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- 4 - 8 personen
- Max. 60 minuten
- Dordrecht
The Precious Room is special because you can play it once or twice.
But only with the right answers, you will win the big prize!
In this room you will not get any hints, clues or tools.
You just have to work together and play by all the rules.
This escape game is only available in English just to let you know.
No worries the English is easy and I have patience so I go slow ;).
So what is the story about Roxy, well let me tell you and please don't forget.
A year ago she fell madly in love with the most perfect man she had ever met.
It was impossible to steal, behind big walls, in boxes, safes and double locked up at night.
But still he stole her most precious thing when she didn't look, blinded by her love at first sight.
To find out what he took you have to look for the answers behind all the hidden doors.
Watch your step, she is protective and angry, if you try to steal what is not yours!
Do you have nerves of steel, can you work with your team, are you good in solving puzzles, are you not a quitter? Book the Real Escape Room!
The clock is ticking, you have a maximum of 60 minutes to get out of the room.
Will you manage to escape?
Did we scare you? Good! But don't worry, it's just a game… or is it ;-).
An experience you'll definitely never forget!
Book an escape room and go for the full experience, the escape room is equipped with special effects, light effects and sound techniques.
The game can be played with a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 7 people per hour.
Minimum age: all ages, we advise you to bring an adult when the group is under 16 years.
Are you with a group larger then 7 people? Then book several rooms, the other group(s) don't have to get bored and wait. There is a bar where it is possible to drink, hang out or play other games.


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The "Dallas" information marketplace
Today I'm here in Washington DC, demo-ing in Bob Muglia's keynote at our Worldwide Partner Conference. This time, I'm showing something quite new - not just a new product, but a new concept in data - Microsoft's premium information marketplace codenamed "Dallas."
"Dallas" may be better known as a village of 200 or so people in northern Scotland, but now it has a new claim to fame. "Dallas" is a place where developers on any platform as well as information workers can find data from commercial content providers as well as public domain data. They can consume this data and construct new BI scenarios and new apps…
To illustrate how easy it will be for ISVs to integrate this content into their apps and to showcase a BI scenario, in the keynote demo I'll be using United Nations data from "Dallas" integrated in an early build of Tableau Software's solution to create a visualization answering study abroad trends around the world. This took only a few minutes to create using "Dallas" and Tableau Public.
To break down the demo, here are the three key pillars behind this scenario:
Discover Data of All Types
Microsoft Codename "Dallas" makes data very easy to find and consume. The vision is to be able to post and access any data set, including rich metadata, using a common format.
Explore and Consume
Using Tableau and "Dallas" together means you can explore any data set simply by dragging and dropping fields to visualize it. This is a very powerful idea: anyone can easily explore and understand data without doing any programming.
Publish and Share
Once you've found a story in your data you want to share it... Using Tableau Public you can embed a live visualization in your blog, just like the one above.
"Dallas" creates a lot of opportunities for a company like Tableau. It makes it possible for bloggers, interested citizens and journalists to more easily find public data and tell important stories, creating a true information democracy. "Dallas" also makes it easier for Tableau's corporate customers to find relevant data to mash up with their own company data, making Tableau's corporate tools that much more compelling.
For more information on how you can be a provider or how an ISV can plug into the Dallas partnership opportunities, send mail to email@example.com.

subset: commoncrawl


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Hector Sants told the Treasury committee, that FSA could not block merger of Royal Bank of Scotland's and ABN Amro
Sir Fred Goodwin and other Royal Bank of Scotland executives criticised in December's 450-page Financial Service Authority report are "not fit" to run a bank and will never again work in regulated financial services, according to Britain's top regulator.
Hector Sants, chief executive of the Financial Services Authority, said that although no enforcement action had been taken against them, in his opinion, executives responsible for a catalogue of disastrous decisions leading to the near-failure of RBS in 2008 would be effectively blackballed.
The FSA has struck a formal agreement with RBS's former head of investment banking Johnny Cameron in which it has dropped enforcement action against him after he undertook not to work again in a senior banking role.
Asked about Goodwin and other RBS executives criticised in the FSA's report, Sants said: "In my personal judgement there were a set of failings, over a long period, by the executives of RBS. And in my judgment that means they are not fit to run a regulated institution… these people will not work again in the regulated sector, in my opinion."
He explained that the regulator had taken no formal decision on this as none of those concerned had applied for authorisation. He nevertheless insisted he was confident any such appointment would be blocked.
Sants said that while the legal threshold for incompetence which would trigger enforcement action was very high, it was less so when it came to reviewing an individual's suitability to operate in regulated financial services.
The prime minister earlier this month revealed he had asked the honours committee to examine whether Goodwin could be stripped of his knighthood for bringing RBS to its knees. The bank was rescued with taxpayer funds and is now 82% owned by the state.
Sants also gave a robust defence of his record at the FSA, accusing his predecessor John Tiner of ignoring concerns raised about the lack of expert regulation of British-based investment banks in 2007.
Sants told the Treasury Select Committee he "complained" to Tiner repeatedly about the "silo structure" the former FSA boss had deliberately cultivated.
Until his promotion to chief executive in July 2007, Sants reminded the MPs, this structure meant he had only been responsible for regulating overseas investment banks such as Goldman Sachs, Deutsche Bank and Morgan Stanley.
Despite its aggressive push into investment banking from 2005 until the credit crunch hit in 2007, Royal Bank of Scotland was not supervised by Sants and his team. Instead, RBS was regulated as a retail bank by his colleague Clive Briault.
Sants said his investment bank supervisory team "had considerable expertise and they were not able to share that with regulators in the UK banks department".
Sants said he had expressed his views about "weak management" in Briault's division at regular meetings with Tiner, but the then FSA boss had told him he was happy with the structure as it was. Sants recalled: "We were not encouraged to question or debate across the silos. The chief executive did not encourage any discussion."
One MP said this was astonishing, to which Sants replied: "I agree with you." Another member of the committee suggested Sants was "dumping on your predecessor" in an effort to avoid responsibility. Sants denied this.
As soon as he was promoted to FSA chief executive in July 2007, Sants claimed he set about a radical overhaul of the regulators' structure. "If you are an integrated regulator, it doesn't make sense not to have an integrated structure," he told MPs. He further claimed to have "asked for the resignation" of Briault "as soon as possible". The FSA chief executive suggested the regulators could possibly have intervened to stop RBS's ill-fated acquisition of part of Dutch rival ABN Amro in 2007, but after he became chief executive such a move was impossible.
Even at the eleventh hour, Sants credited himself for "having the guts to consider" the risks involved in the takeover. By the time he was leading the FSA, however, a review of the deal found there were not sufficient legal grounds to step in.
Also giving evidence to the select committee was FSA chairman Lord Turner. He noted that although the report into RBS was extensive – and was likely to be followed by a similar report into HBOS – it was a good way short of the kind of comprehensive report into the 2008 banking crisis that had been conducted by the US Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission. He said: "You could argue, winding the clock back, we ought to have had a Royal Commission."


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Club Members and Friends are advised that due to the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, the Eastern Suburbs Dog Training Club is closed for training until further notice.
The situation regarding COVID-19 will be reviewed and status updates on the resumption of training issued in due course.More details ...
The Eastern Suburbs Dog Training Club runs Puppy Classes, Adult Dog Obedience Training, including our Responsible Dog Ownership Course, and Activity Classes on Sundays in Sydney's Centennial Park.
Click for Club's Next Training Date
Experienced instruction is given with the aim of providing you with a good companion dog. Attend classes regularly, follow our training tips, do 10 minutes a day "homework" and you will have a well trained and happy dog.
For those wishing to continue further, the Club assists with preparation for competing in dog obedience trials and runs activity classes, based on the popular agility dog sport.
Please note: The Club welcomes all dogs provided they are fully vaccinated. Proof of your dog's current vaccination must be provided when joining the Club and renewing membership.


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Students at Coeur d'Alene Avenue Elementary School in Venice helped clean up Venice Beach earlier this month.
After walking from the school to the beach, second-graders took part in a cleanup near the Venice Pier at the end of Washington Boulevard.
While teachers said it appeared that a cleanup had recently been done at the beach, there was still plenty of trash to keep the students working hard, as Styrofoam pieces and cigarette butts, considered the worst offenders of litter, were found.
Each group had three to six students taking turns holding the trash bags, tallying what items were found, and picking up trash with gloves.
The cleanup event was organized through the Santa Monica-based environmental organization Heal the Bay, which gave a presentation at the school and provided gloves and tally sheets to the students.
Third-grade students at Coeur d'Alene are scheduled to perform a Venice Beach cleanup in a couple of months, teachers said.


