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Sharp Sky Associates have now risen into global awareness. With the massive deplete of DARKWATER troopers and facilities in Europe and the Middle East, Sharp Sky has made their move. Now Sharp Sky has bigger plans and will complete any task as long as the employer has a deep enough pocket.

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For the Purge

Now while waiting for my minifigcat order, I thought I might showcase Sharp Sky troops.

"The Associated Bank River Center Corporate Office is a 28-story, 426-foot-tall ( postmodern high-rise building in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The building, originally named the Milwaukee Center, was completed in 1988, during a small building boom in Milwaukee that also included 100 East Wisconsin. Until 100 East was completed, the Milwaukee Center was the second tallest building in Milwaukee. The peaked tower, red brick, and the use of green near the top"pay homage to the style of the Milwaukee City Hall. "

This 6000 years old Neolithic (New Stone Age) tomb is topped with one of largest capstones in Britain. Measuring a massive 24ft/7m by 15ft/4.5m and weighing around 40 tons (as much as an articulated lorry), how on earth did the builders get it up there? Experts reckon that at least 200 individuals would have been required to hoist it into place. Excavations have uncovered the remains of over 50 people, along with broken pottery and flint tools.

 

The site is also associated with a number of legends – it’s said that anyone who spent the night here on the evenings before May Day, St John’s Day (23 June) or Midwinter Day would die, go mad or become a poet.

Brickell Arch is an office skyscraper in Brickell in Downtown Miami, Florida, United States. It was designed by the architectural firm of Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates PC (KPF). The 505-foot (168 meter), 36-story building is located on the southern end of Brickell Avenue in the Financial District. On April 18, 2012, the AIA's Florida Chapter placed the building on its list of Florida Architecture: 100 Years. 100 Places.

 

Brickell Arch features a concave parabola design on its front glass façade, loosely mimicking the Gateway Arch in St. Louis. One of Miami's common nicknames is "The Gateway to Latin America", which also closely resembles St. Louis's nickname, "The Gateway to the West". It is said to welcome people to the United States as the arch welcomes people to the west.

 

The building is the North American headquarters for the Espírito Santo Bank and contains some Class A office space. A Conrad Hotel as well as some residential units occupy the remaining space. The building opened July 1, 2004, and is located at 1395 Brickell Avenue, less than a block from the Financial District Metromover Station.

 

The building has been featured twice in Burn Notice, once as headquarters for a defense contractor, and again in a skyline shot.

 

Credit for the data above is given to the following website:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brickell_Arch

 

© All Rights Reserved - you may not use this image in any form without my prior permission.

   

Park Tower (formerly known as the Lykes Building) is a skyscraper located in downtown Tampa, Florida. It is Tampa's first high-rise tower. At the time of its completion in November 1973, it was the tallest in Florida, and is currently sixth-tallest in Tampa, at 458 feet (36 stories). It was the tallest building in Tampa until One Tampa City Center was built in 1981.

 

Park Tower is located in the heart of downtown Tampa directly across from The Tampa Riverwalk & Hillsborough River; Curtis Hixon and Gaslight Parks; the Glazer Children's Museum and the Tampa Museum of Art. It is within walking distance of the Tampa Convention Center, University of Tampa, and the David A. Straz Jr. Center for the Performing Arts.

 

In 2016 the tower was purchased by a joint venture consisting of affiliates of NYSE listed City Office REIT (NYSE: CIO), Feldman Equities LLC, and Tower Realty Partners for $79.75 million. The group completed a multi-million-dollar renovation in 2019. The most significant change at Park Tower is the modernization of the office building's façade by painting the exterior a lighter color and upgrading the main entrance. The building's amenities were upgraded with a modern lobby and the addition of Buddy Brew Coffee café. The office tower's updated design was created by internationally renowned architect Gensler.

 

Since acquiring the property, new leases have been signed including the headquarters relocation of CAPTRUST Advisors, LLC, Buddy Brew Coffee and Continuity Logic, LLC. Anchor tenants include BB&T, United States Department of Justice – US Attorney's Office, Level 3 Communications, and Lykes Insurance.

 

Park Tower is LEED EB Gold Certified and EPA Energy Star certified.

 

The tower's amenities include FedEx Office, U.S. Post Office, BB&T Bank, Grow Financial Credit Union, Pearl Salon, Nature's Table Café, a fitness center, conference room and a 6th-floor tenant lounge, lobby concierge and Buddy Brew Coffee.

 

Park Tower is the "Telco-Hotel" for the region, with a major telephony and internet presence.

Tenants with a major Point of Presence (POP's) and Central Offices (CO's, AKA Telephone Exchanges)

 

AT&T

Verizon Communications (formerly XO Communications, Frontier Communications, Verizon Business (MCI, UUNET, World Comm))

CenturyLink (formerly Level 3 Communications and Global Crossing)

Charter Spectrum (formerly Bright House Networks)

Crown Castle (formerly FPL FiberNet)

TW Telecom (formerly Time Warner Communications)

Windstream Communications (formerly Earthlink, ITC Deltacom, PAETEC, USLEC, NUVOX, and Florida Digital Networks)

Cogent Communications

FiberLight www.fiberlight.com/

Online Technology Exchange www.otxi.com/

Summit Broadband (formerly US Metropolitan Telecom) summit-broadband.com/

Tampa Internet Exchange tampix.com/ (located within the WOW Business Data Center)

WOW Business Services (Wide Open West, a carrier-neutral colocation data center formerly known as E Solutions Corporation).

 

The building has two underground 13.2kV electrical feeds from the utility power company, one of which is from the high-priority medical grid and multiple diverse entry points for fiber optic and other data cabling. Park Tower is home to a large underground Federal Reserve Vault. The building also features video-enhanced 24x7x365 on-site security.

 

When it was originally built, the tower was the home of The First National Bank of Tampa, later First National Bank of Florida (First Florida Corporation). Park Tower was also the headquarters of the Lykes Brothers Corporation. The tower was purchased by Sterling American Property of New York City for $27.4 million in 2006 and underwent its first restoration including newly renovated elevators, air conditioning, and replacement of much of the electrical distribution system. The building later became the downtown Tampa headquarters of Colonial Bank, now BB&T. BB&T's sign is still featured on the top of the building.

 

Credit for the data above is given to the following websites:

www.emporis.com/buildings/128610/park-tower-tampa-fl-usa

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Park_Tower_(Tampa)

www.parktowertampa.com

 

© All Rights Reserved - you may not use this image in any form without my prior permission.

   

ADL ASSOCIATED DELIVERIES LIMITED ETG 639V

© All rights reserved Ian C Brightman Please do not use this image on websites, blogs or any other media without my explicit written permission.

Members of the Oregon Hypnotherapy Association

The building is anchored by three towers, the tallest of which stands at 295 feet, making it the second tallest building in the city. The tallest being the historic Coral Gables Biltmore Hotel. The west tower is adorned with a 12-foot tall working weathervane that is an exact replica of the original “Lady of Faith” weathervane atop the Giralda Tower in Seville, Spain. The west tower also holds a carillon that plays nearly 2,000 hymns, bells, tolls, and classic chimes to mark the hour.

 

The moment you enter the Alhambra Towers lobby, you are enveloped in color and texture. The floor is imported stone tile from Italy and the Etruscan-styled alabaster chandeliers above are from Spain. There’s a large double fountain in the center of the room and elegant sculptures along the edges. The light shining through the original stained glass from a church that once stood on the property, recycled into the design of the room, exudes a warm, somewhat ethereal glow.

 

In honor of the city’s first post office, which inhabited the site before the church, Allen Morris brought in original restored brass mailboxes and a 1920’s letter dropbox from the historic McGraw Hill building in Chicago. There’s also an antique shoeshine stand and an old-fashioned telephone.

 

On display in the lobby are several one-of-a-kind paintings by Carlos and Guillermo Arriola that pay homage to the Spanish cathedrals that ultimately influenced the building’s design and architecture.

 

There’s no other word for the art and architecture of Alhambra Towers other than extraordinary!

 

Credit for the data above is given to the following websites:

en.phorio.com/alhambra_towers,_coral_gables,_united_states

www.emporis.com/buildings/135307/alhambra-towers-coral-ga...

www.alhambratowers.com/alhambra-towers/

www.alhambratowers.com/

 

© All Rights Reserved - you may not use this image in any form without my prior permission.

The moon is not completely grey! There are subtle colour variations associated with certain surface formations. These differences arise from the different composition of the material lying on the surface. The many samples from the Apollo missions that were brought to Earth have provided proof.

The blue colouring of the dark mare and the reddish colour of the craters and highlands are striking. The mare consist of volcanic basalts that have a higher content of certain metals than the regolith of the highlands. The colours are therefore an indication of the metal content on the surface of the moon.

 

To compensate for the air turbulence, I took over 200 images and then stacked the best ones.

 

Vixen 5" Newtonian @ Vixen Sphinx mount.

Gardens by the Bay by Grant Associates and Wilkinson Eyre Architects,

an enormous tropical garden in Singapore filled with tree-like towers, shell-shaped greenhouses and a 30-metre-high man-made waterfall

Taken on 19/05/2019 at14:16:52Hrs, from the Singapore Flyer over the F1 race track pit lanes using a Fuji FinePix XP 210 camera.

 

View Large for more detail.

 

University Canada West-UCW, is an innovative business and technology-oriented institution located in the heart of vibrant Vancouver. Established in 2004, UCW offers a range of career-focused programs including the Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Arts in Business Communication, Associate of Arts and Master of Business Administration. Courses are offered at our two downtown Vancouver campuses and online too. Offering courses online brings flexibility to education, allowing those who may not have otherwise had the opportunity to gain respected qualifications. UCW Vancouver is a University with a clear vision—to be a leading, respected independent University in Canada and abroad, known for innovation and effectiveness in preparing motivated students for professional-level careers and societal leadership. UCW Vancouver’s learning environment is dynamic and practical.

 

The City of Vancouver is a coastal, seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia. Located on the western half of the Burrard Peninsula, Vancouver is bounded to the north by English Bay and the Burrard Inlet and to the south by the Fraser River. It has an area of 114 square kilometers (44 square miles) with a population of 631,486 (according to the 2016 census. Vancouver is the largest city in British Columbia, and the eighth largest municipality in Canada; the Greater Vancouver metropolitan area (which includes neighboring cities such as Burnaby, Richmond, and Surrey) is the third largest in Canada. The coordinates: 49° 15' 39.14\" N, 123° 6' 50.23\" W measure from the City Hall. It has the Pacific time zone: GMT -8 as part of the Pacific maritime ecozone and has a huge and famous park called Stanley Park is one of the largest urban parks in North America. A very diverse city with a very high standard of living is also one of the most expensive cities in the world and for sure the most expensive one in North America. It is a beautiful city with water and forest and flowers all over.

