Containing two trainsets dead in tow, Metrolink 320 heads into Los Angeles as Mission Tower looms in the background. Both train sets are powered by F59PHs. Winter rains make the Los Angeles River a little angrier than normal, although it's still well below the man-made confines of the concrete flood wall.

Aus dem fernen Osten hat der Containerzug das Ziel seiner Reise bald erreicht. Zur BMW Niederlassung in Wackersdorf/Altenschwand ist er unterwegs.

Sunset scence of Wat Mahathat temple in the Sukhothai Historical Park contains the ruins of old Sukhothai, Thailand, UNESCO world Heritage Site.

Limestone caves at Seaham beach, North East England UK.

Container Schubverband bei Mannheim auf dem Rhein

SN/NC: Persea Americana, Laureaceae Family

The avocado (Persea Americana), a tree with probable origin in south-central Mexico, is classified as a member of the flowering plant family Lauraceae. The fruit of the plant also called an avocado (or avocado pear or alligator pear), is botanically a large berry containing a single large seed. Avocados are commercially valuable and are cultivated in tropical and Mediterranean climates throughout the world. They have a green-skinned, fleshy body that may be pear-shaped, egg-shaped, or spherical. Commercially, they ripen after harvesting. Avocado trees are partially self-pollinating and are often propagated through grafting to maintain predictable fruit quality and quantity. In 2017, Mexico produced34% of the world's supply of avocados. The word "avocado" comes from the Spanish aguacate, which in turn comes from the Nahuatl word āhuacatl [aːˈwakat͡ɬ], which goes back to the theproto-Aztecan *pa:wa which also meant "avocado".Sometimes the Nahuatl word was used with the meaning "testicle", probably because of the likeness between the fruit and the body part. The modern English name comes from an English rendering of the Spanish aguacate as avogato. The earliest known written use in English is attested from 1697 as "avocado pear", a term which was later corrupted as "alligator pear". Because the word avogato sounded like"advocate", several languages reinterpreted it to have that meaning. French uses avocat, which also means lawyer, and"advocate" — forms of the word appear in several Germanic languages, such as the (now obsolete) German Advogato-Birne, the old Danish advokat-pære (today is called avocado), and the Dutch advocaatpeer. Regional Names: In other Central American and Caribbean Spanish-speaking countries, it is known by the Mexican name, while South American Spanish-speaking countries use a Quechua-derived word, palta. InPortuguese, it is abacate. The fruit is sometimes called an avocado pear or alligator pear (due to its shape and the rough green skin of some cultivars). The Nahuatl āhuacatl can be compounded with other words, as in ahuacamolli, meaning avocado soup or sauce, from which the Spanish word guacamole derives. In the United Kingdom, the term avocado pear is still sometimes misused as applied when avocados first became commonly available in the 1960s. Originating as a diminutive in Australian English, a clipped form, avo, has since become a common colloquialism in South Africa and the United Kingdom. It is known as"butter fruit" in parts of India.

O abacate é o frutocomestível do abacateiro (Persea americana), uma árvore da família da Lauraceae nativa do México ouda América do Sul, hoje extensamente cultivada em regiões tropicais e subtropicais,inclusive nas Ilhas Canárias, na Ilha da Madeira e na Sicília."Abacate" originou-se do náuatle, língua falada por grupos indígenasque habitavam o México e El Salvador. O vocábulo āhuacatl, naquele idioma, significa "testículo" e foi utilizado para nomear o fruto. Tem mais de 30% de gorduras (extraída comercialmente da semente, como do mesocarpo do fruto e de aplicação cosmética ), é rico em açúcares e vitaminas e possui umdos mais elevados teores de proteínas evitamina A entre as frutas. Possui, ainda, quantidades úteis de ferro,magnésio e vitaminas C, E e B6 ,além da vitamina A. É consumido isoladamente ou em saladas temperadas com molhos, como no guacamole,prato da culinária mexicana, ou como sobremesa, batido com leite e açúcar ou com açúcar e limão, em Moçambique e no Brasil. De janeiro a dezembro, com ênfase em abril e maio. É realizada normalmente utilizando escadas e tesouras apropriadas, ou "apanhadores de saco" que são utilizados para colher os frutos nas partes mais altas da árvore. Os frutos não devem ser colhidos sem pedúnculo, os quais devem ser aparados, deixando-se 6 a 10mm de seu comprimento para facilitar o acondicionamento na embalagem. O abacate era amplamente cultivado antes da conquista espanhola, mas só mereceu a atenção dos horticultores no século XIX. O nome náuatle do fruto é ahuacatl (o qual significa "testículo", em referência a sua forma), que originou, em espanhol, a palavra aguacate .O abacate é um fruto arredondado ou piriforme, de peso médio de 500 a 1 500g. Sua casca varia, em colorido, do verde aovermelho-escuro, passando pelo pardo, violáceo ou negro. As suas duas principais variedades são a Strong (cor verde) e a Hass (cor roxa). A árvore, o abacateiro, atinge até 30m e cresce melhor em climas quentes. Recentemente começou a ser comercializado na Europa uma nova variedade de abacate, desenvolvido pela empresa norte-americana Apeel, e que irá ter uma vida média 2 vezes superior ao das variedades existente. Além do seu valor nutritivo a Persea americana é amplamente utilizada na Medicina Ayurvédica para o tratamento de várias doenças, tais como hipertensão, dor de estômago, bronquite, diarreia,e diabetes. Pesquisas tem evidenciado que seu extrato aquoso tem atividade analgésica e anti-inflamatória comparável ao ácido acetilsalicílico. Na década de 1960 alguns estudos realizados por Grant demonstraram que o consumo do abacate ocasionou uma diminuição do colesterol de 8,7 a 42,8%. Mais tarde, no ano de 1992, uma pesquisa no Hospital Geral de Morélia observou uma diminuição significativa tanto no nível de colesterol quanto no nível plasmático de triglicérides. A diminuição do triglicérides foi inesperada visto que o abacate caracteriza-se como uma das frutas mais ricas em triglicérides. (Pamplona, p. 75). Normalmente o ferro que se encontra nos vegetais é assimilado com maior dificuldade pelo organismo, no entanto, o ferro do abacate é relativamente melhor assimilado do que outros alimentos de origem vegetal, mesmo este não sendo do tipo "hem" (Ibid., 75)

El aguacate (Persea americana), también conocido como palta (quechua), cura, avocado (inglés) o abacate (portugués) es un árbol con fruto comestible que pertenece a la familia Lauraceae,una de las más antiguas entre las plantas con flores. En esta familia seincluyen alrededor de 3,000 especies principalmente arbóreas de regionestropicales y subtropicales, incluyendo a la canela (Cinnamomumverum), al laurel (Laurus nobilis) y al árbol de sasafrás (Sassafras albidum). "Antesque los humanos gozáramos de los aguacates, fueron un fruto preferido de losgrandes mamíferos de la Edad de Hielo." El género Persea tienealrededor de 90 especies en América, desde el centro de México hastaCentroamérica. Su centro de origen parece ser Mesoamérica y particularmente losbosques nublados. El nombre aguacate proviene del náhuatl ahuacatl,que significa "testículos del árbol". El árbol crece hasta 20 metrosde altura, pero generalmente en los cultivos se mantiene de menos de cincometros. Su nombre proviene del náhuatl ahuacatl, que significa"testículos de árbol". El árbol crece hasta 20 metros de altura, perogeneralmente en los cultivos se mantiene de menos de 5 metros. Del aguacate (Perseaamericana) se reconocen tres razas o variedades botánicas:mexicana, auácatl (P.a. var. drymioflia);guatemalteca, quilauácatl (P.a. var. guatemalensis),y antillana tlacozalauácatl (P.a. var. americana)que dan lugar a una gran cantidad de híbridos. Existen una gran diversidad decultivares nativos, que actualmente son conocidos en muchas regiones como"criollos". Además, en los últimos 100 años, se han desarrolladoalrededor de 400 cultivares, entre los que sobresalen "Fuerte","Hass", "Bacon", "Pinkerton", "Gwen" y"Reed". Sabía usted que el aguacate (palta), ha sido llamado elalimento más perfecto del mundo? Se ha logrado esta distinción porquemuchos nutricionistas afirman que no sólo contiene todo lo que unapersona necesita para sobrevivir; pero también se ha encontrado que contribuyea la prevención y control de la enfermedad como Alzheimer, cáncer, diabetes,enfermedades cardíacas y otras condiciones de salud. El aguacate (Perseagratissima o P. americana) se originó en Puebla, México y su uso más antiguo seremonta a 10.000 años AC. Desde el año 900, el árbol de aguacate se hacultivado y cultiva en América Central y del Sur. En el siglo 19, elaguacate hizo su entrada en California, y se ha convertido en uncultivo comercial muy exitoso. Noventa y cinco por ciento (95%) de losaguacates producidos en los EE.UU. crecen en el sur de California. El aguacate, tieneun alto contenido de fibra, sodio, y libre de colesterol, alimentoque proporciona cerca de 20 nutrientes esenciales, incluyendo la fibra. Esrico en grasas saludables monoinsaturadas y poliinsaturadas (como los ácidosgrasos omega 3), vitaminas A, C, D, E K, y vitaminas del complejo B (tiamina,riboflavina,niacina, ácido pantoténico, biotina, vitamina B-6, vitamina B-12 yácido fólico), así como el potasio. Los alimentos naturalmente ricos enácidos grasos omega 3, como el aguacate, son ampliamente reconocidos como elsecreto para tener un corazón sano, un cerebro brillante y ojosde águila. El Dr. Daniel G. Amen, un neurocientífico clínico,psiquiatra, experto en creación de imágenes del cerebro y autor del bestsellerdel New York Times, "Cambia tu Cerebro, Cambia tu Vida"incluye al aguacate como uno de los alimentos más importantes quepuede ayudar a prevenir la enfermedad de Alzheimer. Eso no sólo a causa del contenidoen ácidos grasos omega-3 del aguacate, sino también su contenido de vitaminaE (revista internacional llamada "Enfermedades y TrastornosAsociados al Alzheimer", presentó sus conclusiones de años de ensayosclínicos); las dosis elevadas de vitamina E pueden neutralizar losradicales libres y la acumulación de proteínas para revertirla pérdida de memoria en los pacientes de Alzheimer; contrarrestarlos síntomas del Alzheimer en las etapas temprana y retrasar la progresión dela enfermedad; el contenido de folato ayuda a prevenir la formaciónde las fibras nerviosas enredadas asociados con la enfermedad de Alzheimer.Las virtudes del aguacate son demasiado numerosas para mencionarlas, pero aquíseñalamos algunos cuantos beneficios para la salud que su perfil nutricionalproporciona: Las grasas monoinsaturadas - Estostipos de grasas ayudan a controlar los triglicéridos en la sangre, disminuir elcolesterol en la sangre y controlar la diabetes. El folato -Esta vitamina B soluble en agua-promueve el desarrollo saludable de las célulasy tejidos. Según el "Instituto Nacional de la Oficina de Salud de losSuplementos Dietéticos", "Esto es especialmente importantedurante los períodos de rápida división celular y el crecimiento como en lainfancia y el embarazo. El folato es también esencial para el metabolismo de lahomocisteína y ayuda a mantener niveles normales de este aminoácido." Luteína -Este es un carotenoide (pigmento natural) que protege contra las cataratas yciertos tipos de cáncer, y reduce el riesgo de degeneración macular, laprincipal causa de ceguera en adultos de 65 años de edad y mayores.Losaguacates contienen tres veces o más luteína que en otras verduras y frutascomunes. Ácido oleico y Potasio - Ambos nutrientestambién ayudan a reducir el colesterol y reducir el riesgo de presión arterialalta. Asi que ya sabe... A COMER AGUACATE ! ! !

De avocado(Persea americana), een boom met vermoedelijke oorsprong in zuid-centraalMexico, is geclassificeerd als een lid van de bloeiende plantenfamilieLauraceae. De vrucht van de plant, ook wel avocado (of avocado-peer ofalligatorpeer) genoemd, is botanisch gezien een grote bes die één groot zaadbevat. Avocado's zijn commercieel waardevol en worden over de hele wereld intropische en mediterrane klimaten gekweekt. Ze hebben een groen, vlezig lichaamdat peervormig, eivormig of bolvormig kan zijn. Commercieel rijpen ze na deoogst. Avocadobomen zijn gedeeltelijk zelfbestuivend en worden vaak vermeerderddoor enten om een ​​voorspelbare fruitkwaliteit en kwantiteit te behouden. In2017 produceerde Mexico 34% van het wereldaanbod aan avocado's. Het woord"avocado" komt van het Spaanse aguacate, dat op zijn beurt komt vanhet Nahuatl-woord āhuacatl [aːˈwakat͡ɬ], dat teruggaat op het proto-Azteekse*pa:wa wat ook "avocado" betekende. Soms werd het Nahuatl-woordgebruikt met de betekenis "testikel", waarschijnlijk vanwege degelijkenis tussen de vrucht en het lichaamsdeel. Het wordt beschouwd als het"perfecte voedsel" dat helpt om ziekten te genezen en andere tevoorkomen.

L'avocado (Persea americana), albero di probabile origine nel Messico centro-meridionale, è classificato come membro della famiglia delle piante da fiore delle Lauracee. Il frutto della pianta, chiamato anche avocado (o pera avocado o pera alligatore), è botanicamente una grande bacca contenente un unico grande seme. Gli avocado sono commercialmente preziosi e sono coltivati ​​nei climi tropicali e mediterranei di tutto il mondo. Hanno un corpo carnoso dalla pelle verde che può essere a forma di pera, a forma di uovo o sferico. Commercialmente, maturano dopo la raccolta. Gli alberi di avocado sono parzialmente autoimpollinanti e vengono spesso propagati tramite innesto per mantenere prevedibili la qualità e la quantità dei frutti. Nel 2017, il Messico ha prodotto il 34% della fornitura mondiale di avocado. La parola "avocado" deriva dallo spagnolo aguacate, che a sua volta deriva dalla parola nahuatl āhuacatl [aːˈwakat͡ɬ], che risale al proto-azteco *pa:wa che significava anche "avocado". Talvolta la parola nahuatl veniva usata con il significato di "testicolo", probabilmente per la somiglianza tra il frutto e la parte del corpo. È considerato il "cibo perfetto" che aiuta a curare le malattie e a prevenirne altre.

L'avocatier (Persea americana), un arbre probablement originaire du centre-sud du Mexique, est classé parmi les plantes à fleurs de la famille des Lauracées. Le fruit de la plante, également appelé avocat (ou poire avocat ou poire alligator), est botaniquement une grosse baie contenant une seule grosse graine. Les avocats ont une valeur commerciale et sont cultivés dans les climats tropicaux et méditerranéens du monde entier. Ils ont un corps charnu à la peau verte qui peut être en forme de poire, en forme d'œuf ou sphérique. Commercialement, ils mûrissent après la récolte. Les avocatiers sont partiellement autogames et sont souvent propagés par greffage pour maintenir une qualité et une quantité de fruits prévisibles. En 2017, le Mexique a produit 34 % de l'offre mondiale d'avocats. Le mot "avocat" vient de l'espagnol aguacate, qui à son tour vient du mot nahuatl āhuacatl [aːˈwakat͡ɬ], qui remonte au proto-aztèque *pa:wa qui signifiait aussi "avocat". Parfois, le mot nahuatl était utilisé avec le sens "testicule", probablement à cause de la ressemblance entre le fruit et la partie du corps. Il est considéré comme "l'aliment parfait" aidant à guérir les maladies et à en prévenir d'autres.

