DISTRIBUTED photos on Flickr

www.bibliotecapleyades.net/arqueologia/nebra_disk.htm

I fell in love with this beauty as soon as I saw it the very first time several years ago.

And I always wanted to paint it one day!

So what better match could there be than combining this masterpiece -created by stargazers thousands of years ago, who loved observing (and already started understanding) our night sky- with two fantastic #SpaceEvents in May 2014.

#SpaceFestVI in Pasadena ( www.spacefest.info/VI/brochure.html ), THE #SpaceEvent of the year, where many astronauts of the dawning of space exploration did reunite and inspire all of us

and then -end of May- our #AlexTweetup - where we celebrate the launch of @esa astronaut Alexander Gerst, whose mission name is #TheBlueDot (!!!).

Both events bring people together (again), who travel all around the world to share their love of space and our beautiful blue marble …

And I am really honored that sharing my badges and designs with so many #SpaceTweeps AND astronauts of the very first era of space exploration until today made so many people smile again. And these smiles seem to be contagious ;-D

I cannot really explain it, there simply is this very special close link between us.

NOTE:

#NebraSkyDisk is under the copyright of the Landesamt für Denkmalpflege und Archäologie Sachsen-Anhalt

- Landesmuseum für Vorgeschichte -

As my design project is an artistic realization for two private travel groups, I was kindly given official permission to integrate the #NebraSkydisk in my artworks here.

Hence I have to emphasize that my artwork may ONLY be shared as per following license:

CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 DE

I herewith explicitly send my thanks to the

STATE OFFICE FOR HERITAGE MANAGEMENT AND ARCHAEOLOGY

- THE STATE MUSEUM OF PREHISTORY IN HALLE / GERMANY -

and - as asked for - I will gladly send pictures of my design as well as badges and photos of #SpaceFestVI in Pasadena and #AlexTweetup in Baikonur to the Museum for its collection / exhibition.

It is my pleasure to share the #NebraSkydisk far beyond the borders of Germany - especially during events, which only can take place, because some people started documenting their night-sky-observations thousands of years ago.

#SpaceholixThenAndNow ;-)

Covered below is an overview of all the details embodied in my #AlexTweetup mission logo

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

#AlexTweetup

- Facebook group for all #SpaceTweeps interested in the trip to the launch of Alexander Gerst on 28. May 2014

www.dlr.de/dlr/presse/desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-10308/471...

Baikonur * May 26th - 30th 2014

- Travel period for #AlexTweetup in Baikonur

BLUE DOT

- Mission name of Alexander Gerst

XL

- Mission no. 40 - in roman numerals

THEN + NOW

- Connection between space exploration THEN #NebraSkydisk (dated about 3.600 years ago in Germany) and NOW (#BlueDot mission of German astronaut Alexander Gerst)

WISEMAN * GERST * SURAJEW

- names of the international crew of mission no. 40

www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Human_Spaceflight/Astronauts/A...

SHAPING THE FUTURE ...

Mission theme of Alexander Gerst's mission #BlueDot

... IN LEO

- Abbreviation LEO #LowEarthOrbit - the home of #ISS

CONSTELLATIONS:

LEO

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leo_(constellation)

- reflecting LowEarthOrbit - the orbit of #ISS

DRACO

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Draco_(constellation)

- representing #DRAGON - the partially reusable spacecraft developed by @SpaceX, which has docked to #ISS already several times and will deliver cargo regularly.

We enjoyed seeing the capsule used during the maiden flight in Florida at SpaceX Launch Control Center during an event before the #NASATweetup for #STS135

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Draco_(rocket_engine)

- also representing #PinkLittleDragon - the travel buddy of #The2AndAHalfSpaceTweeps @LightspeedLeo @4tuneQkie and @travelholic ( avoving @Spaceholix ) and our #SpaceMascot.

This #VIP #VeryInspiringPinkLittleDragon is traveling all around the world with us and he already has attended several great #SpaceTweetup and #ScienceTweetup events organized by @NASA @DLR_de @ESA @CERN @Helmholtz_de as well as #ASE26 #SpaceFestV and #SpaceFestVI

and he has already met many of the most inspiring #SpaceExplorers and #Astronauts from the #Mercury and #Apollo era - till today, as well as #scientists @MeteoriteMen #CometHunters ...

SWAN

- representing the footprint / autograph of our dear friend and great #SpaceMascot and #VIP #VeryIntelligentPoultry:

@CamillaSpace is encouraging not only children of all ages to ask questions about the Sun and space and she was planned to be part of this mission accompanying NASA astronaut @astro_reid on his trip to #ISS.

Her footprint is heading from the Swiss flag (home country of Camilla's "executive secretary" Romeo Durscher ( about.me/romeoch ) to the US flag via #ISS

www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/structure/elements/par...

XXVIII

V

MMXIV

- 28. 05. 2014 = launch date of mission 40 in roman numerals stylised in shape of ISS

* “ @ “ AND “ # “

- reflecting the tools of the peer-to-peer connection of astronauts @Astro_Alex and @astro_reid and many others with #SpaceTweeps and future space enthusiasts, who will further spread news about the adventures all around the world via social media channels, e.g. @twitter, Facebook, Google+ and others.

16 FLAGS

- representing all current international partners and participants cooperating on #ISS – the most ambitious international collaboration ever

which -in my eyes- really would be worthy of the nobel peace prize www.spacesafetymagazine.com/iss-nobel-peace-prize/

Between the flags I left additional room for more countries to join that global project in the near future.

Especially in difficult political times like today this cooperation hopefully will enable our world to grow together more closely step by step.

Now we are looking forward to this trip and are curious how everything will work out.

This definitely is a very adventurous trip and if someone had told me 5 years ago, when we met that guy in blue for the very first time that we would be going to KAZAKHSTAN half a decade later to see HIS launch, I would NEVER EVER have believed it.

It seems our lives as #Spaceholix have many surprises in store for us ;-)

If YOU want to know more about all this, just follow the hashtag of our group:

#AlexTweetup

;-)

Sorting and distributing by EU Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid

The items are sorted into individual parcels per family before being delivered to the different camps behind the front line and given to internally displaced persons (IDPs) fleeing the conflict in Mosul.

©EU/ECHO

Distributing the collecting pots by WormCharming

The competitors receive their collecting pots at the start of the competition

Mayor Distributes Randy Wayne White Children's Book to Campers by CityofStPete

1

restlawn cemetery - salem, or by Johan Mathiesen

6 4

Cemetery: Restlawn

Comments:

Restlawn is a flat-stone cemetery run under the auspices of Dignity Memorial, the “largest network of honored funeral, cremation and cemetery providers” in the country, with some 1600 affiliates. From their literature it’s not clear how ownership is distributed. Cemetery displays perhaps ten or more treeless acres up the side of a hill bordering Highway 22. If you’re going to be buried there, I’d recommend as far away from the highway as possible. It’s gone under a number of variations on the Restlawn theme, including such things as Restlawn Memory Gardens and Restlawn Memorial Garden, but the new operators appear to have shortened it to the current short form.

While not advertising itself as such, Restlawn should probably be classified as fundamental Christian, as that’s the predominating theme, with religious tableaus and the cemetery divided into religious “gardens,” though ones devoid of plants or flowers. It has one exception to the “no uprights” rule, that of a “freeform” monument to Donald Walters (1969-2003). Donald’s marker is testimony to much more than a young man cut down in his prime, it’s a prime example of a recent phenomenon in the cemetery trade: carrying ones cause to the tomb. For the most part, people in their departure take the opportunity to get right with their god or be remembered by their friends for the good they brought into the world, but now, on the fringes, some people are taking their anger with them to the grave. One expects to see a clenched fist pushing out of the ground.

Or maybe not. Maybe it’s more the living taking advantage of the dead by using their name to further their own agenda. Like historical markers, memorials such as that for Donald say more about those who erect them than the events themselves. I’d bet your bottom dollar that Donald, whose stone lists: “Operation Desert Storm/ Operation Iraqi Freedom - KIA - POW/ 507th Maintenance Co.,” didn’t provide his own epitaph. It wasn’t his idea to make him into a cause celèbre. The back of his headstone contains the long epitaph:

“I would lay down my life for my family and nation if it was worth it, and this one is to let them appreciate the taste of their freedoms. Freedom isn’t free and someone must do what they must do to preserve it. The Bible states, “Blessed is he who lays down his life for the sake of his friends.” I fear not and am motivated by the fear of the unknown and being a part of the bigger picture. Whatever doesn’t kill you will make you stronger.”

Was that passage taken from a letter from Donald? Part of it? Was it a compilation? Who chose? There are many other veterans from many other wars in Restlawn; none of them lists their operations name rather than their war. And none of them gets an upright; only Donald. Donald gets a picture under glass too: hunched down on one knee, dressed in camouflage, but not combat gear. When he returned from his first tour of duty in Kuwait, he was “a changed man,” his father said. “He was super nervous, which is understandable. He saw horrible things.”

Nonetheless, he reenlisted in the Army Reserves and returned to the Middle East for the next war. In Iraq he was a cook, but his parents didn’t know what he did in Kuwait. He was, by all accounts, an accidental soldier. He wasn’t seeking combat, it sought him. He was satisfied with being a cook, but an ambush made him a soldier.

Donald’s tombstone says, somewhat ambiguously, that he was both “killed in action” and was a “prisoner of war.” Reading through the various accounts of what happened, all we really know is that a convoy in which he was riding was attacked and all but a handful of the American soldiers were killed, the rest taken prisoners and subsequently executed. Donald was among those taken prisoner. One can only imagine it would have been best to be killed in the first round.

Would Donald have so freely tossed out the tired clichés: “freedom isn’t free,” and “whatever doesn’t kill you will make you stronger”? How is it that he “fear[s] not,” yet is “motivated by the fear of the unknown and being a part of a bigger picture”? What does it mean to fear “being a part of a bigger picture”?

The modern politicization of death is further emphasized at Restlawn by a handsome plaque “In Memory of all Vietnam Veterans,” a recent addition these many years after the fact. It has an embossed compilation scene of action in Vietnam:

“This memorial was erected in memory of the young individuals who went to war as kids and lost their youthful dreams, and some their lives, for a cause - freedom and honor - and came back as men with the horrors of war instilled in every fiber of their being and were never given the respect and honor they so deeply deserved from the public or the United States government.

“God will one day judge our actions. Until then, He will shine on the lives of each veteran now and forever more because He was with each of them in Vietnam. He is the only One that truly knows what they went through and are living with every day.”

As with Donald’s stone, sad and unfortunate confusion clouds reason and judgment. Surely, God was with the Vietnamese soldiers as much as with the Americans. After all, they won. And whether or not a soldier deserves “respect and honor” depends, I presume, on which end of the barrel you’re visiting.

All of which begs the question of whether or not Vietnam was about “freedom and honor” any more than the Gulf Wars were. Not to mention the question of “where does the love of God go, when the minutes they turn into hours”? One might want to be cautious about welcoming God’s judgment.

Torino Roman Specimen Bookletoks-17 by Herb Lubalin Study Center

1

Distributed by Amsterdam Continental Types and Graphic Equipment. 1957

Vitec Group distributes Natgeo, Gitzo and Manfrotto products to the PH by Azrael Coladilla

Vitec Group distributes Natgeo, Gitzo and Manfrotto products to the PH

Eric Woolery-Grimm and Tim Bentley by TEDx Monterey

1

Eric Woolery-Grimm and Tim Bentley: Distributed Production: Harnessing the Power of Ocean Life

Alternative Energy Entreprenuers

A founding member of Sustainable Now Technologies, Inc., Tim has made a career of identifying and solving problems. Tim started his engineering career as a sophomore at USC, working with Honeywell Turbocharging Systems as a development and test engineer in the advanced projects group. Here he worked on the fast-paced development of the air-bearing turbocharger project. The only test engineer on a 5-person team, Tim was tasked with developing a test rig for daily tests of the new design, and responsible for coordinating and executing design changes. After honing his software and theoretical analysis skills at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Tim graduated from USC in 2002 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Aerospace Engineering. At this time he started a position as a test engineer at the Boeing Company’s Satellite Development Center, further honing his testing and troubleshooting skills. While working towards his Master’s at USC, Tim took a focus in Alternative Energies. Early investigations involved home-based hydrogen production and fueling system. As Chief Technology Officer since the company’s inception, he has guided the product development of SNT’s Energy Conversion Machines. Tim currently serves as Space Vehicle Test Director for the Boeing Company’s Satellite Development Center.

A founding member of Sustainable Now Technologies, Inc., Eric has pioneered the use of organic oils for industry solutions for numerous eco-friendly products. Beginning in 2002, Eric has been an advocate for the use of D-Limonene, a byproduct of the orange and juicing industry, as an organic alternative pesticide with superior local treatment capabilities. Graduate of USC Fine Arts 2003 (illustration/cinema/theater) Eric has managed diverse projects including wetland conservation with Robbie Conal & artBURN, California primary fundraising and design for the Obama California Campaign (Green By Design Ltd.), and digital documentary and video art installation with Bohemian Lifestyle Entertainment. In 2005, Eric toured the nation with an award winning documentary he co-directed and co-edited. Returning to L.A. he settled in downtown and became active locally, joining the Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council in 2006 focusing on park space, parking issues, and the revitalization of neglected industrial buildings. In 2009, Eric completed patent imaging for the working prototype Helix Bioreactor as well as helped build the first 10 and 200 Gallon indoor industrial algae growth environments for Origin Oil Inc. Eric currently represents the family business as a Branch 3 Structural Inspector, in Signal Hill, CA.

Actually the DPU by Craig Sanders

6

The distributed power unit on NS train 177 gives the illusion that the train is headed toward the camera when it actually is going away. The image was made at Blackford County Road East 400 North.

Distributed Pan Unit by Jonathan Lee

4

DPU on CN train M338, 47th Street, CN/IC Chicago Subdivision

"This About the City", 2018 photo zine by Robin G by Oscar Arriola

Distributed by www.CutInTheFence.com

#SPACEHOLIX THEN & NOW * REACHING BEYOND THE STARS * #PinkLittleDragon & @CamillaSpace traveling from #SpaceFestVI in USA to #AlexTweetup in #Baikonur connecting #SpaceLegends with #TNG of #ISS astros @Astro_Alex @astro_reid @MSuraev @AstroSamantha , … w by 4tuneQkie

#OnceUponATime

In spring 2013 I organized #SpaceBembel, a #SpaceSocial where a group of #SpaceTweeps got together again to share some space fun in Frankfurt.

As one of my mottos is "no #SpaceTweetup without a proper badge" I designed one and distributed it to all participants.