 

A cidade de Vancouver é uma cidade costeira e portuária da Colúmbia Britânica, no Canadá. Localizada na metade ocidental da Península Burrard, Vancouver é delimitada ao norte pela English Bay e pela Burrard Inlet e ao sul pelo rio Fraser. Tem uma área de 114 quilômetros quadrados (44 milhas quadradas) com uma população de 631.486 (de acordo com o censo de 2016. Vancouver é a maior cidade da Colúmbia Britânica e o oitavo maior município do Canadá; a área metropolitana da Grande Vancouver (que inclui cidades vizinhas como Burnaby, Richmond e Surrey) é a terceira maior do Canadá. As coordenadas: 49° 15' 39.14\" N, 123° 6' 50.23\" W medem da Prefeitura. Tem o fuso horário do Pacífico : GMT -8 faz parte da ecozona marítima do Pacífico e tem um enorme e famoso parque chamado Stanley Park é um dos maiores parques urbanos da América do Norte. Uma cidade muito diversificada com um alto padrão de vida sendo também uma das mais caras cidades do mundo e com certeza a mais cara da América do Norte, é uma bela cidade com água e floresta e flores por toda parte.

 

La ciudad de Vancouver es una ciudad portuaria costera en la parte de tierra firma de la Columbia Británica. Ubicada en la mitad occidental de la península de Burrard, Vancouver limita al norte con English Bay y Burrard Inlet y al sur con el río Fraser. Tiene un área de 114 kilómetros cuadrados (44 millas cuadradas) con una población de 631,486 (según el censo de 2016). Vancouver es la ciudad más grande de la Columbia Británica y el octavo municipio más grande de Canadá; el área metropolitana del Gran Vancouver (que incluye ciudades vecinas como Burnaby, Richmond y Surrey) es la tercera más grande de Canadá. Las coordenadas: 49° 15' 39.14\" N, 123° 6' 50.23\" W miden desde el Ayuntamiento. Tiene la zona horaria del Pacífico : GMT -8 como parte de la ecozona marítima del Pacífico y tiene un enorme y famoso parque llamado Stanley Park es uno de los parques urbanos más grandes de América del Norte. Una ciudad muy diversa con un nivel de vida muy alto siendo también una de las más caras ciudades del mundo y seguramente la más cara de América del Norte. Es una ciudad hermosa con agua y bosques y flores por todas partes.

 

La ville de Vancouver est une ville portuaire côtière située sur le continent de la Colombie-Britannique. Située sur la moitié ouest de la péninsule Burrard, Vancouver est délimitée au nord par English Bay et Burrard Inlet et au sud par le fleuve Fraser. Il a une superficie de 114 kilomètres carrés (44 miles carrés) avec une population de 631 486 (selon le recensement de 2016. Vancouver est la plus grande ville de la Colombie-Britannique et la huitième plus grande municipalité du Canada; la région métropolitaine du Grand Vancouver (qui comprend villes voisines telles que Burnaby, Richmond et Surrey) est le troisième plus grand au Canada. Les coordonnées : 49° 15' 39.14\" N, 123° 6' 50.23\" W mesurent à partir de l'hôtel de ville. Il a le fuseau horaire du Pacifique : GMT -8 dans le cadre de l'écozone maritime du Pacifique et possède un immense et célèbre parc appelé Stanley Park est l'un des plus grands parcs urbains d'Amérique du Nord.Une ville très diversifiée avec un niveau de vie très élevé étant également l'un des plus chers villes du monde et certainement la plus chère d'Amérique du Nord, c'est une belle ville avec de l'eau, de la forêt et des fleurs partout.

 

La città di Vancouver è una città portuale costiera sulla terraferma della Columbia Britannica. Situata nella metà occidentale della penisola di Burrard, Vancouver è delimitata a nord da English Bay e Burrard Inlet ea sud dal fiume Fraser. Ha un'area di 114 chilometri quadrati (44 miglia quadrate) con una popolazione di 631.486 (secondo il censimento del 2016. Vancouver è la città più grande della Columbia Britannica e l'ottavo comune più grande del Canada; l'area metropolitana di Greater Vancouver (che comprende città vicine come Burnaby, Richmond e Surrey) è la terza più grande del Canada. Le coordinate: 49° 15' 39.14\" N, 123° 6' 50.23\" W misurano dal municipio. Ha il fuso orario del Pacifico : GMT -8 come parte dell'ecozona marittima del Pacifico e ha un enorme e famoso parco chiamato Stanley Park è uno dei più grandi parchi urbani del Nord America.Una città molto diversificata con uno standard di vita molto elevato è anche una delle più costose città del mondo e sicuramente la più cara del Nord America, è una bellissima città con acqua, foreste e fiori dappertutto.

 

De stad Vancouver is een kust-, zeehavenstad op het vasteland van Brits-Columbia. Vancouver, gelegen op de westelijke helft van het schiereiland Burrard, wordt in het noorden begrensd door English Bay en de Burrard Inlet en in het zuiden door de Fraser River. Het heeft een oppervlakte van 114 vierkante kilometer (44 vierkante mijl) met een bevolking van 631.486 (volgens de volkstelling van 2016. Vancouver is de grootste stad in British Columbia, en de achtste grootste gemeente in Canada; het grootstedelijk gebied van Vancouver (dat omvat naburige steden zoals Burnaby, Richmond en Surrey) is de derde grootste in Canada. De coördinaten: 49° 15' 39.14\" N, 123° 6' 50.23\" W meten vanaf het stadhuis. Het heeft de Pacific-tijdzone : GMT -8 als onderdeel van de maritieme ecozone van de Stille Oceaan en heeft een enorm en beroemd park genaamd Stanley Park is een van de grootste stadsparken in Noord-Amerika. Een zeer diverse stad met een zeer hoge levensstandaard die ook een van de duurste is steden in de wereld en zeker de duurste in Noord-Amerika.Het is een prachtige stad met water en bos en bloemen overal.

 

Die Stadt Vancouver ist eine Küsten- und Seehafenstadt auf dem Festland von British Columbia. Vancouver liegt in der westlichen Hälfte der Burrard-Halbinsel und wird im Norden von der English Bay und dem Burrard Inlet und im Süden vom Fraser River begrenzt. Es hat eine Fläche von 114 Quadratkilometern (44 Quadratmeilen) mit einer Bevölkerung von 631.486 (laut Volkszählung von 2016). Vancouver ist die größte Stadt in British Columbia und die achtgrößte Gemeinde in Kanada; die Metropolregion Greater Vancouver (einschließlich Vancouver). Nachbarstädte wie Burnaby, Richmond und Surrey) ist die drittgrößte in Kanada. Die Koordinaten: 49° 15' 39,14\" N, 123° 6' 50,23\" W, gemessen vom Rathaus. Es hat die pazifische Zeitzone : GMT -8 als Teil der pazifischen maritimen Ökozone und hat einen riesigen und berühmten Park namens Stanley Park ist einer der größten städtischen Parks in Nordamerika.Eine sehr vielfältige Stadt mit einem sehr hohen Lebensstandard, die auch eine der teuersten ist Städte der Welt und mit Sicherheit die teuerste in Nordamerika, eine wunderschöne Stadt mit Wasser und Wald und Blumen überall.

 

Η πόλη του Βανκούβερ είναι μια παραθαλάσσια, παραθαλάσσια πόλη στην ηπειρωτική χώρα της Βρετανικής Κολομβίας. Βρίσκεται στο δυτικό μισό της χερσονήσου Burrard, το Βανκούβερ οριοθετείται στα βόρεια από τον κόλπο English Bay και την είσοδο Burrard και νότια από τον ποταμό Fraser. Έχει έκταση 114 τετραγωνικά χιλιόμετρα (44 τετραγωνικά μίλια) με πληθυσμό 631.486 (σύμφωνα με την απογραφή του 2016. Το Βανκούβερ είναι η μεγαλύτερη πόλη στη Βρετανική Κολομβία και ο όγδοος μεγαλύτερος δήμος στον Καναδά· η μητροπολιτική περιοχή του Ευρύτερου Βανκούβερ (η οποία περιλαμβάνει γειτονικές πόλεις όπως το Μπέρναμπυ, το Ρίτσμοντ και το Σάρεϊ) είναι η τρίτη μεγαλύτερη στον Καναδά. Οι συντεταγμένες: 49° 15' 39,14\" Β, 123° 6' 50,23\" μέτρο Δ από το Δημαρχείο. Έχει τη ζώνη ώρας του Ειρηνικού : GMT -8 ως μέρος της θαλάσσιας οικοζώνης του Ειρηνικού και έχει ένα τεράστιο και διάσημο πάρκο που ονομάζεται Stanley Park είναι ένα από τα μεγαλύτερα αστικά πάρκα στη Βόρεια Αμερική. Μια πόλη με πολύ μεγάλη ποικιλία με πολύ υψηλό βιοτικό επίπεδο είναι επίσης μια από τις πιο ακριβές πόλεις στον κόσμο και σίγουρα η πιο ακριβή στη Βόρεια Αμερική.Είναι μια όμορφη πόλη με νερό και δάσος και λουλούδια παντού.

 

مدينة فانكوفر هي مدينة ساحلية ساحلية تقع على البر الرئيسي لكولومبيا البريطانية. تقع فانكوفر في النصف الغربي من شبه جزيرة بورارد ، ويحدها من الشمال خليج إنجليش ومدخل بورارد ومن الجنوب نهر فريزر. تبلغ مساحتها 114 كيلومترًا مربعًا (44 ميلًا مربعًا) ويبلغ عدد سكانها 631،486 نسمة (وفقًا لتعداد عام 2016. فانكوفر هي أكبر مدينة في كولومبيا البريطانية ، وثامن أكبر بلدية في كندا ؛ منطقة العاصمة الكبرى فانكوفر (التي تشمل المدن المجاورة مثل برنابي وريتشموند وساري) هي ثالث أكبر مدن كندا. الإحداثيات: 49 ° 15 '39.14 \ "شمالاً ، 123 ° 6' 50.23 \" غربًا من قاعة المدينة. بها المنطقة الزمنية للمحيط الهادئ : GMT -8 كجزء من منطقة المحيط الهادئ البحرية وبها حديقة ضخمة وشهيرة تسمى حديقة ستانلي وهي واحدة من أكبر المنتزهات الحضرية في أمريكا الشمالية. مدينة متنوعة للغاية مع مستوى معيشي مرتفع للغاية وهي أيضًا واحدة من أغلى مدن في العالم وبالتأكيد أغلى مدينة في أمريكا الشمالية ، إنها مدينة جميلة بها مياه وغابات وأزهار في كل مكان.