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¯ Dan Ryan Builders West Virginia LLC to William Lewis II, $422,130, Harpers Ferry Dist.
¯ Bob Evans Restaurant LLC to Jose Munoz, $950,000, Ranson Corp.
¯ Tyrone Couch to Ardee Coolidge III, $229,900, Harpers Ferry Dist.
¯ Timothy Draina to Edward Holton, $205,000, Ranson Corp.
¯ Brian Bowers to Stephanie Spencer, $207,000, Ranson Corp.
¯ Neal Eddy to John Coffman, $237,900, Charles Town Dist.
¯ Jane Yaracs to Hailey Marchyshyn, $208,000, Ranson Corp.
¯ Brian Bell to Bradford Myers, $183,000, Shepherdstown Dist.
¯ Merhle Nelson to Ralph Havens, $219,000, Charles Town Dist.
¯ Ralph Dimitri to Shawn Piers, $522,000, Harpers Ferry Dist.
¯ Leland Compton III to Andrew Schetter, $200,000, Charles Town Dist.
¯ Roderick Planes LLC to Dan Ryan Builders West Virginia LLC, $65,000, Charles Town Dist.
¯ Jose Benitez to Rony Mazariegos, $15,000, Charles Town Corp.
¯ Jaime Llado to Roseanna Fisher, $335,000, Kabletown Dist.
¯ Benjamin French to Timothy Smith, $115,000, Charles Town Dist.
¯ Lutman Properties LLC To Amy Jo Thompson, $355,000, Kabletown Dist.
¯ Harry Puster to James Burns, $315,000, Kabletown Dist.
¯ Brooks Wuerdemann to Richard Zigler, $57,5000, Shepherdstown Dist.
¯ David Aaronson to Daniel Johnson, $120,000, Kabletown Dist.
¯ Mayham Properties LC to Ronald Lewis, $219,400, Kabletown Dist.
¯ Christopher Palmer to Jonathan Miller, $215,000, Harpers Ferry Dist.
¯ Robert Rose Jr. to Tommy Staubs Jr., $215,000, Charles Town Dist.
¯ Pill & Pill PLLC Sub. Tr. to Ashton Prime Properties LLC, $21,500, Harpers Ferry Dist.
¯ Aubrey Gibson to Gary Haag, $55,000, Middleway Dist.
¯ Sara Goad to Joseph Burdette Sr., $129,000, Harpers Ferry Dist.
¯ Arcadia Communities LLC Successor to Bonnie Pullen, $307,600, Charles Town Corp.
¯ WVA 340 Limited Partnership to Charles Town Stack LLC, $1,600,000, Charles Town Dist.
¯ Charles Leist to Tina Miller, $159,900, Charles Town Dist.
¯ Barbara Ericsson to William Williamson III, $295,000, Charles Town Dist.
¯ Shenandoah Springs LLC to K. Hovnanian Homes of Shenandoah Springs LLC, $168,000, Ranson Corp.
¯ Betti Lou Reed to Raymona Stickell Co-Tr., $65,200, Middleway Dist.
¯ Douglas Quigley to Jose Nunez, $229,900, Charles Town Dist.
¯ Jeremy Overfelt to Frank Burhance, $197,000, Shepherdstown Dist.
¯ Orion LLC to Karl Dasch, $3,300, Harpers Ferry Dist.
¯ Donald Orser to Jesse Dishman, $1,500, Charles Town Dist.
¯ Braun Hamstead to Slonaker's Custom Paving LLC, $55,000, Middleway Dist.
¯ Hill-Dale Incorporated to G&H Investments LLC, $35,000, Charles Town Corp.
¯ Harry Davis Jr. Executor to David Thompson, $71,000, Kabletown Dist.
¯ Frank Hardy to Clifford Ramey, $90,000, Middleway Dist.
¯ Dylan Hetzel to Michael Williams, $385,000, Charles Town Corp.
¯ Kay Hayes to Frank Hardy Sr., $65,000, Charles Town Dist.
¯ Susan Carney to Jessica Tubergen, $155,000, Shepherdstown Dist.
¯ Kathy Mangold to Francis Daniel III, $735, Ranson Corp.
¯ Brittany Clark to Jason Slaughter, $205,900, Charles Town Dist.
¯ John Doyle IV to William Bell, $263,000, Charles Town Dist.
¯ Duane Bell to Daniel Sweeney, $172,000, Shepherdstown Dist.
¯ William Gavert to Nathanial Will, $331,558, Charles Town Dist.
¯ Rosemary Leist to Francis Burns, $370,000, Charles Town Dist.
¯ Mark Blanchette to Brittany Clark, $319,000, Harpers Ferry Dist.
¯ Kent Carter to Edgar Velasco, $170,000, Charles Town Dist.
¯ Nancy Spencer to Matthew Fox, $174,500, Bolivar Corp.
¯ Gregg Upshaw to Aaron Michaels, $286,000, Charles Town Dist.
¯ Paul Bowman to David Lutman, $280,000, Middleway Dist.
¯ Robert Nestor to Patrick Potts-Szoke, $256,000, Harpers Ferry Dist.
¯ Jeffery Heir to Citimortgage Inc. Succ., $53,382.96, Charles Town Dist.
¯ James Walch to Melody Masimino, $125,000, Charles Town Corp.
¯ Bernard Parrish Administrator to Glenn Smith Jr., $136,000, Ranson Corp.
¯ Michael Donahue to Carey Ingram, $1,875, Charles Town Dist.
¯ DR Acquisitions LLC to Dan Ryan Builders West Virginia LLC, $53,000, Harpers Ferry Dist.
¯ Donald Orser to Ann Kelican, $4,500, Harpers Ferry Dist.
¯ Pill & Pill PLLC Sub. Tr. to Branch Banking & Trust Company, $231,978, Charles Town Dist.
¯ Douglas Allen III to Jose Rodriguez, $1,000, Harpers Ferry Dist.
¯ Douglas Allen III to Jose Rodriguez, $3,500, Harpers Ferry Dist.
¯ Cyrus Uible to Victoria Meyding, $242,000, Charles Town Corp.
¯ Michelle Post to Tyler Cummings, $334,000, Charles Town Dist.
¯ David Brightbill to Jonathan Brantley, $259,900, Charles Town Dist.
¯ Christopher Butler to Patrick Hopwood, $324,900, Harpers Ferry Dist.


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|Free will – just a biological illusion?
Opening Skinner's Box is a tricky production to sum up.. Part history of behavioural science, part illustration of human arrogance and genius. It's not just some food for thought, but pretty much an all you can eat buffet!
A co-production between between Northern Stage and West Yorkshire Playhouse – it has been inspired by Lauren Slater's book 'Opening Skinner's Box' which is a whistle stop tour of our quest to make sense of who we are and why we do what we do, by looking at great psychology experiments of the twentieth century. The piece was developed through improvisation around the concept of trying to illustrate the most popular theories of human behaviour through famous scientists and their experiments. Right through from trial and error, to the first discoveries of how our grey matter works through brain surgery (which often went a bit wrong) and finally the most recent and popular way we have of dealing with mind matters – through the widespread use of pharmaceuticals.
|Some are more suggestible than others.
I studied Psychology at University so it was a nice refresher for me – I remembered Skinner and his Box, the theory of mass disassociation of responsibility – where the more people there are around, the less likely an individual is to help someone in need. I particularly remembered Harlow and his cruelty to monkeys trying to prove why newborns need love by taking baby monkeys away from their mothers at an early age and caging them without comfort or any social contact. No wonder he hit the bottle. We really didn't like him. And what he found out – wasn't it obvious anyway to any sentient human?
|Behavioural science – it makes you think
We appreciated the rather neat theory of cognitive dissonance. When the truth is uncomfortable to us we make up extraordinary rationalisations to deal with it so we can feel OK. What we know we should do is often so very different to how we behave in reality.. All smokers know its very bad for them, but you've got to die of something right? Might get run over by a bus tomorrow, and everyone knows someone who smoked until they were 104 with no ill effects whatsoever! So it's OK to keep on doing it – the desired result – bingo! Cognitive dissonance!
|It's all perfectly simple!
The experiment testing people's attitude to authority is also very famous. People were asked to keep on administering electric shocks in increasing voltage right up to danger level when a test subject in another room got the answers wrong to certain questions. They could hear the test subject but not see them. Most people will keep on administering more and more dangerous electric shocks to a subject if they are told to do so by a figure they perceive to be in authority. Only 35% stopped short of killing the unfortunate guinea pig and refused to go on with the experiement. This rather shocking (sorry)finding explains a lot about how people behaved during regimes like the Nazis and things like extreme behaviour during war – if you are just following orders you feel that it is not really your responsibility any more. Most people are compliers – this keeps the peace in social situations like marriages, friendships and workplaces, but this drive to conform can be be manipulated and misplaced. I know I'm not a complier as I'm always getting into trouble for saying what I think (which often is what other people think too, but will not say)
|How much do you revere authority?
Some of the experiments these scientists did were crude and cruel but it led to a more objective understanding of behavioural science and you cannot fault the ambition of this quirky production in trying to explain this journey.
It was a lot of content to bring to the stage and I think it did suffer slightly from being a bit like a lecture at times and it needed more visual content. There were a lot of names to take in if you had no background in psychology – maybe some digital projections could have helped here. When the actors used their bodies to suggest rivers or events or cult behaviour (when a being with a colander on its head prophesying the end of the world became an object of worship) was when the show worked best.
|You can fool some of the people all of the time..
All the actors were strong performers and portrayed different real figures throughout the history of this fascinating area of science.
I particularly liked Pashcale Straiton who suited the suit best (everyone was in a suit) and I loved her as the weird being who justified everything to her followers when surprise surprise the world didn't actually come to an end when she said it would. I enjoyed her portrayal of cognitive dissonance.
The whole cast were all very good though, and I was entirely absorbed. There were more questions raised than answers provided – why do we really behave the way we do? Will we ever really understand ourselves?
Everything is personal and we are all living a divine hypothesis. Exactly!
|The experiment is all!
Opening Skinner's Box is on at
Northern Stage: | 22-30 April 2016
West Yorkshire Playhouse: | 5-14 May 2016
Bristol Old Vic: | 20-21 May 2016


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Throughout the borough, homes are popping up on the market as the weather is cooling down. One place in particular that people are looking for and selling houses in is the coveted neighborhood of Whitestone.
This week, we're featuring three gorgeous homes in Whitestone that you're going to want to see if you're looking for a home in the neighborhood.
14-41 155th St., Beechhurst, NY 11357
Listing Price: $1,398,000
Details: This one-of-a-kind Beechhurst 2-story home was completely renovated five years ago and once you step inside, you'll want to schedule another visit. Features include three bedrooms, one full bathroom, a brand new kitchen with stainless steel appliances and granite countertops, a formal living room, dining room, a full basement and attic for storage and natural hickory hardwood floors throughout the house. The backyard offers a heated in-ground salt water pool, which will make your home to go-to spot when summer returns.
For more information, contact listing agents Hillary Li at 347-633-4611 or Patricia Gahan Moroney at 516-313-8966.
15-46 147th St., Whitestone, NY 11357
Listing Price: $999,000
Details: Originally built in 1935, this Whitestone colonial has been completely renovated with beautiful modern conveniences. Features include two bedrooms, one full bathroom, an eat-in kitchen with stainless steel appliances, a formal living room and dining room, a detached garage, and a full basement and attic for storage. The backyard is fenced in and has a patio with a built-in kitchen, making it the perfect spot to entertain friends and family during the summer.
For more information, contact listing agent Rula Baki at 917-674-8984.
147-47 6th Ave., Whitestone, NY 11357
Listing Price: $988,000
Details: This beautifully updated ranch sits on a tree-lined street in the heart of Whitestone. Features include three bedrooms, one full bathroom, living room, dining room, an eat-in kitchen with stainless steel appliances, a full, finished basement, a private driveway and tons of closet space. The fenced-in backyard provides a safe space for children to play and a pool for those hot summer months.
For more information, contact listing agent Patti McCarthy at 917-270-6008.
Daniel Gale Sotheby's International Realty consists of a team of exceptional sales associates and staff united through shared ideals of professionalism. Experienced and committed to diligence, discretion and personal attention, all are well versed in Daniel Gale's philosophy of caring service, and all strictly adhere to the company's code of ethics with genuine knowledge of the local communities, as well as unequaled skills in the arts of marketing and negotiation.


