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The shot was taken in Balaklava, in an underground, formerly classified nuclear submarine base that was operational until 1991. The base was said to be virtually indestructible, designed to survive a direct atomic impact. During this period, Balaklava was one of the most secret villages in the Soviet Union. Almost the entire population of Balaklava at the time worked at the base; even family members could not visit the town of Balaklava without good reason and identification. The base remained operational after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 until 1993, when the decommissioning process started. This process saw the removal of the warheads and low yield torpedoes. In 1996, the last Russian submarine left the base, which is now open to the public for guided tours around the canal system, base, and small museum, which is now housed in the old weapons stowage hangars deep inside the hillside.
[information from wikipedia]
Hong Kong Transport - Trucks
The Hong Kong Truck Culture
The number of Trucks, Vans* and Special Purpose Vehicles (Light, Medium & Heavy) registered + licenced in Hong Kong seems to fluctuate between 120,000 - 125,000 vehicles and presumably new trucks registered are offset by old trucks being retired or sold over the border in China.
*Vans are classified as Light Goods Vehicles and are not shown in this album
In Hong Kong Trucks are classified as GOODS VEHICLES By the Transport Department - see below
☛Light Goods Vehicles - Goods vehicles of permitted gross vehicle weight not exceeding 5.5 tonnes.
☛Medium Goods Vehicles - Goods vehicles of permitted gross vehicle weight exceeding 5.5 tonnes but not exceeding 24 tonnes.
☛Heavy Goods Vehicles - Goods vehicles of permitted gross vehicle weight exceeding 24 tonnes but not exceeding 38 tonnes.
The major truck types you tend to see in urban areas are trucks carrying construction materials or waste, dump trucks, concrete mixers and all sizes of delivery trucks... outside of the urban areas it is container trucks and large trucks carrying construction materials.
The following brands of Trucks can be seen on the streets of Hong Kong and include:-
Beiben ✚ Bell ✚ CAMC ✚ CNHTC ✚ DAF ✚ Dennis ✚ Dong Feng ✚ FAW ✚ Fuso ✚ Foton ✚ Ford ✚ Hino ✚ Howo ✚ Hyundai ✚ Isuzu ✚ Iveco ✚ JAC ✚ Kato ✚ KIA ✚ Liebherr ✚ MAN ✚ Mercedes Benz ✚ Mitsubishi ✚ Nissan ✚ Renault ✚ Scania ✚ Shacman ✚ Sinotruk ✚ Suzuki ✚ Toyota ✚ UD ✚ Volvo ✚ Zoomlion
Hong Kong is a brand conscious place even for trucks (!) hence the popularity of the European brands, Scania and Man are very popular and even the older trucks look the business and they are utterly reliable.
Isuzu is the market leader in terms of sale volume for all types of trucks.
(Source - The Transport Department, Hong Kong Government)
☛.... and if you want to read about my views on Hong Kong, then go to my blog, link below
✚ www.j3consultantshongkong.com/j3c-blog
☛ Photography is simply a hobby for me, I do NOT sell my images and all of my images can be FREELY downloaded from this site in the original upload image size or 5 other sizes, please note that you DO NOT have to ask for permission to download and use any of my images!
40D with a 70-200 f/2.8L IS mounted, and a 50mm f/1.4. A 16-35 f/2.8L II will soon be sitting on top of the 50. Fits nicely.
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The Citadel of Saint-Tropez is a Citadel "pre -Vauban" the beginning of the xviie century containing the Saint-Tropez maritime history museum. The main tower of the Citadel is classified historical monuments since 12 December 1921 and the enclosure is filed since 4 July 1995 ; The glacis of the counterscarp of the Citadel, meanwhile, was registered on 23 August 1990.
Clashes following the death of Queen Jeanne, between Louis Ier of Anjou and Charles of Duras, the attacks of Barbary have ruined the town which is then emptied of its population in 1388. King René, count of Provence, gives the Seneschal of Provence, Jean Cossa, the barony of Grimaud. He appealed to the Genoese Raphaël de Garezzio to restock Saint-Tropez. It happens with sixty families of Genoese settlers February 14, 1470. Jean Cossa to surrender its rights in Saint-Tropez. He said that the inhabitants are free, clear and free of any tax. Raphaël de Garezzio is committed to rebuild the city, strengthen it and defend the shore of Sainte-Maxime in Cavalaire. King René ratifies this convention January 18, 1472, which will apply until July 20, 1672, date at which Louis XIV linked the country to adjacent lands. An enclosure is built around the harbour which remains the old tower. The city walls resisted the Constable of Bourbon during the invasion of Provence in 1524. In 1534, the increase of the population requires to build a larger enclosure with a bastioned trace made of a simple lift of Earth. This enclosure to resist attack from Barbary who came to devastate Hyères and Toulon, in 1556. In 1564, Pierre de Renaud, Lord of Saint-Tropez, brother of Jean de Renaud de Saint-Rémy, had built the tower to cannons, or tour du Portalet, by masons from Antibes.
In 1583 a first fortification was built on the "forested hills of the mills' which dominates the city and the Gulf of Saint-Tropez, French coastdefence element against the pirates, privateers and theottoman empire…
During the wars of religion, the duc d ' Épernon, favorite of King Henri III Gets the office of Governor of Provence in 1586 . The letters are registered by the Parliament of Aix in 1587. The day of the barricades, forcing the King to flee Paris, marks the success of the League and the Duke of Guise. The King must agree to sign theedict of union , which imposed years its ancillary clauses to remove encumbrances that has the Duke of Epernon. His brother Bernard Nogaret, Duke of Valletta, gets part of its charges. He became Admiral of France , and he was appointed commander of the Royal forces in Provence. To the opposition of the Provence Parliament dominated by the party to the League, Henri III sent him letters of provision by which it appointed him Governor of Provence in the absence of his brother.