 

バンクーバー市は、ブリティッシュコロンビア州本土にある沿岸の港湾都市です。バラード半島の西半分に位置するバンクーバーは、北はイングリッシュベイとバラード入り江に、南はフレーザー川に囲まれています。面積は114平方キロメートル(44平方マイル)で、人口は631,486人です(2016年の国勢調査によると、バンクーバーはブリティッシュコロンビア州で最大の都市であり、カナダで8番目に大きい自治体です。バーナビー、リッチモンド、サリーなどの近隣の都市は、カナダで3番目に大きい都市です。座標:市庁舎から北緯49度15分39.14インチ、西経123度6分50.23インチ。太平洋のタイムゾーンがあります。 :太平洋海事エコゾーンの一部としてのGMT -8で、スタンレーパークと呼ばれる巨大で有名な公園があります。これは北米で最大の都市公園の1つです。非常に多様な都市であり、生活水準も非常に高く、最も高価な都市の1つです。世界の都市、そして確かに北米で最も高価な都市です。それは水と森と花がいたるところにある美しい都市です。

 

वैंकूवर शहर ब्रिटिश कोलंबिया की मुख्य भूमि पर एक तटीय, बंदरगाह शहर है। बर्रार्ड प्रायद्वीप के पश्चिमी भाग में स्थित, वैंकूवर उत्तर में इंग्लिश बे और बर्रार्ड इनलेट और दक्षिण में फ्रेजर नदी से घिरा है। इसका क्षेत्रफल 631,486 (2016 की जनगणना के अनुसार) की आबादी के साथ 114 वर्ग किलोमीटर (44 वर्ग मील) है। वैंकूवर ब्रिटिश कोलंबिया का सबसे बड़ा शहर है, और कनाडा में आठवीं सबसे बड़ी नगरपालिका है; ग्रेटर वैंकूवर महानगरीय क्षेत्र (जिसमें शामिल है) पड़ोसी शहर जैसे बर्नाबी, रिचमंड, और सरे) कनाडा में तीसरा सबसे बड़ा है। निर्देशांक: 49° 15' 39.14\" N, 123° 6' 50.23\" W सिटी हॉल से मापता है। इसमें प्रशांत समय क्षेत्र है : जीएमटी -8 प्रशांत समुद्री इकोज़ोन के हिस्से के रूप में और स्टेनली पार्क नामक एक विशाल और प्रसिद्ध पार्क है, जो उत्तरी अमेरिका के सबसे बड़े शहरी पार्कों में से एक है। एक बहुत ही विविध शहर जिसमें उच्च जीवन स्तर भी सबसे महंगे में से एक है दुनिया में शहर और निश्चित रूप से उत्तरी अमेरिका में सबसे महंगा। यह एक सुंदर शहर है जिसमें पानी और जंगल और फूल हैं।

 

溫哥華市是不列顛哥倫比亞省大陸的沿海海港城市。溫哥華位於伯拉德半島的西半部,北接英吉利灣和伯拉德灣,南接弗雷澤河。面積 114 平方公里(44 平方英里),人口 631,486 人(根據 2016 年人口普查。溫哥華是不列顛哥倫比亞省最大的城市,加拿大第八大城市;大溫哥華都會區(包括本拿比、里士滿和素裡等鄰近城市是加拿大第三大城市。坐標:49° 15' 39.14\" N, 123° 6' 50.23\" W 從市政廳測量。它有太平洋時區: 格林威治標準時間 -8 作為太平洋海洋生態區的一部分,擁有一個名為斯坦利公園的巨大而著名的公園,是北美最大的城市公園之一。一個非常多樣化的城市,生活水平很高,也是最昂貴的城市之一世界上最貴的城市,當然也是北美最貴的城市。它是一個美麗的城市,有水、森林和鮮花。

 

1984: A work associate of my father on his sailboat enjoying the Hudson River ~ Rhinebeck, NY (photo by my father)

Gamelan ensembles are found predominantly on the islands of Java and Bali and comprise mainly bronze metallophones and gongs. They are led by drummers (one in Javanese ensembles, two in Balinese ensembles) who play double-headed drums and give rhythmic signals to the other performers regarding tempo and dynamic changes. Gamelan has spread internationally since the 1960s and today it is played in many ensembles associated with university music departments and embassies around the world. The Indonesian and international gamelan scene features both traditional and contemporary music. It is also strongly associated with the sophisticated puppetry and dance traditions of Indonesia

"The New Town Hall (German: Neues Rathaus) is a town hall on the Schlossplatz in Wiesbaden, Hesse, Germany. It hosts the city government including the city council, offices of the mayors and part of the administration. It was built between 1884 and 1887 by Georg von Hauberrisser in a Renaissance Revival architecture style. The basement is almost completely occupied by a restaurant called Ratskeller.

 

Wiesbaden (German pronunciation: [ˈviːsˌbaːdn̩]) is a city in central western Germany and the capital of the state of Hesse. As of June 2020, it had 290,955 inhabitants, plus approximately 21,000 United States citizens (mostly associated with the United States Army). The Wiesbaden urban area is home to approximately 560,000 people. Wiesbaden is the second-largest city in Hesse after Frankfurt am Main.

 

The city, together with nearby Frankfurt am Main, Darmstadt, and Mainz, is part of the Frankfurt Rhine Main Region, a metropolitan area with a combined population of about 5.8 million people.

 

Wiesbaden is one of the oldest spa towns in Europe. Its name translates to "meadow baths", a reference to its famed hot springs. It is also internationally famous for its architecture and climate—it is also called the "Nice of the North" in reference to the city in France. At one time, Wiesbaden had 26 hot springs. As of 2008, fourteen of the springs are still flowing.

 

In 1970, the town hosted the tenth Hessentag Landesfest (English: Hessian Day, a state festival).

 

The city is considered the tenth richest in Germany (2014) boasting 110.3% of the national average gross domestic product in 2017. The average annual buying power per citizen is €24,783.

 

Rheingau is one of 13 designated German wine regions (Weinbaugebiete) producing quality wines (QbA and Prädikatswein). It was named after the traditional region of Rheingau (meaning "Rhine district"), the wine region is situated in the state of Hesse, where it constitutes part of the Rheingau-Taunus-Kreis administrative district. Although, making up only 3 percent of the total German vineyard area, Rheingau has been the source of many historically important innovations in German wine making, and contains many wine producers of international reputation, such as Schloss Johannisberg. Rheingau, with 3,125 hectares (7,720 acres) of vineyards in 2016, also boasts a higher proportion of Riesling (77.7%) than any other German wine-growing region, with Spätburgunder (Pinot noir) making up most of the rest (12.2%), followed by Müller-Thurgau.

 

The geography of the Rheingau is very distinct. Around Wiesbaden, the river Rhine detours from its northward flow west for about 30 km before it flows north again. The greater part of the Rheingau is situated here on the river's right bank, but the region also includes the stretch along Rhine after it turns northward again, around the villages Assmannshausen and Lorch. The vineyards in Hochheim on the Main river are also included, just before it flows into Rhine. The Rheingau spans about 50 km from end to end. North of the Rheingau rises the Taunus mountain range, so most of the Rheingau's vineyards are on south-facing slope between hills and streams, which provides excellent wine-growing conditions in these northerly latitudes.

 

Since the Verona donation in 983, the Rheingau belonged to the archbishopric of Mainz. Legend has it that Charlemagne let the first vineyards be planted in the region, close to present-day Schloss Johannisberg. However finds like a Roman origin grapevine cutting knife point to even earlier cultivation. Better documented is the early influence of the church on Rheingau winemaking, which was controlled from Eberbach Abbey. Augustinians and Benedictines are known to have inhabited the area of the later abbey from 1116, and in 1135 the Cistercians arrived, sent out from Clairvaux. Legend has it that the Cistercians, which are also credited with having founded the wine industry in Burgundy, brought Pinot noir with them to Rheingau, although the earliest record of the grape variety in Rheingau is from 1470. The slopes down from the Taunus mountains belonging to Eberbach Abbey were planted as vineyards in the 12th century, and early in the 13th century the vineyards had reached their present area. In medieval times, more red than white wine was produced, usually as Gemischter Satz, i.e. the vineyards were planted with mixed varieties which were vinified together.

 

Rheingau Wine Official Classification of 1867

In 2011 it was unveiled, that the Official Wine Classification in the Rheingau has a 150 years history. The classification was the basis for taxation of wineries after the annexation of the Duchy of Nassau by the Kingdom of Prussia in 1866. In the book Der nassauische Weinbau published in 1867 by Friedrich Wilhelm Dünkelberg a historical map Weinbau-Karte des nassauischen Rheingaus (Viticultural map of the Rheingau in the Duchy of Nassau), all known vineyards at that time had been marked up by colour, evaluated and classified in first class vineyards (I. Klasse), second class vineyards (II. Klasse) and the remaining vineyards." - info from Wikipedia.

 

Summer 2019 I did a solo cycling tour across Europe through 12 countries over the course of 3 months. I began my adventure in Edinburgh, Scotland and finished in Florence, Italy cycling 8,816 km. During my trip I took 47,000 photos.

 

Now on Instagram.

 

Become a patron to my photography on Patreon or donate.

An abstract from a website:

The Metropolitan Natural Park (Parque Natural Metropolitano) is just a few minutes from downtown Panama City. It’s easy to reach by car or taxi and provides travelers with a good daytime excursion while visiting Panama City.

Dry lowland Pacific forest, which is rare in Central America due to deforestation, makes up much of the park. Incredibly, the park’s forest is home to 284 types of trees. The park also protects all kinds of critters, including 254 species of birds, 45 species of mammals, 36 species of reptiles, and 14 species of amphibians. Geoffroy’s tamarins, two-toed sloths and three-toed sloths live here, although you’ll need luck to see them. You’re more likely to spot birds and reptiles.

