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oh look, a picture that actually took time to set up xD
I said that I was going to try to take some more interesting pictures for my last week since I've been a little lazy lately because I've been busy with other things.
I still threw this together a little last minute 'cause I had errands to run today and pictures to finish editing, but I'm pretty happy with how it turned out aside from the lighting being a little meh.
lena - fairyland minifee ryeon
faceup - tsuminaki/vitta-vera
eyes - 14mm eyecandy acrylics in evergreen
wig - custom by me
plaid shirt - modified bfc ink shirt
necklace - jainatina
all other clothes - me
bed - ikea, painted by me.
bedding - me
computer - nightfall (added stickers myself)
keyboard - me
sheet music - me
food props - megahouse miniatures & iwako erasers
359/365
This Amida stands by the parking lot at the beach in Namiita next to a Coke machine. People can pray here for safety in driving and fishermen pray for safety in boating. I don't know what they do at the Coke machine but I think they give money to both!
I actually live at Henrietta Place off Henrietta Street and for more than twenty years I have been depressed by the condition of the area but there have been massive improvements in the last few years especially at No. 14 [now a museum] and No. 3 [now a top class Aparthotel]
Henrietta Street is the earliest Georgian Street in Dublin, and at the forefront Dublin's later Georgian streetscapes. Construction on the street started in the mid-1720s, on land bought by the Gardiner family in 1721. Construction was still taking place in the 1750s. Gardiner had a mansion, designed by Richard Cassels, built for his own use around 1730.
The street was popularly referred to as Primate's Hill, as one of the houses was owned by the Archbishop of Armagh, although this house, along with two others, was demolished to make way for the Law Library of King's Inns.
The street fell into disrepair during the 19th and 20th centuries, with the houses being used as tenements. While the houses on Henrietta Street had been home to a small number of wealthy residents in the 18th century, these were given-over to tenement use during the 19th century, and by 1911 there were 835 people living in poverty in just 15 houses. A number of houses on the street remained in use as tenements until the 1970s. In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, the street has been subject to restoration efforts.
The street has been used as a period-location for film and TV companies, with productions filmed including Albert Nobbs, Inspector George Gently and Foyle's War.
The street is a cul-de-sac, with the Law Library of King's Inns facing onto its western end. As of 2017, there are 13 houses on the street. One of these houses, 14 Henrietta Street, was opened as a museum in late 2018. 14 Henrietta Street tells the story of the building and of the lives of the people who lived there.
A fail, actually.
Played with a majority of people last night (Sunday) on Slip and Slide. All of which, are on Flickr. Only two, in fact, are shown.
Damn you Erik! Incase you couldn't tell: I fell off my warthog only to have Erik come out of the teleporter to murder me within the first 33 seconds of the game >.>
Actually, Gran Canaria doesn’t do lakes. But it’s home to 69 reservoirs. Many of these, including the remote Presa de Chira, are set in stunning terrain.
Rainfall is scarce on the island and its soil’s got more pores open than a sauna-crazy Finn. So the islanders built presas to conserve as much water as possible. Providing storage space for the treated water created by desalination plants which makes the Atlantic ocean drinkable. With the result that there’s now a reservoir for every 25m² of Gran Canaria.
As a totally natural way of restricting the number of aquatic weeds in the presas, they started to introduce carp to the likes of Presa de Chira. These monsters of the deep, which can weigh up to over 55lb (25kg), are the underwater version of a lawnmower. And their population has multiplied, leading to Gran Canaria establishing itself as a popular carp-fishing destination.
(Wikipedia)
It was more of a necessity rather than a plan that we somehow managed to descent to the tranquil reservoir of Presa de Chira and the silent hamlet of Cercados de Araña - the other mountain road we planned to use was closed.
What we didn't know, however, was the fact the road does end here at the lake or better said, only a 4WD rough track follows down to the coastline - fools or adventurers, we decided to give it a go and luckily succeeded after a 90-min long bumpy and slow ride (in our ordinary rental car).
Replacing an earlier digital photo with a better version 28-Jun-23.
Unusual... An Air Atlanta Boeing 747 actually painted in their full livery... Although it had just started a wet-lease to Cathay Pacific.
Built as a 'Combi' with a side cargo door, this aircraft could be used in full passenger configuration or as a Combi with a main deck cargo area on the left side of the rear fuselage.
The aircraft was delivered to Lufthansa as D-ABYY in Dec-82. It was returned to Lufthansa Leasing GmbH in Aug-91 and was converted into a full freighter, but without the window blanks.
It was leased to German Cargo Air (a Lufthansa Group company) in Nov-91. German Cargo was renamed Lufthansa Cargo in May-93. The aircraft was 'sold' to Lufthansa Cargo in Dec-95.
In Jul-00 the aircraft was sold to a lessor and leased to Southern Air (USA) as N743SA. It was returned to the lessor in Mar-03 and leased to Air Atlanta Icelandic as TF-ARL in May-03. In Jan-04 it was wet-leased to MASkargo (Malaysia Airlines cargo division).
The wet-lease to MASkargo became a dry-lease when the aircraft was re-registered 9M-MHZ in Oct-05. It returned to Air Atlanta Icelandic as TF-ARL in May-06. It was wet-leased to Cathay Pacific Airways Cargo in Jun-06 and returned to Air Atlanta Icelandic around May-07.
