View allAll Photos Tagged Meter
One by one, JiBBR is unfolding... Here's Meter maid, hot on the heals of Excellence in Orange and www.flickr.com/photos/daruma/3549226499/.
Meter maid is one of the very best people on Flickr and also finds time to be the Lady Bossess of Ministract where John, Sir Cam and I sing the eponymous Beatles song to her each evening. Just don't ask her to spell rhythm :)
In the midst of a pandemic the City of Chicago is still out there collecting meter violations. The city with a real heart.
Die letzten Meter auf dem noch immer mit Formsignalen bestückten Bodenseedamm zwischen dem Lindauer Festland und dem auf der Insel gelegenen Hauptbahnhof bewältigt wie gewohnt eine schweizer Re 4/4 II mit Cargo-Lackierung. Gleich wird auf 218-Doppeltraktion umgespannt für den nicht-elektrifizierten Fahrweg in Richtung München.
(ENG) The last few metres for the SBB Cargo-painted Re 4/4 II on the dam over the Lake Constance in Lindau hauling EuroCity 195 from Zurich to Munich. In a few minutes, the traction of this train will be changed to 218 double traction.
Very soon the Epiphany Summer Edition will start. And from 22769 you find the Refugium prepared in our machine at the venue.
The Refugium is a Gacha Set containing 17 different Items plus one exclusive - only available during this cycle of the Epiphany - as exchange to Epiphany points.
Lets have a closer at the items including in the Refugium Gacha Set:
Rare:
The Refugium Build - LI 49 - 16,8 x 12,6 x 11,8 meters
Commons:
Leather Armchair - 10 single sit animations - LI 2
Book Table* - LI 3
Storage Container* - LI 2
Cooper Plant Stand (Plant 1, Plant 2)* - each LI 5
Snake Plant* - LI 5
Succulent* - LI 3
Samowar* - LI 2
Samowar Tea Glass* - LI 1
Caesar Bust* - LI 3
Table Plant* - LI 3
Table Green* - LI 3
Ivy Wreath* - LI 2
Light Curtain* - light/intensity on touch - LI 4
Refugium Rug* - LI 4
Monet Picure* - LI 1
All items in the Gacha Machine have next owner permissions: no-copy, mod, trans - used scripts and animations may have different permissions.
Every pull at the Gacha Machine is 50L$ and you get a random item from the list above in return.
==
22769 - The Refugium - Exclusive Item:
Un Hommage de Ligier Richer Statue* - LI 8 - 1,7 x 1,5 x 4,9 meters
next owner permissions: copy, mod, no-trans
You get this items as exchange to 25 Epiphany Points. Learn more about how to gain Epiphany Points here: the-epiphany.com/how-to-play/
==
And, also this cycle is marking The Epiphanys fifth Birthday ( Congratulations at this point!), so you find for this special celebration the following gift (0L$) from 22769 at the venue.
Vase with Flowers* - LI 2
next owner permissions: copy, mod, no-trans
==
We include the SLurl to The Epiphany below, but please keep in mind that the venue will open to public on Saturday 15th, 2017.
SLurl to the Epiphany: maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/The%20Epiphany/88/131/1006
Closer to the Eventstart, you will see the items displayed at the 22769 Inworld Location here:
maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Wooden%20Bay/36/124/23
**
Gacha is a Game of Luck, for every pull (50L$) you will get a randomly selected item in return.
"Terribly upset - you almost drowned. You have been in the water of the Clay Hole for more than appr. five minutes and drifted two meters from the shore. Mrs. Woldorp who lives at the Clay Hole - since just a few weeks - jumped in the water and rescued you. You were terribly red. Luckily there have been no lasting effects. We have been terribly upset. For three months or so now you can name the three main colors. Frank was almost four when he knew them. In May and June you've had some dry nights. A cheerful lad! You love life!"
The second in a series of Life Sized Ghostbusters Props made from LEGO, The PKE Meter
In Depth Video: youtu.be/rh-9Gsi5Qt0
Diesel-electric Alsthom/Euskalduna meter gauge BB44t with two recently fully refurbished Italian built Napoli coaches, on a transfer run from Aveiro-Vouga to Sernada do Vouga.
Italien / Toskana - San Gimignano
Piazza Duomo
San Gimignano (Italian pronunciation: [san dʒimiɲˈɲaːno]) is a small walled medieval hill town in the province of Siena, Tuscany, north-central Italy. Known as the Town of Fine Towers, San Gimignano is famous for its medieval architecture, unique in the preservation of about a dozen of its tower houses, which, with its hilltop setting and encircling walls, form "an unforgettable skyline". Within the walls, the well-preserved buildings include notable examples of both Romanesque and Gothic architecture, with outstanding examples of secular buildings as well as churches. The Palazzo Comunale, the Collegiate Church and Church of Sant' Agostino contain frescos, including cycles dating from the 14th and 15th centuries. The "Historic Centre of San Gimignano" is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The town also is known for saffron, the Golden Ham, pecorino cheese and its white wine, Vernaccia di San Gimignano, produced from the ancient variety of Vernaccia grape which is grown on the sandstone hillsides of the area.
Territory
The municipality of San Gimignano extends for 138 km² and is located on a hill in Val d'Elsa. The altitude difference is between a minimum of 64 meters a.s.l. in the plain of the river Elsa near Certaldo at a maximum of 631 meters in the area of Cornocchio.
History
In the 3rd century BC a small Etruscan village stood on the site of San Gimignano. Chroniclers Lupi, Coppi and Pecori relate that during the Catiline conspiracy against the Roman Republic in the 1st century, two patrician brothers, Muzio and Silvio, fled Rome for Valdelsa and built two castles, Mucchio and Silvia (now San Gimignano). The name of Silvia was changed to San Gimignano in 450 AD after Bishop Geminianus, the Saint of Modena, intervened to spare the castle from destruction by the followers of Attila the Hun. As a result, a church was dedicated to the saint, and in the 6th and 7th centuries a walled village grew up around it, subsequently called the "Castle of San Gimignano" or Castle of the Forest because of the extensive woodland surrounding it. From 929 the town was ruled by the bishops of Volterra.