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Sainsbury's is the first food retailer in the UK to bring SignVideo to its customer service centres – revolutionising the way deaf British Sign Language (BSL) users can contact them.
The year-long trial of the Sainsbury's SignVideo service begins this week and enables Deaf customers using BSL to contact Sainsbury's call centres via a secure video interpreting service.
Sainsbury's is committed to ensuring the customer experience is as easy as possible and this service means that deaf customers using sign language can now call them instantly at no cost.
How it works:
– The service allows customers to place a call to Sainsbury's careline and grocery online contact centres via a free link on the Help Centre.
– It instantly connects deaf customers to a BSL interpreter who phones the call centre and relays the conversation in real time.
– The service will be available at all times Monday-Friday 8am-6pm and is free to use.
Sainsbury's already offers Text Relay which is used by many deaf and hard of hearing people. However, for the first time deaf customers will have instant British Sign Language access when calling the supermarket. Previously, deaf BSL users had to rely on hearing friends or relatives to make a call for them. With SignVideo they can do it themselves from the comfort of their own home, with waiting times of less than 30 seconds.
Tim Fallowfield, Company Secretary, Corporate Services Director and Board Champion for Disability and Carers at Sainsbury's said: "We pride ourselves on our customer service, and part of this is making sure it's as easy as possible for all our customers to communicate with us about their shop. We already have induction loops in all our stores for hearing aid users, and we're pleased to be trialling this innovative solution to make it even easier for our deaf BSL customers to get in touch with us when they need to."
Jeff McWhinney, Chairman and Founder of SignVideo, said: "Sainsbury's has broken new ground in embracing SignVideo, a video relay service in BSL. They have been pro-active in seeking to ensure equality in their customer service experience for deaf BSL customers and SignVideo is looking forward to working with them. By implementing this technology, Sainsbury's has shown the way forward for the food and retail industry and I hope that more will follow their example by opening up access to deaf BSL customers."
Diversity and inclusion are part of Sainsbury's heritage and they aspire to take a leadership approach to disability. Sainsbury's has supported the Disability Confident Campaign since its inception, helping to remove the barriers to work that disabled people face, increase understanding of disability and ensure everyone has the opportunities to fulfil their potential and realise their aspirations.
Justin Tomlinson MP, Minister for Disabled People, said: "I wholeheartedly commend Sainsbury's for implementing this innovative SignVideo service. As one of our key Disability Confident partners, they are showcasing how businesses can use technology to make their products more accessible. I hope others will follow Sainsbury's lead and recognise the business benefits of supporting disabled customers."
George Selvanera, Director of Policy, Services and Communications at Business Disability Forum (BDF) said: "We are absolutely delighted that BDF Partner Sainsbury's is innovating further in meeting the needs of deaf customers through its partnership with BDF strategic alliance SignVideo. It further enhances Sainsburys reputation for leadership in meeting the needs of disabled and older customers."
Notes to Editors
About Sainsbury's
Founded in 1869, Sainsbury's today operates over 1,200 stores, employing around 161,000 colleagues across the UK. With 24 million customer transactions every week, the company's focus is on delivering high quality, affordable food, clothing and general merchandise across supermarkets, convenience stores and online. Sainsbury's Bank offers accessible financial products that reward customers who both bank and shop with Sainsbury's. Strong, well-established values are integral to Sainsbury's success in helping customers Live Well for Less.
About SignVideo
SignVideo provides British Sign Language (BSL) video interpreting services to enable communication between the community of over 150,000 deaf BSL users in the UK and hearing people. The service allows users to make and receive BSL interpreted video calls so that they can effectively and effortlessly communicate with each other. This happens through a professional video interpreter who relays the call between BSL and English and the service is available instantly on tablets, smartphones, computers and laptops via apps and software. SignVideo demolishes existing barriers facing service providers, businesses, work colleagues and family wanting to hold conversations with deaf BSL-using people. In addition, SignVideo has reduced the previous waiting time of up to six weeks for a BSL interpreter to be available, down to less than 30 seconds.
SignVideo not only pioneered this revolutionary communications solution in the UK but now leads the way in bringing access and inclusion via 'Video Based Interpreting' to the BSL community. With a strong presence in the VRS (Video Relay Services) market in the UK, SignVideo is a highly reputable provider with its video call centres and remote interpreters conducting over 20,000 BSL interpreted video calls a year. SignVideo underpins its service with experienced, fully qualified and registered BSL interpreters, Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and ISO 9001, 14001 and 27001 quality certifications.
Born in 2004, SignVideo is led by Jeff McWhinney, a well-known deaf entrepreneur who fights tirelessly for equality of the deaf and hearing community. Today, SignVideo, a predominantly deaf-led organisation, provides their service to the government, NHS, councils, UK banks, telecommunications providers, helplines and many other types of organisations.
1) Read more and connect with us on social media at www.signvideo.co.uk
2) Jeff McWhinney is available for comment and interview on request through the press office.
3) Press office contact:
Karan Hopper, Head of Marketing
+44 (0) 208 4631137


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Health Benefits of Raw Cacao Nibs
If you're craving a chocolate fix and a chocolate bar is just not in your calorie budget for the day, why not snack on raw cacao nibs instead? Cacao nibs are the fragments of crushed cocoa beans, and have a very strong cocoa flavor along with a satisfying crunch. And cacao nibs are pretty great for you, too.
Moderately Low in Calories, High in Dietary Fiber
Unlike most processed chocolate, cacao nibs are likely to fill you up on just a moderate amount of calories. An ounce of cacao nibs has just 130 calories, or about 7 percent of your calorie allowance if you eat a 2,000-calorie diet. For those calories, though, you'll get an impressive 9 grams of dietary fiber – between 25 and 35 percent of your daily needs, depending on your age and gender.
Cacao nibs' extremely high fiber content will help fill your stomach and stave off hunger after your snack, and it also promotes digestive and cardiovascular health. What's more, cacao nibs can pretty much only be eaten slowly, forcing you to take your time eating your snack, which may help you feel more satisfied.
A Source of Iron
While "dietary iron" might make you picture spinach or red meat, you'll get a substantial amount of this mineral from cacao nibs, too. An ounce of nibs supplies 1.3 milligrams of iron, which covers between 7 and 16 percent of your needs, depending on your age and gender. Eating foods rich in iron is important for a healthy lifestyle – your body uses iron to distribute oxygen throughout your body, helping your cells function properly.
Loaded With Antioxidants
Cacao nibs are the raw material used to make both cocoa powder and dark chocolate – so they have similar antioxidant benefits to those two superfoods. That means that cacao nibs are a great source of flavanols, a family of heart-healthy antioxidants that help relax your blood vessels and lower your blood pressure. Some early evidence also suggests that flavanols might help prevent diabetes, explains the Harvard School of Public Health.
Healthy Serving Tips
Cacao nibs are not sweetened, and their natural bitterness may take a while to get used to. If it's too much for you right now, use cacao nibs in healthy recipes. Add a spoonful of nibs to your morning smoothie bowl, or stir 'em into strawberry oatmeal. They add a kick to granola or trail mix. You can also add cacao nibs to your baked goods – try a whole-grain bran muffin made with cherries and cacao nibs.


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3 rd year of participation in FLL National Robotics Championship help this year and 21 teams participated in National championship Our OSCS Sparkling Stars team won the award for "Gracious Professionalism" and nominated to represent Pakistan in the Lebanon championship. ...Read More »
Results of 5th Class 2016
Amazing result of 5th Federal Board exams. MashaAllah they did very well given all the difficulties faced on family front, hunger and sorrows.Read More »
Federal Directorate of Education
OSC school Students appear in 5th Federal directorate of education. The school has Alhamdolillah passed out 6 successful batches.Read More »
New project "Hunarmand"
A new project by the team of OSCS "Hunarmand". First Technical and Vocational training and skill development center of iFeel was initiated in 2015 to provide skilled workers to society. The first venture under this new department was 'Basic Electrical ...Read More »
Current Activities
iFeel – Aiming towards a 100% literate Islamabad Current Activities Out of School Children's school under iFeel is providing free quality education to needy children. It has established ten schools in different parts of Islamabad with more than 600 street ...Read More »


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The modern metropolis of Floyd Douglas
The work of young artist Floyd Douglas (1982) makes it possible to model reality. We see city landscapes playing with the content of life, in the mist of colorful polluted air. His art is the reflection of upbringing and freedom of the digital era in arts and depicts the power of youth, courage and boundless opportunities. His work resembles metropolitan art, captured in the blink of an eye. As if the canvas were a retina. Douglas transforms the modern metropolis into a concrete jungle and invites wild animals from the territory to share with the undiscovered animal in man.
'The images that I create come to me in moments of intense inspiration. This happens during the day, but also at night. I often wake up with works of art very vividly presented and already elaborated in my mind, the only way to relieve myself of this is to make these images tangible.'
Douglas gets his inspiration from everything that concerns him, this is clearly visible in his work where fashion, art, design, films, music, architecture and travel are discussed. It is the surrealistic dream of a young European, who portrays modern views on the way the world works today. It reminds us that we live in an age of ever-increasing innovation and acceleration of untold influences that help shape and shape our lives. He discovered that much of his inspiration is a product of the collective consciousness of the world today. In some ways he would say that he is a channel which funnels the thought and the beliefs of the modern metropolis.
Limited art prints
We have an amazing selection of limited edition art prints by Floyd Douglas in our shop. The prints are available in different dimensions. All our prints are numbered, signed and exclusively available at Mr. Wallski. All limited art prints come with a certificate of authenticity. Visit our shop to see all works made by Floyd Douglas.