The Duke of Valletta is building an enclosure around Saint-Tropez against the opinion of the villagers to protect the site of potential invaders, and to ensure the authority of the new King Henri IV on the city. The Duke of Savoy, called by the count of Carcès and the Parliament of Provence, attacked the town in 1592. His brother, Jean Louis de Nogaret de La Valette, duc d ' Épernon, receives again the office of Governor of Provence after the death of the Duke of Guise, at the beginning of 1589. Henri III wrote to the Duke of Valletta to explain his choice. The death of Henri III leads the Parliament of Aix to depose the Duke of Valletta and recognizes the Duke of Mayenne as lieutenant general of the Kingdom. The latter brings together the States General favourable to the King to recognize Henri of Navarre as King of France. The Duke of Valletta is killed in 1592 during the siege of Roquebrune. The Duke of Épernon then took command of the troops to ensure the party of the King in Provence and combat the Leaguers. It makes repair and arming the citadel built a little earlier despite protests from residents. He entrusted the command to of Noillan and appoints Mesplez Governor of the city.
Gaspard de Pontevès, count of Carcès, became Governor of Provence in 1592 by the Duke of Mayenne. It is one of the leaders of the Catholic League in Provence.
Old pregnant surrounding the old port, the suburbs and the Citadel of Saint Tropez on the Hill, to thee century xvii.
The Citadel of Saint Tropez today.
The Duke Charles of Lorraine is appointed Governor of Provence by Henri IV, in 1594, instead of the duc d ' Épernon. Protests against the decision of the King and approximates the League and the comte de Carcès. The Duke of Guise defeated the Duke of Épernon, in 1596, and help the inhabitants to resume the Citadel against the troops of the Duke of Epernon occupying it. An agreement was reached in may 1596 allowing the duc d ' Épernon to leave Provence. He was received by the King in Paris. The Parliament of Provence ordered the demolition of the Citadel. The inhabitants fully demolish the Citadel who had served at the Leaguers.
Henri IV sends the engineer of the King of the provinces of Languedoc, Provence, Dauphiné and Bresse, Raymond de Bonnefons (1545-1607)to build a new Tower Hex on the Hill between 1602 and 1607, keep current with a wide inner courtyard accessed by a drawbridge, defended by anartillery platform and three circular turrets.
The great bastion wall and the moat and counterscarp system were completed in the early 1620s. During the thirty years war, this fortification system will withstand an attack of 21 Spanish galleys, on June 15, 1637.
A royal edict of 1649 creates the lieutenancy General of Admiralty in Saint-Tropez. His riding is limited to two locations around the city. Lieutenant general is assisted by a Prosecutor of the King, a Secretary and two sergeants4. The port is the only port of trade between Toulon and Antibes, it is the most important source of income of the municipality.
In 1652 the Slingers with Louis-Emmanuel d ' Angoulême who dismissed his Government by Mazarin, take the building. It is taken over by the Duke of Mercoeur, August 8, 1652, to King Louis XIV with the help of the inhabitants. Duke of Mercœur became Governor of Provence gives the guard of the Citadel to its parent, the marquis de Castellane-Godoy who was appointed lieutenant of the King of the city and the Citadel of Saint Tropez.
On 20 July 1672 Louis XIV removes privileges from Saint-Tropez.
The Citadel garrison has an invalid company, to which it has joined Toulon Tower by order of 1764.
In 1958 the Dungeon is transformed into a 'Museum of the Navy' or is exposed in a dozen rooms tropezien naval heritage of theancient to thecontemporary era : engravings, paintings, documents, amphorae, scale models...
This naval Museum closed its doors in 2002, then start with major restoration work on the Dungeon. The project of a new municipal museum to replace the old is launched in 2008. After 10 years of work, historical research and acquisition of new collections, the Museum of maritime history of Saint-Tropez opens its doors on July 24, 2013.
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Sakura - chrry blossom
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Cherry Blossom" and "Sakura" redirect here. For other uses, see Cherry Blossom (disambiguation) and Sakura (disambiguation).
Cherry blossom tree in Yachounomori Garden, Tatebayashi, Gunma, Japan
The cherry blossom, or sakura, is the flower of trees in Prunus subgenus Cerasus. "Sakura" usually refers to flowers of ornamental cherry trees, such as cultivars of Prunus serrulata, not trees grown for their fruit[1]: 14–18 [2] (although these also have blossoms). Cherry blossoms have been described as having a vanilla-like smell, which is mainly attributed to coumarin.
