's nothing to stop the GOP from finally getting the voter ID legislation it's been dreaming about since 2005, and there's no point in noting how stupid the whole thing is any more. If you believe that swarms of illegal aliens are going from precinct to precinct casting ballots in the name of dead people and fictional characters in an effort to throw elections to the Democrats – except, one presumes, in 2010 – there's nothing I can say that will change your mind. Naturally, the Senate will take it up first thing Monday, because who knows how many elections those illegal aliens could steal if they wait any longer. As for the balanced budget nonsense, beyond the economic illiteracy of the idea, I will simply note that for some reason, this was not considered an emergency in 2003, 2005, or 2007. I will leave it to you to decide why that may be. Juanita and Abby Rapoport have more.
UPDATE: Harold brings some quality snark to the issue. You will no doubt be delighted to know that after declaring this emergency, Rick Perry jetted off to Vegas to sell some books and hobnob with the swells. Because that's what leaders do in emergencies.


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We have always believed that electrical safety should be available at a reasonable price. We are always happy to provide a fixed-price quotation for any job, large or small. We have received praise for our open pricing policy and there is a summary of the most common jobs here:
Be prepared as electrical fires can destroy homes and lives.
Small Jobs and Call Outs
Firstly, our popular small job charge. We are carring out more and more small jobs because we are able to provide a fixed price over the telephone. We have no call-out charge and we don't charge a a surprising hourly rate with time taken to drive off and buy materials. We charge a FIXED PRICE for our labour however long it takes. Call us to see if we can fix your problem, repair a socket or fit your new lights.
Our FIXED PRICE JOB is £102 including VAT for labour with materials at a reasonable price being extra.
EICRs or Inspections.
Commercial property inspections are varied in their nature. We will be happy to visit the premises to carry out an initial survey and provide a quotation. There is no charge for this initial survey.
Consumer Unit or Fuse Board Changes
The replacement or expansion of a distribution board or consumer unit may require detailed planning and we will always carry out a survey prior to providing a quotation. Please call us to arrange a site visit.
Larger Jobs
We will always provide a free quotation for larger jobs.
109 Capital Business Centre
Carlton Road
South Croydon
Tel: 0800 158 8181
© Copyright 2016. All Rights Reserved.


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Lots of snow & ice on a hilly street (9100 block of SE 54th St). Very difficult to get up. Last time a plow was through was last Thursday, 2/7.
also asked...
Q. Location - Where is the snow/ice work needed?
A. 9100 block of SE 54th St
A. 9100 block of SE 54th St
Q. What type of service is needed? Plow or de-icer required? (type of equipment)
A. Plow
A. Plow
Q. Is there an immediate hazard?
A. Yes
A. Yes
Q. Is the road closed?
A. No
A. No


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Another radio show done and in the bucket as they say, had a good one, last night and although couldn't talk much with this blooming head cold, I muddled through as any Confederate Marine would do so I did.
For some odd reason , can't get that vision of that little young seatcover at Simerly's out of my head. Usually these kinds of sightings just hit then they're gone in just a few hours or minutes, not this time. When I see little candy toes in purple hose with shoes off, just asking to be attended to, it just throws off my equaliberium off.
Then there was Marsha down there. Sure she's looking for a place for her son and all but why did she give me her phone number? Was that an invite? That big nugget on her left ring finger usually says no, but is she looking? Or am I just over thinking it? Any way life goes on. Still looking at renting Mrs. Smith's shop come February maybe March, depends on funds, Shelly doesn't know if she's ready to cut the cord and not be nursing that hind teat, of Mom and Brother and Florida, which makes it hard for me to plan anything. Look I love Shelly almost as much as I do my toew truck LexiBelle, course there is nothing I love on Earth more than LexiBelle. But there are times that I think should have ignored that pm on FB, last May. Had I done so I wouldn't have moved here to Western Idaho, gave up section 8 housing help, gained another shop and worse of all, be as far away from my LexiBelle, plus could have made some good money going toewing with my own truck pocketing the whole toew fee, instead of just 10% of it as I do now.
