View allAll Photos Tagged Ecosystem
Red-headed Woodpecker (RHWO) with acorn at Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve, where they have been thriving and commonly staying the winter with good acorn crops. Look closely and you can see the antenna of a radio transmitter backpack. This individual’s migration was being tracked.
MEANINGFUL FUN & SOCIAL PROFIT
Caring Currency Project – a Fun and Exciting opportunity to be happier, make more friends find meaning in your life and build your reputation as being Part Of the Solution (POS) in business, society… JOIN US, and make China and the world a better place.
(How China Saved the World)
How? Help us create, develop and share the “Caring Currency” ecosystem – a much needed complimentary and alternative ecosystem to the high stress, high pressure, low satisfaction lifestyles we are living today. Become Part Of the Solution, create a Caring Currency used in a Lifestyle Of Health, Happiness And Sustainability (LOHHAS).
Ecosystem?
We live in ecosystems - Cultural, Financial and Environmental…they’re all related and interdependent. Actually, everything is dependent on our Environmental Ecosystem, because without food, water and air there is no human culture or opportunity to do business and support the human world we’ve created. Caring Currency will fill the gaps and connect the dots, making our lives meaningful.
The BLOCKCHAIN
The BLOCKCHAIN is the brilliant underlying technology of Bitcoin, creating a world-wide, peer-to-peer medium of exchange, accounting system with methods to store value. Build your reputation in a trustless system - no third party, but instead a face-to-face and peer-to-peer people-oriented platform. Caring Currency has priceless, special values - human values.
What about business? Show Me the Money...
Smart people realize that money is only money. You can’t eat or drink it. You can’t have a conversation with it, and as much as we need it and want it, it distorts our perspectives and controls our lives in many negative ways. The pursuit of money alone hurts us and the planet we depend on.
Caring Currency is a financial business on the BLOCKCHAIN – the home of the Republic Of Conscience.
Caring Currency is a New, Parallel World – in the Republic Of Conscience
Hard to define in old terms, nothing comparable to the Republic Of Conscience has existed until the connectivity of the internet and accounting of the BLOCKCHAIN made it possible… Old financial terms and structures that existed prior to the BLOCKCHAIN and Bitcoin – Money, Security, medium of exchange etc. will be naturally updated to freely serve people around the world in new ways.
Freedom..
Although we live different nations, with all their opportunities and restrictions, we can free ourselves from those burdens by changing our attitudes, outlook and decision-making criteria. Caring Currency expresses the Freedom of our individual State Of Mind in the Republic Of Conscience.
FUN…and Education
With a variety of fun coin names like KuaiLeBi (Happy Coin) and DUCKeCOIN, Caring Currency is (1.) first meant to bring light-hearted fun and smiles to people’s faces and make their lives and relationships happier, and (2.) secondly, exercise the practice of giving back to society, building generosity, social cohesion and harmony. (3.) Thirdly, give the masses practical, technical experience with virtualcurrency, wallets and transferring values through the BLOCKCHAIN.
INVESTMENT
What is most important to you? Money or Friends?
I have a question for you… can you buy friends?
Some people think they can, but the quality of those friendships are always very poor.
However, you can definitely “invest” in friendship by INVESTING IN YOURSELF. (To find more friends, you must invest in learning to BE a friend!)
HOW YOU CAN LEAD A HAPPIER, HEALTHIER, MORE MEANINGFUL LIFE
Take CARE of yourself,
Invest in yourself…
YOUR NETWORK - Join the leaders of the new world based on the BLOCKCHAIN...
YOUR EXPERTISE – the BLOCKCHAIN is less than 5 years old, you know more than most people!
YOUR SKILL SET – this is your opportunity to experiment, test and try new things!
YOUR RELATIONSHIPS – improve your relationships by improving yourself.
YOUR WEALTH – build a fortune to live a secure and meaningful future.
YOUR AMBITION – Helping others reach their positive goals, will provide the platform and resources for your ambitions.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
We are developing a new way to “buy friends” and gain respect – winning their hearts and minds through appreciation and “gifting” through the Caring Currency ecosystem.
Some people call it “Pay It Forward” but simply put, we’re developing a system of quantifying, distributing and recycling our goodwill. Join us and learn more.
What we need: Your skills, passion and commitment.
The benefit to you… Participating with passionate people, where you will find inspiration to create your own state of mind, money-making businesses and spinoffs.
What you need to do – no experience necessary!
Show your courage, commitment and support – Send us a 3 Finger Photo of yourself, and a brief explanation of your skills and how you want to use your skills to create a Caring Currency for a better world. Don’t forget to smile_\!/
Great moments from Brussels.
Exciting and fun stuff going on with great collaborations on CleanTech Region Impact Group for the Nordic African Business Impact Forum in the Nordics 2023.
Important EU Green programs coming up 2022 - 2027. Connect to learn about them.
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Interested in Nordic-Baltic cleantech environmental solutions, financing and innovation ecosystems. Connect for support.
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Photo Credit Lars Ling
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Environmental chemist Cleo Davie-Martin’s quiet lab will soon be filled by a team of multi-disciplinary scientists to study how phytoplankton affect Earth’s atmosphere.
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The North Atlantic Aerosols and Marine Ecosystems Study (NAAMES) is a five year investigation to resolve key processes controlling ocean system function, their influences on atmospheric aerosols and clouds and their implications for climate.
Michael Starobin joined the NAAMES field campaign on behalf of Earth Expeditions and NASA Goddard Space Flight Center’s Office of Communications. He presented stories about the important, multi-disciplinary research being conducted by the NAAMES team, with an eye towards future missions on the NASA drawing board. This is a NAAMES photo essay put together by Starobin, a collection of 49 photographs and captions.
Photo and Caption Credit: Michael Starobin
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center enables NASA’s mission through four scientific endeavors: Earth Science, Heliophysics, Solar System Exploration, and Astrophysics. Goddard plays a leading role in NASA’s accomplishments by contributing compelling scientific knowledge to advance the Agency’s mission.
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The Montreal Biodome is an indoor zoo, an aquarium, and a botanical garden wrapped into one. It's a series of indoor ecological systems which recreate regions in the Americas, showcasing animal species as well as plant life indigenous to each area.
Mimicking habitats to the point of regulating the temperature and humidity levels of each showcased ecosystem, the public can not only see what life is like in each region, but can actually feel what it's like too.
The Biodome is effectively one of the only places in the world that replicates all four seasons indoors at the same time, attracting roughly 800,000 visitors every year.
This starfish was seen in the aquarium section of the Biodome. I really enjoyed this unique attraction and would love to visit again.
The Maasai Mara Conservancy has stunning landscapes. When you first arrive it takes your breath away. "Out of Africa" was filmed there.
The world’s tallest animal, a giraffe can easily look into a second-story window. Its height which can be up to 13 feet (4 m) allows it to browse on high foliage of the Acacia tree, as well as to employ its highly developed sense of sight to see farther than any terrestrial creature.
The “bird’s-eye view” is the animal’s principal defense against predators, allowing it to spot danger. Their buff-colored hide, with spots of darker brown, provides excellent camouflage, which is another aid to their survival.
The red king crab is native to the Okhotsk and Japan Seas, the Bering Sea, and the northern Pacific Ocean, where it is an important economic resource. In Alaskan waters, red king crabs have historically been the second most valuable species to fishermen after salmon, although since the 1980s overharvesting has led to the closure of some areas to fishing. The king crab also has an invasive distribution in the Barents Sea. Since its introduction in the 1960s, the population has increased steadily and expanded its range, which now spans from Sørøya, Norway in the west and Kolguev Island, Russia in the east, and to about 72° north. Given the current state of knowledge on the impacts of red king crab on native benthic communities and fishes, it is difficult to draw any precise conclusions on the threat caused to the Barents Sea ecosystem and impact on native benthic communities.
