Have photos on Flickr

Have to post a shot of my clivia each year, just because it is such a wonderful plant. Can be boring if not changed up each time. This is a mix of 3 shots, 2 of clivia, one of bokehish background lights. Oh.....4 pictures.....one of my own textures too.

FTA591V ERF B SERIES WHITEWAYS by Mark Schofield

Some of you may have noticed that, unfortunately, owing to the fact that a certain person who sells truck photos on eBay commercially has been lifting my images from this album and selling them I have had to remove 2300 photos that didn't have a watermark. I have now run around 1700 through Lightroom and added a watermark with the intention of bulk uploading them again. Rather than watermark the existing (hidden) files in Flickr one at a time it will be easier to do it this way. I definitely won’t be adding individual tags with the make and model of each vehicle I will just add generic transport tags. Each photo is named after the vehicle and reg in any case. For anyone new to these images there is a chapter and verse explanation below. It is staggering how many times I get asked questions that a quick scan would answer or just as likely I can’t possibly answer – I didn’t take them, but, just to clarify-I do own the copyright- and I do pursue copyright theft.

This is a collection of scanned prints from a collection of photographs taken by the late Jim Taylor A number of years ago I was offered a large number of photographs taken by Jim Taylor, a transport photographer based in Huddersfield. The collection, 30,000 prints, 20,000 negatives – and copyright! – had been offered to me and one of the national transport magazines previously by a friend of Jim's, on behalf of Jim's wife. I initially turned them down, already having over 30,000 of my own prints filed away and taking space up. Several months later the prints were still for sale – at what was, apparently, the going rate. It was a lot of money and I deliberated for quite a while before deciding to buy them. I did however buy them directly from Jim’s wife and she delivered them personally – just to quash the occasional rumour from people who can’t mind their own business. Although some prints were sold elsewhere, particularly the popular big fleet stuff, I should have the negatives, unfortunately they came to me in a random mix, 1200 to a box, without any sort of indexing and as such it would be impossible to match negatives to prints, or, to even find a print of any particular vehicle. I have only ever looked at a handful myself unless I am scanning them. The prints are generally in excellent condition and I initially stored them in a bedroom without ever looking at any of them. In 2006 I built an extension and they had to be well protected from dust and moved a few times. Ultimately my former 6x7 box room office has become their (and my own work’s) permanent home.

I hope to avoid posting images that Jim had not taken his self, however should I inadvertently infringe another photographers copyright, please inform me by email and I will resolve the issue immediately. There are copyright issues with some of the photographs that were sold to me. A Flickr member from Scotland drew my attention to some of his own work amongst the first uploads of Jim’s work. I had a quick look through some of the 30 boxes of prints and decided that for the time being the safest thing for me to do was withdraw the majority of the earlier uploaded scans and deal with the problem – which I did. whilst the vast majority of the prints are Jims, there is a problem defining copyright of some of them, this is something that the seller did not make clear at the time. I am reasonably confident that I have since been successful in identifying Jims own work. His early work consists of many thousands of lustre 6x4 prints which are difficult to scan well, later work is almost entirely 7x5 glossy, much easier to scan. Not all of the prints are pin sharp but I can generally print successfully to A4 from a scan.

You may notice photographs being duplicated in this Album, unfortunately there are multiple copies of many prints (for swapping) and as I have to have a system of archiving and backing up I can only guess - using memory - if I have scanned a print before. The bigger fleets have so many similar vehicles and registration numbers that it is impossible to get it right all of the time. It is easier to scan and process a print than check my files - on three different PC’s - for duplicates. There has not been, nor will there ever be, any intention to knowingly breach anyone else's copyright. I have presented the Jim Taylor collection as exactly that-The Jim Taylor Collection- his work not mine, my own work is quite obviously mine.

Unfortunately, many truck spotters have swapped and traded their work without copyright marking it as theirs. These people never anticipated the ease with which images would be shared online in the future. I would guess that having swapped and traded photos for many years that it is almost impossible to control their future use. Anyone wanting to control the future use of their work would have been well advised to copyright mark their work (as many did) and would be well advised not to post them on photo sharing sites without a watermark as the whole point of these sites is to share the image, it is very easy for those that wish, to lift any image, despite security settings, indeed, Flickr itself, warns you that this is the case. It was this abuse and theft of my material that led me to watermark all of my later uploads. I may yet withdraw non-watermarked photos, I haven’t decided yet. (I did in the end)

To anyone reading the above it will be quite obvious that I can’t provide information regarding specific photos or potential future uploads – I didn’t take them! There are many vehicles that were well known to me as Jim only lived down the road from me (although I didn’t know him), however scanning, titling, tagging and uploading is laborious and time consuming enough, I do however provide a fair amount of information with my own transport (and other) photos. I am aware that there are requests from other Flickr users that are unanswered, I stumble across them months or years after they were posted, this isn’t deliberate. Some weekends one or two “enthusiasts” can add many hundreds of photos as favourites, this pushes requests that are in the comments section ten or twenty pages out of sight and I miss them. I also have notifications switched off, I receive around 50 emails a day through work and I don’t want even more from Flickr. Other requests, like many other things, I just plain forget – no excuses! Uploads of Jim’s photos will be infrequent as it is a boring pastime and I would much rather work on my own output.

Gera 24 May 1994 (16) by Phil_Marshall

Having collected a rake of loaded lignite wagons in the sidings at HKW Gera Süd and added them to the rear of its train, the fireless loco pulls forward towards the headshunt on the other side of the bridge I was standing on.

Good Morning by Erik Symes

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Have a super Sunday everyone!

Aug'SHIPtember'ust day 31, sadly I will not be finished today, lack of time and building room has got the best of me, fortunately I still have about 85 years before the neosapiens uprising by travis taylor

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Claypole by Paul Townsend

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Having been recessed in Claypole Loop as booked, Colas 60021 gets its train on the move again - 6E82 Rectory Jnc - Lindsey discharged fuel tanks.

3rd helping of this train today - lovely jubbly!!

All images on this site are exclusive property and may not be copied, downloaded, reproduced, transmitted, manipulated or used in any way without expressed written permission of the photographer. All rights reserved – Copyright Paul Townsend

92 pictures for you by Franzlee

You have been sent 92 pictures.

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These pictures were sent with Picasa, from Google.

Try it out here: picasa.google.com/

Have a nice Sunday my friends and best regards to end from Hamburg by dicau58

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Have a seat by The Peace Frog

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Leica M4-P TriX 1600 35/2

So Long, Farewell, Auf Wiedersein, Goodbye... B10YKS (YD02UMV) Transdev York 1013 uni bus by MTBP (Chris Nelson) - York Bus Photos

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Well after about 8 years of operation having been started by York Pullman, the Unibus 44 service finally bows out thus closing the book on York's long-running 'bus war' along the university corridor. The service started off to meet the requirements from the University of York of having a regular bus service to serve the Heslington East campus which at the time was being built and only had one or possibly two completed buildings which were in use - the university had contacted First York at the time on several occasions but the company had been unwilling to extend route 4 beyond Heslington Hall as it would require an extra vehicle to run on the then-branded 'FTR' route which have have meant obtaining another Wright Streetcar (even though at the time one which had originally been trialled in York had been down at Luton and wasn't required so easily could have been brought back up north).

As First wouldn't entertain the idea of serving Heslington East, the university contacted York Pullman and a deal was struck for a new service every 20 minutes between Merchantgate and the new campus where a turning circle was provided outside what is now the Ron Cooke Hub - the route was numbered 44 as if to compliment the 4 running along the same route, but the 44 was operated under a subsidy from the University over a deal of several years whereby the subsidy would decrease as passenger numbers increased with the eventual hope of the service being commercially viable in its own right. As time went on the passenger loadings on the 44 grew and so did the route to reflect this, extending first to the rail station and Nunnery Lane with then some journeys running right through to Acomb... and whilst Pullman had run a variety of vehicles on the service (including both an ex-Weardale low floor Ikarus bodied Daf SB220 and a step entrance version, a Scania Wright Solar, a BMC Condor) the time came in 2010 to have a dedicated fleet of vehicles and so a number of Olympians received conservative branding and the route name 'Unibus' - a single Leyland Olympian from Preston joined the fleet along with a single ex-Dublin Volvo Olympian and two ex-Lothian volvo examples; BUT at the same time Pullman purchased two brand new ADL Enviro 200's built on MAN chassis to make up a full contingent of vehicles to operate the increased length and frequency of the 44, whilst a Plaxton primo was purchased for a new aspect of the contract which was a free campus-to-campus shuttle bus service called the Ub1.

