A late September 2018 visit to Packwood House, another National Trust property. Been meaning to visit this one myself for a while now!

 

A nice cool Sunday afternoon to visit Packwood.

  

Packwood House is a timber-framed Tudor manor house near Lapworth, Warwickshire. Owned by the National Trust since 1941, the house is a Grade I listed building. It has a wealth of tapestries and fine furniture, and is known for the garden of yews.

 

The house began as a modest timber-framed farmhouse constructed for John Fetherston between 1556 and 1560. The last member of the Fetherston family died in 1876. In 1904 the house was purchased by Birmingham industrialist Alfred Ash. It was inherited by Graham Baron Ash (Baron in this case being a name not a title) in 1925, who spent the following two decades creating a house of Tudor character. He purchased an extensive collection of 16th- and 17th-century furniture, some obtained from nearby Baddesley Clinton. The great barn of the farm was converted into a Tudor-style hall with sprung floor for dancing, and was connected to the main house by the addition of a Long Gallery in 1931.

 

In 1941, Ash donated the house and gardens to the National Trust in memory of his parents but continued to live in the house until 1947 when he moved to Wingfield Castle.

  

Sundial at the West Front of Packwood House.

 

Grade II Listed

 

Sundial Approximately 10 Metres West of Packwood House

  

Listing Text

 

LAPWORTH PACKWOOD LANE

SP17SE (West side)

Packwood

1/46 Sundial approx. 10m W of

Packwood House

GV II

Sundial. Dated 1667, with C20 restoration. Stone. Round stepped base; round

column, part C20 replacement; painted stone square top with round ball finial.

Erected by John Featherston, who probably planted the Yew Garden, traditionally

said to represent the "Sermon on the Mount"

(Buildings of England: Warwickshire: 1966, pp370-1; Packwood House National

Trust Guide book, 1987)

[ 15]

  

Listing NGR: SP1732472214

 

This text is from the original listing, and may not necessarily reflect the current setting of the building.

Just added the new Canon 17mm TS-E F/4L to my arsenal

I've been throwing around the idea for a new macro lens for a while. My main macro is the Tamron 90mm/f2.8, which I adore and have owned for about 7 years. However, the length of the lens requires being closer to the subject. When photographing insects or other living macro subjects, they often get frightened when approached so closely. I wanted something that would allow me to get farther from my subject with the same magnification. Being that I shoot Canon, I contemplated all macro lenses in the market. The Canon 180/f2.8 L lens is over $1000, but I've read a few cases where people have returned the lens for the Tamron. While not being an L lens, it's supposedly just as sharp as the Canon. And Tamron and Sigma make a lens that is very similar. It basically comes down to preference. The Sigma is heavier, contains HSM, and the body looks better. But I've had bad luck with Sigma lenses so I'm always wary. The Tamron lens has a "clutch" that basically allows you to "click" into AF or M mode. My 90mm has this and while I really don't use manual for macro, I find that the clutch is extremely handy if you do need the AF. No need to switch any little buttons. And I've always been happy with Tamron glass. Always sharp as a tack. My online comparison and research led to Tamron. I still checked out both in the store. Sigma was really nice and I was tempted. But I still went with the Tamron.

 

I was also in the market for a battery pack. The recycle time on my flash isn't fast enough. I've been suggested a Quantum, which I was going to get, but my camera man suggested the Canon CP-E3 compact battery pack, which is actually cheaper than the Quantum. He recommended this due to the electronic design of the 580EX flash. It's not as sturdy as I would prefer, but it's definitely compact. It takes 8 AA batteries (of whatever type) that run off of the flash and has a cover protector pouch.

 

So I couldn't wait to get home and try out my new goodies. I went out for a "dry run" (aka: nothing specific, whatever I could find). I learned that my sensor was REALLY f'in dirty even after being cleaned twice after Utah. So let's try round three! And because my sensor was so dirty, I don't think that the images yielded the sharpness that the lens is capable of. I'll have to try again tomorrow.

 

The battery pack. Well, I was running 8 NiMH AAs in it. To start, the recycle time was basically non-existent. I could fire shot after shot. But after about 10 shots, the recycle time started to increase leaving me waiting. Perhaps it is my batteries. I charged them a while ago, but does anyone know if they lose their charge after sitting for a while without use? Some of them were older and maybe not as good. Another possibility. And I also know that some systems work better off of alkaline or lithium batteries. So I may go buy some and give that a whirl. Anyone have any suggestions?

 

I was also shooting at ISO 400, which is higher than I would prefer. Not enough light was reaching my subject from the flash since the lens is longer. Someone suggested a flash bracket made by Really Right Stuff. I may just have to look into that...or try the flash bracket that I have.

 

Nevertheless, I was able to get photos of insects that are normally quite skiddish when approached. So that's pretty cool. I'll have to give all of this a go tomorrow.

 

Sterling Hall was built in 1915. This image shows the 1958 addition which housed the Army Math Research Center. (Picture circa 1959)

 

To view more images of the UW Madison, please visit The UW Madison Collection

This beautiful Marathon Coach is a new addition to our inventory. It has both interior and exterior options that are sure to please. Kick back and relax with a 42" plasma in the Salon and a 32" LCD in the bedroom. The salon features a L-Shaped leather dinette with a sofa and recliner. Give a call to learn more about this great coach.

All Saints, Honington, Suffolk

 

The name of this village will be familiar to many, for RAF Honington was one of East Anglia's larger airbases. In fact, the base lies a mile or so west of the village, and the main thing that disturbs the peace here is the busy A1088, which scurries through on its way from Ixworth to Thetford. This is not a cyclists' road, but you can get off it onto some of the quietest, loneliest lanes in all East Anglia.

