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I am not sure how I’ll proceed with my Flickr account. Not being able to add photos for friends/family anymore is an enormous limitation, and super annoying. I understand the limit on uploads for free accounts, but not this.
I was a Pro user for *many* years, but this makes me salty as to become one again. Most of my friends moved on from Flickr, so unless I’m part of a community again, I’m not sure if I should prioritize Flickr for my photos. I miss the sense of community and interaction I had here (so many comments and discussions lost when we had to delete older photos!).
I love walking through Central Park when I'm in NYC. And I'm blessed to live in an urban midwestern city where parks are prioritized long-term investments. Nature parks like this are an oasis amidst the concrete and asphalt jungle of the typical urban landscape.
I came across a grandfather out exploring with his grandson. As they waded through Cool Creek I could hear the little boy chattering with his grandfather as he was picking up rocks, tossing them into the creek, and learning all the things little boys learn from their grandfathers.
Flowing Well Park
Carmel, IN
2024
© James Rice, All Rights Reserved
The color version of my 2nd most faved image on Flickr.
Full set of new old with Marie-Pier
new old: from unused, unexploited, forgotten RAW files from a shoot. Back then I was prioritizing film shots, so I didn't feel like processing extra similar digital versions. However with time it's fun to go back in the vault and look at your unused work from a different eye and go in there with a mindset and mood you feel right now.
I think that the modern obsession with pets is a sign of a lonely generation of men and women, desperate to nurture a creature that gives them the love that is not forthcoming from more traditional sources. I often ask the most obsessive pet owners why they are so attached to their pets. I usually hear the same response. The pet gives them more love than any person. More than a spouse, a sibling, or even parents. The dog loves you just the way you are. But the boyfriend tells you that your butt looks fat and you should go to the gym. As my friend Roger explained, “When I come home after a long day’s work, my wife is usually on the phone and the kids are watching TV. Almost no one even notices that I walked through the door. But Laraby, my golden retriever, goes nuts. He runs up to me and almost knocks me down. He wags his tail. It’s like he’s been the waiting the whole day for me. And it makes me feel incredibly special.”
We can never make ourselves feel special. Someone else has to do it for us. And that’s what human love is all about. It’s about someone prioritizing you, focusing on you, pampering you all because you’re special. But in an age that is as self-absorbed and as narcissistic as ours, we’re finding it incredibly difficult to make others feel special. We don’t love ourselves enough to love others.
My first visit to MRL in 2015 I remembered seeing a flame cut whistle post on the mainline somewhere east of Garrison. We (Welch and I) had places to be seeing as we were racing towards Helena to get the local with an SD45 leader and I didn't remember seeing another one. I didn't prioritize it but I didn't forget it. So, since my experience on MRL's branch lines was nonexistent until this spring I had assumed that was a one-off. Imagine my surprise as I arrived at Sappington and saw this beauty!
23250 McKay Avenue
Maple Ridge, BC Canada
A Harbour Authority (HA) is a non-profit, locally controlled organization which operates under a head lease with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) to operate and maintain a DFO-owned public commercial fishing harbour in the best interests of the commercial fishing fleet.
The harbour facility consists entirely of the property and water lots under the ownership of DFO – Small Craft Harbours (SCH).
An HA must operate the harbour as a public facility in accordance with the terms of the head lease and must at all times prioritize the needs of the commercial fishing industry above all else.
This image is best viewed in Large screen.
Thank-you for your visit, and any faves or comments are always greatly appreciated.
Sonja
(One photo from each month, starting top left. You can read more about these photos and each month of my 2025 below.)
Another year has gone by where I have done very much of what I love- being outdoors, photographing, editing photos and singing a lot.
But the reason I have had the time, is that another year has gone by without being able to go to work due to the problems with my legs, hips, pelvis and lower back. But I have started getting some more help, and I hope that next year will bring improvement.
But like always, I feel good at making the best out of it.
I haven’t been abroad this year like I normally do (except from driving through Finland and Sweden on my way home from one of my two Finnmark trips). But I have experienced almost all of our beautiful Norway this year instead.
The biggest reason for my Norway travels and road trips, is that I decided to do a “big year” of birding; collecting as many bird species as I was able to in Norway this year.
Both due to my health and lack of competitive instinct, I have been really tired of it many times when it has felt hectic.
But as I look back at ALL the unforgettable nature experiences I’ve had, everything I've learned about bird species and bird migration, all the places I’ve seen in our beautiful country, all the photos I’ve taken, and all the people I’ve got to know from all over the country, it has been really worth it!
My first goal was 200 bird species. I made that by early May. Then I adjusted to 250, which I made by mid July. Now I have ended at 284 species in Norway this year, as number 4 and best woman on the list of 5922 birdwatchers registering bird species on the same largest Norwegian site as me. At the end of July, I actually was number 2!
I have never had goals of competing with anyone else but myself, but it is a bit cool though, since most of those on top have done this since before I was born (and I am not able to walk far, I don’t drive a car, and I don’t have a telescope). Of my 284 species this year, as many as 70 were my very first for Norway.
During my 23 mornings and 2 nights at the bird station by the lighthouse this year, I have registered many new bird species for the year- for the bird station and our municipality. Some of them have been many years since the last time have been registered here. I love being out there, and I always get nice experiences of both small birds and birds of prey up close. And different and numerous species can pass by for migration from day to day. We have also had very many nice and warm days this year, and it is extra lovely sitting out there by the ocean on those days.
You can read more about each month of my 2025 below if you’d like to:
1. (Top left) Treasure in the snow
JANUARY: Started with the same beautiful New Year’s weather as the year before, and the same trip to our largest beach to photograph birds among the beautiful waves. We had a nice day together with my parents, after celebrating New Year’s Eve together with them at my sister and family’s place.
The year also started with an awesome northern lights display here in the south as well, but we noticed it too late for nice photos. People could even photograph it with their phones.
Then we had snow, some ice and nice weather for a little period until after my birthday on the 11th. I got some very nice winter photos of birds this period- both on our island, in town and on Jæren. It was lovely, after a very rainy December.
Especially on my birthday, I photographed both a sparrowhawk chasing a crow right outside our house, eagles on rocks in a lake right by the road, and small birds from a hide that an acquaintance made for me under his terrace. We also had two rare winter visits of a common gull and whooper swans by our house after getting back home. A birthday spent they way I like the most!
After the snow rained away, Richard and I had a nice day photographing birds of prey from a hide on Jæren, where we got many nice photos of many goshawks, rough-legged buzzards and a common buzzard (hønsehauker, fjellvåker og musvik, in Norwegian). The rest of the month I spent much time going through many old but nice bird and nature photos, while having grey weather ouside. I like going through good memories and photos that I had forgotten I captured.
The first snowdrops (snøklokker) showed up in the gardens already in the middle of this month.
And suddenly we had a large flock of nearly 200 geese of four Arctic goose species visiting the fields in our neighbourhood for several weeks. That happened many places along the coast, but is not normal at this time of year. They probably had escaped the bad storms in other European countries. Several birds of prey also hunted them. Sadly some of all these birds died of the bird flu. I also visited Jæren several times this period, to see a very rare red-breasted goose (rødhalsgås).
My choir had a fun and full Gospel church/concert together with our Swedish favourite Samuel Ljungblahd. And on the last day of the month the weather turned from grey to nice and cold again.
FEBRUARY: Started with a nice and cold Saturday, and after some days of rain we had a longer nice period where I spent much time outdoors among the birds, both on road trips and by my bike. Richard and I went back to the hide with all the birds of prey on Jæren, and in addition to the regular birds, we had the beautiful hen harrier (myrhauk) on this month’s photo, up close for the first time. I really got goosebumps all over when it suddenly sat there!
I had a fun winter morning photoshoot one day, of a cute 1 year old at our beach and at their place, right before my mother in law’s birthday party. And I photographed a newborn some days later. I also wrote a long article about my favourite bird spots in our neighbourhood (with photos), for a local bird magazine.