Die Avocado (Persea americana), ein Baum mit wahrscheinlichem Ursprung in Süd-Zentral-Mexiko, wird als Mitglied der blühenden Pflanzenfamilie Lauraceae klassifiziert. Die Frucht der Pflanze, auch Avocado (oder Avocadobirne oder Alligatorbirne) genannt, ist botanisch gesehen eine große Beere, die einen einzigen großen Samen enthält. Avocados sind kommerziell wertvoll und werden in tropischen und mediterranen Klimazonen auf der ganzen Welt angebaut. Sie haben einen grünhäutigen, fleischigen Körper, der birnenförmig, eiförmig oder kugelförmig sein kann. Kommerziell reifen sie nach der Ernte. Avocadobäume sind teilweise selbstbestäubend und werden oft durch Pfropfen vermehrt, um eine vorhersagbare Fruchtqualität und -quantität aufrechtzuerhalten. Im Jahr 2017 produzierte Mexiko 34 % des weltweiten Angebots an Avocados. Das Wort „Avocado" kommt vom spanischen aguacate, das wiederum vom Nahuatl-Wort āhuacatl [aːˈwakat͡ɬ] stammt, das auf das proto-aztekische *pa:wa zurückgeht, was ebenfalls „Avocado" bedeutet. Manchmal wurde das Nahuatl-Wort mit der Bedeutung „Hoden" verwendet, wahrscheinlich wegen der Ähnlichkeit zwischen der Frucht und dem Körperteil. Es gilt als das "perfekte Lebensmittel", das hilft, Krankheiten zu heilen und anderen vorzubeugen.

アボカド (Persea americana) はメキシコ中南部に起源があると考えられている木で、顕花植物のクスノキ科のメンバーとして分類されています。アボカド（またはアボカドナシまたはワニナシ）とも呼ばれる植物の果実は、植物学的に単一の大きな種子を含む大きなベリーです.アボカドは商業的に価値があり、世界中の熱帯および地中海性気候で栽培されています。彼らは緑色の肌をした肉付きの良い体をしており、ナシ型、卵型、または球形の場合があります。商業的には、収穫後に熟します。アボカドの木は部分的に自家受粉し、多くの場合、予測可能な果実の品質と量を維持するために接ぎ木によって繁殖します. 2017 年、メキシコは世界のアボカド供給量の 34% を生産しました。 「アボカド」という言葉はスペイン語の aguacate に由来し、これはナワトル語の āhuacatl [aːˈwakat͡ɬ] に由来し、これは「アボカド」を意味する原アステカの *pa:wa にまでさかのぼります。ナワトル語が「睾丸」という意味で使われることもありましたが、これはおそらく果実と体の部分が似ているためでしょう。病気を治したり、他人を予防したりするのに役立つ「完璧な食べ物」と考えられています.

تصنف الأفوكادو (Persea americana) ، وهي شجرة ذات أصل محتمل في جنوب وسط المكسيك ، على أنها عضو في عائلة النباتات المزهرة Lauraceae. ثمرة النبات ، التي تسمى أيضًا الأفوكادو (أو كمثرى الأفوكادو أو الكمثرى التمساح) ، هي نباتًا توتًا كبيرًا يحتوي على بذرة واحدة كبيرة. تعتبر الأفوكادو ذات قيمة تجارية وتتم زراعتها في المناخات الاستوائية والبحر الأبيض المتوسط ​​في جميع أنحاء العالم. لديهم جسم سمين ذو بشرة خضراء قد يكون على شكل كمثرى أو بيضة أو كروي. تجاريا ، تنضج بعد الحصاد. تعتبر أشجار الأفوكادو ذاتية التلقيح جزئيًا ، وغالبًا ما يتم نشرها من خلال التطعيم للحفاظ على جودة وكمية الفاكهة التي يمكن التنبؤ بها. في عام 2017 ، أنتجت المكسيك 34٪ من المعروض العالمي من الأفوكادو. تأتي كلمة "أفوكادو" من الكلمة الإسبانية aguacate ، والتي تأتي بدورها من كلمة Nahuatl [awakat] ، والتي تعود إلى proto-Aztecan * pa: wa والتي تعني أيضًا "الأفوكادو". في بعض الأحيان تم استخدام كلمة الناهيوتل بمعنى "الخصية" ، ربما بسبب التشابه بين الثمرة وجزء الجسم. يعتبر "الغذاء المثالي" الذي يساعد على شفاء الأمراض والوقاية من الآخرين.

Your next breath will contain more than 400,000 argon atoms breathed by Gandhi.

....

Argon makes up about 1% of the Earth’s atmosphere.

1% of the Earth's atmosphere means 60 trillion tons of argon.

There are about 3x1019 argon atoms in each breath we take. (That's 30,000,000,000,000,000,000)

From your next breath exhaled - the argon quickly spreads:

By nightfall it is all over the neighborhood,

In a week it is all over the country,

In a year it is spread evenly all over the earth, and

Inhalation one year from now gets at least 15 of them back.

We are rebreathing argon atoms of our and other's breaths.

These argon atoms associate us with the past and future.

The first gasp of every baby born one year ago had argon since breathed by you.

Likewise, the last gasp of all the dying.

Your next breath will contain more than 400,000 argon atoms breathed by Gandhi.

Your next breath will contain argon atoms from:

Conversations at The Last Supper,

Arguments of diplomats at Yalta,

Recitations of Homer and Shakespeare, and

Battle cries at Waterloo.

Likewise, the future generations will share yours.

We are intimately associated with the past and the future.

...

Flypaper textures

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POIMANDRES, THE VISION OF HERMES

The Divine Pymander of Hermes Mercurius Trismegistus is one of the earliest of the Hermetic writings now extant. While probably not in its original form, having been remodeled during the first centuries of the Christian Era and incorrectly translated since, this work undoubtedly contains many of the original concepts of the Hermetic cultus. The Divine Pymander consists of seventeen fragmentary writings gathered together and put forth as one work. The second book of The Divine Pymander, called Poimandres, or The Vision, is believed to describe the method by which the divine wisdom was first revealed to Hermes. It was after Hermes had received this revelation that he began his ministry, teaching to all who would listen the secrets of the invisible universe as they had been unfolded to him.

The Vision is the most: famous of all the Hermetic fragments, and contains an exposition of Hermetic cosmogony and the secret sciences of the Egyptians regarding the culture and unfoldment of the human soul. For some time it was erroneously called "The Genesis of Enoch," but that mistake has now been rectified. At hand while preparing the following interpretation of the symbolic philosophy concealed within The Vision of Hermes the present author has had these reference works: The Divine Pymander of Hermes Mercurius Trismegistus (London, 1650), translated out of the Arabic and Greek by Dr. Everard; Hermetica (Oxford, 1924), edited by Walter Scott; Hermes, The Mysteries of Egypt (Philadelphia, 1925), by Edouard Schure; and the Thrice-Greatest Hermes (London, 1906), by G. R. S. Mead. To the material contained in the above volumes he has added commentaries based upon the esoteric philosophy of the ancient Egyptians, together with amplifications derived partly from other Hermetic fragments and partly from the secret arcanum of the Hermetic sciences. For the sake of clarity, the narrative form has been chosen in preference to the original dialogic style, and obsolete words have given place to those in current use.Hermes, while wandering in a rocky and desolate place, gave himself over to meditation and prayer. Following the secret instructions of the Temple, he gradually freed his higher consciousness from the bondage of his bodily senses; and, thus released, his divine nature revealed to him the mysteries of the transcendental spheres. He beheld a figure, terrible and awe-inspiring. It was the Great Dragon, with wings stretching across the sky and light streaming in all directions from its body. (The Mysteries taught that the Universal Life was personified as a dragon.) The Great Dragon called Hermes by name, and asked him why he thus meditated upon the World Mystery. Terrified by the spectacle, Hermes prostrated himself before the Dragon, beseeching it to reveal its identity. The great creature answered that it was Poimandres, the Mind of the Universe, the Creative Intelligence, and the Absolute Emperor of all. (Schure identifies Poimandres as the god Osiris.) Hermes then besought Poimandres to disclose the nature of the universe and the constitution of the gods. The Dragon acquiesced, bidding Trismegistus hold its image in his mind.Immediately the form of Poimandres changed. Where it had stood there was a glorious and pulsating Radiance. This Light was the spiritual nature of the Great Dragon itself. Hermes was "raised" into the midst of this Divine Effulgence and the universe of material things faded from his consciousness. Presently a great darkness descended and, expanding, swallowed up the Light. Everything was troubled. About Hermes swirled a mysterious watery substance which gave forth a smokelike vapor. The air was filled with inarticulate moanings and sighings which seemed to come from the Light swallowed up in the darkness. His mind told Hermes thatthe Light was the form of the spiritual universe and that the swirling darkness which had engulfed it represented material substance.Then out of the imprisoned Light a mysterious and Holy Word came forth and took its stand upon the smoking waters. This Word--the Voice of the Light--rose out of the darkness as a great pillar, and the fire and the air followed after it, but the earth and the water remained unmoved below. Thus the waters of Light were divided from the waters of darkness, and from the waters of Light were formed the worlds above and from the waters of darkness were formed the worlds below. The earth and the water next mingled, becoming inseparable, and the Spiritual Word which is called Reason moved upon their surface, causing endless turmoil.Then again was heard the voice of Poimandres, but His form was not revealed: "I Thy God am the Light and the Mind which were before substance was divided from spirit and darkness from Light. And the Word which appeared as a pillar of flame out of the darkness is the Son of God, born of the mystery of the Mind. The name of that Word is Reason. Reason is the offspring of Thought and Reason shall divide the Light from the darkness and establish Truth in the midst of the waters. Understand, O Hermes, and meditate deeply upon the mystery. That which in you sees and hears is not of the earth, but is the Word of God incarnate. So it is said that Divine Light dwells in the midst of mortal darkness, and ignorance cannot divide them. The union of the Word and the Mind produces that mystery which is called Life. As the darkness without you is divided against itself, so the darkness within you is likewise divided. The Light and the fire which rise are the divine man, ascending in the path of the Word, and that which fails to ascend is the mortal man, which may not partake of immortality. Learn deeply of the Mind and its mystery, for therein lies the secret of immortality."The Dragon again revealed its form to Hermes, and for a long time the two looked steadfastly one upon the other, eye to eye, so that Hermes trembled before the gaze of Poimandres. At the Word of the Dragon the heavens opened and the innumerable Light Powers were revealed, soaring through Cosmos on pinions of streaming fire. Hermes beheld the spirits of the stars, the celestials controlling the universe, and all those Powers which shine with the radiance of the One Fire--the glory of the Sovereign Mind. Hermes realized that the sight which he beheld was revealed to him only because Poimandres had spoken a Word. The Word was Reason, and by the Reason of the Word invisible things were made manifest. Divine Mind--the Dragon--continued its discourse:"Before the visible universe was formed its mold was cast. This mold was called the Archetype, and this Archetype was in the Supreme Mind long before the process of creation began. Beholding the Archetypes, the Supreme Mind became enamored with Its own thought; so, taking the Word as a mighty hammer, It gouged out caverns in primordial space and cast the form of the spheres in the Archetypal mold, at the same time sowing in the newly fashioned bodies the seeds of living things. The darkness below, receiving the hammer of the Word, was fashioned into an orderly universe. The elements separated into strata and each brought forth living creatures. The Supreme Being--the Mind--male and female, brought forth the Word; and the Word, suspended between Light and darkness, was delivered of another Mind called the Workman, the Master-Builder, or the Maker of Things.