 

The church is off the main road, down what was once the high street, among old houses which have been carefully restored. In one of these, the poet Robert Bloomfield was born. Little-known today, his work The Farmer's Boy was a publishing sensation at the start of the 19th century, thanks to the attentions of the influential radical lawyer and writer Capel Llofts of neighbouring Troston. It sold more than 26,000 copies in less than three years. It is hard to imagine a poet today selling a tenth as much. There is a memorial to Bloomfield inside the church.

 

This is not a big church, smaller and prettier than Troston. What they both share is a beautiful porch, replete with flint flushwork and Marian iconography, completed on the eve of the Reformation. This is the devotional English Church at perhaps its highest point. But this church is a much older one than its porch, as you see as you go through the outer doors, and find the great Norman doorway. It is one of the half dozen best in all Suffolk, and similar to that at nearby Sapiston, more awe-inspiring, perhaps, although less beautiful.

 

Inside, all is neat, bright and devotional. You might even think it a little tame and polite, after the grandeur of the porch, the mystery of the doorway. With its plastered ceilure, the grand Norman chancel arch is a rather curious thing. You could be forgiven for thinking, for a moment, that it is an 18th century classical conceit. However, despite its domestication, Honington church has a couple of splendid survivals. One is the 14th century font. It has familiar tracery patterns on 7 sides, but the 8th has a heart-achingly lovely crucifixion scene. Above the cross are the sun and moon in the sky, and Mary lifts her hands imploringly, while John holds his head in despair. As I often say, probably too often, if this was in the V&A people would travel to London from all over the world just to see it.

 

This church suffered one of Suffolk's very last destructive restorations, when all the medieval benches were removed on the eve of World War I. However, some of the bench ends survived, and have been incorporated into the choir stalls in the chancel. Here you'll find Honington's famous bagpiper, the quality suggesting that he is part of the body of work of the same carver at Ixworth Thorpe.

 

The most significant new addition to churches in the last two decades has been a series of millennium windows, although as I have said elsewhere there seems to have been a loss of nerve among stained glass designers, and the bold, confident designs of the previous half a century was replaced by a certain kitschiness, a loss of nerve perhaps. Some of the windows appear to have been designed by a commitee, cramming in as many aspects of parish life as possible without an over-arching focus. However, at Honington the window transcends this difficulty, a lovely boiling of images from the joint parish of Honington and Sapiston, including wildlife, farming on the Euston estate, the airbase, and the vicar standing outside the Norman doorway of her church. The River Blackbourne trickles through it all. The artist, of course, was Pippa Blackall, who I think quite the most significant stained glass artist working in East Anglia over the last thirty years.

 

Sam Mortlock bemoans the whitewashing of the wall paintings that Munro Cautley saw here in the 1930s. One of them was of St Thomas of Canterbury, a rare survival, since he was violently excised by the Anglican reformers. Of course, the whitewashing was probably an expedient measure, to protect them until such a time as there was money and a will to restore them. When Cautley saw them, they were already faded.

another addition to the ana/landscape portfolio... a lost cinderella running throught the forest... was the idea

O’Henry School – 1902 Addition (Llano, Texas)

j111

CENTRAL-ADDITION-Exterior #3-Addition

In addition to lomolizing your iPhone, I found that using Diana+ wide angle viewfinder as an iPhone add-on lens not only improves close-up quality, it even allows me to create double exposure effect as well as kaleidoscope effect.

 

If you look at the Diana+ viewfinder in detail, you'll see a top window collecting light for the cross hair seen through the viewfinder. By prying open the top window, you will be able to remove the cross hair film and replace it with anything you like, such as your negative/positive film, a painted transparent film etc, thereby creating an overlay or double exposure effect when the viewfinder is used to take shots.

 

In the above example, I used negative films cut into pieces and put them inside the top window compartment to create a kaleidoscope effect. This create unique imagery for every shot you take, simply shake the viewfinder before you take a shot.

 

The fun thing about this effect is that you can control the amount of light entering from the viewfinder's top window by using just your finger to make shade. So you get to control how much the kaleidoscope effect is showing in your image, the more light you allow from viewfinder's top, the more dominant the kaleidoscope effect is. If you completely cover the viewfinder's top, you will get a clear image of what your iPhone camera is pointing at. Isn't it amazing? WYSIWYG!

 

Another way to play with the viewfinder is to replace the cross hair film by a transparent film painted with colors. I found it interesting to dab black pigment ink on one side of the film and then colors from markers on the other side. This method gives you enough dim light (because the black pigment blocks light from viewfinder's top) to show your target image, yet allowing enough colored light to get through. Again, placing your finger on viewfinder's top allows you to control the image blend, compare the image above the two below to see the extremes.

 

Finally, instead of using iPhone's built-in camera software, I'd suggest you to try Snapture, which allows you to create sapphire/negative effects and has a timer feature so that you can save one finger in order to hold your iPhone + viewfinder more securely :)

 

More on Scription blog: moleskine.vox.com/library/post/iphone-kaleidoscope-camera...

Our third and final (so far) addition near completion. Everything in this picture is new. The original house is sandwiched behind.

In addition to being at NAS Oceana for the homecoming of Carrier Air Wing 7, I was also present at Naval Station Norfolk to record the U.S.S. Eisenhower (CVN-69) return home following a 4 month deployment. The Eisenhower was deployed 10 out of the last 12 months.

In addition to guarding The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Tomb Guards have many daily rituals they must perform in preparation of their walk on the plaza. Soldiers must first press and steam out all wrinkles from their uniforms. Next, they must clean and buff out all scratches and dirtiness from their medals and decorations. Third, they must practice their rifle movements to ensure crisp and sharp movements are always executed. Finally, the Tomb Guards put on their uniforms and ensure that it immaculate and free of lint. Then the walk begins. (U.S. Army photos by Sgt. George Huley)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1aJPEFtoNg

In addition to magic tricks, Eddie's has masks, theatrical supplies, costumes and a department dedicated to dance outfits. It's a very interesting shop.

