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Research from the University of North Florida shows that living with flowers, even for just a few days, can help relieve stress.
#stressless
Research from the University of North Florida shows that living with flowers, even for just a few days, can help relieve stress.
#stressless
© Zoë Murdoch - All Rights Reserved. use without permission is illegal!
Less time than it takes to say it, less tears than it takes to die; I've taken account of everything, there you have it. I've made a census of the stones, they are as numerous as my fingers and some others; I've distributed some pamphlets to the plants, but not all were willing to accept them. I've kept company with music for a second only and now I no longer know what to think of suicide, for if I ever want to part from myself, the exit is on this side and, I add mischievously, the entrance, the re-entrance is on the other. You see what you still have to do. Hours, grief, I don't keep a reasonable account of them; I'm alone, I look out of the window; there is no passerby, or rather no-one passes (underline passes). You don't know this man? It's Mr. Same. May I introduce Madam Madam? And their children. Then I turn back on my steps, my steps turn back too, but I don't know exactly what they turn back on. I consult a schedule; the names of the towns have been replaced by the names of people who have been quite close to me. Shall I go to A, return to B, change at X? Yes, of course I'll change at X. Provided I don't miss the connection with boredom! There we are: boredom, beautiful parallels, ah! how beautiful the parallels are under God's perpendicular.
~ Andre Breton
Explore ~ 369
"Ed Sullivan, the widely known newspaper columnist and television celebrity, sent a telegram to Reckless requesting she be on his show "Toast of the Town". At the time she received the message her ship was in a typhoon and she couldn't have cared less. The mere mention of toast was enough to make her ill."
From the Randolph Pate Collection (COLL/802), Marine Corps Archives & Special Collections.
OFFICIAL USMC PHOTOGRAPH
There was a large panga panga tree near my room in Mozambique, and it was always a good place to find photo subjects, day or night. The tree had greenish bark that in some areas was covered with yellowish dust, plus orange, peeling flakes. These tiny paper wasps had nests all over the tree once you started looking -- they were well-camouflaged, maybe because the paper was made of the flaking orange bark from the tree? This nest was one of the larger ones I saw, but was less than three inches wide.
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Not the cheapest buffet around. We saw one at the Conrad Jupiters Casino for AUD31. Buffets less luxurious than this would be upwards of AUD60 in Melbourne.
But we got lucky. We took up the GCBazaar Palazzo Versace Dining Offer 2 - Two Seafood Buffet Meals for the price of One. Sweet. :)
Il Barocco, Palazzo Versace
94 Seaworld Drv, Main Beach QLD 4217
+61 7 5509 8000
Palazzo Versace Dining Offer 2 - Two Seafood Buffet Meals for the price of OneTwo seafood buffet meals for the price of one in II Barocco Restaurant. Dine from Versace china in II Barocco Restaurant located in the heart of the hotel. II Barocco features contemporary and classical cuisine in a setting of elegant informal dining overlooking the shimmering lagoon. Buffet selection includes fresh seafood, roast meat carvery, selection of 8 hot dishes, salads & vegetables, cheese, fruit, antipasti, desserts, tea and coffee.
Terms and Conditions: Bookings required. Must produce coupon or mention GCBazaar on arrival. Dinner only. Food only. Maximum of 6 diners per booking. 1 bill per table. Based on adult price. Odd number diner is full price, ie. 7th person. Not to be used in conjunction with special event or another offer. Valid Sunday - Thursday from 1 - 30 June 2008. Open from 6:00pm to 10:00pm.
The Mallo Trail is somewhat unique in that it passes through several vegetative zones including riparian, aspen, spruce/fir, ponderosa pine, grassland, bare rock, and shrub communities.
Several points along the trail afford vistas of the Black Hills, and wildlife is abundant. Wildlife species common in the area include mule deer, whitetail deer, elk, wild turkey, ruffed grouse, and a variety of small mammals and birds. Predators such as coyotes and mountain lions are less common but do pass through the area.
The Weston County portion of the trail is marked with a variety of fiberglass or wooden posts and rock cairns. From the trailhead, the trail leads south along the ridgeline on the Wyoming/South Dakota state line. The trail follows along a fence line for a distance of approximately one quarter of a mile to a gate in the fence where the trail re-enters Wyoming and continues onto BLM administered lands. The trail crosses a prominent two-track road and then makes a loop (with a cut across for those preferring a shorter hike) before returning to the gate at the Wyoming/South Dakota line. From there, visitors will hike back along the same trail they used to enter the loop trail. The entire trail is more than 3.5 miles.
The Mallo Trail trailhead is located at a small parking area approximately one mile east of Mallo Camp on Beaver Creek Road. Parking at the trailhead is limited. Dispersed camping on BLM-administered land is allowed. Organized groups advertising events on the trail must contact the Newcastle Field Office to obtain a special recreation permit for activities occurring on BLM administered lands.
BLM photo.
LATITUDE/LONGITUDE
44.08186498 / -104.0556015
DIRECTIONS
From Newcastle, WY: Take US Highway 85N 18 miles to the county road to Mallo Camp. Turn east at Mallo Camp sign and drive approximately 4 miles to the junction at Mallo Camp. Go approximately 1 mile east to the trailhead. The parking area is past Mallo Camp and on your right about a quarter mile. From Sundance, WY: Take US Highway 585 south 27 miles to Four Corners, then south on US Highway 85 approximately 0.2 mile to Mallo Camp turnoff. Turn east at the Mallo Camp sign and drive approximately 4 miles to the junction at Mallo Camp. Go approximately 1 mile east to the trailhead. From Deadwood, SD: Take US Highway 85S/14W 33 miles to Four Corners, then south on US Highway 85 approximately 0.2 mile to Mallo Camp turnoff. Turn east at the Mallo Camp sign and drive approximately 4 miles to the junction at Mallo Camp. Go approximately 1 mile east to the trailhead.