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This photo has been graciously provided to be used in the GRID-Arendal resources library by: Riccardo Pravettoni
•Krisztina “Z” Holly, Adviser, National Advisory Council for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, USA; Global Agenda Council on Fostering, •Huang Mengfu, Honorary Chairman, All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce (ACFIC), People's Republic of China Entrepreneurship, - Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, Chief Executive Officer, Fora, Canada; Global Shaper •Kristin Peterson, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Inveneo, USA; Social Entrepreneur •Mariana Mazzucato, R. M. Phillips Professor in Science and Technology Policy, University of Sussex, United Kingdom •Orlando Ayala, Chairman, Emerging Markets, Microsoft Corporation, USA; Global Agenda Council on Competitiveness at the Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2013 in Dalian, China 13 September 2013. Photo by World Economic Forum
This is an abandoned honeycomb that was found at the on-campus Dunkin Donuts while I was getting lunch the other day! It's important to remove any leftover honeycombs from the hive to prevent pest infestation and possible damage from melting honey. Rodents, for example, are attracted to leftover honeycomb's due to the swift scent it leaves, which in turn could increase the rodent population in a given ecosystem. It's also an important measure to take to eliminate any risks of honeybees returning to the honeycomb and possibly build an entirely new hive, thus increasing the population of bees in the given area. It is also said that rotting honeycombs release a fowl smell of decay. If honeybees were to return to this honeycomb and start a new hive, it would be a prime example of ecological resilience, which is the ability of the honeybees to respond to a disturbance (destruction of hive) by resisting damage and recovering quickly.
#UNCW #ecology #bio366 #uncweteal #Sp2018 #image1 #honeycomb #honeybees
I took this with a Canon Rebel t2i. This was taken at the Oklahoma City Zoo, in a small lake that expanded the whole East side of the zoo.The zoo provided food to feed the ducks, geese, turtles, and fish. There had to be at least fifty catfish at the surface. I have never seen such a site in my life. I couldn't take any pictures without at least a few catfish in them, as seen above. There were only a few turtles and a couple geese and ducks. If you look at the pic with the goose, he had just finished pecking the turtle that came up and bit him, which is why water is dripping from his beak. This was definitely a cool experience.
The San Pedro riparian area, containing about 40 miles of the upper San Pedro River, was designated by Congress as a National Conservation Area on November 18, 1988. The primary purpose for the designation is to protect and enhance the desert riparian ecosystem, a rare remnant of what was once an extensive network of similar riparian systems throughout the Southwest.
Many recreational opportunities are available within the NCA. Murray Springs Clovis Site, a significant archaeological site contains an undisturbed stratigraphic record of the past 40,000 years. Excavations were conducted by the University of Arizona from 1966 to 1971. People first arrived in this area 11,000 years ago. They belonged to what we now call the Clovis Culture and were the earliest known people to have inhabited North America. Named after the distinctive and beautifully crafted Clovis spear points they made, they were expert hunters of the large mammals of the last Ice Age. An interpretive trail leads visitors through the site. From Sierra Vista, take State Highway 90 east 6 miles to Monson Road. Turn left, and go about 1.2 miles to the signed turnoff to Murray Springs. The access road is located on the right.
The Spanish Presidio Santa Cruz de Terrenate is the most intact remaining example of a once-extensive network of similar presidios. These fortresses marked the northern extension of New Spain into the New World. Only a stone foundation and a few remaining adobe wall remnants mark the location of an isolated and dangerous military station. From Fairbank on Highway 82, drive approximately 2 miles west on Highway 82, turn right on the Kellar Ranch Road and travel approximately 3 miles to the trailhead. Hike about 2 miles to the ruins and interpretive displays.
The San Pedro House, located 9 miles east of Sierra Vista on State Highway 90, is a popular trailhead for birdwatchers, hikers, and mountain bikers. The Friends of San Pedro operate a bookstore and information center.
Photo by Bob Wick, BLM.
The initial five creatures in this collection all hail from the planet Joltendio, located in the Alpha Octant and being the first planet from said octant's sun, Shinnes.
• Mexotrill: A large, brutish carnivore that falls under the same general classification as the Sardoompa, Grobehom and Dredurcoz of other planets (Xekawiy, Alfriiden and Ergnoplis, respectively) in regards to its role in the ecosystem of its own planet. The Mexotrill is cyclopic and semi–cephalothoracic, lacking a neck of any description and with its "head" containing some of the internal organs that would, in almost any other creature, instead be found in a more clearly–defined torso than this one has. Its most prominent feature is its massive, gaping mouth, which has ten teeth, five of which are small and standard and the other five of which are multi–layered and almost Treymoz–esque, and three separate tongues, the middle specimen of which is larger, stronger and more essential than the peripheral two. Mexotrills have several bluish or yellowing tufts of hair similar to those of the Silahsomes, which is a manifestation of Joltendio's small gene pool in which some genetically–determined physical traits are shared between different creatures (similar phenomena are also present in the ecosystems of Logdlind, Poulbrim and Hulptos). Note that the limbs and extremities of both the humanoids and the beasts share some similarities as well and for the same reason. The Mexotrill's main natural enemy/rival, which it will attempt to eat but which will also attempt to kill and devour it, is the Tinkorement, and while individual Tinkorements are generally unlikely to be able to overpower their larger, stronger and more durable rivals, they often make up for this through teamwork whereas Mexotrills are loners that are rarely found in close proximity to others of their kind. As Tinkorements are concerned, Mexotrills generally wait for their enemies to come to them rather than seeking their rivals out and are thus rarely the first to attack, which is convenient for the Tinkorements considering that they are passive and defenseless approximately half of the time.
Full–grown Mexotrills stand between seven and ten feet tall; at birth, they are roughly a third of their final size, and grow at a steady rate over the first ten–to–fifteen years of their fifty–plus–year lives. Mexotrill durability values range from 1,600 to 2,500. Like all beings from Joltendio, they have a very high threshold for heat and thirst, and they are most often found in the particularly "dust bowl"–like areas of the planet, rarely crossing paths with the Silahsomes and usually leaving the humanoids alone when they do encounter one another.
• Kiselount: A small (basically Flufewog–sized), mammalian beast that has the reputation of being "Silahsome's Best Friend", and with good reason; the Kiselounts and Silahsomes share one of the best relationships between man and beast that can be observed in any part of the Prime Galaxy. Originally herbivores that made their natural homes amid the more forest–or–jungle–like regions of Joltendio, most Kiselounts are presently found living among the settlements of the humanoids that have domesticated their race over the years and to whom they now serve as guardian pets. Some, though, can still be found in the wild, and the Silahsomes leave this portion of the Kiselount population alone, having no intention of removing the creatures from the natural element of the Joltendion environment entirely. Kiselounts are both highly intelligent and highly empathetic for non–humanoid animals. In the wild, they are/were very resourceful and adept at survival, being able to cobble together simple structures to serve as dens or "houses" as well as basic handheld tools and frequently using reasoning and cunning to evade predators such as Tinkorements and other potential dangers. They mate for life, are very caring and protective of their young, which they devote several years to raising, and have even displayed long–term recognition of specific individuals of their kind (and eventually of the Silahsome race) outside of their immediate family units. The characteristic vocal noise produced by Kiselounts is a sort of low purring, and they have durability values between 300 and 500.
Since as far back as can be recorded, Kiselounts and Silahsomes had gotten along well when initially encountering one another in the wild, and the development of the relationship between the humanoids and the animals, including the latter's domestication, was a gradual process, and neither its beginning nor its completion can be assigned to any singular date. While the creatures initially served as simple "cute" pets to their masters after starting to be domesticated, the Silahsomes, in time, began to further explore the potential of the Kiselounts and what they could be taught to do, eventually training the diminutive animals in basic martial arts and the ability to stand and walk upright. Today, most of the Kiselounts living with Silahsomes are more than capable of aggressively protecting their masters in the event that they are attacked, and thankfully, the humanoids are not exploitative of their pets' willingness to fight and die for them.
• Silahsome: Joltendio's humanoids. Silahsomes are blessed, honorable warriors with strictly average body shape and size for a humanoid race but multiple, just as noticeable distinctions that make them more physically unique than most of their peer species in the mortal realm, to say nothing of their personalities and culture. They are solar–powered beings that actively thrive in and gain power from exposure to sunlight, whose negative effects they are largely exempt from. As a result of this, Silahsomes are significantly stronger and healthier, both physically and mentally, during the day than during the night. The primary color of their skin is, rather appropriately, a golden yellow hue, which becomes brighter or, in some cases, even glows when they are particularly "saturated" with solar energy. Although it is, for obvious reasons, almost never a life–or–death issue for them, Silahsomes do indeed need sunlight to live; as a biological necessity, it is secondary only to oxygen, water and food for them, and if one is deprived of it for several consecutive days, it will die. Although they are at their very strongest when their entire bodies are exposed to the sun, they wear at least some clothing or armor at almost all times, for the sake of modesty and decency. Silahsomes have third eyes that provide, in addition to more acute vision, enhanced general willpower and concentration, and even more notably, two mouths, one strictly for eating and the other strictly for speaking (while it is possible for them to at least try to form words with the "eating" mouth, the "speaking" mouth can do so much, much, much more clearly and easily). Three separate tufts of bluish hair atop the head of a Silahsome constitute the only hair on its body. The default durability value of a Silahsome is 750; when an individual is fully "charged" with solar energy, it may raise to more than 1,000.
