View allAll Photos Tagged Contribute
I'd like to thank everyone who contributed ideas for the title of this image, the kind comments and simply the shere response to the image.
I eventually settled for 'queenbeeamy's' suggestion as I felt it encompassed everything i wanted to express and could not word properly.
I think the title/ quote applies to all of us and like the baby elephant walking the dangerous tightrope, we will manage to overcome with the necessary courage, determination and most of all Love! Whatever we do carries risk, there will be spectators and looming threats and yet there will be a helping hand(s), support, guidance and the promise of light. We need to follow that light...
Thank you Amy - Please mail me your postal address so that i can send you this image on canvas...!! :))
************************************************************************
be blessed
Please don't use this image on websites, blogs or other media without my explicit written permission. © All rights reserved
Of course, I'm a sucker for the old wood elevators on the Canadian Prairies. But my photos could mislead you to thinking they somehow represent all that's out there. The reality is that grain now ships from elevators that look like this: clusters of concrete silos. It's efficient, but somehow it's not the same. Yet I have to admit the red paint on the overhead structures contributes a bit of color. And there's much to be thankful for: a trio of 645-powered EMDs, classic prairie skies and yellow DM&E hoppers that make me feel right at home. O, Canada.
Edinburgh Castle is a historic fortress which dominates the skyline of the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, from its position on the Castle Rock. Archaeologists have established human occupation of the rock since at least the Iron Age (2nd century AD), although the nature of the early settlement is unclear. There has been a royal castle on the rock since at least the reign of David I in the 12th century, and the site continued to be a royal residence until 1633. From the 15th century the castle's residential role declined, and by the 17th century it was principally used as military barracks with a large garrison. Its importance as a part of Scotland's national heritage was recognised increasingly from the early 19th century onwards, and various restoration programmes have been carried out over the past century and a half. As one of the most important strongholds in the Kingdom of Scotland, Edinburgh Castle was involved in many historical conflicts from the Wars of Scottish Independence in the 14th century to the Jacobite Rising of 1745. Research undertaken in 2014 identified 26 sieges in its 1100-year-old history, giving it a claim to having been "the most besieged place in Great Britain and one of the most attacked in the world".
Few of the present buildings pre-date the Lang Siege of the 16th century, when the medieval defences were largely destroyed by artillery bombardment. The most notable exceptions are St Margaret's Chapel from the early 12th century, which is regarded as the oldest building in Edinburgh, the Royal Palace and the early-16th-century Great Hall, although the interiors have been much altered from the mid-Victorian period onwards. The castle also houses the Scottish regalia, known as the Honours of Scotland and is the site of the Scottish National War Memorial and the National War Museum of Scotland. The British Army is still responsible for some parts of the castle, although its presence is now largely ceremonial and administrative. Some of the castle buildings house regimental museums which contribute to its presentation as a tourist attraction.
The castle, in the care of Historic Scotland, is Scotland's most-visited paid tourist attraction, with over 1.4 million visitors in 2013.
As the backdrop to the Edinburgh Military Tattoo during the annual Edinburgh International Festival the castle has become a recognisable symbol of Edinburgh and of Scotland and indeed, it is Edinburgh's most frequently visited visitor attraction—according to the Edinburgh Visitor Survey, more than 70% of leisure visitors to Edinburgh visited the castle.
Explore #22 on April 3, 2021.
A view of the 400 block of N. Main St. looking north from E. Monroe St. toward E. Market St. in downtown Bloomington. The eight buildings on the east side of this block were all completed during a ten-year span between 1871 and 1881. Seven of the eight buildings are contributing architectural properties in the Bloomington Central Business District which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) in 1985. The district includes roughly twelve square blocks of the city and encompasses 140 buildings, 118 of which are contributing buildings to the district's historic character.
From right to left the historic name, completion date and street addresses of the eight buildings are:
▪ Evans Grocery Building, 1871, 401 N. Main St.
▪ H. Jetter Building, 1871, 403 N. Main St. Non-Contributing due to a remodeling of the front facade.
▪ Stutz-Major Building, 1871, 405-407 N. Main St.
▪ F. Niergarth Building, 1871, 409 N. Main St.
▪ Trimter-Reibsame Building, 1871, 411 N. Main St.
▪ Dr. T. Hacriny Building, 1871, 413 N. Main St.
▪ Dr. W.H. Smith Building, 1880, 415 N. Main St.
The open space seen at the end of the block on the far left is where the Eddy Building once stood. Constructed sometime between 1887 and 1894 at 421-427 N. Main St., the now demolished structure was originally listed as a contributing building to the district in the National Register. Today the space is a parking lot.
The architectural style of this block is primarily Italianate. These buildings are now occupied by a book store, thrift shop, clothing store, studio, coffee house, bakery, insurance agent, and a legal office. Upper floors provide both office space and apartments.
Bloomington is the seat of McLean County. It is adjacent to Normal, and is the more populous of the two principal municipalities of the Bloomington-Normal metropolitan area. Bloomington is 135 miles (217 km) southwest of Chicago, and 162 miles (261 km) northeast of St. Louis. The estimated population of Bloomington in 2019 was 77,330, with a metro population of 191,067.
The National Flag of Canada, popularly referred to as The Maple Leaf or l'Unifolié is a red and white banner featuring a stylized maple leaf in the center. It symbolizes Canada's unity, peace, and neutrality, while the maple leaf itself represents the nation's natural beauty, diversity, and shared identity. Red and white are Canada's official colors, and the flag's design embodies both its history and aspirations for the future.
Symbolism - Red and White:These colors were officially proclaimed Canada's national colors in 1921 and are derived from the British and French heritage that contributed to Canada's founding. Red symbolizes the sacrifices of Canadians in times of war, while white represents the snow and winter landscape.
The Canadian flag is a powerful symbol of Canadian sovereignty and citizenship, representing the nation's identity both at home and abroad. It is a source of national pride and unity for all Canadians
As always, please contribute with constructive criticism... As an occasional photographer I appreciate all comments!!
Gorgeous golden striations and buttes in the Arizona Wilderness of Vermilion Cliffs national Monument ( North Coyote Buttes ).
Taken in the late afternoon in order to make the amazing structures pop to colorful life!
This area is a landscape photographers and hikers dream... Its not a huge area so it takes winning a lottery to get a permit to hike here... This can take many years of tring ( as was my case! ). But it was worth the wait...
This area is regularly policed by the BLM and fines are very high!!!
Its a great place to visit, but if you cant get a permit there are many other beautiful places to visit in this area which are permit free...
Hope you enjoy!
If you've ever seen the 1989 classic Field of Dreams, you've seen this corner and parts of north and south Main St. before. Galena, which is identified as Chisholm, Minnesota in the movie, is where Ray Kinsella, played by Kevin Costner, and Terrence Mann, played by James Earl Jones, go to look for "Doc" Moonlight Graham, played by Burt Lancaster.
Upon arriving in Chisholm, Ray and Terrence visit the local newspaper office and learn that Doc Graham died in 1972. Later that evening, a confused Ray goes for a walk on this street and discovers that he has somehow been transported back to the year 1972. He then sees an older man with an umbrella walking toward the corner shown in this photo. Ray catches up and calls out "Doctor Graham," who turns around. Ray asks "Doc" if he is "Moonlight" Graham. Graham responds that no one has called him "Moonlight" in fifty years. Ray then asks if he can join him on his walk to talk about what happened when Moonlight got to the majors and played only one inning of one game.