PHONE 307-746-6600
EMAIL newcastle_wymail@blm.gov
ADDRESS Newcastle Field Office
1101 Washington Blvd
Newcastle, WY 82701
[group] Owls | [order] STRIGIFORMES | [family] Strigidae | [latin] Asio flammeus | [UK] Short-eared Owl | [FR] Hibou marais | [DE] Sumpfohreule | [ES] Lechuza Campestre | [NL] Velduil | [IRL] Ulchabhán réisc
Measurements
spanwidth min.: 90 cm
spanwidth max.: 105 cm
size min.: 37 cm
size max.: 40 cm
Breeding
incubation min.: 24 days
incubation max.: 29 days
fledging min.: 24 days
fledging max.: 29 days
broods 1
eggs min.: 4
eggs max.: 8
Status: A scarce winter visitor throughout Ireland and rare breeding species, mainly in the south and east. Favours uplands and coastal lowlands.
Conservation Concern: Amber-listed in Ireland due to its small breeding population. The European population is currently evaluated as Depleted due to a large historical decline.
Identification: The only Irish owl species likely to be seen hunting during the day. Very similar in appearance to Long-eared Owl in all plumages. Adult Short-eared Owls can be identified by their yellow eyes and very small "ear" tufts. The black steeaking on the body tends to be much coarser than on Long-eared Owl. Juvenile Short-eareds are identical to juvenile Long-eared Owls, but have yellow eyes.
Similar Species: Long-eared Owl, Barn Owl.
Call: Generally silent when seen in Ireland. Display includes a quiet series of hoots given in flight.
Diet: As for Long-eared Owl. Comprises small mammals, frogs and birds.
Breeding: Rare and sporadic breeding species in uplands throughout Ireland. The majority of the European population breeds in Scandinavia and Russia.
Wintering: Widespread winter visitor to coastal lowlands (dunes, scrubby fields, machair). Sometimes two or more Short-eared Owls can be seen hunting together at favoured sites.
Where to See: The Wicklow coast, including the East Coast Nature Reserve is a good area to look for Short-eared Owls in winter. Numbers fluctuate from year to year, so may absent from even optimal sites in some years.
Status: A scarce winter visitor throughout Ireland and rare breeding species, mainly in the south and east. Favours uplands and coastal lowlands.
Conservation Concern: Amber-listed in Ireland due to its small breeding population. The European population is currently evaluated as Depleted due to a large historical decline.
Identification: The only Irish owl species likely to be seen hunting during the day. Very similar in appearance to Long-eared Owl in all plumages. Adult Short-eared Owls can be identified by their yellow eyes and very small "ear" tufts. The black steeaking on the body tends to be much coarser than on Long-eared Owl. Juvenile Short-eareds are identical to juvenile Long-eared Owls, but have yellow eyes.
Similar Species: Long-eared Owl, Barn Owl.
Call: Generally silent when seen in Ireland. Display includes a quiet series of hoots given in flight.
Diet: As for Long-eared Owl. Comprises small mammals, frogs and birds.
Breeding: Rare and sporadic breeding species in uplands throughout Ireland. The majority of the European population breeds in Scandinavia and Russia.
Wintering: Widespread winter visitor to coastal lowlands (dunes, scrubby fields, machair). Sometimes two or more Short-eared Owls can be seen hunting together at favoured sites.
Where to See: Skerries, Rogerstown Estuary, Bull Island, the East Coast Nature Reserve is a good area to look for Short-eared Owls in winter. Numbers fluctuate from year to year, so may absent from even optimal sites in some years.
Physical characteristics
Short-eared Owls are medium-sized owls with mottled brown and buff plumage. Their facial disks are light, with dark patches at the eyes. They have short ear-tufts that are usually held down, out of view. They are light underneath, with finely streaked chests and bellies. Males are paler than females. Short-eared Owls have dark markings at the wrist on both the underside and upper side of the wings. In flight they can be hard to tell from the closely related Long-eared Owls, except by behavior and habitat.
Because they are active during the day, Short-eared Owls are easier to see than most other owls. They are especially active at dawn and dusk, and they perform dramatic courtship flights, complete with vocalizing and wing clapping, during the breeding season. They are chase-predators and hunt by flying low over an open area, with their wings at a slight dihedral, somewhat like Northern Harriers. Their buoyant wing-beats give them a distinctive moth-like appearance.
Habitat
Short-eared Owls inhabit open terrain in all seasons. They use shrub-steppe, grasslands, agricultural areas, marshes, wet meadows, and shorelines. They are often seen perched on fence posts or pieces of driftwood.
Other details
Asio flammeus is a widespread but patchily distributed breeder across much of Europe, which accounts for less than a quarter of its global breeding range. Its European breeding population is relatively large (>58,000 pairs), but underwent a large decline between 1970-1990. Although declines continued in a few countries during 1990-2000, they abated across most of Europe, and the species was broadly stable overall. Nevertheless, its total population size remains below the level that preceded its decline.
