This thunderstorm reached severe intensity as it move over my area. Its developing supercell structure was quite evident with the distinct lowering and semi-rotating cloud base. Within a few minutes after this timelapse ends, 0.41 inch fell in just 9 minutes with 2 minutes of pea and marble sized hail.

Taken with YI 4K action cam in video mode

The returning Railway Touring Company's 'Cumbrian Mountain Express', 1Z87 1523 Carlisle - London Euston, is seen between Colwich and Rugeley with Class 86/2 No. 86259 'Les Ross/Peter Pan' at the helm on 6th August 2016. The bright sunshine enjoyed earlier in the day has now given way to a gathering cloud base which thwarted any thoughts of the hoped for 'glint shot'. Copyright Photograph John Whitehouse - all rights reserved

213_SoireeWall_11Nov21 - Greater Houston Partnership Soirée annual gala celebrating Houston as a truly global city at Hotel ZaZa chaired by Margaret and Thad Hill November 11, 2021. (Photo by Richard Carson)

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A low-res, flatbed scan of a 6x7 (2 1/4 x 2 3/4 inch) transparency.

This image was made long after the color of the sunset peaked one evening near Bodega Bay, California. Left, was the blue color of the sky pouring through openings, filtering through the clouds above, and bounicing around to paint this image blue. With this angle, I was able to photograph the interesting cloud base and the sea, not forgetting, of course, the wonderful sea stacks of the Sonoma County coast that always steal the show. Thank you for looking!

a) San Jose y Niño Jesus

b) La Inmaculada Concepcion

Binondo, Manila and San Miguel de Mayumo, Bulacan

ivory, silver, velvet, baticuling wood

1890s

a) San Jose y Niño Jesus

head to toe: 11" (28 cm)

body: 5" x 4" (13 cm x 10 cm)

Virina:

H: 22" (56 cm), D: 9" (23 cm)

Base:

H: 6" (15 cm), D: 14" (36 cm)

b) La Inmaculada Concepcion

head to toe: 11" (28 cm)

body: 5" x 4" (13 cm x 10 cm)

Virina:

H: 22" (56 cm), D: 9" (23 cm)

Base:

H: 6" (15 cm), D: 14 (36 cm)

Opening bid: PHP 300,000

Property from the Don Maximo Viola Collection

Provenance: Maximo Viola, Descendants of Maximo Viola

About the Work

by Augusto Marcelino Reyes Gonzalez III

Commissioned by D Maximo Viola y Sison (1857–1933): an exceptional tabletop “San Jose y Nino Jesus.”

The San Jose has a serious, fatherly expression and the Nino Jesus he is carrying on his left hand has a playful but respectful mien. The father carries a solid silver staff of lilies on his right hand. Both San Jose and the Nino Jesus have long hair of “jusi” fibers; the father wears a solid silver “paraguas” halo and the son wears solid silver “tres potencias” symbolizing the three powers of the Lord --- Authority (Exousia in Greek), Ability (Dunamis in Greek), and Strength (Kratas in Greek). The San Jose wears a traditional green robe and yellow cape and the Nino Jesus wears a traditional yellow robe, both are embroidered with floral and foliar designs of the 1890s genre. The father stands on an exceptional “peana” pedestal base of the rare type: a lily emerging from four acanthus leaves which are supported by smaller leaves on a base of foliar forms. The finely–gilded peana is found only with the highest quality ivory statuary. In Roman Catholicism, Saint Joseph is the foster father of Jesus Christ and the Patron of the Universal Church. During the Spanish period and up to prewar (up to 1940), the center of devotion to El Glorioso Patriarca San Jose was at the San Nicolas de Tolentino church (“Recoletos”) in Intramuros; there were weekly devotions on Wednesdays and a big fiesta every 26 November. Unfortunately, the Recoletos church, the 26 November fiesta tradition, and the image of San Jose Patriarca were all destroyed by aerial bombs in February 1945. The other important, traditional centers of devotion to San Jose remain with “Tata Hosep” in Las Pinas, “Tata Bukot” in Navotas, and “Senor San Jose” in Mandaue, Cebu. There is a renewed, worldwide devotion to Saint Joseph as Pope Francis has acknowledged that he often leaves a petition to the saint overnight and receives a resolution in the morning.

Commissioned by D Maximo Viola y Sison (1857–1933): a beatific tabletop “La Inmaculada Concepcion.” The Virgin Mary has a gentle downward gaze, reminiscent of the “La Purisima” festejada at the Iglesia de San Francisco de Asis (Franciscanos) in Intramuros (destroyed during World War II). It has long hair of “jusi” fibers, a silvergilt crown, and an aureole of twelve stars. The long, slender hands are held together in prayer. The image is dressed in the traditional white robe and blue cape, “palikpik” style, embroidered with floral and foliar designs of the 1890s genre. An enameled, silvergilt sun and silver crescent moon are at its feet. The statuette stands on a (deliberately) oversized, silver–leafed, Ming–style “ensaimada” cloud base with the serpent interspersed between. The cloud is supported by a traditional gilded “peana” pedestal with foliar forms. The Roman Catholic dogma of the Immaculate Conception states that: “We declare, pronounce, and define that the doctrine which holds that the most Blessed Virgin Mary, in the first instance of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege granted by Almighty God, in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the human race, was preserved free from all stain of original sin, is a doctrine revealed by God and therefore to be believed firmly and constantly by all the faithful.” During the Spanish era (up to 1898), and up until prewar (to 1940), the 08 de Diciembre procession of “La Purisima” (“La Inmaculada Concepcion”) at the Iglesia de San Francisco de Asis (Franciscanos) was one of the much – awaited events in the Manila calendar. Although it was La Catedral de Manila that was under the patronage of “La Inmaculada Concepcion,” and although the Jesuits fervently venerated her under that title at the Iglesia de San Ignacio de Loyola on Calle Arzobispo, it was the Franciscanos who organized the annual fiesta in her honor. The late afternoon procession started at San Francisco on Calle San Francisco esquina a Calle Solana, through Calle Solana, entered the Iglesia de Santo Domingo de Guzman (Dominicanos) on Calle Beaterio esquina a Calle Solana for prayers and hymns, through Calle Beaterio, passed La Catedral on Calle Beaterio esquina a Calle Cabildo, then returned to San Francisco via Calle Real del Palacio (currently General Luna street). It was a joyous affair as “Navidades” (Christmas) was already in the air with the cool December breezes; five days later would be the 13 de Diciembre fiesta of Santa Lucia de Siracusa (Saint Lucy of Syracuse) at the Iglesia de San Nicolas de Tolentino (Recoletos) on Calle Cabildo Recoletos, a time when country folk from the surrounding provinces --- Bulacan, Pampanga, Morong, Laguna, Batangas, Cavite --- descended on the church patio with their fresh delicacies and charming wares, to the delight of the city folk who eagerly purchased them, for even then, Manilenos inevitably suffered from “mal de ville” (“city illness”).