Towards the end of the month, I managed to fall on my bike on the too frozen road, in a roundabout on my morning ride for my pool workout. I hurt myself really bad, and barely managed to turn and cycle back home, after resting in a bus shelter feeling really sick and barely manage to use my arms. I didn’t go to the doctor, since I didn’t work anyway and didn’t feel that anything was broken, although I was really blue all over, felt beaten up for a long time and needed help to get dressed. Especially my left knee and both thumbs do still hurt 10 months later and I will soon take an MRI to see what really has happened to the thumbs.
On the 22nd, the first oystercatchers and lapwings turned up in our neighbourhood for spring- some weeks earlier than the year before.
For the winter break, I traveled together my sister, niece and nephew to visit our parents on Bømlo. In addition to the nice family time, I also did some birdwatching with a friend there. Then my brother, his wife and my niece also came to visit us from Bergen.
MARCH: I was still together with my family at my parents’ place for a lovely winter break, and I did some birdwatching there as well. It was nice to finally register and photograph my first marsh tit (løvmeis), after only seeing it as a child since it is rare where I live now.
Back home, I had a newborn photoshoot, and went on many birdwatching road trips on Jæren and in southern Norway, where I passed a hundred bird species for my big year list. Large flocks of migratory birds came back to our island as well, especially after foggy nights and mornings. A wonderful time of year!
I also did some singing this month, and I went to one of the bird hides I use to visit in southern Norway, together with some photography friends. We didn’t get any birds of prey, but many woodpeckers (like the great spotted woodpecker (flaggspett) on this month’s photo), in addition to many smaller birds up close in nice light.
The last weekend, we went back to Bømlo island and my parents, to celebrate dad’s 70th birthday. We had another nice weekend together up there, and I made a nice film of family memories for his party. Richard and I also took a little road trip among the nice nature there, and had a lovely close encounter with a ringed white-tailed eagle we hadn’t met before.
4. (Top right) Morning Song
MAY: Started with a nice day of birdwatching and bird photography on Jæren and by our bird feeders. I envy my mum whose birthday is on this lovely holiday/Labour Day. The next day I went to Jæren to photograph a beautiful confirmand.
We had a lovely weather the whole month, and I spent much time outdoors (although it was colder and windier despite the sunshine, by end of the month). I went back on birdwatching trips to southern and eastern Norway. The most memorable was the days on the bird station at Jomfruland island, where this month’s photo is from. There I also reached my bird species number 200 this year.
Back home, I sang at several confirmand ceremonies, photographed a confirmand and his family, and spent much time birdwatching on Jæren and by our bird station by the lighthouse. I was together with friends at the bird station on our National Day on the 17th as well, and we went on a tawny owl ringing trip in the evening on that beautiful and warm day. The next day we had a fun concert with my gospel choir in Stavanger and the great Swedish singer Evelina Gard. Then Richard had his first surgery for the disease in his hands, which was successful but took time to recover from.
Throughout the month I also checked up on and photographed a couple of lesser spotted woodpeckers (dvergspetter) once a week, that I saw mating while visiting a forest in town on the last day of April, and made a nest where they raised their young ones throughout May. It was my first time following that species that close. I also found a great spotted woodpecker’s nest (flaggspett) nearby when the chicks were big. Among all my birdwatching, I also photographed a relay race in Stavanger with our photography club, and a lovely puppy for The Norwegian Society for Protection of Animals.
I ended the month with a nice trip to eastern Norway with a photography friend, photographing birds and badgers (grevlinger) from a great hide, and also birds like bluethroats (blåstruper) on our way over the mountains.
By the end of the month, the lakes, streams and waterfalls were dryer than people could remember from before, and I guess many birds must have had a struggle nesting and finding food there. But luckily, we had some rain again towards the end of the month.
JUNE: Started with more grey and rainy weather than the last months, but nature needed it after a dry period. On the first day, I photographed and listened to a new and rare species- the river warbler (elvesanger) in Sandnes, where I used to live. Then I watched the lesser spotted woodpecker chicks (dvergspettungene) at home one last time before leaving the nest. Now spring really was over.
Then I spent much time editing the previous portrait assignments, planning the upcoming wedding assignments, and rehearsing for our summer concert with the Swedish singer Samuel Ljungblahd.
I still had some time for birdwatching at home and in southern Norway as well.
In addition to testing wedding photography on Jæren for the first time in two years (due to my health), I photographed confirmands and families on our island, and a confirmand with a beautiful horse on northern Jæren.
We also got to visit Feistein lighthouse on an island outside Jæren for the first time, for our photography club’s summer party. I had dreamed of going there since moving to Jæren 22 years earlier. It was lovely out there, with many seabirds nesting.
Then I flew to Finnmark for the second time this year- for the first nice but cold week of a 3.5 weeks long birdwatching road trip, in some of western- and the whole of eastern Finnmark county.
7. 2025 Highlight: Siberian Jays
JULY: Started on the amazing Hornøya bird island in Finnmark. Whilie visiting in the snow in April, I couldn’t go ashore due to a broken gangway after a storm. But this time I spent many lovely hours walking among all the guillemots, puffins, auks, shags and both smaller and larger birds out there. The weather was also warm and nice. We stayed at the wonderful Vardø hotel again, eating more of their delicious food and talking to the staff I got to know in April.
After 2.5 weeks of birdwatching and photography in Finnmark (and also meeting some of both my and Richard's realtives), we used 1 week on they way home, through Finland, Sweden and Norway from Røros- where we spent some lovely days visiting a birdwatching friend’s cabin. After some cold weather in Finnmark, the heat stroke the whole country (and Finland and Sweden) on our way home. A little too warm for my comfort ツ
By mid July, I had 250 species in Norway this year. We got 127 species on our Finnmark list, 16 new on my big year list, and 11 new on my life list. We also met some more nice species in Røros, and had an unforgettable close encounter with Siberian jays on our way home over the mountains.
Back home, we arrived in time to still see the rare roseate tern (rosenterne) on Karmøy island, that hadn’t been in Norway since I was a baby. Then we went to southern Norway for even more new species, and I also got some new ones on Jæren at the end of the month.
I photographed a wedding on our island on a very warm day, and a charming one year old at the beach another day. My brother and his family also visited us one day.
The weather stayed nice throughout the month, with only some thundershowers in between- but nothing like the wet July we had the year before. I spent two unforgettable, still and warm nights at our bird station by the lighthouse, together with an ornithologist friend - first hearing my first Leach's storm petrel (stormsvale), sitting right by our side “singing” in the dark for a very long time. The second night, we catched and ringed my two first European storm petrels (havsvaler).
We also heard the wonderful song of the Eurasian eagle-owl (hubro) in the dark in our neighbourhood this period. I invited a new friend from eastern Norway, that I met while birdwatching on Jæren, to our island to hear this owl for the first time, and to watch a beautiful eagle nest from a distance, in addition to show her flowers and plants that she wanted to see, that they don’t find in eastern Norway.
I also spent much time photographing insects on our island that last part of the month- both by a lake, by the beaches and by our house. At the largest beach I found two rare grasshopper species, that several people came to see as well. I also found one of the species by our lighthouse while registering birds for the bird station.
We also skipped mowing our lawn, to see how many more insects (and birds) we got around the house, and it really worked. I also spent much time on a large neighbouring plot with lots of wildflowers, insects, birds and animals (like the summer before), to photograph all the life there before they sadly recently leveled it to make way for a rich man’s mansion. In addition to some rare bees, I had 10 different butterfly species on that plot one day, and up to 10-15 of each species.
We ended the month attending a neighbourhood party by the sea for the first time. I hope that will be a tradition, since there are many here I don’t know that well yet.