Silahsomes are presently fairly technologically advanced, having efficiently evolved their civilization over the years from one of basic, isolated villages to one consisting of small but respectable cities with working trade and communication lines between them. They consider it their most important duty as a people to be willing and able to serve the greater good should a major crisis arise, and to this end they have always produced strong warriors, most notably thwarting two separate Skellen invasion attempts on their planet without any outside help during the Fourth Century Relative. The Silahsomes as a whole are very devout and equally as level–headed; most notably, they have never fallen for the tricks of the wandering sun–possessing Primal Deity Alth'Solda, despite their kind being by far the most obvious candidate for turning to such a deity. As explained above in the creature's "biography", the small mammals known as the Kiselounts have long served as the loyal pets of the noble humanoids.
• Tinkorement: A cold–blooded creature of dubious classification, effectively being halfway between a reptile and an insectoid. Tinkorements are tall, slender creatures with four tentacle–like legs and hands consisting of a large, scooping claw and a single articulate tendril. In addition to various plants and small, generic insects and rodents, their dietary options include Poxiwolps, Kiselounts (although they are now scarce in the wild) and Mexotrills (with which they are mutual predators). Despite being known to prey on most other local forms of animate life, it would be inaccurate to call the Tinkorements the most hostile creatures on Joltendio, seeing as they are not always so vicious. The Tinkorement possesses what essentially amounts to a split personality, with its default disposition being harmless and passive and its alternate "form", which gradually emerges and takes over as the beast grows hungry, being just about as vicious as any non–demonic predator anywhere. And while most predatory creatures attack and kill only when they are hungry and feel the need to, none have as evident a duality as the Tinkorement, whose passive state, as it reemerges after eating, appears to be oblivious to the very existence of its counterpart; the "transformation" from either state to the other is clearly involuntary. In their peaceful state, Tinkorements will never attack even if threatened, though this is largely a non–issue, as the only creatures that will ever naturally attack them are the Mexotrills, who rarely, if ever, leave their own territory to seek their rivals out; when the two creatures fight, the Tinkorement(s) is/are almost always the initial aggressor.
Tinkorements live mainly in the deeper parts of Joltendio's pseudo–forests/jungles, with their legs possessing great speed and stamina and allowing them to easily travel well beyond the immediate regions where they make their homes. They each operate alone most of the time, being apathetic towards one another, but sometimes form temporary groups, mainly for the purpose of taking down Mexotrills, which they are seldom able to outmatch when attacking alone. Tinkorements notably have two pairs of eyes, with the outer, very "buggy" eyes on the sides of their heads providing a completely standard range of vision and the inner, bright red eyes providing infrared and X–ray vision when active, during which times they glow dimly but visibly. Whether it be by coincidence or intelligent design, this trait heavily compliments the creature's dual nature. The durability value of the average adult Tinkorement is 800.
• Poxiwolp: An amphibious crustacean that is generally seen as being useful for little more than food. Poxiwolps are the most water–dependent animals on Joltendio (which is to say that their hydration needs are average by general standards), and they make their homes in and near the large, shaded oases sprinkled across the planet's otherwise drier–than–most landscape. They are omnivores, mainly eating the leafy greens and small marine life forms found in said areas, are not a predatory threat to any of the other Joltendion species showcased in this very entry, and are, indeed, the only animals listed here that the Silahsomes hunt and eat. Physically, Poxiwolps are short and stout, having rather large craniums and lower bodies with five point–ended legs that resemble hands/feet and their digits. Their actual hands consist of claws similar to those of the Tinkorements; another example of the often–overlapping genes present in Joltendio's creatures. Poxiwolps are of very little intelligence, with their activities largely being limited to eating, excreting, breeding and aimlessly waddling or swimming around. The durability value range of the Poxiwolp is 400–500.
The next three creatures, seen to the right of the former five, are inhabitants of the Demioid homeworld of Zornemim.
• Kingletort: A large, lumbering and lumberingly large quadruped that has long been used by Demioid aggressor forces, both of the original military and of the Dynamo Legion, as a weaponized war beast, and the only significant creature to be prominently and successfully exploited by the Demioids in this way, as opposed to being one of many varieties as is the case with Gorlunian war beasts. Kingletorts possess elevated bodies held up by very long legs, necks that are (proportionally) even longer than said legs and support rather small heads, and lengthy, segmented tails with large, blunt and heavy end–pieces. They may stand up to or even more than twenty feet tall, though their overall body mass is lesser than that of the comparable Ergnoplian Treymozes, and have durability values ranging from 3,000 to 4,000. Other physical features of the Kingletort that are worth mentioning are the four arced, pillar–like structures on its back and the thick beard on the chin of most males. Despite being herbivores, Kingletorts are highly aggressive and territorial, attacking at the slightest provocation, or even for no apparent reason. In nature, they live among traveling herds of their own kind, which are each led by what Demioids have insistently termed an "Omega–male". The role of omega–male is frequently fought over, often leading to fights but rarely to deaths – after all, a Kingletort can take a lot of abuse, and is intelligent enough to know when it is outmatched without needing to be fatally wounded to realize this.
Roughly one–third of all Kingletorts are presently kept in captivity by the Demioid population. Initially taming them was highly difficult on the part of the wicked humanoids, with the process of securing the animals as a loyal asset taking a matter of years and resulting in much loss of life for both concerned species. After the initial "batch" was successfully tamed, however, obtaining more of the creatures became much easier, since the offspring and subsequent descendants of those captured from nature could be trained starting at birth. Demioid–controlled Kingletorts are generally used in tank–like roles, being ridden by anywhere from one to several soldiers at a time and providing elevated positions to fire down at enemies on the ground from. They also can, and have been, further trained to demolish small or medium–sized buildings.
• Sisealiun: A hostile arthropod of moderate size and having an uncommon body shape in which the "upper" part of the body is positioned upright but the "lower" half is elapsed horizontally so that the creature can walk on all six of its slender legs. It possesses a long, muscly tail ending in a potent stinger that injects venom which is more often than not fatal to most humanoids and consistently carries the nearly immediate effects of severe swelling and paralysis. Death, when it does occur, strikes following a deceptive delay of several hours, after which the more immediate symptoms have usually started to subside, thus potentially giving victims a false sense of recovery, assuming they escaped the attacking creature in the first place after being stung. While this is obviously the Sisealiun's primary method of attack, it may also attempt to inflict harm using its clawed hands, which are basic as far as appendages of that description go. Sisealiuns exhibit significant amounts of the wrinkled, squishy flesh that is found in some form in all Zornemian creatures and which may or may not be an effect of the long–standing demonic influences on the planet, it being present mainly on their particularly wide craniums. They are immune to being harmed by most poisons (predictably including their own), acids and other volatile substances and are known for recovering from injuries the equivalents of which would be fatal to almost any other creature; this is to say that even when a Sisealiun appears to be dead or dying, it may very well not be. Despite this, they have ironically short natural lifespans, seldom living for more than twenty years. The durability value of any Sisealiun specimen can be expected to be no less than 500 and no more than 900.
Sisealiuns live in groups of six–to–twelve in hives/nests that are variably located either underground or in craters. These nests provide not only shelter for both living specimens and eggs (which are produced through standard intercourse–induced fertilization, are laid in batches of three–to–five, and hatch very quickly but have a high stillbirth rate), but also for storing food supplies in the form of victims whose decomposition is slowed by the very same venom that killed them. These creatures are considered vile even by the vile–in–their–own–right Demioids, whose various attempts to tame Sisealiuns for usage as attack/guard animals have consistently failed.