This owl inhabits a large part of Eurasia, North America and southern South America. In Europe, especially in the south, its distribution is increasingly fragmented. The total population of the European Union is estimated at 1500-3500 breeding pairs. It fluctuates according to rodent densities, but seems to decrease following mainly habitat loss, but also persecution and use of pesticides (especially rodenticides). Many birds are also killed along roads and railways.
Fluctuations in the Short-eared Owl population, due most likely to cyclical variation in the population of voles, make it difficult to determine long-term trends. However, declines have been recorded from many parts of the owls range, and Short-eared Owls are listed as an at-risk species by Partners in Flight. Development and agriculture, which result in loss of habitat, are the most significant threats to the population.
Feeding
Short-eared Owls eat small mammals, especially voles. They take other small rodents, shrews, rabbits, gophers, bats, and muskrats as well. Occasionally, they prey on birds.
Conservation
This species has an extremely large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence 30% decline over ten years or three generations). The population size is extremely large, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern. [conservation status from birdlife.org]
Breeding
Courtship and territorial behaviour is spectacular for an Owl. Males perform aerial displays by rising quickly with rhythmic and exaggerated wing beats, hovering, gliding down, and rising again, often 200 to 400 meters above ground. Wing claps, in bursts of 2 to 6 per second, are often made during this flight and some singing occurs. The flight can be ended with a spectacular descent where the male hold his wings aloft and shimmies rapidly to the ground. Two birds may engage in flight, locking talons, and fighting briefly. Often, a display where one bird flashes its light underwing towards another is used during territorial and courtship flights.
The Short-eared Owl nests on the ground, unlike most other Owls. Nests are usually situated in the shelter of a grass mound, under a grass tuft, or among herbaceous ground cover. Nests are loosely constructed by the female, who scrapes a spot on the ground and then lines the scrape with grass stems, herb stalks, and feathers plucked from her breast. Clutch sizes range from 4 to 14 eggs (average 5 to 7), with large clutches laid during years of high food abundance. Clutch size increases from south to north. Eggs are laid every 1 to 2 days and incubation commences with the first. Incubation is done largely by the female, with the male bringing food to the nest and occasionally taking a turn incubating. Young grow very rapidly after hatching, and begin to wander from the nest as soon as 12 days, an adaptation for a ground-nesting species to reduce the amount of time they are vulnerable to predation. Young fledge at about 4 weeks.
The Short-eared Owl routinely lays replacement clutches, because of high predation rates. In southern areas, it may raise 2 broods in 1 year. Because reproductive success is relatively poor, the ability to lay large clutches helps populations recover after periodic declines.
The Short-eared Owl is highly migratory, and nomadic, except in southern parts of its range. Movements of up to 2,000 kilometers have been documented. This Owl has relatively small nesting territories and home ranges, varying from 15 to 200 hectares (35 to 500 acres), and may nest in loose colonies in excellent habitat. Because of its nomadic tendencies, mate and site fidelity are very low. Breeders tend to wander until they find areas with high densities of prey before settling to breed. In winter, large numbers of Owls will occur in areas with lots of food. Communal winter roosts of up to 200 birds are known, with these birds ranging over nearby areas to hunt. Resident Owls will defend winter foraging territories of about 6 hectares (15 acres), before expanding the territory size during the breeding season.
Migration
Thought to be highly migratory in N part of range, though migration perhaps confused with nomadic food searches and juvenile dispersal; also, wintering areas may become breeding areas if food plentiful. Although present throughout year in middle latitudes, ringing data indicate seasonal N-S and W-SW migration: bird rings in Oklahoma recovered 1730 km SSE in California. In Europe and Asia, migratory in N of range: N populations winter from British Is, S Scandinavia and C Asia S to N half of Africa and parts of S & E Asia; known to breed in N China and winter in S China. Accidental Spitsbergen, Bear Is, Jan Mayen, Azores, Madeira and Cape Verde Is.
"Who strive - you don't know how the others strive
To paint a little thing like that you smeared
Carelessly passing with your robes afloat,-
Yet do much less, so much less, Someone says,
(I know his name, no matter) - so much less!
Well, less is more, Lucrezia."
Andrea del Sarto - 1855
Soo continues to hack it's way thru former Milwaukee Road territory in Oconomowoc in May of 1994. The city now has a single track line after 92 years of double track operations here. To me, the ROW looks like it is literally sick.....missing rails, ties 'thrown up' from the westbound main.....
Up next, the crossing guard shack will come down, the line side poles will be chopped, and all crossing gates replaced.
Today it's all cookie-cutter rubber stamped photocopied repetition here. Most of our world is turning into this 'duplication' for reasons many of us already know.
We all need to remember that in this world of conformity and loss of uniqueness in what we aim our lens at, that >>we<< still posses character and individuality on the other side of the camera that no corporation can ever take away....
1957 Maserati 200SI by Fantuzzi
Offered from the Oscar Davis Collection
$3,112,500 USD | Sold
From Sotheby's:
“The 200SI was one of the best handling front-engined, drum-braked racing cars from that period. It was wonderful to hang on in curves with it, and it clearly followed your line. It was a pleasure to drive.”
John Fitch
Although occasionally still achieving respectable results with their aging A6GCS, by 1954 Maserati had acknowledged its creeping obsolescence and were simultaneously developing their new 150S and 200S models as suitable replacements. Somewhat illogically designated the Tipo 53 and Tipo 52, respectively, both shared broadly similar conventional tubular chassis, as well as 1.5- and 2-liter versions of the same all-new, twin-plug four-cylinder engine. Front suspension on both models was via conventional double wishbones and coil springs, although the 150S employed a De Dion tube and transverse leaf-spring arrangement at the rear while the 200S—initially at least—used a live axle. However, following complaints from early 200S customers, rear suspension on all but the first few cars was subsequently modified to mirror that of its smaller sibling.
