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Photographer's Note
I have to break my Cambodia post for this Borneo one. Seen here Jusni shooting sunset.
Late last year, Jusni indicated that his family would take a vacation in Kuching. Since joining TE, I have seen his gallery and shared critiques with him and knew something about him. The evening of this sunset, we met at the Kuching waterfront and went shooting. He is lucky to have a great weather and a sunset that Kuching is proud to present to visitors like him.
Even I write this piece of note, the evening sunset has better color and beauty today. But he is now on his way to airport and home. From the 1 day photography shooting with him, I have come to know more about this person named as jusninasirun over the past year and half and found out many reasons why we shared many similarities apart from the same age group. I post in the WS another picture which many of you will be curious to find out.
Thank you Jusni for the many things you and I have said while together for the short moment in Kuching and I hope we will meet again, here or there, or any other place that offers good photography. Regards, bill
belido, lrw1966, siamesa, azaf1, skippy007, pierrefonds, jusninasirun, syrus_persia, Budapestman, Cretense, dip, suzzz, ciakgiak, Charo, phwall has marked this note useful
Critiques | Translate
dvlazar (6662) 2009-03-20 3:35
I feel the sky is a bit overexposed!
Sorry for being honest - otherwise nice silhoutte work.
aadilj (18102) 2009-03-20 3:58
Lovely view Bill with lovely saturation and hues. i like the way you have composed this
belido (19934) 2009-03-20 4:41
Hi Bill,
I really don't think the sky is problem in here as David says. Actually there is a nice balance between the sky and the silhouettes. I like your play with the yellow tones as well. Great "making of" photo! :)
lrw1966 (1632) 2009-03-20 4:45
Bill, Hi:
Marvelous notes and image. Friendship is a wonderful thing to be shared.
Congratulations, very nicely done.
serp2000 (46526) 2009-03-20 5:54
Hello, Bill,
fine postcard! I like your idea, nice colours and interesting tributo to J. TFS!
Have a nice weekend!
siamesa (28129) 2009-03-20 6:00
Hi Bill
One of the best things that I think about TE is the opportunity to make friends. I like your note and your picture with this marvelous sunset.
azaf1 (15929) 2009-03-20 9:25
Hi Bill
I'm sure Jusni deserves such a dedication as through his pictures you can see a sensitive person and a creative mind. Pity you guys are such a long way off.
Have a good day and TFS
skippy007 (12510) 2009-03-20 14:07
Hello Bill, I like your note, love your motive, fantastic silhouette & a fantastic beautiful overall effect, even though you admitted to the sky being overexposed I would not mention it as you know you have been with me from my beginning, I see you as the master & I'm the apprentice (student) ;-))).
A lovely scene with a very beautiful motive. Love it.
Take care
pierrefonds (76285) 2009-03-20 14:40
Hi Bill,
The sunset has a glowing effect on the colors of the sky, of the sea and a set of shadows to the rest of the photo. The presence of the photographer and of the other people has an effect of scale. The point of view takes our eyes toward the mountains in the background which is giving depth to the photo. Have a nice day.
jusninasirun (17529) 2009-03-20 19:06
Hi Bill,
Thanks for the dedication and fine notes. This was quite an experience for me shooting with two respectable TE members armed with highly rated Nikon gear. I have to admit that Kuching and Sarawak offers excellent opportunity for photography. I will definitely post a few from my memorable trip. Thanks for everything and I'll always remember the experience with you, Alfred and Jong. The shot was amazing as the sunset was brilliant. I was really engrossed with the scene and must have brought back well over 1000 images registered during the trip.
Looking forward to seeing you guys coming to Kodiang one day.
Thanks again and best regards.
ribeiroantonio (22637) 2009-03-20 23:44
It is a very nice shot even if the sun light seems yet a bit too strong for photography (in my opinion). The silhouette of the tripod is a very fine detail and all the other silhouettes are beautifully presented and placed in the composition. Well done.
syrus_persia (2270) 2009-03-21 1:11
Salam Bill
An amazing details of this TOUCHING sunset .great frame
BRAVO Bill.
rodgerg (55767) 2009-03-21 1:27
Hello Bill,
Very nice with these beautiful and incerdible colours in the sky. I like especially the silhoeuts in the Fg wich arise very well in the image.
Best regards,
bracasha75 (24591) 2009-03-21 2:02
Helo Bill
Wondeful photo of this sunrise over Kuching and very nice dedication from you
Thanks for sharing
Budapestman (82620) 2009-03-21 4:28
Hi Bill,
Splendid impression with attractive composition and beautiful lights. The environment is picturesque, not an easy shot. Have a nice weekend!
Cretense (68703) 2009-03-21 7:03
Hi Bill!
Beautiful place and excellent ocasion for a TE meeting! Fantastic sunset photo, great framing and composition, fantastic golden hues! Congratulations!
dip (23892) 2009-03-21 7:07
Hi Bill,
nice image,great contrast and beautiful light,
well done,
suzzz (399) 2009-03-21 10:16
LOVELY colors And balance..i like the silhouette alot and the general mood in this shot..great sun glow.. impressive composition
tfs Bill
TopGeo (38216) 2009-03-21 12:25
Hi Bill!Beautiful place and excellent moment for a TE meeting! It is a picture of oppositions and with silhouettes It impresses the fact in one hour where all are so much romantic and friendly Fantastic sunset, great composition, fantastic golden sky! Congratulations!
delpeoples (60236) 2009-03-21 14:23
Hi Bill, a beautiful sunset shot in sillhouette. The colours are stunning and your composition just beautiful. The inclusion of your TE friend in the photo is a lovely tribute to your friendship. Excellent job, Lisa.
ciakgiak (30433) 2009-03-21 14:24
Hello Bill,
I'm very happy to meet you.
This image is very well balanced, you shotted in a very difficult situation but the result is excellent.
This is a great atmosphere at sunset with amazing silhouettes. Great work, well done dear friend.
Best regards.
Charo (51212) 2009-03-21 14:52
Hello Bill,
A very dynamic backlight with silhouettes of people cut against the sunset.
Great colors and composition.
Best regards,
danyy (0) 2009-03-21 15:52
Bonjour Bill,
un beau jeu d'ombres chinoise sur fond de lumières magiques. Je trouve toutefois que la surexposition règne au centre dans le ciel.
Kind regards.
emka (114779) 2009-03-22 0:01
Hi Bill, it is something I like so much in RE. I have just saw the sunset shot by Jusni, dedicated to you, and now I see Jusni shooting. Funny! Now thesocial activity of TE member is quite high. Nice view
patdeph (35748) 2009-03-22 4:45
hello Bill
I rememeber when we were at the same place to enjoy the sunset colours!It seems that each time you receive someone in Kuching,you are lucky to have a superb sunset,that we can see very well in spite of the overexposition!I like the contrast between the yellow and the black silhouettes of this superb landscape you are lucky too have in Kuching!The inclusion of the people and Jusni gives a nice animation!
phwall (6785) 2009-03-22 22:46
Hello Bill,
Another superb sunset capture, yes the sky is a bit too hot as David has rightly pointed out, but sometimes there are more compelling elements to include and this time it was to have Jusni in the foreground. Many lovely silhouetted details to explore, I particularly like the two boats on the river.
All the best.
sagar (2410) 2009-03-24 11:50
Hi Bill,
Very food lights and colors here....however, I think you could have waited a little longer for the sun to get down completely , and then shoot. The sun creates a bit of an overexposed effect, which sort of wears down the beauty of this shot to some extent. Anyways, everything can be forgotten looking into those silhouttes and the overall colors.
pablominto (53746) 2009-03-25 2:08
Hello Bill,
A fine evening mood is captured!
The colours are amazing, and the shimmering water adds to the pleasant atmosphere...
The silhouettes stand out well in the composition, which is well balanced and appealing in many ways!
Pablo -
marietom (34609) 2009-04-02 11:06
hello Bill,
très belle atmosphère, dasn cette belle lumière de soleil couchant.
Bonne soirée
Photo Information
- Copyright: Bill Laucp (trekks) (14348)
- Genre: Places
- Medium: Color
- Date Taken: 2009-03-18
- Categories: Daily Life, Nature
- Camera: Nikon D700, AF Nikkor 70-300mm f4-5.6 G, RAW
- Exposure: f/4, 1/800 seconds
- Details: Tripod: Yes
- More Photo Info: view
- Photo Version: Original Version
- Date Submitted: 2009-03-20 3:21
- Favorites: 1 [view]
- To dvlazar: hi (1)
by trekks, last updated 2009-03-20 03:45
- To azaf1: hi (1)
by trekks, last updated 2009-03-20 11:23
- To skippy007: hi (1)
by trekks, last updated 2009-03-20 05:45
- To jusninasirun: hi (4)
by trekks, last updated 2009-03-23 10:33
- To emka: hi (4)
by trekks, last updated 2009-03-23 10:36
- To patdeph: hi (2)
by trekks, last updated 2009-03-22 10:55


text:
Boston College prospects and commits are excelling on the field this fall and EagleAction.com has some notes on how they are performing right here.
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subset: commoncrawl