Pullman had been operating the 44 for some time in addition to other subsidised bus services around York, but a decision was made that in early 2012 all stagecarriage operations would be sold along with a number of vehicles in order to focus on schools and private hire work - this saw all such operations sold to Transdev York along with the full Unibus fleet; the vehicles stayed in York Pullman livery but received a simple vinyl overlay to cover the York Pullman logo with the Transdev York white rose logo, but vehicles route and frequency remained the same - though there was a brief period whereby some 44 services were extended beyond the university to Stamford Bridge however this was short-lived.

To reflect the changing requirements of the students, the university made it clear they wanted to see an increasing amount of buses being used with step-free access for the 44 route, and so Transdev introduced two ex-London Plaxton Presidents to the service which were later joined by two ex-Lancashire examples - these replaced Olympians on the route and at the same time introduced everybody to a whole new look for the Unibus. The buses were presented in a smart cream and indigo livery with a fade-out graphic to seperate the two colours vertically whilst a "looney tunes" style skyline graphic of York was used along the skirts to seperate the colours horizontally, whilst the university mascot of a duck also appeared on the buses. Shortly after introducing the double deckers, the two Enviro's purchased from Pullman went to the paint shop and gained the new branding identity whilst the Plaxton Primo gained a controversial pink graffitti livery - though the Primo only lasted about a year with Transdev before being exported to New Zealand due to it being non-standard.

Popularity of the Unibus grew ever-further and so the university required route frequency to increase, and so three Volvo B10BLE Wright Renown single deckers joined the fleet - these had been new to Yorkshire Coastliner and so to see them back in York was somewhat pleasing. At the time though there were increasing occurances whereby maintenance schedules or breakdowns meant a non-branded vehicle or two were appearing on the 44 and the university weren't pleased... as a result, Transdev brought across another Renown (1051) from lancashire which was 'officially' referred to as being in a dual-purpose livery - even though everybody else could see it as just being a half-arsed paint job that wasn't finished, as it had the base colours of the Unibus livery minus the blue sweep under the windscreen nor any of the graphics (just a simple white sticker with the new-style Transdev logo and a corny corporate motto)... eventually this did receive the full livery minus the bluue sweep under the windscreen. In addition to the 44 and the Ub1, the contract with the university also saw Transdev run an early-morning service from the university to the hospital one-way only (Hb1) as well as overnight services during term time for students wishing to go clubbing (Cb2) or for access to the university library for pre-exam study (SS1).... the Cb2 had been operated by York Pullman previously on select weekdays, whilst a Cb1 route had also been registered and operated by them on other days of the week.

Everything changed in 2015 however, when the Unibus contract had come up for re-tender and the new contract was awarded to First York - which was in a strange way surprising and yet not surprising all at the same time, as everybody knew First York strongly despised having subsidised competition to and from the university, and so it was an easy guess that First would put in an incredibly strong bid for the uni contract. It had been considered that Transdev would be gracious in defeat and quietly withdraw the 44 service so that the route and number could pass over to the new incumbent; however that didn't happen and instead Transdev registered the 44 route commercially with a slight route alteration due to no longer being authorised to run buses along Lakeside Way and so would have to terminate at the Heslington East interchange near Badger Hill, the route which First's number 4 had been doing for some time prior to winning the uni contract. The other change for the 44 Unibus was the streamlining of the fleet: all four double deckers left York for pastures new (Keighley) whilst the Enviro's went to the paint shop again to receive the white rose livery applied to buses being used elsewhere in the York operation, and the 4 Renowns were then joined by Renowns 1054, 1059 and 1076 and all were given a mildly revised livery which had all aspects to denote a partnership with the university having been removed.... all 7 vehicles were then refurbished with new seating, new interior panelling, free wi-fi and USB chargers. Online, Transdev started a questionable social media campaign to try and assert that they were the better service provider and that even though others were 'copying' the Unibus there would only ever be... ahem... "only one unibus". The commercially-run 44 could not offer the same high frequency of every 7-8 minutes being offered by First, but that didn't stop Transdev from arranging their timetables to arrive at key stops about 3 minutes before the First service, and likewise the 44 would be timed to wait around at city centre stops such as the rail station and merchantgate so as to try and draw as many passengers as possible on board. Likewise the university required First York to run the 66 as a 24-hour operation during term time with services overnight for students having a night out in the city centre, with the overnight services running once an hour - Transdev got wind of this and registered the 44 to also run 24 hours a day, with the hourly overnight services just so happening to depart from the city centre on the opposite side of the hour to First's service. This 24-hour service didn't last long however, but when Transdev launched the York-Leeds Cityzap limited stop service the decision was made to extend friday/saturday late night services arriving into York at 3am and 4am to go beyond the city centre to the university - the service was timed as such with the one simple hope that the zap service would arrive at the rail station and more importantly into merchantgate before the overnight First service so as to abstract passengers away. This didn't really work either and so that ploy was eventually dropped and so for the last few months the Unibus 44 has simply been plodding along with a regular 15-minute service between the uni and the city with every other service extended under subsidy from the council to Acomb via Holly Bank to replace the 13A service which First York had withdrawn.

Just over 6 weeks ago the announcement was made that at the end of the winter university term the unibus 44 service would cease, though the 44 between the city centre and acomb would continue as a standalone operation - the company statement made was along the lines that "other operators copying our service" had caused the unibus to no longer be viable, though it is very much worth noting that the person who first devised the 44 route with York Pullman is the same person who arranged First York's 66 service which officially replaced the 44. The very last day of the Unibus was December 3rd 2016, and here at Morell Library on central campus is B10BLE Renown B10YKS... it is fitting for this to be one of the last two unibus vehicles I photograph on the route, as this was the first Unibus renown I got a photo of when it arrived in the city under its original registration of YD02 UMV having been new to Yorkshire Coastliner.

Anglican Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity, Norwich by Jelltex

It is funny how we forget things we have done.

Below, I state that this was my first visit to the cathedral as a churchcrawler.

When I began to post shots, I looked for the album to put the shots in, only to find there wasn't one.

A search of my photostream showed two visits to the cathedral, complete with interior shots from 2013 and the previous years.

I had no memories of these visits.

What else have I forgotten?

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Norwich is a fine city. Or so the signs say on every road into it. But, and there can be no denying it, it is a jewel in the Norfolk countryside.

For me it is “just” Norwich Where used to go for our important shopping, for football and later for concerts. We, and I, would take for granted its cobbled streets, Norman cathedral and medieval churches by the dozen. Also it’s a pub for every day, the ramshackle market, and the Norman castle keep looking down on the city sprawled around.

Just Norwich.

Later, it also became where I bought new records from Backs in Swan Lane, and searched for punk classics in the Record and Tape Exchange.

Norwich is lucky that the industrial revolution passed by the city leaving few changes, the character and history intact. World War II did damage, some churches were abandoned, some rebuilt, but many survived.

And Norwich is a friendly city. It sees warm and colourful, and on a hot summer’s day when the locals were in shorts and t-shirts, much white flesh was on display. I also take the football club for granted. I have supported it from nearly 49 years, and being away from the city means I get my news and views largely second hand, but I also forget how central the club is to the people.

Sadly, Norwich isn't really on the way to anywhere, well except Great Yarmouth and Cromer, so people don't come here by accident. So it remains something of a secret to most but locals.

Other cities would have children dressed in any one of a dozen Premier League club’s replica shirts. In Norwich yellow and green was the dominant colour, even after a chastening season that saw us finish rock bottom of the league. The local sports “superstore” has a Norwich Fan’s fanzone, and a third of the window is given to the home city club.

I knew the city like the back of my hand, so knew the route I wanted to take to provide me with views that would refresh those in my mind. I didn’t dally, pressed on to my two targets, the Anglican Cathedral and St Peter Mancroft.

This wasn’t the original plan; that was to meet two friends I used to go to the football with, Ian and Ali, but they both caught a bug in Manchester watching the women’s Euros, so couldn’t meet with me. But I had an alternative plan, maybe with a pub stop or two.

The trip happened as I got a mail offering a tempting 20% off the trip that had been selling poorly, I checked with Ian and Alison, they said they were free, but had yet to fall ill. So seats were booked, as Jools liked the sound of an afternoon in Norwich and meeting my friends.

Up at quarter to five so we could catch the first High Speed service out of Dover, so to be in London in time to catch the railtour to Norwich.

Sun had yet to light up Dover Priory when we arrived, but a few people milling around, including two still at the end of their night out.

Folkestone was light by the warm light of the rising sun, and well worth a shot as we passed over Foord Viaduct.

Later, I was hoping the calm morning meant the Medway would be a mirror, but a breeze disturbed the surface ruining the reflections I had hoped for.

