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La Pirogue Hawaïnne est une embarcation traditionnelle d'origine Polynésienne dont l'équilibre était assuré par un balancier unique. Sans cette pirogue, les Îles du Pacifique ne seraient pas peuplées comme nous les connaissons aujourd'hui.
Cette pirogue a traversé le temps et de nouveaux océans. On peut la trouver aujourd'hui dans des pays comme le Brésil, l'Angleterre ou encore la Russie. Elle est présente en France depuis une dizaine d'années dont une se trouve avec 2 balanciers sur le Lac d'Azur dans les Landes. ( copie en partie du texte de l'affichette du Lac d'Azur)
FACT.
ALL atheistic, natural origin of the universe scenarios are false. The conclusive proof is presented here.
The proof is categorised as follows:
1. Contingent
2. Temporal
3. Temporary
The fact that EVERY natural entity or event is all three
(contingent, temporal and temporary) definitively rules out a natural entity as the origin or first cause of the universe.
The universe cannot possibly be the result of purely natural processes as atheism requires.
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Contingent.
All, natural entities/events are contingent.
They all require causes, and the scope, extent and potential of their properties/abilities relies entirely on their cause/s.
Their effects/properties are limited to the adequacy of their cause/s. They cannot exceed, in any respect, the abilities or properties of that which causes them.
This is supported by the Law of Cause and Effect.
'Every natural effect requires a cause' AND ‘An effect cannot be greater than its cause/s’.
A first cause of everything cannot be contingent, it must be entirely autonomous and non-contingent. Not reliant on, nor limited by, any preceding cause or causes. It cannot be inferior, in any respect, to anything else that ultimately exists (entirely self-sufficient & self-reliant).
Therefore, the first cause of everything cannot be a natural entity or event. This rules out every, proposed, natural origin of the universe scenario as a possible, first cause.
Logically, by virtue of the first cause being FIRST, it had to be uncaused (non-contingent). If it was caused it couldn't be FIRST, as it would be preceded by another cause..
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Temporal.
All, natural entities/events are temporal. They all have a beginning within a physical, time frame. They all begin to exist at some point in time. That which is temporal requires a cause. Therefore, a first cause of everything cannot be a natural entity of event.
A first cause of everything cannot be temporal, it cannot have had a beginning and cannot be subject to time. If any proposed, first cause began to exist at some time in the past, it would have required a preceding cause for its own existence, and therefore could not be the 'FIRST' cause. This rules out all natural scenarios, such as as a Big Bang explosion or a singularity, as possible, first causes. They are all temporal, and that is a fact.
The first cause has to be eternally and infinitely, self-existent, not temporal.
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Temporary.
All, natural entities/events are temporary.
As well as having a beginning within a physical time frame, they also face an eventual demise at some point in time.
This is enshrined in the Second Law of Thermodynamics, or more specifically, the law of entropy.
All, natural things deteriorate, and will ultimately come to an end.
Therefore, the first cause of everything cannot be a natural, entity or event. That is a fact.
The first cause of everything cannot be temporary, it cannot be subject to entropy and deterioration through the passage of time, because its powers and potential would have diminished and ultimately ceased to exist at some point in an eternal past. It could not have survived, or have had the sustained power, to be the first cause.
And an infinitely, long chain of natural causes and effects is impossible. Because, as each cause in the chain is subject to entropy, the chain as a whole would also be subject to entropy, thus deteriorating and diminishing in potential, over time.
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Conclusion:
Logic, supported by science, reveals that the first cause of everything cannot possibly be a natural entity or event. Therefore, ALL atheistic, natural origin of the universe scenarios are patently false. That is a fact.
The first cause of everything HAD to be a supernatural entity (a Creator God). There is no other logical or credible option.
The Biblical claim; the fool hath said in his heart “there is no God” (Psalm 14:1) is wholly justified and true.
Only a fool would attempt to claim otherwise.
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The implications of the Law of Cause and Effect clarified.
Consider this short chain of causes and effects:
A causes B, - B causes C, - C causes D, - D causes E.
'A, B, C & D' are all causes and may all look similar, but they are not, there is an enormous and crucial difference between them.
Causes B, C & D are fundamentally different from cause A.
Why?
Because A is the very first cause and thus had no previous cause. It exists without a cause. It doesn’t rely on anything else for its existence, it is completely independent of causes - while B, C, D & E would not exist without A. They are entirely dependent on A.
Causes; B, C & D are also effects, whereas A is not an effect, only a cause.
So we can say that the first cause ‘A’ is both self-existent and necessary. It is necessary because the rest of the chain of causes and effects could not exist without it. We also have to say that the subsequent causes and effects B, C, D and E are all contingent. That is; they are not self-existent they all depend entirely on other causes to exist.
We can also say that A is eternally self-existent, i.e. it has always existed, it had no beginning. Why? Because if A came into being at some point, there must have been something other than itself that brought it into being … which would mean A was not the first cause (A could not create A) … the something that brought A into being would be the first cause. In which case, A would be contingent and no different from B, C, D & E.
We can also say that A is adequate to produce all the properties of B, C, D & E.
Why?
Well in the case of E we can see that it relies entirely on D for its existence, E can in no way be superior to D because D had to contain within it everything necessary to produce E. The same applies to D it cannot be superior to C, but furthermore neither E or D can be superior to C, because both rely on C for their existence, and C had to contain everything necessary to produce D & E.
Likewise with B, which is responsible for the existence of C, D & E.
As they all depend on A for their existence and all their properties, abilities and potentials, none can be superior to A whether singly or combined. A had to contain everything necessary to produce B, C, D & E including all their properties, abilities and potentials.
Thus we deduce that; nothing in the universe can be superior in any way to the very first cause of the universe, because the whole universe, and all material things that exist, depend entirely on the abilities and properties of the first cause to produce them.
So to sum up … a first cause must be uncaused, must have always existed, without any deterioration, and cannot be in any way inferior to all subsequent causes and effects. In other words, the first cause of the universe must be eternally, self-sufficient, self-existent and omnipotent (greater than everything that exists).
It must be non-contingent, non-temporal and non-temporary. No natural entity can have those attributes, that is why a Supernatural, Creator God MUST exist.
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Polytheism? Why only one God?
What about polytheism, can there be more than one God or Creator.
It is obvious there can only be one, supernatural, first cause.
The first cause is infinite - and logically, there cannot be more than one infinite entity.
If there were two infinite entities, for example, A and B. The qualities and perfections that are the property of B would be a limitation on the qualities and perfections of A. and vice versa, so neither would be infinite.
If A & B had identical qualities and perfections they would not be two different entities, they would be identical and therefore the same entity, i.e. a single, infinite, first cause. So there can be only one infinite being or entity, only one supernatural, first cause and creator of the universe.
So when atheists keep repeating the claim - that there is no reason to believe the monotheistic, Christian God is any different from the multiple, gods of pagan religions, it simply displays their ignorance and lack of reasoning.
For this reason the Christian Trinity is not 3 gods, but rather 3 aspects or facets of the same, single God:
"I am in the Father and the Father is in me" John:14-20
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Supernaturalism, naturalism or magic?
Does the first cause of everything have to be a supernatural one? Or is this idea (as atheists claim) just a desperate attempt by ignorant people to fill a gap in scientific knowledge, by saying - God did it?
What does 'supernatural' mean? It means something outside of nature. Something which cannot be explained by science or by natural processes.
The origin of the Universe must be a supernatural event.
The origin of the universe cannot be explained by genuine science, natural laws or by natural processes. And that is an undeniable FACT.
Why?
Because EVERY possible explanation by natural processes (naturalism) violates both the fundamental principle of the scientific method - the Law of Cause and Effect - and other natural laws.
Hence, the first cause, by virtue of the fact that it cannot be explained by science or natural processes, automatically qualifies as a supernatural entity/event (supernaturalism).
To insist that the first cause must be a natural entity or event is to invoke a magical explanation, not a scientific one. The only choice, therefore is between a supernatural first cause or a magical one? A natural event that is purported to defy natural laws and scientific principles can only be described as MAGIC. And that is exactly what atheists propose. They cynically dress up their belief - that nature can evade natural laws - as science, but genuine science certainly cannot contemplate a causeless, natural event or entity, genuine scientists do not look for non-causes.
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Is atheist naturalism science or just paganism naturalism re-invented?
No one has ever proposed a natural explanation for the origin of the universe that does not violate the law of cause and effect and other natural laws. But, whenever atheists are challenged about this fact, they always make the excuse that the laws of nature/physics somehow DID NOT APPLY to their proposed, natural origin scenario.
The most, well known case of this excuse is the alleged 'Singularity' which, it has been claimed, preceded the Big Bang. Remember, it is claimed to be a "one-off event where the laws of physics did not apply." A natural event that defied natural laws! - That used to be called 'magic', before atheist, so-called 'scientists' hi-jacked science with their religion of naturalism - the worship of an All Powerful, autonomous, Mother Nature.
Excuses aren't science. A natural event that violates natural laws is by definition, not possible. There are no ifs, buts or maybes, natural things are bound by natural laws, without question.
Natural laws describe the inherent properties of natural entities and how they react according to those properties. They cannot exceed, in any way, the scope of behaviour dictated and limited by their properties. The whole basis of science is that every natural entity/event is contingent - has to have an ADEQUATE CAUSE.
The idea of 'laws not applying' to a natural event, is not science. It is just fantasy.
The Law of Cause and Effect is more than just an ordinary law, it is an overriding, fundamental principle of existence, not just a property of matter/energy like the Law of Gravity. It has been called the law of laws, because it applies to everything temporal; i.e. everything which begins to exist. Which means it applies to everything, except the single, first cause of everything.