The park’s five trails cover some 3 miles (5 km). The Mono Tití Road ascends to the top of Cerro Cedro (Cedar’s Hill) and offers impressive views of Panama City.

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click to activate the icon of slideshow: the small triangle inscribed in the small rectangle, at the top right, in the photostream;

 

clicca sulla piccola icona per attivare lo slideshow: sulla facciata principale del photostream, in alto a destra c'è un piccolo rettangolo (rappresenta il monitor) con dentro un piccolo triangolo nero;

  

Qi Bo's photos on Fluidr

  

Qi Bo's photos on Flickriver

  

www.worldphoto.org/sony-world-photography-awards/winners-...

  

www.fotografidigitali.it/gallery/2726/opere-italiane-segn...

 

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“When a woman is killed, raped or abused, the whole female gender dies with her.”

 

On the occasion of the anniversary against the elimination of violence against women on November 25, I propose three photographs taken from my previous photographic story, taken on August 11, 2018, on the occasion of the "procession of Saint Lucia" held in Savoca the second Sunday of August: this is a very special "historical reenactment", which speaks of the eternal struggle between good and evil, which tells of a dark period in history, which recalls the violence suffered by women in the middle age (but also from all people who belonged to the poorest social classes), historical facts that have been handed down to us in the form of a story and associated-transmuted in the martyrdom of Saint Lucia, in fact this is the living representation of the martyrdom of Saint Lucia (patron saint of the city of Savoca , but whose cult, of the young Saint of Syracuse, seems to date back to the 15th century, under the influence of Spanish traditions). The story recalls when the Saint refused to marry her rich and powerful suitor (having declared herself a Christian and a bride in Christ), who in revenge reported the Christian faith of Lucia to the prefect Pascasio; he gave orders to his praetorians to drag Lucia with a rope to a brothel, a place of prostitution; the legend tells that the Saint became very heavy, then an attempt was made to drag her with the help of oxen, but it was impossible to move her from where she was; failing in this, the order was then given to gouge out her eyes, but the young martyr (a native of Syracuse) returned her eyes.

In the town of Savoca a young girl, affectionately called "Lucia" is carried on her shoulder along the streets of the town: the young Saint remains impassive in the face of demonic temptations, the Devil, called in Sicilian dialect "u Diavulazzu", agitates, shakes, rotates his pitchfork in an attempt to "distract" the Saint but, her attempts will be in vain. Among the various historical characters of the tradition, Baron Baldassarre, who lived in Savoca in medieval times, nicknamed Baron Altadonna, applied without hesitation any the practice of "Jus primae noctis" (from latin "right of first night"): using this orrible law, the baron forced the young brides to spend the first wedding night in his alcove. It is highly conceivable that in the representation of Saint Lucia of Savoca the character of the Devil tempting the young Saint with his pitchfork, in reality is none other than Baron Altadonna, so allegorically described in the traditional Sicilian festival, the figure of the Devil, if we take into account what historians tell, it would no longer belong to the legend, but to this bad person who actually lived, who used the currency of arrogance every day. The Sicilian tradition on the mummification of the bodies, has meant that the mummy of Baron Altadonna, is present in the crypt of the Capuchins of Savoca, for those who want to see it will notice an impressive similarity of the mummified face of this satrap, with the face of the traditional mask of the devil, strongly strengthening the belief that Baron Altadonna was really the "devil of Savoca".

 

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“Quando una donna viene uccisa, violentata o abusata tutto il genere femminile muore con lei.”

 

In occasione della ricorrenza contro l’eliminazione della violenza delle donne del 25 novembre, qui ripropongo tre fotografie prese da un mio precedente racconto fotografico, realizzato l’11 agosto del 2018, in occasione della “processione di Santa Lucia” che si tiene a Savoca la seconda domenica di Agosto: è questa una “rievocazione storica” molto particolare, che parla dell’eterna lotta tra il bene ed il male, che narra di un periodo buio della storia, che rievoca le violenze subite dalle donne (ma anche da coloro che appartenevano alle classi sociali più povere), fatti storici che sono stati tramandati fino a noi in forma di racconto ed associati-trasmutati nel martirio di Santa Lucia, infatti questa è la rappresentazione vivente del martirio di Santa Lucia (Santa patrona della città di Savoca, ma il cui culto, della giovane Santa di Siracusa, sembra risalire al XV secolo, sotto l'influenza delle tradizioni spagnole).

la storia rievoca di quando la Santa, si rifiutò di andare in sposa ad un suo ricco e potente pretendente (essendosi dichiarata Cristiana e sposa in Cristo), il quale per vendetta riferì della fede Cristiana di Lucia al prefetto Pascasio; costui diede ordine ai suoi pretoriani di trascinare Lucia con una corda fino ad un lupanare, un luogo di prostituzione; la leggenda narra che la Santa divenne pesantissima, si tentò allora di trascinarla con l'ausilio dei buoi, ma fu impossibile smuoverla da dove si trovava; non riuscendo in ciò, fu allora dato l'ordine di cavarle gli occhi, ma alla giovane martire (nativa di Siracusa) gli occhi le rispuntarono.

Nel paese di Savoca una giovane ragazza, chiamata con affetto "la Lucia" viene portata in spalla lungo le vie del paese: la giovane Santa rimane impassibile di fronte alle tentazioni demoniache, il Diavolo, chiamato in dialetto siciliano "u Diavulazzu”, agita, scuote, fa ruotare il suo forcone nel tentativo di "distrarre" la Santa ma, vani saranno i suoi tentativi. Tra i vari personaggi storici della tradizione, il barone Baldassarre, vissuto in Savoca in epoca medioevale, soprannominato barone Altadonna, applicava senza remora alcuna la pratica della Jus primae noctis (dal latino “diritto della prima notte”): avvalendosi di questa legge il barone obbligava le giovani spose a trascorrere la prima notte di nozze nella sua alcova. E’ fortemente ipotizzabile che nella rappresentazione di Santa Lucia di Savoca il personaggio del Diavolo che tenta la giovane Santa col suo forcone, in realtà non sia altro che il barone Altadonna, così allegoricamente descritto nella festa tradizionale siciliana, cosicché la figura del Diavolo, se si tiene conto di quanto narrano gli storici, non apparterrebbe più alla leggenda, ma a questo tristo personaggio realmente vissuto, che usava quotidianamente la moneta della prepotenza. La tradizione Siciliana sulla mummificazione delle salme, ha fatto sì che la mummia del barone Altadonna, sia presente nella cripta dei cappuccini di Savoca: per chi volesse vederla noterà una impressionante somiglianza del volto mummificato di questo satrapo, col volto della maschera tradizionale del diavolo, rafforzando fortemente la convinzione che il barone Altadonna sia stato realmente il “diavolo di Savoca”.

   

Arup Associates concept for the form of the bridge was driven by a desire to have a simple and iconic form that respected the existing master plan for the Quay and ensured that full advantage was taken of the prominent location of the bridge within the city. Arup Associates had to achieve a considerable change in level from the Williams Quay to the western end of the bridge to clear the navigation channel required for ferries.

 

The curved form of the bridge deck was the solution that allowed Arup Associates to create the extended ramps required to clear the navigation channel and achieve entry points to the bridge that were critical for legible access and integration with the master plan. Having achieved these geometric challenges, Arup Associates now had to engineer a solution. Arup Associates target was to compliment the S form of the bridge deck with arch forms that would reinforce the experience of movement through the structure and across the bridge.

 

The bridge deck is constantly changing in height and always curving in plan – the arches needed to enhance this experience. Arup Associates worked closely from the outset with engineers using analysis software to show how efficiencies could be made in arch geometry relative to the bridge deck geometry. Arup Associates wanted the drama of the leaning arches, we also wanted the arches to optimized in their cross sectional form to the structural work they are doing. Arup Associates also worked closely with our wind engineers to ensure that vibration and vortex shedding issues were overcome. Arup Associates wanted transparency to the balustrades, yet some level of solidity was initially required to overcome wind impacts which could generate vibrations within the bridge structure.

 

Another area of design which defined the form of the arches was the lighting concept. Arup Associates wanted the illumination of the arches to be visible from both sides – from the city and from across the river. To achieve this Arup Associates generated a 5 sided cross section, so that at the apex of the arch two faces are visible in elevation and can be illuminated from a single line of uplighters to the edge of the deck. The result is everything Arup Associates sort to achieve in terms of simple and pure structural forms, complimented by a rationalised modular architecture to the fascia finishes, balustrading and timber decking. This was only possible through the use of shared modelling, with both architects and engineers using Rhino + Grasshopper scripts to control the geometry definition – scripts that were shared on a daily basis to ensure that structural analysis kept pace with architectural geometry

One Tampa City Center, formerly known as GTE Center and Verizon Building, is an office skyscraperl ocated in downtown Tampa, Florida. It was the tallest building in the state of Florida for three years and the tallest building in the city until the completion of the Bank of America tower in 1986. At 39 stories tall, it is currently the third tallest structure in the city at 537 feet tall.

  

Credit for the data above is given to the following websites:

www.emporis.com/buildings/128589/one-tampa-city-center-ta...

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Tampa_City_Center

 

Just got back from a week in Florida helping my son get settled into a new home. Didn't have a lot of time for sight seeing but did manage to get out a few times.

 

There are actually two yachts moored side by side with the one behind bigger than the first.

The yacht closest is called EQUATION and here is what I found about her:

 

The 34m / 111'7 Crescent 112 motor yacht 'Equation' was built in 2002 by Crescent Yachts. This luxury vessel's sophisticated exterior design and engineering are the work of Jack Sarin. Previously named Attitude her luxurious interior is designed by Robin Rose & Associates and her exterior styling is by Jack Sarin.

 

Accommodation:

Equation's interior layout sleeps up to 10 guests in 4 rooms, including a master suite, 2 double cabins, 1 twin cabin and 2 pullman beds. She is also capable of carrying up to 5 crew onboard to ensure a relaxed luxury yacht experience. Timeless styling, beautiful furnishings and sumptuous seating feature throughout to create an elegant and comfortable atmosphere.

Equation's impressive leisure and entertainment facilities make her the ideal charter yacht for socialising and entertaining with family and friends.

