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The New York State Capitol is the capitol building of the U.S. state of New York. Housing the New York State Legislature, it is located in the state capital city Albany as part of the Empire State Plaza on State Street in Capitol Park. The building, completed in 1899 at a cost of $25 million (worth approximately half a billion current dollars), was the most expensive government building of its time.[citation needed] It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971, then included as a contributing property when the Lafayette Park Historic District was listed in 1978. The following year it was declared a National Historic Landmark
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Joaquin became a tropical storm Monday evening (EDT) midway between the Bahamas and Bermuda and has now formed into a hurricane, the 3rd of the season--the difference is Joaquin could impact the US East Coast.
GPM captured Joaquin Tuesday, September 29th at 21:39 UTC (5:39 pm EDT) as the hurricane moved slowly towards the west-southwest about 400 miles east of the northwestern Bahamas. At the time, Joaquin had been battling northerly wind shear, which was impeding the storm's ability to strengthen. However, compared to earlier in the day, the system was beginning to gain the upper hand as the shear began to relax its grip. At the time of this data visualization, Joaquin's low-level center of circulation was located further within the cloud shield, and the rain area was beginning to wrap farther around the center on the eastern side of the storm while showing signs of increased banding and curvature, a sure sign that Joaquin's circulation was intensifying. GPM shows a large area of very intense rain with rain rates ranging from around 50 to 132 mm/hr (~2 to 5 inches, shown in red and
magenta) just to the right of the center. This is a strong indication that large amounts of heat are being released into the storm's center, fueling its circulation and providing the means for its intensification. Associated with the area of intense rain is an area of tall convective towers, known as a convective burst, with tops reaching up to 16.3 km (shown in orange). These towers when located near the storm's core are a strong indication that the storm is poised to strengthen as they too reveal the release of heat into the storm.
At the time this data was taken, the National Hurricane Center reported that Joaquin's maximum sustained winds had increased to 65 mph from 40 mph earlier in the day, making Joaquin a strong tropical storm but poised to become a hurricane, which occurred this morning at 8:00 am EDT. With the inhibiting wind shear expected to continue to diminish and the system moving over warm waters, the National Hurricane Center is forecasting Joaquin to intensify further, possibly into a major hurricane within the next few days.
Credit: NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio Data provided by the joint NASA/JAXA GPM mission
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center enables NASA’s mission through four scientific endeavors: Earth Science, Heliophysics, Solar System Exploration, and Astrophysics. Goddard plays a leading role in NASA’s accomplishments by contributing compelling scientific knowledge to advance the Agency’s mission.
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I tried following a recipe for applying the Orton effect, again working with two separate exposures, one in focus, the other out. The registration is closer here.
The use of the multiply blend has contributed to the too-real primary colours here.
Maybe I should try it with two transparencies ...
Over the years I have taken close to 25,000 photos of my feminine persona. If you consider that I have posted about 3,400 here, that is less than 15% of all the photos I have in my library. Cristy is quite photogenic and 99% of the photos I take are good enough for posting so, how do I select which ones to post? Simple, I select the ones I like based on what I consider acceptable feminine deportment and appearance.
Since the beginning, my intention has been to share my feminine illusion efforts with likeminded people; not to get comments but rather to contribute to set a standard of tasteful and respectful emulation. Poise, attitude, choice of clothes and accessories, are among the factors I take into consideration. My inspiration comes from every single woman that I see and admire for her presentation and deportment. For me it is not a fetish for any item, but rather a representation of how women, my age, currently present. For instance, I don’t wear nylons because women do not wear them anymore and not because I don’t like them.
Fashion is important to me, but I select my clothes based on what I like and consider that would look good on me while reinforcing my feminine illusion. I wear mostly French manicure on my fingernails and toenails because that is what I like. You will never catch me wearing any unusual or trendy nail color or ornament, just because it is in fashion. A woman who is confident in herself wears what she likes and not what a trend sets, or others suggest. That is the kind of woman that I’d like to think I represent. I post old photos along with more current ones because it is not about how I look or what I wear today; it is about the art of feminine illusion regardless of time, fashion or whether it is the first or the Nth photo in that outfit and location.
After explaining my approach, I hope that when you look at my photos, you can see beyond what I am wearing and appreciate or criticize how I am wearing it, and how I measure in performing the feminine role based on that approach. Thanks to my approach, I have always received respectful comments and, over the years, l have deleted very few of them and have had to block less than a handful of people. I read and appreciate every single comment and even more so when they address what I had in mind when posting the photo. However, you should not feel obliged to comment unless you really feel like it and believe that you got something positive, or negative, from the photo, the title, or the text that goes with it.
From now on I will try to share why I choose the photo I am posting and will start with this one.
This photo is the first I will share of a long series of photos taken before and after my first ever religious service as Cristy (more about that in the future). In general, I’d like to think that my choice of clothes was appropriate for the occasion and that I was able to blend in, although I realized that I was a bit overdressed. A very feminine fit and flare dress with colorful flower print, by Maggie London, was, in my opinion, quite suitable, as were the Kate Spade flats that completed the look for Church. Nothing flashy or revealing here, as it should be. This dress would look great with a pair of heels too but would not be appropriate for attending Catholic Mass. For the pose I tried to be as demure as possible with my hands resting on my lap and my legs crossed in a very feminine manner with my feet pointing down (something that I find hard to do because my articulations are quite rigid).
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A través de los años, he acumulado casi 25,000 fotos de mí personificación femenina.Si consideramos que he compartido aquí cerca de 3,400, esto es menos del 15% de todas las fotos que tengo en mi colección. Cristy es bastante fotogénica y el 99% de las fotos son suficientemente buenas para compartir. ¿Cuál, entonces, es el criterio que uso para elegir las que comparto? Sencillo, elijo las que más me gustan con base a lo que considero una apariencia y presentación femenina aceptables.
Desde el inicio, mi intención ha sido compartir mis esfuerzos en ilusión femenina con personas como yo; no para obtener comentarios sino para contribuir a establecer un estándar de emulación femenina respetuoso y de buen gusto. Postura, actitud, elección de ropa y accesorios, son, entre otros, los factores que tomo en consideración. Mi inspiración viene de cada mujer que veo y admiro por su presentación y desenvolvimiento. Para mi no se trata de un fetichismo por algún tipo de prenda, sino que de una representación de cómo una mujer, de mi edad, luce en estos tiempos. Por ejemplo, no uso medias porque las mujeres ya no las usan y no porque no me guste usarlas.
La moda es importante para mí, pero elijo la ropa con base a lo que me gusta y considero que se vería bien en mí y que contribuya a reforzar la ilusión femenina. Por lo general uso esmalte de uñas en estilo francés porque es lo que me gusta. Jamás verán mis uñas pintadas don los colores drásticos que están de moda, con distintos adornos y colores en cada uña, solo porque está de moda. Una mujer segura de sí misma se viste como ella quiere y no como lo dicta la moda o le sugieren otras personas. Este es el tipo de mujer que quisiera pensar que represento. Subo fotos viejas junto con recientes porque no se trata de compartir cómo luzco hoy o qué llevo puesto, sino que se trata de emulación femenina sin importar la fecha, la moda o si es la primera o enésima foto con esa ropa y en ese lugar.
Luego de exponerles mi enfoque, espero que al ver mis fotos puedan ver más allá de lo que llevo puesto y aprecien o critiquen la manera en que lo llevo puesto y que tan bien logro mi objetivo en desempeñar el rol femenino, con base a este enfoque. Gracias a este enfoque, siempre he recibido comentarios respetuosos y, a través de los años, he tenido que borrar muy pocos y he bloqueado a menos de 5 personas. He leído y apreciado cada comentario recibido y más aún cuando se relacionan con lo que tenía en mente al compartir la foto. Sin embargo, no tienen por qué sentir el compromiso de comentar a no ser que realmente piensen que obtuvieron algo positivo, o negativo, de la foto, del título o del texto que la acompaña.
en adelante intentaré compartir los motivos por los cuales elegí compartir la foto que subo y empezaré con esta.
Esta foto es la primera que compartiré de muchas que me tomaron antes y después de mi primer servicio religioso como Cristy (y ales contaré más en el futuro). En general, quisiera pensar que mi elección de ropa fue adecuado para la ocasión y que pude integrarme al entorno. El vestido muy femenino, ceñido arriba, falda amplia y estampado floral (Maggie London) era muy adecuado en mi opinión, así como las zapatillas sin tacón de Kate Spade que completaban el look para asistir a la iglesia. Nada llamativo o revelador, como debe de ser. Este vestido se vería muy bien con tacones pero no habría sido apropiado para asistir a la misa Católica. En cuanto a la pose, intenté lucir relajada con mis manos sobre el regazo las piernas cruzadas en forma femenina y sencilla, mientras intento apuntar mis pies hacia abajo (algo que me cuesta mucho porque mis articulaciones son muy rígidas)
L’asbl Solidarité Fraiture a réalisé la 11e biennale d’art contemporain. L’exposition Mobil’Art 2024 s’est déroulée du 24/05 au 14/06/2024.
Près de 300 peintures et sculptures ont été exposées.
63 artistes présentent chacun 3 à 5 œuvres (en fonction du format des pièces présentées) parmi leurs créations récentes.
Toutes les ventes contribuent à alimenter un fonds qui aide des personnes atteintes de la sclérose en plaques.
The non-profit organization Solidarité Fraiture organized the 11th contemporary art biennial. The Mobil’Art 2024 exhibition took place from 05/24 to 06/14/2024.
Nearly 300 paintings and sculptures were exhibited.
63 artists each presented 3 to 5 works (depending on the format of the pieces presented) among their recent creations.
All sales contribute to a fund that helps people with multiple sclerosis.
Wilkes-Barre was settled in 1769 and reached the height of its prosperity in the 19th century when coal reserves were discovered nearby. This discovery led to the city being nicknamed “The Diamond City”.
Petersburg Old Town Historic District is a national historic district located at Petersburg, Virginia. The district includes 174 contributing buildings located in the oldest section of Petersburg. It includes a varied collection of late 18th- through 20th-century architecture. Wikipedia
You can purchase this photo on Getty Images
I could write nice descriptions about buildings like the Chrysler Building and the Empire State Building, seen here from Top of the Rock atop the GE Building, but everyone is probably familiar with these famous landmarks. What about those other buildings?
The Fred F. French Building is a 38-story skyscraper on the northeast corner of 45th Street at 551 Fifth Avenue, Manhattan, New York City. Current tenants include ABM Industries and Richland Equity Resources Corp. DBA The Richland Group. It was erected in 1927 with a striking art deco facade contributing significantly to the international reputation of Fifth Avenue. The building measures approximately 430,000 rentable square feet and is currently owned by The Feil Organization. It is used primarily as an office building and also houses classrooms of Pace University. The building is one of the better known projects of the real estate developer Frederick Fillmore French. The lead architects were H. Douglas Ives and Sloan & Robertston. The National Register of Historic Places listed the building in January 2004.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred F. French Building
10 East 40th Street or the Mercantile Building is a skyscraper located in the Murray Hill section of New York City, between Fifth Avenue and Madison Avenue, taking the width of the block between 39th and 40th streets. Designed by Ludlow & Peabody and built by Jesse H. Jones, it was finished in 1929 and is considered part of the art deco school of architecture. When it was built, it was the fourth-tallest tower in the world. It was previously known as the Chase Tower, after its first tenant, Chase Brass & Copper. Its owner until his death in 1938 was Frederick William Vanderbilt. On November 14, 2007, the building became the final site to be removed from Thomas Edison's original direct current grid in New York City. Today, some refer to the building as "the Napa Building", a reference to its long-time tenant Napa Group, Inc.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercantile Building
The Chanin Building is a brick and terra-cotta skyscraper located at 122 East 42nd Street, at the corner of Lexington Avenue, in Manhattan. Built by Irwin S. Chanin in 1929, it is 56 stories high, reaching 197.8 metres (649 ft) excluding the spire and 207.3 metres (680 ft) including it. It was designed by Sloan & Robertson in the Art Deco style, with the assistance of Chanin's own architect Jacques Delamarre, and it incorporates architectural sculpture by Rene Paul Chambellan. The tower rises 22 stories and then thins into a series of setbacks, reaching a total of 56 floors. When originally completed, the 50th floor had a silver-and-black high-brow movie theater. This floor and the 51st are now offices joined by a stairwell instead. Initially a dominant landmark in the midtown skyline, the building had an open-air observatory on the 54th floor. Having been surpassed in height by a number of buildings, most notably the Chrysler Building located across the street, the observatory has been long closed.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chanin Building
The Lincoln Building (now known as One Grand Central Place) is an office building located at 60 East 42nd Street in New York City, opposite Grand Central Terminal. It was completed in 1930. The architect was James Edwin Ruthven Carpenter, Jr. It is 673 feet (205 meters) tall with 53 stories and built in neo-gothic style. Although dwarfed by other buildings in the area, notably the Chrysler Building and MetLife Building, the Lincoln has a number of interesting features, including gothic windows at the top, the lobby, and the bronze model by Daniel Chester French of Abraham Lincoln for the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. (after renaming of the building in 2009, the model was removed). It is currently tied with the Barclay Tower for the 49th tallest building in New York City.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln Building (42nd Street, Manhattan)
500 Fifth Avenue is a 60-floor, 697-foot (212 m) art deco office tower in Manhattan, New York City, standing at West 42nd Street. Built by Walter J. Salmon, Sr., it is adjacent to Bryant Park and is next door to the Salmon Tower Building, also built by Salmon, Sr. Like the Empire State Building, it was completed in 1931 and designed by Shreve Lamb & Harmon Associates.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/500 Fifth Avenue
The MetLife Building, originally called the Pan Am Building, is a skyscraper located at 200 Park Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. It is a recognizable part of the Manhattan skyline and one of the fifty tallest buildings in the United States. When it opened on March 7, 1963 the Pan Am Building (as it was known at the time) was the largest commercial office space in the world. It faced huge initial unpopularity, being described as an "ugly behemoth", due to its lack of proportion and huge scale—it dwarfed the New York Central Building to the north and the Grand Central Terminal to the south. The last tall tower erected in New York City before laws were enacted preventing corporate logos and names on the tops of buildings, it bore 15' tall "Pan Am" displays on its north and south faces and 25' tall globe logos east and west. Pan Am originally occupied 15 floors of the building. It remained Pan Am's headquarters even after Metropolitan Life Insurance Company bought the building in 1981. By 1991 Pan Am's presence had dwindled to four floors; during that year Pan Am moved its headquarters to Miami. Designed by Emery Roth & Sons with the assistance of Walter Gropius and Pietro Belluschi, the Pan Am Building is an example of an International style skyscraper. It is purely commercial in design with large floors, simple massing, with an absence of ornamentation inside and out. It has been popular with tenants, not least because of its location next to Grand Central Terminal. In 1987, the lifestyle periodical New York revealed in a poll that MetLife—then Pan Am—was the building that New Yorkers would most like to see demolished. Perhaps contributing to the hatred of the building is the fact that it is so visible. Situated behind Grand Central Terminal outside of the grid, the building, which would have otherwise been tucked away into the city, is left totally exposed and contrasted with the other buildings around it, most notably the New York Central Building, which is now called the Helmsley Building. Today the building is one of the most recognizable skyscrapers in the City.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MetLife Building
The Sperry & Hutchinson Building is the home of S&H Green Stamps. The Kahn & Jacobs building dates to 1964; replaced the Manhattan Hotel as well as the National City Bank. The Manhattan Hotel was where Sigmund Freud stayed in August 1909 on his only visit to the United States. In May 1916, Sen. Warren G. Harding began his affair with Nan Britton here--a relationship that continued after Harding was elected president. A Citibank branch is now on the ground floor.
wikimapia.org/21929773/Sperry & Hutchinson Building
This building (HSBC Tower) is amongst the most expensive, on a per-foot basis, in the city's history. The building was originally planned as part of a project consisting of two identical towers facing one another on either side of the avenue to create a major gateway to lower Fifth Avenue. The building incorporates the new tower to three pre-existing buildings, one of which served as the original headquarters for Republic National Bank of New York.
wikimapia.org/#lat=40.7531955&lon=-73.9787031&z=1...
Built in 1913 as the Biltmore Hotel, the 29-story landmark hotel was gutted down to its steel skeleton between 1981 and 1984 and rebuilt as a modern glass office tower (335 Madison Avenue). The famous Biltmore clock was retained in the building's new atrium lobby. It was known for some time as Bank of America Plaza.
wikimapia.org/730755/335 Madison Avenue
The building (W.R. Grace Building) was designed principally by Gordon Bunshaft, and completed in 1974. The building was commissioned by the W.R. Grace Company, and was also used by the Deloitte & Touche, LLP, formerly Deloitte Haskins & Sells. The building is located at 1114 Avenue of the Americas (also known as Sixth Avenue), but the main entrance is on 42nd Street, between 5th and 6th. It overlooks Bryant Park and the New York Public Library. The building size is approximately 1,518,000 rentable square feet, and sits on a site approximately 100 x 442 feet (67,875 square feet). The ownership is currently Brookfield Financial Properties, LP. The exterior of the building is covered in white travertine, which forms a contrast against the black windows and makes the building appear brighter than those surrounding it.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W.R. Grace Building
Designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, 300 Madison Avenue is located in the heart of Midtown Manhattan, one block west of Grand Central Terminal. An elevated, spacious lobby features a striking eight-story glass atrium ascending above the building's main entrance at the corner of 42nd Street and Madison Avenue. The building also features an auditorium and dining facilities on the expansive lower levels, and is home to PricewaterhouseCoopers and The Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce.
wikimapia.org/11219062/300 Madison Avenue
505 Fifth Avenue, a new office tower in Manhattan, New York, USA, was occupied in the first quarter of 2006. Construction of the tower began in 2004 and was completed late in 2005. The Kipp-Stawski Group was the developer for the project and Kohn Pederson Fox Associates (KPF) was the official architect. During the planning stage, designers focused particularly on the views from the building. The columns were kept away from the perimeter of the tower and the main façade was designed to provide undisturbed viewing from the building. A higher quality of concrete was used to reduce the column sizes of the towers and increase office space.
www.designbuild-network.com/projects/505/
The Setai, or 400 Fifth Avenue, is a hotel and skyscraper located in New York City. Constructed in 2010, it is 631 feet (192 meters) tall, with 57 stories. It is the 64th tallest building in New York City. The tower is located at 400 Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. The building has a secondary purpose as a residential condominium. 400 Fifth Avenue was constructed using limestone in the 11-floor base in a somewhat art deco style. Floors five through 27 contain a 214-room hotel, and floors 28 through 56 are residential condominiums.
Contributed to Caroline Penris' AUTOFOCUS project, www.facebook.com/autofocusnl/photos_stream, iPhone 4S with 645 Pro App
- A. P. J. Abdul Kalam.
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Recently, I have had some time and opportunity to brush up on some of my photoshop skills and I decided to go over some of the old shots to see if there are photos that were left without processing. While processing, I sometimes discard images that don’t look natural and usually it's my limited abilities with photoshop that is to blame. So since I learned some new skills, I visited some of my old shots and some of them turned out really good.
This is an old shot from Joshua Tree National Park. This is one of the first National parks we visited after moving to the west coast. This shot was taken at Dante's peak with the smoke from the wildfires in nearby areas contributing to some color. This shot is a combination of about three images that were exposed for dark, mid and high tones and then blended together using luminosity masks. I tried HDR on this shot but the added noise and the garish colors that resulted from HDR never satisfied me. But, now I believe this photo truly depicts what we experienced, and I am proud to post it on Flickr.
Caught between ocean and mountains, the city of Vancouver's most obvious growth direction was up; living there in the 1970s and '80s, I witnessed a major transformation in the look and feel of the city. I began to understand that it was time for me to move on.
After scanning this old Kodachrome, I pushed it through some HDR software, just for fun. The limitations of a desktop scanner are obvious in the flare that shows up in places, a sort of light bleed that I decided to leave untouched because it seemed to contribute to the surreal quality of the image.
I made the original shot from the Burrard Bridge, with a 200 mm lens, composing tightly. Most of my early Vancouver shots show the city in context, with its spectacular mountain backdrop. isolate the glass and concrete, though, and it could be anyplace where people live stacked in layers. I've always had a jaded eye when it comes to urban environments.
Photographed in Vancouver, BC (Canada); scanned from the original Kodachrome 64 slide. Don't use this image on websites, blogs, or other media without explicit permission © 1978 James R. Page - all rights reserved.
Description:
The Ring Nebula (also catalogued as Messier 57, M57 or NGC 6720) is a planetary nebula in the mildly northern constellation of Lyra. Such nebulae are formed by a starburst – ionized gas has expelled into the surrounding interstellar medium by a star to form a vast luminous envelope containing the star in its last stages of its evolution before becoming a white dwarf.