If the origin of the universe is inexplicable to science, within the accepted framework of normal, natural processes and natural laws, then it is a supernatural event.
You cannot claim something as a natural event that violates natural laws, (i.e. exceeds the scope of its potential based on its own intrinsic properties). For that reason it is inexplicable to science.
In fact. to claim that something natural can defy natural laws is anti-science.
Those who promote such nonsense are enemies of science.
ALL NATURAL explanations for the origin of the universe violate the Law of Cause and Effect and other natural laws.
Conclusion: the atheist belief in a natural explanation for the origin of the universe (i.e. that Mother Nature did it) is impossible - according to science.
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Did natural laws exist at the beginning?
An argument, often used by atheists, that we don’t know what natural laws existed at the beginning of the universe is a desperate attempt to evade the fact that natural laws are fatal to a natural origin (or natural, first cause) of the universe.
It is a nonsensical argument because, as I have already stated, natural laws describe the operation/behaviour of natural entities, according to their inherent properties, those properties don’t change.
The Law of Cause and Effect is exceptional. Nothing can evade the law of cause and effect.
Even if we accept the bizarre possibility that some natural laws could have been different at (or prior to) the beginning of the universe, it is irrelevant to the Law of Cause and Effect. That law is an exception.
Why?
Because, as previously explained, the Law of Cause and Effect is in a different category from all other laws, which are based solely on the inherent properties of natural things.
It would be better described as an eternal truth and fundamental principle, rather than just a law.
It is a unique and overriding principle of existence, different from other physical laws which are just pertinent to, and properties of, natural entities. It has rightly been called the ‘law of laws’.
Science (which deals exclusively with natural things), quite rightly, accepts the principle of causality as a natural law, and the scientific method itself is dependent on it being true.
We know the Law of Cause and Effect cannot be different, or non-operational, under any circumstances. That is a fact, because it necessarily applies to ALL temporal things.
Unlike other laws, it is not based on any particular, physical properties of nature, it is based only on the temporal character of nature.
Natural things are all temporal and nothing that is temporal can ever escape from that overriding principle. That would also include any temporal, spiritual entities, such as angels or demons.
Everything with a temporal character, wherever and whenever it exists, is subject to the Law of Cause and Effect, . There cannot be any exception to this, and that is why we can rely 100% on the scientific method, which depends on seeking and exploring causes.
Everything that has a beginning is subject to the Law of Cause and Effect.
So, even if the argument that "we don't know what laws existed at the beginning of the universe" is correct, it cannot apply to the principle of causality.
The principle of causality had to exist at the beginning. It is an eternal principle and truth, which can never be different, under any circumstances.
FACT: To reiterate; if something is temporal, then it is subject to the Law of Cause and Effect.
So, it is not possible to propose a natural, origin scenario that can escape the Law of Cause and Effect. All natural entities and occurrences are temporal and, therefore, are all subject to cause and effect.
The only thing not subject to causality is the first cause, because the first cause is not temporal, it has to be non-contingent, that is - infinite and eternally self-existent.
The first cause is the ONLY exception to causality, nothing else can be an exception, everything else (including other supernatural entities, such as angels) is contingent and owes its existence to a cause, which ultimately originates with the uncaused, first cause (God).
Conclusion: A Creator God MUST exist. It is not sensible, and certainly not scientific, to deny that fact.
The poison in our midst - progressive politics.
www.flickr.com/photos/truth-in-science/47971464278/in/pho...
Dr James Tour - 'The Origin of Life' - Abiogenesis decisively refuted.
youtu.be/B1E4QMn2mxk
Esattamente cento anni fa, il 12 aprile del 1912, appena due giorni prima che il Titanic si presentasse all'appuntamento con il suo destino, in una povera casa di contadini a Sesto Imolese, nella bassa bolognese, ai confini con la provincia di Ravenna, vedeva la luce mio nonno paterno Andrea.
E' da un po' che pensavo di ricordarlo nel centenario della sua nascita, e ho pensato di farlo a modo mio, usando due foto che vengono dalle mie passioni fotografiche: Treni, architettura e abbandono.
Nelle immagini vediamo la Ex stazione ferroviaria di Sesto (come viene chiamato il paese dai suoi abitanti).
Da questa stazione mio bisnonno Cesare nel 1902 prese il treno per recarsi a fare il militare all'estero... a Bologna (!)
E probabilmente anche mio nonno prese il suo primo treno li...
Oggi la linea non c'è più (dal 1964) però si possono trovare ancora le stazioni e molti caselli.
Purtroppo a parte la stazione di Medicina le altre lungo il percorso sono in situazione di totale abbandono, anche se... "abitate"
Un ringraziamento particolare all'amico Franco Galletti che mi ha fatto scoprire queste meraviglie... dal momento che io, dopo esserci passato davanti decine di volte negli ultimi trent'anni, non mi ero mai accorto di nulla ;-)
Taken at CLT c. 2002 on an Olympus point & shoot 35mm
DHC-8-100/200
Details
Country of Origin
Canada
Type
Turboprop regional airliner
History
Bombardier's de Havilland Dash 8 has proven to be a popular player in the regional turboprop airliner market. De Havilland Canada began development of the Dash 8 in the late 1970s in response to what it saw as a considerable market demand for a new generation 30 to 40 seat commuter airliner. The first flight of the first of two preproduction aircraft was on June 20 1983, while Canadian certification was awarded on September 28 1984. The first customer delivery was to norOntair of Canada on October 23 1984. Like the Dash 7, the Dash 8 features a high mounted wing and Ttail, and has an advanced flight control system and large full length trailing edge flaps. Power meanwhile is supplied by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW120 series (originally designated PT7A) turboprops. Initial Dash 8 production was of the Series 100, which was followed by the Series 100A in 1990. The 100A introduced a revised interior with extra headroom and PW120A turboprops. The Series 100B was offered from 1992 with more powerful PW121s for better climb and airfield performance. Production since switched to the improved performance Dash 8-200. Announced in 1992 and delivered from April 1995 the -200 features more powerful PW123C engines which give a 56km/h (30kt) increase in cruising speed, as well as greater commonality with the stretched Dash 8300. The 200B derivative has PW123Bs for better hot and high performance. From the second quarter of 1996 all Dash 8s delivered have been fitted with a computer controlled noise and vibration suppression system (or NVS). To reflect this the designation was changed to Dash 8Q (Q for `quiet'). In 1998 that was changed again to Dash 8 Q200 when a new interior was introduced.
Powerplants
100 - Two 1490kW (2000shp) Pratt & Whitney Canada PW120A turboprops driving four blade constant speed Hamilton Standard propellers. 100B - Two 1605kW (2150shp) PW121As. 200 - Two 1605kW (2150shp) PW123Cs in 200A, or two PW123Ds in 200B.
Performance
100A - Max cruising speed 490km/h (265kt), long range cruising speed 440km/h (237kt). Initial rate of climb 1560ft/min. Range with full passenger load, fuel and reserves 1520km (820nm), range with a 2720kg (6000lb) payload 2040km (1100nm). 100B - Same except max cruising speed of 500km/h (270kt). 200A & 200B - Same except max cruising speed 546km/h (295kt). Initial rate of climb 1475ft/min. Range with 37 passengers 1795km (970nm).
Weights
100A - Operating empty 10,250kg (22,600lb), max takeoff 15,650kg (34,500lb). 100B - Operating empty 10,273kg (22,648lb), max takeoff 16,465kg (36,300lb). 200A & 200B - Operating empty 10,434kg (23,004lb), max takeoff 16,465kg (36,300lb).
Dimensions
Wing span 25.91m (85ft 0in), length 22.25m (73ft 0in), height 7.49m (24ft 7in). Wing area 54.4m2 (585.0sq ft).
Capacity
Flightcrew of two. Typical passenger seating for 37 at four abreast and 79cm (31in) pitch, max seating for 40.
Production
347 Dash 8-100s/-200s in service or on order at late 1998.
Source: www.airliners.net/aircraft-data/de-havilland-canada-dhc-8...
Rainbow
An individual raindrop has a different shape and consistency than a glass prism, but it affects light in a similar way. When white sunlight hits a collection of raindrops at a fairly low angle, you can see the component colors red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet -- a rainbow. For simplicity's sake, we'll only look at red and violet, the colors of light on the ends of the visible light spectrum.
The diagram below shows what happens when the sunlight hits one individual raindrop.
When the white light passes from air into the drop of water, the component colors of light slow down to different speeds depending on their frequency. The violet light bends at a relatively sharp angle when it enters the raindrop. At the right-hand side of the drop, some of the light passes back out into the air, and the rest is reflected backward. Some of the reflected light passes out of the left side of the drop, bending as it moves into the air again.
In this way, each individual raindrop disperses white sunlight into its component colors. So why do we see wide bands of color, as if different rainy areas were dispersing a different single color? Because we only see one color from each raindrop. You can see how this works in the diagram below.
When raindrop A disperses light, only the red light exits at the correct angle to travel to the observer's eyes. The other colored beams exit at a lower angle, so the observer doesn't see them. The sunlight will hit all the surrounding raindrops in the same way, so they will all bounce red light onto the observer.
Raindrop B is much lower in the sky, so it doesn't bounce red light to the observer. At its height, the violet light exits at the correct angle to travel to the observer's eye. All the drops surrounding raindrop B bounce light in the same way. The raindrops in between A and B all bounce different colors of light to the observer, so the observer sees the full color spectrum. If you were up above the rain, you would see the rainbow as a full circle, because the light would bounce back from all around you. On the ground, we see the arc of the rainbow that is visible above the horizon.