Development of the 200S proved troublesome, with transmission problems plaguing the car in longer distance and road racing events. However, wins in 1956 for Jean Behra at the Gran Premio di Bari and Gran Premio di Roma salvaged considerable pride, as did Stirling Moss and Cesare Perdisa’s fine 2nd place to Mike Hawthorn and Peter Collins’ Ferrari 500 Testa Rossa in that year’s Supercortemaggiore at Monza. The move to Appendix C regulations for 1957 precipitated the car’s transformation into 200SI, or Sport Internazionale, guise—a move which saw such cars fitted with a full-width windscreen, two functioning doors, provision for a spare wheel, and a somewhat makeshift fabric top to ensure compliance.
RUNNING WITH THE EAST COAST SCCA FRATERNITY
One of just 20 200SI-specification cars constructed, chassis 2427 was completed at Maserati’s fabled Modena works on 9 August 1957. As with all but five 200S/SI chassis, it was constructed with the later, and more attractive, Fantuzzi coachwork; the car was further specified with Jaeger instruments, Cibie headlights, and Pirelli-shod Borrani wire wheels. It was originally imported by United States concessionaire Maserati Corporation of America on behalf of its first owner, New York-based philanthropist and respected art authority Vincent Dyckman Andrus. The car was destined to be driven by road racing legend John Fitch—by this time a winner of both the Sebring 12 Hours and the RAC Tourist Trophy—principally in East Coast SCCA events.
Fitch’s first competitive outing in 2427 was in the Queen Catherine Cup at Watkins Glen on 21 September 1957, in which he finished a promising 4th, and 1st in class, with Bob Holbert’s Porsche 550RS victorious. The following weekend, both Fitch and Maserati travelled to Bridgehampton, where the 25-lap SCCA feature race included no less than four Briggs Cunningham-entered Jaguar D-types, and Phil Hill in a Ferrari 857S. Against formidable opposition, Fitch finished 5th, and once again took a class victory, with Walt Hansgen securing overall honors for Cunningham.
In December 1957, Fitch and 2427 headed south for the popular International Bahamas Speed Week; the car now sported a new white-with-blue-underbelly color scheme in place of its previous red. A preliminary five-lap heat for the Governor’s Trophy race yielded an excellent 2nd overall and 1st in class behind Ed Crawford’s Porsche 550RS—and ahead of similar cars driven by the Rodriguez brothers, and Olivier Gendebien’s Ferrari 500 TRC—but the feature race itself ended in retirement. However, the Nassau Memorial Trophy race the following day provided the most significant result of the car’s career, with Fitch finishing 3rd overall—and 1st in class yet again—beaten only by Stirling Moss’ Scuderia Buell Ferrari 290MM and Ritchie Ginther’s fearsome 5-liter John Edgar-owned Ferrari 410 Sport.
The East Coast SCCA fraternity reconvened on 27 April 1958 at Lime Rock Park, Connecticut, although in the 20-lap under 2-liter race, Fitch could manage only 2nd overall (and 2nd in class) to Gaston Andrey’s Ferrari 500 TRC. However, normal service was resumed when the pair returned in June, with Fitch finishing 4th overall, and 1st in class once again, in the feature 40-lap Sports Car Race, behind Walt Hansgen’s new Lister-Jaguar, Bob Oker’s Aston Martin DBR2, and Holbert’s Porsche 550RS.
By mid-1958, Fitch was evidently at a crossroads with 2427. In terms of pace, he was, unsurprisingly, some distance away from the newer and more powerful Cunningham Listers, yet in his own class he was virtually unchallenged. Inquiries were made as to the cost of a new, factory-built 2.5-liter engine, although his (and Andrus’) subsequent decision to offer the car for sale suggests that either they thought better of the idea, or that the cost was prohibitive. Either way, the July SCCA meeting at Lime Rock marked Fitch’s final outing in the car; his 3rd overall and final class win behind the two Cunningham Listers of Crawford and Hansgen ensured that the pair signed off on a high.
2427 HEADS SOUTH
In September 1958, 2427 was advertised for sale by Carroll Shelby Sports Cars Inc.; the car was purchased shortly thereafter by Floridian John J. Packo, who had previously campaigned a Lotus XI in local SCCA events. However, despite reinstating the original red paintwork, “J.J” apparently raced the car only once, at Boca Raton in March 1959, where he finished 2nd in the Preliminary race to Lucky Casner’s Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa and then 3rd in the feature race behind the similar cars of Jim Hunt and E.D. Martin.
As competitors on track, Packo and Casner—proprietor of the ambitious Camoradi team—had forged a close friendship, and when one of Casner’s two Maserati Tipo 61 Birdcages failed to materialize for the Cuban Grand Prix of February 1960, it was Packo who generously stepped in and lent the team his car. Duly entered by Camoradi, and with no lesser driver than Dan Gurney at the wheel, 2427 unfortunately retired in the race, although not before sharing track time in the rarefied company of winner (and Camoradi teammate) Moss, Maurice Trintignant, Jack Brabham, Carroll Shelby, Masten Gregory, and both Rodriguez brothers.