No more addition mistakes. Enter checks one at a time, and let the ATM do the math. So smart! Why didn't anyone think of that before?

The new additions to our family. Allow me to introduce... Pride and Joy! This painting was purchased by the eagle eyed Graham for 50p when he found it in the rubbish pile behind a stall at Inchinnan fete and gala day this weekend. My purchase for the day also came from the rubbish pile. I'm not sure what that says about us...

This is a rarity... One commercial addition that is adjoined to two separate houses. The houses must have been sold as one property before the addition was built.

 

Chopsticks inhabits most of the addition and offers a karaoke experience as well as Chinese-American food. I think this was the first before Chopsticks II and III popped up in other locations. The Chit Chat Cafe moved in more recently to make use of its patio and specializes in Taiwanese food for take-out.

Mischa Photography

2794 21st Street

Sacramento, California

 

Looks like Mischa does some really good Explore-worthy work in portraiture, whether you wanna play it straight and professional or get really creative. This is an unsolicited opinion after looking at fantastic examples of Mischa's work.

 

This is one of two commercial additions on this stretch of 21st at the boundary between two of Sacramento's most prestigious and historic old neighborhoods, Land Park and Curtis Park.

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T: 703-550-1371 | F: 703-339-1678

 

Knole (/noʊl/) is a country house and former archbishop's palace owned by the National Trust. It is situated within Knole Park, a 1,000-acre (400-hectare) park located immediately to the south-east of Sevenoaks in west Kent. The house ranks in the top five of England's largest houses, under any measure used, occupying a total of four acres.[1]

 

The current house dates back to the mid-15th century, with major additions in the 16th and, particularly, the early 17th centuries. Its grade I listing reflects its mix of late-medieval to Stuart structures and particularly its central façade and state rooms. In 2019 an extensive conservation project, "Inspired by Knole", was completed to restore and develop the structures of the buildings and thus help to conserve its important collections.[2] The surrounding deer park has also survived with varying degrees of management in the 400 years since 1600.

 

Early-Stuart Knole and the Sackvilles

Since Dudley had originally granted a 99-year lease, Thomas Sackville could only take it back by buying out the remaining 51 years of the lease for £4000, which he did in 1603. Lennard was happy to sell, not only because of his mounting debts but also because he wished to gain the Dacre title, which he did in 1604 from a commission headed by the lord treasurer, Thomas Sackville. This is unlikely to have been a coincidence.[34] Sackville's descendants, the Earls and Dukes of Dorset and Barons Sackville have owned or lived in the property ever since.[35]

  

North West Front, Knole, Sevenoaks

Thomas Sackville, at that time Lord Buckhurst, had considered a number of other sites to build a house commensurate with his elevated status in court and government. However, he could not overlook the multiple advantages of Knole: a good supply of spring water (rare for a house on a hill), plentiful timber, a deer park and close enough proximity to London.[36] He immediately began a large building programme. This was supposed to have been completed within two years, employing some 200 workmen, but the partially-surviving accounts show that there was continuing, vast expenditure even in 1608–9.[30] Since Sackville had had a distinguished career at court under Elizabeth and then been appointed Lord High Treasurer to James VI and I, he had the resources to undertake such a programme. Perhaps, with his renovations to the state rooms at Knole, Sackville hoped to receive a visit by the King, but this does not seem to have occurred and the lord treasurer himself died during the building work, in April 1608, at the age of about 72.

 

Thomas Sackville's Jacobean great house, like others such as Hatfield and Audley End, have been called "monuments to private greed".[37] Unlike any surviving English great house apart from Haddon Hall, Knole today still looks as it did when Thomas died, having managed "to remain motionless like this since the early 17th century, balanced between growth and decay."[38]

 

Thomas's son, Robert Sackville, second earl of Dorset, took over the titles and estates, gave a description of his father's work on re-modelling Knole: "late re-edified wth a barne, stable, dovehouse and other edifices, together wth divers Courts, the gardens orchards and wilderness invironed wth a stone wall, well planted wth choise frute, and beawtified wth ponds, and manie other pleasureable delights and devises are situate wthin the Parke of knoll, the charge of new building of the said house and making planting and furnishing of the said ponds yards gardens orchards and wilderness about Seaven yeares past Thirty thosand pounds at the least yet exstant uppon Accounpts. All wch are now in the Earle of dorsetts owne occupacon and are worth to bee sold."[39]

 

The second earl did not enjoy Knole for long, since he died in January 1609.[40] His two sons, in turn, inherited the title and estates, first Richard Sackville, third earl of Dorset (1589–1624) and then the much more politically significant Edward Sackville, fourth earl of Dorset (1590–1652).[41] None of these earls lived permanently at Knole. In the first earl's case, this was no doubt due to the renovations. The third earl lived mostly at court, though he is known to have kept his hunting horses and hounds there.[42]

 

The wife of the 3rd Earl, Lady Anne Clifford, lived at Knole for a time during the couple's conflict over her inheritance from her father, George Clifford, third earl of Cumberland.[43] A catalogue of the household of the Earl and Countess of Dorset at Knole from this time survives. It records the names and roles of servants and indicates where they sat at dinner. The list includes two African servants, Grace Robinson, a maid in the laundry, and John Morockoe, who worked in the kitchen. Both are described as "Blackamoors".[44] In 1623, a large part of Knole House burnt down.[45]

 

Knole during the Civil War, Commonwealth and Restoration

 

Edward Sackville, in a miniature by John Hoskins, 1635

Edward, a relatively moderate royalist, was away from Knole in the summer of 1642, when he and his cousin and factotum Sir John Sackville fell under suspicion of stockpiling arms and preparing local men to fight for Charles I during the Civil War. The rumours of the cache of arms reached Parliament in an intercepted letter for which Sir John was notionally the source. On Sunday 14 August 1642, Parliament sent three troops of horse under Colonel Edwin Sandys, a member of a Kentish puritan family, to seize these arms from Knole. Sir John was in the congregation for the parish Sunday service and Sandys waited with his troops outside the church until it had finished. Local people tried to rescue him but they quickly judged that the troops were too strong for them, and Sir John was arrested and taken to the Fleet prison.[46]