Lot 140 of the Leon Gallery auction on June 17, 2023. Please see leon-gallery.com/auctions/The-Sp

Doha International airport ,Qatar...Photo taken by Andreas Fotopoulos 28 February 2013.First flight 21/12/2010.On Saturday 19 March 2016 the aircraft operated by flydubai as Flight FZ981 from Dubai, impacted airport terrain during a second approach attempt in bad weather to Rostov-On-Don Airport in Southern Russia. The airplane was destroyed and the 55 passengers and 7 crew were killed.

Flight 981 departed Dubai at 18:37 hours UTC on March 18. The en route part of the flight was normal. The flight arrived near Rostov and the crew performed a manual approach to runway 22 with the autopilot disconnected. Weather conditions were poor with a cloud base at 630 meters, wind 230 degrees at 13 meters per second, maximum 18 meters per second, light rain shower, mist, severe turbulence and moderate windshear.

At 22:42 UTC (01:42 local time) in the course of the initial approach at a height of 340 meters (1115 feet), the flight received a windshear alert. The flight crew decided to go around and then continued to a holding pattern waiting for improved weather conditions.

The flight left the holding pattern at 00:28 UTC (03:28 LT) and descended towards Rostov for another approach to runway 22.As the crew were proceeding with another manual approach, they decided to go around again at a height of 220 meters (721 feet), 4,5 km before the runway after receiving another windshear alert. They initiated a climb with a vertical speed of up to 20 m/s and setting the engines to maximum takeoff/go-around (TOGA) thrust.

In the course of the go-around the crew set flaps to 15° and retracted the landing gear.At the height of 1900 ft (approx. 600 m) after reaching the pitch angle of 18° the pilot flying pushed on the control column, which led to a decrease in vertical acceleration of up to 0.5, increase in forward speed and, consequently, automatic retraction of flaps from 15° to 10° at a speed of over 200 knots.

The short-term decrease in engine thrust within 3 seconds resulted in decreasing speed and flaps extension to 15°, although the following crew inputs to regain maximum takeoff/go-around thrust led to speed increase and reiterated automatic flaps retraction to 10°. The flaps remained in the latter configuration until the impact.

The pilot flying, by pulling up the control column, continued climbing with a vertical speed of as much as 16 m/s.

At a height of 900 m there was a simultaneous control column nose down input and stabilizer nose down deflection from -2,5 deg (6,5 units) to +2,5 deg (1,5 units). The FDR recorded a nose down stabilizer input from the stabilizer trim switch of the control wheel lasting 12 seconds, while the CVR record contains a specific noise of rotation of the trim wheels located on both sides of the central pedestal. As a result the aircraft, having climbed to about 1000 m, turned into descent with a negative vertical acceleration of -1g. The following crew recovery actions did not allow to avoid an impact with the ground.The aircraft hit the runway about 120 m from the threshold with a speed of over 600 km/h and over 50 degrees nose down pitch.

489_GHP_SoireePortraits_2019.jpg -- Greater Houston Partnership “Emerald City” Soiree 2019 with photography sponsored by Conoco Phillips at Hotel ZaZa August 24, 2019. (Photo by Richard Carson)

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the stalkers are a rival team to both the government and the ultra force.. are they heroes, or are they not ????

STALKERS MEMBER 2

NAME: EDWARD “TED” GRAVESTONE

CODE NAME: VACUME

AGE: 19

STATUS: MEMBER

POWERS: CREATE A MINIATURE BLACK HOLE TO OPPONENTS

ORIGINS:

Edward was part of a government project known as “PROJECT ZEBRA”.

Project Zebra was where children were kidnapped as baby’s and injected

Super-gene formula into them, which unlocked there meta power, as well as boosted there ages drastically

Ted was given the ability to open a black hole with his hands and extract enemies into it. After the Ultra Force broke out a bunch of meta teen’s from a government base, they failed to enter the bottom floor.

7 people still remained there and for months and months they were still tested on. Eventually, a man in a suit an mask known as general X came to rescue them aswell as a Witch known as “trix”. Since that day, they have been the stalkers, Hating the government

STALKERS MEMBER 3

NAME: OSCAR CURRENT

CODE NAME: JET-SPLASH:

AGE: 19

STATUS: MEMBERS

POWERS: CREATES A TSUNAMI WITH HIS FISTS

ORIGINS:

Pretty much the same as Vacume’s except the fact he has water based powers instead

STALKERS MEMBER 4

NAME: LEWIS CHILLI

CODE NAME: EYEZ

AGE: 19

STATUS: MEMBER

POWERS: LAZAR VISON/ XRAY VISON

ORIGINS:

Pretty much the same as Vacume’s except the fact he has eye based powers instead

STALKERS MEMBER 5

NAME: LEXI MEDDLE

CODE NAME: CLOWDLING

AGE: 19

STATUS: MEMBER

POWERS: CREATE CLOWDS/CONTROL CLOUDS

ORIGINS

Pretty much the same as Vacume’s except the fact she has cloud based powers instead

003_GHP_SoireeCandids_2019.JPG -- Greater Houston Partnership “Emerald City” Soiree 2019 with photography sponsored by Conoco Phillips at Hotel ZaZa August 24, 2019. (Photo by Richard Carson)

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Download full resolution individual photos/videos by clicking the "down-facing arrow" below the preview image on the right hand side of the page. You will then be prompted to select a destination for the photo on your local computer.