 

Performance:

She is built with GRP (glass-reinforced plastic or GRP) hull and GRP superstructure. With a cruising speed of 15 knots, a maximum speed of 21 knots and a range of 2,000nm from her 22,710 litre fuel tanks, she is the perfect combination of performance and luxury.

 

Amenities:

Swimming Platform, Air Conditioning, Deck Jacuzzi

 

Excerpt from amgunited.wixsite.com/amgunited/history-of-st-paul-s:

 

Methodist Beginnings

Early church life in Magog was associated with that in Georgeville where, in 1804, the families of William Bullock, Jeremiahc Lord and Richard Packard "joined hands to organize the first Methodist class meeting". Methodist groups were founded in a number of the surrounding towns but regular services were held only in Georgeville and Magog. The Rev. Edwin Peakes, the Methodist minister in Georgeville, had the Magog parish added to his pastoral charge in 1869. In 1870, services were held in Georgeville and Magog at 11 A.M. and 6:30 P.M., alternating the morning service between the two towns. Accordingly, the relationship between the two parishes has always been close, although the work at Georgeville was well established before the Magog Methodists were organized.

 

In 1884, the Magog Methodists purchased a parsonage which still stands at 41, St. Patrick Street West.

 

The First Building

All Christian groups in Magog with the exception of Roman Catholics had been meeting in a Union Church which was built in 1830. Built on Merry Street South, this building appears to have served Anglicans, Methodists and Baptists. In 1886, the Methodists decided to build a new church on Merry Street North. A. I. Wallace of Waterloo was the general contractor and within four months built the new church. Given the size of the church (26 pews, each 12-1/2 feet long), it would appear that the Methodists were relatively numerous in Magog, although probably not well endowed. The "New Church", dedicated on March 19, 1887, appears to have been constantly in debt throughout the remainder of the century. A new reed organ, with pedal board and hand pump was installed in 1894, also purchased on credit.

 

Early 20th Century

The New Church was wired for electricity in 1901 by parish volunteers. In 1905 the parsonage was sold to the Rev. D. Brill for $1,000 as a retirement home. The John Moore house was purchased as a parsonage, running water was installed in 1910 and the telephone in 1913. Given the need for larger Sunday school facilities and place to house a pipe organ, it was decided to add an extension to the New Church. Casavant Frères built the organ in 1918 for the sum of $2,350. Mrs. A. E. Swoger was church organist from 1918 to 1937, after which time she was replaced by Mrs. J. B. Connor, who was church organist in 1962 at the time of the 75th anniversary celebrations. The Ladies' Aid was already active in the early part of the 20th century, minutes of their meetings dating from 1914. It would appear that parish life in the early 20th century was quite active and no further mention is made of church indebtedness. In fact, it would appear that relative prosperity had replaced relative poverty.

 

The United Church of Canada

There is no mention in any of the parish records of the integration of the Methodist Church into the United Church. It would appear that the parish entered without question into the new body formed by the merger of Congregational, Presbyterian and Methodist congregations and that little impact was had on parish life. Parish activities continued to blossom. In 1928, the following organizations made reports to the annual meeting: Quarterly Official Board, Sunday School, Women's Missionary Society, Young People's Society, Choir, Ladies' Aid, 1925 Club and Men's Own.

 

St. Paul's Church

In 1929 the Masonic Order offered the trustees of the United Church $7,500 for their building on Merry Street North, which is now the Café Theâtre. The offer was accepted and a new building was erected on Pine Street at the cost of $27,350, together with an $5,000 worth of furnishings, grading of the land, purchase of a furnace, etc. To finance the project, Quebec-Sherbrooke Presbytery authorized a $17,500 mortgage on the church property. The cornerstone was laid on August 30th, 1930 and the building dedicated on November 23rd, 1930.

 

The Post-War Period

After the trials of the years of the Second World War, a memorial was estasblished for the 44 sons of the parish who served in World War One, six of whom were killed, and the 87 who served in World War Two, of whom 4 were killed. The memorial chimes were installed on November 14th, 1948. In 1949, the United Church form of government was adopted, creating the first Session. A new manse was built at the corner of Abbott and Macdonald Streets in late 1949.

 

The Memorial Fund

In 1954 a memorial fund was established to provide more adequate Sunday School rooms and hall facilities. In the summer of 1957, the earth was excavated under the Church Hall, creating a new basement. A hot air heating system was installed for both the new rooms and the Church hall, bringing the building projects originally begun by our Methodist ancestors to completion. In 1962, the parish celebrated its 75th anniversary, publishing the anniversary booklet from which the information presented on this website is drawn.

In collaboration with Kathy Fowler.

 

Étretat is best known for its chalk cliffs, including three natural arches and a pointed formation called L'Aiguille or the Needle, which rises 70 metres above the sea. The Etretat Chalk Complex consists of a complex stratigraphy of Turonian and Coniacian chalks. Some of the cliffs are as high as 90 metres. These cliffs and the associated resort beach attracted artists including Eugène Boudin, Gustave Courbetand Claude Monet. They were featured prominently in the 1909 Arsène Lupin novel The Hollow Needle by Maurice Leblanc. They also feature in the 2014 film Lucy, directed by Luc Besson. Two of the three famous arches are visible from the town, the Porte d'Aval, and the Porte d'Amont. The Manneporte is the third and the biggest one, and cannot be seen from the town. The GR 21 long-distance hiking path (Le Havre to Le Tréport) passes through the town. The coast is known as the Pays de Caux Alabaster Coast. Étretat is known for being the last place in France from which the 1927 biplane The White Bird (L'Oiseau Blanc) was seen. French World War I war heroes Charles Nungesser and François Coli were attempting to make the first non-stop flight from Paris to New York City, but after the plane's 8 May 1927 departure, it disappeared somewhere over the Atlantic. It is considered one of the great unexplained mysteries of aviation. A monument to the flight was established in Étretat, but destroyed during World War II, during German occupation. A new and taller monument was constructed in 1963, along with a nearby museum. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Étretat The cliffs of Amont (Falaise d’Amont) north of the town hold the lovely church of La Chapelle Notre Dame de la Garde etretat-normandie.fr/que-visiter/chapelle-notre-dame-de-l... The Gardens of Etretat, Les Jardins d’Etretat are a must visit. The famous actress Madame Thébault created this garden in 1903, inspired by the Impressionist painter, Claude Monet, who himself was a keen gardener. He is the one to whom the garden owes its ambience and originality, faithfully preserved to the present day. At the heart of the natural wonder of Normandy, on the top of the cliff towering along the Alabaster Coast, hides a villa, built in this splendid garden that sprawls across the White Cliffs. Madame Thébault named it Roxelana, in commemoration of the role that had catapulted her to the heights of cinema stardom. Roxelana was the beloved wife of the Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent. Les Jardins d’Étretat overhang the famous Amont Cliff, which attracts painters from all over the world. It was on the very terraces of Les Jardins d’Étretat that Claude Monet painted his Cliffs at Etretat series, regarded among the greatest works of art ever produced. Alexander Grivko is a landscape architect, a creative power behind Les Jardins d’Étretat. Originally from Russia, he is the art director of the garden design and landscaping company Il Nature with representations in Russia, France and the UK. In 2016, Les Jardins d’Étretat in Normandy was laid out in partnership with a new business associate, collector of contemporary art. It is now the first garden, existing within the planned international network of art gardens open to the public. etretatgarden.fr/en/ and www.france-travel-guide.net/etretat-gardens.html

 

copyright All rights reserved Ian C Brightman Please do not use this image on websites, blogs or any other media without my explicit written permission

One of the trucks associated with the funfair visiting the town, Mercedes Benz Axor LX06BZS pictured with its trailer parked on St. Fergus Road in Wick on Tuesday morning 14/7/2026.

AI with additional fine tuning by Corel PhotoPaint.

Captured in Sept. 2012 in Blaubeuren Germany with a Panasonic DMC-ZS20.

 

It was edited in Alien Skin Exposure 5, with two variations of Old Kodachrome faded options and the layers blended with a blend mode.

 

This mill wheel used the water power to drive a hammer that forged iron.

 

This pond was really green in color, yet very clear.

 

There is a very busy hiking path that goes up the hill behind the wheel.

 

There is also very deep blue pond here. Its gets its color from its depth. At one point they thought it was bottomless. But divers finally reached the bottom and discovered the its greatest depth 20.6 m, volume approx 5,500 m³. with a constant temp in the depths of 9.4 °C.

 

I seem to remember that there were also some prehistoric settlements and artifacts associated with that hill.

 

Blaubeuren is located west of Ulm. There is an Abbey and some castle ruins nearby. It is considered a Town District, and I was told that they keep the area its serves historic records there. I am guessing it is kind of like the Market town in the UK.

 

It has some really nice old architecture with great details.

 

Moat Park Associate Burgher Presbyterian Church was built in 1865 on a design by Peddie and Kinnear and subsequently opened as a museum by HRH The Princess Royal on 29 June 1988 after extensive work that included the insertion of an upper floor. Following the museum’s closure in January 2014, for iits transfer to a new location, planning permission was sought, which has since been granted, for the conversion of the former church to form three

properties in addition to the creation of an additional single storey house

Vessel Specifications

 

Administrative port: N/A

Home port: Teignmouth

Port letters and number: EX:(SE1; FY506)

Vessel name: SUMMER WINE

Registry of Shipping and Seamen number:

Licence number: EU#GBR000A17401 2002-04-18 - Reason: CHANGE IN ACTIVITY

Fish producer organisation:

Overall length: 7.13 m (meters)

Registered tonnage: 3.43 mt

Engine Power (kw): 26

Vessel Capacity Units:

Year Built: 1979

Hull Material: WOOD

Country of Build: GBR

Licence Category: EX: CATEGORY A (10 METRE AND UNDER)

The active nucleus and some glowing outflows associated with it in the galaxy Markarian 78. I worked together with Dr. Mitchell Revalski on this one. Together I feel like we were able to pick the right datasets to really eke out as much detail as possible for the ionized (glowing) outflows, which are shown in blue. There were some old FOC data in the archive that I myself was too skeptical to try using, but after some encouragement from Mitch it turned out it was actually the best. Other noticeable features include dark dust, shown here in dark brown and orange colors.

 

Anyway, this may seem like a meager offering compared to other imagery from Hubble, but it's safe to say it's currently the best image (as of this writing) of Mrk 78's nucleus.