THE PRIDE OF COLLECTORS WORLDWIDE
Having been advertised for sale in February 1963, this car was duly purchased by emerging Ferrari and Maserati collector Carl Bross of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan; it was a stablemate to his ex-Moss, 1956 Italian Grand Prix-winning 250F. However, after Bross’ death in 1971, much of his collection, including 2427, passed to Anthony Bamford of Rocester, United Kingdom, before joining the collection of discerning Scottish Maserati enthusiast Ray Fielding in 1978. Exhibited for many years in the Doune Motor Museum near Falkirk, Scotland, the car remained in the Fielding family for almost three decades, and remerged in highly original condition before being sold to Anton Bilton, of London, in July 2007.
In late 2007, 2427 was entrusted to renowned restorers GPS Classic of Soragna, Italy, who embarked on an overhaul of its the chassis, numbers-matching engine, and gearbox with the objective of preparing the car for vintage racing. The restoration of its highly prized original body, meanwhile, was entrusted to Quality Cars of Padova. Duly completed and resplendent once again in its original color, it made its post-restoration debut in the 2008 Mille Miglia Storica. However, Bilton kept the car only briefly, selling it to Dr. Wolf Zweifler of Munich, Germany—who has owned a remarkable series of Maseratis from this wonderful era—in July 2008. Dr. Zweifler campaigned the car extensively over the next few years, including several participations in the Ferrari Maserati Challenge, 2009 Mille Miglia Storica, and the 2010 Le Mans Classic, before selling the car.
After its acquisition by Oscar Davis in 2012, Leydon Restorations of Lahaska, Pennsylvania began the painstaking task of bringing 2427 back to its as-built mechanical and cosmetic specification. The safety structure previously added was removed, interior panels were reworked to their original appearance, and original components were refitted—all to return this Maserati to its original 1957 presentation. It has remained in the Oscar Davis Collection ever since.
Although the Maserati 200S/SI did little to distinguish itself in contemporary European long-distance events, it proved highly effective in shorter-format races in North America—a fact underlined by John Fitch’s considerable achievements driving this particular car. However, the impressive competition record of 2427 is but one facet of its remarkable life; its subsequent enjoyment, preservation, documentation and restoration by some of the world’s most discerning collectors being no less noteworthy. Its impressive provenance is substantiated by an accompanying history file containing copies of Maserati factory build sheets, research and correspondence, photo documentation of its restoration, and past FIVA identity cards dated 2007 and 2009.
Fastidiously maintained in the Oscar Davis Collection and impeccably presented today, it offers extraordinary versatility as well as seemingly limitless opportunities to enter the world’s most exclusive vintage touring and racing events, and it would assuredly prove a worthy addition to any significant car collection.
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Kristina and I headed over to RM Sotheby's at the Monterey Conference Center to view some glorious cars at their auction preview.
- - -
Had a blast with our auto-enthusiast friend and neighbor, Fred, at Monterey Car Week 2022.
Norwegen / Nordland / Lofoten / Vestvågøya - Steinetinden
Vestvågøya (or less-commonly: Vest-Vågøy) is an island in the Lofoten archipelago in Nordland county, Norway. The island is located within Vestvågøy Municipality. The island lies between the islands of Austvågøya and Gimsøya to the northeast and Flakstadøya to the southwest. There are also several small islands and skerries surrounding the island. Vestvågøya makes up over 97% of the municipal area and about 99% of the inhabitants of the municipality live on the island. The European route E10 highway crosses the island connecting to Flakstadøya by the Nappstraum Tunnel and to Gimsøya by the Sundklakkstraumen Bridge.
The middle part of the island is relatively flat and marshy, while the outer parts in the north and south are mountainous. The highest point on the island is the 964-metre (3,163 ft) tall mountain Himmeltindan. The flat parts of the island are largely agricultural land. There is one town on the island (Leknes) and several large villages on the island including Stamsund, Ballstad, and Gravdal.
In Vestvågøya mountains have steep slopes towards the open sea in the northwest and southeast while slopes pointing towards the interior of the island are more gentle. This is the result of erosion acting on a landscape that has been uplifted along southwest-northwest-trending faults in the margins of Lofoten while the interior axis has remained more stable.
(Wikipedia)
Vestvågøya (seltener Vest-Vågøy) ist eine Insel der norwegischen Inselgruppe Lofoten. Die Insel gehört zur Kommune Vestvågøy im Fylke Nordland. Mit einer Fläche von 413,28 km² ist sie die zwölftgrößte Insel des norwegischen Hauptlandes.
Geografie
Die Insel ist Teil der vor der norwegischen Westküste gelegenen Inselgruppe Lofoten und liegt nordöstlich der Insel Flakstadøya und südwestlich der Gimsøya. Von der Flakstadøya ist die Vestvågøya durch die Meerenge Nappstraumen getrennt, von der Gimsøya über den Sundklakkstraumen. Die Vestvågøya liegt vollständig in der Kommune Vestvågøy und macht etwa 97 % des Gemeindeareals aus. Zudem leben über 99 % der insgesamt 11.619 Einwohner (Stand: 1. Januar 2024) der Kommune auf der Insel.
Die Insel ist teils von Mooren bedeckt. Die Küste ist von einer Vielzahl an Fjorden und Buchten geprägt. Auf der Insel befinden sich mehrere Erhebungen mit über 700 moh. Teils ist die Küste steiler abfallend, bei der Stadt Leknes an der Südküste liegt ein breiterer Küstenstreifen vor. Die Erhebung Himmeltindan an der Westküste stellt mit einer Höhe von 962 moh. den höchsten Punkt der Kommune Vestvågøy und damit auch der Insel dar. Die Berge schirmen die Insel teilweise vor Wind und Regenfronten ab. Das Klima entspricht einem maritimen Klima, das zu milden Wintern führt.