Sometimes you see a double rainbow -- a sharp rainbow with a fainter rainbow on top of it. The fainter rainbow is produced in the same way as the sharper rainbow, but instead of the light reflecting once inside the raindrop, it's reflected twice. As a result of this double reflection, the light exits the raindrop at a different angle, so we see it higher up. If you look carefully, you'll see that the colors in the second rainbow are in the reverse order of the primary rainbow.
Source: science.howstuffworks.com/nature/climate-weather/storms/r...
Her grandfather being framed by her heart-shaped sunglasses was entirely by accident and had nothing to do with design.
ORIGIN
Event Reborn Waifu – Shark Set
• Outfit (Female)
• Chibi / Plush / Animesh-ready
• PBR – Fluffy Textures
太古時代，在叫 sbkan的地方有一大石頭，有一天石頭裂成兩半，從中生出一男一女，此即人類的始祖。這兩人結為夫妻，逐漸繁衍子孫。留住此地者，即今之’tayal 族。據傳：在太古混沌時有一座Pinsbkan（裂開之意）的聖石，有一天巨石裂開。從裡面走出兩男一女來，其中 一男認為來到這個世界真無趣，沒意義，而又走回巨石中，而另一對男女則認為來到這個世界是多美好的一件事啊！而留在地球上生活，這兩位就是泰雅賽考列克族的祖先。後來族人人口逐漸增多，頭目就在Sebayan（分開之意）台地的石頭上，宣布開始泰雅賽考列克族的大遷移。從臺中(梨山)、苗栗、新竹(尖石五峰)、桃園(復興巴陵)、宜蘭(南澳)、臺北(福山，烏來)等建立新部落，雖然歷經數百年之遷移，這些遷移分離出去的部落的許多長老及老人，都知道他們來自Pinsbkan這個地方。
Origins: Low Fell’s Transformation and the Need for a New Parish.
During the early 19th century, Low Fell was a small semi‑rural village on the southern edge of Gateshead, its economy centred on coal mining. The turning point came with the opening of the Gateshead–Durham Turnpike in 1827, which made the hillside district attractive to merchants and industrialists seeking cleaner air and larger homes. As villas multiplied along Durham Road and Belle Vue Bank, the population surged.
Until the 1870s, residents faced a steep climb to attend services at St John’s Church on Sheriff Hill. The Church of England responded by creating a new parish — St Helen’s, formed from parts of St Mary’s, St John’s, and St Cuthbert’s — to serve the growing community.
The entire cost of building St Helen’s — £13,000, a substantial sum in 1876 — was paid by Edward Joicey, colliery owner and partner in Joicey & Co. of Whinney House on Durham Road. Joicey also endowed the living with an annual value of £300. His philanthropy shaped both the church and the surrounding landscape: he even built a private bridge over Whinney Dene to shorten the walk for his workers, a structure later demolished in 1940 during a military training exercise.
A brass memorial plate inside the church commemorates Joicey’s gift.
St Helen’s was designed by John Wardle, a prominent architect of the period. The church was consecrated on 29 August 1876, marking the formal establishment of the new parish.
Architecturally, Wardle adopted the Early English Gothic style, popular in Victorian ecclesiastical design. The building is constructed of coursed, rock‑faced stone with ashlar dressings and a graduated Lakeland slate roof. Its plan is cruciform, with:
A short apsidal chancel
Large north and south transepts
A south‑west tower with a stone broach spire
A north‑west porch balancing the composition
These features give St Helen’s a commanding presence on Belle Vue Bank.
Interior: Timber Roofs, Stone Carving, and the Joicey Door
The interior is notable for its snecked stone walls, ashlar detailing, and a wide, lofty nave with an arch‑braced timber roof supported by carved corbels. The transepts open into the nave through tall pointed arches, while the chancel arch is richly moulded and rests on ornate shafted corbels.
A distinctive feature is the “Joicey Door” — a porched entrance in the north transept named after the church’s benefactor.
The reredos, installed in 1884 in memory of Edward Joicey, is made of alabaster and Caen stone, depicting the Good Shepherd in three trefoil‑headed panels. The chancel also contains a low arcade of Caen stone with Frosterley marble shafts, a hallmark of high‑quality Victorian church craftsmanship.
Stained Glass: Burne‑Jones, Morris & Co., Kempe, Baguley
St Helen’s houses some of the finest stained glass in the North East:
Chancel: Five lancets in the style of Morris & Co., depicting miracles including the Transfiguration and Sermon on the Mount.
North & South transepts: Windows showing evangelists and prophets, possibly by C. E. Kempe.
Nave (north side): Designs by Edward Burne‑Jones, one of the most celebrated Pre‑Raphaelite artists.
South transept: A window signed G. J. Baguley of Newcastle, dated 1902.
These windows make St Helen’s a significant repository of Victorian stained‑glass art.
In 1987, the south transept was converted into a Lady Chapel, with seating rearranged to suit modern liturgical use.
Despite these changes, the church remains “very much in its original form,” preserving its Victorian character.
St Helen’s was designated a Grade II* listed building on 13 January 1983, recognising its architectural and historic importance. The listing highlights its Early English design, high‑quality materials, and exceptional stained glass.
St Helen’s Church stands today as one of Gateshead’s finest Victorian churches — a monument to the industrial prosperity of Low Fell, the generosity of Edward Joicey, and the craftsmanship of 19th‑century architects and artists. Its commanding Gothic form, rich interior, and remarkable stained glass make it not only a place of worship but a cultural landmark of the North East.
Just another morning on the Space Coast of Florida as Blue Origin launched the BlueBird Block 2 FM2 satellite for AST SpaceMobile.
Lauren accompanied me to Jetty Park Beach for the launch, and we ran into good friends there, along with a zillion other people. The launch window opened at 6:45am (April 19, 2026), a very pretty time to launch a rocket, and the sunrise did not disappoint.
It would eventually launch at 7:25am against a much less vibrant sky, but it was still an incredible scene.
This was my first time setting up cameras at the Cape Canaveral Lighthouse. First built in 1868, this lighthouse has seen its share of things, including this morning's third New Glenn launch and the first reflight of a New Glenn booster, which was (again) successfully recovered, presumably to be flown a third time.
One production note: I havenât set up remote cameras in quite some time, so I was a little rusty, particularly regarding dew mitigation. All four cameras I set fired. But for one camera, I flat-out forgot the lens heater strap, and I ended up with a murky mess of a shot. And the black-and-white wide shot of the lighthouse was a last-minute addition, and I didnât have an extra hand warmer, so I decided to go commando. There must have been just a little moisture on the lens, which gave it a sort of moody, soft-focus look. I went with the somewhat pretentious monochrome finish to compensate for the lost detail, and I figure it works because that lighthouse is over 155 years old, built back when most photos were monochrome.
Although much went right for Blue Origin today, shortly after launch, AST announced that the satellite didn't reach its target orbit altitude and would need to be deorbited. It sounds like the issue is with the second stage, and I'm sure the engineers are working hard to figure out what went wrong.
As surgeon and author Atul Gawande once observed, "In medicine and in engineering, you can do a thousand things correctly and still be undone by the one you didn't." Today felt like that. The booster flew flawlessly, the recovery was picture-perfect, and somewhere in the final miles of a bazillion-mile journey, something didn't go as planned.
Rochester is a town and historic city in the unitary authority of Medway in Kent, England. It is situated at the lowest bridging point of the River Medway about 30 miles (50 km) from London.
Rochester was for many years a favourite of Charles Dickens, who owned nearby Gads Hill Place, Higham,[1] basing many of his novels on the area. The Diocese of Rochester, the second oldest in England, is based at Rochester Cathedral and was responsible for the founding of a school, now The King's School in 604 AD,[2] which is recognised as being the second oldest continuously running school in the world. Rochester Castle, built by Bishop Gundulf of Rochester, has one of the best preserved keepsin either England or France, and during the First Barons' War (1215–1217) in King John's reign, baronial forces captured the castle from Archbishop Stephen Langton and held it against the king, who then besieged it.[3]
Neighbouring Chatham, Gillingham, Strood and a number of outlying villages, together with Rochester, nowadays make up the MedwayUnitary Authority area. It was, until 1998,[4]under the control of Kent County Council and is still part of the ceremonial county of Kent, under the latest Lieutenancies Act.[5]
Toponymy[edit]
The Romano-British name for Rochester was Durobrivae, later Durobrivis c. 730 and Dorobrevis in 844. The two commonly cited origins of this name are that it either came from "stronghold by the bridge(s)",[6] or is the latinisation of the British word Dourbruf meaning "swiftstream".[7]Durobrivis was pronounced 'Robrivis. Bede copied down this name, c. 730, mistaking its meaning as Hrofi's fortified camp (OE Hrofes cæster). From this we get c. 730 Hrofæscæstre, 811 Hrofescester, 1086 Rovescester, 1610 Rochester.[6] The Latinised adjective 'Roffensis' refers to Rochester.[7]
Neolithic remains have been found in the vicinity of Rochester; over time it has been variously occupied by Celts, Romans, Jutes and/or Saxons. During the Celtic period it was one of the two administrative centres of the Cantiaci tribe. During the Roman conquest of Britain a decisive battle was fought at the Medway somewhere near Rochester. The first bridge was subsequently constructed early in the Roman period. During the later Roman period the settlement was walled in stone. King Ethelbert of Kent(560–616) established a legal system which has been preserved in the 12th century Textus Roffensis. In AD 604 the bishopric and cathedral were founded. During this period, from the recall of the legions until the Norman conquest, Rochester was sacked at least twice and besieged on another occasion.