"In this manner it was accomplished, O Hermes: The Word moving like a breath through space called forth the Fire by the friction of its motion. Therefore, the Fire is called the Son of Striving. The Workman passed as a whirlwind through the universe, causing the substances to vibrate and glow with its friction, The Son of Striving thus formed Seven Governors, the Spirits of the Planets, whose orbits bounded the world; and the Seven Governors controlled the world by the mysterious power called Destiny given them by the Fiery Workman. When the Second Mind (The Workman) had organized Chaos, the Word of God rose straightway our of its prison of substance, leaving the elements without Reason, and joined Itself to the nature of the Fiery Workman. Then the Second Mind, together with the risen Word, established Itself in the midst of the universe and whirled the wheels of the Celestial Powers. This shall continue from an infinite beginning to an infinite end, for the beginning and the ending are in the same place and state."Then the downward-turned and unreasoning elements brought forth creatures without Reason. Substance could not bestow Reason, for Reason had ascended out of it. The air produced flying things and the waters such as swim. The earth conceived strange four-footed and creeping beasts, dragons, composite demons, and grotesque monsters. Then the Father--the Supreme Mind--being Light and Life, fashioned a glorious Universal Man in Its own image, not an earthy man but a heavenly Man dwelling in the Light of God. The Supreme Mind loved the Man It had fashioned and delivered to Him the control of the creations and workmanships."The Man, desiring to labor, took up His abode in the sphere of generation and observed the works of His brother--the Second Mind--which sat upon the Ring of the Fire. And having beheld the achievements of the Fiery Workman, He willed also to make things, and His Father gave permission. The Seven Governors, of whose powers He partook, rejoiced and each gave the Man a share of Its own nature."The Man longed to pierce the circumference of the circles and understand the mystery of Him who sat upon the Eternal Fire. Having already all power, He stooped down and peeped through the seven Harmonies and, breaking through the strength of the circles, made Himself manifest to Nature stretched out below. The Man, looking into the depths, smiled, for He beheld a shadow upon the earth and a likeness mirrored in the waters, which shadow and likeness were a reflection of Himself. The Man fell in love with His own shadow and desired to descend into it. Coincident with the desire, the Intelligent Thing united Itself with the unreasoning image or shape."Nature, beholding the descent, wrapped herself about the Man whom she loved, and the two were mingled. For this reason, earthy man is composite. Within him is the Sky Man, immortal and beautiful; without is Nature, mortal and destructible. Thus, suffering is the result of the Immortal Man's falling in love with His shadow and giving up Reality to dwell in the darkness of illusion; for, being immortal, man has the power of the Seven Governors--also the Life, the Light, and the Word-but being mortal, he is controlled by the Rings of the Governors--Fate or Destiny."Of the Immortal Man it should be said that He is hermaphrodite, or male and female, and eternally watchful. He neither slumbers nor sleeps, and is governed by a Father also both male and female, and ever watchful. Such is the mystery kept hidden to this day, for Nature, being mingled in marriage with the Sky Man, brought forth a wonder most wonderful--seven men, all bisexual, male and female, and upright of stature, each one exemplifying the natures of the Seven Governors. These O Hermes, are the seven races, species, and wheels."After this manner were the seven men generated. Earth was the female element and water the male element, and from the fire and the æther they received their spirits, and Nature produced bodies after the species and shapes of men. And man received the Life and Light of the Great Dragon, and of the Life was made his Soul and of the Light his Mind. And so, all these composite creatures containing immortality, but partaking of mortality, continued in this state for the duration of a period. They reproduced themselves out of themselves, for each was male and female. But at the end of the period the knot of Destiny was untied by the will of God and the bond of all things was loosened."Then all living creatures, including man, which had been hermaphroditical, were separated, the males being set apart by themselves and the females likewise, according to the dictates of Reason."Then God spoke to the Holy Word within the soul of all things, saying: 'Increase in increasing and multiply in multitudes, all you, my creatures and workmanships. Let him that is endued with Mind know himself to be immortal and that the cause of death is the love of the body; and let him learn all things that are, for he who has recognized himself enters into the state of Good.'"And when God had said this, Providence, with the aid of the Seven Governors and Harmony, brought the sexes together, making the mixtures and establishing the generations, and all things were multiplied according to their kind. He who through the error of attachment loves his body, abides wandering in darkness, sensible and suffering the things of death, but he who realizes that the body is but the tomb of his soul, rises to immortality."Then Hermes desired to know why men should be deprived of immortality for the sin of ignorance alone. The Great Dragon answered:, To the ignorant the body is supreme and they are incapable of realizing the immortality that is within them. Knowing only the body which is subject to death, they believe in death because they worship that substance which is the cause and reality of death."Then Hermes asked how the righteous and wise pass to God, to which Poimandres replied: "That which the Word of God said, say I: 'Because the Father of all things consists of Life and Light, whereof man is made.' If, therefore, a man shall learn and understand the nature of Life and Light, then he shall pass into the eternity of Life and Light."Hermes next inquired about the road by which the wise attained to Life eternal, and Poimandres continued: "Let the man endued with a Mind mark, consider, and learn of himself, and with the power of his Mind divide himself from his not-self and become a servant of Reality."Hermes asked if all men did not have Minds, and the Great Dragon replied: "Take heed what you say, for I am the Mind--the Eternal Teacher. I am the Father of the Word--the Redeemer of all men--and in the nature of the wise the Word takes flesh. By means of the Word, the world is saved. I, Thought (Thoth)--the Father of the Word, the Mind--come only unto men that are holy and good, pure and merciful, and that live piously and religiously, and my presence is an inspiration and a help to them, for when I come they immediately know all things and adore the Universal Father. Before such wise and philosophic ones die, they learn to renounce their senses, knowing that these are the enemies of their immortal souls."I will not permit the evil senses to control the bodies of those who love me, nor will I allow evil emotions and evil thoughts to enter them. I become as a porter or doorkeeper, and shut out evil, protecting the wise from their own lower nature. But to the wicked, the envious and the covetous, I come not, for such cannot understand the mysteries of Mind; therefore, I am unwelcome. I leave them to the avenging demon that they are making in their own souls, for evil each day increases itself and torments man more sharply, and each evil deed adds to the evil deeds that are gone before until finally evil destroys itself. The punishment of desire is the agony of unfulfillment."Hermes bowed his head in thankfulness to the Great Dragon who had taught him so much, and begged to hear more concerning the ultimate of the human soul. So Poimandres resumed: "At death the material body of man is returned to the elements from which it came, and the invisible divine man ascends to the source from whence he came, namely the Eighth Sphere. The evil passes to the dwelling place of the demon, and the senses, feelings, desires, and body passions return to their source, namely the Seven Governors, whose natures in the lower man destroy but in the invisible spiritual man give life."After the lower nature has returned to the brutishness, the higher struggles again to regain its spiritual estate. It ascends the seven Rings upon which sit the Seven Governors and returns to each their lower powers in this manner: Upon the first ring sits the Moon, and to it is returned the ability to increase and diminish. Upon the second ring sits Mercury, and to it are returned machinations, deceit, and craftiness. Upon the third ring sits Venus, and to it are returned the lusts and passions. Upon the fourth ring sits the Sun, and to this Lord are returned ambitions. Upon the fifth ring sits Mars, and to it are returned rashness and profane boldness. Upon the sixth ring sits Jupiter, and to it are returned the sense of accumulation and riches. And upon the seventh ring sits Saturn, at the Gate of Chaos, and to it are returned falsehood and evil plotting."Then, being naked of all the accumulations of the seven Rings, the soul comes to the Eighth Sphere, namely, the ring of the fixed stars. Here, freed of all illusion, it dwells in the Light and sings praises to the Father in a voice which only the pure of spirit may understand. Behold, O Hermes, there is a great mystery in the Eighth Sphere, for the Milky Way is the seed-ground of souls, and from it they drop into the Rings, and to the Milky Way they return again from the wheels of Saturn. But some cannot climb the seven-runged ladder of the Rings. So they wander in darkness below and are swept into eternity with the illusion of sense and earthiness."The path to immortality is hard, and only a few find it. The rest await the Great Day when the wheels of the universe shall be stopped and the immortal sparks shall escape from the sheaths of substance. Woe unto those who wait, for they must return again, unconscious and unknowing, to the seed-ground of stars, and await a new beginning. Those who are saved by the light of the mystery which I have revealed unto you, O Hermes, and which I now bid you to establish among men, shall return again to the Father who dwelleth in the White Light, and shall deliver themselves up to the Light and shall be absorbed into the Light, and in the Light they shall become Powers in God. This is the Way of Good and is revealed only to them that have wisdom."Blessed art thou, O Son of Light, to whom of all men, I, Poimandres, the Light of the World, have revealed myself. I order you to go forth, to become as a guide to those who wander in darkness, that all men within whom dwells the spirit of My Mind (The Universal Mind) may be saved by My Mind in you, which shall call forth My Mind in them. Establish My Mysteries and they shall not fail from the earth, for I am the Mind of the Mysteries and until Mind fails (which is never) my Mysteries cannot fail." With these parting words, Poimandres, radiant with celestial light, vanished, mingling with the powers of the heavens. Raising his eyes unto the heavens, Hermes blessed the Father of All Things and consecrated his life to the service of the Great Light.Thus preached Hermes: "O people of the earth, men born and made of the elements, but with the spirit of the Divine Man within you, rise from your sleep of ignorance! Be sober and thoughtful. Realize that your home is not in the earth but in the Light. Why have you delivered yourselves over unto death, having power to partake of immortality? Repent, and change your minds. Depart from the dark light and forsake corruption forever. Prepare yourselves to climb through the Seven Rings and to blend your souls with the eternal Light."Some who heard mocked and scoffed and went their way, delivering themselves to the Second Death from which there is no salvation. But others, casting themselves before the feet of Hermes, besought him to teach them the Way of Life. He lifted them gently, receiving no approbation for himself, and staff in hand, went forth teaching and guiding mankind, and showing them how they might be saved. In the worlds of men, Hermes sowed the seeds of wisdom and nourished the seeds with the Immortal Waters. And at last came the evening of his life, and as the brightness of the light of earth was beginning to go down, Hermes commanded his disciples to preserve his doctrines inviolate throughout all ages. The Vision of Poimandres he committed to writing that all men desiring immortality might therein find the way.In concluding his exposition of the Vision, Hermes wrote: "The sleep of the body is the sober watchfulness of the Mind and the shutting of my eyes reveals the true Light. My silence is filled with budding life and hope, and is full of good. My words are the blossoms of fruit of the tree of my soul. For this is the faithful account of what I received from my true Mind, that is Poimandres, the Great Dragon, the Lord of the Word, through whom I became inspired by God with the Truth. Since that day my Mind has been ever with me and in my own soul it hath given birth to the Word: the Word is Reason, and Reason hath redeemed me. For which cause, with all my soul and all my strength, I give praise and blessing unto God the Father, the Life and the Light, and the Eternal Good.

Completed in 1816 the canal is 127 miles long and contains 91 locks.

Avebury is a Neolithic henge monument containing three stone circles, around the village of Avebury in Wiltshire, in southwest England. One of the best known prehistoric sites in Britain, it contains the largest megalithic stone circle in the world. It is both a tourist attraction and a place of religious importance to contemporary pagans.

Constructed over several hundred years in the third millennium BC, during the Neolithic, or New Stone Age, the monument comprises a large henge (a bank and a ditch) with a large outer stone circle and two separate smaller stone circles situated inside the centre of the monument. Its original purpose is unknown, although archaeologists believe that it was most likely used for some form of ritual or ceremony. The Avebury monument is a part of a larger prehistoric landscape containing several older monuments nearby, including West Kennet Long Barrow, Windmill Hill and Silbury Hill.

By the Iron Age, the site had been effectively abandoned, with some evidence of human activity on the site during the Roman period. During the Early Middle Ages, a village first began to be built around the monument, eventually extending into it. In the Late Medieval and Early Modern periods, local people destroyed many of the standing stones around the henge, both for religious and practical reasons. The antiquarians John Aubrey and William Stukeley took an interest in Avebury during the 17th century, and recorded much of the site before its destruction. Archaeological investigation followed in the 20th century, led primarily by Alexander Keiller, who oversaw a project which reconstructed much of the monument.

Avebury is owned and managed by the National Trust. It has been designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument, as well as a World Heritage Site, in the latter capacity being seen as a part of the wider prehistoric landscape of Wiltshire known as Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites.

- Wikipedia

One Canada Square is a skyscraper in Canary Wharf, London. It is the third tallest building in the United Kingdom at 770 feet (235 m) above ground level, and contains 50 storeys. It achieved the title of the tallest building in the UK upon completion in 1991 and held the title for 21 years until the completion of The Shard (310m) in 2012.

One Canada Square was designed by César Pelli with Adamson Associates and Frederick Gibberd Coombes. The building is clad with stainless steel. One of the predominant features of the building is the pyramid roof, which contains a flashing aircraft warning light, a rare feature for buildings in the United Kingdom. The distinctive pyramid pinnacle is 800 feet (240 m) above sea level.

One Canada Square is primarily used for offices, though there are some retail units on the lower ground floor. There is no observation floor. It is a prestigious location for offices and as of October 2017 was completely let. The building is recognised as a London landmark, and it has gained much attention through film, television, and other media as one of the tallest buildings in the United Kingdom.

The architects chosen to design One Canada Square were César Pelli & Associates, Adamson Associates, and Frederick Gibberd Coombes & Partners. They designed the tower with a similar shape to 200 Vesey Street (formerly Three World Financial Center), New York City, which was also developed by Olympia & York and designed by Argentine architect César Pelli. The shape was also made reminiscent of "Big Ben". Olympia & York wanted to clad One Canada Square in stone, just like Peli's World Financial Center towers constructed in 1986, but the architects first wanted to use aluminium for its low density, before insisting on steel to reflect Britain's heritage as an industrial nation. The final steel clad chosen was Patten Hyclad Cambric-finish stainless-steel.

Commenting on the reason for choosing steel for the clad:

"We studied the cladding material carefully and chose stainless steel with a linen finish because it seemed to fit the atmosphere of London."

—César Pelli, architect (2016)

One Canada Square was originally designed to be 864 feet (263 m) high at 55 storeys, but that penetrated the permitted projection height of the flight obstruction area of the airport approach district to London City Airport, but this was extended to a height of 30 feet (9.1 m) above kerb level in consideration of the fact that One Canada Square was on the external zone of the airport approach. To comply with air traffic safety regulations, the architects took five floors off the tower. The final height of 824 feet (251 m) was permitted, otherwise, the developers would have had to dismantle what was necessary to fit the height restriction. After losing five floors, Olympia & York insisted the other floors had to make up the lost floor space by increasing mass to the remaining floor space which created a tower that was not as slim as Pelli desired. Pelli and the other architects proposed alternatives, such as building more floors below ground and creating an extension of the tower into Docklands Square, which were similar ideas based upon previous Olympia & York buildings, though the ideas were rejected as it did not fit the basis of prime office space.

The design of the tower received a fair share of criticism. According to César Pelli, the most damaging criticism came from Prince Charles, who said on national television, "I personally would go mad if I had to work in a place like that". Other criticisms came from former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, who said that the building was "not quite stunning".

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Lots more pictures and info in my blog

stormysstorey.blogspot.com/2024/12/last-weekend-for-gothm...

This image contains the well known Elephants Trunk nebula, you can kinda see it towards the top of the nebula reaching downwards. There are also many other dark nebulae on show. The bright yellow star to the left is called Mu Cephei but is more known as the Garnet star. It is a red super giant and if it were to replace our Sun, it would swallow up Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars and stretch out to Jupiter. Yup, its big! Infact it is one of the biggest and most luminous stars in our Milky Way galaxy.

This is my second image using guiding which started well but deteriorated slightly as the night went on. It was also my first time using remote desktop so i could monitor and control everything from the comfort of my couch!

Exposure details:

30* 300 second subs, f4, ISO 800, calibration frames, 200mm

Camera: Canon 600Da

Lens: Canon EF200L 2.8 II

Mount: NEQ6

Guiding: Orion Miniguider

The Sikyon museum.

Room B contains statues of officials, female figures and sculptures from Hellenistic and Roman periods, many of which come from the bathhouse, Gymnasium-Palaestra

The courtyard at the entrance to the Sikyon museum has a display of bases and monuments from Hellenistic, Roman and Early Christian periods. The museum itself is housed in part of a Roman bathhouse and has a fine collection which is beautifully displayed in three rooms.

The city of Ancient Sikyon was renowned from Archaic times until the end of antiquity as a cultural centre. It's heyday was from the beginning of the 7th c. BC during the reign of the Orthagorid tyrants, especially Kleisthenes, who brought the state of Sikyon to it's peak.

It is located in the northern Peloponnese between Corinth and Achaea on the territory of the present-day regional unit of Corinthia (the Community of Vasiliko).

Taken on a few hours escape from Athens with my beloved English wife Theresa Jane Brown.

Thanassis Fournarakos - Θανασης Φουρναρακος

Professional Photographer, retired.

Athens, Greece

© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

None of my images may be downloaded, copied, reproduced, manipulated or used on websites, blogs or other media without my explicit written permission. THANK YOU!

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The Capitol contains many impressive murals, but "Tragic Prelude" by John Steuart Curry is the most famous. The painting features the larger-than-life abolitionist John Brown, with arms outstretched, holding a gun and a Bible and surrounded by proslavery and anti-slavery forces. Often used as an illustration to pre-Civil War struggles in Kansas, this mural has been used in many history books and as album art for the 1974 self-titled album from the rock band Kansas.

‘’Secure Contain Protect’’

A security guard of the SCP foundation is standing guard at an unnamed site of the SCP foundation. I got this idea in my head for while to make a story about the SCP Foundation with some original SCP’s and SCP’s wich are cannon in the SCP universe. For the ones who don’t know what the SCP Foundation is, it is a secret organization entrusted by governments around the globe to contain and study anomalous individuals, entities, locations, objects, and phenomena that defy natural law.

The existence of SCPs is kept secret by the SCP Foundation to prevent mass panic and related chaos, and to allow human civilization to function normally. When an SCP is discovered, the SCP Foundation deploys agents to either collect and transport the SCP to a Foundation facility, or to contain it at its location of discovery if transport is not possible. Once SCPs are contained, they are studied by Foundation scientists. Test subjects acquired by the Foundation (referred to as D-class) are used to interact with dangerous SCPs due to the danger posed by those SCPs and the expendability of the D-class.

Alltrough they didn't appeared in any of my brickfilms so far as I'm writing this, they did got mentioned. The SCP Foundation has been a inspiration to many of my concept which can been seen in various of my brickfilms, including Sigma Foundation, which appears in the ‘’Outbreak Series’’ and in Lego War: Battle Of Mo-Wol, Sigma Foundation is also loosely based on Black Mesa from the ‘’Half-Life game series’’ and other shady labs in general.

Although this is a mere concept, I’m not 100% if I want to make it into a brickfilm as I’m writing this it’s just a concept. But maybe in the future, however this might be possible as while writing this drafts are made about the overal storyline.

Custom rifle:

Brickarms

Custom vest:

Minifig.cat/Si-Dan?

Head:

The Minifig.co

Link to The Outbreak:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjqkZeMoI04

Link to Lego War: Battle Of Mo-Wol:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TXgoKBT03Q

Container Schubverband bei Speyer auf dem Rhein zu Berg

Hang Va contains some of the world’s rarest and most incredible formations – numerous tower cones rising up from emerald green waters. Nuoc Nut is an adventurous underground passage with dry and wet passages and clear blue pools. This tour combines them both and is for adventurous travelers who want to experience two contrasting caves, rope traverse, and sleep in a jungle campsite. The experience is particularly rewarding for photographers.

- Explore two of the most interesting caves in the national park.

- Marvel at otherworldly cave formations – a real highlight!

- Harness up for the rope traverse.

- Trek up jungle hills and climb over sharp rocks.

- Swim in gorgeous natural jade lakes inside the caves.

- Sleep deep in the jungle surrounded by trees.

- Tuck into freshly cooked meals during the journey, plus snacks.

⚡️For booking and tour itinerary, please visit: oxalisadventure.com/tour/hang-va-expedition/

Fujairah City is the capital of the emirate of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates, located on the Gulf of Oman (part of the Indian Ocean). It is the only emirate on the east coast.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palace_of_Westminster

The Palace of Westminster, also known as the Houses of Parliament, is the seat of the two houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom—the House of Lords and the House of Commons. The Palace lies on the north bank of the River Thames[note 1] in the London borough of the City of Westminster, close to the government buildings of Whitehall.