This nebula was discovered by the French astronomer Charles Messier while searching for comets in late January 1779. Messier's report of his independent discovery of Comet Bode reached fellow French astronomer Antoine Darquier de Pellepoix two weeks later, who then independently rediscovered the nebula while following the comet. Darquier later reported that it was "...as large as Jupiter and resembles a planet which is fading" (which may have contributed to the use of the persistent "planetary nebula" terminology).
(Wikipedia.org)
Technical Information for This Image:
Site: Landers, CA, USA Bortle 4
Telescope: TPO Ritchey-Chretien 6 inch with a FL 1370mm.
Guide Scope: Orion 50mm FL 242mm
Guide Camera: ZWO ASI183MC
Mount: SkyWatcher EQ6-R Pro
Main camera: ASI294MC PRO cooled to -5C. Exposures: 98 x 35s with Gain at 120, Bin 2 x 2
No darks, flats or bias frames.
Guiding Software: PHD 2
Post Processing: PixInsight
Polar Alignment: SharpCap Pro.
Would you like to contribute your articles or writings?
Suggestions for submittal.
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4. Personality Profile: This type of article revolves around a person’s TG or CD life and accomplishments. Based on an interview, you provide an in-depth look at her life, including early beginnings, significant life events, accomplishments, quirks, faults, character, and strengths.
5. Trend: Our community is always changing for the better. Writings about these directions with helpful current insight into what you feel is beneficial to us.
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When I was invited to contribute a MOC to the Comic Bricks art show at DesignerCon 2014, I knew instantly what comic I'd use. I read this ravenously as a kid, and holding it again was a genuine pleasure. Took three days, but it's finally done!
I pretentiously blogged myself too, what an egomaniac bricknerd.com/home/star-wars-1-6-2014
UPDATE: Someone actually purchased this at the show. It was mine for only a day. I have mixed feelings.
The ACR SD40/40-2's worked ore trains and freights between Sault Ste. Marie and Hawk Junction and also the Michipicoten Branch from Hawk Junction through Wawa and down to the harbor. While good running units and strong pullers the big SD's were kept off the lighter rail and bridges of the Northern Division north of Hawk. They also contributed to heavy rail wear on the curve and grade infested line south of Hawk. This lead to the ACR buying GP38-2's and a pair of GP40 rebuilds for there last locomotive purchases. This trio of SD's , 183, 182 and 186 has worked the northbound freight and now is tied up at Hawk Junction awaiting a rested crew and then will be heading the southbound ore train to Sault Ste. Marie on May 1, 1983. In typical for the time ACR action the freight arrived at daybreak and the crew will rest all day before leaving at dusk on the southbound.
The Mithraic Mysteries were a mystery religion practised in the Roman Empire from about the 1st to 4th centuries AD. The name of the Persian god Mithra (proto-Indo-Iranian Mitra), adapted into Greek as Mithras, was linked to a new and distinctive imagery. Writers of the Roman Empire period referred to this mystery religion by phrases which can be anglicized as Mysteries of Mithras or Mysteries of the Persians; modern historians refer to it as Mithraism,[1] or sometimes Roman Mithraism.The mysteries were popular in the Roman military.
Worshippers of Mithras had a complex system of seven grades of initiation, with ritual meals. Initiates called themselves syndexioi, those "united by the handshake".They met in underground temples (called mithraea), which survive in large numbers. The cult appears to have had its centre in Rome.
Numerous archaeological finds, including meeting places, monuments and artifacts, have contributed to modern knowledge about Mithraism throughout the Roman Empire.The iconic scenes of Mithras show him being born from a rock, slaughtering a bull, and sharing a banquet with the god Sol (the Sun). About 420 sites have yielded materials related to the cult. Among the items found are about 1000 inscriptions, 700 examples of the bull-killing scene (tauroctony), and about 400 other monuments.[9] It has been estimated that there would have been at least 680 mithraea in Rome.[10] No written narratives or theology from the religion survive, with limited information to be derived from the inscriptions, and only brief or passing references in Greek and Latin literature. Interpretation of the physical evidence remains problematic and contested.
The Romans regarded the mysteries as having Persian or Zoroastrian sources. Since the early 1970s the dominant scholarship has noted dissimilarities between Persian Mithra-worship and the Roman Mithraic mysteries. In this context, Mithraism has sometimes been viewed as a rival of early Christianity with similarities such as liberator-saviour, hierarchy of adepts (archbishops, bishops, priests), communal meal and a hard struggle of Good and Evil (bull-killing/crucifixion).The name Mithras (Latin, equivalent to Greek “Μίθρας” is a form of Mithra, the name of an Old Persian god– a relationship understood by Mithraic scholars since the days of Franz Cumont. An early example of the Greek form of the name is in a 4th century BC work by Xenophon, the Cyropaedia, which is a biography of the Persian king Cyrus the Great.
The exact form of a Latin or classical Greek word varies due to the grammatical process of declension. There is archeological evidence that in Latin worshippers wrote the nominative form of the god’s name as “Mithras”. However, in Porphyry’s Greek text De Abstinentia («Περὶ ἀποχῆς ἐμψύχων»), there is a reference to the now-lost histories of the Mithraic mysteries by Euboulus and Pallas, the wording of which suggests that these authors treated the name “Mithra” as an indeclinable foreign word.
Related deity-names in other languages include
Sanskrit Mitra (मित्रः), the name of a god praised in the Rig Veda.In Sanskrit, "mitra" means "friend" or "friendship"
the form mi-it-ra-, found in an inscribed peace treaty between the Hittites and the kingdom of Mitanni, from about 1400 BC.
Iranian "Mithra" and Sanskrit "Mitra" are believed to come from an Indo-Iranian word mitra meaning "contract, agreement, covenant".
Modern historians have different conceptions about whether these names refer to the same god or not. John R. Hinnells has written of Mitra / Mithra / Mithras as a single deity worshipped in several different religions. On the other hand, David Ulansey considers the bull-slaying Mithras to be a new god who began to be worshipped in the 1st century BC, and to whom an old name was applied.
Mary Boyce, a researcher of ancient Iranian religions, writes that even though Roman Empire Mithraism seems to have had less Iranian content than historians used to think, still "as the name Mithras alone shows, this content was of some importance.Much about the cult of Mithras is only known from reliefs and sculptures. There have been many attempts to interpret this material.
Mithras-worship in the Roman Empire was characterized by images of the god slaughtering a bull. Other images of Mithras are found in the Roman temples, for instance Mithras banqueting with Sol, and depictions of the birth of Mithras from a rock. But the image of bull-slaying (tauroctony) is always in the central niche.Textual sources for a reconstruction of the theology behind this iconography are very rare. (See section Interpretations of the bull-slaying scene below.)
The practice of depicting the god slaying a bull seems to be specific to Roman Mithraism. According to David Ulansey, this is "perhaps the most important example" of evident difference between Iranian and Roman traditions: "... there is no evidence that the Iranian god Mithra ever had anything to do with killing a bull."n every Mithraeum the centrepiece was a representation of Mithras killing a sacred bull, called the tauroctony.
The image may be a relief, or free-standing, and side details may be present or omitted. The centre-piece is Mithras clothed in Anatolian costume and wearing a Phrygian cap; who is kneeling on the exhausted bull, holding it by the nostrils[33] with his left hand, and stabbing it with his right. As he does so, he looks over his shoulder towards the figure of Sol. A dog and a snake reach up towards the blood. A scorpion seizes the bull's genitals. A raven is flying around or is sitting on the bull. Three ears of wheat are seen coming out from the bull's tail, sometimes from the wound. The bull was often white. The god is sitting on the bull in an unnatural way with his right leg constraining the bull's hoof and the left leg is bent and resting on the bull's back or flank.[34] The two torch-bearers are on either side, dressed like Mithras, Cautes with his torch pointing up and Cautopates with his torch pointing down. Sometimes Cautes and Cautopates carry shepherds' crooks instead of torches.
Tauroctony from the Kunsthistorisches Museum
The event takes place in a cavern, into which Mithras has carried the bull, after having hunted it, ridden it and overwhelmed its strength.[38] Sometimes the cavern is surrounded by a circle, on which the twelve signs of the zodiac appear. Outside the cavern, top left, is Sol the sun, with his flaming crown, often driving a quadriga. A ray of light often reaches down to touch Mithras. At the top right is Luna, with her crescent moon, who may be depicted driving a biga.[39]
In some depictions, the central tauroctony is framed by a series of subsidiary scenes to the left, top and right, illustrating events in the Mithras narrative; Mithras being born from the rock, the water miracle, the hunting and riding of the bull, meeting Sol who kneels to him, shaking hands with Sol and sharing a meal of bull-parts with him, and ascending to the heavens in a chariot.[39] In some instances, as is the case in the stucco icon at Santa Prisca mithraeum, the god is shown heroically nude. Some of these reliefs were constructed so that they could be turned on an axis. On the back side was another, more elaborate feasting scene. This indicates that the bull killing scene was used in the first part of the celebration, then the relief was turned, and the second scene was used in the second part of the celebration.Besides the main cult icon, a number of mithraea had several secondary tauroctonies, and some small portable versions, probably meant for private devotion, have also been found.[The second most important scene after the tauroctony in Mithraic art is the so-called banquet scene.The banquet scene features Mithras and the Sun god banqueting on the hide of the slaughtered bull. On the specific banquet scene on the Fiano Romano relief, one of the torchbearers points a caduceus towards the base of an altar, where flames appear to spring up. Robert Turcan has argued that since the caduceus is an attribute of Mercury, and in mythology Mercury is depicted as a psychopomp, the eliciting of flames in this scene is referring to the dispatch of human souls and expressing the Mithraic doctrine on this matter. Turcan also connects this event to the tauroctony: the blood of the slain bull has soaked the ground at the base of the altar, and from the blood the souls are elicited in flames by the caduceus.Mithras is depicted as being born from a rock. He is shown as emerging from a rock, already in his youth, with a dagger in one hand and a torch in the other. He is nude, standing with his legs together, and is wearing a Phrygian cap.
However, there are variations. Sometimes he is shown as coming out of the rock as a child, and in one instance he has a globe in one hand; sometimes a thunderbolt is seen. There are also depictions in which flames are shooting from the rock and also from Mithras' cap. One statue had its base perforated so that it could serve as a fountain, and the base of another has the mask of the water god. Sometimes Mithras also has other weapons such as bows and arrows, and there are also animals such as dogs, serpents, dolphins, eagles, other birds, lion, crocodiles, lobsters and snails around. On some reliefs, there is a bearded figure identified as Oceanus, the water god, and on some there are the gods of the four winds. In these reliefs, the four elements could be invoked together. Sometimes Victoria, Luna, Sol and Saturn also seem to play a role. Saturn in particular is often seen handing over the dagger to Mithras so that he can perform his mighty deeds.
In some depictions, Cautes and Cautopates are also present; sometimes they are depicted as shepherds.
On some occasions, an amphora is seen, and a few instances show variations like an egg birth or a tree birth. Some interpretations show that the birth of Mithras was celebrated by lighting torches or candles.[One of the most characteristic features of the Mysteries is the naked lion-headed figure often found in Mithraic temples, named by the modern scholars with descriptive terms such as leontocephaline (lion-headed) or leontocephalus (lion-head). He is entwined by a serpent (or two serpents, like a caduceus), with the snake's head often resting on the lion's head. The lion's mouth is often open, giving a horrifying impression. He is usually represented as having four wings, two keys (sometimes a single key), and a scepter in his hand. Sometimes the figure is standing on a globe inscribed with a diagonal cross. In the figure shown here, the four wings carry the symbols of the four seasons, and a thunderbolt is engraved on the breast. At the base of the statue are the hammer and tongs of Vulcan, the cock, and the wand of Mercury. A more scarcely represented variant of the figure with a human head is also found.
Although animal-headed figures are prevalent in contemporary Egyptian and Gnostic mythological representations, an exact parallel to the Mithraic leontocephaline figure is not found.
The name of the figure has been deciphered from dedicatory inscriptions to be Arimanius (though the archeological evidence is not very strong), which is nominally the equivalent of Ahriman, a demon figure in the Zoroastrian pantheon. Arimanius is known from inscriptions to have been a god in the Mithraic cult (CIMRM 222 from Ostia, 369 from Rome, 1773 and 1775 from Pannonia).
While some scholars identify the lion-man as Aion (or Zurvan, or Cronus) others assert that it is Ahriman.[51] There is also speculation that the figure is the Gnostic demiurge, (Ariel) Ialdabaoth. Although the exact identity of the lion-headed figure is debated by scholars, it is largely agreed that the god is associated with time and seasonal change.[53] An occultist, D. J.Cooper, speculates to the contrary that the lion-headed figure is not a god, but rather represents the spiritual state achieved in Mithraism's "adept" level, the Leo (lion) degree. Rituals and worship[edit]
According to M. J. Vermaseren, the Mithraic New Year and the birthday of Mithras was on December 25. However, Beck disagrees strongly.Clauss states: "the Mithraic Mysteries had no public ceremonies of its own. The festival of natalis Invicti [Birth of the Unconquerable (Sun)], held on 25 December, was a general festival of the Sun, and by no means specific to the Mysteries of Mithras." Mithraic initiates were required to swear an oath of secrecy and dedication, and some grade rituals involved the recital of a catechism, wherein the initiate was asked a series of questions pertaining to the initiation symbolism and had to reply with specific answers. An example of such a catechism, apparently pertaining to the Leo grade, was discovered in a fragmentary Egyptian papyrus (P.Berolinensis 21196),and reads:
... He will say: 'Where ... ?
... he is/(you are?) there (then/thereupon?) at a loss?' Say: ... Say: 'Night'. He will say: 'Where ... ?' ... Say: 'All things ...' (He will say): '... you are called ... ?' Say: 'Because of the summery ...' ... having become ... he/it has the fiery ... (He will say): '... did you receive/inherit?' Say: 'In a pit'. He will say: 'Where is your ...?... (Say): '...(in the...) Leonteion.' He will say: 'Will you gird?' The (heavenly?) ...(Say): '... death'. He will say: 'Why, having girded yourself, ...?' '... this (has?) four tassels. Very sharp and ... '... much'. He will say: ...? (Say: '... because of/through?) hot and cold'. He will say: ...? (Say): '... red ... linen'. He will say: 'Why?' Say: '... red border; the linen, however, ...' (He will say): '... has been wrapped?' Say: 'The savior's ...' He will say: 'Who is the father?' Say: 'The one who (begets?) everything ...' (He will say): '('How ?)... did you become a Leo?' Say: 'By the ... of the father'. ... Say: 'Drink and food'. He will say '...?'
'... in the seven-...
Almost no Mithraic scripture or first-hand account of its highly secret rituals survives;with the exception of the aforementioned oath and catechism, and the document known as the Mithras Liturgy, from 4th century Egypt, whose status as a Mithraist text has been questioned by scholars including Franz Cumont. The walls of Mithraea were commonly whitewashed, and where this survives it tends to carry extensive repositories of graffiti; and these, together with inscriptions on Mithraic monuments, form the main source for Mithraic texts.
Nevertheless, it is clear from the archeology of numerous Mithraea that most rituals were associated with feasting – as eating utensils and food residues are almost invariably found. These tend to include both animal bones and also very large quantities of fruit residues.The presence of large amounts of cherry-stones in particular would tend to confirm mid-summer (late June, early July) as a season especially associated with Mithraic festivities. The Virunum album, in the form of an inscribed bronze plaque, records a Mithraic festival of commemoration as taking place on 26 June 184. Beck argues that religious celebrations on this date are indicative of special significance being given to the Summer solstice; but this time of the year coincides with ancient recognition of the solar maximum at midsummer, whilst iconographically identical holidays such as Litha, St John's Eve, and Jāņi are observed also.
For their feasts, Mithraic initiates reclined on stone benches arranged along the longer sides of the Mithraeum – typically there might be room for 15 to 30 diners, but very rarely many more than 40 men. Counterpart dining rooms, or triclinia, were to be found above ground in the precincts of almost any temple or religious sanctuary in the Roman empire, and such rooms were commonly used for their regular feasts by Roman 'clubs', or collegia. Mithraic feasts probably performed a very similar function for Mithraists as the collegia did for those entitled to join them; indeed, since qualification for Roman collegia tended to be restricted to particular families, localities or traditional trades, Mithraism may have functioned in part as providing clubs for the unclubbed.However, the size of the Mithraeum is not necessarily an indication of the size of the congregation.
Each Mithraeum had several altars at the further end, underneath the representation of the tauroctony, and also commonly contained considerable numbers of subsidiary altars, both in the main Mithraeum chamber and in the ante-chamber or narthex.[68] These altars, which are of the standard Roman pattern, each carry a named dedicatory inscription from a particular initiate, who dedicated the altar to Mithras "in fulfillment of his vow", in gratitude for favours received. Burned residues of animal entrails are commonly found on the main altars indicating regular sacrificial use. However, Mithraea do not commonly appear to have been provided with facilities for ritual slaughter of sacrificial animals (a highly specialised function in Roman religion), and it may be presumed that a Mithraeum would have made arrangements for this service to be provided for them in co-operation with the professional victimarius of the civic cult. Prayers were addressed to the Sun three times a day, and Sunday was especially sacred.
It is doubtful whether Mithraism had a monolithic and internally consistent doctrine. It may have varied from location to location. However, the iconography is relatively coherent. It had no predominant sanctuary or cultic centre; and, although each Mithraeum had its own officers and functionaries, there was no central supervisory authority. In some Mithraea, such as that at Dura Europos, wall paintings depict prophets carrying scrolls,but no named Mithraic sages are known, nor does any reference give the title of any Mithraic scripture or teaching. It is known that intitates could transfer with their grades from one Mithraeum to another.
Mithraeum
See also: Mithraeum
A mithraeum found in the ruins of Ostia Antica, Italy
Temples of Mithras are sunk below ground, windowless, and very distinctive. In cities, the basement of an apartment block might be converted; elsewhere they might be excavated and vaulted over, or converted from a natural cave. Mithraic temples are common in the empire; although unevenly distributed, with considerable numbers found in Rome, Ostia, Numidia, Dalmatia, Britain and along the Rhine/Danube frontier; while being somewhat less common in Greece, Egypt, and Syria.According to Walter Burkert, the secret character of Mithriac rituals meant that Mithraism could only be practiced within a Mithraeum.Some new finds at Tienen show evidence of large-scale feasting and suggest that the mystery religion may not have been as secretive as was generally believed.
For the most part, Mithraea tend to be small, externally undistinguished, and cheaply constructed; the cult generally preferring to create a new centre rather than expand an existing one. The Mithraeum represented the cave to which Mithras carried and then killed the bull; and where stone vaulting could not be afforded, the effect would be imitated with lath and plaster. They are commonly located close to springs or streams; fresh water appears to have been required for some Mithraic rituals, and a basin is often incorporated into the structure. There is usually a narthex or ante-chamber at the entrance, and often other ancillary rooms for storage and the preparation of food. The extant mithraea present us with actual physical remains of the architectural structures of the sacred spaces of the Mithraic cult. Mithraeum is a modern coinage and mithraists referred to their sacred structures as speleum or antrum (cave), crypta (underground hallway or corridor), fanum (sacred or holy place), or even templum (a temple or a sacred space).
In their basic form, mithraea were entirely different from the temples and shrines of other cults. In the standard pattern of Roman religious precincts, the temple building functioned as a house for the god, who was intended to be able to view through the opened doors and columnar portico, sacrificial worship being offered on an altar set in an open courtyard; potentially accessible not only to initiates of the cult, but also to colitores or non-initiated worshippers.Mithraea were the antithesis of this.
Degrees of initiation
In the Suda under the entry "Mithras", it states that "no one was permitted to be initiated into them (the mysteries of Mithras), until he should show himself holy and steadfast by undergoing several graduated tests."Gregory Nazianzen refers to the "tests in the mysteries of Mithras".
There were seven grades of initiation into the mysteries of Mithras, which are listed by St. Jerome.Manfred Clauss states that the number of grades, seven, must be connected to the planets. A mosaic in the Ostia Mithraeum of Felicissimus depicts these grades, with symbolic emblems that are connected either to the grades or are just symbols of the planets. The grades also have an inscription beside them commending each grade into the protection of the different planetary gods. In ascending order of importance, the initiatory grades were:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mithraic_mysteries
In the Mithraic ceremonies, there were seven degrees of initiations: Corax (Raven), Nymphus (Bridegroom), Miles (Soldier), Leo (Lion), Perses (Persian),Heliodromus (Courier of the Sun), and Pater (Father). Those in the lowest ranks, certainly the Corax, were the servants of the community during the sacred meal of bread and water that formed part of the rite.
The area where the concentration of evidence for Mithraism is the most dense is the capital, Rome, and her port city, Ostia. There are eight extant mithraea in Rome of as many as seven hundred (Coarelli 1979) and eighteen in Ostia. In addition to the actual mithraea, there are approximately three hundred other mithraic monuments from Rome and about one hundred from Ostia. This body of evidence reveals that Mithraism in Rome and Ostia originally appealed to the same social strata as it did in the frontier regions. The evidence also indicates that at least some inhabitants knew about Mithraism as early as the late first century CE, but that the cult did not enjoy a wide membership in either location until the middle of the second century CE.