What I had started back then became kind of a tradition in the meantime:

Inspired by several #Space- and #ScienceTweetups I painted logos for every event I attended,

got them printed on badges for all, as well as thank-you posters, t-shirts, etc. as memento of our shared adventures.

And 2013 has been quite a ride :-)

#SpaceBembel *

#ASE26 *

#BuraMooN 1 & 2 * #SpaceKoelschX * #CERNTweetup * #ItIsStonehengeReunionOClock * #ScienceTweetup

And 2014 is also amazing already:

I already created designs for #SpaceFestVI and #AlexTweetup taking place in May

and @SpaceUpUK in July 2014.

I am very much looking forward to sharing these events with so many friends from all over the world.

More to come ;-)

www.flickr.com/photos/spaceholix/collections/721576354819...

So #AlexTweetup is about our trip to Baikonur shared by 16 dedicated #SpaceTweeps and two #SpaceMascots named #PinkLittleDragon and @CamillaSpace.

All of us will share this unique adventure of witnessing the Soyuz launch of our German astronaut Alexander Gerst ( #FF @Astro_Alex ) to #ISS on 28. May 2014 via Twitter, Facebook and other social media channels.

Here is the collection of my brainstorming and the design process as well as many pictures of the past 5 years, from the day at #TdLR09, where we "met" Alexander Gerst and the other #shenanigans for the very first (but not the last) time, shortly after their assignments for a trip to #ISS.

Oh yes, there was a time before twitter and other social media ;-)

www.flickr.com/photos/spaceholix/sets/72157644182872632/

My latest design features the #NebraSkydisk - one of the most beautiful and most fascinating archeological and astronomical artefacts ever found - until today.

This is the oldest-known illustration of our cosmos so far, with an estimated age of 3600 years (!!!), the earliest known diagram of the heavens, which makes it one or may be THE most important archaeological discovery of the twenty-first century.

It was discovered by treasure hunters on July 4th 1999 near the city of Nebra in Germany and since then fascinates not only the experts as its history is really exciting from then till now.

www.dailymotion.com/video/x1a45jq_the-nebra-sky-disc-anci...

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nebra_sky_disk

www.bibliotecapleyades.net/arqueologia/nebra_disk.htm

I fell in love with this beauty as soon as I saw it the very first time several years ago.

And I always wanted to paint it one day!

So what better match could there be than combining this masterpiece -created by stargazers thousands of years ago, who loved observing (and already started understanding) our night sky- with two fantastic #SpaceEvents in May 2014.

#SpaceFestVI in Pasadena ( www.spacefest.info/VI/brochure.html ), THE #SpaceEvent of the year, where many astronauts of the dawning of space exploration did reunite and inspire all of us

and then -end of May- our #AlexTweetup - where we celebrate the launch of @esa astronaut Alexander Gerst, whose mission name is #TheBlueDot (!!!).

Both events bring people together (again), who travel all around the world to share their love of space and our beautiful blue marble …

And I am really honored that sharing my badges and designs with so many #SpaceTweeps AND astronauts of the very first era of space exploration until today made so many people smile again. And these smiles seem to be contagious ;-D

I cannot really explain it, there simply is this very special close link between us.

NOTE:

#NebraSkyDisk is under the copyright of the Landesamt für Denkmalpflege und Archäologie Sachsen-Anhalt

- Landesmuseum für Vorgeschichte -

As my design project is an artistic realization for two private travel groups, I was kindly given official permission to integrate the #NebraSkydisk in my artworks here.

Hence I have to emphasize that my artwork may ONLY be shared as per following license:

CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 DE

creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/de/

I herewith explicitly send my thanks to the

STATE OFFICE FOR HERITAGE MANAGEMENT AND ARCHAEOLOGY

- THE STATE MUSEUM OF PREHISTORY IN HALLE / GERMANY -

and - as asked for - I will gladly send pictures of my design as well as badges and photos of #SpaceFestVI in Pasadena and #AlexTweetup in Baikonur to the Museum for its collection / exhibition.

It is my pleasure to share the #NebraSkydisk far beyond the borders of Germany - especially during events, which only can take place, because some people started documenting their night-sky-observations thousands of years ago.

#SpaceholixThenAndNow ;-)

Covered below is an overview of all the details embodied in my #AlexTweetup mission logo

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

#AlexTweetup

- Facebook group for all #SpaceTweeps interested in the trip to the launch of Alexander Gerst on 28. May 2014

www.dlr.de/dlr/presse/desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-10308/471...

Baikonur * May 26th - 30th 2014

- Travel period for #AlexTweetup in Baikonur

BLUE DOT

- Mission name of Alexander Gerst

blogs.esa.int/alexander-gerst/

XL

- Mission no. 40 - in roman numerals

THEN + NOW

- Connection between space exploration THEN #NebraSkydisk (dated about 3.600 years ago in Germany) and NOW (#BlueDot mission of German astronaut Alexander Gerst)

WISEMAN * GERST * SURAJEW

- names of the international crew of mission no. 40

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expedition_40

SHAPING THE FUTURE ...

Mission theme of Alexander Gerst's mission #BlueDot

www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Human_Spaceflight/Astronauts/A...

... IN LEO

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Low_Earth_orbit

- Abbreviation LEO #LowEarthOrbit - the home of #ISS

CONSTELLATIONS:

LEO

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leo_(constellation)

- reflecting LowEarthOrbit - the orbit of #ISS

DRACO

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Draco_(constellation)

- representing #DRAGON - the partially reusable spacecraft developed by @SpaceX, which has docked to #ISS already several times and will deliver cargo regularly.

We enjoyed seeing the capsule used during the maiden flight in Florida at SpaceX Launch Control Center during an event before the #NASATweetup for #STS135

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Draco_(rocket_engine)

- also representing #PinkLittleDragon - the travel buddy of #The2AndAHalfSpaceTweeps @LightspeedLeo @4tuneQkie and @travelholic ( avoving @Spaceholix ) and our #SpaceMascot.

This #VIP #VeryInspiringPinkLittleDragon is traveling all around the world with us and he already has attended several great #SpaceTweetup and #ScienceTweetup events organized by @NASA @DLR_de @ESA @CERN @Helmholtz_de as well as #ASE26 #SpaceFestV and #SpaceFestVI

and he has already met many of the most inspiring #SpaceExplorers and #Astronauts from the #Mercury and #Apollo era - till today, as well as #scientists @MeteoriteMen #CometHunters ...

SWAN

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cygnus

- representing the footprint / autograph of our dear friend and great #SpaceMascot and #VIP #VeryIntelligentPoultry:

@CamillaSpace is encouraging not only children of all ages to ask questions about the Sun and space and she was planned to be part of this mission accompanying NASA astronaut @astro_reid on his trip to #ISS.

Her footprint is heading from the Swiss flag (home country of Camilla's "executive secretary" Romeo Durscher ( about.me/romeoch ) to the US flag via #ISS

about.me/camillacorona

www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/structure/elements/par...

XXVIII

V

MMXIV

- 28. 05. 2014 = launch date of mission 40 in roman numerals stylised in shape of ISS

* “ @ “ AND “ # “

- reflecting the tools of the peer-to-peer connection of astronauts @Astro_Alex and @astro_reid and many others with #SpaceTweeps and future space enthusiasts, who will further spread news about the adventures all around the world via social media channels, e.g. @twitter, Facebook, Google+ and others.

16 FLAGS

- representing all current international partners and participants cooperating on #ISS – the most ambitious international collaboration ever

which -in my eyes- really would be worthy of the nobel peace prize www.spacesafetymagazine.com/iss-nobel-peace-prize/

Between the flags I left additional room for more countries to join that global project in the near future.

Especially in difficult political times like today this cooperation hopefully will enable our world to grow together more closely step by step.

Now we are looking forward to this trip and are curious how everything will work out.

This definitely is a very adventurous trip and if someone had told me 5 years ago, when we met that guy in blue for the very first time that we would be going to KAZAKHSTAN half a decade later to see HIS launch, I would NEVER EVER have believed it.

It seems our lives as #Spaceholix have many surprises in store for us ;-)

If YOU want to know more about all this, just follow the hashtag of our group:

#AlexTweetup

;-)

Gajaldoba..... for a wild weekend by pallab seth

5 5

The great egret (Ardea alba) distributed across most of the tropical and warmer temperate regions of the world

Gajaldoba is a small village on the western side of Teesta River in the Oodlabari area of Jalpaiguri district (West Bengal, India). Gajaldoba is famous for the dam on River Teesta, constructed for irrigation of agricultural lands, which resulted in a large waterbody upstream and has become home to many migratory birds during the winter. The natural beauty of the place with its view of the forest, river and majestic Kangchenjunga is awe inspiring!

The wetland with sprawling vegetation and reedbeds is a safe haven of at least 100 species of birds, primarily the waterfowls, which attracts a number of winter migrants. Birds from Europe, Central and southeast Asia, Ladakh and Himalayas winter here. Gajaldoba now host at least 20,000 waterfowls in the peak season (November to March) and becoming a significant global waterfowl habitat.

Gajaldoba took increased prominence due to the state government's initiative to promote a mega tourism hub in the area. An area of more than 200 acres has been demarcated for the purpose and infrastructure is being developed. In the near future, the area is expected to become one of the high end tourist destinations of Bengal.

Experience Bengal, Experience India

Holy Cross, Goodnestone, Kent by Jelltex

Goodnestone is like an old friend; I can remember visiting here in 2009 or 2010, following an annotated map, looking for East Kent churches before I ventured back into the world of work.

Back then, Holy Cross was undergoing renovations, so I returned the next year and snapped it's interior, but missed loads out.

There are two parishes and churches going by the name of Goodnestone, this is the one near to Wingham, an estate church, but done very well indeed, situated in the heart of the village by the pub. Always a good location.

I am going to have to go back to so many of those early churches to see what else I missed.

Holy Cross is mostly an early 19th century church, but the tower is ancient, as are other parts. But what I remember was the neat knapped flint bricks facing the nave and chanel, but on this visit I also saw the cobblestones. The quality of the knapping is very high indeed, and shows the skill in this mostly forgotten art.

Inside it is early Gothic Revival, I guess, but with ancient fittings, including some great brasses.

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

A large and eminently satisfying village church. The old part - north aisle of fourteenth-century date and tower of the fifteenth century - was enlarged in 1839 by a rebuilt nave and chancel. The architects were Rickman and Hussey, pioneers of the nineteenth-century Gothic Revival. The exterior is of knapped flints with stone dressings. Inside all is light and of a piece with an elaborate and dignified chancel. In the north aisle is the monument by Scheemakers to Sir Brook Bridges (d. 1717) who built Goodnestone Park, the gardens of which abut the churchyard. There are small pieces of medieval glass, but by far the most impressive window is at the east end of the north aisle, dated and signed E.S. 1899, showing the story of St Gregory and the Slave Boys.

www.kentchurches.info/church.asp?p=Goodnestone+2

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

GOODNESTON,

GENERALLY called, and known by the name of GUNSTON, lies the next parish south-eastward from Wingham. It is usually written in antient records, Godwineston, which name it took from earl Godwine, once owner of it.

GUNSTON is situated exceedingly healthy and pleasant, in a fine dry and open champaign country, of upland hill and dale. The soil is fertile, though in general inclined to chalk; the lands are mostly arable, open and uninclosed, having a few small inclosures scattered among them, especially about Gunston house, and the village, where it is well cloathed with elms. The village, which contains about thirty houses, stands, with the church, in the southern part of it, having Gunston-house and park adjoining to it, which, though small in extent, and commanding but little, if any prospect beyond the bounds of it, is a beautiful and elegant situation. At the northern boundary of the parish is the hamlet of Twitham, part only of which is in it; beyond which, at Brook, (the parish of Wingham intervening) is a small district of land within this parish. At the eastern boundary of it is the hamlet and street of Rolling, in which is a small seat, belonging to Sir Brook William Bridges, which a few years ago was in the occupation of Thomas Knight, esq. of Godmersham, and afterwards of Edward Austen, esq. It is now the residence of George Dering, esq. At some distance still further eastward from which there is another small district of land in it, entirely surrounded by the parish of Norborne.

A fair is held here for cattle and pedlary, on the 25th of September, yearly.

The MANOR OF WINGHAM claims paramount over this parish, in which there is one borough, viz. of Rolling, which claims over it.

The MANOR OF GOODNESTON, which before the Norman conquest, was part of the possessions of Godwine, earl of Kent, at whose death it probably came to his son king Harold, and after the battle of Hastings, to the Conqueror; after which it appears to have been held by a family who took their surname from it, one of whom, Thomas de Goodwyneston, held it of the archbishop in king Henry III.'s reign, and in this family, (who bore for their arms, Sable, three martlets, between seven cross-croslets, argent; as they were formerly painted in the windows of this church) it continued down to William de Goodneston, who did homage for it to archbishop Warham at the beginning of king Henry VIII.'s reign. After which it seems to have been divided, and the manor itself, with part of the demesne lands, to have passed into the name of Henecre; and the mansion, with the rest of the demesne lands, by Edith, daughter and heir of William Goodneston, in marriage to Vincent Engeham, who afterwards resided here. The antient residence of this family of Edingham, called Engeham by contraction, was at Engeham, in Woodchurch. They divided into three branches, settled at Woodchurch, Great Chart, and Goodneston. They bore for their arms, Argent, a chevron, sable, between three pellets, on a chief, gules, a lion passant-guardant, or. (fn. 1) John Henecre, of Good neston, as appears by his will, died possessed of this manor in 1559, and gave it to William, son of his brother Nicholas, who sold it to Sir Thomas Engeham, grandson of Vincent before-mentioned, and possessor of the mansion, and other part of the lands of it, so that he then became possessed of the whole of it, (fn. 2) held in capite, and it continued in his descendants down to Sir Thomas Engeham, of Goodneston, who about the reign of queen Anne, alienated it, with the appropriation, to Brook Bridges, esq. descended from John Bridges, who was of Worcestershire, at the latter end of queen Elizabeth's reign, whose great-grandson Col. John Bridges, of Warwickshire, left two sons, John, and Brook, the former of whom was of Barton Seagrave, in Northamptonshire, esq. the eldest of whose sons, John Bridges, esq. of that place, wrote the history of that county; Brook Bridges, esq. the second son of Col. John Bridges, was of Grove, in Middlesex, auditor of the imprest in king Charles II.'s reign, and purchaser of Goodnestone, which seat he rebuilt, and dying in 1717, was buried in the chancel of this church, bearing for his arms, Azure, three water bougets, or, within a bordure, ermine. Brook Bridges, esq. his eldest son, succeeded him at Goodneston, and was created a baronet on April 19, 1718, anno 4 George I. and was for many years one of the auditors of the imprest of the treasury, and was twice married, first to Margaret, daughter of Robert, lord Romney, by whom he had no issue; but by his second wife Mary, second daughter of Sir Thomas Hales, bart. of Bekesborne, he left a son Brook, and a daughter Margaret, married to John Plumptree, esq. He died in 1728, and was succeeded by his only son Sir Brook Bridges, bart of Goodneston, sheriff in 1733, in which year he died, having married Elizabeth, eldest surviving daughter and coheir of Sir Thomas Palmer, bart. of Wingham, (who afterwards remarried Charles Fielding, esq. brother to the earl of Denbigh, by whom she had a son Charles). At the death of Sir Brook she was pregnant, and was some months afterwards delivered of a son, the late Sir Brook Bridges, bart. who represented this county in two successive parliaments. He rebuilt this seat, and new laid out the park in the improved modern taste, having married Fanny, only daughter and heir of Edmund Fowler, esq. of Danbury, in Essex, by whom he had five sons and six daughters, of whom, Brook the eldest son, died at Eton school in 1781; William, the second son, after his brother's death, by the archbishop's licence, took the Christian name of Brook likewise, and Brook Henry, the third son, is rector of Danbury, in Essex; of the daughters, Fanny, the eldest, married Lewis Cage, esq. Sophia, the second, married William Deedes, esq. and Elizabeth, the third, married Edward Austen, esq. of Godmersham. Sir Brook Bridges died in 1791, and was succeeded by his eldest surviving son the present Sir Brook Wm. Bridges, bart. who is the possessor of this manor, with the seat, park, and appropriation of the church of Goodneston. A court baron is held for this manor.

