The spacious firmament on high,
With all the blue ethereal sky,
And spangled heavens, a shining frame
Their great Original proclaim.
Th’unwearied sun, from day to day,
Does his Creator’s powers display,
And publishes to every land
The work of an Almighty Hand.

Soon as the evening shades prevail
The moon takes up the wondrous tale,
And nightly to the listening earth
Repeats the story of her birth;
While all the stars that round her burn
And all the planets in their turn,
Confirm the tidings as they roll,
And spread the truth from pole to pole.

What though in solemn silence all
Move round the dark terrestrial ball?
What though no real voice nor sound
Amid the radiant orbs be found?
In reason’s ear they all rejoice,
And utter forth a glorious voice,
Forever singing as they shine,
“The hand that made us is divine.”

Joseph Addison’s “The Spacious Firmament on High” appeared this date 8/23/1712.

Majorca is known for many things. World renowned beaches, shopping, historical attractions, traditional Spanish cuisine, an ardent love for partying… These are but a few of the aspects which Spain’s largest island boasts of, for many of its visitors. Also, when thinking of a holiday, the sun, sand and sea in Spain; Majorca and all that it offers are one of the first things which come to mind!

The Hotels in Majorca are numerous and offer a variety of accommodation to cater to numerous classifications of travellers. From students and families, to singles and groups of friends, all the bases are pretty much covered. Majorca Hotels are also well spread to ensure that accommodation is available within easy reach of its main attractions.

A vacation to Majorca ensures that there is a lot to see, do and hear. Travellers will find that through the years and the expanding tourist industry, most of the towns have earned themselves a unique reputation. Majorca is divided mainly into around six regions; Serra de Tramuntana (the mountain range along the north west coast of the island), Palma de Mallorca (area around Palma), Pla de Mallorca, Raiguer, Migjorn and last but not the least, Llevant (famous for its beaches).

Bird watchers should note sites like S’Abulfera as it is home to varying species of heron, waders and ducks, along with the cliffs of Fortmenor where the rare Elenora’s Falcon is sighted occasionally. Those interested in nature will also enjoy a visit to the drive-in safari park, historic gardens and the tropical park Jumaica. Quirky family attractions on the other hand include water theme parks such as Marineland and the House of Kathmandu. The shopping opportunities offered in the islands are also one of the most coveted aspects of a trip to Majorca!

For most of Majorca’s tourist crowd which arrive during the summer, beaches are of utmost importance. The island’s more famous beach stretches are to be found on the southern and eastern coast, and are a major hit with tourists. There are also several lesser known beaches which can be found– minus a few amenities, such as parking. Some of the beaches come with water sport facilities as well and these include water sports such as diving, submarine trips, snorkelling and the likes. Notable beaches include the Magalluf Beach, the Illetes Cove and the Cala Mayor Beach.

Those not content with kicking back and catching up on their tans on the pristine beaches of Majorca need not worry. Sport enthusiasts will find many different recreational activities to keep their adrenaline pumping, such as cycling which is a popular sport. During spring, professional teams are known to frequent the island and it also hosts pro cycling events like the Euro Peloton. Majorca has also built itself a reputation for being home to world renowned golf courses, which are built to put both professional and amateur skills to test. Meanwhile, travellers looking for a more physical sort of challenge can try their hand at hiking the Serra de Tramuntana Mountain Range or opt to experience rock climbing above deep water.

The most appetising aspects of travelling to Majorca can be the authentic and deliciously unique cuisine the island offers. The main components of the islands traditional fare include; pork, seafood, garlic and olive oil. In most places, fresh ingredients are used to create gastronomic delights. Famous courses include seafood Paella, ‘Tumbet’ a mixture of vegetables and ‘Frit Mallorqui’. Local sausages are also found in abundance and are made in many different ways. One dish in particular is a must have for desert and this is ‘Gato de Almendras’ which is almond cake served with toasted almond ice-cream.

The party life of Majorca is talked about the world over. Magalluf, which is also dubbed the ‘British capital’ of the island, is also the islands nightlife hub. That being said Palma de Mallorca has now raised itself to offer Magaluf some competition, in terms of attracting the partying crowd.

Drinking is not only restricted to the younger crowd. A lot of wines are consumed and those interested in wine tasting can visit a bodega for tours. The best known vineyards are found in the Binissalem region, between Palma and Inca. Spanish coffee is also tasty, with ‘cafe solo’ which is drunk like a shot of espresso to ‘cafe con leche’– coffee with milk.

Oh boneca, vai uma queca?

Recently I was given a copy of a book written by a distant ancestor. I’ve blogged about one such book before – a travel guide to Tobago that inspired Defoe to write Robinson Crusoe. This one didn’t have quite such an impact, but I hope it will still be of interest.

The Barrier-Treaty Vindicated was written in 1712 by Stephen Poyntz. In later life, Poyntz would go on to be a diplomat and courtier, but in 1712 he was twenty-seven years old and serving as private secretary to Lord Townshend.

The Barrier-Treaty was published anonymously and is a meditation inspired by the 1709 treaty between Great Britain and the United Provinces. It quickly becomes clear where Poyntz’s sympathies lie. The United Province’s help is vital to secure a Protestant succession from the House of Hanover. Alliances with the French must be avoided at all costs, to mitigate the risk of a Catholic succession. Poyntz gives historical examples ranging from Elizabeth I to Oliver Cromwell to illustrate the benefits of siding with the Dutch, and the drawbacks of siding with France. A full copy of the text can be found on Google Books here.