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Big goals
'A magic dwells in each beginning' The quote perfectly fits werk5 when it comes to the beginnings of robotics. Christophe Barlieb remembers his first conversation with Hauke Helmer in regards to the technical possibilities of robotics in the model making sector quite well. First research trips to Augsburg and Linz were made and they led back to Berlin to Dr. Thilo Röhrig of the Technical University. Thilo Rörig and Christophe Barlieb are both academics and share a main interest in applied research – they quickly formed the research team at werk5. Shortly afterwards, the first Cobot iiwa was purchased, affectionately called "Diva". With "Robert" robot number two followed quite soon. Christophe Barlieb established a kind of personal relationship with both of them and entered into a philosophical discourse on the spatial interaction between man, machine and matter. Looking back, he says, "We courageously begun to experiment and test the possibilities in non-industrial robotics use. After about two years, we have arrived in the premier class and have even developed our own methodology to control the robots They are nowadays used by leading academic institutions such as Stanford." With his work, Christophe Barlieb wants to help shape change and make the benefits of robotics visible and accessible to the general public. His goal is for everyone to be able to operate a robot as easily as a smartphone. Christophe Barlieb has already made good progress along the way. He has proven that he can successfully implement robotics in model making.


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[RECIPE + PAIRING] Pumpkin Spice Rice Krispie Bars + Moscato
EVERYTHING is Halloween right now! If you're just a little sick of the Snickers and Twizzlers and pumpkin-shaped Reeses, get a load of this adult Halloween treat below—created by my pal Corey Meier of Create Catering—that you can whip up in under 20 minutes. The best part about it? It pairs well with a fizzy little Moscato!
Trick or treat, friends!
*Pair to an off dry Moscato, like the 2017 Foris Sparkling Moscato*
Makes one 9×9 pan
For the Bars
• 2 Tbsp Butter
• 1 Bag Marshmallows
• 1Tbsp Instant Coffee Granules
• 5-6 Cups Rice Krispies
For the Pumpkin-White Chocolate Ganache
• 2 Tbsp Pumpkin Puree
• 1 Cup White Chocolate
For the Spice Mix - Make to your liking!
• Cinnamon to taste
• Ginger to taste
• Nutmeg to taste
• Ground Mace to taste
For the Dark Chocolate Drizzle
• 4 Tbsp Dark Chocolate Chips
1. Melt the butter and marshmallows together in a heavy bottom pan over medium heat.
2. Once melted, add the coffee granules and stir to combine.
3. Fold in the Rice Krispies until combined.
4. Finally, pack the Rice Krispie mixture into a greased 9×9 pan. Allow to cool.
5. Over medium heat, melt the white chocolate, incorporate the pumpkin puree.
6. Add "your" signature spice mix to the white chocolate. Pour the entire mixture over the top of the Rice Krispie bars.
7. Finally, melt the dark chocolate chips (you can do this in the microwave) and drizzle over the top of the white chocolate ganache.
8. Allow the chocolate topping to set, then cut the bars and enjoy with a glass of Moscato!


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NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 31 – A packed Kenyan Parliament embarked on voting on amendments to the Proposed Constitution. We cover live proceedings of the crucial vote:
6.30 Temporary Speaker Margaret Kamar announces the adjournament of the House. Debate resumes on Thursday at 9.00am.
6.20 Igembe North MP Ntoitha M'Mithiaru moves an amendment to delete the affirmative action that requires the State to prepare legislation to ensure not more than two thirds of elected leaders shall be from one gender.
6.18 Bumula MP Bifwoli Wakoli announces that he has withdrawn his intended amendment after observing that the mood of the House was against any amendment.
6.15 The proposed amendment flops with only 52 MPs present.
6.06 MPs go to division to vote on the amended amendment.
5.50 Attorney General Amos Wako successfully amends Ms Mugo's proposed amendment to delete the contested clause allowing for an abortion during an emergency and through legislation. The argument in the House is that these can be taken care by an Act of Parliament.
5.05 Public Health Minister Beth Mugo moves an amendment to completely outlaw abortion and delete a provision that allows Parliament to pass legislation to allow abortion.
5.04 Ms Murugi's amendment fails the prerequisite 145 MPs support. Only 101 MPs are in the House by the time of the division.
4.30 Gender Minister Esther Murugi moves an amendment to delete clauses referring to abortion in the Proposed Constitution.
4.25 A second attempt to bar security forces from enjoying provisions of the Bill of Rights flops after failing to garner the requisite 145 MPs support. Only 116 MPs are present in the House.
4.19 MPs proceed to division to vote on Mr Nkaissery's amendment on exempting security forces from the bill of rights.
3.29 MPs approve a procedural Motion requiring them to hold extra ordinary sittings on Thursday morning to give them more time to debate and vote on the amendments to the Proposed Constitution. Prime Minister Raila Odinga urges MPs to think patriotism and not partisan politics.
3.10 Government Chief Whip Jakoyo Midiwo moves another procedural Motion to allow the House to hold an extra-ordinary sitting on Thursday morning. The Motion is seconded by Deputy PM Musalia Mudavadi and supported by ODM Ministers Mohammed Elmi, Anyang Nyongo as well as some ODM MPs.
However, the mood of the House seems to go against the Motion as many oppose.
3.08 MPs shoot down a procedural Motion that would have extended House sittings from 6.30pm to 11.50 to allow members debate and vote on the intended amendments to the Proposed Constitution.
Backbenchers led by Garsen MP Danson Mungatana said there was no need to extend the sittings since the mood in the House was that members were opposed to any amendments.
3.01 Government chief whip George Thuo moves a procedural Motion requiring the House to extend its sittings from the usual 6.30pm to 11.50pm. However, some MPs oppose the proposal, among them Danson Mungatana.
2.30 Parliament resumes but MPs first deal with Question Time before resuming debate on the Constitution.
1.30 Mr Musila convenes a press conference outside the chambers and registers his disappointment with fellow MPs who failed to support an amendment that would have ensured state security and guard against insubordination in the armed forces.
1.20 House adjourns until 2:30
1.17 An amendment by Defense Assistant Minister David Musila to bar members of the Disciplined forces (Army, Police, Prison warders) from demonstrating or representation by an advocate flops after only garnering the support of 122 MPs.
Four voted against the amendment while 21 absconded.
12.35 Speaker announces that there are 150 MPs in the chambers and orders a vote on Mr Musila's proposed amendment.
12.08 Speaker Kenneth Marende announces a hitch in the tally of MPs present in the House. He said the clerks had recorded varying totals of 140, 143 and 146. He orders that the Clerk stands up and calls out the names one by one.
11.50 Speaker orders that the number of MPs in The Chambers be established as Mr Musila's amendment gets overwhelming support. Unlike the other amendments where members walk out, the MPs remain seated awaiting the outcome of the count.
11.30 – 11.50 An amendment by Defense Assistant Minister David Musila to bar members of the Discipline forces (Army, Police, Prison warders) from demonstrating or representation by an advocate gets an applause and almost full House support.
11.26 An amendment by Mr Musyimi to delete a section that excuses the application of the Bill of Right for Muslims at the Kadhis court fails as only 60 MP are present when the Speaker calls for division.
11.08 Kipipiri MP Amos Kimunya stands and says he has withdrawn 30 of his amendments citing that "the mood of the House was against the amendments.
11.08 An amendment by Tinderet MP fails as he was not in the Chambers.
11.06 An amendment by Gachoka MP Mutava Musyimi to separate State and Religion flops as only 57 MPs are present
10.59 – Tens of MPs walk out of the chamber in protest of the amendment to separate State and religion after the Speaker declared that the numbers be ascertained to decide whether a division will be carried out.
10.46 Gachoka MP Mutava Musyimi moves amendments that State and Religion shall be separate.
10.42 Dozens of MPs troop back to the House after Speaker Kenneth Marende announces that Mr Orengo's amendment had failed.
10.40 Mr Orengo's amendment to introduce provinces as the second level of devolution fails as only 107 MPs are present in the House.
10.10 –10.15: In his opposition to devolution Laikipia East MP Mwangi Kiunjuri accuses the desire for Majimbo among the ODM as being behind the 2008 post election violence. Chepalungu MP Isack Ruto stands on a point of order to dispute the allegation accusing PNU of "stealing the election" thereby causing the violence.
10.20: An infuriated Gichugu MP Martha Karua stands to accuse Mr Ruto of itiminditing people by killing people in search for power.
Speaker Marende is forced to intervene and orders the three to withdraw their statements which he ruled were unparliamentarily.
10.10 Ugenya MP James Orengo moves an amendment to introduce the provinces as the second level of devolution. Heated debate ensues with equal support and opposition. Orange Democratic Movement MPs voice support while the Party of National Unity legislators insist to oppose the "introduction of Majimbo."
10.07 – An amendment by Gachoka MP Mutava Musyimi on Article 4 to ensure a universally applicable Bill of Rights fails to garner the 145 support and is dismissed.
9.55 – Speaker Kenneth Marende rules that every member with an amendment will be given an opportunity to convince fellow colleagues.
9.05 – 9.50 Members argue whether they should debate an amendment when the House at that time does not have the requisite 145 MPs required to pass any amendment.
9.00 – Deputy Speaker Farah Maalim enters the chambers and leads the House into prayer.