ROLLING, usually called Rowling, is a manor and hamlet, in the eastern part of this parish, which takes its name from the borough in which it is situated. The manor, now obselete, was antiently the residence of a family who took their name from it. In an old leiger book of Davington priory, beginning at king Henry III.'s reign, there is mention of several of this family among its principal benefactors. How it passed after they were become extinct here, which was not till after king Henry IV.'s reign, I have not found; but in the latter end of king Henry VIII.'s reign, John Adams was become possessed of it, and he sold it to John Idley, gent. who resided here, and dying in 1568, was buried in this church. He left it to John his se cond son, who alienated it to Thomas Butler, a younger son of Richard, of Heronden, in Eastry, esq. and he soon afterwards sold it to Sir Roger Manwood, chief baron, whose son Sir Peter Manwood, K. B. alienated it to Dickenson, who parted with it to John Richards, gent. afterwards of Rowling, and in whose descendants, who bore for their arms, Sable, a chevron, between three fleurs de lis, argent, and lie buried in this church, it continued down to John Richards, gent. who died in 1661, (fn. 3) and by will gave it to William Hammond, esq. of St. Albans, and his son, of the same name, in 1696, an act having passed for that purpose, sold it to Sir John Narborough, bart. whose only sister and heir Elizabeth entitled her husband Sir Thomas D' Aeth, bart. of Knolton, to the possession of it, and his grandson Sir Narborough D'Aeth, bart. now of Knolton, is the present owner of this manor, called Rowling-court, for which there has not been any court held for many years past.

The HOSPITALS OF HARBLEDOWN, and of ST. JOHN, near Canterbury, are jointly possessed of a farm and lands at Rowling, which is demised by them to Sir Narborough D'Aeth, bart.

BONNINGTON, in the south-east part of this parish, was in early times the property and residence of a family of the same name, who appear to have been possessed of it so late as the latter end of the reign of king Edward I. but it became of much more eminent note afterwards, from being the antient seat from whence the numerous and knightly family of Bois branched out, as from their original stock, and spread with distinguished reputation through the eastern parts of this county, deriving their descent from R. de Boys, or de Bosco, who is mentioned in the Battle abbey roil of those who accompanied the Conqueror into England, and were amply rewarded by him with the possessions of the conquered Saxons. From R. de Boys, or de Bosco, before-mentioned, descended John Boys, who was of Bonnington in the 30th year of king Edward III. but his descendant William Boys having purchased Fredville, in the adjoining parish of Nonington, removed thither, though some time before his death he returned to Bonnington, where he died in 1507, and was buried in this church. He left five sons and three daughters. To his eldest son John, he gave Fredville; and to the second, Thomas, he gave Bonnington; giving, as Philipott says, the fairest estate to the former, and the antient family seat to the latter; and from the descendants of John Boys, the eldest son, of Fredville, sprang those of Fredville, Hode, Holt-street, Betshanger, Challock, Deal, Sandwich, St. Gregory's, in Canterbury, Denton, and of Surry; and from the descendants of Thomas Boys, esq. of Bonnington, sprang those of Bonnington, Hith, Mersham, Wilsborough, Sevington, and Uffington, all which are now extinct in the male line, excepting those of Sandwich and Wilsborough, a more particular account of all which may be seen under those several places. In the descendants of Thomas Boys, esq. the second son above-mentioned, of Bonnington, resident here, it continued down to Sir John Boys, to whose coat armour king Charles I. gave the augmentation of a crown imperial, or, on a canton, azure; for his loyalty and valour at Donington castle, in Berkshire, of which he was governor, where being summoned by the parliament forces, to surrender the place under peril of being put to the sword, he stoutly answered, that he would never quit the castle without the king's order, nor take nor give quarter. He died in 1664, and was buried at Goodneston, leaving three daughters his coheirs, and they, in 1666, joined in the sale of it to Thomas Brome, esq. sergeant at-law, whose son William Brome, esq. of Farnborough, alienated it in 1710 to Brook Bridges, esq. Whose descendant Sir Brook William Bridges, bart. of Goodneston, is the present owner of it.

ARCHBISHOP PECKHAM, on the foundation of the college of Wingham in 1286, endowed the second prebend of it with the tithes of the lands of Thomas de Bonyngton and others, in the hamlet of Bonnyngton, in this parish. (fn. 4)

UFFINGTION, in the south-west part of this parish, was another seat of the family of Boys, being purchased by William Boys, esq. (son of Vincent Boys, esq. of Bonnington) for his residence, and he died possessed of it in 1629, in whose descendants it continued till it was at length sold to Oxenden, in which family it has remained ever since, being now the property of Sir Henry Oxenden, bart. of Brome.

Charities.

THOMAS APPLETON, yeoman, of Eastry, by his will in 1593, gave to the poor of this parish, 5l. yearly, to be distributed to the poor people, inhabitants here, fourteen days before Christmas-day; to be paid out of lands belonging to him, called Hardiles, in Woodnesborough.

GABRIEL RICHARDS, gent. by will in 1671, gave a house, barn, stable, and twenty-six acres of land, in this parish, for the support and maintenance of four aged, decayed gentlemen or gentlewomen, single men or single women, born in Kent; with four lodging-rooms for them, with preference to such persons as should be his relations, now vested in feoffees, and worth about 20l. per annum.

The poor constantly relieved are about eighteen, casually thirteen.

GOODNESTON, or Gunston, is within the ECCLESIASTICAL JURISDICTION of the diocese of Canterbury, and deanry of Bridge.

The church, which is dedicated to the Holy Cross, consists of two isles and two chancels, having a beacon tower at the west end, in which are four bells. This church seems to have been erected in great measure by the assistance of the family of Boys, of Bonnington, about the time of king Edward III. for on one side of the west door, under the steeple, is carved in the stone work, Orate p T. boye adjutor isti op. On each side a shield of arms, one a cross, the other a saltier; and at top three more shields, the first of which is that of Langley, and the third of Oxenden; and over a window of the south isle (now stopped up) the centre stone has carved on it, Willyam boyes, and at each corner are carved the singular emblematical figures of a sow with a litter of pigs, and of a sow sitting upright, a chain about its neck, fastened to a rock behind, and an infant child in swaddling clothes in its lap. In the south isle is a stone, with figures in brass, and inscription for William Boys and Isabell his wife. He died anno 1507. In the north isle are monuments for the Richards's, of Rowling, in this parish. In the north window, at the east end, is the figure of a saint, holding in his left hand a shield of arms, Argent, a cross, gules; in his right, a staff, with a cross at top, the lower end in a dragon's mouth, which lies on its back under his feet; and in the same window, the figure of an archbishop, mitre, and pall, his left hand lifted up, as blessing; in his right hand, a staff, with a cross pomelle at top. The pillars between the isles are remarkably large and clumsy, and by their capitals appear antient. In the north chancel, belonging to the estate of Bonnington, are interred the family of Boys, of that seat, though the brasses of most of their stones are lost. A stone, with brasses, and inscription for William Goodneston, gent. obt. 1423; arms, Three martlets, between seven cross-croslets. A stone, with figures in brass, and inscription for Thomas Engeham, esq. and Elizabeth his wife, obt. 1558, both the same year. A monument, with the figures kneeling, for Sir Edward Engeham and his lady; he died in 1636. Another for W. Wood, A. M. minister here, and rector of St. Mary Bredman and St. Andrew, Canterbury, obt. 1735. In the south or high chancel, is a monument for Sir Thomas Engeham, descended from those of Woodchurch; he married Priscilla Honywood, daughter of Mrs. Anne Honywood, who hardly escaping martyrdom in queen Mary's reign, lived to see about four hundred descended from her, obt. 1621. A neat monument for Brook Bridges, esq. (second son of John, of Harcourt-hall, in Worcestershire, esq.) auditor of imprests. He repaired and adorned the church, and built a mansion here on the estate which he had purchased, obt. 1717. In the church-yard is a stone, on which were once figures in brass, long since gone, for Thomas Boys, of Bonnington, and Edith his wife. He died in 1479.

¶The church of Goodneston was antiently a chapel of ease to that of Wingham, and was at the time of the foundation of the college there by archbishop Peckham, in 1286, separated from it, and made a distinct parish of itself, (fn. 5) and then given to the college; and becoming thus appropriated to the college, continued with it till its suppression in king Edward VI.'s reign, when this parsonage appropriate, with the advowson or patronage of the vicarage or curacy of it, came into the hands of the crown, where, though in the intermediate time it had been granted in lease for a term of years, yet the fee of it remained in the crown till the 43d year of queen Elizabeth, who granted it that year to Nicholas Fortescue, esq. and John Shelbury, in fee, to hold in socage, by a yearly rent, and a payment to the vicar yearly of 13l. 6s. 8d. and they passed away their interest in it to Sir Edward Engeham, of Canterbury, who in the beginning of king James I.'s reign, alienated this rectory, and the vicarage-house of Goodneston, with the vicarage, tithes, and profits belonging to it, and the donation of the curacy, to Henry Vanner, alderman of Canterbury, who by will in 1630, augmented the curate's salary, to be paid out of this parsonage, with the further yearly sum of 6l. 13s. 4d. His heirs quickly afterwards passed it away to William Prude, alias Proude, jun. esq. of Canterbury, who died in 1632, in whose descendants it remained till it was sold to one of the family of Engeham, owners of the manor of Goodneston, and continued so till Sir Thomas Engeham alienated it, with that manor, to Brook Bridges, esq. in whose descendants, baronets, of this place, it has continued down to Sir Brook William Bridges, bart. of Goodnestone, the present impropriator and patron of the curacy of this church.

This church is now esteemed as a donative, the value of which has not been certified. In 1640 here were communicants one hundred and seventy.

Gabriel Richards, gent. of Rowling, by his will in 1672, gave to the use of the minister of this parish, a house and orchard, valued at 6l. IOS. per annum.

www.british-history.ac.uk/survey-kent/vol9/pp241-250

@4tuneQkie's #AlexTweetup badge * #BlueDot * #AlexTweetup #BlueDot #GoAlex #Soyuz #TMA13M * Baikonur * May 26th - 30th 2014 * #FF @Astro_Alex * CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 DE * https://www.flickr.com/photos/spaceholix/sets/72157644182872632/ by 4tuneQkie

#OnceUponATime

In spring 2013 I organized #SpaceBembel, a #SpaceSocial where a group of #SpaceTweeps got together again to share some space fun in Frankfurt.

As one of my mottos is "no #SpaceTweetup without a proper badge" I designed one and distributed it to all participants.

What I had started back then became kind of a tradition in the meantime:

Inspired by several #Space- and #ScienceTweetups I painted logos for every event I attended,

got them printed on badges for all, as well as thank-you posters, t-shirts, etc. as memento of our shared adventures.

And 2013 has been quite a ride :-)

#SpaceBembel *

#ASE26 *

#BuraMooN 1 & 2 * #SpaceKoelschX * #CERNTweetup * #ItIsStonehengeReunionOClock * #ScienceTweetup

And 2014 is also amazing already:

I already created designs for #SpaceFestVI and #AlexTweetup taking place in May

and @SpaceUpUK in July 2014.

I am very much looking forward to sharing these events with so many friends from all over the world.

More to come ;-)

www.flickr.com/photos/spaceholix/collections/721576354819...

So #AlexTweetup is about our trip to Baikonur shared by 16 dedicated #SpaceTweeps and two #SpaceMascots named #PinkLittleDragon and @CamillaSpace.

All of us will share this unique adventure of witnessing the Soyuz launch of our German astronaut Alexander Gerst ( #FF @Astro_Alex ) to #ISS on 28. May 2014 via Twitter, Facebook and other social media channels.

Here is the collection of my brainstorming and the design process as well as many pictures of the past 5 years, from the day at #TdLR09, where we "met" Alexander Gerst and the other #shenanigans for the very first (but not the last) time, shortly after their assignments for a trip to #ISS.

Oh yes, there was a time before twitter and other social media ;-)

www.flickr.com/photos/spaceholix/sets/72157644182872632/

My latest design features the #NebraSkydisk - one of the most beautiful and most fascinating archeological and astronomical artefacts ever found - until today.

This is the oldest-known illustration of our cosmos so far, with an estimated age of 3600 years (!!!), the earliest known diagram of the heavens, which makes it one or may be THE most important archaeological discovery of the twenty-first century.

It was discovered by treasure hunters on July 4th 1999 near the city of Nebra in Germany and since then fascinates not only the experts as its history is really exciting from then till now.

www.dailymotion.com/video/x1a45jq_the-nebra-sky-disc-anci...

www.bibliotecapleyades.net/arqueologia/nebra_disk.htm

I fell in love with this beauty as soon as I saw it the very first time several years ago.

And I always wanted to paint it one day!

So what better match could there be than combining this masterpiece -created by stargazers thousands of years ago, who loved observing (and already started understanding) our night sky- with two fantastic #SpaceEvents in May 2014.