The medieval period saw the building of the current cathedral (1080–1130, 1227 and 1343), the building of two castles and the establishment of a significant town. Rochester Castle saw action in the sieges of 1215 and 1264. Its basic street plan was set out, constrained by the river, Watling Street, Rochester Priory and the castle.
Rochester has produced two martyrs: St John Fisher, executed by Henry VIII for refusing to sanction the divorce of Catherine of Aragon; and Bishop Nicholas Ridley, executed by Queen Mary for being an English Reformation protestant.
The city was raided by the Dutch as part of the Second Anglo-Dutch War. The Dutch, commanded by Admiral de Ruijter, broke through the chain at Upnor[8] and sailed to Rochester Bridge capturing part of the English fleet and burning it.[9]
The ancient City of Rochester merged with the Borough of Chatham and part of the Strood Rural District in 1974 to form the Borough of Medway. It was later renamed Rochester-upon-Medway, and its City status transferred to the entire borough. In 1998 another merger with the rest of the Medway Towns created the Medway Unitary Authority. The outgoing council neglected to appoint ceremonial "Charter Trustees" to continue to represent the historic Rochester area, causing Rochester to lose its City status – an error not even noticed by council officers for four years, until 2002.[10][11]
Military History
Rochester has for centuries been of great strategic importance through its position near the confluence of the Thames and the Medway. Rochester Castle was built to guard the river crossing, and the Royal Dockyard's establishment at Chatham witnessed the beginning of the Royal Navy's long period of supremacy. The town, as part of Medway, is surrounded by two circles of fortresses; the inner line built during the Napoleonic warsconsists of Fort Clarence, Fort Pitt, Fort Amherst and Fort Gillingham. The outer line of Palmerston Forts was built during the 1860s in light of the report by the Royal Commission on the Defence of the United Kingdomand consists of Fort Borstal, Fort Bridgewood, Fort Luton, and the Twydall Redoubts, with two additional forts on islands in the Medway, namely Fort Hoo and Fort Darnet.
During the First World War the Short Brothers' aircraft manufacturing company developed the first plane to launch a torpedo, the Short Admiralty Type 184, at its seaplane factory on the River Medway not far from Rochester Castle. In the intervening period between the 20th century World Wars the company established a world-wide reputation as a constructor of flying boats with aircraft such as the Singapore, Empire 'C'-Class and Sunderland. During the Second World War, Shorts also designed and manufactured the first four-engined bomber, the Stirling.
The UK's decline in naval power and shipbuilding competitiveness led to the government decommissioning the RN Shipyard at Chatham in 1984, which led to the subsequent demise of much local maritime industry. Rochester and its neighbouring communities were hit hard by this and have experienced a painful adjustment to a post-industrial economy, with much social deprivation and unemployment resulting. On the closure of Chatham Dockyard the area experienced an unprecedented surge in unemployment to 24%; this had dropped to 2.4% of the local population by 2014.[12]
Former City of Rochester[edit]
Rochester was recognised as a City from 1211 to 1998. The City of Rochester's ancient status was unique, as it had no formal council or Charter Trustees nor a Mayor, instead having the office of Admiral of the River Medway, whose incumbent acted as de facto civic leader.[13] On 1 April 1974, the City Council was abolished under the Local Government Act 1972, and the territory was merged with the District of Medway, Borough of Chatham and most of Strood Rural District to form a new a local government district called the Borough of Medway, within the county of Kent. Medway Borough Council applied to inherit Rochester's city status, but this was refused; instead letters patent were granted constituting the area of the former Rochester local government district to be the City of Rochester, to "perpetuate the ancient name" and to recall "the long history and proud heritage of the said City".[14] The Home Officesaid that the city status may be extended to the entire borough if it had "Rochester" in its name, so in 1979, Medway Borough Council renamed the borough to Borough of Rochester-upon-Medway, and in 1982, Rochester's city status was transferred to the entire borough by letters patent, with the district being called the City of Rochester-upon-Medway.[13]
On 1 April 1998, the existing local government districts of Rochester-upon-Medway and Gillingham were abolished and became the new unitary authority of Medway. The Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions informed the city council that since it was the local government district that officially held City status under the 1982 Letters Patent, the council would need to appoint charter trustees to preserve its city status, but the outgoing Labour-run council decided not to appoint charter trustees, so the city status was lost when Rochester-upon-Medway was abolished as a local government district.[15][16][17] The other local government districts with City status that were abolished around this time, Bath and Hereford, decided to appoint Charter Trustees to maintain the existence of their own cities and the mayoralties. The incoming Medway Council apparently only became aware of this when, in 2002, it was advised that Rochester was not on the Lord Chancellor's Office's list of cities.[18][19]
In 2010, Medway Council started to refer to the "City of Medway" in promotional material, but it was rebuked and instructed not to do so in future by the Advertising Standards Authority.[20]
Governance[edit]
Civic history and traditions[edit]
Rochester and its neighbours, Chatham and Gillingham, form a single large urban area known as the Medway Towns with a population of about 250,000. Since Norman times Rochester had always governed land on the other side of the Medway in Strood, which was known as Strood Intra; before 1835 it was about 100 yards (91 m) wide and stretched to Gun Lane. In the 1835 Municipal Corporations Act the boundaries were extended to include more of Strood and Frindsbury, and part of Chatham known as Chatham Intra. In 1974, Rochester City Council was abolished and superseded by Medway Borough Council, which also included the parishes of Cuxton, Halling and Cliffe, and the Hoo Peninsula. In 1979 the borough became Rochester-upon-Medway. The Admiral of the River Medway was ex-officio Mayor of Rochester and this dignity transferred to the Mayor of Medway when that unitary authority was created, along with the Admiralty Court for the River which constitutes a committee of the Council.[21]
Like many of the mediaeval towns of England, Rochester had civic Freemen whose historic duties and rights were abolished by the Municipal Corporations Act 1835. However, the Guild of Free Fishers and Dredgers continues to the present day and retains rights, duties and responsibilities on the Medway, between Sheerness and Hawkwood Stone.[22] This ancient corporate body convenes at the Admiralty Court whose Jury of Freemen is responsible for the conservancy of the River as enshrined in current legislation. The City Freedom can be obtained by residents after serving a period of "servitude", i.e. apprenticeship (traditionally seven years), before admission as a Freeman. The annual ceremonial Beating of the Boundsby the River Medway takes place after the Admiralty Court, usually on the first Saturday of July.
Rochester first obtained City status in 1211, but this was lost due to an administrative oversight when Rochester was absorbed by the Medway Unitary Authority.[10] Subsequently, the Medway Unitary Authority has applied for City status for Medway as a whole, rather than merely for Rochester. Medway applied unsuccessfully for City status in 2000 and 2002 and again in the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Year of 2012.[23] Any future bid to regain formal City status has been recommended to be made under the aegis of Rochester-upon-Medway.
Ecclesiastical parishes[edit]
There were three medieval parishes: St Nicholas', St Margaret's and St Clement's. St Clement's was in Horsewash Lane until the last vicar died in 1538 when it was joined with St Nicholas' parish; the church last remaining foundations were finally removed when the railway was being constructed in the 1850s. St Nicholas' Church was built in 1421 beside the cathedral to serve as a parish church for the citizens of Rochester. The ancient cathedral included the Benedictine monastic priory of St Andrew with greater status than the local parishes.[24] Rochester's pre-1537 diocese, under the jurisdiction of the Church of Rome, covered a vast area extending into East Anglia and included all of Essex.[25]
As a result of the restructuring of the Church during the Reformation the cathedral was reconsecrated as the Cathedral Church of Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary without parochial responsibilities, being a diocesan church.[26] In the 19th century the parish of St Peter's was created to serve the burgeoning city with the new church being consecrated in 1859. Following demographic shifts, St Peter's and St Margaret's were recombined as a joint benefice in 1953 with the parish of St Nicholas with St Clement being absorbed in 1971.[27] The combined parish is now the "Parish of St Peter with St Margaret", centred at the new (1973) Parish Centre in The Delce (St Peter's) with St Margaret's remaining as a chapel-of-ease. Old St Peter's was demolished in 1974, while St Nicholas' Church has been converted into the diocesan offices but remains consecrated. Continued expansion south has led to the creation of an additional more recent parish of St Justus (1956) covering The Tideway estate and surrounding area.[28]
A church dedicated to St Mary the Virgin at Eastgate, which was of Anglo-Saxon foundation, is understood to have constituted a parish until the Middle Ages, but few records survive.[29]
Geography
Rochester lies within the area, known to geologists, as the London Basin. The low-lying Hoo peninsula to the north of the town consists of London Clay, and the alluvium brought down by the two rivers—the Thames and the Medway—whose confluence is in this area. The land rises from the river, and being on the dip slope of the North Downs, this consists of chalksurmounted by the Blackheath Beds of sand and gravel.
As a human settlement, Rochester became established as the lowest river crossing of the River Medway, well before the arrival of the Romans.
It is a focal point between two routes, being part of the main route connecting London with the Continent and the north-south routes following the course of the Medway connecting Maidstone and the Weald of Kent with the Thames and the North Sea. The Thames Marshes were an important source of salt. Rochester's roads follow north Kent's valleys and ridges of steep-sided chalk bournes. There are four ways out of town to the south: up Star Hill, via The Delce,[30] along the Maidstone Road or through Borstal. The town is inextricably linked with the neighbouring Medway Towns but separate from Maidstone by a protective ridge known as the Downs, a designated area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
At its most limited geographical size, Rochester is defined as the market town within the city walls, now associated with the historic medieval city. However, Rochester historically also included the ancient wards of Strood Intra on the river's west bank, and Chatham Intra as well as the three old parishes on the Medway's east bank.
