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youtu.be/32zvT014Lu0
The future.
When human population on earth reaches over 13 million people, the world's largest nations are waging a nuclear war.
Humanity has almost managed to exterminate itself and its planet.
Survivors of this catastrophe are hiding under ground, in bunkers and underground cities, for decades.
Military units made it their mission to leave the poisoned and uninhabitable planet.
After 40 years of research, a young man came into the focus of the military. He got his first doctorate at 17 and the second at 18. Due to the professor titles that followed in the next few years, nothing seemed impossible anymore.
The military came to the professor with a request to save humanity from extinction.
He should take on the apparently indomitable task and complete a teleportation machine which was in the making for over 40 years now.
The young professor was very happy to receive this complicated task and developed a great passion for it.
The eternal dream of finding a planet for humanity to survive.
Hello everybody,
this is my biggest project I've worked on so far.
The story, costumes, weapons, robots and the teleportation machine were invented and built by me to make the film possible.
I wasn't paid or sponsored by anyone.
All rights to the film belong to me alone.
Thanks to the best team you can have.
Guys, with all my heart "THANK YOU“
I hope that you (the audience) will be entertained by the short film and that you will see that it is possible to make a film with an old computer from 2013 and a smartphone.
Wish you all a good time
Loop Van Dike
Hallo Zusammen,
Habt ihr auch manchmal ein Bild vor dem inneren Auge, was aber bis dato in der Realität gar nicht existiert?
So erging es mir im November 2018, als ich mitten in der Nacht aufwachte und das Bild eines Astronauten auf fremden Planeten, umringt von einem Meer an illuminierten Aliens, im Kopf hatte.
Bewaffnet mit den Skizzen die ich mir in dieser Nacht gemacht hatte, entschloss ich mich am nächsten Morgen fort an diesem Traum nachzujagen.
Aus dem Gedanken ein "Making of" zu der Entstehung des Bildes zu machen, entwickelte sich nach 200 Stunden Bauzeit, der Anspruch meinen ersten eigenen Kurzfilm, passend zum Bild zu drehen.
"World of Cubes."
So sollte mein Film heißen.
Ich habe also beinahe jede freie Minute der folgenden 20 Monate dazu verwendet, Dinge die keinen Cent kosten,
zu futuristisch wirkenden Kostümen und Requisiten zu verarbeiten.
Rund 300 Stunden die dabei draufgingen sowie weitere 200 Stunden am Filmset, habe ich auf wenige Minuten zusammengefasst.
Wer Interesse hat, nachzuempfinden was alles in diesem Projekt steckt, und zu sehen wie man ohne riesiges Budget seinen Traum eines eigenen Science Fiction Films erreichen kann,
kann gerne auf den Link unten klicken, und sich das Making of anschauen!
Mich interessiert, ob einer von euch ein ähnliches Hobby hat, und wie ich, gerne bereit ist stundenlange Arbeit in kleine Komponenten eines Films zu investieren um diesen so authentisch wie möglich zu machen?
Falls ja, kann man sich gerne mal bezüglich eines Kollaborationsprojekts aussprechen, und sich Tipps zu den jeweiligen Bausteinen geben.
In diesem Sinne wünsche ich euch eine gute Unterhaltung und eine Gute Zeit.
Loop Van Dike.
A new suspected supernova was <a href="http://www.skyandtelescope.com/astronomy-news/observing-news/possible-bright-supernova-discovered-in-fireworks-galaxy-ngc-6946/" rel="nofollow"discovered in NGC6946 by Patrick Wiggins on May 13 2017.
NGC 6946 (also known as the Fireworks Galaxy, Arp 29, and Caldwell 12) is an intermediate spiral galaxy about 22 million light-years away, in the constellations Cepheus and Cygnus. -
Fredrick ‘Mickey’ Hill said killed by masked policemen
www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/McNeill--JFJ-call-for-invest...
A very sad but common story in Jamaica, about the killing of a young man name Sonnieko Williams by the Jamaican Police. The article was written by someone making a concern appeal for help on Facebook.
The last time we spoke, Sonnieko told me that he wanted to go down to Pulse and see if he could become a model. He asked me if i had a link.
He had been doing menial jobs to send himself to school since he was 9 years old. At 20, we were having our final conversation as we both walked off the hill. He had been heading to Heart Trust NTA to register for school which was to begin for him in January where he was to pursue his talent in the culinary arts.
The first few times i encountered Sonnieko, it was because he would hail me by name long before I knew his. "Wahgwaan (My Name)" he would say to me and i would acknowledge him, but i remember asking few people around me repeatedly' "Who is that youth; he always calls me by name and i dont even know him." Eventually i came to understand that he worked for a prominent family on the hill, doing odd jobs in the yard.
Other than his vibrant smile and his consistent hail, Sonnieko never had much to say. He was a great listener; a young man who was only a few steps from greatness. There is not one member of the community of Skyline Drive who did not love him; including those who did not know him well.
Skyline Drive is divided by a chasm which was created in heavy rains many years ago. As a result, through way traffic has come to a halt on this hill. The only vehicles that drive here belong to persons that live here or visitors of persons that live here.
A half hour before his death, his friends who were on my side of the chasm called him and told him to forward and linkup. He had told them he was stewing a pot; indulging in the one thing which would have freed him in life; his desire to feed people. His friends on his side of the chasm told me that he had then finished making breakfast, from which some of them had eaten.
There is a wanted man who lives in Jacks Hill. I will not disclose his alias. Apparently the police received intelligence that this particular wanted man had ventured out and was headed toward the chasm. Whomever called the police also stated that the wanted man had been dressed in a grey hoodie.
Hoodie's are commonplace dress on Skyline Drive. Not only because of threat of Tomas, but because the weather here on any normal day is a bit chilly. Sonnieko ventured out of his house to go meet up with his friends. He passed a crowd of people by the corner shop who he greeted cheerfully. He had a small comb in the front of his hair as he usually did, and was wearing a grey hoodie.
Having left the shop he continued down the road.
Maybe thirty seconds later persons at the shop saw one police van come hurtling around the corner skidding in the mud as they went. On the other side of the chasm, two police vans parked and officers dressed completely in blue with knee guards on scampered into Rita Marley's front garden, which is the only way to get to the other side.
Unawares, Sonnieko kept walking toward the chasm.
Sitting in my house, on my side of the chasm, I heard four gunshots. I wondered to myself who could possibly be shooting on the hill. As soon as that thought was completed i heard six more shots fired, and then another five, the last five sounding like that of a heavier firearm and the first ten sounding like those of smaller arms.
I called a friend of mine who lives across the chasm, and he told me that he had been further up the road, but that he had seen some police vehicles pass him. He said when they passed him they slowed beside him and he heard one of them say, " No anno him dat"
I put on my shoes and went next door to the music studio where I spoke with the producer who said he had heard nothing. Continuing outside i reached up onto the road to see a police van speeding down the road. The other was sitting at the edge of the chasm, still throttling, with no-one in it. A policeman shouted: "We kill one a dem, and we not makin the rest of them get weh!" A group of police then walked out of Rita's garden into their vehicles and drove away.
I walked through the garden.