text:
There are two kinds of cable channels in the United States: those operated by major media companies that have dozens of other channels, and those that are on their own.
The outlets in the second group, the independent channels, are feeling threatened these days. Some of the distributors they depend on — Time Warner Cable, DirecTV, Verizon FiOS — are talking about dropping underperforming channels from their lineups, or at least paying them less. Al Gore's low-rated Current TV, for example, was at risk of being dropped when it decided to sell to Al Jazeera last week and was, in fact, dropped by Time Warner on New Year's Day.
Distributors have talked for years about belt-tightening, but two things are different now: potential Web competitors are creeping up and programming costs are soaring, particularly for sports channels and broadcasters.
"We are having to take a very hard look at our lineup, not unlike a network that takes a hard look at its lineup when deciding what shows it will put on the air," said Melinda Witmer, who oversees Time Warner Cable's negotiations with channel owners. She predicted more changes in the future that would "enable us to buy the stuff that we've really got to have, and let go of stuff that's not really moving the dial."
In practice, independently owned channels are more imperiled than those owned by media conglomerates like the Walt Disney Company and Viacom. "Many lesser networks owned by the large content companies are tied to carriage of their more valuable services," said Dan York, who oversees programming deals for DirecTV.
VH1 Classic and ESPNU aren't going away anytime soon. But on New Year's Day, Verizon FiOS withdrew Youtoo TV, a fledgling channel that features videos submitted by viewers, and Time Warner Cable dropped Ovation, which bills itself as an arts and culture channel. Ovation "is viewed by less than 1 percent of our customers on any given day," the distributor said in December when it announced the change, adding, "They've had ample opportunity to improve the ratings and the content, and have failed to deliver."
Even if obscure channels like Ovation receive only a nickel a month for every customer, those nickels still add up to tens of millions of dollars in costs incurred by distributors and, indirectly, their subscribers. Of the 10 distributors that together account for 90 percent of TV subscriptions in the United States, Time Warner Cable is taking the most aggressive public stance against low-rated channels like Ovation. Programming costs in general are "out of whack," the distributor's chief executive, Glenn Britt, told investors last month, citing a 30 percent increase in the subscriber fees paid to channel owners since 2008.
Mr. Britt has been outspoken about limiting price increases to retain customers who otherwise might eliminate cable. When Time Warner Cable warned that it might drop Current last month, it also singled out low-rated channels like Hallmark, IFC, Lifetime, NHL Network, the Style Network and WE tv.
But to date, none except for Current and Ovation have been dropped by Time Warner. And new channels continue to be given a chance: Time Warner Cable started to carry BBC World News and RLTV, formerly called Retirement Living TV, in the last few months. Some programmers say that's proof that the distributors are just making empty gestures to Wall Street, talking tough about programming costs but not following through.
Chad Gutstein, the chief operating officer of Ovation, said he did not know why his channel was dropped, "but I do know this: What they say they're doing, they're clearly not doing."
"They're actually doing things to increase their programming cost growth, to drive those costs up for all the other distributors in the marketplace," Mr. Gutstein said, by starting an expensive regional sports channel in Southern California, for instance.
But channels with exclusive sports rights are crucial, even though they may make profitable distributors feel impoverished. "Any given one may not have a huge amount of viewership relative to a national service, but if you lose that team, you're losing subscribers," said Ms. Witmer of Time Warner Cable.
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text:
NEWARK, N.J., July 16 (UPI) -- News 12 reporter Sean Bergin was doing a story on the shooting of a police officer when he said one contributing factor was the "anti-cop" mentality in inner cities caused by absent black fathers.
In his report Sunday, he said the station decided to report on a suspect in the shooting case of Jersey City Officer Melvin Santiago to "shine a light on this anti-cop mentality that has so contaminated America's inner cities."
"The underlying cause for all of this, of course: Young black men growing up without fathers," he continued.
The controversial statement landed him a suspension from the station, which he announced on Facebook.
News 12 issued a statement following the suspension.
"It is News 12's policy that reporters must be objective and not state personal opinions on-air. In regards to the particular incident with Sean Bergin, the matter is being addressed internally and we don't comment on personnel matters," said a News 12 spokesman.
Bergin, who is standing by his statement, said he has received support from thousands of viewers, some of whom have even made a Facebook page, requesting his return.


text:
Amy Winehouse knows how to frighten prowlers
Amy Winehouse was spotted early this morning wandering around her apartment in nothing but jeans and a bra. She had spent the night partying with friends, but when Amy got home she seemed a bit out of it, according to a source for The Sun:
"Amy came out and started stumbling around. She popped her head over the fence like she was looking for something. It was freezing and she had no shoes and just a red bra. She was mumbling something incomprehensible. It wasn't the behaviour of someone in the right state of mind."
But a spokesperson for Amy Winehouse claims it's all just a misunderstanding:
"Amy had been asleep and heard a noise. She went outside to investigate. She didn't realise the time."
I wonder if Amy Winehouse's publicist is at the point where she just gives random excuses for Amy's behavior. Why did your client ride a giraffe into a police station? She forgot to turn her oven off. Why did a bulldozer drop a pile of cocaine into Amy Winehouse's mouth outside of a church? Uh, Babe Ruth. Why did Amy punch a pregnant woman at her last show? Tuna fish sandwich, I dunno. It's because of the drugs, you bloody idiot! Why are you still calling me? I was replaced with a box of Cocoa Puffs last week. There was even a press conference. It was five full minutes of Amy dumping cereal on a stray cat which, I'll admit, was by far the sanest thing I've seen her do.


text:
Energy-harvesting soccer ball gets a kickstart
2 comments post a comment
New York-based startup takes the idea of energy harvesting to a more philanthropic level.
A New York-based startup is taking the idea of energy harvesting to a more philanthropic level through the use of something that can be found in nearly every country in the world--a soccer ball.
The founders of Uncharted Play Inc. have developed a prototype soccer ball, called SOCCKET, that captures the kinetic energy created when it is kicked or thrown. The ball -- born out of an undergraduate project at Harvard University and developed in part by company co-founders Jessica O. Matthews and Julia Silverman -- stores that energy in an internal battery that can be used later.
Click to read the rest of this article on Design News.


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CUMMING, Ga. — Operation Homefront hosted a ribbon cutting on Veterans Day for a remodeled deck built by the Georgia chapter of the North American Deck and Railing Association (NADRA) for a military family in Cumming.
The deck rebuild was part of NADRA's Deck for a Soldier program, launched in 2007. Local volunteers completed construction, and NADRA vendors provided all products.
The remodeled deck was donated to Staff Sgt. Timothy Bellinger, of Company A of the Georgia National Guard's 48th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Battalion, 121st Infantry Division.
Bellinger was deployed to Iraq in 2005 and Afghanistan in 2008.
"This is a community effort that expresses our appreciation for the service and dedication of the men and women of our armed forces," said Keith Compton, president of NADRA's Georgia chapter. "It's a small way our industry can give back to those that give us so much – our freedom."


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I often get asked what I think is the most important question any expat faces: Where should we look for a house? What is the best place to live?
Of course this is impossible to answer definitively, as it depends on so many factors - work, school, budget, lifestyle, size, etc. But often it's also hard to find good information about a particular suburb you might be looking at.
Therefore, I was thrilled to come across this promotional video about the suburb of Lonehill that I think very effectively gives prospective residents an idea of what life there might look like. It's an area a little south of Dainfern right off of William Nicol Drive, an up-and-coming neighborhood that I think still flies a little under the radar of the expat crowd and therefore might offer a better overall value than the mainstays of Dainfern and Fourways Gardens. See for yourself:
Lonehill has many great things going for it. Have you ever been to the Lonehill Koppies? I had lived in Joburg for a year before figuring out that not 5 minutes from our house there was this cool nature reserve right in between shopping malls and residential areas which I believe some naturalists bill as one of Joburg's prime bird watching spots.
Lonehill is also an open suburb as opposed to the surrounding enclosed estates. I recall visiting a friend there once and being amazed that I could drive up to her house without the tedious security procedures we associate with living in South Africa. This doesn't mean that Lonehill is any more dangerous. In fact, it's billed as one of Joburg's safest open suburbs. You can read more about Lonehill in this informative article on Property24.
I don't know if Lonehill is the right place for you. But if I was moving to Johannesburg, I'd give it a serious look. It's within easy reach of the American International School to the north and several excellent South African private schools to the south. There is convenient shopping all around, restaurants, cafes, the mall, and well, the Koppies (if you're not familiar with South African lingo, a koppie is a little hill and the word is often used for nature reserves that are strewn around cities like Johannesburg).
For further reading on where to live in Johannesburg, I suggest the following:
Finding a House in Johannesburg: Part 1. Questions you should be asking yourself in preparing to move to Johannesburg.
Finding a House in Johannesburg: Part 2. Includes a comprehensive listing of Joburg suburbs and a description of each.
Where to Live: Dainfern or Dainfern Valley? If you are dead-set on living in either of those two neighborhoods, this might sway you one way or another. Hint: We lived in one of them.
Private Schools in Johannesburg. There is a reason this is Joburg Expat's top-rated post with 60,000 page views. Selecting a school often comes before selecting your suburb, so this is a good place to start.
Sandton Field and Study Centre: Boring Name, Beautiful Park. A great article by 2Summers about another one of Joburg's lesser-known nature reserves, if living close to a nature reserve is important to you.