 

An arXiv link to the paper on this object is here!

arxiv.org/abs/2101.06270

 

Data from the following proposals were used to create this image. Two proposals from the late 90's and one from 2019. Glad the archive is so well maintained that it is possible to easily combine chronologically disparate datasets.

archive.stsci.edu/proposal_search.php?mission=hst&id=...

archive.stsci.edu/proposal_search.php?mission=hst&id=...

archive.stsci.edu/proposal_search.php?mission=hst&id=...

 

This ended up being a two color orange/cyan image, and the cyan channel is a bit unusual, comprised of data combined from the STIS/CCD 50CCD filter and FOC/96 F502M filter. Neither dataset provided full coverage, so each image makes up for what is missing in the other, and what features showed up in both were similar enough to create a smooth and coherent image despite being from totally different instruments and not quite similar filters.

 

Orange: ACS/WFC F814W

Cyan: STIS/CCD 50CCD + FOC/96 F502M

 

North is up.

66560 on the 10:20 Potteric Carr Junction to Stapleford & SCCE passes 56302 in Doncaster Up Decoy Yard last Sunday. 66420 was on the rear of this monster engineering train. The train incorporated ballast wagons, cranes and all the other paraphernalia associated with rail replacement and waited time at the south end of Doncaster station for another two hours before moving north to change direction at Hatfield and Stainforth. It takes a long time to walk down this train.

ARAMCO Associated G550 Reg: N585A on the ramp at Zurich.

History

 

The cathedral was founded by Henry the Lion, Duke of Bavaria and Saxony, who conquered Mecklenburg around 1160. In medieval times he was a famous ruler associated with emperor Barbarossa. Schwerin cathedral has originally been a pilgrims church, dedicated to St.Mary and St.Joseph. In 1222 a local ruler brought a drop of Christ's Blood with him from Jerusalem, which people worshipped as a relic. The old romanic church became to small for the pilgrims soon and a new cathedral was built in that place. In the year 1270, the Cathedral was extended to double its size. It turned the church into one of the most important places of pilgrimage in northern Germany. Since there was neither a stone quarry or any other sufficient natural source of building stones near Schwerin, the cathedral was nearly entirely built of brick stones. It was to become one of the first and still one of the most impressive examples of the northern european architectural style called "Brick Gothic" (Backsteingotik). The nave of the church is 105 metres long and the arches reach up 26,5 metres.

 

The tower - as in the case of Cologne Cathedral - has been completed at the end of the 19th century. It is the highest church tower in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and measures 117,5 metres. Visitors can climb up the tower during the opening times of the cathedral. The view of the city, the lakes, the castle and the surrounding countryside is magnificent and well worth climbing 220 steps.

 

www.schwerin.com/en/attractions-and-sights/the-historic-c...

The first of many work trains associated with converting the Adelaide Hills line from broad to standard gauge arrives at Balhannah on 24-1-94. 838,706 have just arrived at Balhannah with a rail and concrete sleeper train and will run around and head to Nairne where it will unload the sleepers.

2966

 

REFORD GARDENS | LES JARDINS DE METIS

 

Spectacular view associated with wind gusts.

 

Visit : www.refordgardens.com

  

VERTICAL LINE GARDEN 2019

Julia Jamrozik, Coryn Kempster

Buffalo, United States.

 

Visit: www.ck-jj.com

 

From the plaque:

 

Drawing on the formal language of historical garden design, and the contemporary means of mass-produced safety and construction material, the project is a strong graphic intervention that aims to produce an abstract field.

 

Defining a geometric zone out of tightly spaced parallel lines of stretched commercial barrier tape , the installation introduces ordered man-made elements into the cultivated natural environment of the Reford Gardens. Through this juxtaposition, a dialogue between the two spheres is created based on the shared theme of protection and necessary safe-guarding while questioning the definition of what is truly natural.

 

As one approaches and then walks around and through the installation the changing viewpoint will allow the shifting of the tape lines in space and thus varied views of the overall composition. Further the movement of the lines with the changing of the climate, the wind and the sun will ensure a dynamic optical and auditory engagement for the audience. As visitors enter and inhabit the space by occupying the provided loungers, the fluctuating appearance of the installation is further enhanced.

 

In the 2015 version of the garden, we have decided to alter the colours of the field and provide and to provide canpy elements which will not only provide shade but also give a different experiential perspective of the banner tape.

 

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Texte de la plaque:

 

S'appuyant sur le langage formel de la conception du jardin historique, sur des moyens modernes de sécutité et sur des matériaux de construction produits en massa, le projet se veut une intervention graphique cherchant à créer un champs abstrait.

 

Des lignes parallèles de rubans de sécurité étroitement espacés définissent une zone géométrique. Cette installation d’éléments ordonnés prend place dans un milieu d’aspect naturel. Par cette juxtaposition, un dialogue entre les deux se crée basé sur le thème commun de la protection et de la sauvegarde , tout en s’interrogeant sur la définition de ce qui est vraiment naturel.

 

En s’approchant, en marchant autour et au travers le jardin, le point de vue change, ce qui permet le déplacement des lignes dans l’espace pour offrir de nouvelles perspectives sur la composition globale. Outre le mouvement des lignes, les changements de climat, le vent et le soleil procurent aux visiteurs des expériences visuelles et auditives dynamiques. Lorsque les visiteurs entrent et habitent l’espace en s’assoyant sur les chaises, l’aspect fluctuant de l’installation est renforcé.

 

Dans la version 2015 du jardin, les couleurs des rubans sont différentes et trois canopées ont été ajoutés. Ce qui va non seulement fournir de l’ombre mais aussi offrir une perspective expérientielle différente sur les rubans de sécurité.

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From Wikipedia:

 

Elsie Stephen Meighen - born January 22, 1872, Perth, Ontario - and Robert Wilson Reford - born in 1867, Montreal - got married on June 12, 1894.

 

Elsie Reford was a pioneer of Canadian horticulture, creating one of the largest private gardens in Canada on her estate, Estevan Lodge in eastern Québec. Located in Grand-Métis on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River, her gardens have been open to the public since 1962 and operate under the name Les Jardins de Métis and Reford Gardens.

  

Born January 22, 1872 at Perth, Ontario, Elsie Reford was the eldest of three children born to Robert Meighen and Elsie Stephen. Coming from modest backgrounds themselves, Elsie’s parents ensured that their children received a good education. After being educated in Montreal, she was sent to finishing school in Dresden and Paris, returning to Montreal fluent in both German and French, and ready to take her place in society.

 

She married Robert Wilson Reford on June 12, 1894. She gave birth to two sons, Bruce in 1895 and Eric in 1900. Robert and Elsie Reford were, by many accounts, an ideal couple. In 1902, they built a house on Drummond Street in Montreal. They both loved the outdoors and they spend several weeks a year in a log cabin they built at Lac Caribou, south of Rimouski. In the autumn they hunted for caribou, deer, and ducks. They returned in winter to ski and snowshoe. Elsie Reford also liked to ride. She had learned as a girl and spent many hours riding on the slopes of Mount Royal. And of course, there was salmon-fishing – a sport at which she excelled.

 

In her day, she was known for her civic, social, and political activism. She was engaged in philanthropic activities, particularly for the Montreal Maternity Hospital and she was also the moving force behind the creation of the Women’s Canadian Club of Montreal, the first women club in Canada. She believed it important that the women become involved in debates over the great issues of the day, « something beyond the local gossip of the hour ». Her acquaintance with Lord Grey, the Governor-General of Canada from 1904 to 1911, led to her involvement in organizing, in 1908, Québec City’s tercentennial celebrations. The event was one of many to which she devoted herself in building bridges with French-Canadian community.

 

During the First World War, she joined her two sons in England and did volunteer work at the War Office, translating documents from German into English. After the war, she was active in the Victorian Order of Nurses, the Montreal Council of Social Agencies, and the National Association of Conservative Women.

 

In 1925 at the age of 53 years, Elsie Reford was operated for appendicitis and during her convalescence, her doctor counselled against fishing, fearing that she did not have the strength to return to the river.”Why not take up gardening?” he said, thinking this a more suitable pastime for a convalescent woman of a certain age. That is why she began laying out the gardens and supervising their construction. The gardens would take ten years to build, and would extend over more than twenty acres.

 

Elsie Reford had to overcome many difficulties in bringing her garden to life. First among them were the allergies that sometimes left her bedridden for days on end. The second obstacle was the property itself. Estevan was first and foremost a fishing lodge. The site was chosen because of its proximity to a salmon river and its dramatic views – not for the quality of the soil.

 

To counter-act nature’s deficiencies, she created soil for each of the plants she had selected, bringing peat and sand from nearby farms. This exchange was fortuitous to the local farmers, suffering through the Great Depression. Then, as now, the gardens provided much-needed work to an area with high unemployment. Elsie Reford’s genius as a gardener was born of the knowledge she developed of the needs of plants. Over the course of her long life, she became an expert plantsman. By the end of her life, Elsie Reford was able to counsel other gardeners, writing in the journals of the Royal Horticultural Society and the North American Lily Society. Elsie Reford was not a landscape architect and had no training of any kind as a garden designer. While she collected and appreciated art, she claimed no talents as an artist.

 

Elsie Stephen Reford died at her Drummond Street home on November 8, 1967 in her ninety-sixth year.

 

In 1995, the Reford Gardens ("Jardins de Métis") in Grand-Métis were designated a National Historic Site of Canada, as being an excellent Canadian example of the English-inspired garden.(Wikipedia)

 

Visit : en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elsie_Reford

  

LES JARDINS DE MÉTIS

 

Créés par Elsie Reford de 1926 à 1958, ces jardins témoignent de façon remarquable de l’art paysager à l’anglaise. Disposés dans un cadre naturel, un ensemble de jardins exhibent fleurs vivaces, arbres et arbustes. Le jardin des pommetiers, les rocailles et l’Allée royale évoquent l’œuvre de cette dame passionnée d’horticulture. Agrémenté d’un ruisseau et de sentiers sinueux, ce site jouit d’un microclimat favorable à la croissance d’espèces uniques au Canada. Les pavots bleus et les lis, privilégiés par Mme Reford, y fleurissent toujours et contribuent , avec d’autres plantes exotiques et indigènes, à l’harmonie de ces lieux.