In the Middle Ages and the Renaissance era, it was a stopping point for Catholic pilgrims on their way to Rome and the Vatican, as it sits on the medieval Via Francigena. The city's development was also improved by the trade of agricultural products from the fertile neighbouring hills, in particular saffron, used in both cooking and dyeing cloth and Vernaccia wine, said to inspire popes and poets.
In 1199, the city made itself independent of the bishops of Volterra and established a podestà, and set about enriching the commune with churches and public buildings. However, the peace of the town was disturbed for the next two centuries by conflict between the Guelphs and the Ghibellines, and family rivalries within San Gimignano. This resulted in competing families building tower houses of increasingly greater heights. Towards the end of the Medieval period, there were 72 tower houses in number, up to 70 metres (230 feet) tall. The rivalry was finally restrained when the local council ordained that no tower was to be taller than that adjacent to the Palazzo Comunale.
While the official patron is Saint Geminianus, the town also honours Saint Fina, known also as Seraphina and Serafina, who was born in San Gimignano 1238 and whose feast day is 12 March. The Chapel of Santa Fina in the Collegiate Church houses her shrine and frescos by Ghirlandaio. The house said to be her home still stands in the town.
On 8 May 1300, San Gimignano hosted Dante Alighieri in his role as ambassador of the Guelph League in Tuscany.
The city flourished until 1348, when it was struck by the Black Death that affected all of Europe, and about half the townsfolk died. The town submitted to the rule of Florence. Initially, some Gothic palazzi were built in the Florentine style, and many of the towers were reduced to the height of the houses. There was little subsequent development, and San Gimignano remained preserved in its medieval state until the 19th century, when its status as a touristic and artistic resort began to be recognised.
Description
The city is on the ridge of a hill with its main axis being north/south. It is encircled by three walls and has at its highest point, to the west, the ruins of a fortress dismantled in the 16th century. There are eight entrances into the city, set into the second wall, which dates from the 12th and 13th centuries. The main gates are Porta San Giovanni on the ridge extending south, Porta San Matteo to the north west and Porta S. Jacopo to the north east. The main streets are Via San Matteo and Via San Giovanni, which cross the city from north to south. At the heart of the town are four squares: the Piazza Duomo, on which stands the Collegiate Church; the Piazza della Cisterna, the Piazza Pecori and the Piazza delle Erbe. To the north of the town is another significant square, Piazza Agostino, on which stands the Church of Sant' Agostino. The locations of the Collegiate Church and Sant' Agostino's and their piazzas effectively divide the town into two regions.
Main sights
The town of San Gimignano has many examples of Romanesque and Gothic architecture. As well as churches and medieval fortifications, there are examples of Romanesque secular and domestic architecture which may be distinguished from each other by their round and pointed arches, respectively. A particular feature which is typical of the region of Siena is that the arches of openings are depressed, with doorways often having a second low arch set beneath a semi-circular or pointed arch. Both Romanesque and Gothic windows sometimes have a bifurcate form, with two openings divided by a stone mullion under a single arch.
Culture
San Gimignano is the birthplace of the poet Folgore da San Gimignano (1270–1332).
A fictionalised version of San Gimignano is featured in E. M. Forster's 1905 novel, Where Angels Fear to Tread as Monteriano.
M. C. Escher's 1923 woodcut San Gimignano depicts the celebrated towers.
Franco Zeffirelli used San Gimignano as a stand-in for the town of Assisi in his 1972 Saint Francis of Assisi biopic Brother Sun, Sister Moon. Most of the "Assisi" scenes were filmed here
Tea with Mussolini, a 1999 drama about the plight of English and American expatriate women in Italy during World War II, was filmed in part in San Gimignano. The frescoes that the women save from being destroyed during the German Army's withdrawal are inside the Duomo, the town's main church. The account of this episode is, to a large extent, fictional, because, although there are reports of intended retribution against the town, there is no evidence of a plan to destroy the churches. However, the reference to risk of cultural destruction is historic, as the Allies bombed the area for ten days.
In the 2005 novel The Broker by John Grisham, Joel Backman takes his second of three wives on vacation in Italy to keep her from divorcing him. They rent a 14th-century monastery near San Gimignano for a month.
A 15th-century version of the town is featured in the 2009 video game Assassin's Creed II.
(Wikpedia)
Piazza della Cisterna is a piazza in San Gimignano, Italy. It has a triangular shape with a slight natural slope and is connected to the nearby Piazza del Duomo by an open passage. The pavement is brick and the piazza is surrounded by houses and medieval towers. There are presently 5 towers onto the square or very near it and the bases of other five are visible on the facade of the various palaces, plus one, the Ridolfi tower, which is no longer in existence having collapsed in 1646 onto the family palace, thus making this relatively small area a concentrate of medieval architecture. In the south-west corner, the piazza meets the Arc of Becci, (l'arco dei Becci), an ancient city gate. The arc is flanked by the massive rectangular towers of Becci (torri dei Becci) on the left and Cugnanesi (torri dei Cugnanesi) on the right.
Past the access to via di Castello, which led down to the original Bishop’s castle, the northern side is characterized by the renaissance Cortesi Palace, which includes la torre del Diavolo, and extends along the north side of the square including the old houses of the Cattani family. There remains of two pre-existing towers are clearly visible onto the facade of the Cortesi Palace.
The west side is adorned with various towers, like the twin towers of Ardinghelli and the tower of palazzo Pellari visible over the roofs.