text:
Classroom Crisis
To the Editors:
Hey, young America: What do you want to be when you grow up? How about being a teacher [June 16]? After a B.S., an M.S. and 20 years' experience, you can make $18,000 a year, teach five classes a day, grade homework for 150 students at night, do bus and early-morning duty and attend extracurricular events after school. Plus you get to read, at least once a month, articles telling you how incompetent you are and what a lousy job you are doing.
Sounds terrific, doesn't it? Somehow, though, it is satisfying and it is rewarding.
Noureen Byrd...
To continue reading: or Log-In


text:
Emily Foote Founded ApprenNet to Create Practical eLearning Solutions
ELearning and education technology are two of the hottest areas in the tech industry currently. Startups are attacking this area from many different angles. While some companies, such as Coursera, are trying to transplant the traditional experience of college-level education onto the Internet, many other companies are trying alternative methods to propagate learning on the web and through technology. One such cool person who is working to accomplish this is Emily Foote. Foote is the co-founder and vice president of curricular design at ApprenNet. ApprenNet is a web-based learning tool that Foote and her colleagues designed to promote educational discussion about a variety of topics. Foote is a co-founder of the company and an originator of the idea. She handles the curriculum and the application of it ApprenNet programs while her partners and other co-founders—Karl Okamoto and Paul Tzen—handle other aspects of the company. Okamoto works with business aspects as CEO and Tzen is the engineer who builds the backbone of ApprenNet's software. Since Foote and her team designed the ApprenNet product for use in large institutions, organizations that want to use the product will need large-scale computer support help to integrate and maintain it.
ApprenNet works by creating discussion groups that respond to both videos and text posts. First, there is a video depicting a real-world scenario. Students create short video responses to the scenario, expressing what they think or feel about the subject. Foote's product then lets students create video responses to each other and propagate discussion on the subject. Using video replies as opposed to standard text posts is important to ApprenNet's model. The video replies create a more personalized discussion. They also allow for more engagement than the pseudo-anonymous feel of text posts on the Internet. ApprenNet also has experts on most subjects as part of their network. This allows students to both watch what experts have to say and read their textual responses, giving them new perspectives on subject material. Any students who have trouble accessing these features likely need online tech support assistance.
Before founding ApprenNet with her business partners, Foote worked as a special education attorney for McAndrews Law Offices. She received her law degree from Drexel University in 2010. Before becoming an attorney, Foote worked as a teacher in Philadelphia. She is also a Teach For America alumna, having participated in the program from 2002 through 2004. With her extensive background in education, Foote certainly has the tools to succeed in her current position at ApprenNet.
About RESCUECOM:
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Filed under: startups


text:
TUPELO, MISS. (WCBI) – A little more than a month ago, Tupelo experienced a tragedy as two police officers were gunned as they were investigating a bank robbery. Officer Joseph Maher continues to recover from wounds, but Sergeant Gale Stauffer was killed.
The sergeant leaves behind a wife and two young children and as WCBI';s Allie Martin reports, today a project is announced that will help the hero's family rebuild their lives.
They gathered in the front yard of 1123 Woodlawn, the home Sergeant Stauffer shared with his wife and two kids, a home that's about to undergo a major facelift.
"Today we're here to announce that we're going to be completely renovating this house, from those steps to the back doors," said Steve Tybor, who is organizing the project, known as "Build for Beth." It's an all volunteer effort that will basically give Beth, 2 year old Skip and 6 year old Dixie, a new house .
"Beth lives in a beautiful home in a beautiful neighborhood in Tupelo but like other homes that are 80 , 85 years old, need a little upkeep so what we wanted to do is eliminate all distractions of a leaky roof or window that doesn't open," Tybor said.
Although the initiative has just been announced, Tybor, along with a core group of 20 or so business owners, ranging from bankers, real estate professionals, decorators, and architects have been meeting with Beth, getting ideas for the project that will nearly double the square footage of her home.
Beth felt it was important to stay in this house, it's a few blocks from where Sergeant Stauffer was laid to rest and it's a connection to her husband for her and the kids.
"This was something he always wanted to do and to completely renovate a home is an undertaking. So, the creaks in the floors, the way the doors sound when they shut, the way the floors sound when he would walk through, those will be gone but with that we will have brand new everything and start new memories and regardless of new things we will still have old memories of Gale, so it's just humbling and exciting and overwhelming," Stauffer said.
Those who have signed on to help out say they couldn't think of a better cause.
"Those of us in the banking business enjoy the unqualified support of all our area law enforcement people, they are there for us when we need them and this family is bearing a loss no one should be asked to deal with," said B.B. Hosch, of Renasant Bank.
"The Tupelo spirit is alive and well and it's headed on to the next generation. We all get to join together when people find themselves in need to make a difference in lives and we get the joy of helping," said Lisa Hawkins, of Room to Room Furniture.
Organizers are still finalizing plans and there are some donations that have to be rounded up, but construction should start in about a month. Then, on March 31st, teams will come in from all over the country to Build for Beth.
Volunteers are still needed, along with donations. For more information, e mail firstname.lastname@example.com or if you would like to make a donation, mail it to
"Build for Beth" PO Box 3208, Tupelo MS 38803


text:
Overpopulation, Situation in which the number of individuals of a given species exceeds the number that its environment can sustain. Possible consequences are environmental deterioration, impaired quality of life, and a population crash (sudden reduction in numbers caused by high mortality and failure to produce viable offspring).
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text:
Two-thirds of senior health staff still getting controversial top-ups
MORE than two-thirds of the 143 well-paid senior managers and doctors, who were given three months to sort out their controversial salary top-ups, are still receiving the payments.
Some of the best-paid people across a range of disability organisations and voluntary hospitals – many of them already on salaries over €100,000 – were ordered by the Health Service Executive (HSE) in April to either have ended the top-up or be ready to prove it is part of their employment contract by July 1.
Laverne McGuinness, deputy head of the HSE, told the Dail Public Accounts Committee (PAC) yesterday that just 43 of the payments have stopped and another 60 individuals receiving the payments have provided strong supporting documentation claiming the top-ups are part of their contract.
Four of the organisations – all of which are funded by the HSE – have not yet even responded. Another 18 say they have contractual entitlements but have not produced them.
Included in the rest of the mix is the Central Remedial Clinic (CRC) in Dublin, which is part of a separate process. The committee was told yesterday that six of its executives are still in receipt of top-ups. Three of these managers have volunteered to pay back the cuts in their public pay which they were spared but the top-ups are likely to continue until next year to allow the new board time to review arrangements.
"There will be detailed discussions with the Department of Health and the Department of Expenditure and Reform. Legal advice may have to be taken on some of them as well," Ms McGuinness said.
The committee was discussing the report of CRC interim administrator John Cregan which revealed how former chief executive Paul Kiely's retirement package of more than €740,000 was based on an overstated salary which did not include public service pay cuts.
The CRC's new chairman, Kieran Timmins, said it will be a number of months before it is ready to write to Mr Kiely because of the complexity surrounding the calculation of his payments and the need for legal advice.
Former CRC chairman Hamilton Goulding – the only member of the old board who attended the meeting – denied the existence of a separate payroll for its executives was aimed at the "chosen few".
He said the CRC had contracts with their executives which meant their salaries could not be reduced. Mr Goulding, whose mother founded the organisation, said he only found out Mr Kiely was paid in the region of €240,000 in 2010 and was "shocked".
He took action "due to unease about this salary level in the charity sector, and brought it to the board hoping to address it in some practical way, while respecting contractual constraints.
"I held talks with Mr Kiely and an agreement was reached and approved by the board which reduced the €2.08m contractual liability by €1.34m."
He said the board, which had expertise among its members, did not get outside legal advice. He denied they were taken hostage saying Mr Kiely was well aware of his rights such as potential constructive dismissal.
Irish Independent


text:
Officials say a Los Angeles-bound airliner made an emergency landing at Salt Lake City International Airport after its crew reported the smell of smoke on the plane.
Delta spokeswoman Gina Laughlin says Flight 2621 returned to the airport after the crew reported the odor in the plane's rear galley. She says it landed without incident or injuries at the airport, where maintenance crews are checking the plane.
Laughlin says its 147 passengers have been placed on another flight.
The emergency landing was first reported by KTVX-TV in Salt Lake City.


text:
Self-centred Sutcliffe's whining brings some perspective
I don't know. You do your crime, you're doing your time, keeping your nose clean and - who knows? - in a few years you might be dropping in for a pint at your local, just like ordinary folk do.
Everything's moving on nicely. And then - who'd believe it? - along comes a hypocritical, disgusting, evil abuser who tries to drag you into his sump of depravity.
Talk about guilt by association!
Briefly, amid all the revelations about Jimmy Savile, police were investigating possible links between the ex-DJ and the Yorkshire Ripper - a figure whose fame in the 70s and 80s far outstripped that of the freaky popster.
For an hysterical moment, it seemed not totally implausible that the Ripper might have been the victim of the most spectacular miscarriage of justice in British history. It was Savile all along! Jim had certainly fixed it for poor innocent Pete.
Nothing would have surprised, because Sutcliffe is as bolstered by the usual cadre of prison-reform junkies and psycho-babble propagandists as is Ian Brady, and the rest of us are bolstered by the confirmation we were strangely right when we thought there was something dodgy about Savile all along. And who'd you rather be living next door to anyway? A wild white-haired, boggly-eyed, cigar-smoking, pink-jumpsuit-wearing toucher-upper with a penchant for teenage girls? Or an ordinary looking bloke no one would suspect of anything untoward. Let alone butchering 13 women and attempting to kill seven others.
Now, The Rip has taken advantage of Savile-gate to promote his own rehabilitation. After all, there's medication to modify his, er, antisocial behaviour. But there's no cure for types like the Groper Extraordinaire that was Savile!
Still, it would be worrying if, while we reel from the Savile revelations and the BBC handing over taxpayers' money in compensation for stitching up an innocent man, that seriously evil people like Sutcliffe, who thrive on misdirection and game-playing, might somehow slip the leash, literally as if nothing had happened.
It doesn't diminish in any way the damage wrought by Savile to be aware that Sutcliffe is one of those truly epic individuals fairy-tales were invented to warn us about. He is also one of those who help us keep what remain lesser crimes and smaller monsters in perspective.