Finally, emerging into Essex, the line climbs as the go over the Dartford Crossing, just enough time to grab a shot.

It was already hot in London, so we stayed in the shade of the undercroft at St Pancras, had a coffee and a pasty from Greggs before walking over to Kings Cross to see if our tour was already at the buffers.

We walked across the road to King's Cross, and find the station packed with milling passengers, all eyes trained on the departure boards waiting for platform confirmations.

Ours was due to be platform 3, and the rake of carriages was indeed there, top and tailed by class 66 freight locomotives.

We get on the train and find we had been allocated a pair of seats nearest the vestibule. This meant that they were a few inches less wide than others, meaning Jools and I were jammed in.

Almost straight away, Jools's back and Achilles began to ache, and the thought of four hours of this in the morning and another four in the evening was too much, and so she decided to get off at the first stop at Potters Bar.

In the end, a wise choice I think.

The guy in the seat opposite to us talked the whole journey. I mean filling any silence with anything: how much he paid for the components of his lunch, his cameras and then his job. In great detail. He also collected train numbers. I didn't know that was really a thin in the days of EMUs, but I helped out from time to time telling him units he had missed.

We had a twenty minute break at Peterborough because of pathing issues, so we all got out to stretch our legs and do some extra trainspotting.

An Azuma left from the next platform, and another came in on the fast line. I snapped them both.

From Peterborough, the train reversed, and after the 20 minute wait, we went out of the station southwards, taking the line towards Ely.

Now that we had done our last stop, the train could open up and we cruised across the Fens at 70mph, the flat landscape botted with wind turbines and church towers slipped by.

Instead of going into Ely station, we took the rarely used (for passenger trains) freight avoiding line, now a single track. Emerging crossing the main line, taking the line eastwards towards Thetford.

Again, the regulator was opened, and we rattled along. Even so, the journey was entering its fourth hour, and with my travelling colleague and without Jools, time was dragging.

We were now back in Norfolk, passing the STANTA training area, all warning signs on the fences telling the trainee soldiers that that was where the area ended. I saw no soldiers or tanks. My only thought was of the rare flowers that would be growing there, unseen.

And so for the final run into Norwich, familiar countryside now.

Under the southern bypass and the main line from London, slowing down where the two lines merged at Trowse before crossing the River Wensum, before the final bend into Norwich Thorpe.

At last I could get off the train and stretch my legs.

Many others were also getting off to board coaches to take them to Wroxham for a cruise on the Broads, or a ride on the Bure Valley Railway, while the rest would head to Yarmouth for four hours at the seaside.

I got off the train and walked through the station, out into the forecourt and over the main road, so I could walk down Riverside Road to the Bishop’s Bridge, then from there into the Cathedral Close.

The hustle and bustle of the station and roadworks were soon left behind, as the only noise was from a family messing about in a rowing boat in front of Pulls Ferry and a swan chasing an Egyptian Goose, so the occasional splash of water.

I reached the bridge and passed by the first pub, with already many folks sitting out in the beer garden, sipping wines and/or summer beers. I was already hot and would loved to have joined them, but I was on a mission.

In the meantime, Jools had texted me and said if I fancied getting a regular service back home, then I should. And a seed grew in my brain. Because, on the way back, departing at just gone five, the tour had to have a 50 minute layover in a goods siding at Peterborough, and would not get back to Kings Cross until half nine, and then I had to get back to Dover.

I could go to the cathedral the church, walk back to the station. Or get a taxi, and get a train back to London at four and still be home by eight.

Yes.

I walked past the Great Hospital, then into the Close via the swing gate, round to the entrance where there was no charge for entry and now no charge for photography. But I would make a donation, I said. And I did, a tenner.

I have been to the cathedral a few times, but not as a churchcrawler. So, I made my way round, taking shots, drinking in the details. But the walk up had got me hot and bothered, I always run with a hot engine, but in summer it can be pretty damp. I struggled to keep my glasses on my nose, and as I went round I knew I was in no mood to go round again with the wide angle, that could wait for another visit.

The church is pretty much as built by the Normans, roof excepted which has been replaced at least twice, but is poetry in stone. And for a cathedral, not many people around also enjoying the building and its history.

At one, bells chimed, and I think The Lord’s Prayer was read out, we were asked to be quiet. I always am when snapping.

In half an hour I was done, so walked out through the west door, through the gate and into Tombland. I was heading for the Market and St Peter which site on the opposite side to the Guildhall.

I powered on, ignoring how warm I felt, in fact not that warm at all. The heat and sweats would come when I stopped, I found out.

I walk up the side of the market and into the church, and into the middle of an organ recital.

Should I turn round and do something else, or should I stop and listen. I stopped and listened.

Everyone should hear an organ recital in a large church. There is nothing quite like it. The organ can make the most beautiful sounds, but at the same time, the bass pipes making noises so deep you can only feel it in your bones.

Tony Pinel knew his way round the organ, and via a video link we could see his hands and feet making the noises we could hear. It was wonderful, but quite how someone can play one tune with their feet and another with their hands, and pulling and pushing knobs and stoppers, is beyond me. But glad some people can.

It finished at quarter to two, and I photograph the font canopy and the 15th century glass in the south chapel. Font canopies are rare, there is only four in England, and one of the others is in Trunch 20 miles to the north. Much is a restoration, but it is an impressive sight when paired with the seven-sacrament font under it.

The glass is no-less spectacular, panels three feet by two, five wide and stretching to the vaulted roof. I can’t photograph them all, but I do over 50%.

I go to the market for a lunch of chips, for old times sake. I mean that was the treat whenever we went either to Norwich or Yarmouth; chips on the market. I was told they no longer did battered sausage, so had an un-battered one, and a can of pop. I stood and ate in the alleyway between stalls, people passing by and people buying chips and mushy peas of their own.

Once done, I had thought of getting a taxi back to the station, but the rank that has always been rammed with black cabs was empty, and two couples were shouting at each other as to who should have the one that was there. So I walked to the station, across Gentleman’s Walk, along to Back of the Inns, then up London Street to the top of Prince of Wales Road and then an easy time to the station across the bridge.

I got my ticket and saw a train to Liverpool Street was due to depart at 14:32. In three minutes.

I went through the barrier and got on the train, it was almost empty in the new, swish electric inter-city unit. I was sweating buckets, and needed a drink, but there appeared to be no buffet, instead just electric efficiency and silence as the train slid out of the station and went round past the football ground to the river, then taking the main line south.

In front of me, two oriental ladies talked for the whole journey. I listened to them, no idea what they talked about to fill 105 minutes.

I thought it would be nearly five when the train got in, but helped by only stopping at Diss, Ipswich, Manningtree and Colchester we got in, on time, at quarter past four.

I walked to the main concourse and down into the Circle Line platforms, getting a train in a couple of minutes the four stops to St Pancras. I knew there was a train soon leaving, and after checking the board and my watch I saw I had five minutes to get along the length of the station and up to the Southeastern platforms.

I tried. I did, but I reached the steps up to the platforms and I saw I had 45 seconds, no time to go up as they would have locked the doors. So, instead I went to the nearby pub and had a large, ice-cold bottle of Weiss beer.

That was better.

I was all hot and bothered again, but would have an hour to cool down, and the beer helped.

At ten past five, I went up and found the Dover train already in, I went through the barriers and took a seat in a carriage I thought would stop near the exit at Dover Priory. I called Jools to let her know I would be back at quarter to seven, and she confirmed she would pick me up.

She was there, people got off all out on a night on the town, dressed in shiny random pieces of fabric covering boobs and bottoms. I was young once, I thought.

Jools was there, she started the car and drove us home via Jubilee Way. Across the Channel France was a clear as anything, and four ferries were plying between the two shores. Take us home.

Once home, Jools had prepared Caprese. I sliced some bread and poured wine. On the wireless, Craig spun funk and soul. We ate.

Tired.

It was going to be a hot night, but I was tired enough to sleep through it. Or so I thought.

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Norwich has everything. Thus, the normally dry and undemonstrative Nikolaus Pevsner began his survey of the capital of Norfolk in his 1962 volume Buildings of England: Norwich and north-east Norfolk. And there is no doubt that this is one of the best cities of its size in northern Europe. Living in Ipswich as I do, I hear plenty of grumbles about Norwich; but really, although the two places have roughly the same population, Ipswich cannot even begin to compare with regard to its townscape. The only features which the capital of Suffolk can claim to hold above its beautiful northern neighbour are a large central park (Norwich's Chapelfield gardens is not a patch on Ipswich's Christchurch Park) and a large body of water in the heart of the town, perhaps Ipswich's most endearing feature and greatest saving grace.