The palace contains around 1,100 rooms, 100 staircases and 5 kilometres (3 mi) of corridors. Although the building mainly dates from the 19th century, remaining elements of the original historic buildings include Westminster Hall, used today for major public ceremonial events such as lyings in state, and the Jewel Tower.

Control of the Palace of Westminster and its precincts was for centuries exercised by the Queen's representative, the Lord Great Chamberlain. By agreement with the Crown, control passed to the two Houses in 1965. Certain ceremonial rooms continue to be controlled by the Lord Great Chamberlain.

After a fire in 1834, the present Houses of Parliament were built over the next 30 years. They were the work of the architect Sir Charles Barry (1795–1860) and his assistant Augustus Welby Pugin (1812–52). The design incorporated Westminster Hall and the remains of St Stephen's Chapel.

The Old Palace

The Palace of Westminster site was strategically important during the Middle Ages, as it was located on the banks of the River Thames. Buildings have occupied the site since at least Saxon times.[citation needed] Known in medieval times as Thorney Island, the site may have been first-used for a royal residence by Canute the Great (reigned 1016–35). St Edward the Confessor, the penultimate Saxon monarch of England, built a royal palace on Thorney Island just west of the City of London at about the same time as he built Westminster Abbey (1045–50). Thorney Island and the surrounding area soon became known as Westminster (a contraction of the words West Minster). After the Norman Conquest in 1066, King William I established himself at the Tower of London, but later moved to Westminster.[citation needed] Neither the buildings used by the Saxons nor those used by William I survive. The oldest existing part of the Palace (Westminster Hall) dates from the reign of William I's successor, King William II.

The Palace of Westminster was the monarch's principal residence in the late Medieval period. The predecessor of Parliament, the Curia Regis (Royal Council), met in Westminster Hall (although it followed the King when he moved to other palaces). The Model Parliament, the first official Parliament of England, met in the Palace in 1295;[1] almost all subsequent Parliaments have met there.

The Jewel Tower was built approximately in 1365 to house the treasures of King Edward III.[2]

Westminster remained the monarch's chief London residence until a fire destroyed part of the complex in 1512.[citation needed] In 1530, King Henry VIII acquired York Palace from Thomas Cardinal Wolsey,[3] a powerful minister who had lost the King's favour. Renaming it the Palace of Whitehall, Henry used it as his principal residence. Although Westminster officially remained a royal palace, it was used by the two Houses of Parliament and as a law court.

Because it was originally a royal residence, the Palace included no purpose-built chambers for the two Houses. Important state ceremonies were held in the Painted Chamber. The House of Lords originally met in the Queen's Chamber, a modest Medieval hall at the south end of the complex. In later years the Upper House met in the larger White Chamber, which had formerly housed the Court of Requests; the expansion of the Peerage by King George III during the 18th century necessitated the move as the original chamber could not accommodate the increased number of peers.

The House of Commons, which did not have a chamber of its own, sometimes held its debates in the Chapter House of Westminster Abbey. The Commons acquired a permanent home at the Palace in the form of St Stephen's Chapel during the reign of Edward VI. The Chantries Act 1547 (passed as a part of the Protestant Reformation) dissolved the religious order of the Canons of St Stephen's,[citation needed] among other institutions; thus, the building became available for the Commons' use. Alterations were made to St Stephen's Chapel for the convenience of the Lower House. Sir Christopher Wren was commissioned to carry out major work on the chapel in the late 17th century. During these works the chapel's clerestory was removed and its Gothic interiors concealed behind oak panelling. More seating was added over the years to accommodate the new MPs created by the Acts of Union with Scotland (1707) and Ireland (1800), including an upper-level gallery.

The palace complex was substantially remodelled by Sir John Soane during the early 19th century. The medieval House of Lords chamber, which had been the target of the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605, was demolished as part of this work in order to create a new ceremonial entrance at the southern end of the palace. The original undercroft where Guy Fawkes was discovered guarding the barrels of gunpowder was also lost during the reconstruction. Soane's work at the palace included new law courts adjoining Westminster Hall and a new Members' entrance to St. Stephen's Chapel.

Fire and reconstruction

J. M. W. Turner watched the fire of 1834 and painted several canvases depicting it, including The Burning of the Houses of Lords and Commons (1835).

On 16 October 1834, a fire broke out in the Palace[1] after a stove used to destroy the Exchequer's stockpile of tally sticks ignited panelling in the Lords Chamber. In the resulting conflagration both houses of Parliament were destroyed along with most of the other buildings in the palace complex. Westminster Hall was saved largely due to heroic firefighting efforts. The Jewel Tower, the crypt of St Stephen's Chapel and the cloisters were the only other parts of the palace to survive.

At one stage, King William IV considered converting Buckingham Palace, which was being renovated at the time, into the new Houses of Parliament.[4]

A Royal Commission was appointed to study the rebuilding of the Palace and a heated public debate over the proposed styles ensued. The neo-Classical design, similar to that of the White House and the federal Capitol in the United States, was popular at the time, but had connotations of revolution and republicanism, whereas Gothic design embodied conservative values. The Commission announced in June 1835 that "the style of the buildings would be either Gothic or Elizabethan".[5]

In 1836, after studying 97 rival proposals, the Royal Commission chose Charles Barry's plan for a Gothic-style palace. The foundation stone was laid in 1840;[6] the Lords Chamber was completed in 1847, and the Commons Chamber in 1852 (at which point Barry received a knighthood). Although most of the work had been carried out by 1860, construction was not finished until a decade afterwards. Barry (whose own architectural style was more classical than Gothic) relied heavily on Augustus Pugin for the sumptuous and distinctive Gothic interiors, including wallpapers, carvings, stained glass and furnishings, like the royal thrones and canopies.

During the Second World War, the Palace of Westminster was hit fourteen times by bombs (see The Blitz). The worst of these was on 10 May 1941, when the Commons Chamber was destroyed and three people were killed.[7] The chamber was re-built under the architect Giles Gilbert Scott in a similar but more austere style; the work was completed in 1950.[1]

As the need for office space in the Palace increased, Parliament acquired office space in the nearby Norman Shaw Building in 1975,[8] and more recently in the custom-built Portcullis House, completed in 2000. This increase has now allowed all MPs to have their own office facilities.[1]

Exterior

Sir Charles Barry's collaborative design for the Palace of Westminster uses the Perpendicular Gothic style, which was popular during the 15th century and returned during the Gothic revival of the 19th century. Barry was a classical architect, but he was aided by the Gothic architect Augustus Pugin. Westminster Hall, which was built in the 11th century and survived the fire of 1834, was incorporated in Barry's design. Pugin was displeased with the result of the work, especially with the symmetrical layout designed by Barry; he famously remarked, "All Grecian, sir; Tudor details on a classic body".[9]

Stonework

The stonework of the building was originally Anston, a sand-coloured magnesian limestone quarried in the village of Anston in South Yorkshire.[10] The stone, however, soon began to decay due to pollution and the poor quality of some of the stone used. Although such defects were clear as early as 1849, nothing was done for the remainder of the 19th century. During the 1910s, however, it became clear that some of the stonework had to be replaced.

In 1928 it was deemed necessary to use Clipsham Stone, a honey-coloured limestone from Rutland, to replace the decayed Anston. The project began in the 1930s but was halted due to the Second World War, and completed only during the 1950s. By the 1960s pollution had once again begun to take its toll. A stone conservation and restoration programme to the external elevations and towers began in 1981, and ended in 1994.[11] The House Authorities have since been undertaking the external restoration of the many inner courtyards, a task due to continue until approximately 2010.

Towers

Sir Charles Barry's Palace of Westminster includes several towers. The tallest is the 98.5-metre (323 ft)[10] Victoria Tower, a square tower at the south-western end of the Palace. It was named after the reigning monarch at the time of the reconstruction of the Palace, Queen Victoria; today, it is home to the Parliamentary Archives. Atop the Victoria Tower is an iron flagstaff, from which either the Royal Standard (if the Sovereign is present in the Palace) or the Union Flag is flown. At the base of the tower is the Sovereign's Entrance to the Palace, used by the monarch whenever entering the Palace of Westminster for the State Opening of Parliament or for any other official ceremony.

Over the middle of the Palace, immediately above the Central Lobby, stands the octagonal Central Tower. At 91.4 metres (300 ft),[10] it is the shortest of the Palace's three principal towers. Unlike the other towers, the Central Tower culminates in a spire, and was designed as a high-level air intake.

At the north end of the Palace is the most famous of the towers, the Clock Tower, commonly known as Big Ben after its main bell. The Clock Tower is 96.3 metres (316 ft)[10] tall. Pugin's drawings for the tower were the last work he did for Barry. The Clock Tower houses a large, four-faced clock—the Great Clock of Westminster—also designed by Pugin. The tower also houses five bells, which strike the Westminster Chimes every quarter hour. The largest and most famous of the bells is Big Ben (officially The Great Bell of Westminster), which strikes the hour. This is the third-heaviest bell in England, weighing 13.8 tonnes (13.6 long tons).[10] Although Big Ben properly refers only to the bell, it is colloquially applied to the whole tower. A light, called the Ayrton Light, is located at the top of the Clock Tower. The Ayrton Light is lit when either the House of Commons or the House of Lords is sitting after dark. The light takes its name from Thomas Ayrton, the first Commissioner of Works who installed a gas lamp in the tower soon after it was built in 1885. It was installed at the request of Queen Victoria, so she could see from Buckingham Palace whether the members were "at work".

A small tower, St. Stephen's Tower, is positioned at the front of the Palace, between Westminster Hall and Old Palace Yard, and contains the main entrance to the House of Commons at its base, known as St. Stephen's Entrance.[12] Other towers include Speaker's and Chancellor's Towers, at the north and south ends of the building's river front respectively.[13] They are named after the presiding officers of the two Houses of Parliament at the time of the Palace's reconstruction, the Speaker of the House of Commons and the Lord High Chancellor.

Grounds

There are a number of small gardens surrounding the Palace of Westminster. Victoria Tower Gardens is open as a public park along the side of the river south of the palace. Black Rod's Garden (named after the office of Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod) is closed to the public and is used as a private entrance. Old Palace Yard, in front of the Palace, is paved over and covered in concrete security blocks (see security below). Cromwell Green (also on the frontage, and in 2006 enclosed by hoardings for the construction of a new visitor centre), New Palace Yard (on the north side) and Speaker's Green (directly north of the Palace) are all private and closed to the public. College Green, opposite the House of Lords, is a small triangular green commonly used for television interviews with politicians.

Interior

The Palace of Westminster includes over 1,100 rooms, 100 staircases and 4.8 kilometres (3 mi) of passageways.[10] The building includes four floors; the ground floor includes offices, dining rooms and bars. The "first floor" (known as the principal floor) houses the main rooms of the Palace, including the Chambers, the lobbies and the libraries. The Robing Room, the Royal Gallery, the Prince's Chamber, the Lords Chamber, the Peers' Lobby, the Central Lobby, the Members' Lobby and the Commons Chamber all lie in a straight line on this floor, from south to north, in the order noted. (Westminster Hall lies to a side at the Commons end of the Palace.) The top-two floors are used for committee rooms and offices.

Formerly, the Palace was controlled by the Lord Great Chamberlain,[citation needed] as it was (and formally remains) a royal residence. In 1965, however, it was decided that each House should control its own rooms;[citation needed] the Speakers now exercise control on behalf of their respective Houses. The Lord Great Chamberlain retains custody of certain ceremonial rooms.

Lords Chamber

The Chamber of the House of Lords is located in the southern part of the Palace of Westminster. The lavishly decorated room measures 13.7 by 24.4 metres (45 by 80 ft).[10] The benches in the Chamber, as well as other furnishings in the Lords' side of the Palace, are coloured red. The upper part of the Chamber is decorated by stained glass windows and by six allegorical frescoes representing religion, chivalry and law.

At the south end of the Chamber are the ornate gold Canopy and Throne; although the Sovereign may theoretically occupy the Throne during any sitting, he or she attends only the State Opening of Parliament. Other members of the Royal Family who attend the State Opening use Chairs of State next to the Throne. In front of the Throne is the Woolsack, a backless and armless red cushion stuffed with wool, representing the historical importance of the wool trade. The Woolsack is used by the officer presiding over the House (the Lord Speaker since 2006, but historically the Lord Chancellor or a deputy). The House's mace, which represents royal authority, is placed on the back of the Woolsack. In front of the Woolsack are the Judges' Woolsack, a larger red cushion occupied by the Law Lords during the State Opening, and the Table of the House, at which the clerks sit.

Members of the House occupy red benches on three sides of the Chamber. The benches on the Lord Speaker's right form the Spiritual Side and those to his left form the Temporal Side. The Lords Spiritual (archbishops and bishops of the established Church of England) all occupy the Spiritual Side. The Lords Temporal (nobles) sit according to party affiliation: members of the Government party sit on the Spiritual Side, while those of the Opposition sit on the Temporal Side. Some peers, who have no party affiliation, sit on the benches in the middle of the House opposite the Woolsack; they are accordingly known as cross-benchers.

The Lords Chamber is the site of important ceremonies, the most important of which is the State Opening of Parliament, which occurs at the beginning of each annual parliamentary session. The Sovereign, seated on the Throne, delivers the Speech from the Throne, outlining the Government's legislative agenda for the forthcoming parliamentary session. The Commons do not enter the Lords' debating floor; instead, they watch the proceedings from beyond the Bar of the House, just inside the door. A similar ceremony is held at the end of a parliamentary session; the Sovereign, however, does not normally attend, and is instead represented by a group of Lords Commissioners.

Commons Chamber

The Chamber of the House of Commons is at the northern end of the Palace of Westminster; it was opened in 1950 after the Victorian chamber had been destroyed in 1941 and re-built under the architect Giles Gilbert Scott. The Chamber measures 14 by 20.7 metres (46 by 68 ft)[10] and is far more austere than the Lords Chamber; the benches, as well as other furnishings in the Commons side of the Palace, are coloured green. Members of the public are forbidden to sit on the red benches, which are reserved for members of the House of Lords. Other parliaments in Commonwealth nations, including those of India, Canada and Australia, have copied the colour scheme under which the Lower House is associated with green, and the Upper House with red.

At the north end of the Chamber is the Speaker's Chair, a present to Parliament from the Commonwealth of Australia. The current British Speaker's Chair is an exact copy of the Speaker's Chair given to Australia, by the House of Commons, on the celebration of Australia's Parliamentary opening. In front of the Speaker's Chair is the Table of the House, at which the clerks sit, and on which is placed the Commons' ceremonial mace. The dispatch boxes, which front-bench Members of Parliament (MPs) often lean on or rest notes on during Questions and speeches, are a gift from New Zealand. There are green benches on either side of the House; members of the Government party occupy benches on the Speaker's right, while those of the Opposition occupy benches on the Speaker's left. There are no cross-benches as in the House of Lords. The Chamber is relatively small, and can accommodate only 427 of the 646 Members of Parliament[14]—during Prime Minister's Questions and in major debates MPs stand at either end of the House.

By tradition, the British Sovereign does not enter the Chamber of the House of Commons. The last monarch to do so was King Charles I, in 1642. The King sought to arrest five Members of Parliament on charges of high treason, but when he asked the Speaker, William Lenthall, if he had any knowledge of the whereabouts of these individuals, Lenthall famously replied: "May it please your Majesty, I have neither eyes to see nor tongue to speak in this place but as the House is pleased to direct me, whose servant I am here."[15]

The two red lines on the floor of the House of Commons are 2.5 metres (8 ft 2 in)[10] apart, which, by (probably apocryphal) tradition, is intended to be just over two sword-lengths. Protocol dictates that MPs may not cross these lines when speaking. Historically, this was to prevent disputes in the House from devolving into duels. If a Member of Parliament steps over this line while giving a speech he or she will be lambasted by opposition Members. This is a possible origin for the expression "to toe the line".

