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The KALISTO Tierpark (often referred to as the Kalisto Zoo) is a charming, family-friendly animal park located in Kamp-Lintfort, Germany, within the scenic Lower Rhine region. Nestled inside the historic Zechenpark - the site of the former Friedrich Heinrich colliery - the zoo beautifully blends industrial heritage with nature. It has become a beloved recreational oasis for locals and travelers alike, especially noted for its picturesque setting featuring a towering, historic mining shaft deck that acts as a backdrop to the green space.
Designed primarily with young children in mind, the park focuses heavily on creating close, memorable interactions between visitors and its animal residents. Rather than housing massive or exotic predators, Kalisto features a welcoming array of mostly domestic and small animals. Visitors can get up close to pet and feed approachable creatures like alpacas, sheep, rabbits, guinea pigs, chickens, and runner ducks, making it an excellent educational space for toddler and primary school-aged kids.
Among the most popular highlights of the zoo are its daily interactive events and specialized animal exhibits. Guests can gather to watch enthusiastic feeding sessions for the resident ferrets, ducks, and chickens, or spend time observing the playful antics of the park's popular meerkat clan. Because the staff prioritizes the animals' well-being and enrichment, it is not uncommon to see the zookeepers taking some of the animals out for casual walks right through the open paths of the public park.
Beyond the animal enclosures, Kalisto functions as a comprehensive, relaxing day-trip destination. The park features an integrated café where parents can unwind with coffee, light snacks, or ice cream while their children explore the massive, neighboring adventure playground. With its affordable admission, certified barrier-free accessibility, and unique therapeutic programs, the park provides a highly inclusive, community-focused environment where families can comfortably spend an entire afternoon.
ms Rotterdam and ms Zaandam are in the Bay of Panama. While waiting for what was to come the Zaandam captain shared some disturbing news.
10:50 March 27:
Captain’s Announcement:
"4 people on the Zaandam have died in the last few days. Two cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed today.
There are still people with symptoms showing up.
This is making for a very challenging situation".
By the time we docked in Ft. Lauderdale 03 April, and we were off the ship 8 people had perished - 1 heart attack, 7 COVID-19 including 1 crew member.
10 critically ill passengers were rushed to a local hospital for immediate care and another 45 who were unwell remained on board until they were cleared for travel.
27 March:
HAL HQ sent the following:
Zaandam will start transferring only healthy guest to the Rotterdam after Zaandam anchors beside the Rotterdam. Anchoring will begin approximately 11:30.
The transfer process will not start until the Rotterdam has been fuelled.
Those to be transferred today will receive a letter at the cabin door within the hour. They will prioritize those with inside cabins and those over 70.
No crew transfers will occur.
If you do not get a letter you will not be transferred today.
If this is successful transfers will continue over the weekend.
The ship is still waiting for a canal time and both ships will travel together.
Heading home from Green Things with a red grapefruit plant on the backseat.
I captured these lovely A-10s from Davis-Monthan AFB in Tucson through the passenger's windshield. I think we were stopped at a traffic light on Pima in Tucson, Arizona, USA. This is cropped from a moderate angle shot.
These A-10s are constantly in use for training. They are an amazingly effective anti-tank weapon for the Army. The Air Force keeps wanting to kill their budget. I believe we need an Army Air Force with its own budget.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairchild_Republic_A-10_Thunderbolt_II
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Design
Overview
Side-view drawing of aircraft with cut-throughs showing crucial internal components
A-10 inboard profile drawing
The A-10 has a cantilever low-wing monoplane wing with a wide chord.[32] The aircraft has superior maneuverability at low speeds and altitudes because of its large wing area, high wing aspect ratio, and large ailerons. The wing also allows short takeoffs and landings, permitting operations from primitive forward airfields near front lines. The aircraft can loiter for extended periods and operate under 1,000-foot (300 m) ceilings with 1.5-mile (2.4 km) visibility. It typically flies at a relatively low speed of 300 knots (350 mph; 560 km/h), which makes it a better platform for the ground-attack role than fast fighter-bombers, which often have difficulty targeting small, slow-moving targets.[52]
The leading edge of the wing has a honeycomb structure panel construction, providing strength with minimal weight; similar panels cover the flap shrouds, elevators, rudders, and sections of the fins.[53] The skin panels are integral with the stringers and are fabricated using computer-controlled machining, reducing production time and cost. Combat experience has shown that this type of panel is more resistant to damage. The skin is not load-bearing, so damaged skin sections can be easily replaced in the field, with makeshift materials if necessary.[54] The ailerons are at the far ends of the wings for a greater rolling moment and have two distinguishing features: The ailerons are larger than is typical, almost 50 percent of the wingspan, providing improved control even at slow speeds; the aileron is also split, making it a deceleron.[55][56]
The A-10 is designed to be refueled, rearmed, and serviced with minimal equipment.[57] Its simple design enables maintenance at forward bases with limited facilities.[58][59] An unusual feature is that many of the aircraft's parts are interchangeable between the left and right sides, including the engines, main landing gear, and vertical stabilizers. The sturdy landing gear, low-pressure tires, and large, straight wings allow operation from short rough strips even with a heavy aircraft ordnance load, allowing the aircraft to operate from damaged airbases, flying from taxiways, or even straight roadway sections.[60]
The front landing gear is offset to the aircraft's right to allow placement of the 30 mm cannon with its firing barrel along the centerline of the aircraft.[61] During ground taxi, the offset front landing gear causes the A-10 to have dissimilar turning radii. Turning to the right on the ground takes less distance than turning left.[Note 1] The wheels of the main landing gear partially protrude from their nacelles when retracted, making gear-up belly landings easier to control and less damaging. All landing gears retract forward; if hydraulic power is lost, a combination of gravity and aerodynamic drag can lower and lock the gear in place.[56]
Durability
The A-10 is exceptionally tough, being able to survive direct hits from armor-piercing and high-explosive projectiles up to 23 mm. It has double-redundant hydraulic flight systems, and a mechanical system as a backup if hydraulics are lost. Flight without hydraulic power uses the manual reversion control system; pitch and yaw control engages automatically, roll control is pilot-selected. In manual reversion mode, the A-10 is sufficiently controllable under favorable conditions to return to base, though control forces are greater than normal. The aircraft is designed to be able to fly with one engine, half of the tail, one elevator, and half of a wing missing.[62]
The cockpit and parts of the flight-control systems are protected by 1,200 lb (540 kg) of titanium aircraft armor, referred to as a "bathtub".[63][64] The armor has been tested to withstand strikes from 23 mm cannon fire and some strikes from 57 mm rounds.[59][63] It is made up of titanium plates with thicknesses varying from 0.5 to 1.5 inches (13 to 38 mm) determined by a study of likely trajectories and deflection angles. The armor makes up almost six percent of the aircraft's empty weight. Any interior surface of the tub directly exposed to the pilot is covered by a multi-layer nylon spall shield to protect against shell fragmentation.[65][66] The front windscreen and canopy are resistant to small arms fire.[67]
The A-10's durability was demonstrated on 7 April 2003 when Captain Kim Campbell, while flying over Baghdad during the 2003 invasion of Iraq, suffered extensive flak damage. Iraqi fire damaged one of her engines and crippled the hydraulic system, requiring the aircraft's stabilizer and flight controls to be operated via the 'manual reversion mode.' Despite this damage, Campbell flew the aircraft for nearly an hour and landed safely.[68][69]
The A-10 was intended to fly from forward air bases and semi-prepared runways with a high risk of foreign object damage to the engines. The unusual location of the General Electric TF34-GE-100 turbofan engines decreases ingestion risk and allows the engines to run while the aircraft is serviced and rearmed by ground crews, reducing turn-around time. The wings are also mounted closer to the ground, simplifying servicing and rearming operations. The heavy engines require strong supports: four bolts connect the engine pylons to the airframe.[70] The engines' high 6:1 bypass ratio contributes to a relatively small infrared signature, and their position directs exhaust over the tailplanes further shielding it from detection by infrared homing surface-to-air missiles. The engines' exhaust nozzles are angled nine degrees below horizontal to cancel out the nose-down pitching moment that would otherwise be generated from being mounted above the aircraft's center of gravity and avoid the need to trim the control surfaces to prevent pitching.[70]
To reduce the likelihood of damage to the A-10's fuel system, all four fuel tanks are located near the aircraft's center and are separated from the fuselage; projectiles would need to penetrate the aircraft's skin before reaching a tank's outer skin.[65][66] Compromised fuel transfer lines self-seal; if damage exceeds a tank's self-sealing capabilities, check valves prevent fuel from flowing into a compromised tank. Most fuel system components are inside the tanks so that fuel will not be lost due to component failure. The refueling system is also purged after use.[71] Reticulated polyurethane foam lines both the inner and outer sides of the fuel tanks, retaining debris and restricting fuel spillage in the event of damage. The engines are shielded from the rest of the airframe by firewalls and fire extinguishing equipment. In the event of all four main tanks being lost, two self-sealing sump tanks contain fuel for 230 miles (370 km) of flight.[65][66]
Since the A-10 operates extremely close to enemy positions, where it is an easy target for MANPADS, surface-to-air missiles (SAMs), and enemy fighters, it can carry up to 480 flares and 480 chaff cartridges, which is more than any other fighter, but usually flies with a mix of both.[72]
Weapons
Although the A-10 can carry a considerable amount of munitions, its primary built-in weapon is the 30×173 mm GAU-8/A Avenger autocannon. One of the most powerful aircraft cannons ever flown, it fires large depleted uranium armor-piercing shells. The GAU-8 is a hydraulically driven seven-barrel rotary cannon designed specifically for the anti-tank role with a high rate of fire. The cannon's original design could be switched by the pilot to 2,100 or 4,200 rounds per minute;[73] this was later changed to a fixed rate of 3,900 rounds per minute.[74] The cannon takes about half a second to reach top speed, so 50 rounds are fired during the first second, 65 or 70 rounds per second thereafter. The gun is accurate enough to place 80 percent of its shots within a 40-foot (12.4 m) diameter circle from 4,000 feet (1,220 m) while in flight.[75] The GAU-8 is optimized for a slant range of 4,000 feet (1,220 m) with the A-10 in a 30-degree dive.[76]
Front view of the A-10's GAU-8 installation
The fuselage of the aircraft is built around the cannon. The GAU-8/A is mounted slightly to the port side; the barrel in the firing location is on the starboard side at the 9 o'clock position so it is aligned with the aircraft's centerline. The gun's 5-foot, 11.5-inch (1.816 m) ammunition drum can hold up to 1,350 rounds of 30 mm ammunition,[61] but generally holds 1,174 rounds.[76] To protect the GAU-8/A rounds from enemy fire, armor plates of differing thicknesses between the aircraft skin and the drum are designed to detonate incoming shells.[61][66]
The AGM-65 Maverick air-to-surface missile is a commonly used munition for the A-10, targeted via electro-optical (TV-guided) or infrared. The Maverick allows target engagement at much greater ranges than the cannon, and thus less risk from anti-aircraft systems. During Desert Storm, in the absence of dedicated forward-looking infrared (FLIR) cameras for night vision, the Maverick's infrared camera was used for night missions as a "poor man's FLIR".[77] Other weapons include cluster bombs and Hydra rocket pods.[78] The A-10 is equipped to carry GPS and laser-guided bombs, such as the GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb, Paveway series bombs, JDAM, WCMD and glide bomb AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapon.[79] A-10s usually fly with an ALQ-131 ECM pod under one wing and two AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles under the other wing for self-defense.[80]
Modernization
The A-10 Precision Engagement Modification Program from 2006 to 2010 updated all A-10 and OA-10 aircraft in the fleet to the A-10C standard with a new flight computer, new glass cockpit displays and controls, two new 5.5-inch (140 mm) color displays with moving map function, and an integrated digital stores management system.[18][43][44][81]
Since then, the A-10 Common Fleet Initiative has led to further improvements: a new wing design, a new data link, the ability to employ smart weapons such as the Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) and Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser, as well as the newer GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb, and the ability to carry an integrated targeting pod such as the Northrop Grumman LITENING or the Lockheed Martin Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod (ATP). Also included is the Remotely Operated Video Enhanced Receiver (ROVER) to provide sensor data to personnel on the ground.[43] The A-10C has a Missile Warning System (MWS), which alerts the pilot to whenever there is a missile launch, friendly or non-friendly. The A-10C can also carry an ALQ-184 ECM Pod, which works with the MWS to detect a missile launch, figure out what kind of vehicle is launching the missile or flak (i.e.: SAM, aircraft, flak, MANPAD, etc.), and then jams it with confidential emitting, and selects a countermeasure program that the pilot has pre-set, that when turned on, will automatically dispense flare and chaff at pre-set intervals and amounts.[82]
Colors and markings
Since the A-10 flies low to the ground and at subsonic speed, aircraft camouflage is important to make the aircraft more difficult to see. Many different types of paint schemes have been tried. These have included a "peanut scheme" of sand, yellow, and field drab; black and white colors for winter operations, and a tan, green, and brown mixed pattern.[83] Many A-10s also featured a false canopy painted in dark gray on the underside of the aircraft, just behind the gun. This form of automimicry is an attempt to confuse the enemy as to aircraft attitude and maneuver direction.[84][85] Many A-10s feature nose art, such as shark mouth or warthog head features.
The two most common markings applied to the A-10 have been the European I woodland camouflage scheme and a two-tone gray scheme. The European woodland scheme was designed to minimize visibility from above, as the threat from hostile fighter aircraft was felt to outweigh that from ground-fire. It uses dark green, medium green, and dark gray in order to blend in with the typical European forest terrain and was used from the 1980s to the early 1990s. Following the end of the Cold War, and based on experience during the 1991 Gulf War, the air-to-air threat was no longer seen to be as important as that from ground fire, and a new color scheme known as "Compass Ghost" was chosen to minimize visibility from below. This two-tone gray scheme has darker gray color on top, with the lighter gray on the underside of the aircraft, and started to be applied from the early 1990s.[86]
Operational history
Entering service
The first unit to receive the A-10 Thunderbolt II was the 355th Tactical Training Wing, based at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, in March 1976.[87] The first unit to achieve full combat-readiness was the 354th Tactical Fighter Wing at Myrtle Beach Air Force Base, South Carolina, in October 1977.[1] Deployments of A-10As followed at bases both at home and abroad, including England AFB, Louisiana; Eielson AFB, Alaska; Osan Air Base, South Korea; and RAF Bentwaters/RAF Woodbridge, England. The 81st TFW of RAF Bentwaters/RAF Woodbridge operated rotating detachments of A-10s at four bases in Germany known as Forward Operating Locations (FOLs): Leipheim, Sembach Air Base, Nörvenich Air Base, and RAF Ahlhorn.[88]
A-10s were initially an unwelcome addition to many in the Air Force. Most pilots switching to the A-10 did not want to because fighter pilots traditionally favored speed and appearance.[89] In 1987, many A-10s were shifted to the forward air control (FAC) role and redesignated OA-10.[90] In the FAC role, the OA-10 is typically equipped with up to six pods of 2.75 inch (70 mm) Hydra rockets, usually with smoke or white phosphorus warheads used for target marking. OA-10s are physically unchanged and remain fully combat capable despite the redesignation.[91]
A-10s of the 23rd TFW were deployed to Bridgetown, Barbados during Operation Urgent Fury, the American Invasion of Grenada. They provided air cover for the U.S. Marine Corps landings on the island of Carriacou in late October 1983, but did not fire weapons as Marines met no resistance.[92][93][94]
Gulf War and Balkans
The A-10 was used in combat for the first time during the Gulf War in 1991, destroying more than 900 Iraqi tanks, 2,000 other military vehicles, and 1,200 artillery pieces.[10] A-10s also shot down two Iraqi helicopters with the GAU-8 cannon. The first of these was shot down by Captain Robert Swain over Kuwait on 6 February 1991 for the A-10's first air-to-air victory.[95][96] Four A-10s were shot down during the war by surface-to-air missiles. Another two battle-damaged A-10s and OA-10As returned to base and were written off. Some sustained additional damage in crash landings.[97][98] The A-10 had a mission-capable rate of 95.7 percent, flew 8,100 sorties, and launched 90 percent of the AGM-65 Maverick missiles fired in the conflict.[99] Shortly after the Gulf War, the Air Force abandoned the idea of replacing the A-10 with a close air support version of the F-16.[100]
U.S. Air Force A-10 aircraft fired approximately 10,000 30 mm rounds in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1994–95. Following the seizure of some heavy weapons by Bosnian Serbs from a warehouse in Ilidža, a series of sorties were launched to locate and destroy the captured equipment. On 5 August 1994, two A-10s located and strafed an anti-tank vehicle. Afterward, the Serbs agreed to return remaining heavy weapons.[101] In August 1995, NATO launched an offensive called Operation Deliberate Force. A-10s flew close air support missions, attacking Bosnian Serb artillery and positions. In late September, A-10s began flying patrols again.[102]
A-10s returned to the Balkan region as part of Operation Allied Force in Kosovo beginning in March 1999.[102] In March 1999, A-10s escorted and supported search and rescue helicopters in finding a downed F-117 pilot.[103] The A-10s were deployed to support search and rescue missions, but over time the Warthogs began to receive more ground attack missions. The A-10's first successful attack in Operation Allied Force happened on 6 April 1999; A-10s remained in action until combat ended in late June 1999.[104]
Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, and recent deployments
During the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan, the A-10s did not take part in the initial stages. For the campaign against Taliban and Al Qaeda, A-10 squadrons were deployed to Pakistan and Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, beginning in March 2002. These A-10s participated in Operation Anaconda. Afterward, A-10s remained in-country, fighting Taliban and Al Qaeda remnants.[105]
Operation Iraqi Freedom began on 20 March 2003. Sixty OA-10/A-10 aircraft took part in early combat there.[106] The United States Air Forces Central Command issued Operation Iraqi Freedom: By the Numbers, a declassified report about the aerial campaign in the conflict on 30 April 2003. During that initial invasion of Iraq, A-10s had a mission capable rate of 85 percent in the war and fired 311,597 rounds of 30 mm ammunition. A single A-10 was shot down near Baghdad International Airport by Iraqi fire late in the campaign. The A-10 also flew 32 missions in which the aircraft dropped propaganda leaflets over Iraq.[107]
In September 2007, the A-10C with the Precision Engagement Upgrade reached initial operating capability.[81] The A-10C first deployed to Iraq in 2007 with the 104th Fighter Squadron of the Maryland Air National Guard.[108] The A-10C's digital avionics and communications systems have greatly reduced the time to acquire a close air support target and attack it.[109]
A-10s flew 32 percent of combat sorties in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. The sorties ranged from 27,800 to 34,500 annually between 2009 and 2012. In the first half of 2013, they flew 11,189 sorties in Afghanistan.[110] From the beginning of 2006 to October 2013, A-10s conducted 19 percent of CAS missions in Iraq and Afghanistan, more than the F-15E Strike Eagle and B-1B Lancer, but less than the 33 percent flown by F-16s.[111]
In March 2011, six A-10s were deployed as part of Operation Odyssey Dawn, the coalition intervention in Libya. They participated in attacks on Libyan ground forces there.[112][113]
The USAF 122nd Fighter Wing revealed it would deploy to the Middle East in October 2014 with 12 of the unit's 21 A-10 aircraft. Although the deployment had been planned a year in advance in a support role, the timing coincided with the ongoing Operation Inherent Resolve against ISIL militants.[114][115][116] From mid-November, U.S. commanders began sending A-10s to hit IS targets in central and northwestern Iraq on an almost daily basis.[117][118] In about two months time, A-10s flew 11 percent of all USAF sorties since the start of operations in August 2014.[119] On 15 November 2015, two days after the ISIL attacks in Paris, A-10s and AC-130s destroyed a convoy of over 100 ISIL-operated oil tanker trucks in Syria. The attacks were part of an intensification of the U.S.-led intervention against ISIL called Operation Tidal Wave II (named after Operation Tidal Wave during World War II, a failed attempt to raid German oil fields) in an attempt to cut off oil smuggling as a source of funding for the group.[120]
On 19 January 2018, 12 A-10s from the 303d Expeditionary Fighter Squadron were deployed to Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, to provide close-air support, marking the first time in more than three years A-10s had been deployed to Afghanistan.[121]
Future
The future of the platform remains the subject of debate. In 2007, the USAF expected the A-10 to remain in service until 2028 and possibly later,[122] when it would likely be replaced by the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II.[38] However, critics have said that replacing the A-10 with the F-35 would be a "giant leap backwards" given the A-10's performance and the F-35's high costs.[123] In 2012, the Air Force considered the F-35B STOVL variant as a replacement CAS aircraft, but concluded that the aircraft could not generate sufficient sorties.[124] In August 2013, Congress and the Air Force examined various proposals, including the F-35 and the MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicle filling the A-10's role. Proponents state that the A-10's armor and cannon are superior to aircraft such as the F-35 for ground attack, that guided munitions other planes rely upon could be jammed, and that ground commanders frequently request A-10 support.[110]
In the USAF's FY 2015 budget, the service considered retiring the A-10 and other single-mission aircraft, prioritizing multi-mission aircraft; cutting a whole fleet and its infrastructure was seen as the only method for major savings. The U.S. Army had expressed interest in obtaining some A-10s should the Air Force retire them,[125][126] but later stated there was "no chance" of that happening.[127] The U.S. Air Force stated that retirement would save $3.7 billion from 2015 to 2019. The prevalence of guided munitions allow more aircraft to perform the CAS mission and reduces the requirement for specialized aircraft; since 2001 multirole aircraft and bombers have performed 80 percent of operational CAS missions. The Air Force also said that the A-10 was more vulnerable to advanced anti-aircraft defenses, but the Army replied that the A-10 had proved invaluable because of its versatile weapons loads, psychological impact, and limited logistics needs on ground support systems.[128]
In January 2015, USAF officials told lawmakers that it would take 15 years to fully develop a new attack aircraft to replace the A-10;[129] that year General Herbert J. Carlisle, the head of Air Combat Command, stated that a follow-on weapon system for the A-10 may need to be developed.[130] It planned for F-16s and F-15Es to initially take up CAS sorties, and later by the F-35A once sufficient numbers become operationally available over the next decade.[131] In July 2015, Boeing held initial discussions on the prospects of selling retired or stored A-10s in near-flyaway condition to international customers.[42] However, the Air Force then said that it would not permit the aircraft to be sold.[132]
Plans to develop a replacement aircraft were announced by the US Air Combat Command in August 2015.[133][134] Early the following year, the Air Force began studying future CAS aircraft to succeed the A-10 in low-intensity "permissive conflicts" like counterterrorism and regional stability operations, admitting that the F-35 would be too expensive to operate in day-to-day roles. A wide range of platforms were under consideration, including everything from low-end AT-6 Wolverine and A-29 Super Tucano turboprops and the Textron AirLand Scorpion as more basic off-the-shelf options to more sophisticated clean-sheet attack aircraft or "AT-X" derivatives of the T-X next-generation trainer as entirely new attack platforms.[131][135][136]
In January 2016, the USAF was "indefinitely freezing" plans to retire the A-10 for at least several years. In addition to Congressional opposition, its use in anti-ISIL operations, deployments to Eastern Europe as a response to Russia's military intervention in Ukraine, and reevaluation of F-35 numbers necessitated its retention.[137][138] In February 2016, the Air Force deferred the final retirement of the aircraft until 2022 after being replaced by F-35s on a squadron-by-squadron basis.[139][140] In October 2016, the Air Force Material Command brought the depot maintenance line back to full capacity in preparation for re-winging the fleet.[141] In June 2017, it was announced that the aircraft "...will now be kept in the air force’s inventory indefinitely."[142][5]
Other uses
On 25 March 2010, an A-10 conducted the first flight of an aircraft with all engines powered by a biofuel blend. The flight, performed at Eglin Air Force Base, used a 1:1 blend of JP-8 and Camelina-based fuel.[143] On 28 June 2012, the A-10 became the first aircraft to fly using a new fuel blend derived from alcohol; known as ATJ (Alcohol-to-Jet), the fuel is cellulosic-based and can be produced using wood, paper, grass, or any cellulose based material, which are fermented into alcohols before being hydro-processed into aviation fuel. ATJ is the third alternative fuel to be evaluated by the Air Force as a replacement for the petroleum-derived JP-8 fuel. Previous types were a synthetic paraffinic kerosene derived from coal and natural gas and a bio-mass fuel derived from plant-oils and animal fats known as Hydroprocessed Renewable Jet.[144]
In 2011, the National Science Foundation granted $11 million to modify an A-10 for weather research for CIRPAS at the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School[145] and in collaboration with scientists from the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology (SDSM&T),[146] replacing SDSM&T's retired North American T-28 Trojan.[147] The A-10's armor is expected to allow it to survive the extreme meteorological conditions, such as 200 mph hailstorms, found in inclement high-altitude weather events.[148]
Variants
YA-10A
Pre-production variant. 12 were built.[149]
A-10A
Single-seat close air support, ground-attack production version.