As the cult in Rome became more popular, it seems to have "trickled up" the social ladder, with the result that Mithraism could count several senators from prominent aristocratic families among its adherents by the fourth century CE. Some of these men were initiates in several cults imported from the eastern empire (including those of Magna Mater and Attis, Isis, Serapis, Jupiter Dolichenus, Hecate, and Liber Pater, among others), and most had held priesthoods in official Roman cults. The devotion of these men to Mithraism reflects a fourth-century "resurgence of paganism," when many of these imported cults and even official Roman state religion experienced a surge in popularity although, and perhaps because, their very existence was increasingly threatened by the rapid spread of Christianity after the conversion of the emperor Constantine in 313 CE.
global.britannica.com/topic/heliodromus
Mithraism had a wide following from the middle of the second century to the late fourth century CE, but the common belief that Mithraism was the prime competitor of Christianity, promulgated by Ernst Renan (Renan 1882 579), is blatantly false. Mithraism was at a serious disadvantage right from the start because it allowed only male initiates. What is more, Mithraism was, as mentioned above, only one of several cults imported from the eastern empire that enjoyed a large membership in Rome and elsewhere. The major competitor to Christianity was thus not Mithraism but the combined group of imported cults and official Roman cults subsumed under the rubric "paganism." Finally, part of Renan's claim rested on an equally common, but almost equally mistaken, belief that Mithraism was officially accepted because it had Roman emperors among its adherents (Nero, Commodus, Septimius Severus, Caracalla, and the Tetrarchs are most commonly cited). Close examination of the evidence for the participation of emperors reveals that some comes from literary sources of dubious quality and that the rest is rather circumstantial. The cult of Magna Mater, the first imported cult to arrive in Rome (204 BCE) was the only one ever officially recognized as a Roman cult. The others, including Mithraism, were never officially accepted, and some, particularly the Egyptian cult of Isis, were periodically outlawed and their adherents persecuted.
ecole.evansville.edu/articles/mithraism.html
Some words were enough for God to precipitate the most beautiful of his creatures at the bottom of the abyss. Lucifer, the carrier of Light, pulled(entailed) with him a third(third party) of the angels in its revolt. Hell was created for him. We know the continuation(suite) … The column of July Place de la Bastille, was set up between 1833 and 1840. In its summit, thrones the "Spirit of liberty" conceived(designed) by the sculptor Auguste Dumont. Curious tribute returned by Louis Philippe to the insurgents who knocked down(spilled) Charles X and the Absolute monarchy three years earlier. Lucifer picked up. No detail misses(is lacking) … Torch in the hand, the Angel has just broken his chains(channels) and dashes to new conquests. Under its impressive base is a crypt sheltering some 500 rests of Fighters of 1830, as well as Egyptian mummy brought back(reported) by Napoleon.Durant la commune de Paris en 1870, après avoir abattu la colonne Vendôme, les communards s’en prirent à celle de la Bastille… sans succès. Ni le dispositif d’explosifs souterrains, ni le tir d’une trentaine d’obus depuis les buttes Chaumont n’en virent pas à bout. La flamme du porteur de Lumière refusa de s’éteindre…
During the municipality of Paris in 1870, having brought(shot) down the column Vendôme, the Communards took themselves in that of the Bastille unsuccessfully. Neither the device(plan) of subterranean explosives, nor the shooting(firing) of around thirty shells since mounds Chaumont transfer(fire) it to end. The flame of the carrier of Light refused to go out …Lucifer was so far away...?
« Non Serviam »- « Je ne servirai pas ! »
Quelques mots suffirent à Dieu pour précipiter la plus belle de ses créatures au fond de l’abîme. Lucifer, le porteur de Lumière, entraîna avec lui un tiers des anges dans sa révolte. L’enfer fut créé pour lui. Nous connaissons la suite…La colonne de Juillet Place de la Bastille, fut érigée entre 1833 et 1840. À son sommet, trône le « Génie de La Liberté » conçu par le sculpteur Auguste Dumont. Curieux hommage rendu par Louis Philippe aux insurgés qui renversèrent Charles X et la Monarchie absolue trois ans plus tôt. Lucifer a repris du poil de la bête. Aucun détail ne manque… Torche à la main, l’Ange vient de briser ses chaînes et s’élance vers de nouvelles conquêtes. Sous son imposant piédestal se trouve une crypte abritant quelques 500 restes des combattants de 1830, ainsi qu’une momie égyptienne rapportée par Napoléon.Durant la commune de Paris en 1870, après avoir abattu la colonne Vendôme, les communards s’en prirent à celle de la Bastille… sans succès. Ni le dispositif d’explosifs souterrains, ni le tir d’une trentaine d’obus depuis les buttes Chaumont n’en virent pas à bout. La flamme du porteur de Lumière refusa de s’éteindre…
www.pariszigzag.fr/histoire-insolite-paris/qui-est-vraime...
The new moon day known as the Mahalaya Amavasya is the beginning of Dussehra. It is a special day dedicated to making an offering to express our gratitude to all the previous generations of people who have contributed to our life.
Come autumn, and Hindus all over the world get enthused in festive fervor. Come “Mahalaya” and Bengalis get busy to complete the final preparations for their greatest festival - Durga Puja.Since the early 1930s, Mahalaya has come to associate itself with an early morning radio program called “Mahisasura Mardini” or “The Annihilation of the Demon.” This All India Radio (AIR) program is a beautiful audio montage of recitation from the scriptural verses of “Chandi Kavya”, Bengali devotional songs, classical music and a dash of acoustic melodrama. The program has also been translated into Hindi set to similar orchestration and is broadcast at the same time for a pan-Indian audience.
This program has almost become synonymous with Mahalaya. For nearly six decades now, the whole of Bengal rises up in the chilly pre dawn hours, 4 am to be precise, of the Mahalaya day to tune in to the “Mahisasura Mardini” broadcast.One man who'll always be remembered for making Mahalaya memorable to one and all is Birendra Krishna Bhadra, the magical voice behind the “Mahisasura Mardini.” The legendary narrator recites the holy verses and tells the story of the descent of Durga to earth, in his inimitable style.
SN/NC: Dahlia, Syn. Dahlia Pinnata, Asteraceae Family
Dahlia (UK: /deɪliə/ or US: /dɑːliə/) is a genus of bushy, tuberous, herbaceous perennial plants native to Mexico. A member of the Asteraceae, dicotyledonous plants, related species include the sunflower, daisy, chrysanthemum, and zinnia. There are 42 species of dahlia, with hybrids commonly grown as garden plants. Flower forms are variable, with one head per stem; these can be as small as 5 cm (2 in) diameter or up to 30 cm (1 ft) ("dinner plate"). This great variety results from dahlias being octoploids—that is, they have eight sets of homologous chromosomes, whereas most plants have only two. In addition, dahlias also contain many transposons—genetic pieces that move from place to place upon an allele—which contributes to their manifesting such great diversity.
Otros nombres de la dahlia, xicamiti,
flor de camote. Proviene de las regiones de Cuernavaca y Tepoztlán, en México. Se conocen más de 2 mil variedades diferentes de esta planta. Crece en forma de mata y puede medir desde unos pocos centímetros hasta más de un metro de altura, según la variedad.Dahlia (Reino Unido: /Deɪliə /o us: /dːliə /) es un género de plantas perennes arbustivas, tuberosas y herbáceas nativas de México. Un miembro de las Asteraceae, plantas dicotiledóneas, especies relacionadas incluyen el girasol, la margarita, el crisantemo y la zinnia. Hay 42 especies de Dahlia, con híbridos comúnmente cultivados como plantas de jardín. Las formas de flores son variables, con una cabeza por tallo; Estos pueden ser tan pequeños como 5 cm (2 pulgadas) de diámetro o hasta 30 cm (1 pie) ("plato de cena"). Esta gran variedad resulta de que las dahlias son octoploides, es decir, tienen ocho conjuntos de cromosomas homólogos, mientras que la mayoría de las plantas tienen solo dos. Además, las dahlias también contienen muchos transposones, piezas genéticas que se mueven de un lugar a otro sobre un alelo, que contribuye a su manifestación de tanta diversidad. Anders Dahl, botánico sueco, fue quien introdujo la flor en los países nórdicos y, como homenaje, la flor recibió su nombre. Los holandeses contribuyeron a la expansión de esta flor en Brasil.
Dahlia, nome comum dália, é um género botânico pertencente à família Asteraceae. É uma herbácea de porte médio, perene. Quando adulta, a planta chega a atingir até 1,50 metro. É originária do México, onde é muito popular. Os índios daquela região foram os primeiros a cultivar dálias, ainda no período do império Asteca. Por volta do final do século XVIII, o diretor do Jardim Botânico de Madrid encantou-se com a flor, durante uma visita ao México. Foi o suficiente para que a dália atravessasse o oceano e chegasse à Europa, onde se adaptou ao clima temperado. Foi o botânico sueco Anders Dahl, responsável pela expansão das dálias pela região nórdica da Europa, que inspirou o nome da flor. Os holandeses e os franceses foram os maiores incentivadores do cultivo e da produção de inúmeras espécies híbridas de dálias. Os imigrantes holandeses contribuíram para a propagação desta flor no Brasil. Hoje, entre naturais e híbridas, existem mais de 3 000 variedades, com uma diversificação de formas, cores tamanhos e adaptações a diferentes condições.
Dahlia, nom commun Dahlia, est un genre de plantes fleurissantes de la famille des marguerites. C'est une herbacée de taille moyenne, vivace. En tant qu'adulte, l'usine atteint jusqu'à 1,50 Metro. Il est originaire du Mexique, où il est très populaire. Les Indiens dans cette région ont été les premiers à cultiver Dahlia, encore dans la période de l'Empire aztèque. Vers la fin du XVIIIe siècle, le directeur des jardins botaniques de Madrid a été enchanté par la fleur, lors d'une visite au Mexique. Il suffisait que le dahlia traverse l'océan et atteigne l'Europe, où il s'adapte au climat tempéré. C'est le botaniste suédois Anders Dahl, responsable de l'expansion des dahlias par la région nordique de l'Europe, qui a inspiré le nom de la fleur.
Dahlia (uk: /deɪliə /of us: /dːliə /) is een geslacht van bossige, knol, kruidachtige meerjarige planten afkomstig uit Mexico. Een lid van de Asteraceae, Dicotyledonous planten, gerelateerde soorten omvatten de zonnebloem, Daisy, Chrysanthemum en Zinnia. Er zijn 42 soorten dahlia, met hybriden die gewoonlijk worden gekweekt als tuinplanten. Bloemvormen zijn variabel, met één kop per stengel; Deze kunnen zo klein zijn als een diameter van 5 cm (2 inch) of tot 30 cm (1 ft) ("bord"). Deze grote variëteit resulteert van dahlia's zijn octoploïden - dat wil zeggen dat ze acht sets homologe chromosomen hebben, terwijl de meeste planten er slechts twee hebben. Bovendien bevatten Dahlias ook veel transposons - generale stukken die van plaats naar plaats op een allel gaan - wat bijdraagt aan hun manifestatie van zo'n grote diversiteit. Anders Dahl, de Zweedse botanicus, was degene die de bloem introduceerde in de Alnend landen en als eerbetoon kreeg de bloem zijn naam. De Nederlanders hebben bijgedragen aan de uitbreiding van deze bloem in Brazilië.
Dahlia (Regno Unito: /deɪliə /o us: /dːliə /) è un genere di piante perenni folli, tuberose, erbacee originarie del Messico. Un membro delle Asteraceae, piante dicotyledoni, specie correlate includono il girasole, la margherita, il crisantemo e la zinnia. Esistono 42 specie di dahlia, con ibridi comunemente coltivati come piante da giardino. Le forme di fiori sono variabili, con una testa per stelo; Questi possono essere piccoli come 5 cm (2 pollici) di diametro o fino a 30 cm (1 piedi) ("piatto per la cena"). Questa grande varietà deriva da Dahlias che sono poltoploidi, cioè hanno otto serie di cromosomi omologhi, mentre la maggior parte delle piante ne ha solo due. Inoltre, le dahlia contengono anche molti trasposoni - pezzi generatici che si spostano da un luogo all'altro su un allele - che contribuiscono alla loro manifestazione di tale grande diversità. Anders Dahl, botanico svedese, è stato colui che ha introdotto il fiore nei paesi nordici e come omaggio il fiore ha ottenuto il suo nome. Gli olandesi hanno contribuito all'espansione di questo fiore in Brasile.
Dahlia (UK: /DEɪliə /oder USA: /dːliə /) ist eine Gattung von buschigen, knallberechtigen, krautigen Staudenpflanzen, die in Mexiko beheimatet sind. Ein Mitglied der Asteraceae, dicotyledonous -Pflanzen, verwandte Arten umfassen Sonnenblumen, Daisy, Chrysanthemen und Zinnia. Es gibt 42 Arten von Dahlia, wobei Hybriden üblicherweise als Gartenpflanzen angebaut werden. Blütenformen sind variabel, mit einem Kopf pro Stamm; Diese können nur einen Durchmesser von 5 cm oder bis zu 30 cm ("Teller") sein. Diese große Vielfalt resultiert aus Dahlien, die Oktoploide sind - das heißt, sie haben acht Sätze homologer Chromosomen, während die meisten Pflanzen nur zwei haben. Darüber hinaus enthält Dahlien auch viele Transposons - genetische Stücke, die sich von Ort zu Ort auf ein Allel bewegen, was zu ihrer Manifestierung einer so großen Vielfalt beiträgt. Anders Dahl, der schwedische Botaniker, war derjenige, der die Blume in die nordischen Länder vorstellte, und als Hommage bekam die Blume seinen Namen. Die Niederländer trugen zur Ausweitung dieser Blume in Brasilien bei.
Dahlia（英国： /deɪliə /またはus： /dgrliə /）は、メキシコに自生したふさふさした、塊状の草本多年生植物の属です。 キク科のメンバーである双子葉植物、関連種には、ヒマワリ、デイジー、菊、Zinniaが含まれます。 42種のダリアがあり、ハイブリッドは一般的に庭の植物として栽培されています。 花の形は可変であり、茎ごとに1つの頭があります。 これらは、直径5 cm（2インチ）または最大30 cm（1フィート）（「ディナープレート」）までです。 この非常に多様性は、ダリアが卵巣であることに起因します。つまり、8セットの相同染色体がありますが、ほとんどの植物は2つしかありません。 さらに、Dahliasには、対立遺伝子の上に場所から場所へと移動するジェネティックな多くのトランスポゾンも含まれています。 スウェーデンの植物学者のアンダース・ダールは、北欧諸国に花を紹介し、オマージュとして花は彼の名前を得た人でした。 オランダはブラジルでのこの花の拡大に貢献しました。
Dahlia (المملكة المتحدة: /deɪliə /أو الولايات المتحدة: /dːliə /) هي جنس من النباتات الدائمة الكثبانية ، العشبية الأصلية للمكسيك. عضو في Asteraceae ، والنباتات dicotyledonous ، والأنواع ذات الصلة تشمل عباد الشمس ، و Daisy ، و chrysanthemum ، و Zinnia. هناك 42 نوعًا من داليا ، مع الهجينة التي تزرع عادةً كنباتات حديقة. أشكال الزهور متغيرة ، برأس واحد لكل ساق. يمكن أن تكون هذه القطر صغير مثل 5 سم (2 بوصة) أو ما يصل إلى 30 سم (1 قدم) ("لوحة عشاء"). ينتج هذا التنوع الكبير عن دالياس هو الأخطبوط - أي أن لديهم ثماني مجموعات من الكروموسومات المتماثلة ، في حين أن معظم النباتات لديها اثنتين فقط. بالإضافة إلى ذلك ، يحتوي Dahlias أيضًا على العديد من عمليات النقل - القطع الجينية التي تنتقل من مكان إلى آخر على أليل - والتي تساهم في إظهار هذا التنوع الكبير. كان أندرس دال ، عالم النبات السويدي ، هو الشخص الذي قدم الزهرة إلى بلدان الشمال الأوروبي وكمحية حصلت الزهرة على اسمه. ساهم الهولنديون في توسع هذه الزهرة في البرازيل.
NASA image captured Feb. 24, 2011
To see an image showing the size of the prominence in comparison to the size of earth click here.
To view a high res still from this event go here: www.flickr.com/photos/gsfc/5483196119/
When a rather large-sized (M 3.6 class) flare occurred near the edge of the Sun, it blew out a gorgeous, waving mass of erupting plasma that swirled and twisted over a 90-minute period (Feb. 24, 2011). This event was captured in extreme ultraviolet light by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory spacecraft . Some of the material blew out into space and other portions fell back to the surface. Because SDO images are super-HD, we can zoom in on the action and still see exquisite details. And using a cadence of a frame taken every 24 seconds, the sense of motion is, by all appearances, seamless. Sit back and enjoy the jaw-dropping solar show.
Credit: NASA/GSFC/SDO
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center enables NASA’s mission through four scientific endeavors: Earth Science, Heliophysics, Solar System Exploration, and Astrophysics. Goddard plays a leading role in NASA’s accomplishments by contributing compelling scientific knowledge to advance the Agency’s mission.
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Tracy Prince's Captivating World of Fashion and Femme Elegance
Welcome to Tracy Prince's enchanting realm, a mesmerizing photo blog that celebrates the artistry of fashion, beauty, and the alluring allure of femininity. With a keen eye for elegance and a passion for exploring the spectrum of style, Tracy captures the essence of glamour through her lens, bringing you a collection that transcends boundaries and defies conventions.
In Tracy's world, "high heels" are not just a fashion statement; they are an embodiment of empowerment and confidence. Whether it's the sleek lines of thigh-high boots or the classic elegance of stiletto heels, each photograph tells a story of grace and poise. Tracy explores the world of heels with an unwavering focus on details, showcasing the intricate designs that make them not just footwear but works of art.
Lingerie takes center stage in Tracy's visual symphony. Delicate fabrics, such as satin and lace, weave a tale of sensuality and sophistication. From the timeless beauty of "tan pantyhose" to the provocative allure of "black stockings," Tracy's lens captures the delicate nuances of intimate apparel. Garter belts, a timeless accessory, add a touch of vintage charm, creating a perfect harmony between classic and contemporary femininity.
Tracy embraces the art of "X-DRESS," navigating the realm of crossdressing with a respectful and inclusive lens. Her collection celebrates the diversity within the crossdressing community, showcasing individuals expressing their identity with confidence and style. Tracy's portrayal of "tranny schoolgirl," "tranny in stockings," and "tranny in pantyhose" is a testament to the beauty that emerges when personal expression meets the canvas of fashion.
"Beautiful crossdresser," "classy crossdresser," and "sexy crossdresser" are not just tags in Tracy's blog; they encapsulate the spectrum of elegance she captures. Each image resonates with a unique blend of style and individuality, breaking stereotypes and embracing the beauty that comes with embracing one's true self.
The interplay of light and fabric highlights the shimmering allure of "shiny pantyhose" and the timeless charm of "nylons crossdresser." Tracy's lens transforms each image into a narrative, where every detail contributes to the larger story of empowerment and self-discovery.
"Thigh high boots" make a bold statement in Tracy's visual narrative, symbolizing strength and confidence. Paired with "satin babe" or "nylon," these boots become a symbol of fierce femininity, challenging traditional notions of beauty and style.
Tracy's exploration of beauty is not limited to a specific gender. Whether it's a "transvestite," "tgirl," "trans," or "transgender," Tracy's lens captures the unique beauty that transcends labels. "Sexy shemale," "transexual," and "transgender beauty" become expressions of confidence and authenticity, challenging societal norms and celebrating the diversity of gender expression.
In the world of Tracy Prince, "Femme" is not just a descriptor; it's a celebration of the myriad ways individuals express their femininity. Leather, boots, and the timeless appeal of "nylon" and "Thigh High Stockings" become tools for self-expression, allowing each person to craft their unique narrative.
As Tracy navigates the intricate landscape of fashion and beauty, she brings to light the complexity and depth of personal expression. "Pantyhose high heels," "stockings high heels," "garter belt stockings high heels," and "nylons high heels" are not just combinations of clothing items; they are the building blocks of a visual symphony, a harmonious blend of textures and colors that create a stunning visual tableau.
Tracy's lens explores the realm of "fellatrix," recognizing the beauty in the art of seduction. Whether it's a provocative gaze or a subtle pose, each image captures the essence of allure and confidence. Tracy celebrates the beauty of "slutty women" and "classy crossdressers" alike, breaking down barriers and embracing the diversity of expression within the world of fashion.
In Tracy Prince's photo blog, each image is a brushstroke on the canvas of beauty and self-expression. Through her lens, the world of fashion and femme elegance becomes a celebration of diversity, individuality, and the timeless allure of personal style. Step into Tracy's captivating world, where every photograph tells a story of empowerment, confidence, and the endless possibilities that come with embracing one's true self.
