Nunney is a village and civil parish near Frome in the Mendip local government district within the English county of Somerset. The parish includes the hamlet of Holwell.

The name of the village comes from Old English and means Nunna's island.[2]

Today, the tourist attractions are the ruins of Nunney Castle, a historic church, and ducks wandering the streets near the river. The village hall is host to Nunney Acoustic Cafe which provides live music, homemade food, a bar and children's art activities on the second Sunday of each month (except July and August).[3]

On 30 September 2007, Nunney was the subject of a BBC Radio 4 report, asking whether "the prettiest village in England" is a place where we can learn "how to mend our broken society".[4]

Contents [hide]

1History

2Governance

3Geography

4Landmarks

4.1Religious sites

4.2Nunney Castle

4.3Nunney Players

4.4Visit Nunney

5References

6External links

7Gallery of images

History[edit]

Evidence of Roman settlement has been provided by the discovery of a hoard of Roman coins in 1869 at Westdown Farm and a villa with a mosaic floor.[2]

Nunney is mentioned as a manor belonging to William de Moyon in the Domesday Book in 1086, but the book does not mention a castle.[5]

The parish was part of the hundred of Frome.[6]

For many years, from the medieval period until the 19th century, Nunney was the site of water-powered mills owned initially by the Hoddinotts and then by James Fussell.[7]

Is this too dark for those of you on Windows?

Wray is not a real castle but a private house built in in the Gothic Revival Style in 1840. It was built for Dr James Dawson, a retired Liverpool surgeon, and is now owned by the National Trust. The house was built using his wife’s inheritance from a gin fortune. Apparently she took one look at the house when it was finished, and refused to live in it.

Wray Castle is a very elaborate building. James Dawson could essentially build whatever he wanted, from a portcullis to turrets which don’t have any access to them, as well as arrow slits and even mock ruins in the grounds.

It was designed by John Jackson Lightfoot who was a trained accountant with an interest in architecture. It was his first and only design as he sadly drank himself to death before it was finished. H.P. Horner, a more experienced architect stepped in to complete the design. So what you see is a combination of Lightfoot’s playful fantasy design and Horner’s practical approach.

After Dr Dawson’s death in 1875, when he was 96, the estate was inherited by his young nephew, Preston Rawnsley. In 1877 Preston’s cousin, Hardwicke Rawnsley, took up the appointment of vicar of Wray Church (next to the Castle and built at the same time by Dr Dawson).

The castle has been in the care of the National Trust since 1929, when it was given to the trust by Sir Noton Barclay to celebrate his year of office as Lord Mayor of Manchester.

Spectacular site with a Turkish tank from the 1974 invasion stuck in a pass in the Pentadaktylos mountains at 700 m altitude.

This military site (Tarihi Tank) is spectacular: the carcass of a Turkish tank from the 1974 invasion is wedged into a pass in the Pentadaktylos/Beşparmak mountains, 700 m above sea level, where you can enjoy grandiose views of the Kyrenia coast. It can be reached via a small mountain road (not shown on Google Maps) linking Karşıyaka (Vasilia/Βασιλεια) to Saint-Hilarion. The carcass is that of an American-made M47 Patton tank that was lost during the Battle of Lapta on August 2, 1974, in an attempt to break through the Pentadaktylos. A Turkish armored column was ambushed here: one vehicle was destroyed, others were abandoned and recovered by the Cypriot National Guard. The surviving M47 was only damaged by a mine explosion. Its tracks can still be seen nearby. But during the towing operation, the tank slid down the slope and remained in place. The site is laid out with a small parking lot, concrete steps, flags, a memorial and (not very) explanatory panels. It lies along the Lapithos trail (Lapta Yürüyüş Parkuru), which is long and difficult: requiring around 5 hours' walking, it forms a 10.2 km loop from Lapta that passes beneath the Kyparissovouno/Selvili peak, the highest point of the Pentadaktylos, at 1,024 m above sea level. Descending from the monument, however, it takes you 1 km down to the abandoned Byzantine monastery of Panagia Kriniotissa, with its beautiful 14th-century church.

The Kyrenia Mountains (Greek: Κερύνειο Όρος; Turkish: Girne Dağları) is a long, narrow mountain range that runs for approximately 160 km (100 mi) along the northern coast of the island of Cyprus. It is primarily made of hard crystalline limestone, with some marble. Its highest peak is Mount Selvili, at 1,024 m (3,360 ft). Pentadaktylos (also spelt Pentadactylos; Greek: Πενταδάκτυλος; Turkish: Beşparmak) is another name for the Kyrenia Mountains, though Britannica refers to Pentadaktylos as the "western portion" of the latter,[4] or the part west of Melounta. Pentadaktylos (lit. "five-fingered") is so-named after one of its most distinguishing features, a peak that resembles five fingers.

The Kyrenian mountains are named after the Kyrenian mountains in Achaia, Greece, which are well known from mythology because of the connection with one of the 12 labours of Hercules, the capture of the Kerynitis deer that lived there. This sacred deer of Artemis with golden horns and bronze legs ran so fast that no one could reach it. Hercules, however, after pursuing it for a whole year, managed to catch it and transport it alive to Mycenae.

A devastating fire in July 1995 burned large portions of the Kyrenia Mountains, resulting in the loss of significant forest land and natural habitat.

The only other mountain range in Cyprus is the Troodos Mountains.

These mountains are a series of sedimentary formations from the Permian to the Middle Miocene pushed up by a collision of the African and Eurasian plates. Though only half the height of the Troodos Mountains, the Kyrenia Mountains are rugged and rise abruptly from the Mesaoria plain.

The location of the mountains near the sea made them desirable locations for watch towers and castles overlooking the northern Cyprus coast, as well as the central plain. These castles generally date from the 10th through the 15th centuries, primarily constructed by the Byzantines and Lusignans. The castles of St. Hilarion, Buffavento, and Kantara sit astride peaks and were of strategic importance during much of the history of Cyprus during the Middle Ages.

A flag of Northern Cyprus is painted on the southern slope of the Kyrenia Mountains. It is reportedly 425 metres wide and 250 metres high, and is illuminated at night.

The flag is considered controversial as evidenced in the Parliamentary Question put to the European Parliament by Antigoni Papadopoulou on 22 October 2009, "How can it permit the existence of such a flag which, apart from the catastrophic environmental damage it causes, the use of chemical substances and the brutal abuse of the environment, involves an absurd waste of electricity at a time of economic crisis? Does Turkey show sufficient respect towards the environment to justify its desire to open the relevant chapter of accession negotiations?"

There are many legends about the Pentadactylos mountains. One tells the story of a conceited villager who fell in love with the local queen and asked for her hand in marriage. The queen wished to be rid of the impertinent young man and requested that he bring her some water from the spring of Apostolos Andreas monastery in the Karpas, a perilous journey in those days. The man set off and after several weeks returned with a skin full of that precious water. The queen was most dismayed to see that he had succeeded, but still refused to marry him. In a fit of rage, he poured the water on to the earth, seized a handful of the resulting mud and threw it at the queens head. She ducked and the lump of mud sailed far across the plain to land on top of the Kyrenia mountain range, where it is to this day, still showing the impression of the thwarted villager’s five fingers.

Another famous one is of the Byzantine hero Digenis Akritas. Tradition has it that Digenis Akritas's hand gripped the mountain to get out of the sea when he came to free Cyprus from its Saracen invaders, and this is his handprint. He also threw a large rock across Cyprus to get at the Saracen ships. That rock landed in Paphos at the site of the birthplace of Aphrodite, thus known to this day as Petra Tou Romiou or "Rock of the Greek".

Northern Cyprus, officially the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), is a de facto state that comprises the northeastern portion of the island of Cyprus. It is recognised only by Turkey, and its territory is considered by all other states to be part of the Republic of Cyprus.

Northern Cyprus extends from the tip of the Karpass Peninsula in the northeast to Morphou Bay, Cape Kormakitis and its westernmost point, the Kokkina exclave in the west. Its southernmost point is the village of Louroujina. A buffer zone under the control of the United Nations stretches between Northern Cyprus and the rest of the island and divides Nicosia, the island's largest city and capital of both sides.

A coup d'état in 1974, performed as part of an attempt to annex the island to Greece, prompted the Turkish invasion of Cyprus. This resulted in the eviction of much of the north's Greek Cypriot population, the flight of Turkish Cypriots from the south, and the partitioning of the island, leading to a unilateral declaration of independence by the north in 1983. Due to its lack of recognition, Northern Cyprus is heavily dependent on Turkey for economic, political and military support.

Attempts to reach a solution to the Cyprus dispute have been unsuccessful. The Turkish Army maintains a large force in Northern Cyprus with the support and approval of the TRNC government, while the Republic of Cyprus, the European Union as a whole, and the international community regard it as an occupation force. This military presence has been denounced in several United Nations Security Council resolutions.

Northern Cyprus is a semi-presidential, democratic republic with a cultural heritage incorporating various influences and an economy that is dominated by the services sector. The economy has seen growth through the 2000s and 2010s, with the GNP per capita more than tripling in the 2000s, but is held back by an international embargo due to the official closure of the ports in Northern Cyprus by the Republic of Cyprus. The official language is Turkish, with a distinct local dialect being spoken. The vast majority of the population consists of Sunni Muslims, while religious attitudes are mostly moderate and secular. Northern Cyprus is an observer state of ECO and OIC under the name "Turkish Cypriot State", PACE under the name "Turkish Cypriot Community", and Organization of Turkic States with its own name.

Several distinct periods of Cypriot intercommunal violence involving the two main ethnic communities, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, marked mid-20th century Cyprus. These included the Cyprus Emergency of 1955–59 during British rule, the post-independence Cyprus crisis of 1963–64, and the Cyprus crisis of 1967. Hostilities culminated in the 1974 de facto division of the island along the Green Line following the Turkish invasion of Cyprus. The region has been relatively peaceful since then, but the Cyprus dispute has continued, with various attempts to solve it diplomatically having been generally unsuccessful.

Cyprus, an island lying in the eastern Mediterranean, hosted a population of Greeks and Turks (four-fifths and one-fifth, respectively), who lived under British rule in the late nineteenth-century and the first half of the twentieth-century. Christian Orthodox Church of Cyprus played a prominent political role among the Greek Cypriot community, a privilege that it acquired during the Ottoman Empire with the employment of the millet system, which gave the archbishop an unofficial ethnarch status.

The repeated rejections by the British of Greek Cypriot demands for enosis, union with Greece, led to armed resistance, organised by the National Organization of Cypriot Struggle, or EOKA. EOKA, led by the Greek-Cypriot commander George Grivas, systematically targeted British colonial authorities. One of the effects of EOKA's campaign was to alter the Turkish position from demanding full reincorporation into Turkey to a demand for taksim (partition). EOKA's mission and activities caused a "Cretan syndrome" (see Turkish Resistance Organisation) within the Turkish Cypriot community, as its members feared that they would be forced to leave the island in such a case as had been the case with Cretan Turks. As such, they preferred the continuation of British colonial rule and then taksim, the division of the island. Due to the Turkish Cypriots' support for the British, EOKA's leader, Georgios Grivas, declared them to be enemies. The fact that the Turks were a minority was, according to Nihat Erim, to be addressed by the transfer of thousands of Turks from mainland Turkey so that Greek Cypriots would cease to be the majority. When Erim visited Cyprus as the Turkish representative, he was advised by Field Marshal Sir John Harding, the then Governor of Cyprus, that Turkey should send educated Turks to settle in Cyprus.

Turkey actively promoted the idea that on the island of Cyprus two distinctive communities existed, and sidestepped its former claim that "the people of Cyprus were all Turkish subjects". In doing so, Turkey's aim to have self-determination of two to-be equal communities in effect led to de jure partition of the island.[citation needed] This could be justified to the international community against the will of the majority Greek population of the island. Dr. Fazil Küçük in 1954 had already proposed Cyprus be divided in two at the 35° parallel.