The aircraft was leased to Tesis Air Cargo as VP-BXE in Nov-07. It was returned to Air Atlanta Icelandic as TF-ARL in Sep-08 and was stored at Luxembourg. After 27 years in service it was ferried to Kuala Lumpur in Jun-09 and was permanently retired. It was broken up at Kuala Lumpur in 2011.
Should have been: July 22nd, 2013. Actually: July 30th, 2013.
Posting this for the sake of catching up.
From a shoot two weeks ago, in Annapolis.
Just realizing how much blue there has been in my 52 weeks, so far.
That needs to change.
facebook // website // tumblr // prints // getty
If you're interested in looking at my design for Week 8, here's that: facebook link.
Shams-ud-din Iltutmish (reigned: 1211–36) was the founder of the Delhi Sultanate (actually the foundation of the Delhi Sultanate was done by Qutub-uddin-Aibak, but the Sultanate consolidated its position in India during the reign of Iltutmish).
Shams-ud-din Iltutmish was the third ruler of the Slave dynasty. He founded the Delhi Sultanate in 1211 and received the Caliph's investiture in his rule. He conquered Multan and Bengal from contesting rulers, and Ranathambhore and Siwalik from their rulers.
He expanded his domain by defeating the Muslim rulers of Ghazni, Multan and Bengal, which had previously annexed some of his territories and threatened his domain. He conquered the latter two territories and made further conquests in the Hindu lands, conquering the fort of Ranathambhore and the lands of Gawalior and the fort of Mandur.
He instituted many changes to the Sultanate, re-organising the monetary system and the nobility as well as the distribution of grounds and fiefs, and erected many buildings, including Mosques, Khanqas (Monasteries), Dargahs (Graves) and a Hauz (reservoir) for pilgrims.
Shams ud-din Iltutmish founded the Delhi Sultanate and much strengthened the power of the slave dynasty and of Islam in the India, although his kindred and heirs were not as politically gifted, with no ruler comparable to him in the area until the time of Ghiyas ud din Balban.
NAME AND TUTELAGE
The name Iltutmish is a Turkic name, meaning "he has held/owned land" (Ä°ltutmuÅŸ, in modern Turkish). Another theory concerning the meaning of the name suggests a connection with an eclipse that supposedly occurred at his birth (an event of some importance in the view of the people of the time). The other etymologies for his name include Altamash, which donates the number sixty, or the guard of the army, which is the ancient Turkic Khanates numbered at sixty; but this theory falsely draws its source from that he is often referred to as "Al-Tamash", which is most likely an Arabic variation of his Turkic name.
The title "Shams ad-Dunya Wa'd-Din" is a royal Laqab (regal title) of the time, translated as "Sun of the world and [of the] Faith" which he used once he was established Sultan at Delhi. Subsequent to the investiture by the Caliph, he was also addressed by the title "Yamin Amir al-Mu'minin" - The righthand man of the commander of the Faithful, or as "Naib" (lieutenant) of the Commander of the Faithful, which is the Caliph.
EARLY LIFE AND CAREER
Shams-ud-din belonged to the tribe of Ilbari in the Eurasian Steppe of Turkestan. While his association (by his biographers) with the Turkic nobility of that tribe confederation can be seen as dubious and anachronistic, it is possible that he was indeed high-born.
He was sold into slavery at an early age, reportedly after being sold by his kinsmen to slave merchants. the motif was for being handsome and particularly intelligent that Iltutmish caused jealousy among his brothers (a motif admittedly taken from the Biblical and Quranic tale of Joseph) that were all around the Steppe, supplying Turkic slaves as soldiers (Ghilman) to the military Elite of the Muslim world of the time.
He was taken to the great slave market of Bukhara, and later to Ghazni, which was the Western capital of the Ghurid dynasty, where he was purchased to the court of the Sultan, Muhammad Ghuri Sam, a notable Muslim ruler of the time. Earning some reputation in his court, he was quickly appointed personal attendant of the Sultan.
Muhammad's deputy and former slave, Qutub-ud-din-Aybak, then Viceroy of Lahore, sought to procure the slave. Due to the Sultan's refusal to sell his slave to his nobles, it was decided that Iltutmish be taken to Delhi, and there bought by Aibak, so that the Sultan's orders may not be violated in his own capital. Aibak bought Iltutmish and another slave (who would later perish) for the high price of 100,000 Tankas, the silver coin used in Muslim India.
He rose quickly in Aibak's service, earned the title Amir Tamghach, married Aibak's daughter, and served in succession as the Governor of Tabarind, Gwalior and Baran. In recognition of his services during the campaign of Muhammad of Ghur against the Khokhars in 1205-06, he was, by the Sultan's order, manumitted. Iltutmish was appointed Governor of Badaun in 1206 and was serving in this post when Aibak died in a polo accident and succeeded by a rumoredly incompetent man called Aram Shah. Subsequently, a group of noblemen invited Iltutmish to stake his claim on the Indian dominions of the Ghurids.
SULTAN OF DELHI
RISE TO POWER
In 1210, Qutb-ud-din Aibak died in a seemingly naive Polo accident in his capital of Lahore. Muizzi amirs, who had been appointed by Muhammad of Ghor, supported one Aram Shah, whose relation to Aibak is clad in mystery. Sources and estimations vary, considering him Aibak's son, brother or one of his nobles.