• Naimosper: Considered the least repugnant of Zornemim's native creatures, which is not saying much, the Naimosper is a passive beast–hominid that eats only plants and small insects and attacks only when threatened. It is similar to a Trylepibe in both size and durability value (~500), and can be distinguished by its large, webbed hands and, even more strikingly, its secondary pair of eyes, the spheres comprising which sit atop thick, ropey tentacles that protrude from the sides of the creature's head. The Naimosper's large, heavy, semi–metallic feat which produce louder–than–average footsteps when hitting the ground are also worthy of note. The creature's "face" consists of two vertically–stacked eyes, between which is a small, simple slit of a mouth, surrounded by several bumps/splotches of varying color. It has no visible nose nor ears, and its sensory organs for both smell and hearing are instead collectively contained within the thousands of tiny pores that cover the surface of its body, with the greatest concentration being in/on the hands. When threatened or otherwise provoked, a Naimosper will attack with slaps and punches, and if it manages to incapacitate its attacker or attackers, it will usually flee as soon as they are incapacitated, rather than deliberately finishing them off. Naimospers are the most common prey of Sisealiuns, and Trylepibes have also been known to eat them on occasion. Due to longtime Demioid domination and exploitation of Zornemim and its resources, their numbers plummeted in the decades leading up to the evil humanoids' height of power under the Dynamo Legion, with the Naimosper species eventually becoming severely endangered shortly before the defeat of the Dynamo Legion by the Eggmen Super Team and their allies, after which its population returned to normal levels and became stable again due to the resultant collapse of Demioid society.
At the bottom–left is the sole demon variety that will be catalogued in this particular grouping of beings:
• Veksinpora: A small humanoid demon, being marginally larger than a Shindoke, with an armored physique and some mechanical qualities. Veksinporas are agents of toxicity, pollution and, more specifically, chemical warfare, with their main ability being the production and spreading of poisonous gases, mainly of the sulfuric and arsenic varieties. These gases are primarily emitted in streams through the pair of chimney–like structures jutting out diagonally from the top of the Veksinpora's head, but can also be manifested in small, functionally grenade–like spheres of energy conjured in the demon's hands. In either case, these poisonous attacks rely on Infernal Energy, of which a Veksinpora possesses a moderately deep, regenerating personal supply, to be activated. This demon is asexual in every way, although its voice, while still somewhat androgynous, resembles that of a male more–so than a female voice. On its lower face is a perpetually present gas mask–like mouthpiece that prevents it from eating, not that it requires any physical sustenance, which most demons do not. On a Veksinpora's back is an almost reptilian shell (pictured here to the left of the creature's frontal–view main image) which displays a hazard symbol positioned parallel to but distinct from another, different hazard symbol on its chest. If this shell is removed, which is extremely difficult to do by force, the Veksinpora will die, but not before releasing a massive payload of particularly deadly toxins that basically constitute an explosion. As a suicide attack, this can be trigger this voluntarily, but unlike other beings capable of offensive self–destruction, Veksinporas have an above–average sense of self–preservation, and because of this self–worth they will do this only as a true last resort; only in situations where death seems guaranteed either way.
The Veksinpora is usually said to have been one of the final extant species of demon to come into existence, with the first "batch" supposedly spawning in and around the City of Drenn near the time of the Relative Calendar's invention (i.e. shortly either before or after Age 0) and the first recorded sighting of one in the mortal realm taking place in Age 12. The Veksinpora's overall level of power is on par with that of the "Greater Beings" of each of the Seven Deadly Sins, and it is sometimes referred to by the colloquially–assigned title of "Being of Pestilence". Its durability value is a precise 800, and there seems to be little variation, in terms of both abilities and physical form, between individual specimens. Veksinporas are more intelligent and articulate than most demons, their personalities being much like the Hoilidants' would be were those demons not so inherently predisposed to subservience; this is to say that they are sophisticated and pragmatic, but usually disgruntled. Though Veksinporas can speak fluently in terms of wording, their speech, as it is heard by those around them, always ends up coming out in muffled form due to their "masks"; this contributes to their aforementioned general disgruntlement.
A great number of Veksinporas have worked for the Arcane Order, sometimes as "sleeper agents" and generally taking orders from Princess Tzsicsz (who has some powers similar to theirs). Most notably, the demons almost certainly provided the inspiration for and definitely provided much of the bodily material for the creation of Lord Reson's artificial bioweapon known as Toxie #6, for which potentially hundreds of them were cannibalized. The "terms" of their being sacrificed to create the pseudo–Abomination are uncertain, but given the relatively high value they tend to place on their own individual lives, it seems unlikely that all of these Veksinporas gave themselves up voluntarily.
The final three creatures in this meta–set are all mortal animals, each coming from a different planet.
• Pegushike: A hostile large insectoid found on Finngaed, the Omega Octant planet ruled by the vampiric but mostly peaceful Wabacawlers. It is the most prominent local hazard that said humanoids have to deal with when traveling, and furthermore, due to its lack of warm blood, they cannot use it for feeding (or any other constructive purpose, for that matter). The Pegushike is known for its obscene number of limbs, having exactly a dozen – six arms and the same number of legs – in total. While its six legs are identical in form to one another, having standard shafts and clawed, lightly armored feet, each of the creature's three pairs of hands, as well as their respective arms, are distinct from one another. All of the Pegushike's hands, however, are simple, and having only one pair of them would be inadequate for allowing the creature to survive and thrive in nature; as it stands, the three pairs it does have need to be frequently used in conjunction with one another for maximum efficiency. These beasts have torsos that are wide and rounded but not particularly tough, and structures atop their heads that may appear to be horns but are actually soft nervous muscles which constitute the most vulnerable points on the creatures' exteriors. They are rarely, if ever, found alone; the presence of one Pegushike usually signifies that more are nearby, even if their positions are not readily visible; note that they commonly use hide–and–ambush tactics. While attacking, the primary instruments used by Pegushikes for inflicting harm are their mouths and teeth; here, their hands are used mainly for getting a hold of prey, rather than for directly dealing fatal blows. Pegushikes vary considerably in size, stand anywhere from two to four feet tall during adulthood. Their durability values, which generally correspond with the relative sizes of various individuals, range from 300 to 600.
• Mingoradra: An obscure and strange beast that inhabits the equally obscure and strange planet of Brinanzy, best known as the homeworld of the unintelligible Manciatents. Mingoradras are slug–like creatures of limited proportional girth but large body scale, the lengths of their partially–upright forms reaching upwards of twenty feet in some specimens and them being the largest native creatures on their planet. They are very chaotic and unpredictable beings with inconsistent behavior in terms of their dispositions toward Manciatents, being known to sometimes be so aggressive as to venture into Manciatent settlements and attack the inhabitants without provocation, while at other times remaining passive even when the humanoids venture into their territories within Brinanzy's swamps, forests and moist caves. Being a simple sort of folk and lacking much physical brawn with which to fight the creatures, the Manciatents usually play things safe by trying to avoid Mingoradras whenever possible, not just due to the possibility that they will attack but also, in part, because they are just plain creepy. The Mingoradra is one of the only creatures to possess multiple heads… of sorts. While the creature does have three separate articles resembling heads, only one of these, the central one which sits atop the torso in a fairly standard manner, contains a brain. This disproportionately small main head resembles raw flesh in texture and features a small mouth with very thick and prominent lips, three minuscule, pupilless eyes in a horizontal row, and no other features. The other, peripheral two "heads" are attached to long, flexible articles that largely resemble arms but are officially classified as necks, and consist mainly of large, singular eyes and sharp–toothed mouths that can flip open so widely as to make the head itself resembles a toilet bowl. Both the visual organs and the mouth organs on the Mingoradra's peripheral quasi–heads are far more powerful and useful than their weak counterparts on the creature's primary head, and thus it is them on which the beast primarily relies for seeing and eating, with its actual head mainly serving only as a control center. Behind each of the three heads is a cartilaginous half–cylinder–like structure that seems to be present to prevent decapitation. Each of the Mingoradra's actual arms, located further down the torso, branches into two "sub–arms" at the midway point equivalent to an elbow joint, resulting in the creature having four hands, the "extras" of which possess more claw–like fingers compared to the "normal" hands. The durability value of an average Mingoradra is 1,200–1,500.