Verkehr
Über die Insel führt die Europastraße 10 (E10), die die Anbindung ans Festland herstellt. Im Nordosten führt sie über eine Brücke auf die Gimsøya, im Südwesten durch einen Tunnel auf die Flakstadøya.
(Wikipedia)
Walking around my neighborhood, I saw this truck with stickered letters urging for the taxation of church income. I've seen this truck before at local markets when I'm shopping, but I didn't know it was the person who lives in one of the most horticulturally outstanding craftsman bungalows in my neighborhood.
Colonial Heights
Sacramento, CA
"NEED MONEY?
TAX THE CHURCHES
FOR CHRISSAKE
AMEN"
If you replace the California plates (and maybe replace the Chevy Tahoe with an old International Travel-All or VW Van), this scene might fit just as well in Portland out near 82nd Ave below Rocky Butte or out in the Foster-Powell area. That's true of a lot of scenes here in Colonial Heights. I can almost imagine I'm alerady where I'd rather be.
Less Autre
De Klinker club
27/02/2019
Peter Fias Lead guitar & Vocals
Charles Guillaume bass
MRRay Keys, guitar & Backing Vocals
Mattia Swinnen - Drums
Special Guest - Jente Pironet
Photo's © Patrick Van Vlerken 2019
Due to urgent road repairs, Friar Street in Reading Town Centre was partially closed from Monday 18th to 22nd February. As most bus routes in Reading use Friar Street, extensive diversions were in operation.
A knock-on effect was that westbound buses on routes 1, 2/2a, 15, 16, 16a, 26, 28 and 33 were diverted via Minster Street, calling at stops they had not served regularly since the road system in the Town Centre was changed April 2011.This busy scene during the afternoon of Tuesday 19th February depicts no less than five of the Reading Buses fleet, all operating on routes that would not normally stop here.
Facing the increasing age of their KC-135A fleet, along with the type’s less fuel efficient, smoky, and noisy JT3D turbojet engines, the USAF embarked on a program to either modify or replace the 700 or so KC-135s in service beginning in 1980. The KC-10A Extender proved to be an adequate supplement, but cost concerns and the sheer size of the USAF’s tanker fleet meant that completely replacing the KC-135 with the KC-10 was not feasible; likewise, a partial re-engining to KC-135E standard, which used TF33 turbofans taken from 707 airliners, likewise would not be cost-effective for the entire fleet.
Therefore the USAF decided instead to modify the KC-135As to KC-135R standard. Like the KC-135Es, the old turbojets would be replaced by turbofans, but these were state-of-the-art high-bypass CFM56 types, twice the diameter of the older JT3Ds. The CFM56, designated F108 in USAF service, doubled the thrust of the KC-135A, yet was cheaper and more fuel efficient to operate, far more quiet, and allowed the offload of half again as much fuel as the A model. This extended not only the range of the KC-135 force, but also further extended the reach of tactical fighters it would refuel. An auxiliary power unit (APU) was added as well, allowing the KC-135R to operate with a minimum of ground equipment from unprepared airstrips, and the airframe was reskinned, taking the fleet back to essentially zero flight hours. The 360 KC-135Rs were therefore practically new aircraft, and were projected to serve until at least 2010 or possibly longer.
KC-135Rs entered service in 1983 and rapidly replaced nearly all KC-135As in service; SR-71 dedicated KC-135Qs were reengined as KC-135Ts. The first combat use of the R model was in Panama in 1989, followed by Operation Desert Storm in Iraq in 1991; since then, KC-135Rs have supported every peacetime and war deployment by the US, the most recent being Operation Odyssey Dawn over Iraq in 2011. With the retirement of the KC-135E in 2009, the R model is now the only KC-135 variant operated by the USAF. The entire fleet went through the Pacer CRAG update in the late 1990s, adding GPS and additional navigational equipment to the KC-135. A few were further modified as KC-135RTs, which themselves can be refuelled in flight; several more have also had underwing fuel tanks added to allow for three-point refuelling—one via the USAF-standard boom/plug, the other two utilizing US Navy style probe/drogue.
Though much of the KC-135R fleet has been found capable of operating until 2040 (when the youngest airframe will be approaching eighty years old), obviously a replacement would be needed at some point; this was recognized by the USAF in the late 1990s and accelerated by the higher strain of constant wartime deployments over Iraq and Afghanistan since 2001. A long, drawn-out, and bitter competition between Boeing’s 767 and Airbus’ A330 over the past ten years finally came to an end in 2011, when the USAF selected Boeing’s KC-767 proposal over the Airbus KC-30; designated KC-46, the new tanker will begin replacing the KC-135R about 2015.
This KC-135R, 58-0098, was at Malmstrom AFB in 1987 to provide familiarization for base personnel, as the 301st Air Refueling Wing was due to arrive later in the year. It was assigned to the 28th Strategic Bomber Wing at Ellsworth AFB. This view shows the earlier overall SAC gray scheme used on its tankers, complete with Strategic Air Command stripe on the fuselage and the 28th's tail stripe. 58-0098 is still around, today serving with the 101st Air Refueling Wing (Maine ANG) at Bangor, Maine.