The last time i saw Sonnieko, I was walking through the garden. My head was down as i was carefully observing the (treacherous when wet) terrain. Hearing footsteps i lifted my head to see Sonnieko walking toward me. He broke into a smile. With an outstretched hand he said' "Wah Gwaan (My Name)!" I replied, "Big up youself mi yout" He said, "Dont say a word" and continued along as i went on my way.
When i got to the other side of the garden, I walked around the first bend in the road and saw a group of people up ahead. They were gathering around a particular area. As i got closer, i saw a small pink comb with blood and brain marrow spattered across and around it. There were two feet of blue slippers as well with blood dribbled across them.
I got there just in time to see his mother come running out of her house and down the road from the other direction headed toward the crowd. She screamed at the crowd asking them: "Who see dem!" Who see!" "Nobody dont see mama", was the reply. She crumbled into a heaving heap, with a cry that cut the sky open.
The rain began to fall. The people wished Tomas had come. If Tomas had come, someone said; this would never happen.
The friend i called who had seen the police pass up the road was there, dressed also in a hoodie. His hoodie though was black.
After shooting the innocent 20 yr old whom they had mistaken for someone who did not even slightly fit his description, they scooped up his remains and drove hastily out of the community, pointing their guns in the direction of persons who stuck their heads out of their homes hoping to figure out what had just happened.
I gave my tv away one month before World Cup. I do not own a radio. Some persons wonder why and have asked me. Hopefully the following paragraph will tell why.
Four new police vehicles arrived on the scene of the crime, cordoned off the area and began to take pictures. They told the community members that they received a report that the team who had been there earlier were doing a patrol through the hill, came upon a group of men and came under heavy gunfire. Does this sound too familiar? When i found myself speaking to these new officers, their response to me was to ask me if it does not seem illogical that the highly trained police would just drive up and shoot an innocent man; i told them that was exactly the point of what took place. They told me not to swear his innocence. They told me that I am not with this young man every minute of the day and therefore can not state that he did not have a gun on him. I told them that in as much as they were asking me to be objective in my assesment, they should be objective enough in theirs to also accept the possibility that my friend, Sonnieko was killed in cold blood..
CVM arrived on the scene but not on the side of the chasm where the people were. The police had cordoned off the road and would not allow the media to cross the crime scene. I wonder what the news report on CVM will say tonight.
Even more so, i wonder if justice will come to this humble family of the hills who have done nothing but respect each other and their community, and occasionally wear grey hoodie's when going to look for a friend.
It could very well have been me, coming home from a trip to the corner shop. I too own a hoodie. But that day, maybe my life would have been saved as my hoodie is brown. But maybe if I had seen Sonnieko at the shop, as is typical I would have told him to wait on me, and together we would have been walking back around. And I am sure the story would have been that two cronies were killed. I almost wish I was among the dead, so persons could clearly see that someone they knew well had been killed as well. Someone who more persons of in positions of power could vouch for in a personal way. Some have been heard to be saying that my story is one side of the story. I know Sonnieko. Maybe if they killed me too, some of you would take another look at this case.
After a trip to Maddens Funeral Home, Sonnieko's mother found that he had recieved three shots. Two to his back, and one to his head. The shot that hit him in the head from the back pushed his forehead out of his body just above his eye.
The family needs a lawyer to represent their case. They CAN NOT afford one. If anyone in such capacity has read this letter and is moved to acting, whether through funding the process or giving legal aid pro-bono. Please. Contact me.
Let it not be said that this is a moving story. Let it be said that this was a spark, and that cumulatively we began a fire that forever changed the course of our nation’s history. Without that, this story would not have been moving, nor would it have moved anything or anyone into action.
I WRITE THESE NOTES FULLY COGNIZANT THAT MY ACTIONS COULD MAKE ME A TARGET. I HOWEVER AM WILLING TO STAND FOR CHANGE.
The bigger issue is that, by law, when the police shoot someone, they are supposed to carry them to hospital immediately. There was no crime scene cordoned off immediately with police left on scene. Due to this, considering the fact that when the investigating officers arrived on scene they told the community that they were informed that the unit had been fired upon, i surmise a gun will be produced. I also surmise that the gun will have Sonnieko's fingerprints on it, probably placed there on the journey from the hill to KPH, by putting his dead hands on to the gun.
Sonnieko died for a reason. He died because he has the right friends, in the right positions of power, and with the ability to make things happen. The bigger issue is that the system is designed to accomodate the possiblity of corruption in the JCF. This system is the (My Name)e system which has caused the unlawful deaths for numerous youths across the island, none of whom had the voice to speak for them after their passing.
Sonnieko's death was not just an isolated unlawful act. It is the product of a flawed system of justice, or might i say a perfected system of injustice, which allows officers of the (law) to cover their tracks when they make poor judgement and without accosting their victims, murder them from many metres away.
Sonnieko's death is a spark. We are the fire. We must be the change that will affect the history of our island going forward. I knew Sonnieko was destined for greatness. There could be no greater outcome than this, for Sonnieko's passing. Let us unite to achieve this end.
Join the group for updates at the following link:
La Canada, CA
12/22/16
La Canada is the only remaining city in Los Angeles county that still has open market for residential in the city. The 3 haulers are Republic Services, Athens Services and NASA Services.
Recently SoCalRefuse found out through Omar, a Republic Services Route Supervisor, that Republic Services spare Autocar Heil Curotto Can was working in La Canada. Both of us being Heil and Curotto can fans, we decided to head to La Canada in search of the Heil Curotto. After an hour of searching for the Heil on route we came around a curve and found it collecting trash. We introduced ourselves to the driver Carlos, who is great driver who originally started out with BFI. SoCalRefuse and I followed Carlos for an hour on the long, winding spaced out route. It was certainly an interesting route and to make it better Carlos met with the backyard service truck who emptied his load into the Curotto Can. It was neat to see a Allied Waste branded truck still around and this truck reminded me of the WMX WhiteGMC Heil Autocan that was also a spare that serviced my house many years ago.
If anyone wants to film in La Canada make sure you have a car or you will have problems following trucks. The homes are well spaced out from one another, there are small one lane winding roads and there are 3 haulers with separate trucks for backyard service. At one point SoCalRefuse and I followed Carlos for 2 miles without a stop. You certainly do not feel like California but this route certainly has great scenery.
Big thank you to Carlos, who is a nice driver and is efficient with the Curotto Can. Also, this video would not have been possible without SoCalRefuse who found out about the spare Heil in La Canada from Omar, thanks Omar.
Whoa! Carolina Chickadee checking out a possible nest site built by Downy woodpeckers. The woodpeckers were not pleased.
What is incredibly interesting about this photo is at first thought you wonder what is such a generous church doing on a prison property. then you realize that being in the shadow of the tower no one could contemplate escape. but thats exactly what happened in 1995. On January 2nd 6 inmates escaped from a tunnel underneath this church that they were digging for who knows how long while they were helping construct this church , one was immediately caught when a guard saw them running, they split up but one by one they were all caught, the longest one on the loose Juan Flietas captured in Mexico august 3d 1997 shot by police after someone recognized him from Americas most wanted. much more to this story but Ill keep it short and sweet. As much as I dislike Arista EDU film it did a good job rendering the gritty detail in this brick building.