#SpaceFestVI in Pasadena ( www.spacefest.info/VI/brochure.html ), THE #SpaceEvent of the year, where many astronauts of the dawning of space exploration did reunite and inspire all of us

and then -end of May- our #AlexTweetup - where we celebrate the launch of @esa astronaut Alexander Gerst, whose mission name is #TheBlueDot (!!!).

Both events bring people together (again), who travel all around the world to share their love of space and our beautiful blue marble …

And I am really honored that sharing my badges and designs with so many #SpaceTweeps AND astronauts of the very first era of space exploration until today made so many people smile again. And these smiles seem to be contagious ;-D

I cannot really explain it, there simply is this very special close link between us.

NOTE:

#NebraSkyDisk is under the copyright of the Landesamt für Denkmalpflege und Archäologie Sachsen-Anhalt

- Landesmuseum für Vorgeschichte -

As my design project is an artistic realization for two private travel groups, I was kindly given official permission to integrate the #NebraSkydisk in my artworks here.

Hence I have to emphasize that my artwork may ONLY be shared as per following license:

CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 DE

I herewith explicitly send my thanks to the

STATE OFFICE FOR HERITAGE MANAGEMENT AND ARCHAEOLOGY

- THE STATE MUSEUM OF PREHISTORY IN HALLE / GERMANY -

and - as asked for - I will gladly send pictures of my design as well as badges and photos of #SpaceFestVI in Pasadena and #AlexTweetup in Baikonur to the Museum for its collection / exhibition.

It is my pleasure to share the #NebraSkydisk far beyond the borders of Germany - especially during events, which only can take place, because some people started documenting their night-sky-observations thousands of years ago.

#SpaceholixThenAndNow ;-)

Covered below is an overview of all the details embodied in my #AlexTweetup mission logo

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

#AlexTweetup

- Facebook group for all #SpaceTweeps interested in the trip to the launch of Alexander Gerst on 28. May 2014

www.dlr.de/dlr/presse/desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-10308/471...

Baikonur * May 26th - 30th 2014

- Travel period for #AlexTweetup in Baikonur

BLUE DOT

- Mission name of Alexander Gerst

XL

- Mission no. 40 - in roman numerals

THEN + NOW

- Connection between space exploration THEN #NebraSkydisk (dated about 3.600 years ago in Germany) and NOW (#BlueDot mission of German astronaut Alexander Gerst)

WISEMAN * GERST * SURAJEW

- names of the international crew of mission no. 40

www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Human_Spaceflight/Astronauts/A...

SHAPING THE FUTURE ...

Mission theme of Alexander Gerst's mission #BlueDot

... IN LEO

- Abbreviation LEO #LowEarthOrbit - the home of #ISS

CONSTELLATIONS:

LEO

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leo_(constellation)

- reflecting LowEarthOrbit - the orbit of #ISS

DRACO

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Draco_(constellation)

- representing #DRAGON - the partially reusable spacecraft developed by @SpaceX, which has docked to #ISS already several times and will deliver cargo regularly.

We enjoyed seeing the capsule used during the maiden flight in Florida at SpaceX Launch Control Center during an event before the #NASATweetup for #STS135

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Draco_(rocket_engine)

- also representing #PinkLittleDragon - the travel buddy of #The2AndAHalfSpaceTweeps @LightspeedLeo @4tuneQkie and @travelholic ( avoving @Spaceholix ) and our #SpaceMascot.

This #VIP #VeryInspiringPinkLittleDragon is traveling all around the world with us and he already has attended several great #SpaceTweetup and #ScienceTweetup events organized by @NASA @DLR_de @ESA @CERN @Helmholtz_de as well as #ASE26 #SpaceFestV and #SpaceFestVI

and he has already met many of the most inspiring #SpaceExplorers and #Astronauts from the #Mercury and #Apollo era - till today, as well as #scientists @MeteoriteMen #CometHunters ...

SWAN

- representing the footprint / autograph of our dear friend and great #SpaceMascot and #VIP #VeryIntelligentPoultry:

@CamillaSpace is encouraging not only children of all ages to ask questions about the Sun and space and she was planned to be part of this mission accompanying NASA astronaut @astro_reid on his trip to #ISS.

Her footprint is heading from the Swiss flag (home country of Camilla's "executive secretary" Romeo Durscher ( about.me/romeoch ) to the US flag via #ISS

www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/structure/elements/par...

XXVIII

V

MMXIV

- 28. 05. 2014 = launch date of mission 40 in roman numerals stylised in shape of ISS

* “ @ “ AND “ # “

- reflecting the tools of the peer-to-peer connection of astronauts @Astro_Alex and @astro_reid and many others with #SpaceTweeps and future space enthusiasts, who will further spread news about the adventures all around the world via social media channels, e.g. @twitter, Facebook, Google+ and others.

16 FLAGS

- representing all current international partners and participants cooperating on #ISS – the most ambitious international collaboration ever

which -in my eyes- really would be worthy of the nobel peace prize www.spacesafetymagazine.com/iss-nobel-peace-prize/

Between the flags I left additional room for more countries to join that global project in the near future.

Especially in difficult political times like today this cooperation hopefully will enable our world to grow together more closely step by step.

Now we are looking forward to this trip and are curious how everything will work out.

This definitely is a very adventurous trip and if someone had told me 5 years ago, when we met that guy in blue for the very first time that we would be going to KAZAKHSTAN half a decade later to see HIS launch, I would NEVER EVER have believed it.

It seems our lives as #Spaceholix have many surprises in store for us ;-)

If YOU want to know more about all this, just follow the hashtag of our group:

#AlexTweetup

;-)

@4tuneQkie's #AlexTweetup badge * #BlueDot * #AlexTweetup #BlueDot #GoAlex #Soyuz #TMA13M * Baikonur * May 26th - 30th 2014 * #FF @Astro_Alex * CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 DE * https://www.flickr.com/photos/spaceholix/sets/72157644182872632/ by 4tuneQkie

#OnceUponATime

In spring 2013 I organized #SpaceBembel, a #SpaceSocial where a group of #SpaceTweeps got together again to share some space fun in Frankfurt.

As one of my mottos is "no #SpaceTweetup without a proper badge" I designed one and distributed it to all participants.

What I had started back then became kind of a tradition in the meantime:

Inspired by several #Space- and #ScienceTweetups I painted logos for every event I attended,

got them printed on badges for all, as well as thank-you posters, t-shirts, etc. as memento of our shared adventures.

And 2013 has been quite a ride :-)

#SpaceBembel *

#ASE26 *

#BuraMooN 1 & 2 * #SpaceKoelschX * #CERNTweetup * #ItIsStonehengeReunionOClock * #ScienceTweetup

And 2014 is also amazing already:

I already created designs for #SpaceFestVI and #AlexTweetup taking place in May

and @SpaceUpUK in July 2014.

I am very much looking forward to sharing these events with so many friends from all over the world.

More to come ;-)

www.flickr.com/photos/spaceholix/collections/721576354819...

So #AlexTweetup is about our trip to Baikonur shared by 16 dedicated #SpaceTweeps and two #SpaceMascots named #PinkLittleDragon and @CamillaSpace.

All of us will share this unique adventure of witnessing the Soyuz launch of our German astronaut Alexander Gerst ( #FF @Astro_Alex ) to #ISS on 28. May 2014 via Twitter, Facebook and other social media channels.

Here is the collection of my brainstorming and the design process as well as many pictures of the past 5 years, from the day at #TdLR09, where we "met" Alexander Gerst and the other #shenanigans for the very first (but not the last) time, shortly after their assignments for a trip to #ISS.

Oh yes, there was a time before twitter and other social media ;-)

www.flickr.com/photos/spaceholix/sets/72157644182872632/

My latest design features the #NebraSkydisk - one of the most beautiful and most fascinating archeological and astronomical artefacts ever found - until today.

This is the oldest-known illustration of our cosmos so far, with an estimated age of 3600 years (!!!), the earliest known diagram of the heavens, which makes it one or may be THE most important archaeological discovery of the twenty-first century.

It was discovered by treasure hunters on July 4th 1999 near the city of Nebra in Germany and since then fascinates not only the experts as its history is really exciting from then till now.

www.dailymotion.com/video/x1a45jq_the-nebra-sky-disc-anci...

www.bibliotecapleyades.net/arqueologia/nebra_disk.htm

I fell in love with this beauty as soon as I saw it the very first time several years ago.

And I always wanted to paint it one day!

So what better match could there be than combining this masterpiece -created by stargazers thousands of years ago, who loved observing (and already started understanding) our night sky- with two fantastic #SpaceEvents in May 2014.

#SpaceFestVI in Pasadena ( www.spacefest.info/VI/brochure.html ), THE #SpaceEvent of the year, where many astronauts of the dawning of space exploration did reunite and inspire all of us

and then -end of May- our #AlexTweetup - where we celebrate the launch of @esa astronaut Alexander Gerst, whose mission name is #TheBlueDot (!!!).

Both events bring people together (again), who travel all around the world to share their love of space and our beautiful blue marble …

And I am really honored that sharing my badges and designs with so many #SpaceTweeps AND astronauts of the very first era of space exploration until today made so many people smile again. And these smiles seem to be contagious ;-D

I cannot really explain it, there simply is this very special close link between us.

NOTE:

#NebraSkyDisk is under the copyright of the Landesamt für Denkmalpflege und Archäologie Sachsen-Anhalt

- Landesmuseum für Vorgeschichte -

As my design project is an artistic realization for two private travel groups, I was kindly given official permission to integrate the #NebraSkydisk in my artworks here.

Hence I have to emphasize that my artwork may ONLY be shared as per following license:

CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 DE

I herewith explicitly send my thanks to the

STATE OFFICE FOR HERITAGE MANAGEMENT AND ARCHAEOLOGY

- THE STATE MUSEUM OF PREHISTORY IN HALLE / GERMANY -

and - as asked for - I will gladly send pictures of my design as well as badges and photos of #SpaceFestVI in Pasadena and #AlexTweetup in Baikonur to the Museum for its collection / exhibition.

It is my pleasure to share the #NebraSkydisk far beyond the borders of Germany - especially during events, which only can take place, because some people started documenting their night-sky-observations thousands of years ago.

#SpaceholixThenAndNow ;-)

Covered below is an overview of all the details embodied in my #AlexTweetup mission logo

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

#AlexTweetup

- Facebook group for all #SpaceTweeps interested in the trip to the launch of Alexander Gerst on 28. May 2014

www.dlr.de/dlr/presse/desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-10308/471...

Baikonur * May 26th - 30th 2014

- Travel period for #AlexTweetup in Baikonur

BLUE DOT

- Mission name of Alexander Gerst

XL

- Mission no. 40 - in roman numerals

THEN + NOW

- Connection between space exploration THEN #NebraSkydisk (dated about 3.600 years ago in Germany) and NOW (#BlueDot mission of German astronaut Alexander Gerst)

WISEMAN * GERST * SURAJEW

- names of the international crew of mission no. 40

www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Human_Spaceflight/Astronauts/A...

SHAPING THE FUTURE ...

Mission theme of Alexander Gerst's mission #BlueDot

... IN LEO

- Abbreviation LEO #LowEarthOrbit - the home of #ISS

CONSTELLATIONS:

LEO

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leo_(constellation)

- reflecting LowEarthOrbit - the orbit of #ISS

DRACO

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Draco_(constellation)

- representing #DRAGON - the partially reusable spacecraft developed by @SpaceX, which has docked to #ISS already several times and will deliver cargo regularly.

We enjoyed seeing the capsule used during the maiden flight in Florida at SpaceX Launch Control Center during an event before the #NASATweetup for #STS135

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Draco_(rocket_engine)

- also representing #PinkLittleDragon - the travel buddy of #The2AndAHalfSpaceTweeps @LightspeedLeo @4tuneQkie and @travelholic ( avoving @Spaceholix ) and our #SpaceMascot.

This #VIP #VeryInspiringPinkLittleDragon is traveling all around the world with us and he already has attended several great #SpaceTweetup and #ScienceTweetup events organized by @NASA @DLR_de @ESA @CERN @Helmholtz_de as well as #ASE26 #SpaceFestV and #SpaceFestVI

and he has already met many of the most inspiring #SpaceExplorers and #Astronauts from the #Mercury and #Apollo era - till today, as well as #scientists @MeteoriteMen #CometHunters ...

SWAN

- representing the footprint / autograph of our dear friend and great #SpaceMascot and #VIP #VeryIntelligentPoultry:

@CamillaSpace is encouraging not only children of all ages to ask questions about the Sun and space and she was planned to be part of this mission accompanying NASA astronaut @astro_reid on his trip to #ISS.

Her footprint is heading from the Swiss flag (home country of Camilla's "executive secretary" Romeo Durscher ( about.me/romeoch ) to the US flag via #ISS

www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/structure/elements/par...

XXVIII

V

MMXIV

- 28. 05. 2014 = launch date of mission 40 in roman numerals stylised in shape of ISS

* “ @ “ AND “ # “

- reflecting the tools of the peer-to-peer connection of astronauts @Astro_Alex and @astro_reid and many others with #SpaceTweeps and future space enthusiasts, who will further spread news about the adventures all around the world via social media channels, e.g. @twitter, Facebook, Google+ and others.

16 FLAGS

- representing all current international partners and participants cooperating on #ISS – the most ambitious international collaboration ever

which -in my eyes- really would be worthy of the nobel peace prize www.spacesafetymagazine.com/iss-nobel-peace-prize/

Between the flags I left additional room for more countries to join that global project in the near future.

Especially in difficult political times like today this cooperation hopefully will enable our world to grow together more closely step by step.

Now we are looking forward to this trip and are curious how everything will work out.

This definitely is a very adventurous trip and if someone had told me 5 years ago, when we met that guy in blue for the very first time that we would be going to KAZAKHSTAN half a decade later to see HIS launch, I would NEVER EVER have believed it.

It seems our lives as #Spaceholix have many surprises in store for us ;-)

If YOU want to know more about all this, just follow the hashtag of our group:

#AlexTweetup

;-)

University of Brighton info leaflet by Ryan

4

Distributed on the University buses at the moment are these information leaflets about the recent changes to their bus services

Macro of Buds and Flower Blossoms by Nolan H. Rhodes

13 1

“The Eye Moment photos by Nolan H. Rhodes”

“Theeyeofthemoment21@gmail.com”

“www.flickr.com/photos/the_eye_of_the_moment”

“Any users, found to replicate, reproduce, circulate, distribute, download, manipulate or otherwise use my images without my written consent will be in breach of copyright laws.”

Eurasian Lynx (Lynx Lynx) by HISTOGRAPHY by DM & DBM.