This cloud based gallery will be available for three months in order to enable you to download all of the photos to your computer for safe long term storage. While the gallery may be in the cloud for longer than this time you should endeavor to file and secure the photos for future use in whatever manner you deem appropriate.

072_GHP_Airports_5Oct22 - Greater Houston Partnership State of the Airports with Mario C. Diaz, Director of Aviation, Houston Airports held at the Marriott Marquis October 5, 2022. (Photo by Richard Carson)

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Download full resolution individual photos/videos by clicking the "down-facing arrow" below the preview image on the right hand side of the page. You will then be prompted to select a destination for the photo on your local computer.

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Dirt now lofted about halfway up to cloud base.

093_GHP_EcoOutlook_1Dec21 — 2021 Houston Region Economic Outlook shares perspectives on the region’s economy and future outlook. Speakers include Northern Trust Chief Economist Carl R. Tannenbaum,

and Partnership Senior VP of Research, Patrick Jankowski, December 1, 2021 at the Royal Sonesta in Houston. (Photo by Richard Carson)

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Download full resolution individual photos/videos by clicking the "down-facing arrow" below the preview image on the right hand side of the page. You will then be prompted to select a destination for the photo on your local computer.

This cloud based gallery will be available for three months in order to enable you to download all of the photos to your computer for safe long term storage. While the gallery may be in the cloud for longer than this time you should endeavor to file and secure the photos for future use in whatever manner you deem appropriate.093_GHP_EcoOutlook_1Dec21

Carrying on from a tradition started by the Search & Rescue Squadrons based at Chivenor, Historic Helicopters former RAF SAR Sea King, XZ597 took Santa on a trip around North Devon and parts of Somerset today.

The flyby was originally scheduled to take place last week, 22nd December, but due to thick fog and a low cloud base the flight was postponed.

Bit of a heavy crop, so apologies in advance for the quality.

Over Tiverton, Mid Devon

Wednesday 30th December 2020

211_GHP_SoireePortraits_2019.jpg -- Greater Houston Partnership “Emerald City” Soiree 2019 with photography sponsored by Conoco Phillips at Hotel ZaZa August 24, 2019. (Photo by Richard Carson)

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Download full resolution individual photos/videos by clicking the "down-facing arrow" below the preview image on the right hand side of the page. You will then be prompted to select a destination for the photo on your local computer.

This cloud based gallery will be available for three months in order to enable you to download all of the photos to your computer for safe long term storage. While the gallery may be in the cloud for longer than this time you should endeavor to file and secure the photos for future use in whatever manner you deem appropriate.

This image shows the Perseus molecular cloud, based on a combination of data from ESA’s Herschel and Planck space telescopes. The bright areas in the picture shows the emission by interstellar dust grains in three different wavelengths observed by Herschel (250, 350, and 500 microns) and the lines crossing the image in a ‘drapery pattern’ represent the magnetic field orientation (based on the Planck data.)

This nearby molecular cloud complex is made up of two components, Perseus North and Perseus South, both of which contain a large amount of dark nebulae. The northern component is located in the lower left of the image, while the southern one is visible towards the upper right.

Perseus North includes B5 which is an extensively studied dark cloud, and also contains the IC 348 open cluster of stars. Perseus South is home to the NGC 1333 nebula – the brightest area in the image – which is one of the most actively star-forming regions in the complex. Perseus South also includes the Barnard Object B1, along with the Lynds Dark Nebulae L1448, L1455, and L1451.

Credits: ESA/Herschel/Planck; J. D. Soler, MPIA

This image shows the Chamaeleon II molecular cloud based on a combination of data from ESA’s Herschel and Planck space telescopes. The bright areas in the picture shows the emission by interstellar dust grains in three different wavelengths observed by Herschel (250, 350, and 500 microns) and the lines crossing the image in a ‘drapery pattern’ represent the magnetic field orientation (based on the Planck data.)

The Chamaeleon cloud complex consists of three molecular clouds of very different morphology and stages of evolution: Chamaeleon I, II and III, with Chamaleon III having no young stars.

Chamaeleon II, despite its name, would not be able to camouflage in with Chamaeleon I even though they have similar sizes and masses. The region is still actively forming stars and and has a smaller stellar population of around 60. It doesn’t have defined ridge like in Chamaeleon I, and is dominated by clumps.

Credits: ESA/Herschel/Planck; J. D. Soler, MPIA

a) San Jose y Niño Jesus

b) La Inmaculada Concepcion

Binondo, Manila and San Miguel de Mayumo, Bulacan

ivory, silver, velvet, baticuling wood

1890s

a) San Jose y Niño Jesus

head to toe: 11" (28 cm)

body: 5" x 4" (13 cm x 10 cm)

Virina:

H: 22" (56 cm), D: 9" (23 cm)

Base:

H: 6" (15 cm), D: 14" (36 cm)

b) La Inmaculada Concepcion

head to toe: 11" (28 cm)

body: 5" x 4" (13 cm x 10 cm)

Virina:

H: 22" (56 cm), D: 9" (23 cm)

Base:

H: 6" (15 cm), D: 14 (36 cm)

Opening bid: PHP 300,000

Property from the Don Maximo Viola Collection

Provenance: Maximo Viola, Descendants of Maximo Viola

About the Work

by Augusto Marcelino Reyes Gonzalez III

Commissioned by D Maximo Viola y Sison (1857–1933): an exceptional tabletop “San Jose y Nino Jesus.”