Qutbi amirs, owing allegiance to Aibak, invited Iltutmish, then Governor of Badaun, to seize power in Delhi. Aram Shah acceded to the throne in Lahore. In 1211, Iltutmish claimed the throne in Delhi. Aram Shah marched towards Delhi but was slain in battle at Bagh-i-Jud (the plains of Jud) leaving Iltutmish unopposed in Delhi.
The clash between Iltutmish, now Sultan Shams-ud-din, and Aram Shah, also led to the shift of capital from Lahore to Delhi. Thereby, Shams-ud-din can be viewed as the first ruler of the Delhi Sultanate, albeit being the third ruler in the Slave Dynasty, a fact leading to some confusion as to the periodization of the Delhi Sultanate. The shift of capital was probably supposed to shift power from the seat of Aram Shah's supporters and nobles, as well as to establish a more central and secured position of his newly founded Sultanate.
EARLY CHALLENGES
On his accession, Iltutmish faced a number of challenges to his rule. In the aftermath of Aibak's death, the Ghurid dominions in India had divided into four. Iltutmish controlled Delhi. Nasir-ud-Din Qabacha, the Governor of Uch and Multan asserted his independence. Ali Mardan Khilji, who had been appointed Governor of Lakhnauti in Bengal by Aibak in 1206, had thrown off his allegiance to Delhi after his death and styled himself Sultan Ala-ud-din. His successor, Ghiyasuddin, conquered Bihar. Lahore was contested by Iltutmish, Qabacha and [Tajuddin Yildoz], Muhammad of Ghor's adopted son and successor in Ghazni. Yildoz attempted to bring Delhi under his control. Initially, Iltutmish acknowledged Yildoz's suzerainty by accepting the symbolic presents of the chatr and durbash. The Hindu princes and chiefs were discontented at their loss of independence and had recovered Kannauj, Benaras, Gwalior, and Kalinjar had been lost during Qutub-ud-din's reign while Ranthambore had been reconquered by the Chauhans during Aram Shah's rule. To add to Iltutmish's troubles, some of the Amirs of Delhi expressed resentment against his rule.
The first order of business was to bring under control dependencies of Delhi that were under the control of Muizzi nobles and Hindu chieftains. Iltutmish launched military campaigns to assert his rule over Awadh, Badaun, Benaras and Siwalik. Iltutmish's son Nasir-ud-din Mahmud captured the Gangetic valley territories of Budaun, Kanauj, and the Hindus' holy city of Benaras. Rohilkhand was taken with heavy losses.
In 1215-1216, Yildoz, who had been defeated and expelled from Ghazni by the forces of the Shah of Khwarezm, moved towards Punjab and captured Lahore from Qabacha. Yildoz laid claim to the throne of Delhi as the heir to Muhammad of Ghor. Iltutmish refused, stating:
[T]he dominion of the world is enjoyed by the one who possesses the greatest strength. The principle of hereditary succession is not extinct but long ago destiny abolished this custom Iltutmish defeated Yildoz at Tarain. Yildoz was imprisoned in Badaun and was later executed. This ended Ghazni's aspirations to dominate northern India
After the death of Yildoz, Qabacha had retaken Lahore. In 1217, Iltutmish led his army towards Qabacha. Qabacha attempted to retreat from Lahore towards Multan but was defeated at Mansura. Iltutmish refrained from attacking Sindh due to the presence of Mongols on his north-west frontier. Iltutmish was preoccupied with the Mongol threat and did not threaten Qabacha until year 1227. Lahore was under Iltutmish's rule but not for long.
MONGOL THREAT
In 1221, the Mongols, under Genghis Khan appeared for the first time on the banks of the Indus. They had overrun the countries of Central and Western Asia with lightning rapidity. The Mongols sacked the Khwarazmian kingdom (Khwarazm-Shah), captured Khiva and forced its ruler, Jalal ad-Din Mingburnu al-Khwarazmi to flee to the Punjab.
Mingburnu, a staunt opposer of the Mongols, entered into an alliance with the Khokhars and captured Lahore and much of the Punjab. He requested an alliance with Shams-ud-din against the Mongols . The Sultan of Delhi refused, not wishing to get into a conflict with Genghis Khan and marched towards Lahore at the head of a large army. Mingburnu retreated from Lahore and moved towards Uchch inflicting a heavy defeat on Qabacha, and plundered Sindh and northern Gujarat and returned to Persia in 1224. The Mongols invested Multan before leaving as well.
CONSOLDATION OF POWER
Loath to get into a conflict with the Mongols, Iltutmish turned his attention towards the Hindu east. Iltutmish marched against Ghiyasuddin in 1225 and was successful. Ghiyasuddin accepted Iltutmish's suzerainty, ceded Bihar, and paid a large tribute. However, soon after Iltutmish left, Ghiyasuddin revoked the agreement and retook control of Bihar. Iltutmish's son Nasiruddin Mahmud, Governor of Awadh was tasked with dealing with Bengal. In 1227, when Ghiyasuddin was campaigning in Assam, Mahmud launched a sudden attack, capturing Lakhnauti. Ghiyasuddin was imprisoned and then executed. Mahmud died suddenly in 1229, to the dismay of his father. This led to further revolts by the Khalji Maliks of Bengal until Iltutmish captured Lakhnauti again in 1230. Ala-ud-din Jani was appointed Governor of Lakhnauti.