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Millie Mackintosh and Hugo Taylor have left us all pretty confused recently.
The pair were spotted looking very cosy as they caught up in Dubai last month, hugging and chatting as they enjoyed the city's British Polo Day.
See: Millie Mackintosh Looks *Seriously* Hot On Trip To Dubai
They were then papped in London together, before Hugo posted one seriously flirty comment on an Instagram photo of Millie's, er, behind over the weekend.
Millie, 26, had shared a close-up snap of her derriere clad in ripped jeans (yep, ripped over THAT area), which Hugo certainly seemed appreciative of.
He simply left a series of rocket emojis on the snap. Ooh.
Millie and Hugo, 29, have kept firmly schtum on their blossoming friendship over the past few weeks.
We mean, it's only been two months since Millie announced her separation from husband Professor Green.
But they do appear to be getting on well. And why wouldn't they? They go back a long way, having dated in the early days of Made In Chelsea.
Well, we guess there was the whole Hugo-cheating-on-Millie-with-best-friend-Rosie thing… but that's all in the past, right?!
See: Hugo Taylor Writes A Cheeky Comment On Millie Mackintosh's Photo
Whatever the case, it seems as though their former MIC co-stars are on board.
Chatting to the Daily Mirror, Binky Felstead says: 'I love Hugo and I love Millie, so yes [I'd like to see them back together].'
Latest Stories
'We all live quite close together so I see Hugo occasionally, but I don't really speak to Millie.'
She also opened up about how she thinks Pro's getting on, continuing: 'I've heard Pro Green has been really nice about it.'
Let's hope everything works out well for all three of them.


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When the grocery stores had baking supplies on sale before Christmas I bought a few bags of various chips for cookies. They had been in the cupboard for almost three month and I wondered what to make … [Read more...]
Tropical Crunch Cake
February 23, 2010 by 8 Comments
This is a very simple, quick and fairly inexpensive dessert recipe. It came about probably five years ago when I made a Butter Pecan Peach cake for a church function and one of the ladies shared she … [Read more...]
Peanut Butter Mini Bundt Cakes
August 28, 2009 by 14 Comments
Welcome to day five of kid friendly food week here on Cookin' Mimi. The cake recipe just happens to fall on my one year blogoversary. Hard to believe I have been at this a year. I am mostly amazed … [Read more...]


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Ann Florini
Ann Florini is Senior Fellow in the Governance Studies Program at the Brookings
Institution and director of the World Economic Forum's Global Governance Initiative.
From 1997 to 2002, she was Senior Associate at the Carnegie Endowment for
International Peace. She received her Ph.D. in political science from UCLA and a
Master's in Public Affairs from Princeton University. She has previously been
associated with UCLA, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, and the United Nations
Association of the USA. She is the author of The Coming Democracy: New Rules for
Running a New World (Island Press, 2003). Her edited volume, The Third Force: The
Rise of Transnational Civil Society, was published in October 2000 by the Japan
Center for International Exchange and the Carnegie Endowment. She is co-author of
the monograph Secrets for Sale: How Commercial Satellite Imagery Will Change the
World. Her articles have appeared in such journals as Foreign Policy, International
Studies Quarterly, WorldLink, and International Security.
Global Governance in a Time of Transformation
We live in an extraordinarily fluid time, when choices made today will have massive consequences for tomorrow.
Imagine living in a wonderful world a few decades from now. The gut-wrenching poverty that left half the world eking out a bare existence at the turn of the millennium has become little more than a distant memory as ever freer and more equitable global markets have ushered in a new era of prosperity for almost everyone. New environmentally sustainable technologies from 'green' cars to organic farming are so widely adopted that Mother Nature smiles benignly on her eight billion or so human children. This extraordinary progress in the human condition has become possible thanks to the information revolution and the related spread of education. People around the world have become capable of demanding and getting effective and competent governments which are closely monitored by a global array of citizens groups looking out for the public interest.


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I'm a bit worried about the two kids without hats. The rule here is "no hat - no play".
I explained to one of the teachers that I publish a Sydney photoblog mostly aimed at overseas readers, and asked her permission to take a photo of the group.
Monday, July 23, 2007
Feeding time at the zoo
I'm a bit worried about the two kids without hats. The rule here is "no hat - no play".
4 comments:
Hi again Mike,
I've just been exploring your photos.Australia is definately a country of scenic contradictions,from the skyrises to the outback as potrayed in that spectacular film Rabbit Proof Fence.
Eventually I'll get round to visiting.So far my only experience of it has been a cinematic one!
The Australian Film Foundation does seem to turn out mesmerising stuff.It gives a real feel for the country and the people.
It's obvious that I have bugger all to do today but sit here and comment on your blog and photo selection.
Let me also thank you for having the patience to not only read them but answer them too.
I know this isn't the right place to say but you're doing a great job.
Take care.
- July 24, 2007 at 1:10 AM
- Mike Hitchen said...
Hi Marion,
Aaaw, any place is the right place to say nice things
- July 24, 2007 at 1:19 AM
Hello Mike,
Just wanted to say how much I love your photoblog of Sydney, we have been looking for a special destination to visit for our 40th wedding anniversary later this year. Thanks to you I think I may have found it, course have to let the other half see it, but I think that he will be in agreement.
Best Wishes
Scots Gran
- July 24, 2007 at 11:30 PM
- Mike Hitchen said...
Hi Scots Gran,
First, thank you for the lovely comments re the blog! It is very much appreciated.
If you do decide to come, let me know and I can show you a bit of Sydney. Feel free to contact me if you need any advice
- July 25, 2007 at 12:43 AM