• Critsauda: A mammal of average size found on Ithpinbo, the pseudo–jewel–laden home of the blissfully ignorant Wevaracti. It is currently listed as a "threatened" species and monitored as such, with dozens of specimens being kept in multiple off–world MetaQuariums just in case. Critsaudas are about four feet tall, and walk on four sturdy, closely packed legs and feet while having upright torsos, a body shape shared with relatively few other creatures. They have very long, gangly arms that are significantly hairier than any other parts of their bodies and each boast two upward–curving "spikes" projecting from their rear–sides. Similar protrusions are also present near the creature's waist level. The Critsauda has poor overall eyesight, constantly experiencing a visual filter that essentially amounts to moderate diplopia (double–vision), but this is compensated for by very acute hearing. Critsaudas are omnivorous but tend to lean towards primarily plant–based diets, and while normally living alone following the roughly three–year period for which they are raised by their mothers (fathers move on almost immediately after mating), they are known to sometimes form temporary cooperative groups, which individuals may join and leave as they please. The true defining trait of the Critsauda, however, is not any of these attributes, and relates neither to body shape nor behavior, but rather to body composition. This creature's body naturally contains and grows, particularly in the chest cavity and atop the head, a variation of sapphire crystal. This crystal, which naturally occurs only within the bodies of Critsaudas, is considered the rarest and most sought–after substance on Ithpinbo, where all the other jewel–like materials whose presence is a defining feature of the planet are too abundant for obtaining them to be a real issue, and the only Ithpinbon jewel that is worth significant coin off–world. This has caused Critsaudas to be hunted, or rather poached, by both Wevaracti and traveling seekers of profit for their crystals, the removal of which is fatal, which in turn is the reason for the creature's semi–endangered status and increasing rarity.
The Critsauda's maximum lifespan is about forty years, though crippling symptoms of old age begin to set in shortly after the age of thirty, and it is rare for one of the animals to survive long enough to be able to die of old age, especially given that it is frequently hunted by humanoids. Its mean durability value is 750; slightly higher than it would be were it not for the creature's crystalline features.
Aambyvalley Rd.,OFF Lonavala,Mah.,India
www.inaturalist.org/observations/65515832#activity_identi...
May be Ropalidia marginata
Id. Updated.
Aambyvalley Rd.,Off Lonavala,Mah.,India
www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/75389#page/219/mode/1up (fig.1)
allied to Cusiala suiasasa (fig 13)
Costa Rica, balade dans un écosystème varié... souvent sous une pluie tropicale mais avec de belles rencontres.
To live on the moon, you would need an atmosphere. On Earth the atmosphere is generated very largely by living organisms. To survive in your new atmosphere, you would have to take with you rather a lot of stuff that nature supplies here on Earth. Although many humans live in great luxury, more or less disconnected with the living world in their own perceptions, almost all of their well-being depends on goods and services delivered by things that live.
Everything we eat, for example, was recently nourished by ecosystems in the soil. These days the work of those soil organisms is often supplemented or disrupted by products synthesised from oil - another product of ecosystems, albeit ecosystems that lived some 360 million years ago. Cotton, wool, timber, and many pharmaceuticals are the product of the living world.
In 1981 Paul and Anne Ehrlich coined the term “ecosystem service” to refer to these things that humans get from the living world. A decade later the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment categorised the services into “provisioning” services such as food and fibre; “regulating” services such as control of climate, floods or disease; “cultural” services such as spiritual, cognitive, aesthetic and cultural benefits; and “supporting services” such as production of atmospheric oxygen, soil formation, and nutrient cycling, that themselves maintain the conditions for life on Earth.
This picture illustrates one of the more depressing findings of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, or MA; most of the ecosystems on Earth have been and continue to be degraded. The culprit, in every case, is the human species, either directly or indirectly. There are so many of us, and we demand so much from the planet, that ecosystem services are increasingly disrupted.
Among the out of focus tiles you will see “food” and “water”, and several other services that are missing letters here and there.
Yellowstone National Park is a national park located primarily in the U.S. state of Wyoming, although it also extends into Montana and Idaho. It was established by the U.S. Congress and signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant on March 1, 1872.[4][5] Yellowstone, the first National Park in the U.S. and widely held to be the first national park in the world,[6] is known for its wildlife and its many geothermal features, especially Old Faithful Geyser, one of the most popular features in the park.[7] It has many types of ecosystems, but the subalpine forest is the most abundant. It is part of the South Central Rockies forests ecoregion. Native Americans have lived in the Yellowstone region for at least 11,000 years.[8] Aside from visits by mountain men during the early-to-mid-19th century, organized exploration did not begin until the late 1860s. Management and control of the park originally fell under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Interior, the first being Columbus Delano. However, the U.S. Army was subsequently commissioned to oversee management of Yellowstone for a 30-year period between 1886 and 1916.[9] In 1917, administration of the park was transferred to the National Park Service, which had been created the previous year. Hundreds of structures have been built and are protected for their architectural and historical significance, and researchers have examined more than 1,000 archaeological sites. Yellowstone National Park spans an area of 3,468.4 square miles (8,983 km2),[1] comprising lakes, canyons, rivers and mountain ranges.[7] Yellowstone Lake is one of the largest high-elevation lakes in North America and is centered over the Yellowstone Caldera, the largest supervolcano on the continent. The caldera is considered an active volcano. It has erupted with tremendous force several times in the last two million years.[10] Half of the world's geothermal features are in Yellowstone, fueled by this ongoing volcanism.[11] Lava flows and rocks from volcanic eruptions cover most of the land area of Yellowstone. The park is the centerpiece of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, the largest remaining nearly-intact ecosystem in the Earth's northern temperate zone. Hundreds of species of mammals, birds, fish and reptiles have been documented, including several that are either endangered or threatened.[7] The vast forests and grasslands also include unique species of plants. Yellowstone Park is the largest and most famous megafauna location in the Continental United States. Grizzly bears, wolves, and free-ranging herds of bison and elk live in the park. The Yellowstone Park bison herd is the oldest and largest public bison herd in the United States. Forest fires occur in the park each year; in the large forest fires of 1988, nearly one third of the park was burnt. Yellowstone has numerous recreational opportunities, including hiking, camping, boating, fishing and sightseeing. Paved roads provide close access to the major geothermal areas as well as some of the lakes and waterfalls. During the winter, visitors often access the park by way of guided tours that use either snow coaches or snowmobiles.
The Rock Islands of Palau are a collection of several hundred limestone and coral uprises in the Palauan archipelago. They are extremely important to Palau as they support biodiversity, fisheries, tourism, and cultural values. The islands are also famous for their beaches, blue/turquoise lagoons, and have made UNESCO heritage status. There are over 746 species of fish, over 385 corals, 13 species of shark and manta rays, 7 species of giant clams, and all the endemic birds and over half of the endemic plants of Palau.
A sunset viewed from Kure Atoll, located near Midway Atoll in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. An atoll is an island of coral that encircles a lagoon partially or completely.
(Original source: NOS Image Gallery)
Within industrial countries, the area burned by fires is declining but the number of major fires is increasing. In the United States, for example, the area burned has declined by more than 90% since 1930, while in Sweden the area burned annually fell from about 12,000 hectares in 1876 to about 400 hectares in 1989.
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This photo has been graciously provided to be used in the GRID-Arendal resources library by: Philippe Rekacewicz, Emmanuelle Bournay, UNEP/GRID-Arendal
The San Pedro riparian area, containing about 40 miles of the upper San Pedro River, was designated by Congress as a National Conservation Area on November 18, 1988. The primary purpose for the designation is to protect and enhance the desert riparian ecosystem, a rare remnant of what was once an extensive network of similar riparian systems throughout the Southwest.
Many recreational opportunities are available within the NCA. Murray Springs Clovis Site, a significant archaeological site contains an undisturbed stratigraphic record of the past 40,000 years. Excavations were conducted by the University of Arizona from 1966 to 1971. People first arrived in this area 11,000 years ago. They belonged to what we now call the Clovis Culture and were the earliest known people to have inhabited North America. Named after the distinctive and beautifully crafted Clovis spear points they made, they were expert hunters of the large mammals of the last Ice Age. An interpretive trail leads visitors through the site. From Sierra Vista, take State Highway 90 east 6 miles to Monson Road. Turn left, and go about 1.2 miles to the signed turnoff to Murray Springs. The access road is located on the right.
The Spanish Presidio Santa Cruz de Terrenate is the most intact remaining example of a once-extensive network of similar presidios. These fortresses marked the northern extension of New Spain into the New World. Only a stone foundation and a few remaining adobe wall remnants mark the location of an isolated and dangerous military station. From Fairbank on Highway 82, drive approximately 2 miles west on Highway 82, turn right on the Kellar Ranch Road and travel approximately 3 miles to the trailhead. Hike about 2 miles to the ruins and interpretive displays.