Ratchathewi for me is a full day shopping venture. Along the Phetchaburi road ( sometimes you will see it spelt Phet Buri road or New Phet Buri road ) you will find some of the best shopping malls in Bangkok. I have listed some of them in this article. However the many tourists along with locals make this a very busy part of town. Trying to navigate along the pavement is a chore. Very similar to Sampeng market in China town. There are several pedestrian bridges to help you get across this very busy road ( Phetchaburi road ) the part near to the Palladium shopping mall at the traffic lights is especially busy.
Ratchathewi District is sub divided into four sub districts Thung Phaya Thai , Thanon Phaya Thai, Thanon Phetchaburi and Makkasan. I have been many times to Pratunam it is a busy and bustling shopping area that can easily be reached on foot from Ratchaprasong ~ I know I have done it many times. Most of the products available are for sale wholesale, so this is the place to go for some cheap bargains. Haggling is more important here than in other shopping areas, and things get cheaper if you buy in bulk, which seems to be the norm anywhere in Thailand.
City Complex Phetchaburi rd. walking along Phetchaburi Road, you definitely cannot miss this enormous 6 storey City Complex. It is one of the most popular malls in Pratunam that is specifically marketed towards teenage girls and ladies. Most of the shops are selling fashionable clothing, shoes and accessories, but there are also a few of them dedicated to cosmetics, jewellery and crafts. There is on the fifth floor a food court offering all the usual items of food.
Grand Diamond Plaza, Phetchaburi road, is a unique shopping mall because it is also a suite hotel with four incredible penthouse suites along with 172 luxuriously appointed suites. They have a Morning market : 04:00 am – 09:00 am and a Night market : 06:00 pm – 09:00 pm. The basement holds a 24 hour Super Market. There is also an international food court on the top floor and a outdoor swimming pool for both adults and children is on the 8th floor.
Indra Square Ratchaprarop rd. is an indoor shopping mall with more than 300 retail and wholesale outlets. The first floor is mostly for fashion, silk and accessories, and has some fast food outlets. The clothes here are remarkably good value, and unlike City Complex, there is a decent supply for men and children as well. The second floor has a more larger selection of items for sale, including arts, crafts, toys and mobile / cell phones. If you're getting hungry, there's a food centre on the second floor. There are some clothing shops at the ground level of the nearby Baiyoke Tower II also.
Metro Fashion Mall Phetchaburi rd. This brand new wholesale shopping mall opened in 2009. Its seven floors accommodate 370 wholesale vendors selling fashion apparel, bags, footwear, cosmetics and accessories. There is a food centre on the third floor and a branch of McDonald's on the ground floor outside.
Pantip Plaza Phetchaburi rd. This shopping mall is great for kids and men that are still kids! You enter the doors and bang it hits you, The I want syndrome. A six floor shopping mall devoted to computer gear, famous for its pirated media. The pirated trade is much more low key than it used to be, but software and DVDs are still widely available, It is also a good place for digital cameras, gadgets, printers, I-pod players, etc. Test out whatever you are buying as there are many suspect goods on sale here. If you want to be safe, buy at the official brand stores, although prices are similar to Western countries prices. You will find IT City here, also a large retailer of computers and cameras along with software.
Platinum Fashion Mall Phetchaburi rd. Its very imposing from outside but the shops are really packed in inside, some of them being no more than the size of a kiosk. A great place for fashion shopping, especially as it is air conditioned. Many of the 1,300 shops here are also at the Chatuchak Market at weekends. It is particularly interesting for women as the shops mostly sell clothing, handbags, shoes, accessories, gifts and make-up. A lot of shops ( but not all of them ) are geared towards export and wholesale. There's a huge and very good food court at the sixth floor of the mall. It can get very busy, especially around noon and evening time.
Palladium Square ~ It was formerly known as Pratunam Centre and is located on the corner of Phetchaburi Road and Ratchaprarop and the very busy cross roads with Ratchadamri road. This area is already known for wholesale shopping at Platinum Fashion Mall, electronics Mecca Pantip Plaza and the busy, all day and all night world of Pratunam Market found just across the road. This five storey building is home to bargains galore with most shops and stalls selling many items of clothing for 100 Baht or less.
Pratunam Market Phetchaburi road and surrounding Soi’s ~ Pratunam Market is an immense open-air garment market, and although it is geared towards exporters, anyone can shop here. Most of the items for sale are T-shirts, dresses, shorts, jeans, shoes and accessories. You could easily spend a day here if you wish, as the area has a stunning amount of more than 4,000 shops. While the market is officially open till 18:00, many shops already close around 16:00. The market spreads out on the streets around Baiyoke Tower I, and the ground floor of that tower also has a few clothing shops. In the early evening, a night market is set up in the streets along Baiyoke Tower I that stay open until after 02:00 am. This market whilst great for looking around is not as good as Khlong Thom Market in China Town. I would suggest taking a tape measure with you, as many of the products are not true to size.
We had a trip to Prague in January – for Jayne’s birthday - we don’t buy Christmas or birthday presents, we travel instead. We left snowy England for a very, very dull and grey Czech Republic. Yet again I was on a photographic downer looking at the weather forecast, grey is the colour that haunts me. Fortunately it was dull grey and not burnt highlight inducing bright grey.With the grey sky acting like a big diffuser I was going to have deep shadow and contrast to deal with. We had three very short spells of broken cloud which gave us a bit of sun and colour, which I managed to more or less anticipate so we managed to be in decent locations every time – generally somewhere high.