Speaking of Lexi's. Caught two phone calls from two of the important Lexi's in my life. One from Miss Johnson, seems she heard of Boars Nest West and wants a shot at being queen bee of it, considering that. Then out of sheer surprise the name sake of my toew truck calls, seems as though my daughter wants to get in touch. Reminding me she turns 30 this year, damn that made me feel old. Last time I saw her she was still hammering away on a passifier. Marlena turns 30. Might have to venture over there mid month March.
So my clock is off, I sleep days, work nights. This all started about the time I got LexiBelle. See back then 70% of your really good money making toews came anywhere from 01:30 to 04:00. So rather than going to bed only to have to get up to answer a call, as back then LexiBelle, owned all of U.S.-30 and U.S. 93 all the way into Nevada to Contact Nevada. So when the Hazzard Knytes elected to fire up their own radio station due to the pig headed attitudes of all other media here, and the fact I gave my middle finger to many of the other locally owned radio stations here and kicked their ass's ratings wise, I opted to do the overnight shift on radio, if I caught a toew Kathy Dodge would venture up to the house and babysit the station till I got back. The same thing too was that down at the shop, both Jimmy and I could get real work done on rods and customs. No other interuptions. We'd only break to scoot up to Bliss for a cup of java at the Oxbow and served by one of the Exon twins. That was back when all of Bliss operated 24/7/365. I nailed one of the Exon girls Bro snagged one, Jimmy was after the other. You had to be here then, those Exon girls were true princess's if there ever was any. I'm going to have to find out what happened to them. But I've always loved being up at night, sleep days, it don't make me devilish or sinister, just means my circadian rhythm is off and as hard as I try can't reset that clock. Course the time shifts twice a year don't help either.
Any mile, need to catch some sleep have church down at the rock today an 11:00 hours, and will be there until 17:00.


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1. Does spiritual truth exist?
2. Does God exist?
3. Is the Bible God's only Word?
4. Is Jesus, God? Why is He the only way to heaven?
Building A Foundation First
We need to cover
a few basics ...
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internationally acclaimed artist,
Danny Hahlbohm of Inspired-Art.
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Philip Brown Violins
Business Address: 85a Northbrook Street, Newbury, Berkshire, RG14 1AE, England
Country: England,
Business Email: Send message
About Philip Brown Violins
Purchase & rent high quality violin's, viola's, celli, bows and much more from Philip Brown Violins based in Newbury.
Purchase & rent high quality violin's, viola's, celli, bows and much more from Philip Brown Violins based in Newbury.
Supplying violins, violas, celli, bows and baroque bows to string players from beginners to amateur players, teachers, collectors and professionals since 1985, Philip Brown Violins offer honest, trustworthy expert knowledge and workshop skills.
We pride ourselves in providing our customers with good, honest advice whether we are recommending which instrument to buy, valuing their instrument or carrying out repairs. We have built up a large client base having been in Newbury for nearly 30 years. We work with young players from the surrounding counties to Professional Soloists and members of all the well known orchestras within the UK and Europe.
Our staff are all highly qualified and experienced thereby able to offer reliable advice and service. We carry very good stocks of instruments and bows, representing some of the best of English, French and Italian instruments available.
We sell instruments from £600 to £500,000 and offer an approval service for those not sure whether to buy and a rental service for new players. We also always have a good range of bows in stock including 18th century originals.
Bows suitable for those interested in period performance are made in the workshop by Philip and the team. We are based in Newbury town centre, above Vodafone (opposite Tesco Metro). We recommend that you make an appointment.


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Summer is the time for kids to get up, get out and grow. But for some kids, exposure to activities that stimulate the body and mind ends with the school year. In fact, research shows that kids are prone to gain more weight and fall behind in studies. On May 16, the Goochland Family YMCA will celebrate Healthy Kids Day®, our national initiative to improve the health and well-being of kids.
CLICK HERE to see volunteer opportunities!


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PIRSA:10070033 ( MP4 Medium Res , MP3 , PDF ) Which Format?