History
The piazza is located at the intersection of two main streets of the village of San Gimignano: la via Francigena that run north to south and la via Pisa - [[Siena]that runs east to west]. The piazza was used as a market and a stage for festivals and tournaments. Originally the area was divided in two squares by the palace and tall tower of the Ridolfi family, the Piazza dell’ Olmo in the inferior and western part and the Piazza delle Taverne in the eastern side and with the cisterna in the middle. In 1646 the tall Ridolfi tower suddenly collapsed, destroying the palace and thus the two squares were merged into one, the Piazza della Cisterna.
The piazza is named after the underground cistern (Cisterna) built in 1287. The cistern is capped by a travertine octagonal pedestal, which was built in 1346 under the mayor Guccio Malavolti whose coat of arms with the ladder is carved onto the stones, and is close to the center of the square.
(Wikipedia)
San Gimignano ist eine italienische Kleinstadt in der Toskana mit einem mittelalterlichen Stadtkern. San Gimignano wird auch „Mittelalterliches Manhattan“ oder die „Stadt der Türme“ genannt. Die Stadt liegt in der Provinz Siena und hat 7717 Einwohner (Stand 31. Dezember 2019). Sie gehört neben Florenz, Siena und Pisa zu den von Touristen meistbesuchten Zielen in der Toskana.
Allgemeines
Der historische Stadtkern ist seit dem Jahr 1990 Teil des Weltkulturerbes der UNESCO. San Gimignano besitzt noch einige der mittelalterlichen Geschlechtertürme, die in anderen Städten nur als Stümpfe erhalten blieben. Im Mittelalter versuchten die Patrizierfamilien, sich in der Höhe ihres Geschlechterturmes zu übertreffen, obwohl ein luxuriöses Leben darin nicht möglich war. Von den einst 72 Geschlechtertürmen existieren in San Gimignano heute noch 15. Die beiden höchsten, der Torre Grossa aus dem Jahr 1311 und der Torre della Rognosa, weisen eine Höhe von 54 bzw. 51 Metern auf. Die Zisterne auf der Piazza della Cisterna entstand 1287 und wurde 1346 durch den Podestà Guccio Malavolti erweitert.
Geografie
Die Stadt liegt ca. 40 km südwestlich der Regionalhauptstadt Florenz und ca. 28 km nordwestlich der Provinzhauptstadt Siena an der Via Francigena und im Elsatal. San Gimignano liegt in der klimatischen Einordnung italienischer Gemeinden in der Zone D, 2 085 GR/G.
Zu den Ortsteilen gehören Badia a Elmi (94 m, gehört teilweise zu Certaldo), Castel San Gimignano (377 m, gehört teilweise zu Colle di Val d’Elsa), Pancole (272 m), Santa Lucia (268 m) und Ulignano. Weitere wichtige Orte im Gemeindegebiet sind Montauto (277 m), Monteoliveto (275 m) Ranza und San Donato (357 m). Größter Ortsteil ist Ulignano mit ca. 690 Einwohnern.
Die wichtigsten Flüsse im Gemeindegebiet sind der Elsa (4 von 81 km im Gemeindegebiet) sowie die Torrenti Foci (4 von 15 km im Gemeindegebiet) und Riguardi (7 von 7 km im Gemeindegebiet).
Die Nachbargemeinden sind Barberino Tavarnelle (FI), Certaldo (FI), Colle di Val d’Elsa, Gambassi Terme (FI), Poggibonsi und Volterra (PI).
Geschichte
San Gimignano soll bereits um 300 bis 200 v. Chr. von den Etruskern besiedelt worden sein. Erstmals dokumentiert wurde der Ort 929. Den Namen erhielt die Stadt von dem heiligen Bischof von Modena, San Gimignano. Es heißt, er habe das Dorf vor den barbarischen Horden des Totila geschützt.
Diese Stadt verdankt ihre Existenz der Via Francigena (Frankenstraße). Auf diesem Hauptverkehrsweg des mittelalterlichen Italiens zogen Händler und Pilger vom Norden nach Rom. Der Ort bildete sich als Marktstätte zwischen dem frühmittelalterlichen Castello und der Pieve, dem Vorgängerbau der Collegiata. Ein erster Stadtmauerring wurde im 10. Jahrhundert angelegt. Dessen Verlauf markieren zwei noch erhaltene Stadttore, im Norden der Arco della Cancelleria und im Süden der Arco dei Becci.
Vom 11. Jahrhundert an dehnte sich das Stadtgebiet entlang der Frankenstraße in nördlicher und südlicher Richtung aus. An die Existenz des früheren Castello erinnern die Via di Castello, eine der ältesten Straßen, und die Kirche von San Lorenzo, die bei der Zugbrücke lag. Mindestens seit dem Jahr 929 gehörte das Kastell den Bischöfen von Volterra. Diese Bischöfe waren es auch, die die Herrschaft über die sich ausdehnende Stadt ausübten. Erst 1199 gelang es den von den Bürgern gewählten Konsuln, Verträge ohne die Zustimmung des Bischofs zu unterzeichnen. San Gimignano war nie Bischofssitz, sondern gehörte zum kirchlichen Verwaltungsbezirk (Diözese) Volterra und erlangte somit auch keine Stadtrechte. Trotzdem verlief die politische Entwicklung der Landkommune in ähnlichen Schritten wie die der großen Städte. Die Regierung der Konsuln wurde durch den Podestà (einem gewählten Administrator) abgelöst. Diesem standen ein kleiner und ein großer Rat zur Seite. Dem großen Rat gehörte eine bemerkenswert hohe Zahl von 1200 Mitgliedern an, obwohl San Gimignano nur 6000 Einwohner hatte.