The diocese of Rochester is another geographical entity which can be referred to as Rochester.
Climate[edit]
Rochester has an oceanic climate similar to much of southern England, being accorded Köppen Climate Classification-subtype of "Cfb" (Marine West Coast Climate).[31]
On 10 August 2003, neighbouring Gravesend recorded one of the highest temperatures since meteorogical records began in the United Kingdom, with a reading of 38.1 degrees Celsius (100.6 degrees Fahrenheit),[32]only beaten by Brogdale, near Faversham, 22 miles (35 km) to the ESE.[33] The weather station at Brogdale is run by a volunteer, only reporting its data once a month, whereas Gravesend, which has an official Met Office site at the PLA pilot station,[34] reports data hourly.
Being near the mouth of the Thames Estuary with the North Sea, Rochester is relatively close to continental Europe and enjoys a somewhat less temperate climate than other parts of Kent and most of East Anglia. It is therefore less cloudy, drier and less prone to Atlanticdepressions with their associated wind and rain than western regions of Britain, as well as being hotter in summer and colder in winter. Rochester city centre's micro-climate is more accurately reflected by these officially recorded figures than by readings taken at Rochester Airport.[35]
North and North West Kent continue to record higher temperatures in summer, sometimes being the hottest area of the country, eg. on the warmest day of 2011, when temperatures reached 33.1 degrees.[36]Additionally, it holds at least two records for the year 2010, of 30.9 degrees[37] and 31.7 degrees C.[38] Another record was set during England's Indian summer of 2011 with 29.9 degrees C., the highest temperature ever recorded in the UK for October.
North and North West Kent continue to record higher temperatures in summer, sometimes being the hottest area of the country, eg. on the warmest day of 2011, when temperatures reached 33.1 degrees.[36]Additionally, it holds at least two records for the year 2010, of 30.9 degrees[37] and 31.7 degrees C.[38] Another record was set during England's Indian summer of 2011 with 29.9 degrees C., the highest temperature ever recorded in the UK for October.
Building
Rochester comprises numerous important historic buildings, the most prominent of which are the Guildhall, the Corn Exchange, Restoration House, Eastgate House, as well as Rochester Castle and Rochester Cathedral. Many of the town centre's old buildings date from as early as the 14th century up to the 18th century. The chapel of St Bartholomew's Hospital dates from the ancient priory hospital's foundation in 1078.
Economy
Thomas Aveling started a small business in 1850 producing and repairing agricultural plant equipment. In 1861 this became the firm of Aveling and Porter, which was to become the largest manufacturer of agricultural machinery and steam rollers in the country.[39] Aveling was elected Admiral of the River Medway (i.e. Mayor of Rochester) for 1869-70.
Culture[edit]
Sweeps Festival[edit]
Since 1980 the city has seen the revival of the historic Rochester Jack-in-the-Green May Day dancing chimney sweeps tradition, which had died out in the early 1900s. Though not unique to Rochester (similar sweeps' gatherings were held across southern England, notably in Bristol, Deptford, Whitstable and Hastings), its revival was directly inspired by Dickens' description of the celebration in Sketches by Boz.
The festival has since grown from a small gathering of local Morris dancesides to one of the largest in the world.[40] The festival begins with the "Awakening of Jack-in-the-Green" ceremony,[41] and continues in Rochester High Street over the May Bank Holiday weekend.
There are numerous other festivals in Rochester apart from the Sweeps Festival. The association with Dickens is the theme for Rochester's two Dickens Festivals held annually in June and December.[42] The Medway Fuse Festival[43] usually arranges performances in Rochester and the latest festival to take shape is the Rochester Literature Festival, the brainchild of three local writers.[44]
Library[edit]
A new public library was built alongside the Adult Education Centre, Eastgate. This enabled the registry office to move from Maidstone Road, Chatham into the Corn Exchange on Rochester High Street (where the library was formerly housed). As mentioned in a report presented to Medway Council's Community Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 28 March 2006, the new library opened in late summer (2006).[45]
Theatre[edit]
There is a small amateur theatre called Medway Little Theatre on St Margaret's Banks next to Rochester High Street near the railway station.[46] The theatre was formed out of a creative alliance with the Medway Theatre Club, managed by Marion Martin, at St Luke's Methodist Church on City Way, Rochester[47] between 1985 and 1988, since when drama and theatre studies have become well established in Rochester owing to the dedication of the Medway Theatre Club.[48]
Media[edit]
Local newspapers for Rochester include the Medway Messenger, published by the KM Group, and free newspapers such as Medway Extra(KM Group) and Yourmedway (KOS Media).
The local commercial radio station for Rochester is KMFM Medway, owned by the KM Group. Medway is also served by community radio station Radio Sunlight. The area also receives broadcasts from county-wide stations BBC Radio Kent, Heart and Gold, as well as from various Essex and Greater London radio stations.[49]
Sport[edit]
Football is played with many teams competing in Saturday and Sunday leagues.[50] The local football club is Rochester United F.C. Rochester F.C. was its old football club but has been defunct for many decades. Rugby is also played; Medway R.F.C. play their matches at Priestfields and Old Williamsonians is associated with Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School.[51]
Cricket is played in the town, with teams entered in the Kent Cricket League. Holcombe Hockey Club is one of the largest in the country,[52]and is based at Holcombe Park. The men's and women's 1st XI are part of the England Hockey League.[53] Speedway was staged on a track adjacent to City Way that opened in 1932. Proposals for a revival in the early 1970s did not materialise and the Rochester Bombers became the Romford Bombers.[54]
Sailing and rowing are also popular on the River Medway with respective clubs being based in Rochester.[55][56]
Film[edit]
The 1959 James Bond Goldfinger describes Bond driving along the A2through the Medway Towns from Strood to Chatham. Of interest is the mention of "inevitable traffic jams" on the Strood side of Rochester Bridge, the novel being written some years prior to the construction of the M2 motorway Medway bypass.
Rochester is the setting of the controversial 1965 Peter Watkins television film The War Game, which depicts the town's destruction by a nuclear missile.[57] The opening sequence was shot in Chatham Town Hall, but the credits particularly thank the people of Dover, Gravesend and Tonbridge.
The 2011 adventure film Ironclad (dir. Jonathan English) is based upon the 1215 siege of Rochester Castle. There are however a few areaswhere the plot differs from accepted historical narrative.
Notable people[edit]
Charles Dickens
The historic city was for many years the favourite of Charles Dickens, who lived within the diocese at nearby Gads Hill Place, Higham, many of his novels being based on the area. Descriptions of the town appear in Pickwick Papers, Great Expectations and (lightly fictionalised as "Cloisterham") in The Mystery of Edwin Drood. Elements of two houses in Rochester, Satis House and Restoration House, are used for Miss Havisham's house in Great Expectations, Satis House.[58]
Sybil Thorndike
The actress Dame Sybil Thorndike and her brother Russell were brought up in Minor Canon Row adjacent to the cathedral; the daughter of a canon of Rochester Cathedral, she was educated at Rochester Grammar School for Girls. A local doctors' practice,[59] local dental practice[60] and a hall at Rochester Grammar School are all named after her.[61]
Peter Buck
Sir Peter Buck was Admiral of the Medway in the 17th century; knightedin 1603 he and Bishop Barlow hosted King James, the Stuart royal familyand the King of Denmark in 1606. A civil servant to The Royal Dockyardand Lord High Admiral, Buck lived at Eastgate House, Rochester.
Denis Redman
Major-General Denis Redman, a World War II veteran, was born and raised in Rochester and later became a founder member of REME, head of his Corps and a Major-General in the British Army.
Kelly Brook
The model and actress Kelly Brook went to Delce Junior School in Rochester and later the Thomas Aveling School (formerly Warren Wood Girls School).
The singer and songwriter Tara McDonald now lives in Rochester.
The Prisoners, a rock band from 1980 to 1986, were formed in Rochester. They are part of what is known as the "Medway scene".
Kelly Tolhurst MP is the current parliamentary representative for the constituency.
The history of its origin dates back to 1994, with a private exhibition of exotic fish and reptiles by A. A. Terekhov called Exotarium. The collection was located on the territory of the VASO Park (Voronezh Joint-Stock Aircraft Building Company, Aircraft Builders Park), the director of which was Alexander Serafimovich Popov. It was he who came up with the idea of creating a petting corner – a very small one, with a single hall and a staff of ten people.
The zoo was growing before our eyes. Visitors brought abandoned and sick animals, colleagues from other zoos willingly gave new pets. Some were purchased with charitable funds. In connection with the expansion of the collection, the number of employees of the institution also grew. And although the formation of the zoo fell on the economically difficult 90s, a friendly team of enthusiasts led by Alexander Serafimovich was able to overcome all difficulties!
As a result of fruitful work, by 2000, the zoo's collection began to include more than 100 species of animals.
A new step in the development of the institution was made in 2005 - the zoo was transferred to the Department of Culture of the Voronezh Region. Budget funding made it possible not only to update the collection of animals, but also to overhaul buildings, update structures and make the zoo more comfortable for visitors. And the introduction of free admission for children made it accessible and allowed many to enjoy the beauty and diversity of the animal world.
In November 2009, the institution was given the status of a zoo, and in 2014 it began to bear the name of Alexander Serafimovich Popov.
Since 2010, one of the best students and followers of Alexander Serafimovich Popov, Andrey Georgievich Shestopalov, has become the director of the Voronezh Zoo.
Under the leadership of the new director, a lot of work has been done to develop the institution. Qualitativetransformations of the zoo have begun with the use of modern technologies and development methods. Employees of the department began to actively participate in scientific research in the region to study rare and endangered species of animals.