Adventures in Superstrings
Speaker(s): Robert Myers
Abstract: Physics emerged from the twentieth century with two remarkably successful descriptions of nature which stand in striking contrast. Quantum mechanics describes the subatomic realm with intrinsic uncertainties and probabilities. On the other hand, Einstein's general relativity describe gravitational phenomena in an exacting geometric arena. Theoretical physicists have struggled for over fifty years trying to combine these views in a single unified framework. More recently, superstring theory has drawn a huge amount of interest as a leading contender to provide such a unification. Superstring theory is a theory of strings, branes, extra spacetime dimensions and much more. In my lecture, I will try to give a flavour for what superstring theory is all about and why physicists, like myself, continue to be so excited about this, perhaps the final theory.
Date: 21/07/2010 - 10:30 am
Collection: ISSYP 2010
Tech Note: Linked 07/07/2011
URL: http://pirsa.org/10070033/ Share:


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This post of Ezra Klein's made me joke on Twitter that you can't properly analyze the Harvard to Wall Street pipeline without using the term "douchebag." And I think Dara Lind's followup item in which she notes some structural similarities between Wall Street recruiting on Ivy League campuses and Teach for American recruiting on the same campuses makes me want to double down on the joke. Simply put, there's a question of character here.
Out of deference to feminist considerations I'll avoid trying to put a label on it, but there's a certain kind of person who walks into a room filled with people interested in working on Wall Street and people who do work on Wall Street and says to himself (and it's no coincidence that it's almost always himself) "these are the kind of people I want to align myself with." TFA is, in this regard, totally different and appeals to a different sort of mentality. It's true that there's a bit more to the recruiting process than jerks of a feather flocking together, but firms like DE Shaw that break from the mold are really exceptions that prove the rule — they have an approach that's based specifically on trying to snare talent that would normally be repulsed by the repulsive nature of the people working in the field.
As best I can tell, which admittedly is not that well, the tendency of unpleasant people to congregate in this particular line of work is cross-cultural. By far the most annoying people I met in Germany, for example, were finance guys in Frankfurt. Compared to politicians, non-financial businessmen, random bartenders, bus drivers, etc. they were horrible. Obviously this sort of thing is relative and probably if you ask a bunch of bankers they'll say all the worst people from college went on to become glib political journalists or to teach in inner-city schools.


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Love and Marriage (Not Necessarily in That Order)
You could not have picked two more dissimilar subjects for operatic treatment than Jules Massenet's Werther and Alban Berg's Wozzeck. A mere thirty-three years separate the premieres of both works, with Werther (based on Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's novel The Sorrows of Young Werther) being heard in Vienna, in a German translation of all things, on February 16, 1892, and Wozzeck (taken from Georg Büchner's unfinished play, Woyzeck) seeing the light of day at the Berlin State Opera on December 14, 1925.
Stylistically, the two pieces are many worlds apart. Though composed by a Frenchman, Massenet's opera adheres closely to the aesthetic of German High Romanticism in most respects, in particular its idealized portrayal of the suicidal poet Werther and his unrequited love for the respectable Charlotte. Goethe conceived the story as a series of letters (shades of Pushkin's Eugene Onegin) written at the start by Werther himself to a friend, and later by the author, who picks up the thread from the tormented protagonist until his tragic demise by his own hands.
Indeed, the parallels to Pushkin, and to Tchaikovsky's opus (discussed in a previous post: https://josmarlopes.wordpress.com/2014/02/09/die-fledermaus-eugene-onegin-and-lelisir-damore-tragedy-tomorrow-comedy-tonight-a-triple-threat-at-the-met/), abound throughout and can be summed up in the dire circumstances that dog the dramatis personae.
In Eugene Onegin, the title character spurns the youthful Tatiana, who professes her love for him in a lengthy letter. Rejected, Tatiana elects to marry a much older man instead. Prior to that, Onegin shoots and kills his closest friend, the poet Lensky, in a quarrel of his own making. When Onegin at last acknowledges his love for Tatiana, she refuses to give in to his entreaties out of loyalty to her husband and to her own moral code.