Lomography color negative 100, Mamiya M645
#heylomography #lomography100 #abandonedplaces #urbanexploration #mamiya645
More preloved motors at Horopito Motors.
Horopito Motors, also known as "Smash Palace". Part working car mechanics, part museum. If you are into rusty and crusty (or want used car parts) it is a great place to spend several hours photographing!
Kunsthal Rotterdam.
PATRICIA PICCININI - METAMORPHOSIS
FAIRY-TALE CREATURES AND CYBORGS
With her almost life-like, yet alienating sculptures, Piccinini explores whether it is possible for human beings, nature, and technology to co-exist in harmony. Her fairytale creatures pluck at our heart strings, evoking empathy for ‘otherness’. With her art, Piccinini imagines a possible shared future and asks questions like: What does it mean to be human? With her cyborgs as well as her other creatures she blurs the lines between organic and technological bodies.
FASCINATING SCULPTURES
Piccinini’s work forges new, fascinating connections between various lifeforms. The large installation The Field invites you to roam through a field with thousands of ‘flowers’ resembling both prehistoric Venus figurines and genetically modified plants, the sculpture Prone represents a baby with the ears and nose of a bat, and in Kindred an orang-utang mother is holding on to her two children. Or are they human after all? It is impossible to remain unaffected by Piccinini’s sculptures.
Kim Possible is a good show, you should watch it. Stole the finger idea from Pate-Keetongu: www.flickr.com/photos/kumipallomaa/
Possible scene from Avengers: Infinity War. Corvus Glaive attacks Vision, trying to get the Mind Stone from his head. Will Scarlet Witch get there in time?
I have still not been able to get out for new photos, so I am adding another five photos from my archives, yet again. If I wrote a description under a previously posted photo taken on the same outing, I will add it to tonight's uploads.
"This particular bird resides at the Alberta Bird of Prey Centre in Coaldale, southern Alberta, a wonderful place that rehabilitates and releases (whenever possible) various birds of prey - hawks, owls, Bald Eagles, Turkey Vultures,and Golden Eagle. Some of these birds act as Wildlife Ambassadors, too, educating the public.
It had been a few years since my last visit there - I've been maybe three or four times - and I had been longing to go back. Much too far and all new driving territory for me to even think about driving there myself. However, three days ago, on 9 September 2016, that is exactly what I did. A friend had said she would come along, too, but she emailed me at 1:00 am to say that she assumed the trip had been cancelled, as she hadn't heard back about the time to meet. In fact, I had sent two emails giving the time, so I don't know what happened there. Very unfortunate, as it would have been great to have had company on such a long drive.
I knew it would be a long day and further than I would normally drive - and in a brand new car that I have yet to learn to drive! It doesn't look or feel quite as new now, after travelling 481 km! Only got lost twice, one minor and the other major. Must have taken a wrong turn somewhere down south and I ended up in the city of Lethbridge, that I had very carefully planned to avoid. After three and three-quarter hours, I finally arrived, to my huge relief.
Despite getting there later than I had hoped, I still had more than enough time to wander round the grounds and photograph the various raptors. Some were tethered out in a grassy area and others were in large outdoor cages. Wonderful to get such a close look at the various majestic birds.
I took a slightly different way home via #845 (?) making absolutely sure that I didn't accidentally find myself in Lethbridge again and it wasn't too long before I found myself in the area that I had driven a few weeks ago, when I went SW of Vulcan to look for Common NIghthawks (without any luck). Just so happy that I finally made myself do this drive. When I Googled the Centre's website a few days ago, I discovered that they were closing two days later for the winter. So, it was either a case of going the next day or not at all till next May onwards.
The very next day, 10 September 2016, I took my daughter on a long drive in Kananaskis. This was yet another place that I had longed to be able to drive for many years - and finally I did it! I had been lots of times with various friends, but this was the very first time I had ever driven myself."
I took this portrait of Anastasia Rendina - Sibby the Faerie of Dreams and Toadstools for the credits portion of Twig the Fairy's new book taken at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival. Sibey is a member of the Kansas City Renaissance Festival Fairies
To see more info about Twig's wonderful new book go to www.twigthefairy.com/
Thank you Sibey!
And a very special thanks to Twig the Fairy for making this book photo shoot possible and to the Minnesota Renaissance Festival www.renaissancefest.com/MRF
Please send me an e-mail if I misspelled or to update with additional information grantbrummett@mac.com
Dove poter aspettare
Un'alba che cancelli le ferite?........(Marco Cinque)
Where to wait for
A dawn that erase the scars
Some really complicated stuff goes on here... you haz been warned.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kaine was in shock. Peter, the man that had trusted him to make things right, was now the Goblin? Something wasn't adding up. The Other responded for his emotion.
"That's... not possible."
"It may not seem like it, but it's true. Right now, you've destroyed something I needed to live."
He looked to Otto, who was on the ground, motionless.
"I was brought back by this man."
He put his helmet back on.
"And if you really want to know what happened, I'll meet you at 55, 47, and 32."
"Peter" sprinted off, leaving Kaine and the Other confused and outraged.
Kaine spoke first.
"Where's Gwen?"
"She's probably with him."
"I can't risk her life." Kaine added.
"You're actually thinking about going? After all the traps and demise we have been in? We know this is going to be a trap."
"What would you do?"
The Other stood there for a moment.
"I.... don't know."
Kaine turned away. He could bear the sight of anyone he knew. He then turned back to the Other.
"I know what we have to do. But, you're not going to like it."
"What is this? Movie clishays?"
------------------------
Kaine got back to SHIELD with the Other. Kaine had already explained his plan to the Other. He was right, the Other did not like the plan, but something had to be done. This was the only way. They walked right up to Fury's office, and barged right in.
"What the hell do you think you're doing, barging right in on me?"
"Sorry Fury," said Kaine. "But it's time you lost you're best man."
Kaine looked at Iron Spider. Fury looked also.
"You have no idea how big of a risk this is for all of us." said Iron Spider.
"I have no IDEA what the two of you are talking about. Get inside."
They entered the room. Iron Spider turned off the comms, and cameras.
"What we are about to do is break the international law, and SHIELD might go down." Kaine said.
"WHAT? All this for...."
Fury looked at Iron Spider.
"For the girl sir."
"For Gwen?"
"We have much bigger problems on our hands. Your best 'super' has come back from the dead."
Fury looked down.
"Parker...."
"... and we need to break the international law, before he breaks our system."
"What system? Why?" Fury added.
Iron Spider looked up.
"He wants revenge. Not only on the American people, but on SHIELD, Kaine, and all the other organisms in the galaxy. He told us to be prepared, as he's come back stronger than ever. He has all of SHIELD's intel, and the government's."
"All of our intel?"
"Every last piece." said Kaine. "But what was he talking about when he said about the program, GOBLIN?"
Fury looked at them both.
"The camera's off?"
They nodded.
"Alright. 'Supers', made tons of money. Merchandise, shows, access to the media, everything. Then, when they locked up every criminal, everything they could, they had nothing to make a profit off of. The government did not like that, one bit. They told us to create a program that would make villains. It was soon shut down."
"Obviously not." said Iron Spider.
"Oh no, it was. Someone stole the program. Can you guess who?"
"Osborn."