The San Pedro House, located 9 miles east of Sierra Vista on State Highway 90, is a popular trailhead for birdwatchers, hikers, and mountain bikers. The Friends of San Pedro operate a bookstore and information center.
Photo by Bob Wick, BLM.
Paracas lies in a very windy area whose very strong air currents carry sand from which Paracas takes its name. Paracas means “sand rain” from Quechua “para” (rain) and “aqu” (sand).
Protected by the Paracas Peninsula, the bay appears as the gateway to Paracas National Reserve (south coast of Peru), which incorporates a variety of marine habitats, tropical desert, wildlife and prehistoric sites. It is considered as one of the richest and most uncommon ecosystems in the world, declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
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Paracas se ubica en un área de fuerte viento cuyas corrientes de aire llevan arena, de lo cual toma su nombre. Paracas significa “lluvia de arena” del quechua “para” (lluvia) y “aqu” (arena).
Protegida por la Península de Paracas, la bahía es el acceso a la Reserva Nacional de Paracas (costa sur de Perú), la cual incluye una variedad de hábitats marinos, desierto tropical, vida silvestre y sitios prehistóricos. Es considerado uno de los ecosistemas más ricos y menos comunes en el mundo, declarado Patrimonio de la Humanidad por la UNESCO.
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Essay:
Earth's Transformation and the Random Implementation of Alien Technology
The Earth, once a vibrant planet teeming with diverse ecosystems, has undergone a drastic transformation. A severe environmental catastrophe has devastated the planet, leading to the evaporation of life-giving water into the vast expanse of space. The once-blue planet is now dominated by barren deserts, stretching across continents where oceans and forests once thrived. Humanity, on the brink of extinction, has been thrust into a desperate struggle for survival.
The catalyst for this environmental apocalypse was a combination of factors: uncontrolled industrial activity, rampant deforestation, and unchecked pollution. These human activities pushed Earth's climate system past a critical threshold, triggering a cascade of irreversible changes. The polar ice caps melted at unprecedented rates, causing sea levels to rise and then rapidly fall as water vapor escaped the atmosphere. Rainforests, which acted as the planet's lungs, were decimated, and the delicate balance of ecosystems collapsed. The result was a planet unrecognizable from its former self—a desolate wasteland where life struggled to find a foothold.
In this dire scenario, hope arrived in the form of alien technology—an unexpected boon that became humanity's lifeline. The origins of this technology remain shrouded in mystery. Some speculate it was discovered accidentally during deep-space explorations, while others believe it was gifted by a benevolent extraterrestrial civilization. Regardless of its origins, this advanced technology became the cornerstone of Earth's new survival strategy.
The alien technology enabled the creation of isolated oases in the vast desert expanses. These oases, shielded by energy fields and sustained by advanced atmospheric processors, mimic the lost ecosystems of old Earth. They generate and recycle water, maintain breathable air, and support agriculture, allowing small human communities to thrive. The technology also includes sophisticated climate control mechanisms that protect these fertile areas from the harsh desert environment.
The implementation of alien technology was a stroke of luck, a fortuitous discovery in humanity's darkest hour. Scientists and engineers, initially skeptical, soon realized the potential of these alien devices. Through trial and error, they managed to integrate this technology into the remnants of human civilization. This integration was not without its challenges—there were numerous failures and setbacks, but the resilience of the human spirit prevailed.
Life in these technologically sustained oases is a stark contrast to the desolation that surrounds them. Within the protective domes, greenery flourishes, and small bodies of water reflect the sky. Communities have adapted to this new way of living, embracing a lifestyle that is a blend of ancient survival techniques and futuristic technology. Education systems focus on maintaining and understanding the alien technology, ensuring that future generations can continue to benefit from it.
The concept of 'Planet B' has taken on a new meaning. Instead of seeking a new home among the stars, humanity has been forced to redefine its existence on Earth—'Planet B' is Earth reborn, a new chapter after 'Planet A' vanished beneath the waves of environmental disaster. The Earth of today is a testament to human ingenuity and the unforeseen assistance of alien technology. It is a world where the line between science fiction and reality has blurred, and where survival hinges on the harmonious integration of alien and human advancements.
In conclusion, the transformation of Earth and the serendipitous implementation of alien technology have given rise to a new way of life. This new existence is fragile and fraught with challenges, but it is also a beacon of hope. The 'Cradle of the Desert' represents the resilience of life and the enduring quest for survival in the face of insurmountable odds.
Poem:
In deserts wide where oceans slept,
Beneath a sky where sorrow wept,
Alien whispers, silent, deep,
Brought life anew from restless sleep.
Once blue and green, now dust and bone,
Our planet’s heart, a hollow tone,
Yet through the sands, technology,
Revived the hope for you and me.
In domes of light, we plant our dreams,
Where water flows in gentle streams,
Alien hands unseen, yet kind,
Breathe life back to a world confined.
From barren waste to fertile land,
A future forged by chance and hand,
Cradle of the Desert, bright,
Guides us through this endless night.
Haikus:
Alien whispers,
Oases bloom in deserts,
Hope in arid lands.
Earth’s rebirth at hand,
Technology’s gentle touch,
Life in barren sands.
The weekend.
At last.
And for the weekend, Saturday was to bring sunshine, but Sunday would bring wind and rain.
But, as always, no one told Mother Nature, and Saturday was graced with thick and dark cloud.
But first: shopping.10% of our weekly shop goes on stuff for the local foodbank. Such things should not be needed, but it is.Around the store, just about everything is well stocked, except the fresh fruit which like it has been most of the year, thin on the ground.
Back home to put our goodies away, the to have two breakfasts, forst one of fruit, then followed by bacon.
Same every week.
And then: time to go out.
I am posting my top 50 Kent churches on Twitter, or until that site crashes, and I realise I needed to go back to a couple: Newnham and Wychling. Which meant on the way I could stop to look at Stone Chapel beside what used to be Watling Street, now the old A2, between Faversham and Sittingbourne.
A half hour run up the A2, through Faversham. Jools dropped me off at the junction opposite the chapel, and I have to scamper across the main road.
That done.
I have wanted to visit Stone Chapel just outside of Faversham for some while, but parking here is very difficult.
Yesterday, with the plan to visit Newnham and Doddington, it seemed too good an opportunity to visit the ruin.
You can see the remains from the old A2, Watling Street, and doesn't look that much, but worth visiting for the project, I thought.
In fact, close up it appears to be part Roman or made with Roman remains, the nave walls on both side have layers of clearly Roman tiles.
I am currently reading an archaeological paper which doubts the conclusions reached on the English Heritage site.
It is a less travelled path across the fields to the copse with the ruins in front. The field had been left fallow, so was full of Annual Mercury, Common Groundsel and a few Shepherd's Purse.
Straight away the courses of red Roman tiles were obvious, and even to me, seemed to form a square. The rest of the church was built of flint, and is crumbling still. Not bad for ruins of a building abandoned in the 1530s.
Ferns grow out of the mortar, quite a rare ecosystem here in Kent.
The stone altar is still in situ in the Chancel, or what remains of it. A step leads down into the nave, and was worn with steps of nearly a thousand years of use.
An amazing an mysterious place.
I walk back over the field, wait to cross the road and join Jools back in the car. From here it was a ten minute drive to Newnham where I was pretty sure the church would be open.
Outside, you can't tell how dull and gloomy it is, but inside a church, then you can tell. In the church, it was dark, almost night, but the camera found things to focus on until I found the lightswitches.
The church has no stained glass, and few memorials, but otherwie a few things to see. But good to have visited the first church and it was open.
Next up it was one of my favourites: Doddington.
A couple of miles further on, and up the hill is the gruesomely dedicated The Beheading of St John the Baptist, though named for the feast day rather than the even itself.
A walk over the litter-strewn and narrow lane, and into the churchyard, where the low clapboarded tower is wonderful in itself.
But inside an unusual double squint, wall paintings of St Francis and St John the Baptist, a couple of fresh looking hatchings, a realy excentric roal coat of arms of an unknown monarch, but remarkable. In the churchyard, the wardens have worked with Plantlife to create fine wildflower meadows in the churchyard, turning God's Acre into something to support our native flora and fauna.
I take 150 or so shots, then walk back to the car, and take Jools to the next target: Wychling.
Wychling is a remote church, pretty much without a village, but the church lays back from the road, through a meadow and then through the bare churchyard, the church with its tower hidden by mature trees.