In a bit of poetic license, one can surmise that, in the Massenet work, the poet Werther (substituting for the lovesick Lensky) has returned from an extended stay abroad, only to discover that he has fallen hopelessly in love with the now-married Charlotte (read: Tatiana). Suspecting that she may be having an affair with Werther, Charlotte's husband Albert (the Prince Gremin character from Onegin), in response to a request from Werther, sends him a pair of dueling pistols, the upshot of which results in the poet's protracted death throes that conclude the opera.
It's all a bit confusing, I admit, but the premise makes perfect sense if one tracks Werther's story line to its ultimate conclusion: that love will find a way, even if it ends in the loss of the one you most love.
The Bleakness of a Tortured Life
No such romantic inclinations inhabit the claustrophobic environment of Berg's Wozzeck. On the contrary, this haunting ninety-minute work (in three acts, but most often performed without intermission, as presented at the Met) wallows pathetically in its very depravity and emotional want.
There is no love lost between any of the characters, including the titular "poor soldier" Wozzeck. He and his live-in girlfriend, Marie (a lustful, Bible-reading harlot), are subjected to all manner of cruelty by a variety of callous individuals: from the condescending Captain, the pedantic Doctor, and the brutish Drum Major in Wozzeck's case; to the desperate and mentally challenged Wozzeck himself, who torments Marie with varying degrees of indifference and bewilderment, leading to his jealous rage and to her eventual murder by lakeside.
The music that Berg used to capture these appalling events is of the starkest means possible, with the jaggedness of the orchestration reflecting the broken shards of the characters' lives. Hardly a hint of melody appears to be present, yet this masterful score essentially overflows with post-romantic elements, many of which came from the pen of Richard Strauss (his one-act opera Salome, for instance), as well as that of his contemporary Gustav Mahler (a Ländler waltz here, a Mahlerian D-Minor Sonata there).
Given the above assessment, how could Werther and Wozzeck hope to compare to one another, if at all? Remarkably, both operas end with the simplest of touches: in the Massenet work, children's voices are heard in the distance, chanting a Christmas carol as Werther dies peacefully in the arms of his true love, Charlotte; in Berg's more derisive interpretation, after Marie's murder and Wozzeck's self-inflicted death by drowning, their little son is seen riding a hobbyhorse, while the other children run off to where the body of his deceased mother lies. "Hop, hop," the ignorant tot cries as he hobbles about. "Hop, hop" — stark, harrowing, and heartrendingly bleak.
The utter finality of death and the futility of a tortured life linger in the air of both works, but with the negative "edge" going to Alban Berg for his insightful reading of the times in which he lived. In reality, Berg started work on Wozzeck during and towards the end of World War I, one of the cruelest and most disgraceful chapters of European history up to that period. Fortunately for his part, Massenet did not live to see the horrors inflicted upon his fellow citizens. He passed away on August 13, 1912 at the age of 70. Two years later, on August 3, Germany declared war on France.
In the fall of 1915, upon completion of his training at an Austro-Hungarian boot camp Berg suffered a complete physical breakdown, which led to his imposed hospitalization. According to Alex Ross in his book, The Rest is Noise: Listening to the Twentieth Century, the frail composer was "confined to a desk job" for the duration of the conflict. There, "a beastly superior made his life miserable." Berg took his penance in stride, however, later making full use of this bitter episode as a model for his depiction of Wozzeck's privations.
A New Production
The Metropolitan Opera presented both works in successive Saturday afternoon broadcasts. First up was Werther, heard on March 15 and transmitted as part of their Live in HD series. This was a new Richard Eyre production, whose previous work included an updating of Bizet's Carmen to Franco-era Spain. His Werther replaced the previous version designed by Paul-Émile Deiber, which did double-duty for well on four decades.
The cast featured tenor of the hour Jonas Kaufmann as Werther and debuting French mezzo-soprano Sophie Koch as Charlotte. Others in the lineup included bass-baritone David Bižić as Albert, soprano Lisette Oropesa as Sophie, baritone Jonathan Summers as the Bailiff, and bass Philip Cokorinos and tenor Tony Stevenson as Johann and Schmidt, respectively. The work was conducted by returning French-Armenian maestro Alain Altinoglu, who acquitted himself well, despite some slackness in the pit.