The San Jose has a serious, fatherly expression and the Nino Jesus he is carrying on his left hand has a playful but respectful mien. The father carries a solid silver staff of lilies on his right hand. Both San Jose and the Nino Jesus have long hair of “jusi” fibers; the father wears a solid silver “paraguas” halo and the son wears solid silver “tres potencias” symbolizing the three powers of the Lord --- Authority (Exousia in Greek), Ability (Dunamis in Greek), and Strength (Kratas in Greek). The San Jose wears a traditional green robe and yellow cape and the Nino Jesus wears a traditional yellow robe, both are embroidered with floral and foliar designs of the 1890s genre. The father stands on an exceptional “peana” pedestal base of the rare type: a lily emerging from four acanthus leaves which are supported by smaller leaves on a base of foliar forms. The finely–gilded peana is found only with the highest quality ivory statuary. In Roman Catholicism, Saint Joseph is the foster father of Jesus Christ and the Patron of the Universal Church. During the Spanish period and up to prewar (up to 1940), the center of devotion to El Glorioso Patriarca San Jose was at the San Nicolas de Tolentino church (“Recoletos”) in Intramuros; there were weekly devotions on Wednesdays and a big fiesta every 26 November. Unfortunately, the Recoletos church, the 26 November fiesta tradition, and the image of San Jose Patriarca were all destroyed by aerial bombs in February 1945. The other important, traditional centers of devotion to San Jose remain with “Tata Hosep” in Las Pinas, “Tata Bukot” in Navotas, and “Senor San Jose” in Mandaue, Cebu. There is a renewed, worldwide devotion to Saint Joseph as Pope Francis has acknowledged that he often leaves a petition to the saint overnight and receives a resolution in the morning.

Commissioned by D Maximo Viola y Sison (1857–1933): a beatific tabletop “La Inmaculada Concepcion.” The Virgin Mary has a gentle downward gaze, reminiscent of the “La Purisima” festejada at the Iglesia de San Francisco de Asis (Franciscanos) in Intramuros (destroyed during World War II). It has long hair of “jusi” fibers, a silvergilt crown, and an aureole of twelve stars. The long, slender hands are held together in prayer. The image is dressed in the traditional white robe and blue cape, “palikpik” style, embroidered with floral and foliar designs of the 1890s genre. An enameled, silvergilt sun and silver crescent moon are at its feet. The statuette stands on a (deliberately) oversized, silver–leafed, Ming–style “ensaimada” cloud base with the serpent interspersed between. The cloud is supported by a traditional gilded “peana” pedestal with foliar forms. The Roman Catholic dogma of the Immaculate Conception states that: “We declare, pronounce, and define that the doctrine which holds that the most Blessed Virgin Mary, in the first instance of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege granted by Almighty God, in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the human race, was preserved free from all stain of original sin, is a doctrine revealed by God and therefore to be believed firmly and constantly by all the faithful.” During the Spanish era (up to 1898), and up until prewar (to 1940), the 08 de Diciembre procession of “La Purisima” (“La Inmaculada Concepcion”) at the Iglesia de San Francisco de Asis (Franciscanos) was one of the much – awaited events in the Manila calendar. Although it was La Catedral de Manila that was under the patronage of “La Inmaculada Concepcion,” and although the Jesuits fervently venerated her under that title at the Iglesia de San Ignacio de Loyola on Calle Arzobispo, it was the Franciscanos who organized the annual fiesta in her honor. The late afternoon procession started at San Francisco on Calle San Francisco esquina a Calle Solana, through Calle Solana, entered the Iglesia de Santo Domingo de Guzman (Dominicanos) on Calle Beaterio esquina a Calle Solana for prayers and hymns, through Calle Beaterio, passed La Catedral on Calle Beaterio esquina a Calle Cabildo, then returned to San Francisco via Calle Real del Palacio (currently General Luna street). It was a joyous affair as “Navidades” (Christmas) was already in the air with the cool December breezes; five days later would be the 13 de Diciembre fiesta of Santa Lucia de Siracusa (Saint Lucy of Syracuse) at the Iglesia de San Nicolas de Tolentino (Recoletos) on Calle Cabildo Recoletos, a time when country folk from the surrounding provinces --- Bulacan, Pampanga, Morong, Laguna, Batangas, Cavite --- descended on the church patio with their fresh delicacies and charming wares, to the delight of the city folk who eagerly purchased them, for even then, Manilenos inevitably suffered from “mal de ville” (“city illness”).

Lot 140 of the Leon Gallery auction on June 17, 2023. Please see leon-gallery.com/auctions/The-Spectacular-Mid-Year-Auctio... for more information.

This image shows the Chamaeleon I molecular cloud based on a combination of data from ESA’s Herschel and Planck space telescopes. The bright areas in the picture shows the emission by interstellar dust grains in three different wavelengths observed by Herschel (250, 350, and 500 microns) and the lines crossing the image in a ‘drapery pattern’ represent the magnetic field orientation (based on the Planck data.)

The Chamaeleon cloud complex consists of three molecular clouds of very different morphology and stages of evolution: Chamaeleon I, II and III, with Chamaleon III having no young stars. An image of Chamaeleon II is available here.

Chamaeleon I is a star-forming region with more than 200 young stars. A massive, newly-formed star powers the IC 2631 reflection nebula, visible at the top of the image. Two other reflection nebulae, called Cederblad 110 and Cederblad 111, are located in the centre of the image.

At the end its star formation phase, Chamaeleon I has a central ridge-like structure, and there are dense clumps embedded in the ridge. Faint striations can be seen in the cloud, aligned with the magnetic field.

Credits: ESA/Herschel/Planck; J. D. Soler, MPIA

008_GHP_SoireeCandids_2019.JPG -- Greater Houston Partnership “Emerald City” Soiree 2019 with photography sponsored by Conoco Phillips at Hotel ZaZa August 24, 2019. (Photo by Richard Carson)

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Download full resolution individual photos/videos by clicking the "down-facing arrow" below the preview image on the right hand side of the page. You will then be prompted to select a destination for the photo on your local computer.

This cloud based gallery will be available for three months in order to enable you to download all of the photos to your computer for safe long term storage. While the gallery may be in the cloud for longer than this time you should endeavor to file and secure the photos for future use in whatever manner you deem appropriate.

535_GHP_SoireeCandids_2019.JPG -- Greater Houston Partnership “Emerald City” Soiree 2019 with photography sponsored by Conoco Phillips at Hotel ZaZa August 24, 2019. (Photo by Richard Carson)

***DOWNLOAD INSTRUCTIONS***

Download full resolution individual photos/videos by clicking the "down-facing arrow" below the preview image on the right hand side of the page. You will then be prompted to select a destination for the photo on your local computer.