But Norwich has everything else - to continue Pevsner's eulogy, a cathedral, a castle on a mound right in the middle, walls and towers, a medieval centre with winding streets and alleys, thirty-five medieval parish churches and a river with steamships. It even has hills...

I think it would be possible to visit Norwich and not even know this cathedral was there. The centre of the city is dominated by the castle, and the most familiar feature to visitors is the great market square widened by the clearances of the 1930s, and the fine City Hall built at that time which towers above it. In comparison, Norwich Cathedral sits down in a dip beside the river, walled in by its close, and is visible best from outside the city walls, especially from the east on the riverside, and to the north from Mousehold Heath. If you arrive by road from the south or west, you may not even catch a glimpse of it. The great spire is hidden by those winding streets and alleys, and many of the city's churches are more visible, especially St Giles, St Peter Mancroft in the Market Place, and the vast Catholic Cathedral of St John the Baptist, on Grapes Hill. It is said that the nave floor of St John the Baptist is at the same height above sea level as the top of the crossing of the Anglican cathedral.

With the possible exception of Lincoln Cathedral, I think that Norwich Cathedral is my favourite cathedral in all England. Call this East of England chauvinism if you like, But Norwich Cathedral has everything you could possible want from a great medieval building. But there is more to it than that. It is also one of the most welcoming cathedrals in England. There is no charge for admission, and they positively encourage you to wander around through the daily business of the cathedral, in the continental manner. No boards saying Silence Please - Service in Progress here. Because of this, the Cathedral becomes an act of witness in itself, and you step into what feels like it probably really is the house of God on Earth. They even used to say the Lord's Prayer over the PA system once an hour, and invite you to stop and join in - I wish they'd go back to doing that. The three pounds you pay for a photography permit must be one of the bargains of the century so far.

Norwich Cathedral is unusual, in that this is the original building. It has been augmented over the centuries of course, but this is still essentially the very first cathedral on this site. This is because the see was only moved to Norwich after the Norman invasion. The Normans saw the wisdom of drawing together ecclesiastical and civil power, and one way in which this might be achieved was by siting the cathedrals in the hearts of important towns. At the time of the conquest, Bishop Herfast had his seat at Thetford, and it was decided to move the see to Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk. It had moved several times during the previous four centuries, from Walton in Suffolk to North Elmham in Norfolk before Thetford, where the first proper but simple stone building had been raised. But as well as an eye for efficient administration, the Normans brought the idea that Cathedrals should be glorified; already, vast edifices were being raised in Durham, London and Ely. and Bury St Edmunds, with its famous Abbey, was the obvious place for the Diocese of East Anglia to sit.

However, such a move would have removed the Abbey's independent direct line with Rome, and placed it under the jurisdiction of the Province of Canterbury. The Abbey community was determined that this would not happen, and Abbot Baldwin sent representations to the Pope that ensured the survival of St Edmundsbury Abbey's independence. Bishop Herfast would not be allowed to glorify his position in East Anglia in the way his colleagues were doing elsewhere. But his successor, Herbert de Losinga, was more determined - and, perhaps, steeled by his conscience. A Norman, he had bought the Bishopric from the King in 1091, an act of simony that required penance. Building a great cathedral could be seen as that act of penance. But where? Bury was a lost cause; instead, he chose to move the see to a thriving market town in the north-east of his Diocese; a smaller, more remote place than Bury, to be sure, but proximity to the Abbey of St Edmund was perhaps not such a good thing anyway. It tended to cast a rather heavy shadow. And so it was that the great medieval cathedral of the East Anglian bishops came to be built, instead, at Norwich.

Work began in 1094, and seems to have been complete by 1145. It is one of the great Romanesque buildings of northern Europe, its special character a result of responses to fires and collapses over the course of the next few centuries. At the Reformation in the sixteenth century, it became a protestant cathedral of the new Church of England, losing its role as a setting for ancient sacraments and devotions, but being maintained as the administrative seat of a Diocese which covered all of Norfolk and Suffolk, and the ceremonial church of its great city. In the 19th Century, the western part of the Norwich Diocese was transferred into that of Ely, and at the start of the 20th Century the southern parishes became part of the new Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich. Today, the Diocese of Norwich consists of north, south and east Norfolk, and the north-eastern tip of Suffolk.

The absence of this great church from the Norfolk Churches site has long been the elephant in the room, so to speak. And having it here at last is, I feel, a mark of how things have changed. When I first started the Norfolk and Suffolk sites back in 1999, I did not have a decent camera, and the earliest entries did not have any photographs at all. How the wheel has turned. Now, the photographs have become the sites, and with no apologies I don't intend to make this a wordy entry.

The perfection of Norwich is of distant views, the cloisters, and the interior. The exterior is hemmed in, and the most familiar part of the building, the west front, is a poor thing, the victim of barbarous restorations in the 18th and 19th centuries. It is almost a surprise to step through its mundanity into the soaring glory of the nave. Above, the famous vaulting is home to one of the largest collections of medieval bosses in the world. There are more in the beautiful cloisters.

The view to the east is of the great organ, looking very 17th Century but actually the work of Stephen Dykes Bower in the 1950s. Beyond is the intimacy of the quire and ambulatory with its radial chapels, the best of which is St Luke's chapel, containing the Despenser retable. Bishop Despenser is one of history's villains, putting down the Peasants Revolt in East Anglia with some enthusiasm. It is likely that this retable was made for the cathedral's high altar, possibly even to give thanks for the end of the Revolt. It was discovered upside down in use as a table in the 1840s. This chapel is, unusually, also a parish church; the parish of St Mary in the Marsh, the church of which was demolished at the Reformation, moved into the cathedral. They brought their seven sacrament font with them, and here it remains.

In the ambulatory there are many traces of medieval paint, almost certainly from the original building of the Cathedral. Two curiosities: at the back of the apse is the original Bishop's chair, and rising across the north side of the ambulatory like a bridge is a relic screen.

There is a good range of glass dating from the 14th to the 21st centuries. Highlights include the medieval panels in the north side of the ambulatory, Edward Burne-Jones's bold figures in the north transept, Moira Forsyth's spectacular Benedictine window of 1964 in a south chapel, and the millennium glass high in the north transept, which I think will in time become one of the defining features of the Cathedral. The figure of the Blessed Virgin with the Christ Child seated on her lap is the work of Norfolk-based artist John Hayward, who died recently, but the glass above is Hayward's reworking of Keith New's 1960s glass for St Stephen Walbrook in London, removed from there in the 1980s, and now reset here. Towards the west end of the nave are two sets of Stuart royal arms in glass, a rare survival.

I grew up in a city some sixty miles away from Norwich, but I didn't come here until I was in my mid-teens. I remember wandering around this building and being blown away by it, and I still get that feeling today. There is always something new to find here. My favourite time here is first thing in the morning on a winter Saturday. Often, I can be the only visitor, which only increases the awe. Another time I like to be here in winter is on a Saturday afternoon for choral evensong. Perhaps best of all, though, is to wander and wonder in the cloisters on a bright sunny day, gazing at fabulous bosses almost within arm's reach.

Several English cathedrals have good closes, but Norwich's is the only one in a major city, I think. It creates the sense of an ecclesiastical village at the heart of the city; and then, beyond, the lanes and alleys spread out, still hanging on despite German bombing and asinine redevelopment. And now I think perhaps it is part of the beauty of this building that it is tucked away by the river, a place to seek out and explore. Norwich has everything, says Pevsner. But really, I think this is the very best thing of all.

www.norfolkchurches.co.uk/norwichcathedral/norwichcathedr...

Majestic by Mark

My wife have begun to explore the Twin Cities parks and hiking trails. On our previous trek through Pike Island, we had seen at least a half dozen deer - no camera that trip.

I've never had luck with getting any good pics of bucks, but today that changed with finding three of them - the deer in the shot here was very large (at least 12 points here) and you could almost feel the vibration when he snorted.

Running Over by Paul Hollins

9 3

Have a great weekend everyone!

http://ift.tt/1t0d6jj by Marlo Lavonne

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Have you ever made yourself smaller to make someone else more comfortable? It's not your job to do that, or to take on their burdens. You can be the true you, and let it be a positive example for others who have trouble being their true selves. 🌞

It's just won't go on! by Derek Gavey

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I have a recurring nightmare. The situation changes slightly but the theme is always the same.

I am in a house and I awake from my sleep. I have the distinct impression that there is something else around, in the dark... lurking... So I go to investigate and I reach for the switch, except no lights go on... I flick again and again and then... It charges...and I wake up...Usually in a cold sweat.

I rarely see "it"... the frighting part is the non-working light switch.