The book itself is octavo,  200 pages long on cheap paper, and seems to have been designed for a fairly large print-run. It stretched to at least three editions. My copy is in fairly good condition. The paper is slightly mottled, and a few pages are creased, but other than that the book doesn’t appear to have been heavily read. The binding is new, though.

Poyntz went on to be an ambassador in Sweden, then courtier to the duke of Cumberland. He married Anna Maria Mordaunt, reputed to be a great beauty. He died in 1750.

After Poyntz’s death, his friend Walpole described him thus:

Ruined in his circumstances by a devout brother, whom he trusted, and by a simple wife, who had a devotion of marrying dozens of her poor cousins at his expense … Mr. Poyntz was called a very great man, but few knew anything of his talents, for he was timorous to childishness. The duke has done greatly for his family and secured his places for his children, and sends his two sons abroad, allowing them £800 a year.

Rather more acid was Carlyle’s later description of him:

A once bright gentleman, now dim and obsolete.

Today Poyntz is probably best known for being the grandfather of Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire. His daughter Margaret Georgiana married into the Spencer family and was Georgiana’s mother.

1. Philip Woodfine, ‘Poyntz, Stephen (bap. 1685, d. 1750)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004.

Arkadaşlar çektiğimiz fotğrafları nasıl paylaşacağımızı aşağıda ayrıntılı bir şekilde anlattım.

Öncelikle adres çubuğuna www.wikifortio.com yazıyor yada burdaki adrese tıklıyoruz.

Bu arada bir yandan da elimizdeki fotoğrafları yine elimizdeki bir zip(winzip) yada rar(winrar) programı aracılığıyla sıkıştırıyoruz. elinde bu program olmayanlar klasörün üstüne sağ tıklayıp send to/gönder –> compressed (zipped) Folder / sıkıştırılmış dosya komutunu çalıştırarak sıkıştırma işlemini bu yolla yapabilirler.

Bunlar tamamlandıktan sonra açılan sayfada upload kısmından Gözata tıklıyoruz.

Sonrasında ise açılan pencereden sıkıştırılmış dosyamızı seçiyor ve tamam diyoruz.

Seçtiğimiz dosyanıın ardından yeni bir pencere açılacak ve bu pencerede UPLOAD kısmı mavi hal alacaktır.

Biz de bu mavi butona (upload) basıyoruz

Karsımıza asagıdaki iki kutucuk peş peşe çıkacaktır. Bunlardan ikincisi bize yükleme işleminin ne aşamada olduğunu gösterecektir. Tamamlanmadan sayfanızı kapatmayın.

Bundan sonrası tamamdır arkadaslar. Karsınıza son olarak size paylaşım adresi veren bir kutucuk çıkacaktır. bunlardan ilkini yani koyu olanını yahoo group sayfasından bizlerle paylaşabilirsiniz. biz de sizin göndereceğiniz adrese tıklayarak kendi bilgisayarlarımıza yükleyebiliriz.

diğerlerinden edit linkini yüklediğiniz dosyayı silmek için kullanbilirsiniz, (bunu bir yere not edin)

storage period’da ise, yüklediğiniz dosyanın kaç gün yüklü kalmasını istiyorsanız o kadar gün yazabilirsiniz. ama siz bunlara dokunmayın default kalsın….

Teşekkürler. Kolay gelsin.

Hoy es 29 de Febrero de 2008. Dice el refrán que ‘Año bisiesto y año de pares, año de azares’. Lo que acontezca en esta jornada, será especial sobre todo si se trata de nacimientos o defunciones. Pero lo de pedir matrimonio hoy, es lo más curioso que he leído hasta ahora. Las irlandesas pueden pedir el 29 de Febrero en matrimonio a los hombres.

Para la astrología, los nacidos en 29 de Febrero son “raritos”. Raros desde que nacen, y ellos son los primeros en ser conscientes de ello. Son de los que de pequeños solo llevan caramelos al colegio cada cuatro años. Hoy, están de enhorabuena, porque cumplen años en el mismo día en que nacieron. Y para celebrarlo, se han propuesto superar un record guinnes, y los bisiestos, como así les llaman o se hacen llamar, se reúnen en Málaga para visitar la ciudad, comer y celebrar su aniversario. Es una iniciativa de Francisco Carrasquilla, delegado en Andalucía del Club Mundial de Bisiestos. Este club cuenta en España con una página web y tiene 30.000 “clientes potenciales”, que son los residentes españoles nacidos en este día. La imagen de la izquierda, corresponde a una votación de logos para camisetas que ha desarrollado ABC. No sabemos si hoy, los bisiestos la llevarán puesta para celebrar su cumpleaños.

Podríamos contarles la cantidad de efemérides que se produjeron este día. Les podríamos contar también por qué existe este día, el 29 de Febrero, pero es algo tan común que se lo dejamos a la Wikipedia. No obstante, y gracias a esta enciclopedia, también hemos descubierto que en la historia al menos tres veces ha existido el 30 de Febrero. En concreto el 30 de Febrero de 1712, en Suecia, y el 30 de Febrero de 1930 y 1931 en la URSS. Esto fue en ambos países por la modificación de sus respectivos calendarios vigentes en aquellos momentos para adaptarlos a otro que convenían usar. Curioso ¿verdad?.

Pero para mí, lo más curioso es que hoy en mi empresa, los test de sincronización de las lineas telefónicas digan que estamos a 1 de Marzo de 2007. Se les debió de pasar implementar el algoritmo. Y es que hoy son los Santos Inocentes del Calendario Gregoriano.