AUGUST: Started with a very nice morning, and I went on my bike to find many nice migratory species in our neighbourhood- including the first little ringed plover (dverglo) registered out here in 43 years (!) and the second ever. After some rain in the afternoon, I did the same the next nice morning, and found even more migratory species I hadn’t seen on our island before, like spotted redshanks and a wood sandpiper (sotsniper og grønnstilk). I also cycled to town, to photograph butterflies by a trail- like the silver-washed fritillary (keiserkåpe), that is not common to find in our municipality. I also found a rare bee ツ
After another wonderful day, spent at the bird station and the lighthouse, the storm Floris hit us. It was an unusually early autumn storm. We had some nice days again, in between some rain and wind, and I spent even more nice days at the bird station. There I enjoy myself for about 7 hours- watching and counting birds on my way out, by the lightouse and in the small forests by the bird station, and writing it all in the bird station’s log and diary.
The second weekend, I went on a fun trip with my choir- singing on a festival in eastern Norway. We stayed at a former prison in Arendal, and we loved it! It was both lovely and authentic, and the rooms in the old prison cells were both nice and cool. I stayed in the former cell of the owner, who was really good at telling stories of his previous life. He also does a lot of good work with young people now.
In the middle of the month, Richard and I went on a road trip to some of our favourite places in western Norway; Kråkenes lighthouse on Vågsø, and Stryn, and also Hemsedal in the east. We went up to Runde bird island one day as well, since I hadn’t seen great skuas (storjo) yet this year. On Kråkenes lighthouse, I loved to be able to count large flocks of migratory birds during the early mornings, right outside our windows by the ocean. In Stryn, we took some nice landscape photos, where several of them were included in the book En dag i Norge (A day in Norway), on the occasion of World photography day.
Since I almost didn’t find and insects and flowers to photograph on the road trip, I thought that season was over- but back home I could spend time photographing many of in our neighbourhood, just like in July. Back home, I also went on some more bird watching both on our island, by the lighthouse, on Jæren and in southern Norway, hoping for some new species. Some I found, and some were harder- like throughout the rest of the autumn. We felt the autumn weather coming at the end of the month.
I also photographed some kittens for The Norwegian Society for Protection of Animals and a confirmand this month, and sang and showed photos on a service with a bird theme. It’s always nice to combine the hobbies ツ
9. (Bottom left) Heart-Shaped Raptor
SEPTEMBER: Like the year before- we had almost only nice and warm weather this month, and just some early or late showers of rain some of the days. For that reason, I spent many days at the bird station and lighthouse this month as well- where I got even more nice bird experiences and photos, and even more new species for the station and municipality for the year.
I also went on road trips to Jæren when some interesting species showed up there, and attended the Lista bird festival for the first time, which was very fun- enjoying the birds, delicious food and sunshine together with lots of nice birdwatchers.
I sang and photographed on various occasions, like at a funeral where I did both, and I photographed another confirmand. It is also always fun when the photography clubs and bird clubs start again in September, after a long vacation.
In the middle of the month, I went on a lovely rehearsal and social weekend with my choir.
I also had to spend some time indoors, editing all the previous portrait assignments, and I baked lots of apple pies of the large amounts of apples in our garden. It is also always nice for my aching body with quiet days. But I started going to a good physiotherapist again this month, who really tries to help me getting better.
I spent the last days of the month in the bird hide in southern Norway, together with some photography friends. We got many nice photos of Eurasian sparrowhawks and other birds, including a beautiful adult male which is not common to get there.
10. Snacking on the autumn leaves
OCTOBER: Started with the first autumn storm (since the very early one in August), and the extreme weather called Amy. I was supposed to on a girls' trip with other birdwatchers to the bird island Utsira, for the known rarity week for the first time, but they canceled due to the large waves on the ferry and the heavy wind. Since I am an island girl and don’t mind waves or wind, I went anyway just one day later with another birdwatching friend.
The first photo I took there, of the waves in the hurricane gusts, ended up on national TV for a weather photography contest. We found many bird species to register (81 in total) and photograph, despite the weather. And as the weather got better, I got two new species on my life list. I had a wonderful week there, in all types of weather, staying in two nice accommodations and meeting lots of nice birders. They even had a wonderful restaurant and a lovely bar on that small island, and a grocery store with a café with delicious food and lovely staff as well. I really look forward to going back another year, in better weather as well for even more rare birds.
Back home, I edited my last portrait assignments, and made a presentation from my Kenya trips, for a meeting at BirdLife Jæren. We attended the photo fair in Stavanger as usual, with many great lectures and great photographers, and we both ordered a new wonderful Sony 300mm f/2.8, and Richard bought a new bird photography camera as well.
We had an invasion of long-tailed tits (stjertmeis) throughout the country, and in a period of nice weather I got so many nice photos of them both at home, on Jæren (like on this month’s photo) and in southern Norway. We also had them on our island and by the bird station for the first time in 31 years, and second time ever. I also had many nice little auk (alkekonge) encounters this period. The best ones in our neighbourhood and by the lighthouse, where some of them came swimming towards me, giving me unforgettable moments and nice photos. I had hoped to see them alive here for such a long time, after only finding dead ones previous years, and only seeing them alive on Svalbard and Jæren before.
I also did some singing, both with my choir and American gospel artists in Stavanger, with a group and by myself on some meetings, and in a double 60th birthday party, where I both sang and had a bird photography presentation of local birds.
We had more and more rain and autumn weather, but I still went on some trips to southern Norway and Jæren to get some more bird species on my list.
The last week of the month, they started digging, rock blasting and leveling the nice wild plot outside our house, with all the wildflowers insects, birds and animals I’ve described earlier. It’s a pity losing all that nice nature outside, and getting a wide rich man’s mansion there instead.. And they will work there for two years before it’s finished.
Just like the month before, I spent the last days of this month as well in the bird hide in southern Norway, together with some other photography friends. Sadly, the Eurasian sparrowhawks weren’t that interested in posing this time, but there are always other birds to photograph as well.
11. Colour Palette
NOVEMBER: The first weeks were very mild, and we still had may migratory bird visits. I got unexpectedly many new bird species both for the year and for life this late at year, both in our region, on Jæren, and in southern and eastern Norway- on trips with both Richard and a birdwatching friend. I got my new 300mm delivered in time to photograph some of the rare beauties with it, like the common firecrest, rosy starling and desert wheatear (rødtoppfuglekonge, rosenstær og ørkensteinskvett).
Richard and I went on a nice hotel weekend among beautiful nature and birds in Telemark as well. In the middle of the month, I passed 280 big year bird species and 300 bird species for life in Norway.
At that time, Richard and I were invited to photograph the release of a white-tailed eagle on Jæren, that had been treated for lead poisoning. We got some nice photos, that were used both in several social medias, on TV, in articles and even sold for walls. We went to their clinic one week later as well, so meet a beautiful merlin (dvergfalk) up close. It was Richard’s first time seeing one.
We also attended several interesting lectures and presentations in our bird- and photography clubs. And I photographed a one-year-old and his family on Jæren, and started rehearsing for my 6 Christmas concerts, both with my two choirs and by myself.
The second-to-last weekend I went with my sister and her kids on our annual November visit to our parents, for my mom’s mission club’s church raffle. Although we had rain and no snow to have fun in like the year before, we had a really nice family weekend.
I was glad that I finished all the Christmas presents by the end of the month, before a busy December with many concerts.
DECEMBER: Started mild and rainy, and yet again I went on several birdwatching trips to southern Norway to search for rare species seen there. I had to try several times in all kinds of weather before finding them- the final two new bird species for the big year list and also for life, leaving me at the total of 284 bird species in Norway this year (303 in total since I started registering in 2020), 70 new life species in Norway, the best woman and number 4 out of 5922 birdwatchers registering bird species on the same largest Norwegian site as me. Considering that I am still a newbie on this, I am not able to walk far, I don’t drive a car, and I don’t have a telescope,, I think it is a great accomplishment ツ
During the first week, I also attended 2 dress rehearsals and 4 Christmas concerts, and two more Christmas concerts later on (an having a cold and losing my voice between them). The second week, Richard finally had a surgery on his second hand after some postpones. It went well, although it was painful for him. But hopefully it will turn out as good as the first hand.
Then I had a presentation of photos from our neighbourhood on the last meeting this year in one of our photography clubs. In addition to use photos from the archive, it was nice to spend time finding newer ones as well- of both birds, animals, insects, landscapes and portraits. In the end, I sang a Christmas carol on top of the winter images. As I’ve mentioned before- it is nice to combine my hobbies.