"Correct. Parker wasn't even a 'super'. Parker was the first Goblin. When we saw that the program was shut down soon after he was made, there was nothing we could do. We kept him as an agent, but soon as the media found out, he became Spider-Man."
"You're telling me you made Parker?"
"No. We made him Spider-Man." said Kaine.
"So why does he want revenge?" Iron Spider asked.
"Osborn was a super soldier, created in the war. One day, he went to ballistic, and one of our agents tried to control him with a serum. That serum created the monster he was. It was enough time for Osborn to kill Spider-Man on his rampage. Once the serum ran out, he turned into Osborn again. Then you came in."
He looked at Kaine, but Kaine was already pacing back and forth.
"So that's why he wants revenge on SHIELD. But what about the public?"
"Probably the Goblin serum."
Kaine looked at Fury.
"Every word you just said, gives us the right to do what we want."
"And what's that?"
Iron Spider got up from his chair.
"Sir... we're putting myself and Kaine back in the old body."
-----------------------
"It's impossible! That body is dead, probably decaying." Fury said.
"No sir it's not. It been frozen." Iron Spider said.
"Who gave the orders for that?"
"You did."
Fury looked at him like he was crazy.
"You know both of you are going to die right?"
He looked at both of them.
"Right?"
"Not with you controlling the procedure."
"And Harry?"
"I've talked with him. He's prepared to see his body again."
Fury glanced around.
"You guys are fucking crazy."
He went into the room.
"Ross!" he yelled.
A young woman came out and talked with Fury. She was to get the body. When she returned with the body, h told Kaine and the Other to get on the table. When they did, he started the procedure.
---------------------
Kaine saw the light again.
Three times a charm. he thought.
Then, everything went black. He saw a man, fighting off a huge, green monster, with horns. The man was a hero in everyone's eyes. Then Kaine realized he was standing there, watching the battle. Nick walked up to him.
"You're next. Once we kill him, you're next..."
Then the scene changed. He was in a lab, looking down on the man in the battle. Blood was covering his face, and body. A doctor walked in.
"Subject?"
"Parker."
"Ah. Parker."
He examined the body. Metal arms came out from under his white coat. The name of the man started with an O, he could see it on the name tag.
Then the scene changed once more. He saw Gwen. Gwen aroun ashes. She was buried in them, with a building crumbling around her. He was standing on the same street the battle with the green monster and the man. This time, he rushed for Gwen. The building was crumbling, about to crush them, but it didn't matter. The little human in her hands was what mattered. He was going to save his family. He ran to them and wrapped his arms around them. He then told Gwen, "Four times a charm." as the building fell on him.
-----------------------
He woke up, breathing heavy. He looked at his hands. They were different then what he was used to. Then he looked to see the other body next to him. It had red arms, and brown hair. Harry. That means he was in his body again. He got up, and put on the suit that he made before coming to SHIELD.
Awww, what the hell? We should have made it blue. Like that guy with the shield!"
"That's my boy." Kaine had never heard a voice so sweet as the one he just heard in his head.
----------------------
He walked out of the room, but Fury stopped him.
"You just took away my best agent."
"No, you just got him back." Kaine said walking out.
He left the building and headed for the coordinates that Peter gave him. It was time to end this.
Wait, you're leaving now? Let's grab a bight I'm fucking starving.
"Could you shut up for just one second?"
No way! Fury put me in that goody too shoes suit. I a'int ever going back in that shit head of tin.
Once he got to the building he recognized it immediately. Then a voice could be hard from a speaker.
"Hello Kaine. I'm sure you came for Gwen. But she's not her inside. She's in the back. And I'm in the other building to the right."
He looked to the right to see the speaker.
"It's time to show me why I chose you Kaine."
He heard a detonation, and saw the building crumbling. Then, in the yard, there was Gwen, holding his child.
Oh no.
Kaine rushed for the two, going as fast as he could. He wouldn't let them die like in his dream. He couldn't, He did just what he did in his dream, wrapped his arms around them, while saying to the child, "Hi Peter." and braced for impact.
Don't worry, I got this.
As soon as the Other said it, Kaine felt something hit his arm. The Iron Spider.
The armor wrapped around his body, and helped with the impact. He felt the building on his back, and pushed it off.
He looked to see Gwen, with a swollen stomach, and no child.
Hallucination.
This meant the baby wasn't alive yet. An even bigger risk.
Kaine turned to the speaker.
"Let. Me. IN."
Then, a door opened. Kaine told Gwen to stay put, and went in.
------------------------
Kaine looked around at the room he was in. It was dark, and not very well lit. Then, a single light came on, and a suit could be seen. It was the original Spider-Man suit.
"You've already been in three suits Kaine. I've been in one, and you changed that."
Kaine walked in front of the case holding the suit. Peter had worn this in the battle. He could tell because of the stitches all over the suit.
"I guess Fury told you."
"Yeah... the Goblin program."
"Ha...ha.... He... ho... ha..."
He saw Peter come out of the shadow. Peter then turned on the light, holding the mask he always wore.
"I tried to hide my powers until someone caught me on video. Hm. The funny thing is, I never figured I would turn into.... a hero. The antonym of what they wanted me to be. They said I would be a 'god.' A god. Can you believe that?"
"No. I would have two years ago, but this changes everything."
A vile appeared near the center of the room.
"You know, I don't know why Otto brought me back, but he did it with this vile. Then, I came back. I wanted to die a hero. Not the villain I am now. I wanted to prove to them that I was better than they thought me to be." Fire then appeared in his hands.
"Who?"
"The other heroes. Everyone mocked me for being the outcast, the villain of the group. It made me feel different. But then when I proved to them I was a hero, they would accept me."
"You were a hero. What do you think you are now?"
"I'm neither. I'm here to save the Earth from these wretched people you call citizens. You all don't deserve to live, killing your brothers and sisters. It's all hell."
"That's just society."
"Wrong. This is life, and I must destroy it. If you want to kill your brethren, then I'll let you. But first, I have to take down SHIELD."
With that, he pulled out a button.
"Uh no, I don't think so."
Peter opened up the case.
"You want to fight me? The guy who gave you these powers in the first place? I'm the original."
"Sometimes, the sequels are better than the original."
With that, Peter put on his suit, and Kaine called for the Iron Spider.
"This won't end well for you Kaine. I should have picked Ben."
That's when the Iron Spider suit came onto Kaine.
I'll let you see why you chose me.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yeah this was a long one, but it is important so that's why it's long. Commentz r appreciate?
That magical morning in autumn...
Canon EF-S 10-22 with Marumi DHG Super Circular Polarizer CPL
Note to self: explored (#393) for the first time on March 3, 2012. Yay!
Bumped up to #313 on March 4.
++++++++ FROM WIKIPEDIA ++++++++++
Kalimpong is a hill station in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is located at an average elevation of 1,250 metres (4,101 ft). The town is the headquarters of the Kalimpong district.The Indian Army's 27 Mountain Division is located on the outskirts of the town.
Kalimpong is known for its educational institutions, many of which were established during the British colonial period.[5] It used to be a gateway in the trade between Tibet and India before China's annexation of Tibet and the Sino-Indian War. Kalimpong and neighbouring Darjeeling were major centres calling for a separate Gorkhaland state in the 1980s, and more recently in 2010.