Wild species of cherry tree are widely distributed, mainly in the Northern Hemisphere.[3][4][5] They are common in East Asia, especially in Japan, where they have been cultivated, producing many varieties. The wild Himalayan cherry, Prunus cerasoides, is found in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and parts of China, and is also cultivated.[6][7]
The Japanese word sakura (桜 or 櫻; さくら or サクラ) can mean either the tree or its flowers (see 桜).[8] The cherry blossom is considered the national flower of Japan, and is central to the custom of hanami (flower viewing).[9]
Sakura trees are often called Japanese cherry in English.[10] (This is also a common name for Prunus serrulata.[11]) The cultivation of ornamental cherry trees began to spread in Europe and the United States in the early 20th century, particularly after Japan presented trees to the United States as a token of friendship in 1912.[1]: 119–123 British plant collector Collingwood Ingram conducted important studies of Japanese cherry trees after the First World War.[12]
Classification
Classifying cherry trees is often confusing, since they are relatively prone to mutation and have diverse flowers and characteristics, and many varieties (a sub-classification of species), hybrids between species, and cultivars exist. Researchers have assigned different scientific names to the same type of cherry tree throughout different periods.[1]: 32–37
In Europe and North America, ornamental cherry trees are classified under the subgenus Cerasus ("true cherries"), within the genus Prunus. Cerasus consists of about 100 species of cherry tree, but does not include bush cherries, bird cherries, or cherry laurels (other non-Cerasus species in Prunus are plums, peaches, apricots, and almonds). Cerasus was originally named as a genus in 1700 by de Tournefort. In 1753, Linnaeus combined it with several other groupings to form a larger Prunus genus. Cerasus was later converted into a section and then a subgenus, this system becoming widely accepted, but some botanists resurrected it as a genus instead.[13] In China and Russia, where there are many more wild cherry species than in Europe, Cerasus continues to be used as a genus.[1]: 14–18
In Japan, ornamental cherry trees were traditionally classified in the genus Prunus, as in Europe and North America, but after a 1992 paper by Hideaki Ohba of the University of Tokyo, classification in the genus Cerasus became more common.[1]: 14–18 This means that (for example) the scientific name Cerasus incisa is now used in Japan instead of Prunus incisa.[14]
Prunus speciosa (Oshima cherry), a species of cherry tree that has given rise to many cultivars[15][16]
A culture of plum blossom viewing has existed in mainland China since ancient times, and although cherry trees have many wild species, most of them had small flowers, and the distribution of wild cherry trees with large flowers suitable for cherry blossom viewing was limited.[17]: 160–161 In Europe and North America, there were few cherry species with characteristics suitable for cherry blossom viewing.[1]: 122 In Japan, on the other hand, the Prunus speciosa (Oshima cherry) and Prunus jamasakura (Yamazakura) [ja], which have large flowers suitable for cherry blossom viewing and tend to grow into large trees, were distributed over a fairly large area of the country and were close to people's living areas. The development of cherry blossom viewing, and the production of cultivars, is therefore considered to have taken place primarily in Japan.[17]: 160–161
Prunus serrulata 'Kanzan' or 'Sekiyama', one of the most popular cherry tree cultivars in Europe and North America, selected for the British Award of Garden Merit[17]: 40–42
Because cherry trees have mutable traits, many cultivars have been created for cherry blossom viewing, especially in Japan. Since the Heian period, the Japanese have produced cultivars by selecting superior or mutant trees from among the natural crossings of wild cherry trees. They were also produced by crossing trees artificially and then breeding them by grafting and cutting. Oshima, Yamazakura, Prunus pendula f. ascendens (syn, Prunus itosakura, Edo higan), and other varieties which grow naturally in Japan, mutate easily. The Oshima cherry, which is an endemic species in Japan, tends to mutate into a double-flowered tree, grows quickly, has many large flowers, and has a strong fragrance. Due to these favorable characteristics, the Oshima cherry has been used as a base for many Sakura cultivars (called the Sato-zakura Group). Two such cultivars are the Yoshino cherry and Kanzan; Yoshino cherries are actively planted in Asian countries, and Kanzan is actively planted in Western countries.[1]: 86–95, 106, 166–168 [15][16][17]: 40–42
Hanami: Flower viewing in Japan
Main article: Hanami
Woodblock print of Mount Fuji and cherry blossom from Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji by Hiroshige. 1858.
"Hanami" is the many centuries-old practice of holding feasts or parties under blooming sakura (桜 or 櫻; さくら or サクラ) or ume (梅; うめ) trees. During the Nara period (710–794), when the custom is said to have begun, it was ume blossoms that people admired. By the Heian period (794–1185), however, cherry blossoms were attracting more attention, and 'hanami' was synonymous with 'sakura'.[18] From then on, in both waka and haiku, "flowers" (花, hana) meant "cherry blossoms," as implied by one of Izumi Shikibu's poems.[19] The custom was originally limited to the elite of the Imperial Court but soon spread to samurai society and, by the Edo period, to the common people as well. Tokugawa Yoshimune planted areas of cherry blossom trees to encourage this. Under the sakura trees, people held cheerful feasts where they ate, and drank sake.[1]: 2–7, 156–160
Since a book written in the Heian period mentions "weeping cherry" (しだり櫻; 糸櫻), one of the cultivars with pendulous branches, Prunus itosakura 'Pendula' (Sidare-zakura) is considered the oldest cultivar in Japan. In the Kamakura period, when the population increased in the southern Kantō region, the Oshima cherry, which originated in Izu Oshima Island, was brought to Honshu and cultivated there; it then made its way to the capital, Kyoto. The Sato-zakura Group first appeared during the Muromachi period.[1]
Jindai-zakura [ja], a 2,000-year-old Prunus itosakura[1]: 178–182
Prunus itosakura (syn. Prunus subhirtella, Edo higan) is a wild species that grows slowly. However, it has the longest life span among cherry trees and is easy to grow into large trees. For this reason, there are many large, old specimens of this species in Japan. They are often regarded as sacred and have become landmarks that symbolize Shinto shrines, Buddhist temples, and local areas. For example, Jindai-zakura [ja], which is around 2,000 years old, Usuzumi-zakura [ja], which is around 1,500 years old, and Daigo-zakura [ja], which is around 1,000 years old, are famous for their age.[1]: 178–182