I wasn't sure how to depict the "dark"

Shot for Macro Monday's "Nightmare"

Calgary Pride Parade - Our "Parade Marshall" is the committee from our former NDP government which set out to ban conversion therapy. It was disbanded by the current government, of course, because it does not give a shit about vulnerable gay people by Ben

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Calgary must have drawn the short straw when it came to the date for their Pride Parade... the September Labour Day Weekend is more a signal for winter's begin than the ending of summer... Nonetheless, the coolish weather did not deter Calgarians who love our amazing diversity from turning out to enjoy a wonderful parade. It was deeply touching to see so many individuals, families, parents and children, all decked out to say YAY! to diversity. Even after the parade, walking back to the car, I saw hundreds of flags, socks, etc magically spreading out into the city, as if driven like snow in a blizzard by an awesome fairy queen! Although it is essentially our LGBTQ Parade, many other groups and even businesses have joined in to really accentuate what diversity truly means. Along with our community march a lot of other communities who realize that love, joy, and celebrating who you actually are is so much more important than religious or political dogma. Kudos go our stunning Filipino Community which shares this day to celebrate our mutual fabulousness and it was great to see so many in the parade! As a fundamentally shy person myself, and Larry even more so, I find this parade such a unique opportunity to highlight truly beautiful faces - I hope you spend some time exploring the wonderful diversity of faces I was able to capture in almost every image. Celebrating diversity (as opposed to grudgingly tolerating it) is a highly political act. Our current government in Alberta, with its increasingly cruel policies and initiatives, seems to be attacking our hard-won acceptance of diversity, and wouldn't dare showing its face here...

Should have known............ by Shell

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I can't have neat hair for any of my girls. I gave her a messy mop and new eyes!

What Will 5G Mean for the Environment? 5G will be harmful to delicate ecosystems.The impact that the cell towers have on birds and bees is important to understand, because all ecosystems of the earth are interconnected. by Hughes Songe

The main environmental issues associated with the implementation of the 5G network come with the manufacturing of the many component parts of the 5G infrastructure. In addition, the proliferation of new devices that will use the 5G network that is tied to the acceleration of demand from consumers for new 5G-dependent devices will have serious environmental consequences. The 5G network will inevitably cause a large increase in energy usage among consumers, which is already one of the main contributors to climate change. Additionally, the manufacturing and maintenance of the new technologies associated with 5G creates waste and uses important resources that have detrimental consequences for the environment. 5G networks use technology that has harmful effects on birds, which in turn has cascading effects through entire ecosystems. And, while 5G developers are seeking to create a network that has fewer environmental impacts than past networks, there is still room for improvement and the consequences of 5G should be considered before it is widely rolled out. 5G stands for the fifth generation of wireless technology. It is the wave of wireless technology surpassing the 4G network that is used now. Previous generations brought the first cell phones (1G), text messaging (2G), online capabilities (3G), and faster speed (4G). The fifth generation aims to increase the speed of data movement, be more responsive, and allow for greater connectivity of devices simultaneously.[2] This means that 5G will allow for nearly instantaneous downloading of data that, with the current network, would take hours. For example, downloading a movie using 5G would take mere seconds. These new improvements will allow for self-driving cars, massive expansion of Internet of Things (IoT) device use, and acceleration of new technological advancements used in everyday activities by a much wider range of people. While 5G is not fully developed, it is expected to consist of at least five new technologies that allow it to perform much more complicated tasks at faster speeds. The new technologies 5G will use are hardware that works with much higher frequencies (millimeter wavelengths), small cells, massive MIMO (multiple input multiple output), beamforming, and full duplex.[3] Working together, these new technologies will expand the potential of many of the devices used today and devices being developed for the future. Millimeter waves are a higher frequency wavelength than the radio wavelength generally used in wireless transmission today.[4] The use of this portion of the spectrum corresponds to higher frequency and shorter wavelengths, in this case in the millimeter range (vs the lower radio frequencies where the wavelengths can be in the meters to hundreds of kilometers). Higher frequency waves allow for more devices to be connected to the same network at the same time, because there is more space available compared to the radio waves that are used today. The use of this portion of the spectrum has much longer wavelengths than of that anticipated for a portion of the 5G implementation. The waves in use now can measure up to tens of centimeters, while the new 5G waves would be no greater than ten millimeters.[5] The millimeter waves will create more transmission space for the ever-expanding number of people and devices crowding the current networks. The millimeter waves will create more space for devices to be used by consumers, which will increase energy usage, subsequently leading to increased global warming. Millimeter waves are very weak in their ability to connect two devices, which is why 5G needs something called “small cells” to give full, uninterrupted coverage. Small cells are essentially miniature cell towers that would be placed 250 meters apart throughout cities and other areas needing coverage.[6] The small cells are necessary as emissions [or signals] at this higher frequency/shorter wavelength have more difficulty passing through solid objects and are even easily intercepted by rain.[7] The small cells could be placed on anything from trees to street lights to the sides of businesses and homes to maximize connection and limit “dead zones” (areas where connections are lost). The next new piece of technology necessary for 5G is massive MIMO, which stands for multiple input multiple output. The MIMO describes the capacity of 5G’s base stations, because those base stations would be able to handle a much higher amount of data at any one moment of time. Currently, 4G base stations have around eight transmitters and four receivers which direct the flow of data between devices.[9] 5G will exceed this capacity with the use of massive MIMO that can handle 22 times more ports. Figure 1 shows how a massive MIMO tower would be able to direct a higher number of connections at once. However, massive MIMO causes signals to be crossed more easily. Crossed signals cause an interruption in the transmission of data from one device to the next due to a clashing of the wavelengths as they travel to their respective destinations. To overcome the cross signals problem, beamforming is needed. To maximize the efficiency of sending data another new technology called beamforming will be used in 5G. For data to be sent to the correct user, a way of directing the wavelengths without interference is necessary. This is done through a technique called beamforming. Beamforming directs where exactly data are being sent by using a variety of antennas to organize signals based on certain characteristics, such as the magnitude of the signal. By directly sending signals to where they need to go, beamforming decreases the chances that a signal is dropped due to the interference of a physical object.