 

Sandys's troops then moved to Knole where, according to the earl of Dorset's steward, they caused damage to the value of £186, and 'The Armes they have wholie taken awaie there being five wagenloads of them (sic passim).' [47] In fact, the arms were largely of more interest to antiquarians than to soldiers; they included, for example, thirteen 'old French pistolls whereof four have locks [and] the other nine have none'. Sandys claimed that he had seized 'compleat armes for 500 or 600 men', but this is untrue.[48] Nevertheless, the House of Lords resolved that 'such [arms] as are fit to be made use of for the Service of the Kingdom are to be employed'.[49] In addition, the House was sequestrated.[50] Edward accepted the seizures and damage to Knole as an inevitable part of the Civil War, as he explained in a speech to Charles I and his peers in Oxford, in 1642: 'For my particular, in these wars I have suffered as much as any, my Houses have been searcht, my Armes taken thence, and my sonne and heire committed to prison; yet I shall wave these discourtesies, because I know there was a necessity they should be so. Wikipedia

LANSING, Mich. – U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Bryan Teff, Assistant Adjutant General, Michigan Air National Guard, reaffirms his oath of office as he promotes April 20, 2023. Teff is the principal advisor to the Adjutant General of all Michigan Air National Guard matters. In addition, Teff serves as the Air National Guard Assistant to Commander, Air Force Material Command Tinker AFB, Oklahoma. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sergeant Daniel Garas)

Four new additions to my Lego StarWars Micro fighters.

McCormick Elementary School's 1930 addition. It was built in 1930. The first part of the school was built in 1889-1890 and was designed by architects Proudfoot and Bird. It was added to in 1930 and in 1950. It closed in 1992 due to declining enrollment and is now home to the McCormick School Museum.

 

National Register #78001288. Added in 1978.

Quackup vs Math is an educational video game that I created for a class at the University of La Verne. Its an adventure game where you have to do timed math problems (in either addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division) as quickly as you can in an allotted time.

 

It has been tested by many children (in Elementary and Middle Schools in Templeton and Atascadero) and they really like it! I also used it a lot when I worked in a math intervention lab to help the students with their multiplication facts.

 

In the future I hope to have a version available for PDAs and Smart phones.

 

You can download the latest June 2010 Windows Version here: www.sendspace.com/file/dfy6qh.

Please let me know if you find any bugs, so I can fix them. :)

This, in addition to Sarventikar, is another castle that belonged to our family, who descend from Sempad von Botha, the Constable (Armenian: Սմբատ Սպարապետ, Սմբատ Գունդստաբլ - Smbat Sparapet, Smbat Gúndestabl) (1208–1276) (also Smpad and Smbat). He was an Anglo Teutonic noble, whose family had intermarried in Cilician Armenia, an older brother of King Hetoum I. He was an important figure in Cilicia, acting as a diplomat, judge, and military officer, holding the title of Constable or Sparapet, supreme commander of the Armenian armed forces. He was also a writer and translator, especially known for providing translations of various legal codes, and the creation of an important account of Cilician history, the Chronique du Royaume de Petite Armenie (Chronicle of the Kingdom of Little Armenia). He organized and fought in multiple battles, such as the Battle of Mari, and was trusted by his brother King Hetoum to be a key negotiator with the Mongol Empire. At the time of Sempad's birth there were two key dynasties in Cilicia, the Rubenids and the Hetoumids, and he was related to both. Sempad was the son of Constantine of Baberon, and Partzapert (third cousin of Leo II of Armenia). Other siblings included John the Bishop of Sis, Ochine of Korykos, Stephanie (later wife of King Henry I of Cyprus), and Hetoum, who became co-ruler in 1226.

One of the biggest lessons learned during World War II was that the United States would not always be able to count on allied nations to base their bombers. England had come very close to being overrun, which had been the impetus behind the B-29 Superfortress and the B-36 Peacemaker. In addition, the weight of nuclear bombs at the time was such that enormous aircraft would be required to carry them. Looking ahead to replacing the B-36, a specification was issued for a plane that could fly 10,000 pounds of ordnance 5,000 miles to a target and back at 300 mph. Boeing was awarded the contract in June of 1946 with its Model 462, a gigantic six-engined aircraft that would carry two crews; it was designated the XB-52. The USAF soon had second thoughts and asked Boeing for a smaller bomber with the exact specifications.

 

This began an arduous process, and the XB-52 went through several different designs, scaling down the design, adding wing sweep, and moving from a piston engine to a turboprop design. The USAF rejected all ideas as there was no overall improvement over the B-36 in terms of speed. After being rejected again on October 21st, 1948, by the USAF’s chief of bomber development, a team of Boeing engineers locked themselves in a hotel room for the weekend, only leaving to buy supplies at a hobby shop. By that Monday, the USAF was given the Model 464-49 and a model to go along with it: a swept-wing bomber powered by eight jets. At last, the USAF was satisfied, and objections to the engines were swept aside by General Curtis LeMay, the head of Strategic Air Command: the engines, he stated, would catch up to the design.

 

Finally, Boeing rolled out the first XB-52 in April of 1952; the USAF had already ordered 13 B-52As by this time, with the only significant change to the design being a switch from B-47 style tandem seating to a more traditional flight deck. So successful was the test program that only three B-52As were built: the Stratofortress, as Boeing had named it, was ordered into total production as the B-52B.