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Holiday Season Stress.
by Meredith O'Brien
When I was a kid, I just loved this time of year, particularly Thanksgiving Day itself.
I adored breathing in the smell of the roasting turkey while watching the Macy's parade on TV with my brother while we were still in our pajamas. My favorite meal was the Thanksgiving dinner that my parents prepared, including my favorite dishes: Sweet and creamy corn casserole, my mother's meat stuffing and, for dessert, a bowl of piping hot Indian pudding that was freshly ladled out of the Crock Pot, with a scoop of vanilla ice cream placed on top. All four of us, as well as my four grandparents -- occasionally uncles, aunts and cousins – would gather 'round my parents' festively appointed kitchen table and feast. Part of the thrill of Thanksgiving was the knowledge that by nightfall, while the roasting pan was soaking in a soapy sink, the Christmas season would be underway.
Yet here I am, a grown woman with three children, and I find myself longing for that time in my life when I reveled in the Thanksgiving-Christmas season, when it seemed magical and cozy instead of what it represents to me now: An endless list of things to do and opportunities to fail, seasoned with the pressure to prepare the "right" dishes for big meals and to complete all the holiday grocery shopping in between last-minute scheduling changes for my son's hockey team (A game at 8 a.m. the day after Thanksgiving? Seriously?), fretting about whether I've bought all the necessary gifts and wrapping paper and tipped the mailman, if I remembered to get teachers' presents and attempting to find time to figure out what to do about our personalized Christmas photo cards.
The weighty and ever-increasing stress comes from myriad sources: My mailbox delivers me issues of Martha Stewart Living where the domestic goddess with her large staff teases me with exquisite meals, "easy" crafts and flawless homemade pie crusts. Some Facebook friends post status updates about how they have all their Christmas cards/shopping done (some did their cards weeks ago) when I haven't even thought about any of that yet. E-mails arrive in my Inbox from relatives asking what they should get my kids for Christmas and Hanukkah (we celebrate both holidays) and I make a mental note to make the same inquiries about my niece and nephews. Parenting media extol the joys of teaching our children about homemade holidays and festive, kid-friendly cooking endeavors. Ads on the radio and TV remind me that the time remaining to buy ingredients for Thanksgiving dinner (and later, all my Christmas gifts, never mind the makings for an amazing dinner) is quickly diminishing. (No, I really don't want to know how many shopping days there are until Christmas.) The media in general start in with those unhelpful pieces about how not to gain 10 pounds over the holidays, how to organize yourself, how to find bargains and how to, incongruously, not stress out.
Great Article! I too took for the sarcasm..,but one things is clear now more than ever. I will never pive up to others expectations and I have now accepted it. I invite and those that decide to come -great! I don't ask anyone to bring anything, I'll just have all the fixings and hopefully there's enough. My husband has helped me so much in this area. He's very simplistic-he also helps a great deal. He prepares the turkey! Yay me! I can only tackle one thing at a time. Right now it's Thanksgiving. I see lights up, even trees in homes, but it doesn't matter. When I'm done tackling Thanksgiving, then I'll move on to celebrating Christmas. I learned from a church workshop recently to ask myself the following questions about what I am going to do during the holidays: Does it point to Jesus? Does it reinforce the values I want to pass on? Does it build relationships? Is it fun enjoyable? Most importantly my family doesn't want a stressed out Mom--so have a glass of wine and enjoy!


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Legal Question in Family Law in North Carolina
I need to know my rights as a house wife to be able to leave my husband and leave state with my daughter
1 Answer from Attorneys
Your question is too complicated to answer here. To be separated, all you have to do is leave the marital home. If there are no custody orders, you can leave with your daughter.
However, what is the likelihood of your husband filing an emergency custody action? If he does, the court can make you bring back the child. Do you have marital property here? Where do you want to go? Why? These are questions which may be relevant in any custody action.
I would suggest that you go and see a family law attorney to discuss child custody, child support, possible support/alimony for you and equitable distribution of your marital property. It would be better for you to get an agreement in place and to address visitation of the child by your husband before you leave to prevent any future lawsuits. Once an agreement is in place, your leaving can be part of that.