'Kanzan' is a double-flowered cultivar developed in the Edo period. It has 20 to 50 petals in a flower.[1]: 93, 103–104
In the Edo period, various double-flowered cultivars were produced and planted on the banks of rivers, in Buddhist temples, in Shinto shrines, and in daimyo gardens in urban areas such as Edo; the common people living in urban areas could enjoy them. Books from the period record more than 200 varieties of cherry blossoms and mention many varieties that are currently known, such as 'Kanzan'. However, this situation was limited to urban areas, and the main objects of hanami across the country were still wild species such as Prunus jamasakura (Yamazakura) [ja] and Oshima cherry.[1]
Since Japan was modernized in the Meiji period, the Yoshino cherry has spread throughout Japan, and it has become the main object of hanami.[1]: 2–7, 156–160 Various other cultivars were cut down one after another during changes related to the rapid modernization of cities, such as the reclamation of waterways and the demolition of daimyo gardens. The gardener Takagi Magoemon and the village mayor of Kohoku Village, Shimizu Kengo, were concerned about this situation and preserved a few by planting a row of cherry trees, of various cultivars, along the Arakawa River bank. In Kyoto, Sano Toemon XIV, a gardener, collected various cultivars and propagated them. After World War II, these cultivars were inherited by the National Institute of Genetics, Tama Forest Science Garden and the Flower Association of Japan, and from the 1960s onwards were again used for hanami.[1]: 115–119
Every year, the Japanese Meteorological Agency (JMA) and the public track the sakura zensen ("cherry blossom front") as it moves northward up the archipelago with the approach of warmer weather, via nightly forecasts following the weather segment of news programs.[20][21] Since 2009, tracking of the sakura zensen has been largely taken over by private forecasting companies, with the JMA switching to focus only on data collection that than forecasting.[22] The blossoming begins in Okinawa in January and typically reaches Kyoto and Tokyo at the beginning of April, though recent years have trended towards earlier flowerings near the end of March.[23] It proceeds northward and into areas of higher altitude, arriving in Hokkaido a few weeks later. Japanese locals, in addition to overseas tourists, pay close attention to these forecasts.[22]
Most Japanese schools and public buildings have cherry blossom trees planted outside of them. Since the fiscal and school years both begin in April, in many parts of Honshu the first day of work or school coincides with the cherry blossom season. However, while most cherry blossom trees bloom in the spring, there are also lesser-known winter cherry blossoms (fuyuzakura in Japanese) that bloom between October and December.[24]
The Japan Cherry Blossom Association has published a list of Japan's Top 100 Cherry Blossom Spots (日本さくら名所100選 [ja]),[25] with at least one location in every prefecture.
Blooming season
Yoshino cherry, a cultivar propagated through grafting, consistently reaches full bloom simultaneously between individuals if under the same environmental conditions.
Many cherry species and cultivars bloom between March and April in the Northern Hemisphere. Wild cherry trees, even if they are the same species, differ genetically from one individual to another. Even if they are planted in the same area, there is some variation in the time when they reach full bloom. In contrast, cultivars are clones propagated by grafting or cutting, so each tree of the same cultivar planted in the same area will come into full bloom all at once due to their genetic similarity.[26]
Some wild species, such as Edo higan and the cultivars developed from them, are in full bloom before the leaves open. Yoshino cherry became popular for cherry-blossom viewing because of these characteristics of simultaneous flowering and blooming before the leaves open; it also bears many flowers and grows into a large tree. Many cultivars of the Sato-zakura group, which were developed from complex interspecific hybrids based on Oshima cherry, are often used for ornamental purposes. They generally reach full bloom a few days to two weeks after Yoshino cherry does.[1]: 40–56
The flowering time of cherry trees is thought to be affected by global warming and the heat island effect of urbanization. According to the record of full bloom dates of Prunus jamasakura (Yamazakura) [ja] in Kyoto, Japan, which has been recorded for about 1200 years, the time of full bloom was relatively stable from 812 to the 1800s. After that, the time of full color rapidly became earlier, and in 2021, the earliest full bloom date in 1200 years was recorded. The average peak bloom day in the 1850s was around April 17, but by the 2020s, it was April 5; the average temperature rose by about 3.4 °C (6.1 °F) during this time. According to the record of full bloom dates of the Yoshino cherry in the Tidal Basin in Washington, D.C., the bloom date was April 5 in 1921, but it was March 31 in 2021. These records are consistent with the history of rapid increases in global mean temperature since the mid-1800s.[27][28]
Japanese cherry trees grown in the Southern Hemisphere will bloom at a different time of the year. For example, in Australia, while the trees in the Cowra Japanese Garden bloom in late September to mid-October, the Sydney cherry blossom festival is in late August.[29][30]
Symbolism in Japan
A 100 yen coin depicting cherry blossoms
Cherry blossoms are a frequent topic in waka composition, where they commonly symbolize impermanence.[31] Due to their characteristic of blooming en masse, cherry blossoms and are considered an enduring metaphor for the ephemeral nature of life.[32] Cherry blossoms frequently appear in Japanese art, manga, anime, and film, as well as stage set designs for musical performances. There is at least one popular folk song, originally meant for the shakuhachi (bamboo flute), titled "Sakura", in addition to several later pop songs bearing the name. The flower is also used on all manner of historical and contemporary consumer goods, including kimonos,[33] stationery,[34] and dishware.[35]
Mono no aware
The traditional symbolism of cherry blossoms as a metaphor for the ephemeral nature of life is associated with the influence of Shinto,[36] embodied in the concept of mono no aware (物の哀れ)[a] (the pathos of things).[37] The connection between cherry blossoms and mono no aware dates back to 18th-century scholar Motoori Norinaga.[37] The transience of the blossoms, their beauty, and their volatility have often been associated with mortality[32] and the graceful and ready acceptance of destiny and karma.