 

While teething problems, such as fuel leaks, plagued the B-52 fleet in the 1950s, it was considered very successful, rapidly replacing the B-36 and then the B-47. It showed its global reach in an around-the-world flight in January of 1957, which quickly broke the previous record set by B-50s. The B-52’s range and loiter times were proven in Operation Chrome Dome and Giant Lance deployments, where bombers from the continental U.S. would fly to points around the Soviet Union, wait at “fail-safe” locations in case of nuclear war, and then return to base. Following the Cuban Missile Crisis, it was thought that the B-52 force would not survive against Soviet surface-to-air missiles, and B-52s were switched to low-level penetration duties. There was fear that this would overstress the airframe, but the mighty BUFF (Big Ugly Fat Fellow) soldiered on.

 

Though built for nuclear war, the B-52 would instead experience its first combat missions high over the vast jungles of Vietnam. Because the B-52 flew at such a high altitude and was capable of carrying an enormous payload, it was hoped that B-52 strikes could surprise the Viet Cong and destroy them en masse in their jungle strongholds. Codenamed as Operation Arc Light, the first B-52 mission was undertaken by a mix of B-52Es and Fs in June of 1965. To increase payloads even more, the B-52D force was modified under Project Big Belly to carry over a hundred 750-pound bombs for a total payload of 60,000 pounds. These were first used operationally during the Battle of Ia Drang Valley in November of 1965.

 

The effects of Arc Light were mixed: because of both operational restrictions and Rules of Engagement, VC and North Vietnamese Army units would often be gone by the time the B-52s arrived, with the bombs doing little but rearranging the South Vietnamese landscape. When a VC/NVA unit was caught in the open, however, as at Khe Sanh, the results were devastating. Several North Vietnamese divisions were destroyed in Operation Niagara, mass B-52 strikes around the besieged Marine base.

 

While restrictions had prevented B-52s from going into North Vietnam, those restrictions were gradually ended by President Richard Nixon, beginning in 1971. Unlike in South Vietnam, B-52s would be facing a much higher antiaircraft threat over North Vietnam, especially from SAMs and MiG fighters. With this in mind, the B-52D force was equipped with the latest electronic countermeasures under Project Rivet Rambler. The B-52s were sent north during Operation Linebacker (May-October 1972) but on a limited basis; the real test would come during Operation Linebacker II in December of 1972 when the B-52s attacked the city of Hanoi itself. The B-52Ds came off better than the later G models also committed to action: due to their Rivet Rambler ECM, SAM fire control radars had difficulty locking on in the mass of jamming in B-52D cells. Out of the 17 B-52s lost during Operation Linebacker II, only two of them were B-52Ds. As for their effectiveness, by the end of Operation Linebacker II, North Vietnam was effectively rendered defenseless and quickly returned to the negotiation table.

 

Vietnam was the last mission for the “tall-tail” D models. With the B-52Bs out of service and the B-52E/Fs being withdrawn by 1978, the B-52D continued in service until 1982, when it was retired, having hit the end of its airframe life. The B-52s would soldier on, but subsequent wars would be fought by comparatively newer, “short-tail” B-52G/Hs. A total of 28 B-52Ds survive in museums today, including both MiG-killer aircraft.

 

The "Lone Star Lady," known to the USAF as BuNo 55-0067, has had quite the career. First delivered to the 99th Bomb Wing at Westover AFB, Massachusetts, in 1957, it served with several units until it was deployed to Southeast Asia in 1967 for Arc Light missions. It remained in the region until 1970, when 55-0067 returned home and was assigned to the 7th Bomb Wing at Carswell AFB, Texas. Under Operation Bullet Shot, 55-0067 was quickly deployed back to U Tapao, Thailand for Operation Linebacker II, where it flew several missions over Hanoi; it was probably during Linebacker that she got the name "Lone Star Lady." It was one of the last B-52s to leave Southeast Asia, as it did not return to the U.S. until October of 1973, and flew several deployments to Andersen AFB, Guam during the 1970s, still with the 7th BW. "Lone Star Lady" finally called it a career in 1982 when she was retired with the rest of the “tall tails.” In 1984, it was donated to PASM.

 

Prior to my visit, I had seen another picture of "Lone Star Lady" where she looked somewhat faded, but now she looks gorgeous as ever! It is displayed in the Southeast Asia camouflage—the SAC color scheme was slightly different from that of tactical fighters, and the gloss black underside was added for nighttime operations. By the Vietnam era, the voluptuous ladies of World War II and Korea had disappeared, especially from SAC bombers, so the crews had to make do with a map of Texas and some rather groovy titling. A SAC patch is carried on the nose.

 

The B-52 is one of those old-school planes that I’ll never get tired of looking at, and there's something about the “tall tails” that makes the bomber look even more impressive. The object under the left wing is a McDonnell ADM-20 Quail remotely piloted decoy.

And a strange Choice for Voel Coaches , though i think this has been sold on again. YN06OPH is an Iveco Eurorider / Plaxton Paragon C70F. Photo taken 29/12/24

Yes we added to our Family Sunday morning :) So for his first photo in public I did a lil something different ! More of a Sneak Peek!

 

Named after my 2 older brothers "Dave & Paul" (Rip) Welcome To the world David Paul Maverick :)

Oh give me some lovely rust...with old cars and such...yum! At McLean`s Auto Wreckers. Rockwood, Ontario. Canada. May 21st, 2016.

From October 7 – 9, 2022 teams, sponsors, and organizers gathered at the University of California, Davis for the EcoCAR EV Challenge Year 1 Fall Workshop. Students received a wide variety of hands-on training in the areas of engineering, communications, and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) from competition sponsors. In addition to the training and workshops, job-seeking students had the opportunity to attend the Sponsor Social Networking & Recruitment event to meet with over a dozen EcoCAR industry sponsors hiring for internships and full & part time positions.

I'm trying this spot for now. I may change it up!

New addition to our garden, very complex flower!