Lindley Dan, from Notre Dame University, spotted the roots of intercommunal violence to different visions among the two communities of Cyprus (enosis for Greek Cypriots, taksim for Turkish Cypriots). Also, Lindlay wrote that "the merging of church, schools/education, and politics in divisive and nationalistic ways" had played a crucial role in creation of havoc in Cyprus' history. Attalides Michael also pointed to the opposing nationalisms as the cause of the Cyprus problem.

By the mid-1950's, the "Cyprus is Turkish" party, movement, and slogan gained force in both Cyprus and Turkey. In a 1954 editorial, Turkish Cypriot leader Dr. Fazil Kuchuk expressed the sentiment that the Turkish youth had grown up with the idea that "as soon as Great Britain leaves the island, it will be taken over by the Turks", and that "Turkey cannot tolerate otherwise". This perspective contributed to the willingness of Turkish Cypriots to align themselves with the British, who started recruiting Turkish Cypriots into the police force that patrolled Cyprus to fight EOKA, a Greek Cypriot nationalist organisation that sought to rid the island of British rule.

EOKA targeted colonial authorities, including police, but Georgios Grivas, the leader of EOKA, did not initially wish to open up a new front by fighting Turkish Cypriots and reassured them that EOKA would not harm their people. In 1956, some Turkish Cypriot policemen were killed by EOKA members and this provoked some intercommunal violence in the spring and summer, but these attacks on policemen were not motivated by the fact that they were Turkish Cypriots.

However, in January 1957, Grivas changed his policy as his forces in the mountains became increasingly pressured by the British Crown forces. In order to divert the attention of the Crown forces, EOKA members started to target Turkish Cypriot policemen intentionally in the towns, so that Turkish Cypriots would riot against the Greek Cypriots and the security forces would have to be diverted to the towns to restore order. The killing of a Turkish Cypriot policeman on 19 January, when a power station was bombed, and the injury of three others, provoked three days of intercommunal violence in Nicosia. The two communities targeted each other in reprisals, at least one Greek Cypriot was killed and the British Army was deployed in the streets. Greek Cypriot stores were burned and their neighbourhoods attacked. Following the events, the Greek Cypriot leadership spread the propaganda that the riots had merely been an act of Turkish Cypriot aggression. Such events created chaos and drove the communities apart both in Cyprus and in Turkey.

On 22 October 1957 Sir Hugh Mackintosh Foot replaced Sir John Harding as the British Governor of Cyprus. Foot suggested five to seven years of self-government before any final decision. His plan rejected both enosis and taksim. The Turkish Cypriot response to this plan was a series of anti-British demonstrations in Nicosia on 27 and 28 January 1958 rejecting the proposed plan because the plan did not include partition. The British then withdrew the plan.

In 1957, Black Gang, a Turkish Cypriot pro-taksim paramilitary organisation, was formed to patrol a Turkish Cypriot enclave, the Tahtakale district of Nicosia, against activities of EOKA. The organisation later attempted to grow into a national scale, but failed to gain public support.

By 1958, signs of dissatisfaction with the British increased on both sides, with a group of Turkish Cypriots forming Volkan (later renamed to the Turkish Resistance Organisation) paramilitary group to promote partition and the annexation of Cyprus to Turkey as dictated by the Menderes plan. Volkan initially consisted of roughly 100 members, with the stated aim of raising awareness in Turkey of the Cyprus issue and courting military training and support for Turkish Cypriot fighters from the Turkish government.

In June 1958, the British Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan, was expected to propose a plan to resolve the Cyprus issue. In light of the new development, the Turks rioted in Nicosia to promote the idea that Greek and Turkish Cypriots could not live together and therefore any plan that did not include partition would not be viable. This violence was soon followed by bombing, Greek Cypriot deaths and looting of Greek Cypriot-owned shops and houses. Greek and Turkish Cypriots started to flee mixed population villages where they were a minority in search of safety. This was effectively the beginning of the segregation of the two communities. On 7 June 1958, a bomb exploded at the entrance of the Turkish Embassy in Cyprus. Following the bombing, Turkish Cypriots looted Greek Cypriot properties. On 26 June 1984, the Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktaş, admitted on British channel ITV that the bomb was placed by the Turks themselves in order to create tension. On 9 January 1995, Rauf Denktaş repeated his claim to the famous Turkish newspaper Milliyet in Turkey.

The crisis reached a climax on 12 June 1958, when eight Greeks, out of an armed group of thirty five arrested by soldiers of the Royal Horse Guards on suspicion of preparing an attack on the Turkish quarter of Skylloura, were killed in a suspected attack by Turkish Cypriot locals, near the village of Geunyeli, having been ordered to walk back to their village of Kondemenos.

After the EOKA campaign had begun, the British government successfully began to turn the Cyprus issue from a British colonial problem into a Greek-Turkish issue. British diplomacy exerted backstage influence on the Adnan Menderes government, with the aim of making Turkey active in Cyprus. For the British, the attempt had a twofold objective. The EOKA campaign would be silenced as quickly as possible, and Turkish Cypriots would not side with Greek Cypriots against the British colonial claims over the island, which would thus remain under the British. The Turkish Cypriot leadership visited Menderes to discuss the Cyprus issue. When asked how the Turkish Cypriots should respond to the Greek Cypriot claim of enosis, Menderes replied: "You should go to the British foreign minister and request the status quo be prolonged, Cyprus to remain as a British colony". When the Turkish Cypriots visited the British Foreign Secretary and requested for Cyprus to remain a colony, he replied: "You should not be asking for colonialism at this day and age, you should be asking for Cyprus be returned to Turkey, its former owner".

As Turkish Cypriots began to look to Turkey for protection, Greek Cypriots soon understood that enosis was extremely unlikely. The Greek Cypriot leader, Archbishop Makarios III, now set independence for the island as his objective.

Britain resolved to solve the dispute by creating an independent Cyprus. In 1959, all involved parties signed the Zurich Agreements: Britain, Turkey, Greece, and the Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders, Makarios and Dr. Fazil Kucuk, respectively. The new constitution drew heavily on the ethnic composition of the island. The President would be a Greek Cypriot, and the Vice-President a Turkish Cypriot with an equal veto. The contribution to the public service would be set at a ratio of 70:30, and the Supreme Court would consist of an equal number of judges from both communities as well as an independent judge who was not Greek, Turkish or British. The Zurich Agreements were supplemented by a number of treaties. The Treaty of Guarantee stated that secession or union with any state was forbidden, and that Greece, Turkey and Britain would be given guarantor status to intervene if that was violated. The Treaty of Alliance allowed for two small Greek and Turkish military contingents to be stationed on the island, and the Treaty of Establishment gave Britain sovereignty over two bases in Akrotiri and Dhekelia.

On 15 August 1960, the Colony of Cyprus became fully independent as the Republic of Cyprus. The new republic remained within the Commonwealth of Nations.

The new constitution brought dissatisfaction to Greek Cypriots, who felt it to be highly unjust for them for historical, demographic and contributional reasons. Although 80% of the island's population were Greek Cypriots and these indigenous people had lived on the island for thousands of years and paid 94% of taxes, the new constitution was giving the 17% of the population that was Turkish Cypriots, who paid 6% of taxes, around 30% of government jobs and 40% of national security jobs.

Within three years tensions between the two communities in administrative affairs began to show. In particular disputes over separate municipalities and taxation created a deadlock in government. A constitutional court ruled in 1963 Makarios had failed to uphold article 173 of the constitution which called for the establishment of separate municipalities for Turkish Cypriots. Makarios subsequently declared his intention to ignore the judgement, resulting in the West German judge resigning from his position. Makarios proposed thirteen amendments to the constitution, which would have had the effect of resolving most of the issues in the Greek Cypriot favour. Under the proposals, the President and Vice-President would lose their veto, the separate municipalities as sought after by the Turkish Cypriots would be abandoned, the need for separate majorities by both communities in passing legislation would be discarded and the civil service contribution would be set at actual population ratios (82:18) instead of the slightly higher figure for Turkish Cypriots.

The intention behind the amendments has long been called into question. The Akritas plan, written in the height of the constitutional dispute by the Greek Cypriot interior minister Polycarpos Georkadjis, called for the removal of undesirable elements of the constitution so as to allow power-sharing to work. The plan envisaged a swift retaliatory attack on Turkish Cypriot strongholds should Turkish Cypriots resort to violence to resist the measures, stating "In the event of a planned or staged Turkish attack, it is imperative to overcome it by force in the shortest possible time, because if we succeed in gaining command of the situation (in one or two days), no outside, intervention would be either justified or possible." Whether Makarios's proposals were part of the Akritas plan is unclear, however it remains that sentiment towards enosis had not completely disappeared with independence. Makarios described independence as "a step on the road to enosis".[31] Preparations for conflict were not entirely absent from Turkish Cypriots either, with right wing elements still believing taksim (partition) the best safeguard against enosis.

Greek Cypriots however believe the amendments were a necessity stemming from a perceived attempt by Turkish Cypriots to frustrate the working of government. Turkish Cypriots saw it as a means to reduce their status within the state from one of co-founder to that of minority, seeing it as a first step towards enosis. The security situation deteriorated rapidly.

Main articles: Bloody Christmas (1963) and Battle of Tillyria

An armed conflict was triggered after December 21, 1963, a period remembered by Turkish Cypriots as Bloody Christmas, when a Greek Cypriot policemen that had been called to help deal with a taxi driver refusing officers already on the scene access to check the identification documents of his customers, took out his gun upon arrival and shot and killed the taxi driver and his partner. Eric Solsten summarised the events as follows: "a Greek Cypriot police patrol, ostensibly checking identification documents, stopped a Turkish Cypriot couple on the edge of the Turkish quarter. A hostile crowd gathered, shots were fired, and two Turkish Cypriots were killed."

In the morning after the shooting, crowds gathered in protest in Northern Nicosia, likely encouraged by the TMT, without incident. On the evening of the 22nd, gunfire broke out, communication lines to the Turkish neighbourhoods were cut, and the Greek Cypriot police occupied the nearby airport. On the 23rd, a ceasefire was negotiated, but did not hold. Fighting, including automatic weapons fire, between Greek and Turkish Cypriots and militias increased in Nicosia and Larnaca. A force of Greek Cypriot irregulars led by Nikos Sampson entered the Nicosia suburb of Omorphita and engaged in heavy firing on armed, as well as by some accounts unarmed, Turkish Cypriots. The Omorphita clash has been described by Turkish Cypriots as a massacre, while this view has generally not been acknowledged by Greek Cypriots.

Further ceasefires were arranged between the two sides, but also failed. By Christmas Eve, the 24th, Britain, Greece, and Turkey had joined talks, with all sides calling for a truce. On Christmas day, Turkish fighter jets overflew Nicosia in a show of support. Finally it was agreed to allow a force of 2,700 British soldiers to help enforce a ceasefire. In the next days, a "buffer zone" was created in Nicosia, and a British officer marked a line on a map with green ink, separating the two sides of the city, which was the beginning of the "Green Line". Fighting continued across the island for the next several weeks.

In total 364 Turkish Cypriots and 174 Greek Cypriots were killed during the violence. 25,000 Turkish Cypriots from 103-109 villages fled and were displaced into enclaves and thousands of Turkish Cypriot houses were ransacked or completely destroyed.

Contemporary newspapers also reported on the forceful exodus of the Turkish Cypriots from their homes. According to The Times in 1964, threats, shootings and attempts of arson were committed against the Turkish Cypriots to force them out of their homes. The Daily Express wrote that "25,000 Turks have already been forced to leave their homes". The Guardian reported a massacre of Turks at Limassol on 16 February 1964.