The former Walker Brothers Druggists building was constructed circa 1930. The structure is located in the Downtown Columbia Historic District listed on the National Register of Historic Place and is a contributing property.
title.
figure.
(Panasonic Lumix G3 shot)
Charles de Gaulle Airport. Paris. France. year 2012. … 8 / 10
(Today's photo. It's unpublished.)
Images
SG Lewis, Lucky Daye - Vibe Like This ft. Ty Dolla $ign
_________________________________
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Exhibition in 2023
theme
Camera kisses time.
Mitsushiro-Nakagawa
organizer
design festa
place
Tokyo Big Site
schedule
Nov. 11th. Sat. 12th. Sun. 2023.
exhibition.mitsushiro.nakagawa@gmail.com
images.
SEVENTEEN(세븐틴)-All My Love
_________________________________
_________________________________
#WWDC23 #RealityPro #apple #applecar #apple
supplement. English was not translated until the end. Fixed.In Chat GPT, English translated after Japanese.
Apple car, presentation. Announced in the fall of 2023. (It's my delusion 😃)
#WWDC23 #RealityPro #アップルカー #アップル #apple #applecar #apple
補足。英語が最後まで翻訳されていなかった。修正しました。チャットGPTで、英語は日本語の後に翻訳しました。
【 アップルカー、プレゼンテーション。202３年秋、発表。（僕の妄想です😃）】
みなさんおはよう。
偶然だが、おととしの今日、私は新型コロナウィルスのワクチンを接種した。
みなさんのなかには、すでに二度目の接種を受けた方もいるだろう。
この新型コロナウィルスは世界に1つの境界線を引いた。
それまでとそれ以降だ。
私たちを取り巻く環境は激変した。
ウィルスに対応するためあらゆる場所に除菌液が設置され、部屋の空気を浄化し、そんな環境が至る所に展開されてきた。
アップルも、これらを認識しつつ、新しいプロジェクトに臨んできた。
新しい価値観を受け入れるためには、新しいスタイルが必要だ。
私たちの周囲もアップデートされなければ、私たちは生き残れないだろう。
アップルは時代を生き残るために、いくつかを提示してきた。
パーソナルコンピューターであるマッキントッシュ。
音楽デバイスであるアイポッド。
携帯電話であるアイフォーン。
そして、今日、アップルはみなさんに伝えたいことがある。
それはもうひとつのサヴァイヴだ。
アップルカー。
アップルは車を再発明する。
【これまでの自動車の状態】
今までのガソリン車を振り返ってみよう。
ガソリンという化石燃料を使い、ガスを排出する。そして環境を悪化させてきた。
山林は業火に見舞われ、大雨の大洪水に街はさらわれ、乾いた大地が覆い尽くす。
これからもこの状態が続くという事は地球自体の崩壊を招く。
私たちはそれを止めなければならない。少なくとも見直しに取り掛かることが重要だ。
世界的にトップだったトヨタはこれに積極的に取り掛からなかった。
すでに多くの世界で走っているハイブリッドのプリウス。
これは１９９２年に発表されたにも関わらず、新しい車種でさえも未だにハイブリッドのままだ。
発売してからの約３０年もの間、いったい彼らは何を目的としてこの車に固執し、開発してきたのか？
なぜ彼らはこの車種を見直さなかったのか？
現状のハイブリット、プラグインハイブリット。そういった類は結局は化石燃料を使っている。
彼らはこの新しい展開に積極的に臨んできたというが、現状維持という考えを変えなかった。
むしろ現時点においても、それがベストだとさえ言ってるように思えてならない。
私たちはそこで他の会社も見渡してみた。
【電気自動車の現在】
テスラだ。
皆さんご存知のようにテスラは積極的に環境問題に取り組み、世界規模で大きく発展し貢献してきた。化石燃料を使わない、そして自動運転、洗練されたデザイン。これらは多くの人たちを魅了してきた。
しかし広く普及はしたものの、皆さんの家のそばにこの車は走ってるだろうか？
答えはノーだ。
なぜ車が走っていないか。
私たちは3時間ほどしっかり考えた。
まぁ、たった3時間だが。
答えは単純だ。
車が高いからだ。高価すぎるのだ。
これはテスラに限らず電気自動車を作っているすべての会社に言えることだ。
とにかく車の値段が高すぎる。
私たちはこれを念頭に置きつつ、車を再発明した。
【アップルカーのポイント】
アップルカーのポイントは三つだ。
ひとつめ。
価格。
電気自動車が普及しない理由は非常に簡単だ。
価格が高いからだ
なぜ電気自動車が高いのか。それは本体価格の大半を占めるバッテリーの値段が最も高いからだ。
それが大きく占めている。
そこでアップルはリン酸鉄リチウムイオンバッテリーと言う素材を使うことに行き着いた。
これは全個体電池のように高価ではなく安価で、iPhoneのように充電する時間は短く、すぐに使えることを優先させ、かつ、耐久性に優れていると言うポイントがある。
私たちはこの2点を重視した。
車を短時間で充電し、短距離を即、走行可能となることを目指した。
iPhoneやアップルウォッチと同じ結論を反映させたのだ。
現在、電気自動車は長距離を走ることを目標としているが、果たして、きょう、あなたが会社から帰る際に、長距離用のバッテリが必要だろうか？
何百キロも走ることが必要だろうか？
すぐに家に帰り、すぐに充電し、また朝には出勤する。
全個体電池などという長距離が走れる高価なバッテリは、現段階では不要なのだ。
アップルはそう判断した。
次にアップルが目指したポイントの2つ目は安全性だ。
WHOの報告では、年間で世界中の事故死者数は１３５万人に上る。
これは、２４秒にひとりが命を落としている計算になる。
アップルはこの事故を劇的に減らそうと考えた。
Apple Watchを腕に巻いた子供が車の下にいた場合。
iPhone 5Gを持っている人が側道にいたり、信号待ちをしている場合。
彼らを事前に感知し、彼らには接近しないように考えた。
人の居場所を事前に察知することができれば、車は避けられる。
私たちは、車自体が人から離れることを計算した。
3つ目は先進性だ。
これまでの車と言うのは、車に乗るとわかるが、ダッシュボードにはいつもの通風口が口を開けて待っている。
これは見慣れた光景で、もううんざりだ。飽き飽きだ。
私たちはこの風景を大きく前進させる。
フロントガラスにAR機能を搭載し、ナビゲーションで誘う。※１
また、ダッシュボードには皆さんが持っているiPhoneやiPadを貼り付け、聴いていた音楽をそのまま車内で流せる。
もちろん、望めばそのままエンジンもスタートだ。
ワイパーなんてもう不要だ。水滴なんて風圧で飛ばすした方が美しい。
シートベルトもあなたが座れば自動で閉まる。きつ過ぎず、ゆる過ぎず、あなたは快適な空間を提供されるだろう。
また、ハンドルを握って前を見据えた瞬間にドライバーの健康状態をアップルカーは察知する。
あなたが酔っていたら、車は決して動かない。もう酔っ払い運転の事故は発生しないだろう。
以上の三つがアップルカーのポイントだ。
１ 価格
２ 安全性
３ 先進性
アップルはこれらを重視した。
そして、皆さんが最も気になるのは価格のはずだ。
価格は29,999ドル。
車の予約は来週から。半年後にまずはアメリカから発売する。
それでは実際にアップルカーをお見せしよう。
ティム・クック、自分のApple Watchに顔を寄せて車に呼びかける。
アップルカー登場。
備考。
ここで重要なのは自動運転に触れていないこと。
多分アップルは自動運転には触れず、車をまず普及させることをアピールしてくるはず。
自動運転のアップデートは後回し。
色はのちに5色を展開。
追記 ２０２３年９時５９分
※１ ウィンドウにAR、VRは、上位機種。下位機種廉価版街乗りタイプは、ここがReality Pro になる。社内だけでなく、自転車、徒歩、あらゆるシチュエーションに対応。
CatGPTに以下は翻訳してもらいました😃
The following was translated by CatGPT😃
Sure, here's the translation:
#WWDC23 #RealityPro #AppleCar #AppleCarPresentation #Apple #AppleCarStrategy #iCar
#iCarPresentation #iCarStrategy #apple #applecar #car #presentation #pc #computer #Mac #Mac #iCar #AppleCar #AppleCarPresentation #Apple #AppleCarStrategy #iCarPresentation #iCarStrategy #apple #applecar #Car #Presentation #pc
Apple Car, presentation. Announced in the fall of 2023. (It's my delusion 😃)
(The video was uploaded hastily with the text, so it's not perfectly synchronized 😅 Please read the following text, which is the final version 😃)
Good morning, everyone.
Coincidentally, two years ago today, I received the COVID-19 vaccine. Some of you may have already received your second dose.
This novel coronavirus drew a line in the world. It divided time into “before” and “after.”
Our surrounding environment has undergone drastic changes. Disinfectants have been installed everywhere to combat the virus, rooms are being purified, and such measures have been implemented everywhere. Apple, too, has embarked on new projects while acknowledging these changes.
To embrace new values, we need a new style. If our surroundings don’t update, we won’t be able to survive.
Apple has presented several innovations to survive the times.
The personal computer, Macintosh.
The music device, iPod.
The mobile phone, iPhone.
And today, Apple has something else to share with you.
It’s another “Survive.”
Apple Car.
Apple is reinventing the automobile.
[The State of Existing Automobiles]
Let’s look back at traditional gasoline-powered cars. They use fossil fuels, emit gases, and have contributed to environmental deterioration. Forests have been engulfed in wildfires, cities have suffered from heavy floods, and dry lands have been covered. Continuing in this state would lead to the collapse of the Earth itself. We must put a stop to it, or at the very least, reevaluate.
Toyota, which was once a global leader, did not actively pursue change. Despite the introduction of the Prius, a hybrid vehicle that has been running in many parts of the world, even the latest models are still hybrids. Over the past approximately 30 years since its release, what was their purpose for sticking with and developing this model? Why didn’t they reconsider it? The current hybrids and plug-in hybrids still rely on fossil fuels. They claim to have embraced this new trend, but they haven’t changed their mindset of maintaining the status quo. In fact, it seems they still believe it is the best option. So, we looked at other companies.
[The Current State of Electric Vehicles]
Tesla. As you all know, Tesla has actively addressed environmental issues and made significant contributions on a global scale. They have used clean energy, implemented self-driving capabilities, and offered sophisticated designs that have captivated many people. However, despite its widespread popularity, do you see these cars driving near your homes? The answer is no.
Why aren’t these cars on the roads? We thought about it for about three hours. Well, only three hours, but the answer is simple: they are too expensive. The high cost of electric vehicles is the reason why they haven’t become mainstream. We kept this in mind when reinventing the car.
[Key Features of Apple Car]
Apple Car has three key features.
Firstly, price. The reason electric vehicles haven’t become popular is quite simple: they are expensive. Why are electric vehicles expensive? The battery, which constitutes a significant portion of the overall cost, is the most expensive component. Apple has chosen to use lithium iron phosphate batteries, a material that is less expensive than individual cell batteries, charges quickly like an iPhone, and offers durability. We emphasized these two points: charging the car quickly and enabling short-distance travel. We reflected the same conclusion as with the iPhone and Apple Watch.
Currently, electric vehicles aim to achieve long-distance travel. But do you really need a long-range battery when you return home from work today? Do you need to travel hundreds of kilometers? You want to arrive home quickly, charge the car immediately, and be ready to commute in the morning. Expensive batteries designed for long-distance travel, like individual cell batteries, are unnecessary at this stage. Apple has made that judgment.
The second point Apple aimed for is safety. According to the WHO, there are 1.35 million fatalities
The second point that Apple aimed for is safety. According to WHO reports, the annual number of fatalities worldwide due to accidents reaches 1.35 million, which translates to one person losing their life every 24 seconds.
Apple sought to dramatically reduce these accidents. For instance, if a child wearing an Apple Watch is underneath a car or if someone with an iPhone 5G is on a side road or waiting at a traffic light, Apple intended to detect their presence in advance and prevent any approaching danger. By anticipating the location of individuals, cars could be avoided, and Apple even calculated the distance that cars should maintain from people.
The third point is innovation. Previous cars had the familiar sight of air vents waiting on the dashboard, but Apple aimed to push this landscape forward significantly. They incorporated augmented reality (AR) features into the windshield, providing navigation guidance. Additionally, the dashboard allowed users to attach their iPhones or iPads, enabling them to play their favorite music directly in the car. Of course, if desired, the engine could start as well. Wipers were no longer necessary; it was more aesthetically pleasing to use wind pressure to blow away water droplets. Seat belts automatically closed at just the right tension level, providing a comfortable space for passengers. Moreover, the moment you grasp the steering wheel and look ahead, the Apple Car would detect the driver’s health condition. If you were intoxicated, the car would never move, eliminating the occurrence of accidents caused by drunk driving.
So, the three key points of the Apple Car are:
1.Price
2.Safety
3.Innovation
Apple emphasized these aspects. And the aspect that most people are concerned about is the price, which is $29,999. Car reservations will begin next week, and it will initially be released in the United States after six months.
Now, let me show you the Apple Car in action. Tim Cook leans towards his Apple Watch and addresses the car. The Apple Car makes its appearance.
Note: What’s important here is that there is no mention of autonomous driving. Apple probably intends to focus on popularizing the car first, without delving into autonomous driving. Updates related to autonomous driving will come later.
The car will be available in five different colors at a later time.
Update: 9:59 AM, 2023
Note 1: AR and VR on the window are available on the higher-end models. The lower-end models, affordable for city driving, will have Reality Pro at this position. It will cater to various situations, not only within the car but also for bicycles, pedestrians, and other scenarios.
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Notice regarding "Lot No.402_”.
From now on # I will host "Lot No.402_".
The work of Leonardo da Vinci who was sleeping.
That is the number when it was put up for auction.
No sign was written on the work.
So this work couldn't conclude that it was his work.
However # as a result of various appraisals # it was exposed to the sun.
A work that no one notices. A work that speaks quietly without a title.
I will continue to strive to provide it to many people in various ways.
October 24 # 2020 by Mitsu - Nakagawa.
Mitsushiro Nakagawa belong to Lot No. 402 _.Copyright©︎2022 Lot No.402_ All rights reserved.
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Profile.
In November 2014 # we caught the attention of the party selected to undertake the publicity for a mobile phone that changed the face of the world with just a single model # and will conclude a confidentiality agreement with them.
drive.google.com/drive/folders/1vBRMWGk29EmsoBV2o9NM1LIVi...
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Interviews and novels.
About my book.
I published a book a long time ago.
At that time # I uploaded my interview as a PDF on the internet.
Its Japanese and English.
I will publish it for free.
For details # I explained to the Amazon site.
How to write a novel.
How to take a picture.
A sense of distance to the work.
All of these have something in common.
I wrote down what I felt and left it.
I hope my text will be read by many people.
Thank you.
Mitsushiro.
1 Interview in English
2 novels. unforgettable 'English version.(This book is Dedicated to the future artist.)
3 Interview Japanese version
4 novels. unforgettable ' JPN version.
5 A streamlined trajectory. only Japanese.
drive.google.com/drive/folders/1vBRMWGk29EmsoBV2o9NM1LIVi...
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iBooks. Electronic Publishing. It is free now.
0.about the iBooks.
drive.google.com/drive/folders/1vBRMWGk29EmsoBV2o9NM1LIVi...
1.unforgettable '(ENG.ver.)(This book is Dedicated to the future artist.)
itunes.apple.com/us/book/unforgettable/id1216576828?ls=1&...
2.unforgettable '(JNP.ver.)(This book is Dedicated to the future artist.)
itunes.apple.com/us/book/unforgettable/id1216584262?ls=1&...
3. Streamlined trajectory.(For Japanese only.)
itunes.apple.com/us/book/%E6%B5%81%E7%B7%9A%E5%BD%A2%E3%8... =11
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My Novel : Unforgettable'
(This book is Dedicated to the future artist.)
Synopsis
Kei Kitami # who is aiming for a university # meets Kaori Uemura # an event companion who is 6 years older than her on SNS.
Kaori's dream of coming to Tokyo is to become friends with famous artists.
For that purpose # the presence of radio station producer Ryo Osawa was necessary.
Osawa talks to Kaori during the live radio broadcast.
"I have a wife and a child # but I want to see you."
Kay's classmate # Rika Sanjo # who thinks of him # was exploring Kaori's trends. .. .. .. ..
Synopsis.
Kei Kitami who aims at university.
A 6 year old older event companion woman. Meet Kaori Uemura on SNS.
The dream of Kaori who has moved to Tokyo.
It is to be a friend of the artist.
The producer of the radio station for that. The existence of Ryo Osawa was necessary.
Live on the radio.Osawa talks to Kaori.
"I have a wife and a child # but I want to see you."
Kei’s classmate Rika Sanzyou who is thinking of him.
She was searching for Kaori.
Mitsushiro Nakagawa
All Translated by Yumi Ikeda .
images.
U2 - No Line On The Horizon Live in Dublin
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oKwnkYFsiE&feature=related
Main story
There are two reasons why a person faces the sea.
One # to enjoy a slice of shine in the sea like children bubbling over in the beach.
The other # to brush the dust of memory like an old man who misses old days # staring at the shine
quietly.
Those lead to only one meaning though they do not seem to overlap. It’s a rebirth.
I face myself to change tomorrow # a vague day into something certain.
That is the meaning of a rebirth.
I had a very sweet girlfriend when I was 18.
After she left # I knew the meaning of gentleness for the first time and also a true pain of loss. After
she left # how many times did I depend too much on her # doubt her # envy her and keep on telling lies
until I realized it is love?
I wonder whether a nobody like me could have given something to her who was struggling in the
daily life in those days. Giving something is arrogant conceit. It is nothing but self-satisfaction.
I had been thinking about such a thing.
However # I guess what she saw in me was because I had nothing. That‘s why she tried to see
something in me. Perhaps she found a slight possibility in me # a guy filled with ambiguous # unstable
tomorrow. But I wasted days depending too much on her gentleness.
Now I finally can convey how I felt in those days when we met.
1/9
www.flickr.com/photos/stealaway/24577016535/in/dateposted...
2/9
www.flickr.com/photos/stealaway/24209330259/in/dateposted...
3/9
www.flickr.com/photos/stealaway/23975215274/in/dateposted...
4/9
www.flickr.com/photos/stealaway/24515964952/in/dateposted...
5/9
www.flickr.com/photos/stealaway/24276473749/in/dateposted...
6/9
www.flickr.com/photos/stealaway/24548895082/in/dateposted...
7/9
www.flickr.com/photos/stealaway/24594603711/in/dateposted...
8/9
www.flickr.com/photos/stealaway/24588215562/in/dateposted...
9/9
www.flickr.com/photos/stealaway/24100804163/in/dateposted...
Fin.
images.
U2 - No Line On The Horizon
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oKwnkYFsiE&feature=related
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Title of my book : unforgettable'
Author : Mitsushiro Nakagawa
Out Now.
ISBN978-4-86264-866-2
in Amazon.
www.amazon.co.jp/Unforgettable’-Mitsushiro-Nakagawa/dp/...
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The schedule of the next novel.
Still would stand all time. (Unforgettable '2)
(It will not go away forever)
Please give me some more time. That is Japanese.
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Exhibition in 2023
theme
The camera kisses time.
Mitsushiro --Nakagawa
The schedule for 2023 is unstable.
I plan to do one of the following two.
Both are scheduled around November.
I give priority to museums.
1 This will be done when the 1st attached gallery is released in 2023.
place
DIC Kawamura Memorial Museum of Art 1st attached gallery
2 This is planned as a spare.
place
Design Festa
images.
BTS… Film out Lyrics (방탄 소년단 / BTS Film out Japanese subtitles 가사) [Color Coded Lyrics / Kan / Rom / Eng]
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My Works.
1 www.flickr.com/photos/stealaway/48072442376/in/dateposted...
2 www.flickr.com/photos/stealaway/48078949821/in/dateposted...
3 www.flickr.com/photos/stealaway/48085863356/in/dateposted...
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Do you want to hear my voice?
:)
1
About the composition of the picture posted to Flicker. First type.
2
About the composition of the picture posted to Flicker. Second type.
3
About when I started Fotolog. Architect 's point of view.
4
Why did not you have a camera so far?
5
What is the coolest thing? The photo is as it is.
6
About the current YouTube bar. I also want to tell # I want to leave.
7
About Japanese photographers. Japanese YouTube bar is Pistols.
8
The composition of the photograph is sensibility. Meet the designers in Milan. Two questions.
9
What is a good composition? What is a bad composition?
10
What is the time to point the camera? It is slow if you are looking into the viewfinder or display.
11
Family photos. I can not take pictures with others. The inside of the subject.
12
About YouTube 's photographer. Camera technology etc. Sensibility is polished by reading books.
13
About the Japanese newspaper. A picture of a good newspaper is Reuters. If you continue to look at useless photographs # it will be useless.
14
About Japanese photographers. About the exhibition.
Summary. I wrote a novel etc. What I want to tell the most.