Sawyer Eli born 1/4/2012.....

The couples bedroom is separated from the bathroom by a two sided fireplace. The brick wall mirrors the brick wall at the opposite end of the space.

 

You can go to www.hfdarchitects.com or e-mail to info@hfdarchitects.com to learn more about this and other projects designed by architect Bud Dietrich.

since we live in a 600 sq ft house with two bedrooms, we've been talking for a while about putting on an addition. over the last two or three years we've tossed around ideas and plans here and there, and it all finally came together this month. we're adding on a 375 sq ft space, which will include a 10 x 15 livingroom (kinda weird spacing, but we'll make it work) and a 15 x 15 master bedroom with a big closet. we are SUPER pumped, and even more pumped that (a) the weather is cooperating, which means that (b) the contractor is starting ahead of schedule. (who's ever heard of such a wacko thing??)

 

anyway, they came this morning and dug a trench for the foundation footings (and also tore down some trees and shrubs that we HATE). you can see a sorta decent shot of the hole in the comments.

You may view more of my images of Ickworth House, Park and gardens, by clicking "here" !

 

Ickworth. With over 1,800 acres of parkland designed by Capability Brown, the house and its grounds were created as an homage to Italy, the country so beloved by Frederick Augustus Hervey, the 4th Earl of Bristol. The Earl-Bishop spent his life travelling the continent, gathering together a vast collection of paintings, sculpture and artefacts. Already possessed of several houses, he conceived Ickworth primarily as a museum for his treasures. At his death only the Rotunda - the giant circular structure at the centre of the two wings, described by Hervey's wife as 'a stupendous moment of Folly' - was nearing completion. The house was eventually finished by his son. Although Hervey's treasures, confiscated during the French invasion of Italy, were destined never to occupy Ickworth, his descendants made it their life's work to rebuild what has become an exceptional collection of art and silver. Paintings housed in the galleries include works by Velázquez, Titian and Poussin, while the collection of 18th-century portraits of the family is exceptionally fine, featuring canvases by Gainsborough, Reynolds, Vigée-Lebrun and Hogarth. In addition to one of the very best British collections of Georgian Huguenot silver, Ickworth is also home to an impressive array of Regency furniture, porcelain, and domestic objects. More made a career of producing idealised Italian landscapes. His Landscape with Classical Figures, Cicero at his Villa, painted in 1780 and funded in 1993, is a typical work, the misty soft-focus and pastel light adding to its appeal. Hugh Douglas Hamilton's The Earl Bishop of Bristol and Derry Seated before the Prospect of Rome shows Hervey seated at what is thought to be the southern tip of the Borghese Gardens. Ickworth's parklands and gardens can provide a day's activity in their own right. The south gardens are modelled on the formal Italian style, while the gardens to the west of the house are more informal. Visitors can walk or cycle out into the park itself and up to the Fairy Lake. Bright and modern, The West Wing Restaurant overlooks the gardens and can be guaranteed to catch any sunlight on offer. It serves everything from hot meals to snacks, and at weekends the restaurant is open for breakfast. If you're after something rather more formal, try Frederick's restaurant at Ickworth Hotel in the grounds.

 

Edit By Tsegaye Mergiya

Beshah t

______________________

 

Photographier & Vedioman

Michael Mekonnen ____________________

 

on June 4 2016 -

On June 4 2015, Ethiopian people patriotic front guard

( EEPFG) achieved a very successful meeting in Nürnberg.

There were more than 150 party members and other Ethiopians who want to be a party member participated on the meeting.

The meeting was started at 2:00 pm by Ato Kasahun, he highlighted the moderators of Nürembeg meeting as well as the main agendas of the meeting.

Ato Kasahun from Nürenberg , Ato Yohannes Biru from Frankfurt, Ato Rodas Tesfaye from Offenbach and Meto Aleka Telahun Gudeta moderated the Meeting.

The main agendas of the Nürnberg meeting were;

• Quarterly reports of the party

• 2015/16 Amnesty international and Human right watch report about Ethiopia

• Report from Offenbach / Frankfurt sub groups of Eppfg and reports from Wuzburg and around Eppfg sub group

• In addition to the above mentioned agendas Ato Kasahun also gave the chance to the participant and collect points and questions for discussion.

The meeting was started by Ato Leul Kesis brief quarterly report of the party. He mentioned the party political activity in Germen as well as other countries .On his report he also briefed the participants EPPFG is working with other opposition political groups in America, Australia and other European countries and accomplished a lot of political activity. According to Ato Leul's brife those coordinated political activity helped our straggle to eliminate the current brutal government of Ethiopia.

Ato leulel also on his second report briefly reported ;

He organized party members as a group to work under the umbrella of Eppfg in there districts and around ; beside that he also clearly presented the responsible leaders of those subgroups of the party.

On his brief he clarified the newly formed group will help to exercise decentralize form of party leadership and also it will help to facilitate the party political activity effectively and efficiently.

Next to him Ato Rodas Tesfye of Hessen on his behalf forward information about the Offenbach/ Frankfurt Krise group.

He informed members listed under Offenbach/Frankfurt group as soon as possible report to him and to arrange meeting in the next two weeks time. In addition he also mentioned members listed in this group obliged to attend next meeting to recruit organizer of this group; Ato Rodas also strictly said that "members who will not report or attend the next meeting the decision made by the attended members also applied on the others."

After Ato Rodas informative notice Meto Aleka Telahun Gudeta briefly answered questions raised from the participant.

Amongst the questions raised;

•Members around Nürembeg have difficulties to organize themselves as well as to contact leaders easily. What is the solution and who is responsible to organize?

•What is the problem we are not protesting against all this inhuman activitys done by weyne?

Meto Aleka Telahun on his answer forward his excuse for not organizing Nürembeg party members but he will do all his best on the next consecutive weeks and promised to report the results on the next meeting.