The weather turned beautiful from before Christmas and all throughout the rest of the year. Although we didn’t get any snow, it was lovely to have sunshine and nice sunrises and sunsets every day, considering the year before when it only rained. I think many have spent much time in nature during the holidays this year.
Due to my own health and Richard’s surgery, we haven’t been outdoors much ourselves, but indoors I have gone through the thousands of photos of nice memories from this year, listened to nice Christmas music and watched many Christmas films and series together with Richard.
We only went on a few short trips to the little forest by our beach during Christmas, to photograph the small birds coming close there in the sunshine- like the crested tit (toppmeis) on this month’s photo, taken with my new 300mm lens. We have had 4 of them here for a while, which is not usual that many places.
Christmas Eve was a lovely one, celebrating together with my parents, my sister and her family at their place. I love spending time with my niece and nephew there, and they were so grateful and happy. And they all had made two wonderful Christmas dishes for the evening, while I brought dessert. We also had another lovely Christmas dinner at my mother-in-law’s.
I ended the month by sadly singing in a friend’s father’s funeral, but it is a nice feeling to be able to bring something good for others on such a day.
And now we will travel home to my parents, siblings, nieces and nephew on Bømlo to celebrate New Year’s together. It will be the best ending of a lovely year, filled with so many nice moments and people.
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I am so grateful for all the nice weather and nice nature I have enjoyed, near and far in our country this year. The amounts of awesome nature experiences and of nice people I have met this year are countless.
Althought I won’t travel that much to see birds next year, I really hope to meet many of all the nice birdwatchers I’ve got to know again- like on the fun birding festivals I attended for the first time this year.
I still hope for another new year where my health will be better, so that I will be able to walk and stand more, and finally will be able to work and do more for others.
Unlike last year, I have now taken the chance of ordering some trips abroad again for the new year. I will go on bird photography trips to both Greece (where I’ve been before and looove) and England during late spring. It is mostly sitting in cars, boats and hides, so it won’t be too hard for my legs and back. And probably Richard and I will go on photography road trips both in western and northern Norway, like we use to.
I also hope to spend even more time on the island I’m from as well next year. All my visits this year have been for family time, which is great- but I loved staying there for a very long time during summer last year, having the time to do things, visit people and experience nature like I don’t have the time to on short weekends. This summer I didn’t go there at all, while hoping to see new bird species other places..
But I will spend even more time in nature here at home next year as well. It is so healing for me going out to our bird station and lighthouse, by bike and a short walk by feet, to register birds and enjoy the large amount of nice nature experiences out there. Although I have spent much time there this year as well, I have had to prioritize traveling other places many times, for new big year species- although it hasn’t always been the best for my health and mind.
But next year I will only collect species for our bird station and municipality, and only do so when it will be a good thing for me ツ
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If you’d like to see more of all my photos from 2025, you can do so by scrolling down my page here on Flickr, or on Ranveig Marie Photography on Instagram and Facebook.
Thanks to all who wanted to read about my year, and to all my photography followers!
In addition to doing it for myself, it is a big bonus to contribute with joy, knowledge or inspiration for others.
I hope your 2026 will be great!
✨* Hɣ ቢēⴓ ɣēaṛ! *✨
To watch and read my Highlights of 2013, take a look here.
To watch and read my Highlights of 2014, take a look here.
To watch and read my Highlights of 2015, take a look here.
To watch and read my Highlights of 2016, take a look here.
To watch and read my Highlights of 2017, take a look here.
To watch and read my Highlights of 2018, take a look here.
To watch and read my Highlights of 2019, take a look here.
To watch and read my Highlights of 2020, take a look here.
To watch and read my Highlights of 2021, take a look here.
To watch and read my Highlights of 2022, take a look here.
To watch and read my Highlights of 2023, take a look here.
To watch and read my Highlights of 2024, take a look here.
23250 McKay Avenue
Maple Ridge, BC Canada
A Harbour Authority (HA) is a non-profit, locally controlled organization which operates under a head lease with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) to operate and maintain a DFO-owned public commercial fishing harbour in the best interests of the commercial fishing fleet.
The harbour facility consists entirely of the property and water lots under the ownership of DFO – Small Craft Harbours (SCH).
An HA must operate the harbour as a public facility in accordance with the terms of the head lease and must at all times prioritize the needs of the commercial fishing industry above all else
Image best viewed in large screen.
Thank-you for your visit, and any comments or faves are always very much appreciated! ~Sonja.
Each year, the Tonle Sap lake, fed by monsoon rains and the Mekong River system, spills onto a vast floodplain, that covers a number of provinces in Cambodia. Some of the villages close to the lake are permanently flooded, and are literally floating villages. Others further away from the lake's edge are flooded only seasonally, and houses are linked to the ground, but raised on stilts by as much as 5 meters, as is the case in this image. Here people are more fortunate than those who have been pushed off the land, since both fishing and dry season agriculture are possible. Yet, with diminishing fish stocks and small farm sizes (about half a hectare per family), most families survive on little more than a few dollars a day. The floods are both a blessing and an added problem. While it brings the fish closer to the villages, the declining fish stocks have halved the quantity of fish a household is able to catch if they do not use fishing methods prohibited by the government. Consequently, the amount of nutrition and income a family can get from the floods has declined by as mush as 50%, with no option to engage in agriculture as their fields lie under 4-5 meters of water. The water also transforms simple day to day activities. Something as simple as visiting one's neighbor involves getting into and out of a boat, even though the destination is only across what was the village road. On our first night in one of these villages, my colleague was woken in the night by a boatman from another village in search of a midwife, as his wife was giving birth on the boat. Hardly any services are available to these communities, as many government departments are understaffed in the first place, and in any case do not prioritize these villages. Despite this myriad of hardships and inconveniences that are the hallmarks of marginalization, these people have not forgotten that some joys need nothing but each other.
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.
This as close to “unobtainium” as I have found on Earth.
An exceptionally unusual shiny black meteorite find was recovered in 2011 in Morocco by Aziz Habibi (I bought it from him). Officially named NWA 7034, it was nicknamed “Black Beauty” by Dr. Carl Agee, Director of the Institute of Meteoritics. A team of scientists led by Agee found a number of marvels in this oldest and rarest of Martian meteorites: it contains the oldest Martian minerals ever dated (formed 4.48 billion years ago), it contains ~ 20x more water than any other Martian samples previously encountered (perhaps formed under an early Martian ocean), it is among the very few martian basalts that do not contain maskelynite (impact-melted plagioclase glass), and it is the only brecciated Martian (i.e., they are composed of angular fragments of different rock types fused together). Carl Agee did an hour-long talk on NWA 7034 here, with a short summary here: "this is a once in a career discovery."
These rocks were so novel they were provided a new subtype "Martian (polymict breccia)" in the Met Bull. Moreover, in July 2022, it was determined that Black Beauty most likely originated from the Karratha Crater in Mars’s southern hemisphere; approximately 10 million years ago, the asteroid impact which formed the crater also ejected a large volume of Mars rock into space, some of which perturbed into an Earth-crossing orbit — and it took the long route, a journey of ~15,000 orbits around the Sun before penetrating Earth’s atmosphere.
Black Beauty contains relatively large crystals of plagioclase (a calcium-aluminum silicate) and pyroxene (a calcium-magnesium-iron silicate). These large mineral grains are surrounded by fine-grained material that formed from rapidly cooling lava, most likely following a volcanic eruption. Rock and mineral fragments were incorporated into the flow during the eruption, giving the rock its brecciated appearance. Accessory minerals include chlorapatite, chromite, goethite, ilmenite, magnetite, maghemite, alkali feldspar and pyrite.
A lay summary of the location news from Physical Org:
"Scientists announced Tuesday they had found the crater from which the oldest known Martian meteorite was originally blasted towards Earth, a discovery that could provide clues into how our own planet was formed. The meteorite NWA 7034, nicknamed Black Beauty, has fascinated geologists since it was discovered in the Sahara Desert in 2011.