Ostensibly about baseball, the emotional, magical Field of Dreams became more than just a movie for many people following its release in 1989 to both critical and popular acclaim. Based on W. P. Kinsella's book Shoeless Joe, Field of Dreams is a story of faith, forgiveness, and redemption. I highly recommend both the movie and soundtrack by the late James Horner.
Back to the image. This photo provides a view of the west side of the 100 block of S. Main St. in downtown Galena. On the corner is the Newhall Building (where the scene just described takes place), a two-part commercial block in Greek Revival style that was constructed in 1843. Nearly every building in this view is a contributing property in the Galena Historic District, which encompasses a remarkable 85 percent of the City of Galena and includes more than 800 properties. The Galena Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1969, with modifications in 2013.
Galena is the seat of Jo Daviess County. This is the un-glaciated area of northwestern Illinois. The rolling hills, history and abundant 19th century architecture draws visitors from throughout the country. The estimated population of Galena in 2019 was 3,158.
Junipers (in this case, Juniperus osteosperma), are famously good desert-survivors. They're also notorious contortionists, which may contribute to their long-lived success. They produce berries much enjoyed by the local fauna.
Photographed at Goosenecks Overlook, Capitol Reef National Park
Photographed on a day with beautiful clouds over Lindo Lake in Lakeside, California. Ideally, I would always like to have clouds, water and healthy vegetation in all of my infrared pictures as I think those elements contribute to building a strong image. I used channel swapping to turn the sky blue. Here is a link to a tutorial on playing with infrared images. www.lifepixel.com/photo-tutorials/infrared-photoshop-videos
I've been taking infrared images for at least 15 years with a total of 3 different cameras. It's much easier to take infrared images digitally that it was in the film days. If you like this look, I have an album of infrared photographs, creatively named Infrared.
***There is no AI in this image…just HI aka Human Intelligence. ***
All manipulations were created in Adobe PS 2024.
From my archived folder.
Japanese Itoh hybrid peonies (intersectional peonies) are a cross between tree and herbaceous peonies, offering the best traits of both: large, 8-inch, long-lasting flowers (yellows, reds, pinks, corals) on strong, 3-foot shrubby stems that don't need staking. They are extremely cold-hardy, disease-resistant, and bloom for 3–4 weeks.
Coral Sunset Intersectional Itoh Peony .
A sunset in a flower! Aptly named for its awe-inspiring transformation from a radiant, vivid coral through a range of peaches, and finally, a creamy white colour, the flower is a masterpiece at every step of this sunset, and one might argue a bloom only improves with age. Unique from other coral varieties in that it opens with the most intense coral colour and has petals that are more ruffled, which perhaps contribute to a fuller appearance. Has a lower, more compact growing habit than Coral Charm. Mass plantings are recommended as flowers at different colour stages provide a visual riot in the landscape.
Side buds are possible, extending the bloom period. A favourite of the peony garden, this outstanding peony produces intense sunset coral, semi-double blossoms with rose overtones and a fluffy deep yellow stamens in the center. The lightly fragrant flowers are long lasting in fresh bouquets. ‘Coral Sunset’ blooms early in the peony season, around late spring in Ontario It is highly prized for its exemplary plant habit. and by florist as cut flower in bouquets.
Thank you all for the visit, kind remarks and invites, they are very much appreciated! 💝 I may reply to only a few comments due to my restricted time spent at the computer.
All art works on this website are fully protected by Canadian and international copyright laws, all rights reserved. The images may not be copied, reproduced, manipulated or used in any way, without written permission from the artist. Link to copyright registration:www.canada.ca Intellectual property and copyright.
www.canada.ca Intellectual property and copyright.
Thanks for 6,409,945 views 🙏 June 10, 2025
Update April 02, 2025. Now I only accept group invitation that allows all media types including VIDEOS.
Chessie System SD40 #7505 leads a GP40-2 on a westbound freight off the Odd Side at Wyoming Yard’s west end, “Lamar”, on 12/11/1981. While C&O, B&O, and WM all contributed SD40s to the Chessie System roster, I always thought it was interesting that only B&O sprang for the widely-popular SD40-2, and for only 20 examples at that. About 10 years later, #7505 would be rebuilt by Morrison Knudsen for CSX to Dash 2 specs as CSXT #8364.
A scanned slide from my collection, originally taken by James Claflin.
Another old shot released from the archives of Private shots on flickr . For some reason I have found nearly 500 photos sitting hidden away .
This one was taken at Old Warden Airfield on a display day and on this day P3717 was fresh out of restoration days and the pilot after displaying with a couple of other Hurricanes had the sky to himself and did he give the Hawker Hurricane a right work out !!
For more information checkout the shot of SWOP the Hurricane to read a fuller story of this iconic aircraft .
After having spent the last couple of years going to photo workshops with Spitfires and then actually taking a flight in a Spitfire , I think a promotion of the Hawker Hurricane is in order .
During the Battle of Britain, both the Supermarine Spitfire and the Hawker Hurricane played crucial roles in defending Britain against the German Luftwaffe. These iconic fighter planes were at the forefront of the aerial combat during that pivotal period.
Supermarine Spitfire:
The Spitfire was a single-seat fighter plane that had recently entered service just before World War II began.
It was fast, sleek, and highly agile.
Although outnumbered by the Hurricane, the Spitfire’s performance was remarkable.
The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight still operates Spitfires today .
Hawker Hurricane:
The Hurricane was another single-seat fighter aircraft.
It was often overlooked in popular retellings of the battle, but its impact was immense.
Most of the RAF squadrons flying over London during the Battle of Britain were equipped with Hurricanes.
The Hurricane helped turn the tide of the war and left a lasting legacy in aviation and other aspects of modern life .
In summary, both the Spitfire and the Hurricane fought valiantly to defend Britain’s skies during the Battle of Britain, contributing significantly to the eventual victory .
Wow, what a morning this was as I neared the end of my mammoth 26 day tour of the UK. Dragging my backside out of my stripped out minibus/makeshift campervan gets more and more difficult after you have done 17 sunrise shoots in the previous 22 days but when the light and colour is as good as this, how could I complain really?
I really enjoyed shooting the pier at Cromer as I felt it offered me plenty of compositions on both sides of it and the surrounding promenade walls have enough interest in their shapes and curves to contribute but it was the sun streaming through and under the pier legs that excited me. I waited until a large wave rose and lined up with the ray of light so that it illuminated the white foam beautifully.
A short exposure time ensured that I retained detail and form in the water whilst slightly softening it to have it look easier on the eye. I had to be careful not to leave it too long before getting my shot otherwise the sun would have risen above the pier and made life even more difficult than it already was although I have to praise Canon on finally producing a camera that allows me enough dynamic range to cope with the dark shadow areas whilst holding back the highlights. I am now able with this 5D MK4 to be able to lighten the shadow areas enough and not have colour noise creep in. I'm one happy photographer these days.