Iltutmish then turned his attention to Qabacha. Capture of Bengal and Rajput territories had significantly enhanced the state of Iltutmish's treasury whereas Qabacha had been weakened by Mingburnu's sack of Uchch and the Mongol siege of Multan. The upheaval caused by the Mongol invasion had led to a large number of military adventurers and officers from Turkic lands to move to India. Iltutmish's replenished treasury allowed him to recruit a large army. A number of officials also defected from Qabacha's camp. In 1228, Iltutmish attacked Qabacha. Ucch was captured after a siege of three months.[10] Qabacha fled and was surrounded on all sides in the fort of Bhakkar, on the banks of Indus. He drowned while attempting to escape. Sindh and Multan were incorporated into the Delhi Sultanate and placed under separate governors.
In 1228-29, Iltutmish received emissaries from the Abbasid Caliph Al-Mustansir and was presented with the Caliphal robe (khilat) and investiture (manshur) signifying the Caliphate's recognition of Iltutmish's rule over India. Such recognition was highly sought after by the Sunni Muslim rulers of India as it leant religious and political legitimacy and prestige. In Iltutmish's case, in particular, this was a symbolic declaration of the Delhi Sultanate's status as an independent kingdom rather than a client of the Ghurids. and earned Iltutmish the title of "Lieutanat" (Naib) or "righthand man" (Yamin) of the Caliph, or Commander of the Faithfull (Amir al-Mu'minin). Iltutmish also went to Egypt, the seat of the Caliph under the Ayyubid Cairo Sultanate, as part of the mutual delegations between his domain and the Caliphate. Due to his problems first with Turkic nobles and then with the Mongols, Iltutmish had also ignored the Rajputs, who had regained territory lost earlier to the Turks, for the first fifteen years of his reign. Starting in 1226, however, Iltutmish began a series of campaigns against the Rajputs. Ranthambore, considered impregnable, was taken in 1226; Mandsaur in 1227. Bayana, Ajmer and Sambhar were also captured. Ranthambore was returned to its Chauhan rulers, who served as feudatories, while Ajmer remained part of the Delhi Sultanate. Nagaur was captured in 1230 and Gwalior was captured in 1231 after a one-year siege. In 1235, Iltutmish sacked Ujjain.
CIVIL ADMINISTRATION
ARCHITECTURE
During his dominion in Badaun, Iltutmish built the city's fort (Kotla) and the Jama Masjid (great Friday Mosque) of the city, which remained the biggest and most famous Mosque in Mediveal India until the expansion of Delhi's Jama Masjid in Alauddin's time and is still second largest with the largest Mosque Dome.
Shams ud-din built several Khanqas (monasteries) and Dargahs (graves) for Sufi saints, as Sufism was dominant in the Deccan. He commenced the structure of Hamid ud-din's Khanaqa, and build the Gandhak-ki-Baoli, a stepwell for the Sufi saint, Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki, who moved to Delhi during his reign.
Near the Gandhaki Baoli, Shams ud-din also built the Hauz-i-Shamsi, a watertank (a popular means for the welfare of pilgrims), which he erected in 1230 after the Prophet Muhammad was claimed to appeared in his dream and led him there. Iltutmish claimed to have found the footprint of the Buraq, the prophet's mount, at the site. The site also encompasses the Jahaz Mahal standing on its edge, used by later Mughal Emperors.
In 1231, following the demise of his oldest son and heir apparent, Nasir ud-Din Mahmud, he built Sultan Ghari the mausoleum for him, which was the first Islamic Mausoleum in Delhi. The tomb lies within fortified grounds, which also include the graves of several others of Iltutmish's kindred.
He is said to have completed the construction of the Qutb Minar, erected by Qutb ud-din, and expanded the Qutb complex and the Quwwat al-Islam Mosque therein
COINAGE
The early Ghurid rulers had maintained the Rajput coinage system based on the Hindushahi bull-and horseman coins in place at the Delhi mint. Dehliwala, the standard coin, was a silver-copper alloy with a uniform weight of 3.38 grams, of which 0.59 grams was Silver. The major source of silver for the Delhi mint were coin hoards from Central Asia. Another source was European silver which made its way to Delhi via the Red Sea, Persian Gulf through the ports of Gujarat. By the 1220s, supply from Central Asia had dried up and Gujarat was under control of hostile forces.
In response to the lack of silver, Iltutmish introduced a new bimetallic coinage system to Northern India consisting of an 11 grams silver Tanka and the billon Jital, with 0.25 grams of silver. The Dehliwala was devalued to be on par with the Jital. This meant that a Dehliwala with 0.59 grams of silver was now equivalent to a coin with 0.25 grams of silver. Each Dehliwala paid as tax, therefore produced an excess 0.34 grams of silver which could be used to produce Tankas. The new system served as the basis for coinage for much of the Sultanate period and even beyond, though periodic shortages of silver caused further debasement. The Tanka is a forerunner to the Rupee.
IQTADAR
Iltutmish introduced the Iqta-dar system, which had been the common practice of the majority of the Islamic world since the time of the Buyids. The system shares some similarities with the contemporary European custom of Feudalism, and involved dedicating the profits of a certain land of fief (Quta') to warlords in payment of their martial service and political loyalty.