Westminster Hall

Westminster Hall, the oldest existing part of the Palace of Westminster, was erected in 1097,[16] at which point it was the largest hall in Europe, though it was subsequently overtaken by the Palais de la Cité in Paris (1301-6) and a hall in Padua of similar date.[17] The roof was probably originally supported by pillars, giving three aisles, but during the reign of King Richard II, this was replaced by a hammerbeam roof by the royal carpenter Hugh Herland, "the greatest creation of medieval timber architecture", which allowed the original three aisles to be replaced with a single huge open space, with a dais at the end. Richard's architect Henry Yevele left the original dimensions, refacing the walls, with fifteen life-size statues of kings placed in niches.[18] The rebuilding had been begun by Henry III in 1245, but had by Richard's time been dormant for over a century.

Westminster Hall has the largest clearspan medieval roof in England, measuring 20.7 by 73.2 metres (68 by 240 ft).[10] Despite an Essex legend that the oak timber came from woods in Thundersley, Essex, it is known that the original roof was constructed with Irish black oak from County Galway and the chestnut roof timberwork was framed in 1395 at Farnham in Surrey, 56 kilometres (35 mi) south-west of London.[19] Accounts record the large number of wagons and barges which delivered the jointed timbers to Westminster for assembly.[20]

Westminster Hall has served numerous functions. It was primarily used for judicial purposes, housing three of the most important courts in the land: the Court of King's Bench, the Court of Common Pleas and the Court of Chancery. In 1875, these courts were amalgamated into the High Court of Justice,[21] which continued to meet in Westminster Hall until it moved to the Royal Courts of Justice in 1882.[22] In addition to regular courts, Westminster Hall also housed important trials, including impeachment trials and the state trials of King Charles I at the end of the English Civil War, Sir William Wallace, Sir Thomas More, John Cardinal Fisher, Guy Fawkes, the Earl of Strafford, the rebel Scottish Lords of the 1715 and 1745 uprisings, and Warren Hastings.

Westminster Hall has also served ceremonial functions. From the twelfth century to the nineteenth, coronation banquets honouring new monarchs were held here. The last coronation banquet was that of King George IV, held in 1821;[23] his successor, William IV, abandoned the idea because he deemed it too expensive. The Hall has been used for lyings-in-state during state and ceremonial funerals. Such an honour is usually reserved for the Sovereign and for their consorts; the only non-royals to receive it in the twentieth century were Frederick Sleigh Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts (1914) and Sir Winston Churchill (1965). The most recent lying-in-state was that of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother in 2002.

The two Houses have presented ceremonial Addresses to the Crown in Westminster Hall on important public occasions. For example, Addresses were presented at Elizabeth II's Silver Jubilee (1977) and Golden Jubilee (2002), the 300th anniversary of the Glorious Revolution (1988), and the fiftieth anniversary of the end of the Second World War (1995).

Under reforms made in 1999, the House of Commons uses the Grand Committee Room next to Westminster Hall as an additional debating chamber. (Although it is not part of the main hall, the room is usually spoken of as such.) The room is shaped like an elongated horseshoe; it stands in contrast with the main Chamber, in which the benches are placed opposite each other. This pattern is meant to reflect the non-partisan nature of the debates held in Westminster Hall. Westminster Hall sittings occur thrice each week; controversial matters are not usually discussed.

Other Rooms

There are several other important rooms that lie on the first floor of the Palace. At the extreme southern end of the Palace is the Robing Room, the room in which the Sovereign prepares for the State Opening of Parliament by donning official robes and wearing the Imperial State Crown. Paintings by William Dyce in the Robing Room depict scenes from the legend of King Arthur. Immediately next to the Robing Room is the Royal Gallery, which is sometimes used by foreign dignitaries who wish to address both Houses. The walls are decorated by two enormous paintings by Daniel Maclise: "The Death of Nelson" (depicting Lord Nelson's demise at the Battle of Trafalgar) and "The Meeting of Wellington and Blücher" (showing the Duke of Wellington meeting Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher at the Battle of Waterloo).

To the immediate south of the Lords Chamber is the Prince's Chamber, a small anteroom used by members of the Lords. The Prince's Chamber is decorated with paintings of members of the Tudor dynasty by Richard Burchett and his pupils, and features a marble statue of Queen Victoria. To the immediate north of the Lords Chamber is the Peers' Lobby, where Lords informally discuss or negotiate matters during sittings of the House.

The centrepiece of the Palace of Westminster is the octagonal Central Lobby, which lies immediately beyond the Peers' Lobby. The lobby, which lies directly below the Central Tower, is adorned with statues of statesmen and with mosaics representing the United Kingdom's constituent nations' patron saints: St George for England, St Andrew for Scotland, St David for Wales and St Patrick for Ireland.[note 2] Constituents may meet their Members of Parliament in the Central Lobby. Beyond the Central Lobby, next to the Commons Chamber, lies the Members' Lobby, in which Members of Parliament hold discussions or negotiations. The Members' Lobby contains statues of several former Prime Ministers, including David Lloyd George, Winston Churchill, Clement Attlee and Margaret Thatcher.

There are two suites of libraries on the Principal Floor, overlooking the river, for the House of Lords Library and House of Commons Library.

The Palace of Westminster also includes state apartments for the presiding officers of the two Houses. The official residence of the Speaker stands at the northern end of the Palace; the Lord Chancellor's apartments are at the southern end. Each day, the Speaker and Lord Speaker take part in formal processions from their apartments to their respective Chambers.[24][25]

There are 19 bars and restaurants in the Palace of Westminster,[26] many of which never close while the House is sitting. There is also a gymnasium, and even a hair salon; the rifle range closed in the 1990s.[27] Parliament also has a souvenirs shop, where items on sale range from House of Commons key-rings and china to House of Commons Champagne.

Security

The Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod oversees security for the House of Lords, and the Serjeant at Arms does the same for the House of Commons. These officers, however, have primarily ceremonial roles outside the actual chambers of their respective Houses. Security is the responsibility of the Palace of Westminster Division of the Metropolitan Police, the police force for the Greater London area. Tradition still dictates that only the Serjeant at Arms may enter the Commons chamber armed.

With rising concern about the possibility of a lorry full of explosives being driven into the building, a series of concrete blocks was placed in the roadway in 2003.[28] On the river, an exclusion zone extending 70 metres (77 yd) from the bank exists, which no vessels are allowed to enter.[29]

Despite recent security breaches, members of the public continue to have access to the Strangers' Gallery (public gallery) in the House of Commons. Visitors pass through metal detectors and their possessions are scanned. Police from the Palace of Westminster Division of the Metropolitan Police, supported by some armed police from the Diplomatic Protection Group, are always on duty in and around the Palace.

Under a provision of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005, it has been illegal since 1 August 2005 to hold a protest, without the prior permission of the Metropolitan Police, within a designated area extending approximately one kilometre (0.6 mi) around the Palace.[30]

Eating, drinking and smoking

The Palace has accumulated many rules and traditions over the centuries. Smoking has not been allowed in the chambers of the House of Lords and the Commons since the 17th century.[38] As a result, Members may take snuff instead and the doorkeepers still keep a snuff-box for this purpose. Despite persistent media rumours, it has not been possible to smoke anywhere inside the Palace since 2005.[39] Members may not eat or drink in the chamber; the exception to this rule is the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who may have an alcoholic drink while delivering the Budget statement.[40]

Dress code

Hats must not be worn (although they formerly were when a point of order was being raised),[41] and Members may not wear military decorations or insignia. Members are not allowed to have their hands in their pockets—Andrew Robathan was heckled by opposing MPs for doing this on 19 December 1994.[42] Swords may not be worn in the Palace, and each MP has a loop of ribbon in the cloakroom for storing weapons.

Forms of address

Members may not refer to each other by name and use either "my honourable friend" (if a member of the same party) or "the honourable lady/gentleman" (for members from other parties); alternatively, "the honourable member for [the constituency]" is used. Members of the Privy Council are referred to as "the right honourable". Barrister MPs are entitled to be styled "my learned friend" or "the learned lady/gentleman".

In the House of Lords, members are referred to as "the noble lord/lady", or "my noble friend".

Other traditions

No animals may enter the Palace of Westminster, with the exception of guide dogs for the blind;[38] sniffer dogs and police horses are also allowed on the grounds.[43]

Speeches may not be read out during debate, although notes may be referred to. Similarly, the reading of newspapers is not allowed. Visual aids are discouraged in the chamber.[44]

Applause is not normally allowed in the Lords and Commons. Some notable exceptions to this were when Robin Cook gave his resignation speech in 2003,[45], when Prime Minister Tony Blair appeared for the last time at Prime Minister's Questions and when Speaker Michael Martin gave his leaving speech on 17 June 2009.[46]

It is a convention that MPs do not discuss the Sovereign nor use the name of the monarch as a point of debate without prior permission from the Speaker. This comes from 19th-century constitutionalist Erskine May, who said, "the irregular use of the Queen's name to influence a decision of the House is unconstitutional in principle and inconsistent with the independence of Parliament ... Any attempt to use her name in debate to influence the judgement of Parliament is immediately checked and censured." Vincent Cable was reprimanded for breaking this convention during a session of Prime Minister's Questions in 2008.[47]

The nearest London Underground station is Westminster on the District, Circle and Jubilee Lines.

!ᴛʜɪs ɪs ᴀ Freebie!

This Freebie contains:

• Full Body Avatar

• Full Body Skin

• Clothes are attached to the body

• Animation HUD with 10 unique facial animations

• Rigged Eyes, Ears, Teeth and Tongue with Textures

The Paid version of this product contains:

• Full body Avatar

• Changeable Clothes (Clothes are sold separately)

• Full body skin

• Free animation HUD with 10 unique facial animations

• Rigged Eyes, Ears, Teeth and Tongue with Textures

• Free Apple gag included

marketplace.secondlife.com/p/BeSpoke-Mr-Pig-Freebie-Avata...

I couldn’t contain my excitement when this book plopped through our letterbox this morning ( in comments). “The Sound of Being Human “ is written by Jude Rogers, our goddaughter. From inside the flyleaf, “At its heart is Jude’s own story : how songs helped her wrestle with the grief of losing her own father at the age of five…..”

This photo is first page of the opening chapter and that is as far as I got because it shows the oh so familiar doorstep where she stood the last time she saw her dad as she waved him of to hospital. He died unexpectedly two days later at the age of 32 …………

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jude_Rogers

Out for the day now- catch up later

The strobilus contains spores on the fertile stems of a Horsetail. Horsetails always fascinate me and I love to take photos of them. This one is still closed, but they are photogenic at each stage. I will add a previously posted photo in a comment box below, showing an open one. The first of the two photos below shows the Strobilus of a Horsetail, a cone-like structure where the spores are released from. Other stems look like the second photo, which shows a typical sterile stem.

"Equisetum (/ˌɛkwɨˈsiːtəm/; horsetail, snake grass, puzzlegrass) is the only living genus in Equisetaceae, a family of vascular plants that reproduce by spores rather than seeds.

Equisetum is a "living fossil" as it is the only living genus of the entire class Equisetopsida, which for over one hundred million years was much more diverse and dominated the understory of late Paleozoic forests. Some Equisetopsida were large trees reaching to 30 meters tall. The genus Calamites of the family Calamitaceae, for example, is abundant in coal deposits from the Carboniferous period." From Wikipedia.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equisetum

There were two walks I wanted to go on yesterday, 20 June 2018 - an afternoon botany walk at Griffith Woods, especially as I have missed most of the walks this session; and a birding walk in the evening in Fish Creek Park. Usually, I don't do two walks on the same day.

Photographed the Great Blue Heron at the river's edge and the bright yellow Gaillardia flower at the Fish Creek Park location. This Horsetail photo was taken at Griffith Woods. After the evening walk, a few of us went to Tim Horton's for coffee and chat. Coffee doesn't usually keep me awake, but I guess I'm not normally drinking it at 10:00 pm! Despite feeling tired out from two walks, I was also 'wired' and it was 6:00 am before i finally fell into bed. An hour later, I was awake, so today is definitely a slow day at home, as it feels like my brain is barely functioning..

2018 May 06: Note that the blue channel contains data collected through a red filter, not a near-infrared one. Apologies for not mentioning that in my original description.

Why do Jupiter's poles glow brightly in infrared? I can't honestly say I know why, but I like the way it is completely opposite from visible light. In visible light, the poles are darker, and the middle latitudes near the limb practically glow in blue light. The Great Red Spot is also visible as a large, salmon hued spot in this image. Jupiter is interestingly contrasty in the near-infrared FQ889N filter, which is one of the methane bands.

These data were collected by Hubble to assist in providing context for Juno data, which are so close up to the planet that the field of view relatively small, and it can be helpful to see what is going on with the rest of the planet at the same time. A variety of data were collected for this purpose, including visible, near-uv, and near-infrared.Knowing this, one begins to gain an understanding of how having robust and overlapping datasets from various observatories and probes working in tandem can greatly augment scientific research. Juno or Hubble data alone would be much less valuable. In short, it takes a village.

I thought I would get Europa in this image, but then I found out that moon was hiding in Jupiter's shadow. Io was hanging out in the corner way out of the way, and two fainter moons could also be seen. Io was saturated anyway, and the faint moons were very faint, so I cropped all of them off to focus on Jupiter. Poor things.

This image represents Jupiter as it would have appeared on 2016-12-12 at 00:13 UTC.

Take a look at the proposal these data were collected for:

Wide Field Coverage for Juno (WFCJ): Jupiter's 2D Wind Field and Cloud Structure

Red: WFC3/UVIS FQ889N (id9o09faq)

Green: WFC3/UVIS FQ727N (id9o09fcq)

Blue: WFC3/UVIS F631N (id9o09fdq)

Olympus digital camera

View from the Observation Desk of the City Hall on the Downtown Los Angeles :)

Downtown Los Angeles contains the central business district of Los Angeles. It is also part of Central Los Angeles. Downtown Los Angeles is divided into neighborhoods and districts, some overlapping. Most districts are named for the activities concentrated there now or historically, e.g. the Arts, Civic Center, Fashion, Banking, Theater, Toy, and Jewelry districts. It is the hub for the city's urban rail transit system plus the Pacific Surfliner and Metrolink commuter rail system for Southern California.

Los Angeles and officially the City of Los Angeles, is the most populous city in the state of California and it's the county seat of Los Angeles County, which is the most populous county in the United States. Los Angeles is the second-most populous city in the United States, and is the commercial, financial, and cultural center of the Southern California region. Los Angeles has a Mediterranean climate, an ethnically and culturally diverse population, and a sprawling metropolitan area. The city was founded on 4 September 1781, under Spanish governor Felipe de Neve, on the village of Yaanga. It became a part of Mexico in 1821 following the Mexican War of Independence. In 1848, at the end of the Mexican–American War, Los Angeles and the rest of California were purchased as part of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo and became part of the United States. Los Angeles was incorporated as a municipality on April 4, 1850, five months before California achieved statehood. Los Angeles has a diverse economy with a broad range of industries, best known as the home of the Hollywood film industry.

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Widok z tarasu widokowego ratusza miejskiego na śródmieście Los Angeles :)

Downtown Los Angeles (Śródmieście Los Angeles) – główna dzielnica biznesowa położona w środkowej części Los Angeles, w stanie Kalifornia, leżąca w geograficznym środku obszaru metropolitalnego Los Angeles. W tej okolicy mieści się wiele instytucji artystycznych i sportowych, różnorodnych wieżowców, siedzib międzynarodowych korporacji, galerii sztuki i unikatowych sklepów. Downtown Los Angeles stanowi centrum sieci miejskich autostrad i systemu metra w Los Angeles.