Canon 5D MK4
Canon 16-35mm f4 @ 16mm
f13
1.6.sec
ISO160
Nisi 0.6 ND Hard Grad filter
Nisi 6 Stop Filter
Gitzo GT3543XLS carbon fibre tripod
Gitzo GS3121LVL low profile levelling base
Manfrotto 405 geared tripod head
Mindshift Backlight 26L Bag
UK & Iceland Landscape Photography Workshops, 1-2-1 Private Tuition, print sales and camera club lectures available
website: www.melvinnicholson.co.uk
email: info@melvinnicholson.co.uk
facebook: www.facebook.com/melvinnicholsonphotography
flickr: www.flickr.com/photos/melvin_nicholson
youtube: www.youtube.com/c/melvinnicholsonphotographycom
tripadvisor: Search for Melvin Nicholson Photography
SIGN UP FREE for my regular NEWSLETTER
Part of the bunch of roses I bought for Looking close on Friday - my first approach but since I am a macro orientated person I contributed the red one.
Gave them to my Mum who is super happy but said that zhey wont last long.
Rondeau Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada, Aug 24, 2021.
Worked the hedge for food but didn't come down to the water.
Vermivora cyanoptera
Blue-winged Warblers have expanded northward as landscapes changed to shrubbier habitats. This northward expansion increased contact and hybridization with Golden-winged Warblers. This hybridization and competition contributes to Golden-winged population declines.
source- Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
Yesterday managed to go out, ...and there was a certain great mood between the mountains.
Dark clouds were moving through the dales and now and than some rays of light contributed to the atmosphere.
The National Elk Refuge lies on the other side of this fence, with the Gros Ventre Mountains behind.
By concentrating and feeding elk in winter, it contributes to the spread of diseases among the elk, deer, and bison in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.
Explored # 455 on February 28, 2021. Thank you, everyone, for your favorites and kind comments!
Natural Garden at the Portland Japanese Garden: The Natural Garden is the most immersive of all gardens. Hidden benches and waiting areas provide spaces to rest and reflect while being surrounded by nature in its idealized form.
The Garden sits nestled in the West Hills of Portland, Oregon overlooking the city and providing a tranquil, urban oasis for locals and travelers alike. Designed in 1963, it encompasses 12 acres with eight separate garden styles, and includes an authentic Japanese Tea House, meandering streams, intimate walkways, and a spectacular view of Mt. Hood. This is a place to discard worldly thoughts and concerns and see oneself as a small but integral part of the universe.
Born out of a hope that the experience of peace can contribute to a long lasting peace. Born out of a belief in the power of cultural exchange. Born out of a belief in the excellence of craft, evidence in the Garden itself and the activities that come from it. Born out of a realization that all of these things are made more real and possible if we honor our connection to nature.
Cloud vortices off Heard Island, south Indian Ocean.
The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aboard NASA’s Aqua satellite captured this true-color image of sea ice off Heard Island on Nov 2, 2015 at 5:02 AM EST (09:20 UTC).
Credit: NASA/GSFC/Jeff Schmaltz/MODIS Land Rapid Response Team
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center enables NASA’s mission through four scientific endeavors: Earth Science, Heliophysics, Solar System Exploration, and Astrophysics. Goddard plays a leading role in NASA’s accomplishments by contributing compelling scientific knowledge to advance the Agency’s mission.
Follow us on Twitter
Like us on Facebook
Find us on Instagram
It's my favourite time of year on Flickr again: Roid Week! Go to the pool right now and check it out - there's some fantastic work there, and it's not too late to contribute, it'll be running all week!
This Polaroid was shot for a book on London's Lost Rivers, written by Tom Bolton, to be published in September by Strange Attractor Press. It was shot along the course of the River Tyburn - right by Buckingham Palace!
Million Dollar Staircase
The New York State Capitol is the capitol building of the U.S. state of New York. Housing the New York State Legislature, it is located in the state capital city Albany as part of the Empire State Plaza on State Street in Capitol Park. The building, completed in 1899 at a cost of $25 million (worth approximately half a billion current dollars), was the most expensive government building of its time.[citation needed] It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971, then included as a contributing property when the Lafayette Park Historic District was listed in 1978. The following year it was declared a National Historic Landmark
NGC 2359, Sharpless 2-298 or Thor's Helmet, is an emission nebula situated in the constellation of Canis Major. The central star is the Wolf-Rayet star WR7, an extremely hot star thought to be in a brief pre-supernova stage of evolution. It is similar in nature to the Bubble Nebula but interactions with a nearby large molecular cloud are thought to have contributed to the more complex shape. It lies around 11,960 distant.
Image made up from subs collected using 2 different setups. My 150mm Esprit/QHY294M and TSAPO130Q/QHY294C.
NEQ6 PRO
TSAPO130Q @F/5
QHY294C Gain 2900 -20C
STC Duo Narrowband filter
EQ6-R-PRO
150mm Esprit
QHY294M Gain 2900 -20C
Astronomik 6nm Ha and OIII narrowband filters
Acquisition time 10hrs
Processed using Pixinsight and Photoshop 6.
At 6400 feet elevation, Beetle Rock in our Sequoia National Park overlooks the great San Joaquin Valley, a 250-mile long agricultural veggie basket bordered by mountains on three sides. I've always thought of the Valley as being very rural, but 3 million people live there, with 2 million cars. All that, plus agriculture and industry, contribute to a significant air pollution condition, compounded by weather and additional pollution from the Bay Area and Sacramento Valley. So when the lights came on during my night landscape efforts, I was amazed by the intensity and, too, the hazy filter at the horizon. That being said, it was a lovely clear warm evening to enjoy the stars and just feel small.
Un nouveau et beau quartier de Heerlen : le Maankwartier. Avec ce projet spécial, Heerlen doit retrouver son âme. C'est en tout cas la démarche du plasticien et designer du Maankwartier Michel Huisman. Le projet a été baptisé « Maankwartier » car, selon l'artiste, les choses allaient si mal pour la ville que dans les périodes sombres, la lumière ne pouvait venir que de la lune. Aussi sombre que soit la situation décrite par l'artiste, le Maankwartier est tout aussi dynamique quand on y jette un coup d'œil.
L'architecture des bâtiments du Maankwartier fait référence à l'ancienne industrie minière de Heerlen et de ses environs. Et l'ancienne industrie minière se reflète également dans le projet d'une autre manière particulière : l'ensemble du Maankwartier est relié à l'eau de mine des anciennes mines. "C'est un beau projet, où l'aspect industriel se reflète non seulement dans la conception, mais aussi dans l'utilisation de l'eau de mine", déclare avec enthousiasme Sjoerd Parren, chef de projet chez Mijnwater BV. Mijnwater veillera à ce que les maisons, les magasins, bureaux et L'hôtel du Maankwartier est chauffé et refroidi et l'eau chaude du robinet est fournie. Une grande attention a déjà été accordée au concept d’eau de mine dans les précédentes Enervisions. Un petit rappel : grâce au concept innovant d'eau de mine, l'eau résiduelle des anciens réservoirs souterrains d'eau de mine est utilisée pour chauffer et refroidir de nombreux bâtiments de la région. Les tunnels de la mine se trouvent à des profondeurs différentes, de sorte que l'eau dans ces tunnels a des températures différentes. L’eau des couloirs inférieurs est utilisée pour le chauffage et celle des couloirs supérieurs pour le refroidissement. Mijnwater contribue ainsi à rendre le Maankwartier plus durable. En plus de l'utilisation des eaux de mine, l'ensemble du Maankwartier est construit selon les principes de la construction durable. L’objectif est de réduire considérablement les pertes d’énergie. En outre, une attention particulière est accordée à la réutilisation locale du chaud et du froid.