Die freie Kommune stritt bis ins 14. Jahrhundert mit den Bischöfen von Volterra in langjährigen Kriegen um Besitzrechte. Sie musste gegen die Nachbarorte Castelfiorentino, gegen Colle und Poggibonsi zu Felde ziehen und nahm auf der Seite des guelfischen Florenz an den großen Machtkämpfen des 13. Jahrhunderts teil. Auch innerhalb der Stadtmauern setzten sich die Kämpfe zwischen Guelfen (Welfen) und Ghibellinen (Waiblinger) fort. Es kam zu blutigen Familienfehden zwischen den Familien der Salvucci (Ghibellinen) und der Ardinghelli (Guelfen).
Ab Mai 1300 hielt sich Dante Alighieri in diplomatischer Mission in San Gimignano auf. Vom 15. Juni bis 15. August 1300 amtierte er als eines von sechs Mitgliedern des Priorats, des höchsten Gremiums der Stadt. Im Jahre 1319 versuchte er in seiner Funktion als führender Florentiner Politiker vergeblich, die verfeindeten Parteien zu versöhnen. Eine Kommune wie San Gimignano konnte sich im 14. Jahrhundert nicht mehr neben den Großmächten behaupten. Im Jahre 1348 wurde die Stadt neben Kriegsverlusten und Familienfehden durch die Pest stark geschwächt. Vier Jahre später, im Jahre 1352, begab sich die Stadt unter den Schutz von Florenz.
Die Blütezeit der Stadt dauerte 160 Jahre an, ihr Wohlstand beruhte auf Handel und dem Anbau von Safran, mit dem man Seidenstoffe färbte. Die Frankenstraße verlor im Spätmittelalter allmählich an Bedeutung, weil der Handel die bequemeren Wege durch die weitgehend trockengelegten Sümpfe der Ebenen vorzog. Die Stadt, die einst Gesetze gegen übertriebenen Luxus erlassen hatte, verarmte.
Hochrenaissance (ca. 1500 bis 1530) und Barock (1575 bis 1770) hinterließen in San Gimignano so gut wie keine Spuren. Die Stadt war niemals ein eigenständiges Kunstzentrum. Künstler aus Siena und Florenz malten die Fresken und Altartafeln. Die Paläste und Kirchen zeigen pisanische, sienesische, lucchesische und florentinische Stilmerkmale. In San Gimignano ist die Zeit scheinbar im Jahr 1563 stehengeblieben. Der erste der toskanischen Großherzöge, Cosimo I. de’ Medici, entschied, es dürfen „auch keine geringen Summen“ mehr in diese Stadt investiert werden. Das musste akzeptiert werden, und so ist San Gimignano geblieben, wie es damals war.
(Wikipedia)
I saw this group of meters one afternoon when I was taking a walk. I often just ignore them but since my work is involved in the utility industry I actually see meters quite often. Perhaps you've heard of AMI meters or smart meters. Soon these old ones will be replaced by those.
Happy Slider's Sunday. I processed this using a preset I got from one of you (I cannot remember). I got lazy.
43 meter polar-aligned radio telescope peeking over the trees at the Green Bank Observatory looks almost otherworldly.
Part of a recent blog post on the National Radio Astronomy Observatory facility in Green Bank
Check out my web site : www.ortbaldauf.com
and my www.500px.com/ortbaldauf site..
© Photo is the property of Ort Baldauf. Do not use this photo on or off the web without my written permission. Thank you
View from the top of the Patapampa pass (4910 meters) to the volcanoes surrounding the Colca river canyon. From left to right: Ampato (6288 meters), Sabancaya (5925 metres), Hualca Hualca (6025 meters).
Вид с вершины перевала Патапампа (4910 метров) на вулканы, окружающие Колкинский каньон. Слева направо: Ампато (6288 метров), Сабанкайя (5925 метров), Уалька Уалька (6025 метров).
Die Elbphilharmonie ist ein im November 2016 fertiggestelltes 110 Meter hohe Gebäude im Stadtteil HafenCity. . Es wurde unter Einbeziehung der Hülle des früheren Kaispeichers A (Baujahr 1963) errichtet. Auf diesen Sockel wurde ein moderner Aufbau mit einer Glasfassade gesetzt, die an Segel, Wasserwellen, Eisberge oder einen Quarzkristall erinnern soll. Die Lage ist von der einstigen industriellen Hafennutzung und der neugotischen Backsteinarchitektur der Speicherstadt geprägt. Entwurf und Planung der Philharmonie stammen im Wesentlichen vom Basler Architekturbüro Herzog & de Meuron. Entgegen den allerersten Planungen wurde der ehemalige Speicher für den Bau vollständig entkernt. Nur die denkmalgeschützte Fassade und Teile der Fundamente blieben erhalten. Die lastverteilende Bodenplatte des Gebäudes ist auf 1732 Pfählen gegründet, die tief in das Flussbett gerammt wurden.Der 12.500 t schwere, eigenständige Baukörper des Großen Konzertsaales ist mit insgesamt 342 Stahlfederpaketen unten und 34 im Dachbereich schalltechnisch vom Gesamtgebäude vollständig entkoppelt. Der passgenaue Aufbau erhielt eine Glasfassade aus insgesamt 1100 einzelnen Glaselementen, die jeweils aus vier Glasscheiben bestehen. Alle Scheiben erhielten einen eingearbeiteten Licht- und Wärmeschutz durch aufgedruckte gerasterte Folien. 595 Glaselemente sind individuell gekrümmt. Ein einziges dieser Glasfenster kostete etwa 72.000 Euro. Zwischen Backsteinsockel und Glasaufbau befindet sich in 37 Metern Höhe ein öffentlich zugänglicher Platz, genannt Plaza, der als Zugangsebene für das Foyer der Konzertsäle und zum Hotel dient. Zur Plaza gelangt man über eine ca. 80 Meter lange und 21 Meter hohe Rolltreppe (die sogenannte Tube) und eine zweite, kürzere Rolltreppe. Teil der Plaza ist ein Außenrundgang um das gesamte Gebäude. Von hier bietet sich eine Aussicht über die Norderelbe, den Hafen, HafenCity und die Innenstadt. Außer den Konzertsälen gibt es in dem Gebäude ein Hotel, Restaurants und 45 gehobene Wohneinheiten, die mit Kaufpreisen von bis zu 10 Millionen Euro zu den teuersten der Stadt gehören.