Turkey had by now readied its fleet and its fighter jets appeared over Nicosia. Turkey was dissuaded from direct involvement by the creation of a United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) in 1964. Despite the negotiated ceasefire in Nicosia, attacks on the Turkish Cypriot persisted, particularly in Limassol. Concerned about the possibility of a Turkish invasion, Makarios undertook the creation of a Greek Cypriot conscript-based army called the "National Guard". A general from Greece took charge of the army, whilst a further 20,000 well-equipped officers and men were smuggled from Greece into Cyprus. Turkey threatened to intervene once more, but was prevented by a strongly worded letter from the American President Lyndon B. Johnson, anxious to avoid a conflict between NATO allies Greece and Turkey at the height of the Cold War.

Turkish Cypriots had by now established an important bridgehead at Kokkina, provided with arms, volunteers and materials from Turkey and abroad. Seeing this incursion of foreign weapons and troops as a major threat, the Cypriot government invited George Grivas to return from Greece as commander of the Greek troops on the island and launch a major attack on the bridgehead. Turkey retaliated by dispatching its fighter jets to bomb Greek positions, causing Makarios to threaten an attack on every Turkish Cypriot village on the island if the bombings did not cease. The conflict had now drawn in Greece and Turkey, with both countries amassing troops on their Thracian borders. Efforts at mediation by Dean Acheson, a former U.S. Secretary of State, and UN-appointed mediator Galo Plaza had failed, all the while the division of the two communities becoming more apparent. Greek Cypriot forces were estimated at some 30,000, including the National Guard and the large contingent from Greece. Defending the Turkish Cypriot enclaves was a force of approximately 5,000 irregulars, led by a Turkish colonel, but lacking the equipment and organisation of the Greek forces.

The Secretary-General of the United Nations in 1964, U Thant, reported the damage during the conflicts:

UNFICYP carried out a detailed survey of all damage to properties throughout the island during the disturbances; it shows that in 109 villages, most of them Turkish-Cypriot or mixed villages, 527 houses have been destroyed while 2,000 others have suffered damage from looting.

The situation worsened in 1967, when a military junta overthrew the democratically elected government of Greece, and began applying pressure on Makarios to achieve enosis. Makarios, not wishing to become part of a military dictatorship or trigger a Turkish invasion, began to distance himself from the goal of enosis. This caused tensions with the junta in Greece as well as George Grivas in Cyprus. Grivas's control over the National Guard and Greek contingent was seen as a threat to Makarios's position, who now feared a possible coup.[citation needed] The National Guard and Cyprus Police began patrolling the Turkish Cypriot enclaves of Ayios Theodoros and Kophinou, and on November 15 engaged in heavy fighting with the Turkish Cypriots.

By the time of his withdrawal 26 Turkish Cypriots had been killed. Turkey replied with an ultimatum demanding that Grivas be removed from the island, that the troops smuggled from Greece in excess of the limits of the Treaty of Alliance be removed, and that the economic blockades on the Turkish Cypriot enclaves be lifted. Grivas was recalled by the Athens Junta and the 12,000 Greek troops were withdrawn. Makarios now attempted to consolidate his position by reducing the number of National Guard troops, and by creating a paramilitary force loyal to Cypriot independence. In 1968, acknowledging that enosis was now all but impossible, Makarios stated, "A solution by necessity must be sought within the limits of what is feasible which does not always coincide with the limits of what is desirable."

After 1967 tensions between the Greek and Turkish Cypriots subsided. Instead, the main source of tension on the island came from factions within the Greek Cypriot community. Although Makarios had effectively abandoned enosis in favour of an 'attainable solution', many others continued to believe that the only legitimate political aspiration for Greek Cypriots was union with Greece.

On his arrival, Grivas began by establishing a nationalist paramilitary group known as the National Organization of Cypriot Fighters (Ethniki Organosis Kyprion Agoniston B or EOKA-B), drawing comparisons with the EOKA struggle for enosis under the British colonial administration of the 1950s.

The military junta in Athens saw Makarios as an obstacle. Makarios's failure to disband the National Guard, whose officer class was dominated by mainland Greeks, had meant the junta had practical control over the Cypriot military establishment, leaving Makarios isolated and a vulnerable target.

During the first Turkish invasion, Turkish troops invaded Cyprus territory on 20 July 1974, invoking its rights under the Treaty of Guarantee. This expansion of Turkish-occupied zone violated International Law as well as the Charter of the United Nations. Turkish troops managed to capture 3% of the island which was accompanied by the burning of the Turkish Cypriot quarter, as well as the raping and killing of women and children. A temporary cease-fire followed which was mitigated by the UN Security Council. Subsequently, the Greek military Junta collapsed on July 23, 1974, and peace talks commenced in which a democratic government was installed. The Resolution 353 was broken after Turkey attacked a second time and managed to get a hold of 37% of Cyprus territory. The Island of Cyprus was appointed a Buffer Zone by the United Nations, which divided the island into two zones through the 'Green Line' and put an end to the Turkish invasion. Although Turkey announced that the occupied areas of Cyprus to be called the Federated Turkish State in 1975, it is not legitimised on a worldwide political scale. The United Nations called for the international recognition of independence for the Republic of Cyprus in the Security Council Resolution 367.

In the years after the Turkish invasion of northern Cyprus one can observe a history of failed talks between the two parties. The 1983 declaration of the independent Turkish Republic of Cyprus resulted in a rise of inter-communal tensions and made it increasingly hard to find mutual understanding. With Cyprus' interest of a possible EU membership and a new UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan in 1997 new hopes arose for a fresh start. International involvement from sides of the US and UK, wanting a solution to the Cyprus dispute prior to the EU accession led to political pressures for new talks. The believe that an accession without a solution would threaten Greek-Turkish relations and acknowledge the partition of the island would direct the coming negotiations.

Over the course of two years a concrete plan, the Annan plan was formulated. In 2004 the fifth version agreed upon from both sides and with the endorsement of Turkey, US, UK and EU then was presented to the public and was given a referendum in both Cypriot communities to assure the legitimisation of the resolution. The Turkish Cypriots voted with 65% for the plan, however the Greek Cypriots voted with a 76% majority against. The Annan plan contained multiple important topics. Firstly it established a confederation of two separate states called the United Cyprus Republic. Both communities would have autonomous states combined under one unified government. The members of parliament would be chosen according to the percentage in population numbers to ensure a just involvement from both communities. The paper proposed a demilitarisation of the island over the next years. Furthermore it agreed upon a number of 45000 Turkish settlers that could remain on the island. These settlers became a very important issue concerning peace talks. Originally the Turkish government encouraged Turks to settle in Cyprus providing transfer and property, to establish a counterpart to the Greek Cypriot population due to their 1 to 5 minority. With the economic situation many Turkish-Cypriot decided to leave the island, however their departure is made up by incoming Turkish settlers leaving the population ratio between Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots stable. However all these points where criticised and as seen in the vote rejected mainly by the Greek Cypriots. These name the dissolution of the „Republic of Cyprus", economic consequences of a reunion and the remaining Turkish settlers as reason. Many claim that the plan was indeed drawing more from Turkish-Cypriot demands then Greek-Cypriot interests. Taking in consideration that the US wanted to keep Turkey as a strategic partner in future Middle Eastern conflicts.

A week after the failed referendum the Republic of Cyprus joined the EU. In multiple instances the EU tried to promote trade with Northern Cyprus but without internationally recognised ports this spiked a grand debate. Both side endure their intention of negotiations, however without the prospect of any new compromises or agreements the UN is unwilling to start the process again. Since 2004 negotiations took place in numbers but without any results, both sides are strongly holding on to their position without an agreeable solution in sight that would suit both parties.

Bustling Myeong-dong is a shopping area packed with international fashion brands, luxury department stores and homegrown cosmetics shops. Casual eateries offer Korean dumplings and ginseng chicken soup, while street vendors sell Japanese and Thai snacks. Shows mixing folk music and drama are staged at Myeongdong Nanta Theatre. Nearby 19th-century Myeong-dong Cathedral features a Gothic-style bell tower.

Myeongdong (Hangul: 명동; Hanja: 明洞, literally 'bright cave' or 'bright tunnel) is a dong in Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea between Chungmu-ro, Eulji-ro, and Namdaemun-ro. It covers 0.99 km² with a population of 3,409 and is mostly a commercial area, being one of Seoul's main shopping and tourism districts. In 2011, 2012 and 2013, Myeong-dong was listed as the ninth most expensive shopping street in the world. The area is known for its two historically significant sites, namely the Myeongdong Cathedral and the Myeongdong Nanta Theatre.

The Cathedral Church of the Virgin Mary of the Immaculate Conception (Latin: Ecclesia Cathedralis Nostrae Domina de Immaculatæ Conceptionis) (Hangul: 천주교 서울대교구 주교좌 명동대성당) informally known as Myeongdong Cathedral is the national cathedral of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Seoul. Located in the Myeongdong neighborhood of Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea, it is the seat of the Archbishop of Seoul Cardinal Andrew Yeom Soo-jung, the highest Roman Catholic prelate of the nation.

Dedicated to Blessed Virgin Mary, the Immaculate Conception is the principal Patroness of Korea by a Pontifical decree accorded by Pope Gregory XVI in 1841. The cathedral serves as a community landmark, tourist attraction, and a notable symbol of Roman Catholicism in Korea. The Korean government assigned the cathedral as a historic site (No. # 258) on 22 November 1977, making it a cultural property and asset of the country

Villa Mary’s Beach Canggu is perfectly situated 150 metres from the beach which renowned for its world-class surf breaks in outskirt Canggu area. Only 45 minutes from Bali's international airport while the appealing Seminyak, renowned for its boutiques, International-acclaimed restaurants and nightlife is accessible within 30 minutes drive.

This elegant villa provides all the comforts and glamour of modern tropical living while preserving a distinctive Balinese charm in an exotic atmosphere. Beautiful Ocean views of good surfing breaks and views south to Kuta and the Bukit is spectacular.

This four-bedroom villa is designed by one of Bali’s premier architect, Komang Suardika Jeghier of Jeghier Architect. The result is a signature of creation with a unique layout and beautiful roof design. The Architect’s freedom of expression stands out throughout the villa & surrounding grounds.

www.bali-individually.com/villas/villa-marys-beach

Villa Rate per Night

4 Bedrooms Villa

Low Season US$ 550++

High Season US$ 715++

Peak Season US$ 1,100++

Low Season Period

January 9 - June 30

September 16 - December 19

High Season Period

January 20 to January 25

April 6- April 12

July 1 - July 31

September 1 - September 15

Peak Season Period

August 1 - August 31

December 20 - January 8

Minimum Stay Requirements

Low Season: 3-NIGHTS

High Season: 5-NIGHTS

Peak Season: 7-NIGHTS

Rates Inclusive of

Pick up & transfer from Airport to villa and transfer from villa to Airport (1 x in & 1 x out) in private air-conditioned car, Refreshments and welcome drink upon arrival at the villa, Free mineral drinking water for the duration of stay, In-house daily Continental breakfast (maximum 2 person per room), Unlimited FREE usage WIFI Internet access (guest' personal computer is required), Serviced daily including housekeeping. 1 x complimentary car and driver excluded petrol for a minimum stay of 5 nights

Krampus is a beast-like creature from the folklore of Alpine countries thought to punish children during the Yule season who had misbehaved, in contrast with Saint Nicholas, who rewards well-behaved ones with gifts. Krampus is said to capture particularly naughty children in his sack and carry them away to his lair.