We had been upgraded to a five star hotel, apparently our original choice was flooded. We got compensation and five star hotel upgrade– a first for me. The Art Nouveau Palace has a beautiful interior, with beautiful rooms, the breakfast room was fantastic, as was the breakfast it has to be said. We were able to have an early breakfast so were out on foot just after eight. It was very cold – and dull! We spent the whole week well wrapped up. It drizzled for a day, but never really wet us, it snowed for a day, again we didn’t get wet and the snow didn’t settle. We walked 65 mile, spending plenty of time checking buildings and their interiors out – and coffee shop and bar interiors it has to be said. Although it was dull and sometimes wet I decided that the Camera was staying in my hands for the whole trip. Whenever I put it in my backpack for one reason or another I regret it.
Again, I didn’t look at any photographs of Prague before we got there, I like to just walk and discover, with the DK guidebook in my pocket (which is full of photos it has to be said). We like to get off the beaten track and see the grittier side of the places we visit – within reason! Prague has an incredible tram network, over 1000 trams – with many of them Tatra Eastern Bloc machines. The system seems chaotic but in reality it is incredible with one of the largest networks and highest usages in the world. The trams and cars frequently share the same road space with very little in the way of drama, none of the inexplicable and pathetic constant horn blowing one finds in many countries. Once it became apparent that buildings with a grey blanket as a background were going to be a bit un-inspirational I decided that the trams would be a good focal point instead. Where I have photographed one of the older trams against a background without clues it is easy to imagine that the photos were taken fifty years ago.
The train network also provided photo opportunities. The rolling stock ranges from old Eastern Bloc to very modern double decker’s and pendolinos. There are three stations although we visited the main station and Smichov. The main station interior is art deco and has been renovated by a private company. The exterior and the platforms are very rundown with a grim eastern bloc 1950’s feel –but it works! We discovered to our amusement that we could just walk across multiple lines, no health and safety, just keep your eyes open and don’t walk under a train – you’ll make a mess. Smichov station was grim, it didn’t help that it snowed all day and was grey and bitter. We felt like we were in a 50’s film set in Russia, broken concrete platforms and dereliction. With both stations there was another world underneath them. The underground Metro is running seamlessly and efficiently away beneath your feet. I didn’t have any problems taking photos anywhere but I was very open and obviously a tourist, I didn’t act covertly or suspiciously. There was only one occasion I was stopped and that was in a shopping centre – full of CCTV cameras filming everyone else!
We discovered old and beautiful- and very large- shopping centres hidden away in quite a few places. Brass framed windows and doors, shops thriving, there was a massive camera shop with thousands of second hand cameras, too much to look at. Many of the landmark buildings prevent photography, some make a small charge, some encourage it, the DK guide book gives a good indication regarding camera use. Nothing stops many people though, they just shoot away regardless, usually wanting a picture that includes their self. Prague is surrounded by low hills and has a fair few towers that you can pay a few pounds to go up, so viewpoints are plentiful. I think we visited most of them. I read about the Zizkov Tower, which looks like a Soviet rocket on the horizon and we headed straight for it - after crossing the rail lines! Set in a quiet residential area, there wasn’t a soul about. Two beautiful girls on reception and we parted with a few pounds, into the lift and were on the observation deck with no one else up there. There are fantastic views over the city, but! It is through two layers of not very clean glass so you go for the view rather than sharp panoramas. Still a fascinating place, with a nice café bar and very clean toilets – there are toilets everywhere, usually manned with a fee. Places are well staffed compared with home were three students are supposed to run a 20 screen multiplex cinema.
Graffiti was prominent, no matter how grand the monument, some moron would have daubed it. How do they get away with it in a 24 hour city centre with a strong police presence? The place is very clean, constantly being swept. What did surprise me, was that many buildings, that looked grand and built of stone, from a distance, were actually rendered with very low quality brickwork concealed. When restored the building look very impressive, others are missing the outer render from ground level to a fair height.
I need to cut this short really, I like to put a background story to the photos and although it would be better to individualise it to a specific photo or group of photos I don’t have the time to do that. I do try to give specific detail in the title bar after I have uploaded, this is time consuming enough although I’m pretty proficient at it by now. There are many things I would like to write that should be of interest to anyone thinking of going to Prague but I’ll have to let the pictures do the talking. As usual I am unlikely to be selective enough with my uploads, I’m not very good at leaving photos out so I just upload and be damned.
“What do you mean less than nothing? I don't think there is any such thing as less than nothing. Nothing is absolutely the limit of nothingness. It's the lowest you can go. It's the end of the line. How can something be less than nothing? If there were something that was less than nothing, then nothing would not be nothing, it would be something - even though it's just a very little bit of something. But if nothing is nothing, then nothing has nothing that is less than it is.” ―Wilbur / E.B. White, “Charlotte's Web,” 1952
We’ve just past Gants Hill Roundabout. Time for another song, Route 66 by Bobby Troup
Well if you ever plan to motor west
Just take my way that’s the highway that’s the best
Get your kicks on Route 66
Well it winds from Chicago to L.A.
More than 2000 miles all the way
Get your kicks on Route 66
In common with travelling across the USA, bus journeys are measured in time not distance. But our journey should take less than an hour compared to 5 ~ 7 days it would take to drive from Chicago to L.A.
On a bus journey passengers choose whether to spend the time travelling in the inner space of their thoughts or the inner space of the bus - examining their fellow passengers and the bus or they can observe the passing scenery. Unfortunately suburban Essex doesn’t compare favourably with the vistas of New Mexico, Arizona and Southern California.