A new and beautiful district of Heerlen: the Maankwartier. With this special project, Heerlen must find its soul. In any case, this is the approach of visual artist and Maankwartier designer Michel Huisman. The project was named “Maankwartier” because, according to the artist, things were so bad for the city that in dark times light could only come from the moon. As bleak as the situation the artist describes, the Maankwartier is just as dynamic when you take a look.
The architecture of the buildings in the Maankwartier refers to the former mining industry of Heerlen and its surroundings. And the old mining industry is also reflected in the project in another special way: the entire Maankwartier is connected to the mine water from the old mines. “This is a beautiful project, where the industrial look is reflected not only in the design, but also in the use of mine water,” says Sjoerd Parren, project manager at Mijnwater BV, enthusiastically. Mijnwater will ensure that the Maankwartier's homes, shops, offices and hotel are heated and cooled and hot tap water is supplied. Much attention has already been given to the concept of mine water in previous Enervisions. A quick reminder: thanks to the innovative mine water concept, residual water from old underground mine water tanks is used to heat and cool many buildings in the region. The mine tunnels are at different depths, so the water in these tunnels has different temperatures. Water from the lower corridors is used for heating and that from the upper corridors for cooling. Mijnwater thus contributes to making the Maankwartier more sustainable. In addition to the use of mine water, the entire Maankwartier is built according to the principles of sustainable construction. The aim is to significantly reduce energy losses. In addition, particular attention is paid to the local reuse of hot and cold.
This photo appeared in this week's North Hawaii News, which was published this morning.
This was the first assignment where I was both the story writer and photographer. The article I wrote is found below this photo's byline, seen here:
BILL ADAMS | NORTH HAWAII NEWS
2008 Grammy Award nominee Donald Kauli'a, left, prepares to begin a slack key guitar lesson for five students from Cornell University's Earth and Environmental Systems (EES) Field Program.
The students pictured are, from front-row-top, Kourtney Reynolds, a senior from San Diego, California, Hannah Kubica, a junior from Little Falls, New York, Keisuke Irie, a senior from Bergen County, New Jersey, Matt Connelly, a sophomore from Syracuse, New York, and Tyler Huth, a sophomore from Boston, Massachusetts. In the rear is EES Field Program Director and Professor, Dr. Alexandra Moore.
The session was held at the Waimea Music Exchange store in the Parker Ranch Center this past Saturday.
--
Studies In The Art Of The Slack Key
by Bill Adams
The Waimea Music Exchange store at Parker Center was filled with the beautiful sounds of Hawaiian music this past Saturday morning as a group of students from Cornell University participated in a slack key guitar lesson taught by the Big Island's own Don Kauli'a, whose album "Sweet Wahine" was nominated for a 2008 Grammy Award.
The students are enrolled in Cornell's Earth and Environmental Systems (EES) Field Program. A 5-month course which spans the entire spring semester, students engage in field, class and laboratory studies focused on the various ecosystems of our Hawaiian island chain and of Hawaii's history and culture.
Led by Professor Dr. Alexandra Moore, the EES Field Program is based out of Waimea and hosted by the Hawaii Preparatory Academy. The students' living quarters is the 8-bedroom Waiaka House near the main campus of HPA.
Dr. Moore explained, "The students are immersed in studies geared towards "Kumu Pa'a I Ka 'Aina, which translates to 'Knowledge and understanding that comes from the land.'"
The stated mission of the EES Field Program is "To inspire stewardship of the Earth through first-hand experience with the power, and fragility, of Earth's interconnected systems."
Upon completion of the EES Field Program, students will achieve 18 credit hours from courses such as; Field Study of the Earth System, Biogeochemistry of the Hawaiian Islands, Field Study of Marine Ecosystems, Internship Experience, and an Introduction to Hawaiian History and Culture, which included Saturday's slack key guitar lesson.
The Program stresses the importance of respecting the Hawaiian ancestral lands and to give something back to the community by engaging in a variety of service learning (in class) projects and local volunteer opportunities. Students are also encouraged to explore ways in which they can contribute to the well-being of their adopted community.
Before Saturday's lesson began, the students were able to briefly meet and chat with another famous Big Island slack key guitar master, Sonny Lim, a 2007 Grammy Award winner for his work on the album, "Slack Key Guitar Volume 2".
Participating in Saturday's guitar lessons were a diverse group of five Cornell University students; Hannah Kubica, a junior from Little Falls, New York, Keisuke Irie, a senior from Bergen County, New Jersey, Matt Connelly, a sophomore from Syracuse, New York, Kourtney Reynolds, a senior from San Diego, California and Tyler Huth, a sophomore from Boston, Massachusetts.
More information about Cornell University's EES Field Program can be found on the Internet at www.geo.cornell.edu/hawaii.
With all due respect please do not Arward and Banners for me, it contributes nothing and I prefer a fave or a comment, both is also warmly appreciated.....:-))
The NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope's mid-infrared view of the Pillars of Creation strikes a chilling tone. Thousands of stars that exist in this region disappear from view — and seemingly endless layers of gas and dust become the centrepiece.
The detection of dust by Webb’s Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) is extremely important — dust is a major ingredient for star formation. Many stars are actively forming in these dense blue-grey pillars. When knots of gas and dust with sufficient mass form in these regions, they begin to collapse under their own gravitational attraction, slowly heat up, and eventually form new stars.
Although the stars appear to be missing, they aren’t. Stars typically do not emit much mid-infrared light. Instead, they are easiest to detect in ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared light. In this MIRI view, two types of stars can be identified. The stars at the end of the thick, dusty pillars have recently eroded most of the more distant material surrounding them but they can be seen in mid-infrared light because they are still surrounded by cloaks of dust. In contrast, blue tones indicate stars that are older and have shed most of their gas and dust.
Mid-infrared light also details dense regions of gas and dust. The red region toward the top, which forms a delicate V shape, is where the dust is both diffuse and cooler. And although it may seem like the scene clears toward the bottom left of this view, the darkest grey areas are where densest and coolest regions of dust lie. Notice that there are many fewer stars and no background galaxies popping into view.
Webb’s mid-infrared data will help researchers determine exactly how much dust is in this region — and what it’s made of. These details will make models of the Pillars of Creation far more precise. Over time, we will begin to understand more clearly how stars form and burst out of these dusty clouds over millions of years.
Contrast this view with Webb’s near-infrared light image.
MIRI was contributed by ESA and NASA, with the instrument designed and built by a consortium of nationally funded European Institutes (The MIRI European Consortium) in partnership with JPL and the University of Arizona.
Image Description: Semi-opaque layers of blue and grey gas and dust start at the bottom left and rise toward the top right. There are three prominent pillars. The left pillar is the largest and widest. The peaks of the second and third pillars are set off in darker shades of blue outlines. Few red stars appear within the pillars. Some blue and white stars dot the overall scene.
Download more versions of this image.