Krampus is represented as a beast-like creature, generally demonic in appearance. The creature has roots in Germanic folklore; however, its influence has spread far beyond German borders. Traditionally young men dress up as the Krampus in Austria, southern Bavaria, South Tyrol, northern Friuli, Hungary, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, the Slovak Republic and Croatia during the first week of December, particularly on the evening of 5 December (the eve of Saint Nicholas day on many church calendars), and roam the streets frightening children with rusty chains and bells.

Sharing is fun #overthetop #limemargarita #lacasita #gastown #gastown #raincity #yvr #604 #778 #vancouver #van #lunch #dinner #takeout #supper #latedinner #parties #events #partyfood #restaurant #foodie

Source: instagram.com/patricia_cosgrave

La Casita Gastown

Mexican Food Restaurant

101 West Cordova str, V6B 1E1

Vancouver, BC, CANADA

Phone: 604 646 2444

lacasita.ca

My photography club meets at the First Parish Church in Concord. Soon major renovations will start on this old building. The day that I took this, many people were busy packing up all the items in the rooms that were going to be renovated. This church holds an open table supper once a week. Unlike certain other neighborhood suppers, here anyone may come, regardless of financial need. (At other places, I've heard people snipe that so-and-so could afford to buy food and therefore should not come to a community supper. However, First Parish realizes that people come to such meals for all sorts of reasons.) Although I am not drawn to organized religion, I certainly like the welcoming and inclusive spirit of this church.

Toxitron is a rejected clone of Transformers Animated Optimus Prime, and its fitting that he is a redeco of Optimus's Toy. Pictured in truck mode.

Based on an old unreleased deco, Toxitron isn't all there and could be considered similar to Bizarro. The paint applications on this figure are quite nice and slimy looking.

He was one of the BotCon 2011 attendee exclusive figures.

Wood painted skulls

Made by me

Www.francescagreco.it

This picture is #17 in my 100 strangers project. Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at www.100Strangers.com.

Meet Linda, photographer, student at the University of the Arts, and local resident.

After dinner, I was hanging out in our local park with my kids. I watched this woman walk into the park, look around very intently, and then take several photos of that oddly shaped building you see in the background. She is taking a photography for illustrators course at the university (that's her brand new Pentax that she bought for the course). She's a sophomore, studying illustration. She really enjoys school. Her assignment was to take photos of geometric shapes - triangles, squares, circles, etc. - I think she said she needed numerous photos of each shape, and that building presents quite a few shapes. After we got done chatting, she hurried off in search of more shapes. I could tell she was anxious to complete her assignment, and the light was beginning to fade, so she was very kind to take the time for my interruption. Thanks, Linda, for being stranger 17.

Although this park was recently renovated, the building in the background was retained. I don't think anyone has figured out what to do with it (it used to house a weight room where Rocky Balboa worked out). Neighborhood lore has it that the building's roof design represents Christopher Columbus's hat (this is Columbus Park), but I doubt it. As explained by stranger 18 - sorry, you'll have to wait 24 hours to see and read about her (but I will tell you she has an almost uncanny relationship to stranger 17) - this is the "cupcake" building.

The Port Authority Building (Dutch: Havenhuis), or the Port House, is a government building located in Antwerp, Belgium, built between 2009 and 2016. It is located near the area of Eilandje, in the Port of Antwerp, and acts as the new headquarters of the Antwerp Port Authority, housing various departments. Designed by Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid, the building opened in 2016, the year of her death. It is the sole government building designed by Hadid. The design of the building incorporates the use of a fire station, integrating it into the building. Attached above and connected to the fire station is a contemporary diamond-shaped structure marked by straight edges, with an additional column providing support from the floor.

The building houses approximately 500 employees, and acts as a meeting place for international contacts of the Antwerp port community. According to the Antwerp Port Authority, the building is meant to "symbolise the dynamic, reliable, ambitious and innovative nature" of the Port of Antwerp

The expansion of the building is located directly above the renovated fire station. It has a glass-covered facade to "reflect the complex interaction of shades and colours in the air", a reference to the building's location surrounded by water. The volume measures over 100 meters in length. The expansion resembles the hull of a sailing ship, with a protruding bowspirit and the surface of the facets of a diamond facing the Kattendijk dock. This is also a reference to Antwerp's association with the diamond industry.

The exterior of the "diamond" consists of transparent and opaque triangular facets. This allowed the architects to control the amount of sunlight entering the building. The placement of the facets mimicks the nearby River Scheldt. Project manager Joris Pauwels stated that concrete pillars and 900 tonnes of steel hold the glass workspace above the former fire station. A bridge level joins the two structures and gives employees a 360-degree view of the public square and the Scheldt below.

The design of the building took energy efficiency into account, reaching a 'Very Good' BREEAM environmental rating. A borehole energy system pumps water to a depth of 80 meters below grade in over 100 locations around the building to provide heating and cooling. The company Cegelec was in charge of installing and unifying the energy networks of the two buildings, with the insertion of plastic pipes to achieve an energy storage volume of 12 cubic metres.

The restored and preserved fire truck hall contains a public reading room and a library. The whole building has a total floorplan of 12,800 square metres, with 6,600 square metres in the refurbished fire station and a further 6,200 square metres in the extension.

The Port Authority Building (Dutch: Havenhuis), or the Port House, is a government building located in Antwerp, Belgium, built between 2009 and 2016. It is located near the area of Eilandje, in the Port of Antwerp, and acts as the new headquarters of the Antwerp Port Authority, housing various departments. Designed by Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid, the building opened in 2016, the year of her death. It is the sole government building designed by Hadid. The design of the building incorporates the use of a fire station, integrating it into the building. Attached above and connected to the fire station is a contemporary diamond-shaped structure marked by straight edges, with an additional column providing support from the floor.

The building houses approximately 500 employees, and acts as a meeting place for international contacts of the Antwerp port community. According to the Antwerp Port Authority, the building is meant to "symbolise the dynamic, reliable, ambitious and innovative nature" of the Port of Antwerp

The expansion of the building is located directly above the renovated fire station. It has a glass-covered facade to "reflect the complex interaction of shades and colours in the air", a reference to the building's location surrounded by water. The volume measures over 100 meters in length. The expansion resembles the hull of a sailing ship, with a protruding bowspirit and the surface of the facets of a diamond facing the Kattendijk dock. This is also a reference to Antwerp's association with the diamond industry.

The exterior of the "diamond" consists of transparent and opaque triangular facets. This allowed the architects to control the amount of sunlight entering the building. The placement of the facets mimicks the nearby River Scheldt. Project manager Joris Pauwels stated that concrete pillars and 900 tonnes of steel hold the glass workspace above the former fire station. A bridge level joins the two structures and gives employees a 360-degree view of the public square and the Scheldt below.

The design of the building took energy efficiency into account, reaching a 'Very Good' BREEAM environmental rating. A borehole energy system pumps water to a depth of 80 meters below grade in over 100 locations around the building to provide heating and cooling. The company Cegelec was in charge of installing and unifying the energy networks of the two buildings, with the insertion of plastic pipes to achieve an energy storage volume of 12 cubic metres.

The restored and preserved fire truck hall contains a public reading room and a library. The whole building has a total floorplan of 12,800 square metres, with 6,600 square metres in the refurbished fire station and a further 6,200 square metres in the extension.

# English

This photograph is part of a set called "Street Studio - Faria Lima" which you can watch here: www.flickr.com/photos/levycarneiro/sets/72157624144376545/

An american photographer made a video where he gives tips on how to take portraits of people on the streets. His images are absolutely wonderful. A fraction of a second, on a life of many kinds of people: business men, workers, elderly, children, teenagers. All of his photographs show a great emotion, expression, feelings. This photographer is Clay Enos.

Inspired by this video I decided to do something. The plan was taking portraits of people passing by on a given Avenue, against a neutral background, and of course asking permission to the people (they would be able to download the image later when it's published on my website - here fotos.levycarneiro.com/). I chose the Faria Lima Avenue, in São Paulo, Brazil. This is like a New York's 5th Avenue, lots of people of different styles passing by. Some "nutjob" friends :) helped me with the experience, thanks Fabio Chaves and Ester Razzo!

We had an great support from people, many of them excited by the idea. Some people weren't that excited, worried about the time or about their portraits being published on a website. Even 2 bikers parked their motorbikes near us, asking me to take their portraits :)

# Português

Esta foto faz parte da coleção Street Studio / Estúdio de Rua - Faria Lima que você pode ver aqui: www.flickr.com/photos/levycarneiro/sets/72157624144376545/

Um fotógrafo americano fez um vídeo onde ele dá dicas para tirar retratos de pessoas na rua. As imagens que ele consegue capturar destas pessoas são simplesmente fantásticas. Mostram um instante, uma fração de segundo, da vida dos mais variados tipos de pessoas: trabalhadores, empresários, idosos, pais de família, crianças, adolescentes. E todos com muita emoção, expressão, sentimento. Este fotógrafo chama-se Clay Enos.

Inspirado por este vídeo, resolvi fazer alguma coisa. O plano era tirar fotos de pessoas na rua, em algum fundo neutro ou claro e simplesmente pedindo permissão às pessoas que passassem (depois elas poderiam pegar estas fotos em meu site - aqui fotos.levycarneiro.com/ ). O local escolhido foi a Av. Faria Lima em São Paulo. Alguns amigos "malucos" me ajudaram e foram essenciais no resultado da experiência. Valeu Fábio Chaves e Ester Razzo!

Tivemos uma grande aceitação das pessoas, muitas animadas com a idéia. Outras nem tanto, já que estavam com muita pressa ou não queriam suas imagens publicadas em um site. Tivemos também a participação de dois motoboys que viram a movimentação, estacionaram e pediram para tirar suas fotos :)

Bogart & our foster puppy Magnus. At first, Bogart had no real issues with Magnus. . . but then Magnus never went away. What?! He's still here? Now, finally, the ice has broken and Bogart enjoys romping with Magnus. . .

Interesting Bogart Fact: Bogart's clock was ticking down on death row as he could not be kept in the kill facility for more than one year. They didn't have the heart to put him down, so they found a no-kill group to take the boy. . .

[SOOC, f/2.0, ISO 100, shutter speed 1/3200]

Kentuck Knob is another Frank Lloyd Wright house just six miles from Fallingwater in the town of Chalk Hill, Pennsylvania. The Hagan family of Uniontown, founders of the Hagan Ice Cream company, stayed at Fallingwater and decided they wanted their own Frank Lloyd Wright-designed house. So, they asked him and he designed Kentuck Knob.

It's not as unconventional as Fallingwater, and what's striking is it's actually a house one can live in. It is owned by a British peer presently and he does entertain guests here on occasion.

A striking feature of this house is the kitchen. It's hexagonally shaped, has a 14-foot high ceiling and has a hexagonal skylight incut with triangles in wood. Triangles and hexagons figure prominently in the house.

I don't think a tour is offered where one can take photographs inside, but the owner is an art collector and there's many sculptures on the grounds. There's also a slab from the Berlin Wall. And, the view from the backyard is magnanimous.

Visit it here: http://www.kentuckknob.com/ .

A mineral is a naturally-occurring, solid, inorganic, crystalline substance having a fairly definite chemical composition and having fairly definite physical properties. At its simplest, a mineral is a naturally-occurring solid chemical. Currently, there are over 5600 named and described minerals - about 200 of them are common and about 20 of them are very common. Mineral classification is based on anion chemistry. Major categories of minerals are: elements, sulfides, oxides, halides, carbonates, sulfates, phosphates, and silicates.

The silicates are the most abundant and chemically complex group of minerals. All silicates have silica as the basis for their chemistry. "Silica" refers to SiO2 chemistry. The fundamental molecular unit of silica is one small silicon atom surrounded by four large oxygen atoms in the shape of a triangular pyramid - this is the silica tetrahedron - SiO4. Each oxygen atom is shared by two silicon atoms, so only half of the four oxygens "belong" to each silicon. The resulting formula for silica is thus SiO2, not SiO4.