11

The Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) is one of the four extant species within the medium-sized wild cat genus Lynx. It is widely distributed from Northern, Central and Eastern Europe to Central Asia and Siberia, the Tibetan Plateau and the Himalayas. It inhabits temperate and boreal forests up to an elevation of 5,500 m (18,000 ft). Despite its wide distribution, it is threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation, poaching and depletion of prey.

The Eurasian lynx has a relatively short, reddish or brown coat that is marked with black spots; their number and pattern are highly variable. The underparts, neck and chin are whitish. The fur is more brightly coloured with more numerous spots in animals living at the southern end of its range. In winter, it is much thicker and varies from silver-grey to greyish brown. Some animals have dark brown stripes on the forehead and back. It has powerful, relatively long legs, with large webbed and furred paws that act like snowshoes. It also has a short "bobbed" tail with an all-black tip, black tufts of hair on its ears, and a long grey-and-white ruff.

It is the largest of the four lynx species, ranging in body length from 76–106 cm (30–42 in) in males; 73–99 cm (29–39 in) in females; and standing 55–75 cm (22–30 in) at the shoulder. The tail is 11–24.5 cm (4.3–9.6 in) long, constituting a total length of up to 130 cm (51 in) in the largest males. Weights of both sexes in Russia range from 12 to 32 kg (26 to 71 lb), but more than 30 kg (66 lb) is attained very rarely and is possibly exaggerated. A Eurasian lynx from the Altai Mountains weighed 35 kg (77 lb). Those inhabiting Fennoscandia and westwards are considerably smaller, with a range of just 7–26 kg (15–57 lb), though individuals in the Carpathian Mountains may rival those in the Altai in size.

The Eurasian lynx inhabits rugged country providing plenty of hideouts and stalking opportunities. Depending on the locality, this may include rocky-steppe, mixed forest-steppe, boreal forest, and montane forest ecosystems. In the more mountainous parts of its range, Eurasian lynx descends to the lowlands in winter, following prey species and avoiding deep snow. Despite its adaptations for moving in snow, it finds loose, deep snow difficult to deal with and cannot survive in areas with snow depths exceeding 100 cm (39 in). It tends to be less common where the grey wolf (Canis lupus) is abundant, and wolves have been reported to attack and even eat lynx.

The Eurasian lynx was once widespread throughout most of continental Europe. By the early 19th century, it was persecuted to local extinction in western and southern European lowlands, but survived only in mountainous areas and Scandinavian forests. By the 1950s, it had become extinct in most of Western and Central Europe, where only scattered and isolated populations exist today.

The Eurasian lynx was close to extinction in Scandinavia in the 1930s. Since the 1950s, the population slowly recovered and forms three subpopulations in northern, central and southern Scandinavia. In Norway, the Eurasian lynx was subjected to an official bounty between 1846 and 1980 and could be hunted without license. In 1994, a compensation scheme for livestock killed by lynx was introduced. By 1996, the lynx population was estimated to comprise 410 Individuals, decreased to less than 260 individuals in 2004 and increased since 2005 to about 452 mature individuals by 2008.

In Sweden, the lynx population was estimated at 1,400 individuals in 2006 and 1,250 in 2011. Hunting is controlled by government agencies. In Finland, about 2,200–2,300 individuals were present according to a 2009 estimate. The lynx population in Finland has been increasing every year since 1991, and is estimated to be nowadays larger than ever before. Limited hunting is permitted. In 2009 the Finnish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry gave a permit for hunting of 340 lynx individuals.

In Great Britain, subfossil remains of Eurasian lynx have been dated to the early Middle Ages, and the 7th or 8th century Welsh poem Dinogad's Smock likely makes reference to the presence of lynx in Cumbria. It is possible that other Medieval and Modern era references to "wild cats" and "cats of the mountain", as late as the 18th century, actually refer to Eurasian lynx and not the Scottish wildcat as is commonly assumed. It has been proposed to reintroduce the lynx to the Scottish Highlands and Kielder Forest in Northumberland.

A large lynx that hunted deer and livestock, sometimes called "tiger" and "deer's wolf" (llobu/lobo cerval), was also reported in Green Spain until the 19th century. These accounts were traditionally regarded as references to Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus), a smaller endemic species of the Iberian Peninsula. However, genetic testing of remains showed that the Eurasian and Iberian lynx coexisted into recent times in the Iberian Peninsula with little overlap, the Eurasian lynx being present in temperate broadleaf and mixed forests and the Iberian lynx in Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub. The Eurasian lynx of Spain was a unique, extinct lineage more related to the Carpathian and Baltic subspecies. It was genetically impoverished already in pre-Roman times, possibly because of founder effect, which made it even more vulnerable to human persecution. The government of Asturias studied the feasibility of Eurasian lynx reintroduction in 2019. In the Catalonian Pyrenees, the last Eurasian lynx was killed in the 1930s, though unconfirmed sightings continued until the 1990s. The Síndic d'Aran planned a reintroduction in 2016 but canceled it due to the opposition of hunters and livestock farmers.

In Germany, the Eurasian lynx was exterminated in 1850. It was reintroduced to the Bavarian Forest and the Harz in the 1990s; other areas were populated by lynxes migrating from France and the Czech Republic. In 2002, the first birth of wild lynx on German territory was announced, following a litter from a pair of lynx in the Harz National Park. Small populations exist also in Saxon Switzerland, Palatinate Forest, and Fichtel Mountains. Eurasian lynx also migrated to Austria, where they had also been exterminated. An episode of the PBS television series Nature featured the return of the lynx to Austria's Kalkalpen National Park after a 150-year absence. A higher proportion is killed by humans than by infectious diseases.

In Switzerland, the Eurasian lynx was exterminated in the early 20th century, with the last confirmed sighting around Simplon pass in 1904. From 1971 on, Carpathian lynx were reintroduced in the Alps and the Jura Mountains. Since then, the population has grown slowly but steadily. In 2019, around 250 lynx were reportedly living in Switzerland, roughly a third of them in the Jura Mountains, and the rest roaming the Alps and Pre-Alps.

The Eurasian lynx was exterminated in the French Alps in the early 20th century. Following reintroduction of lynx in the Swiss Jura Mountains in the 1970s, lynxes were recorded again in the French Alps and Jura from the late 1970s onwards.

In Italy, it recolonised the Italian Alps since the 1980s, also from reintroduced populations in Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia. By 2010, the Alpine lynx population comprised about 120–150 individuals ranging over 27,800 km2 (10,700 sq mi) in six sub-areas.

In the Netherlands, lynxes have been sighted sporadically since 1985 in the country's southern part. Since 2020, the presence of lynxes has been confirmed by camera trapping in the Ardennes region in southern Belgium, proving the presence of the species following more than 25 years of unconfirmed sightings in the region.

Balkan peninsula: The Balkan lynx subspecies is found in Croatia, Montenegro, Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Bulgaria and possibly Greece. They can be found in remote mountainous regions of the Balkans, with the largest numbers in remote hills of western North Macedonia, eastern Albania and northern Albania. The Balkan lynx is considered a national symbol of North Macedonia, and it is depicted on the reverse of the Macedonian 5 denars coin, issued in 1993. The name of Lynkestis, a Macedonian tribe, is translated as "Land of the Lynx". It has been on the brink of extinction for nearly 100 years. Numbers are estimated to be around 100, and the decline is due to illegal poaching.

Carpathian Mountains: About 2,800 Eurasian lynx live in the mountain range, split between the Czech Republic, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Ukraine and Hungary. It is the largest contiguous Eurasian lynx population west of the Russian border.

Dinaric Alps and Julian Alps: Slovenia, Croatia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina are home to approx. 130–200 lynx. The Eurasian lynx had been considered extinct in these countries since the beginning of the 20th century. However, a successful reintroduction project was carried out in Slovenia in 1973, when three female and three male lynx from Slovakia were released in the Kočevski Rog forest.[46] Today, lynx are present in the Dinaric forests of the south and southeastern part of Slovenia and in the Croatian regions of Gorski kotar and Velebit, spanning the Dinaric Alps and over the Dinara Mountains into western Bosnia and Herzegovina. The lynx has been also spotted in the Julian Alps and elsewhere in western Slovenia, but the A1 motorway presents a significant hindrance to the development of the population there. Croatia's Plitvice Lakes National Park is home to several pairs of the lynx. In the three countries, the Eurasian lynx is listed as an endangered species and protected by law. Realistic population estimates are 40 lynx in Slovenia, 40–60 in Croatia, and more than 50 in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Croatian massif Risnjak in Risnjak National Park got its name from the Croatian word for the lynx, ris.[citation needed]

Belarus: the most recent data from the national parks, reserves, and hunting grounds demonstrate the number of lynxes in Belarus to be in the range of 550 to 600 animals.

Bulgaria: the animal was declared extinct in Bulgaria in 1985, but sightings continued well into the 1990s. In 2006 an audio recording of a lynx mating call was made in the Strandzha mountain range in the southeast. Two years later an ear-marked individual was accidentally shot near Belogradchik in the northwest, and a few months later a mounted trap camera caught a glimpse of another individual. Further camera records followed in Osogovo and Strandzha, confirming that the species has returned to the country. A thorough examination on the subject is yet to be made available.

Czech Republic: In Bohemia, the Eurasian lynx was exterminated in the 19th century (1830–1890) and in Moravia probably at the turn of the 20th century. After 1945, migration from Slovakia created a small and unstable population in Moravia. In the 1980s, almost 20 specimens were imported from Slovakia and reintroduced in the Šumava area. In early 2006, the population of lynx in the Czech Republic was estimated at 65–105 individuals. Hunting is prohibited, but the lynx is often threatened by poachers.

Estonia: There are 900 individuals in Estonia according to a 2001 estimate. Although 180 lynx were legally hunted in Estonia in 2010, the country still has the highest known density of the species in Europe.

Hungary: The population is estimated at 10-12 animals, in the northern mountain ranges of the country close to Slovakia.

Latvia: According to a 2005 estimate, about 700 animals inhabit areas in Courland and Vidzeme.

Lithuania: The population is estimated at 80–100 animals.

Poland: In its Environment and Environmental Protection Section, the 2011 Central Statistical Office Report puts the number of Eurasian lynxes observed in the wild in Poland as of 2010 at approximately 285. There are two major populations of lynxes in Poland, one in the northeastern part of the country (most notably in the Białowieża Forest) and the other in the southeastern part in the Carpathian Mountains. Since the 1980s, lynxes have also been spotted in the region of Roztocze, Solska Forest, Polesie Lubelskie, and Karkonosze Mountains, though they still remain rare in those areas. A successfully reintroduced population of lynxes has also been living in the Kampinos National Park since the 1990s.

Slovakia: the Eurasian lynx inhabits deciduous, coniferous and mixed forests at elevations of 180–1,592 m (591–5,223 ft), mostly in national parks and other protected areas; its presence has been positively confirmed in more than half of Slovak territory (2012). In terms of absolute numbers though in Štiavnica Mountains and Veľká Fatra National Park, surveys during 2011 to 2014 revealed that less than 30 individuals were present in these protected areas, with anthropic disturbances, poaching and insufficient counting methods used by forestry cited as the main causes of the unreliable population figures.

Romania: over 2,000 Eurasian lynx live in Romania, including most of the Carpathian population. However, some experts consider these official population numbers to be overestimated. Limited hunting is permitted but the population is stable.

Russia: As of 2013, the Russian lynx population was estimated as comprising 22,510 individuals, of which about 9,000 were found in European Russia. The populations were assessed as stable in some regions, but decreasing in others.

Ukraine: The Eurasian lynx is native to forested areas of the country. Before the 19th century it was common also in the forest steppe zone. Nowadays, the most significant populations remain in the Carpathian mountains and across the forests of Polesia. The population is estimated as 80–90 animals for the Polesia region and 350–400 for the forests of the Carpathians.

In the Anatolian part of Turkey, the Eurasian lynx is present in the Lesser Caucasus, Kaçkar Mountains and Artvin Province. In Ciglikara Nature Reserve located in the Taurus Mountains, 15 individuals were identified. More than 50 individuals were identified and monitored at a forest-steppe mixed ecosystem in northwestern Anatolia by camera traps, genetic material and radiotelemetry between 2009 and 2019. In Kars Province, a breeding population occurs in Sarıkamış-Allahuekber Mountains National Park. The Eurasian lynx and grey wolf can occur sympatrically, as they occupy different trophic niches.

In Central Asia, it is native to Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan and the Chinese provinces of Xinjiang, Gansu, Qinghai, Sichuan, Shaanxi, and to the northern slopes of Iran's Alborz Mountains and Mongolia.

In northern Pakistan, the Eurasian lynx was recorded at elevations of 1,067–5,000 m (3,501–16,404 ft) in Chitral District. In India: Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh and most other Himalayan states.

In Nepal, a Eurasian lynx was sighted in the western Dhaulagiri massif in 1975. It is also present above elevations of 3,800 m (12,500 ft) in Humla, Mustang and Dolpa Districts.

Fossils of the Eurasian or a closely related Lynx species from the Late Pleistocene era and onward were excavated at various locations in the Japanese archipelago. Since no archaeological evidence after the Yayoi period was found, it was probably eradicated during the Jōmon period.

Although they may hunt during the day when food is scarce, the Eurasian lynx is mainly nocturnal or crepuscular, and spends the day sleeping in dense thickets or other places of concealment. It lives solitarily as an adult. The hunting area of Eurasian lynx can be anything from 20 to 450 km2 (7.7 to 173.7 sq mi), depending on the local availability of prey. Males tend to hunt over much larger areas than females, which tend to occupy exclusive, rather than overlapping, hunting ranges. The Eurasian lynx can travel up to 20 km (12 mi) during one night, although about half this distance is more typical. They patrol regularly throughout all parts of their hunting range, using scent marks to indicate their presence to other individuals. As with other cats, its scent marks may consist of faeces, urine, or scrape marks, with the former often being left in prominent locations along the boundary of the hunting territory. Eurasian lynx makes a range of vocalizations, but is generally silent outside of the breeding season. They have been observed to mew, hiss, growl, and purr, and, like domestic cats, will "chatter" at prey that is just out of reach. Mating calls are much louder, consisting of deep growls in the male, and loud "meow-like" sounds in the female. Eurasian lynx are secretive, and because the sounds they make are very quiet and seldom heard, their presence in an area may go unnoticed for years. Remnants of prey or tracks on snow are usually observed long before the animal is seen.

The Eurasian lynx is an ambush predator but also hunts by stalking, sneaking and jumping on prey using both vision and hearing. When snow conditions make this harder, it may be forced to switch to larger prey. It often climbs onto high rocks or fallen trees to scan the surrounding area. It is a powerful predator that has killed adult deer weighing at least 150 kg (330 lb).