OA-10A
A-10As used for airborne forward air control.
YA-10B Night/Adverse Weather (N/AW)
Two-seat experimental prototype, for work at night and in bad weather. The one YA-10B prototype was converted from an A-10A.[150][151]
A-10C
A-10As updated under the incremental Precision Engagement (PE) program.[43]
A-10PCAS
Proposed unmanned version developed by Raytheon and Aurora Flight Sciences as part of DARPA's Persistent Close Air Support program.[152] The PCAS program eventually dropped the idea of using an optionally manned A-10.[153]
Civilian A-10
Proposed by the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology to replace its North American T-28 Trojan thunderstorm penetration aircraft. The A-10 would have its military engines, avionics, and oxygen system replaced by civilian versions. The engines and airframe would receive protection from hail, and the GAU-8 Avenger would be replaced with ballast or scientific instruments.[154]
Operators
The A-10 has been flown exclusively by the United States Air Force and its Air Reserve components, the Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) and the Air National Guard (ANG). As of 2017, 282 A-10C aircraft are reported as operational, divided as follows: 141 USAF, 55 AFRC, 86 ANG.[155]
United States
United States Air Force
Air Force Materiel Command
514th Flight Test Squadron (Hill AFB, Utah) (1993-)
23rd Wing
74th Fighter Squadron (Moody AFB, Georgia) (1980-1992, 1996-)
75th Fighter Squadron (Moody AFB, Georgia) (1980-1991, 1992-)
51st Fighter Wing
25th Fighter Squadron (Osan AFB, South Korea) (1982-1989, 1993-)
53d Wing
422d Test and Evaluation Squadron (Nellis AFB, Nevada) (1977-)
57th Wing
66th Weapons Squadron (Nellis AFB, Nevada) (1977-1981, 2003-)
96th Test Wing
40th Flight Test Squadron (Eglin AFB, Florida) (1982-)
122nd Fighter Wing (Indiana ANG)
163d Fighter Squadron (Fort Wayne ANGS, Indiana) (2010-)
124th Fighter Wing (Idaho ANG)
190th Fighter Squadron (Gowen Field ANGB, Idaho) (1996-)
127th Wing (Michigan ANG)
107th Fighter Squadron (Selfridge ANGB, Michigan) (2008-)
175th Wing (Maryland ANG)
104th Fighter Squadron (Warfield ANGB, Maryland) (1979-)
355th Fighter Wing
354th Fighter Squadron (Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona) (1979-1982, 1991-)
357th Fighter Squadron (Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona) (1979-)
442nd Fighter Wing (AFRC)
303d Fighter Squadron (Whiteman AFB, Missouri) (1982-)
476th Fighter Group (AFRC)
76th Fighter Squadron (Moody AFB, Georgia) (1981-1992, 2009-)
495th Fighter Group (AFRC)
358th Fighter Squadron (Whiteman AFB, Missouri) (1979-2014, 2015-)
924th Fighter Group (AFRC)
45th Fighter Squadron (Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona) (1981-1994, 2009-)
47th Fighter Squadron (Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona) (1980-)
926th Wing (AFRC)
706th Fighter Squadron (Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona) (1982-1992, 1997-)
Former squadrons
18th Tactical Fighter Squadron (1982-1991)
23d Tactical Air Support Squadron (1987-1991) (OA-10 unit)
55th Tactical Fighter Squadron (1994-1996)
70th Fighter Squadron (1995-2000)
78th Tactical Fighter Squadron (1979-1992)
81st Fighter Squadron (1994-2013)
91st Tactical Fighter Squadron (1978-1992)
92d Tactical Fighter Squadron (1978-1993)
103d Fighter Squadron (Pennsylvania ANG) (1988-2011) (OA-10 unit)
118th Fighter Squadron (Connecticut ANG) (1979-2008)
131st Fighter Squadron (Massachusetts ANG) (1979-2007)
138th Fighter Squadron (New York ANG) (1979-1989)
172d Fighter Squadron (Michigan ANG) (1991-2009)
176th Tactical Fighter Squadron (Wisconsin ANG) (1981-1993)
184th Fighter Squadron (Arkansas ANG) (2007-2014)
353d Tactical Fighter Squadron (1978-1992)
355th Tactical Fighter Squadron (1978-1992, 1993–2007)
356th Tactical Fighter Squadron (1977-1992)[156]
509th Tactical Fighter Squadron (1979-1992)
510th Tactical Fighter Squadron (1979-1994)
511th Tactical Fighter Squadron (1980-1992)
Aircraft on display
Germany
A-10A
77-0264 – Spangdahlem AB, Bitburg[157]
South Korea
A-10A
76-0515 – Osan AB[158]
United Kingdom
A-10A
77-0259 – American Air Museum at Imperial War Museum Duxford[159]
80-0219 – Bentwaters Cold War Museum[160]
United States
YA-10A
71-1370 – Joint Base Langley-Eustis (Langley AFB), Hampton, Virginia[161]
YA-10B
73-1664 – Air Force Flight Test Center Museum, Edwards AFB, California[162]
A-10A
73-1666 – Hill Aerospace Museum, Hill AFB, Utah[163]
73-1667 – Flying Tiger Heritage Park at the former England AFB, Louisiana[164]
75-0263 – Empire State Aerosciences Museum, Glenville, New York[165]
75-0270 – McChord Air Museum, McChord AFB, Washington[166]
75-0293 – Wings of Eagles Discovery Center, Elmira, New York[167]
75-0288 – Air Force Armament Museum, Eglin AFB, Florida[168]
75-0289 – Heritage Park, Eielson AFB, Alaska[169]
75-0298 – Pima Air & Space Museum (adjacent to Davis-Monthan AFB), Tucson, Arizona[170]
75-0305 – Museum of Aviation, Robins AFB, Warner Robins, Georgia[171]
75-0308 – Moody Heritage Park, Moody AFB, Valdosta, Georgia[172]
75-0309 – Shaw AFB, Sumter, South Carolina. Marked as AF Ser. No. 81-0964 assigned to the 55 FS from 1994 to 1996. The represented aircraft was credited with downing an Iraqi Mi-8 Hip helicopter on 15 Feb 1991 while assigned to the 511 TFS.[173][174]
76-0516 – Wings of Freedom Aviation Museum at the former NAS Willow Grove, Horsham, Pennsylvania[175]
76-0530 – Whiteman AFB, Missouri[176]
76-0535 – Cradle of Aviation, Garden City, New York[177]
76-0540 – Aerospace Museum of California, McClellan Airport (former McClellan AFB), Sacramento, California[178]
77-0199 – Stafford Air & Space Museum, Weatherford, Oklahoma
77-0205 – USAF Academy collection, Colorado Springs, Colorado[179]
77-0228 – Grissom Air Museum, Grissom ARB (former Grissom AFB), Peru, Indiana[180]
77-0244 – Wisconsin Air National Guard Museum, Volk Field ANGB, Wisconsin[181]
77-0252 – Cradle of Aviation, Garden City, New York (nose section only)[182]
77-0667 – England AFB Heritage Park, Alexandria, Louisiana[183]
78-0681 – National Museum of the United States Air Force, Wright-Patterson AFB, Dayton, Ohio[184]
78-0687 – Don F. Pratt Memorial Museum, Fort Campbell, Kentucky[185]
79-0097 – Warbird Park, former Myrtle Beach Air Force Base, South Carolina[186]
79-0100 – Barnes Air National Guard Base, Westfield, Massachusetts[187]
79-0103 – Bradley Air National Guard Base, Windsor Locks, Connecticut[188]
79-0116 – Warrior Park, Davis-Monthan AFB, Tucson, Arizona[189]
79-0173 – New England Air Museum, Windsor Locks, Connecticut[190]
80-0247 – American Airpower Museum, Republic Airport, Farmingdale, New York[191]
80-0708 – Selfridge Military Air Museum, Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Harrison Township, Michigan[192]
Specifications (A-10A)
Data from The Great Book of Modern Warplanes,[193] Fairchild-Republic A/OA-10,[194] USAF[81]
General characteristics
Crew: 1
Length: 53 ft 4 in (16.26 m)
Wingspan: 57 ft 6 in (17.53 m)
Height: 14 ft 8 in (4.47 m)
Wing area: 506 ft2 (47.0 m2)
Airfoil: NACA 6716 root, NACA 6713 tip
Empty weight: 24,959 lb (11,321 kg)
Loaded weight: 30,384 lb (13,782 kg)
CAS mission: 47,094 lb (21,361 kg)
Anti-armor mission: 42,071 lb (19,083 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 50,000 lb[195] (22,700 kg)
Internal fuel capacity: 11,000 lb (4,990 kg)
Powerplant: 2 × General Electric TF34-GE-100A turbofans, 9,065 lbf (40.32 kN) each
Performance
Maximum speed: 381 knots (439 mph, 706 km/h) at sea level, clean[194]
Cruise speed: 300 knots (340 mph, 560 km/h)
Stall speed: 120 knots (138 mph, 220 km/h) [196]
Never exceed speed: 450 knots (518 mph,[194] 833 km/h) at 5,000 ft (1,500 m) with 18 Mk 82 bombs[197]
Combat radius:
CAS mission: 250 nmi (288 mi, 460 km at 1.88 hour loiter at 5,000 ft (1,500 m), 10 min combat
Anti-armor mission: 252 nmi (290 mi, 467 km), 40 nmi (45 mi, 75 km)) sea-level penetration and exit, 30 min combat
Ferry range: 2,240 nmi (2,580 mi, 4,150 km) with 50 knot (55 mph, 90 km/h) headwinds, 20 minutes reserve
Service ceiling: 45,000 ft (13,700 m)
Rate of climb: 6,000 ft/min (30 m/s)
Wing loading: 99 lb/ft2 (482 kg/m2)
Thrust/weight: 0.36
Armament
Guns: 1× 30 mm (1.18 in) GAU-8/A Avenger rotary cannon with 1,174 rounds (original capacity was 1,350 rd)
Hardpoints: 11 (8× under-wing and 3× under-fuselage pylon stations) with a capacity of 16,000 lb (7,260 kg) and provisions to carry combinations of:
Rockets:
4× LAU-61/LAU-68 rocket pods (each with 19×/7× Hydra 70 mm/APKWS[198] rockets, respectively)
6x LAU-131 rocket pods (each with 7x Hydra 70 rockets)[199][200]
Missiles:
2× AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles for self-defense
6× AGM-65 Maverick air-to-surface missiles
Bombs:
Mark 80 series of unguided iron bombs or
Mk 77 incendiary bombs or
BLU-1, BLU-27/B, CBU-20 Rockeye II, BL755[201] and CBU-52/58/71/87/89/97 cluster bombs or
Paveway series of Laser-guided bombs or
Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) (A-10C)[202] or
Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser (A-10C)
Other:
SUU-42A/A Flares/Infrared decoys and chaff dispenser pod or
AN/ALQ-131 or AN/ALQ-184 ECM pods or
Lockheed Martin Sniper XR or LITENING targeting pods (A-10C) or
2× 600 US gal (2,300 L) Sargent Fletcher drop tanks for increased range/loitering time.
Avionics
AN/AAS-35(V) Pave Penny laser tracker pod[203] (mounted beneath right side of cockpit) for use with Paveway LGBs (currently the Pave Penny is no longer in use)
Head-up display (HUD)[31]
Notable appearances in media
Main article: Aircraft in fiction § A-10 Thunderbolt II
Nicknames
The A-10 Thunderbolt II received its popular nickname "Warthog" from the pilots and crews of the USAF attack squadrons who flew and maintained it. The A-10 is the last of Republic's jet attack aircraft to serve with the USAF. The Republic F-84 Thunderjet was nicknamed the "Hog", F-84F Thunderstreak nicknamed "Superhog", and the Republic F-105 Thunderchief tagged "Ultra Hog".[204] The saying Go Ugly Early has been associated with the aircraft in reference to calling in the A-10 early to support troops in ground combat.[205]
See also
Craig D. Button – USAF pilot who crashed mysteriously in an A-10
190th Fighter Squadron, Blues and Royals friendly fire incident
1988 Remscheid A-10 crash
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
Ilyushin Il-102
Northrop YA-9
Sukhoi Su-25
Related lists
List of attack aircraft
List of active United States military aircraft
References
Notes
With the inner wheel on a turn stopped, the minimum radius of the turn is dictated by the distance between the inner wheel and the nose wheel. Since the distance is less between the right main wheel and the nose gear than the same measurement on the left, the aircraft can turn more tightly to the right.
In Life There Is Time For Everything,,,The Worst Thing That Happens Is Many Do Not Know How To Allot It... Prioritize It,,,And Spend Time On Creativity & Selfless Service To Less Privileged.
So Dear Friends , NOW Is The THE TIME To Enjoy And Share Your JOY Especially With People Who
Need Your Attention And Assistance.
Re-arranged and prioritized Star Wars IKEA Billy Bookcases
Kenner - Return of the Jedi and Hasbro - non-Original Trilogy Black Series re-arranged and prioritized
In June 2020, after experiencing a devastating spring due to COVID, New York State announced that certain businesses could begin partially opening again. New York City’s response included a program called Open Restaurants, which allowed restaurants to use sidewalks and parking spaces for outdoor, socially distant dining. Owners quickly built temporary enclosures in the streets in front of their businesses to try and recover from months of shutdown. Small stretches of Brooklyn in early 2021 display the variety and feel of these enclosures. Hopefully, the Open Restaurants initiative will help these businesses to survive and may even lead to a more permanent reorienting of streets to prioritize people over cars.
" Within the confines of boundaries, the essence of beauty and self-worth unfolds. Embrace the limits, for within them, you discover your true radiance."
___ Scarlett Saphira
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. . . Femdom Tale . . .
Chapter - The Consequences of Unclear Boundaries
The life of Mistess who fails to maintain her own boundaries.
Boundary:
☑ Not clear
☑ Not strong
☑ Not strict
If these three things happen, men will realize that there are 'no boundaries' because men's brains tend to prefer processing information by grouping and evaluating things based on their overall composition rather than thinking separately in details.
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Perception:
☑ Insult / Looking down
☑ Disrespect
☑ Crossing your lines
When women don't set clear boundaries, it means they 'lack' a standpoint. No boundaries suggest a 'lack' of value, wisdom, and a compelling reason for a man to surrender, sacrifice, and show respect.
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Boundless = Worthless:
He will lose interest in chasing your game and instead make you play his game.
This is the root of these issues
☑ a sub who has power and control the game from below
☑ a sub domming from the bottom
She has to follow his game to gain acceptance, to be worthy of his love, to merit his flattery, to deserve his sweet words, to earn the title 'my Mistress,' 'my Queen,' 'my Princess', ' My dear Miss.' To be a perfect Miss for him, meeting all HIS standards.
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Become your submissive's beloved pet:
☑ Be loyal only to him, Be faithful, Wait him at home.
☑ Must not create problems, must have reasons, must listen to him, must always be available for him.
☑ Must be gorgeous and beautiful in the way they define Miss's beauty.
☑ Must control your emotions for him, must respect all his boundaries, and must support his sensitivity and insecurity as he instructs. Follow his guidance because he knows himself the best; you don't have that understanding, so it's essential to listen and act in a way that promotes his emotional well-being to maintain a healthy relationship with him.