Nationalism and militarism
The Sakurakai, or Cherry Blossom Society, was the name chosen by young officers within the Imperial Japanese Army in September 1930 for their secret society established to reorganize the state along totalitarian militaristic lines, via a military coup d'état if necessary.[38]
During World War II, cherry blossoms were used as a symbol to motivate the Japanese people and stoke nationalism and militarism.[39] The Japanese proverb hana wa sakuragi, hito wa bushi ("the best blossom is the cherry blossom, the best man is a warrior") was evoked in the Imperial Japanese army as a motivation during the war.[40] Even before the war, cherry blossoms were used in propaganda to inspire the "Japanese spirit", as in the "Song of Young Japan", exulting in "warriors" who were "ready like the myriad cherry blossoms to scatter".[41] In 1894, Sasaki Nobutsuna composed a poem, Shina seibatsu no uta (The Song of the Conquest of the Chinese) to coincide with the First Sino-Japanese War. The poem compares falling cherry blossoms to the sacrifice of Japanese soldiers who fall in battles for their country and emperor.[42][43] In 1932, Akiko Yosano's poetry urged Japanese soldiers to endure suffering in China and compared the dead soldiers to cherry blossoms.[44] Arguments that the plans for the Battle of Leyte Gulf, involving all Japanese ships, would expose Japan to danger if they failed were countered with the plea that the Navy be permitted to "bloom as flowers of death".[45] The last message of the forces on Peleliu was "Sakura, Sakura".[46] Japanese pilots would paint sakura flowers on the sides of their planes before embarking on a suicide mission, or even take branches of the trees with them on their missions.[39] A cherry blossom painted on the side of a bomber symbolized the intensity and ephemerality of life;[47] in this way, falling cherry petals came to represent the sacrifice of youth in suicide missions to honor the emperor.[39][48] The first kamikaze unit had a subunit called Yamazakura, or wild cherry blossom.[48] The Japanese government encouraged the people to believe that the souls of downed warriors were reincarnated in the blossoms.[39]
Artistic and popular uses
The Japan national rugby union team is nicknamed the "Brave Blossoms", and have sakura embroidered on their chests.[49]
Cherry blossoms have been used symbolically in Japanese sports; the Japan national rugby union team has used the flower as an emblem on its uniforms since the team's first international matches in the 1930s, depicted as a "bud, half-open and full-bloomed".[50] The team is known as the "Brave Blossoms" (ブレイブ・ブロッサムズ), and has had their current logo since 1952.[49] The cherry blossom is also seen in the logo of the Japan Cricket Association[51] and the Japan national American football team.[52][53]
Cherry blossoms are a prevalent symbol in irezumi, the traditional art of Japanese tattoos. In this art form, cherry blossoms are often combined with other classic Japanese symbols like koi fish, dragons, or tigers.[54]
The cherry blossom remains symbolic today. It was used for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics mascot, Someity.[55] It is also a common way to indicate the start of spring, such as in the Animal Crossing series of video games, where many of the game's trees are flowering cherries.[56]
Cultivars
"Miharu Takizakura", a tree of species Prunus itosakura that is over 1,000 years old[57]
Prunus × subhirtella 'Omoigawa' [ja], a cultivar produced in Oyama City in 1954[58]
Japan has a wide diversity of cherry trees, including hundreds of cultivars.[59] By one classification method, there are more than 600 cultivars in Japan,[60][61] while the Tokyo Shimbun claims that there are 800.[62] According to the results of DNA analysis of 215 cultivars carried out by Japan's Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute in 2014, many of the cultivars that have spread around the world are hybrids produced by crossing Oshima cherry and Prunus jamasakura (Yamazakura) [ja] with various wild species.[15][16] Among these cultivars, the Sato-zakura Group and many other cultivars have a large number of petals, and the representative cultivar is Prunus serrulata 'Kanzan'.[1]: 137
The following species, hybrids, and varieties are used for Sakura cultivars:[63][64]
Prunus apetala[65]
Prunus campanulata[66][65][67]
Prunus × furuseana (P. incisa × P. jamasakura[68])
Prunus × incam[69] (P. incisa × P. campanulata[70])
Prunus incisa var. incisa[65]
Prunus incisa var. kinkiensis[65]
Prunus × introrsa[66][65]
Prunus itosakura[15] (Prunus subhirtella, Prunus pendula)
Prunus jamasakura [ja][65]
Prunus × kanzakura[66] (P. campanulata × P. jamasakura and P. campanulata × P. speciosa[68])
Prunus leveilleana[71] (Prunus verecunda)
Prunus × miyoshii[65]
Prunus nipponica[72]
Prunus padus
Prunus × parvifolia (P. incisa × P. speciosa[68])
Prunus pseudocerasus[67]
Prunus × sacra[66][65] (P. itosakura × P. jamasakura[68])
Prunus sargentii[65][67]
Prunus serrulata var. lannesiana, Prunus lannesiana (Prunus Sato-zakura group. Complex interspecific hybrids based on Prunus speciosa.[1]: 86–95, 137 )
Prunus × sieboldii[65]
Prunus speciosa[73][1]: 89–95, 103–106, 166–170
Prunus × subhirtella[65] (P. incisa × P. itosakura[68])
Prunus × syodoi[66][65]
Prunus × tajimensis[65]
Prunus × takenakae[66][65]
Prunus × yedoensis[66] (P. itosakura × P. speciosa[68])
Prunus × yedoensis 'Somei-yoshino' (Yoshino cherry)