Eurasian lynx in Europe prey largely on small to fairly large sized mammals and birds. Among the recorded prey items for the species are hares, rabbits, marmots, squirrels, dormice, muskrats, martens, grouse, red foxes, wild boar, chamois, young moose, European roe deer, red deer, reindeer and other ungulates. In keeping with its larger size, the Eurasian lynx is the only lynx species to preferentially take ungulates. Although taking on larger prey presents a risk to the Eurasian lynx, the bounty provided by killing them can outweigh the risks. The Eurasian lynx thus prefers fairly large ungulate prey, especially during winter, when small prey is less abundant. Where common, roe deer appear to be the preferred prey species for the Eurasian lynx.

In Estonia, a typical adult lynx kills about 60 roe deer a year; in the years when the roe deer population plummets, the lynx switch to beavers, hares, foxes, raccoon dogs, and birds. Even where roe deer are quite uncommon, the deer are still quantitatively the favored prey species, though in summer smaller prey and occasional domestic sheep are eaten more regularly. In parts of Finland, introduced white-tailed deer are eaten regularly. In some areas in Poland and Austria, red deer is the preferred prey, and in Switzerland, chamois is locally favored. Eurasian lynx also feeds on carrion when available. Adult lynx require 1.1 to 2 kg (2.4 to 4.4 lb) of meat per day, and may take several days to fully consume some of their larger prey.

In the Mediterranean mixed forest-steppe and subalpine ecosystems of Anatolia the main and most preferred prey of the Eurasian lynx is European hare, forming 79% to 99% of prey biomass eaten. Although the lynx is in sympatry with wild ungulates, such as wild goat, chamois, red deer and wild boar in these ecosystems, ungulate biomass in lynx diet does not exceed 10%. In ten other study sites in the Black Sea region of northern Anatolia where roe deer can occur in high densities, lynx occurrence is positively correlated with European hare occurrence rather than roe deer. Lynx in Anatolia also has physiological requirements and morphological adjustments similar to other lagomorph specialists, with a daily prey intake of about 900 g (32 oz). It is therefore classified as lagomorph specialist. Diet studies in central Asia and Yakutia also indicate a diet mainly composed of lagomorphs and ungulate prey contributes in low amounts to lynx diet. Eurasian lynx scat found in Dolpa District in the Nepal Himalayas contained remains of woolly hare (Lepus oiostolus), pika (Ochotona sp.), mountain voles (Alticola sp.), Himalayan marmot (Marmota himalayana) and domestic goat (Capra hircus).

The mating season of the Eurasian lynx lasts from January to April. The female typically comes into oestrus only once during this period, lasting from four to seven days. If the first litter is lost, a second period of oestrus is common. It does not appear to be able to control its reproductive behaviour based on prey availability. Gestation lasts from 67 to 74 days. Pregnant females construct dens in secluded locations, often protected by overhanging branches or tree roots. The den is lined with feathers, deer hair, and dry grass to provide bedding for the young. At birth, Eurasian lynx kittens weigh 240 to 430 g (8.5 to 15.2 oz) and open their eyes after ten to twelve days. They initially have plain, greyish-brown fur, attaining the full adult colouration around eleven weeks of age. They begin to take solid food at six to seven weeks, when they begin to leave the den, but are not fully weaned for five or six months. The den is abandoned two to three months after the kittens are born, but the young typically remain with their mother until they are around ten months of age. Eurasian lynx reach sexual maturity at two or three years, and have lived for twenty one years in captivity.

Females usually have two kittens; litters with more than three kittens are rare.

The primary predators of the lynx are the gray wolf and, in the northern part of its range, the wolverine. In Russian forests, gray wolves kill and eat lynx that fail to escape into trees, as evidenced by examination of wolf and lynx trackways in the Central Forest Nature Reserve, and of lynx hair and bones found in wolf stomach contents in the Belovezh Forest. The lynx saves itself from its enemies by quickly climbing a tree or down the edge of a cliff or ravine; it usually lives near a 'stronghold' place and eats its food in a high tree or on an inaccessible ledge. Lynx populations decrease when wolves appear in an area, such as observed in the Pritelsk region of the Altai Mountains, and lynx are likely to take smaller prey where wolves are active. In eastern Slovakia, after an increase of wolves after World War II, lynx were observed to move out.

However, there is also a reported instance of a male lynx having expelled an adult and apparently healthy male wolf in Belarus in a fight. After the incident, the wolf vanished from the record, suggesting that it might have succumbed to the wounds sustained during the fight. Moreover, recent population dynamics and a high mortality rate among wolf cubs in the Naliboki forest might be connected to an increasing lynx population. All in all, this suggests that, at least locally, lynx may dominate wolves, since no signs for predation of wolves on lynx was found. In the Pechora-Ilych Nature Reserve in Russia, wolverine predation and consumption of lynx has been documented, and in the Altai Mountains, the lynx actively avoids wolverines.

The gray wolf, wolverine, as well as the red fox and the eagle owl, are also competitors with the Eurasian lynx for prey, notably in the taiga regions of Russia. In years of low hare populations, the competition becomes especially fierce; the lynx is at a disadvantage as its competitors are able to capture additional, larger prey animals, and more efficiently. This competition may be especially severe in the northern parts of the lynx's range, where lynx populations are vastly outnumbered by red fox and even by wolverine. The presence of other large carnivores is one factor limiting their population.

In two ecosystems of Anatolia, cannibalism was common, and fellow lynx were found to form 5% to 8% of prey biomass in their diets. Claws and bones analysed showed that sub-adult lynx were the victims of cannibalism during the mating and spring seasons. Lynx were not found in the sympatrically occurring wolves' diets. On the contrary, lynx themselves were the predators of red fox, pine marten, domestic and feral cats and dogs, and golden jackal remains have also been found in lynx fecal samples, possibly the result of carrion consumption. Occasionally, in areas such as Manchuria and the Amur River, it may be possible the Amur leopard targets lynx; in the same geographic region, Siberian tigers have also preyed on lynxes, as evidenced by examination of tiger stomach contents. In Sweden, out of 33 deaths of lynx of a population being observed, one was probably killed by a wolverine. Lynx compete for food with the predators described above, and also with the red fox, eagle owls, golden eagles, wild boar (which scavenge from lynx kills), and in the southern part of its range, the snow leopard and leopard as well. Brown bears, although not (so far as is known) a predator of Eurasian lynx, are in some areas a semi-habitual usurpers of ungulate kills by lynxes, not infrequently before the cat has had a chance to consume its kill itself.

The Eurasian lynx is included on CITES Appendix II and listed as a protected species in the Berne Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats, Appendix III. Hunting lynx is illegal in many range countries, with the exception of Estonia, Latvia, Russia, Armenia and Iraq. Since 2005, the Norwegian government sets national population goals, while a committee of representatives from county assemblies decide on hunting quotas.

Bee & Lavender (Lavendula) = Honey by Egon Philipp

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Bee & Lavender = Honey Big on Black

The lavenders (Lavandula) (Lavender) are a genus of 39 species of flowering plants in the mint family, Lamiaceae. An Old World genus, distributed from Macaronesia (Cape Verde and Canary Islands and Madeira) across Africa, the Mediterranean, South-West Asia, Arabia, Western Iran and South-East India. It is thought the genus originated in Asia but is most diversified in its western distribution. When trecking in the mountains yo will feel the aroma from the wild lavender and here

the wild bees summing arraund. The colors of the lavender is fantastic.

Culinary use

A bee on a lavender flower

Flowers also yield abundant nectar from which bees make a high-quality honey. Monofloral honey is produced primarily around the Mediterranean, and is marketed worldwide as a premium product. Flowers can be candied and are sometimes used as cake decorations. Lavender flavors baked goods and desserts (it pairs especially well with chocolate), as well as used to make "lavender sugar".[6] Lavender flowers are occasionally blended with black, green, or herbal tea, adds a fresh, relaxing scent and flavour.

Though it has many other traditional uses in southern France, lavender is not used in traditional southern French cooking.[7] In the 1970s, an herb blend called herbes de Provence usually including lavender was invented by spice wholesalers,[8] and lavender has more recently become popular in cookery.

Lavender lends a floral and slightly sweet flavor to most dishes, and is sometimes paired with sheep's-milk and goat's-milk cheeses. For most cooking applications the dried buds (also referred to as flowers) are used, though some chefs experiment with the leaves as well. Only the buds contain the essential oil of lavender, which is where the scent and flavour of lavender are best derived.

The French are also known for their lavender syrup, most commonly made from an extract of lavender. In the United States, both French lavender syrup and dried lavender buds make lavender scones and marshmallows.

[edit] Medicinal use

Lavender is used extensively with herbs and aromatherapy.

English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) yields an essential oil with sweet overtones, and can be used in balms, salves, perfumes, cosmetics, and topical applications. Lavandin, Lavandula × intermedia (also known as Dutch lavender), yields a similar essential oil, but with higher levels of terpenes including camphor, which add a sharper overtone to the fragrance. Mexican lavender, Lavandula stoechas is not used medicinally, but mainly for landscaping.

Essential oil of lavender has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. It was used in hospitals during WWI to disinfect floors and walls. These extracts are also used as fragrances for bath products.

According to folk wisdom, lavender has many uses. Infusions of lavender soothes, heal insect bites and burns. Bunches of lavender repel insects. If applied to the temples, lavender oil soothes headaches. In pillows, lavender seeds and flowers aid sleep and relaxation. An infusion of three flowerheads added to a cup of boiling water soothes and relaxes at bedtime. Lavender oil (or extract of Lavender) heals acne when used diluted 1:10 with water, rosewater, or witch hazel; it also treats skin burns and inflammatory conditions.[citation needed]

A recent clinical study investigated anxiolytic effects and influence on sleep quality. Lavender oil with a high percentage of linalool and linalyl acetate, in form of capsules, was generally well tolerated. It showed meaningful efficacy in alleviating anxiety and related sleep disturbances.[9] In Germany, the capsules are available under the trade name Lasea.

[edit]

Bees play an important role in pollinating flowering plants, and are the major type of pollinator in ecosystems that contain flowering plants. Bees either focus on gathering nectar or on gathering pollen depending on demand, especially in social species. Bees gathering nectar may accomplish pollination, but bees that are deliberately gathering pollen are more efficient pollinators. It is estimated that one third of the human food supply depends on insect pollination, most of which is accomplished by bees, especially the domesticated European honey bee. Contract pollination has overtaken the role of honey production for beekeepers in many countries. Monoculture and the massive decline of many bee species (both wild and domesticated) have increasingly caused honey bee keepers to become migratory so that bees can be concentrated in seasonally varying high-demand areas of pollination.

Honey bee (Apis mellifera) collecting pollen

Most bees are fuzzy and carry an electrostatic charge, which aids in the adherence of pollen. Female bees periodically stop foraging and groom themselves to pack the pollen into the scopa, which is on the legs in most bees, and on the ventral abdomen on others, and modified into specialized pollen baskets on the legs of honey bees and their relatives. Many bees are opportunistic foragers, and will gather pollen from a variety of plants, while others are oligolectic, gathering pollen from only one or a few types of plant. A small number of plants produce nutritious floral oils rather than pollen, which are gathered and used by oligolectic bees. One small subgroup of stingless bees, called "vulture bees," is specialized to feed on carrion, and these are the only bees that do not use plant products as food. Pollen and nectar are usually combined together to form a "provision mass", which is often soupy, but can be firm. It is formed into various shapes (typically spheroid), and stored in a small chamber (a "cell"), with the egg deposited on the mass. The cell is typically sealed after the egg is laid, and the adult and larva never interact directly (a system called "mass provisioning").

In New Zealand scientists discovered that three genera of native bees have evolved to open flower buds of the native mistletoe Peraxilla tetrapetala. The buds cannot open themselves but are visited by birds such as the tui and bellbird which twist the top of the ripe bud. That action releases a mechanism which causes the petals to suddenly spring open, giving access to the nectar and pollen. However, when observing the native bees in the Canterbury province in the South Island, the scientists were astonished to see the bees biting the top off the buds, then pushing with their legs, occasionally popping open the buds to allow the bees to harvest the nectar and pollen, and therefore aid in the pollination of the mistletoe which is in decline in New Zealand. Nowhere else in the world have bees demonstrated ability to open explosive bird-adapted flowers.[2]

Visiting flowers can be a dangerous occupation. Many assassin bugs and crab spiders hide in flowers to capture unwary bees. Other bees are lost to birds in flight. Insecticides used on blooming plants kill many bees, both by direct poisoning and by contamination of their food supply. A honey bee queen may lay 2000 eggs per day during spring buildup, but she also must lay 1000 to 1500 eggs per day during the foraging season, mostly to replace daily casualties, most of which are workers dying of old age. Among solitary and primitively social bees, however, lifetime reproduction is among the lowest of all insects, as it is common for females of such species to produce fewer than 25 offspring.

The population value of bees depends partly on the individual efficiency of the bees, but also on the population itself. Thus while bumblebees have been found to be about ten times more efficient pollinators on cucurbits, the total efficiency of a colony of honey bees is much greater due to greater numbers. Likewise during early spring orchard blossoms, bumblebee populations are limited to only a few queens, and thus are not significant pollinators of early fruit.

His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama distributes sand from the Kalachakra Mandala to a lama, while others wait in line, Verizon Center, monitor, Kalachakra for World Peace, Washington D.C. USA by Wonderlane

1

It is said that a few grains of this sand placed on their head can help focus a dying person to direct them to a good life, or to a heaven realm, and best yet to enlightenment in the bardo state (between lives) - so people compete to get some sand. That is why you see His Holiness the Great 14th Dalai Lama doling out little cups of the mandala sand to monks and nuns based on their vow date (He jokes "OK, who has been working here the longest?")

White-spotted Pug Moth (Eupithecia tripunctaria) by Nick Dobbs

2

This species is widely distributed throughout Britain, except the north of Scotland, and can be locally common. It occupies damp areas and woodland, and has two generations, with adults on the wing in May and June and then in July and August. The larvae are yellowish green, and attractively marked with brown, and feed on the flowers and seeds of wild angelica (Angelica sylvestris) and hogweed (Heracleum). The spring generation also feeds on the flowers of elder (Sambucus nigra). Photo by Nick Dobbs, Bournemouth, Dorset 26-07-18

Santa Distributing The Christmas Presents On Christmas Eve (12-‎24-‎2021) Video Part 1 by 54WilliamGJusto54 (weather enthusiast)

Santa distributing all the Christmas presents! Fun times... This was at my family's annual Christmas gathering at my cousin Melinda's place in Stockton, CA. Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas and a safe new year! (Friday evening, ‎December ‎24, ‎2021)

*"Christmas is the spirit of giving without a thought of getting. It is happiness because we see joy in people. It is forgetting self and finding time for others. It is discarding the meaningless and stressing the true values." — Thomas S. Monson.