The simplest & most abundant silicate mineral in the Earth's crust is quartz (SiO2). All other silicates have silica + impurities. Many silicates have a significant percentage of aluminum (the aluminosilicates).

Quartz (silicon dioxide/silica - SiO2) is the most common mineral in the Earth's crust. It is composed of the two most abundant elements in the crust - oxygen and silicon. It has a glassy, nonmetallic luster, is commonly clearish to whitish to grayish in color, has a white streak, is quite hard (H≡7), forms hexagonal crystals, has no cleavage, and has conchoidal fracture. Quartz can be any color: clear, white, gray, black, brown, pink, red, purple, blue, green, orange, etc.

The quartz seen here is an unbroken crystal.

Food is served

Mozilla HQ, Mountain View, California

Nikon D200, 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G VR

DxO (color/exposure, optics, lighting, noise, sharpening)

1/15 sec @ f/3.5, iso 110, 18.0mm (27mm)

____________________________________________________

Lunch 2.0 at Mozilla

Just a shot of people filling up their plates with free (as in food) food. Note that the tablecloth is held down by Firefox stickers. Nice touch.

(Batch processed to keep the natives happy. If there is a good photo here I'll work on them.) See other Lunch 2.0 photos

See where this picture was taken. [?] (You can now see it in Yahoo! Maps by looking to the right.

Carlisle Cathedral

Carlisle Cathedral is the seat of the Anglican Bishop of Carlisle in Carlisle, Cumbria, England. It was founded as an Augustinian priory and became a cathedral in 1133.

Carlisle is the second smallest of England's ancient cathedrals. Its notable features include figurative stone carving, a set of medieval choir stalls and the largest window in the Flowing Decorated Gothic style in England.

Carlisle Cathedral was begun in 1122, during the reign of King Henry I, as a community of Canons Regular following the reform of the Abbey of Arrouaise in France, which followed a strict form of the canonical life, influenced by the asceticpractices of the Cistercians. Many large churches of Augustinian foundation were built in England during this period as the Archbishop of Canterbury, William de Corbeil, was a member of this order, but Carlisle is one of only four Augustinian churches in England to become a cathedral, most monastic cathedrals being Benedictine. The church was begun by Athelwold, an Englishman, who became the first prior. In 1133, the church was raised to the status of cathedral and Athelwold became the first Bishop of Carlisle (1133–55). In 1233, the cathedral priory community were joined by two friaries in the city. A Dominican friary and a Franciscan friary were founded close to the cathedral. The building was refurbished in the 13th and 14th centuries, receiving impetus from the presence of the court of Edward I in 1307.

In the 15th and early 16th centuries, the monastic buildings were renewed. With the Dissolution of the Monasteries from 1536, and the establishment by Henry VIII of the Church of England as the country's official church, the Dominican and Franciscan friaries were dissolved and Carlisle, along with the other monastic cathedrals, was run by a secular chapter like the cathedrals at Lincoln and York, which practice has continued to this day. During the time of the English Civil War, a portion of the nave of the cathedral was demolished by the Scottish Presbyterian Army in order to use the stone to reinforce Carlisle Castle. Between 1853 and 1870 Carlisle Cathedral was restored by Ewan Christian. In the early 19th century, the cathedral became the subject for a geometric analysis by Robert William Billings.

Carlisle Cathedral was commenced in 1123 as a monastic church, possibly on the foundations of an earlier church, in the Norman architectural style with solid masonry, large round piers, round arches and smallish round headed windows. These features may still be seen in the south transept and the remaining two bays of the nave, which are now used as the Chapel of the Border Regiment. The stone is the local red sandstone, which has discoloured almost to black on parts of the exterior. The building has also suffered from subsidence which is evidenced by the piers, which lean at different angles.

In the 13th century, the choir of the cathedral was rebuilt in the Gothic style, wider than the original and on a different axis. However, the new work was severely damaged in a fire in 1292, and the work was recommenced. By 1322 the arcades and the easternmost bay were complete, with the elaborate tracery and glass of the east window being in place by about 1350. The upper stages of the walls were finished, probably by the architect John Lewen who died in about 1398. The Gothic arcade has richly moulded arches with dog's tooth decoration, and the twelve capitals are carved with vegetation along with small lively figures representing the labours of the months.

The choir is roofed by a fine wooden barrel vault dating from the 14th century. In 1856 this was restored and repainted to a new design by Owen Jones. It is thought the eastern bays of the cathedral never received a stone vault because at some point the central spire blew down, and funds were required to rebuild the damaged tower and north transept, completed in about 1420.

The tracery and stained glass of the East Window

The most significant architectural feature of Carlisle Cathedral is its East Window. The tracery of this window is in the most complex of English Gothic styles, Flowing Decorated Gothic. It is the largest and most complex such window in England, being 51 feet high and 26 feet wide. It has nine lights, and tracery, which, it has been calculated, was drafted from 263 points.The tracery of the window still contains much of its original medieval glass.

Carlisle Cathedral has a fine set of 46 carved wooden choir stalls with misericords, which were installed in the early 15th century. Misericords are hinged seats, "constructed to keep the monks from falling asleep while at prayers,"and carved with numerous figures and creatures. Despite their purpose, the "pillars supporting the canopies bear traces of having been burnt, by weary monks who dropped off to sleep in the midst of their interminable devotions while holding a lighted candle in their hands." The misericords were made out of black oak, and their backs carved with scenes of the legends of St. Anthony the Hermit, St. Cuthbert, St. Augustine, and the twelve apostles, as well as mythical themes. The misericords of Carlisle include typical iconography of "half-length angels, beasts deriving from the Bestiary, hybrid creatures, and narrative scenes, including the inverted world theme of the Woman beating a Man that no decent set of misericords could be without."

The delicate gilt canopy over the High Altar is a modern work designed by Sir Charles Nicholson.

Other buildings of interest in the precinct are the Fratry dating from about 1500 and the Gatehouse of 1527. In mediaeval times the Fratry building was the dining hall of the Cathedral Priory.

Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey, straddling the Bosporus Strait, the boundary between Europe and Asia. It is considered the country's economic, cultural and historic capital. The city has a population of over 15 million residents, comprising 19% of the population of Turkey, and is the most populous city in Europe[c] and the world's sixteenth-largest city.

The city was founded as Byzantium in the 7th century BCE by Greek settlers from Megara. In 330 CE, the Roman emperor Constantine the Great made it his imperial capital, renaming it first as New Rome (Ancient Greek: Νέα Ῥώμη Nea Rhomē; Latin: Nova Roma) and then finally as Constantinople (Constantinopolis) after himself. In 1930, the city's name was officially changed to Istanbul, the Turkish rendering of εἰς τὴν Πόλιν eis tḕn Pólin 'to the City', the appellation Greek speakers used since the 11th century to colloquially refer to the city.

The city served as an imperial capital for almost 1600 years: during the Byzantine (330–1204), Latin (1204–1261), late Byzantine (1261–1453), and Ottoman (1453–1922) empires. The city grew in size and influence, eventually becoming a beacon of the Silk Road and one of the most important cities in history. The city played a key role in the advancement of Christianity during Roman/Byzantine times, hosting four of the first seven ecumenical councils before its transformation to an Islamic stronghold following the Fall of Constantinople in 1453 CE—especially after becoming the seat of the Ottoman Caliphate in 1517.[ In 1923, after the Turkish War of Independence, Ankara replaced the city as the capital of the newly formed Republic of Turkey.

Istanbul was the 2010 European Capital of Culture. The city has surpassed London and Dubai to become the most visited city in the world, with more than 20 million foreign visitors in 2023. The historic centre of Istanbul is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the city hosts the headquarters of numerous Turkish companies, accounting for more than thirty percent of the country's economy.

Neolithic artifacts, uncovered by archeologists at the beginning of the 21st century, indicate that Istanbul's historic peninsula was settled as far back as the 6th millennium BCE. That early settlement, important in the spread of the Neolithic Revolution from the Near East to Europe, lasted for almost a millennium before being inundated by rising water levels. The first human settlement on the Asian side, the Fikirtepe mound, is from the Copper Age period, with artifacts dating from 5500 to 3500 BCE. In the European side, near the point of the peninsula (Sarayburnu) there was a settlement during the early 1st millennium BCE. Modern authors have linked it to the possible Thracian toponym Lygos, mentioned by Pliny the Elder as an earlier name for the site of Byzantium.

There is evidence suggesting there were settlements around the region dating as far back as 6700 BC, and it is hard to define if there was any settlement on exact spot at city proper established, but earliest records about city proper begins around 660 BC when Greek settlers from the Attic town of Megara colonized the area and established Byzantium on the European side of the Bosphorus. It fell to the Roman Republic in 196 BC, and was known as Byzantium in Latin until 330, when the city, soon renamed as Constantinople, became the new capital of the Roman Empire. During the reign of Justinian I, the city rose to be the largest in the western world, with a population peaking at close to half a million people. Constantinople functioned as the capital of the Byzantine Empire, which effectively ended with the fall of Constantinople in 1453. Constantinople then became the capital of the Ottoman Turks.

The population had declined during the medieval period, but as the Ottoman Empire approached its historical peak, the city grew to a population of close to 700,000 in the 16th century, once again ranking among the world's most popular cities. With the founding of the Republic of Turkey in 1923, that country's capital moved from Constantinople to Ankara (previously Angora).

Kirkstall Abbey is a ruined Cistercian monastery in Kirkstall, north-west of Leeds city centre in West Yorkshire, England. It is set in a public park on the north bank of the River Aire. It was founded c.1152. It was disestablished during the Dissolution of the Monasteries under Henry VIII.

Kirkstall Abbey was acquired by Leeds Corporation as a gift from Colonel North and opened to the public in the late 19th century. The gatehouse became a museum.

Henry de Lacy (1070, Halton, – 1123), Lord of the manor of Pontefract, 2nd Lord of Bowland, promised to dedicate an abbey to the Virgin Mary should he survive a serious illness. He recovered and agreed to give the Abbot of Fountains Abbey land at Barnoldswick in the West Riding of Yorkshire (now in Lancashire) on which to found a daughter abbey. Abbot Alexander with twelve Cistercian monks from Fountains went to Barnoldswick and after demolishing the existing church attempted to build the abbey on Henry de Lacy's land. They stayed for six years but found the place inhospitable. Abbot Alexander set about finding a more suitable place for the abbey and came across a site in the heavily wooded Aire Valley occupied by hermits.

Alexander sought help from de Lacy who was sympathetic and helped acquire the land from William de Poitou. The monks moved from Barnoldswick to Kirkstall displacing the hermits, some of whom joined the abbey, the rest being paid to move. The buildings were mostly completed between 1152 when the monks arrived in Kirkstall and the end of Alexander's abbacy in 1182. Millstone Grit for building came from Bramley Fall on the opposite side of the river.

The buildings

Interior

The English Cistercian houses, of which there are remains at Fountains, Rievaulx, Kirkstall, Tintern and Netley were mainly arranged after the same plan, with slight local variations. As an example, below is the groundplan of Kirkstall Abbey, one of the best preserved.

Kirkstall Abbey

The church is of the Cistercian type, with a short chancel , and transepts with three eastward chapels to each, divided by solid walls. The building is plain, the windows are unornamented, and the nave has no triforium. The cloister to the south (5) occupies the whole length of the nave. On the east side stands the two-aisled chapter-house , between which and the south transept is a small sacristy, and on the other side two small apartments, one of which was probably the parlour . Beyond this is the calefactory or day-room of the monks. Above this whole range of building runs the monks' dormitory, opening by stairs into the south transept of the church.