 

Created by Elsie Reford between 1926 and 1958, these gardens are an inspired example of the English art of the garden. Woven into a natural setting, a series of gardens display perennials, trees and shrubs. A crab-apple orchard, a rock garden, and the Long Walk are also the legacy of this dedicated horticulturist. A microclimate favours the growth of species found nowhere else in Canada, while the stream and winding paths add to the charm. Elsie Reford’s beloved blue poppies and lilies still bloom and contribute, with other exotic and indigenous plants, to the harmony of the site.

 

Commission des lieux et monuments historiques du Canada

Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada.

Gouvernement du Canada – Government of Canada

 

© Copyright

This photo and all those in my Photostream are protected by copyright. No one may reproduce, copy, transmit or manipulate them without my written permission.

20200609_7531_7D2-840 Gull on a cold frosty roof

 

We have today entered Level 1 of our Covid-19 restrictions (not many restrictions at all). We have no active cases of Covid-19 in the country and the last "new" case (now cleared) was 22nd May. We only had 22 deaths, most elderly and most associated with a couple of rest home clusters.

 

#11796

  

They all look the same, dress the same way, use the same facial expressions and body language but each will tell you he's "doing his own thing" Interactions, mirroring consists of the parent imitating the infant's expressions while vocalizing the emotion implied by the expression. This imitation helps the infant to associate the emotion with their expression, as well as feel validated in their own emotions as the parent shows approval through imitation. Studies have demonstrated that mirroring is an important part of child and infant development. According to Kohut's theories of self-psychology, individuals need a sense of validation and belonging in order to establish their concepts of self. When parents mirror their infants, the action may help the child develop a greater sense of self-awareness and self-control, as they can see their emotions within their parent's faces. Additionally, infants may learn and experience new emotions, facial expressions, and gestures by mirroring expressions that their parents utilize. The process of mirroring may help infants establish connections of expressions to emotions and thus promote social communication later in life. Infants also learn to feel secure and valid in their own emotions through mirroring, as the parent's imitation of their emotions may help the child recognize their own thoughts and feelings more readily.When we meet others for the first time, we need to assess quickly whether they are positive or negative towards us, just as most other animals do for survival reasons. We do this by scanning the other person's body to see if they will move or gesture the same way we do in what is known as 'mirroring'. We mirror each other's body language as a way of bonding, being accepted and creating rapport, but we are usually oblivious to the fact that we are doing it. In ancient times, mirroring was also a social device which helped our ancestors fit in successfully with larger groups; it is also a left-over from a primitive method of learning which involved imitation.Additionally, individuals are likely to mirror the person of higher status or power within the situation. Mirroring individuals of higher power may create an illusion of higher status, or create rapport with the individual in power, thus allowing the person to gain favor with the individual in power. This mechanism may be helpful for individuals in situations where they are in a position of bargaining with an individual who possesses more power, as the rapport that mirroring creates may help to persuade the higher status individual to help the person of lower status. These situations include job interviews, other work situations such as requesting promotions, parent-child interactions, and asking professors for favors. Each of these situations involve one party who is in a more powerless position for bargaining, and another party who has the ability to fulfill the person of lower status's needs, but may not necessarily wish to. Thus, mirroring can be a useful tool for individuals of lower status in order to persuade the other party to relinquish goods or privileges for the lower status party.Mirroring generally takes place subconsciously as individuals react with the situation. Mirroring is common in conversation, as the listeners will typically smile or frown along with the speaker, as well as imitate body posture or attitude about the topic. Individuals may be more willing to empathize with and accept people whom they believe hold similar interests and beliefs, and thus mirroring the person with whom one is speaking may establish connections between the individuals involved.

One of the most noticeable forms of mirroring is yawning - one person starts and it sets everyone off. Dr. Robert Provine found that yawning is so contagious you don't even need to see another person yawn - the sight of a wide-open mouth is enough to do it. It was once thought that the purpose of yawning was to oxygenate the body but we now know that it's a form of mirroring that serves to create rapport with others and to avoid aggression - just as it also does for this pictured boat and yawning building.

 

Wearing the same outfit as another woman is a mirroring no-no. But if two men show up at a party wearing the same outfit, they could become lifelong friends.

 

Non-verbally, mirroring says 'Look at me; I'm the same as you. I feel the same way and share the same attitudes.' This is why people at a rock concert will all jump to their feet and applaud simultaneously or give a 'Mexican Wave' together. The synchronicity of the crowd promotes a secure feeling in the participants. Similarly, people in an angry mob will mirror aggressive attitudes and this explains why many usually calm people can lose their cool in this situation.

 

The urge to mirror is also the basis on which a queue works. In a queue, people willingly co-operate with people they have never met and will never see again, obeying an unwritten set of behavioral rules while waiting for a bus, at an art gallery, in a bank or side by side in war. Professor Joseph Heinrich from the University of Michigan found that the urges to mirror others are hardwired into the brain because co-operation leads to more food, better health and economic growth for communities. It also offers an explanation as to why societies that are highly disciplined in mirroring, such as the British, Germans and ancient Romans successfully dominated the world for many years. Mirroring the other person's body language and appearance shows a united front and doesn't let either get one-up on the other

Mirroring makes others feel 'at ease'. It's such a powerful rapport-building tool that slow-motion video research reveals that it even extends to simultaneous blinking, nostril-flaring, eyebrow-raising and even pupil dilation, which is remarkable as these micro-gestures cannot be consciously imitated.

 

Creating the Right Vibes

 

Studies into synchronous body language behavior show that people who feel similar emotions, or are on the same wavelength and are likely to be experiencing a rapport, will also begin to match each other's body language and expressions. Being 'in sync' to bond with another person begins early in the womb when our body functions and heartbeat match the rhythm of our mother, so mirroring is a state to which we are naturally inclined.

 

When a couple are in the early stages of courtship it's common to see them behave with synchronous movements, almost as if they are dancing. For example, when a woman takes a mouthful of food the man wipes the corner of his mouth; or he begins a sentence and she finishes it for him. When she gets PMT, he develops a strong desire for chocolate; and when she feels bloated, he farts.

 

When a person says 'the vibes are right' or that they 'feel right' around another person, they are unknowingly referring to mirroring and synchronous behavior. For example, at a restaurant, one person can be reluctant to eat or drink alone for fear of being out of sync with the others. When it comes to ordering the meal, each may check with the others before ordering. 'What are you having?' they ask as they try to mirror their meals. This is one of the reasons why playing background music during a date is so effective - the music gets a couple to beat and tap in time together. Mirroring on a Cellular Level

 

American heart surgeon, Dr Memhet Oz, reported some remarkable findings from heart recipients. He found that, as with most other body organs, the heart appears to retain cellular memories, and this allows some patients to experience some of the emotions experienced by the heart donor. Even more remarkably, he found some recipients also assume the same gestures and posture of the donor even though they have never seen the donor. His conclusion was that it appears that the heart cells instruct the recipient's brains to take on the donor's body language. Conversely, people suffering from disorders such as autism have no ability to mirror or match the behavior of others, which makes it difficult for two-way communication with others. The same goes for drunk people whose gestures are out of sync with their words, making it impossible for any mirroring to occur.

 

Because of the phenomenon of cause and effect, if you intentionally assume certain body language positions you will begin to experience the emotions associated with those gestures. For example, if you feel confident, you may unconsciously assume the Steeple gesture to reflect your confidence, but if you intentionally Steeple you will not only begin to feel more confident, others will perceive that you're confident. This, then, becomes a powerful way to create a rapport with others by intentionally matching their body language and posture.

 

Mirroring Differences Between Men and Women

 

Geoffrey Beattie, at the University of Manchester, found that a woman is instinctively four times more likely to mirror another woman than a man is to mirror another man. He also found that women mirror men's body language too, but men are reluctant to mirror a woman's gestures or posture - unless he is in courtship mode.

 

When a woman says she can 'see' that someone doesn't agree with the group opinion she is actually 'seeing' the disagreement. She's picked up that someone's body language is out of sync with group opinion and they are showing their disagreement by not mirroring the group's body language. How women can 'see' disagreement, anger, lying or feeling hurt has always been a source of amazement to most men. It's because most men's brains are simply not well equipped to read the fine detail of others' body language and don't consciously notice mirroring discrepancies.

 

Men and women's brains are programmed differently to express emotions through facial expressions and body language. Typically, a woman can use an average of six main facial expressions in a ten-second listening period to reflect and then feed back the speaker's emotions. Her face will mirror the emotions being expressed by the speaker. To someone watching, it can look as if the events being discussed are happening to both women.

 

A woman reads the meaning of what is being said through the speaker's voice tone and his emotional condition through his body language. This is exactly what a man needs to do to capture a woman's attention and to keep her interested and listening. Most men are daunted by the prospect of using facial feedback while listening, but it pays big dividends for the man who becomes good at it.

 

Some men say 'She'll think I'm effeminate!', but research with these techniques shows that when a man mirrors a woman's facial expressions as she talks she will describe him as caring, intelligent, interesting and attractive.

 

Men, on the other hand, can make fewer than a third of the facial expressions a woman can make. Men usually hold expressionless faces, especially in public, because of the evolutionary need to withhold emotion to stave off possible attack from strangers and to appear to be in control of their emotions. This is why most men look as if they are statues when they listen.

 

The emotionless mask that men wear while listening allows them to feel in control of the situation, but does not mean men don't experience emotions. Brain scans reveal that men can feel emotion as strongly as women, but avoid showing it publicly.

 

What to Do About It if You're Female

 

The key to mirroring a man's behavior is in understanding that he doesn't use his face to signal his attitudes - he uses his body. Most women find it difficult to mirror an expressionless man but with males this is not required. If you're a woman, it means that you need to reduce your facial expressions so that you don't come across as overwhelming or intimidating. Most importantly, don't mirror what you think he might be feeling. That can be disastrous if you've got it wrong and you may be described as 'dizzy' or 'scatterbrained'. Women in business who listen with a more serious face are described by men as more intelligent, astute and sensible.

 

When Men and Women Start to Look Alike

 

When two people live together for a long time and have a good working relationship, they often begin to look alike. This is because they are constantly mirroring each other's facial expressions, which, over time, builds muscle definition in the same areas of the face. Even couples who don't look facially similar can appear similar in a photograph because they use the same smile.

 

n 2000, psychologist Dr John Gottman of the University of Washington, Seattle, and his colleagues, discovered that marriages are more likely to fail when one partner not only does not mirror the other's expressions of happiness, but instead shows expressions of contempt. Instead, this opposite behavior affects the smiling partner, even when they are not consciously aware of what is happening.