Grevy's Zebra, Marwell Zoo, England by inyathi

2

Grevy's Zebras were once quite widely distributed in the Horn of Africa, in Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia, their former presence in Eritrea and Djibouti is uncertain but they may have occurred there, now they are classified as endangered, the largest wild populations are in Kenya, otherwise just a handful survive on the Alledeghi Plain near Awash National Park in Ethiopia and in the south of the country on the Kenya border, the species has been extirpated in Somalia.

In 1882 during the Scramble for Africa when the European powers were dividing up the continent, the Ethiopian Emperor Menelik II rightly concerned that Italy had their eyes on his country, wanted to be friends with France, he sent one of these zebras to the then President of France, a Monsieur Jules Grevy, the animal died soon after its arrival and was sent to a museum, a French zoologist Émile Oustalet, noted that it was a different species of zebra that he had not seen before, so he named it Grevy's Zebra (Equus grevyi).

In fact the Zebra sent to France in 1882 was not the first in Europe, these zebras were known to the Romans and imported to be displayed in their arenas, they knew them as hippotigris, which literally translates as horse-tiger. That the Romans were able to obtain Grevy's Zebras, does suggest that at the time, they must have been found further north, at least as far as the Red Sea coast in Eritrea or perhaps even Sudan

Distributed power by Tristan James

4

Near Lookout, on Union Pacific’s Brooklyn Subdivision in Oregon. May 6, 2007.

Face of Rainbow Lorikeet by Wanda Tofani

11 12

Lories and lorikeets (tribe Lorini) are small to medium-sized arboreal parrots characterized by their specialized brush-tipped tongues for feeding on nectar of various blossoms and soft fruits, preferably berries.

They are widely distributed throughout the Australasian region, including south-eastern Asia, Polynesia, Papua New Guinea, Timor Leste and Australia, and the majority have very brightly coloured plumage.

Cattleya cernua (Sophronitis cernua) by Nelci Mariel Demartín

5 7

Sophronitis cernua is distributed in a vast territory covering: Northeast of Argentina, Paraguay and Brasil.

Sophronitis Cernua is a plant that is crawling, and Woody rhizomes with roots thick, abundant, lying, wrinkled pseudobulbs and shape elliptical, with one piece thick and prostrate, with ovoid shape, dark green in colour tending to greyish.

Inflorescences of the Orchid Sophronitis Cernua are pendulous arched, forming short clusters and apical, a striking reddish orange color.

Max by Douglas Remington

15 44

*** Visit terms in profile before commenting or inviting to a group. All photos are © copyright Douglas Remington - Ethereal Light™ all rights reserved. All photos and information contained in this posting or publication may not be copied, downloaded, used in blogs, distributed, broadcast, used on the internet for private or commercial use, or used in anyway whatsoever without the written consent of Douglas Remington/Ethereal Light™. Violators will be prosecuted within the fullest extent of the

law.***

www.ethereallight.com

***click below for flick river stream***

www.flickriver.com/photos/ethereallight/

Woodard Distributing Volvo by tnsamiam

1

Distributed Power by Lindsay

5 1

3830 with the BHP Youth Orchestra train, has amalgamated with 3801 on the regular "Cockatoo Run", and the combined trains start out of Moss Vale bound for Wollongong via Robertson 19980418

Education By The Numbers: Online Courses by Province of British Columbia

1

Back to School 2015: Nearly 78,500 students took at least one online (distributed learning) course in 2014-15. That compares to approximately 33,000 students in 2006-07.

Water Distribute Camp by Deepak Singh

2022 Good Friday

We have distributed water from the Sporshow Church Of India

"Apple Aiming" ('10) by Guo Hao & Thea Rechner for "IMAGING THE APPLE" at AC Institute [Direct Chapel], NYC, March '10 - 2 by Miki

GUO HAO & THEA RECHNER

"Apple Aiming" (2010)

VIDEO AND INSTALLATION

imagingtheapple.com/

IMAGING THE APPLE

AC INSTITUTE [DIRECT CHAPEL]

547 W27th St. 5th and 6th floors

New York 10001

New York

Curated by:

JOHN R. NEESON

ELIZABETH GOWER

Exhibition dates:

MARCH 25 - MAY 1, 2010

imagingtheapple.com/pages/pressrelease1

IMAGING THE APPLE

PRESS RELEASE

Forty-eight artists have been invited to exhibit responses to IMAGING THE APPLE.

The exhibition is scheduled from March 25 to May 1, 2010 at AC Institute [Direct Chapel] 547 West 27th Street, 5th & 6th floors, New York. www.artcurrents.org

IMAGING THE APPLE is a development of a successful show that toured the Eastern states of Australia in 2004 . 2005. The original exhibition was organized by artist/curator John R. Neeson who is co-curating the New York version with Elizabeth Gower also a Melbourne based artist/curator.

The New York show includes Artists from Stockholm, Beijing, Pittsburg, New York, Toledo, Hollywood, Auckland, Plymouth, Melbourne and Sydney; and in the case of Billy Tjampijinpa Kenda from an area in Central Australia as geographically remote from New York City as it's possible to get.

The Artists represent a cross generational group, with established and well known Artists such as Yoko Ono and Billy Apple, exhibiting alongside mid-career and emerging Artists, using a diverse range of media including text, photography, installation, video, sound and painting.

The conceptual basis for IMAGING THE APPLE references Paul Cézanne's ambition to 'astound Paris with the painting of a single apple'.

The apple has been a significant and reoccurring emblem in factual stories, legends and myths throughout western history.

Never actually identified as the guilty 'fruit of temptation' in the Garden of Eden, an apple nevertheless has been universally represented as the culprit for twenty centuries.

The 'apple' features in the Judgment of Paris from Ancient Greece; in the various legends of William Tell and Snow White and the poison apple from central Europe, in Isaac Newton's revelation on gravity from England, in the origin of the Granny Smith apple from Australia, and from America, Johnny Apple seed.

There is also considerable mythology surrounding why New York City became known as the .big apple.. One story is, that in the jargon of US jazz musicians a gig was an .apple. and a gig in New York City, the big apple. A second tale. dating from the 19th Century concerns a high-class bordello, run by Eve, who had the best .apples. in town.

In colloquial Australian "she'll be apples" translates, as "it will be fine" while 'an Apple a day keeps the doctor away', 'an apple for the teacher' and 'the apple of my eye' are epithets common in the English-speaking world that associates the apple with health and goodness.

Finally 'apple' has become an enduring contemporary icon associated with the legendary Beatles company, the personal computers and ipod.

All these associations resonate in various degrees of intensity through the forty-eight responses in IMAGING THE APPLE.

IMAGING THE APPLE is accompanied by a catalogue, documenting the works, and including a project essay by John R.Neeson. It is published by AC Institute and distributed by Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

IMAGING THE APPLE has received a grant through the Dame Joan Sutherland Fund from the Australian American Association and in-kind sponsorship from Chapman & Bailey, an Australian based Art materials company.

Artists presenting responses: -

Billy Apple, Peter Burke, Jon Campbell, Ross Coulter, Holly Crawford, Penelope Davis, Kate Daw, Kim Donaldson, Janenne Eaton, Steve Ellis, Andrew Erdos, Juan Ford, Sue Ford, Clark V. Fox, Timothy Gaewsky, Martin Gantman, Michael Georgetti, Elizabeth Gower, Denise Green, Hao Guo & Thea Rechner, Jayne Holsinger, Natasha Johns-Messenger, Kate Just, Larry Kagan, Billy Tjampijinpa Kenda, Sardi Klein, Richard Kostelanetz, Kevin Laverty, Deven Marriner, Ben Matthews, Rob McKenzie & Kain Picken, My Dog Sighs, John R. Neeson, Yoko Ono, Mary Lou Pavlovic, Amy Pivak, Paul Ross, Andreas Söderberg, Spoonbill, Charles Tashiro, Brie Trenerry, Nico Vassilakis, Dan Waber, Cara Wood-Ginder, Max Yawney, Anne Zahalka.

Contact:

theappleprojects@gmail.com

info@artcurrents.com

2008-03-22_30-swieconka.jpg by ilvic

Distributing the consecrated bread for the Easter meal in front of the Mariacki church, Kraków, Poland

Purple Cat #1 by Michael Studt

4

Purple Cat

Cover: Jay Lynch

The Adam's Apple Distributing Co. (Chicago/USA; 1973)

ex libris MTP

www.comics.org/issue/953902/

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jay_Lynch

Christian Aid Poverty direct mail pack by Howard Lake

Distributed in September 2009.

SproutLoud Boosts Integrated Direct Marketing Power for Distributed Marketers with New E-mail Release by SproutLoud SproutLoud

SproutLoud Boosts Integrated Direct Marketing Power for Distributed Marketers with New E-mail Release

Sunrise, FL – August 17, 2011 –SproutLoud, in partnership with ExactTarget, has added e-mail to its roster of integrated direct marketing programs for distributed marketers in its latest release, which also includes an improved user interface an expanded feature set.

The module works together seamlessly with SproutLoud’s direct mail and PURL (personalized URL) technology, enabling companies to develop branded cross media campaigns using a single application. It’s designed to handle many different types of campaigns, including individual orders, trigger based and drip marketing programs, and Auto Enroll ™ programs that use a single subscription to enlist participants in multi-touchpoint campaigns. Each type of campaign can be set up for acquisition or retention-based programs.

“We really want to offer the distributed marketing organizations that form our customer base the best range of integrated media options so they can test and optimize their marketing programs. Different markets respond best to different types of media, and we now offer brands and their local marketing partners the opportunity to reach their prospects and customers in the one their targets prefer,” stated Gary Ritkes, Managing Partner, Sales.

SproutLoud’s alliance with ExactTarget raises the response bar even higher, by providing clients the bandwidth, security and authentication processes to maximize delivery rates and ensure e-mail campaigns steer clear of SPAM filters to reach their intended targets.

“One of the key reasons companies partner with SproutLoud is the ability to maintain brand integrity across all of their local marketing programs,” Jared Shusterman, CEO and Managing Partner, commented. “ExactTarget’s existing methods and policies that meet SPAM requirements and ensure a company’s e-mail reputation and behavior is above reproach complements our goals as well as our clients’ interests.”

About SproutLoud

Headquartered in Sunrise, FL, SproutLoud helps companies manage their brands and messages in local-level marketing. SproutLoud's web-based Marketing Resource Management (MRM) application provides robust marketing features in an easy to use interface, enabling local marketers to access the materials they need in the media of their choice, customize them, and reach their target audience with brand-controlled messaging.

SproutLoud solutions adapt easily for any local network, including sales channels, franchises, retail locations, dealer networks, VAR Programs, field employees/offices, and affiliates. Their platform manages brand compliance, increases speed to market, automates manual tasks, and provides robust reporting, empowering marketers with the resources of national brands and making local marketing work smarter.

Contact: Raleigh Susskind

rsuskind@sproutloud.com

15431 S.W. 14th Street

Sunrise, FL 33326

Ph: 954.476.6211 x150

Quick Town By AffordableModelRailroads.com Photo Realistc Background Kits - Allstar Distributing Front Left by AffordableModelRailroads.com

AffordableModelRailroads.com Quick Town Photo Realistic Background Building Kits - Allstar Distributing. Kits For Sale At www.AffordableModelRailroads.com

Designed By James P. Adams for AffordableModelRailroads.com

Built By: James P. Adams for

AffordableModelRailroads.com

Home Front kitchen by cshym74

4 2

Home Front kitchen

“This kitchen illustrates a typical family kitchen in 1942. The shelf is stocked with staples: flour, sugar, coffee, and seasonings. A radio is kept in the kitchen so the family can listen to the news about the war or their favorite shows while eating breakfast and preparing meals. Food Ration Books and information are sitting on the table so they can plan their meals for the week and make a shopping list. The bowl of fruit is freshly picked from their ‘victory garden.’ Very few appliances are being made because manufacturing has changed over to the war effort, so the 1930s refrigerator will have to keep working until the war is over. Making comfort items to send overseas was a very popular activity for women on the home front. The “Purl Harder” poster encourages women to keep knitting sicks, vests, sweaters, and mufflers for soldiers.”

You Can Lick Runaway Prices

Poster, 1941-1946

“Information on rationing and price controls was widely distributed, often assuring consumers that their personal actions would have an impact on the war effort.”

from the exhibit: Home Front:

Santa Clara Valley's World War II Experience

tinyurl.com/ludrpx

History Park at Kelley Park

San Jose, CA

tinyurl.com/no3c4z

(7324)

@4tuneQkie's #AlexTweetup badge * Baikonur * May 26th - 30th 2014 * #FF @Astro_Alex * CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 DE * https://www.flickr.com/photos/spaceholix/sets/72157644182872632/ * © STATE OFFICE FOR HERITAGE MANAGEMENT AND ARCHAEOLOGY by 4tuneQkie

#OnceUponATime

In spring 2013 I organized #SpaceBembel, a #SpaceSocial where a group of #SpaceTweeps got together again to share some space fun in Frankfurt.

As one of my mottos is "no #SpaceTweetup without a proper badge" I designed one and distributed it to all participants.

What I had started back then became kind of a tradition in the meantime:

Inspired by several #Space- and #ScienceTweetups I painted logos for every event I attended,

got them printed on badges for all, as well as thank-you posters, t-shirts, etc. as memento of our shared adventures.

And 2013 has been quite a ride :-)

#SpaceBembel *

#ASE26 *

#BuraMooN 1 & 2 * #SpaceKoelschX * #CERNTweetup * #ItIsStonehengeReunionOClock * #ScienceTweetup

And 2014 is also amazing already:

I already created designs for #SpaceFestVI and #AlexTweetup taking place in May

and @SpaceUpUK in July 2014.

I am very much looking forward to sharing these events with so many friends from all over the world.

More to come ;-)

www.flickr.com/photos/spaceholix/collections/721576354819...

So #AlexTweetup is about our trip to Baikonur shared by 16 dedicated #SpaceTweeps and two #SpaceMascots named #PinkLittleDragon and @CamillaSpace.

All of us will share this unique adventure of witnessing the Soyuz launch of our German astronaut Alexander Gerst ( #FF @Astro_Alex ) to #ISS on 28. May 2014 via Twitter, Facebook and other social media channels.

Here is the collection of my brainstorming and the design process as well as many pictures of the past 5 years, from the day at #TdLR09, where we "met" Alexander Gerst and the other #shenanigans for the very first (but not the last) time, shortly after their assignments for a trip to #ISS.