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I talked about how to make a work.
About work production 1/2
About work production 2/2
1 Photo exhibition up to that point. Did you want to go?
2 Well # what is an exhibition that you want to visit even if you go there?
3 Challenge to exhibit one work every month before opening a solo exhibition at the Harajuku Design Festa.
4 works are materials and silhouettes. Similar to fashion.
5 Who is your favorite artist? What is it? Make it clear.
6 Creating a collage is exactly the same as taking photos. As I wrote in the interview # it is the same as writing a novel.
7 I want to show it to someone # but I do not make a piece to show it. Aim for the work you want to decorate your own room as in the photo.
8 What is copycat? Nowadays # it is suspected to be beaten. There is something called Mimesis?
kotobank.jp/word/Mimesis-139464
9 What is Individuality? What is originality?
www.youtube.com/user/mitsushiro/
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Explanation of composition. 2
1.Composition explanation 2 ... 1/4
2.Composition explanation 2 ... 2/4
3.Composition Explanation 2 ... 3/4
4.Composition Explanation 2 ... 4/4
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My shutter feeling.
Today's photo.
It is a photo taken from Eurostar.
This video is an explanation.
I went to Milan in 2005.
At that time # I went from Milan to Venice.
We took Eurostar into the transportation.
This photo was not taken from a very fast Eurostar.
When I changed the track # I took a picture at the moment I slowed down.
Is there a Japanese beside you?
Please have my video translated.
:)
In the Eurostar to Venice . 2005. shot ... 1 / 2
www.flickr.com/photos/stealaway/49127115021/in/dateposted...
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Miles Davis sheet 1955-1976.
drive.google.com/drive/folders/1vBRMWGk29EmsoBV2o9NM1LIVi...
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flickr.
www.flickr.com/photos/stealaway/
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instagram.
www.instagram.com/mitsushiro_nakagawa/
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Pinterest.
www.pinterest.jp/MitsushiroNakagawa/
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YouPic
youpic.com/photographer/mitsushironakagawa/
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twitter.
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facebook.
www.facebook.com/mitsushiro.nakagawa
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Amazon.
www.amazon.co.jp/gp/profile/amzn1.account.AHSKI3YMYPYE5UE...
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My statistics. (As of May 11 # 2021)
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Japanese is the following.
drive.google.com/drive/folders/1vBRMWGk29EmsoBV2o9NM1LIVi...
Title of my book unforgettable' Mitsushiro Nakagawa Out Now. ISBN978-4-86264-866-2
Mitsu Nakagawa belong to Lot No. 204 _ . Copyright©︎2020 Lot No.402_ All rights reserved.
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title.
人影。
(Panasonic Lumix G3 shot)
シャルル・ド・ゴール空港。パリ。フランス。2012年。… 8 / 10
(今日の写真。それは未発表です。）
Images
SG Lewis, Lucky Daye - Vibe Like This ft. Ty Dolla $ign
次の小説のイメージ。
Still would stand all time.(unforgettable'2)
（いつまでもなくならないだろう）
重要なお知らせ。
僕は以下の条件を緩和します。
僕はTシャツを無料で世界中へ配布します。
m.flickr.com/photos/stealaway/50656401427/in/dateposted-p...
m.flickr.com/photos/stealaway/50613367691/in/dateposted-p...
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２０２３年の展示
テーマ
カメラは時間にキスをする。
Mitsushiro - Nakagawa
主催
デザインフェスタ
場所
東京ビッグサイト
日程
１１月１１日。土曜日。12日。日曜日。2023年。
exhibition.mitsushiro.nakagawa@gmail.com
images.
SEVENTEEN(세븐틴)-All My Love
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” Lot No.402_ ” に関するお知らせ。
今後、僕は、” Lot No.402_ ”を主催します。
このロットナンバーは、眠っていたレオナルドダヴィンチの作品がオークションにかけらた際に付されたものです。
作品にはサインなどがいっさい記されていなかったため、彼の作品だと断定できませんでした。
しかし、様々な鑑定の結果、陽の光を浴びました。
誰にも気づかれない作品。肩書がなくとも静かに語りかける作品。
僕はこれから様々な形で、多くの皆様に提供できるよう努めてゆきます。
2020年10月24日 by Mitsu - Nakagawa.
Copyright©︎2021 Lot No.402_ All rights reserved.
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プロフィール
2014年11月、たった1機種で世界を塗り替えた携帯電話の広告を請け負った選考者の目に留まり、秘密保持同意書を結ぶ。
drive.google.com/drive/folders/1vBRMWGk29EmsoBV2o9NM1LIVi...
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インタビューと小説。
僕の本について。
僕は、昔に本を出版しました。
その際に、僕のインタビューをPDFでネット上へアップロードしていました。
その日本語と英語。
僕は、無料でを公開します。
詳細は、アマゾンのサイトへ解説しました。
小説の書き方。
写真の撮影方法。
作品への距離感。
これらはすべて共通項があります。
僕は、僕が感じたことを文章にして、残しました。
僕のテキストが多くの人に読んでもらえることを望みます。
ありがとう。
Mitsushiro.
drive.google.com/drive/folders/1vBRMWGk29EmsoBV2o9NM1LIVi...
１ インタビュー 英語版
２ 小説。unforgettable’ 英語版。
３ インタビュー 日本語版
４ 小説。unforgettable’ 日本語版。(この小説は未来のアーティストへ捧げます)
(四百字詰め原稿用紙４５６枚)
あらすじ
大学を目指している北見ケイは、SNS上で、6歳年上のイベントコンパニオン、上村香織に出会う。
上京してきた香織の夢は、有名なアーティストの友達になるためだ。
そのためにはラジオ局のプロデューサー、大沢亮の存在が必要だった。
大沢は、ラジオの生放送中、香織へ語りかける。
「僕には妻子がある。しかし、僕は君に会いたいと思っている」
ケイの同級生で、彼を想っている三條里香は、香織の動向を探っていた。。。。。
本編
人が海へ向かう理由には、二つある。
ひとつは、波打ち際ではしゃぐ子供のように、今の瞬間の海の輝きを楽しむこと。
もうひとつは、その輝きを静かに見据えて、過ぎ去った日々を懐かしむ老人のように記憶の埃を払うこと。
二つは重なり合わないようではあるけれども、たったひとつの意味しか生まない。
再生だ。
明日っていう、曖昧な日を確実なものへと変えてゆくために、自分の存在に向き合う。
それが再生の意味だ。
十八歳だった僕には大切な人がいた。
drive.google.com/drive/folders/1vBRMWGk29EmsoBV2o9NM1LIVi...
５ 流線形の軌跡。 日本語のみ。
drive.google.com/drive/folders/1vBRMWGk29EmsoBV2o9NM1LIVi...
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iBooks.電子出版。（現在は無料）
0.about the iBooks.
drive.google.com/drive/folders/1vBRMWGk29EmsoBV2o9NM1LIVi...
1.unforgettable’ ( ENG.ver.)(This book is Dedicated to the future artist.)
itunes.apple.com/us/book/unforgettable/id1216576828?ls=1&...
For Japanese only.
2.unforgettable’ ( JNP.ver.)(この小説は未来のアーティストへ捧げます)
itunes.apple.com/us/book/unforgettable/id1216584262?ls=1&...
3.流線形の軌跡。
itunes.apple.com/us/book/%E6%B5%81%E7%B7%9A%E5%BD%A2%E3%8...
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僕の小説。英語版
My Novel Unforgettable' (This book is Dedicated to the future artist.)
Mitsushiro Nakagawa
All Translated by Yumi Ikeda .
1/9
www.flickr.com/photos/stealaway/24577016535/in/dateposted...
2/9
www.flickr.com/photos/stealaway/24209330259/in/dateposted...
3/9
www.flickr.com/photos/stealaway/23975215274/in/dateposted...
4/9
www.flickr.com/photos/stealaway/24515964952/in/dateposted...
5/9
www.flickr.com/photos/stealaway/24276473749/in/dateposted...
6/9
www.flickr.com/photos/stealaway/24548895082/in/dateposted...
7/9
www.flickr.com/photos/stealaway/24594603711/in/dateposted...
8/9
www.flickr.com/photos/stealaway/24588215562/in/dateposted...
9/9
www.flickr.com/photos/stealaway/24100804163/in/dateposted...
Fin.
images.
U2 - No Line On The Horizon Live in Dublin
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oKwnkYFsiE&feature=related
_________________________________
_________________________________
Title of my book : unforgettable'
Author : Mitsushiro Nakagawa
Out Now.
ISBN978-4-86264-866-2
in Amazon.
www.amazon.co.jp/Unforgettable’-Mitsushiro-Nakagawa/dp/...
_________________________________
_________________________________
次の小説の予定。
Still would stand all time.(unforgettable'2)
（いつまでもなくならないだろう）
もう少し時間をください。それは日本語です。
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僕の作品。
1 www.flickr.com/photos/stealaway/48072442376/in/dateposted...
2 www.flickr.com/photos/stealaway/48078949821/in/dateposted...
3 www.flickr.com/photos/stealaway/48085863356/in/dateposted...
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あなたは僕の声を聞きたいですか？
:)
1
フリッカーへ投稿した写真の構図について。１種類目。
2
フリッカーへ投稿した写真の構図について。２種類目。
3
Fotologを始めた時について。 建築家の視点。
4
なぜ、今までカメラを手にしなかったのか？
5
何が一番かっこいいのか？ 写真はありのままに。
6
現在のユーチューバーについて。僕も伝え、残したい。
7
日本人の写真家について。日本のユーチューバーはピストルズ。
8
写真の構図は、感性。ミラノのデザイナーに会って。二つの質問。
9
良い構図とは？ 悪い構図とは？
10
カメラを向ける時とは？ ファインダーやディスプレイを覗いていては遅い。
11
家族写真。他人では撮れない。被写体の内面。
12
ユーチューブの写真家について。カメラの技術等。感性は、本を読むことで磨く。
13
日本の新聞について。良い新聞の写真はロイター。ダメな写真を見続けるとダメになる。
14
日本の写真家について。その展示について。
まとめ。僕が書いた小説など。僕が最も伝えたいこと。
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作品制作について 1/2
作品制作について 2/2
１ それまでの写真展。自分は行きたいと思ったか？
２ じゃ、自分が足を運んででも行きたい展示とは何か？
３ 原宿デザインフェスタで個展を開くまでに、毎月ひとつの作品を展示することにチャレンジ。
４ 作品とは、素材とシルエット。ファッションと似ている。
５ 自分が好きなアーティストは誰か？ どんなものなのか？ そこをはっきりさせる。
６ コラージュの作成も写真の撮り方と全く同じ。インタビューに書いたように小説の書き方とも同じ。
７ 誰かに見せたい、見せるがために作品は作らない。写真と同じように自分の部屋に飾りたい作品を目指す。
８ パクリとは何か？ 昨今、叩かれるパクリ疑惑。ミメーシスとは？
https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/ミメーシス
https://kotobank.jp/word/ミメーシス-139464
９ 個性とはなにか？ オリジナリティってなに？
おまけ 眞子さまについて
という流れです。
お時間がある方は是非聴いてください。
:)
www.youtube.com/user/mitsushiro/
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構図の解説２
1.構図の解説２ ... 1/4
2.構図の解説２ ... 2/4
3.構図の解説２ ... 3/4
4.構図の解説２ ... 4/4
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僕のシャッター感覚
In the Eurostar to Venice . 2005. shot ... 1 / 2
www.flickr.com/photos/stealaway/49127115021/in/dateposted...
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Miles Davis sheet 1955-1976.
drive.google.com/drive/folders/1vBRMWGk29EmsoBV2o9NM1LIVi...
_________________________________
_________________________________
flickr.
www.flickr.com/photos/stealaway/
_________________________________
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YouTube.
www.youtube.com/user/mitsushiro/
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instagram.
www.instagram.com/mitsushiro_nakagawa/
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Pinterest.
www.pinterest.jp/MitsushiroNakagawa/
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YouPic
youpic.com/photographer/mitsushironakagawa/
_________________________________
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fotolog
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twitter.
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facebook.
www.facebook.com/mitsushiro.nakagawa
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Amazon.
www.amazon.co.jp/gp/profile/amzn1.account.AHSKI3YMYPYE5UE...
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僕の統計。（2021年5月11日現在）
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Japanese is the following.
drive.google.com/drive/folders/1vBRMWGk29EmsoBV2o9NM1LIVi...
Title of my book unforgettable' Mitsushiro Nakagawa Out Now. ISBN978-4-86264-866-2
Mitsushiro Nakagawa belong to Lot no.204_ . Copyright©︎2020 Lot no.204_ All rights reserved.
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” Lot No.402_ ” に関するお知らせ。
今後、僕は、” Lot No.402_ ”を主催します。
このロットナンバーは、眠っていたレオナルドダヴィンチの作品がオークションにかけらた際に付されたものです。
作品にはサインなどがいっさい記されていなかったため、彼の作品だと断定できませんでした。
しかし、様々な鑑定の結果、陽の光を浴びました。
誰にも気づかれない作品。肩書がなくとも静かに語りかける作品。
僕はこれから様々な形で、多くの皆様に提供できるよう努めてゆきます。
2020年10月24日 by Mitsu - Nakagawa.
Copyright©︎2020 Lot No.402_ All rights reserved.
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#Paris #Lumix #写真 #France #パリ #フランス #ルミックス #Panasonic #空港 #airport #CharlesdeGaulleAirport #SGLewis #VibeLikeThis #kawamuramemorialdicmuseumofart #川村記念美術館 #デザインフェスタ #デザフェス #designfesta #tokyobigsight #東京ビッグサイト #WWDC23
やちまた市 写真解説 後編
１ アップル ヘッドセットMR,ARは、既存ディスプレイを一掃する、
と２０２３年アップルカー発表
２ 僕の、嵐、キスマイの再生回数は？ 😄
３ やちまた市、写真解説、後編
A 僕が世界からなぜ、【きみは写真の世界に名前を残すだろう】と言われるのか？
B なぜ日本人が撮る写真は評価されないのか？
C なぜ海外へ行くべきなのか？
徹底的に熱く語りました。
老人よりも若手のみなさんにぜひ聞いてもらい、参考にしていただければと思います。
みなさんの感性に、日本のアートは委ねられています。😃
がんばって！！😃
前回の動画
やちまた市の写真解説前編？😃
• やちまた市の写真解説前編？😃
#アップルのヘッドセットはディスプレイを一掃する #WWDC23
#なぜ日本人が撮る写真は評価されないのか #きみは写真の世界に名前を残すだろう #アップルのヘッドセットはディスプレイを一掃する #なぜ海外へ行くべきか #アーティスト #写真家 #やちまた #八街 #アップルヘッドセット #appleheadset #AR #VR #xrOS #applecar #アップル #ちば #アップルカー #ジャニーズ #嵐 #キスマイ #ジャニーズ事務所 #arashi #kissmy #海外 #海外旅行 #千葉
#wwdc23 #Apple #Apple #iPhone #Mac #Headset #eyephone #wwdc23 #Apple #アップル #アイフォン #マック #ヘッドセット #eyephone
#WWDC23 #RealityPro #アップルカー #アップルカーのプレゼンテーション #アップル #アップルカーの戦略 #アイカー
#アイカーのプレゼンテーション #アイカーの戦略 #apple #applecar #車 #プレゼン #pc #パソコン #マック #Mac #icar #AppleCar #AppleCarPresentation #Apple #AppleCarStrategy #icarpresentation #icarstrategy #apple #applecar #Car #Presentation #pc
LARGE ON BLACK (press F11 for full screen view)
Facebook | CTF | Twitter| HDR| Victoria HDR| Top 50 Showcase| My HDR Tutorial
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Technique
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-Sony a300 w/ 18-70 kit lens
-Handheld
-18mm
-ISO 100
-F5.6
-Tonemapped in Photomatix 3.2 using a single RAW file
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What Wiki Says.. Random Fact: One of my photos is featured on the wiki page for the Legislature. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Columbia_Legislative_Buildings
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The British Columbia Parliament Buildings are located in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada and serve as the seat of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia.
HDR image at twilight
The Speaker and the Sergeant-At-Arms are amongst those responsible for the legislative precinct, which by statute include the Parliament Buildings and grounds.
The Neo-baroque buildings face north on Belleville street facing the Inner Harbour and diagonally across from The Empress Hotel. A large statue of Queen Victoria stands on the front lawn as well a statue of a soldier to commemorate the province's World War I, World War II and Korean War dead. Atop the central dome is a gold-covered statue of Captain George Vancouver. Free guided tours of the facility are offered year- round.
From 1856 to 1860 the Legislature of the Colony of Vancouver Island sat at Bachelor's Hall at Fort Victoria. From 1860 to 1898 it was housed in the first permanent building at Legislative Hall or Birdcages (burned down 1957).
The main block of the Parliament Buildings combines Baroque details with Romanesque Revival rustication
History
Construction of a new Parliament Building was first authorized by an act of the provincial legislature in 1893, the Parliament Buildings Construction Act. The province, anxious to show its growing economic, social and political status, was engaged in an architectural competition to build a new legislative building in Victoria, after outgrowing the previous wooden building, colloquially known as "The Birdcages" because of their shape, which were notoriously drafty and leaked in wet weather.[3] Francis Rattenbury, a recent English immigrant entered and signed his drawings with the pseudonym "A B.C. Architect", he progressed to the second round signing his drawing "For Queen and Province" and eventually winning the competition, despite being only 25 years old.
Despite many problems, including going over budget—the original budget was $500,000 the final amount was $923,000—the British Columbia Parliament Buildings were officially opened in 1898[4]. The grand scale of its 500-ft (152-m) long andesite façade, central dome and two end pavilions, the richness of its white marble, and combination of Baroque rigorous symmetry, use of domes and sculptural massing with the rusticated surfaces of the currently popular Romanesque Revival style contributed to its being an innovative and impressive monument for the young province. Its success garnered Rattenbury many more commissions in Victoria and other parts of the province, including the Legislative Library 1913-1915, the design of The Empress Hotel, the Crystal Gardens indoor swimming pool nearby, and the Vancouver Court House (now the Vancouver Art Gallery). The andesite of the British Columbia Parliament Buildings is from Haddington Island in the Alert Bay Volcanic Belt. The granite used to build the buildings came from Nelson Island, at the mouth of Jervis Inlet, on the Sunshine Coast.
Besides the elected Members of the Legislative Assembly, two organizations have been granted the privilege of using the Legislative Chambers during the legislature's December recess: the British Columbia Youth Parliament (since 1924, except during its sessions in the late 1940s and early 1950s) and the British Columbia Universities' Model Parliament.
During the 1994 Commonwealth Games, free music concerts were held on the front lawns of the buildings, attracting up to 40,000 people. Similar-sized crowds have gathered on the front lawn over the years, ranging from political protests and rallies, such as during the Solidarity Crisis of 1983, to celebrations of various kinds, including the BC 150 ceremonies.
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Permissions
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© 2009 Brandon Godfrey
Not for profit bloggers are welcome. I can always use the free publicity.
I do not use Getty Images. If you would like to use any of my photos, please contact me by flickrmail, or e-mail.
Thank You
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Smooth-gaited horses, generally known as Palfreys, existed in the Middle Ages, and the Jennet in particular was noted for its ambling gaits. Peruvian Pasos trace their ancestry to these ambling Jennets; as well as to the Barb, which contributed strength and stamina; and to the Andalusian which added style, conformation and action
Peruvian breeders kept the bloodlines clean and selectively bred primarily for gait, conformation, and temperament. They wanted strong, hardy animals that were comfortable to ride and easy to control.
The main hall of Chehel Sotun is a three dome structure, with each dome being flanked by a vaulted arch on either side, to give a total of six vaults. Each vault is filled with a large scale fresco painted on ceramic with the detail of a Persian miniature as used until then only in book illustrations. The decoration and the frescoes of the main hall were finished in 1647, under the auspices of Shah Abbas II to record key events in the Safavid dynasty
The renowned frescoes overpower the beautiful decoration of the domes and the vault surroundings. The decoration is in the Safavid style, similar to that found in the mosques, but instead of blues and yellows the dominant colour here is a warm gold. The richness of colour contributes to the overwhelming experience. The impact of the frescoes is due in a large part due to the very decorations that they are embedded into, and as such form an integral part of.
The internal roof is all the more breathtaking considering this palace was badly damaged when Esfahan was occupied by the Afghans from 1721-1729, who covered the frescoes with thick white paint. The remarkable recovery is being carried out by the Instituto Italiano per Il Medio Oriente. It seems only the dome frescoes are beyond repair, which makes the well preserved dome fresco on the open air rear terrace all the more precious.