ISLAMIC CULTURE
Shams ud-din's court was abundant with poets in the Arabic and Persian languages. He is said to have rewarded a poet called Nasiri for writing him a fifty-three couplets long Qasida, by giving him fifty-three thousands Tankas; Iltutmish is also said to have learned the opening (Fatiha) of the Qasida by heart. His victories against the Hindu Rajputs of Ranathambhor was celebrated by the poet Ruhani al-Samarqandi to devote these verses to the Sultan:
- The faithful Gabriel carried the tidings to the dwellers in heaven,
- From the record of victories of the Sulá¹Ã¡n of the age Shams ud-DÃn,
- Saying — Oh ye holy angels raise upon the heavens,
- Hearing this good tidings, the canopy of adornment.
- That from the land of the heretics the Sháhansháh of Islám
- Has conquered a second time the fort resembling the sky;
- The Sháh, holy warrior and GházÃ, whose hand and sword
- The soul of the lion of repeated attacks praises.
The verses compare the Sultan to 'Ali, who is often called Asad-Illah (or Shir-i Khuda), and adornes him with the Persian title of Shanshah (King of Kings) and clearly refer to Ranathambor as "the fort resembling the sky", due to its high position in the mountains. The famous poet, Amir Khusraw, was a poet in the service of his court, as well, and has mentioned the Sultan in verses often
NOBILITY
Shams ud-din installed a new nobility, which was based on a confederation of Turkic and a few Mawali (new Muslims of Hindu origin) that were acquitants of him or of Qutb ud-din. They formed a council of forty (Chilanghan) which was very powerful and became the de facto rulers behind the majority of his heirs.
DEATH AND SUCCESSION
In 1236 Iltutmish died, and was buried in the Qutb complex in Mehrauli.
The death of Iltutmish was followed by years of political instability at Delhi. During this period, four descendants of Iltutmish were put on the throne and murdered. Iltutmish's eldest son, Nasir-ud-din Mahmud, had died in 1229 while governing Bengal as his father's deputy. The surviving sons of the Sultan were incapable of the task of administration. In 1236, Iltutmish, on his death-bed, nominated his daughter Razia as his heiress. But, Razia did not have support of the nobles of the court, who did not want a woman ruler.
Iltutmish's eldest surviving son, Rukn-ud-din Firuz was raised to the throne. Firuz left governance in the hands of his mother, Shah Turken. Firuz was deposed within six months, and Razia became the ruler. Razia's growing assertiveness brought her in conflict with the nobles. In 1240, a rebellion led to the replacement of Razia by her brother, Muiz ud din Bahram. Bahram ruled for two years before he was overthrown in favour of Firuz's son, Ala ud din Masud in 1242.
Order was re-established only after Iltutmish's grandson Nasir-ud-din-Mahmud became Sultan with Iltutmish's prominent slave, Ghias-ud-din-Balban as his Deputy Sultan (Naib) in 1246. Balban held all the power at the time and became Sultan in 1266. There was internal stability from 1246 until 1290 when Jalal-ud-din Khilji overthrew Balban's great-grandson Kayumarath, thus ending the Mamluk Dynasty and founded the Khilji Dynasty.
IN ART
Poet-diplomat Abhay K's poem 'Iltutmish' is a reflection of the Sultan from his grave.
WIKIPEDIA
Actually all poles are sucker poles because all you need to do to remove the pole (and thus the bike) is remove the nut on the bolt attaching the pole to the base.
Why is there a flag pole here?
I actually spent $50 for this bunch of sorry looking dolls and since there’s actually too much to actually through it at once, i’ll just give a basic run down of what I got at the Doll show thingy first.
-Nude swim class Holt ($15), who I swapped arms with my customized wave 1 Holt since SC holt’s upper arms are really hard to yank arms out from and I didnt wanna put them together for photo’s sake
-Four Wizard of Oz dolls ($18), though two are from different companies than Mattel and are made much earlier than them, includes nightmare fuel scarecrow who possibly does cocaine
-Lot of 3 vintage GI Joes ($10) in various states of disrepair, including the fact that there’s no right hands, or that their left hands are so brittle fingers are breaking or broken off and discoloured. Included was a random forearm that didn’t fit into the upper arm of one of the guys and masking tape feet
-Missing Arms School’s Out Clawdeen and Deuce’s left arm, as well as his hip pin being broken and pants missing
So yeah, more detailed posts on groups of this soon.
Actually I stayed in Oak Creek just outside of Sedona. I found this happening driving back from one of my many outings that finish long after the sun goes down. The moon is about to hide behind one of the many buttes that dot the country side
Well, actually it was quite well past evening. Taken after the sun had gone down on the Pacific, this picture was captured at the last place we visited on the San Diego trip.
We landed on this beach in quite an unplanned way. While heading north from Solvang, we planned to make a stop at the Sand Dollar Beach to catch the sunset and started on our way on US-1. Driving on one of the most scenic drives in the country can make you forget some routine but important things.
Paying a price for our neglect, of all things we ran out of gas mid-way!! The help from the National Car Rental came surprisingly quickly, within 40 minutes of calling them. By the time we re-fueled, we could already sense the sun about to go down. Being on US-1, thankfully there is no dearth of beaches! Quickly Googled the directions to the nearest beach and here we were, at the Moonstone beach, finally catching the nice sunset at a beach to end a memorable trip!