☑ Never cross his lines to show that you are mature, can reason well, and have enough maturity to be his proper Miss (while all your boundaries are disrespectfully crossed daily by him).
He will make you believe that your boundaries are selfish. Starting from the fact that your boundaries were unclear, not strong, not strict, to the point where there were hardly any.
Now, he has brought it to the point where you feel 'guilty' if you dare to establish them in your relationship. You will no longer dare to set boundaries because you want to be a good, decent Miss for him.
" Making his Miss feel guilty and preventing her from daring to do what makes him irritated or unhappy without considering fairness is 'abuse.' In a Femdom relationship, you should not be the one receiving abuse, it should be you who gives it to him.
A man who fails to respect your boundaries attempts to overstep them, convincing you that this is an adjustment you, as a woman, should make in your life. However, you should firmly deny and clearly define your boundaries without caring whether you will have him in your life or not."
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Prioritizing Boundaries:
" The important thing is not to manage or judge whether he intends to or not, or whether he can be taught or changed. Whether disrespect is intentional or unintentional, it doesn't change the fact that it occurred. Mostly, the main core is because of his personality.
It's more important to know your boundaries, be brave enough to communicate and stand up for your boundaries, and courageously accept the reality if he can't respect them. Remove yourself from men like that with the belief that there is someone out there ready to respect you. You just have to find that person."
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Handling a Man Who Ignores Your Boundaries:
Queen: How Queens Handle Disrespectful Subs?
☑ Punishment (don't care, don't ask for his consent)
☑ Banishment
☑ Beheading
" A queen's response to disrespect is to promptly remove or banish those kinds of men from her life."
Miss Boss: How Miss Bosss Handle Disrespectful Subs?
☑ Punishment (explaining his faults, making him understand his wrongdoing)
☑ Strict with her boundaries and in control
☑ Teaches him to respect
" The real power lies in 'not caring' about others more than your own self and needs. "
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Miss Boss or a Real Queen
Perspective gives us the ability to accurately contrast the large with the small, and the important with the less important. Without it we are lost in a world where all ideas, news and information look the same. We cannot differentiate, we cannot prioritize as we cannot make good choices without perspective.
A legacy of its military origins, the load-lifter's cockpit is cramped due a design that prioritized pilot survivability above all else.
CSX Q409-26 charges through Flintmine Road in Coxsackie, New York. Q409 is a manifest originating in Selkirk (SK) and terminates in Waycross, GA. This train is no straight-shot job from point-to-point, but is one of the least prioritized trains on the system, as it usually works multiple locations from start to end. This train can end up working South Kearny, NJ, Philadelphia, PA, Baltimore, MD, Richmond, VA, Collier, VA, and Charleston, SC. These are all not worked by Q409, but more so as needed depending on location as this train runs every day.
A rebuilt SD70MACe and ex-SBD and now rebuilt SD40-3 are seen in tow together, originally coming from Q634-24, a manifest from Parson's Yard in Columbus, OH, with the SD70 leading coming from the Mohawk, and onto the Selkirk Subdivisions into Q634's termination point of SK. The power was then dropped and put into the yard, which got slated for this Q409 which got capped by this ES44AC GEVO, a common site now with PSR in effect. With the reassembled power and the train put together, Q409-26's first of many crews takes the train south, seen here on it's first leg crawling on the River Subdivision.
July 18, 2023 The Hill Live brings together caregivers, patients, clinical experts, and lawmakers to answer these questions and more as we discuss the fight against Alzheimer’s and breakthroughs in providing relief to those who suffer from agitation and aggression.
Alzheimer’s disease affects about 55 million people worldwide, including 6.5 million Americans, and has no cure. Some patients with Alzheimer’s sometimes show signs of extreme aggression or become restless and anxious as their brains lose the ability to negotiate with new stimulus.
Agitation is a common neuropsychiatric symptom in Alzheimer’s dementia and one of the most complex and stressful aspects of caring for people living with the condition. It is reported in approximately half of people with Alzheimer’s dementia and is associated with earlier alternative living placement.
What do patients, caregivers and families navigating the complexities of agitation associated with Alzheimer’s need to know? How are researchers and doctors better understanding risk factors and diagnoses? What policy actions can prioritize research, detection and treatment? And what are the access considerations for patients and their caregivers as they navigate this difficult symptom?
LOCATION
National Press Club Holeman Lounge, 529 14th St. NW, 13th Floor, Washington, DC 20045
The year 1936 brought forth an automotive gem, the Ford Model 68, a vehicle that not only captured the essence of its era but also pushed the boundaries of design and innovation. Born from the storied assembly lines of the Ford Motor Company, this classic car emerged during a time when America was finding its footing after the Great Depression. As a testament to resilience and forward-thinking, the Model 68 showcased Henry Ford's commitment to affordable yet stylish transportation for the masses. One particularly intriguing fact about this model is that it was among the first to offer a glimpse into streamlined design, which would dominate the automotive industry in the years to come.
Design and Innovation: A Blend of Style and Substance
The exterior of the 1936 Ford Model 68 exuded elegance with its teardrop-shaped headlamps and a bold, v-shaped grille that commanded attention. The car's sleek lines and rounded fenders were a departure from the boxy shapes of earlier models, hinting at the aerodynamic future of automobile design. Inside, owners were greeted with an interior that prioritized simplicity and functionality without compromising on quality. Luxurious touches like mohair upholstery and wood-grain accents spoke volumes about the craftsmanship of the era. Technologically, the Model 68 stood out with its flathead V8 engine, a marvel that offered unprecedented power and reliability to everyday drivers. Color options ranged from Washington Blue to Cordoba Tan, with many buyers favoring darker hues that accentuated the car's sophisticated silhouette. Available in various body styles including coupes, sedans, convertibles, and even wood-paneled station wagons known as "Woodies," it was the Deluxe Roadster that often stole hearts with its irresistible blend of performance and panache.
Performance-wise, the 1936 Ford Model 68 was no slouch. Its V8 engine could propel it to top speeds that were impressive for its time, while acceleration from 0-60 mph was achieved in a manner that could best be described as spirited for a pre-war car. On various driving conditions, from bumpy rural roads to newly paved highways, the Model 68 handled with poise and assurance. Drivers often reveled in the throaty rumble of the flathead V8 as they navigated through their journeys, enjoying a tactile connection with their machine that modern vehicles struggle to replicate.
The 1936 Ford Model 68 stands as more than just another vintage vehicle; it is a symbol of innovation during times of adversity and a precursor to modern automotive design philosophies. Its legacy is etched into history books and continues to be celebrated by enthusiasts around the globe who are captivated by its story and enamored by its character.
SILENT REVOLUTION - SYMBOL - Rovingian Council by Daniel Arrhakis (2026)
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Rovingian Council - The Silent Revolution
The philosophy of the Rovingian Council's "silent revolution" describes a model of metapolitical resistance, where the focus of change shifts from the collective to the individual. By prioritizing internal dominance over external institutional conflict, this framework suggests that systemic power becomes obsolete when it no longer finds anchorage in the psychology of the governed.
Central Mechanisms of the Silent Revolution
- Decoupling of Systems: Through Immunity through Integrity, the individual ceases to provide the "emotional fuel" (fear or submission) necessary for the functioning of hierarchical structures.
- Incremental Subversion: The Discreet Approach avoids the "rebound effect" of violent revolutions, which often replace one tyranny with another, promoting instead a gradual and irreversible cultural change through personal conduct.
- Psychological Neutrality: Active indifference serves as a defensive barrier; By refusing to participate in the dialectic of hatred or polarization, the individual deprives the systemic control mechanisms of their influence.
- Ethical Infrastructure: Applied Humanism and Practical Equality transfer values from the abstract to the physical. These practices create parallel social microstructures based on sharing and protection, instead of competition and segregation.
- Intellectual Autonomy/Sovereignty of Conscience: The defense of freedom of thought serves as the last and impenetrable bastion against totalitarian control and external propaganda.
Ultimately, this philosophy posits that a decentralized revolution is inevitable if a sufficient number of individuals achieve individual coherence, autonomy, and Sovereignty of Conscience, given that a system cannot govern a population that has collectively recovered its internal authority.
The Rovingian Council proposes that the best way to combat the shadows of totalitarianism and the oppression of reason is through the strengthening of the individual spirit. When the individual is sovereign and peaceful, the authoritarian system loses its ability to control them through fear.
____________________________________________________
Conselho Rovingiano - A Revolução Silenciosa
A filosofia da revolução silenciosa do Conselho Rovingiano descreve um modelo de resistência metapolítica, onde o foco da mudança se desloca do coletivo para o indivíduo. Ao priorizar a dominância interna em detrimento do conflito institucional externo, esta estrutura sugere que o poder sistémico se torna obsoleto quando deixa de encontrar ancoragem na psicologia dos governados.
Mecanismos Centrais da Revolução Silenciosa
- Desacoplamento de Sistemas: Através da Imunidade através da Integridade, o indivíduo deixa de fornecer o "combustível emocional" (medo ou submissão) necessário ao funcionamento das estruturas hierárquicas.
- Subversão Incremental: A Abordagem Discreta evita o "efeito rebound" das revoluções violentas, que substituem frequentemente uma tirania por outra, promovendo, em vez disso, uma mudança cultural gradual e irreversível através da conduta pessoal.
- Neutralidade Psicológica: A indiferença ativa serve como barreira defensiva; ao recusar-se a participar na dialética do ódio ou da polarização, o indivíduo priva os mecanismos de controlo sistémico da sua influência.
- Infraestrutura Ética: O Humanismo Aplicado e a Igualdade Prática transferem valores do abstrato para o físico. Estas práticas criam microestruturas sociais paralelas baseadas na partilha e na proteção, em vez da competição e da segregação.
- Autonomia Intelectual/Soberania da Consciência: A defesa da liberdade de pensamento serve como último e impenetrável bastião contra o controlo totalitário e a propaganda externa.
Em última análise, esta filosofia postula que uma revolução descentralizada é inevitável se um número suficiente de indivíduos alcançar a coerência individual, a autonomia e a Soberania da Consciência, dado que um sistema não pode governar uma população que recuperou coletivamente a sua autoridade interna.
O Conselho Rovingiano propõe que a melhor forma de combater as sombras do totalitarismo e a opressão da razão é através do fortalecimento do espírito individual. Quando o indivíduo é soberano e pacífico, o sistema autoritário perde a sua capacidade de o controlar através do medo.
note: rl is kicking my butt.. if you are part of my inner circle, you already know what is happening... if you do not, don't take offense. i will still be able to blog but, it will only be between certain hours, when i have access to the wifi. and, i am going to prioritize rl for this week. if you need me, find me on discord. thank.
Calgary, CANADÀ 2024
The Reconciliation Bridge is a historic crossing in Calgary, famous for its renaming and its role as a symbol of the city's reconciliation efforts with Canada's First Nations.
Early History: The original steel truss bridge was constructed in 1910 and was known for over a century as the Langevin Bridge. It was named after Sir Hector-Louis Langevin, a Father of Confederation who was also a key figure in establishing Canada's residential school system for Indigenous children.
Renaming: In 2017, Calgary City Council voted to rename the bridge to the Reconciliation Bridge as a symbolic gesture to acknowledge and address the harm caused by the residential school system and to underscore the city's commitment to Truth and Reconciliation.
Distinguishing Feature: Today, the bridge is a prominent feature of the skyline due to its installation of 5,600 programmable LED lights. Its lighting program often prioritizes Indigenous stories and significant dates.
NEW BLOG!
HONEYBAE~LAYLA DRESS FP
Out @ The Grand!!
HoneyB Social Links
Inworld Store: maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Loveless%20Graceful/195/84/21
Instagram: www.instagram.com/honeyb.sl.2022/
FaceBook: www.facebook.com/honeyb.sl.2022
Flickr:https://www.flickr.com/groups/14787384@N25/
HB~TINA THIGH BOOTS FP
Out @ Mainstore!!
HoneyB Social Links
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Details & Blog: sakurasamael.wordpress.com/2024/02/02/prioritizing-peace-...
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Instagram: www.instagram.com/chelly.uk
The population of the Caucasian-Anatolian squirrel is undeniably dwindling across the Northern Aegean region of Türkiye. Conversations with local olive growers reveal their observations of increased numbers of field mice and snakes this year, signaling potential ecological imbalances. While reports on the impacts of the climate crisis inundate newspapers and TV news, the actions taken by humanity to address these issues remain uncertain.
Amidst the global preoccupation with wars, viruses, and economic turmoil, humanity's role in preserving nature often takes a backseat. The sight of a female Caucasian-Anatolian squirrel perched atop a centuries-old olive tree holds profound significance for me. As I contemplate the precariousness of their existence in this natural habitat, I can't help but wonder how many more years these remarkable creatures will have to perpetuate their lineage.
The answer to this question may seem inconsequential to many, but for scientists and conservationists, it embodies the urgency of safeguarding biodiversity and mitigating the anthropogenic threats faced by vulnerable species like the Caucasian-Anatolian squirrel. As stewards of the Earth, it is our collective responsibility to prioritize environmental preservation and enact measures that ensure the continued coexistence of humans and wildlife.
The Caucasian-Anatolian squirrel, scientifically known as Sciurus anomalus, is a captivating species endemic to the lush woodlands of the Caucasus region and certain parts of Anatolia in Türkiye. Renowned for its striking appearance, this arboreal mammal boasts a distinct black and white fur pattern, making it easily recognizable amidst the verdant foliage of its habitat.
These agile creatures navigate their arboreal homes with remarkable dexterity, effortlessly traversing the canopy and executing gravity-defying leaps between branches. Their acrobatic prowess is not only a spectacle to behold but also serves as a testament to their evolutionary adaptations for life among the treetops.
Inhabiting predominantly forested areas, the Caucasian-Anatolian squirrel sustains itself through a varied diet consisting of nuts, seeds, fruits, and occasional insects. Their foraging activities play a crucial role in the dispersal of seeds, contributing to the regeneration and diversity of their forest ecosystems.
Despite their resilience, these enchanting squirrels face challenges stemming from habitat loss and fragmentation, primarily driven by human activities such as deforestation and urbanization. Conservation efforts aimed at preserving and restoring their natural habitats are imperative for safeguarding their populations and ensuring their continued existence in the wild.
Observing the antics of the Caucasian-Anatolian squirrel in its native habitat is not only a delightful experience for nature enthusiasts but also serves as a poignant reminder of the intricate ecological relationships that sustain life on our planet.
The Caucasian-Anatolian squirrel, belonging to the Sciuridae family, is a medium-sized rodent with a body length ranging from 20 to 25 centimeters and a distinctive bushy tail measuring approximately 15 to 20 centimeters in length. Its fur exhibits a striking contrast between jet black and pristine white, with the black coloration extending from the head down to the tail, while the underbelly and parts of the face and limbs showcase a pristine white hue.
These arboreal creatures possess sharp claws and robust hind limbs, facilitating their adept climbing and leaping abilities. Their keen senses, including sharp eyesight and acute hearing, aid in detecting predators and locating food sources amidst the dense foliage of their forested habitats.
Caucasian-Anatolian squirrels are primarily diurnal, meaning they are most active during the day, engaging in foraging expeditions and social interactions with other members of their species. However, they may exhibit some nocturnal activity, particularly during periods of abundant food availability or in response to environmental factors such as temperature fluctuations.
During the breeding season, which typically occurs in the spring months, male squirrels engage in spirited displays of courtship to attract potential mates. Following a gestation period of approximately 38 to 42 days, females give birth to litters of two to six offspring, known as kits. The young squirrels are nurtured in intricately constructed nests, known as dreys, meticulously woven from twigs, leaves, and moss high in the tree canopy.
The survival of the Caucasian-Anatolian squirrel is intricately intertwined with the preservation of its forest habitat, which provides not only essential food resources but also refuge from predators and adverse environmental conditions. Conservation efforts aimed at mitigating habitat destruction, implementing sustainable forestry practices, and raising awareness about the ecological importance of this species are vital for ensuring its long-term survival.
By celebrating the unique beauty and ecological significance of the Caucasian-Anatolian squirrel, we deepen our appreciation for the rich biodiversity of our planet and reaffirm our commitment to coexisting harmoniously with nature.
I've captured some memorable moments with my camera, and I genuinely hope you'll experience the same joy in viewing these images as I did in capturing them.
Thank you immensely for visiting my gallery, whether you leave comments, add favorites, or simply take a moment to look around. Your support means a lot to me, and I wish you the best of luck and beautiful light in all your endeavors.
Lens - With Nikon TC 14E II - hand held or Monopod and definitely SPORT VR on. Aperture is f8 and full length. All my images have been converted from RAW to JPEG.
I started using Nikon Cross-Body Strap or Monopod on long walks. Here is my Carbon Monopod details : Gitzo GM2542 Series 2 4S Carbon Monopod - Really Right Stuff MH-01 Monopod Head with Standard Lever - Really Right Stuff LCF-11 Replacement Foot for Nikon AF-S 500mm /5.6E PF Lense -
© All rights reserved by R.Ertug. Please refrain from using this image without my explicit written permission. If you're interested in purchasing or using it, feel free to contact me via Flickr mail.
Your comments and critiques are highly valued.
Thanks for taking the time to stop by and explore :)
Lake Tekapo, Tekapo, South Island, New Zealand
One of my shooting protocols after the trip is to scan through every shot that I have and picked the potential one to do post-processing by giving the tagging in my entire album.
This particular shot has already been tagged but for some reason, I've missed out terribly, nearly 3 years buried in my storage. Luckily was doing some scanning photos in my album and suddenly saw this, quickly dig out and straight into editing mode.
I still remember this was the first place in our itinerary; the legendary The Church of The Good Shepherd. While we have our vehicle parked few kilometers away from the actual location, so we gotta walk and right before the church, we have to cross the bridge first.
Spotted a couple (I suppose) standing there right at the center of the bridge. Find it a fascinating angle with the natural lights on them and overall blended in perfectly. Without hesitation pressed the shuttle where my cameras were already on my shoulders.
Wanted to do our wefie photography, because we were too excited to rush towards the church and also too many crowds upcoming over the bridge so end up ditch the idea and move on to what we have been prioritizing first.
#d80
#nikon
#nztravel
#laketekapo
#nikoncontest
#nikkor10_20mm
#nikonphotography
In June 2020, after experiencing a devastating spring due to COVID, New York State announced that certain businesses could begin partially opening again. New York City’s response included a program called Open Restaurants, which allowed restaurants to use sidewalks and parking spaces for outdoor, socially distant dining. Owners quickly built temporary enclosures in the streets in front of their businesses to try and recover from months of shutdown. Small stretches of Brooklyn in early 2021 display the variety and feel of these enclosures. Hopefully, the Open Restaurants initiative will help these businesses to survive and may even lead to a more permanent reorienting of streets to prioritize people over cars.
I truly believe that long lasting happiness depends on your capability to prioritize. also, I truly believe that everyone needs a hot sauce in their fridge.