The eastern side (shown here on the lower half) shows three frescoes, from left to right:
- Shah Abbas II's party for Nader Mohammad Khan, Emir of Turkistan
- Shah Ismail I's battle in India
- Shah Ismail I's Battle of Taher-Abad against Sheibak Khan the Uzbek
The western side (shown here on the top half) also shows three frescoes, from right to left:
- Shah Tahmasp receiving the Hindu prince Humayun
- Shah Ismail I's Battle of Chaldoran against the Ottoman Turks
- Shah Abbas I's feast in honor of Vali Mohammad Khan, Emir of Turkestan
The lower walls that support the domed and vaulted roof feature an additional twenty small frescoes, placed between the doors, niches and windows. These are conventional frescoes painted on plaster, and somewhat dominated by the six large frescoes in the ceiling vaults. While they have survived less well, they depict daily life at the Safavid court in exquisite detail.
note: There are "Click for detail" links attached to notes over each individual fresco, that load the separate photo of the relative fresco, including the smaller frescoes along the lower walls.
On our first trip to Iran, I took so many photos inside the main hall that upon reviewing the photos, I realised there were enough photos to create this composite image of the entire ceiling, excluding the lower walls. The shadows from the side windows have been reduced, but not removed to retain a sense of depth. The individual photos had to be manipulated considerably to 'flatten' the complex form of the ceiling and join the pieces together - a process which by nature introduces distortions in spatial form as well as technically compromising the resolution of some sections more than others, depending on the level of correction. In addition, with the inevitable 'flip and copy' sections, this image is not 100% accurate.
For over a year, while this image accumulated some 3,000 views, there were dark black shadows where the detail of the lower walls was missing.
On our second trip to Iran I systematically photographed the lower walls, taking first a series of photos of both walls to create a stitched panorama image of each wall, as well as taking individual photos of each of the small frescoes, which were post processed as individual shots (each also individually uploaded to flickr from the individual shots) and then reduced into the wall 'panoramas'. The two composite wall 'panoramas' were subsequently added to the top and bottom of the composite roof image. Finally the combined 'roof and walls composite' was re-equalised to match the roof and the walls, as well as enhancing colour and contrast from the earlier 'roof only' versions.
Unfortunately not a single shot of the small fresco on the right beside the eastern main entrance came out sharp enough, so for time being, there is no large version available of that particular fresco, and accordingly, there is no 'Click for detail' link on this composite.
Instead of uploading the complete version as a new image, I chose to replace this previously incomplete image.
The complete composite measures 10400 x 14941 at 133Mb in JPEG (in PSD it's 2GB and that's in 8bit after the 16bit version ran out of memory...). This scaled down version measures 'only' 2048x1534 at 4Mb. The six main frescoes linked from this page are crops from the high resolution PSD original, while the smaller frescoes from the lower walls are linked to the original size photos, which appear in reduced size on this composite.
The EXIF data originates from a photo from the lower part of the 'Battle in India' fresco, but all photos were taken with identical exposure etc. During both trips to Iran I was still shooting with the Nikon D200, so the Sigma 30mm f1.4 was the perfect lens given its equivalent to the classic normal prime on an APS-C sensor. The hall is remarkably dark, and no flash is allowed. The crowdy environment means setting up a tripod is simply not an option. The Sigma f1.4 allowed the low noise ISO400 to be used while still achieving a speed of 1/45 sec - just fast enough to get a sharp handheld picture...
I am attempting to create similar composites of Vank Cathedral, and the Apadana Stairs...
* This photo is blogged here by 'IntelliBriefs'
* This photo is used by Columbia University
* 26 July '07 - #286 on Flickr's Explore.
The Stupinigi Palace can be found on the outskirts of Turin. There were hardly any other visitors when we went last September, the lack of a direct public transport link may have contributed to that.
Click here to see more of my photos from various trips to Italy : www.flickr.com/photos/darrellg/albums/72157603213111374
From Wikipedia : "The Palazzina di caccia of Stupinigi (Italian: "The hunting residence of Stupinigi") is one of the Residences of the Royal House of Savoy in northern Italy, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list. Built as a royal hunting lodge in the early 18th century, it is located in Stupinigi, a suburb of the town of Nichelino, 10 km (6 mi) southwest of Turin.......
The original purpose of the hunting lodge is symbolized by the bronze stag perched at the apex of the stepped roof of its central dome, and the hounds' heads that decorate the vases on the roofline. The building has a saltire plan: four angled wings project from the oval-shaped main hall.
The extensions resulted in separate pavilions linked by long angled galleries and a long octagonal forecourt enclosed by wings, extended forwards in two further entrance courts."
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Maybe I’m alone with this but I have noticed when I dress up as a woman I find myself constantly checking out my look. I think a number of factors contribute to this. The big one being, since I was a young boy I have always wanted to become a girl. As I have grown older the desire to spend time as a woman has strengthened and not diminished in any way. As a young man I always believed I would ‘get over’ my desire to spend time as a female but that proved to be delusional. I enjoy spending time as a woman more and more, and it connects with me on deeply emotional level. I have regrets now that I was not brave enough as a young man to embark on the journey to becoming a woman. I took a different path that I now like and value and would not change. I do sometimes become consumed with the desire to be female but I do not wish to jeopardise my family and income by being too indulgent of my own desires.
Moving on from that current reality, my embracing transvestism saved me and enabled true self expression. I rarely become a woman and adore the precious few hours I am able to cross-dress and adopt a female appearance. When I have undergone the process of male to female transformation, something that is lengthy and requires much planning in my situation, I am thrilled and euphoric to cease being male for a few hours.
I have a deep need to try and pass completely as a woman, I have no desire within me to look like a man but as I am a man I find myself challenged in trying to achieve my inner dream. I do find big psychological changes occur as I work on myself physically to try and look female. As I pluck and shape my eyebrows, shave off my body hair and see my legs, chest and arms become smooth and hairless I felt a deep joy surfacing and a more relaxed sense of self emerging. Tucking away my male genitals and having no bulge really boosts me, I love how it makes me feel more female.
Typically at this stage I will apply my make-up at this point and an urgency begins to take root, the awareness I am committing to try and be more feminine than masculine grows exponentially and I have to force myself to be patient and take things steadily. I adore the moment I finally disguise my beard shadow with make-up and this induces a considerable confidence boost that pushes me forward to complete my transformation. I will admit a big thrill courses through me at this stage and I can at times, feel rather light headed. I often need to calm myself before proceeding.
In recent months I invested in an airbrush make-up application kit which, though tricky to use at first, produces smooth flawless looking coverage without looking thick on the face. It’s another huge confidence booster. I can recommend it for your foundation application, especially if you require a lot of coverage and want to venture out in public. You will get great smooth coverage and look more natural. Applying eyeliner, mascara and lipstick literally sends me in raptures of pure pleasure! I adore wearing make-up and love how it makes me feel.
Once the make-up is on my face I find I urgently have to don my wig, pull on my knickers (panties) and put on a bra and fill it with my breast forms, suddenly I feel I am more woman than man. I next enjoy taking my time sitting in my lingerie, in my make-up and with my feminine hair, and painting my nails.
If you are a male to female cross-dresser you will know what comes next. The moment has arrived to pull on tights (pantyhose) and pull on a dress before then slipping on a pair of high heels. I always love the moment of standing up as a woman at this point and enjoy the fact the man within has gone. Adding a dash of perfume and attaching ear-rings is the final touch beard a moment of sheer emotional intoxication takes over. Again, I find myself so suffused with inner joy at finally escaping my male self and embracing my female self that I need to take awhile to calm and settle into my female persona.
That’s the background to what occurs next and which I’ve compiled into this brief video. The video captures my own joy at being a closer to presenting myself as a woman and how I can hardly believe I have actually just transformed myself away from beg a male. I think vanity and obsession kick in and I find myself looking at myself in the mirror a lot and taking lots of photos to remind myself I did actually do this.
For many years photos were all I had of myself as my female alter-ego when, inevitably, I began to wonder do I actually look female? Personally, I always see my male self in my female appearance, which is a bit crushing emotionally, but I see some potential that if I work on it i may just one day pass as a woman and never be perceived as male.
As I became more curious about my efforts to look like a woman I came across a video on Flickr by Michelle Bennet in America. This, along with her patient encouragement as we corresponded, resulted in me recording my first video as a woman in June 2010. Video proved very revealing and far less forgiving than choosing the ‘good photo’ which is the way I used to do things. Most of the photos I took were deleted and only certain images where things were captured right were retained.
Video was exciting, I was suddenly seeing myself not just dressed as a woman but moving and I realised I had to try harder if I wanted to become a woman during the times I cross-dressed. It was really exciting and I drew on Michelle’s inspiration greatly. also found video was great for opening up about being a transvestite. I found it incredibly liberating to appear as a woman on camera and just chat about all the things I had suppressed for decades. Video has now become my outlet for self expression in regard to my female side.
I Idid notice in my videos that often, before I began to chat on camera, I would be examining myself on the screen. This is partly vanity (well a lot really) and partly the sheer amazement I am dressed as a woman and in make-up. I find since I began using my phone for video I ca see myself clearly on the screen and I keep checking myself out! I find myself examining my make-up and wig and outfits in detail and despite the vanity of such actions, it is good at providing instant feedback on my efforts to look and act as if I am a female.
These days I believe in admitting to all the things I’ve gone through in my quest to become a convincing looking woman when I cross-dress and I think it’s good to embrace your needs, desires and your past. I’ve gone through the whole micro skirts, skyscraper high heels and over the top make-up trying to act overtly sexy so why deny it, it happened and I loved doing it at the time. Go for it I say!
My quest these days is to pass in the real world as a woman. I found that thinking yourself into the gender and making that work unconsciously helps amazingly in your efforts to pass as a woman. Sometimes I surprise myself with the thoughts that I have when I am dressed as a woman. I definitely enjoy leaving the man behind and thinking as a female, its shocking, and exciting and genuinely thrilling when you realise you’ve crossed the line in your head!
Returning to this truly self indulgent video, I’ve compiled a few shots of myself checking out my look and would encourage others to give it a go as it really does help you evolve and improve with your make-up and hair and body movements and it is rather fun! It’s not really very structured as a video but as I am currently not able to cross-dress and become the woman I like to spend time as I am coping with my desire by posting indulgent videos like this one to help me cope and build anticipation for my next opportunity.
Despite being a man I love being a woman!
Whoever enters the former monastery church of Oberalteich, consecrated to St. Peter and Paul, for the first time will never cease to be amazed. The whole interior of the church seems to be a single fresco. Joseph Anton Merz and his brother Andreas created this between 1727 - 1731.
But the church building is older, built between 1622 and 1630 by the master builder Ulrich Walchner according to plans by Abbot Vitus Höser. Cosmas Damian Asam contributes to the rich furnishings with two altar leaves (east side altars), painted in 1730.
A little Christmas angel for the tree, from our trip to Germany last weekend.
Many thanks to all those who contributed comments below!
Former Air Jamaica 6Y-JMA & VR-CMA.
Later to Kitty Hawk Aircargo N281KH and Aerosucre Colombia HK-4544.
On Tuesday 20 December 2016
A Boeing 727 cargo plane, operated by Aerosucre Colombia, was destroyed when it crashed shortly after takeoff from Puerto Carreño Airport in Colombia. One of the six crew members survived the accident.
The aircraft arrived at Puerto Carreño at 14:48 hours local time after a cargo flight from Bogotá. Some 20,423 pounds of cargo was offloaded and new cargo was loaded for the return leg to Bogotá. Meanwhile, at 15:00 hours the aircraft became uncontrolled as had been published per Notam.
In the minutes before the planned departure, a Cessna 208 and an Embraer ERJ-170 passenger plane took off from runway 07. The wind at the time was about 010 degrees at 8 knots.
Subsequently the Boeing 727 taxied onto the runway, backtracking to the runway 25 threshold. At the same time the crew worked the respective checklists prior to takeoff and made a blind radio transmission, stating their imminent departure from Puerto Carreño. The aircraft then made a 180° turn and aligned for takeoff. Flaps were set at 30°and 6½ elevator trim units were selected. The flight crew then noted that they did not know the direction and intensity of the wind.
Takeoff was commenced at 17:18 hours.
After travelling the entire length of the 1800 m long runway, the aircraft had not become airborne. It travelled another 95 meters over grass until it struck a section of the perimeter fence. It crossed a road, hit a shed and a tree. The aircraft became airborne, but as a result of the impact, the right hand main landing gear had separated, the trailing inboard right flap was damaged, a loss of power in engine no.3 occurred and a leakage of hydraulic fluid from System A was noticed by the crew.
The aircraft reached a maximum altitude of 790 feet and entered a slight right hand descending turn until it impacted flat terrain, bursting into flames.
The weight and balance manifest of the accident flight was not found among the remains of the aircraft, nor was a copy of it in the company's office. It is presumed that the aircraft took off from Puerto Carreño with 19,820 pounds distributed on 9 pallets. According to the flight plan, there were five persons on board. In fact there was a sixth person on the flight.
A video posted on Youtube in October 2016 shows a takeoff of an Aerosucre Boeing 727 at Puerto Carreño Airport barely clearing the perimeter fence.
Probable causes:
Inadequate flight planning by the operator of the aircraft, and by the crew, by failure to properly perform dispatch procedures, take-off performance calculations and verification of limitations imposed by operational conditions of the aerodrome according to the configuration of the aircraft.
Wrong crew decision making by not considering a key aspect affecting aircraft performance, such as the prevailing tailwind at take-off.
Erroneous selection of take-off speeds V1/VR and V2, by the crew, corresponding to an aircraft without modification in its flap system, which led to rotate the aircraft with five more knots of speed, increasing the takeoff run.
Erroneous rotation technique applied by the Pilot, delayed maneuver that extended the long takeoff run even more.
Loss of components (landing gear, trailing inboard flap right) and damage to functional systems (loss of engine power No.3 and hydraulic system) necessary to control the aircraft in flight.
Loss of control in flight generated by asymmetries of lift, power and emptying of the main hydraulic systems that exceeded the capacity of the crew and made it impossible to maintain adequate directional control and stability of the aircraft.
Contributing Factors:
Non-compliance with the Aeronautical Regulations by the operating company of the aircraft, operating to an aerodrome unsuitable for the operation of B727-200 equipment, which, in addition, was not authorized for that type of aircraft in the company's Operating Specifications, approved by the Aeronautical Authority.
Lack of standardization and supervision of the operating company of the aircraft, allowing the operation of the B727-200 equipment, to which a modification had been applied to the flap system, with the reference tables of speeds corresponding to the aircraft without modification.
Execution of take-off with a weight that exceeded the maximum value established in the aircraft performance charts for the conditions prevailing at the Germán Olano airport.
Omission of the crew by not activating the Standby hydraulic system, which might have allowed emergency hydraulic pressure, to regain control of the aircraft.
Lack of supervision by the Aeronautical Authority, which allowed for several years the operation of equipment B727-200 of the company operating the aircraft at the Germán Olano aerodrome in Puerto Carreño, when the characteristics of the aerodrome did not allow it and without the operator being authorized to operate equipment B727-200 in that aerodrome.
I haven't contributed here in such a long time I don't know how active things are here anymore. Still it's good to re-visit the place of many happy postings, contacts and discussions. Truth is like a lot of people I'm busy getting on with life beyond the online world and haven't had much time to participate in the wonderful world of photography. I feel fortunate to be able to dip in and out as and when and not need to make money from it! My passion remains undimmed and an absence certainly helps. As it happens I've still got a stack of older images that were waiting to be given a bit of post processing tlc. I've never developed the extreme post processing chops of some of the incredible guys I've had the pleasure to come into contact with, I keep promising that's one for the long days of retirement when I'll have the time. But that could be a long way off I'm still just a lad :) Nevertheless I'm quite happy with how this turned out and I feel I'm still working within the same vision that feels authentic to how I see the world. That's enough of me saying hello again, thanks for dropping by and taking a look!
The Publishers of True Mystery ( Chatwick University Press) would like to truly thank the following artists who have contributed to this Magazine.
If anyone would like to be considered to be published in future editions, please by all means drop us a line and a shortcut to what you would have us publish…
True Mystery Halloween Edition 2017
Contents :
JewelOfDeniel - Dead Man's Party flic.kr/p/Z5dwfL
Kayla Woodrunner - Girl ( Ghouls)Band flic.kr/p/ZMMeVm
pammy.1963 - Pumkin Galore (Pic By Tonic) flic.kr/p/C7bMgf
Teddi Beres - Before the gates of Blacklichen flic.kr/p/AqcvSW
SeppeCampese – Weltschmerz flic.kr/p/ZsEXmE
Chatwick University - Ghost Story flic.kr/p/NgCvaV
Cover Story
CybeleMoon - The Rising of the Moon flic.kr/p/ZFbPBE
Please Visit our group
++++ FROM WIKIPEDIA ++++
U Bein Bridge (Burmese: ဦးပိန် တံတား) is a crossing that spans the Taungthaman Lake near Amarapura in Myanmar. The 1.2-kilometre (0.75 mi) bridge was built around 1850 and is believed to be the oldest and (once) longest teakwood bridge in the world.[1][2][3] Construction began when the capital of Ava Kingdom moved to Amarapura,[4] and the bridge is named after the mayor who had it built.[5] It is used as an important passageway for the local people and has also become a tourist attraction and therefore a significant source of income for souvenir sellers.[1][5][6][7] It is particularly busy during July and August when the lake is at its highest.[8]
The bridge was built from wood reclaimed from the former royal palace in Inwa. It features 1,086 pillars that stretch out of the water, some of which have been replaced with concrete. Though the bridge largely remains intact, there are fears that an increasing number of the pillars are becoming dangerously decayed. Some have become entirely detached from their bases and only remain in place because of the lateral bars holding them together. Damage to these supports have been caused by flooding as well as a fish breeding program introduced into the lake which has caused the water to become stagnant. The Ministry of Culture’s Department of Archaeology, National Museum and Library plans to carry out repairs when plans for the work are finalised.[1]
From 1 April 2009, eight police force personnel have been deployed to guard the bridge. Their presence is aimed at reducing anti-social behaviour and preventing criminal activities, with the first arrest coming in September 2013 when two men were reported for harassing tourists.[8]
Contents
1 Construction
2 Design and Structure
3 Gallery
4 References
Construction
The construction was started in 1849 and finished in 1851. Myanmar construction engineers used traditional methods of scaling and measuring to build the bridge. According to historic books about U Bein Bridge, Myanmar engineers made scale by counting the footsteps.
Design and Structure
The bridge was built in curved shape in the middle to resist the assault of wind and water. The main teak posts were hammered into the lake bed seven feet deep. The other ends of the posts were shaped conically to make sure that rain water would fall down easily. The joints of the bridge are intertwined.
Originally, there were 984 teak posts supporting the bridge and two approach brick bridges. Later the two approach brick bridges were replaced by wooden approach bridge. There are four wooden pavilions at the same interval along the bridge. By adding posts of two approach bridges and four pavilions, the number of posts amounts to 1089.
There are nine passageways in the bridge, where the floors can be lifted to let boats and barges pass. There 482 spans and the length of the bridge is 1,209 metres.
Myanmar (Burmese pronunciation: [mjəmà]),[nb 1][8] officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar and also known as Burma, is a sovereign state in Southeast Asia. Myanmar is bordered by India and Bangladesh to its west, Thailand and Laos to its east and China to its north and northeast. To its south, about one third of Myanmar's total perimeter of 5,876 km (3,651 mi) forms an uninterrupted coastline of 1,930 km (1,200 mi) along the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea. The country's 2014 census counted the population to be 51 million people.[9] As of 2017, the population is about 54 million.[10] Myanmar is 676,578 square kilometers (261,228 square miles) in size. Its capital city is Naypyidaw, and its largest city and former capital is Yangon (Rangoon).[1] Myanmar has been a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) since 1997.
Early civilisations in Myanmar included the Tibeto-Burman-speaking Pyu city-states in Upper Burma and the Mon kingdoms in Lower Burma.[11] In the 9th century, the Bamar people entered the upper Irrawaddy valley and, following the establishment of the Pagan Kingdom in the 1050s, the Burmese language, culture and Theravada Buddhism slowly became dominant in the country. The Pagan Kingdom fell due to the Mongol invasions and several warring states emerged. In the 16th century, reunified by the Taungoo Dynasty, the country was for a brief period the largest empire in the history of Mainland Southeast Asia.[12] The early 19th century Konbaung Dynasty ruled over an area that included modern Myanmar and briefly controlled Manipur and Assam as well. The British took over the administration of Myanmar after three Anglo-Burmese Wars in the 19th century and the country became a British colony. Myanmar was granted independence in 1948, as a democratic nation. Following a coup d'état in 1962, it became a military dictatorship.
For most of its independent years, the country has been engrossed in rampant ethnic strife and its myriad ethnic groups have been involved in one of the world's longest-running ongoing civil wars. During this time, the United Nations and several other organisations have reported consistent and systematic human rights violations in the country.[13] In 2011, the military junta was officially dissolved following a 2010 general election, and a nominally civilian government was installed. This, along with the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and political prisoners, has improved the country's human rights record and foreign relations, and has led to the easing of trade and other economic sanctions.[14] There is, however, continuing criticism of the government's treatment of ethnic minorities, its response to the ethnic insurgency, and religious clashes.[15] In the landmark 2015 election, Aung San Suu Kyi's party won a majority in both houses. However, the Burmese military remains a powerful force in politics.