The most popular cherry blossom cultivar in Japan is 'Somei-yoshino' (Yoshino cherry). Its flowers are nearly pure white, tinged with the palest pink, especially near the stem. They bloom and usually fall within a week before the leaves come out. Therefore, the trees look nearly white from top to bottom. The cultivar takes its name from the village of Somei, which is now part of Toshima in Tokyo. It was developed in the mid- to late-19th century, at the end of the Edo period and the beginning of the Meiji period. The 'Somei-yoshino' is so widely associated with cherry blossoms that jidaigeki and other works of fiction often show the trees being cultivated in the Edo period or earlier, although such depictions are anachronisms.[1]: 40–45
Prunus × kanzakura 'Kawazu-zakura' (Kawazu cherry) [ja], a representative cultivar of the cold season that blooms from late February to early March in Japan
''Prunus'' × ''kanzakura'' 'Kawazu-zakura' [ja] is a representative cultivar that blooms before the arrival of spring. It is a natural hybrid between the Oshima cherry and Prunus campanulata and is characterized by deep pink petals. Wild cherry trees usually do not bloom in cold seasons because they cannot produce offspring if they bloom before spring, when pollinating insects become active. However, it is thought that 'Kawazu-zakura' blooms earlier because Prunus campanulata from Okinawa, which did not originally grow naturally in Honshu, was crossed with the Oshima cherry. In wild species, flowering before spring is a disadvantageous feature of selection; in cultivars such as 'Kawazu-zakura', early flowering and flower characteristics are preferred, and they are propagated by grafting.[1]: 98–100
Cherry trees are generally classified by species and cultivar, but in Japan they are also classified using names based on the characteristics of the flowers and trees. Cherry trees with more petals than the ordinary five are classified as yae-zakura (double-flowered sakura), and those with drooping branches are classified as shidare-zakura, or weeping cherry. Most yae-zakura and shidare-zakura are cultivars. Famous shidare-zakura cultivars include 'Shidare-zakura', 'Beni-shidare', and 'Yae-beni-shidare', all derived from the wild species Prunus itosakura (syn, Prunus subhirtella or Edo higan).[1]: 86–87
The color of cherry blossoms is generally a gradation between white and red, but there are cultivars with unusual colors such as yellow and green. The representative cultivars of these colors are ''Prunus serrulata'' 'Grandiflora' A. Wagner (Ukon) [ja] and ''Prunus serrulata'' 'Gioiko' Koidz (Gyoiko) [ja], which were developed in the Edo period of Japan.[1]: 86–95, 104
In 2007, Riken produced a new cultivar named 'Nishina zao' by irradiating cherry trees with a heavy-ion beam. This cultivar is a mutation of the green-petaled ''Prunus serrulata'' 'Gioiko' (Gyoiko) [ja]; it is characterized by its pale yellow-green-white flowers when it blooms and pale yellow-pink flowers when they fall. Riken produced the cultivars 'Nishina otome' (blooms in both spring and autumn, or year-round in a greenhouse), 'Nishina haruka' (larger flowers), and 'Nishina komachi' ('lantern-like' flowers that remain partially closed) in the same way.[74][75]
Prunus itosakura 'Pendula' (Shidare-zakura)
Prunus itosakura 'Pendula' (Shidare-zakura)
Prunus itosakura 'Plena Rosea' (Yae-beni-shidare) is a cultivar having characteristics of both yae-zakura and shidare-zakura.
Prunus itosakura 'Plena Rosea' (Yae-beni-shidare) is a cultivar having characteristics of both yae-zakura and shidare-zakura.
''Prunus serrulata'' 'Grandiflora' A. Wagner (Ukon) [ja] with rare yellow flowers developed in the Edo period of Japan. One of the cultivars selected for the British Award of Garden Merit.
''Prunus serrulata'' 'Grandiflora' A. Wagner (Ukon) [ja] with rare yellow flowers developed in the Edo period of Japan. One of the cultivars selected for the British Award of Garden Merit.
''Prunus serrulata'' 'Gioiko' Koidz (Gyoiko) [ja] with rare green flowers developed in the Edo period of Japan.
''Prunus serrulata'' 'Gioiko' Koidz (Gyoiko) [ja] with rare green flowers developed in the Edo period of Japan.
''Prunus × sieboldii'' 'Beni-yutaka' [ja]. One of the cultivars selected for the British Award of Garden Merit.
''Prunus × sieboldii'' 'Beni-yutaka' [ja]. One of the cultivars selected for the British Award of Garden Merit.
All wild cherry trees produce small, unpalatable fruit or edible cherries, however, some cultivars have structural modifications to render the plant unable to naturally reproduce.[76] For example, ''Prunus serrulata'' 'Hisakura' (Ichiyo) [ja] and ''Prunus serrulata'' 'Albo-rosea' Makino (Fugenzo) [ja], which originated from the Oshima cherry, have a modified pistil that develops into a leaf-like structure, and can only be propagated by artificial methods such as grafting and cutting.[1]: 107 Cherry trees grown for their fruit are generally cultivars of the related species Prunus avium, Prunus cerasus, and Prunus fruticosa.[77]
Cultivation by country
Cherry blossoms at Kungsträdgården in Stockholm, Sweden
Main article: Cherry blossom cultivation by country
In the present day, ornamental cherry blossom trees are distributed and cultivated worldwide.[78] While flowering cherry trees were historically present in Europe, North America, and China,[1]: 122 the practice of cultivating ornamental cherry trees was centered in Japan,[17]: 160–161 and many of the cultivars planted worldwide, such as that of Prunus × yedoensis,[79] have been developed from Japanese hybrids.