Moving on to the actual shot, this has to be the most heavily processed shot that I have ever put up on Flickr. It was quite dark and this time with only some after-light in the sky. On top of that, I was using a 2 stop ND filter to get the smooth water. Processed the RAW file two times, once to bring out the colors in the sky and then to brighten the water and saturate the rocks. But well, I did go overboard and almost gave a painting-like look. Hopefully, it's not awful!
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Please leave your feedback (-ve is also welcome!) if you happen to land on this page.
Actually I wanted something more in background, i'm not very satisfied with the composition of the photo.
A few months ago I purchased the remote control of self-timer and I am completely satisfied with purchase.
Obviously you're not watching horrible way in which I have given the enamel.
I hope you can spend a long full weekend like will probably be as mine.
Have a nice time to all!
Jewish deportation: Dark chapter in the history of the city
Only Jews are expelled ... Every Jew is considered to be transportable; except for the Jews who are actually bedridden. "Sentences of a cynical manual of criminals.
The camp in Gurs: 108 Constance Jews and four other Jews who were in the city on October 22, 1940, dragged the Nazis to the southern French internment camp. The deportation was largely unobtrusive. Pictures of that day from Constance do not exist.
It was by no means an expulsion, it was a deportation on 22 October 1940: 108 Constance Jews were dragged along with thousands of others from Baden, the Palatinate and from the Saarland. Ultimate destination: Gurs, southern France. Only a few survived.
This day, almost 70 years ago, is one of the darkest chapters in city history. Two years after the Reichspogromnacht (Reich's Crystal Night), the Nazi regime struck up with full force.
Constance, too, should be free of Jews. Jürgen Klöckler, head of the Konstanz Municipal Archive, explains that this was deliberately run in an unobtrusive manner. The Gestapo (secret state police) came with their civilian cars. It drove up, arrested the Jews, listed what they were allowed to take with them: a hand-bag, a blanket, dishes and drinking vessels, some provisions, and a hundred Reichsmarks. At Petershaus station the train was ready for departure. Up to five hours, people had to wait until they got moving. The train stopped at all railway stations along the Schwarzwaldbahn route from Singen, Radolfzell to Offenburg. Further Jews forced to deportation had to go up. Altogether it were spread over several trains 6504 from Baden, the Palatinate and the Saarland. At the behest of the Baden INTERIOR MINISTRY, and by ordinance of October 15, 1940, they were officially expelled, the "Volljuden [Nazi terminology for a person with at least three Jewish grandparents]". Their fortune snatched the Naziregime. At public auction in the Council in January 1941, the former belongings were auctioned, so Jürgen Klöckler said. The apartments the Nazis had rented again.
The train was sealed to the French border. Up to this point the passengers against their will were not given any food or liquid. A priest and some helpers looked after the needy during a stop at a French station. Of the deportees were "two-thirds old people," explained Stadtarchivar Klöckler. Why? For many young Jews the Reichspogromnacht was a last warning in November 1938, when the Nazis broke the Constance synagogue. They left the country and escaped to Switzerland and America. In addition, many of the male Jews who had been arrested in the Reichspogromnacht were dragged to Dachau and tortured. When they were released, they had to commit themselves to emigration. "Official goal of the National Socialists until 1938 was the forced emigration of the Jews," added Jürgen Klöckler. Whoever could not do this or do, who did not flee or failed to escape, was faced with a cruel fate. When the deportees arrived at the Gurs internment camp, 900 people were already trapped there - primarily Spain fighters of the Civil War from 1936 to 1939. Within a few days, the figure rose to 13,000 people, including Jews from France. Other camps were in Recebedou and Rivesaltes. The conditions in Gurs were devastating. In the roughly 380 barracks it was dark. Between 50 and 60 people were accommodated in one block, they spent the night on straw. Tables, chairs and beds did not exist. "We slept with rats, fleas and bugs," said Paul Niedermann during a lecture in Constance.
As a toilet served a hole in the floor outside the blocks. Medical care was poor, hygiene was poor, epidemics such as dysentery, typhus, and tuberculosis were rampant. "We have ten to fifteen dead every day, mostly old people ...", wrote the nurse Else Liefmann from Gurs. The internees tried to make LIFE as pleasant as possible in spite of all the harsh conditions: poets wore serious and cheerful songs; on Sundays, there were small concerts.
Those who were able to escape from Gurs by 1942 were lucky; either on his own strength, after the bribery of the supervisor, or with the assistance of others. "30 Constance Jews have survived," explains the city archivist. The death factories like Auschwitz were waiting for all the others. On August 6, 1942, the first transports began. From this date, says Klöckler, "no one has survived any more".
Sources: Erich Bloch: Stories of the Jews of Constance; State Center for Civic Education: "... it happened in broad daylight".
The city keeps a low profile. Info: Constance's memorial days.
Juden-Deportation: Dunkles Kapitel in der Stadtgeschichte
Ausgewiesen werden nur Volljuden…Jeder Jude gilt als transportfähig; ausgenommen sind nur die Juden, die tatsächlich bettlägerig sind.“ Sätze einer zynischen Bedienungsanleitung von Verbrechern.
Das Lager in Gurs: 108 Konstanzer Juden sowie vier weitere Juden, die sich in der Stadt am 22. Oktober 1940 aufhielten, verschleppten die Nazis in das südfranzösische Internierungslager. Die Deportation lief weitgehend unauffällig ab. Bilder von jenem Tag aus Konstanz gibt es nicht.