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Would Ford Ever sell Lincoln?
BMW could do so much with the Lincoln brand.. it could bring this ones prestige brand back to the top. wat do u guys could happen??
rockylee Wyoming, MichiganPosts: 13,993Why would BMW waste money on a luxury brand like Licoln, when themselves already got it right. :confuse:
I also don't see any logic to such a buy. I think BMW got themselves burned enough with Rover to stay away from dead brands. Lincoln has been so "not hot" since the 1930s that I personally am amazed it's still around.
Revitalizing Lincoln is Ford's job alone I think.
socala4 Posts: 2,427I also don't see any logic to such a buy. I think BMW got themselves burned enough with Rover to stay away from dead brands. Lincoln has been so "not hot" since the 1930s that I personally am amazed it's still around.
Revitalizing Lincoln is Ford's job alone I think.
I agree with that. Lincoln has no brand value, plant and equipment, R&D, distribution channel or locked-in market share that others either need or can't build on their own.
The overall Ford business or an entire region's operations might be a worth acquisition target at some point, but a single nameplate doesn't offer anything of value to anyone. BMW can simply outcompete Lincoln, and wait for Lincoln's demographic to die off. Lincoln will need an image change with vehicles to match if it is to gain back its position as a status nameplate.
rsholland Posts: 19,788I agree. Why on earth would BMW consider such an idea? What would they gain? Another competitor for BMW? It wouldn't make any sense whatsoever.
Maybe Chery will buy it. :lemon:
I think Ford would just put the brand out to pasture with Olds and Plymouth rather than sell it.
What would be attractive to a potential buyer? R&D...uh no, market share...try again, dealer network...not so much.
2016 X6 35i Space Gray over Ivory w/Black Trim
2017 X1 Jet Black over Mocha
Ford is wasting Lincoln, but nobody would buy it. All Lincoln has to offer is the name. Lincoln has no factory, no dedicated engine, no dedicated platform....there's nothing in Lincoln if Ford were to spin it off.
And why would anyone want it if Ford made it something (gave them a factory, etc)? The factory would come with the UAW (no foreign company is going to want that). Any platform they'd get would be dated. And Ford's not going to give them a NEW engine.
Ford needs to revitalize this brand. RWD platforms with a minimum of 250hp. None of this FWD stuff...that's not where Lincoln should be. And not sharing bodies with Mercury and FORD products.
Cadillac was wallowing in mediocrity for maybe the last 25 years before it was brought back to life. Lincoln has been totally comatose for 50 years...I don't think it's going to be resurrect-able.
I don't agree that "Lincoln has been totally comatose for 50 years" or that it's not "resurrect-able." I think Ford's doing it all wrong now, but it's not too late.
And for the past 50 years, Lincoln has had some spectacular products including the Mark II, Continental (1961-1969), Mark III, Mark VII, Mark VIII, LS, and even the 1995-2002 Continental. While I don't personally like it, the Navigator has done wonders for the brand. I can't see how this leaves the brand comatose for the last half century.
Well "spectacular" is not what the majority of buyers would have called them. I think maybe you might be in the vast minority on that one. Aside from modest interest in the suicide door 60s cars (which are respected for design but not mechanics), most of the other cars you noted have been subjected to as much ridicule as praise....so the brand hasn't really excelled in any area was my point.
Just about anything Lincoln produces falls off the radar screen pretty quick.
Perhaps "comatose" is too severe a term but really, Lincoln hasn't hit a home run since the 1940s with the Zephyr and the 50s with the Mark I....the rest of the cars are mostly in the dustbin of history, or will be. Few people get excited about them.
Given the enormous, staggering, mind boggling sums GM has thrown at Cadillac, I personally don't think Ford will make that committment to Lincoln.
I don't believe I'm in the minority, from my experiences. The Lincoln-Zephyr and original Continental ("Mark I") were definitely noteworthy and "home runs." The Mark II (in the 1950s) was not a huge success at the time, but today is still looked upon as a spectacular car...as is the Continental of the 1960s. The Mark III is one of those personal things with me, but the Mark VII and Mark VIII have large followings of admirers.
I agree that Ford is not making the proper committment to Lincoln, and they should be shot for it!
1930s Lincoln Zephyr
1940-48 Lincoln Continental
1956-57 Continental Mark II
1961-69 Lincoln Continental
1968-71 Mark III
OK, it hasn't been 50 years, but only 35.
Though many wouldn't consider them classics, I love those humongous 1977-79 Lincoln Town Cars with the classic stand-up grilles. Heck, I almost bought a mint 1977 model instead of my 1979 Buick Park Ave. but was afraid that huge 460 V-8 would eat me out of house and home. I also like the 1986-89 Town Car and the 1995-97 Town Car.
Lincoln saw 1936 sales increase more 10 times over 1935 sales due to the introduction of the Zypher. They sold 16,000 cars instread of 1,500. Of course the fact that a Zypher cost $1,300 and a Model K cost $4,200 would have had nothing to do with that. (A '36 Ford started around $500.)
I think that most Lincolns from the 70s on up are now dime a dozen cars, and this in itself hurts the brand's chances for a comeback. It's hard to "recapture a legend" if there isn't one, in other words. Most people who remember Lincoln as a really grand, prestigious car are now dead. Sure--- every car has its admirers, but that's not the same as a cultural "icon" like Harley or Corvette might be.
Even with gazillions invested, the world is still not so sure Cadillac is a car worthy of global respect, as it once was 50 years ago. And Lincoln is so far behind Cadillac, one wonders how this would ever be accomplished for Lincoln.
If anything, Lincoln has to run as fast as possible from its 70s and 80s image, (like Cadillac did--it's no more the "old man's car") which doesn't leave it much to hang its hat on. At least Cadillac had the glorious 50s.
As you can tell, my personal view of Lincoln's future is very pessimistic.
fintail Posts: 42,198A better question might be "Would Anyone Buy Lincoln?"
...two reasons:
If Cadillac and Lexus didn't exist.
If Cadillac and Lexus became too expensive.
Under these conditions I might consider a Town Car. The rest of Lincoln's lineup leaves me cold. A gussied-up F-150? Blecchh!!!
If we were in the market for a luxury or near luxury sedan, I would look at the Zephyr. Just based on the pics, its not bad looking outside or inside and performance would not be much of a consideration as my wife would be the primary driver. That's not a big deal to her, although she really likes the power in her Volvo S40 T5. It's not a deal breaker for her though. Plus with the inevitable incentives that would be available, we'd probably give it a look.
The MKX looks promising, but everything else does not appeal to me.
2016 X6 35i Space Gray over Ivory w/Black Trim
2017 X1 Jet Black over Mocha
andre1969 Posts: 23,040for the most part. I don't care for the rear-end, because the taillights just look like they belong on a much bigger car. I really like the front though, with its wide grille flanked by a nicely proportioned headlight cluster that recalls the old quad-lamp setups of days gone by. And the interior is nice.
But I don't know if it's nice enough for me to consider a Zephyr over a Mercury Milan or a Ford Fusion.
The Town Car is one of those vehicles that in theory I should like, but I just don't. It's big, RWD, V-8, and easy on the eye, but I just don't care for it. For one thing, as big as they are I don't think they're that roomy inside. I swear those older, boxier 1980's styles were roomier. I've noticed that with the Crown Vic and Grand Marquis too...the older, boxy style just seemed roomier, more plush, and more comfy.
Also, they just seem cheap inside. It's like all the cost-cutting and hard plastics from the lesser Fords is finding its way into the Lincolns. I think Lincoln has always had that problem though, moreso than Cadillac.
You can put leather seats and power everything in a cheap car, but it still just comes off as a cheap car. They need to pay attention to other things, such as plastics, the grade of the carpet, switchgear, etc.
IMO, Lincoln, once my favorite brand, has nothing to sell anymore. Ford has cheapened this brand to a Buick level, and there is nothing to offer anybody as a brand anymore.
euphonium Great Northwest, West of the Cascades.Posts: 3,425A luxury Lincoln is a self contradiction. There's not the value difference between the Crown Vic and the Town Car.
Ford will keep Lincoln, but they'll need to revitalize the brand and put some serious time and money. The MKS should really have been a RWD sport sedan, but instead its a Taurus based FWD car with optional AWD...
Also, this may be controversial, but I think the future success of the Lincoln brand rests on Mercury closing. Who wants to visit a Lincoln dealership and see Milans and Mountaineers all over the place advertised at bargain basement prices? But then again, Mercury's death is just a matter of time. All Lincoln dealers should be Lincoln only.
I think the Mark LT has no replacement in the works.. Navigator could probably continue unchanged for a few years; MKX and MKZ should be ok stop gap replacements, but I don't know what Ford has that they could use off the shelf to deliver results without spending too much. Lincoln is going to require some serious attention, and I don't know if Ford can afford to dump that much money into its luxury brand.
They may have been better off closing Lincoln and trying to pump more cash into Jaguar/Land Rover...
fezo Manahawkin, NJPosts: 10,330It's been quite a while since Lincoln has really been Lincoln. I remember driving a Town Car as a loaner a good dozen years ago and it was just a gussied up Crown Vic.
I don't know that Ford could sell it off. Kill it off, maybe, but I don't see a big dollar value in the Lincoln name which is a shame.
Saw a 56 Lincoln convertible on a TV car auction. Now you KNEW that was a step up from its mates at Ford. Like the Imperials of the same vintage.2013 Mazda 5 Grand Touring, 2010 Toyota Prius IV. 2007 Toyota Camry XLE, 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999 Mazda Miata
jae5 Posts: 1,206I agree. I think Ford will keep Lincoln in that they "have" to; they have no luxury player except Lincoln right now. But as you and others have stated, they need to pump funding it the marque, which they really can't do. Passing off guissed-up Fords, making the taillamps as big as ba-donk-a-donk-donk butt-cheeks, and renaming them MK-whatever (which I still think is stupid and won't go into the idiotic reasoning behind it) is not going to do.
I myself haven't looked at Lincolns since the first couple years of LS production, which I thought was a good started on a type of rebirth for them. This vehicle allowed them to be notice, if not taken seriously about being an entry-level player in the luxury market. It gave them a real foot in the door to that playing field and could have been a springboard to mid- and eventually upper-level product. Instead we got a re-grilled Expedition, Blackwooded F-150 (WTH was with those chrome strips along the bed), re-grilled Explorer with the Navigator taillamps - though I did think the Aviator was a nice upgrade until I saw the taillamps. And that sticker price :confuse:
If I was in the market for a Lincoln it would be an older one, like the Mark I & II, early-mid 60s Continental, Mark VII LSC and lastly LS V8. If I was in the market for a luxury-type car, Lincoln would not be on my radar; hell in the market for ANY car Lincoln would not be on my radar. :sick:
Ford will keep Lincoln in that they "have" to; they have no luxury player except Lincoln right now.
If the company wasn't in such dire straits, keeping Jag & Land Rover and finishing the great job they started with those two brands would probably have been the best luxury strategy for Ford, inasmuch as Lincoln had been neglected to near death by now. However, though the turnaround may have been close - there was no money left to pump into Jag or L/R and they had to be cut off from the parent to stop the bleeding.
Mercury would not be missed if it went away by many, and Lincoln Dealers need much better and more product to sell than they have. However, Volvo isn't a bad fit with Lincoln, IF Volvo isn't sold off for that last bit of cash so desperately needed to stave off the wolves of bankruptcy. Volvo Dealers and Lincoln Dealers could be combined to give the customer some fairly upscale product to cross shop. This never seems to be given any real consideration, but I would think the dealers would be open to it. Couldn't hurt, could it? Are Volvo owners that smug that they would be insulted if Lincolns shared their waiting room in the service department?
Anyway, as I said before, Lincoln has nothing to sell. The brand equity has been depleted already and it will be a long time before it's restored in any measurable degree.
If Ford is to have a true luxury brand, Lincoln is all they have left, and need to invest the dollars for a Cadillac like comeback. Although, Cadillac is starving now for product and resting on their laurels pretty much too these days......
ehaase Posts: 328If Ford is to have a true luxury brand, Lincoln is all they have left, and need to invest the dollars for a Cadillac like comeback.
Ford's top priority is not building up Lincoln; it's bringing the European Focus and other models to the U.S. over the next few years. Of course, all Cadillac has to show for its comeback is the CTS and maybe the Alpha platform small car by 2012 or 2013.
I agree with you on the CTS being all CAdillac really has. And I see Cadillac a little bit adrift right now. Direct injection is all they have new coming up, and that being a great development, will not be unique to Cadillac. With
GM's most recent woes - expect CAdillac to sit on their CTS laurels for a while again....
was basically just the CTS and Escalade, and is.. However, the coming wave of CTS derivatives (wagon and possibly coupe?) look pretty good.
Lincoln, however, has nothing beyond the MKS. That's not a good thing, as I highly doubt the MKS will be bringing in a stampede of buyers.
Combining Volvo-Lincoln; interesting idea... Only problem is the two dealership networks are in completely different areas of cities for a reason- Volvo buyers are not likely to cross-shop Lincoln, and your typical Lincoln buyer probably won't look at a Volvo either. I think combining the two might actually dilute Volvo's European feel.
The two brands are currently going in opposite directions- one's trying to create All-American Luxury, and the other is going for an understated Scandinavian approach. It's not all that compatible, really.
What you say is true - but that's what I thought would help the brands and certainly the dealers. Lincoln-Volvo dealers would have a shot at two completely different demographics to do business with, and not be limited to either geysers who want a car big enough for a wheelchair lift on the back and oxygen tanks in the back seat or wine-sipping, NPR listening, limosine liberals - they would have a shot at both! I don't think Lincoln shoppers would be put off with having Volvos in the showroom, though Volvo shoppers may be turned off by Lincolns, I don't know. Volvo shoppers are clearly less tolerant types....a bit elitist it seems. I don't know. YMMV.
Hmm.. that's an interesting perspective. Doing either could widen the market for both Lincoln and Volvo.. i.e., someone coming in to look at an XC90 could drive off with an MKX, and vice versa.
The downside is, which Lincoln or Volvo dealers would you choose to add the other brand? Surely you can't give EVERY Lincoln dealer a Volvo franchise... Volvo just doesn't have the volume to sustain that many dealers.
Aren't a lot of Lincoln dealers now Ford-Lincoln-Mercury instead of just the last 2?
I'm starting to think a combined Jag-Land Rover-Volvo dealer is a better idea.. Pity that Ford had to dump the Jag-Land Rover pair for cash...
Indeed it IS a shame that L/R-Jaguar had to be sold after years of developing the finest products those companies had ever put out. The new Jag XF is receiving world acclaim, and although Rover has its quality problems, the truck itself is spectacular. I feel that Ford sold them just as they were turning the corner to profitability, quality and world regard. But alas, there may be no Ford without the proceeds from those sales.
As to Volvo - There aren't that many Lincoln stores, I think Volvo could go into them all. Or, maybe it should be Mazda? Or maybe Mazda, Lincoln, Volvo stores?
This discussion has been closed.