de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elbphilharmonie
The Elbphilharmonie (Elbe Philharmonic Hall) is a 110-metre-high building in the HafenCity (Port City) quarter, on Grasbrook Peninsula, completed in November 2016. It was built using the shell of the former Quay Warehouse A (built in 1963). A modern structure with a glass façade was placed on top of this base, which is intended to be reminiscent of sails, water waves, icebergs or a quartz crystal. The location is influenced by the former industrial use of the port and the neo-Gothic brick architecture of the Speicherstadt (Warehouse City). The design and planning of the philharmonic hall are essentially the work of the Basel architectural firm Herzog & de Meuron. Contrary to the very first plans, the former warehouse was completely gutted for the construction. Only the listed façade and parts of the foundations were preserved. The load-distributing floor slab of the building is founded on 1732 piles driven deep into the riverbed.The 12,500-tonne, independent structure of the Great Concert Hall is completely decoupled from the overall building in terms of sound insulation with a total of 342 steel spring packages at the bottom and 34 in the roof area. The precisely fitting structure was given a glass façade consisting of a total of 1100 individual glass elements, each consisting of four panes of glass. All panes received integrated light and heat protection by means of printed louvred foils. 595 glass elements are individually curved. A single one of these glass windows cost about 72,000 euros. Between the brick base and the glass structure, at a height of 37 metres, there is a publicly accessible indoor square called the Plaza, which serves as the access level for the foyer of the concert halls and to the hotel. The plaza is reached via an approximately 80-metre-long and 21-metre-high escalator (the so-called Tube) and a second, shorter one. Part of the Plaza is an outdoor walkway around the entire building. From here there is a view over the North Elbe, the port, the HafenCity and the city centre. In addition to the concert halls, there is a hotel, restaurants and 45 upscale residential units in the building, which are among the most expensive in the city with purchase prices of up to 10 million euros.
This water meter access cover painted bright blue is embedded in the sidewalk bordering E. Front St., Buchanan, Michigan.
Shenanigans at the Wailing Sireen
There is a pub on the downtown docks known far and wide named the Wailing Sireen.
It is owned and operated by a gentleman( Loose term) known as Brute Burton. Brute is a rather impressive specimen, standing well over 2 meters tall, weighing over 15 stone, and strong enough to have lifted a 600 pound ox to win a wager. Not the type of man, if one is sane, to plays tricks upon!
Now Brute Burton is a retired sailor himself, who had worked the riggings of many a brig that travelled our seven seas. He retired the same day they permanently docked his last birth, a fine 3 Masted schooner christened the HMS Cybelemoon, a ship he had been mated on for the last 12 years. As the schooner was being overhauled, he bought several of the hand engraved exported mahogany planks from the captains quarters, and taking them to the pub he had purchased with his life savings, fashioned them into a bar that ran the whole length of the Wailing Sireen’s west wall.
Most of the many bars located along that old, salt weathered waterfront have a somewhat nasty reputation for being quite rowdy establishments, full of drinkin sailors, wild women, fights breaking out on the minute, and other forms of debauchery and nefarious activities.
But the Wailing Sireen is some what of an anomaly around these parts, for Brute Burton will have none of that rowdiness in his place. Although not perfect, its patrons have become accustomed to obeying the taverns unspoken rules, for by doing so, would mean a quick grab and throw out the BACK doors by Brute, whose best effort once threw a rather drunk sailor across the road and through the doors of the bar on the other side. A massive heave of over 8 stone and 12 meters distance!!
The Wailing Sireen is located close to the quite popular Oceanside gambling casino, Hermes Rest, well known to be an underworld held establishment!
Now one would think, given the clientele of the area, along with Brutes lack of toleration for rowdiness, that the Wailing Sireen pub would be almost void of patrons. But actually the place is usually packed, especially on weekends when the folks from uptown who want a bit of excitement by going down to that somewhat chancy side of town. They start up gambling a bit at the casino, then gather upon the Wailing Sireen, knowing that they will be fairly safe within the old blackened interior of the large pub as they rub elbows with perhaps ( shall we say?) the least desirable members of their society.
^^^^^^^^^^
And so, we now come to the evening of our tale: an early fall evening, full harvest moon just peaking over the tall masts of the ships docked in the small harbour that was the bread and butter of the town that surrounded it.
It is a crowded Friday night, full of sailors in port, college students on a holiday weekend, all mixed in with the wealthier , more daring of the townsfolk. The narrow sidewalks that line the cobblestone street are crowded with a score or more of happily liquored souls wondering to and from the casino, bar to bar, in search of satisfying whatever the reason is that brings them out to this area.
As one looks upon this scene, they may notice a rather handsome couple swishing in and out amongst the happy throng…
He is nattily dressed in hound’s-tooth tweedy suit, gold fob and chain that crosses his waistcoat ending with a large gold pocket watch, a black bowler is perched on his head, and a long black umbrella held in the crouch of his arm . He is attentively escorting a rather fetchingly pretty lady, enticingly clad in a long violet dress of silk and lace, wearing a pretty necklace with matching earrings that glitters as she weaves in and out of the rough crowd. The the couple make their way carefully along the wooden planks of the dock’s sidewalks, peering cautiously into doors of the noisy pubs as they pass..
They stop outside the open doors of the Wailing Siren Pub and peer inquisitively inside. Just as they do, a rather thin chap with a perpetually smiling face, wearing old worn canvas trousers, a weather worn sailors blouse, and with a flat cap on his head comes upon them from behind. Long wisps of sun weathered sandy blonde hair fall in strings from the cap, some of them tied into a short pony tail. He is rather young, but the look in his keen brite blue eyes are those of a much older, perhaps even wiser man.