This cloud based gallery will be available for three months in order to enable you to download all of the photos to your computer for safe long term storage. While the gallery may be in the cloud for longer than this time you should endeavor to file and secure the photos for future use in whatever manner you deem appropriate.

102_GHP_EcoOutlook_1Dec21 — 2021 Houston Region Economic Outlook shares perspectives on the region’s economy and future outlook. Speakers include Northern Trust Chief Economist Carl R. Tannenbaum,

and Partnership Senior VP of Research, Patrick Jankowski, December 1, 2021 at the Royal Sonesta in Houston. (Photo by Richard Carson)

***DOWNLOAD INSTRUCTIONS***

Download full resolution individual photos/videos by clicking the "down-facing arrow" below the preview image on the right hand side of the page. You will then be prompted to select a destination for the photo on your local computer.

This cloud based gallery will be available for three months in order to enable you to download all of the photos to your computer for safe long term storage. While the gallery may be in the cloud for longer than this time you should endeavor to file and secure the photos for future use in whatever manner you deem appropriate.102_GHP_EcoOutlook_1Dec21

Island of Arran . Scotland

This image shows the Musca molecular clouds based on a combination of data from ESA’s Herschel and Planck space telescopes. The bright areas in the picture shows the emission by interstellar dust grains in three different wavelengths observed by Herschel (250, 350, and 500 microns) and the lines crossing the image in a ‘drapery pattern’ represent the magnetic field orientation (based on the Planck data.)

The Musca clouds are part of the Chamaeleon cloud complex, where the vast star-forming region overlaps with the constellation of Musca, the Fly. Resembling a streak of lightning, the well-defined, elongated molecular cloud spans three degrees across the sky. It is also sometimes called the Dark Doodad Nebula.

Magnetic field lines clearly appear to be perpendicular to the main filament in the cloud. Striations are present, although not necessarily connected to the main filament, and there are also denser hair-like strands – structures attached to the main filament. Strands are distributed all along the main filament.

Musca is similar to the B213 filament in the Taurus Molecular Cloud in terms of perpendicular striations, however Musca lacks the fine substructure of the Taurus filament.

Credits: ESA/Herschel/Planck; J. D. Soler, MPIA

161_GHP_Airports_5Oct22 - Greater Houston Partnership State of the Airports with Mario C. Diaz, Director of Aviation, Houston Airports held at the Marriott Marquis October 5, 2022. (Photo by Richard Carson)

***DOWNLOAD INSTRUCTIONS***

Download full resolution individual photos/videos by clicking the "down-facing arrow" below the preview image on the right hand side of the page. You will then be prompted to select a destination for the photo on your local computer.

This cloud based gallery will be available for three months in order to enable you to download all of the photos to your computer for safe long term storage. While the gallery may be in the cloud for longer than this time you should endeavor to file and secure the photos for future use in whatever manner you deem appropriate.

What was first thought to be a recently passing meteorite condensation trail through the high altitude clouds.. turned out to be the shadow of the straight vapour trail from a passing passenger jet plane cast on the cloud base slightly below ( c. 30 - 35,000 ft )

Sometimes you should just go find out. Rarely do I ever stick to a route as planned, it's nice to have a general direction but often times I'll see a path leading somewhere or a feature on the map and say to myself "I wonder what's down there".

I've been looking at Crowden Tower in this way on the map for some time and I finally went to find out what was there. There's a lovely path not marked at all on any maps) that winds its way along the col, which on a clear day would have great views of Grindslow Knoll but the cloud base was around 500-600m obscuring most of the view. One of the things that I did find was the remains of an old sheepfold and a view up to the Woolpacks, with dry stone providing a lovely bit of foreground interest and the cloud a good deal of atmosphere.

665_GHP_SoireePortraits_2019.jpg -- Greater Houston Partnership “Emerald City” Soiree 2019 with photography sponsored by Conoco Phillips at Hotel ZaZa August 24, 2019. (Photo by Richard Carson)

***DOWNLOAD INSTRUCTIONS***

Download full resolution individual photos/videos by clicking the "down-facing arrow" below the preview image on the right hand side of the page. You will then be prompted to select a destination for the photo on your local computer.

This cloud based gallery will be available for three months in order to enable you to download all of the photos to your computer for safe long term storage. While the gallery may be in the cloud for longer than this time you should endeavor to file and secure the photos for future use in whatever manner you deem appropriate.

Virtual Panorama of Reiter Berry Farms, in Watsonville, CA, on Thursday, August 27, 2015, are working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to improve on the 30% water savings they already achieve with precision micro subsurface irrigation. The use of a Wireless Irrigation Monitoring Network (WIN) to collects data from wireless solar powered soil tensiometers, and weather field stations positioned throughout farms in three counties enable them to track soil, temperature, and humidity conditions with a cloud-based irrigation management system, to better manage watering and soil conservation efforts in more than 700 acres. They actively share their data, methods, and experiences with other producers. Better management by producers using a currently dwindling supply and quality of ground water (wells) in this county will help recharge the aquifer and prevent the migration of nearby Pacific Ocean salt water into the ground water they use. This is one of the ways growers are extending the water supply. Reiter Affiliated Companies (RAC) has been involved with family farming since 1868; is a leading fresh, multi-berry producer in the world; and a leading supplier of fresh strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries in North America.

Wireless soil tensiometer are buried at multiple specific distances and depths from the subsurface water emitters and the root balls. The tensiometer measures how strongly the soil absorbs water. The tensiometer’s porous probe is buried into the soil and a pump pulls some air out, creating a vacuum. Water and moisture from the surrounding soil enters the probe. Low amounts of water entering the tensiometer indicate plants (and evaporation) are pulling water from the soil and may need to be watered. High levels of water entering the tensiometer indicate the plants have enough water. This information is then transmitted to a company’s cloud-based irrigation management system that makes the data available on customer’s mobile device in the field. If this data is combined with historical data and other information, it can help determine when, how long and how fast watering needs to be for best efficiency, soil health and electrical economy to improve a business’s yield and profitability. These measurements helps ensure ideal watering and for soil conservation. The farms have been using the tensiometers for 5 years. USDA Photo Illustration by Lance Cheung.