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7-Day Antelope Canyon and Zion National Park Bus Tour: Horseshoe Bend, Grand Canyon West, Bryce Canyon, Las Vegas and One Choice of Six Items
Hometown - Los Angeles
Summary of The Day: Your fun tour begins when your airplane lands at Los Angeles airport (LAX). You will be greeted by your friendly tour guide at the airport. He or she will guide you to your hotel and assist you with the check-in if needed. The hotel check-in time is 3:00p.m..
**If your flight should be delayed or changed for any reason, we will not be held responsible for your airport transfers. If you should arrive after the complimentary airport transfer times indicated, you may be subject to a late arrival transfer fee or be required to self-transfer to the hotel. If you are delayed and arrive after our normal office hours, please contact the emergency number listed on your e-ticket for assistance.**
Please e-mail or call us for a price quote for customers that:
* Arrive outside of the complimentary airport transfer time frames.
* Have flight delays, requiring last minute additional late night/delayed airport transfers.
* Request more than one airport transfer per order.
- Tips:
- We strongly recommend that you book your flight arrivals within the time frames which are noted, and departure flight times after the times indicated.
- Hotel:
- Howard Johnson Fullerton / Quality Inn Montebello / Baymont Inn Anaheim or similar
Visiting Attractions
Choose One of Seven
Summary of The Day: Today, we have six itinerary choices as below. You can choose any one from the six you'd like to take.
Disneyland/California Adventure Park(No tour guide)
Enter a magical kingdom where you can sail with pirates, explore exotic jungles, meet fairy-tale princesses, dive under the ocean and rocket through the stars—all in the same day!
At Disney's California Adventure Park, you'll get to visit: Buena Vista Street, Condor Flats, Grizzly Peak, Hollywood Land, A Bug's Land, Pacific Wharf, Paradise Pier, and Cars Land. Take a ride on California Screamin, the Twilight Zone Tower or Terror, and the Grizzly River Run. These rides will give you a rush of adrenaline. Don't miss out on the Pixar Play Parade. You are in for a fun surprise!
Universal Studios Hollywood
Get ready for the ultimate Hollywood experience! Find a full day of action-packed entertainment all in one place: thrilling theme park rides and shows, a real working movie studio, and Los Angeles' best shops, restaurants and cinemas at CityWalk. Universal Studios Hollywood is a unique experience that's fun for the whole family.
SeaWorld San Diego
Come celebrate the wonders of the sea at SeaWorld® San Diego. Experience the amazing Shamu show, and thrilling rides like Journey to Atlantis®, Shipwreck Rapids® and Wild Arctic®. Dive into the world of sea turtles at Turtle Reef, an attraction featuring a 280,000-gallon aquarium with up to 60 threatened sea turtles, an interactive game that teaches kids about the threats turtles face in the wild, a map that tracks rehabilitated turtles and an exciting ride called Riptide Rescue.
San Diego One Day Tour
Passing through Downtown San Diego, guests will board a cruise (Ticket is included in the tour) and enjoy the views of San Diego leisurely. After the cruise has ended, we will be boarding the USS Midway Museum (Ticket is included in the tour), explore the insides of USS Midway Museum. More funny you'll get in this one day tour.
Los Angeles City Tour
Explore Los Angeles in our leisure way. Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Rodeo Drive, EL PUEBLO DE Los Angeles Historic Monument will make you know more about this famous city.
Palm Springs Outlet Shopping
Depart from Los Angeles, heading east along the I-10 towards the most famous vacation destination in California - Palm Springs; then arrive at the largest factory outlet center(Desert Hills Premium Outlets) in the West Coast of the U.S. Here you can find more than 110 fashion brands from all around the world, attracting millions of shoppers each year. Upon arrival, tour guide will arrange about six hours for shopping and lunch. After a whole day of shopping spree, we will return back to Los Angeles.
Aquarium of the Pacific--Whale Watching--Battleship Iowa
Our pleasant day begins in the morning when we head to the Aquarium of the Pacific. 4th largest of its kind, the Aquarium covers an area of 5 acres and features over 12000 marine life in 500 different species. The Pacific Ocean is the focus of three major permanent galleries, sunny Southern California and Baja, the frigid waters of the Northern Pacific and the colorful reefs of the Tropical Pacific. Walk through the undersea tunnel and enjoy seeing all the marine life, from fierce sharks, to colorful coral reefs and tropical fish, and bizarre jellies, the Aquarium has it all. Board the whale watching boat at noon, and the voyage takes 2.5 hours. The warm Southern California ocean water lures whales, blue whales, grey whales, humpback whales are seen year round. You may even discover a group of orcas (killer whale)! Friendly Capitan switches off the engine when the boat reaches the region where whales are spotted, the world goes quiet, you are soon surrounded by nothing but sound of ocean waves and gulls, blue sky and sea. After the boat tour, we are headed to Battleship Iowa. Iowa is the last lead ship of any class of United States battleships and was the only ship of her class to have served in the Atlantic Ocean during World War II. During World War II, she carried President Franklin D. Roosevelt across the Atlantic Algeria, en route to a crucial meeting with Prime Minister Winston Churchill of Britain and Josef Stalin, leader of the Soviet Union. Iowa is known for her supreme fire power, with turrets can carry 2,000 tons of ammunition, and fire projectiles as far away as 24 miles, over the horizon. At 5pm, we finish our wonderful day trip.
- Tips:
- Please note that SeaWorld San Diego and San Diego One Day Tour can not be arranged to the last tour day for those who will fly away from Los Angeles at the same day.
- Hotel:
- Howard Johnson Fullerton / Quality Inn Montebello / Baymont Inn Anaheim or similar
Los Angeles – Las Vegas – St. George
Summary of The Day: Depart from Los Angeles in the morning, travel across San Bernardino National Forest and enter Mojave Desert. Enjoy the unique landscape decorated by Joshua Trees. We make a brief stop in Las Vegas in the afternoon and stay overnight in St. George Utah.
- Hotel:
- Red Lion St. George (4/1-10/31) / Quality Inn Suites Kanab(11/1-3/31) or similar
Visiting Attractions
Lake Powell - Antelope Canyon - Horseshoe Bend - Glen Canyon Dam - Bryce
Summary of The Day: Take a morning cruise tour on one of the largest man-made lakes in North America, Lake Powell. Shoreline stretches over 3000 kilometers, and surrounded by 96 side canyons. The lake displays its ever-changing beautiful under the morning sun: desolate, vast, quiet and magnificent. When we vessel through the narrow gorge, may you admire your captain's skill? Drive to the most famous slot canyon in the world 'antelope canyon', one of the top ten sites in the world for photography. We follow a Navajo Guide into the canyon. The monsoon floods have created this beautiful spiral and wavy canyon over time, an abstract painting of nature! The canyon is sacred to Navajo People where they worship God. Drive to Horseshoe Bend next, one of the top ten sites for geography by National Geographic! Walk down a sand-paved trail over a series of hills and Horseshoe Bend greets our visit. Indulge yourself in the beauty composed of blue sky, green water and red rocks. Drive to Glen Canyon Dam next. (4/1-10/31)Stay overnight at Bryce Village to have barbecue fun OR (11/1-3/31)stay overnight at Kanab to have chance to visit the cowboy village .
- Hotel:
- Bryce View Lodge(4/1-10/31) / Quality Inn Suites Kanab(11/1-3/31) or similar
Visiting Attractions
Bryce Canyon National Park - Zion National Park - Las Vegas
Summary of The Day: Morning proceed to Bryce Canyon National Park where a variety of rock shapes and textures can be found. At an elevation of 8000 feet you will experience a wonderful view of the forest of rocks left standing after millions of years of erosion. Afternoon drive through the Camel Junction to Zion National Park where you can feast your eyes on the different color of sandstone and other spectacular sights created by Mother Nature. Then the coach will proceed through the state of Arizona pass Virgin River Canyon to Las Vegas, Nevada- the Gambling Capital of the World. Stay at hotel located at center of the Las Vegas Strip, so you can visit famous hotels within walking distance such as Luxor, New York New York, Treasure Island, Mirage, etc.....You may Join Optional Night tour or Best Seller Famous Jubilee.
- Hotel:
- Circus Circus Hotel or similar
Grand Canyon West - Hoover Dam - Las Vegas
Summary of The Day: This morning we drive to the Tallest Dam in North America- the Hoover Dam for a short visit. Enjoy the panoramic view of Lake Mead, the Largest Man-made Lake. Then we visit the most famous of 7 World's Natural Wonders, the Grand Canyon. Over eon, the mighty Colorado River and relentless erosion have created this geologic museum of epic proportion. When sun shines down onto the colorful canyon walls, the view is breathtaking and inspiring! You will be impressed by the Ultimate Creator's Masterpiece! Stay overnight in Las Vegas. You may watch a show on your own expense.
- Hotel:
- Circus Circus Hotel or similar
Visiting Attractions
Las Vegas - Los Angeles
Summary of The Day: Visit Ethel M Chocolate Factory and Botanical Cactus Garden this morning. Be sure to sample a piece of fresh made chocolate! After lunch in Las Vegas, drive to Tanger Outlets in Barstow for shopping. Arrive in Los Angeles in the evening and finish our pleasant 7-day Antelope Canyon Vacation.
- Tips:
- We offer hotel extension services; if you'd like to book a room, please contact us for a quotation.
If you wish to end your tour in Las Vegas, please leave us a comment under the comments section when completing your reservation. However, if you do choose to depart from Las Vegas, you'll forgo the tour to the Tanger Outlet Center.
For guest departing from Las Vegas, you will visit the Ethel M Chocolate Factory and Botanical Cactus Garden in the morning and enjoy the optional buffet lunch in Las Vegas, then we'll send you to MGM Grand Hotel & Casino, which is close to McCarran International Airport.
For Saturday departures, guests can only end the tour at Los Angeles. Please do not choose San Diego / Sea World tour as your last day's itinerary.
*LAX Terminal Meeting Spots*
Tom Bradley Int'l Terminal(Terminal B) - 7/11 supermarket (forward leading to the left)
Terminal 1 - Baggage Claim#1 Hudson News
Terminal 2 - Baggage Claim#2
Terminal 3 - Baggage Claim#A
Terminal 4 - Starbucks
Terminal 5 - Baggage Claim#3
Terminal 6 - Information and ATM
Terminal 7/8 - Baggage Claim#1
*LAX Pick-up Time and Schedule*
We offer one complimentary airport transfer from LAX to your hotel for each reservation. We offer complimentary transfers for:
* Domestic US arrival transfers between 8:30am-10:30pm
* International arrival transfers between 8:30am - 9:30pm
Bus schedule: Every 1 hour we have the transfer bus pick passengers up at airport (8:30am, 9:30am, 10:30am, 11:30am, 12:30pm, 1:30pm, 2:30pm, 3:30pm, 4:30pm, 5:30pm, 6:30pm, 7:30pm, 8:30pm, 9:30pm, 10:30pm). If you arrive early, please meet your guides and wait at the meeting point for the next bus. The guide will be wearing a yellow uniform, holding a small yellow flag or an iPad with the local provider's icon.
Airport drop-off:
Drop-off in Los Angeles:
The tour normally returns to Los Angeles between 6:30pm - 7:00pm, but there may be a 30-60 minute delay caused by some special circumstances, such as bad weather condition, traffic jam, etc.
Guests who wish to fly out of LAX on the same day must please book a U.S. domestic flight after 9:30pm. and international flight after 10:30pm.
Drop-off in Las Vegas:
We recommend taxi services for guest flying out of McCarran International Airport. Taxis can be arranged for USD 10 and takes about 10 minutes. Please book your flight after 2:00pm.
Standard Price/Person By Occupancy
Los Angeles Hotel Upgrade
Buy 2 Get 3rd Discounted
*The third guest joins the tour at a discounted rate (except applicable admission fees, mandatory tips, optional activities, and own expense items) on shared room basis.
*For buy 2 get 3rd discounted promotion, please choose the actual passenger numbers so that we can reserve the bus seat for each passenger.
*** Standard Amendment, Cancellation and Refund Policy applies to discounted-fare passenger based on triple or quadruple price.
*No-shows will be assessed a penalty fee $200.00 per passenger, that is to be paid in cash by the other participating travelers of the reservation.
*Price for Single Occupancy applies when one person stays in one standard hotel room.
*Price for Double/Triple/Quadruple Occupancy applies when two/three/four people stay in one standard hotel room respectively.
*Triple/Quadruple price does not guarantee a third/fourth bed in the room since each room is equipped with 2 beds. Please check the availability at the time of check-in.
*Price for child applies when a 2-9 years old child staying in one standard room as a third or fourth person.
*Maximum room capacity: 4 people including adult and child/infant.
*Additional fees may apply for travelers under 2 years of age. Please ensure you inform us when booking if you are travelling with infants 2 years or younger by placing the number of infants and their dates of birth in the comments section when booking online.Additional expense or Price raise will apply for customers who stay overnight in Las Vegas hotels during 12/25/2017-1/2/2018. The price on our website is not the final price. Please be subject to our final confirmation.
- Complimentary airport pick-up (Domestic US arrival transfers between 8:30 a.m.-10:00 p.m.; International arrival transfers between 8:30a.m. - 9:30 p.m.) and drop-off
- 6-night hotel accommodations
- Ground transportation in air-conditioned deluxe tour coach
- Professional tour escort
- Admission to chosen theme parks or items, please select them in the booking section
- Airfares between your home and LAX airport
- All personal expenses including hotel room service and meals; however, you have the option to pay for meals that tour guide arranges
- Service Fee for tour guide/bus driver (min. $8.00/day per person)
- Airport Pick-up Service Fee for Driver (min. $4.00/person)
- Optional tours (Items and prices may vary due to different seasons and are subject to the final confirmation made by tour guide when on tour.):
- San Diego Bay Cruise: $25.00/Adult; $12.00/Child(4-12)(Depends on your final choice of the items.
- Madame Tussauds Wax Museum: $27.00/Adult; $20.00/Child(4-12)(For Universal Studios Hollywood)
- Las Vegas buffet lunch: $15.00/Adult; $10.00/Child(5-12)(include service fee. The optional seafood buffet is only available in Las Vegas at 4300 E. Sunset Rd., C-1, Henderson, NV 89014.)
- Lower Antelope Canyon: $33.00/Adult; $25.00/Child(7-12)
- Lake Powell Cruise: $50.00/Adult; $40.00/Child(5-10)(If you do not attend this optional tour, you can only see a small part of Lake Powell.)
- Las Vegas Night Tour & High Roller: $75/adult; $60.00/child(4-12)
- Las Vegas Night Tour: $35.00/person(According to the weather)
- Skywalk: $25.00/Person
- Las Vegas Show: Please check with tour guide(tickets for KA, Believe, Le Reve, Fantasy, Zumanity, O, David Copperfield, Zarkana, Blue Man, The Beatles Love)
- Air Only Tour Grand Canyon West Rim: $129.00/Person
- Grand Canyon West Rim Admission : $90.00/Person(
Mandatory Fee
(No refund or exempt of Mandatory Fee unless visited attractions are closed.))
- Grand Canyon Helicopter Tour & Colorado River Boat Cruise: $220.00/Person
- Grand Canyon West Rim Helicopter: $159.00/person
- Las Vegas buffet lunch: $15.00/Adult; $10.00/Child(5-12)(include service fee. The optional seafood buffet is only available in Las Vegas at 4300 E. Sunset Rd., C-1, Henderson, NV 89014.)
- Please double check your selection choice in Los Angeles when booking. Once a choice has been confirmed, it can only be changed for an additional fee.
- Gift Pack for Tours4Fun guests
All passengers in this tour lodging in Circus Circus Hotel will receive a $100-value Super Gift Pack each!
★2 Hot Entertainments at World's Largest Indoor Theme Park in Circus Circus Hotel, $30 value!
★2 Normal Entertainments at World's Largest Indoor Theme Park in Circus Circus Hotel, $20 value!
★Famous show by World's Largest Permanent Circus in Circus Circus Hotel, $10 value!
★Discounts for a variety of restaurants and shops within the hotel, $20 + value!
★Free WIFI and Kettle using in Circus Circus Hotel, $20 value!
(The special offers listed above are subject to the final confirmation made by the tour guide.)
Optional Buffet lunch is only for the Las Vegas visit. The restaurant address is 4300 E. Sunset Rd., C-1, Henderson, NV 89014.
- On the day you visit Grand Canyon West Rim or South Rim, if you choose not to visit these two attractions, you will need to pay $30.00/person for free explore fee.
- To make your travel more convenient, we suggest you book your tour one month prior to the departure date during holiday season (New Year/Christmas).
- Due to the popularity of tours during the high season, the overnight hotels may be fully booked. We will choose the hotels which offer similar standards of service to replace. Please understand.
- Las Vegas Tours do not permit travelers under 18, unaccompanied by a co-traveler 21 or older, to join. Travelers aged 18-21 who are unaccompanied by a co-traveler 21 or older can join the tour, however, they cannot gamble in Las Vegas.
- Due to the Department of Homeland Security's regulations of Hoover Dam, all bus tours are limited to carry-on luggage such as backpacks and duffle bags. All carry-on items must fit in the over head compartment. Luggage cannot be stored in the compartments under the bus. Any other travel luggage needs to be left at your hotel.
- We strongly recommend that you contact the airline and our local tour provider to confirm your flight arrival timing, and request to arrange for a pickup before your departure.
- Flight information must be provided in order for the airport transfer services to be arranged. At our discretion, if flight information is not provided or provided last minute, your reservation will be noted as a self transfer and no airport transfer services will be arranged. If you decide to self transfer to the tour's first night's hotel, please inform us at your earliest convenience. If you opt out of a transfer service, you may reinstate the airport transfer service if notification to reinstate the service is given well in advance of the tour's departure. Urgent requests to reinstate airport transfer services will not be guaranteed. If a flight is delayed, Tours4fun/ local provider will attempt to arrange a later airport transfer service, however; this later service is not guaranteed. If an airport transfer service is not available and cannot be provided, all guests are responsible for self transferring to the tour's first night's hotel.
- Tour guides and drivers rely upon the service fees charged on the tour to supplement their income. The wages of tour guides and drivers are determined factoring in that they will receive service fees to augment their earnings. Please pay at least the recommended service fee because the tour guides and drivers work hard to accommodate many people on the tour.
- Depending on your arrival time, your hotel room may not be available until the afternoon. Most hotels allow check-in between 1:00pm-3:00pm, however some charge a fee for early check-in. Please check at the hotel desk to see if you may store your luggage at the hotel if you wish to explore the city on your own before check-in.
- Please Note:
1. Guests are not allowed to use a CITY PASS and admission ticket purchased by themselves to join the sightseeing attractions included in this tour.
2. Guests who do use a CITY PASS or admission ticket purchased by themselves, will not be offered the transportation service for that day, and will possible need to pay a penalty fee. Please consult your tour guide for details.
- Tours4Fun reserves the rights to adjust the itinerary, if the attractions are closed during holidays or due to weather. The final itinerary is subject to reconfirmation. Please check more details of the itinerary with your guide during the trip.
- Language: This tour is escorted by a professional bilingual tour guide and/or driver guide (English/Chinese). Tours and/or languages may be combined to operate this tour depending on the number of passengers who have booked a particular departure.
- Bus Arrangement: Passengers on the same reservation will be arranged on the same bus unless stated otherwise. If you wish to be on the same bus as another party /an existing reservation, please note your request with the reservation number in the comment section on the checkout page or notify us at least 24 hours prior to tour departure.
- Tours4Fun cooperates with top local area tour operators and ensures the best quality of services to all travelers. We provide tour coaches that all are insured with a liability insurance coverage from $5,000,000 to $10,000,000 to make sure that your trips are safer and more enjoyable.
- Please do NOT take pictures on the stairway, bring a camera tripod, or climbing on the walls when visiting Antelope Canyon. Make sure to always follow the Native American guide and obey their instructions. Customers who do not comply with these rules will be sent back to bus without refund.
- This tour/activity is overseen by a select local operator in the region. Upon booking your tour or activity and after receiving confirmation, you will be issued an e-ticket detailing the local operator's name and contact information. If you require assistance finding a specific tour, please contact us for more information.
- If you choose Los Angeles City Tour, when Getty Center is closed, Griffith Observatory will be the replacement.
Close dates for Getty Center:
Every Monday
American Holidays(Thanksgiving day, Christmas, New Year, etc.)
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David Cameron's speech on the EU reminds me of the celebrated lecture which Professor Lord Pinkrose is always just about to give but always, for one reason or another, prevented from delivering, in Olivia Manning's novel series Fortunes Of War.
For the Prime Minister's sake, I hope not, since, if I remember correctly, when he finally stood up to present his talk, Lord Pinkrose was promptly shot by a member of the audience. All the same, like Pinkrose's views on Byron, it seems likely that we will never actually get to hear Mr Cameron's views on the EU, whether he delivers his speech or not.
There is nothing very unusual about not knowing the Prime Minister's views on this issue, since there are swathes of policy on which we are all none the wiser about Mr Cameron's thinking – if I can dignify it with that description – even after he's talked about it.
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There's the Big Society, of course, which is rather like Middle Earth or Westeros; we have a vague sense of what it might be like, but nobody is doing anything about physically taking us there. There's the constant talk of borrowing less, while we're borrowing more – more, in fact, than the last government managed in its entire time in office. There's the rhetoric about cutting spending, while public spending is actually going up. There's the localisation agenda, about which we used to hear quite a lot, and that has so far resulted only in elections for English police commissioners which had the lowest peacetime turnout ever (one polling station in Gwent returned no votes at all).
What Mr Cameron actually thinks, what he says and what he does are all quite separate notions. So it is with the EU. My suspicion is that, left to his own instincts, the Prime Minister would like the EU to be more democratic and to interfere less in British life, but not enough to do anything much about it, and certainly not enough to withdraw from it. But he would very much like his backbenchers and the British electorate to think the opposite.
Which is why, despite the fact that I think that the EU is incapable of being reformed and that taking the UK out of it would be the single most useful thing any politician could do, it doesn't much matter what is in Mr Cameron's speech, except in so far as it affects the electoral prospects of the Conservative Party.
Bluntly, that's because the only thing which is likely to make any difference to our relations with the rest of the EU is a straightforward in/out referendum on whether to invoke Article 50, which sets out how to go about leaving. (If you're interested, all you have to do is tell the European Council you're off, then you get two years to sort out the fine print.)
There's no question that such a referendum would be very popular with many Tory voters, and I suspect quite a few other voters, too. Many old-fashioned members of the Labour Party, especially on the Left, were strongly opposed to the EU, and the LibDems used to have a manifesto commitment to a referendum (so, of course, did the Tories, but I'll come to that in a minute).
There are even a few advocates of independence who question whether an independent Scotland would automatically want to apply to join the EU, as – contrary to the previously received wisdom in the SNP – it now seems likely it would have to, especially since the rules now require signing up to the euro. Funnily enough, most UKIP supporters are more interested in immigration and crime than in the EU, but I think we can be confident they'd like it too.
Who might it be unpopular with? Brussels bureaucrats, of course, though some European politicians might be glad to see the back of us. That leaves President Obama, Eddie Izzard, human rights lawyers, civil servants, citizens of other EU countries living here, some Britons resident abroad, the BBC and a large chunk of the business community. Of those, only the last one matters.
It matters to Mr Cameron because of his party's funding, naturally, but the fixed opinion of British industry matters to the rest of us as well. The single strongest card the europhile lobby has to play (since nobody could possibly mount a defence of the EU as a democratic, or an efficient, or an honest organisation) is that leaving the EU might endanger our trading relations with our largest trading partner. What's more, they argue, even if we continued to have membership of EFTA, as Norway and Switzerland do, it would leave us subject to the same rules, but give us no say in formulating them.
Though that argument is superficially plausible, it doesn't hold water, for several reasons. The first is that British exports to the EU are overestimated, because they include all goods passing through it, even if their final destination is elsewhere. The second is that British/EU trade is falling, while it is growing with other Anglophone countries. The third is that there's no reason to suppose our trade with the EU would be much affected by withdrawal anyway.
The point about being subject to the EU's rules to sell in those countries, after all, already applies to China and the USA, neither of which seems to find it an insuperable impediment. We'd gain the freedom not to have to apply the same rules domestically (as well as getting back our fishing rights and being able to avoid the insanity of European agricultural policy). Judging by our inability to achieve any of that from within the EU, we don't have all that much of a say in setting the rules in any case. What's more, the vast majority of the rules of trade for EFTA are not made in the EU, but set by organisations such as the World Bank, the ILO, or other agencies of the UN.
But it doesn't much matter what Mr Cameron's speech says because, as I mentioned earlier, he promised a referendum before. Though there were reasons for not delivering it (the Lisbon Treaty had already happened, and the LibDems demanded a moratorium on the EU as a condition of Coalition), it's like the boy who cried "Wolf!" No convinced eurosceptic will believe him. And since any referendum wouldn't be until after the next election, most people think Mr Cameron won't be the one who has to worry about it anyway.