He stands behind the couple, patting them both on the back with a joyful cheerio.
As the both turn their heads in a rather annoyed fashion, he grins, better In than out Jack always says, and enthusiastically parts the two as he goes on inside.
The couple watch as the rather odd man calling himself Jack makes his way through the throng, acknowledging several people, but not receiving any recognition. He finally reaches a table with three men, all in severe cut suits, two built like the body guards they were, the third with a weasely face ,held pursed in a stern and unforgiving manner. Next to him stands a rather voluptuous lady, curvy in a long red satin number that flows down to her feet. From her ears, neck ,wrist and fingers sparkle a fine collection of emeralds set with diamonds, small but quite expensively real.
The couple at the doorway look at each other and silently a decision is made and they go inside and sit at a back table by a fireplace, where the beginnings of a large fire are in place, waiting to be lit once the cool chill of the evening fog rolls in.
Meanwhile the odd stranger has seated himself with the 3 men, and engages them in conversation. The lady in red, still standing, listens in, becoming quite interested in the charismatic newcomer and his many lively stories…
All the while Brute Burton works his station at the bar, serving up drinks as they are ordered, sliding them down the bar with expert precision.
Sadly, poor Brute is in a rather worse mood than usual this evening. Quite peeved that his favourite barmaid had up and quit the day before , having been sweet talked into taking a job at one of his competitors just down the street. This has been the topic of much conversation up and down the docks all day, so much so, that everyone pretty much knows to stay clear of the disgruntled bar keep, and Brute is quite happy with that. So, needless to say, what happens next came as quite a surprise to a lot of people, including Brute!
Brute had been eyeing a particular table all evening, it was made up of 4 men, and some tart in a red dress. The men, especially the thin one, one wearing an old discoloured flat cap, faded sailors dress, have grown more vocal, their tongues loosened by the pints of beer being consumed. And apparently, the attention Brute is giving them had not gone unnoticed, for they were quite obviously talking about Brute himself, judging by the way they had all been stealing looks his way.
This made Brute quite a bit more upset, and the men at the table apparently knew it, much to his chagrin. So it was with grinding teeth that Brute observed the thin man in the sailors rig rise and head up, a little wobbly, towards the bar, with his fellow table mates, including the dolled up tart, all watching with obviously keen interest.
The thin sailor sat down at the bar and called out cheerfully, hey barkeep, a shot of the devil’s own then. Brute poured a bit of rotgut in a shot glass, and intending to give the young sailor a piece of mind, walked ( rather than sliding ) it over to him.
Look ‘ere now, Brute said, I want no troubles from you mate , capisec lad?! he warned the grinning sailor in a stern tone. Then he gave the sailor a second, closer look over..
Wait a minute, Brute added, , didn’t I see you in ere last night?
Indeed you did my most observant sir, Indeed you did, and he offered a hand to shake, which was ignored by Brute. Unfazed, the sailor withdrew his hand and continued on; Jackie’s the name sir, and he nodded a hello to the burly , stern eyed barkeep. Came here on a lark last evening, enjoyed your fine establishment so much, decided to return. He looked into Brutes eyes, but the barkeep was having none of it, no scrawny excuse for a sailor was going to butter him up!
Jackie continued smiling and said, no worries my man, just here again in your fine establishment for a friendly drink. He slid a couple of coins to the barkeep who began to pick them up. Say barkeep, Jackie amiably asked Brute. Would you know be interested in winning few bucks from a betting sailor with nothin better to do with his money? What are you one about Brute asked, his hooded eyes holding back a fire waiting to ignite.
Just this Jackie continues on pleasantly cooing his words, 5 pounds say that I can lick me right eye.
Brute just looked at him for a full minute then said your on, but no shenanigans he added, go ahead and lick your right eye. With a smile, Jack popped out his right glass eye and licked it, before putting it back. The whole bar hushed, as Jack held out his hand, the bartender threw down a fiver, the look he was giving Jack would have sent most men running. The whole bar was now watching, quite a few standing for a better look at what was going on, waiting to see what was going to befall upon the mischief making sailor….
Jackie did not touch the fivers, instead he said, quite apologetically, I am so sorry chappie, That was actually quite rude of me I’ll admit, and after promising o shenanigans to boot. Tells you what dear sir, and he pulls a wad of notes from his pocket and lays down a total of twenty on top of his fiver.
Gives you a chance to make your money back, and profit Jackie said with a promise. Lets hear it than, Brute said, snarling so loudly that some of the Wailing Sireens patrons actually cringed, some even stepping backwards and tripping up against those behind them….
Ok Jackie again said in that sing song manner of his, this lot is yours( he pointed to the pile of notes) if I cannot bite my left eye!
Brute just looked at him for a minute, a long, quite cold minute. He finally spoke, choosing his words carefully, as he kept his temper in check…. I didn’t know about your fake eye me salty lad, but I sure en hell knows you aint blind. . Your on he says, and pulls out a wad of his own, slapping down a total of 20 hard earned notes on top of his fiver. Jackie gulps down the last of his rotgut, and smiles widely, playing the pubs hushed attention for all it was worth, then taking out his false teeth, he smartly bit his left eye.
You could have heard a pin drop on the wooden saw dusted floor of the place , it was now so quiet, then a murmuring started as everyone pushed forward a bit, knowing what would be happening next to the cunning sailor calling himself Jackie.
As For Jackie, he continued to smile as he adjusted his false teeth ( ivory) and then nonchalantly pulled a plug of tobacco from his pocket and biting off a wad, started to chew as he looked Brute dead in the eye. The piles of notes lay on the counter, untouched, seemingly unnoticed by either of the two , Brute or Jackie.