Los Angeles - najludniejsze miasto amerykańskiego stanu Kalifornia, a zarazem drugie pod względem liczby mieszkańców miasto w Stanach Zjednoczonych. Los Angeles jest także siedzibą hrabstwa Los Angeles, czyli najbardziej zaludnionego i jednego z najbardziej zróżnicowanych etnicznie hrabstw w Stanach Zjednoczonych. Miasto zostało założone 4 września 1781 roku przez hiszpańskiego gubernatora Felipe de Neve’a, zaś po zakończeniu wojny o niepodległość Meksyku, w 1821 roku, stało się częścią tegoż państwa. W 1848 roku, pod koniec wojny amerykańsko-meksykańskiej, Los Angeles oraz pozostałe obszary Kalifornii zostały na mocy traktatu pokojowego z Guadalupe Hidalgo wykupione przez rząd amerykański, wchodząc w skład Stanów Zjednoczonych. Obecnie Los Angeles stanowi światowe centrum biznesu, handlu międzynarodowego, rozrywki, kultury, mediów, mody, nauki, sportu, technologii i edukacji. Los Angeles uznane zostało za 3. najbogatsze oraz 5. najbardziej wpływowe miasto świata. Jako że Los Angeles jest siedzibą Hollywood, zyskało też przydomek „Światowej Stolicy Rozrywki”, przodując w produkcji filmów, programów telewizyjnych, sztuk scenicznych, gier wideo oraz muzyki.

CAPPADOCIA WORLD HERITAGE LIST :

www.whc.unesco.org/en/list/357

In a spectacular landscape, entirely sculpted by erosion, the Göreme valley and its surroundings contain rock-hewn sanctuaries that provide unique evidence of Byzantine art in the post-Iconoclastic period. Dwellings, troglodyte villages and underground towns – the remains of a traditional human habitat dating back to the 4th century – can also be seen there.

Brief synthesis

Located on the central Anatolia plateau within a volcanic landscape sculpted by erosion to form a succession of mountain ridges, valleys and pinnacles known as “fairy chimneys” or hoodoos, Göreme National Park and the Rock Sites of Cappadocia cover the region between the cities of Nevşehir, Ürgüp and Avanos, the sites of Karain, Karlık, Yeşilöz, Soğanlı and the subterranean cities of Kaymaklı and Derinkuyu. The area is bounded on the south and east by ranges of extinct volcanoes with Erciyes Dağ (3916 m) at one end and Hasan Dağ (3253 m) at the other. The density of its rock-hewn cells, churches, troglodyte villages and subterranean cities within the rock formations make it one of the world's most striking and largest cave-dwelling complexes. Though interesting from a geological and ethnological point of view, the incomparable beauty of the decor of the Christian sanctuaries makes Cappadocia one of the leading examples of the post-iconoclastic Byzantine art period.

It is believed that the first signs of monastic activity in Cappadocia date back to the 4th century at which time small anchorite communities, acting on the teachings of Basileios the Great, Bishop of Kayseri, began inhabiting cells hewn in the rock. In later periods, in order to resist Arab invasions, they began banding together into troglodyte villages or subterranean towns such as Kaymakli or Derinkuyu which served as places of refuge.

Cappadocian monasticism was already well established in the iconoclastic period (725-842) as illustrated by the decoration of many sanctuaries which kept a strict minimum of symbols (most often sculpted or tempera painted crosses). However, after 842 many rupestral churches were dug in Cappadocia and richly decorated with brightly coloured figurative painting. Those in the Göreme Valley include Tokalı Kilise and El Nazar Kilise (10th century), St. Barbara Kilise and Saklı Kilise (11th century) and Elmalı Kilise and Karanlık Kilise (end of the 12th – beginning of the 13th century).

Criterion (i): Owing to their quality and density, the rupestral sanctuaries of Cappadocia constitute a unique artistic achievement offering irreplaceable testimony to the post-iconoclastic Byzantine art period.

Criterion (iii): The rupestral dwellings, villages, convents and churches retain the fossilized image of a province of the Byzantine Empire between the 4th century and the arrival of the Seljuk Turks (1071). Thus, they are the essential vestiges of a civilization which has disappeared.

Criterion (v): Cappadocia is an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement which has become vulnerable under the combined effects of natural erosion and, more recently, tourism.

Criterion (vii): In a spectacular landscape dramatically demonstrating erosional forces, the Göreme Valley and its surroundings provide a globally renowned and accessible display of hoodoo landforms and other erosional features, which are of great beauty, and which interact with the cultural elements of the landscape.

Integrity

Göreme National Park and the Rock Sites of Cappadocia, having been extensively used and modified by man for centuries, is a landscape of harmony combining human interaction and settlement with dramatic natural landforms. There has been some earthquake damage to some of the cones and the pillars, but this is seen as a naturally occurring phenomenon. Overuse by tourists and some vandalism have been reported and some incompatible structures have been introduced.

The erosional processes that formed the distinctive conical rock structures will continue to create new fairy chimneys and rock pillars, however due to the rate of this process, the natural values of the property may still be threatened by unsustainable use. The cultural features, including rock-hewn churches and related cultural structures, mainly at risk of being undermined by erosion and other negative natural processes coupled with mass tourism and development pressures, can never be replaced. threats Some of the churches mentioned by early scholars such as C. Texier, H.G. Rott and Guillaume de Jerphanion are no longer extant.

Authenticity

The property meets the conditions of authenticity as its values and their attributes, including its historical setting, form, design, material and workmanship adequately reflect the cultural and natural values recognized in the inscription criteria.

Given the technical difficulties of building in this region, where it is a matter of hewing out structures within the natural rock, creating architecture by the removal of material rather than by putting it together to form the elements of a building, the underlying morphological structure and the difficulties inherent in the handling of the material inhibited the creative impulses of the builders. This conditioning of human effort by natural conditions persisted almost unchanged through successive periods and civilizations, influencing the cultural attitudes and technical skills of each succeeding generation.

Protection and management requirements

The World Heritage property Göreme National Park and the Rock Sites of Cappadocia is subject to legal protection in accordance with both the Protection of Cultural and Natural Resources Act No. 2863 and the National Parks Act No. 2873. The entire territory between the cities of Nevşehir, Ürgüp and Avanos is designated as a National Park under the Act No. 2873. In addition, natural, archaeological, urban, and mixed archaeological and natural conservation areas, two underground towns, five troglodyte villages, and more than 200 individual rock-hewn churches, some of which contain numerous frescoes, have been entered into the register of immovable monuments and sites according to the Act No. 2863.

Legal protection, management and monitoring of the Göreme National Park and the Rock Sites of Cappadocia fall within the scope of national and regional governmental administrations. The Nevşehir and Kayseri Regional Conservation Councils are responsible for keeping the register of monuments and sites, including carrying out all tasks related to the legal protection of monuments and listed buildings and the approval to carry out any restoration-related works. They also evaluate regional and conservation area plans prepared by the responsible national and/or local (i.e. municipal) authorities.

Studies for revision and updating of the existing land use and conservation plan (Göreme National Park Long-term Development Plan) of 1981 were completed in 2003. The major planning decisions proposed were that natural conservation areas are to be protected as they were declared in 1976. Minor adjustments in the peripheral areas of settlements and spatial developments of towns located in the natural conservation sites including Göreme, Ortahisar, Çavuşin, Ürgüp and Mustafapaşa will be strictly controlled. In other words, the Plan proposes to confine the physical growth of these towns to recently established zones. Hotel developments will take into account the set limits for room capacities. Furthermore, the plan also suggested that local authorities should be advised to review land use decisions for areas that have been reserved for tourism developments in the town plans.

Preparation of conservation area plans for the urban and/or mixed urban-archaeological conservation sites within the historic sections of Göreme are in place and provide zoning criteria and the rules and guidelines to be used in the maintenance and restoration of listed buildings and other buildings which are not registered, but which are located within the historic zones. Similar planning studies for the towns of Ortahisar and Uçhisar are in place. Once finalised, a conservation area plan for the urban conservation area in Ürgüp will be in place. All relevant plans are kept up to date on a continuing basis.

Appropriate facilities aimed at improving the understanding of the World Heritage property have been completed for the subterranean towns of Kaymaklı and Derinkuyu, and are required for Göreme and Paşabağı.

Monuments in danger due to erosion, including the El Nazar, Elmalı, and Meryemana (Virgin Mary) churches, have been listed as monuments requiring priority action. Specific measures for their protection, restoration and maintenance are required at the site level.

While conservation plans and protection measures are in place for individual sites, it is recognised by the principal parties responsible for site management that an integrated Regional Plan for the Cappadocia Cultural and Tourism Conservation and Development Area is required to protect the World Heritage values of the property. Adequate financial, political and technical support is also required to secure the management of the property.

whc.unesco.org/en/list/357

www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/world-heritage/cappadocia/

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cappadocia

193 791 der Rurtalbahn Cargo zieht einen Containerzug aus den Niederlanden über die Strecke Venlo - Viersen ostwärts.

アメリカヒトツバタゴ

モクセイ科 / ヒトツバタゴ属

Chionanthus virginicus Linn., 1753

This name is accepted. 04/28, 2022.

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Family: Oleaceae (APG IV)

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Authors:

Carl von Linnaeus (1707-1778)

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Published In:

Species Plantarum 1: 8. 1753. (1 May 1753) (Sp. Pl.)

Name publication detailView in BotanicusView in Biodiversity Heritage Library

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Annotation:

as "virginica"

Type Specimens:

LT: ; ; (LINN-21.1) LT designated by Reveal, Regnum Veg. 127: 33 (1993)

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Synonyms:

Chionanthus angustifolius Raf., New flora and botany of North America, or, A supplemental flora, additional to all the botanical works on North America and the United States. Containing 1000 new or revised species. 3: 88. 1838. (New Fl.)

Chionanthus cotinifolius Willd., Sp. Pl., ed. 4 [Willdenow] 1(1): 47 (1797).

Chionanthus fragrans Edwards ex Steud., Nomencl. Bot. [Steudel], ed. 2. 1: 351 (1840).

Chionanthus heterophyla Raf., New flora and botany of North America, or, A supplemental flora, additional to all the botanical works on North America and the United States. Containing 1000 new or revised species. 3: 87. 1838. (New Fl.)

Chionanthus latifolius Aiton ex Steud., Nomencl. Bot. [Steudel], ed. 2. 1: 350 (1840).

Chionanthus longifolius Raf., New flora and botany of North America, or, A supplemental flora, additional to all the botanical works on North America and the United States. Containing 1000 new or revised species. 3: 88. 1838. (New Fl.)

Chionanthus luteus hort. ex Lavallée, Énum. Arbres 173 (1877).

Chionanthus maritimus (Pursh) Sweet, Hort. Brit. [Sweet], ed. 2. 351 (1830).

Chionanthus montanus (Pursh) Raf., New flora and botany of North America, or, A supplemental flora, additional to all the botanical works on North America and the United States. Containing 1000 new or revised species. 3: 87. 1838. (New Fl.)

Chionanthus obovatus Raf., New flora and botany of North America, or, A supplemental flora, additional to all the botanical works on North America and the United States. Containing 1000 new or revised species. 3: 87. 1838. (New Fl.)

Chionanthus roseus Barton, Fl. Virgin. (Barton) 2 (1812); cf. Pennell in Bartonia, 1925-6, No. 9, 28 (1926). (1812).

Chionanthus trifidus Moench, Methodus (Moench) 478 (1794).

Chionanthus triflorus Stokes, Bot. Mat. Med. i. 19 (1812).

Chionanthus vernalis Salisb., Prodr. Stirp. Chap. Allerton 14 (1796).

Chionanthus vernus Baill., Hist. Pl. (Baillon) 1: 295 (1869).

Chionanthus virginicus subsp. maritimus (Pursh) A.E.Murray, Kalmia 12: 19 (1982).

Chionanthus virginicus var. angustifolius Aiton, Hort. Kew. [W. Aiton] 1: 14 (1789).

Chionanthus virginicus var. latifolius Aiton, Hort. Kew. [W. Aiton] 1: 14 (1789).

Chionanthus virginicus var. maritimus Pursh, Fl. Amer. Sept. (Pursh) 1: 8 (1813).

Chionanthus virginicus var. montanus Pursh, Fl. Amer. Sept. (Pursh) 1: 8 (1813).

Chionanthus zeylanicus Lam., Tabl. Encycl. i. 30 (1791).

Ligustrum cotinifolium (Willd.) Jacques, Manuel Général des Plantes 3: 3. 1857. (Man. Gén. Pl.)

Linociera cotinifolia (Willd.) Vahl, Enum. Pl. Obs. 1: 46. 1804. (Enum. Pl. Obs.)

-----------------------------------

Accepted By:

Anonymous. 1986. List-Based Rec., Soil Conserv. Serv., U.S.D.A. Database of the U.S.D.A., Beltsville.

Correll, D. S. & M. C. Johnston. 1970. Man. Vasc. Pl. Texas i–xv, 1–1881. The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson.

Fernald, M. 1950. Manual (ed. 8) i–lxiv, 1–1632. American Book Co., New York.

Gleason, H. A. 1968. The Sympetalous Dicotyledoneae. vol. 3. 596 pp. In H. A. Gleason Ill. Fl. N.E. U.S.. New York Botanical Garden, New York.

Gleason, H. A. & A. J. Cronquist. 1991. Man. Vasc. Pl. N.E. U.S. (ed. 2) i–910. New York Botanical Garden, Bronx.

Godfrey, R. K. & J. W. Wooten. 1981. Aquatic Wetland Pl. S.E. U.S. Dicot. 1–944. Univ. Georgia Press, Athens.

Radford, A. E., H. E. Ahles & C. R. Bell. 1968. Man. Vasc. Fl. Carolinas i–lxi, 1–1183. University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill.

Small, J. K. 1933. Man. S.E. Fl. i–xxii, 1–1554. Published by the Author, New York. View in BotanicusView in Biodiversity Heritage Library

Ulloa Ulloa, C., P. Acevedo-Rodríguez, S. G. Beck, M. J. Belgrano, R. Bernal González, P. E. Berry, L. Brako, M. Celis, G. Davidse, S. R. Gradstein, O. Hokche, B. León, S. León-Yánez, R. E. Magill, D. A. Neill, M. H. Nee, P. H. Raven, H. Stimmel, M. T. Strong, J. L. Villaseñor Ríos, J. L. Zarucchi, F. O. Zuloaga & P. M. Jørgensen. 2017. An integrated assessment of vascular plants species of the Americas. Science 358: 1614–1617 [Online Suppl. Materials: 1–23 + 1–2497], f. 1–4 [f. S1–5].

Ulloa Ulloa, C., P. Acevedo-Rodríguez, S. G. Beck, M. J. Belgrano, R. Bernal González, P. E. Berry, L. Brako, M. Celis, G. Davidse, S. R. Gradstein, O. Hokche, B. León, S. León-Yánez, R. E. Magill, D. A. Neill, M. H. Nee, P. H. Raven, H. Stimmel, M. T. Strong, J. L. Villaseñor Ríos, J. L. Zarucchi, F. O. Zuloaga & P. M. Jørgensen. 2018 [Onwards]. An integrated Assessment of Vascular Plants Species of the Americas (Online Updates).

Wunderlin, R. P. 1998. Guide Vasc. Pl. Florida i–x, 1–806. University Press of Florida, Gainesville.

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SONY NEX-5R

OLYMPUS OM Zuiko MC Auto Macro 50mm F3.5

Situated next to the entrance to Blickling Hall, St. Andrew's was originally built in the 13th. century, then remodelled in the 15th. and again in the 19th. century, including the tower and porch by George E. Street in 1876, and the chancel, rebuilt by William Butterfield in the 1850's.

Constructed of flint with limestone dressings with lead roofs, the church consists of a west tower, nave, chancel, south aisle, south porch, north aisle and north-east chapel.