The municipality sits on a ridge overlooking the Teesta River and is a tourist destination owing to its temperate climate, magnificent Himalayan beauty and proximity to popular tourist locations in the region. Horticulture is important to Kalimpong: It has a flower market notable for its wide array of orchids; nurseries, which export Himalayan grown flower bulbs, tubers and rhizomes, contribute to the economy of Kalimpong.[2] Home to Nepalisindigenous Lepchas, other ethnic groups and non-native immigrants from other parts of India, the town is a religious centre of Buddhism. The Tibetan Buddhist monastery Zang Dhok Palri Phodang holds a number of rare Tibetan Buddhist scriptures.[6]
The Kalimpong Science Centre, established under the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) in 2008 is a recent addition to its many tourist attractions. The Science Centre, which provides for scientific awareness among the students of the town and the locals sits atop the Deolo Hill.
Name origin
The precise etymology of the name Kalimpong remains unclear. There are many theories on the origin of the name. One widely accepted theory claims that the name "Kalimpong" means "Assembly (or Stockade) of the King's Ministers" in Tibetan, derived from kalon ("King's ministers") and pong ("stockade"). It may be derived from the translation "ridge where we play" from Lepcha, as it was known to be the place for traditional tribal gatherings for summer sporting events. People from the hills call the area Kalempung ("the black spurs").[7]
According to K.P. Tamsang, author of The Untold and Unknown Reality about the Lepchas, the term Kalimpong is deduced from the name Kalenpung, which in Lepcha means "Hillock of Assemblage";[8] in time, the name was distorted to Kalebung, and later further contorted to Kalimpong. Another possible derivation points to Kaulim, a fibrous plant found in abundance in the region.[9]
History
Katherine Graham Memorial Chapel, Dr. Graham's Homes
The Clock Tower of Kalimpong.
Until the mid-19th century, the area around Kalimpong was ruled in succession by the Sikkimese and Bhutanese kingdoms.[8][10] Under Sikkimese rule, the area was known as Dalingkot.[11] In 1706, the king of Bhutan won this territory from the Sikkimese monarch and renamed it Kalimpong.[11] Overlooking the Teesta Valley, Kalimpong is believed to have once been the forward position of the Bhutanese in the 18th century. The area was sparsely populated by the indigenous Lepcha community and migrant Bhutia and Limbu tribes.
After the Anglo-Bhutan War in 1864, the Treaty of Sinchula (1865) was signed, in which Bhutanese held territory east of the Teesta River was ceded to the British East India Company.[8] At that time, Kalimpong was a hamlet, with only two or three families known to reside there.[12] The first recorded mention of the town was a fleeting reference made that year by Ashley Eden, a government official with the Bengal Civil Service. Kalimpong was added to district of Darjeeling in 1866. In 1866–1867 an Anglo-Bhutanese commission demarcated the common boundaries between the two, thereby giving shape to the Kalimpong subdivision and the Darjeeling district.[13]
After the war, the region became a subdivision of the Western Duars district, and the following year it was merged with the district of Darjeeling.[8] The temperate climate prompted the British to develop the town as an alternative hill station to Darjeeling, to escape the scorching summer heat in the plains. Kalimpong's proximity to the Nathu La and Jelep La passes (La means "pass"), offshoots of the ancient Silk Road, was an added advantage. It soon became an important trading outpost in the trade of furs, wools and food grains between India and Tibet.[14] The increase in commerce attracted large numbers of Nepali's from the neighbouring Nepal and the lower regions of Sikkim, the areas where, Nepali's were residing since the Gorkha invasion of Sikkim in 1790. The movement of people into the area, transformed Kalimpong from a small hamlet with a few houses, to a thriving town with increased economic prosperity. Britain assigned a plot within Kalimpong to the influential Bhutanese Dorji family, through which trade and relations with Bhutan flowed. This later became Bhutan House, a Bhutanese administrative and cultural centre.[15][16][17]
The arrival of Scottish missionaries saw the construction of schools and welfare centres for the British.[12] Rev. W. Macfarlane in the early 1870s established the first schools in the area.[12] The Scottish University Mission Institution was opened in 1886, followed by the Kalimpong Girls High School. In 1900, Reverend J.A. Graham founded the Dr. Graham's Homes for destitute Anglo-Indian students.[12] The young missionary (and aspiring writer and poet) Aeneas Francon Williams, aged 24, arrived in Kalimpong in 1910 to take up the post of assistant schoolmaster at Dr. Graham's Homes,[18] where he later became Bursar and remained working at the school for the next fourteen years.[19] From 1907 onwards, most schools in Kalimpong had started offering education to Indian students. By 1911, the population comprised many ethnic groups, including Nepalis, Lepchas, Tibetans, Muslims, the Anglo-Indian communities. Hence by 1911, the population had swollen to 7,880.[12]
Following Indian independence in 1947, Kalimpong became part of the state of West Bengal, after Bengal was partitioned between India and East Pakistan. With China's annexation of Tibet in 1959, many Buddhist monks fled Tibet and established monasteries in Kalimpong. These monks brought many rare Buddhist scriptures with them. In 1962, the permanent closure of the Jelep Pass after the Sino-Indian War disrupted trade between Tibet and India, and led to a slowdown in Kalimpong's economy. In 1976, the visiting Dalai Lama consecrated the Zang Dhok Palri Phodang monastery, which houses many of the scriptures.[12]
Most large houses in Kalimpong were built during the British era. In the background is Mount Kangchenjunga.
Morgan House is a classic example of colonial architecture in Kalimpong.
Between 1986 and 1988, the demand for a separate state of Gorkhaland and Kamtapur based on ethnic lines grew strong. Riots between the Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) and the West Bengal government reached a stand-off after a forty-day strike. The town was virtually under siege, and the state government called in the Indian army to maintain law and order. This led to the formation of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council, a body that was given semi-autonomous powers to govern the Darjeeling district, except the area under the Siliguri subdivision. Since 2007, the demand for a separate Gorkhaland state has been revived by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha and its supporters in the Darjeeling hills.[20] The Kamtapur People's Party and its supporters' movement for a separate Kamtapur state covering North Bengal have gained momentum.[21]
Geography
A view from the Deolo Resort, atop Deolo Hill, Kalimpong's highest point
The town centre is on a ridge connecting two hills, Deolo Hill and Durpin Hill,[12] at an elevation of 1,247 m (4,091 ft). Deolo, the highest point in Kalimpong, has an altitude of 1,704 m (5,591 ft) and Durpin Hill is at an elevation of 1,372 m (4,501 ft). The River Teesta flows in the valley below and separates Kalimpong from the state of Sikkim. The soil in the Kalimpong area is typically reddish in color. Occasional dark soils are found due to extensive existence of phyllite and schists.[22] The Shiwalik Hills, like most of the Himalayan foothills, have steep slopes and soft, loose topsoil, leading to frequent landslides in the monsoon season.[22] The hills are nestled within higher peaks and the snow-clad Himalayan ranges tower over the town in the distance. Mount Kanchenjunga at 8,586 m (28,169 ft) the world's third tallest peak,[23] is clearly visible from Kalimpong.[2]
View of the Himalaya range
Kalimpong has five distinct seasons: spring, summer, autumn, winter and the monsoons. The annual temperature ranges from a high of 30 °C (86 °F) to a low of 9 °C (48 °F). Summers are mild, with an average maximum temperature of 30 °C (86 °F) in August.[24] Summers are followed by the monsoon rains which lash the town between June and September. The monsoons are severe, often causing landslides which sequester the town from the rest of India. Winter lasts from December to February, with the maximum temperature being around 15 °C (59 °F). During the monsoon and winter seasons, Kalimpong is often enveloped by fog.[25]
Economy
Oranges grown in the hillsides are exported to many parts of India.