Myanmar is a country rich in jade and gems, oil, natural gas and other mineral resources. In 2013, its GDP (nominal) stood at US$56.7 billion and its GDP (PPP) at US$221.5 billion.[6] The income gap in Myanmar is among the widest in the world, as a large proportion of the economy is controlled by supporters of the former military government.[16] As of 2016, Myanmar ranks 145 out of 188 countries in human development, according to the Human Development Index.[7]
Etymology
Main article: Names of Myanmar
In 1989, the military government officially changed the English translations of many names dating back to Burma's colonial period or earlier, including that of the country itself: "Burma" became "Myanmar". The renaming remains a contested issue.[17] Many political and ethnic opposition groups and countries continue to use "Burma" because they do not recognise the legitimacy of the ruling military government or its authority to rename the country.[18]
In April 2016, soon after taking office, Aung San Suu Kyi clarified that foreigners are free to use either name, "because there is nothing in the constitution of our country that says that you must use any term in particular".[19]
The country's official full name is the "Republic of the Union of Myanmar" (ပြည်ထောင်စုသမ္မတ မြန်မာနိုင်ငံတော်, Pyidaunzu Thanmăda Myăma Nainngandaw, pronounced [pjìdàʊɴzṵ θàɴməda̰ mjəmà nàɪɴŋàɴdɔ̀]). Countries that do not officially recognise that name use the long form "Union of Burma" instead.[20]
In English, the country is popularly known as either "Burma" or "Myanmar" /ˈmjɑːnˌmɑːr/ (About this sound listen).[8] Both these names are derived from the name of the majority Burmese Bamar ethnic group. Myanmar is considered to be the literary form of the name of the group, while Burma is derived from "Bamar", the colloquial form of the group's name.[17] Depending on the register used, the pronunciation would be Bama (pronounced [bəmà]) or Myamah (pronounced [mjəmà]).[17] The name Burma has been in use in English since the 18th century.
Burma continues to be used in English by the governments of many countries, such as Canada and the United Kingdom.[21][22] Official United States policy retains Burma as the country's name, although the State Department's website lists the country as "Burma (Myanmar)" and Barack Obama has referred to the country by both names.[23] The Czech Republic officially uses Myanmar, although its Ministry of Foreign Affairs mentions both Myanmar and Burma on its website.[24] The United Nations uses Myanmar, as do the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Australia,[25] Russia, Germany,[26] China, India, Bangladesh, Norway,[27] Japan[21] and Switzerland.[28]
Most English-speaking international news media refer to the country by the name Myanmar, including the BBC,[29] CNN,[30] Al Jazeera,[31] Reuters,[32] RT (Russia Today) and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)/Radio Australia.[33]
Myanmar is known with a name deriving from Burma as opposed to Myanmar in Spanish, Italian, Romanian, and Greek – Birmania being the local version of Burma in the Spanish language, for example. Myanmar used to be known as "Birmânia" in Portuguese, and as "Birmanie" in French.[34] As in the past, French-language media today consistently use Birmanie.,[35][36]
History
Main article: History of Myanmar
Prehistory
Main articles: Prehistory of Myanmar and Migration period of ancient Burma
Pyu city-states c. 8th century; Pagan is shown for comparison only and is not contemporary.
Archaeological evidence shows that Homo erectus lived in the region now known as Myanmar as early as 750,000 years ago, with no more erectus finds after 75,000 years ago.[37] The first evidence of Homo sapiens is dated to about 11,000 BC, in a Stone Age culture called the Anyathian with discoveries of stone tools in central Myanmar. Evidence of neolithic age domestication of plants and animals and the use of polished stone tools dating to sometime between 10,000 and 6,000 BC has been discovered in the form of cave paintings in Padah-Lin Caves.[38]
The Bronze Age arrived circa 1500 BC when people in the region were turning copper into bronze, growing rice and domesticating poultry and pigs; they were among the first people in the world to do so.[39] Human remains and artefacts from this era were discovered in Monywa District in the Sagaing Division.[40] The Iron Age began around 500 BC with the emergence of iron-working settlements in an area south of present-day Mandalay.[41] Evidence also shows the presence of rice-growing settlements of large villages and small towns that traded with their surroundings as far as China between 500 BC and 200 AD.[42] Iron Age Burmese cultures also had influences from outside sources such as India and Thailand, as seen in their funerary practices concerning child burials. This indicates some form of communication between groups in Myanmar and other places, possibly through trade.[43]
Early city-states
Main articles: Pyu city-states and Mon kingdoms
Around the second century BC the first-known city-states emerged in central Myanmar. The city-states were founded as part of the southward migration by the Tibeto-Burman-speaking Pyu city-states, the earliest inhabitants of Myanmar of whom records are extant, from present-day Yunnan.[44] The Pyu culture was heavily influenced by trade with India, importing Buddhism as well as other cultural, architectural and political concepts, which would have an enduring influence on later Burmese culture and political organisation.[45]
By the 9th century, several city-states had sprouted across the land: the Pyu in the central dry zone, Mon along the southern coastline and Arakanese along the western littoral. The balance was upset when the Pyu came under repeated attacks from Nanzhao between the 750s and the 830s. In the mid-to-late 9th century the Bamar people founded a small settlement at Bagan. It was one of several competing city-states until the late 10th century when it grew in authority and grandeur.[46]
Imperial Burma
Main articles: Pagan Kingdom, Taungoo Dynasty, and Konbaung Dynasty
See also: Ava Kingdom, Hanthawaddy Kingdom, Kingdom of Mrauk U, and Shan States
Pagodas and kyaungs in present-day Bagan, the capital of the Pagan Kingdom.
Pagan gradually grew to absorb its surrounding states until the 1050s–1060s when Anawrahta founded the Pagan Kingdom, the first ever unification of the Irrawaddy valley and its periphery. In the 12th and 13th centuries, the Pagan Empire and the Khmer Empire were two main powers in mainland Southeast Asia.[47] The Burmese language and culture gradually became dominant in the upper Irrawaddy valley, eclipsing the Pyu, Mon and Pali norms by the late 12th century.[48]
Theravada Buddhism slowly began to spread to the village level, although Tantric, Mahayana, Hinduism, and folk religion remained heavily entrenched. Pagan's rulers and wealthy built over 10,000 Buddhist temples in the Pagan capital zone alone. Repeated Mongol invasions (1277–1301) toppled the four-century-old kingdom in 1287.[48]
Temples at Mrauk U.
Pagan's collapse was followed by 250 years of political fragmentation that lasted well into the 16th century. Like the Burmans four centuries earlier, Shan migrants who arrived with the Mongol invasions stayed behind. Several competing Shan States came to dominate the entire northwestern to eastern arc surrounding the Irrawaddy valley. The valley too was beset with petty states until the late 14th century when two sizeable powers, Ava Kingdom and Hanthawaddy Kingdom, emerged. In the west, a politically fragmented Arakan was under competing influences of its stronger neighbours until the Kingdom of Mrauk U unified the Arakan coastline for the first time in 1437.
Early on, Ava fought wars of unification (1385–1424) but could never quite reassemble the lost empire. Having held off Ava, Hanthawaddy entered its golden age, and Arakan went on to become a power in its own right for the next 350 years. In contrast, constant warfare left Ava greatly weakened, and it slowly disintegrated from 1481 onward. In 1527, the Confederation of Shan States conquered Ava itself, and ruled Upper Myanmar until 1555.
Like the Pagan Empire, Ava, Hanthawaddy and the Shan states were all multi-ethnic polities. Despite the wars, cultural synchronisation continued. This period is considered a golden age for Burmese culture. Burmese literature "grew more confident, popular, and stylistically diverse", and the second generation of Burmese law codes as well as the earliest pan-Burma chronicles emerged.[49] Hanthawaddy monarchs introduced religious reforms that later spread to the rest of the country.[50] Many splendid temples of Mrauk U were built during this period.
Taungoo and colonialism
Bayinnaung's Empire in 1580.
Political unification returned in the mid-16th century, due to the efforts of Taungoo, a former vassal state of Ava. Taungoo's young, ambitious king Tabinshwehti defeated the more powerful Hanthawaddy in the Toungoo–Hanthawaddy War (1534–41). His successor Bayinnaung went on to conquer a vast swath of mainland Southeast Asia including the Shan states, Lan Na, Manipur, Mong Mao, the Ayutthaya Kingdom, Lan Xang and southern Arakan. However, the largest empire in the history of Southeast Asia unravelled soon after Bayinnaung's death in 1581, completely collapsing by 1599. Ayutthaya seized Tenasserim and Lan Na, and Portuguese mercenaries established Portuguese rule at Thanlyin (Syriam).
The dynasty regrouped and defeated the Portuguese in 1613 and Siam in 1614. It restored a smaller, more manageable kingdom, encompassing Lower Myanmar, Upper Myanmar, Shan states, Lan Na and upper Tenasserim. The Restored Toungoo kings created a legal and political framework whose basic features would continue well into the 19th century. The crown completely replaced the hereditary chieftainships with appointed governorships in the entire Irrawaddy valley, and greatly reduced the hereditary rights of Shan chiefs. Its trade and secular administrative reforms built a prosperous economy for more than 80 years. From the 1720s onward, the kingdom was beset with repeated Meithei raids into Upper Myanmar and a nagging rebellion in Lan Na. In 1740, the Mon of Lower Myanmar founded the Restored Hanthawaddy Kingdom. Hanthawaddy forces sacked Ava in 1752, ending the 266-year-old Toungoo Dynasty.
A British 1825 lithograph of Shwedagon Pagoda shows British occupation during the First Anglo-Burmese War.
After the fall of Ava, the Konbaung–Hanthawaddy War involved one resistance group under Alaungpaya defeating the Restored Hanthawaddy, and by 1759, he had reunited all of Myanmar and Manipur, and driven out the French and the British, who had provided arms to Hanthawaddy. By 1770, Alaungpaya's heirs had subdued much of Laos (1765) and fought and won the Burmese–Siamese War (1765–67) against Ayutthaya and the Sino-Burmese War (1765–69) against Qing China (1765–1769).[51]
With Burma preoccupied by the Chinese threat, Ayutthaya recovered its territories by 1770, and went on to capture Lan Na by 1776. Burma and Siam went to war until 1855, but all resulted in a stalemate, exchanging Tenasserim (to Burma) and Lan Na (to Ayutthaya). Faced with a powerful China and a resurgent Ayutthaya in the east, King Bodawpaya turned west, acquiring Arakan (1785), Manipur (1814) and Assam (1817). It was the second-largest empire in Burmese history but also one with a long ill-defined border with British India.[52]
The breadth of this empire was short lived. Burma lost Arakan, Manipur, Assam and Tenasserim to the British in the First Anglo-Burmese War (1824–1826). In 1852, the British easily seized Lower Burma in the Second Anglo-Burmese War. King Mindon Min tried to modernise the kingdom, and in 1875 narrowly avoided annexation by ceding the Karenni States. The British, alarmed by the consolidation of French Indochina, annexed the remainder of the country in the Third Anglo-Burmese War in 1885.
Konbaung kings extended Restored Toungoo's administrative reforms, and achieved unprecedented levels of internal control and external expansion. For the first time in history, the Burmese language and culture came to predominate the entire Irrawaddy valley. The evolution and growth of Burmese literature and theatre continued, aided by an extremely high adult male literacy rate for the era (half of all males and 5% of females).[53] Nonetheless, the extent and pace of reforms were uneven and ultimately proved insufficient to stem the advance of British colonialism.
British Burma (1824–1948)
Main articles: British rule in Burma and Burma Campaign
Burma in British India
The landing of British forces in Mandalay after the last of the Anglo-Burmese Wars, which resulted in the abdication of the last Burmese monarch, King Thibaw Min.
British troops firing a mortar on the Mawchi road, July 1944.
The eighteenth century saw Burmese rulers, whose country had not previously been of particular interest to European traders, seek to maintain their traditional influence in the western areas of Assam, Manipur and Arakan. Pressing them, however, was the British East India Company, which was expanding its interests eastwards over the same territory. Over the next sixty years, diplomacy, raids, treaties and compromises continued until, after three Anglo-Burmese Wars (1824–1885), Britain proclaimed control over most of Burma.[54] British rule brought social, economic, cultural and administrative changes.
With the fall of Mandalay, all of Burma came under British rule, being annexed on 1 January 1886. Throughout the colonial era, many Indians arrived as soldiers, civil servants, construction workers and traders and, along with the Anglo-Burmese community, dominated commercial and civil life in Burma. Rangoon became the capital of British Burma and an important port between Calcutta and Singapore.
Burmese resentment was strong and was vented in violent riots that paralysed Yangon (Rangoon) on occasion all the way until the 1930s.[55] Some of the discontent was caused by a disrespect for Burmese culture and traditions such as the British refusal to remove shoes when they entered pagodas. Buddhist monks became the vanguards of the independence movement. U Wisara, an activist monk, died in prison after a 166-day hunger strike to protest against a rule that forbade him to wear his Buddhist robes while imprisoned.[56]
Separation of British Burma from British India
On 1 April 1937, Burma became a separately administered colony of Great Britain and Ba Maw the first Prime Minister and Premier of Burma. Ba Maw was an outspoken advocate for Burmese self-rule and he opposed the participation of Great Britain, and by extension Burma, in World War II. He resigned from the Legislative Assembly and was arrested for sedition. In 1940, before Japan formally entered the Second World War, Aung San formed the Burma Independence Army in Japan.
A major battleground, Burma was devastated during World War II. By March 1942, within months after they entered the war, Japanese troops had advanced on Rangoon and the British administration had collapsed. A Burmese Executive Administration headed by Ba Maw was established by the Japanese in August 1942. Wingate's British Chindits were formed into long-range penetration groups trained to operate deep behind Japanese lines.[57] A similar American unit, Merrill's Marauders, followed the Chindits into the Burmese jungle in 1943.[58] Beginning in late 1944, allied troops launched a series of offensives that led to the end of Japanese rule in July 1945. The battles were intense with much of Burma laid waste by the fighting. Overall, the Japanese lost some 150,000 men in Burma. Only 1,700 prisoners were taken.[59]
Although many Burmese fought initially for the Japanese as part of the Burma Independence Army, many Burmese, mostly from the ethnic minorities, served in the British Burma Army.[60] The Burma National Army and the Arakan National Army fought with the Japanese from 1942 to 1944 but switched allegiance to the Allied side in 1945. Under Japanese occupation, 170,000 to 250,000 civilians died.[61]
Following World War II, Aung San negotiated the Panglong Agreement with ethnic leaders that guaranteed the independence of Myanmar as a unified state. Aung Zan Wai, Pe Khin, Bo Hmu Aung, Sir Maung Gyi, Dr. Sein Mya Maung, Myoma U Than Kywe were among the negotiators of the historical Panglong Conference negotiated with Bamar leader General Aung San and other ethnic leaders in 1947. In 1947, Aung San became Deputy Chairman of the Executive Council of Myanmar, a transitional government. But in July 1947, political rivals[62] assassinated Aung San and several cabinet members.[63]
Independence (1948–1962)
Main article: Post-independence Burma, 1948–62
British governor Hubert Elvin Rance and Sao Shwe Thaik at the flag raising ceremony on 4 January 1948 (Independence Day of Burma).
On 4 January 1948, the nation became an independent republic, named the Union of Burma, with Sao Shwe Thaik as its first President and U Nu as its first Prime Minister. Unlike most other former British colonies and overseas territories, Burma did not become a member of the Commonwealth. A bicameral parliament was formed, consisting of a Chamber of Deputies and a Chamber of Nationalities,[64] and multi-party elections were held in 1951–1952, 1956 and 1960.
The geographical area Burma encompasses today can be traced to the Panglong Agreement, which combined Burma Proper, which consisted of Lower Burma and Upper Burma, and the Frontier Areas, which had been administered separately by the British.[65]
In 1961, U Thant, then the Union of Burma's Permanent Representative to the United Nations and former Secretary to the Prime Minister, was elected Secretary-General of the United Nations, a position he held for ten years.[66] Among the Burmese to work at the UN when he was Secretary-General was a young Aung San Suu Kyi (daughter of Aung San), who went on to become winner of the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize.
When the non-Burman ethnic groups pushed for autonomy or federalism, alongside having a weak civilian government at the centre, the military leadership staged a coup d’état in 1962. Though incorporated in the 1947 Constitution, successive military governments construed the use of the term ‘federalism’ as being anti-national, anti-unity and pro-disintegration.[67]
Military rule (1962–2011)
On 2 March 1962, the military led by General Ne Win took control of Burma through a coup d'état, and the government has been under direct or indirect control by the military since then. Between 1962 and 1974, Myanmar was ruled by a revolutionary council headed by the general. Almost all aspects of society (business, media, production) were nationalised or brought under government control under the Burmese Way to Socialism,[68] which combined Soviet-style nationalisation and central planning.
A new constitution of the Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma was adopted in 1974. Until 1988, the country was ruled as a one-party system, with the General and other military officers resigning and ruling through the Burma Socialist Programme Party (BSPP).[69] During this period, Myanmar became one of the world's most impoverished countries.[70]
Protesters gathering in central Rangoon, 1988.
There were sporadic protests against military rule during the Ne Win years and these were almost always violently suppressed. On 7 July 1962, the government broke up demonstrations at Rangoon University, killing 15 students.[68] In 1974, the military violently suppressed anti-government protests at the funeral of U Thant. Student protests in 1975, 1976, and 1977 were quickly suppressed by overwhelming force.[69]
In 1988, unrest over economic mismanagement and political oppression by the government led to widespread pro-democracy demonstrations throughout the country known as the 8888 Uprising. Security forces killed thousands of demonstrators, and General Saw Maung staged a coup d'état and formed the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC). In 1989, SLORC declared martial law after widespread protests. The military government finalised plans for People's Assembly elections on 31 May 1989.[71] SLORC changed the country's official English name from the "Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma" to the "Union of Myanmar" in 1989.
In May 1990, the government held free elections for the first time in almost 30 years and the National League for Democracy (NLD), the party of Aung San Suu Kyi, won 392 out of a total 492 seats (i.e., 80% of the seats). However, the military junta refused to cede power[72] and continued to rule the nation as SLORC until 1997, and then as the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) until its dissolution in March 2011.
Protesters in Yangon during the 2007 Saffron Revolution with a banner that reads non-violence: national movement in Burmese. In the background is Shwedagon Pagoda.
On 23 June 1997, Myanmar was admitted into the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). On 27 March 2006, the military junta, which had moved the national capital from Yangon to a site near Pyinmana in November 2005, officially named the new capital Naypyidaw, meaning "city of the kings".[73]
Cyclone Nargis in southern Myanmar, May 2008.
In August 2007, an increase in the price of diesel and petrol led to the Saffron Revolution led by Buddhist monks that were dealt with harshly by the government.[74] The government cracked down on them on 26 September 2007. The crackdown was harsh, with reports of barricades at the Shwedagon Pagoda and monks killed. There were also rumours of disagreement within the Burmese armed forces, but none was confirmed. The military crackdown against unarmed protesters was widely condemned as part of the international reactions to the Saffron Revolution and led to an increase in economic sanctions against the Burmese Government.
In May 2008, Cyclone Nargis caused extensive damage in the densely populated, rice-farming delta of the Irrawaddy Division.[75] It was the worst natural disaster in Burmese history with reports of an estimated 200,000 people dead or missing, damage totalled to 10 billion US dollars, and as many as 1 million left homeless.[76] In the critical days following this disaster, Myanmar's isolationist government was accused of hindering United Nations recovery efforts.[77] Humanitarian aid was requested but concerns about foreign military or intelligence presence in the country delayed the entry of United States military planes delivering medicine, food, and other supplies.[78]
In early August 2009, a conflict known as the Kokang incident broke out in Shan State in northern Myanmar. For several weeks, junta troops fought against ethnic minorities including the Han Chinese,[79] Wa, and Kachin.[80][81] During 8–12 August, the first days of the conflict, as many as 10,000 Burmese civilians fled to Yunnan province in neighbouring China.[80][81][82]
Civil wars
Main articles: Internal conflict in Myanmar, Kachin Conflict, Karen conflict, and 2015 Kokang offensive
Civil wars have been a constant feature of Myanmar's socio-political landscape since the attainment of independence in 1948. These wars are predominantly struggles for ethnic and sub-national autonomy, with the areas surrounding the ethnically Bamar central districts of the country serving as the primary geographical setting of conflict. Foreign journalists and visitors require a special travel permit to visit the areas in which Myanmar's civil wars continue.[83]
In October 2012, the ongoing conflicts in Myanmar included the Kachin conflict,[84] between the Pro-Christian Kachin Independence Army and the government;[85] a civil war between the Rohingya Muslims, and the government and non-government groups in Rakhine State;[86] and a conflict between the Shan,[87] Lahu, and Karen[88][89] minority groups, and the government in the eastern half of the country. In addition, al-Qaeda signalled an intention to become involved in Myanmar. In a video released on 3 September 2014, mainly addressed to India, the militant group's leader Ayman al-Zawahiri said al-Qaeda had not forgotten the Muslims of Myanmar and that the group was doing "what they can to rescue you".[90] In response, the military raised its level of alertness, while the Burmese Muslim Association issued a statement saying Muslims would not tolerate any threat to their motherland.[91]
Armed conflict between ethnic Chinese rebels and the Myanmar Armed Forces have resulted in the Kokang offensive in February 2015. The conflict had forced 40,000 to 50,000 civilians to flee their homes and seek shelter on the Chinese side of the border.[92] During the incident, the government of China was accused of giving military assistance to the ethnic Chinese rebels. Burmese officials have been historically "manipulated" and pressured by the Chinese government throughout Burmese modern history to create closer and binding ties with China, creating a Chinese satellite state in Southeast Asia.[93] However, uncertainties exist as clashes between Burmese troops and local insurgent groups continue.