The Royal Navy was fairly late to the heavy cruiser, mostly due to limited funding until the Naval Act of 1936. The plus side of this is that they were never a signatory of the Eiswald Naval Treaty (a fact which they would exploit brutally), the downside being that they had a lot of catching up to do. After months of consulting naval analysts and taking notes on foreign designs, with many more devoted to a uniquely painstaking design process, the Odyssey class was cleared for construction in 1937, with the first, Achilles, (pictured here) being launched in early 1940. Following the Royal Navy's principles of gunnery and ruggedness before anything else, the Odysseys (like most succeeding Royal Navy cruisers) lacked the torpedoes that made many foreign equivalents powerful strike vessels. This was due in part to a design prioritizing fleet defense before offensive capabilities, but mostly because Nenya's torpedoes of this time were notoriously short ranged, and it simply wasn't worth installing them on a ship the size of an Odyssey. And boy were they big. At 219 meters long and 24 meters wide, they were among the largest cruisers in the world. Although initially designed with twelve eight inch guns in four triple turrets (to counter the plethora of heavily armed cruisers present in other nations), this design was scrapped in favour of a stern seaplane facility, complete with a heavy-lift crane with space and stores to operate four scout aircraft. The tonnage saved by the nerfing of the artillery allowed for a little more speed, while the spare weight was awarded to the massive anti-aircraft complex. Built around a series of the Navy's new Tachynometric Fire Computers, the AA suite consisted of twelve 5in guns, nineteen 40mm guns on raised pedestals (of which 16 were aided by the Tacky Computers) and twenty 20mm guns spread around the deck. In fact, preliminary designs utilizing the Papillon method of quad turrets could have allowed for a staggering forty to sixty 40mm cannons, but this was brought down to be kinder on weight and ammunition storage, as such an extreme measure was not deemed necessary, even for a ship intended to be a floating AA battery (The current year is also 1940, not 1945). Despite being so heavily armed and armoured, with the additional weight of a lot of fancy mechanisms, the Odysseys actually met their weight quotas just as planned, thus avoiding the seakeeping issues that seem to plague many other large cruiser designs, and are surprisingly maneuverable despite their size (the secret is to set out with a plan for a 14,000 ton cruiser from the start, and not change your mind along the way). Although they lack the punching power and night-fighting capabilities of torpedo-armed ships, their combination of firepower, armour and survivability mean that they should be able to hold their own in a gunfight against anything short of a capital ship. Combined with perhaps the most powerful AA setup of any cruiser class, they are indispensable defensive assets to any fleet. Of course, it's not exactly clear how many of them will see service, as they aren't cheap ships, and the nation which they serve isn't exactly rich.
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At 219 studs, or five foot seven, this is the largest and grandest LDD model I have built to date. It started life as a Cleveland-style light cruiser, which was to be followed up by a Baltimore modification, but I decided to go heavy cruiser first due to the nice big 8in turrets I made, and how well they fit the deck. Also the whole thing about twelve main guns was just text flavour, I wouldn't have been able to fit that many turrets on. Although said deck and hull were complicated, and took a while to finish, the hardest part for me was the superstructure. There was just so much space to fill! And aiming for quality, I couldn't just fill all that space with junk. I was aiming for a Baltimore or Cleveland sort of look, but decided to go with the Des Moines (although I didn't realize the schematic I was copying was Des Moines until it was practically finished) with extra gun directors, smaller structure, one less midships AA mount a side and a single funnel. Although even more afield of the groups' date than the original Baltimore plan, it was the only structure I could make fit. Furthermore, finding an AA setup that both looked good and kept to Divide and Conquer VII's time frame was a challenge, but I'm fairly happy with the dual 40mm mounts.
Credit to Backward Matt for the hull and deck technique, to Awesome O'Saurus for inspiration on the variety of weapons designs and to Ian, because I definitely I used some of his techniques (the anchor, spotlights and single 40mm guns to name a few). I have tagged all three.
Also, thanks to Lego Pilot for the render! I swear I'll have my own POVray working soon.
I'm probably gonna take a short brake from ships this size, after which I'll (probably) make the light cruiser and light carrier modifications off this hull. Then I'll move onto an even larger ship, projected to be 250-270 studs (6.5-7 feet, god help me with this scale).
California has been hit hard the past few weeks with storms. Storms bring lightning and lightning strikes cause wildfires. Currently there are at least five fire complexes in the area including River, Fork, South, Route and Mad River.
The Mad River complex is a series of seven lightning fires that started on July 30th, 2015 after a lightning storm moved through Northern California. After initial firefighters responded, 25 fires were reported and most of the fires were contained. Some additional fires might be detected from the original lightning storms in the upcoming days and will be attacked once they are found. Damage assessment is ongoing and crews will determine the extent of structures and equipment damaged or destroyed.
The River Complex is managing a total of 5 fires due to fires merging together on the Shasta-Trinity and the Six Rivers National Forests. Winds from the west are expected to lift the inversion today resulting in active fire behavior.
The Fork Complex consists of over 40 fires, all of which were ignited by lightning between July 29 and 31, 2015. These fires are still being identified, assessed, and prioritized. Updated acreage and information about specific fires will be published as it is known. Fire activity moderated throughout last night (8/4) with the smoke inversion layer remaining in place today. Hopefully this will create favorable conditions for fire crews to take direct fire attack on the fires edge, construct dozer line and scout for best firefighting locations on all fires in the complex.
The South Complex consists of approximately nine known fires, five of which are currently over 100 acres. The fires are active and defense of structures and point protection are in progress. The weather is trapping smoke in the valley causing very poor air quality. As the smoke lifts the fire activity increases.
Firefighters will continue to provide point protection on structures and to look for opportunities to build direct and indirect containment lines.
The Route Complex currently stands at 12,164 acres from seven separate fires and is at 2% containment. The overall acreage has been reduced because the South Fire on the nearby South Complex is merging with the Johnson Fire in the Route Complex resulting in decreased and revised fire perimeter acreage.
This natural-color satellite image collected by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aboard the Terra satellite shows smoke rising and drifting northwest from the various fire complexes. It was captured on August 04, 2015. Actively burning areas, detected by MODIS’s thermal bands, are outlined in red.
NASA image courtesy Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Rapid Response Team.
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center enables NASA’s mission through four scientific endeavors: Earth Science, Heliophysics, Solar System Exploration, and Astrophysics. Goddard plays a leading role in NASA’s accomplishments by contributing compelling scientific knowledge to advance the Agency’s mission.
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It feels a bit odd, in my view at least – I can't identify with this trend of prioritizing a device, even if there are people on the other side of it, over real, "live" faces in front of me... and if turned around, from the other side, I feel even more out of place.
I'm a bit old-fashioned in this regard, maybe... but it feels the way it feels.
On the other hand, Anny is really pretty here, very subtly lit by her phone ;)
---
UPDATE: it was pointed out to me that the text above can be read in more than one way; thanks and sorry for that; to remove any ambiguity, I'll try to clarify: this caption is about my reaction to a trend of the last several years, a set of actions and things people do (not excluding me, by the way; though I try to avoid it, as much as I can), and that some aspects of this trend confuse me while others I like.
P.S. ...and did I mention that I really, really love that light? ;)
The Augusta Clothing Company is a luxury women's fashion boutique located at 601 5th Ave S, Naples, FL 34102. Opened in March 2026, this flagship storefront marks the brand's primary expansion from its historic roots in Missouri's wine country to Florida's Gulf Coast.
Brand Concept and Curated Style
The Founder: The boutique features collections personally curated by Jerri Hoffmann, matriarch of the family-run private equity firm, Hoffmann Family of Companies.
Target Audience: The wardrobe selection focuses primarily on styling women spanning from their late 20s through their 70s.
Style Profile: Offerings prioritize a professional, polished mission blended with fun, on-trend seasonal items built for long-term wardrobe assembly.
Inventory: Hand-picked items focus heavily on high-quality ready-to-wear dresses, sportswear, premium footwear, jewelry, and distinct accessories.
Store Leadership: The Naples flagship is led by Store Director Andrea Pereira, who brought extensive high-end luxury retail experience from previous management roles at Gucci and Hermès.
Strategic Background
Origin: The brand initially debuted in April 2022 inside a 150-year-old Wine Hall building located in Historic Augusta, Missouri.
Scale: The 5th Avenue South storefront is three times larger than the original Missouri location. The building was purchased by the Hoffmanns for $6.5 million as part of a broader corporate footprint in downtown Naples.
Credit for the data above is given to the following websites:
theaugustaclothingcompany.com/
www.google.com/search?q=the+augusta+clothing+company+napl...
www.google.com/search?q=who+is+the+architect+of+601+fifth...
www.google.com/search?q=what+year+was+the+building+at+601...
www.google.com/search?q=what+is+the+architectural+style+o...
www.google.com/search?q=who+was+the+architect+of+601+fift...
© All Rights Reserved - you may not use this image in any form without my prior permission.
I spent two weeks in East Africa in December and January -- for this nature nerd, the absolute trip of a lifetime. I took 10,000 photos in two weeks and a ton of video. I have way too much to share, but I'll share a few highlights, starting with this elephant family in Amboseli National Park, at the base of Mount Kilimanjaro in southern Kenya. Seeing wild herds of elephants - so obviously intelligent, social, and loving - brought tears to my eyes. I just hope that we humans can pull it together to prioritize their conservation. Without a dedicated effort to stop poaching entirely, elephants will be gone in just 20 years.
He has this sinking feeling…………
This is rather long and somber, I would skip reading it :)
His performance review at his place of employment is coming up within the next month. He is an architect and he loves his job. The job has a built in renewal and variety because each project is different and each typically has a relatively short time frame. He is able to explore emotional, physical and spiritual connections in conceptual design. He engages in technical and administrative problem solving during documentation. He wings it during the free-for-all that is construction. A project goes through all of the phases and then the next project starts anew.
He learns something new every single day. Although he still has much to learn, he has his moments where he is good at his job. He has been working on construction administration for the past two years on a single project, which is much longer than usual but the project is much larger. He has an acute understanding of the need for efficiency in his work, proper prioritization and the importance of highlighting potential construction and/or liability issues to his firm. This protects the firm financially and legally – which provides him with a salary and job security. It also protects his personal time which provides him with a well-rounded life – time to spend with her and the boys, time to play with pictures and time to do laundry.
His review one year ago was excellent. This is about to change this year – and he was forewarned in his mid-year review. The focus is shifting from his performance. His firm is instituting ‘performance management’. This is more of a cultural phenomenon than an architectural one. She is a speech language pathologist, also is facing some aspects of this at her place of employment and he has heard of other industries incorporating this as well.
‘Performance Management’ first establishes your job description. Part of your review is based on your ability to achieve your job requirements. Then you must then establish personal / professional goals that fall outside of the scope of your job description. Goals that increase the marketability of the firm and directly benefit the firm are greatly encouraged. Reviews to track goal achievement status are held bi-monthly.
Essentially what this means is that you have to do work for and on behalf of your firm on your personal time.
The emotionally intelligent response is to find goals that are mutually beneficial to you and the firm. At this particular stage in his life, however, he does not have any available free time to devote to extra work projects. Either she, the boys or personal hygiene would need to be sacrificed. Maybe he should stop showering until his new ‘personal’ goals have been attained.
One of the reasons that he loves working at his firm is that they are very smart and have excellent processes. Intelligence is something that he values greatly, but they have totally dropped the ball on this issue. They present this nonsense to him as if they are doing this for his benefit and that it is in his best interest – although he does not need help deciding how to use his free time.
Unemployment in the United States is an issue, particularly in architecture. Now he is in a difficult position. He can choose to sacrifice his personal life to maintain his standing in his firm and keep his job. Or he can play the survival game of trying to get through bi-monthly reviews that highlight his lack of achievement for as long as he can until his job is lost. There are many qualified candidates out there – and many of those would gladly devote their free time to the firm in exchange for being employed.
Choosing between having a life and working to survive isn’t much of a choice. It is simple, crass exploitation. It’s disappointing. He thought we were better than that – he guesses we are not.
And he has this sinking feeling…………..
"To be truly transformative, the post-2015 development agenda must prioritize gender equality and women’s empowerment. The world will never realize 100 per cent of its goals if 50 per cent of its people cannot realize their full potential."
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on International Women's Day
Thanks, as always, for stopping by and for all of your kind comments -- I appreciate them all.
© Melissa Post 2015
All rights reserved. Please respect my copyright and do not copy, modify or download this image to blogs or other websites without obtaining my explicit written permission.
Sorry to be posting this pretty late in the month I was going to do it earlier but I've been pretty prioritized with school. Anyways let's get to the figs...
From L-R:
Solomon Grundy (Updated): Cyrus Gold (Solomon Grundy), is a Zombie supervillain who has clashed with many heroes over the years, including Green Lantern, Superman, Batman, the Justice Society of America, and the Justice League of America. Solomon Grundy frequently dies and resurrects in new incarnations, each of varying levels of strength and intelligence. Although primarily evil, some of his incarnations have shown the capacity for heroism.
Fig Formula: Hair (70162: Solomon Blaze), Head (71031: Zombie Captain America), Torso (71028: Griphook), Arms (70903: Batman), Hands (41255: Guy Diamond), Hip & Legs (71031: Monica Rambeau)
John Constantine (Updated): John Constantine is an occult detective from Liverpool, England. His violent and anti-social attitude makes him a formidable anti-hero, and he's known for doing whatever it takes to get the job done.
Fig Formula: Hair (76143: Captain America), Head (71018: Roman Gladiator), Torso & Arms (71031: Loki), Hands (71018: Yuppie), Hip & Legs (71031: Loki)
Design Inspirations Below:
Solomon Grundy - (static.wikia.nocookie.net/swampthing/images/5/5d/Solomon_...)
John Constantine - (static.wikia.nocookie.net/hellblazer/images/0/0d/013013_c...)
John Constantine is inspired by Steel Brick Customs design. Comment & fave below to let me know what you all think.
“One of Webb’s most complex instrument modes is with the MIRI Medium Resolution Spectrometer (MRS). The MRS is an integral-field spectrograph, which provides spectral and spatial information simultaneously for the entire field of view. The spectrograph provides three-dimensional ‘data cubes’ in which every pixel in an image contains a unique spectrum. Such spectrographs are extremely powerful tools to study the composition and kinematics of astronomical objects, as they combine the benefits of both traditional imaging and spectroscopy.
“The MRS is designed to have a spectral resolving power (observed wavelength divided by the smallest detectable wavelength difference) of about 3,000. That is high enough to resolve key atomic and molecular features in a variety of environments. At the highest redshifts, the MRS will be able to study hydrogen emission from the first galaxies. At lower redshifts, it will probe molecular hydrocarbon features in dusty nearby galaxies and detect the bright spectral fingerprints of elements such as oxygen, argon, and neon that can tell us about the properties of ionized gas in the interstellar medium. Closer to home, the MRS will produce maps of spectral features due to water ice and simple organic molecules in giant planets in our own solar system and in planet-forming disks around other stars.
“In order to cover the wide 5 to 28 micron wavelength range as efficiently as possible, the MRS integral field units are broken up into twelve individual wavelength bands, each of which must be calibrated individually. Over the past few weeks, the MIRI team (a large international group of astronomers from the USA and Europe) has been focusing primarily on calibrating the imaging components of the MRS. They want to ensure that all twelve bands are spatially well aligned with each other and with the MIRI Imager, so that it can be used to place targets accurately into the smaller MRS field of view. We show some early test results from this alignment process, illustrating the image quality achieved in each of the twelve bands using observations of the bright K giant star HD 37122 (located in the southern sky near the Large Magellanic Cloud).
“Once the spatial alignment and image quality of the several bands are well characterized, the MIRI team will prioritize calibrating the spectroscopic response of the instrument. This step will include determining the wavelength solution and spectral resolution throughout each of the twelve fields of view using observations of compact emission-line objects and diffuse planetary nebulae ejected by dying stars. We show the exceptional spectral resolving power of the MRS with a small segment of a spectrum obtained from recent engineering observations of the active galactic nucleus at the core of Seyfert galaxy NGC 6552. Once these basic instrument characteristics are established, it will be possible to calibrate MRS so that it is ready to support the wealth of Cycle 1 science programs due to start in a few short weeks.”
Read more:
blogs.nasa.gov/webb/2022/06/16/webbs-mid-infrared-spectro...
This image: These are the first engineering data cubes for each of the twelve MRS spectral bands, illustrating the astrometric registration and image quality for observations of HD 37122. In each panel the dashed cyan circle shows a 1 arcsecond radius region around the expected location of the star in celestial coordinates. While the star is bright at short wavelengths it fades toward longer wavelengths, where the MRS also detects thermal emission from Webb’s primary mirror. Credit: NASA, ESA, and the MIRI Consortium.
. . . True Power of Speedy Cars . . .
In Long-Term Domination, the Search for a Submissive is Like Finding a Reliable Car, Not a Joyride.
" Extreme Femdoms prioritize deep, powerful fetish experiences over superficial ones, which includes their extreme fetishes that are like powerful, rare engines in the relationship.
A good life is one that can be lived to the extreme and fullest every day, an engine that doesn't falter at any desired speed. If you want to overtake, you must do so. If you want to stop, you can do so any second you wish. How much do you want to change the speed? And for how long? Everything must be as desired. The best submissive is like a powerful engine that serves her at any speed... 💕"
🎧 Mood 🎶
www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0ciQf4HDxg
ღ.-:**★**:-.ღ.-:**★**:-.ღ.-:**★**:-ღ
Chapter: The Search for a Committed Submissive
She doesn't settle for showroom shine. Her heart seeks horsepower unseen.
Forget the polished exteriors, the chrome facade. She's not buying a car for the curb appeal. Her gaze cuts deeper, seeking the engine within. Is it a whisper-quiet sham, or a beast purring with potential?
Time and connection are precious investments, and she's no impulsive buyer. She demands a test drive, a journey into the core. Does it have the strength of character, the unwavering support? Or is it built on fumes, choked by empty promises?
Forget the manufactured charm, the carefully crafted persona. Let the hood come up, reveal the bare metal truth. Is it forged in integrity, driven by passion? Or does it sputter on self-interest, fueled by deceit?
She's not looking for a joyride, but a long haul companion. This machine carries her dreams, her vulnerabilities. It needs to be sturdy, reliable, capable of navigating life's winding roads.
So she chooses wisely, meticulously. Because under the hood, lies the truth of who you are. And that, my friend, is the most powerful engine of all... 💕
ღ.-:**★**:-.ღ.-:**★**:-.ღ.-:**★**:-ღ
Outfit: pOOnsh - Tiffany Jumpsuit (Fatpack)
✦ Legacy, Perky, Reborn, Waifus, LaraX
✦ IT INCLUDES Jumpsuit, Romper, HUD (14 colors + TintPicker for fatpack)
TRES CHIC (17 February - 10 March)
maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Tres%20Chic/176/118/21
POONSH store
"Treasury Plan for Puerto Rico Prioritizes Pensions Over Bondholders" by MARY WILLIAMS WALSH via NYT t.co/X5343JM9NN (via Twitter twitter.com/felipemassone/status/702671864641032192)
Martina is about the nicest wife anyone can imagine. I am told by friends and family all of the time what a sweetie she is and how lucky I am. We all have our surface personalities and for my wife Martina hers is sweet and nice. She is that way 99% of the time. That 1% of the time, typically happens when she has a paddle or cane in her hand. I am the only one to gets to “experience” the 1% Martina.
We are a typically kinky couple playing with bondage and spanking and dominating each other. We play games to see who will be “The Slave” the next weekend and half the time, we are both trying to lose. For the last six months or so, things have been shifting to Martina being more the dominant. I’d say the transition happened about a year ago when we started playing with Chastity.
I had been following some Chastity Blogs and had sort of been addicted to a few that pumped out daily Chastity Memes. One day I showed her some of them on my laptop. While we went through them, she shivered with excitement on some of them. It was like a whole new world with new ideas and concepts had opened up. She asked me to save the “good ones”. Every week or two, she would snuggle up next to me on the couch if I had my laptop and say, “Lets look at what is new in the chastity world”. We would go through the new meme’s I had collected and some of her favorite older ones. This activity almost always ended the same way. She would talk about keeping me locked up. She would say she was going to lock me up for a month and then decide to add another month. Or she would tell me that Chastity was going to be my new normal and she would be the queen of my world. Then things would boil over and a few minutes later we would be undressed and making love.
We did actually get a chastity belt (or 5 while we experimented with fit, longevity and security) a year ago. It is definitely a part of our lives; I am belted 2-3 times each month. Typically for 1-3 days while she teases me or we have something to do and she wants me focused. Of course I’m belted the 4 days a month that her body tells her, “Belt Him, he is useless”.
While Martina talks a great chastity game and loves the ideas behind the meme’s she is a disappointing keyholder for long term. And I am fine with that. She always asks if I am ok or if it hurts. I can tell after she asks she realizes she made a mistake, she really wants to be a harsh keyholder. We have had a few good runs but the longest I was ever in chastity was after a required 4 days because of her monthly cycle, she was going away for the weekend. She really wanted me belted but had to make sure about 5 times that it was ok with me to wait for her return. I was belted for 6 days and nights and after a year of chastity games that is the longest I have ever been belted.