Credit:
NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, J. DePasquale (STScI), A. Pagan (STScI); CC BY 4.0
Fortunately this little Welcome Swallow (Hirundo neoxena) was happy to show off its slightly iridescent wings and distinctive long forked tail. All contribute to the species' superb aerobatic and aerodynamic performance — try photographing one in flight. Billabong beside Tallebudgera Creek in the background.
Suzhou (/suːˈdʒoʊ/; Chinese: 苏州), alternately romanized as Soochow, is a major city in southern Jiangsu province, East China. Suzhou is the most populous city in Jiangsu, and a major economic center and focal point of trade and commerce. Administratively, Suzhou is a prefecture-level city with a population of 6,715,559 in the city proper, and a total resident population of 12,748,262 as of the 2020 census in its administrative area.
The city's canals, stone bridges, pagodas, and meticulously designed gardens have contributed to its status as one of the top tourist attractions and liveable cities in China. The Classical Gardens of Suzhou were added to the list of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1997 and 2000. Suzhou is often dubbed the "Venice of the East" or "Venice of China".
Suzhou (/suːˈdʒoʊ/; chino: 苏州), también romanizada como Soochow, es una importante ciudad del sur de la provincia de Jiangsu, en el este de China. Suzhou es la ciudad más poblada de Jiangsu y un importante centro económico y foco de comercio. Administrativamente, Suzhou es una ciudad a nivel de prefectura con una población de 6.715.559 habitantes en la ciudad propiamente dicha, y una población residente total de 12.748.262 habitantes según el censo de 2020 en su área administrativa.
Los canales, puentes de piedra, pagodas y jardines meticulosamente diseñados de la ciudad han contribuido a su estatus como una de las principales atracciones turísticas y ciudades habitables de China. Los Jardines Clásicos de Suzhou se incluyeron en la lista de Patrimonio de la Humanidad de la UNESCO en 1997 y 2000. Suzhou es apodada a menudo la "Venecia de Oriente" o la "Venecia de China".
SN/NC: Strongylodon macrobotrys, Fabaceae Family
Strongylodon macrobotrys, commonly known as the jade vine, emerald vine, or turquoise jade vine, is a leguminous vine endemic to the Philippines. It is a popular ornamental plant known for its cascading clusters of vibrant turquoise or greenish-blue claw-shaped flowers. Cultivating jade vine requires a tropical environment, making it a popular choice in botanical gardens and conservatories. The plant's striking appearance and limited distribution contribute to its allure among plant enthusiasts worldwide. Absolutely gorgeous!
Strongylodon macrobotrys, comumente conhecida como trepadeira-jade, videira-esmeralda ou jade-turquesa, é uma trepadeira leguminosa endêmica das Filipinas. É uma planta ornamental popular, conhecida por seus cachos em cascata de flores vibrantes em forma de garra, nas cores turquesa ou verde-azulada. O cultivo da trepadeira-jade requer um ambiente tropical, o que a torna uma escolha popular em jardins botânicos e estufas. A aparência marcante da planta e sua distribuição limitada contribuem para seu fascínio entre entusiastas de plantas worldwide. Simplesmente deslumbrante!
Strongylodon macrobotrys, comúnmente conocida como parra de jade, enredadera esmeralda o jade turquesa, es una enredadera leguminosa endémica de Filipinas. Es una planta ornamental popular, conocida por sus racimos en cascada de flores vibrantes en forma de garra, de color turquesa o verde azulado. Su cultivo requiere un ambiente tropical, por lo que es una elección popular en jardines botánicos e invernaderos. La apariencia llamativa de la planta y su distribución limitada contribuyen a su encanto entre los entusiastas de las plantas de todo el mundo. ¡Absolutamente impresionante!
Strongylodon macrobotrys, communément appelée liane de jade, liane émeraude ou jade turquoise, est une liane légumineuse endémique des Philippines. C'est une plante ornementale populaire, connue pour ses grappes en cascade de fleurs vibrantes en forme de griffe, de couleur turquoise ou bleu-vert. Sa culture nécessite un environnement tropical, ce qui en fait un choix populaire dans les jardins botaniques et les conservatoires. L'apparence frappante de la plante et sa distribution limitée contribuent à son attrait auprès des passionnés de plantes du monde entier. Absolument magnifique !
Strongylodon macrobotrys, comunemente nota come vite di giada, vite smeraldo o giada turchese, è una pianta rampicante leguminosa endemica delle Filippine. È una popolare pianta ornamentale, conosciuta per i suoi grappoli a cascata di vibranti fiori artigliati di colore turchese o verde-azzurro. La sua coltivazione richiede un ambiente tropicale, il che la rende una scelta popolare negli orti botanici e nelle serre. L'aspetto straordinario della pianta e la sua distribuzione limitata contribuiscono al suo fascino tra gli appassionati di piante di tutto il mondo. Assolutamente splendida!
Strongylodon macrobotrys, allgemein bekannt als Jaderanke, Smaragdranke oder Türkis-Jaderanke, ist eine leguminose Rankenpflanze, die auf den Philippinen endemisch ist. Sie ist eine beliebte Zierpflanze, die für ihre herabfallenden Trauben von lebhaften, krallenförmigen Blüten in Türkis oder Grünlich-Blau bekannt ist. Der Anbau der Jaderanke erfordert ein tropisches Klima, was sie zu einer beliebten Wahl in botanischen Gärten und Gewächshäusern macht. Das auffällige Erscheinungsbild der Pflanze und ihre begrenzte Verbreitung tragen zu ihrer Anziehungskraft bei Pflanzenliebhabern weltweit bei. Ganz wunderbar!
Strongylodon macrobotrys, algemeen bekend als de jaderank, smaragdrank of turkoois jaderank, is een peulvormige klimplant die endemisch is in de Filipijnen. Het is een populaire sierplant, bekend om zijn cascades van levendige, klauwvormige bloemen in turkoois of groenachtig blauw. De teelt van de jaderank vereist een tropische omgeving, waardoor het een populaire keuze is in botanische tuinen en kassen. Het opvallende uiterlijk van de plant en de beperkte verspreiding dragen bij aan haar aantrekkingskracht onder plantenliefhebbers wereldwijd. Echt prachtig!
ストロンギロドン・マクロボトリスは、一般にジェードバイン（翡翠葛）、エメラルドバイン、またはターコイズジェードバインとして知られ、フィリピン固有のマメ科のつる植物です。ターコイズまたは青緑色の鮮やかな爪形の花が滝のように連なる房で知られる人気の観賞植物です。栽培には熱帯環境が必要なため、植物園や温室でよく見られます。その印象的な外観と限られた分布が、世界中の植物愛好家の間で人気を集めています。実に見事です！
翡翠葛（Strongylodon macrobotrys），俗称碧玉藤、绿玉藤或绿松石碧玉藤，是菲律宾特有的一种豆科藤本植物。它是一种受欢迎的观赏植物，以其层叠的花序和 vibrant 的绿松石或蓝绿色爪形花朵而闻名。栽培碧玉藤需要热带环境，因此它是植物园和温室的热门选择。其引人注目的外观和有限的分布范围使其受到全球植物爱好者的追捧。真是太美了！
سترونجيلودون ماكروبوتريس، المعروفة باسم نبات اليشم، أو المتسلقة الزمردية، أو اليشم الفيروزي، هي نبتة متسلقة من البقوليات مستوطنة في الفلبين. إنها نبتة زينة مشهورة، معروفة بعناقيدها المتتالية من الأزهار الفيروزية أو المزرقة المخضرة المنقارية الشكل. زراعة نبات اليشم تتطلب بيئة استوائية، مما يجعله خيارًا شائعًا في الحدائق النباتية والمحميات. المظهر المذهل للنبتة وتوزيعها المحدود يساهم في جاذبيتها لدى عشاق النباتات حول العالم. رائعة حقًا!