One way that 5G will follow through on its promise of faster data transmission is through sending and receiving data simultaneously. The method that allows for simultaneous input and output of data is called full duplexing. While full duplex capabilities allow for faster transmission of data, there is an issue of signal interference, because of echoes. Full duplexing will cut transmission times in half, because it allows for a response to occur as soon as an input is delivered, eliminating the turnaround time that is seen in transmission today. Because these technologies are new and untested, it is hard to say how they will impact our environment. This raises another issue: there are impacts that can be anticipated and predicted, but there are also unanticipated impacts because much of the new technologies are untested. Nevertheless, it is possible to anticipate some of detrimental environmental consequences of the new technologies and the 5G network, because we know these technologies will increase exposure to harmful radiation, increase mining of rare minerals, increase waste, and increase energy usage. The main 5G environmental concerns have to do with two of the five new components: the millimeter waves and the small cells. The whole aim of the new 5G network is to allow for more devices to be used by the consumer at faster rates than ever before, because of this goal there will certainly be an increase in energy usage globally. Energy usage is one of the main contributors to climate change today and an increase in energy usage would cause climate change to increase drastically as well. 5G will operate on a higher frequency portion of the spectrum to open new space for more devices. The smaller size of the millimeter waves compared to radio frequency waves allows for more data to be shared more quickly and creates a wide bandwidth that can support much larger tasks.[15] While the idea of more space for devices to be used is great for consumers, this will lead to a spike in energy usage for two reasons – the technology itself is energy demanding and will increase demand for more electronic devices. The ability for more devices to be used on the same network creates more incentive for consumers to buy electronics and use them more often. This will have a harmful impact on the environment through increased energy use. Climate change has several underlying contributors; however, energy usage is gaining attention in its severity with regards to perpetuating climate change. Before 5G has even been released, about 2% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions can be attributed to the ICT industry.[16] While 2% may not seem like a very large portion, it translates to around 860 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions.[17] Greenhouse gas emissions are the main contributors to natural disasters, such as flooding and drought, which are increasing severity and occurrence every year. Currently, roughly 85% of the energy used in the United States can be attributed to fossil fuel consumption.[18] The dwindling availability of fossil fuels and the environmental burden of releasing these fossil fuels into our atmosphere signal an immediate need to shift to other energy sources. Without a shift to other forms of energy production and the addition of technology allowed by the implementation of 5G, the strain on our environment will rise and the damage may never be repaired. With an increase in energy usage through technology and the implementation of 5G, it can be expected that the climate change issues faced today will only increase. The overall contribution of carbon dioxide emissions from the ICT industry has a huge impact on climate change and will continue to have even larger impacts without proper actions. In a European Union report, researchers estimated that in order to keep the increase in global temperature below 2° Celsius a decrease in carbon emissions of around 15-30% is necessary by 2020. Engineers claim that the small cells used to provide the 5G connection will be energy efficient and powered in a sustainable way; however the maintenance and production of these cells is more of an issue. Supporters of the 5G network advocate that the small cells will use solar or wind energy to stay sustainable and green.[20] These devices, labeled “fuel-cell energy servers” will work as clean energy-based generators for the small cells.[21] While implementing base stations that use sustainable energy to function would be a step in the right direction in environmental conservation, it is not the solution to the main issue caused by 5G, which is the impact that the massive amount of new devices in the hands of consumers will have on the amount of energy required to power these devices. The wasteful nature of manufacturing and maintenance of both individual devices and the devices used to deliver 5G connection could become a major contributor of climate change. The promise of 5G technology is to expand the number of devices functioning might be the most troubling aspect of the new technology. Cell phones, computers, and other everyday devices are manufactured in a way that puts stress on the environment. A report by the EPA estimated that in 2010, 25% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions comes from electricity and heat production making it the largest single source of emissions.[22] The main gas emitted by this sector is carbon dioxide, due to the burning of natural gas, such as coal, to fuel electricity sources.[23] Carbon dioxide is one of the most common greenhouse gases seen in our atmosphere, it traps heat in earth’s atmosphere trying to escape into space, which causes the atmosphere to warm generating climate change. Increased consumption of devices is taking a toll on the environment. As consumers gain access to more technologies the cycle of consumption only expands. As new devices are developed, the older devices are thrown out even if they are still functional. Often, big companies will purposefully change their products in ways that make certain partner devices (such as chargers or earphones) unusable–creating demand for new products. Economic incentives mean that companies will continue these practices in spite of the environmental impacts. One of the main issues with the 5G network and the resulting increase in consumption of technological devices is that the production required for these devices is not sustainable. In the case of making new devices, whether they be new smart-phones or the small cells needed for 5G, the use of nonrenewable metals is required. It is extremely difficult to use metals for manufacturing sustainably, because metals are not a renewable resource. Metals used in the manufacturing of the smart devices frequently used today often cannot be recycled in the same way many household items can be recycled. Because these technologies cannot be recycled, they create tons of waste when they are created and tons of waste when they are thrown away. There are around six billion mobile devices in use today, with this number expected to increase drastically as the global population increases and new devices enter the market. One estimate of the life-time carbon emissions of a single device–not including related accessories and network connection–is that a device produces a total of 45kg of carbon dioxide at a medium level of usage over three years. This amount of emission is comparable to that of driving the average European car for 300km. But, the most environmentally taxing stage of a mobile device life cycle is during the production stage, where around 68% of total carbon emissions is produced, equating to 30kg of carbon dioxide. To put this into perspective, an iPhone X weighs approximately 0.174kg, so in order to produce the actual device, 172 iPhone X’s worth of carbon dioxide is also created. These emissions vary from person to person and between different devices, but it’s possible to estimate the impact one device has on the environment. 5G grants the capacity for more devices to be used, significantly increase the existing carbon footprint of smart devices today. Energy usage for the ever-growing number of devices on the market and in homes is another environmental threat that would be greatly increased by the new capabilities brought by the 5G network. Often, energy forecasts overlook the amount of energy that will be consumed by new technologies, which leads to a skewed understanding of the actual amount of energy expected to be used.[30] One example of this is with IoT devices.[31] IoT is one of the main aspects of 5G people in the technology field are most excited about. 5G will allow for a larger expansion of IoT into the everyday household.[32] While some IoT devices promise lower energy usage abilities, the 50 billion new IoT devices expected to be produced and used by consumers will surpass the energy used by today’s electronics.

The small cells required for the 5G network to properly function causes another issue of waste with the new network. Because of the weak nature of the millimeter waves used in the 5G technology, small cells will need to be placed around 250 meters apart to insure continuous connection. The main issue with these small cells is that the manufacturing and maintenance of these cells will create a lot of waste. The manufacturing of technology takes a large toll on the environment, due to the consumption of non-renewable resources to produce devices, and technology ending up in landfills. Implementing these small cells into large cities where they must be placed at such a high density will have a drastic impact on technology waste. Technology is constantly changing and improving, which is one of the huge reasons it has such high economic value. But, when a technological advancement in small cells happens, the current small cells would have to be replaced. The short lifespan of devices created today makes waste predictable and inevitable. In New York City, where there would have to be at least 3,135,200 small cells, the waste created in just one city when a new advancement in small cells is implemented would have overwhelming consequences on the environment. 5G is just one of many examples of how important it is to look at the consequences of new advancements before their implementation. While it is exciting to see new technology that promises to improve everyday life, the consequences of additional waste and energy usage must be considered to preserve a sustainable environment in the future. There is some evidence that the new devices and technologies associated with 5G will be harmful to delicate ecosystems. The main component of the 5G network that will affect the earth’s ecosystems is the millimeter waves. The millimeter waves that are being used in developing the 5G network have never been used at such scale before. This makes it especially difficult to know how they will impact the environment and certain ecosystems. However, studies have found that there are some harms caused by these new technologies. The millimeter waves, specifically, have been linked to many disturbances in the ecosystems of birds. In a study by the Centre for Environment and Vocational Studies of Punjab University, researchers observed that after exposure to radiation from a cell tower for just 5-30 minutes, the eggs of sparrows were disfigured.[34] The disfiguration of birds exposed for such a short amount of time to these frequencies is significant considering that the new 5G network will have a much higher density of base stations (small cells) throughout areas needing connection. The potential dangers of having so many small cells all over areas where birds live could cause whole populations of birds to have mutations that threaten their population’s survival. Additionally, a study done in Spain showed breeding, nesting, and roosting was negatively affected by microwave radiation emitted by a cell tower. Again, the issue of the increase in the amount of connection conductors in the form of small cells to provide connection with the 5G network is seen to be harmful to species that live around humans. Additionally, Warnke found that cellular devices had a detrimental impact on bees.[36] In this study, beehives exposed for just ten minutes to 900MHz waves fell victim to colony collapse disorder.Colony collapse disorder is when many of the bees living in the hive abandon the hive leaving the queen, the eggs, and a few worker bees. The worker bees exposed to this radiation also had worsened navigational skills, causing them to stop returning to their original hive after about ten days. Bees are an incredibly important part of the earth’s ecosystem. Around one-third of the food produced today is dependent on bees for pollination, making bees are a vital part of the agricultural system. Bees not only provide pollination for the plant-based food we eat, but they are also important to maintaining the food livestock eats. Without bees, a vast majority of the food eaten today would be lost or at the very least highly limited. Climate change has already caused a large decline in the world’s bee population. The impact that the cell towers have on birds and bees is important to understand, because all ecosystems of the earth are interconnected. If one component of an ecosystem is disrupted the whole system will be affected. The disturbances of birds with the cell towers of today would only increase, because with 5G a larger number of small cell radio-tower-like devices would be necessary to ensure high quality connection for users. Having a larger number of high concentrations of these millimeter waves in the form of small cells would cause a wider exposure to bees and birds, and possibly other species that are equally important to our environment.As innovation continues, it is important that big mobile companies around the world consider the impact 5G will have on the environment before pushing to have it widely implemented. The companies pushing for the expansion of 5G may stand to make short term economic gains. While the new network will undoubtedly benefit consumers greatly, looking at 5G’s long-term environmental impacts is also very important so that the risks are clearly understood and articulated. The technology needed to power the new 5G network will inevitably change how mobile devices are used as well as their capabilities. This technological advancement will also change the way technology and the environment interact. The change from using radio waves to using millimeter waves and the new use of small cells in 5G will allow more devices to be used and manufactured, more energy to be used, and have detrimental consequences for important ecosystems. While it is unrealistic to call for 5G to not become the new network norm, companies, governments, and consumers should be proactive and understand the impact that this new technology will have on the environment. 5G developers should carry out Environmental Impact Assessments that fully estimate the impact that the new technology will have on the environment before rushing to widely implement it. Environmental Impact Assessments are intended to assess the impact new technologies have on the environment, while also maximizing potential benefits to the environment. This process mitigates, prevents, and identifies environmental harm, which is imperative to ensuring that the environment is sustainable and sound in the future. Additionally, the method of Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) of devices would also be extremely beneficial for understanding the impact that 5G will inevitably have on the environment. An LCA can be used to assess the impact that devices have on carbon emissions throughout their life span, from the manufacturing of the device to the energy required to power the device and ultimately the waste created when the device is discarded into a landfill or other disposal system. By having full awareness of the impact new technology will have on the environment ways to combat the negative impacts can be developed and implemented effectively.

jsis.washington.edu/news/what-will-5g-mean-for-the-enviro...