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What are your 'staple' garments? When you make your own clothes, it seems like it should be easier to fill your wardrobe with them, but there is such a thing as having too much choice… More
Hello Holga: Holga 135 review
I've been wanting to give film photography a try for a while now, so last year made it my mission to shoot a roll of film – and I bought a Holga 135 to do it on.
Holgas are a brand of 'toy' camera first made in Hong Kong in the 1980s, similar to the Diana cameras that were really popular a few years back (although those originally came out in the 1960s). There are two types of 35mm Holgas: the 135, which is the one I have, and the 135BC. The BC stands for 'black corners', as it produces vignettes at the corners.
Whichever Holga option you choose, they're cheap, plasticky and known for producing images with vignettes, unpredictable light leaks and a soft-focus blur. I'll admit these don't sound like a selling points, but it's all part of the charm – you never quite know how your photos are going to turn out.
This being my first roll, I was expecting mixed results – and that's definitely what I got. Holgas don't exactly have a whole lot of settings to play with, which is part of what attracted me to them in the first place. It's film photography for dummies! That being said, I still messed up half the film thanks to its pesky bulb switch.
Although the Holga has a few settings, they don't really do all that much – apart from, that is, the bulb switch. This nifty setting allows the shutter to stay open for long exposures when taking photos at night or in low lighting, which is not what you want when you're taking a standard photo in daylight.
It also just to happens to be on the underside of the camera, which means it can be easily switched to the 'B' setting by accident – especially if, say, you chuck the camera loose into your handbag without a case on it.
I'm not giving up, though! I've got a black and white roll to snap with next – and I'll be checking that damn switch before clicking the shutter.
Tips for shooting with a Holga 135:
- Careful with that bulb switch! Learn from my mistake and make sure you check that sucker every time you take your camera out, or you'll end up with half a roll of blurry, over-exposed shots like I did.
- Tape up the camera. If you're not a fan of the light leaks, Holga pros recommend taping up the gaps in the camera casing with black tape.
- Remember to wind the film (or not). This sounds so simple, but I found it hard to get into the habit of winding the film on and ended up with some unintentional double and triple exposures. So I'll be (intentionally) playing with that more with my next roll.
- Have fun! I was a bit too precious with my film, saving it until the 'right' time, so it took me ages to finish the roll (and half the shots were still rubbish anyway). The results are so unpredictable that there's really no point in being precious – so, to paraphrase Nike, just shoot it!
Sustainable sewing: no-plastic packaging
There are so many reasons we sew – fun, learning, fashion – and sustainability is high on the list for me. I hate what fast fashion is doing to the planet and don't want to contribute to it, but sewing your own isn't automatically more sustainable or ethical. Synthetic fibres, damaging manufacturing processes and poor working conditions aren't confined to the garment-making industry – they're all there in the production and distribution of the fabrics themselves, too.
But there's also another aspect to this I hadn't considered until recently. Outside of London it can be difficult to find bricks-and-mortar fabric shops, so I mostly buy fabric online – and it often comes wrapped in single-use plastic. I always save padded envelopes where I can but it's not often possible to reuse plastic wrappers and, although it may seem trivial in the grand scheme of planet-damaging things, the idea of adding yet more of these to landfill just to feed my fabric-buying addiction isn't a pleasant one.
So, I've put together a list of online sewing retailers that use eco-friendly, recycled or recyclable packaging – it's a work in progress and I'll add to it as I find more, so feel free to comment with any I've missed.
Here's to stash-shopping without added plastic!
Sewing shops using eco, recycled or recyclable packaging:
- Backstitch: One of the few online sewing shops I've found with a packaging policy on their website, Backstitch have committed to not buying any more plastic packaging and instead use brown paper fastened with brown paper tape. They stock loads of amazing sewing brands too, from Atelier Brunette fabrics to Colette patterns.
- Merchant & Mills: My recent fabric order from Merchant & Mills (this amazing hand-dyed spot print, if you were wondering) came beautifully wrapped in paper and sent in a brown envelope fastened with string – so nice I had to Instagram it.
- Raystitch: Another shop with a sustainability policy on its website, Raystitch has switched to fully recyclable paper Jiffy bags, cardboard envelopes and gusset envelopes, plus 70% recycled polythene bags made in the UK that can be recycled with plastic carriers. And their fabrics are seriously stunning.
- Pin and Sew: This one also has an environmental policy on its website – hurrah! Pin & Sew sell a gorgeous selection of jersey, French terry, ponte and sweatshirt fabrics, all hand-picked by founder Aga and sent out in compostable, degradable and recyclable paper post bags.
- Offset Warehouse: Offering swoon-worthy fabrics and haberdashery that aren't only eco-friendly but fairly sourced, Offset Warehouse tick so many thoughtful-sewing boxes. Their packaging is minimal, recycled and recyclable, and the fabrics are packed in tissue to prevent them from moving around in the cardboard box.
- Faberwood: Faberwood's unique fabric selection is lovingly curated by owner Fiona Trevaskiss, and as much thought goes into the packaging too – orders are sent in a cardboard box that can be reused or recycled, and also packaged in recycled mailer bags to protect your precious fabric purchase from bad weather during transit.
Exploring Florence
Italy is the holiday destination that just keeps on giving – from Roman ruins to modern art, Renaissance sculpture to rolling vineyards, beautiful beaches to breathtaking lakes, it's a tourist's dream, whatever your idea of a dream holiday might be. Heck, it even has a city on water. And whatever part of the country you visit for a little la dolce vita, first-rate food (and even better coffee) is a guarantee.
Florence, or Firenze, is everything you'd expect it to be, and yet also perhaps not quite what you might expect, all at the same time. If you're longing for a chilled city break where you can stroll leisurely around charming streets and piazzas while scoffing gelato…Florence may not be for you. Narrow pavements and the tourist hordes mean it isn't the most relaxing city to walk around (especially while trying to eat gelato).
What it lacks in wide pavements, though, it more than makes up for in art, culture and shopping. There are so many galleries and museums, with some of the world's most iconic artworks – think Botticelli's Birth of Venus and Michelangelo's David – as well as more unusual exhibits, such as the life-like wax anatomical models at The Museum of Zoology and Natural History (tbh, we gave that a miss).
And once you've ticked off everything on your list (yes, even those anatomical models if that's your thing) you can plan in some excursions out of the city, too – Pisa, Bolgona, Siena, Lucca, Arrezzo, Cinque Terre, and even Rome and Venice are within reach from Florence by public transport, although the latter three would be best done over a few days each. We had seven days in Florence and ventured out to Pisa, Bologna and Siena, yet still felt like we'd enjoyed everything Firenze has to offer (which, admittedly, mostly involved pizza, pasta, ice cream and wild boar).
October is a great time to visit Florence – there are obviously lots of tourists, but not as many as in peak season, and the temperature is still around 20-25 degrees, which is practically tropical for us Brits. I tried to fit in with the locals by wearing a jacket and boots, but in the end I went full tourist in sandals, (me-made) short sleeves and a camera hung round my neck.
Things to do in and around Florence
- Shop: Celeste Vintage has a tempting array of designer and non-designer vintage to add to your collection – not picking up something from here is my biggest holiday regret.
- See: After spending some euros at Celeste, head a little further down the road to the Pitti Palace for a different kind of fashion fix at the costume museum there. It's small but inspiring, and the ticket includes entry to Pitti Palace's other galleries, too.
- Avoid: Don't be tempted to pay extra for the 'fast track' ticket to get into the Uffizi. We did, and it didn't seem to make any difference to the waiting time whatsoever – you still have to queue for ages to get in, along with all the other suckers who paid for a so-called 'fast track' ticket.
- Visit: If you're short on time and can only do one day trip out of the city, go to Siena – with its charming cobbled streets, stunning skyline and quaint shops and restaurants, it's a breath of fresh air after the hustle and bustle of Florence (not to mention an Instagrammer's dream).
- See: Don't overlook Italy's modern art galleries – they're not shouted about as much, but they're worth seeing. The permanent collection at Bologna's MAMbo traces the history of Italian art from World War II to present day, with works by Italian artists as well as others from around the world. It's quite a small gallery, which is ideal if you're visiting from Florence and only have a day to explore Bologna, and it has a gift shop full of nice artsy things too.
- Avoid (unless you have time to spare – and a big appetite): In Florence, you'll probably spot quite a few people tucking into a giant sandwich from All' Antico Vinaio and, while they certainly are tasty (and giant), the queues are super long for what is essentially a huge slab of bread and cheese you probably won't be able to finish.
- See: Siena is known for its Palio, a bareback horse race that usually happens twice a year – except we managed to find ourselves there during the Palio Straordinario, a special extra Palio and the first in about 18 years. It's been described as 'lawless', and I'd say that is a fitting description, but it's fascinating at the same time – this isn't an attraction done for tourists' benefit, but a real rivalry between the city's contradas, or districts, that's been going on since medieval times, with an atmosphere like a derby football match. While I don't like the animal rights issues surrounding it (the track has some tight turns and the horses often get injured), it's a unique thing to experience.
- Eat: We had one of my favourite meals of the trip at Allabona in Pisa, an eco-friendly restaurant that serves local food and wines (I can recommend the sparkling one) and uses biodegradable and compostable plates and cups – wine is still thankfully served in a glass, though.
- See: Famous landmarks often don't live up to the hype, but Pisa's leaning tower is genuinely impressive to see in person – if only to watch all the tourists lining up to do that pose (before inevitably joining in yourself – go on, you know you want to).


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Area Police Reports
Kosciusko Officers with the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department investigated the following incidents: 3:02 p.m. Monday, April 6, 3500 block West Hill Lake Road, Claypool, Stephen M. Lewis reported harassment. 12:13 p.m. Monday, April 6, 4400 block West Union Street Claypool, Kirstin Lane Forney reported fraudulent bank card transactions. … Read More


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Speedicath Flex Double Loop 12 Fg Male 33cm
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|rounded tip
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Click here to view Independence Australia's complete shipping policy.


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Leading growth investor Synova Capital ("Synova") is delighted to announce that an agreement has been reached for the sale of portfolio company Stackhouse Poland Group Limited ("Stackhouse Poland" or the "Group") to Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. [NYSE: AJG] ("Gallagher"), the US headquartered global insurance brokerage and risk management firm. The transaction, which remains subject only to regulatory approval, will generate 5.6x invested capital and an IRR of 52% to Synova.
Following Synova's investment, Stackhouse Poland has increased revenues threefold to £55m, placing £300m of GWP into the market, through a mix of organic growth and targeted acquisitions, transforming the Group into a highly successful, large-scale specialist UK insurance broker. Employee numbers have grown similarly (from 160 to more than 500) with the Group now operating from a network of 23 offices across the UK with well-established insurance divisions specialising in high-net-worth private clients, real estate, commercial, healthcare and a wide range of specialist insurance sectors.
David Menton, a Managing Partner of Synova and a Non-Executive Director of Stackhouse Poland, noted: "Stackhouse Poland represents another highly successful partnership for Synova. Having targeted the high-net-worth brokerage sector, we contacted the shareholders when revenues were sub-£10m; patiently developing the relationship led to us investing alongside newly appointed CEO, Tim Johnson, in 2014.
Together, over the past four years, we have recruited a high quality team, rolled out scalable IT solutions across the platform, integrated acquisitions effectively, and delivered exceptional growth. I would personally like to pay tribute to Jeremy (Cary), James (Agnew) and Tim for their partnership, and their friendship, throughout the Stackhouse Poland-Synova journey. We wish Tim and the team continued success in their future partnership with Michael Rea and his team at Gallagher."
Jeremy Cary, Chairman of Stackhouse Poland, commented: "It has been a pleasure working in what I have always described as a 'true partnership' with Synova. Their insights and guidance have allowed Stackhouse Poland, and most importantly our people, to flourish over the past four years. Synova have supported our growth strategy as well as helping us ensure our distinctive culture remained at the heart of the Group. From reaching out to me and my fellow shareholders in 2012 and investing in 2014, to building the strategy together and empowering the wider management team under Tim Johnson, Synova have delivered all that they promised."
Tim Johnson, CEO of Stackhouse Poland, said: "I have enjoyed every minute of my four year journey with Synova; their knowledge of our industry, their understanding of the important building blocks of growth, and the discipline that comes from having a focused private equity partner has been invaluable. Most importantly, we have learnt from each other along the way.
We invested together, alongside two remarkable shareholders, with a plan to build Stackhouse Poland into the UK's pre-eminent private client and specialist commercial lines broker, and I'm thrilled that this plan has been recognised by Gallagher with its commitment to support our team by becoming our global partner for the future."
"Having begun life as a small, general practice broker, Stackhouse Poland has since grown through a well-managed blend of organic growth and targeted acquisitions, just like Gallagher," said J. Patrick Gallagher, Jr., Chairman, President and CEO. "With its suite of specialisms and first-class reputation among clients in the UK marketplace, it will make an outstanding addition to our global team."
On reaching the agreement, Michael Rea, CEO of the UK Retail division at Gallagher, which serves customers from more than 50 locations, said: "This is a fantastic opportunity to bring together our two high-performing businesses. We've long admired Stackhouse Poland as an ambitious, well-run insurance broker with an impressive portfolio of specialisms that are highly complementary to our own, such as private clients, real estate, marine, churches and education. From our earliest discussions with Tim and the team, it was clear their business, like ours, has been built around a relentless focus on client service and we look forward to creating an extraordinary business together."