Our fetish area’s extend beyond bondage. I have a MAJOR wool and sweater fetish. I beg her to wear thick and fuzzy sweaters and buy them for her all the time. Last Spring it was too warm for a big sweater and we were going to a BBQ on Sunday. It was overcast and I begged her to wear a sweater. She finally agreed when I offered to put the chastity belt on for a week if she would do it. I was only locked for 5 days, but that opened the door for similar deals.
One time I wanted to buy myself a very expensive thickly knitted turtleneck sweater and I had to ask because it was so expensive. She told me that when the package arrived, I had to go in the chastity belt and stay a day for every 10 dollars the sweater cost. Then I told her the sweater was $270 dollars so that would be 27 days. She asked if I still wanted the sweater. I hesitated for a whole day. Then I told her that I want the sweater and we ordered it. She was so excited when it arrived. I have to admit getting a new sweater is a very sexual experience for me and having it in a chastity belt was very frustrating. It was fun, and it was probably very fun for me because after 6 days she got the keys and said “Get that big sweater on and get the belt off and come to mama”. The following days she was very disappointed in herself for not going the 27 days. That was sort of typical for the first year of Chastity. She was a fun key holder but not like the women on the meme’s that got her so excited.
Lately we have been doing the memes even more and she has shown interest in the anal training memes. She asked if it was true that a man can cum from anal. We looked it up and it’s true. She wanted to know if a man could cum from anal while in chastity and we looked it up and it looks true too. She thought that was very hot. She asked me about my experience had I ever….. I had to disappoint her that I had never tried anal and only a few times worn a butt plug for a short time. Based on this interest, once she had me locked up for a day and used a dildo on my behind and while it felt weird and maybe a little bit good, I didn’t cum nor did I feel like I ever would. Still it became a fantasy for meme time.
She had several meme fantasies that always got her going probably number 1 was “I’m adding an extra month because you tried to get me to unlock you” At some point I realized that this was exciting to her because I never really asked her to let me out. I certainly never begged. She almost always ran to get the keys the instant I suggested we make love. Her number 2 favorite was the “Hey welcome to vacation, by the way, I left your keys at home” She loved that one. The 3rd one was probably a tie between “This is your new lifestyle get used to it” and “I am going to train you to cum from anal so I never have to unlock you”.
It was last Spring and I have some time off in June, So I booked a 4 day weekend in late May at a resort. I selected the resort for two reasons. 1) They have a killer golf course and I could play golf all day while Martina hangs at the pool or spa 2) The room had two bedrooms both with big cast iron beds. We can sleep in one room and set the other one up as a bondage room. Maybe she will even leave me tied up all night like she did once at another resort.
I emailed her the reservation and expected to get MEGA points for being a great husband. Instead I got “Golf really? What if I keep you in chastity all weekend. Can you still play golf? Do you still want to go there?” I had to reply that I have played golf in chastity at least a dozen times and while I don’t love it, I still enjoy the game and if she wants me to play golf in chastity, I am happy to oblige. And of course, I took the chance in my reply to tell her the evenings in May are cool enough for sweaters and I offered to pack some for her. (knowing I would pack much thicker fuzzier sweaters than she likes)
We made the booking and for the next six weeks before the trip she would look at me and say “Gee I hope I don’t forget to pack the chastity keys for our trip” and then she would shudder with excitement. I would counter with you won’t be able to reach the keys because I’m keeping you chained to the extra bedroom the entire weekend, gagged and diapers so you know you won’t be getting unchained. She would shudder at that too.
Saturday Night the week before the trip I was teasing her about keeping her in bondage for 4 days. She sat up straight and said, “I’ve got a serious issue with this trip. I’m worried that the first night we are going to have a furious night in bed and just drain all of our energy for sex and then I’m going to be in the condo and at the pool for 3 days board out of my mind while YOU are on a golf vacation.” I assured her that would not happen. She thought “Monday Morning put on your chastity belt and give me the keys, I want you good and horny by Thursday Night when we check in and I want to decide when it comes off.” I replied that keyholders always decide when it comes off (Even though we both knew this wasn’t really true) and I thought the idea was really effing hot. Finished by saying “So you are ordering me into chastity, I like it”
Thursday was stressful while we packed for 4 days of fun. We had two large bags I packed that were very heavy and all they had in them was chains, locks handcuffs, collars, dildoes, gags, paddles a whip, a cane six thick fuzzy sweaters of both male and female variety. We had a little fight but that was normal and the car ride was enjoyable. We talked about sex once, but I changed the subject because my “interest” was causing pain due to the chastity belt confinement. She figured it out and we had normal conversation.
We arrived at 8pm just before sunset. We decide to quickly get everything from the car to the top floor condo and make drinks to watch the sunset on the deck. We didn’t unpack but tossed bags into rooms and the golf clubs in the hallway. She was on the deck as I walked up with the drinks. She looked so happy. We watched the sunset and decided to make more drinks. This time she said “I’ll make the drinks and a snack. You go unpack the playroom, the deck will cool off so you better come back with some sweaters. I want you in that thick black cable turtleneck and I’d like you to pick for me the sweater that you would most like to make love to me in while I wear it. Ya know, old fashioned sweater sex.
She went to make the drinks and I went to unpack, I knew I had time because she was cooking a snack. So, I unpacked and set up the corners of the bed with chains and laid out wrist and ankle cuffs along with locks and keys neatly organized on the bed. I had brought a thick fuzzy pink turtleneck for her and I selected that for her to wear. When I came out she was just finishing the drinks and I was walking slightly bent over with short steps. All the excitement and my chastity belt where really starting to hurt me. I was too excited.
She was just finishing the drinks and saw the pink sweater. “oh you really want to fuck me tonight don’t you” I handed her the sweater with a wince. She noticed, “Trouble down under?” I shrugged and said, “Someone locked me in a chastity belt and I can’t even get a hard on when I see my beautiful wife”. She giggled and we went outside.
I sat down, it really wasn’t cold enough for these sweaters, I thought. She didn’t sit down instead something inside her snapped. She was jumping up and down, she was giggling and started to say out loud, “I did it, I did it!” and it got louder until she leaned over the balcony and yelled to the world “I DID IT” and someone on a deck below yelled back “Congratulations”. That embarrassed her and she shut up and sat down. Red faced and looking so “sweater sexy” she looked at me and said “I did it, I am so proud of myself, this is a wonderful feeling, I didn’t think I could do it, But this feels great, I am so happy” I asked if she quit her job or something. She looked deep at me and said “I forgot your chastity keys at home” then she made quotes with her fingers and said “Forgot” and laughed and laughed. “I really did it. Now we are going to experience that Chastity vacation together and I did it!”
She saw me wince again. All dressed up for sweater sex and no place to go…. I knew I was now going to be belted until at least Tuesday Night when we got home and that would be a new record of 8 days. For reasons that are not logical, this caused my member to be uncontrolled in it’s desire to achieve full status, I was getting 100% excited and I could not stop it. Some part of me loved this.
The next day playing Golf in Chastity was tough. Partly because I didn’t remember how tough chastity golf was and partly because Marina had waited till our 3rd drink then chained me spread eagle to the play bed, with just my sweater and chastity belt on. She then pulled out a stack of adult diapers we only used for extreme long bondage sessions and put on one me. She kissed me and said she wanted to sleep in the king bed alone tonight and assured me I would be unchained in time for my tee time. When you sleep chained spread eagle, you wake up sore. My golf game suffered.
Friday was warm and when I returned, I begged her to wear a sweater to dinner. She declined but said that maybe she would wear one for breakfast because cooler air was moving in. I started to beg, with my stuff locked up, sweater play was my only play. She stopped me and said: “I’ve already experienced the absolute joy of “forgetting” your keys” do you really want me to experience the joy of adding weeks to your chastity sentence on only our first full day of vacation? .... Do Ya?” I put my head down submissively, lowered my eyes and shook my head no. She put her hand on my head and said, “Oh I like how this works”
Saturday my tee time was not till 10am, we planned to eat breakfast together at 8am. I woke up sore. I was once again chained and diapered all night. It was 7:50 and she was ready for breakfast and unchaining my locks on the play bed. She said, “sorry I didn’t get you up earlier but you looked so peaceful sleeping all tied up, we both have to hurry to get ready.” I got up and went into the bathroom to change. I came out at 8AM and I started to get my golf stuff in the room together. I heard her from the hallway. “I’m going down to get a table and a mimosa. Don’t be too long.”
I was probably taking too long, it had probably been 10 minutes. That is when my phone buzzed and it was her. She used her selfie stick to send me a pic from the restaurant lobby. It was the photo from this post with a note, “We are being seated now, every minute you are late is equal to one day.” OMG I never saw her in that sweater!! She bought a new sweater! I dropped my golf stuff and flew out the door, ran down the stairs and got to her just as she was being seated.
She asked me where my sweater was? She indicated that when it’s summer and she is all sweatered up for me, she expects me to be sweatered too. She would explain this later tonight in case I don’t understand. I knew then I was in for a paddling tonight as she “explained” it to me.
I just kept gushing at the table about how sexy she looked in that sweater and the sweater and shorts were incredible. It took a long time to get us seated because she had asked for the table in the corner of the room away from everyone.
At a break in the conversation, I was thinking I should be wonderful and get her mind off of tonight’s spanking. I looked at her and I told her how horny I was being locked up and knowing I was going to be locked up all vacation, Then I told her how proud I was that she had taken the step to leave the keys at home and how fun it was to watch her revel in the achievement. I had no idea how difficult it had been for her.
She replied by telling me how she really struggles with being the Key holder. Part of her wants to be a ruthless keyholder and keep me in a sexual state all the time, but the bigger part of her does not want to be mean to me or make me uncomfortable so she lets me out. She said every time she locks me up she tells herself it will be a week to a month and almost every time she feels bad and lets me out in 2-3 days. She frowned and said, “It makes me feel like a failure”. She frowned a little then said “And I know you take advantage of me in this regard.” She paused and nodded, I knew she was right. “No more”
“What changed or inspired you” I asked.
“Mona” she said and I tried not to cringe. Mona is her friend who doesn’t really like me and is aggressive and kind of mean. But they are best friends and have been since before Martina and I met. “Did you know that Mona and Dave have done chastity for 5 years?” I had no idea that my wife even talks about this sort of stuff with other people. “Mona and I went through the chastity meme’s and she told me that most of them are simply male fantasy and very few women would ever say that. She told me her chastity system and says she would never have life any other way. She keeps a journal. When she gets a hankering to lock up Dave, or Dave is a dumbass, she writes down five things: 1) Why she feels that way 2) How long she wants him locked up 3) What she wants sexually for herself out of the locking up 4) What she wants Dave to experience sexually (if anything) during the lock up and 5) What she wants done and accomplished non-sexually before he gets unlocked.
She writes those five things down and she says that if a woman is going to be true to themselves and enjoy the power of having the key , while prioritizing to ignore male suffering, then she MUST make sure the list is complete before the belting is ended AND she NEVER tells Dave how long she is planning on having him belted. She will share things with him about the goals, especially things like… one time……ha (she laughed) Do you remember when Dave got it in his head that he was going to paint the whole house in a week all by himself? So do you remember that? Yeah. We thought Dave was crazy and he was, but it was not actually his idea. After being belted for 2 weeks, Mona told him he gets out AFTER the whole house is painted and not a minute before. She said he never worked so hard on anything ever. He never complained he just worked for his goal.
Last week I wrote down my five things. I read them three times each day to cement them in my head and make sure that is what I wanted. Now I am your Key Holder and I am confident with my plan and feel great about it. How do you like it so far? I replied that I really wanted to have sex with her but being belted on vacation with the keys at home was a really hot surprise.
She smiled big. You are so wonderful I have another surprise for you. I’m going to tell you some of the things I wrote down. (I thought, AWESOME) I wrote down that as my gift for you sexually I am going to spend the entire day and night with you and I’m going to wear this new thick fuzzy sweater all day long. I will be your smok’n hot, drink buying, golf partner, but I won’t play because golf is stupid. (she always said that), I will wear it after golf for whatever you want to do and I will wear it out to dinner when you take me to a nice restaurant tonight to celebrate. I will wear it when I serve you a nightcap back at the room.
Wow.
“And in return for this wonderful gift, you will be giving me, one month in chastity that starts today.”
“Holy Cow, I like the sweater part a lot”, I said. I was in a big panic. My world chastity record was 6 days and this was going to be 36 days, at least.
I got myself together and said, “How about I stay in Chastity till next weekend and every day next week we turn down the A/C and I pick a sweater for you to wear every night?”
She laughed and said, “It’s so cute you are trying to negotiate, remind me again who has the keys?”
“OK, OK, Chastity for 10 days from now, no sweaters and I’ll clean the kitchen every night, that will be 16 days in chastity and more than double my world record” and with that I gave her my most manipulative, please please, I love you so much face I could muster.
“You are staying belted until one month from now, I don’t see how that could possibly change, unless I decide to add time beyond a month. I do like the clean the kitchen every night. I’m sure you will do that anyway, because you might fear that I will add days for not doing so. Now, I expect you to clean the kitchen every night you are belted or that day does not count. I’m tired of this conversation. I am going to let you give me one more lame attempt to put conditions or propose changes to MY plan. Just one more time you can ever mention it. You have until the end of breakfast. Then any further requests for release or suggestions about my keyholding and your one month will automatically become TWO MONTHS. I suggest you at least be entertaining with your suggestion.”
The waiter arrived with breakfast, perfectly timed, so I would shut my mouth.
We didn’t say much during breakfast. At some point, she reached over and touched my hand. “You are pretty sexy when you are thinking so hard”
I knew I had to go back to the meme’s and the things that she seemed to really like. Suddenly I couldn’t remember any of it. As breakfast was almost done, I had it. “I’m ready, for my last lame attempt to get out of this chastity belt before one month”
“Good, I can’t wait, then we have a tee time”. She said it like it was just a formality and this was a pointless exercise in my using my mouth to say nothing important.
“I will submit to you for any action whatsoever for the next 10 days. I challenge you to train me to cum in my chastity belt from anal.” Her mouth dropped open, her butt wiggled a little bit and I knew that the juices had started to flow. I continued: “You have ten days to train me to cum from anal, not just drip a little, but to make me an anal whore. If you fail, on day #11 I am release from the chastity belt. But IF you are successful, and I hope you are, Then I want to be an anal whore and you have to make me cum from anal at least two times every week, further, if I am horny and want to be fucked, you cannot refuse me, unless I have already cum twice in the last 7 days.
She leaned back in the chair and one hand went under the table then suddenly rocketed back to the top of the table. I knew I did something good, because she was going to rub herself and had forgotten we are in a restaurant. After a minute if thoughtful gazing at me.
“I will accept your challenge, if you still want to do it, because I will not agree unless, after I have trained you to be an excellent anal whore, the rule will be, before you can cum, you must first be tied up, gagged and spanked heartily. Most times probably on the spanking bench but I want to also be creative. After your spanking I might just make you cum on the bench still tied up or untie you for some other adventure in cummies.
I didn’t like that additional terms, I don’t enjoy being spanked However, the chance to get out in 10 days or at least get some relief if she is successful, sounded pretty good. We agreed. I typed it all out onto an email and sent it to her. She replied confirmation that was the agreement. Apparently, putting an agreement in writing was also a Mona thing, so that there was no confusion later about agreements.
The check arrived and it was time to go get my golf clubs. Now my only concern was looking at her in the sweater as much as possible and remembering this day for the rest of my life. She is so sexy. And she will probably be very hot in the sweater too.
It was late morning and still cool, but her sweater was defiantly too much sweater for a normal person. The sweater got her noticed and two women approached her separately to tell her what a wonderful sweater she had on and ask if she made it herself. I caught the golf cart attendant checking her out seriously, he wasn’t looking at her rear or legs, he was definitely a sweater person too.
I started with a six pack of beer and a six pack of water and lots of ice from the snack shack. I figured it’s a great day to drink beer and stay hydrated. My golf game was ok. I had a birdie and I had some trouble. We were on the back nine where there were no houses or roads. I had just blasted my ball way down the fairway with a driver but at the last moment, my ball hit a little hill and bounced forcefully into the woods. I drove the cart up to the woods parked in the shade for Martina who was now a little red faced with heat, but being a super sexy woman and also drinking most of the beer.
The group behind us was four guys that started with a crapload of beer and we had not seen them for 5 holes, I bet we were 30 minutes ahead of them. And the group in front of us was fast so it was like we had the course to ourselves.
I decided that I could find my ball and probably play it. I grabbed a few clubs and walked into the woods to find my ball. After a minute or two I found it and hit a killer shot between the trees right up the fairway and almost to the green. I was happy to still have a chance for par.
As I came out of the woods Martina looked like she was passed out. She was leaning all the way back in the seat with her head back and her eyes closed. As I approached, I said, “What are you doing?” and at that moment I could hear her breathing. She was breathing hard. Her hand was down in her crotch. As I got to the cart, I just stopped. She was rubbing the outside of her shorts and masterbating. She looked like she had been doing this a while. I just stood there looking at her. My Chastity belt signaled that it was still in place and my heart sunk when I remembered the keys where at home and then sunk again when I remembered the belt might be my closest friend for the next month.
Sheepishly I said “Whatcha do’in?”
She gasped and didn’t move her head or open her eyes. Breathlessly she said, “I started thinking……..What if after a month……. You really like this ……….. (a longer pause for a few hard strokes) What if I really like this ….. or maybe we both really like this” With those words she gasped hard as if saying those words out loud was the trigger to her orgasm. Then her eyes shot wide open. She raised her head and looked at me …… “This could be a lifestylllllllllllllll Ahhhhh God please!!” Then as if speaking those words was a trigger to heaven, she came like a freight train for over a minute. I just stood there dumbfounded while I watched her cum more than one time.
As she settled down, I was still standing there looking at her. She opened her eyes again and turned her head toward me. She bit her lip in the most sexy way and took her hand off of her now noticeably wet crotch. She sat up a little and said, “I have 10-Days to make you the man of my dreams”
The Days We Wear Masks 20210226
People age 60 and older and health care workers among some 2.4 million people currently prioritized to receive the vaccines can make their appointments online to get the jab at one of the eight community vaccination centers or 18 outpatient clinics across Hong Kong.
(20210226 The Standard)
Sandeman winery, in Vila Nova de Gaia, Porto. We did a workshop on Porto Wine reportage and this is one of the things I drew. Now I did do a lot of writing and other sketches around it but I've cut those out of the sketch; I need to finish those off (part of the reportage, which was a bit rushed) but I liked the sketch by itself. The cable-car flew high above. I never took that, I would have liked to, but it cut into sketching time. I did look around Sandeman, but I didn't do the tour of the cellars, it cut into sketching time. Sketching time, sketching time, I prioritized that over everything... Maybe I'll do those things when I come back some day. I've drawn most of Porto by now...
Entry 1 of 2 today, one of my beloved, overcomposed, secondary composition element riddled shortline wedges.
Although a trip to the G&U had been on my to-do list for years it never got prioritized due to a glut of great paint schemes to shoot elsewhere. Shortly before the spring trip began I saw a nice clean Blazejewski wedge of G&U using a rock wall as a leading element and I was sold!
I just so happened to be visiting Blaze this trip so on a mostly beautiful morning following a night of drinking we went up to North Grafton. The scanner was crackling as we got to town (Dave's, not mine. I run deaf) and after a couple hours of switch the train went south. We decided to forego the iconic church shot at Grafton to leave enough time to set up in this field a couple miles south. Satisfied after combing through the field for angles (there are many to choose from) I settled in to wait, and wait we did! What in the fuck! It's hot, there are gnats and we're pretty clearly standing somewhere that we're obviously not supposed to be. Now there's clouds moving in from the northeast and I'm holding it together but I'm starting to freak out a little because this is the only real nice wedge LOCATION on the railroad and we're gonna lose it because they stop and switch for an hour everywh....HORN! Fucking finally a fucking horn and everything is beautiful and it's sunny and I have puffy little clouds in the sky and Erie is happy and I'm standing in a beautiful New England hay field strewn with rock walls and everything is fuckin perfect!