Democratic reforms
Main article: 2011–12 Burmese political reforms
The goal of the Burmese constitutional referendum of 2008, held on 10 May 2008, is the creation of a "discipline-flourishing democracy". As part of the referendum process, the name of the country was changed from the "Union of Myanmar" to the "Republic of the Union of Myanmar", and general elections were held under the new constitution in 2010. Observer accounts of the 2010 election describe the event as mostly peaceful; however, allegations of polling station irregularities were raised, and the United Nations (UN) and a number of Western countries condemned the elections as fraudulent.[94]
U.S. President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton with Aung San Suu Kyi and her staff at her home in Yangon, 2012
The military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party declared victory in the 2010 elections, stating that it had been favoured by 80 percent of the votes; however, the claim was disputed by numerous pro-democracy opposition groups who asserted that the military regime had engaged in rampant fraud.[95][96] One report documented 77 percent as the official turnout rate of the election.[95] The military junta was dissolved on 30 March 2011.
Opinions differ whether the transition to liberal democracy is underway. According to some reports, the military's presence continues as the label "disciplined democracy" suggests. This label asserts that the Burmese military is allowing certain civil liberties while clandestinely institutionalising itself further into Burmese politics. Such an assertion assumes that reforms only occurred when the military was able to safeguard its own interests through the transition—here, "transition" does not refer to a transition to a liberal democracy, but transition to a quasi-military rule.[97]
Since the 2010 election, the government has embarked on a series of reforms to direct the country towards liberal democracy, a mixed economy, and reconciliation, although doubts persist about the motives that underpin such reforms. The series of reforms includes the release of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest, the establishment of the National Human Rights Commission, the granting of general amnesties for more than 200 political prisoners, new labour laws that permit labour unions and strikes, a relaxation of press censorship, and the regulation of currency practices.[98]
The impact of the post-election reforms has been observed in numerous areas, including ASEAN's approval of Myanmar's bid for the position of ASEAN chair in 2014;[99] the visit by United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in December 2011 for the encouragement of further progress, which was the first visit by a Secretary of State in more than fifty years,[100] during which Clinton met with the Burmese president and former military commander Thein Sein, as well as opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi;[101] and the participation of Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) party in the 2012 by-elections, facilitated by the government's abolition of the laws that previously barred the NLD.[102] As of July 2013, about 100[103][104] political prisoners remain imprisoned, while conflict between the Burmese Army and local insurgent groups continues.
Map of Myanmar and its divisions, including Shan State, Kachin State, Rakhine State and Karen State.
In 1 April 2012 by-elections, the NLD won 43 of the 45 available seats; previously an illegal organisation, the NLD had not won a single seat under new constitution. The 2012 by-elections were also the first time that international representatives were allowed to monitor the voting process in Myanmar.[105]
2015 general elections
Main article: Myanmar general election, 2015
General elections were held on 8 November 2015. These were the first openly contested elections held in Myanmar since 1990. The results gave the National League for Democracy an absolute majority of seats in both chambers of the national parliament, enough to ensure that its candidate would become president, while NLD leader Aung San Suu Kyi is constitutionally barred from the presidency.[106]
The new parliament convened on 1 February 2016[107] and, on 15 March 2016, Htin Kyaw was elected as the first non-military president since the military coup of 1962.[108] On 6 April 2016, Aung San Suu Kyi assumed the newly created role of State Counsellor, a role akin to a Prime Minister.
Geography
Main article: Geography of Myanmar
A map of Myanmar
Myanmar map of Köppen climate classification.
Myanmar has a total area of 678,500 square kilometres (262,000 sq mi). It lies between latitudes 9° and 29°N, and longitudes 92° and 102°E. As of February 2011, Myanmar consisted of 14 states and regions, 67 districts, 330 townships, 64 sub-townships, 377 towns, 2,914 Wards, 14,220 village tracts and 68,290 villages.
Myanmar is bordered in the northwest by the Chittagong Division of Bangladesh and the Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh states of India. Its north and northeast border is with the Tibet Autonomous Region and Yunnan province for a Sino-Myanmar border total of 2,185 km (1,358 mi). It is bounded by Laos and Thailand to the southeast. Myanmar has 1,930 km (1,200 mi) of contiguous coastline along the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea to the southwest and the south, which forms one quarter of its total perimeter.[20]
In the north, the Hengduan Mountains form the border with China. Hkakabo Razi, located in Kachin State, at an elevation of 5,881 metres (19,295 ft), is the highest point in Myanmar.[109] Many mountain ranges, such as the Rakhine Yoma, the Bago Yoma, the Shan Hills and the Tenasserim Hills exist within Myanmar, all of which run north-to-south from the Himalayas.[110]
The mountain chains divide Myanmar's three river systems, which are the Irrawaddy, Salween (Thanlwin), and the Sittaung rivers.[111] The Irrawaddy River, Myanmar's longest river, nearly 2,170 kilometres (1,348 mi) long, flows into the Gulf of Martaban. Fertile plains exist in the valleys between the mountain chains.[110] The majority of Myanmar's population lives in the Irrawaddy valley, which is situated between the Rakhine Yoma and the Shan Plateau.
Administrative divisions
Main article: Administrative divisions of Myanmar
A clickable map of Burma/Myanmar exhibiting its first-level administrative divisions.
About this image
Myanmar is divided into seven states (ပြည်နယ်) and seven regions (တိုင်းဒေသကြီး), formerly called divisions.[112] Regions are predominantly Bamar (that is, mainly inhabited by the dominant ethnic group). States, in essence, are regions that are home to particular ethnic minorities. The administrative divisions are further subdivided into districts, which are further subdivided into townships, wards, and villages.
Climate
Main article: Climate of Myanmar
The limestone landscape of Mon State.
Much of the country lies between the Tropic of Cancer and the Equator. It lies in the monsoon region of Asia, with its coastal regions receiving over 5,000 mm (196.9 in) of rain annually. Annual rainfall in the delta region is approximately 2,500 mm (98.4 in), while average annual rainfall in the Dry Zone in central Myanmar is less than 1,000 mm (39.4 in). The Northern regions of Myanmar are the coolest, with average temperatures of 21 °C (70 °F). Coastal and delta regions have an average maximum temperature of 32 °C (89.6 °F).[111]
Environment
Further information: Deforestation in Myanmar
Myanmar continues to perform badly in the global Environmental Performance Index (EPI) with an overall ranking of 153 out of 180 countries in 2016; among the worst in the South Asian region, only ahead of Bangladesh and Afghanistan. The EPI was established in 2001 by the World Economic Forum as a global gauge to measure how well individual countries perform in implementing the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals. The environmental areas where Myanmar performs worst (ie. highest ranking) are air quality (174), health impacts of environmental issues (143) and biodiversity and habitat (142). Myanmar performs best (ie. lowest ranking) in environmental impacts of fisheries (21), but with declining fish stocks. Despite several issues, Myanmar also ranks 64 and scores very good (ie. a high percentage of 93.73%) in environmental effects of the agricultural industry because of an excellent management of the nitrogen cycle.[114][115]
Wildlife
Myanmar's slow economic growth has contributed to the preservation of much of its environment and ecosystems. Forests, including dense tropical growth and valuable teak in lower Myanmar, cover over 49% of the country, including areas of acacia, bamboo, ironwood and Magnolia champaca. Coconut and betel palm and rubber have been introduced. In the highlands of the north, oak, pine and various rhododendrons cover much of the land.[116]
Heavy logging since the new 1995 forestry law went into effect has seriously reduced forest acreage and wildlife habitat.[117] The lands along the coast support all varieties of tropical fruits and once had large areas of mangroves although much of the protective mangroves have disappeared. In much of central Myanmar (the Dry Zone), vegetation is sparse and stunted.
Typical jungle animals, particularly tigers, occur sparsely in Myanmar. In upper Myanmar, there are rhinoceros, wild water buffalo, clouded leopard, wild boars, deer, antelope, and elephants, which are also tamed or bred in captivity for use as work animals, particularly in the lumber industry. Smaller mammals are also numerous, ranging from gibbons and monkeys to flying foxes. The abundance of birds is notable with over 800 species, including parrots, myna, peafowl, red junglefowl, weaverbirds, crows, herons, and barn owl. Among reptile species there are crocodiles, geckos, cobras, Burmese pythons, and turtles. Hundreds of species of freshwater fish are wide-ranging, plentiful and are very important food sources.[118] For a list of protected areas, see List of protected areas of Myanmar.
Government and politics
Main article: Politics of Myanmar
Assembly of the Union (Pyidaungsu Hluttaw)
The constitution of Myanmar, its third since independence, was drafted by its military rulers and published in September 2008. The country is governed as a parliamentary system with a bicameral legislature (with an executive President accountable to the legislature), with 25% of the legislators appointed by the military and the rest elected in general elections.
The Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5a was a British biplane fighter aircraft used during World War I. It was known for its agility, speed, and success in aerial combat. The aircraft had a forward-firing Vickers machine gun and a Lewis gun on the upper wing. It was flown by famous pilots and contributed significantly to maintaining air superiority on the Western Front. Approximately 5,205 S.E.5a aircraft were built, and its legacy as one of the best Allied fighter planes of the war continues today.
According to the theater's website, "The Zebulon was built in 1935 and opened to the public in 1936. A non-profit since 2000, it is one of only three single screen theaters left in Georgia."
The Zebulon is located in the Cairo Commercial Historic District listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a contributing building.
Many people contributed to the sim in many ways that are greatly appreciated. These are the people however, who busted their butts through thick and thin....day after day...for YEARS to help make Hard Alley and Retroville fun for those who came to enjoy the sim. The foundation that held us up. Friends, family. I love your faces Jade, Kron...and of course my Hard Rust. Without YOU Hard, I would never have met all the awesome people through the years. Thank you. ♥
Ten years. Wow. Hard Alley/Retroville may be gone, but I will carry these people in my heart always...as well as the many awesome people who made the sim home for me. I am thankful for all of you.
Photographer.Editor.Pose Maker: Spirit Eleonara
Kotor is one of those towns that summarize European history in its own. It has been part of the First Bulgarian Empire, Serbia, the Republic of Ragusa (contemporary Dubrovnik), the Venetian Empire, the Ottoman Empire, the Habsburg Monarchy, the French Empire, the Napoleonic Kingdom of Italy, the Austrian Empire, Yugoslavia, Montenegro, and more. Especially Yugoslavia's history of predecessor and successor states is quite complicated.
Kotor, first mentioned in 168 BC, was settled during Ancient Roman times, when it was known as Acruvium, Ascrivium, or Ascruvium and was part of the Roman province of Dalmatia. Kotor (then called "Cattaro") has been fortified since the early Middle Ages, when Emperor Justinian built a fortress above Acruvium in 535, after expelling the Ostrogoths; a second town probably grew up on the heights round it, for Constantine Porphyrogenitus, in the 10th century, alludes to Lower Kotor. The city was plundered by the Saracens in 840. Cattaro was one of the more influential Dalmatian City-states of romanized Illirians throughout the Middle Ages period. Until the 11th century the Dalmatian language was spoken in Cattaro.
In 1002, the city suffered damage under occupation of the First Bulgarian Empire, and in the following year it was ceded to Serbia by the Bulgarian Tsar Samuel. However, the local population resisted the pact and, taking advantage of its alliance with the Republic of Ragusa, only submitted in 1184, while maintaining its republican institutions and its right to conclude treaties and engage in war. It was already an episcopal see, and, in the 13th century, Dominican and Franciscan monasteries were established to check the spread of Bogomilism.
In the 14th century, commerce in Cattaro (as the city was called until 1918) competed with that of the nearby Republic of Ragusa and of the Republic of Venice. The city was part of the Venetian Albania province of the Venetian Republic from 1420 to 1797, except for periods of Ottoman rule in 1538–1571 and 1657-1699. Four centuries of Venetian domination have given the city the typical Venetian architecture, that contributed to make Kotor a UNESCO world heritage site. In those centuries Renaissance-related literature enjoyed a huge develpment in Venetian Cattaro: the most famous writers were Bernardo Pima, Nicola Chierlo, Luca Bisanti, Alberto de Gliricis, Domenico and Vincenzo Burchia, Vincenzo Ceci, Antonio Zambella and Francesco Morandi.
While under Venetian rule, Cattaro was besieged by the Ottoman Empire in 1538 and 1657, endured the plague in 1572, and was nearly destroyed by earthquakes in 1563 and 1667. After the Treaty of Campo Formio in 1797, it passed to the Habsburg Monarchy. However, in 1805, it was assigned to the French Empire's client state, the Napoleonic Kingdom of Italy by the Treaty of Pressburg, although in fact held by a Russian squadron under Dmitry Senyavin. After the Russians retreated, Cattaro was united in 1806 with this Kingdom of Italy and then in 1810 with the French Empire's Illyrian Provinces. Kotor was captured by the British attack on the Bay led by Commodore John Harper in the brig sloop HMS Saracen (18 guns). To seal off Kotor in windless conditions, residents along the shore literally pulled the ship in windless conditions with ropes. Saracen's crew later hauled naval 18-pounder guns above Fort St. John, the fortress near Kotor, and were reinforced by Captain William Hoste with his ship HMS Bacchante (38 guns). The French garrison had no alternative but to surrender, which it did on 5 January 1814.
It was then restored to the Austrian Empire by the Congress of Vienna.
In World War I, Kotor was one of three main bases of the Austro-Hungarian Navy and homeport to the Austrian Fifth Fleet, consisting of pre-dreadnought battleships and light cruisers. The area was the site of some of the fiercest battles between local Montenegrin Slavs, and Austria-Hungary. After 1918, the city (called Càttaro until then) became a part of Yugoslavia and officially became known as Kotor.
Between 1941 and 1943 Italy annexed the area of Kotor (with the original venetian name "Bocche di Cattaro") to the Italian "Governorship of Dalmatia" and created a new Italian Province: the Provincia di Cattaro, with 1075 km² and 128,000 population. But after 1945 it became a part of the then Socialist Republic of Montenegro within Yugoslavia's second incarnation.
NASA image acquired October 14, 2011
The Solar Dynamics Observatory sends images of the Sun. This image taken by SDO's AIA instrument at 171 Angstrom shows the current conditions of the quiet corona and upper transition region of the Sun.
Credit: NASA/SDO
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center enables NASA’s mission through four scientific endeavors: Earth Science, Heliophysics, Solar System Exploration, and Astrophysics. Goddard plays a leading role in NASA’s accomplishments by contributing compelling scientific knowledge to advance the Agency’s mission.
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The wind was blowing quite strongly and contributed to the crazy bokeh, obviously by shaking the branches. This is another one where I didn't have to go far, just a few feet from my house.
I had just taken this lens apart to clean the glass and I needed a shot to see if I did a good job, or least didn't destroy it.
Nikon Nikkor-SC Auto 1:1.4, 50mm
- a book project about the first immigrants in Ballerup. I have been allowed to contribute as a photographer in a book about immigration to Denmark, seen from a completely local perspective.
Im glad to see my photo is been used as cover for the Second Life (Opted Out) Neons by Leria. Thank you so much ♥ Guys do check the group and contribute your imaginations here www.flickr.com/groups/4329927@N23/
I'm not sure if many people have heard the news there has been a massive die off of migratory birds in the West - absolutely heartbreaking given population trend for birds has decreased significantly.
If you check the news the hypothesis is that the smoke from the wildfires are impacting the birds migration patterns. The smoke made the skies hazy in Ontario the past few days and contributed to good light for photography, but at far too high a price...
Habitat is crucial for these birds, both to breed, winter and migrate through. Please support your local conservancy organization - I support Nature Canada and Nature Conservancy as they do fantastic work acquiring land for nature. We cannot expect birds to survive without habitat. I want my daughters to enjoy the richness and diversity of nature, Absolutely heartbreaking to see, and once some of the species are gone, they are gone forever.
CCEE 2016 - Battle of Takodana (part of a collaborative build -
see album for more details) flic.kr/s/aHskEEwjWe
We decided to do another Star Wars themed display at Comic Expo this year, due in part to the recent release of the new Star Wars movie (The Force Awakens), and the fact that we had recently done a large Mos Eisley display for the North Hill Center show. We settled on two collaborative displays - we reused the Mos Eisley display and created a new display of the Battle of Takodana from Force Awakens.
I had not contributed to the Mos Eisley display, but I chose to build the Kylo Ren vs. Rey scene in the forest on Takodana for part of the collab display. I enjoyed building my forest (as always), and it fit together quite well with the rest of the Takodana display, even though I never saw the other parts in person. Unfortunately I was at the hospital having surgery the weekend of the show so I couldn't attend, but I had other people take pics (which I have posted here - sorry some are blurry).
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Music and Venue Promotion Poster
Bill Graham Presents at Fillmore Auditorium
Procol Harum
Rock Band
Procol Harum are an English rock band formed in 1967. They contributed to the development of symphonic rock, and by extension, progressive rock. Their best-known recording is their 1967 hit single "A Whiter Shade of Pale", considered a classic in popular music and one of the few singles to have sold over 10 million copies. Although noted for their baroque and classical influence, Procol Harum's music also embraces the blues, R&B, and soul.
Santana is an American Latin rock band formed in San Francisco, California in 1966 by Mexican-American guitarist Carlos Santana. The band first came to widespread public attention when their performance of "Soul Sacrifice" at Woodstock in 1969 provided a contrast to other acts on the bill. This exposure helped propel their first album, also named Santana, into a hit, followed in the next two years by the successful Abraxas and Santana III.
In the years that followed, lineup changes were common. Carlos Santana's increasing involvement with guru Sri Chinmoy took the band into more esoteric music, though never quite losing its initial Latin influence.
In 1998, Santana was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, with Carlos Santana, Jose "Chepito" Areas, David Brown, Gregg Rolie, Mike Carabello and Michael Shrieve being honored.[6]
The band has earned nine Grammy Awards and three Latin Grammy Awards, the latter all in 2000. Carlos also won a Grammy Award as a solo artist in 1988. Santana has sold more than 90 million records worldwide, making them one of the world's best-selling groups of all time.[7] In 2013, Santana announced a reunion of the classic line-up for a new record, Santana IV, which was released in April 2016. They are tied for having the most won Grammys in one night.
Sinclair
After the wonders of Moissac, I drove back North 125 kilometers to the small town of Souillac, back in the département of Lot but still in the old province of Quercy (and in the modern region of Occitania). According to unconfirmed local stories, the abbey of Souillac was founded by Saint Éloi († 660) before it was taken over by the Benedictines from Aurillac in the 900s. From that period, only the Western tower-porch remains.
Less famous than Moissac, this abbey was, for me, at least as interesting, beginning with the church, which has not been altogether transformed in the Gothic style like in Moissac, but retains its beauty and genuineness from the 1100s, as I hope you will see through the photos I will upload.
Sculpture is also at least as amazing at that of Moissac, and even more so in some respects —and it is in much better condition, for reasons that we will explore together as I caption the relevant photos.
Listed as a Historic Landmark on the first list of 1840, the abbey is not on the path to Compostela and was never known for housing any particularly famous relics, which is why the church, dedicated to Saint Mary, has no ambulatory around the choir.
I was very nicely received in Souillac by the local authorities as the photos I took contributed to the documentation of the nationwide crowdfunding project that is in place to restore parts of the church, under the ægis of the Fondation du Patrimoine (Mission Bern), for which I work as a pro bono photographer: www.fondation-patrimoine.org/les-projets/abbatiale-sainte....
As I mentioned above, the oldest part of the abbey church is the western tower-porch from the 900s, with parts that are even older, from the 800s. During the consolidation works undertaken on the tower in the 1950s, which involved excavation to pour concrete and stabilize the base of the tower, a Merovingian cemetery was found with sarcophagi from the 400s and 500s, some quite plain, some very ornate.
They have been kept in an underground room under the tower. This space is not open to the public but I was given access to take pictures.
One of the sarcophagi was, for reasons of economy, shut with these two carved stones re-used from a Carolingian chancel enclosure.
Some of the tombs found in that small necropolis were much more recent, 12th or 13th century.