“I thought I would be understood without words.” – Vincent Van Gogh by Biswarup Sarkar

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A lady demonstrating her artwork.

I wonder by the gleaming faces of my country people who have no affluence of the west. I wonder by their enormous life forces with very ordinary food. I wonder by their grace with very ordinary cloths, and simplicity out of ignorance of the complex world. I found my religious India at a glance there. And I believe that my India isn’t a “Lost Paradise” even today, where humanity flourished for ever.

I get my lesson everywhere I roam around in India and see through my lenses. I'm proud of my home state. I'm proud of my people across the world.

Kankrajhor

Kankrajhor is a beautiful tourist destination of Jangalmahal Circuit in West Bengal, India. It is situated in the tropical, hilly forestlands of Jhargram district. It comprises 9000 hectares of hardwood forests. The wealth of trees includes Kusum (Ceylon oak), Shaal (Shorea robusta), Segun (Tectona grandis), Mahua (Indian Butter tree, or honey tree- Madhuca longifolia ), Piyal (almondette or calumpong nut, ) and Akashmani (Acacia auriculiformis), as named in Bengali. Its tribal villages at the edge of forests and ethnic people will make you feel a happy stay. Kankrajhor is just 22km from Ghatshila (Jharkhand) & 65 km from Jhargram town.

Beyond the fertile Gangetic plains of Bengal, Jhargram offers the most exotic undulating topography culminating in hilly ranges of Belpahari, Kankrajhor in the north to the serene and meandering Subarnarekha River in the south. Nearby famous Dolma Hills are frequented by animals from Bihar, including tigers, leopards and elephants. Bears and wild boars are frequently found in the hills in search of Mahua flower sap. The sap is a potent intoxicant in the region and is used to make country liquor, simply called Mahua. This is a regular corridor of elephants. They are very much fond of this Mohua flowers and get intoxicated...a pleasure to watch in a full moon night. Every year at this time of month elephants frequently enter into these villages and spoil the crops.

It is a favourite destination for people who love forests and tranquillity. Its exquisite forestry, ancient temples, native folk cultural and tribal dances, makes it an extremely attractive destination for tourists who love yet unspoiled nature and her people of the soil on the face of earth.

How to Reach Kankrajhor-Belpahari:

By Train: The distance from Howrah to Jhargram station is 157 Kms and the journey takes three hours by train from Howrah.

By Road: Jhargram is also very well connected by highways with other nearby cities like Medinipur, Kharagpur, Durgapur, Bankura, Purulia, and Kolkata.

Personal experience

In the first week of April, this year, we suddenly planned to go to Kankrajhor, in the district of Jhargram, West Bengal, India. We drove straight from Kolkata to Jhargram, and then another 60km drive to the heart of Kankrajhor. Our destination was a private cottage with very basic arrangements situated in a small tribal village, on the edge of the forests. This time of a year it was little bit late to enjoy the dazzling blooms of Palash, described as “Flames of the Forests” (Butea monosperma). But this was a right time to cherish the beauty of Shaal-Piyal-Mohua trees everywhere. The green new leaves, sweet intoxicating fragrance of Mohua flowers and the extreme business of the wild bees and birds, will always remind you the youthfulness of a spring. The red lateritic forest floor is an experience to walk on. While walking on its undulated trails through forests you will hear only the relentless chirping of birds and murmurs of dry leaves being moved by frequent gust of cold breezes. Such ambiance in an afternoon will surely make you intoxicated and drowsy, free of all wiriness and stresses of busy urban life, and will help you enter into a peaceful siesta. One may arrange tribal dances amidst this forest, their native home. Their beating of drums, and the indigenous harmony of dances will make you fallen in love with this place. I’m sure. With the sunset the whole surroundings suddenly turn into a mystical darkness. Far from the distance sitting in the hut you may hear the intermittent sounds of nocturnal birds, hyenas, jackals and foxes.

The dinner is very simple. Country chicken and rice is a luxury here. We had the wonderful taste of its country liquor made from Mohua flowers (Madhuca longifolia). It was a wonderful experience for all of us.

Simple and beautiful tribal people there, basic stay with optimal standard and simple healthy food, unspoiled nature, tranquillity, and serenity...all will definitely make you feel... “How much we need to be happy?” Really?

Have fun! by renaldy fernando kusuma

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Woolley Edge Sunset #1 by Paul Curnin

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Having been thwarted at this mornings attempt at sunrise photos by thick cloud, I was determined to get something from today, to make up for the disappointment.

Having been in the dark for the last 3 miles & 950 yards, Met Cam class 101 No.51506 (set 101681) bursts into the sunshine at the western end of Totley tunnel, just before Grindleford station, with the 17.15 Sheffield to Manchester Piccadilly service on the 17th April 1993.

©Dave Peachey.

SCANIA - G 500 XT 8x4 ( Dorresteijn ) by Willem P Bos

Have you noticed that this cabin has an extra footrest next to the left front door. A handle is installed above the door to work safely at height.

Living Without You :x by ♥ YongJunCannie ♥

9 46

Oh Oh I hate you, I have no trust for you, if I must say, it's like having a rhythm without a kick

The crack caused by the word known as love, I will spill a little bit of tears to show my manners

If I was a color I would be considered gray, even my clear eyes are going dull

I already felt that we were moving apart, I knew it huh

I feel more better without you baby, I'm free got freedom lady

In the past I was afraid of a day without you, but not anymore so

Goodbye Goodbye (oh oh oh oh), Goodbye Goodbye (oh oh oh oh)

I don't even have any pity left, I run away from you

Living without you was nothing

It was actually comfortable Baby (Hopefully you are doing well too)

Back then I couldn't live to die and I missed you when I couldn't see you

Now that I think back on it, it is pretty funny Baby (Never ever come back here)

Ya already know you probably know, I have more popularity than you think

There are a lot of girls I couldn't meet before, now I meet so many of them that I'm busy to think about you

Can you live well without me? Do you feel better now that you found a different love?

Hopefully you won't have any regrets because for a while you messed me up perfectly

I don't even remember your voice and now when I think of your face I get frustrated

You are just a wind that passed by me for a second, I have some scars left, but it isn't anything big

Goodbye Goodbye (oh oh oh oh), Goodbye Goodbye (oh oh oh oh)

I feel good right now now and ever, keep your eyes on me with your two arms crossed

Living without you was nothing

It was actually comfortable Baby (Hopefully you are doing well too)

Back then I couldn't live to die and I missed you when I couldn't see you

Now that I think back on it, it is pretty funny Baby (Never ever come back here)

(I feel more better without you, I feel more better without you, I feel more better without you)

Living without you was nothing

It was actually comfortable Baby (Hopefully you are doing well too)

Back then I couldn't live to die and I missed you when I couldn't see you

Now that I think back on it, it is pretty funny Baby (Never ever come back here)

P/s: tình hình là bấn trầm trọng bài này r =)) My Jun Hyung is the best :x

Square Victoria - downtown Montreal by Nino H

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Have a nice day

Montréal ||| Night set

I have a guest by Mikiyochii

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Another commission I finished :) Face up pictures will follow later.

She'll be my guest for some weeks until her owner got some eyes for her :)

I'm really happy to have her by my side. One day I'll own a Lati too T_T

Doll belongs to Sabrina.

Have I Found You Flightless Bird..... by Tabinda B@ri

Xplored

Flightless Bird by Iron and Wine

www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gYskIODMH8

I HAVE TO by tind

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XXX

www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDZBgHBHQT8

Just passing the time of day ! by Ian

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Have a great Sunday guys !

The village in the Alps with two Romanesque churches by Arsène Lupin (Dominique)

Normally, in a French village, you have a church. One church. If you’re lucky, the church will be old, possibly Romanesque, and interesting. Therefore, it is extremely lucky that the small Alpine village of Notre-Dame-de-Mésage (barely over 1,000 inhabitants), not too far from the large city of Grenoble, should feature not one, but two churches, both of them Romanesque, and both full of very interesting aspects...!

We will begin the visit with the oldest one, the parochial church dedicated to the Virgin Mary —hence the name of the village itself. This little church, built perilously close to the chasm below on a very narrow flat ledge, dates back, for its oldest parts (the nave walls), to the 800s or 900s. At least, that is the opinion of Clovis Angelier in his notice published in the Bulletin monumental of 1962 (accessible online here: www.persee.fr/doc/bulmo_0007-473x_1952_num_110_2_3716). At the time, Angelier saw and was able to assess the apparel as being typical of that period in the area; unfortunately, it is not possible for us today to do the same, as those walls have been plastered over on every side. We will take his word for it.