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Howard says that not getting to Reprise his Ironman role killed his career!
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Tony Stark
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Join Date: May 2002
Location: In a cave with a box of scraps
Posts: 11,063
Re: Howard says that not getting to Reprise his Ironman role killed his career!
To be fair, Norton didn't get the axe. He signed for one film. They asked him back but he wanted more money than what was offered.
Considering how huge the film was, and what it could have done for his career, (vs. having a bit part with Renner in the last Bourne movie), it's surprising that he turned it down. But he didn't quit and he wasn't fired.
Howard on the other hand was contracted for 3 films, plus Avengers. Cheadle was also contracted to be in Avengers, but when the story didn't go that way, he was released from that obligation.
Howard was released from his contract (i.e. fired) in Megan Fox type fashion.
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With his black stetson and colt .45 automatic, police officer Wanlop Siridon looks like a lawman out of the Wild West�Thailand's Wild West. The dense forests of the country's western border with Burma are a haven for smugglers, dope dealers and ethnic rebels. Wanlop, though, isn't hunting outlaws. He's part of a posse led by Senator Chaowarin Latthasaksiri that is tracking treasure: a legendary load of loot supposedly stashed by the Japanese Imperial Army at the end of World War II. On April 12, the group claimed to have found the trove, reputed to include 2,500 tons of gold in two...