Tourism is the most significant contributor to Kalimpong's economy.[26] The summer and spring seasons are the most popular with tourists, keeping many of town's residents employed directly and indirectly. The town—earlier an important trade post between India and Tibet—hopes to boost its economy after the reopening of the Nathu La (pass) in April 2006.[27] Though this has resumed Indo–China border trades,[28] it is expected that Kalimpong will have a better chance of revival as a hub for Indo–China trades if the demand of local leaders for reopening of Jelep La pass also is met.[28]
Kalimpong is a major ginger growing area of India. Kalimpong and the state of Sikkim together contribute 15 percent of ginger produced in India.[29] The Darjeeling Himalayan hill region is internationally famous for its tea industry.[30] However, most of the tea gardens are on the western side of Teesta river (towards the town of Darjeeling) and so tea gardens near Kalimpong contribute only 4 percent of total tea production of the region. In Kalimpong division, 90 percent of land is cultivable but only 10 percent is used for tea production.[31] Kalimpong is well known for its flower export industry—especially for its wide array of indigenous orchids and gladioli.[32]
A significant contributor to the town's economy is education sector.[26] The schools of Kalimpong, besides imparting education to the locals, attract a significant number of students from the plains, the neighbouring state of Sikkim and countries such as Bhutan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Thailand.[26]
Many establishments cater to the Indian army bases near the town, providing it with essential supplies. Small contributions to the economy come by the way of the sale of traditional arts and crafts of Sikkim and Tibet. Government efforts related to sericulture, seismology, and fisheries provide a steady source of employment to many of its residents.
Kalimpong is well renowned for its cheese, noodles and lollipops. Kalimpong exports a wide range of traditional handicrafts, wood-carvings, embroidered items, bags and purses with tapestry work, copper ware, scrolls, Tibetan jewellery and artifacts.[32][33]
Transport
NH31A winds along the banks of the river Teesta near Kalimpong.
Kalimpong is located off the National Highway 31A (NH31A), which links Sevok to Gangtok. The NH31A is an offshoot of the NH 31, which connects Sevok to Siliguri.[34] These two National Highways together, via Sevok, links Kalimpong to the plains.[35] Regular bus services and hired vehicles connect Kalimpong with Siliguri and the neighbouring towns of Kurseong, Darjeeling and Gangtok. Four wheel drives are popular means of transport, as they can easily navigate the steep slopes in the region. However, road communication often get disrupted in the monsoons due to landslides. In the town, people usually travel by foot. Residents also use bicycle, two-wheelers and hired taxis for short distances.
The nearest airport is in Bagdogra near Siliguri, about 80 kilometres (50 mi) from Kalimpong. Air India, Jet Airways and Druk Air (Bhutan) are the four major carriers that connect the airport to Delhi, Kolkata, Paro (Bhutan), Guwahati and Bangkok (Thailand). The closest major railway station is New Jalpaiguri, on the outskirts of Siliguri,[2] which is connected with almost all major cities of the country.
Demographics
Population growth
At the 2011 India census,[37] Kalimpong town area had a population of 42,988, of which 52% were male and 48% female.[37]
At the 2001 census,[38] Kalimpong had an average literacy rate of 79%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy was 84%, and female literacy was 73%. In Kalimpong, 8% of the population was under 6 years of age. The Scheduled castes and scheduled tribes population for Kalimpong was 5,100 and 5,121 respectively.[39]
Civic administration
Kalimpong is the headquarters of the Kalimpong district. The semi-autonomous Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC), set up by the West Bengal government in 1988, administers this district as well as the Darjeeling Sadar and Kurseong subdivisions.[40] Kalimpong elects eight councillors to the DGHC, who manages the departments of Public Health, Education, Public Works, Transport, Tourism, Market, Small scale industries, Agriculture, Agricultural waterways, Forest (except reserved forests), Water, Livestock, Vocational Training and Sports and Youth services.[41] The district administration of Darjeeling, which is the authoritative body for the departments of election, panchayat, law and order, revenue, etc., also acts as an interface of communication between the Council and the State Government.[41] The rural area in the district covers three community development blocks Kalimpong I, Kalimpong II and Gorubathan consisting of forty-two gram panchayats.[42] A Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) presides over the Kalimpong subdivision. Kalimpong has a police station that serves the municipality and 18 gram panchayats of Kalimpong–I CD block.[43]
The Kalimpong municipality, which was established in 1945,[39] is in charge of the infrastructure of the town such as potable water and roads. The municipal area is divided into twenty-three wards.[44] Kalimpong municipality is constructing additional water storage tanks to meet the requirement of potable water, and it needs an increase of water supply from the 'Neora Khola Water Supply Scheme' for this purpose.[45] Often, landslides occurring in monsoon season cause havoc to the roads in and around Kalimpong.[46] The West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Corporation Limited (WBSEDCL) provides electricity here.[47] Renewable Energy Development Agency of the state has plans to promote usage of solar street lights in Kalimpong and proposed an energy park here to sell renewable energy gadgets.[48] The Public Works Department is responsible for the road connecting the town to the National Highway–NH-31A.[49] The Kalimpong municipality has a total of 10 health care units, with a total of 433 bed capacity.[50]
The Kalimpong assembly constituency, which is an assembly segment of the Darjeeling parliamentary constituency, elects one member of the Vidhan Sabha of West Bengal.[51]
People, culture, and cuisine
The Zang Dhok Palri Phodang monastery atop Durpin Hill
The original settlers of Kalimpong are the Lepchas, although the majority of the populace are ethnic Nepali, having migrated from Nepal to Kalimpong in search of jobs while it was under British rule.[52]
Indigenous ethnic groups include the Newars, Bhutia, Sherpas, Limbus, Rais, Magars,[53] Chettris, Bahuns, Thakuris, Gurungs, Tamangs, Yolmos, Bhujels, Sunuwars, Sarkis, Damais and the Kamis.[54] The other non-native communities as old as the Nepalese are the Bengalis, Muslims, Anglo-Indians, Chinese, Biharis and Tibetans who escaped to Kalimpong after fleeing the Communist Chinese invasion of Tibet. Kalimpong is home to Trinley Thaye Dorje—one of the 17th Karmapa incarnations.[55] Kalimpong is the closest Indian town to Bhutan's western border, and has a small number of Bhutanese nationals residing here. Hinduism is the largest religion followed by Nijananda Sampradaya, Buddhism and Christianity.[53] Islam has a minuscule presence in this region, The Oldest settlers include people residing since the mid of 19th Century and also mostly Tibetan Muslims who fled in 1959 after Chinese invasion of Tibet.[56] The Buddhist monastery Zang Dhok Palri Phodang holds a number of rare Tibetan Buddhist scriptures.[6] There is a Mosque, Kalimpong Anjuman Islamia Established in 1887 in the bazaar area of Kalimpong.[57]
Popular Hindu festivals include Dashain, Tihar, Cultural Programme and the Tibetan festival of Losar. Languages spoken in Kalimpong include Nepali, which is the predominant language; Lepcha, Limbu, Tamang, Kirat, Hindi, English and Bengali.[2] Though there is a growing interest in cricket as a winter sport in Darjeeling Hills, football still remains the most popular sport in Kalimpong.[58] Every year since 1947, the Independence Shield Football Tournament is organized here as part of the two-day-long Independence Day celebrations.[59] Former captain of India national football team, Pem Dorjee hails from Kalimpong.[60]
A popular snack in Kalimpong is the momo, steamed dumplings made of pork, beef or vegetable cooked in a wrapping of flour and served with watery soup. Wai-Wai is a packaged Nepalese snack made of noodles which are eaten either dry or in soup form. Churpee, a kind of hard cheese made from yak's or chauri's (a hybrid of yak and cattle) milk, is sometimes chewed.[61] A form of noodle called Thukpa, served in soup form is popular in Kalimpong.[62] There are a large number of restaurants which offer a wide variety of cuisines, ranging from Indian to continental, to cater to the tourists. Tea is the most popular beverage in Kalimpong, procured from the famed Darjeeling tea gardens. Kalimpong has a golf course besides Kalimpong Circuit House.[2][63]
The cultural centres in Kalimpong include, the Lepcha Museum and the Zang Dhok Palri Phodang monastery. The Lepcha Museum, a kilometre away from the town centre, showcases the culture of the Lepcha community, the indigenous peoples of Sikkim. The Zang Dhok Palri Phodong monastery has 108 volumes of the Kangyur, and belongs to the Gelug of Buddhism.