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The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is testing a new departure path this month for aircraft at Santa Monica Airport that federal officials say could reduce the number of delays at the general aviation airport and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
Under this procedure that began December 1st, some departures will make a right turn soon after takeoff and fly at a 250-degree heading, or angle of an aircraft to an object, instead of the usual 210-degree heading, according to FAA spokesman Ian Gregor.
"This will keep departures from the Santa Monica Airport on a parallel path with departures from Los Angeles International Airport," Gregor said. "They will maintain the required three-mile distance from LAX departures at all times, eliminating the need to hold departures at either airport."
The two airports' departure paths eventually converge out over the ocean and as a result, airplanes leaving Santa Monica must be sequenced with airplanes exiting LAX to provide safe separation and spacing between aircraft, the FAA says.
"Because of the sequencing requirements, departure delays occur at both airports. Behind every Santa Monica Airport jet or turboprop departure, the next subsequent LAX departure must wait two to three minutes to depart," Gregor added.
Santa Monica Airport Director Robert Trimborn presented a report at last month's Airport Commission meeting about the new heading, where he stated that the FAA procedure would apply to piston-powered instrument flight rules (IFR) departures only.
"The test and proposed flight track change will not affect jet aircraft operations at Santa Monica Airport," the director told the commission.
Wait time at LAX can be as long as seven to nine minutes in some cases because piston aircraft fly slower than jets and turboprops, Gregor said. Frequently, there are several aircraft waiting to fly out of LAX and the number of aircraft waiting for departure multiplies the delay time.
Susan Hartley, a former Santa Monica Airport commissioner, calls the FAA test "a shell game" that will not bring relief to any of the homeowners who reside near the airfield.
"What they are doing is a de facto enlargement of the airport," Hartley, who lives west of the city-owned airport, asserted.
In addition to the proximity of the airport and the need to make sure that the IFR departures do not conflict with each other, the alignment of the runways presents another problem, the report states. The runways at LAX are aligned at a heading of 250 degrees, while the Santa Monica-owned airfield is aligned at 210, a 40-degree variance of a convergence angle between the two centerlines of the runways.
"This necessitates very specific and precise coordination between the facilities," Trimborn said.
Delays also result in increased aircraft exhaust emissions, increased noise and higher operating costs, according to the FAA.
Trimborn did not directly address Hartley's assertion, but said that the test was not considered an expansion of the airport.
"It is just a change in separation protocol in the flight path at the airport," he said.
City Councilman Kevin McKeown took the federal agency to task for not sending a representative to make a presentation at the commission meeting, which it had originally indicated that it would, and for not taking public input on the new procedure.
"The FAA was supposed to present and explain their flight path changes at a meeting of Santa Monica's Airport Commission, but cancelled that courtesy and proceeded unilaterally," McKeown said. "The new path takes planes over more homes at a lower altitude, and we're concerned about safety."
Trimborn explained in his report that the FAA changed its position on a presentation and public outreach program at the commission meeting to respond to certain concerns regarding any potential negative impacts, and decided to move forward with the procedure.
The airport director said that while he and his staff were disappointed with the FAA's decision not to appear before the commission, they would continue to work with the federal agency and be aware of any technical problems or changes related to the test.
During the test, the FAA plans to gather data on delays and will study noise complaints made to the airport.
"We'll analyze the data at the end of the test," Gregor said. "The results will determine what eventual course of action we'll pursue, and what level of environmental review and community involvement is required."
The FAA said in a statement, "This test is an attempt on the FAA's part to find a proper balance between system efficiency and community sensitivity. The FAA is sensitive to the needs of the communities we serve, as well as the needs of pilots and airlines."
Hartley says that the most beneficial solution would be one that the FAA has resisted.
"The best thing that could happen would be to decrease the amount of traffic coming into our airport," she said.
McKeown, who has been one of the council's most outspoken advocates of lessening jet traffic at the airport, feels that the amount of jet activity and volume at the city airfield is the key to having better safety and mitigating some environmental concerns.
"Santa Monica continues to believe the solution is for the FAA to operate the Santa Monica Airport in keeping with their own safety standards, which would disallow the faster jets, and we are currently in court on that issue," the councilman said.
McKeown was referring to a lawsuit that the FAA filed against the city government after the council approved a ban on certain types of jets from the airport in March 2008. The ordinance, which was never enacted, would have prohibited larger, faster jets from Categories C and D from landing at or taking off from the airport.
The federal agency won an injunction against the city and that position has been upheld by the FAA administrator and in two lower court decisions.
Santa Monica city officials have appealed the verdicts and the case is now being considered in federal court.
Jet and turboprop aircraft will not be assigned this new heading.
The test is expected to last approximately 180 days.


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Covenant Fine Arts Center, Calvin College, Grand Rapids
Feb. 21, 8 p.m.
$15, calvin.edu/sao, (616) 526-6282
So, what exactly is "Phox," anyway? A new workout craze? A Hunger Games character? One of the forgotten Palin children? No – in this case, the Phox in question is one of the most buzzed-about indie pop bands of the new year. Hailing from ultra-hip Madison, Wisconsin, Phox released its eponymous debut album mid-2014, to massive critical acclaim.
While often listed under the shopworn alternative-folk label, Phox has already set itself apart from the competition, in no small part by winning prestigious slots on the SXSW and Lollapalooza lineups. And let's not forget opening gigs for The Lumineers and Blitzen Trapper: a definite stamped seal of approval from the indie elite. After Saturday's Calvin College show, it's unlikely anyone in the house will be uncomfortable with shouting "Phox Rocks!" Or, you know, "Rox," if you really want to get down and dirty with it.


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Junior teams called for at league carnival
JUNIOR rugby league teams - The Rhys Wesser Super 9s Shield needs you.
Organisers are calling for clubs throughout the Central Highlands to get an under-14 team together and nominate for the competition.
Carnival co-ordinator Michael Fletcher said nomination forms were available from the QRL website.
"We are looking for teams to have a look and enter the competition," he said.
"It's a fairly new carnival so we are trying to expand with teams who enter."
The shield, which celebrates the career of Rhys Wesser, will be held on April 11-12 in Rockhampton at Victoria Park, and is a modified nine-a-side competition of 15 players played over two nine-minute halves.
Last year Dysart and Middlemount combined a team and Fletcher encouraged other towns who couldn't nominate a full team to follow suit.
Nominations close on February 28. Phone Michael Fletcher on 0428 113 148 or email bridget2707@westnet .com.au for information.


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INDOT announces short-term Fountain Square bridge closures
The Indiana Department of Transportation plans to partially or totally close two bridges over interstates at the northern edge of Fountain Square for 12 days each starting next week.
The Indiana Department of Transportation plans to partially or totally close two bridges over interstates at the northern edge of Fountain Square for 12 days each starting next week.
The Indiana Department of Transportation is warning motorists it will close parts of Interstate 65 and I-70 in Indianapolis beginning this week to complete work delayed by recent rains.
One of the bills would restrict changes that could be made to the Interstate 65/Interstate 70 inner loop around downtown. Another would remove the ban on light-rail projects in Indianapolis.
The two federal grants are to be used to increase the capacity of sections of Interstate 65 in south central and north central Indiana.
Podcast host Mason King talks with Rethink 65/70 member Paul Knapp, the CEO of Young & Laramore, about the group's plan to put parts of the highway below grade. Then he talks with INDOT spokesman Scott Manning and HNTB's Kia Gillette about whether the state will consider Rethink's ideas.
Downtown community groups and neighbors fought the state's original plan that called for road widening, saying the interstates would encroach even farther into residential areas.
The project will close both directions of Interstate 65 between the Meridian Street and 21st Street exits starting next week.
Some residents say a newly released Indiana Department of Transportation traffic analysis doesn't address the issue they're most concerned about—the quality-of-life impact that interstates 65 and 70 have on their downtown neighborhoods.
INDOT says it hasn't chosen a course of action yet, but the study strongly indicates some of the options proposed by opponents of its original plans are not feasible.
Officials say the new lanes be built in the highway's median, which means no additional land purchases are needed.
Traffic downtown and the northwest side will be affected by the closures, which are expected to last about 35 days in late spring.
Mayor Joe Hogsett is echoing the chorus of community leaders and downtown residents expressing concern with the state's $250 million plan to revamp the I-70/I-65 interchange.
The chamber and other coalition members favor options for the interstate project that would be more neighborhood-friendly.
As INDOT moves forward with plans for a major I-65/I-70 construction project, a coalition of residents with concerns about the impact on surrounding neighborhoods is also gaining steam.
State officials say the interchange on the northeast outskirts of downtown is 50 years old and reaching the end of its useful life. But project details are still fuzzy.
If approved, the plan would not require any future vote on tollways by lawmakers once a specific tolling plan is in place. Instead, it would leave that up to the discretion of the governor.
Transportation officials say a highway construction project south of Indianapolis is winding down just as another massive project north of the city is beginning.
INDOT has agreed to pay to make changes to an environmental impact statement to try to revive the proposed Illiana Expressway toll road project linking northern Illinois and northwest Indiana.
Indiana highway officials have refused a $1.4 million bill from a construction company for repairing an Interstate 65 bridge that experienced a month-long emergency closure last summer.
Indiana House Republicans are tying Gov. Mike Pence's extra Regional Cities funding to the bill, along with a 13th check for pensioners.