It contains a mix of materials including zircons, which date back nearly 4.5 billion years. "That makes it one of the oldest rocks studied in the history of geology," Sylvain Bouley, a planetary scientist at France's Paris-Saclay University, told AFP.
Its journey dates back to the solar system's infancy, "about 80 million years after the planets began forming", said Bouley, who co-authored a new study on the meteorite. Tectonic plates long ago covered up Earth's ancient crust, meaning that "we have lost this primitive history of our planet", Bouley said.
But Black Beauty could offer "an open book on a planet's first moments", he added. By measuring Black Beauty's exposure to cosmic rays, they knew it was dislodged from its first home around five million years ago.
"So, we were looking for a crater that was very young and large," Lagain said. Another clue was that its composition showed it had suddenly heated up around 1.5 million years ago—likely by the impact of a second asteroid.
The team then created an algorithm and used a supercomputer to trawl through images of 90 million craters taken by a NASA satellite. That narrowed it down to 19 craters, allowing the researchers to rule out the remaining suspects.
They found that Black Beauty was dug up from its first home by an asteroid that struck around 1.5 billion years ago, forming the 40-kilometer Khujirt crater.
Then a few million years ago, another asteroid hit not far away, creating the 10-kilometer Karratha crater and shooting the Black Beauty towards Earth.
The region in Mars' southern hemisphere is rich in the elements potassium and thorium, just like Black Beauty. Another factor was that Black Beauty is the only Martian meteorite that is highly magnetized. "The region where Karratha was found is the most magnetized on Mars," Lagain said.
Known as the Terra Cimmeria—Sirenum province, it is "a relic of the early crustal processes on Mars, and thus, a region of high interest for future missions," the study said."
and Space,com summarized how the findings can prioritize the destination for future Mars landings:
"The origin of Martian meteorites was an old enigma," Lagain said. Discovering the birthplace of one "is pretty much equivalent to a free sample-return mission," he noted.
"Now we know that the rock comes from the Terra Cimmeria-Sirenum province," Lagain said. "This region hosts the clues to understand[ing] the first stage of evolution and differentiation of the planet. If one wants to understand how Mars formed and evolved, then we need to analyze this province much more than we do right now."
The findings suggest that sending a rover or drone to this region "would help us understand what happened 4.5 billion years ago on Mars," soon after the Red Planet, Earth and the solar system's other rocky worlds were born, Lagain said. This information, in turn, may help "fill the gap in knowledge for the same period of time on Earth."
This black beauty is 61 x 33 x 19mm and 55 grams.
Don’t scoff at the humble wheelbarrow because even Lamborghini had its roots in industrial tractors!
This colorful and whimsical display is a lovely touch using common field tools, really caught my eye!
Recent interesting gear launches that caught my eye, in particular the Panasonic S 20-60mm f3.5-5.6 and the Fujifilm X-S10;
1) Panasonic S5 (714gms) and S 20-60mm f3.5-5.6 (350gms) launched 2 Sept 2020, in kit the lens is a mere $300 extra. The S5 uses the same 24mp sensor on the S1 which appears to perform a bit better (⅓ stop) at base ISO compared to the 24mp BSI sensor on the Nikon Z6. The S 20-60mm lens is probably the only FF standard zoom lens that extends into the ultra-wide angle range (wider than 24mm) and it also appears to be optimized at the wide end. This should be a great match with Panasonic’s upcoming S 70-300mm f4.5-5.6, just add a Sigma 85mm f1.4 DN for a 3 lens kit and perhaps the excellent Sigma 14-24mm f2.8 Art DN if one needs a UWA lens. Sigma DN lenses are 1st party since Sigma is part of the L mount consortium and their lens mount should also be changeable to Sony E mount if one decides to switch.
2) The newly launched Nikon Z5 however used the old 24mp non-BSI chip similar to the 8 years old Nikon D600. The Nikon Z5 is sold with a new kit lens Z 24-50mm f4-6.3 which seems to prioritize compactness over useful range and it’s also priced as an extra $300 even though it’s both slower and shorter at either ends of the focal length compared to Panasonic above. Nikon essentially re-released a mirrorless D750 in the Z5 and a DSLR Z6 in the D780 (sans IBIS).
[Update: the Z5 appears to be plagued by sluggish AF from early adopters’ experience, as usual the so called professional reviews made no mention of this issue.]
3) Nikon Z 50mm f1.2 S is a lens I’ve been looking out for since the announcement of the Z system but it’s significantly bigger (39% longer at 150cm vs 108mm) and heavier than Canon's version (1,090gms vs 950gms), even bigger and heavier than my old Nikon AF-S 24-70mm f2.8 G! Bigger than the Sigma 35mm f1.2 DN Art as well! It’s not difficult to make high resolving lenses if size is not a constraint as evidenced by Sigma’s massive “Art” lenses but even Sigma has started to turn the page with their most recent 85mm f1.4 DN Art lens. “The Sigma 85mm F1.4 DG DN Art pairs large-aperture, professional-caliber optical performance with a lightweight, sturdy, and compact body, a combination which has long been difficult to achieve”, per Sigma.
4) Sony a7C, this is probably for those who prioritize form over function, kinda pointless personally. While smaller, it’s nowhere small enough to be pocketable like a Ricoh GR which is a truly go anywhere camera, albeit APS-C instead of FF.
5) I’ve never used Fuji cameras but the new X-S10 appears to be a heck of a camera for just $1,000 with IBIS rated at 6EV and uses the same new sensor, same processor and same AF as the 8 months older flagship Fuji X-T4 ($1,700), plus it even has a built-in flash which is a rarity these days! The Fuji X-S10 has arguably the best APS-C sensor (26mp) currently with ½ a stop better DR than the one in Nikon’s new mirrorless APS-C Z50 (20mp). The main weakness of the X-S10 is its buffer, while it’s capable of 20fps, its buffer is only 11 frames with RAW+JPEG, cripple hammer at work since it used the same processor as X-T4. Something has to give at this price but it’s not an issue for stills shooters. Comparatively the E-M1 Mk3 is $1,400 (down from $1,800) and the X-S10 is even lighter at a mere 465gms! For completeness, Z50 is $860, has no IBIS and used a similar BSI sensor (20mp) as the D500, it is however weather-sealed while the X-S10 is not. For proper context the Sony a6400 (sans IBIS) is $900 while the a6600 is $1,400, a $500 premium mainly just for IBIS. X-T4=>X-S10 release is similar to the Panasonic S1=>S5, both quite apt in the era of the pandemic, offer a slightly lower specced camera at a really attractive price to draw new users to the system, the X-S10 looks to be a winner.
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
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
My first visit to MRL in 2015 I remembered seeing a flame cut whistle post on the mainline somewhere east of Garrison. We (Welch and I) had places to be seeing as we were racing towards Helena to get the local with an SD45 leader and I didn't remember seeing another one. I didn't prioritize it but I didn't forget it. So, since my experience on MRL's branch lines was nonexistent until this spring I had assumed that was a one-off. Imagine my surprise as I arrived at Sappington and saw this beauty!
This large canvas is signed by one Addie Diefenbach in the lower and has a partially visible date in the 1880s.
It is one of several marine paintings that complement the nautical decor at a newly reopened and redecorated restaurant in the seaside community of Long Beach, Washington.
I'd say whoever selected them prioritized genre and availability over quality.
The only online reference to an artist named Addie Diefenbach I was able to find was the auction listing for this very piece. It said it was the first of Ms. Diefenbach's works to come up for auction. www.mutualart.com/Artist/Addie-Diefenbach/B25C1C959DD2ADA9
Some time between when the painting was photographed for the auction catalogue and when I saw it hanging on the wall of the restaurant earlier this week several holes, two of which were fairly large, were punched into the canvas. I healed them with Photo Shop.
I'm still alive.... :) This is a vertorama of the Puyallup, WA fairgrounds. I took it early in the morning, and was hoping for some crazy colors. That didn't happen, but I still thought it was a cool shot so I decided to process and post it. The final product is a manually blended DRI using three different exposures (One for the sky, one for the roller coaster, and one for the foreground).