Media
Kalimpong has access to most of the television channels aired in the rest of India. Cable Television still provides service to many homes in the town and it's outskirts, while DTH connections are now practically mandatory throughout the country. Besides mainstream Indian channels, many Nepali-language channels such as Dainandini DD, Kalimpong Television KTv, Haal Khabar (an association of the Hill Channel Network), Jan Sarokar, Himalayan People's Channel (HPC), and Kalimpong Times are broadcast in Kalimpong. These channels, which mainly broadcast locally relevant news, are produced by regional media houses and news networks, and are broadcast through the local cable network, which is now slowly becoming defunct due to the Indian government's ruling on mandatory digitization of TV channels. The movie production houses like JBU films produces the movies on the nepali and other languages.
Newspapers in Kalimpong include English language dailies The Statesman and The Telegraph, which are printed in Siliguri,[65][66] and The Economic Times and the Hindustan Times, which are printed in Kolkata.
Among other languages, Nepali, Hindi and Bengali are prominent vernacular languages used in this region.[25] Newspapers in all these four languages are available in the Darjeeling Hills region. Of the largely circulated Nepali newspapers Himalay Darpan, Swarnabhumi and some Sikkim-based Nepali newspapers like Hamro Prajashakti and Samay Dainik are read most.[67] The Tibet Mirror was the first Tibetan-language newspaper published in Kalimpong in 1925.[68] while Himalayan Times was the first English to have come out from Kalimpong in the year 1947, it was closed down in the year 1962 after the Chinese aggression but was started once again and is now in regular print. Internet service and Internet cafés are well established; these are mostly served through broadband, data card of different mobile services, WLL, dialup lines,[69][70] Kalimpong News, Kalimpong Online News, Kalimpong Times and KTV are the main online news sites that collect and present local and North Bengal & Sikkim news from its own agencies like KalimNews and other newspapers. Besides this there are others like kalimpong.info, kalimpongexpress.blogspot.com and several others. All India Radio and several other National and Private Channels including FM Radio are received in Kalimpong.
The area is serviced by major telecommunication companies of India with most types of cellular services in most areas.
Education
There are fifteen major schools in Kalimpong, the most notable ones being Scottish Universities Mission Institution, Dr. Graham's Homes, St Joseph's Convent, St. Augustine's School, Rockvale Academy, Saptashri Gyanpeeth, Springdale Academy, St. Philomenas School, Kalimpong Girls' High School, Kumdini Homes, Chandramaya High School, Lolay Sampu High School and Gandhi Ashram School. The Scottish Universities Mission Institution was the first school that was opened in 1886. The schools offer education up to high secondary standard, following which students may choose to join a Junior College or carry on with additional two years of schooling.
Kalimpong College, Cluny Women's College and Rockvale Management College are the main colleges in the town. Former two are affiliated to the North Bengal University and the latter affiliated to West Bengal University of Technology and apart from these, Good Shepherd IHM (Hotel management Institution) offers courses on hospitality sectors. Most students however, choose to further their studies in Siliguri, Kolkata, and other colleges in the Indian metropolis. The Tharpa Choling Monastery, at Tirpai Hill near Kalimpong, is managed by Yellow Hat sect and has a library of Tibetan manuscripts and thankas.
Flora and fauna
The area around Kalimpong lies in the Eastern Himalayas, which is classified as an ecological hotspot, one of only three among the ecoregions of India. Neora Valley National Park lies within the Kalimpong subdivision and is home to tigers.[72] Acacia is the most commonly found species at lower altitudes, while cinnamon, ficus, bamboo and cardamom, are found in the hillsides around Kalimpong. The forests found at higher altitudes are made up of pine trees and other evergreen alpine vegetation. Seven species of rhododendrons are found in the region east of Kalimpong. The temperate deciduous forests include oak, birch, maple and alder. Three hundred species of orchid are found around Kalimpong.
The Red panda, Clouded leopard, Siberian weasel, Asiatic black bear,[75] barking deer,[76] Himalayan tahr, goral, gaur[76] and pangolin are some of the fauna found near Kalimpong. Avifauna of the region include the pheasants, cuckoos, minivets, flycatchers, bulbuls, orioles, owls, partridges, sunbirds, warblers, swallows, swifts and woodpeckers.
Kalimpong is a major production centre of gladioli in India,[78] and orchids, which are exported to many parts of the world. The Rishi Bankim Chandra Park is an ecological museums within Kalimpong Citrus Dieback Research Station at Kalimpong works towards control of diseases, plant protection and production of disease free orange seedlings.
Kalimpong is also famous for their rich practice of cactus cultivation. Its nurseries attract people from far and wide for the absolutely stunning collection of cacti they cultivate. The strains of cacti, though not indigenous to the locale, have been carefully cultivated over the years, and now the town boasts one of the most fascinating and exhaustive collections of the Cactaceae family. The plants have adapted well to the altitude and environment, and now prove to be one of the chief draws of tourism to the township.
West Bengal (/bɛŋˈɡɔːl/, Bengali: Paschim Banga [ˈpoʃtʃim ˈbɔŋgo] (About this soundlisten)) is a state in the eastern region of India along the Bay of Bengal. With over 91 million inhabitants, it is the fourth-most populous state and the fourteenth-largest state by area in India. Covering an area of 88,752 km2 (34,267 sq mi), it is also the eighth-most populous country subdivision of the world. Part of the Bengal region of the Indian subcontinent, it borders Bangladesh in the east, and Nepal and Bhutan in the north. It also borders the Indian states of Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar, Sikkim and Assam. The state capital is Kolkata, the third-largest metropolis, and seventh largest city by population in India. West Bengal includes the Darjeeling Himalayan hill region, the Ganges delta, the Rarh region and the coastal Sundarbans. The state's main ethnic group are the Bengalis, with the Bengali Hindus forming the demographic majority.