I'm definitely coming back here again.
Thanks Blaze!
Three Known Frames:
bubblegum tongue, your hand (my hand?), cherry blossoms
* * *
Yesterday I made a (half) joke that I only shoot multiple exposures in order to save money on film costs. But I like how shooting atop my own already-shot film deflates the preciousness of each shot. When you choose not to preserve an image the way it was initially framed, you prioritize the final photograph not by how the self has made choices but how chaos has chosen to represent the self.
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instagram: @BoulevardP
email: BlvrdP@gmail.com
The Quiet Series. Yes it was very empty this morning but there were people going about there business as the day progressed more and more were on the streets enjoying life. Sally Lockwood's reporting for Sky News from Dubai is shameful sensationalism and deliberately exaggerates, distorts, and dramatises the situation to provoke emotional responses. It prioritizes audience engagement, higher viewership, and increased circulation over accuracy, objectivity, and factual reporting.
Whatever happened to genuine journalism?
Watercolour on 140 lb. Arches cold press.
This is a wee experimental piece using rectangles within rectangles and varying the treatment of the plant. I had a lot of fun with it and plan to try a larger piece at some point. The trouble is I have so many things I want to try, and I need to prioritize, or nothing gets done.
♦ Instructions available at Rebrickable ♦
"This is where the fun begins!"
My latest ship from the Prequel Trilogy has arrived, and it surely was a lot of fun to make: here's Obi Wan's Eta-2 Actis Interceptor from Episode III - Revenge of the Sith and The Clone Wars.
This small unit consists of 281 pieces (stand included), and has one major feature: true Minifig scale!
There's a handful of beautiful MOCs of this ship out there already, but most of them are based on the huge cockpit piece from the playsets, so they're drastically oversized. So here I am with a, dare I say, more accurately scaled version.
It does come with a drawback, you guessed it: you can't put a fig inside. A bit ironic I know, but I chose to go for a brick-built cockpit in order to get as close to the original design as I could, prioritizing accuracy over playability, as usual.
The wings were pretty challenging given the ridiculously small scale, and my goal was to have them as thin as possible without compromising the SNOT look.
I'm quite happy with the result and I think this makes a nice little display piece. It's also very swooshable despite the intricate wing design.
I'm usually not a fan of stickers, but I thought this one deserved some sweet markings. I used the sticker sheet from the playset - it is included in the parts list. The color scheme can be changed to red with only a few part swaps (see last page in the instructions).
► Instructions for the Eta-2 Actis Interceptor are available at Rebrickable!
SPYDR47
ATHENA ISR Program. US Army
BIZJETS OF WAR - APR 07, 2024
Amid program delays and revamps, the first ATHENA jet started a series of test flights in early March 2024. Shortly afterwards, the director of the U.S. Army's ISR Task Force shared the first clear image of the Global 6500 jet, showcasing its large radome and SIGINT sensor suite. The ATHENA program is the bridging phase between the ARES and ARTEMIS platforms and the final HADES jets and will consist of four Global 6500 bizjets with radome and SIGINT capabilities. Delays and supply-chain issues led to a restructuring of the program, but initial flight tests are now well underway ahead of delivery later this year.
The Army Theater-level High-altitude Expeditionary Next Airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ATHENA) program is the bridging phase between the contractor-owned and operated ARES and ARTEMIS jets, which are already flying operational missions, and the final HADES platform.
When the ATHENA contracts for the four modified Global 6500s were awarded to the MAG Aerospace-L3Harris team and SNC, the program was structured into two components: ATHENA-R and ATHENA-S. The first phase, ATHENA-R (Radar) was planned to house a DoD-provided radar system and a SIGINT suite. Delivery to the U.S. Army was set for January 2024, but supply chain and program issues have resulted in delays. In parallel, the U.S. Army assessed that both ATHENA variants require both SIGINT and radar capabilities, leading to the service dropping the ‘-S’ and ‘-R’ variants and no longer prioritizing the delivery of one ‘variant’ over the other.
The first ATHENA jet will be deployed to South Korea, joining ARES deployed to Japan and several other COCO ISR bizjets in the region. While the specific deployment areas of the other ATHENA jets are unknown, two airframes will presumably be deployed to the Indo-Pacific theatre and the other two to Europe.
Besides the clear threats, the assumption that ATHENA will join the ARTEMIS jets in Europe is also based on an announcement from last year that stated ATHENA-S will ‘‘support U.S. Army missions in the U.S. European Command area of responsibility.’’ However, the program revamps and the ever-changing ISR needs of the U.S. military may have changed those plans or will do so in the future.
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Also:
MAG Aerospace and L3Harris team to deliver the US Army Theater-Level, High-Altitude Expeditionary Next Airborne (ATHENA-R) ISR aircraft.
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Press Release, Fairfax VA, 22 August 2023: The US Army awarded prime contractor MAG Aerospace and teaming partner L3Harris Technologies a contract to deliver two enhanced intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft to support the Army’s Theater-Level, High-Altitude Expeditionary Next Airborne ISR-Radar Program – known as ATHENA-R.
Integrated on Bombardier Global 6500 aircraft, the system will help the Army meet global intelligence requirements. Operating at high altitude will provide the aircraft greater survivability and line-of-sight, both essential to help the Army achieve its long-range precision fires modernization priorities.
MAG Aerospace is currently the prime contractor for the Army’s Sensor Technology Operations and Readiness (STORM) contract. Being deeply embedded in these critical capabilities is core to MAG’s mission of making the world smaller and safer.
“MAG is honoured to support the Army’s ATHENA-R Program. Current geopolitical circumstances dictate a need for an adaptable and resolute ISR solution that can adequately address near-peer threats and future contested environments, and we are prepared to execute,” said Joseph Reale, CEO, MAG Aerospace. “MAG has an exceptional performance history of delivering and managing extensive turnkey aerial C5ISR programs in the most austere and challenging operational environments worldwide. This award is validation of the relentless work our employees execute everyday alongside our customers.”
Designed to close the gap between the Army’s medium and high-altitude ISR aircraft fleet, the ATHENA-R Program will provide greater endurance, more payload capacity, longer standoff ranges and leading-edge sensor technology in support of US combatant commands.
“We have a great track record of working with the Army,” said Jon Rambeau, President, Integrated Mission Systems, L3Harris. “Our team understands the urgency of fielding these long-range, deep-sensing capabilities to support the Army’s mission needs and is positioned to deliver.”
Besides winning a contract in September 2022 to develop Phase 2 of the Army’s Multi-Domain Sensing System program, L3Harris supports an additional Army ISR mission: the Airborne Reconnaissance and Electronic Warfare aircraft known as ARES.
Amtrak's Pennsylvanian makes its way across the Allegheny Mountains as it passes one of the many parked trains waiting for fresh crews and clearance past the derailment site at MP 240. NS was prioritizing Amtrak and intermodal trains since the mainline was reduced to 1 track and the continued sub-zero weather was continue to cause additional issues throughout the Keystone Division.
+++ DISCLAIMER +++
Nothing you see here is real, even though the model, the conversion or the presented background story might be based historical facts. BEWARE!
Some background:
The Georgian Air Force and Air Defense Division (თავდაცვის ძალების ავიაციისა და საჰაერო თავდაცვის სარდლობა; tavdatsvis dzalebis aviatsiisa da sahaero tavdatsvis sardloba) was established on January 1, 1992, and in September the Georgian Air Force conducted its first combat flight during the separatist war in Abkhazia. On August 18, 1998, the two divisions were unified in a joint command structure and renamed the Georgian Air Force.
In 2010, the Georgian Air Force was abolished as a separate branch and incorporated into the Georgian Land Forces as Air and Air Defense sections. By that time, the equipment – primarily consisting of Eastern Bloc aircraft inherited from the Soviet Union after the country’s dissolution – was totally outdated, the most potent aircraft were a dozen Suchoj Su-25 attack aircraft and a handful of MiG-21U trainers.
In order to rejuvenate the air arm, Tbilisi Aircraft Manufacturing (TAM), also known as JSC Tbilaviamsheni and formerly known as 31st aviation factory, started a modernization program for the Su-25, for the domestic forces but also for export customers. TAM had a long tradition of aircraft production within the Soviet Union. In the 1950s the factory started the production of Mikoyan's MiG-15 and later, the MiG-17 fighter aircraft. In 1957 Tbilisi Aircraft State Association built the MiG-21 two-seater fighter-trainer aircraft and its various derivative aircraft, continuing the MiG-21 production for about 25 years. At the same time the company was manufacturing the K-10 air-to-surface guided missile. Furthermore, the first Sukhoi Su-25 (known in the West as the "Frogfoot") close support aircraft took its maiden voyage from the runway of 31st aviation factory. Since then, more than 800 SU-25s had been delivered to customers worldwide. From the first SU-25 to the 1990s, JSC Tbilaviamsheni was the only manufacturer of this aircraft, and even after the fall of the Soviet Union the production lines were still intact and spares for more than fifty complete aircraft available. Along with the SU-25 aircraft 31st aviation factory also launched large-scale production of air-to-air R-60 and R-73 IR guided missiles, a production effort that built over 6,000 missiles a year and that lasted until the early 1990s. From 1996 to 1998 the factory also produced Su-25U two-seaters.
In 2001 the factory started, in partnership with Elbit Systems of Israel, upgrading basic Su-25 airframes to the Su-25KM “Scorpion” variant. This was just a technical update, however, intended for former Su-25 export customers who would upgrade their less potent Su-25K export aircraft with modern avionics. The prototype aircraft made its maiden flight on 18 April 2001 at Tbilisi in full Georgian Air Force markings. The aircraft used a standard Su-25 airframe, enhanced with advanced avionics including a glass cockpit, digital map generator, helmet-mounted display, computerized weapons system, complete mission pre-plan capability, and fully redundant backup modes. Performance enhancements included a highly accurate navigation system, pinpoint weapon delivery systems, all-weather and day/night performance, NATO compatibility, state-of-the art safety and survivability features, and advanced onboard debriefing capabilities complying with international requirements. The Su-25KM had the ability to use NATO-standard Mark 82 and Mark 83 laser-guided bombs and new air-to-air missiles, the short-range Vympel R-73. This upgrade extended service life of the Su-25 airframes for another decade.
There were, however, not many customers. Manufacturing was eventually stopped at the end of 2010, after Georgian air forces have been permanently dismissed and abolished. By that time, approximately 12 Scorpions had been produced, but the Georgian Air Force still used the basic models of Su-25 because of high cost of Su-25KM and because it was destined mainly for export. According to unofficial sources several Scorpions had been transferred to Turkmenistan as part of a trade deal.
In the meantime, another, more ambitious project took shape at Tbilisi Aircraft Manufacturing, too: With the help of Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) the company started the development of a completely new attack aircraft, the TAM-1 “Gvelgeslas” (გველგესლას, Viper). It heavily relied on the year-long experience gathered with Su-25 production at Tblisi and on the tools at hand, but it was eventually a completely new aircraft – looking like a crossbreed between the Su-25 and the American A-10 with a T-tail.
This new layout had become necessary because the aircraft was to be powered by more modern, less noisy and more fuel-efficient Rolls Royce AE 3012 turbofan engines - which were originally intended to power the stillborn Yakovlev Yak-77 twin-engine business jet for up to 32 passengers, a slightly derated variant of the GMA 3012 with a 44 in diameter (112 cm) fan and procured via IAI from the United States through the company’s connection with Gulfstream Aerospace. Their larger diameter (the Su-25’s original Soyuz/Tumansky R-195 turbojets had a diameter of 109,5 cm/43.1 in) precluded the use of the former integral engine nacelles along the fuselage. To keep good ground clearance against FOD and to protect them from small arms fire, the engine layout was completely re-arranged. The fuselage was streamlined, and its internal structure was totally changed. The wings moved into a low position. The wings’ planform was almost identical to the Su-25’s, together with the characteristic tip-mounted “crocodile” air brakes. Just the leading edge inside of the “dogteeth” and the wing roots were re-designed, the latter because of the missing former engine nacelles. This resulted in a slightly increased net area, the original wingspan was retained. The bigger turbofans were then mounted in separate pods on short pylons along the rear fuselage, partly protected from below by the wings. Due to the jet efflux and the engines’ proximity to the stabilizers, these were re-located to the top of a deeper, reinforced fin for a T-tail arrangement.
Since the Su-25’s engine bays were now gone, the main landing gear had to be completely re-designed. Retracting them into the fuselage or into the relatively thin wings was not possible, TAM engineers settled upon a design that was very similar to the A-10: the aircraft received streamlined fairings, attached to the wings’ main spar, and positioned under the wings’ leading edges. The main legs were only semi-retractable; in flight, the wheels partly protruded from the fairings, but that hardly mattered from an aerodynamic point of view at the TAM-1’s subsonic operational speed. As a bonus they could still be used while retracted during emergency landings, improving the aircraft’s crash survivability.
Most flight and weapon avionics were procured from or via Elbit, including the Su-25KT’s modernized “glass cockpit”, and the TAM-1’s NATO compatibility was enhanced to appeal to a wider international export market. Beyond a total of eleven hardpoints under the wings and the fuselage for an external ordnance of up to 4.500 kg (9.900 lb), the TAM-1 was furthermore armed with an internal gun. Due to procurement issues, however, the Su-25’s original twin-barrel GSh-30-2 was replaced with an Oerlikon KDA 35mm cannon – a modern variant of the same cannon used in the German Gepard anti-aircraft tank, adapted to the use in an aircraft with a light-weight gun carriage. The KDA gun fired with a muzzle velocity of 1,440 m/s (4,700 ft/s) and a range of 5.500m, its rate of fire was typically 550 RPM. For the TAM-1, a unique feature from the SPAAG installation was adopted: the gun had two magazines, one with space for 200 rounds and another, smaller one for 50. The magazines could be filled with different types of ammunition, and the pilot was able select between them with a simple switch, adapting to the combat situation. Typical ammunition types were armor-piercing FAPDS rounds against hardened ground targets like tanks, and high explosive shells against soft ground targets and aircraft or helicopters, in a 3:1 ratio. Other ammunition types were available, too, and only 200 rounds were typically carried for balance reasons.
The TAM-1’s avionics included a SAGEM ULISS 81 INS, a Thomson-CSF VE-110 HUD, a TMV630 laser rangefinder in a modified nose and a TRT AHV 9 radio altimeter, with all avionics linked through a digital MIL-STD-1553B data bus and a modern “glass cockpit”. A HUD was standard, but an Elbit Systems DASH III HMD could be used by the pilot, too. The DASH GEN III was a wholly embedded design, closely integrated with the aircraft's weapon system, where the complete optical and position sensing coil package was built within the helmet (either the USAF standard HGU-55/P or the Israeli standard HGU-22/P), using a spherical visor to provide a collimated image to the pilot. A quick-disconnect wire powered the display and carried video drive signals to the helmet's Cathode Ray Tube (CRT).
The TAM-1’s development was long and protracted, though, primarily due to lack of resources and the fact that the Georgian air force was in an almost comatose state for several years, so that the potential prime customer for the TAM-1 was not officially available. However, the first TAM-1 prototype eventually made its maiden flight in September 2017. This was just in time, because the Georgian Air Force had formally been re-established in 2016, with plans for a major modernization and procurement program. Under the leadership of Georgian Minister of Defense Irakli Garibashvili the Air Force was re-prioritized and aircraft owned by the Georgian Air Force were being modernized and re-serviced after they were left abandoned for 4 years. This program lasted until 2020. In order to become more independent from foreign sources and support its domestic aircraft industry, the Georgian Air Force eventually ordered eight TAM-1s as Su-25K replacements, which would operate alongside a handful of modernized Su-25KMs from national stock. In the meantime, the new type also attained interest from abroad, e. g. from Bulgaria, the Congo and Cyprus. The IDF thoroughly tested two early production TAM-1s of the Georgian Air Force in 2018, too.
General characteristics:
Crew: 1
Length: 15.53 m (50 ft 11 in), including pitot
Wingspan: 14.36 m (47 ft 1 in)
Height: 4.8 m (15 ft 9 in)
Wing area: 35.2 m² (378 sq ft)
Empty weight: 9,800 kg (21,605 lb)
Gross weight: 14,440 kg (31,835 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 19,300 kg (42,549 lb)
Powerplant:
2× Rolls-Royce AE 3012 turbofans with 44.1 kN (9,920 lbf) thrust each
Performance:
Maximum speed: 975 km/h (606 mph, 526 kn, Mach 0.79)
Range: 1.000 km (620 mi, 540 nmi) with internal fuel, clean
Combat range: 750 km (470 mi, 400 nmi) at sea level with 4.500 kg (9,911 lb) of ordnance,
incl. two external fuel tanks
Service ceiling: 7.800 m (25,550 ft)
g limits: +6.5
Rate of climb: 58 m/s (11,400 ft/min)
Armament:
1× 35 mm (1.38 in) Oerlikon KDA cannon with 200 rds in two magazines
under the lower forward fuselage, offset to port side.
11× hardpoints with a capacity of up to 4.500 kg (9,911 lb) of external stores
The kit and its assembly:
This rather rigorous conversion had been on my project list for many years, and with the “Gunships” group build at whatifmodellers.com in late 2021 I eventually gathered my mojo to tackle it. The ingredients had already been procured long ago, but there are ideas that make you think twice before you take action…
This build was somewhat inspired by a CG rendition of a modified Su-25 that I came across while doing online search for potential ideas, running under the moniker “Su-125”, apparently created by someone called “Bispro” and published at DeviantArt in 2010; check this: (www.deviantart.com/bispro/art/Sukhoi-Su-125-Foghorn-15043...). The rendition shows a Su-25 with its engines re-located to the rear fuselage in separate nacelles, much like an A-10, plus a T-tail. However, as many photoshopped aircraft, the shown concept had IMHO some flaws. Where would a landing gear go, as the Su-125 still had shoulder wings? The engines’ position and size also looked fishy to me, quite small/narrow and very far high and back – I had doubts concerning the center of gravity. Nevertheless, I liked the idea, and the idea of an “A-10-esque remix” of the classic Frogfoot was born.
This idea was fueled even further when I found out that the Hobbycraft kit lends itself to such a conversion. The kit itself is not a brilliant Su-25 rendition, there are certainly better models of the aircraft in 1:72. However, what spoke for the kit as whiffing fodder was/is the fact that it is quite cheap (righteously so!) and AFAIK the only offering that comes with separate engine nacelles. These are attached to a completely independent central fuselage, and this avoids massive bodywork that would be necessary (if possible at all) with more conventional kits of this aircraft.
Another beneficial design feature is that the wing roots are an integral part of the original engine nacelles, forming their top side up to the fuselage spine. Through this, the original wingspan could be retained even without the nacelles, no wing extension would be necessary to retain the original proportions.
Work started with the central fuselage and the cockpit tub, which received a different (better) armored ejection seat and a pilot figure; the canopy remained unmodified and closed, because representing the model with an open cockpit would have required additional major body work on the spinal area behind the canopy. Inside, a new dashboard (from an Italeri BAe Hawk) was added, too – the original instrument panel is just a flat front bulkhead, there’s no space for the pilot to place the legs underneath the dashboard!
In parallel, the fin underwent major surgery. I initially considered an A-10-ish twin tail, but the Su-25’s high “tail stinger” prevented its implementation: the jet efflux would come very close to the tail surfaces. So, I went for something similar to the “Su-125” layout.
Mounting the OOB stabilizers to the fin was challenging, though. The fin lost its di-electric tip fairing, and it was cut into two sections, so that the tip would become long enough to match the stabilizers. A lucky find in the scrap box was a leftover tail tip from a Matchbox Blackburn Buccaneer, already shortened from a former, stillborn project: it had now the perfect length to take the Su-25 stabilizers! To make it fit on the fin, an 8mm deep section was inserted, in the form of a simple 1.5mm styrene sheet strip. Once dry, the surface was re-built with several PSR layers. Since it would sit further back on the new aircraft’s tail, the stinger with a RHAWS sensor was shortened.