Inside, there is a large memorial and effigy depicting two life-size angels dedicated to William Schomberg Robert Kerr, 8th. Marquis of Lothian, who died in 1870 is buried in Jedburgh Abbey in Scotland. The memorial is by the sculptor George Frederick Watts and was completed in 1878.

The church boasts a collection of brasses. One commemorates Sir Nicholas Dagworth (d. 1401), a soldier and a diplomat under both Edward III and Richard II and who built the first Blickling Hall. Beside him is the memorial to Anne Astley, she died giving birth to twins in 1512, and she holds her male and female swaddled babies. Another brass is to Roger and Cecily Felthorpe (1454) and shows them alongside their 16 children. Other brasses include those to members of the Boleyn family.

There are a number of other memorials in the church. One shows the now handless bust of Elizabeth Gurdon under a canopy in the chancel. She died of a cold in 1582 at the age of 17 while while visiting Sir Edward Clere at Blickling Hall. By the south doorway is a wall monument of 1901 by the sculptor Arthur G. Walker to Constance, wife of the 7th. Marquess of Lothian.

In the Lady Chapel is the chest tomb of Sir Edward Clere, 1st. Baronet Ormesby, who died in London on 3rd. June 1606, aged 69. The tomb is decorated with shields of the family line which can be traced back to the Norman Conquest of 1066.

The church also contains a late medieval font, a pulpit from 1692, an organ by Snetzler of 1762 and an intricately carved First and Second World War wooden war memorial in the style of a pulpit. Either side of the inscription are figures of Saint George carved in relief.

The church received Grade: II* listed building status on 10th. May 1961. (English Heritage Legacy ID: 228672).

The Stone of Remembrance was designed by the British architect Sir Edwin Lutyens for the Imperial War Graves Commission (IWGC). It was designed to commemorate the dead of World War I, to be used in IWGC war cemeteries containing 1000 or more graves, or at memorial sites commemorating more than 1000 war dead. Hundreds were erected following World War I, and it has since been used in cemeteries containing the Commonwealth dead of World War II as well.

The phrase inscribed on the stone, one of several suggested during the design phase, was proposed by the British author, poet and Nobel laureate Rudyard Kipling, whose only son had died in the war. Kipling's role was to advise the IWGC (now CWGC) on inscriptions and other literary matters, and the phrase used on the Stones of Remembrance is a quote from the Wisdom of Sirach.

ELL Vectron 193 213-6 mit einem Containerzug auf der KBS 110 zwischen Lüneburg und Winsen in Bardowick Bruch

ELL Vectron 193 213-6 with a container train on the KBS 110 between Lüneburg and Winsen in Bardowick Bruch

A UN soldier of the UN army US branch is defending himself against a fallen comrade during the Outbreak.

The UN Peacekeeping Force (Dubbed as the UN Army in the Outbreak videos) Are the main armed forces active during the Outbreak as most of if not all of the armed forces from various areas and countries were fighting the infected under one banner as part of a secret UN-protocol.

Their main job during the Outbreak was to evacuate the civilians out of the infected ''Hot Zone'' areas by combating the infected with various weapons in order to buy time. They were also tasked with maintaining order in and outside the Quarantine Zones as mass panic was still in progress.

They used various armoured vehicles and helicopters as tanks and other heavy arms either couldn't go into the streets, because of various blockades and narrow streets and that heavy firepower could do more damage than saving the lives.

The US branch was going to make a small appearance in one of the outbreak video’s, but were eventually cut, because of time constraints, the original idea was to show different soldiers from all across the world.

They appear in three of the Outbreak videos so far:

Part 1: www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjqkZeMoI04

Part 2: www.youtube.com/watch?v=quS1pl24RT4

Part 3:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UPB3kvm2tA

Brickizimo, was kind enough to sent me the parts. They are an company located in the EU that sells, brickmania kits, brickarms, all that good stuff, here’s a link to their store:

www.brickizimo-toys.com/eng/

Custom UN helmet: Brickarms/Brickizimo

Custom weapons/vest: Brickarms

Custom figs: Brickmania

Contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data [2023], processed by Sentinel Hub/Pierre Markuse

Fires near Kondinskoye, Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug, Russia - 3 May 2023

Iimage is about 33 kilometres wide.

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Out of service fire brigade.

Metrans 386 016-0 mit einem Containerzug aus Hamburg Dradenau auf der KBS 100 zwischen Hamburg und Büchen in Reinbek

Metrans 386 016-0 with a container train from Hamburg Dradenau on the KBS 100 between Hamburg and Büchen in Reinbek

This grave contains the remains of nearly 1000 Soviet soldiers and officers who fell in the heavy fighting for the Shilovo bridgehead between July and September 1942.

The Battle of Voronezh, or First Battle of Voronezh, was a battle on the Eastern Front of World War II, fought in and around the strategically important city of Voronezh on the Don river, 450 km (280 mi) south of Moscow, from 28 June-24 July 1942, as opening move of the German summer offensive in 1942.

The battle was marked by heavy urban fighting, and ferocious street-fighting, showing what was to come at the Battle of Stalingrad.

The German attack had two objectives. One was to seed confusion about the ultimate goals of the overall campaign. There was widespread feeling by almost all observers, especially Soviet high command, that the Germans would reopen their attack on Moscow that summer. By strongly attacking toward Voronezh, near the site of the German's deepest penetration the year before, it would hide the nature of the real action taking place far to the south. Soviet forces sent to the area to shore up the defenses would not be able to move with the same speed as the Germans, who would then turn south and leave them behind. The other purpose was to provide an easily defended front line along the river, providing a strong left flank that could be protected with relatively light forces.

The plan involved forces of Army Group South, at this time far north of their ultimate area of responsibility. The attack would be spearheaded by the 4th Panzer Army under the command of General Hermann Hoth. Hoth's highly mobile forces would move rapidly eastward to Voronezh and then turn southeast to follow the Don to Stalingrad. As the 4th moved out of the city, the slower infantry forces of the Second Army following behind them would take up defensive positions along the river. The plan called for the 2nd to arrive just as the 4th had cleared the city, and Hoth was under orders to avoid any street-to-street fighting that might bog down their progress.

The city was defended by the troops of the 40th Army as part of the Valuiki-Rossosh Defensive Operation (28 June-24 July 1942) of General of Army Nikolai Fyodorovich Vatutin's Southwestern Front. Hoth's powerful armored forces moved forward with little delay and the only natural barrier before the city was the Devitsa River, an arm of the Don running through Semiluki, a short distance to the west. For reasons that are unclear, the bridge over the Devitsa was not destroyed, and Hoth's forces were able to sweep aside the defensive forces placed there and reach the outskirts of Voronezh on 7 July. Soviet forces then mounted a successful counterattack that tied up Hoth's forces.

At this point they should have been relieved by the infantry forces, but they were still far from the city. Intense house-to-house fighting broke out, and Hoth continued to push forward while he waited. At one point the 3rd Motorized Division broke across the Don, but turned back. The Soviet command poured reserves into the city and a situation not unlike what would be seen at Stalingrad a few months later broke out, with the German troops clearing the city street by street with flamethrowers while tanks gave fire support.

The 2nd did not arrive for another two days, by which time the 4th was heavily engaged and took some time to remove from the line. The 2nd continued the battle until 24 July, when the final Soviet forces west of the Don were defeated and the fighting ended. Adolf Hitler later came to believe that these two days, when combined with other avoidable delays on the drive south, allowed Marshal Semyon Timoshenko to reinforce the forces in Stalingrad before the 4th Panzer Army could arrive to allow taking of Stalingrad.

The Soviet forces recaptured the city in the Battle of Voronezh of 1943.

Gameboard containing a circle comprised of 30 spaces surrounding advertising text and an image of the devil. Spaces marked with baseball rulings and plays, including Strike, Ball, Out, Foul, and Single Hit 1 Base. Circle surrounded by a "baseball diamond."

Artits Point

Colorado National Monument is a National Park Service unit near the city of Grand Junction, Colorado. Sheer-walled canyons cut deep into sandstone and granite–gneiss–schist rock formations. This is an area of desert land high on the Colorado Plateau, with pinyon and juniper forests on the plateau. The park hosts a wide range of wildlife, including red-tailed hawks, golden eagles, ravens, jays, desert bighorn sheep, and coyotes. Activities include hiking, horseback riding, road bicycling, and scenic drives; a visitor center on the west side contains a natural history museum and gift shop. There are scenic views from trails, Rim Rock Drive, which winds along the plateau, and the campground. Nearby are the Book Cliffs and the largest flat-topped mountain in the world, the Grand Mesa.

The monument's feature attraction is Monument Canyon, which runs the width of the park and includes rock formations such as Independence Monument, the Kissing Couple, and Coke Ovens. The monument includes 20,500 acres (32.0 sq mi; 83 km2), much of which has been recommended to Congress for designation as wilderness.

The area was first explored by John Otto, who settled in Grand Junction in the early 20th century. Prior to Otto's arrival, many area residents believed the canyons to be inaccessible to humans. Otto began building trails on the plateau and into the canyons. As word spread about his work, the Chamber of Commerce of Grand Junction sent a delegation to investigate. The delegation returned praising both Otto's work and the scenic beauty of the wilderness area, and the local newspaper began lobbying to make it a National Park. A bill was introduced and carried by the local Representatives to the U.S. Congress and Senate but a Congressional slowdown in the final months threatened the process. To ensure protection of the canyons President William Howard Taft (who had visited the area) stepped in and used the highest powers available to him via the Antiquities Act and presidential proclamation to declare the canyons as a national monument.

The area was established as Colorado National Monument on May 24, 1911. Otto was hired as the first park ranger, drawing a salary of $1 per month. For the next 16 years, he continued building and maintaining trails while living in a tent in the park.

A herd of bison was introduced and maintained from 1925 to 1983. After a failed effort to introduce elk, Otto obtained two cows and one bull. The herd grew to as many as 45 animals, but generally the herd was kept at about 20-25 animals.

The park became more well known in the 1980s partly due to its inclusion as a stage of the major international bicycle race, the Coors Classic. The race through the park became known as "The Tour of the Moon", due to the spectacular landscapes the race passed through on Rim Rock Drive.

The issue of national park status has arisen time and again, usually during bust cycles brought on by the uranium industry and later oil and gas. As of June, 2014 Congressman Scott Tipton and Senator Mark Udall have carried the process closer to fruition than any other representatives since the initial effort in 1907. The two Representatives appointed an 18-member committee of locals to study the issue and learn the facts in 2011. After a groundswell of support from local residents and business owners, the Representatives then appointed a committee of five local residents to write draft legislation. The draft legislation was announced and released in early 2014. A public comment period on the draft legislation began soon after with an end date of June 29. Documentary producer Ken Burns (National Parks: America's Best Idea) weighed in of the effort, endorsing national park status for the Colorado National Monument. Burns compared the area to Seward, Alaska, which overcame opposition to create Kenai Fjords National Park. Burns said Seward locals came to refer to Kenai Fjords National Park as a "permanent pipeline".

Climate

Ecologically, Colorado National Monument sits on a large area of high desert in Western Colorado, though under the Köppen climate classification, it, like neighbouring Grand Junction, is temperate semi-arid. Summers are hot and dry while winters cold with some snow. Temperatures reach 100 °F (38 °C) on 6.0 days, 90 °F (32 °C) on 62.3 days, and remain at or below freezing on 12.9 days annually.

Trails

The Monument contains many hiking trails, with lengths and difficulties to suit all tastes. Summer storms can cause flash floods as well as dangerous trail conditions. Rattlesnakes are found on the Monument, and rough terrain exists everywhere, but most trails are well-maintained. Winter cross-country skiing is occasionally possible on trails such as the Liberty Cap Trail.

Serpents Trail, perhaps the most popular, follows the route of the original road to the top of the Monument. This trail is accessible by parking lots at both ends, both located off Rim Rock Drive. Serpents Trail provides views of both the Monument itself and the Grand Valley below. One of the shortest trails, also popular, is Devil's Kitchen. The trailhead is located near the eastern entrance of the park on Rim Rock Drive. This trail is about 1 mile long, and ends in a sandstone grotto.

Liberty Cap trail starts from the valley floor and climbs to the rim of the Monument. Liberty Cap itself is an ancient sand dune, and provides a beautiful view of the Grand Valley. Corkscrew Trail, closed for many years but reopened in mid-2006, branches off the Liberty Cap and skirts a small canyon and cliffs that cannot be seen from the valley floor. This trail, the only loop trail on the Monument, is about 3 miles long and features a less rigorous climb than Liberty Cap.

Monument Canyon trail follows Monument Canyon for about 5 miles. This trail is often hiked up-and-back, and provides close-up views of Independence Monument, the Colorado National Monument's most distinct feature, as well as a formation named Kissing Couple. The lower trailhead is accessible from CO 340 (Broadway).

No Thoroughfare Trail starts at the bottom of No Thoroughfare Canyon, near the east entrance. As the name implies, there is no official trail to the top of this canyon. The dead-end trail goes a few miles into the canyon, and up-and-back hiking is required. Some hikers have found a way to get through the entire canyon, but after a certain point the trail becomes difficult and unmarked. No Thoroughfare Canyon does have small waterfalls during the spring runoff, but is dry for most of the year.

Colorado National Monument was rated in 2017 as the best campsite in Colorado in a 50-state survey conducted by Msn.com.

Historic preservation

Many of the early visitor facilities at Colorado National Monument were designed by the National Park Service and constructed by the Public Works Administration and the Civilian Conservation Corps. Several of these areas have been placed on the National Register of Historic Places in recognition of this and in consequence of their adherence to the National Park Service Rustic design standards of the time. The entire Rim Rock Drive is a National Historic District, as well as the Serpents Trail, the Devils Kitchen Picnic Shelter, and three places in the Saddlehorn area: the Saddlehorn Caretaker's House and Garage, Saddlehorn Comfort Station, and the Saddlehorn Utility Area Historic District. The Visitor Center complex is also included as an example of the Mission 66 program.

Geology

The park's geologic record preserves three different groups of rock and sediment. The oldest rocks are Early to Middle Proterozoic gneiss and schist, including the Ute Canyon Stock. Overlying these, and separated by an angular unconformity, are mostly horizontally bedded Mesozoic sedimentary rocks, including the cliff-forming Wingate Sandstone. Overlying these are various types of Quaternary unconsolidated deposits such as alluvium, colluvium, and dunes. The sedimentary rocks are folded into monoclines by several faults, including the Redlands Thrust Fault.

(Wikipedia)

Das Colorado National Monument ist ein Naturschutzgebiet vom Typ eines National Monuments im Westen des US-Bundesstaates Colorado. Es umfasst auf 83 km² eine Halbwüste im Bereich des Uncompahgre Uplift, das seinerseits die Nordost-Ecke des Colorado-Plateaus bildet.

Die Attraktivität des Gebietes wurde 1907 von einem Siedler namens John Otto erkannt, er überzeugte mit Hilfe der lokalen Behörden Präsident William H. Taft, die Region 1911 als National Monument auszuweisen. Das Schutzgebiet wird vom National Park Service verwaltet. Im Westen schließt sich die Black Ridge Canyons Wilderness unter der Verwaltung des Bureau of Land Management an, ein Wilderness Area und damit ein Naturschutzgebiet der strengsten Schutzkategorie der USA. Wegen der Bedeutung für Greifvögel ist das National Monument seit 2000 als Important Bird Area auf nationaler und Staatsebene ausgewiesen.

Beschreibung

Die vielfarbigen Sandstein-Formationen des Colorado National Monuments erheben sich mehr als 2000 Fuß (610 m) über dem Tal des Colorado River. Erosion durch Wind und Wasser, Hitze und Frost hat tiefe Abbrüche, steile Felswände und unverwechselbare Steinformationen geformt. Die Gesteinsschichten sind zwischen 1,5 Milliarden und etwa 80 Millionen Jahren alt; ihr Farbspektrum, das von orange über rot und purpur bis braun reicht, verdankt es den Einlagerungen von Eisen und anderen Mineralien.