Beside that he also answered most of the questions that directly forwarded to him.

Next to that Ato kasshun called for a pause for 15 minute and after that ....

Ato Kasahun presented a brief report of Amnesty international and human rights watch 2015/16 Report.

According to his presentation; amongst 160 counters that included in amnesty international report and 90 countries in human rights watch report Ethiopia is one of the top ranked country which human right is violated.

Both organization tried to see human right violation before and after election 2015 in Ethiopia.

Amongst the lists of human right violations included in both organizations report;

• Mass arrest

• Detention of opposition party members

• Detention of journalist

• Killing of opposition party leaders

are a few of them that the current dictator and brutal government of WYANE are doing on his own people.

While Nürembeg meeting taking place Ato Yosefe Abebe from California called and presented his view in a tele conference to the participant.

On this tele conference conversation he and his party appreciated EPPFG'S current political activity and promised to work more strongly than before to strengthen the straggle against weyane.

He also tried to answer the question raised from Ato Zelalem Debebe of Hessen, Ato Dawite and Ato Tsegaye Mergia.

Beside that Ato Leule and Meto Aleka Telahun invited Ato Yosef to be part of one of our regular meeting gust and Ato Yosef on his part promised to present the invitation to his party and will forward the answer as soon as possible.

Next to tele conference with Ato Yosef Ato Musse and Ato Michael presented a report about their group meeting that held 16.04.16.

On their meeting they discussed different agendas.

According to Ato Muse's reporter the major area they discussed were:

• About Ethiopian migration;

• Current problems in oromiya region;

• Ethiopian famine;

• Government direct interference in religious group.

• and about their next meeting.

W/t Mulatua and wrt Tarikua

Also presented about women's participation in EPPFG major political activity,

Both presenters strongly mentioned their participation is not satisfactory and also tried to motivate other women to join them in the process of straggling WEYANE regime.

Generally in Nürnberg there were many members of EPPFG including supporters and new members of the party participated on the regular quarterly meeting. On this Meeting the party had deeply discussed the Current political Agendas and debated on different political issues concerning Ethiopian current situation. Finally, alternative solutions were also forwarded by the leaders as well as members of the party to liberate the country from such a racist and brutal regime.

In general the meeting was successfully ended after having a common consciences that unify other opposition who have common goal and the country to bring freedom and Peace to Ethiopian society.

 

God Bless Ethiopia!!!

By-Secretary

Governor’s Arts Awards Gala

 

On Thursday, March 10, 2016, Gov Earl Ray Tomblin and the West Virginia Division of Culture and History and the West Virginia Commission on the Arts sponsored the Governor’s Arts Awards Gala at the Culture Center, State Capitol Complex in Charleston. During the awards ceremony, 10 Governor’s Arts Awards and 10 Legislative Leadership Awards in the Arts were presented. In addition, to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the National Endowment for the Arts, etched glass medallions will be presented to 50 individuals and 50 organizations whose work in respective fields exemplifies the importance of art in our lives. The program includes performances by Ryan Kennedy on guitar, The Mountain Stage Band, Barbara Nissman on piano, Kari Stafford Blankenship on vocals, Cabell Midland High School Jazz Band and Adam DeGraff on violin.

   

WHO: Governor Earl Ray Tomblin, Commissioner Randall Reid-Smith of the Division of Culture and History, Director of Arts Renée Margocee and Commission on the Arts Chair Susan Landis will present awards to 120 individuals and organizations.

   

WHAT: Governor’s Arts Awards Gala

   

WHERE: The Culture Center, Capitol Complex, Charleston

   

WHEN: Thursday, March 10, 6 p.m.

   

WHY: To recognize and honor exceptional artists and arts organizations that have made significant contributions to the state’s culture.

   

HONOREES

   

Governor’s Awards for the Arts:

   

Lifetime Achievement to Carter Taylor Seaton, Huntington, Cabell County

 

Artist of the Year to Robert Villamagna, Wheeling, Ohio County

   

Arts in Education to West Virginia Symphony Orchestra – SCALE Program, Charleston, Kanawha County; Mark Albright, Martinsburg, Berkeley County; and Tim James, Barboursville, Cabell County

 

Arts Patron to The Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

 

Distinguished Service to Susan Landis, Beckley, Raleigh County

 

Leadership in the Arts to The Old Opera House, Charles Town, Berkeley County; Sen. William P. Cole, Princeton, Mercer County; and Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin, Logan, Logan County

   

Legislative Leadership Awards

   

Arts in Education to Del. Kelli Sobonya (R-Cabell) and Sen. Craig P. Blair (R-Berkeley)

 

Community Arts to Del. Eric Nelson (R-Kanawha) and Sen. Art Kirkendoll (D-Logan)

 

Cultural Facilities to Del. Denise L. Campbell (D-Randolph) and Sen. Greg Boso (R-Nicholas)

 

Folk Arts to Del. Ron Walters (R-Kanawha) and Sen. William R. Laird IV (D-Fayette)

 

Lifetime Achievement to Del. Doug Reynolds (D-Wayne) and Sen. Mitch Carmichael (R-Jackson)

   

Individual Medallions for Excellence in Support of the Arts

   

John Auge, Charleston, Kanawha County

 

Judy Belcher, Charleston, Kanawha County

 

Jude Binder, Big Bend, Calhoun County

 

Lynn Boggess, Fairmont, Marion County

 

Steve Brightwell, Beckley, Raleigh County

 

Roger Bryant, Logan, Logan County

 

Adam DeGraff, Lewisburg, Greenbrier County

 

Nina Denton Pasinetti, Charleston, Kanawha County

 

Jeff Diehl, Meadow Bridge, Fayette County

 

Norman Fagan, Red House, Putnam County

 

Jeff Fetty, Spencer, Roane County

 

Charli Fulton, Charleston, Kanawha County

 