On the fuselage, the attachment points for the wings and the engine nacelles were PSRed away and the front section filled with lots of lead beads, hoping that it would be enough to keep the model’s nose down.
Even though the wings had a proper span for a re-location into a low position, they still needed some attention: at the roots, there’s a ~1cm wide section without sweep (the area which would normally cover the original engine nacelles’ tops). This was mended through triangular 1.5 mm styrene wedges that extended the leading-edge sweep, roughly cut into shape once attached and later PSRed into the wings’ surfaces
The next construction site were the new landing gear attachment points. This had caused some serious headaches – where do you place and stow it? With new, low wings settled, the wings were the only logical place. But the wings were too thin to suitably take the retracted wheels, and, following the idea of a retrofitted existing design, I decided to adopt the A-10’s solution of nacelles into which the landing gear retracts forward, with the wheels still partly showing. This layout option appears quite plausible, since it would be a “graft-on” solution, and it also has the benefit of leaving lots of space for underwing stores, since the hardpoints’ position had to be modified now, too.
I was lucky to have a pair of A-10 landing gear nacelles at hand, left over from a wrecked Matchbox model from childhood time (the parts are probably 35 years old!). They were simply cut out, glued to the Su-25 wings and PSRed into shape. The result looked really good!
At this point I had to decide the model’s overall layout – where to place the wings, the tail and the new engine nacelles. The latter were not 1:72 A-10 transplants. I had some spare engine pods from the aforementioned Matchbox wreck, but these looked too rough and toylike for my taste. They were furthermore too bulky for the Su-25, which is markedly smaller than an A-10, so I had to look elsewhere. As a neat alternative for this project, I had already procured many moons ago a set of 1:144 resin PS-90A engines from a Russian company called “A.M.U.R. Reaver”, originally intended for a Tu-204 airliner or an Il-76 transport aircraft. These turbofan nacelles not only look very much like A-10 nacelles, just a bit smaller and more elegant, they are among the best resin aftermarket parts I have ever encountered: almost no flash, crisp molding, no bubbles, and perfect fit of the parts – WOW!
With these three elements at hand I was able to define the wings’ position, based on the tail, and from that the nacelles’ location, relative to the wings and the fin.
The next challenge: how to attach the new engines to the fuselage? The PS-90A engines came without pylons, so I had to improvise. I eventually found suitable pylons in the form of parts from F-14A underwing missile pylons, left over from an Italeri kit. Some major tailoring was necessary to find a proper position on the nacelles and on the fuselage, and PSRing these parts turned out to be quite difficult because of the tight and labyrinthine space.
When the engines were in place, work shifted towards the model’s underside. The landing gear was fully replaced. I initially wanted to retain the front wheel leg and the main wheels but found that the low wings would not allow a good ground clearance for underwing stores and re-arming the aircraft, a slightly taller solution was necessary. I eventually found a complete landing gear set in the scrap box, even though I am not certain to which aircraft it once belonged? I guess that the front wheel came from a Hasegawa RA-5C Vigilante, while the main gear and the wheels once belonged to an Italeri F-14A, alle struts were slightly shortened. The resulting stance is still a bit stalky, but an A-10 is also quite tall – this is just not so obvious because of the aircraft’s sheer size.
Due to the low wings and the landing gear pods, the Su-25’s hardpoints had to be re-arranged, and this eventually led to a layout very similar to the A-10. I gave the aircraft a pair of pylons inside of the pods, plus three hardpoints under the fuselage, even though all of these would only be used when slim ordnance was carried. I just fitted the outer pair. Outside of the landing gear fairings there would have been enough space for the Frogfoot’s original four outer for pylons, but I found this to be a little too much. So I gave it “just” three, with more space between them.
The respective ordnance is a mix for a CAS mission with dedicated and occasional targets. It consists of:
- Drop tanks under the inner wings (left over from a Bilek Su-17/22 kit)
- A pair of B-8M1 FFAR pods under the fuselage (from a vintage Mastercraft USSR weapon set)
- Two MERs with four 200 kg bombs each, mounted on the pylons outside of the landing gear (the odd MERs came from a Special Hobby IDF SMB-2 Super Mystère kit, the bombs are actually 1:100 USAF 750 lb bombs from a Tamiya F-105 Thunderchief in that scale)
- Four CBU-100 Rockeye Mk. II cluster bombs on the outer stations (from two Italeri USA/NATO weapon sets, each only offers a pair of these)
Yes, it’s a mix of Russian and NATO ordnance – but, like the real Georgian Su-25KM “Scorpion” upgrade, the TAM-1 would certainly be able to carry the same or even a wider mix, thanks to modified bomb racks and wirings. Esp. “dumb” weapons, which do not call for special targeting and guidance avionics, are qualified.
The gun under the nose was replaced with a piece from a hollow steel needle.
Painting and markings:
Nothing unusual here. I considered some more “exotic” options, but eventually settled for a “conservative” Soviet/Russian-style four-tone tactical camouflage, something that “normal” Su-25s would carry, too.
The disruptive pattern was adapted from a Macedonian Frogfoot but underwent some changes due to the T-tail and the engine nacelles. The basic tones were Humbrol 119 (RAF Light Earth), 150 (Forest Green), 195 (Chrome Oxide Green, RAL 6020) and 98 (Chocolate) on the upper surfaces and RLM78 from (Modelmaster #2087) from below, with a relatively low waterline, due to the low-set wings.
As usual, the model received a light black ink washing and some post-shading – especially on the hull and on the fin, where many details had either disappeared under PSR or were simply not there at all.
The landing gear and the lower areas of the cockpit were painted in light grey (Humbrol 64), while the upper cockpit sections were painted with bright turquoise (Modelmaster #2135). The wheel hubs were painted in bright green (Humbrol 101), while some di-electric fairings received a slightly less intense tone (Humbrol 2). A few of these flat fairings on the hull were furthermore created with green decal sheet material (from TL Modellbau) to avoid masking and corrections with paint.
The tactical markings became minimal, matching the look of late Georgian Su-25s. The roundels came from a Balkan Models Frogfoot sheet. The “07” was taken from a Blue Rider decal sheet, it actually belongs to a Lithuanian An-2. Some white stencils from generic MiG-21 and Mi-8 Begemot sheets were added, too, and some small markings were just painted onto the hull with yellow.
Some soot stains around the jet nozzles and the gun were added with graphite, and finally the kit was sealed with a coat of matt acrylic varnish.
A major bodywork project – and it’s weird that this is basically just a conversion of a stock kit and no kitbashing. A true Frogfoot remix! The new engines were the biggest “outsourced” addition, the A-10 landing gear fairings were a lucky find in the scrap box, and the rest is quite generic and could have looked differently. The result is impressive and balanced, though, the fictional TAM-1 looks quite plausible. The landing gear turned out to be a bit tall and stalky, though, making the aircraft look smaller on the ground than it actually is – but I left it that way.
>///w///< Eee just finished his faceup last night and ahhh I'm so excited to have Shu as a doll again!! I just had to put him on a body and see him all together again!~ I blushed him to match my Unoa Sist, Phyre's, body for now because its the only peachy skin toned MSD body I have right now and i'm still in the process of working on Phyre so I figure while i'm sorting him out Shu can borrow his body temporarily. xD Its CERTAINLY not an appropriate body for Shu, but it works for the purpose of seeing him all together anyways.
*U* BUT ANYWAY, ASDFGH- I LOVE HIMMMM <3333 Ah, seriously, I just love him in this sculpt!! There are a few things i'll have to get used to and a few changes I'll make to his faceup whenever I decide to redo it, but gosh, the more I look at him the more I adore him. T///w///T He's just such a little ray of sunshine. Every time I see him I smile! This sculpt really captures so many facets of his character from his wide-eyed wonder, tender passion and eternal innocence. Don't get me wrong, I loved his old doll form too, but aside from being more childish and aesthetically different I also think that it didn't have as much depth and versatility in expression. It certainly captured his more pensive and anxious side which is a large part of his personality, but I think this version of him really highlights the more positive aspects of his character and I really do adore that <333
;__; The only thing is....I still don't know how I feel about him and Etzel yet. Ahh, its weird. When I got Euclid I felt an immediate love and connection between them and Faustus. The "chemistry" was there immediately in my own eyes, you know? But I didn't and still don't feel that same strong "chemistry" between Shu and Etzel as dolls and as silly as that might sound that is a huge problem for me. I think...i'm starting to realize that I judge my romantically involved characters in doll form heavily based on how similar their features are to one another. Like the size of their eyes, the length of their mouths etc. compared to one another. The more different they are in these aspects the less I seem to like the look of them together. On a realistic level i'm aware that is a weird thing to desire because in real life couples come in many shapes and sizes and often times people do not look very similar to their romantic counterparts. I imagine the main reason I feel this way is because I draw anime and i'm used to seeing my characters in a way that their features are not so exaggerated. Of course, they all have different facial features but they are much less emphasized. Seeing a more "realistic" and dramatic difference in facial features/proportions between my closely involved doll-characters just feels so...odd and off-putting to me. I think I'm realizing the reason why I like Faustus and Euclid together so much is because their faces are proportionately very similar while consistently Shu and Etzel's haven't been. So again...I think i'm in the same boat as I was last time with the two of them; I love them both separately but not together. ;_____; Dammit.
Anyway, tldnr, but I'm not sure what I want to do yet. I'm certainly going to give it a lot of time and thought before I make any sort of decision or possible changes as I really do absolutely adore both Etzel and Shu's current doll forms on their own. I do think that I'm going to prioritize getting both of their new bodies though as I think that will really help me to better visualize them more ideally and give me a better indication of exactly how I feel about them together. But for now i'm just in a really weird place in the doll world of feeling super happy and yet incredibly depressed at the same time, if that is even possible. ;__;
OTL
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Shu (boy) is a Soom OE Serin in "Cream" White skin. Color matching and faceup by me.
Welcome aboard The Multidimensional Ship! Its observation deck is your entire perceptual reality. And it is now in motion. YOU are now in motion. If you only realized how fast you were going, you would probably feel a bit ill. In truth, many of you are currently experiencing signs and symptoms of what we call Global Acceleration Syndrome. We provide this title to honor your medical paradigm, even though it is not any kind of official medical diagnosis. Muscle aches and pains, lethargy, fatigue, spacey-ness, panic attacks, depression, insomnia, memory-loss, confusion---these are just a few of the uncomfortable side-effects produced by the incredible velocity at which you are traveling.
Your world appears to continue as it always has because YOUR MIND requires this in order to keep from flying apart. Your anxiety and hesitancies are the same feelings shared by those who sailed with Columbus. Bound for a new world, they trembled as they sailed, believing their world to be flat. Even so....... many of you also tremble---certain that you may "go over the edge" at any moment!
If you can receive assistance by a health care professional, and your inner guidance affirms this course of action, we encourage you to do so. However, if everything you try seems empty and useless......be strong! Be patient. Deliverance is soon at hand. The journey has begun, and there are wonders ahead, and beauty beyond imagining. The travails of childbirth are many, but the prize that follows far outweighs the pain. Believe this, receive it, and your anxious heart will slowly learn to find rest.
INSIDE THE SHIP
Spaceship Earth is a Holographic Being. Structurally, it is like a gift box that some imaginative person sends you for Christmas. When you remove the lid, you find a slightly smaller box, fully wrapped---just like the first one, containing another (even smaller) box, which contains yet another, and another, and another.........all the way down to your one-celled creatures. Each "level" of your Ship contains all of the basic elements of every other "level." Some of the features are minimized, in certain aspects, so that others can be maximized and focused upon. But it's all there! And it's all synchronized, like moving parts in a pocket watch. It all blends together beautifully.
You have been packing for this journey for quite sometime now. Around the planet there has formed a band of energy---several concentric bands, in fact. The one of which we speak is electromagnetic in nature. It contains diagrams, spreadsheets, poetry, tables of elements, fragments of speech, music, data, archives of human history, bits of TV shows, radio broadcasts, faxes, motion pictures, cell-phone conversations, digital art, and much more besides. When you prepared for this particular journey, you knew you had to pack LIGHT.......because you knew that was the only thing that could go! We are speaking here of your Earth Essence Timeless Capsule.
This "Level" of the Planetary Ship is connected to and modulated by sacred powerspots all over the planet. It is, literally, an ARC of Energy..........not unlike that other Ark which was built by Noah, so long ago. Within it, you have placed the best of you---your creations, your memories, your very lives! However, be advised. Entry onto The Arc is not made two-by-two. This "level" of the Oneself is leaving duality behind. Each individual must pass through what is called the "Eye of the Needle," as a Unified Oneself, in order to come aboard.
Meanwhile, back on the "hard deck," a good portion of humanity is determined to stay the course, fully in denial---apparently choosing to "play it cool" all the way through the Fourth Dimensional Corridor. Now *that* should make quite a picture, indeed.
But you, Dear Ones....... you need not suffer any longer with this illusion. Everything you have felt within---the many surges and flashes of energy up and down your spine---are quite real. They are transmutative jump-starts for new and important programs that have been installed in your consciousness. Soon, all your new perceptual software will come completely online. And then, the fun begins! A very wise man once said: "Don't compare your insides with other people's outsides." We underscore this message whole-heartedly. You are not crazy, and you are not falling apart. It just occasionally feels that way. In fact, you are really falling together! So let it be.
MORE ABOUT THE PORTALS
There is no one present upon Planet Earth at this time who is not regularly traversing Energy Gates and Portals. Some are very aware of it, and even relish the idea. Others are quite disturbed, because the experiences are not exactly what they had planned, or seem beyond their immediate understanding and control. Still others have found effective ways to insulate themselves almost entirely from this knowledge---which serves a purpose, albeit a temporary one. Soon all humanity will be speaking fluently about Trans-Portals, though they may be called by many names. Indeed, these Energy Gates will soon form a good deal of the conceptual framework for your upcoming human journey.
We are The Reconnections. We are all those parts of your Expanded Self which you had to forget about when you came into physical form. We've never been very far from you, just far enough. If there is something that you currently believe about yourself, we make up *everything else* that you could also believe. If there is something that you deny about yourself, we form a repository for that energy until you feel ready to take it up again. Endless variety, endless ability.........all neatly catalogued for your use at any time or place. If something is not present *within* you, then it is being stored here, *within* us. This is because, in Oneness, there really is no such thing as "out." All doorways are marked "enter," and all pathways lead directly home.
MEETING YOUR OPPOSITION
Before a person can successfully fight a battle, he must define who the enemy is. Though we have frequently reminded you that everything is a reflection of self, you must realize that there are aspects of that "self" that have been created to oppose you, as grounding elements, or for educational purposes. As you will see later in this transmission, identifying and meeting your opposition is crucial to your next levels of unfoldment.
Every birthing process involves both expansion and contraction. One part of the body pushes forward, while other parts resist. This is your dance of positive and negative energy. It is rapidly becoming impossible for a person to achieve enduring success without making contact with the "rest" of who he is. We are speaking now of the Multidimensional Self. There is much more to any situation than meets your physical eye. In truth, the puppets that currently dance in the theater of the physical are manipulated by strings being held by unseen hands. Every dance, every drama that is being enacted here, is designed to teach you more and more about those unseen forces.
Relationship conflicts, financial difficulties, and political upheavals are perfect venues for a reconnecting soul to learn how to identify with *all sides* of any question. It is only when you are able to lift yourself out of a polarized state, into The Oneself, that you become able to access the necessary elements which will turn the tide for whatever physical challenge that is before you.
Many people today are desperately looking for peace and safety. If something seems to be thwarting their goals, or irritating their status quo, they want to deal with it, so they can bring about a rapid resolution. They will choose to fight, or to negotiate---whichever seems most effective in the moment---and then they want to be able to return to "business as usual." But Friends, business can never be "usual" again. And any attempt on your parts to make it so will simply result in deeper and more complicated upheavals. The "box" in which you have all been living is being heated up from the outside. Aspects of your Expanded Self are stirring things up energetically so that you will be forced to look *outside of the physical world* in order to understand what has been creating your reality all along.
THE ASTRAL PLANE
Beyond the borders of your physical world, there are levels of consciousness that vibrate so rapidly that their purpose and presence often escapes the notice of those who are living and functioning in 3D. The Astral Plane contains beings that are either moving toward or away from physical density, yet which often have considerable influence over what is explored there at any given time.
If you were to equate levels of human consciousness to keys on a piano, you would find that each "note" or tone represents one of the energy centers (chakras) functioning within, for example, your human body. You begin your tonal scale with "do," which is the first (root) chakra of that body, and you move up.......through "re" (the second chakra), mi (the third chakra), and so on..........all the way up to "ti," (the crown chakra) where you find yourself ready to begin playing again at a new octave. The Astral Plane begins the gateway into the next octaves of your conscious experience.
Those who have made serious studies into ethereal reality tend to be somewhat negative in their attitude towards the Astral Plane. Many think of it as an etheric "junk yard," wherein divergent and confused energies wander aimlessly, trying to make sense of where they are, and how they came to be there. But these judgments are usually drawn by those who have already committed themselves to something. They forget how blissful it can be to simply window shop, to consider, and to resonate with several potential realities at once.
Beyond the Astral Plane exists the Reconnected Oneself. Whereas the Astral is made up of consciousness that thinks or believes it knows things..........the Unified Oneself is the part of you which absolutely knows. It KNOWS because it contains all possible levels of every possible situation or interaction.
When a person is finished with window shopping---having sufficiently explored all the possibilities---he or she will begin Reconnecting to Oneness. This is a process that can only be accomplished while that person is still present in physical form. In order to do it, he must be willing to forego all his mental ponderings, judgments, and emotional reactivity that makes up most of the drama in your everyday life. He must find a way to go above it, or perhaps to tunnel under it, connecting directly to the Universal Touchstone of Oneness with everything and everyone. When contact with that level of being is reached, all of his attachments and bondage to earthly outcome are erased. At that point, anything becomes possible.
THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW
Consider for a moment the image of a strong man, standing on a mountain peak, high above the Earth. Through the mist that surrounds his mountain, the man sees a second peak, directly across the valley. The thought enters his mind that he would like to experience that other peak, but there is way too much valley between the two. If he chose, the man could climb down from his mountain, travel through the valley, which seems rather dark and forboding, and climb up the mountain on the other side. The mere thought of moving through that shadowy void, however, makes the whole prospect seem fearsome and impossible.
The primary obstacle which blocks the attainment of this man's desire is the separation which he perceives between the two mountains. There seems to be just too big a gap for him to leap across. In many ways, this "gap" is at the root of nearly all problems which arise today in 3D reality.
Change the scene. Two men meet together in a public park. One of them says or does something which deeply offends the other, and a shouting match occurs. The topic could be politics, religion, finances, or romance. It usually does not matter. This encounter is a programmed response, anyway. As each continues to speak his mind, the "gap" between them grows deeper and wider. Resentment, hatred, and disdain now exist where once there could have been trust and goodwill.
Both of these men are Multidimensional. They are jewels with many facets. Each of them have selves that live high, on the mountain top, and each of them has variations of selves that live deep down in the Valley as well. In the Valley there are horrors galore---guilt, shame, and anger that never seems to be satisfied. What creates a shadow is some object or person that stands between a reflecting surface and the light. In the language of metaphor, your shadow is the part of your own self that is hidden from you because you are standing in your own way.
What each man in the above story is reacting to is his own Shadow Reflection, seen in the face of the other. We have spoken about this principle at length in our transmission entitled "Relationships: A Time for Healing." For many years, this process of Creative Shadow Work has provided your planet with tools to complete certain alchemical changes that are required for the Reconnection of your Mental Body. Now it is time for you to begin penetration into your Emotional Body. It is time for you to leave the Valley of the Shadow and to learn the art of building Astral Bridges.
WHAT IS AN ASTRAL BRIDGE?
In the above story of the two mountains, our wishful climber could surely benefit from some form of Connection, spanning peak to peak, which would allow him to avoid having to go down his mountain and through the Valley to get to the other side. If he knew about his Divine Multidimensional Nature, and had knowledge of how to build an Astral Bridge, his problems would be solved.