 

Do We Resemble Our Pets?

 

You can also see mirroring occur in the pets some people choose. Without realizing it, we unconsciously tend to favor pets that physically resemble us, or that appear to reflect our attitudes. To demonstrate the point, here are a couple of examples: too far and presume that our model of body language and social interpretation applies to a dog's body language.

Be careful however not to extrapolate the metaphor too far and presume that our model of body language and social interpretation applies to a dog's body language.

 

Monkey See, Monkey Do

 

The next time you attend a social function or go to a place where people meet and interact, notice the number of people who have taken the identical gestures and posture of the person with whom they're talking. Mirroring is the way one person tells another that he is in agreement with his ideas and attitudes. One is non-verbally saying to the other, 'As you can see, I think the same as you.' The person with the highest status often makes the first moves and the others copy, usually in pecking order.

 

In the image above it is apparent by virtue of the facial expressions and other body language that there is a good rapport between the US President's wife Michelle Obama, of informally superior status, and a university president. If Michelle changes her body posture, one might expect there is a reasonably good chance the gentleman will unconsciously emulate her posture, indirectly demonstrating they are of the same mind. Mirroring happens among friends or between people of the same status and it is common to see married couples walk, stand, sit and move in identical ways. Albert Scheflen found that people who are strangers studiously avoid holding mirror positions.

 

Matching Voices

 

Intonation, voice inflection, speed of speaking and even accents also synchronize during the mirroring process to further establish mutual attitudes and build rapport. This is known as 'pacing' and it can almost seem as if the two people are singing in tune. You will often see a speaker beating time with his hands while the listener matches the rhythm with head nods. As a relationship grows over time, the mirroring of the main body language positions becomes less as each person begins to anticipate the other's attitudes, and vocal pacing with the other person becomes a main medium for maintaining rapport.

 

Never speak at a faster rate than the other person. Studies reveal that others describe feeling 'pressured' when someone speaks more quickly than they do. A person's speed of speech shows the rate at which their brain can consciously analyze information. Speak at the same rate or slightly slower than the other person and mirror their inflection and intonation. Pacing is critical when attempting to make appointments by telephone because voice is your only communication medium.

 

Intentionally Creating Rapport

 

The significance of mirroring is one of the most important body language lessons you can learn because it's a clear way in which others tell us that they agree with us or like us. It is also a way for us to tell others that we like them, by simply mirroring their body language.

 

If a boss wants to develop a rapport and create a relaxed atmosphere with a nervous employee, he could copy the employee's posture to achieve this end. Similarly, an up-and-coming employee may be seen copying his boss's gestures in an attempt to show agreement when the boss is giving his opinion. Using this knowledge, it is possible to influence others by mirroring their positive gestures and posture. This has the effect of putting the other person in a receptive and relaxed frame of mind, because he can 'see' that you understand his point of view. Before you mirror someone's body language, however, you must take into consideration your relationship with that person. Let's say, for example, a corporate employee has asked for a pay rise and is called into his manager's office. The employee enters the office, the manager asks him to sit down and assumes the Catapult with a Figure-Four showing the employee a superior, dominant attitude. But what would happen if the subordinate then instinctively copied the manager's dominant body language while discussing the potential salary increase? A boss might perceive a subordinate's mirroring behavior as being pushy or impertinent

Even if the employee's manner of speaking and phrasing was typical of a subordinate, the manager could feel affronted by the employee's body language, placing the employee's pay increase request in doubt and perhaps posing a threat to his future promotability. Mirroring is also effective for intimidating or disarming people who deem themselves 'superior' and try to take control of situations. Accountants, lawyers and managers are notorious for using superiority body language clusters around people they consider inferior. By mirroring, you can disconcert them and force a change of position. But never do it to the boss. Through mirrored multi-tasking, these business associates are taking their minds off what can seem an awkward encroachment on their personal zones.

Who Mirrors Whom?

 

Research shows that when the leader of a group assumes certain gestures and positions, subordinates will copy, usually in pecking order. Leaders also tend to be the first of a group to walk through a doorway and they like to sit on the end of a sofa, table or bench seat rather than in the center. When a group of executives walks into a room, the person with the highest status usually goes first. When executives are seated in the boardroom, the boss usually sits at the head of the table, often furthest from the door. If the boss sits in the Catapult, his subordinates are likely to copy in order of their importance within the group You can see this in a meeting where people 'take sides' with others by mirroring their body language. This lets you see who will vote with you and who will vote against you.

 

Mirroring is a good strategy to use if you are part of a presentation team. Decide, in advance, that when the team spokesperson makes a gesture or takes a posture when speaking, the entire team will mirror. This not only gives your team the powerful appearance of being cohesive, it can frighten the hell out of competitors who suspect something is up, even though they can't quite figure out what it is. When presenting ideas, products and services to couples, watching who mirrors whom reveals where the ultimate power or final decision-making ability lies. If the woman makes the initial movements, however small, such as crossing her feet, lacing her fingers or using a Critical Evaluation cluster and the man copies, there is little point in asking him for a decision - he doesn't have the authority to make it. When we rub both of our eyes simultaneously, it is as if we are telling our psyches, "I wish I never saw that", or "I can't believe he did that". We are trying to wipe it from our minds. People will also display this body language tell when recalling a past event in the "mind's eye".

Group Mirroring

 

It happens on fall season Sundays in American football stadiums around the country. Suddenly, 50,000 individuals became a single unit, almost a single mind, focused intently on what was happening on the field - that particular touchdown grab or dive into the end zone. Somehow, virtually simultaneously, each of those 50,000 people tuned into what the other 49,999 were looking at.

 

Becoming part of a crowd can be exhilarating or terrifying: The same mechanisms that make people fans can just as easily make them fanatics. And throughout human history we have constructed institutions that provide that dangerous, enthralling thrill. The Coliseum-like stadiums that host American football games or soccer games throughout the world are, after all, just modern knockoffs of the massive theater that housed Roman crowds cheering their favorite gladiators 2,000 years ago.

 

In fact, recent studies suggest that our sensitivity to crowds is built into our perceptual system and operates in a remarkably swift and automatic way. In a 2012 paper in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, A.C. Gallup, then at Princeton University, and colleagues looked at the crowds that gather in shopping centers and train stations.

 

In one study, a few ringers simply joined the crowd and stared up at a spot in the sky for 60 seconds. Then the researchers recorded and analyzed the movements of the people around them. The scientists found that within seconds hundreds of people coordinated their attention in a highly systematic way. People consistently stopped to look toward exactly the same spot as the ringers.

 

The number of ringers ranged from one to 15. People turn out to be very sensitive to how many other people are looking at something, as well as to where they look. Individuals were much more likely to follow the gaze of several people than just a few, so there was a cascade of looking as more people joined in.

 

In a study in Psychological Science, Timothy Sweeny at the University of Denver and David Whitney at the University of California, Berkeley, looked at the mechanisms that let us follow a crowd in this way. They showed people a set of four faces, each looking in a slightly different direction. Then the researchers asked people to indicate where the whole group was looking (the observers had to swivel the eyes on a face on a computer screen to match the direction of the group).

Because we combine head and eye direction in calculating a gaze, the participants couldn't tell where each face was looking by tracking either the eyes or the head alone; they had to combine the two. The subjects saw the faces for less than a quarter of a second. That's much too short a time to look at each face individually, one by one.

 

It sounds impossibly hard. If you try the experiment, you can barely be sure of what you saw at all. But in fact, people were amazingly accurate. Somehow, in that split-second, they put all the faces together and worked out the average direction where the whole group was looking.

 

In other studies, Dr. Whitney has shown that people can swiftly calculate how happy or sad a crowd is in much the same way.

 

Other social animals have dedicated brain mechanisms for coordinating their action - that's what's behind the graceful rhythms of a flock of birds or a school of fish.

 

Summary

 

Mirroring someone's body language makes them feel accepted and creates a bond and is a phenomenon that occurs naturally between friends and people of equal status. Conversely, we make a point of not mirroring those we don't like or strangers, such as those riding with us in a lift or standing in the queue at the cinema.

 

Mirroring the other person's body language and speech patterns is one of the most powerful ways to build rapport quickly. In a new meeting with someone, mirror his seating position, posture, body angle, gestures, expressions and tone of voice. Before long, they'll start to feel that there's something about you they like - they'll describe you as 'easy to be with'. This is because they see themselves reflected in you. A word of warning, however: don't do it too early in a new encounter as many people have become aware of mirroring strategies. When someone takes a position you have one of three choices - ignore it, do something else or mirror it. Mirroring pays big dividends. But never mirror a person's negative signals.

westsidetoastmasters.com/resources/book_of_body_language/...

Seen near the O2 in London on 23/01/2026 were this selection of buses and coaches not associated with the Young Voices event taking place that day.

Knee highs –The least sexy of all hosiery?

 

I always associated them with old ladies, old ladies who didn’t seem to care that the hemline of their stiff, A-line, nylon frock did not reach the upper echelons of the stocking, and who certainly didn’t care about the 3 inch long hairs poking out from their uncovered knees.

Now, I bloomin well find myself wearing them. I have sexy shoes and nice trousers…I can’t wear socks and I can’t go without socks for I don’t want all the skin to be rubbed from my feet on the walk from the tube. So, lurking underneath my sassy outfit just waiting to peep out and ruin my image are the ‘knee highs’. I spend the day dreading sudden gusts of wind, having to climb up stairs, sexy strangers stroking my legs and recoiling at what they find (ok ok I wouldn’t let a stranger feel up my leg, not before 6pm anyway), horrific accidents where paramedics have to remove my trousers in front of a horrified crowd of fashionable strangers etc etc.

 

How is it that a few inches (hopefully as illustrated above) can make such a difference; just over the knee and it suggests sexy, just under and its unkempt old lady. It’s as though knees are the ‘plimsoll line’ for the legs, “Do not allow nylons to descend below this line at any time.”

   

Hair Ice associated with the fungus Exidiopsis effusa on the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, East Sussex England

 

Focus Stacked Image, 14 image files, f11, iso100

 

The first of two early mornings in a frozen woodland, Hair Ice is very temperature and environment dependant, and the associated fungus must be present to help deliver this amazing phenomena, more on this here

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hair_ice

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