Kay Goodwin, Charleston, Kanawha County

 

Frank George, Walton, Roane County

 

Buddy Griffin, Cox’s Mills, Gilmer County

 

Marc Harshman, Wheeling, Ohio County

 

Kate Harward, Belington, Barbour County

 

Dale Hawkins, Rock Cave, Upshur County

 

Harold Hayslett, South Charleston, Kanawha County

 

Ron Hinkle, Buckhannon, Upshur County

 

Joni Hoffman, Duck, Clay County

 

Vernon Howell, Barboursville, Cabell County

 

Stan and Sue Jennings, Grafton, Taylor County

 

Danny Jones, Charleston, Kanawha County

 

Michael and Carrie Kline, Elkins, Randolph County

 

John Lambros, Charleston, Kanawha County

 

Susan Landis, Beckley, Raleigh County

 

Margaret Mary Layne, Huntington, Cabell County

 

Tom and Connie McColley, Chloe, Calhoun County

 

Gerry Milnes, Elkins, Randolph County

 

Barbara Nissman, Lewisburg, Greenbrier County

 

Pam and Ren Panziale, Kearneysville, Jefferson County

 

Cat Pleska, Scott Depot, Putnam County

 

Susan Poffenbarger, Dunbar, Kanawha County

 

Randall Reid-Smith, Charleston, Kanawha County

 

Jerry Rose, Beckley, Raleigh County

 

Norm Sartorius, Parkersburg, Wood County

 

Dr. Bernie Schultz, Morgantown, Monongalia County

 

Carter Taylor Seaton, Huntington, Cabell County

 

Steve Shaluta, St. Albans, Kanawha County

 

Stephen Skinner, Charles Town, Jefferson County

 

Sarah Sullivan, Williamsburg, Virginia

 

Matt Thomas, Shock, Gilmer County

 

Bob Thompson, Charleston, Kanawha County

 

Jack Thompson, Morgantown, Monongalia County

 

Drs. Joseph and Omayma Touma, Huntington, Cabell County

 

Brian VanNostrand, Hacker Valley, Webster County

 

Dianna Vargo, Wheeling, Ohio County

 

Billy Edd Wheeler, Swannanoa, North Carolina

 

Steve Williams, Huntington, Cabell County

   

Organizational Medallions for Excellence in Support of the Arts

   

Augusta Heritage Center, Elkins, Randolph County

 

Allied Artists of West Virginia, Charleston, Kanawha County

 

Apollo Civic Theatre, Martinsburg, Berkeley County

 

Appalachian Children’s Chorus, Charleston, Kanawha County

 

Appalachian South Folklife Center, Pipestem, Summers County

 

Appalachian String Band Music Festival, Clifftop, Fayette County

 

Art Museum of WVU, Morgantown, Monongalia County

 

Blenko Glass, Milton, Cabell County

 

Carnegie Hall, Lewisburg, Greenbrier County

 

Charleston Ballet, Charleston, Kanawha County

 

Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

 

Charleston Light Opera Guild, Charleston, Kanawha County

 

Chuck Mathena Center, Princeton, Mercer County

 

Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences of West Virginia, Charleston, Kanawha County

 

Contemporary American Theater Festival, Shepherdstown, Jefferson County

 

Fenton Art Glass Company, Williamstown, Wood County

 

FestivALL, Charleston, Kanawha County

 

Frank and Jane Gabor Folk Life Center, Fairmont, Marion County

 

Greenbrier Valley Theatre, Lewisburg, Greenbrier County

 

Heritage Craft Center of the Eastern Panhandle, Martinsburg, Berkeley County

 

Heritage Farm Museum & Village, Huntington, Cabell County

 

Holls Chocolate, Vienna, Wood County

 

Homer Laughlin China Company, Newell, Hancock County

 

Huntington Museum of Art, Huntington, Cabell County

 

Huntington Symphony Orchestra, Huntington, Cabell County

 

Marble King, Paden City, Tyler and Wetzel Counties

 

Marshall University School of Art and Design, Huntington, Cabell County

 

McArts Fine Arts Organization, Kimball, McDowell County

 

Morgan Arts Council, Berkeley Springs, Morgan County

 

Mountain Stage, Charleston, Kanawha County

 

Mountain State Art and Craft Fair, Ripley, Jackson County

 

Museum of American Glass in West Virginia, Weston, Lewis County

 

New South Media, Morgantown, Monongalia County

 

Old Brick Playhouse, Elkins, Randolph County

 

Old Opera House, Charles Town, Jefferson County

 

Parkersburg Arts Center, Parkersburg, Wood County

 

Pocahontas County Opera House, Marlinton, Pocahontas County

 

Randolph Community Arts Center, Elkins, Randolph County

 

Stifel Fine Arts Center at Oglebay Institute, Wheeling, Ohio County

 

Tamarack Artisan Foundation, Charleston, Kanawha County

 

TAMARACK: The Best of West Virginia, Beckley, Raleigh County

 

Theatre West Virginia, Beaver, Raleigh County

 

Vandalia Gathering, Charleston, Kanawha County

 

West Virginia Division of Culture and History

 

West Virginia Quilt Guild

 

West Virginia State Folk Festival, Glenville, Gilmer County

 

West Virginia Symphony Orchestra, Charleston, Kanawha County

 

West Virginia Youth Symphony, Charleston, Kanawha County

 

Wheeling Symphony Orchestra, Wheeling, Ohio County

 

Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia, Beckley, Raleigh County

 

Photos available for media use. All photos should be attributed “Photo courtesy of Office of the Governor.”

Some recent additions to the Tucson Military Vehicle Museum an M7B1 Priest, M41 Walker Bulldog, a Soviet PT-76 amphibious tank, an M3A1 Stuart, an M114 armored fighting vehicle, and an M3 Stuart painted to represent an M3 captured by the Japanese.