In 2014, in honor of the twentieth anniversary of the zoo, a modern complex of enclosures for large predators was solemnly opened.
In 2015, a structural subdivision of the zoo was opened - the forest area Chervlenyi with an area of 23.8 hectares. Along the spacious enclosures there is an ecological trail with a total length of 3 kilometers. The territory of Chervleny Yar plays an important role as a center for rehabilitation, overexposure and reproduction of animals.
In 2016, the Voronezh Zoo named after A.S. Popov acquired the status of an autonomous institution of the Voronezh Region and was transferred to the jurisdiction of the Department of Natural Resources and Ecology of the Voronezh Region.
In the same year, the zoo became a member of the Eurasian Regional Association of Zoos and Aquariums (EARAZA) and joined the Amur tiger conservation program.
Since 2018, the zoo has been a member of the Union of Zoos and Aquariums of Russia (SOZAR). Together with the Moscow Zoo, our specialists participate in the implementation of the research program & Development of methods for keeping and breeding rare species of invertebrates in culture under the guidance of EARAZA and SOZAR. The zoo staff took an active part in the creation of the Red Book and the cadastre of vertebrates of the Voronezh region.
In 2018, new expositions were opened: with a temporary complex for ungulates & a hall of invertebrate animals, the collection of which has become one of the leading in Russia.
In 2021, a new exposition hall of expositionsof thermophilic animals was created.
In 2022, from September 12 to 17, the 8th International Seminar Invertebrate Animals in the Collections of Zoos and Insectariums was held at the Voronezh Zoo. The workshop was organized on the initiative of the Working Group on Terrestrial and Freshwater Invertebrates with the support of the Department of Natural Resources and Ecology of the Voronezh Region, EARAZA and SOZAR.
In 2024, on the occasion of the thirtieth anniversary of the institution, the complex of enclosures was opened. The exposition is represented by different species of wolves.
In 2024, the zoo received two SOZAR awards. A.I. Masalykin, Deputy Director for Scientific and Educational Work, was recognized as the best researcher. The Voronezh Zoo received another award for the best exposition - an enclosure with Amur tigers.
In 2025, a new complex of aviaries for birds was created in the forest area Chervleny Yar.
The Voronezh Zoo is a unique wildlife museum that is engaged in environmental education. To raise the level of environmental culture of the population, to instill in people love and respect for nature is one of the fundamental tasks of our zoo.
The Voronezh Zoo is a multiple winner of the awards of the Governor of the Voronezh Region and the Head of the City of Voronezh in the field of ecology and education. Winner of the competition & The Most Landscaped Area of Parks, Squares in 2019.
The Voronezh Zoo serves as a base for industrial and educational practice for students of colleges of biology. Zoo specialists provide consultations on veterinary, animal science and ecology, and also participate in international conferences, meetings and symposia.
Since 2021, the zoo has been actively implementing the principles of lean production. In four years, nine projects in this area have been implemented. In 2024, the zoo became a local citizen, the winner of the Lean Initiative grant competition.
Employees of the scientific department have published more than 30 research papers in the field of wildlife conservation. In 2023, the reference book "Invertebrate Animals in the Collections of Zoos and Insectariums was published.
The Voronezh Zoo regularly participates in the international conferences EARAZA and SOZAR, and also holds its own seminars, conferences, round tables, actions and competitions.
The collection of the Voronezh Zoo today has more than 200 species (about 1,000 specimens), including 5 species listed in the Red Book of Russia.
There are three modern outdoor complexes on the territory of the zoo:
• Complex of enclosures for large predators
• Ungulate complex
• Complex of enclosures for dogs
7 exhibition halls are available for visiting:
• Hall of mammals and reptiles
• Hall of heat-loving animals
• Hall of Birds,
• Hall of Fish
• Invertebrate Hall
• Winter garden
• Hall of tamed animals & Furry Friends Club
The collection of the forest zone Chervlenyi Yar has more than 20 species.
The area of the urban area is 7.1 hectares, the area of the forest area Chervlenyi Yar is 23.8 hectares.
The zoo is visited by more than 350 thousand people annually. Zoo staff conduct more than 300 excursions and at least 150 educational and socio-cultural events.
The staff of the zoo is 109 people.
The creator of the Voronezh Zoo was a wonderful person, a talented organizer and leader Alexander Serafimovich Popov (1960 - 2013).
Thanks to his strong-willed character and dedication in the difficult 90s, Alexander Serafimovich was able to achieve his goal - a zoo appeared in Voronezh. His enthusiasm and cheerfulness inspired the zoo staff, helped to achieve high results.
Alexander Serafimovich Popov was born in Voronezh on October 12, 1960. He began his career at the VASO plant as a fitter. Since 1992, he held the position of director of the Aircraft Builders Park of Culture and Leisure, and in 1994 he became the first director of the Voronezh Zoo. In 2010, at the request of the Governor of the Voronezh Region, A.S. Popov took the post of Director of the Voronezh State Nature Biosphere Reserve. Under his leadership, the Voronezh Reserve rose to a new level, becoming one of the leading in the reserve system of Russia. In just a couple of years, he achieved a several-fold increase in the budget financing of the reserve, built a beaver town, overhauled buildings and structures, and completely updated working equipment.
At the age of 53, Alexander Serafimovich's heart stopped. A brilliant leader, a kind, sympathetic person, who the zoo staff is proud of, has passed away. We always remember his words...
Building a zoo in Voronezh is a matter of honor!
L'origine de l'arbre de Peilz remonte au XIXe siècle. En 1851, trois platanes sont mis en terre. En 1944, un des arbres est sec. En 1970, il reste un monumental platane et un marronnier malade. Actuellement, le marronnier a disparu et l'arbre séculaire règne sans partage au-dessus de quelques petits buissons.
L'île a été décrite en 1816 par Lord Byron dans Le Prisonnier de Chillon, poème narratif dont l'action se déroule au XVIe siècle dans le château de Chillon voisin : « Vis-à-vis de moi, il y avait une petite île qui semblait me sourire ; la seule que je pusse voir ; une petite île verte ; à peine me paraissait-elle plus grande que ma prison ; mais il y croissait trois grands arbres ; la brise des montagnes y soufflait ; les ondes se brisaient doucement sur son rivage, et elle était émaillée d'une multitude de fleurs de couleurs brillantes et d'un parfum ravissant. »
L'île tire son nom de la commune de La Tour-de-Peilz, située sur la rive droite de l'embouchure du Rhône, dans le sillage duquel se trouve l'île ; "peilz" vient du latin "pilosus" signifiant "poilu", ce qui renvoie de manière métaphorique à l'existence passée d'une importante forêt dans la région de La Tour-de-Peilz.
L'île a une superficie comprise entre 40 m² et 77 m² selon les sources.
comments and constructive feedback are appreciated. I use sculpy for the armor and a friend of mine painted him. I do commissions. FM me if your interested
Italian postcard. Photo: Lina Millefleurs in Il padrone delle ferriere/The Owner of the Ironworks (Eugenio Perego, 1919). Collection: Didier Hanson.
Italian vaudeville singer of French origin Lina Millefleurs (?-?), was hired in 1914 by the film company Milano Films and appeared in several silent dramas. In 1921, she finished her film career after nearly 30 films.
Lina Millefleurs was born as Carla Moneta in France or as Carla Tillosi in Italy (the sources differ). Eleonora Duse called her a "young lady with a golden throat". She started her career as a singer in vaudeville. At the end of 1914 she was hired by the Italian film company Milano Films to star in Fiamme nell'ombra/Flames in the shadows (Baldassarre Negroni, 1915) alongside Hesperia. She stayed there for years and acted in a series of pochades such as L'appetito vien mangando/Appetite comes with eating (Eugenio Perego, 1915) and Una donna di spirito/A woman with spirit (Guglielmo Zorzi, 1915). She also starred in dramas, such as Augusto Genina's La farfalla dalle ali d'oro. In the latter film one critic thought her too clueless. Probably on loan by Milano, in 1915 she acted at Sabaudo Film in a series of dramas. In one she was the protagonist, Il Vortice/The Vortex (Salvatore Aversano,1915), based on the play by Noël Coward.
In 1916-1917, Lina Millefleurs was very active at Milano again, mainly under the guidance of Eugenio Perego, and she had a notable part in Il vetturale del Moncenisio by Leopoldo Carlucci. One of her last films at Milano was Tristi amori/Sad loves (Giuseppe Sterni, 1917) . In 1917-1918 she acted in two films by another Milanese company, Mercurio. She received praise for her "naturalness and unaffected, un-diva-like play" in Il Trionfo della morte/Triumph of Death (Domenico Gaido, 1918) based on a novel by Gabriele d'Annunzio. Between 1919 and 1921 she was part of the cast at Itala Film. Here she played Athenaide in the drama Il padrone delle ferriere/The Railway Owner (Eugenio Perego, 1919). Then she moved to Rome where she worked for Tiber Film and Tespi Film. At Tiber Film she had leads in films by Giulio Antamoro and Alfredo De Antoni. In 1921 she closed her film career with a supporting part in the serial La scimitarra del Barbarossa/The scimitar of Barbarossa (Mario Corsai, 1921).
Source: Aldo Bernardini (Cinema muto italiano protagonisti - Italian), Wikipedia (Italian) and IMDb.
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Original sin has made it to Bad Ragaz. Artist Liu Ruowang deals with questions about the origin of humanity, its roots and the meaning of life. The 3.5 m high apes made of copper are no longer brand new. They have already been seen in other places. The artist writes: „Ape-man looking up into the sky symbolize the springing up of ancient civilization; today, high civilization bring advanced material culture, yet the nature we live on is being damaged unceasingly“. This has nothing to do with original sin. *The following text is not suitable for religious people. Which does not mean that religiosity is inferior. The religions transport encrypted knowledge over millennia. The time is not yet ripe for the whole truth, but you can already think a few thoughts*.