Der 23 Meilen lange Rim Rock Drive führt vom Westeingang, der etwa 4 km von Fruita entfernt auf 1430 Metern (4690 Fuß) Höhe liegt, in vielen Windungen und durch Tunnel steil zum Hochplateau hinauf. Dort hat man einen Blick über das breite Tal des Colorado bis zu den Bookcliffs auf der anderen Seite, die sich als rosa und grau gestreifte Wand erstrecken, so weit das Auge reicht. Der Rim Rock Drive folgt dem Canyonrand und von vielen Aussichtspunkten kann man in die Abbruchkanten und auf die Sandsteinformationen sehen, die von frühen Besuchern sprechende Namen erhalten haben wie Balanced Rock, Window Rock, Sentinel Spire, Saddlehorn, Pipe Organ, Independence Monument, Kissing Couple, Cleopatras Couch, Coke Ovens, Squaw Fingers, Fallen Rock und Devils Kitchen. Den höchsten Punkt erreicht die Straße in der Nähe des Ute Canyon View mit 2024 Metern (6640 Fuß). Der Osteingang, von dem es bis Grand Junction noch 6 Kilometer sind, liegt auf 1503 Metern (4930 Fuß).

Geschichte

Der Nordosten des Colorado-Plateaus war in prähistorischer Zeit dünn durch Indianer der Basketmaker-Kultur besiedelt. Das Klima der Halbwüste auf dem Hochplateau machte die Region nicht attraktiv, die meisten Funde der Region liegen außerhalb des Schutzgebiets nahe dem Flussufer. In der Archaischen Periode reichte die Fremont-Kultur bis an den Colorado. In historischer Zeit gehörte das heutige Monument zum Jagdgebiet der Ute-Indianer. Die beiden letztgenannten hinterließen im Schutzgebiet vielfältige Petroglyphen und Felszeichnung.

Die Besiedelung der Region durch Weiße begann erst 1881, nachdem es vereinzelte Expeditionen durch das Gebiet gegeben hatte und 1838 ein Handelsposten für Geschäfte mit den Ute eingerichtet worden war. Das Hochland und die Canyons wurden für unzugänglich gehalten. Für den Siedler John Otto, der diese faszinierende Landschaft im Jahre 1907 zum ersten Mal sah, war sie „das Herz der Welt“. Er zog allein in den abgelegenen Canyon und überschüttete einflussreiche lokale Politiker und die zuständigen Stellen in Washington mit Briefen und Anträgen, um das Gebiet zu einem Nationalpark erklären zu lassen. Gleichzeitig legte er Wanderwege an, die auf das Plateau und in die Canyons führten, damit auch andere Menschen sich an der Landschaft erfreuen konnten. Er drängte die Bewohner Grand Junctions, ihn bei seinem Vorhaben durch weitere Briefe und Petitionen für den Schutz dieses Landes zu unterstützen. 1911 hatte er Erfolg: Am 24. Mai 1911 erklärte Präsident William H. Taft das Land zum Colorado National Monument. Otto wurde der erste Ranger des Schutzgebiets. Für ein symbolisches Gehalt von 1 Dollar im Monat übte er diese Tätigkeit bis 1927 aus.

Während der Great Depression gründete Präsident Franklin D. Roosevelt im Rahmen des New Deals 1933 das Civilian Conservation Corps, in dem junge arbeitslose Freiwillige unter Anleitung von Armee-Offizieren öffentliche Infrastruktur in den Vereinigten Staaten ausbauten. Ein Camp des CCC spielte eine wesentliche Rolle beim Bau des bereits seit 1929 geplanten Rim Rock Drive, der Erschließungsstraße des Gebiets mit Aussichtspunkten und Picknickplätzen.

Ökosysteme

Das Gebiet weist vielfältige Lebensräume für Tiere und Pflanzen auf. Die Halbwüste der Hochebene, die nackten Felswände und geschützte schattige Bereichen in den Canyons bieten völlig unterschiedliche Umweltbedingungen. Es gibt keine ganzjährigen Wasserläufe oder Quellen.

Das Hochplateau gehört geoökologisch zu den östlichsten Ausläufern der Wüste des Großen Beckens. Hier stehen vereinzelte Pinyon-Kiefern, die dominierenden Pflanzenfamilien sind Kakteen und Sukkulenten. Besonders fallen die Opuntien auf und darunter der Opuntia ficus-indica. Auf dem Plateau leben die größten Säugetiere des Gebietes, Maultierhirsche und Dickhornschafe. An Reptilien gibt es je neun Eidechsen und Schlangenarten im Schutzgebiet, darunter fallen der Halsbandleguan und die einzige giftige Schlange der Region, die midget faded rattlesnake, eine Unterart der Pazifik-Klapperschlange, auf.

Die Felswände sind der Lebensraum für neun Arten Greifvögel, darunter Wanderfalke, Steinadler, Rotschwanzbussard und Truthahngeier, und einige Singvögel wie Weißbrustsegler, Trauertauben und Kolkraben. Risse und Höhlen werden von mehreren Fledermausarten bewohnt. Am Fuß und in Spalten stehen Pinyon-Kiefern und Wacholder-Büsche.

Auf den Sohlen der Canyons gibt es geschützte Standorte, in denen Eschen wachsen. Hier leben auch Amphibien, die man in der Halbwüstenumgebung nicht vermuten würde. Darunter sind Laubfrösche und Amerikanische Schaufelfußkröten, die nach den seltenen Regenfällen innerhalb kürzester Zeit temporäre Gewässer zur Fortpflanzung nutzen. Der Großteil der Tieflagen ist mit lockerer Vegetation aus Wüsten-Beifuß und Gräsern bewachsen. Im Frühjahr und Spätsommer werden sie durch vielfältige Blütenpflanzen geprägt. Hier leben Baumwollschwanzkaninchen, Felsenhörnchen, Antilopenziesel und Streifenhörnchen. Andere Nagetiere wie Kängururatten, Buschratten und Pinyon-Mäuse sind seltener oder leben überwiegend versteckt. Die wichtigsten Vogelarten der Canyons sind Helmwachteln, Buschhäher und Nacktschnabelhäher, Schluchtenzaunkönige, Felsenzaunkönige, Lerchenstärlinge und Grauvireos.

Durch das ganze Gebiet streifen Graufüchse, Pumas, Kojoten und Rotluchse, Katzenfrette (ringtails) und Baumstachler (porcupines) bewohnen die dichter bewaldeten Anteile.

Das National Monument

Im Besucher-Zentrum, das sich rund 4 Meilen vom Westeingang entfernt befindet, kann man sich über die Geschichte und Entstehung des Parks, über die Geologie sowie die Tier- und Pflanzenwelt anhand von Büchern, Filmen und Karten informieren. Ranger bieten Vorträge und geführte Wanderungen an. Im Norden des Parks liegt ein einfacher Campingplatz. Für mehrtägige Wanderungen mit Übernachtung im Hinterland wird eine Genehmigung verlangt.

Die hauptsächliche Aktivität von Besuchern ist Wandern. Die kurvige und teils steile Parkstraße gilt auch als anspruchsvolle Radtour, da sich die Steigungen auf rund 37 Kilometern Strecke auf etwas über 700 Höhenmeter summieren. In der Tradition von John Otto besteigen Kletterer jährlich zum Independence Day am 4. Juli die 150 m hohe Steinformation Independence Monument und hissen das Sternenbanner.

Der Park leidet unter unmittelbar an seine Grenzen heranrückender Bebauung durch die zwischen den 1970er und 2000er Jahren verdoppelte Bevölkerung im Grand Valley. Der in den 1930er Jahren für den Freizeitverkehr gebaute, kurvige Rim Rock Drive wird von Bewohnern der Region auf dem täglichen Arbeitsweg genutzt. Die in den letzten Jahren stark gewachsene Siedlung Glade Park ist nur durch das Schutzgebiet zu erreichen.

(Wikipedia)

HMSTG44 (containing CG 22, BRAN 154, FEST 2-16 and several entries in the PGCC catalog) is the dark nebula running from the top to the bottom of the image. At Dec -33, this one is in Pyxis near the border of Puppis. More information on HMSTG catalog of “southern dark clouds” can be found here - articles.adsabs.harvard.edu/pdf/1986A%26AS...63...27H.

Luminance – 12x600s – 120 minutes – binned 1x1

RGB – 8x300s – 40 minutes each – binned 2x2

240 minutes total exposure – 4 hours

Imaged on January 15th and 16th, 2021 from Dark Sky New Mexico at Rancho Hidalgo (Animas, New Mexico) with a SBIG ST-8300M on an Astro-Tech AT90EDT at f/6.7 603mm.

Wimpole Estate is a large estate containing Wimpole Hall, a country house located within the civil parish of Wimpole, Cambridgeshire, England, about 8+1⁄2 miles (13.7 kilometres) southwest of Cambridge. The house, begun in 1640, and its 3,000 acres (12 km2) of parkland and farmland are owned by the National Trust. The estate is regularly open to the public and received over 335,000 visitors in 2019.[1] Wimpole is the largest house in Cambridgeshire.

History

Sited close to the great Roman road, Ermine Street, Wimpole was listed in the Domesday Book of 1086. At that time there was a moated manor house set in a small 81 hectares (200 acres) deer-park.[2] Situated to the north and south of this were three medieval villages: Bennall End, Thresham End and Green End.

The estate was held by the Chicheley family for over 250 years,[3] beginning in 1428 with Henry Chichele who was Archbishop of Canterbury.[4] The last of this family to hold the house was the politician Thomas Chicheley, who was responsible for the "new" house that was completed in 1650.[5] Chicheley established the "formal gardens and architectural landscape".[2] He enjoyed the house for 36 years until, weighed down by financial problems, he was forced to sell to Sir John Cutler.[6] In 1689, Sir John gave it as a marriage settlement to his daughter Elizabeth and her husband Charles Robartes, 2nd Earl of Radnor.[6] Lord Radnor extended the formal gardens and dug out fishponds.[2] On the death of Elizabeth in 1697, without an heir, the estate passed to Edmund Boulter, nephew of Sir John Cutler. In 1710 it was in the possession of John Holles, 1st Duke of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, who left it to his daughter Lady Henrietta Cavendish Holles upon his death the following year.[7] Upon Henrietta's marriage, in 1713, it became the possession of her husband Edward Harley, 2nd Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer.[8] In 1740, Edward sold Wimpole to Philip Yorke, Earl of Hardwicke, in order to pay off his debts.[9] The Earls of Hardwicke held it until it passed into the hands of Thomas Agar-Robartes, 6th Viscount Clifden,[10] and then his son, Francis Agar-Robartes, 7th Viscount Clifden[11] who, in 1930, departed to Lanhydrock upon the death of his father.[2]

On 27 October 1843, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert visited the hall. They listened to speeches by local politicians including the Earl of Hardwicke, and dinner was served for 26 people. A ball was held in the evening. On 28 October 1843, Her Majesty visited the farm in the morning before departing for London.[12]

In 1938, Capt. George Bambridge and his wife, Elsie, daughter of Rudyard Kipling, purchased it after having been tenants since 1932.[11][13] They used the inheritance left to them by her father, and the royalties from his books, for the long-needed refurbishment of the house and grounds. During the War, for instance, the house had no running water nor electricity.[13] During her time at Wimpole Hall, Elsie was known to become irritated by members of the public gathering too close to the house for picnics, so much so, she once returned to the offending couple's property and had her own picnic on their lawn.[13]

Over the centuries many notable architects have worked on it, including James Gibbs (between 1713 and 1730), Henry Flitcroft (around 1749), John Soane (1790s), and H. E. Kendall (1840s).[14] There are decorative schemes by the painter James Thornhill (1721).

Carved marble busts of the Roman emperors Trajan and Galba were returned to Wimpole in 2014 and placed on the original wooden plinths which had been carved for them by Rattee and Kett in around 1860. Wikipedia

This galaxy is labeled ESO 510-G13 due to its listing in the European Southern Observatory (ESO) Catalog that contains the log of observations made by the network of optical and radio telescopes in Chile and Hawaii. In this case, it was the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) that took the photo of this particular warped galaxy. The galaxy is situated within the boundaries of the constellation Hydra, the Water Snake. It is about 150 million light years from Earth. The light captured by the HST from ESO 519-G13 left this galaxy for its 150 million year journey to Earth near the end of the Jurassic period on Earth when large dinosaurs were the dominant species of animal life on Earth.

The Flickr photo shows an edge-on view of the galaxy with dark dust lanes that are fertile regions of future star formation. Interstellar hydrogen gas mixes with the dust to form the stellar nurseries in which new stars will be born. When left undisturbed for cosmic periods of time, spiral galaxies are disk shaped and remain flat as a pancake. However, when spiral galaxies encounter dwarf galaxies, they are perturbed from the pancake shape. The edge-on view clearly of ESO 519-G13 shows the deviation of the galactic spiral disk from an ideally flat shape structure into a slightly twisted shape with some parts of the galaxy being above the ideal flat plane of the disk while other parts are below it. This twisting is the result of the dwarf galaxies that orbit the large spirals galaxies interacting gravitationally with the spiral.

Often the dwarf galaxies pass through the spiral disk producing the vibrating warped shape in the larger spiral that eventually die out to return the spiral galaxy to its flat disk shape. The deformation of the spiral galaxy by the dwarf’s intrusion is somewhat analogous to striking the head of a drum. The blow causes the drum to vibrate causing drum head to distort for a short period of time, but the drum head eventually returns to its original stationary flat shape in time.

The dwarf galaxy has several possible outcomes as the result the intergalactic gravitational interaction. It can be completely cannibalized by the large spiral or pass through its disk. If the dwarf galaxy passes through the spiral disk, it can be significantly deformed or shredded. Future close gravitational interactions between the dwarf and spiral galaxies will result in the complete cannibalization of the dwarf by its giant neighbor. This cannibalization of small galaxies is the fact of life of galaxies in the Universe. The large galaxies feast on the smaller ones and they are incorporated into the structure of the larger ones. In the realm of galaxies, the largest galaxies survive over the longest cosmic time scales while growing even larger.

The raw image data that was used to produce the Flickr image was located and extracted from the HLA. The HLA contained three black and white (greyscale) images of ESO 510-G13. Each image was produced by the HST WFPC2 camera by placing wideband red, green, and blue filters in front of the camera. The data obtained from Hubble’s 675, 555, and 450 nanometer wideband filters were assigned to the processing software’s red, green, and blue channels, respectively. The following are the Flexible Image Transport System (FITS) files that were extracted from Hubble’s camera and downloaded to my PC from the HLA for processing and the software color channels to which they were assigned.

Red Channel: hst_08888_05_wfpc2_f675w_wf_drz.fits

Green Channel: hst_08888_03_wfpc2_f555w_wf_drz.fits

Blue Channel: hst_08888_01_wfpc2_f450w_wf_drz.fits

The three greyscale images were colorized by placing them in the red, green, and blue processing software channels and blended together into one true color image of ESO 510-G13 using the processing software on my home PC. I used the following software to process the HST raw data: PixInsight, Photoshop 2021, Topaz Denoise AI, and Topaz Sharpen AI.

Gas Works park contains remnants of the sole remaining coal gasification plant in the US. The plant operated from 1906 to 1956, and was bought by the City of Seattle for park purposes in 1962. The park opened to the public in 1975. The park was designed by Seattle landscape architect Richard Haag, who won the American Society of Landscape Architects Presidents Award of Design Excellence for the project. It was originally named Myrtle Edwards Park, after the city councilwoman who had spearheaded the drive to acquire the site and who died in a car crash in 1969. In 1972, the Edwards family requested that her name be taken off the park because the design called for the retention of much of the plant. In 1976, Elliott Bay Park, just north of Seattle's Belltown neighborhood, was renamed Myrtle Edwards Park. (Fr. Wikipedia)