49 xenon searchlights firing into the London sky. Ryoji Ikeda's work was commissioned as part of the centenary of the outbreak of World War One and was switched on at 10pm on 4th August 2014.

I have been passing this every day while it was being constructed over the last week or so. I expected it to be impressive but hadn't bargained on the thousands of moths, bats and birds that cause the beams of light to twinkle right up to the cloud base like spirits ascending into heaven.

With Whernside as a wintery backdrop and low cloud base, DRS Class 66/4 No. 66425 crosses Batty Moss Viaduct, Ribblehead with 6Z22, hauling what appear to be brand new GBRf empty box wagons to Sellafield on 16th February 2018.

Clouds Co. Dublin Ireland

074_SoireeWall_11Nov21 - Greater Houston Partnership Soirée annual gala celebrating Houston as a truly global city at Hotel ZaZa chaired by Margaret and Thad Hill November 11, 2021. (Photo by Richard Carson)

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202_GHP_SoireePortraits_2019.jpg -- Greater Houston Partnership “Emerald City” Soiree 2019 with photography sponsored by Conoco Phillips at Hotel ZaZa August 24, 2019. (Photo by Richard Carson)

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Download full resolution individual photos/videos by clicking the "down-facing arrow" below the preview image on the right hand side of the page. You will then be prompted to select a destination for the photo on your local computer.

This cloud based gallery will be available for three months in order to enable you to download all of the photos to your computer for safe long term storage. While the gallery may be in the cloud for longer than this time you should endeavor to file and secure the photos for future use in whatever manner you deem appropriate.

Martha Romero guides husband Salvador Prieto as he drives and dumps a load of mulch at their Hass avocado trees; she’ll then toss the mulch into place near the tree trunks and under the canopy, in Somis, CA, on Nov 15, 2018. All the while, they ensure the micro irrigation sprinklers are not damaged.

Salvador Prieto grew up watching and helping his father grow corn and beans on a small farm in Mexico. The journey from bean fields to 20-acre orchard owner with his wife Martha Romero was not a straight and narrow path to Somis, Calif. In fact, it was music that brought him to the United States. Today the passion is agriculture.

Similarly, Romero didn’t follow a career in agriculture to her beautiful and healthy avocado and lemon orchard. Romero grew up a city girl in the heart of Los Angeles. Now sharing this farm with her husband and two children, she quickly credits her success to the support and assistance from her family to navigate the learning curve.

Constantly seeking improvement on the family’s orchard, Romero discovered the local Farm Bureau and the Ventura County Agricultural Irrigated Land Group (VCAILG) coalition. VCAILG put Romero in touch with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Ventura Resource Conservation District, for technical and financial assistance to implement conservation and management practices.

NRCS California District Conservationist Dawn Afman, Soil Conservationist Elizabeth Keith, and Resource Conservationist Brooks Engelhardt, have all provided technical assistance and invested their time and expertise in helping Prieto and Romero incorporate conservation practices in their orchard. Prieto and Romero were immediately intrigued by NRCS’s efforts to improve soil health.

“At first it was overwhelming, but many other farmers I know are members, so it is comforting to know that I am not alone,” said Romero. “We need to make a profit, obviously, but, for me, I want to do it while protecting mother nature and precious resources like water. I am able to do this with NRCS’s help.”

Prieto and Romero learned a lot from trial and error. Romero admits that she even bought her trees before the land was ready. But learning opportunities, like an early community garden project, gave them critical knowledge and experience.

A big first conservation practice they learned was mulching to save water and reduce weeds. NRCS helped Prieto and Romero with this, through an Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) contract, to apply mulch to their orchard floor to conserve soil moisture and improve soil health in the Fall of 2018.

“Every time we have a question or need assistance, NRCS has been nothing but helpful,” added Romero. “They let us know about other programs out in the community and invited us to their annual Latino Farmer Conference, where my husband and I learned about other helpful resources.”

Recently, Prieto and Romero entered into a new NRCS contract to implement Irrigation Water Management (IWM) to their orchard. The IWM plan includes installing moisture sensors into the ground, which transmit continuous data to cloud-based storage, and accessed through a smart device app on their phones. The information lets them know when, where and how long to irrigate. This knowledge will help them toward their goal of producing 6,000 pounds of produce per acre.

Looking toward the future, Romero expressed that knowledge is key. “Before we plant further, we need to get educated on how to do it best,” concluded Romero. “From the planting of a seed or planting of a tree, we need the entire process to be profitable. It's not just about planting it. It's about preparing the land and using the resources wisely.”

In the meantime, Romero enjoys the weekends because she does not need to be worried about picking up the kids from school or rushing around. She just wants to be out in the orchard, making it better From mulching to pruning or irrigating and weeding. The family’s goal is to make the farm “better tomorrow than it was today.”

Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC) is the Department’s focal point for the nation’s farmers and ranchers and other stewards of private agricultural lands and non-industrial private forest lands. FPAC agencies implement programs designed to mitigate the significant risks of farming through crop insurance services, conservation programs, and technical assistance, and commodity, lending, and disaster programs.

The agencies and services supporting FPAC are Farm Service Agency (FSA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and Risk Management Agency (RMA).

NRCS has a proud history of supporting America’s farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners for more than 80 years. USDA helps people make investments in their operations and local communities to keep working lands working, boost rural economies, increase the competitiveness of American agriculture, and improve the quality of our air, water, soil, and habitat.

From weather to pests, and from a lack of time to markets, each American farmer faces a unique set of challenges. The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) helps agricultural producers confront those challenges – all while conserving natural resources like soil, water, and air.

This voluntary conservation program helps producers make conservation work for them. Together, NRCS and producers invest in solutions that conserve natural resources for the future while also improving agricultural operations.

Through EQIP, NRCS provides agricultural producers with financial resources and one-on-one help to plan and implement improvements, or what NRCS calls conservation practices. Using these practices can lead to cleaner water and air, healthier soil and better wildlife habitat, all while improving agricultural operations. Through EQIP, you can voluntarily implement conservation practices and NRCS co-invests in these practices with you.