Denn von einer Ausweisung konnte nicht die Rede sein, es war eine Deportation am 22. Oktober 1940: 108 Konstanzer Juden wurden mit tausenden anderen aus Baden, der Pfalz und aus dem Saarland verschleppt. Endstation: Gurs, Südfrankreich. Nur wenige überlebten.
Dieser Tag vor fast genau 70 Jahren zählt zu den dunkelsten Kapiteln in der Stadtgeschichte. Zwei Jahre nach der Reichspogromnacht schlug das Naziregime mit voller Härte zu.
Auch Konstanz sollte, so das Ziel, frei von Juden sein. Und das lief bewusst unauffällig ab, um kein Aufsehen zu erregen, erläutert Jürgen Klöckler, Leiter des Konstanzer Stadtarchivs. Die Gestapo (geheime Staatspolizei) kam mit ihren zivilen Autos. Sie fuhr vor, verhaftete die Juden, listete auf, was sie mitnehmen durften: Einen Handkoffer, eine Wolldecke, Ess- und Trinkgeschirre, etwas Verpflegung und 100 Reichsmark. Am Petershauser Bahnhof stand der Zug zur Abfahrt bereit. Bis zu fünf Stunden mussten die Menschen eingepfercht warten, bis er sich in Bewegung setzte. An allen Bahnhöfen entlang der Schwarzwaldbahnstrecke – von Singen, Radolfzell bis Offenburg – stoppte der Zug. Weitere zur Deportation gezwungene Juden mussten zusteigen. Insgesamt waren es auf mehrere Züge verteilt 6504 aus Baden, der Pfalz und dem Saarland. Auf Geheiß des badischen INNENMINISTERIUMS und mit Verordnung vom 15. Oktober 1940 wurden sie, die „Volljuden“, offiziell ausgewiesen. Ihr Vermögen riss das Naziregime an sich. Das einstige Hab und Gut wurde, so Jürgen Klöckler, bei einer öffentlichen Auktion im Konzil im Januar 1941 versteigert. Die Wohnung ließen die Nazis erneut vermieten.
Der Zug war bis zur französischen Grenze verplombt. Bis dorthin erhielten die Passagiere wider Willen weder Nahrung noch Flüssigkeit. Ein Pfarrer und einige Helfer versorgten die Notleidenden bei einem Halt auf einem französischen Bahnhof. Von den Deportierten waren „zwei Drittel alte Menschen“, erläutert Stadtarchivar Klöckler. Warum? Für viele junge Juden war die Reichspogromnacht im November 1938, als die Nazis die Konstanzer Synagoge sprengten, eine letzte Warnung – sie verließen das Land und flüchteten unter anderem in die Schweiz und nach Amerika. Zudem wurden viele in der Reichspogromnacht verhafteten männlichen Juden nach Dachau verschleppt und gequält. Bei der Freilassung mussten sie sich zum Auswandern verpflichten. „Offizielles Ziel der Nationalsozialisten war bis 1938 die erzwungene Auswanderung der Juden“, fügt Jürgen Klöckler hinzu. Wer dies nicht tat oder tun konnte, wer nicht flüchtete oder dessen Flucht scheiterte, dem stand ein grausames Schicksal bevor. Als die Deportierten im Internierungslager Gurs ankamen, waren dort bereits 900 Menschen gefangen – in erster Linie Spanienkämpfer des Bürgerkriegs von 1936 bis 1939. Innerhalb weniger Tage stieg die Zahl auf 13 000 Menschen, auch Juden aus Frankreich trafen ein. Weitere Lager standen in Recebedou und Rivesaltes. Die Zustände in Gurs waren verheerend. In den rund 380 Baracken war es finster. Zwischen 50 und 60 Menschen waren in einem Block untergebracht, sie nächtigten auf Stroh. Tische, Stühle und Betten gab es nicht. „Wir schliefen mit Ratten, Flöhen und Wanzen“, schilderte Zeitzeuge Paul Niedermann bei einem Vortrag in Konstanz.
Als Toilette diente abseits der Blocks ein Loch im Boden. Die medizinische Versorgung war schlecht, die Hygiene mangelhaft, es grassierten Epidemien wie Ruhr, Typhus und Tuberkulose. „Wir haben täglich zehn bis 15 Tote, meist alte Leute…“, schrieb die Kinderärztin Else Liefmann aus Gurs. Die Internierten versuchten, sich das LEBEN trotz aller widrigen Umstände so angenehm wie möglich zu gestalten: Dichter trugen Ernstes und Heiteres vor, sonntags gab es kleine Konzerte.
Glück hatten jene, die bis 1942 aus Gurs flüchten konnten; entweder aus eigener Kraft, nach Bestechung von Aufsehern oder mit fremder Hilfe. „30 Konstanzer Juden haben überlebt“, erläutert der Stadtarchivar. Auf all die anderen warteten die Todesfabriken wie Auschwitz. Am 6. August 1942 starteten die ersten Transporte. Ab diesem Datum, sagt Klöckler, „hat keiner mehr überlebt“.
Weitere Quellen: Erich Bloch: Geschichten der Juden von Konstanz; Landeszentrale für politische Bildung: „...es geschah am helllichten Tag“.