On the south side of the cloister there are the remains of the old refectory, running, as in Benedictine houses, from east to west, and the new refectory , which, with the increase of the inmates of the house, superseded it, stretching, as is usual in Cistercian houses, from north to south. Adjacent to this apartment are the remains of the kitchen, pantry and buttery. The arches of the lavatory are to be seen near the refectory entrance. The western side of the cloister is occupied by vaulted cellars, supporting on the upper story the dormitory of the lay brothers,

Extending from the south-east angle of the main group of buildings are the walls and foundations of a secondary group of buildings (17, 18). These have been identified as the hospitium or the abbot's house, but they occupy the position in which the infirmary is more usually found. The hall was a very spacious apartment, measuring 83 ft. in length by 48 ft. 9 inches in breadth, which was divided by two rows of columns. The fish-ponds lay between the monastery and the river to the south. The abbey mill was situated about 80 yards to the north-west. The millpool may be distinctly traced, together with the goit or mill stream.

Dissolution and later history ,

On 22 November 1539 the abbey was surrendered to Henry VIII's commissioners in the Dissolution of the monasteries. It was awarded to Thomas Cranmer in 1542, but reverted to the crown when Cranmer was executed in 1556. Sir Robert Savile purchased the estate in 1584, and it remained in his family's hands for almost a hundred years. In 1671 it passed into the hands of the Brudenell family, the Earls of Cardigan. Much of the stone was removed for re-use in other buildings in the area, including the steps leading to Leeds Bridge.

During the 18th century the picturesque ruins attracted artists of the Romantic movement and were painted by artists including J. M. W. Turner, John Sell Cotman and Thomas Girtin. In 1889 the abbey was sold to Colonel John North, who presented it to Leeds City Council. The Council undertook a major restoration project and the abbey was opened to the public in 1895.

The abbey today,

Chapter House of the abbey

This is my second entry to the Bricklink Designer Program Series 6. I appreciate all votes and comments:

www.bricklink.com/v3/designer-program/series-6/2215/The-O...

I love architecture and I decided to design an opera house to Bricklink Designer Program Series 6 and my inspiration came from the opera houses of Budapest and Vienna. I tried to add many typical details, and decorations such as a combination of an arcade and a balcony on the front facade, statues, dormer windows, a brick-built light pole, light on the rear facade, planter etc.. The roof assembly and the auditorium balcony are removable and a big part of the rear wall is openable to make the interior space accessible.

Biography:

I am a fine art photographer who believes that taking the photograph is just the beginning of the creative process. I might use textured layers or painterly filters to enhance and create an image closer to my artistic vision. My images usually contain strong composition, bright colors and heavy textures, although I have recently been producing more black and white images.

I am a member of the 81Bees Photography Collective, which was started by students at CCSF taking the 81B Advanced Black and White Darkroom Techniques.

I have shown my images at various galleries in San Francisco, including: A. Muse, SF Photobooth and Harvey Milk Photo Center, among others.

CCSF Photography and You:

I have always been interested in photography, from both peering through the viewfinder and looking at beautiful images created by others. From a very young age I was the family photographer, insisting everyone pose for a family portrait at all of our holidays. But that was basically it, I never took photography seriously.

When digital photography became popular I started to get interested in understanding the technical aspects of photography to become a better photographer. I did not realize when I signed up for my first photography course at CCSF that I had hit the jackpot! In 2007 I signed up for, appropriately, beginning photography and found out that CCSF has a top notch photography department.

After I took that first course I knew that I wasn't interested in a photography degree I just wanted to learn everything...everything...about photography, to take every course offered about photography at CCSF. And over the five years that I’ve taken courses I pretty much have taken all CCSF has to offer regarding that subject!

I discovered that I really love digital photography, but I enjoyed learning about film and chemical development too. I discovered that I’m not that interested in studio lighting but love ambient lighting, mostly because I would rather be outdoors than inside all day. And if I am inside I would rather use window lighting. I learned so much, and discovered that there’s still so much more to know.

I especially loved learning about all the options available to create unique images, to make the images captured your own, the way you see them, which may be different than how the camera see them. I am still exploring and learning to put my unique touch to my images and CCSF has been an invaluable asset in helping me obtain this goal.

Posted on PigPog: pigpog.com/2015/03/03/this-is-bat-country/

We can’t stop here.

Visit this location at Triscalia, The Real Star Trek Experience. 25th Century in Second Life

No One Is Innocent

La Cigale - 30/11/2015

© 2015 Laurent Besson

8296348544 you set up the channel without even asking me jami, and then you did what you wanted to, in 2005 and 2006. you chose murder jami, you chose

who supported you jami.. and why did you accept $$,$$$ to contain 176 at 1831 salecdo/guyaso, and let those people die.. without even asking

me, if you could could create that channel, if you contain me. you chose jami. you chose murder. who supported you?

CIA Whore Jami Rose MURDERED all of those people, DESTROYED all of those lives, what should her punishment be? CIA Whore and MURDERER, Jami Rose. her photo, right here :)

www.flickr.com/photos/89268704@N08/81238 54555/in/photostrea

CIA Whore Jami Rose MURDERED all of those people, DESTROYED all of those lives, what should her punishment be? CIA Whore and MURDERER, Jami Rose. her photo, right here :) www.flickr.com/photos/89268704@N08/81238 54555/in/photostream JamiRoseCIAWhore

your CIA Whore Jami Rose MURDERED all of those people, DESTROYED all of those lives, what should her punishment be?

CIA Whore and MURDERER, Jami Rose. her photo, right here :)

www.flickr.com/photos/89268704@N08/8123854555/in/photostream

JamiRoseCIAWhore

jami rose cia whore all those people that she killed all that damage that she caused

looking for who is responsible for the aurora colorado july 19 2012 theatre shooting for the dark night rises? look no further.. CIA Whore Jami Rose, right here

JamiRoseCIAWhore

jami rose cia whore all those people that she killed all that damage that she caused

1)hurricane katrina

2)bp oil spill

3)japan tsunami

and most recently, Aurora Colorado Batman Murders,

and many others in time.

raped. robed. murdered. dismembered.

never punished for her crimes

born on april 4 1980.

here you go :)

by entering in her information from date of birth here:

www.timeanddate.com/date/duration.html

you can monitor her information that is used by the world markets on a daily basis, not only that, but control for what is in numerical belief, thru out the us and the rest of the world.

on a daily basis. in forward motion time placement.

also,

www.timeanddate.com/date/durationresult.html?m1=01&d1...

(The stasis of origin should show in the above link, like what is just listed below. why not tell people? :)

From and including: Saturday, January 1, 0001 (Julian calendar)

To, but not including : Friday, April 4, 1980 (Gregorian calendar)

It is 722,910 days from the start date to the end date, but not including the end date

Or 1979 years, 3 months, 3 days excluding the end date

Note:The From date is a Julian calendar date. The current Gregorian calendar was adopted in United States where Thursday, September 3, 1752 was the first of 11 days that were skipped. This has been accounted for in this calculation. Read more about the Julian and Gregorian calendars

Alternative time units

722,910 days can be converted to one of these units:

62,459,424,000 seconds

1,040,990,400 minutes

17,349,840 hours

103,272 weeks (rounded down)

if you need a little help to her "stasis of orgin" here you go. if you're not smart enough to know what a birthday does in time, its an active measure for which you create throught your life span. there, i said it. don't like that intelligent secret? millions people living, and not knowing that. how could anyone not know? :)

and all those people she killed. never punished

thomas warn varnas will make sure that happens, won't he?

you attempted two murders on his life at 143 Rue Esplanade and Villa Du Lac,

by channeling his dreams with tenants and parking cars outside of his residence, capturing him..

how does it feel now Jami, to know the same is happening

to you :)

:)

there you go :)

This is a photograph from the FINISH of the SSE Airticity Dublin Marathon which was held in Dublin City, Ireland on Monday October 27th 2014 at 09:00. This was the 35th year of the SSE Airtricity Dublin Marathon, which is run through the historic Georgian streets of Dublin, Ireland's largest and capital city. This photograph was taken in Dublin City Center at Mount Street Canal Bridge which is just before the 26 mile mark on Mount Street.

PLEASE NOTE: These are completely unofficial photographs. We have no linkages whatsoever to the official photography outlets for the marathon

Please read the information below on how to use these photographs on social media or other media

Can I use these photographs directly from Flickr on my social media account(s)?

Yes (Explaination 1) - If you're using these photographs please don't just take them and post them without some type of acknowledgement that this is not your photograph. Remember it takes hours of photography, thousands of euros of equipment, IT Skills and hours of uploading to make these photographs available. It only takes 10 seconds to copy them and post them as you're own. Please think of the photographers before you post.

Yes (Explaination 2) - of course you can! Flickr provides several ways to share this and other photographs in this Flickr set. You can share to: email, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Tumblr, LiveJournal, and Wordpress and Blogger blog sites. Your mobile, tablet, or desktop device will also offer you several different options for sharing this photo page on your social media outlets.

We take these photographs as a hobby and as a contribution to the running community in Ireland. Our only "cost" is our request that if you are using these images: (1) on social media sites such as Facebook, Tumblr, Pinterest, Twitter,LinkedIn, Google+, etc or (2) other websites, blogs, web multimedia, commercial/promotional material that you must provide a link back to our Flickr page to attribute us.

This also extends the use of these images for Facebook profile pictures. In these cases please make a separate wall or blog post with a link to our Flickr page. If you do not know how this should be done for Facebook or other social media please email us and we will be happy to help suggest how to link to us.

I want to download these pictures to my computer or device?

You can download the photographic image here direct to your computer or device. This version is the low resolution web-quality image. How to download will vary slight from device to device and from browser to browser. However - look for a symbol with three dots 'ooo' or the link to 'View/Download' all sizes. When you click on either of these you will be presented with the option to download the image. Remember just doing a right-click and "save target as" will not work on Flickr.

I want get full resolution, print-quality, copies of these photographs?

If you just need these photographs for online usage then they can be used directly once you respect their Creative Commons license and provide a link back to our Flickr set if you use them. For offline usage and printing all of the photographs posted here on this Flickr set are available free, at no cost, at full image resolution.

Please email petermooney78 AT gmail DOT com with the links to the photographs you would like to obtain a full resolution copy of. We also ask race organisers, media, etc to ask for permission before use of our images for flyers, posters, etc. We reserve the right to refuse a request.

In summary please remember when requesting photographs from us - If you are using the photographs online all we ask is for you to provide a link back to our Flickr set or Flickr pages. You will find the link above clearly outlined in the description text which accompanies this photograph. Taking these photographs and preparing them for online posting does take a significant effort and time. We are not posting photographs to Flickr for commercial reasons. If you really like what we do please spread the link around your social media, send us an email, leave a comment beside the photographs, send us a Flickr email, etc. If you are using the photographs in newspapers or magazines we ask that you mention where the original photograph came from.

I would like to contribute something for your photograph(s)?

Many people offer payment for our photographs. As stated above we do not charge for these photographs. We take these photographs as our contribution to the running community in Ireland. If you feel that the photograph(s) you request are good enough that you would consider paying for their purchase from other photographic providers or in other circumstances we would suggest that you can provide a donation to any of the great charities in Ireland who do work for Cancer Care or Cancer Research in Ireland.

We use Creative Commons Licensing for these photographs

We use the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License for all our photographs here in this photograph set. What does this mean in reality?

The explaination is very simple.

Attribution- anyone using our photographs gives us an appropriate credit for it. This ensures that people aren't taking our photographs and passing them off as their own. This usually just mean putting a link to our photographs somewhere on your website, blog, or Facebook where other people can see it.

ShareAlike – anyone can use these photographs, and make changes if they like, or incorporate them into a bigger project, but they must make those changes available back to the community under the same terms.