USDA Photo by Lance Cheung.

For more information, please see:

USDA

www.usda.gov

FPAC

www.usda.gov/our-agency/about-usda/mission-areas

NRCS

www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/site/national/home/

EQIP

www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/national/program...

081_SoireeWall_11Nov21 - Greater Houston Partnership Soirée annual gala celebrating Houston as a truly global city at Hotel ZaZa chaired by Margaret and Thad Hill November 11, 2021. (Photo by Richard Carson)

***DOWNLOAD INSTRUCTIONS***

Download full resolution individual photos/videos by clicking the "down-facing arrow" below the preview image on the right hand side of the page. You will then be prompted to select a destination for the photo on your local computer.

This cloud based gallery will be available for three months in order to enable you to download all of the photos to your computer for safe long term storage. While the gallery may be in the cloud for longer than this time you should endeavor to file and secure the photos for future use in whatever manner you deem appropriate.

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About

Right.

I was on my way to visit David, when I saw this cloud forming out to sea... Next stop Nudgee beach.

This storm cloud has to be the best I've even seen. Amazing!

How big was this cloud? well if you look closely, you can see a plane approaching the airport to the right.

Now you know why my gear comes with me everywhere I go.

Enjoy.

- Canon 50D.

- ISO 100, f8, 1/640, 70mm.

- Canon 70-200 f/4 L lens

- Cokin p121 Medium Grad.

Processing

- 20 Images (shot at 70mm) stitched in AutoPano Pro.

- Saturation and Contrast in Photoshop 6.0 and Lightroom 2.2.

About Clouds

A cloud is a visible mass of droplets, in other words, little drops of water or frozen crystals suspended in the atmosphere above the surface of the Earth or another planetary body. A cloud is also a visible mass attracted by gravity, such as masses of material in space called interstellar clouds and nebulae. Clouds are studied in the nephology or cloud physics branch of meteorology.

On Earth the condensing substance is typically water vapor, which forms small droplets or ice crystals, typically 0.01 mm (0.00039 in) in diameter. When surrounded by billions of other droplets or crystals they become visible as clouds. Dense deep clouds exhibit a high reflectance (70% to 95%) throughout the visible range of wavelengths. They thus appear white, at least from the top. Cloud droplets tend to scatter light efficiently, so that the intensity of the solar radiation decreases with depth into the gases, hence the gray or even sometimes dark appearance at the cloud base. Thin clouds may appear to have acquired the color of their environment or background and clouds illuminated by non-white light, such as during sunrise or sunset, may appear colored accordingly. Clouds look darker in the near-infrared because water absorbs solar radiation at those wavelengths.

The color of a cloud, as seen from the Earth, tells much about what is going on inside the cloud. Clouds form because warm air tends to absorb water vapor, which is lighter than air, thus helping the mixture to rise. As it rises the air containing it cools and the vapor tends to condense out of the air as micro-droplets. These tiny particles of water are densely packed and sunlight cannot penetrate far into the cloud before it is reflected out, giving a cloud its characteristic white color. As a cloud matures, the dense water droplets may combine to produce larger droplets, which may combine to form droplets large enough to fall as rain. By this process of accumulation, the space between droplets becomes increasingly larger, permitting light to penetrate farther into the cloud. If the cloud is sufficiently large and the droplets within are spaced far enough apart, it may be that a percentage of the light which enters the cloud is not reflected back out before it is absorbed. A simple example of this is being able to see farther in heavy rain than in heavy fog. This process of reflection/absorption is what causes the range of cloud color from white to black. For the same reason, the undersides of large clouds and heavy overcasts can appear as various degrees of grey shades, depending on how much light is being reflected or transmitted back to the observer.

Other colors occur naturally in clouds. Bluish-grey is the result of light scattering within the cloud. In the visible spectrum, blue and green are at the short end of light's visible wavelengths, while red and yellow are at the long end. The short rays are more easily scattered by water droplets, and the long rays are more likely to be absorbed. The bluish color is evidence that such scattering is being produced by rain-sized droplets in the cloud.

A greenish tinge to a cloud is produced when sunlight is scattered by ice. A cumulonimbus cloud emitting green is an imminent sign of heavy rain, hail, strong winds and possible tornadoes.

Yellowish clouds are rare but may occur in the late spring through early fall months during forest fire season. The yellow color is due to the presence of pollutants in the smoke.

Red, orange and pink clouds occur almost entirely at sunrise/sunset and are the result of the scattering of sunlight by the atmosphere. The clouds do not become that color; they are reflecting long and unscattered rays of sunlight, which are predominant at those hours. The effect is much like if one were to shine a red spotlight on a white sheet. In combination with large, mature thunderheads this can produce blood-red clouds.

Stratocumulus Clouds

A Stratocumulus cloud belongs to a class of clouds characterized by large dark, rounded masses, usually in groups, lines, or waves, the individual elements being larger than those in altocumuli, and the whole being at a lower altitude, usually below 2,400 m (8,000 ft). Weak convective currents create shallow cloud layers because of drier, stable air above preventing continued vertical development.

Week 23 - 2016 "Abstract"

Storm clouds over head the other day when we had thunder and lighting

A long exposure taken in the Brecon Beacons.

The cloud base was really low and make for a surreal sight!

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039_GHP_SoireePortraits_2019.jpg -- Greater Houston Partnership “Emerald City” Soiree 2019 with photography sponsored by Conoco Phillips at Hotel ZaZa August 24, 2019. (Photo by Richard Carson)

***DOWNLOAD INSTRUCTIONS***

Download full resolution individual photos/videos by clicking the "down-facing arrow" below the preview image on the right hand side of the page. You will then be prompted to select a destination for the photo on your local computer.

This cloud based gallery will be available for three months in order to enable you to download all of the photos to your computer for safe long term storage. While the gallery may be in the cloud for longer than this time you should endeavor to file and secure the photos for future use in whatever manner you deem appropriate.