I've been out and about taking photos lately, so hopefully it won't be 1-2 months before I post another shot. Kudos to those of you that are able to take and process so many shots in such a short period of time. I suppose it's just a matter of prioritizing...
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.
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.
23250 McKay Avenue
Maple Ridge, BC Canada
A Harbour Authority (HA) is a non-profit, locally controlled organization which operates under a head lease with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) to operate and maintain a DFO-owned public commercial fishing harbour in the best interests of the commercial fishing fleet.
The harbour facility consists entirely of the property and water lots under the ownership of DFO – Small Craft Harbours (SCH).
An HA must operate the harbour as a public facility in accordance with the terms of the head lease and must at all times prioritize the needs of the commercial fishing industry above all else.
This image is best viewed in Large screen.
Thank-you for your visit, and any faves or comments are always sincerely appreciated.
Sonja
Polygamy can be categorized into two main types:
1. Polygamy : Expressive and Transparent (Verified)
2. Concealed Polygamy, where one pretends to be monogamous to their lovers. (Unable to verify)
Type #1 Polygamy
www.flickr.com/photos/161478161@N05/53215091071
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Type #2 Concealed Polygamy
☑ Multiple Secret Lovers,
☑ Multiple Avatars, Multiple Accounts
☑ Created new avatars with the intention of forming Meaningful Relationships, rather than seeking casual encounters or "friends with benefits."
☑ Get married and pretend to be faithful (Monogamous) to their partners.
" They have many secret lovers, many secret girlfriends/boyfriends, many secret wives/husbands, and many children in separate accounts (avatars).
If you thought the first type of poly was bad, the second type is the worst (truly bad). I would like to call people like this impostors; there are many of them in SL."
☑ Most of them don't really know they are polygamous, don't accept it, and consider themselves as womanizers, badasses, or playboys, without viewing themselves realistically as cheaters, liars, unfaithful lovers, and the worst type of all a**holes.
☑ They deceive others by pretending to be faithful partners without feeling any guilt or shame for their actions at all.
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☑ They all agree that Poly isn't good and lacks three things.(heart, truth, happiness). They don't follow a Poly lifestyle; instead, they believe they are better than Poly. They feel superior to Poly because they prioritize loyalty, marriage, deep commitment, peaceful family, much respect, and treat their loved ones more kindly as a one-hearted lover.
They believe they possess larger hearts, are more truthful, and experience greater happiness due to their numerous monogamous relationships, which surpass the satisfaction of typical couples who engage in only one relationship at a time.
Most of them are so narcissistic, talented, charming, and exceedingly confident that they believe they are the smartest and happiest people.
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☑ Most of them firmly believe that they have a heart bigger than everyone else's.
Do you believe people who do this kind of polyamory lack genuine hearts?
The person who claims to love someone the most, tells another person that they are the only one they love, that they are the most important, and that they miss them the most. The person who also makes numerous promises and vows to all their secret lovers.
Do you believe people like them truly possess the big-heartedness they claim to have?
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☑ Most of them firmly believe that they possess truth and happiness.
They have the kind of truth their partner wants to hear. They said everything and believed it to be true.
They believe they are happier because they have more partners than those in pure monogamy.
Do you think that genuinely happy people could behave and lie like this without shame? Is this really the behavior of happy people?
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☑ They lack, just like all polys, but they can't even accept a truth about themselves. Most of them are too weak and narcissistic to dare to confront the truth about themselves. They believe they have bigger hearts than other good people and possess both truthfulness and happiness much better than polyamorous people.
☑ They live their lives pretending to be something they are not and think it is happiness.
☑ Many of them may see it as a rewarding way of life, yielding the greatest benefits. They were certainly convinced that they received more advantages than the first type of polyamory.
" Is it genuinely worth living as someone other than yourself just to maintain multiple lovers? Nevertheless, each day demands that you feign monogamy, playing the role of a faithful lover to keep your partners content. This charade incurs an immeasurable cost, gradually leading you to lose your true self and the authentic happiness of being who you truly are. "
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" Your loved ones don't truly love you! If they knew the truth about you, they wouldn't be able to accept who you are. It's not the real you they love; they love the character you've fooled them with, and it's not truly you, not even for a day. That means YOU're not genuinely loved, not even for a day.
Every day, you live as someone other than yourself, convinced that there's only gain and no loss. Unaware of the immeasurable cost of both losing and living your true self, you become the ultimate fool. "
Scarlett Saphira
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" Who genuinely gains and experiences true happiness from your pretense— you or your lovers?
Have you grasped the concept? Who attains greater genuine happiness? Your lover possesses a wonderful, faithful partner. However, you hold onto the confidence that you profit without any losses; is that truly the case? You work hard for your lover's happiness without realizing what you're sacrificing! "
I hope this helps!
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Canadians are often known for several positive characteristics, including:
1.Politeness and Courtesy – They have a reputation for being polite, saying “sorry” often, and treating others with respect.
2.Friendliness – Canadians are generally warm and welcoming to both locals and visitors.
3.Diversity and Inclusivity – Canada is multicultural, and its people embrace diversity in ethnicity, culture, and perspectives.
4.Tolerance and Open-Mindedness – Canadians tend to value human rights, equality, and progressive social policies.
5.Community-Oriented – Many Canadians are involved in their communities and prioritize social well-being.
6.Love for Nature and the Outdoors – With stunning landscapes, Canadians often appreciate and respect nature, engaging in outdoor activities like hiking, camping, and skiing.
7.Sense of Humor – They have a dry, self-deprecating, and sometimes quirky sense of humor.
8.Humble and Modest – Canadians tend to downplay achievements and avoid arrogance.
9.Hardworking and Resourceful – Whether in cities or remote regions, Canadians have a strong work ethic.
10.Peacefulness – They are generally non-confrontational and support diplomacy over aggression.
Thanks ChatGPT (prompt: tell me about Canadians)!
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
A third of a mile of quad and lung burning goodness at the end of the Barton Creek Greenbelt. Austin, TX.
These vertical format photos are typically a stitch of 2 to 6 seperate photos. This allows different exposures, and tweaks to the saturation/contrast/levels for each seperately, giving a much greater range of values than would be possible otherwise. I try to get significant overlap between photos, allowing a smooth blend between each. Done using layers w/ gradient fill masks, and occasionally some hand work. Nothing too groundbreaking, but does help some. Not true HDR of course, but does allow incorporation of a broader range, and retains some value focal points, which often seem to get lost in HDR images.
I also like the format, since it allows me to shoot almost straight down at the ground, getting the cool little foreground details like gravel/grass/ripples in rich detail, and almost straight up into the sky. To me it results in kind of a story, with allot of interesting different things going on as your eye moves from the bottom to top, like a tapestry. The trick is to keep this range of focal points prioritized, (by acentuating some area towards center w/ value, composition, or color usually), so that the image as a whole can be enjoyed, as well as in parts. Depth or layers revealed upon closer examination, so to speak. This is something I'm obviously still working on. Often there is just to much going on of equal interest, so there is no priority of focal point, making the image less appealing.
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
"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.
AWACS.
An airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) system is an airborne radar early warning system designed to detect aircraft, ships, vehicles, missiles and other incoming projectiles at long ranges, as well as performing command and control of the battlespace in aerial engagements by informing and directing friendly fighter and attack aircraft. AEW&C units are also used to carry out aerial surveillance over ground and maritime targets, and frequently perform battle management command and control (BMC2). When used at altitude, the radar system on AEW&C aircraft allows the operators to detect, track and prioritize targets and identify friendly aircraft from hostile ones in real-time and from much farther away than ground-based radars.[1] Like ground-based radars, AEW&C systems can be detected and targeted by opposing forces, but due to aircraft mobility and extended sensor range, they are much less vulnerable to counter-attacks than ground systems.[2]
© yohanes.budiyanto, 2009
A resort better than the spectacular St. Regis Bali? Well, after a comprehensive personal review, the results finally showed that Conrad Suites Bali reigns supreme with an overall score of 91.6 (St. Regis achieved 91.1).