The website said it would be open, but I had my doubts, and I was proven right as the porch door was locked.
So, it was a long walk back to the car where Jools was waiting.
Our final call was to be Hollingbourne, which I seem to remember my last visit was cut short.
So, it was just a five mile trip over the downs, so set the sat nav, and off we went. Thing is, roads round there are narrow, and partially flooded after the week of rain, so it was quite the adventure, and a couple of times we said, "NZ Tony would love this", as we went down another road barely wider than the car.
The other thing I should mention is that there was a fire at one of the oldest pubs in Kent, in the village. Not that I thought that would be a problem.
But it was, as the road past the hotel is closed while they try to secure the building.
No matter, if we could get to the M20, turn off at Leeds, then there was another way into the village there.
So, down gravel strewn lanes, and others so covered in fallen leaves they were not really roads at all. To the A249, down the hill and onto the motorway for one junction.
We turned off and went under the motorway and HS1, only to find the road through the village closed, for different reasons, this side too. Looking at the map, the chuch and a few houses sit isolated in the middle of the two closed roads. Nowhere to park.
I gave up, and we decded to drive home.
Back to the motorway, and cruise back to the coast through Ashford, Hythe and Folkestone.
No firebombing this time, though.
Back in time for the second half of the League 1 game featuring the Old Farm Enemy, Ipswich. I turned it on as Town scored their second goal, and so turned it off again.
That's not how its supposed to happen.
And due to the world cup cancelling out a month of Prem and Championship football, there was no commentary on the radio, nor no videoprinter.
All a bit dull.
We have dinner: tacos and home made spiced chicken tenders and salsa.
It was spicy, but not too spicy.
And after that, no football to watch on the tellybox, so we just have Craig on the wireless, playing funk and soul.
Jools beats me at crib.
And that was it.
Phew.
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An enchanting church set in a wooded churchyard on the edge of a steep valley. The building displays much of medieval interest due to minimal nineteenth-century interference. The most important feature is the small stone prayer desk next to the westernmost window of the chancel. This window is of the low side variety - the desk proving the window's part in devotional activities. The nearby thirteenth-century lancet windows have a series of wall paintings in their splays, while opposite is a fine medieval screen complete with canopy over the priests' seats. There is also an excellent example of a thirteenth-century hagioscope that gives a view of the main altar from the south aisle, which was a structural addition to the original building. The south chancel chapel belonged to the owners of Sharsted Court and contains a fine series of memorials to them. Most of the stained glass is nineteenth century - some of very good quality indeed. Outside there is a good tufa quoin on the north wall of the nave and a short weatherboarded tower.
www.kentchurches.info/church.asp?p=Doddington
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DODDINGTON.
NEXT to that of Linsted south-eastward, is the parish of Doddington, called in the record of Domesday, Dodeham.
THIS PARISH is about two miles across each way, it lies the greatest part of it on the hills on the northern side of the high road leading from Faversham through Newnham valley over Hollingborne hill towards Maidstone. It is a poor but healthy situation, being much exposed to the cold and bleak winds which blow up through the valley, on each side of which the hills, which are near the summit of them, interspersed with coppice woods, rise pretty high, the soil is mostly chalk, very barren, and much covered with slint stones. The village stands on the road in the valley, at the east end of it is a good house, called WHITEMANS, which formerly belonged to the family of Adye, and afterwards to that of Eve, of one of whom it was purchased by the Rev. Francis Dodsworth, who almost rebuilt it, and now resides in it. Upon the northern hill, just above the village, is the church, and close to it the vicarage, a neat modern fashed house; and about a mile eastward almost surrounded with wood, and just above the village of Newnham, the mansion of Sharsted, a gloomy retired situation.
Being within the hundred of Tenham, the whole of this parish is subordinate to that manor.
At the time of taking the above record, which was anno 1080, this place was part of the possessions of Odo, the great bishop of Baieux, the king's half brother; accordingly it is thus entered, under the general title of that prelate's lands:
The same Fulbert holds of the bishop Dodeham. It was taxed at one suling. The arable land is . . . . . In demesne there is one carucate and seventeen villeins, with ten borderers having two carucates. There is a church, and six servants, and half a fisbery of three hundred small fish, and in the city of Canterbury five houses of seven shillings and ten pence. In the time of king Edward the Confessor it was worth ten pounds. The bishop let it to ferm for ten pounds, when Fulbert received it, six pounds, and the like now . . . . . Sired held it of king Edward.
Four years after which the bishop of Baieux was disgraced, and all his effects were consiscated to the crown.
PART OF THE above-mentioned estate was, most probably, THE MANOR OF SHARSTED, or, as it was antiently called Sabersted, the seat of which, called Sharsted-court, is situated on the hill just above the village of Newnham, though within the bounds of this parish.
This manor gave both residence and name to a family who possessed it in very early times, for Sir Simon de Sharsted died possessed of it in the 25th year of king Edward I. then holding it of the king, of the barony of Crevequer, and by the service of part of a knight's see, and suit to the court of Ledes.
Richard de Sharsted lies buried in this church, in the chapel belonging to this manor. Robert de Sharsted died possessed of it in the 8th year of king Edward III. leaving an only daughter and heir, married to John de Bourne, son of John de Bourne, sheriff several years in the reign of king Edward I. whose family had been possessed of lands and resided in this parish for some generations before. In his descendants this estate continued down to Bartholomew Bourne, who possessed it in the reign of Henry VI. in whose descendants resident at Sharsted, (who many of them lie buried in this church, and bore for their arms, Ermine, on a bend azure, three lions passant guardant, or) this estate continued down to James Bourne, esq. who in the beginning of king Charles I.'s reign, alienated Sharsted to Mr. Abraham Delaune, merchant, of London, the son of Gideon Delaune, merchant, of the Black Friars there, who bore for his arms, Azure, a cross of Lozenges, or, on a chief gules, a lion passantguardant of the second, holding in his dexter paw a fleur de lis; which was assigned to him by William Segar, garter, in 1612, anno 10 James I.
He resided at Sharsted, in which he was succeeded by his eldest son, Sir William Delaune, who resided likewise at Sharsted, where he died in 1667, and was buried in Doddington church. He was twice married; first to Anne, daughter and only heir of Tho. Haward, esq. of Gillingham, by whom he had an only daughter Anne, heir to her mother's inheritance. His second wife was Dorcas, daughter of Sir Robert Barkham, of Tottenham High Cross, (remarried to Sir Edward Dering) by whom he had a son William, and a daughter Mary, married to colonel Edward Thornicroft, of Westminster.
William Delaune, esq. the son, succeeded to this estate, and was knight of the shire for this county. He died in 1739, s.p having married Anne, the widow of Arthur Swift, esq. upon which it passed by the entail in his will to his nephew Gideon Thornicroft, son of his sister Mary, widow of Edward Thornicroft, esq. by whom she had likewise three daughters, Dorcas, Elizabeth, and Anne. This branch of the family of Thornicroft was situated at Milcomb, in Oxfordshire, and was a younger branch of those of Thornicroft, in Cheshire. John Thornicroft, esq. of London, barrister-at-law, was younger brother of Edward Thornicroft, esq. of Cheshire, and father of John, for their arms, Vert, a mascle, or, between four crasscreated a baronet of August 12, 1701, and of colonel Edward Thornicroft above-mentioned. They bore for their arms, Vert, a mascle, or, between four crosscroslets, argent. Lieutenant-colonel Thornicroft was governor of Alicant, when that fortress was besieged in 1709, and perished there, by the explosion of a mine. (fn. 1)
Gideon Thornicroft, esq. possessed this estate but a small time, and dying in 1742, s.p. and being the last in the entail above-mentioned, he devised it by his will to his mother, Mrs.Mary Thornicroft, who dying in 1744, by her will devised to her two maiden daughters, Dorcas and Anne, this manor and seat, as well as all the rest of her estates, excepting Churchill farm in Doddington, which she gave to her second daughter Elizabeth, who had married George Nevill, lord Abergavenny, who dieds.p. and lady Abergavenny, in her life-time, made a deed of gift of this farm, to her son Alured Pinke, esq. who now owns it.