Brute finally broke the long silence, moving towards Jackie, his meaty fists griping the bar, as if he were trying to hold them back from strangling the living daylights out of the thin sailor looking all for the world like a cat that had gotten the canary.
Brutes words came, snarling from his lips, as he said in no uncertain terms. Yur crackers Laddie, and youns have just earned a one way ticket out of my pub, and if your lucky, only a few of your bones will be broken when you land! … as he spoked his right hand detached itself from the mahogany bar, and grabbed the sailor by his blouse, with the intention of lifting Jackie up and tossing him physically from the premises!
Jackie, totally unruffled by Brutes actions, laid a hand upon the Publicans wrist, and tsk’d Brute, who in surprise at the unperturbed demeanour of Jackie, actually let go of the sailors blouse and allowed his hand to be gently taken aside and placed upon the bar.
I know Jackie said complacently , as he chewed his tobacco, That was not a nice thing atoll for me to do, seeing how it is my honour to be here in your fine establishment, and me playing tricks on ye, not a nice ting atoll for a patron to do. Jackie smiled winningly up at the still bristling Brute. Tell ya what my fine friend, do you have a half- penny on you perchance?
Brute could not believe his ears, he was totally flabbergasted at this sailors actions, but still slightly more than mite curious, like the fabled lion listening to the mouse pleading his case, wondering why this git just did not seem to understand just whom he was toying with.
Finally Brute just said , yeah numbskull, why?
The whole bar was now absolutely focused on the goings on between Brute and the sailor Jackie, never before had anyone taunted the bartender with such nerve and still was be able to stand upright…
Jack just grinned for a few seconds before speaking. I truly do feel bad for playing me little jokes on you, its just me personality understand, and I am unable to control it after a few pints of the houses best you my dear most gracious sir…? . Brute started to say something, but Jackie cut in with, hear me out kind sir, and ye may find it worth your while for putting up with ol Jackie this evening!
Jackie picked up his empty shot glass, looking at it as he spoke. See this shot glass dear, most reasonable, sir, if you would,take it to the far end of your rather pretty polished bar and hold it up like you were cheering me.
I will bet your half penny against this pile of notes laying on your bar, that I can spit out this entire bit of tobacco I am chewing, and every bit of it will land dead centre inside that shot glass… If so much as a drop of it lands anywhere else, you then win the whole pot, every last pence….
Brute thought for a very long minute, trying to see all the angles, and finding none that could lose him the pot. In his mind he reasoned, how could anyone accomplish such a feat, especially a cocky drunken sailor with more mouth than sense?
Ta, your on lad he snarled, but I hold the money until after your bet. Agreed Jackie said, and pushed the notes up against the shot glass. Brute picked up both the glass and notes, walked to the far end of the bar, about 3 meters, and held the glass up against his spotless white apron.
The entire bar was still in a hush, and actually had become quite crowded now as word had spread across to some of the other drinking establishments, whose curious patrons had come over to witness the goings on…most hoping to be entertained with watching a rather thorough beating of a certain thin sailor..!
Jackie just grinned, ready he said, and taking a mouthful of air, spit out the wad of wet brown gooey tobacco. The unsavoury mess flew across the bar, hitting Brutus, the bar, the walls…everywhere but inside the shot glass.
Realizing that he had won the bet, Brute pocketed the notes, and started laughing, as he wiped the brown slime off himself, his apron, and the surface of his bar . The entire bar nervously erupted into laughter, poking themselves, and pointing towards the witless sailor and his odd games which had cost Jackie some fifty pounds!
Brute finished his cleaning, and still chuckling . looked over at Jackie, who was still sitting there, still smiling like had had not a care in the world. Puzzled Brute moved back to the sailor, and addressed him rather curtly.
Se here mate, what is it with you, your antics here have cost you a pretty penny, yet you sit there grinning like the whole world is your oyster.. what of it , are you just looney or daft , or both!?
Jackie just smiled, rising from his seat he looked up at the bar tender. Hopefully neither my most kind sir, hopefully neither!
Its like this, see that table back there, and he nodded towards the table that Jackie had left before approaching the bar. The tart had a silly grin on her face, but the three gentlemen sitting there were not smiling atoll, just wearing unbelieving frowns upon their hard mugs.
Brute looked back to Jackie, yeah I see them, what of it!?
Well me lad, and Jackie moved just a little further away, its like this… Those gentleman back there bet me a thousand pounds against me coming up here and spitting tobacco juice over yourself and fine bar, and have you clean the mess up yourself, laughing all the while… which is exactly what you just did…
Brute just stared at the smirking sailor, realizing that he had been played for a fool after all. Jackie was now out of reach, and so Brute just snarled at the impish sailor…
Pick up your winnings mate, and hightail your miserable carcass outta of here…. If I ever so much as see your shadow at me door, I will not be held responsible for my actions, he promised in no uncertain terms.
Jackie bowed with obeisance to the Bartender, then turns and walks up to the table.
Reaching it he winks at the girl, leans over the 3 gentlemen. Sorry chaps you heard the keep, I must sadly be one my way. From the table his picks up the pile of notes the gentlemen lost in the bet. Jackie moves off as the men start to protest, ignoring them, and smiling winningly at the lady in the red dress, who smiles back.
Jackie weaves his way through the still chattering crowd, ignoring them. And without looking back, leaves the Wailing Sireen.
Jackie quickly turns a corner and finally looks back. Once he is certain that no one follows, he darts down a side alleyway. After a series of turns up, down and doubling back more alleyways and darkened back paths he crosses a street and approaches another pub.
But instead of going inside, Jackie lights a small black irish pipe and waits a few minutes to get it going, casually looking around.
Then, turning on his heels, he makes his way to the back side of the pub and heads up a staircase leading to a small row of apartments for let. Going to one he raps a signal on the door with his knuckles. A matching rap is heard from inside, and Jack answers with a another signal. The door is unlocked . Turning the knob slowly, Jackie opens the door with caution, then, with a final look around, steps inside.