Creative Commons aims to encourage creative sharing. See some examples of Creative Commons photographs on Flickr: www.flickr.com/creativecommons/

I ran in the race - but my photograph doesn't appear here in your Flickr set! What gives?

As mentioned above we take these photographs as a hobby and as a voluntary contribution to the running community in Ireland. Very often we have actually ran in the same race and then switched to photographer mode after we finished the race. Consequently, we feel that we have no obligations to capture a photograph of every participant in the race. However, we do try our very best to capture as many participants as possible. But this is sometimes not possible for a variety of reasons:

     ►You were hidden behind another participant as you passed our camera

     ►Weather or lighting conditions meant that we had some photographs with blurry content which we did not upload to our Flickr set

     ►There were too many people - some races attract thousands of participants and as amateur photographs we cannot hope to capture photographs of everyone

     ►We simply missed you - sorry about that - we did our best!

You can email us petermooney78 AT gmail DOT com to enquire if we have a photograph of you which didn't make the final Flickr selection for the race. But we cannot promise that there will be photograph there. As alternatives we advise you to contact the race organisers to enquire if there were (1) other photographs taking photographs at the race event or if (2) there were professional commercial sports photographers taking photographs which might have some photographs of you available for purchase. You might find some links for further information above.

Don't like your photograph here?

That's OK! We understand!

If, for any reason, you are not happy or comfortable with your picture appearing here in this photoset on Flickr then please email us at petermooney78 AT gmail DOT com and we will remove it as soon as possible. We give careful consideration to each photograph before uploading.

I want to tell people about these great photographs!

Great! Thank you! The best link to spread the word around is probably http://www.flickr.com/peterm7/sets

Canon R10

Velocette is the name given to motorcycles made by Veloce Ltd, in Hall Green, Birmingham, England. One of several motorcycle manufacturers in Birmingham, Velocette was a small, family-owned firm, selling far fewer hand-built motorcycles than the giant BSA, Norton or Triumph concerns. Renowned for the quality of its products, the company was "always in the picture" in international motorcycle racing, from the mid-1920s through the 1950s, culminating in two World Championship titles (1949–1950 350 cc) and its legendary and still-unbeaten (for single-cylinder, 500 cc machines) 24 hours at 100 mph (161 km/h) record. Veloce, while small, was a great technical innovator and many of its patented designs are commonplace on motorcycles today, including the positive-stop foot shift and swinging arm rear suspension with hydraulic dampers Source: Wikkipedia

In June 1958, Conrad Hilton appeared on the classic TV show “This is your Life.”

Photo courtesy of the Conrad N. Hilton Collection, Hospitality Industry Archives, University of Houston

This is my take on a Lego T-70 X-Wing. It took me a while to finish and I still hope to finish the left side of it in the future :) I had a design before but it didn't really capture the look of a T-70, so I redesigned the nose and a little bit of the body and wings. You can fit an Astromech but you have to take the legs (arms) off and of course you can fit a minifigure in the cockpit. This is definitely a Moc that needs to be on display and not played with because the wings are only attached by eight studs and will fall off if you swoosh it around

I want to give a shout out to "SpaceMan Nathan" for his T-70 nose design I based mine off of :)

Thanks so much to my man The Ron

She is Dada :) My special and unique girl. I do love her so much :D Thank you so much Xhanthi !! I LOVE YOU <3 And I still finding a wig for her, i ordered some wigs for her but end up those wigs look not fit for her and this wig is look most good of those...what do you think guys?

Fonte MTV.com

This is She's history goes back to Warped Tour 2009, when Alana Grace's earlier solo project was playing the same stages as After Midnight Project, which included members Ryan Folden -drums- and Christian Paul Meadows -guitar-. Grace found herself in need of a full band in 2011 and enlisted Folden and Meadows following the dissolution of After Midnight Project.

Following a few months of writing and recording, This Is She are ready to present their music to the world at large with the Nobody Is Ok EP, which was recorded in a few months in 2011 North Hollywood, CA, in the band's own studio.

This Is She relish in that universal "dark side," both in the themes of Grace's lyrics and in their musical style, which is a blend of blissful pop, heavily-distorted rock music, and the bombast of modern electronic dance music, all punctuated by Grace's tortured, emotive, and always-soaring vocals. Befitting of her own namesake, her lyrics and melodies are delivered with an air of simple elegance; the very definition of grace. Fuzzy bass lines, distorted guitars, propulsive drumming and electronic textures swirl around and engulf her voice. It's positively disorienting, but Grace keeps the songs grounded with her voice, acting like a glimmer of humanity and hope amongst a decaying wasteland of explosive noise. Some songs incorporate schizophrenic vocal samples that are entirely haunting before morphing into intense, mechanized dubstep-inspired breakdowns that sound like a Terminator's interpretation of rock music.

This is loud music; even when it's turned down, you're unable to block it out. It could never, ever be played as background music. Like Sleigh Bells or Public Enemy, the beats of these songs lock into place and explode like bombs while guitars come crashing down around you like high-rise buildings in a Michael Bay blockbuster. Call it rock; call it dubstep; call it action-packed blockbuster music; call it whatever you want, but don't think for one second that you will be able to ignore it. Whether you like it or not, This Is She will have your attention.

My cousin Gandalf is always getting into trouble and coming to ask me to rescue him.

The Legend of Ronzig (Chapter 1)

Very long ago, long before the age of science, long before the Ice Age even, there was an age which humans have pushed from their memory. This was the age of magic, when sorcerers and wizards fought great battles in search of an outcome to the conflict between good and evil. Sorcerers sought to arm themselves with the powers of evil in order to gain control of the world and wizards sought to use the powers of good to defeat these sorcerers and keep the world free.

As the world explored the great secrets of science, foolish people decided that magic could not exist in this world because it was not scientific. Only a few of the great wizards of the past understood how very wrong this line of thinking was, for magic, more than any other discipline was a precise, scientific branch of learning. The problem was amplified by the fact that it took hundreds of years of dedicated study for a novice to even begin to master this craft. Only the brightest students reached the level of learning necessary to overcome death and complete their studies. The reason that the Gods designed the science of magic to be so difficult to master is quite simple really. If more than a few were allowed to master the powers of magic, the conflict between the two branches would threaten to rip apart the very fabric of time and space. There was another limiting factor involved, for each master magician could only take his first born son as an apprentice and there was no other way to learn the secrets of magic except by apprenticeship to a master.

Now Ronzig was the first born son of Ronik, the most powerful wizard of that time and as first born, it was his destiny to become Ronik’s apprentice. However, thirteen minutes after Ronzig was born, he was followed into this world by his twin brother Ronzak. As the twins reached the age of apprenticeship, Ronzig began his studies with his father and Ronzak was left to seek other, less challenging disciplines.

As is often the case with siblings, the younger brother was more intelligent than his older brother, but was lacking in the elder brother’s wisdom. Ronzak could not tolerate being second to his less intelligent brother and he left the family home to roam the world.

Ronik’s arch rival, Sonod the Sorcerer was quick to recognize an opportunity to gain the upper hand over Ronik. Sonod had no sons, so he was free to take any apprentice he chose, and he chose Ronzak who already carried the magic gene in his body. This set into motion, the events which led to the fiercest battle of magic which the world has ever known, The Battle of the Twins.

By the time the twin brothers had reached the age of 313, they had far surpassed the knowledge and skills of their mentors. They were the two most powerful magicians ever to walk the face of the Earth.

Ronzig the Wizard and Ronzak the Sorcerer were destined to clash, for one had embraced the powers of the Gods and the other had embraced the powers of the demons.

The legend of this battle is another story for another time. It is enough for the purpose of this tale to relate the fact that the conflagration lasted over 500 years and so disrupted the balance of the universe that it triggered an ice age on the planet Earth.

Ronzig was near defeat as the tide of battle had swung to favour Ronzak, but in his wisdom, he conjured up a box with the last of his powers. This was no ordinary box, for it was set to capture all dark magic. Its workings followed the principles of a black hole. The more Ronzak used his powers to fight the containing box, the stronger the box became, until it had drained Ronzak of all of his magic.

Unwilling to destroy his twin brother, Ronzig chose to lock Ronzak’s magic into the box. Ronzak laughs and says he will pick the lock and retrieve his magic. Ronzig knows that his brother can pick any lock, so he conjures up a combination lock, into which he secures the magic. Ronzak laughs and says he will have no trouble devising the combination. Once he has his magic restored, he will meet Ronzig in a final conflict. As Ronzig walks away, he calls to his brother, telling him that the lock is no ordinary one. It has been designed to set its own combination to the number of characters determined by Ronzig. The final genius of the container is that the number of characters in the combination is set to infinity. The lock will never finish generating its combination and cannot be opened unless the complete combination is entered.

And this was the final outcome of a millennium long battle between the two branches of magic. The power of dark magic was defeated and locked away for all eternity, but without the force of dark magic to counter; there was no longer any need for Ronzig’s great magic. Since people no longer were witness to the powers of magic being practiced, they soon forgot that magic was very real and very powerful and they began to believe that the legends of sorcerers and wizards were only myths.

Although Ronzag no longer has his magic powers he is still a very strong force in the world. He has changed his name to BILL and he guards the GATES of Hell.

Ronzig, the last of the great wizards, uses his magic in less dramatic ways than he did in the old days. Now Ronzig the Wizard conjures up amazing digital photoArt creations with his magic mouse.

Ronzig

If you have an event to record or need other photography services or would like to purchase a print of one of my works please contact me. Prints are available in 11" x 14" or 13" x 19" sizes.

ronzig@rogers.com

View my Portfolio, References and Upcoming Shows

www.ronzigsgallery.com/

View my activism website where I explore the issues of homelessness, poverty, addiction and other social diseases which may all be traced back to one problem.

Down, But Not Out

www.downbutnotout.ca/

View the ongoing saga of Ronzig The Wizard

rronzigthewizard.blogspot.com/

All rights reserved.

This is a review article of Fuji FinePix Z250fd that my husband wrote.

This camera has SR Auto mode, it automatically judges the situation and selects a proper scene mode. Additionally, this keeps automatically focusing to subject. You don't need even to half push the shutter !

This camera has "' Fall in love timer ". The timer starts when the faces of two people approaches very close.

富士フィルムの新製品。

「シーンぴったりナビ」モードにすると、カメラが自動的に撮影状況を判断し、適切なシーンモードを適用してくれる。さらに、自動的に被写体を判別し、シャッターを半押ししなくても、カメラが勝手にピントを合わせ続けてくれる！

「恋するタイマー」も健在。二人の顔が近づくと、自動的にタイマーが動き出す。

PCfan 2009 2/1号に掲載

PENTAX *ist DS2 / PENTAX FA35mm f2

The Devil's Punch Bowl is a large natural amphitheatre and beauty spot near Hindhead, Surrey, in England, and is the source of many stories about the area. The old London to Portsmouth road (the A3) runs along one of its higher contours. The land is now owned and maintained by the National Trust as part of the "Hindhead Commons & The Devil's Punch Bowl Café" property. Hindhead Youth Hostel is located inside the bowl. It was once called Highcombe, after the Celtic term combe, meaning forested valley. The lower part of the bowl is still named Highcombe Bottom. Above the London to Portsmouth road lies Gibbet Hill, Hindhead.

However, local legend has a much more colourful theory as to its creation. According to one story, during the Middle Ages the Devil became so irritated by all the churches being built in Sussex that he decided to dig a channel from the English Channel, through the South Downs, and flood the area. As he began digging, he threw up huge lumps of earth, each of which became a local landmark — such as Chanctonbury Ring, Cissbury Ring, Mount Caburn and Rackham Hill. He got as far as the village of Poynings (an area known as the Devil's Dyke) when he was disturbed by a cock crowing (one version of the story claims that it was the prayers of St Dunstan that made all the local cocks crow earlier than usual). Assuming that dawn was about to break, he leapt into Surrey, creating the Devil's Punch Bowl where he landed.