Karasawa
涸沢
Another fun of Karasawa is the colorful tent village. My tent also contributes to the illumination.
涸沢のもう一つの楽しみがカラフルなテント村。微力ながら自分のテントもライトアップに貢献してます。
Matsumoto city, Nagano pref, Japan
Explore #1 - 21/05/08...thank you all!!!
If you haven't checked out the Freephotoguides Project you should have a look... high quality guides for photographers... growing quickly. Check it out and join in the project by contributing a guide to your favorite photographic location.
Just thought I would post another one...almost the same angle. I included in this composition the other part of the wreck clearly visible to the right....the beach was pristine and that's what I particularly love about this series.
This NASA Hubble Space Telescope image, taken in near-infrared light, transforms the pillars into eerie, wispy silhouettes, which are seen against a background of myriad stars.
The near-infrared light can penetrate much of the gas and dust, revealing stars behind the nebula as well as hidden away inside the pillars. Some of the gas and dust clouds are so dense that even the near-infrared light cannot penetrate them. New stars embedded in the tops of the pillars, however, are apparent as bright sources that are unseen in the visible image.
The ghostly bluish haze around the dense edges of the pillars is material getting heated up by the intense ultraviolet radiation from a cluster of young, massive stars and evaporating away into space. The stellar grouping is above the pillars and cannot be seen in the image. At the top edge of the left-hand pillar, a gaseous fragment has been heated up and is flying away from the structure, underscoring the violent nature of star-forming regions.
Astronomers used filters that isolate the light from newly formed stars, which are invisible in the visible-light image. At these wavelengths, astronomers are seeing through the pillars and even through the back wall of the nebula cavity and can see the next generations of stars just as they're starting to emerge from their formative nursery.
Credit: NASA, ESA, and the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)
Read more: 1.usa.gov/1HGfkqr
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center enables NASA’s mission through four scientific endeavors: Earth Science, Heliophysics, Solar System Exploration, and Astrophysics. Goddard plays a leading role in NASA’s accomplishments by contributing compelling scientific knowledge to advance the Agency’s mission.
Follow us on Twitter
Like us on Facebook
Find us on Instagram
Candles in memory of loved ones all over the world ~
We paused today on All Saints' Day to remember our loved ones who have gone on ahead of us. This season brings the bittersweet of memories- days with Jamie and others, thoughts so fleeting they seem like dreams . . .
In our own personal remembrances, many MANY of your loved ones have been remembered along with ours.
Thank you all for contributing to my survival here. Life has been hard but this virtual community continues to bouy me up.
With love and thoughts for you all ~ Kim
The only royal Renaissance castle in Picardy. In 1528, François 1st decided to build a royal residence in Villers-Cotterêts, on the edge of the Retz forest where he liked to hunt. The architect Philibert Delorme contributed to the creation of the building, completed in 1556.
Château de Villers-Cotterêts - Ministry of Culture
Suzhou (/suːˈdʒoʊ/; Chinese: 苏州), alternately romanized as Soochow, is a major city in southern Jiangsu province, East China. Suzhou is the most populous city in Jiangsu, and a major economic center and focal point of trade and commerce. Administratively, Suzhou is a prefecture-level city with a population of 6,715,559 in the city proper, and a total resident population of 12,748,262 as of the 2020 census in its administrative area.
The city's canals, stone bridges, pagodas, and meticulously designed gardens have contributed to its status as one of the top tourist attractions and liveable cities in China. The Classical Gardens of Suzhou were added to the list of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1997 and 2000. Suzhou is often dubbed the "Venice of the East" or "Venice of China".
Suzhou (/suːˈdʒoʊ/; chino: 苏州), también romanizada como Soochow, es una importante ciudad del sur de la provincia de Jiangsu, en el este de China. Suzhou es la ciudad más poblada de Jiangsu y un importante centro económico y foco de comercio. Administrativamente, Suzhou es una ciudad a nivel de prefectura con una población de 6.715.559 habitantes en la ciudad propiamente dicha, y una población residente total de 12.748.262 habitantes según el censo de 2020 en su área administrativa.
Los canales, puentes de piedra, pagodas y jardines meticulosamente diseñados de la ciudad han contribuido a su estatus como una de las principales atracciones turísticas y ciudades habitables de China. Los Jardines Clásicos de Suzhou se incluyeron en la lista de Patrimonio de la Humanidad de la UNESCO en 1997 y 2000. Suzhou es apodada a menudo la "Venecia de Oriente" o la "Venecia de China".
A Zínia elegans, originária do México e membro da família Asteraceae, foi fotografada no Festival Internacional de Jardins de Ponte de Lima, evento anual português que visa promover a arte nos jardins e a consciência ambiental. Esta planta herbácea anual destaca-se pela sua floração prolongada do verão ao outono e pela variedade de cores vibrantes, atraindo polinizadores como borboletas e abelhas. As zínias são frequentemente utilizadas em composições paisagísticas do festival devido à sua facilidade de cultivo, resistência ao calor, diversidade cromática e capacidade de atrair insetos polinizadores. A sua estrutura floral característica, com pétalas dispostas em camadas concêntricas e um centro rico em estames amarelos, contribui para a polinização cruzada e biodiversidade. A sua durabilidade como flor de corte e a adaptação a solos bem drenados e exposição solar plena tornam-na uma escolha comum tanto em jardins domésticos como em projetos de educação ambiental.
Zinnia elegans, native to Mexico and a member of the Asteraceae family, was photographed at the Ponte de Lima International Garden Festival, an annual Portuguese event that aims to promote art in gardens and environmental awareness. This annual herbaceous plant stands out for its prolonged flowering from summer to autumn and for the variety of vibrant colors, attracting pollinators such as butterflies and bees. Zinnias are often used in the festival's landscape compositions due to their ease of cultivation, heat resistance, chromatic diversity and ability to attract pollinating insects. Its characteristic floral structure, with petals arranged in concentric layers and a center rich in yellow stamens, contributes to cross-pollination and biodiversity. Its durability as a cut flower and adaptation to well-drained soils and full sun exposure make it a common choice in both home gardens and environmental education projects.
Please give my [ Facebook Page ] a Like if you'd like to support and to get the quickest update on my photography works :D
Hope you like the picture and always feel free to share!
I appreciate all comments and critics and have a wonderful day :)
"The New Year Celebration"
I hope that it's not too late to share this shot of the 2015 NYE fireworks at Space Needle, and I hope you all had a wonderful holiday!
I can hardly recall what it feels like to see fireworks, not that I've been to less but because I've always tried so hard to get the best shot with my camera while forgetting to experience it as if I was there. I'm sure that this is a common photographer's dilemma that felt the same.