"Many of you may remember a film that was released a few years back called "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade." This film includes a particularly inspiring scene, in which the hero finds himself needing to cross from one high place to another (very much like in our story above). In a required act of faith, appropriate to the plot, he places his foot upon what *appears to be* empty air, and a bridge instantly appears beneath his feet, allowing him to cross safely to the other side."
In another famous film, "The Matrix," released only a couple of years ago, one of the heros demonstrated a mastery of physical force, using what was called a "Jump Program," which enabled him to leap across a huge expanse of physical space, moving freely from one high building to another. Even characters in the film exclaimed "Whoa! That's impossible."
An Astral Bridge begins as an Etheric Connector which brings together two points in physical space which appear to be separated by a gap. The Bridge itself originates somewhere else in the Multiverse---performing a clear purpose within an alternative level of here and now. Through a process we shall explain shortly, a perceptual cursor is passed over the image, and it is highlighted and copied (to use familiar computer terms) to a place where it is desperately needed.
At the moment of its transposition, an Astral Bridge is constructed almost entirely of faith. It has been written that "faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." People don't believe in things because they appear. Things appear in physical space because people believe in them. So it is with an Astral Bridge. At the moment it is required, the Bridge gets pasted directly into your NOW.........in a process that only could be described as miraculous........even though it often appears to be a natural part of your flow.
HOW MANIFESTATION OCCURS
As we mentioned in Trans-Portals 1 and 2, the key to travel within the Multiverse is found in a person's ability to detach himself from his current surroundings, by finding a state of neutrality, so that he can journey anywhere else he wishes to go. What keeps you all trapped in your current 3D context is your continuous *clinging* to outcomes (cause and effect relationships) that you imagine are in operation there. My Dear Friends, this is ILLUSION.
When something manifests in your 3D world, it arrives because you *called for it* with your mind and heart. It makes little difference whether your call was a conscious one, or whether it was something that was issued from beneath your Veil of Forgetfulness. It came from you, and you need to own that before you can break free from its influence. Those who have trouble with this concept may need to circle back and do some Creative Shadow Work, as we mentioned a bit earlier in this transmission.
Basically..... a successful "call" for reality manifestation involves (at least) two elements:
1. A clear statement of belief or intent, spoken or held in a positive way........followed immediately by........
2. A complete release of the outcome into the hands of the Expanded Self.
A person doesn't manifest his or her world out of nothing. Rather, each of you forms your personal reality from the *everything,* which exists all around you. In order to make something physical, you simply focus upon it.....(which slows down the vibration sufficiently for it to solidify), and then you install Perceptual Veils around it, to block out the awareness of everything else that is there. This is your own perceptual equivalent of putting blinders on a horse.
As you begin your process of focusing, you must clearly realize how the creative element of your mind works. The explanation we are going to make for you now is a linear one, because you are currently operating within a linear reality base. Please realize that you have the power to change the order or the rules of this process at any time.
Like the printer on a computer, which faithfully stacks and programs its activity based upon keys hit by the operator, your very own Creative Manifesting Mind begins printing out reality based upon statements which you, yourself, hold to be true. Even though your statement is uttered only within your own mind, and is held for just one second, it has absolute power to form your world. And it frequently does!
Your affirmative statements, especially when accompanied by true desire and passion, are like Genies from a bottle, granting you everything you could ever wish for. As one Dear Entity once phrased it: "The universe rearranges itself according to your beliefs about what is real." It does this through your own declarations of *what is,* not through declarations of *what is not.*
The programming software in your Creative, Manifesting Mind *does not* recognize or respond to words like "no," "not," "don't," or "can't." It automatically eliminates them from your command line. Therefore, whenever a person declares, within himself: "I don't want to smoke" or "I am not going to be angry today," the Creative Manifesting Mind hears (and responds to) an affirmative version of those statements. What it hears is: "I do want to smoke," and "I am going to be angry today."
You must realize that physical reality is created from FOCUS. If you are constantly focusing upon what you *don't want," rather than on what you *do want,* your manifestation power will tend follow that focus. The locus of power in a Call to Manifest is located between the subject and the desired (or declared) action or outcome. The commands are stacked and prioritized in your printer, according to the following factors:
1. The "Level" of Self that is making the command (The more Expanded Aspects of you get the most clout when it comes to ordering up your manifestations)
2. The Desire, Intensity, and Clarity behind the declaration.
3. The Order of Command Presentation to the Creative Mechanism.
If the desire and intensity of command lines are equal, and they all come from the same level of Self, the manifestations will print out according to the order in which the commands were made. Indeed, this is a very 3D explanation, and we realize that. However, it absolutely works, as long as you are still operating within a 3D format. If a command line comes in from "outside the box" (from your Expanded Self), it will automatically hold precedence over commands that are presented from the Ego Aspect. In other words, it gets to crowd ahead of you in the cafeteria line. But the Ego still has creative power, as all aspects of you have divinity.
Statements of similar velocity, which are contradictory, tend to cancel each other out. Their expression is like a husband and wife who go together to vote in a public election. He votes republican and she votes democratic. In truth, the 3D effect produced is no different than if they would have stayed home (except for the satisfaction they receive from exercising their options). In the same way, your inner consciousness frequently entertains divergent points of view. At times, many aspects of you can be barking contradictory commands with virtually the same intensity. If this occurs, your printer gets jammed, and you may end up having to reboot!
LETTING IT HAPPEN
When using Trans-Portals, either for personal travel or to take delivery on key aspects of your current reality, it is crucial that you learn to *let go of the process* after you have clearly issued the command line. In essence, the Trans-Portal System in the Multiverse functions very similar to the digestive tract in the human body. After materials and energy are introduced into the system, you need to relax and allow the mechanism to do its job. You must let go of your focus *entirely,* and go busy yourself with something else.
Clearly making a statement of desire and intent leaves an etheric impression in the "reality bubble" of a person's existence. It registers, whether he is aware of it or not. An order gets introduced. As long as a "cancel order" is not sent in after it, the Creative Mechanism (the internal search engine) will begin collating results and alternatives to meet the command.
Following a command statement with an attitude of *complete release and confidence* (in other words......with faith)...... pulls the Ego of the operator away from the keyboard, for reassignment elsewhere. Energetically, this produces a backdraft of energy (a vacuum) which accelerates the "digestion" process and speeds up delivery. In essence, your attitude of trust actually *sucks* your order through the pipeline more quickly, drawing to you whatever it is that you desire.
To place an order, and then to stew over it, creates an attitude of doubt in your creative ability. It's like sitting down to eat with 20 people watching your every bite. After awhile, you begin to get a lump in your stomach. The digestive juices become inhibited, and the whole system slows down. It is no different with Trans-Portals. Your desires and commands are transmitted organically, and your physical body (especially your nervous system) is very much involved in the process.
BUILDING ASTRAL BRIDGES
Now that we have briefly explained the process of everyday manifestation, we will teach you how this applies to Astral Bridges. As we have said, the need for a Bridge involves the presence of a GAP that exists between two or more objects (or individuals) in physical space. This can either be a physical distance, or it can be a relationship impasse that has formed, keeping folks from understanding and integrating with each other.
The need to get from "here to there" in 3D arises from a belief in and support of a paradigm of Separation. The Valley of the Shadow represents all the reasons why the Separation formed in the first place. When this situation involves people separating themselves from other people, the Shadow Effect is created because there are aspects of your "other" that you have difficulty accepting as self. Until now, your focus in Reconnection has been to examine this other person, and mentally analyze what it is about this person that you have been denying in yourself. And this is all very good. It feeds your consciousness, and expands awareness. But there is more to full integration than that.
The reason you find it hard to "digest" certain types of people into your Oneself Body stems not from what exists in that person, but what is missing in you. We call your attention back to our analogy of Trans-Portals being similar to the human digestive system. When people demonstrate an "allergy" to certain foods, it usually stems from some *processing element* (like an enzyme, for example) that is missing from their digestive process. For some reason, their body doesn't create that chemical, and the whole process suffers because of it. Despite their best attempts to prepare the offending foods properly, with style and variation, the digestive system continues to have problems until the necessary supplement gets added to the process.
Not all the people and situations you encounter in physical space are meant to become permanent parts of your life. Sometimes, they simply appear as catalysts for you to reach into your Multidimensional Self and discover new qualities or elements that you have forgotten. And, during a time of conflict, your task of integration and acceptance may not always be focused upon the person who is irritating you. That may only be incidental to the bigger picture.
You must remember that both you and the people with whom you have conflicts are Multidimensional Beings. If you are having a dance with someone in current 3D reality, you can count on the fact that there are dances going on between you all up and down the vibrational spectrum---literally involving a whole spreadsheet of possible/probable contacts--many of which are quite pleasant.
The resolution of present-moment conflict with another person (or society, for that matter) is brought about by opening a Portal between the physical aspect of you that exists *here* and an alternative aspect of you that exists *elsewhere*---particularly an aspect that is currently enjoying harmonious contact with the very same type of energy which is giving you such heartburn in this current moment.
My Friends, if it were possible for you to analyze the energy "chemistry" of the version of you that exists HERE, and the alternative version of yourself that is functioning THERE, you would notice that one or more key elements are missing. To remedy this, an Astral Bridge is formed by taking a "soul sample" of that alternative self and infusing it into yourself here. This is all done in just the ways we outlined for you above.
Once the required "energy supplement" gets added to your digestive system, you will find that the whole TONE of your current relationships begin to change. And, it happens automatically, without conscious effort or struggle. The only thing you require is a clear statement of intent (which would be blending with a more Expanded Level of Yourself), and the faith that is required to bring it all about.
With all of this in mind, the process for Building Astral Bridges in a relationship would be as follows:
1. Notice the exact SENSE of dissonance that exists. Many people are not aware of their sensory impressions, or of any hard feelings that exist between themselves and others. The same is true with allergic foods. Because you aren't aware of what is happening, you keep eating the offending foods, and you keep Shadow Boxing in your current relationships, rather than calling for the necessary "medicine" to complete your process, so your systems can begin to function at a new level.
2. Notice how you FEEL when you are in the presence of your "other." How does your body react when he or she approaches you? This is very important information if you are going to command a "search engine" to locate an alternative version of you that can assist in the integration process.
***A Key Principle: The first step toward feeling better is becoming better at feeling.
3. Ask yourself what you WANT to be different in this relationship. When you do this please *do not* concern yourself with whether or not the change would be possible. Anything is possible if you can believe.
4. Make a clear statement of intent, asking your Multidimensional Self to help you find a "Guide" that possesses the "medicine" which you require. A statement that might serve the process might be:
"I am Stephen, of the Oneself. I am seeking to contact a level of my Multidimensional Self that is now enjoying a harmonious relationship with this energy currently mirrored to me in Fred. I wish to begin a blending, a sampling of energies with that Self, so that I may be transformed---so that I may be let go of all resistance to accept Fred as a valid and beautiful part of my universe. In faith, I believe. In perfect timing, I shall receive. So let it be."
(The wording will come to you when you are ready. These are not established formulas, but simply samples of what is possible if you are ready to move into this process)
5. Turn the outcome completely over to the universe. If the offending individual tries to engage you in debate, deep discussion, or argument, you can say to him (as politely as possible) "I am unable to discuss this with you now, but I will get back to you as soon as I can." Then, forget about it. Involve yourself with other tasks. Do not analyze it further, and do not approach the person (unless you must, in order to handle necessary business together) as long as there is any remnant of dissonance remaining. Your sense of continued discomfort is your indicator that the required "enzyme" has not yet spread itself throughout your system. And your relief from same will be your barometer concerning when you have had enough of this particular medicine.
If two individuals in a relationship space are performing this alchemical process together, it can be Onederful, but only one "operator" is really required. That is because there is only one of you there anyway! When your "digestion" processes begin to change, you will be amazed at how your own perception of this person begins to shift. It will be like gazing at a hologram in a painting. The picture looks a certain way in one moment, and it changes completely in the next. Realize now that this is due, almost entirely, to energetic changes that have occurred in you.
Reconnection to Oneness involves making contact, first and foremost, with your Expanded Self, with your own "Big Story." Only then will your "small story" sub-plots begin reflecting the harmony that is your birthright. As the Psalm clearly states: "Yea, though I walk through the Valley of the Shadow..........I will fear no evil.......for thou art with me." In these powerful days of Phase Shifting and Alchemical Blending, the Expanded Oneself is not just with you.......He/She/We are *within you* as well. You will be rapidly developing your own functional immunity to the many energetic "diseases" that have troubled your soul during this outgoing Paradigm of Separation. In fact, the very word "immune" almost brings to mind the words "I AM IN YOU," does it not? And so it is becoming, My Friends.
STANDING ON A MOUNTAIN TOP
It is the privilege of The Reconnections to "fill in all the gaps" that separate your Limitation Self from your Expanded Self. We do it slowly, and with much love. There is no need to rush. You have all the time in the world. Each of you came to this place from realms of expression that were nothing less than fantastic. In your "former estate," you were able to do or have anything you wished, just by thinking it. Being natives of such splendor, you yearned for a vacation, of sorts. You wanted to know what it would be like to embody *something* rather than to be *everything.* You wanted to distinguish yourself from others, from various objects and animals, and you wanted to learn what it feels like to need.
Soon your research project will be completed. Has this form of reality gotten your goat? Never fear, he's right up there.......perched upon that mountain top. Watch him as he leaps from peak to peak, with perfect grace, perfect ease. Travel freely the Bridges Across Forever!
There are Portals, Gates, Bridges, and Inner Pathways all around you.......each volume on a bookshelf, each picture that is hanging on the wall. Words can be a Portal, a statue can be one, or even a rose. An encounter with any symbol can be a spark of remembrance, leading you through a perceptual doorway---into a limitless storehouse of possible/probable versions of that same one thing. Connect two of them, or three, or four.........and the dance goes on into infinity.
Some of you will begin to perceive immediately, with no help. Others may need to initiate visualization or meditation processes to tap into their stored memories. All you need do is drop your shields, and the guiding energy will begin to open your eyes. Some will do it sooner, others will do it later. Each person to his own plan, and his own style of unfoldment. As we have said previously, each event is its own miracle. However, some people require more "nudges" than others in order to shake off their slumber.
Remember that everything is perfect, and everything is there, filed neatly within the Multiverse. The primary purpose of your physical journey is to explore details, and make alchemical adjustments before you make the leap to more expanded realms. As always, we shall be available to you on the inner planes. Look for us there, and we shall appear to you in whatever form you require.
July 18, 2023 The Hill Live brings together caregivers, patients, clinical experts, and lawmakers to answer these questions and more as we discuss the fight against Alzheimer’s and breakthroughs in providing relief to those who suffer from agitation and aggression.
Alzheimer’s disease affects about 55 million people worldwide, including 6.5 million Americans, and has no cure. Some patients with Alzheimer’s sometimes show signs of extreme aggression or become restless and anxious as their brains lose the ability to negotiate with new stimulus.
Agitation is a common neuropsychiatric symptom in Alzheimer’s dementia and one of the most complex and stressful aspects of caring for people living with the condition. It is reported in approximately half of people with Alzheimer’s dementia and is associated with earlier alternative living placement.
What do patients, caregivers and families navigating the complexities of agitation associated with Alzheimer’s need to know? How are researchers and doctors better understanding risk factors and diagnoses? What policy actions can prioritize research, detection and treatment? And what are the access considerations for patients and their caregivers as they navigate this difficult symptom?
LOCATION
National Press Club Holeman Lounge, 529 14th St. NW, 13th Floor, Washington, DC 20045
Effective Range: Medium
Classification: Intelligence / Recon
Armaments: (1) SMG-UZ01A, (1) HR-HIBMSU01
One reason why the New Earth Strategic Trust faction is such a dominant force in the Quorus Wars is due to their supreme tactics and efficient strategies and have outfitted specific units like the Eagle EWAC to prioritize recon and intelligence gathering.
The Eagle EWAC is actually based on the NESF-M05E Eagle, a standard combat type reFrame that is deployed in heavy combat areas and serve as a main unit in NEST Special Forces ranks. The EWAC (Early Warning And Control) unit allows for efficient intelligence gathering that is sent to NEST's tactical HQ as data to create up-to-date battle strategies. Extra thrusters were equipped on the Eagle EWAC to give it better mobility in order to move faster to key locations for data scanning as well as avoid enemy units. It is equipped with a light submachine gun (SMG-UZ01A) and a hand cannon mounted on its left arm for emergency combat purposes.
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Build notes:
You can find more about the build in my blog article :D
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More info, WIP details, and other LEGO mechs over at my blog:
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For those interested in LEGO mech building, I put out an eBook over at Amazon Kindle a while back called Mech Wars Instructional Primer. If you’re looking for a resource that could help you start or even improve your mech building skills, you might find this eBook useful :D
“It is not what we give, but what we share, for the gift without the giver is bare”
~James Russell Lowell
I have spent the better part of my life, living with and around more than enough. More than enough food. More than enough clothes. More than enough shelter. More than enough support. More than enough love.
When life events brought me to Buffalo, NY in the Fall of 2012 I thought it was for a short visit in between jobs. Little did I know I would end up living on the East Side of the City of Buffalo in a humble old home. The home was owned by Pastor Giles. Pastor Giles has been chest deep in helping individuals, families, and the community for over 20 years; often times helping people in the very worst of times and situations. Less than 3 miles from my home was Back to Basics Outreach Ministries - a Beacon of Hope for community members in dealing with homelessness, hunger, violence, and trauma that can and does suck the life and sometimes hope out of the strongest of people. It was at Back to Basics that community members continued to invite me in to their lives. Sharing laughter, tears, loss, and yes, small and big successes.
More than enough. Back in Central Florida in storage I had more nice clothes and shoes and sneakers than any man should own. Big Screen TVs, electronics, antiques and nice furniture with area rugs and over 400 picture frames of all sizes. More than enough material things...and most of my life I wanted bigger TVs, newer and better electronics, more clothes...More.
My idea of more than enough has changed. Seeing every day for nearly 3 years kids and adults alike who didn't know where their next meal is coming from IS supposed to change a person.
The most recent data available regarding poverty in the city of Buffalo, NY shows 54% of children living in poverty - more than half.
Abandoned, shuttered, and demolished houses can be seen on nearly every block. Approximately 10,000 homes are counted as vacant in the City; second only to St. Louis in the US.
We lived on a street that years ago had been in the heart of the proud Polish Community. 150 yards up the road was a beautiful, grand Catholic church. The church was still operating but was lacking in funds to make needed structural repairs. On our street there was a mixture of home owners who had the means to care for their houses, and vacant, boarded, and destroyed homes.
In 2015, 41 percent of all fires in Buffalo were in vacant buildings, and more than 90 percent of all arson cases involved abandoned houses.
The above picture was taken about 2:30am. The house on fire was abandoned but nearby homes were occupied. Our home was about 40 feet from the burning building in the back. I had already prioritized our important material things and readied the car for a quick escape if needed to be before taking pictures.
God Bless our Leaders, Fire Fighters, Police Officers, and all who they serve. And let me always keep in the front of my mind I have more than enough; and something I have someone might need.
“It is not what we give, but what we share, for the gift without the giver is bare”
~James Russell Lowell
I heard a teacher once use the above quote and then said..."We don't know what we truly have until someone else needs it."
Dear Flickr Friends,
Today I finished my second 365 and will be taking a Flickr and BK break. 2012 was a long year! There were many highlights...BlytheCon Dallas and BlytheCon Manchester being the two most memorable events!! There were also some yucky moments but we won't talk about those.
Scotty-daddy-poopy-pants and I sold our house this week. I will also be returning to work after a long personal health break. The next few weeks are to prioritize, inventory, and sort out life so to speak. My account here will also be changed over to a private one. Most of my regular contacts have been added to my friends list. I will be around, just not active for awhile.
I wish everyone well and will miss you all! You all know how much you mean to me and I shall not forget the friendships and kindnesses extended to me and my dolly family these past two years!
Love Juliet