This is a prime example of a hotel that prioritize guests satisfaction. General Manager Michael Burchett works relentlessly to make sure everybody has a most wonderful time there. A 30-year veteran in the hospitality world, Mr. Burchett is a native Australian and has previously spent 17 years with the Four Seasons group, managing award-winning and critically-acclaimed hotels, including Four Seasons in Bali and Jakarta before calling The Conrad Bali home. Mr. Burchett is currently the Vice Chairman of Bali Hotels Association.
The Conrad Suites is an exclusive collection of 55 oversize suites, housed in a separate new wing adjacent to the Conrad's Main resort. Although guests at Conrad Suites has full access to the extensive facilities found at the main resorts, additional private facilities are also being offered exclusively, which includes private infinity-edged pools with luxuriously appointed garden Bales with its large 4 poster daybed; access to the Club Lounge; and a host of other value added benefits.
CONRAD SUITES BALI
Tanjung Benoa, Nusa Dua, Bali
Promotional Rates
Conrad Suite is offering a promotional rate of USD 450++ for a typical Suite (110 sq.m); while the 120 sq.m Ocean Suite is priced at USD 550++. Pool Suite is also available.
General Manager: Michael Burchett, Hotel Manager: Frederic Lebegue
Chef de Cuisine: Richard Millar
Architect: Wimberley Allison Tong & Goo (WATG)
Landscape: Belt Collins International
Interior: Lim Teo + Wilkes Designworks
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.
" 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
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!
Meet James. He is my third face in 2016. James is a special little guy with two terrific people with hearts of gold as his mama and papa. His dad is one of my oldest friends and his mom has become dear to our family since she has come into our lives. I believe I will continue to be amazed at all the things James will do with his life as he grows. He is off to an impressive start already but, for now, he is just a tyke discovering the world in his own special way.
I also want to apologize for my sporadic interactions on Flickr of late. I am receiving far more notifications than I can possibly keep up with these days. I do not intend to be aloof. It is simply a matter of trying to balance life. I truly appreciate all the interest and kind comments people have expressed in my photos. Truthfully, I have prioritized my time with 52 weeks of 2016, my personal 100 faces project, and lending a hand with the Colours of group once a week. I may pick up other projects from time to time as creativity and motivation strike but personal and professional obligations will not allow for much more than those stated projects for 2016.
Another Friday spent along the rails of Cape Cod did not disappoint.
My main goal was to photograph newly repainted FL9 2011 which I did and then I had planned to again photograph the meet and swap with the northbound energy train. But those plans got changed when this unexpected train showed up.
Mass Coastal train MC2 was thrown into the mix as they came down from Rochester with a string of empty C&D gons for Cassova at Otis that they were going to swap out with loads before heading back north to Rochester and on to Wareham. Here they are holding the main at Taylor at MP 54.9 on the MassDOT owned and Mass Coastal operated former New Have Cape Mainline.
Leading the way is MC 2008, a GP9RM blt. Apr. 1956 as CN 2020. They have held here for a few min waiting on the Cape Cod Central passenger train to finish up their station work. The passenger consist is now pulling north into the siding to clear up the single main. Leading the way is freshly repainted FL9 2011 (blt. Sept. 1960 as NH 2038) with a couple of colorful super domes trailing. Despite the mismatched colors I do love the look of these cars.
And just like me both of these domes spent time in Alaska and were in fact still there and in service when I first moved north in 2007. The dome immediately behind the locomotive still wears its scheme from its time in Alaska and its name Matanuska but was built by Budd and delivered to the SantaFe in 1954. It never ended up in Amtrak service instead going to the private Auto Train and then the NYSW before being bought by Westours in 1985. After an extensive rebuild it came to Alaska in 1987. It would travel south for more upgrades in 1997 but would last under Westours successor Holland America Lines until 2009. That year it was acquired by Iowa Pacific and saw use on the Saratoga and North Creek before ending up here on the Cape. After IPH went defunct it was acquired outright by the Cape Cod Central and seems to have a secure home here.
The trailing dome was also built by Budd and delivered to the Great Northern in 1955 for use on the famed Empire Builder. It passed to BN in 1970 and then Amtrak in 1971 before being sidelined in 1979. After that it had a pretty fascinating history before being saved by Westours and restored to the tune of $1 million! It came to Alaska in 1997 and stayed for 22 years leaving in 2009 when Iowa Pacific bought it. They subsequently removed the rooftop a/c units from Holland America days and restored it to its rightful GN paint and name, Prairie View.
To learn more about these cars' histories check out this link:
alaskarails.org/fp/me/art/index.html
Anyway, once they are clear and the bridge is lowered MC2 will head south toward the Falmouth Branch and on to Otis meeting the waiting energy train at Canal Jct. The latter will use the same bridge closing to scoot back here and hold the main for a meet and crew swap with the passenger consist before they each then head on their respective ways to Seamass and back down to the station.
For a small little shortline it sure got busy here for a moment requiring some decisions on what I wanted to prioritizing shooting. Not a bad problem to have!
Wareham, Massachusetts
Friday September 15, 2023
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.
. . . 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
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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... 💕
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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
"Area secure, no hostiles in sight."
"Wound channel massive, multiple vital organs shredded, extreme blood loss....sir, you shouldn't be standing....let alone alive, but..."
"STOP TOUCHING ME!!"
"Sir, I need to at least examine you or--"
"I'M FINE, FUCK OFF!!!"
NW1: "....."
NW2: "....."
NW3: "......"
"What the hell are you looking at? Were the civvies wasted?"
NW1: "I uh...sent the order out but we have no confirmation if anyone even did so. The female Bloodfall made herself known right after I gave the order and alot of the crew in the building prioritized her."
"And look at where those priorities got you!! We lost both of them when I had one cornered because you retards can't do anything right! YOU'RE ALL WORTHLESS!!!"
NW3: "........"
".....the fuck's his problem?!"
NW2: "...He uh...he pee'd himself, sir."
"Oh for fucks sakes, get out of here, GO!! Fucking faggot..."
NW1: "W-what's our next move now, sir?...."
"Our last attempts to claim ground in this city went to shit because that's where we were; ground. We need to go higher up...."
NW1: "A-uh....skyscraper?"
"Is the PLAD ready?"
NW1: "The Laser drone? I think so, if was delivered not long ago...."
"Good. Everyone return to base, we need to make our next move..."
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.
Okay, so here's a question (as I'm not working until tonight, and so have some time to sit here in front of the computer, commanding the internet to entertain me):
Is it better for new photographers to use digital or film? Does it make a difference?
Been giving digital & film a lot of thought lately, obviously, and the other day I was talking it over with a friend who's not a photographer, explaining to him the differences, the different challenges and limitations of both.
I'm of the opinion, and this is of course colored by my own experience, that film is better for new folk, that it's the specific limitations of film that help a budding photographer prioritize, and through that, begin to carve out a style.
Having to decide what shots you just HAVE to take, because there's only 36 frames, which shots do you really want, which shots are the most important.
But i'm open to other points of view, as long as they agree with me 100%.
Those dark clouds are not to play with! I recall being sick on this day, but it didn't deter me from doing photography. Life is, indeed, about making the correct prioritizations.
The gardens of Eutin Castle in the district town of Eutin, with the Monopteros – a classical Greek-style rotunda – in the background, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
Some background information:
The origins of the gardens of Eutin Castle date back to around the year 1500. By 1716, in line with the spirit of the time, luxurious French Baroque gardens were created. They were redesigned in the French style, becoming one of the largest Baroque gardens in the region alongside the gardens of Gottorf Castle. It was in this park in 1739 that Sophie Auguste Friederike of Anhalt-Zerbst, the niece of Friedrich August I and the future Russian czarina Catherine the Great, first met her unloved husband Karl Peter Ulrich of Holstein-Gottorf, the later Russian short-term czar Peter III.