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Hey there, first of all, an absolutely amazing guide, I have completed the softmod and it works excellently, a great guide for beginners!
However, I have one slight problem, I cannot seem to get the 'Wii Backup Disk' to work, I have tried many approaches but I am still having trouble. So, here is what I've tried...
It says in the guide "Load Nintendo Backup(250).iso.zip from disc or usb
The disc loads well with neogamma r8 running cios38-r17 via disc or wbfs usb/sd." So I have reformatted my 4gb i.t.works usb flash drive to wbfs using wiibackupmanager. Then I put the 'syn-backup1.31' file onto the wbfs usb drive, using wiibackupmanager again. Then put it into my wii, along with the SD card holding the usual required files and the .rbk . What I can't seem to do is get the Nintendo Backup Disk to play, I loaded up Neogamma r8 IOS249-r17 through backup disk player, assigned it to play from wbfs usb, yet it comes up with a green screen.
I had a 4.3E black wii, now running on 4.1E. softmodded using indiana pwns, looking to add the indiana pwns .rbk
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!
[EDIT]: Forgot to mention, my Wii is PAL, as the Nintendo Backup Disk is NTSC-U, would that make a difference? Thanks!
[2nd EDIT]: Solution found below.
Forced video to be 'Wii'. Option is in 'Region Options'.
For more detail in what happened and how to sort this problem, read page 422, post #4217 for the problem, and page 424, post #4236 for the solution, my query was finding out how to change the backup's region.
Huge thanks to Mgreig, JoostinOnline and Mauifrog.