Another story goes that, in his spare time, he hurled lumps of earth at the god Thor to annoy him. The hollow he scooped the earth out of became the Punchbowl. The local village of Thursley means Thor's place. Such stories are considered to be of Celtic, Norse, and Saxon origin.

It is these stories, the beauty of the area and the diversity of nature it attracts that has gained the Devil's Punch Bowl the title of a Site of Special Scientific Interest. This title has recently helped save the Devil's Punch Bowl from redevelopment of the A3 which is needed to relieve traffic congestion in the area, this section of the A3 being only single-carriageway. The National Trust have co-operated with developers who have designed a twin bore tunnel running underneath the surrounding area of the Devil's Punch Bowl. The tunnel will not only preserve the area from the road widening originally proposed but, once complete, will remove the heavy traffic congestion which affects this section of the A3 in peak hours, in turn bringing considerable environmental benefits and tranquillity to this internationally valued area.

© All rights reserved

My Most Interesting - { Planet Adventure BlogSpot }

As is made very clear on the tender frames, 140C231 a former Chemin de fer de l'État, and subsequently Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Français (SNCF) engine was built by North British Locomotive Company of Glasgow in 1916.

The engine is preserved by AJECTA who organised a steam special to Troyes from Gare de l'Est in Paris running via Melun, Montereau and Flamboin. The engine was taking water at Flamboin-Gouaix when I took this shot.

Winter Snow Vík í Mýrdal Church Town of Vik Iceland Beautiful Sunset Light Fuji GFX100s Medium Format Fine Art Landscape Photography IS ! Elliot McGucken Master Fine Art Nature Photographer Fujifilm GFX 100s & FUJIFILM GF Lens Red Roof White Walls!

"Beauty will save the world." --Dostoevsky

Dr. Elliot McGucken Fine Art Spacetime Sculpture dx4//dt=ic:

geni.us/mcgucken-sculpture

Epic Fine Art Photography Prints & Luxury Wall Art:

geni.us/elliotmcguckenprints

Support epic, stoic fine art: Hero's Odyssey Gear!

geni.us/45surf45epicclothing

Follow me on Instagram!

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Facebook:

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All my photography celebrates the physics of light! The McGucken Principle of the fourth expanding dimension: The fourth dimension is expanding at the rate of c relative to the three spatial dimensions: dx4/dt=ic .

Lao Tzu--The Tao: Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.

Light Time Dimension Theory: The Foundational Physics Unifying Einstein's Relativity and Quantum Mechanics: A Simple, Illustrated Introduction to the Unifying Physical Reality of the Fourth Expanding Dimensionsion dx4/dt=ic !: geni.us/Fa1Q

"Between every two pine trees there is a door leading to a new way of life." --John Muir

Epic Stoicism guides my fine art odyssey and photography: geni.us/epicstoicism

“The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness.” --John Muir

Epic Poetry inspires all my photography: geni.us/9K0Ki Epic Poetry for Epic Landscape Photography: Exalt Fine Art Nature Photography with the Poetic Wisdom of John Muir, Emerson, Thoreau, Homer's Iliad, Milton's Paradise Lost & Dante's Inferno Odyssey

“The mountains are calling and I must go.” --John Muir

Epic Art & 45EPIC Gear exalting golden ratio designs for your Hero's Odyssey:

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Support epic fine art! 45surf ! Bitcoin: 1FMBZJeeHVMu35uegrYUfEkHfPj5pe9WNz

Some of my epic books, prints, & more!

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Exalt your photography with Golden Ratio Compositions!

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Golden Ratio Compositions & Secret Sacred Geometry for Photography, Fine Art, & Landscape Photographers: How to Exalt Art with Leonardo da Vinci's, Michelangelo's!

Epic Landscape Photography:

geni.us/TV4oEAz

A Simple Guide to the Principles of Fine Art Nature Photography: Master Composition, Lenses, Camera Settings, Aperture, ISO, ... Hero's Odyssey Mythology Photography)

All art is but imitation of nature.-- Seneca (Letters from a Stoic - Letter LXV: On the First Cause)

The universe itself is God and the universal outpouring of its soul. --Chrysippus (Quoted by Cicero in De Natura Deorum)

Photographs available as epic fine art luxury prints. For prints and licensing information, please send me a flickr mail or contact drelliot@gmail.com with your queries! All the best on your Epic Hero's Odyssey!Seljalandsfoss Waterfall Sunset Behind the Falls! Southern Iceland Fuji GFX100s Medium Format Fine Art Landscape Photography Reykjavik IS Flowers! Elliot McGucken Master Fine Art Nature Photographer Fujifilm GFX 100s & FUJIFILM GF 20-35mm F4 Lens

"Beauty will save the world." --Dostoevsky

Dr. Elliot McGucken Fine Art Spacetime Sculpture dx4//dt=ic:

geni.us/mcgucken-sculpture

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All my photography celebrates the physics of light! The McGucken Principle of the fourth expanding dimension: The fourth dimension is expanding at the rate of c relative to the three spatial dimensions: dx4/dt=ic .

Lao Tzu--The Tao: Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.

Light Time Dimension Theory: The Foundational Physics Unifying Einstein's Relativity and Quantum Mechanics: A Simple, Illustrated Introduction to the Unifying Physical Reality of the Fourth Expanding Dimensionsion dx4/dt=ic !: geni.us/Fa1Q

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“The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness.” --John Muir

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“The mountains are calling and I must go.” --John Muir

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All art is but imitation of nature.-- Seneca (Letters from a Stoic - Letter LXV: On the First Cause)

The universe itself is God and the universal outpouring of its soul. --Chrysippus (Quoted by Cicero in De Natura Deorum)

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Monument Valley is a region of the Colorado Plateau characterized by a cluster of vast and iconic sandstone buttes, the largest reaching 1,000 ft (300 m) above the valley floor. It is located on the southern border of Utah with northern Arizona (around 36°59′N 110°6′W), near the Four Corners area. The valley lies within the range of the Navajo Nation Reservation, and is accessible from U.S. Highway 163. The Navajo name for the valley is Tsé Bii' Ndzisgaii (Valley of the Rocks).

Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monument_Valley

i090711 518Monument Valley is a region of the Colorado Plateau characterized by a cluster of vast and iconic sandstone buttes, the largest reaching 1,000 ft (300 m) above the valley floor. It is located on the southern border of Utah with northern Arizona (around 36°59′N 110°6′W), near the Four Corners area. The valley lies within the range of the Navajo Nation Reservation, and is accessible from U.S. Highway 163. The Navajo name for the valley is Tsé Bii' Ndzisgaii (Valley of the Rocks).

Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monument_Valley

i090711 512

This is from the Rockefeller Memorial Chapel at the University of Chicago. Justin Kern held a workshop on campus and took several of us on a photographic tour. It was a real treat to explore some of the Gothic treasures at the University of Chicago and visit with Justin and Matt Wolin.

Please view on white.

Cindy Sherman is an American photographer and film director, best known for her conceptual portraits. Through a number of different series of works, Sherman has raised challenging and important questions about the role and representation of women in society. She is quite notoriously a feminist which is pushed through into her work. She began her career painting but soon became frustrated with how she couldn’t convey her own ideas through the media used "I was meticulously copying other art and then I realized I could just use a camera and put my time into an idea instead." From then on she concentrated on photography.

Her most celebrated collection of work is The Untitled Film Stills series consisting of 69 photographs of herself posing as different women in a series of stereotypical female roles. For example, a librarian, housewife or school girl. She began the work in 1977 when she was 23 years old. Importantly, her work encourages self-reflection. As Sherman argues, “I’m trying to make other people recognize something of themselves rather than me.”

All the photos express Hollywoods mistreatment of women in film noir and b-movies, women always take the second role to man who always have the dominance and power which seems like quite a dated value system now. In the photos it’s showing women IN the roles not trying to break them but on the faces of each ‘victimised’ women it’s always sadness and she is always looking into the distance. Sherman becomes unrecognisable in each photo, not only when comparing two of her photos together but also if i was to pass her on the street i wouldn’t recognise her. So we see these are far from self portraits.

The photo i looked at is still #48 from the series often known as The hitchhiker, in the photo we see a woman wearing a long checked skirt, socks and trainers, with one suitcase by her side standing on a highway looking off into the distance. You can’t really tell how old the women is, from the hair she looks old but by the clothing she looks like a young school girl. Either way she seems to be escaping, trying to hitch hick a ride on what seems to be an empty area. I think the ‘emptiness’ of the shot helps covey her feelings and her insignificance, especially as she standing so solitude, alone compared to the all the space around her. Even identity seems so be lacking, who is this woman? And where could she possibly be going? The fact you can’t see her face creates tension and mystery because you can’t tell what she could be thinking but by body language she seems quite calm and relaxed. I think although it seems like no one’s coming to get her there is a sense of freedom and longing for more. It looks like its been taking at sunset so it’s quite dark which comes across quite sinister. Typically this image is quite different from the rest of the series of film stills because she appears to be breaking a typical female role, it seems she not meant to be where she is and even her cloths aren’t very feminine.

Sherman has addressed her feminist beliefs in an interesting way, not only in this photo but in the whole series. Feminism doesn’t necessarily mean ‘man hating’ as we see with Sherman’s pictures, she never depicts men in a bad way, aesthetically anyway. I do think there is an element and a connotation to men mistreating women and a dominance issue but she’s concentrating more on female empowerment and demonstrating ‘what women should be doing’ rather than creating painfully obvious insults to men for example a photo of a man say hitting a women or telling her what to do. Sherman stated "The work is what it is and hopefully it’s seen as feminist work, or feminist-advised work, but I’m not going to go around espousing theoretical bullshit about feminist stuff." I do think if you’re to ignorant to look beyond the picture and realise how she exploiting female stereotypes, you can naively become attracted to the woman in the photos, defeating the purpose all together but also showing the intolerance of people’s views.

I think the main thing that interests me about Sherman’s work is the story that has been set up, as in the title ‘Untitled Film Stills’ these are meant to be stills from films, so in reality the women in the photo must be moving or about to go somewhere.

The complexity lies behind her use of narrative as well since these film stills are telling us loads in what she is saying about society’s view of the female gender in popular culture. Sherman’s take on narrative in her photos was "The still must tease with the promise of a story the viewer of it itches to be told." I think this is a good way to look at it because i think sometimes the idea of something is more exciting than the reality, by this i mean the mystery of the photo is much more appealing than what could be actually happening.

There is something almost iconic about the image because it seems so epic and thought provoking that it could be seen as quite a pivotal point in the movie if it existed.

She eventually completed the series in 1980. When questioned why she finished the series, she claimed that she ran out of clichés. Still to photographed 69 female clichés depicted from movies is quite a strong statement to make in any case.

Williams is a city in Coconino County, Arizona, west of Flagstaff. It lies on the route of Historic Route 66, Interstate 40, and the Southwest Chief Amtrak train route. It is also the southern terminus of the Grand Canyon Railway, which takes visitors to Grand Canyon Village. There are numerous inns, motels, restaurants and gas stations that cater to the large influx of tourists rather than local residents, especially during the summer and holiday seasons.

This is the third of 4 rather 'odd' collections of slides found in a box at RAF Kinloss MRT but labelled RAF Stafford. They were all taken as part of the search for a missing British Army team on Mt Kinabalu in 1994. Ray Sefton kindly gave up much of his spare time to scan these slides into digital format for uploading. If you recognise a place or a person please add a tag or e-mail brican@talktalk.net with the photo number and details and he will do it for you!