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Venus Dark Grey Pearl Earrings In Gold Shell
The order will be processed the same day. As soon as your order has been shipped you will receive an e-mail with a personal tracking code so you can keep track of your order with PostNL's 'track and trace'.
Dutch shipping will take 1-3 days.
For shipping outside the Netherlands costs depend on your shipping address. We've got different shipping zones:
|€ 6.50
|Zone 1
|€ 12.00
|France, Germany, United Kingdom, Belgium, Luxembourg, Austria, Denmark, Czech Republic and Slovakia
|Zone 2
|€ 30.00
|Rest of the world
Standard does not apply on furniture pieces larger than 175 x 78 x 58 CM or heavier than 30 KG. Want a shipping quote? Email us at email@example.com
You can send the item(s) back to our shop:
Six and Sons
Haarlemmerdijk 31h, 1013 KA Amsterdam
You can drop by our Six and Sons shop in Amsterdam.
Please bring the product, the original receipt or webshop order confirmation. The items and their condition are your responsibility, until the moment we receive them back at the store. We can't refund damaged or used products. We will send you an email to confirm your return has been received and refund processed. Your refund will be credited back via the original method of payment. Please allow up to 3-5 workdays for your refund to appear on your bank statement. Unfortunately we can not compensate your delivery costs.
From the natural beauty of the Chinese province of Behai, the Venus Dark Grey Pearl Earrings in gold shell are an instant modern classic! These organic shaped grey pearls are gently wrapped in a 14-carat gold vermeil shell to enhance its lusty silver tones.
Metal: 14ct Gold Vermeil on recycled Sterling Silver because we are an ethical jewellery brand.
~ Sea pearls hand-picked from our eco-friendly pearl farm in the Philipines.
All Amadeus jewellery is sustainable using recycled fairtrade gold and silver as well as pearls from an eco-friendly farm.
Dimensions: 28.52 mm x 8.64 mm
Weight: 3g
As a brand, Amadeus takes great care to ensure that all of our pieces are produced with a focus on sustainability and ethical practice. Hand producing all our pieces in our London studio gives us complete control over the entire process, from sourcing and production to setting and finishing.


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Actor Ty Defoe on Performing in Straight White Men
December 12, 2018
"For me, in rehearsals, every time I showed up I wanted to make sure that I was being truthful to my own voice." – Ty Defoe There's a reason why the word multidisciplinary exists. Ty Defoe is that reason. He sings, dances, writes music, writes musicals, acts, educates and tells stories. This past...
Art Talk with Ted Libbey on Leonard Bernstein
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Born in 1918 in Lawrence, Massachusetts, Leonard Bernstein was, in many ways, the most important American classical figure of his generation. If you're familiar with his work, you probably know him as the man behind the score to the musical West Side Story . But Bernstein was a cultural juggernaut...
Goodnight, Irene, Goodnight.
May 15, 2015
Summer is fast approaching and so we're winding things down on the Big Read blog. Two more posts to go and then we close up shop 'til the fall. Fare the well breezy spring days of 75 degree temps (all three of them), and hello swamp-heat, which so graciously suffocates the District like a wool...
A Look At Jhumpa Lahiri's The Namesake
March 20, 2015
How do you live in a place that might be completely alien to you? - Manil Suri Jhumpa Lahiri's first novel and Big Read selection, The Namesake , further explores an issue near and dear to the author's heart: what it feels like to be an immigrant. Though Gogol Ganguli is the protagonist, it's his...
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Ecstasy in Living
March 28, 2014
Emily Dickinson was, it's been noted, progressive for her time, her time being the late 1800s. In the poem featured below, we see how she skillfully, and slyly, reveals how she's not your typical, church-going woman. After you read the poem, you'll find an excerpt by former president of...
Mattie Ross: Conviction Incarnate
February 28, 2014
March is one day away, so to kick off National Women's Month we're shining a light on Mattie Ross, the 14-year-old heroine of Charles Portis's novel, True Grit . Though fictional, young Mattie leaps off the pages with her unwavering conviction and outsize personality. This wonderful...
(National Medal of) Art Talk with Ernest Gaines
September 13, 2013
Listing all of Ernest Gaines's achievements would likely take up an entire paragraph or five. There's been a Guggenheim Fellowship, an NEA Fellowship, a National Book Critics Circle Award, and critically acclaimed books such as The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman , A Gathering of Old Men , and...
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When Kenn Nesbitt found out he would be the new Children's Poet Laureate , he said he was "floored." We're not sure why. After all, the poet has published over a dozen books and collections of poetry and has endeared himself to kids across the country with his instinctual ability to make them laugh...
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George Lowden At Acoustic Vibes Music
April 7, 2016
We were so honored to host George Lowden at our shop for an informative, enlightening workshop! For those of you who could not attend, we'd like to share this video of the event filmed by the great folks over at Direct Current Video. Enjoy!


text: Introduced in 1949, the MG TD was a major improvement over its TC predecessor, with a 1,250 CC 4-cylinder engine, synchromesh 4-speed gearbox, more rigid frame and independent front suspension. This 1952 TD is a fine example of the British postwar classic that was restored in 2009. Finished in Black with a Red leather interior, it has a new Tan canvas top and side curtains and is completely free of rust or wood rot. This great-running MG has been driven only 800 miles since its restoration and comes complete with the original owner's manual.


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Manual/Electric Ring Cutter
Uses standard cordless screwdriver (not included). The unit now includes the traditional *key* which enables the user to turn the blades by hand, plus a new hexagonal shaped key for use with a battery powered screwdriver (not included). This key which fits any standard battery powered screwdriver is made of anodized tempered tool steel and fits into the handle and key perfectly to make the job faster and less painful. Simply unscrew the retainer nut from the standard butterfly key and replace with the hexagonal key - Bingo - it's ready to use with a power screwdriver. Made of the finest quality steel, this cutter will last for a long time. Replacement blades are available. Not for use with an electric drill
Use only with an electric screwdriver (a drill will strip the unit's gears and void the warrantee).
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Fans of F1 who are still prone to lament the passing of the old Hockenheimring (that would be me then) should take solace that now at least, so much more of the racing takes place, not deep in the German wilderness, but in front of grandstands where people can see it.
Best Grandstands at the German Grand Prix at Hockenheim
There are no bad grandstands at Hockenheim. Whether you choose seats in the ever popular, unchanged stadium section, action packed turn 1 or the circuits newest Mercedes Tribune, some are better than others but none are weak.
North Grandstand (Nordtribune)
The best vantage point for fans wanting to get a view of the start and the tumult into turn 1. The corner underwent a minor re-profiling in 2002 but hasn't changed much since the 1960s and has seen spectacular lap 1 incidents over the years.
In 2001 a slow moving Michael Schumacher caught Luciano Burti off guard, the Brazilian hitting the Ferrari and launching his car into the air. And in 2014 Kevin Magnusen tangled with Felipe Massa flipping the Williams into the gravel trap.
The North grandstand is one long grandstand that wraps its way around turn 1. Along its length its divided into subsections A, B and C, and vertically into blue (upper rows), red (mid level) and orange (lowest level).
Seats in the mid or upper sections of the stand fair better and section B, with it's proximity to the apex of turn 1 and close enough for a distant view of the starting grid wins my vote for the best seats in this grandstand.
The anticipation of the start will be reason enough for many fans to choose the North Grandstand, but being a single corner view there are better seats available at the Hockenheimring.
Note: only some sections of the North Grandstand are covered.
Mercedes Grandstand
The Mercedes grandstand is situated at turn 8 and as well as close up views of this corner and the following acceleration zone, the grandstand boasts impressive views of the track all the way from the back straight leading into the hairpin right up to where the cars disappear from view around turn 9.
Its definitely worth the extra to be in the upper rows to have a view over a much greater expanse of track.
Clear views of multiple corners and a giant screen directly opposite means that this is a grandstand that won't disappoint. Really all it lacks is the atmosphere of the iconic stadium section
Stadium section: South and Inner Grandstands
The stadium, or motodrom, section of Hockenheim long ago established its virtues as a classic vantage point to watch live motorsports. The multiple corner views coupled with electric atmosphere of over 50,000 fans all serve to make this section a very special place to spectate from.
Cars roar into sight around the sweeping turn 11. The following Sachs Kurve is an occasional overtaking spot and drivers will look for the perfect line through turn 11 to get close enough for a late braking lunge into the low speed left hander. Varying lines through the final three corners can see wheel to wheel racing continue through this sequence of corners that lead onto the main straight.
Inner Grandstand (Innentribune)
Another large grandstand in the stadium section at Hockenheim, the Inner grandstand more or less faces opposite the South grandstand and so offers a view of the same section of track from the other side. It begins at the exit to turn 11 (section A) and clings to the short straight which follows (section B) and ends at the tight Sachs curve (section C).
Which section you choose will come down to a choice between being close to the Sachs curve for unrivaled views of possible overtakes and photo opportunities as cars slow right down , or A or B which have better views of the more distant turns 13 and 14. Whichever section you're in, as always, seats on the upper levels fair better.
Note: only some sections of the Inner Grandstand are covered.
South Grandstand (Sudtribune)
The South grandstand starts at turn 15 and curves around the Sudkurve, up the main straight to meet the Main grandstand. Views encompass the entire final section of the circuit as well as the start / finish straight.
The stand is divided into 3 main sections each of which are further divided into lower middle and upper levels. A and B make up the first part of the stand close to turn 15; C and D in the central part of the stand clings to the Sudkurve and E,F,G and H continue from here and up the main straight.
If your budget can make it work it's worth it to get at least a mid level seat in this grandstand. Mid level seats are easily high enough to see a clear view of the track without the catch-fencing being an issue.
The choice is yours then whether you prefer to be lower and closer to the track and the cars or get some elevation and have a better view of the more distant corners of the stadium section and the starting grid.
The mid section of the Sud Tribune has one extra level, known by its German name of 'oberrang' or upper ranking. These are the most expensive grandstand seats at Hockenheim, and for good reason. The extra elevation commands the broadest view of the motodrom section as well as clear views of the start / finish line.
Note: only some sections of the South Grandstand are covered.


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Price: NZ$24.65
Quantity: 1 available
Book Condition: Good with no dust jacket
207 pages. No signatures. 78 plates of photographs by Bill Culbert produced from 1978 - 1995. Minor stain to top page edges and small bump to base of spine. ; 8vo
Title: Sport 19. New Zealand New Writing Spring 1997. / 78 Photographs by Bill Culbert
Categories: Other,
Edition: First Edition
Publisher: Wellington, Fergus Barrowman: 1997
Binding: Soft Cover
Book Condition: Good with no dust jacket
Item: 1.00 Item
Seller ID: 000315
Keywords: Bill Culbert Photography Fiction Periodicals Liter