The global distribution of ornamental cherry trees, along with flower viewing festivals or hanami, largely started in the early 20th century, often as gifts from Japan.[80][81][82] However, some regions have historically cultivated their own native species of flowering cherry trees, a notable variety of which is the Himalayan wild cherry tree Prunus cerasoides.[83][6][84]
Culinary use
Pickled blossoms
Pickled blossoms
A cup of sakurayu
A cup of sakurayu
Cherry blossoms and leaves are edible,[85] and both are used as food ingredients in Japan:
The blossoms are pickled in salt and umezu (ume vinegar),[86] and used for coaxing out flavor in wagashi, a traditional Japanese confectionery, or anpan, a Japanese sweet bun most-commonly filled with red bean paste.[87] The pickling method, known as sakurazuke (桜漬け), is said to date back to the end of the Edo period,[88] though the general method of pickling vegetables in salt to produce tsukemono has been known as early as the Jōmon period.[89]
Salt-pickled blossoms in hot water are called sakurayu[90] and drunk at festive events like weddings in place of green tea.[88][91]
The leaves are pickled in salted water and used for sakuramochi.[86]
Cherry blossoms are used as a flavoring botanical in Japanese Roku gin.[92]
Toxicity
Cherry leaves and blossoms contain coumarin,[93][94] which is potentially hepatotoxic and is banned in high doses by the Food and Drug Administration.[95] However, coumarin has a desirable vanilla-like scent, and the salt curing process used prior to most culinary applications, which involves washing, drying, and salting the blossoms or leaves for a full day, reduces the concentration of coumarin to acceptable levels while preserving its scent.[85] Coumarin may also be isolated from the plant for use in perfumes,[96] pipe tobacco, or as an adulterant in vanilla flavorings, though the tonka bean is a more common natural source of this chemical.[97]
Cherry seeds and bark contain amygdalin and should not be eaten.[98][99]
The Southern Right Whale. Hermanus, South Africa. Oct/2015
The southern right whale (Eubalaena australis) is a baleen whale, one of three species classified as right whales belonging to the genus Eubalaena. Like other right whales, the southern right whale is readily distinguished from others by the callosities on its head, a broad back without a dorsal fin, and a long arching mouth that begins above the eye. Its skin is very dark grey or black, occasionally with some white patches on the belly. The right whale's callosities appear white due to large colonies of cyamids (whale lice). It is almost indistinguishable from the closely related North Atlantic and the North Pacific right whales, displaying only minor skull differences. It may have fewer callosities on its head and more on its lower lips than the two northern species. Approximately 10,000 southern right whales are spread throughout the southern part of the Southern Hemisphere.
The size of an adult female is 15 m (49 ft)[12] and can weigh up to 47 tonnes (46 long tons; 52 short tons), with the larger records of 17.5–18 m (57–59 ft) in length and 80 tonnes (79 long tons; 88 short tons) in weight, making them slightly smaller than other right whales in Northern Hemisphere. The testicles of right whales are likely to be the largest of any animal, each weighing around 500 kg (1,100 lb). This suggests that sperm competition is important in the mating process. Right whales cannot cross the warm equatorial waters to connect with the other (sub)species and (inter)breed: their thick layers of insulating blubber make it impossible for them to dissipate their internal body heat in tropical waters. However, based on historical records and unconfirmed sightings in modern periods, E. australis actually do occur in equatorial waters.
The proportion and numbers of molten-coloured individuals are notable in this species compared with the other species in the Northern Hemisphere. Some whales remain white even after growing up.
A baleia-franca-austral (Eubalaena australis) é uma das três espécies de baleia-franca, pertencente ao género Eubalaena. Estima-se que haja cerca de 7500 exemplares desta baleia espalhadas pelo sul do Hemisfério Sul, numa faixa compreendida entre os 30º e os 55º de latitude. Pode atingir os 18 metros de comprimento e as 80 toneladas de peso.
A caça indiscriminada deste tipo de baleia, devido à quantidade de óleo possuída por exemplar, deixou-a quase em perigo de extinção. Desde o século XIX, a população destes animais foi reduzida em 90%. Actualmente estima-se que exista uma população que oscila entre os 7500 e 8000 indivíduos. Durante o inverno, as baleias escolhem as águas mais quentes do hemisfério sul para se reproduzirem, tais como os seguintes as costas da Península Valdés (na Patagónia), Austrália, África do Sul e Brasil.
Classified Hoops Purple Patent Strappy Beach Sandal. This sandal is for those of us who are tentative about too many straps but love fun colors. A nice balance between the two, the Hoops sandal has a tan, cushioned footbed with matching patent insole at the heel. Heel is flat. Flexible nonskid sole. Available in whole and half sizes. Fit is true to just a bit large. All man made materials. Imported.
$17 @ Lulus.com
A Lowepro Apex 10 AW pouch attached to the front sliplock loop. This front loop is leather and probably not realistically meant for sliplock duty. The other two sliplock loops I've found are on the sides, just below the D-rings.
2-4 Weeks: Drinking Water supply failure.
Truckpocalypse! What happens if trucks stop rolling? Created by Trucker Classifieds.
I created this in a jpg format for people like me whos primary source was mobile that did not work well with the website flash format.
visit Trucker Classifieds: Truckpocalypse page @ www.truckerclassifieds.com/truckpocalypse/
All rights are respective to Trucker Classifieds.
One of the 80's properties being revamped in 2020 is none other than G.I. Joe, this time under the "Classified Series" moniker. Manufactured and released by Hasbro, these figures are of the 6 inch scale rather than the 3.75 inch scale figures back in day, so more in line with the last line I actually paid attention to, Sigma 6.. and by pay attention to, I mean I actually knew existed.
You see, I'm actually not a G.I. Joe guy... or really any other 80s property outside of Transformers and some TMNT.
Well, for whatever reason, these figures have been RIDICULOUSLY hard to find, probably due to a combination of COVID and actual rabid fans hoarding them all. I only was able to get a hold of Scarlett her thanks to some assistance from a collector in London, ON helping me out (@Daniel Koper) where apparently they were much easier to come by.
So why Scarlett? She's the only female release in the First Wave, that's why.
Real name Shana M. O'Hara, she's one of the G.I. Joe specialists in Counter Intelligence, is skilled in Martial Arts and Acrobatics, and her weapon of choice is the XK-1 Power Crossbow along with knives. There's a whole extensive fictional biography for her (Scarlett is almost 40 years old, you know) that I'm sure some fans could probably recite for me.
These figures retail for $29.99 CAD, which is the price point for pretty all of the Hasbro figures based on the Marvel Legends 6 in. body. While I'm not a huge Legends fan, each new product line using it does show some improvements, and I was curious about this.
Upon opening the box, you'll get Scarlett complete with Bandolier, her crossbow and three knives. No BAF components with this first Wave, and I'm thinking this is going to stay that way for the purposes of maintaining this price.