Knowing the different objective, I made sure that this experience would be personal this time. I took a few minutes to setup the camera the tripod and simply let it did its job I could just be one of those happy viewers together with my friends.
The fireworks went on a little shorter than expected which only lasted roughly 7 minutes, but I have nothing to complain given that it was on a clear day with minimal wind. If you look carefully, Mount Rainier is vaguely visible just behind Space Needle which is quite rare in Seattle. I think the fireworks may also have contributed to lighten it up :P
2.5 Seconds series
.
Air pollution is a mixture of man-made solid particles and gases in the air we breathe that pose serious health and environmental threats. Such as fine particles and greenhouse gases (like carbon dioxide) produced by the burning of fossil fuels, сar emissions, urban smog, chemicals from factories, dust, pollen and mold spores may be suspended as particles. Most of them come from energy use and agriculture.
Some air pollutants are poisonous. From smog hanging over cities to smoke inside the home, air pollution poses a major threat to health and climate. Inhaling them can increase the chance you'll have health problems. People with heart or lung disease, older adults and children are at greater risk. Air pollution kills an estimated 7 million people worldwide every year. World Health Organization data shows that 9 out of 10 people breathe air containing high levels of pollutants. More than 80% of people living in urban areas that monitor air pollution are exposed to air quality levels that exceed WHO guideline limits.
While climate change is a global process, it has very local impacts. Increasing temperatures are directly linked to poor air quality which, in turn, can affect the heart and exacerbate cardiovascular disease. For examples a rise in pollen, due to increased plant growth, or a rise in molds, due to severe storms — both of which can worsen allergies and other lung diseases, such as asthma.
Carbon dioxide is widely considered to be a pollutant when associated with cars, planes, power plants, and other human activities that involve the burning of fossil fuels. That's because carbon dioxide is the most common of the greenhouse gases, which trap heat in the atmosphere and contribute to climate change. Other greenhouse gases include methane which comes from such sources as landfills, the natural gas industry, and gas emitted by livestock, and is sulfur dioxide, a component of smog and a cause of acid rain.
.
Behind the scenes
.
Follow me on social media:
♡ Website - anya-anti.com
♡ Facebook - www.facebook.com/AnyaAntiArt
♡ Instagram - www.instagram.com/anya_anti_art
Podyjí National Park (Czech: Národní park Podyjí) is a national park in the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic. It protects near-natural forests along the deep Dyje River valley. It is a biom whose well-preserved state is unique in Central Europe. It connects to the smaller Nationalpark Thayatal in Austria.
Podyjí National Park is characterized by extraordinary scenery, being home to features such as rocky amphitheatres, cliffs, meanders, detritus fields, impervious ravines, several types of heatland adorned with muilti-coloured layers of thermophilic plants, or alluvial plains around the river Dyje. The division of the valley along the river Dyje creates two distinctive ecological regions and thus contributes to the high biological diversity of the park.
-----
Did make a weekend (boat) trip across the Podyjí national park in late October to find it empty and silent on and around the Dyje river.
We were lucky with the weather: peak of autumn colours and delicate sunlight created a really fairy-tale atmosphere. It was (sometimes) cold on the river, however still very beautiful.
Suzhou (/suːˈdʒoʊ/; Chinese: 苏州), alternately romanized as Soochow, is a major city in southern Jiangsu province, East China. Suzhou is the most populous city in Jiangsu, and a major economic center and focal point of trade and commerce. Administratively, Suzhou is a prefecture-level city with a population of 6,715,559 in the city proper, and a total resident population of 12,748,262 as of the 2020 census in its administrative area.
The city's canals, stone bridges, pagodas, and meticulously designed gardens have contributed to its status as one of the top tourist attractions and liveable cities in China. The Classical Gardens of Suzhou were added to the list of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1997 and 2000. Suzhou is often dubbed the "Venice of the East" or "Venice of China".
Suzhou (/suːˈdʒoʊ/; chino: 苏州), también romanizada como Soochow, es una importante ciudad del sur de la provincia de Jiangsu, en el este de China. Suzhou es la ciudad más poblada de Jiangsu y un importante centro económico y foco de comercio. Administrativamente, Suzhou es una ciudad a nivel de prefectura con una población de 6.715.559 habitantes en la ciudad propiamente dicha, y una población residente total de 12.748.262 habitantes según el censo de 2020 en su área administrativa.
Los canales, puentes de piedra, pagodas y jardines meticulosamente diseñados de la ciudad han contribuido a su estatus como una de las principales atracciones turísticas y ciudades habitables de China. Los Jardines Clásicos de Suzhou se incluyeron en la lista de Patrimonio de la Humanidad de la UNESCO en 1997 y 2000. Suzhou es apodada a menudo la "Venecia de Oriente" o la "Venecia de China".
“What I’m searching for when I walk the streets are people I can engage with, somebody whose face and particularly eyes, scream a story.”
This is a quote from Bruce Gilden a controversial New York photographer.
In 2014 he was invited to contribute to the Black Country Stories series. A project initiated by the community arts organisation Multistory that seeks to document working-class Britain. Gilden focused his lens on the ‘invisible people’ of Dudley, West Bromwich and Wolverhampton, all places marked by decades of industrial decline, to create stark colour portraits in which each face takes up the entire frame of the picture. The images were cropped so tightly that there was no sign of the street. The viewer is confronted with every contour, crease and crevice etched into the faces of his subjects under the harsh light of his flash. His method of taking these images was to stride purposefully through crowds and jump out in front of people with his flash in one hand and thrusting his camera into the faces of unsuspecting subjects. Ironically all of his subjects gave permission to show their pictures. The images are from Gilden’s new book called ‘Face’.
These pictures are on display in the Manchester Art Gallery, Mosley Street, Manchester, UK.
My interest is of the two silhouetted figures sat in front of the pictures making up their own minds as to whether the pictures are worthy of an exhibition or not. You decide….!
Photographed on an afternoon with great clouds at Lindo Lake in Lakeside, California. I would always like to have clouds, water and healthy vegetation in all of my infrared pictures as I think those elements contribute to building a strong image. I used channel swapping to turn the sky blue. I do use a polarizing filter with infrared because I think it accentuates the effect. Here is a link to a tutorial on playing with infrared images. www.lifepixel.com/photo-tutorials/infrared-photoshop-videos
I've been taking infrared images for at least 15 years with a total of 3 different cameras. It's much easier to take infrared images digitally that it was in the film days. If you like this look, I have an album of infrared photographs, creatively named Infrared.
Published:
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Church_of_The_Nativit...
mcb.org.uk/general/muslim-council-of-britain-reaffirms-ar...
——————————————
The Church of the Nativity, or Basilica of the Nativity is a basilica located in Bethlehem in the Palestinian West Bank. The grotto it contains holds a prominent religious significance to Christians of various denominations as the birthplace of Jesus. The grotto is the oldest site continuously used as a place of worship in Christianity, and the basilica is the oldest major church in the Holy Land.
The church was originally commissioned by Constantine the Great a short time after his mother Helena's visit to Jerusalem and Bethlehem in 325-326, on the site that was traditionally considered to be the birthplace of Jesus.[3][4] That original basilica was likely built between 330-333, being already mentioned in 333, and was dedicated on 31 May 339. It was destroyed by fire during the Samaritan revolts of the sixth century, possibly in 529, and a new basilica was built a number of years later by Byzantine Emperor Justinian (r. 527-565), who added a porch or narthex, and replaced the octagonal sanctuary with a cruciform transept complete with three apses, but largely preserved the original character of the building, with an atrium and a basilica consisting of a nave with four side aisles.