The area's early history featured a succession of Indian empires, internal squabbling, and a tussle between Hinduism and Buddhism for dominance. Ancient Bengal was the site of several major Janapadas, while the earliest cities date back to the Vedic period. The region was part of several ancient pan−Indian empires, including the Vangas, Mauryans, and the Guptas. The citadel of Gauḍa served as the capital of the Gauḍa Kingdom, the Pala Empire, and the Sena Empire. Islam was introduced through trade with the Abbasid Caliphate, but following the Ghurid conquests led by Bakhtiyar Khalji and the establishment of the Delhi Sultanate, the Muslim faith spread across the entire Bengal region. During the Bengal Sultanate, the territory was a major trading nation in the world, and was often referred by the Europeans as the "richest country to trade with". It was absorbed into the Mughal Empire in 1576. Simultaneously, some parts of the region were ruled by several Hindu states, and Baro-Bhuyan landlords, and part of it was briefly overrun by the Suri Empire. Following the death of Emperor Aurangzeb in the early 1700s, the proto-industrialised Mughal Bengal became a semi-independent state under the Nawabs of Bengal, and showed signs of the first Industrial revolution.[8][9] The region was later conquered by the British East India Company at the Battle of Plassey in 1757 and became part of the Bengal Presidency.[10][11]
The region was a hotbed of the Indian independence movement and has remained one of India's great artistic and intellectual centres.[12] Following widespread religious violence, the Bengal Legislative Council and the Bengal Legislative Assembly voted on the Partition of Bengal in 1947 along religious lines into two independent dominions: West Bengal, a Hindu-majority Indian state, and East Bengal, a Muslim-majority province of Pakistan which later became the independent Bangladesh.
Post Indian independence, West Bengal's economy is based on agricultural production and small and medium-sized enterprises.[13] For many decades the state underwent political violence and economic stagnation.[14] Today, the economy of West Bengal is the sixth-largest state economy in India with a gross state domestic product (GSDP) of ₹12.54 lakh crore (US$180 billion),[3] and has the country's 23rd-highest GSDP per capita of ₹115,748 (US$1,600).[3] West Bengal also has the 28th-highest ranking among Indian states in human development index, with the index value being less than that of India.[5] The state government debt of ₹4.0 lakh crore (US$56 billion), or 32.6% of GSDP, is fifth highest India, but has dropped from 40.65% since 2010–11.[15][16] There is moderate unemployment.[17] West Bengal has two World Heritage sites and ranks as the seventh-most visited tourist destination in India.
One of my favourite photos of the boys. They had just barked at some fishermen (most unamused). Five mimutes before taking this, Rupert had a swim in the lake.
no time stood for long; no moment endured
forever, each moment proclaimed the business
of the moment, in every moment, hidden or
manifest, there was a possible fulfillment, each
moment made its demand, and each its offer,
each was a sphere: each held to its sphericity a
moment.
-Robert Lax,
the
red
(grow
ing
dark)
con
front
ed
the
blue
the
blue
(grow-
ing
red)
con
front
ed
the
red
the
red
(grow
ing
blue)
con
front
ed
the
blue
the
blue
(grow
ing
dark)
con
front
ed
the
red
-Robert Lax
(From A Line in Three Circles-The Inner Biography of Robert Lax, Sigrid Hauff)
Decisions to be made!
Partner, would you rather have a cute little snail or a garbage can with a lid? (The first wise-acre who says a snail ON a garbage can, is gonna get bopped on the head!)
I've ordered this snail pattern and I'll shrink it down to pincushion size- Please click the link to see a much better rendition! Cute, right? It might get something underneath it, to ground it, or it might not. :)
www.vanillahousedesigns.com/p184-stuffed-snail/
Or I can attempt to make a garbage can, about the size of a tomato paste can, with a lid. Hopefully it'll have storage inside it for small tools, or even, TRASH! I'm picturing silver colored felted wool.
“A possible pattern for the meridional circulation in the atmosphere of Venus”
Above per the caption associated with a diagrammatical representation (Figure 6-37) of the image, from “PIONEERING VENUS: A Planet Unveiled” co-written by Richard O. Fimmel, Lawrence Colin & Eric Burgess, from whose estate it originates.
With the following pertinent/accompanying extract:
“Dynamical Processes
The cloud system is embedded in the general circulation of the atmosphere at altitudes of greatest wind velocity and vertical wind shear. Atmospheric motions consist mainly of a zonal circulation. The atmosphere moves from east to west with velocities increasing from a few meters per second at the surface to sometimes as high as 150m/sec (490 ft/sec) at cloud tops. The average cloud top velocity corresponds roughly to the four-day circulation.
Also, the data suggest a major, although much slower, north-south circulation at several meters per second. It occurs at altitudes corresponding to the cloud region. There seems to be atmospheric movement from equator to poles at altitudes corresponding to the tops of the clouds. The movement subsides at the poles. Return flow toward the equator is at altitudes that match the lower part of the main cloud region. The atmosphere rises again near the equatorial region. Such north-south cellular motions are called Hadley cells. The combination of east-west and north-south motions produces vortices in the polar region. These affect the haze layer and produce an apparent cloud top depression in the vortices. They also might be the reason for the “pileup” of high latitude hazes and the even higher latitude “cold ring” observed by the Orbiter’s instruments. Figure 6-37 is a schematic drawing of the suggested circulation pattern.”
At a Tamil website, with a very similar image, the cells - from the planet’s surface outward - are labeled as follows: SURFACE CIRCULATION CELL (brown), MID-ALTITUDE CELLS (lavender?), SUB-CLOUD CELL (blue), CIRCULATION DRIVER CELL (CLOUD LAYER) (light tan) & tenuous-looking STRATOSPHERE CELL. The other labeled features such as SURFACE, POLAR VORTICES & CLOUD TOPS are self-evident.
Accompanied by the following, taken from whatever original source document was cited:
“Venus’ atmospheric circulations: Solar energy is absorbed in the cloud layer, which covers the planet. The upper layer carries heat from the equator to the poles where it sinks, returns to the equator, heats, and rises again. The driver cell engages other cells above and below it, like a train of counter-rotating gears, mixing the planet’s atmosphere thoroughly.”
Respectively, the above are from:
www.scribd.com/document/46302082/Pioneering-Venus-a-Plane...
Credit: SCRIBD website
Credit: திண்ணை: தமிழின் முதல் இணைய வாரப்பத்திரிக்கை (Tinnai: Tamil's first web weekly) website
Artwork by Rick Guidice.
Wildfire mitigation strategies involve clearing the underbrush from the forest floor near buildings.
... or "the beauty of doing nothing".
Sleeping in, reading a book, going out on a leisurely walk, taking a nap, ordering room service, and letting nothing (and no one) dictate your activities for the day. Pure bliss - this is what vacations are all about.
Oh, and today, I saw a couple of men in bunny costumes. More for April Fool's than Easter, I think.