Have you read Google’s new privacy policy?

Google logo with magnifying glass - ©iStockphoto.com/AlijaGoogle’s new privacy policy came into force at the beginning of this month, despite protests from the EU.  The chances are, that if you use any of Google’s services, you have accepted it.  Either you accepted it in advance by clicking on the button that appeared when you logged in, or you ignored it and have now silently accepted the new policy by continuing to use whatever services you may have accounts for.

But have you actually read it?

If you haven’t then you should because I think it is a good example of a clear and easy to understand policy.  Which makes you wonder what all the fuss is about. [Read more…]

Fanta comes from Germany

Fanta cans - ©iStockphoto.com/shawn_hempelFanta, the orange fizzy drink produced and distributed by the Coca-Cola Company, is known throughout most parts of the world.  And yet how many people know that the drink originated in Germany?

I was fascinated by the story when I read it for the first time.

During the Second World War it was not possible for the German Coca-Cola subsidiary to import the raw materials necessary to make the original Coca-Cola drink.

Faced with the problem of not having a product to sell, the German bosses came up with an alternative product made from what was available at the time.  The name “Fanta” stems from the German word Fantasie (fantasy).

Amongst the products used were the leftovers from cider and cheese production!

I do wonder how many other things that are known worldwide were invented or discovered in Germany, without that fact about them being well known.  Two that spring to mind – although they are almost 100 years apart – are X-Rays (by Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen) and the MP3-format (by the Fraunhofer Institut).

Any more suggestions?

Der Kaktusgarten – Jardín de Cactus

The Cactus Garden at Guatiza on Lanzarote

Der Kaktusgarten (Jardín de Cactus) befindet sich am nördlichen Ende von Guatiza, auf der östlichen Seite der Straße LZ-1 nach Mala – nicht zu verwechseln mit der Umgehungsstraße die an beiden Orten vorbeiführt.

Der Garten wurde von César Manrique entworfen und im Jahr 1990 eröffnet (zumindest steht es im offiziellen Reiseführer auf Spanisch so.  Andere Quellen geben das Jahr 1991 an).  Daher ist es auch das letzte von Manriques “Zentren” das eröffnet wurde.  Im Garten befinden sich über 1.000 Arten von Kakteen.  Einige stammen direkt von Lanzarote oder einer der anderen kanarischen Inseln, aber viele kommen auch aus dem Ausland, manche sogar aus Südamerika.

Nachdem man den Eingang passiert,

[Read more…]

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