The Church of the Nativity, while remaining basically unchanged since the Justinianic reconstruction, has seen numerous repairs and additions, especially from the Crusader period, such as two bell towers (now gone), wall mosaics and paintings (partially preserved). Over the centuries, the surrounding compound has been expanded, and today it covers approximately 12,000 square meters, comprising three different monasteries: one Greek Orthodox, one Armenian Apostolic, and one Roman Catholic, of which the first two contain bell towers built during the modern era.
The silver star marking the spot where Christ was born was stolen in 1847. Some assert that this was a contributing factor in the Crimean War against the Russian Empire. Others assert that the war grew out of the wider European situation.
Since 2012, the Church of the Nativity is a World Heritage Site and was the first to be listed by UNESCO under 'Palestine'.
A 250-year-old understanding among religious communities, the Status Quo, applies to the site.
Yes a Giant african snail in the Philippines, but not only, it's pretty wide spread now throughout the pacifique and asia.
It's latin name: Achatina fulica
Identification: Full grown Achatina fulica reach up to 20 cm in length and 12 cm in maximum diameter. The dark and light brown (sometimes more of a cream color) swirls wrap around its cone like shell. Its convex body allows for about 7 to 9 whorls. The outlines of the whorls fluctuate from narrow to broad even within the same colony. An adult Achatina Fulica’s lip opening is generally very thin and sharp. The shell itself is thick and strong if healthy (needs a high calcium diet). The rest of the body resembles a slug like appearance with a variance in color.
Original Distribution: Achatina fulica originates from coastal East Africa particularly Kenya and Tanzania. First sightings occurred before the 1800’s.
Current Distribution: Giant African Snails can be found in most southern hemisphere countries, eg. throughout Africa, Indian Ocean Islands, Australia, New Zealand, South America. In addition, these snails have been identified in Southern, Southeastern and Eastern Asia, Polynesia and other Pacific Islands, West Indies and the United States. Typically, Giant African Snails have been found along the coastline and in southern states of the USA. However, sightings have also occurred in Wisconsin, Michigan and Ohio. These snails thrive in humid, tropical climates.
Site and Date of Introduction: As indicated in the map below, introduction of Giant African Snails dates back to the early 1800’s. These snails spread throughout East Africa into Ethiopa, Somalia, Mozambique, and Madagasar. Interestingly, they were not sighted in northern Africa until the late 1980’s.
The first occurrence of these snails outside of Africa was Bengal, India in 1847. Since then, the Giant African Snail has been transported mistakenly and purposefully throughout the countries listed in the above section.
Giant African Snails were first spotted in the US in the late 1940’s around San Pedro, California. Many of these snails were affixed to cargo imported to the US. Over 50 interceptions occurred within a ten year span (from 1948-1958) in the California ports.
In 1958, a young boy stashed Giant African Snails into his suitcase from his travels in Hawaii returning to California and driving to Arizona. Once the snails were discovered in his belongings, they family released them to the outdoors. Another very similar incident occurred in 1966, where another young boy visiting Hawaii decided to take a few Giant African Snails home to Miami, Florida to keep as pets and were released into the family’s garden. The Florida State eradication process took 10 years costing over one million dollars.
These snails continue to enter the US through illegal trade or in shipping containers and in plant shipments from the Hawaiian Islands, Guam and other Pacific Islands. Inspectors fairly easily identify these snails, intercept them and eradicate them.
Ecological Role: Achatina fulica forage on over 500 different plant species. During less favorable conditions (dry, cool), they nest in lose soil for during their period of hibernation. One may postulate that this behavior promotes health in the soil as the soil is churned and as matter from the snail settles into the soil. However, with over population, the snails destroy and pollute their surroundings, including the soil.
Benefit(s): Giant African Snails contribute to the degradation of animal matter. In addition, the Giant African Snail provides nutrients to the India glowworm Beetle; specifically to the larvae (male larvae consume 20 to 40 Achatinas; female larvae eat 40 to 60 Achatinas during their development). Other beetle species consume the Achatina fulica, such as the lampyriad and the coprine beetle.
The hermit crab is one of the most dangerous predators to the Achatina fulica and has been known to use the shell as its home. The coconut crab also views the Achatina fulica as a delicacy. The domesticated duck along with a vast variety of other bird species forage on Giant African Snails. Other mammals such as the wild pig prey on Achatina fulica.
Threat(s): The Giant African Snails’ greatest lethal threat to humans is eosinophilic meningitis. This condition is caused by the rat lungworm parasite, angiostrongylus cantonesnsis. Most often this parasite is transferred by eating the snail, as some humans consider snails a delicacy. In addition the Giant African Snail can carry the gram-negative bacterium, aeromonas hydrophila, causing a wide variety of symptoms, especially in persons with a weak immune system.
Giant African Snails cause great economic peril to farmers due to their propensity in consuming large amounts of crops/plants. Their diet consists of over 500 different plant species. A wide variety of horticulture and medicinal plants are known to be attacked by this snail. Not only does this decrease the income for agricultural producers, but it also impacts their living conditions (often requiring relocation) and decreases food and medical resources for humans, animals and other species.
The economic consequences persist in eradicating these creatures, sometimes costing millions of dollars. Another economic penalty involves the decrease in tourism. As noted earlier, Giant African Snails thrive in warm, tropical conditions – often tourist destinations.
"We cannot stop the winter or the summer from coming. We cannot stop the spring or the fall or make them other than they are. They are gifts from the universe that we cannot refuse. But we can choose what we will contribute to life when each arrives."
- Gary Zukav
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks a lot for visits and comments, everyone... !
Please don't use this image on websites, blogs or other media without my explicit permission. © All rights reserved
WWT Slimbridge - Rushy Hide.
Whooper Swans are known for their loud, trumpeting calls, often described as a deep 'hoop' or 'whoop-whoop'. The sound can resemble an old-fashioned car air horn. These vocalisations are frequently heard during flight and in social interactions. The calls are more resonant and lower-pitched compared to other swan species, contributing to their common name. (Birdfact).
My thanks to anyone who views, faves or comments on any of my photos. It is much appreciated.
The Deadliest Natural Disaster in U.S. History: The Galveston Hurricane of 1900
On September 8, 1900, the deadliest natural disaster in U.S. history occurred when the low-elevation island of Galveston, Texas, was struck by a category four hurricane that resulted in 135 mph winds and a deadly tidal surge. The hurricane, also known as the Great Galveston Storm, leveled 3,600 buildings and killed an estimated 6,000 to 12,000 people. Primitive forecasting techniques and ignored warnings contributed to the high number of fatalities.
Galveston was the largest city in Texas at the turn of the century. It had a bustling shipping port and was among the richest urban areas in the United States. It had a population of 37,000 that swelled each summer when vacationers flocked to the island to enjoy the beaches. Hurricane forecasting science at the turn of the century was not very sophisticated. The U.S. Weather Bureau relied on warnings from arriving ships or telegraphed warnings from islands in the Caribbean.