Anyone who understands the Bible's hidden truth knows that original sin was a genetic manipulation that forced our ancestors and creators to banish us. Adam refused a first Eve because she had her own gene pool and he saw her as a emancipated competitor. It was only when she was created from his gene pool (rib) that he was satisfied, and this has had repercussions on the position of men and women to this day. Adam made this decision with the reduced collective consciousness of nature with which he was created. After all, he was a test person for genetic improvements. He knew no shame, no morals, and did not know what was good and bad. He was also unaware that he was human. But otherwise he had all the human qualities of his creators. Adam and Eve worked in a genetic laboratory where the tragic story about our genetic information took its course. Eva discovered that tampering with the forbidden area of the DNA would not kill them, and was seduced by the DNA snake into an attempt. With that she lost the collective consciousness of nature and became aware of her humanity. With all the consequences such as shame and the knowledge of good and bad that animals do not know. This intoxicant realization she made palatable to Adam too. But they got caught. And so began a journey through space that finally ended on our earth and makes every science fiction film look old. Example: Cain and Abel, murder and manslaughter over DNA information. The gene mutants of the Abel type were able to repair or improve the gene defect, those of the Kain type could not. The group of human beings with the gene mutation of the Kain type is exterminating the Abel type. Apparently the Abelers manage to call for help to their original home. She reports to the Kainern and asks: What did you do with the Abelians? The DNA pattern holders of the Cain type are pushed even farther from the center of the original home of humans to another planet by the headquarters(1. Moses 4: 11–12). On that planet, life support and food production were even more difficult. Cain speaks to headquarters and says: My genetic defect has grown even bigger. It will no longer be repairable. They will hunt me down and kill me (1. Moses 4: 13). They were given a mark in their DNA that immediately allows anyone examining the genetic material to recognize that, according to the law of the universe, these gene carriers are outcast, but must not be killed (1. Moses 4: 15).
The remainder of Chapter 4 of Book 1 of Moses contains the details of how the Cain-pattern bearer dynasty continued to expand. The DNA carriers who are defective in their genetic information, called people, are visited by children of God, i.e. of beings whose DNA genetic information is still in order (1. Moses 6: 1–2). There was a reason why the original home of humans did not destroy the genetically modified creatures, but only sent them into exile. The combination of the properties brought about by genetic manipulation with the DNA carriers of the original hereditary information led to a new type of living being with outstanding properties (1. Moses 6: 4).
Then the story of Noah, a scientist and expert on DNA problems, who had enough time to take healthy DNA information with him from the animal's genetic material for his journey. And Abraham, the story of the greatest genetic engineer all times. You must consider that all of these stories did not take place on today's earth, but on other planets.
Abraham created the gene type Isaac. Isaac is married to a woman of the gene type Cain, from whom Abraham originally descended. The sons from this connection are among others Jakob and Esau. The story on the planet of the Egyptians begins with Joseph coming to Egypt, so that an Isaac type is brought among the people of the Cain type. Abraham apparently knew very well why he was checking the connection between the Egyptian genetic pattern and the Isaac type. After all, he had found out that his technical skills were not sufficient to master the complicated technical systems for large space travel and to carry out the return to the original home of the people. He was not supported by the Egyptians on his first attempt; on the contrary, he was expelled from the country by them because they pursued other interests of their own. With this experience in mind, he systematically prepared his descendants to move to the Egyptians, to acquire their knowledge or their possibilities, and then to try the return home again. The Egyptians realized that there were Isaac types among them and took countermeasures, which led to the strange circumstances surrounding the birth of Moses. The Egyptians, the genetic information type Cain, were not interested in it, because otherwise the same problems would have arisen as with the tragedy of Cain and Abel. So they let kill male births of the Abel type. Moses was born into this situation. His mother played the baby into the Pharaoh's daughter hands. Was she an Egyptian Eva, a scientist looking for the know-how of Abraham? It is possible, that Moses was purposely and experimentally reared by her to discover the repair step in the genetic pattern that Abraham had performed. Moses grows up, receives an Egyptian education and training. And he learns how they use energies to do space travel. So exactly what Abraham wanted, to get his gene type on the way back to his original home. The years have not passed without any problems for Moses. Moses kills an Egyptian and has to flee. In 2. Moses 3:17–18 he is given instructions: Go to the Israelites. If they agree, go with a delegation of the elders to the Pharaoh and say that we have been called by radio, we can go home. Demand that you be allowed to travel into space, three days' journey from here, where your genetic patterns are checked, before you are allowed to travel. The Egyptians say no, you cannot head out alone. Either all or none. A violent dispute arose among genetic engineers (2. Moses 7: 10–13). On the one hand the genetic scientists Aaron and Moses and on the other the genetic experts of the type Cain. The Egyptian Pharaoh realizes that Aaron's gene strands, which he presents for testing, are superior to those of the Cain type. That they are in principle displaced by the Isaac type. The Pharaoh is pissed off because he has to recognize that a corresponding examination by the original home will enable the Isaac type to return to their original home. So he refuses to allow the people of Moses to face the test. The bible now describes the plagues that break in Egypt until the pharaoh finally lets the gene bearers of the Isaac type go. This is the beginning of an unprecedented space odyssey that is described in every detail. Does anyone get the impression that the Bible is a boring and unrealistic story?
There are also references to this in Nostradamus and in Goethe's secret legacy, when he describes the people before people as Adam and Eve. Switzerland, June 8, 2021.
I love the way the light casts through at different intervals. I'm very happy with the way this one turned out!
There are few homes in Wellington today more readily recognizable than the gorgeous Italianate “painted lady” standing at 226 South Main Street. For nearly a century-and-a-half, the house gazed across the road at a bustling school campus. In 1867, the Union School had first been erected, and evolved over time into McCormick Middle School, which was sadly removed in 2016. By the mid-twentieth century, the once grand residence had fallen into a state of disrepair, and it is therefore fondly recalled by Wellington schoolchildren of that era as “the haunted house.”
The house may or may not be haunted, but its origins are somewhat mysterious, in the sense that they are obscured by the mists of time. The land on which 226 South Main stands is legally defined as block 1, lot 17. In 1852, early Wellington settler Loring Wadsworth first paid taxes on that lot. Wadsworth had been born in Becket, Massachusetts in 1800, emigrating to Ohio in 1821. In later life, he was one of the men charged in connection with the Oberlin-Wellington Slave Rescue of 1858, as he was believed to be an operator on the Underground Railroad. Wadsworth served twenty-one days in jail as a result, and was later elected mayor of Wellington, possibly in recognition of his principled actions. He served as mayor from April 1860 to April 1861, and died in 1862.
Wadsworth owned several lots adjacent to what is today 226 South Main. The 1857 Map of Lorain County, Ohio (which features a detailed inset of Wellington) shows that in that year, he owned block 1, lots 16, 17 and 90, with the family residence located on lot 16. The Greek Revival house that still stands today at 222 South Main is likely one of the older residences in town, erected by Wadsworth and his family as early as the 1830s.
Though Wadsworth died in 1862, his estate continued to be listed as the taxpayer of record on his former land holdings until well into the 1870s. This was not an uncommon practice; I have always assumed that it had something to do with settling the deceased’s estate, though in this instance, a much longer period of time passed than I have seen before. Whatever the financial or legal reasons, Loring Wadsworth was still listed on village tax rolls for block 1, lot 17 in 1871, when the value of the land suddenly jumped–after decades of remaining flat and unchanging–from $42 to $278. This strongly suggests that a house was first erected on the lot sometime in the period of 1870 to 1871.
Loring’s widow, Statira Kingsbury Wadsworth, died in 1871. Even then, the land and property formerly owned by her husband continued to appear in corporation tax records under his name. It was not until 1874–twelve years after Wadsworth died–that the property legally changed hands. In that year, block 1, lot 17, still valued at $278, passed into the ownership of Horace N. Wadsworth, William Gunn and local cheese dealer William D. Minor.
A real estate transfer published in the Oberlin Weekly News showed the sale of lot 17 was made by Benjamin Wadsworth to Horace Wadsworth and William Gunn for $667. Benjamin Wadsworth was the eldest son of Loring Wadsworth. By the end of the nineteenth century, he was known as “the largest landowner among the agriculturalists of Lorain County,” with over one thousand acres and a well-regarded sheep breeding operation. It has been suggested that Benjamin Wadsworth built 226 South Main as a “retirement home” for his own use. Wadsworth was forty-nine years old in 1870, the conjectured date of construction. Wellington tax records from the period show that he owned no property in the village; instead, he maintained a steady holding of 145 acres in lot 24, the southwestern corner of the township. The 1870 federal census shows Benjamin (49), his wife Maria (44), and children Elmer (18) and Jane (12) living in Huntington; in 1880, Benjamin (59) and Maria (54) were still in Huntington, living next door to Elmer and his wife, Mary, both aged 28. While Benjamin Wadsworth was somehow involved in the construction of the house on lot 17, he sold it soon after completion. The three men listed as taxpayers in the 1874 rolls were most likely conducting real estate transactions for profit, rather than purchasing the house for personal use.