There were two of occupants in the room, standing on either side of a bed. The very couple that Jack had greeted at the doorway of the Wailing Sireen.
The chap in the hound’s-tooth suit had pulled from inside the sleeve of his umbrella a ling thin deadly sharp rapier, and was pointing it nastily towards the door, held up level with Jacks chest. The attractive lady in the violet gown was holding a diminutive 2 shot derringer , cocked, she had pulled from neath her left satin glove, it too was pointing at Jacks chest.
Ello put away yur ”greeters” mates, its only meself coming to visit ya after placing life and limb in peril .
I don’t know about your life being in peril luv, the lady in purple sneers pleasantly ,but I would’avetaken bets against your breaking a few limbs byth eway you were teasing the guv’ner who owns that bar. But should have known you would squeak it through, you put up a good job of it!
The man in tweed smiles, yes mate, you did the talk pretty well, as usual, and played it to your advantage… Our advantage mate, as it always is…
Speaking of advantage, how did we do? Jackie asked curiously, we had a good crowd this evening, he added.
They both smile as they put away their weapons.
Then both grasped the top sheet on the bed and wicked it off. Exposing a rather impressive collection of assorted wallets small pouches of coin,b oth gold and silver pocket watches, diamond pins, 3 necklaces, a handful of shimmering rings and a number of glittering ladies bracelets. Picked it clean while everyone was watching your antics, said Erebus, the man in the hound’s-tooth suit
Including this, said Teddi, the lady in violet, as she delved her hand inside her gowns satin sash, extracting and showing off a rather dazzling diamond and emerald bracelet. Jackie smiled, hoped you had spotted that one, blondes should know better than to wear emeralds, horrible choice with fair skin. They all were grinned widely at his point.
So, Erebus asked, how did you do with that group of the casino winners?
Parted them from a thousand of their winnings, less what I had used as to bait the bartender, Jackie said proudly. Always nice to end things a stay with a bang!
Erebus pulled up a heavy satchel from neath the bed, and opened it, more pretty things glittered from inside, along with assorted items that matched those laying on the bed.
It was their collective haul from the 3 nights they had been in town so far. Teddi came around and helped Erebus start to place the items on the bed inside the satchel.
Jackie stole a look outside, making sure the way was clear. Stepping back in he said Ok now lets finish packing it up and split ways. The train is leaving in an hour. Meet at the trains pub car for a drink at midnight Jack said, 3 strangers on a train! That is what we be
Jackie smiled, and at the next town we will divvy up this lot, and see about adding to it. They all nodded in eager agreement.
As Jackie continued to keep an eye outside the door, Erebus and Teddi began to quickly pack up operations.
Fini
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Thanks to one of my main protagonists, Eileen, who told the joke that made the gist of this story. She winningly carried out the tale one rather blustery night, inside by a cheery fire at the Poet and Peasant Pub, our own dockside hangout.
Thanks to CybeleMoon, Teddi Beres and Erebus Darkfold for the graciously allowing me the privilege to use their names to add a bit of their unique colour to my tale.
This 17-meter-wide fantasy landscape, painted on canvas and mounted on the dining room wall at Plas Newydd (a Welsh manor house), was completed in 1937 by Rex Whistler (not the Whistler of Whistler's Mother fame). It is the longest painting on canvas in Britain.
Whistler was a popular guest at many country houses where he created a number of murals, which were in vogue in the inter-war years. During the Second World War he served as a Lieutenant in the Welsh Guards and was sent to Normandy after the D-Day landings. He was killed there in Caen on his first day of action.
This mural had great significance in his life as it included a number of symbolic references to his unrequited love for the daughter of the owners of the estate. For example, the two intertwined trees on the right symbolize a love relationship, but one is shown to be dying.
The mural also depicts many of the favorite vacation spots of the family including a Brighton hotel front in the row of buildings on the left.
The side walls include some incredible trompe l'oeil and there are a few tricks of perspective such as the wet footprints just visible in the center of the mural that are always coming toward you no matter where you stand in the room.
I took 3 separate images with no intention of creating a pano since there were too many people milling around to allow a proper alignment of my shots. But as a hoot, I let Lightroom do it's pano work on the 3 shots and it came out remarkably well, I think.
I was in a "Networking" mission in Tartous then when finished my work
@ 4:30 PM I had the chance of meeting my flickr friend Madian then Ali from this
gorgeous city !!!
this day was really beautiful so I thank my Tartousian friends and dedicate them
this image...
About the place:"Temple of Amrit"
Dating back to the Phoenicians, this site is the remains of the city of Marathus. Marathus was probably founded by the Arvadians, the rulers of the nearby island of Arwad in the 3rd millennium BC. It flourished economically as a mainland religious center and a trading city.
Most of the remaining buildings date back to Persian rule in the 6th century BC, although it is evident that there is Mesopotamian and Egyptian influence in the architecture. It was captured by Alexander the Great in 333BC, and the main religious temple which was dedicated to the God of Melqart, was assimilated to the God Hercules. Around this temple is an artificial lake and a spring which was said to have healing powers.
It lost its importance in the 2nd century AD, under the Romans, who preferred Antaradus (Tartous). Tartous on the Mediterranean had better access to large ships.
Also found on this site is a stadium on the other side of the Amrit river (Nahr al Amrit) which dates back to the Hellenistic period. A necropolis which has two towers, which are named by the locals as Maghazel (spindles). Both towers are cylindrical and one is 7 meters high while the other is 4 meters. The first has uncompleted sculptures of lions on the base, which reflects the Persians. Further away is another funeral monument called Burj al Bezzaq (tower of the snail). It is a cube topped by a cornice, which used to end with a pyramid.
EXPLOREd @#1 WOWWW !!! thanx !!! :-)))