Oh yes, there was a time before twitter and other social media ;-)

www.flickr.com/photos/spaceholix/sets/72157644182872632/

My latest design features the #NebraSkydisk - one of the most beautiful and most fascinating archeological and astronomical artefacts ever found - until today.

This is the oldest-known illustration of our cosmos so far, with an estimated age of 3600 years (!!!), the earliest known diagram of the heavens, which makes it one or may be THE most important archaeological discovery of the twenty-first century.

It was discovered by treasure hunters on July 4th 1999 near the city of Nebra in Germany and since then fascinates not only the experts as its history is really exciting from then till now.

www.dailymotion.com/video/x1a45jq_the-nebra-sky-disc-anci...

www.bibliotecapleyades.net/arqueologia/nebra_disk.htm

I fell in love with this beauty as soon as I saw it the very first time several years ago.

And I always wanted to paint it one day!

So what better match could there be than combining this masterpiece -created by stargazers thousands of years ago, who loved observing (and already started understanding) our night sky- with two fantastic #SpaceEvents in May 2014.

#SpaceFestVI in Pasadena ( www.spacefest.info/VI/brochure.html ), THE #SpaceEvent of the year, where many astronauts of the dawning of space exploration did reunite and inspire all of us

and then -end of May- our #AlexTweetup - where we celebrate the launch of @esa astronaut Alexander Gerst, whose mission name is #TheBlueDot (!!!).

Both events bring people together (again), who travel all around the world to share their love of space and our beautiful blue marble …

And I am really honored that sharing my badges and designs with so many #SpaceTweeps AND astronauts of the very first era of space exploration until today made so many people smile again. And these smiles seem to be contagious ;-D

I cannot really explain it, there simply is this very special close link between us.

NOTE:

#NebraSkyDisk is under the copyright of the Landesamt für Denkmalpflege und Archäologie Sachsen-Anhalt

- Landesmuseum für Vorgeschichte -

As my design project is an artistic realization for two private travel groups, I was kindly given official permission to integrate the #NebraSkydisk in my artworks here.

Hence I have to emphasize that my artwork may ONLY be shared as per following license:

CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 DE

I herewith explicitly send my thanks to the

STATE OFFICE FOR HERITAGE MANAGEMENT AND ARCHAEOLOGY

- THE STATE MUSEUM OF PREHISTORY IN HALLE / GERMANY -

and - as asked for - I will gladly send pictures of my design as well as badges and photos of #SpaceFestVI in Pasadena and #AlexTweetup in Baikonur to the Museum for its collection / exhibition.

It is my pleasure to share the #NebraSkydisk far beyond the borders of Germany - especially during events, which only can take place, because some people started documenting their night-sky-observations thousands of years ago.

#SpaceholixThenAndNow ;-)

Covered below is an overview of all the details embodied in my #AlexTweetup mission logo

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

#AlexTweetup

- Facebook group for all #SpaceTweeps interested in the trip to the launch of Alexander Gerst on 28. May 2014

www.dlr.de/dlr/presse/desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-10308/471...

Baikonur * May 26th - 30th 2014

- Travel period for #AlexTweetup in Baikonur

BLUE DOT

- Mission name of Alexander Gerst

XL

- Mission no. 40 - in roman numerals

THEN + NOW

- Connection between space exploration THEN #NebraSkydisk (dated about 3.600 years ago in Germany) and NOW (#BlueDot mission of German astronaut Alexander Gerst)

WISEMAN * GERST * SURAJEW

- names of the international crew of mission no. 40

www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Human_Spaceflight/Astronauts/A...

SHAPING THE FUTURE ...

Mission theme of Alexander Gerst's mission #BlueDot

... IN LEO

- Abbreviation LEO #LowEarthOrbit - the home of #ISS

CONSTELLATIONS:

LEO

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leo_(constellation)

- reflecting LowEarthOrbit - the orbit of #ISS

DRACO

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Draco_(constellation)

- representing #DRAGON - the partially reusable spacecraft developed by @SpaceX, which has docked to #ISS already several times and will deliver cargo regularly.

We enjoyed seeing the capsule used during the maiden flight in Florida at SpaceX Launch Control Center during an event before the #NASATweetup for #STS135

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Draco_(rocket_engine)

- also representing #PinkLittleDragon - the travel buddy of #The2AndAHalfSpaceTweeps @LightspeedLeo @4tuneQkie and @travelholic ( avoving @Spaceholix ) and our #SpaceMascot.

This #VIP #VeryInspiringPinkLittleDragon is traveling all around the world with us and he already has attended several great #SpaceTweetup and #ScienceTweetup events organized by @NASA @DLR_de @ESA @CERN @Helmholtz_de as well as #ASE26 #SpaceFestV and #SpaceFestVI

and he has already met many of the most inspiring #SpaceExplorers and #Astronauts from the #Mercury and #Apollo era - till today, as well as #scientists @MeteoriteMen #CometHunters ...

SWAN

- representing the footprint / autograph of our dear friend and great #SpaceMascot and #VIP #VeryIntelligentPoultry:

@CamillaSpace is encouraging not only children of all ages to ask questions about the Sun and space and she was planned to be part of this mission accompanying NASA astronaut @astro_reid on his trip to #ISS.

Her footprint is heading from the Swiss flag (home country of Camilla's "executive secretary" Romeo Durscher ( about.me/romeoch ) to the US flag via #ISS

www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/structure/elements/par...

XXVIII

V

MMXIV

- 28. 05. 2014 = launch date of mission 40 in roman numerals stylised in shape of ISS

* “ @ “ AND “ # “

- reflecting the tools of the peer-to-peer connection of astronauts @Astro_Alex and @astro_reid and many others with #SpaceTweeps and future space enthusiasts, who will further spread news about the adventures all around the world via social media channels, e.g. @twitter, Facebook, Google+ and others.

16 FLAGS

- representing all current international partners and participants cooperating on #ISS – the most ambitious international collaboration ever

which -in my eyes- really would be worthy of the nobel peace prize www.spacesafetymagazine.com/iss-nobel-peace-prize/

Between the flags I left additional room for more countries to join that global project in the near future.

Especially in difficult political times like today this cooperation hopefully will enable our world to grow together more closely step by step.

Now we are looking forward to this trip and are curious how everything will work out.

This definitely is a very adventurous trip and if someone had told me 5 years ago, when we met that guy in blue for the very first time that we would be going to KAZAKHSTAN half a decade later to see HIS launch, I would NEVER EVER have believed it.

It seems our lives as #Spaceholix have many surprises in store for us ;-)

If YOU want to know more about all this, just follow the hashtag of our group:

#AlexTweetup

;-)

1612wk5481rig by WIESIA

Distributing texts of fr. Alois meditation

Arizona National Guard by The National Guard

1

Arizona National Guard service members built boxes and then filled the boxes with food to be distributed at a local food bank in Mesa, Ariz., Dec. 4, 2020. Arizona Citizen-Soldiers and Airmen continue to support community needs during this state of emergency response. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Michael Matkin)

Distributing Bags by shalomshalomjerusalem

The men distribute the canvas bags among the families for personal belongings that have been donated in the past week.

IonIsraelMedia

www.shalom-shalom-jerusalem.org

Distributing Tech by Phil Roeder

1

The largest school district in Iowa is not going to finish the year in the classroom but through distance learning. A big first step is making sure students have access to technology at home. I dropped by North and Roosevelt high schools as laptops were being distributed to high school seniors in need.

Western Distributing by tnsamiam

2

@4tuneQkie's #AlexTweetup badge * #BlueDot * #AlexTweetup #BlueDot #GoAlex #Soyuz #TMA13M * Baikonur * May 26th - 30th 2014 * #FF @Astro_Alex * CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 DE * https://www.flickr.com/photos/spaceholix/sets/72157644182872632/ by 4tuneQkie

#OnceUponATime

In spring 2013 I organized #SpaceBembel, a #SpaceSocial where a group of #SpaceTweeps got together again to share some space fun in Frankfurt.

As one of my mottos is "no #SpaceTweetup without a proper badge" I designed one and distributed it to all participants.

What I had started back then became kind of a tradition in the meantime:

Inspired by several #Space- and #ScienceTweetups I painted logos for every event I attended,

got them printed on badges for all, as well as thank-you posters, t-shirts, etc. as memento of our shared adventures.

And 2013 has been quite a ride :-)

#SpaceBembel *

#ASE26 *

#BuraMooN 1 & 2 * #SpaceKoelschX * #CERNTweetup * #ItIsStonehengeReunionOClock * #ScienceTweetup

And 2014 is also amazing already:

I already created designs for #SpaceFestVI and #AlexTweetup taking place in May

and @SpaceUpUK in July 2014.

I am very much looking forward to sharing these events with so many friends from all over the world.

More to come ;-)

www.flickr.com/photos/spaceholix/collections/721576354819...

So #AlexTweetup is about our trip to Baikonur shared by 16 dedicated #SpaceTweeps and two #SpaceMascots named #PinkLittleDragon and @CamillaSpace.

All of us will share this unique adventure of witnessing the Soyuz launch of our German astronaut Alexander Gerst ( #FF @Astro_Alex ) to #ISS on 28. May 2014 via Twitter, Facebook and other social media channels.

Here is the collection of my brainstorming and the design process as well as many pictures of the past 5 years, from the day at #TdLR09, where we "met" Alexander Gerst and the other #shenanigans for the very first (but not the last) time, shortly after their assignments for a trip to #ISS.

Oh yes, there was a time before twitter and other social media ;-)

www.flickr.com/photos/spaceholix/sets/72157644182872632/

My latest design features the #NebraSkydisk - one of the most beautiful and most fascinating archeological and astronomical artefacts ever found - until today.

This is the oldest-known illustration of our cosmos so far, with an estimated age of 3600 years (!!!), the earliest known diagram of the heavens, which makes it one or may be THE most important archaeological discovery of the twenty-first century.

It was discovered by treasure hunters on July 4th 1999 near the city of Nebra in Germany and since then fascinates not only the experts as its history is really exciting from then till now.

www.dailymotion.com/video/x1a45jq_the-nebra-sky-disc-anci...

www.bibliotecapleyades.net/arqueologia/nebra_disk.htm

I fell in love with this beauty as soon as I saw it the very first time several years ago.

And I always wanted to paint it one day!

So what better match could there be than combining this masterpiece -created by stargazers thousands of years ago, who loved observing (and already started understanding) our night sky- with two fantastic #SpaceEvents in May 2014.

#SpaceFestVI in Pasadena ( www.spacefest.info/VI/brochure.html ), THE #SpaceEvent of the year, where many astronauts of the dawning of space exploration did reunite and inspire all of us

and then -end of May- our #AlexTweetup - where we celebrate the launch of @esa astronaut Alexander Gerst, whose mission name is #TheBlueDot (!!!).

Both events bring people together (again), who travel all around the world to share their love of space and our beautiful blue marble …

And I am really honored that sharing my badges and designs with so many #SpaceTweeps AND astronauts of the very first era of space exploration until today made so many people smile again. And these smiles seem to be contagious ;-D

I cannot really explain it, there simply is this very special close link between us.

NOTE:

#NebraSkyDisk is under the copyright of the Landesamt für Denkmalpflege und Archäologie Sachsen-Anhalt

- Landesmuseum für Vorgeschichte -

As my design project is an artistic realization for two private travel groups, I was kindly given official permission to integrate the #NebraSkydisk in my artworks here.

Hence I have to emphasize that my artwork may ONLY be shared as per following license:

CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 DE

I herewith explicitly send my thanks to the

STATE OFFICE FOR HERITAGE MANAGEMENT AND ARCHAEOLOGY

- THE STATE MUSEUM OF PREHISTORY IN HALLE / GERMANY -

and - as asked for - I will gladly send pictures of my design as well as badges and photos of #SpaceFestVI in Pasadena and #AlexTweetup in Baikonur to the Museum for its collection / exhibition.

It is my pleasure to share the #NebraSkydisk far beyond the borders of Germany - especially during events, which only can take place, because some people started documenting their night-sky-observations thousands of years ago.

#SpaceholixThenAndNow ;-)

Covered below is an overview of all the details embodied in my #AlexTweetup mission logo

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#AlexTweetup

- Facebook group for all #SpaceTweeps interested in the trip to the launch of Alexander Gerst on 28. May 2014

www.dlr.de/dlr/presse/desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-10308/471...

Baikonur * May 26th - 30th 2014

- Travel period for #AlexTweetup in Baikonur

BLUE DOT

- Mission name of Alexander Gerst

XL

- Mission no. 40 - in roman numerals

THEN + NOW

- Connection between space exploration THEN #NebraSkydisk (dated about 3.600 years ago in Germany) and NOW (#BlueDot mission of German astronaut Alexander Gerst)

WISEMAN * GERST * SURAJEW

- names of the international crew of mission no. 40

www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Human_Spaceflight/Astronauts/A...

SHAPING THE FUTURE ...

Mission theme of Alexander Gerst's mission #BlueDot

... IN LEO

- Abbreviation LEO #LowEarthOrbit - the home of #ISS

CONSTELLATIONS:

LEO

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leo_(constellation)

- reflecting LowEarthOrbit - the orbit of #ISS

DRACO

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Draco_(constellation)

- representing #DRAGON - the partially reusable spacecraft developed by @SpaceX, which has docked to #ISS already several times and will deliver cargo regularly.

We enjoyed seeing the capsule used during the maiden flight in Florida at SpaceX Launch Control Center during an event before the #NASATweetup for #STS135

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Draco_(rocket_engine)

- also representing #PinkLittleDragon - the travel buddy of #The2AndAHalfSpaceTweeps @LightspeedLeo @4tuneQkie and @travelholic ( avoving @Spaceholix ) and our #SpaceMascot.

This #VIP #VeryInspiringPinkLittleDragon is traveling all around the world with us and he already has attended several great #SpaceTweetup and #ScienceTweetup events organized by @NASA @DLR_de @ESA @CERN @Helmholtz_de as well as #ASE26 #SpaceFestV and #SpaceFestVI

and he has already met many of the most inspiring #SpaceExplorers and #Astronauts from the #Mercury and #Apollo era - till today, as well as #scientists @MeteoriteMen #CometHunters ...

SWAN

- representing the footprint / autograph of our dear friend and great #SpaceMascot and #VIP #VeryIntelligentPoultry:

@CamillaSpace is encouraging not only children of all ages to ask questions about the Sun and space and she was planned to be part of this mission accompanying NASA astronaut @astro_reid on his trip to #ISS.

Her footprint is heading from the Swiss flag (home country of Camilla's "executive secretary" Romeo Durscher ( about.me/romeoch ) to the US flag via #ISS