In 1875, a small addition was put on the house, increasing its value slightly to $300. That same year, the property was sold again. From that point forward, the taxpayer of record was one Hattie McClaran. Harriet “Hattie” Lovett McClaran (ca. 1845-1889) was the wife of local physician Dr. Thomas M. McClaran. Harriet was born in Shreve, Ohio, approximately thirty miles southwest of Wellington. She and Thomas were married in Holmes County on March 20, 1866. Thomas had served as a private in the 4th Regiment, Co. E, Ohio Infantry of the Union Army. Wounded during his military service, he collected a disability pension later in life. After the war, Thomas decided to attend medical school, and graduated from the University of Wooster Medical Department in 1874. McClaran suffered from lifelong ill health and was frequently mentioned in the local newspapers as traveling to more beneficial climates, apparently without his family.
The 1880 federal census showed five adults and one child living together in the household: Thomas McClaran (37); Harriet McClaran (35); Lillian McClaran (11); servant Annie Spicer (24); and a young couple from Maine called Edward (24) and Lena (23) Everett. Edward was a druggist, perhaps boarding with the physician and his family during an apprenticeship, or while he attempted to establish his own business in the village. Maybe the McClarans found their quarters too cramped once they took in boarders. By 1881, they made major renovations to their home. The Wellington Enterprise commented on the ongoing work, and the tax-assessed value of the property skyrocketed from $300 to $1,890. This strongly suggests that the back wing of 226 South Main was added at that time.
The McClarans’ tenure in the residence did not end happily. They sold the property to John Britton Smith, owner and editor of the Enterprise, in June 1888. They then traveled to Springfield, Missouri, for a visit with their only child, a married daughter. By October, Hattie McClaran was back in Ohio and committed to the Newburgh State Hospital, an asylum in Cleveland. Dr. McClaran briefly returned as well, moving into the American House hotel during his wife’s committal. Tragically, Hattie died by suicide on a home visit with her sister in Wooster, in January 1889. She was buried in Wooster and Dr. McClaran soon returned to Missouri to live with his daughter. He died June 21, 1890 and is buried in Springfield National Cemetery. When he passed, the Enterprise printed a four-sentence remembrance which noted, “He and his faithful wife toiled here for a number of years and as a result of their labors secured a beautiful place to reside on South Main street, expecting to spend the balance of their days here”.
John Britton Smith occupied 226 South Main from 1888 until 1897. When the editor sold the Enterprise and left the village, the owner of the local boot and shoe shop, Hugh Comstock Harris, purchased the residence for himself and wife Ada Bacon Harris. The couple had no children, and when Hugh was elected to serve as Lorain County Treasurer, they also left Wellington, relocating to Elyria sometime after 1901.
As the twentieth century began, the house welcomed its second owner/editor of the Wellington Enterprise. Henry O. Fifield, recently arrived in the village, purchased the property sometime around 1902. Henry and his wife, Emma, lived with their widowed French Canadian daughter-in-law, Alice, and beloved granddaughter, Stella. Stella had been born in Canada and was a talented musician who went on to teach music herself. She was married in the house in 1920, and a front-page article in the Enterprise described the celebrations in great detail. The family home played a starring role: “The bride…advanced through the library to the living room. At the same time the groom…advanced to the living room from the front of the house. The bridal party…then gathered in a bower of evergreens and palms in the large bay window in the living room. This bower was a beautiful creation and the work of Miss Laura Tissot a friend of the bride. After the impressive ceremony, the bridal party was seated in the dining room…They and the guests were served sumptuously by Caterer Gunn of Oberlin”. Was Stella’s well-publicized nuptials the seed that blossomed into a popular story about 226 South Main being enlarged specifically to accommodate a bride descending the front curving staircase?
Henry Fifield lived to see his granddaughter engaged, but died nearly a year before the wedding. The Italianate at 226 South Main remained in the extended Fifield family for the first half of the century, belonging to Stella and her widowed mother, Alice, who later remarried and brought her second husband into the house.
By 1976, the year of America’s bicentennial celebrations, a young local couple who also happened to be deeply committed to preserving Wellington’s past decided that a grand old home that needed love (and a great deal of work!) was exactly where they wanted to spend their married life. Today, 226 South Main Street is haunted no more. Home for more than forty years to beloved residents Tim and Leslie Simonson, its vibrant wine-red color and flower-filled yard are often the backdrop for large gatherings of friends and family. The renovated carriage house at the rear of the property is well-known in the village as the Simonson Clock Shop.
Finished back in March, photographed in May. Sometimes it happens like that!
Avignon Picnic pattern at Moda Bake Shop:
This old barn used to belong to Doukhobors, a Christian group with Russian origins. Information below:
www.bigdoer.com/66001/exploring-history/anastasia-lords-o...
This is the same barn that I posted yesterday, when it was seen from a huge distance and a head-on view.
The day before yesterday, 8 August 2019, was more of a barn day than a bird day. A while ago, another photographer had mentioned that a few barns in a certain area SE of Calgary had been removed and I was curious to see if I could tell which ones were missing. There is one huge barn in particular that I am always hoping still stands. I would love to be able to get photos from both sides of it, but it is way out in a farmer's field that is, of course, private property. Standing in the road, I can only get a distant shot and, as often happens, I had a problem with heat distortion on distant shots. There is an old, round, wooden grain bin and a partly hidden, smaller barn just near the barn, too. I think the first time I ever saw the barn was on 21 January 2015, when I took my daughter out for the day.
My intention two days ago had been to leave early in the morning, but it was already 10:45 am when I climbed into my car. Seeing that the weather forecast for the next six days included rain on each day, I knew I just had to do this trip straight away. Some of the roads I drove to get to my destination(s) were familiar, but others less so. There are two or three highway intersections that are confusing to me and I usually end up taking the wrong turn.
For a change, I turned off the main highway going south before my usual turn, in order to shorten the distance. My first sighting was a distant Red-tailed Hawk perched on a wooden fence at a wetland that used to be a great spot, but now is totally dried up.
After a quick stop at a tiny church that I always photograph when I am out that way, I continued east till I came to the three old Mossleigh grain elevators - one of the places I always get confused about which way to drive. Ideally, a dramatic sky would have been great, but I have taken better photos in the past.
From Mossleigh, I did my usual exploring, finding that a lovely old, wooden house was still standing. I believe this was built from a kit years ago, and it remains in reasonably good condition.
Eventually, I found the large barn that I wanted to see again. It took me a while to work out which road it was on (thought I knew!), but I found it after some driving back and forth. It was good to see the smaller barn, in less then good condition, just down the road. The other two times that I have been standing in the road to take photos of this smaller barn, a lady has come along the road from a nearby farm and very kindly told me to on in and take any photos I'd like. No-one around yesterday, so I stayed on the road,of course. At one point, I happened to glance up the road and saw what I thought was someone's dog on the crest of the road. When I zoomed in on my camera, I realized it was a coyote, who started walking towards me. Unfortunately, it turned off into the field and disappeared. When I was at this smaller barn, it amused me to see a magnificent Mule near the barn, plus a horse. The Mule looked huge and was a real poser, wanting to be in almost every shot I took. Such a gorgeous creature, that I don't remember seeing there before.
Once I had taken a few photos, I started on my homeward drive, not stopping anywhere as I could see that, if I hurried, I could get to the Saskatoon Farm in time to get a meal before the restaurant closed for the day. Yay, I just made it.
Knowing that Frank Lake was only a short drive away, I couldn't resist driving back south to have a quick look. Found a couple of my friends there and spent some enjoyable time with them. Only took a few photos there, most to be deleted, before heading home. A fun day, though hot and hazy.
Assassin's Creed Origins is an action-adventure video game developed by Ubisoft Montreal and published by Ubisoft. It is the tenth major installment in the Assassin's Creed series and the successor to 2015's Assassin's Creed Syndicate. It was released worldwide for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One on October 27, 2017. The game is set in Ancient Egypt during the Ptolemaic period and recounts the secret fictional history of real-world events. The story explores the origins of the centuries-long conflict between the Brotherhood of Assassins, who fight for peace by promoting liberty and The Order of the Ancients—forerunners to the Templar Order—who desire peace through the forceful imposition of order. Origins received positive reviews from critics, who praised the story, voice acting, immersive world of Egypt and visuals, while criticizing some of the pacing and technical issues. Despite this, some critics called it the best installment of the series since 2013's Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag.
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** Origin and facts of the Hungry Ghost Festival:
The Ghost Festival, also known as the Hungry Ghost Festival, or Yu Lan is a traditional Chinese festival and holiday celebrated by Chinese in many countries. In the Chinese calendar (a lunisolar calendar), the Ghost Festival is on the 15th night of the seventh month (14th in southern China).
In Chinese tradition, the fifteenth day of the seventh month in the lunar calendar is called Ghost Day and the seventh month in general is regarded as the Ghost Month (鬼月), in which ghosts and spirits, including those of the deceased ancestors, come out from the lower realm.
Distinct from both the Qingming Festival (in spring) and Chung Yeung Festival (in autumn) in which living descendants pay homage to their deceased ancestors, on Ghost Day, the deceased are believed to visit the living.
On the fifteenth day the realms of Heaven and Hell and the realm of the living are open and both Taoists and Buddhists would perform rituals to transmute and absolve the sufferings of the deceased. Intrinsic to the Ghost Month is ancestor worship, where traditionally the filial piety of descendants extends to their ancestors even after their deaths.
Activities during the month would include preparing ritualistic food offerings, burning incense, and burning joss paper, a papier-mâché form of material items such as clothes, gold and other fine goods for the visiting spirits of the ancestors
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More images of the Hungry Ghosts "Yu Lan" Festival here:
Hungry Ghosts "Yu Lan" Festival
More Chinese Temples images here:
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Photo shot with Nikon D600 + AF-S NIikkor 50mm f/1.8G
Processed with Photoshop CS5
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