Much like with a Figma or a Figuarts, if you look at Scarlett you'll immediately recognize some standard Marvel Legends and Hasbro traits. The overall body shape is there. Thigh swivels are still a thing, as are being given hands that clearly are only meant for holding one things (and not having optional parts to swap them out). Another standard feature, namely the lack of paint wherever possible (in this case, the weapons) makes another appearance.
Having said that, the amount of paint on Scarlett herself isn't too bad.
I remember some people hating on the line (Scarlett in particular) because they were "too colourful" and "anime like". Looking at her Classified Series design and the classic 80s look, she's actually pretty faithful to the original look, while adding some new features. She's now got some gold to break up the yellow of her gloves, gauntlets, boots, and so on, and she now only has chest armour rather than a full torso piece.
Her boots are more interesting too, with red soles, and boosters behind her calf. Gauntlets have moulded and painted throwing stars. Of course, there's also that Bandolier I mentioned earlier. There's textures and other similar fabric features moulded into her suit. Overall, her outfit has been given that 2000s sensibility, and I'm digging it.
The quality of the paint apps, however, range from pretty sharp to, well, Marvel Legends. Still, that means on the whole, the paint application quality on Scarlett is above the expectations I have of a Marvel Legends product.
The head is a bit harder to judge. By itself it's decent. Fairly clean paint work (even the eyes) with freckles. Hair detailing isn't bad and again, features some decent paint work. The only real concern would be the Death Glare, but it's a Hasbro figure, and at least it's a clean looking Death Glare.
Of course, then I take a look at reference materials on the box itself.
Sure, she's got the right coloured hair, but her hair and facial features are off in comparison to her profile pic on the front and side of the box, and by the art on the back of the box, they missed highlights in her hair and the shape of her eyes and eyebrows are completely off.
What are you gonna do?
Articulation resulted in some pleasant surprises. Scarlett is without a doubt probably the poseable 6 inch Hasbro figure I've played with in a long time (Transformers are a partnership with Takara Tomy). You get ankle rockers and pivots, double jointed knees, thigh swivel, hips that pull down for more range of motion, an actual waist joint as well as mid torso ball joint, shoulders with chest compress, forearm rotation, single jointed elbows, wrist pivot, neck rotation, and ball jointed head with pivot.
I'm not saying Scarlett's a Figuart, but it seems like the G.I. Joe line has built on the improvements of the Lightning Series Power Ranger stuff. The pull down hips and waist add a great amount of posing versatility.
The shoulders are interesting with that additional joint that allows the arms to come together/spread further apart. The Power Ranger suits, had a cut in the tunic that allows for maximum range of motion. The potential for increased shoulder motion is there, but the chest section of the figures will need to be slightly reworked.
Overall, I'd say the lower body has some great articulation, and the upper body has potential to be great, especially with a shoulder fix and double jointed elbows.
Finally there's build quality. Again, all things considered, not too bad. The materials are somewhat soft, but feel stiffer than the stuff that the Lightning Series are made from. I imagine that stiffness is what allows for the various fabric details to show up. Similarly, I found an improvement in the quality of the parts finishes and the build as compared to the Lighting Series figures.
The G.I. Joe line up should do well with fans due to nostalgia and general fun in articulation. It's not a line I'm going to get heavily involved in, but I hope those that are into it get an enjoyable ride from the line while it lasts.
I'm just happy it seems that Hasbro seems to be getting their head in the game and actually looking at articulation as something that matters. Maybe by the next line, they'll have updated the actual bodies to offer more than one muscle build?
Here's hoping!
8. Classified 2009
18"W x 18"H, digital composition
When I saw these photos of my father a few years ago, I was struck by how alone he seemed, an uneasy stranger in every crowd.
"Claasified" examines how Japanese Americans, particularly men, were impacted by the question "Who is American.?" Until 1952, Japanese immigrants were barred from naturalized citizenship. They were not permitted to own land. The Nisei grew up to refrains of “Go back to whre you came from!”
My father, Lt. Col (U.S.A ret) Barry Saiki was one of ten children born to poor hotelkeepers in Stockton. Stockton was a segregated city where people of color were not welcome on the north side of town. My father was just about to graduate from UC Berkeley when he was incarcerated at the Stockton Fairgrounds and then Rohwer, Arkansas. Dad was drafted in 1945 and spent the rest of his life trying to vindicate his family's honor by demonstrating his loyalty to the United States. He spent 22 years in U.S. military intelligence. Just 20 years after he was imprisoned as a “potentially danger to military security,” he served as the chief of military security for the Sixth Army (responsible for the defense of eight Western States). Ironcially, because of “military security,” he could not discolose his postion to anyone, not even his own family.
From the August/September 1988 Edition of School Bus Fleet. I am not claiming ownership for this picture and am only uploading for archival purposes.
Family members of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg—husband and wife sentenced to death for passing information on the atomic bomb to the Soviet Union--take part in a demonstration seeking clemency in front of the White House June 14, 1953 just days before their pair’s execution.
The Rosenberg’s son Michael, 10, walks between his grandmother, Sophie Rosenberg, and an unidentified youth girl. Son Robert, 6, looks away at the right as his hand is held by Emily Alman, a leader of the demonstration.
The Rosenbergs and a third man, Morton Sobell, were tried together for passing classified information to the Soviet Union related to an atomic bomb.
Part of the prosecution strategy was to emphasize their ties to the Communist Party at a time when hysteria over communists in the U.S. was at an all time high during the Cold War and with U.S. troops battling in Korea against forces aided by both the Soviet Union and the People’s Republic of China.
The Rosenbergs were convicted, sentenced to death and then executed June 19, 1953 despite an international outcry for clemency. Sobell served 17 ½ years of a 30 year sentence.
For more information and related images, see flic.kr/s/aHskkQha2c
The photographer is unknown. The image is an Associated Press wire photo obtained via an Internet sale.