They possessed this estate jointly till the death of Mrs.Dorcas Thornicroft, in 1759, when she by will devised her moiety of it, as well as the rest of her estates, except the Grange in Gillingham, to her sister Mrs. Anne Thornicroft, for her life, remainder in tail to her nephew Alured Pinke, barrister-at-law, son of Elizabeth, lady Abergavenny, her sister by her second husband Alured Pinke. esq. barrister-at-law, who had by her likewise a daughter Jane, married to the Rev. Henry Shove; upon this Mrs.Anne Thornicroft before-mentioned, became the sole possessor of this manor and estate, in which she resided till her death in 1791, æt. 90, upon which it came to her nephew, Alured Pinke, esq. before-mentioned, who married Mary, second daughter of Thomas Faunce, esq. of Sutton-at-Hone, by whom he has one son Thomas. He bears for his arms, Argent, five lozenges in pale, gules, within a bordure, azure, charged with three crosses pattee, fitchee. He resides here, and is the present possessor of this seat and estate. A court baron is held for this manor.
DOWNE-COURT is a manor in this parish, situated on the hill, about half a mile north westward from the church. In the reign of king Edward I. it was in the possession of William de Dodington, who in the 7th year of it did homage to archbishop Peckham for this manor, as part of a knight's fee, held of him by the description of certain lands in Doddington, called Le Downe. His descendant Simon de Dodington, paid aid for it in the 20th year of king Edward III. as appears by the Book of Aid; from him it passed into the family of Bourne, of Bishopsborne, whose ancestors were undoubtedly possessed of lands in this parish, (fn. 2) so early as the reign of Henry III. for archbishop Boniface, who came to the see of Canterbury in the 29th year of it, granted to Henry de Bourne, (fn. 3) one yoke of land, in the parish of Dudingtune, belonging to his manor of Tenham, which land he held in gavelkind, and might hold to him and his heirs, of the archbishop and his successors, by the service of part of a knight's fee, and by rent to the manor of Tenham.
His descendant John de Bourne lived in the reign of king Edward I. in the 17th year of which he obtained a charter offree warrenfor his lands in Bourne, Higham, and Doddington, after which he was sheriff in the 22d and the two following years of it, as he was again in the 5th year of king Edward III. His son John de Bourne married the daughter and sole heir of Robert de Sharsted, by which he became possessed of that manor likewise, as has been already related, and in his descendants Downe-court continued till about the latter end of king Henry VI.'s reign, when it was alienated to Dungate, of Dungate-street, in Kingsdown, the last of which name leaving an only daughter and heir, she carried it in marriage to Killigrew, who about the beginning of Henry VIII. ending likewise in two daughters and coheirs, one of whom married Roydon, and the other Cowland, they, in right of their respective wives, became possessed of it in equal shares. The former, about the latter end of that reign, alienated his part to John Adye, gent. of Greet, in this parish, a seat where his ancestors had been resident ever since the reign of Edward III. for he was descended from John de Greet, of Greet, in this parish, who lived there in the 25th year of that king's reign. His grandson, son of Walter, lived there in the reign of Henry V. and assumed the name of Adye. (fn. 4) This family bore for their arms, Azure, a fess dancette, or, between three cherubins heads, argent, crined of the second; which coat was confirmed by-Sir John Segar, garter, anno 11 James I. to John Adye, esq. of Doddington, son and heir of John Adye, esq. of Sittingborne, and heir of John Adye, the purchaser of the moiety of this manor.
He possessed this moiety of Downe court on his father's death, and was resident at Sittingborne. He died on May 9, 1612, æt. 66, and was buried in Doddington church, leaving issue by Thomasine his wife, daughter and coheir of Rich. Day, gent. of Tring, in Hertsordshire, one son John, and five daughters.
John Adye, esq. the grandson of John, the first purchaser, succeeded at length to this moiety of Downe-court, and resided there, during which time he purchased of the heirs of Allen the other moiety of it, one of which name had become possessed of it by sale from the executors of Cowland, who by his will in 1540, had ordered it to be sold, for the payment of debts and legacies. He died possessed of the whole of this manor and estate, in 1660, and was buried in Nutsted church, of which manor he was owner. He left by his first wife several children, of whom John, the eldest, died s.p. Edward, the second, was of Barham in the reign of king Charles II. under which parish more of him and his descendants may be seen; (fn. 5) and Nicholas was the third son, of whom mention will be made hereafter. By his second wife he had Solomon, who was of East Shelve, in Lenham, and other children.
Nicholas Adye, esq. the third son, succeeded to Downe-court, and married Jane, daughter of Edward Desbouverie, esq. Their eldest son, John Adye, succeeded to this manor, at which he resided till he removed to Beakesborne, at the latter end of Charles II.'s reign, about which time he seems to have alienated it to Creed, of Charing, in which name it continued till it was sold to Bryan Bentham, esq. of Sheerness, who devised it to his eldest son Edward Bentham, esq. of the Navy-office, who bore for his arms, Quarterly, argent and gules, a cross story counterchanged; in the first and fourth quarters, a rose, gules, seeded, or, barbed vert; in the second and third quarters, a sun in its glory, or; being the arms given by queen Elizabeth to Thomas Bentham, D.D. bishop of Litchfield, on his being preferred to that see in 1559, the antient family arms of Bentham, of Yorkshire, being Argent, a bend between two cinquefoils, sable. Since his death this estate has by his will become vested in trustees, to fulfil the purposes of it.
Charities.
JOHN ADYE, ESQ. gave by will in 1660, 40s. to the poor of this parish, payable yearly out of Capel hill, in Leysdown, the estate of Samuel-Elias Sawbridge, esq.
AN UNKNOWN PERSON gave 20s. per annum, payable out of an estate in Doddington, late belonging to the earl of Essingham, and now to the Rev. Francis Dodsworth.
TEN SHILLINGS are paid yearly at Christmas, to the poor of this parish, by the lessee of the parsonage by the reservation in his lease.
THE REV. MR. SOMERCALES, vicar of this parish, by his will gave an Exchequer annuity of 14l. to be applied to the instructing of poor children in the Christian religion.
FORTY HILLINGS are payable yearly at Michaelmas, out of a field formerly called Pyding, now St.John Shotts, belonging to Alured Pinke, esq. towards the repair of the church.
A PERSON UNKNOWN gave for the habitation of three poor persons, a house, now containing three dwellings.
The poor constantly relieved are about forty-five.
DODDINGTON is within the ECCLESIASTICAL JURISDICTION of the dioceseof Canterbury, and deanry of Ospringe.
The church, which is dedicated to St. John Baptist, consists of a body and chancel, with a chapel or chantry on the south side of it, belonging to the Sharsted estate. At the west end is a low pointed steeple, in which are six bells. About the year 1650, the steeple of this church was set on fire by lightning, and much damaged. In this church are memorials for the Swalman's, Nicholson's of Homestall, and the Norton's, and in the south, or Sharsted chancel, there is a black marble of an antique form, and on a fillet of brass round the verge of it, in old French capitals, Hic Jacet Ricardus de Saherstada, with other letters now illegible, and memorials for the Bourne's and Delaune's.
The church of Doddington was antiently esteemed as a chapel to the church of Tenham, as appears by the Black Book of the archdencon, and it was given and appropriated with that church and its appendages, in 1227, by archbishop Stephen Langton, to the archdeaconry. It has long since been independent of the church of Tenham, and still continues appropriated to the archdeacon, who is likewise patron of the vicarage of it.
Richard Wethershed, who succeded archbishop Langton in 1229, confirmed the gift of master Girard, who whilst he was rector of the church of Tenham, granted to the chapel of Dudintune, that the tithes of twenty acres of the assart of Pidinge should be taken for the use of this chapel for ever, to be expended by the disposition of the curate, and two or three parishioners of credit, to the repairing of the books, vestments, and ornaments necessary to the chapel. (fn. 6)
It is valued in the king's books at fifteen pounds, and the yearly tenths at 1l. 10s. In the visitation of archdeacon Harpsfield, in 1557, this vicarage was returned to be of the value of twelve pounds; parishioners sixty, housholders thirty-two.
In 1569, at the visitation of archbishop Parker, it was returned, that the chapel of Doddington used to be let to farm for forty pounds, and sometimes for less; that there were here communicants one hundred and thirteen, housholders thirty-five. In 1640 the vicarage was valued at thirty pounds; communicants one hundred and seven.
¶Archdeacon Parker, at the instance of archbishop Sancrost, by lease, anno 27 Charles II. reserved an additional pension of ten pounds per annum to the vicar. It pays no procurations to the archdeacon. It is now a discharged living in the king's books.
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