Die Stadt übt sich weitgehend in Zurückhaltung. Info: Konstanzer Gedenktage
www.suedkurier.de/region/kreis-konstanz/konstanz/Juden-De...
actually this is our "last First Date Anniversary" It was our official "first date" and the last one of those we would ever have. we go to Morton's in Bev. Hills each year and OMG I have gotten crab legs the past couple of years, but I must've gotten the half order because I got the full order and didn't even eat half of it (and it was $120!!! - i'm eating this doggie bag for real!!!!)
Gates of a park in Solihull town centre called Malvern Park. The park actually links two parks (Malvern Park and Brueton Park), but this is the Malvern Park end in the town centre.
I decided not to go in (this time).
By the time I came back to Solihull all of the snow was mostly melted, with only minor bits of ice left. The green grass has returned.
This is the gated entrance to Malvern Park near New Road. Dates to 1954 - 55.
Coat of arms on the gates to the park near New Road. This is the coat of arms of the Solihull Urban District Council of 1948 to 1974. Slight changes were made to it when it became the Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council in 1974.
The present Armorial bearings of the Metropolitan Borough of Solihull were granted in 1975.
Arms Argent within two Barrulets Gules between in chief a Griffin passant Sable and in base a Hurt thereon a Fleur-de-Lys Argent a Greyhound courant Sable. (translation: on a silver shield within two red Barrulets between, at the top, a black Griffin with one paw raised and, at the bottom, a silver fleur-de-lys on a blue roundel, a black greyhound running at full speed). The two red bars are the symbol of the Throckmorton family of Coughton Court, near Alcester. Sir George Throckmorton purchased the Manor of Solihull in 1528 and it was held by his family until 1604. The black greyhound is taken from the arms of the Greswold family who were associated with Solihull for several centuries and built Malvern Hall and also the Manor House in the High Street. The silver fleur-de-lys is taken from the arms of the Digby family, which has held the manor of Coleshill (including Chelmsley Wood, Kingshurst and Fordbridge) since 1496. The black griffin is taken from the arms of the Finch family, Earls of Aylesford, who have held the lordships of the manors of Bickenhill and Meriden.
Crest On a wreath Argent and Sable Issuant from the battlements of a Tower in front of a Oak Tree proper fructed Or two sickles in the shafts in saltire the blades upward and outward proper. (translation: on a black and silver wreath, arising from the battlements of a tower in front of an oak tree bearing golden fruit, two sickles, the shafts crossed and blades upward and outward).
Motto Urbs in Rure (the town in the country). The present armorial bearings were based on those used by Solihull Urban District Council 1948-1974.
Note: I think that the arms on this entrance to Malvern Park are from the previous council of 1948 - 1974. But the 1975 one is based on it.
I'm actually quite surprised that I've found yet another way to capture the Glenfarg South Tunnel from the best viewpoint. This is the spot that any photographer in the south tunnel goes for and it's easy to see why. Not only can you see almost all of the tunnel from this point but the car provides the perfect foreground interest.
In order to do something different here, I went for my usual trick of capturing the scene in portrait but I also lowered the tripod in an attempt to make the tunnel look taller than it is. The latter part of the composition hasn't worked all that well because my tripod doesn't go down that far.
I mainly made this trip as an excuse to try out my new remote trigger but Glenfarg South is pretty bright as far as tunnels go so you'll have to wait till I upload the photos from Glenfarg North to see what fun things I got up to with five minute plus exposures. That doesn't sound right worded that way...
Actually, several of them are....a box of broken colored pencils. The Macro Monday's theme this week is repetitive/repetition. HMM
Again, it's Theme Bending Time! I bought 7686 with a massive discount the other day, and turned it into a Coast Guard moc using only pieces from that set.
Actually, this alley looks pretty good ... as far as alleys go.
3 exposures, tonemapped in Photomatix and processed in Photoshop
Actually, today we have been invited to my professor's house to see my junior, Tini wearing hakama (Japanese traditional wear- they wearing hakama ONLY on graduation day). I have no chance to wear it on my grad day, cause too expensive to rent it! Huhu...
But then, I was surprised that Mrs Miyamoto (my prof's wife) had rented a kid's kimono special for Rafiqh. So lucky my baby... For Japanese, they believed that taking a photo of 3months old baby in kimono will leads him/her to live healthy...
Tapi sayang seribu kali sayang, Rafiqh yang dah mula kenal orang memang refused untuk di"siap", hmmm. Tambahan pula, dia dah ngantuk. Sesi bergambar jadi ala-kadar, sungguh tak menarik. Mrs Miyamoto kata, tunggu Rafiqh besar sikit, dan bijak sikit, kita ambil lagi gambar ok. Next time, Rafiqh akan bergaya ala2 samurai/ninja gitu, heee tak sabarnya nak tengok baby mama jadi ultraman, opss samurai laa, hehe...
Thank you so much Mrs Miyamoto! \(^v^)/
Styling by Miss Matilda
Wardrobe technician / photographer: Thea
Jacket: Social Suicide, remixed once or thrice
White shirt: Marks & Spencer
T-shirt: Oddhero - see detail below
Bluest blue jeans, labelled "skinny" but I'd say slim, (Mum would say drainpipes): Topman. From an actual shop, not an internet !
Pine Converse
Not the exact jeans and plods specified by Miss Matilda, but close.
To all Flickr and Wardrobe folk: Sorry, I've been back in the smoking section. I'll catch up with you soon.