However, just 60 years later, a major transformation and expansion began, turning it into an English landscape garden, which was becoming fashionable at the time – with numerous special trees from all over the world, winding paths, small temples, a waterfall, a Chinese bridge, and romantic vistas of the lake. The gardens have remained almost unchanged to this day, with the trees now having grown into magnificent giants. In a separate area, there is also a kitchen garden with an orangery. Today, the garden is a protected monument, recognized as one of the most significant garden art works in northern Germany.
Eutin Castle is a palace in the town of Eutin in the north German district of Eastern Holstein. It is both Eutin‘s cultural centre and nucleus. Taken together, this castle, Gottorf Castle and Glücksburg Castle form the most important group of courtly secular buildings in the Northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein.
Eutin Castle traces its origins to the bishop's manor of Gerold of Oldenburg. In 1156, he received these lands as a gift from the Adolf II, Count of Schauenburg and Holstein, who was also the founder of the city of Lübeck. The estate was expanded under Bishop Johannes of Tralau between 1260 and 1275, receiving a larger stone structure that now forms the core of the castle’s east wing. In 1293, the first castle chapel was built.
Little is known about the original design of the castle. It was likely a simple fortification of the time, surrounded by walls, with separate buildings that prioritized functionality over appearance. From 1277 to 1283 and again between 1299 and 1317, Bishop Burkhard of Serkem faced renewed disputes with Lübeck. As a result, the castle was expanded into a small fortress and was reinforced with a moat under his successors around 1350. From 1439 to 1486, additional structures were built in phases, including the core of the present gate tower. By the 16th century, the individual buildings had been joined together to form a modest Renaissance castle, giving rise to today’s irregular floor plan, particularly on the city-facing front side.
With the Reformation, the dukes of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorf gained control of Eutin in 1586 and provided the Prince-Bishops. During the Thirty Years’ War, the bishopric faced the threat of secularization, but Johann X, at that time prince-bishop of Lübeck, managed to prevent this by securing the prince-bishopric’s connection to the House of Gottorf. This alliance, however, caused ongoing conflicts with the Danish monarchy, culminating in 1705 with a Danish occupation and partial destruction of the castle. However, in 1689, both castle and town had already suffered significant damage due to a fire.
The palace reached its peak in the 18th and 19th centuries. Between the reigns of Christian August and Friedrich August I, it transformed into a Baroque princely court, and Eutin became a social center in the region. During this time, significant extensions were made to the castle, its interiors, and the gardens. Eutin became one of the few grand Baroque residences in Schleswig and Holstein. These works were overseen by the Swedish-Pomeranian court architect Rudolph Matthias Dallin from 1717 to 1727. Plans for an extensive reconstruction of the castle were considered but never realized due to financial constraints.
In 1773, the Lübeck Prince-Bishops gained the rank and title of Duke of Oldenburg due to the unification of their territory with Oldenburg and Delmenhorst under the Treaty of Zarskoje Selo. Friedrich August ruled from Eutin until his death in 1785. Following the secularization of the Bishopric of Lübeck in 1803, his successors moved their residence to Oldenburg Castle. Eutin, now part of an Oldenburg exclave, was used only as a summer residence but retained its prominence. During this time, the outdated Baroque garden was transformed into a modern landscape park.
In the early 19th century, Eutin earned the reputation of being the "Weimar of the North," thanks to the influence of artists like Johann Heinrich Wilhelm Tischbein, Friedrich Gottlieb Klopstock, and Franz Anton von Weber, supported by the patronage of Duke Peter I. Around 1820, plans were made to redesign the outer castle courtyard in a Neoclassical style. The old courtyard was demolished, and an open palace square was created in 1828. But also the castle itself was given a Neoclassical interior makeover and an additional floor by 1845.
Until the abdication of Friedrich August II in 1918, Eutin remained a regular summer residence for the ducal family. After the abdication, the castle was no longer inhabited, and a museum was established within its walls. Both the city and the castle survived both World Wars unscathed. Toward the end of World War II, a wave of refugees from the eastern territories of Germany arrived, and the empty castle was repurposed as a refugee camp. At times, hundreds of people lived in the castle under dire conditions, with only four toilets in the entire building.
After extensive restoration, the castle was partially reopened to the public in 1957. It was also used as a filming location for parts of the 1972 movie "Cabaret" starring Liza Minnelli. Further renovations became necessary in the 1980s, with financial support from the state and federal government. In 1992, the ducal family transferred the castle and gardens to the newly established Eutin Castle Foundation. With the mission to preserve, open, and present the castle and its gardens, funded by state grants and self-generated income, the foundation also promotes education, research, and documentation.
Eutin is the capital of the Northern German district of Eastern Holstein in thd German state of Schleswig-Holstein. The town has about 17,300 inhabitants, is located about 40 km (25 miles) north of the city of Lübeck and nestles between three lakes: the Great Eutiner Lake, the Small Eutiner Lake and the Sibbersdorfer Lake. Eutin is the birthplace of the famous composer and pianist Carl Maria von Weber, who was born there in 1786.
In the 7th century, a settlement was founded by the Slavic Obotrites tribe that built a wooden castle on Pheasant Island in the Great Eutiner Lake. The Obotrites named their new village "Utin". In the 12th century, the settlement was populated by Dutch settlers and already in 1156, Eutin became a market town. Eutin’s further history is closely related to the one of its castle.
Every year, Eutin hosts two festivals: the Eutiner Festspiele in summer, where operas are performed in an open-air theatre in the gardens of Eutin Castle, and the Blues Fesitival in spring, which takes place in the town centre. Due to its proximity to the Baltic Sea resorts along the Bay of Lübeck, which have seen increased demand partly due to the trend toward domestic tourism, Eutin has also come into focus for the tourism industry in recent years.
A legacy of its military origins, the load-lifter's cockpit is cramped due a design that prioritized pilot survivability above all else.
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 Arulan Reaver units originated with a faulty 'cqc' script which led to the drone prioritizing close quarters combat over long range combat.
Though it was possible to fix the issue, several Arulan units opted to keep it. These units would lay the foundation for the infamous Arulan 'terror' squads, whose units would later be instrumental in the subsequent Arulan insurrection.
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
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.
"Enough is Enough!"
Anti-UCP Rally
Edmonton, AB
From the event organizers:
"We're here to unite concerned citizens of Alberta in a movement against the current government, the United Conservative Party (UCP), because Enough is Enough.
We believe the UCP has let us down across various fronts, failing to prioritize the needs of everyday Albertans. Whether it's healthcare, electricity pricing, forest management, climate change, education, housing, the cost of living, renewables, or any other issue affecting our province, we share a common frustration: our government isn't working for us.
It's time for change. It's time for a government that truly represents the interests of all Albertans, present, and future. Join us as we mobilize and demand accountability. This is democracy in action.
Enough is Enough! Together, let's make our voices heard and build a better future for Alberta."
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.
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.
This Day of the Chase I was off to a bit of a slow start. I inadvertently overslept and the first several runbys/shots things were very disjointed, obviously, as I struggled to get my feet under me.
As I entered the town of Fair Oaks, I found myself slightly ahead of the train and I was prioritizing getting though and out of town ahead of the train. I saw a RR-xing sign ahead and was a bit confused because I didn't think the tracks that Big Boy was running on crossed the Highway again so soon.
Turned out that there was a diamond with a UP Memphis Sub here. I screeched to a halt immediately after the grade crossing and jogged over to check things out. One spot at the end of the photo line remained and I had just enough time to set up both video and stills before the symphony of clattering across the diamonds started up. No one in my shots and no one talked on the video...and it was all pretty much luck.
The sounds of the train hitting the diamond was just the shot in the arm I needed to get things going right again on the day! Watch the video here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQ4jNCKUiUc
-Union Pacific 4-8-8-4 Big Boy #4014
-UP Train PSLNL, Heartland of America Tour
-UP (ex-Cotton Belt) Jonesboro Sub, CP CB172 Fair Oaks
-UP (ex-MoPac) Memphis Sub, CP Y316 Fair Oaks
-Along US49/US63, Fair Oaks, AR
-September 14, 2024
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