The church is dominated by a stubby and adorably decorated bell tower built in tuff stone to be less heavy. In spite of that precaution, the bell tower must have caused significant damage to the structure of the church, as a pair of unsightly, thick pillars had to be built in the nave around 1200 to support the weight... which did not prevent the little bell tower from beginning to lean in a pronounced manner. Today, it resembles the Tower of Pisa and its curious appearance is known and well-liked in all the region: it has become an icon.

The church also features a beautiful semi-circular apse built around Year 1000, and is generally a good example of the premier art roman.

The western and southern sides of the bell tower.

1930's "homebrew" ham transmitter by Topeeka

7 3

When I started my career with IBM, one of my co-workers was a very interesting engineer, Marvin K. He was extremely intelligent and curious about many things, including astronomy, science, electronics and photography.

About a year after his death in 2004, his wife called me and said that she had a ham radio that he had built as a teenager and she thought I might like to have it. After I brought it home, I noticed that curled inside of the large copper coil, were several sheets of hand-written notes that described a lot about the construction and early use of this very basic radio transmitter. Typical of Marvin, the note was very detailed and contained a great deal of information about the radio. Here is his narrative....

"This is the short-wave amateur radio transmitter I built when I was age 13 in 1931-1932 in Sac City, Iowa. I operated under the call letters of W9AZA issued for the 80 meter CW band of 3.5 to 3.9 kilocycles per second (now called Kilo Hertz, or KHz, continuous wave, where the transmitter is keyed on and off with a telegraph-type key, using International Morse Code, NO voice operation)

This transmitter is a self-excited, push-pull oscillator, using two type ’45 tubes, where a heavy radio frequency current is generated, which oscillated back and forth at the resonant frequency of a tuned circuit consisting to two things: the large copper coil and the main tuning capacitor (or ‘condenser’). Energy is electromagnetically coupled to the two smaller copper coils which are connected to another tuning capacitor and the antenna system. This provides another resonant circuit which is tuned to the same radio frequency as the oscillator. Energy is then radiated from the antenna system…which was a zeppelin-type antenna with a 132 foot flat top, end fed with two parallel wires spaced 8 inches apart, one connected to one end of the 132’ antenna, the other one dead ended there..(not connected).

A separate power supply provided power to this transmitter. It consisted of a 115-volt AC power transformer, one type ’80 rectifier tube, two 8mfd, 450 volt filter capacitors, a filter choke and bleeder resistor. The transformer also supplied 5 volts AC for the ’80 tube filaments, 2 ½ volts AC for the ’45 tube filaments and 500 to 600 volts AC, center-tapped, for the nominally 250 to 300 volts DC for the transmitter tube plates. Plate power input to the transmitter oscillator circuit was maybe 20 or 30 watts, maximum. (I couldn’t afford voltmeters or ammeters which would have told me more...!) My radius of operation was Iowa and the adjacent states – seldom further.

My short-wave receiver was initially a 1 tube regenerative receiver I built and later a Super Wasp receiver, that my neighbor across the street had built and had replaced with a more up-to-date factory-built SW receiver. The Pilot Super-Wasp required a 6-volt car-battery for the tube filaments and a B- battery eliminator (connected to the 115 volts DC house current) for the 45, 90 and 180 volts DC the receiver used. It had plug-in coils to cover the 20, 40 80 and 160 meter amateur bands, as well as the broadcast band. It was regenerative also.

I operated mainly from 1932 thru 1940. The license had to be renewed, with proof of use, every 3 years or so. I finally let it run out….should have kept it active. My license was W9AZA, was a re-issue and came out when the W9K ---‘s (a very early call)...were coming out. My neighbor got W9KDL as the same time I got mine. He helped me, and we practiced code together via a telegraph line he installed between his house, mine and another 1 block away and one more a mile away..!

The plastic cover over the transmitter is not part of the original, but is just to keep the dust off. The cover, from an IBM type 650 scientific computer magnetic drum (circa 1955-1960) just happened to be the right size…!"

Photo info...shot with a Nikon D750 and Nikon 70-180mm Macro lens. Lit with a single Alien Bee and a gold reflector. This was a focus stack of a dozen exposures, all blended with CombineZP.

jolly time by Debmalya Mukherjee

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people having a gala time on the broken jetty, Calicut beach,India

Having a burger by Rick.NZ

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Tips of Yellow by WHAT SAY YOU

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Have a good weekend to all.

Andrena rehni, f, back, New Haven Co. CT_2020-02-17-14.45.56 ZS PMax UDR (1) by USGS Bee Lab

The Lost Chestnut Bee. Have you seen this bee lately (that bee would be Andrena rehni)? No you have not unless you have been looking on blooming Chestnut or the blooms of Chestnut's mysterious sister, Chinquapin. As far as we can tell no one has seen this species for decades. Why? It seems that this is likely due to the fact that this bee is a chestnut specialist and since the American Chestnuts disappeared in the 20's and no one looks at the obscure Chinquapin, then, of course, there will be no records. Many do not realize that the chestnut was a pollinator powerhouse back before they all died. Providing tons of pollen in a forested environment in late spring/early summer when nothing else was blooming in the woods. There is so much about this tree that is special and stands out and now it appears we have one special thing to add to that special list. This specimen was found by Morgan Lowry on one of the state of Connecticut's chestnut groves. You can also make a contribution by looking for this species on American Chestnuts and Chinquapins. Photo by Cole Cheng.

~~~~~~~~~~{{{{{{0}}}}}}~~~~~~~~~~

All photographs are public domain, feel free to download and use as you wish.

Photography Information:

Canon Mark II 5D, Zerene Stacker, Stackshot Sled, 65mm Canon MP-E 1-5X macro lens, Twin Macro Flash in Styrofoam Cooler, F5.0, ISO 100, Shutter Speed 200

We Are Made One with What We Touch and See

We are resolved into the supreme air,

We are made one with what we touch and see,

With our heart's blood each crimson sun is fair,

With our young lives each spring impassioned tree

Flames into green, the wildest beasts that range

The moor our kinsmen are, all life is one, and all is change.

- Oscar Wilde

You can also follow us on Instagram - account = USGSBIML

Want some Useful Links to the Techniques We Use? Well now here you go Citizen:

Best over all technical resource for photo stacking:

www.extreme-macro.co.uk/

Free Field Guide to Bee Genera of Maryland:

bio2.elmira.edu/fieldbio/beesofmarylandbookversion1.pdf

Basic USGSBIML set up:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-_yvIsucOY

USGSBIML Photoshopping Technique: Note that we now have added using the burn tool at 50% opacity set to shadows to clean up the halos that bleed into the black background from "hot" color sections of the picture.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bdmx_8zqvN4

Bees of Maryland Organized by Taxa with information on each Genus

www.flickr.com/photos/usgsbiml/collections

PDF of Basic USGSBIML Photography Set Up:

ftp://ftpext.usgs.gov/pub/er/md/laurel/Droege/How%20to%20Take%20MacroPhotographs%20of%20Insects%20BIML%20Lab2.pdf

Google Hangout Demonstration of Techniques:

plus.google.com/events/c5569losvskrv2nu606ltof8odo

www.youtube.com/watch?v=4c15neFttoU

Excellent Technical Form on Stacking:

www.photomacrography.net/

Contact information:

Sam Droege

sdroege@usgs.gov

301 497 5840

Transparent PSP by NellSly

4 3

having Superman as the selected track was completely unintentional

Is there a dentist in the house? by Jerome

11 19

I have SERIOUS doubts that there are any dentists in the house that are willing to accept the challenge. There’s actually nothing to worry about as the alligator will merely grow a new tooth. The teeth can be replaced multiple times in their lives, so no need to be concerned about this well-being. The alligator is being studied for multiple reasons and one of those reasons is for their ability to regrow teeth. Would be nice if researchers can learn from them and apply it humans and have us regrow teeth. This is actually the same alligator that I posted a couple of days ago. I took the initial shots and then traveled up the bayou for about 20 minutes and then returned to find him with his mouth open and the tooth dangling by a bit of tissue. Photo captured on Horsepen bayou of this twelve-footer.

A7R00472uls

have a break by Claudia

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have a coffee

Have a nice Weekend❣️💋 by Lana Lane

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Having Sauerkraut (ザワークラウト) by C Y

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Fun-time! :D

I enjoy watching 2018 FIFA World CUP 2018 everyday. :) I have wursts or appetizers while watching that.

Yesterday I remembered wursts, with pickled and sour cabbage.

Then, I bought Sauerkraut in import grocery store!