Not having seen Eyre's production in the flesh, nor in its HD debut, I must rely on photographs and reviews of the abstract sets along with the mise-en-scène to provide relevant commentary. The biggest change from the Met's earlier (and, scenically, quite splendid) incarnation of Werther was in its delineation of the title character's suicide, complete with blood-splattered walls and copious amounts of stage gore. Not usually shown but merely hinted at, this kind of ultra-realistic, gutwrenching drama is what substitutes nowadays for character development. If, however, by its use a director of taste can add to our understanding of the opera's plot, then by all means go for it.
Vocally, the opera profited from Kaufmann's drop-dead good looks and handsomely svelte physique. That he can also sing and act up a storm is a tremendous advantage in this role. Indeed, his illustrious string of predecessors, among them such past exponents as Tito Schipa, Ferruccio Tagliavini, Georges Thill, Charles Richard, and Albert Lance, along with Alfredo Kraus, Nicolai Gedda, José Carreras, Neil Shicoff, and especially Franco Corelli, whom Kaufmann clearly favors as a role model in the part, would pose a challenge to any newcomer.
However, Kaufmann is far from a newcomer. Heard last season in a glorious performance of Wagner's Parsifal, I've been following this incredibly gifted artist for several seasons now. His Florestan in Fidelio and Cavaradossi in Tosca are marvels of high-voltage exuberance, replete with blazing high notes and luxurious legato phrasing throughout the top and bottom of his range. His fluency in languages other than his native German are plus factors in excelsis.
Artistically, Kaufmann's Werther was beyond reproach. His third-act duet with his leading lady, and of course his well-received "Pourquoi me réveiller?" were thrilling in their full-voiced passion. Still, there was something about this dark-edged poet that missed that final spark of inspiration. Maybe it was my mood that day, or perhaps the coloration of his voice (his enunciation of the text was more than acceptable, so it couldn't have been that). But my thought was that Kaufmann did not sound particularly French. Well, then, neither did Corelli, for that matter, but there was always a hint of animal magnetism in that great tenor's assumption. If that was the only thing I could find fault with in Kaufmann's performance, then we should be so lucky! This was golden-age singing to die for, so why quibble over non-essential details?
On the other hand, I found Sophie Koch's Charlotte to be a placid bird. A model of French restraint, she was all-but a cipher as far as the character was concerned. Koch sounded, on the radio at least, slightly inhibited vocally, her great Letter Scene (so similar to Tatiana's in Eugene Onegin, but with more melancholy aspects thrown in) going by the boards in a purely perfunctory manner. Whatever nuance or tone color she put into the role — one of Massenet's finest depictions of feminine fragility and nobility — did not come through as one would have hoped. Being hampered by the lack of visuals, I made these judgments based solely on what I heard, and what I heard failed to move this listener.
No such problems afflicted the perky and luscious toned Sophie of New Orleans native Lisette Oropesa, who showed a sympathetic side to Charlotte's younger sister that had eluded Koch. Bass-baritone Bižić was stuck in the mud, so to speak, in trying to portray a vivid character from Albert's meager lines. Physically, I'm told he did a wonderful job. It's not entirely his fault, though, that the fellow, as Massenet conceived him, has more to do offstage than on. The other singers came off well enough, although none of them even approached the bon vivant buoyancy offered by the late, great comic basso Fernando Corena as the Bailiff, Charlotte and Sophie's widowed father.
Incidentally, this production interpolated a pre-curtain "dumb-show" into the opening prelude, representing the death and burial of the Bailiff's wife. I am not one for such extravagances in the name of clarifying the plot for audience members too lazy to read up on the work at hand, but if that's what the director chose to do, then so be it.
In my younger days as an active opera-goer, I made certain I knew ahead of time what it was I was going to be watching. I didn't always have the time, nor did I have access to readily available material so plentiful in our digital age. With that said, I did the best I could to devour the program guide in order to keep abreast of what was transpiring on stage. Now, with super-titles and simultaneous translations being delivered in real-time, most of the work is done for you by automation: one small step for man, one giant leap for opera-kind.
(To be continued…)
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