073_GHP_SoireePortraits_2019.jpg -- Greater Houston Partnership “Emerald City” Soiree 2019 with photography sponsored by Conoco Phillips at Hotel ZaZa August 24, 2019. (Photo by Richard Carson)

***DOWNLOAD INSTRUCTIONS***

Download full resolution individual photos/videos by clicking the "down-facing arrow" below the preview image on the right hand side of the page. You will then be prompted to select a destination for the photo on your local computer.

This cloud based gallery will be available for three months in order to enable you to download all of the photos to your computer for safe long term storage. While the gallery may be in the cloud for longer than this time you should endeavor to file and secure the photos for future use in whatever manner you deem appropriate.

0837 Glasgow Central-Carlisle.

In awful weather for photography, low cloud base, heavy rain and strong winds.

Set 450 makes the stop at SANQUHAR.

4 Oct 17

Madonna and Child

FILIPINO

19th Century

Wooden body with ivory head.

Carved wooden figure of the Madonna and Child. Ivory head of Madonna intact. Ivory head of infant Christ child and the ivory hands of the Madonna now missing. Fiber hair attachment may not be original.

The Madonna is dressed in a flowing farthingale or vedugado with long Augustinian sleeves. A "V" shaped bodice is present and discernible. The Virgin is holding an image of the infant Christ child on her arms with the ivory hands now missing. The ivory head of the Christ child is detached and is also missing. The ivory head is delicately carved and mounted with long, crimped hair. Hair may not be original. The Madonna stands on a cloud base surmounted by the heads of three cherubims. The horns of the crescent moon are intact. The whole ensemble stands on a painted and gilded wooden base.

height: 17 in. or 42.5 cm.

Exhibitions: Formerly in the collection of the National Museum of the Phillipines, Manila

Virgin Atlantic Boeing 747-41R G-VXLG with flight VS128 from New York (JFK) appears out of the low cloud base on approach to Manchester Airport on the 13th August 2018

A spectacular day on the mountain with Marcus Conway. Due to the late spring, these birds had only arrived on the mountan tops a few days earlier and as the window between their arrival and the start of nesting is so narrow we were very fortunate indeed. With the cloud base also above the top of the mountains all day, we couldn't have timed it better and I finally had the chance to photograph these beautiful birds. Huge thanks to Marcus www.ebirder.net

047_GHP_SoireeCandids_2019.JPG -- Greater Houston Partnership “Emerald City” Soiree 2019 with photography sponsored by Conoco Phillips at Hotel ZaZa August 24, 2019. (Photo by Richard Carson)

***DOWNLOAD INSTRUCTIONS***

Download full resolution individual photos/videos by clicking the "down-facing arrow" below the preview image on the right hand side of the page. You will then be prompted to select a destination for the photo on your local computer.

This cloud based gallery will be available for three months in order to enable you to download all of the photos to your computer for safe long term storage. While the gallery may be in the cloud for longer than this time you should endeavor to file and secure the photos for future use in whatever manner you deem appropriate.

This atmospheric optical phenomena was unusual because it occurred with surface air temperatures near 40F. Ice crystals are usually required with upper level (cloud base) temperatures colder than -20F.

The 1st still shows the mock sun (with pillar). The actual sun rose ~10 minutes later. The 2nd still shows the fading pillar.

IMAGE INFO

- The original magnificent "Guardian Lions" of Ehden were donated by an emigrant named Boutros Sheikha Douaihy (in 1939) & sculpted by artist Georges El Selou. A relative of Boutros, Youssef Sheikha Douaihy, helped Georges build the statue bases.

- Sadly, the original sharply detailed hand-sculpted lion statues seen in this photo are no longer there. The whole area has since been urbanized & new road system built, becoming a tourist mecca in later years. I have no idea where the original sculpted lions may have ended up. However, a replacement lion (appears to be a concrete cast replica) now exists on top of the original left stone plinth (now white-washed). The original right stone plinth (sans lion) was removed to allow for road widening & it appears a replacement plinth (not the same quality carved stones) with another poorer quality, replica concrete lion statue sitting atop it has been positioned much further to the right. See this Google Street View link for how the replica lions & replacement right plinth are now situated (note the original Shrine building in the background is still there!):

www.google.com.au/maps/@34.2920144,35.9541683,3a,51.1y,74...

- Saydet el Hosn basilica (aka the "Lady of the Fortress" shrine & monastery) is atop the peak of the mountain, which can be seen rising to the cloud base in the background of the photo.

- Ehden is located 30km east of Tripoli, on the Mar Sarkis (Saint Sarkis) Mountain, overlooking coastal towns and villages as far as Akkar to Shikka.

************************

SOURCE INFO

- This very rare, unique original image was captured by my late father-in-law, Driver Tom Beazley of the 2/4 Anti Malaria Control Unit, 9 Division, 2 Australian Imperial Force, using a KODAK folding 120 roll-film camera while on local leave to Ehden & surrounds.

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PROCESS INFO

- Very grainy, faded & blurry original print was digitized using a Canon Canoscan 8800F scanner.

- Colourized using MyHeritage app.

- Image quality enhanced using Topaz Gigapixel AI, Skylum Luminar Neo AI & Adobe Photoshop CS2.

A beautifully photogenic tornado that touched down ~3 miles south of Campo, in far south-eastern Colorado, around 18:09 local time on 31 May 2010. The tornado moved slowly southeast, crossing highway 287/385 around 8 miles south of Campo. The tornado was on the ground for 16 minutes and was rated EF2.

These photos are a revised set posted nearly 11 years after the event, showing the development and evolution of the tornado. Most were taken from the intersection of highway 287/385 and County Road F, but the latter 5 shots (no. 18 - 22) were taken further southeast along the highway. The tornado became partly rain-wrapped and lifted a mile or two east of the highway very near the Oklahoma border.

For more information about the event, see the summary by the NWS Pueblo Office here: www.weather.gov/pub/tornado31May2010_BacaCounty and this conference paper by Monteverdi et al. ams.confex.com/ams/pdfpapers/175862.pdf

(2) The condensation funnel broadens at the surface. The funnel was incredibly smooth and featureless all the way from cloud base to the ground at this early stage.